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It's been 153 days since Tony died. It's been 153 days since I held Tony in my arms, hearing his heartbeat come to a stop.
The world is finally rebuilding after the horrors Thanos had brought. School has started once again, allowing the students to have enough time to mourn their losses.
Almost everyone had lost someone too, whether it was a friend, relative, coworker it didn't matter. Everyone lost someone.
I had lost Tony, and Aunt May as well. She had died after everyone had disappeared. The thugs around town thought that was a great opportunity to get their crime sprees on.
Now, I live with a nice, rich foster family on the outskirts of forest hill who Pepper set me up with. There great but no one could compare to May.
I was sitting in the middle of Physics when they called me up. Flash kicking the back of my chair just to try to get to me.
”Peter Parker, please come down to the principles office now. Peter Parker, please come down to the principles office.” The loudspeaker shouted, voice cutting through in Ms. Redden’s lecture.
”What'd you do, Parker? What'd you do this time?” Flash whispers to me, voice smug as he thinks I got in trouble.
I ignore him, quickly gathering my belongs and walking out of the classroom.
’ What'd I do? I don't remember doing anything wrong?’
I continue to shuffle forward until I am standing in front of principle Morris’s door. I knock once, letting him know I am here before I open the door.
There, in the room, Ms. Potts stands, and next to her a tall man. He has thick wooden glasses, with a grey briefcase in his right hand. He has black hair slick back with way to much gel, and dark brown skin. He looks legit.
Principle Morris is sitting at his desk, wearing a navy blue suit.
” Good morning, Mr. Parker. It's nice to see you again.” He pulls his hand out in front of him, offering up a handshake. I stay still.
” We” ll, um, I don't really know how to, um-” retracting his hand before I cut him off.
”What are you guys doing here?” I asked, directing my attention towards Ms. Potts and the man.
” Well Peter, as it turns out, Tony left something for you in his will.” She states, her eyes filling with sadness as she talks about her late ’husband to be’.
” What--what did he leave me.” My voice cracking at the end.
’I can't believe it. Tony left me something?’
”Yes, Mr. Parker. We were hoping to tell you this alone, but sadly we could not take you out of school. And I'm John Perkins, by the way.” The man, John, informs me.
” I'm sorry, Mr. Perkins, but school policy regulates any students being taken out of school or being left alone with an unauthorized personnel. You're technically not even allowed to be talking to Mr. Parker right now, ” Morris States.
” What did he leave me?” I ask again, becoming more and more confused with each passing second.
” Well, Mr. Parker. This might come as a shock to you but, um? How can I say this easily--”
” Tony left you the company, Peter.” Pepper nearly shouts, voice cracking as unshed tears glisten her eyes. ”He left you the company.”
The whole room turns to her, eyes darting wide upon hearing the statement. It feels as if time stopped, the only person able to feel being me.
” How--how is that possible?” I question, eyes darting around the room for answers. ” You must've made a mistake or--or something. I couldn't have--I couldn't have--”
”But you did, ” Pepper tells me, hand on my shoulder to try to comfort me. ”I don't know why he gave it to you, but he did.” She seems on the breaking point of crying, a single tear sliding down the side of her face.
” But--but can't I not inherit it, I mean, I'm only sixteen.” I'm try finding a way out, a way out of this big mess, I know it.
” Technically no. You have to be sixteen to inherit anything. ” John tells me, eyes full of sympathy as he speaks.
I am frozen in shock, my hand shaking, and soon my breathing becomes erratic. I begin to see black dots cloud my vision as I let the darkness take me.
2 weeks later...
” Are you sure you're ready Peter, ” Pepper ask me, voice calm and ready, ” I'm sure I can make up some other bull crap speech to get you out of here?” She's the best, willing to bend to the needs of anyone else.
”Its ok Pepper, I'm fine, I got this,” I tell her. ”I'm the boss, I'm the boss, I'm the boss..., ” I repeat, ensuring myself.
Today is the day I tell the world of what is happening. Pepper is holding a press conference today, to tell the world of who the new CEO of the company will be. I will be going on stage, on tv, in the home of someones house, and tell the world who I am and ask questions I would rather not ask. It's great.
I'm sweating like crazy, while I look over at myself to see how presentable I look. I bite my bitten lip in anticipation, going over in my head what I will say.
” Ready?” She asked, voice weary of whether or not I am. I give her a nod before heading out into the blinding lights of the stage.
My Senses go into overdrive as I hear everything that is being said around me.
” What's that kid doing up there?--Make sure you get a photo of that kid--what the hell?” It's all becoming too much for me, but I go through with it, knowing I will have to do this.
I sit at a table nearby, keeping my gaze down while trying to zone out everything else out. It's just too much.
”--now without a further ado, please welcome the new heir to Stark Industries, Peter Parker!” Pepper shouts to the crowd, who begin to shout with frantic questions.
I walk to the podium in my sweater and pants, now realizing that it is way too hot to be wearing such clothing.
I wait until the crowd quiets down before I begin to speak.
” Um, hi. I'm Peter Parker.” I begin, my voice feeling suddenly raw as I speak in front of the thousands of people.
I think for a second, what Tony would have done if he was here now, and instantly I know what I have to do. I throw away the speech I had in my memory and begin to write a new one. Turning my nerves into excitement.
” And I'm the new heir to Stark Industries. I have been a fan of Stark Industries and there work for the longest time. When I was younger, I would read all of Tony's papers and all papers I could get my hands on. Then one day, I met Tony. Then I started working with him, then I started hanging out with him. He would help me with my homework and anything I needed help with. He was always there for me when I needed him. Though sometimes he would keep secrets, heck, I didn't even know I was the heir until two weeks ago, ” a small chuckle came from the audience.
” But I know that those secrets were kept for good reasons, so I don't plan on digging them up.” Deep breath.
” I grew up with not much, having to skip meals or getting an allowance only to slip it back in my aunt's purse so we could pay rent. It was tough. Tony helped me with that. He gave me tech I wouldn't even dream of and sometimes would help out with our rent. I was going to be going to community college before and now I'm going to MIT. He helped us a lot. And I'm sure you have all looked me up and seen by past already so this won't come as a shock to you. My parents were killed when I was young, in a plane crash, but I got through it with the help of my aunt and uncle. My uncle died next though. He was shot by a mugger and left to bleed out in the middle of the street. I remember holding him, feeling like it was my fault for his death. But I got over it with the help of my aunt. She died next. She died after the snap, some criminal thought it was a good idea to kill some incident lady on her walk home. ” I single tear falling down my face.
”After that, I had no one. No one to lean on, no one to help me grieve, no one. But thing is, I know that a lot of other kids out there have gone through much worse. So, as the new CEO of stark industries, I plan on starting multiple charity organizations, to help kids like myself. To make them rise, instead of fall after the tragedies that have hit there lives. To give them the same chance as any other kid would be able to get. I want to be able to do what Tony was able to do. To change some lives. Thank you.”
The crowd seems to freeze for a second before Peper announces that I would able to take questions. After that, the crowd begins to turn into chaos.
Hands are waving, people are shouting, it's all so weird. I point to someone and with that, the audience quiets down to listen after each time I do so.
” How old are you?”
” 16.”
” Where you originally from?”
” Queens.”
”What are you wearing?”
” Some clothes from Walmart.”
”Are you dating anyone?”
”Not that I'm aware of.”
” Do you think that you could live up to the mantle that Howard and Tony Stark left?” A reporter from Times asked.
” I'm not sure yet. Tony Stark and Howard Stark left a huge impact on our the world today. Howard, however, had very hard events going on in his time, which he then was able to profit on. Tony, on the other hand, did not have much going on he could profit on. The only thing going on was hurting him more than profiting him. I don't believe I could ever fill Tony Starks legacy, but Howards, I have to admit, would be easier.” I respond, taking the reporter by surprise.
The next person is then called upon.
” What's your IQ if you know it?”
”I was told that it was 250.”
(don't hate, that's what it was in the comics)
The crowd goes into awe after I say that
I point to another person in the crowd, before they ask their question.
”Reports say that you were one of the people who had gotten taken out during the Snap. What was it like to get brought back just after dying? And where did you die?” the reporter asks, a smug look on her face as they ask.
”I--I--” I begin, but I feel it all over again. My body falling apart while I'm in Tony's hands, asking to stay, pleading to not go.
” That will be all, thank you.” I hear in the distance, my body disintegrating in front of me.
I vaguely can tell I am being led away from somewhere, but by who I can't tell.
” Hey! Hey Peter! Look at me, feel my breathe and try to copy it, ok.”
I feel a chest rising and falling in my hand, and soon, my chest starts doing the same.
I begin to laugh. It's over. It's over.