As Tony crossed the threshold of the mansion, JARVIS's distinctive voice filled the space,
"Welcome home, Sir. It's been a long time. Based on reports, I calculated your safe return at 0.25 Percent."
"Wow, that's terrible. I missed you too. Where's Peter?"
"Young master is currently sleeping in your room, Sir. Would you like me to wake him up?"
"No, Jarvis. I'll do that myself," He rushed upstairs. Opening his room's door with care, it felt like meeting Peter for the first time all over again. A wave of incredible relief and happiness washed over him.
He's home now, at long last.
Observing Peter peacefully asleep in his bed, wearing his familiar white oversized shirt, the sight stirred a blend of emotions within him, causing his eyes to well up.
I'm sorry, Peter, Daddy's been gone.
Tony couldn't help but imagine the emotional toll on Peter during his absence— loneliness, sadness, and fear, emotions he never intended for his little boy to endure, especially if he was the one responsible for causing them.
Moving to Peter's side, Tony ran his fingers through his son's hair, his eyes filled with love as he traced the contours of Peter's face, committing every detail to heart.
Over the last three months, Peter had grown, and Tony quietly wished he could have been there to witness it all. Planting a gentle kiss on Peter's forehead, he savoured the sweet scent of his baby-fresh hair, grateful to finally have his son back in his arms.
Peter stirred, starting to wake up.
"Petey-pie, wake up. Daddy's home." Tony gently whispered.
Keeping eyes closed, Peter mumbled softly, "It's the weekend, Dad. Lemme sleep."
Tony couldn't help but giggle softly, finding amusement in the situation.
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?
A sudden realization struck, "Wait, Dad?"
Opening his eyes, he rubbed them to be sure. As he started to sit up, he could see the man clearly lying on his side.
It can't be.
Peter's hands cradled his dad's face, carefully examining every detail.
"I'm not dreaming right, you're real? You're here!"
Chuckling with tears of joy, Tony nodded, "Yes, yes, I am, Peter."
Without hesitation, Peter embraced his dad, wrapping his arms tightly around him.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Peter exclaimed, "Oh Dad! You came home! You're finally back! I thought you were gone! I thought you were never going to come back!" Tears welled up in 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."
Hoping to listen to his Dad's heartbeat, Peter hugged his chest and was met with a comforting hum.
"What happened to your chest? What's that thing? I can't hear your heart. Dad. You're alive, right? Are you a machine now?"
A snort escaped Tony. Oh, he's finally back home. Home wouldn't be home without Peter and his non-stop questions.
"No, silly," playfully ruffling Peter's hair.
"This," Tony gestured at the glowy thing 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."
Puzzled, Peter asked, "I thought electromagnets aren't supposed to glow, am I missing something?"
Tony sported a knowing smirk, confident that his son wouldn't miss such a crucial detail. Peter got that genius from him after all.
"That's right, Pete. Well, can you guess any other power source that glows?"
Peter paused, taking a thoughtful moment to gather his thoughts. The image flashed in his mind, vivid from his recent visit to the company grounds, "The Arc Reactor!"
"Oh, you really are my son. Yes. This is a miniaturized arc reactor, Peter. 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, okay? I have you and I have this glowy thing. I'll be alive for a long time so to say."
Peter enveloped his Dad in another hug, whispering, "I missed you so much, Dad."
Tony responded with a tender kiss on Peter's forehead, "I missed you too, bud, so, so much. I love you."
"I love you too, Dad," and they lingered in each other's embrace, savouring the warmth of the moment.
"C'mon, let's get you out of here, Mr. Stark. I bought a cheeseburger." Tony said with a wink, and they both shared a laugh.
Tony adjusted the sleeves of Peter's oversized shirt, folding them, before lifting Peter into his arms. Tony couldn't help but notice that Peter felt lighter than usual but had grown taller.
"Cheeseburger for breakfast! Awesome!"
"Yeah. Now that I'm here you're gonna eat young man."
Making their way downstairs for breakfast, Peter settled onto Tony's lap, and together they enjoyed a meal of cheeseburgers and various breakfast delights at the table.
Pepper, with a loving gaze, witnessed the touching reunion of father and son. As they savoured the moment, Peter began sharing the school happenings from the past three months.
Finishing their breakfast, Tony turned to Pepper and requested, "Pepper, let's set up a press conference for later if you could."
"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."
"Fine. Right away, boss," Pepper replied, acknowledging the unspoken authority conveyed by those persuasive eyes.
"Thanks, Miss Potts."
"Can I come, Dad?" Peter asked.
"Of course, you can bud. Let's get you some bath and let's suit up first, alright."
The Rolls-Royce elegantly circled the Stark Industries main building, with every executive outside, applauding and extending a warm welcome to their returning CEO. As the car came to a stop, it was Obadiah who stepped forward, first to offer his welcome.
"Hey, look at this. Look at you. We're supposed to meet at the hospital." Obadiah said, pulling Tony into a strong man hug.
"Nonsense. No hospital."
Walking hand in hand, Tony led Peter into the vast conference room where a sea of reporters eagerly awaited. Inheriting his father's fearlessness, Peter faced the press with confidence. Headstrong and unapologetically himself.
Applause filled the air, and people began to approach. Tony, protectively encircled Peter with his arms, creating a barrier against the towering figures in the crowd as they made their way onto the the stage.
Peter asked, "Dad, can I sit here?" before comfortably sitting in front of the stage.
"Yeah, let's sit here, bud." Tony placed an arm around his son.
"Hey, would it be alright if everyone sat down?" He casually suggested to the reporters, "That way you can see me and my kid. A little less formal."
Seated on the floor, the reporters couldn't help but inwardly remark on the oddity of the situation. Despite their internal musings, a shared silence prevailed as everyone tuned in to what Tony Stark's going to say.
"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 are 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 gently tapped Peter's shoulder, prompting a moment of quiet reflection. Memories flooded Tony's mind, recalling the day he proudly toured Peter around the company. His son's inquiries about the weapons lingered in his thoughts, realizing that his vision of building weapons for peace had blinded him to the potential harm they could cause to innocent lives.
"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 had a feeling about what his Dad was going to say next, but his thoughts were abruptly interrupted when a swarm of reporters eagerly raised their hands to ask questions.
"Mr. Stark!"
Tony 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, my weapons.
Tony rose to his feet, and Peter joined him, their hands intertwined.
"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 Industries."
The reporters rose in unison, eager to pose their questions. Obadiah quickly moved to his father's side, signalling Tony to withhold any comments. Together, they exited the conference room, making their way to the arc reactor site for a more private conversation between Tony and Obadiah.
In the car on their way home, Peter suddenly piped up,
"Dad, what are we going to eat now?"
"What?" Tony asked, a look of confusion crossing his face.
"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?"
Laughter erupted in the car as Pepper, and Happy joined in. Peter's innocence, a constant source of joy, had once again brightened the atmosphere.
Tony wiped away a few tears from laughing so hard, then affectionately wrapped his arm around Peter, planting a tender kiss on his forehead.
"Oh, I love you. I'll cook for us. You like my cooking right?"
Peter scrunched his face, "Really Dad?" Knowing well that his dad wasn't fond of cooking, lacking both the patience and a knack for avoiding burnt mishaps.
"Yeah, waffles, smoothies, and you know what, don't worry about that. We'll manage just fine," Tony winked, a reassuring smile on his face.
With his kid by his side, they're always going to be alright.
Under the cover of the night, Tony diligently worked on constructing his new arc reactor, determined to replace the current one he possessed. The hum of machinery filled the air as he delved into his latest project.
He cannot stop thinking about the fact that his weapons are still out there wreaking havoc in the lives of the innocent. He cannot let another person be murdered, another kid be orphaned and another town be destroyed. He's going to find those weapons in the wrong hands and destroy every bit of it.
Typing with precision, Tony called out to Jarvis, "You up, Jarvis?" as he punched in the security codes to unlock the secret database of his Mark I in the lab.
"For you sir, always."
Unveiling the Mark I prototype design, he extracted it and projected it as a hologram.
"I'd like to open a new project file, indexed as Mark II. Secure this on my private server. We wouldn't want this to end up in the wrong hands."
Engaging in a thorough inspection, Tony examined the Mark I, identifying key areas where enhancements were needed.
"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.
Day and night blurred as Tony dedicated himself to the Mark II project, meticulously crafting each component from leg armour to arms. His trusty assistants Dum-E, U, and Butterfingers supported his persistent efforts.
He tested prototypes during Peter's school hours and burned the midnight oil after tucking him into bed. Tony fueled his rigorous work with a steady stream of caffeine.
Despite his demanding schedule, he made time for Peter, bringing him into the lab to assist with homework, all the while safeguarding the confidential aspects of his project in a secure area of the workspace.
Patiently dedicating 15 days to the project, realizing the prolonged effort was undoubtedly worthwhile. With JARVIS seamlessly integrated, all tests successfully passed, he also 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, take him to a haircut and some ice cream, maybe a little bit of shopping.
The first flight of the Iron Man suit was a breathtaking experience. As he explored the suit's capabilities, Tony daringly tested its altitude limits, reaching a staggering 85,000 feet.
Yet, the exhilaration took a dangerous turn when the suit iced up, causing him to lose visibility. Quick thinking and manual deployment of flaps were his saving grace, preventing his potentially disastrous descent into the traffic below.
He powered down at the house but didn't expect the suit to completely tear down from the roof to the ground, landing on his blue vintage car. And he also completely destroyed Peter's Piano.
Oh crap, Peter's gonna be horrified to see this.
In an attempt to alleviate his headache, Tony stepped away from his suit and grabbed an ice pack, until he noticed a gift from Pepper, his old arc reactor when he asked for her help to attach the new one to 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.
As they travelled back home, an unbelievable spectacle unfolded before them—a man in silver armour soaring through the air, almost touching down on the road, prompting cars to swerve.
Suspicion lingered on Peter's mind. Could it be a superhero? Witnessing such a surreal moment fueled Peter's anticipation to share this unbelievable encounter with his dad.
Bursting with excitement, Peter entered the mansion to find his dad emerging from the lab's staircase.
"Dad!" rushing over and leaping into his father's presence, "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 have fun?"
"Yeah, we did— Wait... What— What happened to Grandma's Piano? and the ceiling? and the floor?"
He noticed in his peripheral vision the Piano was 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 knew that was lame. Oh God, he hoped Peter believed it. He tried to turn Peter's back from it as they headed upstairs.
"Thanks so much, Ms. Potts, and please take care of this for me," Tony whispered to Pepper as they walked past her.
Pepper forced a smile, silently mouthing, "What the hell is this," to which Tony cheekily responded by sending a flying kiss her way.
"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 welled up within Tony, realizing the sadness etched across Peter's face, acknowledging that the fault was once again his own. The weight of the secret bore heavily on him.
"It's okay Dad. We saw something earlier!" Peter's sudden shift from sadness to excitement took Tony by surprise. Wow, it's that easy huh.
"A man in silver armour flew right past us so fast when we were at the car back home!"
Oh, no, 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 feet 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. Laughter erupted from Tony,
"Oh God, that's terrible Pete."
Peter chuckled in agreement, "Yeah, that's lame," as they shared a moment of laughter.
"C'mon let's get you some sleep now."
As he tucked Peter into bed, Tony couldn't help but wonder what his son's reaction might be once Peter found out he was that thing.
Will Peter be happy or disappointed?
Will it be okay with him?
Will he be able to accept him?
The next day, undeterred by the lack of invitation, Tony decided to make a grand entrance at his own third red carpet annual benefit ball. He had already upgraded 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 in about five hours.
The father and son duo emerged from their Audi, exuding a dashing presence in their tailored Valentino three-piece suits. Cameras and lights flashed, capturing the surprise of guests and reporters alike as they made an unexpected entrance, turning heads with their undeniable style.
Upon entering, Tony headed straight to the bar for a refreshing drink. Meanwhile, Peter received a warm welcome from Chef Joachim, the head chef of the venue. Their frequent visits had endeared Peter to the staff.
"Pepper!" Peter called out as he wrapped up his conversation with the chef.
Startled, Pepper turned around to find a spirited little kid approaching.
"You're so beautiful!" he said, hugging her.
"Thank you, sweetheart. You look so handsome as well. What, Why are you here? Where's your Dad?"
"He's over there." Peter pointed toward the bar where his Dad was engaged in conversation, "Mrs. Eleanor couldn't make it to the house, so he just brought me along."
A moment later, Tony strolled over to them.
"Fantastic! I almost didn't recognize you." Tony casually complimented as he stepped closer to Pepper.
"Seriously, what is wrong with you bringing your son to all these adult events?" Pepper asked incredulously.
Tony explained casually, "My babysitter can't make it tonight, and I can't leave him alone at the house," as if it were the most standard solution any parent could make.
Tony posed another question nonchalantly, "You wanna dance?"
Pepper couldn't help but smirk as she respectfully declined, "No."
Unfazed by Pepper's refusal, Tony insisted, "Let's have a dance."
Turning to Peter, he added, "Pete, wait for me a while. See that guy over there? That's Agent Coulson. He's gonna watch over you. Pep and I are just gonna dance a bit," motioning toward the man he had spoken to earlier.
"Okay, Dad. Go get her!" Peter whispered with a mischievous grin, leaving Tony and Pepper alone.
Tony took Pepper's hands, leading her gracefully towards the awaiting dance floor.
Making his way to the bar, Peter approached the man his dad had mentioned. He confidently sat on a high stool chair, settling in comfortably.
"Hi, Mr. Andrew," Peter greeted, glancing at the nametag of the bartender.
"Hello, Mr. Stark. What can we get you?"
"Can I have a grape juice, please."
"Right away, Sir."
After a polite expression of thanks to the bartender, Peter directed his attention to the man beside him.
"Hi, Mr. Coulson. I'm Peter." he greeted, observing the man's focus on his dad and Pepper dancing.
With professional conduct, Mr. Coulson shifted his attention to him, offering a handshake, "Mr. Stark. I'm Agent Phil Coulson. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Please call me Peter. Mr. Stark's usually my Dad," Peter quipped with a smile. He couldn't help but find Agent Coulson's formal behaviour kind of funny— standing tall and speaking with straightforward precision.
"Very well, Peter."
With a sip of grape juice, Peter's curiosity got the better of him. "You're an agent, like James Bond?"
Their eyes fixed on the dance floor where Pepper and his Dad stood out. Peter admired how well they complemented each other. He silently wished that his Dad would soon realize the importance of Pepper in 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 mouthful, Mr. Coulson, but that's cool!" Peter said, only to realize his Dad and Pepper had slipped outside by then.
"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. He never got the time till now."
"Yeah, he's usually at home in his lab. They're saying my Dad's bedridden but that's the 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's surprise was evident, watching in amazement as the kid effortlessly crafted the correct acronym and fired off a series of probing questions.
"It's an intelligence agency assigned to safeguard National and Global Security, so there are always missions on our plate. We mainly focus on monitoring potential threats," Agent Coulson responded vaguely, intentionally keeping the explanation concise to prevent the kid from probing further into classified details. "So, your dad usually brings you to these kinds of events?"
Peter observed his dad in discussion with a familiar female reporter, noting the immediate interaction.
"Um, sometimes. Mrs. Eleanor can't come tonight, and I insisted on coming with him here. I promised to sleep before 10 anyway. It's just 8:30."
"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. What does my Dad have something to do with SHIELD anyway?"
Just as Coulson was about to reply, Tony stepped in, "Agent Coulson, thanks for keeping an eye on my son."
Dad looked mad about something but still seemed composed.
"It's no problem, Mr. Stark. See you on the 24th."
"Right, I'll see you. We gotta go now, buddy."
"Okay. Great talking to you Agent Coulson! Bye!"
Tony made a conscious effort to stay composed as they headed home and tucked Peter into bed.
I am not my company, he reminded himself.
His weapons were being sold under the table and he's gonna find out who did this. If his hunch is right, Obadiah was the only one who did this. He's gonna stop and destroy all of it.
Fueled by the distressing news of the atrocities unfolding in Gulmira, he made the resolute decision to bring an end to the Ten Rings. With the new Red and Gold paint on the suit armour, he headed out to do what needed to be done.
Following his intense encounter in Gulmira and an unplanned training session courtesy of the military, Tony called Pepper, entrusting her with the task of hacking into the company's mainframe and extracting all the 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 tossed the flash drive away and started to walk out. Just before she reached the door, Tony's voice stopped her in her tracks,
"You think I don't know that? I'm trying to protect him, Pepper! I'm also 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."
Every word Tony spoke resonated with unwavering conviction, spoken with the authority and sincerity befitting 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 locked eyes with each other, contemplating the words said in silence.
"You and Peter. Both of you are all I have, too, you know." Pepper spoke softly as she picked up the flash drive and made her way out.
The night held a serene atmosphere, a calm pause preceding the impending storm. The moonlit ocean appeared majestic and still. It had been a while since he had cuddled his son like this to sleep. Peter snuggled close, pressed his face to his dad's chest, attuned to the soothing hum, with his head comfortably cradled in 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 at 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 did it feel like Dad?"
"I don't think you'd want to know bud."
"I want to."
It took a few minutes before Tony could 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 are 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 ones I have here." 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." planting a gentle kiss on his head as they embraced the serenity of sleep.
The next day, as the evening unfolded, the Stark boys concluded their dinner, signalling the start of their bi-weekly game night. Father and son engaged in either a board game or a video game, creating a special tradition filled with laughter and friendly competition.
Before their session, Tony left Peter momentarily in the living room and retreated to the lab. There, he gathered Peter's forgotten homework and books, ensuring everything was ready for the next day.
Heading upstairs from the lab, Tony called out, "Peter, what game do you like to play? There's the new Zelda—"
The sudden ringing of his phone brought him to a standstill. He answered the call,
"Tony?" Pepper's voice carried a tone of hurry.
"Pepper?"
"It was Obadiah, Tony! Obadiah ordered your kidnapping! He paid the ten rings—"
Pepper's words faded into the background as Tony ascended the stairs. What awaited him struck his heart with a paralyzing atrocity, shaking him to the very core of his being.
"What did you do to him?"
Terror flared through every fibre of his being. His hand shook uncontrollably, and his heart pounded nervously.
His little kid. His little kid that he's supposed to protect.
Tony approached slowly as he found Peter's head resting on Obadiah's lap, unmoving.
"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 gently began to brush through Peter's hair.
"A boy genius they say. Adorable, but what's the use if he's dead."
You monster!
Clenching his fist, Tony struggled to contain his anger, each pulse manifesting as fits of intense rage.
"Get away from him!"
"If you say so."
Obadiah rose from his seat, carefully placing the boy's head on the sofa
"Peter!" Tony hurriedly reached his son, checking his pulse anxiously. Fear gripped him, worried that something terrible might have happened to his boy.
Relief washed over Tony as he confirmed Peter's continued breathing, only to be replaced by a sudden jolt when a surge of electricity coursed through his body, rendering him completely limp and paralyzed.
The colour drained from Tony's face, and his veins bulged under the strain. Gasping for breath, Tony found himself immobilized, entirely at the mercy of Obadiah's threatening device. Without a hint of remorse, Obadiah settled him onto the sofa next to Peter, a helpless pawn in a dangerous game.
"Breathe. Easy… You remember this one, right? The Sonic Taser." showcasing the device before him.
"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, gonna be an orphan again. Gonna see his Dad dead next to him."
Obadiah emitted a subtle clicking sound before removing 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?"
The reactor was violently yanked from his chest, allowing the shrapnel to penetrate Tony's heart, initiating a slow and agonizing death. Tony, with widened eyes, grappled with survival.
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."
Getting to his feet, Obadiah stowed the arc reactor in his briefcase and made his way out.
Once Obadiah left, Tony summoned all his strength to rise, grappling with the difficulty. He navigated towards the lab elevator, pushing through the physical struggle to get inside. The visible sheen of sweat on his face spoke to the strenuous effort he exerted.
Must. Get. That. Reactor.
He can't die. Not now. Peter's still asleep and he can't waste time.
Within moments, Tony reached the lab, but the pain was unbearable. Resorting to crawling and limping, every move was an agonizing struggle. Despite the pain, he pressed on, determined to reach the glass on the table. As he finally approached the edge, his weakened hands attempted to grasp but failed.
Slumping back onto the ground, he lay there, utterly lifeless. The toll on his body was evident, he was slowly succumbing to death, with no strength left, reflexes fading. His mind began shutting down, eyes open but devoid of life. In the face of impending death, he could do nothing but wait in silence.
"Dad!"
Through his blurred vision, Tony witnessed Peter sprinting towards him. The sound of shattering glass echoed beside him, and within moments, the familiar hum of the old arc reactor reignited on his chest. As his mind and body gradually regained strength, a renewed sense of power surged within him.
"Dad! Are you okay? Please be okay, please," Peter asked, heart racing with fear.
The face of his Dad dying scared him all over. That pale white face, veins popping, chest completely empty of the reactor. Peter woke up a few minutes after Obadiah left and knew something was wrong. He remembered Uncle Obi suddenly at their house then he shortly fell asleep. When he can't find his dad at first glance of his surroundings, he immediately goes to the lab where he saw his dad almost completely lifeless on 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'd done it before besides Pepper.
Gently cradling his father's head in his lap, Peter whispered, "Dad..." Tears welled in his eyes, streaming down his cheeks.
His dad's hands gently held his head, wiping away the tears, while a slow smile spread across his face.
"Good kid. Good job, buddy. Good job."
Summoning his strength, Tony attempted to sit up, gently wrapping his arm around Peter and planting a kiss on his forehead, "Thanks for saving me, Pete. Thank you. I love you so much." he expressed, resting his head on Peter's, closing his eyes for a moment of rest.
Uncle Rhodey hurried into the lab, his voice filled with concern, "Tony! Peter! Are you okay?"
"Where's Pepper?" Tony asked.
"She's fine. She's with five agents. They're about to arrest Obadiah."
"That's not gonna be enough."
Uncle Rhodey stepped in to assist Dad in getting up, Dad's arm still around Peter. As Peter also rose, the entire lab came into view. In one corner, the unmistakable sight of the Red and Gold Armor was openly displayed.
"What, that's— that's the metal armour! You're the flying man I was talking to you about? How— How did that happen?"
Shocked is an absolute understatement. It's beyond belief. His dad turned out to be the superhero he'd been enthusiastically talking about.
"I'll tell you all about it later. 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."
Taking a moment to hydrate, Dad then moved towards the suit. As he positioned himself, the machines hummed to life, orchestrating the complex process of seamlessly assembling the armour onto his entire body.
In sheer awe, Peter stared at the scene unfolding before him, embracing his inner dork when it came to such things. The overwhelming excitement had him on the verge of freaking out.
"That's the coolest thing I've ever seen."
Peter and Rhodey's expressions reflect sheer amazement.
"Not bad huh. Let's do this." With the armour now fully assembled, Dad conducted a blast test on one of the cars.
"Whoa," Peter exclaimed in awe, his eyes wide with amazement.
"Rhodes, take care of Peter. Never let him out of your sight."
"I will, Tony."
"I'll catch up with you later, buddy," his dad said, before soaring off into the sky.
The news later reported a spectacle, two unidentified figures clad in robotic-like armours engaged in a fierce battle on the city highway before ascending into the sky.
Moments later, a colossal beam erupted from the arc reactor, illuminating the heavens and plunging half the city into darkness. The spectacle reached its climax with the explosive destruction of the Arc Reactor on the Stark Industries company grounds.
The sharp scent of disinfectant penetrated Tony's senses as he stirred awake. Struggling to open his eyes, he was met with the soft glow of dim lights in the expansive hospital room.
The old arc reactor is still attached to his chest and is in dire need of a new one. Wrapped in the safety of his arms, his little bundle of joy slept soundly on the hospital bed beside him, embracing him with innocence and trust. Kissing his son's head, he felt a deep sense of calm.
In saving thousands of lives, he had stopped the dangerous ambitions of someone driven by vendetta and distorted ideals, putting an end to the creation of weapons fueled by greed and power.
With the dawn of a new day, a sense of safety enveloped them all, particularly his precious little one he had vowed to protect—his legacy, his son, Peter. Embracing him tightly in his arms, Tony succumbed once more to the embrace of unconsciousness.
Sunlight flooded the room as Tony opened his eyes, he found his son immersed in reading a newspaper by the bed. A gentle pat on Peter's hair turned his son's attention towards him.
Peter's face lit up with joy, hugging him, "Dad! You're awake!"
"Hey bud," he said, planting a kiss on his son's head.
"Why didn't you tell me you were Iron Man?"
"Iron Man? Who's Iron Man?"
"You! Look!"
Peter handed over the newspaper, showcasing the bold headline, "WHO IS THE Iron Man?" alongside a striking image of him donning 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 here I thought it was Metal Man, huh?" Tony teased as he playfully tickled his son, who responded with infectious laughter.
"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 a 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's 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. I'm so proud of you too."
"I can't believe Uncle Obie would do that to you," Peter said with a saddened tone. The image of the old man, usually lively and funny when with him, made the situation even more disheartening. Uncle Obie had become almost like a grandpa to him.
"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 entered the room, her eyes expressing gratitude, yet she swiftly shifted focus to the pressing matter at hand, "We need to settle this mess, Tony. There's a press conference later. Can you speak on the matter?"
"Yes, yes, sure. I'll be there."
"Agent Coulson will also be there to guide you on what to say, Tony. Don't screw this up."
As the afternoon progressed, they found themselves in Tony's office, preparing for the upcoming 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 casually while Pepper provided him with some last-minute touch-ups.
Peter zipped around the expansive office on his kick scooter, effortlessly maneuvering through the space.
"Pete, you gotta be careful. You're going too fast." cautioned Tony from the far end of the room.
"'Kay Dad."
"Here's your alibi. Just read it, word for word." Agent Coulson instructed, handing Tony the prepared cards.
"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?"
Suddenly, Peter interjected, "No one's gonna believe that," seemingly unaware that he had verbalized his thoughts. Oops, realizing he had breached his dad's instructions to refrain from joining adult conversations.
A collective gaze shifted toward Peter, capturing the attention of everyone present.
"What's that, buddy?" Tony asked, Peter stopped in his tracks and rode over to his dad.
"I mean, who else has the smarts to build and power up something like that except Dad? Everyone knows he's, you know, a genius and a mechanic, so...?"
"Spot on, bud. But we gotta stick to the cards for now." Tony affirmed, tapping Peter's chest affectionately as he hugged him from behind.
With a stern tone, Agent Coulson advised, "Just stick to the official statement, and soon, this will all be behind you. You've got 90 seconds."
While Pepper engaged in conversation with Agent Coulson, Tony took the opportunity to have a one-on-one chat with his son on the sofa, "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?"
"Really, Dad? I'm so excited! I want to build my own Iron Man mask that looks exactly like yours! Then can I also have the Iron Man boots with repulsors so I can fly?"
Tony chuckled, "Uh no, No flying for now. Mask's just fine, alright."
Getting to their feet, Tony informed Peter, "Pete, Pep and I would just be a moment, okay?"
"Okay." Peter ran towards Agent Coulson.
With a hint of self-deprecation, Tony shared, "You know, it's actually not that bad. Even I don't think I'm Iron Man."
Pepper, with finesse, made the final adjustments to his tie, completing the polished look, "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."
"Alright, suit yourself."
They delved deeper into the events of the previous night, discussing the moment when Tony stood up Pepper at the party. Despite the growing connection between them, Tony hesitated to explore further, acknowledging his own fault in letting his priorities go astray.
At the Press Conference, Pepper, Peter, and Agent Coulson observed Tony from the far end of the hall.
Peter couldn't help but wonder about what his dad was going to say. He had a hunch that Dad wouldn't stick to the script. That just wasn't his style. Tony Stark is a truth-teller who did things his own way. A rebel and a fighter, and clearly he's one as well.
Tony began, "Been a while since I was in front of you. I figure I'll stick to the cards this time."
Laughter rippled through the audience, a testament to the timeless appeal of his dad's wit.
"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. Peter couldn't help but find her inquisitively annoying.
"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." the reporter replied.
"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," Tony affirmed, followed by a significant pause as if the weight of the moment hung in the air.
Oh hell, there's no point in keeping it a secret anyway.
The most important person in his life already knew and accepted who he is...
Tony locked eyes with his son, Peter, who responded with a reassuring smile, conveying that everything would be okay.
"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.