Tony leaned back in his office chair, stared at the ceiling, and took a deep breath.
He has a son now.
The weight of the word reverberated through reality. "My son." He murmured to himself, as if trying to get used to the meaning of the word. A few days ago, the biggest stressors in his life were boring work meetings and new projects in his lab. Now? Now he had a flame-breathing child with superhuman powers.
As he tried to gather his thoughts, Jarvis' voice sounded.
"Sir, I've determined that Orion has awakened and is now moving about his room."
Tony narrowed his eyes. "What is he doing?"
"I think... he's getting used to his new form. It's the first time he's moved in a human body, so his motor skills are still developing."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "You mean he doesn't even know how to walk?"
"He'll have to learn that, sir, but right now he's making small attempts. Interestingly... he seems to be trying to imitate you."
Tony paused for a moment. Then a slow smile spread across his face. "Come on, time to meet the little fireball."
He got up and walked briskly to Orion's room. When he opened the door, he found a strange but adorable sight.
Orion was sitting up on the bed, holding his arms in the air, trying to keep his balance. His eyes were wide with curiosity. He opened and closed his hands and moved his fingers, trying to adapt to the human body.
But what was really interesting... was what he did when he saw Tony.
Orion looked at Tony... then tried to copy his expression exactly.
Tony tilted his head to the side and Orion did the same.
Tony raised his eyebrows, Orion tried to raise his own... but he was not used to controlling his facial muscles, so he made a slightly funny expression.
Tony smiled slightly. "Wow, you learn fast."
Orion saw the curve of Tony's mouth and tried to lift his own lips in the same way... but he miscalculated and opened his mouth a little too wide, showing his teeth in an odd grin.
Tony laughed. "Okay, that's a little creepy, but still not bad."
Orion cocked his head sideways. "Creepy?"
Tony froze.
Orion... had he tried to speak?
Jarvis noticed it too. "Sir, Orion may be trying to say his first word."
Tony dropped to his knees, eye level with Orion. "Can you repeat that? Spooky?"
Orion looked carefully at Tony's mouth, studying how the word formed, and then spoke with great effort:
"Spooky..."
Tony's mouth dropped open.
"Jarvis, is this speed normal?"
"No, sir. Orion's ability to learn is extraordinary. If he continues at this rate, he will soon be able to fully develop his language skills."
Tony smiled slightly. "So can we enroll him in MIT next week?"
"That may be a stretch, sir, but he should be fluent in a few weeks."
Tony looked at Orion. There was a certain curiosity in the boy's face. He was discovering his new form, his new abilities. But at the same time... He focused on Tony.
"You're imitating me, aren't you?" Tony asked.
Orion thought for a moment, then nodded.
Tony laughed slightly and shook his head from side to side. "Okay, if you want to imitate me, I'll give you your first lesson."
Orion prepared to listen intently with his big eyes.
Tony placed his hand on his chest. "My name is Tony."
Orion put his hands on his chest. "Tony!"
Tony rolled his eyes. "No, no. I'm Tony. You're Orion."
Orion frowned slightly. "Orion?"
"There you go! You're doing great!" Tony snapped his fingers in delight.
Orion tried to imitate Tony's movement, but his little fingers couldn't find the right position, so he did something between clapping and snapping his fingers.
Tony laughed. "That's enough!"
Orion looked at Tony laughing... then he started to laugh too.
Tony suddenly felt a warmth in his chest.
This kid was really trying to be like him. He followed his movements, repeated his words. And most of all... he was happy to be with Tony.
For a moment, Tony thought back to Orion's first form. As a little baby bird, cuddling in Tony's hand... trusting him...
And now, even in a completely different form, he trusted Tony again.
Tony took a deep breath and smiled as he patted Orion's head.
"Okay, little fireball. Welcome to your new life."
Orion didn't understand the words, but he felt the warmth in Tony's voice and nodded with a big smile.
Just then, Jarvis' voice echoed.
"Sir, Orion is officially registered as Orion Stark. As of this moment, he is legally your son."
Tony's heart stopped for a moment.
A son.
Indeed... he had a son.
A moment later, Orion reached out and touched Tony's face.
"Orion... Stark?" he asked.
Tony pressed his lips together, then blinked and nodded.
"Orion Stark."
The smile that lit up Orion's face... it was one of the purest, most beautiful things Tony had ever seen.
And in that moment, Tony Stark's life... changed irrevocably.
As Tony looked into Orion's wide eyes, he felt, for the first time in his life, an emotion he could barely define. It was a kind of pride, but it was also something deeper, more instinctive. The desire to protect something, to own something... but this thing was not an object, it was a human being - no, it was more than that. His son.
The word was still strange. Tony Stark had been one of the most brilliant men in the world. He had made seemingly impossible machines a reality. But raising a child? He didn't know how to do that.
Orion tilted his head slightly as he looked at him. "Dad?"
Tony gasped.
Had Orion learned that on his own? Or had he heard it somewhere? Was he trying to understand what Tony meant to him?
Suddenly, Howard Stark's face flashed before his eyes. A strict, disciplined man, incapable of showing love... The compassion he could never show for his son had left a deep hole in Tony.
And now Tony had a chance. A chance to stop making these mistakes, to truly love his son... to make him feel worthy.
A slow smile spread over his face. There was still some hesitation, but the light in Orion's eyes made Tony face his fears.
"You've chosen a fitting name for me, little fireball." He recognized the warmth in the voice. He couldn't remember ever speaking so softly to anyone.
Seeing the smile on Tony's face, Orion smiled too. But this time it was more natural, more genuine. Because he felt Tony's joy as well.
"Orion Stark," Tony said, saying the boy's name again. "You know, when you first came here, you didn't know who you were. You weren't even sure what you were. But now you know who you are. And so do I. You are my son."
Orion's eyes lit up. "Son?"
"Yes, son." Tony nodded. "You know what that means? You and me... we're a team now."
Orion thought for a second, then clenched his hands into fists and tried to snap his fingers like Tony had taught him. "E-Team!"
Tony laughed. "That's right."
He took a deep breath and patted Orion on the shoulder. "Look, being my son isn't just about us having a good time together. It also means that I will protect you above all else. No matter what."
Orion nodded. In his eyes it meant that Tony would never leave him alone, that he could trust him. And that meant a lot to Orion.
Tony paused for a moment, then narrowed his eyes slightly. "You know, fatherhood may be new to me, but I adapt quickly. You and I would make the best father-son duo."
Orion nodded excitedly.
"Then... let's do our first father-son activity." Tony narrowed his eyes and thought. "Come on... I'll teach you how to eat pizza."
Orion cocked his head sideways. "Pizza?"
Tony bowed with a serious look on his face. "Yes, pizza. It will be one of the most important discoveries of your life."
Orion thought for a moment, then nodded his head in agreement. "Learn pizza!"
Tony laughed. "That's right! You and I are going to get along just fine, Orion Stark."
And so, perhaps for the first time in his life, Tony truly felt that he was not alone. He now had a part of the world - someone who loved him, cared about him, imitated him, and most importantly, was his son.
Orion will be my main character. Who should be his wife? Please keep giving suggestions
If you want to support me patreon com Talamo