What if Tony Stark had a 15 year old son named Elijah Stark who was like him, a tech genius, sarcastic, daddy issues, charismatic and insanely stubborn. And what if he would become besties with Peter Parker AKA Spiderman.
Elijah Stark lost his mothe...
The morning light filtered through the penthouse windows, casting a warm glow across the kitchen where Tony, Pepper, and Elijah sat. The smell of fresh coffee and pancakes lingered in the air, and the quiet hum of the city below filled the silences between bites. It was peaceful, almost too peaceful, Elijah thought, as he glanced across the table at his dad, still half-expecting some kind of surprise announcement or an abrupt end to their calm breakfast.
Tony leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he watched Elijah finish his food. The expression on his face was unreadable, somewhere between serious and soft. After a few minutes, he cleared his throat.
"Hey, Eli," Tony said, shifting uncomfortably as he sat forward, "I was wondering if we could talk. Just... you and me."
Elijah glanced at him, trying to read the look in his eyes. Usually, that tone meant some kind of lecture was coming, but there was a gentleness in Tony's face that was different from usual.
"Yeah, okay," Elijah replied, shrugging to hide his curiosity. They both got up, and Tony led him out onto the balcony.
The morning air was crisp, a soft breeze stirring as they stood side by side, looking out at the city. Elijah felt a knot of tension building in his stomach; whatever Tony wanted to say, it felt big.
Tony took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the distant skyline. "Look, kid, I know I haven't exactly been... Dad of the Year," he started, voice low. "I missed your birthday this year. And I missed a lot more than that."
Elijah bit his lip taking a seat on the lounge chairs, waiting for him to go on.
"Things got messy. More than messy, actually," Tony said, exhaling sharply. "With everything going on in Leipzig, and the fallout with Cap... and then Rhodey's accident..." His voice trailed off as he seemed to struggle to find the words.
Elijah swallowed hard. He knew bits and pieces of what had happened in Leipzig, but hearing Tony mention it now, seeing the way his face fell—it made him realize how much weight his father was carrying, how deeply it had all affected him.
"And then there was... other stuff," Tony continued now joining Elijah to sit in the chair in front of him, his voice almost a whisper. "Finding out what happened to my parents, how they really died. It's been hard, Eli. Harder than I thought it would be."
The vulnerability in Tony's voice was startling. Elijah wasn't used to seeing him like this—open, honest, raw. Tony was always strong, always in control, or at least pretending to be. But right now, he looked more human than Elijah had ever seen him.
"And I know it doesn't excuse anything," Tony went on, rubbing a hand across his face. "You deserved to have me around. You deserved to have someone there, especially on your birthday, and I wasn't. I let you down. And I'm sorry."
Elijah shifted, unsure of what to say. Part of him had wanted to hear those words for a long time, but now that he had, he didn't know how to respond.
"Yeah," he said softly, looking down. "It just... it hurt, you know? Not just the birthday thing. I mean, I'm used to you missing those, but the last year ever since Pepper left... it's been hard, Dad."
Tony nodded, his face tight with guilt. "I know. I don't want you to feel like you have to deal with this all alone. And I get that I've made it feel like you do."
They stood in silence for a moment, letting the city sounds fill the air between them. Finally, Elijah looked up, his voice softer. "Thanks for saying that. I... I get it, though. I get why you had to take some time away. I would've done the same."
Tony's expression softened, and he reached out, placing a hand on Elijah's shoulder. "You're a good kid, Eli. A really good kid. Better than I probably deserve." His voice wavered, and he looked away for a moment before adding, "I'll try to be there more. I'll make things right."
Elijah felt the knot in his chest loosen, a weight he hadn't realized he'd been carrying finally lifting. He gave Tony a small nod, feeling a strange sense of peace settle over him. This was the apology he hadn't known he needed, and for the first time in a while his apology actually felt sincere. With that Tony stood up ready to get back into the house.
Elijah glanced at Tony, hesitating. "Dad?" He finally spoke up making Tony turn around again. "There's... something I wanted to ask. About my mother."
Tony's gaze shifted, and Elijah caught a flash of something in his eyes—an emotion he couldn't quite place.
"Do you know... I mean, do you have any idea who she was yet? Or what happened to her?" Elijah's voice was barely more than a whisper, the question feeling heavier than he'd expected.
Tony's face softened, a look of sadness passing over him. "I don't, Eli," he said after a pause, his voice steady. "You were just... dropped off at our place in Malibu, out of nowhere. I've tried to look into it, but there's nothing, no clues about who she was or what happened to her."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Elijah studied his father's face, searching for any sign that he might be hiding something. But Tony's gaze held steady, his expression honest, if not a little sad.
"That's all I know, sorry kid." Tony continued, "I may not know where you came from, but I know you're my son, Eli. That's all that matters to me." Tony finished reassuring Elijah.
Elijah looked away, feeling a strange mixture of relief and disappointment. He had always hoped for some hint of who she might have been, some piece of the puzzle that had always felt like it was missing. But hearing Tony's words now, the sincerity in his voice, it was enough to ease the ache a little.
"Alright," he said finally, nodding. "I believe you."
Tony let out a small breath, his shoulders relaxing as he gave Elijah a grateful look. "Thank you," he murmured. "I know this hasn't been easy. For either of us."
They stood there for a few more moments, the weight of the past year slowly lifting, leaving only a quiet understanding between them. Elijah felt the tension in his chest ease, replaced by a sense of acceptance. Tony had his flaws, but in this moment, he knew his dad was trying.
"So," Elijah said, a small smile tugging at his lips, "does this mean we're good?"
Tony grinned, giving his son a through pat on the side of his shoulder. "I think so, kid. But don't think this means I won't still be keeping taps on you and your spider-buddy."
Elijah chuckled, stepping back inside with his dad. As they walked back into the kitchen, he felt a strange sense of comfort settle over him.
"Hey, how about you come around the workshop again. Like old times, father-son duo." Tony invited Elijah, it had been a while since they tinkered in the workshop together. Elijah gave it a thought and nodded. "Sounds fun dad."
