AU Ask 11

[arukou]

(From Reioka: The Avengers go to a convention and immediately lose Tony. They try to enjoy themselves but what if Tony was kidnapped? So they search for him. Clint jokes that Tony might be at the lost and found and since that's a good starting place (it's be one of the entrances), they traipse over to ask anyone if a man with a goatee had been dragged out kicking and screaming. There they find Tony sitting in the lost and found area, listening as a three-year-old boy chatters away until his parents show up.)    

Hnnnng Tony Stark and children! YESSSS!

Tony’s in his incognito look (yes those sunglasses and that hat and that sweatshirt) and he’s mostly passing because no one would honestly expect Tony Stark to actually be wandering around in a convention with no guards or anything, but that means he’s harder to spot for the Avengers too. So when he disappears, well that… that’s an “oh shit” moment.

Tony saw the kid tucked in a corner out of the flow of the crowd, big eyes round and wet but not crying, not yet. That reminded him of…things he’d rather forget. So he approached slowly and crouched down.

“Hey little guy. Are you okay?”

The kid sniffled.

“Do you know where your mommy is? Your daddy? Your…sibling?”

“No.” Snot-voice. The most dignified of voices.

“Do you want me to help you find them?”

“Stranger.”

“Stranger danger. That’s smart. Hmm… Well, let me let you in on a secret.” Tony pulled off the glasses, raised the bill of his cap, and prayed the kid knew who he was.

“I…Iron Man?”

“Uh huh. I’m here on a secret mission to help people. And I’m going to help you. But only if you want help.”

The kid looked downcast, but then he brightened a little. “I…I can help?”

“You bet you can.”

So Tony took the kid on a grand adventure, walking him through the artists’ displays and down to some of the panel doors, but they don’t manage to spot his parents. In the meantime, Tony invents all sorts of missions to keep the kid busy. (”I’m looking for Hydra agents. They’re littering. If you see any trash, you let me know and we’ll pick it up.” “I’ve heard that the French fries have been laced with a special serum that might make monsters. We have to test the fries to make sure they’re safe.”) Tony finally manages to wend his way to a help-desk/lost-and-found type deal and gets the staff on it. In the meantime, he plays with his new friend (Joshua) using some of the baubles he picked up from the artists’ alley.

Twenty minutes later, a panicked Steve comes running followed closely by a harried looking woman. “Joshua!” “Tony!” “Ix-nay on the Ony-tay,” Tony whispers, but Steve’s about as subtle as a red-blue-and-white painted target, which he is. So after getting inundated with people wanting selfies, con security manages to herd them out a side entrance along with Joshua and his mom. (”I’m so sorry, Mr. Stark. He really wanted to come to see the artists and I really…well, I’m sorry. I try and–” “It’s okay. He’s a good kid. You…you’re here alone?” “His dad’s not in the picture.” “Oh, well. Um. Here. Here’s my card. I’d like…let me know. I’d like to send him a little something.”)

Joshua’s mom suddenly finds her student loans paid in full, Joshua’s daycare fees taken care of for the next year and a whole set of Avengers goodies for his room.

After that, Tony starts looking more into children’s charities. Ways he can help out people like Joshua’s mom. He definitely does the orphan thing.