#butchered tongue is fucking amazing and tragic and makes my brain go

[juice-and-catharsis]

There is a worm in my brain and his name is Hozier

[winteriron-trash]

(I Am) A Little Wicked [Chapter 1]

A/N: Oh yeah, it’s here. And it’s fucking amazing, so strap in. A lot of large time skips, but I didn’t think the filler was necessary. This chapter is a bit of a scene setter more than anything. So enjoy. Many kudos and love to my muse and angel, @lovinthepizzalife

Playlist | Summary/Warnings

-

Tony was ten when it happened.

It started with Howard angry and screaming, throwing things around. He reeked of alcohol, eyes wild with rage.

“Howard, enough!” Maria was standing in the kitchen, hands on her hips. “You're scaring Antonio!”

“For the last time,” Howard growled. “The kid’s name is Anthony! And he’s a disrespectful little brat!” Howard lunged for Tony.

Tony screamed and scrambled back, but Howard, even in a drunken rage, was quicker. He grabbed Tony's arm, wrenching him forward. Tony cried out, pulling his arm back. He managed to pull himself free, but Howard’s nails caught him. They scrapped down long and nasty across Tony's flesh, leaving trails of blood in their wake. Tony huddled himself behind Maria, holding a shaking arm.

“You hurt him,” Maria whispered. The room fell silent. “You hurt my ‘Tonio.” Her fists shook with building rage.

Howard must’ve noticed a change in Maria's demeanour and stepped back. He was breathing hard, raging eyes dying down to a simmer. “Maria…”

“Mio figlio.” Maria hissed. “You hurt him.” She took a step forward, pushing Tony to stay in place. “Stay back, darling.”

“Maria…” Howard took a step back. “I’m sorry. Let’s calm down.”

Maria narrowed her eyes, opening a kitchen drawer. She rifled around a bit, then pulled out a butcher knife. “You are not allowed to touch him. You will never hurt my ‘Tonio again.”

Howard cowered against a wall. “Maria, please. Let’s talk about this.”

“No.” Maria shook her head. “No more talking.”

She lunged, and it was too fast for Tony to really comprehend. One moment she was standing in front of Howard with the knife, the next she had it buried in his stomach, inches away from him.

“I hope,” Maria murmured, leaning in close to Howard. “Il Diavolo keeps you warm in Hell.”

Maria pulled the knife out and Howard slid down the wall, eyes going glassy. She watched him fall, glowering at an already stiff body.

“No one,” Maria dropped to her knees, raising the knife. “Hurts my son.”

Tony didn't know how many times Maria stabbed the dead body. He only stood and watched as her lovely white evening dress stained bright red. The blood splattered across her face and hands.

“Madre.” Tony walked over, touching her arm. “Madre, I think he’s dead.”

Maria froze, looking up at Tony. There was a single, fleeting moment where Tony was terrified of her. The rage and pure insanity in her eyes was something to be feared. But it was gone in an instant, smoothed over with the familiar loving smile of a mother. She studied Tony, head tilted to the side.

“Oh darling, you're bleeding.” Maria clicked her tongue. “Don't worry, Jarvis will fix you right up.” She reached out to touch Tony’s face, but then seemed to remember her fingers were blood-soaked and pulled it back away.

“Madre…” Tony bit his lip. “They’re not gonna take you away, right? Like the bad guys in the movies?”

Maria shook her head. “No, darling. The bad guys are the ones who get caught.” She glanced behind Tony and brightened with a smile. “Jarvis! You’re just in time. I need you to clean up ‘Tonio. He has a cut on his arm. I’m going to get cleaned up and all the police.” She grabbed a towel, wiping the knife clean of her fingerprints before dropping it beside the body. “A terrible murder has just occurred.”

She walked out of the kitchen perfectly calm and collected as if she weren’t covered in Howard’s blood.

Tony turned to Jarvis. Jarvis… well, as a ten-year-old, Tony could hardly understand the look on Jarvis’ face. It was solemn, pale. He stood staring at the dead body for a few long moments, blinking hard.

“Come along, Master Anthony.” Jarvis cleared his throat. “We’ll get your arm all bandaged up.”

Tony nodded, following Jarvis into the bathroom with a happy little skip. He idly wondered if, with Howard gone, there’d be less yelling. Maria was always so nice to Tony. Tony couldn’t wait to start living without Howard around.

-

“Why do we have to go?” Tony whined, sitting next to Maria. She glanced at him through the mirror of her boudoir.

“It’s your father’s death, figlio.”Maria hummed, clasping on her pearls. “We have to pay our respects.”

“You said he doesn’t deserve our respects.” Tony kicked his little legs as he sat on a stool.

Maria chuckled. “My beautiful darling, he doesn’t. And he doesn’t deserve our tears either.” She turned to face Tony, running a hand over his face. “But only the bad guys get caught, darling. And sometimes to make sure we don’t get caught, we have to lie.” She brushed stray curls off Tony’s forehead. “Your father doesn’t deserve your tears, Antonio. Don’t you ever forget that. He deserves nothing from you, my little one. But when you see a camera, you have to shed a tear for them. Be the sad little boy who lost his padre, hm?”

Tony nodded. “Yes, mammina.” He jumped off his stool after her as she stood up.

“And do you remember what I told you about smiling, figlio?” Maria asked, taking Tony’s hand as they walked toward the car.

“Don’t smile with teeth.” Tony recited. “Only your lips. Small and graceful.”

Maria nodded. “Si. You only show your fangs when you’re ready to bite. Now come, darling. We’ve a body to bury.”

-

“Maria.” Stane sighed. “I’m glad to have you on board with Stark Industries. Against all odds, you’ve managed to keep our stocks up this past month with… light of recent events.” He tugged on his tie as Maria did the sign of the cross. “But without Howard… I don't know how to make this company work. He was the brains.” Stane gestured to the half-finished blueprints in front of them.

Maria studied the blueprints. For as much as she was a businesswoman, she wasn't a genius. ��Howard,” She let her voice catch on his name. “Howard relied on his own genius in running the company. I, however, am not opposed to finding help in others.”

Stane looked ready to say something when small feet ran into the office.

“Madre!” Tony announced. “Jarvis says lunch is ready.”

“Thank you, darling.” Maria smiled, touching Tony's head. She pretended to ignore the look of annoyance from Stane.

Tony walked over to the desk, peaking at the designs.

“Anthony, this is a grown-up-” Stane started.

“That's wrong,” Tony said suddenly.

Maria tilted her head to the side. “What's wrong, figlio? Show me.”

Tony pointed a little finger at a specific equation. “That one.”

“Can you fix it?” Maria offered him a pencil, silencing Stane’s starting objection with a look.

Tony nodded, grabbing the pencil. His careful handwriting started covering Howard's, numbers written over different numbers. He hummed happily, writing more equations until the entire sheet was covered with them.

“All done now.” Tony set the pencil down, looking at Maria for approval.

“Thank you, tesoro.” Maria kissed Tony’s forehead. “Obidah, could you take these down to R&D?”

Stane forced a smile that was too strained around his eyes and showed too many teeth to be real. He grabbed the blueprints and walked out.

Maria turned to Tony and gave him a warm smile. “What’s for lunch, darling?”

-

Maria folded her arms, looking around at the board.

“Mrs Stark,” A board member whose name Maria hadn’t bothered to learn spoke up. “We’re aware of the positive effects you’ve had on this company’s business since taking over. However, there are countless other factors that can play into these positive effects. When it comes down to it, you simply aren’t equipped with the knowledge and experience to be CEO of this company.”

Maria studied him, then the rest of the board. They were all nodding along, even if they wouldn’t meet Maria’s eyes. She shook her head. “Do any of you know who Edith Wilson is?” Maria asked, drumming her fingers on the wooden table.

Silence.

“She was the second wife of President Woodrow Wilson.” Maria continued, walking across the room, around the long board table. “President Wilson had a stroke while he was in office, did you know that?” Maria touched her pearls. “A terrible thing, the man was bedridden for over a year. But countries don’t run themselves, do they?” She did a sharp turn, looking over the board, posture perfectly straight. “Edith Wilson ran the country while he was sick. No decision was made without her go ahead, no one was allowed to visit her husband without her permission. She ran the country so tightly, in fact, many of her own husband’s advisors thought he was simply dead.”

Maria tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, letting her head tilt somewhat to the side. “Eleanor Roosevelt was a Delegate to the United Nations, as well as Chair to the Humans Rights Commissions, after her husband’s time in the White House. It’s amazing, what a woman can do when she’s completely overshadowed by her husband’s fame.” She held her head high. “If anyone believes I’m incapable of running this company, I don’t think they quite understand that I’ve already been running it for years.” She glanced around. “I believe this meeting is adjourned.”

-

“You know, Jarvis.” Maria hummed, doing her makeup. “I’ve been doing some thinking.”

“Oh?” Jarvis asked, setting down a tray of breakfast for her.

Maria glanced down at the tray. “Thank you, doll. As I said, I was thinking. You and Miss Carter wrangled with some nasty fellows back in your time, didn’t you?”

Jarvis smiled at the memory. “I believe we did, ma’am.”

“Well,” Maria stood up, taking a sip from the cup of tea. “With Howard’s tragic passing, I do believe I have a bit more freedom to do as a please.” She walked across the room, grabbing a diamond necklace. “Help me put this on?” She pulled her hair away from her neck.

“Of course.” Jarvis stepped forward and grabbed the necklace.

“And for as much as Howard whined,” Maria continued. “Running that company of his is really child’s place. Antonio does the hardest part of the designs. Unlike Howard, I’m not content in wallowing about, drowning myself in alcohol.”

Jarvis offered a curt nod. “You’re much more dignified than that, ma’am.”

“Thank you.” Maria let her hair fall back in place. “If I’m going to consolidate my power in SI, I might as well go all the way, hm?” She grabbed a shawl, throwing it over her shoulders. “Running a major weapons dealing company is only a fine line from underground mafia business.”

“A fine line that is the law,” Jarvis said dryly, but his tone held no accusation or disgust.

Maria chuckled. “That’s never been something to stop a powerful woman. Tell me, Jarvis, do you happen to still have any connections to some of those fellows?”

Jarvis paused a moment, thinking. “I could arrange for a meeting with a few Brooklyn mafias if you so wish.”

“That’d be lovely, Jarvis.” Maria flashed a smile that was all teeth. “Put me in as Maria Carbonell.”

-

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