Peter crawled out of his stowaway, sticking to the walls and ceilings of the spaceship as he followed the sounds of voices and muffled cries. Careful to not make a sound, he maneuvered

That was where he saw Iron Man, standing next to Strange's cloak. "What the hell are you?" he quipped to the cloak. "Some kind of magic carpet?"

"Actually..." Peter flipped down to a landing right behind Mr. Stark. "It's the Cloak of Levitation."

Iron Man wheeled around, surprise flashing across his face before it shifted into disbelief and then finally settling on vexation. "What the hell—"

"I know what—"

Iron Man cut him off. "You shouldn't be here," he said, eyes flared. "I specifically sent you home!"

"Yeah, you tried, which isn't your call by the way," Peter said, which only angered Mr. Stark as red crept up into the man's cheeks.

"Don't start, kid," Mr. Stark warned. "I don't want to hear it."

"Great, because I'm not really here to talk to you," Peter said as he went to side-step around Iron Man.

Naturally, Iron Man blocked him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Going to save Dr. Strange."

"No... you're going to go back to whatever hiding place you were in and stay there," Iron Man's angry face drew closer to Peter. "Leave it to the professional here."

Peter stood straighter, trying to appear taller. "I'm gonna help," he argued. "I'm here in space already—"

"Yeah!" Mr. Stark snapped that it sent little jolts right into Peter's gut. "Right where I didn't want you to be." He took another big step. Right in front of Peter. Directly in front so that Peter couldn't avert his gaze to anywhere else but to Mr. Stark. "This isn't another simulation. Or a practice round where you can get up and start all over. This is a one-way ticket."

Peter understood. He knew the risk. The dangers. That's why he was on the spaceship. To stop the bad things from happening.

Mr. Stark didn't think he did. "You hear me?" Mr. Stark grilled. "Don't pretend you thought this through."

But Peter did. "No, I did think this through."

That only infuriated Mr. Stark more. "You could not have possibly thought this through."

"I did," Peter insisted. "I did think this through."

"No, you didn't. You couldn't—"

Peter got tired of the dismissal. It was his turn to bristle and flare in frustration. "Then what was the point in keeping me a prisoner at the Compound? Doing all that training and taking all that abuse?" he challenged Iron Man. He swore he saw a flutter of guilt come across Mr. Stark's face. "For what? So that I could sit around home and do nothing. Hide?

"I can't do that. I never could do that," Peter said, defiantly to Iron Man. "I'm Spider-Man. I don't run or look the other way when others are in trouble."

Mr. Stark looked gobsmacked by his declaration. And then a bit agitated, but he said nothing to counter Peter's claims. After all, Mr. Stark told him on their first meeting that he needed enhanced people like Peter for a bigger battle. This was it.

"Fine," Mr. Stark breathed, shaken. "Come on. We got a situation."

Peter followed Mr. Stark to the ledge. Iron Man pointed at something below. "See your friend down there?" he said. "He's in trouble."

Peter saw Dr. Strange. The wizard was awake, floating up or maybe being held up by what appeared to be glass needles that stabbed him in every part of his body. Peter smelled Dr. Strange's sweat from where he crouched overhead and heard the man's fast but determined breaths. He was being tortured. For that necklace again. Must have one hell of a value to it.

Mr. Stark looked from Dr. Strange's hostage situation to Peter. "What's your plan? Go."

Peter crouched low, his thoughts shuffling through different scenarios that he was taught at the Compound. But, none of them fit the situation. None of it prepared him for this moment. He hummed, branching out from that military knowledge, when the idea hit him.

"Um… Okay, okay, okay," Peter said, coming up to his feet as he pieced his final thoughts together. "Did you ever see this really old movie, Aliens?"

Thousands of glass shards were mere inches away from Strange's entire body. Peter wanted to flinch just even looking at it, but Strange never moved an inch. He was focused and remained perfectly still as Squidward continued to rattle off threats and insults. That wizard was far braver than Peter.

"In all the time I've served Thanos," Peter heard Squidward brag in his melodic, nauseating voice, "I have never failed him."

First for everything, Peter thought as he crept into position, waiting for Iron Man to initiate the signal.

Peter watched as Squidward got closer, waving a hand. One shard shifted and cut sharply into Strange's cheek, drawing blood. And while Peter screamed internally, Strange made not one cry or breath. The wizard remained resilient, which annoyed the alien. He flicked his hand again and the rest of the shards spiked into Strange's body.

"Give me the stone!" the alien spat at Strange.

Strange kept his vow of silence. Not at all blinking or responding to the alien's demand. Peter was certainly impressed and horrified at once. Where was Mr. Stark? He better hurry.

The alien straightened, smiling. "Painful, aren't they?" he mused. "They were originally designed for microsurgery," He paused briefly, eyes shifting, but continued, "and any one of them could end your friend's life in an instant."

Then Squidward turned, head craned up to look at Iron Man, now hovering above with laser armed and ready.

"I gotta tell you, he's not really my friend," Mr. Stark replied. "Saving his life is more of a courtesy."

Squidward walked forward, forgetting Strange as the glass shards continued to dig into his body. The alien's smile widened, predatory style as it raised its hands. The cargo pods on the ship rose with it. "You've saved nothing. Your powers are inconsequential compared to mine!"

Iron Man shrugged. "Yeah... but the kid's seen more movies."

That was his cue! Peter leapt up and over, landing beside Strange. The alien was confused and went to retaliate, but Mr. Stark angled himself toward the spaceship's side and fired a single missile at the hull. The explosion rocked the spaceship and tore it open. All the cargo pods flew out of the hull and into space.

With a scream of disbelief, Squidward got sucked into the freezing space.

Chaos quickly followed with objects flying like the microsurgery needles, which thankfully freed Strange from torture. Unfortunately, that also meant Strange was being sucked out of the spaceship.

"No, you don't!" Peter shot a web at Strange's waist to hold the man in place.

But space was stronger. Peter found himself moving with Strange, nearly getting sucked out of the hull. "No... no..." he shrieked, wishing to stop himself from joining Squidward in death.

His wish was granted when four mechanical arachnid-looking arms extended from his back like an exoskeleton and gripped the hull's side to keep him and Strange from flying out.

"Yes!" Peter cheered, but then became confused, looking over his back to get a better view. "Wait... what are these? And how—"

"Focus up, kid!" Iron Man called.

Right, of course. Peter shot another string of web onto the other side of the ship and pulled himself and Strange to safety. Once he and Strange were safely away from the hole, Mr. Stark stepped in to weld the hole shut, giving Peter a chance to catch his breath. The pincers from his new suit retracted and his mask moved off on its own, letting Peter breathe better as the Cloak of Levitation swooped down, checking its master.

Peter smiled. "We did good," he said to the cloak, holding up his hand for a shake of gratitude. The cloak rose up and surprising, gave a quick pat on Peter's extended hand.

"So cool," Peter said, in awe as the cloak wrapped back on Strange's shoulders.

Strange struggled to his feet as Mr. Stark strutted past, Iron Man suit disappearing into tiny particles that retreated into his RT centered on his chest.

Peter gaped at the mechanics happening. "Whoa."

"Nanites," Mr. Stark winked. "Yours is made out of it too."

Peter blinked down to his suit. That would explain the sudden responses to everything he did. It was like the suit had its own brain. Ridiculously intuitive. When did Mr. Stark even make this suit?

He didn't get the chance to ask because Dr. Strange was moving and speaking quickly. "We need to turn this ship around!"

"Normally, most people say thanks when saved," Mr. Stark said. "And I would like a thank you. So... go ahead. I'm listening."

"For what?" Strange spat. "Nearly blasting me into space?"

"Who just saved your ass? Me." Mr. Stark fired back, his patience thinning. "Me and the kid, which don't think I don't know who you are—Stephen Strange," Mr. Stark's eyes sharpened and heated, glowing like they were Iron Man's eyes rather than Mr. Stark's own brown irises. "And if you think I'll forget—"

"Congratulations!" Strange cut in, mockingly. "You know me. Just like I know you." He moved further up the spaceship, checking the control systems. "Now, if you want to be useful—"

"Excuse me?"

"—need to figure out how to control this ship," Strange finished. "It appears to be on autopilot. Do you know of a way to control it?"

Mr. Stark was ruffled by Strange's blunt and dismissive tone. He glared at Strange. "Well, maybe if you ask nicely, I may give it a thought."

Strange turned away from the console. "I seriously don't know how you fit your head into that helmet," he marveled. "Or how you shove it up your own ass, but this is serious. We cannot go wherever this ship is taking us."

"Why not?" Mr. Stark challenged, arms crossing his chest, postured laxed. "Afraid of what's at the end?"

"We all should."

Peter blinked, confused, and when he and Mr. Stark shared similar puzzled expressions, Strange sighed in aghast. Strange stepped forward, hands gesturing before a light show flew above their heads. He finished some incantation and five, colorful gemstones formed out of thin air, floating in the space above them. Peter's mouth fell open again, awestruck by the display of magical powers.

"At the dawn of the universe, the Big Bang sent six elemental crystals hurtling across the virgin universe," Strange said as the gemstones spread out from one another. "These are known as the Infinity Stones and each control an essential aspect of existence."

Peter's eyes widened at the mystic lights. "What?"

Strange moved forward into the center and pointed to each gemstone individually, naming them. "Space. Reality. Power. Soul. Mind. And..." Strange crossed his arms in front of the necklace. The necklace moved, unwinding before it opened, revealing a glowing emerald stone inside, "Time."

Peter's hairs prickled back up again. His head scratching and his nerves flaring up as he stared at the stone. It pulsed. Peter felt the stone pulse and... it was alive. And full of power.

Strange closed the necklace, concealing the stone. The gnawing in the back of Peter's mind rescinded too. "There's someone who is hunting for these stones," the wizard continued. "He goes by the name of Thanos. Also known as the 'Mad Titan' throughout the rest of the universe."

Mad Titan? Like a god? Peter's world kept expanding and imploding on him all at once. His eyes flickered to each stone, overwhelmed by the revelation of it all that his head spun. God—the world never felt so small now.

Peter wavered a glance to Mr. Stark. Iron Man's face was rigid. Jaw hardened, and eyes focused on the stones. There was a touch of terror in the gaze, ghosts that chased him to the very edge they were standing upon.

And then, the man whispered. "This is it."

Strange ended the light show, putting them all back into darkness. "It's impertinent we do not reach the end, Stark."

Mr. Stark wasn't listening to the man. Peter saw that Mr. Stark was getting further and further lost in his own mind. Arms crossed, head down in deep thought, thinking of millions of things at once and not slowing down.

Strange was losing his patience. "Stark? Can you get us back home?" he pressured, but Mr. Stark remained unresponsive. "Stark!"

"I heard you the first time," Mr. Stark waved Strange off, annoyed by the wizard. "I'm thinking."

"There's no need to think!" Strange rebuked. "We cannot, under any circumstances, give Thanos the Time Stone! He already has two in possession at the moment. If he collects all of them... we cannot let that happen!"

"What happens if he collects all of them?" Peter questioned, curious as to what dread Strange feared.

Strange's face filtered from seriousness to somber as he quickly looked at Peter, taking note of his existence on the spaceship for the first time. "He will destroy life on a scale hitherto undreamed of."

Peter crinkled his face into an incredulous look. "Huh?"

"Wipe out half of the universe, kid," Mr. Stark cleared up for him before he turned back to Strange. "And really? 'hitherto undreamed of'? What? Is this a Shakespeare in Space production?"

While the two adults continued their bickering, Peter was left unattended, drenched in cold as he replayed their words in his head. Destroy half the universe? Billions of lives lost. Gone! Panic grew, taking a hold of his limbs, shaking hard. Except he wasn't even moving. He was frozen, his mind seizing up as cruel images fluttered through and around him.

Including a picture of his aunt. Dead and alone.

Peter inhaled, sharply, eyes stinging at the cursed thought. The breaths in his chest came out broken and strained. No, he resolved, he couldn't let that happen. He won't let that happen. Not to Aunt May. Not to anyone else.

"Are you seriously avoiding the problem at hand?" came Strange's biting retort to Mr. Stark. "We need to redirect the ship. Return to Earth at once!"

Peter noticed Mr. Stark fell silent again. Only for a moment. "I have a better idea," he said as he pointed to the necklace. "Let's grind that stone into dust. No stone. No way to complete the set. Universe saved!"

Peter hated to agree, but Mr. Stark made a good point. Destroying the Time Stone would prevent this Thanos alien from collecting all the stones; thus, stopping the apocalypse.

Strange disagreed. "No can do," the wizard said, slowly shaking his head. "I swore an oath to protect the Time Stone with my life."

"I don't mind if you go too."

Strange's face twisted into repulsion. It was obvious the wizard held little respect or regard to Iron Man, and vice-versa. Unlike the rest of the world. Strange wasn't afraid of him, and gladly shared it. "Then what are you waiting for?"

The tension in the room heightened, thickening to the point Peter sweated and wrung his hands together as his eyes bounced from Strange to Mr. Stark. His heart pounded, fear trekking up his spine and sieging against his mind. It was like watching two predators, staring down each other right before the brawl of death. Peter knew he had to do something. Anything to prevent a blow-up. Not sure what to do though, he just rushed forward. Not in the middle, but close enough to jump in break up any swinging punches.

Dr. Strange and Mr. Stark continued to stare each other down, but then Mr. Stark eyes flickered over to where Peter stood, spotting his alerted position. And then, Mr. Stark shifted, retreating back from Strange, who had a slight smile placed on his lips as he backtracked.

Mr. Stark drew a breath, dropping his forehead on his hand. "Whatever," he grumbled, pulling away. "Point is, things change. Situations change."

"Not my oath," Strange was adamant in his resolve. "And this Stone may be the best chance we have against Thanos."

"And it's also his best chance against us," Mr. Stark fired back. "I won't let Thanos destroy the universe!"

"Then we are in agreement."

"I don't think we are," Mr. Stark countered. "You're willing to risk the lives of billions for what? An oath that will be meaningless if Thanos gets it?"

"He won't," Strange reiterated. "Not if we don't turn this ship around."

"Oh—and what? Let him come to Earth? Bring his whole army down onto our planet?" Mr. Stark affronted, scoffing at the absurdity of the notion. "No thanks."

"Then what is your suggestion?" Strange challenged.

Mr. Stark paused to propose the new idea. "We go."

Peter's eyes narrowed, mystified by Mr. Stark's proposal. They already agreed they needed to go, but where?

He was thankful not to be the only one confused. Dr. Strange stared, eyebrows furrowing in curiosity. "Go?"

"Go straight to Thanos."

Strange was aghast. "I don't think you quite understand what's at stake here—"

"No! It's you who doesn't understand!" Mr. Stark snapped, stepping back up to square off Strange. "Thanos has been inside my head for far too long." Peter's heart skipped as he heard Mr. Stark's voice become more agitated by the word. "Since he sent an army to New York, and I had to live with that knowledge and fear for over five years! I had to listen to everyone tell me that I've gone crazy or mad, but now—he's back!"

Peter thought back to the first day he met Mr. Stark. Both sitting at a table in a little room, Mr. Stark telling Peter what he needed.

"There's a war out there. Most people don't know it. More don't care. Too petty to be bothered, but war has come, and Earth needs defenders."

This was what drove Mr. Stark. This was his motivation. This Thanos "Mad Titan" guy. God. Alien. Thing. He's the reason Mr. Stark had been collecting enhanced people. To protect the Earth from someone wanting to destroy it completely.

Mr. Stark paced, scratching his chin as he fretted. "And I don't know what to do! All I know is that we cannot have him come to Earth, and maybe… if we must fight him, we do it on his turf because he won't be expecting it. It will give us an advantage."

Strange's eyes narrowed at Mr. Stark. "What advantage? We are flying in a spaceship billions of miles away from Earth and our allies. We have no back-up!"

Peter tipped up, holding up a single finger. "I'm back-up!"

Both men turned.

Mr. Stark looked like he was at his wits end. They both did. "No, you're a runaway," Mr. Stark dismissed Peter's statement and then he redirected his attention back to Strange. "Which, by the way, reminds me that once again, this is all your fault."

Strange cocked an eyebrow. "My fault? I'm not the idiot who's thinking of taking on Thanos alone."

"Not alone," Peter tried again.

Neither men paid any attention to him. He was basically invisible.

"No, all of this is your fault," Mr. Stark snapped at the wizard. "Thanos is coming because of that damn birthstone you wear. He's threatening the damn galaxy with it. And, you dragged Peter into all this, nearly getting him killed! At least three times!"

Peter's eyes bulged at the accusation. No one nearly killed him except that troll. And Dr. Strange did nothing to encourage his contribution in helping them fight off Earth's intruders. Peter did that on his own. And for Mr. Stark to even dare blame the wizard for something he had no part in, especially considering everything that happened while Peter lived at the Compound, it was enough to aggravate him to confront them.

He stomped up, facing Mr. Stark. "It's not Dr. Strange's fault!" he interjected. "I came on my own—"

"Quiet, Pete—"

"No!" Peter shouted, making both men flinch and even the cloak swooped back in bafflement by his ferocious burst. "Both of you are being idiots! If Thanos is coming for that Stone, then we need to stop fighting and work together. Or else… we're all dead and it will be all of our faults.

"And no one dragged me here," Peter added on, looking at the two adults. "I came on my own. Running, in fact. So... can you both stop yelling at each other and actually start saving the universe?"

Mr. Stark and Dr. Strange stood in silence for a long moment. Both wore identical expressions of shock and esteem, as if suddenly Peter was someone to take notice after being ignored for too damn long. Peter was tired of it though. The fighting and constant insults between the two of them as they kept speeding on closer to meeting this Mad Titan. It was time for them to shut up and get working on a plan. For the sake of the Universe and Aunt May.

Mr. Stark was the first to recover. "All right, kid," he started, looking back to Strange. "I say we take the fight to him. Do you concur?"

Peter turned to Strange, watching the wizard ponder and mull over their options, weighing out the best outcome for all of them. Mr. Stark waited, ready to stand his ground if necessary, but Peter hoped it didn't come to that.

Strange resigned. "All right, Stark," he said. "We go to him."

Mr. Stark smirked in victory. He walked away with a little bounce in his feet, ready to strategize the plan. However, Strange wasn't done speaking.

"But you have to understand," Dr. Strange addressed Mr. Stark, measured, "if it comes to saving you, or the boy, or the Time Stone, I will not hesitate to let either of you die. The fate of the universe depends on it."

That was a sucker punch to the gut for Peter. A little over a few hours ago, the wizard confessed to saving his life from the Hole and then tried to save him from the initial attack by Squidward and the troll. Now, standing before him, and speaking in a serious, absolute tone, Dr. Strange wouldn't hesitate to let him die.

Kind of off-putting considering they were flying out to kill a god. Or a titan. Whatever.

"Nice," Mr. Stark patted Strange's arm in a patronizing manner as he walked passed him. "Good, moral compass."

And then he walked over to Peter. "You need better friends," Mr. Stark remarked, glancing over at Strange, who eyed them equivocally, before moving to look out the viewport on the spaceship's bridge. Mr. Stark turned back to Peter. "Any who… we need to talk."

Peter shook his head. He had no interest in speaking with Mr. Stark alone. "I'd rather we didn't."

"Please," Mr. Stark implored, lines of stress growing deeper into the man's face. "I owe you an explanation."

"An explanation?" Peter bit out. "I'm owed an apology!"

When Mr. Stark tried to place his hand on Peter's shoulder, the boy backed away. "You had nine months to explain," he told Mr. Stark. "You didn't. You lied. Repeatedly."

Mr. Stark took two cautious steps forward, attempting to close the gap between them. "Peter, I didn't want to lie—"

Peter took a large step backwards. "Didn't keep you from doing it," he pointed out. "And when I caught you lying, you tried to kill me—"

"I didn't—"

"—and when that failed, you tossed me into the Hole," Peter listed on, "Letting me rot while you hunted down my aunt. The only family I have left!"

"You're being a bit melodramatic," Mr. Stark quickly inserted.

Peter stopped his movement. Fists clenched at his sides. "Melodramatic?" he gritted, unnerved by the man's dismissal. His mind whirled with anger. "That's what happened! That's exactly what happened!"

"If you stop and listen to me, I can explain—"

"I DON'T WANT AN EXPLANATION!"

His voice rang throughout the hull of the spaceship, echoing long after too. A hole in his chest cracked, widening as the anger festering underneath boiled up to the top. All those old emotional wounds reopened, spilling out, overflowing, dragging him down. It was like drowning, suffocating him and twisting his heart into a mangled knot. Everything hurt. Everything burned.

Peter didn't dare look elsewhere, but he knew Strange and the cloak turned in their direction. Probably wondering if they needed to interfere. Probably deciding it was none of their business. After all, it's not the fate of the galaxy type of danger. And it became obvious mere minutes ago that Strange held no interest or regard for Peter's well-being.

Peter was just a stupid boy letting his emotions getting the better of himself.

Mr. Stark's shoulders sagged, head tilting a little to one side as he looked at Peter. His face seemingly softened, contrite. Peter didn't care though. He merely shook his head. He didn't want pity. Not from Mr. Stark. Not from him.

Mr. Stark breathed deep, rolling in his lips with thought. "Okay, okay," he murmured. "You're right. If anyone ever deserves one, it would be you."

Peter scrunched his face in the man's direction, wondering what he meant. He treaded carefully, knowing better than to get wrapped up in Mr. Stark's persona.

The man inched closer, but cautious as if he was afraid to scare Peter away. Peter wasn't afraid of the man. Not anymore.

Mr. Stark sniffed, taking another big gulp of air before exhausting. "I'm sorry," he began, his eyes raised to meet Peter's, latching on as if to ensure Peter's focus was all on him. "I'm sorry that I hurt you. It was not my intention. At all."

Peter wondered if his apology was a facade. Another lie. Meaningless. Iron Man's attempt to break down the barrier between them, make him feel safe and wanted. Like the man did at the Compound.

When Peter didn't respond to him, Mr. Stark continued, giving him a meaningful look. The softness remained, but it was pushed with urgency. "Whatever you're thinking... whatever insults or names you want to throw at me. Maybe even a punch? I don't know. I probably deserve worse," he admitted, "but right now, I am begging you to listen. Follow my lead and I promise you'll make it through this."

In a quick blink, eyebrows furrowing together, Peter pushed his shoulders back, his spine erect. He returned his own stare, speaking with a leveled voice. "I'm not your soldier."

Mr. Stark simply sighed with a nod, a quiet fondness and sympathy peeking out from his dark eyes. "Yeah, I know."

He walked passed Peter, patting his back twice before moving on to check out the rest of the spaceship to learn how to use it. Or to find anything that may be useful in the upcoming fight. Probably both.

Peter stood still, like a deer in headlights. Once Mr. Stark was out of earshot, he released a ragged breath, unaware he held it in for so long. He absentmindedly rubbed his chest, taking slow breaths. Rising and falling in a cycle of rebellion and hurt. He hadn't expected to get this emotional. He shouldn't even be feeling hurt!

"You okay?"

Peter whipped his head up. Dr. Strange appeared at his elbow, drawing a concerned look down upon him. Peter quickly rubbed his face to erase any traces of his emotional decay. "Yeah... yeah, I'm fine."

The cloak's end whipped up, dabbing at his cheek. Its gentle touch wiping whatever embarrassing mark away from Peter's face.

Dr. Strange frowned at his cloak. "Stop that."

"No... i-it's okay," Peter turned to the cloak, appreciative. "Thanks."

The cloak lifted up from Strange's shoulder and settled right on his, wrapping around him like a comforter. It was surprisingly warm. Peter didn't even realize he was cold until the cloak draped itself around his shoulders.

Dr. Strange tsked. "Playing favorites, now?" he said to the cloak, but he didn't seem offended at all by the cloak's abandonment. The wizard tilted his head, staring back at Peter with those cutting eyes. "Are you able to work alongside Stark?"

"What?"

Strange's eyes squinted in deep concern. "I'm aware of your history," he bluntly remarked, "and your sudden outburst gave me pause. Are you able to cooperate with the man? If we are to go up against Thanos, we all need to work together. Can you do that?"

Could he? He looked back over, seeing Mr. Stark's back as he went deeper into the spaceship. The man hurt him. Lied to him. Tricked him. Most people wouldn't ever trust the person ever again, let alone work with them. Fool me once. Fool me twice. Peter's pride wanted to shun Mr. Stark, ignore the man entirely, but it would be fatal to do so. And Peter knew this. He didn't have the hero experience Mr. Stark had. He was simply a friendly, neighborhood Spider-man before he met Mr. Stark. This was his first ever big mission. Avenger-big mission. He couldn't be distracted.

Peter nodded. "Yeah, yeah," he impressed, brushing his eyes clean. "No—it won't be a problem. Not for me anyway."

"Good," Strange said, content. "Because if we all want to come out alive, we need to stay united."

"Yeah, no, I…" Peter fully turned to Strange, standing up straighter and lifting his chin up. His shoulders squared and eyes forward on the wizard, ready for duty. "I won't let you down."

Strange disputably lifted a brow. "You shouldn't let yourself down," he said, backing away toward the bridge once more.

Peter saw the cloak stayed on his shoulder. "Wait! Doc! Your cloak—"

"Appears to favor you at the moment," Dr. Strange waved an odd gesture, granting an obscured permission for the cloak. "As I said before, it tends to have a mind of its own."

Strange left and Peter remained hugged by the cloak. He looked down at the red fabric, watching it flow and move and rub against his skin in soothing comfort. The child within him appreciated the cloak's comfort, despite his previous attempt to act like the man he wanted to be seen. Far away from home, deep in space, with two individuals he hardly knew or trusted, it was nice to have someone (or something) simply be there to hug him as they propelled to the dangerous unknown.

Peter smiled as he gently pulled the cloak to him.

"This is nice," he murmured to the cloak. "Thanks."

The cloak carefully tightened in assurance, and Peter held onto the Cloak of Levitation as Strange stood up front at the viewport, watching the elongated stars rush passed them, and Mr. Stark rummaging behind him, searching for anything and everything that may be helpful in the upcoming battle.

It'll be okay, Peter thought. It will all work out.

It had to.

Peter sat alone. The Cloak of Levitation long left him to rejoin his master once Mr. Stark returned from wherever he was on the spaceship. He and Dr. Strange stayed up front of the spaceship, huddled by the console to discuss strategies and figure out how to control the steering of the spaceship. Neither of them tried to talk to him, which Peter was fine with. He preferred being alone at the moment. Gave him time to reflect on his life and, hopefully, his future. This battle was the biggest battle in the history of time itself. If they succeed and stop Thanos, they save the universe from the worst. If they fail, Peter will never see his aunt again. Won't be able to apologize for his defiance, for hurting her, for scaring her. For ruining her life.

He hoped she would forgive him. He hoped she would be safe. Protected while he was away, off to fight against the most dangerous being in the galaxy.

Time to be brave, as his Uncle Ben said. Peter needed to be brave. He had to.

There was a shift in speed of the spaceship. Peter looked up and back to the viewport. He noticed the speed changed. Rather than slowing down to land on the incoming planet, it appeared to be careening straight to it.

"Hey, um, what's going on?" Peter piped up as he hurried over to the front.

Dr. Strange studied the impending planet. "I think we're here," he said as the ship closed in on the planet at an alarming rate.

"I don't think this donut has a self-park function," Mr. Stark hurried over to Peter and before Peter could protest, pushed him toward one of the steering mechanisms. "Get your hand inside the steering gimbal. Close those around it. You understand?" Mr. Stark set himself up in the other one. "Peter? Do you understand?"

"Yep, got it," Peter said as he did as was instructed.

"Okay—this was meant for one big guy, so we gotta move at the same time."

Peter knew Mr. Stark didn't mean to sound like a mentor, but it irked Peter nonetheless that Mr. Stark kept up the charade that Peter was his apprentice and needed his guidance on what to do next. Peter wasn't an idiot. He figured it out on his own.

"Okay, okay," Peter said "Ready."

He looked straight back to the viewport, over Dr. Strange's shoulder to see the spaceship pitched and sped directly to the giant, star-like structures that peppered the planet's landscape. What the hell were those?

"We might wanna turn," Mr. Stark called out, exigently. "Turn! Turn! Turn!"

Peter activated his suit, using his mass strength and the extra strength of the suit to pilot the spaceship into landing. It wasn't working! Nothing happened. And Peter's lungs froze, all air sucked out, and his heart dropped out of him as he watched in horror of their imminent crash.

Dr. Strange stepped forward and conjured a golden force field around them as the spaceship collided onto the planet. It bounced them around, jerking them all off their feet as the spaceship snapped in two, both falling to the planet's surface.

Peter let out a fright as he abandoned the gimbal to strap himself to safety. Before he could jump, Iron Man snatched his wrist, pulling him away and forcing him underneath his full Iron Man suit as the ship made impact. There was a loud banging noise and rings that shrilled around them. The spaceship spun out of control, jostling their bodies in every direction, but Mr. Stark never let Peter go. The man held him tight, using his Iron Man suit to shield him as wires, planks and other debris raining on them. Peter clutched onto Mr. Stark's mechanical arm, slamming his eyes shut tight. He prayed for it to end his all of his limbs and organs flipped, tumbled and twisted. He cried out, unintentionally, which made Mr. Stark's grip tighter. Peter wanted it to end. Stop! Stop! Stop!

His prayers were answered a few seconds later as the ship groaned to a tripping halt.

They arrived on the mysterious planet.

There were quick movements around him. Peter opened his eyes to find Strange running over to them.

"You all right?" he asked, extending his hand to help them up.

Mr. Stark reluctantly took it as he struggled to get out of the wreckage that fell on them when they crashed. Once up, Mr. Stark brushed Strange's hand away as he lifted Peter to his feet, looking over him. "Kid? You okay? You hurt?"

Peter nodded.

"You're hurt!" Mr. Stark panicked.

Dr. Strange moved forward too, quickly evaluating every inch of his body to find any external wounds.

Peter shook his head. "No, I mean I'm all right," he clarified to the two adults, watching both their faces relax. "Sorry. I'm fine. Good."

"You're sure?" Dr. Strange asked again for affirmation.

Peter nodded. "Yeah," he stated, sucking in a deep breath as he looked over the wreckage. "God—I hate flying."

Mr. Stark snorted. "No kidding," he quipped as he stepped over the broken railing, coming up to the cracked viewport. "So… this is it, huh? Kind of… dusty."

Peter looked out. The planet felt haunted by its ruins built upon even more ruins of what Peter imagined was a grandeur civilization. Star-shaped structures littered the lands stretched out far to the horizon. Ash and dust filled the air as though the planet was left aflame, burning out of existence. There were pockets where gravity barely existed, leaving dust and debris to float in midair, like it was a marking for a grave. The pale red sky added to the apocalyptic feeling.

Peter didn't have a good feeling about this planet. It's haunted, dead look reminded him too much of every sci-fi horror film he's ever seen. And in every movie, the landing party was always attacked.

Dr. Strange stepped up beside Mr. Stark. "It was once called Titan," he said. "Apparently, it was the home planet to a sophisticated civilization before it plunged itself into death."

"Wow. Really?" Mr. Stark sarcastically remarked. "Hard to believe."

Something kept gnawing at the back of Peter's head. He stared out at the dusty, red, barren field and saw nothing. Yet, his senses tingled and it picked his mind, sending spikes of anxiety through his nervous system. In every sci-fi film he'd seen, nothing ever good came from getting a bad feeling in the middle of nowhere, especially on a dusty, barren planet that they crashed on.

Peter roamed the area, searching for the cause. Searching for the source of his distress as the two adults kept talking to one another.

Something was coming. Someone was coming.

Peter stepped up next to Strange. "Hey, um, let me say, if aliens wind up implanting eggs in my chest or something and I eat one of you, I'm sorry—"

Mr. Stark cut him off with a wave of a disciplinary finger at him. "I do not want another single pop culture reference out of you for the rest of the trip. You understand?"

"Yeah, it's just, I'm trying to say that something is coming," Peter blurted as his spidey-sense went into full activation mode, his body already moving to avoid the danger.

However, neither Strange nor Mr. Stark managed to react fast enough as a metal ball was thrown into the broken ship, rolling up to them. It whined before it exploded, shooting Dr. Strange and Mr. Stark in different directions.

Peter leapt to the ceiling and stayed stuck as he watched a group of bandits spring up out of nowhere, guns and knives ablaze.

"THANOS!" roared an odd-looking humanoid who dressed only in pants and wielded two daggers. He charged right into the ship, throwing his twin blades right at Dr. Strange.

"Doc!" Peter screamed in terror, but Dr. Strange recovered fast enough.

He threw up a golden disk, shielding himself and blocking the blades from doing any harm against him. Then he conjured a magical whip, disarming the charging green-grey skinned humanoid. That didn't halt the humanoid's determination. He kept going until the Cloak of Levitation swooped in, wrapping it around the humanoid's face before pinning it down to the ground.

Peter heard blaster fire and saw Iron Man in action, taking to the skies as he dodged incoming blasts from a masked individual. The two continued to exchange fire, each deftly dodging and blocking the other's blows in midair. Peter scuttled along the ceiling and watched as Mr. Stark gained the upper-hand in the fight.

That was until the masked individual planted a powerful magnet on Mr. Stark's reactor, which left him stuck and squirming against the twisted piece of metal.

Peter immediately dropped from the ceiling to help Mr. Stark, except when he landed, it was right in front of a freaky-looking alien with large black eyes and antennae perched atop of its head.

Peter freaked and stumbled backwards, falling on his butt as the weird alien approached him.

"Please don't put your eggs in me," Peter begged as he backed away from the alien, shooting webs at it to slow it down.

He got up, swerved and looped to evade the bug-like alien, only to be kicked away from fully entrapping the alien by the masked bandit who attacked Mr. Stark earlier.

"Stay down clown," the masked bandit ordered as he went in for another kick.

Peter rolled away, his exoskeleton of four spider legs activating. He hopped and swung around the spaceship's wreckage, trying to get away from the masked bandit who chased after him. It kept shooting blasters at him and Peter used every possible maneuver tactic he ever learned to draw away from the blasts that kept firing too close to comfort for him.

Below him, the half-naked man continued to wrestle with the cloak, trying to free itself and contain the sentient cloth. "Die blanket of death!" the man bellowed.

But, his attempt would be utter pointless because Mr. Stark managed to free himself. He flew straight to the embattled half-naked man, looming over him with his weapons fully activated. Peter gaped, his heart pounding hard in chest in fear that Mr. Stark was going to shoot the unarmed man.

His compatriots must have thought that too, because suddenly, Peter was struck from behind and snatched up. Peter tried to squirm out, but the masked man pulled him in and pressed his blaster right into the side of his head.

Peter instantly stiffened, immobilized.

"Everybody stay where you are. Chill the fuck out," the masked man ordered. He reached up and touched the side of his mask, deactivating it to reveal… well, a man. He looked exactly like a human from Earth.

The former masked man turned to Iron Man. "I'm gonna ask you this one time," he warned, shoving the gun further into Peter's temple. "Where's Gamora?"

Peter saw Iron Man's eyes glow red. "Yeah?" he challenged, raising his faceplate and Peter saw Mr. Stark's face. Eyes bulging, mouth pressed thin in scorn, and muscle tensed, ready to unleash damage. "I'll do you one better who's Gamora?"

"I'll do you one better!" cried out the half-naked man from below, still pinned by the Cloak of Levitation. "Why is Gamora?"

That drew an awkward and bemusing quietness among the armed group.

The former masked man ignored it, acting like it was used to such outrageous nonsense. He turned right back to Mr. Stark, still pointing the blaster at Peter's head. "Tell me where the girl is or I swear to you, I'm going to French fry this little freak."

And the man dug his blaster deeper into Peter's skull to the point Peter cringed and winced at the uncomfortable pressure. Which ended up not being a good response, as, suddenly, Mr. Stark's blaster morphed into a gigantic gun, the barrel mere inches from the half-naked man's face.

"You wanna go? Let's do this," Mr. Stark yelled at the man, that terrifying rage boiling to the surface. "You shoot my guy and I'll blast yours into a billion tiny pieces that he basically be nothing but ash! C'mon, let's go!"

Mr. Stark's menacing weapon whined and it grew brighter, blue light reflecting off the half-naked man's chest.

The half-naked man was unafraid. "Do it, Quill!" he shouted, lifting his hands in surrender and braced himself. "I can take it."

"No, he can't!" yelled a child-like voice from behind them.

"She's right," came Dr. Strange's collected voice as he approached, still armed with his golden disks. He flickered a glance to the threatened man. "You can't."

The man holding Peter—Quill, as his companion dubbed him—glared at Iron Man and Dr. Strange. "Oh yeah? You don't want to tell me where she is? That's fine. I'll kill all three of you and I'll beat it out of Thanos myself," The man tightened his grip on Peter, "starting with you."

Mr. Stark's other arm flicked up, again morphing it another large weapon as his shoulders expanded, bringing up armed missiles and aiming it directly at Quill's head. "You harm a single hair on that kid—"

This was getting out of hand. Peter needed to act quickly to get out of the man's hold. Then he realized something. Something Quill said. "Wait! Wait… wait," Peter shouted to lessen the growing tension. "Thanos? Did you say you want to beat Thanos?"

Quill scrunched his face at him. "Gotta a problem with me beating the crap out of your master?"

"Wait? What?" Dr. Strange leaned forward, catching Quill's eyes. "All right, let me ask you this one time—what master do you serve?"

"What master do I serve?" Quill repeated with incredulity. "What am I supposed to say? Jesus?"

Mr. Stark stared at him, realization beginning to form. "You're from Earth," he stated, his face still creased with hidden terror and fury at Quill for pressing the blaster into Peter's skull.

Quill indignantly stared at Mr. Stark. "I'm not from Earth. I'm from Missouri."

"Yeah, that's on Earth, moron. What are you hassling us for?" Mr. Stark barked, frustrated that the man has yet to lower his weapon.

"You're not with Thanos, right?" Peter followed-up, his voice sounding muffled and tiny.

"With Thanos?" Quill acted reproached by the question. "No! I'm here to kill Thanos. He took my girl… wait, who are you people?"

Quill finally lowered his blasters from Peter's head, which Peter used the moment to reveal his face. His mask retracted, shocking Quill as the latter jumped a little. Then, the man's eyes went wide when he saw Peter's full face.

Quill immediately let Peter go. "You're a fucking kid!"

"No, I'm not!" Peter hated being called that. Hated being seen as just a child when he could do more than any mere child.

Quill derisively snorted. "You look like a baby," he commented. "What are you? Twelve?"

"Fifteen!"

"Sixteen," Mr. Stark corrected and when Peter shot him a baffled look, he added, "Your birthday was yesterday, kid."

Was it really? Did he miss his birthday? Granted, he didn't even know what month they were in, let alone to know his birthday passed. It wasn't the first thing to come up. But, why didn't his aunt say anything? She would know. Unless all the recent stress and turmoil caused her to forget too.

Peter looked down, studying his hands, arms, chest, legs and feet, half-expecting to suddenly grow; and yet, knowing the impossibility of instant growth happening at that moment. Still, he couldn't believe he missed his birthday. His sweet sixteen birthday. He had all these ideas he wanted to do… people to celebrate with… and he missed it!

"I'm sixteen?"

Mr. Stark's following statement was overrun by Quill's interjection. "Yeah, whatever, happy birthday, squirt," he remarked, his face still set with distrust. "Now, who the hell are you people?"

"We're the Avengers," Mr. Stark sharply answered, liking Quill less and less.

That same child-like voice cried overhead in a panic. "You're the ones Thor told us about!"

Mr. Stark stopped in his tracks. "You know Thor?"

"Yeah. Tall guy, not that good-looking, needed saving," Quill rattled on, describing Thor in terms Peter would never associate with the famed God of Thunder.

Dr. Strange looked interested. His gold disks disappeared, and he approached the group. Mr. Stark powered down his weapons while simultaneously pulling Peter out of harm's way.

"Where is he?" Dr. Strange asked, sounding impatient for the first time since Peter met the man. "Where is Thor right now?"

Quill shrugged. "Don't know. Something about off to create a Titan killing weapon," he answered. "I don't know the place."

Strange looked disappointed, but still resolved in what must be done. "Can we assume that you will not try to kill us?" he asked, "seeing as we are all after the same thing?"

Quill eyed Mr. Stark, looking at the Iron Man suit with grave suspicions. It didn't help that Mr. Stark glared at the man, his mouth a thin line straight across his face.

But Quill slowly nodded, strapping his blaster to his holster. "You're here to kill Thanos too?" he questioned. "What did he do to you?"

"He tried to destroy New York," Peter answered, "But, how do you not know that? You're from Earth! How can you not—"

"Kid or whoever you are—"

"Peter. Peter Parker."

A tiny squeal came from behind Quill as the bug alien hopped beside him. "You are Peter too? Are all males from Terra called Peter?"

"Terra?" Peter bunched his eyebrows, darting looks between the three newcomers. "What—"

"She means Earth," Quill inserted to clarify.

"It is weird all Terran males are called Peter," added the half-naked man, standing upright after Strange ordered the cloak to release him. He kept his small, glaring eyes on the cloak though, frowning at it. "It makes sense that you go by Quill. Less confusing."

Peter whirled back to Quill. "Your name's Peter too?"

Quill shuffled his feet. "Peter's my first name. Quill's my last name," he answered, but then cocked his head. "But most people call me Star-Lord."

"Star-Lord?" Peter sounded it out, finding the name somewhat cool and ridiculous. Mr. Stark only looked exasperated by the name. He actually looked

"No one calls you that," the half-naked man stated. "Only you."

Quill inhaled sharply and shallow. "Point is… yeah. My name's also Peter, but you can call me Star-Lord. To avoid confusion."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Star-Lord," Peter extended his hand to officially greet and welcome Star-Lord into their little group, but Mr. Stark stuck out his arm to cut him off.

"And what exactly are you guys?" Mr. Stark confronted, dissecting their small group with disdain. "How do we know to trust you? Haven't exactly been welcoming nor forth coming with information about yourselves. Who exactly are you?"

Peter pouted, glowering up at Mr. Stark for the man's instant distrust. He acknowledged they all got on the wrong foot at the beginning, but that was due to a misunderstanding. Peter didn't hold a grudge against Star-Lord for his actions. The man lost someone to Thanos. Someone of great importance for him to be that dramatic and desperate. Also, they knew Thor! That meant they were good. Thor wouldn't be hanging around criminals or anyone associated with Thanos.

But Star-Lord didn't act offended at all. Rather, the corner of his lips tugged up into a smirk, hands on his hips as he puffed out his chest. His gaze cool, cocky even.

"We're the Guardians of the Galaxy."