Chapter 1
The sun spat out copper rays as bitter as blood through the boy’s draperied window, illuminating an underfed child with a mop of messy black hair lying in the middle of a sweat soaked bed. The five year old opened his warm chocolate eyes and looked around restlessly. His weary gaze eventually rested on a glass set beside him. He propped himself up on his bed weakly and reached one hand out for the glass of water on his bedside table before tipping it over onto the carpet. The boy eventually dragged himself out of bed to go to his bathroom. He reached up for the sink and used his cupped hands to take some quick sips of water before padding back to his bed. He flopped back down on his sheets dejectedly and curled on his side, facing the wall.
The boy’s room did not look like a normal child’s bedroom. In fact the room didn’t resemble a proper bedroom at all. Instead of toys littering the space, the boy had machine parts and sharp tools. Instead of children’s stories, the boy had books on mathematics, science, and robotics in his bookcase. The only concession to childhood in the entirety of the room was a small Captain America action figure secreted under the child’s pillow. The boy sneaked a thin hand under his head to clutch at the toy. His Aunt Peggy had given it to him before she disappeared.
“Anthony?” A female voice called outside his door. The boy snatched his hand back out from under his pillow, closing his eyes and feigning sleep. A woman unlocked his door and entered the room, closing it swiftly behind her. The woman had obviously been a great beauty once, but life and circumstance had drawn harsh lines across her face. She was still a young woman, only thirty, but the dullness of her dark eyes made her seem much older. The woman approached the boy’s bed carrying a bowl of soup. She set it on the bedside table and stared down at him for several long minutes before noticing the spilled glass on the floor.
“Oh Anthony, you went and spilled your water all over the floor. Don’t worry I’ll clean it up.” He should have poured it down the drain, Tony thought. Maria Stark went into his bathroom and took out a towel before putting it on the floor to soak up the water. She rolled him over to face her and he opened his eyes, knowing the jig was up. She sat on the edge of his bed and picked up the bowl and spoon. “Look, Mommy made you some soup.” She said in a sweet as honey voice as she proffered the steaming bowl in her hand. The boy looked scared and watched the bowl as if it were a venomous snake sure to bite him.
“I’m n-n-not hungry.” He stammered out faintly. Maria put a hand on his arm and shook the thin boy gently, but her sharp painted nails dug into his skin. Tony winced.
“Anthony, please honey, have some soup; it’s good for you. It will make you feel better.” She said. Tony’s intelligent eyes looked up at her before glancing towards the door.
“Where’s Jarvis?” He asked quietly. Tony hadn’t seen his beloved butler for almost a whole week and he missed him terribly. Jarvis usually wouldn’t leave him alone with his mother. Maria’s eyes narrowed and her mouth became pinched.
“He’s not here.” She said finally.
“And D-d-dad?” Tony asked desperately. His mother frowned.
“Your father’s very busy, you know that, he has important work to do for our country.” Tony nodded; he knew that, he knew how important Dad’s work was. He just wished he were important too sometimes. “At least have a little soup, it’s your favorite, minestrone.” She urged before gathering some up on a spoon for him to taste. Tony turned his head to the side, his mouth pressed firmly closed.
“I don’t w-want it.” He said thinly. Maria pressed the spoon of hot soup against his mouth trying to force it between his lips.
“Don’t be stubborn, have your soup!” She insisted. He knocked the spoon away from him and out of her hand, spilling it out on his bed.
“No!” He shouted with all the energy he possessed. Maria breathed hard, trying to restrain herself. Then she suddenly smiled.
“Do you want me to tell your father that you’ve been misbehaving?” She asked sweetly. Tony blanched.
“N-no.” He stuttered. His father usually ignored him unless he was being bad. He didn’t want to be bad. He didn’t want to make Dad anymore disappointed in him than he already was. Maria continued smiling as she picked up the spoon and scooped up some more soup onto it before holding it up to his mouth.
“Then open up.” Tony obediently opened his mouth. “There’s a good boy.” Maria said happily. She continued feeding him the painfully hot soup until he had completely finished the bowl. She wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Now what do you say?” She asked.
“Thank you m-mom.” Tony said quietly. She tucked the covers around him tightly.
“Good boy. Now go to sleep.” Maria said, kissing him on the forehead as she got up to leave taking the empty dish with her.
“Y-y-yes, mom.” Tony said.
“Goodnight Anthony.” She whispered before leaving the room and locking the door behind her.
“Goodnight.” He said sadly as the sunlight finally died away leaving him in darkness. He wiped the red lipstick from his head and struggled out of the confining blanket. His stomach was already beginning to cramp painfully. He cried softly to himself. His father had told him boys weren’t supposed to cry, he knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help it, it hurt. He reached under his pillow and pulled Captain America out, holding the action figure against his chest as he curled around him. He hoped Jarvis would come home soon. Jarvis would make him feel better. But until Jarvis came back, Captain America would have to protect him. Tony sniffled and wrapped his arms tighter around his doll. Captain America would keep him safe.