Chapter Text
Let me stay forgotten, won't you?
Alone.
Peter’s been alone for a long time.
Four years. He’s twenty-two now. He’s fought battles, won wars, saved hundreds if not thousands of lives, and yet. This is one of the hardest battles he’s ever had to face.
Six weeks ago, two bodyguards showed up to his apartment requesting for him to come with them. They gave no explanation, and since it was him they wanted and not Spiderman, clearly there shouldn’t be an issue. He’d kept a low profile, and did his best to make sure no one followed him home. Call him paranoid, but as the only superhero it was important to keep himself safe, so when these bodyguards came and collected him he went quietly. They asked him politely, but it was evident that they’d take him if he declined.
He didn’t want any problems if he could help it, but if it was a villain he’d know. It was gloomy in New York that day, rain was coming so he hoped this wouldn’t take too long.
The carride was quiet. The bodyguards looked back at him through the rearview mirror every few minutes, maybe to make sure he didn’t try to jump out? That didn’t matter, he promptly ignored them and memorized the street signs in case he needed to make a quick get away. He watched the raindrops hit the car window, counting them. But as they got closer to the destination he recongized the street.
He quickly sat up, looking through the foggy window. He took a deep shaky breath, maybe he was wrong. Yeah, he had to be. He tried to calm down, but his eyes landed on the familiar gate he’d seen all those years ago. He remembered dinners, the sleepovers when he was too tired to go back home, and his aunt having to get a phone call. He remembered everything.
Mr. Stark's house.
His heart began to race, and he shakily held onto the seatbelt hoping he was getting it wrong. There was no way, he had to be wrong. He sunk deeper and deeper into the seat as he approached the house.
Maybe someone else lived there? That was his hope, but as they got closer up the road to the main house he knew he was wrong. It felt all too familiar, like nothing had changed. But he knew better than anyone that everything had changed, only he was the only one that knew that.
The bodyguards pulled over, opening the door for him. He took three deep breaths, his throat quivering. He was doing everything in his power to prevent himself from running away. He
stepped out of the car, his legs feeling wabbily, he took another deep breath as the bodyguards ushered him to the entrance, following him close behind. Raindrops falling on his face, he’d almost mistaken them for the tears he wanted to shed. He looked down at his own feet, trying to get himself together. What right in front of them did he have to cry? They’d think he was crazy.
As they approached the door, he tightly gripped his pants pockets. Feeling the vomit rise in his throat. The bodyguards knocked on the front door, looking behind him, making sure no one followed them to the residence.
The door clicked, and when he looked up there was Pepper Stark. She looked the same in her face, but her appearance was different. Her hair was shorter, her clothing more casual, and her eyes.. They looked almost how he remembered them, except she didn’t have that sparkle in them anymore, but he couldn’t blame her for that. Afterall, she lost her husband due to his sacrifice.
“Mr. Parker?”
He blinked a few times, realizing he was just staring at her. He put on his best polite smile before speaking.
“Y-yes?” He asked.
Pepper looked at him with an unreadable expression. Her eyes going over his face, his clothes, like she waas searching for something. She cleared her throat, stepping to the side.
“Please, come in.”
Peter swallowed hard, whipping his shoes on the welcome mat before stepping in her home. Pepper noticed, swallowing weakly before clothing the door behind him.
–
He stood at the entrance. Looking around the foyer, memories flooding back to him. He’d spent a lot of his time here. His eyes locked on photo’s on the wall. Many of them had Mr.Stark in them, with Pepper but then his eyes found a picture he’d never seen before. His throat closed, and his eyes began to burn.
A little girl.
She couldn’t have been more than three in the photo, but there she was. Smiling, and hugging Mr. Stark, who had a huge smile on his face looking at her. Peter backed up from the photo,
swallowing hard, and blinking back tears, trying his best not to break down. He turned his gaze to Pepper who was just staring at him. Was she trying to figure something out? Or did she think he was crazy for almost crying over strangers?
He cleared his throat, doing his best to seem okay. But she was still just watching him, her eyes squinting, like she was analyzing every reaction he gave off. It was unsettling. He furrowed his brows instinctively. And she caught it, taking a breath before smiling politely at him.
“I’m sorry, follow me to the living room?” She asked, no longer looking at him. She walked ahead, and he followed her silently. He stared at the back of her head as they walked silently. She’d really changed. She was colder, but he still felt familiar with her. He just wishes she’d just tell him what it was she wanted so he could go home and forget this day.
They made their way to the living room, where a lawyer was sitting. Looking through some documents, he stood up as they approached, putting on a polite smile before shaking Pepper’s hand and she returned the smile before looking at him.
“Mr. Parker, this is the family attorney William James Banks. He handles all the legal issues related to the Stark family. She said, with a neutral tone. Peter shook the man’s hand giving a polite smile, but his face visibly gave off confusion.
Pepper noticed, and smiled weakly. Blinking a few times, before clearing her throat.
“Let’s sit and discuss why you’re here. She said, gesturing for him to sit across from her. He did without arguing.
“So, Mr. Parker.” Mr. Banks said, flipping through documents, before pulling one out. “Tony Stark came to me to make a will four years ago, and in that will he named three people besides his wife to inherit his money.
Peter looked between them confusingly. What did any of this have to do with him? He hadn’t seen any of the stark family since Tony’s funeral and since he erased everyone’s memory of him.
“I’m sorry, but what does this have to do with me?” He asked.
Pepper and Mr. Banks gave each other a quick glance before returning their attention to him.
“You see Mr. Parker, Tony left his inheritance to his daughter Morgan Stark, Mrs. Stark’s assistant Harley Keener, and lastly, the most surprising thing is that he left something to you as well.” Mr. Banks said. Peter froze at the last statement. He heard his heart beating so fast he was sure everyone else could hear it too.
His lips quivered before speaking again. “Mr. Stark left something for me?” He asked, trying to sound as casual as he could, but he could feel his eyes begin to burn again.
“Yes, he did. Along with some other things” Mr. Banks said.
Peter was trying to take deep breaths to control himself, but his body was betraying him. He was visibly shaking. Pepper noticed, and quickly rose and ended up at his side. He thought she’d yell or kick him out, but instead she put one hand on her heart, and the other on his shoulder.
“Peter breath with me okay?” She said, slowing breathing in and out. He watched her, following her league, taking slow breaths, in and out. In and out. In and out. After a few minutes he calmed down. She made small circles with his hand on his back before taking a step back from him.
“Are you okay now?” She asked, softly. Looking at him the way she used to all those years ago. He swallowed, looking away from her.
“Y-yes. I’m sorry.” He said, his voice shaking a bit.
“It’s okay, let's just figure out what happened.” She said, with pity in her eyes. He almost wanted to laugh at how familiar this all was.
“Y-yes, i’m okay now.” He said, slowly sitting back in his chair. Pepper nodded, walking back to her own chair, but now she was paying full attention to him.
Mr. Banks cleared his throat, trying to get the conversation back on track.
“Well Mr. Parker, now that you’re okay. I have to ask. Did you know you were in the will? How closely did you know Tony Stark? He asked, no malice in his voice but he was clearly trying to insinuate something.
Peter stared at him for a while. What was he supposed to say? That he was spiderman and Mr. Stark recruited him at fourteen to help him win a war with the Avengers? No, he couldn’t do that.
“Peter?”
He looked up and saw Pepper staring at him eagerly waiting for his answer. He swallowed hard,
and took a breath.
“I was at Stark industries for an internship, and that’s how me and Mr. Stark met. He became my mentor after hearing about my home situation, and realizing I couldn’t afford to go to college on my own without scholarships and the internship.”
Mr. Banks nodded, looking seemingly convinced. But when Peter looked at Pepper, she was frowning, leaning back in her chair but never letting her eyes fall anywhere else but him. Peter avoided her gaze, ushering for the conversation to either continue or end.
“I don’t know Mr. Stark that well, but he must have felt sorry for me.” He looked at his own fingers, lacing them together. “I don’t know what he left me, but please keep it. I don’t need it” he finished.
Mr. Banks looked at Pepper for a few minutes, before setting his sight back on Peter.
“Mr. Parker, Tony Stark left you thirty million dollars.”
–
Peter was staring at Mr. Banks and Pepper. He must have misheard him, he had to have. There was absolutely no way he heard him right.
“Did you say thirty million?” He asked, his voice shaking.
Mr. Banks nodded.
Peter’s eyes fell on Pepper who was still looking at him. He swallowed hard, putting his palms in his hands. He really can’t believe Mr. Stark would do that. He didn’t know what to say. What could he say? Mr. Stark wasn’t the type to just give out money without reason, and Pepper of all people knew that.
“Peter.” She said,
He stared at her, fighting back tears. She was quiet for a moment, before sighing.
“I think that’s enough for today wouldn’t you say so Mr. Banks?” She said, looking at the man. He stared at her confusingly for a minute, glancing at Peter before realization hit him.
“Oh yes, let’s stop here.” His eyes trailed to Peter, “Are you free wherever Mr. Parker? There’s still much to talk about regarding your inheritance.” He asked. Peter opened his mouth before closing it. Pepper saw, and rose up from her chair.
“We’ll figure out a schedule at a later date, it’s raining outside and I wouldn’t want either of you to get stuck out there.” She said, ushering them back to the entrance. Peter nodded, silently thanking her for ending the conversation.
They approached the front door, and before Mr. Banks could grab it. The door opened, and in came a little girl.
Morgan Stark.
She was older than in the photo he saw when he first came in, but there she was. Smiling, and running past Mr. Banks who almost fell bumping into her before he walked out the door. She ran to her mother, who smiled widely, and picked her up. Hugging her tightly.
“Hello, Morgan. How was school?” She asked, setting her daughter back down to stand. Morgan was jumping around, clearly excited about something.
“Good mommy! I had science today! She said eagerly.
Peter smiled softly at her, she was going on and on about what she learned in science and it reminded him so much of Mr. Stark. Morgan was about to say something else before her eyes landed on him. He stilled, smiling awkwardly at her. She ran behind her mother’s leg, which he wasn’t offended by. She didn’t know him.
Pepper soothed the girl by rubbing the back of her head.
“Morgan it’s okay, this is Peter. He was daddy’s friend.” She said, eyes only on her child. Peter smiled at the term “Friend” he wasn’t sure if that’s how Mr. Stark saw him. They’d never had a conversation about it. Mr. Stark hugged him, as he guessed his farewell to him, but he wasn’t sure. One minute Mr. Stark was there, and then he wasn’t.
He realized he was lost in thought when he felt something pull on his pant leg, and he looked down and it was Morgan. She was smiling up at him, giggling.
“Wanna play?” She asked. He opened his mouth, but closed it quickly.
“You should stay Peter. It’s way too late now, and it's pouring outside.” Pepper chimed in.
“As nice as that sounds, Mr. Banks just left so-”
“He’s a grown man, he’ll be okay. If he wanted to stay he could’ve.” She said.
“I’m twenty-two years old, ma’am.”
“Still a child in my eyes.” She responded.
He opened his mouth to reject the offer, but he looked down to see Morgan ushering him along to play with her. He sighed, and nodded. Causing the girl to squeal and pull him to the living room, talking his ears off about her favorite toys, her classes, her friends, etc. He hated to say he was enjoying it. He looked behind him as Morgan was still talking, and saw Pepper smiling at him. He swallowed hard, realizing something.
This was gonna be harder than he thought.