My Dad, the Boy (*Man) Who Lives

May 4th 1996

It took them a couple of days to find his father with the potion. Tony, in his haste, wanted to jump the gun figuratively and literary to rescue his old man. With super soldier serum or not, Howard Stark was still a man in his late 70’s and his kidnappers, which most likely were the terrorists by the look of the encampment, men with guns and all of those crates of STARK weapons. Damn you, Obie!

They knew Obie was double-dealing the weapons but to terrorists? You thought better of the man even with his whole ‘weapons made the most cash’, but it turned out that he didn’t even possess a sense of patriotism.

Uncle James, the experienced professional between the two of them put aside his personal feelings and held Tony from going out with gun blazing from the top of the dunes, where they were hiding.

A discussion ensued and later they came with a plan, which to the genius’ disappointment sounded safer and thought of well. And also a plan which included them to contact Peggy and got their asses handed to them over an overseas phone call.

Saying that aunt Pegs wasn’t happy was the understatement of the year, or ever. She was pissed. Mostly at James for allowing Tony to come. Didn’t mean that she wasn’t mad at her godson as well though.

But in the end, she begrudgingly admitted that she was glad Tony came. Two days searching with magic trumped over two weeks of searching with teams of SHIELD search party, even if the search party consisted of SHIELD’s most badaas agents.

Pegs and James agreed that the rescue party needed to be small and needed to be trustworthy. They’re going to meet Tony, so his identity and involvement in the mission would be a need to know only. Thus, his name wouldn’t be included in their mission reports.

The team has been informed that Tony was there in Afghanistan because he has helped found Howard using a unique tech only he knew how to use, which wasn’t exactly a lie. Moreover, the rescue mission was time-sensitive and less people knew about it would hinder their location from being discovered. Therefore, nobody could be send away to get Tony home.

Aunt Peggy sent her most elite team to them the next morning. There were three people and they were young. (the oldest one was probably Dad’s age) In Tony’s imagination, he was picturing James bond or others like him.

The oldest agent was Phil Coulson. He has brown hair and blue eyes. He was a bland man with a bland smile and looked more like a desk jockey rather than a field agent. Surprisingly he was also the leader of the team.

At first, Tony thought it was a joke. The agent was a fanboy of the Howling Commando, for goodness sake. The way  he tripped over his tongue several times at his friend mentioning his fondness over the good ol' war heroes were hilarious, especially when one of them were uncle James and agent agent has no idea about it.

The second agent was a female, Maria Hill. The brunette agent had a serious face and no nonsense attitude. She’s like a younger version of aunt Peg somehow. Even uncle James, who usually didn’t show much expressions to strangers looked amused from the little twitch of his brows.

The last agent was a sandy blonde haired man named Clint Barton. He’s definitely the youngest and the more laid-back of the three. He’s the sharpshooter in the team and probably the coolest one of the three. But that’s probably because Tony found out that his usual weapon was a bow. How cool was that?

Tony liked Clint. He’s easy to talk to and basically, he’s good at taking Tony’s mind out of his Father’s situation.

Now, it has been a week since he and James arrived in the dessert. And after watching the comings and goings of all the guards, Phil as the handler of their mission came out with a rescue plan.

Tony didn’t hear the whole plan the minute agent agent (Coulson) said that Tony would not be included. Logically speaking, he knew he wouldn’t be in this mission. He’s not even 17 yet and they were going to infiltrate a terrorist encampment. So, there’s no way they would put him in the mission. But a boy could always hope, right?

“Cheer up, man.” Clint grinned next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “We’re going to save your dad.”

Tony just sat on the sandy mat with his hands crossed over his chest with his bottom lip out.

“Oh, you’re so cute when you’re pouting.” The archer cooed at him and brushed his hand over Tonys hair.

He groaned in frustration and looked up to glare at the young agent.

“Stop antagonizing the puppy, agent.” Agent fanboy said blandly while checking up his holster and his guns.

“Oh, can we keep him Coulson? Can we? Can we? Can we?” The blonde agent looked at his handler with puppy eyes. “Please?”

In the background, agent femme fetale rolled her eyes and ignored them as she packed her gears and a few timer bombs to detonate as a distraction in the terrorist compound.

“Shut up Robin hood,” Tony grumbled.

The man just smirked and patted his head before walking away to the other side of the tent.

Short after, uncle James kneeled on one foot in front of him. He thrust a handgun with Stark logo to him. As a weapon manufacturer, father has taught him how to use guns in any kind of variety since he was a kid. They even had their own weapon range at home, where father usually take him to practice every week.

As much as Tony did not care about guns, he knew that practicing how to use them was a good practice, just to be on the safe side. And in this country, he would be able to put this skill to practice. For his survival.

“This is a…”

Tony stopped his uncle from continuing. He took the gun and started taking it apart and put it back together. “ This is a semi 43 made by SI last year. It has 12 rounds and easy to handle. The grip is better than what they made the year previous. One of my best invention so far.”

He opposed to the direction of the company but he couldn’t deny having a hand in inventing some of them. He did have a knack to make them.

Agent Coulson didn’t give any indication that he was surprised at the information and just went outside of the tent. Meanwhile, the girl agent cocked an eyebrow at him in amusement, while Lady Marion squirmed in excitement.

“That’s so cool, dude.” He said in wonder and awe. “I knew you are a genius, but wow, mam. You created one of my favorite handgun to use.”

Uncle James twitched a smile at him. “I know. This is a precaution. In case somebody discover you.”

Embarrassed, Tony said sheepishly. “Okay. “ Then he said quietly within James’ hearing. “Promise me you bring father safely back.”

The man gave a small nod, but before he could stand up, Tony touched his hand to stop him. “You too. Please stay safe.”

“We’re moving in 5,” Coulson informed them, picking his head in from the flap of the tent.

Quietly agent Hill walked out without saying anything. Clint followed behind her. “See ya kiddo,” Clint made a gun motion with his hand and winked, leaving the last two occupants inside the tent.

“If you’re in danger, don’t hesitate to shoot.” James gave him a one-armed hug and whispered. “And promise me you will stay here.”

The ‘don’t follow us’ was unsaid but he understood it nonetheless. “I promise, uncle James.”

With that, the assassin stood up without looking back and went outside. Tony stayed inside and fiddled with the gun. Hoping they all come back with his father still alive.

***

Almost his whole body hurt, especially the hole in the chest. It’s sore and rather painful, but nothing he couldn’t handle at the moment. Yet, he couldn’t keep taking the car battery around. It’s very inconvenience.

On the other hand, without it, he would have been dead weeks ago. Even the mild serum running through his veins wouldn’t be enough to stop the pieces of shrapnel from traveling to his heart.

Ho Yinsen was a brilliant man for coming out with this idea, using a car battery to create an electromagnet and preventing the pieces of metal from shredding his heart to pieces. Howard knew for sure that he would be dead if it was not for Yinsen.

Right now Yinsen was probably waiting for him in their room in casa de cave. It was just your daily routine in his new abode. Tortured the poor millionaire to force him to make weapons.

Howard was a patriot, damn it. There was no way in Hell, he would build weapons, especially Jericho missiles for these despicable terrorists. He knew what it could do. He and his son had made sure that it was the best weapon in the arms race. The blast radius and explosion would kill many people. If the terrorist got this weapon, he couldn’t imagine how many civilian casualties there would be.

During his stay, he realized something crucial. His son of bitch of a business partner was not only a corrupt man, he was also a traitor to the land of Liberty. And even if he had gone to jail, nobody knew how many of SI weapons have been distributed or where they were now.

He came to a shitty conclusion and admitted heavily that his son was right. His company needed a new direction. His legacy couldn’t be the countless body counts of US soldiers that he swore to protect or innocent civilians.

He didn’t want that. He wanted to protect people. He thought that’s what he had been doing this whole time, but it was wrong.

No more, he thought.

“Are you daydreaming, Stark?” His torturer pulled his hair up, jeering at him with his thick accent.

“No,” Howard coughed up, opening his good eye to look at the sweaty man. “I need a break. Do I get a break? A to… Toilet break, perhaps?”

His left ear was ringing from the hard slap against his face. He could taste the blood from where his teeth knocked the inside of his mouth and lip. God, he’s almost 80 and here he was being smacked around. As a senior citizen, the terrorist was cautious in torturing him. They didn’t used waterboarding, which he hated the most. Thank God.

Mostly they like to hit him. It was a hard hit but not any that he couldn’t handle. But when that didn’t work, they started kick him a little here and there or slap his face. They never dare to touch that particular part on his upper body since he had a literal hole on his chest, but cautious or not, they still harmed him regardless of his age.

“This is the worst room service ever,” Howard chuckled, spitting blood from his mouth. “I want refund.”

Oh the look on that man’s face was priceless. Howard guessed that the terrorist was angry by the look on his face, so the genius had just screwed himself. The smelly man raised his hand to hit the old inventor. However, before he could do it, a pair of hands reached from behind him and snapped his neck with a sickening sound. The killer dropped the body slowly to the sandy floor.

And there he was, dressed in all black and in his glorious prime time, James Buchanan Barnes. The man said to him in a deadpan manner. “And you wonder from whom Tony gets his smart mouth from.”

“O… Old friend,” Howard tried to smile with his cut lips. “What took you so long, asshole?!”

It was dark inside the cave, but he swore he saw the twinkle on his friend’s eyes. “Am I your friend or an asshole?”

“The longer you let me tied up to this chair, I swear to all that is holy I will…” the old genius groaned before having a coughing fit.

Bucky immediately cut the rope gluing him to the chair with a knife and helped him to stand up. His legs felt numb from having the rope slowing the flow of his blood circulation. He almost buckled down if not for Bucky’s help.

He clapped a hand on the man’s arm and said, “Thank God you came. And I have a friend in the VIP room on the left. If you could save him as well, that would be appreciated.”

“Anything else?” The agent asked with a little sarcasm in his voice.

“Can you destroy anything that have the Stark’s logo outside?” He asked seriously. “I don’t want the…”

Shortly, there was an explosion near them. Howard was knocked against the wall, banging his already bruised body and head at the same time. And then it was all blurry.

Faintly he felt he was being lifted and carried out. Shouting and gunfires could be heard everywhere.

“… Stark! What happened to him?” A familiar voice asked. Yinsen?

“His head hit the wall.”

“He needs medical attention. I could…”

“Later.”

Then he was being pulled into the dark depth of unconsciousness.

***

Two days later,

Howard woke up with a massive headache. The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes wasn’t the usual dark ceiling of the cave. He woke up to the white ceiling and to a beeping noise.

“Father?”

The voice came from right next to him. Suddenly, Tony appeared in his line of sight. He looked terrible. His face was pale and he got sunken eyes. “You looked horrible, son.”

His son pulled a relieved smile and wiped the tears out of his face. “Ditto.”

“What… what happened?”

“It’s been 19 days since you’ve been shanghai-ed after your weapon demo in Afghanistan, Father. I used a potion to find you and later Uncle James and the others saved you two days ago and because of your condition, we brought you to the hospital first,” Tony told him. “We’re in a military hospital now. Still in Afghanistan, though. But don’t worry, father. Tomorrow we will fly back to America.”

And the memories all came back to him. The kidnapping, the torture, the worrying about not coming home to his family and Ho Yinsen.

“Yinsen?”

His son looked sad and shook his head slowly. “Uncle said that he got shot on the way out.”

He felt like his heart has been gripped by an invisible hand. The millionaire felt sorrow at losing his only friend in the cave. They knew each other less than a month and Howard thought it was enough. He was proud to call his savior a friend.

“He saved me. He put a…”

Then he remembered the hole in his chest. When he tried to look at it, Tony informed him. “Relax father. I figured it out. You won’t need the car battery anymore.”

When he finally managed to look at his chest with Tony’s help to sit up, he was startled and said in a dry throat. “Is this what… What I think it is?”

“It is,” Tony grinned widely from side to side. “Tada, I miniaturized an arc reactor. And uncle James said he had made sure that the other agents didn’t know about this.” His hand waved over the older man’s chest. “I had also made sure that the doctor had signed an NDA after checking up on you.”

“Okay,” Howard said calmly, reassuring himself even though the thought of having a reactor in his chest freaked him out. “We can deal with this.”

“Don’t worry, I have an idea for this.” Tony reassured him. “After dad come back, I would work together with him to heal you. I’ll deal with the tech part and dad will deal with growing your bones and all the icky part.”

Howard sighed in relieve and laughed coarsely. “So, I guess your dad is not going to be happy with us, then.”

Tony laughed nervously. “Definitely. But he isn’t back yet, so let’s come out with an excuse.”

Howard tried to shrug with his stiff shoulders and threw a ‘meh’ attitude. “I was kidnapped. What’s your excuse?”

His little boy genius threw his hands in the air and groaned loudly. “And that’s the thanks I got?! Rude!”

***