[Third Person's PoV]
"Who the hell is Peter Parker? What the hell even is Parker Industries? And why does he own part of my company?!" Tony Stark asked with barely contained emotions, on the verge of throwing the tablet across the car in outrage.
Pepper Potts, ever calm in the face of Stark's theatrics, gently retrieved the device before it left his hands. "Actually," she began smoothly, "Peter Parker is a well-known figure in several major industries. And that's just within the span of a few short months."
She tapped the screen a few times, scrolling through headlines and stock graphs, then handed the tablet back to Tony. He took it begrudgingly, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the contents.
There, on the screen, was a sharply dressed teenager standing confidently in front of a glass skyscraper. He wore a fitted navy-blue suit, a silk tie, and a charming, almost disarming smile. The headline beneath him read: "The Boy Billionaire: Peter Parker's Meteoric Rise."
Tony blinked. "This has to be photoshopped."
"Nope," Pepper replied, crossing her arms. "That's real. Peter Parker, at just fifteen, launched his very own company. At first, it was just simple mobile games and media apps—entertainment stuff. But they took off like wildfire. He made millions within a short month. Using that capital, he expanded. Now he's dipped into construction, pharmaceuticals, fashion, automotive manufacturing… there are even whispers of military contracts and upcoming ventures into Medical sector."
She swiped again, revealing a magazine cover. Peter stood in front of a sleek car with the caption: "Youngest Billionaire in History?"
Tony slowly turned to look at her, his expression blank with disbelief. "You're telling me… that a fifteen-year-old kid—"
"He turned sixteen last month," Pepper interrupted gently.
"Doesn't matter!" Tony snapped, throwing his hands in the air. "A child. A sixteen-year-old child, owns a majority stake in my company?! And I can't make a move without consulting him first?! Is that really what you're telling me, Pep? Or did my recent kidnapping cause me to develop a hearing problem?!"
Pepper took a deep breath. "I wish I was joking, Tony. But the numbers don't lie. Before you were taken, you held 41% of Stark Industries—enough to maintain control. Obadiah had 17%, and the rest was spread out among various shareholders in smaller amounts. But when you disappeared… well, hope started to die."
She looked away for a moment, guilt flickering in her eyes. "With you gone, the board panicked. Parker came in offering far more than market value for those small shares. They sold. Every single one of them. Now he holds 42%—just enough to outvote you."
Tony dragged his hands down his face and groaned. "This is an actual nightmare, please wake me" he muttered, leaning back in his seat and dramatically slumping like a defeated child. "A sixteen-year-old nerd bought my company while I was being held hostage in a cave…"
He sat up abruptly. "Pep, call the kid. Now. Today. I don't care if he's halfway to the moon, get me a meeting. Let's see if we can buy those shares back."
"I'll try," Pepper said hesitantly, already pulling out her phone. "But word is… he's hard to reach. Apparently, he doesn't spend much time in his own company. Rumor has it, he's working on multiple secret projects and only checks in when necessary."
Tony groaned again. "Of course he is."
Pepper dialed the number. A few moments passed before the receptionist picked up.
Tony closed his eyes, trying to calm the storm of thoughts in his mind. His body had escaped the cave… but it felt like part of himself was still stuck there. He shook his head, trying to refocus.
"Mr. Parker isn't available in the office at the moment," came the polite voice. "Would you like to leave a message?"
"Yes," Pepper said professionally. "Please let him know that Tony Stark would like to arrange a meeting at his earliest convenience."
Beside him Pepper finished the call and lowered her phone. "They'll get back to us," she said softly.
Tony nodded wordlessly, staring off into the distance.
---
Meanwhile…
"Anyway, I just came to collect my twenty dollars. Nice seeing everyone! Peace!" Spider-Man said cheerfully, flashing two peace signs as he stepped backward into a swirling portal.
Nick Fury glared after him, muttering under his breath, "Who the hell does he think he is—just popping in and out of S.H.I.E.L.D. like it's his living room?"
Clint chuckled awkwardly. "Well… he did do us a favor."
Fury grunted in irritation.
Back at Parker's personal base, the portal opened in a small, sleek laboratory. Peter stepped through, and his Spider-Man suit seamlessly receded into his civilian clothes. He strolled past the lab, where Gwen Stacy was hunched over a microscope, deeply focused.
"Hey babe," Peter called out as he passed into the distance.
"Hey Pete," Gwen replied automatically, not lifting her gaze.
A moment later, Peter reappeared—now wearing a completely different outfit, this one clearly tactical and equipped with a helmet.
"Bye babe."
"Bye Pete."
The portal reopened and swallowed him once more, vanishing without a trace.
Gwen finally leaned back from the microscope, exhaled, and shook her head with a soft laugh.
She then heard the portal reopen and Peter came back sprinting before kissing her on the cheek and leaving again the sound of the portal closing in the distance.
Gwen only burst out into laughter.
…
Peter leaned against his motorcycle outside a sleek glass building, his posture casual but alert. He wore a high-neck white shirt beneath a fitted black dress jacket. His phone hovered near the side of his helmet.
"Hey, did Stark happen to call recently?" Peter asked into the phone.
"Yes, Mr. Parker," came the receptionist's voice. "He just called—I've finished setting up an appointment. How did you know?"
Peter smirked. "Let's just say I had a feeling. Call him back and let him know I'm free now. I'll be there shortly."
"As you wish, Mr. Parker."
Peter ended the call and slid his phone into his pocket. Just then, a crowd began pouring out of the nearby press conference. Among them, MJ emerged with Eddie trailing behind her, looking noticeably irritated.
MJ's face lit up the moment she spotted Peter. "Tiger! You said you had something to take care of—I didn't expect you to come pick me up."
Eddie's jaw tightened. 'That bastard. Did he just go home to change clothes or something?'
"I did have something to do, and I still do," Peter said, wrapping an arm around MJ's waist as she reached him doing the same. "But something came up. I thought you might want to come along."
He glanced over her shoulder and added with a grin, "Besides, who knows what creeps might be lurking around? Gotta protect my beautiful girlfriend."
MJ giggled. "How lucky of me~"
Eddie's glare sharpened, his fists tightening at his sides. He didn't need spider-sense to know exactly who that remark had been aimed at.
'Messing with him is going to be so much fun,' Peter thought with an inward chuckle. He gently ran his fingers through MJ's hair. "Go ahead, say bye to your co-worker. I want to show you something."
MJ nodded and turned to Eddie, who had managed to plaster a neutral expression back on his face. "Later, Eddie. I won't be heading back to Jameson anytime soon, so just go on without me," she said with a light wave.
"Sure thing... Enjoy yourselves," Eddie said through clenched teeth before turning and walking away. His expression darkened again the moment his back was to them.
As MJ turned back to Peter, she was wearing a smug little smile.
"What?" Peter asked, tilting his head. "What's with that look?"
MJ started tracing slow circles on his chest with her finger. "You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were jealous~"
Peter scoffed. "Oh please. If anyone should be jealous, it's him. I mean, have you seen me?"
"I never said what you were jealous of~ Who said I was talking about someone?" she teased with a wink.
"..."
Peter stared blankly for a second. "...Red, you're lucky you're hot. Now get on."
He grabbed her by the waist and effortlessly lifted her onto the back of the bike.
MJ burst out laughing. "Hahaha!" she'll never get tired of being so effortlessly manhandled by him.
As Peter was picking her up, Eddie glanced back at them one last time from down the street. His face twisted briefly into sadness as MJ's carefree laughter echoed behind him. He closed his eyes, shook his head, and walked on.
As they took off, MJ leaned forward, pressing herself against Peter. "So where are we going?"
"Stark tried setting up a meeting," Peter said as they weaved into traffic. "I figured you might want to see what it's about."
"Awesome!" MJ grinned, running her hands playfully across the defined muscles under his shirt.
Peter rolled his eyes. "Me or the muscles?"
MJ slid her hand up to his chest and gave it a squeeze. "Why not both? Honka honka."
"And they say men are the pervs," Peter muttered.
"I'm just a perv for my man~" she replied sweetly.
Peter chuckled as they sped toward Parker Industries.
When they arrived, Happy Hogan pulled up and exited a nearby car. At the same time, Stark and Pepper entered the building through the front door.
"Look, look!" MJ said, pointing toward them as Peter parked the bike.
She hopped off with arms outstretched as Peter reached up to remove his helmet, tossing his head slightly to fix the flattened hair.
MJ blinked, momentarily dazed. Peter raised an eyebrow. "What?"
She just pursed her lips, then smiled. "Nothing…"
"Let's go, you weirdo." Peter slung an arm over her shoulder, holding his helmet casually in the other hand.
Inside, the receptionist looked up as they approached. "Mr. Parker! You just missed them—they're heading to your office now. Let me take that for you," she offered, reaching for the helmet.
"Thanks, Wendy," Peter said, placing it on the desk. Wendy tucked it under her counter with a nod.
"No problem, Mr. Parker."
They headed to the elevators, just in time to see the doors closing. Inside were Pepper and Tony—Pepper was focused on their schedule, Tony tapping away on his phone.
"Hold the door, will you?!" Peter called.
Pepper leaned forward and pressed the button. The doors slid open again.
"Thanks," Peter said as he caught the door with one hand.
"No prob—" Pepper stopped mid-sentence as she looked up.
Tony glanced over and froze too, eyes widening when he saw MJ.
He pointed at her, eyes lighting up with recognition. "It's you!"
MJ shot him a grin and two finger guns with clicks of her tongue. "Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Stark, eh?"
************************************************
+5 advance Chapters on: patreon.com/Shadow_D_Monarch3