Summary: Stephen can’t help it. No one can.
Warnings: cussing, mild spoilers though i did change some things from the scene and tried to not use as much from the actual scene, mistakes, angst. Inspired by this post
Stephen was very apprehensive, thinking over how to respond to those before him. Having been asked what he was doing, he didn't want to speak of it. He knew this was the only way. He saw it was the only way. He knew what was to come and though he feels he should tell them, he can't. Yeah, for the most part he's in tune with his emotions now, knows how to handle them and how to act upon them.
This? This was different . It was life and death. It was his life. The love of his life's life. The boy who he grew to love and care for? His life. It was the entire world's life at hands. The time was coming and there was nothing he could do. Nothing anyone can do, and that terrified him.
"I went forward in time to see all the possible outcomes of the present situation." Stephen responds.
One of the guardians, Peter, responded with a, "How many did you see?"
"How many did we win?" the familiar voice of his love spoke. With a quiet gulp, Stephen responds.
As time passed, he watched an excited Peter join them, becoming over the moon when he found out he was officially an Avenger. The boy was living his best life. Stephen knew that it would only go downhill from here. Thanos arrived and the fighting began. Stephen knew they could only fight for so long, they could only do so much.
The part that hit him the most was having to put them in the position that they are destined to be in. He had to watch them, Tony and Peter, both suffer in different ways. Had to realize that the only plausible outcome would be with Tony stuck on this earth alone while Peter and Stephen die.
So during the battle, Stephen tries his best to reassure the two that things will be alright no matter the outcome. But if everyone can tell Stephen was reassuring himself more than Peter or Tony. Realistically, would it be? Tony and Peter don't know, but they sure do hope. Stephen, well he knows it won't be okay. Not in the long run. He can't see anything past his imminent death. He can't see if Tony will heal, he can't see if Tony follows or continues to fight and find a way to save them. Everyone knows that as much as Tony loves being a superhero and as much as he basks in the glory, he wouldn't be doing it for the world, because the world can go fuck itself. He'll be selfish and only do it if it brings back the two he loves the most. He's already lost enough in life; Pepper, Harley, his mother. He lost a lot and Stephen knows, so who knows what Tony will do.
Then Stephen takes in the sight of Peter, excitedly swinging around fighting the giant purple alien. He admires the youth in this kid, the optimism. A pang of guilt overcomes Stephen at the thought of this kid, being stuck in the stone for as long as he will be. He feels guilt that he knows the kid's death is just mere seconds away. He feels his heartbreak and finally he understands how helpless Tony felt when Obadiah took the reactor from his chest. He understands how helpless Peter felt when he got crushed under the rubble of the fallen building. The only difference here is that they managed to get out of the situation. They managed to get back up and to continue fighting. Stephen's fight was different. Not as physical as theirs. He had to fight to keep the time stone, though ultimately knowing there's no way it'll happen. Knowing it's a fight he'll lose.
The time comes where Stephen had to hand the stone to Thanos. Everyone gave him a concerned glare. What was he doing? Why was he doing it? Stephen managed to mutter out something about it being the only way. He could feel his throat close up, his eyes sting as the stone is firmly placed on the gauntlet. He turns and look as Peter and hie frowns. The boy he loves like his own, what a tragic fate.
With the snap of his fingers, Thanos kills off half the population. One by one they perish and Stephen watches.
"Stephen you never mentione-"
Before he knew it, Tony was watching his love disintegrate before him, followed by the boy he saw as his own.
"Mr. Stark, I don't feel so good." Peter says, fear coating every word. He felt it coming a while ago, but he was fighting it. He knew it was coming at some point, but he didn't want it to happen. He's been fighting it. But now it's here and there's no more fighting it. Peter collapses into Tony's arms as Tony mumbles something about him being fine, that he'll be okay. But the can both sense it's not true.
"I don't wanna go. Please, I don't wanna go." Peter cries. Tony holds the young boy in his arms, tears stinging at his eyes. Then, he turns to dust, disintegrating and disappearing in the wind, leaving a distraught Tony Stark behind.
There remains an angry, grieving, guilty Tony. His eyes wide as he focuses his eyes on anything but the spots where the two he cared for the most vanished from. He focuses on anything but the ringing in his ears, but the pain in his chest, the lack of air in his lungs. His bloody and ash-covered hands going up to his face as he rocks himself back and forth gently.