Chapter 19: Aftermath and Rewards
The hospital room had become a fortress over the past three days. SHIELD agents posted at every entrance, Stark security on every floor, and Tony hadn't left except for mandatory press appearances where he'd answered "No comment" to everything about the mysterious ten-year-old who'd helped defeat Iron Monger.
Ben's eyes opened slowly, the morphine haze lifting enough to focus on the figure in the chair beside his bed. Tony sat hunched forward, elbows on his knees, staring at Ben with an expression that mixed relief, guilt, and something fiercer—determination.
"I nearly got you killed."
The words came out before Ben could speak, raw and immediate. Tony's voice cracked as he continued, hands trembling slightly as they reached toward Ben's cast.
"You're ten years old, and I let you—no, I BROUGHT you—into combat against a walking tank. Pepper's right to be furious. Happy's right to question my judgment."
Ben tried to sit up, wincing as his wrapped ribs protested. "Tony—"
"But here's what I realized while you were unconscious." Tony's brown eyes were bloodshot from sleepless nights, but they burned with conviction. "I'd do it again. Because you were right—I needed you there, and you saved my life. Twice in one night. That doesn't make it okay, but it makes it real."
The heart monitor beeped faster as Ben processed Tony's words. This wasn't an apology—it was an acknowledgment.
"So here's my promise: I'm going to train you properly. No more winging it, no more lucky breaks. If you're going to keep saving my ass—and I know you will because you're stubborn—then you're going to be prepared."
Ben's throat felt raw, but he managed a croaky laugh. "Does this mean I get my own armor?"
Tony's answering laugh was wet with unshed tears. "Let's start with proper combat training and work our way up, yeah?"
From the doorway, Pepper's soft intake of breath made them both turn. She stood there, eyes bright with tears she didn't bother to hide, one hand pressed to her mouth. When she lowered it, her smile was tremulous but real.
"I hate that you're both right," she whispered. "I hate that this is our life now. But I love you both too much to pretend Ben is a normal child."
The moment shifted something fundamental between them—acknowledgment that forcing Ben to be normal would be denying reality. They were a family now, unconventional and dangerous, but real.
After Pepper left to handle the media circus and Tony went to grab coffee, Ben finally allowed himself to check his System notifications. The interface appeared softer than usual, almost gentle in the hospital's sterile light.
[QUEST COMPLETE: SURVIVE IRON MONGER ENCOUNTER]
[CALCULATING REWARDS...]
[MAXIMUM RISK/REWARD BONUS ACHIEVED!]
[10 LEGENDARY TICKETS EARNED]
[1 GUARANTEED SS-RANK PULL UNLOCKED]
[TITLE ACQUIRED: 'GIANT SLAYER' (+15% DAMAGE TO LARGER OPPONENTS)]
[NEW ABILITY UNLOCKED: COMBAT ADAPTATION (PASSIVE, B-RANK, LV. 1)]
['LEARN FROM BATTLE, GAIN TEMPORARY BONUSES AGAINST REPEATED ENEMY TYPES'']
Ben stared at the rewards, but the System wasn't finished.
[SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: PROTECTED FAMILY MEMBER AT RISK OF DEATH]
[REWARD: FAMILY GUARDIAN TRAIT (PASSIVE, SS-RANK)]
['+20% TO ALL STATS WHEN PROTECTING DESIGNATED FAMILY MEMBERS']
[AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATE OVERDRIVE MODE WHEN FAMILY MEMBERS' LIVES THREATENED]
His breath caught. An SS-Rank passive trait—one of the most powerful upgrades possible. He'd earned it through desperation and love.
[LEVEL UP! PLAYER LEVEL: 25 → 35]
[NEW FEATURES UNLOCKED: ABILITY FUSION SYSTEM, LOADOUT SAVES, EQUIPMENT SLOTS]
The growth was exponential. His adult mind catalogued the implications while his child's body trembled with excitement. He used one Legendary Ticket experimentally.
The golden light was subdued, respectful of his injured state, but the result was perfect:
[LUKE CAGE'S UNBREAKABLE SKIN (A-RANK, LV. 1)]
[SOURCE: LUKE CAGE (A-RANK HERO, +15% EXP, CHAMPION'S WILL)]
"Perfect timing for a durability upgrade."
But he saved the Guaranteed SS-Rank pull. That was too important to use without careful consideration.
A soft knock interrupted his planning. Agent Coulson entered, carrying a surprisingly appetizing cup of hospital pudding and wearing his trademark mild smile.
"Mr. Parker, I'll be direct: SHIELD wants to help you."
Coulson sat in the visitor's chair Tony had vacated, setting the pudding on the bedside table with deliberate casualness.
"Training, resources, education about your... gifts. In exchange, we'd ask for cooperation on specific matters of national security."
Ben's adult mind screamed TRAP. SHIELD's "help" historically came with strings that turned into chains.
"I see your hesitation. Smart."
Coulson leaned back, hands folded. His voice carried the weight of complete honesty.
"Here's what I can offer transparently: we won't separate you from Tony Stark, we won't experiment on you, and we won't force you into operations. We simply want to ensure that someone with your capabilities has proper guidance."
He placed a plain business card on the bedside table.
"Think about it. Tony Stark is brilliant, but he's not equipped to train a super-powered child. We are."
After Coulson left, Tony returned with coffee and immediately spotted the card. His expression darkened as he read it.
"They want to turn you into a baby agent."
But Tony's pragmatism surfaced, warring with his protective instincts.
"Thing is, kid, he's not entirely wrong. I can teach you engineering, critical thinking, how to be a genius. But combat training, understanding your powers, dealing with enhanced threats—that's not my wheelhouse."
Tony sat heavily, the admission difficult for someone used to being the smartest person in any room.
"We might need help."
Ben processed this—his father-figure admitting limitations, asking for his input on major life decisions. It was respect, treating him as a partner rather than just a ward.
"Can we trust them?"
Tony's honesty was stark and unfiltered. "I don't know. But I trust my ability to make them regret it if they betray us."
As evening painted the hospital room orange, Tony pulled out his phone. His voice carried finality.
"Pepper, start the legal paperwork. Full adoption, no half-measures. Ben Parker is officially my son, and anyone who has a problem with that can talk to my lawyers."
Pepper's smile was audible through the speaker. "Already done. Judge Harrison owed me a favor—papers are signed, witnessed, and filed. Congratulations, Tony. You're a father."
Tony looked at Ben, who was pretending to sleep but couldn't hide his smile under the thin hospital blanket.
"Yeah. I am."
[RELATIONSHIP UPDATED: TONY STARK - FATHER (OFFICIAL)]
[NEW BONUSES APPLIED: STARK LEGACY (ACCESS TO STARK RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY)]
[INHERITED GENIUS (+10% LEARNING SPEED FOR TECHNICAL SKILLS)]
Ben's journey from homeless orphan to superhero's son had become legally, officially real. But as he drifted toward actual sleep, his Enhanced Hearing caught Coulson's voice in the hallway, speaking quietly into his phone.
"Fury, the Parker boy is everything we hoped and more. Recommend green-lighting Phase 2 of the monitoring protocol. And sir? If we're really building that team you keep talking about... he needs to be on the list."
"Even here, even now, they're planning. But I'm not alone anymore."
The thought carried him into dreamless sleep, surrounded by the quiet sounds of his new family's protection.
+1 CHAPTER AFTER EVERY 3 REVIEWS
MORE POWER STONES == MORE CHAPTERS
To supporting Me in Pateron .
Love [ Marvel Gacha Game System ]? Unlock More Chapters and Support the Story!
Dive deeper into the world of [Marvel Gacha Game System ] with exclusive access to 25+ chapters on my Patreon, you get more chapters if you ask for more (in few days), plus new fanfic every week! Your support starting at just $6/month helps me keep crafting the stories you love across epic universes like [ In The Witcher With Avatar Powers,In The Vikings With Deja Vu System,Stranger Things Demogorgon Tamer ...].
By joining, you're not just getting more chapters—you're helping me bring new worlds, twists, and adventures to life. Every pledge makes a huge difference!
👉 Join now at patreon.com/TheFinex5 and start reading today!