Chapter 7

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Tony watches stunned as Spider-Man swings out of sight.

That was... unexpected...

Tony knows he could fly after him if he wanted to, but something tells him that it won't do him any good. Spider-Man made it very clear that he has no intentions of talking to him, so instead he stares out across the city, unsettled. Something about that entire interaction was off even before Spider-Man's abrupt exit. Usually the hero was elated whenever Tony was around. Sure, he'd stutter and ramble sometimes, but he'd never seemed so nervous and closed-off.

"Mr. Stark, I was Spider-Man long before you showed up at my apartment in Queens."

And then there was that. One simple comment that threw Tony's entire brain for a loop. Because he doesn't remember showing up at Spider-Man's apartment in Queens. In fact, he didn't even know Spider-Man was from Queens.

How did I recruit him then?

With a start he realizes that he can't actually remember. Yes, he'd been borderline internet stalking him for months before the Germany showdown, but how had he contacted him? How did he convince him to join his side?

It's just like that dream. The one where I know Spider-Man was there, but can't remember how.

Quickly he racks his brain for other memories of Spider-Man: times they met, times they fought together. He recalls an incident with a ferry breaking in two, remembers watching in panic from his living room as Spider-Man scaling the Washington monument was broadcast across America. He remembers his moving day plane was under attack and Spider-Man stopped it. But even those moments are fuzzy, incomplete; like he doesn't have the whole story.

Slamming his hand along the rooftop railing, he lets out a frustrated growl. Something's wrong. He's certain of that now. The photos, the dreams, and now this. It's too much to be a coincidence. He feels as though his mind has slowly evolved into a puzzle with one piece out of place. One very big piece out of place. And until he can find it, the rest of the picture will be skewed. His memories have been tampered with, he can feel it in his gut, though why or how he cannot say. But, after tonight, he has a sneaking suspicion that it all traces back to Spider-Man.

I need answers. Now.

But where to start? He supposes he could chase the kid down again, but after the last few minutes he's pretty sure that wouldn't go over well. So what else did that leave him with? Maybe it had something to do with whatever happened in Europe? Or perhaps it was related to that other instance he mentioned: the one at the Statue of Liberty.

"FRIDAY, pull up everything you've got on Spider-Man at the Statue of Liberty," he says into his helmet as the nanotech suit engulfs him once more.

"On it boss."

A moment later he is staring at headlines all dated from a year ago. He chooses one and begins to read.

Last night, Spider-Man was spotted atop the Statue of Liberty fending off four unidentified individuals. While nothing is confirmed, reports suggest that they are the same perpetrators involved in the destruction of an apartment complex the day before. The attack culminated in a phenomenon that many witnesses described as "the sky spitting apart." Videos we've received from the same event capture the moment in question, though its cause remains a mystery.

Frowning, Tony shifts his attention to one of the mentioned videos. The quality is fuzzy, to say the least, but it's enough to make out dark clouds swirling around the monument as Spider-Man swings into view. There's something else moving behind him, but it's too dark to make out any features. Suddenly, the sky lights up. Bolts of lightning flash across the horizon. He sees Spider-Man momentarily shrink back before jumping out of view. The video cuts out.

Instantly Tony starts it again; scanning every last frame to search for something he might have missed.

Ah, there.

It's only visible for a second. Right at the same moment as the explosion in the sky, but it's clear as day what he's looking at. Or rather, who he's looking at. A lone figure floats in the sky, arms outstretched and cape billowing behind them. From their fingertips appears a circle of orange light. Magic.

Tony sighs.

Of course the wizard would be involved.

He could just be drawing conclusions. It's very possible that there is no correlation between the event he's looking at and his missing memories whatsoever, but at least it's a start.

"FRIDAY, set a course for the Sanctum Sanctorum," he says. The hum of repulsors fire up beneath him, lifting him off the ground and sending him flying towards what he hopes will be answers.

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