The sun rays fell through the massive oak trees, casting rays across the ground. The rustling of leaves filled the space with soft sounds, as well as the occasional sound of a bird singing. It was one of those "ideal" spring/early summer days when everything looked and felt vibrant with color and hope.
Tony, now five years old, held tightly to Maria's hand as they walked along a winding path that snaked through the estate gardens. His little legs pumped with a force that defied the constant busy thoughts in his young brain. Maria in a plain but beautiful white sundress wore a smile as she scanned the ground to her son.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it, Tony?" she asked, her voice soft and melodic.
Tony glanced up at her, his mind briefly pulling away from the intricate blueprints he'd been mentally working on since breakfast. "Yeah, Mom, it's okay," he said, but his demeanor hinted at his mind not being entirely in the present.
Maria chuckled. "You're always thinking, aren't you? Even when we're supposed to be enjoying a walk."
He shrugged, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Can't help it. There's just so much to figure out."
"Well, maybe today, you can figure out how to climb a tree or skip a stone," she suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Tony laughed. "Climbing trees is inefficient. The risk-to-reward ratio doesn't make sense unless I'm building a treehouse.".
She stopped walking, bending down to meet his gaze. "Tony, you're an amazing little boy. But you don't always have to be so... serious. Life is about more than equations and machines. Sometimes, it's about moments like this—just walking, talking, and enjoying the sunshine.".
Her words sank in, and for a moment, Tony felt a pang of guilt. He adored his mother, and he knew she worried about him. She always encouraged him to play, to make friends, to be a child. But it wasn't that simple. His mind simply didn't slow down. Each moment of quiet was a chance to think, to construct, or to elevate. He just couldn't be the little kid, she wanted him to be with so much in the line. To survive and live a long life, he had to continue to improve himself, or else, how would he face the countless villains in this world?
"I'll give it a shot," he said quietly, a tiny hand giving hers a gentle squeeze.
Maria grinned and stood straight, walking towards a miniature pond in the center of the garden. They settled on a wooden bench and viewed the water, the soft waves picking apart the sills of light.
As they sat in silence, Tony noticed a duck waddling toward the pond, followed by a trail of fluffy ducklings. Although he wanted to think about the algorithm of his first AI and blueprints of the Arc Reactor, he noticed her mother's worried expression, hiding behind the mask of a happy face, so, he decided to act and take it slow. He pointed excitedly. "Look, Mom! They're like a little family."
Maria's heart swelled at his enthusiasm. "They are, aren't they? The mother duck is training her ducklings to swim and survive. She's their guide."
Tony stared closely at the scene and paid attention to every single element. "They don't have to read books or build machines. They just know what to do."
"That's the beauty of nature," Maria said. "Sometimes, the simplest things are the most extraordinary."
Tony smiled, a moment of quiet fell upon him. For the first time in a long while, he allowed himself to just be. The ducks, the sunlight, his mother's presence—it was enough.
When some time passed, Maria got up and stretched out her hand. "Come on, let's head back. Your father's probably wondering where we've disappeared to."
Tony took her hand, his heart lighter than it had been in days. As they walked back toward the mansion, he glanced up at her and said, "Thanks, Mom. It was nice."
Maria's smile was radiant. "Always, my little heart. Always."
Back at the house, Howard peered out from his study, as they walked back up the walk. A small smile tugged at his lips as he saw Tony laughing at something Maria said. For all his brilliance, for all his potential, Tony was still a child—a child who needed moments like this.
Howard looked over at his workbench, open on which Tony's notebook rested. His son's revised Arc Reactor design stared back at him, it was a much more advanced version than the concept one.
"Maria's right," Howard muttered to himself. "He deserves to be a kid for as long as he can. Because one day, the world's going to demand more from him than it should.".
And for now, Howard resolved, they would protect him from that day for as long as they could.
...
Howard sat in his study, sipping a glass of scotch as the soft knock on the door drew his attention. Maria stepped inside, her expression calm but thoughtful. She closed the door behind her and crossed the room, her white dress almost glowing in the dim light.
"Tony's asleep," she said softly, sitting down across from him.
He nodded, setting his glass down on the desk. "Good. The boy needs his rest. His mind's always running at full speed. Just like his old man."
Maria smiled faintly. "He's so much like you. Always thinking, always creating. But Howard..." She paused, searching for the right words. "I worry about him."
Howard leaned back in his chair, his brows furrowing. "Worry? About what? The kid's a genius, Maria. Smarter than half the scientists I've got on payroll. What's there to worry about?"
She folded her hands in her lap. "It's his childhood. He's so far ahead of everyone else his age. School doesn't challenge him. It frustrates him. He doesn't fit in with the other kids. He's... lonely, Howard."
He sighed, rubbing his temple. "I know. I've seen it too. He's bored out of his mind in that classroom. He doesn't need to learn the alphabet when he's already building circuits."
"Exactly," She said. "So what do we do? Keeping him in school feels wrong. It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. But if we take him out, what's the alternative?"
Howard tapped his fingers on the desk, his mind working. "We need to give him what he needs. Something tailored to him. Private tutors, the best in the world. People who can actually keep up with him. Teach him things that matter—science, engineering, programming. Let him stretch his wings."
Maria tilted her head, considering his words. "Do you think that's what's best for him? I mean, not just his mind, but his heart? He's still a little boy, Howard. He needs more than academics. He needs to know how to connect with people, to have friends."
He frowned, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I'm not saying we lock him in a lab, Maria. He's a Stark. He'll have opportunities most kids only dream about. But we can't hold him back just to keep him 'normal.' That'd be a waste of who he is. The world's going to need his brilliance someday."
Maria reached across the desk and placed her hand over his. "I just want him to be happy, Howard. Not just successful. Happy."
His expression softened. Howard squeezed her hand gently. "I want that too. Maybe we find a balance. The tutors can push him academically, but we make sure he gets time to just be a kid too. Sports, hobbies, whatever he wants. And we'll keep him close. No boarding schools or sending him off to some fancy institute. He needs us."
Maria nodded, her shoulders relaxing. "I think that could work. But we have to agree, Howard. No matter how brilliant he is, he's still our son first. His happiness comes before anything else."
"Don't worry. We'll do right by him, Maria. Together," He said.
....
Two Years Later
At seven years old, Tony Stark had done something no one expected from a child—he had built a fully functional V8 motorbike engine. The workshop in the corner of the Stark estate had become his sanctuary. The hum of machinery and the scent of oil were more comforting than the silence in the large house.
The engine roared to life on a test stand. Tony's lips curled into a smile as he adjusted the throttle, the sound filling the room. It was perfect—efficient, powerful, and better than anything he'd seen in the magazines he read late at night.
"Not bad," he muttered to himself, wiping grease from his hands. "Not bad at all."
But as proud as he felt about his creation, there was an ache in his chest he couldn't ignore. His parents weren't there to see it.
Howard Stark had grown busier with each passing day. Between running Stark Industries, taking on new projects for S.H.I.E.L.D., and acting as a defense contractor for the government, his time at home was scarce. When he was home, he was tired, stressed, and drinking more than ever.
Tony noticed it all. His father's once-sharp focus seemed to waver, and his temper flared at the smallest mistakes. It hurt, but Tony understood. He knew Howard carried the weight of a demanding world. Tony had seen glimpses of this in the comics and movies from his past life. He already knew how hard it was for Howard to balance everything.
Maria tried her best to keep the family together. She still smiled and offered kind words, but even Tony could see the worry in her eyes. She spent her time organizing charity events and running the household, but she seemed lonelier now, too.
Tony often worked late in his workshop. The machines didn't yell at him or tell him to stop dreaming. They didn't ask why he wasn't acting like a "normal" seven-year-old. Here, he could be himself.
One evening, Tony was sketching blueprints for a small robotic arm when the door to the workshop creaked open. Maria stepped inside, a soft smile on her face.
"Still working?" she asked, brushing her hands against her skirt.
Tony nodded, not looking up. "Almost done. Just need to tweak the rotation mechanism."
She walked over and sat on a stool beside him. "You know, I miss seeing you around the house."
He paused, his pencil hovering over the paper. "I miss you too, Mom. But... it's quieter here."
Maria's smile faltered. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Tony, you know we love you, right? Even when your father and I are busy."
Tony turned to her, his small face serious beyond his years. "I know, Mom. It's okay. I understand. Dad's trying to save the world, and you're always helping people. I get it."
Her heart ached at his words. "But you're our world, Tony. Don't forget that."
For a moment, neither spoke. Then, Maria kissed his forehead and stood. "Come inside soon, okay? It's late."
"I will," Tony said softly, watching as she left.
In the main house, Howard sat in his study, a glass of scotch in his hand. He stared at a stack of papers on his desk, but his mind wasn't on work. He thought about Tony—about how distant their relationship had become.
"I need to do better," he whispered to himself. But the words felt hollow, lost in the haze of stress and alcohol.
Tony, back in the workshop, stared at the blueprints on his desk. He wasn't angry at his father. He wasn't even sad. He had already decided that if the world was too big and complicated for his parents to keep up, he'd just figure out a way to make it better himself.
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