"Welcome home, Sir." JARVIS said as Tony stepped inside the mansion.
"Thanks, Jarvis."
"It's been a long time, Sir. Based on reports, I calculated your safe return at 0.25 Percent."
"Yes, that's terrible. I missed you too. Where's Peter?"
"Young master Peter is currently sleeping at your room, Sir. Would you like me to wake him up?"
"No. No, JARVIS. I'll do that myself."
Tony rushed upstairs, carefully opening the door of his room. It seems like the first time he saw Peter all over again. The feeling of nervousness and excitement but the incredible joy, relief, and happiness washed over him afterwards. He's home now, at long last. He saw Peter soundly sleeping at his bed, wearing a white over-sized shirt that he usually wears. The sight bought mixed emotions into his system that his eyes welled up. I'm sorry Peter, Daddy's been gone. Peter must've been so lonely, sad, and afraid. Emotions that he never wanted the little boy to feel especially if he's the one who caused it. He went up to his side and brushed his hair, staring lovingly at his son caressing and memorizing each part of his face. He's grown in the last three months and silently wished that he's been there to see that. He planted a kiss on his forehead and smelled his baby scented hair, his son finally in his arms again.
Peter's body slowly moved, slowly starting to wake up.
"Petey-pie, wake up. Daddy's home." Tony said to his son in an almost like whispered voice.
"It's the weekend Dad. Lemme sleep." Peter said in a low voice, eyes still closed. Hmm, that's weird, that's dad's voice, has JARVIS been programmed to say that? But no that's really his dad's voice, but he's gone, he's not here... Wait, WHAT?
"Wait. DAD?" He opened his eyes, and rubbed it to make sure. He started to sit up to see the man clearly lying on his side. It can't be.
He cupped his Dad's face with his hands examining every part of it.
"I'm not dreaming right, you're real? You're here!"
"Yes, Yes, I am, Peter." Tony said laughing with tears of joy, and with that, Peter immediately wrapped his arms around his dad tightly hugging him.
"Oh Dad! You came home! You're finally back!"
I thought you were gone! I thought you were never going to come back!" A few tears already formed from his eyes.
Tony kissed his hair. "Yeah. I'm sorry buddy. I'm here. I'm home now. I'll always come back to you."
Peter hugged his Dad's chest to hear his heart beating but was instead welcomed by a humming.
"What happened to your chest? What's that thing? I can't hear you heart. Dad. You're alive right? Are you a machine now?"
Tony snorted and laughed. Oh he's finally back home. Home wouldn't be home without Peter and his non-stop questions. "No, silly." Tony smiled and ruffled his hair.
"This." Tony gestured at the glowy thing that's keeping him alive. "This is an electromagnet, Pete. You know an electromagnet right?"
Peter nodded.
"When we were ambushed, a bomb set off on me. This electromagnet keeps a shrapnel from going into my heart."
"but an electromagnet's not supposed to glow, right?" Peter asked confused.
Tony smirked; he knew his son wouldn't miss this detail. He got that genius from him after all.
"That's right Pete. Well, can you guess any other power source that glows?"
Peter tried to think for a few seconds. He saw it when he visited the company grounds.
"The Arc Reactor!"
"Oh you really are my son. Yes. This is a miniaturized arc reactor, Pete. It powers the electromagnet."
"Wow! That's so cool! You're like powered by that thing! But you're going to be alright, right Dad?"
"I'll be more than alright, bud. Don't worry ok? I have you and I have this glowy thing. I'll be alive for a long time so to say."
Peter once again hugged his Dad "I missed you so much Dad." Tony kissed him on his forehead. "I missed you too bud, so so much. I love you."
"I love you too Dad." They stayed in each others arms for awhile.
"C'mon let's get you out of here Mr. Stark. I bought a cheeseburger." Tony winked and they both laughed. Tony creased and folded the sleeves of Peter's oversized shirt then carried Peter in his arms, he noticed he got lighter than normal but taller.
"That's so you, Dad, and Cheeseburger for breakfast! Awesome!"
"Yeah. Now that I'm here you're gonna eat young man."
They headed downstairs to eat breakfast. Peter sat into Tony's lap while they ate cheeseburger and other breakfast food at the table. Pepper stared at them lovingly. Finally, the father and son duo is reunited. Peter started to tell Tony school happenings from the last three months.
"Pepper set-up a press conference later please." Tony said as they finished eating their breakfast.
"What? What on earth for Tony? You need to rest or maybe some medical attention perhaps. I can call your Doctor-"
"Pepper, this is important. Okay? I need to do this."
"Okay. Right away, boss." Pepper finally said. She knew she can't disagree with those eyes.
"Thanks Miss Potts."
"Can I come Dad?" Peter asked, he doesn't want his Dad to get away from his sight.
"Of course you can buddy. Let's get you some bath and let's suit up first, alright."
The Rolls-Royce car drove around the Stark Industries main building. They saw every executive clapping, welcoming their CEO back. The car stopped and Obadiah was the first to welcome him.
"Hey, look at this. Look at you. We're supposed to meet at the hospital." Obadiah gave Tony a man hug. "Nonsense. No hospital."
Tony's holding Peter's hand as they walked to the large conference room where the reporters are waiting. Just another thing he got from his Dad, Peter's not afraid of the press and reporters. He's also headstrong. He's Peter Parker Stark and he's not afraid to be himself.
The people started clapping when they saw Tony and started to get close to him. He wrapped his arms around Peter so to protect him from towering individuals, until they were on the stage.
"Dad can I sit here?" Peter asked then sat.
"Yeah let's sit here bud"
Hey, would it be all right if everyone sat down?" He mentioned to the reporters.
That way you can see me and my kid. A little less formal and..."
All of the people around them sat on the floor afterwards and kept silent, everybody listened.
"I never got to say goodbye to Dad. I never got to say goodbye to my father. It's something I never wanted my son to experience. There's questions that I would have asked him. I would have asked him how he felt about what this company did. If he was conflicted, if he ever had doubts. Or maybe he was every inch the man we all remember from the newsreels."
Tony then tapped his son's shoulder and Peter just listened quietly. Tony remembered the time he toured Peter around the company and his kid questioned the weapons, but he was too blinded by the vision of his company - building weapons for peace, that he didn't even come to entertain the thought that what if these weapons could have killed other innocent people.
"I saw young Americans killed by the very weapons I created to defend them and protect them. And I saw that I had become part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability."
Peter immediately has a feeling what his Dad's going to say next. "Dad you're not going to..."
but he was cut off when suddenly a bunch of reporters threw their hands up to ask questions. His dad just wrapped his arms around his shoulders.
"Mr. Stark!"
His Dad pointed to a reporter he knew. "Hey, Ben."
"What happened over there?"
What happened over there needs to stop, he thought. The world will be a better place without these weapons. He stood up and Peter stood up as well holding each other's hands.
"I had my eyes opened. I came to realize that I have more to offer this world than just making things that blow up. And that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark International." All of the reporters stood up to ask questions. Obadiah came to his father's side to stop him from talking. They then headed out of the conference room and went the the arc reactor site where Tony and Obadiah talked further.
"Dad, what are we going to eat now?" Peter suddenly asked while at the car on their way back home.
"What?" Tony asked confused.
"You shut down the weapons division Dad, and Stark Industries is a weapons company that doesn't make any weapons now."
"Yeah, so?"
"So aren't we going to become poor now? You won't be able to afford Chef Paul now, Dad. What are we going to eat?"
Tony burst out laughing while Pepper and Happy laughed as well. Peter's innocence never fails to lighten up every situation. Tony brushed off the few tears from laughing hard, then wrapped his arm around Peter and kissed his forehead. "Oh I love you buddy."
I'll cook for us. You like my cooking right?"
Peter raised one of his eyebrows. "Really dad?" He knows his Dad aren't fond of cooking, he doesn't have the patience for it and quickly burn things off.
"Yeah, waffles, smoothies and... You know what, don't worry bout that. We'll get through enough just fine." Tony winked at Peter and just smiled. As long as he have his kid by his side, they're always going to be alright.
That night, Tony build his new arc reactor that will replace the current one he got.
Tony started his new project. He cannot stop thinking of the fact that his weapons are still out there wreaking havoc in the lives of the innocent. He cannot let another person to be murdered, another kid to be orphaned and another town to be destroyed. He's going to find those weapons in the wrong hands and destroy every bit of it.
"You up Jarvis? Tony typed in the codes for the secret database of his Mark I in his lab.
"For you sir, always." He opened up the prototype design of Mark I and pulled it out to a hologram at the table.
"I'd like to open a new project file, index as Mark II."
Secure this on my private server. We wouldn't want this to end up in the wrong hands." He started to examine the Mark I to lay out the improvements he needed to make.
"Working on a secret project, are we, sir?"
"We don't know who to trust anymore. Maybe in mine it could actually do some good, and soundproof the whole lab. We wouldn't want to worry the young master anymore, wouldn't we?"
Peter can't know any of this yet. It's too dangerous and he can't drag his kid into his avenging after three months of being away. His kid doesn't deserve that. He worked with the Mark II day and night. Starting from the leg armor up to the arms. Dum-E, U, and Butterfingers being his assistants. He works and tries the prototype when Peter is at school. After tucking him to bed, he works for the whole night. Caffeine mostly running is his veins. He still allows Peter to go by the lab with him helping him through his homework, and he always manages to put away the secret stuff in a secure area of the lab while he still works the suit in his computer.
It took him 15 days to finish the suit completely, took him longer but worth it nevertheless. JARVIS is already fully integrated in the system and tests are all complete. He made sure to test his first flying test or lesson on a fine evening, where he asked Pepper to keep an eye on Peter for a while, took him to a haircut and some ice-cream, maybe a little bit shopping.
His first flight of the Iron Man suit was completely exhilarating. He tested the limits of the altitude the suit can fly up and found it completely iced up higher than 85000 ft., then he falls blind and was saved only by flaps deployed manually, nearly dropping on the traffic of the city. He powered down at the house but didn't expect the suit to completely tear down the ceiling to the floor and then landed on his blue vintage car. And he also completely destroyed Peter's Piano. Oh crap, Peter's gonna be horrified to see this. He got out of his suit and got an ice pack to control his headache until he noticed a gift from Pepper, his old arc reactor when he asked for help to attach the new one on his chest. Carved into it the words "Proof that Tony Stark has a Heart" Of course he has a heart. But the gesture of thoughtfulness may have softened his heart even more.
What he and Pepper saw on the road back home was completely unbelievable. A man dressed in a silver armor flying! It almost touched down the road that cars suddenly have to keep out. He can't be mistaken. Is it a superhero? He couldn't believe it. He's so excited to tell it to his father.
Peter walked inside the mansion excitedly to find his Dad just walking upstairs from his lab.
"Dad!" He went to his father and jumped excitedly. "I have to tell you something! You wouldn't believe it!"
"Oh yeah. What is it? By the way nice haircut kid, did you and Pepper had fun?"
"Yeah we did - Wait... Wha-What happened to Grandma's Piano? and the ceiling? and the floor?" He noticed in his peripheral vision the Piano completely destroyed. It's like someone dropped a gigantic heavy thing shattering everything straight down.
"Well... a massive metal dropped from the roof from the jet. Part of an experiment gone wrong. Sorry about your Piano Pete. We'll just replace it. So what do you want to talk about earlier?" Tony tried to swerve the topic. He knows that was lame, Oh God he hopes Peter believed it. He tried to turn Peter's back from it as they headed upstairs.
"Thanks so much Pepper, and please take care of this for me." Tony whispered to Pepper as they walked past her.
"Right." Pepper tried to smile while mouthing "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS" with no sound in which Tony only replied with a flying kiss.
"Why would you experiment like that Dad? What kind of experiment is that? The piano's completely shattered; we had a ton of memories from that Piano."
"I know Pete. I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next time. So what do you want to talk about?" Guilt is already filling up Tony. Peter looked sad and it's his fault again. He doesn't know until when he can keep a secret like this.
"It's okay Dad. We saw something earlier!" From being sad, Peter immediately perked up excitedly which surprised Tony. Wow it's that easy huh.
"A man in a silver armor flew right past us so fast when we're at the car back home!"
Oh No, Tony thought. Peter was there? Of all instances, WHAT, WHY... I could've been more careful; I almost knocked off one of the cars.
"The man's literally flying Dad! Like his foot have rockets or something! He's covered in a metal like Armor!"
"Oh Wow..."
"Yeah Dad! It's so cool! Do you think he's a superhero cause that'll be crazy!"
A superhero? Hmm, no. Not yet, anyway.
"I don't think so Pete... maybe it's just a show? Maybe? We're not sure yet of what he is."
"I have a feeling he's good Dad. I hope he's good. What do you think his name will be? Metal Man?"
WHAT. Tony laughed hard. "Oh God, that's terrible Pete."
"Yeah. That's lame." and Peter laughed as well.
"C'mon let's get you some sleep now."
As he tucks Peter to bed, he couldn't help but wonder what his son's reaction might be when he found out he's that thing. Will he be happy or disappointed? Will it be okay with him? Will he be able to accept him?
The next day, Tony decided to crash his own party. The third red carpet annual benefit ball that he's not even invited into. He has already updated the suit with a new shell metal and exosystem to solve the icing problem and is now also being rendered for a new paint job of hot rod-red and gold which will be done for about five hours.
The father and son duo stepped out of their Audi looking so dashing while wearing their Valentino three piece suit. Camera's and lights flashing through. All of the guest and reporters are completely surprised by their sudden appearance.
Once inside, Tony went to the bar to get a drink while Peter was greeted by Chef Joachim, the head chef of the restaurant at the Disney Concert Hall. They often goes at the restaurant and Peter has been loved by the staff ever since.
"Pepper!" Peter called once he finished talking to the Chef. The woman turned and was surprised to see a spirited little kid coming towards her.
Wow. You're so beautiful!" and hugged her afterwards.
"Thank you sweetheart. You look so handsome as well. What - Why are you here? Where's your Dad?"
"He's there." Peter pointed at his Dad talking to someone at the Bar.
"Mrs. Eleanor couldn't come at the house, so he just went with me here."
A moment after Tony was walking towards them.
"Fantastic! I almost didn't recognize you." Tony casually complimented as he stepped closely to Pepper.
"What's up with you bringing your son into all these adult events?" asked Pepper incredulously.
"His babysitter can't come in tonight, and I can't leave him alone at the house." Tony said as if it was the most normal thing a Parent could do.
You wanna dance?"
"No."
"Let's have a dance."
Pete, wait for me a while. You see that guy over there, he's Agent Coulson. He's gonna watch over you. Pep and I are just gonna dance a bit." Tony said to Peter tapping his shoulders and motioned to the man he's talking to earlier.
"Okay Dad. Go get her!" Peter whispered and left them alone while Tony held Pepper's hands and walked her towards the dance floor.
Peter went to the bar where the man his dad said to was standing, he grabbed a high stool chair and sat there.
"Hi Mr. Andrew" Peter said as he read the nametag of the bartender.
"Hello, Mr. Stark. What can we get you?"
"Can I have a grape juice please Mr. Andrew."
"Right away, sir."
"Thank you."
"Hi Mr. Coulson. I'm Peter." Peter greeted the man beside him just staring at his Dad and Pepper dancing.
Mr. Coulson turned to him, "Mr. Stark. I'm Agent Phil Coulson. It's nice to meet you."
"Please call me Peter. Mr. Stark's usually my Dad." He found Agent Coulson kind of funny, he stands pretty upright and talks so straightforward.
"Very Well, Peter."
"You're an agent, like James Bond?" Peter asked curious and started drinking his grape juice while they're watching the people dancing most especially Pepper and his Dad. They looked so good together. He just wished his Dad finally realize what Pepper is into his life.
"Yeah, like that, but with a bit more shocker. I'm from the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division."
"The what? That's a lot of words Mr. Coulson but that's cool!" By then he noticed his Dad and Pepper went outside.
"Yeah, we get that a lot."
"Oh I remember! You're also at the press conference! You're talking with Pepper and you're here again."
"Yes, I need to talk to your Dad, and he never got the time but just now."
"Yeah, he's usually at home in his lab. They're saying my Dad's bedridden but that's a complete opposite! Look at him! They have no idea what they're saying."
"Yes, we know."
"So, it's SHIELD right? What does SHIELD do? Do you have missions? What kind of missions? Do you fight bad guys? Do you have really cool gadgets?"
Agent Coulson looks surprised as the kid had easily formed the right acronym and the many questions he immediately raised.
"It's an intelligence agency tasked to protect National and Global Security, so we always have missions. We monitor threats." Agent Coulson gave a vague answer, that's what intelligence agencies all mean. He doesn't want the kid to delve any deeper than what it actually means.
"So, your dad usually brings you in these kind of events?"
He noticed Dad talking to a familiar female reporter now and noticed how quickly his dad perplexed, and before long went outside again.
"Um, sometimes. Mrs. Eleanor can't come tonight and I insisted to come with him here. I promised to sleep before 10 anyway. It's just 830."
"And you're comfortable with these? Seems pretty boring stuff."
"It is, but my Dad and I don't get too long with these events. Hmm, what does my Dad got something to do with SHIELD anyway?"
Agent Coulson's about to answer but was cut-off when Dad intervened.
"Agent Coulson, thanks for keeping an eye on Peter." Dad looks mad about something but still seemed composed.
"It's no problem, Mr. Stark. See you at the 24th."
"Right, I'll see you. We gotta go now, buddy."
"Okay. Great talking to you Agent Coulson! Bye!"
Tony tried to remain calm until they got home and tuck Peter to bed. I am not my company, he thought to himself. His weapons are being sold under the table and he's gonna find out who did this. And if his hunch is right, Obadiah is the only one who did this. He's gonna stop and destroy all of it.
After watching the news of all the horrific things happenings in Gulmira. He finally decided it's time to stop the Ten Rings once and for all. With the new Red and Gold paint of the suit armor, he headed out to do what needs to be done.
After his fight to Gulmira and his accidental training exercise from the military. He asked Pepper to come and run an errand for him to hack into the mainframe of the company and retrieve all data from Shipping.
"And what do you plan to do with this information if I bring it back here?" Pepper asked worried.
"Same drill. They've been dealing under the table, and I'm going to stop them. I'm going to find my weapons and destroy them."
"Tony, you know that I would help you with anything, but I cannot help you if you're going to start all of this again. You're going to kill yourself, and I'm not going to be a part of it. Your son has been through enough." Pepper threw the flash drive away and started to walk out.
"You think I don't know that? I'm trying to protect him Pepper! I'm trying... to protect the people that I put in harm's way. I want to destroy those weapons cause it causes destruction and killings. I'm trying to give him a better world. I can't let Peter grow up in a world where I had created those weapons and I didn't even try to do anything to stop it...
If I have the power to stop it, then it's my responsibility to get the job done."
Tony said all the words with conviction spoken like a true hero.
"I shouldn't be alive, unless it was for a reason. I'm not crazy, Pepper.
I just finally know what I have to do. And I know in my heart that it's right."
They lock eyes with each other, contemplating the words said in silence.
"You and Peter, You're all I have, too, you know." Pepper started to pick up the flash drive and made her way out.
It was a peaceful night before the storm. The ocean looks so calm and majestic under the moon.
It has been a while since he cuddled his son like this to sleep. Peter's hugging his Dad, his face to his dad's chest, listening to the humming sound it makes and his head laying on his dad's arms.
"Dad, do you want to talk about it?"
"Talk about what Pete?"
"When you went back here... something changed in you. Not just that." Peter pointed to the arc reactor on his Dad's chest. His dad doesn't have to say it but everyone else can see it especially him.
"What does it felt like Dad?"
"I don't think you'd want to know bud."
"I want to know."
It took a few minutes before Tony can wrap his head around to even say the words out loud.
"It was cold - the cave.
I- I didn't... It was just... I don't think there's enough words to describe the pain bud.
I was afraid, terrified even... to die.
but I kept thinking about you, the thought of you kept me going.
Just all of it, it was hard, and it was a miracle I even survived. I guess from all that, it's hard not to change bud. It just made me appreciate the one's I have here..." and he kissed his son's forehead.
"I'm sorry Dad."
"No, don't bud. I'm sorry, you have to stick up to your father like this."
"No.. I'm so lucky I have you Dad. Thank you for being strong enough to come back home."
"and Thank you for being my son." His dad whispered and kissed his head while they both drifted off to sleep.
It was game night tonight, and the Stark boys just finished having dinner. Twice a week, the Father and son have a game night that consist of a board game or some video game.
Tony momentarily went to the lab to pick up Peter's homework and books he forgotten to put in his bag-pack.
"Peter... What game do you like to play?" Tony called as he was on his way back headed upstairs from his lab.
"There's scrabble-" He was stopped when a ringing from his phone uproared which he immediately answered.
"Tony?" Pepper sound anxious and concerned.
"Pepper?"
"It was Obadiah, Tony! Obadiah ordered your kidnapping! He paid the ten rings-"
He's already upstairs when Pepper said the words and he stopped listening any further when his heart stopped on what he saw. It horrified his system to its core.
"What did you do to him?" Panic was rising all over his body. He was shaking. His heart sped like drums that thud nervously. His little kid. His little kid that he's supposed to protect.
Tony walked closer. Peter's head laying on Obadiah's lap. Not moving.
"Oh, Tony. I knew I was too late when I saw that secretary of yours walking quickly outside the company. Downloaded all of my secret files." Obadiah started brushing Peter's hair.
"A boy genius they say. Adorable, but what's the use if he's dead."
Tony's fist tightened. His anger rising in fits of rage. You monster!
"Get away from him!"
"If you say so." Obadiah started to stand up, gently laying the boy's head at the sofa.
"Peter!" Tony quickly head up to his boy and checked his pulse. He's so afraid for his boy. He's so afraid that something bad happened to him.
To his relief, Peter's still breathing, but then a sudden shock of electricity ran through his body that made him limp completely paralyzed. He became pale, his veins popped out like it's been strained, and he's having trouble breathing. He was completely unable to move and now at the mercy of Obadiah's device. Obadiah sat him up at the sofa next to Peter.
"Breathe.
Easy, easy.
You remember this one, right? The Sonic Taser.
A child is always the weakness of a Parent. Don't worry I didn't use it to your son. I don't kill children. Just a shot of Tranquilizer and Peter was off to snoozeville.
Poor child. He's gonna be an orphan again. Gonna see his Dad dead next to him."
Obadiah started extracting the arc reactor from Tony's chest.
"Tony. When I ordered the hit on you, I worried that I was killing the golden goose.
But, you see, it was just fate that you survived that. You had one last golden egg to give.
Do you really think that just because you have an idea, it belongs to you?"
He then completely tore off the reactor from his chest. Allowing the shrapnel to go slowly into Tony's heart at the same time killing him slowly. Tony just stared wide eyed struggling to Obadiah. He cannot die again. He can't. There's one more reactor at the lab. He must get it.
"Tony, this is your Ninth Symphony. What a masterpiece. Look at that. This is your legacy.
A new generation of weapons with this at its heart. Weapons that will help steer the world back on course, put the balance of power in our hands. The right hands. I wish you could've seen my prototype. It's not as... Well, not as conservative as yours. Too bad you had to involve Pepper in this. I would have preferred that she lived."
Obadiah started to get up and has secured the arc reactor in his briefcase making his way out.
Once Obadiah's out the door. He tried to stand up no matter how hard it is, searched for the elevator to the lab and struggled to get in. He was sweating profusely.
Must. Get. That. Reactor. He can't die. Not now. Peter's still asleep and he can't waste time.
In a few seconds he's at the lab but he can't stand anymore so he started crawling and limping to get that glass at the table. Every move, there's pain. He's now at the edge of the table, his hands tried hard to reach it but failed. He slumped back hard on the ground, just lying completely lifeless. He's slowly dying now, no strength, no reflexes. His mind already shutting down with eyes open. He can't do anything but wait now for his death.
"DAD!" His blurred vision saw Peter sprinting towards him. He heard a glass broke at his side, and in a few seconds the old arc reactor was powering up his chest again. His mind and body slowly regaining it's strength.
"DAD! ARE YOU OKAY? PLEASE BE OKAY... PLEASE." Peter asked panting. The face of his Dad dying scared him all over. That pale white face, veins popping, chest completely empty of the reactor. He woke up a few minutes after Obadiah left and knew something was wrong. He remembered Uncle Obi suddenly at their house then he suddenly fell asleep. When he can't find his dad at first glance of his surroundings, he immediately went to the lab where he found and saw his dad almost completely lifeless at the floor. He rushed toward the old arc reactor and broke the glass surrounding it. He knew how to replace and put up the arc reactor to his Dad's chest. He's done it before besides Pepper.
He started lifting his father's head into his lap. "Dad.." Tears are now dropping on his cheeks.
His Dad's hands held his head and brushed away his tears, slowly smiling. "Good boy. Good job buddy. Good job." His father tried to sit up, put his arm around him and kissed his forehead. "Thanks for saving me Pete. Thank you. Ohh I love you so much kid.." Dad rested his head on Peter's and closed his eyes resting for a bit.
Uncle Rhodey came in afterwards at the lab, worriedly calling out for Dad's name then ran up to them. "Tony! Peter! Are you okay?"
"Where's Pepper?" Dad asked.
"She's fine. She's with five agents. They're about to arrest Obadiah."
"That's not gonna be enough."
Uncle Rhodey started to help Dad to get up while his Dad's other arm still around him. When he started to get up as well, that's when he got a complete view of the lab. The Red and Gold Armor openly seen at a corner.
"What, that's- that's the metal armor! You're the flying man I was talking to you about? Ha- How did that happen?" Shocked is an understatement right now. He can't believe it. Dad's the superhero he's gushing about!
"I'll tell you all about it later Pete. For now, let's try to save Pepper. Obadiah stole my arc reactor, he's gonna do something bad about it and he won't give it up without a fight."
Dad went to the ref at the lab and drank some water. Afterwards, he stepped in front of the suit and the machines automatically started to assemble the armor into his Dad's whole body.
"That's the coolest thing I've ever seen." He and Uncle Rhodey blurted out at the same time, completely amazed.
Peter stared in awe. He's a complete dork in these kinds of stuff and he's freaking out!
"Not bad huh. Let's do this." The armor was completely assembled now and Dad fire tested on one of the cars.
"Whoa.." Peter said in amazement.
"Rhodey, take care of Peter. Never let him out of your sight."
"I will, Tony."
"I'll see you later buddy." His dad said to him and with that set off flying.
It was seen on the news later two unidentified individuals with robotic-like armors fighting off on the city highway, then flying into the sky. A large blast of beam from the arc reactor blasted to the sky moments later, blacking out half of the city, that ended of with the Arc Reactor explosion on Stark Industries company grounds.
The smell of disinfectant was the first he noticed when his senses woke up, he tried to open his eyes and was greeted by the dim lights of the large hospital room. It was still dark outside. The old arc reactor still attached to his chest that is in dire need of a new one. His little bundle of joy laying in his arms, hugging him and deeply sleeping in their large hospital bed. He kissed his son's head and relaxed. He just saved thousands of lives from another person with a vendetta and twisted idealism to create weapons for greed and power.
It is a new day now. They're all safe and sound, most especially his little one whom he swore to his life to protect, his legacy, his son, Peter. Hugging him into his arms as he slowly slips into unconsciousness once again.
The bright lights coming through the window as the early morning sun shines through. He opened his eyes to see Peter sitting at the bed, reading a newspaper. His son reading a newspaper, now that's new. He patted his son's hair that made his son turn and look at him.
"Dad! You're awake!" Peter quickly hugged him.
"Hey bud.." He kissed his son's head.
"Why didn't you tell me you were IRON MAN?"
"Iron Man? Who's Iron Man?"
"You! Look!" He showed him the newspaper with the headline saying "WHO IS THE IRONMAN?" accompanied by a picture of him in the Iron Man suit.
"That's how you got out of the cave isn't it?"
"Uh yes but with a scrappy prototype, and I'm about to tell you the story on game night but we got interrupted."
"Figures."
"and I thought it was Metal Man huh?" He tickled his son who immediately laughed.
"Yikes Dad, that one's lame. This one's better and so cool! Ned will freak out when I tell him!"
"Oh so we're telling everyone now?"
"Aren't we? You're not gonna tell everybody? Are you gonna be those superheroes in comic books with secret identity? cause that one's so common already."
"So I'm a superhero now? I don't really have a hero character yeah?, am I?"
"You saved people Dad! and you stopped the bad guys! That's what superheroes do and you can fly! You fight for good, that't what a hero character does right?"
"Do you want me to tell everybody?"
"I'm proud of you Dad, so it's okay. It's your decision."
"I don't deserve you, Peter. Thank you buddy. I'm so proud of you too."
"I can't believe Uncle Obie would do that to you." Peter said with a saddened voice. He has seen the old man as a lively and funny guy whenever with him. He's almost like a Grandpa to Peter already.
"Yeah. I'm sorry about that bud. I tried to stop him and-"
"You did the right thing Dad. You don't need to explain."
Pepper stepped inside the room.
"We need to settle this mess Tony. There's a press conference later. Are you able to speak?"
"Yes, yes, sure. I'll be there."
"Agent Coulson will be there to guide you on what to say Tony. Don't screw this up."
Later that afternoon, they're at Tony's office preparing for the Press Conference.
""Iron Man." That's kind of catchy. It's got a nice ring to it. I mean, it's not technically accurate. The suit's a gold-titanium alloy," Tony said as Pepper gives him last minute touch-ups.
Peter was riding his kick scooter, around the big office.
"Pete, you gotta be careful. You're going too fast." Tony called at the far end of the room.
"'Kay Dad."
"Here's your alibi. Just read it, word for word." Agent Coulson said referring to the cards Tony was supposed to say.
"There's nothing about Stane here."
"That's being handled. He's on vacation. Small aircraft, have such a poor safety record."
"But what about the whole cover story that it's a bodyguard?"
"No one's gonna believe that." Peter suddenly blurted out. He's been listening to the conversation, and he didn't know that he had said the words out loud. Oops.
All heads turned to Peter.
"What's that buddy?" Tony asked and Peter stopped in front of them and went to his Dad.
"I mean no one has the brains to build and power up something like that but Dad. and everyone knows he's you know, a genius and a mechanic, so..?"
"Kid's right, but we gotta stick to the cards for now, bud." Tony said as he tapped Peter's chest hugging him from his back.
"Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you. You've got 90 seconds." Agent Coulson firmly said, ending the conversation.
As Pepper talked to Agent Coulson, Tony talked to his son.
"You know I'm not the only genius around here Pete. You're the genius who's gonna surpass me. How bout we tinker at the lab after this? Examine the suit for yourself?"
"Oh Yeah? Dad! I'm so excited! I want to build my Iron Man mask that looks exactly like yours! Then can I also have the Iron Man boots with repulsors so I can fly?"
"Uh no, No flying for now. Mask's just fine, alright."
They started to stand up. "Pete, Pep and I would just be a moment, okay?"
"Okay." then Peter ran towards Agent Coulson.
"You know, it's actually not that bad. Even I don't think I'm Iron Man." Tony said as Pepper fixed his tie, laying out the finishing touches.
"You're not Iron Man."
"Peter said otherwise."
"You're not. And Peter's your kid. You're his father so naturally you're his hero."
"All right, suit yourself."
They talked more about the other night, when Tony stood up Pepper at the party. There's clearly a connection between them but Tony refused to delve in deeper as he was already defeated, it was his fault for having his priorities askew.
At the Press Conference, Pepper, Peter, and Agent Coulson watched Tony from the far end of the hall. He's wondering of what he's Dad's gonna say. He has a feeling that Dad's not really going to stick to the cards. It's not who he is. He tells the truth. He do his own way. Dad's a rebel and a fighter, and clearly he's one as well.
"Been a while since I was in front of you. I figure I'll stick to the cards this time."
The audience laughed. Clearly Dad's humor never goes out of style.
"There's been speculation that I was involved in the events that occurred on the freeway and the rooftop..."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, but do you honestly expect us to believe that that was a bodyguard in a suit that conveniently appeared, despite the fact that you..."
The familiar reporter interrupted. Really, that lady is inquisitively annoying, Peter thought.
"I know that it's confusing. It is one thing to question the official story, and another thing entirely to make wild accusations, or insinuate that I'm a superhero."
"I never said you were a superhero."
"Didn't? Well, good, because that would be outlandish and fantastic. I'm just not the hero type. Clearly. With this laundry list of character defects, all the mistakes I've made, largely public."
Uncle Rhodey whispered something to Dad.
"Yeah, okay. Yeah." and then there's one big pause.
Oh hell, there's no point in keeping it a secret anyway. The most important person in his life knows and accepts who he is...
Tony stared directly at his son, Peter who just gave him a smile indicating everything's gonna be alright.
"The truth is...
I am Iron Man."
The father and son grinned at the same time. This one's just the beginning of their adventures to come.
Author's Note:
I hope you guys like this. Thank you for your reviews. I didn't explain the fight scenes anymore since it's all in the movie. This story's mainly focused on the father and son. Anyway, The Avengers: Endgame is closing near it's showing date and we're all about to fall in its pit of despair. I can't accept that it's the last Avengers movie. HUHUH.
Thanks for reading guys! Let me know what you think.
