Wave Your Flag

SPECIAL WARNING: I'm just going to point out right now that Happy is an older straight Cis white guy who has never given any thought to his own sexuality or sexual compass except for "Yep, I like women."

He hasn't needed to try broadening his horizons before now. He makes assumptions about both Harry AND Tony. His views are not my own, please do not attack me for portraying them in a written fictional character. That is all.

Normal Warnings: Smutty smut, Fluffy Fluff! Language as per usual, discussion of sensitive topics. Tony and Harry reconnecting, vague plot. Sorry folks, but the boys told me they needed some time for themselves in this one.

The storm is still going, and for those keeping track of time in this, it is only mid-afternoon by the end of this chapter. So developments in the Missing Egg case have not yet surfaced. Sorry to disappoint.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* MB *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Harry absolutely loved Tony's bathroom at his Malibu home. The room was ridiculously large for a normal person; and simply dripping with expensive elegance. It was clear to Harry, that Tony'd had a blast blowing a substantial amount of money on every extravagance he could shove into a master bathroom. Harry just shook his head in mild amusement as he shot a quick glance around. It was slightly overwhelming at first, but that too, was Tony.

The room was spacious, taking up roughly an equal amount of room as Tony's Master bedroom. Large tinted windows, overlooked what would have been a breathtaking ocean view, if the blizzard outside wasn't still obscuring it. A vaulted mosaic tiled ceiling, with generous skylights, let in even more natural light, was another expensive feature. A large mirror took up the entire space above the twin marble sinks and generous countertop. On the other side of the bathroom, stood an equally lavish shower with multiple jets and nozzles. Easily roomy enough to host an orgy. Frankly, Harry would not put it past the infamous playboy Tony Stark of previous years. The shower was beautifully tiled; and accented in tasteful gold highlights.

As Harry walked over to the glass doors and peered in, he noted, with amusement, that there appeared to be a high tech radio mounted on the left hand side of the shower wall. Harry shook his head once more and snorted softly. He was certain that the little waterproof device did much more than simply play music. He would put good money on Jarvis having a front row seat to everything that went on in this room, even if the AI was polite enough to pretend not to be there. Harry knew exactly how paranoid Tony had become over the years. Not that the Valkyrie could blame him in the least. It would be hard not to, with everything that had happened to his mate, since they had been apart, hell, even before then.

He stepped back and examined the large jacuzzi tub. It looked large enough to comfortably fit several people. It was decorated in the same marble as the sinks with gold fixtures to match the rest of the room. Between the two appliances stood what Harry could only guess was a heated towel rack; a compliment to the heated floors warming his bare feet. As he stepped closer, Harry was completely unsurprised to find his assumption correct.

Harry rolled his eyes in amused exasperation, then turned back to the shower. He opened the glass door and turned on the water, revelling in the immediate flow of hot water. Even though the size of the bathroom was not ideal for a normal human, it was perfect for Harry. With enough room for him to let out his wings and have plenty of comfortable space in which to maneuver.

Harry smiled softly in anticipation of a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Eager, he stripped down to naked skin, extended his wings fully toward the ceiling. He stretched up for a couple of moments onto his toes and let out a deep, pleasurable, sigh. Coming back down, he quickly tossed his clothes haphazardly in the general direction of the door; and stepped into the shower.

Harry groaned softly in appreciation as the hot water cascaded down his body. After a few minutes of simply enjoying the near scalding hot water, he grabbed a cloth and proceeded to wash himself down, taking extra care with his hair and wing feathers.

While he let the conditioner sit in his hair for a few moments, he glanced down at his legs with a bit of a frown. A quick search of his memory for the correct spell, and a murmur later, efficiently removed any unwanted hair. Harry hated body hair on himself, and he knew that, in the past, Tony had appreciated the smoothness of his skin. Humming softly, quite pleased with the results, Harry finished his shower and stepped out into a steam-filled bathroom.

Grabbing a couple of towels off the warming rack, he whispered a few drying charms under his breath. Otherwise, his wings would be wet and waterlogged for hours. Once his lustrous feathers were dry, he muttered the same charm to dry his hair, before he swiftly styled it into its normal braid. Taking the wet towels and picking up his dirty clothes, he dropped them into the hamper that was by the door before stepping back out into the bedroom. Upon noticing the bed, he was struck by a sudden, and not unwelcome, thought.

Tony was beautiful in the early mornings.

One of Harry's favorite things, was to watch him sleep peacefully for a few minutes before the other man woke up for the day. It was one of the rare times that Tony was still. While he slept, he didn't have nightmares or fear, he didn't need to be concerned about his safety or the person he took into his bed. There were no stress lines on his face, and it made him look years younger. In his sleep, he didn't carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.

However, once Tony's blue eyes opened, and he'd consumed roughly a gallon of coffee, the whirlwind of the day would begin. The calm stillness of this peaceful moment would evaporate like it had never existed.

But for now, Tony was tranquil.

Stealthily, Harry crept across the room so he wouldn't wake his beloved. He slipped back into bed next to his human. Stretching out on his right side, facing his mate, his wings sprawled behind him, tips partially hanging off the bed in a haze of laziness, Harry propped head upon his elbow and watched his enticing mate. Mornings like this, well, they were just another of the many reasons Harry loved this man with every atom, every fibre, of his being.

Harry estimated he had been awake for roughly twenty minutes before he took his shower. He couldn't remember the dream that had pulled him gently out of deep slumber and into wakefulness. But as it afforded him this rare occurrence, the time to watch his mate in uninterrupted contentment, Harry couldn't be fussed to worry about it. He didn't often wake before Tony. So he was more than happy to enjoy the moment for what it was.

He ran his green eyes over Tony's softly breathing form; taking in the soft brown, sleep tousled, hair, the way his lightly tanned skin gleamed in the little patch of sunlight that peeked around the bedroom curtain. The rumpled blankets around bare hip bones that never failed to raise the urge in Harry to playfully bite at them. Tony's legs were tangled messily in the blankets, flashing patches of thigh and calf muscle. Tony always shoved them off his warm body at some point during the night. Over all the picture presented to him was adorable, and Harry would mercilessly tease his mate about it for the rest of the day.

"Jarvis," Harry whispered, not wanting to rouse his slumbering genius.

"I am here, Harry." The AI responded, just as softly.

Harry felt a grin tug at the corners of his mouth. "Take a few pictures, yeah? Blackmail."

"Of course, Harry," The house guardian sounded amused as he murmured back his response.

"Dun ooo ar!" came the muffled response from Tony's pillow. Grumbling nonsensically, Tony lifted his sleep-lined face from the pillow, squinting blearily at his mischievously smiling partner.

"What was that, turtledove?" Harry asked innocently. "I didn't quite understand whatever that was."

Tony blinked sleepy blue eyes at him slowly, he managed a small groan in answer before flopping back down on the bed. "Turtledove? Really? Do you want me to die of diabetes?"

Harry huffed out a laugh and picked up his pillow to smack Tony on the ass. "Get up you lazily primate...I want breakfast, and snuggles...in that order. And you need to be awake. You also, should really go and brush your teeth, your morning breath could put a dragon to shame."

Tony muffled a snort, followed by a blatant snicker into his pillow, before reluctantly rolling over and staring up at the ceiling. "And you would know, wouldn't you? Something about playing cat and mouse with one on a flimsy broom?"

Harry just rolled his eyes and decided to slip out of bed to get dressed. He knew this trick of Tony's, keep him talking until he forgot about whatever it was he wanted Tony to do.

Tucking his wings neatly behind him, Harry walked over to Tony's closet and proceeded to raid it.

"Wait...are you naked?"

Harry smirked, and rustled his wings, flashing Tony his bottom on purpose as he continued to rummage around for a T-shirt and a clean pair of boxers. "Took you this long to notice huh? I must be losing my touch…"

"Never," Tony replied vehemently.

Harry shot him a warm glance over his shoulder as he vanished his wings, so Tony could watch his ass as he walked back into the bathroom. After he was dressed he went into the kitchen and poked around in the fridge and cabinets to see what his stomach decided was edible.

Humming softly to himself, Harry pulled out eggs, a single leftover ham slice, some cheese and some veggies. Dumping his pillaged goods on the counter, Harry hunted down some bread to make toast, and butter. Next, he dug up a frying pan, some plates, and silverware, along with a cutting board and knife. He went with an easy choice of ham and cheese scrambled eggs, toast, and a pot of coffee for his mate. A single cup of hot tea, for himself, sat nearby on the counter.

Once Tony had finished his shower, he strolled into the kitchen with faux casualness. Harry's eyes were immediately drawn to the well-worn out pair of jeans that Tony had put on for the day. He noted the zipped fly, but undone button. A quick sweep of the rest of Tony revealed that he was also barefoot and shirtless. The Valkyrie found it undeniably sexy, and knew that Tony, the imp that he was, was likely fully aware of it; and had come out barely dressed entirely on purpose. Harry determinedly turned his attention back to making breakfast. He would not be diverted from his plans. Not yet.

Tony shook his head in silent amusement and took a seat at the breakfast bar. In silence he poured himself a large cup of coffee from the carafe sitting out for him. Harry had not put out any milk or sugar because the genius liked it black. Inhaling reverently, he carefully took that first blissful sip. Within several gulps the cup was empty, and he poured himself a second one. "I thought you wanted me to cook?"

Harry shot him a smile as he took the pan off the heat, plating them both up a generous portion. "Nah...I just wanted you for the snuggles."

"Ah...I see how it is then. You just want my body."

"Damned straight. Glad you understand our arrangement. Would have been rather awkward to try and explain." Harry returned in all seriousness before taking a bite of his eggs.

Tony shook his head and smiled wide before he pulled his breakfast closer to himself. "I've missed our snark." Harry smiled softly in return.

Quietly they settled down to eat. Harry steadily working his way through his ham-free veggie and cheese scramble while sipping his morning tea, a bit slower than Tony, who was attacking his own coffee and breakfast with gusto. Soon they were left with only their drinks and dirty dishes.

Running his finger around the rim of his half-empty tea mug, Harry finally broke the comfortable silence. "So, I know you must have a million questions. I know we talked some in the dreamscape, but I'm sure you've already come up with more questions since then."

Tony nodded. "Yup. We'll start off easy. The meat issue. Valkyrie thing or just a you thing?"

Harry chuckled. "Valkyrie thing. Our diet is heavily plant-based naturally. We can't digest meat well. It makes us ill. Better to just avoid it altogether."

Blue eyes regarded him curiously. "But the eggs?"

"Have been a normal part of our diet for millennia. Even if we didn't have chickens per say."

"What about fish?"

"Nope. Not even fish. Frankly, most Valkyrie find it weird, if not rather horrifying that humans slaughter and consume animal flesh."

Tony's eyes widened. "Please tell me you're not a PETA member. I'd have to ask for a divorce, right now."

Harry choked on his tea laughing. "No. No, it's not about animal rights. Its just...its hard to explain...it's strange to us. It wouldn't occur to us naturally to kill an animal for food, even if we are very much aware of other animals hunting one another. It's just not something we have ever needed to do, so it's a very foreign idea. Some of the older, stuffier, Valkyrie think it's barbaric. They don't seem to understand that humans evolved to be more carnivorous than we are."

He rolled his eyes, flicking a hand in dismissal. "They're short-sighted and bigoted. Other alien cultures we've dealt with before were meat-eaters too. They're just stupid. These are the same people that have issues with pretty much every alien race we've interacted with in the past. Including the Aesir. They were rabidly opposed to the Valkyrie guard, granted to the Royal Family as part of our treaty agreements."

Tony nodded, mulling questions over in his mind. He wanted to keep things fairly light-hearted for the moment. One single question and answer session wasn't going to be enough, and he didn't really want to get into the nitty-gritty details about everything this early in the morning. He wanted to enjoy his time with his partner since Harry was available. If Tony fed his brain a little in the process, then bonus. Still, the political implications were noted and he would remember to ask about that one again in more depth at a later time.

"All right." Tony finished his coffee and reached again for the pot, frowning when he realized there was only half a cup left. He turned pitiful doe eyes on his partner, causing Harry to roll his own before he took the pot anyway and set about making more. Tony continued his questions about food. "So, you don't eat anything meat at all, other than eggs?"

Harry hummed softly. "Well, that's where the lines are a bit fuzzy. We had completely different animals and fauna than Earth. Some of our plants have much more intelligence than anything on Earth for example. We harvested and ate parts of them fairly regularly. Not in such a way that the plant died, however. It was carefully tended so that it was sustainable long term. They weren't people smart mind you, not even dog smart...more like on the dumb side of a small rodent. Most of these plants actively hunted bugs and other small creatures unlucky enough to be too close. Nothing larger than a squirrel to my knowledge. The plants refused to attack anything larger unless it was defending itself, and even if they killed whatever animal was trying to feed on it, it did not consume them."

Turning, Harry sat back down while they waited for Tony's liquid addiction to finish percolating.

"So, wait, how do you harvest a plant that attacks you?"

"It was well fed first so that it would be slower than normal. Usually, the animal was drugged. It puts the plant into a deep sleep for several hours. I've also heard of greenhouses that specifically grow that plant would shut the room down when harvesting and fill it with a sweet smoke sedative. It clings to the outside of the plant and is just as effective at putting it under. The coating washes off easily with a sprinkler system, and you don't have the chemicals inside of the plant material. The only downside is that method doesn't last nearly as long. There's a higher risk of injury for the Harvester."

"Huh...odd. Interesting, mind you. I will definitely be asking more about stuff like that later when I think of more specific questions. In fact, I might just have Jarvis send you a list at some point, and you can answer them as we go."

Harry shrugged. "After living in the Wizarding World in my first life, stuff like that doesn't shock me nearly as much. Herbology was never my strong point, but I remembered that one because it was very similar to others I had encountered in the past. Ask me about other plants and I'd have to look them up. I can't even remember this one's proper name at the moment. I'll find out and tell you later. Was there anything else you wanted to ask?"

Tony slowly shook his head. "I have too much in my head to narrow down right now. I'm going to sit with Jarvis later, sort out my thoughts and get back to you on that. There is so much information to go through, I'm not sure what I consider a priority at the moment."

Hearing the coffee maker beep, Harry got up to fetch it, setting it back down near Tony on the hot towel he'd placed on the counter for it. "That's fine. It will give me time to get information to give to you, rather than me trying to explain everything. As Prince Consort, you'll need to learn a lot of this stuff anyhow."

Tony blinked, reaching to fill his mug once more. "Seriously? Prince Consort?"

Harry smiled wryly. "It won't be for long, after we get married in Valkyrie custom, I'll have my Coronation, then you'd be the King's Consort. It's a rough English translation, Tony. That's the closest."

"So...do I share the throne with you or something?"

Harry tilted his head to the side and moved his hand in a so-so motion. "Yes and no. If you were Valkyrie. Yes, you would have all the full rights and responsibility like I do. But because you are not of Royal Blood, my word would be final law. Because you are not Valkyrie, your role falls into a more complicated grey area. You cannot pass policy or law without my validation. Nor can you punish anyone who commit high crimes, or mobilize any of our fighting forces except for emergency situations. Such as imminent attack, and I am for some reason, unreachable. You can certainly play politics in the Council Chambers. Attend most events that is needed as a Royal personage. Believe it or not there is actually quite a few . In truth, it's not any different to some of the things you currently do for Stark Industries along with maintaining your public image."

Tony winced. "Oh...fan-fucking-tastic. I'm a walking PR nightmare, Harry."

He shrugged. "I know, and I don't care. Make no mistake, there will be some flak for choosing you as my mate. But we'll get through it, together. Besides, now that I have you; you're not going anywhere. We're going to be bonded, for life, and it's stronger than being married. It's unbreakable. It's rare for anyone mated into the Royal family to have a spotless past. It doesn't truly matter what their opinion on the matter is. Matings have a mind of their own, and always have. No one is entirely sure how people are chosen, or why they involve the individuals they do. Despite all of our studies over the years, we have no concrete answers. Regardless, I'm very happy with mine, in spite of what we've been through."

Tony sighed doubtfully. "So long as you understand what you're getting yourself into…"

Harry smiled at his mate and changed the subject, not willing to indulge Tony in self-flagellation. "Expanding in the vein of your earlier question, our children will have the same rights as I myself do, no matter who grumbles about half-blooded children. It's not the first time, and it won't be the last. I am not the first Royal to Mate outside of our own race. Frankly, it's made the Royal line stronger in the long run, so long as it doesn't happen so often that the Valkyrie blood is pushed out altogether."

Harry's voice took on a cautionary tone, "When that happens the Ruling line reverts to the closest cadet branch of the Bloodline. This has only ever happened twice in the entirety of my family's ruling history, that I am aware of, and the main line did eventually come back the stronger for it and retake the throne, even so. It simply took a couple of generations to do so."

"So what happens when two Royals mate?" Tony got up to clean up the breakfast dishes.

Harry rose to help, continuing to talk as they worked side by side. "That one is both simple and complicated. It depends entirely on what their status is within the Bloodline, their capability to rule equally and their personal preference to do so. Typically the one with a higher Blood standing will rule. If they are of equal standing, which believe it or not doesn't happen as often as you might think, they co-rule. It can be very straightforward, or very complicated. Depends on the individuals involved. Usually, Matings within the royal Bloodlines go rather smoothly."

Plates were quickly rinsed and loaded into the dishwasher, then the two move the rest of their discussion into the living room. They curled up together on the couch, finally indulging in Harry's previous demand for cuddle time. Sitting so close, Harry was practically sitting on Tony's lap.

"Unlike human political marriages in your history, the mate bond will not form between people who are genetically incompatible, nor will it form between people who are too closely related. Siblings, parents, and offspring, aunts, uncles. It just doesn't happen, ever."

Tony was content and didn't feel the need to interrupt, he simply listened as Harry spoke. Gently carding his fingers through his partner's dark hair as he took in his words.

"Very, very rarely does it happen between first cousins, and it is awkward I'm sure. That is the closest Blood tie that I know of. It's unusual. Second and third cousins aren't too uncommon. Mixed with other Valkyrie bloodlines, whether Noble, Mage or Common, along with alien genetic material intermixed, and we have a very healthy and diverse Bloodline. We don't have issues having children, and they are normally strong, healthy babies. Not all Valkyrie Clans can boast this. Some very conservative Clans tend to breed too closely, and flatly refuse to Mate outside of the Valkyrie race. Anyone unfortunate enough to be bonded to a non-valkyrie can be, and usually is, cast from their Family and Clan. Nameless and Homeless unless they are adopted into another Clan, or they choose to take refuge with their mate's people."

Tony frowned. "That's harsh."

Harry glanced up at him. "No more than any bigot or racist on Earth. We might be older, longer lived and more technologically advanced, but in the end, we are still just flawed people. And some of us are assholes, plain and simple."

Tony's huffed a small, understanding, laugh. "Yeah, people suck."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* MB *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They spend most of the morning, into the early afternoon talking. Partly about the Valkyrie race, partly about projects that Tony was currently working on, or planning for the future. The subject of the other Avengers does, reluctantly, come up, and Tony only mentions any difficulties with them in vague passing. Harry, was as intelligent and sharp as his soon-to-be spouse, made a note of it. But doesn't press for the time being, resolving himself to ask Jarvis about it later.

Tony could sometimes be very insecure and read more into things than was actually there. By the same coin, Harry's human could be willfully blind to things he was choosing not to acknowledge. Pepper being case and point. Not often, but it did happen, and S.H.I.E.L.D. was a shady organization, which automatically made Harry suspicious of anything they had their hand in.

The Avengers Initiative was their Brain-Child, and therefore highly suspect. Harry was going to do some snooping of his own with these other so-called Avengers teammates and establish his own firm opinions before taking any drastic actions. What he had already learned since coming back home to Earth, did not paint many of them in a flattering light. Their interactions thus far with his Mate were less than stellar. Not that Harry wasn't aware of how much of a pain in the ass his love could be, but still, Tony was the only human, besides his adopted mother, that Harry really gave a damn about.

At this point, the only one that Harry was willing to give a reluctant pass to was Bruce Banner. The man was notoriously skittish and withdrawn since the events that had driven him to flee his home in fear of his own government. It did not surprise Harry, that the former scientist seemed to be overwhelmed by Tony's generous and flamboyant personality. The Doctor had only stuck around long enough to tend to injuries of civilians in the aftermath of the New York attack and then had quietly disappeared into the unknown. Harry had it on Jarvis' good authority that the other was safe, secluded by his own preference, (he would not divulge the location of the man) and occasionally sent emails to Tony to talk. But otherwise avoided nearly all contact with the wider world.

Agents Barton and Romanoff had gone back to work with S.H.I.E.L.D. without a word to anyone. Even though they had taken full advantage of the apartments offered to them by Tony in Stark Tower, without even batting an eyelash. They had also continued to give the Tony the cold shoulder. Which… said a lot about them in Harry's opinion.

Thor had fucked off back to Asgard almost immediately, with his wayward brother in tow, he was another of the Avengers that Harry took no issue with. The Asgardian Prince likely had a mountain of his own responsibilities and issues to deal with before he could even think of returning to Earth. Such was the life of Royalty. Harry was pretty sure that, barring another major conflict, coming back to Earth immediately was fairly low down on the other Prince's list of priorities.

It was a shame truthfully. Harry had been very much looking forward to meeting the Asgardian Crown Prince. Feeling secure enough in their own treaties with the alien race, Harry was unconcerned with secreting his identity from them. Earth's alliance was only to the Prince himself. While Harry's was to the race as a whole. As such, if things came down to the nitty-gritty. Thor would be bound by his own honor, and that of his King, to shield Harry and his people. Plus, Harry very much wanted to know why his mother had not received sanctuary from their allies, and had instead chosen to come to Earth. But that was a separate issue altogether and something to be pursued at a later time.

The so-called Captain America was the one that irked Harry the most. The man had helped somewhat in the aftermath, but had left the bulk of the real work at Tony's and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s feet. True, he didn't have the bankroll that Ironman did, or the contacts that S.H.I.E.L.D. did, but that wasn't the point. Instead of sticking around to make himself useful, he did a few token charity events and then hopped on his shiny new bike, bought and provided by Tony no less, and took off into the metaphorical sunset to see how 'America had changed' during the time he'd been sleeping in ice.

Nevermind anyone else.

The asshole.

So no. Harry was not the least bit peeved about any of it. Of course not. They just insulted, endangered, and used his Mate. Blatantly ignored nearly every attempt Tony had made for team bonding or any overture of friendship made towards them. Trashed the city, which admittedly, was impossible to avoid, but Harry was not feeling particularly charitable towards them. Then dumped most of the responsibility, for the entire nightmare, in Tony's lap. So that the media, lawyers and politicians alike, could try and devour him alive as the only available target.

Harry was not pleased. Not at all.

But he did recognize that some deserved his anger and disdain more than others, he would try to remember that when the time came, though he didn't make any promises.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* MB *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After a lazy lunch, still only half dressed, with much grumbling about the crappy weather that continued to lock them in, the two debated settling down with Tony's idea of a Star Wars marathon. However, before either one of them could get the popcorn into the microwave, Jarvis interrupted them.

"Sirs."

The squabbling duo paused in their beating of one another with pillows and glanced up at the ceiling, amusing the AI to no end. The two of them were just man-sized children at times.

"What's up, J?" Tony chirped, smacking Harry one last time with the cushion in his hand, grinning at the squawk of 'unfair' that it earned him from his love.

"It would appear that Mr. Hogan is on his way upstairs."

Harry blinked in surprise, having forgotten about the incident of the night before. "Oh."

Tony sighed. "Alright. Movie battle on hold, for the time being, Harry. But just for the record. I was so winning."

"You were not!"

Tony snorted softly at the pout on Harry's face and got up off the couch, pausing just a moment to run his fingers through his hair to settle it down. It was just Happy of course, but Tony had the impression this might be a rather important conversation and wanted to at least appear to take whatever his friend said seriously.

Harry sighed as he watched Tony walk out of the living room and into the kitchen, presumably to speak with Happy there. He half suspected what it was that Tony's friend was upset about, and wasn't sure if he should be in there for the conversation or not.

"J?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"Do I need to be in there for this?"

"I'm unsure. For the moment I would say perhaps not. We will have to wait and see. Only Happy knows what it is that upset him so much."

Harry grumbled and squirmed down further into the couch, punching at some pillows in attempt to get more comfortable. "I was afraid of that. I don't want to cause Tony problems."

"I wouldn't take it too personally, Harry. There was always going to be a bit of friction when you returned to Tony after so long. He's been very secretive about you up until now. I believe Pepper was the only person to know about you, aside from Rhodey."

With a groan, Harry slapped a hand over his face. "Shit! I completely forgot to call Rhodey! It's been months! He's going to murder me, raise me up in some occult ritual and slaughter me again just for good measure!"

There were a few moments of silence as Harry contemplated his own grisly death, before Jarvis piped up sheepishly. "My apologies Harry, but it would seem that contacting Commander Rhodes slipped my own mind as well."

Hiding his head in his hands, Harry mumbled. "I don't suppose you can turn back time by about...oh...I don't know...six months?"

"Unfortunately not."

"Damn."

"No time like the present?"

"Hell no. I'll wait until after the thing with Happy. I don't need more than one person after my blood at a time, thanks."

"As you like."

"I like none of it, J."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* MB *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meanwhile, while Harry was trying to think of some way to prevent his imminent death at the hands of the one James Rhodes, Tony hovered in the kitchen awaiting his disgruntled friend's appearance.

He didn't have to wait long.

Happy strode into the room with the countenance of a man on a mission. His mouth was set in a stern line, back straight and eyes narrowed. They zoomed in on Tony's figure immediately, and just as quickly flicked around the room and noted the absence of Harry. Some of the tension melted away from his stiff frame, but he was still holding himself in a confrontational stance. Raising his chin a bit, he met Tony's serious blue eyes, ran his eyes over his friend's mostly undressed state, though by now Tony's jeans were buttoned, and asked casually. "Did he leave or something?"

At first Tony didn't reply, taking a moment to study his longtime friend before he slowly shook his head in the negative. In spite of his often childish antics, Tony was a smart man, he knew none of his usual bullshit would fly with Happy right now. However, still being Tony Stark, he leaned back against the counter in a slouched position, resting his elbows behind him as he did so. Tilted his head a bit before he broke his silence, asking softly, slowly.

"Is there a problem here, Happy?"

Tony watched with a carefully neutral expression as Happy shoved his hands into his pockets, but still didn't back down. He met Tony eyes firmly and without flinching as he answered his employer and longtime friend. "Who is he, Tony? Some pretty thing out of a coffee shop for the night I can understand… even if he isn't your usual fare."

Removing his hand from one of the pockets Happy gestured aggressively towards Tony's left hand. "But those rings? That's not the usual sort of trinket you toss around to your bits of fluff, and you sure as hell never sport a matching one."

Unable to help himself, Tony's lips quirked up in mild amusement at Happy's words. It was true, in the past, Tony had tossed expensive jewelry around at some of the girls that shared his bed for the night. Hell sometimes it was clothes, or shoes, or if he was particularly entertained by her, maybe a trip somewhere. The ones he was especially fond of, he spoiled in other, less obvious ways. They were usually the smarter ones, that knew what his game was, and called him on it. Blatantly letting him know it was just mutual fun before they happily moved on with their lives. He actually missed a couple of those ones. They had been good people, and they had had fun in the brief time spent together.

"You're right Buddy. Harry isn't my usual...fling. Because he's not one at all. He's the real deal, Happy. The only one. The last one."

Happy frowned, further perplexed by Tony's words. But he felt a pit of dread open in his belly. "What about Pep? I would have thought that the two of you were at some point going reconcile. You've been through so much together."

Slowly Tony shook his head. "Pep meant a lot to me, Happy. I'm never going to deny that she did, because you are right. We went through a lot together over the years. But she was never…"

Tony sighed and straightened his posture so that he was standing properly and no longer leaning against the counter. In aggravation, he flapped one hand at his friend. "Sit down for Christ's sake, Happy. This isn't a conversation I want to have standing around all damned day."

Happy blinked, but nodded and took a seat across from Tony's own as the genius plopped into his a chair. As they settled, Tony continued his answer. "I thought what I had with Pepper was it. That was all there was ever going to be. It was the best I was going to get, because Harry was gone. It's a cruel thing to ever say, but...Pepper was always my second choice, not my preferred one. It makes me a shitty person, but it is the truth. I'm not going to say otherwise."

With a frown, Happy rested his arms on the table in front of him, his mind reeled with dozens of questions.

"So..was it because...well...because Pepper's…" He gestured awkwardly with his hand, hoping Tony would get was he was asking without having to actually say it out loud.

Tony raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. "Because Pepper is what?"

Happy sighed in irritation. Tony wasn't going to give him an inch. He was going to make this whole thing as uncomfortable as possible. "Because she is a...well a she."

Tony blinked, taken aback for a moment, wondering what that had to do with anything, and then snorted an incredulous laugh, unable to help himself. "What?"

Happy scowled at him and grumbled. "Because you're gay."

Tony paused, holding back more laughter as he forced himself to consider the question seriously, and not embarrass his friend more than he already, quite plainly, was. "I'm not gay, Happy. If you truly want to put a crappy ass label on it…which I don't by the way. I suppose Pansexual would be the only one that fits a little bit."

Happy stared at him, lost. "Pansexual? Is that something kinky? Because I really don't want details abo-"

"Jesus, Happy, no." Tony rubbed a hand against his face. Before he sighed in irritation. "This is why labels suck. Do I like women? Yes. Do I like Men? Meh...some I admit I like to look at, but I don't have any real desire to crawl into the sheets with them."

"But...Harry?" Happy was so confused now, and it showed in his tone.

"Is very much a complicated exception to the rule. The only one, mind you. One I won't get into much detail about without his express permission."

Happy just stared at him for a long moment, trying to process the answer that truly wasn't an answer, when a lightbulb went off in his head with glaring neon letters. Mentally smacking himself he breathed out a startled, "Oh."

It caused Tony to look at him quizzically. But Happy shook his head, lost in his own thoughts as some of the puzzle pieces finally fell together in a way that made sense to him. Harry had to be one of those Trans individuals. It was an odd conclusion, but the more Happy thought about it, the more he was sure he was correct. Tony openly admitted that he was much more into women than men, but Harry was, visually at least, male at first appearance.

Tony had apparently known this Harry person for a long time. He'd kept silent on anything about them over the years, he was going on about labels. There was a lot of this sort of thing going on in the media lately as it was more openly discussed in public forums. Tony had always been an open-minded being himself, and of course Tony would be very protective of a partner that fell into the LGBT spectrum of things. And here he, Happy, was acting like a complete ass the first time that Tony brings them out into the more open part of his life. Of course, Tony being the Tony Stark, would do it in spectacular fashion.

Like getting engaged with not a single word to anyone.

Happy didn't normally pay much attention to anything in the LGBT area of things that weren't on the general news; being a straight male himself, and not knowingly connected to anyone who was, until now.

Tony, however, had always been a hell of a lot more adventurous than Happy himself, and had zero concern with most social boundaries. That he would seriously and openly date someone of the Trans persuasion wasn't totally outside the realm of possibility. If there was a single word to define Anthony Edward Stark, it would be unpredictable.

Besides, Harry was petitely built, with rather longish hair and from the little bit that Happy had seen, he? She? came across as domestically inclined. Though Happy had not the first clue what Harry's sex at birth might have been originally. Or what pronouns were preferred as of now. That would need to be clarified for certain, and soon.

Bottom line, Happy could totally see Tony being interested in a woman long term, only to find out she, he? wasn't truthfully a woman and making the choice to stay with them anyway, when many others would find themselves unable to do the same. In spite of what the media portrayed, Happy knew full well, just how big a heart Tony Stark had. While the reverse could certainly happen as well, Harry having been born a man and transitioning to a woman, that is, Happy had a harder time picturing it in his mind. By Tony's own admission, men were not much in his taste beyond visual appreciation.

"Oh...this is going to make conversations awkward as hell." Happy muttered to himself.

"What now? Talking to yourself is a sign of madness you know. So is staring off into space for minutes at a time. I should know, I do it all the time." Tony grinned a little bit, but his eyes were concerned, making the lame joke fall a little flat.

Happy cleared his throat as he brought himself back to the present and out of his own confused thoughts. "Ah...right. I'm sorry I've been...well, confused and concerned, honestly. I didn't mean to come across as insensitive…" He trailed off at Tony's blank stare.

"Well, with Harry being...Harry." Happy gestured vaguely with his hand again.

"Buddy, you are making zero sense right now."

Happy flushed, and shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "Right...uhm...well she... He?"

Glancing up at Tony's blindsided expression he quickly corrected himself. "He I mean. Right? Sorry. He startled me when you brought him here is all. It is 'He'? The pronoun I need to use?"

Completely bewildered by the sputtering mess his friend had become Tony slowly nodded, unable to make heads or tales of what was now going on. "Uh...yeah. He. Sure."

Happy nodded firmly. "Right. He. Anyway. I was just completely thrown by how...close the two of you were, when I know nothing about who...he...is and where...he...came from. I don't right? We've never met in the past?" He looked at Tony for clarification.

With a frown, Tony shook his head in the negative, gazing at his longtime friend like he'd grown a second set of limbs spontaneously. "No, the two of you have never met before, that I am aware of. Harry spent most of his life in England."

Happy blinked and wanted to curse himself for stupidity. "Right, you're right. That accent. Okay, well. I just meant that I was concerned because...he...just seemed to come from nowhere and now you've got engagement rings on. I think I'm right to be a bit concerned, my friend."

Happy raised his chin again, as he took in Tony's cautious expression, and mentally congratulated himself for figuring it all out before forcing Tony to explain things he clearly did not want to. That would have been an even more uncomfortable conversation. At least this way it kept the discomfort on both of their parts to a minimum, and Tony didn't have to speak about things Harry clearly didn't want anyone else to know.

After a moment, the blue-eyed young man spoke again. "Okay. I guess I can see that. But Happy, I've known Harry since we were kids. Hell, we went to MIT at the same time...we were together then, and it was...it was the best thing to ever happen to me. It's just...things happened, and for years we were...separated. It was mostly my own fault. I was a complete dick about a few things…" Tony shook his head sadly and firmed his lips in determination.

"The bottom line is that, at the time I didn't deserve him. I wasn't mature enough for what he needed and the both of us ended up paying for it. But I'm lucky enough to have a second chance at having him in my life. I'm not going to give it up or waste it, not for anything or anyone. So...whatever issue you're having...figure it out. I don't want to lose friends over this...but if it comes down to it. Harry's going to be my pick. Each and every time."

Happy nodded and slowly leaned back in his chair, his position more relaxed than it had been before. "So...you're completely sure Tony? Because this is a huge step. I mean, really huge."

Tony smiled at him a little, the lingering tension leaving his own body as well as Happy slipped out of his more confrontational tone and into a more amused one. "Yeah Buddy. Two-hundred percent sure."

"Alright...I just have a couple of questions then."

Tony blinked, then shrugged his shoulders lazily, crossing his arms and slouching down in his chair without a care. "Okay, shoot. I'll answer them if I can."

"When did you two meet?"

"That one is easy. I don't have the exact day, because we were kids, but it was in the summer, we were both eight at the time. Mom had a lot of charity things going on that year and Harry's mother was helping her out with a few of them that overlapped with her own works. Plus Jasper, Harry's father, wanted to try and work with Howard on some project or another." Tony shrugged again. "Howard eventually turned him down I believe, I didn't pay much attention at that age. I was more concerned with other things."

Happy gave a soft hum of pleasant surprise. "Alright, when is Harry's Birthday?"

Tony snorted. "Easy. It's Halloween, and God does he hate it."

Happy tilted his head a bit in surprise. Tony rarely ever remembered Pepper's birthday, and needed to be reminded every day for nearly two weeks beforehand, and even then, he normally forgot the day of.

"You're making this too easy Happy. Interrogations are supposed to be unpleasant." Tony gently mocked him, smug as hell.

Happy's brow rose. Well then, if Tony was going to be like that, then Happy could play a bit harder. "Fine then. Here's a few more. Allergies? Favorite trash TV show? Guilty pleasure? What type of chocolate does he prefer? Music tastes?"

Tony's smile just turned...unsettlingly sweet in Happy's opinion. "Well...He doesn't eat meat because it disagrees with his digestive system, but I'm not sure if it's an allergy persay. As for Trash TV? Don't tell him I told you this, because he will deny it to his last breath, but anything with the Kardashians. Not going to share his Guilty pleasure because he will kill me for that, sorry Buddy. I doubt you would want to know anyhow." Tony chuckled with a waggle of his eyebrows.

This caused Happy to make a face of mild revulsion, his brain conjuring up all sorts of dirty things without his permission. "I didn't mean it like that Tony."

Tony laughed. "Well anyway, Harry hates most chocolate, he'll only eat the dark stuff. Says the rest of it is too sweet and it's disgusting."

Happy gave him a disbelieving stare, to which Tony replied. "Yeah, I know, it's blasphemy. I mean, who doesn't like chocolate? He even turns his nose up at the expensive imported stuff, but he's my own little weirdo. What can I do?"

Tony gave another shrug. "As for music, he doesn't really have a preference, he likes a little bit of everything. It really depends on the song itself, and even then he doesn't have a favorite."

Happy huffed with a frown. "Those were too easy I guess, how about these? What's his toothpaste brand? The most adorable thing he does? Favorite food? The color of his eyes? What degree did he get at MIT? What about those? You cocky bastard." he ended with a grin to take the sting off his words.

Tony's smile sharpened into shark-like dimensions. "Oh Happy...those are so easy. It's kinda sad. He earned a double degree in both Political Science and Biology. Not sure at the moment what he might have picked up since then. Keep in mind we've been apart for a while. Last I knew his toothpaste brand was Crest, but that was while he was in the States, I have no idea what he used while in Britain. He doesn't have a favorite food exactly, but does have a deep love for Greek and Indian food in general."

"As for the most adorable thing he does? What sort of question is that? It's impossible to narrow it down. He does a lot of shit that is sickeningly adorable. I kinda hate myself at times with how gooey it makes me. And don't you dare ever tell him I admitted to that!" Tony furrowed his brows and pointed at Happy in mock threat.

"Seriously, he will never let me live that down if he finds out. As for his eyes…" Tony trailed off, his expression slid into a faintly dreamy state as his voice softened in a way the Happy had never heard before.

"That one is harder to pinpoint because his eyes change. Sometimes they are very, very green. Unlike anything, I've ever seen. Other times they are this stunning mix of silver and green, especially when he's happy or laughing. It's gorgeous. And on very rare occasions, they're so dark they seem black...but I won't get into when that is."

They both drifted into silence after that. Tony reminiscing about Harry's shifting eyes, while Happy observed his long-time friend in a whole new light. His accessing gaze drifted over the expression on Tony's face, and something in him reluctantly settled.

He'd never seen that look on Tony for anything. Not for Pepper, or any other woman. Not even for any of his past pet projects. Usually Tony was an excitable ball of energy that was constantly running, never slowing down until exhaustion made him drop.

But this Harry, he seemed to settle Tony down into something more relaxed and peaceful. Tony was happy. He was content. He was able to stop and simply enjoy something without having to poke or tinker with it. Pepper had never been able to do that for his friend. Happy had once thought such a state of being was impossible for the irrepressible Stark giant. But here, staring him undeniably in the face, was a man besotted deeply by love.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* MB *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

By the time the strange meeting with Happy had concluded, Tony found himself in a rather bemused state of bewilderment. Eventually he'd figured out what Happy was thinking and wondered how in the hell his old friend had come to the idea from the few simple words on Tony's part. How in the hell he was going to explain to Harry how he just could not find it within himself to burst that hilarious bubble? In all honesty, Happy's conclusion had blindsided Tony and he hadn't known how to correct the other without explaining the whole Valkyrie thing.

As Tony walked into the living room, he found his lovely little Valkyrie still perched on the couch where he had left him, only this time Harry was cringing rather comically and holding his cellphone a few inches from his ear while...was that Rhodey? Barked scoldingly at him from the speaker.

Slowly one of Tony's eyebrows inched its way up his forehead at some of the language that spewed from the tinny voice on speakerphone. The connection was terrible, crackling and snowy-like, but Tony got the gist of it enough to know that Harry was most definitely in the hot seat with their Honey Bear. He shook his head and chose to remain silent, lest he get himself dragged into whatever was going on. Tony took his seat next to Harry with a grin. He snickered at the pissy glare Harry sent in his direction, but still didn't speak out loud.

Thankfully, the tirade seemed to be at its end, because it sounded like Rhodey was just about out of steam.

" ...I'm just glad that you are safe and alive, you jackass. Why the hell didn't you say something sooner? I would have made arrangements. Now I'm stuck in fucking Kuwait for the next year because I signed a contract, LAST WEEK, saying I would be here for...well, for something...you know."

"Yes," Harry squeaked. "I know. You can't say."

"Right. Anyhow," Rhodey's voice turned threatening again. "How long has Tony known?"

Harry turned mischievous, gleaming green eyes towards his mate. A feral grin made its way onto his lips at Tony's desperately waving hands of denial. He flashed his fangs even more at Tony's expression of petrified fear and replied sweetly to Rhodey. "Oh..I'm not sure, exactly...but it has been a little while now…"

Tony slumped in his seat, disbelief written all over his face. His mouth parted in shock as he stared at his backstabbing Valkyrie Prince. "Oh, you sexy...bastard…" he hissed lowly in a mixture of horror and appreciation. He'd have done the same thing to get a mother henning Platypus off his case. The move was simple, and beautifully executed.

Harry just fluttered his eyelashes at Tony in a sweet mocking fashion, the both of them momentarily forgetting about the irate little voice on the phone as Harry prowled across the small space between them on the couch to crawl right up into Tony's lap with said phone still held out to the side of them.

Eyes locked on Harry's sensual movements, Tony's hands instinctively wrapped about the slender man's waist as Harry settled his weight down shamelessly on the billionaire's crotch. That dark grin, cute little razor fangs included, were doing wonderful wicked things to his libido. (Not that it took much from Harry, if Tony was honest with himself.)

Carefully, Harry wrapped his arms around Tony's neck, then leaned down to capture his mate's mouth in a kiss that started out soft. Little nips and nibbles interspaced with teasing kitten licks with just the tip of his tongue. With almost no effort, Tony melted and eagerly opened his mouth under his fiance's sensual attack. Harry gave a soft hum of approval and deepened the kiss without reservation. His free hand grabbed a fistful of Tony's dark hair and tugged his head back to the angle he most desired.

Tony went with the motion without protest, his hands slid up Harry's back to gently cup his shoulder blades as Harry shifted onto his knees for a steadier position. Within moments, the little minx was rolling his hips in a slow, practiced motion against Tony's denim clothed cock. In a way Harry knew, unquestionably, would drive Tony insane with frustration after a few moments.

Tony jerked against him in surprise, but quickly relaxed and arched his hips up into the movements. Tony made a breathless little wanting noise that Harry tried to smother with his lips before it could travel to the speaker on the phone still held in his hand. Rhodey who was even now, continuing to speak. Harry could hardly make out the words, and he knew for certain that Tony had completely forgotten the other man's existence. His concentration had narrowed and had fully focused on the movement of Harry's hips against his own.

Tony could feel the brush of Harry's rapidly swelling cock, both against his own and against his stomach. The boxers Harry wore were old and flimsy. The material was thin, but they were a favorite of Tony's to lounge around in because they were so comfortable, and as such, there was no hiding just how excited the Valkyrie was.

Harry loosened his grip on Tony's hair, then slid his fingers lightly down the curve of his mate's neck. Gently he scraped short nails over Tony's collarbone and further down until he reached the glowing reactor in the center of Tony's chest. The roll of his hips never faltered or stuttered in their rhythm.

Harry stroked the glowing blue disk a couple of times with a soft considering hum. Lips kept Tony's mouth busy with his own, while mentally marveling at how compliant Tony was in his arms this afternoon. Pleasantly surprised, he decided quickly to not question the strange turn and simply take advantage of his submissive mood. Harry drew his hand over to one peaked nipple and gave it a few gentle strokes of warning with the pad of his thumb.

Tony sucked in a sharp breath against Harry's mouth, but didn't protest what he knew was coming. In fact, he arched his chest up into the touch with anticipation. Harry didn't disappoint, the gentle strokes turned into a sharp twist of fingers on sensitive flesh that forced a rough cry out of Tony. The connection between their mouths now broken. Electrifying heat jolted and sang through Tony's nerve endings, centered in his very much aroused, and uncomfortably, confined cock. His hips snapped helplessly against Harry's feminine core, where it hovered over him, tantalizingly close. Both a pleasure and a torment.

Tony felt the thin cotton against his stomach and noted that it was soaked through already. Harry always had gotten unbelievably wet when aroused. To Tony's delight, his unplanned move wretched a deep moan from his Valkyrie's mouth.

Unfortunately, Tony's ears took that moment to hone in on the evil little voice on the still active phone.

" ...If you two assholes are fucking, with me here sitting on the phone, I'm going to kill you both. Slowly. Painfully. They will NEVER, find your bodies...or what's left of them when I am through with you."

Tony blinked at Harry in shock, blue eyes wide and confused as his brain spazzed. Rhodey and sex in the same context broke something in his thinking processes, and just left him looking at his mate in stunned incomprehension.

Harry, the devil, just smiled sweetly at Tony, kissed his forehead and brought the phone up to his mouth before replying breathlessly. "It was Tony's idea. Busy. Talk to you later. Buh-bye."

Without waiting for an answer, Harry turned the phone off and tossed it over his shoulder somewhere onto the carpet without bothering to look and see where it landed. Tony decided he frankly didn't care enough to question just how much trouble Harry had gotten him into. He roughly grabbed the front of Harry's borrowed T-shirt, and hauled him back for a rough kiss.

Rhodey was too far away to be of any concern for his safety for the time being, and Tony had a hot and bothered Valkyrie in his lap. Rhodey was so not on Tony's list of priorities at the moment. His possible death could wait until Honey Bear was back in the States. Right this second, Harry was all he cared about.

Harry wrenched himself away from his human. Yanking the borrowed shirt up out of Tony's grip as he pulled it over his head and flung in a similar direction as the phone, uncaring as to where it went.

Before Tony could do more than grunt in protest of the distance between their bodies, Harry released the enchantment on his wings. He spread them open wide and arched them possessively over the two of them. Shamelessly showing off the metallic green under feathers in a brazen display.

With Valkyrie strength, he grabbed Tony's shoulders and slammed him back to the seat of the couch when his mate immediately reached to grab at his wings. Tony grunted at the impact and looked up at him, blue eyes locking with darkening green yet again.

Harry growled at him, a low deep sound in his chest and he felt Tony shudder under his grip.

"Fuck!"

Grinning, all fangs and teeth once more, Harry promised darkly. "I fully intend to."

Tony caught his breath again, his dick giving a hard twitch in his now painful jeans. With no warning, Harry dove for Tony's neck, fangs scraping harshly against the sensitive skin. Tony's mind reeled. He wasn't sure what had come over Harry, but was hugely turned on by this aggressive creature that was blatantly interested in using his body. Tony was kinky like that.

In no way was he going to argue with what Harry wanted right now.

Tony was familiar with a wide range of sexual practices, both tame and some very decidedly not. If Harry needed him pliant right now, then Tony was more than willing to give. Though admittedly, Valkyrie and human strength were two very different things. Tony knew he was going to have some nice bruising on his back already. But he trusted Harry not to manhandle him too much. Part of him was sort of looking forward to it. As a man who mainly bedded women in the past years, being overpowered in such a obvious and dominating way just didn't happen and Tony was very much looking forward to what Harry had in mind..

While Harry was busy leaving some lovely marks on his neck, Tony shifted his hands, which until then had been hovering uncertainly in the air. He finally chose to rest them on Harry's hips, and gently tugged to encourage the rolling motion to start again. A sharp nip of teeth to his ear, had Tony suspecting it might be bleeding just a tiny bit, and if the way Harry's lips locked onto the lobe was not indication enough, the hard, sucking action certainly was. The act seemed to be something Harry enjoyed immensely given the way the near-feral Valkyrie had started to rub himself against Tony once more.

Tony groaned loudly, both pleased and frustrated by the contact. He wanted to open his pants, but Harry hadn't given any indication of wanting to remove further clothing and Tony had long ago learned not to push. Harry had at times, had issues with exposing his body to Tony in the past and Tony wasn't yet sure if those issues had resolved themselves or not.

However, before Tony could wind himself up with indecision, Harry pulled away from his ear, confirming Tony's earlier suspicion about Harry bleeding him. The Valkyrie's mouth was smeared, just the tiniest bit, with crimson. Tony reached up to touch his ear as Harry watched. The wound was nothing to worry about, it was barely a scratch, and so Tony just grinned at his love in response to the predatory gaze watching him. By now, he was familiar enough with Harry's blood fetish and it didn't frighten him. Harry had never done any damage that could be considered anywhere close to serious. Plus, Tony was a bit of a masicist, even if he generally prefered to take the more Dominant role in BDSM games. So this, rather unsurprisingly, worked for the both of them.

Their eyes locked once more and Harry's swirled with an inhuman green and silver glow, brimming with tightly restrained power. Tony was briefly mesmerized by their dance. It seemed like an eternity, but was, truly, only a few heartbeats before Harry shifted up onto his knees again. Pulling his groin away from Tony's in the process. Under Tony's avid gaze, he reached down to grab the hem of the boxers covering his sex and simply ripped them apart like they were tissue paper.

Tony's breath sputtered and stopped in his chest. Harry's eyes never wavered from Tony's own, and when those powerful hands reached for the button of his jeans, Tony didn't move. He was frozen in place. Two short, sharp jerks that jolted him, and the sound of ripping denim filled the air. Between one blink and the next, Tony was free of the confines of his previously constraining garment. The front of the material was shredded, and Tony couldn't find it within himself to care. Harry's alien strength was exactly the opposite of off putting.

"Breathe, Tony," Harry growled at him and Tony's brain kicked back online.

He sucked in a gulp of air loudly. His head spun from the previous lack of oxygen a moment. Shaking hands slid down to Harry's thighs, and squeezed hard enough to bruise. The motion didn't seem to bother Harry in the least. Breaking the captivating stare, Tony looked down between them. Taking in the, oh so lovely, picture presented before him.

Both of their organs stood proudly upright, heads glistening with precome. Harry's more so than his own. The Valkyrie was in fact, leaking down the front of his cock and Tony longed to shift Harry. To lean down and circle the weeping head, to tongue the slit, to steal just a taste. Tony wanted to slide his mouth down Harry's cock again and again. Take him deep in his throat and let the Valkyrie find his pleasure however he saw fit. Before meeting his love, Tony had never entertained the idea that he would enjoy sucking dick, but doing it for Harry, watching him lose himself, was something Tony, very much, enjoyed.

He wanted to, if Harry would let him, bury his face in Harry's female sex and eat him out until he was a screaming trembling mess under Tony's ruthless tongue. It wouldn't be the first time, and it was one of Tony's fondest memories. But for now, it seemed unlikely that Harry would let him do either. His Valkyrie appeared to have specific plans in mind.

Strong fingers gripped his chin and tilted it back up. Tony went with the motion willingly, their eyes met once more and Harry leaned forward to press their cocks together firmly, making Tony hiss softly at the contact. But when Harry leaned forward a second time, it was to lick again at Tony's ear and growl into it.

"You do not move. You can grab me as you like except, for my cock. You can make any noises you wish. I love listening to you. Be as loud as you want."

Tony sucked in a breath and held it. Despite the wording, these were not requests, they were orders, and he was unable to repress a groan of naughty anticipation.

"Yeah okay...anything you want."

Harry purred happily, nuzzled Tony's cheek, but did not release his tight grip on Tony's jawline. Then with a wicked snarl directly in Tony's ear, he said. "You may not come, either."

He gave Tony no time to respond and, in fact, started to move before the words had even fully left his lips. Harry firmly gripped Tony's cock and impaled himself down on it in one firm, wet, slide, deep into his female core.

Tony bucked violently under him with a shout, driving himself to the hilt. Unable, in his surprise, to repress his mindless initial reaction. Never before had Harry allowed this type of penetration, not physically, not here in the real world and Tony was still unsure as to how much that dream counted.

Previously Harry had only permitted Tony to use fingers or toys in the female part of himself. Viciously, brutally, Tony somehow mentally managed to wrestle himself back under some vague semblance of control.

Harry did not scold him for the action and when Tony opened his dazed eyes, Harry only smiled at him smugly.

Tony's mind, however, was completely gone. Firmly checked out. His brain tripping over itself as he tried to process both familiar, and yet new, sensations. Harry was hotter inside than any woman Tony could remember being with. He was also tighter and gripped his cock far differently than he was used to.

Fucking Harry within the dreamscape had nothing on reality. The differences were noticeable here, where before there had not been any. Harry flexed and Tony couldn't help the whine of disbelief that escaped his lips as he felt the velvet sheath around him contract rhythmically, like it was milking him.

"Holy mother-of-fucking god!" He groaned, thunking his head onto the back of the couch.

"No," Harry growled breathily in his ear, leaving a rough bite at the spot just under his ear. "Just your god. I wanna hear you scream Tony. Will you scream for me?"

Harry swiveled his hips with slow precision before Tony could gather his wits enough to answer, causing Tony's vision to white out for a handful of glorious seconds. Distantly, Tony felt the hand around his jaw move down to pet his throat. Normally, such a touch was unwelcome from a bed partner, it being too vulnerable an area. But Tony had no fear of Harry, or his intentions. So Tony titled his chin back to expose more flesh for Harry, as he just basked in the feeling of his fiance's burning core wrapped snugly around him. In the meantime, Tony's brain scrambled over itself as it tried to figure out just what was going on. The movement of Harry's hips was familiar enough of course, but the independent motions of muscle within Harry's female sheath was a foreign sensation. That, frankly, was very successfully driving Tony out of his skull.

He was aware, vaguely, that his fingertips were dug into Harry's thighs, nails likely breaking the pale skin, but that didn't seem to deter the feral Valkyrie in Tony's lap from riding him hard, riding him as if there was nothing else in the world.

The pace itself was slow enough, controlled enough, but Tony was still struggling to keep his breath as Harry repeatedly slammed himself onto his cock. Taking Tony as deep as he could before making a sharp swivel motion with his hip that had made Tony scream aloud the first time it was done. It had felt like something had squeezed and rolled around the head of his cock, grasping and sucking hard, for just a brief moment.

"The fuck was that?!" he gasped, but no answer came. Just a pleased growl and a possessive bite to his already deliciously sore neck. "Mine."

Tony knew he wasn't going to be able to hide the bruises by the time that Harry was done. No amount of cover up was going to work after this. But he really couldn't find it within himself to care. He mentally dared anyone to ask him about it. It would be entertaining if nothing else. But those worries were for later. For now he had something much more important to concern himself with.

Harry was not playing around, he had Tony completely pinned under his strength and was intent on using Tony's cock to his own contentment. Tony got the brief impression that he was just lucky enough to be attached to it for the ride. He felt the breeze of Harry's wings as they began to move, and after blinking his vision back. Tony realized that Harry was using them to put more power behind his thrusts, forcing himself more firmly onto Tony's organ.

"Fuck! Yeah Harry, anytime you want it." Tony mumbled in reassurance, watching the wing's unique dance over their bodies. He'd have to be fucking braindead to turn this down. Tony knew from the bottom of his heart that no human woman would ever be enough again.

Harry had barely gotten started, and Tony was already hanging onto his orgasm by the skin of his teeth, and he was afraid even that, barely gripped control, wouldn't last much longer. It was embarrassing how fast his body was rushing toward its peak already. Harry was going to be pissed. Tony's stamina hadn't been this bad since his early, inexperienced teenage years.

"H-Harry..!" Tony tried to warn.

A moan was his only answer, and the Valkyrie ground himself down, causing Tony to shout again as that swirling motion danced over the head of his cock once more.

"Shit! Harry! Whatever the fuck that is, it is going to end things real fast!" Tony gasped out.

Harry only snarled out a low "No," but made no other acknowledgment before Tony's control broke. On Harry's next downward thrust, Tony's hips snapped up, slamming hard to meet Harry's own stroke. He felt the Valkyrie jerk above him, heard the sharp wet slap of their flesh meeting, and he shouted as that sensation, the one he firmly decided he absolutely loved, danced over his cockhead again.

"Oh my god…" Things blurred for Tony after that, losing himself in sound and sensation. At some point Harry raked his nails down what he could reach of Tony's back. Leaving thin, shallow lines of blood that Tony didn't give a damn about, even though they stung like hell and were sure as hell going to leave a stain on the couch. He knew his neck was at this point, bleeding sluggishly. Harry had left more than a dozen handprint-shaped bruises on him, had roughly slammed him into the back of the couch more than once during their coupling. Particularly when Tony unconsciously attempted to take control of their shared ride.

Tony cared about none of it.

He singled his focus completely on not coming, even while he tormented himself with Harry's use of his body. Surprisingly, the Valkyrie hadn't scolded him for breaking the 'not moving' rule. Tony assumed he was too far gone to care. The couch was likely going to be ruined, their clothes, and Harry, were so wet, Tony was sure he would need to torch the cushions underneath them. Tony doubted that professional cleaning would be enough, and he didn't really want strangers in the house anyhow.

Tony was glad he didn't have any neighbors to concern himself with, because Harry had asked Tony to be loud and he was more than happy to comply with the request. Tony was vocal, to begin with, but at the moment, he couldn't tell you what he said during their coupling, or what Harry growled back. Both of them were beyond coherency, reduced to frantic mating. Tony yanking Harry's hair to pull him close enough to kiss and Harry nipped his lips bloody with his fangs in the process.

Finally, Tony reached his peak, unable to hold it back any longer. His orgasm began to roar through him, began shaking him with the force of it, only to have it cut off sharply and leave him rocking back in shock and confusion. Gasping desperately for breath, Tony looked at Harry, then down. Harry was no longer sitting on his cock; instead, Harry had Tony's organ tightly in his sharp-nailed grip. Not hurting him, but certainly holding Tony's tender bits tightly enough to halt his crest. The pressure of his repressed climax was brutal, but all Tony could do was moan and restlessly spread his legs to try and shift more comfortably.

"Harry…"

"I said. No. Coming."

"S-sorry baby…"

Harry just smiled and leaned forward to kiss Tony on the mouth lightly, his expression softened at Tony hesitance. "Easy, Tony. Just give me a little bit longer, okay? Then I promise, I will blow your mind."

Tony exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he was holding, the sharp thing in his chest releasing at Harry's reassurance. He could do this. It wasn't the first time that he'd played with orgasm denial, although Harry's feral side equally aroused and concerned him.

His voice was still hoarse and rather shaky as he muttered. "You already kind of are."

Harry just smiled ferally at him once again and let go of Tony's dick, it twitched at him. Without further comment, Harry rose above Tony and slowly impaled himself back down. Tony tossed his head back and moaned helplessly,his hips twitched in reaction, but he managed to suppress anything further.

"Alright, Tony?"

Taking a couple of breaths before he answered, Tony slowly nodded. "Yeah..I got it," he took another breath before nodding again, "you're good to go."

Harry purred in pleasure, kissing Tony's cheek with affection before he slowly resumed their passionate ride together. Tony again let himself sink into the rhythm of it. Though, even knowing now what to expect, Tony's grip on holding back his orgasm was tenuous at best. It didn't surprise him when Harry stopped him from coming twice more. By then he was nothing more than a pulsing mass of throbbing need, desperate for relief. Words were beyond him, but Tony had still twigged onto Harry's power game after the second time climax was denied him. Harry was waiting for him to beg.

A woman had tried to dominate him like that, exactly once, in the years Harry and Tony had been separated. He'd immediately safe worded out, then promptly thrown her out of the hotel room in less time than it had taken him to put his boxers back on, once he'd figured out where she had been going with their little game. Tony hadn't truly been into the more submissive role she'd asked for anyhow. At the time though, he had been curious to try something different and had quickly discovered he could not trust anyone, or let go enough, to let another dominate him properly. But for Harry...Tony thought he was willing to try again, with clearly better results, if his current raging libido was any indication.

With this in mind, Tony let go of any lingering hesitations. This was Harry, and Harry was everything. "Please…"

"Hmm…what?" Harry asked breathlessly, rocking his hips slowly in a figure eight motion now to tease the head of Tony's cock inside him with those fluttering inner muscles. He forced his eyes to focus on his mate. Taking in his sweat-drenched form, trembling under his onslaught.

In spite of Harry's aggressive countenance, he was actually being very careful, knowing he could seriously injure his mate with his physical strength.

"Please, Harry… I can't anymore..." Harry's gaze sharpened and carefully he examined his lover again, reluctantly coming to the conclusion that Tony was not joking. His human was skating the edge of what he could tolerate. Harry could not, safely, push any harder. Not if he cared for the mental well being of his love.

Humming softly, Harry gently curled his hands around Tony's face, cradling it lovingly as he licked away the tears on Tony's eyelashes. They flickered open when he was done and Harry was met with dilated pupils so black they seemed endless. Shifting the pace of his hips, Harry's motions, while not stopping became more gentle. He tipped Tony's head back and rained delicate kisses all down on his face, shushing the little desperate whine that rose up in Tony's throat.

"Harry...PLEASE...Let me come."

"Alright, Tony, whenever you're ready, my love," Harry whispered before taking his mouth and at the same moment sinking all the way down on Tony's stiff organ, shifting the muscles internally once again. This time there was no teasing in their fluttery motions. Grinding his hips with a soft moan, Harry licked into Tony's slack mouth as his body set about squeezing Tony's cock of every last drop it could get from him. With Harry's female core locked down around him, Tony wasn't going to be able to pull out until he was empty of seed and Harry's core was done milking him. A little surprise of Valkyrie anatomy that Harry had neglected to inform his mate about.

Tony twitched under him and gasped with each squeeze Harry made, he didn't scream as Harry expected, but he was quietly wrecked instead. Eyes fluttering and mouth working in a silent cry. Within only a handful of inner motions, Harry could feel Tony's cock jump inside him and while he couldn't feel Tony's seed, the mere idea of it caused him to moan through his own pleasured peak and sink his teeth into Tony's willing neck, taking little sips of his blood as he held his blissed-out mate in his arms. The chemicals in Harry's saliva prolonging his mate's final climax.

Harry gently pulled his teeth from Tony, when he finally slumped in his arms. Fully spent and shivering from the intensity of their coupling. Cooing softly, Harry pet and cuddled his mate until he was quiet and still in his arms, checking to ensure that none of the bites were very deep. They remained connected until Tony was soft enough to slip out of Harry's core without their guidance. This prompted Harry to shift a bit, closing his legs and sitting sideways in Tony's lap, in an instinctive attempt to keep as much of Tony's seed inside of him as he could manage.

Tony just sighed and tightened his arms around Harry's waist, not yet ready to speak or move. Harry had no desire to rush him after such an intense bout of love-making. Content to remain held in his lover's arms.

So for nearly an hour, they rested together on the ruined couch and drifted in their shared bliss.