Tony wasn't surprised Peter turned down his offer to work alongside him, because the kid was right, there needs to be someone out there to watch over the little people and keep them safe.
Over the past months since Tony met Peter, he came to see the 15 year old boy as his own son. And despite some of the reckless decisions the teen often makes, Tony was proud, and he honestly wanted the best for him.
Which is why he was on his way to have dinner with Peter and his Aunt May. They were supposed to meet up at a Thai restaurant close to where Peter lived.
When he got there, he got out of his car and walked across the street to where the restaurant was, but before he could make it all the way across the road, a bright light appeared in the sky, like some sort of comet that was coming towards him.
The next second everything went white, and for a moment it felt like Tony was falling.
After the moment ended, Tony felt cold, after blinking a few times, Tony noticed that he was lying on snow covered ground, and it was the dead of night.
Which was weird, because it wasn’t winter. And even if it was, there hadn’t been snow a second ago.
Getting a bit of PTSD the last time Tony was stranded in a snowy nowhere, he got up and looked around.
And he was right where he was before, except things were a bit different.
The tai restaurant, wasn’t a tai restaurant anymore. There was newly built buildings that were currently replacing the buildings that had previously been there before.
And the day on one of the boards had the year 2024 instead of the previous date of 2016.
Did he somehow magically found himself in the future?
Realistic, he probably got hit by a time temporal energy wave that sent him to the future. Temporarily.
Just like the energy waves that hit the magnetic shield of the earth creating the Northern lights. This wave would end sooner or later, and he would be back in his correct time.
So with nothing else to do except to wait, Tony walked around.
He looked at what changed in New York and what stayed the same. Mix of both from what Tony saw.
After walking around for a bit, Tony got understandably cold quickly. It’s not like he was dressed for the winter.
So Tony went into a nearby open building, which so happened to be a bar.
Which was ironic, because Tony didn’t drink anymore. maybe he could order himself a hot chocolate, or maybe a coke if he was being realistic.
Tony sat in one of the bar stools at the bar and waved down one of the bartenders, who was young looking man.
The bartender walked over and Tony was surprised how young the worker looked.
He couldn’t be no more than 18 at most.
“How old are you?” Tony asked.
“19, why do you care?” The young man asked.
“Are bars allowed to hire underage workers?” Tony asked.
“As long as I don’t swipe the alcohol I should be fine.” he replied.
Tony was silent for a moment.
“What are you, a Tony stark impersonator? Pretty good one if I should say.” The worker said.
“I actually am Tony stark.” Tony replied.
“Funny joke.” The worker sneered. one of the other bartenders gave him a look.
“What do you want to drink?” He asked.
“Hot coco if you got any, alcohol free. Asking just in case.” Tony replied.
The worker turned around and started preparing his drink.
Tony couldn’t help but look at the young man who was preparing his drink. How familiar he looked.
He almost looked like Peter if he was a few years older.
The worker turned to Tony and handed him the drink.
“What’s you staring at?” He asked.
“What’s your name kid?” Tony asked.
For a split moment, he noticed sanders in the kid’s eyes. Before switching back to serious.
“You rally do make a good stark impression. Why do you care?” He asked.
“Just curious is all.” Tony replied.
“Not like you would know who I am anyways.” He replied, before checking his watch.
“My shifts done, I’m out.” He said the other bartender before walking out of the bar without giving Tony a second glance.
Tony thought that was weird. But didn’t think any thing of it.
He drink his hot coco for a few minutes. And a few minutes after that more people entered the bar. And a few minutes following that, said people got loud and annoying.
So with a last sip of his drink, Tony left the bar.
Tony walked down the street once again, this time admiring the snow than the buildings.
Tony then looked up at the sky.
With this snow, it would make the stars in the sky very beautiful. It would have been a perfect night.
But Tony did not see any stars. The light pollution of the city didn’t allow for that.
It was too bad, it really was.
But as Tony was staring at the sky, he didn’t notice a man sneaking up behind.
The man grabbed Tony and pulled him into the alleyway. Shoving him into the brick wall with a gun pointed at his face.
“Give me your money.” The mugger demanded.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be doing this.” Tony said.
“I don’t care what you think, Give me your money.” The Mugger demanded again.
Tony was a super hero, but he knew when it was time to be a hero, and when it was time to not play hero.
And this wasn’t those times.
Tony knew if he gave the man the money he would leave him alone.
But before Tony had the chance to give the mugger the money, a flash of red and blue came down from the sky and punched the mugger, knocking him out.
That was one heck of a punch.
The person that was standing before him was none other then the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Even in the future, Peter was still being a hero and saving lives.
Not seeing anyone else around, Tony decided to compliment the kid.
“Good punch Pete, didn’t even see you coming. Even after all these years, you’re still doing a great job.” Tony said.
With that, it was peter’s turn to slam Tony into the wall.
“Who are you, how do you know my name?” Peter asked.
“Do you not recognize me, I know I probably look much younger but it’s still me. Tony Stark, your best boss and mentor ever.” Tony replied.
With that, Peter took off his mask.
And Tony was surprised to see that it was rude bartender from before.
He was older, which explained why Tony didn’t recognize him upfront. But due to the year, Tony expected Peter to look much older.
“Pete?” Tony asked.
“Who are you, really?” Peter asked.
“It’s me, Tony. The guy who gave you the suit. Who called for your help during the whole civil war debacle.” Tony said.
Peter still looked at him with unbelief.
“Look, I’m from the past. I was on my way to eat tai with you and may. But then I got hit by a time wave comet portal thing, and I’ve been sent to the future. But it’s still me.” Tony explained.
Peter analyzed Tony, really looking at him.
The Peter let him go.
“It really is you.” Peter said.
“It really is.” Tony replied.
Now it was Tony’s turn to look at Peter.
He was older, obviously. But he was taller, but surprisingly skinnier, like he hasn’t been eating like he should.
And his suit was completely different.
“What happened to the suit?” Tony asked.
“It stopped working.” Peter said.
“I didn’t fix it? Or give you a new one?” Tony asked.
“I wanted to make the suit myself this time.” Peter simply replied.
“It looks good. Much better than your last homemade suit.” Tony complimented.
A small smile made it self known on Peter’s face.
“Thanks.” Peter replied.
A pressing issue resurfaced in Tony’s brain.
“Why are you working at a bar?” Tony asked.
Peter was quiet for a moment, quickly trying to think of an answer.
“Wanted to try something outside of the internship. A real job you know?” Peter asked.
“At a bar?” Tony asked.
“I got fired from my last job at the daily bugle.” Peter defended.
“How did you get fired?” Tony asked.
“I got in a fist fight with my co-worker Eddie Brock.” Peter shamefully replied.
“Oh.” Tony said. He wasn’t even gonna ask about that.
“Anyways, how Is May?” Tony asked trying to change the subject.
“She’s, she’s fine. All good and stuff.” Peter replied.
“Thats good.” Tony said.
Tony was going to ask how Ned and MJ were doing, if he remembered their names right. But from Peter’s demeanor, it was clear he wasn’t in the mood to talk about personal stuff.
But Tony still had to ask.
“Life’s treating you well?” Tony asked.
“As well as life lets you” Peter replied.
Tony was about to speak again before Peter cut him off.
“Why are we talking about me. I want to know about you. How have you been, in your past point in life?” Peter asked.
“Good. Pepper is happy, the city is safe. Had a dream about having a baby named after Pepper’s eccentric uncle, whatever his name is.” Tony explained.
“Morgan.” Peter said.
“Yeah, Morgan.” Tony said.
Then Tony suddenly remembered that this was the future.
“Do I have a son named Morgan?” Tony asked.
Petter laughed a bit.
“In the great words of Professor River Song ‘Spoilers’ ” Peter quoted.
“You and your quotes.” Tony said.
“Yeah.” Peter said.
Tony could tell that there was a lot that Peter wanted to tell him. But Peter didn’t say anything.
He just said.
“It’s good to see you again.” Peter said.
“It’s always a joy to see you kid.” Tony said with a smile.
Peter returned the smile.
Tony was going to say something else, but then a bright light appeared in the sky.
Knowing that the time wave was about to end, Tony told him.
“I’m proud of you kid. Never forget that. Past, Present, and Future. I will always be proud of you.” Tony said.
“Thanks Mr Stark. I really needed to hear that.” Peter said.
Before the light hit him, Tony Pulled Peter into a hug.
And a quick second later, Peter was gone. And the cold chill of the air was once again warm.
He was back in the past again.
Tony walked out of the alleyway, and headed towards the Tai restaurant.
Where a younger bright eye Peter who had yet to be hardened by the world and its tragedy’s was waiting for him.
Seeing the Peter of his present compared to the Peter of the Future had Tony wishing that he had asked what had happened to the boy who was no longer a kid but a young man who was clearly fending for himself.
Tony would never know.
But he knows what he can do now.
Do anything that he can do to protect his Peter Parker of today.
——