Chương 264: Letting Go of the Reins
He pressed a hand to his forehead, irritation in his voice. "Fine, if you really think you can handle this, I won't stop you anymore. You go talk to your parents about it. I won't interfere with you and Superman."
"I'll discuss it with them myself," Soren said, his neck stiff with defiance.
His gaze darted uneasily around the hall as he picked up his bag, ready to leave. He didn't want to exchange more words with Tony. But as he neared the elevator, his footsteps grew heavier, despite his earlier resolve.
He stopped in front of the elevator, glancing back to see Tony still standing there, his back to him, unmoving.
That figure was one of the most familiar and dearest to him since he had woken up.
His Uncle Tony was the world's most flamboyant superhero, New York's richest billionaire. He could have easily lived a life of luxury and indulgence without lifting a finger.
But Tony had chosen to stand up, to face the world and fight against evil.
For that, he had been scarred, tormented, and yet he still acted as if it all meant nothing—flippant, careless, refusing to let anyone place any praise upon the real, softer version of himself.
Soren knew, deep down, just how kind Tony truly was.
He would go to great lengths to protect everyone around him, asking for nothing in return, and not even wanting them to know how much he cared.
For a moment, Soren's emotions were all over the place.
He felt sad, helpless, and a deep, aching sorrow.
He licked his lips, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the strap of his bag.
His mind was a mess, crowded with anxious thoughts, but slowly, a sudden wave of regret and courage welled up within him.
...Dragging his heavy feet, he walked back toward Tony.
"Uncle Tony," he called out from behind, and as Tony turned, Soren opened his arms and gave him a firm, solid hug.
Tony immediately stiffened.
"What do you want now?" he asked, his voice flat, still laced with lingering frustration.
Soren held onto Tony tightly, resting his chin on Tony's shoulder, speaking in a muffled tone, "I didn't mean it like that... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say I don't want you to care about me."
"Oh."
Tony looked momentarily lost, awkwardly raising a hand in the air, unsure if he should pat Soren on the back.
"I just… I want you to understand, Tony, not everything is your responsibility. There are some things that everyone has to face on their own. I wish you'd take a little of the weight off your shoulders," Soren said, his eyes lowering.
He didn't care, nor did he want to know how Tony would react; he simply spoke his heart.
Sniffling slightly, he added, "You're one of the people closest to me. Just like you want to protect me, I also want you to be okay. You deserve to be happier."
Tony's stiff hand finally came to rest gently on Soren's back.
In his deep, dark eyes, a flicker of surprise appeared, followed by a softening expression that slowly melted his usual defenses.
He cleared his throat, covering his real feelings with a mocking laugh. "Heh, kid, where'd you get the idea that I'm not happy?"
Soren carefully followed Tony's lead, nodding along, "Mhm, mhm," before saying, "I didn't say you're not happy, I just want you to be even happier, Uncle Tony."
Tony, caught off guard by Soren's reply, had no response for a moment. He stiffened briefly before letting out a prideful "hmph." "Alright, alright. Do you have anything else? If not, get going. I need to hurry back to spend time with Morgan."
Soren shook his head, releasing Tony from the hug. He mustered his courage and smiled at him. "Make sure to say hi to Morgan for me. Ask her when she's coming over to my place to hang out."
Tony waved him off hurriedly, as if he couldn't get rid of him fast enough. "Yeah, yeah, got it. Now, go on, I think it's time you left."
"See you later, Tony."
Soren grinned, flashing a bright smile, and waved before walking toward the elevator, his bag slung over his shoulder, steps noticeably lighter.
As the elevator doors closed and began to descend, Tony made his way over to the bar, filled with various bottles of liquor. He poured himself a glass of whiskey and dropped a few ice cubes into it.
He held the small glass of whiskey and stood by the floor-to-ceiling glass wall, watching Soren walk out through the main entrance of Stark Tower, heading down the street toward the bus stop.
The slender, lean figure reminded him of the boy he had seen in the underground base in Alaska.
Tony took a small sip of whiskey and spoke, "JARVIS, did I really… put him in a glass bottle?"
"Sir, young Hargreaves might just be unhappy with your interference in his relationship," the AI butler replied in a British accent.
Tony silently swallowed the liquor, pondering his feelings as he watched Soren with his bright blond hair make his way onto the bus, standing out even in a crowd. "Maybe he has a point. I can't interfere in things that everyone needs to face themselves. He likes Superman; the one responsible for that can only be him, right?"
The AI butler was quiet for a moment. "Perhaps I don't fully understand human emotions, Sir. I cannot analyze the situation between him and Superman."
Tony raised an eyebrow but didn't respond further. Yet deep down, he had come to a conclusion that felt entirely different from his usual stance.
—Perhaps he should really try to let the kid walk on his own.
The crimson and gold Iron Man suit cut through the New York sky like a striking arc.
…
Soren went directly from the train station to the Metropolis.
He had sent several texts to Clark, but there had been no reply. Assuming Clark was still with the Avengers, he headed straight to Clark's apartment to wait for him.
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