"Oh, We're Using Our Made-Up Names?" Part 1
He knows what he has to do.
But just because he knows, doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. Because man, does it hurt.
It’s a split-second decision- granted, those usually aren’t Peter’s best- but he knows it’s right. Surrounded by a cacophony of noise and the armies of the universe, Peter’s attention is focused on only three men. It’s only a few seconds, but it feels like he’s watching in slow motion.
Thanos; placing the Power Stone back in the Gauntlet from where he’d pulled it to knock Captain Marvel away.
Doctor Strange; a little ways away, he’s fighting to keep the battlefield from flooding and wiping them all out, but his attention is directed elsewhere, and he’s- he’s holding a finger up. When Peter follows his gaze, he’s looking at-
Tony Stark. And Tony is looking right back at Strange, mouth set in a grim, determined line.
It was in those few seconds that Peter understood.
‘I went forward in time... to view alternate futures. To see all the possible outcomes of the coming conflict.’
He knew what was about to happen, he could see it plain as day- but that didn’t mean he couldn’t stop it.
‘How many did you see?’
Peter was moving before he could even stop to think about it- if he hesitated, his chance would pass, and he couldn’t afford that.
‘Fourteen million six hundred and five.’
He sees the moment Tony understands what he’s doing- can see the panic that flashes in his eyes, the desperation as he struggles to move faster. But Peter had a head start, and Tony knew it.
‘How many do we win?’
As a precaution, Peter shoots a web at Tony, then another. Landing true, they bind Tony, and he topples to the ground. They don’t mute his scream for Peter to stop.
‘One.’
Peter is on the Titan, now, grabbing for his hand as he raises it, preparing to snap. He’s never been more thankful that his suit was made by Tony- the nano tech has never been so useful. Unbeknownst to Thanos, who thinks Peter’s just trying to pull off the Gauntlet, Peter is using the nanotechnology to pull the Infinity Stones into his own suit, settling them at his knuckles, mirroring the Gauntlet. It’s done in a flash, quick and stealthy- Thanos still doesn’t know.
Thanos thinks he’s won, when he sends Pete flying with a punch. He thinks he’s won, when he fixes the Gauntlet, tugs it back onto his hand as he watches Peter struggle into a more upright position on his knees, blinking away stars. He thinks he’s won when he raises his hand,
“I am inevitable.”
The first seed of doubt settles in when nothing happens after Thanos snaps, and that seed quickly sprouts and blooms into grasping shadows of disbelief and fear as time slips on. The Titan turns his head and look at the Gauntlet, turns his hand over-
“Oh, we’re using our made-up names?”
Peter’s breath is uneven, trembling, and he’s aching, hurting so bad, but he’s holding his right hand up, almost flaunting the Stones. He watches as the realization sets in Thanos’ eyes. Everything else is tuned out; Tony’s cries behind him, the growls and grunts of various Avengers and aliens as they fight the battle of their lives, the rushing of water that threatens to flush them all out- everything narrows down to just Peter and Thanos.
‘If you die, I feel like that’s on me.’
As much as it’ll hurt, this is the right choice.
‘I don’t feel so good-‘
He won’t let them lose, not again.
‘You’re an Avenger.’
This is the one they win.
Peter manages a half smile, suddenly peaceful. The power of the Stones is excruciating, but it’s worth it. Everything will be okay. Apparently Tony rubbed off on him a bit more than he thought, because he can't help but sass the being that threatened the very balance of the universe.
“Well, then,”
He takes in a shuddering breath,
“I am Spider-Man.”
He snaps.