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Tony Stark never thought he'd find the memory of his former partners, who had disappeared one night, promising to explain everything to Tony in the future, but who had vanished completely.
Only after seventeen years Tony discovered that they had died a few months later their departure and that their son (the son of all three in a way that could only be magical) had been given to a family who hated magic and treated him like a monster.
Tony would have loved him. Even in his wildest moments, Tony would have been the best father he could be.
He wanted to avoid having children, but that didn't mean he wouldn't be the father they deserved if that happened.
Harry deserved a father, and Tony deserved a son.
Harry had been in the Tower for a few weeks, and Tony used Friday to keep his safety under control, aware of the disrespect for privacy that was happening.
But Harry was his son, and Tony hadn't been able to protect him from the war, and now he only wanted to protect him.
"Sir?"
“Yes, Friday?” Tony asked, looking up from the photo of Harry on his bedside table.
“Harry isn’t sleeping.” Friday warned. “I could ask him if he needs anything, but he seemed averse to being controlled.”
“I’ll go talk to him.” Tony promised, getting out of bed and walking across the hall to Harry’s door, knocking lightly, then entering the room.
Harry was sitting on the bed, dressed, his glasses already on and his wand in his hand.
“Harry?”
Harry jumped, not having heard Tony enter. He looked embarrassed by Tony’s arrival, his ears slightly red. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Tony sighed, sitting next to Harry on the bed. “You don’t have to worry. Kingsley told Nicky that all the Death Eaters have been caught.”
Harry snorted. “I’m not worried.”
Tony looked at the wand in his son’s hand. “And the wand?”
“In case it’s needed.” Harry answered promptly.
“For what?” Tony asked.
Harry looked at him as if the question were absurd. “Doesn’t your suit come to you if you have a nightmare?”
Tony pursed his lips, knowing Harry was right.
The armor hadn’t hurt anyone. But it very well could have.
But Harry shouldn’t have had all those instincts.
Because Harry had the instincts of a soldier: he always sat where he could see the door; he never turned his back on adults; he woke up if anyone entered his room, even if it was Romanoff or Barnes; he kept his wand nearby even when he ate; he never left his glass unattended; he automatically checked the locks and exits in a room; he tensed when someone raised their voice; he asked permission before taking something that wasn’t his, making Tony extremely nervous because a child shouldn’t have been so careful; he apologized immediately when he thought he'd done something wrong.
Tony studied his son for a moment before saying, "Can I ask you something private, Harry?"
"As long as it's not about sexual experiences." Harry replied curtly, probably still reeling from Tony's stories about his parents.
"Harry, when was the last time you felt safe?"
Harry didn't answer, remaining silent for so long that Tony thought he wouldn't answer at all. Then, finally, Harry answered. "I don't know."
Tony felt his heart sink. "Can't you remember?"
Harry shook his head. "I never thought about that." After a moment's pause, he added. "The Dursleys were about survival, and Hogwarts became that, too. Plus, there were battles and deaths, and reprisals..."
Tony remained silent before saying, "You know, we're a team of powerful heroes, and none of us mind doing the heavy lifting."
Harry raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"We can make the Tower the safest place ever." Tony promised.
"What are you going to do?" Harry asked, amused. "Kidnap them?"
"If necessary." Tony smiled amusedly. "Shall we?"
"Tomorrow." Harry rolled his eyes. "Don't commit a crime tonight."
"I won't," Tony promised, then without wasting time. "Come on, let's get to bed, kiddo."
With some difficulty, they both slipped under the covers, and Harry, tucking his head under Tony's chin, murmured, "Thanks, Dad."
With a smile, Tony replied, "Always."