Passing the Mantle
Tony Stark
It had been a year since the snap felt around the universe. A year since he had lost his boy and now he looked down holding his newborn daughter Morgan. "Hey little one" he started with a whisper "There is someone I wished you could meet! His name is Peter Parker he was the best and brightest of the Avengers and he was your older brother from another mother."
"Do you feel that way, Tony?" A voice he had not heard in almost the same amount of time peter and half the universe was gone turning he saw May parker dressed in her scrubs carrying a purse. "Pepper kept in touch she says you have not been resting well calling out for peter in the night"
"May…" Tony started but May Cut him off.
"Pepper also showed me the footage Friday had recorded before the snap you tried to send him home, he chose to stay, He chose to be an Avenger, a hero just like his mentor." She paused looking at Morgan once again "So I ask again do you feel that way about my boy?"
"Pepper and I both considered him a member of our family. If it would not have been considered insulting, I would have asked for both of you to move in with us. However, Pepper talked me out of it" Tony's voice dropped a little lower "one of the very few times I regret not just doing it and asking for forgiveness later."
"I know" may spoke softly tears in her eyes, "Pepper told me about it. The day you and peter left earth we had these papers drawn up and we both signed them in case my condition worsened."
"Condition?" Tony asked almost afraid to hear the answer.
"Brain tumor, inoperable. Pepper was the first person I told after finding out she used your connections to help me find a treatment to try stall for time so I could see him graduate and possibly married. Unfortunately in the last three months the tumor has progressed into stage four and after today I am going into hospice care " I know he is gone, but I also know he would have loved being called your son" May said tears coming into her eyes as tony wrapped her in a one armed hug and cried with her.
Three months later they laid May Parker to rest. And the papers remained forgotten in a safe for four years.
Peter was devastated his mentor, his friend the closest thing he had to a father was dead and what was worse he came to find out his aunt May had died from a brain tumor and that Pepper Stark, was his Adopted mother. She and Morgan held Peter as he cried.
For months he avoided going into the shop, he decided to go to school via distance learning and he had abandoned being Spider-Man. The Avengers who remained were at a loss at how to get him to engage them. It was a bright and sweltering day a year after the funeral. Karen spoke for the first time in many months "Peter there is a breach in the workshop! Multiple people, they are trying to open the vault."
"They must be after Mr. Starks Suits that cannot happen" running to the door he saw that the workshop was lit up and the Avengers, Mrs. Stark, Morgan, and others were waiting and it was Morgan who was going into the vault and bringing out a sealed envelope. Looking sadly at her father's life work tears began coursing down her cheeks. The look of sadness and tears stopped Peter as he entered the workshop. Then he looked at the rest of the team even old man rogers were there.
"What do you have there Morguna?" Peter asked using her fathers' nickname for her he said kneeling opening his arms causing the little girl to run into her arms her sobbing increased "Morgan it's alright" he tried to calm the girl for a minute before addressing her again. "Morgan, what do you have there?"
"Something Daddy left for you?" Peter looked around until his eyes came to Pepper and she nodded at him
"Can I have it? We can look at it together," he said sitting down and pulling Morgan into his lap looking at the letter he could see it was addressed 'My Son'
Taking a deep breath, he opened the envelope and along with the piece of paper a small disc fell out
My son if you have this in your hands it means I did not survive the time heist. Messing with time at best is murky at worst it could be catastrophic. I never should have brought you to Germany. I do not regret even a moment any of the time we spent together. The collaboration, the pursuit of science learning pop culture from you. Hopefully, you have met your little sister. Remember to watch your mouth around her she parrots everything.
Peter, I know what it is to dwell in darkness with the losses you have endured but now more than ever the world needs its heroes. You are the best of us. The future. The world does not need any more Anthony Stark's it needs more Peter Parker those who defend the friendly neighborhood but will not flinch when it comes time to step up in defense of everything we hold dear.
You are a member of a very special family. You are an Avenger! Don't shut them out. Don't try to do it alone and for the love of God do not give up! Pick up the mantle which I pass to you be a hero for all of those who cannot.
Love you underoos and hopefully, we won't need this letter
Always,
Dad
Peter's eyes began to water as he held onto his little sister and cried "It hurts so much Mom. I don't know-how. I don't know if I can. I am no Tony Stark!" He cried
Pepper walked over and sat behind her two children though one of them had graduated without telling her.
"Peter, Tony once told me of the conversation you two had at your old apartment." She said running a hand through his hair. She felt him relax back into her "You said to him When you can do the things you do, but you don't, and then bad things happen. They happen because of you. Those words more than anything you have ever done or said since are why he chose to pass the mantle to you"
"You don't have to do it alone Queens!" Old Man rogers said "Your team is here and you will find others as time goes on. Tony is right! You are the best of us."
"I am not ready" Peter admitted
"We never are." Steven Strange said stepping out of a portal from Kamar-Taj "However, you are wrong you more than any of us are ready!" Peter looked like he was about to object "Peter, unlike the Avengers who train day in, day out only really using their skills sparingly. You use your powers and skills daily. You are correct in saying if one does not use one's abilities for the good of all. then it is one's fault. You taught Tony that. Not Pepper, not Steve. You!"
Next Wanda Maximoff and Clint Barton came forward kneeling on either side of Peter. Clint put his hand on peters shoulder "Natasha was furious with Tony for bringing you to Germany. She felt you had no place between Tony and Steve. It took reminding her that you more than anyone else would be harmed by the accords. She wanted to meet you very badly. She loved the fact there was another spider superhero. We spent hours going over the YouTube uploads of your exploits and she came up with a training regimen for you. She sent it to each of the avengers so they could add ideas to help you going forward."
Wanda reached out and to his hand into hers and felt a sadness that equaled her own She had lost her love but here was a boy who lost a father and brother he could never know. "Vision spent a great deal of time talking about you. He was saddened that he did not get to spend more time with you"
Hearing all this made the floodgates open and peter started sobbing uncontrollably he clung to Wanda and Morgan.
"Friday I think we are ready. Best to get this done now" Pepper said her grief still very near the surface. "Play it"
Friday started projecting a hologram of tony "Pete if you are seeing this, you must have found the letter. I am sorry I can't be here for you when you need me the most leaving the three of you is the worst of the my failures as a man, as an Avenger and mostly as a father. Wrote in the letter that you are the best of us now hear from my own mouth Peter Parker you and Morguna are the best things I have ever done or could do but more importantly the world is going to need Peter Parker and Spiderman.
I know you have probably been avoiding going out. There is no shame in it. After the battle of New York I was messed up and had started building the legion. What no one knew is that I started building the legion because I could not get into my suit. I got better in time and so will you.
You are the best of all of us. You have the morality of Steven Rogers, an intellect that challenges and surpasses both myself and Dr. Banner, you have strength enough to rival any of the avengers. But what you really have Is heart you see the world as it is and you still strive for change Please never lose that.
Pepper has a file for you that you should go over with her it is the inheritance your aunt left for you. There is also a file for when you reach the age of majority for both you and Morgan. Look after your mother and little sister, Check in on Harley maybe see if you can bring the Vision back talk to Wanda both he and she are products of the mind stone. Last but no least the world needs Spiderman and so do the avengers talk to them train with them, and learn from them. Because someday the team will be yours to lead.
I love you guys 9000 iron man out."
"Friday can send a copy of this to Karen I will need to review it a couple times before it will sink in." Peter said his sobbing subsided "Clint can I have the file Natasha wanted me to have? Mom How is Harley and where is the vision's body?"
"After the funeral Harley's family relocated here as Harley is working in the research division here." Pepper smiled while saying that "His little sister is at midtown she was sad she could not meet you. Vision's Body is down in the vault S.W.O.R.D. tried to take him but fury stepped pretty hard on Hayworth's neck."
Pete bowed his head and said a silent prayer to the universe and when he raised his head everyone could see he had made a decision.
"While I have some things, I need to do I will need the advice of my family and friends" Peter looked down "Mom I graduated two years early. Can I or more importantly should I Jump into a full course load in a college and if so which one.?"
"We can talk about it later in a bit." Pepper smiled and thanked whatever gods there were that her boy was going to be alright.
"I have a general request for the Avengers, help me be the man Tony… Dad believes I am." Peter asked causing everyone present to relax a little "Wanda if you're up for it I am up for it"
It was Wanda's turn to start crying "Vis did not want me heroic measures taken." Her sobs became broken "Gods in heaven I want him back. I will gladly deal with him being angry."
"I am sure when he sees the recording he will understand." Peter said pulling her into a hug "If he is my brother then you will be my sister and I don't like either of my sisters being in pain. Friday Power up Work shop make sure inventory is at optimal levels reassign Harley Keener here if he is of the mind if he is happy where he is let him stay. Now last things I would like to start my training next Monday as I want to spend this week getting the workshop back up to snuff. Now I am Hungry Can we get something to eat."
"After we get this one to bed Peter." Pepper said pointing to Morgan who had fallen asleep in his lap. "Think you can get her to her room?" Peter nodded "order in or dine out?"
"Order in … Pizza I think…" peter said as he carried his little sister to the elevator.
"I think I can safely speak for all of us" Steve started to say
"That went much better than I was ever expecting." Bruce banner said the relief evident in his voice. "I think we can come up with something for him by Monday"
"I am just glad Spider Man has taken up the mantle." Pepper said looking everyone in the eye "Send me your requests for pizza so we can order and get the eating machines fed"