P.I.
Being Spider-Man post-Thanos snap was backbreaking.
Crime never stops as Peter learns. Even with the world being too traumatized to bear. At first, he expected the crime rates to decrease simply because half of the population was gone but no, instead it increased to an almost unbearable amount since offenders took the snap as an opportunity to start their crime syndicate. After all, Wilson Fisk A.K.A Kingpin is the victim of the Thanos snap.
As Peter jumps from the ledge and into the air, he finds out that things have changed. After being sick and too skinny to pee on his for months, he sees The overall atmosphere of New York changed.
Maybe it's because of the convicts breaking out of Rykers or seeing a little child's sock mixed with soot on the wet street. Or maybe it's because of the familiar scent of blood and almost associating it with Uncle Ben and his blood on Peter's face.
Maybe it's because of the sun not shining so bright and everything has a similar look to the Walking Dead or any post-apocalyptic world as Zombies raided homes. Or maybe it's because the sky is so dark that you can see stars shine as if they weren't affected by the snap or hears the universe's cry for help.
He lets go of the web and releases a new one.
He lands in front of an abandoned building and examines it. He ignores the sudden emotional pain increasing on his chest as he only wishes May's ashes weren't there. Yet, he still calls it home. But is it home when your whole world disappears?
Aunt May, Tony, Mom, MJ, and even Ned were victims of the snap.
Thanos's goal may have been to wipe out half of the universe's population but Thanos took Peter's universe away.
Peter sighs and looks around the city, his heightened eyesight sees a man, a few feet away in an orange jumpsuit on top of an apartment building. He calls up his only cop friend, "Yuri?"
She picks up, "Watanabe here."
Yuri Watanabe. One of the only people on the police force that trusted Spider-Man because she knew he was doing the right thing. Even if it wasn't executed correctly. Whenever she has a hunch and can't get her working men to do it, she gives to Spider-Man and Spider-Man does the job. Even if it doesn't pay.
She certainly doesn't know that Spider-Man is now a highschool junior almost senior, ready to get out of school and eat more butter breadsticks, "Hey, It's Spider-Man. Remember?"
"Yes, I know Spider-Man. I gave you my number," She recalls, "Did something happen?"
"I see a man in an orange jumpsuit," Peter explains as he jumps and lands three feet before seeing loads of convicts. Some big and bulky, others short and slender. They do surely know how to build ramps and fire, even if trash (it stunk, though). "Wouldn't happen to be your loose convicts right?"
"Depends if this seasons fashion statement is prison wear."
"That's only in Halloween time and occasionally in a literal prison."
"Occasionally?"
"Okay, maybe often but you get my point!"
"Just web 'em up or cause a disturbance so I can send police there, will ya?"
"Will do, Captain Watanabe!" He whispers cheerfully before she hangs up.
"Time for some Spidey work." He mutters as he stealthily swings over on top of a convict. Out of reach and sense, he hopes. Lean, long black hair, and standing alone. Vital mistake as Peter shoots a web and webs him up before hitting the man with the pole and letting the web stick to the pole as to prevent the convict from falling.
"Hey look! There's Spider-Man!" One yells.
"Where?! I want to get his autograph!" He replies and goes into action.
-
As he webs all the criminals, He calls Yuri (doesn't answer) but leaves a voicemail to let her know that the job is done and he hears police sirens.
With that, he sighs and jumps out before swinging away from the webbed out to a location and somewhere...silent.
He goes to his apartment and slides in through the window. Peter takes off his mask and exhaling before studying the apartment. He left it dirty but now it looked tidy. Plates were in place, the couch was nicely fixed, the coffee table even had cup saucers.
Whoever was in here wasn't a danger to Peter, so he relaxed just a little.
That was before he heard high heels and coming from the bathroom and the door opens to reveal Pepper Potts and her daughter, Morgan Stark-Potts. They were both dressed in white but Morgan looked like a princess more than any Disney Princess. Her dress was puffy and she had flats on as she was only eleven months but she looked adorable.
"Show him, Morgana." Pepper encourages the little toddler and she struggled.
Pepper removes her finger from Morgan's clutch and Morgan puts one step forward.
Peter hid his squeal.
Her little steps were waddles and Peter wished he had his phone to record but luckily, Pepper did and she recorded every step Morgan made towards Peter and the girl eventually even ran to Peter as she realized she was about to fall.
Peter lifts the girl to his hips and kisses her head, "Hey, Mongoose."
"Hi!" She says excitedly as she hugged her godfather.
"Were you in the bathroom for that?" Peter asks Pepper, referring to the exciting moment.
"No, We were in the bedroom but I had to use the restroom," Pepper informs, "She just wanted to join."
Peter nods and looks at Morgan. Morgan T. Pott-Stark. Happily the heir to Stark Industries but from the looks of it, she only cares about pulling Peter's ear. She was a joy to be around from the moment she has been pushed out the womb (Yes, Peter was there during the whole process and remotely almost fainted if Rhodey betted money that he'll faint. Peter proved him wrong and was given a hundred dollars).
Now eleven months later, here she was having the time of her life pulling Peter's ear. He didn't mind.
"We're gonna see Tony," Pepper cuts in, "Wanna come?"
Peter's smile has been wiped. He didn't want to go if he was being honest. He remembers seeing Uncle Ben's gravestone and wanting nothing but this cruel dream to end, but it wasn't a dream. Now he has to see not only Uncle Ben but Aunt May, his mom, Tony, MJ, Ned. Even his parents. All but two empty coffins.
One too many people to visit.
One too many.
Pepper walks and gently take Morgan out of Peter's hold and told the infant to go to Peter's room and play legos which she complied and Pepper leaves the door open for her to monitor the baby.
Pepper looks at him with such sincerity, "You don't have to go, Peter," She says gently, "Trust me. It's hard and I understand completely if you don't want to go."
Peter frowns. He hated how Pepper grew within the year of the horrid snap. She was more... soft. Her delicate features helping her achieve the motherly look. Her dress was less fluffy compared to Morgan's own but still regal enough to know that she isn't the person to be meddled with. She also had a briefcase covered with sparkly stickers (courtesy of Morgan).
"I don't want to go..." Peter croaks, tearing up.
Pepper goes to hug him and Peter doesn't reject her hug. This was just the many times Pepper hugs Peter when she just knew he needed it.
Pepper pulls away and Peter wipes his unreleased tears, "Peter, I need to talk to you." Her tone changed into something of dominance.
Oh.
"Okay..." Peter says and his eyes race around his apartment frantically, "Do you want anything to eat?"
Pepper shakes her head, "Ate burger king on the way here with Morgan," She supplies and points to Morgan playing with her lion king toy, "Sit down."
Peter did so and she opens the briefcase in front of him. There laid something so simple but so powerful.
A packet. A pen. And a glasses case.
He looks at the first paper and reads: "If Peter Parker signs the following papers, he will be the future CEO of Stark Industries."
A signature of Tony Stark and Pepper Potts was on two dotted lines.
Peter looks up from the paper and at Pepper, "I-I can't-"
You can and you will," Pepper says with a strong smile, "I don't think Tony would've done what he did if he didn't know the company would be in such safe hands. We discussed it before he left you know... Before he bought up the children, he bought up the possibility of someone taking over S.I., We both know that I will step down if I had a child and," She glances at Morgan, " I do. Best child ever. We just wanted someone that didn't have a dark heart like Obie and instantly our heads went to you. Morgan would be in it but I have a feeling she would be into the superhero biz like her father. Saw her messing with blocks and she built an IronMan suit out of it. Just the outside view though."
Peter chuckles before looking at the paper. If he signs the paper, not only will he be disturbingly wealthy but also famous. Intern turned CEO Peter Parker and a side job of Spider-Man.
But Tony trusts him. And so does Pepper.
He can close his eyes and imagine Natasha rubbing his shoulders and reassuring him that either choice he made was the right choice.
He takes the pen and signs the papers Pepper assigns him to sign. And as soon as he finishes, they both stand and shake hands. "Congratulations, Peter Parker. You're now the future CEO of Stark Industries," Pepper speaks in a small apartment, "I have a lot to give you but not at this very moment. I'll give them to you tomorrow and is there any questions you have?"
Peter thinks for a moment, "Just three... What are the glasses for? And when can I actually become CEO?"
Pepper answers, "The glasses are a gift from Tony. Said something you'd only understand and you can become CEO when you finish university. Just for now, I'll be taking over it before you step up."
"And the name... Is it possible that I can change Stark Industries... I'm not exactly a... Stark."
Pepper smiles, "Yes you can. I just have to bring more papers and lawyers."
Peter nods and looks at the papers he signed. The paper that will make him inherit Pepper's wealth and Tony's (well at least most of it, he assumes). He'll inherit Stark Industries and everything that came with it. The good, the bad, and everything in the middle.
His gaze goes to over the glasses case. He grabs it and examines it. He could only hear his heart pull strings before putting the case down.
Maybe, it won't hurt to visit.
"I'll go," Peter states in a whisper.
"Go where?"
"To see... Tony. And my family."
"Get ready." Was all Pepper said to make Peter run into his room, getting Morgan, putting her in Peppers arm and change into the fanciest suit he could manage to find. It was a little big on him because they were Ben's but he knew he was growing as the coat didn't feel so heavy and he finally could see his hands.
He comes out and Pepper smiles at him. She looked proud, "Let's go."
And they walk out of Peter's apartment and into a corner to see a Mercedes Benz with Happy Hogan in the car. They all got in and Peter greets Happy. Happy greets back. It wasn't cold. It wasn't aloof. It was genuine.
On the way there, Morgan asks him if Spider-Man would save a mean cat.
Peter replies for the city, he'd do anything.