Work Text:
Harley takes on the mantle of Iron Boy… He starts to run into a certain Spider-boy and falls for him…
Harley was given a mantle. A powerful one. He had become Iron Boy, the next Iron Man. Tony retired and now he was running around in an iron suit as if he was some Iron Man wannabe but Tony had approved of him being his other protegee. The other one was the boy who was sitting next to him on the ledge and yelling at him for something stupid he did.
“Look,” Spidey said, a bit annoyed. “I know your Tony’s protegee but that doesn’t mean you are all of a sudden Iron Man or as great as he was.”
“I know that,” Harley said, groaning at that. “Why can’t you just let me learn from my mistakes like Tony does.” Spidey seemed annoyed at him.
“I’m not Tony,” Spidey said.
“Well, no dip. You think I would be crushing on a guy who was like my father figure,” Harley said before he realized his mistake. Spidey seemed to stop his rant. Spidey seemed to stumble over his words.
“I have a girlfriend,” Spidey said.
“Oh,” Harley said, disappointed in himself more than anything. He thought he was in love with Spidey but here he was finding the other was not even into guys. “I should go.” Spidey went to say something but Harley was gone. Harley wasn’t in the mood for sympathy.
~
“Hey kid,” Tony said, finding him on the roof.
“Spidey told you?” Harley asked, feeling like a mess.
“He said he said a bit too much and upset you,” Tony told him. “Sounds like you weren’t listening to the experienced avenger again.”
“I knew I could save them though!” Harley said.
“I’m sure you could, Bud,” Tony said. “Spidey just worries because he has seen a lot of bad that has happened in the world and he has almost lost people that he cares about.”
“Still I was fine,” Harley said. “Besides that is not why I am upset.”
“Yeah, Spidey said you had a crush on him and he said some stuff about how he told you about his relationship,” Tony told Harley. Harley felt even more embarrassed than before. “To be honest, his girlfriend is planning to end things with him soon so it might be best to stay away.”
“How do you know that?” Harley asked.
“Spidey told me,” Tony said. “Found a letter in her bag that was for him and she doesn’t know he knows.”
“That is sad,” Harley said. A boy came out joining them looking upset.
“Hey Tony,” the boy said. “You mind me pulling you aside for a bit.” Tony looked at Harley as he made sure he was okay before he slipped off with the other boy for a bit. Harley looked down at the scene below as Tony came back with the boy.
“Harley, this is my intern, Peter Parker,” Tony said. “I just told him about you. The kid was wondering if you want to help him get his mind off of some things.” Harley nodded as Peter told him about his latest project. Maybe hanging with Peter wouldn’t be so bad after all.
~
Harley had slowly fallen for Spider-Man but with Peter it was like falling quickly. The boy was sweet and kind and funny and just familiar. He didn’t know what it was but it brought him close and it made him love him.
“Hey, so I was suggested by Gwen and MJ to go to this cafe and I really need someone to go with me and if you are interested….” Peter was rambling which was adorable.
“Yeah,” Harley said. “I can go. It would be great to go.” Harley looks down not seeing Peter’s blush forming. Tony just rolled his eyes. His two dorks. The only thing was that Peter still hadn’t told him was his biggest secret but Harley didn’t know that. Harley just thought that Peter was perfect and he couldn’t find anything wrong with him.
~
Harley groaned as he laid there for a second. Spidey had just got there as Harley was tossed into a building again. Spidey was there saving the day as Iron Boy failed again. Harley got back up and saw Spidey tossed to the side like a ragdoll and Harley flew and hit the villain with a taser that was higher voltage than the last one. The villain fell down and Harley caught him in the cuffs as he went to check on Spidey who was not responding.
“Spidey?” Harley asked shaking the boy for him only to lay there. Spidey didn’t wake up though. Harley picked him up and flew him back to the tower before carrying him to medbay where he laid Spidey only for him to be pushed out which was fine, he went out and then returned for Helen to do her check up. Helen had handed him over to May who was another nurse. She seemed concerned though.
“Can I help you?” Harley asked. She seemed surprised. “It’s just you seem distracted and I am Tony’s ward so I have seen some worried people.”
“My nephew got hurt pretty bad and hasn’t woken up yet,” She said. Harley nodded. May was Spidey’s aunt. He should have expected Tony to hire Spidey’s family. Harley thanked her as he asked her a few more questions before Helen came and asked May out of the area for a second and pulled her along to where Spidey was. Harley took his leave at that point not wanting to be there when Spidey got up. He would tell him with time.
~
Peter had invited Harley over to his house before they went to the cafe to meet his aunt. He was wanting him to meet her because his aunt was his only family and since Peter had met his Ma and Abby when they visited right after the incident with Spidey.
“You sure?” Harley asked as Peter unlocked the door.
“Trust me, May will love you,” Peter said. Harley found that coincidence amusing. Peter and Spidey could be cousins for all he knew but hey more than one person had to be named May. Harley was brought in and there was May. The same May who did his checkup. Meaning Peter had to be related to Spidey.
“It’s nice to meet you again,” Harley said.
“Oh, you’re Iron Boy,” May said. Peter went to tell May something, but Harley didn’t let him say anymore.
“You’re Spidey’s aunt,” Harley said. Peter looked at him surprised. “How is he by the way? I was really concerned about him.”
“I’m fine now, can we talk about how you both know each other?” Peter asked, looking between them both surprised.
“Oh Helen had me take care of Harley after a mission,” May said. “How long have you both been dating?”
“We aren’t,” they both said.
“Oh alright,” May said smiling as she talked to them both. She figured if they got their stuff together then they would be a cute couple. She did let Tony know who added her to a group chat with Pepper and Macy (Harley’s mom) about the boys with the theories they had. The boys though went on to their “not” date. Maybe they weren’t together but they both had crushes on the other one and that was all that mattered.