Morgan hesitated, the weight of her confession pressing heavily on her chest. She gripped the edge of her blanket tighter and whispered, “It’s Harley.”
Steve blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Of all the names she could have said, Harley’s wasn’t one he had been expecting—yet somehow, it made perfect sense.
“Harley, huh?” Steve asked softly, his tone even and calm.
Morgan looked down at her lap, her fingers twisting nervously. “Yeah. I know it’s silly, Pops. I mean, he’s older, and he’s Dad’s assistant. He’s practically family. But I just… I don’t know. I can’t help how I feel.”
Steve reached over, gently tilting her chin up so she could meet his eyes. “Hey, it’s not silly. Feelings don’t work on logic, Morgan. Sometimes, they surprise you. And honestly, Harley’s a good guy. I can understand why you’d feel that way about him.”
Morgan’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re not… mad?”
“Why would I be mad?” Steve asked, smiling warmly. “You’re growing up, sweetheart. It’s natural to start feeling this way about someone. And Harley… he’s kind, he’s smart, and he’s loyal. I’d rather you care about someone like him than someone who wouldn’t treat you right.”
Morgan let out a shaky breath, her nervousness giving way to a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, Pops. That means a lot.”
Steve pulled her into a comforting hug. “Does Harley know how you feel?”
She shook her head against his shoulder. “No. And I don’t think I’m ready to tell him. I’m scared it might make things awkward between us—or worse, what if Dad finds out? You know how he is about me and Peter. He’s already so overprotective.”
Steve chuckled softly. “Your dad does tend to be a bit… enthusiastic when it comes to keeping you and Peter safe. But if this is something you want to talk to Harley about someday, we’ll figure it out together. And as for Tony, well, I’ll make sure he doesn’t lose his cool.”
Morgan pulled back slightly, looking up at Steve with a mixture of relief and affection. “You’d really help me with this?”
“Of course,” Steve said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “That’s what I’m here for. To help you navigate these things and make sure you’re happy.”
Morgan leaned against him again, feeling a sense of security she hadn’t expected. “I don’t know if I’ll ever have the courage to tell him. But… it feels good to talk about it with you.”
Steve kissed the top of her head. “Take your time, sweetheart. There’s no rush. And whatever happens, just know that I’ll always be here for you.”
For a while, they sat there in comfortable silence, the stars above them shining brightly. Steve’s mind, however, couldn’t help but wander. He liked Harley and trusted him, but the thought of his little girl having feelings for someone—especially someone close to the family—stirred a protective instinct he couldn’t ignore.
Still, as he looked down at Morgan, her face peaceful and calm for the first time that day, he reminded himself that she was growing up. This was part of her journey, and his role was to support her through it.
Tomorrow, they would rejoin the rest of the family, and the chaos of their lives would continue. But for now, Steve held his daughter close, cherishing the quiet moment they shared and the trust she had placed in him.
Steve held Morgan close for a few more moments, his heart both heavy and light. He was proud that she trusted him enough to share something so deeply personal, but the idea of her growing up—and having feelings for someone like Harley—was still sinking in.
YOU ARE READING
His Protective Dad (Starker FF) Completed ✓
FanfictionA story of Peter Parker (Stark) and his sweet, dangerous yet loving dad Tony Stark. A story where a 16 yrs old boy loves his father dearly, who can do to make his son smile. But what happened when his dad found out about him (peter) getting bullied...