Chapter Text
Francesca was two years old when Tony and Jasmine hit a rough patch in their relationship and broke up. Jasmine broke off their engagement and she moved out with Francesca within a week.
They had irreconcilable issues, but Tony held no ill feelings towards Jasmine. Something just happened that made them think their relationship was not beneficial to each other anymore. They tried to hold on to it for their daughter’s sake, but there was nothing they could do.
Then, there was the battle for Francesca’s custody. He had an army of lawyers, being the CEO of Stark Industries. Jasmine had her own as an heiress. He knows that Francesca would live a good life no matter who she stays with, but the court decides to give it anyway to Jasmine. The court stated that he is too self-indulgent to be left with the child. They were referring about the life he led before he had a life with Jasmine and Francesca.
He wanted to file an appeal, but his lawyers decided not to pursue it. October 25, 2004, is the second worst date in his life after his parents’ death.
He reflected deeply, thinking about what went wrong. It corrupted Tony inside, feeling guilt, remorse, and sadness. He thinks this might be his breaking point, which will lead him to his former antics.
He still visits Francesca every other week but makes an effort to see her when his schedule permits. He was also civil with Jasmine and her family, occasionally going out for lunch and bringing them donuts when he dropped by.
Tony was getting used to this settlement, and Francesca, who now addresses herself as ‘Frankie,’ turned three. What a breeze, huh? But that was Tony’s longest year. Being in a situation where Frankie isn’t within his arms’ reach when Frankie isn’t in the playroom he installed in the house.
Unfortunately for him, Jasmine moved away. Back to the Philippines as she assumes management of their real estate development company, and she’s bringing Frankie with her.
At first, he thought, ‘It’s just a country; I could go whenever, right?’. So he cried the night he found out Frankie was going to live thousands of miles away from him. Even though Jasmine reassured him they would visit, he swore to get to Frankie regularly.
They did. Because Jasmine’s family still lives in California, he gets to see Frankie bi-annually. He would fly to Manila in the summer, and she would arrive in the United States during the holidays.
Over the years, the rest of the Gonzales family has already returned to the Philippines, and Tony got busier with his company. Oh, did he mention that he got back to being a playboy? His pain of being away from Frankie was not taken lightly. He drank alcohol more than his limit, and it was just one night with a hook-up with this lady he met at an event, but then it became a regular thing. He attends parties regularly and invites different women to get back with him at his home. He’s not proud of it, really. It made him guilty, as it made him not get custody of his daughter. What harm can it do? She’s already away from him.
Then came February of 2008, not long after he was done demonstrating his design of a new weapon to the interest of the United States Air Force when he was kidnapped by the Ten Rings. He was coerced to build the same missile he demonstrated while being tortured. Then, his captors showed him their collection of his designs and weapons stored outside the cave where he was being kept. Something changed within him. Did he build the missile? No. He was building something else. He was building his ticket towards a new life.
In the United States, Pepper Potts, Tony Stark’s assistant, was the first to hear about his boss’ capture from Colonel James Rhodes. Her first action was to call Frankie’s family, as she had the right to know. Happy Hogan was sent to pick her up within the same hour the news reached them.
Frankie, who is five years old, is too young to understand the concept of ‘kidnapping.’ She was just told that her father was taken by bad guys. She cried. She was not always with the man, but she still loved him, and he was her dad. Out of fear, some thought she might be next, and her mom didn’t want to risk anything happening to her.
Frankie was sent to California with Happy Hogan, where she was promised guards to watch over her by the insistence of her godfather, James Rhodes. Frankie met Obadiah Stane the following morning of her arrival. ‘He is a scary man,’ she thought to herself. During her stay, she was mostly with the guards she was issued with, Pepper Potts, Happy, and a nanny for her. The little girl is scared, naturally. She was just in preschool playing with her friends when her teacher told her that someone was on their way to pick her up, and the next thing she knew, she was already boarding a small plane.
It was three long months before they found him. In a desert, severely under-nourished, traumatized, and bloody. Frankie was there when the plane that held her dad came. Tony stood up from his wheelchair immediately with the help of his dear friend and went to his daughter, where he kneeled in front of her. Frankie almost jumps at him and gives him a big hug. Tony winced in pain due to injuries, but he didn’t mind; his daughter was hugging him. Something he thought would not be possible again but is now. He hugged her back with his free arm and kissed the top of her head. He felt something wet under his clavicle and heard a sniff to realize her daughter was sobbing and crying.
“Hey pumpkin pie, look at me,” he rubbed her small back, “come on.” He added.
Frankie looked up at him with red eyes and tears.
“Why are you crying? Please don’t, or I’ll cry as well.” Tony said, and his lips formed a thin line, evidently showing that he was making himself avoid crying. He’s hurt that his daughter is crying.
“Were they bad to you? Your arm-” Frankie managed to say in between sobs before Tony shushed her to soothe her tears.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. This,” he said and pointed to his injured arm, “is something I got while getting away from the bad guys. They didn’t hurt me. They only wanted something from me.” Tony continued as he softened the story. He was NOT going to tell his daughter he was tortured.
Happy drove them to the headquarters of Stark Industries not long after their reunion, much to Tony’s insistence of buying cheeseburgers first and heading to HQ for a press conference, dismissing Pepper’s advice of him getting medical attention.
They assembled in the press room, Stark and Stane heading upfront, Frankie and Pepper stayed at the back of the sea of reporters, all hoping they could get a piece of Tony’s for their headlines. Until a man stood beside Pepper. Frankie did not notice it until he clacked the heel of his shoe to keep his feet together and stood straight, and she took a peek at the man. The man seemed to notice and took a look at her too, eyes soft and an almost non-evident smile.
“Miss Potts.” The man greeted, facing Pepper.
“Yes?” she turned to her left to face the man as well.
“Can I speak to you for a moment?” The man kept his smile
“I’m not part of the press conference, but it’s about to begin right now,” Pepper said and gestured to a row of almost occupied seats.
“Oh, I’m not a reporter. I’m Agent Phil Coulson of the Strategic Homeland and Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.” The man–Phil, introduced himself and handed Pepper a card.
“That’s quite a mouthful,” Pepper said, not even sure if she will be able to remember the organization's name.
“I know, we’re working on it.” Agent Phil Coulson grinned as he watched Pepper Potts read the card with slightly squinted eyes.
“Look, Mr. Coulson, we’ve already spoken with the D.O.D., the FBI, the CIA–” Pepper did not fail to show her exasperation of denying government agencies of their interest in the capture of her boss.
“We’re a separate division with a more specific focus. We need to debrief Mr. Stark about the circumstances of his escape.” Coulson tried to convince Pepper to get an appointment with Stark.
Once Frankie heard the words “circumstances of his escape”, she focused on another thing and held the fabric of Pepper’s pants, which made the woman hold Frankie’s tiny hand. Her dad’s escape? Men dressed just like Phil Coulson approaching them for a talk? Just what did her dad go through? But she paid no mind anymore as her dad had safely returned. Injured but safe.
What could ever change in their lives?
“I came to realize that I have more to offer this world than just making things to blow up. And that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark International-” Her father said loudly into the hall, even though he had microphones. That was all she could hear him say until chaos erupted in the venue.