My Dad, the Boy (*Man) Who Lives

June 2006

“Sir, incoming video call from Ms. Jane Foster,” JARVIS chimed in from the speaker on the upper corner of the ceiling.

Tony was in the office when he got a phone call from one of his science acquaintance, Jane Foster. The woman was Tony’s a genius in her field and on her way to complete her Ph.D. as an astrophysicist.

It was weird of her to call him since she never did that before. Sure they had each other’s numbers but she and Tony weren’t exactly on good terms but they have moved from being on worse terms to acquaintances with bad terms and not enough credits to be friends.

He met Foster 8 years ago on a double date. Bruce was smitten with Betty, a girl at the university where he worked at and it was adorable how nervous he was to have his first date with her. So he rooted Tony to accompany him on the date.

In turn, Betty also brought a friend for Tony, making it into a double date. To Tony’s amusement, she brought a stranger, literary. Her name was Jane Foster and she was a College student in the university where, Bruce and Betty worked.

In her defence, she panicked when she saw Bruce brought him from in front of the cafe. So, she pulled Foster, whom was sitting behind her with her coffee and told her she would pay for her to be Tony’s blind date.

Silly couldn’t even begin to cover it. It was a disaster waiting to happen. The date go well for the intended couple, but for Tony and Foster, it was the worst date ever. They didn’t really get along with each other. The opposites attract didn’t apply to them. They had a pretty bad first impression of each other. She thought he was a spoiled Richie rich, while he considered her as a crazy stargazing b*tch.

Yeah, it wasn’t a very good first meeting. Without Rhodey, Bruce has to try his best to separate him from the younger female from going face to face with each other. Betty was Switzerland, so she managed to take Foster away for a walk.

Tony didn’t even remember what started the whole fight, but he just didn’t like her very much. Bruce was quite disappointed in him, possibly for cutting his date short.

To Tony’s dread, in their walk, Betty and Foster befriended each other, even with the obvious age difference between the two women. She told them that she was a genius and knowledgeable about her chosen field of study.

So, once more they tried this double date thing. Betty insisted on it and Bruce, the infatuated bastard agreed readily. He and Foster almost killed each other on the second date.

The couple thought their friends would get along well since they were both almost the same age with good looks coupled with good brains.

Very wrong, BB. (Bruce Betty, not BB gun or B&B)

It took quite some time for them to be in the same room. Tony had to admit that she was as smart as Betty Beth promoted to him. And with BB nudging here and there, they could finally be in the same room together without biting each other head’s off.

Usually they gathered around to talk about science, old and modern. It was fun and Foster did bring insights to her field. It was an interesting subject, not lame liked he once thought and she was brilliant. They got along nicely when they talked science together with other people in a group.

After the fourth time they had a disagreement that included her storming from the room looking red in the face and him drinking a bottle of scotch looking pissed, their friends have learnt their lessons well not to leave them alone.

In conclusion, their relationship was like water and oil. They may be both liquid, but they would never mix with each other, without their detergent molecules. Coz detergent attracts both oil and water, so… Anyway, in this case, the detergent was their friends.

“Put her on, J,” he answered, curious at the reason behind her call. Her face was projected from his holographic desk. She looked casual as always with unkept hair and t-shirt with a pair of glasses. The background looked like a bedroom, which has seen better days.

“Friend of my friend, acquaintance of mine, to what do I owe this unpleasantness of your call?”

“ Stark,” she greeted not too warmly.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance and grimaced. “Attitude, young lady. I see your manner is still lacking.”

She looked a bit red in the face,” I knew this was a mistake.”

“What are you talking about banana foster?” He cocked an eyebrow.

“This,” she flailed her arms around. “Calling you was a mistake.”

“Buuuuuut, since you already call me,” he put his elbows on the surface, and his hands holding his chin, grinning. “You might as well tell me why you rang moi.”

“Or I could just hang up and do us both a favor of not killing each other verbally,” she stared at him coldly.

“Or I could hack your phone and computer, pestering you to tell me the reason for this unpleasant call, or you could do us both a favor by telling me anyway,” the CEO grinned, baring his teeth to challenge her.

The woman glared at him, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

“You know how per.su.a.sive I can get, twinkle-twinkle little star,” he singsonged.

The scientist spat out,” Fine! Betty needs you. Call her.”

And the line was cut off.

“I think she still don’t like you, sir, “ J informed his creator.

“The feeling is mutual,” he sighed. “J, call Betty. If Foster feel deigned to call me, then it’s serious.”

“Calling Dr. Ross,” J replied.

When the call went in, he heard the woman’s voice. “ Hello?” Her voice was breaking, as if she has been crying. “Bruce? Is it you?”

“Sorry, sweety,” he called softly. “It’s Tony. How are you?”

“Oh, hi Tony,” she sounded devastated. “I… I’m fine.”

“No offense, Betty tweety, but I don’t think you are fine, “ he bit his lower lip. “Foster called me to check on you and you know how much she loathes me. She wouldn’t contacted me if you were fine, Beth.”

“… She doesn’t loathe you, “ she whispered, changing the subject. “She dislikes you.”

“Understatement of the year, “ Tony muttered mockingly. “And don’t change the subject. Now, could you turn on your video call? I will feel much better if I can see you, sweety.”

“I don’t want to, “ she said petulantly.

“Come on, honey, “ he coaxed her gently. “I’m worried. Foster worries. Don’t make me come there. Or do you need me there?”

“No?”

She sounded unsure and not for the first time Tony felt his heart clenched. The genius felt sorry for Betty and furious at her fiancé for leaving without asking for Tonys help. He knew about the military project after hacking the government or how the experiment turned Bruce into a jolly green giant when his emotion ran high.

If only he came to him for help or if only Bruce wasn’t so good at staying under the radar, Tony could help him with magic. It would be difficult and expensive, but he could have made him a talisman to control Bruce’s transformation. After all, Tony had invented such thing as werewolf talisman for the wizarding world, had even patented it and sold it cheap. He invented the talisman to honor Teddy’s father, who’s also Tony’s grandfather’s best friend.

“No. No, you don’t have to come, “ she answered with much more conviction and her face suddenly appeared on his holographic desk. Her eyes were blotchy and there were tear stains on her face. She looked worn out and rather miserable, but her eyes still radiated with the fighting spirit and kindness to forgive that Bruce loved so much.

“Oh Betty, “ Tony said with a sad tone. “You wanna talk about it?”

Her lips trembled a little and she sniffed a bit before wiping her eyes with a tissue. “I just missed him, Tony. So much, it hurts.”

“I know, honey, “ he answered calmly. “I bet he misses you too. I’m not defending him, but he is scared he’ll hurt you. You know how he is.”

“Yes,” she snuffled. “I know he’ll never hurt me. When he turned into that big green giant, he listened to me. He protected me. But my dad…”

The scientist sobbed again.

“Oh, Betty Beth, don’t cry,” Tony begged. “You know I can’t handle a crying woman.”

“ ‘m sorry Tony,” she wiped her tears. “Today would be three years since he ran away.”

“Left you,” he corrected. “It’s okay to say it like that. He didn’t mean to, but he did leave you.”

“Yeah, yeah he did,” Betty said, a little angrily. “I’m angry at him for leaving me. I know he didn’t trust himself not to hurt me, but I trust him. He should have trusted me. I know him better than he know himself.”

“That’s the spirit,” Tony woo-hoed. “And I promise you, sweety. I will find him and I will drag him by the ear until he kneels in front of you and begs for your forgiveness. He’s my science bro, but you’re my science sista, girl.”

She chuckled with her hoarse voice.

“And if you still love him, “ he continued earnestly. “I will do anything in my power to stop your father’s influence in the military from charging Bruce. I have stopped him so far, but he is…”

“Obsessed with Bruce? Wanting to recreate his formula? Doesn’t approve of our engagement?” She said quietly with the kind of tone that hid how pissed she was.

“All of the above, “ he agreed. “But don’t you worry. I have dirt on daddy dearest, and I’m willing to blackmail the general just so that he would back off.”

“Thank you, Tony, “ her eyes were watery once more, but this time she looked grateful and relieved. “You’re a good friend.”

“Hey, that’s what friends are for, “ he winked. “After all, what kind of best man I am, if there’s no groom, right?”

“Seriously, Tony, “ she curled up a tremble smile. “I don’t know what I’ll do if we don’t have you. You helped us so much. So much.”

“I don’t doubt you’ll figure something out, “ he felt embarrassed at the praise, but gave his friend a small smile nevertheless. “I just speed things up.”

After, they talked some more and by the end of the call, Tony felt convinced that he had left Betty feeling much better and less depressed. Oh, Bruce, you have a lot of things to make up for your fiancé, he thought.

There’s a knock on Tony’s door before it was opened a little. He couldn’t help but smiled when a certain red-headed woman peeked her head in from the opened door.

“JARVIS said you need me?” She said hesitantly, darting her eyes around.

He glared at the ceiling, where he knew J’s camera was installed. Meddling AI, he cursed in his mind.

Since he introduced him to Pepper a few months ago, J took great length to try to push him together with her. His boy was trying to play Cupid, somehow.

Tony wasn’t oblivious, no matter what his parents or AI thought. He lo… Liked Pepper, but she’s his PA. It’s not professional and he didn’t want to use his position to seduce her, except from the occasional harmless flirting. He has boundaries and lines that he wouldn’t cross, however much the media tried to expose his love life.

The genius dated, but he only had 1 serious relationship so far and that only lasted for half a year. With his busy schedule, time spend with his family and friends along with his secret missions, he didn’t really have time for romantic relationship.

And Pepper… he wanted to be with Pepper, but he’s afraid that she wouldn’t return his feelings. After all, in her eyes, he’s just her childish boss whom she had to drag from inventing binge to board meetings and babysat to do paper works and documents.

And even if she did return his feelings, he was afraid that if they broke up, he would lose Pepper. Tony was afraid that he would lose their friendship, which he cherries more than anything, after his family.

He knew how cowardly he sounded for someone who was very innovative and inventive in both no-maj and wizarding world, but feelings wasn’t something that he could calculate or measure. It was intangible and it could either crush you with miserableness or reward you with the chance of happiness.

Tony just didn’t want to take any chances.

The CEO was awakened from his contemplating by Pepper clearing her throat. Without his notice, she has come in and stood in front of him, looking worried.

“Tony?” She asked, sounded a tad apprehensive. “J sounded worried when he asked for me. What happened?”

Pepper treated J like a person, which was a plus on Tony’s list. Could she get any more perfect, he asked himself in amaze.

“Nothing,” he waved nonchalantly. “Just Betty. I was consoling her about her fiancé.”

“ You mean Dr. Banner?” She took a seat in front of Tony.

“Yeah,” he rubbed his stiff neck with his left hand. “He’s still missing and today is like the anniversary of him running away 3 years ago. I promised her I would find him, “ sighing in defeat, he muttered,” Sometimes I think, she’ll be better off if she moved on, you know? But, I know Bruce. I watched them romancing each other out and they were perfect for each other, you know.”

“I don’t know them very well, except when you mentioned their names, “ she slipped her hand slowly on top of his stretched hand on the desk. “But some people are worth waiting for. Right?”

Tony was mesmerized by Pepper’s eyes. He was fixated by her eyelashes, and how nice it was being watched by those eyes. And her smile was sweet and understanding. He could just looked at her all day and all night and never be bored.

Unconsciously, he flipped over his hand so that their palms were touching and slowly stroke her slender fingers with his thumb.

“Right,” he agreed, still gazing at Pepper's beautiful face. “Pepper.”

“Yes?” She smiled softly, as soft as her voice.

“I…”

Then the ringtone broke them from their hypnotizing moment. Pepper pulled her hand off of Tony and took her phone out of her blazer, looking at the caller id. She looked at Tony apologetically,” I have to take this.”

“Okay,” he said quietly.

“Will that be all, mr. Stark?” She asked with a tender yet shy smile on her face.

He answered their usual courtesy Q and A with a warm smile. “That will be all, ms. Potts.”

Maybe someday, he would have the courage to tell her. The courage to say how much gone he was for her. Someday.

***