Several months had passed.
Tony took his morning coffee and went to the small table in the corner of the lab. Orion was drawing strange shapes on the paper in front of him. His small hands still couldn't quite grasp the pencil, but he was trying. Tony noticed that Orion was holding the pencil wrong and sat down next to him.
"Okay, little man. We're going to teach you something. Today is a big day."
Orion lifted his head and looked at his father with wide eyes. "Big day?"
"Exactly. Today is your first lesson in reading and writing."
Orion's face lit up with curiosity. "Literacy?"
Tony placed a notebook on the table. On the first page he wrote O-R-I-O-N in capital letters.
"That's your name."
Orion studied the paper carefully. He studied the letters as if trying to decipher the meaning of the shapes.
Tony read the letters one by one, pointing with his finger. "O... R... I... O... N. Orion."
Orion blinked. "Is that... me?"
Tony smiled and nodded. "Yes. These letters, put together, make you."
Orion touched the paper, then ran his little finger over the letters. "O..."
Tony nodded excitedly. "Yes, that's it! Keep going."
Orion tried a little harder. "R... I... O... N. Orion!"
Tony laughed and patted his son on the shoulder. "Wow, you learned that quicker than I thought!"
Orion smiled proudly. "I'm smart!"
Tony rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you're as smart as me."
Orion laughed and hugged Tony. Tony put his arms around his son and savored the moment.
These little moments... they meant the world to him.
And now Orion's learning process had officially begun.
__________
Tony smiled at Orion's excitement. The boy enjoyed learning to read and write, but Tony was not a patient teacher. He shone more with his intelligence. Lecturing? Not really his thing.
He put his hand to his chin and thought. "So... who can teach you best?"
Orion tilted his head to the side. "You?"
Tony rolled his eyes. "No, I'm too busy and impatient for that, but I have the perfect solution."
Just then, Jarvis' voice came over the lab's speakers. "I believe I'm being asked to step in, sir?"
Tony turned to Orion with a smile. "Little man, I present to you the most patient teacher in the world: Mr. Jarvis."
Orion looked around curiously. "Who is he?"
Tony leaned over the table and pointed at Orion's notebook. "Jarvis, tell him to write his name out loud."
Jarvis' voice was soft and instructive. "Of course, sir. Orion, listen carefully. Hold the pen in front of you with your right hand. Yes, like this. Now draw the letter 'O' starting from the top."
Orion excitedly took the pencil and tried to do as Jarvis said. He clenched his hand a little too tightly and the lines were a little wobbly, but in the end a large letter 'O' appeared.
Tony folded his arms over his chest and nodded proudly. "Wow, look at that! You're doing great."
Orion looked at his father, his eyes shining. "Really?"
Tony nodded. "Absolutely. And you know what, Jarvis, he could practice that with you every day."
Jarvis jumped right in. "Of course, Mr. Orion. We'll have daily lessons. It will be fun and educational."
Orion jumped for joy. "The lessons will be fun?"
Tony winked. "If you push Jarvis hard enough, he might even teach you the secrets of being super smart."
Orion giggled and turned to the feather. "Okay! Jarvis, let's get started!"
Tony laughed and patted his son on the head. Jarvis would be Orion's teacher. He would guide him in the best and most patient way.
Tony stepped back quietly.
The boy was learning fast... very fast.
Tony felt a mixture of pride and amazement as he watched Orion continue to eagerly draw letters in the notebook. In just a few months, the little boy had made incredible progress. He was making sense of words and beginning to form sentences. As a father, he was pleased that his son's intelligence was so evident.
But...
But it also ignited a competitive spark in Tony. After all, he was Tony Stark! Genius, billionaire, inventor... He had to be the smartest, right?
He frowned as he watched Orion expertly control the pen in his hand. With Jarvis' guidance, he drew the letters almost perfectly. Tony thought back to his own childhood. At that age he had not been so developed. Sure, he had an incredible intellect, but Orion learning so fast - that was so much more.
"All right," Tony muttered to himself. "My son is smarter than me? Interesting."
Orion looked up. "Dad, what did you say?"
Tony smiled immediately. "Nothing, little man. Keep practicing."
Orion nodded and went back to writing his letters. Tony retreated to the corner of the lab, crossed his arms over his chest and began to think.
The fire of competition was starting to burn inside him.
Okay, he agreed. Orion was great. But smarter than Tony Stark? No, no, no, that was impossible! Tony had been a genius for years. A kid, no matter how talented, could never outsmart him.
"Jarvis," he said in a quiet voice.
"Yes, sir?"
"Look at this. Orion's learning rate is how many times that of an average child?"
Jarvis replied within seconds. "Mr. Orion's learning rate is about ten times that of an average child. In addition, his memory is quite strong. He remembers a great deal of what he sees and hears."
Tony's brow furrowed even more. "Hmm... Interesting."
His thoughts were complicated. At the same time, he was incredibly proud. His son had an exceptional talent. On the other hand... was he bit jealous? No, no, not jealousy. Just... a slight sense of competition.
"All right, Tony," he muttered to himself. "Calm down. He's your son. Of course he'll be smart."
But his ego wouldn't shut up. Tony Stark had to be the smartest!
He thought for a few seconds and then smiled. Okay, maybe Orion learns faster than me. But who's his father? I am.
That's why he's smart. Because he's a Stark descendant.
He put aside his internal conflict and relaxed. The reason his son was special was because he was special. A simple equation. The Starks were known for their intelligence, and Orion was carrying on that tradition.
A few minutes later he returned to Orion. The little boy was writing new words under Jarvis' direction. Tony leaned over and looked at the notebook. "Stark," he wrote.
He smiled. "I see you've learned to write our last name as well."
Orion nodded proudly. "Dad, what does Stark mean?"
Tony paused for a moment. "Hmm... Good question. Stark means strength. It means intelligence. Never giving up. We Starks... we're always the best."
Orion nodded. "I'll be the best, too!"
Tony ruffled his son's hair. "You already are, little man."
The competitive feeling inside him had faded. Now he felt only pride. There was only one reason Orion was so special: He was Tony Stark's son.
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