Note: Hello again! Thanks to everyone again for your alerts, favorites and reviews – they keep me going!
Now, let me say I was so surprised by everyone's reaction to Harry dancing! It was quite funny actually! And I am glad you care enough about the story to voice your concern. For the record, I did not say that just for a lark or thinking you wouldn't notice. My Harry can dance – Draco made it so, because Draco is a pushy little snob sometimes, and he couldn't just let Harry continue to represent two pureblood Houses without knowing how to waltz. There is actually a chapter that will focus on it.
In this chapter, you will find introductions and drama. Please enjoy. Edit: And warning: there will be what has been perceived by some reviewers as Potts-bashing.
Chapter 11
Twenty minutes later, Harry found himself entranced by New York City. They were in Tony's town car, and Harry could not help but be glued to the window as he took in the city around him. It was bustling with many people and grand buildings, although he was somewhat used to that from his time in London. Yet, it was the amount of colour that mesmerized him. London was a bit too gray for his liking.
Tony in turn could not take his eyes off his son. He was used to New York and its summertime feel, but seeing Harry be so taken in with it made Tony feel a bit of pride in his city. Also Tony noticed that the teenager looked so boy-like in his fascination. It made the man ache with regret that he was not there to see the boy grow up.
Both father and son were taken out of their reverie with the sound of someone clearing their throat. They both looked up at the driver.
"So, boss, who's the mini-me?" Happy Hogan, Tony's chauffeur asked. The driver had held his tongue for ten minutes before he could no longer resist asking. Pepper had told him nothing but that Tony and a guest would need to be driven from the interim Stark Enterprises to the penthouse. She was quite clipped over the phone, and Happy wondered if the mystery guest was another woman. He was half hoping it was so, as he had long had feelings for Pepper, but at the same time he did not want her to be hurt by such flagrant cheating. In the end, he had been surprised to see his boss and a shorter body double enter the limo.
"Oh – sorry, Happy!" Tony exclaimed. "Happy, meet Harry Patterson, my son. Harry, meet Happy Hogan, the best chauffeur in the country!"
To his credit, Happy did not react wildly to that bomb that his boss dropped. All he said was, "Oh. Well, nice to meet you Mr. Patterson."
"Nice to meet you, um, Mr. Hogan" Harry responded, a bit unsure, and was relieved that Tony began to speak so he did not have to.
"'Oh'?" Tony repeated, unbelievingly. "Is that all you have to say 'Oh'? No questions of how he came into being, who his mother was, how we met, yadda, yadda, yadda – just 'Oh'?"
"Well, it's none of my business is it?" Happy said, smiling as he glanced in the rearview mirror. His smile broadened as he saw Harry smile at the driver's nonchalance and Tony's father's sputterings. He glanced back at the road.
"Fair enough, I guess," Tony replied, still eying Happy warily. Harry interrupted his reverie.
"So, er, who else am I going to meet?" Harry asked. As Tony turned to look at him, he began to feel self-conscious. "Um, I just want to know, so, I can be prepared."
"Right," Tony said, and began to count off using his fingers. "Well, there is Pepper, JARVIS, Bruce, Rhodey, Steve, Natasha, Clint, Thor, Agent –"
"Whoa – that's a lot of people!" Harry exclaimed, his anxiety rising.
"Oh, well, not all at once," Tony said quickly, realizing his mouth had moved a few steps faster than his brain. "No, when we arrive back at the penthouse, you'll meet Pepper, JARVIS, and Bruce. The others are the other Avengers I want to introduce you to, but not today – or maybe even in weeks. Natasha and Clint are all on a mission for SHIELD with Agent, Thor is back at home dealing with his brother, Steve is getting some training in D.C. about modern life, etc., and Rhodey is off doing his boring day job."
"O-kay," Harry replied, and before he could ask what all of that meant, Happy had announced they had arrived at the penthouse. The man got out of the car and held the door open for Harry and Tony to exit.
Harry got out first and stopped short at the magnificent building in front of him. It was the largest building he had ever seen. He only moved forward when Tony nudged him.
"Ready to see home, Harry?" Tony smiled. Harry returned the smile, and they entered the building with a "Hello, Mr. Stark" from the doorman.
*HP*HP*HP*
When they entered the lift, Tony put a key into the penthouse suite button and turned it. At Harry's questioning look, Tony explained that it was a security measure so only he and those he gives the key to can reach the penthouse suite he was staying in. On the ride up, the man lamented how he wanted to install his own tech into the lift but the hotel would not allow it, stating legal reasons, blah, blah, blah. But, it did not stop him from 'tricking out' the suite itself.
When the doors finally opened, a ginger-haired woman who was flipping through items on an electronic tablet greeted them. She did not look up as they entered the penthouse, and Tony could tell from her stance and the crinkle at the corner of her lips that she was pissed. Again. Trying to act as if nothing was wrong, he began introductions.
"Harry, let me introduce you to Ms. Pepper Potts, the CEO of Stark Industries, my personal assistant, and my g-"
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Patterson," Pepper interrupted and nodded at Harry. Before Harry could respond in kind, she continued. "Mr. Stark, the room has been set up as requested, and there are items you need to look over as soon as possible," and turned on her heel and walked down the hall to an office.
Tony stood there a bit gob smacked. Pepper was pissed. He turned to Harry who had a furrowed brow and a small bit of a scowl on his face. Great. Just... great.
"Harry why don't you have a look around the penthouse?" Tony said, still trying to act as if nothing happened. "You can enter any unlocked room." At Harry's nod, he quickly ran after Pepper.
Tony found Pepper in the office. She was already sitting down behind the desk, with two stacks of papers in front of her. Only when he slinked into one of the chairs in front of her, feeling like a schoolboy about to get in trouble from the headmistress, did she look up and meet his eyes.
"We need to talk, Tony."
*HP*HP*HP*
Harry frowned as he watched his father follow Ms. Potts. He was sure Draco said that she and his father were dating; yet she was being a complete bitch. She reminded him of Ginny when she was upset, ice-cold with fire burning underneath. Obviously, she was at the very least unwelcoming to Harry and at the most hated him. Why though? Was it because she was jealous that Tony would be spending time with him instead of her? All he knew of, well, 'stepmothers' was from faerie tales. Maybe there was some truth in those tales.
Harry was lost in thought as he half-heartedly explored the flat. If Harry was being honest with himself, he also hated the likeness she had to his mother. Were they just a 'type' that his father enjoyed? Tony had said that he was attracted to more than just his mother's looks, but he could not stop the feeling that Ms. Potts was just the newest model in a long line of redheads including his mother.
When Tony had sat with him on the bench and made the deal with Harry, the teenager had taken it to heart. He did want to get to know his father, and maybe after his birthday, they would still be in each other's lives: be a family. This replacement redhead was not going to mess with his chance at a family. Harry scowled at the thought and determined that if the woman was going to be a bitch and try and turn his father against him, then he could bitch right back.
He was just petty enough to stoop to conquer.(1)
*HP*HP*HP*
"Look, Pepper –" Tony started, white-knuckling the arms of the chair. He could see where this was going.
"No, Tony," Pepper interrupted. She turned her head away from him, though Tony could still see the tears starting to form in her eyes. "Tony, I cannot see you romantically anymore. I will continue as the CEO and will organize your schedule, but I cannot do this anymore."
"Pep – why?" Tony asked pathetically. "Because I have a kid now?"
"No, it's because you do things without thinking!" she snapped, her watery eyes captured Tony's again. "That kid may very well be yours, but you should do more background! Do the DNA test before you whisk him away and play happy daddy. Why do you even think you can provide for a child? For a teenager? God, you can barely take care of yourself!"
"I don't need a DNA test to know for sure, I just know!" Tony bellowed back. "I'm all he has – you heard Balderdash, he would be put into the system otherwise!"
"You just trust everything at Balderdash's word and didn't even listen to my very real concerns on this!" Pepper cried. "Something is not right about this Tony, I can feel it in my gut, they are hiding something big, and in the end, I will hate to be the one to tell you 'I told you so' when this blows up in your face."
"So this is all because you didn't like the fact I didn't listen to you?" Tony questioned, still struggling to understand why she was leaving.
"Yes!" Pepper snapped. She stood quickly and picked up a carry-on case. "I want a partner in life, who cares enough to include me in his plans. You are just reckless Tony, with your life and with your heart! You nearly died when you brought that nuke into space, never thinking that there was a better option or that someone else could do it. You had no consideration what your death would mean to me! I tried to move past it, because you did it for the greater good, but this is the last straw. You are going to get invested with that kid and give your heart to him only for you to be heartbroken in the end. I just know it! And, I can't put myself through that with you, Tony, I just can't."
She started crying in full, and Tony could tell she was the one who was heartbroken for her decision. Tony knew their relationship had changed since the battle, with Pepper pulling away from him. He also knew there was nothing he could say that would change her mind: she was stubborn just like he was. So instead, he stood and took her in his arms. She resisted at first, but then leaned into him. Tony kissed her forehead, his eyes wet as well.
"Pepper, I do lo-"
"Don't Tony," Pepper interrupted and sniffed. She pulled away from him and wiped her eyes with a tissue. "Please, just don't."
They both stared at their feet for a moment.
"The two stacks of paper on the desk are papers for you to sign," Pepper said quietly. "The ones on your left are for the New York office. It includes the contract Balderdash and our lawyers negotiated on. You can send them in the morning to the office. The ones on the left are for the Malibu office to do with those parts you wanted for the new suit. If you can sign those now, I will take them on my flight that leaves in an hour."
Not able to speak, Tony nodded, and took a pen and signed all that needed to be signed.
"I'll be in Malibu until after the board meeting in two weeks," she continued as she took the papers and put them in her suitcase. "When I return, I will have an apartment you can send my things to. I have the essentials now."
"Should I make plans for you to have rooms in the new tower?" Tony asked quietly.
All Pepper did was shake her head, take her case, and leave the room.
*HP*HP*HP*
Harry was shaken out of his reverie by a voice from behind him.
"Hello, Harry."
The boy whipped around and found himself face to face with a large man with wire-rimmed glasses. Realizing he had startled the boy, the man put his hands up, palms toward Harry with a gesture of meaning no harm.
"Sorry to startle you," the man said apologetically. "I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Bruce Banner. I work with your father and currently live here as well." He held out his hand.
Harry took it, and they shook hands.
"I'm Harry P-Patterson," Harry replied, and then felt silly. "But you knew that already, since you called me by name."
"Well, yes," Mr. Banner chuckled. "Pepper told me you were coming when I saw her having your room set up. It is still nice to have a formal introduction."
"My room?" Harry replied, and looked around. In his daydreaming, he had not actually searched for his room. "Do you think you could show it to me?"
Mr. Banner nodded and pointed to a room behind Harry to the left.
"That one is yours," the man said, and then started pointing other ones. "The one next to it is your father's, and the one across from it is mine. They are soundproof, which is nice if the other guy makes his appearance."
"Who's the other guy?" Harry asked, wanting to know about all the people he would be living with.
"How much has your father told you?" Mr. Banner said, concerned. For a moment, the man reminded him of Remus, though he was not sure why. It made his heart ache a little. The man continued, "Where is he, by the way? I would've thought he would be showing you around."
"Ms. Potts said there was something urgent he needed to go over," Harry scowled. "And, he really hasn't told me too much. Is the other guy Jarvis? He said that I would be meeting you, Ms. Potts, and Jarvis when we arrived here."
Before Mr. Banner could reply, a voice sounded from above Harry.
"Hello, Master Harry, I am JARVIS, Master Stark's AI," JARVIS said, and Harry's head nearly went a complete circle trying to find the source of the voice, much to Mr. Banner's amusement.
"What – what is AI?" Harry asked.
"Artificial Intelligence, sir," JARVIS replied. "Master Stark created me as his home computing system."
"O-kay," Harry drawled and looked to Mr. Banner who was still smiling at him.
"Don't worry, Harry, it does take some getting used to," Mr. Banner said.
At that moment, they both saw Tony turn the corner. To Harry, his father looked upset, and Harry was both concerned and felt emotion burn within him. He knew that Ms. Potts would do something hurtful. As soon as Tony caught sight of them, the man's countenance changed, a smile now plastered on his face, though it did not meet his eyes.
"Ah, fantastic!" he exclaimed. "You're both here! Harry, this is Dr. Bruce Banner, scientist by day, green rage monster by night!"
"Tony!" Bruce yelled, and glanced with concern at Harry. "That is not how I like to be introduced, and you know it."
"Just can't help myself, Bruce," Tony smirked, and Harry could tell it was real this time.
Dr. Banner turned fully to Harry, with his brow furrowed.
"If you do not feel comfortable with me living here, Harry, I understand –" Bruce said, but Tony cut him off.
"Don't be silly, Bruce, you've been fine and had the other guy under control for the entire time you've been here," Tony said, trying to placate the man. He just lost Pepper from his personal life – he could not lose his science bro, too!
"No, it should be up to Harry, Tony," Bruce replied. "This is his home now too, and –"
"It's fine!" Harry interrupted. He liked Dr. Banner and wanted to get to him better. It did not help that he continued to remind Harry of Remus. This would be exactly how the werewolf would have been a similar situation, fearing being rejected because he turned into a 'monster'. Harry could not reject him. Though he felt a little self-conscious, again, when both pairs of eyes turned to him, he continued. "Well, I don't know that much about what happens to you Dr. Banner, but if – if my father trusts you, then I do, too."
Harry knew it was the right thing to say when Tony beamed at him. He felt warm inside. Dr. Banner still shook his head, but Tony clapped him on the shoulder with a smile.
"Look, Bruce, I get it," Tony said with a bit of a perk in his voice. "I'll chat with Harry so he does know 'about what happens to you' and if he has an issue he will say so, right Harry?" Harry nodded, and Tony continued. "But if he has no issue, then you will not try to leave again using worry about what his reaction. Capisce?"
Dr. Banner sighed and nodded slowly, and then turned to Harry.
"It was nice to meet you, Harry," Dr. Banner said, and then told Tony, "I'll be in my room meditating if you need me," and left the two and entered his room.
Both father and son turned back to face one another.
"So, have you seen your room?" Tony asked, smiling. Harry shook his head, and Tony's smile widened. "Great! Then I can show you!" Tony strode to the door and opened it with a bow. "Your room, monsieur!"
Harry could not keep a chuckle from escaping at his father's dramatics and entered the room.
(1) She Stoops to Conquer is a fantastic eighteenth-century play by Oliver Goldsmith about a wealthy woman who stoops to pretending to be a barmaid in order to get her man. The way I use the phrase is not a reflection of the original meaning behind the phrase – I just liked the phrase ;)
AN: Hope you enjoyed! As you can see this will no longer be a Tony/Pepper story. But don't worry! Tony will eventually find love (and not with Loki, because I know you guys will try to guess in the comments 3).
[Edit: Some of you so far are not happy with the way I portrayed Pepper (and it's just been about five hours since I posted this!), so I feel I need to include this edit. Pepper's reaction will be explained in more depth in later chapters, but her breaking up with Tony is not just because he did not listen to her this one time. They have a history, and sometimes it is just one straw that breaks the camel's back. In the end, her decision will show that she is only human with complicated emotions. But, I will not be pairing her with Tony again. Their romantic relationship is finished. I hope this clears some things up when it comes to the Pepper situation.]
I now have an AO3 and tumblr (where I also crosspost) and a twitter account (where I post updates and things going on in my writing). You can find the links on my profile. You can follow, reblog, tweet at me, or whatever you like. If anyone has fanart (I know one of you does), not only would I love to see it, but I would be more than happy to reblog it so everyone else can too.
Again, thanks for reading! See you next time when Harry learns of his father's superhero life and Harry calls Draco to see what has been going on back a home. Love, Insie.