The Other Stark

The Next Chapter

I sucked up the wanting to leave, and did what Starks do. I held my head high, checked myself out in the window, smirked then walked on right inside. Straight to the elevator I go. To the top floor I arrived. When the elevator doors opened I saw all the damaged from the battle. Windows had clear plastic covering it. Bare wooded tables in the middle of the room had blueprints on them and standing on the balcony was the one and only Tony Stark. I took a deep breath and headed out to go meet him. All I did was walk right by him and lean on the railing right by him. I could see in the corner of my eye Tony looking at me. Then something surprising happened. Tony fully turned and engulfed me in a hug. I feel bad that it actually took me three seconds to return the hug. He pulled a part and smiled at me, still holding my shoulders, "Look Toni, I know I am not the best father in the world. I was so young when I had you, and I was still dealing with my own daddy issues when I lost everyone. That is, everyone but you. I didn't know how to be a single father, so I did what my father did and sent you to school. I was so excited you have you back I never wanted you to leave my side. I just assumed you will always follow in my footsteps. I almost lost you, but I realized that I can't have you at my side 24/7" I couldn't stop the smile expand, or the tears start up. I pulled him into a hug and told him, "maybe we can find a middle ground"

By the end of our conversation we had determined that it would be for the best that I at least stay in Stark Towers and continue my education by getting my masters in electrical engineering at NYU. I continued my relationship with Steve but he was a bit distance at times when he was with me, and often times we weren't physically together due to his SHIELD duties.
Soon it was Christmas time and I headed to Malibu without Steve. I wanted to spend our first Christmas and new years as a couple but unfortunately that's not how life works sometimes. Tony had sent a private jet for me and by the time I made it to Malibu he was supper excited to show me his new work shop under the house. He said he had been up for 72hours just to finish the new product and test run it with me. This was special to me because he never let me try new products. I could see that now he was finally seeing me as an adult.

The new product we were testing was for the iron man suit. I had to help him painfully inject a computer chip into his body which helped his suit find him and go straight onto his body, a new idea since the suitcase had some struggles as far as always carrying it.

After we were done we went upstairs and some one the TV was some loon terrorists gunning down people with his army. He basically announced a war against America. The video was extremely graphic. The Mandarin was his name. The iron patriot aka the war machine was how the president planned to counter. Look like Rodney was going to have a fun next few months.

On a day that I was done with school work early, Dad, Colonel James and I were at a sports bar discussing this event. Dad serious wanted to talk about it. There was nine bombings with no way to figure out the bomb. James started his concern for dad and two cute kids asked Tony to sign their drawings. Tony had commented on how it did not seem so long ago that I was that age, but then Tony started to freak out when the boy whispered how did he get out of the worm hole. My eyes shifted down as this was something I had pushed into the back of my mind as well. I was only in there for a second but Tony thought he would be trapped in there forever.  I followed Tony as he ran out of the bar, running into people. He ran straight to the suit, and flew off. I knew better than to ask him about it, so I tried to ask JARVIS. Only to have him tell me that I did not have the authority to access that info. Knowing that he had issue with PTSD from Afghanistan I connected then dots. That I can't blame him. Even I still had nightmares from that day and often found myself alone without Steve. I did what Starks do tho and pushed it out by focusing on work.

Dad was getting a bottle of wine for him and Pepper, while I was finishing up a paper when he got a call. I didn't see what happened in the call but Tony didn't seem worry. He was planning a nice day with Pepper so I just retired to my room for the night after eating dinner with them. At least he is with a girlfriend and not some random chick.

That night I slept past an attack on the Chinese theater. Another video about it aired with the promise of a bigger attack next. The worst news Happy was there when the bomb went off. Dad and I went straight to the hospital to visit him. The press attacked Tony, which he issued an challenge, revenge for Happy. When we got home we started doing what we do best. Research. We were both determined to find the mandarin. That's what happens when you come from a small family, a family that has little blood relations. We stick together. After pulling on a virtual crime scene we looked for clues. "Come one Happy, talk to us." Is what my dad mumbled. The government was right, no clues for a bomb, even tho one clearly had gone off. We thought we connected something when we found two military guys who had similar history with bomb that could go off as hot as the one that went off on Happy did. we asked a flight to Tennessee when a door bell rang. I sarcastically let out a "what the fuck dad how are we in ding dong mode." When we went upstairs a pretty brunette came in and dad joked, "your not the mandarin" and she replied, "you don't remember" and Tony joked, "I don't remember what I had for breakfast" to which JARVIS answered. The woman rolled her eyes and demanded to speak to Tony in private, clearly hinting for me to leave. Even with us promising no secretes, I know Tony was still keeping some so I didn't answer what I wanted to say. Dad then one again told a joke, "normally I would be down for that but I'm in a commitment relationship now." Then bags began to drop from the second story and I could hear Pepper yell out, "Tony, is someone here?" I did get a little offended when he not so subtlety joked, "There isn't a twelve year old child in the car right" and she joked back, "no he is thirteen." I had thought about it before, but honestly that's a real thought now, what if I did have half siblings I didn't know about. OK, clearly dad knows her that way. Pepper wasn't amused either as she was mad that a one night stand was in her house wanting help from Tony because of what she saw in the paper. Pepper demanded everyone goes out of town and the fighting began, about the stupid bunny. The brunette asked if we needed to be worried about the TV. Which showed a missile heading straight to our house.