"I was shockingly sheltered growing up. Basically? If it wasn't at MIT? I didn't know about it until I was a lot older yet still awkward. I drank to make myself capable of talking to other people, but I haven't ever met a gay couple who had a baby together. They sound like great dads. Really devoted to have worked so hard to have you."
Howard Stark was a sore spot for Tony. He didn't like talking about his father because he'd surpassed his father. His entire life had been about getting out of that man's shadow. There was no way he was spending all his conversation time on the man. They hadn't been a regular father-and-son in any way, shape, or form. It was fair to say they both hated one another.
No one would have called Howard a loving father. Ever. Tony had no problem admitting to that.
"My dad -singular though he thought he was God if that counts for anything- was a Grade-A Ass. I envy you the great dads."
How was he supposed to explain the suit?
Tony flipped up onto his elbows, hands folded behind his head to do a neat headstand. His body balanced easily these days. Straight up in the air like an arrow he'd built for Barton's benefit, yeah, Tony could pull off a headstand. The suit mimicked him and he realized he was instinctively controlling it which was good and bad all at once.
Making a face, Tony went with, "It's a supersuit. They call me Iron Man though that? Is so far from iron it's insulting to think I'd stoop to a cheap amalgam when I'm the leading weapons producer in the entire world by actual decades. So. Frustrating. I hate bad press. Well. Okay. Inaccurate press. Bad press can be fun on a good day. I'm fond of the attention. Pissing on my father's image? My favorite thing ever. I made the suit to make up for all the damage my weapons caused. I thought I was keeping America safe. Instead? I was making weapons which wound up on the black market to be used against decent people, Americans and foreign alike. I've made up for it though. Even saved the world from an alien invasion complete with a dude who wanted to believe he was a god. Not a bad schtick all-in-all."