Broken Down
The past few days had been interesting to say the least. Peter had been suffering from acute boredom, but the space war had efficiently alleviated that problem. It hadn’t taken long for Peter to pinpoint Wanda and Vision; the young couple were hiding in Edinburgh Scotland and had more or less eloped. Peter couldn’t help but think that was very odd but who was he to judge. Anyway, the team had arrived at the Greenwich station just in time to stop Vision from being de-jeweled and whisked the wayward lovers back to the safety of the compound.
Now when the discussion of what to do with the stone came about Peter had been on the same page as Vision and was more than willing to help him destroy it. It would have been a win-win situation, big ugly wouldn’t be able to collect all the stones and Peter would be able to stop the annoying siren song the stupid stones gave off. Unfortunately, the team had to have their bonding and pep-talk moment so now here they were in Wakanda fighting to keep Thanos’s goons from Vision.
Steve had done a good job in instilling hope and courage into the team and Wakanda warriors, but Peter could see the situation for what it really was, a losing battle. The Outriders that surrounded them were nothing short of psychotic. They were completely mindless and had no problem killing themselves in their desperation to reach their targets. Peter had cursed everything under the sun when the shields were dropped, and the Outriders were free to charge them. He had thrown up his hands in acceptance and joined the charge, it was to late to turn back now.
~Present
Peter released a cry of pain as his back was shoved roughly into the ground. He only had a second to recover before he threw up his hands to block the Outrider that sprang on top of him. The Outrider pinned him violently to the ground aiming for the hero’s throat. Peter turned his head desperate to put more distance between his face and the aliens snapping jaws. The smell of the alien’s breath caused Peter to gag, honestly did proper oral hygiene only exist on earth. The Outrider dug its claws into Peter’s legs as it scrambled to finish off its foe, its teeth inching closer by the second. Peter’s eyes watered at the pain and his arms were growing tired. Peter had no problem with dying but he had standards and those didn’t include being ripped to shreds by rabid aliens.
Peter felt his arms give a bit; he smashed his eyes shut not wanting to see the next part. The part where he got eaten. Needless to say Peter was surprised that instead of feeling the pain of his face getting ripped off he felt the whoosh of air and heard the alien yip in pain as it was torn off him. Not stopping to question his luck Peter quickly scrambled up to his feet and squinted his eyes in the direction of his savior. “Awesome!” Through the colorful Bifrost Peter was able to see Thor wielding a kick ass axe.
“Bring me Thanos!”
There was another clap of thunder and intense power flooded into the air. Peter’s spider sense screamed at him to grab no shoes or nothing and run for his life! He desperately wanted to listen to it but there was a more powerful force telling him to not only stay but to move closer. The hair on the back of Peter’s neck stood straight up and that tiny annoying voice, that Peter was really starting to hate, was telling him that Thanos had arrived.
Peter looked at the battle that surrounded him and then to a nearby canopy of trees. The song playing through his head was leading him there, he was sure of it. An explosion went off and Peter had to flip out of the way to avoid it. Rocks and dirt rained down as another bomb went off. “What the hell, I’m going to die anyway.” Peter took off at a run, dodging Outrider’s and jumping over fallen soldiers. Once he was near enough to the trees, he shot a web and swung through the canopy following the song.
He didn’t go far when the song reached a deafening level, Peter landed on an overhanging branch and ripped his mask off. He gripped his head between his hands certain that it was about to explode but just as quick as it came the song disappeared. “What the…?”
“Get the hell off our planet!”
The sound of the captain’s voice drew Peter’s attention to the scene below him. Thanos was making work of Rodgers, Natasha, and Bruce. The stones in his gauntlet would glow each time he used them to manipulate time, space, and matter. No one could land a solid punch because Thanos would manipulate the space around them. Natasha was pinned in a cage of rocks while Bruce was sent flying. It was fascinating as well as brutal.
Not far from where Steve was getting his face punched in, Peter noticed Wanda destroying her boyfriend. She was crying and apologizing while Vision was muttering his reassurances. It was heartbreaking to watch and for the first time in a long time Peter felt genuine pity for someone. Peter could see Thanos deliver a brutal punch to Steve and the soldier didn’t move to get up. The alien turned his sight on Wanda. Shit. Peter sighed deeply as he stood up on his branch. “Might as well jump in.” He muttered.
Peter had no sooner touched the ground when an unseen force threw him back and he let out a yelp as his back and head collided with a rock and everything went black. Peter blinked and his vision swam, he wrinkled his nose as the taste of iron filled his mouth. Oh, crap, did I pass out? Peter coughed and spit out a glob of blood before he rolled to his side and shakily pushed himself to his feet.
Unfortunately, he was too late, so much for his daring rescue. Peter could only watch as Thanos ripped the Mind stone from Vision’s skull.
Double shit.
Peter couldn’t move, he could only watch in frozen horror as the Titan added the mind stone to the gauntlet, completing his set. As soon as the stone touched the metal Thanos groaned out, the power of the universe coursed through his veins, tendrils of the power could be seen shooting off him.
Peter found himself hypnotized but not from the Titan. The enchanting music that had been plaguing him transformed into something new. They were now voices, and these voices were desperate to tell him something, something that could change everything.
“Peter!”
“Savior!”
“Destiny!”
“Home!”
“Love!”
“We have what you need!”
Peter clenched his teeth he felt an indescribable need to fight for them, to possess them, he had never wanted something so bad in his life. Without thinking of the consequences Peter charged the Titan. Using his webbing he encircled the gauntlet and pulled. Thanos felt a tiny tug on his left hand like a child pulling on their father’s hand to gain their attention.
The Titan couldn’t help but smirk when he saw the source of the annoyance. “Ah, Stark’s son.”
“How do you know me and my father?”
Thanos chuckled darkly. “Tony Stark was a nuisance; it was a relief to learn of his passing. It saved me the trouble of having to kill him myself.”
Peter roared in rage and flung himself at the Titan. Thanos rolled his eyes, it was hardly worth the effort. Extending his fingers, Thanos easily broke the webbing and with a twist of his wrist he grabbed the webbing and yanked the boy to him, catching Peter around the throat.
Peter gasped as cool metal wrapped around his neck and squeezed. He grasped the hand that held him and desperately tried to pull them off him. He kicked at his captor but Thanos ignored it, the Titan was too busy studying his new toy. The young man in his hand wasn’t very remarkable, he had met much more powerful beings in his travels. Yet he could sense the connection between the
Infinity Stones and Peter Parker-Stark. “Intriguing, I wonder what Stark saw in you. What they see in you.”
Dark spots danced in Peter’s vision as he pulled at the vice like grip around his throat. “It doesn’t matter I suppose,” Thanos mused, lifting Peter higher in the air. “You’ll never get the chance.” Peter chocked when the fingers locked tighter around his neck. He kicked out violently and punched at Thanos’s arms, trying anything to be released from the death grip. Thanos watched the boy in a bored fashion, it was almost like killing young people was something he did daily.
A trickle of blood leaked from Peter’s nose as his vision tunneled. Why are you struggling? What reason do you have to stay? If you gave up now you could see him now. Peter froze at that; it was true he could give up and die. He would be with his dad, but would he be able to rest? If his dad taught him anything is, you never give up when you have even an ounce of fight left. Drawing on his last remaining strength Peter raised an arm up and with a flick of his wrist he shot a web, effectively covering the Titan’s face.
Thanos dropped Peter with a surprised cry as he stumbled back a step and angrily clawed at the web covering his face. He no sooner removed the web when Thor came flying through the jungle and smashed into him. Peter sat on the jungle floor clutching at his abused throat, the air feeling like razors as he greedily gulped down as much oxygen as he could.
Thor didn’t give his adversary any time to recover. He smashed his fist into the titan’s face sending the giant flying. Summoning his lightening Thor flattened Thanos onto the jungle floor. Peter yelped and dove for cover as a stray lightning bolt broke and split the tree above him. Peter stared at the scorched earth where he had just been sitting, he couldn’t believe it, Thor was putting up a decent fight, in fact it looked like he was winning.
Thanos let out a scream as Thor sunk his ax deep into his chest, but the brief moment of relief was shattered as Thanos raised a shaky hand. “You…should have went for the head.”
“No!” Thor shouted but it was to late. Thanos snapped his fingers and a tidal wave of unimaginable power washed over the galaxy. Thor looked around the battlefield, everything looked the same, but he knew the Titan didn’t go through all that trouble for nothing. He turned back to his enemy but Thanos had disappeared.
Peter painfully got to his feet. His body was aching horribly from the brutal beatings it had received, the only positive was the voices in his head had quieted back into a gentle background melody that he could ignore. The air was filled with dust and debris causing Peter to cough as he limped over to Thor. “What happened?” He asked, rubbing his sore neck.
“Oh no,”
The two turned in time to see Steve holding Wanda. It was as if her body was turning into ashes that were being carried away on a gentle breeze. Wanda didn’t say anything she only cast a sad look to where Vision laid lifeless on the ground. A tiny tear escaped her eye before she titled her head up and crumbled into the wind.
“Steve?” Natasha whispered. “What just happened?”
Steve couldn’t bear to look at his teammate. All around him he could hear the sound of soldiers calling out to their friends and comrades as they faded into oblivion. Steve thought they had a chance, they fought as hard as they always did but it wasn’t enough. Half of the galaxy’s population now was gone because of their failure. His thoughts briefly wandered to Bucky and Sam; did they make it?
"What do they do now? Steve hung his head staring at the ashes of his fallen friend that clung to his hands.
“We lost.”
~ 3 Years Later
Peter hit the end call button on his phone and tossed it onto his desk. He stood from his chair and stretched, wincing slightly when his joints snapped from sitting to long. That’s what he gets though for deciding to start his own business and leaving the streets. The snap had changed a lot of people’s perspectives on the type of work he did. Many still called him a vigilante or a mob boss but Peter didn’t care, he had his people to manage and new jobs to scope out.
Peter yawned and considered the idea of a nap when a vibration in his pocket alerted him. Pulling out his second phone Peter tapped on the screen to see a text from Clint or Rowan as he went by now.
Cartel taken care of, where to next?
Peter raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. He typed out Japan then tucked the phone away. Peter loosened his tie and stood by the massive window that overlooked his city, deep in thought. Ever since Clint’s family fell victim to the snap the man lost his sense of identity. Clint eventually had found his way to Peter, his own loss enlightening him to Peter’s way of thinking. In the past 2 years Rowan became Peter’s best employee. He took every job without complaint and finished them quickly and efficiently. At this point Rowan had just as much blood on his hands as Venom. The two didn’t trust each other, they would be idiots if they did, but they respected each other, and that was enough in this business.
Far below in the city two police cars rushed through the deserted streets off to some unknown emergency their flashing lights catching Peter’s attention. He flashed back to Wakanda, the Infinity Stones flooding the battlefield with their power. Peter hissed, grabbing at his head and stumbling back from the window as the mysterious melody rang through his head. The episode didn’t last long or cause him pain. All it left him with was a deep sense of longing and anger. Peter ripped his tie off and threw it on the floor, his suit jacket soon following. It made sense when the Infinity Stones still existed that Peter’s head would be filled with the song, but he had been there the day that Thanos confessed to destroying them before Thor had chopped his head off.
It had happened two days ago during a business meeting with the city’s police commissioner. Peter was in the middle of discussion a contract that laid out the terms of a partnership with police department when his head had been filled with the song. He was left frozen as an unbearable longing pulled at him. Only the yelling of the police commissioner pulled him from the enchantment, and it took Peter over an hour to reconvince the old man to sign the contract.
Peter rubbed at his temples trying to work out the tension. He was so tired of this unknown in his life, he wished he could go back in time and kick his past self for agreeing to help Rodgers in the first place. A buzz from Peter’s secretary flowed over the dark room.
“Mr. Stark, a captain Rodgers, Ms. Romanoff, and Mr. Lange are here to see you.”
Peter hesitated, why on earth would Steve Rodgers be here to see him? What a coincidence that the Avengers would show up around the same time the song came back. Unfortunately, Peter didn’t believe in coincidences and he let out a humorless laugh. He was tempted to buzz his secretary and tell them to take a long hike off a short pier but that wouldn’t get rid of the annoying siren song.
Peter had a feeling his life was about to get a lot harder.
He collapsed in his chair with a deep sigh and ran a tired hand through his unruly curly hair. They weren’t even here yet and he was already exhausted. “Ok, Lydia, send them in.” Peter sat up and unrolled his sleeves, he had just finished buttoning them at his wrists when Steve, Natasha and Scott entered the room. Peter’s eyes flicked to Steve and he smirked, he could tell the man was uncomfortable as if he would rather be running from enemy gunfire than here in Peter’s office.
“Hello, friends what can I do for you this time?”
Scott Lange stepped to the front of his desk and offered his hand. “Hi, I’m Scott Lange, otherwise known as…”
“Antman, I know.” Peter interrupted, staring at Scott’s hand in boredom. “Why are you here?”
Scott slowly curled his fingers into his palm and dropped his hand to his side awkwardly. “Alright, straight to the point.” Steve rubbed his hands and cleared his throat. “There’s a chance to fix this, to set things right.”
“What?” Peter’s eyes narrowed.
Natasha moved forward placing her hands on the front of his desk. “There’s a chance to get everyone back.”
Peter leaned back further in his chair and laced his fingers together. “And how pray tell, do you suggest we do that?”
“By using the technology in Scott’s suit, we can travel in time to collect the stones and…”
“Woah!” Peter cut Steve off with a raised hand. “Quantum fluctuation messes with the Planck scale, which then triggers the Deutsch Proposition. Can we agree on that?” The three heroes stared at him as if he had grown a second head. Peter rolled his eyes. “In other words, you won’t be coming home.”
“I did!” Scott argued.
Peter sighed and pinched his nose. “No, you accidently survived. It’s a billion to one cosmic fluke. And now you want to do,” Peter paused. “What is it you call it a...”
Scott lowered his head. “Time Heist.”
“A Time Heist, of course.” Peter could feel his irritation growing and he stood up from his desk. He paced back and forth before turning back. “And why didn’t we think of this before? Oh, because its laughable, because it’s a pipe dream!”
“Peter, the stones are in the past, we can go back and get them.” Steve reasoned.
“We can snap our own fingers.” Natasha added. “We can bring everyone back.”
“Or screw it up more than it already is.”
“I don’t think we would!” Steve countered.
Peter laughed. “I got to say, I missed that giddy optimism of yours. However, this won’t work if there is no logical, tangible, or safe way for me to orchestrate this said Time Heist.”
“Peter, we have to take a stand.” Natasha tried to reason.
“We did take a stand and we lost.” Peter hit his hip with his fist in agitation. “Even if I could build what your asking, why should I?”
“Why wouldn’t you?” Nat growled.
Peter spread his arms gesturing to the office around them. “As you can see, I’ve been doing just fine the way things are.”
“You’re unbelievable! What about the rest of the people of the world?” Scott hissed. “I lost someone really important to me!”
Peter dropped his arms, his eyes hardening. “And when has the rest of the world ever given a damn about me?”
Natasha stalked forward and raised her head to meet Peter’s gaze. Standing toe-to-toe with Peter she was about a head shorter; she didn’t let that intimidate her though. Peter eyes held so much grief and rage in them and he looked so much older than his twenty-one years. It made her sad to see how the boy had changed from such a fun-loving kid to a man filled with hatred. “Your father would be so ashamed of you. He gave his life protecting us so we could protect the world.” She stabbed a finger into his chest. “Take a step back from your self-obsessed mirror and look at the damage you’re leaving behind.”
Peter felt his anger rising at Natasha’s words. How dare they judge him after everything that happened! They still use his father to manipulate him into getting what they wanted. Peter had the urge to grab Natasha and throw her out the window but no matter how much he wanted too he couldn’t ignore the truth in her words. Tony would be ashamed if he chose not to at least try and right the world and to figure out his connection with the stones.
“Damn you,” Peter growled, roughly turning away from the red head. “Fine, I’ll help you but if this goes south that’s it, I’m done. No more favors and no more guilt trips.”
Natasha sighed in relief but nodded her head in agreement. Peter stalked over to where he had thrown his jacket. He snatched it from the floor and threw it over his shoulder before turning back to his unwanted teammates. “Just so you know, we are all probably going to die.”
Steve put a hand on Peter’s shoulder and ignored the angry glare he received. “Then we do that together too.”