A/N: I'm so sorry this is late! I didn't hit my goal for finishing the story; therefore, it fell into my fall semester. I'm going for my MBA and I'm taking a particularly time consuming class. I want to wrap this up soon, but my course work is going to have to come first. Bear with me, though. I still have a vision for this.
Also, I think there was a little confusion based on some reviews for previous chapters. Basically, I tried to elude to the fact that Ross had the guards (including Wade and Wilson) killed. I picture him as being too proud to let anyone live and tell about his failure to keep his prisoners at the Raft. Therefore, he was the only loose end, and the Scarlet Witch fixed that. Plus, Rhodes and Vision destroyed any files or paper evidence. I get that it might seem unrealistic, but this is fiction. Also, it could always leave room for a future fic if things aren't perfectly tied up. All in all, I have a method to my madness. This was a long chapter, but hopefully that makes it is worth the wait. Enjoy!
As always, the characters aren't mine. They still belong to Marvel.
Chapter 19: It's My Party…
Tony was having a difficult time. He thought that having Peter back would ease the anxiety that he had been feeling. But hearing Peter talk about almost dying sent chills down his spine. He was afraid to ask, but he had to know what happened.
"Peter," Tony said. "What do you mean you would be dead? What the hell happened?"
Peter sighed, "You know they put that thing around my neck?"
Tony nodded.
"When the others arrived, and we started to make our escape and were fighting, one of Ross's men was prepared to use that thing in the worst way, Mr. Stark. It was used to send this debilitating pulse through my body; it was like shock waves rolling through me," Peter explained. "I knew that they could use it to kill me if they wanted, and just when they were about to send a shock that would… you know…" Peter just couldn't say it again. "Bucky ripped it off my neck with his metal arm just in the nick of time."
Everything was quiet while Tony and Pepper absorbed that information.
"I know that doesn't change what he did as the Winter Soldier, but I do think he's trying to be the man he once was… the one he truly is," Peter added.
Tony was slowly nodding his head, "I can't deny that I'm grateful to have you back alive, kid. But I can't help but to still see what he did to my parents. While there may be some hope for that man's redemption, I'm not sure I can ever forgive him for what happened to my parents."
Peter was quiet and sitting with his head down. He supposed that was to be expected.
"However…" Tony added. "…It might mean that I won't try to kill Barnes if I see him again. I suppose he's earned the chance to make some things right."
That made Peter brighten up. "That's great, Mr. Stark. I think that's really all he wants."
"There's something else, Pete," Tony said. "But not about Barnes; it's more about what you said about Cap helping you…" Tony looked at Pepper. He noticed she was smiling at him. He had no doubt that she knew exactly what he was thinking. She reached a hand over and grabbed Tony's hand.
"I'm going to have to admit that Steve redeemed himself a little by getting you out of there, Peter," Tony said.
Pepper gave his hand a squeeze and nudged his shoulder with her own, wanting him to say everything that she knew he was thinking.
"Kid…" Tony started, staring at Peter and waiting for him to meet his eyes.
Peter looked at him, unsure of where this was going. "Yeah?" he asked.
"…you have this thing about you. A way of just getting right in here," Tony said pointing to his heart.
"Uh… I…" Peter was a little confused. He wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Tony held up a hand, indicating for him to just listen. "I'm bad at this… sorry. I'm a little outside my comfort zone." Tony scrubbed a hand over his face before continuing, "Family is a new thing for me, kid. I haven't really let anyone close to me since my parents died. I did not want to deal with… attachments… or maybe the emotions that go with those attachments…" Tony shrugged, still trying to figure out how to say what he was thinking.
Pepper was shaking her head at him, but the look on her face was endearing. "You got this, Tony," she said. "Use your words."
Peter was starting to find this amusing. Did Peter dare to hope that Tony was about to call him family?
Tony gave Pepper a look, pretending to be offended, "Excuse me, Ms. Potts. I know how to use my words! I just need to find the right ones… delicate topic and all." Tony took a deep breath, looked at Peter and continued, "Somewhere along the way, Peter. I think I started to see you as the son I never knew I wanted. I don't just care about you, kid. I… uh… one could say… that I love you … you know …like a son." Tony gave a relieved sigh, happy to finally say it out loud.
Now he was looking at Peter, trying to get a read on how Peter felt about that.
"I… uh… wow…" Peter cleared his throat, wanting to talk past the lump that had formed there. "Do you mean that, Mr. Stark?"
Tony gave him a quizzical look, "Why wouldn't I? I said it, didn't I?"
"Well… yeah…" Peter shrugged his shoulders, feeling awkward. "It's just one of those things that seems too good to be true. I love Aunt May, but I was missing that person in my life who was like a father." Peter gave a small laugh. "I guess somewhere along the way, I began to love you like a father, Mr. Stark. I just wasn't sure how to say anything… or how you'd feel about it."
Pepper was smiling and was trying to discreetly push away tears that were beginning to fall from her eyes.
Tony noticed. He was happy to be getting this all out in the open, but this was Tony. Serious moments weren't really his thing. "Good! Great! Hey… I'm glad we settled this!" He tried using that typical Tony Stark snarky attitude, but he was clearly fighting with his own emotions.
Peter didn't miss the glassy look in Tony's eyes or the strain in his voice as he spoke. He could tell that he was touched and almost moved to tears like Pepper. Peter gave a small laugh. He knew Tony well enough to know that they were on the same page. They felt the same way about each other.
They were family now.
"So…" Peter said. "Are you thinking you might talk to Steve? Tell him that you're thankful to have me back?"
Tony gave an incredulous shrug, "I'm pretty sure he got that message in Wakanda. I gave him the nod!" He was trying to defend himself, but he could tell by the looks from Peter and Pepper that they felt like that wasn't enough.
Tony gave a long sigh, "Ok…look. When the time is right, I will have a heart to heart with Grandpa." He looked carefully at Peter and Pepper, "I'm just going to need a little more time."
They each gave him a nod. However, Pepper felt the need to add, "I just think it's going to be harder for you if you wait too long."
"I'll make a mental note of that, Pep." Tony replied. He was trying to be sarcastic, but there was sincerity detectable in his voice. He clearly knew that Pepper was right. He shouldn't put it off too long.
They all fell silent, and Peter rested his head back on his seat. He was very tired, and he noticed Pepper and Tony looked just as tired. He decided if he rested, they might do the same. "Thank you, Mr. Stark. Thank you for telling me this. It means a lot." He yawned. "Please don't be offended now, though, if I take a little nap. All of this has made me a bit tired."
Tony nodded, "Get some rest, kid. We'll be back at the compound with your Aunt May before you know it."
It didn't take long for Peter to doze off. Tony and Pepper relaxed, knowing that he was really going to be ok. Pepper rested her head on Tony's shoulder, and he leaned his own head on top of hers. Soon, the whole plane was silent as the three people on board were resting comfortably.
May had fallen asleep. Earlier that morning, Happy had told her that Peter was going to be ok. She knew that Tony was going to get him and bring him home. She had spent so much time resting. She had tried to stay awake. The doctor told her that she was on the mend, and she had been able to eat an actual meal. Happy was there with her, offering her as much help as he could. She thought he was being so sweet. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to help her stay awake.
Now, she was pulling herself from sleep. She felt refreshed and noticed an energy that she hadn't felt in days. Glancing over at the clock, she noticed that it was already late afternoon… almost evening. Surely Peter and the others should be back by now!
She could feel the weight of someone at the foot end of the bed and figured that Happy must have fallen asleep along with her.
May pulled herself up into a sitting position and glanced towards the end of the bed, ready to wake Happy and scold him for letting her fall asleep. She would see about having him get an update on when the others would arrive.
She froze when she noticed that the person at the end of the bed wasn't Happy.
The figure looked an awful lot like Peter sitting in a chair, leaning forward with his arms on the bed. The head resting on those arms looked like Peter's head. The heavy breathing coming from that sleeping figure sounded like Peter's breathing when he dozed off.
Did she dare to hope that he was home? Or was this some sign that her fever was back? Perhaps she was hallucinating?
Slowly, May reached her hand down towards the head. She placed her fingers in the wavy brown hair. She brushed her fingers through the hair, and she could feel the heat from the sleeping form. He was real! Peter was home! She noticed that he was beginning to stir.
Peter blinked his eyes open and looked up at her. May had never been happier to see those brown eyes!
His eyes widened when he noticed her awake and smiling at him. He sat up quickly, "Aunt May?"
Her smile grew bigger, "P'ter? You're home!" She moved her hand to rest on his cheek. Her voice was a little weak, but there was no missing the joy and relief.
Peter took a hold of the hand that she had on his face and pulled it down into his own. "Aunt May! How are you feeling? I'm so sorry that I wasn't here for you!" The words spilled out of his mouth quickly.
"What?" she asked him, give him a disbelieving look. "It's not your fault, sweetheart. You have nothing to be sorry for!" she whispered to him, squeezing the hand that was holding hers.
"I just wish that I had been here for you," Peter said. He was fighting back tears, and he could see May was fighting that same battle with her own emotions.
"Oh, Peter!" May said. "I wish you had been here, too, but only because that would mean that you hadn't been…" her eyes widened as she thought about just where he had been. She sat up a little more, trying to examine him. "Why are we worrying about me? It was just the flu! How are you? Are you alright? Did they hurt you?" It was May's turn to have the words spill out quickly.
Peter shook his head at her and smiled, "I'm going to be just fine, Aunt May. Especially now that I know you're ok." They smiled at each other warmly, still clutching hands. "I promise… I promise to tell you more, Aunt May," Peter said, dropping his voice to a whisper. "But right now… I just want to sit with you. Is that ok?"
May nodded, "That sounds perfect. I'm so glad to have you back, Peter!"
He moved his chair up closer to the head of the bed. This time, he settled in so that he was easier for her to reach. May once again moved her hand to his head, brushing her fingers gently through his hair. They didn't need words. They just sat together, enjoying the knowledge that each one would be ok.
Everything was as it should be.
At some point, Peter made it back to his room. He had spent the evening with May, helping her back to her own room on the third floor so that she could be closer to him. He could hardly believe that he could sleep any more than he already had. He supposed that days locked up in prison had taken a lot out of him.
He woke up in his room feeling a little out of sorts. He fond himself getting dressed in a daze. It felt strange returning to a normal routine. It was odd to have the freedom to move around again. He went to the mirror and studied his reflection. It had only been a few days, but Peter could have sworn that he somehow looked older, more mature even. He put his hands to his neck. The bruising was gone, and yet, he was almost sure that he could still feel that horrible device around his neck.
"Come on, Peter," he told himself. "Pull yourself together. It's over."
He took a deep breath, collecting himself.
He opened his eyes and moved into his sitting area. He took another deep breath, smelling the air. Peter smiled and moved to exit into the hallway. He knew that smell all too well.
"Someone is making pancakes and bacon!" he thought happily.
Peter made his way towards the kitchen, and then he stopped at the sight that greeted him.
Aunt May was sitting at the counter with what looked to be a cup of tea.
Cooking pancakes and bacon in the kitchen were none other than MJ and Ned. He stood there blinking at the scene in front of him. He thought he must be dreaming, but then Ned turned around and saw him.
"PETER! You're awake!" Ned yelled, nearly dropping the plate of pancakes that was in his hands. "We wanted to surprise you!"
MJ turned away from the stove. "About time! Happy Birthday, Peter!" she said.
"Happy Birthday?" Peter thought, his eyes suddenly widening in realization. "Oh… yeah… It's Thursday, isn't it?" he asked, still a little stunned.
May was looking at him with concern. She slowly pulled herself up and moved towards him, "Peter? Honey… are you alright?" She asked.
Peter walked forward to meet her. She still looked tired and weak herself, and Peter didn't want her to get light headed. He slipped an arm around her waist and walked her back towards her seat in the kitchen.
"Yeah… I…" Peter looked at his friends, "How did you guys get here? When did you get here?"
His friends continued to set out breakfast on the counter. "Happy came to get us," MJ explained. "When we got here and found out that you were still resting, we decided to surprise you with breakfast."
"I was just about to come wake you," Ned said. "But here you are!" Ned came around and wrapped his friend in a brotherly hug. "It's so good to see you, dude! I was so worried when Happy called." Ned began to repeat his conversation with Happy, mimicking the other man's voice. "He was all like … where's Peter?... and I was all like I thought he was picked up already… and he was like what? I was supposed to pick him up!... and I was like this CANNOT be good!"
MJ cut in to stop her rambling friend, "He let us know you were in a bit of trouble, but he didn't go into detail," she said. He noticed that she was studying him with a worried expression. "May told us a little more when he got here, are you… will you be ok?" She was moving closer to him, yet she almost seemed afraid to get too close.
Peter walked over to stand in front of his girlfriend. "Yeah… I'm going to be fine. It's good to be home." He wrapped her in a hug.
She smiled at him. "So, you're ok? You're not hurt?" He noticed there was a funny edge to her voice.
"Y-yeah… I'm ok." he said.
"That's good," She said. Then she smacked him on the arm and yelled, "Don't ever scare us like that again, Parker! We didn't even know if we would see you again!"
Peter rubbed his arm and looked at her. "Yeah… well… it wasn't exactly a picnic for me, either!"
She looked at him again, noticing that he had a bit of a haunted look in his eyes. She felt bad for smacking him now. It had just been all so stressful, and she didn't really mean to take it out on him. She pulled him into another hug. "Ugh… I'm sorry! Th-this has not been the spring break I was expecting. I know it's not what you wanted either. I'm sorry I smacked you! I'm not really mad. I just- I don't know. I don't think I've ever been so worried about someone in my life!"
He grabbed her shoulders, held her steady, and studied her face. He saw the mix of relief, worry, and guilt that she held there. He offered her a smile, "Let's not dwell on it, ok? How about we sit down and eat this awesome breakfast together? This looks amazing, guys! Thank you!"
The friends sat together and starting eating. Ned, MJ, and May mostly just picked at the food. Peter, on the other hand, was starving. He didn't hold back. He was happy to eat the amazing meal his friends had prepared for him. They didn't talk much as he was eating. They just enjoyed the familiar feeling of having each other's company.
Or, at least they enjoyed each other's company until Peter was finished. Then, the silence started to grow uncomfortable.
"Peter…" Ned said. "What happened? I mean we know some things, but…" Ned trailed off, seeming as if he wasn't sure how to finish the sentence.
May looked at the group of friends, "Ahem… I think I'm going to go get a little rest before the main event this evening. You guys can catch up and I'll see you a little later, ok?"
They nodded to her and watched as she made her way towards her room. "Oh!" She added. "I'm supposed to tell you not to go up to the fourth floor before your party. Pepper and Tony don't want to see you upstairs before 4:00!" With that, May opened her door and entered her room.
"Peter…" this time it was MJ that spoke. "I mean… we want to know, but if you aren't ready to talk about it…"
"It's ok," Peter said. "I want to tell you everything. You guys have been here for me through everything. You've sacrificed so much of your time to help me, so I think I owe you an explanation of what went on over the past week."
Peter looked up and noticed the time. It was already 11:00 am. He supposed this meal had been more of a brunch than a breakfast.
"You're sure?" Ned asked. "I mean… it's your birthday. Maybe we should do something fun?" he offered.
Peter looked at his friends. He had no doubt that they should do something fun, but he felt like they wouldn't really be able to have fun until their questions were answered.
Peter smiled and shook his head. "How about we head back to my room? We'll sit down in there and I'll tell you everything. Then, we'll play X-Box and have fun after that."
His friends nodded at him, and they made their way to Peter's room. Once they were all seated and comfortable, Peter took a breath and told his story.
He started with leaving school and then walked them through every moment that he remembered. He was surprised to discover that he actually needed to talk about it. He didn't hold back anything from his friends. He told them everything that he remembered, processing the information for himself almost as much as his friends. As he spoke, MJ had moved closer. She tucked herself into his side and wrapped an arm around him, doing her best to provide him with some comfort as he spoke. There were moments when the three friends fought tears together, laughed uncomfortably through other moments, and gave little cheers of excitement when he talked about the arrival of the rogue Avengers who came to save him. He was honest with them about Bucky saving his life.
When Peter told them that part of the story, he gave his friends a moment to process. He could tell that they were shaken a bit to think that he could have been killed.
MJ swiped away a tear, "I can't believe I was mad at you. I'm sorry, Peter. I had no idea!"
"How could you? I'm sorry you guys were kept in the dark. I probably would have been a little mad myself," Peter admitted. "This life… sometimes you guys won't know what's happening with me. But I promise to tell you whatever I can." He looked at them. "I need you guys. You know?"
"We need you, too, Peter!" Ned told him. "We love you, dude!" Ned blushed, "Well… not like that. I mean… MJ… she loves you like that. But I think of you more like a brother."
Peter smiled and laughed at his friend. This is why he needed them. They provided a sense of normalcy in his crazy life. Next, Peter told them about coming home. He told them about going to Wakanda and meeting Shuri. MJ had smiled upon hearing about the princess, and she agreed that they would likely make good friends. He also told them about the Scarlet Witch changing Ross's reality so that he was able to come home.
The only part he left out was his own fear that somehow Wanda's magic… or whatever is was… wouldn't last.
Peter also decided to tell them about the conversation he had with Tony. He admitted to his friends that he was like a father to him.
MJ gave a small laugh, "Well, duh!" she said. "We could see that!" She gestured between herself and Ned.
"What? You could?" Peter asked.
"Peter," Ned said. "We know you better than anyone… with the exception of May, of course. You would tell Mr. Stark everything in those 'reports' of yours. It was always more like a kid filling in his dad on what happened during school that day or something."
MJ nodded. "It was obvious that he was becoming more than just a mentor. Plus…" she gestured around the room "…look at this place. He spoils you! You have your own room, your own lab space, he lets you visit whenever you want. He spends a lot of time and money on you, Peter. Do you see him doing that for the other Avengers?"
Peter thought about that. Most of the team was split up at the moment, but he never really heard about Tony putting the time and attention into anyone else. He supposed they were right. "Huh… yeah… I guess I was blind to it," Peter admitted. "But I'm happy about it, you know? After losing Uncle Ben…" Peter took a breath, "it's nice to have Mr. Stark to look up to."
"Dude!" Ned said excitedly. "Iron Man is like your SuperDad! You know… he's a superhero and father figure, so he's SuperDad! Or maybe Iron Dad! Whichever one you like!"
Peter shook his head at Ned and smiled, "I think I'll stick with Mr. Stark. Anything else seems… kinda… weird."
MJ smiled at him. "So…" She said sensing that Peter was ready to move on. "What games do you have? I feel like I need to show you two losers just how awesome I am on the X Box!"
They settled on a game and began to play. This time with his friends was the perfect way to recover. Peter had suffered through what many would call a traumatic experience, and a familiar routine with his friends was exactly what he needed.
He realized that he had a lot to celebrate for his birthday this year.
Tony and Pepper had decided to host Peter's Party on their private floor. There was plenty of space there, and they could keep the special celebration away from any curious eyes or surprise visitors. They weren't expecting any surprises, but they were feeling extra cautious and protective.
Pepper was helping Happy hang up some streamers when May arrived upstairs. As soon as Happy saw her, he dropped what he was doing and rushed to her side.
Pepper thought about yelling at him for leaving her to decorate alone, but she decided to let it go when she noticed how May appreciated his attention. She watched Happy help May to the couch. She couldn't help but think that there was something blooming between the two of them. She looked over in Tony's direction and could tell that he was thinking the same thing, if the goofy grin on his face was any indication.
"How are you feeling, May?" Pepper asked, wanting to say something before Tony tried to tease them.
"Oh! I'm feeling a lot stronger today. I think having Peter home has helped give me a boost of energy, too!" May answered.
"How's the kid doing? Was he happy to see his friends?" Tony asked her.
May raised her eyebrows and shook her head a little, "Honestly, I was a little worried about him when he came out of his room this morning. He seemed so surprised to see them, and he didn't even seem to remember that today was his birthday!"
They all stopped and looked at her in surprise at that remark.
"He was a little out of sorts at first, but I think his friends really helped to bring him around. I checked on them before I came upstairs. They were playing video games in Peter's room and seemed to be having a really nice time together," May told them.
Everyone relaxed knowing that he had settled in and was enjoying time with his friends.
Pepper spoke up and asked, "Does he know we arranged to have his friends spend the night?"
"Not yet," May shook her head. "They want to surprise him and let him know after the party. I'm thankful their parents agreed to let them stay."
"They think they're keeping Peter company while you're recovering from the flu. Both kids' parents seemed oddly fine with it," Happy chimed in.
"I feel bad that I didn't get to take care of the upgrades to that car," Tony said.
"Oh no!" May exclaimed. "Where is the car? I didn't even think about it! I was so distracted by everything else."
Happy smiled at her, "I had it all taken care of. It's cleaned up and ready to go down in the garage."
May smiled at him, "Thank you, Happy! That's a relief. I guess we can just walk him down there to see it sometime during the party?" She asked, looking at Tony.
"Yeah… something like that. Maybe I can just tell the kid that we'll do some upgrades together," Tony answered.
"He'd love that, Tony. I think that's a great idea," May confirmed. "I was a little worried that he would be disappointed about his other party, but he seems content just to be with the people closest to him and stay here longer," May added.
"We're glad you're both staying longer," Pepper told May honestly.
"Stay as long as you want. I can get Dr. Cho to sign a note for the school. I'd say the kid earned the right to play hooky," Tony said.
May shook her head, "Good luck getting Peter to agree to that. He takes school pretty seriously. But I won't protest if you want to make the offer."
Tony smiled. He was a little surprised May would agree to letting Peter skip school, but he supposed she might like the extra time with him, too. Those five days without the kid were unbearable.
"This looks amazing!" May said as she looked all around the room. "Thanks for doing this for him."
"I'm just glad we were able to do this," Tony said honestly. He was very glad they were organizing a birthday party because they came far too close to organizing a funeral. The idea of Peter dying was horrifying. Tony wasn't sure if he would ever be able to survive losing the kid.
Before long, Peter's birthday celebration began. It was perfect. The upstairs was decorated with red and blue streamers. Pepper had a banner made that read, "Happy 16th Birthday, Peter!" The best part about the banner was that it was a Spider-Man theme. She told him that the party store was now offering that particular theme for kids, and she couldn't resist getting it for him. May had also placed an order at Peter's favorite bakery in Queens for his cake. It was his favorite: red velvet cake with cream cheese icing. Apparently, Happy had picked up the cake when he went to get Ned and MJ.
Peter looked around the room. These were the people he trusted the most. They weren't just here to celebrate Peter's 16th birthday; they were here to welcome Spider-Man back as well. Peter looked at the guests: Pepper was standing with Tony, Rhodes was talking to Vision, May was having a conversation with Happy, Ned and MJ were getting food, and T'Challa and Shuri were getting off the elevator.
"Wait! What?" Peter thought, his mouth dropping open.
He rushed over to greet them, "Oh my god, what are you… I mean… how?" He couldn't find his words.
T'Challa spoke first. "Stark mentioned that he was happy to get you home in time to celebrate your birthday, so I felt like it was only fitting that Shuri and I come to join in that celebration."
Tony walked over to join them, shaking the king of Wakanda's hand in a friendly greeting. "Were you surprised, kid?" Tony asked.
"What? Yeah! I mean… I can't believe you could make it here!" Peter said.
Shuri shook her head and laughed, "Look who you are talking to! We had no problem getting here on our jet. It probably took our jet half the time to get here compared to that private one you had to fly back in."
Tony gave her a look, "Listen, Princess! I might just make you put your tech were your mouth is," he joked with her.
She had no problem firing back, "Haven't you seen it already? You see the necklace my brother wears? I made that for him!"
"Wow! You make jewelry? Impressive!" Tony quipped.
"That is not just a necklace! Is your head made of Iron, too? My brother's suit is held within the teeth of that necklace! I designed it." She beamed, "And it is much subtler than that glowing disc you wear!"
Tony was a little taken aback. He wanted to argue more, but Peter wanted Shuri to meet his friends.
"You're going to have let her win this one, Mr. Stark. Come on, Shuri, I want you to meet my friends," Peter told her.
T'Challa and Tony watched them go and then went to join Rhodes and Vision. Pepper had joined in a conversation with May and Happy.
Ned and MJ had seen the arrival of the newcomers but stayed back, knowing Peter was likely to introduce them at the right time.
"Hey guys! This is Shuri, the princess of Wakanda!" Ned and MJ smiled at her. Peter introduced Ned first. "Shuri, this is my best friend: Ned Leeds."
Ned shook her hand, "It's nice to meet you, your highness. Is your brother the Black Panther?"
Shuri laughed at the question, "He is. And I am the brain behind the Black Panther! It's nice to meet you, Ned." She noticed he seemed very excited.
Peter spoke again, "And this is my girlfriend: Michelle Jones. But we call her MJ."
MJ came forward and held her hand out to Shuri who took it gladly. "It is so nice to meet a kindred spirit," MJ said. "I consider myself to be the brain of this group," she said, pointing from herself to Peter and Ned.
"Yes… I believe that to be true." Shuri joked.
The four of them settled into friendly conversation. He noticed that his friends were happy to welcome Shuri. MJ seemed especially comfortable with her, and he was so thankful that Shuri and T'Challa were there.
Peter could hardly believe they went through all of this trouble for his birthday. The only thing he could have asked for was that the others could be there. He couldn't even remember if Steve or the others knew about his birthday, and he doubted that Tony would have been comfortable having them. He supposed he should just be grateful for the people who could be there.
Tony tapped a glass and got everyone's attention, "Hello! Hello! I'd like your attention for just a moment!" When it was quiet, he continued, "We're happy that we could get together to celebrate Pete's 16th birthday this evening. This has turned into an extra special birthday because it is also doubling as a welcome home party." Tony looked in Peter's direction, "Kid, we couldn't be happier to have you back here to celebrate. I can tell you that every person in this room was anxious to have you here today."
Peter looked around and saw everyone looking in his direction, and so he gave an awkward smile back to them, feeling a little self-conscious.
Tony started again, "The 16th birthday is special! It's an age of responsibility. We introduce our youth to the wonderful world of driving! It's also an age of trust. As adults, we tell these kids that we are trusting them to be responsible when behind the wheel." Tony looked towards Peter, "Pete… you have proved that you can be responsible and trustworthy. So…" A screen appeared in front of Tony with a 3-D hologram of the Toyota Prius.
Aunt May had come to stand beside Peter. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and said, "It's a new car!"
Tony gave an awkward shrug and felt the need to add, "Your aunt chose the make and model. I had nothing to do with that!"
May rolled her eyes at Tony and turned to look at Peter's face. Peter's mouth was agape. He turned to his aunt, "Is that… is that for me?"
"Well…" May answered, "…It's ours. Tony was able to help us get something that would be more reliable. Now, we can drive ourselves upstate… and… when you're a little older and have more practice… you can drive yourself."
"What?! I…" Peter opened and closed his mouth like a fish, "You mean… that is going to be ours?" He asked looking at May. "That's a brand-new car!"
Tony rolled his eyes, "Don't get too excited, kid! It' not like it's an Audi or anything!"
This time May became verbal, "TONY!" she scowled, "Let him be excited!"
"That's… wow… this is…" Peter tried to find the words, "I can't believe you did this for me. When do we get to pick it up?"
"It's already here!" May said with a smile. "Happy made sure it got back here… well, I was driving it back, but then Tony called and…" Her smile instantly faded. May attempted to recover. She didn't want to upset him. "I mean… I was picking up the car when I went to visit my friend near Albany… and then… well… I got back to compound a different way and Happy made sure the car got back here." Her words spilled out in an awkward sort of stutter.
Tony stepped in to help her, "What your aunt is saying is that the car is here! It's in the garage, so we can take a look at it! And… by take a look, I mean you and I are going to have to do some upgrades on that thing!" Tony shrugged, "…because it's a freakin' Toyota Prius! It's going to need something!"
Peter was processing everything quickly. The timing of his aunt's trip made more sense to him now. He pushed down the guilt that her surprise for him was interrupted by his capture and her illness. The guilt was short-lived, however. The idea of working on the car with Tony was so exciting!
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Rhodes asked. "You should go check it out, Peter!"
"Yes!" Shuri cut in. "A car is very exciting. And when you are finished making minor upgrades with Mr. Stark, I will help you with some major upgrades. I can help you learn how to drive that car remotely from your house. Yet, it will seem as if you are actually in the car!" She said proudly. She ignored Tony, who was staring at her with an annoyed expression. She figured he wasn't too happy to have her talk about her tech skills and try to steal his thunder.
Peter swallowed past a lump in his throat. He looked at the smiling faces in the room. He was so full of gratitude. He cleared his throat, "Ahem… I… uh… I just want to thank all of you! I mean… especially Aunt May and Mr. Stark… the car is so much more than I ever expected! But… you all have come together to give another great gift, and that is your presence! It means so much to have each one of you here, truly!"
Tony didn't miss the fact that something was off. He knew what it was. The kid would have liked all of the Avengers together. He sighed to himself and thought, "Maybe for his 18th birthday. I'll get him a nice Audi R8 and have the others drive it up to him here the compound or something." A sad smile crossed his face at that thought.
Before Tony could think of that much longer, Shuri spoke up, "Before you go to see your new little car, I have a gift for you."
Everyone looked at her expectantly.
She smiled, "Well… It's not in here. I left it on the jet."
T'Challa smiled at his sister and nodded at Peter, "You should go with her. I can tell you that she has been anxious to show it to you." He looked at MJ and Ned, "Your friends are welcome to join you."
"Oooohhhh…." Ned said quietly. He was trying to contain his excitement. "This is the coolest thing!" He looked at T'Challa who was eyeing him carefully, "I mean… thank you… y-your highness, sir! We would love to join Peter on your jet!"
T'Challa smiled again. Shuri looked like she was about to jump out of her skin, "Great! Shall we go then?"
They started toward the elevator, "WOAH! Hey!" Tony called. "Wait a minute, princess! You can't steal our thunder like that! You better not be one-upping us and giving him a nicer car! I won't allow that!"
Shuri rolled her eyes, "Relax, Mr. Stark! I'll wait to "one-up" you with my technology… not my gifts."
Tony looked like he was about to make a comment, but Pepper stepped up and stopped him.
Shuri smiled, "We'll go down to the jet, and you can go get that little car from the garage. Maybe you can get it ready so that Peter can take it for a spin when we are done!" She suggested.
"Hey, yeah! That would be great!" Peter commented.
May beamed, "That sounds like a great idea. We'll get the car ready, Peter. You meet us outside when you're done. We'll finish the night off with cake later!"
Peter, Ned, MJ, and Shuri quickly nodded in agreement before continuing to make their way to the hanger where the Wakandan jet was waiting.
Peter couldn't believe how things had changed. It was only a few days before when things seemed hopeless. Now, he was home and feeling nothing but love from his friends. This was turning out to be a pretty good birthday after all.
"Shuri," Peter said, "You really didn't have to get me anything! It's cool just having you and your brother here!"
"Yeah," MJ added, "I'm glad to have another sensible person around here!"
"Just stepping foot on that jet will be epic!" Ned added, barely containing his excitement.
Shuri smiled at them, "Don't get too excited, Peter. I'm afraid this is a gift that you cannot keep with you."
Peter looked at MJ and Ned. He was clearly confused, and his friends just shrugged their shoulders at him. He figured that it would make more sense after he saw what it was.
Shuri did something with the beads on her wrist, and a ramp dropped as they approached the impressive black jet.
"So cool!" Ned commented.
The four teenagers stepped on board. Shuri and Peter stepped ahead of MJ and Ned, the latter taking their time to look all around them in awe.
Ned put a hand to his chest, "Oh my god! It's like something from Star Wars, dude! Only… this is real! I… just want to thank you, Peter… for continuing to allow me to follow you on this incredible journey!"
"Chill, Ned! You're embarrassing yourself!" MJ said to him quietly. She straightened up and looked at Shuri, "This is awesome. I'm assuming you helped to design some of this amazing tech?"
"Of course," Shuri confirmed.
MJ gave the other girl a friendly smirk and nodded her head, "right on!"
The friends laughed together. After Shuri pointed out a few things to Ned, Peter noticed that the ramp had closed. "We going somewhere?" he asked, ignoring the excited look on Ned's face.
"No." Shuri said simply, "I just wanted to make sure we were alone." She nodded her head towards the back of the jet. "Go on. Your gift is waiting for you."
Peter looked at her confused. He turned and made his way to the back, and his friends followed closely behind. Peter opened a door into the back, stepped inside, and froze…
Ned and MJ bumped into him.
"Peter?" Ned said, "What are you… OH MY GOD!" Ned just stared ahead, his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide.
"Woah!" MJ commented. "I didn't see that coming."
In front of them, sitting around a table and playing cards were four individuals: Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, and Sam Wilson.
Ned leaned on MJ for support and put his hand to his chest once again. Between gasping breaths, Ned said, "That's… that's… ooohhh… this is… can you believe…"
Peter interrupted his friend's rambling, "What are you guys doing here?" He smiled and stepped towards the rogue Avengers who had saved his life. "I thought you were all leaving… how… I mean… how did you get here with T'Challa and Shuri?" Then his eyes went wide, and he lowered his voice as if he needed to be cautious, "Does Mr. Stark know you're here?"
Bucky stood up first, shook his head, and stepped forward. "I'd like to make it back to Wakanda alive," he joked.
"The Winter Soldier!" Ned said, sounding every bit like an excited fan.
"Er… I just go by Bucky these days, kid." Bucky clarified.
"Sorry! Uh… Mr. Bucky Soldier, sir!" Ned stumbled. MJ smacked him on the arm, trying to silence him.
Steve stood up beside his friend, "Don't worry, son. I'm sure you're not the only one who will make that mistake. But… I like to think that people will learn that Bucky Barnes is not a threat."
Both MJ and Ned stood staring at the man whose face was usually seen on the television at their school. He had more facial hair and looked a little different, but his voice and confident stature gave him away. This time, Ned said nothing. He just stared, trying to remember to breathe.
It was MJ who said, "Captain America." She meant for it to be a simple statement, but those who knew her could detect the admiration in her voice.
Steve smiled again, "What's left of him." His smile was a little sad, but they didn't have too much time to dwell on that. Sam Wilson joined him and Bucky.
"I like to call him Nomad," the Falcon said.
Ned left out another excited gasp when Sam spoke.
The fourth person joined them, "We're all a little nomadic these days," Natasha said.
This time MJ's admiration was very clear, "Wow! The Falcon and Black Widow! It's an honor. You guys really don't get enough attention for your skills!"
Sam and Natasha smiled at her and nodded their thanks.
Peter was still trying to wrap his head around all of this.
"Um… wow! This is so cool! Uh… sorry!" He pointed towards his friends, "These are my best friends, and the only ones that know my secret, Ned and MJ." Peter gave a shy smile and added, "MJ's my girlfriend, actually."
"I approve." Natasha commented. The others smiled and nodded in agreement.
Peter continued and turned to his friends, "Guys, meet Bucky, Steve, Natasha, and Sam!" His friends gave an awkward wave before Peter continued, "They saved my life and helped me make it this birthday!"
His friends smiled and stepped forward, eager to shake hands with Avengers.
Sam spoke up, "About that! Why did we have to hear about this birthday from Shuri and T'Challa? Why didn't you say something?"
Peter shrugged, "I wasn't really thinking about my birthday at the time."
They nodded in understanding.
Ned was taking out his phone and looked like he was about to attempt a selfie, "Dude! No pictures!" Peter scolded.
Ned fumbled, nearly dropping the phone from his hands.
"That's true, son," Steve said, "It's probably not a good idea. Shuri has our presence here cloaked from Tony's sensors, so any evidence of us here is dangerous."
Ned blushed, "Right… sorry… so uncool of me."
"It's not just Tony," Natasha clarified. "We can't have any other officials aware of our presence. We're technically still on the run."
Peter looked at them, "I'm sorry you have to go through this. It must have been really uncomfortable for you in here."
"Are you kidding?" Sam said. "You have no idea the places we've had to stay. This is like a 5-star hotel up in here. We're good!"
Bucky shook his head, "This is so much better than being frozen. That is uncomfortable!" Steve subtly nodded his head, agreeing with Bucky.
"What these guys are saying," Natasha added, "Is that we are fine in here. We have everything we need." A sly look crossed the Black Widow's face as she made eye contact with Shuri, "…And Shuri might just be helping us to get a few supplies and things we need without Tony's knowledge. I'm trusting that you'll keep that to yourself?"
"Of course! Sure… yeah!" Peter squeaked as the Black Widow leveled him with a look. He eyed his friends who quickly nodded in agreement. They all knew not to cross Natasha Romanoff.
Bucky took another step forward and placed his one hand on Peter's shoulder, "We are here because we wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday, Peter." As he said this, he gave Peter's shoulder a gentle and friendly squeeze.
"Thanks, Bucky." Peter smiled. He shook his head a little, "A few days ago, I thought this would be the worst birthday ever! Somehow…it's turned out to be one of the best!" He couldn't actually call it the best… the last birthday before his uncle died had definitely been the best. Some part of him felt like it would be a betrayal to have this birthday replace that day.
Steve also stepped forward and placed a hand on the shoulder that Bucky's own had just vacated, "We also wanted to bring you a little something, Peter."
Peter's eyes widened, "What? You didn't have to bring me anything! You guys are risking a lot just to wish me a happy birthday in person!"
Steve smiled, "It's more practical than anything else." He reached behind him and pulled something from a bag and held it out for Peter. "This is for emergencies. We figured you should have one of your own."
Peter took a black flip phone from Steve's hand. It looked just like the one Tony had. "That has Steve's number and mine," Natasha said. "One of us should be able to reach the others to assist you if you ever need us."
"That is so cool." Ned whispered behind Peter. Once again MJ smacked his arm, indicating for him to stay quiet. Shuri just smiled and shook her head at them.
Peter smiled. "Wow! It means a lot that you trust me with this. Thank you!"
"Yeah, hey!" Sam said, "You need to be careful with that! I don't want your friend back there calling us into some school dance! Emergencies only!"
Ned looked mildly offended at first, but then gave a little embarrassed nod indicating that the thought had, perhaps, crossed his mind.
"Tony was right," Steve said, "This is an age of trust and responsibility. We're trusting you to be responsible with that."
"I promise to keep it safe," Peter said. Then he looked a little confused, "Wait! How do you know about Tony's little speech?"
This time Shuri spoke up, "Hello! I'm here! There is technology to let them see and hear what I am seeing and hearing! I wouldn't bring them all this way just to sit in this jet without knowing what is happening inside!"
"Mm Hm," Sam said, "And you best be sneaking us some of that food later… or at least the cake!"
"Uh, yeah!" Peter laughed, "I'll tell Mr. Stark to send some goody bags with T'Challa and Shuri for the long flight," he winked.
The others nodded, seeming pleased with the idea.
Peter looked at Steve seriously, "He wants to talk to you," he said, referring to Tony. "He just said that it needed to be the right time."
Steve nodded in understanding, "He's not ready, Peter." Steve looked at Bucky who was shuffling uncomfortably next to him. "I could tell in Wakanda that he wasn't there yet. I'm not here to push him. I'm here for you, and I'm here to tell you that we…" he motioned to the others, "…will be here any time you really need us. That's why you have that phone."
Peter stood up to his full height and squared his shoulders towards Steve, "I give you my word, Captain. I will keep this safe and only use it if necessary."
Steve once again gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder, "Good man."
Once again, Ned spoke with amazement, "Dude…" he whispered to Peter, "You're like a real Avenger now!"
"Ned!" Peter scolded under his breath.
Everyone was amused.
Bucky smiled at Peter, "You can't call me with that thing, though. I still don't really get how those contraptions work. If you ever need me, just reach out to Shuri."
"That reminds me!" Shuri said, disappearing for a moment to grab something. She came back with something in her hand. She handed Peter a beaded bracelet.
"Jewelry? Uh… thanks… you shouldn't have," Peter said awkwardly.
"No, you doofus!" Shuri scolded, "You and Tony Stark are spending too much time together. You sound just like him! I do not make jewelry… this is functional technology! These are Kimoyo beads! Like mine!" She pressed a bead on her wrist and showed Peter the same bead on his bracelet. "Press this and you will be connected to me… it's like a 3-D Facetime! This way, you can call me if you have any questions about real technology. Or… if you want me to reach out to the White Wolf over there," she said nodding in Bucky's direction. "This has other capabilities as well, but they are deactivated for the time being. We'll tell Stark that this was my gift to you."
"Awesome!" Peter said, amazed at the Kimoyo beads and their potential. "But… uh… won't he wonder why you didn't just give this to me inside?"
Shuri shrugged, "I'll tell him I wanted to show off my impressive jet to your friends!"
He smiled at her, "Yeah! That should work!"
Shuri led MJ and Ned to explore the jet a little more while Peter stayed and continued to visit with the others.
After a while, he knew he would need to get back. "We should probably get going," Peter said. "The others will be waiting for us. My aunt probably wants to take me for a ride in the new car," he added.
Steve nodded, "You go on, Peter. We're good here. Shuri will make sure we have what we need."
Peter gave him a sideways smile, "I'll see if I can find a way to see you again before you leave. It just depends if I can sneak away without Mr. Stark getting suspicious."
Steve smiled. "In case you don't…" he held out his hand.
Peter gave it a firm handshake. He held onto the captains a hand a moment and added, "Thank you, sir. For everything."
Steve knew the thank you was for saving Peter's life, for sneaking into the compound on the jet, for the phone, and for his friendship. "You're welcome…" Steve smiled at him, "…Spider-Man."
Sam threw in a "take it easy, kid!" and Natasha ruffled his hair and told him to "be careful."
Then Bucky stepped forward. He reached out his one hand to shake Peter's hand, much like Steve had. This time it was Bucky who held on to Peter's hand a little longer. "I'm glad we could help you make it to your sixteenth birthday, kid." He then looked back and nodded towards MJ and Ned. "No matter what, kid, you keep your friends close. You got some good ones there." Bucky looked towards Steve and then back to Peter, "It's your true friends who help you get through the worst times. Trust me on that." Bucky let go of Peter's hand.
"Yeah… I will. Thanks, Bucky." Peter gave the man another friendly nod before joining the others to make their way back. The phone from Steve was safely tucked into his pocket. He turned back and waved to them once more before making his final exit.
As they made their way to meet up with the others outside of the garage, Ned and MJ let Peter know that they would be staying overnight. He was excited to learn about that, and he told them that they could repeat their fun with the web shooters in the training area the next day.
Ned and MJ climbed into the back of the new car as May and Peter climbed in the front. May even let Peter drive around the compound. The others stood out in the fresh air, watching Peter navigate around in the new car with ease.
Tony made a comment about "the kid being natural" and added something about "just think about how well he'll do in a better car." The others just smiled and shook their head at his comments.
Peter pulled up and offered to let the others take turns and give them a ride. Tony declined, refusing to be driven around in the Prius until they could do some of his upgrades. Pepper, Shuri, and Happy did, however, take Peter up on his offer. Happy was thrilled to have Peter drive him around for a change and commented that he may make Peter do more of the driving in the future.
After some time, they all made their way back upstairs to have cake. While Tony had his back turned, the teenagers piled some food containers into containers they found and tucked them into some backpacks.
"Crap!" Ned said loud enough for the adults to hear. "I can't find my phone! I think I might have dropped it on the jet!"
"I'll take you back down," Shuri answered. "I'm sure we can find it."
MJ chimed in, "Peter and I will help you, too!"
They started to make their way down, but Tony stopped Peter.
"Pete, hold on!" Tony said. "Maybe you can let your friends go down. I was hoping to chat with you for a moment."
Peter froze and looked from his friends and back to Tony. "Oh… uh…"
"I'm sure Princess Shuri and Michelle can help Ned find his phone. I need to borrow you for a bit," Tony tried again.
Peter didn't want to seem too eager to go, so he agreed to let the others go. "If you guys are still having trouble, maybe I can help you look a little later." He passed his bag to MJ, "Um… maybe you can drop off my bag on your way down?" He added, trying to have a logical reason for not keeping the bag with him.
"No problem," she agreed. With that Peter's friends made their way back to the jet with the treats for the Avengers still stowed away on board.
Tony shook his head, "He didn't lose his phone, did he?"
"Uh… what?" Peter asked, mildly alarmed.
"He just wants to go back to that Wakandan Jet!" Tony scoffed, "It's not that impressive. Tomorrow, we'll show Ned and MJ a Quinjet! That's impressive!"
Peter was relieved, "Oh… yeah! I'm sure they'd like that." Peter took a breath, "Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?"
"No," Tony said. He put his arm on Peter's back and led him further away from the direction in which his friends had gone. He led him to another private seating area away from the others. After they were sitting, Tony added, "I wanted to apologize, Peter."
Peter looked shocked, "What? For what, Mr. Stark? You've done so much for me!"
Tony shook his head and took a deep breath. "I've been selfish, Peter. I should have invited… all of the Avenger's here to help you celebrate. I shouldn't let my personal issues get in the way of things that will make you happy."
Peter was stunned by this confession, and he felt guilty about not confessing to their presence on the Wakandan jet. They began going back and forth quickly, cutting each other off.
Peter: "No… I mean… I wouldn't have asked you do that…"
Tony: "You shouldn't have to ask…"
Peter: "… but it would have been too dangerous…"
Tony: "… I could've found a way to keep it secret for a few hours…"
Peter: "… That's a big secret. I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable. That would make me uncomfortable…"
Tony: "… You would be uncomfortable if I'm uncomfortable?"
Peter: "… I'm uncomfortable right now."
Tony: "… This is a bit uncomfortable, but my apology shouldn't make you uncomfortable…"
Peter: "… but you don't need to apologize…"
Tony: "… I wanted to apologize!"
Peter: "… Ok! But can you really tell me that you would have handled it well with Bucky here in your home?"
Tony froze.
Peter froze, realizing that Tony hadn't considered Barnes part of the group.
"He's not part of the Avengers," Tony said, his tone sharp and clipped.
Peter took a breath and blew it out carefully, "Now I need to apologize. I know he wasn't…"
"… isn't!" Tony corrected.
"… Isn't part of the Avengers," Peter agreed. "It's just… if I'm honest… you're not wrong. I would have liked to have the people here that saved me. Bucky is one of those people… that's all I meant."
Tony scrubbed a hand over his face. "Why couldn't Roger's have been the one to rip that thing off your neck?"
Peter didn't answer, knowing the question wasn't really meant to be answered.
Tony continued, "I can't tell you that I would have handled having Barnes inside my home. I told you I wouldn't try to kill him on sight, but that doesn't mean I'd let him in my home!"
Peter was glad he didn't spill the fact the man was, in fact, down in the hanger on T'Challa's jet.
"You see?" Peter said. "Nothing to apologize for. I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable. That, alone, would have ruined my party. What you did for me today was more than enough, Mr. Stark."
Tony shook his head, "I still need to figure this out, kid. Pepper was right. The longer I wait, the more I want to avoid Steve and Barnes." He looked at Peter, "I meant what I said yesterday, Peter. You're family now, so it can't just be about me." Tony flinched, "God, that is hard to say… feels a bit unnatural for me… I mean… I need to make things a little more about you. Today needed to be about you, and I think I could have done a better job. I'd rather do things right… because I'm rarely wrong."
Peter stared at him with an amused expression, unsure of what to say.
"What I mean is… I get that the others are important to you, especially after saving your life," Tony said. "I'm going to promise you that I will try… soon…"
Peter gave him a small smile, "You weren't ready today, Mr. Stark." His statement was simple and to the point. It wasn't a question.
Tony shrugged and nodded. "No, kid, I wasn't ready today. For that, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I kept the others away." Tony really was sorry.
Peter felt bad. Little did Tony know that they weren't far, but Peter knew that telling Tony would just make the man anxious. He figured that the truth could be revealed another day. "Mr. Stark, I also told you that I see you as a father. My party was perfect because you were happy and content. It wouldn't have been good if you were anxious. You made the right call, really!" Peter insisted.
"So… you had a good 16th birthday?" Tony asked.
Peter sat back and studied the other man carefully, "How could it not be? I mean… my birthday was almost spent in that horrible prison! Or worse… it was almost 6-feet under! I'm alive and I'm home! This day was perfect!" Peter let his words sink in and then added, "Think about what you've done for me! You let my friends come here, you got T'Challa and Shuri here, you've taken care of my aunt, you helped her get a new car for us, you gave me my own space and lab here in the compound…"
Tony cut in, "I get it, kid. I'm very generous." He looked at Peter, "Is that enough?"
"It's more than enough," Peter told him. "It tells me that you care. The fact that you felt the need to even apologize means a lot! But… I want you to be ready to see the others Mr. Stark. Don't force yourself to see them before you're ready. I don't want you to have, like, a panic attack or something. That would make me feel terrible!"
"I get it," Tony said. "So, we agree that I should work on preparing myself to call Capsicle, so that you can spend some more time with my former (possibly once again) friends?"
Peter smiled, "That would be great, Mr. Stark."
"Ok… then it's settled," Tony said. "Let's go see if your friend found his phone." With that, Tony was up and walking away. "You coming?" He called back as he left and made his way to the elevator.
"Oh, God!" Peter thought. "Uh… Mr. Stark? Wait!"
A/N: I am anticipating about 2 more chapters. One will be a short wrap-up chapter. The final chapter will be a "flash forward" that takes place after the snap in Infinity War. It will explore what Tony does in the aftermath. I know some of you are hoping for reconciliation between Tony and Steve. However, remember that I want this story to feel like it could take place before Infinity War (except for the flash forward chapter at the end). Bear with me, I don't think you'll be disappointed in the end.