CHAPTER 8
Not Easy

Tony wished Pepper was there.

Of course, she just had to take her paid vacation now - citing how he was the parent. She wasn't yet, not unless they married. Something about how he had to bond with his new ward and fork a bond the most. Honestly, it had sounded like a load of crap to Tony. But what else was new?

But being a parent was hard...

The first weekend had been easy. But now? They were about a week into it and Ryan was already showing signs of being a typical teenager. He didn't want to go to bed on time, he didn't want to do his homework, and dammit... Hadn't they mentioned a so-called honeymoon phase in the classes?

Tony wondered quietly if that had been the time before Ryan moved in. When things had been easy, and he could drop the kid off and go about his day. It wasn't easy like that now: he came home every day to a thirteen-year-old sprawled out on his couch asking what was for dinner.

Somewhere in Heaven, he was sure Howard Stark was having a laugh.

"Pour one out for me, old man."

Tony mumbled the sentiment late Thursday evening as he came up from the lab. It was late, as usual, but he was preparing for his business trip to Italy tomorrow afternoon. A trip he was considering leaving Ryan home for at this point. Was he ready for the maturity he was going to have to show? Tony wasn't sure...

But all the same as he came to his bedroom to see Ryan excitedly doing his packing... Tony melted again. Ugh. Every time he wanted to find a reason to dislike him, looking at him actually being happy reeled him back. "You have school in the morning," Ryan peered up. "Are we going to do the bedtime dance every night?"

Ryan observed the clock that clearly read midnight for half a minute before eyeing Tony with a shrug. "Who can sleep with Rome on the mind?" Ryan replied with a hint of serious enthusiasm. "Hey I show up for school right? And I passed my first test. Can't you just let it slide?"

Tony shook his head. "I'm your parent. We don't let anything slide," he explained. "And besides you not having structure was already part of the problem in your life before. I'm here to course-correct."

For emphasis Tony stepped over and pulled back the blankets of his bed. Ryan seemed frustrated, but still made his way over. Climbing in and moving the blanket onto himself. "And you promise you're not gonna go without me?" Ryan asked quietly.

For the first time, Tony frowned. Go without... Oh, right. The kid probably had some abandonment issues, didn't he? Tony felt his stomach tighten as he took a seat on the bed. "Are you kidding me? You're probably the only thing there that will keep me sane," he admitted honestly. "You get to do the touristy stuff while I'm in meetings for most of day one. And then I get to show you the cool places."

"And by meetings you mean..."

"Business meetings. Man kid, my whole life doesn't revolve around the suit," Tony laughed a little. Patting his leg as he stood to his feet. "I promise when I'm on the news taking down a terrorist cell you'll be the first to hear the story."

Honestly, now that he had a kid waiting for him to come home, Tony was glad nothing had gone down for a while. The thought of him getting hurt or even dying had taken on a new meaning with Ryan in the house. A new worry to deal with... One he had to tread carefully with.

"I guess I'm just worried one day I'm going to wake up and you won't be there," Ryan admitted. "Like this was all just some stupid dream, or..."

Tony looked the boy in the eyes, trying his best not to let his heart drop into his stomach at that. The part of him that almost wanted to give up now replaced with a more intense resolve. "Kid, I promise you right now. That will never happen," Tony told him firmly. "You and I are in this, until the end of the line. Whenever that is."

"But -."

"No but's that's my promise to you," Tony replied, not wanting to further the argument as he stood up and moved to turn off the light. "Now get some damn sleep. I have an early morning and I don't want to have to come back and check on you."

"Goodnight, Tony."

As he flicked the switch and exited Ryan's room, the billionaire took a deep breath. Running a hand through his hair as he reminded himself that meant he had to go to bed too.

"Are you sure we're safe in this thing?"

Ryan had never actually flown before, so he had to admit that now that he could... He was nervous. Him, the kid who had asked for a flight with the Iron Man suit. Tony must have figured he was crazy. Yet every time they hit a bump of turbulence Ryan gripped the arm rest tightly.

"First time flying huh?" Tony observed as he looked up from his phone. "Take a deep breath, it's not so bad. Just don't look down."

Still Ryan gripped the seat tighter. Hitching a breath as Tony frowned a little. "C'mere."

Ryan could see that Tony was motioning to the seat next to him close enough to be next to him. But comfortable enough they wouldn't be cramped. "Wh -?"

"Just get over here before I lose my nerve."

Ryan raised his eyebrows skeptically as he stood and moved to sit beside Tony. He didn't know what he was expecting but a gentle arm around his shoulder wasn't it. Tony's touch was... Surprisingly comforting allowing him to lean against his guardian and breathe.

As a long sigh escaped his lips, Tony seemed to notice. Curious. "What? Too much?"

Curling his legs up on the seat and moving closer, Ryan felt the opposite. His mom had never been the comforting type, so to actually feel safe like this? That was a first. "Actually... Comfortable," Ryan admitted. "Just surprised, the way you talk about your parents I thought you'd be more hands-off."

Tony smiled as he settled in a little bit more relaxed and let Ryan get comfortable. "Well, last I checked high on my list of priorities is to be a better... Guardian," he stopped short of using the word "dad". Which was probably a good call. "I thought that was obvious. My dad never took me to Rome. Hell, I hardly saw him between all his business trips."

Ryan was silent. "The only time my mom took me anywhere... I stayed in a hotel room and she didn't come back for four days."

Tony's eyebrow twitched. Ryan knew Tony probably didn't want to hear about the things his mom did. They'd both gone into this knowing she was an absolutely terrible person after all. But Ryan hadn't exactly spent a lot of time talking about how bad a mom she ultimately was.

She lied, she drank, she gambled... She disappeared a lot and just...

Ryan tried to shake his thoughts away a little. "So you've never traveled anywhere? Disneyland? Six Flags?" Ryan shook his head as Tony ran a hand through his hair thoughtfully. "We're fixing that. First school vacation I'm taking you to whatever theme park you want. You have catching up to do."

"You don't have to..."

"I want to."

Ryan wasn't going to argue that further. After all, he has always wanted to go to Disneyland. Besides, it was slowly becoming night again and he was tired. Got another couple of hours, get some sleep," Tony mentioned. "Get some sleep."

"Not tired..."

"Bullshit."

Ryan wondered if Tony was serious for a few moments. What would anyone think if they found the billionaire with a kid sleeping in his arms? Didn't this guy have a reputation? He couldn't help but wonder as his eyes grew a little heavier. Well, maybe a few minutes couldn't hurt him or his reputation.

When Happy went to check on them later he'd try to contain the chuckle at the sight of the two quietly snoozing like that.

"Are people gonna take pictures of us wherever we go?"

Tony smirked as he held a hand up with a greeting and smile. He kept his hand on Ryan's back as he moved him away from the crowd of reporters already hoping to get a glimpse of Tony Stark, the "Iron Man".

"You'll get used to it," He insisted to Ryan as he leaned down to mutter it into his ear. "Not every day you can say your foster dad's a superhero. Everyone is going to want pictures."

They moved into their hotel quickly though. Even if Tony had seen this coming, he'd be damned if he let every moment with his new kid be publicized in the news. "As long as we're not compared to Daddy Warbucks and Annie or some shit," Tony snorted at Ryan's joke. His thoughts exactly. "I don't mind being in the papers anyway."

"Well I have a full head of hair, thanks," Tony joked running a hand over said head of hair. "So. I was thinking Happy can take you sightseeing while I'm in meetings today."

Ryan shifted a bit. "I don't know..."

Tony side-eyed him. "Kid, you worried about Happy? Happy is s good guy. And we're a matching set, you gotta get used to him if you're living with me," Ryan shrugged a little in response. "Besides, I'm all yours tomorrow. I'm taking you to the colosseum. You'll see where ancient dudes got mauled by lions. It'll be a blast."

"You're such a nerd." Ryan joked as he rolled his eyes.

Tony might have resented that statement - but it was true. Letting Happy get them checked in, he'd been about ready to give a call to his contact when the crash sounded. A couple of shrieks... Tony's eyes shot up quickly as Ryan turned to look.

When the ground shook... Well, he knew something was up. Removing his sunglasses he turned to Ryan. "What the heck is that?" Ryan asked with a shake in his voice.

"Happy, watch the kid." Tony replied. He pointed straight at Ryan. "Stay with Happy..."

Thankfully, he'd been smart enough to bring his briefcase suit. And while this wasn't exactly the right moment for Ryan to get to actually see one of them in action? Well, he guessed there was never really a good time for that was there?

By the time it'd come together Ryan's eyes widened a bit. "Whoa." Was all the kid could muster. "That is so sick! Still wanna know when I get one."

"Maybe get a learner's permit. Then we'll talk."

Without a second thought, Tony was rushing out onto the street. Turning to see who exactly had crashed his party, it wasn't exactly what he was expecting. Was that Coulson... Was he kidding him? Letting his suit slip away Tony made his way forward, throwing his arms up.

Landing what appeared to be a small quinjet in the middle of Rome? Subtle. "What the hell, Coulson?" Tony shouted. "You could have calle.."

"Tried. Straight to voicemail." Damn he really was off his game, wasn't he? Tony checked his phone carefully. "You're needed."

Tony laughed a little. "Since when am I needed for anything?"

"No time to explain. There's been a major situation."

"Whoa! What is that thing?"

Oh great. Of course Ryan didn't know how to listen, he turned to see him headed over. "Not the time, Ryan." Tony sighed quietly. "What kind of situation?"

Coulson of course just shook his head. "Like I said, we'll talk about it on the jet. We're already on a time crunch."

"We're going in that thing? I call shotgun!"

Tony had started to move to stop Ryan when he was already bounding over. Coulson turned to Tony, who turned to Happy... Ugh. Of all the times for Pepper to be away. Of course. "Uhhh Ryan!"

But the kid was already inside. Of course he was. Tony looked at Coulson with frustration. Coulson shrugged slightly... "He won't like it but he already doesn't like having to call you in. And it's not like we have time for other arrangements," He grunted. "Let's move it. I'll get the NDA's ready."

A/N: Yep, I moved the events of The Avengers up a little. I figured it's an AU anyway so it'll work. Hope y'all are ready for it!