Chapter Text
Harley sat cross-legged on the ground by the lake, staring out at the water and watching the arc reactor sink slowly.
Everyone had gone inside, except him. He couldn't bring himself to.
He stared at the little gift box that had his name written on it in a familiar scrawl, a gift from Tony.
The only positive male role model in his life, Tony had given him so many opportunities, he'd believed that Harley could do amazing things if only he was given the chance. And he was given the chance. He'd spent summers in New York, helping Tony in the lab, eager to learn and eager to build.
After the snap, Tony had looked for him, finding the 15 year old kneeling in his kitchen, staring numbly at the ashes of his mother and sister. Tony had grabbed him, yanked him to his feet and hugged him like he couldn't believe he was alive.
Harley had cried. Someone had cared enough to come find him, someone cared enough about him to let him lean on them. And that someone was Tony. And it hadn't stopped there.
Tony had brought him back to New York, like he had for so many summers before, and introduced him to Pepper and Rhodey.
Harley had been there when Tony and Pepper got married, he was the fourth person to hold little Morgan when she was born. He'd sworn to protect Morgan like he'd protected Abby, his little sister. And he tried.
He'd sat with Morgan during the end, the fight against Thanos, instead of joining the fight. He'd held her and told her it would be okay, that Mommy and Daddy were going to save the world, and then they'd be together again. Only, they weren't together now. Tony had died. He'd died to save everyone.
Harley blinked back tears, his nails digging into his palms. Why couldn't it be anyone else? Why did it have to be Tony who died, sacrificing himself to save the universe?
Tony, who had so much to live for, who had been the best father that Harley knew, to Morgan of course, not him. He was just a kid that Tony had met in one of his darkest moments, but Tony had chosen to keep in touch. Harley had nothing to live for, and then all of a sudden he did, because Tony had given him that. And now he was gone. And Harley had no idea what to do.
He stared at the gift box, then unwrapped it with shaky fingers. The lid came off, and Harley's heart stopped for a second. A gold and red metal wristband. Tony had given him his armor?
Harley's fingers shook even more, but he managed to put the band on. The familiar gold and red started covering him, until Harley was wearing the Iron Man armor, Tony's armor.
"Hey kid." Harley recoiled at the familiar voice. He saw Tony, recording a message for him apparently, in the corner of his eye.
"If you're watching this, I guess I'm not there to tell you all this myself, and that means the world is going to need a new Iron Man." Harley swallowed around a lump in his throat.
"I was going to give this to you one day anyway. First of all, yes, this particular suit has retro-reflectors." Harley couldn't help but laugh at that, tears in his eyes. "You know, when I met you, a scrawny brat kid who threatened me with a freaking potato gun, I didn't think I'd get so attached that I'd wind up thinking of you as family. That I'd be calling you my kid."
Harley choked on a sob. "I trust you, Harley. I know you can do anything you set your mind to, and you have the makings of a hero."
Harley knew he was trembling. He hated losing people. His dad, then his mom and Abby, and now Tony.
The recording of Tony let out a sigh. "I know this sucks, Harley. I know that. Believe me, I wish I had another choice. I wish I didn't have to scar you and Morgan more than I already have. And I don't want you to stay in the shadows forever. You're meant for so much more than that. We're connected, remember? I'm proud of you." And with that, the message clicked off.
Harley sobbed, the armor melting away. He hid his face in his hands.
A hand on his shoulder made him flinch, and he looked up to see the girl that had stood with Hawkeye's family, Hawkeye's daughter, he guessed, looking down at him worriedly.
"Hey." She greeted softly.
"Hi." He whispered, wiping at his eyes.
She sat on the ground beside him, and he took solace in the quiet companionship. "Sounds like Mr Stark thought the world of you." She whispered eventually.
"He was the closest thing I had to a dad." Harley agreed.
"Do you want to be Iron Man?" She asked.
And wasn't that the big question? Did Harley want to be Iron Man?
"The world needs Iron Man." he shrugged.
She shook her head. "Forget the world for a minute. Do you want to be Iron Man?"
He didn't know how to answer that. They sat in silence, before he was able to answer. "Before this? If Tony asked me to be Iron Man? I wouldn't hesitate. I used to dream about it. But now... now that he's gone..."
She nodded. "It's harder to take up the mantle now that he's not here with you."
He wiped his eyes again with his sleeve. "I'm Harley, by the way." He realized they didn't know each other's names, despite having such a deep discussion.
"Lila." She smiled.
He swallowed. "I think... I don't think I can be Iron Man. Not yet at least. But... I want to make Tony proud."
"So don't be Iron Man. Be yourself." She shrugged. "Iron Boy?"
He laughed, surprising himself. He hadn't felt like laughing half an hour ago. "Oh hell no. Not Iron Boy. Maybe... Iron Lad."
"Nice."