Babysitting
CHAPTER 12: BABYSITTING
A week before Harry’s birthday, Tony had to leave for a business meeting.
While Harry wasn’t used to his dad being gone for more than half a day, the child understood Tony had to work. He attended some meetings before, but none were held outside New York, or the tower for that matter. Since stepping down as CEO of the company, he’d been able to dodge a lot of them. And since Harry arrived, Pepper managed to arrange all the meetings Tony had to attend to be held at Stark Towers (it’s still Stark Towers in paper regardless of everyone calling it Avengers Tower).
Unfortunately, even Pepper’s powers could not control every decision. Though he’s no longer CEO, as the owner of Stark Industries, Tony still needs to be present at every contract renewal with the US military. It’s all well and good but the meeting must be in Pentagon, and Pentagon is in DC.
It’s not the time that became the problem. The chopper can easily take him to DC in an hour. Unless there’s an issue with the contract or some military general suddenly thinks they’re better engineers than Tony, the meetings only last for a few hours at most. No, time wasn’t the issue. It’s the distance.
Whenever Tony’s in a meeting in the tower, it was always easy for Harry to reach him. He could simply ask JARVIS or take the elevator down to the conference room levels. Either way, Harry knew his dad’s just close by.
DC, though. That’s more than 200 miles away. No matter how hard Tony convinced his son that he can still call anytime, and that if he was really needed, Tony would fly back in a second, Harry wasn’t swayed. He sulked all day and glared at everything, including his stuffed friends. Tony almost said fuck it and skip the meeting, but they need the contracts or else it’ll go to someone stupid like Hammer Tech. Now, that’s a recipe for disaster.
He also thought about just bringing Harry along, but quickly shut the thought down. Harry has therapy the morning before Tony has to leave. While Tony might not be tired after the session, Harry will surely be. He’ll not bring a cranky child in a room full of men in suits and uniforms.
Clint, bless him, offered to babysit. Tony might have been wary at first because Clint’s like a child himself, but Phil assured him he’ll likely be doing most of the babysitting anyway.
Harry’s never been babysat before. Every time Tony’s not around, JARVIS usually keeps an eye on him. So, when Tony told him his uncles Clint and Phil would babysit him, Harry suddenly thinks it was awesome. He hadn’t appeared to realize all his aunts and uncles have been doing that with him before, because they always called it visiting or aunt/uncle day rather than babysitting.
Still, it meant Tony could go to DC without having to worry about his son. Much.
He took Harry to his therapy session that morning, spent an hour working on his tablet in the waiting room because Dr. Granger wanted to talk to Harry alone, talked to Pepper over the phone and assured her he won’t be more than fashionably late, spent another hour worrying what took his son so long, got surprised when the door burst open and Harry all but jumping into his arms, had a quick but detailed discussion with Dr. Granger about putting Harry in for a session every two weeks, took his son on a detour for early lunch at Burger King (they drive-thrued), kissed him all over his face about ten times and hugged him about twenty, dropped him on Clint and Phil’s floor, and then he boarded the chopper.
He did all of that while being 10 minutes early for the meeting. Even Pepper looked surprised. She didn’t look surprised, however, when Tony spent most of the meeting checking his phone for reports and updates.
It was obvious that Harry wasn’t the only one that took the distance hard.
**
Harry really likes his aunts and uncles in America.
When his daddy first told him he’s got lots of aunts and uncles, Harry was wary. He knew in his heart his father wouldn’t let anyone hurt him again, but it’s not very easy not to be afraid.
But then he met his Aunt Pepper. Harry used to be scared of her, too. He’s not anymore, because his Aunt Pepper is amazing. Even when Harry made a mess when he dropped his juice on the floor, she wasn’t mad. Instead, she smiled at him and told him to be careful next time because he might slip and get hurt; and then she helped Harry wipe the floor. Harry felt so thankful that he allowed her to pick him up and they cuddled on the couch for a long time under the blanket she gave him only a day before. He liked her ever since.
Meeting the rest of his aunts and uncles didn’t seem too bad anymore.
And he was right.
When he told Dr. Granger during their talking time that his Uncle Clint and Uncle Phil will come babysit him, she asked how he felt about that. He told her honestly that he’s excited. Maybe a bit (or a lotta) sad because his dad’s going far away on a meeting, but still excited. He told her his new aunts and uncles weren’t anything like Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. They never get mad when he’s always talking, they don’t make him do the laundry or clean their rooms, and they play with him all the time. What Dr. Granger said to him next made him wonder. She said that maybe Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were the different ones. Harry thought back to Aunt Marge who liked to listen Dudley talk, who didn’t make Dudley do the cleaning and the laundry, and who gave him lotsa toys to play with. Maybe it really was Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon who didn’t know how to be an aunt or uncle.
He thought of that while he watched his Uncle Clint hang papers with red dots on them on the doorway for Harry to hit with his toy bow and arrow. He thought of that when his Uncle Phil sat by his bed when it was time for a nap, and brushed his hair until he fell asleep. He thought of that especially when he woke up and found Uncle Clint and Uncle Phil in the kitchen smiling at him and asking him if he had a nice dream.
He really likes his aunt and uncles in America.
**
“Harry! Your dad’s on the phone!” Clint yelled from the living room.
Harry cheered and pushed his drawing aside, eager to talk to his father. Phil chuckled and picked up the fallen sheets on the floor, calling out to the child not to run in the hallways when he heard the playroom door burst open.
Harry is possibly the most well-behaved child Phil ever met. Ironic, really, when the child’s father is none other than Tony Stark. They did a few puzzles for a while after his dad dropped him until Clint went on to teach him archery. Phil wasn’t sure at first if Tony would allow his five-year-old to shoot things with an arrow, but JARVIS assured him Mr. Barton cleared it with Sir beforehand. When it became obvious that Harry’s all to ready for a nap, Phil took him to bed and stayed until he fell asleep. They gave him a healthy snack of his choosing when he woke up, watched a documentary on whales, and just a minute ago, Phil and Harry were drawing their own superhero costumes. Harry’s looked a lot like a wizard; with all the cloak, pointed hat, and wand. Phil would love to see the look on Tony Stark’s face when he finds out his son wants to be a magician. (Although, he’s pretty sure Tony would simply smile and buy his kid a wizard costume.)
Harry is possibly the most well-behaved child Phil ever met. So, when the door to the playroom opened and revealed a distressed child with an equally distressed Clint, Phil was quick on his feet and pulled Harry into his own arms, shushing the sobbing boy and swaying him from side to side.
To Clint, he asked, “What happened?”
Clint looked sadly at the five-year-old and shrugged. “Tony said he’s going to be late. I’m not sure what else is said because Harry ran out of the room. I had to follow after him and told Tony we’ll call later.”
“Oh, little one,” Phil cooed. “It’s alright.”
“I want daddy,” cried Harry on his shoulder.
“Mr. Barton, Agent Coulson, Sir is trying to connect a video call. Would you like me to put him on screen?” JARVIS announced.
Both men sighed when Harry let out another sob. “Might as well,” answered Phil.
Tony’s face suddenly appeared on the huge TV screen in Harry’s playroom. “Harry!” cried the man immediately, not even bothering to greet Phil and Clint. “C’mon, baby, talk to me.”
“Daddy?” Harry lifted his face off of Phil’s shoulder and peeked around him.
“The screen, kidlet,” offered Clint.
At the sight of his father, Harry burst into tears for the third time but he stopped hiding in Phil’s neck. “You said you be back soon,” accused the child.
The billionaire looked nearly in tears himself. “I am, I will,” Tony frantically assured his son. “I’m only going to be a little bit late, sweetheart. There’s a big storm in DC and dad’s just got off the phone with Uncle Steve. He and Aunt Nat are gonna come get me and Aunt Pep in the quinjet before they head back to New York from Mexico. Remember that? Uncle Steve and Aunt Nat are on a mission in Mexico and they're coming home tonight, right?”
Harry wiped his tears on the back of his hand and nodded, hiccups still coming off every few seconds. “Back before bedtime?” he asked in between them.
“Yes, totally. I’ll be there for bath time and bedtime, kiddo.”
That seemed enough for Harry because he smiled shakily. “Okay. Love you, daddy. Be careful,” Harry blew him kisses like how Natasha taught him.
Tony laughed from the screen, clearly relieved that Harry had stopped crying and wouldn’t hate him. “Love you, too, sweetheart. Go wash your face. You’ve got snot all over your shirt!”
Harry squirmed on Phil’s arms until Phil placed him back on the floor. As soon as he did, he ran out of the room, most likely towards his bathroom to do as he’s told. “I got him,” Clint said to both Phil and Tony, leaving the room in pursuit of Harry without waiting for a response.
Tony dragged a shaky hand on his face. “Should’ve taken a quinjet,” he muttered. “Most flights are canceled until the storm passes, and it’s too dangerous to take the chopper.”
“You made the right call,” Phil reassured the father. “I’d really rather console a kid because his dad’s going to be late than have to tell him his helicopter crashed. Please don’t make me do that.”
“No chance,” declared Tony. “I’m not risking it, Agent. I know I have to be much more careful, now that I have a kid waiting for me back home.”
“Glad to hear that, Stark.”
—and it was. Between all the Avengers and Clint alone, Phil had been pulling his hair in worry. Every one of them is reckless, even Natasha at some point. There’s not a mission that goes by that Phil didn’t drag one of them to medical. He’d really, really hate it if he had to tell the little boy outside the room that his dad is hurt because he’s been fighting.
“Crying fit aside, was he good?” Tony asked seriously.
"Harry's honestly the best kid I know, Tony. You have nothing to worry about. Although," Phil paused for a moment, forming the right words to avoid any sort of panic from the billionaire. "We were drawing earlier, and I seem to notice he's hunching too closely to the paper. I was just about to ask him about it when you called. It might be nothing, of course, but have you ever thought of taking him to an optometrist?"
"Jesus," cursed Tony. "I never noticed, or I guess I just didn't put two and two together. He's been doing that when reading his books, too. I thought his arms or head might just be tired since he's fine watching movies from the couch. Can you please ask him tonight? I want to make sure before I have JARVIS send me a list of all the eye doctors in New York. God, this kid's going to have so many doctors in his life. We're meeting with his dentist this weekend," sighed Tony.
Phil nodded sympathetically. "It's fine, Tony. I really would not have noticed if I wasn't looking too closely. I'll ask him right after this call and I'll send you a text. And don't worry about Harry collecting doctors. Most children have them, anyway."
"Right, yeah. I suppose," Tony responded as if trying to calm himself. "Thanks for watching him. I won't be any later than 8 but could you feed him dinner if I don't get back by 7?"
"No worries, Tony. See you later."
The man thanked him again before they ended the call. Phil then made his way out of the playroom to find his partner and the kid they were watching. He thought he heard voices in the kitchen earlier when he was still talking to Tony so he tried there first.
True enough, Harry was on the counter sitting crossed leg while Clint stood in front of him. They were both digging their fists into a box of Lucky Charms.
“You’re spoiling his dinner,” admonished Phil lightly from the hallway.
Harry giggled when Clint startled. “This is appetizer, Phil!” came the practiced excuse.
“Harry, come here for a sec,” ordered Phil softly, letting Harry follow him to the living room. He pulled one of the random books on the shelf and held it in his hands until Harry came to stand in front of him. He then handed the book to the child. “Can you read this for me?” He asked, opening the book to a nonspecific page.
Harry tilted his head in confusion but did as he’s told. He began reading the paragraph out loud slowly, stuttering on some words and completely mumbling others, because Phil had somehow fished one of Tony’s books on Mechanics. The kid may have not noticed but he’s been holding the book only a few inches away.
“Very good, Harry,” praised Phil, making Harry beam happily. He took the book from the kid’s hand and held it further. Then, he asked again, “Can you read this for me this far?”
Harry’s green eyes squinted in frustration and he shook his head. “Some. It’s too far,” he told Phil seriously.
It wasn’t too far. Phil only held it a little more than two feet away. He thought if he’d slowly ease the reading material further and further, he’ll be able to tell the child’s father how bad the vision might be.
Putting the book back on the shelf, Phil crouched to Harry’s level. “Does your head hurt sometimes, Harry? Have you ever felt dizzy or nauseous when looking at things far away?”
Harry nodded immediately.
“I thought so. Why haven’t you told anyone? Your dad especially?”
“It always hurt before. It’s okay if I read close,” responded the five-year-old.
Phil took Harry’s hand and led him to the couch to sit. “If you’re hurt in any way, kid, you have to tell adults, okay? Your dad would always want to know.”
“Oh,” responded Harry surprised even though he shouldn’t be. “Is he gonna be mad I didn’t tell? I swear, Uncle Phil— I didn’t know I had to.”
“Mad? Of course, not,” said Phil. “Now, go wash your hands and make sure your Uncle Clint isn’t causing trouble. I’ll see what I can find in the kitchen and make us something for dinner.”
Harry grinned, nodded, and sprinted to go looking for Clint. Phil’s half-sure he’s playing with the remote helicopter he bought for the kid.
Set up that optometrist -Coulson
Phil tucked his phone back in his pocket and strolled to the kitchen. He hopes he can find something other than Kraft mac n’ cheese.