Give Your Heart A Break (Tony Stark Fanfic)

Chapter 35: He's Alive

Chapter 35: He's Alive

Tony's POV:

Freeze!" I looked up.

A young boy aiming his potato launcher at me.

"Don't move." he said.

"You got me." I said raising my hands up in surrender.

"Nice potato gun. Barrel's a little long. Between that and the wide gauge, it's going to diminish your FPS." I told him.

The boy shot a glass and it shattered.

"And now you're out of ammo." I said dropping my hands.

"What's that thing on your chest?" Asked the boy.

I glanced at my chest and back to him.

"It's an electromagnet. You should know, you've got a box of them right here." I said.

"What does it power?" He asked.

I turned the lamp on my Iron Man suit. He gasped. He starts laughing as he dropped his potato gun.

"Oh my God! Is that Iron Man?" He asked excitedly.

"Technically, I am." I told him.

"Technically, you're dead." The boy handed me a newspaper.

"A valid point." I said as I read the headline about my 'death'.

"What happened to him?" He asked.

"Life." I simply said.

"I built him. I take care of him. I'll fix him."

"Like a mechanic?" Asked the boy.

"Yeah." I said with a nod.

The boy hummed in thought.

"If I was building Iron Man and War Machine..." I cut him off.

"It's Iron Patriot now." I informed him.

"That's way cooler!" The boy exclaimed.

"No, it's not." I said.

"Anyways, I would have added in the retro-" i cut him off again.

"Retroreflective panels?" I said.

"Yeah, to make him stealth mode."

"You want a stealth mode?"

"Cool, right?"he asked.

"That's actually a good idea. Maybe I'll build one." I said with a shrug.

The kid began to play around with my suit. He accidentally loosed a finger from the suits arm.

"Not a good idea!" I exclaimed.

"Oops." Said the boy.

"What are you doing? You're going to break his finger? He's in pain; he's been injured. Leave him alone."

"Sorry." He muttered.

"Are you?" I asked harshly.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my calm.

"Don't worry about it; I'll fix it. So, uh, who's home?" I asked.

"Well, my mom already left for
the diner and dad went to 7-11 to get scratchers. I guess he won 'cause that was six years ago."

"Which happens, dads leave. No need to be a pussy about it. Here's what I need: a laptop, a digital watch, a cell phone, the pneumatic actuator from your bazooka over there, a map of town, a big spring, and a tunafish sandwich." I told him.

"What's in it for me?" Asked the boy.

"Salvation. What's his name?" I asked. 

"Who?" He asked confused.

"The kid that bullies you at school, what's his name?" I asked.

"How'd you know that?" He asked sadly.

I shrugged. I walked over to him.

"I got just the thing." I said.

I pulled out a small weapon from the suit.

"This is a piñata for a cricket. I'm kidding; it's a very powerful weapon. Point it away from your face, press the button on top, it discourages bullying.
Non-lethal. Deal. Deal? What'd you say?" The boy kept reaching for it.

"Deal." He said.

I gave him the small weapon which he immediately started to play around.

"What's your name " I questioned the boy.

"Harley. And you're..."

"The Mechanic. Tony." I said.

"You know what keeps going through my head? Where's my sandwich?" I asked him.

That's not the only thing that's going through my head. I'm still so worried about Riley.

Riley's POV

I watched in terror as the Police, Press, Medics, and Firefighters all tried to look for Tony. My heart ached. I picked up a broken Iron Man helmet. I felt a tear dropped down from my eyes. I pressed my forehead against it. I should've went after him. I could've saved him.

I heard a beeping sound. I pulled the helmet away. I turned it and I see a small red light flashing. I put on the mask. It suddenly lit up.

"Stark Secure Server. Retinal scan verified." I heard Jarvis say.

"Riley, it's me." Tony's voice replied.

I smiled in relief. He's alive!

"I've got a lot of apologies to make and not a lot of time, so first off. I'm so sorry I put you in harm's way. That was selfish and stupid and it won't happen again. I'm also sorry for not always being there for you when you need me and I'm sorry for not listening to you. Also, it's Christmas time. The rabbit's too big. Done. Sorry. And I'm sorry in advance because... I can't come home yet I need to find this guy. And don't you dare say you'll find him too. I can't let you do that, Ri. Just promise me you won't. I can't risk losing you and getting you into more danger. You gotta stay safe and I love you. That's all I know. I just stole a poncho from a wooden Indian." I laughed at the end.

I took the helmet off and dropped it. I felt so relieved knowing he's still alive and hopefully well. I walked over to Maya.

I clenched my jaws as I grabbed her arm and pulled her to my car. I have a feeling she has something to do with all of these. I started driving as she kept glancing at me.

"Why were you at the house tonight?" I asked, confronting her.

"What was so important that you had to speak to Tony?"

"I think that my boss is working for the Mandarin." She told me.

"So if you still want to talk about it, I suggest we get ourselves someplace safe." She said.

"There is no place safe, okay?!" I snapped at her.

She sighed.

"Your boss works for the Mandarin you think, but Tony says you're a botanist." I said confused.

"That figures. What I actually am is a biological DNA coder running a team of forty out of a privately funded think tank. But sure you can call me a botanist." She said sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes.

"This boss of yours, does he have a name?" I asked her.

Although, I already have a clue what her answer was.

"Yeah, Aldrich Killian." She answered.

And of course, I'm right. That bastard.