Peter sat on the ceiling, trying to make sense of a political science textbook.
It was not part of the school curriculum, but Pepper had insisted he study politics, economics, law, and management in the hope that one day the company would pass to him.
Peter had tried to object, pointing out that he was adopted, so they were under no obligation to make him their successor.
But Pepper defended his rights with such outrage that he stopped arguing, privately astonished by how much they trusted him.
His second argument against studying all that nonsense was that he was too much like Tony and would probably never manage the company properly, choosing instead to spend all day in a laboratory.
That one gave Pepper pause, but he still had to study, because—well—she said so.
There was one strict rule in this house that no sane person dared violate: nobody ever argued with Pepper.
The door flew open without warning and startled him badly enough that Peter fell onto the bed, glaring at Tony, who was chuckling under his breath.
Peter knew that for the first few seconds of the fall Tony had been genuinely terrified, but now that he could see the kid was fine, he was acting as usual.
That effortless, almost instinctive concern was deeply touching.
Not that anyone should ever tell Stark.
He would not survive it.
“I see you’re having fun,” Tony commented dryly, lifting the textbook with two fingers as though it were something disgusting.
“Do they teach political science at your school?
Please tell me they haven’t added law yet.
I’m not ready for a generation of people who know their rights.” “No, don’t worry.
You’ll still be able to sue anyone you want.
Pepper made me do it.” Peter snorted, then caught Tony’s genuinely confused look.
“She didn’t tell you?
Smells like a conspiracy!
Pep said I need to know all this so she can hand your company over to me.
In case you suddenly start getting on her nerves.” “Adorable.
My own wife and child are plotting against me.” Tony leaned back against the headboard, confusing Peter.
Was he not opposed to Pepper’s insane idea either?
“Don’t look at me like that.
What did you expect?
That I’d hear this, throw a tantrum, disown both of you, and let you escape imprisonment in a tower surrounded by books?” Peter laughed and nodded, earning a poke in the side.
“Don’t be ridiculous.
Of course your name is first on the list of heirs.” Peter raised an eyebrow, wondering whether Tony was serious about such a list existing.
“MJ is on it too, because the two of you will get married and she’ll be the one in charge.
Before you invaded our lives, Harley is there as well.
I’m not giving him the company—he’s too cheeky—but the programming headquarters in Tennessee and the watch factory are his toys.
And there’s another slot beside yours, in case we eventually decide to have one more walking disaster.” “Sweet.
I think?” Peter looked skeptically at Tony, who only smiled shamelessly.
“And here I was planning to steal all your property and hide in Mexico.
Shame.
Looks like my plans are ruined.
Who’s Harley?” “That’s actually why I came.
Harley is visiting for a few days.
It would be nice of you to show him around the city.” Tony pushed the textbook farther away and glanced slyly at Peter, who was waiting with keen interest for the answer to his question.
“I once faked my death, hid in his garage, and borrowed his sister’s Dora the Explorer watch.
He’s about your age, just as much of a nerd, and you can recruit Ned for the mission.
Better leave MJ out of it.
She’ll either scare Harley half to death or dump you and run away with him to Tennessee.” “Your faith in me is so moving I could cry.” Peter smiled good-naturedly, climbed up the wall, and crawled back onto the ceiling.
“Exactly how many underage ‘interns’ do you look after?” Instead of answering, Tony threw the textbook at him and marched out proudly, calling over his shoulder that the mysterious Harley would arrive tomorrow morning and Peter would definitely be cut out of the will if he failed to meet him.
Peter cackled like a goblin and immediately asked F.R.I.D.A.Y.
to send Ned a message about tomorrow’s plans and to check whether Tony’s list truly existed.
The answer to both questions was yes.
Peter nearly fell from the ceiling again, this time from laughter.
Secretly, it was rather sweet and touching that Pepper and Tony had accepted him into their family so quickly.
But still—who made lists like that?
Terrifying.
*** Peter sat on an airport bench, quietly chatting with Ned about his last patrol.
They had arrived five minutes early because Tony, in his usual overprotective way, had said that if Harley landed early and got kidnapped, he would have to put up with the kid’s mockery afterward.
A small stab of jealousy hit Peter.
Tony had spent hours talking and worrying about some Harley, but then his conscience suggested that Stark talked about Peter even more.
Peter felt guilty about his irrational jealousy.
Then again, what kid would not be jealous when his father fussed over some random guy?
Peter realized the approaching boy was Harley Keener before he reached them or introduced himself.
Not because he was walking straight toward them with a smile, but because that smile was terribly familiar.
Peter knew it because he wore the same one.
Everyone whose life Tony entered had it.
Peter smirked at how melodramatic his thoughts had become.
“Tony said one of you looks like a puppy and the other is a ‘Star Wars enthusiast,'” Harley said, skipping something as minor as a greeting.
“Incredibly precise description, obviously, but you can still sue him.” Oh, Peter definitely liked him already.
“You won’t believe this, but he didn’t describe you at all,” Peter replied, deciding he too could skip the greeting stage.
“Yeah, they have an incredibly advanced AI at home that can do basically anything, but neither of those geniuses thought to simply Google your picture.
Peter just takes a very long time to think,” Ned added.
He had been tormenting Peter about this for half an hour.
Harley smirked, then gave Peter an interested look.
“Nice to meet you, by the way.” Harley smiled warmly.
“I don’t want to sound rude, but God, I’m glad Tony adopted a white kid.
I came up with at least ten jokes about him being racist.” Peter burst out laughing and suggested they get out of the airport before Happy shot them.
Harley asked in surprise who Happy was, then narrowed his eyes thoughtfully as though making a mental note.
Peter did that too.
“Okay, so we’ll swing by the Tower, drop off your stuff, eat something so Pepper doesn’t murder us, and then go see the sights,” Peter rattled off, unsure whether he was addressing Harley or Happy.
“By the way, how old are you?
Tony gave me the extremely vague ‘under thirty,’ so I can’t be sure.” “I’m seventeen.” Peter smiled, realizing Tony had been almost right about Harley being his age.
“It’s strange that Tony even knows I’m under thirty.
Five years ago he spent a whole week in my garage and never asked how old I was.” “Well, I turn seventeen this summer, so he guessed right.
That is so completely Tony that I’m not even surprised.” Peter tried to suppress a smile.
“Let me guess: afterward he abandoned you, then sent some kind of gift a few days later?” Harley nodded, lifting his eyebrows in surprise.
“Classic Tony behavior.
He makes something, steals something, or disappears, then feels guilty and compensates for the damage.” Ned and Harley laughed, but Peter noticed something analytical flicker in Harley’s eyes again, as though he were studying him.
Peter decided the boy was simply sizing up new people.
Or, more likely, studying the kid Tony had adopted.
Happy threw them out of the car and muttered that he was too old to carry other people’s luggage.
Now came Peter’s favorite part: watching someone enter the Tower, stare in wonder at everything, get startled by F.R.I.D.A.Y., and unexpectedly run into an Avenger.
Usually that Avenger was Peter, but no one knew he was one, so Steve or Thor caused a much bigger shock.
Harley belonged to Peter’s favorite kind of person.
He did not stare with bulging eyes or shout in delight.
He looked around calmly, pretending not to be impressed while screaming internally.
Peter could always see wonder in people’s eyes.
With an apologetic expression prepared in advance, Peter approached the reception desk, greeted Anna, and immediately summoned his puppy eyes.
“Peter,” she began sternly, though her laughter betrayed her.
Ninety-three.
“Even if Boss personally burned your pass, that doesn’t mean you can’t order a new one for yourself—and especially for your friends.” “Anna,” Peter said, barely holding back laughter.
Behind him, Ned and Harley listened to the conversation while Ned, as the experienced one, whispered an explanation of the pass situation to the newcomer.
“Ned has a pass.
It’s just at home, and F.R.I.D.A.Y.
knows him.
Harley isn’t my guest, he’s Mr.
Stark’s, so if Tony failed to order him one, you can go upstairs and yell at him.
Or ask Pepper to yell at him.
And I know you’ve reminded me, what, fifty times now?
But I’ll lose the replacement too.” “Ninety-three times, Peter,” Anna said in a stage whisper.
“A little more and I really will go to Pepper.
Now get out of my sight.” “You’re the best.” Peter turned toward Ned and Harley, abruptly switching into tour-guide mode.
“Gorgeous, start the ‘First Arrival’ protocol.
We need to impress Mr.
Keener.” He winked at them and raised both hands.
At the same moment, F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s voice sounded from the ceiling.
“Welcome to Stark Tower!
My name is F.R.I.D.A.Y.
I am the artificial intelligence responsible for this building’s security.” F.R.I.D.A.Y.
spoke in a bright, cheerful voice while Anna laughed in the background, delighted by the performance.
“Please approach the scanner and present your passes so I can identify you and determine your access level.” F.R.I.D.A.Y.
paused and waited for the guests to comply.
Harley followed Ned and Peter toward the scanner, looking surprised.
“Peter Parker, unrestricted access.
Hello, Peter!
Ned Leeds, trusted guest access.
Welcome!
Harley Keener, trusted guest access.
Please enter the elevator for further transportation.” “Thanks, Gorgeous.” Peter gave the air two thumbs-up.
“You can turn that thing off.
Anyone home?” “Always happy to help, Mr.
Parker,” F.R.I.D.A.Y.
replied warmly as she took them to the eighty-fifth floor, which held guest rooms usually occupied by the Avengers.
“Boss has flown to a press conference in China with Miss Potts.
The Avengers are currently at the training facility on sublevel three.
Miss Potts left you a message.
Shall I play it?” “Yeah, sure.” Peter desperately hoped it did not contain Pepper scolding him.
“Okay, brat, I hope you came home with Harley instead of looking lost because you misplaced him,” Tony’s voice said without warning.
“All the food is in the refrigerator on our floor.
Don’t even think about starving.
If Happy gets difficult, there isn’t much you can do about it anyway, though you can threaten him with the Raft or Nick Fury.” Pepper’s distinct and outraged “Tony!” could be heard on the recording.
“We’ll be back tomorrow evening.
Don’t do anything illegal.
Steve wouldn’t let you anyway.
Don’t invite Michelle; she scares me.
Don’t let Natasha snoop through my room.
And, for the love of God, don’t let anyone into my lab.
If you wind up in police custody—” Pepper objected even more loudly.
“It’s just a precaution!
Anyway, don’t say a word without my lawyers.
Call Happy, me, Pepper, May, or Natasha.
Do not call Steve.
I’m leaving this message in Pepper’s name because you ignore mine, you little menace.” By the time the message ended, no one could hold back their laughter.
They quickly chose an empty room, dropped Harley’s luggage there, and headed upstairs in search of food while Peter gave a rapid explanation of the Tower’s layout.
“People usually say Stark Tower has ninety-three floors, but that isn’t exactly true.
There are seven underground floors used for training.
Then there’s the regular first floor, the lobby, so to speak.
After that come eighty floors of laboratories, utility rooms, computer departments, maintenance areas, and other stuff.
I know a couple are empty; either they’re being renovated or Tony is hiding there.” Peter talked while reheating food.
A lot of food.
He had not eaten breakfast yet.
“Floors eighty-two through eighty-five are guest floors.
That’s where the Avengers’ rooms are, along with Ned’s, MJ’s, yours, Helen’s, and so on.
Eighty-six is the Avengers’ living room.
Parties happen there, they relax there, and they try not to get caught by Tony.
Eighty-seven is the office floor—the conference room and Pepper’s, Happy’s, and Tony’s offices.
Eighty-eight is our floor: my bedroom, a bunch of bathrooms, and their room.
Eighty-nine is the private living room and kitchen.
Above that are Tony’s three laboratory floors, and ninety-three holds storage and the roof access leading to the helipad.” Harley expressed amazement at the scale of the building, then at the amount of food Peter could consume.
Ned only laughed quietly as his friend ate his eighth slice of pizza.
Between bites, Peter managed to bombard Harley with questions about his life, the reason for his visit, and how he had met Tony.
Once Harley described breaking a finger off the Iron Man suit, Peter could not stop laughing.
The elevator chimed softly and Natasha stepped out, drying her hair with a towel as she walked.
She silently surveyed Peter, Ned, the food, and the boy she did not recognize, her face very surprised.
With a sigh, she tossed the towel onto an armchair, sat down, and snatched Peter’s next slice of pizza from his hand despite his indignant cry.
“Please tell me Tony didn’t adopt another child.” She gave Harley a meaningful look and immediately received a chorus of shaking heads.
“Good.
I’m still recovering from you.
You know Steve was left in charge, right?” “Yep,” Peter muttered, still mourning his stolen food.
“Nat, meet Harley.
He came to visit Tony, but that complete idiot ran away to China with Pepper.” Natasha shrugged as if to say, What did you expect?
She finished the pizza and told them to behave so Steve would have no excuse to torment her already aching head.
After she left, Peter briefly explained that Nat could be extremely unfriendly when she had a headache, so they should wait until she was in the mood to fool around.
Harley and Ned did not argue.
Peter clearly knew her much better, and the woman really had looked exhausted.
They finally returned to the original plan and set out to tour the city.
Thanks to his spider activities, Peter knew countless unusual places, from ordinary museums to an underground club devoted to sewing teddy bears.
On the first day they visited what felt like a hundred places, stopped by Mr.
Delmar’s store, passed Peter’s school, and accidentally ran into MJ.
Despite their attempts to persuade her to join them, she refused and returned to her detailed sketch of the street.
They spent a few minutes watching her carefully draw every person hurrying past, then received several entirely deserved swats with her paintbrushes and continued sightseeing.
For half the walk from Michelle to a funny little antique store, Harley kept asking Ned in shock whether he was absolutely sure Peter was dating her.
Eventually he agreed with Tony that she was rather frightening.
Ned laughed without pause as Harley compared them to a puppy dating a superspy, while Peter muttered offended complaints.
Apparently Harley had picked up Tony’s terrible sense of humor during the week they had known each other.
Evening arrived without warning.
Grumbling bitterly, Happy drove Ned home and headed back toward the Tower, complaining that he was the head of security, not a taxi driver for children.
Peter had to remind him that he was not a taxi driver but a personal bodyguard in case someone tried to kidnap them.
After that, Peter and Happy both started laughing, completely ignoring Harley, who did not understand the joke.
Peter wondered what would actually happen if someone tried to kidnap Spider-Man.
The moment they returned to the Tower, Steve scolded them for being out so late and forbade any late-night hanging around.
Peter was almost grateful.
Even without patrols, he was exhausted and wanted nothing but sleep.
Harley seemed to agree, explaining that flights always left him tired.
*** Peter decided to devote the entire next day to a tour of the Tower.
Not because rain was pouring outside and he hated rain.
It was simply that he might never have a better chance to introduce Harley to all the Avengers and walk him through every floor.
He chose to start at the top and work downward.
Not because he did not want to be high up once the thunderstorm began.
It simply made no sense to send the elevator back and forth.
Harley understood a great many things.
He knew the names of nearly every device scattered through Tony’s laboratories almost as well as Peter did.
Only slightly less well, and that was mostly because half the things Harley could not identify were Peter’s own inventions, whose workings sometimes confused even Tony.
The Avengers’ equipment impressed Harley less than the IT department.
He genuinely seemed to know computers extremely well—possibly even better than Ned and Peter.
Peter tried very hard to be offended by this and failed.
That was simply the sort of person he was.
After Harley enthusiastically commented on every development in the department, Timothy declared that he officially had two favorite interns.
He was deeply startled and disappointed when Peter explained that “the new genius” was not an intern at all but Mr.
Stark’s personal guest.
“Good heavens, how many other brilliant children is Boss hiding from me?” They did not linger long on the other floors.
Harley was impressed, of course, but he seemed a little uncomfortable whenever he failed to understand even half of the various chemistry-related things.
Peter decided not to embarrass his guest—which would probably have been difficult anyway—and suggested skipping the remaining laboratory floors, offices, and lobby so they would not run into Anna.
That left only the underground levels of the base, which were unbelievably amazing.
Harley agreed immediately, and F.R.I.D.A.Y., in the same friendly voice as always, asked for the password granting access below.
“Time for the little ones to go to bed,” Peter said, nearly dying of laughter as he did every time he repeated the phrase.
It was impossible to understand how the exact same words could sound so sweet and caring when Tony said them.
Peter saw both of Harley’s eyebrows jump.
“Tony came up with it.
Everyone else has something worse.
Thor, for example, has to say, ‘I, Point Break, bow before His Majesty Tony Stark,’ and Cap either has to answer the question of who the coolest Avenger is—guess the correct answer—or say, ‘Captain Icicle is ready to descend.’ Tony has a very twisted sense of humor.” “That’s complete nonsense, honestly,” Harley muttered, then smiled.
“I assume there are also phrases that make the elevator stop if someone has broken in?” Peter nodded in astonishment, impressed by the accurate guess.
“Yeah, but those are easier.
Thor’s is ‘I am a mighty Avenger,’ and Cap’s is ‘I’m only getting started.'” Peter shrugged.
“I’m not telling you mine or we’ll stop, but the point is to work the phrase naturally into a conversation.” He was certainly not going to admit that his phrase was literally, “I don’t feel so good.” Tony had once lost his mind after Peter tried to hide three bullet wounds and forced him to repeat those words as practice for asking for help if something went wrong.
“Hey, is Spider-Man at the base right now?” Harley’s sudden question made Peter jerk and stare.
“I know it sounds strange, but I’m a geek and he’s awesome.
The other Avengers are cool too, obviously, but somehow I ended up being more of a fan of him and Tony.
Don’t you dare tell Tony that.” “Please.
F.R.I.D.A.Y.
will probably rat you out herself.” Harley glared indignantly at the ceiling.
“You don’t happen to know who he is, do you?” “No.
Why would I?” “Well, Tony has a habit of never shutting up.” Peter walked confidently out of the elevator into the first of seven training halls.
“I thought he might have told you, since he trusts you so much.” “First, I didn’t even know Tony knew.” Peter leaned against the wall, giving Harley time to look around before he began explaining.
“Second, I don’t think he trusts me.” “You were given access to the Tower, assigned me as your personal tour guide, and you’re on the list of heirs.” Peter watched Harley’s eyes practically reshape themselves into the word WHAT?
He shrugged.
“Ask Tony later.
Anyway, this is the boring room.
There’s no technology here, and we only keep it because of Steve.
And for basic training.” Harley nodded, clearly making another mental note—Peter could practically hear him do it—probably reminding himself to ask Tony about that little list.
The next hall was set up like a maze with targets that appeared constantly.
It was mostly used to train accuracy and reaction speed, so Peter called it the warm-up room.
Harley remained silent, but that did not bother Parker.
He could talk for three people.
The third hall was better equipped for people who used suits, such as Rhodey and Tony, or Bruce if he ever felt like using the Hulkbuster.
Several old Marks stood there, along with countless diagrams showing combat combinations and flying targets for practicing perfect suit control.
Peter also had his own corner, where he could learn web combinations and test Iron Spider functions without endangering anyone else.
“So you’re saying Tony knows Spider-Man’s identity?” Harley asked suddenly, studying the web marks on the walls.
“And you know too?” “Yeah, sort of.” Peter was not sure whether he should reveal his identity to a boy he barely knew.
But his spider-sense was silent, so apparently admitting it would not create a mortal threat.
“He hangs around here a lot.” The fourth, fifth, and sixth halls differed mainly in the level of force involved.
On level four, the robots Tony had built were designed for ordinary people without powers.
Level five was usually used by Captain America, Natasha, and anyone who got bored with the robots one floor above—or below, technically, because they were descending underground.
The sixth room had been designed for Thor or the Hulk, though team training often took place there.
The Avengers generally preferred the sixth room and invariably came away with injuries.
Steve had once said that if they worked hard enough, even those robots would eventually feel weak.
Peter disagreed, since he had personally helped construct and program them.
But disappointing Steve felt cruel.
The seventh was supposedly secret, designed specifically for Spider-Man.
The Avengers knew Peter had his own training program, but they could not enter because their access did not allow it.
Harley immediately brightened when he heard that.
“Why does he train separately?
Are you even allowed to show me the room?
And why do we have access when the Avengers don’t?” “Hey, slow down.” Peter sincerely hated himself for picking up that phrase from Tony.
“You don’t have access either, but when you’re with me, you can go anywhere.
I’m not supposed to show you this room, but you aren’t an Avenger, and we’re only hiding it from the Avengers.
He trains separately because Spider-Man has unusual strength and has to learn to restrain it when fighting weaker opponents.
So he doesn’t kill anyone by accident.” Oh yes, Peter hated that part of himself.
At first he had been unable to pick up almost anything without breaking it.
Tony had helped enormously by designing all kinds of specialized training.
“Mr.
Parker, Boss has returned to the base,” F.R.I.D.A.Y.
announced.
“He asks that both of you come upstairs.” “Thanks, Gorgeous.” Peter saw a question flicker across Harley’s face and hoped this would finally be the moment he asked about the nickname, but Harley remained silent.
As the elevator carried them up, Peter could practically feel Harley’s nerves.
He mentally smacked himself.
Of course Harley was nervous.
They probably had not seen each other since the events five years ago.
Idiot.
Peter hesitated, then turned and patted Harley’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry.” Harley pretended to look confused, as if asking what Peter meant.
“Tony is a complete puppy, and even after almost two years I still get nervous before asking him for something.
But that’s my issue.
He’s actually overprotective and sweet.
And he blames himself for everything all the time.” Harley nodded, touched that Peter had tried to find words to reassure him.
The two of them as father and son already seemed impossible; now it became even harder to imagine two such different people together.
Somehow, though, they had made it work.
When the elevator doors opened, the first thing they saw was Tony drinking coffee from an Iron Man mug.
Peter had given it to him, explaining that Tony using his own merchandise sounded equally absurd, believable, and cool.
Tony looked at Harley with mild surprise, as though it had never occurred to him that the boy might have grown since their first meeting.
“Did you sleep in China?” Peter asked without bothering with a greeting, frowning slightly at the mug.
“And did you eat?” “Are you sure you aren’t Pepper’s son?” Tony set the mug aside with a disgruntled look, though he immediately started smiling.
He ruffled Peter’s hair in the familiar way and clapped Harley on the shoulder.
“I behaved myself, unlike certain people.
No arrests, impulsive purchases, or accidental destruction of the city, Pete?
Did Steve bite you?
And you”—he addressed Harley, barely containing his amusement and struggling to sound serious—”two days in the company of my naïve son, and you didn’t even try to rob us.
Boring.
Rhodey and I used to pull real stunts.” “He said ‘stunts.'” Peter rolled his eyes theatrically, took Harley by the hand, and invited him to play along.
“I knew he was old, but not this old.
Come along, darling.
I doubt his generation can peacefully accept us…” “Yes, of course, sweetheart.” Harley immediately joined the improvisation and pulled Peter slightly closer beneath Tony’s mildly confused stare.
“I understand how much you wanted to tell him about our engagement, but I can’t be certain his reaction won’t shatter your fragile heart.” “All right, fine.” Tony was still suppressing laughter.
“One point to you two idiots.
I’ll go tell MJ you dumped her for Harley.
I knew you only wanted the entire inheritance for yourself.” Peter protested dramatically, remembering his conversation with Tony, but stayed in character.
So did Harley, who abruptly recoiled and stared at Peter as though he had discovered a terrible betrayal.
“Is it true?
I thought you loved me!” Peter was quietly laughing now and struggling to keep a straight face.
“What about our plans?
Have you already forgotten Willie, Billy, and Millie?
Our hamsters shouldn’t have to grow up without a father.” Harley could no longer contain himself either, and he and Peter burst out laughing together.
Tony stared as though they had lost their minds, then rolled his eyes and returned to his coffee.
Once they had recovered, both boys sat opposite Stark and waited.
Peter spoke first.
“I told him about the list of heirs.
You can explain it yourself.” Tony smirked.
“I gave him the city tour like you asked, plus the Tower.
Contrary to your faith in me, MJ didn’t scare Harley to death or dump me after seeing him.
Oh, and his favorite superhero is Spider-Man.
Suck it!” Tony pressed a hand theatrically to his chest.
Harley had no idea what any of that had to do with anything.
Tony noticed, narrowed his eyes mischievously, and Peter’s spider-sense told him what was coming.
“Spider-kid and I are keeping score of fans,” Tony explained.
Harley slowly began to understand.
“At the moment it’s one to seven billion.” “Yeah, because you’re only my favorite superhero.” Peter stuck his tongue out at him.
Tony honestly had no idea how to react.
On the one hand, the kid was getting far too cheeky.
On the other, Peter had just admitted Tony was his favorite superhero.
Stark smiled as he watched Harley, who had finally understood, bury Peter beneath hundreds of questions.
Roughly an hour and a half later, when Peter was physically incapable of talking anymore and had nearly fallen asleep against Tony, Harley switched to a new victim.
Whoops.
Now Tony would have to explain the list of heirs.
That was going to take a while.
Harley left the next day, saying he had been shocked so many times in the Tower that he had forgotten every joke he had prepared.
Peter was a little sad; Harley had turned out to be incredibly cool, and the visit had been a lot of fun.
Eventually, though, he had to admit the Tower could not survive that many people who resembled Tony.
Or perhaps Anna could not survive that many teenagers who did not care about their passes.
The two disasters were closely related.