Chapter Text
Both suffered through Afghanistan
Joey was 7 when his father, Tony Stark, was taken. It took him a while to figure out why Ms. Pepper was crying. Or why Uncle Rhodey would look guilty whenever he looked at Joey. He knew that if it were really important his dad would tell him. His dad told him everything.
“I don’t want to lie to you, but I’m not gonna bored you with irrelevant details either kiddo.” His dad would always say before making biased comments about what politician said about him.
Joey loved talking to his dad. He was very funny and surprisingly over-protective of him -- one time paparazzi tied his shoe when he was 4 and his dad had punch him -- they’d talk about everything. Science, tech, crushes, animals, cars, and superheroes. Tony kinda forced the whole crush information out of Joey, but who cares if he thinks Kara is slightly less icky as the other girls. It doesn't mean anything at all.
But that main problem was Dad wasn't here to tell him anything. Joey hoped he didn't do anything, he knew that when his Dad got upset he would lock himself in the lab with his special “juice”. It happens once in a while, but less because of Ms. Pepper so that’s nice. In fact the last time he saw his Dad was when he told him he was leaving for a few days, a week at most, for some kind of test. All he knew was that it was a No-Joey-Allowed event. Like some of the parties Dad went to.
Maybe Ms. Pep would tell him what’s wrong.
Joey hopped up from his Lego robot to find Pepper. He could ask Jarvis, but where’s the fun in that?
After 10 minutes Joey couldn't find Pepper, he was reduced to looking overneath the table. Nope, well Joey was out of ideas. Maybe he can listen to the sharp clack of her heels? Nada, he was asking Jarvis.
“J? Where’s Ms. Pepper? Or Uncle Obie?”
“Both are in the living room sir.”
“Thanks J!”
Joey ran to the living room as fast as he could. When he came into the room, just like Jarvis said, Ms.Pepper and Uncle Obie were sitting on the sofa. Pepper was slouched over and holding on to the glass cup like it was a lifeline. Joey didn't like it, Ms. Pepper was always calm and pulled together. It confused him as to why she looked like if Joey were to tap her shoulder she would crumble into a thousand pieces.
Uncle Obie looked unfazed. He sipped from the cup and was lounged out on the sofa. It bothered him, shouldn't he be sad too?
“We should think about the company. Who's running the company Ms. Potts? Joseph's a child, a seven year old can’t possibly run a business. He’ll inherit it when his 18, but until then let me take over.” Obie said.
“You act like Tony’s dead! We have to have faith at least for Joey’s sake. I’ll continue to keep things in order until Tony’s back.”
“You can’t raise a child Pepper! Tony could barely do handle him. His a miniature Tony, in all the bad ways.”
Joey was taken back. Why would his uncle talk so ill about him? His uncle loves him right?
“You should leave. Now.” Pepper growled at him.
“Pep-”
“Good bye Obie.”
Uncle Obie stood up, he set his glass on the coffee table with a loud clank. Joey continued to stare at him.
“Wait!”
Both adults turned to face Joey. They looked rather intimidating as they towered the boy -- Obie because he was bigger than Joey and Pepper because she was wearing high heels -- Joey lost his voice. He tried to clear his throat in a manner his father used all the time.
“Wh-where’s my Dad?”
Pepper and Obie exchanged a look. Joey couldn't read their faces. But they didn't look happy.
“How much did you heard Joseph?”
Joey looked at Uncle Obie, “Enough.”
Pepper sighed and walked towards him, she took her hand and guided him to the sofa.
“Your Dad went away for business, and something happen.”
Joey was looking at his hand, until Pepper let him with the cliff hanger.
“Something?”
“He was taken...Joey we don’t know where your father is.”
Joey tensed. No, his Dad was just on a business trip. His going to be in two weeks, just like he promised. They were lying. Because Dad won't never lie to Joey. Never ever.
Joey ran to the lab. He heard Pepper following him. He closed the door.
"Jarvis, don't let anyone in."
"Mister Joseph, you're not permitted to be in here without Mister Stark."
"Don't. Let. Anyone. In." Joey growled.
There was a pause, "As you wish Mister Stark."
Joey flinched he didn't know Jarvis could be so cold. Maybe Daddy programmed that.
He decided to ignore J. Joey heard Dum-e and Butter Fingers roll to him. Dum-e patted his head with its silver pinchers. Joey sat down and curled against Dum-e with Butter fingers by his side.
Joey doesn't know how long he sat there silently sobbing. Or how many times Ms. Pepper tried to get in. He didn't know how she succeeded nor how she found the strength to lift him and carry him to his Dad's bed. What he did know was that she flopped down beside him, pulled Joey close and feel asleep.
Joey pretended his Dad was next to him. He could almost smell the sickening sense of his father's "juice" mixing with the scent of overly expensive Cologne and oil grease. Dad's huffs and his tough hands on his shoulder.
But no.
Pepper's soft sighs were too.....female. Her perfume flower like, her skin was soft, and her hair tickled Joey's collar bone.
Joey didn't have any interaction with woman. Other than his teachers and the ladies that are Dad's friends -- but Joey only sees them once -- , before Pepper, Joey was at a complete loss with how to deal with the other gender.
So yes, it was rather strange to suddenly have this....particularly foreign concept in his life. Then again, Joey had an abnormal family.
When he woke up Joey was alone.
"Hello Joseph. Today is May 4, 2008, it's 78° outside. Perfect weather for outdoor activities." Jarvis voice rang out.
Joey stared at the ceiling blankly.
"Also, you may have a press conference today. If Mister Stane gets his way."
Joey nodded and jogged to the living room. Pepper and Obie were arguing again.
"A press conference after yesterday?!" Pep yelled.
"I know, but the video was release this morning. We need statements."
"Obadiah-"
"Virginia."
"I want to do it." Joey stepped from the shadows.
"That's a bad habit that's forming my boy." Uncle Obie said with a chuckle.
Pepper looked concerned, "Joey-"
"I've gotta clear the air. Dad's not dead, just missing. I need people to know that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today was the day.
Joey's first press conference. He only saw his father's on TV. They didn't look too hard. Just read off the cards, smile, and wear a monkey suit. Simple. He practiced his lines over and over again.
He was running through them once again, while Pepper was tying his tie.
"Not too tight? Would you like me to loosen it?"
Joey shook his head, which was a hard feat to do because of the hair gel. The gel was suppose to keep his wild curls from popping out, but every now and then a curl made a guest appearance.
Joey looked down at his fingers. He counted them twice.
"You don't have to do this. We can call it off." Pepper kept playing with his jacket, picking off lint that only she could see.
"It's fine. It's only a few minutes. You and Obie will be there."
Pep nodded. She gave Joey a hug and lead him out to the stage. There was a little box that Joey was suppose to stand on so he could be seen. She paused as he climbed on. He smiled softly at her. Pep took a seat.
"Hello." Joey said, the microphone echoed. Joey looked at his cards.
"I'm Joseph Stark. My Dad disappeared a few weeks ago, I know you must be wondering...
Who's running the company?
I can a-assure.."
Joey looked up at the people with cameras. The cards sounded so fake. They couldn't possibly believe this. Right?
"I don't care about who's running the stupid company. I don't even know what my Dad does. I care more about him coming home, than if Pep or Obie run the company. I just..."
Joey couldn't breathe. He urged himself on. His mouth felt like cotton, he couldn't breathe. The cameras started flashing and people started talking, it was fast and jumbled. People called out his name,
“Joseph look over here..”
“Smile!”
“Joey? Can I call you Joey?”
Joey squeezed his eyes shut and clutched his ears. It was too loud, the flashes too bright. He couldn't think, he couldn't breathe, he needed to leave now.
And then it was quiet. Joey opened his eyes and he was outside the conference room. Joey looked around, the hallway was empty. He looked down at his hands and arms and legs, they were all there. So were his fingers. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Other than the fact that he bursted out of a crowded room.
Ooooh, Ms.Pepper and Dad were going to be so mad at him. Joey put his ear at the door, it was louder than ever. People were yelling and screaming and he heard Uncle Obie trying to get control of the room. Joey knew he couldn't waltz back in there and be like Hey guys, I just transported! They'd would be screaming for his head. No. Joey realized he needs his father more than he thinks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joey refused to talk. Not to Jarvis, or Pepper, Uncle Obie, or Uncle Rhodey. Just because he didn't talk didn't mean he didn't listen.
He heard Pepper’s hushed whispers.
He heard his teacher calling on him in class.
He heard Jarvis suggested that he build something.
Joey didn't wanna build anything. He would always build in Dad’s workshop, and Dad would help him.
“Kiddo, watch your arms, we don’t want you bursting into flames.”
“Whoa! J how about I handle the blowtorch?”
Joey shook his head, trying to focus on school. He had to write a journal prompt about his family. It seemed cruel of the teacher, he didn't have much family. Biologically, it was just him and his Dad. Joey read old newspapers that talked about how Uncle Obie was Dad’s mentor, not brother.
My family isn’t normal. Most of the people aound me are my Dad’s imployes, like Pepper. But Uncle Rhodey is my Dad’s best friend and he’s my godfather, whatever that means. Uncle Obie works with my Dad, but he also worked with my grandfather. I never met my grandparents. Dad said they died before I was born. Plus, he said he’d never let me around that basturd anyway so it didn’t matter. My Dad is very smart. Me and my Dad work in his lab, I like it when he blows things up and sometimes he blows thing up on purpuse and it makes fireworks. I don’t know my Mom, Dad said he didn’t remember her eirther. But we looked into it and found out she’s a french model. I never met her but I saw pictures of her and I guess that’s good enough.
Joey figured that was enough it was the bare minimum. It was weird, Joey always aced all his classes, he always did extra because he finished earlier than his classmates. But after looking around, he was the last to finish. Joey scooted back in his chair, the stupid ugly chair decided to screech with every small movement. The entire class stared at him. It seemed like all conversation ceased and the silence reminded him of the press conference.
“Mr. Stark?”
His teacher voice snapped him from his thoughts. The teacher, Mr. Jay placed his hand on my shoulder.
Joey shook his head, trying to clear the uncomfortable thoughts. He felt his fist clench and unclench, falling into rhythm with his breathing. Joey turned around and grabbed the paper off his desk, he handed it to Mr. Jay in one fluid motion. Not forgetting to send him the biggest smile Joey could muster.
Again flashes of the press conference plagued his mind, he felt angry at himself. Who was he kidding? No one would ever take him seriously. He was just some dumb kid that just so happens to be Tony Stark’s son. That doesn't give him some birthright, he glared at his desk. Refusing to talk to his classmates. Again.