Tom Stark-Malfoy

We didn't spend long at the orphanage much to Jade's dismay, before I was whisked away into a black car with luxurious leather seats, Italian leather I presume. I was going to overwrite the compulsion charm that I now realized was done by me but then it would fade away in a couple of hours anyway, so I decided to just let it be.

"Now that we're alone, there is something about you that's strange. What are you hiding?"

So he's more cautious than he let's show. I should play it dumb for now, but I definitely wont let that stop me from getting the information i need.

"Wewl... mos' people don't go 'round shootin beams a' chiwdwen."

Ahhh. . . enunciating my words properly still proves to be challenging. Especially when it comes to L's and R's.

"W-well it isn't so much as shooting at children as it was a minor malfunction in the articulated manipulator causing the actuator to respond to a false signal sent by the control system, thus shooting a repulsor beam at an unexpected target."

. . . what did he say? Aside from his mumbling, his vocabulary which is not present in any dictionary I've read, contributes to why I hardly understood a word. Therefore the problem lays not with me.

I guess my bewilderment appeared on my face as he shifts over and changes the subject.

"But the real question is, why did you seem calm flying more than 20 feet across the room 10 feet above ground. You're calmer and more m.a.t.u.r.e than children twice your age. Not to mention. . . most children can't speak in complete sentences at 13 months."

h-how. . It certainly is a blunder on my part but how am I supposed to know when children can speak complete sentences? I can't say I actually have the mind of an a.d.u.l.t, and I was not calm at all! Also, how could it necessarily be my fault if I say a few curse words? Couldn't there be someone I learned it from who visited the orphanage before? I also feared for my life which caused me to panic and speak out loud. My actions are all justifiable.

"Ai wasn't cawm! I didwnt cwi cause I'm not a cwi-baby, and I'm smawt, owbeoushly!"

There, I guess that's an appropriate answer for someone my age. Or did I overdo it

His eyes glaze over as if contemplating on something. By his reaction I definitely know he doesn't fully believe me. Well... it's not like I could feign ignorance now.

"Awe 'u my new dad?" My best chance is to avoid the topic.

A wave of shock passes his face, I presume his recent actions (ex. adopting a child) have been caused by the compulsion charm and is not something he would actually do given the circ.u.mstances.

"Well I'm not going to be your mom, and I won't try so don't ask."

I felt a grin climb onto my lips but force it back down.

"Oh okay. Am I weiwd?"

"Now why would you ask that?" I continue to examine him as his face turns into one of mild concern. He seems to be a good person and cares about children even if he didn't expect to raise one.

"Y'u said I'm not like odder childwen, so I'm diffwent."

o- others! h-how humiliating, I should start working harder to improve my speech.

"Being different isn't bad, it is actually a good thing. You have something others can only dream of having. It is that something that makes you not only different but special. Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else."

I process his words for a while and I almost crack, just how many witty side comments is he going to make?! I want him to explain exactly how [Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else] makes sense.

"Why do 'u say so? Awe 'u diffwent too?" By his reaction, he doesn't seem to be the judgmental type nor does he seem strict. But I have to make sure.

"Of course I am. And just like you, I am also considered smarter than most my age." So it was a case of bandwagon that made him say so. Since he is different, he wants to be with others who are also different. So he may be judgmental to those who aren't like him.

"Why do 'u fight? Yo'we smart so yu don' nee' tu' fight."

"Well- I fight to protect the world, being smart allows me to do that. If you are given a talent, a power that allows you to do great things, then you must have the same amount if not more responsibility to shoulder it. And today, even in the past until the future, I will do my job. I will protect you and everyone I can, no matter what it takes."

(I quote part of what the actual Tony Stark said P )

So it was the delusion of grandeur, believing ones' self capable of doing things others cant. He sees himself belonging to a group that differs from the rest in a way that they are more superior. He thinks himself powerful like a king, and like a king he should protect his subjects.

These type of people are easy to get along with as long as you prove yourself capable and even easier to manipulate as long as you give him what he thinks he wants. He is smart but no longer seems cunning, rather, he seems to be very rash.

Like a lion/raven in snake's skin.

"Y'u wike viowence?"

I could see him tense up but maintain his nonchalant expression. I'm not reacting how he expects. Something must have happened in his past, he's anxious and it holds him back.

He isn't slytherin, it was my foolish mistake. He is far too easily affected by emotions and doesn't seem to be one who thinks of the consequences to his actions. Intelligent but easy-going and rash. If I had to mark him, his intelligence and wit could bring the downfall of countries but his wisdom and temperament would be like a child's.

He opens his mouth as if to say something smart (/said with sarcasm), but then closes it again, taking back his words before deciding to say something better (considering he is talking to a child).

"There are people who hurt others for no good reason, they can't be reasoned with. They wouldn't give you enough attention to listen unless they are alone and know they couldn't do more damage. If we don't fight them their way, bringing them down the fastest way possible, they will just continue to hurt innocent people. We bring them down because they are a danger to those around them and to themselves."

"I see, so y'u hewp the civiwians by keep'n 'em away fwom dangew, an' you 'elp da viwain by stopp'n dem fwom doin more wong cus dey cant see it demsewves."

His shoulders relax, and a content smile spreads on his face. As I said, they just want to hear what believe in or something that makes them sound better than they first believed. I have to lay low for a while now since he is also more careful with his words and phrasing. He doesn't even realize that he just proclaimed himself to willingly stoop to the villain's level just to 'stop' them.

Well I'm not all that against fighting, it is inevitable when you want to protect or to simply survive. Even the wisest of wizards would willingly take up a sword when threatened.

"That's right. I'm glad that you understand it now kid."

I nod my head and give a sound of agreement. Before he reaches over and messes up what little hair I had on my head.

0

0

Tony P.O.V.

There is something different about this kid, and not just his intelligence. Throughout most of our conversation I felt eerie winds lurking at my back. It was as though I was being read and toyed with. At the end, when he just nodded his head, I knew for a fact he didn't trust me.

Never before have I met a kid so. . . observant. As if he has been doing it for years, those eyes coming from a face that young is definitely something I have to look into. I have to be cautious when dealing with this boy...

What have I gotten myself into?

But the thought that bothers me the most is the fact that for the majority of the night until even now, I felt a nudging feeling at the back of my head, compelling me to save him- to protect him as a guardian should.

At that fight, I saw fear and pain etched so deeply within his eyes. I have seen those eyes before. Eyes that have completely given up on the world, but that can't be right.

Maybe I saw in him what I saw in me the day my parents died. I was in pain and felt the world against me. Aside from Pepper, I felt distrust towards anyone that approached me. In fact, I may still do.

I don't want him to feel alone, I know what it was like. You think that you are better off alone, and you fool yourself into feeling nothing. When in truth, you long for company, for acceptance, to feel you belong.

May actions may have been completely off character (I still can't piece together why I have done so), but now that everything has happened the way it has. I will never regret what I have done. In fact, I am glad that I did. No matter what it takes I will teach him to trust again, that the world is actually a pretty good place to be.

It may not be all rainbows and butterflies but you learn to love it, putting the meaning of having a rather lengthy inner monologue- as probable insanity- aside, I want to help him.

o

o

Draco / Tom P.O.V.

I stayed silent throughout the rest of the ride to my new residence. Hopefully it would be larger and gives me more privacy than the orphanage. After a 15 minute drive, we were in what I would assume to be the busiest part of the entire city.

It was close to noon so I could feel my hunger rising.

"We're here."

What does he mean we're here? We're dead spot right at the center of the city, There's no was there could be a house here. I can't even see anything except this skyscr.a.p.er that blocks-. . . never-mind.

I stare at a higher portion of the building. There is no mistake. This is his house. . . though his delusion of grandeur was. . . even greater than I expected. The more room to freely do what I wish, the better. This building. . . It is quite special and undoubtedly unique ; after all, there was a gigantic metal 'STARK' sign on his house.

. . . I. . . can't. . . ,I could feel something in me crash and break.

These muggles need help!

I was foolish to believe I knew all strangeness that accompanied them, but this?! No sane person would think of plastering a humongous sign of their name no matter how vain! He's even worse than Lockhart and that is definitely saying something. What is wrong with you?!

Facing the building... I can't help but feel abashed!