Tony knew that after Orion's long hours in the lab, he needed to get out and interact with the real world. His son's incredible intelligence and advanced abilities might make it difficult for him to form healthy relationships with other children. But that didn't mean he had to be alone.
"Jarvis, can one of Rhodey's nephews spend some time with us?" Tony asked as he sipped his coffee.
"Colonel Rhodes' nephew, Henry, is a good option, sir," Jarvis said, sipping his coffee. "I should point out that he is eight years old and extremely energetic."
Tony smiled slightly. "It would be a good experience for Orion. And did Henry's parents approve?"
"Of course, sir, Mrs. Rhodes thought it would be a great idea for Orion to make new friends. Henry seems quite excited as well."
Orion raised his eyebrows slightly as he heard his father speak. "Am I going to meet someone?"
Tony walked over to his son and patted him on the shoulder. "Yes, little man. A boy named Henry. I want you to meet him, I'm sure you'll get along well."
Orion thought for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. I can try."
In a corner of Central Park, Orion and Tony waited for Henry and his mother. Orion took a deep breath as he watched the children playing in the park. The children here ran, laughed, fell, but then picked themselves up and continued playing as if nothing had happened. He had never experienced such freedom before.
Then an energetic voice was heard in the distance. "Hey, Mr. Stark!"
Tony turned his head and smiled at Henry and his mother. Henry was a cheerful, somewhat awkward looking boy with curly brown hair. He looked at Orion with a wide smile.
"Hello! You are Orion, aren't you?"
Orion nodded politely. "Yes, I am. And you are Henry."
Henry immediately put his hands in his pockets and nodded. "Yes! My Uncle Rhodey says you're a great guy. But you know what? I've never seen you before. Why?"
Orion gave Tony a quick look, then answered calmly. "Because I don't get out much."
Henry frowned. "Oh no! It's great to be outside! Look, there's everything here! Trees, squirrels, men selling ice cream and... most of all, a playground!"
Orion tried to smile. "Is that so?"
Henry nodded excitedly. "Yes! Come, I'll show you!"
Orion nodded, surprised by Henry's enthusiasm, and followed him.
Henry took Orion to the busiest playground in the park. There were slides, swings, and climbing structures. Henry immediately started to climb up a rope climbing frame.
"Come on!" he called to Orion. "It's fun!"
Orion examined the structure carefully. Technically, he could climb it. His physical abilities were far beyond those of a child. But should he do it?
Henry looked up at him. "Why don't you come?"
Orion took a deep breath and moved. Carefully he climbed the stairs and reached Henry's side.
"Wow, you're good!" Henry said, noting the fluidity of Orion's movements.
Orion shook his head. "Just a matter of balance."
Henry laughed. "I wish I was as balanced as you! But I fall all the time."
"That's not a bad thing," Orion said in a more mature tone than Henry thought. "Falling is an opportunity to learn how to get up again."
Henry paused for a moment, then looked at Orion in surprise. "Wow... That was very clever. Where did you learn that?"
Orion smiled slightly. "From my father."
Henry shrugged. "Can you teach me?"
Orion nodded. "Sure."
Henry and Orion spent some time at the playground. Henry taught Orion how to make mud pies. Orion showed Henry how to stand more firmly on the ground and how to run without falling.
At one point, Henry turned to Orion and whispered. "Can I tell you a secret?"
Orion tilted his head, curious. "What is it?"
Henry narrowed his eyes and looked around, then whispered softly. "I can be a superhero!"
Orion tilted his head slightly to the side. "Is that so?"
Henry nodded solemnly. "Yes! My father told me that one day I would be the fastest boy! So I've been practicing every day, so I'll be super fast!"
Orion smiled. "That's a great goal."
Henry leaned in closer and added. "Do you want to be a superhero too?"
Orion thought for a moment. "I don't know. Being a superhero is a big responsibility."
Henry rolled his eyes. "Oh, you sound like an adult! You should be having fun!"
Orion couldn't resist Henry's sincerity and laughed easily. "Maybe you are right."
End of the day
As the sun began to set, Henry and Orion sat in a corner of the park eating ice cream.
"I had so much fun today," Henry said. "Shall we do it again?"
Orion thought about how he had felt during the day. Normally, he was afraid to spend time with other children because he felt different. But Henry... Henry was different. He was open, honest and genuine. Orion really started to think of him as a friend.
He nodded. "Yes. Let's do it again."
Henry threw his hands in the air with joy. "Yay!"
Tony smiled slightly as he saw the relaxed expression on Orion's face in the distance. His son was adjusting to the world. And that was more important to Tony than anything else.
Tony and Orion walked side by side through the busy streets of New York. The sun was about to set, the sky was tinted with shades of orange and pink, and the lights filtering through the buildings gave the city a soft glow. Orion walked quietly beside his father, obviously pensive.
Tony noticed his son's silence and smiled slightly. "So how was your day? Was it fun spending time with Henry?" he asked, looking at Orion curiously.
Orion shrugged. "Not bad. Henry's a nice guy, really. He tries to be funny, but..." He pursed his lips without finishing the sentence.
Tony raised his eyebrows. "But?"
Orion took a deep breath. "Dad, do you want me to tell you something really interesting?"
Tony smiled and nodded. "Sure, little man. Always."
Orion walked thoughtfully under the streetlights for a few seconds, then looked up at Tony. "We do childish things. I mean, games and stuff. Henry, for example, rolls around on the floor and makes weird noises just for fun. Or hide and seek, and when he wins, he screams in triumph. Okay, some things can be fun, but... it all seems so easy."
Tony laughed slightly. "What, you expected an eight year old to engage in philosophical discussions?"
Orion shook his head. "No, of course not. But... sometimes I feel too different from them, like the things they are interested in are too ordinary for me. Henry is really sweet, but his games or his jokes... I don't know, they don't really excite me."
Tony felt a slight sense of pride as he tried to digest what Orion had said. His son really was very different from his peers. He was more mature, more intelligent. There was much more that interested him than ordinary children's games. Tony knew of Orion's superior intelligence, but now he realized that it was not only his intelligence that was different, but also his outlook.
They walked in silence for a while. Finally, Tony smiled and patted Orion on the head. "You know, maybe it's still our job to find the best fun for you."
Orion looked up at Tony. "What do you mean?"
Tony blinked as he rounded the corner. "I think we need to find out what's really fun for you. You're different, little man. That's not a bad thing. You just need to meet people who can think like you and understand you."
Orion smiled slightly. "But it's more fun to spend time with you."
A warmth spread through Tony. He blinked and looked proudly at Orion. "Is that so?"
Orion nodded. "Yes. Talking to you, discovering things, teaching me new things... it's more interesting. Henry's a good boy, but you're more fun."
Tony took a deep breath, a proud smile on his face. "Little man, I'm glad to hear that."
As they walked on, Tony thought to himself that Orion really was no ordinary boy. He was special enough to shape the future. And Tony was willing to do whatever it took to raise him in the best way possible.
I apologize for not posting recently, dear readers. I haven't updated because I was studying for my exams.
I will go back to my usual routine and probably post a Q&A about the universe and the book tomorrow. If you have any suggestions for the female lead, please let me know. I have most of the ideas decided, but I haven't finalized anything.
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