hysteria || Peter Parker (Spider-Man: Homecoming)

06

The sound of the world rushing through the slits in the reinforced window was the only reason Peter was managing to stay awake.

A brutal headache was coursing through him, making his eyes burn, and the blood flowing from his arm was showing no sign of slowing down. His heart was thumping abnormally hard, and his senses were going even more crazy than normal.

He could hear two other vans, driving on either side of the one he was in, holding the other soldier. Or agents. Or hitmen. Government people? Either way, they were bad guys. But Ross was in this van.

In fact, he was sitting directly in front of him, eyes drilling into Peter's. It was a cold hard staring competition of pure hate and loathing. And fascination, on Ross' part. All Peter was fascinated in was getting the hell out of here. The uncomfortableness of Ross' eyes roaming him, getting inside his head, reading his thoughts while the only noise was the soft humming of the van's engine, was almost too much. He considered attacking again, but he didn't want to get shocked. And a part of him was curious as to where they were going.

"You came a lot easier than I thought you would, Spider-Man." Ross broke the silence, making Peter's insides boil. Although, everything the old man said made him want to stuff his head down a toilet.

When Peter didn't answer, Ross smiled with a disappointed sigh.

"It's because I threatened your aunt's life, is it not?" The man asked, politely, almost as if he cared. "You really are quite like Stark. He would do anything to protect the people he lo—"

"You betrayed him." Peter croaked, his throat still raging from the shocks. But he furrowed his brow at the man sitting in front of him, blinking against the black dots vignetting his vision.

"Betrayed is a strong word, my boy," Ross replied, and Peter felt like throwing up at his last two words, "we were never truly allies. I merely picked the side I knew would win. These days, it's the Avengers against the world."

"No, the Avengers save the world. It's the Avengers against political freaks who think they know what the hell they're doing when really they don't, like you." Peter spat, anger rising up inside of him like a fast-tracking disease.

"Oh, I am no political freak, Peter. I am merely a cause to a revolution. A...greater life, one filled with m—"

"Insanity."

"—eaning and purpose." Ross ignored Peter dejectedly.

"You're a political freak, just admit it."

"The Avengers kill more people than they save!" Ross yelled, his face red with sudden rage. Peter reeled back slightly, surprised. "They don't save the world! They merely do the villain's work for them!"

Peter was silent for a moment. Partly because he was hit with a dizzy spell and it took a moment for him to gather his bearing, but mostly because he was realising something. It was dawning on him, what this rage could be. What it could only be.

"You lost someone." Peter whispered, face soft despite the fury and anxiety inside of him.

"My son, had to watch, as a building was crushed on his head. While Iron Man stood mere metres away from him, laughing with a goddamn wizard." Ross' eyes clouded with the memory, and Peter couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Stuff you, emotion. Stuff you. "He was twelve." Ross' voice cracked, surprising Peter even more. There was a man under all that rage and insanity and power. There was a real man, under every villain's mask of pain.

"I'm sorry—"

"No, you're not!" Ross screamed. The van hit a bump on the road, causing Peter's head to hit the side of the door. He winced.