May 10, 2009 22:37
December, 1991
"You can't just ignore this, Tony. Someone has to take charge here."
Tony didn't bother looking up at Obadiah, even if he knew the man was waiting for an answer. How was he supposed to start working on funeral arrangements, when his parents had not even been dead for twenty-four hours?
"The press is expecting information about memorial services," Obadiah continued gently, sitting on the couch next to Tony. "We have to arrange everything for the funeral." Ever since the news had been broken, the young Stark had locked himself up in his father's study but it was time to face reality. They didn't have the luxury of doing this, of grieving like this, and if there was anyone that could get to him it was Obadiah Stane. He had known him all his life, and considering how many times he had been sent in to substitute for Howard whenever he was busy, the man had become like a secondary father figure to the boy.
But Tony Stark, the cocky teenager that always had something to say, and that had always looked so sure of himself even when he was just a child, was just quiet. So quiet, and lost on what to do.
His parents were dead. The great and powerful Howard Stark was dead, and his wife along with him.
Looking up at Obadiah, Tony just shrugged. His eyes were dry, because despite the news he couldn't bring himself to cry, but they looked empty nonetheless.
And tired. He was so tired.
"You probably know better than I do what they would have liked," Tony finally answered. Obadiah had known Howard far better than Tony, after all. "But they should be buried here, in New York." Because he knew that much. New York had always been his parents' city, and it was only right for them to be buried there.
With a nod, Obadiah clasped Tony's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. As if to tell him that yes, he would take care of everything. That he would be there. That everything would be all right. And Tony, not knowing what else to do, just nodded back because part of him wanted to believe it. Because he had no other choice. Now there was no one left.
maria stark,
backstory,
howard stark,
obadiah stane