Chapter 4
“Congratulations Mr. Parker, Mr. Stark is your father!”
That one statement sent another bolt of shock through Peter. Even though it has been 6 hours since he knew that was a possibility but the DNA test and Mr. Vision’s statement just cemented the fact.
Tony Stark, the man Peter had idolized since he could understand things, the man that saved his life and inspired him to do more, the man Peter wanted to be like when he got his powers, and the man who was scared for Peter after the civil war thinking he was hurt and send him home with Mr. Happy.
Mr. Stark was Peter’s father and not Richard Parker like he believed all his life. From what he had been told by Ms. Carter then Mr. Stark had no idea he existed so he didn’t abandon him.
But would he want Peter after knowing the truth? Would May want him after she gets to know that Peter is not related to her? Should he start calling Mr. stark dad? Did his mother know the truth? Did Richard or Ben know the truth? So many questions were running through his mind and he had answers to none.
He looked at Ms. Carter who was crying and smiling at the same time. He looked at Mr. Vision who was also smiling at him.
Ms Carter suddenly burst forward and engulfed him in a tight hug and said, “Welcome to the family Peter, when Tony wakes up and knows about you he will be so happy.”
She said it with such genuine sincerity that Peter believed her and allowed an actual smile to come on his face. Tony Stark was his dad, he wasn’t an orphan, he has more family members than just Aunt May now. He’s happy because his dad is not a man who cares about only the people he likes like Captain America, he’s not a man that leaves his family behind for someone in just one phone call like Clint Barton, he’s not a follower like Sam Wilson, he doesn’t use his powers to hurt others like the scarlet witch, he’s not like Scott Lang who left his daughter behind for fighting against the law and he’s not a traitor like Natasha Romanoff.
No, his father is a good man who cares about everyone. He had flown a nuke through a portal to save everyone. His father was selfless and he was a genius. His father is a Hero who cares about everyone and he’s proud to be his son (If he will have him that is).
Even though he has doubts then also deep down he knows Mr. Stark (his dad) would welcome him with open arms because he was a good man.
He breaks the hug and looks at Ms. Carter and says, “Thank you Ms. Carter.”
“Now Pete, I’m your aunt and you’ll call me Aunt Sharon.” Ms. Carter (Aunt Sharon) said with a smile which, in turn, caused him to blush deeply.
“If we’re talking about relations then I guess that would make Peter my brother since Mr. Stark is kind of my father.” Mr. Vision said which caused Peter to blush even more and made Ms- no- Aunt Sharon laugh.
Peter went inside the med bay with Ms –no- Aunt Sharon to tell Ms. Potts (is she Aunt Pepper?) to tell about the results only to stop in their tracks when they heard they heard the angry voice of Christine Everhart from the TV.
“The video of Mr. Stark’s confrontations with Mr. Rogers and Mr. Barnes popped up in a site that was just made today, the videos prove that Mr. Rogers is not the hero we believed to be and can go to any lengths for Mr. Barnes. It also tells us why Mr. Stark has not been spotted after the civil war. Viewer discretion advised for the following video.”
And then the video started playing, it was the video from Siberia the one he accidentally watched when he came to the hospital to see Mr. Stark (They wouldn’t show him if they knew he was there that was for sure and he got a ton of scoldings from them for watching too). The video showed him the truth about Steve Rogers (not Mr. Rogers or Captain America, he doesn’t deserve respect). He had almost killed an amazing man who was a hero and who was also his friend and that was not what a hero does. Peter had started hating Rogers the moment he saw the video. But the video was poor quality from the iron man suit.
This one however was very clear and showed everything. Watching it now it was different because that was his father. Steve Rogers had almost made Peter an orphan.
He saw everything very clearly, his dad standing next to the two super soldiers staring at the screen. He saw Mr and Mrs. Stark (his grandparents) getting murdered by the winter soldier. He saw Steve Rogers trying to lie to his father. He saw how utterly betrayed his father looked before he punched Rogers. He saw both the soldiers fighting him and then Rogers slamming the shield in his dad’s chest.
By the time the video ended Peter was hyperventilating and he didn’t notice until two voices were trying to soothe him simultaneously and he looked up to see the concerned faces of Ms. Carter and Ms. Potts.
“It’s ok Peter, you’re fine, he’s fine, we’re all fine and those monsters are never coming near us again if we have something to say about it, ok?” Ms. Potts asked in a concerned tone while Ms- Aunt Sharon was rubbing his back.
He nodded his head and they all looked back at the television.
“- immoral, Captain America is often seen as the pinnacle of what humans should strive to be, being the best possible version of ourselves with a strict moral code and a general willingness to always do what is right. But what we see now is a man who does what he thinks is right, all that he is doing is not to protect innocent civilians but James Buchanan Barnes who is the winter soldier, Captain America killed and injured many innocent people for one man because he was selfish.”
“Innocent people in Bucharest and Lagos, Colonel Rhodes in Germany and finally Tony Stark in Siberia. How many more will die and get injured by Captain America for James Barnes? The man hid the murder of the parents of a friend, a teammate and when he found out instead of calming him down escalated the situation by trying to lie to him and it is clear that Mr. Stark was holding back since the missiles and weapons in his suit would have killed the two soldiers in an instant, and it is also clear that he was aiming to hurt Rogers for lying to him but then Barnes tried to attack him and then it became a fight. But Steve Rogers also slammed the shield into Mr. Stark’s chest who may I remind you is a baseline human and then left him behind which is not what an army man does ‘no man left behind' is a strict rule in the military.”
“But then Steve Rogers was not a Captain, he was only Private and never finished boot camp even after getting the serum and his name was just propaganda. Over the years we have come to portray the man as god and that he can do no bad but we should also remember he’s only human who was given a special serum. The only thing he can do is punch some bad guys but we tend to forget that and I myself am one of those who thought he could do no bad but well I guess we learnt our lesson.”
“I also used to think that Tony Stark was a selfish man selling weapons, an alcoholic and a womanizer but he proved me wrong after he became iron man, a suit that he made himself. Of course Tony Stark is no saint, everyone knows that but he also doesn’t portray himself to be perfect, no he hasn’t because he has admitted to his mistakes in front of the world and has worked in rectifying them which I believe he has done an amazing job at. He didn't run away and hide like the ex-avengers, which also tells us that he is not a coward like them. He’s a baseline human in a suit made by him, he's going out there and protecting us which he does not need to do but he does it because he cares about us. He also listens to people and what they want instead of thinking he knows everything which is why he signed the accords.”
“Compared to Tony Stark, Steve Rogers is nothing special and I have given you all the facts. He’s a man who got a special serum made by a great scientist and knows how to punch people with his super strength and use his shield. He’s a man who thinks he knows everything and can do no wrong and I think we contributed to it by portraying him as a god. I also believe that Steve Rogers should be stripped of the title of Captain America since he is not the symbol of what America should be or what our children should grow up to be.”
“I like to conclude the news by saying that I support the accords and Tony Stark fully. I also pray for Colonel Rhodes to be able to walk again and for Mr. Stark to be alive and fine. The world needs them for us to believe in heroes again. I also sincerely hope that fugitives, Steve Rogers, James Barnes, Natasha Romanoff, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, Sam Wilson and Scott Lang get arrested and for them face the consequences of their crimes. Thank you.”
“Wow”
All three of us said together staring at the TV, Ms. Everhart was so good, she literally crucified the Rogers.
“You know I used to hate her before but now she is my most favorite reporter.” Declared Ms. Potts.
“Mine too,” Said me and Aunt Sharon together.
“Ok you two sit here with Tony, I have to go and do damage control and find out who released the video.” Ms. Potts then stopped and looked back, “What did the results say?”
Aunt Sharon pushed me in front of her and put both arms on my shoulders and said, “Pepper meet my nephew, Peter!”
Ms. Potts then gave us both a very happy smile and then hugged him and promised to come soon and left.
Which left both of us to sit by Mr. Stark’s (dad) side. I looked at my watch and it was almost midnight. Peter was staying here since May had nightshift and he told her he was staying here as he had a room (which is true) and he also told her he had made some friends in the internship (which was also true but they were also superheroes, he even met Daredevil!).
But now he was scared, would she be angry when she found out about the truth? Would she have known? But May loved him so she wouldn’t leave him like that, right?
He stopped thinking about all of that and just looked at Mr. Stark, and still remembered that shield. Well, that wouldn’t be a problem anymore since the shield was melted and the vibranium was used to make Mr. Stark’s new sternum and ribs.
He decided to think about everything tomorrow and decided to sleep on the chair only. He kept his hand on top of Aunt Sharon’s hand which was on top of Mr. Stark’s (dad) hand. She looked at him and smiled. He made himself comfortable on the chair.
He was about to fall asleep when he felt Mr. Stark’s hand squeeze both of their hands. Their eyes widened and they both looked at him and saw his eyes open.
When they saw his eyes they were not the usual warm golden brown, they were the same blue as the light of the arc reactor.