Chapter Text
The day came. It had been two weeks of waiting with nail biting anxiety and then the day came. The day started with a shit start, Peter slept a good three hours. He watched Harley -whose arms were connected around Peter's torso- with soft eyes. Harley's body was warm against Peter's, Harley fell asleep crying, the last thing he said before he fell asleep was, It's gonna be shit.
Peter had hummed sadly, and wrapped his arms around Harley a little tighter. Peter was then left alone with his thoughts once again.
On most days, Peter would go on a swing around the city to clear his head. But Peter didn't want to lose another second with Harley, even if the other boy was asleep.
So instead of swinging, Peter listened to the steady breathing coming from Harley. He listened to the soft breathing, and felt the way his stomach would rise and fall. He looked closely at Harleys features. The brown specks in his blonde hair. The lack of freckles. His thin lips. The small pimples on his chin.
Peter knew he could see Harley again, whether that was over facetime or in person. But this was it for a while, he was getting ready, memorizing all the small details so that he wouldn't ever forget.
As his eyes traced over Harleys features, his mind wandered. Though, he tried to force his thoughts on happier things he only could think of how different everything would be. He wouldn't be able to hug Harley when either of them was feeling depressed. He wouldn't be able to kiss Harley when Harley would do or say something -quite literally anything.
Everything was going to be different. No, it was going to go back to the days after Tony's death and before the funeral. Where Peter locked himself in his room. He didn't eat. He barely slept. He snapped at May. He shut everyone out. He isolated himself because that was easier. He would just sit in his room, the blinds shut because if he looked outside he would just be reminded of him. It would be that again.
Alone.
It was already starting. Ned and MJ would ask if he was okay. They would invite him for coffee or to see a movie. He would decline, making up excuses he knew they didn't believe. He was losing his grip again. And he didn't know what to do.
Now they were standing on the roof. It was silent, and Harley was now fumbling on his phone to call an Uber to get to the airport. MJ and Ned had said their goodbyes earlier that day but Peter was going to the airport with Harley, they were putting their goodbyes off till the very last second.
Peter didn't know how he looked. He hadn't cried today -yet. But he was sure he looked one hundred times distraught. He had been wearing yesterday's clothes because he slept at Harley's, and he had only bothered to brush though his hair a couple times. It's didn't matter much though.
Harley looked overly composed, which was somehow possible. His jaw was hard, Peter knew Harley was biting his tongue. His hair was fizzy because he brushed through it so often. His posture was better than Peter had ever seen. The only thing that gave Harley away was that his hand -which was interlocked with Peter's- was very sweaty.
He was so in love with Harley.
Harley's finger was hovering over the request button for an Uber. It was terrifying. The button meant that there were only two more stages till Harley left. And Peter hated that a random person was involved. He knew how dumb and rude that sounded, he didn't care.
So right as Harley was about to press it Peter decided to pipe up. "What if we swing instead?"
Harley quickly turned his phone off and shoved it into his back pocket, looking up at Peter.
"Seeing as there is a fifty-fifty chance I die… I'll take you up on that." He said grinning.
"Harley…" Peter knew it was a joke, but Harley wouldn't be saying it if there wasn't even a little bit of honesty.
"Kidding." Peter narrowed his eyes at Harley before kissing him on the forehead, something that Harley gladly accepted.
Peter fished his web shooters out of his bag. He had been swinging around more often lately, and was positive Harley would be okay next to him, even if the airport was a bit away.
Peter shoved his mask on and then turn to Harley who has an amused look on his face.
"What?" Peter asked skeptically.
"Nothing, I just have never really seen the mask up close." Harley was wearing a shit eating grin that Peter positively loved seeing.
"C'mon."
"Right"
Peter snaked his arm around Harleys waist and Harley hugged himself to Peter, Peter could already feel Harley's heart hammering against his chest. Peter wasn't quite sure if it's because he nervous about swinging or about Tennesse. Peter wouldn't mind not knowing.
"Ready?"
"Nope"
Peter chuckled dryly before shooting a web and jumping off the building, holding Harley as close as possible.
It wasn't as exilerating as normal. Not because of Harley, but because every time he would shoot a web, he knew it was that much closer and sooner to saying goodbye to the love of his life. He'll be leaving soon. It was quite impossible for Peter to be able to swing without that thought repeating in his head.
He tightened his arm around Harley and focused more on the boy closest to him.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!" Harley mumbled under his breath. It was oddly nice for Peter to hear. Most things that Harley had been saying in the past week had a portion of sadness in his tone, but for once it wasn't there. To be fair only because Harley was terrified.
Harley's arms wrapped around Peter's neck even tighter, and he burrowed his head in Peter's shoulder. It was oddly comforting to Peter.
"If you kill me I will get revenge." Harley said loudly, an inch from Peter's ear.
"I love you too, Harley." Peter said softly, but loud enough for Harley to hear.
Peter moved on, building passing by quickly. There were all huge, most already marked with webs. But as the building passed by the thought in his head got louder.
He'll be leaving soon.
He'll be leaving soon.
He'll be leaving soon.
He'll be leaving soon.
It yelled at him. It scared him. But he couldn't stop. He didn't stop, because it would be okay. It would work out. He had to know that. He had to understand that everything would be okay. Harley wasn't leaving. Not really at least.
He powered on, thankfully not messing anything up.
Until the large JFK Airport came into view, and the countdown started ticking right in his ear.
They landed in an alleyway taking off his mask and web shooters, shoving them in his backpack.
It was busy. People rushing in and out of the airport, crowding around. He saw some people practically jumping into the airport and Peter realized he had forgotten that others may love where they're going. He forgot it was even possible.
He looked to Harley, swallowing. Harley was staring at the doors with fear in his eyes. He was fidgeting with his hands and Peter quickly slipped his hand into Harley's. The blonde haired boy looked to Peter and tears formed in his eyes. He burrowed his face into Peter’s soulder and Peter did the same with Harley.
Harley sniffed quietly. Peter knew Harley was trying to stall. He was making sure that they had just a littlelnger before goodbyes. But Peter knew better. That time, with their heads together, that was apart of it. Apart of the goodbyes that had already started.
Harley was melting into Peter. But it wasn't like normal. He was collapsing. He was falling, holding onto Peter to hold him up. And Peter obliged. He wrapped his arms around Harley tightly, knowing it would have to end soon, knowing Peter would have to be the one to pull away.
He had to be the one to pull away, because he knew Harley didn't have the strength to, Peter barely did himself. But he held on for a little longer. Because he didn't know how long it would be till he could do it again. He knew it would be at least months till he could do it again.
So he held on. He held on till after his feet ached. Till after he felt sick. Till after his eyes felt horribly dry. Till after it was getting hard to breathe. Till after his body felt like it would break down.
And then he pulled away.
He stared into Harley's eyes. Harley's perfect green eyes. He moved his hands to Harley's cheeks, and kissed him softly. If he went into the shallow end, he wouldn't be able to come back up.
Harley moved his hands to Peter's hips and that's when Peter had to pull away. Harley tried to hold on longer, and it killed Peter to have to be strong.
"Harley…" Peter started, hoping he wouldn't have to finish his thought.
"I know." Harley answered miserablely, looking at his feet.
"Can I tell you something?"
"Of course." Harley said drying, a small smile on his lips.
"You know when I used to speak in Spanish in front of you?"
"Yes. It used to drive me insane." Harley laughed, and Peter did too. Peter knew it was annoying to Harley, it didn't stop him though.
"I was complimenting you. I was calling you beautiful, among other things…"
A smile spread on Harleys lips, it had been forever since Peter saw it. "Peter?"
"Yeah?"
"You suck." Harley laughed, shaking his head.
"I know. To be fair I thought you were straight. So I couldn't exactly call you beautiful to your face."
"Well… I'm not straight."
"No. You're not."
Harley looked at Peter with his beautiful eyes shining.
"You're beautiful Harley. Everything about you. You're beautiful."
"Peter?"
"Yes?"
"You're beautiful."
"Estoy enamorado de ti, Harley"
Harley raised his eyebrows just the slightest. And Peter didn't dare not tell him what it meant.
"I'm in love with you, Harley."
"I'm in love with you, Peter."
"This makes it hurt more."
"Yeah. It does."
"One more kiss?"
Peter didn't care, he had to. He moved to his toes and kissed Harley deeply. Harley would save him if he drowned.
It was quick but they didn't fully pull apart. They leaned their foreheads against each other. They knew that would be the last time they pulled apart. So they cherished what they had, for the last time for a while.
"I'm in love with you."
"Dork." Harley sniffed.
"Ready?"
"No." Harley said softly before saying something else, "I'm in love with you. Okay. I'm ready."
"Three."
"Two."
They didn't make it to one, but they pulled away slowly.
They looked at each other for the last time in a while.
Neither of them said goodbye.
Harley moved away slowly.
One step, after another. Until he came to the doors. And with one sad, red rimmed wink, he entered the airport.
And Peter knew, he wasn't alone.