Chapter Text
“Tony, there was no other way.”
“I’m sorry.”
Those words wouldn’t leave his mind even with the impending death a few hours away. Thanos had won and now Tony was staring into the void of space. He laid down not ready to die, but accepting it.
He felt the Blue Meanie lift him into the chair. She had a sadistic streak, but she wasn’t the worst person to manhandle him. His head laid against the back of the chair. Images of a certain redhead came to the forefront of his mind as he tried to sleep. Please be okay, Pep.
A light began to glow in front of his eyes. Tony squinted, seeing an orange glow coming toward the ship. Great. I guess death by a meteor is a cooler way to go. He then noticed the glow fade and a beautiful blonde floating in front of him. Even in space, the women find me.
“I lost the kid.”
“Tony, we lost.”
Tony stopped listening to Rogers when he saw Pepper. He grabbed onto her with everything he had, which wasn’t much, and held her tight. Legitimately afraid she might turn to dust in his arms.
“Tony.”
“Hey, Pep.”
“I got nothing for you liar.”
Tony’s anger grew every second he looked at the star-spangled jackass. If this test tube asshole would have listened to him, none of this would have happened and they could have been ready for the purple prick. His kid was gone and they wanted to go off on some suicide mission to what, lose again?
“You put that on and you hide.” Tony ripped his Arc Reactor out of his chest and shoved it to Rogers before his strength left him and he collapsed onto the ground. I’m sorry, Peter.
“Tony, it can’t be undone.” Rogers spoke.
Tony looked upon the larger man. He’d never seen the driven Rogers so broken and without hope. He closed his eyes and laid back against the bed. He didn’t have the energy to say anything to him so he waited until the footsteps grew further away.
“Pep. Let's go somewhere. Anywhere.” There was nothing for him here now.
“I know a place.” Pepper told him.
A quaint cabin next to the water was exactly what he wanted. It wasn’t what he was used to but it was remote and peaceful. Besides, he had all he needed sitting in the driver seat next to him.
“This will be good, Tony. A place to heal and rest.” Pepper reasoned as she gently squeezed his thigh. Tony smiled at her to let her know it was fine. She smiled back, then looked at him with more seriousness. “I need to tell you something.” She then pulled something out of her purse and laid it in his hand. It was a pregnancy test. “I wanted to wait until you were better to surprise you.”
Tony looked at her with shock and awe. Pregnant. He was going to have a kid. Another kid. He swallowed the lump in his throat before breaking out into his trademark grin.
“Of all the things you’ve given me that you peed on, this is the greatest.”
Pepper rolled her eyes and smiled. There was her Tony. She pulled him into a kiss.
“Daddy, tell me a story.”
The youngest Stark demanded as she settled into her bed. Tony gently tucked her in, a smile plastered on his face. Of all the things he created, this little girl was the best he ever did. No metal suit would ever top her.
“Story? Alright. There once was a boy who could climb up buildings and would swing from webs. His name was 'Underoos'. He loved helping people and was a bigger ball of energy than you are after getting into Uncle Hap’s donuts. The ones he sneaks in for you that you think I don't know about.”
The little girl squinted her eyes and tilted her head. She loved those sugar treats and thought Mommy and Daddy didn't know about them.
“Well one day, an evil birdman tried to steal a selfless and handsome king's treasures…”
Time travel, are they insane?
This wasn’t some 80s movie. The science said it wasn’t possible. Lang got lucky and now they want to waste their efforts on luck?
“You ever see that old movie with the aliens?”
The kid's voice filled his head. Tony focused on washing the dishes, trying to push the thoughts out when water sprayed up.
He grabbed a towel and began to wipe down everything until he got to that picture. Him and his kid. The smile and the joy on his face.
The Stark internship being held upside-down...
“So what was it? What made you change your mind?” Pepper asked.
“It was the kid.”
“You really think you can pull it off?”
“I have to. He deserves it. They all do.”
Pepper smiled and put her book away. She laid back against Tony's chest as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Morgan’s going to go crazy when she finally meets him.” She snuggled into his arms.
Tony smiled. Images of his kids finally meeting only strengthened his resolve. He was going to do this.
I'm sorry.
Peter shot up, frantically patting himself. One minute he was dusty, now he’s okay? Did he pass out? Where was Mr. Stark?
“Kid, get up.”
Peter saw Dr. Strange, the Guardian aliens, and Mr. Quill standing in front of him. Three of the four looked confused or shaken.
“Dr. Strange, what happened? Where’s Mr. Stark?” Peter frantically asked.
“Relax and take a breath. Stark is on Earth.” Strange started. “It’s been five years. Thanos and his army are there as well. They are going after the stones. Earth needs help. From everyone.”
Five years!? I've had been asleep for five years?
Strange began spinning his hand and a portal opened.
Peter swung through, seeing a huge army with Thanos at the front. On his side stood Captain America, his shield broken and looking tired, but steadfast.
More portals opened around and Peter found himself surrounded by warriors from all over the universe.
“AVENGERS… assemble!" Captain Rogers rallied.
A loud battle cry erupted from the God of Thunder followed by others as they charged.
Peter finally saw who he was desperately searching for flying just ahead of the front charge. He shot his web and swung from Ant-Man/Giant-Man’s arm, trying to keep up.
He lost sight of Mr. Stark for a few minutes and was busy webbing up alien dogs when he saw the man again.
He was on the bad end of a large alien.
Peter shot his webs out and pulled the brute off of Mr. Stark just as Ant-Man’s huge foot landed on it. That’s really nasty. He jumped over, pulling his idol to his feet.
“Hey! Holy cow! You’re not going to believe what’s been going on…”
Tony looked in awe and fought back tears as Peter stood in front of him. Here he was. The whole reason he went through time. Why he did all this. Still talking a mile a minute.
“…and he started doing the yellow sparkling thing that he does...” Tony moved forward and pulled the kid into a hug, suddenly shutting up the over-energetic teen. “Huh. This is nice.”
Peter wasn’t expecting this as he hugged Mr. Stark back. He remembered in the car when he thought he was getting a hug and misinterpreted it, but there was no misunderstanding here.
Mr. Stark patted him on the back and broke off the hug. With another smile, Tony flew off. Right, we're in the middle of a battle. Peter shot his web and took off.
The fighting had been the toughest Peter had ever been a part of. At one point, he had the gauntlet and had to fight off a seemingly endless attack of alien dogs before catching a ride on Thor's hammer.
Peter had just handed the gauntlet off to the woman who destroyed Thanos' ship and watched as she flew off. He started to move away, then looked at the direction she had gone and decided that was the way he needed to go.
She probably didn’t need his help, but he had to make sure those stones stayed away from the bad guys and he just had a powerful sense something bad would happen if he didn't follow them.
Peter landed just out of sight, seeing Thor and Captain America trying to separate Thanos' body from his head. They didn’t succeed. The huge Titan made short work of the two and grabbed the gauntlet. No, not again! Peter felt dread, then the flying woman appeared again, hitting Thanos with her glowing fists. Think I’ll call her Captain Marvel.
The back and forth between the two powerful fighters went on until Thanos pulled one of the stones from the gauntlet and blasted her across the battlefield. Peter looked around, seeing if anyone else was able to fight, then he saw Tony looking up, but not at Thanos.
Peter saw Dr. Strange off in the distance, his enhancements giving him better sight, and saw Strange holding up one finger.
“How many did we win?”
"One.”
This was it. The one where they beat Thanos! Peter looked back at Mr. Stark, but didn’t see joy. Instead, he looked sad as he stared at the gauntlet… Peter then made the same realization that Tony did.
No. Peter sprang up as fast as possible.
This was it. Tony knew now why the wizard had saved him. He knew what he had to do. He thought about all the things he would miss.
Pepper’s smiling face.
Morgan growing up.
More time with Peter.
He would give it all up to keep them safe. He went straight for the stones.
What he hadn’t been expecting was someone else to be joining him. Just as Tony grabbed the gauntlet, Peter grabbed on as well.
“Kid! No!”
A massive fist hit Tony and he barely had enough time to configure a shield to block it. Unfortunately, Thanos easily ripped it off and backhanded Tony across the field.
Peter pulled at the gauntlet as Thanos knocked Tony away. The next hit landed on him, but Peter held on until Thanos simply pulled him off and held him out with one hand.
“Insect.” Sneered Thanos as he squeezed his chest before tossing Peter away. He then looked down at Tony. “I am... inevitable.”
The Mad Titan smirked in victory as he brought his finger and thumb together.
Tony looked on in fear as Thanos snapped.
Only for nothing to happen. Both were shocked when Thanos turned the gauntlet around and the stones were missing.
Tony’s eyes shot over to Peter, who was kneeling on the ground, the stones attached to his left hand as his suit created a makeshift gauntlet that was being held together with his webbing.
Tony and Thanos looked on in horror, for different reasons, as the stones’ power made Peter scream in pain.
Peter had never felt pain like this. The whole left side of his body felt like it was being ripped apart while on fire. But he knew he couldn’t stop. Everything depends on this. He looked at Thanos with a hate-filled glare before turning to Tony. Peter gave him the best smile he could through the pain.
"Kid. You're an Avenger now." Tony knighted him with his hand.
“And we're… the... Avengers!” Peter brought his fingers together and snapped.
“NOOOOO!!!!”
(Wrong hand but I like this fanart.)