Family Sized Emotional Damage
Harry knew Tony wasn't going to tell the team.
Not because he couldn't. But because Tony Stark avoided emotional vulnerability like it was an IRS audit.
Which was why, when Tony casually tousled his hair at breakfast and muttered, "Morning, kiddo," like that was just something normal to say out loud, Harry blinked into his tea.
And the room froze.
Steve looked up from his toast. Natasha slowly lowered her spoon. Clint actually dropped his cereal spoon with a clatter.
Bruce tilted his head. "Did he just say—"
"Yup," Harry said, setting down his mug. "Twelve points for deduction."
"Excuse me," Natasha said slowly. "Did Tony Stark just casually admit to having a child... and it's you?"
Tony, mid-coffee sip, choked. "What? No. Well. Yes. Technically. Shut up."
Clint gawked. "Since when?"
Harry turned to him, voice chipper. "Biologically? Since conception. Emotionally? About a month. Socially? Five minutes ago."
Bruce blinked. "...Huh."
"Wait, wait, what?" Steve said. "You're his actual son?"
"DNA confirmed," Harry replied with a shrug. "And yes, I've processed the horror. I cry about it nightly into Bucky's shoulder."
Bucky, already seated beside him and entirely unbothered, sipped his coffee. "He's not lying."
"You knew?" Steve asked, scandalized.
"Of course I knew."
Tony threw his hands up. "Can we not make this an Avengers memo? He's not joining the team. He's just... here. Frequently."
"I'm the emotional support fox," Harry added helpfully. "Not to be confused with an actual team member. Way too many meetings."
Natasha was quiet for a long moment. Then she said, "Does Pepper know?"
Tony winced. "Not yet."
Harry perked up. "Oh, I'm dying to meet her. If she doesn't like me, I'll cry dramatically and fake a limp."
"She'll love you," Natasha said, surprisingly certain.
"Eventually," Tony muttered.
"She'll adore him," Bucky said under his breath.
Harry preened. "I am extremely adorable."
Steve was still staring at them like they'd declared war. "And you just—didn't tell us?"
"I was figuring it out!" Tony snapped. "It's not like there's a handbook for 'How to Bond With the Adult Son You Didn't Know You Had.'"
"You could've at least warned us," Bruce said. "Clint made him mop the kitchen last week."
"That was a test," Clint defended. "He passed."
"Barely," Harry smirked. "You people don't clean anything."
Tony groaned. "Look, can we just—accept this and move on?"
"You told him but not us," Natasha said, calmly but pointedly.
"I live here," Harry offered. "Tony panic-gifted me a lab bench and keeps leaving pastries near my door."
"It's not bribery," Tony mumbled.
"It's absolutely bribery," Bucky said.
"I'm keeping the scones either way," Harry added.
Natasha sighed. "Well. At least he's not boring."
"I aim to please," Harry said, leaning into Bucky's side like the conversation wasn't about him.
Tony gave him a look. Harry raised his eyebrows innocently.
"You're lucky you're cute."
Harry smirked. "I know."
Later that night, Tony stood on the balcony with a drink in his hand and a hundred thoughts in his head.
Jarvis spoke softly. "They accepted it more easily than you feared, sir."
Tony stared out over the city. "It's not them I was worried about."
"Harry?"
Tony nodded.
"Do you think he's happy?"
There was a pause.
Then a quiet voice from behind him: "I am."
Tony turned. Harry stood barefoot, wrapped in one of Bucky's hoodies, holding a cup of cocoa.
Tony blinked. "You always sneak up on people like that?"
"Only when they're brooding."
They stood there in silence for a while.
And maybe—just maybe—it felt like family.