December 17th, 1990

Stark Mansion, Manhattan

Lightning flashed, and thunder boomed. The mansion felt colder than ever. Though the house was full of people, they seemed to hover at the edges. The hearth's fire crackled, casting shadows over the people in the main hall. Gloom filled the atmosphere as the people spoke in hushed tones.

It had only been a day since the news of Howard and Maria Stark’s death broke. But for Tony, it didn’t feel real, not yet. He sat in the living room, staring at the fire crackling in the hearth, trying to gather warmth to dispel the cold feelings surrounding him.

Tony’s eyes were complicated, his face unreadable. But if you looked closely enough, you could see endless regret, pain, and loss in his gaze. His thoughts swirled between disbelief and numb acceptance.

Ethan sat beside him on the couch, unusually quiet, his legs pulled up to his chest, arms wrapped around them, as he stared at the fire. He was almost four years old, and even though he barely understood the weight of it all, he knew something had gone horribly wrong.

Tony hadn’t said much since the news hit. There wasn’t much to say. He’d always had a complicated relationship with his parents, especially Howard. But now… now there was nothing left. No arguments, no lingering expectations. Just silence. It was hard to even think about what came next.

Ethan was affected by the atmosphere around him, even though he didn’t know why. His heart constricted every time someone looked at him with pity as if something had gone terribly wrong.

Hesitant but unable to hold back, he tugged at his brother’s shirt with tiny fingers and asked, “Tony!” His voice seemed to break through the quiet.

Tony, who was lost in thought, didn’t register it at first. Only after Ethan's repeated tugging did he snap out of it. Blinking, Tony looked down at his little brother, who was gazing up at him with wide, uncertain eyes. It was the first time Ethan had said anything since they’d received the news.

“Yeah, Ethan?” Tony replied.

“Mom and Dad… are coming back, right?” Edward’s voice trembled with hope, and Tony’s heart clenched.

He didn't know what to say. Even though the concept of death was foreign to Ethan, he was smart enough to know that they weren't coming back, they were gone. He's just clinging to hope, that it was all a dream, just like me. Tony took a deep breath.

He didn't want to dash his hopes, but giving him false hope would just crush him, and Ethan was smart enough to know the truth. Taking another deep breath, Tony felt the weight settle in his chest. He wanted to say something to make it easier for Edward, to soften the blow. But there was no sugarcoating it.

“No, buddy,” Tony finally said, his voice low. “They’re not.”

It took all of his strength to say those words, both to Ethan and himself.

"I need a drink," Tony thought. He just wanted to drown his sorrows, to numb the pain that was eating him alive inside. But, then he looked towards his younger brother, who kept repeating, “She made a promise,” “ Mom wouldn't break her promise,” “Promise, Promise, Promise.” like a broken record. Tony sighed, placing his hand on Ethan’s head and rubbing it a bit forcefully, which seemed to snap him out of it. Ethan looked up at Tony and burst into tears like a dam breaking. Tony sighed again, thinking, We’re the only ones left.

The sound of crying caught Jarvis’s attention, and he quickly rushed over to Ethan’s side, hugging him and soothing him by rubbing his back. Jarvis’s eyes were bloodshot, and even his ever-present smile while facing them looked rigid today. He too was holding back his grief.

*****

December 20th

Woodside Cemetery, New York

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Rows and rows of people filed in. Tony walked in with Ethan holding his hand, with Tony’s friend James in tow, trailing behind them. James Rhodes had been to a few funerals, but never had he seen as many people as today.

Jarvis seemed to be handling all the arrangements. Rhodes could spot Peggy Carter, Obadiah Stane, and other close friends of the Starks, but neither Tony nor Ethan responded when they approached. Both had hollow looks in their eyes. Especially Tony, whose gaze was lifeless.

People referred to it as the Stark funeral and lamented the tragedy. Tony didn’t react. He didn’t even flinch as he stood in front of the procession, watching his parents’ coffins being lowered into the ground.

Rhodes grew worried about his friend when Tony didn't even move a muscle when Ethan bawled his eyes out and then fainted when he watched their parents buried. Tony seemed dispirited and his gaze was blank as he watched everything unfold. Rhodes didn’t know whether to comfort Tony or leave him alone, so he just stood by his side, offering silent support.

The family friends and co-workers got up and gave eulogies about Howard and Maria, Tony didn't even blink. He kept staring at the gravestones that read

Howard Anthony Stark

August 15th 1917 - December 16th 1990

Maria Collins Carbonell Stark

January 29th 1940 - December 16th 1990

Jarvis gave a speech, sharing anecdotes about Howard, how great a friend he was, and speaking about how wonderful a woman Maria was. He sobbed in between, his words becoming blurred at the end, and he had to be helped off the platform. Even the steadfast Jarvis couldn’t hold back his grief.

At the end, the priest informed everyone they could lay flowers or gifts if they wished.

Rhodes approached Tony, wanting to speak, but was stopped as he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Leave him alone for now. The grief will only numb with time,” said Peggy as she appeared beside Rhodes, a flash of pain in her eyes. “Just stay by his side. He’ll make it difficult, but we have to do it anyway.” With that, Peggy patted Rhodes on the shoulder and walked away.

Tony didn’t return to Stark Mansion for many days after that. He buried himself in work, using the projects to distract from the pain as he slowly tried to forget.

*****

December 24th, 1990

Stark Mansion, Manhattan

Ethan sat at the table, picking at his dinner. He didn’t even acknowledge the cake Jarvis had prepared for him. He didn’t want to celebrate his birthday. There was no one left to celebrate with him, and he still hadn’t recovered from his grief.

“Jarvis, won't Tony be coming back today,” Ethan asked Jarvis with sad eyes.

Jarvis sighed. He knew Tony was avoiding everyone, cooped up in the lab at headquarters, but he didn’t have the heart to tell that to the innocent child. “Master Tony has been extremely busy with work at the company. He won’t be able to make it back today, unfortunately.”

“When will he be coming back?” Ethan asked with a hint of rage and sadness in his trembling voice. It felt like everyone was drifting away from him, the love of his mother, his father’s steely but loving gaze, and Tony’s playfulness.

He missed them all, but none of them seemed to be coming back. With a trembling voice, he asked, “You won’t leave me too, right, Jarvis?”

Jarvis sighed, hugging Ethan and patting his back. “Never, young master Ethan,” he replied, his voice resolute.

Jarvis' heart ached as he watched Ethan retire to his room. He couldn’t say anything to Tony, who was still grieving and wasn’t even answering his calls.

Ethan closed his room as he plopped on the bed, his watery eyes staining the pillow. It took him a while to clam down. He didn’t even have the energy to cry anymore as he gazed up at the ceiling.

Then, something strange happened. His body felt like it was boiling. One moment scorching hot, the next freezing cold. His body alternated between extreme temperatures, and he felt like it was tearing apart. He wanted to scream, but his body spasmed uncontrollably. A flood of unfamiliar information surged into his brain, like a hammer striking his head, and he lost consciousness.

Hours passed, before Ethan stirred awake. He frowned as he felt foreign memories in his head. As he focused, the memories rushed forward, showing him the life of another man. It was like watching a movie, seeing the man born, growing up, and dying at twenty. Ethan could feel the man’s emotions, decisions, and thoughts, but there was a clear line dividing the

He watched as the man, after death, met a being named ROB, received powers, and was reincarnated. It was then Ethan realised, this was him. The line between his past life’s memories blurred a bit as they assimilated. He then started living his life again as a child of the Stark family, going through a rollercoaster of emotions.

When it all ended, the pain returned, not physical pain, but emotional. His body felt brimming with energy, but the emotional scars persisted which by his knowledge should be diluted or gone by now. But the heartache of losing his loved ones came harder now that he understood more, built on the foundation of his past life’s memories.

‘It shouldn’t be like this,’ he thought. ‘I’ve only spent four years here. I shouldn’t feel this overwhelming grief.’ His past life’s memories were foggy, but the ones from this life were incredibly clear. That’s when it hit him.

“I see. It was reincarnation, not transmigration,” Ethan said as he looked in the mirror, fully accepting his new reality, or was it his past memories? A tomoe spun in his red eyes, blood leaking from them due to the premature activation with insufficient chakra.

*****

AN: Enjoy~