Chapter Text
Hollywood, October 31st, 1939
The heavens seemed to split open as nature roared to the land below, angry flashes of lightning lighting up the night in a display of power. The winds blew like the breath of an angry god, tearing down streets and causing palm trees to bend and sway in the wind like bendy straws. The ferocious power of nature did nothing to deter the mood of those down below, for they were in Hollywood, the best place in the world! Signs lit up the street as they warred with the lightning for supremacy over the night. People walked down the streets without a care in the world, only worrying about the ferocious weather because it messed up their hairdos. Cars tore down the roadways as they raced to get their guests to the best spot to be on that very night. The Stark Tower Hotel.
It rose up from the Hollywood strip like a giant reaching up to the sky to grab the sun from its perch. Its spires pointed to the heavens like accusing fingers, and its glittering blue sign sent out a beacon for all the lost travellers trying to reach its doors. Cars pulled up to the drop-off in a never-ending stream, spilling their guests out and rushing away to get more. People stood with their luggage at the entryway to the most glamourous building in all of Hollywood, staring into its shining lobby, smiles splitting their faces as they stepped into it. Bellhops dragged luggage in behind the guests, sweat dripping down their faces and pooling in their collars. One man stood alone in the lobby, smiling at this familiar scene. This man was Anthony Edward “Tony” Stark, the creator and owner of the hotel.
Tony tilted his head around, looking at the hustle and bustle of his hotel. It was even busier than normal, what with the special Halloween masquerade ball being held tonight. But most of all, the people came to see the two stars of the show that would be performing at the ball. Sure enough, one of them came waltzing through the doors just as Tony was thinking about his special guests. He could tell who it was as he came sauntering through the door as the cameras flashed. Tony saw the white faux fur coat as the figure broke through the crowd of paparazzi, waving them off as he walked over to the black-suited Stark. “Well, well, well” Tony said as he planted a quick and discreet kiss on the man “If it isn’t my beautiful man, Steve Rogers!”
Steve laughed nervously. “As much as I love your affection, sweetie, you know we can’t do that in public!” Tony frowned. He hated the homophobia of the 1930’s, but he was stuck with it. He smiled again. “Don’t worry, everyone will just think of it as a bit of friendly fun. Anyway, are you ready for your big performance?” Steve smiled as he took a drag off of his cigarette. His face screwed up as the nasty nicotine taste hit his tongue, and it took all of his manners to stop him from spitting in the lobby. Tony laughed. “I still don’t understand why you pretend to like those things, Steve!” Steve frowned. “I have to keep up my singer image! You know that I have to keep up with the times!” “I know, I know, sweetheart. I’m just teasing you!” Tony said as he clapped Steve on his shoulder. The singer and the inventor/actor were drawn out of their own little world by the sound of cheering and flashing cameras. “Ah, I know who has just arrived!” Tony said as he turned around. “The star of our show” “HEY!” “Calm down Steve! It’s Peter Parker!”
The child star waltzed into the hotel lobby with a swing in his step and a smile on his face. The little kid was wearing a pastel red suit with a blue shirt and tie underneath, completing his normal look, which was all about the red and blue. Cameras flashed as he shot the paparazzi his winning smile, and he laughed as they all cooed. “Alright, alright, clear it up! The child has to be somewhere in a few minutes you know!” a voice cut through the din. “Nat!” Peter cried as he ran over to the slim and imposing woman dressed in all black. Everyone knew of young Peter Parker’s nanny, Natasha Romanoff. A no-nonsense woman, she could kick your butt to the moon and back if you tried to harm her little boy. It was common knowledge that the two gave each other nicknames based off of spiders, cementing their love of one another. The paparazzi parted like curtains as Natasha took Peter’s hand and walked him towards the elevator and the two men dressed in black and white.
“Hello ma’am, may I take your bags?” an eager voice suddenly said off to Natasha’s left. She turned, bringing Peter with her, causing the little boy to squeal “Weeee!” She was met with an eager bellhop, who had extended a hand to her, basically asking if he could take her small purse. “No thank you, Mr…..Barton, but I can take care of it myself” Natasha said to the bellhop. “If you want to help me, why don’t you take Peter’s bags?” She gestured to a large stack of suitcases being brought in the door by another sweating bellhop. “Sure thing ma’am!” Clint Barton said as he raced off to get the bags, a little disappointed that he couldn’t get to help such a classy dame.
Tony chuckled as Natasha and Peter approached him and Steve, who was once again taking a drag on his cigarette. “Spare the poor man, won’t you Tash? He’s flabbergasted!” Natasha just snorted. “Steve, please stop trying to look interesting with that cigarette, it’s making you look like you’re suffering. And no, I won’t spare him! I can handle myself!” Steve looked sad, but he was relieved that he didn’t have to keep up with the act. Peter, who was looking around while the three adults talked, finally noticed the other two men, and his face split open in a smile. “Steve Rogers and Tony Stark!!!!! You guys are my idols!” the little boy gushed. The men smiled. If they could be married, they would have a child like Peter as their son. Ahhh if only they could.
“Here’s your bags, ma’am!” the bellhop said as he struggled up to the small group of people. He was weighed down by all of Peter’s bags, which were filled with outfits and pictures perfect for signing. Everyone wants a piece of Peter memorabilia! “Oh, thank you” Natasha said. “Shall we head on up to the Tip Top Club?” Tony said as he took Steve’s arm in his own. The singer blushed, but quickly hid it as the two turned towards the elevator. “The Tip Top Club? Yaaaaaayyyyyyy!” Peter squealed as he grabbed Natasha’s hand and pulled her after Tony and Steve. Clint groaned as he picked up the heavy bags once again and dragged them towards the elevator. At least he was doing this for a beautiful broad. That made it worthwhile!
The five entered the elevator, with Clint just squeezing in with the bags. “Alrighty, where are we all going tonight?” Tony said with a silly grin. “The Tip Top Club!” Peter squealed as he jumped up and down. Steve’s shoulders shook the faux fur on his coat as he laughed at the little boy’s antics. “Is that where our other friends are going?” Tony said as he looked at the other three people in the elevator. “Yessir” Steve said as he shot a small smile at Tony, who winked back at the white-clothed singer. “Let’s go!” Tony pushed the button for the Tip Top Club, and the elevator started to move.
The storm raged on with a ferocious power, lightning illuminating the hotel’s shape as the elevator slowly climbed up the tower. Suddenly, a stray bolt of lightning shot out from the tumultuous sky, a terrible finger of bright blue. It struck the tower’s bright sign, and the elevator shaft behind it, snapping the cables as electricity fried every system that let the elevator run. The car plummeted down twelve floors, only stopping when it crashed into the concrete floor of the basement. The guests of the Stark Tower Hotel were rushed outside into the dark night, leaving all of their belongings behind. The authorities said that the bolt of lightning compromised the Tower’s safety, and that no one should go back in to get their belongings. Five people went missing in the chaos, including the famous singer Steve Rogers, the brilliant inventor and owner of the Tower Tony Stark, and the child star Peter Parker. Some say that they were in the elevator along with Peter’s nanny and a bellhop, but the authorities could not find any bodies when they investigated the crushed elevator car. They had vanished, never to be seen again.
Rumours started to circulate that the now abandoned Tower was haunted, but nobody was brave enough to enter the Tower to figure out if it was true or not. So the Tower still sits, dark and dismal as it slowly rots away. Some say they can hear the screams of five people coming from the building at night, but those are just rumours……..