The Revenge of Devil | Irondad, pepperony

Chapter 45

Natasha was sure that almost most of the guests knew something was up. Most of the guests consisted of agents and soldiers. But no one did anything, so apparently, everyone decided that there was no need to spoil this wonderful day. The redhead continued to make her rehearsed toast with a smile on her face, but she watched the surroundings closely. Rhodey had returned to his seat, but he seemed disturbed by the phone call.

"... so let me have a drink with Tony and Pepper, the newlyweds' Starks. May your life be full of happiness," she finished the toast and raised a glass of sparkling wine.

"To Tony and Pepper," came almost unison from the rest of the guests, and they all drank from their glasses. Natasha looked at Tony, whom she asked if everything was okay with that one look. They had acquired this skill among themselves when Peter acquired supernatural hearing and began eavesdropping on their conversations. Although it was inadvertently at first because he could not yet control his new forces. Tony shook his head slightly and glanced at the empty space. To the place where Peter had sat before.

She knew that Tony was trying not to panic too much, so she tried to stay calm herself. But it wasn't that easy. As usual, when Peter was missing, her other face began to wake up. But she couldn't release her this time. Not here. Definitely just panicking unnecessarily. They're at the wedding. What could happen? Peter must have forgotten at the food table. Natasha really wanted to believe it, but Rhodey's phone call kind of ruined it.

"Excuse me for a moment," she told Bruce, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before setting her glass on the table and walking toward the building. Rhodey, meanwhile, resumed his toast. Natasha stopped for a second and looked at all the guests. She knew she was fighting for something more now. She had to make sure the rest of the day was as magical for Pepper as it had been. That's what Tony wanted, after all, so he didn't say anything. Her gaze fixed on Bucky, who watched her with a slight frown. She nodded at him, hoping he would understand. And when he stood up and went after her, she was a little relieved. She won't be alone. Plus, Bucky was the only one who could help her now. He was the only one who would not be emotional.

•••

"So let's end the fight, what do you say?" she asked, but she didn't give him room to answer. "Didn't you change your mind? Do you choose the easier way? Will you let your parents suffer another child loss? Maybe we're a little alike," she grinned.

Peter clenched his fists. "That's what you think," he snapped.

"No more talking," she said in a firm, emotionless voice, pointing her pistol at him. "I decided to make it interesting. You're healing fast, so I won't inflict a fatal blow on you. If you're lucky and someone finds you before you bleed out, maybe we'll see each other again and continue our sibling conversation," she told him of her plan, which surprised him. It gave him a solid chance to survive.

"Teresa!" A male voice shouted from behind her.

The brunette somehow didn't react to it, but she didn't shoot him either. And Peter had more time to think. Her name was Teresa. He had a sister named Teresa. It was much easier for him when he didn't know her name. Peter and Teresa. His sister was very similar to Mary, but he also saw a resemblance to himself. Did she really share everything after her mother? Was it possible for his own sister to be the exact opposite of him?

"Richard, just in time," she said when the man was just a few steps away.

"He's your brother, Teresa," he said urgently after standing beside her.

Peter recognized him as a scientist who worked for Mary. It was the same man who always came to take his blood. He also recognized from the tone of his voice that this was not the first time he was trying to stop Teresa. It wasn't the first time he tries to get her to change her mind.

"It doesn't mean anything. Am I right, my sweet little brother? Mary was your mother too, and you killed her anyway," she grinned.

"It was a little more complicated," he muttered. He decided he shouldn't interfere too much and let Richard take care of it. He seemed to know Teresa better. He knew what to say and whatnot.

"After Christmas when Mary didn't come, you changed. It wasn't a change for the better, but you were still a child, I thought it was only temporary. The day she brought Peter, you were happy after a long time. You promised to take care of him. You promised to protect him from Mary! You promised you would never hurt him-"

"You're lying!" The brunette shouted angrily before Peter could ask what he was talking about.

"After that day, it was only worse. You stopped talking to me. You stopped caring about my company and started to prefer loneliness. What did Mary tell you when she came back for Peter? What did she tell you you forgot all about it?" Richard insisted, and Peter began to doubt that he had entrusted it to the right person.

Teresa looked very upset, which surprised him. Maybe she wasn't like Mary. What surprised him, even more, was that he didn't want to stand at the end of the barrel of her weapon. He wanted to stand by her side and hug her. He wanted to tell her that everything would be fine. Wasn't it ironic when he was the one the gun was being aimed at?

"She didn't tell me anything," she said through gritted teeth. "It's not of your business! You're only here to see it. You should be happy and not discourage me from doing so. I will avenge the woman you loved!"

"I don't want that! I've told you so many times that I won't even count it. I don't care about revenge. Look where it all got us. Teresa, please stop it. We'll go home and forget about all this," he begged her desperately, and Peter finally realized the relationship the two had. He had only seen two people in his life who were as desperate as Richard. Mom and Dad.

"It won't happen," Teresa said suddenly in a calm voice.

Richard apparently knew what was coming, because when his sister fired, no bullet hit him. Peter couldn't believe she'd seriously shot him. He couldn't believe Richard stood in front of him and was now falling into his arms. He looked up quickly at his sister, who seemed unable to believe it either. A few emotions flickered across her face, but they didn't stay there for more than a few seconds.

"What did you do?!" she asked in a rather cold voice.

"What any parent would do," Richard snorted. "Go home," he asked her again.

Teresa groaned. "You have always been so naive. You let me shoot you and for what?! You didn't stop anything! I hope you and Mary are fine in Hell," she growled and without another look in Peter's direction walked away.

And Peter stood there, holding the dying Richard, trying to figure out what had just happened.