Chapter 14: A Heart of Steel Starts to Grow

January 30th

Somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania

Tony sat in his living room in the tower waiting. Peter would be off from school in an hour and would be here not that long after. But right now he was waiting for someone else. Since the last semester had ended this visit was being planned. Rooms had been prepared. Research had been done, calls and plans had been made. Now any minute the next part of his initiative for the future would start. A buzz from his phone and FRIDAY's voice made him look up from the specs he was looking at.

"Sir? He's here. Mr. Hogan picked him up at the airport and is bringing him up now."

"Thanks FRIDAY."

His eyes turned to the elevator door the StarkPad still open on the specs nearby. There was a lot to get done even if this visit was short. But they'd both known this had been coming a long time. Heck, it'd even been planned for by—

Just then the elevator dinged open and there was a mass of flying dirty blond hair, dirty jeans and an old ratty AC-DC t-shirt flying at him. He was suddenly in a hug. Tony, now more used to hugs thanks to Peter among other things, grinned. "Hey kid."

"Mechanic," Harley said drawing back suddenly serious.

"None of that," Tony said with a wave of his hand. "You're only here for a few days. How's everything been?"

Happy pulled the suitcases inside a room as Harley started to babble about his excitement to be in New York, his plans for the suit and how awesome it was that he didn't have to be in school anymore. He'd been able to graduate this December, or at least leave the school. They couldn't handle him anymore. Now he was taking classes online until he'd move here in a few months.

They were working on it which is one of the main reasons Harley was here. His mother had entrusted it all into Tony and Pepper's hands. The hardworking woman was tired and unsure how to handle her prodigy son, who was building iron man gauntlets in his garage. She had another kid to raise, not a prodigy but a normal little girl who liked makeup and gossip and being with her friends. Harley wasn't part of their world which is why Tony knew this was a good idea. The kid would be here even if he wasn't working on his own suit to be part of the team. He needed to be with those he connected with.

Then Happy returned. "You really gotta keep picking up all these kids? And it has to be the mouthy ones too. All genius snarky brats like you boss."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my army of clones a long time ago Happy," Tony said sympathetically. "I mean, they're not real clones. There's some other DNA in the mix. Like with Harley here, I think we've got some Pepper thrown in. Mostly me though. And with Peter, we've definitely got some Steve in there. Ugh… gonna stop thinking about this now."

"This Peter," Harley said. "He's the guy you've told me about?"

"Yes," Tony nodded. "And I want you two to meet."

Harley opened his mouth but paused. He looked away. "Can we look at the specs now?"

"Really kid? I thought I was supposed to be the emotionally constipated one," Tony sighed. "I messed up with you. A lot. I got so distracted in my own issues I forgot to be there for you. And you mean a lot to me kid. You and Peter. I'm not trading either of you for the world."

Harley nodded not willing to show how unsure he still was. He followed Tony to the work shop where they pulled up the latest specs. Tony turned to him. "So… you know why you're here?"

"The suit?" Harley asked. "I know I shouldn't have."

"You designed it. You shouldn't have used it. But you did. And now I'm going to help you make it safer and better. You're a hero Harley, have been since the day we met. Now we get to put that in action and make you a real hero. You're joining the Academy."

"I thought the school you wanted to send me too was called Midtown Science and Math?" Harley asked.

"This is a different type of school. I'll wait a bit to explain it. But the good news is I talked to your mom. You can keep the suit. It will only be used with my knowledge and once you're here. But it's your creation and you're ready for it."

Harley beamed then he looked at the suit with narrowed eyes. "Do you think we could…."

They worked on the suit for another hour or so. Then FRIDAY's voice spoke up again. "Boss? Captain Rogers has arrived as you said with your other guest. I've told them to wait in the lounge area."

"Good FRIDAY. We'll be there soon. Harley, go clean up or shower if you want and change. I'm gonna throw on a shirt that doesn't smell as much of oil and grease. You know how to get to the lounge I think, but if not FRIDAY can direct you."

Harley nodded. He'd visited the tower three or four times. Enough that he had a room that he preferred to use when there. As he left Tony opened the drawer of clean clothes he kept in the lab and threw on a new t-shirt before walking out to see Steve and Peter.

It'd had been around two weeks since Peter formally met all the Avengers. But that one long weekend at the facility had proved invaluable. All of them had taken to the kid immediately and though Steve still disapproved the child hero he realized there was no stopping him. He'd taken to the kid, becoming over protective. Tony was a little jealous, especially when he saw that Peter took to the others that way too. He'd developed a joking banter with Clint and Natasha was training him as Peter followed her around like a puppy. It was the kid's nature to be loveable but Tony was still jealous.

When he entered the room now Steve's head was thrown back with a loud chuckle as Peter's arms flew around wildly as he told a story. He saw Peter roll his eyes and threaten to web Steve up and Tony grinned. That was more like it. "Glad you guys could make it."

"Still not sure what we're making it too," Peter said. "I mean Steve shows up to pick me up from school, Aunt May already knows, and we come here? Does this have to do with your giant plan? Do I finally get to do something?"

Steve interrupted before Peter could ask another question. "It's important we be here for this Tony. You were right. It's a good idea. And having the people who were on the original team, those who could be the best mentors, that's the best step."

"Have you heard from Legolas and his spider?" Tony asked.

"I might be blonde but I'm no elf." Hawkeye's voice came in reply. Behind him was Natasha and someone else though Peter couldn't see or hear who it was besides some conversation with Natasha.

"Would you rather I called you Merida? Katniss? Robin Hood? I've got more of them."

"He's a HawkAss," answered a voice Peter didn't recognize. A girl just a little younger than him stepped up next to Clint with Natasha on her other side. She had long black hair, stick straight and fierce eyes. Her arms were muscular but she was still pretty. Tall with a button nose and a purple shirt and black jeans.

"So this is Kate," Steve said offering a hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Cap, right? Tasha's telling me I shouldn't be that impressed with you. Apparently you're not all truth, justice and the American way."

"Wait," Tony said staring at the girl then Natasha. "She gets to call you that? The one time I tried I swear I thought you almost killed me."

"Tasha?" Peter asked. "Don't you all call her that?"

"No way," Steve shook his head. "The only people I've ever heard say it and get away without a threat are Coulson and Clint."

"Peter and Kate are exceptions," Natasha shrugged.

"So the recruitment went well," Steve guessed.

"Are you kidding? Kate here is the coolest. I mean, her ideas for trick arrows and shots? Genius."

Natasha rolled her eyes at him. "Not the skittle arrow."

"Skittle arrow?" Peter asked voice cracking. "Why a skittle arrow?"

"Because. Skittles," Kate replied shrugging as if that solved everything.

"She fits right in," Natasha agreed. "I swear she and Clint are related but at least she's much less of a disaster than him. She can handle him, and she's good."

"I think part of that was an insult but I'm going to ignore it," Kate said. "All I know is the past two and half weeks have been awesome since Clint and Tasha showed up at my door. Though I'm not still exactly sure why."

"I know. Kate, right? I'm Peter by the way. And I still don't know why we're here."

"You'll be told soon," Steve promised.

"Be told what soon?" Harley asked coming in his eyes widening as he looked around. He turned on Tony. "You could have told me some of the other Avengers would be here!"

"It was a surprise," Tony said. "And they're not that cool. I'm the best one. Right Peter?"

Peter raised an eyebrow. Then winced. "Sorry Tony. That's Tasha's spot now."

"Everyone knows Black Widow is the best," Harley agreed. "I mean didn't you tell me she can kill people with her pinky in at least twenty ways?"

"You've got to teach me that," Kate begged as Natasha smirked.

"I like the kid Stark."

"You're not stealing my other protégée! You'll have to be happy sharing Peter with everyone and Kate with Clint."

"No one's sharing me," Peter whined. "I think…. Want to explain what's going on?"

"Right. Introductions," Tony grinned. "As you all know I'm the amazing Tony Stark. That's Capsicle, or Steve. Legolas is Clint and his spider is Natasha. Kids, introduce yourselves. Age too."

"I'm Peter Parker. Just turned sixteen," he said to the other two kids. "I'm Tony's intern."

"Kate Bishop. I'm fourteen. I don't really know why I'm here."

"I'm Harley Keener. I'll be fourteen in like a month. I guess I'm also here to visit Tony to work on something. And talk about some stuff."

"Actually you're all here for another reason," Tony said pulling up the holographic files. He zoomed in on all their pictures. "You're all young. Younger than I'd like for people to be involved in this. And I admit I involved Peter and Harley myself. You're young, but you're skilled and you're ready. Which is why we're starting what we're calling the Avengers Academy."

"The what?" Peter asked blinking and looking confused and apprehensive.

Harley was grinning. "Sick. So—"

"This is awesome. That's why Clint and Tasha came to meet me right? Thank g-d Dad doesn't care less what I do. Wait, so what do you guys do?"

"No way!" Peter waved his arms back and forth protesting. "I'm not telling you guys what I do. You offered me a spot on the Avengers, I turned it down. I'm not that kind of hero. I protect New York and the people in it."

"And you'll be able to keep doing that," Steve promised. "The Academy is a weekend thing. Maybe one or two days. Sometimes after school. It's training. And we all agree, you're still minors. None of you will be involved in the bigger messes unless there's no choice."

Tony nodded. "I made a mistake with you the first time Peter, I recruited you into my mess. This time that's not happening. Never again. The reason we did this is because all three of you won't stop, no matter what we say or ask you."

"The three of you are a team," Steve nodded. "Which means working together. You'll be training together and working hard. All of us will be training with you too. You're the next generation of heroes, it's our job to prepare you."

"I'm in," Kate grinned.

"Me too," Harley's face had a smile wider than Tony had ever seen on him.

Peter looked around. "I guess. Aunt May… I need to tell her."

"We already talked to her Underoos. She thinks this will keep you safer. And Steve charming her didn't hurt," Tony said as Steve glared at him. "And I'm glad you agreed Peter because this wouldn't have worked without you."

"Why not?" Peter said. "I mean two kids and three. Not a huge difference."

"It is when you're the team leader," Steve said.

"What?" Peter gaped.

"Why is he leader?"

"Like seriously. Do we even need a leader anyway?" Kate agreed with Harley.

"Peter's leader because he's oldest," Natasha explained to her. "And also the most experienced. He's trained with the Avengers before and has been doing work for around a year. We all agree he has leadership qualities."

"No offense Kate," Clint winced. "But you and I are too much alike and me leading would be a disaster. And it's the same from what we've heard about you Harley, you're too much like Tony."

Kate shrugged. Harley opened his mouth and closed it but Peter looked in between Tony and Steve. "You sure? I'm really not so great. I almost got a bunch of people killed. And—"

"Let me stop you there kid. You're a hero, always have been, always will be. You keep trying and don't give up on people. You protect at all costs and you make the right calls, most the time. You're learning, those mistakes, I made some just as bad, maybe worse," Tony said.

"Pete, I met you just a few times. That time at the airport was the first, but even then I could tell. You are going to be a better hero than us. You all will be," Steve affirmed.

Peter looked touched and was blushing but the other two were just beaming. Then Kate looked from one to the other confused. "Wait, so what exactly is it you guys do?"

"I'm—"

Tony held up his hand and Harley stopped giving him a look. Tony rolled his eyes. The kid would never change. "You don't say anything. Clint, you and Tasha start."

"Right," Clint grinned. "So Katie here is going to be my new protégée. She's an archer, like me."

"The skittle arrow," Peter repeated again. "Why do you even need one."

"Because!" Clint and Kate said together. Natasha sighed.

Clint continued. "Right. So Kate is also gonna work with Tasha here on espionage, though you'll all receive some training on that. She has no powers but she's awesome and she's your eyes. Your sniper. You'll see what that means in a team when we train."

"What do you call yourself?" Harley asked. "Every superhero has to have a superhero name."

"Not so sure. I have options. Maybe the better Hawkeye. Or something new."

"Who says you're better?" Clint whined.

"Me," Natasha smirked.

Clint pouted at her and she just still looked amused. Tony nodded. "Okay Harles here is a little genius. Actually beside just being teammates for this you and Peter are going to be a science team on other things. I think you'd compliment each other well. Both of you have IQs around the same as mine."

"But Harley got involved in this when I crash landed by his garage after the whole Mandarin mess. Helped me fix my suit and run things while I saved Pepper and the president. And then I gave him a whole new lab, which he used a few months ago to build Iron Man gauntlents."

"They worked!" Harley protested. "You can't be mad at me for that. I flew a few feet!"

"And sprained your ankle in the process," Tony shook his head. "Either way Harley doesn't live here in New York yet. He's coming to move here soon once we work out the details of where he can live exactly, but he graduated his school a bit early and there's no good school for his level near him. So right now we're thinking of sending him to Midtown."

"What?" Peter asked. "That's where I go!"

"Which is why I thought of it," Tony said. "And it's a good school. You'll be able to watch each other's backs. Might as well tell you know that Aunt May has been one of the people we've talked to about letting Harley board."

Peter gaped making a choking sound. "I feel betrayed. I thought you told me stuff."

"He doesn't tell us kids anything," Harley shook his head. "Even when we're connected."

"Don't use that crap on me kid," Tony shook his head.

Kate coughed just then. "This is cute and all. I mean both of you and your daddy issues with Tony, but what exactly do you do Harley? You have an Iron Man suit? You made one?"

"Partially. Tony's helping me build a real one now. It should be finished when we're done with this visit," Harley replied. "But yeah. And I'm calling myself Ironlad."

Kate snorted.

Harley rolled his eyes at her. "Like calling yourself the other Hawkeye is so much better."

"You're all horrible at giving yourselves names," Clint told them both. "I mean stealing mine isn't that creative, neither is Ironlad. At least Peter is at least a little original."

"Yeah," Harley asked turning to him. "What is your thing? Tony keeps saying how awesome you are and how great we'll get along but he won't say a thing otherwise."

"I haven't really heard of you," Peter muttered.

No one heard him because of Tony's mischievous smile and laugh. "Right, guess I can tell you know. Petey here was your regular little science nerd and he went on a fieldtrip. Then he—"

"Shut up!" Peter yelled at him. "I have a secret identity for a reason."

"You're teammates. They'll find out you're—"

Tony suddenly was shut up by a web across his mouth. He pawed at it but couldn't take it off. Instead of speaking he glared at Peter as Kate and Harley looked at him surprised.

Peter rubbed the back of his hand. "Hi, I'm Spider-man."

Kate cackled. "Okay, now I think we can be friends."

Harley grinned too. "When do we start this team thing? My suit will ready by the end of this weekend."

"Also when you go home. Though if everything works out you'll be back for good soon," Tony said through a mechanical voice as he typed on his StarkPad. Harley ignored him as he started to talk excitedly. He still thought Peter was sort of a spazz, Kate seemed a bit mean but they were still pretty cool. Especially if Peter could science as well as Tony said.

Meanwhile the adults were all giving each other significant looks. This team seemed like it would work out. That is once it started and Tony ticked off another thing on his StarkPad. Then onto the next phase.