Tony Stark Imagines

The Forgotten Story | Part 4

Note: I would request you to read the series "A Reality" before going through this series.

Summary: Part 4 of The Forgotten Story

Warnings: Childhood trauma and mentions of child abuse

Word Count: 1,185

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"The name's El Hombre de Hierro. Nice to meet you, Mr. Stark."

"E-El Hombre.. de Hierro?" The name was very confusing. I didn't understand the name but it did felt complex to me.

"Or just.. El. For an easier way."

"Uhm.. I don't really remember you. Are you known from my family?" I asked.

"Of course! Your mom, dad and everyone in the family knows about me! Uh, can I come in, please?"

Still holding a confused face, I give him a way in and he steps inside. I close the door and look at the unknown man who just entered in my house.

I don't even know who he is?

He steps close to my dad, and taps his shoulder.

"Howard?" He called, and my dad turned to see him, and suddenly gets surprised.

"Hombre?" Dad guessed him quick, and got up to give him a hug. I was more confused. Dad knew El Hombre too?

They started laughing and chatting with each, meanwhile my mom also joined, greeting him.

But, why I was the one who didn't recognise him? I think I was kid back then and met them, and never saw again.

"Son, this is El Hombre de Hierro, my partner. Or just, a best friend! Your uncle."

My uncle?

"Yes, I know you can't recognise me, maybe you're still unaware and that's alright."

"Hey, hey have a seat, we were just having lunch right now the moment you arrived." My dad gave him a chair to sit, and then joined the table. I was still confused, so I tried asking Jarvis.

"Jarvis, do you know who he is?"

"Sir I apologise, I think I'm not much aware since, I mostly get busy in work that I don't find time to recognise faces."

Jarvis doesn't know. But, why this feeling tell I don't know him, but that person seems something I have been trying to figure out. I was thinking harder, and harder.

It was faded off from my memory. I can't remember. When was the last time I saw him?

While thinking deeper, I see a black void. It was pulling me closer. It was dragging me in. I panicked and struggled to get out, but the moment I can get sucked in, I opened my eyes. Sweat leaked from my forehead, and hands shivered. Jarvis noticed it and asked while holding me.

"Sir, you alright?"

"Y-yeah, I am.. don't worry." I gasped for breath, while looking at El Hombre. Something was strange about him. Trust me, it was.

I didn't feel right now the way I was before. When he came.

After lunch, I head downstairs to my father's lab, to see he wasn't working on something. I wanted to help him out incase he needs additional help.

I step forward to him. "Hey, dad." But he didn't respond. I cleared my throat to call him back again.

"Uh, dad? Can I help?"

Still no response.

Thinking dad might be drowned in his work too much, I tried to shack him but as I could touch him, I felt a snap. I blinked my eyes twice to know what just happened.

Looking back at my dad, he finally responded.

"What is it, Anthony?" His voice was a bit stern from before.

"Uhm, dad I was hoping if I can help you—" Before I can say anything further, he stopped me in between.

"No, Tony. I can do it myself, just leave."

"Wait, dad why are you saying t—"

My dad suddenly got up and turned around at me, shouting.

"How dare you disrespect your dad by saying that? GET LOST OUT OF MY SIGHTS, TONY."

I felt so shattered. Did my dad scream at me? H-he wasn't like this before. I could only just hear him scolding me through the room for hours. My mind felt triggered.

The childhood trauma. The moment when dad never called me as his son. The moment I realised I was never meant to exist.

Everything was coming back at me. It's slowly making me feel worse.

I stared and stared, as tears filled my eyes. I tried to control myself but stayed strong. Right now, he even slapped me hard and I fell down to the ground. I became a child again, I saw him looking at me with that same anger, rage and hatred.

I wail for help and told him to stop, but he didn't listen. I wanted to apologise but still, it was never worth for him. He pulled out his belt, and tried hitting me with it, and covered myself with my hand, defending from my dad's attack.

But, instead of staying right there, I moved. I dodged his attack. I got up, and wiped off my tears. I was not going to be the helpless, little boy who always became so powerless for my abusive dad. I am now a different person. I will never fall for his tactics.

He then ran towards to attack me, but I grabbed his arms and stopped him from doing so. While gripping, my attention went towards my dad's eyes, which had a tint of red. I gasped at the sight of it.

"D-dad, cut it out!" I cried out, bring him back to his senses but he didn't listen.

"You've been a bad boy, Tony. You will be punished right now—!" He growled and kicked my legs. I winced in pain and he grabbed his belt and screamed in attack but I was quick to use my powers as it slowly fill through his head. My dad's expression normalised, and then saw what he was doing. He saw me, on the ground, beaten. Shocked for what he did, my dad dropped the belt and shed tears.

He felt wasn't the dad that I knew. But, I know more better.

He hugged me tighter, trying to apologise. I couldn't do anything but to forgive him quick, because I know it wasn't him.

"Oh god, Tony! I-I'm so sorry, my son! I-I swear I had no intention to do that! Please, my son. Stay with me, I'm not cruel! I will never do that to you!" My dad cried in pain, and I calmed him down.

"I-it's okay, dad. Calm down.." I replied, rubbing his back to make him feel relaxed. But, what I just saw.. was that real?

Was somebody the reason that they made my dad act like that? How they knew my father was actually a person like that?

And that red aura in his eyes.. it was more suspicious.

Suddenly, El Hombre and the others came in, to know what's happened.

"Oh dear, what was that? I heard some noises in the lab— wait, what happened to Howard?!" My mom got worried.

"Don't worry, dad's a bit emotional. He'll be okay." I gave her a nod, and then sighed.

After handling mom, my attention went to El Hombre, who just stared at what was happening, and left the lab shortly. My thoughts were now on the other line.

Something was definately wrong here.