Chapter Text
HARLEY KEENER grew up in a small, conservative town in Tennessee. After his dad left, it was just his mom, his sister, and him. The three of them would go to church on the Sundays his mom didn’t work, he went to Sunday school with his sister up until he was 13, and he was baptized at 14. He memorized Philippians 4:13 and John 3:16 like any other good Baptist. He’s read the entire bible before. And he was praised by all the church elders for his brilliance and education. They expressed their joy to see someone so book smart and educated, yet devoted to the word. Up until he was fourteen his smiles and gratitude was genuine. But then, at fifteen, one of his friends started courting a girl in his church.
Harley started to hear more from his friends about girls, how they were pretty, and the dresses they were suited them. Which one was the best cook. Who is the best hostess. All that southern subtle misogyny that Harley thought was so normal. But through out all those conversations, Harley never said a word. Everyone thought it was because he was raised with only his mother and sister, two girls. Everyone thought he had a more respective and quiet opinion on women. And they weren’t wrong, after meeting Pepper Potts once Harley learned quickly that a woman could do just as much as a man.
But that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that Harley never took an interest in girls. He thought it was because he was too young, but when the friends he had started mentioning girls, he couldn’t relate. But one too many times, he caught himself staring in the locker room during P.E. He didn’t mind the image of biceps and broad shoulders. He liked seeing strong hands grab for the door. Harley secretly liked to mess around and manipulate his peers into opening the door for him. Especially his best friend, Abraham (who he called Brahm, and only he called him that, which made him feel extra special.) He felt good when he was able to make him laugh, or when he was able to get him into a conversation that lasted forever and sought no end.
Two months before his fifteenth birthday, he tried to pray his feelings away. He knew that what he felt wasn’t normal. That’s what he’d known practically his whole life. He didn’t want to be against God’s will. He loved God, and he just hoped and prayed that God still loved him.
Then two weeks before his fifteenth birthday, he had to take his little sister to a One Direction concert that their mom won tickets to. That was when he realized that maybe it wasn’t so bad.
He’d been praying for months. But God left him like this. God made him this way specifically.
And of course, One Direction didn’t cure his internal homophobia, but it was a step. Two days after the concert, he built up the courage to tell his mom.
Harley had just finished washing the dishes from dinner when he walked into his mother’s room. She looked tired and was rubbing her aching neck. He stepped to her and started messaging her back, letting her release a relieved sigh.
“Thankyou Baby.” Mary spoke.
Harley nodded, even though she couldn’t see him, then he slowed his moving hands.
“Ma can I talk about something?” His mother leaned closer into him and he saw a glimpse of her gentle smile.
“’Course Harles.” Harley took a shaky breath before continuing.
“You know how Isaac and Rosie are dating now?” Mary hummed in response, indicating she did in fact remember and Harley continued. “Well most of the boys are starting to like the girls.”
Harley felt his mother stiffen slightly.
“Harley, do we need to talk about growing up and what happens whe-“Harley quickly cut his mother off as his face grew hot and red.
“NO! I mean- No, that’s not what this is about.”
His mother sighed in relief and turned to face Harley completely.
“So what’s this about then Harles?” It’s like she could tell Harley was trying to beat around the bush. Harley started to feel small. Like he was a rodent and this conversation was a cheese trap he planted himself.
“I’m starting to like people.” He paused and his mother cooed at him. She was about to speak, asking who it was, but Harley continued in the smallest voice his southern drawl could muster. “And it aint girls.”
Harley kept his head down. Scared to look up at his mother, he clenched his hands into fists, making crescent moons on his palms from his unmanicured nails. He was regretting everything. He should have waited, maybe until he was eighteen, and when he had a job, where he had money to pay for his cost of life while he was gone. Suddenly, he felt warm and callused hand s wrap around his fists and gently pry his grip open. He looked up at his mother slowly as she put her hands into his.
Once they met eye contact his mother began to talk. “I am so proud of you. You are so brave for coming to me, I will always love you Harley Keener.” Her beautiful blue eyes began to well with tears. “I’m so sorry I can’t do more for you, but Harley, there is nothing wrong with you. You are perfectly you, no matter what anyone else says. I will always and so will God. It is unconditional and if you ever need.” She paused to choke out a sob that she was holding in.
“If you ever need anything, know I am here forever and always.” Mary felt bad, because she knew what this town was like, and it wasn’t a place for Harley.
After talking about it a bit more, they came to the understanding that Harley wont tell anyone else, his sister would find out when she’s older and they know that she could keep a secret. Mary made sure that Harley knew that not every reaction would go so well. Mary was an outlier.
But as much as Harley told her he understood, he didn’t really. Not then at least.
After Iron Man came into his garage, the status quo of Harley changed, he was likable now. People at school changed toward him and things were looking up. He made his first best friend, Abraham. Abraham had moved into the town with his mom. Apparently, Rosehill was his mom’s hometown, and they were living with their grandma after his parent’s divorce. At first Harley was excited, he was under the impression Abraham was from the city, but it turns out- no. He was from a small town, just like Rose hill, somewhere in Texas. But that was fine, they still became best friends. Both living with two females, both have no present father, and both having an affinity for math. They were the top two in their class, and they were extremely competitive about it.
And it turned out that that Abe was a social butterfly. Everyone was a bit stunned and curious at the new Mexican boy, the only people in town were white or black, they had never personally known a Latino. But as soon as they conversed with him, his race didn’t matter.
And it’s not as if Harley was reclusive, he was quite good at socializing if he said so himself. It’s just that when he wasn’t as charismatic as Abe. He wasn’t as charming as Abe. But no matter which friends Abe picked up, Harley was always his number one. Gabriel and Isaac happened to be good company anyway. He built a friend group from the ground, yet he and Harley were always best friends.
All through middle school, and at the start of high school. At the start of high school, Abe tried out for the football team along with the rest of the friend group, which Harley didn’t go because he decided that the Monster Jam in Nashville was a more valuable use of his time. When they got on the team, the friends all went out to the new chain Diner that was in their town. It was their spot, like in any small town romcom. But after every game, without a doubt, the friend group would go to the dinner. They’d eat, and Isaac and Gabe would either brag or complain about their girlfriends, then try to set either Harley or Abe up with one of their girlfriend’s friends (which they always denied).
After every Game, and then after the ritualistic trip to the diner, Isaac and Gabe were dropped off first. Sometimes at the same time, both Abe and Harley knew Isaac and Gabe were closer with each other, but that’s how it was. They were all friends, but they were pairs that made up a group. Two separate podded peas that came together. So when the other group of best friends were dropped off, Harley and Abe wouldn’t go straight home. They’d go to a field, on the outskirts of town. In the spring it lingered with dandelions and lilies. Sometimes they’d run and scream obscenities that the Church elders would croak at. Quite a few times did they sat, braiding random strands of grass as if it were their mothers’ hair and vent or just discussing events in their life. Other times they’d mess around and try to do flips and different parkour tricks on the old, rusted truck that’s sat there for years. But there were rare times, where if one of them (or both) had melancholy or depressing days, they’d lay next to each other and watch as the colorful southern sky rotate to night. Sometimes their hands would brush, but only Harley ever paid attention to those moments. It was something that only him and Abe knew about. Not even Isaac or Gabe knew about it.
Abe was the only one in the group at the time who had a car, courtesy of his absent father trying to make up for missing three of his birthdays in a row. Therefore, he became their chauffeur. Driving them around in his 2014 Toyota Camry, Harley always had control of the Aux. His spot was always next to Abe in the passenger seat.
Harley’s favorite memory in that car was when they were driving to Nashville for Isaac’s birthday. The were going to wreak havoc in the city but then, as a joke, Harley put on “Our Song” by Taylor Swift. All because of the classic first lines “I was writing shot gun with my hair undone in the front seat of his car.” He mockingly sang along, even though he very much adored this song unironically. But when the line “One hand on the steering wheel, the other on my heart” came on, Abe went on to place his hand on Harley’s chest, being sure to keep one on the wheel. The rest of the boys were encouraged to sing, and they ended up jokingly singing the rest of the song, at the end, Harley imitated writing on a tissue. It was his favorite memory because when Abe’s hand was on him, he was grateful that his hand wasn’t actually on his heart, because it was beating faster than Iron Man could fly. No one could knock the smile off his face for the rest of the night.
Then Asher was brought into the group. He was Isaac’s friend at first, Asher had been his bio partner. But then Isaac found out Asher had a permit AND a truck, and a girlfriend. And when all their girlfriends got Taylor Swift tickets and needed a ride to Nashville, Asher became part of the group.
Harley thought Asher was nice. He didn’t mind him at first, but there was a problem, everything was off balance now. Somehow, the pairs of podded peas, had a remainder. It just so happened that Asher gravitated to Abe. Suddenly, someone would always ask “who’s car?”. Harley liked it before when everyone knew what, what was. It’s not that Harley didn’t like change, it’s that he didn’t like Asher. He didn’t like Asher’s truck, the passenger seat usually rotated between Harley and Abe, but when Harley was in the front, he felt wrong. It wasn’t his place; his place was by Abe. Not Asher. And so, instead of the comfortable two in the back, there were three. Harley didn’t appreciate it much, but he bared it.
Then Asher and Abe started getting close, the moment Harley knew it was getting bad, was when Asher called Abe, Brahm. The nickname that only Harley was allowed to use since they first met. Abe’s Dad always called him Brahm. So, when Harley carelessly used the nickname, he noticed Abe cringe. Abe continued to explain why, and Harley said that, from then on, he would call him Brahm, because his dad no longer had any control over him. That was also the day they silently declared their status of best friends. He heard Asher call Abe that, and Abe didn’t correct him like he did to so many others like before. He knew Asher was trying to get close to Abe, but he’d never thought about the possibility of Abe reciprocating the efforts.
Harley would always go to his friend’s football practices and games where Harley, the newest addition to the friend group Asher, and the girlfriends would cheer for them in the bleachers. The routine was Asher would pick up Harley first, then wait at one of the girlfriend’s houses and wait about thirty minutes. After all, five of them were piled in the Asher’s truck they’d go to their school’s field, and without a doubt someone would forget their ticket money and they’d have to be snuck in (It only happened to Harley once.) It was the last game of the season. Despite all being sophmores, Gabe, Isaac, and Abe had all been asked to play varsity.
They had lost the game, so no one threw an after party. So, the group went to their diner, the group of eight (including the girlfriends), went to the diner in two separate cars. They ate and Harley noticed Abe acting a little off while they were eating. So, after they ate, and after everyone was dropped off, Abe and Harley went to their field. Abe sat down and he immediately started braiding strands of grass. Harley smirked and plopped himself down next to him.
“What’s wrong?” Harley asked, grabbing his own group of grass strands.
Abe sighed in response. “My Dad called, saying somin’ bout how he’d be here.” Harley’s eyes went wide and he started to studder out his next words.
“When?! Why didn’t you tell me?!” Harley’s sputtering made Abe smirk and roll his eyes.
“He told me four days ago, but it didn’t matter anyway. He wasn’t here.”
Harley slumped his shoulders. They sat in silence for a bit but then Harley decided to lighten the mood and change the topic. “So that’s why you fumbled so hard today.”
Abe groaned and covered his face with his hands. “That was so embarrassing, I only had one guy on me and I dropped the ball right before the touchdown!” Harley laughed with a hand on his stomach.
“It sure was, hey you should have seen it, your coach was so mad.” Abe rolled his eyes at Harley’s comment.
“I’m sure it aint no different from the scolding I got in the locker room.”
Harley and Abe continued to talk about random things, finishing multiple grass braids. As the sun went down completely, they laid down staring at the stars that revealed themselves as the night’s sky took over the day. They were close to each other, their shoulders only an inch apart as they lay in the field, allowing the grass to mix with their hair and the back of their shirts to grow dirty.
Suddenly Abe propped himself up by only his elbow and looked down on Harley’s face. Harley smiled and furrowed his eyebrows at him.
"What?” Harley asked quizzically.
“Thankyou,” Abe said. “You’ve just been so good to me ever since I moved here. You’ve been the best of friends and I don’t think I would’ve made it out here without you.” Harley’s smile softened. They stayed there in silence, Abe moving his head to face the sky but not changing his body’s position.
When they stood up, getting ready to leave. But when they were both on their feet they didn’t leave. Harley looked into Abe’s eyes but Abe wasn’t looking into his. Harley started to lean in unconsciously, and Abe didn’t reject the lips that pressed on his. Just as Harley felt the smallest of puckering from the other boy’s lips, Abe pulled away quickly. He stumbled back and away from Harley. His eyes were wide but didn’t meet Harley’s.
Harley’s hear rate started to go fast and hard. The reverb echoed in his body and reflected off his lungs, reaching his ears. He messed up. He messed up so badly.
“I-I’m so sorry that was so stupid I can’t-“ Abe started to rush away, cutting Harley off. Harley wanted everything to go after him. To apologize, maybe even to turn back the clock. To where he didn’t read in between the lines. To where he didn’t just assume Abe also liked him from the beginning. To where he still thought that him and Abe were practically the same person. Because they weren’t. They 100% weren’t. And Harley knew that now.
The next few days were awful. Harley had to walk home from the field in the dark, alone. He got home at 2:30 am. When he walked in the door his mother was fuming. The moment he stepped foot in the house Mary yelled at him for being three hours past curfew. But she stopped the moment she saw his state. The moment they made eye contact, Harley couldn’t contain the sobs that rolled out of him. The tears that flowed down his cheek like waterfalls in a hidden forest. She quickly went to hug him and she held him in her arms, rubbed his back and told him that everything would be okay.
Harley didn’t go to school the Monday after that. He didn’t go to school the Tuesday after either. He did go Wednesday though. He told the group chat he was sick. When Gabe asked to sit lunch with the group, he denied claiming he had to catch up on the work he missed in the library. But eventually he had to go back to the lunch table. So when he did, he saw Asher and Abe next to each other talking. Asher was in Harley’s signature seat. Asher and Abe were talking like they used to. So now, Harley sat next to Isaac. If Harley wasn’t talking to Isaac or Gabe, he was on his phone. Reading a research paper or a new article about Tony Stark. With spending less time with his friends gave him more time with Robotics, Mechanics, and all the nerdy stuff he’s always loved.
And so, again, instead of the comfortable two in the back, there were three. But this time, Harley was never in the passenger seat. He never got the Aux. And he rarely spoke to Abe. It was insane to him how the tables turned so quickly.
And although it seemed like Abe and Harley were no longer friends, Abe didn’t seem to tell anyone about that night. Seeing as no one was using slurs on Harley and conducting a witch hunt yet. He was extremely grateful for that. And of course, Isaac and Gabe noticed, it was kind of hard not to. But they said nothing about it apart from the side-eyes they gave each other.
The status quo of Harley being the outlier of the group stayed for only a few months. Then all the sudden, he came to school one day. He could practically feel all the burning stares that stared into his back. His anxiety suddenly spiked and he bit the small bump on his lip. When he saw Gabe and his girlfriend he approached them. But the moment he got into speaking distance, Gabe’s expression twisted and he stepped away, trying to drag his girlfriend, Emily, with him. He scoffed when she glared at him and he stomped away like a toddler.
Harley’s brows furrows in anxiousness. “Hey, what was that?”
Emily looked worriedly at him. “You haven’t heard anything yet, have you?”
This confused Harley even more. “Heard what?!”
Emily shook her head and took Harley’s phone from his hands. She typed in her number and gave it back to him. This, in fact, did not help any of his confusion. “You should probably go home today.” Harley was about to ask more, but he just then the bell rang. He sighed and continued to class.
And apparently, rumors spread in Hill High School fast. Because by lunch, Harley heard it while hiding in a stall during lunch. Somehow, the events of that night were told. And once the oil spill started, it couldn’t be contained. Harley skipped the rest of the day and snuck off campus. He rushed home and hid under his duvet for hours. Listening to music to try and not think about it. He cried a little, but not much. He got a bunch of texts and DMs, but ignored every single one of them.
But despite his whole world being torn apart, the world still spun. He had to go back to school eventually, repeating the mantra of “just three more months.” He could handle the taunts, and shoves, and the threats. He stopped going to church after that, leaving his mom still going with his little sister. Harley ended up loosing all his friends. They didn’t even text him. Everyone but Abe. Abe from the beginning sent apology after apology. He stopped after two weeks. Harley hated every single one. He read every single one. And his heart broke with every one. If Abe was really sorry, he wouldn't have said anything in the first place.
And so it was like before Iron Man. He was the outsider looking in. Taunted by so many.
Ergo, he didn’t have any excuses to not go with his aunt for the day. His mother was in Nashville to get her tonsils taken out. So he reluctantly got in her small Kia. She got him a slushie at the gas station. He drank it as she pulled into the church. And as she walked him in and they went into the Pastor’s office. He’d only been in there once. When he helped the Pastor take in boxes two years back. He felt so proud of himself back then.
When he walked in he saw the pastors warm smile as he motioned for Harley and his Aunt to sit in the chairs in front of his desk. His Aunt rubbed his back as the Pastor conversed with Harley.
Harley didn’t like to remember what happened next.
So that summer Mary begged Tony over email, telling him the most she could without betraying her son’s trust.
And Harley met Peter.
And He’s always known that Peter wouldn’t cure him. That falling for Peter might’ve been a terrible no good idea. But that didn’t mean that PETER PARKER couldn’t try and help.