𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐆𝐄 . [peter parker]¹ ✓

iv.

𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵: 684

i r o n  m a n  t h r e e

after coming out, colin had felt like the weight on his shoulders had suddenly disappeared. when returning to their malibu home, tony immediately began to help colin with transitioning.

now he was legally colin anthony lucia-stark, tony stark's son.

colin's room and wardrobe were quick to change to his liking. that included purchasing the safest binders while tony let colin online order packers by himself as it was too weird to order them together. he was even approved to start testosterone when he turned 13 soon!

unfortunately, despite all of this happening, tony was still distant. he spent most of his time in his lab making the iron man suits, and colin wasn't the only one starting to get angry with tony. pepper, rhodey, and natasha also picked up on his behavior.

michael was the only one who knew about the terrors that colin went through as elizabeth. for example, colin's babysitter, steven westcott, who would be "teaching" him how to be a true "woman". it ruined colin being violated in such a way that they'd agreed that nobody would mention him, seeing as colin wasn't gonna be seeing the man again as it had been years since their last encounter. or so he thought.

tony had told the world where he lived, including terrorists that were targetting him. colin would have preferred the danger of the bad guys over his old babysitter. however, the world never seems to go the right way for colin for long.

"thanks for doing this again steven," pepper said, dropping colin off with his bag.

"oh, it's no problem, miss. potts, elizabeth is an angel. you and mr. stark have raised her well." colin's babysitter responded, sending multitudes of shivers down his spine.

'not again', was the only thing colin could think in his panicked mind.

he could try and contact michael, even though it wouldn't be much help seeing as his babysitter would never let him leave. and colin would rather die than risk his friend's life.

colin could only sigh, letting his mind and body shut down. now, he was on autopilot. he wouldn't break, he had to be strong for his father, no matter what.

"hello, mr. westcott."

tony picked up colin on christmas, not noticing the change in his son's behavior. colin had started to wear baggy clothing once more, flinching at male contact, not talking unless spoken to, etc. and despite colin's internal promise, he didn't know how much longer he could go on for.

so after christmas when they went to the stark tower to have a new years' party, colin realized just how far from normal he is.

standing on the roof of stark tower, the wind blew through his soft curls, the dark sky eliminating behind the boy. he could hear the music coming from a couple of floors down, the new years party kicking off. thankfully, he was able to go unnoticed by everyone who was either too drunk or too busy partying. he had especially avoided natasha who would've been able to read the boy immediately.

everything had finally become too much for him, and it had become so bad that he didn't think twice. not about his future. not about michael. not about peter. not about natasha. not even about tony.

even as his body fell from the many floors, not a sound came from his chapped pale lips. colin simply let out a soft sigh, then, darkness.

but it wasn't long before he awoke, time gone from memory. he looked around, laying in a pile of ash at the back of the stark tower.

all he could remember was the thoughts, the falling, then nothing. so how the hell was he alive?

colin came to realize that there are now things bigger than him happening. and as much as he hated it, he had to accept it and to later do good. that's what led him to where he is now, in his room, on his bed.

looking at the letter in his hands from his late mother, he knew that he first needed answers.