Chapter 44
"Harry!" A chorus of voices chimed as Steve, Bucky and Harry entered the room. Everyone hurried towards the door to greet them, and both super soldiers took a step back.
"Wow, I'm feeling the love," Bucky joked, his single arm finding its way around Steve's waist subconsciously.
"Oh hush now, we haven't seen him since the trial!" Caroline delivered a light slap against Bucky's chest, teasing him.
"Speaking of which, how did it go?" Beau asked, southern accent soft and caring. Anna joined him at his side, grasping his hand tightly.
Everyone in the group had known about the lawsuit, and when Steve and Bucky had canceled the group meeting last week, everyone had questioned why. Not wanting to lie to them, Steve informed everyone that the trial was taking place, and they needed to be with their team and Harry.
Harry couldn't contain the smile that spread across his face as he thought about the answer, about his home. But apparently, the smile was all everyone needed as an answer, and soon, everyone was cheering around him and coming up to him to congratulate him.
Steve watched as everyone gave Harry their best wishes and congratulations, some giving him hugs, others shaking his hand. He smiled at the thought that, as of a few months ago, Harry wouldn't even allow Tony to hug him without specifically requesting it or granting him permission. Now, he was openly accepting surprise hugs and was barely even flinching at the contact.
He was proud of how far the kid had come.
The rest of the meeting proceeded without any hiccups, and Harry was surprised at how fast the hour had gone when Steve announced that the meeting was drawing to a close. Remembering suddenly that he needed to talk to Caroline, Harry rose from his seat and hurried over to the kitchenette area where the woman was packing up some of the day's snacks.
"Hey Caroline," Harry smiled, but inside he was nervous. What if she didn't want to come work for him? What if she was offended that he would ask her to turn her life in a completely different direction?
But Peter's voice echoed in his head, with the words that he had told him while they were planning the bakery's open.
The worst thing that anyone will tell you is no.
Harry hadn't completely agreed with this, because after all of his shitty life experiences, he knew there were far worse things to be said than no. But in this case, he knew Peter was right. The worst thing Caroline would say to him is no thanks.
"Hey hon, how're you feeling?" She asked, stopping what she was doing and giving Harry her undivided attention.
"I'm alright, not too sore today," Harry replied. "And today's been a pretty good day."
Caroline knew about the physical pain, the nerve damage, the arthritis, the stiffness. But she also knew about the emotional pain. The mental pain that came from a long life of abuse.
"That's good to hear. I hope it stays that way for you- you deserve it," she gave him a genuine smile. "So what's up, buttercup?"
Harry couldn't help but chuckle. She always had short, silly lines that she used in everyday conversation that, if Harry tried to use, would sound stupid. But nonetheless, Harry loved them.
"Well, I had sort of a... business proposition," Harry began. He grabbed a water bottle from a bucket of ice on the counter, and motioned to a small table in the corner. Caroline grabbed her cup of coffee and followed him intently, curious about what the sixteen year old before her had to offer.
"Alright, let's hear it," she declared, taking her seat and resting her elbows on the table with the coffee mug warming her hands.
"I'm not sure if Steve or Bucky have mentioned it, but I'm opening up a bakery. My dad surprised me for my birthday, which was totally unexpected because I wasn't expecting any birthday gifts at all, much less a small business."
"Sounds like Stark," Caroline snorted, but her tone held no malicious meaning to it.
"Tell me about it," Harry giggled, thinking about his father's extravagant budget that lead to rather unnecessary purchases. "Anyway, I'm hoping to open up around late October, early November, but I'm going to need help. Both with baking, and customer service.
"I know how much you love baking, and how you and I are very similar in how we love baking because it gives us an escape. A way to forget, you could say. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, would you like to take the position as my sous chef?"
Harry took a deep breath, looking at Caroline anxiously, who's eyebrows were raised in surprise. She sat in front of him, unblinking, a look of shock on her face.
"It's alright if you don't want to. I obviously understand if you don't want to quit your job here at S.H.I.E.L.D to work with me, especially in a bakery that hasn't opened yet, and you have a daughter to take care of. But I thought, maybe you would like to take the job because I'll make sure you salary is matched to what it is here, and you can have a more flexible schedule which will give you more time with your daughter, and-"
"Harry," Caroline interrupted, her voice hoarse. Harry, for the first time since he began rambling, looked up to meet her eyes.
"I can't express how honored I am that your first thought would be of me when you think about someone else to help you bake."
Here it comes, Harry thought, head hanging so he was staring at his hands. Here comes the 'no'.
"-And I would absolutely love to take the job, if you're absolutely sure you want me."
Harry's head snapped up, eyes widening in surprise.
"Of course I'm sure I want you! You're the best baker I know!"
Caroline blushed profusely, blonde hair falling in front of her eyes as she turned away shyly.
"In all honesty, I've been job hunting for a while now. I love working here, and I love my job, but it's too high risk and too many hours for a single mother like me. I've been trying to spend time with my daughter, and also have time to myself, but I have to prioritize because I don't have enough time in my day for everything. So of course, I put her first, always. And don't get me wrong, I love her to death and she will always be my top priority, but I need time for myself too."
"I understand that, and you shouldn't feel guilty or apprehensive about needing some down time for yourself as well," Harry told her. "And now, I'll let you choose your hours, and you can do what you love as a job, and then go home and see your daughter, while also having some time for yourself."
Standing up, Caroline took a few steps over to where Harry was sitting, and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you," she whispered. Harry smiled, returning the hug.
"Anytime."
*
Tony looked up from the holographic blueprints on his workshop desk, smiling as Harry stepped out of the elevator.
"How'd it go, kiddo?" He asked, extending his arm in a gesture of a half hug. Harry walked into Tony's outstretched reach, and smiled as the billionaire pulled him closer adoringly.
"It was great! Everyone's so excited that you got custody and are adopting me, and Caroline accepted my job offer!"
Tony's face broke out into a smile at the news.
"That's great buddy! I'm really excited for you!" He exclaimed.
"Thanks! I'm getting really excited about the grand opening," Harry grinned.
"I know I sure am," Bucky chuckled, leaning against the door. "I just thought I'd pop down here and say bye before Steve and I leave. He's just grabbing a jacket, and I needed to grab my arm."
He motioned down to his bionic arm that he had put on once more.
"Have fun," Harry smiled, waving to the winter soldier.
"But not too much fun," Tony winked, and an echo of groans followed as Steve joined Bucky in the doorway.
"Really, Tony? Do you have to make it weird?" The captain rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I'll be here all night," Tony took a small bow, making Harry giggle.
"On that note, I think it's time we get going," Bucky shook his head, but he too was smiling. "We'll see you later!"
"Bye!" Harry called, watching as the super-soldiers stepped, hand-in-hand, into the elevator.
"What are your plans for tonight?" Tony asked as he tinkered with something that Harry couldn't even begin to imagine what it was.
"Peter's got a mathlete's tournament in New Jersey, so he's gone until tomorrow afternoon. Clint and Nat are watching a movie upstairs, though, so I think I'm going to join them," Harry told Tony, who nodded.
"Hey, would you go check in on Bruce and make sure he's gotten something to eat in the past 24 hours? He's been working non-stop on whatever the hell he's doing, and I cannot for the life of me get him to take a break. Maybe you'll be able to work some magic on him, if you know what I mean," Tony winked at Harry and smiled mischievously.
"Dad, I'm not going to use magic to make Bruce do something. People get angry when you do that. And you do remember what happens when he gets angry, don't you?" Harry raised his eyebrows at his father questioningly.
"Ah yes, of course, how could I forget?" Tony mock smacked himself on the forehead, before growing serious again. "Just make sure he's taking care of himself, alright?"
"Sounds good, love you," Harry waved, turning and exiting the lab.
"I love you too, kid. Love you too."
*
"Bruce?" Harry called quietly, careful not to startle the scientist. When there was no response, Harry stepped further into the lab.
"Bruce? Are you in here?" Harry looked around, eyes round with amazement as he took in all of the new technology that had been installed since the last time he had been in the lab.
A soft smile spread across the teen's face as he spotted the peppering curls of the scientist. Bruce had fallen asleep at the lab station in front of several bubbling beakers.
Harry couldn't imagine it was the safest thing, but he knew that Bruce was smart, and Friday wouldn't let anything happen to him anyway, with all of her safety protocols.
Reaching out, Harry placed a hand on Bruce's shoulder, gently squeezing it to wake him up.
"Bruce?" He whispered softly, expecting for the scientist to begin groggily stirring, hours and hours of sleep deprivation catching up with him.
What he had not been expecting, however, was the violent, jerking reaction Bruce had as he awoke, limbs flailing everything. Harry pulled away with a yelp of surprise, right as Bruce's hand smacked a beaker, spilling the contents all over his hand.
"Motherfu-!" Bruce began, biting his lip mid word, face scrunching up in pain.
"Bruce?" Harry whimpered as the man's eyes began turning an unnatural shade of green.
"Harry... go," Bruce grunted, clutching his hand to his chest, eyes squinted in pain.
Harry was about to turn in run, as Bruce's muscles began rippling under his skin, ready to turn into the Hulk. But he stopped, thinking about how he couldn't let months and month's of Bruce's work be destroyed just because he had woken the man up.
Instead, he had to help the scientist the best he could.
"Bruce, give me your hand," Harry insisted, gluing his feet to the ground where he stood. He pretended that the fear wasn't building inside of him. He pretended that the last thing he wanted to do was go running from here, screaming in fear. He pretended that he wasn't utterly terrified by the man in front of him right now. He pretended that he wasn't utterly terrified of everything.
"Harry!" Bruce growled, his voice growing deeper and harder, a contrast from the soft, gentle voice Bruce usually spoke in.
"Bruce, give me your hand right now!" Harry demanded, thrusting his hands towards the transitioning Avenger. Reluctantly, Bruce extended his burned arm to Harry, who instantly took the injured extremity into his hands, and closed his eyes.
The power felt different this time, more controlled. More concentrated.
Harry silently thanked Loki for the lesson after he his core had replenished from healing Peter. The god had sliced his finger open repeatedly, allowing Harry to practice the control it took to heal the wound, without completely draining his own core.
Harry took a deep breath, and began directing his magic into Bruce's arm. He could feel the limb growing warmer in his hands, the crackling of magic forming in the air around them.
The wound was healing, but the scientist was still turning.
Harry wracked his mind, thinking of something- anything- to do to calm down the Hulk.
Music tames the beast.
Harry thought back to the time in his first year when he, Ron and Hermione had to play the flute in order to get past Fluffy. He wondered- he hoped- that maybe, it would work.
Clearing his throat, Harry began to sing softly, unsure of himself at first. Bruce's hand was still clutched between his own palms, and Harry could feel the muscles rippling beneath the man's toughening skin. But still, he sang.
"Hey little train! Wait for me!
I was held in chains but now I'm free
I'm hanging in there, don't you see
In this process of elimination
Hey little train! We are all jumping on
The train that goes to the Kingdom
We're happy, Ma, we're having fun
It's beyond my wildest expectation
Hey little train! We are all jumping on
The train that goes to the Kingdom
We're happy, Ma, we're having fun
And the train ain't even left the station."
Harry's voice choked up as he finished the song, opening his eyes and hoping that he didn't see the Hulk staring back at him.
Instead, Bruce was watching him with sad eyes, face red with embarrassment and sorrow.
"Bruce," Harry whispered, relief flooding through him.
"Harry, I'm so sorry," Bruce shook his head. "I... I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry, buddy."
"It's okay," Harry glanced down at Bruce's healed hand, and gave it a small squeeze, before looking back up at the man with a small, sad smile. "I'm just glad you're okay."
"I am, kid. Thanks to you, I am."