The Orphanage
CHAPTER ONE: THE ORPHANAGE
If there was one thing Tony Stark really hated, it's being told what to do. So, when his very loyal yet very annoying CEO, ex-assistant, sort-of-girlfriend, and go-to-person for almost everything set him up on a meeting that involved a fucking orphanage of all things, Tony was beyond pissed. Apparently, the Stark foundation started by his darling father funds an orphanage. And now it's supposed to be his job to be seen within these walls. Business with annoying businessmen is one thing. Business with annoying kids is another.
But when you're told that you're to go to an orphanage on the phone less than 10 minutes before actually arriving, you spend the 9 minutes arguing and panicking and the last minute trying to escape— which, in retrospect, was not a lot of time.
"Fuck," Tony whispered at nothing as he entered the building. Little monsters were running amok as if a celebrity was in their presence.
Oh wait!
"Hello Mr. Stark, my name is Molly Robins, and welcome to St. Mary's Home for the Children. Ms. Potts informed me you'd be in quite a shock. I suppose she didn't inform you ahead, did she?" The matron, Robins, chuckled at Tony’s obvious discomfort.
"I really should not have let her manage my schedule all the time," He grumbled, "Well, in any case, can I just skip all these? Give the check, take a photo or two for the media? I really don't do well around children."
"Oh I've heard," Ms. Robins smiled at Tony, not at all offended by the billionaire’s based attitude. He reminded her of her own brother. "How about I give you a quick tour and then go to my office?"
"Splendid!"
"So we've got a common room right here where most children spend their time inside. We have a playground outside as well. And over there is the kitchen and the dining hall. All the rooms are upstairs. So far we have around 30 children staying here. Oh and we also have a small library in the back next to the infirmary."
The tour was indeed quick without many interruptions from little terrors. Molly says since it's summer, not many children stay indoors. However, on the way to the office, Tony heard a small noise, sort of like a soft murmuring from inside a cupboard. Tony would have disregarded it as children playing hide and seek if not for the blue blanket peeking out from under the door. He's not sure why exactly it caught his attention, but no one ever said Tony Stark isn't a man of impulse.
"Wait," Tony stopped Molly. She noticed him staring at the cupboard under the stairs. She frowned, knowing what or more appropriately who was under the stairs. Again.
Harry. Adorable little Harry. No one knew who his parents were or how they died or where he came from. All the staff knew was that he's three years old and his birthday was on July 31st because surprisingly, Harry knew at least that. They suspected he may have been abused before coming to the orphanage. It's been 5 months since the officers brought him in. Apparently, he was found inside a cupboard under the stairs in an abandoned house in Surrey where teens like to venture in. They said a group of teenagers found the boy sleeping on a dirty mattress on a cupboard floor and called the police. Social Services cannot identify the boy's family and Harry couldn’t remember anything other than his age, birthday, and green lights. Nothing else. No record of him at any other orphanage, no birth certificate of a Harry on July 31, 2007 (or 2006 and 2008, for the matter of fact), and no missing child reports.
"Oh no, not again." Molly sighed which caught Tony's attention. "We have a little boy who gets these night terrors sometimes and every time we look for him, he hides inside this cupboard. We took him to a psychologist once. Doc said it might be from his past. He doesn't really remember anything about these dreams when we ask." She crouched down the floor and knocked. He must have been here for a while.
"Harry, darling, it’s a nice day outside. Why don’t you go and play with the others?" Molly asked softly through the small wooden door separating them.
A few seconds later, a small voice answered,
"Who is wid you Ms. Robins?"
"I'm with Mr. Stark right now. He's here for a visit, Harry. I'm sure he'd like to meet you too."
It took more than a minute for a response, causing even Tony to worry.
"Okay," came the reply of a timid voice.
The boy- Harry came out of the cupboard holding a blue baby blanket and a stuffed green snake. He kept his head down as Molly gently coaxed him to come closer. All the while, Tony kept quiet. Merely witnessing as the events unfolded.
Harry was scared. He knew he wasn't supposed to be inside the cupboard again. Ms. Robins say so. She says cupboard is for supplies, not little boys like him. It was confusing for him because he woke up in a cupboard before the big men in uniform took him here. They always look at him with sad eyes when he stays in the cupboard. Adults are weird.
"I'm sorry Ms. Robins." He whispered softly.
"It's alright, dear." She patted his head. "Harry, this is Mr. Tony Stark. Come say hello."
He slowly took a peak under his lashes and found a really tall man with dark glasses and a mustache.
Not the man in the dreams. He noted, then shook his head, confused by his own thoughts.
"Hello Mista Tony." His voice was so small Tony might have missed it if he were not paying close attention.
"Hi buddy. Why were you hiding there?" Tony asked softly shocking himself at his tone.
Harry shook his head again. He didn't know why. He just felt safer inside than in his room. The other boys in his room look at him weirdly and he didn't like it. He wasn't going to tell anyone but Ms. Robins say be respectful and answer the adults' questions, so he said it was safe inside the cupboard.
Tony could not understand how he can't seem to take his eyes away from the boy. Maybe it's the eyes. Those beautiful, vibrant green eyes that looked too calculating and calm for a little boy. He had this weird lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead and such adorable messy hair. He was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt over dark blue denim overalls. His stuffed snake was clutched in his arms and a blue blanket on his other hand.
Everybody knows Tony Stark is reckless. He acts first then thinks later. Or not think at all.
But this. This is different. Reckless, yes. But different from all his past decisions. One look at Harry and Tony knows that he wants him. No, he needs him
Slowly, he kneeled in front of Harry so he won't scare him and spoke again softly,
"It's safe inside Ms. Robins' office, isn't it, Harry?" Harry nods and stuck his thumb into his mouth. "Why don't you come with us and we'll get someone to bring us food. Is that alright?"
"Al'wight"
"Go ahead. I need to talk to someone first."
"Pepper, I need you to file for adoption right now."
"Wait—what?! Tony Stark what the hell are you thinking?!"
"Listen Pep. I'm serious about this. Like really serious. It feels right. Almost like when I created the suit but more, Pep. I'll even do therapy if I need to but Harry comes home with me."
"Tony!"
"Please, Pepper."
"Alright, okay. I'm telling you, Tony. A child is not a toy. You can't just throw it out if you get tired. I'll have someone work it out right now. You better be sure about this Stark!"
"More than anything. Thanks Pepper."
Molly Robins have never been more shocked in her life than right now.
While Harry quietly ate his late lunch at the small table on the corner of her office, Mr. Stark was asking about adopting the boy. Though she thinks Mr. Stark may be capable of raising a child, one like Harry will certainly be difficult, especially if she takes Mr. Stark's background into consideration.
"Are you sure about this Mr. Stark? He will need more than just a bed, food and water," she said cautiously.
"I know. It's hard to explain. It just feels right, I guess," Mr. Stark replied without taking his eyes off Harry.
In her 15 years of service in St. Mary's, she had met many kinds of people. There are those couples who were unable to have their own child, those single men and women who want a child without a partner, and those rare ones who- like Tony- have no plans on adopting yet the moment they lay their eyes on a certain child, they cannot leave without them. She might be considered naive but she believes in fate. Like soulmates, she believes such also exist between a parent and a child. A puzzle piece of some sort. And from what she sees in front of her, it might actually be true.
"I completely understand. Have somebody work the papers. It will be easier in terms of paperwork since your company owns this orphanage. It will be done in a week or two at most. If you have the best lawyers money can afford, which I'm sure you have, you can have Harry home by the weekend." She smiled. And she’s not lying, although she didn’t bother telling the man that the reason it will be easy to adopt Harry was because he basically doesn’t exist in paper. His legal documents were still processing, which meant adoption would be a quick work.
"Great. I should probably ask him though," Tony stood and made his way to the boy.
Harry picked on his mashed potato and chicken fillet on a far corner as the adults talked. (He still has problems finishing his food. He once ate too much and got sick all over.) He liked staying inside Ms. Robins' office because it was always quiet and other children don't get to pick on him much. He was considered too small and weird to play with.
I have Snakey wiv me. Snakey is my friend. Thought Harry.
Hearing footstep approach him, he looked up and saw Mr. Tony smiling at him and kneeling to level his face.
"Hey buddy. Are you alright?" He asked Harry.
He nods imperiously, sucking on his thumb while staring at Tony.
"Can I ask you a question, Harry?"
Another nod.
"Would you like to come home with me? I live in California that's in America. We would have to ride a plane to get there and my house is near the beach. I think you would like it very much buddy."
Live with him? Like living here? or like having a new mummy and daddy like other children? Why would Mr. Tony want to be my daddy? Not even sure he means a daddy. Maybe another home like this with many children.
"You have home like dis one?" Harry asked, tilting his head in confusion and waving his hand around.
"Like this one?" Tony asked, confused at the question. Maybe he meant an orphanage.
"Uh-huh. Wiv many kids"
Ah. Exactly an orphanage.
"No, Harry. I meant my home. You would be my son. Is that alright?"
"A daddy?" Harry hopefully asked. He always wanted a mummy or a daddy but mummies and daddies want other little boys and girls who like to play and be funny. Harry wasn't like many little boys and girls. Mummies and daddies don't like Harry. "You sure, Mr. Tony? You want me? You want Harry?"
"Of course, I want you, buddy. So, what do you think?"
A small smile slowly forms into Harry's face which brightened up Tony’s in a nanosecond. Oh, he would do anything to keep that smile on the boy's face!
"Okay. You be my daddy now?"
"Yes, little man, I'll be your daddy now."