Chapter 3
Tony should get out of bed. His ceiling wasn’t so beautiful that he could spend his day looking at it. He should go out of the house and actually do something with his life. The weather was beautiful, judging from what he could see from the window. His company would need him sooner rather than later. The genius would need to have everything prepared then. The livelihood of many employees and investors depended on him. Tony was a workaholic by nature, and his crazy mind was constantly buzzing with a thousand different ideas that kept Stark Industries at the top of its game.
But right at that moment, he was empty. No ideas, no energy. He couldn’t even be bothered by his lack of feelings. Only yesterday, he was heartbroken and crying all the tears in his body. Perhaps he had nothing more to shed. Perhaps something was wrong with him. Tony had previously been told that his reactions were unusual. Steve had never said anything of the sort but then again, it had only been a play for him. The artist had not been sincere. Everything that had been good during their relationship had been a lie on Steve’s part. Being honest was not at all part of his plan.
“Mr Carbonel? Do you plan to join me for breakfast?” asked a voice from the other side of the bedroom door.
Despite Tony’s warning that he wasn’t a morning person, Miss Florence was not the type of person who would be deterred by minor details like that. Breakfast was the most important meal of the day. Some habits were difficult to break. She had been a mother for a long time, feeding people to make sure they start a good day was part of her. Who was Tony to go against the will of the formidable woman? Nobody.
“I’m coming!”
He quickly rose from his bed and got ready as fast as he could. Tony didn’t want to keep her waiting any longer. After breakfast, he would go to a larger town nearby to do some shopping. If he wanted to spend some time away from New York, away from Steve, he needed some equipment. He wasn’t in the mood to go anywhere. That town didn’t particularly appeal to him. He didn’t hate it either.
“Do you have plans for today Mr Carbonell?”
Miss Florence was making small talk with him while serving the largest breakfast place he had ever seen. Bacon, eggs, hash browns and the fluffiest pancakes he had ever tasted. Tony would have to be careful with his weight. He wasn’t used to eating that much. The food was simply too good around here, and getting used to that kind his treatment was going to be more than easy. Steve had mentioned to him a few times that he didn’t have healthy habits. The artist had to pretend to care after all.
Tony first drove to the unique petrol station in town to fill his tank up. He then went looking for a mall or a place like that. Shopping was not his thing. The last time he had taken time to buy something, it had brought him great revelations. That was a positive point, he supposed. Tony should always look on the bright side of life.
Still, he needed a laptop. He walked slowly through the aisles, looking at everything. Those shops were really selling anything and everything. Even in the computers and electronics section, there was a lot of choice, but not a single laptop had what he precisely needed. Not even those pretty expensive gaming laptops. So, Tony bought four.
He drove back straight after his purchase. Places where there were a lot of people meant he could be recognised more easily. Tony had spent many years in the heart of New York, but he still wasn’t comfortable around crowds. His business playboy persona helped him manage the numeros galas he had to host or the press conference he had to attend for his company. However, if he had to choose, the genius would prefer to spend his days alone in the workshop rather than with all of those people.
It had not really been true recently. Tony would have gone anywhere Steve would have asked him to go. Museums, galleries, and the like. He had even accepted his friend in their lives and days out who apparently despised him. He was really being too trusting of others. Tony needed to learn how to guard himself a lot more.
Right now, the cafe was more inviting than Miss Florence’s house. There was the appeal of a fantastic cup of coffee and perhaps a piece of pie. Beyond asking if he wanted more of the wonderful brew, the man behind the counter would leave him alone. After his little trip down memory lane, Tony didn’t really feel like making conversation. He liked the old lady well enough, he wasn’t just quite ready for her ministrations.
The period for lunch had already ended. Tony wasn’t really hungry after Miss Florence’s big breakfast. When the genius entered his establishment with four slim boxes and sat down at a booth, the man behind the counter didn’t even seem surprised. He probably had seen a lot of weird things happening in here. He brought coffee and a slice of blueberry pie without prompting from Tony. Then, he returned behind his counter to read his newspaper, minding his own business as usual. Tony started his work.
The genius was absorbed in his work, taking apart each laptop one at a time, to take out the pieces he needed, putting everything back together. He would end up with one excellent laptop and three average ones. Stark Industries produced computers at various prices and quality levels depending on the budget and what they wanted to do with the computer. The company was trying to provide to everybody, from all walks of life.
“Why are you opening your computers Mister?” asked a small voice out of the blue.
“I am making one really good out of all these. It’s for my work.”
A young girl was standing there flanked by two boys all around the same age. They were looking at him with wide eyes. Tony had gently responded to the girl’s question. She was probably the most daring of their little group. The barrage of questions became incessant once the conversation began. The three children came closer, little by little, until Tony gave them the permission to sit down. Their questions were more than pertinent. Those kids were smart.
The girl’s name was Laura, and her two friends were Peter and Harley. They had obviously been best friends forever and had attended the same school for a long time. Tony couldn't help but smile when he heard that. They looked like they were, at the very most, ten years old. For children, the concept of time was very different. Hopefully, things would stay that way in the future. Tony had been through too many betrayals for his own good. He would not wish that on anybody, especially not children.
The genius was constantly being told he wouldn’t make a good father. He had never asked for their opinions in the first place, but they were still providing them. Howard had undoubtedly set a poor example of parenting. At least, Tony would know what not to do. He loved children though. They were full of imagination and enthusiasm about everything. They were also a lot more straightforward and honest than any adults Tony had ever encountered.
The children were actually very helpful, and the conversations were far superior to those Tony had with actual adults. Time was flying by, and soon, all the laptops were put back together properly. All work deserved to be compensated. The children had learned a lot about the ins and outs of a computer but Tony just thought he actually didn’t need the other three laptops. The machines were still quite good and could easily run whatever game the kids were interested in these days. Laura and her friends could keep them or could always sell them for all Tony cared.
“Really Mister? I don’t have that kind of money for the computer and I have not been that helpful in the first place. Someone like me… I mean..” rambled an embarrassed Peter who couldn’t help the hope in his voice.
“Really.” interjected Tony. “You guys have been really helpful today and if I need help again, I will make sure to ask you to come back.”
The children looked like their birthdays and Christmas was happening at that moment. Their happiness was blinding. Tony couldn’t help but return the smile. He was at least bringing some people joy. Each of them thanked him a dozen times, which is much more than used to receiving. People found it normal for him to give them stuff away. He was a billionaire after all. It would not make a difference for him. The children then walked away with big smiles on their faces and a laptop each in their arms. All things considered, it had been a good day for Tony.
“How much do you want for the computer?”
Tony had been lost in his own thoughts when he was started by the man’s deep voice. The owner was standing at Tony's table. He didn't sound threatening, but he cut an impressive figure. Tony was wondering why that man was asking until he noticed Laura's face peeking out from behind the man.
“I’m not looking for money. It was a salary for a job well done. No more, no less.” Tony replied with a smile to the man and a wink to the girl.
“Name’s Logan by the way. Laura is my daughter.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Tony.”
The little moved forward and repeated to her father that she assured him that it was ok, that the mister had given it to her. Fair and square. Laura had her father wrapped around her little finger, but she didn’t seem to be the kind to use that particular power. Logan’s smile was filled with fondness and love. It was heartwarming to see the love between those two.
Tony hated his own thoughts, how they kept returning to Steve and what had happened between them. The artist had never looked at him with that amount of love in his eyes, not even remotely. Looking back now, the genius had either missed or purposefully ignored many red flags. Tony had never been very good at reading other people's emotions. It made him feel incredibly sad once again. The genius didn’t want to cry though, not again and not here. Laura would not understand why an adult was reacting like that out of the blue. The young girl probably didn’t know about heartbreak and she didn’t need to learn about it from him.
“Well coffee and pies for free as long as you are around!” decided Logan with an approving nod from his daughter.
“You shouldn’t make those kinds of promises. I might only eat pie until the end of time now.”
“You’re funny Mister.” giggled Laura.
“Call me Tony.”
“Do you want to eat some apple pie with me, Mister Tony?” asked Laura with hope in her voice.
“It’s almost dinner time, Monkey. Another time maybe.” interjected her father gently.
“Your father is right but tell you what… I can eat a cheeseburger with you and I’ll even make sure you eat the side of salad and everything.”
Tony had only recently met those children. This wasn’t something that would have happened in his previous life. The genius already knew he would do a lot for them. Perhaps trusting strangers, even children, was a bad idea. Tony didn’t have a good track record with that. Perhaps the genius would never learn to protect his heart. He was who he was, and Steve's behaviour should not have caused him to change, especially not in a negative way.