Chapter 25: A Father’s Devotion

The quiet hum of Wakanda had become the backdrop to Tony Stark's new life. As the months turned into years, his world shrank down to one singular focus—his daughter, Morgan Shuri Stark. Gone were the days of frantic battles, sleepless nights in the lab fueled by the weight of the world's expectations. Now, Tony's sleepless nights came from something else entirely—rocking a restless toddler back to sleep, wiping away tears after a scraped knee, and tucking Morgan into bed after long days of playing in the palace gardens.

Morgan was growing fast, and with each passing day, Tony found himself more and more wrapped up in the joys and challenges of being a father. The once ever-present voice of Iron Man had grown quieter, replaced by the simple joys of parenthood. His world was no longer about saving the universe but about raising a little girl who would one day shape her own path.

———

Tony's mornings now started with the sound of Morgan's laughter—or sometimes her loud calls for him when she woke up. His suit no longer hung on a wall, waiting for action. Instead, he started his day by pulling on a simple T-shirt and jeans, heading to Morgan's room to greet her.

"Good morning, princess!" Tony would say as he opened the door, his heart swelling with love as he saw Morgan sitting up in her bed, her wide, curious eyes staring back at him.

"Daddy!" she would cry, reaching out her arms for him to pick her up.

Tony never hesitated. He scooped her up, spinning her around, her laughter filling the room with warmth. "You ready for another day of adventure?"

"Adventure!" Morgan would echo, her excitement bubbling over.

Breakfast was a simple affair—pancakes, usually shaped like Iron Man's helmet (a request Morgan had made one morning that Tony was more than happy to fulfill). Shuri often joined them, laughing at Tony's playful antics with Morgan as he tried (and sometimes failed) to teach her the "proper" way to pour syrup.

———

If there was one thing that surprised Tony more than anything else, it was how natural being a father felt to him. He had always been a man of action, someone who lived for the thrill of invention and innovation. But now, his greatest creation was right here in front of him—Morgan. She had his curiosity, his quick wit, but also Shuri's calm focus and intelligence. She was a beautiful blend of both her parents, and Tony took immense pride in being there for every moment of her life.

Whether it was teaching her how to read, showing her the basics of mechanics (with baby-safe tools, of course), or simply sitting with her while she played with her toys, Tony was always present. He never missed a beat.

"Dad, what does this do?" Morgan asked one afternoon as she poked at one of Tony's old gadgets he had retired from the lab.

Tony knelt down beside her, watching her tiny hands explore the machine. "That, my dear, is an old energy converter. I used it in one of my first prototypes for renewable energy systems."

Morgan furrowed her brow, clearly not understanding all the big words, but she nodded anyway, mimicking her father's thoughtful look. "Cool!" she said, moving on to the next item in her ever-growing collection of "Dad's stuff."

Tony chuckled. "You've got the curiosity, kid. Just like your old man."

Shuri would often come home from the labs and find the two of them tinkering with some harmless piece of tech, Morgan's face scrunched up in concentration as Tony patiently explained how things worked. Shuri would stand in the doorway, smiling as she watched the love Tony poured into their daughter—this side of him, the father who was completely devoted, was something she cherished deeply.

"You're going to teach her everything, aren't you?" Shuri would ask with a smile, leaning against the doorframe.

"Only the important stuff," Tony replied, grinning. "Like how to build a clean energy reactor and why you should never trust a man who wears his sunglasses indoors."

Shuri laughed, shaking her head. "Good priorities."

———

Morgan was growing fast, and her curiosity seemed endless. She was always asking questions—about the world, about how things worked, about her mother's role in Wakanda, and about her father's past as Iron Man.

One evening, as Tony was tucking her into bed, Morgan looked up at him with those wide, innocent eyes and asked, "Daddy, were you really Iron Man?"

Tony paused, caught off guard. He hadn't talked much about Iron Man with Morgan yet, wanting her to grow up without the weight of the world's expectations on her shoulders. But she was a Stark, and Stark children were curious by nature.

"I was," Tony said softly, sitting on the edge of her bed. "I used to wear a suit that could fly, and I helped protect the world."

Morgan's eyes sparkled with awe. "That's cool! Can I be Iron Man too?"

Tony smiled, his heart swelling with pride. "You can be whatever you want, princess. If you want to be Iron Man, I'll help you build the best suit in the world. But you don't have to be. You can be anything."

Morgan giggled, settling back into her bed. "Maybe I'll build robots like you!"

Tony kissed her forehead. "You can build anything you set your mind to. I'm proud of you, Morgan. Every day."

As he left her room that night, Tony couldn't help but feel the weight of those words. Being a father was the most important job he had ever had. Iron Man had saved the world, but being Morgan's dad was saving him.

———

Tony had become a familiar face around Wakanda, but not because of his past as Iron Man. He was known for something else now—being a devoted father. He and Morgan would often be seen at the local parks, playing and exploring together. Tony was always fully present, never distracted, never too busy to be with his daughter.

On one particularly sunny day, Tony and Morgan were at the park, playing on the swings. Tony pushed her gently, her laughter ringing out as she soared higher and higher.

"Higher, Daddy!" Morgan called, and Tony obliged, pushing her with just enough force to give her the thrill she loved, but always keeping her safe.

Shuri arrived at the park just as Tony was helping Morgan off the swings. She smiled, watching from a distance as Tony knelt down to talk to their daughter.

"You ready to race, kiddo?" Tony asked, standing up and stretching dramatically.

Morgan grinned, nodding eagerly. "I'm gonna beat you, Dad!"

Tony laughed. "We'll see about that!"

They took off, racing across the grass, and though Tony easily could have won, he let Morgan pull ahead at the last moment, crossing the imaginary finish line with a triumphant cheer.

"I win!" she declared, her face beaming with pride.

Tony scooped her up in his arms, spinning her around. "You sure did, princess. You always win."

Shuri approached, wrapping her arms around Tony from behind as he held Morgan. "Looks like I missed quite the competition," she teased, kissing him on the cheek.

"Yeah, you missed me getting smoked by a three-year-old," Tony replied with a grin, setting Morgan down gently.

Morgan ran ahead, exploring the park, while Tony and Shuri sat on a nearby bench, watching her with love and pride.

"You're a good father, Tony," Shuri said quietly, leaning into him.

Tony looked down at her, a soft smile on his face. "I had good motivation. She's everything, you know?"

Shuri nodded, her eyes soft. "I know."

———

As the years passed, Tony's devotion to Morgan only grew. He was there for every milestone—her first day of school, her first science experiment, the first time she built something with her own hands. He was the father who never missed a moment, who always put his family first.

For Tony, being a father wasn't about grand gestures or world-saving heroics anymore. It was about the quiet moments—the bedtime stories, the Sunday morning pancake breakfasts, the simple joy of watching Morgan grow.

And in those moments, Tony Stark found the peace he had always been searching for.

He had saved the world, yes. But now, his world was right here—his family, his daughter, his legacy of love.