Happy Beginnings
(A bit about Hecate, set in 1969, just before Tony was born)
Cate Jackson walks towards Howard Stark's secretary, Carrie, with a large stack of papers and a smile. "Hey, Carrie. Does the boss man have anyone in his office today?"
Carrie smiles up at the young woman, "No, he does not." Her smile falters, "But, I should warn you, he did seem a bit upset today!"
Cate furrows her eyebrows in a mixture of confusion and concern, "I'll try to talk to him. Though, I probably shouldn't tell him about the current statistics then, should I?" She jokes with a wink and a tight smile.
Carrie scoffs and nods in agreement, "Go on in."
"Thanks, Care." Cate says as she waltzes pass.
Cate walks into her boss' office, closing the door. She sees him looking at the window to their left side, staring off with a blank look. She looks at him with pitying look before saying, "Hey, boss?"
Howard jumps a bit and whips around, breathing out a sigh of relief at the sight of the young woman, "Cate, you're back."
Cate nods. "Yes, I brought the statistics. Which, by the way, was a bitch to come by! The little shits downstairs don't give the important information to the "lesser" sex."
Howard scoffs, "Maybe one day they'll realize that you're smarter than them and eventually work for you."
Cate shrugs, "Yeah, maybe one day." Cate sighs, "So, Carrie told me you've been off today? Is something wrong? Is it Maria?"
Howard looks down, suddenly finding the floor very interesting. "Well, if anyone should know it's you." He breathes out a sigh before saying, "Maria's pregnant."
Cate's eyes go impossibly wide and soften, "Oh, Howard, that's amazing!"
Howard places his head in his hands, "You don't get it, Cate! I don't know how to be a father!"
Cate scoffs at the overused comment, "No one knows how to be one! It all just comes to you as you go."
"What if I mess up?"
"Oh, you will! There's no what if about it. That's how life is." Cate sighs at Howard's incredulous face and sits down across from him, "Look, if parenting were easy and no one ever messed up, there would be nothing bad in the world."
Howard scoffs, "Sounds like you've done it before.”
Cate stiffens, “I have. You know how long I’ve been around.”
He nods to himself, knowing that it’s a sore subject for Cate. “Maria doesn’t really know how to handle being pregnant or being a mother. Can you help her? I know that you’re really good with things like that, so please? I’ll give you a raise!”
She smiles at him, “Of course I will! You don't even have to give me the raise for it."
"Eh, you deserve it anyway!"
----flash forward to the stark's deaths----
Hecate ran through the hospital and stops at the counter, "I'm here for the Starks."
"What is your relation to them?" The bored looking nurse asks.
"I'm-"
"Aunt Cate!" A young Tony Stark says as he walks up to them, eyes red and on the verge of crying.
Cate lets out a short sigh of relief, "Tony!" She says as she runs to hug him.
Tony sags in her arms, "They're gone."
"I know, kiddo." She says softly, blinking away the tears.
At the sight of her tears, Tony completely breaks. He's suddenly on the floor, sobbing.
"Oh, Tony." She murmurs as she gathers him into her arms and runs her hands through his hair.
--flash forward to civil war(RIP)--
Hecate walks through the busy New York City streets, headphones in and mindlessly digs through her pockets for her keys as she enters her apartment building.
She walks up the three flights of stairs, humming along to Panic! at the Disco song. She opens her apartment door and throws her bag on the sofa in the living room. She pulls her headphones out and glances around her apartment after hearing a small noise.
She analyzes her whole apartment as quickly as possible. She goes to turn around before she feels someone grabs her arm.
She twists around and breaks away from her attacker and kicks them down. She pins them down and goes to grab something that is on her side before catching a glowing light from their chest.
Her head snaps up to their face and her face lights up, "Tony!"
"Hey, Aunt Cate!" A now grown Tony Stark says with a smile.
Hecate jumps up from her position and helps Tony stand before pulling him into a tight hug.
"Missed you too." He says even though he's hugging her back just as tightly.
"Of course you did!" She jokes as she pulls away and grins up at him.
Tony laughs at her before quickly turning serious, "Look, the reason I'm here is I need your help."
Hecate's face goes serious, "What is it?"
"It's about Steve and James Barnes."
"What happened?" Hecate says, obviously concerned. She walks him over to the kitchen and makes him sit down. “Before you start your story, do you want anything to eat or drink?”
Tony goes to say no when she places chocolate chip cookies in front of him. He looks up at her with wide eyes, “Still using the same recipe?”
Hecate smiles down at him, “I haven’t changed it in at least a century. Do you really think I’m going to change it?”
Tony smiles up at her with childish glee, “Ah, I loved these things growing up!”
Hecate gives him a soft place, “I know, kiddo.”
Hecate sits down across from him and puts on a serious face, “So, what happened with the super soldiers?”
Tony takes in a deep breath and quickly explains Accords, the fight in Germany,visiting Cap's team in the prison, and Bucky.
"Wait, wait, wait. You recruited two high schoolers?" Hecate asked incredulously.
"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time!"
"Okay, what are your reasons for signing the Accords?" Heacte asks after a few quiet moments.
"After I gave my speech at MIT, a lady walked up to me and started telling me about her kid. She told me about how good of a kid he was. And then she told me about how he had been in Sokovia when we were fighting Ultron and his army. She said that he had died and she b-blamed us." Tony said, choking up a bit.
"Oh, Tony. You know you guys can't be blamed for all of that. You tried to evacuate as many people out as possible." Hecate says putting her hand on Tony's arm.
Tony nods to himself and continues his explanation, "After that we were all called in and now we can sign the Accords and be controlled by the government or remain wanted fugitives."
Hecate sits and thinks for a moment, "What about Steve's point of view?"
"What do you mean?" Tony asks with a confused look on his face.
"Why do you think Cap disagrees with the Accords?"
"I honestly don't really know. I'm thinking it's because of Bucky."
Hecate sucks in a breath, "When Steve first became Captain America, he was 100% under the government's control. You know how the ended for him. He ends up working for shield, which eventually goes to shit for him. Whenever someone takes control of him, it ends up badly for him or people he loves."
"I never thought it about it that way." Tony says quietly. He buries his head in his hands, "I really need to talk to them."
She nods and smiles at him, "But, remember, you are not the only one at fault. He never took on your point of view either."
Tony smiles at her, "Thanks, Cate!"
(the res of this is Maddie's stuff now ~A,M.)
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(Before Civil War)
As Tyler heard the bell ring, signaling the end of the day, she walked out of her ELA class. When she arrived at her locker she heard the voice she knew by heart, Peter Parker, Her dorky, nerdy boyfriend walk up to her.
"Hey! I was just about to come find you." Tyler said as Peter smiled
"How was class?" Peter asked
"It was good, boring but good. Oh! I have to go grab our science project and we can go head to your place." She said forgetting all about the lab she had to finish and turn in two days
"Listen.... about the lab...." Peter said already wishing he could tell Tyler about Spider-Man
Tylers smile turns into a frown "I forgot i had to do something for Aunt May. Its really important. Not saying you aren't... its just she really needs my help. We can do this tomorrow i swear." Peter said
"You know i have Soccer practice tomorrow and i cant because Carly has a dance recital at 9:00 which is an absolutely absurd time. I also recall you saying that Yesterday and the day Before that and before that. I can keep going if you would like" She glares at Peter
"Look i-i got to go know or ill be late." Peter trips and starts walking away
"I promise ill make up to you!" Peter said getting trampled by other teens exiting the school leaving Tyler walking to her science class
"It wont happen again Tyler. Ill make it up to you. Can we do this tomorrow Tyler. Its important Tyler." Tyler mocked Peter once she walked in the classroom
As Tyler finds her papers and she accidentally set some homework she grabbed earlier onto some water spill on the table.
"Shit....." she went to the closet to grab some paper towels.
She walked to her stuff, cleaned the mess, grabbed her papers and walked out of there. She walked out of the school and took her train home.
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(30 min later)
As she walked off her train she see's the familiar Red and Blue pattern swing past building to building. She smiled too herself knowing that she has become rather close to the protector of Queens.
When she walked into her Apartment she didn't see a sign of anyone in the house. She went in her room, opened her window, turned on some music and started her homework. As she sang along to the music she heard a knock on her window. She turned in to see Spider-Man walk in.
"Hey Spidey." Tyler smiled
"Hey. How was you day?" He sat on her bed looking at the lab wishing he could help
"Good until Peter had bail on me again." She said with a sigh
Peter frowned underneath his homemade mask “ I-I bet he feels really bad. Like really really bad.”
”You act like you’ve met him” she scoffed
“No I’m just guessing...” Peter said
”Enough about me, How was your day. Any crimes or cats stuck in trees?” Tyler laughed
”If you count someone stealing a bike cool then there’s that” He said
Tyler giggled
As time went by, Spidey went back swinging around New York and Tyler went to bed looking at the flame that danced around her finger. Wondering why she was different from others.
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(I’m really lazy so let’s pretend Peter told Tyler. And Tyler found out about her powers)
(Before Civil War)
Peter and Tyler walked back to Peters apartment taking a quick stop at Mr. Delmars Sandwich Shop.
”Hey Mr. Delmar!” Tyler said
”Hey Tyler, Peter how you guys doing?" Mr. Delmar said
”Good! How bout you” Peter said
”Good! You guys want the usual?” Mr.Delmar said as Tyler went to go pet the cat and grab gummie worms
”Yes sir!” Tyler said
”Oh can I get extra pickles and can you smoosh it down, please?” Peter asked
”You got it boss” the worker said ( I assume this is what Peter does all the time..I got this from HOCO)
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Peter walks into his apartment along with Tyler stuffing her sandwich in her mouth.
”Hey May! I brought Tyler if that’s ok. Oh and I passed my chem test today, that was great” Peter said walking in the kitchen with Tyler not far behind
“Hi May!” Tyler said with her sandwich still in her mouth
”Honey dont talk with food in your mouth you’ll choke.” May said as Peter stares at Tony Stark and Tyler nearly chokes on her sandwich.
“IS *cough* THAT *cough* TONY *cough*STARK” Tyler said wheezing
“what- what are you doing here” Peter asked completely ignoring the fact that Tyler was literally dying (meeeeeeee everyday~M)
”Hey, I was just telling you very oddly attractive Aunt about how both you and Tyler here did the Stark Internship Survey and you got in I just came by to tell you” Tony said
May scoffs “We come in all shapes and sizes y’know.”
”W-what did we sign up for again?” Tyler asked
”You know anything really. Can I talk to them for 5 minuets?” Tony asked May
”Yeah” May got up and took the plate of whatever loaf it was called
The Two looked at each other then at Tony. Tony lead them to Peters room as the two trail behind like lost puppies
“Okay we have five minutes let’s make this quick” Tony said and spit out his food in Peters Trash
”Why are you really here?” Tyler blurted out
“I’m here because you two are the spider-ling and the flame, right?” Tony asked pulling up a video of Spider-Man catching a car that was about to crash into a bus
”n-no” Peter said
“Wow that’s amazing! 3000 pounds! Nice catch!” Tony said flipping the screen to FireStorm saving a person about to get hit by a car.
”What- what makes you think that’s us” Tyler asked
“Well...” Tony said opening a storage door on the ceiling and Peters suit falls down on a string which makes peter jump for it and throw it in his ‘closet’ ( it’s a wall with a bar across it. So technically not a closet. Thank you~M)
”So you’re the Spider-Boy?” Tony asked
”S-S-Spider-Man” Peter said correcting Tony
”And you?” Tony asked
”Nope!” Tyler said quickly
“Hmm wheres the suit” Tony asked
”I honestly don’t know what you are talking about” Tyler said backing out to the door
"She hides it in her backpack, which is conveniently placed right behind you." Peter blurted out
"Peter!" Tyler yelled and slapped the boys arm
"ow..." Peter whined
"Sit down both of you." Tony rolled his eyes
The three sit down on Peters twin bed. As the awkward silence fills the air Tony clears his throat.
"How about we go to Berlin." Tony said
"What?! N-n we cant." Peter said
"Why, give me one excuse" Tony asked
"Because... we have homework" Tyler said
"I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that" Tony shakes his head and gets up from his place on the bed to Peters door
"guess ill have to tell May then." Tony said
Peter flicked his wrist to the door handle which covered Tonys hand in webbing.
"Do not tell May." Peter said
"Looks like we're going to Berlin......" Tyler said
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As Happy showed them what their suits are supposed to look like the two freaked out.
"Holy Shit!" Peter said
Peter put on his suit when Tyler walked into the bathroom and put hers on. She walked out and smiled to herself.
"Talk about a minor upgrade." Tyler said
"Lets go you two!" Happy yelled
The two put their masks on and left for the airport.
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