The end of the world had snuck up on Peter Parker quickly.

Peter gripped the piece of technology from space tight, absolutely terrified of letting go. What if the stickiness of his fingers wasn't enough to hold on? He began to panic. A fall from this height would kill him. There was no maybe about it. He would definitely die.

He was so high up that he couldn't breathe. He was so high up, in fact, that the ground looked like a distant planet. He tried to ignore that part of it since he was already on the brink of a serious panic attack.

Pulling off his mask and freeing his face, he sucked in a deep breath, but it didn't fill his lungs. He gasped painfully. He wanted to talk to Karen and ask if this alone would kill him, but he couldn't find his voice to ask and figured that all sound would be drowned out by the wind all around him.

He looked up, feeling the air burn his exposed face. It felt like the highest degree of heat and the lowest point of winter all mixed into one and all hitting his skin. His eyes watered, then dried out in a matter of seconds. He was moving so fast, and he was so scared.

But he had to do this.

For the world. For New York. For Queens. For the Avengers and all of his new friends and teammates. For Tony Stark. For Aunt May. For you.

...

"Pete," you'd said, staring at your legs that were swinging off the edge of the roof.

It was a year before the world fell apart. Peter had just gotten done with his rounds as Spider-Man and had picked up midnight snacks for you, his crush and best friend, and for him. You were sitting side by side on the ledge of your apartment building.

"Yeah?" he'd asked, mouth full. He had looked at you, taking another giant bite of sandwich before he swallowed the bite he already had in his mouth. A pickle slice slipped out of his mouth and landed on his pants. It had splattered on the blue spandex of his suit, mayo and mustard staining it. "Aw man!"

You had giggled quietly, shaking your head at him. Then your smile disappeared and you looked distant.

Peter had swallowed the bite of bread and pickles and lunch meat and wiped at his pants. "What is it?"

"I..." you'd paused here, reaching over to place a hand on his kneecap. He had frozen, his legs stopping mid swing, his eyes wide. "I-I can't live without you, Pete."

He swallowed again and furrowed his eyebrows. "Uh... okay?" He'd smiled a little. "And what brought this on?"

"Um... I don't know. You getting hurt after homecoming, I guess." Peter could barely hear you when you said this because it was hardly a whisper.

"Hey, I did great," he'd argued, getting a dirty look from you. "You just weren't there to see it all!" Then he had sighed. "In all seriousness, ___... I'm not going anywhere. Okay? I'll stay right here with you. Where ever I go, I'll always, always come back to you. Even if I... go to space or something one day."

Another light giggle. His heart had filled with love.

"Space, huh?"

"It could happen. I mean, the craziest thing already happened. I got bit by a spider and it gave me powers. Powers! And now I am an Avenger. Uh... hello? Space? That would be nothing!" He'd nudged you playfully with his elbow and then took your hand that rested on his knee and flipped it over. He pressed his palm against yours and slowly bent his fingers to curl on the spaces between yours, where they fit so perfectly. "But you gotta know... I would do anything for you." And he had looked back into your eyes so you could see how serious he was. "I would do anything."

"Pete," you'd murmured, shaking your head.

"I would." He'd shrugged. "I wouldn't even hesitate. So... if the time ever comes when I don't come home... it's just cause I was keeping you safe. Because that's what I want to do above anything else. I want to keep you safe."

You had shaken your head for the second time and leaned in, tucking a lock of hair behind your ear and away from your face, leaning your forehead against his neck, your chin on his shoulder. He had shut his eyes and held your hand and just felt you being close, knowing he would fight to the end of the world for you.

You were someone to fight for.

He had May and Mr. Stark and Ned to protect, but it was nice to have you, too. Someone he had to keep safe. He felt it in every bone in his body. There was no doubt in his mind that he would go through every hardship imaginable to keep you safe and sound.

"I would go to the ends of the Earth for you," he'd whispered.

"You just mentioned space, though. What about that?"

He'd smirked, grateful to hear you cracking jokes again. His cheek met the top of your head and his eyes shut slowly. He had inhaled deeply, feeling, for the first time, totally at peace.

"That, too. Anywhere, ___. Anywhere."

...

It was so hard to hold on and do this.

But he had to. Because doing this guaranteed your safety, guaranteed everyone's safety - and he had promised you. He would fight for you all the way to the ends of the Earth (and far beyond).

Anywhere, ___. Anywhere.

Peter shut his eyes tight. He squeezed them, unable to look. They burned and burned and his cheeks were red from the wind and he was hurting so bad as he clutched onto the piece of tech with all of his might, using all of the strength he had. His teeth were starting to chatter, but he thought of you to make it bearable.

And he wondered to himself - how did the end or the world sneak up on you both so quickly?