Cheers erupted.
They had begun when the first portal opened, then swelled like a rolling snowball until the roar seemed powerful enough to lift the sky off the ruined base.
"Mr. Stark!"
Peter Parker's voice cut through the din. He swung past overhead on a web, his red-and-blue suit vivid in the sunlight. Landing before Tony Stark, he flipped up his mask to reveal his young face, dusty and sweaty, his eyes impossibly bright and his grin stretching almost from ear to ear.
Tony stood still as his own faceplate opened. He looked at Peter, his lips moving as he tried to speak, but something seemed lodged in his throat. In the end, he only reached out and clapped Peter hard on the shoulder, as if he needed to make sure he was real.
"Kid." Tony's voice was hoarse. "You're late."
"Traffic!" Peter laughed through tears. "You know, I was just on Titan, and then suddenly—wow! Five years! I missed high school graduation! Aunt May must be—"
He never finished. Tony pulled him into an awkward embrace, all hard armor plates, and Peter hugged him tight.
Elsewhere, T'Challa removed his Black Panther helmet.
Princess Shuri rushed out of the Wakandan army and threw herself into her brother's arms. Her tears soaked his suit. "Five years... Brother, I did so much research. I improved Vibranium nanotechnology, I—"
"I know." T'Challa gently patted her back, his voice steady and warm. "I saw it all. You did well, sister."
His gaze swept the battlefield and the familiar faces pouring through the portals. Valkyrie landed on her winged horse before the Asgardian army and nodded to Thor. Heimdall raised his rainbow sword, pointing its tip toward Thanos's flagship. The Ravagers' ships hovered overhead while Yondu whistled, his Yaka Arrow circling him with a shrill