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Tony was onboard his private jet with Pepper as they were heading off to St. Tropez. They decided that a vacation was in order, considering all Pepper has done for Stark Industries, and all Tony’s been doing as an Avenger. They heard that the town is a lovely place: relaxing, easy-going, fantastic views, and amazing food, so they made it their first stop for the Europe trip.
As they were relaxing on the luxurious seats of the plane while it was streaming through the air, Tony looked outside to marvel at the view.
“Maybe someday I’ll take her to Saint-Tropez, Mr. Stark,” he heard a familiar voice say, causing him to flinch.
A familiar voice that still haunts him to this day. The voice rings through his head, almost discombobulating him. When he finally got out of that cave oh so many years ago, he could hear a cacophony of voices screaming in his head: Of innocent men who only wanted to fight for their country; of women and children who screamed when the missiles hit them; and of the people who actually had a conscience and chastised him for his war monger business.
But none of those voices would ever come close to the chills that one voice sends down his spine.
“Tony, are you okay?” Pepper asked him softly.
“Hmm, yeah. Mhmm, I’m fine, Pep,” Tony obviously lied.
Pepper frowned slightly at that. “You’re thinking about Peter again, aren’t you?”
Peter Benjamin Parker. That wistful wish was part of the last conversation Tony had with him.
“Yeah…” Tony looked down, almost ashamed of himself. “I am…”
A kid from Queens. A genius protégé. His protégé. A kid he learned to like- nay- love like a son. His surrogate son. Why did he treat him like a son?
Maybe it was because of the kid’s background and he took pity on him. No, that’s not right… Though there were many unfortunate events in his life that have happened by the time they first met, Tony knew there were other people who had it way worse than him.
Perhaps because he saw himself in him. Well, in a way, that’s right. Peter was a genius in Technology, Chemistry, and Physics. Heck, he graduated ESU with flying colors and a couple of Doctorates before turning 22. It was possible Peter was going to be a greater genius than Tony would be. And well… That’s where the similarities end.
Tony was loud and flamboyant. Peter was meek and low-key, but had a quiet confidence once you get to know him. Tony was a billionaire, while Peter would have struggled to pay rent and only got through school because Tony insisted on paying for tuition, materials, and his lodging. Tony’s irresponsibility never cost him anyone near and dear to him, but Peter… Peter knew what responsibility meant.
That was it. Peter understood responsibility more than Tony.
“When you can do the things that I can, but you don't, and then the bad things happen? They happen because of you. If I can do good things for other people, I have a moral obligation to do those things! That's what's at stake here. Not choice. Responsibility. That’s what my Uncle ben taught me: ‘ That with great power, there must also come a great responsibility.’”
And Tony admired that from the kid. Tony took years before he understood that. In fact, he had to be kidnapped in the Middle East, and the see the actual effects of his weapons business before he even had a shadow of an understanding of what responsibility meant.
Then he meets 15-year-old Peter Parker. The Spider-Man. Lecturing him about why he did what he was doing. Why he was a vigilante. Why he didn’t mind going out there, stopping robberies, thefts, and assaults while wearing nothing more than over-glorified pajamas.
“It’s okay,” Pepper took his hand. “If you need to talk about it again, I’m always here to listen,” she smiled softly at him.
Tony smiled sadly at her. “Okay. I kinda feel like a broken record though, so here goes…”
He admired Peter for that. Tony came to love him as a son because he wanted to be with him in that journey towards being a hero. He loved that sense of responsibility in the kid, and he hoped to learn from him, even if he’ll never admit that.
And it’s that sense of responsibility that got Peter Parker killed.
Oh who was he kidding. Peter Parker died because he failed him. Again.
The first time Tony failed Peter was the Vulture incident. Peter had insisted that someone was stealing Chitauri tech, then combining it with Human tech to be weaponized and sold on the streets. Apparently, the power behind those weapons would be enough to rival even the strongest Avengers.
Peter had insisted that he had the leads. That these people were legitimate threats, not just to the residents of New York, but also of the whole world. He told Tony that he even fought some guys who had the tech, and they gave him problems. A kid who effortlessly caught the Winter Soldier’s metal arm, the same arm capable of overpowering Captain America and beating him to a pulp, had problems with regular guys using the advanced weaponry he was warning about. Those weapons were definitely an issue.
So what did Tony do?
He brushed off the concern. Said it was below the pay grade of the Avengers. That maybe the FBI should be the ones to handle it.
So Peter did what he had to do: He proved Tony wrong and saved the day. Even if it meant crashing the expensive plane carrying Avengers equipment.
Tony recognized what Peter did and offered him a spot on the team.
But the teen denied that offer, opting to keep being the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. “Someone’s gotta look after the little guy, right?” Peter smiled back at his mentor.
And it definitely was not going to be the Avengers doing that.
The next time Tony failed Peter was after the rogue Avengers were pardoned by the U.S. Government. That happened because Thaddeus Ross was apparently part of Hydra, and the Sokovia Accords were meant to put a leash on the terror group’s greatest enemy, if not break them up. After Ross’s incarceration, and the return of everyone to the compound, Peter was introduced to the rest of them. That was in the middle of Peter’s final year in High School.
Sure, it was awkward for them to realize they fought a teenager in Germany, but they got past that quickly. They all loved him once they got to know him. Peter would train with them every now and then, but would only go on missions when they needed his particular skillset.
Not that he was lackluster or anything, no, quite the opposite really: He was faster than anyone of them, more agile than Natasha could ever hope to be, and proved to be the impossible to hit target even for Hawkeye and his protegee, Kate. To add, Peter’s strength and durability made Steve and Bucky look pathetic by comparison. The icing on the cake was how his brains could keep up with both Tony and Bruce’s.
Peter simply wanted to be sure that New York had a guardian. New York would always need a Spider-Man. That was his responsibility.
When Peter had just graduated High School, he was excited to head off to college. He was just waiting for classes to start and it was just rotten luck then that when the entire Avengers team had to go to Belarus that Peter was left to handle the Devil’s Breath Crisis all by his lonesome. A guy named Martin Li, the billionaire philanthropist founder of F.EA.S.T., was apparently also the leader of a criminal underworld group called the Inner Demons. And they had a serious bone with pick with the incumbent mayor at the time, Norman Osborn.
So the Inner Demons stole a chemical agent known as Devil’s Breath, a failed medical treatment serum, and decided to weaponized it as a bioweapon. It was possible because once in a body, the serum compromises the immune system, causing immunodeficiency that could lead to more complications and even death if left untreated. Worse, it was airborne and highly contagious. Worst of all, they also stole the anti-serum (i.e. the cure) to it.
Spider-Man, with the help of his best friend Ned, and even his girlfriend, MJ, tried tracking down the Demons, but to no avail.
Then Martin Li released Devil’s Breath in Times Square, and eventually that cascaded, infecting millions of people throughout the city, including May Parker and MJ.
Ned was thankfully on vacation in the Philippines when that happened, so he was safe.
Spider-Man was quite lucky himself, because of his enhanced physiology. The spider enhanced physiology he possessed allowed him to be immune to the effects of Devil’s Breath, so he was able to get around and investigate the area to try and find clues to lead him to Li. That didn’t stop him from practically begging Tony along with the rest of the Avengers to return and help him, but they couldn’t. They justified their choice in that they had to do everything they could to prevent a terror attack that could trigger a World War.
So fine. The world needed the Avengers, but New York needed Spider-Man. After several days and sleepless nights, he eventually found and confronted Li, who possessed the stolen anti-serum while somehow being able to project a black and white energy from his body.
The fight was long, and hard, but Spider-Man came out victorious. He had a couple of gashes to the chest, but it was not something that his healing factor couldn’t fix. Spidey did get back to the hospital where May and MJ were, and talked to the lead scientist. Peter’s two loved ones were fading fast and could go at any time.
Then there was a dilemma: Use the anti-serum now and save those two, or give the anti-serum to the scientists to allow them to mass produce it and save as many people as possible in the city.
Once left alone with the patients in the room, Spider-Man did everything he could to assure them. “Everything’s going to be alright, you two. I promise we’ll figure out a way to help you,” his voice almost cracking.
The two women simply smiled at him. “Peter… Just please take off the mask,” May requested.
“Yeah Tiger, come on… Please?” MJ asked of her boyfriend.
Peter did so, to show his bruised face covered in cuts, a product of several days worth of fighting, which included the crime boss Mr. Negative. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t get this sooner…”
“It’s okay, dear… I just want you to know that Ben would be so proud of you… I know, because I am so proud of you,” May smiled weakly.
“And for the record Tiger, I’ll always love you. I’d never change a thing,” tears were welling up in MJ’s eyes.
“I don’t know what to do…” Peter practically sobbed in front of them, as some tears began to fall on the floor.
“Yes you do,” May coughed.
“Yeah… And don’t close yourself out… To find love… Again…” MJ appealed to him, as her eyes began to close.
That was all they wanted from him: To remove his mask, just so they could see his face. Just one more time was all they wanted. It was the comfort and reassurance that they needed to have: That the world would always have a beacon of hope in the one named Spider-Man.
Peter was of course tempted to use the serum on them and save their lives… But… No.
He couldn’t. Or rather shouldn’t. Not when millions of other lives were counting on him. Millions of people who are in a similar state as them. All of whom were desperately hoping for a cure to come.
And May’s words from a few months ago came to his mind as clear as day: “I believe there’s a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble. And finally allows us to die with pride. Even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want most. Even our dreams.”
So he set the anti-serum on the table. Peter went to his knees. And he let go. Of his tears.
Of his dreams.
His dream of marrying MJ. Of starting a family together with her. Growing old by her side.
His dream to repay May for all that she’d done for him. To give her at least some comfort and luxury at the end of her life. The dream of seeing May’s face light up when the latter sees her grand-nephew or grand-niece for the first time.
He let go of all those things.
Because he had a responsibility to uphold. It was a promise he made to Uncle Ben’s spirit. To look after the city he lived in.
He was forced to choose. And he chose to save the city instead of his loved ones. Peter let his last living relative and his girlfriend die.
When the rest of the Avengers heard of what happened and what Peter went through, they all wanted to hit themselves in their heads. No one should be forced to make a choice like that, more so a teenager! Natasha couldn’t imagine being put in that position. Neither could Scott, Bucky, or Sam. Steve, Rhodey, and Clint couldn’t face Peter after that, because they were the ones who were insistent on finishing the Belarus mission first. Wanda and Kate practically broke down in shame and sorrow when the details were articulated to them.
Tony was in the worst state though. Because if maybe one or two Avengers were just in New York at that time, maybe they could have saved a day or two. Then maybe Peter wouldn’t have been forced to make a choice like that. Most of all… His heart broke for the kid.
He knew that Peter always took his uncle’s death personally, because he believed that he made one irresponsible choice that domino-ed to the mugger shooting his paternal figure. That was why Peter was so insistent on using his powers to help people. That if he was responsible and did good with the talents and powers he had in life, then good will come out of it, that he will protect people, especially his loved ones.
Then the teen was confronted with choosing responsibility over his loved ones. By being responsible, he had to choose to let go of his loved ones. It was utterly ironic how the universe wanted to screw around with this kid.
The funerals were somber. All of the Avengers were able to go, since it was public knowledge that Tony and May were good friends, especially since he donated to F.E.A.S.T. regularly. Of course, every member of the team approached Peter to offer their sincerest condolences. And apologies. Peter simply nodded, but gave no express heed to the latter, not when he still felt bitter. They all accepted that, but once he was out of ear shot, they sighed in disappointment in themselves.
In an act to try and redeem himself, Tony wanted to make sure Peter was well fed, cared for, and educated. He insisted on letting him pay, or at least subsidize, all the kid’s expenses. Tony would do anything to try and make it up to him.
Peter was skeptical at first, but accepted on the subsidy, on the condition that he never be forced to deal with the Avengers again, unless it was absolutely necessary. He didn’t feel right being chummy with people who didn’t come to his aid, and consequently forced him to make a practically impossible choice. It was understandable though, and Tony made sure money was always available to Peter, who was quite frugal in his way of life. Still, news of that arrangement broke the hearts of every Avenger even more.
There were no sightings of Spider-Man for almost two months, and people began wondering if the Devil’s Breath Crisis claimed the hero as another victim. When he did return, people did cheer. Criminals seemed annoyed, but started being concerned when Spider-Man was no longer quipping like he used to. That, and he was wearing a new suit that was black and red, with a giant white spider logo (He dubbed it the Upgraded and Advanced Suit).
Peter was in his first semester in college when he met Felicia Hardy. She was a beautiful honey blonde woman who moved from Europe because her father had a business opportunity in the East Coast. She was the exact kind of girl Peter thought was way out of his league. It just so happened that they sat right next to each other in every class they shared.
They got to know each other and became close. Peter appreciated how intelligent and hard-working Felicia was, probably more so than her beauty. The fact she could speak four languages (English, French, Italian, and Spanish) was amazing to him. Her charm and voice were disarming, always catching someone’s attention. She always dressed nicely, and carried herself with a quiet confidence that wasn’t pretentious. Most of all, when they hung out, they were genuinely curious about each other: Interests, hobbies, aspirations. Of course he was starting to fall for her: She was beautiful, intelligent, popular, rich, and an overall catch.
Felicia on her end loved how caring and honest Peter was. How he’d ask her how her day went, taking interest in what made her happy, and would help her without a second thought, not even expecting any reward or favor in return. The boyish good looks he possessed was a nice added bonus for her as well. How could she not fall for him? Sure, he was nerdy and socially awkward, but he never hesitated to show how passionate he was about something. Wearing his heart on a sleeve was definitely a plus too.
But Peter was still somewhat mourning over MJ. How couldn’t he? She was basically his childhood sweetheart who was taken too soon. At some point, he did have to mention that to Felicia, who understood perfectly. She would let him grieve, and wait (not too long she hoped).
Sometime in the second semester into college, Felicia’s father, Walter Hardy, was taken captive by the Kingpin. Apparently, he memorized the super soldier serum that made Captain America possible. Now, he was forced to recreate or even improve upon it in exchange for his family’s safety, since Felicia was kidnapped to ensure his compliance.
Walter Hardy successfully improved upon the super soldier serum. Not only will it make the subject superior to Captain America in every possible way, it would also grant the ability to morph into the enhanced form. This would allow the subject to easily hide in plain sight if needed. Once the super soldier form was accessed though, the subject would showcase increased height and musculature.
Kingpin forced Walter to use the serum on Felicia though, much to both their reluctance. When Felicia morphed into her enhanced form, she grew a few inches taller, and the increase in her muscle mass was obvious. One side effect though was that it turned her honey blonde hair into a platinum blonde color. That just made hiding her identity even easier.
To no one’s surprise, Kingpin then requested one test from her: Defeat and kill Spider-Man, the most annoying New York based superhero.
Felicia had to agree to the set-up, and was given a suit to aid her in the endeavor. It was an all-black suit made of carbon-fibers mixed with carbon nanotubes, making flexible, tear-resistant, and bullet-resistant. Next off were the special goggles that allowed her to have a HUD. Lastly a grappling hook was added to her arsenal to help her traverse the New York skyline. She donned the moniker ‘Black Cat’ as her alter ego.
Black Cat though had no intention of going through Fisk’s plan. When she confronted Spider-Man, Black Cat had to seem convincing in trying to fight him, but discovered that he can more than hold his own against her. After all, he was still physically superior.
“Spider-Man wait! Kingpin’s trying to manipulate me to fight you,” she said quietly as they were wrestling for control.
“Okay wait, why should I believe you all of a sudden, lady?” Spider-Man asked skeptically.
“Because it’s the truth, and I had to seem convincing in actually trying! Now come on, I know your enhanced senses can pick up a lie at this distance,” Black Cat continued.
And she was right. There was not an ounce of deception in her voice or her heartbeat. Still, to continue the act, he pinned her to a wall. “Fine, I can give you a chance. Now, explain why Fisk’s manipulating you,” he said dangerously.
“He kidnapped someone to create the serum that gave me my powers. If we save him, Kingpin won’t have leverage and the formula,” she replied.
They feigned being thrown off the building. When Black Cat was returning to Fisk’s hideout, Spider-Man was following from a distance. Once there, they dealt with Fisk and his men, and saved Walter Hardy.
That was the night Spider-Man and Black Cat brought down the Kingpin of crime.
“We make a good team, don’t you think, Spider?” Black Cat smirked at him as they were watching Fisk being loaded into a police van.
“Ignoring the fact that you wrestled me, yeah. I think we do, Cat,” he said sincerely as he smiled under his mask.
Over the next few weeks, the Spider and the Cat teamed up more often, becoming an iconic crime fighting duo in New York. Their partnership captured the general public’s heart, with several fan pages popping up that detailed their feats, as well as stolen shots of them traversing through rooftops and the skyline. Everyone was theorizing that they were actually a romantic couple as well.
Everyone, including all the Avengers who knew Peter before. Tony smiled sadly, seeing how their group was replaced by someone, but he steadied himself. It was probably for the best. Peter was, at worst, angry, and at best, disappointed in them. They weren’t there when some of his greatest challenges popped up. Now this new vigilante appears and teams up with Spider-Man oh so often even for the most ‘mundane’ of crimes. She was someone who seemed to actually be there for him.
Peter and Felicia though were still incredibly close and still falling for each other but… Their alter egos were falling in love with each other too. There was obvious cognitive dissonance on their parts. Peter was falling for Felicia and Black Cat, while Felicia was falling for Peter and Spider-Man. Something had to give for them to move forward properly.
Surprisingly, Spider-Man was the first to give. On the very same rooftop they met (and clashed for a bit), Black Cat did say, “Spider… I want to be with you, and I think you’re amazing but… How I wished I knew the man behind the mask.”
“Then I guess it’s time you did,” Spider-Man said as he removed his mask to reveal his face, causing Black Cat to gasp. He chuckled a bit because of that. “Good to meet you I’m Pe-”
“Peter Parker,” Black Cat beat him to it.
“Wait how did you…” Peter trailed. Black Cat then removed her mask and morphed into her regular form. “Fe-Felicia!?” He exclaimed in a whisper.
“Hey… So… Walter Hardy,”
“Is your father… It all makes sense now… Why you wanted to save him so badly,” Peter said, working through his shock.
Felicia nodded at that. “I… I don’t know… If we can go back to how things were between us, Pete…”
“We don’t… We both know now that we’re crime fighting vigilantes,” Peter tried to joke.
Felicia let out a laugh, despite the fact her heart was beating faster and faster. “No I mean… Do you… Still want to try it out? Being together I mean?”
Peter closed the distance between them and placed his hands on her waist. “I do… I just… Didn’t know which feelings to act on. My feelings as Spider-Man for Black Cat, or that of Peter Parker for Felicia Hardy. But now… Now I know we should at least try,” Peter admitted quietly, but sincerity laced his tone.
Felicia looked into his eyes, his hazel orbs looking lovingly into her green irises. She knew he was hesitant to let someone else be close to him again because of the Devil’s Breath Crisis the previous year. But here she was: Capable of fending for herself and standing by his side. “Me too… As long as we’re still partners against crime,” she smiled at him.
He smiled back, as his face inched closer to hers making his intentions obvious, but giving her time to resist if needed. She didn’t do so, and in fact moved closer to him as well, as their lips met for the first time, and they knew it was everything they’ve been searching for their whole lives.
They continued their kiss until they needed to break it to breathe in some air. “Come on, let’s see this through?” He asked, as their foreheads were resting against each other.
“Yeah,” Felicia beamed as she morphed back into her Black Cat form. “But you owe me a proper date, Mister,” she smirked.
“I hope the ‘Friday night movie and dinner’ combo isn’t out of style,” Peter chuckled as he put his mask back on.
“It’s not,” she shook her head as they smiled once again at each other before swinging through the night.
That Friday, Peter and Felicia had their first date as an actual couple. Of course, half the school wondered when that would finally happen.
“This date’s nice, Lover,” Felicia said sincerely as her head leaned into his shoulder.
“Yes, it is, dear,” Peter smiled softly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“You think the school made bets on us getting together?” She asked amusedly.
“Maybe. Like… Before end of the school year? At least those who aren’t jealous of me,” Peter shrugged.
“And what of those not jealous of me, Pete?”
“As if someone’s jealous that you’re dating ESU’s biggest nerd, Fel,” Peter snorted.
That caused her to lightly smack his chest. “Excuse me, Lover, but I have great taste in men. But if they can’t see how lucky I am, well then, their loss, and my gain.”
“Hey dear, I thought I was the lucky one here,” Peter chuckled, then flashed that trademark Parker smile at his girlfriend. Gosh, how he wished May got to meet her.
“Well, for your information, that’s a two-way street,” Felicia smiled brightly back at her boyfriend. “Anyway, back on topic, we’re inseparable. If only they knew the extent of how inseparable we actually are,” causing them to laugh together.
"I love you, Fel," he told her with all his heart.
"And I love you, Peter," she said back with equal sincerity.
The Avengers had an idea how inseparable they actually were, particularly Natasha, Clint, Kate, and Wanda. That’s because they all saw Peter with Felicia in the mall that evening, with the spies already hypothesizing that the young lady was the vigilante named Black Cat. How were they sure? Because they were certain Peter wasn’t the type to cheat or go behind his partner’s back. Still… The lady was at least three inches shorter than Peter, meaning she was three inches shorter than Black Cat, plus their hair colors were different. Then there was the question of the muscle mass difference. It was nothing more than that though, mere conjecture, that she was Black Cat.
Kate and Wanda were a little heartbroken to see Peter move on. They actually had a bit of a crush on him, but they couldn’t blame the guy for wanting to cut off ties with the Avengers. They would be pretty pissed too if they had to save an entire city’s population at the expense of their loved ones lives, all because of the lack of help.
When they told Tony what they saw, he smiled fondly at the thought. Then he saw the stolen shot Natasha took, and immediately recognized the girl. Tony made a mental note to talk to Walter Hardy and make sure they would do business together. If Peter didn’t want him to help any more than what he was doing, then he’ll make sure the Hardy Group would have decent expansions and secure their future.
Over the next few years, the Spider and the Cat kept New York safe. In fact, during those years, Peter began training his own protégé in Miles Morales, who also had spider powers coupled with his bioelectric powers. ‘Why didn’t I get that?’ Peter mused to himself.
They took down numerous supervillains as well, even without the help of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Electro, a man who was basically a living lightning bolt, was probably the most annoying to deal with. Scorpion, AKA Mac Gargan, was challenging in that he was Spider-Man’s physical superior, but lacked any real brains to win an actual fight. Rhino was a guy who could trade blows with the Hulk, but couldn’t handle well placed pressure blows in the body. And the manhole cover being swung onto his head multiple times.
Peter and Felicia eventually graduated together, both being in the top of their class. To add, Peter eventually got to be conversational in all the languages Felicia spoke, making it difficult for anyone to actually understand them if they chose that route. Moreover, their bond as a couple has only gotten stronger through time. Sure they had their fights, like all couples do, but they always worked through it. Communication with each other was a huge factor in that. Their biggest fight came when Peter was being stubborn with his money and budget, with Felicia insisting she help and give him cash and investment advice. Peter though wanted to prove that he can take care of himself. The old Parker drive for independence was as famous as the stubbornness.
He did relent when Felicia pointed out, rather sternly, that, “We’re partners, Pete! So help me God if I can’t or don’t want to help you!”
“You’re right… Okay, Fel,” Peter sighed. “So… I’m sorry about that.”
“That’s fine,” she breathed out. “At least you know to admit when you’re wrong,” Felicia said sheepishly as she looked down.
“Hey,” Peter whispered as he brought her chin up so she could look at him. “Kinda my fault I’m this hard-headed,” he gave a soft smile. “Comes with its perks though,” Peter joked as he knocked his head twice, causing her to giggle.
Felicia could have let the argument go, but she wanted to make sure Peter could take care of his money. She was aware though of the Hardy Group’s growth, which allowed her father to set up a few offshore accounts totaling $100 million for her as an insurance policy. Felicia somewhat understood it, but that setup seemed like a failsafe in case something ridiculous happened to the company.
Eventually, Walter Hardy, did pass away. Peter helped Felicia grieve. Always being there for her. Allowing the woman he loves to cry on his shoulder. And always lending her an ear without question. Those were the things he didn’t have when May and MJ passed.
Felicia became the majority shareholder of the Hardy Group, but she didn’t want to handle day-to-day management. Instead, she opted to vote in people with time and experience to handle the company.
25-year-old Peter Parker, 10 years after he became Spider-Man, got an invitation from Tony Stark, who wanted to have a catch-up dinner with him, his treat. Peter had kept some contact with his former mentor, because unlike the rest of the Avengers, he actually tried to make up for the absence in that one crisis oh so many years ago. So of course, Peter and Felicia decided to confirm.
They met up in a fancy restaurant that would take months to reserve a table, unless your name was Stark, Osborn, or recently, Hardy. Tony was jubilant to see Peter still give him the same bright smile he gave when they first met. At least that meant that his former protégé didn’t harbor any hard feelings on him. Conversation passed well, and they were more than amicable between each other.
“You should see the world, Pete,” Tony suggested at some point.
“Maybe… Someday, Mr. Stark,” Peter snorted.
“No, seriously. You’ve done how many lifetimes’ worth of selfless choices. At least be selfish once, if not for yourself, at least for you and your girlfriend then,” Tony insisted. “Also, seriously, you can cut the Mr. Stark crap, you’re a full-fledged adult. Call me Tony.”
That caused Peter to chuckle a bit. “Well… Fel here did tell me about her trips to Europe. Her favorite place is Saint-Tropez in France, the uh, Côte d'Azur region,” Peter nodded. “There’s this restaurant there called L’Opera, right by the Riviera,” he continued longingly.
“The food’s amazing there and has the best view; the perfect balance of nature and the façade of the town,” Felicia added.
“Sounds amazing bud,” Tony smiled fondly at them. “I think you should go there.”
“Yeah… Maybe someday even retire there,” Peter said thoughtfully. “If… That’s actually in the cards for me.”
“Oh it’s there, don’t you dare deny it. Besides, didn’t you say your protégé is pretty much ready to take the mantle? And trust me… The people who love you would also love to see you happy, because if anyone I know deserves that, it’s you. You know, to have a lifetime of happiness.”
That caused Peter to smile brightly once again. “Maybe someday I’ll take her to Saint-Tropez, Mr. Stark,” he said wistfully, looking into Felicia’s eyes. Then Tony looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Sorry, I mean Tony,” he snorted.
“Attaboy,” Tony said approvingly.
The last time Tony failed Peter was when New York was in the midst of the biggest gang war in Human history. Hammerhead Martello practically declared war on the rest of the Maggia to consolidate power. Silvermane Manfredi wasn’t going without a fight, and enlisted the help of a relative from Symkaria, Silvija Sablinova, the CEO of Sable International, to bolster his forces. Kingpin was somehow still pulling strings from behind bars, and ordered everyone left in his once great criminal empire to fight to the end. Then there was Tinkerer’s crew, who wanted nothing more than to see Roxxon Corporation be destroyed.
And it just so happened that the Avengers were, once again, not in town. This time it was due to a few Hydra bases located in South East Asia. And of course, every single one of them had to leave. It’s so convenient for the villains of New York to begin their master plans just when the Avengers aren’t around.
Fisk still had a grudge on Felicia though, and attacks on the Hardy group, both in physical premises as well as in the stock market, screwed over the net worth of the conglomerate. Not that Felicia cared. She was more concerned of the lives at stake because of the gang war they couldn’t prevent.
“Miles! What do you have on Tinkerer?” Spider-Man asked in his comms as he was swinging with Black Cat.
“She’s going to screw over Roxxon Tower! The new generator! If it destabilizes…”
“It’ll destroy all of Harlem…” Spidey trailed.
“Can you handle her, Miles?” Black Cat asked.
“I can," Miles assured with determination. "Both of you handle that confrontation down by the docks!” he continued.
Somewhere, deep down to their cores, Spider-Man and Black Cat knew that if they stop Hammerhead, Fisk, and Manfredi tonight, it’ll be the biggest blow to crime in New York. Ever. And they were determined to make that happen. No matter the cost.
The new Spider-Man defeated the Tinkerer and her crew, but the Roxxon building was still in shambles after the fight. At least Harlem was safe. At least his family and friends were safe.
Though injured, Miles tried to get to Spider-Man and Black Cat, hoping that he could help them and put an end to New York’s criminal underworld.
And then he witnessed and heard the explosion.
Miles was nowhere near it, so he didn’t get injured any further, but he swung as fast as he could to the area. The only ones he found there were Hammerhead, Silvermane, Silver Sable, and their respective troops, all tied or webbed up.
Then he saw it.
Spider-Man’s shredded mask, and Black Cat’s goggles, the lenses of both items being cracked.
“SPIDER-MAN! CAT!” He shouted in vain. He searched in vain as well. And to no avail. No bodies were found.
When Iron Man arrived a few minutes later, the new Spider-Man approached him, only to show the mask and goggles in hand. Miles was sobbing, while Tony let tears stream down his face, not even bothering to put away his mask. They both looked around the destroyed premises and reached the same conclusion.
The funerals of Spider-Man and Black Cat were far from somber. Half the city wanted to be a part of it. Even most of the NYPD were present, especially Yuri Watanabe and Captain Stacy. All the Avengers were in attendance as well.
“I’m sorry I failed you bud… I’m so sorry I wasn’t there… Again,” Tony said quietly, fighting the sobs he wanted to release.
After the dedications were said, Tony and Miles inconspicuously slipped to another portion of the cemetery. The graves where Ben, May, MJ, Walter, Peter, and Felicia were. Tony touched May’s gravestone, bowed his head, and began to sob, “I’ve failed you… I know you trusted me… With him, despite how much you… Hated my guts and yet… I failed you.”
“I’ll miss you two,” Miles sobbed out as well, laying down a couple of bouquets for the two figures he considered mentors. “I promise I’ll always keep this city safe.”
“We’ll keep it safe,” Tony added quickly. “It’s time the Avengers actually dedicated themselves to also helping out the little guy.”
“That was 14 months ago, Pep…” Tony trailed. In the 14 months since then, New York has had the lowest crime rates in its history. The new Spider-Man would patrol the streets like his predecessor, reminding people that no matter what the city would face, a Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man would always be present to stop it. Even when the Avengers had a reserves-list ready to deploy to New York at a moment’s notice, they haven’t been called in yet, considering how little crime was occurring in the city.
“Yeah it was… I miss him too,” Pepper told him. “But I doubt he’d want you to beat yourself over that.”
“Right…” Tony nodded hesitantly. Pepper had told him that countless times, but it didn’t do much to help him sleep at night. Still, maybe this trip would be what he needed.
When they arrived in Saint-Tropez, they immediately went to their suite to drop off their bags and walk around the place. No tours, no itinerary, just immersing themselves with the vibe and culture of the area. They went to a nice café to enjoy espresso and pastries while overlooking the Riviera. When they returned to the suite, Tony simply went to the balcony to marvel at the place. ‘I can see why Felicia wanted them to go here,’ he told himself.
The following day was their last day in the area, before heading off to the Bordeaux region for a wine tasting class. Tony believed that he needed to fight off one more ghost from his past before starting the journey of growing past his grief.
He decided that they’d have lunch in L’Opera. They would do that before boarding the train to take them to their next destination.
Once entering the premises, they were in awe of the views the place had. They wanted to revel in it and decided to dine al fresco. Having more money than they knew how to spend, they didn’t skimp and ordered the best the place had to offer. “Yeah, they were right… Best restaurant in town,” he smiled sadly as he looked to the Riviera and the town.
“I know right,” Pepper agreed with a smile of her own.
“Come on let’s get the bill,” Tony suggested as he called for a waiter and requested such.
“Oh Mr. Stark, no need,” the waiter waved a hand. “It has been taken cared of.”
Tony raised an eyebrow. “By whom?”
“Our two favorite patrons. They moved here last year, and left an account to pay for your meal in our fine establishment,” the waiter responded confidently. “They’ve been waiting for you to visit and said it’s their treat, insisting that they owe you that much.”
“And who are these ‘patrons?’” Pepper inquired; her interest piqued.
“Ah, the lovely Félice Harmon and Pierre Portier,” the waiter nodded.
“Right… Thank you,” Tony politely nodded back, and the waiter left them.
“Tony… You don’t know those two, do you?” Pepper asked.
“No… I don’t…” Tony shook his head. ‘But… Why do the names sound familiar?’ He mused to himself.
Then he saw a glint in the corner of his eye. He looked to it and saw that it came from a ring on a lovely lady’s hand. She was beautiful, blonde, and wearing a strapless periwinkle sundress, showing the slight baby bump on her. Next to the lady was a brunette man, a few inches taller, wearing a white V-neck shirt and sand colored chinos.
Then the couple glanced at Tony. The lady gave a bright and sweet smile, making it known that she was living a life where her dreams have come true. The man on the other hand, gave a cheeky smirk and winked at him, before they made their exit into the crowd of people.
Tony blinked at this then rubbed his eyes. “Wait stay here, Pep,” he said thoughtlessly as he stood up and tried to follow them. However, once Tony got to the street area, he already lost them. But he swore he could recognize those faces anywhere. In a mix of exasperation, but mostly relief, he breathed out, "Sonuvabitch," as he was shaking his head with a slight smile.
When he returned to the table, Pepper asked him, “Tony what happened?”
“Sorry I thought… I thought I saw someone I knew,” Tony chuckled.
“Really? Who?”
“An old friend,” he smiled genuinely for the first time in over a year. “Told me about wanting to go here, maybe live out the rest of his life in this area.”
“Is that so?” Pepper began smiling too.
“And after being here for the last couple of days, I think I understand…”
“Do you think he’ll tell on us, Lover?”
“Nah. He knows better than that, dear.”
"Do you regret making the choices we made?”
“Nope. Like he said, I've made how many lifetimes’ worth of selfless choices.
This one’s for us.”
“… I understand why he wanted to retire here in Saint-Tropez.”
Fin.