starkceo | wm - father

I'm limited by the technology of my time, but one day you'll figure this out. And when you do, you will change the world.

What is, and always will be my greatest creation, is you.

Wow. Really? And this is something you couldn't tell me when you were still alive? I've spent thirty five years thinking you didn't give a damn, that I was just some accident you felt compelled to take care of for mom's sake because you didn't want your precious name ruined. Oh, but when you found out that I actually inherited your brain, that made it okay. Right, Dad?

I really don't know what you expect me to say. If you would have pretended to actually like me, maybe this would be a little easier to accept.

But, you didn't.

A father is supposed to be his sons biggest hero. A father is supposed to be constant, invested and interested. You? You couldn't even pretend to be interested. The only time you ever paid attention was when I was doing something wrong, or, when I was doing what kids my age normally did.

"Pay attention, Tony."

"Stop playin' around, you need to take this seriously."

"Can't you see I'm working? Go find your mother."

If I was your greatest creation, you had a funny way of showing it. In fact, people who are proud of something keep it close, admire it, revel in the fact that it's yours and yours alone. But, you always kept me at arms length, or further. You took pride in the fact that one day I would be there to carry on your name, nothing else. Imagine your company's surprise when they realized I was nothing like you. And in a business sense, that was good for them. Were you even aware of the direction they wanted to take?

So, now you can probably see why I lead the life I do. I run your company, but I do it with as much attention and care as you gave me during the eighteen years we knew each other. Call it a homage, if you will. I believe you get what you give, and as harsh as it is to say, you pretty much only gave me a name and your genetic hand me downs.

You know, if you would've stopped and told me all this before you died, I might have done more to make you proud. I would have fought hard to keep your legacy intact and actually honor it. I could never be who you were, but damnit, Dad, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. All I needed was a little bit of your time.

Oh, and I did change the world. I made it better than you or Stark Industries could've ever imagined it would be.

But that was just another expectation you had of me, wasn't it?