Disclaimers: I am not making any money off of this story so any mistakes are my own. Therefore, I cannot be the owner of the Marvel or Harry Potter universes, that honor goes to their respective creators.
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[Chapter One] That First Morning:
Harry just wasn't having any luck convincing Pepper that he should be allowed to cook. He had promised countless times that he would be careful to not burn the food but still, she had refused stating that she "didn't care that he'd been cooking almost every meal since he was seven. He was too young to be cooking." Her reasons also included that he had other more important responsibilities at the moment, namely enjoying being a kid for once. But how could he enjoy being a kid, when he didn't know how to be a kid? At least, a normal kid.
Finally, after trying countless times to convince her, he resigned to the common area also known as the living room area and settled in front of the fire. He hadn't realized he had fallen asleep until Pepper came walking in with an armload of pizza walking him up in the process.
"Since you weren't sure about what kind of pizza you wanted I just had JARVIS order a bit of everything. Eat what you want. The others will finish it off but don't worry about saving any for them, there's plenty." Pepper smiled at him encouraging him to open a box and pick himself a slice.
Harry reached to open the box on top and discovered that it was just plain cheese. He was okay with that since the Dursleys had never thought to share their pizza with him he was just happy that he was actually able to eat some this time. He didn't care what kind it was as he clearly recalling how good it had smelled from time to time from the cupboard. He was so focused on getting a slice of pizza before they took it away or someone else came and took their share leaving him none, that he failed to notice the man that had walked in behind Pepper.
"Do I smell pizza? Oh hello there, I don't believe we've met before. I'm Dr. Banner but you can call me Bruce. So, what are you doing here kid?"
Harry just stared at the man unsure how to answer. The way the man said it, it almost sounded as if Harry shouldn't be here. Luckily Pepper noticed his moment's hesitation and answered for him.
"Harry, meet Bruce. Harry is Tony's son. His relatives tried to drop him off just a few hours ago."
"Nice to meet you, Harry. Tony's son, eh? Did you check to make sure he was really Tony's?"
"Of course we did. Connor checked and once it was a confirmed match I brought him up here, and ordered pizza." The man shrugged obviously not having a response to that although he did mutter something along the lines of, "just checking."
Louder he said, "Does Tony know?"
"No, not yet. He's due back tomorrow morning and I figured I'd tell him then. If I told him now, he would probably fly back now and skip the rest of his meeting just to meet Harry. I don't think it would such a good idea to overwhelm Harry too much. The poor boy just found out Tony was his dad a few hours ago and I am sure he's exhausted having traveled all the way from London on top of it all."
Harry didn't mention that he had actually traveled from Scotland to London and then from London to New York City and that it had been in New York, specifically Stark Tower that he'd found out that the building's owner was his father.
He was content to let them think what they will.
"What do you mean 'just found out?' Surely they didn't drag him all the way here to Stark Tower from London and then tell him."
Or not.
"Tell who what?" Strolled in another well-muscled man dressed in a shirt that seemed to be at least one size too small as it enhanced his muscles. His presences interrupting whatever answer Pepper might have provided.
"Hey, Cap. Looks like Tony got busy a few years back."
"Tony's always busy." The man brushed it off flippantly. "And who are we telling?"
"No. I mean Tony got busy a few years back and now has a kid."
"Tony has a kid? Like legitimately has a kid?" The man referred to previously as Cap, echoed while blinking not unlike Hedwig did sometimes at the unexpected news.
"Mmhmm. How old are you Harry?"
The man rounded on Harry and looked at him as if he'd just dropped out of the sky.
"Twelve sir."
"Make that twelve years back then. Anyway, Steve, Harry. Harry, Steve. Steve and I are some of your dad's colleagues, we like to call ourselves the Avengers but I am sure you've heard about that."
"Er, sorry, but no, I don't think I have. What are the Avengers?"
The two goggled at him for a moment out of sheer disbelief.
"Good havens Harry! where have you been living? Under a rock? I thought everyone knew of the Avengers. 'Specially after the alien attack and all. Guess I was wrong. Anyway, I suppose your question is more of who are the Avengers, rather than 'what are they'. My alter ego of sorts is Captain America but if you are really Tony's kid then you'll probably be introduced to him soon." Steve said while taking a bite out of a slice of pizza. He didn't seem really bothered by Harry's lack of knowledge rather more surprised.
Harry's lack of reaction when Steve spoke about aliens garnered their approval as well. At least the kid appeared to have an open mind which could be really helpful in the future.
"Well from what I hear he might as well of. He probably would have been better off living under a rock than with his aunt and uncle."
"Why do you say that? Could they truly not provide for him?" Steve said while looking intently at Harry or perhaps he was looking at the state in which Harry's clothes were in. The former smile of approval wiped from his face.
Harry squirmed under the intense gaze.
Why did everyone think he wasn't being adequately looked after? Everyone here at Stark Tower had been friendly enough to him and had gone out of their way. Even the security guards down in the lobby had stuck around when they probably had more important things to do. As far as Harry was concerned, he was being "properly looked after" even if it was just by the staff of Stark Tower.
As for the state of his clothes well, he'd give them that one. But at least the Dursleys hadn't sent him to the orphanage like they liked to threatened every other week or killed him, not that they had actually tried to kill him so much as the continual reminder that he should have died alongside his parents. That had to count for something right? Even if his life was less than satisfactory by other peoples standards it was better than what it could be.
He didn't always roll with the punches, per se, but he could manage quite well with what life handed, as that was all he had ever done. He'd managed with the Dursley's, he managed at Hogwarts, and he'd manage here. Life was all about survival and he had survived a lot so far in his short life, so he was certain that he could survive whatever insanity being dropped off in a foreign country threw at him. Even if that included Aliens because surely an alien couldn't be as bad as Voldemort. Harry secretly thought that he could pass as an alien, what with his missing nose and flat, pale head.
"I don't know but his Aunt and Uncle aren't the most loving people out there, from what I heard," Bruce said matter-of-factly while helping himself to a second slice of pizza. Harry wasn't even halfway done with his first trying to savor it as much as possible all the while following the conversation closely. What other guy? Was there more of them? Did Bruce also have an "alter ego?"
"What did you hear?"
"Nothing good. Overheard Janice from the lobby says she'd never been so insulted. The uncle came up to her and demanded to speak to Tony. Practically started yelling at her when she told him that Stark was away. Clark and Fitzgerald had to intervene."
"Perhaps he was just having a bad day? Woke up on the wrong side of the bed? Upset that his nephew's biological father was found? Some people really see their nieces and nephews as their own children you know." Harry refused to look up from his slice of pizza at this comment. Of course, the adults would band together, even if they had never met. How many times had he attempted to trust an adult and they just brush his aunt's and uncle's behavior aside?
"Yeah." Bruce snorted, rolling his eyes before stealing a glancing at Harry. "And that's the reason why we have so many people bringing their children in for a paternity test. But nah, apparently they couldn't wait to be rid of him. Prepared to leave him here with or without a paternity test to prove the kid was Tony's. Just wanted the money."
"And you heard all this from Janice?" The Captain said with a raised eyebrow before continuing a bit softer, possibly so Harry couldn't hear, but he heard it anyway. "Isn't that what they all want? If Stark wasn't a genius, have so much money and a reputation of being a playboy then half of America's population wouldn't becoming forward claiming he's their child's father. 'Course we cannot leave out Great Britain now, since they're starting to come forward too, apparently. Wonder if in a couple months we all find out that Harry has a half-sister from Italy." Louder, Steve spoke now, directing his question to Harry who still refused to meet his eyes. "So Harry how are you liking Stark Tower so far? Pretty neat place your old man has here isn't it?"
"I guess. It's a lot bigger than what I'm used to back at the Dursleys." The confession was an understatement of the century, not that the men in front of him knew that.
The two men chuckled a bit but it sounded forced. "Yes, I suppose it does take some time to get used to, but you will," Bruce promised.
"Harry?" Pepper said entering the room again. Harry hadn't even noticed she had left again. "If you are finished eating then I think you should run along to bed. Your room is ready now and it's approaching eleven so it's getting late and I am sure you'll want to be well rested when you meet your father tomorrow."
"I- I haven't done the dishes or anything, ma'am. I can't go to bed without doing the dishes. Please just let me-" Harry started to get worked up, eying the couple of plates and glasses that laid forgotten around the coffee table.
"No Harry." Pepper said in a tired voice that made Bruce believe she had already had this argument at some point in time earlier. "Don't worry about the dishes. We've got a dishwasher for that. One of us will take the time to load later. Remember what I said earlier about whatever rules your relatives had does not apply here. Tony will make new rules in which you will be expected to follow, but those are for another day. For now, I'll show you to your room. If you need anything throughout the night just ask JARVIS and he will direct you to whatever you need, all right? Don't worry about being a bother, you aren't bothering anyone. This is just as much your home now, as it is everyone else's so please, feel free to make use of everything this building has to offer."
"Yes, ma'am." Harry doubted he would make use of JARVIS or whatever else Pepper was talking about but the woman seemed determined to make him feel welcome.
"Pepper, if you will, Harry." the woman reminded the boy simply before plowing on. "Don't worry about having to be up by a certain time either. Everyone here wakes up at different times so no one is going to mind if you decide to sleep in in the morning. You deserve it after the day you have had. I will make sure to save you breakfast."
"I can cook breakfast. I mean, I always cook for my aunt and uncle and cousin-"
Steve and Bruce couldn't make out any more of Harry's response but it didn't matter. They had heard enough and judging by the green ring around Bruce's eyes it looked like he could barely contain his anger from what he'd heard anyway. If he'd heard the child's response he just might lose his last shred of control.
"What kid thinks he has to do the dishes before he goes to bed and be up to cook for everyone? Don't kids usually try to worm their way out of doing that stuff or has that changed since I was a kid?" Steve said while shaking his head. He appeared to mull over something for a minute before turning somber.
"Hey Bruce, don't you think that the kid is taking all of this rather well? I mean if I was in his shoes, I'd probably be freaking out right about now."
Bruce paused in his eating and seemed to think for a second before putting down his slice of pizza and adopted a serious look and an equally serious tone. "I think the kid's overwhelmed at the moment. From what I gathered, his relatives didn't bother to tell him anything. He probably found out that he had a father in the minutes before they did the paternity test. I doubt his relatives were considerate enough to ask how he was taking all this or even offer to help him come to terms with the news. I don't think he really has had the time to process what's going on."
"So when do you think it'll finally sink in. 'Cause it's going to be like living with a ticking time bomb until he does process and internalize it." Steve was not particularly happy with the fact that the kid had yet to come to terms that he had a father and that he was going to be living with said man rather than his relatives who appeared to be largely unfit to even take care of a child, much less the son of Tony Stark.
"It could be tomorrow or it could be a few days from now. It just depends on the kid. I am most immediately concerned about is how Tony's going to take it. The man can barely remember to keep himself fed, how on earth is he going to remember to feed a kid who looks to be half starved?"
"So you noticed that too then. He barely managed to finish that slice of pizza. Heck, I could eat almost a whole pizza and the kid can barely manage a slice. I was skinny when I was his age, but I wasn't emancipated and I definitely could have eaten more than a slice of pizza. Tony's not going to be pleased at all. Someone messing with his kid like that? Wonder were the kid's mother is at and how she could allow something like this to happen. Regardless, Tony's going to be after blood for this." Steve predicted warily. But Bruce could tell from the expression on the Captain's face, that it wouldn't just be Tony going after the boy's relatives once all of this was said and done.
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Early the following morning, Harry woke up content in lying there in that ridiculously comfortable bed thinking about the wonderful dream of having a father even if it wasn't James Potter. When he opened his eyes he'd find himself still at Hogwarts in the boy's dormitory. But for now, he was just content laying here thinking about his dream.
"Good morning young sir."
Harry's eyes snapped open as his eyes darted across the room while trying to get his breathing under control and stop his heart from pounding quite as hard in his chest.
"W-who said that?"
"JARVIS, young sir."
"Oh, ah right. Um, good morning to you too sir." Harry said feeling slightly silly at being startled by an automation, and even more so for talking out loud to an inanimate object. If ghost no longer startled him at Hogwarts than he really shouldn't be afraid of some computer that was able to speak for itself, it's just that the ghost didn't tend to venture into the dormitories and start speaking to you the moment you wake. But it was unexpected as had yet to actually see JARVIS unlike the ghost at Hogwarts (unless it was Peeves when he was trying to drop a wastebasket on your head or drop chalk pellets down your robes) but he- or whatever JARVIS was- seemed friendly enough.
With mild reluctance, Harry threw back the covers that were even warmer and softer than those back at Hogwarts, Harry slipped out of bed and walked over to where he vaguely remembered where the bathroom was from the night before.
The bathroom itself was much nicer than any other bathroom he'd ever been in including those at Hogwarts. It had heated floors and towel racks and a shower big enough for at least six other people and with about as many shower heads. And according to Pepper, the shower had a dial that could be adjusted to a certain setting so that the perfect temperature could be "programmed" and so all Harry had to do was turn on the water and the water would heat up to that temperature. There was also a tub that seemed to be just as large and impressive.
After taking a nice warm shower that relaxed his muscles he hadn't even realized were tight, Harry got dressed with the only muggle pair of clothes he had brought and wandered out of his room. Harry wasn't sure just how big the living area was in his father's skyscraper but Pepper had mentioned something about it being multiple floors and had to ask JARVIS how to get to the kitchen after taking a wrong turn. He just hoped to Merlin that he didn't get lost again like he had the first day of class at Hogwarts last year. While no one here would threaten to turn him into a pocket-watch just because he was late in preparing breakfast didn't mean they wouldn't be mad. Harry had learned the hard way several times over, that people were easier to anger when they were hungry and it was best if he did not leave them waiting for long.
Some adults might say differently and say they weren't mad but he didn't know who all he was cooking for or what they liked so he had his task cut out for him. Harry just hoped that no one else was up so that he could cook a bit more leisurely. It was early, but not that early.
Much to Harry's disappointment someone had beaten him up. A man who he had never met before was sitting on the couch watching a TV that would have been Dudley's dream come true.
Harry was actually kind of surprised he hadn't it noticed it last night, as surely he couldn't have been that tired to overlook something that big.
It was huge, that was the only word for it. Oh yes, Dudley would have never moved from it had he been here. Harry gawked at the large screen like Ron and Mr. Weasley would have had they come across anything so muggle.
"This is a surprise I must say. Unexpected...an unexpected but very pleasant surprise."
Harry almost jumped out of his skin when the man spoke. Harry had thought the man was watching the television and wouldn't have noticed his presences. Why had he let his guard down so much? He hadn't even noticed Pepper or his father's colleagues enter the room last night even when he could have used the excuse of being tired. But this morning he was well rested and he still couldn't manage to keep his guard up. Surely being away from the Dursley's for a few months hadn't messed him up that bad!
Harry just stared at the man who was staring back just as intently. It was as if some impromptu staring contest had suddenly been declared and neither one wanted to admit defeat first by looking away.
Never taking his eyes off him, the man got up from the couch and walked towards Harry until he was within arm's length. Clasping both of Harry's bony shoulders he gave a smug smile before pulling him into a hug. Harry felt his shoulder give a twinge at the man's touch still being a bit sore from his uncle's heavy-handed grasp yesterday.
Not well versed in being on the receiving end of hugs, Harry just let his arms hang down limply by his side while he remained stiff under the embrace. He could not bring himself to return the greeting and so not knowing what to do with himself, the one-sided hug soon became awkward.
"I am sorry, but what, what's a pleasant surprise, sir?" Harry said, his voice cracking embarrassingly in the middle of the question. He was starting to feel slightly overwhelmed- perhaps for the first time since he had come to the realization that he might have a father. The man standing here just made everything come in full circle and now he didn't know what to do or what was expected of him.
He had only meant to get an early start on breakfast so that way Pepper couldn't stop him from trying to repay them for their kindness, not be caught up with a man who apparently gave out hugs as freely as Mrs. Weasley did.
The man didn't respond immediately opting to pull away. The same prideful smirk was still on the older man's face.
"Sit, sit, sit. Here, son." The man ushered a very confused Harry to the couch pushing away some of the pillows so that there was enough room for the two of them before requesting that JARVIS turn down the TV's volume. "To answer your question, you are." The man said only taking his eyes off Harry long enough to sit down beside him and draw him close to his side. If he felt Harry stiffen instinctively, he didn't mention it.
"I am what sir?" Harry said after he was situated by the man who he held some resemblance for. Could this be his father? Surely he wasn't what this man had referred to being-
"A pleasant surprise," Tony said as if it should be obvious. As if he liked having Harry around even though they had just met and knew nothing about each other. "I never thought I had a son, never even considered wanting a son, but yet here I am, just recently returned from a business trip only to find that I do indeed have a son and I find that I like it. I like it a lot."
"Oh," Harry said, because really what was he supposed to say? That he had never thought of the possibility of his father being alive until yesterday? And that he wasn't sure if he liked it? Not only because James Potter, the man he had thought to be his father his whole life wasn't, but also because he honestly wasn't sure of what he liked anymore.
"And it is the most pleasant of surprises," Tony concluded.
"So that means you are my…" Harry couldn't bring himself to call the man dad just yet. It felt like a betrayal to James Potter and Harry couldn't betray the man who had sacrificed himself just to give his mum enough time to gather him and run.
"Dad? Father? Giver of life? Yes. Yes, I am." The man said calmly as if this wasn't a shock to him. As if he'd known he was a father long before he had discovered he actually was. Perhaps it was all the false results of the paternity test that had convinced Tony that he might actually become a father one day.
"Well. I have to admit that while this is nice and all but, I don't even know your name kid. My name's Tony, which I am sure you already knew, but I don't believe I know yours. I might be new to this whole father business, but I am not sure that is appropriate for a father to not even know his own son's name." Tony said while poking Harry's stomach teasingly.
Harry tried not to laugh just in case the man was testing his restraint like his uncle sometimes did (in other ways) although a part of Harry really doubted it. There was something about this man. Maybe it was that this was his father. His biological father and people just naturally felt more at ease with their parents. Even so, to be safe it was probably a good idea to keep his guard up a bit longer. It would not hurt him in the end as it was always better to err on the side of caution...
"Harry."
"Harry," Tony said as if he was trying out the name. "Harry." Testing it again to see how he liked it before giving a nod of approval. "I like that. Harry. Very... British."
"Thank you?" Harry wasn't sure if it was meant to be a compliment or not. No one had ever commented on his name before like that. At least his name wasn't Draconis or something weird like that. That didn't even sound British… it sounded... well, kind of outlandish. At least Harry had never met anyone else with that name, not that he really cared to. They would probably be a git too.
"So Harry, how'd you find out that I was your father?" Tony asked while glancing at Harry but turning his attention towards the window to watch the rising sun of a new day when he noticed the boy's growing discomfort. That was the beauty of living so high up. You could see over the tops of many buildings. The sunrise could be rather captivating somedays, so it worked out for him to look at it and allow his son to choose how to word his answer.
"My aunt and uncle told me yesterday that you were my father… er, they said something about reading it in a letter my mum wrote."
"You only found out yesterday? Good lands, your head must be spinning. Why did they wait to tell you yesterday? Surely they had to of known before yesterday."
"It's kind of a long story," Harry said kind of surprised Tony hadn't asked who his mum was. Maybe he would ask about her later.
"I think I can keep up. It's early and we've got time." Tony tried to convince Harry.
"There's really not much to tell." Harry tried again completely flipping what he had just said.
"Tell me anyway."
"Well we don't really correspond much while I'm away at boarding school, but they wrote to me to tell me that they would be picking me up at the train station as I the boarding school I go to just let out yesterday for Christmas and they took my cousin and me to the airport where we caught a flight over and then they had me take the paternity test and then Pepper ordered me pizza, I went to bed, woke up and met you," Harry said shrugging while looking around the vast room. It was a very much watered down version of the real events, sure, but it was true for the most part. That was all that mattered at the moment.
"That story didn't seem long to me and I am sure you are leaving out some detail but, it doesn't matter. I am just glad you're here kid."
Harry secretly agreed not wanting to mention out loud that his Aunt and Uncle felt the same way.
"I'm glad I am here too," Harry said quietly but Tony still heard it anyway.
"I am guessing that since you only arrived in New York yesterday after school you haven't had the chance to explore it yet. Since it is so early and I don't feel like cooking anything and you look like you could use a good meal or two, what do you say the two of us go out and have a bite to eat. I know a restaurant that'll keep the press away and we can get to know each other a little bit. What do you say?"
"I was planning on making breakfast, sir."
"Make breakfast!? Harry, if you start making breakfast Pepper will never let me hear the end of it or you for that matter. Besides, that's what JARVIS is for. We tell him what we want and he orders it for us." Tony said dismissively.
"Er, okay."
"Great! So do you want me to drive or Happy?"
"I'm sorry but-but who's Happy?"
"Oh goodness, that's right! You haven't meant him yet, well, in that case, Happy will drive so I can introduce you two. Should you ever want to go anywhere and I am not available and he is not with me, Happy, will take you anywhere you would want to go."
"Okay," Harry said uncertainly. Obviously, his dad had to work even though he apparently had a lot of money not unlike his mum and dad...James. But Harry doubted that he'd be asking Happy (if that was even his real name) to drive him around considering he would be returning back to Hogwarts at the end of the Holidays.
"Go and grab your coat then and we will leave. It's pretty cold out there and there is a chance of snow later today. I don't want you to spend your first Christmas with me in bed because you got sick."
Harry looked down embarrassed. This was the part he hated the most, explaining why he didn't have adequate clothes. Of course, Ron could somewhat relate and had almost been as embarrassed as him, as he almost always got hand-me-downs from his older brothers but none of them had ever been quite so worn as the ones he always got, or so large. But that was Ron, his best mate not an adult who was supposed to take care of him now.
"I didn't bring have a coat, sir," Harry said sheepishly even though he had no reason to be considering it was his Aunt and Uncle's responsibility (although primarily his aunt since she was listed as his sole guardian) to provide him with the bare necessities. And while it was true he had a robe coat he usually wore around school, it wasn't like he could wear it here in the muggle world.
"Why ever not? Didn't your Aunt and Uncle ever think to buy you one or pack one for you? Surely they wouldn't expect you to walk around in those rags!" Tony said slightly outraged at the negligence or at the very least oversight. Seeing the apprehensive look on his son's face, and the wary glances he shot his way, Tony tried to force himself to calm down and lower his tone a fraction, his eyes too, softened. "And please call me dad or Tony if you would rather."
Harry didn't respond looking everywhere but at Tony for a few seconds before Tony sighed and said. "I'll have Hogan stop by Bloomingdale's and will get you a coat and whatever else you are lacking after breakfast. We will make a morning out of it. Just you, me and the world." Tony said semi-dramatically trying to lighten the situation a little bit and ease some of the tension the child's shoulders.
Seeing as his humor wasn't having the desired effect Tony sighed before motioning for Harry to follow him to the elevator.
The elevator took them down all the way to a subfloor marked simply as "P", Harry assumed it meant Parking Deck or something as the floor above it was marked with an "L" which probably meant "Lobby" or something of its likeness. Harry remembered that had been the floor he had been on yesterday before they had escorted up to see Connor.
"I'll have Happy turn up the heat when we get in the car and we have heated seats so you shouldn't be cold on the ride there. I will also lend you my coat."
"But won't you get cold?"
"I'll be fine, kiddo. Happy will pull up as close as he can to the front doors so I won't be out in the cold for long."
"Anyway, Harry meet Harold Hogan, Happy met my son, Harry." Tony introduced from where he sat beside Harry. Harry noticed that the man was large although not nearly as wide around as Uncle Vernon. The man gave a slight smile at Harry through the rearview mirror of the car but said nothing. He hadn't even asked where they wanted to go. Maybe Tony ventured to this restaurant frequently? Or he had sent a text beforehand alerting his driver to where they wanted to go.
The ride itself was spent mostly in silence. Harry opting to look out the window at the passing buildings while Tony occasionally would point out a variety store that he would like to take Harry too.
Because it was early and rush hour was still some time away, the roads were a bit more navigable than had they decided to wait and so they arrived at the restaurant quicker than they normally would have although Harry didn't know any of this.
Tony reaching to pull off his wool coat, carefully draped it around Harry's shoulders frowning at how the coat hung off his child's frame. There was absolutely no extra meat on his son's thin frame.
Stepping out of the Rolls Royce, Tony quickly walked around the car and opened the door for Harry who stepped out. Harry pulled the jacket a bit closer to him to help ward off the cold yet he could not shed the guilty feeling for having taken Tony's coat even if the man had insisted.
Tony ushered Harry inside the restaurant before asking the hostess for a table for two. Harry looked around and noticed the restaurant was not very busy, not that he expected to be at six-thirty in the morning.
"So what do you want to eat?"
"Dunno," Harry said without even attempting to open the menu to look at it. The few times the Dursley's had been forced to take Harry with them to a restaurant they had always ordered the cheapest thing on the menu for him. If they could have gotten away without ordering anything for him they most certainly would have.
"Open up the menu. Let's see, I am thinking about getting French Toast. Do you like French Toast, Harry?"
"Yes, I mean I have had it once or twice, and I liked it," Harry responded. It wasn't exactly a lie. He had never had it at the Dursley's but they served it on occasion at Hogwarts and he had liked it well enough.
"Then we'll both get French Toast." Tony declared while beaming at Harry. It took Harry a minute to realize why Tony was smiling but Harry was almost positive that Tony was beside himself with happiness. He seemed so content just sitting here with him discussing something so casual as what he wanted to eat.
By the time they placed their orders and gotten their drinks, coffee for Tony and hot cocoa for Harry, the two of them had begun making small talk.
Everything was going well until Tony's phone went off shortly before they got their food.
"Excuse me for a moment, Harry, it's Pepper." He said while taking the device and pressing it against his ear.
Harry smiled politely before taking up picking at the napkin in his lap again.
"Hello, Pepper. Harry and I decided to go out for breakfast-" Tony said in greeting but must have been cut off by his assistant as he spent a minute just listening into the receiver.
"Of course I will. I would love to thank them for keeping my boy safe for me." Another moment of silence.
"They wanted to do what?" Tony all but cried out while his eye flew up to look at Harry.
Harry flinched back noticing his demeanor changed. He no longer seemed happy. Whatever Pepper had told him had made him upset based on the furious scowl on his face.
"He's a child, my child apparently and their nephew! I want to meet them this afternoon! Clear my schedule of everything if you have too, in fact, do. I want to spend the whole day with Harry anyway. I cannot do it this morning as I plan on taking Harry out to see a bit of New York and getting him a few things, namely a coat." Tony seemed annoyed now. Harry knew rationally, that Tony's anger was not directed towards him but with the way Uncle Vernon was, it didn't matter, he always took his frustration, annoyance or anger out on him.
"Apparently not. Now that I have my son here with me and I settle on a price with him, perhaps they will finally have the money to buy themselves all a coat." Tony said sardonically.
By this time their breakfast was being delivered and Harry waited for Tony to start eating first. He had gotten used to starting at the same time as his friends at Hogwarts but at Privet Drive if he was to get anything he had to wait until Dudley and Uncle Vernon were served first. He wasn't sure what his father's rules were yet so he waited.
"Go ahead and start eating, Harry. Tony directed when he noticed that Harry hadn't started eating yet. "Pepper, the food's here. I'll see you back at the tower or you can meet us at Bloomsdale and we'll talk more then." Tony said before ending the phone call and pocketing his phone.
"Sorry about that. Pepper went to check on you this morning and found that you weren't in your room and got worried. She wondered if we had managed to meet and if you were with me."
Harry looked down at his food again. "I didn't mean to frighten her."
"Oh, think nothing of it, Harry," Tony said waving off the apology. "Pepper is always worrying about something. I told her you were spending the morning with me. She's fine now."
Harry nodded before cutting into his Toast and eggs at the same time Tony did.
Again they found themselves sitting mostly in silence, Tony asking a few questions here and there, with Harry attempting to answer them as truthfully as possible.
In truth, it was a rather relaxing breakfast in spite of them not really knowing each other until Harry heard a loud voice call "Hey, look over there it's the Freak!"
Harry froze his eyes widening. What were the Dursley's doing here? Wasn't there any other restaurant in all of New York they could have gone to?
Tony glanced up frowning at the rude child noticing that the boy and his two parents were walking their way.
"What do you know, it sure is, Dudley. What are you doing here boy? Your father decided he wanted you out of the house already did he?"
Harry didn't say anything. Even after all these years he still hadn't mustered up his inner Gryffindor strength to talk back to his uncle.
Chuckling Vernon continued, "Can't much blame him now can we?"
Harry might have cowed in his uncle's presence after the years of being bullied and punished but Tony was anything but intimidated by his uncle.
"His father happens to be sitting right here you know," Tony said lazily, but staring intently at his son who seemed to be folding into himself.
"Oh, so you are the boy's father then. Pet did you hear that? This man's the boy's father. Well, in that case, I am Vernon Dursley and this is my wife Petunia and our son Dudley. We have been wanting to meet with you." Vernon said while holding out his beefy hand for Tony to shake.
But Tony wasn't going to be having any of that. Instead, he stood up and walked around the table and clasping a hand on Harry's bony shoulder (the opposite one that his uncle had been gripping the day before) and have it a light squeeze as if to reassure him. Harry's body already frozen at seeing his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin flinched at the sudden unexpected touch. Tony ignored it at the moment in spite of having most definitely felt the boy's sudden jerk.
"The pleasure is all yours I am sure. I have been wanting to meet you too and ask you if you were so poor that you could not afford to buy my son proper clothes and a coat. However, since you are making Harry uncomfortable by calling him a freak, which he is not, otherwise I'd be one myself, I am going to be asking you to kindly leave us. You are, of course, encouraged to stop by Stark Towers this afternoon so that we can discuss these things in private. Actually, I insist you do. If-"
"Damn right we are going to Stark Towers. You owe us for taking in your bloody son all these years. Do you know how much that boy has cost us?"
"Not very much apparently seeing as he is without a coat and I intend to remedy that," Tony said raising an eyebrow silently challenging his uncle.
"The boy's hot natured," Vernon said without a care.
"No one is that hot natured. It's below freezing outside and coat aside, he doesn't even have appropriate clothing for the weather. I had to lend him my coat just so he could have something to ward off the wind as the clothes you provided him scarcely do enough to keep him modestly covered. Now if you will excuse us, my son and I would like to finish our breakfast in peace. And I am sure everyone else here in this establishment would like to do the same."
"N-"
"Hogan?" Tony spoke briskly into his mobile Harry hadn't even seen him take out. It was clear that Tony was done talking to Vernon at the moment whether or not Vernon liked it or not.
A few seconds later it seemed that Happy, and the two men from last night, Clark and Fitzgerald, ducked into the restaurant and elbowed past some people as the restaurant was just now starting to get busier.
Harry noticed the curious looks of some of the other restaurant goers and some of the wait staff. A few people were recording the encounter while others talked among themselves.
The three suits had actually walked up to the small group of five before Vernon had even noticed them.
"What the hell do you want?" Vernon snapped when he finally noticed the restaurant manager who had also inched closer and the three men standing beside him and his family.
"Sir you are disrupting our guest, I am going to have to ask you and your family to leave."
"Disrupting? I-" Vernon attempted to argue before Harry noticed that his father's driver grabbed his uncle while one of the others grabbed both Petunia and Dudley by their arms and lead them out. Vernon was complaining loudly about the service of the restaurant and how he'd be reporting them all for kicking him and his family out when they'd done nothing wrong, but that did not sway the three men nor the manager who held the door open for them.
Once the Dursley's had been lead away and out of the restaurant, the manager made his way back to the table and started apologizing profusely saying that their meals were on the house, which Tony would not accept. "...Mr. Stark, I do apologize for the interruption. Had your men not arrived so quickly I would have alerted the police. I hope you will come back in the future and dine with us, but for today the meal is on me."
"Nonsense, Jacob. This was just bad timing and bad luck. I've got it." Tony said as if he knew the manager well. Maybe he did or he could have read the name somewhere.
"Well please let us know if we can get you or your son anything else, Mr. Stark. And again I apologize."
And with that, the manager named Jacob walked back towards the kitchen ushering the small horde of wait staff who'd come out to what all the commotion was about to follow suit.
Harry who had been quiet through the whole ordeal, pushed his food away. He had lost his appetite, something that Tony would not be happy about in the future when he learned of the ramifications that came along with living the Dursleys.
But for now, Tony said nothing about Harry's sudden decrease in appetite, feeling as if he had lost his as well.
They sat in a heavy silence for a few minutes. Neither one of them saying anything although Tony's eyes never left his son once during those few minutes that they sat and waited for the "all clear". Once he was sure the Dursley's were no longer in the vicinity (and had received confirmation from Happy,) Tony waved down a server and asked for the check. Not even looking at what the total had come to, he handed her a crisp bill, told her to keep the change and stood up.
"Hogan's out front waiting for us. Ready to go kiddo?"
"Yes, sir," Harry said without much enthusiasm while attempting to get up only to be stopped by Tony. Not caring about what the other patrons thought of the famous Tony Stark he rounded the table and crouched before Harry looking at him straight in the eye before saying just loud enough for Harry to hear: "You know, while I believe in the possibility of learning something new every day, I have to say, that I've spent forty-seven years on this earth thinking my name was Tony only to find my own son has renamed me as sir. You couldn't have even given your old man a cool name like Dad. Sir." Tony said while shaking his head. "Sir indeed. You will end up giving me grey hairs if you continue with the "sir" stuff."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise which soon fell way to embarrassment. While relieved that the man was obviously joking, based by the smirk on his lips, Harry was still embarrassed.
Harry honestly thought that he'd been embarrassed more in the past ten hours than he had been in his whole twelve years on earth. He really wanted to make a good impression for Tony and all of the people who worked for him, but either he was trying too hard or they liked to make him feel self-conscious. Yet he had a feeling they weren't intentionally trying to make him uncomfortable, at least not in the same way the Dursley's had.
"I'm sorry Tony," Harry said before cutting himself off, proverbially kicking himself. Perhaps the Dursley's had been right after all. Maybe the only sure thing he was good at was mucking things up. He had already caused Tony to become upset with him just because he hadn't referred to him by his actual name or better yet, by the title of father. Harry vowed to try harder next time. "I mean dad."
"That's another thing we'll be working on. You apologize way too much, even when it isn't your fault. Why do you do that?" Tony asked while opening the car door (as Happy chose to remain in the car) and urged Harry in so that he could climb in and get out of the bone-chilling cold.
"It's a habit, I guess. I don't know."
Tony sighed but seemed to accept the answer, at least for now.
"Let's go find you some clothes that will actually keep you warm because the only way those clothes will keep you warm now, is if we light them on fire. If you'll take us to Bloomingdale's." The way Tony said it made Harry wonder if he was really all that joking about setting the clothes he currently wore on fire.
Harry was kind of excited in the same way he had been last year when he had bought his own robes. It had been the first thing that he'd been able to actually call his and only his in a long time. There was no way Dudley would ever be caught wearing his "freaky" robes, so there were no worries there.
"But s- Tony...Dad, I don't have any money. How am I going to pay for my clothes without money?" Harry asked seriously.
Tony turned to his only son with a look of confusion on his face. Harry was to busy looking at Tony waiting for his response, to notice that Happy was also glancing at the two of them from the rearview mirror, frowning. "What do you mean how are you going to pay for the clothes?"
When Harry refused to answer, Tony continued. "Of course you don't have any money yet. I will be setting you up with an allowance and a credit card, but I was planning on doing that later. While I am not sure what you mean by 'paying for your clothes', as your father, it falls on me to provide you with anything you might need or want. I am not sure what your cow of an uncle expected you to do but while you are living with me, I am the one who will be paying for anything you need. If I am not mistaking, I think it is about now that a normal parent might say "spend in moderation," but I am not every parent. So don't worry about the price, okay? Get whatever it is you see you like and don't worry about the price. Rest assure, money isn't an issue. And if you see something you might want later, we'll get that too."
He still wasn't sure if he should accept the clothes, as then Tony might come to change the rules and decide that he had to do something in order to pay him back. But the man had defended him against the Dursley's and bought him breakfast. Harry didn't want to argue with Tony so he merely nodded.
Again, Happy had the car pulled up close to the curb right in front of the department store and just like before, they repeated the actions of bailing out of the warm car and into the cold New York morning.
The two of them hurried inside again leaving the driver to park the car somewhere.
The department store was expansive. He had never really shopped at a Muggle department store before for himself, but he felt certain the Dursley's would like it here. At least it would probably appeal to Aunt Petunia. Harry forced himself to push that thought aside. He was with Tony now, not shopping with his Aunt and had just been told to spend whatever to get what he liked. Things must be pretty expensive here, as just the Harry recognized a few of the brands that his aunt liked to wear on special occasions.
It was fortunate that the store had just opened so there weren't too many shoppers there yet and it was because of this that Tony had little problem finding a sales associate to help point them in the direction of the boy's clothing. Following the man's lead, the pair made their way to the boy's department.
"Ah, here we are. My name is Corey, Mr. Stark, please don't hesitate to let me know if I can assist you with anything."
"Thank you, Corey." Tony dismissed the attendant and walked over to the nearest clothes rack. "Well. Let's see about finding you a coat at the very least so that way you don't have to continue wearing one that's too large for you." And Tony set off looking through the various racks of clothes to find a coat he thought would be warm enough for the bony child.
After spending a couple of hours gathering all the most basic things Harry needed, the two returned to Stark Tower, this time Harry was wearing his newly purchased coat and Tony his.
Pepper was waiting for them in the elevator.
"Hello Tony, Harry. I see you at least managed to get a coat." Pepper said kindly.
"There's more in the car. Have someone bring it up."
"Of course. I wanted to inform you that the Dursley's, Harry's relatives who he's been residing with wanted to meet with you at your earliest convenience. Said they had a plane to Hawaii that they were going to be missing because of it. They have been waiting in the lobby for the past three hours."
"I had the pleasure of meeting them this morning," Tony said without looking a Pepper, checking his phone for something.
"Oh dear. They- they're horrible people aren't they?"
"That's one word for it. JARVIS call down and have someone tell them I will meet with them in twenty minutes. I hope we can come to an agreement quickly. I have better things to do than to deal with them, namely getting to know my son better." Tony said pointedly looking at Harry with a smile while snaking his arm around his shoulders and pulling him close.
Pepper tried to hide her smile. "Connor also wants to have a word with you too. He didn't go into detail about what it was he wanted to see you over. When should I tell him you will be down to see him?"
"I'll see him after Harry's relatives leave. That way I can get it all done at once. I don't want Harry present when I met his Aunt and Uncle."
"I think that would be best. I could watch him for you."
"That would be preferred. If you could introduce him to everyone, I'd really appreciate."
"He's already met, Dr. Banner and Steve."
Tony just nodded his mind obviously somewhere else. "Perhaps, we could have Bruce join me then. Test his self-control." Tony said with a smirk.
Pepper raised an eyebrow at her employer. "Do you really think that is wise?"
"He could keep the Dursley's in control. What do you say, Harry? Your uncle intimidated you this morning didn't he? Do you want me to give the Dursley's a taste of their own medicine? The big guy can be quite intimidating when you set him off." Tony said with a chuckle.
"Just don't hurt them. Please." Harry begged, looking at Tony.
Tony eyes widened a fraction in surprise at his son's request. "Of course I won't hurt them. I just want to put them in their place. You know, let them know that there are always bigger fish in the sea. And the Hulk wouldn't hurt them any more than what they deserve."
Whatever Harry had meant by the odd statement did not settle with Tony.
Pepper sensing the discomfort between the two broke in.
"What happened this morning? You did not tell me you ran into them when you called. Why didn't you tell me?" Pepper was upset.
"They came in after we hung up. Not to worry though, Happy took care of them, isn't that right Harry?"
Harry nodded in agreement, refusing to elaborate further. If Tony wasn't going into detail then he wouldn't either. Pepper frowned and began looking between the two of them not totally satisfied with the answer but let it go as the elevator finally arrived at their floor. The three of them exited the elevator and was greeted by a woman and five men all stretched out on the couches that Tony and Harry had occupied earlier.
"Hey, Tony. I see you've met the kid. What do you think of him?"
"What is there to think about? He's perfect. But of course he would be, he's my son." Tony said with pride seeping into his voice while smiling down at Harry.
"What. You have a son? Why am I only finding this out? Who's his mom? You do know the boy's mother don't you?" The lone woman accused while getting up to get a better look at Harry as with the other man Harry had not met last night.
"Bruce and I only found out yesterday, and I think Tony found out this morning unless, of course, you knew all along and were just never going to tell us," Steve said in a mildly accusatory tone.
"I find it incredibly unfair that I only just found out about Harry here, this morning while you, Pep, and Brucey all managed to meet my son last night." Harry's father said mockingly upset before sobering. "His aunt, uncle, and cousin have been camped out downstairs for the past few hours so I need to have a talk with them. I must say, it will probably be interesting. I had the pleasure of meeting them this morning, actually. As for who his mother is, I don't really know. I can remember at least five women from London whom I..." Tony said but cut himself off as he took in the ranges of facial expressions from the rest of the Avengers.
"Ahem, as I was saying, I met them this morning at the restaurant Harry and I ate at."
"Are they as bad as I keep hearing they were? I heard from Janice that they were causing all sorts of problems."
"The Uncle has a mouth about as big around as he is wide," Tony said but added. "I suppose I should be grateful that they took Harry in and kept him safe when I did not."
Bruce gave Tony an odd look. "What makes you think they kept him safe?"
Tony's eyes flashed over to Harry who was standing closer to Pepper before piercing Banner with a hard look. "Is there a reason why you would think otherwise? I know the man said some things I didn't particularly like, and failed to provide some basic winter clothing for Harry but..."
Harry's head shot up and looked at Banner listening intently as to what he was going to say. He was so focused on Bruce that he did not notice Captain America looking at him observing his body posture and facial expressions.
Bruce also threw Harry a look before answering slowly. "I am just worried that with anyone treating a receptionist in the manner the Uncle did might also take his aggression out in other ways as well."
Tony tensed at what was being left unsaid. The other people in the room also stopped their side-chatter and looked between Tony, Bruce, and Harry.
Pepper gave a soft sigh. This was the first time Tony was hearing this as she had yet to inform Tony of her and Connor's own suspicions and fears. There just hadn't been enough time or the chance to get Tony alone. Besides, she was almost positive that it would be better to give the Dursley's what they wanted for now for then they would be at Tony's mercy, for it would be his money they were spending and nothing came without strings attached. Pepper had an inkling that the Dursley's would be finding this out first hand sooner rather than later.
"I will ask again." Tony said in a serious tone, "what basis do you have that leads you to think that my son has been the victim of abuse?"
"You met him," Bruce repeated refusing to sway from that answer by elaborating more.
"Sir. The Dursley's are on their way up." JARVIS announced dutifully.
"Thank you JARVIS. Harry. I want you to go with Pepper. She can show you around and maybe take you on a tour of the building. I will come and find you after I speak with the Dursley's and Connor."
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