Chapter Text
Stark men are.
Made of Iron.
Men of Iron.
Three words, a phrase Tony has known since he was born, in one way or another.
“Stark men are made of Iron.” His father would spit angrily when he was drunk, upset, or done with Tony’s ‘tantrums’.
“Men of iron, do you good to always remember that, boy.” Howard would walk out Tony’s bedroom. Tony’s cheek burning, stomach hurting, side aching, or sometimes just his insides. Tony only wanted to wish Howard a happy birthday, he should have known better.
Howard’s birthday was not the best times and Tony has been witness of them for the last eight years.
“Of course, father.” Tony’s small voice answers, it may not be the best thing to say but he has to say something to avoid more reprimanding. Howard slams the room door shut swishing his bottle of whiskey in the other hand.
“Born a Stark.” Tony begins to recite holding back tears he knows will just anger his father more, gripping to his sobs until Jarvis checks on him. “Being a Stark means I am born from strong stuff. A man made of Iron. Stark men are made of iron.” Tony whispers curling up into himself.
Nine years of life and Tony already knows more than most, he had been told so by his old teachers. Old teachers because his father made sure he would get collage level professors for the future of his blood, of his name. Even if he is still forced to go to an actual school. Tony knows his father only cares for two things and his mother and self are not it.
“Young master Anthony?” A light knock comes from the door and Tony knows that voice, he has always found it a source of support when his parents were not in the room. Tony takes a deep breath and stands slowly careful not to limp as he walks to the door. He knows Jarvis knows but no need to have others worry, he can be a Stark.
“Yes?” He opens the door to the older man, hair going white and his butler suit in place without a single hair out of place. Tony opens the door wider and walks back in to his bed and slowly sitting.
“What happened?” Jarvis asks as he closes the door after coming in. He follows Tony to stand in front of Tony who is sitting on the side of the bed with a slight grimace.
“I made father a small bot, programmed it to display ‘Happy Birthday’ but it bugged out.” Tony looks down at his hands picking at his nails, “The small bot knocked over his coffee mug and,” his voice cracks and lowers to a stop.
“Do you still have the bot?” Jarvis asks knowing what happened next, it’s a too common occurrence in Jarvis’ opinion. Tony slowly looks up and nods just a little. Tony points at his writing desk by the window where a small grey rectangle with toy tires on the side of each corner. The top of the rectangle had a glass screen and Jarvis notices the cracks on it and how the tires look to be crooked. He picks it up and he will never pretend to really understand how Tony manages these things but he is always impressed. “This looks like it took a while to make.”
“No really.” Tony whispers, voice too rough, “only took two days, I had most of the parts laying around.” He finishes almost ashamed.
“That is quick work, it looks like it worked like it should.” Jarvis tries, he knows that at this point praising the child wouldn’t change his mind since his father already made it clear what he thought. It always makes Jarvis sick with sadness that Tony finds it hard to accept honest complaints, the child always find it easier to accept that his work is never good and that there will always be something wrong.
“Quick but no good, it was too simple.” Tony glares at the small bot in the butler’s hands, almost as if accusing it for all of the wrongs in the world. Jarvis can hear how much Tony blames himself for everything. In moments like this, he wonders how Howard could have changed so much from the first time he met the man, in his younger years.
The older man sighs, “I think it was a great idea, a little more work, but good.” He tries again.
Tony slides back on his bed slowly, “I’ll get your sleeping clothes.” Jarvis places the bot back before walking to Tony’s large closet and pulls out a large shirt with shorts. Tony hates wearing pants to bed, anything past his knees makes it too hot for him. It was a funny quirk Jarvis discovered after several mornings he would wake Tony up as a toddler. Maria would always make him wear long bottoms and Tony would take them off and laying them next to him.
“Does father hate me?” Tony whispers so quietly that Jarvis is not sure he was meant to hear. When he turns around holding Tony’s sleeping clothes he sees Tony talking to his Captain America poster on the ceiling above his bed. A poster Jarvis helped him put up when he was seven and thought that maybe is Captain American watched over him, everything would get better, Maybe he would be better.
The thoughts makes Jarvis glad he didn't quit all those years ago, Tony needs someone he can hurt to not hurt him.
Once Tony get down to his boxers, Jarvis takes a moment to rub heating and cooling ointment on the bruises, he helps Tony dress for bed and pull the covers from under him and pulls them to his chest.
“Thank you.” Tony whispers as he lays in bed still looking at Captain America. Jarvis gives a small ‘hm’ in response and walks out.
Sometimes he wonders how much Tony will take before his father’s abuse really breaks him, if it hasn’t happened already. Jarvis hates thinking about Tony in that manner. Tony, the same small boy who builds amazing things; Tony, the same nine year old who when he was told he would be sent to boarding school began to lose sleep to be better at everything that was placed in front of him. Several people wishing to have a son as smart as Tony but not wanting his attitude. Tony, the same boy who no matter how many times Howard tells him he is no good, he still tries. Tony who learns what his mother says so she can show him off to her friends. Tony the small boy who seems to not know how to make friends his age because he mimics his father which makes him enemies not friends.
Jarvis is not surprised when a month after Tony’s tenth birthday and one really bad (one-sided) fight Tony runs away.
It started with Maria and Howard arguing if Tony still needed a nanny, Howard’s last word was no and so the nanny was fired. Maria only talked to Howard when they were in public and Tony knew what that meant. Jarvis saw Howard drinking more and more until Tony began to tear up about falling the last few steps from the stairs. Maria was concerned and called a doctor. Howard on the other had was already irritated and the whiskey in his hand he whispered words that had him taking it out on Tony.
“Steve would have gotten up like it was nothing!” he shouts in Tony’s room giving the child one hard back slap. “You can’t even walk down the stairs without making yourself look foolish!” he pushes Tony to the ground.
Tony bites back everything he wants to say, ‘he is not Steve Rogers’ ‘he is not a super soldier’ ‘he is just Tony’ ‘Sorry being Tony is not as great as being Steven fucking Rogers.’ He needn’t say those words because Howard knows them. In that moment Howard looks in disgust at the child and kicks, Tony sees it coming and curls into a ball to protect his stomach. It always hurts worse when his stomach gets a direct hit.
“Captain America would be ashamed.” Howard slurs with a final weak kick and storms out. Maria was out in the car waiting on her son and husband, ignoring the problem as she learned to do. Before she could think about checking on them Howard walks out the house fixing his hair and suit, “the boy wants to stay home.”
“Howard,” Maria begins when he glares, “I really wish you wouldn’t start drinking so soon.”
“Maria, lets not.” Howard sits in the car next to his wife and lays his head back thinking.
“Anthony?” Jarvis opens the door to the room rushing in. He had just been told by a maid who was too scared to stop Howard. “Come on.” Jarvis scoops Tony up and Tony growls, “let me go!”
Tony tries to push Jarvis away but his body hurts and it’s been a month since he was given any form of embrace. His birthday gift his mother was a hug and a gift with a forced Howard-hug and a happy birthday before bringing him two presents and leaving for his lab.
“The doctor had already said you were injured and he,” Jarvis whispers in a cold tone that Tony freezes. “That man.” They both knew why Jarvis hardly ever stopped Howard. Howard would have him busy elsewhere or Jarvis would wait because getting fired would leaving Tony alone in a house where his father ruled with an iron fist.
“I want to sleep.” Tony demands. Jarvis begins their night routine, tending to Tony’s injuries and getting him into his sleeping clothes.
“Master Anthony,” Jarvis begins, Tony slowly turns to look at the wall, back facing Jarvis, “if you need anything, shout for me. You parents will not be back for a couple of hours, if at all.” Tony lifts his arm slow and makes a ‘go away’ gesture before slowly lowering it to his side as he hears the door close.
Jarvis stands by the door and he hears Tony’s soft sobs, small muffled words he already know to by ‘why?’ and a mix of ‘stop crying’ or ‘Stark men don’t cry’. Jarvis hates that even if he goes to the police it will do Tony no good, Howard would have charmed them, make a donation, and then take it out on Tony.
The following week Tony is busy doing some work or another for his classes. Howard is always at work or in his lab. Maria tries to feed both of them though he gets more eaten from Howard than Tony.
That following Thursday morning when Jarvis goes to wake Tony up he is greeted by a note on the bed:
Jarvis, I know you will be the first to come to my room, so if you would please not tell anyone I have left. Knowing you, you will inform mother before father that I have left. I am ten and as father has said I am becoming a man, thus I’m leaving. I will come back some day but for now I would like to leave.
-Tony
Jarvis sighs, if he pretends not to notice he will worry worse than Tony’s parents. Maria would call the police and Howard would work to get the kid back but only because ‘what will people think’ and ‘doesn’t that boy know his actions have consequences?’ Jarvis always feels like he should answer him ‘of course he does, you make sure he knows every time he makes the smallest mistake.’
“Mrs. Stark!” Jarvis calls out. At least she will worry with him for Tony’s well being. He hides the note in his pocket before he rushes down to Mrs. Stark’s bedroom. Separate rooms really doesn't help a child who already has so many problems.
He sees Maria walk out her room dressed and ready to go out, “Ma’am, Master Anthony is gone.” Jarvis says before Maria can find some way to tell him shouting in the house is not acceptable.
Her face goes from calm to panic to mad and settles on worry, “have you had the others look for him?” Jarvis and Maria begin to look for Tony hoping he had just left that morning.
Tony, ten year old Tony, looks down at his book bag and sighs, he will be a man. He is tough and will go on his own.
“Watch it kid!” A older man with black hear and a resting frown pushes pass Tony. Tony keeps walking.
When he makes it to a corner store he has seem many times on his way home after some function or another where he would be used to look good, Tony knows he is close to the park. He had always wanted to go, just wasn’t allowed. The sun is already up and he knows Jarvis must have already found his note. If he waits he might have a good hour to make it closer, if not, then hopefully his mom has already left and his father is too busy in his lab to care.
Whatever happens he will not see his face in the news nor on posters around the city, his father would hate to make it public knowledge that he ‘has no control’ over his son. Tony did try to change how he looked a little before leaving the night before. He ruffled his hair letting it fall where it wants, put on his oldest shirt and pair of jeans. He knows that hinting at money without proper protection would mean kidnapping, at least that’s what his father would repeat. If anything, Tony will say that his father did teach him how to hide. He still walks the road with confidence he is not full of but he has to make it show that he is comfortable walking on his own.
His stomach growls as he passes the third hotdog stand and decides it best to eat something, even if it’s street food. His mother has made it clear it’s not something he should eat and his father would be glad if Tony never saw them on the rare family walks.
“Can I get a hot dog?” Tony asks and the vender gives him a once over before answering with a rough and harsh voice, “and how will you pay?”
“Money.” Tony answers biting all the smart remarks that are bubbling up and just adds a raised eyebrow. “Just add ketchup and mustard to it.” Tony orders remembering his father’s voice that always has his PA’s tripping over themselves to get his orders done. He must not do such a great imitation because the man frowns and glares, “go home kid.”
Tony sighs, he knows pulling out more than small bills might cause trouble so he reaches in his pocket and moves his hand around to feel one bill and luckily he pulls out a five dollar bill, “can I get a hot dog now?” he asks irritated. The vender glares as he moves his arms around to prepare Tony’s request.
Tony hands him the bill and begins to eat, calmly, as the man gets his change. As the man hands him his change Tony hums in thanks and walks off as his finishes his food. He see a small girl walking around, older, almost scared. He tries to walk to her but when she sees him watching she runs. Tony shrugs his shoulders and walks off. The day just started and he knows that finding a good place to sleep is best. If only he was older, taller, he might be able to book a room for the night.
He picked this, he has to now just make it through the day, maybe buy things to make things, if he comes back home with some great invention Howard would finally tell him he did a good job, or better give a meaningful hug.
Tony keeps walking finding a park to stay at for a while blending with kids who have their nannies or parents watching them, well at least present to give the illusion of being supervised. It’s good that they aren’t paying him much mind since he sits down next to a bench where three women sit reading. Tony pulls out some paper and pencil to begin designing all kinds of things that come to mind. He is in his head so he doesn’t notice when the woman closest to him begins looking over his head to his paper.
“What is that?” She asks and Tony turns his papers over and looks up.
“Sorry?”
“What were you drawing? It looked,” she crunches her nose to think of something to say, “interesting.” She settles on. Tony frowns thoughtfully, he is sure she wouldn’t understand his redesign of his birthday bot, changing it from birthday to a fighting bot, because he father makes weapons so if he makes some, he will- “drawing a picture of things I saw in a book.” He smiles. He has to stop thinking about his father, he left him behind. There is no need to bring him up.
“What kind of books do your parents give you?” She asks somewhat interested and Tony begins to put his papers away, careful not to fold them worse than he did when he abruptly turned them around.
“All kinds,” Tony stands, “I should get back.” He begins to walk away when sees the same girl from that morning again. He frowns and walks to her while looking at the shops giving an uninterested look so she won’t run again.
“Hey, sweety.” A man who looks to be Howard’s age calls out almost like a purr and Tony looks at the girl. She is taller, blonde hair, and dressed in old clothes. She looked uncomfortable under the man’s gaze. Tony stops for a second to think about what to do. He looks at the man who is a little shorter than Howard but in his white wife beater and gold chain and watch clear to see. Tony’s nose wrinkle, no taste, he hears his mother’s voice whisper in disgust. The wife beater marked with stains and the man’s jeans dirty and a peak of toes, sandals. Tony can just imagine his mother talk about how some people have no taste in wardrobe or personal hygiene.
“Are you lost?” Another man, not as old as the first man, follows up. He is going bald with white hair around his head, his face pig like and his body similar to a pig, Tony notes. He looks at the girl once more to see her scared eyes turn around. People are walking by, but as the men begin to touch the girl’s hair, Tony knows what to do.
He breaks into a run, “Mary! Come on!” He calls out, “mother and father are worried sick.” Tony gets close to the girl and his shouting attracts attention. “They are ready to call the police and call you missing.” Tony walks pass the men who are backing away slowly as a few more people look at the kids. “I swear, you’ll give them a heart attack on of these days. Come on.” Tony grabs her hand and she lets him pull her.
“Mary, they went to Uncle Joe and you know how he gets when we miss dinner at his apartment.” Tony keeps talking. “Not to mention Untie Peggy, she will have us over her knee if we cause more trouble.”
“I’m sorry.” The girl answers and Tony sighs, “don’t be, just stop going off on your own.” Tony turns a corner and as the people who he counted to look start getting smaller and disappearing. “When we get back we are going to get a stern lecture. You know how much I hate those.” Tony slows his pace slowly lets go of the girl’s hand as he pulls them into an ally with less people around.
“I’m sorry if you knew them, but that didn’t look like it was going to end well.” Tony began, “Jarvis told me how to avoid things like that.”
The girl just looks at the girl when he looks her in the eyes and they change yellow. Tony blinks and titles his head.
“I have to go.” The girl tries to run when Tony grabs her hand, “I saw you this morning,” Tony begins to think back through the day and remembers seeing a blonde girl at the park, “were you following me or did I,” Tony stop when he sees the girl’s arm turn blue with scales then back to flesh.
The girl backs up pulling her hand from Tony’s and begins to look around for an exit.
“How did you do that?” Tony asks genuinely curious leaving enough brain function to know that reaching out again will not be good.
“No, you must be seeing things.” The girls slowly back up and Tony watches as patches of skin begin to change to blue scales then back to her current skin. Tony begins to smile and lets his mouth run, “That’s so cool! How does that happen? Is it an emotional thing? Can you control it? How much can change?”
“I don’t- I’m” Mary’s mouth closes when her stomach growls.
Tony takes a moment to realize that he too is hungry and that hotdog was over five hours ago. He looks at the girl, “I’ll get us some food, want to come?”
The girl stands close to the wall of a brick building, looking down at her hands, “then again, I don’t think they will listen much to me if I try to order for the two of us.” Tony whispers to himself and Mary looks up, “what’s you name?” she asks in a near whisper.
“Anth-” Tony stops halfway and settles that saying Anthony is too formal and the girl also looks like a runaway, “Tony, call me Tony.”
The girl looks closer into Tony’s eyes, she must see what she wants because she finally smiles, “Raven,” she looks down at her hands again, “please don’t get scared.” She pleads and Tony nods smiling.
Raven’s skin begins to change, more like her skin takes less than a second to change to scales the same tan skin but flipping to a lighter tone and with each flip she grows a little taller. Tony watches in awe and pure fascination, “That is truly beautiful.” Tony whispers, “so what about the blue?” he asks off handily.
Raven flinches a little and Tony knows that reaction, “you don’t have to show me. It’s fine.” Raven nods before going through the same change but instead of a lighter or darker tone her skin is blue, some scales visible and Tony smiles. “Can I?” he reaches out and Raven nods slowly.
Tony jumps to touch the scales on the shoulder and the ones on her face. He walks around muttering, “amazing” “wonderful” “truly beautiful” “May I?” as he walks around her touching when given a nod and holding his hand when he gets a head shake. “I really like this skin better.” He declares after he was done looking her over.
“You’ll be the first and only.” Raven signs in defeat and Tony frowns, “I’m honored to be the first, but I won’t be the last.” Tony tugs his bag straps, “you’ll see.”
Raven gives a small smile and then changes into a grown woman Tony is sure he had seen that morning. Their stomach growl again and they head off to find someplace to eat. As they walk Tony holds on to Raven’s hand. When ordering Tony whispers his own and Raven gives her, the cashier find Tony cute and tells ‘his mother’ so. Raven smiles and thanks them. Tony hands the money and when the change is given back they hand it to Raven who later gives it back to Tony.
As Tony assumed he was better greeted with an adult, even if the adult might be the same age as him, but the people don’t need to know. While they eat Tony takes his time and they finish in silence.
When they leave Tony looks around to see there are still a lot of people and he decides that it’s time he begins looking for a place to sleep.
“Where do you live?” Tony ask and Raven frowns, “I don’t have one place.”
“Okay, where will you sleep?” Tony tries again.
“Don’t know.” Raven loosens Tony’s hand a little but Tony holds on to it, “then lets go find a place.” Tony smiles. He has enough for a while, he didn’t bring much.
Raven looks down at Tony and smiles, “okay.”
Before the night is out, Tony and Raven are in a cheap motel that doesn’t ask questions just asks for the money up front. Tony buys them two nights and two days starting that night. Raven changes back to her blue self when Tony closes and locks the door.
The room is small and nasty but he will have to deal. It’s not his curtains or queen size bed with satin sheets, but it will have to do.
“Do you really like this?” Raven looks at Tony, searching for something, and Tony nods, “of course, you’re different. I’m different too, maybe not like you but I am.”
“What can you do?” Raven asks slowly walking closer. Tony begins to tell her about being about to make a robot and his past accomplishments, or what his mother calls accomplishments because they were never good enough.
“That is amazing,” Raven says in the same tone Tony used on her when looking her over, “you must be the smartest person alive!”
Tony frowns, “I’m not, father is a lot smarter.” Tony says giving a harsh laugh, “I’m stupid compared.”
Raven shakes her head, “you aren’t, you’re super smart. No matter what others say, I’ll tell everyone. How many people can build robots that move on their own?”
Tony gives a small smile, “a lot, but thank you.”
They shower and Tony gives Raven some of his clothes. When they are done and changed Tony realizes he doesn’t have enough clothes and wishes he had more money and planed it out better. For now, he is okay, in a bed, he has found a partner who will, maybe, stay by him, even if he knows he will mess it up and she will leave him.
By the time the sun sets Tony is laying down and Raven crawls in the bed with Tony ignoring the fact that they got a double bed room. Yeah, maybe she will stay with him, Tony wishes as he lets his eyes to close and lets sleep take him.
Maybe I can have this. Raven thinks before she curls closer to the younger boy and lets the dark locks tickle her face. She likes this one, maybe she won't scare him away.