Chapter 4: Skepticism and Revelations

The Puddle Jumper soared quietly through the night, its cloaked exterior rendering them invisible as they crossed over the Atlantic. Inside the ship, the silence was thick. Tony sat in his seat, staring at the strange, advanced technology around him, trying to process everything. Yinsen sat quietly, still recovering from the bruising he'd taken, while Max, the kid who claimed to be Tony's son, focused on piloting.

Tony wasn't buying it. Not completely. A son? How could he, Tony Stark, have a son he didn't know about? Sure, there had been wild years—plenty of them—but this was out of the blue. He needed to verify it for himself. Still, even if the kid wasn't his son, he had just saved his life. That wasn't nothing.

Tony broke the silence with a dry chuckle, rubbing his chest as he glanced over at Max. "So, let's say for a second you're not my son. That still leaves the fact that you just flew halfway around the world in your fancy invisible spaceship to save me. I think that puts me in your debt."

Max's gaze didn't leave the controls, but Tony could see a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You don't owe me anything. I just wanted to help."

Tony leaned back, wincing as a sharp pain shot through his ribs. "Well, I don't know about you, but in my world, saving someone from a bunch of terrorists earns you at least one favor."

"You don't have to believe me right now," Max said after a moment, his tone calm. "You can run a test yourself later. I know this is hard to accept."

Tony shot him a sidelong glance. "Oh, believe me, I'll run the test. And hey, even if you're not mine, that DNA test might still make for an interesting story. Who knows, maybe you're secretly a Russian spy. Or a robot. I've seen weirder."

Yinsen chuckled weakly at Tony's attempt to deflect, shaking his head. Tony always used humor to distract from how much pain he was in or when he didn't want to face something head-on.

Max remained unruffled. "You'll find out soon enough."

Tony shifted in his seat, grimacing again. "So, where exactly are we headed, kid? You got a plan or are we just joyriding?"

Max nodded. "I'm going to drop you both off outside New York. Close enough for you to get back into the city without any trouble, but far enough away that no one notices the ship. I'd rather keep a low profile."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "A low profile? Kid, you just saved the great Tony Stark. Good luck with that."

Max smirked. "I'm serious. I don't want any government agencies poking around or asking questions. I'm asking you both to keep this—" he gestured vaguely at the Puddle Jumper "—a secret. No one needs to know about the ship."

Tony exhaled slowly, tilting his head as he considered. "A secret, huh? Well, I suppose I can keep my mouth shut. What about you, Yinsen? Think you can handle keeping a secret?"

Yinsen, still looking weary but very much alive, nodded. "I owe both of you my life. If keeping this quiet is what you ask, I will honor that."

Tony grinned. "Good man. Alright, secret spaceship it is. But you know, Max, you're missing out on some prime marketing opportunities. 'Stark and Son, Aerospace Technologies.' That's got a nice ring to it."

Max didn't answer, though Tony could see the amusement in his eyes. He kept his focus on the ship's controls as the landscape below them shifted, New York coming into view on the horizon.

"So, Max, you gonna tell me who your mom is?" Tony asked, trying to inject some levity into the conversation.

Max's hands tightened on the controls just slightly, but he kept his voice even. "Her name was Laura. Laura McKenna."

Tony squinted, searching his memory. "Laura McKenna…" He trailed off, his mind reaching back to those blurry, grief-ridden days after his parents' deaths. He barely remembered half of the people he'd met during that time, but maybe…

Before Tony could continue down that line of thought, Max spoke up. "We're here."

The Puddle Jumper descended, landing softly in a field just outside the city. As the ramp lowered, Max handed Tony a small medical container.

Tony looked at it, confused. "What's this?"

"A blood sample," Max explained, his voice steady. "In case you want to run the test later."

Tony blinked, momentarily stunned by the kid's straightforwardness. "You really thought of everything, huh?"

Max nodded. "I figured you'd want proof."

Tony shook his head, but there was something like respect in his eyes. "You're a piece of work, kid."

Max smiled slightly but quickly turned his attention to Yinsen. "You'll both be fine from here. I've called a taxi—it should arrive in a few minutes."

Tony, clearly wrestling with his thoughts, seemed reluctant to leave the ship. He lingered on the ramp, glancing back at Max. "So… you're just gonna leave us here? No goodbye? No 'nice knowing you, Dad'?"

Max hesitated. "I've got some projects to get back to. And you've got your life to return to."

Tony tilted his head, clearly trying to probe beneath the surface. "Projects, huh? What kind of projects? World domination? More invisible spaceships?"

Max chuckled softly. "Something like that."

Tony took a deep breath, still not quite ready to let go of the conversation. "You sure about this? Just dropping us off in the middle of nowhere? No awkward family reunion?"

Max's expression softened, but his resolve remained. "You've got enough on your plate. Take care of yourself, Tony. And… maybe we'll talk again someday."

Tony opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the taxi arrived. The headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the field. Yinsen, grateful and exhausted, offered a small nod of thanks as he and Tony climbed out of the ship.

Tony turned back one last time, flashing a lopsided grin. "Don't be a stranger, kid."

Max smiled faintly but said nothing, watching as the taxi drove off into the distance. The Puddle Jumper remained hidden in the shadows of the field, cloaked from the world as it quietly ascended into the night sky, leaving Tony and Yinsen behind.

Stark Industries Headquarters, New York City

Tony arrived at the Stark Industries building, his mind racing. His body ached from the ordeal in Afghanistan, but adrenaline kept him going. He wasn't about to let that slow him down. The moment he walked into the office, Pepper was there to greet him, her relief at seeing him alive mixed with a knowing look of concern.

"Tony, thank God you're okay," she said, rushing to his side. "You've been all over the news—captured, missing—what happened?"

Tony waved her off, exhaustion clear in his posture. "Not now, Pep. I need to hold a press conference."

Pepper's eyes widened. "A press conference? You just got back! You need to rest—"

"I don't have time to rest," Tony interrupted, heading toward the press room with Pepper hurrying behind him. "Trust me, this needs to happen."

Within the hour, Tony stood in front of the press, cameras flashing, reporters clamoring for answers. He cleared his throat, glancing briefly at Pepper, who stood off to the side, watching him with a mixture of pride and worry.

"Good afternoon," Tony began, his voice steady despite the fatigue. "I've just returned from Afghanistan, where I had what you might call a... life-changing experience. During my time there, I saw firsthand the destruction caused by the weapons my company manufactures. And I've made a decision. Effective immediately, Stark Industries will no longer produce weapons."

The room erupted in chaos, reporters shouting over one another, trying to get Tony's attention. Amid the noise, Stane, standing near the back, crossed his arms, his face a mask of displeasure.

Tony ignored the chaos for a moment, letting his words sink in. He could feel the tension in the room, but it didn't matter. He knew what he had to do. "I know this is going to come as a shock to a lot of you, but it's the right thing to do. Stark Industries can be more than a weapons manufacturer. We can do better. And we will."

With that, he stepped down from the podium, heading straight for the exit. Pepper hurried to his side as Stane intercepted him.

"Tony, we need to talk about this," Stane said, his voice low but firm.

Tony didn't break stride. "Later, Obie. I've got things to do."

Stane clenched his jaw but didn't pursue the matter. Pepper, sensing the brewing storm, glanced between the two men before following Tony out of the room.

Tony's Penthouse, Later That Night

Back in the relative safety of his penthouse, Tony collapsed onto the couch, wincing as the aches and pains from the day caught up to him. Pepper sat across from him, watching him closely.

"Are you alright?" she asked, her voice soft but concerned. "You've been through a lot."

Tony nodded, but there was a far-off look in his eyes. "I'm fine, Pep. Just… processing everything."

Pepper leaned forward, her expression serious. "You made a big decision today, Tony. No more weapons. Are you sure about this?"

Tony didn't hesitate. "Absolutely. I can't keep pretending like I don't know what my weapons are doing out there. It's time for a change."

Pepper smiled faintly, admiring his conviction. "It's going to be a tough road ahead. A lot of people aren't going to like this."

Tony chuckled, rubbing his temples. "When have I ever cared about what people think?"

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "True. But still, I'm proud of you."

Before Tony could respond, the familiar voice of JARVIS cut through the air. "Sir, I've completed the blood test you requested."

Tony straightened up, his heart skipping a beat. "And?"

JARVIS's voice was calm, almost clinical. "The test results confirm that Max is indeed your biological son."

Pepper's eyes widened, her gaze snapping to Tony. "Tony… you have a son?"

Tony rubbed the back of his neck, still trying to process it. "Yeah, seems that way."

Pepper blinked, her shock giving way to curiosity. "Who is he? What's his name? How did this happen?"

Tony let out a long breath, shaking his head. "His name's Max. He came out of nowhere—literally flew halfway around the world to save me in Afghanistan. Apparently, his mom was someone I met years ago… but I don't remember much from that time."

Pepper sat back, trying to absorb the information. "And you didn't know about him?"

"Nope. No clue." Tony sighed, leaning his head back against the couch. "But now that I do… I don't know what to do next."

Pepper watched him for a moment before speaking softly. "Do you want to meet him?"

Tony was quiet for a long time. Finally, he shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, I just found out I have a kid, and now… it's a lot to take in."

Pepper nodded, understanding his hesitation. "It is. But maybe this is a chance for something good, Tony. You don't have to figure it all out right now."

Tony ran a hand through his hair, staring at the ceiling. "I guess…"

JARVIS interrupted again. "Sir, would you like me to gather all available information on Max McKenna?"

Tony hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, do that, JARVIS. I want to know everything."

Pepper smiled softly, watching as Tony processed the weight of this new revelation. It was clear that beneath all the bravado, Tony was shaken.