Chapter 5: David and Melissa Shield

[Third Person's PoV] 

Tony continued to walk with a swagger, Maria and Howard exchanging amused glances at his antics. Even Jarvis shook his head in exasperation as he went to park the car and join them later.

"Come on, Tony. Let's go meet David. I heard he has a daughter around your age. I think it's finally time you make a friend," Howard said in a playful tone.

"Oh, that sounds like a wonderful idea," Maria agreed, equally playful.

"Har har har, you guys are absolutely hilarious. And for your information, I do have a best friend."

"Jarvis is our butler. He doesn't count," Howard said plainly.

"Jarvis will be hurt by that statement. #ButlerLivesMatter," Tony said as they entered.

Howard just sighed and shook his head. Maria grabbed Tony's hand so he wouldn't get lost, knowing how he tended to wander when bored.

"Ah, I see David," Howard said, leading them toward a man with slick brown hair, wearing a suit and black-framed glasses, talking with some people. A little blond girl in a blue dress stood nearby, looking bored.

"As he lives and breathes, if it isn't Davy," Howard said.

David looked up and broke into a wide smile upon seeing Howard. "Howwy, you haven't changed a bit!" They shook hands and hugged, patting each other on the back and laughing.

David then turned to Maria and they exchanged side kisses before hugging. "Maria, it's so good to see you."

"It's good to see you again as well, David," Maria said.

David then turned to Tony. "And who's this little guy?"

"This is my son To—" Howard was cut off as Tony stepped forward and offered his hand.

"The name's Anthony Stark. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."

"David Shield," David said, shaking his hand with amusement.

"I must say, congratulations on winning the Nobel Prize. Such a feat isn't an easy thing to do," Tony said as they disengaged from the handshake.

"Thank you?" David replied, looking at Howard in confusion. "Ah, let me introduce you to—"

David was cut short as Tony stepped toward the little blond girl. "The name's Stark, Anthony Stark. May I have the honor of knowing your name?" he asked, offering his hand.

"Melissa Shield," the little girl said a bit shyly as she offered her hand in return.

Tony simply took it and kissed the back of her hand. "A lovely name for a lovely mademoiselle," he said, smiling charmingly as his glasses slid down his nose a bit, giving her a wink.

Melissa turned bright red and looked down, steam practically coming out of her head.

David looked at Howard with a placated expression. "I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Please tell your son to stop flirting with my daughter."

"Tony," Maria chastised.

"Yes, mother dearest?" Tony asked in confusion.

Howard had an awkward expression. "Sorry about him. It seems he has a severe case of narcissism with no cure."

"Like I said, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," David said with a sigh. "It appears you created a carbon copy of yourself."

"Wait, I just understood why people say that. Humans are mostly made of carbon, so a carbon copy would be an exact replica. Hah, the more you know," Tony said with a finger on his chin.

Melissa, who had recovered from her embarrassment, had a shocked look. "Oh wow, you're right. I didn't even think of that."

"I know, right? Me either. It just came to me just now. Crazy, right?" Tony nodded while Melissa nodded back.

"It seems like they're going to get along perfectly fine," Maria said with a smile.

Howard looked teasingly at David. "It looks like we're going to become in-laws soon enough, eh, Davy~"

"Please don't joke about my daughter. You're about to give me a heart attack."

Maria crouched down to Melissa's level. "Your name is Melissa, right? Please be a dear and show my son around. He doesn't really know how to make friends."

"Okay!" Melissa said cheerfully. She grabbed Tony's wrist and started to drag him around. 

"Come, I'll show you around and where the other kids are." She said sadly. 

"Why the sad smile?" Tony asked as he was being dragged along.

"Ah, it's nothing. Don't worry about it," Melissa said, shaking her head.

"It's clearly not nothing if you're all frowny. How am I supposed to enjoy the tour if my tour guide is sad?"

Melissa let out a little sigh. "Well… when I introduce you to the others, you'll probably want to hang out with them and not with me."

"And why would I do that?" Tony asked, looking at her in confusion.

"You'll see…" was all Melissa said as she brought Tony toward where all the other kids were talking and showing off their Quirks, laughing among themselves.

"Hey!" Melissa said with a fake cheery smile. "Look, I brought someone else. His name is Anthony Stark."

"Stark as in Stark Industries!?" One of the older kids, around ten years old, said in surprise. He had deer antlers growing out of his head and soon developed an arrogant smirk as he walked toward Tony. "The name's Harris. Let's become good friends, best friends even," he said, extending his hand. 

"Here's a piece of advice as your new friend: don't hang out with that quirkless loser over there. You wouldn't want to catch her disease," he said in a joking manner, which caused the kids around them to start laughing loudly.

Melissa put her head down with a sad look, holding her blue dress as tears gathered in her eyes, trying hard not to cry.

Tony just looked at Harris's hand before looking up, not bothering to shake it. "Melissa, you're a terrible tour guide."

"What?" Melissa said in a sadder voice.

"You're supposed to show me the good part of the party, not the trash."

They all had a look of shock, even Melissa had a stunned expression. The arrogant smile on Harris's face faltered.

"What?" he asked in confusion.

"Hey dipshit, I'm quirkless as well."

They all looked toward Tony with a hint of disgust while Harris slowly lowered his hand. He couldn't really do anything as Tony was from the richest company in the world.

Harris could only scoff. "Wow, two quirkless losers. You two were practically made for each other."

Tony sighed. "You just had to open your mouth."

Tony didn't hesitate as he punched Harris in the mouth, causing Harris to stagger back and hold his mouth in surprise.

"Owwww," he cried, with tears gathering in his eyes.

The kids looked toward Tony in horror. When Harris looked down at his hand and saw blood, he began to cry out loud. "You punched me!" His tears then turned to tears of anger as he charged toward Tony with his antlers. "Some quirkless nobody isn't going to get away with that!"

Tony simply stepped to the side and stuck his leg out, causing Harris to trip and roll on the ground. Harris then held his face as he began to cry even louder.

Tony looked toward the others. "You guys want some as well?"

They all shook their heads. Hearing the commotion, adults came running. They gasped in horror seeing Harris bleeding and crying while the other kids looked at Tony fearfully.

"Make way!" they heard David's voice, so they parted.

David came running through with Howard and Maria in tow. Seeing how the kids looked at Tony with fear, Howard and Maria sighed.

"Tony… again? Didn't you promise to stop this?"

David looked toward them in surprise.

Tony didn't look the least bit remorseful. "They were making fun of her and making her cry. You know I don't do this unprovoked."

"Tony…" Howard sighed.

Melissa then came to his defense. "He's right, he was just protecting me because they called me a quirkless loser."

David nodded his head, then turned toward Tony. "Thank you for looking after my daughter… but please don't resort to violence."

"I can't promise that. If they get on my nerves, I'm going to punch them," Tony shrugged before walking off. "Come on, princess, you owe me a tour."

But before he walked off, he turned toward his father. "He called us both quirkless losers that were made for each other. Please take care of it, Father. My poor feelings were hurt."

Howard only scoffed before nodding his head. Tony then turned back, seeing his father confirm it, and walked away with a blushing Melissa following close behind.

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