Chapter 3
Harley was having a bad day.
It was Christmas Eve, most peoples favorite time of the year right?
It was snowing causing some car to crash into his parked one so luckily he didn’t get hurt, but that didn’t mean his car didn’t go through any pain.
Not only that but a week prior his Aunt May had died.
He remembered not being too close to her but she was still apart of the family and came over every holiday or get together.
Not only that but his father had died a year prior.
Meaning this would be the first Christmas without him too.
And what’s worse is he can’t help but get the feeling that he’s forgetting something, but whenever he thinks about it, it only frustrates him more.
Pepper Potts had offered to give Harley a ride and they could do their own mini Christmas with just the two of them this year.
It wasn’t perfect but it was better than nothing he supposed.
Pepper had always been close to him, working with his father as long as he could remember and becoming his step-mom for a long period of his life as well.
He knew the lost of Tony didn’t only affect him.
And maybe it was selfish of him to think that his Dad would still be there if he didn’t put strangers needs before his own and become an avenger, and that he could’ve just been a stay at home Dad for Harley.
He heard that Tony made time- travel to bring back people that were lost from the Blip.
He had been one of those people.
He knew his Father sacrificed his life for Harleys, but he wishes he could’ve at least said goodbye.
What he didn’t expect after a short awkward car ride with his step-mom to see said deceased Dad right in-front of his eyes.
Pepper let out a giant curse as Tony tried his best to lighten the mood the could definitely not be lightened on by pulling a Steve Rogers, “Language!”
Pepper grabbed a small object from her pocket and clicked a button, Harley jumped back in surprise when seeing the small object turn into a giant knife.
The girl threateningly pushed it against Tony’s neck as warm tears rolled down her cheeks.
”I don’t know who you are, but I’ll fucking kill you. Shapeshifting alien or not you do not come in the household of Pepper Potts and pretend to be my dead husband!”
Harley couldn’t move, it was hard to breath, the man infront of him looked so much like his Dad.
“Look- I know you have a lot of questions and-“
Pepper gave him another nasty stare.
”I can prove it to you Hon- if you’d just let me-“
Pepper let out a shakey breath and removed the knife still keeping a tight grip on the handle ready incase the ‘stark imposter’ attacked.
“You have 5 fucking minutes to prove yourself-“
”Ok, that’s fair alright!” Tony said raising both hands before speaking again, “Before I-before I felt myself leave. You pressed a kiss on my forehead and told me I could rest now after I said years ago I couldn’t rest without knowing you and the kids were ok. For Christmas a while ago after Loki attacked I got you this amazing gift- which you hated- it was a bunny and it had giant boo-“
Pepper had more streams of tears rolling down her eyes before cutting him off, “I think I get it now-“
She said no more as she flung herself to her husband and let herself cry and muttered something between sobs, “How are you here?”
Tony laughed, “I’m gonna be honest, I have no fucking idea. But hey seems like death had enough of me after a good old year-“
Harley still stayed frozen watching everything play before his eyes, there was his dead Dad.
His dead Dad alive.
Tony gave Pepper a reassuring smile, “I think I better see Harley before he has a heart attack hun-“
Pepper gave him watery nod and moved away as Tony made his way to his oldest son with his arms wide open.
Harley crashed into his embrace and starting balling, “You can’t do that Dad- I- I never even got to say goodbye.”
“I know Harls, I’m so sorry- it was the only way bambino- I wanted nothing more than what was best for you and your brother I felt horrible knowing it would hurt you guys-“
“Brother..?” Harley said sniffling before pulling away giving his Dad a confused look.
”Yes brother, I know he can be a little shit to you-“ Tony tried as he nervously laughed, “Remember..Peter?”
Harley took a step back, “I don’t have a brother named Peter Dad..you alright?”
Pepper placed a hand on his shoulder, “You don’t have a son named Peter honey-“
Tony felt that angry feeling inside again as he pushed Peppers hand away, “You cant tell me you forgot too Pep-“
”I was about to slap you for leaving me like that but it looks like you need to do some clearing of your mind first- and we’re waiting to tell the press about this..correct?” Pepper said the last part as more of a command and Tony nodded.
”I need to figure out how I’m alive- and most importantly I need to see Peter. Because if this is some fucking joke where you all act like you don’t know him it isn’t funny!”
Harley frowned, “Dad-“
”I know it’s Christmas Eve I’ll be back tomorrow- I- I’m going to go see my other son. And make you both stop acting like I’m crazy because I know he exists.” Tony grumbled as he began stomping to the car garage before feeling Pepper grab his shoulder and her shake her head.
”It’s too risky- what if someone sees you? Tony I have never heard of a Peter besides that one weird star-lord guy and I can assure you he is not your son he’s like some weird Demi-god or something-“
Tony looked at her with his mindset, “Pepper I know what I’m talking about, I’ll figure this out and won’t get caught I promise-“
Pepper rolled her eyes and sniffled, “You better- because if I loose you again I don’t know how I’ll manage.”