Tony was in front of the screens in his lab, reviewing files on the company's new projects. While he was reviewing the financial statements, he noticed Orion running from room to room. The little boy was holding several of Tony's mechanical parts, trying to put them together. Tony stopped for a moment and frowned.
"Orion, what's in your hand?" he asked, getting up from the table.
Orion turned to his father and smiled proudly. "I'm putting it together! See, when these little pieces are put together, they get bigger!"
Tony took a deep breath. "Yes, but that's expensive lab equipment, little man. Now, put it away nicely and... well, read a book or something."
Orion shook his head from side to side. "Books are boring. I want to do something!"
Tony ran his hands through his hair and leaned back slightly against the table. The little boy was an atomic bomb of energy, making it impossible for Tony to concentrate on his work. It was then that an idea struck him.
"Pepper!" Tony called out, connecting to his office phone.
Pepper's voice came over the speaker. "Yes, Mr. Stark?"
"I need some help. I'm trying to run the company, but I also need to control this little monster. Can you help me?"
Pepper was silent for a moment. "Why don't you get a nanny?"
"Because I don't want to seem like I'm shirking my fatherly duties, but I'm still very busy. Can you come over and take care of Orion?" Actually, Tony had asked Pepper for help because he thought it would be hard to find someone he could trust.
Pepper sighed but agreed. "Okay, Mr. Stark. I'm on my way."
A few minutes later, Pepper appeared in the doorway of the lab. Her eyes fell on Orion sitting in the middle of the room. Pepper raised her eyebrows involuntarily as the little boy looked up at her. Orion's eyes were an unusually bright golden yellow and his hair was almost fire red.
"Wow..." Pepper murmured in surprise.
Orion looked at her curiously. "Who are you?"
"I'm Pepper Potts. I work for your father."
Orion tilted his head to the side. "Do you work for me too?"
Tony laughed. "Oh, little man, I love that question. But no, Pepper doesn't work for you. But maybe she can help you out a little."
Pepper was still getting used to Orion's appearance. "Your eyes... very interesting. They do not look like your father's."
Orion shrugged. "I have better eyes!"
Pepper smiled. The boy had an incredible self-confidence. "Yes, you're right. They are beautiful."
Tony decided to leave them alone. "Okay, Pepper. Can you keep Orion occupied for a while?"
Pepper crossed her arms. "That's your job, Mr. Stark. But all right, I'll do what I can."
Pepper sat down next to Orion while Tony hurried back to his lab. The little boy still studied him curiously.
"So... is your father taking good care of you?" Pepper asked.
Orion nodded. "Yes! He's a lot of fun. But sometimes he's a lot of work."
Pepper laughed easily. "Yes, I know, but he really cares about his work."
Orion nodded, but then suddenly became serious. "Pepper, is lying bad?"
Pepper was surprised at the question. "Yes, usually it's bad. But sometimes..."
"But Dad sometimes tells Jarvis little lies!" Orion said with a frown.
Pepper laughed. "Sometimes your father lies just for fun. But honesty is very important. If people trust you, your life will be easier. Do you understand?"
Orion nodded thoughtfully. "I think..."
Pepper smiled. "Look, it's very important to be honest, to be nice, to help people. If you are nice, people will be nice to you."
Orion opened his eyes wide. "Is that a rule?"
"Yes, it's a good rule."
Orion thought for a while, then smiled and nodded. "Okay! Then I'll be a good person."
Pepper smiled and patted Orion on the head. "That's a good start."
Then she realized that Orion really was a special boy. The problem was that while Tony had taught him many things, he had not taught him ethics.
As Pepper stroked Orion's head, she looked at him with a warm smile. Orion's big golden eyes were like those of an explorer looking at a world waiting to be discovered. The boy seemed not only curious, but incredibly intelligent. But with intelligence came a good heart and the right values.
He didn't think Tony had given him much guidance in that regard. Pepper thought about what Orion would be like when he grew up and sighed involuntarily.
"Want to play some games with us?" Pepper asked, leaning forward slightly.
Orion nodded excitedly. "Play? What games?"
Pepper put her finger to her lips thoughtfully. "Hmmm... How about the 'good and evil' game? I'll give you some situations and you have to tell me if it's good or bad. Okay?"
Orion immediately sat up. "Okay! Here we go!"
Pepper smiled and asked the first question. "A friend of yours fell down and is crying. What do you do?"
Orion frowned, took a deep breath and thought. "I would help him! Because I want to be a good person."
Pepper nodded in agreement. "Very good! What if someone wants to buy a toy from you, but you don't want to give it to them?"
Orion frowned slightly. "Hmmm... If the toy is mine, I don't have to give it to him... But if he's very sad, maybe I can share it with him?"
Pepper looked at him admiringly. "Yes! That's a great answer, Orion. Sharing is always a good thing, but it's also important to know your limits."
Orion nodded happily. "Okay! Let's keep going!"
Pepper laughed at Orion's excitement and asked a few more questions. The boy answered each question carefully, trying to find the truth. Sometimes, even when he was wrong, he explained why, and Pepper admired his reasoning. Orion was indeed a much more special boy than she had thought.
Just then, Tony poked his head through the door. "How's it going? Little guy give you a hard time?"
Pepper turned to Tony and narrowed her eyes. "You know, Mr. Stark, this kid seems to care more about morality than you do."
Tony wrinkled his forehead. "Come on, I'm not a bad guy!"
Orion jumped in. "Pepper told me it was important to be honest!"
Tony chuckled. "Oh yeah? Hmmm... Then let me be honest, Orion. I can't play games with you right now because I have to work, but I'll come back in a little while and read you a story before I put you to sleep. Deal?"
Orion smiled and nodded. "Deal!"
Pepper smiled at the bond between Orion and Tony. Tony was trying to be his own kind of father, but in her opinion he still had a lot to learn.
Tony leaned in close to Pepper and whispered, "You did real good. I guess I owe you one."
Pepper rolled her eyes. "Yeah, you definitely owe me. Keep that in mind, Mr. Stark."
Tony smiled and gave Orion a final wink before heading back to his lab.
Pepper turned to Orion and asked, "So, little man, what are you going to do until it's time to go to sleep?"
Orion thought and then his eyes lit up. "Can you tell me some more good and bad stories?"
Pepper was surprised but nodded happily. "Of course, Orion. I will tell you all the best stories."
That night, Pepper and Orion sat on the couch and talked about stories and values. The little boy listened to each story with great interest. And without realizing it, Pepper became an important figure in Orion's life.
Sometimes I don't write certain parts because there are two reasons. I want to let the reader use their imagination to fill in the blanks. I apologize if there are parts I miss because there's so much to explore in the universe.
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