Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story
“Boss you have an unheard audio file from Peter” F.R.I.D.A.Y. said quietly. Tony’s breath hitched. “Karen did you… is he...?” He began. “He activated protocol ‘When I’m Gone’ before he died. This protocol sent an audio file he made to each person he cared for. It was in case he died. He even left one for me. He recorded these a day before the Blip happened.” Karen responded from Peter’s suit in the corner.
She was quiet and sounded… broken? If it was possible for an A.I. to sound broken it would be what Karen sounded like then. “Play it”
“Hey Mr. Star-Tony If you are hearing this then I’m dead. I probably got shot or stabbed or something. Maybe I was on a mission. Maybe something will happen tomorrow. That would be why my Spidey Sense is going of like crazy. I have a bad feeling about something tomorrow. Anyway, I’m making this as a sort of memento\goodbye thing. Basically, for you to have some closure.
I’ll start of by saying that it isn’t your fault. I don’t know what happened but I know you are probably feeling like this all happened because of you but it didn’t. Don’t go back to alcohol or lock yourself in your lab. Please, please don’t blame yourself. I will feel horrible if you do. Thinking someone’s death is your fault is terrible and I don’t want that on your conscience.”
‘How did this kid know me so well?’ Tony thought.
“I never expected to live a long life. I mean I put myself into danger every day. But it’s part of the hero gig isn’t it. You put yourself in danger for others and if you have to die to save them then you do. I hope I go peacefully after settling down and having a family with my special someone. I hope I get to meet my special someone. But it’s unlikely. I am a superhero after all. You have no control over who lives, who dies and who tells your story. But if someone has to tell my story I hope it isn’t you. Don’t get me wrong. I love you and that’s exactly why don’t want you to have to tell my story. But if I died to keep you safe I would do it again in a heartbeat.
There is a saying, ‘give me a hero and I’ll write you a tragedy.’ My life wasn’t the best and you know that. Well that was until I met you. Then things started looking up. You flipped my life upside down. You are the best father figure anyone could ask for. Oh! I was working for a special project for you. I know you will love it. Go to my lab drawer, the one I lock. The combination is 2905. Take out the USB stick labelled Jarvis 2.0. Plug it into your computer and you’ll find out what it is. I hope you like it.
I wanted to tell you something. The day you came to recruit me wasn’t the first time we met. I, um, I actually met you earlier, when I was like, seven years old. You know when those robots came and began shooting at that Stark-Expo-thing? One of them tried to shoot me because I was wearing an Iron Man mask and gauntlet. You came, blasted it and told me “nice work, kid.” Anyway, uh, you saved me, back then. As a 7-year-old that was probably the coolest day of my life.
Since then, I’ve looked up to you. You were always there for me when I needed you. I started to see you like the father I never had. You filled the hole Uncle Ben left. You were my hero all my life. I hope you know how much I love you Dad. Take care of Aunt May and Ned for me. Goodbye. I love you.”
Tony sighed. He looked back down at the unopened bottle of beer in front of him and put his head on his table feeling all the weight of the world on his shoulders. He looked back up and suddenly threw the bottle against the wall where it shattered. His breath came out, shuddering. His shaking hand hovered over the replay button, because he just... He needed to hear his son’s voice again. He played it again and again. Maybe it wasn’t healthy, but Tony didn’t care. Why should he, when Peter was dead?
Tony remembered telling May. Pepper had offered to tell May instead. They had grown close over the time Peter had started coming the compound after his homecoming fiasco. But he knew he had to tell May personally. May broke down. It terrified him seeing the woman who was so strong and always smiling, break down in tears. The one thing she said was “it isn’t your fault.”
May wanted nothing more than to blame Tony, but she knew she couldn’t. When she saw him, she knew just how much he missed Peter and how broken he was. When Ned found out he closed himself off. He rarely talked and stopped building Legos. What was the point when his best friend, the one he built them with, was dead?
Tony remembered Peter’s funeral. He couldn’t believe peter was really gone. He declined the offer of making a speech. If he had made one, it would mean accepting peter was dead. He couldn't do that. And now two days later, one week after he died he listened to Peter’s last message.
He took a deep breath and stepped out of the lab. He knew he couldn’t bring Peter back, but he could keep fighting to honor his memory.