Dinner was usually a loud affair. Avengers everywhere, Tony and his daughter arguing about who is smarter, Bruce telling everyone to be quiet, though he secretly loves all the chatter. Today was different. Maria, Tony's daughter, wasn't talking. She wasn't eating either. "Alright, kiddo. What's up?" Tony asked.
"What? Nothing."
"Don't lie to me. I can see that something is going on in that big head of yours." The other Avengers stopped their conversation to eavesdrop. There was a long awkward silence.
"I have a secret to tell you guys," Maria finally said.
"Just tell us, honey. I doubt anything is bad enough that I'll turn green," Bruce joked, trying to ease the tension. She smiled at him.
"Okay. Uhm. I'm a boy? Yeah, I've been thinking about it for a while. I'm definitely a boy." She He looked at them, a false confidence on his face. No one said anything, processing the information.
"Okay. Cool. What's your name? Or do you need help deciding? Cause personally I think Patrick is a horrible name-"
"Peter. Peter James. I once heard you say you've always liked the name Peter and that's what you would have named your son. And James because I can't imagine you naming your kid after anyone but Rhodey. I thought about Benjamin, for Uncle Ben, but I think Rhodey deserves it more."
"J, update Peter's information in your system to match his new name and pronouns please and set aside some time for us to go shopping for some new clothes." Tony smiled at his son across the table. "Thank you for trusting us, Peter. We love you." Everyone repeated the sentiment. Nothing could ever stop making them love him, not even a gender change. Everyone pulled out their phones to change his name in their contacts.
"You know, my brother is what I believe Mid-Guardians call gender-fluid," Thor said. "He changes gender, and species, at will."
"Loki? That's so cool. Do you think I can talk to him sometime?"
"Of course, Stark Son. I will let him know you wish to see him."
"Yeah, he better not try anything. If he hurts my kid I'll hurt him," Bruce said. He still didn't fully trust the god.
"Understood." Thor lifted his glass. "To Peter! What a joy when someone can be their true self."
"To Peter!" Everyone lifted their glasses, smiling at the boy.
"Pete! We gotta go! Your haircut is in ten minutes!" Tony yelled down the hall. His son stumbled out of his room, dressed in his brand-new clothes. "Lookin' good, kid." They walked together to the car, where Happy was waiting to take them to a queer salon Tony had found. They specialize in gender-affirming haircuts. Peter was practically vibrating in his seat. When they arrived, Peter almost fell out of the car in his haste to get inside.
"Dad, hurry up." He grabbed Tony's arm and dragged him inside. "Hi. I'm Peter, here for a haircut."
"Peter, Peter, Peter...Ah yes! I've got you down with Ashton. Ash! Your 2:00 is here!" The receptionist waved at a person with the brightest pink hair Peter had ever seen. The person waved him over.
"Do you want me to go with you, or wait over here?"
"I'm okay by myself. Just be nearby if I need your opinion." With that, Peter left his dad and walked over to the chair.
"Hello. I'm Ashton, he/they. You?"
"Peter. He/him."
"Nice to meet you, Peter. What are you looking at getting today?"
"I'm thinking short, but still long enough to keep my curls. I want fluffy-haired-gamer-boy vibes. Like hypieee from TikTok." Peter pulled up a picture. "You get what I mean?"
"I know exactly what you mean, and I'm so excited for it." Ashton got to work quickly, keeping simple conversation with the boy. Peter was glad he didn't bring up that he was Tony Stark's kid. They had yet to have a press conference about his transition. From the corner of his eye, he could see his dad talking to the receptionist, no doubt making sure the salons 'no-outing' policy extends to celebrities as well. "Alright, Peter. Are you ready?" Ashton turned the chair around and Peter finally saw himself.
"It's perfect. Thank you so much." Ashton took the apron off Peter and dusted him off a bit. "Would it be weird to ask for a hug?"
"Of course not. We get them all the time." The two hugged and Peter skipped off to where his dad was.
"You know, kiddo. I'm finally starting to see what people mean when they say you look like me." Tony ruffled his son's hair and turned to pay.
"Oh. Did no one tell you? Our first-time gender-affirming haircuts are free," the receptionist said with a smile.
"I love that for the general public. However, you are well aware who I am. So how about this. Ashton! What's your most expensive monthly bill?"
"Easily my rent. Living in New York isn't cheap."
"And how much is that?"
"3 grand."
"Oh. Easy," Tony wrote a check and handed it to Ashton.
"Mr. Stark, this is way too much money." Ashton looked down at the $36,000 check.
"Look how happy you just made my son. Now you don't have to pay rent for a year, or you can put a good downpayment on a house. Your choice. Thanks, guys!" Tony put his arm around Peter's shoulders and led him out of the salon.
"Sources say that Tony' Stark's daughter, Maria, cut off all her hair. You have to wonder, what kind of parenting is Stark-"
"This just in, Tony Stark's daughter TRA-"
"Tony Stark is in the news again this week. He was seen leaving a famously queer salon with his daughter, her hair now cut ridiculously short. Stark has yet to comment-"
"Pepper, can you set up a press conference for this afternoon?" Peter asked. Pepper and Tony looked at the boy in shock.
"Pete, you don't owe them anything," Tony said firmly.
"I know. I'm not doing it for them. I'm doing it for other trans kids. I need them to know it's okay to be themselves."
"Alright, then. We'll go over a few points to make sure you're ready. Pep, call everyone."
Three hours later saw the Starks in the press room, cameras, microphones, and people surrounding them. Tony and Peter were dressed in similar suits, Tony's maroon and Peter's black. Tony spoke first, "We have called this conference to address the recent news. If you will all be patient and polite, I promise all of your questions will be answered." He stepped back and let Peter step forward. At just 14, he was conducting a press conference almost on his own.
"Hello. You all know me as Maria May Stark. I'm here today to tell you, that is not who I am anymore. As of three weeks ago, I am Peter James Stark, and I am a boy. I've felt like a boy my entire life, and I have finally gotten tired of pretending to be someone I'm not. I will go ahead and take some questions."
"How do the Avengers feel about this?"
"They have all been very supportive."
"What about your other father, Bruce. I don't see him here."
"He unfortunately is away in India helping Dr. Cho and Doctors Without Borders set up a few hospitals, so he couldn't be here, but I got to video chat with him just before this. He still loves me dearly, don't doubt that."
"What does this mean for the future of Stark Industries?"
"I'm sorry. I don't understand the question." He glanced to his dad, who looked upset at the question. Before the woman could say anything, Tony stepped up to the mic.
"What are you implying?' He asked.
"Well, certainly you aren't planning on letting her-"
"Him."
"Whoever, isn't going to run the company. Right?"
"And why wouldn't he? Peter has always been set to run Stark Industries, should he so choose. His gender identity doesn't change that plan. Let me make one thing very clear, Stark Industires and The Avengers stand with queer youth. Including trans youth. No more questions." Him and Peter walked away, not looking back at the stunned crowd.
"I'm so proud of you, Peter." Tony hugged his son tight. Peter hugged him back, nearing tears.
"This was the right thing to do, right? Even though they hate me, it was the right thing?"
"Oh, baby. They don't hate you. They just have to get used to the fact that the world is changing into something better. They're just assholes. You absolutely did the right thing-"
"Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt. I would like to let Peter know that he is currently trending on Twitter, #starkson and #transrights are the top two tags at the moment," J.A.R.V.I.S. said. Peter cried a little harder.
"I did it, dad. I represented them."
"Yeah, kid. Yeah you did."