“Now remember, Peter, this press conference is to clear your name. To say that you’re just a Stark Industries intern and nothing more, okay?”
“You just need to say that you are not Spider-Man.”
“I understand Mr. Rhodes, Ms. Potts.” Peter says softly in response to the two adults.
“Seriously kid, no pulling a ‘me’ here, ‘kay?”
“Course, Mr. Stark.”
“You can call me Tony, kid. We saved the world together after all, the least you can do is call me Tony.”
“You sound like Dr. Strange, Mr. Stark.”
Tony simply laughs as Pepper goes over what her and Rhodes want Peter to say.
“This isn’t my first press conference, I got this.”
“Come on kid, they’re waiting for you.” Tony replies quickly after Peter finishes his sentence. “You can wait to go out, I know Happy is talking their asses off about everything, and Spider-Man. I’m gonna going to say one last thing and then you say your bit.”
Peter nods again. “Thanks Mr. Stark.”
“No worries, I got you, Pete. I was once in your place. You’ll be fine, kid.”
Of course Tony Stark was in Peter’s place before. In 2008. The only difference is he was going to use a “bodyguard” excuse to keep his identity secret.
Well, there was another difference. That one being that Tony Stark disregarded everything that he was told to say, instead saying “I am Iron Man.”
He said he was Iron Man in a press conference.
That was the main difference.
“Let’s get this show on the road,” Pepper says before opening the double doors in front of the group, saying the exact thing she had said to Tony close to a decade earlier.
“You got this, Spidey.” Rhodes replies, practically pushing Peter forward through the open doors.
Nervously, Peter enters the room to be faced with so much press, something he has never really seen in his past.
Tony was finishing up his speech, of sorts. “Now, Peter Parker has prepared a statement. He will not be taking any questions. Thank you.”
Again, more parallels.
And Tony looks at Peter, mouthing “You got this, Pete,” as the younger walks up to the podium.
“I know that Mysterious had supposedly revealed the identity of Spider-Man to the world. A public announcement that in turn labelled me as “Public Enemy Number One”…and with that there has been speculation that I had been the one to supposedly kill Mysterio, since my name was the one he said when he revealed Spider-Man’s identity. Peter Parker. Spider-Man. And it’s one thing to make false accusations and another to claim that someone- that I am a superhero. Even worse with both put together. And I’m not the hero type! I’m a kid who’s just barely out of high school, if that. I don’t have the power like the Avengers do, like Mr. Stark has…so why would anyone think that I, a high school senior, would be Spider-Man?” And Peter pauses, looking Tony in the eyes for a moment as the press clamors on, wanting to ask him questions.
Peter takes a deep breath, and then he says, “Truth is…I am Spider-Man.”
More chaos and press chattering, trying to ask questions before Tony Stark walks back up to the podium, pushing Peter back gently behind him.
“As I had previously stated, Peter Parker will not be answering any questions. Good day.”
- •••
“What happened with sticking to the script?”
“Jesus, kid, I thought we-”
“Rhodey, relax. I for one am quite proud of him. Reminds him of me.”
“Thanks Mr. Stark.”
“Course, Pete.”
“That was reckless, Tony! How are you allowing this?”
“Pep, Pete’s just a kid, I get your plan but it was his decision. Don’t get your panties in a twist.”
“You seriously have too much in common. Peter is practically your mini-me.”
“Why does it even matter that I did it? Mr. Stark did and it turned out great!”
“You missed the part where I had press and paparazzi after me for months…” Tony mutters.
“I never wanted to see you to do something so
monumentally impulsive on live television as Tony
did, such as outing your secret identity you
were previously so hell-bent on keeping, that’s why.”
“I’m sorry Ms. Potts…This is gonna be such a hassle and I’m sorry.”
“No. You are not apologizing, kid. You think I did when I said I was Iron Man?”
“No…”
“Exactly, Pete. You are Spider-Man, own it, kiddo.”
Happy walks out of the doors and just stares at Peter.
After a moment and a deep breath, he says “You seriously are a mini-Tony.”
“And I’m proud of it.”
“Just don’t make the mistakes I did, kiddo.”
Peter simply nods with a smile.
“I really am proud of you, Pete.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you so much Mr. Stark!”
Tony laughs softly as he sees the bright smile on the young Spiderling’s face.
“Why don’t we get some food to celebrate, huh? Food and a movie?”
“Can I pick the movie?”
“Of course, Spiderling.”