nostalgiabomb | riverview: ic contact;

[Peter looks after where the other looks — just to fit in, sure, but he also uses that extra hearing of his to try and sense anything in the other room. And once Big Pete seems comfortable talking, Peter gives him his full attention, brows knitted together as he takes it in, bit by bit.

By the time Quill's done explaining, though, he looks —

Kinda freaked out and speechless for a second there, actually.

Sorry, Big Pete, did you wanna explain that a lot less horrifically???????]

[ that

that... was the less horrific explanation........

Peter sees the look of abject horror on the kid's face and offers a sympathetic shrug. ]

Yeah. I know. That's about how I reacted when Gamora told me more about him, too.

[O-oh, cool, cool cool, less horrific. Cool.

He swallows down the feeling of being really tiny in the grand scheme of doom and potential mass murder and nods. Alright, no, no time to let that kinda thing totally shut you up, Peter Parker.]

How exactly is he gonna do something that crazy? There's no way.

[ Another nervous glance toward the door, like he expects Gamora to barge in at any second.

She hadn't reacted well to Mantis' story; mentions of Thanos tended to have that effect on her. Peter's a little worried that if Gamora overhears him offering up these explanations, it might set her off all over again. ]

You sure you wanna know?

[ Considering the way Little Pete had completely frozen like a deer in headlights. ]

[There's definitely hesitation at first, there's no doubt. Is this all of the shit that Mr. Stark was stuck thinking about? Is this why he came back stabbed and on edge? The concern is palpable, the hairs on his arms and neck standing on end. It's not his haywire spider senses; it's all him.

But he sighs softly.]

I'm gonna be involved, so I might as well know what we're all getting into, right?

[He's not sure if Mr. Stark would want him to know, if this is all connected.

But he's here, and it's a conversation happening. So.]

Yeah. I guess so.

[ It's really the only reason Peter's willing to offer up the information. He knows that the kid gets involved – god only knows why – and that he's there with them on Titan.

(A part of him had felt like this was all some weird prophecy from a sword and shield movie. "And you shall stand among dust and stone with three fellow Terran warriors...") ]

... How 'bout you tell me what you know, and I can fill in the blanks?

[ Because he already messed up the kid once. If he overshares, he might actually send Little Pete into a catatonic state. ]

Uuuum. I know we end up on a planet called — Titan? And I came with a couple of other people to help beat this Thanos guy. I'm assuming one was Mr. Stark, because Mantis called him the Armored Guy, so I might've... I dunno, been helping him out.

[He's pretty sure Tony would be completely against it, so either it's so utterly grave a situation that he's made exceptions, or Peter has once again made terrible life choices behind Mr. Stark's back.]

There was a wizard guy. I have no clue who that is, but I guess he's with us?

And we were on one of Thanos' ships, and —

— you were totally gonna shoot me!

Uncool man.

[Yes, he stopped his info-dump to point and be offended.]

You probably pissed me off.

[ Simple as that.

Plus, all of Peter's best friendships started with the other folks either trying to maim or kidnap him, or threatening to kill him. That's just the preferred dialogue with the Guardians, really, and Peter has been hanging out with them for too long. ]

You know much about the Infinity Stones?

I sure hope I did, because then I'll feel even-stevens.

[A fidgety pause.

... Infinity Stones...? If the confusion on his face wasn't answer enough, he shakes his head.]

Nothing, I guess. What are they?

[ He takes a breath, trying to remember how Tivan had described them and what Mantis had shared of the events leading up to Titan.

His gaze flicks to the kid again, measuring and considering, trying to decide if the kid can really handle this info dumb – not intellectually, because Pete seems smart as hell, but emotionally, because this is potentially some heavy shit.

... But, Peter figures. Little Pete did ask, so... ]

They're these little gems. Six of them, reflecting different aspects of the universe. They're supposed to be literally older than existence and super powerful. Celestials used to wield them, I think, but beyond them, anyone who touches them with their bare hands tends to be obliterated by them.

[ Peter doesn't realize it, but his left hand clenches into a tight fist. Briefly, he thinks of Ego, thinks of the weird mix of pride and awe on that psychopathic bastard's face when he mentioned what he had heard of Peter wielding the Infinity Stone on Xandar.

He shoves the image out of his mind. ]

Individually, they're dangerous. Together, though, they're— well. They can be universe-ending. Practically unstoppable.

[ A beat. ]

You can guess what Thanos is after.

[He looks serious as a sin while Peter lays it all out, but braced for it — it stands to reason that if Big Pete had been so unsure if he should tell him, it wasn't some little deal, especially not if it could wipe out half of everything out there.

It's a lot. Yeah, it's definitely a lot. He can't honestly wrap his head around the idea that little stones could be the root cause of so much pain and misery. Sure, he had dealt with a chitauri core, but that's obviously nothing in comparison. Did Mr. Stark know about a lot of this...? Does Thor or the others know?

He nods, eyes closed.]

... But we're gonna stop him.

[He sits up, hands on his knees. It's weird to say 'we', because never in a million freaking years did Peter think he'd be hanging out in space with Tony and these guys, potentially taking on some dude who wants to kill half the galaxy off. When the horror is sort of shook off, he kind of is a little offended at Thanos, actually.

It kind of all pisses him off.

If this guy gets his hands on this stuff and ends half the universe, then Aunt May, Ned, MJ, Happy — they're all in trouble. Everyone he loves is in danger because there's some crazy guy out in space threatening everyone with magical stones. How ridiculous is that?]

It's just another crazy jerk-off with some big stupid vendetta — and we'll be there to kick his ass, right?

Like — fuck that guy!

[peter

learn a couple of traumatic things and suddenly you're a cuss machine]

[ That totally startles him, and he barks out a laugh.

Mistake, though, and he flinches, curling a little and pressing a hand against his side. ]

Shit.

Ow.

[ He takes a few seconds to breathe the warning flare of pain, then, slightly strained but 100% amused, ]

Language.

[Oops, that melted the defiant tough curseboy immediately, and he hovers worried hands at Peter like the useless nerd he is.]

Ohmygod, sorry! Sorry — Do I need to get you something for that or—

[WAIT A FUCKING SECOND!]

Hey, don't laugh at me! I was totally serious there!

I'm not.

[ Still a little breathless, as he forces himself to straighten, taking a deep breath. Fuck that hurts. ]

I just wasn't aware you knew that word.

[ ... okay. he might be laughing at pete. but only a little. ]

C'mon, man... I'm a fifteen year old boy, of course I know the word.

[You're just trying to embarrass him now, lord have mercy.

He's not some goody two-shoes, okay? Sheesh.

...... Maybe he is a little.]

My point is, we're gonna handle it. So — so whatever happens, we'll get it taken care of, because we're all apart of some pretty awesome teams who'll give it everything they got, right? It sounds pretty scary, but so does prom.

[That was a joke, by the way. But less of a joke would be this — spoken with more gravity, in a prodding, cautious way; he's sure Peter knows about Gamora being taken as well, because his teammate would've laid it all out on the line, yeah?]

Besides, I pinky-swore to Mantis I'd help you guys get back one of your own.

I can't exactly break a pinky promise once it's set in stone.

[ His amusement falls away instantly when he brings up Gamora, if indirectly.

That's been on his mind. A lot. Gamora hated Thanos, was terrified of him, so the thought of that bastard having taken her, of Peter having failed her—

It hurts. A lot. And his mind shies away from it, even as he tries to think of ways he might be able to alter their course, once he's home. Maybe there's a chance he remembers everything, once he's back. Maybe there's a chance his experiences – his powers – in Riverview will go back with him, and they can fix things. Take down Thanos before the bastard is even a blip on their radar.

But that's wishful thinking, Peter thinks. But wishful thinking is a whole lot better than the choking helplessness that takes him over when he thinks on all this for too long. ]

... I might have to hold you to that, too.

[ Even if he says it lightly, there's a dark little thread that still runs through his voice. ]

[Yeah, well, Peter doesn’t like that dark thread. But it’s mostly a matter of worrying about Peter’s state of mind than anything else. So he considers the moment at hand right now, chewing on his lip before shifting his feet and leaning in to offer a curved pinky finger.]

... Well, then I might as well pinky swear with you, too.

I’ll help out wherever anyone needs me. And I’ll try my best to keep up with... whatever happens, whenever it happens.

I promise.

[ Peter blinks at the kid for a second or two. He'd call the kid out on how ridiculous pinky swearing on this is, but—

Well.

Peter has totally pulled the same shit before.

It's why he lets out a breath, something that might actually be a laugh, before he crooks his own pinky around the kid's. ]

Same from me. You have my word.

[He grins, a little more at ease.

But lord, he's gonna have a lot to think about. It can wait, at least.]

Sweet. It's a deal.

[His smile fades, just a little, and he doesn't release the pinky swear just yet.]

... And, uh. Can you — promise to also... not tell Mr. Stark I know about all of this?

If it comes up.

—Uh.

[ Nope, okay, Peter will be pulling his hand back now. ]

... Why?

[ In that slow, cautious way that makes it all too obvious that Peter is realizing that he maybe shouldn't have shared this much information with Little Pete.

It's like in a sitcom, when a kid wants to go to a party by asking their dad after their mom has already told them no.

Is Peter the clueless dad? ]

... Aw, shoot. I totally thought that would work, too...

[He says it with a sheepish smile and a hint of knowing this second promise was not gonna succeed.

Cue the laugh track???]

It’s just — Mr. Stark hasn’t said anything about this, and I don’t even know if it’s connected or not, but he ended up in the hospital over something from home. And if he doesn’t want me to know, it might be because he doesn’t wanna freak me out? Or maybe he thinks it’s his problem? But he hasn’t mentioned a peep to me about the reason he’s been acting worried, so I haven’t asked, but—!!

[Slow down Peter, stop fumbling with the edges of your dorky buttoned shirt tails.]

He’s got stuff going on and he doesn’t need to freak about me knowing that I’m stuck in space getting ready to fight weird alien mass murderers! I can be in blissful ignorance around him and he can feel a little better about whatever’s messing with him.

[... you’re the clueless dad.]

[ that is.

a lot to take in.

And when it does, Peter groans, slouching back against the pillows and covering his face with his hands. ]

Oh, come on. [ Completely dismayed. ] Dude.

[ is stark going to kick peter's ass

only time will tell ]

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