Chapter Text
"You just can’t understand what you just did, right?!” Tony Stark shouted at Peter Quill. “He killed Gamora! I don't care about anything else, he killed her!” Peter shouted back. Quill looked close to tears as his friends around him cringed. Mantis, as she introduced herself, was actually crying.
They continued their screaming match, whereas Peter, the spidey one, was looking around with clear panic on his face.
“Mr. Stark, something is happening.” Peter spoke loudly over the arguing of the other Peter and his mentor. “What? What’s wrong?” Tony asked, his voice full of worry. He walked, or more like wobbled to Peter who started to look around, trying to desperately find something wrong. “He is right.” Mantis told the Guardians who looked at them weird. Dr. Strange looked at him with an unreadable expression.
“I think we lost, Mr. Stark.” Peter said quietly, still searching with his eyes. Then he found it. “Fuck.” Peter Quill whispered as he turned to dust, Drax followed. “Goodbye,” Mantis smiled sadly at them. Nebula spun around, watching them turn to dust.
Tony took a breath in. “Peter,” The boy in question fell towards his mentor, hugging him. “I’m sorry Mr. Stark.” Tony looked more confused than he was ever in his life, and clutched the boy in his arms.
Then.
Peter was left with nothing on his hands but dust. He looked down at them, as if he was seeing blood on his hands, blood that he caused.
He turned to look up just in time to catch Strange’s eyes, and then the wizard turned to dust too. Peter spun around to see every one of the Guardians that was with them to dust too. Only the blue lady stayed, though she looked like she wished to turn into ash too.
Peter’s eyes were wide, as he turned to face the blue lady. “I think we just lost.” he told her, and her eyes teared up, even though her face turned stony. “Thanos succeeded.” she said. Peter stumbled, catching himself on a rock beside him as he went to his knees. “Mr. Stark is gone.” he whispered, and then thought about all of the people that might be gone too. His aunt. Ned. MJ.
His eyes shone brightly with tears that Peter let fall, and the blue lady hesitantly walked to him. “We should get you home. The ship is damaged, but it should be able to get us to Terra.” she spoke, but Peter didn’t really care.
He didn’t know who he was returning to. He let the blue lady pick him up, and help him on the ship. He turned around halfway to the ship, and ran for Mr. Stark's helmet that he threw once he started fighting with the other Peter.
The blue lady watched as he walked inside. And in return, he watched as she looked around, trying to find damage, or maybe food, he didn’t really know, but she returned and told him to strap in. She sat in the captain’s seat and started the ship. Peter didn’t really pay attention, because in his mind was everyone that was lost. God, what if he returned and there was no one? What if he’s all alone again?
Seventeen and alone.
Peter sobbed until he fell asleep.
At some point, the blue lady realized that he didn’t really remember her name, so she re-introduced herself. Her name was Nebula. He introduced himself too.
They didn’t talk much the first two or three days, aside from when they shared food. He then later began to tell her stories from school, his patrol and everything he could think of, just so that it wouldn't be quiet in the large ship.
In return, Nebula, although hesitantly, began to tell him stories from her childhood. They were sad and scary, but at least he had somebody to talk to. It was sometimes around the seventh or eighth day that Peter had a panic attack, because he was staring at his hands for too long and saw the dust and grime on his hands, and he was reminded that the dust was Mr. Stark.
He began to panic a lot more when he realized that the dust was all over him. Nebula didn’t really know how to calm him down, so he did it himself, by remembering that people out there, left all alone, need Spiderman.
They need someone to show them that they can move on and that everything will be good again and that they’re not alone. They need hope. Peter is willing to do that for them.
Once they lived through day eleven, Peter began to lose hope himself. They weren’t any closer to Earth. Their food was running low. Peter’s metabolism hit him hard, and Nebula knew. She gave him her share of food, and he took it with shame. Two days later, he tried to leave a message on the helmet that once belonged to his mentor.
“Hi, it's me again. We’re on day thirteen , I think. Time is really hard to tell in space. I don’t know if we’ll make it to Earth, but if we don’t, please someone find Pepper, if she’s still there, and tell her how sorry I am. He should be the one here, he should be in my place, hoping to get home and he's not. He’s dead. It should have been me. God, I really wish it had been me. I don’t know who’s left for me. I don’t know if I have anyone left. If I do, I'm really sorry. I am.” Peter turned off the recording. He stood up, shakily and walked to the cockpit where Nebula was sitting in the captain's seat. He sat next to her.
She turned to face him, her face less stony than it was almost two weeks ago. Then she turned her face to the front, and nudged him to look too. In the open space full of nothing, there was a blonde woman with a grim expression. She asked; ‘Earth?’ and Peter released a breath and nodded his head desperately.
“What did she say?” Nebula asked, and Peter realized that she didn’t have his enhanced senses, and therefore no super hearing. “She’s taking us to Earth. I think.” Peter replied, still watching the woman who flew below their ship.
It began to move fastly and Peter laughed. He laughed, and then his ribs started to hurt so he stopped. “Looks like we’ll survive this one, Nebs.” he told his blue lady who smiled at him. “Looks like it, Parker.”
Peter almost cried when he saw the compound getting closer to them, and ran towards the exit where he waited till they landed. Nebula followed him. There were people waiting for them outside. Nebula helped him down and he almost cried when he saw Pepper and Happy.
He hugged them both, “I’m so sorry.” He kept repeating until he was sobbing it, falling on his knees as Nebula rushed to help him up, but Pepper was faster. She knelt down and hugged him harder. “It’s okay, you’re okay.” she said with a clearly distraught voice.
She herself was crying, but she held Peter like his life depended on her, and it might have, now.
Some time later, Happy picked both of them off the ground and walked them inside. He called a medic who hooked Peter up to some infusion. He then took Nebula to another room and Peter was too tired to hear in on what they're saying.
He told the medics he wished to stay with Pepper. “I’m really sorry, Miss Potts. I don’t know how it happened.” He told her. “It’s okay Peter. I’m sorry too. May, she, she’s gone too. I tried to find her around the third day you didn’t return. Your apartment was sold, but I kept all of your stuff.”
Peter looked at his hands, and then quickly looked away when he blinked and saw dust and blood. “I had a feeling. Miss Potts, I don't know what to do now.” he blinked away the tears. “Don’t call me that, call me Pepper. I know that you just got back, and I don't want to replace May, but you could stay with me?” she asked quietly and hesitantly.
“I don’t want that pity, Miss, I mean, Pepper.” Pepper smiled a sad smile. “It’s not pity. I also don’t want to be alone, Peter. I don’t know how much you know of me, but I don't really have a family. You’re the only one I have left of him, and I really don’t want to be alone.” Pepper replied. Peter started to feel like shit, because he was feeling bad for himself, and he didn’t realize that she lost everyone too.
“I guess we can make a family of two.” he said after a minute of quiet. “Three. Before T- before Tony left for space, he was talking about a weird dream he had. Where I'd been pregnant. Turns out that his dream was right. I’m pregnant.” Pepper said. Peter gaped a little, but Pepper laughed.
“I finally told someone. It's been eating me up, I didn't want to tell Happy or Rhodey first, so congrats Pete, you're about to be a brother.” Peter smiled at the fact that she didn't even hesitate to call him the brother of the baby.
“Family of three then,” he corrected himself and Pepper took his hand, and he had to remind himself that he showered just moments ago and that his hands are clean, but he smiled at her, and she at him.
It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst thing that could have happened to them.
°°°°°°
From Tony's point of view, they just lost everything.
“You just can’t understand what you just did, right?!” he shouted at Peter Quill. “He killed Gamora! I don't care about anything else, he killed her!” Quill shouted back, and he actually looked close to tears as his friends around him cringed. Mantis, as she introduced herself, was actually crying, sobbing, really, as she watched her friend spiral.
“Mr. Stark, something is happening.” Peter spoke loudly over the arguing of him and other Peter. “What? What’s wrong?” Tony asked, his voice full of worry. He walked, or more like wobbled, because fuck all, to Peter who started to look around, trying to desperately find something wrong.
The spidey boy was beginning to panic more and more, quickly walking to Tony, like he needed him close. “He is right.” Mantis told the Guardians who looked at them weird. Dr. Strange looked at him with an unreadable expression.
“I think we lost, Mr. Stark.” Peter said quietly, still searching with his eyes. Then, Tony guesses he found it, because his face turned more pale than he thought was possible, and he gripped Tony's forearm tightly as he looked behind Tony.
“Fuck.” Tony looked behind him, where Peter Quill cursed as he turned to dust. His grey team mate, looked at him with panic all over his face, and then followed hiss friend in turning to ash. “Goodbye,” Mantis smiled sadly at them as she disappeared. Nebula spun around, watching them turn to dust.
Tony took a breath in. “Peter,” The boy in question fell towards his mentor, hugging him. “I’m sorry Mr. Stark.” Tony looked more confused than he was ever in his life, and clutched the boy in his arms. They were going to be okay, they were going to survive, they will be family. They will be okay.
Tony blinked, and then there was nothing.
Just black abyss.
And suddenly, bright light and Tony woke up on the floor of Titan, with the wizard over him. “It’s been five years, Stark. They need us, come on.” Tony looked at him strangely. Pun intended.
“Five years? What the hell. Where’s Peter?” Tony spoke as he stood from the ground. He looked around, and the space looked just the same as it looked five seconds ago when he closed his eyes.
"Spider-Man is leading the fight against Thanos, on Earth. We have to hurry, there is no one left to help him,” Strange explained more hurriedly. Tony was even more confused. His seventeen year old mentee, his almost son, was fighting with the big purple? And the only weapon Tony has is a broken suit? Fuck his life.
“Come on, man. We’re all ready.” Peter Quill said from a distance, he must've been woken up sooner than Tony. He looked like he was done with life, and Tony couldn't help but feel with him. Tony’s face hardened, and he nodded.
When Strange opened a portal, Tony paled. Hundreds of aliens, and Thanos all charging on the little group of heroes. One of them being his kid.
He looked around, and a shit ton of other portals opened, with a lot of heroes coming out. On his left side, the whole of Wakanda walked out of the portal with Steve Rogers leading them, Sam Wilson on his left and King T’challa on his right.
Someone from the front screamed. “Fucking kill that grape!” and Tony, Tony didn't know what the fuck was going on.
His suit was damaged a lot, and he didn't know where Pepper and Peter were. He had to protect them, otherwise this was all for nothing.
The battle moved fast, too fast for Tony to follow, but as the heroes reacted to the scream from earlier, Tony ran with them, until he was stopped by a Spider-person? “Hi. I'm Peter's friend, Spider-Woman, he sent you this. Don't die out there,” She said as she threw a watch into his hands. He quickly tapped his chest, the nanites covering back and put on the watch.
As soon as it was on his hand, he was back in his suit. A new suit, with no damage. “Hello boss. It's a pleasure to work with you again.” his beloved AI said.
“FRIDAY? What's going on? Where is Pepper? Who was the woman in white Spidey suit?” he fired questions at his AI while shooting some aliens as he tried to move to the front.
“Miss Potts is on her way, Peter is in the front with Iron Lad, Silk and Miss Shuri with Ironheart. The Spider-Woman has another version of the spider bite, along with Miss Silk.” Tony didn't know half of those people. Yet he prevailed.
He moved as fast as he could, and sometimes later in the battle, he was back to back with Rogers, who told him he was also dusted. “Who was in charge then?” they both asked each other. And when Rogers left with Thor's hammer in tow, he was met with Pepper.
His Pepper. His fiancee, the love of his life.
“Oh my God, Tony.” She said as they both landed, ignoring the battle around them. Their suits reacted instantly and retreated.
He took a second to take all of her in, the longer hair, the bangs that she now had, and the little wrinkles on her face as she scrunched up her nose when she cried.
She looked beautiful, and Tony had missed her more than he'd like to admit. Pepper charged at him, and she hugged him hard, and Tony didn't even have time to react. He hugged her back, coming to the conclusion that she wasn't gone. “Pep?”
She pulled back. Tony noticed more differences now that she let him have a proper look. She looked different from the last time he saw her. She looked tired, alas happy. Her eyes had the same spark as they had the last time he saw her, and he was thankful that it prevailed, even when she lost him. “You have no idea how much we missed you.” She said, and then hugged him again.
“I– how long has it been again? Five years?” Tony asked, and she nodded into his shoulder. "Five years," Pepper nodded with a sob. "I love you, I love you so much, don't ever do that to me again, never, you hear me?!" Pepper sobbed into his shoulder, and all he could do was hold her.
For him, only a few hours have passed since he last saw her, but for her, for her have passed five years. He suddenly had more rage at Thanos than he ever had before, because how could he? How could he take away all of these people, and leave their loved ones behind to suffer?
How much has Pepper suffered? How alone was she? Had she had someone? Someone to take care of her, and love her, and protect her? He hoped so, even though the thought was killing him.
“Guys, Pep, I love you, but you need to move on. There's gonna be a chase. Like, run the fuck for your life with the gauntlet until Carol gets here.” Another spider person said, Silk, as Friday supplied, with short black hair and a black suit.
“Who has it now?” Pepper asked, clearing her throat, straight to her business mode. “I think, Harley. I'm not sure.” Silk then tapped her ear, and nodded. “He passed it to Peter just now. I'll get it next. Cover for me while I'll try Shuri.” Then, she swung off, her web attached to a fucking unicorn that Thor rode as he screamed profanities at Thanos. Still, Pepper didn't react as her suit washed over her again and flew after the spider girl.
Tony followed after her, and when he noticed Spider-Man swinging on Ant-Man's large arm, he almost collapsed. Peter landed down, looked over for the spider girl and threw her the gauntlet. “ETA ten minutes.” the spider girl nodded, and webbed off again, in search of Shuri. Who the fuck is Shuri.
“Mr. Stark.” Peter sighed, and hugged the man. Tony almost didn't react, from the impact and how strong Peter hugged him. “I missed you a lot, Mr. Stark. So much has changed, you’ve got no idea.”
Tony didn't even have time to reply, before Peter started rambling again, still holding him close, and tight.
“Let me put you through our comms. Karen, be a dear and patch through the dusted Avengers.” Peter spoke as soon as he let go of Tony. All of the sudden, all Tony could hear was endless chatter. Some girl was yelling at aliens, another one was screaming curses at them, and, was that Harley that screamed about grapes? God, Tony missed a lot.
“I have to go, we lost Bruce somewhere and he isn't answering, I've sent one of the legions after him, but no luck. So far no casualties on our side, but Silk has been stabbed, and Ned is doing med duty. If one of you is hurt, scream for him and a portal will open for you to the SI Tower. We've put Dr. Cho in there, with shit ton of NDA's so don't worry.” Peter rambled, and God, did he say that his friend Ted was doing portals now?
"Pete, kid, slow down," Tony said with a smile, despite their circumstances. Peter grinned, looking a lot older than he was a few hours ago. His hair was longer, he had a scar on his jaw, but his eyes still sparkled.
“What did I say about this? I told you that it would go south, Pete.” Pepper said and Peter looked a bit sheepish. How did these two even become friends(?) Tony is so fucking confused, but so happy that they had each other.
“I'm sorry, did you say that Ted is doing portals?” he cut into their little argument and Peter laughed. “A lot has changed. We'll have to catch up later,” Peter said as someone screamed bloody murder into the comms.
“Fuck all, these mother-fuckers are sending bullet rain on us. From the fucking ship.” Harley shouted. Peter immediately replied, “Ned tell the wizards to make us some shields. Whoever has their own, use it, if not, hide under some rubble. If they don't stop after five minutes pass, I'll let yall do the ‘Fuck All’ protocol.” Peter said, and then he waved to Pepper and Tony, shot a web at Thor who passed by on the unicorn shooting lightning at aliens and sometimes the ship.
“What the fuck is happening.” Tony asked, or more like said, as FRIDAY instructed him to put up a shield. He didn't even know this suit had a shield. Pepper did the same, and then he heard Peter shouting again.
“Somebody stop the fucking flood. I swear to God if I drown I'm haunting all of you dumbasses!” It was a bit unnatural hearing Peter curse, but somebody had to go and stop it, because he stopped cursing a minute after.
"This is nothing like ET!!!" Someone screamed as they were dragged by an alien, but the girl quickly shot the thing, before she flew off again. Tony just stared, because, what the fuck was wrong with these kids.
“Who has the gauntlet now?!” Tony shouted, “I do. Someone come switch, I swear these fucking aliens are so shit. Someone tell MJ to send more drones. And more of Iron Legion.” a girl replied, and Tony moved to take the gauntlet from her, but he was too slow and someone else did it.
A weird looking thing. Green suit and a floating skateboard. What the fuck. “Fucking finally! Did the private jet have a late arrival?” Harley shouted at the dude, who laughed. “I’m here now, ain't I?” He took the gauntlet and threw some glowing balls at aliens, who blew up.
“All right, Carol’s ETA. is two minutes. Hold the fort and then run the fuck her way. MJ is setting the protocol “All hands on deck” so, this should be over in no time. Try not to die.” Peter said through the comms, and Tony tried very hard to ignore the chatter that followed. Most of them were the original Avengers, who dusted, asking what the fuck was going on.
“MJ our God and saviour.” Spider-Woman said as she passed Tony, who was now back to back with Rogers again. Pepper disappeared on him sometimes when the flood started. "So I'm not the only one confused as fuck?” Tony breathed, and Steve nodded. “So much. Who are those kids?”
Tony was about to reply, but he was interrupted by a huge cheer from the said kids, as they all abandoned the aliens they were fighting and all flew, ran, and webbed towards Thanos, who seemed surprised at their quick arrival. “Guys what the fuck are you doing?!” Pepper yelled,
“Carol is here. She's behind him, and moving towards us. We're meeting her in the middle.” Some girl replied, with a heavy accent. Tony was multitasking, currently he was shooting at aliens, looking at the kids, and looking at Thor still on the unicorn, moving with the kids behind them, covering from behind.
“Was Thor dusted?” Tony asked Rogers, who shook his head. “He was not. He told me his Unicorn is named Bean. I'm more confused than I was when I came out of the ice.”
“Carol has the gauntlet! I repeat, Carol is snapping those fuckers away. Cover her, from all sides. Wizards, prepare to portal shit ton of people to the SI Tower.” Tony didn't even have time to react, as the aliens around them began to dust. He made eye contact with Thanos, as he was turning to ash. The purple alien looked resigned, and not an ounce of other emotion was on his face as he died.
All around him were cheers, mostly from the kids at the front, and God, those were kids leading them, and from what seemed, Peter was leading the kids.
At one point, he collapsed against Rogers, who fell with him to the floor. And there was that, the black abyss welcoming him again.
_______________
When Thanos snapped in Wakanda, a shit ton of people just disappeared. Steve looked around, as he felt something deep in his bones. The last thing he saw was Bucky's shocked face, and then nothing.
Just nothing.
And in a sudden, he was back in Wakanda. “Rogers, Mr. T'challa. Welcome back.” someone spoke, but Steve didn't really catch who, as he tried to focus his eyesight.
“What's going on?” T'challa asked. “It's been five years. There's a battle going on in New York, where the Avengers compound used to stand. Thanos is back, they need us there.” Now that Steve is finally focused, he could hear and see who spoke.
“Shuri is with them, on the front. She would love to be the one that meets you here, but she has no teleportation powers that I do.” The boy, or rather the man, was tan with short hair. He was a bit short, and he wore some kind of robes.
T’challa seemed more confused than ever, but he nodded his head. The boy turned to face the army behind him. “In the name of your queen, step up the front and rock some alien shit.” He yelled, and to Steve's surprise, they yelled back too.
The boy waved his hand around, and an orange portal appeared. “On your left, Cap.” Sam nodded his head, and Steve stepped through first.
Just as Steve stepped through with T'challa on his right side, and Sam on his left side, someone from the front of the battle field screamed, “Fucking kill that grape!” and, to Steve’s surprise people screamed back at him and ran to battle.
At one point he was back to back with Tony who was also dusted. Steve then wondered if the Avengers were still a thing if the two of them were gone. Steve saw Thor’s hammer on the ground, so he picked it up and went his way, trying to get to the front.
“Ah, my old friend! I see, you still have my beard. And my hammer.” Thor suddenly popped up out of nowhere, with a weird looking glove on one hand, and a huge axe in his other hand. “I’m not mad at you, my friend.” Thor laughed, and then he whistled and out of nowhere a horse flew down, with a fucking horn, and god, is that an actual unicorn?!
“This is my other friend, Bean. He’s got anger issues, but we’re working on it. I’ve got to pass this along, but it's been nice to see you again.” Thor then sat on his Unicorn named Bean and flew away.
Steve shook his head, and went straight to battling the aliens. He was trying to find a way to move to the front, but it was occupied by loud kids, as they made flips and laughed, shooting the aliens back to back.
The comm in his ear activated again, “So far no casualties on our side, but Silk has been stabbed, and Ned is on med duty. If one of you is hurt, scream for him and a portal will open up to the SI Tower. We’ve put Dr. Cho in there, with shit ton of NDA’s, so don’t worry.” a young man said, and then another screamed again, the same voice that told them to kill the grape, “Fuck all, these mother-fuckers are sending bullet rain on us. From the fucking ship.”
The young man that told them about no casualties immediately replied, “Ned tell the wizards to make us some shields. Whoever has their own, use it, if not, hide under some rubble. If they don't stop after five minutes pass, I'll let yall do the ‘Fuck All’ protocol.”
What the hell is 'Fuck All protocol', and why the fuck aren't they doing it already? Wasn't this like a very big battle that could use all the power they had?
“What the fuck is happening.” Tony voiced Steve's thoughts. Then the man again, “Somebody stop the fucking flood. I swear to God if I drown I'm haunting all of you dumbasses!” Steve noticed a wizard floating over to the huge body of water, and shivered.
“Who has the gauntlet now?!” Tony shouted, “I do. Someone come switch, I swear these fucking aliens are so shit. Someone tell MJ to send more drones. And more of Iron Legion.” a girl replied, and Steve ran over to her, but he was a bit late and someone else got it. Was that a green man on a floating skateboard?
“Fucking finally! Did the private jet have a late arrival?” someone shouted at him, and the green one laughed. “I’m here now, ain't I?” He took the gauntlet and threw some glowing balls at aliens, who blew up.
This is like a fever dream, for Steve.
“All right, Carol’s ETA. is two minutes. Hold the fort and then run the fuck her way. MJ is setting the protocol “All hands on deck” so, this should be over in no time. Try not to die.” someone said through the comms, and Steve then asked,
“What's going on? Who is Carol? Who the fuck is MJ?! And why are there kids? Specifically on the front?!” He got no reply, as some drones flew past his head and some girl swung by, “MJ our God and saviour.” Is that the spider kid Tony had with him?! No, the kid was a boy.
Then as if he knew that Steve was thinking about him, Tony appeared behind his back again. “So I'm not the only one confused as fuck?” Tony breathed, and Steve nodded. “So much. Who are those kids?”
Tony was about to reply, but he was interrupted by a huge cheer from the said kids, as they all abandoned the aliens they were fighting and all flew, ran, and webbed towards Thanos, who seemed surprised at their quick arrival. Steve swore that he saw the alien back up against the eight or so kids.
“Guys what the fuck are you doing?!” Pepper Potts yelled from somewhere, and god, why is she even here? As far as Steve knows, she doesn't want a part in this business, “Carol is here. She's behind him, and moving towards us. We're meeting her in the middle.” Some girl replied, with a heavy accent. Was that T'challa's sister? The one who promised to save Bucky?
Still very confused, Steve didn't move, because, what the hell is going on.
“Was Thor dusted?” Tony then asked, and Steve shook his head. “He was not. He told me his Unicorn is named Bean. I'm more confused than I was when I came out of the ice.”
“Carol has the gauntlet! I repeat, Carol is snapping those fuckers away. Cover her, from all sides. Wizards, prepare to portal shit ton of people to the SI Tower.” Steve gaped as the aliens turned to dust and ashes all around him, and the kids erupted in cheers, as if this was some video game and they just won.
Steve looked around, and then he quickly regretted not paying attention as Tony fell on him, and then both went to the floor. He hit his head, and then there was the black abyss again.