Tony Stark was in one of the many places he thrived: front and center at a podium and running his mouth with an air of absolute nonchalance and confidence. He had the press eating out of the palm of his hand as always, and Andrew watched on dutifully from the side of the small stage. Being the son of Tony Stark had its perks and its drawbacks. As if his life hadn't flipped around enough with him gaining powers, it became even more changed when it became publicly known that the billionaire-philanthropist-hero had adopted a teenage son. Andrew found himself thrown into the limelight. And it had been awkward and uncomfortable in the beginning, but Andrew ended up falling into the roll quite nicely. The seventeen-year-old came to like the attention to a degree; just sometimes how he was supposed to act or certain "Stark" responsibilities were a chore.
Being at a press conference, for instance, meant Andrew had to "dress up", and being in a suit and tie with his usually disheveled hair styled neatly was less than desired. Though Andrew pulled off looking quite impeccable and down right a young heartthrob all decked out. The boy may not have been Tony's biological son, but he definitely looked like Tony's mini in instances like these.
"...and that brings us to the last topic on the agenda I know you all are dying to hear about." Tony's words finally perked Andrew's interest. The teen knew what was coming, and he started buzzing with anticipation. "So I'm quite confident in assuming that none of you here live under a rock: so as you all know, my son was involved in an attempted kidnapping last week."
Andrew bit at the inside of his cheek to keep an amuse grin from erupting at his features. Attempted kidnapping was right. He kept his attention on his dad, but he could feel the eyes of reporters on him now. The flashes of cameras going off in hopes of capturing his reaction to the ordeal being brought up.
"Ballsy. I'll give the culprits that." Tony went on. "But ultimately very very very stupid. I know there aren't any details out there, and I'm not really about to give out many details of what went down, but I would like to take this time to address any other would-be child abductors out there." Tony focused his eyes on one of the cameras. "There are better ways to try to get money out of me or to piss me off. Taking my son ended up badly for these morons, and it would end badly for you too. See, their miscalculation was thinking they only had to worry about me fighting to get him back. And of course I would have. But here's one big detail for you: I didn't have to. Get over here, Drew." Tony gestured in a more lighthearted manner.
Andrew gave a little nod and put on his game face as he walked across the stage. He stood beside his father and held his hand out in greeting to the reporters and flashed a winning smile. Andrew didn't have a problem with this attention; because finally, the fun part of the press conference was about to happen.
"So there's more to my boy here," Tony placed his hand on Andrew's shoulder, "than him being a smart, talented, goodhearted, and devastatingly handsome young man."
Andrew couldn't hold off from rolling his eyes.
"He didn't need me swooping in to save him. He can hold his own. And maybe if I had made this announcement earlier, those asshats rotting in a jail cell probably would have thought twice about their little plan. We've been keeping this pretty low key, but now I think it's time... Those reports some of you have been making about that blue little bullet of light zipping through the sky and streets and taking care of the odd crime here and there in our city. That little light has a name: Pulse. And I'm proud to say that it's my son."
Andrew grinned when Tony signaled him with a nod, and Andrew happily let his energy rush outward, washing his body in a blue glow.
The room interrupted in a flurry of camera flashes and reporters' voices all jumbling together to get their shocked questions through.
"Hold on, hold on. I know." Tony held up his hands in a calming gesture. "Questions in a second. But first I just need to lay one more thing on you people today. A one-two punch, if you will. I'd also like to announce Pulse here as the newest Avenger..."
Andrew swelled with excitement finally hearing his father say the words.
"...trainee." Tony finished.
Andrew's smile fell into a disbelieving glare directed to his dad. "Trainee?" He questioned indignantly, his glow falling away.
Tony smirked.