Chapter 01

2017

Peter Parker sat in the back of Tony Stark’s car...with Tony Stark actually sitting next to him! His driver, Happy Hogan, was making his way through the streets toward Peter’s neighborhood in Queens, New York. Peter had spent most of the ride from the airport watching video he’d recorded of his crazy trip to Germany. He still couldn’t believe it was all real, and watching it happen on his phone made it seem even crazier.

There he was on‑screen, in this same car with Happy driving, on the way to the airport. He narrated the trip in a cool, dramatic, heroic voice until Happy cut him off. Happy was kind of a sourpuss. Peter rewatched the first time he’d seen Tony Stark’s plane—whoa! Then the first time he’d seen his new Spider-Man suit—DOUBLE WHOA! The suit was way better than the one he had made for himself.

Then the Leipzig airport, where he’d waited for Tony Stark to give him his signal. (He didn’t love the signal itself, but hey, if someone had to call you “Underoos,” at least it was Tony Stark!)

Then the fight! He’d seen the Vision fly by, wrestled with Ant-Man...and even yanked Captain America’s shield right out of his hand!

Man, it was hard to believe it was happening to someone like Peter Parker, who had spent most of his young life as just a regular kid from Queens. Even now, on the way back, Peter kept shooting video just so he could always remember it.

“Are you secretly filming me?” Tony asked.

“What?” Peter put his phone down. “No. I mean...”

“I told you not to film stuff!” Happy called from the driver’s seat. “I told him, Tony.”

Tony moved on. “It’s fine. We should make a video for your aunt anyway. Rolling?”

“Uh, yeah.” Peter held up his phone so Tony was centered in the frame.

“Ready?” Tony said. Peter nodded. “Hi, May. What are you wearing?” Then he stopped. “Inappropriate, start over. You can edit this, right?”

“Uh, yeah,” Peter said again.

Tony started over. “Hello, May. I just wanted to tell you what an incredible job your nephew did this weekend at the Stark internship retreat. Your Peter made quite an impression—”

He was cut off by Happy leaning on the Bentley’s horn and shouting at other drivers. “Stay in your lane!”

Tony looked up at him, and then back to Peter. “So how did he do?”

“Okay, I guess,” Happy said.

“No, I’m asking him how you did.” Now Happy looked offended. Tony was focused on Peter, though. “Took good care of you? Didn’t snore too loud on the plane? You know, this was a big responsibility for him.”

Suddenly being the focus of all of Tony Stark’s attention made Peter nervous. “Oh, um, yeah, he did fine....”

Happy swerved the car to a hard stop in front of Peter’s building. “We’re here! End of the line, kid.”

Still focused on Peter, Tony said, “Happy, can you give us a moment?”

“Seriously?” Happy couldn’t believe it. “You want me to leave the car?”

“Yeah. Maybe get Peter’s case out of the trunk,” Tony replied.

“Oh, I’m carrying his bags now? Unbelievable...” Still grumbling, Happy went around to the trunk.

Peter replayed Tony’s last line in his head. “My case?” he repeated. The idea stunned him. “I get to keep the suit?” Peter asked, just to make sure.

“Of course,” Stark said. “You earned it.”

Peter still couldn’t quite believe his own camera footage, let alone that he could actually keep the most high-tech piece of equipment he had ever seen.

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. And definitely don’t do anything I would do. There’s a little gray area there. That’s where you operate.”

“Thank you, Mr. Stark! So does this mean...I’m...an Aven—” Peter couldn’t quite make himself say it. Happy knocked on the window. Peter looked and saw Happy holding up the case containing the new Spider-Suit.

“It’s fine; I can carry it,” Peter said. “So when’s our next...retreat?”

“We’ll call you,” Tony answered. He leaned toward Peter, and Peter, surprised, but happy, gave him a hug.

“Not hugging you,” Stark said. “Just opening the door.” He sat back, and Peter got out. After a pause, Stark added, “Bye.”

The Bentley drove off, and Peter, holding the case with his new Spider-Man outfit, watched it go. “They’re gonna call me,” he said to himself, amazed at the way his life had changed.

Peter was understandably disappointed when months went by and nobody called.