Most awkward and tensed morning ever.

Harley never saw a glare more blazing than the one Parker shot him. He half expected those brown irises to turn into fire and brimstone. Harley kept his composure, not at all reacting to Parker's fury. He flicked his gaze back to Tony, waiting for him to say something. Or, at least, to notice Parker's death glare.

Tony didn't. He gestured for Harley to sit down. "Take a load off, Har," he said. "Let me get you that omelet."

Harley took a seat, not next to Peter, but on the opposite side of Happy Hogan. He settled into the chair, but the adults weren't paying attention to him. Happy was busy getting Parker to drink the orange juice again and Tony requested the chef to make an omelet for Harley before returning to the table, mug in hand, taking the empty seat beside Parker.

"Omelet coming right up," Tony announced, scooting up to the table. He looked to Parker. "Pete—drink the juice. C'mon, I don't want another argument."

Parker grumbled, sliding the glass over to take a sip. One, single sip.

Tony let out an exasperated sigh and deflated into his seat, but didn't reprimand Parker. The man lifted his own mug and took a long gulp. "I'll make quick introductions," he began once the coffee went down his throat. "Peter—Harley here is your point guy. He'll be there with you on and off the field."

"Like Reynolds?"

From the way Parker spoke, it didn't sound kind or enthused. Almost accusingly. Parker must not have trusted Reynolds either.

"Reynolds was your captain and trainer," Tony replied. "Harley here will be like… like Happy here."

Happy grunted, but said nothing. Harley could relate. Not exactly his dream job.

Parker frowned. "I don't need a point guy."

"Yeah, you do," Tony countered, not caring to explain the reasoning before he addressed Harley. "Don't know how much you were told, but basically you'll be there to make sure Peter doesn't get himself killed or do anything stupid."

Harley thought. "Like a bodyguard?"

Tony stressed. The lines in his forehead deepening into trenches that Harley thought it would become permanent. "No. Not entirely," he said, pausing for a moment. "Think of this as a partnership. The two of you will work on projects and assignments together for the Avengers and Stark Industries. Assist each other on missions, train together… essentially, have each other's backs. Everyone needs someone to watch themselves."

Harley flickered a glance in Parker's direction. Trust Parker? Harley trusted Parker to stab him in the back. Not to save his ass. Parker seemed to like the idea as much as Harley did, which was not at all. Not a promising beginning for the so-called "partnership".

Misgivings aside, Harley planned to make it work. Tony put his faith on him to do the job well, and Harley would ensure that he did. He didn't trust Parker at all, but that didn't mean he couldn't enforce Parker's obedience if the boy proved troublesome.

"Okay, I get it," Harley nodded, which garnered a pleased smile from Tony. "Yeah, that makes sense."

"Good," Tony looked back to Parker. His eyes narrowing on the boy, waiting for confirmation. "You, Pete?"

Parker stayed slouched in the chair, arms crossed as he glanced between Harley and Tony. Then, his face creased in disagreement. "This is bullshit."

"Hey!" Tony snapped, the sharp tone startling Harley.

"I'm not going to work with him!"

"It's either him or back to Reynolds," Tony threatened, and then his eyebrows pinched in challenge. "Or, maybe Bishop? He was rather keen on taking you."

Parker's face paled even more, turning his skin into an ashy color. His lower lip quivered, eyes widening a moment in panic.

Tony waited, impatient. "Well?"

"Fine," Peter surrendered, grumbling, "…whatever."

"Good, now, sit up and eat," Tony pushed the plate almost to the edge of the table that Harley believed it would tip right into Parker's lap. "Drink all that and eat at least half."

"I'm not hungry."

"Your chart says otherwise," Tony returned, taking out his phone as it pinged a notification. His brows creviced while he stared at the screen. "No, no, no… that won't do."

Tony got up from the table, waving his phone to Happy. "I gotta make a call," he told the former boxer. "Make sure he eats and drinks. Be back in a minute."

Tony strode out of the kitchen, leaving Harley to sit at the table alone with Happy and Parker. Happy did as Tony requested, pleading with Parker to eat more of his breakfast.

"Just take at least three bites," Happy insisted. "Three bites and all the orange juice."

"I'm not hungry," Parker sulked. "My stomach is full."

"From a bite of your omelet and half a slice of toast?" Happy disapproved. "C'mon, kid. Fighting this is pointless and it will only aggravate Tony."

"I don't care."

Happy sighed exasperatedly, forehead in his palm. "Jesus, well I do, okay?" he stressed. "I don't like that you look dead. I don't like that I can see your bones. I don't like that you are ill. So… please!" Happy shoved the glass of orange juice back to Parker. "Drink!"

Parker's gaze rose from the glass to Happy's face. Harley couldn't see Happy, but based off the tension in his broad shoulders, the man must be desperate. And Parker must have seen it too for his face soften, the resentment falling into leniency. He took the glass and drank. Five gulps. That's all it took for the orange juice to disappear.

Parker put the glass down and slid it back to Happy. The man looked content. "Thank you," he said to Parker.

The boy nodded, scooting up to pick up his fork and poke at his omelet. Meanwhile, the chef came around and placed a steaming omelet in front of Harley. He thanked the chef, digging into his own as he waited for Tony to return. It was awkward sitting at a table with Parker and Happy Hogan. Not that Harley didn't know Happy, but he didn't often engage with the man. And with Happy's attention on Parker, Harley felt like an unwanted third wheel.

Parker's eyes suddenly darted right as Tony re-entered the kitchen. Tony rubbed right above his eyebrows as he returned to the table again. He plopped down in the chair, drawing his mug back to him to take another chug.

Happy raised his brows. "Everything okay, boss?"

"Yeah," Tony waved in dismissal of whatever was previously stressing him out. "Landlord was being ridiculous, so I took care of it."

"And?" Happy nudged.

"Oh, it's all good," Tony affirmed, shooting a smile at Parker, whose grip on the fork caused the metal to bend. "Found you a place up in Cambridge. Right across campus. Perfect location."

Harley stopped eating. Cambridge? An odd place for Tony to purchase real estate. "What's happening there?"

"MIT," Tony answered with a proud grin. "Starting next week, Peter will be attending college." The man clapped a hand on Parker's shoulder, which caused Parker to recoil under the grip. "The advisor will send over your schedule in the next couple of days. Enough time to order your books and things. She believes you won't have any problem starting in the middle of the semester, considering what you got on your TASC. And I also talked you up a bit. They are looking forward to having you as a student."

Cambridge? If he was supposed to be Parker's "partner" did that mean he also had to move up to Cambridge? He didn't want to move to Cambridge. He wanted to stay in New York City, where Tony would be. And he wanted to live in his new townhouse. He planned to invite Harper down for Thanksgiving, show it off to her. If he stayed up in Cambridge, he wouldn't be able to do any of that.

Harley lowered his fork. "Am I going to Cambridge too?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah, but don't worry. The house I bought has plenty of rooms."

That was not Harley's concern. He received a perfectly good townhouse down in Greenwich Village, and now he must toss it aside for a shared house with Parker up in Boston. Away from everything. Fuck.

Parker bristled in his seat. "Doesn't matter because I'm not going," he said. "I'm not leaving New York."

"It's for school, Peter," Tony gently chided, not taking Parker's protest seriously. "It's not permanent, and you're always welcome to return to the city on weekends or holidays. Stop being dramatic."

Parker glared. "I'm not going."

"If you want a college degree, you will."

"I can go to college here in the city."

Tony spat out a bitter laugh. "Hilarious, Mr. Parker," he said. "No other university is even close to the level of education MIT will provide for you."

"There's Columbia, NYU, Empire State—"

"No—absolutely not!" Tony cut Parker off with a swipe of his hand. "None of them have any good engineering or physics programs. I wouldn't even rank them as decent. You're not going to any of those and that's final."

"I'm not leaving New York," Parker declared, teeth grinding and eyes alit, "…and that's final!"

Harley stared in disbelief by Parker's outright disobedience. The mere blasphemy of him even yelling at Tony made Harley's head spin. Why was the boy even fighting it? Tony was sending him off to a good university. All expenses paid, along with probably a nice house in Boston. Why would anyone complain or refuse it?

Harley remembered when Tony encouraged him to attend college. Even offered to pay for whatever school, but Harley had a plan. He wanted to join SHIELD and then later, join the Avengers Initiative to work alongside Tony. That was Harley's goal and Tony assisted him on that. Parker was lucky in that Tony didn't throw him in the Hole. Lucky that he's not jailed. Lucky that Tony put in all that effort to get him enrolled at a prestigious university in the middle of the first semester.

And for Parker to stomp all over Tony's generosity, it was cruel.

It surprised Harley that Tony didn't lash out. The man only drew in a deep breath before sighing in resignation. "I understand your concerns, but I've told you a million times, nothing will happen to your friends," he swore, rising from his seat again. "You don't need to be in the city to check in on them. Today's technology is a wonder these days!"

"That's not why—"

"Isn't it?" Tony posed; a brow arched in question. "I get that you lack trust, but this isn't something I'm trying to throw one over on you. Your friends are safe. Nothing is going to happen to them. Okay?"

Parker said nothing. His mouth compressed in a pout. Tony took that as acceptance.

"Look—MIT has everything you want and need," Tony reasoned. "It's a great school. It fits your interests. I even spoke to Reed and he thinks it's a better choice for you than his alma mater."

"Empire State has a great biophysics program," Parker defended. "And they have countless scientists and engineers visiting. Like Dr. von Doom and—"

"You want to go to a university that invites supervillains as keynote speakers?"

"That was before! And at one point Doctor Richa—"

"I'm not going to keep arguing about this," Tony decided as he jabbed a pointed a finger at Parker. "You are going to MIT. That's where you are registered as an undergraduate. No more talk about Empire or Columbia. The conversation has sailed. We're done."

Tony moved to the sink to dump his mug, but Peter leaped out of his seat. Happy reached over to snag the boy's shirt, but missed. Parker hurried after Tony, walking straight up to him.

"I never agreed to this!" Parker argued.

"Uh… yeah, you did. Remember kiddo?" Tony countered. "Down in that sepsis tunnel."

"Not about leaving New York!"

Tony ran a rough hand over his face, looking drained by the outburst. Fingers pinched the bridge of his nose, deep in thought or deep in restraint as to not himself burst a blood vessel. Harley noticed the thin vein bulging and pulsing, reaching a point that Harley feared it may burst.

It took a few deep, controlled breaths for the stress to dissipate, returning to a neutral mien. "Happy? Harley?" he addressed the two. "Give us a minute."

Tony didn't wait for a response before he dragged Parker out of the kitchen. Once gone, the kitchen went silent apart from the utensils clashing against ceramics as Harley finished up his omelet. He glanced to the doorway, expecting loud voices to erupt from the other side. He imagined Tony giving Parker a scolding reprimand for his misbehavior. For his lack of respect and childish tantrum.

And yet, nothing. He heard nothing, but the chef clearing up the dishes and loading it in the dishwasher. How odd, he thought. Tony looked irritated when he pulled Parker behind him. Rightfully so with Parker's churlish backtalk. The man got Parker into MIT! And bought him a house in Cambridge when he should have booked him a cell in the Negative Zone.

But that was Harley's opinion.

He leaned back in his chair, attempting to act nonchalant as he tried to peer around the corner from his angle. He thought he may have heard Tony—

"Nervous?"

Happy's voice jolted Harley to sit up, snapping around to see the former boxer studying him. "Sorry?"

"Nervous?" Happy repeated, his beady eyes squinting at Harley. "You look a little jittery."

"Oh—no, no, not at all," Harley said, shifting himself into a more relaxed posture. "Compared to my last assignment, this will be easy."

Skepticism shadowed Happy's irises. "Yeah, hey—listen," he said, leaning forward to insinuate the conversation was serious. Harley humored him, scooting closer to listen. "I'm sure Reynolds already gave you the heads up, but this job… it's important."

"I know." Harley heard it enough times from Reynolds the other day to not want another repeated lecture on the topic.

Happy disagreed. "Whatever you think you know, it's wrong. That kid," he pointed to where they last saw Tony and Parker, "is the most important person in this Tower."

Harley's brows furrowed incredulously at the absurd statement. Did Happy forget Tony Stark owned and lived in the Tower? Parker was only an enhanced individual, who, apparently, needed help in assimilating into his new role as a member of the Avengers Initiative branch. He was minor in the grand scheme of things. The only importance Parker carried was being the only recruit who got himself kidnapped and brainwashed or whatever. Harley found the incident around Parker strange, but the boy was still trivial compared to others.

Happy dug into his pocket and pulled out a card. "If you feel like you're over your head or if anything happens," he handed the card to Harley, "call me. Okay? Day or night. I'll answer."

He glanced at the card, reading Happy's name and number in bold, printed letterings. Of all he years he had known Happy, the former boxer never offered his number. Always professionally distant, despite Harley's close relationship with Tony. He always acted too busy or uninterested in Harley whenever he visited. Until Parker arrived at the Tower.

Again, Harley didn't see what the big deal was. He was trained as agent of SHIELD. He knew how to handle enhanced superheroes, even the fugitive and rogue ones. He's trained with a lot of them too. Managing Parker, who was three years younger than him, wouldn't be a problem.

Not to insult Happy, Harley thanked him and inputted the information onto his phone.

"It's my personal number, so don't give it out either," Happy warned. "I don't want any spam."

"Noted."

A minute later, Tony returned. He swept into the kitchen, rounding the table to them. Parker was not trailing behind him.

Tony pointed to Happy. "Need to contact the committee," he instructed. "Have it push back to next month when things have settled here. Do whatever it is to get it done."

"Do you have a date in mind?"

"No, but if T'Challa's delegate gives you a hard time, remind him of the numerous times his king postponed these meetings on vague reasoning."

Happy affirmed with a nod. "Will do, boss."

Tony clapped a hand on Harley's shoulder, making Harley looked up into the man's face. "Peter is out in the living room. The two of you are going to meet Helen at the gym."

"Oh, um, yes… of course," Harley shot up from his chair. "What're we—"

"She's going to do some tests on Peter," Tony extrapolated. "Figure out his current strength and what not."

"Oh, okay," Harley nodded. "And then after that, do you have a set workout for him to do or—"

"Create one. It's your job now," Tony reminded him, rather shortly. "Here—" He grabbed a tablet from the countertop and passed it to Harley. "Take this. This is yours now. I sent you Peter's schedule. Make sure he sticks to it. He has a doctor's appointment after lunch that he cannot miss. And make sure he eats more than what he did for breakfast. He won't be able to keep up if he doesn't."

Definitely more like a babysitting gig than a partnership. Whatever "partnership" even meant for the two of them. Perhaps he should treat the situation more like… managing an asset? That's it! That's how he would handle Parker. He was like Reynolds, managing his own team… well, his one-person team.

Harley straightened his back and gave an affirmative nod. "I'll do it."

"Of course you will. It's your job now," Tony reminded him, but nonetheless sounded pleased by Harley's attitude. "Better get going or Peter may leave without you. We'll talk afterwards."

Harley nodded again before hustled out of the kitchen to meet up with his new charge.

Harley found the sulking boy waiting by the elevator. Parker changed into different clothes and wore sneakers, looking ready to hit the gym. They said nothing for the longest time as they waited by the doors. The elevator came and they boarded.

That was the moment Parker turned on him.

"What the fuck?"

Harley barely reacted to the boy's shout. He merely lifted a brow in his direction and gave a side-glance look at the boy. Parker's jaw was set, and mouth compressed in a dangerous frown. But with his baby cheeks and short stature, Parker looked nothing more than a growling puppy. Hardly frightening.

But that puppy continued to snap. "What's going on? Are you really working for Stark? Is this… are you undercover?"

Harley raised an amused brow. "Undercover?"

"I don't know!" shouted Parker, gesturing wildly. "I don't know what the hell is going on! The other night you and I were fighting off Shadow Company and next, you're sauntering into Mr. Stark's kitchen! And-And he knows you! Are you… I mean, whose side are you on?"

Harley no longer saw the point in keeping up the façade. "I'm with SHIELD."

The boy's eyes blinked. "What?"

"Been an agent of SHIELD for three years now," Harley expounded. "My first field mission was to infiltrate the Queens Resistance and, with your sudden reappearance, capture you." He slouched against the elevator wall, taking in the struck face of Parker. "Got any more pressing questions?"

It took a moment for the flare of anger to light up in those brown eyes. Parker swore under his breath, his hand flying up to his newly cut hair. "So, the entire time," the boy's jaw clenched again. "You've been lying the entire time!"

Harley consented with a nod. "Would be kind of hard to do my job if I told Jones and the others that I'm with SHIELD?" he joked, which made Parker's frown deeper. "Hey, man, it wasn't personal. Just a job."

"A job?" Parker scoffed. His nose scrunched in revulsion at the word. "Yeah… I guess that's one way of looking at it."

"Is there another way?"

"Yeah—betrayal," Parker seethed. The boy's anger flared up again. His breath sounding constricted as he spat, "They trusted you! They considered you a friend and you've been stabbing them in—"

"I didn't betray them."

That rattled Parker. "No?"

"Of course not. Betrayal requires loyalty," Harley expounded, looking back to Parker's quizzical expression, "and I was never loyal to them."

Parker's mouth tightened. His hands curled into fists. "They were loyal to you!"

Harley shrugged. "That was their mistake."

The boy's face was cold. "You really don't give a damn, do you?" Parker stated, the corners of his lips twisted in disgust. "About the lives you ruined—"

"Lives ruined?! Oh—don't give me that shit!" Harley interjected, finding Parker's accusations extravagant. He turned on the boy, using his superior height to tower over the scrawny Parker. "Your criminal friends got off easy! They got a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again, which is far better than the federal prison sentence they deserve.

"Same goes for you too," Harley added, taking in Parker's full appearance again. The washed face. The clean clothes. The new haircut. A street urchin pampered to a spa! "I see you cleaned yourself up real nice since we last met. Clean clothes, a warm shower and food in your belly… and a college education at the most elite university in the world to boot! Must be nice compared to being locked up in the Hole where you actually belong."

Harley missed the shaky breath Parker took.

"So—in all consideration," Harley took a deep breath, his words tightly clipped, "you're damn lucky."

Parker said nothing. He glowered at Harley a long time, not saying a word. No rebuttal. No outrage. Nothing. Harley felt proud for putting Parker in his place, reminding the boy that any disobedience from him could result in losing those protections and amenities. That simple reminder got Parker to be silent for good.

Unfortunately for Harley, the quietness didn't last. Parker suddenly made a sound that was almost a laugh. A short, bitter chuckle that bubbled in his subdued throat, snorting out of his nose.

Harley seethed at the noise. "What?" he demanded, not enjoying the mockery. "What's funny?"

Parker shook his head. "You have no idea how wrong you are."

"What're you fucking talking about?"

"Forget it," Parker sighed. The mirth gone, replaced with an icy distrust. "You wouldn't care anyway."

Harley wanted to press him, order for an explanation, but the tight-lipped boy showed no interest in answering. Most likely Parker was bluffing. An attempt to trick Harley into believing a lie. Some hideous lie about Tony Stark. Something his kidnappers or the Resistance drilled into his fragile head. Harley knew better. There were worse things out there for Parker. The Hole being one of them, and if Parker knew any better, he would be grateful that he was spared. Harley heard the rumors of what that place did to its prisoners' minds and souls. And if Parker resided at the Compound once before, he heard of the rumors too. The boy shouldn't be laughing.

"Whatever," Harley grunted, decisively. He wasn't going to humor Parker. "Doesn't matter anyway." He leaned back casually against the wall of the elevator, watching the light tick down to whatever floor FRIDAY directed them to. "Obviously, we aren't going to be the best of friends, but we need to at least be professional when we work together."

Parker's brows furrowed deep. "You're kidding," he said, taken aback. "You're crazy if you think I'll ever trust you."

"You're gonna have to," Harley shot back. It's not like he's thrilled about the situation either, but Tony wanted him to do this. "We're a team now. If we want this to work, we gotta start trusting each other again. We don't need to be friends. Just colleagues, at best. Professional and civil. It doesn't need to go any further than that.

"So—think you can handle that?" Harley dared the boy for a rebuttal. "Or should I call Tony?"

He half-expected Parker to shoot off a retort, argue more or bluntly refuse. But all Parker did was shoot him a look. A challenging frown creased his face into severe skepticism. Harley figured, but Parker had to listen to him or else get in trouble with Tony. And he bet the boy would avoid that at all costs, seeing as Parker could always be sent to the Hole. And his friends to federal prison for their terrorism.

The elevator slowed to a stop. The doors haven't even parted fully before Parker removed himself from the wall to slide between the parting doors to escape the confinement. Harley let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes behind Parker's hurried retreat.

The partnership was off to a grand, old start! Harley bitterly thought as he trailed after Parker. Long days were ahead of him, but the little tantrums Parker threw wasn't going to deter Harley. He remembered Tony's belief in him, and Harley walked the corridor with a lighter heart and determined focus.

Peter Parker wasn't going to be any trouble at all for experienced SHIELD agent Harley Keener.

Parker was more difficult than Harley anticipated.

The boy never listened. Not to him or even Dr. Cho, who tried to instruct him on the basics to measure his current abilities. Parker did his own thing. He dawdled around on the equipment and never seemed to take anything serious. Harley noted Parker was half-assing on every equipment he used. His muscles never shook. His breathing never hitched to a pant or even heavy labored breaths. Nothing.

Nonetheless, Dr. Cho typed away on her tablet like everything he did was important. Harley thought everything Parker did was a joke. The boy goofed off and it left Harley empty-handed on how to create a training regimen for him.

By the end of hour two, Dr. Cho decided to end the test.

"Thanks, Mr. Parker," Dr. Cho said, eyes on the tablet's screen before she smiled kindly at him. "That'll be all for now."

Parker hopped off the treadmill with a tiny jump. No sweat beading along his hairline. Not even a labored pant for air. Why wasn't Dr. Cho saying anything? His lack of effort must affect her calculations on the test. She needed to lecture him or force him to repeat the whole test again. Something other than a polite 'thank you.'

Harley reviewed the schedule, noting lunchtime was next. He strolled to where Parker hoovered, ready to direct the boy to the closest cafeteria. When he reached for Parker's arm, Parker side-stepped away, moving his arm out of reach.

"It's lunchtime," Harley said to Parker, thinking that would get the boy to settle his paranoia.

Parker only frowned quizzically. "Early, isn't it?"

It was half past eleven. An early lunch, Harley guessed. "Just following the schedule."

"Like a good soldier," Parker mocked, pivoting from Harley before he could make another grab for his arm. "I'm not hungry."

"Too bad. It says it's lunchtime for you."

Harley gave Parker a slight push toward the exit. Parker resisted a little before he begrudgingly marched to the doors with Harley right behind him to ensure he obeyed. Before they reached the door, it jerked open, causing Parker's shoes to screech to a halt. Harley stopped too.

In the doorway was Pepper Potts.

The beautiful and poised Pepper Potts.

Harley only ever saw her from afar once. Like Tony, her mere appearance commanded the room. People turned heads. Voices silenced. And all eyes fixed on her, marveling her grace and power. Like right now as he and Parker stared dumbfounded by her sudden arrival.

Pepper's strawberry-blonde hair swayed behind her as she whirled into the room. She was dressed professionally in a dark, business pencil skirt and white blouse that fit her slim figure nicely. Her heels clacked on the tile until quieted by her abrupt halt. Green eyes scanned the room, glancing from Dr. Cho to Harley to—

"Peter!"

Pepper hurried to him, arms enveloping Parker into a tight embrace. She pressed him close, squeezing him. "I'm sorry," Her voice was soft, fragile. "I'm so sorry."

"It's, um… it's okay," Parker hesitantly replied. He made no move to return the hug.

Pepper broke away, holding him at arm's length and examining him critically. From what Harley observed, she looked heartbroken. She caressed one side of Parker's face before brushing some of the boy's hair away from his forehead.

"It's not," she said, gently, "but it will be."

Harley frowned, puzzled by the interaction. What would Pepper Potts be sorry about? Parker's mysterious kidnapping? Brainwash? It wasn't her fault. Like it wasn't Tony's fault either.

Tired of being ignored and awkwardly standing aside like an idiot, Harley cleared his throat to introduce himself to the famous Pepper Potts. "Ms. Potts," he stepped forward and held out his hand. "I'm Harley. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Pepper accepted his hand. Smooth skin met his callused ones, giving it a welcoming squeeze. "Harley Keener," she said, recognition lighting her eyes. "Yes—Tony has told me about you."

Harley flushed as he glanced down to his shoes. Tony talked about him. To Pepper! The two most powerful people in the world talk about him. Harley's heart raced with newfound adrenaline and pride.

He raised his head. Shoulders straightened. "He talks about you as well," he said with a charmed smile. "All good things, of course, otherwise I wouldn't believe him. All I have ever heard was how amazing and talented you are. A legend, really! It's an honor to meet you."

Parker shot Harley a dubious look, eyebrows pinched as he crinkled his nose at Harley's compliments. Like a perturb child who witnessed someone fumble through flirting. Not that Harley was flirting. God—no! He would never consider… he only meant to show admiration. Respect for the world's most powerful woman.

Pepper showed no reaction to the flattery. Must be used to it from Tony and other men who admire her. She accepted it all easily as she tucked a loose strand behind her ear.

"That's very kind of you," she said before becoming distracted. Her attention elsewhere. She called to Dr. Cho. "Is he done here?"

Pepper gestured to Parker. Dr. Cho nodded. "He's all yours."

Pepper smiled approvingly, taking Parker's upper arm in her hand to drag him along. Harley quickly joined.

"Ms. Potts?" he rushed to intervene. Tony wanted Parker to stick to the schedule. Harley needed to follow the simple requests Tony gave to him. Especially on his first day. "Parker needs to head to the cafeteria for his lunch. It's listed on his—"

"That's fine. I'll take him to lunch," Pepper offered, pulling the door open to leave.

"Oh… um," Harley nervously bounced his eyes from Parker's baffled expression to Pepper's patient face. "I… I was told to make sure Parker kept to his schedule. Tony may have told you this already, but I'm his handler and—"

"I can do it," Pepper assured him with a polite, but tight smile. "After all, I was a PA for many decades. I can take care of it. You can have the rest of the day off. You earned it."

Harley was reluctant. Tony was clear about Parker sticking to his schedule. If he abandoned post, on his first day, Tony would get upset with him. Disappointed too. But, it was Pepper Potts. Tony's fiancé. He knew to listen and obey to whatever she demanded. Even Tony did everything she said. And if Pepper wants to take over for him, then Harley had to relinquish it.

"Okay, if you are sure," Harley breathed out, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the situation. "Um… Tony wants to make sure the kid eats most of the lunch. And he has a follow-up appointment with Dr. Cho later. It's all on his, um… his schedule."

Pepper's smile stretched, but it wasn't genuine. Quick and forced. "Thank you, Harley. I'll make sure Peter's taken care of."

And she was gone, taking Parker with her.