Howard's Soldier
A four year old Tony was slowly eating in the kitchen while a small woman was cooking. He looked horrible. His lip was split and he had some major bruises all over the body. He was eating dry bread and had a glass of water in front of him. Suddenly the door burst open and an angry Howard Stark marched in.
“What are you doing here freak?! I told you to clean up my lab!”
He looked at the boy with hate. Tony started to shake.
“I’m sorry sir. But I was hungry and…”
The slap made him fall out of the chair. Not once did the woman turn around. Tony crawled quickly away from Howard but didn’t get far because the man’s kick got him in the stomach. Tears pooled in his eyes but before they could fall Howard grabbed him by the hair and hissed:
“Stark men don’t cry. Stark men are made of iron. You understand that boy?!”
Tony nodded.
“Yes sir.”
“Good. Now go to my lab and clean it up. And don’t you dare to go anywhere near food for the next three days or I’ll make sure you’ll regret that you were born.”
He pulled the boy to his feet and pushed him towards the door. Tony ran out holding one hand over his stomach. On the stairs he crashed into Jarvis that was heading upstairs.
“Master Tony?”
He reached out but the boy simply flinched away from him. The butler’s eyes were sad.
“If I could do anything…”
Tony nodded. At the same second a beautiful blackhaired woman appeared behind Jarvis.
“Jarvis. What is going on he… Oh my God!”
The boy quickly took a step back when he heard her shout. She looked at him for a few seconds and then suddenly her brown eyes became cold.
“I’m going to kill him. I will not tolerate this anymore.”
And she rushed upstairs past the terrified boy who seemed to think that she was talking about killing him. She didn’t get far before Howard stepped out of the kitchen. A slap made him almost lose his balance.
“Maria?”
Before he could really understand what was going on she pulled a gun out and pointed it at him. He stilled. Behind her Tony and Jarvis were frozen to their spots.
“I’ve had enough Howard! I understand that a child needs discipline but what you are doing is abuse! You have gone too far! Mutant or not, Tony is my son!”
Howard smirked suddenly.
“Yes, he is. But he is also my little soldier. Anthony.”
A flash of blue and Maria was thrown backwards while the gun levitated over to Howard and fell at his feet. Jarvis and Maria looked in shock at Tony who was standing with his both hands up in the air. A blue glow was surrounding him.
“Tony. Please.”
But the boy kept his eyes on Howard. The man smiled triumphantly while Maria started to cry.
“You’ve created a monster Howard.”
She slowly picked herself up and hurried away. Tony quickly turned around and ran downstairs most probably to clean up the lab. The two men looked at each other and finally Jarvis got the courage to ask:
“Why did he attack Mrs. Stark?
Howard smiled.
“It’s an experiment I’ve been doing on the boy. The more I hurt him, the more obedient he gets. He will do whatever I tell him to do as long as it keeps him away from punishment. It works perfectly.”
Then he turned around and went away in the same direction Maria had gone. Jarvis sighed and headed downstairs once again. The youngest Stark would need him. When he entered the lab he saw the boy levitating a machine up so that he could clean the floor from under it.
“Master Tony.”
The machine started to fall only to be caught up in the last second before it crushed the boy. He crawled out from under it and looked over to Jarvis with big blue eyes. They seemed to almost glow and the butler remembered his shock when he saw them the first time. The machine slowly lowered itself onto the ground and Tony’s eyes changed back to his normal brown.
“I need help Jarvis.”
The butler nodded.
“I know sir.”
“That woman. She is my mother right?”
Jarvis nodded once again. Oddly enough he looked surprised.
“Why didn’t she do anything before?”
“She was scared. Of your father.”
Suddenly the door burst open. Howard walked in and turned immediately to Jarvis.
“We are going away for a few days Jarvis. Me and Maria. You’re coming with us. Thelma will keep an eye on the freak. Get the car out of the garage. I’m driving.”
Then he walked out again. Tony just nodded when Jarvis turned towards him again.
“Go. I’ll be fine.”
Pepper was now crying. The only thing keeping Natasha from crying were the years of training she had behind her. Clint looked like he wanted to shoot someone and Sam looked as if he was going to be sick. Bucky was pale.
“It’s that day.”
Everyone turned towards him. He took a deep breath and continued:
“They are going to go in the car. I will be behind them. I will crash the car and kill them all.”
“It wasn’t your fault Bucky.”
It was quiet for a second and then Bucky stood up, went over to Steve and punched him in the face. With the metal hand. Sam stood up and put a hand on Bucky’s shoulder.
“Calm down Barnes. We don’t need any more fights.”
“Why shouldn’t the guy let off a little steam?”
At that both Natasha and Vision started to laugh.
“You realize you are quoting Tony right Bruce?”
The doctor just smiled and in that second Bucky decided that however it all would end he liked Bruce Banner. Sam, Wanda and Clint on the other hand looked confused. Natasha quickly started to tell.
“It was the first time we all met on the Helicarrier. When Loki blew it up. Everyone was arguing and Fury told Bruce to step back. That was when Tony asked that question. And Steve answered “You know damn well why”. And they started to argue and honestly Steve stepped way out of line with some things he said. But before it went far enough for them to hit each other the carrier blew up and we all had to fight.”
Bucky turned slowly to Steve and asked with a low and dangerous voice:
“What did you say to him?”
Before the Captain managed to say anything Bruce jumped in.
“Why don’t Friday just show us the clip from that? You have it right?”
“Yes Doc.”
Bucky slowly sat down next to Pepper again and Friday started the right clip.
Tony was standing next to Steve. Natasha and Thor were on the other side of the room while Fury and Bruce stood next to the table.
“Why shouldn’t the guy let off a little steam?”
He put the hand on the others shoulder only for the Captain to knock it off.
“You know damn well why. Back off!”
Tony looked over at him with almost hurt but the arrogant mask was on just a second later and he answered in a low voice:
“Oh I’m starting to want you to make me.”
Steve made something like a smirk and started to go around Tony.
“Yeah. Big man in a suit of armour. Take that off, what are you?”
Tony kept his eyes on Natasha as he answered with confidence:
“Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist.”
Natasha made a face that screamed “He is telling the truth!”
“I know guys with none of that worth ten of you. I’ve seen the footage. The only thing you really fight for is yourself. You’re not the guy to make the sacrifice play, lay down on the wire and let the other guy crawl over you.”
Tonys head dropped when Steve was talking but when he raised it again his voice was strong.
“I think I would just cut the wire.”
Bruce smiled at that seemingly proud of Tony standing up for himself. Steve didn’t seem so happy.
“Always a way out… You know, you may not be a threat, but you better stop pretending to be a hero.”
That seemed to be the last drop for Tony. His eyes were angry when he took a step towards Steve.
“A hero? Like you? You’re a lab rat Rogers. Everything special about you came out of a bottle!”
Steve slowly nodded and his eyes were almost disgusted when he said:
“Put on the suit. Let’s go a few rounds.”
The fact that Pepper had put her hand on Bucky’s arm was the only thing that stopped him from getting up and punching Steve again. Clint on the other side was grinning like a madman.
“Cap just got owned by Shellhead. Why do I always have to miss stuff like that?”
Natasha actually facepalmed.