Chapter 6
The first time both Natasha and Clint had to go to work was a hard day for everyone. They'd had to leave before Harry was even awake and despite Natasha's distress, the situation couldn't wait. Phil's team had gotten into some trouble and there were very real chances that if the two assassins didn't leave immediately their old handler would die a very real death this time. It was Sam who'd pushed her out the door, assuring her that he'd be around all day and that him and Steve would take care of Harry until she got back. Though reluctant, she'd managed a nod before disappearing.
It was nearly 3 hours after she'd left that Harry woke up and wandered into Natasha's living room where Sam and Steve sat together, going through some files. They both looked up when Harry's sleepy form wandered in, tiny fists rubbing at his eyes behind his glasses, black hair sticking out in every direction. He was terrifyingly adorable and fragile looking, his fragility made all the more clear when he realized it was not his aunt waiting for him. The moment he looked up his bright green eyes widened in surprise and just a hint of fear at not seeing his aunt but instead two burly men who despite having always been kind to him had never been there in this space in this capacity before. Before the hint could grow to real fear though, Sam spoke up.
“Good morning, Harry. Sorry for the surprise, I know you're not used to seeing us in the morning.” at the words Harry blinked in surprise but seemed to relax marginally as soon as the problem at hand was addressed. He was still wary, of course, but the fear had dimmed behind curiosity. “Your aunt Nat and uncle Clint had to go to work really early. It was an emergency but they should be back tonight. Would you like some breakfast? I make really good pancakes.” He continued brightly, but the fear had returned.
“Her work is dangerous.” he said softly instead, and there was a wobble to his lips that threatened tears. “An emergency means extra danger.” Steve didn't know what came over him but before he could help himself he was up and around the coffee table, crouching down low in front of Harry. The boy started at the motion, but didn't retreat any farther than his initial flinch from the quick motions.
“Hey, I know your aunt told you all about her work, but you don't have to worry. Her and your uncle Clint are the best of the best. And your aunt loves you very much. She'll always come back to you.”
“But why did she leave?” he asked, and though the tears had receded, the lip wobble hadn't.
“Phil Coulson's in trouble. He needed their help.” at the words Harry finally nodded, shoulders sagging a bit with understanding.
“He's one of her best friends.” Harry admitted, and Steve nodded.
“Exactly. She's just gone to get him. That's all.” Harry nodded, tiny hands rubbing at his eyes again as if trying to rub away the tears that had threatened to overwhelm him. “Hey Harry?” the boy met his gaze and though the tears had abated he still looked wary. “Is it okay if I hug you?” the boy looked surprised by the question but then he nodded and Steve leaned forward, pulling the small body into a comforting hug. He felt a moment of terror that he might accidentally break the small boy but he forced the thought away, trying to share all the comfort he could. When he made to pull back, however, Harry wouldn't let go, and so rather than force the issue, Steve just stood, keeping Harry close. The boy gave a small gasp, shifting a bit to see and that's when Steve felt the cool touch of tears on his neck, understanding now why the boy hadn't wanted to let go. He gave a gentle squeeze before nodding Sam towards the kitchen.
“Come on, Harry. Let's get some breakfast. I hear you like chocolate chips. Well Sam wasn't lying when he said his pancakes were the best, and I bet if we ask real nice he'll make chocolate chip pancakes for us.” there was a small giggle followed by a sniffle and it comforted Steve into knowing the kid would be okay, but he avoided Sam's knowing gaze. He knew what his friend would say, that he was now latching onto Harry to focus on since they couldn't find Bucky, but he refused to think about it. Not when this tiny child needed his help.
The day went better than Steve had expected. Not that he'd expected that day to go poorly, but in the grand scheme of things he knew nothing about children and he'd been worried he'd somehow manage to scar the boy. Harry, on the other hand, had been quite content to stick to Steve's side.
The day had started with Steve feeling bad for the boy who always seemed to be ferried around to shield or avenger owned property and so he had Jarvis find them an old fashioned pizza parlor for them to visit for lunch - because Steve still missed things from his childhood and he knew Harry loved pizza. He'd invited Sam along too, but his friend had gotten a strange look in his eyes before waving them off. So he'd helped Harry pick out some clothes and then watched how the boy tied neat little bows on his shoes and together they'd left the tower. Stepping into the bustling streets of New York, Steve didn't think twice before scooping Harry up and out of the way onto his shoulders. His baseball cap was in the way so he pocketed it, hoping that without his uniform nobody would recognize him. It seemed he didn't have to worry because the crowd just ignored them and with a breath of relief, Steve made his way through the city, Harry on his shoulders, tiny fingers caught in his hair. He liked this anonymous feel - liked being able to walk around and enjoy everything the city had to offer without being swarmed by the press, and though Harry didn't have those things to worry about, he seemed to be enjoying himself just as much.
"Oh wow! Look at what that man is painting!" Harry exclaimed, bouncing slightly with his excitement, and Steve grinned, making his way over the the street artist spray painting galaxies on cardboard. It was amazing and Steve didn't even hesitate to buy a small one, handing it up to Harry who oohed and awed with the infectious excitement of a child. They made their way through the city like that, following whatever caught Harry's eye, and ended up with a small bag full of trinkets and prints and when they finally reached the pizza parlour and found a table Steve and Harry emptied out the bag to look at it all. As Harry looked at it all, touch reverent, he gave Steve the most awed look.
"Thank you." He said, and it was so sincere Steve could all but feel it in the air.
"You're welcome." He watched the boy marvel over the trinkets as he ordered their pizza, eyes bright with wonder, and Steve could understand now why Natasha had been so forceful in telling them to be gentle. When the pizza was brought to their table, Harry's eyes went even wider.
"Wow. This is all for us?" He asked, and Steve nodded.
"It is. Come on, lets get this stuff away so we can eat." They ever so carefully replaced everything into the little bag before they started to eat. Once Harry looked full enough to burst, Steve just smiled at him across the table.
"Where would you like to go this afternoon?" And Harry looked about ready to swoon with happiness, grinning from ear to ear.
"You pick, uncle Steve." He decided with that same grin, and so Steve nodded.
"You got it, Harry. Ready?" Harry nodded, standing on his chair and reaching for Steve.
"Ready!"
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Harry was 7 1/2 when he broke his first bone under the care of the avengers. It was also the first time Harry met Thor. Harry wanted the book on the top shelf. It was about mutants in this world but it was also about all the bad things that had happened to them. Uncle Steve had put it on the top shelf on purpose, he knew that, but nobody had actually told him he couldn't read it and he was beginning to wonder if maybe he was a mutant - after all he could talk to snakes and nobody else could do that. He was climbing the shelf because he didn't want to ask anyone in case someone actually said no and it had been going fairly well.
"Mr. Potter, your current course is unadvisable. The risk of possible injury is at 78%." Jarvis informed him, but Harry shook his head.
"I can do it, Jarvis, I'm almost there."
"If you do not reverse your course I will be forced to inform agent Romanov of your actions."
"That isn't true. You can't be forced to do anything except by uncle Tony." Harry argued, and oh the book was in reach! He lifted a hand off the shelf, swaying precariously as he reached for it. His fingers only just brushed the spine when the lightning struck just outside the windows, sending quakes through the floor. Harry lost his balance, limbs flailing for purchase, but all they found with air. He turned, catching himself on one arm and distantly heard a crack as pain swept through him. He cried out from the pain, head hitting the ground, hard. Everything went dark.
>>>
The whole tower shook with the crack of thunder and Pepper huffed out a breath, not missing how Natasha rolled her eyes.
"He has to make an entrance." She noted, and Natasha gave a smile.
"Ms. Potts, agent Romanov. Mr. Potter is in need of immediate assistance. He has fractured his left forearm and is unconscious with a minor concussion. At the moment of his injuries a wave of energy was released and all power is now down on the communal floor." Pepper barely had time to blink before Natasha was across the room, at the stairs.
"We need to get him to a hospital." Natasha said and Pepper grabbed her phone.
"I'll get a line of Clint. Ambulance or helicopter?"
"Thor."
>>>
The first thing Harry heard was beeping. He felt weird - everything was floaty but also really heavy. He opened his eyes and everything was blurry but then his glasses were carelly put on his face and he saw his aunt Tasha hovering over him.
"Where am I?" And the moment he spoke she looked so relieved.
"We're at the hospital, Harry. You fell and broke your arm and hit your head." Now the relief faded and she looked upset.
"If you wanted to know about mutants why didn't you just ask?"
"Because uncle Steve didn't want me to know."
"And you thought sneaking around was a good solution?" Harry shook his head, but he was upset too.
"I want to know too." He said, and he'd never talked back before, but it felt right. "I'm not the same as you and I want to know why. And nobody will tell me. It's not fair!" He exclaimed, and with the exclamation the electricity flickered. Harry didn't notice though, frowning with his frustration. Natasha just closed her eyes, taking a breath. When she opened them, Harry looked unsure of himself but seemed ready to stand firm. Natasha was proud of him.
"You're right, Harry. It isn't fair that we haven't talked to you about it. But it also isn't fair that you put yourself in danger instead of asking me for help." She took his good hand in hers. "I will always help you do something if it's what you really want. But as punishment for climbing the shelf when you knew you shouldn't, no TV for a week." Harry blinked in disbelief.
"That's all?" Natasha raised her eyebrow and Harry frowned.
"You aren't going to lock me in a cupboard?" He finally asked, confused, and Natasha remembered the cupboard he'd been sleeping in when she found him. It took a great amount of effort to keep her expression neutral.
"Never. And if anyone ever does that to you again I will destroy them." Harry just shook his head, exasperated.
"You can't just destroy people, aunt Tasha." Harry scolded, and Natasha smiled, squeezing his hand briefly before pulling a marker from her jacket.
"Can I sign your cast?" Harry nodded so quickly it looked like his head might come off and so Natasha leaned forward, picking the inside of the cast. She wrote get well soon with 5 x's and o's and signed it aunt Tasha. Then she handed him the marker. "So you can get other people to sign your cast too."
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Harry didn't think he'd ever had so many people caring for his injuries. He had dozens of signatures on his cast - so many in fact that he could hardly even see the white of the cast underneath. He looked up from his observations at the sound of the door and he saw his aunt come in with a large man on her heels. The man was taller than his aunt by a couple of heads, with big broad shoulders, golden hair that matched his beard, and eyes that looked much too old for his face.
"It is an honour to finally meet you, Harry Potter." The man intoned, and Harry blinked in surprise.
"Likewise." He responded, then he flushed. "I don't know your name."
"Forgive me." The man said, smile widening. And now ad he stepped into the room Harry noticed that the silver gleam he'd noticed was actually armour, a red cape hanging down the man's back. "I am Thor, a friend of your aunt. Your aunt and uncles are my brothers - and sister - of arms."
"So you fight together?"
"Aye, that we do." Harry turned the information over for a moment, watching Thor all along.
"Why do you look sorry? Aunt Tasha said that people only look sorry when they've done something they know they shouldn't have - that's why she says uncle Tony always looks sorry." The words had Thor giving a short laugh and the sound rumbled like thunder.
"I myself appear as such because it is because of my actions that you fell and caused yourself such injury."
"But it was the thunder." Harry said frowning, and Thor nodded.
"Aye." Thor agreed once again. Harry found himself frowning again.
"Do you mean that you created the thunder?" Harry asked, tentative but ever so curious, and Thor nodded.
"Aye." He repeated. "That was me." Harry just stared, trying to make sense of it.
"How?"
"In your terms, you would call it magic." Harry's eyes widened in wonder.
"Can I see?" Thor looked at Natasha who was watching her nephew fondly. When Thor caught her eye, she shrugged, offering a smile.
"It's fine with me." That nodded, moving closer to Harry.
"Such things are best shown out of doors." He reached for Harry but stopped just short of touching. "May I?" Harry nodded and reached out, pausing with a bit of a pout at his trapped arm. Thor lifted him with no effort, holding him in a single arm. Harry couldn't help his giggle.
"Look how tall I am aunt Tasha!" His aunt just smiled at him, following him and Thor outside. He set Harry down carefully.
"Ready then?" Harry nodded excitedly, eyes glued to Thor, but Natasha was watching her nephew out of the corner of her eye she saw Thor raise his arm, hammer pointed towards the sky, and the clouds gathered immediately, thunder rumbling, and she watched Harry's eyes widen in awe. The first strand of lightning struck and Natasha watched Harry's eyes go bright with wonder, but she also didn't miss the ethereal glow that seemed to surround her nephew in the reflection of this magically induced lightning.