We're Connected
Harley woke up to fires.
The now 14 year old boy rubbed his eyes and sat up in his bed, his blankets pooling around him.
His brother Jake Mason sat on his own bed, the eldest son of Hephaestus looking worried and chewing his lip.
“Jake?” Harley asked sleepily, stifling a yawn.
Jake started. “Harls!” He said in surprise.
“What’s going on?” Harley inquired.
“Mortals, in the camp.” Jake replied.
Harley’s eyes widened.
“They have abilities. They’re powerful.” Jake sounded frightened, and it scared Harley too.
“What do they want?” he demanded, reaching for his miniature arc reactor that concealed his armor.
“The leader is demanding we turn over his kid. I don’t think we have his kid.” Jake shook his head and sighed.
Harley suited up and rushed outside to see Leo and Nyssa guarding the Cabin doors while Clarisse La Rue and Percy Jackson battled several costumed heroes.
His heart skipped a beat, he knew those heroes!
“TONY!” He cried excitedly, making the older armored hero look over at him.
“Harls-!” Nyssa cautioned but he flew over her and Leo and caught the Mechanic in a tight hug.
“Kid!” Tony Stark, Iron Man, breathed in relief, returning his embrace.
“You came for me.” Harley mumbled into his chest.
“Of course I did. You scared me.” Tony admitted. Then he got a good look at him. “Hey! You copied my armor!” he accused.
Harley grinned cheekily. “Not really. How did you find me?” He asked curiously.
His dad had only gotten into their world by accident the first time, then later because of Harley.
“We’re connected, kid.” Tony said in a ‘duh’ tone.
Harley giggled and Tony looked around at his companions, War Machine, a robot dude with a cape, a kid in a flashy red and blue spider outfit who was terrorizing the Athena kids, Black Widow and a silver-and-blue blur speeding around camp.
“AVENGERS! HOLD YOUR FIRE!” Tony yelled. Harley watched in awe as they all stopped fighting.
Percy, the son of Poseidon, looked confused and all the campers looked hesitant.
“It’s okay!” Harley yelled to the older demigod. “They’re friends!” Percy nodded and Clarisse ordered the demigods to freeze.
“Oh thank the gods.” Malcolm, a son of Athena, sighed in relief, his boyfriend Mitchell glaring over at the spider kid.
“Tony, these are my friends too. My family really.” Harley beckoned to Leo and Nyssa to come closer. “This is one of my big brothers Leo and my favourite big sister Nyssa.”
Tony sized up the two kids reluctantly, keeping an arm around Harley.
“Nyssa, Leo, this is Tony Stark. He’s my foster dad I told you about.” Harley told his siblings.
“Harry!” Dionysus, Mr. D, yelled from the big house.
“Oh Styx.” Harley cursed, ducking his head as Nyssa glared at him.
“Olympian Council. C’mon, Tony plus one. Time to meet the big guns.”
Hephaestus was not happy to hear his son was in the custody of the mortals from his world.
Dionysus had been summoned back to camp urgently by Chiron and returned only to report that Hephaestus’ son Harley Keener had stopped a violent battle between his mortal friends and the Camp.
This was something that the Olympians frowned upon and they summoned Harley and two mortals to the Council.
The boy came into the throne room, flanked by a man with a glowing triangle attached to his chest and a woman with flaming red hair dressed all in black.
Harley knelt before the Olympians Council and the woman followed his lead, the other man copying them after the woman shot him a glare.
“Lords, Ladies, Father.” Harley greeted. “You called?” the cheeky son of Hephaestus looked up at them with a glint in his innocent eyes.
Hephaestus spoke first. “Rise, my son.”
Harley obliged, his companions standing as well.
“Father-” Harley tried to speak but the god shushed him.
“You are not returning. It is not safe.” Hephaestus growled, making the mortal man scoff. “Uh, that’s not your call.” he spat.
Poseidon glanced at Zeus, who was fuming at the blatant disrespect.
“Tony, let me handle this, please.” Harley pleaded with Tony Stark.
“Handle us?” Ares snarled in rage. (AN: Think Loki in Thor Ragnarok to Strange.)
Hephaestus scowled over at his younger brother, the war god flinching at the nasty look from the elder of the two.
“The Avengers can protect Harley from anything and everything that comes after him. We saved the universe for crying out loud!” Tony threw his hands up and looked down at Harley. “C’mon kid. You can meet Point-Break and Spangles.”
Harley lit up with excitement. “Thor and Captain America?! Can I meet Hawkeye too?” He pleaded, looking at the woman. She smiled ever-so-slightly and nodded. “Of course, Harley.”
He beamed happily and looked at Hephaestus. “Dad, please? I want to go home. My mom and my sister probably think I’ve died or something, and I can meet the Avengers!”
The young forger was bouncing up and down excitedly.
Hephaestus cracked a small smile and sighed. “Fine. But you are to return home in two weeks. For the winter solstice.”
Hephaestus glanced at his father who nodded approvingly.
“Harley Keener, you have permission from the Olympian Council and your father to return home for two weeks, no more and no less.” Zeus shot a warning glance at his blacksmith son. “Dismissed.”
Apollo, the sun god, bounded over from his bright gold throne. “Have fun little nephew!” He hugged Harley tightly and the demigod giggled. “I will uncle Apollo.” he assured him.
Ares came over with his boar at his side and pulled out a fiery Celestial Bronze knife from his belt. “Kid.” He cleared his throat. “This is for you. Stay safe.”
Harley took the offered knife from his full-blood uncle and weighed it with awe. “Wow. Thank you Lord Ares.” He got a pat on the back in return.
Poseidon grinned at Tony and Hephaestus pulled Harley into a hug.
“Be safe, little one.” Hephaestus whispered sadly.
“Always, dad.”
Harley returned to camp after two weeks, just in time for the Winter Solstice.
He was greeted by his best friends, Lacey, daughter of Aphrodite, and Aiden, son of Ares. It was odd, considering their parents didn't get along, but the three half-bloods were the youngest kids at camp.
"Harley!" Lacey beamed, hugging the fourteen year old tightly.
"Hi Lacey. Aid." Harley held his fist out to Aiden.
Lacey rolled her eyes as they fist bumped. "Boys." She grumbled.
She noticed Harley's eyes were brighter than she'd ever seen them and his hair had been cut, no longer curling at his cheeks and the back of his neck. He was happier, she realized.
"Harls, how was your trip?" She asked, dragging the two boys to a clear patch of grass.
"It was great!" Harley exclaimed.
He proceeded to tell them all about his universe, until the night fell and they had to go to bed.
