Pairing: None
Rating: G
Category: Avengers Crossover
Title: The Child
When a child claiming to be Tony's son appeared at the Avengers Tower, the billionaire's first reaction was that it was, yet again, some ploy to get to his fortune.
It wasn't really his fault for thinking this way because this sort of thing has happened countless times already in the past. In fact, this sort of thing was so common nowadays that it had forced Tony to establish clear rules to that effect: if you want to claim that your child is mine, please first prepare a document describing how and when we met and a sample of your child's DNA sample for testing purposes.
The thing was, Tony wasn't an idiot. He understood human nature better then anyone and he knew how money could change people and make them do things that they normally would never do. So to protect himself, he always kept diligent notes on every woman he had ever been with including information regarding how they met and what they said before separating. Luckily, most of these women were only interested in a one night stand with a celebrity and didn't bother to contact Tony ever again after that, but some saw this as an opportunity to know Tony better and would linger even after Tony had made it clear that he had no interest in pursuing any kind of relationship with them.
Pepper, of course, was well aware of this trend so has taken upon herself to be the first line of defence against any new claims of fatherhood. Up to now, no one has ever managed to get through her to Tony; something Tony was eternally grateful for.
But apparently today was a little different.
"Why the long face Pepper?" Tony asked as Pepper entered his workshop, her expression grim.
"Tony," Pepper sighed. She looked…lost in a way that Tony had never seen her be.
It sent a spark of unease through him.
Had something happened?
"Tony," Pepper repeated his name once more, making him sit up straighter like a student in front of a reprimanding teacher, "Tony, a child appeared this morning claiming to be your son."
"Ah," Tony relaxed at that. "Doesn't that happen often? Why do you look so off balanced?"
"You don't understand Tony," She frowned at him, her eyes fixated on his form. "This is different."
She took a deep breath.
"This child…his DNA completely matches yours. He is, biologically speaking, indeed your son."
The child's name in question was Harry and, according to his own self introduction, was 8 years old.
When asked about his mother, he said he did not know anything as he had spent his formative years in an orphanage up north.
And when asked who told him about Tony, he claimed that he just knew, something that the Orphanage Director confirmed when asked, telling Pepper the boy had simply decided to leave one day claiming he had found his real parents. The Director had no idea who told Harry about his parents and how Harry even got the means to leave.
It was all very mysterious.
The mystery deepened further however when Tony finally made it to the meeting room, where Harry had been waiting, and saw the boy for the first time.
Physically, Harry looked like any other kids his age, albeit a little shorter and a little thinner. He looked honestly quite adorable with his messy black hair and deep emerald eyes. But when he spoke, that image of an adorable little kid broke in to a million pieces.
Because Harry spoke like an adult.
"Hello, My name is Harry. You must be my biological father." was the first thing he said upon meeting Tony.
He stood up from his seat, walked up to the billionaire and extended a hand to the man, his back straight and his head held high even as he had to lean back a little to see Tony's face.
Tony had seen a lot of kids in his days and has even interacted with some, but he has to admit, he has never seen one act so…mature.
It made him uneasy.
"Hello."
He tried for a friendly smile, grabbing the boy's hand in a grip.
"I heard you are my son."
It was honestly a very stupid conversation starter, but since this was the first time that it happened, Tony can be forgiven for being so awkward.
"I am," Harry confirmed, "I assume you would want to know about my mother? Unfortunately, she is no longer in the picture. I do not possess any memories of her beyond the fact that she had a, comparatively speaking of course, nice voice. I do apologize for the inconvenience."
"Ehh," Tony blinked, unsure of how to respond. Did all kids these days talk like business emails? "It's okay. DNA matched anyway so you are indeed my son. Since your mother is no longer in the picture then we won't need to dwell on that any further."
"Thank you for understanding," he said and gestured towards the sofa, "Shall we sit?"
Tony sat even as he kept thinking how weird it was that Harry was the one seemingly in control when he, Tony, was the parent. He tried opening his mouth once more, to say something to get the situation back in control, but before he could, Harry continued.
From his briefcase - and why on Earth did a 8 years old have a briefcase - Harry took out a series of documents and put it on the table between them.
"In our initial meeting, I found myself uncertain about how to approach my biological father. Therefore, I determined that, prior to delving into the process of building a personal connection, it was crucial for me to demonstrate my capabilities and prove that I possess the potential to succeed you and assume control of Stark Industries in the future."
"That's nice?" Tony really didn't know what to say. What are you supposed to say to that?
Harry continued.
"Prior to my arrival, I took the initiative to conduct comprehensive research on Stark Industries and its current strategic trajectory. Although I commend the decision to discontinue weapon manufacturing, it is my observation that the company's existing product portfolio is not sufficiently responsive to the dynamic shifts in the market. This lack of adaptability is poised to exert a substantial adverse impact on the company's financial performance in the future."
He gestured toward a document positioned to his left, while Tony, wearing a perplexed expression, gazed at him, his comprehension of the situation having dissipated.
When he had envisioned his initial encounter with his biological son, he had anticipated more embraces and emotional exchanges, and less discussion focused on business matters.
Regrettably, Harry persisted, maintaining a monotone voice and providing Tony with no respite to collect his thoughts.
"Stark Industries' AI technology currently stands as the industry's pinnacle, but its deployment remains limited to specific contexts. While I acknowledge the need for stringent controls on advanced technology, failing to adapt it for commercial and consumer applications represents a significant underutilization of its potential. As the designated future owner and CEO of the company, I find this situation unacceptable. If we do not take action promptly, there exists a real risk that another company will seize the opportunity before us, potentially resulting in a loss of profits amounting to billions. I presume that isn't an outcome you'd prefer to witness, correct, father?"
Tony replied with hesitation, "No?" It wasn't his fault he was still grappling with the reality that an 8-year-old was engaging him in a business conversation, and doing so quite competently.
Tony had encountered prodigies before; he himself had been one. However, even for someone of his exceptional intellect, this situation was a remarkable anomaly.
"Good," Harry nodded, and then pointed towards another document, "Then you won't oppose what I have in mind. I've already reviewed Jarvis' code and made the necessary adjustments to make it suitable for commercial and consumer applications. I've eliminated any..."
"Wait!" Tony interrupted, his eyes widening as he finally comprehended what Harry was saying. "What do you mean you've looked at Jarvis' code? How did you gain access to Jarvis' code?"
Harry appeared briefly surprised by Tony's reaction before the realization of the gravity of his statement dawned on him.
"Oh, I do apologize," Harry said, actually looking sorry, "I should have informed you before delving into it. However, I assure you, I only initiated my investigation after confirming my identity as your son, thereby establishing my rightful position as your heir. I assumed that, as your designated heir, I had the right to conduct a more thorough examination of what I would be inheriting in the future."
"That's not the point," Tony shook his head frantically, choosing to focus on the core issue he urgently wanted to address. "The point is, how did you manage to bypass my firewall without my knowledge?"
Tony took immense pride in his firewall, believing it to be the most advanced and impenetrable in existence. Not even Nick Fury and his most skilled operatives could breach it. The realization that an 8-year-old had not only bypassed it but also gained access to Jarvis' code without raising any alarms, and all from a remote location, sent shockwaves of unease through his entire being.
His growing anxiety escalated when Harry nonchalantly replied, "You mean your firewall? I admit it posed a slight challenge at the outset, but once I grasped its intricacies, it became quite easy to navigate. I was genuinely surprised when I gained immediate access to Jarvis' code upon breaching it. I expected more robust fail-safes or..."
His eyes widened.
"Did you have prior knowledge of my existence and anticipate my attempt to breach the firewall? Is that why you intentionally lowered the security measures to allow for an easier entry, as a way to assess my capabilities?"
There was so many things wrong with that one sentence that Tony didn't know where to start.
"I didn't know who you were before you came here," he said dryly.
"Oh," Harry sounded disappointed, "I hacked into your server, albeit just the outer layer, about a week ago. I assumed you had noticed and conducted research on me, thereby confirming my identity during that period."
"You did what!?" Tony's eyes widened in shock. "Jarvis! Do you have a record of this?"
The ever present Jarvis replied without delay.
"No sir, no such intrusion was ever detected."
Harry looked even more disappointed.
"I suppose I overestimated your security measures," Harry remarked, shaking his head as if lamenting Tony's inadequacy. "This won't suffice at all. I'll need to implement some changes within a day or two once I start working. Father, please arrange a position for me within the company. My first task will be to update your firewall; I can't risk my work being stolen due to a firewall that's too feeble to thwart potential attackers."
Tony stared in silence, grappling with the unprecedented situation. It was the first time someone had audaciously labeled his firewall as weak, and he found himself utterly speechless, unable to muster any form of protest.
"After that, I'll require you to convene a shareholder's meeting so that I can inform them of my forthcoming strategic plans," Harry continued, outlining his expectations with a disconcerting air of authority.
"What plans?" Tony, typically quick-witted and composed, struggled to keep pace with the whirlwind of events that had unfolded since his entrance into the room. His mind was teetering on the brink of overload from the rapid succession of revelations and demands.
"Adapting your AI for commercial and consumer use, naturally," Harry reiterated, raising his eyebrows. "Father, have you been following my words? I firmly believe this is the new direction Stark Industries should be pursuing. To maintain a leading position in the industry, a company must possess a competitive edge, and Stark Industries' greatest competitive advantage lies in the advancements you've made in AI technology. Certainly, there are other technologies you've developed for your personal use that we can consider adapting for commercial or consumer applications, but that's a matter we should meticulously assess in due course."
He rose abruptly, catching Tony off guard.
"I am rather fatigued, Father. Could you please guide me to my quarters? I understand the private rooms are located on the top floor," Harry requested, his demeanour unchanging even as he let out a small yawn.
"Can't you find your way there on your own?" Tony retorted with a snarky tone. He had meant it to sound sarcastic but he hadn't anticipated Harry's earnest response, "I am certainly capable of doing so, but considering that Avengers Tower is still legally your property until I assume ownership, it would be rather impolite of me to assert control in your presence."
"You…you…" Tony's mouth opened and closed as he struggled to find the right words, leaving him momentarily flustered.
Without giving Tony an opportunity to respond, Harry simply headed towards the elevator, starting a conversation with Jarvis as he departed.
Tony followed in a daze.
This was not at all what he had anticipated for his first encounter with his biological child.
And worst of all, Tony found his ego completely shattered.
Tony had never truly believed his father when he had told him that the world was vast and there was always someone better then you out there.
He really should have listened.