Son of Iron Man

Over a hundred readers! Thanks to everyone who has read the story this far; without you I wouldn't be writing this. And thank you most of all to those loyal readers among you who have read every chapter and followed the story.

I'm back, and more importantly, so is Toby.

Just as a reminder, guys, I'm still open to character suggestions. They can have powers, or they can be regular people. After this chapter, you'll be seeing just why I need some more characters for the story. I can of course come up with them myself, but it might be nice for some of you to see your own creations here. They don't necessarily have to be children of superheroes, either.

At any rate, let's begin.


Chapter Eight: Taking the Initiative.

At breakfast on Saturday morning, Toby sat around the table with Tony, Pepper, Mothi and Magni. He was reading a copy of the Daily Bugle, looking to see if Sarah had published her article yet. She had published both. On the front page was a scene from the video she had taken, which showed the moment where Toby was on the floor with an arm wrapped around his chest, shooting Dustin out of the sky. 'Knight of Iron' was the title.

"What are you reading there?" Tony asked.

"The article about yesterday," Toby answered.

"I'll take a look at it after you're done," Tony said, and Toby nodded absently before continuing to read the article.

Knight of Iron

By Sarah Shilling

Last night, New York City became the site of a battle between iron giants. Toby Stark, the Invincible Iron Man, was yesterday attacked by a mysterious figure known only as the Black Knight. He wore what appeared to be modified Iron Man armour, but our metal hero made short work of him, saving this reporter's life in the progress.

The rest of the article was similarly warm; Sarah had apparently stuck to her promise… for now. Toby then flipped over to the interview, 'A Date with Toby Stark'. Despite the title, she seemed to have stuck to what Toby had said in the interview. After finishing his reading, he handed the paper over to his dad and focused on finishing his breakfast.

"Friend Stark," said Mothi to Tony, who looked up from the paper.

"What is it, Mothi?"

"Today I shall go forth to the mighty halls of 'Pizza Hut' and apply for what you call a 'job'," Mothi said proudly.

"Pizza Hut," Tony repeated, trying hard to disguise a smirk.

"It is an establishment where mortals go to feast," Mothi explained.

"I know what Pizza Hut is," Tony said. "I just can't imagine the son of Thor becoming a pizza guy."

"You do not think I am worthy?" Mothi demanded. "Am I not responsible enough for the distribution of pizza, in your eyes?" Toby placed a hand over his mouth to hide the chuckling as Magni started to stick up for his brother.

"On our homeworld, we were celebrated warriors, Mothi and I. I shall tell you now that there is no worthier person on this world for the esteemed position of pizza distribution officer," he said.

"Mothi, if you want to get a job, then do it," Pepper intervened as she saw her husband begin to lose his composure.

"Thank you, lady Pepper," Mothi said. Tony shook his head with a chuckle and returned to his reading.

"What is this?" Tony demanded after a few minutes.

"What?" Toby asked.

"This." Tony showed Toby the interview page.

"Oh, that…"

"Oh, that," Tony repeated. "What exactly is this?"

"An interview," Toby said with a hint of sarcasm.

"And what is it doing in the newspaper?"

"Well, Sarah and I were talking…"

"I thought I told you to stay away from her."

"I can handle her. Anyway, we were talking and she said something that got me thinking…" Toby then explained the conversation they had.

"Hmm," Tony hummed when he was finished. He looked from his son to the newspaper, then back again. "Luckily, it seems your trust has paid off this time," he conceded. "But you won't be so lucky next time."

"I know," Toby agreed. Then, in an attempt to change the subject, he added: "so, what are we going to do about this Black Knight guy?"

"Glad you asked," Tony said, standing up. "Follow me."


Toby found himself in one of his father's labs while Tony searched for something.

"What are you doing?" Toby asked.

"Searching for…" Tony said, seemingly struck by an idea and rummaging in his pocket, "this." He held up what Toby recognised as a holographic chip and plugged it into the desk. Toby watched as a holographic screen opened up above the desk.

"Pay close attention, son," Tony said. Then the screen loaded the data from the chip. Toby looked at the screen for a moment, looking first at the title and then the various texts and looped videos.

"This is…" Toby breathed. He looked at the title again, long and hard.

"The New Avengers," Tony finished. "Your new team."

"There are only two people on here, though…" Toby pointed out. One video was of a red-and-blue figure swinging on a web, while the other was a metal man hovering shakily above New York. Toby and Ben.

"For now, yes," Tony agreed. "But you're going to build up the team one by one."

"How?" Toby asked. "It's not like everyone goes around shouting 'I'm a superhero'."

"Start with the sons and daughters of superheroes," Tony suggested. "What about that Adrian kid?"

"Bruce's son? I don't think so. He's a clever kid and a good friend, but he just passes out when he gets angry. Something tells me he missed out on the Hulk Gene," Toby said.

"OK, well what about his brother, Ty?"

"Ty? He doesn't even have Bruce's smarts," Toby answered. Tony looked like he was going to say something, but he stopped himself. "What is it, dad?" Toby prompted.

"There's something you need to know about Ty," he said. "But you can't tell anyone."

"I won't," Toby promised.

"Good," Tony said. "Ty Banner is a clone."

"A clone?" Toby repeated, shocked. "Of who?"

"General Thaddeus Ross," Tony revealed.

"The Red Hulk?"

"The very same. He took part in an experimental S.H.I.E.L.D. cloning project, and Ty was the result. He was adopted by the Banners at age two when S.H.I.E.L.D. funding ran out for the project." Tony explained. "I don't think even he knows, so don't tell him. He surely knows about his hulk form by now, but he thinks he inherited it."

"Sounds good," Toby said. "Does Ben know about this?"

"Peter is showing him today," Tony answered.

"Why are you telling us this now?" Toby asked. "It doesn't seem brilliantly planned out yet. Must be in the early stages, still."

"We weren't going to tell you about it until we'd found you more team mates," Tony revealed. "But after yesterday…"

"I sent Dustin off crying yesterday!" Toby protested.

"Then he's going to come back with a bigger sword."

"In which case I'll get a bigger shield," Toby said.

"Exactly! The New Avengers are your bigger shield. Do you understand why I want you to do this?"

"Sure," Toby agreed. "Do I get to lead it?"

"If that's what it takes to get you on board."

"I'm in."


Toby and Ben stood outside the door of the apartment, having a last-minute debate as to how they would go about recruiting Ty. Ben was wearing his Spider-Boy costume, not willing to reveal his identity yet.

"I say we just take him out for ice cream and…"

"Ice cream?" Ben interrupted Toby. "How old do you think he is? Ty is only a year younger than us."

"I know, but who doesn't like ice cream?" Toby said.

"Fair enough, but we should do it somewhere less public anyway. Isn't there somewhere at the tower that we could take him?" Ben asked. Toby thought about it for a moment.

"There's my room, I guess."

"What about your dad's workshop; the one where he showed you the presentation?" Ben suggested.

"Oh, that's a good idea," Toby agreed. He then pressed the doorbell and both boys waited for a moment before Adrian answered the door.

"Toby? What are you doing here? And why is Spider-Man with you?" he asked. "Come in!" he then offered.

"Thanks, but we're here for Ty," Toby said,

"And Ty alone," Ben clarified.

"Oh…" Adrian said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Sure, I'll go get him."

A moment later, Adrian returned with Ty.

"What's up?" the younger, blond boy asked.

"Could we speak to you?" Toby requested.

"What about?" Toby and Ben looked first to each other, and then to Adrian, who stood behind his younger brother.

"Could we tell you somewhere private?" Ben asked. Ty looked from Adrian back to Ben and Toby.

"Sure," he said with a shrug of the shoulders. "Could you tell dad I'll be out?" he then asked Adrian.

"Sure, see you later," Adrian said. "Don't forget your coat."

"Thanks," Ty said, taking the coat his brother was handing to him and slipping it on.

"Sorry you can't come with us, Adrian," Ben said, "but it's something we need to discuss alone."

"No, I understand," Adrian said as Ty stepped out of the door. "Be back by dinner," he added to his brother, who nodded before departing with Ben and Toby. Meanwhile, he was left behind wondering who it was that Toby was with.


Toby, Ben and Ty sat at Tony's desk with the holographic screen active.

"Before I load up this holographic chip, you have to promise us both that you'll tell no one about what we're going to show you," Toby said, holding the chip in between his thumb and forefinger.

"I promise," Ty said impatiently. "What is it?"

"You'll see," Toby replied. He then loaded up the chip, and the presentation appeared on the screen. Ty stared at it for a moment while Ben and Toby watched him expectantly.

"Interesting…" he said after a while. Toby and Ben waited for him to say more, but he just stared at the screen.

"Well?" Toby prompted.

"Well what?" Ty asked. Comprehension then dawned in his blue eyes, but he didn't reply as Ben and Toby expected. "Good that you felt able to show me this, but I can't help you here."

"We think you can," Ben said after he and Toby shared a look.

"How exactly do you think I can help?" Ty demanded. Toby, growing impatient already, decided to drop any pretence.

"We know about your Hulk form," he revealed.

"What? I think you're confusing me with my dad," Ty said.

"Nope. The last we checked, your dad isn't red." Ty seemed to think carefully before speaking again.

"How do you know all this?" he asked, apparently deciding to embrace the truth.

"Two smartest boys in the school right here," Toby said smugly.

"You're not counting my brother, and anyway no amount of intelligence can account for that knowledge," Ty reasoned.

"It depends on which meaning of 'intelligence' you use," Toby said. "I can't tell you how we know this, just that we do, and a lot else besides."

"The question," Ben inputted, "is will you join us?"

"Maybe," Ty said. "But there's something I need to know first. Who are you?" he asked Ben.

"I'm Spider-Boy," he replied.

"I mean under the mask."

"Nothing gets past you, does it?" Toby interrupted. "Who's under the mask isn't important. What's important is whether you're ready to help us or not." Ty thought about it.

"Hmm…" he hummed thoughtfully. He looked at the presentation again. "Who else is in on this?"

"No one as yet," Toby replied. "We only found out about it ourselves this morning."

"Seems poorly planned and ill-conceived," Ty commented. Ben and Toby exchanged worried glances in the silence that followed. "My favourite kind of plan. I'm in." Both Toby and Ben sighed in relief.

"Great. I'll add your details to the chip," Toby said, unplugging said chip and pocketing it.

"What now?" Ty asked, looking from Ben to Toby.

"Take this," Ben said, handing him what seemed like an ordinary coin.

"What is?" Ty asked, looking closely at it.

"A communication device. When you're needed, it'll start flashing," Ben explained.

"And if I can't see it?" Ty enquired.

"It starts to beep."

"And if I accidentally try to spend it?"

"It's a Great British Pound coin. No shop you visit should accept it."

"And if they do?"

"Then we'll give you a new one and whoever has the coin won't know what it means anyway."

"Perhaps I was wrong when I called this plan ill-conceived," Ty said thoughtfully.

"Well, that's all we needed to discuss with you for now," Toby interjected. "For now, you can go home. Remember, though, don't tell anyone about this."

"Not even Adrian?"

"Not even Adrian."

"Fine. Well, I'll see you next time the world is in danger, then," Ty said, putting on his coat and walking out.

Once they were sure Ty was gone, Ben removed his mask.

"That went well," he said.

"Surprisingly so," Toby agreed.

"What's next for us, then?" Ben asked.

"I don't know. We'll have to see what opportunities present themselves," Toby said.

"And hope Dustin takes longer to regroup than we do," Ben added, to which Toby nodded.


"Son, you failed me yesterday," said Justin Hammer. He sat in his usual comfy chair while his son knelt before him on the rough carpet.

"I know, father," Dustin said sadly.

"Not only did you fail me, but you failed yourself," Justin added. "If you can't kill Toby Stark when he's only just learning to control the suit, what hope do you have of killing him once he's mastered it?"

"Give me one last chance, father," Dustin pleaded. "I won't disappoint you again."

"You'd better not," Justin said. "Or I'll find someone else to do your job for you."

"I understand."

"Now hit the training room. I want you to be ready for your next encounter with Stark."

"Yes, father," Dustin said solemnly before leaving the room. Next time, he would kill Toby. Now it was personal.


My longest chapter yet! Anyway, I'm now taking suggestions for villains as well as heroes. I plan to have more than just Dustin in this story, but I'm struggling for any more villains, so if you have any ideas I'd be glad to hear them. Thanks in advance to any of you who can come up with something.

Speaking of villains, the next chapter will introduce a new one. I'm undecided as yet how much of the chapter it takes up, but it may even end up being a whole chapter long.

Also, leave a review if you want a bit of comedy in a future chapter where Mothi son of Thor is working his new job as a pizza guy. I don't know whether it would be too boring for the story or not, so that's why I'm asking.

Anyway, see you next time!