Chapter 7 revelation
Chapter 7
Tony wasn’t internally panicking, no, he was just dreading the results of bearing his heart on his sleeve to a little five-year-old boy and possibly getting rejected in the process… nothing to panic over.
He was hoping dinner didn’t turn into a great big disappointment, all the while he was imagining all the different scenarios that could pop up.
Alright so he was nervous, he was about to tell a tiny, abused kid that he was their dad.
Panicking was warranted in this situation.
Dinner started pretty awkward, Tony for once didn’t know what to say to Steve or Bucky that wasn’t inappropriate or sarcastic, he was trying to leave a great first impression on the boy, even if it wasn’t their first-time meeting.
Starting by insulting Harry’s favorite people would not go down well, so Tony had to bite his tongue, and it was incredibly hard to not fill the awkward silence with his usual charming and witty banter.
Tony had even practiced a speech in the mirror with Friday’s help, going over some conversation prompts, and some dos and don’ts, it was all a waste of time it seems, Tony was sure none of it was appropriate or relevant now.
Steve and Bucky had no problems holding a conversation with Harry as they were somewhat used to having the kid around now and were well-adjusted to speaking in a way the kid could follow. Tony was feeling well out of his element.
Give him a robotics problem any day, even schematics for the Hellicarrier, he could make it more efficient, he was sure.
Tony’s lack of skills with children wasn’t new. He tended to forget their age and start talking to them like they were adults.
But Harry was different, he had been treated like an adult before, in a bad way. Having to look after himself and keep himself safe, do things like an endless list of chores most adults would struggle with on a day-to-day basis, as well as regular physical and verbal abuse from an even younger age.
It was all changed now, Harry was getting to be a kid, and he was being looked after right, Tony just wanted to be a part of it, to be there for Harry, to be the father the kid deserved and needed.
Along with Steve and Bucky, Tony knew they came as a package deal now and he had thought long and hard about it. He could only accept it for Harry’s sack, they would have been around anyway as they lived in the compound, and without Steve’s help, Tony never would have known about Harry being his kid.
“So, Harry? Are you happy living here?” Tony finally asked after the conversation had been at a standstill for far too long.
“Yes sir,” Harry stated shyly. Tony had hoped Harry would be more comfortable around him after living at the compound for a little over a month now, he was getting better at talking to others besides just Steve and Bucky, but he was still lacking in confidence and general social skills.
“That’s great, I’m glad, I wanted you to feel at home here, 'cause it is… Your home to now.” Tony stated. He groaned internally at his babbling. He could see Steve across the table beaming at him in encouragement.
“I’m glad to be allowed to stay here with Steve and Bucky sir.” Harry proclaimed quietly.
‘So far so good’ Tony thought, he just had to do it, like ripping off a band-aid.
“There was something I wanted to discuss with you actually,” Tony stated to the five-year-old.
The look on Harry’s face made Tony think he should have worded it much better than that.
“I can pay my way; I can cook and clean, Please Mr Stark, I can’t pay with money, but I can with work, I will work real hard promise.” The tiny boy pleaded, looking quite distressed.
Tony’s heart broke hearing the desperate words of the raven-haired boy sitting next to him, Tony knew he must have been made to earn his keep from such a young age it was ingrained into him that he had to do it to get his basic everyday needs meet.
If he could get up right now and find where Harry’s no-good relatives were being held, he would start testing out the new weapons capabilities of his new suit in a heartbeat, but that would do no good right now, he had to reassure the boy that he would never have to earn basic human needs ever again.
“Harry no, that’s not what Tony meant.” Steve rushed to reassure the boy. Harry feeling overwhelmed with so much attention on him and not fully understanding what was going on crawled over into Bucky’s lap for comfort.
Tony knew he had to be very gentle as he continued.
“Harry, you don’t ever have to earn your keep, you do not have to earn food or clothes or a place to sleep, you get those because we care about you and are here to look after you, and you just like everyone else, deserve them.” Harry was just staring with wide eyes, Tony knew it would take time for it to sink in, and he was prepared to tell the small boy as many times as he need to that he was deserving of all his needs being met and unconditional love.
The boy had heard it all before from both Bucky and Steve but with everyone on the same page and reassuring Harry, and showing him, they meant it, it was going to make him understand that what they were saying was true.
“What I wanted to tell you is, well… Do you remember a test we did with your blood, and we swabbed your mouth to collect a sample of DNA? Tony asked.
Harry nodded his head yes in reply, it was done on his first day at the compound.
“Good, well that test showed us any family you have out there. A family that is not the Dursleys, but others.” Tony explained being as clear as he could.
“I have to go live with someone else?” Asked Harry with a pout.
“No, you don’t ever have to leave if you don’t want to,” Bucky told him wrapping his flesh arm around the boy in a hug.
Tony was so thankful at that moment that he decided to let them help with this to make Harry more comfortable.
“The test showed that I am your Family Harry,” Tony admitted.
“I have more family?” Harry asked confused somewhat.
“Yes, me!” Tony exclaimed joyously.
“Are Steve and Bucky my family too?” the raven-haired boy queried.
“We are your family if you want us to be buddy, but we don’t share blood with you as Tony does,” Steve explained reaching out to hold Harry’s hand. Harry was beginning to look less confused as he was taking in the information he was just given.
“Before you were born, I met your mum and dad, Lilly, and James Potter. We hung out for a while and had lots of fun together.” Tony admitted. Steve cleared his throat in warning, but Tony ignored the captain, he had practiced the PG version with Friday.
“And when James and Lilly went back to England, Lilly was pregnant with you. Your parents loved you very much, it just turns out you have a bigger family than we first thought. James was one of your dads, and I am as well, but you don’t share blood with James.” Tony stated hoping he was making sense; this wasn’t like explaining biology to a college kid after all. Harry wasn’t as educated yet and Tony could only hope his attempt at explaining his family dynamic was acceptable.
“This doesn’t mean much has to change and it only will if you want it to buddy, like we can hang out and get to know each other better, start to be a family together,” Tony concluded he wanted Harry to know he had a choice in this, it was his life after all that was being affected. Tony didn’t want to force Harry to accept him but was hoping with all that he had, that Harry would give him a chance.
“So, I still have three Daddies?” Harry asked with a wide grin on his face. He looked like Christmas had come early and his question surprised the three Avengers.
Tony had to stop himself from jumping into a lecture about maths equations. Unfortunately, Tony never did have good self-control.
“Um… one and one equal two buddy, so you have two daddies, me and James, who unfortunately passed away when you were very little,” Tony argued as gently as he could.
“I have Bucky and Steve still though” Harry stated, holding up his hand that still had hold of Steve’s.
“Yes, of course, they will be here, but I was thinking more of an uncle’s type…”
“NO UNCLES” Harry shouted so ferociously it started the three men at the table.
“Right of course, no uncle’s Harry, but Steve and I will still be here for you no matter what you want us to be,” Bucky told him, the winter soldier seemed to understand right away what the problem was with the term uncle and was assuring the small boy in his lap.
“Yes, I guess that’s fine Harry, three dads, seems like a lot but who am I to judge” Tony stated once he understood the issue.
“Three dads are the best number of dads, got to be better than one or two, and I never had even one before that I remember cause I was too little, so it must be better.” Harry declared very confident in his reasoning.
“One cannot fault the logic of a five-year-old,” Tony remarked, Harry nodded his head very seriously in reply.
“Ok so now that we have discussed that, I guess it’s just time for dessert.”
Tony was feeling more relaxed now, the panic had all melted away. He was unsure as to why he was so nervous about the conversation in the first place, Harry is a good kid, no matter what Tony would still be a part of his life, and he was feeling very blessed to have such good company and family to look after and support one another.
The only thing left to do would be to tell Pepper when she returned. If she returned, being stuck in DC all the time was a killer on their relationship, Tony couldn’t wait to introduce her to the littlest Stark.
It was a few hours later when Steve had Harry tucked into bed and the three men were enjoying a quiet evening on the couch having a drink.
“Three dads huh, I’m surprised he didn’t deem one of you the mum,” Tony stated jokingly, earning glares from the other men in response.
“Oh, come on if it had to be anyone of us who would it be? Sure, as hell isn’t me.” Tony exclaimed.
There was silence from the two soldiers for a moment. Tony was beginning to think they wouldn’t take his bait to banter.
“It would be Steve” Bucky simply stated getting a sound of denial from the captain in response.
“Why does anyone have to be the mum, Harry said dads, so he sees us all as dads,” Steve pointed out.
”Yeah, I see it, it would be Steve” agreed Tony, the man was a total mother hen, always looking after everyone.
“No one has to be the mum, why are you trying to put stereotypical gender roles into our relationship group,” Steve asked all affronted at being called the mum, it wasn’t the first time but it was happening far too often for his liking.
“So, we are all in a relationship now spangles? I guess I missed that memo, your boyfriend doesn’t seem like the type to share.” Tony jested. Bucky just grunted in reply only seeming to be focused on his drink.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it, Tony, I meant relationship group as in a group, a team, a unit, like our friendship group.” Steve defended; it was always fun to rile the soldier up.
“Oh, I know what you mean Mumma bear,” Tony mumbled, “well this has been fun and all, but I have things to get to in the lab.” Tony decided to leave it there. The captain was worked up enough for one night, and neither of the men had denied the 'boyfriend' comment this time, they were a work in progress it seemed, and progress was being made.
Once he had made it to his lab, he got to work on his newest project and soon let his mind be occupied for the next few hours at least.
“Don’t let him get to you Steve” Bucky advised when it was just the two of them. “He does it on purpose”
Both had finished their drinks and were relaxing, neither of them was in a rush to move.
“I know he does; he always has something witty to say.” Steve bemoaned, he was always letting the billionaire genius get to him, it was like he couldn’t help but be sucked into the arguing or banter. Stark lived for it.
“why’d you say I’m the mum?” he asked.
Bucky just scoffed, “Because you would make a great mum or even a wife,” Steve just stared at his best friend in doubt,
“Why would I make a good wife?” Steve questioned; he was very confused with the whole discussion.
“I don’t know… because... your you.” Bucky insisted.
“So, I’d make a good wife?”
“You’d make a great wife”. Bucky insisted before he got up and left the room to head to bed. Leaving a confused Steve behind.
“Yeah? I’d make a great wife” Steve mumbled in admittance to himself before he went to join the ex-assassin.