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Chapter 2 — A World Reborn
When consciousness fully settled in, Leo lay staring at the ceiling fan, watching it creak lazily above him. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant and old wood — an orphanage scent that carried both safety and suffocation.
He sat up slowly, taking in his surroundings: metal bunk beds, faded wallpaper, a cracked clock ticking with painful precision. On the bedside table lay a small ID card — Leo Carter, Age: 18.
He rubbed his temples, memories flooding in that weren't his yet somehow felt familiar. Fragments of the old Leo's life stitched themselves into place — laughter in crowded halls, occasional fights, whispered dreams about "getting out."
> So this is my start... No family, no money, and a rented identity from fate itself.
He exhaled sharply, forcing a smile. "Well… guess it's time to make something out of nothing."
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The Withdrawal
The next few hours were a blur of paperwork, signatures, and bureaucracy. The orphanage matron — a stout woman named Mrs. Hargrove — looked at Leo with a mixture of concern and relief.
"You sure about this, Leo?" she asked, sliding a form toward him. "You've been here since you were eight. The outside world isn't exactly kind."
Leo nodded. "I'll manage. I just need a chance to stand on my own feet."
She sighed but didn't argue. "You're officially of age now. We'll forward your basic records to the city office. Don't forget — this place will always be your home if things go south."
Leo smiled faintly. "Thank you. For everything."
Her eyes softened. "Just... don't disappear, alright?"
He gave a small salute and left before sentiment could tie him down.
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Old Friends, New Mind
Outside, the winter air carried a gentle chill. A few of his old friends — kids he'd grown up with — were loitering by the gate.
"Yo, Leo!" called out Rick, a tall kid with messy hair and a denim jacket. "So it's true, huh? You're leaving?"
Leo shrugged with a grin. "Yeah. Someone's gotta be the first to escape this cage."
A smaller boy, Tommy, kicked at a rock. "You'll come back to visit, right? You're not gonna forget us?"
Leo crouched down and ruffled his hair. "Forget you guys? Not possible. Just think of me as... your test subject for adult life."
They all laughed, though there was a quiet sadness in it — that subtle fear of being left behind.
Leo waved as he walked away, feeling their gazes linger until the orphanage gates disappeared behind him.
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Freedom
For the first time in his new life, Leo stood at the edge of the city — 1990, New York — before the chaos, before the superheroes, before everything changed.
Neon signs buzzed in diner windows. Billboard ads flashed brands like Sony, Sharp, and Marlboro. Cars with boxy frames and faded paint rumbled past. The world was slower, simpler, rawer.
He could hear Whitney Houston playing faintly from a nearby radio store. A group of teens laughed around an arcade entrance, while across the street, a man in a trench coat hawked bootleg VHS tapes.
Leo took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs.
> So this is it... The real 90s MCU timeline. Before Stark, before the Avengers, before everything went cosmic.
He tucked his hands into his jacket pockets, watching his reflection in a shop window. For the first time, he truly smiled — not Sam's weary grin, but Leo's determined one.
> Now that I'm free... time to build something worthy of this second chance.
Step one — survive. Step two — evolve.
The city lights flickered as if responding to his silent vow.
He started walking, letting the hum of New York swallow him whole — a lone figure disappearing into the golden haze of a world about to change forever.
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End of Chapter 2
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OR SEE YOU IN HELL👿