The months following Howard and Maria's death were a storm of grief, reporters, lawsuits, and board meetings.
And Tony Stark—only twenty-one—stood in the center of the hurricane.
But he stood tall.
For Alex.
MIT Graduation — and a Promise
Tony finished MIT in record time. Genius or not, the weight of Stark Industries on his shoulders pushed him harder than ever. On graduation day, he held his diploma in one hand and Alex's tiny hand in the other.
Alex had insisted on attending, wearing an oversized MIT hoodie that dragged on the floor.
When Tony crossed the stage, he bent down, scooped Alex up, and whispered:
"This is for us. For our future. I'll make sure you're safe."
Alex hugged him tightly.
Taking the Throne of Stark Industries
The boardroom was intimidating even to adults. A five-year-old sitting beside Tony looked surreal.
Tony sat at the head of the table, legs crossed, confidence radiating from him. Alex sat in a smaller chair beside him, swinging his feet, holding NIBBLES the robot like a plush toy.
"Gentlemen," Tony said, "I'm running Stark Industries. Anyone who disagrees can leave."
Several board members exchanged nervous glances.
Obadiah Stane gave a thin smile. "The boy has his father's fire."
Tony's eye twitched. "And twice his charm."
No one dared challenge him.
Alex's System flickered:
[Bond Strength: Tony Stark — MAXIMUM][Tony Stark Title: Guardian (Overprotective)]
First Day of School — Stark Style
One week later, Alex dressed for his first day of school.
A normal kid would've worn a backpack.
Alex stepped outside wearing:
A prototype Stark Industries kid-sized Kevlar jacket
Sneakers with shock-absorption micro-thrusters
And Tony's oversized sunglasses
Tony almost cried."You look perfect."
"Tony… it's just kindergarten."
"Just kindergarten? That place is dangerous, kid! Germs, bullies, crayons—crayons, Alex! Do you know how sharp those can be?!"
Alex sighed."I'll be fine."
Tony wasn't convinced.
Operation: "Protect the Bean"
At school drop-off, Tony knelt in front of Alex, gripping his shoulders.
"Listen to me. Don't talk to strangers. Don't eat anything purple. Don't climb on things. Don't let anyone hug you unless they're background-checked."
Alex blinked. "…It's school."
Tony cupped his cheeks dramatically. "I'm serious! If anyone bothers you—anyone—you tell me. I'll bankrupt their parents."
"Tony!"
"What? That's responsible adult behavior!"
Other parents stared. One mom recognized him."Is that Tony Stark… giving safety briefing to a kindergartener?"
Alex facepalmed.
After signing twenty autographs, Tony finally let a teacher take Alex's hand.
Tony watched, miserable, as Alex walked away into the colorful classroom.
He clenched his fists."Okay. This is fine. He'll be fine. I'm fine. Everything's fine."
Then he immediately put on sunglasses, pulled out his phone, and barked:
"Deploy the mini-drones. I want full coverage of the school perimeter. And send Happy with binoculars."
"TONY!" Alex shouted from across the playground, visibly annoyed.
Tony waved. "Just looking out for you!"
The teacher groaned. "Mr. Stark, please don't surveil the school."
"No promises."
Tony, the Overprotective Brother
That evening, Tony cooked (badly), burned dinner twice, and finally ordered pizza.
As Alex ate, Tony sat across from him, arms crossed, interrogating him like a spy.
"Did anyone push you? Did anyone steal your crayons? Did any teacher talk too loudly? Are the chairs stable? Did any kid get within two feet of your personal space?"
Alex sighed."Tony… I made friends."
Tony froze.
A slow smile spread across his face.
"…Really?"
Alex nodded. "Three kids. They're nice."
Tony smiled proudly. "Good. But if any of them hurt you—"
"Tony!"
"What? I'm your big brother. It's my job to overreact."
Alex rolled his blue diamond-like eyes, but he couldn't hide his small smile.
Because no matter how over-the-top Tony was…He loved Alex. Deeply.
And Alex loved him back.