It was Tony's birthday today, but Harry felt anything but celebratory. The aftermath of the Monaco Grand Prix incident, where the media had dubbed the mysterious attacker as "Whiplash," had cast a long shadow over Stark Industries. The public and the press were relentless, and Harry could feel the weight of their scrutiny bearing down on the company, and by extension Pepper and him.
The situation had become dire in the blink of an eye. Stark Industries was no longer the unassailable titan it once was. The goodwill that it had gained back was now down the drain again. The financial world smelled blood in the water, and the sharks were circling.
The transition of power from Tony to Pepper had been fraught with complications. What should have been a seamless handover had instead turned into a public spectacle. Tony's unpredictable behaviour and his penchant for stirring controversy in addition to Pepper's perceived inexperience were additional fuel for their scepticism. Rumours circulated that Stark Industries was a sinking ship.
The company's stock prices reflected this sentiment, plunging to levels Harry hadn't seen since the day Tony announced the closure of the weapons manufacturing division. That decision, while morally sound, had been a financial disaster in the short term, and now history seemed to be repeating itself. Stark Industries' once-ironclad reputation was crumbling, and with it, the faith of its investors and partners.
Pepper and Harry had spent countless hours, often late into the night, securing deals and forging partnerships to stabilize the company and diversify its operations to pivot it from its weapons manufacturing days. But now, all that hard work seemed to be crumbling. Corporate partners, once eager to align with Stark Industries, were growing hesitant. Emails and phone calls that had once been filled with enthusiasm were now tinged with doubt. Some were even pulling back, delaying contract signings, or re-evaluating their involvement altogether.
What made it even more frustrating for Harry was that Natasha, now deeply entrenched in her role as Pepper's right hand, was working tirelessly to manage the fallout. The demands of her time were relentless, leaving little room for anything else. Even if they were working together, it was different to spending quality time together. Their moments together had become overshadowed by the crisis at hand.
Harry had hoped to find a quiet moment, to broach the subject of their future and of marriage but the chaos at Stark Industries seemed determined to keep them apart. The thought of proposing had been on his mind for a while now, but with each passing day, it seemed further out of reach. Every time he considered bringing it up, another crisis would emerge, dragging them both back into the fray. The emotional toll was undeniable. He felt like they were drifting, caught in a current that neither of them could control.
The only reason Harry agreed to attend Tony's birthday party was because Tony had confided in him that this might be his last. The palladium poisoning had pushed Tony's blood toxicity level to a dangerous 85%, and the last time they had spoken, Harry had sensed a resignation in Tony's voice—a silent acknowledgement that he was running out of time. The thought of Tony giving up, of him facing this battle alone, weighed heavily on Harry. He couldn't shake the concern that his friend might be beyond hope and that attending this party was honouring his last wish.
Harry felt a deep sense of responsibility for Tony's situation, a weight that had only grown heavier with time. When Tony had first come back from Afghanistan, Harry had warned him about the potential dangers of installing the Arc Reactor in his chest. He had seen the risks it posed, and he had urged Tony to find a safer solution. But Tony, ever the genius, had been confident that he could manage it, that he could outsmart the very technology keeping him alive. And Harry, trusting in Tony's brilliance, had let it go.
Now, seeing Tony's health deteriorating to such levels, Harry couldn't help but feel like he had failed. He should have been more vigilant, more insistent. He should have pushed harder, checked in more often, anything to prevent Tony from reaching this point. The guilt gnawed at him, mixing with the fear of what might happen if Tony truly had given up.
Harry stepped out of the car, the cool night air brushing against his skin, but it did little to calm the storm of emotions brewing within him. As he approached the mansion, the thrum of the party inside grew louder, pulsing in time with the beat of the music. The doors were wide open, and the energy within the mansion seemed to spill out like a wave, washing over him as he crossed the threshold.
Inside, the scene was one of sheer grandeur. The grand foyer had been transformed into a dazzling display of extravagance. It seemed like Tony had splurged blindly for this party.
Everywhere Harry looked, there were signs of excess. Ice sculptures in the shape of Iron Man stood as centrepieces on buffet tables laden with gourmet delicacies—caviar, truffle-infused canapés, and towers of exotic fruits. Bartenders at several makeshift bars were expertly mixing cocktails, their hands moving in a blur as they tossed bottles and poured drinks. Guests held flutes of champagne that sparkled under the light, toasting to what they believed was just another one of Tony Stark's legendary parties.
The guests were a mix of Hollywood elite, powerful business magnates, and socialites—all dressed in designer outfits and jewellery. Conversations ranged from the latest box office hits to the newest tech trends, with laughter punctuating the air like bursts of fireworks. Outside, through the massive glass doors, Harry could see more revellers gathered around the pool, where floating lanterns created a mesmerizing reflection on the water's surface.
It was a scene of hedonistic indulgence, a stark contrast to the grim thoughts occupying Harry's mind. Each smile, each carefree laugh, was a reminder of the facade Tony was maintaining—a facade that Harry feared was cracking under the weight of reality.
As Harry moved through the crowd, he felt the disconnect more acutely than ever. The extravagance around him felt hollow, a desperate attempt to drown out the ticking clock that was Tony's deteriorating health. The mansion was alive with celebration, yet all Harry could think about was the battle Tony was fighting within himself and the role he felt he should have played in preventing this moment.
As Harry navigated through the mansion, he finally caught sight of the birthday boy. There, in the centre of it all, stood Tony Stark, decked out in his Iron Man suit, though it was far from a display of heroism. The telltale signs of his intoxication were impossible to miss: his helmet was half off, revealing glassy eyes and a lopsided grin.
Tony was using the suit's repulsors to perform a crude imitation of a fireworks display, sending sparks into the air to the delight of the onlookers. His words slurred together as he made exaggerated toasts to the crowd, who cheered him on despite his obvious drunk state.
Harry felt a heavy weight in his chest as he watched Tony stumble around, cracking jokes that bordered on nonsensical and laughing at his own antics with an edge of desperation that only Harry seemed to notice. The Tony before him was a stark contrast to the man who had once emerged from a cave in Afghanistan, humbled and resolute in his decision to change. Now, it was as if Tony had taken a complete U-turn, regressing to the reckless, self-destructive persona he had so vehemently tried to leave behind.
Harry couldn't bear to watch anymore, yet he felt helpless, rooted to the spot by the weight of his own concerns and the overwhelming sadness of seeing Tony in this state. Every drunken laugh, every reckless move, felt like a blow to Harry's heart, knowing that this might be Tony's way of saying goodbye.
Tony, in his drunken state, suddenly decided that the party needed a change in tempo. He staggered over to the DJ booth, pushing the DJ aside with a clumsy grin before taking over the controls. The music shifted into an erratic beat as Tony began DJing, his movements wild and uncoordinated, yet somehow in sync with the chaos he was creating. He started dancing on the stage, the Iron Man suit clanking with each misstep, drawing a mix of cheers and laughter from the crowd.
Harry's heart sank further, but before he could react, he saw Pepper descending the stairs, her eyes wide with shock at the scene unfolding before her. She froze for a moment, her gaze fixed on Tony as if she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing.
"What's going on?" Pepper asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"I'm as confused as you are," Harry replied, his voice heavy with the helplessness he felt.
Pepper scanned the room, desperately searching for some semblance of control. "Where's Natalie?" she asked, her voice tinged with panic.
"I don't know," Harry answered, knowing that even if Natasha were there, it might not make a difference.
Pepper's composure cracked. Her breath hitched as she tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. "This is too much," she whispered, her voice breaking. "First the unnecessary Expo, then the sudden change in CEO, then Monaco, and now this. It feels like everything is spiralling out of control."
She paused, her shoulders slumping as the weight of it all pressed down on her. "I can't deal with this anymore," Pepper continued, her voice barely above a whisper as she struggled to keep herself together. "Right when Stark Industries is at a pivotal moment, Tony is becoming unhinged. How am I supposed to take care of the company when I can't even get through to him?"
Pepper's eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked at Harry, seeking reassurance, some solution that seemed so out of reach. "I can't babysit Tony and run Stark Industries at the same time," she added, her voice filled with a raw vulnerability that Harry had rarely seen in her.
Her usual strength and composure were crumbling under the strain, and Harry could see just how much she was hurting, overwhelmed by the enormity of what she was facing. Stark Industries was hanging in the balance, and the man who should have been its greatest asset was now its biggest liability.
Pepper turned away, her resolve crumbling as she started to leave the chaotic scene behind. Harry followed closely, his heart heavy with concern, trying to think of something, anything, to calm her down. But before they could make it to the exit, they ran into Rhodey, who had just arrived, his expression a mix of confusion and growing frustration.
"Hey, Pepper," Rhodey called out, noticing her distressed state. His eyes narrowed as he tried to assess the situation. "What's going on?"
Pepper let out a shaky breath, struggling to maintain her composure. "I just need some fresh air," she exhaled, her voice barely holding steady.
Rhodey's gaze shifted to Harry, searching for answers. "What's happening?"
With a defeated sigh, Pepper gestured toward the stage where Tony was still making a spectacle of himself. "I don't know what to do anymore, Rhodey," she admitted, her voice tinged with helplessness.
Rhodey followed her gaze, his eyes widening as he took in the scene. Tony, wobbling unsteadily on the stage in his Iron Man suit, drunkenly attempted to stand, only to crash into a display rack, sending it toppling to the ground. The sound of glass shattering echoed through the room, and the crowd's laughter quickly turned into uneasy murmurs.
"You've got to be kidding me," Rhodey muttered in disbelief, his patience wearing thin.
As Tony stumbled again, nearly losing his balance, Rhodey's expression hardened. "That's it, I'm making a call," he declared, pulling out his phone.
"No, no, no, don't call anyone," Pepper quickly intervened, stepping in front of Rhodey and placing a hand on his arm to stop him.
"This is ridiculous!" Rhodey snapped, his voice rising with anger. "I just stuck my neck out for this guy, and now he's out here, making a complete fool of himself."
"I know, I get it," Pepper replied, her voice soft but firm as she tried to calm him down. "But I'm going to handle it, okay? Just let me handle it."
Rhodey's jaw clenched as he struggled to rein in his frustration. "Handle it, Pepper. Or I'm going to have to," he warned, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Pepper nodded, her heart pounding as she turned back toward the stage, steeling herself for what she had to do next. She knew that Tony needed help, but the weight of it all was becoming almost too much to bear.
Tony was in the middle of a joke, his speech slurred as he laughed at his own antics. "You know," he drawled, a mischievous grin on his face, "what's the most frequent question that I get asked, it's how do I pee with the suit on?" To prove his point, Tony actually did, "Just like that" he said causing the crowd to erupt in laughter and applause.
Harry watched in disbelief, his heart sinking as he realized just how far Tony had fallen. The man who once inspired millions was now reduced to a spectacle.
As Tony basked in the crowd's approval, Pepper made her move. With a forced smile, she took the microphone from Tony's hand. "Does this guy know how to throw a party or what?" she announced, her voice bright and cheerful, masking the worry gnawing at her insides.
The crowd cheered loudly in response; their enthusiasm palpable. Tony saluted the applause, a goofy grin on his face, oblivious to the concerned looks exchanged by those who cared about him.
Pepper's smile faltered for just a moment, but she quickly recovered. "Unbelievable, right? Tony, we all thank you so much for such a wonderful night. We're going to say goodnight now, and thank you all for coming," she continued, trying to keep the mood light as she subtly tried to end the party.
The crowd let out a collective sigh, clearly disappointed. They had been having a fabulous time, caught up in the energy of the evening.
But Tony wasn't ready to let go. "No, no, wait," he protested, sounding almost childlike in his stubbornness. "We can't! We didn't bring out the cake, we didn't blow the candles yet!"
Pepper leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried to reason with him. "You're out of control, okay?"
Tony blinked as if the words didn't quite register. "I'm out of control?" he echoed, his tone more curious than defensive.
"Trust me on this one, okay? It's time to go to bed," Pepper insisted gently, her eyes pleading with him to understand.
But Tony, in his drunken haze, was in no mood to be reasonable. "You're out of control, gorgeous," he murmured, leaning in with a lopsided smile. "Give me a little smooch."
Pepper leaned back, her expression soft but firm. "You just peed in the suit," she pointed out, trying to keep her voice calm and not make a scene.
Tony straightened up, a faint look of confusion on his face. "I know. It has a filtration system. You can drink that water," he explained as if that made everything better.
Pepper couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at how far things had come. She kept her voice low, almost cooing to him like he was a child. "It's not sexy, Tony. Just send everyone home, okay? It's time to end this."
Tony stared at her for a moment, his bravado slipping away as he finally nodded, looking more like the man she once knew. "If you say so," he murmured, his tone resigned.
Pepper smiled softly, relieved but still heartbroken. She took the champagne bottle from Tony's hand and handed him the microphone, gently guiding him off the stage as the crowd began to disperse, unaware of the deeper tragedy unfolding before their eyes.
"Pepper Potts, everyone," Tony announced, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he gestured grandly toward her. The crowd responded with a hesitant, muted applause. "She's right. The party is over. Then again, the party was over for me like an hour and a half ago. The after-party starts in 15 minutes!" he declared, igniting another round of cheers from the increasingly unruly crowd.
Tony's expression darkened, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he looked at Pepper. "And if anybody—Pepper—doesn't like it, there's the door." Without warning, he raised his hand and fired a repulsor beam at the glass door, shattering it into a million shards.
Harry, however, acted immediately, discreetly casting a Protego charm around the doorframe, ensuring that the glass shards were caught and didn't scatter across the hall, endangering anyone nearby. The crowd gasped, but their shock quickly turned to excitement, egging Tony on even more.
As the broken glass settled within the invisible barrier, Pepper, Harry, and Rhodey exchanged worried glances, each realizing how far Tony had spiralled. Rhodey, looking furious and helpless, quickly left the room, likely to take matters into his own hands.
The crowd, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, continued to revel in Tony's antics. One of the guests caught up in the chaos, tossed a champagne bottle high into the air. Tony, grinning maniacally, aimed and shot it down with a repulsor beam, shattering it.
Harry's eyes narrowed as he swiftly cast a transfiguration charm, transforming the flying shards of glass into harmless droplets of water before they could rain down on the crowd. But the situation was escalating fast. More guests, emboldened by Tony's reckless display, began throwing champagne bottles into the air, turning the party into a dangerous game.
Tony, now fully unhinged, laughed maniacally as he shot bottle after bottle, the blasts of his repulsors echoing through the hall. Harry worked tirelessly to protect the guests, transfiguring each shattered piece of glass into water before it could cause harm.
But Tony wasn't done. He decided to show off his "skills" by attempting trick shots. He fired at bottles by looking at the reflection of the bottles through plates. Harry had to stay sharp, casting shields and transfigurations in rapid succession, barely keeping up with the chaos.
Then, as if the scene couldn't get more absurd, one of the guests presented Tony with a large watermelon. With a crazed grin, Tony aimed his chest repulsor and fired, obliterating the watermelon in midair. The crowd roared in approval, completely unaware of the peril they were in.
Harry's heart pounded in his chest as he continued to work behind the scenes, his magic the only thing standing between the guests and disaster. The night had spiralled out of control, and it was clear that Tony was no longer just celebrating. He was unravelling and taking everyone down with him.
Rhodey's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. "I'm only going to say this once. Get out."
Heads turned as Rhodey stepped into the room, clad in the Mark 2 Iron Man suit. The room, once filled with reckless laughter and excitement, fell into an uneasy silence. The sight of another Iron Man suit, this time worn by someone clearly in control, sent a wave of realization through the crowd: the party was over, and things were about to get dangerous.
Tony, still grinning like a madman, stumbled back as Rhodey's authoritative presence took over the room. But before Tony could make another reckless move, Harry acted.
Taking charge, Harry knew that what was about to unfold between Rhodey and Tony would be nothing short of a brutal confrontation, one that could endanger anyone still lingering in the mansion. With a quick, almost imperceptible flick of his wrist, he cast a series of compulsion charms over the crowd.
"Move!" Harry commanded, his voice low but laced with magical influence. The guests, who had been hesitating in shock, suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to leave. Panic set in, and they began to rush toward the exits, their earlier excitement replaced by fear.
The once-grand hall erupted into chaos as people pushed and shoved to get out, their previous revelry forgotten. Harry's charms worked flawlessly, amplifying their fear and urgency. The crowd's energy shifted from excitement to frenzied desperation to escape, as if driven by an unseen force.
Rhodey turned his helmeted head towards Tony, who looked back at him with a mix of defiance and drunken bravado. The room, now eerily silent, seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the inevitable clash between the two friends turned combatants.
The opening riff of "Another One Bites the Dust" blared through the speakers, an almost taunting rhythm as Tony and Rhodey squared off. In an instant, the fight erupted with a ferocity that shook the entire mansion. Harry winced as he heard the unmistakable sound of furniture splintering, glass shattering, and walls crumbling under the force of their blows. Each clash between the two metal giants sent shockwaves through the room, knocking over whatever was left standing. It was chaos incarnate, and Harry could feel the gravity of the situation pressing down on him.
Iron Man was more than just a suit. To the world, it was the embodiment of hope, the symbol of a hero who stood against the forces of evil. But now, watching Tony in a drunken, reckless rage, Harry knew that this could all come crashing down. The hero that the world admired was teetering on the edge of self-destruction.
Tony wasn't just fighting Rhodey—he was fighting against the reality of his own mortality, the poison slowly killing him, and the fear of leaving nothing behind but a legacy of chaos. But the world didn't need to see this. They couldn't afford to. Harry had seen what happened when a hero's image crumbled, how quickly the public could turn. He remembered the fear and mistrust that had spread through Hogwarts during the Chamber of Secrets incident, how a symbol could be tainted so easily. The world needed heroes now more than ever, and Tony Stark couldn't fall from grace.
Determined, Harry began ushering the last of the stragglers out of the mansion, waving Pepper over to help. "We need to get everyone out—now!" he urged, his voice firm with urgency.
Pepper, though clearly shaken, nodded and began guiding the remaining guests to safety. Just then, Natasha appeared, her usual composure barely hiding the frustration in her eyes. Before Pepper could lash out at her, Harry stepped in, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Not now," he said quietly but firmly. "There are more important things to deal with."
With a sigh, Pepper swallowed her anger and joined Harry and Natasha in clearing out the mansion, making sure that only the core group remained: Harry, Pepper, Natasha, Happy, and Rhodey, who were currently battling Tony inside the mansion.
Suddenly, with a deafening crash, Tony and Rhodey came barreling through the ceiling, crashing into the living room in a twisted mass of metal and sparks. Harry quickly signalled to Happy to pull everyone to a safer distance. They watched in tense silence as the two armoured titans clashed, the force of their blows sending shockwaves through the room.
Harry's heart pounded in his chest as he witnessed the brutal exchange. This wasn't a sparring match—this was a desperate, angry fight, with both men throwing everything they had at each other. Rhodey's punches were precise and controlled, but Tony's were wild, driven by a mixture of alcohol and despair. The destruction they left in their wake was immense, and Harry knew that if anyone outside had witnessed this, it would be the end of Iron Man's heroic image.
As Rhodey landed a particularly hard blow, Tony staggered back, losing his balance. But in a sudden burst of energy, Tony retaliated, his gauntleted fist connecting with Rhodey's helmet with a sickening crunch. Rhodey went down hard, the impact echoing through the room. Tony stood over him, breathing heavily, the glow of his arc reactor casting an eerie light.
For a moment, everything was still. Tony looked down at Rhodey, who lay motionless on the floor. The reality of what he'd done seemed to hit him all at once, and he turned, his gaze meeting the horrified faces of his friends.
Harry's breath caught in his throat as he saw the fear and disappointment etched into Tony's expression. This wasn't the Tony they knew. This was a man on the brink of losing everything—his friends, his company, and his reputation. And if Harry hadn't gotten everyone out of the house in time, the world would have witnessed not a hero, but a man crumbling under the weight of his own demons.
As Tony stood, stunned by the sight of what he had done, Rhodey shakily got back on his feet. With a fierce growl, he grabbed a nearby table and slammed it down onto Tony, sending him crashing into the fireplace with a deafening thud. The flames flickered and sparked as Tony slumped against the hearth, his Iron Man suit scorched and dented.
Both men, breathing heavily, raised their hands, the repulsor beams glowing ominously in the dim light. The air crackled with tension, the energy between them palpable.
"Put your hand down," Rhodey demanded, his voice strained but steady, trying to appeal to whatever sanity Tony had left.
Tony's gaze was wild, a mixture of defiance and desperation. "You think you've got what it takes to wear that suit?" he sneered; the words laced with a bitter edge.
Rhodey's eyes narrowed, his grip on the suit tightening. "We don't have to do this, Tony," he said, his voice a plea for reason.
But Tony was beyond reasoning, his mind clouded by anger, alcohol, and the looming shadow of death. He taunted Rhodey, "You wanna be a war machine? Take your shot."
Rhodey hesitated, his heart heavy with the knowledge of what might come next. "Put it down, Tony," he insisted, hoping against hope that his friend would back down.
But Tony's expression hardened, his lips curling into a twisted smile. "You're gonna take a shot," he goaded, almost daring Rhodey to make a move.
"Put it down!" Rhodey's voice cracked, desperation seeping through as the tension between them reached a breaking point.
In that charged moment, Harry could hear the ominous whine of the repulsor beams charging, the sound like a ticking time bomb ready to go off. His heart pounded in his chest as he realized that both men were about to do something monumentally stupid and dangerous.
Without a second thought, Harry sprang into action. He shoved Pepper, Natasha, and Happy toward the pool. "Get down!" he shouted, casting the strongest Protego shield he could muster over them all. The translucent barrier shimmered in the air, a thin line of defence against the impending disaster.
Natasha swam closer to Harry, her hand finding his beneath the water. They both knew what was coming, and there was nothing more they could do but brace for impact. The tension in the air was suffocating as they all watched the inevitable collision unfold.
The two repulsor beams fired simultaneously, the bright energy arcs meeting in the middle of the room with a blinding flash. For a moment, the world held its breath, the energy ball between them growing and swelling like a balloon about to burst.
And then it did.
The shockwave ripped through the mansion, shattering the glass walls of the living room into a million razor-sharp shards. The force of the explosion sent Tony and Rhodey hurtling to opposite corners of the room, their armoured bodies crashing through furniture and walls, leaving destruction in their wake.
Underwater, Harry felt the impact reverberate through the pool, the force pressing down on them even through the Protego shield. They all ducked deeper, shielding themselves from the worst of the blast, as the pool water churned and splashed violently.
When the chaos finally subsided, Harry surfaced, gasping for air, his heart still racing. The living room was unrecognizable, a scene of utter devastation. Broken glass, splintered wood, and debris littered the floor, and the once-lavish furnishings were now reduced to rubble. Tony and Rhodey lay motionless in their respective corners, the suits sparking and smoking from the damage.
For a moment, there was only silence, the aftermath of the destruction hanging heavy in the air. Harry's gaze flicked between Tony and Rhodey, relief washing over him as he saw them both still breathing. But the relief was short-lived, overshadowed by the grim reality of what had just happened.
As the dust finally began to settle, Harry, Natasha, Pepper, and Happy emerged from the pool, dripping wet but unharmed, thanks to Harry's quick thinking and magic. The mansion around them was in ruins, a stark contrast to the perfect condition they were in. Despite the chaos, none of them had so much as a scratch—a fact that did not escape Pepper's notice.
Pepper's eyes swept over the wreckage, her brow furrowing as she pieced together the events of the night. The doubt was clear in her expression, and Harry could almost see the questions forming in her mind. His heart sank, knowing that if she asked the wrong question, it would lead them down a dangerous path.
Before she could voice her suspicions, Harry quickly intervened. "Happy, take Pepper home," he said, his voice firm and leaving little room for argument.
Pepper blinked, caught off guard. "But—"
"Pepper, please," Harry interrupted, his tone softening but still insistent. "You've been through enough tonight. Let Happy take you home. We'll deal with Tony and Rhodey."
Pepper hesitated, glancing back at the destruction around them, then at Tony's prone form. She looked like she wanted to argue, but the exhaustion in her eyes won out. With a resigned nod, she allowed Happy to lead her away. "Take care of him," she said quietly, her voice heavy with concern.
Harry nodded, watching as they left. Only when they were out of sight did he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. The situation had been too close for comfort.
"That was a close call," Natasha said, stepping beside him, her voice low and serious. "I thought for sure she'd figure out about the magic."
Harry nodded, his jaw tight with frustration. "So did I," he admitted, his tone laced with anger. "This whole night was a disaster. I'll have to cast a memory charm on Happy and Pepper tomorrow, make sure they remember things a bit differently."
The words tasted bitter in his mouth. He hated the idea of tampering with their memories, but there was no other choice. Natasha placed a hand on his arm, her touch grounding him in his turmoil. "You did what you had to do to keep everyone safe, Harry. But you're right—this was too close. Someone could have seen, or maybe even filmed something."
Rhodey was the first to regain consciousness among the two combatants. As he groggily got to his feet, the reality of what had just happened settled in. His eyes met Harry's, searching for assurance amidst the wreckage. Harry gave a solemn nod, silently confirming that no one had been seriously hurt.
"I'm taking the suit," Rhodey declared, his voice heavy with resolve. He glanced back at Tony, who lay unconscious, the weight of his friend's self-destruction pressing down on him. "This can't go on. This power... it needs to be in the hands of someone who can handle it. Someone who won't let it destroy them."
Harry opened his mouth to protest, the words forming on his lips, but a gentle hand on his arm stopped him. He looked to his side and saw Natasha, her expression firm yet understanding. She shook her head slightly, silently urging him to let Rhodey go through with it. Harry's confusion was clear, but Natasha mouthed, "Later," with a meaningful glance.
Rhodey hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on Tony, the man who had once been his closest friend, now a shadow of himself. With a final, determined nod, he activated the suit's thrusters and soared into the night sky, taking with him the responsibility of the Iron Man mantle.
"You need to take care of him for now. We'll talk tomorrow, okay?" Natasha said gently before turning to leave the mansion, her footsteps echoing in the now eerily quiet space.
Harry watched her go, feeling the weight of everything that had happened settle heavily on his shoulders. With a deep sigh, he walked over to where Tony lay, the Iron Man suit battered and scorched. Kneeling beside him, Harry's expression was a mix of disappointment and concern.
"Well, you did it," Harry muttered, his voice carrying a blend of frustration and sadness as Tony's helmet hissed open, revealing his weary face.
"This is for the best," Tony replied, though the resignation in his tone betrayed the confidence of his words.
"Getting estranged from everyone you love and who loves you back?" Harry shot back, his eyes narrowing. "If you hadn't had that helmet on, I'd have punched you right now."
Tony chuckled bitterly. "Well, I deserve it."
Harry's frustration flared, and he shook his head in disbelief. "I thought you were trying to fix your condition, Tony. So why the hell does it feel like I'm watching you sign off your will? You've handed over Stark Industries to Pepper, the Iron Man suit to Rhodey, and left me to clean up after you. The Tony Stark I know doesn't give up so easily."
Tony looked away, his voice barely a whisper. "I guess all I'll be is a disappointment to everyone."
Harry's gaze softened, seeing the vulnerability in Tony that he rarely showed. Reaching out, he grabbed Tony's arm and pulled him up. "Get out of the suit, Tony."
Tony looked at him, surprised by the firmness in Harry's voice.
"Come on," Harry urged. "You're going to clean up, and then we're heading to Lily's. I'm going to make you some food, and we're going to celebrate your birthday the right way, with your favourite cheeseburgers. And after that, you're going to focus on finding a cure for your chest problem and fixing every mess you've caused. Got it?"
Tony looked at him, taken aback by the command in Harry's voice. But beneath it, he could hear the worry, the care—something he wasn't used to feeling from anyone other than Pepper. It was a reminder of why he valued Harry's friendship so much, even if he rarely expressed it.
Tony stared at Harry, a mixture of emotions swirling inside him. He had built walls around himself, walls that kept others at arm's length, even those who cared about him. But Harry had always had a way of getting past those defences. Maybe it was the shared experience of loss, the understanding of what it felt like to carry the weight of the world, or maybe it was just the simple fact that Harry believed in him when Tony struggled to believe in himself.
"Yeah, I got it," Tony replied, a small, grateful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. For the first time that night, he felt something other than despair. He felt the strength of the bond between them, a friendship that had become one of the few constants in his chaotic life.
As they made their way out of the mansion, Tony couldn't help but feel a pang of gratitude. He wasn't used to having someone in his corner like this, someone who saw through his bravado and still stood by him. "Harry," Tony said quietly as they walked, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "Thanks for sticking around. I know I'm not the easiest guy to be friends with."
Harry looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in Tony's voice. "You're a pain in the ass, Stark, but you're my friend. And I don't give up on my friends."
Tony nodded, his heart swelling with a mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, and a deep sense of connection. In a world where he often felt alone, Harry's friendship was a lifeline, something that reminded him he wasn't beyond saving, no matter how far he fell.
As they walked, Tony couldn't help but feel that, with Harry by his side, maybe—just maybe—he could find a way to fix the mess he'd made. He wasn't ready to give up, not yet. Not with a friend like Harry reminding him of who he really was.