{You're Irreplaceable}

Requested by LordObviousOfDuh on ao3:  Harley and tony reconnect or something and are brought to the tower, then they hit it off and tony slowly and unknowingly replaces peter. Someone like nat notices and maybe Harley too and they help him or something. Then it ends with peter sacrificing himself in a mission and getting really hurt. Then tony is like r u ok? And nat is like back off you've ignored him for a month. Then reconciliation or whatever. Also parkner. Maybe?

I swear y'all are so creative. And yes, the title is Beyonce's song title.

TW: Sad Peter. Peter Parker x Harley Keener. Angst (or as angsty as I can make it) with a happy ending. For the sake of plot convenience, let's pretend that Peter lives with Tony for some reason.

**********

In my Tennessee mountain home

Life is as peaceful as a baby's sigh

In my Tennessee mountain home

Crickets sing in the fields near-

"Harley?" Tony said immediately after picking up his phone.

"Hey, old man," Tony smiled hearing the boy's deep voice, "What's up?"

"Nothing much, Tennessee whiskey," he chuckled, "What made you remember your old man today?"

"I was wondering if," Harley hesitated, "if we could meet up. As much as it physically pains me to say this, you are an alright person to be around."

Tony knew this was his way of saying 'I miss you'.

"Of course, kiddo. I'll send you a jet ASAP," he smiled.

"Thanks, old man :)."

"...Did you seriously say 'colon parenthesis' at the end of your sentence?"

"What about it?"

"Nothing at all kid, see you soon."

**********

"You seem very happy, Mr. Stark," Peter asked, smiling.

"Oh, Harley is coming over today," Tony said, literally vibrating.

"Oh, that kid from Tennessee you never shut up about?" Peter grinned, "Do I have to get ready for some competition for your affection?"

Tony turned serious quickly, catching the undertone of insecurity in the kid's voice. "Not at all kiddie. I love you both equally <3."

"...Did you seriously say 'lesser-than-three'? Or did I imagine it?"

"What about it?"

***********

"Harley," Tony smiled warmly, "God, look at you, you've grown taller than me."

"Looks like it, old man," Harley smirked, blue eyes glinting.

"I don't like it, sit down."

Harley laughed and complied, settling down on a chair near the dining table. He ran a hand through his shaggy blonde hair.

Tony opened his mouth to say something, but then a boy bent over a StarkPad shuffled into the kitchen.

Harley examined the boy in silence. He was wearing an oversized baby blue sweater("Adorable," his mind whispered), black skinny jeans, and sneakers. He was very short ("Size kink go brrr"), his 5'10'' frame looking extra small compared to his 6'2'' height. All he could see of his physical features was that he was extremely pale and had curly brown hair, all mussed up and messy.

"Peter, meet Harley Keener," Tony exclaimed suddenly, "Harley, meet Peter Parker."

The boy looked up, his huge doe eyes meeting his blue ones. Holy. C R A P.

"Hello there, darlin'," Harley smirked, switching his flirt mode on and laying on his southern accent extra thick.

Peter blushed and waved shyly, "Hello," he said softly("His voice. HIS. VOICE."), "It's a pleasure to meet you, Harley."

"Pleasure's all mine, mah love," he drawled.

Peter blushed again, hiding his face in his sweater paws.

"That's enough of that," Tony said after looking at the two, "Come with me, Keener. Peter?" he looked at the adorable boy, "Can you go to your private lab for a while? I want to spend some time with Harls."

A flash of sadness went through Peter's eyes, but he smiled and nodded, blushing again when he noticed Harley watching him intensely. Harley smirked to himself, making a mental note to make Peter blush more.

What? He looks delectable when he blushes.

**********

(AGH IT'S GETTING SO HARD TO MAKE IT ANGSTY. LordObviousOfDuh, forgive me, I might not be able to make it very angsty D':)

"Hey, Mr. Stark," Peter smiled, walking into the lab, "Can you-"

"Later, Pete," Tony said without looking up from the blueprint he was examining, Harley by his side.

"Oh, okay," Peter said, backing away, smile fading.

"You can look at his work, Mechanic," Harley said, watching Peter worriedly, "We can take a short five-minute break."

"It'll be fine Bubba," Tony smiled at him, still not looking at Peter, "What do you think-"

Harley looked apologetically at Peter, who smiled and gently shook his head, then walked away.

In the shadows, a red-head slinked away, frowning.

**********

The Next Morning

"Good morning, Mr. Stark," Peter smiled cheerfully, "I was wondering if we could work on Karen's updates today."

"Not today Pete," Tony said, chugging his coffee, "I wanted to update my Iron-Man suit with Harley."

"Oh, okay," Peter smiled, this one not reaching his eyes. Normally, the older man would have noticed, but Harley had trudged into the kitchen, and Tony had gone to hug him.

I didn't even get a hug, Peter pouted slightly.

"Whatcha thinking about, моя сладкая детка(my sweet baby)?"

"мама паук(mama spider)!" Peter grinned, twisting around to hug Natasha.

"Hello to you too, малыш(baby)," Nat laughed, glaring slightly in Tony's direction.

"Nat," Tony exclaimed, noticing the red-head, "Meet Harley Keener. Harley, you know who she is."

Natasha didn't take her eyes off Peter, simply nodding in Harley's direction.

"Nice to meet you too, Ms. Romanov," Harley greeted, his heart-melting as he watched Peter cuddle into THE Black Widow.

"Come on, Harley, I want to explode an old Iron-Man armor with you," Tony said, already walking to the elevator.

"What about Peter?" Harley asked, frowning.

"He's with Nat," Tony said, either not noticing or choosing to ignore Peter's hopeful eyes, "Come on now."

"Sorry," Harley whispered when Tony was out of hearing range, "I'll try to get him to call you over to the lab."

"No need Harls," Peter said, smiling slightly at him, "I want him to call me to the lab at his own account. I'll be in my private lab till then."

"Sorry," Harley said again, slowly walking away.

.

.

.

"Is he replacing me, Nat?" Peter asked, hiding his head in Natasha's neck.

"Not at all, Pete, you're irreplaceable," she whispered, silently hoping the genius knew that too.

**********

Slowly, Tony started finding ways to get Peter to leave him alone with Harley. One day, when Peter came into the lab with the two, Tony excluded him from the discussion so much, he just left(to cry in Bucky's bed).

It was not only Peter, the Avengers, heck, even Harley noticed how the billionaire was ignoring him. Once, it was Peter about whom Tony constantly raved about, but now only Harley's praises slipped from his tongue. The team listened and congratulated Harley appropriately, but they still noticed how Peter would hunch down lower and lower in his seat, trying to become invisible with every word that left Tony's mouth.

As for Harley and Peter, they both grew closer. Close enough for Peter to tell him that he was Spider-Man. Harley had turned mute for about five minutes, then started gushing over him, literally fanboying.

**********

Peter was twisting and turning in his bed, shaking.

He screamed and got up, sobbing.

"Peter?" FRIDAY said softly, "Do you want me to call someone for you?"

"Is-Is Mr. Stark coming?" Peter asked hopelessly, biting his lip.

"I'm sorry, Peter, Boss has asked me not to disturb him. He's currently with Mr. Keener, who apparently had a nightmare," FRIDAY said sympathetically.

Peter shook his head, tears sliding down his cheek. "Don't call anyone, FRI," he whispered thickly, "'M not worth it," he mumbled to himself.

That night was the first of many nights Peter cried himself to sleep.

**********

A month has passed. A month since Harley came.  A month since he had a proper meal. A month since he hasn't slept for more than 2 hours a night. A month since he stopped rambling. A month since his eyes turned dull. A month since Tony started ignoring his existence.

The team was extremely worried. Even Sam and Bucky had stopped teasing him. Peter's cheeks had turned gaunt, his eyebags darker than ever and his frame thin. Everyone tried to get him to eat something, or even sleep, but he wouldn't. Couldn't.

Everyone, including Harley, tried to get Tony to spend more time with the boy, but he always made some sort of excuse, something to do with Harley. Nobody could talk sense to him.

Because, according to Tony, everything was fine. Peter hadn't complained once. The team was just overreacting, right?

**********

"On your left," Steve shouted.

"Say on your left one more time and I'll eat your kneecaps, Cap," Sam yelled, shooting some Doombots.

"Ouch," Clint said, amused.

Peter stayed quiet, disabling the Doombots and pretending not to notice the team, except Tony, continuously look at him.

"Gosh, I wish Harley was here," Tony mused, "He would've made this fun with his commentary."

Peter bit his lips, letting his tears fall. He was wearing a mask anyway, no one would notice. He punched a bot, smashing its head into smithereens.

"Why aren't these stopping," Bucky grunted, loading his gun with one hand while shooting the Doombots with the other.

"There was a base," Natasha said after a moment, "I've destroyed it so no more will come, but there is still a lot."

"Let's do this," Tony whooped, shooting down more.

"Mr. Stark," Peter screamed.

"Wha- PETER NO!"

Time stopped for Tony as he watched his kid jump in front of him and get hit with a laser meant for him, straight in his chest. The kid slumped on the road, head lolling.

Everything stilled, even the Doombots stopped moving, the Avengers stopped fighting, looking at their beloved Spider-Kid looking so lifeless.

.

.

.

"You're dead," Clint whispered.

The Avengers unleashed hellfire, anger burning in their veins. Tony shot a repulsor blast at the Doombot, swooping down to Peter.

"Pete, kiddo, wake up," Tony said, taking off his mask. His heart broke when he noticed the tear tracks on his baby's cheeks. How much did the laser hurt to make him cry?

"Mis'er 't'rk?" Peter slurred, blinking.

("Mr. Stark?")

"Yeah kid, it's me," Tony smiled, shooting a bot when it came too close to them.

"'M sorry," Peter whispered.

"Sorry? What are you sorry for, kid?"

"F'r not b'ng as good a' H'rl'y," he said, tears slippin from his eyes, "Pl's' d'n't hate me, Mis'er 't'rk, I'll b' bett'r," his speech became more slurred, words sliding together, "I w'nt to sp'nd t'm' w'th y'u 'gain, w'nt y'u t' c'me f'r me wh'n I h've a n'ghtm're. I h'ven't sl'pt n'c'ly Mis'er 't'rk, I h'v' too m'ny n'ghtm'res, b't y'u're 'lw'ys b'sy. I'll g't bett'r at m'ch'n'cal engin'r'ng d'd. As g'd 's H'rl'y. Pl's' d'n't le'v' me, Mis'er 't'rk. Pl's-"

("For not being as good as Harley," he said, tears slipping from his eyes, "Please don't hate me, Mr. Stark, I'll be better," his speech became more slurred, words sliding together, "I want to spend time with you again, want you to come for me when I have a nightmare. I haven't slept nicely Mr. Stark, I have too many nightmares, but you're always busy. I'll get better at mechanical engineering dad. As good as Harley. Please don't leave me, Mr. Stark. Please-")

Peter fainted, tears still falling. Tony had frozen in his place, eyes wide.

"Move away from him, Stark," Bucky snarled, running over to pick his kid up and sprinting to the quinjet.

Tony got up and ran in the quinjet too, watching as the paramedics ran around like headless chickens to stabilize Peter.

Oh god. He collapsed in a chair. Peter had fainted ("And might die," his treacherous mind whispered) thinking that his mentor hated him. That he wasn't good enough. That he had to be as good as Harley. God, please no.

**********

Two hours later.

"He's malnourished, sleep-deprived, has 4 broken ribs, a sprained ankle, a terrible concussion, and degree-3 burns on his chest where he was hit with the laser," Dr. Cho listed.

"Malnourished?" Tony gaped, "Sleep-deprived?"

"Yeah, Tony. The exact thin's we'd been tryin' to show you since the past few weeks," Harley snapped at him, his accent thick.

"When can we see him?" Clint asked.

"Soon," Dr. Cho said, "I'll go check on him, maybe after that. Be thankful for his healing factor, otherwise, it might've been very difficult for him to stay alive."

"Thanks, Helen," Steve said, his smile looking more like a grimace.

"You," Natasha hissed as soon as Dr. Cho was gone, glaring at Tony, "Go away from here. You are not going anywhere near my малыш."

"What? No!" Tony cried, his eyes filling with tears, "Please. I need to talk to him. Make things right with him. Please."

"We'll be nearby, listening. The moment Peter seems uncomfortable, you're leaving," Sam glared.

"Okay," Tony said softly.

.

.

.

"I'm askin' him out," Harley suddenly declared, "We're goin' on a date as soon as he is well."

Bucky leaned towards the boy, "Break his heart, I'll break your bones," he whispered and grinned menacingly at the boy.

"I'll break your legs," Steve added.

"I'll make sure you can never have kids," Nat purred.

"I'll hold you down," Clint smiled.

"I'll help," Sam winked.

"...Dam okay," Harley murmured, eyes wide.

Tony didn't listen to the exchange. His mind was racing. He is going to make this right. No matter how long it takes for Peter to forgive him. He'll win his kid back.

***********

And done. I left the ending open for you to add whatever you would like. Peter forgives him? Your choice. Peter doesn't forgive him? Your choice. Peter talks to him? Your choice. Peter ignores him? Your choice.

...This is terrible I'm so sorry.

Hope you liked it :D Sorry, LordObviousOfDuh, I tried my best, but this isn't angst and I know it lol. I really need to polish my angst skills.