It took a while, but after the picture everyone went their own way. The FF took a ride with SHIELD back home, the president going with hem. The X-men had their jet, though Jean promised to call again to talk about me returning to my role as a hero.
I then took inventory, out of the fifteen suits I brought with me only six survived. I was lucky to have at least these on hand. I got into my car and took off, leaving SHIELD to clean the rest of this mess up.
As I flew over the country again, heading towards Tony's location, I noticed it was currently in Seattle. I immediately called him up, he picked up quickly.
"Did you get him?" Tony asked.
"Aldrich and the Mandarin are in custody along with his men. The president is safe...it's over Tony. Did you find Pepper and Riri? What happened to them."
"It was like you said, divide and conquer. They just wanted my attention away from the Mandarin, I don't think they figured you into their plans because until a few days ago you were still thought to be dead."
"Thank God for small miracles," I snorted, "how are they?"
"Pepper is fine...she's a little shaken up but...she's fine."
"And Riri?" I asked.
"Her mother just died...she's not handling it well," Tony sighed.
I sighed back, "when...when's the funeral?"
"In a few days...will you come?"
"Of course," I replied, "I'll send the remaining suits to your home. And if you don't mind, I'm exhausted Tony, I need sleep."
"Right, yeah, of course. Go ahead kid, you earned it."
"Right...and Tony...I'm sorry."
Three days later:
Maya was buried in a grave outside of Chicago, where she was born. The funeral was a small one, around twenty people showed up, she didn't have many friends.
Tony had arranged the whole thing, with Pepper's help of course. I stood off n the back, dressed in a dark suit, the few I had on hand. It was a bright and sunny day, odd day for a funeral. And standing before Maya's grave, was her daughter, Riri.
The girl carried in her hand a single white flower. I couldn't tell the species, I never good with things like that. She placed it on her mother's coffin and walked back, steeping next to Tony and placed a gentle arm on her shoulder, though she didn't even react.
She watched the coffin lowered into the ground without a word. She stayed while everyone else left. She stood there while they buried her mother, Tony and Pepper now sitting on a bench far away, letting the girl have as much time as she wanted.
I saw the look on her face, they pain, the suffering and I knew then no twelve year old should ever have that look on her face.
I walked up behind her, she didn't even react as I stood right next to her, looking at her mother's tombstone. It read, 'Mother, Scientist and Beloved'.
I took a deep breath and sighed, "you and I aren't that different Riri."
She moved, looking at me finally, "who are you?"
I smiled, a grim one, "can't you tell by the voice?"
She looked at me, it took her a second before her eyes visibly widened in shock before blinking, "you're way younger than I thought you would be."
I shrugged, "most think so," we turned to her mother's grave once more.
We were silent, I was waiting for her to begin her questions, only then would she listen to what I had to say. She sighed, "how are we similar?"
"When I was four years old, my mother died," I replied.
"That's not the same," she shot back.
"I know," I nodded, "but...she died because she knew something. A secret formula..you know how Captain America got his powers right?"
"Some kind of drug?" she guessed.
I nodded, "yeah. And my parents were tyrin to recreate it. And they did, in a way. There were people after them, both of them, though they only took my father. They didn't think my mother was worth anything...little did they know she was the one who actually cracked the formula, not my dad.
"She died then, but my dad lived. For fifteen years he worked as their slave before escaping and now...now I have a dad and I don't know how I should act with him."
I turned to Riri, she was interested, "your mother...she gave her life for you. And yes, that's a tragedy, but she did it out of love for you. I'm not a parent, but there are people in this world I will die for, gladly die for, and I can bet your mother felt more strongly about you than I ever can about someone else…
"Greave Riri, compile the pain and use it. But don't let it take it over you, don't let it define you. If you become someone held down by your pain, it can turn good people cruel, vile. I've seen it happen before. Live a happy life, a full life, one that your mother would be proud of...and...well, maybe give this useless dad of yours a chance," I grinned, "he might just surprise you."
Riri listened, but her face didn't change. She looked at her mother's grave, "I can't just leave her. I can't just forget her."
"She'll always be here Riri," I tapped her chest, "in your heart. Always," I chuckled, "maybe that should be your superhero code name huh? Ironheart...what do you think?"
A smile cracked onto Riri's face, "sounds dope...thanks Spidey."
.
.
.
Hello everyone. I want to inform you that the novel "Caught in the Web of The Spider" is now available in PDF format in the Store section. It consists of 8 volumes, each with 100 chapters or more, from chapter 1 to 831. If you want to read the entire novel, go to my Ko-Fi and buy it now!…
🙏🏼‼️"Subscribe so you can access more chapters in advance."‼️🙏🏼
🤩ko-fi.com/skyarc/shop🤩