Chapter Text
request by winterwolffire (Wattpad)
TW: assassins, talk of murder/assassinations, drugging/needles, kidnapping
3rd Person P.O.V.
"How much?"
"Two million. Cash."
"Fine."
"Good. Who's the target?"
"Stark's kid. I want him dead."
"Stark's kid for two mil. Deal?"
"Deal."
~
"Dad!" Peter exclaimed, running into the lab. Tony was working at a large desk, sipping stale coffee from a mug.
"Pete, how many times have I told you! No animals in the lab," Tony lectured, gesturing at the tiny lizard curled into the crook of Peter's neck.
"Macaroni and Cheese isn't bothering anyone!" Peter insisted. As if to prove his point, he gently brushed his thumb over Macaroni and Cheese's head, the small leopard gecko closing his eyes peacefully. "See?"
"Doesn't matter, kiddo. Macaroni and Cheese needs to stay out of lab areas." Peter frowned, crossing his arms. "Now, what did you want?"
"Oh, um..." The brunette squinted, wrinkling his nose in concentration. "I forgot?" He smiled sheepishly. Tony sighed, smiling as he shook his head.
"Alright, alright. Come back if you remember."
"I will!" Peter waved as he left the lab.
"And no lizards in the lab!" Tony yelled as an afterthought. Peter sighed dramatically, holding his open palm up to his shoulder. Macaroni and Cheese crawled into his hand, happily laying against Peter's warm palm.
"Sorry you can't go in the lab, Mac," Peter murmured, carefully petting the gecko's head. "I know you wouldn't cause any trouble. Let's get you a treat instead."
~
Harley huffed, pausing the video footage. Peter's small frame was frozen on the screen, Macaroni and Cheese hidden behind his partially curled fingers. The blond switched out the videotapes, picking out another one. His client had provided a small stack of tapes for Harley to review in order to gather intel on his target.
The next videotape was something Peter had recorded himself– perhaps for social media.
"Backflip challenge!" The brunette exclaimed, grinning. There was a few seconds of fumbling as he set his phone against something, making sure the camera was angled at him. He appeared to be on a rooftop, Avengers Tower clearly visible in the background. "Ready! Here we go..."
Peter expertly performed a backflip, laughing to himself when he landed perfectly on his feet. The smile on his face was so bright and excited that Harley couldn't help but crack a smile himself. Peter ran, grabbing his phone so the camera was close to his face.
"That was awesome... I wish I could post it. Dad would flip– haha, flip–" Peter looked down at his phone screen, eyes widening slightly as he realized he was still recording. "Oh, oops–" The video cut out.
Harley sighed. Sometimes he really hated his work... this kid seemed like a total sweetheart. Although he supposed the purpose of his job was to hit Tony Stark where it would hurt, rather than to just kill a kid.
But Harley wasn't sure if he could do it this time. He's never had an issue with being an assassin, but this particular job made him question himself.
Was the deed really worth the reward?
~
Harley was running out of time. He had to choose, and quick. He could complete the job and get the money… or he could let Peter live and refuse.
Or… maybe there was a secret third option.
If Harley didn't kill Peter, his client would just find someone who will. But maybe Harley could find a different way.
~
It was time. Harley had his plan, and he was ready to put it into action.
Night had fallen over New York City, and the bustle had quieted slightly. Harley was dressed in form-fitting black, perched precariously by a 40th-floor window.
Peering in, the blond could see Peter's sleeping form. He hated to do this… but it was the only way.
He had already hacked into the security system, so he could swing into action. Harley cut into the window as quietly as possible, allowing himself to reach in and unlock it. The window swung open and Harley stepped through it, jumping down. His feet hit the ground silently, but Peter still stirred in his sleep.
"Mm… hm?" He mumbled sleepily. Harley held his breath, freezing in place. Peter turned over, settling back into slumber. The assassin let out a soft breath, tiptoeing toward the bed. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a capped needle. Harley tapped the syringe lightly.
It was now or never.
~
Peter had always been a light sleeper. The slightest noise would disturb his slumber.
Peter was also very slow to actually wake up. He would be conscious, sure, but he would barely register anything until he had properly woken up. A strange combination, to say the least, but it was reality for Peter.
On this night in particular, his sleep was disturbed by a soft thud in his room. Things would get knocked over, or Macaroni and Cheese would make some noise in his tank. So Peter usually ignored sounds like that.
He mumbled a bit, turned over, and went back to sleep.
He was disturbed again by a stranger sound.
Right by his bed, Peter could hear tapping of some sort. It sounded like glass. The proximity of the noise, along with its odd nature, was enough to wake Peter up.
"Hm…?" He mumbled, opening his eyes slowly. As his vision focused, Peter could hear a surprised gasp, followed by frantic fumbling. A figure came into view the second he felt a sharp stab in his neck.
He stared at the figure above him, features hidden by shadows. Peter sucked in air through his teeth, wincing as he felt around his neck. His fingers wrapped around a skinny tube– glass– that tapered down into a needle.
He had been drugged.
Perhaps that was why Peter didn't scream for help. He felt so tired… maybe it would be better if he just fell back asleep.
~
Harley watched as Peter grabbed the syringe in his neck, staring blindly in the darkness for a moment before going completely limp. Harley moved quickly, gathering Peter's body in his arms bridal style and heaving him up and out the window. It was harder to balance up on the ledge with an unconscious body in his arms, but Harley had been carrying out dangerous missions like this for years now and had plenty of experience.
He managed to pull the whole operation off with minimal error, leaving Stark's Tower with Peter and without having set off any alarm system. Overall, Harley would consider that to be a huge success, and he quietly congratulated himself upon returning to his hideout. He knew it wasn't over yet– he hadn't left any sort of evidence hinting toward Peter's death, so he would have to take care of that soon as well… but the riskiest part of his mission was over.
Harley hummed to himself, setting Peter's unconscious form in a bed. While technically he was a sort of prisoner of Harley's, the blond didn't wish for him to be uncomfortable. Plus, he was Stark's kid– who knew what he was capable of?
He had set up a whole environment for Peter, complete with a queen-sized bed and blankets, a semi-private bathroom and shower, and a couple changes of clothes. And of course, Harley would be monitoring him as much as he could, serving food and water to his "prisoner".
Hopefully, with all of this and a little luck, Peter would be able to understand why Harley did this. All he had to do now was wait.