Dawn of New Change

PREVIOUSLY ON: Dawn of New Change

Taeyong isn’t locked up like his father, he’s stuck in Trevor’s room and decides that instead of trying to escape he just sleeps. There’s a weird foggy smell in the air and Taeyong doesn’t have it in him to do much when he feels so sluggish. Tony and Rhodey on the other hand have to fight their way out of the AIM’s hold and eventually meet up with a half-assed plan to save Taeyong, save Pepper and save the President. 

It’s really a work in progress. 

***

Taeyong was sitting in the bow cockpit of Trevor’s speedboat. He was sitting against Rhodey and let his dad give him small sips of water to wash out the heavy feeling of sleep away from him. Already being out of the house and the foggy atmosphere was helping. Taeyong felt a bit more awake with the wind in his hair and the smell of fresh air invading his nose. “I’m fine dad,” Taeyong said, taking the water bottle from Tony’s hand and tucking it away. “Really.”

Tony gave his son a small worried smile, ruffling his hair before he stood back up and turned to Rhodey, starting to call out commands. Taeyong leant against the edge of the boat, looking through the window at the clear skies. He wasn’t really paying attention to his fathers words, just knowing that they were leaving was enough for the little guy. 

Then there was something about a call. Taeyong had heard the vice President's name and assumed that something was happening with the white House. Whilst waiting, he tried to sit up properly and stretch his limbs out more whilst thinking about the suit that was still being charged at Harley’s house. 

Taeyong knew that there were suits of his and his dad’s still back at the house. If they weren’t completely destroyed in the bombing then they would be fine, it would simply take them a very long time to get to them. He blinked a couple times, looking back at his dad and uncle before standing up. He swayed a little against the boat, hands coming to clutch against the small railing by the wall but he steadied himself. 

“Dad?” Taeyong called. 

“Yeah bud?” Tony walked back into the sub level of the boat and immediately put an arm around Taeyong’s shoulders. “You should sit back down.” 

Taeyong shook his head, pushing his dad’s arm away, “I’m fine, really. What’s going on now?” he pointed towards the small television set up in the corner of the room. The news was playing, it was a live broadcast of the President’s flight. There seemed to be something wrong, the words AIR FORCE ONE COMPROMISED were on a continuous loop just at the bottom of the screen. 

“We…” Tony started, looking over his shoulder when Rhodey came back inside, “are going to be fine. Iron Patriot?” 

“Nah,” Rhodey grinned, “War Machine.” 

Both Tony and Taeyong smiled at that. A quick plan seemed to formulate between both men, because they started to talk in their own language. Taeyong could have tried to keep up with it but he was using a lot of his brain power to crouch properly and make sure he didn’t fall back against the boat again. He didn’t want to look weak in front of either men. 

“Taeyong, call up Haechan, we need to know what percentage the suits’ at,” Tony ordered. 

Taeyong nodded quickly, taking the phone that he had outstretched towards him and dialled the small boy's number. The phone rang continuously until Haechan picked it up, a cheerful “Hello!” rang out. 

Taeyong found himself smiling, “hey Haechan- the suit-”

“Ninety-two percent. It’s starting to move…”

Taeyong nodded, “Dad's setting it up now, we’re going to need it. Hold on a sec-” Taeyong turned back to his dad, shouting the percentage number. 

“We’ll call it!” Tony called back. 

Taeyong gave a simple nod and returned to the phone, “gonna need you to open your shed door. That suits coming to us,” he informed. 

“Oh! Okay, cool-” Haechan made a couple sounds over the phone, Taeyong suspected the clanging sound was from the lock being opened and then a whoosh was heard and Tony perked up from where he was. “It flew!”

“It sure did,” Taeyong grinned. “I’ll call you later?”

“Sure, keep me updated.” 

“Course-” Taeyong hung up and took unsteady steps towards his dad, feeling a little bit like a newly born foal. He was just starting to gain control of his legs and actually make a dent when the boat hit a particularly harsh wave and with a yelp, Taeyong fell over. “Ouch,” he mumbled from his face down position. “He’s coming,” he said, letting Rhodes grab him by his underarms and lift him up easily.

“Holy shit- Taeyong you’re really light,” Rhodey looked back at Tony who frowned, tilting his head as he studied his son. “Like, insanely light.”

“I am?” Taeyong said, feeling a flush in his cheeks and heartbeat ten times faster. Was he really that light? Was it noticeable? “Like unhealthy?” he asked, turning to look up at his uncle. 

Tony patted Taeyong’s hair, “not unhealthy, don’t worry about it, bud.” But Taeyong spied the eye contact between his dad and his uncle, they seemed to be one as they communicated in only soft gestures. Taeyong felt a pit in his stomach, was he really that light? Was it a problem to be light? Taeyong felt frustrated and then anxious, wanting to understand what they were saying without speaking, but then the Iron Man suit made a booming noise and everyone scrambled to the doors, running to get outside. 

Taeyong grinned widely, hands coming to the rail and squatting slightly so that he would remain upright. “He’s here!” he pointed out enthusiastically at the suit, watching it fly over to their stolen ship. Taeyong turned back to his dad, grinning widely with the man as the suit finally flew down and landed quite roughly on the main floor. Tony started to wire up the suit, clicking his tongue when things didn’t seem to be going the way he wanted. 

“What’s the plan?” Taeyong asked, letting Rhodey put a stable hand on his shoulder to keep him from swaying too much. 

“I’m going to save the President of the United States,” Tony responded. 

Taeyong looked up at Rhodey, squinting through the sunlight, “you too?”

“I have no suit,” Rhodey reminded. 

Taeyong nodded sagely, “neither. Can we help?” 

“You’re going to sit and recover, that’ll help my mental health,” Tony muttered. 

Taeyong pouted, “but-”

“No buts.” 

Taeyong looked back at his dad and narrowed his eyes before giving a short huff and walking back inside of the boat. He grabbed the phone on his way and started to dial a number he had easily recognised, ears pressed against the device whilst he waited for a familiar voice to pick up. 

“Hello?” 

“Johnny!” Taeyong found a smile stretching over his lips easily, leaning against the small sofa in the boat, he sat back properly and sighed. “Give me updates.”

“Um.. okay, but you’re not going to like them.” 

Taeyong frowned, sitting up a little. “I’m not?”

“There’s something big going on in the sky and there’s talk about Captain America, Black Widow and some other guy being fugitives. Did you know that the pirate guy you were talking about a year ago is dead?”

Taeyong sat up straight, eyes wide as he looked back at his dad. The news of Fury’s death was all ready to be spat out when he noticed the bracket of temple machines and holographs were surrounding his dad’s face. Tony was in the middle of a mission and it seemed like he was controlling the Iron-Man armour from outside, eyes focused whilst he carefreely gave out orders. 

So instead of pulling his dad’s attention away, Taeyong choked a little before clearing his throat. “Nick Fury?” He hissed over the line, feeling his shoulders start to heighten with the dread settling over him. “Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.?” 

“Yep,” Johnny called, “he’s been dead for some time now. It’s all pretty messed up, I’ve been trying to write down a timeline but I didn’t keep up with that news as much as I’ve done with the news of Wilson Fisk becoming the Mayor of New York.” 

“Wait what?!” Taeyong burst, “so he’s actually the Mayor now? That’s a thing?” 

“Yep, it’s all a bit chaotic. Mark’s getting good grades in school though.”

Taeyong felt his chest lighten with that news, body relaxing as a soft fondness settled over him. “Oh that’s good. You too?”

“Course,” Johnny said easily. “We’ve been trying to get on with normal life over here. Mum’s been pretty spooked now that she knows you’re alive. She’s really stressed, taking double shifts at work because she doesn’t know what to do with her spare time. I think she likes being able to work and temporarily forget how much life sucks y’know?” 

Taeyong snorted, “I understand that. I’m in the middle of watching dad save a bunch of people from almost falling out of a plane.” 

“The Air Force One one? Because I’m watching it live right now. I can see the Iron-Man suit. Where are you then?”

“I’m on a boat. He’s on the boat too, we’re helping from external support. The suit that you’re seeing now is still a prototype. We stole a boat,” Taeyong shrugged, before pursing his lips as his legs started to ache. He shifted in his seat and relaxed the muscles before Johnny started to shout over the phone. 

“PEOPLE- FALLING! THERE ARE FALLING PEOPLE??!”

Taeyong frowned, turning to the television and then blinking when he saw that indeed, there were people falling out of the plane. “Uh dad?” he called, eyes glued on the TV, Johnny still shouting in his ear and Tony grunting whilst his hands moved continuously to fight with the suit. 

“Working on it!” he told Taeyong whilst Rhodey started to call more people on his phone. 

“He’s working on it?” Taeyong told Johnny. 

“This- He’s?? Okay… Yeah okay….” 

And Taeyong felt at least the slightest bit sorry for Johnny, but he had all the faith in the world that his dad would be fine. There was probably nothing to worry about and if anything? It seemed like Tony was the type of person that really worked well under pressure. It was just a little worrying that the ‘pressure’ placed on him was kidnappings and people falling to their deaths. And terrorists. 

“Why are they always terrorists?” Taeyong muttered. 

“What’s he saying?” Johnny laughed over the phone.

Taeyong frowned, turning to his dad, “Come on people! Grab your monkey, okay?” He looked back at the phone and then sighed. He gave a small goodbye to Johnny and then hung up before turning to his dad and waving his hand. “Hi sweetheart-” Taeyong felt himself flush- “can I help? I’m in the middle of saving a couple- It’s not a hard game, I don’t know why you can’t get her leg?” 

Taeyong chuckled, “dad-”

“Nice work guys!” Tony cheered, face pulling a giant grin. He grabbed Taeyong and swung the boy around, eliciting exciting laughs from the both of them. “Excellent job everyone. Pat on the back, you too Taeyong.” Taeyong wobbled as he was set down and chuckled quietly.

“The President?”

Tony frowned, “oh- more homework?”

“And Pepper?” 

“Extra credit,” Tony shrugged. 

Taeyong gave a little glare, “I’ll tell her you said that.” 

“Go on. She doesn’t scare me anymore.” 

“Okay then, I will,” he huffed. Rhodey opened the door to the under cabin and peered inside, smiling at Taeyong. 

“We’ve got the Roxon facility up ahead, get ready,” he warned. 

Tony turned back to Taeyong and gave an easy grin, “Jarvis? Pull up the House Party protocol.” 

Taeyong's eyes glittered as he stared up at his father. He was ready to bounce on his legs if he wasn’t already so seasick and wobbly. “It’s time?”

“It’s time,” Tony confirmed, bending down so that he was eye level with his son, “you’re staying here.” 

Taeyong sighed but nodded, “I got you. I still feel sick,” he gave a pout. 

Tony nodded, “really stay here. There’s probably a puke bag somewhere here, if not just go overboard.” 

Taeyong snorted, but let his dad climb up and out of the cockpit into the main boat before he went to go and sit down on the little sofa provided. He looked back at the TV which seemed to be televising the plane crash and there seemed to be a rescue team to pick up the people that had been saved by his father, but also dumped into the ocean. “You should really know me better by now,” Taeyong grinned, running out of the boat and onto the pier. 

Taeyong crouched low as he started to run under the giant crates in the Roxon Facility, noting that even with his tiny height, he could probably easily be seen because of the giant red hoodie he was sporting. The younger boy shrugged off the giant outer layer and rubbed his arms, having only decided to wear a plain black shirt. One of Haechan’s that Taeyong easily fit into. 

He decided the best way to go ahead and reach his father and Rhodey was to crawl, so crawl he did. Taeyong was tiny and quick, moving around to skirter between different scaffolding structures and metal beams that were piled high enough to hide a bunch of people, let alone a tiny thirteen year-old. He didn’t have to move far to see his father with Rhodey, the both of them easily surveying the area before they stopped to stare at something that must have been in the centre of the facility. 

The entire place was still being worked on, but not by actual construction workers, instead whoever it was that Killian seemed to employ. Men and women in thick black suits carrying weapons that seemed overly big for their arms but they seemed to hold just fine. Taeyong crawled into one of the long metal pipes, moving swiftly and trying to make sure that the shoes he wore wouldn’t scrap against the metal. 

Taeyong slipped, putting his hand out just to catch himself at the last minute, but he eventually made it to the very end of the metal tube. One that managed to find itself just under the hanging crates and behind a conveniently placed guard. Taeyong pursed his lips, thinking for a moment before he gave a little shrug and stuck his hands out. His fingers wrapped themselves around the guards calves and he tugged harshly and quickly. 

The guard fell straight to the ground and Taeyong quickly scrambled out of the metal pipe to kick the lady in the face. He watched her eyes roll to the back of her head and pass out before he bent down and poked her cheek. Her hair was short and choppy, covering her forehead that started to get sticky with blood. Taeyong checked to make sure she was still breathing before he dragged her body into the metal pipe and stole her gun. 

After securing the gun under his armpit, pointing it out in front of him with a slight shakiness, he started to duck behind more giant pillars and crates, trying to scour for his dad and uncle. It was not too hard to find them, climbing up a platform and with no surprise to Taeyong or anyone that knew the two, were arguing with each other. 

Taeyong ran over to the platform, climbing up the stairs and not caring too much to make little noise. Both Tony and Rhodey were quick to point their guns at Taeyong when they heard his loud footsteps against the metal stairs. “Taeyong?!”

“I know I shouldn’t be here,” he hissed, running over to his dad, who took the gun and replaced it with his own. 

“How did you even get that?” Rhodey asked, patting the younger boy's hair and checking him over. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I knocked out a lady and stole it,” he gave a sure nod, head turning to look back in the direction her came. 

“You need to go-”

“I know, I am.” 

“This is not going-”

“I’m going to fly home,” Taeyong explained, turning to blink up at his dad and give a smile. “You ordered the suits, including mine right?” Tony breathed in harshly and Taeyong winced, knowing that he was really pushing his father’s limit. “As soon as I get in my suit I’m flying off,” he promised. 

“Immediately.”

“Immediately,” Taeyong nodded, stepping out of his fathers rather tight hold and looking up at the suits that were starting to fly over to the facility. Taeyong grinned, watching the suits all line up around the place and hover just over them and a few other guards that were watching uneasily. 

“Well,” Tony outstretched his hands and Taeyong grinned, watching his father work. “What are you waiting for? Get ‘em.” 

Taeyong and Rhodey watched as the Iron-Man suits started to attack the guards, fighting easily with commands that were pre-established in the system to use the most well trained styles of martial arts. One of the guards, glowing a bright, pulsing red under his skin, gave out a war cry and jumped from his crate, landing just in front of the three. Rhodey grabbed Taeyong’s shoulder, pulling the younger boy behind him with his gun already out. Tony’s arms came forward and he called one of the nearest suits to him. 

It was Mark-25, a big black suit with cannons for arms. Tony’s body became encased in the entire suit, hands pushing forward and blasting the man away whilst he shouted for the others to hide. “Get your suit short-stack.” 

Taeyong scoffed. 

"Yes, okay so do me now," Rhodey said, opening his arms and waiting for a suit.

Tony and Taeyong stared at each other before looking back at Rhodey. "Sorry," Tony shrugged. "They're coded to me." 

"Yeah!" Taeyong grinned, watching one of his own suits fly towards him. He held out his hands and ran. "Just cover for us!" he yelled, jumping off the railing and landing inside his own armour. 

“No covering, you are going home!” Tony ordered. 

Taeyong pouted behind the mask but nodded. “Can you set my coordinates?” 

“Already done, Jarvis?”

“I have the flight plan ready for you Sir.”

Taeyong scoffed again. “So much for my superhero moment.” 

“You don’t want to be a hero Taeyong,” Tony said through the comms. “Trust me.” 

Taeyong rolled his eyes, “Yeah whatever…” he muttered, already flying out of the facility. The sounds of the fighting and gun fire slowly becoming drowned out with the waves crashing against Trevor’s boat. The light and high energy were soft now during the night and Taeyong sighed, biting his lip. “J?”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Cut my comms with dad.”

“Taeyong-”

“Do it.” 

NEXT TIME ON: Dawn of New Change

Taeyong felt bile rise up in his throat. Everything juts felt a little overwhelming so he stepped out of the suit and Tony must have finally notices him because his dad was wrapping him in a hug but also berating him. "You could have died! What would I have done? Huh? You really wanna put that on me?"

"Dad?" Taeyong whispered, feeling his knees wobble and his legs crumble beneath him. Pepper and Tony started to shout but they were drowned out by the sounds of explosions. "Urgh... dad? I don't fee- I don't feel well."

Taeyong closed his eyes.