Good and a Little Bad
CHAPTER 4: GOOD AND A LITTLE BAD
In hindsight, taking Harry to get his shots was not what he expected.
The fault rests entirely on his own, having not realized needles and toddlers have never really mixed well together.
It was all going well for Tony and Harry. Getting his eyes checked was relatively easy. The boy knew how to follow instructions very well. Dr. Mason even praised him for such behavior and gave him a lollipop. Harry now wears adorable little specs. Tony took about a hundred photos of his son with his new glasses, had one printed and framed, and now resides on his bedside table along with their first picture together- both of them wearing pajamas in the kitchen while eating ice cream.
The father thought this examination will be like with the optometrist. He forgot about the small detail of Harry getting his shots. Harry had cried a few times since Tony adopted him but mostly due to his nightmares but he always cradled him back to sleep each time. He was getting used to the nightmares and was extremely glad it no longer happened as frequently and as severe as their first few days together.
But seeing his baby shriek and cry from the pain the needle brought scared him to death. He almost pushed the doctor away just to stop Harry's tears.
"Hurts, daddy!" Harry wailed into Tony's chest.
"I know, buddy. I know," Tony comforted, running a hand through the boy's hair. "You were such a brave boy, weren't you? My brave little man"
Harry nodded, face still buried on his father's chest. He then placed Harry on a play mat when he calmed down and let him play with lego blocks.
Dr. Sturgis went on to warn him that Harry might develop a fever the next few days. He'd have to keep him hydrated and feed him soft, warm meals preferably chicken soup and rice porridge.
"Alright. Thanks, Brian."
Dr. Sturgis smiled at Tony's improvements. He'd known him since he was in high school. His father was the younger man's doctor as a child. It's nice to see him be a better father than Howard. Harry Stark really was an enigma to be able to bring out the best of Tony. There was a detail that was bothering him though- his scar. It was unique. Too unique, in fact. And very noticeable. It would not do good for the boy being the adopted son of a famous billionaire superhero. But what caught his attention was the scar itself. The tissue looked as if it was still healing yet he'd been informed that the scar was there even before he came to the orphanage.
"Mr. Stark, I know this isn't my place but have you ever thought of removing the scar on his forehead?" Dr. Sturgis asked.
Tony paused for a second. "It's not hurting him, is it? I don't see anything wrong with it. It's actually kinda cool."
"I'm not quite sure. I don't think he's in pain because of it but I've noticed it isn't fully healed yet even after months. Keeping it open may cause infections. There are ways to help it close up completely and painlessly and that is easy enough. Laser treatment can hide it almost completely after," Dr. Sturgis breathed before continuing, hoping not to offend him, "Also, the scar might make people recognize him more. This is purely based on my experience but kids can be extra mean. He might get called names."
Tony sighed. He knew he had a point. He wouldn't like it if his son got called scarface. "I see... I'll think about it. But Harry still has the final decision even if he's only three."
He called Harry over and gently lifted him to sit on his lap.
"Harry, I want you to be honest, okay? What do you think about this scar right here? Does it hurt?" He asked and brushed a thumb over the lightning bolt.
He shook his head no. "Okay, I guess." The boy mumbled.
"Do you like it or would you want it gone? If you want it gone, we can have someone look at it."
Harry thought for a moment. It wasn't hurting but sometimes the kids called him silly names because of the scar.
"Gone, daddy. Pwease?"
"Sure, bud." Tony ruffled his hair.
He'd been warned. He'd been told Harry might develop a fever and that it was normal and he shouldn't panic.
Long story, short. He panicked.
Tony was busy reading instructions on how to make Eggo waffles when he felt a soft tug on his shirt. He looked down to see his son all teary and snotty. He had one end of his large giraffe blanket over his head while the other was dragged on the floor behind him.
"Daddy, my head huwts." Harry moaned.
Tony placed the back of his hand to the child's forehead and felt him heating up. He immediately pulled Harry up to sit on the counter while frantically calling his pediatrician. He was full-on panicking he hadn't even noticed his son was already falling asleep on the counter.
"Brian! Harry's sick. What should I do?!"
"Tony, relax. I told you it's normal. Keep him hydrated and feed him chicken soup. You can give him acetaminophen to relieve the pain. He'll be alright." Dr. Sturgis instructed on the phone. He was actually expecting the call so he wasn't surprised to hear the panic in Tony's voice.
"okay.. okay. got that. Thanks!" He ended the call and focused back on his son.
Finding him already asleep on the counter, he lifted him up in his arms and carried him back to his room.
Harry was moaning, shivering, and sweating. The worried father sat on the floor beside his bed all day, wiping the little boy's forehead, making him drink enough fluids, take his medicine, and feeding him chicken soup. He forgot to shower, change his clothes, and only had protein bars to eat.
Pepper came over once and forced Tony to leave the room and eat something other than energy bars while she watches Harry. Twenty minutes was already too long for Tony to be away from his son.
For the next two days, Harry was extra clingy. Though getting better, he'd not let Tony out of his sight and had his arms wrapped around his daddy's neck every time he takes him out of his room.
On the morning of the fourth day, Harry was well enough to jump on his bed. He was glad both of them got through the fever without causing a major catastrophe.
If his Hare-bear will get sick again, Tony would make sure he'll be ready.
It's been two months since he adopted Harry and he was surprisingly finding fatherhood natural. Every morning he'd peek into his son's room to find him either still sleeping or quietly playing with his toys. Harry would always gasp softly in surprise whenever Tony came and run to him.
Harry likes to bathe by himself, telling his dad he needs his 'piracy'. It always amused Tony how his little boy tries to act older than he actually is. Although he does have JARVIS monitor him in the bath. No matter how many times Harry bathed by himself, Tony can't let him go on without supervision.
He'd usually take Harry to the office and let him sit in during meetings. All the staff signed full non-disclosure agreements so he didn't worry about the media getting ahold of the information. Only those in higher positions know him as Tony's son. Everybody else thinks Harry is Pepper's nephew. His caller her 'Aunt Pepper' made the case much stronger.
When Harry isn't sitting in meetings, he had Happy take the boy for a stroll. His son would often come running back to his office smiling and telling Tony of the many adventures he had at the park, or the zoo, or whatever place Happy decided to take him to.
His experiments in the lab continued without so much a glitch. He still dabbled with dangerous technology. However, he does have Jarvis remind him of the time. He can no longer stay cooped up in the basement for too long and Tony discovered he wasn't against it as much as he thought.
At night, Tony would always tuck the boy in. He'd sometimes read him a bedtime story if he asked. But Harry mostly just falls right to sleep especially after such a tiring day. He'd kiss his forehead, order Jarvis to tell him if the boy wakes up or had a nightmare, and then head back to his lab.
The weekends were reserved for father and son bonding. They had tried (and failed) baking, raced in go-karts in the backyard with Pepper, Rhodey, or Happy depending on who is available, watched Jurassic on repeat, Tony trying to teach Harry to drive his electric ride-on jungle jeep, and even dressing up as Star Wars characters.
Harry was the happiest kid on earth. His daddy was the bestest ever! He was so happy he barely even had nightmares anymore. He can't even remember what the nightmares were about. He was slowly coming out of his shyness around people. Aside from his father, Aunt Pepper, Uncle Rhodey, and Uncle Happy, Harry knew no one else. There were those people who work with his dad but they were always busy and on their phones. His daddy was busy but even he wasn't always talking on the phone!
It was the best two months of Tony Starks' life.
Yet, Tony must also come to realize that there were ups and downs when it comes to parenting.
Harry had his first tantrum the morning the day before his scheduled laser surgery to remove the scar on his forehead. They were eating breakfast tacos on the kitchen counter when Tony made the mistake of reminding him of his surgery the day after. Harry had heard of surgery immediately thought of getting cut up on a table.
Soon enough, the little boy was kicking and screaming 'No!' again and again, throwing his fork and plate across the room. Tony didn't know what to do. He thought Harry wanted to get rid of the scar. Had he changed his mind?
"No! no! no!" Harry shrieked. "No suwgey, daddy! Huwts! No!"
Tony was about to tell him it wouldn't hurt and that he won't have agreed to do it if it would when Harry jumped out of his chair and ran up to his room, leaving a flabbergasted father in the kitchen.
It took Tony about three minutes before realizing his son just had a tantrum before running after him.
"Come on, Harry. Open the door, please." Tony begged.
"Go away!" The boy cried.
"Harry Anthony, open this door right now!" He ordered. "You haven't even let me explain before throwing a tantrum and running away from me, young man!"
Harry cried even more as he heard his father's tone. He had never used that tone to him before. "You Aunt-Pepper-mad at me." He said quietly in between sobs but loud enough for Tony to hear. He had to chuckle secretly at the use of Pepper-mad.
"I'm not Aunt-Pepper-mad at you, Harry. I'm just daddy-mad. See? I'm not even daddy-mad anymore. I just want a cuddle with my baby boy. Just open this door and we'll talk, alright?" He coaxed gently. He heard shuffling from the other side and a click of the lock. The moment Harry opened his door, he was lifted and placed on Tony's hip.
Harry still had tears running down his face when he leaned in closer to the man's chest. "I'm sorry, daddy."
Tony sighed. Getting mad at Harry was impossible. He was just too cute and sweet. "There, now. I'm not angry at you, bud. I know you're scared but throwing things and running away isn't the solution."
Harry only nods and continued to cry.
"Laser surgery won't hurt, champ. I promise. I would not have asked you if you want it removed if it so much as hurts. Daddy won't let anything hurt you, won't he?"
His son finally stopped weeping and looked up. With a quiet 'no', Tony carried the boy back downstairs.