Hello, hello my loyal readers! Thanks for all your reviews and continued support; it really does mean so much. This chapter is pretty angsty, but I'm hoping it'll be the last straight-up sad one for awhile! There is some humor in there, though. Gotta keep things at least a little light, right?
Still don't own Iron Man or the characters. Enjoy!
A brief nap left Tony, Harley, and Pepper in much better spirits, and it was with brighter outlooks that they got ready to go to the courthouse for the hearing. Unfortunately, those bright outlooks lasted all of about six minutes, because the moment they walked out the hotel's doors, they were surrounded by reporters.
"Mr. Stark, what does this strange turn of events mean for Iron Man?"
"Ms. Potts, are you worried about how this is going to affect your career?"
"Mr. Stark, Ms. Potts—would you all mind posing for a family photo?"
"Harley—that's your name, right?—what's it like having Iron Man for a dad?"
Harley took in the scene in front of him with wide, bewildered eyes, "This is nuts," he said.
Pepper grabbed his hand and held it tight, "I know," she told him, "But we just have to make it to the car, and then we're in the clear. Don't let go of my hand, and don't talk to anyone. Just keep pushing forward."
Harley swallowed and nodded. Tony took his other hand, "You ready?" he asked.
"I'm ready," Harley said.
"Let's get this over with," Tony said grimly.
He put on his best media-posterchild-100 watt smile. He squeezed Harley's hand in his own and led the march into battle. The reporters immediately swarmed around them, and Tony damage controlled as best he could, "No comment, no co—hey Andrews, you look good—no, nothing about the Avengers, hey we're kind of in a hurry can you move it along, thanks—"
They'd almost made it to the car when a reporter managed to grab hold of Harley, "Son," he said, a predatory smile on his face, "What's your opinion on this? Do you think Mr. Stark really cares about you? Or do you think it's just a publicity stunt?"
Harley's stomach dropped and his face flamed at the reporter's questions. He was trying to formulate an answer when Pepper stepped close to the man's face, "Leave him alone," she hissed furiously.
Tony raised his eyebrows at her, "Nice work, Potts," he mouthed. Pepper gave him a grin and a hasty salute.
With one last cheesy smile for the paparazzi, Tony ducked into the car, followed by Harley and Pepper. Settling back into their seats, Tony and Pepper turned to study Harley for any signs of discomfort or anxiety, "You doing okay after all that, buddy?" Tony asked.
Harley nodded, "I'm alright," he said, "It was pretty bad, though."
Tony grimaced, "Yeah, sorry about that," he said, "Reporter swarms are just one of the many, many perks of knowing me."
"Occupational hazards, more like," Pepper said wryly.
"Very funny, Pep," Tony said, "You know you're crazy about me."
"Don't flatter yourself, mister," Pepper teased.
Tony leaned across Harley to press a quick kiss to Pepper's mouth, doing his best to ignore Harley's groans of protest.
"Quit acting like a ten-year-old," Tony told him.
"I am a ten-year-old," Harley pointed out, "Duh."
"He has a point, Tony," Pepper laughed.
Tony pretended to look wounded, "You two are always ganging up on me," he pouted.
"Now who's acting like a ten-year-old?" Pepper asked.
They were all still teasing each other good-naturedly when the car pulled to a stop in front of the courthouse ten minutes later. The atmosphere, somehow, grew instantly more serious. "We're here," Harley said quietly.
Pepper nodded, "Are you ready for this, honey?" she asked.
Harley swallowed hard and tried to look courageous, "I'm as ready as I'm ever going to be," he said.
"That's all that we can ask for," Tony said, then clasped his shoulder, "You can do this, pal. Pepper and I will be right there with you."
Harley looked at Tony, then Pepper. For the first time since the explosion, he let himself really trust.
The social worker in charge of Harley's case, a woman named Ms. Wade, met them outside the building. She smiled at Tony, Pepper, and Harley, "Good afternoon," she greeted.
"Good afternoon," Tony echoed, "Ms. Wade, I don't believe you've gotten the chance to meet my girlfriend, Pepper Potts, yet?"
"I haven't," Ms. Wade agreed, "It's lovely to meet you, Ms. Potts."
"Likewise," Pepper responded politely.
Ms. Wade returned her attention to Tony, "How's he doing?" she asked, inclining her head towards Harley.
Harley scowled. He hated it when grown-ups talked about him like he wasn't there. Tony shot him a quick warning glance before he answered the question, "I think he's doing well, considering the circumstances. He's been seeing a therapist twice a week."
"That's wonderful," Ms. Wade said, then glanced at her watch, "It's just about time for the hearing. Would you please follow me to Judge Addison's chambers?"
They followed Ms. Wade through the halls of the courthouse, all doing their best to ignore the gawking stares Tony received. "Everyone's very excited you're here, Mr. Stark," Ms. Wade whispered, "It's all anyone's been able to talk about for weeks."
Tony just smiled politely and didn't answer. Ms. Wade led them to the judge's office. She knocked twice on the door, and a man's voice responded, "Come in!"
They walked inside. An older man—probably in his late fifties—was sitting at a large desk in the middle of the room. He looked up and smiled at the little group of four, "Hello, Lauren," he said to Ms. Wade, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"This is Mr. Stark and Harley Keener," she told the judge, "They're here to finalize Mr. Stark's guardianship of Harley."
Tony and Harley stepped forward. Pepper, on the other hand, took several steps back. She felt vaguely uncomfortable, and definitely out of place. "You know," she wanted to say, "Harley is just as much mine as he is Tony's."
But instead, she just gave Harley an encouraging smile and stayed quiet. Tony shook the judge's hand, "Tony Stark," he said.
Judge Addison smiled, "Ah, yes. Iron Man," he said.
Tony offered him a small smile, "Not today," he said.
Judge Addison turned to Harley, "I take it you're Harley?" he asked.
Harley fought the instinct to roll his eyes, "Yes, sir," he said, shaking Judge Addison's hand, "It's nice to meet you."
Judge Addison gestured at the wooden chairs that stood in front of his desk, "Please," he said, "Have a seat."
Tony and Harley obliged; Pepper noted with a smile and more than a bit of affection that they crossed their legs on the same side. "So," Judge Addison began, "How are you all doing today?"
"We're doing fine, thanks," Tony said, and then nudged Harley for his answer.
"Fine," Harley echoed dully.
"Thirsty?" Judge Addison asked, "Hungry? I always keep a box of crackers in my desk."
"I'm okay," Tony said, "How about you, Harley?"
Harley shook his head, "I'm not very hungry," he said quietly.
"Well, then," Judge Addison said, "Let's get down to business. Mr. Stark, we need to talk about your taking guardianship of Harley, here."
Tony couldn't help but respond with his default sarcasm, "Clearly."
Pepper groaned softly. Judge Addison raised his eyebrows, but didn't appear otherwise fazed, "By that, I mean you will be caring for this young man until he reaches the age of eighteen. You will clothe him, feed him, and provide a home and stable environment for him. Do you understand that?"
"He's a genius," Harley offered, a bit snidely, from his seat, "Of course he understands."
Tony put his hand on Harley's arm warningly before answering Judge Addison's question, "I understand."
"Excellent," Judge Addison said, before turning to Harley, "Now, Harley, I have a few questions I need to ask you. Would it bother you if Tony and—" he turned towards Pepper, searching for her name.
"Pepper Potts," Pepper offered.
"And Pepper waited in the hall while I asked them? Ms. Wade will go get them when we're done," he finished.
Harley shrugged, "Sure, whatever," he said.
Tony clapped Harley on the shoulder as he left, "Good luck," he murmured, "And be polite."
Harley rolled his eyes, but nodded all the same. Judge Addison turned back to Harley once Tony and Pepper were out in the hall, "It's just a few questions, that's all," he said, "First of all, do you understand what's happening here?"
Harley forgot his promise to be civil, "Just because I'm a kid," he said, "Doesn't mean I'm dumb."
Judge Addison wasn't thrown, "Then would you mind explaining it to me?" he asked.
Harley sighed loudly, "It means that Tony and Pepper," he added her name pointedly, "Are going to take care of me until I grow up, 'cause my mom can't."
"Very good," Judge Addison said, "I just have one more question. How do you feel about this?"
His question threw Harley. He took a few moments to think, "Well," he said slowly, "I don't want my mom to be…you know…that. But, since she is…that, living with Tony and Pepper is the best thing."
Judge Addison nodded, "You're a smart young man, Harley," he said, then turned to Ms. Wade, "You can bring them back in, Lauren."
Tony and Pepper walked back in, and Tony took his seat in front of the desk. "Everything looks like it's nicely in order," Judge Addison said, "I'll just need you to sign these forms, Mr. Stark, and then you all can go on your way. Are you going back home?"
"We're staying in Tennessee for an extra day or so," Tony answered as he signed.
"Excellent," Judge Addison said, "Leave your address with Ms. Wade, and she'll mail you copies of all these within the week."
As they were leaving, Judge Addison said to Harley, "I am very sorry for your loss, young man. But you're very lucky to have met two people who love you so much."
Harley, his throat too tight for words, just nodded. Tony put his arm around Harley and led him to the door. Pepper kissed the top of his head, "You did great, honey," she whispered, "You were so brave."
"Let's blow this pop stand," Tony announced, "We got places to see and things to do."
The worst thing, Pepper decided as they walked back to the car, is that the hardest part of the day isn't even over yet. The hearing was going to seem like a walk in the park compared to what they were going to do next.
Pepper pasted a bright smile on her face as the car began to move forward, "So, Harley," she said, "We were thinking it might be…fun if you showed Tony and me around a little bit? You know, we could go see your school, and your friends' houses. Things like that?"
Harley glanced at her warily, "Why?" he asked.
Tony and Pepper exchanged a meaningful look, "Pepper and I want to know everything we can about you, Harley," Tony answered, "And your past is part of that."
Harley shrugged, "I guess so."
"Where do you want to go first?" Pepper asked.
"My school is fine," Harley answered, "It's on Mountain Creek Road."
Pepper repeated the street name to the driver, and off they went. Pepper and Tony did their best to keep up a steady stream of conversation, but Harley wasn't interested in talking. He just stared absently out the window and watched what used to be his home pass by.
"This is it," Harley suddenly said.
The three of them stepped out of the car and walked towards the front of the large brick building. There was a large sign out front that read "Red Bank Elementary School". It was past four, so the day was over. The playground was quiet and still, and so were Tony, Harley, and Pepper. A swing creaked quietly in the breeze.
Harley was the first to speak, "So this is my school," he said, gesturing towards it awkwardly, "Well, was my school, I guess."
Pepper nodded, "Did you like it here?" she asked.
Harley kicked at a rock near his feet, "It was okay," he said.
Tony tried to get a genuine answer, "What was your favorite subject?"
"I liked math," Harley answered, "And science."
They fell silent again. Harley stared at the building with a curious mixture of anger and heartache on his face, "Can we just go back to the car?" he asked abruptly, "Please?"
Pepper nodded, "Sure thing, kiddo."
"Where do you want to go next?" Tony asked, once they were settled, "We could go see some of your friends, or maybe a favorite playground—?"
"Can we go to the diner?" Harley asked softly.
Pepper inhaled sharply, "Sweetheart, I don't know—"
"We can go to the diner," Tony said, interrupting her.
"Tony—" Pepper protested, by Tony shook his head.
They needed to do this. Harley needed to do this.
But that didn't make it any easier.
The little strip of businesses and houses was just as ruined as it had been when Tony had rescued Harley that fateful night not quite two months ago. It was a ghost town. There were wooden crosses and wilted flowers that marked where loved ones had fallen. There was still debris littering the streets; at least, Tony thought grimly, they had cleaned up the bodies.
He couldn't decide which was worse—the horrified expression on Pepper's face, or the flat expression on Harley's.
They made their way through the rubble silently. Harley walked slightly ahead of Tony and Pepper. Tony, briefly, thought about walking with him, but decided against it. He knew that, if it were him, he'd want to be by himself, too. He offered comfort to Pepper, instead—warming the small of her back with his hand. "Tony," she whispered, "I knew it was going to be bad, but I had no idea it was going to be like this."
"I know, Pep," he said, "I know."
Slow as they were moving, they did, inevitably, reach the diner. Tony and Pepper stood on either side of Harley; a barrier, maybe, against all the things they wished he didn't have to face. Harley stepped through what had once been the doorway, with Pepper and Tony following behind. He stood very still, though he shivered occasionally. Tony wanted to chalk it up to the damp wind, but he had a feeling that wasn't it.
"That's where I found her," Harley said hollowly, "In that corner. She was dead by the time I got here, though. I can't remember if I told her that I loved her before it happened. I think about that sometimes, when I can't sleep. Maybe, if I'd gotten here sooner, I could've helped her. Maybe she'd still be alive."
A short sob escaped Pepper before she turned and buried her face in Tony's shirt. Harley turned around and faced Tony, his eyes blazing, "I want to know why," he said, his dangerously low.
Tony gently untangled Pepper from his arms and knelt down in front of Harley, "I can't answer that for you, Harley," he said.
Harley, his breathing labored, threw a sudden punch at Tony's chest, "I want to know why!" he yelled, "Tell me why!"
He went in for another hit, but Tony caught his hand and held it tight, "Lemme go!" Harley shouted.
"No," Tony said simply.
Harley struggled in earnest for a few moments, but eventually gave up. He fell, hard, into Tony's arms, "I want my mom!" he sobbed wildly, "I want her back!"
Tony, his own eyes shining with tears, hugged him tight, "I know you do. I'm so, so sorry, Harley," he murmured.
Pepper got down on the ground and joined the huddle. They stayed like that for a long time—not saying anything, because there was nothing to say. They just rocked Harley, gently, and waited for what happened next.