Explosions shook the ground and fire raged around them, as twisted metal lay scattered. Tony blocked it all out until he heard that scream.

Gangly limbs, those of a teenager that hadn't yet reached the end of his growth spurt, flew across his vision, and his heart leapt in his chest.

Peter hit the ground hard, thrown by one of the twisted alien figures that Thanos had summoned. He rolled, body smashing over rocks and debris until finally coming to a stop, in a crumpled heap.

The battlefield was nothing but sound, and destruction, but it was all silent as a church for Tony. All he could see was that body, writhing in agony, weakly trying to protect himself from the monster looming above him.

Every thought left Tony's mind, every distraction and sound, except his need to protect the kid that he'd brought into this mess.

Lights flashed and explosions boomed loud in his ears as he pummelled the alien creature into the ground, killing it for the transgression of even touching his kid.

He panted as he looked down at the body of the thing he'd killed, out of breath, but not from the fight. He almost didn't want to turn around, he didn't want to see Peter so hurt. But what else could he do.

He could hear the small whimpers coming from the wounded form behind him, and he swallowed his guilt and ran towards the boy, kneeling down beside him as he took off his own mask.

"Peter, shh, I need you to calm down and take some deep breaths for me. I'm going to take your mask off."

The battle around them raged but it was growing distant, the others taking the fight away from their new team member.

Peter was trying to curl into himself, hands shaking as he tried to press against his damaged chest to stop the bleeding. But it hurt so badly he could only let out pained gasps as he tried to follow his hero's instruction.

He tried to remain still as he sucked air into his trembling lips, and he blinked against the light as his mask came off.

Tony's worried face hovered above him, scratched and bloodied from his own wounds in battle.

Peter tried to speak through his fear and pain, his crushed ribs making it difficult to pull in air.

"I'm sorry, Tony." The older man held his shoulder as he surveyed the damage to the kid. The alien had smashed into him, breaking bones across his chest, and one of its clawed hands had pierced through his suit. He was bleeding, badly, and if they didn't get help for him soon…

"Shh, kid. You're gonna be okay."

"I'm sorry."

Tony shook his head, tears threatening to fall as he took Peters shaking hands and pressed them to the wound. There was too much blood, slipping down the teenager's side to stain the ground beneath him, and Tony knew that image would visit him in sleep for the rest of his life.

He took a deep breath and tried to quell his rising panic.

"You don't have anything to apologize for. You did great out there, but you have to stay still now and let me fix this."

Peter managed a weak nod, breath coming in erratic pants as his eyes grew unfocussed.

"Okay."

Tony didn't know what to do, they'd never reach help in time. God, this was all his fault.

"I'm so sorry Peter, I shouldn't have gotten you into this."

Those intelligent eyes, usually so bright and excited, were glassy as he blinked up at the sky, body growing weaker under Stark's hands.

"No, this is the dream. I mean, not this part…this part sucks." His voice was growing faint, and Tony quickly sent a message to another team member through his suit, hoping they'd be able to help.

"But I get to be a hero and help people…or got to, I guess. Aunt May is gonna be so upset."

Damn this kid. Tony quickly wiped at his eyes, knowing he had to do something before Peter bled out under his hands.

"Peter, I have to-"

Those eyes snapped to Tony's, pleading and so, so young.

"Can you look after her for me? She doesn't have anyone else. I wrote…her a letter, just in case anything happened to me…I wrote one for Ned too. Can you…make sure they get them? Please?"

Tony shook his head, clenching his teeth, because no, he would not be losing Peter.

"You can talk to them once we get you fixed up and back home, all right?"

Those blood slick fingers curled around Tony's as the kid looked up at him.

"I wrote one for you and Happy too. To say thank you…They're in my bedroom. Well, I guess you'll…be able to see them in the camera footage from the suit huh."

He was already giving up, he hadn't even finished school yet and he was bleeding out in the dirt, and saying goodbye. Tony's voice was harder than he meant it to be.

"No! You're not going anywhere, you're going to be fine because I am going to fix this."

Peter squeezed Tony's hand and coughed, red coating his lips in a splatter of colour.

"It hurts so bad. And I'm-" He coughed again, eyes squeezing shut from the pain it elicited in his chest. He finished his sentence with a raspy breath that tasted of copper.

"I'm scared." His voice shook, as tears pooled in his eyes, trailing down his temples, and he looked so damn young. Tony's strength crumbled, and he ducked his head as tears fell. Peter was a child, he didn't deserve this.

"Peter."

Footsteps came, quick and quiet across the debris around them, and Tony spun to face whoever it was.

Mantis, came across the rubble to meet them, her gentle face awash with concern as her huge eyes took in the figure on the ground.

"You called for my help. I cannot heal him."

Tony relaxed a little, and nodded at her. "I know, but I need to seal this wound and it's going to hurt. I need you to help him with the pain."

The girl…alien… being, came to kneel at Peters head, gently placing her hands at his temples. She tilted her head, as if thinking about something, before looking to Stark.

"He is in agony, he is also afraid. He wants to see the people the loves one more time."

Tony clenched his teeth. "I know. I need you to make him feel better."

She blinked and turned back to the boy, his heavy eyes finding it hard to stay open. His face relaxed a little, the lines of pain smoothing just enough to allow him to breath deeper.

Tony didn't want to do it, but he needed to if he wanted to save the kid.

"Peter, I'm so sorry but I have to close this wound. I have to stop the bleeding. It's going to hurt but I need you to try and stay awake. Do you understand me?"

Those eyes slowly drifted to Stark, blinking a few times, before he finally nodded. He was fading fast.

Tony made a few adjustments to the blast settings in his suit, selecting a beam he'd never had the cause to use before now. Lifting a hand, he hovered it over Peters chest, and moved the kids shaking hands away.

He looked to those eyes once more, seeing the trust in them. Trust he didn't deserve.

"I'm sorry."

The light beam turned on, and Peter began to scream. His body writhed underneath Tony's hold, as he tried to escape the pain. Tony did his best to hold him down but he had only one arm to use.

He was attempting to cauterize the stab wound with a low beam, and although it worked, it was not an ideal option. Peter could go into shock from the pain alone, and Tony would have done anything to take the pain away.

Screams of agony tore through Peters throat, piercing the air, and making Tony's heart ache with guilt and grief.

Mantis was quietly trying to shush the boy, grunting in discomfort as she tried to take some of the pain for him. She could block some of the pain, but there was so much of it, it all came rushing through at once.

It was almost done, the wound was sealing, but the air smelt like burnt flesh and blood, and Peters screams were turning into broken sobs, and Tony couldn't listen anymore.

"Please, stop! Please, it hurts!"

"Knock him out, make him go to sleep, Mantis, now!"

The alien nodded, sending a command to sleep through the boy's head. It was like a gentle hand across a cheek, or a soft smile and a whispered word; it calmed the mind and left nothing but peace. The screaming faded to weak sobs, and his body slumped to the ground, tear-filled eyes falling shut as he succumbed to the darkness.

The sobs faded, leaving nothing but shallow pants behind, and the sound of the beam burning.

Tony shut the beam off once the wound was sealed, and placed two fingers at the kid's throat, watching that chest rise and fall in shallow, strained heaves as he listened to Peters heartbeat.

Thhumpthump…thump…thump…..thumpthump

It was much too weak and erratic, but it was there, and Tony sighed in relief as he took one of the younger man's hands in his.

"You'll be okay kid, just hang on."

Mantis released her hold on Peter and watched as Tony gathered the teenager in his arms. Being as careful as he could, he cradled the limp body to his chest.

"I'm going to get him somewhere safe, I'll be back but I have to make sure he's okay first."

The alien nodded, and touched a finger to Tony's forehead. Suddenly his mind was calm, and he could think clearly about what needed to be done. Her voice was kind.

"You will save him."

He nodded to her in thanks and left. He would save him.