Harley Keener
"Hey old man! It's been awhile!"
Before Peter or Tony even saw him, they could hear his voice. This country boy with a heavy drawl and a burst of energy that seemed endless. It rolled off of him and affected those around him.
And he came into view slowly. His curly, ashy blonde hair being the first thing either noticed. Then came the the proud face, with a strong jaw and a crooked nose from when he broke it by smashing it with a hammer, and then his messy, unkempt clothes that was loose on his lanky frame. And well, Harley keener.
He didn't hesitate to bound over and pounce, hugging the esteemed scientist. Tony was quick to hug back. Like breathing, he ruffled Harley's hair in the same way he had ruffled Peter's and Wanda's. He'd probably ruffle vision's hair if he had any. Knowing that Tony cared for a kid before, Peter could see why he was so endeared to young geniuses.
As Harley pulled away, his eyes caught on Peter. His gaze looked him up and down, taking in everything about the kid in front of him. That strong build in a thin frame, the messy chestnut curls, the goofy lopsided smile... He let go of Tony and held out a hand to Peter. "Harley Keener! Pleasure to meet you."
And he didn't hesitate in taking Harley's hand "Peter Parker. The pleasure is mine."
So maybe Tony was right. From this introduction alone, it seemed the two boys would get along great. He had no doubts that it would end up that way, so seeing the bond start to plant its roots warmed his fatherly heart.
"You Tony's other science kid?" Harley asked, his voice light hearted and full.
Peter nodded enthusiastically. "I'm an intern!"
"Oh, smart, smart then? I can tell we'll get along great.”
Tony couldn't help but laugh as Harley looped an arm around Peter's shoulders, leading him away. Again, visions of his lab up in flames came to mind, but it was the trade off to letting all the kids he looked after have friends not only their own age, but that shared their interests.
Hopefully Peter would tell Harley about Spider-Man, because the designs they'd be able to come up with together would surpass Tony's ideas in a heartbeat. Maybe he was overestimating their abilities, but Tony felt like that wasn't the case.
During the entire drive back to the tower, Harley and Peter talked nonstop about the things they liked, their scientific heroes and passions, all while Tony listened. He wasn't there in those moments. Physically, maybe, but the two were in their own world. Tony would leave them to it.
He wished he had friends growing up, normal ones he could enjoy science with. If he'd be allowed, he'd make sure all his science brats got to experience it. After all, while Peter was his only biological son, he cared for the others like they were his own flesh and blood. He didn't need blood ties to care for others.
And there was something... whimsical, almost, as he listened to Harley and Peter talk. Maybe it was because he saw all the good sides of himself in these kids he cared about. None of the bad.
Unless you counted their self destructive selflessness.
But it was the spark of youth and just pure joy that bounced between them as they switched from science to Star Wars to their favorite heroes. They had quickly formed a connection between them that would be pretty unshakable, even if they departed now.
Tony had few friends like that. His closest people were Pepper, Rhodey and Happy after all. And well, he was close to the Avengers, but never as close as he wanted.
“Old man, what’s with your wrist?” Harley asked suddenly.
Tony glanced up, seeing both of the kids eyes his cast. He sighed, really not wanting to dive deep into what happened. Peter sorta knew why Tony’s wrist was broken, but it didn’t seem like he 100% knew. “Broke it. Had some micro fractures that made my entire wrist splinter when I went to pick up something.”
“How the hell do you get micro fractures in your wrist?” There was confusion in Harley’s face as he flexed his own wrist. “I’d imagine some force would have to have been isolated there to cause that. Did something grab you?”
Tony didn’t answer, flickering his gaze to the cast, seeing the sprawling signatures from his teammates. Except that cast lacked a crucial name. One that wasn’t allowed near Tony after the whole incident went down.
“Wait, did Steve do that?” Peter muttered. He knew the avengers were upset at Steve, but to think it would be because he made the decision to snap Tony’s wrist…
Again, Tony didn’t say anything, sighing again as he looked up at the two, worry more etched in their features than before. “Yes.” It was finally said, a breath of an answer. “He didn’t agree with me on something and grabbed my wrist. That icicle doesn’t know his own strength.”
“What would warrant that?” Harley shouted, nearly startling Happy who was driving all of them back.
“Nothing you two need to worry about. The team disagrees with him anyway.”
Harley didn’t seem satisfied with that answer, slinking back in his seat. What would constitute grabbing that hard? Tony wasn’t a bad guy in the slightest. He made bad decisions in the past, sure, but he really went out of his way to help people nowadays. His growing army of science children definitely pointed that direction. Maybe Steve just had a perpetual stick up his ass that caused him to lash out. Either way, any ideas revolving being near said hero dissolved the moment Harley’s eyes landed in Tony’s wrist.
“Either way, he’s pretty awful,” Peter said aloud.
Harley nodded in agreement, pouting as his spoke. “Pretty fucking awful. Unless you decided to become a villain, he has zero reason to break your wrist!”
Tony smiled at the two, both eager to defend him without question. He’d done good so far, being a role model to them both. “I appreciate you both for caring, but the team has been chewing him out since it broke. I say we let them continue doing that.”
“We could do that,” Harley stared, a devilish smile starting on his face. “Or, you can turn a blind eye as Peter and I set up elaborate pranks on him as payback.”
“Pranks? Ooo, we could get help from one of my best friends! He’s an expert Hacker!” Peter chimed in.
Harley glanced over, grinning even wider now. “I knew we’d be friends.” He turned back to Tony. “So?”
Tony huffed, smiling a bit. “I see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” At his words, the two erupted in joy, heart shaking the car with their jumping. Well, it made them happy, so Tony couldn’t really be upset if they decided to pull some pranks, especially if they’re against the guy who snapped his wrist.