The scene was straight out of some kind of epic nightmare.
The sky was black, proving that it was late at night, but the spotlights and the soft glow from the shields every time something attempted to breach them and died gave more than enough light for the scene below to be clearly visible. The view was from the roof of the compound, and it was the battle. The Battle of the Compound, as some were calling it for lack of anything more descriptive.
Massive pillars slamming to the ground and releasing swarms of enemies of all shapes and sizes, only to be met by an army of defenders; Wakandans, Asgard and human, all standing ground and meeting the challenge. The screams of the dying were met with the roar of challenge from a hundred different throats, wile others simply fought silently, flashes of brilliant lights here and there giving proof that the sorcerers were also doing what they could to keep the attackers from overwhelming the defenses.
Then the monster arrived and everything else faded.
Towering well over them, he met the three with contempt. Tony Stark met him, calmly. Heroic in every way, outwardly, and if he was scared, it didn't show.
"You have only one thing that I want. Give him to me and I'll make your end quick. Make me take him and I'll make sure that you're the last person on this stupid, little, stubborn, world to die."
The scene unfolded. Reliving the challenge Thanos made. The reply. The contempt the massive titan showed at Stark's stupidity at allowing him anywhere near the boy. Now he was going to take him. Kill him if he had to or use him if he could. Whatever it took to rule the universe and destroy half of everyone in it.
Peter stirred in his sleep, but didn't wake. He knew what was coming, then, because it was him. He was coming. The memory wasn't his; he thought that it was from Clint's point of view, to judge by the way he could see both Tony in his Ironman suit, and Pepper in the Rescue suit, but he saw Thanos strike the blow, and watched as it didn't land – held in place by the sudden tangle of webbing and the strength of the black-clothed figure behind him.
"Clyde…"
The mask retracted, and Peter saw himself. Even in his sleep he thought he looked terrible. Despite the pain that had him so pale and pinched, there was determination.
"I am… and you're Thanos."
"I am. Don't be foolish, boy. You can't handle the power of the stones. They're killing you. Give them to me. Let me take that burden of the universe from you…"
"They're mine…" Peter told the titan, taking the final stone and joining it with the others. "The universe is mine."
He went to his knees as the pain overwhelmed him. Stayed there for a long time, while the others on the roof watched, forced into stillness by the power that flowed through Peter.
"You're incredible, boy… The stones are the most powerful force in the universe, and they are in your grasp – literally. But the responsibility is too much for someone without the experience to understand what needs to be done. Don't you agree?"
Peter's reply had been silent defiance; he was still looking distracted, but his attention was definitely on the alien in front of him, threatening him – and then, suddenly, making the incredibly stupid decision to turn the weapon in his hand toward Pepper.
"Give me the stones, Clyde, or I'll kill-"
The weapon vanished in an instant, becoming a balloon. Thanos turned back to the boy, who was standing, defiantly, his hand up and pointed at the titan. The hand clenched and everyone could feel the sudden power building around them.
"Suck my fat one, you cheap dime store hood…"
Before Peter could cringe – even in his sleep – at the awful one-liner (and why hadn't anyone told him what he'd said?) – he watched as he snapped his gauntleted fingers, and the world was suddenly bathed in a brilliant light that emanated from the boy and devoured Thanos without a sound, and then spread from the roof of the compound and continued to spread, even beyond like a wave of light that showed no sign of stopping. For a long moment, Peter stood, focusing the power, until as he watched, he collapsed, lifelessly onto the roof.
Peter sat up with a start, looking around his bedroom as the dream faded. Only his quick reflexes – even more asleep than awake – and a pawful of sharp claws dug into his shirt – kept Nutmeg from tumbling from his chest where the kitten had been sleeping. His orange and cream fur was now puffed up on all sides, startled into defensive mode by the sudden motion.
"Easy…"
"What in the world?"
"Just a dream," Alec assured him. "Not even a nightmare, really."
"No." It hadn't been scary. Just a dream, like the alien said. He lay back down, refusing to use it as an excuse to go find Tony and Pepper's bed and mooch some cuddling from them – even though he could feel the toddler demanding that he do just that. "That was odd. It wasn't even my memories."
"I noticed." If the ancient sorcerer sounded a little confused, Peter didn't really notice. He was too busy stroking Nutmeg's fur to get it to lay flat, again. The kitten purred, and settled back into his nap, while Peter continued to stroke him, but closed his eyes, and tried to relax. "You're alright."
"Yeah. I'm good…"
He was, too. And relaxed enough, despite the dream, that he went back to sleep only a few minutes after Nutmeg did.
This time the memories were his own, and the dream wasn't quite as chaotic – although it was more of a nightmare for Peter than all of the aliens attacking the compound could have been.
He was in his living room, and MJ was on the display in front of him. She looked annoyed.
"Are you going to tell me what happened to it?" she asked him.
"I-"
The hesitation had been his downfall, and he could see it in her expression.
"Don't bother. I'd rather not know at all if you're not going to tell me the truth."
"I wasn't going to lie to you," he told her. "I just don't know how to describe it. Or if I can."
The memory of the snap, and the power coursing through his entire body, but culminating in his arm and hand were painful, but he didn't have time to dwell on it.
"Does Ned know?"
"No."
"Does Shuri?"
"No. It's just that-"
"It's just that you have yet another secret that you're hiding from me – causing yet another injury that I need to worry about."
"You don't have to worry about me, at all. Everyone else does plenty of that. I'm fine. The bandages will come off, and I'll have some physical therapy and it'll be good to go."
"Until the next time you o something stupid and hurt yourself trying to be a hero."
"I'm not trying to be a hero. And I didn't do anything stupid to hurt myself."
"Whatever, Peter."
"Why did you call me if you're just going to bitch at me?"
The argument went on, and it deteriorated, quickly, until the call ended, leaving Peter frustrated and angry. He steamed for a moment, then got up and grabbed up his car keys.
"I'm going for a drive."
Peter started awake, again, well aware what was coming, next, and lurched to his feet, stopping only long enough to pick up his cat.
OOOOOOO
"Peter's coming."
They weren't surprised, really, and neither had allowed themselves to sleep too deeply, aware of the possibility that the boy might need them. Tony sat up, just as he heard the outer door to their quarters open and Pepper had pulled the blanket back just as their bedroom door opened, silently. A moment later their son was crossing the room, wearing a pair of sweats and holding Nutmeg. Tony took the kitten from his, smoothly, as the boy climbed into their bed, taking his place between them and turning to cuddle against Pepper's side with a soft sob.
"Shhh…" She covered him – and them – and put her arms around him, pressing a kiss against his cheek as she looked over at Tony, who shrugged and settled Nutmeg back on the bedspread, glancing at the stand beside the bed, automatically, to double-check what was there and if any of it was going to break if it was knocked off the stand in the middle of the night. "It's alright, sweetheart…"
"I'm sorry…" he whispered into her shoulder.
What he was sorry for, they didn't find out, just then. Held between them, warm and very much loved, Peter was comforted, now, and went back to sleep.
Pepper looked over at Tony, who smiled, despite his sudden arrival. He loved her so much, and loved the fact that Peter sought her for comfort when he needed it.
"We'll find out what happened, tomorrow," he whispered. He put his hand on Peter's shoulder. "He's not shaking, so it's probably just the birthday thing."
"Dr. Bird is coming Friday – in the morning."
"Good." He leaned over Peter so he could kiss her cheek. "Go back to sleep, honey."
She did – and then Tony did, too.
OOOOOO
To the south of the compound MJ and Ned were both laying awake in their own rooms, staring at their ceilings, and unlike Peter, they were both wide awake.