Leave the Light On
Two weeks after Harley and Tony's fight, which had been miraculously remedied with the help of May, the two boys sit in the room across from Tony and Peppers. They're backs are pressed against each others, sitting in the middle of the room. Harley's hand sits over top of Peters on the floor.
"You okay?" Peter asks. Harley nods, only slightly jarring Peter.
"Yeah," He breathes, and they lapse back into silence. Ten minutes later, Peters ears perk. He nudges Harley and stands.
"They're back!" He says, and Harley smiles alongside his brother. The elevator opens as they turn the corner into the living room and Tony's shining smile is the first thing they see. He holds up two cans of paint triumphantly. Pepper is smiling lovingly beside him, one hand cradling the bottom of her stomach.
"Let's get ready for a baby!"
Forty-five minutes later, MJ has joined them, and the walls have been trimmed. Peter crouches on the ceiling to paint the top half of the room, while Harley and Tony do the bottom. MJ and Pepper take time stenciling the flower patterns that will encompass the right adjacent wall. Tony and Harley each give each other royal blue swatches on arms and cheeks, and Peter dips down to surprise MJ with a kiss once or twice, making her yelp and smile each time.
The five of them sit sprawled across the floor as they break for lunch, letting the paint dry. Peters head is in MJs lap, who sits with her back against Harley. MJ is brushing Peters bangs with her fingers.
"You're gonna be a great big brother," She says, and Peter looks up at her with a crooked grin.
"Yeah?" He asks, all cheeky, and MJ grins.
"What about me?" Harley pipes suddenly and MJ elbows him in the ribs. Tony laughs loudly, leaning into Peppers side.
Surprisingly, Harley has the most steady hand when it comes to helping MJ paint the intricate pink and gold flower design. Peter watches them both with a lovestruck grin.
"Harls you should take up henna," He calls out, and Harley whips his head around with a shit-eating grin.
"I TOTALLY SHOULD."
"Concentrate Keener," MJ scolds, turning with a grin. Harley scoffs, winking at Peter before turning back to his work.
"Please - they call me Parker-Stark-Keener," He says, and Peter snorts.
"Can't say I like the sound of that," Tony teases, and Harley turns to see him leaning against the doorway. He snorts in reply.
"Whatever, old man." He winks, and Tony fakes hurt before joining Peter on the floor. MJ turns and nods to him.
"Do you have any names picked out?" She asks, and Peter grins.
"I do." He interjects before Tony has the chance to reply. "Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with Bella." Harley makes a 'psshh!' noise.
"Bella Shmella; I'm voting for Wren or Celine." He says. Tony echoes Harley's 'psshh!'
"Well as the baby's father," He drawls, eliciting a giggle from Peter. "I like Morgan." MJ flashes him a smile.
"Morgans nice," She says, and Tony perks, smiling.
"Thank you Michelle!" He enthuses, then turns to poke Peter between the ribs. "At least someone appreciates my genius." Peter squirms and rolls his eyes fondly.
"Whatever, old man." He mimics Harley, who turns to him with an exaggerated wink, and Tony snaps his fingers.
"That's it," He declares, a grin slipping past his facade. "You're both going to be terrible role models."
Across the city, Natasha Romanoff nurses a gin and tonic. Bucky's cat Alpine weaves through her heels and she reaches down to scratch between his ears. She doesn't turn as the door opens, and waits to hear Bucky curse before turning around. He's glaring at her, a hand held to his chest; a symptom of being startled. She raises an idle brow.
"You've gotten rusty." She comments. Bucky scoffs.
"At least Sam has the decency to wait until I'm home." He says in lieu of greeting. He pours himself a drink and notices Alpine sitting at Natashas feet. "Traitor." He hisses. Alpine only meows. Bucky rolls his eyes and sits across from Natasha. "What do you want?" He asks. Natasha raises a brow.
"What makes you assume I want something?" She challenges. Bucky stares blankly at her before downing his glass and holding his hand out. Natasha shrugs and pulls the file she was hiding out from behind her back. Bucky reads the tag at the top and frowns. He meets her eyes across the coffee-table.
"What does Norman Osborn have to do with this?"