Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction. All characters, settings, and original concepts are the property of their respective authors and their associated entities.
I do not claim ownership of these characters, settings, or concepts except what I have introduced myself.
This story is created purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended for commercial gain. No copyright infringement is intended.
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Previous chapter Recap:
Leo was contemplating life and A Flashback sequence of Friday Evans, Leo's mother.
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The crowd outside the Bern conference hall shimmered with wealth, champagne, and curiosity. Cameras flashed like strobe lights as a sleek black limousine pulled up to the red carpet. The door opened, and Tony Stark—billionaire, genius, and walking headline—stepped out with the sort of confidence that made people instinctively part like the sea.
But it wasn't just Tony that caught the world's attention tonight.
A small figure followed behind him, adjusting the tiny clip-on tie he hated wearing. Leo Howard Stark, four years and seven months old, blinked as a wave of camera flashes assaulted his senses. His face remained neutral, composed yet filled with childish innocence.
So this is what the spotlight feels like.
Overexposed, No privacy. Not much different than the previous ones I guess.
Leo thought while Happy immediately stepped to his left, placing a protective hand on the boy's shoulder. On Leo's right, the ever-composed Jarvis gave a polite nod to the press and moved forward with the grace of someone who'd been managing such occasions for decades.
Reporters burst into a frenzy.
"Mr. Stark! Is this your son?"
"Tony, who's the mother?"
"Are the rumors true Mr stark— You have erection dysfunction?"
"Mr. Stark, is he adopted?"
Tony raised a hand with a half-grin. "Easy, easy. One question at a time." He looked down at Leo and said with a proud smile. "This little guy? I worked overtime to make. Leo Howard Stark. And no, the mother's no longer in the picture. Also His existence should answer, whether I am capable or not.."
A little chuckle was heard from amongst reporters, followed by More flashes. More questions. Tony opted to ignored most of them and moved inside.
The interior was warm, opulent, and filled with people who dressed like they were trying to impress the person next to them. Jazz filtered through speakers, and the air was thick with perfume and ambition.
Leo stuck close to Tony, hands in his small pockets. His gaze swept the room—silent, calculating. A habit from his detective days.
Three men on the far left: stiff posture, scanning the exits. Watchlist behavior. One's hiding a tactical earpiece. Could be government… or Hydra.
He made no sign he'd noticed anything. Just the random curious gazes someone would expect from a kid.
Soon An hour passed. Tony had mingled, laughed, and sipped three glasses of something Leo wasn't allowed to touch— not yet at least.
Then came the speech. Tony stood at the center of the stage, one hand on the mic, his voice loud and confident, cracking jokes, spitting science, and winning over the room like it was a performance he was born to give.
Leo sat at the edge with Jarvis and Happy, arms crossed.
He's using humor to appear harmless and deflect any responsibilities Classic… Dad.
Applause erupted when Tony ended with a toast to innovation and a better future. Champagne glasses clinked. Laughter returned.
And then they were back to socializing.
Tony walked with Leo beside him, still greeting waves of admirers. Leo kept scanning.
That woman's smile doesn't reach her eyes. Fake. That man's handshake is too strong—trying to assert dominance. Probably insecure.
And then, he saw her.
Maya Hansen.
She wore a dark green dress, subtle makeup, and a look that shifted between awe and calculation. Tony's eyes locked on her like a heat-seeking missile.
"Well, hello there," Tony said, grinning. "You look like someone who belongs on a magazine cover or in a lab. Maybe both."
She laughed softly. "Tony Stark. I wasn't expecting to meet you tonight."
"Life's full of surprises." He extended a hand. "Tony."
"Maya Hansen."
Leo studied her more carefully, tilting his head. He'd been reading Sherlock Holmes recently since he had noticed he gained an enhanced version of Eidetic memory, able to microanalysis if he focused.
Minimal makeup but high-end brand—she's practical, but cares about appearance. No ring. from frequent exposure to heat sources her fingers appear more dented. Her posture's confident, eyes sharp. Eager for help.
She glanced down, noticing the small boy at Tony's side. "And who might this young gentleman be?"
Tony beamed. "This is Leo. My son. Don't let the height fool you—he might be the most dangerous mind in this room."
Leo gave her a polite nod and an innocent smile "It's nice to meet you, Miss Hansen. I've read some of your papers. The early work you did on neural biochemical feedback loops was particularly interesting."
Maya blinked. "You've read my… Wait, how old are you?"
"Four and seven months " Leo said calmly, ". I've been studying neurobiochemistry lately. Your work hinted at some possibilities for cellular regeneration through brain-based pathways. If redirected properly, the concept could result in rapid self-repair."
Maya was stunned silent for a beat. "That's… That's almost exactly what I've been theorizing. I haven't even published anything on that yet."
Tony laughed, clapping Leo gently on the back. "Told you. Genius runs in the family."
Maya crouched slightly to Leo's level. "You're… remarkable."
Leo shrugged modestly. "I read fast."
"I'd love to know what else you think, little genius" she said with a sweet smile.
"Well," Leo said with a thoughtful pause, "if you're planning to push your theory forward, just make sure the subject's thermal response doesn't exceed the cortical stress threshold. Otherwise.."
Maya blinked "They would.. explode."
Leo nodded "Seems, you have reached a critical stage of development, I hope you succeed."
Tony watched the exchange like a proud parent at a science fair. Although he quickly followed that with
"You know, Maya, if you're looking for support—financial or otherwise—I happen to be a big fan of brainy women and breakthrough science."
Leo rolled his eyes at His father's audacious flirting. Although he still didn't have most of his memories yet he still deduced enough from Tony's behavior to know what adults liked to do.
Maya smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. A faint blush she said "I was actually hoping to speak with you about potential funding. This was going to be a pitch.. Not exploring new horizons..."
"Well, consider me intrigued," Tony said, stepping beside her. "We can talk more. Elevator's this way."
Leo stayed close to his father's side, his tiny hands tucked into the pockets of his custom-tailored suit. His wide brown eyes flicked from guest to guest, his mind quietly searching for someone.
Then came a voice he was searching for—cheerful, polite, accented.
"Mr. Stark! Dr. Wu and I would like a moment of your time."
Tony turned, eyes sweeping lazily over the pair before him. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. " Who would have thought I would finally meet A man named Ho. That's a headline right there."
Leo inwardly chuckled Still my favorite joke
"But in all seriousness—this is my son, Leo. Big fan of your work, Dr. Yinsen."
Ho Yinsen's warm eyes lit up. "Ah, so this is the rumored prodigy. It's a pleasure, young man."
Leo stepped forward and extended his hand with a respectful nod. "Dr. Ho Yinsen, born in Gulmira, medical doctorate from the University of Baghdad, former lecturer in cellular biology and reconstructive surgery. I'm honored to meet you."
Yinsen blinked, then laughed with a mixture of astonishment and delight. "You've done your homework!"
Leo beamed and pulled out a slim, handheld console from within his suit—a sleek device no larger than a Nintendo switch "Would you mind signing this? It's a prototype console I designed. You can use the stylus—here."
He handed over a digital pen with a flourish, and Yinsen chuckled as he took it.
"This is remarkable… pressure-sensitive input on a portable display?"
Maya Hansen leaned in, curiosity sparked. "That's not commercially available yet."
"It's not," Tony chimed in with a cocky yet proud grin. "My kid made it. Brain bigger mine but just as dangerous. Honestly, I'm just trying to keep up at this point."
His exaggerated lamenting caused a light chuckle amongst the people present.
Yinsen then signed his name with an elegant flick of the wrist, still clearly impressed. "I've seen nothing like this."
"Thank you!" Leo's eyes sparkled. "Also, could I get your number? I have some questions about cardiac regeneration and tissue synthesis. Maybe we could talk sometime?"
Yinsen gave a short laugh, then pulled a card from his coat. "Absolutely. And if your father's okay with it, I wouldn't mind tutoring you now and then. You seem quite talened."
Tony raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "He is just four and a half, but sure, why not. Although You'll probably be the one learning something from him."
"I would be honored either way" Yinsen replied.
The group then said goodbye to Yinsen and soon arrived near the elevator ,Tony leaned slightly to Leo, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial murmur. "Time to enjoy the party, Bud."
Leo picked up the hidden message immediately. He shrugged with a neutral expression. "Sure. I'll stay with Grandpa."
But then Leo leaned in and whispered back "You might wanna fund Maya Hansen. From what I have read,she's on the edge of something big if she is actually truthful"
Tony tilted his head thoughtfully " Since it's Coming from you, I will think about it."
"Okay, have fun dad, don't worry... I wouldn't mind a little sister" Leo whisphered Just as the elevator door opened causing Tony almost choke on his saliva.
Before Tony could contemplate if he has influenced Leo badly he heard a nervous yet excited voice call out.
"Mr. Stark! Miss Hansen, I am Aldrich Killian— from Advanced Idea Mechanics..."
Leo turned his head slightly, catching the sight of the eager, slightly disheveled man pushing his way through the crowd.
Posture: Desperate humility. Speech: rushed, breathless—not from exertion, but anxiety. Eye movement: opportunistic. Tone? Pleading wrapped in charm. He craves this opportunity badly.
Tony didn't break stride. "Yeah? Well, We've got somewhere I want to be."
Leo watched As the scene unfolded as just it had in Iron man 3. His gaze stretching into Killian's back while he rushed into the elevator right as the door closed.
Leo paused, eyes narrowing.
No. My intuition says I shouldn't go to the rooftop. Not tonight. Something's… off. Danger. I can't explain why
The danger didn't douse his curiosity, Rather it only sharpened it.
"Grandpa," Leo said suddenly, turning to Jarvis with innocent urgency, "I have to do Number Two. Where's the bathroom?"
Jarvis blinked at the abruptness, then chuckled warmly. "Hmm. I'm not quite sure, but let's find it quickly, shall we?" he said, offering that tender, wrinkled smile Leo always found comforting.
They soon found a quiet hallway leading to a small private restroom. Leo slipped in alone and locked the door behind him.
He didn't waste a second.
Dropping his playful facade, Leo moved quickly toward the far wall. His eyes locked onto the narrow window above the sink—just wide enough to be useful. "Perfect," he whispered.
From his pocket, he pulled a small black object no larger than a salt shaker—smooth, multi-legged, and motionless. With a soft tap, it whirred to life. Tiny segmented legs extended, glowing faintly with blue circuitry. Each tip crackled softly as it magnetized for surface grip.
"Alright, Little Pete" Leo murmured, placing the spider-like device on the sink, "time to do what you were made for."
The stealth spider crawled up his arm with eerie smoothness, then launched itself lightly onto the wall. It stuck instantly, its legs anchoring seamlessly to the surface as it scurried upward with the agility of a real arachnid.
Leo stepped onto the toilet lid and carefully opened the window, letting in a sliver of cool night air.
The spider slipped through the opening and crawled along the exterior wall, hugging the shadows, its form barely visible even under the dim light.
If I can't go to the rooftop myself... I'll just eavesdrop in a different way.
Sliding back down, Leo looked at his smartwatch, A soft blue pulse lit the underside—showcasing little Peter was active.
With a quiet breath, Leo flushed the toilet for effect.
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Little Peter clung to the outer wall, its micro-servo limbs adjusting with mechanical precision. A faint hum vibrated through its frame as it scaled brick and steel like a real spider in silence. Its camera eye rotated, adjusting light sensitivity with each blink of its lens.
Along the way, it halted.
A rear leg extended, clicking open a compartment. With a soft pffft, a tiny connection chip launched from its back end and embedded itself discreetly into a junction box on the wall.
Bandwidth tether secured.
Smartwatch link: Stable.
Encryption protocol: Active.
Little Peter continued its ascent, traversing ledges and pipes, never missing a step. Wind resistance was calculated and ignored. Obstacles were bypassed in milliseconds. It moved with the efficiency of a living code.
Reaching the rooftop edge, the spider crept over the lip and crouched behind a small duct. It paused. Sensors registered thermal movement—one lifeform detected.
Killian.
The man paced in circles, occasionally glancing at the rooftop door. His hands twitched. Shoulders tense. Heart rate elevated.
Little Peter ignored him for now.
Instead, it turned its attention to the rooftop's surface. From its underbelly, it began spinning. Not silk—but something far more advanced. A micro-filament fiber laced with signal-enhancing nanothreads. The web anchored between antennas and ducts, forming a data spider-net.
Bandwidth Amplified.
Live feed: Optimal.
Recording: Initiated.
Killian wandered toward the ledge. He leaned forward slightly, staring down at the streetlights far below. His breath hitched. For a brief second, his foot shifted forward.
Then—
CLANK.
The rooftop door opened.
Killian jerked upright, half-turning. "Tony?"
But it wasn't him.
A man stepped out, dressed in an unremarkable suit—his presence quiet, yet oddly imposing.
"Ah—sorry, I thought…" Killian turned to leave.
"You don't feel it?" the man called out, calm but sharp. "Being discarded and left alone. While Tony enjoys himself with another hot model."
Killian paused, heart skipping. His face contorted with discomfort, but he quickly masked it behind a practiced, neutral expression. "I'm not sure what you mean."
The man didn't explain. He stepped forward instead, his voice lowered like a whisper to flame. "What if I told you there's a way out of this? A way to be more than forgotten."
Killian took a cautious step back.
Too late.
In a blur of motion, the man sprinted forward—inhumanly fast—and appeared directly in front of him, cutting off his path.
Killian froze.
The man grinned. "This power... it could be yours too."
Killian stared, silent, the gears in his mind visibly turning.
And above them, unnoticed in the shadows, Little Peter watched.
Recording. Tracking. Storing every word, every twitch.
#
The mountains of Switzerland stood silent under the moonlight, their peaks sharp against the velvet sky. Inside the Stark family's remote mansion, all was still—except for one room.
Leo sat cross-legged on his bed, a sleek handheld console humming in his hands. On its screen, the same scene replayed again and again.
Killian's face frozen mid-expression, the mysterious man's voice still echoing in Leo's ears.
This power… it could be yours too.
Leo let the console rest on his lap and leaned back onto the pillows, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. The room was dim, lit only by the screen's fading glow.
His mind spun.
I was right…
His Intuition had warned him not to follow Killian. That instinct—his sharpened intuition—had flared the moment the elevator door closed.
And now, after watching the recording… he was sure of it.
I would've walked into a trap Leo thought gravely to himself.
The man in the footage—whoever he was—moved too fast, too precisely.
Mutant? Possible.
Super soldier serum? Even more possible
Leo frowned. He didn't have hard proof. But every frame of that footage screamed controlled strength and practiced menace.
Not random Nor reckless.
Hydra came to mind instantly. It was the obvious suspect. But comics—and now his real life, as he now lived it—were rarely that clean. It Could be some other big organization like the hand.
Still… His intuition says it's most likely Hydra. And His intuition hadn't failed him yet.
But then came the bigger question.
Why Killian? Stark Industries was already riddled with Hydra's infiltrators
Leo knew he could bet on that much. So why reach out to someone like Killian now?
He rewound the possibilities.
Killian—ambitious, desperate, brilliant… and discarded.
They wanted to mold him. Turn him into something useful. A pawn in a bigger plan.
Leo's eyes narrowed as a chilling thought surfaced
2008… Tony's kidnapping. That started it all. Obadiah was behind it… sure. But what if he wasn't alone? What if Hydra had nudged things forward behind the scenes?
Leo sat up slowly, his heart pounded with realization.
If Obadiah had taken control—Stark Industries would've been theirs in full. No Iron Man and No detection.
His hands clensed into his blanket, a heavy sigh escaped his mouth. Followed by silence.
He looked at the console, at Little Peter's blinking connection icon.
I'm still just a kid right now
He felt frustrated by that thought. No authority. No real power. Even with everything he knew and everything he suspected—he was still just a child on the sidelines of a storm.
But then… a different thought lit a spark inside his new brilliant mind.
Jarvis.. The ai one... yes it could work
Leo sat up straighter, his mind already clicking into motion. He stared into the darkness of the room with a calm intensity.
He had limits. But Jarvis didn't.
And even if Jarvis did, He would be there to remove it.
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Word count: 2940
Author's note:
Regarding Leo's past life memories, He is gaining them gradually rather than having access to all of it. This was done to help him assimilate the memories without them influencing him too deeply. Think of the memories as though he is watching the documentary Tv series of someone's life he resonates and connects with a lot.
I won't say much about his previous life since that would be gradually explained as time comes and I would also have enough time to polish it even more.
But the main thing i want to mention is. Leo's past self had a high moral standard, borderline self righteous hero who wouldn't mind dying as long as another criminal was punished for their crimes.
Leo although he wouldn't have that level of self righteousness since he is now a new person, but he would still be influenced by it. It's like you are reading a great novel and the protagonist is such an inspiring person, you inevitably feel a sense of awe and admiration. Even being subtly influenced.
They are still two different characters now with two different sets of interest and moral compass.
Leo is more selfish compared to Klein (His past self)
Also yes, Klein is a reference to Lord of mysteries protagonist, since I vaguely remember he was a detective or something.
This is the Schedule: 1 Chapter every 2 days at 10PM Central Time.
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