Chapter 16

"What do you know about Harry's childhood?" Bruce asked, still holding firm to Tony's shoulders.

"Well – he – after Lily died, he went to live with her sister and her family – and, um," Tony tried to rack his brain. "He – he went to boarding school when he was eleven – um –"

"Have you asked him about it?" Bruce asked.

"No, no I haven't," Tony admitted. "But with the deaths of his relatives so fresh – and, well, there were other things to think about. I thought if he wanted to talk about it, he would. Why are you bringing this up, Brucie?"

"I think Harry's hiding something," Bruce stated. "I don't know for sure what, but I have some suspicions. Have you seen him without gloves?"

"Just the first day we met," Tony answered. "Yeah, that's kind of weird, but I can't really say much – I would only wear filthy sweatshirts when I was his age no matter if it was summer or winter."

"Yes, but why did you do so, Tony," Bruce asked.

Tony stared at Bruce, his gaze hardening.

"What are you saying, Bruce," Tony demanded. "Just spit it out."

"You wore those filthy sweatshirts, just like I wore two layers of flannel," Bruce stated. "To hide the marks our fathers' abuse left on us. And Harry's behavior, seeming lack of emotional connection to his relatives who only died recently, and wearing those gloves is sending all the warning bells that he suffered similar abuse. And if that's true, then you will need to be strong and calm, so he feels he can unburden himself on you and be supported."

Tony was finding it hard to breathe. Harry, abused?

"Breathe, Tony," Bruce ordered, rubbing circles onto his friend's back. It took a minute, but Tony focused on calming his breathing and avoided hyperventilating. Bruce stopped but put his arm around Tony's shoulder, pulling him into a half hug.

"Tonight, we can sit down and speak with him," Bruce proposed. "Now, I may be wrong, but my gut is telling me something happened, and he's hiding something. We can make sure he knows we understand what he went through, and then make it clear that he is safe here. We will do so calmly. We will let him speak, OK? And it's not your fault, whatever it was –"

"But I wasn't there for him!" Tony snapped. "How could it not be –"

"This is what I mean, Tony," Bruce said, giving Tony's arm a firm squeeze. "You can't let yourself fall down the guilt well – especially in front of Harry. It will only cause him to become even more defensive. You both seem to trigger each other's insecurities. And for the record, it is not your fault, because you didn't know that he existed. His mother should have told you or at least have made sure you would be told in the event of her death. You have been doing a great job with him – and whatever he has been hiding, we will face together."

Tony then turned their half hug into a full one, as he twisted his body to embrace Bruce fully. Bruce embraced him back.

After a few moments, the men broke apart.

"OK, so we eat dinner and then chat," Tony said, running his fingers through his hair. "We let him know we're there for him to tell us his deep dark secrets, he lets it all out, we hug, we cry, we're better for it just like on TV. This is gonna go great. Please tell me it's gonna go great."

Bruce smiled sadly at Tony and was quiet for a moment.

"We will do our best," Bruce said finally. "And take it from there."

AN: Back from Hiatus! Thanks everyone for sticking with me! And thanks especially Redisroses for noting that the first iteration of this chapter got all wonky.

Love, Insie