A/N Happy Father's Day guys! I hope you're having a good one! I wanted to write an Avengers fix but then I was like, oh, okay, their dads mostly sucked. But you know what? You're going to get an Avengers fix anyway because I do what I want!
His father was never present, except to tell him that he wasn't good enough. No matter what he did, how hard he tried, he was never good enough. So, instead of trying he just gave up, he couldn't care anymore what his father thought of him, it was hurting him too much.
Yet still he cared. It still hurt and he still strived for any words of praise, straining his ears for even a whisper of it. None ever came.
So that's why he was who he was. That's why he got drunk, partied too hard. His dad was just a premonition for worse things to come, for more people to disapprove. What could he do? He was Tony Stark, he worked off his ass to become a better person, creating an Iron Man suit to save lives, and still they hated him. He got told he was dangerous, his 'weapon' needed to be repossessed by the government. Any words of kindness he got were just to get on his good side, get into the good parties, go to all the cool places, nobody loved him. People often forgot the genius side due to his millionaire one. For god's sake, he created a new element! All he wanted was to help and even then he was pushed away. Trying was the only option and failure the only outcome.
Could he even blame his dad for all the women? Yes. He slept with them to get some sort of affirmation, some love, something given back to him after all he put out for them. Still, it was nothing, maybe a trophy girl for a month, maybe arm candy for a day, nothing ever went anywhere.
Until Pepper. She gave his life new purpose, and despite never telling her this, she was his world. Pepper Potts had saved him from the brink of destruction and he was forever grateful. She filled the gaping wound he had, her simple words of love had healed him.
So you can see when Fury told him his father had loved him and was so proud, he didn't believe a word of it.
Until there was proof, and all the hurt had come rushing back, tearing him up again, but this newfound love and approval from his father had healed it up just as fast, the wound was no longer there. He was not the same Tony Stark as the one from a moment ago, all it took was a few words of love and a small light shone on the truth.
Tony Stark had been loved, and still was.
That made all the difference.
A/N Sort of father angst of Tony Stark, gah, I don't know what comes out of my head anymore. Let's just say I'm sick and my writing isn't top notch at the moment. Anyway, please review! Reviews are like water in a desert, very much helpful.
Also, would anyone be interested in an Avengers High school AU fic? I know there's a lot out there but one with their powers or without them? I don't know, but if you're interested please let me know in some way, message or review!