(AN: This story is made up of four prompts that don't even start to come into this until chapter three so lol sorry but I did kind of have to explain the situation. Anyway, I hope you like it and I'll put the prompts at the bottom of this chapter.)
It had been so long since the failed battle with Thanos, so long since Peter disappeared. But Tony never gave up. He searched and he sent out beacons into space. He kept in touch with Rocket and Thor, keeping up with everything they found and any information they gathered about Thanos until finally, they found it.
The Gauntlet. Thanos had no use for it once his mission was complete and he couldn't stand to look at it, couldn't stand to think about the sacrifices he made. So, he locked it away, sunk it in stone and hid it on a distant moon, in a deserted part of the universe. It was guarded of course, in a fortress surrounded by his soldiers but when had that ever stopped any of them before?
Rocket built weapons, enough to wipe out half the army of aliens standing guard over Thanos' precious stones, and Thor raised Stormbreaker. "Let's get them back. All of them."
His low rumbled words were clear. They would take the stones and they would get his brother back, they would get Rockets team back and they would save Peter.
They would do it.
They tried.
They were outnumbered and outpowered and they didn't have the time they needed to get them all. Tony couldn't separate the gauntlet from the stone that Thanos had sunken it into, so, he went for the stones instead, using the tools Rocket had given him.
The Soul Stone shone, glinting at him and calling to him. He missed Peter and the others so much. His hands reached for it, working at getting it free from the ruined metal of the gauntlet. He should have taken the time stone, he knew he should have but he couldn't stop himself from thinking of Peter first. After all, he thought he'd have more time. He had thought he could take them all.
"Stark! We gotta go! Reinforcements are on their way!"
The orange stone finally pulled loose and Tony jumped at the thumping on the doors, guards trying to get in. "I don't have them all yet! I only have one!"
"We'll have to come back! If we don't leave now we'll die and it'll all be for nothing!"
Thor was right, of course, he was, and even though he was walking away from four stones he couldn't help but feel as though they'd won just from the one in his hand. He'd fix it all. He'd get them all back. The rest could be fixed later.
They left quickly, narrowly escaping an awful demise but Tony smiled as they sped off.
"I got it."
He presented his hands, the glowing stone resting on the metal of his suit.
Rocket reached for it, awed, before his clawed hands pulled back, ears flickering curiously. "Wait...how are you holding it? When we had the power stone, we could barely hold it without dying and that was all of us together. How are you not dead?"
Tony looked down at it and shrugged, rolling the stone across his palm to hold between his thumb and forefinger. "I don't know. Maybe this ones different."
Thor nodded, eyebrows pinched as he looked at it, eyes reflecting back the warm orange glow of the stone. "Soul. It is different. My father used to tell me stories of it."
Tony's voice was soft, reverent. "They're all in there?"
Thor nodded, eyes lowering to the floor as he thought of his brother, who wasn't. "Yes."
"We can get them back."
Thor looked away again, turning to the window of the spaceship they resided in, eyes damp where they looked out to the stars. His brother had been killed by Thanos, not the stone. His mother wasn't in there, or his father; not even Heimdal. He didn't know if the soul stone could bring them back. Or if it should.
Tony lowered the stone, offering what comfort he could. "Hey. We can get your brother back. We can get everyone back."
Thor shook his head, clasping his hands behind him as he blinked the mist away from his eyes. "As much as I want to, I can't bring my parents back or Heimdall or any of my people. They're in Valhalla, where they should be, where they deserve to be. Loki is...I love my brother but I don't think he made it there. He, I can bring back. Or at least try to."
Tony didn't try to understand, simply thumping a friendly hand on his teammate's shoulder, the god patting it in thanks.
"I don't care where my stupid team is. I don't care if Quill, Gamora, Drax and Mantis are in paradise. I'm dragging their asses all back."
His voice broke a little and he bared his teeth as he tried to stop from crying. "Groots coming back."
Tony felt for the little furry creature, his rough nature having grown on him in the time they'd spent looking for the stones.
And they finally had it. The soul stone.
So, Tony did what he'd been waiting for since that failed battle on Titan. He brought Peter back. He fixed it.
He'd moved heaven and earth, he'd torn the soul stone from the mangled remains of the gauntlet and he brought Peter, and all the other trapped souls, back. They went back to Titan before they used it, not knowing if the souls would be returned where they were taken or not.
The dust rolling across the barren wasteland made Tony's chest ache but he pushed the memories away and used the stone.
He didn't know what he expected. A flash of bright light, a portal or a clap of thunder. But Peters return had none of those things. One moment he was gone, the hole in Tony's heart aching for the teenagers return, and the next, he was laying on his back in the dirt, gasping.
Tony dropped the stone, running to the kid as Thor swept the soul stone from the ground with reverent hands.
Peter was back, he was blinking up at Titans sky, hands shaking where they reached out, in the same position he'd been when he'd crumbled away.
"Peter!" Tony called for him, forcing his legs to go faster, to reach the boy sooner.
His head didn't turn but Tony could see his mouth move in mumbles as he drew closer, ash falling from Peter to cloud the air and-
Tony's heart stopped in his chest, waiting. He knelt next to the kid, shaking fingers reaching out to touch him, ash and dust choking him.
Was Peter disappearing again? Had he brought him back just to see him go once more? But no. Tony touched Peters' arm, ash dropping to the ground but the teenager remaining solid. It was like an outer layer was falling from him, revealing the new boy underneath.
Tony's heart renewed its beat with vigour and he leant over the kid. "Peter?"
Those eyes, the same ones that haunted Tony's dreams, found his and focussed.
Peter sucked in a shaky breath as his hands reached for his hero, pawing at his chest as if ensuring he was real.
"M-Mr Stark?"
Tony couldn't wait any longer. He slid his arm around Peters back, one hand behind the boy's neck, and pulled him to his chest.
"I got you back. It worked, you're here."
Peter gripped him back, feeling solid and real in his arms before he let go to stare at his own hands behind Tony. He watched the ash drift off his fingers, the sparse wind blowing it away and his chest began to tighten in panic.
"No! No, it's happening again! Mr Stark, don't let me go!"
Tony pulled away, Peter's voice breaking into sobs as he tried to pull him back. "Don't let go!"
"No, no, Peter. It's okay. You're not disappearing. It's just a little ash left over. It's okay. You're here. You're safe now."
Tony took the boys hand and squeezed tight, brushing the thick layer of ash off his arm as Peter watched, calming down.
"See? You're okay. I won't ever let you disappear again. I promise."
Peter nodded, tears slipping down his dirt-streaked cheeks. "Y-you saved me."
Tony gathered him up in his arms again, crushing him to his chest and Peter closed his eyes, not having felt solid in a very long time. "I missed you, kiddo."
He wished it was over. He wished they didn't have to get up again to fight but just because Tony had managed to steal the gauntlet from where Thanos had it guarded, didn't mean he was defeated. He wanted his property back and he was going to get it.
"Stark. Good to see you again."
Tony turned, pulling Peter with him, to see Dr Strange stranding with Thor, his cloak brushing the ash away.
"You too. Sorry, it took so long to get you back. Also, sorry but we don't have time to catch up. We need one of your portals. We need to get the rest of the gauntlet."
Tony enacted his plan, using Strange's portal to get the rest of the gauntlet back but the problem was, none of them were strong enough to wield it. That much power would surely kill any of them but if they could just stop Thanos from getting it, they could win. And they needed to win.
Stark looked down at the glinting metal, taking a breath before looking back up at the doctor. "You ready for this?"
Strange opened his mouth to reply, only for his eyes to flicker across the horizon as a boom sounded, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Thanos had arrived.
Tony stood, pulling Peter to his feet and letting him go save for one hand he kept clasped around the kids trembling fingers. "We have to win this time. We can't lose again."
"We can take him." Quills voice was steady and Tony saw why as he turned to see him and his team, returned from the soul stone.
He stood there, chin raised and head held high, his hand tightly clasped by the hand of the green woman at his side.
Tony reached a hand out towards Thor, palm up and waiting. "Pass me the soul stone. We can use it to kill Thanos."
But Thor shook his head, spreading his own empty hands, eyes clouded with grief. He hadn't been able to get his brother back. "It disappeared when it released her."
He pointed to the green woman and she nodded, arm brushing against Quills where she stood pressed close to him.
"Thanos sacrificed me for the stone. Without me there, the stone goes back."
Tony looked between Star-Lord and the woman, pieces fitting together in his brain. "You're Gamora. Thanos is your father."
She nodded and Tony felt a flicker of hope ignite in his chest. Without the soul stone, they couldn't kill Thanos like he did to them but he also couldn't repeat his actions. He couldn't snap them away, he'd have to fight them. "We can beat him."
….
It was a long, tough battle and there had never been more on the line. Tony didn't want Peter to fight, the kid had already died on him once and he was clearly still shaken from the whole 'disappearing into ash' thing. They all were but they didn't have time for therapy sessions and recovery and Tony didn't have time to convince Peter to stay back.
So, they fought. All of them. Dr Strange used his portals to get the rest of the Avengers and T'challa's army up to Titan to fight alongside them and they did not disappoint.
Tony sent another rocket towards the purple space dick as Wanda used her powers against him. And they were winning. Thanos was slowing down.
He couldn't fight them all, especially not without the infinity stones that they were so preciously guarding.
"That's for killing half the worlds dogs!" Peter leapt up and kicked Thanos in the face, sending him stumbling back before he jumped up again for another hit. "That's for killing me and everyone else!"
Thanos let out a growl as he dodged Okoye's spear, Peter going back for another kick. "And that's for-"
But his blow didn't land a third time. Thanos snatched the kid out of the air, giant fingers wrapping around his chest and squeezing.
"Spider-Man!" Tony called out, heart thumping too hard in his chest as Peter cried out in pain. His hands desperately tried to unwrap Thanos's fingers but he wasn't strong enough, not with his chest being crushed.
Thanos regarded the teenager with disdain, lip curled as he drawled, almost bored. "I'm surprised you'd bring your children into this, Stark. I thought you were a hero."
All attacks on the alien were halted at Tony's raised palm, not wanting to risk hurting Peter instead. "Are you really judging me? You killed your own daughter."
That struck a nerve and Thanos growled, squeezing Peter tighter. "I made the necessary sacrifice to save the universe! I did what had to be done!"
Peter let out a strangled whimper at the added pressure on his chest and his hands pulled and pushed at Thanos' grip, breaths thin and strained. Tony swallowed and kept his enemies attention while Thor made his way behind with Stormbreaker.
"Yeah, sorry. All I'm hearing is that you're a piece of shit. So, I'm going to do what has to be done and beat you into the ground. Let the Spider go."
Thanos laughed raising Peter in his fist. "This spider?"
Tony nodded, anxiety growing as Peter struggled to breathe, hands faltering and growing weaker, clumsier, as he ran out of oxygen.
Thanos smiled. "Here. You can have him. Never much cared for Spiders anyway."
Peter reached out a hand to Tony, the mechanic's hand reaching out too, before Thanos turned and threw the boy at Thor, knocking them both to the ground.
The kid was out of the way and the attacks renewed with a vengeance, Wanda going at him with her glowing red powers.
But Tony had to get to Peter.
Thor had gotten off the ground quickly, rolling the boy over and saying a few words to him before going back to the fight but Peter didn't get up.
Tony ran over to him, metal suit skidding across the stone ground as he slid over on his knees, hands reaching for the teenager.
"Underoos? Buddy, talk to me! Are you hurt? How bad is it?"
Peter was laying on his side, one arm wrapped around his chest while the other pressed to the ground. He was trying to catch his breath, chest burning and aching with every strained breath but he managed to get a few words out.
"My chest. I th-think he broke some ribs."
Tony smoothed a hand over the kids back, rubbing soothing circles over his shoulder blades. "Okay, you're okay. You can sit this one out."
"What? N-no. I can't. We have to keep going." Peter was determined, getting to his feet even as he swayed. Tony reached out for him, taking his hand and keeping him upright.
"Only if you're sure you're okay. I can't lose you again, Pete."
Peter was about to reply when the eyes of his suit went wide and he called out. "Mr Stark!"
Thanos grabbed Tony from behind and dragged him up. Peter tried hanging on to him but his chest ached too badly to let him hang on and his fingers slipped free from Starks.
Thanos squeezed him just like he had Peter before he threw Tony to the ground. Tony rolled onto his back and manifested his sword from his suit, glinting in the yellow light but Thanos gripped it and snapped it in two.
Peter knew what was going to happen, he'd seen it before, it was all happening again. Thanos gripped the sword and turned it back on Tony and Peter bolted.
He moved faster than he ever had before, ducking between the hero's guarding the gauntlet, hand reaching out for that green stone as it called him. He was stronger than Tony, it didn't take half as long. He pulled, begging the stone to understand why he needed it. And it listened.
It came free of the metal that held it and Peter flung himself as fast and far as he could, barely getting back in time to stop Thanos' hand as it brought the sword down on Tony.
He propelled himself forward, tackling Tony and rolling him away from the sword that had been inches away from his heart. They rolled, grunts pushed from chests thumping against the ground when suddenly a green flash of light enveloped them and they fell deeper. Through time.
Peter grunted, the air rushing out of his chest as they landed, dust and dirt kicking up around them.
"Shit, what was that? You okay?" Tony rolled off the kid, voice hushed amid the noise around them.
Peter panted, breaths coming as wheezes as he sat up, uncurling his fingers from his palm to reveal the time stone, waiting there.
"I think we just time travelled."
The two of them looked around, taking in the battle taking place around them. It didn't look that different from before the time jump, except Gamora was missing and so were the Avengers and the gauntlet was back on Thanos' fist. They'd done it, they had gone back.
"We can change it." Peter gripped his side tight as his eyes met Tony's, seeing the excitement there because Tony knew just what to do.
"Strange!"
He called Mr Wizard over as he gently pulled Peter from the ground. "I need you to take us to earth. To Wakanda. Now. It's important."
The Doctor's eyes went wide at the sight of the stone in Peters' hand, hands reaching to grab it before he froze. "How did you get tha- Wait. You're from the future, aren't you? You're here to end this."
Tony nodded and Dr Strange didn't waste any more time. He spun his hands and summoned a portal, pushing it towards them and letting the magic envelop them. And they fell again, landing in the grass with aliens rushing around them.
"We have to find Thor."
"Why? Wait, I get to meet Thor?"
Tony had worked with Thor to get the gauntlet back, of course, he'd told him about his failure in the battle with Thanos. Tony didn't bother to reply as he tugged Peter on, racing to the god of thunder as he ripped apart the aliens around him.
Tony felt a smile light his face as they grew closer because victory was near enough that he could practically taste it and all it would take was four words.
He found Thor, took his arm and leaned close to his ear. "Go for the head."
And it was done. When the battle ended, Thanos was defeated, they won.
They'd done it.
If only that made it all better.
(AN: I hope you liked it! If so, let me know. I will be posting more soon since I've already written the next two chapters. The propmts for this fic are.
" i wanted to know if it would be possible for you to write a a fic in which Peter suffers from ptsd because he remembers how it felt to disappear, he remembers the pain and fear that came with it. With protective!Tony and protective!Avengers "
"Prompt: a sleepwalking/talking Peter due to severe lack of sleep"
"A sleepwalking Peter"
"P has nightmare or panic attack and seeks out Tony."
So, those will come up in later chapters hopefully they'll be done soon.)