I was sixteen when my father announced to the world that he was Iron Man. I won't say my life has been a roller coaster ever since because, let's be honest, life as a Stark is a triple barrel roll Hypercoaster while drunk on cheap tequila. But the creation of Iron Man definitely rerouted my life and my fathers, for the better, I hope.
I have no memories of my mother. I suppose she was beautiful, judging by the few pictures I have. She was a one night stand, the only kind of relationships Tony Stark had at the time. And apparently, that was her high point in life. After I was born things went to shit for Anna Hammond. Drugs were more fun than an infant and, funny enough, more deadly. Two days locked in a room next to her dead body is something I'm happier not remembering.
I was delivered to my father when I was just shy of two years old. I guess it's poetic. I had no one and neither did Tony Stark. He was wondering hopelessly after the deaths of my grandparents who I'll never know and I was just out of diapers. We were a perfect combination. Except for the fact that the billionaire genius had no idea what to do with me.
He did have enough sense, however, to hire an assistant/nanny/whatever else Dad needed at the time. Pepper Potts was my saving grace. She was the one who dressed me each morning, cooked my meals, helped with my homework, and still kept my dad in check. I asked him a million times when I was little to marry her so she could be my mom. I saw the look in his eye. I knew he wanted to, but things were complicated and I'd find out what that meant soon enough.
Tony Stark did teach me as much as he had time for. I spent most of my time on a stool in his shop watching him work and asking questions. He even named a gun he developed after me in commemoration of my help on it. I was so fascinated with his AI, JARVIS, that he helped me program my own, which I named FRIDAY after my favorite day of the week. The day dad stayed home with me each week.
I graduated high school at 16 and was accepted into MIT just like my father. Dad dropped me off at the dorms, kissed my forehead and then disappeared somewhere in Afghanistan. With the death of my only parent I was officially an orphan.
But Tony Stark wasn't done with the world. When he came back everything changed. I left my classes and came home. Stark industries stopped selling weapons, my dad wouldn't let me in the shop anymore. He was preoccupied with something and we were all worried. My uncle Rhodey took me back to school and promised everything would be back to normal soon.
Then I turned on the TV. I remember it vividly. I was in the common area of the dorms when someone called out to me.
"Hey, Stark. Your dad's on TV again." I had waved them off. Dad had press conferences all the time. I'd get Pepper to email me the important bits.
"Truth is," I heard him say through the speakers, "I am Iron Man."
What happened next is a blur. I had FRIDAY book a flight and I was in Malibu before Dad and Pepper even thought to call me. Finding out your dad is a superhero changes your perspective a little.
I barely passed my classes that semester.
Fast forward a few years. Rhodey becomes War Machine, Pepper becomes CEO, I get a bachelors then a masters then drop out halfway through a doctorate, blah blah blah.
Then New York happened. I had been in New York helping dad and Pepper set up the new arc reactor to keep Stark Tower self-sustaining. I was nearly back to Malibu when FRIDAY delivered the news to me that New York was under attack by alien-like creatures.
I arrived in New York just in time for cleanup and to meet the Avengers. I saw the wreckage and smelled the burning death covering the city. I passed by the carcasses of aliens and hoped I wouldn't stumble upon a human. Dad wasn't the same after that. Neither was I.
I didn't step into a suit until the Mandarin showed up. All of dad's suits had been destroyed in the house at Malibu except for the suitcase suit. It had been stored in the storage building with the remains of the Bentley destroyed by Whiplash. Fixing it was nothing to a Stark and I stepped into it just in time to save Tony and Rhodey from certain death in Miami Florida. I'd never felt anything as powerful as blasting bad guys off the roof of a building to save my family. It was a high I'd never want to leave. The pride on my father's face when I showed up is an image I'll remember forever.
Unfortunately, all the suits are armed with JARVIS and it only took dad a half second to override FRIDAY and send the suit with me in it back home. But I'd gotten a taste and there was no turning back.
That year Tony presented me with a set of custom vambraces he developed. Snap onto my forearms and I've got a pair of repulsors. Not enough to make me a super hero but enough to protect myself which is what Tony was going for.
Things slowed down for a while. Tony liked to think he was retired from his Iron Man days. I watched the news as the other Avengers fought to keep us safe and I burned to be with them and I knew Tony did too.
SHEILD fell and Steve Rogers barely made it out alive after his fight with the Winter Soldier, who still managed to get away. Thor was MIA for a while and Bruce Banner was working with my dad some and trying to stay away from stress.
The day arrived when dad stepped back into a suit. Steve needed his help. He'd come by Stark Tower personally to speak with him. I greeted him at the door and chatted him up trying to squeeze out information before I delivered him to my dad.
"How much longer do you have in school?" Steve asked, changing the subject. I could tell by his grin he knew my angle.
"I graduated."
"Going to college next?" I stopped walking and raised an eyebrow at the super soldier.
"How old do you think I am, Steve?"
"I- I really don't know. I can't tell anyone's age anymore. A lot's changed since..."
"Well I'm 23. I run half this company."
"Oh."
"Now stop stalling and tell me where this mission is." Steve looked ready to break at my hard stare when Tony appeared around the corner.
"Nuh uh! I told you, no saving the world until your room's clean."
"You're one to talk."
"Take a hike, kiddo. The adults gotta talk."
So, I missed out on taking down the remainder of SHIELD and HYDRA. But, with Tony away I had the entire shop to myself. By the time the Avengers returned I had my own suit built and hidden where Tony wouldn't find it until I needed it.
"The Iron Legion has returned. They're in repair now," I said to Tony walking into the lab. My eyes fell on the scepter on the middle work bench. "You gonna fill me in on this?"
"Nope. Not your concern."
"Come on, Dad. I can help. You know I can."
"Not with this."
"Why not?" I started, my voice getting tight.
"Charlie," he said turning to me. I could see turmoil on his face. Something was bothering him. Something more than me putting on a suit. "Just please don't get involved in this."
"JARVIS contact me if he needs help. I'll be preparing for the party."
"Charlie," Tony stopped me. "After Ultron, none of us will have to suit up again."
"Ultron's a dream, dad. Don't forget to stay hydrated while you're in here. I'll have JARVIS keep tabs on you."
Music beat through the tower. Hero's of every form filled the room. It was the first time I'd seen Tony all week. He and Bruce had been locked up in the lab investigating the scepter.
I spent a while catching up with Rhodey and then played a few games of pool with Steve and Sam.
"Where'd you learn to hustle like that?" Sam asked me with a laugh.
"Girl's gotta eat," I replied with a wink. "So, what have you been up to, Sam? Flying around with Steve?"
"Stop prying for info, Charlie. You'll just get us both in trouble with Tony," Steve groaned with an easy smiling.
"Actually, no. Sorry, I can't give you any information on what the Avengers have been up to," Sam explained. "I've been busy chasing a ghost."
"The Winter Soldier, huh?" I raised my brow interested.
"Voices down," Steve shushed as he leaned in to take the next shot.
"Dead ends all around," Sam provided. I hummed disappointed. "You itchin' to join the fight, huh?"
"Just gotta find out how to sneak out of the house," I said jerking my head towards Tony who was talking to Thor.
"Or you could listen to your dad. It's dangerous out there, Charlie," Steve informed me.
"We'll see." I lined up my shot and sunk the last two balls ending the game.
The night went on. People began to filter out on stumbling, drunk legs and I made my way to the bar. Natasha stood behind it pouring up her own glass.
"Something hard and strong," I requested. She smiled at me and pulled out another glass.
"Steve told me you were badgering him again about the missions."
"For an old man, he sure loves to gossip."
"You'll be out there with us one day."
"You don't believe that," I said with narrowed eyes. She laughed.
"No, I don't. Your dad just wants you to have a normal life, Charlie. Married to a handsome guy with 2.5 kids."
"Picket fence and a yappy dog?"
"The whole package."
"It's not up to him, is it?" I said, throwing back the shot she served me. "Speaking of handsome guys." My eyes flicked from Bruce who was heading towards us and back to Natasha. With a wink, I slid off the stool and left the two alone.
With the new threat of Ultron, Tony had no choice but to let me join the fight. He needed my input and after the unveiling of my new suit, it seemed letting me become part of the team was inevitable. The new repulsor's I'd developed in my suit were invaluable in the fight against the metal enemies. I had engineered a way to reverse the repulsor's and use a magnetic pull to attract metal towards me and then blast it away with the forward energy of the repulsor's. Tony was impressed.
I never expected being an Avenger to be easy and it wasn't. The newest member of the gang, Wanda Maximoff, had gotten into my head before she converted to our side. She made me see a vision, whether of my own making or of my future I wasn't sure yet.
I was drowning, being dragged into the dark depths of the ocean by a metal arm. I thought perhaps it was Ultron but the rest of the figure was human. A dark figure and a glinting metal arm dragging me down beneath the waves.
I'd never gotten the courage to ask Wanda if she knew what it meant. Slowly, between my training with Natasha in hand to hand combat and Tony and Rhodey teaching me how to use my suit, I'd pushed the vision away.
