Marvel One-Shots [NO REQUESTS]

A GHOST OF THE PAST [+ A/N ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE END]

It was over. The Infinity War was over, the snap had been reversed, but it hadn't come without it's sacrifices. Arguably, no one had lost more in the final fight than Peter.

Mid battle, Peter had made eye contact with Dr Strange when carrying the gauntlet. They had talked before arriving back on earth, they both knew what would have to happen if they wanted their planet to become relatively peaceful once more. Peter knew what he had to do, not matter how much he longed for there to be another way.

Tony was facing off Thanos, unaware of what the kid was doing only a few meters away. He only realised when Thanos started to look over his shoulder. There he saw Peter, the infinity stones embedded into the hand of his suit, power radiating around him.

"Peter?"

If Peter heard his mentor, he didn't let it show. His eyes were locked with Thanos, his hand moving into position to snap. Time seemed to slow down, Stark was frozen where he stood and watched in horror as Peter harnessed the power of the stones.

Thanos and his army faded to dust all over the universe. Most people watched in a strange fascination but not Tony, he ran towards Peter as his knees buckles and fell to the ground. Something odd was happening, he was also fading slightly from where the stones had been but was still alive. He wasn't as strong as the Hulk, he was human and he was dying.

Peter was propped up against the side of a crashed ship by a frantic Tony. The teenagers eyes were glassy with only a trace of life in them and they slowly flickered to Stark's face. Through the pain, he was comforted by his mentor cupping the side of his face with his hand, begging him to stay awake.

"Karen, remove his mask," Tony muttered, his eyes meeting Peter's as his face became visible "Hey kiddo, you did it. You saved us, you just have to stay with me, okay?" He didn't care about the tears threatening to spill down his face, he had to stay strong.

Pepper walked up behind him, crouching by her husbands side and placed a hand on his shoulder "Tony." She spoke quietly and softly.

"Peter? I'm sorry I couldn't save you, you should of let me do it," He rested his forehead against Peter's, his voice dropping to a whisper "It's not your fault. It never was."

"Love... you too... Tony." Peter's voice was hoarse and he struggled to finish his sentence, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Only Tony heard his final words before his head fell limp into Stark's hand, his life leaving him for the last time.

It took a while for Tony to even leave his lab after that. Surprisingly, he didn't touch the bar in the Compound, he couldn't drown his grief in alcohol. He remembered how Peter had reacted when he had almost relapsed, making him promise to talk to him when he found things hard. But Peter wasn't there anymore.

Late into the night, he received a message from May. They'd stayed in touch after the war, creating an unlikely friendship between the two. She obviously was also losing sleep over her sorrow and decided to reach out. However, May hadn't sent a sweet message, just a few words and a video.

'He would of wanted you to see it.'

Knowing exactly who she was referring to, Tony asked Friday to pull up the video sent from May on the holographic screen. He was greeted with the ever youthful face of Peter Parker, adjusting his camera on a stack of something while sitting on his bed.

"Hey Mr Stark!" He beamed, his voice filling the room through the surround sound system Tony had rigged up, originally for music "I thought I may as well record this, you know, just in case. It's been a week after Homecoming and I guess I've only just realised that... that I might not always be around."