Chapter 2: 2 LETTER

‘Dear Stray,

If you are reading this, then congratulations on overcoming the afterlife. You still don’t have parents in this lifetime though. You have me as your grandpa at least. But… I’d already be visually dead at this point so you are basically an orphan now.

The good news is… You still have your same old looks and are still 13 years old. So there won’t be any conflict in your psyche and physique.

Be careful of TVA, don’t let them catch a whiff of you. They aren’t exactly bad guys, but you’ll have a hard time with them if they do manage to take notice of you. I suggest buying the MCU wiki from the Skill System that was together with the reincarnation package so that you’d be ahead of your game.

It’s quite costly though. Information-type skills are costlier than you’d imagine.

Now, listen carefully.

This is the story. I, your grandpa, have been killed during the blip. When the blip reversed, I still died as I was in the middle of the road when the reverse happened. Now, spoiler alert, Peter’s aunt May is dead. And… don’t be too shocked, you are neighbors with Peter Parker AKA spiderman. He is like your caretaker… Don’t freak him out too much.

Last very important reminder, don’t do anything reckless or stupid. The time period you are currently set in is the safest time period of all time segments. Give or take, you will have at least a couple of decades of peace. By that time problems do arise, you should have a high-tech platinum bunker all ready for any sort of disastrous events of apocalyptic proportions.

You are currently on June 12, 2031. You are attending Midtown School of Science and Technology. You are classmates with T’challa Jr. AKA Toussaint and also… Morgan Stark.

Oh, and your name now is Martin ‘Stray’ Libier. That sums it up. I love you, pal. Live long, okay?”

Sincerely, Stan Lee.’

…

What a rock star~

Wait, aunt May is dead? How? Did the blip get her or was it something else? And here Stray was hoping Endgame was the last Marvel-related movie in his pre-reincarnation.

That was a lot to take in. The letter is compact of feelings and details. In an instant, the letter suddenly goes onto flames. Though the overflowing nonchalance from the letter was a tad bit concerning, Stray doesn't really mind.

But what the hell was that? Did god just make Stray into his grandson?  Or if not god? Stan Lee himself?

Facing the only mirror in his bedroom, Stray, no, Martin looks at himself. “I… I have a name… A freaking name! I am Martin ‘Stray’ Libier. Martin Libier! Or Mart! Yep, that sounds good. Hmmm… I will still stick with Stray though… reminds me of my origins. Oh My Goodness gracious, I’ll definitely have my friends call me Stray, that’s a cool nickname. But classmates with a Stark and a T’challa? I hope Grandpa Stan wasn’t writing a School Drama with me as one of its characters…”

The inner kid inside Stray is getting out of control. Though he is still uncomfortable with the name ‘Martin’, Stray is definitely getting in the groove of things.

*Knock *knock

Stray hears the knocking on the door. He immediately opens it and introduces himself. “Hi, I am Martin. How can I help you?” Stray very politely greets the visitor.

“Yeees?” The visitor awkwardly replies back. “And… I am Peter Parker… Wait, is this one of your stalling tactics? You didn’t prepare your school stuff, didn’t you?”

“…”

“I made a promise with your old man to take care of you, but you have to also help yourself, Martin. Sigh… Let me help you grab your things. I know things must be difficult with you, ok? But you got me. I won’t be there forever though so you have to man up and take initiative, take responsibility.”

Wow, just wow… These simple thoughts are what is only running through Stray’s head. “Spiderman is helping me go to school.” He whispers to himself silently.

“Excuse me?” Peter thinks he was hearing wrong. “Anyways, young man, take your bag and I’ll bring you to school. Did you have breakfast already?”

You are reading story Marvel: Stray at novel35.com

“…” Stray is still stuck in his own world unable to answer.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Let’s go, we’ll get you some pancakes.”

Stray follows his idol obediently. They ride on a dinghy old jeep, but that doesn’t stop Stray from worshipping his idol. “Can I touch you?”

Peter weirdly looks at him. “Your new tactic of delaying your schooling is brilliant. I’ll be honest. You almost got me. Enough with the antics and just get out so that we can fill our bellies with some breakfast.”

“I want eggs. Sunny side up, and also some fries.”

“Aren’t those kinds of food too heavy for you? Err...”

“I’ll be fine.”

Just like that, the two of them eat their breakfast peacefully midway to school. That was the best meal that Stray had ever since he was just a ‘stray’. It literally brings tears to his eyes. The panicking Peter, thanks to Stray's sudden crying, was also a heartwarming sight of its own.

After that, Peter drives Stray to school. While on the road, Stray cannot contain his curiosity anymore.

“Peter? Brother? Can I call you brother?”

“Sure, I’ve always wanted a brother so, please… Just don’t go suddenly trying to kill me okay?”

Stray has that strange look on his face at this strange remark of Peter.

“Brother, what was I like before?”

“Why?”

“I want to know… how others see me… or look at me. So, that when I arrive at school, I will know how to interact with people. I… I want to make friends. A LOT OF FRIENDS! I want to connect, I think? I am not really sure either.”

Peter looks focused on the road, but Stray can feel— the empathetic silence offers him a unique sense of comfort unlike any other before. Peter finally answers Stray’s query.

“You had a trauma. You were an orphan. You had a hard time. Old man Stan found you, took care of you, and now… there is you… It feels terrible. Knowing that there are kids like you out there, yet cannot receive the same… help… It’s tragic… The pain they must’ve endured… Mart, you are not unfortunate… You are… just blessed. This blessing that you have, you must treasure it, because if not, then what meaning is there for other kids like you to suffer…”

There was bitterness in Peter’s words. No longer was he the spiderman with an optimistic eye for things… Though he is still the same hero he was, full of conviction and fate, he now has more maturity in his words and action.

Since the reversed blip, it has been more than ten years.

Peter then adds, “You know, I was an orphan too. I thought I had it worse. But no, others have it worst… Sorry, kid… Sometimes I forget you are only a child with your serious-minded questions sometimes.”

“It’s fine. Tragedy makes a man grow bigger.”

Peter has a wry smile on his face. “What I only want to tell you… is that when other kids see you, they’ll see you as an orphan plain as day. Words might not spread around, but they will know. Take it from my experience. My only advice to you is that… you must stay strong, don’t start fights, and most of all— run, especially if a fight does break out. That’s what I will do.”

‘Yeah, and then… you’d come back as spiderman to finish the fight,’ Stray sarcastically adds in his mind.

Anyways, Stray stretches his fist asking for a fist bump which Peter coolly reciprocates. “Adios, amigo!” Stray jovially bids his farewell.