The night sky erupted with a dazzling display of fireworks, the cheers of the eagerly waiting crowd echoing beneath the spectacle.
Nestled in the VIP box at the Pavilion, Peter and Ned enjoyed a leisurely seat with an unobstructed view of the lively crowd and the stage. Gently nibbling on gummy bears, they watched with delight as Iron Man skillfully avoided fireworks, executed a flawless somersault, and descended onto the stage. The ecstatic cheers and screams of the crowd underscored the overwhelming admiration for Tony Stark.
A broad grin spread across Tony Stark's face as the machines expertly disassembled the suit from his body, all while dancers encircled him, moving to the vibrant music.
As his Dad started the speech, Peter felt a reassuring smile directed at him.
Proudly wearing his Iron Man mask, Peter watched his Dad, with a sense of admiration.
"Please, it's not about me. It's not about you. It's not even about us. It's about legacy. It's about what we choose to leave behind for future generations."
Dad cast a glance in his direction and carried on with his speech.
He always says that I'm his legacy.
"Peter, do you think one day you'll be the one giving that kind of speech? Stark Expo's gonna be your thing." Ned mused, eyes remaining fixed on the stage.
"Huh? No, Ned. I don't know. There's only one Iron Man and Tony Stark, and that's my Dad, this is his thing."
"You're clearly the one he's talking about Peter Stark."
After a brief interlude, his Dad exited the stage, making way for his granddad, Howard Stark to deliver a speech via the screen. The curiosity about his granddad lingered, as he had always wondered about the man behind the legacy. Unfortunately, his dad rarely discussed the relationship, but he sensed that it was a stark contrast to his own close bond with his dad. Rumours suggested their relationship wasn't warm, with whispers of Howard Stark being an unsupportive father. The thought saddened him, realizing the coldness his dad must have endured in his youth.
"Hey boys, like my speech?"
An arm encircled his shoulders, accompanied by a light tap on his helmet.
"Dad! That was great!"
"That was awesome, Mr. Stark!" Ned said, beaming.
"Alright. Ready to go home now? Let's lose that helmet now, Iron Man. I want to see your face."
Removing his helmet, Peter's curls bounced around freely, prompting his dad to tame the unruly locks before their departure.
Tony guided the boys, cautioning them about the chaos out the door, "All right, it's a zoo out there kids, watch out. Stick with me and Happy, okay."
Tony held his son's hand, while Happy kept a protective arm around Ned.
Leading the way, Happy took charge of securing their position, skillfully avoiding any potential crowd surprises. Meanwhile, Tony greeted familiar faces, introducing his son to some of the noteworthy individuals amidst the bustling scene.
"Come on, kids. There we go."
Gesturing toward the exit door, Happy signalled for them to make their way out, relieved that no one was tailing them anymore. The bodyguards all took care of that now.
"Very mellow," Tony stated.
"That wasn't so bad." Happy replied.
"No, it was perfect. You guys enjoyed that?" Tony asked both kids.
Peter responded with a nonchalant tone, "It was fine." Random encounters with famous individuals were nothing new to him.
"Look what we got here, the new model." Happy said, gesturing towards their ride—a sleek Lotus Evora, it's top down, boasting a four-seater configuration for a thrilling sports car experience.
"Hey, does she come with the car?" Tony quipped, casting a playful glance at the woman casually leaning against the vehicle.
"I certainly hope so, hi," Happy said, extending a friendly welcome.
The lady was met with Tony's inquiry, "You are?"
"Marshal. Pleased to meet you, Tony."
"I'm on the wheel. Do you mind?" He said to Happy then asked the lady, "Where you from?"
Tony helped Peter into the passenger seat, ensured he had his seatbelt on, and then took his place in the driver's seat. Meanwhile, Ned and Happy settled into the backseat.
"Bedford."
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you."
"Yeah? You found me. What are you up to?" Tony revved up the engine.
"Serving subpoenas."
The lady extended a letter, but Tony declined to take it, "Yikes."
Beyond his usual discomfort with being handed items, Tony found himself embarrassed as he received a subpoena, particularly because it happened in front of his son.
Adding to the conversation, Peter mentioned, "Dad has this little peeve." he reached over and took the letter, "He doesn't like to be handed things."
"Cute kid you got there. Shame though that you are hereby ordered to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee tomorrow morning at 9 am."
Tony, visibly irritated, cut to the chase, "Can I see a badge?"
"You wanna see the badge?
Happy jumped in, stating, "He likes the badge."
Ms. Marshal flashed her badge, "You still like it?"
"Yep. How far are we from DC, bud?" Tony asked Peter.
"DC? 250 miles, Dad."
After leaving the venue, they made a quick stop to drop off Ned before heading straight to the jet. Tony, mindful of Peter's well-being, decided to fly instead of enduring a late-night car journey to DC. Within an hour, they touched down and arrived at The Ritz.
Bouncing on their bed, Peter curiously asked, "What's a subpoena Dad?"
"It's being summoned to appear in court," Tony replied, casually drying his hair with a towel after a refreshing shower.
"What for? You haven't done anything wrong," he said, pausing as his dad made his way to the bed.
"Yeah, I didn't. These politicians just want to mess with us. Wanting the suit to be their property."
"They can't do that. It's yours."
"Exactly, bud. They can't take it away anyway. I got it."
Tony winked at his son assuring him.
Peter laughed, "You're gonna kick their asses tomorrow, aren't you?"
"Whoa… language, young man."
"Sorry, Dad," Peter said, a smile playing on his lips as he covered his mouth.
"But yeah, of course I will."
Laughter echoed between them as Tony enveloped his son in a fervent hug, expressing his affection with a gentle kiss on the top of his head.
Truthfully enough, Tony kicked ass at the senate, unequivocally demonstrating that his suit was unparalleled, unmatched, unreplicable, and unbeatable.
The entire nation witnessed the spectacle as it unfolded on live television in Peter's hotel room. Happy was with him the whole time to babysit.
The return home to Malibu marked the victorious aftermath of the Senate hearing.
"Wake up, Daddy's home."
The laboratory was transformed by the illumination of blue lights, scanning every corner of the lab. Soon, holographic projections emerged, unveiling various prototypes. Standing out was the collection of Iron Man suits, ranging from the original Mark I to the cutting-edge Mark IV.
"Welcome home, Sir. Congratulations on the opening ceremonies. They were a success, as was your Senate hearing."
JARVIS swiftly pulled up a YouTube video of the Senate hearing, rapidly accumulating views. Tony burst into laughter at the amusing scene. Taking it all in, he downed a glass of chlorophyll in a single gulp, savouring the moment.
"Check palladium levels." He used the Stark Medical Scanner for blood toxicity.
"Blood toxicity, 24%. It appears that the continued use of the Iron Man suit is accelerating your condition. Another core has been depleted."
Tony extracted the Arc Reactor out of his chest and the core popped out, rusted again and slightly smoking.
"God, they're running out quick."
"I have run simulations on every known element, and still none can serve as a viable replacement for the palladium core."
With precision, Tony replaced the core with a shining silver counterpart, highlighting the extent of the damage to the previous unit.
"You are running out of both time and options."
With a focused stare, Tony observed the emergence of blue lines around the reactor on his chest from the computer screen, eventually placing his shirt back on.
Despite facing setbacks in obtaining the right element, he couldn't escape moments of discouragement, but his resilience pushed him to persist and overcome each failure.
Pepper approached the lab and went to Tony's side, reading the vitals.
Staring intently into Tony's eyes, Pepper voiced her worry, "Tony, this is getting worse. You know, you don't have to do this alone. Maybe the Doctors can check."
Standing up, he reached out, placing his hands gently on her arms as he persuaded her, "The Doctors can't do anything if there's no viable replacement Pepper. Trust me on this. This is something I gotta figure out myself."
"Figure what?"
Jumping in surprise, they snapped back to reality, realizing they had been oblivious to the presence of the light-footed kid. Tony hastily closed all running programs, activating the screensaver that showcased a slideshow of memorable pictures featuring him and Peter.
"Jesus! Peter, you gotta stop doing that." Tony sighed, hand pressed against his forehead.
Ooh, that was a close one.
"Why are you both whispering earlier Dad?"
"Sweetheart, what are you doing here?" Pepper asked.
"I got bored playing video games in my room."
Peter headed to his bike tucked away in the corner next to the cars and began cycling around the lab, "You both look like deer in the headlights earlier."
"Of course, of course, he already knows that idiom," Tony muttered under his breath.
"Be careful around here, Pete and you still need to finish your homework! You're forgetting it again."
"'Kay Dad."
Pepper's phone blinked and she quickly checked the notification. Her eyes widened, "Is this a joke? What are you thinking?"
"What?" Tony asked, initiating a walk together around the lab.
She held up her phone for him to see, "Did you just donate our entire modern art collection to the—"
"Boy Scouts of America." They both said the same time.
"Tony, please stop with the indecisive decisions already!"
"It's not indecisive. It's a worthwhile organization. I didn't physically check the crates but, basically, yes. And it's not "our" collection, it's my collection. No offense."
"No, you know what? I think I'm actually entitled to say "our" collection considering the time that I put in curating that."
"It was a tax write-off. I needed that."
"Stop it, Tony," Pepper whispered, her voice low. "I know you believe you're dying, but we'll get through this. You'll get through this. You always do," she affirmed, the words meant for Tony's ears alone, beyond Peter's hearing.
"There's still no replacement Pepper and I'm running out of time, and I need to see my lawyers Pep. It's about time I finalize my will."
"You can't give up hope Tony," Pepper said, eyes almost pleading.
"I'm not Pepper. I'm just getting it ready, just in case. I need to get it in order for my son."
Tony explained, glancing at Peter, who was now skillfully shooting basketballs in the hologram game.
Resuming his stroll, he spotted the avant-garde display of Iron Man sprawled on the floor, "Wow. Now that's modern art. This is definitely going up."
Picking up the artwork, Tony began the search for the optimal wall space to showcase its beauty.
"You've got to be kidding."
"I'm gonna put this up right now. This is vital."
Peter just stared at them while tweaking another idea for his science fair project. U and Dummy were with him, now giving him a smoothie, and helping him gather the materials.
"Let me tell you. Stark is in complete disarray. You understand that?" Pepper emphasized.
"No. Our stocks have never been higher."
"Yes, from a managerial standpoint."
"Well, if it's messy then let's double back."
On the corner wall, Tony spotted a frame that failed to impress him.
"No, no, no. You are not taking down the Barnett Newman and hanging that up." Pepper objected, determined to maintain the current decor.
"I'm not taking it down. I'm just replacing it with this."
Tony climbed onto the counter and swapped out the Barnett Newman for the iconic Iron Man frame.
Pepper sighed and closed her eyes, conceding defeat. She's yet compelled again to witness her boss's seemingly senseless choices. There were moments when she wondered the validity of his "genius" label, "Okay, fine. My point is, we have already awarded contracts to the wind farm people-"
"Yeah. Don't say "wind farm." I'm already feeling gassy."
"-and you won't make a decision."
"I don't care about the liberal agenda anymore. It's boring. Boring. I'm giving you a boring alert."
"You do it."
"I do what?"
"Excellent idea. I just figured this out. You run the company."
"Yeah, I'm trying to run the company."
"Pepper, I need you to run the company. Well, stop trying to do it and do it."
"You will not give me the information."
"I'm not asking you to try, I'm asking you to physically do it. I need you to do it."
"I am trying to do it."
"Pepper, you're not listening to me!" Tony's voice rose, "Pepper, I'm trying to make you CEO. Why won't you let me?" determined to capture Pepper's attention.
"What? Wait— What? Me? What about Peter?"
They both looked at Peter now mixing chemicals while wearing protective gear.
"Look at him, Pepper. He's seven years old. He's adorable and oh how I wish he could just stay like that forever. He's years away from taking over, and I still don't know if he would want to run this. He's like me. He gets bored with corporate stuff. He likes chemistry. He likes science. Peter will always be my heir, my successor, my legacy. But until he's ready and really wants this, I want you to run the company."
Butterfingers went to them carrying a bottle of champagne and one sparkling non-alcohol drink with glasses on it.
"Wait— you're not doing this because you're dying right?" Pepper whispered.
"No, Pepper. You're brilliant. You run the company better than me, honestly. Okay?" Tony admitted, his hands gently holding her arms. The sentiment mirrored what Peter had once told him. Tony then poured champagne into the waiting glass.
Taking a moment to sit, Pepper was unable to fathom what she was hearing, and her gaze locked onto Tony's eyes, which radiated nothing but sincerity.
"I hereby irrevocably appoint you CEO of Stark Industries effective immediately. Yeah, done deal. Okay? I've actually given this a fair amount of thought, believe it or not. You're the perfect CEO. Congratulations? Take it, just take it."
He handed her the glass, Peter approached them and sat at his father's lap holding a glass with a non-alcoholic drink.
Peter was well aware of this, having been asked by his Dad weeks ago if it was okay with him, to which he replied, "Pepper's perfect for it Dad. She runs the company mostly than you are, you know."
"Congratulations, Pepper," Peter beamed, offering a warm hug.
With gratitude in her voice and a hint of tears in her eyes, Pepper said, "Thank you, sweetheart. I don't know what to think." expressing a blend of shock, confusion, and joy.
"Don't think, drink. There you go." Tony advised as they all tapped their glasses together before taking a celebratory sip.
The next day, after collecting Peter from school, Tony and Happy plunged into their regular workout and sparring, while Peter headed for a swim. From the Gym, Tony monitored Peter on the screen, ensuring his safety, with JARVIS ready to send alerts at the first sign of trouble.
Pepper entered the gym with an announcement, "The notary's here! Can you please come sign the transfer paperwork?"
"I'm on Happy time," Tony replied, playfully elbowing Happy's face, eliciting a startled reaction, "Sorry."
"What the hell was that?" Happy asked, clearly unimpressed.
"It's called mixed martial arts. It's been around for three weeks."
"It's called dirty boxing, there's nothing new about it."
"All right, put them up. Come on."
The room fell silent as Tony and Happy both paused, their focus entirely drawn to the entrance where a striking redhead made her presence known. Her captivating beauty, highlighted by flowing red hair, was complemented by a body with curves that could easily captivate the attention of every man around.
"I promise this is the only time I will ask you to sign over your company," Pepper assured, and the lady promptly handed the paperwork to formalize the agreement.
The notary directed Pepper, "I need you to initial each box," motioning towards the designated spaces.
Unable to resist stealing glances at the lady, Tony got a gentle tap on the head from Happy. "Lesson one. Never take your eye off—" Before Happy could finish, Tony retaliated with a powerful kick, sending Happy crashing into the corner of the ring to conclude the sparring session.
"That's it. I'm done. What's your name lady?" pointing towards the notary, as Pepper remained focused on the paperwork.
"Rushman. Natalie Rushman"
He motioned for her to approach the ring, "Front and center. Come into the church."
Pepper attempted to intervene, "No. You're seriously not gonna ask—"
"If it pleases the court, which it does."
"I'm sorry. He's very eccentric." Pepper said.
"It's no problem," Natalie affirmed casually, starting to move towards the ring with an easy pace.
Tony smoothly hoisted the rope, allowing Natalie to enter the ring. As she stepped in, her piercing green eyes locked onto him. Tony, taking a moment, swigged down more Chlorophyll, meeting her gaze with an intent stare, attempting to decipher her thoughts. He couldn't help but appreciate her perfect body and face, another glance and he feared he might be completely smitten.
"What?" He asked and Natalie responded with a silent stare, the corners of her lips curving into a subtle smile.
Unable to resist, Tony couldn't help but break into a sly smile, this woman is something.
"Can you give her a lesson?" He asked Happy before stepping out of the ring. Glancing at the monitor, he spotted Peter still by the swimming pool.
"No problem." Happy replied.
Walking towards Pepper, Tony greeted her and smoothly took a seat beside her on a chair that seemed tailor-made for the two of them.
"What?" Her attention still glued to her phone as she continued typing.
"Who is she?"
"She is from legal." Pepper stated matter-of-factly, a warning edge to her voice, "And she is potentially a very expensive sexual harassment lawsuit if you keep ogling her like that."
"I need a new assistant, boss." He teased with a hint of mischief in his eyes, recognizing her ascent to the CEO position in his company.
"Yes, and I've got three excellent potential candidates. They're lined up and ready to meet you."
Tony, sporting a smirk, dismissed the idea of a meeting, "I don't have time to meet. I need someone now. I feel like it's her."
Pepper raised her eyebrow knowingly, fully aware of her former boss's antics, "No, it's not."
Tony then couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh, good god, kid," as he spotted his son making his way over, soaked from the pool, clad only in dry boxers, wet hair dripping. Tony, without missing a beat, grabbed a towel and started drying Peter's hair and back, securing another dry towel around him.
"Who's the lady Dad?" Peter asked, his gaze fixed on the stunning woman standing beside Happy at the ring.
Gently, he settled his son on his lap, wrapping his arms around him in a warm hug from behind.
"Well, let's ask her. How do we spell your name, Natalie?"
Natalie spelled her name, "R-U-S-H-M-A-N," and Tony, at the touch of a button, typed it swiftly onto the table's screen. The accessibility of computers throughout the house simplified the task with seamless efficiency.
An annoyed tone laced Pepper's words, "Are you seriously googling her now?"
"I thought I was ogling her."
He projected Natalie's file on the table.
"Wow. Very, very impressive individual."
Displaying her fluency in languages, Tony complemented the presentation with stunning pictures, "She speaks Latin?"
"No one speaks Latin. It's a dead language. You can read Latin or you can write Latin, but you can't speak Latin."
"Did you model in Tokyo? 'Cause she modelled in Tokyo." Tony pulled up a captivating lingerie shot of Natalie.
Her eyes widened, scolding, "That's inappropriate Tony, close that. Peter's here."
"I need her. She's got everything that I need."
"Need her for what Dad?" Peter asked, observing as Happy spoke with Natalie.
"My new assistant, Pete."
Tony rested his chin on Peter's shoulders, hugging him from behind while they watched.
"Rule number one," Happy emphasized, "never take your eyes off your opponent." However, as he moved in for a swing, she swiftly grabbed his hand, executing a powerful flip that sent him sprawling, legs over head. For a brief moment, Happy found himself breathless, caught off guard by her skill and speed.
In a blink of an eye, Natalie skillfully took down Happy, leaving Tony and Peter in sheer amazement at her swift and precise actions.
A quiet "Wow" escaped Peter's lips, and in a mom-like manner, Pepper let out a surprised scream, "Oh, my God! Happy."
Tony erupted in laughter and rose from his seat, holding Peter's hand. "That's what I'm talking about."
"I just slipped," Happy defended, quickly getting back on his feet.
"You did?"
Amid apparent discomfort, Happy managed to muster a smile and casually affirmed, "Yeah," masking any signs of unease.
"Looks like a TKO to me."
Tony signalled to Peter to ring the bell, and as the chime echoed, they high-fived.
Natalie gracefully exited the ring and approached them.
"Natalie, allow me to introduce my one and only son, Peter," Tony said proudly, placing his hands on Peter's shoulders.
"Hi, Ms. Rushman. Nice to meet you." Peter stated with a touch of formality, tightly holding the towel wrapped around him. He couldn't help but feel a tad self-conscious, given the intense gaze of the beautiful woman before him, especially considering he had no shirt on.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Peter Stark. Feel free to call me Natalie," she said, bowing her head to meet his gaze. Extending a hand, she gestured for a handshake, and Peter graciously accepted.
Natalie initiated a conversation with Tony, while Peter made his way over to check on Happy.
"I need your impression, Mr. Stark," Natalie said.
"You have a quiet reserve. I don't know, you have an old soul."
"I meant your fingerprint."
"Right."
Pepper joined them with a smile, inwardly sighing, "So, how are we doing?"
Tony responded by confidently imprinting his fingerprint on the paperwork, finalizing the details, "Great. Just wrapping up here. Hey, you're the boss."
"Will that be all, Mr. Stark?" Natalie asked politely.
"No."
"Yes, that will be all, Ms. Rushman. Thank you very much," Pepper concluded the conversation.
Natalie took her leave, and Tony turned his attention back to Pepper, "I want one."
"No," she declared with finality, a smirk playing on her lips as if to convey that his antics wouldn't sway her.
Deep in thought, Tony stared out at the Stark Industries company grounds, wrestling with the urgency of finding a solution to his escalating blood toxicity. Standing in his now-deserted office, he spotted the neglected wooden board of the Stark Expo, a relic of his father's achievements, collecting dust against the wall.
Pepper entered the office, "What a surprise. You're early! This is the first time."
"Well, I miss you that's why."
"Really?" Her brows shot up in skepticism as she settled into her chair.
"We need to talk," Tony said with a serious tone, causing Pepper to feel a sense of caution.
"Okay. You're scaring me. What is it?"
"Pepper, there's something I need to ask," Tony said, standing before her with a hint of hesitation. "I want you to take care of Peter. Just in case, you know, the worst happens. I know you'll be a great guardian to him."
"No, Tony. Don't. Don't say that."
His hands gently rested on her arms as he opened up, the struggle evident in his eyes, "This is difficult for me. So hard, you know that. You know how much I wanted to be with my son until he grew up to be a fine man. I love him more than my life. I'll do anything to protect him. The last will is just a fail-safe. I just want my boy to be in good hands. I know you'll take care of him and you'll protect him as much as I do."
Tony's voice broke, he never wanted to do this.
With a visible gulp, Pepper met Tony's gaze, tears welling up in her eyes, "I will, Tony. Of course, I will." she assured, embracing him in a hug, silently conveying that everything would be okay.
Pepper, for the nth time, asked, "You sure about this?"
"I'm sure, Pepper."
In a solemn meeting with his lawyers, Tony formalized his last Will and Testament, ensuring that in the event of his passing, all his assets and his esteemed seat as Chairman on the Board of Stark Industries would be rightfully inherited by his son, Peter.
"What do you think of Natalie, Pete?"
Father and son are engrossed in the lab, Tony attentively watching as his kid expertly blends chemicals, dedicated to the glue project they've been invested in for quite some time.
"Hmmm... She's strong and beautiful, Dad. That move at the ring is..."
"Unexpected."
"Yeah. She looks smart too, but..."
Tony, momentarily shifted his attention from the microscope, he was observing the tensile strength of the glue. It has become stronger now,
"But?"
"Um, I don't know, I'm feeling she's something more?"
"Oh, you felt that too. You wouldn't mind if I hire her as my assistant?"
"I don't. It's okay. Wouldn't Pepper be mad?"
Tony grinned, assuring, "She'll come around, we'll handle it just fine."
Peter chuckled, shaking his head with a smile, "You're fishing on troubled waters, Dad."
"And you're getting inclined with your idioms, kid. It's good though, yeah? You're good," With a gentle pat on Peter's hair, he added, "And this is improving, Pete."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Look at this."
Tony pulled the data and Peter looked at the hologram showing different calculations of the glue being spread out in a lot of ways.
"Wow," Peter said in amazement.
"This can be useful in a lot of ways, medically and commercially. We'll patent this under your name. Congratulations, bud. Your first invention." Tony tapped Peter's shoulder. "I'm always so proud of you, bud."
"Thanks, Daddy," he expressed, wrapping his arms around his dad. The warmth of his dad's praise and created a joyous feeling that swept through his heart, leaving him thoroughly uplifted.
"You want to present this at the expo?"
"Isn't it too soon?"
"It's not. You'll be my youngest presenter. My legacy, the future of Stark Industries." Tony said with a grin, affectionately tapping his son's nose.
"Okay, let's do it!" Peter nodded with a determined grin, breaking into laughter.
Tony beamed with pride, affectionately kissing Peter's head, "That's my boy."
Tony couldn't help but feel that this world doesn't deserve the purity of Peter's heart and the brilliance of his mind. In Tony's eyes, Peter was simply too good for this world.
"You ready for the race?" Tony held in his hand his race car hologram of the Monaco Grand Prix hologram at their front.
"Yes! Is Uncle Rhodey gonna be there?"
With evident reluctance, Dad conveyed, "He can't make it. He has a thing, apparently."
"That sucks Dad, I'm sorry, that's both your thing right?" The shared love for races between his Dad and Uncle Rhodey flashed in his mind, especially the moment they received the first call from Ms. Agnes, the social worker while being at the race track together.
"Yeah, it was. It's all right bud. We'll have fun." With those words, they dove into playing with the hologram, running simulations of the Grand Prix on the race track.