Chapter Text
Clint was incredibly disturbed by everything regarding the Osborns. He was quiet as they dropped off MJ and Ned, but kept asking if they were okay, if Peter was okay. Once it was just the three of them, his disquiet spilled out.
"That is messed up," he said to Vision, as they waited for the #1 train at Penn Station. "To do that to your own child. That's sick. I've seen a lot. Done a lot. I'm hardly a shining example of a good man. But when each of my children were born…I can't even describe it. Just knowing that you made that, that this perfect, good being came from you, belongs to you in a way nothing else in this world does—nothing else is as important. Certainly not yourself. I'd hand over my own eyes if they need them to see. I'd transplant my arms, my legs if they need them to walk. In a heartbeat. I can't understand how any man can look at his own child and think, I'm going to inject a serum into this beautiful thing I made, in order to turn him into a monster. Right. You're blessed with this perfectly good kid, and it's hard enough to keep them intact as it is, but then you go ahead and break him yourself, on purpose. I don't know. I gotta say…I've seen a lot of messed up things. Done a lot of messed up things. This tops them all. This isn't normal. This is deranged. Human beings don't do this."
Hawkeye was not the sort of person to be easily unsettled, so it said a lot that he had difficulty reconciling what he witnessed. Vision also seemed sad.
"We can fix him though, right?" Peter asked. "I mean, we have Thor, and the Asgardians, we have the Mind Stone, and…we can ask the mutants for help. Professor X. It's just a matter of figuring out how."
"We'll see, but if Harry's mind has decayed to this point, and there is a psyche that has a vendetta against you, you should probably stay out of this one."
Peter lowered his head. "Yeah, I guess."
Clint mussed Peter's hair. "None of this is your fault, okay?"
"Yeah…"
"Hey, none of that," Clint glared at him. "I don't want you doubting this point. You did absolutely nothing wrong. If—if that had been my son," he sounded like he was nearly vomiting on his own words, "and you had to defend yourself, I'd want you to do that, all the way, and he would too. Okay?"
Peter looked up at him, eyes wide. He knew that was very hard for Clint to say; the very notion of his own son being in such a situation must be nauseating. It made those words even more impactful. The boy nodded.
"Man, I hope they sink that guy. I don't know what I'll do if he walks free." Clint shook his head.
"At least he only has one son to hurt," Vision remarked.
"That…doesn't help," Clint looked at Vision.
Vision tilted his head. "No, I suppose it does not."
"What would happen to Harry if Osborn's convicted?" Peter asked. "I mean, if they incarcerate him, and Harry wakes up, is he gonna go to foster care? Or will his dad's money go to him?"
"I think his dad's money will go to him once he's eighteen," Clint frowned, "but I'm not sure about the details. I can't imagine he wouldn't go to foster care. As far as I understand, he has no other family."
"It seems he would be better off passing away," Vision stated.
Clint did not agree or disagree. He just sighed.
"Do you feel Norman Osborn is beyond redemption?" Vision asked.
"Before this, I would at least try very hard to believe everyone can be redeemed," Clint confessed, "but the love a parent has for a child is a special…special thing. It's the most unconditional love there is. They can hurt you, do hideous things to you, and you will still love them. If Norman does not feel that for even his only child, I don't know what would turn him around. Even the worst, most selfish people could spare that bit of selflessness for their offspring if they had any love in them at all, so I really don't think he has any compassion in him."
When they arrived at the Tower, with a bunch of construction beams still erected, Clint went to seek Tony out at the workshop. Tony and Dr. Banner were staring at a simulation, which consisted of lines of numbers scrolling down the holographic screen.
"Any luck with telepathy healing?" Tony inquired.
He was much less affected than Clint, probably because he did not actually see Harry for himself and was not a parent, though he kept glancing at Peter as if to check on him while Clint related the situation.
"Green and angry monster. Sounds familiar." Tony glanced at Bruce before murmuring, "trust Norman to come up with something both harmful and inferior to an already existing model. That kid's been on ECMO for ages; is he getting any better or are they just waiting to pull the plug on him?"
"We didn't really press."
"Can the Asgardians help?" Peter asked. "Maybe the mutants at the institute? I know there's one mutant who could heal."
"I don't know. It's worth checking out." Tony rubbed Peter's hair, messing it up. "You eat yet, Underoos?"
"Uh…"
"Let's go eat."
At dinner, which consisted of Tony, Pepper, Clint, Dr. Banner, and the Parkers, Tony distracted Peter with conversation about the AI. Aunt May was silent all throughout, while Clint and Dr. Banner chatted with Pepper about some new legislation that might affect Stark Industries. Everyone seemed to make a point of not talking to May, which Peter found to be a bit bizarre. He tried to ask if something was wrong, but May just told him to eat, and Tony would drag him back into conversation.
It turned out, she was thinking, and there was something to Natasha's point about her not wanting to be pressured, because after dinner, she called Peter over and they went to her guest bedroom.
"Just because they say you have to do it doesn't mean they're right," she told him, "so tell me how you really feel."
Peter had thought about this.
"I think I should talk to Loki. And…I think I have to be involved, with Thanos. As Thor said, I don't think this is something I can avoid. I don't think anyone can really avoid this, it's just other people can't actually fight back. I can. Even without the Mind Stone, I can. It's not right if I hide behind others who don't even have what I have."
May sighed.
"I have these powers," Peter went on, "and I…I gotta have gotten them for a reason, right? I wasn't able—I wasn't able to save Uncle Ben, and I wasn't able to help Harry, and…I know we were all sort of hoping that I wouldn't have to use them until I'm a real adult, but I don't think we should wait anymore. I have powers that I don't understand, even without the whole mind thing. I mean, I can…kite. And I can see things other people can't see. We haven't figured that out, but it's not like I'm helpless. And…it's not like I'm alone. We're talking about people who have defeated Loki before. I think, at the very least, I'd be okay just talking to him, and as for Thanos…I don't think it's something I can back out of. And I shouldn't. Not if people need me. Sure, other people can probably handle this responsibility better than me, but that doesn't change the fact that I was chosen. Somehow."
"Okay," Aunt May whispered.
"I'll be careful," Peter promised.
His aunt hugged him. Peter hugged back, wishing he could do something to erase that intense worry. Aunt May had already lost so much. Peter did not want her to lose more.
"I love you," his aunt whispered, tears in her voice.
"I love you too," Peter whispered back. "It's gonna be okay."
"I know." She inhaled shakily. "God, I hope they're right about Loki being fond of you."
He left his aunt to tell Tony, who seemed as unhappy with this decision as May.
"It's not because you feel pressured, is it?"
"Uh, what do you mean?"
"I mean you're not just doing this because some fancy God of Thunder said you should, right?" Tony looked intently at Peter. "I know he's cool and everything, but Thor's not actually right about everything. He's not exactly an unbiased party here. The guy grew up with Loki. Also, he's a freaking God of Thunder, with a fancy hammer to boot, and he's Loki's older brother and probably remembers pushing him around when they were little. In terms of threat-assessments, he might not have the most realistic idea of just how dangerous this is for a kid like you."
"…I can lift a car."
"You could before you needed physical therapy. You're not at a hundred percent yet. Besides, so can Loki. And that's not even his strongest attribute."
"Are you trying to discourage me?"
"No. Yes. Yes I am trying to discourage you. Just say the word. Words. 'I don't wanna do it', and we'll figure something out. You have the right to refuse."
Peter looked at him, feeling distraught. The thing was, he did not want to see Loki. He still remembered how Loki had controlled him like a puppet, how Peter could not even cry for help when Tony and Steve had been right there in the apartment.
But he could not admit as such to Tony.
"I don't, but it's the right thing to do."
"God, you sound like Cap. Ugh." Tony turned away.
"But isn't that the point? It's why you're Iron Man, isn't it? I mean, it's cool to be able to fly and shoot energy beams from your repulsors, but sometimes you're Iron Man even when you don't want to be. I don't want my aunt to be scared. I don't want to risk leaving her alone, but, I'm…S—Spider-Man. And that means I gotta…I gotta face this. For the sake of all of those who can't. I…I owe it to people who don't have the powers I have, who can't do what I can do."
Tony's eyes were searching. He was quiet for a moment.
"Where'd you come from, eh?" he murmured.
"…Um, Queens?" Tony knew this, though. What on earth was he really asking?
Tony laughed. It sounded both fond and sad. "Okay, Queens. I'll reach out to Thor. Go get some rest; no Loki-business tonight. Tomorrow. We'll get in contact with Thor and we'll figure out the best and safest way to arrange a meeting between the two of you, yeah?" He reached out with one arm and gave Peter a squeeze around the shoulders.
In his guest room, Peter's phone had flooded with text messages in the Arachne group chat.
Guy in the Chair
-Was telling my parents about Harry. Mom cried. It's so messed up-
Pallas
-Well, yeah. Normal parents don't inject their kids with chemicals that turn them into giant green monsters-
-Can't believe they didn't already convict Norman Osborn already, even with so much evidence. Our justice system is even more broken than I thought-
Guy in the Chair
-Poor Harry. Imagine having to grow up in that environment where your dad's a complete lunatic who doesn't give a damn about you. There's, like, no one who cared about Harry. Did you see how upset Mr. Barton was?-
Pallas
-Everyone saw how upset Mr. Barton was-
Guy in the Chair
-Why was Harry all bloated? He's somehow really skinny but bloated. It's like he's full of water. And did you see his eyes?-
Pallas
-I don't know. Maybe we should ask someone next time we're there-
Guy in the Chair
-How long can that ecmo machine keep him alive?-
Pallas
-Dunno. Sounds like indefinitely, if they're arguing about taking him off-
Guy in the Chair
-Do you think he's in pain? Can he feel the machine working on him?-
Pallas
-Maybe. We should have asked Vision-
Guy in the Chair
-Spidey, you should ask Vision if Harry could feel everything-
-And see and hear everything-
-Like if it helps to have visitors when his heart can't even beat for him-
-Where is he anyway, why doesn't he have his phone-
-Are you working in the workshop?-
-Are you adding MJ's design for the web net-
Peter typed in, -I was at dinner, sry, didn't mean to ignore you-
-They're gonna arrange for me to talk to Loki tmrw-
The other two did not reply immediately. He was not sure what there was to say, and though initially that they might not respond at all.
When they did, the first one was MJ. -Don't let him hurt you. I don't feel like plotting revenge against some Trickster God-
Ned replied next. -I second that. Though I would sort of like to see MJ plot against a Trickster God. My money is on Pallas Athena-
Peter grinned. He loved his friends.
-Yeah, me too, but will try not to force your hand anyway; take away the head's up-
MJ seemed satisfied with this. -Best served cold-
Tony had a number of meetings which he went to in the morning, which was a little odd because Tony hated meetings and rarely bothered to go to them. Peter was up early because he was anxious about the meeting, and could not go back to sleep. He busied himself with incorporating MJ's design for the web net, before hacking out the AI for about two hours, after which he was thoroughly exhausted and took a much-needed nap. Tony returned in the afternoon looking grim, but he mustered up a small smile for Peter and ruffled his hair when he saw the teen perk up at the sight of him entering the workshop.
"Have you eaten yet, short stuff?"
Peter had been too busy sleeping. Aunt May had already eaten, and Pepper was still stuck in meetings, so he and Tony ended up having lunch together by themselves.
"Did you…get in touch with Thor?"
"As a matter of fact, I did," Tony said without much enthusiasm. "He's actually arranging to bring Loki here later today. Told him to bring him around three up to the warehouse upstate; I'm getting Rhodey, Steve, Natasha around; Clint also wanted to be there, and we have Bruce as backup with Vision. Just waiting for the company to convene."
Wow. That was a lot of backup.
"Thor will also be there too, of course," Tony went on. "Everyone knows what's at stake. Don't think even a crafty bastard like Loki would be able to scheme his way out of this one. We're all here for you, kid."
But it turned out, all the precautions were not really necessary. When Thor brought Loki, Loki had been confined to a mortal form.
"Wait, how?" Tony demanded.
Thor raised Gungnir. "I was inspired by my own exile here. He has none of his powers, shapeshifter or otherwise; no more so than a common man, until I release him from this form." He looked at Peter. "No harm will come to you by his hand, on my word."
Loki, fair-skinned and dark-haired, stared at Peter wordlessly, his face like a mask. His eyes flickered to May when she curled an arm around Peter's shoulders.
There was a moment of silence, before Tony gestured. "Well? Talk. We didn't bring you here for you to look pretty."
Loki's face twisted in distaste as his eyes turned to Tony.
"You think you are clever enough to outsmart the Mad Titan on your own," he said flatly. "That is not possible."
"Well you seem to think a fifteen-year-old boy can defeat the Mad Titan on his own, so if we're trying to outcompete each other's absurdity here, you're definitely winning."
Loki stepped across Thor. The latter did not seem alarmed, but everyone around Peter moved. Peter was able to remain composed; his spider-sense, he noted, remained quiet and calm.
"The Mad Titan is not an evil being," Loki remarked, tones slightly sneering. "And that is what makes him more dangerous than anything you will ever face. You once felt his will when you tried to unleash the Mind Stone on your own." Loki smirked at Tony. "Ultron's motivations should have given you some insight. Destruction is not his ends, but his means.
"His was an old race, the first this universe has ever known after the Cosmic Entities, who had created the Infinity Stones. The Titans were powerful beings, who, in turn, could create new life, new technology, new magic. But their power came at a price, and the price is quite…simple and intuitive. They needed to eat, just like any of us, but they fed on the energy of planets and stars, and only one planet could sustain them: their namesake, Titan.
"Titan, Titan, world of wonder, paradise for the first Children. How the Great Ones had loved thy shores and blessed thy gracious hills. The Little Ones know not the devotion of their makers. There will be no such song and no such dance: a song and dance that never ends."
He reached out behind Vision's head, and the Mind Stone glowed. Tony yanked himself forward, but the world bled away around them, to be replaced by…somewhere else. The sky lit up in iridescent colors, and in the distance, purple mountains loomed. On the other side was the sea, and they stood on a raised platform of stone, crystal, and gleaming metal. The air had a hint of perfume as a breeze blew over the long green grass.
Peter was never up close to Thanos, but the giants around them, moving between the trees, up the paths, and by the sandy beaches, were so tall that they could step right over them as the vision of the old world moved forward in time. Their skin came in a variety of hues, and some, mainly the females, had long flowing hair. Their faces were kind, though, and they handled the other life forms around them, be they flowers or birds or little mammals, with far more delicacy than many humans. Above them, spaceships hovered, powered by glowing crystals.
"The Cosmic Entities were the first creators," Loki murmured, hand still pressed to the back of Vision's head.
Vision's face was blank, as if hypnotized. Thor gripped Gungnir tightly, but did not stop his brother.
Loki continued, "When they passed, the Titans took over their duties, and loved the children of the universe. They created new planets, new species, new races, and when these sentient beings evolved, they guided them. Those in need found easy shelter in the homes of the Great Ones. To build, they used the soil and water of their own home." He gestured with one hand to the side, and when they all looked, they saw a huge drill, as big as the Empire State Building, twisting into the ground with a thunderous groan. "Little by little, they whittled away at their own world, to share the wealth, the fertility, such that others might prosper—and prosper they did."
The world faded, to be replaced by the great tree, but there were other trees. Peter's web remained stretched over the branches of Yggdrasil as it zoomed out to show just how many realms there were.
"But they needed to eat, and they did not know. The more they shared of the world, the less they had for themselves."
Their surroundings spun. They were gazing at Titan, but it was smaller, and continued to shrink as the stars spun around it.
"They gave away their own bread, their own wine, until one day they had no more to feed even themselves. The great Titans gathered on what was left of their home to determine the fate of the cosmos. They had several options moving forward: one, they could expand, move out of Titan and to the other blossoming worlds, though this would kill the smaller realms; two, they could reacquire what they had lost, and halt the evolution of those worlds; or three, they could close the doors to their ships, and remain on Titan to endure, and wait for other worlds to mature."
Around them, the great ships docked, and the lights went out. The giants gazed forlornly at the skies above while the grass turned yellow and then brown. The air held a touch of frost, and the sun was no longer warm, but harsh, like fluorescent lights in winter.
The planet was dying.
"Thanos, alone, survived the choice," Loki murmured, and they saw the purple-skinned giant, standing in the shadows as night cast his world into darkness, "and he ate of the realm that was both home and prison. As years turned to decades turned to centuries, the lives saved by the sacrifice of the Great Ones flourished. But they, too, ate of their realms, and took for granted what made the stars and moons, the care given to make embers glow and crystals sparkle and waters run clean. With time, the memory of those Titans and their home realm faded, until only Thanos remained, and no one knew why he saw only death when he looked upon what he and his kin had made.
"They called him old, gibbering fool. They forgot the benevolence of his people, how they had sheltered the crude ancestors, how they gave, how they sacrificed. They repainted the Titans to be dumb savages, who were violent, raging, rampant, and ruined their world with their vices. Every time Thanos warned, they mocked him. To his credit, Thanos forgave, and went on forgiving, but even he started to forget, forget the kind faces when those around him sneered in derision, forget what it means to be happy, to feel safe, to feel loved, when there is no joy, no haven, no home. When those around him refused to listen.
"There is madness in love, and madness born out of love has a far reach. A giant who had loved and was abandoned by fate, cannot withstand its darkness for long. Though he gave his all to what he held dear, at last all that remained was this one fear, that all he and his kin have created and nurtured will be lost as time goes on, and he was willing to do anything to prevent that destiny. Even if he must upend half the garden, it is worth it to protect the other half."
And Thanos was right there, in front of Peter, in his golden armor with his vast army. Chitauri creatures, gray, fierce beasts, humanoid warriors, great leviathons, serpents, winged raptors, shadows and wisps and wraiths. Strange aliens on stranger planets fled before their front lines and were flattened, burned by flames and bursts of light. Whole seas boiled and erupted into massive tsunamis that sank whole mountains underwater. The skies were filled with smoke and debris, the clouds turned black, and through it all, Thanos stood, an awful god, watching as realm after realm was overwhelmed.
They were back at the warehouse. In front of Vision, six stones spun slowly in a circle.
"With all six stones," Loki warned, "All he needs is to snap his fingers, and half of all life will disappear. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
The others suddenly stepped back, eyes glazed over. They looked like they were seeing some sort of vision, but Peter was not sharing it with them. He shrank against Aunt May, who held tightly to him. The Parkers appeared to be the only ones unaffected.
Loki lowered his hand from Vision and smiled grimly.
"We need to find the stones before he does," he said to Peter, "and we need to defend them against him and his army, and it will take a lot more than Asgardian bullheadedness, Jötunn ferocity, mortal stubborness, and suits of armor covering the world to fend against the likes of him." His smirk widened. "How is that for looking pretty."