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Entry tags:
FIC: Surrogate Fathers
Title: Surrogate Fathers
Fandom: Iron Man Movieverse
Pairing: None
Prompt: 107 - in absentia at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
tamingthemuse; also written for ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
roguecatwoman.
Warnings: Gen. Spoilers.
Rating: Teen.
Summary: Obidiah Stane is proud of Tony Stark.
Disclaimer: I don't own Iron Man, but I wish I did.
A/N: Unbetaed.
As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated.
*************
The great and mighty Tony Stark looked so stunned after I told him that I had orchestrated the vote to remove his power over Stark Enterprises. I almost felt sorry for him.
“How could you do this, Obie?”
“How could I not, Tony? You’re driving this company into the ground. I cannot stand by and let that happen.”
“It’s my company,” Tony hissed back, but even now he was playing the part, half smiling for the cameras and I clapped his shoulder amicably. He had learned well and briefly I wondered if he had learned from me.
“No, Tony. It was your father’s company. It was his pride and joy and he would have given anything to see it be successful.” I turned sideways to look at him, wondering if he was reading the message between the lines. “This company was his legacy.”
His eyes looked stricken, even as he tilted his head and smiled for the cameras that were, even now, snapping pictures for tomorrow’s tabloids.
You’ll understand some day, Tony.” I lied. He wouldn’t understand. He wouldn’t live long enough, but I couldn’t stand by and let him throw everything away. I couldn’t let him shame himself – or his father – any longer.
I left him standing on the steps of the hotel, party in full swing. I wondered if he’d go back inside and drown his sorrows in scotch, the way he had for years. I wondered if he’d shame me the way he had been for years.
Hurrying down the steps to my car, I wondered if it would even be possible to count the number of times I had picked up Tony from the floor, dusted him off and made him presentable. There were thousands of words that had gone into the lectures where I implored him to remember that all eyes were on him at all times.
His poise on the stairs was a credit to me. Tony had kept his dignity. I wanted to think that I had taught him that.
***************
I had underestimated Tony. That much was obvious. Standing here, on the rooftop over looking the city, I laughed. I don’t think he even understood the twin bursts of pride and annoyance I felt.
“Tony, if you had only been this motivated before, none of this would have ever happened.”
“You tried to have me murdered.” Tony still sounded surprised. He still sounded broken.
“You were killing yourself slowly, Tony.” The metal suit around me felt so light and graceful, but it was obviously capable of doing serious damage. Tony’s suit, which I had seen in action on tapes, was barely functioning. His helmet had come off ages ago and he was staring at me, utterly bereft. “I couldn’t stand by and watch you take everything your father worked to build with you.”
“What about me?” Tony demanded. “I trusted you. He trusted you!”
“Tony…”
“You were like a father to me.” His voice cracked and I felt a stab of regret – regret that this had become necessary, regret that Tony hadn’t been killed before he knew who was really pulling the trigger.
“I wish things could have been different.” I don’t know if he heard me, but it didn’t matter. Things hadn’t been different.
I was a practical man. I dealt with what I had been given – all five foot nine inches and 160 pounds of him. I made some adjustments on the computer screen.
Of course, Tony was a practical man, too. I didn’t think that he would risk his own life to end mine. When he gave the order to Pepper Potts below, I was surprised, but I was also impressed.
I wanted to think that I had taught him that.
Fandom: Iron Man Movieverse
Pairing: None
Prompt: 107 - in absentia at
tamingthemuse; also written for roguecatwoman. Warnings: Gen. Spoilers.
Rating: Teen.
Summary: Obidiah Stane is proud of Tony Stark.
Disclaimer: I don't own Iron Man, but I wish I did.
A/N: Unbetaed.
As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated.
*************
The great and mighty Tony Stark looked so stunned after I told him that I had orchestrated the vote to remove his power over Stark Enterprises. I almost felt sorry for him.
“How could you do this, Obie?”
“How could I not, Tony? You’re driving this company into the ground. I cannot stand by and let that happen.”
“It’s my company,” Tony hissed back, but even now he was playing the part, half smiling for the cameras and I clapped his shoulder amicably. He had learned well and briefly I wondered if he had learned from me.
“No, Tony. It was your father’s company. It was his pride and joy and he would have given anything to see it be successful.” I turned sideways to look at him, wondering if he was reading the message between the lines. “This company was his legacy.”
His eyes looked stricken, even as he tilted his head and smiled for the cameras that were, even now, snapping pictures for tomorrow’s tabloids.
You’ll understand some day, Tony.” I lied. He wouldn’t understand. He wouldn’t live long enough, but I couldn’t stand by and let him throw everything away. I couldn’t let him shame himself – or his father – any longer.
I left him standing on the steps of the hotel, party in full swing. I wondered if he’d go back inside and drown his sorrows in scotch, the way he had for years. I wondered if he’d shame me the way he had been for years.
Hurrying down the steps to my car, I wondered if it would even be possible to count the number of times I had picked up Tony from the floor, dusted him off and made him presentable. There were thousands of words that had gone into the lectures where I implored him to remember that all eyes were on him at all times.
His poise on the stairs was a credit to me. Tony had kept his dignity. I wanted to think that I had taught him that.
I had underestimated Tony. That much was obvious. Standing here, on the rooftop over looking the city, I laughed. I don’t think he even understood the twin bursts of pride and annoyance I felt.
“Tony, if you had only been this motivated before, none of this would have ever happened.”
“You tried to have me murdered.” Tony still sounded surprised. He still sounded broken.
“You were killing yourself slowly, Tony.” The metal suit around me felt so light and graceful, but it was obviously capable of doing serious damage. Tony’s suit, which I had seen in action on tapes, was barely functioning. His helmet had come off ages ago and he was staring at me, utterly bereft. “I couldn’t stand by and watch you take everything your father worked to build with you.”
“What about me?” Tony demanded. “I trusted you. He trusted you!”
“Tony…”
“You were like a father to me.” His voice cracked and I felt a stab of regret – regret that this had become necessary, regret that Tony hadn’t been killed before he knew who was really pulling the trigger.
“I wish things could have been different.” I don’t know if he heard me, but it didn’t matter. Things hadn’t been different.
I was a practical man. I dealt with what I had been given – all five foot nine inches and 160 pounds of him. I made some adjustments on the computer screen.
Of course, Tony was a practical man, too. I didn’t think that he would risk his own life to end mine. When he gave the order to Pepper Potts below, I was surprised, but I was also impressed.
I wanted to think that I had taught him that.