Howard stared at the glowing blue hologram of Tony's perfected Super Soldier Serum, his fingers drumming against the table. The formula spun slowly, its complexity almost hypnotic. He had been examining it for thirty minutes now, going over every detail.
It was elegant. Refined.
And, if Tony was to be believed, flawless.
Howard exhaled, rubbing his chin. "You're really telling this thing works? No side effects? No hidden risks? No turning into a raging psychopath?"
Tony smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Dad, co on. It's ."
Howard gave him a flat look. "That's exactly why I'm asking."
Tony chuckled, swirling his orange juice. "Alright, fair. But yeah, I tested it. Ran simulations, analyzed genetic compatibility, and accounted for tabolic fluctuations. No 'lting bones' or 'insane rage mode' like the Hydra knockoffs."
Howard crossed his arms. "And aging?"
Tony pointed at the hologram. "Slows it down. Not immortality, but you'd stay in your pri for a long ti."
Howard leaned back, silent.
Tony's smirk lingered, but his eyes were sharp, studying him. "So, what do you say, Pops? You want in?"
Howard blinked. "Excuse ?"
Tony rested his elbows on the table, voice casual but laced with sothing deeper. "You heard . I could give this to Peggy, yeah. But what about you?"
Howard frowned. "Tony, I'm seventy-two."
"So is she," Tony shot back. "And with this? You wouldn't be."
Howard scoffed. "Oh, so what? You're offering to turn into Captain Arica 2.0?"
Tony grinned. "More like Howard Stark Pri."
Howard shook his head. "You're insane."
Tony shrugged. "Maybe. But think about it, Dad. How much more could you accomplish with another fifty... Hell, another hundred or more years in your pri?"
Howard's fingers twitched slightly.
Tony pressed on. "You built Stark Industries. You've shaped the world. And now? You're stuck in boardrooms, wasting ti on bureaucrats instead of creating."
Howard stayed silent.
Tony leaned in. "I'll be direct. You're running out of ti. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. And you hate it."
Howard's jaw tightened.
Tony tilted his head. "So why not fix it?"
Howard let out a slow breath. "It's not that simple."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Isn't it? Just say yes, and I'll take care of the rest."
Howard looked away, staring at the hologram. The idea was… tempting.
No. More than tempting.
It was terrifying.
For decades, he had worked with so of the brightest minds in the world. He had seen what science could do, what he could do. But even with all his accomplishnts, he had never managed to beat ti.
Age. Decay. Mortality.
It was the one enemy he had never been able to outthink.
But Tony?
Tony had cracked the code.
Howard clenched his jaw. "You think I'm afraid of dying?"
Tony's smirk faded slightly. His voice softened. "No. I think you're afraid of stopping."
Howard inhaled sharply.
"Look, I know what you're thinking. It's unnatural. It's cheating. Maybe it feels like you'd be going against everything you've accepted about life." Tony tilted his head. "But what if I told you… you don't have to do it alone?"
Howard frowned. "What are you getting at?"
Tony's smirk returned, but his eyes were softer. "If you say yes, I'll give it to Mom too."
Howard's breath stalled.
"She doesn't have to grow old, either," Tony continued. "She doesn't have to watch you get weaker or worse, lose you first." He leaned back, spreading his arms. "Think about it. The two of you, back in your pri. No more bad knees, no more back pain. No more 'aging gracefully' nonsense. Just you and Mom… living."
Howard swallowed hard.
Maria.
For years, he had felt guilty. Too caught up in work, in war, in industry. He had promised her they would grow old together. But he gave too much ti to his dreams instead of his family.
And now… Tony was offering him a different kind of future.
A future where Maria wouldn't have to suffer through old age. Where they could have more ti. Where they could truly live instead of waiting for the inevitable.
Howard exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. "Jesus, Tony…"
Tony smirked. "I know. I'm a genius."
Howard shot him a look, but there was no real irritation behind it.
Instead, sothing Tony rarely saw in his father.
Uncertainty.
Howard Stark always had an answer. Always had a plan. But now? Now, he was faced with sothing he couldn't control.
His own future.
He let out a long breath. "And you're sure about this? No risks? No complications?"
Tony nodded. "I wouldn't be offering it if there were."
Howard ran a hand down his face. "If I do this… Maria does too."
Tony's grin widened. "Obviously."
Howard sighed. "Alright. I'll talk to your mother."
Tony's smirk turned triumphant. "So that's a yes?"
Howard shot him a pointed look. "It's a 'we'll see.'"
Tony chuckled. "Close enough."
Howard leaned back, still absorbing the insanity of what his son had just proposed. Then, as if the conversation hadn't been crazy enough, Tony casually dropped, "Alright, so what's the deal with Peggy?"
Howard let out a long sigh, pushing his half-finished plate aside. "I'll try to convince her, but it won't be easy."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
Howard shook his head. "She's under heavy security. Ever since she agreed to be part of the serum trial, SHIELD has her under 24/7 surveillance. Nobody gets in or out without them knowing. She's already being treated like the agency's most valuable asset."
Tony sighed. "Of course she is. SHIELD probably sees her as the perfect test subject... soone with a strong moral compass, a loyal soldier, and a symbol they can parade around if this works."
Howard nodded. "Exactly. And considering the fact that soone inside SHIELD is trying to sabotage this whole thing, I doubt they'll just let waltz in and take her away for a friendly chat."
Tony tapped his fingers against the table, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Good thing I planned for this."
Howard frowned. "You planned for this?"
Tony smirked, reaching into his jacket pocket. "Of course I did. What kind of son would I be if I didn't?"
He pulled out a small vial filled with a deep red liquid and set it on the table. The substance inside shimred faintly under the overhead lights.
Howard's eyes narrowed. "And that is?"
Tony leaned back. "A contingency plan."
He then placed a small, round recording device next to the vial.
"All you have to do," Tony said casually, "is get this to Peggy."
Howard frowned. "And how am I supposed to do that? Walk in and hand it to her with a 'Hey, Peg, drink this mysterious red liquid my son made'?"
Tony chuckled. "No, see, that's the beauty of it. She'll figure it out. You don't need to convince her of anything. Just deliver the package, and she'll do the rest. And don't you try to listen to the player. It's a disposable player. The ssage inside will play only once. As for what's in there, which I'm pretty sure you are dying to know, well... You'll know soon enough."
Howard studied the vial carefully. "Ok. I'll wait for that surprise. But this is... Don't tell ?!"
Tony smirked. "Yup! That, dear father, is the injectable version of my perfected Super Soldier Serum. No machines. No Vita-Rays. No fancy setups. Just one shot, and boom... instant upgrade. Although it takes a few minutes to gain super strength and healing, plus another 24 hours for the de-aging process."
"Haaa... Ok. I am not even surprised anymore. I'll even believe it if you say you tested it on yourself," Howard gave up being surprised anymore. But he noticed that Tony was smiling at his words. "You tested it, didn't you?"
Tony's grin widened.
Howard groaned, rubbing his temples. "Jesus, Tony."
"Relax, Dad. No side effects, rember?"
Howard shook his head. "I swear, one of these days, you're going to give a heart attack."
Tony shrugged. "Not if you take the serum."
...
[Evening]
Howard stood near the waiting helicopter, his fingers brushing against the small vial in his pocket.
Tony stood across from him, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable behind his signature sunglasses.
There was a weight in the air. Not tension. Not unease.
Sothing else.
Sothing neither of them had been good at dealing with.
After a mont, Tony reached into his jacket and pulled out two small items. The first was a custom-built wristwatch, green and stylish, but clearly more than just an ordinary tipiece. Yet it was so light. The second was a delicate pendant, its center holding a shimring blue crystal that pulsed faintly under the light.
Howard frowned, eyeing them. "What's this?"
Tony smirked. "Insurance."
Howard raised an eyebrow. "Against what?"
Tony shrugged. "Anything."
Howard sighed, taking the watch and strapping it onto his wrist. "And what does this do, exactly?"
"No fun if I tell you now..."
Howard took the pendant carefully, studying the faint glow. "And if your mom asks what it is?"
Tony smirked. "Tell her it's a late anniversary gift. I'm pretty sure you missed it and she was grumbling over the phone. Or you can say that it makes her look ten years younger. Whatever works."
Howard snorted, slipping the pendant into his pocket. "You really think of everything, don't you?"
Tony's expression softened slightly. "When it cos to keeping you two safe? Yeah."
For a long mont, Howard didn't say anything.
Then, to Tony's complete surprise, Howard stepped forward and pulled him into a firm hug.
Tony stiffened. For a split second, he didn't react and his brain barely processed what was happening.
Howard Stark was hugging him.
It was rare.
Almost nonexistent.
After a mont, Tony hesitantly raised his arms and returned the hug.
Howard's voice was quiet but strong. "I'm proud of you, Tony."
Tony swallowed, feeling sothing tighten in his chest.
For a man who always had sothing to say, he suddenly found himself speechless.
Howard pulled back slightly, resting a firm hand on Tony's shoulder. "You've done sothing incredible here. More than I ever imagined."
Tony tried to play it off with a smirk. "Yeah, well. Gotta keep the old man on his toes."
Howard chuckled, shaking his head. "You've done more than that."
He exhaled, glancing toward the helicopter. "I'll set up the Stark Convention soon. We'll make sure your work gets the recognition it deserves."
"Guess that ans I have to start practicing my speeches," Tony said.
Howard grinned. "For once in your life, yeah."
The helicopter pilot gave Howard a signal—it was ti to leave.
Howard sighed, adjusting his watch one last ti. "Take care of yourself, Tony."
Tony gave him a two-fingered salute. "You too, Pops." His eyes went toward his right for a flicker mont. Sothing rustled over the grass...
Howard turned and stepped onto the helicopter. The engines roared to life, the blades slicing through the air.
As the aircraft lifted off, Howard glanced down, watching as Tony stood there, hands in his pockets, watching him go. He gave a slight nod.
For the first ti in a long ti, Howard Stark felt sothing he hadn't in years.
Not just pride.
Not just admiration.
Hope.
His son wasn't just building the future.
He was the future.
And for once, Howard Stark wasn't leading the charge.
He was following.
And he was okay with that.
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