Disclaimer: I own nothing in the MCU or anything drawn from the comics. Unfortunately. Lol. All characters belong to the amazing people over at Marvel! I'm just playing with them for a little bit. I also do not own Fury's beginning quote.
Summary: Homecoming AU. "I swear..." he gasped out between his sobs. "I... I didn't kill Mr. Stark." When the argument after the ferry incident goes horribly awry, Tony is missing and presumed dead, and Spider-Man is suspect number one. Peter believes his mentor is still alive out there, but he'll need help to find and save Tony from who truly wants him dead in time.
Author's Note: Hey, guys! Thank you for your reviews, favorites, and follows, they keep me going! I'm glad you guys liked the last, rather depressing, chapter. So, how will the scattered Avengers go on from here without Tony? Let's find out, shall we? Though I'd like to make a quick disclaimer here that there's a minor spoiler for Ant-Man and the Wasp if you haven't seen it yet in something that Lang says. However, it doesn't necessarily ruin the plot of the movie itself, as it relates more to the airport battle in Civil War, but still, I want to throw this out there.
In response to KKarate: Thank you for your reviews for earlier chapters! I'm glad you're enjoying this so much! And thank you for raising your point about humor. Overall, this story isn't meant to be funny. Though that doesn't mean that I'm against humor! It just means that there will be stretches where there isn't much humor since the focus will be on the more angsty/dramatic character building plot points. But there certainly will be moments where– as long as it fits with the characters or what's going on with the plot itself– there is humor. I just don't want to force it since that'll give the story an inorganic feel. Though I do have some bigger humor moments planned as this continues and we get closer to the end!
In response to Guest: Thank you so much! I'm glad to hear you love it! Here's the next chapter!
In response to Guest: Here's the next chapter! :-)
Chapter 17– Director's Lament
"There was an idea to bring together a remarkable group of people," Fury said, slowly pacing in front of the group that was now sitting on the couches in the penthouse, listening to him in silence. His gaze landed on each one of them. "To see if they could become something more. So when they needed you, you could fight the battles that they never could."
He paused next to Maria Hill with a sigh, his eye saddening as he stuck his hands in his pockets. "Remember that?"
For a long moment, no one said a word. Scott looked around uncomfortably while Peter tried to make himself as small as possible, focusing instead on petting Lily– who had curled up on the couch next to his leg– behind the ears. Neither one had any idea what the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director was talking about.
The rest of the group, however, felt the brunt of his disappointment. Clint rested his chin on his folded hands, his gaze downcast. Natasha stared directly ahead at Fury, her expression impassive. Sam sighed heavily, closing his eyes as he passed a hand over his face. Wanda and Vision exchanged hesitant looks. Rhodey hung his head. Steve let out a long breath as he nodded slightly.
"Now. I know that Thor and Banner can't be accounted for at the moment, so I can't speak for them," Fury continued when everyone else remained silent. "But the rest of you can be spoken for. And I want to know what the hell y'all think you're doing. Have you lost sight of the reason we've brought all of you together?" He paused again, arching an eyebrow. "Now, there are a couple of you I don't recognize..."
"Oh, sorry, sir. I'm Scott. Scott Lang," the ex-con spoke up nervously. "Um, Cap had me come in and help him with, uh... some dispute that I really know nothing about, but... I'm, um, I'm Ant-Man."
Fury regarded him curiously. "Ant-Man, huh?" he wondered. "You mean that tech that Hank Pym was working on?"
Scott's brow furrowed. "You know Hank?"
"He used to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. before he began his own company," Fury explained, to which the other man slowly nodded. "Shame, a lot of those ideas he was working on would have been beneficial for us. How did you get a hold of that suit?"
"Um, well, see, he trained me to be the new Ant-Man," Scott explained before a sheepish grin appeared on his face. "Although I kinda... borrowed the suit without permission to go to Germany and help Cap, so... Hank would be pretty pissed if he knew."
The director shrugged. "He won't hear it from me. He's not our biggest fan," he muttered before turning his gaze to the teenager. "And you are, son?"
Peter quickly looked up, startled. "Oh, me? I'm, uh, well... I'm Peter Parker," he mumbled. He glanced around him, seeing that Rhodey was giving him an encouraging nod. "And I'm... I'm Spider-Man."
Fury's face remained impassive, and the web-slinger's heart skipped a beat. Hadn't the news just reported there was a warrant out for his arrest for the murder of one of the same remarkable people the man had just been speaking of? "I... I swear I didn't kill Mr. Stark..."
To his surprise, the director's stern features softened ever so slightly as he shook his head once. "Seeing you here, I didn't think you did," he told him, and the fifteen-year-old immediately felt relief flood through him. "Just didn't realize how young you were, is all. Although, if I were still the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., at least in the way we once were, you would have gotten a call from me, young man. I've seen some of what you can do, and I must say, I'm impressed. You and I may have to have a chat at some point, Mr. Parker. Same with you, Mr. Lang."
Peter stared at the man in disbelief. Nick Fury, the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the creator of the Avengers Initiative, would have wanted to get in touch with him? He was impressed with him? He would have been considered for the Avengers? That didn't even feel possible...
"Now, back to the business at hand." Fury sighed, regret in his gaze. He passed a stressed hand over the top of his head. "I chose or confirmed each of you because I believed that you could put aside your egos and work to be something greater than yourselves. That you could be that force that would fight the battles that no one else could when you were needed to. I know at one time, you all believed that, too. But so far, you're not doing much to prove me right. And–!"
"It's my fault, Nick."
The director paused, raising an eyebrow as he looked back at Steve.
The Captain sighed. "I blamed Tony for tearing the Avengers apart when he signed the Accords, but–!"
"Ah, yes. That bullshit," Fury interrupted with a smile. "Now, I get that ya'll had differing opinions on if they should have been signed or not, and y'all had your reasons for whatever side of the matter you chose. And I'm sure each of you felt you were right. Stark included. But quite frankly, I also thought y'all would've handled your differences like adults!"
Rhodey took a deep breath. "What would you have done, sir?" he asked. "Secretary Ross gave us an ultimatum that the UN supported. We were put in a position to either choose being able to continue operating, just with government control, or not at all. I... I know it wasn't a great choice, and neither option was the best, but..."
"Personally? I would've told Ross to go ahead and shove those Accords where the sun don't shine." Fury chuckled. "Look. You should all know how I feel about certain people in government roles sticking their noses in our business. They make stupid ass decisions. Remember the Chitauri invasion? And Ross? Hell, I haven't trusted him for years. Even back when he was a general before he handled the whole Hulk situation terribly. So yeah, I would not have signed those documents. Nor would I have had any of you sign them. But I do understand the rationale of those who did.
"But the important part we have to remember here is we need to stay together. You can't fight each other. No matter what, the safest hands are our own. You need to stay together. Now more than ever. Because when you're not..." His sentence trailed off. "Look at it this way. If something big were to happen... and I mean big... bigger than Loki, bigger than Ultron... what are you going to do? Sit on your hands and wait for the government to decide if and when you're able to get involved in the threat? While you wait on your ass, people die. But the Accords aren't the focus here."
"The focus is what do we do now that we've lost one of our own," Maria added quietly.
Steve took a deep breath. "It isn't just the Accords, Nick."
Fury turned his eye back to the Captain. "Care to enlighten us, then?" he wondered.
A moment passed before Steve met his gaze. The director clearly saw the remorse there.
"Tony and I... well, we had a falling out," the Super Soldier explained. He felt the intense gazes of most the Avengers resting on him. "He... found out the truth about how his parents died. Their murders. He found out that Bucky was responsible. That I knew about it. That I hadn't found a way to tell him yet."
Fury gazed back at him almost thoughtfully for a long moment. He didn't seem surprised. "So I'm guessing Stark believed you'd chosen Barnes." It wasn't a question.
Steve nodded, lowering his gaze. "And then Bucky and I left him behind there. In Siberia," he finished quietly. "But we wouldn't have if we didn't think he'd be okay."
Peter's gaze widened as he processed the Captain's confession. Barnes... the Winter Soldier... had killed Tony's parents? And Captain America had known about it? Had left Tony behind? How...?
But then, he realized, seeing Barnes up on that rooftop made a little more sense now. While had had no personal connection to the assassin, other than their brief encounter at the German airport... Tony did. Their connection was very personal. That had to mean that their assailant had to know what had happened between Tony and Steve, including all these more personal details...
Fury let out a long breath, crossing his arms as he took all this information in. "Well, that's certainly more than the Accords," he muttered.
"And could have been prevented," Rhodey spoke up.
Defeat crossed Steve's face as he looked back up at the director. "It could have been," he agreed quietly. "I just... and it's stupid thinking back on it now, but..."
"As most things are," Fury interrupted gently.
The Super Soldier nodded in agreement. "I didn't want to lose that friendship with Tony," he told him. "I thought telling him the truth would... well, I was trying to find the best way to tell him. But Zemo got to him first."
The director considered all of this information. "I'm sure if we could, there's something we all could take back or change here," he addressed the group. "Stark may have been a major pain in my ass, but I cared about him, too. Just as I did his dad. Everything Stark did when it came to the Avengers, he did for the rest of you. So now, we figure out who did this." His eye rested on Peter, and the teen felt himself recoil slightly even though he knew he wasn't being blamed.
Steve took a deep breath, determination in his gaze. "And we do it together."
Everything hurt.
Peter groaned when he tried to move his stiff body, every muscle protesting as he did. His very nerve endings felt as though they were on fire.
What had happened...?
"... Pe... Peter...?"
The teen's breath caught in his chest at the voice. Tony. It was weak, it was pained, but there was no doubt in his mind that it was the billionaire.
He... he was alive?
"Mr... Mr. Stark?" A thin line of tears formed in Peter's eyes as he got his first good look at his surroundings. A small room, damp and dark. It was empty aside from the second person slumped against the wall across from him.
He was bloodied, bruised, pale, and shivering, but it was undoubtedly Tony Stark.
He was breathing. He was alive. He knew he couldn't have been dead...
"I'm coming, Mr. Stark!" The web-slinger scrambled to his feet, holding back a scream as he almost crumpled again when the pain nearly doubled. But he did his best to ignore it as he dashed over to the other man and crouched next to him.
Up close, the billionaire looked even worse. He seemed thinner than normal, his face gaunt. His glazed eyes seemed far away, and there was definitely fear in his gaze.
"Mr. Stark? What can I do?" Peter wondered anxiously, carefully setting a light hand on his shoulder.
The touch seemed to, at least somewhat, bring Tony out of whatever part of his mind he was trapped in. He jumped slightly as he turned his face toward the teen, his gaze clearing ever so slightly. "Pe... Peter..." he mumbled, panic crossing his face. "Wh... what are you... doing here...?"
Peter's eyes narrowed in confusion. "I'm... I'm here to get you out of here," he told him. "Wherever here is..."
To his surprise, the billionaire gathered enough strength to knock him off balance as he tried to shove him away from him. "N-no... you need to... get out... while you have the chance... Before they... come back..."
The teen looked back at him with wide eyes. "Before who gets back?" he pressed. "Mr. Stark, who?"
Though he felt that deep down, the answer was already there.
But Tony was fading fast, that little burst costing him quite a bit of much needed energy. He slumped back against the wall, his head rolling toward his shoulder as his gaze glazed over again. His breathing slowed, and his eyes drooped shut.
A jolt of panic surged through Peter, and he immediately leaned forward and tightly grasped his mentor's arms. "No... no... Mr. Stark!" he cried, shaking him gently. "Come back... come on, please... don't go... please come back... don't go... please!"
But no matter what he said, his pleas fell on deaf ears. Tony remained unresponsive.
Then, the door to the room crashed open, flooding the space with bright light.
Peter squinted as a couple tall, well-built figures entered the room. He swore under his breath when he couldn't make out any distinguishing features. He remained crouched in front of Tony protectively. They wouldn't get to him, he refused to let them.
But then, two pairs of hands grabbed him roughly, and the web-slinger cried out as he was ripped away from the billionaire. He frantically tried to fight out of their grasp, but they held on tight as they dragged him toward the open door.
"No... no... Mr. Stark! Help!"
Tony remained still.
"Mr. Stark!"
Peter's eyes snapped open with a gasp, fighting out of the blankets he felt were constricting him before realizing he was in his bed in his room, not in the clutches of a couple unknown thugs being pulled away from Tony in who knew where...
Tony.
The teen quickly sat up, nearly upending the signed toy Iron Man mask resting on the bed near him. He realized it'd been a dream... a nightmare, honestly... but it all felt so real. The billionaire had felt alive... No matter what the news reports said, he hadn't lost the feeling that his mentor was still out there somewhere, but... His senses were tying to tell him something with that dream. Of that, he was sure.
But what?
With a quiet groan, Peter turned to the alarm clock on the nightstand, seeing that it was almost noon. Thank God it was Saturday. But even with sleeping in as much as he had, he still grumbled under his breath as he shoved the blankets aside and clambered out of bed. He turned back briefly and picked up the signed Iron Man mask he'd found buried in his closet when he'd gotten home the night before, his gaze studying Tony's hurried signature.
Is it possible you're still alive, Mr. Stark...?
He then set the toy carefully on the nightstand before he opened the door and ambled out into the hallway as he made his way toward the kitchen.
When he stepped into the living room, Peter paused, his senses on high alert. The apartment was strangely quiet– the television was off, nothing was going on in the kitchen, his aunt's door had been closed...
"May?" he called warily. It was weird that she wasn't around, especially after the way she'd fussed over him when he got back late from the Tower after hearing the news of his mentor's death all over the news. He'd been frustrated that he couldn't completely confide in his aunt about all of the different emotions that were raging war beneath the surface.
She couldn't know his secret, not now...
But being Saturday, she typically wasn't scheduled for work, and he didn't think she'd had any community events planned. Not that he wasn't a little relieved he didn't have to face her again so soon after he'd completely freaked out on her, but...
"... May?"
The web-slinger slowly wandered into the kitchen, his gaze darting every which way, and he let out a quiet breath when he saw a note on the table. Of course, even though both of them owned working cell phones, she still insisted on writing notes the old fashioned way. A slight smile tugged at his lips as he walked over and picked up the note and quietly read over his aunt's neat handwriting.
Thought I'd let you rest in. I didn't want to wake you, you need your sleep. There's some fixings for breakfast tacos in the fridge if you're hungry. But please, make sure to eat something. I arranged a lunch meeting with the CEO of Stark Industries since you said she was in charge of your internship now–
Peter paused in his reading, stunned. May had a meeting with Pepper? Granted, he'd given her numbers to reach people to keep up the guise of the internship, but... Since when? Why? He'd have to ask one of them more about it later. He continued reading.
–since there were some important things I wanted to discuss with her. I should be home a bit later this afternoon, I'm going to get some grocery shopping done after. Let me know if you're going somewhere before I get back.
I larb you.
May
He had a pretty good idea of what "important things" his aunt wanted to talk to Pepper about considering the state he'd been in when he'd gotten home the night before, and he groaned. Hopefully, she didn't try to convince the CEO to drop him from his fake internship since that would take away one of his main excuses to visit the Tower whenever he could. He had to hope it wouldn't come to that.
Speaking of the Tower...
Peter jogged back down the hall to the bathroom to hurriedly freshen up and get ready. Pretty much everyone was still gathered there, and he wanted to help put the pieces together of what had happened up on that building before it had exploded to try to get some clue about who could have been responsible for the attack. Not to mention, Rhodey had repeated something that he'd already been told– until they were absolutely certain that there was no threat to him, the safest place to spend his free time was with them. He was also secretly hoping that he could get that chat in with Fury that the man had mentioned the night before, if he had stuck around. According to the rest of the Avengers, no one could be sure where the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director was going to be at any given time.
After washing his face, brushing his teeth, and throwing on a fresh t-shit and jeans, the web-slinger made his way back to the kitchen. He grabbed the notepad and pen from the counter and scribbled his own message back to May.
Spending the day at Ned's. We've got the Lego Millennium Falcon to build now. Be home later. I'll call if it's later than I planned.
Thanks for the breakfast tacos.
Larb you, too.
Peter
His stomach grumbled as he set the note on the table next to his aunt's. Grinning, Peter hurried to the fridge and threw together a couple of those breakfast tacos for himself– two tortillas filled with scrambled eggs, potatoes, onions, peppers, crispy bacon bits, some shredded cheese, and a little salsa– before wrapping them up to take along. He then grabbed a bottle of chocolate milk to go along with them before finding his wallet and spare apartment keys and dashing out the doors.
The subway was packed that afternoon when he boarded, and the teen found himself standing and gripping a handle above him to keep steady as he finished up one of his breakfast tacos. He knew that Happy would be frustrated with him for not giving him a call to get to the Tower since they didn't necessarily want him going anywhere on his own, but he figured the head of security was busy since he'd probably gone with Pepper to her lunch meeting with May. No chance could be taken with the CEO, either. And he had Rhodey's number, but he didn't want to bother him, either. Especially since it seemed like something was bothering him physically with the injury and resulting paralysis he'd suffered in Germany. Something with his braces seemed to be giving him difficulty. If the colonel allowed him to, he wanted to take a look at them to see if he could fix them. The mechanisms seemed simple enough from the brief look he'd gotten at them.
He knew that the rest of the Avengers were concerned about his safety since they still weren't sure of their attacker's motives, and he appreciated it. But he'd navigated the subway plenty, and it was a place he felt comfortable.
But as the teen took a long sip of his chocolate milk, getting ready to make his way toward the nearest exit since his stop was next, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He froze before cautiously chancing a glance over his shoulder when he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. But the train car was so full that he really couldn't get a close enough look at anyone. Nothing seemed to be too out of the ordinary, at least, but the feeling remained.
The subway came to a stop, the doors sliding open with a quiet ding. Peter waited for a couple people to get off ahead of him before he stepped out himself. His senses weren't so nearly on alert in the bustling station, and he breathed a quiet sigh of relief before he hurried up the steps two at a time that would bring him to the street.
The web-slinger finished off his second breakfast taco and milk by the time he'd walked the roughly nine blocks it took to get to the Tower, and he threw everything away and quickly brushed his hands off on his jeans as he approached the building. He stared up at the looming letter "A" high above him and frowned.
Oh.
This was the first time he'd ever arrived at the Tower on his own, and while he was welcomed there, that didn't mean he had the keys to get in. Especially given the current situation, it was locked up tight.
Taking a deep breath, he dialed the only number he could.
"What's going on, kid?" Rhodey asked when he picked up.
"Yeah, uh, well, Mr. Colonel, Sir..." Peter began, though he was interrupted by the chuckle on the other end.
"We've been over this, kid. It's just Rhodey."
"Right." Peter allowed a little laugh himself, knowing they probably wouldn't be quite so cheerful in a minute. "Well, anyway, Rhodey. I'm, uh... I'm outside the Tower."
The silence that followed was expected, and the web-slinger cringed.
"You're what?" the colonel finally wondered.
"I-I know," Peter quickly muttered. "I'm not supposed to, y'know, necessarily go anywhere unless I notify one of you right now, but–!"
"Damn right." Rhodey sighed. "It's all right, kid. I'm, uh, I'm a little tied up at the moment, but I'll send someone down to let you up. Hold on tight, okay?"
"Okay." Peter hung up and slipped his phone in the pocket of his jeans. He glanced around him as he waited, but still, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and the sense that he was being watched hadn't returned. At least it didn't seem like he was being followed.
A couple minutes later, a figure with long, light hair appeared in the lobby, and Peter's eyes widened slightly when he recognized Scarlet Witch as she passed by the empty front desk. He'd seen her the night before, but they hadn't really talked to each other at all. She approached the doors, quickly unlocking them and pushing one open to let him in with a small smile.
"Thanks," the teen said as he stepped inside. He waited until she locked up again before they both made their way over to the elevator. "It's Wanda, right?"
She glanced over at him as she hit the up arrow, the doors of the nearest elevator sliding open. "Yes," she answered as they stepped in. She hit the button for the level of the penthouse, the doors sliding closed. "And you're... Peter? The spider boy?"
"Spider-Man, actually..." the web-slinger mumbled, feeling color creep up to his cheeks when he saw the slight smirk that appeared at the corner of her lips. Oh, boy, this is awkward... Though as he studied her pale, pretty features, he couldn't help but notice how young she actually looked. She couldn't have been much older than he was.
"Is there something you want to ask me?"
Peter was taken off guard by her matter-of-fact tone. "How... how did...?"
Wanda turned to him with a genuine smile this time. "I can feel it," she replied. "Go on and ask. We're on the same side now, after all."
The teen remembered back to the airport battle. They'd been on opposite sides then. He hadn't come across her path too often, but he did know that she was a force to be reckoned with.
"So, like... what all can you do?" he wondered, hoping it wasn't coming across as rude. "Other than, y'know, apparently feel my emotions and read my mind?"
Wanda turned her gaze ahead of them, watching as the numbers steadily rose as they got closer to the penthouse. "I can move things with my mind," she explained. "Communicate through my mind. Manipulate energy to my will. Show you your deepest, darkest, most secret fears."
Peter stiffened slightly.
"Most people are afraid of what I can do because they don't understand it," she finished quietly, flashing him a resigned, almost sad, smile.
The web-slinger felt his muscles relax at the look. "That's how most people are about most things they don't understand. It's a natural reaction." He inwardly cursed himself. That probably wasn't the right thing to say, and it certainly didn't help. "For the record, I think it's cool! Were you, like... born with those abilities?"
This caused Wanda to laugh. "No," she replied with a brief shake of her head. Amusement lingered in her eyes. "Not with the abilities. Though my... my brother always used to say I was empathetic when we were growing up."
Peter caught her slight hesitation at the mention of her brother as the light left her gaze. It was a look he was all too familiar with. But considering this was their first formal meeting, and the first time they'd ever talked, he knew he'd be overstepping his bounds asking about the brother she'd lost.
"Radioactive spider."
Wanda looked back at him with confusion. "What?"
The teen met her gaze. "Radioactive spider," he repeated. "That's how I got my powers. It bit me. It died, though, so... no one else can become a Spider-Man... or Spider-Woman... like me. Unless there are other radioactive spiders running around, who knows with the condition of New York's subways..."
He was surprised to see a small smile appear on Wanda's face despite his rambling. "Well, since the source of my powers is being used for something completely different now, I don't think that anyone can get my abilities anymore, either."
Peter returned the look, definitely curious about his new teammate, as the elevator came to a stop at the penthouse. Though he also thought he caught a glimpse of gratitude in her gaze, and he wondered if she could have somehow guessed his thoughts about her brother and his decision to change the topic.
The doors slid open, and Wanda stepped out first. Peter followed her into the penthouse, and he immediately spotted Rhodey sitting on one of the couches, appearing focused on something he was bending over.
"There you are, kid," the colonel said, glancing up quickly as the teen wandered over. "I'm going to give you the numbers for Steve, Nat, and Clint, too, just in case you can't reach the rest of us for some reason or another..." He whispered a curse under his breath. "Sorry, give me a second..."
Peter's brow furrowed when he saw that he was tinkering with his left leg brace. He quickly scanned them both, seeing that his initial assessment about them had been correct. "Hey, Rhodey?"
"Yeah, kid?"
The web-slinger rubbed the back of his neck. "If you want me to... if you let me... I could look over those braces for you," he muttered. "I think I see the problem in the mechanism. It shouldn't be too hard to fix it and loosen those up for you."
Rhodey gazed back at him for a moment before a small smile appeared on his face. "Tony was supposed to adjust them, but..." he began before he chuckled and pushed himself to his feet. "But you know what? I've got about an hour before I have to go somewhere with Pepper and Happy. If you think you can do something with them in that time, I'd greatly appreciate it. I think Tony's plans for them are still in the lab..."
Peter's eyes widened. "The... the lab?"
"Yup," Rhodey confirmed. "Now come on, kid, let's go."
The teen followed the colonel back into the elevator, watching as he hit a button for only a couple floors down. They were silent for a minute as the doors slid closed, and they began their descent.
"Tony used to spend so much time here," Rhodey murmured, deep in thought. "I know they moved quite a bit of the stuff over to the compound upstate already, but I also know he kept quite a bit here in case he needed to do something in an emergency. Or just felt like tinkering." A fond look crossed his face. "I think he'd like to know you were also tinkering around in there. He told me you were a smart kid."
Peter simply stared straight ahead, his eyes still wide, as he tried to take in all of this information. Tony Stark's lab... he was being brought to Tony Stark's lab... Rhodey simply chuckled.
The elevator stopped, and the doors slid open. The colonel stepped out, and the web-slinger had to remind his feet to move as he stumbled out after him. They walked over to the railing of what appeared to be a balcony, and if possible, Peter's eyes widened even more when he saw all the robotics, machinery, and tools stationed around the vast room beneath him.
"Whoa..."
Rhodey grinned. "It's your playground now, kid," he said, nudging him toward a nearby staircase that led down to the lab itself. "Go ahead, take a look around. I'll find the plans for those braces..."
Peter slowly tore his gaze away from what could only be described as technological heaven, even though everything that had previously been there still wasn't, a broad grin that made his cheeks hurt spreading across his face. "Yeah, okay! Thanks, this is... wow, this is incredible!"
The colonel nodded, nudging him again. "Go, kid! What are you waiting for?" He watched as the teen hurried down the staircase, nearly falling in his haste, before he slowly started to follow after. Though this lab had always been his best friend's sacred space, one he'd share with Banner on occasion, he felt he was definitely making the right choice with bringing Peter here, even if he hadn't wanted to help with his braces. The kid could continue a name, a legacy, that the billionaire had started.
He had no doubt in his mind it's what Tony would have wanted.
"I'm coming in with you."
"It's all right, Happy, stand down."
"... I'm still gonna linger."
The small bell jingled quietly above her head as Pepper stepped through the door of the small café with a sigh, clutching her purse close to her, with the head of security right behind her. The strong smell of fresh coffee beans and chocolate chip cookies assaulted her senses as she scanned the small room full of happily chattering people. But she felt as though she'd had no choice. This meeting had been asked for, as unexpected as it was, though she really didn't understand why the phone call about the woman's nephew and his fake Stark internship couldn't have sufficed, despite her insistence. There was nothing that could be said in person that couldn't have been said over the phone.
Happy's sharp gaze traveled over the full café. "So... which one do you think she is?" he asked quietly.
The CEO sighed. "I don't know," she answered just as quietly.
Then, she noticed an attractive brunette woman with a flowered top sitting at a table next to the window waving to them to get their attention, seeming to be waiting for them. Pepper forced a small, polite smile as she maneuvered her way across the room with Happy, clearing her throat and subtly trying to straighten her dark skirt out a bit as she stopped beside the table. "May Parker?" she wondered.
"Yes, I'm Peter's aunt." May reached out a manicured hand, which Pepper shook in greeting. "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Potts."
"You as well," Pepper replied as she sat down in the chair across from her. "This is Happy Hogan, our unofficial head of security over at Stark Industries."
Happy cleared his throat. "Former head of security who is filling out that job description again," he corrected before turning his attention to the brunette woman. He attempted to keep a straight face as he leaned forward to shake her hand, though he couldn't completely hide a hint of a smile. "Pleasure, Ms. Parker."
"Same, Mr. Hogan."
Pepper worried her bottom lip between her teeth thoughtfully as she glanced up at the head of security. "Happy, why don't you go get something for yourself?" she suggested. "I don't think we'll be too long here."
Happy looked away from May to quickly glance down at his watch. "Okay, maybe I will," he agreed. "Remember, we've only got about twenty minutes before we have to swing by and get Rhodey to head down to... well, you know..."
"I know, Happy." Pepper's gaze faltered. "Go get something for yourself."
"Okay." Happy turned back to May. "Once again, a pleasure, Ms. Parker."
The CEO watched as he then turned away from the table, making his way toward the counter. He stumbled a little when he nearly tripped over an empty chair in the packed space, and he quickly glanced over his shoulder to make sure that May hadn't seen as he righted the offending piece of furniture again before he continued on his way. She couldn't help but chuckle a little while the pretty brunette hid a smile behind her hand. "It's been an absolute pleasure to work with your nephew, Ms. Parker."
"He's a good boy," May replied, lowering her hand as she turned her attention to Pepper with a fond smile. "He was so excited when Mr. Stark chose him for his internship program... You know, my late husband took Peter to that Iron Man Expo when he was little. He sat on Ben's shoulders so he could see everything, wearing that Iron Man mask toy they had at the time... He was so excited when he signed it for him. He's always been his hero. I'm sure he still has that mask somewhere..."
Pepper gave the other woman a sad smile. "Yes, Ton... Mr. Stark can certainly have that effect on people," she muttered. "He can really be larger than life." She then quickly opened her purse, sifting through its contents until she found her pocket notebook and pen.
"So, shall we get started?"
May's brow furrowed as she watched her with concern. "Wouldn't you like to order something first, Ms. Potts?" she wondered. She glanced over at Happy, who was munching on a chocolate chip cookie with some sort of hot drink in his other hand as he watched them intently.
"Oh, I'm not really hungry. And as Happy said, we don't have too long..."
"A drink then." May flagged down a barista. "Looks like a little caffeine could do you some good."
Pepper couldn't argue that. She'd tried to use as much foundation as possible to make the dark shadows under her eyes from lack of sleep less noticeable since she couldn't close them without remembering the news reports about Tony's death. It felt as though she'd been living on caffeine alone since the day he'd disappeared.
May ordered "the usual" before the middle-aged man turned to Pepper expectantly with his notepad. "Oh, um, a vanilla latte, please," she said, opening her purse again for her wallet. However, she stopped when the other woman waved a hand.
"My treat, hun," she told her. "I get a discount since I'm a regular here." She shared a coy smile with the barista before he hurried away to get their orders. But then, the look waned when she saw that Pepper's eyes were glued to something behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder again to look at the small television that was hanging behind the counter. One glance told her that the nationwide news was once again running headlines about the death of Iron Man.
"Why don't we take this meeting outside?" she suggested quietly. Sympathetically.
Pepper knew that if they stayed where they were, she would never be able to focus on this meeting. She tore her eyes away from the screen and met the other woman's gaze with as much of a smile as she could muster. "That sounds good," she agreed. "It's a beautiful day."
May nodded once as they both stood, and she gestured to the barista before she began to make her way out the back door to where there was another sitting area on a patio facing the busy streets. Pepper gave Happy an encouraging look before she followed after her. There weren't too many people, surprisingly, and they found a spot to sit at a corner table away from anyone else. Pepper opened her notebook and uncapped her pen.
"So, Ms. Potts, how exactly are you affiliated with this internship?" May wondered.
"As the CEO of Stark Industries, I oversaw a lot of the projects that Mr. Stark was involved with, including the internship," Pepper explained. "Mr. Stark was... a friend. As for the internship itself, I've really only worked closely with Peter the past few days in Mr. Stark's... absence. But as I said, it's been a pleasure. He's a very bright kid, I can see why he was chosen to participate."
May nodded thoughtfully, though she didn't say anything.
"Are there any other questions you had concerning the internship that we didn't discuss on the phone?" Pepper continued, attempting to push the meeting along or, more importantly, to find out its point. "Or about how Peter's doing with it?"
Another moment passed before May took a deep breath. "How is Peter handling it?" she asked quietly, her gaze faltering. "That tragic thing that happened to Mr. Stark? I've been talking with his principal ever since the disastrous events in D.C. when he was there for the decathlon trip, and I know he's slipping a bit there, so I wanted to know for sure that he was holding up okay with what he's doing with you. I know he cares about it so much, but if it's causing him any unnecessary stress..."
Pepper absently brought the pen cap to her mouth and lightly took it between her teeth, unsure of what to exactly say. She couldn't lie and say he was doing perfectly; after all, there was no internship, and she knew May would never believe it since apparently, his performance at school was slipping. Besides, for as long as Peter had been spending at the Tower, he had been anything but okay. Even so, he also wanted to do whatever he could to now find those who had killed Tony, and she found that admirable.
"He's all right," she finally settled on saying. "Not his normal perky self after finding out about Mr. Stark, though he's really throwing himself into his work. It seems like it's a good distraction for him." It wasn't entirely a lie.
"That sounds like Peter. He was the same way when his... when his uncle died."
Pepper's gaze faltered. She didn't know exactly what had happened to Peter's uncle, though she remembered the teenager had told her he'd died when he'd been brought to the Tower after the attack. "He's mentioned his uncle passed away, and I was sorry to hear it. He's a good kid."
May's smile returned, though it had a somber feel to it. "That he is. I just worry about him sometimes, though. He's gotten somewhat distant lately." She studied the other woman carefully. "I have no idea how you do it."
"Do what?" Pepper blinked with confusion.
"Ms. Potts, it's quite obvious to me that you were more than Mr. Stark's CEO." May leaned forward a little. "You're a very lucky woman, you know that? When he first came to tell me about this scholarship that Peter had earned, and then about this internship, he was a little flirtatious. I have to say, he's quite the charmer! It was fun, and may I add completely harmless, but I could tell that his heart just wasn't in it. And I knew that was because it still belonged to someone else. And I can see now that it was you."
Pepper's breath caught in her chest. She wasn't sure which part was more difficult to wrap her mind around, that Tony had flirted with this woman while they'd been taking a break– which really wasn't all that unusual when it came to him, she reasoned– or that May had somehow noticed that he had never stopped feeling the way he always had about her.
Just like she hadn't about him.
"Please, just call me Pepper," she was finally able to mutter as she set her pen down. "Um... As far as Mr. Stark... Tony... is concerned, I've been working for him for quite a long time, which is how I ultimately got promoted to CEO. But... we were in a relationship for about eight years before the strain of everything he did caused us to take a break. A couple months ago, I came around again since he needed me to be there, but we were only friends."
May's smile returned. "But you still feel something more for him?" she guessed.
Pepper briefly nodded as she was finally able to take a deeper breath. "Seems like neither one of us stopped in that regard," she said with a chuckle. "And what's happening now... it's been my biggest fear for all these years with him... That one day, I'd turn on the news to see that something happened to him..."
The brunette woman's gaze faltered, and she reached across the table and wrapped her hand securely around the CEO's. Pepper found herself returning the gesture. It was one of understanding, one that didn't require words. The other woman knew the pain she was experiencing, and she found comfort in the fact she wasn't alone.
They released hands just as the barista came out with their drinks, setting them on the table in front of them. "May I get you ladies anything else?"
May waved him off with a friendly smile. "We're good, hun, thank you."
Once they were alone again, she sighed as she turned to the redheaded woman. "I was fortunate to have Peter after Ben's death," she muttered thoughtfully, taking a sip of her warm beverage. "His presence certainly helped with the void my husband's loss left behind. Do... do you have anyone... like that... who can help you?"
Pepper took a sip of her own latte, realizing after a moment what the other woman was referring to. "Oh, no, Tony and I don't have any children," she told her. "Tony wasn't... well, what I should say..." She stopped with a quiet sigh of frustration. "Tony didn't necessarily have the best relationship with his father growing up. So, in many ways, he feels like he really wouldn't be good father material. He was afraid to take that step, I think, and we were both so busy with everything that we were both involved with that it never really crossed our minds. But I'd just look at how he was with Peter, and I'd think his fears weren't necessarily all that founded."
May cocked her head curiously. "So Peter and Mr. Stark were close, then?"
The CEO nodded. "Yes," she confirmed. "He didn't admit it, but I think in some ways, Peter was the closest thing Tony ever compared to a kid of his own."
The brunette woman took this information in before she let out a long breath. "I don't like speaking ill of the dead, but I want to be honest with you," she said. "I've never really been fond of Mr. Stark. I don't know why, but I felt like Peter would get into trouble one day because of him." She didn't notice how Pepper nearly choked on a sip of her drink. "But I'm happy to know that, regardless. After Ben died, Peter didn't have any sort of father figure in his life. That Mr. Stark was able to give him that..."
Pepper smiled slightly as she lightly dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. "Trust me, the connection was mutual."
May returned the look. "Good." Then, she cleared her throat. "Recently, Peter had a meeting with the school's therapist, and as I've mentioned, I've been having talks with the principal about how his performance is lacking. I think I'm going to have him continue having these meetings to deal with the recent turn of events involving Mr. Stark. Believe me, I was hoping for the best outcome..."
"As we all were," Pepper muttered.
"Yes, well... that should help him deal with the overwhelming stress he seems to be dealing with at school," May continued. "And I want your honest opinion in regards to the internship."
The CEO straightened in her chair slightly. "I'd be happy to give you whatever you need."
May gave her a sad look. "Do you think it's... too much for him right now?" she asked. "With everything going on..."
Pepper sighed as she leaned forward on the table. "I know that Peter's struggling with some anxiety issues," she answered. "And when he was alive, Tony made sure to accommodate that. He had his own anxiety issues that he worked through on a daily basis, so he understood. I'll continue to do the same, he's welcome to speak with me, or anyone else who's helping with the internship, at any time. I believe meeting with the school psychologist will help in that regard, too, and perhaps he could find some sort of balance through those sessions. Though with what I know about Peter, it's my professional and personal opinion that keeping him on the internship would be the best route to take for now. He genuinely enjoys it, and it's something that keeps him focused. I think, in that sense, it can help him cope with what happened to Tony."
The brunette woman met her gaze for a long moment before she smiled and nodded. "All right, then. That's what we'll do for now."
Before either woman could say anything more, the sound of someone clearing their throat reached them, and they both turned to see that Happy was standing in the doorway that led out to the patio, drink in hand. He'd already finished his cookie. "I'm sorry to say that we'll have to cut this meeting short, Ms. Parker," he said, trying to keep his tone official. "Ms. Potts, it's time to head to our... other engagement."
Pepper's face paled a shade as she took a deep breath and nodded. "All right, Happy, thank you." She quickly gathered up her notepad and pen, dropping the latter as her fingers trembled slightly, and she chuckled as she finally managed to get both items in her purse. The other woman watched her carefully "Sorry about that, Ms. Parker. But please, if you have any more questions or concerns, please feel free to call me."
"Please, just May. No need for the Ms. Parker business," May told her with a sad smile. As both women rose to their feet, she quickly reached out and pulled the redhead into a tight hug. Startled by the gesture, Pepper managed to wrap an arm around her.
"I know where you're going, I can see it in your face," the brunette woman whispered. "It's one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. But you'll be fine, Pepper, trust me. You're strong. You can make it through."
Pepper felt a thin line of tears form in her eyes as she tightened her hold on May. That was exactly what she needed to hear from someone who knew what she was going through because they'd been through it themselves before.
"Thank you, May."
"Virginia Potts, right this way."
Pepper didn't even hesitate as she walked forward when her name was called, her face impassive. Behind her, Rhodey and Happy rose from their seats and followed her without a word.
"You're walking better," the head of security murmured with a brief glance at the other man.
Rhodey smirked slightly as he nodded once. "Kid did a good job on the braces," he replied.
Pepper glanced over her shoulder as the three crossed the lobby of the medical examiner's office toward where the coroner's assistant– a young, fair-haired, almost flustered girl– was waiting for them. A small smile tugged at the corner of her own lips; she could hear the pride in the colonel's voice.
"Thank you for coming, Ms. Potts," the assistant– Amanda, judging by her name tag– said, shaking the CEO's hand. "I know this may seem somewhat... redundant and unnecessary with someone of Mr. Stark's status, but it's standard procedure that the next of kin come in for identification. And since you were listed in Mr. Stark's medical records as the person of contact... though I didn't know that more people were coming with you."
Happy puffed out his chest ever so slightly, eager to show off his badge. "For your information, I–!"
"He's my personal security," Pepper supplied, setting a placating hand on the head of security's arm. "Due to the nature of... Mr. Stark's death, Stark Industries thought it important that he accompany me since the company is in my control. And along with Colonel Rhodes, we are the closest to kin that Mr. Stark had."
Amanda looked from Pepper to Happy to Rhodey for a moment before making a quick note on her clipboard. "Very well. Right this way, please."
Both Happy and Rhodey gave Pepper looks of approval as all three of them followed the young assistant as she led them down a couple of hallways before making their way down a short flight of stairs. The temperature seemed to drop with every step.
The door leading into the morgue loomed ahead of them at the end of the hall. Pepper took a deep, shuddering breath as she stared straight ahead, grateful for Happy's warm, sturdy hand resting on her shoulder. She'd steeled herself for this moment ever since she'd received the call from the medical examiner's office. She thought she'd been prepared.
But how could she be prepared for this?
How could she be prepared to see the body of the man she'd loved for so long... burnt, bloodied, bruised... broken?
How could she be prepared to see the shell of the man who'd known her better than any other without life when he'd once been so vibrant?
How could she...?
"Ms. Potts?"
Pepper was brought out of her racing thoughts when Amanda's quiet, almost hesitant, voice reached her. She noticed that they'd come to a stop in front of the door leading into the morgue and that the younger woman was looking at her expectantly. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "You were saying?"
Amanda gave her a smile full of sympathy. "When the police brought his body in, the sergeant gave me this," she told her, lifting some of the papers on her clipboard before holding out a fancy white envelope to her. "He instructed it should be given to who was listed as Mr. Stark's next of kin."
Rhodey's eyes narrowed as he stared at the envelope. Sergeant... Something didn't settle well with him about that. He couldn't shake the feeling that that was who had directed the android attack on him since, even though he'd only ever seen that man from a distance, he thought he'd recognized the uniform. "Was that with the body?" he wondered. "I didn't see it at the scene."
"It was with the body when they brought him in," Amanda told him.
Happy exchanged a wary look with Rhodey as Pepper reached out and took the envelope. Though instead of looking at it, she slipped it right into her purse.
"I'd like to speak to the coroner now, please," the CEO said politely.
Please just let me get this nightmare over with...
Amanda nodded. "One moment, Ms. Potts." She then opened the door and disappeared into the morgue.
As soon as they were alone, Rhodey immediately turned to face her. "I don't like it," he murmured. I was there when Tony was discovered, Pepper. There wasn't an envelope. If that had been on him, it would have been burned if not destroyed."
"I know," Pepper replied with a sigh. "It seems weird to me, too. We'll check it out later."
"So... what would this shady sergeant be trying to do here with this envelope?" Happy asked.
Rhodey met his gaze, but before he could answer, the door opened once more, and Amanda leaned out. "He's ready for you."
Pepper took a deep breath as she nodded, once again not hesitating as she walked into the morgue. Happy and Rhodey stayed close behind her.
The coroner– an older man with graying hair and kindness in his lined face– was there to greet them. He offered them a small smile, shaking hands with each of them. "All right, Amanda, that'll do, dear," he said, waiting until his assistant left the room before turning his light gaze back to them. "Ms. Potts, my deepest condolences for your loss. I know this seems tedious since the press has already identified him, but..."
"I know, it's standard procedure," Pepper assured him. "It's all right. I'm here to do my part."
The coroner gave her a sympathetic look. "All right, then. Follow me, please."
Pepper nodded, glancing down when a hand briefly wrapped around hers and gave it a comforting squeeze. She smiled at Rhodey before the three of them followed after the older man.
The coroner led them over to a metallic table with a white sheet draped over it, a clearly human shape clearly visible beneath it. For the first time, the CEO's steps faltered. She knew who was under there, no matter how she wished he wasn't. Tony... the man she'd shared her life with in one way or another for over a decade, the man who had seen her for who she was, the man who had touched her soul in a way no one else had, the man whose smile never failed to make her heart flutter no matter how much he could annoy her, the man she'd always known she wanted to spend the rest of her life with...
And now, she never would. That smile had faded, the heart he'd given her had stopped, that light that promised he'd always find a way back to her had gone out.
Tony was gone. What was now on the table in front of her was all that remained.
Her breath caught in her chest, and she was immediately grateful when both Rhodey and Happy moved in close on either side of her.
The coroner's gaze faltered. "I'm sorry, this part is never easy," he told them. "Are you ready, Ms. Potts? There is no need to rush."
Pepper took a moment to just focus on keeping her breathing steady, trying to keep the image of Tony– alive, smiling broadly, laughter in his hazel eyes– close to her heart. She nodded, setting her jaw as she grabbed a tight hold of both the head of security and the colonel's arms.
"I'm ready." She wasn't sure if she believed her own words, but she also knew she had no choice. She was as ready as she'd ever be.
The coroner nodded in return, reaching out and taking a hold of the sheet before carefully lowering it to reveal the man lying beneath it.
All the breath left Happy's lungs as though he'd been punched in the gut. Seeing the burns and bruises that marked the billionaire's face, chest, and shoulders was horrifying. The darker bruising on his best friend's neck, which was twisted a little at an unnatural angle, made him nauseous. Rhodey inhaled sharply. Even though he'd been cleaned up since he saw him at the scene down by the harbor, seeing Tony in this shape, seeing him lifeless, still attacked him like a physical pain. He reached out and grabbed a hold of Pepper's arm, noticing that the head of security was appearing a bit green before he turned his full attention to her.
The CEO's face was completely drained of color, and a thin line of tears had formed in her shocked eyes. He felt her trembling slightly beneath his hand, and the colonel secured his hold in case her legs decided to give out on her. She looked as though she'd faint at any moment.
Pepper hardly felt Rhodey's hold on her as the world around her seemed to fall away. All that existed was her and Tony, lying lifeless on the table in front of her. She felt lightheaded, her body shaking so much that she wasn't sure how much longer she'd be able to stay standing. Even with the tears obscuring her vision, her eyes traced every bruise, every burn, over the features she knew so well, down his neck, onto his broad shoulders and chest...
"Our initial examination showed us that his broken neck may have been..." the coroner began, but his words slowly trailed off when Pepper started taking a couple slow steps forward. "Ms. Potts?"
Rhodey watched after the CEO as he cautiously let go of her arm when she moved closer to the table, knowing that he and Happy were still close enough in case they were needed. But he was surprised to see the confusion cross her face as she continued forward to get a better look at the body. On her other side, Happy had finally pulled himself together and appeared as wary as he did.
"Hey, Peps...?" the latter murmured.
But Pepper didn't seem to hear any of them as she stepped right next to the table, leaning down a little to get an even closer look at Tony. Rhodey's brow furrowed, not sure what she could possibly be looking for.
The coroner watched her curiously for a moment before he decided to continue. "As I was saying, our initial examination showed us that–!"
Suddenly, Pepper gasped as she straightened up and staggered back from the table. Both Rhodey and Happy were at her side immediately to steady her. "Pepper, what's wrong?" the colonel asked anxiously, searching her pale face for any clue.
"Talk to us, Peps," Happy urged, tightening his hold around her to keep her steady on her feet since she was shaking violently again.
Pepper continued to stare at the body for a moment longer, a sob escaping from her as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. Her breathing quickened as she looked from Rhodey to Happy, her eyes wide in disbelief.
Finally, she found her voice.
"That... that isn't Tony."
Author's Note: And... plot twist? So if the body that was discovered isn't Tony... any guesses as to what's going on here? We'll find out a little more in the next chapter! Thanks for reading! Your reviews are appreciated! Until next time, guys!