Beyond Himself
For the sake of the story, Harry was born in 1988, making him 24 in 2012. He would have been 34 originally, but I want him to be a bit younger. I want age to be an issue in their relationship, Tony bein in his 40's and all.
Tony Stark was many things. He was a genius, a playboy, a philanthropist, a narcissist, self centered, sarcastic, but bloody brilliant. No matter how much some didn't like him, he was irreplaceable. That was his thing, and he knew it and he enjoyed reminding people of that fact. He'd push buttons and step on toes on purpose just to drive someone mad, but have to hold it in because they needed him...because he was Tony Stark, he was Iron Man.
After the events of New York, everything changed. The impossible wasn't so impossible anymore and S.H.I.E.L.D grew more knowledgeable about what was out there. There being hotspots in certain parts of the Earth. America and Britain being some of the major hotspots.
Strange events in Virginia with bodies showing up with neck wounds and drained of blood. Odd readings off the island of Manhattan. From the surveillance the "threats" weren't older than teenagers and wore orange shirts. The same readings coming from all the way opposite the country with teens in purple shirts instead. In many odd circumstances for many years there's been a Black 1967 Chevy Impala and that's just in the use US.
S.H.I.E.L.D has agents all over trying to get to the bottom of everything that happens on US soil, no matter how tricky it was.
The UK was a bit harder seeing as they were another country all together. S.H.I.E.L.D tried getting in contact with UNIT but no one would reply to their calls. They tried for Cardiff and tried to get in touch with Torchwood but that too was a dead end no matter how hard they try. And just about any info about the infamous blue box that flies around with an estrange mad man who constantly saves the day was even harder to get their hands on and S.H.I.E.L.D hated it very much.
But just when all seemed for naught, S.H.I.E.L.D was actually approached by strange people in cloaks. S.H.I.E.L.D knew the stories of course, but they were never confirmed and were nothing but myth among the agents and whispers in the dark streets if you knew where to listen.
Harry Potter was real. Him and the Golden Trio and every other person from the tales were real and they had approached S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers.
The Ministry of Magic wanted to open relations between S.H.I.E.L.D and themselves, should anything like Loki happened once more, they would not only be better prepared, but have reinforcements. Fury, though wary of magic users, didn't reject the notion of having allies in that department.
Meetings began. Names were exchanged. Bonds were formed.
Hermione Granger was fascinated at meeting Thor and learning about Asgard and made good friends with Jane. They discussed Asgard, the stars and the magic and science behind it. Coming together to help each other expand in their own respective research and curiosity.
Neville Longbottom made good friends with Bruce, who enjoying being around someone who was knowledgeable about plants and knew even more properties about them that he thought he knew all about. Neville's shy demeanor was also welcomed, but even more so was looking for a way of maybe there being a potion or spell that might maintain the Hulk.
Ron Weasley and Clint Barton got on easily enough given their childish attitudes and Clint being amazed by "good wizard tricks" and Ron liked the attention of "being cool" in a muggle's eyes. He also enchanted the archer's quiver to have magically refilling arrows like in the myths with Apollo and Artemis. That gave him a big plus with Clint and his partner, Natasha Romanoff.
Kingsley Shacklebolt and Arthur Weasley would talk the most politics and that was mostly with Director Fury and Maria Hill. They talked about how the situations were in both sides and how they could help each other out. In a sign of trust and progress, one of the matters that was held was the study of their magical signature. S.H.I.E.L.D's and Tony tech was stronger and more advanced than common, run of the mill tech, so it was affected by their magic like it would be normally, and Fury wanted Tony and Bruce to study it and come up with something useful.
Tony took his time and in that time was when he got to know one of the few guinea pigs he was allowed to test on; the famous Harry James Potter.
It took months for the wizards to agree to the testing, but in the end they did. With the wizards being an almost every day thing and even weirder things happening then dealing with an upset Thor and cloudy weather, a Captain America who was stumped with some tech[though the some of the wizards where in the same boat.], to Tony's random fits...the wizards because just another part of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The agents were curious of course, so it didn't take long for people to realize just what Harry Potter had done and even in a high security, state of the art, spy government agency...Harry had fans. Granted more restrained fans, but still fans nonetheless.
Together with many test Bruce and Tony managed a way to trace magical signatures and a few more months Tony had a presentable prototype defend barrier against magic. It wasn't complete and it had plenty of holes and flaws but it was a start. When activated, it made it painful for magic users to pass through.
In return they made the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D agents swear to be at their aid whenever they needed. Though the war had been over for some time, not all the Snatchers and Death Eaters were captured and every once in a while one would strike. With each capture the was rumors, though nothing but, were still real. Whispers that there would be a second rising. That Death Eaters were recruiting and rising an army once more and would attack with more than just witches and wizards in their army. They kept all that to themselves but made them swear with parchments that Hermione enchanted just like when in school, but if the muggles thought it would kill them should they break their promise rather than merely give them horrible acne, then well...it worked better for the wizard's interest.
Harry seemed to enjoy visiting S.H.I.E.L.D and it's occupants. Tony enjoyed when Harry visited. Not only did he get to work more on his project but he got to play with Harry.
It all began with Tony trying to psych Harry out and flirt with him, but he never expected Harry to play his game. He replied and didn't shy away from the advances and even matched the older man. It excited Tony, having someone new to play with.
He thought Harry would be like the others. Interesting at first, but eventually bore him and he'd easily move on, but he didn't. It had nothing to do with working constantly with Harry do to the diplomatic issues Fury and Kingsley were trying to work out and Harry was here mostly because of support or backup.
Harry was charming, hot, charismatic, British, had amazing green eyes, a sexy laugh and Tony always caught himself from continuing those type of thoughts. The Brit was hot but Tony was not falling for him. He was not!
Even if Harry was like no one he's ever met before. He hardly knew anything about Tony so the billionaire for once in a long time got to tell his own story instead of people already know it, or most commonly, claiming to know it. The sex was amazing and Harry was still young and had a teen's stamina. The most refreshing part was that he didn't get mad at Tony for being Tony. If Tony's mind cleared after climax and he suddenly got an idea and wanted to go write it down before he forgot, Harry would roll his eyes, smile, and tell him to go to his lab and work on it, that he'd show himself out. All he asked was to use the shower.
He told himself he wasn't falling for the other raven who never asked for anything of Tony but his time and his body. He didn't mind at all and it was a bit more than that. When he was in the labs with Harry, whether discussing his anti-magic force field or something else that flew over Harry's head, Harry tried to understand the best he could, but even if he did, he left Tony talk and explain and vent, but Tony Stark was not falling in love!
So why did it hurt so much when Harry stopped coming?
He didn't mind when it was weeks at first, but then a month or two passed and then he began to get pissed. Why? He wasn't sure. Wasn't he worth a goodbye? Was there someone else? What the hell happened.
He himself stopped going to those meetings, they no longer held his attention, not that they did before, so he knew he wouldn't be missed. If they needed him, they'll text him. He locked himself in his lab or busy himself with Avenger and Stark Industries business. It was five months later that he went again because Steve forced him to. He sat there with a passive face, duly noting that Harry was still absent. In his place was a female ginger who was glaring at him and at her superiors. There were moments when she was about to speak but someone from her group would shush her up.
It was Bruce who brought up Harry after so long, "Since it was Harry's magical signature we've been studying so long, it would be better if we still had him to work on. Is he returning any time soon?"
Kingsley cleared his throat and said, "Mr. Potter has taken some personal time off and his return is yet to be considered."
"You make it sound like he's terminally ill," Clint replied and the wizards tensed a bit and Tony felt himself tense too. Was Harry terminally ill? Is that why he was gone?
"Mr. Potter's affairs are his and his alone and once he's dealt with matters he will return, but the time of said return might be a long wait," Kingsley replied evenly but the ginger girl scoffed and Tony studied her carefully. There was something going on and it had to do with Harry, and that girl thought it was worth sharing with them. Interesting.
The meeting continued from there, no one bringing up Harry again. When they were leaving the Avengers were all together when Clint asked, "What do you think happened to that Potter kid?"
"I do not know, but I pray no harm has come to him," Thor replied.
"Yeah, same here. He was a good kid," Steve added.
"Kept Stark in check, that's for sure, "Natasha said and Tony didn't have to look to see her smirk.
"Mr. Stark!"
The group stopped as the ginger girl from the meeting caught up to them.
"Yes?" Tony asked, pretending to be bored. Really, he just wanted to ask he once and for all how Harry was, but that meant he cared and he didn't...not really.
"Harry's missed you." the girl said.
That stopped Tony from speaking anything. He really didn't know what to say but it was solved for him as Kingsley called from the end of the hallway, "Ms. Weasley."
The girl turned to the group and focused on Thor, "Your brother is Loki, yes?"
"Aye," Thor answered.
"Interesting. He and Harry have something in common aside from magic...something that Midgardians think impossible but not and your brother is known for it."
"Ms. Weasley! It's time we left." Kingsley said as he grabbed the girl's hand and began pulling her away.
They watched her go with curious expressions.
"Okay...who wants to tell me what the hell just happened?" Clint asked.
"She's telling us what happened to Harry," Bruce replied in the cryptic voice of his he gets when he's mulling things over.
"Uh...by comparing him to Loki? All they have in common is the hair...the eyes...and magic. I don't see how that tells us what's up with Potter," Clint said and Steve nodded in agreement.
"She said he was known for it and something we think is impossible." Bruce said and looked to Thor. "Well?"
Thor shrugged, "I am very confused and do not know for certain what the redheaded one could be referring to. I apologize."
"Don't worry...we don't get it either." Clint said as he patted Thor on the back.
"You are all idiots. Do you really not know what she just told us?" Natasha asked with an eye roll.
"What?" Steve asked.
"Loki is known for having children," Natasha said and Tony's heart stopped a bit.
"So...?" Clint asked but it was Thor who gasped.
"The sorcerer is with child?" he asked while Natasha nodded.
"Seems like it. And it seems that either he doesn't want Tony to know or they aren't letting him say." Natasha replied.
"I'm sorry, I think I must have something in my ears. What did you all just say?" Steve asked.
"Potter is magic, and though midgardian males cannot carry children, Potter, like my brother, is capable because of his magic." Thor explained.
Tony didn't stick around for the rest of their conversation as he ran to the lab and activated the anti-magic force field to full force to trap the wizards here before they left.
Half way to running to the lab he remembered Jarvis and had the AI activate it for him while he ran to the wizards and demand answers.
Honestly? I have no idea...dunno if it makes sense either. Sorry for the obvious mistakes too. I've been awake for 33 hours and I'm about to crash. I'll probably delete this once I have a clear head again...I dunno.
If you review...please be kind. I'm out of my right mind at the moment. Dunno what I'm doing.