One

They came back almost immediately. All of them. Every single person that Thanos had killed came back. Even Vision minus the Infinity Stone lodge into his head, but he was back.

Tony Stark could still hear the shrieks that Wanda had made as she had wrapped her arms around him while the rest of the population slowly reappeared. Tony guessed that he was going to have that image stuck in his head for the rest of his life.

It seemed like poetic justice. Thanos was dead. Everyone who had died came back to life. All was well in the world again. Rocket had been reunited with his fellow guardians, Thor had given Loki a huge bear hug (and weirdly, Loki did not complain), and everyone started to slowly re appear. Some took longer than others, but everyone eventually made their way back home.

Tony couldn't help, but smile. Strange had been right. It had been the only way. He hadn't told this to him of course, Tony would never admit it, but he had given him a curt nod which was almost the same thing.

Peter.

Peter had been one of the last ones to appear. He wasn't surprise, he was an overdramatic little shit. He had appeared in the middle of New York, looking confused and clinging to his mask. He barely registered when Tony hugged him and could barely say a few words that Tony barely understood.

Tony just like having him, he liked feeling his warm body, liked hearing his beating heart, hell he was even cool with the non-stop chattering if it meant that the kid was alive and that he didn't have blood on his hands.

Peter had appeared confused for a few seconds because who wouldn't be? After all he had "died" for some time. Well, in reality he had been trapped in one of the infinity stones, but now he was alive again.

"Mr. Stark, Aunt May is going to kill me," it was one of the first things that came out of Peter's mouth and the kid looked so terrified that the only thing that Tony could do was laugh. "I mean it was bad enough when she found out that I was Spiderman, now she is really going to kill me."

Tony laughed. "Let me handle your aunt, kid. I'm sure half of the population being killed is a good enough excuse for disappearing in the middle of a school trip. Though it's probably a good idea that it does not repeat itself."

Some of the color returned to Peter's pale face. "Mr. Stark, I don't think I'm going to be up in the air any time soon."

Tony laughed, his muscles seemed to relax, and all seemed to be right in the world. "Kid, believe me if there is one place where you should be right now is down on the ground."

With the help of Dr. Strange and Wanda they managed to restore New York to it's original shiny, crowded condition. Aunt May had hugged Peter so tightly that Peter almost swore that Aunt May had broken a lung. The guardians returned home as well as Loki and Thor. Pepper nearly yelled Tony's ear off, but she had covered him in kisses as well.

The government was so grateful to the Avengers and Co. that Steve and the rest of his "criminal" friends were officially pardoned and they were able to live the rest of their lives in peace (everyone was thrilled with the exception of General Ross, but Tony could care less about him.)All was well in the world.

For a while anyway.


Two Months Later. . .

"You talk to him."

"Why do I have to talk to him? You're his best friend. You two have practically been together since you were in diapers."

"The last time I tried to talk to him he almost bit my head off. Besides you're Captain of the debate team and you were the one that schedule the extra practice."

"Because we need the extra practice. We stunk last time."

"Yeah, because of Parker. He's such an airhead."

"Shut it, Flash."

If there was one thing that Peter hated about his enhance abilities was that he had enhance hearing which meant that he could hear the conversation that his teammates were having behind his back. Peter gripped his backpack and forced himself to count 1. . .2. . .3. He knew that he had been losing his temper lately. And he didn't mean too (most of the time), but he just felt so stressed and irritable lately which was just plain weird. The earth was safe and Thanos was gone. Then why was he so damn mad?

In the past few weeks, Peter hadn't felt like himself. He had felt strange: angry, irritated, and moody. He had been lashing out at everyone Ned, MJ, and Aunt May. They had been patient with him, but it wasn't fair to them. Peter knew that and yet he couldn't exactly pinpoint why he was feeling this way.

You know why, a little voice told him, because you haven't heard from him.

The him that Peter was referring to was none other than Tony Stark. His mentor. His friend. Or so he though. In the past two months, despite everything that they had gone though, Tony had contacted him only once and that had only been to recommend him some place that sold Chinese food.

All of Peter's messages to him went unanswered or at the very least a cranky Happy would tell him to stop calling because he was giving him a headache.

And Peter didn't understand what the deal was and why he was treating him this way. Had he done anything to offend him? He didn't think so, yet Tony was acting as if Peter had killed his parents.

"Um, Peter?"

Peter turned around and softened when he saw Ned, this was the first time that his friend looked generally afraid of him. Had he been such an asshole in less than two months that his friend looked generally afraid to ask him something?

Deep breaths, relax, Peter told himself, you're safe. Thanos is dead. You're safe.

"Yeah, Ned?"

"MJ scheduled an extra practice today," Ned fidgeted with his coat. "Are you going to stay? The competition is next week."

"I can't buddy," Peter said as he gripped his mask in one hand that he had practically rolled into a small ball. "Duty calls. There won't be a friendly neighborhood without Spiderman."

"But Peter-"

Peter didn't hear him. He was already gone.

-End of Chapter One-