Congratulations, it's a boy!

°•°CHAPTER 5•°•

“You have some explaining to do, Stark.”

Tony himself was not fairing all that well himself and felt faint.

He hoped this wasn’t the case after James' name rang a bell, but once Harry said Lily’s name…

Everything added up.

After all, he had quite a wonderful week with that couple fifteen or so years back. They were newlyweds, celebrating in the bar with their friends, and Tony was just lucky enough to have caught both of their attention and was invited along.

The whole week was a blur of bliss, alcohol and celebration, and there was no way Tony could forget either of them.

Hell, he even tried looking for them later on, but was never able to find anything. He didn't even know their last name, until now.

And apparently, he now had a son.

A son that fainted upon learning this.

He wasn't the only one in shock, Tony thought hysterically as he glanced at the couch where Loki had gently laid the boy down.

Jesus fucking Christ.

“What does it mean, blood adopted?” Tony’s voice was monotone as he was trying to shake off the shock of having a son.

He, Tony Stark, had a child.

And he didn't think this was one of Loki's tricks either. And he thought Harry was Loki's. Fucking hell, he miscalculated by a fucking planet.

Loki hummed. “The boy is a wizard, Stark, so was his family. I don’t know their history, but I assume James Potter used some form of blood adoption, which means that Harry essentially has three biological parents.”

"How is that possible?” Because it shouldn't be. Magic was insane.

Loki glared at him. “It’s magic, Stark. Takes a little blood, some potions, I assume, perhaps a ritual, and the child becomes biologically theirs. Not that complicated of a concept, is it?”

Tony was still in disbelief.

“But… this is crazy. Why is he here, now?”

Loki frowned. “How did he arrive here?”

Tony retold the story, about something Harry called 'Portkey', which Loki took interest in immediately.

He waved his hand around the trophy Tony brought forward, eyes widening at what he could make out.

“This is a traveling device. You touch it, it takes you to whatever place it was spelled to go, however… I sense interference.” Loki had a look of concentration on his face as he wielded his magic, trying to find out an answer to how the young wizard had gotten here. “Ah.”

“Ah? What does that mean, your highness?”

Loki smirked. “It means you have an extremely powerful son, Tony Stark.The boy’s magic itself had altered his destination. I assume he wanted to see his parents and since they are dead…. his magic recognized you, knew about you, and brought him directly to you. The last living parent.”

Tony gulped and wordlessly walked behind the bar to pour himself a strong drink.

He needed it.

Badly.

He had a son.

"Congratulations, Tony Stark," Thor came up to him and clapped him on the shoulder hard enough for Tony to stumble. "You have a strong and worthy fighter of a son. It's an honor to have."

"You sure this isn't some mistake?" Tony asked, hopeful and dreading to hear the answer at the same time.

Loki shook his head. "The test is accurate. Congratulations, it's a boy."

Tony gulped down a whole double shot of whiskey at once, pouring another one immediately.

"Is this not a happy occasion, Stark?" Thor looked worried at Tony's silence. He'd be overjoyed to have a child: children were considered a blessing in Asgard as most asgardians had a trouble conceiving one, but it didn't seem the case in Midgard. Tony Stark looked terrified.

He better not reject the boy, Thor thought darkly. If that happened… perhaps he could talk his father to take the boy in until he matures, and his mother could teach him magic as she did with Loki.

His brother wouldn't mind doing that either, Thor was certain. Loki loved magic.

"I don't know. Never had a son before. Especially not one that has magic, has someone after him and showed up on my doorstep hurt." His eyes snapped to Loki. "Could you- would you be able to heal him? Now that I'm aware of this 'magical society' and considering he was in a magical Tournament, some of his injuries must've been magical too. Like that bite… nothing really worked on it and we still have no idea what it is."

"Of course." Loki immediately stepped over to Harry, who was still in the land of nod.

"You needn't worry. My brother would never hurt a child, especially not one he clearly admires."

"Admires?" Tony's tone turned sharp.

"Oh, yes. Loki rarely gets an opportunity to speak with someone who wields magic apart from our mother. In Asgard, it's mostly women who do so, men preferring the art of sword. Loki must be feeling lonely. And the child-" Thor frowned. "Is dripping with it. My brother is beyond intrigued, I can tell. I would be surprised if he doesn't offer to teach the young Harry by the end of the day. You just wait."

Ah.

It made sense.

While Thor and Tony continued to observe, Loki didn't waste any time and spread his magic over the child.

He could feel the lingering wounds and venom, the almost healed ankle, the general weakness. The still lingering after effects of a curse that tortured this child of magic.

Sacrilege.

There was also something dark that was hiding from his probing magic, but Loki didn't press further and concentrated on the current obvious injuries the child had.

It wasn't much of a strain to heal the boy, whose magic was already healing him.

Such a potent magic, too.

Sentient, almost.

And in a child.

No wonder Stark thought the boy to be his son. Their magic was complimentary and they had some similar features, but that's where the similarities ended.

Loki was finished in mere minutes, soothing the wounds and torture inflicted tremors, obliterating the leftovers of venom within seconds.

It was no match for his magic.

There was only one thing left, something that made his blood boil.

"Who was young Harry living with before, Stark?" Loki could barely keep the murder out of his voice.

"His aunt and uncle, why?"

Loki gritted his teeth, only the images of those disgusting beings being obliterated by him easing his rage.

"Because I'm sure you'll put away your high and mighty morals for a few filthy pigs that abused your son."

There was only silence after such a statement and the sound of shattering glass.

Tony's face was stark white.

"What do you mean?" Even his voice sounded hoarse.

"I mean that my magic detected abuse on the boy in seconds, Stark. If he's been in a magical society, why has nobody noticed? That's the real question you should be asking."

"Harry didn't want to go back to his guardians," Tony whispered absentmindedly. "He told me he'll stay in New York for the summer and go back to school after. He said- that they wouldn't give a shit. I thought it was shady and something I'll look into later, so I let it be until he's more comfortable- fucking hell. I thought it was more of a teenage rebellion, not this."

"T1hen we shall bring those people to justice at once!" Thor boomed, furious, his fingers releasing small bouts of lightning in response to his emotions. 

"We're not doing shit until Harry gives me the full story. And-" Tony pointed a warning finger at both gods, "-their punishment will include Harry’s wishes. Not to mention I'd rather deal with them legally and make them suffer for years than just allow them an easy way out."

"My, Stark, for once, I like you," Loki chuckled darkly. "He will be fine and will wake soon. I doubt the boy would be happy if you took the decision out of his hands." Loki paused. "He's biologically your son, but as of now, you could still let him go and have no ties to him. Will you seriously take custody?"

It wasn't even a question. "Of course I will. I already missed his whole life."

Both asgardians seemed to be pleased with his answer. Tony's eyes narrowed; was this a test?

He voiced his suspicions.

"You must understand: children are cherished above anything in Asgard. It's a blessing to have a child. Giving one up is… an inconceivable notion. Hurting one? It's unheard of."

Tony nodded.

He was still in shock over finding out that the boy who just appeared inside of his private floor was not only his son, but was abused.

It was a bit too much for him.

Aliens? Sure. A son? A whole 'nother story.

Tony felt wholly unprepared and was more than slightly panicking.

Fuck.

Solutions.

His mind was a problem solving machine.

He needed solutions now and he can freak out in private later.

"Jarvis!"

"Yes, Sir?"

Tony pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, find everything you can about Harry’s guardians. Everything. Pull whatever little dirt you can on them, perhaps check the neighbors too. I want to know it all. Harry too. Also whatever you can find of Lily and James Potter."

"Right away, Sir."

"We should-" a groan interrupted what Thor was about to say and they all turned to the waking boy on the sopha.

His eyes opened and he groaned, covering his eyes. "Merlin’s saggy balls, I hoped that to be a nightmare. Or are you all just some fucked up hallucination?"

Thor chuckled.

"We're real, young Harry. Are you well?"

The boy shifted and sat up, glaring at the people in the room.

"I'm wonde-" the boy frowned, flexing his leg. The next moment, Harry was staring at the God clad in green. "You healed me." It didn't sound like a thank you, more like an accusation.

Tony snorted.

"A thank you would suffice, young wizard," Loki said airily, smirking at yet another glare he received. It was adorable.

"My name is Harry. Just five letters, I'm sure such powerful gods as yourselves should be able to manage it."

Thor roared with laughter, delighted by the boy. "Ah, this one has snark! Our apologies, Harry. We meant to harm."

Harry pursed his lips and nodded, the fire in his eyes deflating like a balloon. "Thank you," he whispered to Loki. "At least now I won't need a healer; that venom was a bit tricky."

"Healer?" Tony piped up and Harry’s face went blank when he glanced at the man and nodded. "We have healers and medi-witches or wizards. I did what I could, but there was no way to get rid of the Acromantula venom without an anti-dote. I would've been fine, eventually, but… there might've been some complications. I don't know."

"You fought an acromantula?" Thor's voice was full of wonder and awe. "Did you win?"

Harry grinned. "Sliced its head off."

Loki groaned.

"You're a true warrior, despite your young age, Harry James Potter. What a great honour it is to meet you."

"And where exactly did you stumble upon such a beast?" Loki's voice was full of annoyance at his brother. Of course he would be thrilled at the prospect of fighting more beasts.

And he didn't need to encourage such recless behaviour in Harry, the boy clearly had enough to deal with already. 

"Would anyone mind telling me what an acromantula is? Hello?" Tony waved his arms around, annoyed at being the only one not in the know.

"It's a huge venomous spider that has a tendency to kill and eat everything it comes across," Loki explained, frowning. "Harry?"

The boy rolled his eyes.

"It was one of the creatures I had to get through in the maze. The third task of that damned Tournament. It caught me by accident; I thought I killed it."

"Oh, we have tournaments in Asgard too! I love those things, I usua-"

"Now is not the time, brother," Loki snapped, his serious expression bringing a semblance of sobriety to Thor.

He turned to the boy, who was now clearly in a defensive mode and was looking anywhere but at Tony.

Ah.

The boy was fearful of rejection.

Loki wasn't surprised, not with what his magic detected on the boy's body. Years of mistreatment.

Even he was appalled.

He will find out about who did this to the young mage and they will suffer, but for now, he had higher priorities.

"You were brought here by what you call a portkey," Loki started, pleased when those unnaturally green eyes landed on him and Harry gave him his full attention. "However, its coordinates had been tampered with, altered by your own magic."

"What?!"

Loki nodded. "Magic is sentient. You must've wished to be with your parents. You may not know or remember that Stark was your third parent, but your magic knows. It remembers. It heeded your wish and brought you here, to the only living parent you have."

Harry’s face drained of colour, his eyes scared for the first time as he glanced at Stark.

Loki exhaled slowly, sending a wave of calming magic towards the boy.

He just had to be the one the child trusted, didn't he?

Harry was clearly afraid of being rejected by his own father. Loki couldn't comfort him, but he could distract.

"Would you mind telling us what happened?"

It was clearly a wrong thing to say as Harry clammed up and shook his head.

Loki would've pushed if he was an idiot but he could sense magic; Harry's was poised and ready to attack at the slightest probe, while dutifully protecting its master.

Truly, what a gift this young man holds…

Such power.

He wondered if other mortals were as gifted or was Harry just a special case.

"There's nothing I can do to help currently," Thor said suddenly, drawing attention to himself. "I will be going home. I'm only a call away and I'm certain my brother will stick around and lend a hand, yes?"

"Certainly," Loki agreed quickly, even if he shot an annoying glare at Thor. Bloody idiot, always interfering.

And looking so smug about it, too.

After Thor said his farewells, promising Harry to teach him the fine art of wielding a weapon if he so wished, he departed, leaving an awkward silence in his wake.

Loki shot Stark a look that clearly said speak with your son, but Tony was clearly an idiot and continued pressing buttons on his device, clearly tempting Loki to just blow it up.

After yet another pointed look Loki shot him, motioning to Harry, Tony seemed to finally realize what the god was getting at.

Oh, yes.

His son.

His actual, alive and breathing son, who looked scared, and was looking anywhere but at Tony.

"I know this is more than a little fast and quite a bizarre situation, but… would you like to live with me, Harry?"

For the briefest moment Tony could swear he saw desperation on the youngling's face, but it was quickly replaced by cold indifference.

Tony quickly recognized it as one of the things his own father tried to teach him: to never show others your true emotions for it may leave you vulnerable to vultures. Seems like Harry already perfected this one thing that took Tony ages and Howard was left disappointed.

"I can take care of myself just fine and don't need charity."

Loki's eyes were screaming fix it or else and Tony was at a loss on what to do.

That's why he didn't want any kids in the first place: he had no idea how not to be crude and take care of them properly.

He had no patience for them.

However, Harry was already almost grown with seemingly hefty baggage.

At least he missed the diaper phase.

"Well, I don't care if you can or can't take care of yourself. You shouldn't have to. You're only a teen, and I, as your father, owe you shitton of everything for not being there for you in the first place."

"You don't owe me anything," Harry said fiercely. "I-"

"That's where you're wrong, kiddo," Tony shot back, just as fiercely. "You're underage. You're what? Thirteen?"

"Fourteen," Harry replied drily.

Tony waved his hand dismissively. "Yes, which means a minor. Don't know how it is over the ocean, kid, but here, a parent is legally obliged to take care of their child until they're eighteen." Harry stiffened. "But considering that you're my long lost son and I've already lost fourteen years of your life, don't think you're getting away from me for at least another fourteen. Fair warning."

It sounded too good to be true for Harry. A lot like something Sirius had said before fucking off and abandoning him again.

Tony looked uncomfortable when Harry stayed silent.

"So… wanna move in?"

Harry stared at Tony incredulously and wished he could just apparate out of here.

He turned to Loki.

"You sure this isn't one of your pranks? Because, quite frankly, I'm still unsure if I'm not stuck in some nightmare. Or alternate reality."

Loki smirked, but shook his head. "I'm afraid everything is true, little one. Tony Stark is your father and I believe it would be in your best interest to stay here."

Harry snorted.

"What, do you think no one's going to look for me?" Harry's lips formed into a mean little smile. "I'm their chosen one. A fucking teenager they hide behind to defeat the Dark Lord. I disappeared from the school grounds; I'm certain there's already a country wide search going on right now. There's not a chance in hell they would let you keep me here. Who else would be their saviour?"

"You're a child," Tony could barely suppress the rage he felt at some fuckers over the ocean forcing his kid into some child soldier role. "My child. They have no right to tell us what to do."

"The Ministry does what it wants," Harry shrugged. "You don't have magic. You can't stop them."

"Well, they never fought the Iron Man before."

"And I have magic," Loki piped up helpfully. "They couldn't stand against me, little one. I am a god."

"Besides, you mentioned a Ministry. Which means there should be one here, too, right?" Tony was watching Harry carefully.

The boy nodded. "There's MACUSA. Magical Congress of the United States of America."

Tony nodded. "Great. We'll contact them, then. I'm an American citizen, we'll get you a citizenship as well, and those fuckers in Britain can kiss my shiny ass."

Harry’s eyes widened and he blushed at such a colorful language, but he was also sort of flattered that Tony's fury was on his behalf.

It was weird and not a feeling he ever thought he'd have a pleasure to feel, but here he was: his newfound father who wanted him and didn't call him a freak due to having magic.

Hell, he didn't even have the shock and denial phase. Went straight to acceptance.

It was so bloody bizarre.

"So, what do you say? Staying here, getting to know your old man? You don't sound too eager to get back to England, and I don't see any reason to send you there either."

Harry contemplated his options.

If Tony truly wanted him, he wouldn't have to see Dursleys ever again.

And if he truly took his custody, Harry will have options.

He wouldn't have to run or hide.

He'd have someone to stand behind him. He would no longer be so terribly alone.

It sounded too good to be true. But what did he have to lose?

"Okay."

He only had everything to gain.