Turning Out
Harley raises a brow as Peter throws his bag down. He watches with piqued interest as Peter slides into the seat across from him and hides his head in his arms. Harley frowns slightly. Ned sits down beside him and MJ sits beside Peter, opposite Ned. Harley moves his leg out and nudges Peters foot with his own. Peter loops his ankle around Harley's as a response.
"Gross," MJ remarks. "The two of you are like an old married couple." Peter lifts his head and sticks his tongue out at her, to which she copies.
"Are you feeling okay, dude?" Ned asks, and Harley glances to him. Peter sighs and nods, reaching out and tearing off a corner of Harley's sandwich.
"Yeah, just a rough patrol last night," Peter says.
"I'll say," Harley adds. "You were out 'til two in the morning." MJ and Peter fasten Harley with the same expression.
"You track my suit logs?" Peter asks, somewhat incredulously. Harley scoffs.
"Damn right I do," He says. "Can't let my only brother masquerade as a spandex swinging twink without keeping an eye on him."
"Har har," Peter sasses back, and nabs another piece of Harley's lunch; two carrot sticks.
"Isn't that what Ned is for?" MJ wonders. Ned shakes his head.
"No, I'm the Guy in The Chair. I help Peter with all the technical stuff; Harley is like a glorified supervisor."
"Nedward is right," Harley continues. "He's the Becky to Peter's Sue, while I'm the Santana to his Brittany." Peter glares.
"Did you just call me dumb?" He asks. MJ waves it off.
"Never mind that; did you just make a GLEE reference?" She demands. Harley winks.
"Believe it," He says, and the bell rings.
When the final bell goes, Harley opens the passenger seat of the Audi and wrinkles his nose.
"Rhodey?" He asks. Rhodey fixes him with an unimpressed glare.
"Am I that uncool?"
"Rhodey!" Peter exclaims, crawling over the backseat to hug the mans shoulders. His smile returns.
"Tony sent me to pick you boys up; he's got a surprise back home for you," He says. Harley perks as Rhodey pulls away from the curb.
"Is it a tiger?"
"Harley why-"
"I bet he bought us Audi's." Harley continues. Peter shakes his head.
"Too obvious," He says. "It's probably a puppy or something." Rhodey raises a brow and meets Peters eye in the mirror. Peter brightens at Rhodeys expression. "Holy shit was I right?!" Rhodey nods his head back and forth as though contemplating.
"Close," He says, and the boys erupt with excitement. Rhodey grins as he pulls into the garage. The boys don't bother with grabbing their backpacks, leaving Rhodes to loop one over each arm as Harley jams his hand against the elevator.
"Rabbit." Peter says. Harley shakes his head.
"Minion."
"Shut up." Rhodey chimes as the doors close. The boys continue to fire off guesses at each other for the ride before bursting into the penthouse. Happy has strung up a banner that reads congratulations, and Pepper wears a box-like pink dress. Tony and May stand on either side of her, and Happy stands next to May. Rhodey drops the boys' backpacks and loops an arm around Tony's shoulder. Harley looks as though he's going to start vibrating with the way his feet rock back and forth. Peter is looking between the five adults expectantly.
"What is it?" He asks, eyes shining. May grins and pulls a shirt out from behind her back. Peter tilts his head as he looks at it. "Iron-Son?" He reads. He exchanges a look with Harley as Tony pulls an identical shirt out from behind his back. Harley smiles oddly.
"I love the matching shirts, don't get me wrong..." He says.
"But we were expecting something a little more..." Peter trails off as Pepper pulls a third shirt from behind her back. Harley's eyes go wide.
The shirt is black with white writing; similar to Harley and Peters, but is barely the width of Tony's bicep. On it reads the words 'Iron-Daughter'. Peters jaw drops before he launches into a squeal.
"Oh my GOD!" He squeals, hopping in place and yanking on Harley's arm.
"This is so much better than a puppy." Harley breathes, eyes wide and excited. Tony turns and hits Rhodey's shoulder.
"You told them my daughter was a puppy?" He asks in mock horror. Rhodey yelps and laughs.
"Pete guessed!" He says.
"And you didn't dispute it?" Tony gasps. May laughs before turning back to Harley and Peter. His chest warms at the sight of Peters eyes growing teary.
"Oh honey," She coos. Peter sniffles and Harley turns to him with a smile. Three tears have leaked down his cheeks.
"You soft, Parker?" He teases, even though he knows the answer is 'abso-fucking-lutely'.
"Shut up, Keener," Peter breathes and wipes his face, smile growing wide. Pepper giggles.
"Don't worry Peter," She says. "Tony fainted when I told him." She winks to May as Happy guffaws. Tony sputters and Harley laughs.
"You didn't tell me that!" Happy accuses.
"When is she due?" Harley asks, eyes shining as he drags Peter toward Pepper.
"About six months," Pepper smiles. Peter goes suddenly stoic.
"I don't think I can last that long," He says honestly, and May laughs.
"Trust me, it'll go by faster than you think," She says warmly. Pete smiles and Harley turns back to Pepper.
"What's our schedule like?" He asks.
"Doctors appointments every two weeks, just because I am a bit older," Pepper says and Peter nods sagely. "But we don't really have one." Harley blinks and mentally steps back.
"Pep, with all my respect for you, trust me when I say you'll want a schedule," Harley says. "You'll want to start the nursery around the fifth month mark - that's what my Mom did with Bill and-" Harley cuts off his animated launch and something glasses over his eyes. Peter frowns.
"Harls?" He asks. Harley turns to him and blinks.
"Yeah," He says and blinks again. "Yeah I'm just... I think I might go lay down." Pepper frowns and puts a hand on Harleys shoulder.
"Are you sure, sweetie?" She asks, and Harley's heart pangs a bit. He nods stiffly.
"Yeah," He says, and slips his arm out of Peters before retreating to his room. He doesn't bother ignoring the worried glances that pass him by. He closes the door behind him and starfishes on his bed. He stars at the popcornless ceiling and sighs.
"F.R.I?" He asks.
"Yes?"
"Call 'Billie-bean'," He sighs. He rolls onto his stomach as the ringing of the dial fills the room. He stares at his bedside table; empty.
"Harley?" His heart lifts, if even a little bit.
"Hey Billie," He says, trying to sound cheerful.
"Hey, you okay?" She asks, and Harley smiles sadly.
"Yeah... Pep's pregnant, so they surprised Pete and I today," He trails.
"Wow," He can hear her smiling through the phone. "That's great; having a kid-sister will do you some good." It sounds pained, and Harley sniffles. A tear runs down his face.
"I'm sorry I left," He chokes. Billie is silent on the other end. He hears her take a shaky breath.
"It's okay," She whispers.
"I'm sorry I ran away and found a new family," He cries.
"It's okay." She says again.
"I'm not trying to replace you I swear-"
"Harley, it's okay," She sniffs. "It's okay, Mama and I can share you with Stark." It pulls another sob from his throat.
"I'm so sorry Billie-bean." He cries.
"You aren't ready," Her voice is wavering, and he hears her breath hitch. "It's okay; I can wait until you are."
"I love you," He gasps. He imagines her nodding.
"I love you too," She whispers, and the line goes dead. Harley sobs; curls into a ball and fists his hands against his head. He wants to scream.
"Harley you're in distress, shall I alert Mr. Stark?" F.R.I.D.A.Y. asks. Harley shakes his head and wails.
"Peter," He begs.
"Alerting Mr. Parker-honorary-Stark." Harley chokes a feeble laugh and tucks his knees beneath his chin. He hears Peter's padding footsteps rushing down the hall.
"Harley?" He calls through the door. Harley sniffs and uncurls himself slightly.
"Come in," He whimpers. He doesn't watch Peter slip inside the room, but he feels the dip of the bed when Peter clambers on. Harley rolls himself over to face Peter. He sniffles again. "Hey." Peter tries to smile.
"Hey," He says, curling to match Harley. "You feeling okay?" Harley nods.
"Better," He acquiesces, and Peter nods.
"Alright," He whispers. "We can work with 'better'." There are no more words exchanged between them and Tony has to wake them up for dinner.
Harley seems to have cheered up immensely; nothing a remedy of Rhodeys burgers and Mays embarrassing childhood stories of Peter can't fix. He and Peter put on their shirts and revel in Rhodey calling them 'the Twins', and after a movie, May shows them a picture she'd taken of both boys kissing either side of Peppers swelling stomach. Peter claims to hate it.
Harley uses it to fill his empty bedside table.