MARVEL interesting times to live

A dull, persistent beeping pierced through the darkness. It was rhythmic, almost soothing in its repetition, but there was an underlying discomfort that made it impossible to relax. Slowly, consciousness began to creep in, accompanied by a throbbing pain in his head.

Eyes fluttering open, the first thing he noticed was the sterile white ceiling above him. The beeping became clearer now—he recognized it as the sound of a heart monitor. His body felt heavy, sluggish, like he'd been underwater for hours.

He blinked, trying to shake the grogginess from his mind. Where am I? He attempted to sit up, but a wave of dizziness forced him back down.

Okay, not a great idea.

Instead, he let his gaze wander around the room. It was a typical hospital room—bland walls, uncomfortable-looking chairs, and a small TV mounted in the corner. The sunlight streamed through the window, indicating it was daytime.

As he squinted at the TV, a commercial caught his attention. A sleek logo spun onto the screen, followed by the bold, metallic letters: Stark Industries. The screen cut to a montage of advanced technology—missiles launching, robots welding, and a suave man in a suit shaking hands with military officials.

"Stark Industries: Innovating the Future," the voiceover intoned. "For a safer, more secure world."

His heart skipped a beat. Stark Industries? His brain struggled to process the information. The commercial continued, showcasing Tony Stark himself, smiling that famous arrogant grin as he posed next to one of his cutting-edge missiles.

No way... He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. This has to be a joke.

The memories started to flood back—there was a car, screeching tires, the sound of glass shattering... and then nothing.

His heart began to race as he struggled to piece together what had happened. But then, like a dam breaking, the memories surged forward—not just of the accident, but of an entire life that didn't belong to him.

Wait...

He closed his eyes, trying to focus. He remembered being a 36-year-old physicist and engineer. He remembered late nights working on projects, the thrill of solving complex equations, the camaraderie of his archery club, the comfort of losing himself in a good anime or manga. And Marvel—oh, how he loved Marvel. He remembered binge-watching the MCU films, discussing fan theories, and even writing fanfiction.

But... that was his old life. The life he had lived before he... died?

What the hell is going on?

The door to the room creaked open, and a nurse walked in, followed by a doctor holding a clipboard. They exchanged polite smiles with each other before turning their attention to the bed.

"Ah, you're awake! How are you feeling?" the doctor asked, his voice calm and reassuring.

"Like I got hit by a truck," the boy muttered, his voice raspy from disuse.

The doctor chuckled lightly. "Close enough. You were in a car accident, but thankfully, you only sustained minor injuries—just some bruising and a mild concussion. Nothing too serious."

"A... concussion?" He frowned, reaching up to rub his temples. "That explains the headache, I guess."

The nurse checked the IV line attached to his arm while the doctor continued. "You're a lucky young man. You've been unconscious for about two days, but it seems there's no lasting damage. With some rest, you should be back to normal in no time."

"Lucky... right." He repeated the word, but his mind was still spinning from the influx of memories. I'm 16. No, wait, I'm 36?

"By the way," the doctor added, glancing at his clipboard, "it's May 2008, in case you were wondering."

He froze, his mind reeling. 2008? That's...

His thoughts raced. If it was May 2008, then that meant the first Iron Man movie had just come out. The MCU was just beginning, and if his hazy memories were correct, there were only a few years before... everything.

Oh my God, I'm in the Marvel Universe.

He had to suppress a laugh—because really, what else could he do? He was in the Marvel Universe, just before the world would start to spiral into chaos, and he had 20 years of extra memories from a different life.

The absurdity of the situation finally hit him, and despite the pain in his head, he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Something funny?" the nurse asked, raising an eyebrow.

He shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "You have no idea."