Chapter Text
“I like you too”
Peter turns around, tears clinging to his eyelashes, a small sniffle escapes as he reaches up to rub away his tears. “You do?”
“Why so surprised darlin’ I’ve been working up courage to say I like you for most of the summer.”
“...What.”
“Yeah, I didn't think I was being subtle. Especially when I said you were cute multiple times.”
“I just thought that's how you talk…”
“You see me calling anyone else darlin’?”
Peter just stands there, now the one who's a bit shocked. Maybe at how well this is going? If you could say this is going well. “I need to sit down.” Peter says, looking a bit pale. Now sitting on Harley's bed, next to Harley who's doing his best to comfort Peter, not really knowing what's got him worked up.
“Bug, you wanna tell me what's bugging you.” Harley says with a slight smirk, proud of his joke.
“I… I just can't wrap my head around the fact that the last few months weren't just you joking.”
“Pete, I would never play with your emotions like that, and if I did Tony would have my head.”
“Well… what do we do now? I’ve never gotten this far.” He punctuated with an awkward chuckle.
“Uh…” that easy confidence that Harley has splintered at the question. “I don't know. We start dating? Or go on a date? Kiss?”
“I wouldn't mind trying a kiss…”
Peter turns to face Harley, Peter’s cheeks are on fire. All the other sounds in the world, the ones that never seem to turn off, are quiet for the first time since the bite.The silence allows Peter to focus on what's important, Harley's perfectly soft lips on Peters.
Harley shifts on the bed, pushing Peter to lay down, giving small chaste kisses, scared to break what they finally have.
Peter is so focused on what's in front of him, the faint smell of oil, from Harley being in the workshop mixed with the pine from the shampoo Harley uses.
A soft ruffling of the sheets alerts Peter to Harley falling back onto his heels.Now sitting up he reaches out to ruffle Peter’s hazel curls. “You with me, darlin’?” His voice is soft and low, carrying that unwavering attention and that unrelenting sass, the smirk clearly heard in his words. Taking his hand back, reaching down to take Peters in his. Slowly stroking his thumb over the back of Peter's hand.
“Hm…? U-uh, yeah. Yeah! Of course.” Blinking back into reality, a deeper blush spreads all the way to his ears. Peter can’t help but give a small smile. Hoping he’s not some kind of creep who goes around sniffing people, and that it’s just another weird side effect from the spider bite… like enhanced senses, not enhanced weirdo tendencies.
Flipping his hand over in Harleys he gives it a light squeeze, looking up into Harley's eyes. Harley locks eyes with him, a small smile forming on both their lips. He leans in again, giving a chasing kiss to Peter’s lips. “Sure you are, sweetheart. That’s why you’re giving me that look.”
“Look? What look?” Peter says defensively. “I’m fine. I wasn't looking at anybody in any way.” His blush deepens and his eyes dart away trying to find something else to focus on. His eyes wander the room, the desk on the far wall littered with bits of tech and homework. And over to the two backpacks laying side by side, his brand new due to his habit of losing them, whereas Harleys still has an old and well loved one.
Harley raises a brow, noticing the other boy's eyes wandering. “Uh huh. That's why you’re lookin’ for a way out of this conversation as we speak. Isn't it?” His voice lowers, grin transforming into something mischievous, his hands shooting out to tickle Peter's stomach.
Peter barks out a laugh, flailing his limbs . “I just,” Peter blurts, “you smell good. That’s it. Now stop tickling me!” his laugh ebbs off as Harley removes his hands. They lay in a tangled mess of limbs before Harley props himself up.
Harley laughs, a deep belly laugh that makes his whole body shake. “You are too cute, sweetheart… too cute.” Carding his hand through Peter's hair Harley takes his time to really look at this amazing person in front of him. Trying to memorize every little thing at once, freckles that clump up on the bridge of his nose, or the way he looks at Tony, like a father, always so funny to see the way they both skirt around that subject. Huh maybe that's another reason Peter took so long to get the hints, I mean like Tony said Peter can be a bit of a brick, socially, that is.
Peter squirms a bit under Harley's attention, “you keep saying that.” he mumbles.
“That your cute? Maybe cause it keeps bein’ true, cutie.” Harley shoots back, doing his best not to pinch Peter's cheeks.
“So are we really doing this? Like– I'm not gonna wake up tomorrow and realize this was a dream.” Peter shyly asks.
“I know I want this. So, so much, but I also want to go at a pace you're comfortable with. If that means we wait to start dating, then it means we wait.” Harley answers, rather confidently.
“I want this. I really do.”
“I'm glad” Harley smiles.
Harley leans in for another kiss, he takes his time, appreciating that he can now do this. He's also slow to part.
“Well, it's late and my heart can't handle any more life shattering news. We can talk more in the morning? Now go get some sleep sweetheart.”
“I don't have any fun pet names for you, besides Harls… Seems I've found our first topic of order for tomorrow morning.” Peter says as he gets up from bed, making his way to the door. “Sleep well Harls, I’ll see ya in the morning." And with that he makes his way back to his own room.
Harley lays back down, still a bit giddy at the fact that that just happened. A little surprised Peter was the one to make the first move but no less happy because of it. Ah, he’ll have to tell his Ma too, and Abby. Maybe he can visit them over Thanksgiving break. Maybe Peter will come with me! He's getting ahead of himself, he should take his own advice and try to get some sleep.
Sleep is allusive for both boys, adrenaline still high, and thoughts lingering on one another's lips. But sleep does come, even if it's in the later hours of the night.
Peter wakes with a slow start, groaning at the sunlight that spills on his face. Memories of yesterday yet to come back, rolling over in bed Peter misjudges the amount of room left on the bed. Sadly flopping onto the floor Peter can't help but curse his Parker luck™. The slight knock to the head seems to get his brain up and running, due to the memories of Harley's lips on his flooding back. At those thoughts Peter starts flopping like a fish out of water, so embarrassed that he could start crying, but he won’t. Plus the fact that he liked kissing so much, coupled with the fact he even kissed Harley makes him whine into the ground.
On the other side of the hall something rather similar is happening, maybe with a bit less embarrassment and more happiness. Happy that his hints may have finally worked. With that little thought, he makes his way out of his room, to the kitchen to find Tony standing by the stove. And he seems to be cooking…huh I guess old dogs can learn new tricks.
“What did you just say? I am not old, nor a dog.”
“Ah shit, did I say that out loud.”
“Just sit down, the eggs will be done soon,” Tony turns back to the stove, “Fri, would you be a dear and make sure Peter's up?”
He's currently up; however he is face down on the floor…
Tony didn't even know F.R.I.D.A.Y could sound so worried. “Harly would you mind getting Peter off the floor?”
“Sure thing.” Harley quickly makes his way to Peter's door.
knocking,“You ok in there bug?”
“Mmhhmm” is all that Harley gets for an answer.
“I'm coming in!”
The sight is just as worrisome and sad as F.R.I.D.A.Y made it seem. Peter sprawled face down across the bed, half tangled in his Iron Man blankets while the rest dragged off the edge like they couldn’t be bothered to stay with him. One arm’s tucked under his chest at an awkward angle, the other barely hanging off the mattress, fingers curled like he just ran out of energy mid-movement.
His hair’s a complete mess, even for him, sticking up in uneven clumps that make it obvious he’s been tossing and turning instead of actually sleeping. His shirts bunched up showing off his iron man boxers, a sight that Harley can’t help but smile at.
“You ok spider-boy?”
“How are we gonna tell Tony…”
“Honey… Tony won't care. He might be mad at me for courting his kid but I can deal with that. Now get up Pete, the day is young and ours to conquer.”
“Why are you talking like that?”
“I'm just happy, what's so wrong with that?” Harley pouts slightly before bending down to lift Peter by the waist. Peter who seems to be made out of puddy today stays mostly drooped on the floor, honestly it looks like he's boneless. “Uh Pete, where are your bones?”
“Spider stuff, don't worry about it.”
“Ok then.” Harley doesn't really know how that makes him feel. “Can you get up then?”
“Fineeeeee.” Peter ungoopiefies, standing to make his way to the bathroom, “I’ll be out soon.”
Harley gives one last lingering look before making his way back to the kitchen, reporting back to Tony that in fact his kid is alive and well.
“When Peter gets out here we… have something we want to tell you.”
“Please tell me you didn't kill anyone, I can cover it up I just really don't want to do all that work.”
“What?? No! Just-just wait a second.”
A few moments later Peter stumbles into the kitchen, hair slightly more tame, and fully clothed.
“What are we telling Tony? Oh-that.”
“Yeah that.”
Peter makes a face, then gestures vaguely between himself and Harley like that explains anything. “Uh… me and Harley are dating.”
There’s a pause.
Tony just stares at them. Long enough that Peter starts to visibly regret every decision he’s ever made.
“…dating,” Tony repeats slowly.
“Yeah…?” Peter says a little worried.
“Who asked who?”
“Peter.”
“Somehow me.”
“Woah, proud of you kid.” Tony gives Peter's shoulder a few pats. Before asking, “how long?”
Tony pauses, clearly not expecting that. “…last night.”
“Yeah.”
“Huh.” He nods to himself like that explains everything, even though it absolutely doesn’t. “Well. Thank you two for trusting me with this. I’m really proud of both of you.”
Peter looks up at that, a little surprised. Harley relaxes just a bit beside him.
“I trust that you’re old enough that I don’t have to give the talk,” Tony continues.
“Ew, no, please,” Peter immediately cuts in, recoiling. “I do not want to hear you talk about anything related to that topic. Ever.”
Tony snorts. “Oh, I wasn’t offering, I was threatening.”
Peter groans, dragging his hands down his face. “Why are you like this?”
“Because someone has to keep you humble,” Tony shoots back easily. Then he glances at Harley, pointing a finger at him. “And you. Don’t make me regret being okay with this.”
Harley raises his hands slightly. “I wouldn't dream of it.”
“…good,” Tony mutters, eyeing him for another second before looking back at Peter. “Alright you two, eat up and get out of here. Happy won't stay happy for much longer.”
As the two boys start scarfing down their food Tony makes his way to the coffee machine to get his third cup of the day. A little lost in thought at the fact that the only two kids close to him are now dating. He’ll have to do his best to make sure they don't break up. That would be a really awkward position to be in for Tony. Maybe he should have a talk with Peter about their relationship as Mentor and mentee. But that's a conversation for after school. To the lab, Pepper asked for some papers to be signed which means it's time to work on the suite.
At the same time, Peter and Harley are finished getting ready, making their way downstairs to Happy's car. Peter seems to be even more tactile now, barely letting go of Harley's hand the whole way to the car. And when they are in the car, Peter practically lays on top of Harley, earning a scoff and quick glance from Happy.
Peters even holds Harley's hand into school, something Harley has some… put simply, bad memories of trying that back in Rose Hill. But Harley will do almost any hard thing for Peter, that's really just the effect Peter has on him.
As they walk into their first class of the day, things don't seem much different, just the fact that Peter and Harley are sporting slightly larger than usual smiles. Most people are chalking it up to the fact that they get three weeks off of Flash and his antics.
The people who notice what the change is actually for are Ned and MJ.
Ned is the first of the two to have a class with both of them, and he notices that the glances they’ve always shared are lasting a bit longer. And reciprocated by one another, and to be honest Ned’s a little salty that he wasn’t notified as soon as it happened, but nonetheless he's happy that Peter finally got his shit together. He doesn't say anything though, deciding to wait till lunch to see if MJ picks up on the same thing.
Which of course she does, it's MJ.
She also doesn't say anything when she sees it during class. Not because she doesn't care, she just knows someone else will bring it up first, if not Peter and Harley themselves.
Now that the floodgates have opened for Peter he can't help but want to be with his boyfriend. And isn't that just such a fun thing to say, His boyfriend. Anyway, he just wants to cling onto him and not let go, which may be just a Peter thing or a spider thing. That makes it really hard to pay attention to whatever the teachers are talking about. Especially when Harley's right in front of him, watching the muscles in his arm shift as he writes down notes, his scent, the way the light from the windows catches in his hair. Even if time feels like it won't pass, it does, and lunch comes sooner than Peter thought it would.
As everyone settles down with lunch Peter and Harley are sitting just a bit closer than usual. But now it puts Harley and him in this rather awkward position. Mainly just Ned glaring at Harley, while MJ reads her book of the day.
Ned sets down his ham sandwich, never moving his eyes off of Harley, “So, this is a thing now huh?” Waving his hand in their general direction. The awkward smile Peter gives is enough conformation for Ned, “And I'm not hearing about this till now? Why?”
“Well it happened just last night… and I kinda forgot.” Peter says while shrugging.
MJ interjects, “yeah probably too busy mushing faces to tell you Ned.”
The matching blush on both boys doesn't help disprove MJ’s point, earning Harley another glare from Ned. “Ok, so, what? One of you finally got over yourself and told the other that you liked them? I just find that hard to believe when you've been dancing around one another for the last few weeks, and that's just what I see at school. I don't want to think what you two are like at the tower.”
“First, rude. Second, I may have thought Harley was just flirty like that…BUT! I was the one who said that I liked him first.” Peter says, maybe a little too proudly.
“Only you Peter, only you…” Ned sighs.
The conversation sort of dissolves after that, drifting into whatever Harley’s working on in the lab this week. It’s easy after that, comfortable, normal, like nothing’s changed, even though everything kind of has.
Then the bell rings, cutting lunch short and sending all four of them in completely different directions.
By the end of the day, Peter and Harley are out front waiting for Happy.
Peter’s got his phone pressed between his shoulder and ear, pacing a little. “No, I know, I just… I should tell her in person, right? Like, that feels like something I should not do over text.”
A pause.
“Yeah, I know she’s gonna be cool about it, I just… I don’t know, I don’t wanna mess it up.”
Another pause.
“Okay, okay. I’ll ask. Just don’t say anything weird if she calls you.”
He hangs up, exhales, and looks over at Harley.
“So. Uh. How do you feel about coming with me to May’s later?”
After heading back to the tower to wait for May to finish her shift, Peter ends up pacing more than actually sitting still.
Harley’s sprawled out on the couch, flipping through something on his phone. “You’re gonna wear a hole in the floor if you keep doing that.”
“I am not pacing,” Peter says, immediately turning and walking the other direction.
“Mmhm.”
Peter huffs, running a hand through his hair before dropping down next to him for all of two seconds, then popping back up again. “I just don’t know how to say it. Like, do I just walk in and go ‘hey May, by the way, I have a boyfriend now’ or is that too much? That feels like too much.”
“Considering it’s you, that’s actually pretty on brand.”
Peter shoots him a look. “You’re not helping.”
“I am helping,” Harley says, not even glancing up. “You’re overthinking it. She loves you. She’s gonna be happy if you're happy. End of story.”
“Yeah… I know.”
Harley finally looks up, softer this time. “And if she’s not, which she will be, I’m charming. I’ll win her over.”
That gets a small laugh out of Peter. “Oh, you’re charming now?”
“Obviously.”
Peter rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling as he flops back down onto the couch, this time actually staying there.
“Okay,” he says after a second. “Okay. I can do this.”
“Yeah,” Harley nudges his shoulder lightly. “You can. We can”
The drive over is still spent with Peter being a bit of a nervous wreck, glancing out the window, picking at his nails, letting out soul-crushing sighs. But May and his apartment show up no matter how much he worries about it. I mean, he did text May saying he’d be over later tonight, and all he got was a thumbs up from her, which does absolutely nothing for his overthinking tendencies.
Happy lets them out, and the couple makes their way up the stairs to Peter’s apartment. This is Peter’s first time having Harley over, which—yeah, not helping the nerves at all.
As he pulls out his key, slotting it in the door, he can’t help but ask, “You sure you’re ready for this? I know it’s a bit fast… it’s—we’ve known each other for so long, this just feels like the right thing to do.”
“I’m ready, and no, it’s not too fast. I would’ve said something. Are you ready? I haven’t seen you with so much self-doubt.”
“I-I just don’t want to mess this up.”
“You won’t.”
“Okay.”
Peter turns the key, opening the door.
“May? I’m home!” he calls, stepping inside and kicking the door shut behind them.
There’s a beat, then her voice drifts in from the kitchen. “In here, honey!”
As both boys make their way into the kitchen, they are greeted with the smell of Thai food and a slight hint of burnt something. It's always sweet that May tries to cook. But for best that she just ordered out.
Harley's taking his time, looking around the place, a big smile plastered on his face at the sight of all the pictures of younger Peter. And being allowed to see such a personal space of his.
May still has her back to them, turning around after both boys have taken a seat.“Hey, Pete… and Harley, I presume?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Nice to finally meet you, I’ve heard great things about you. Daily.” May says with a smirk. “Im glad you're here, but can I ask why?”
Peter, on the other hand, looks like he might pass out.
May sets down some paper plates, sliding boxes of Thai between, finally taking her seat, she has a chance to look at the pair. And look she does, Peter is sweating bullets, while Harley is still taking in some of the space, eyes lingering on photos, just appreciating the lived in feeling of their home. Their hands set on the table, clearly wanting to be held by one another.
“...Okay,” she slowly draws out, “what did I miss?”
Peter looks like a dear caught in headlights
Harley looks… a little too laid back.
“Nothing!” Peter blurts out, voice cracking. “There's nothing to be missed, we’re normal, everything's good. This food especially, yeah normal good food!”
“Peter.”
“...May?”
“What's going on?”
“Nothin! I swear, right Harley?”
“Huh?”
“Peter, leave the poor boy out of this and answer me, what's going on?”
“I swear May, please just drop it.”
Harley sighs, like he’s doing Peter a huge favor. “I think Pete has something he wants to tell you.”
Peter whips his head toward him. “You said you weren’t going to say it like that!”
“You didn’t give me a script,” Harley shrugs.
“I shouldn’t need to give you a script!”
“Clearly you should’ve.”
“Boys,” May cuts in, far too calm. “One of you is going to tell me what’s going on before I start guessing.”
Peter looks like he's seen a ghost.
“...Don't. Dear God don't guess.” He mutters under his breath.
Forgetting that may be sitting right across from him, “Oh, now I definitely have to guess.”
“May ple–”
“You robbed a bank?”
“No!”
“Hmm…Joined a cult!”
“What? No!”
“You—” she pauses, noticing the scene before her, “oh…”
Peter may as well be a ghost himself.
“Oh,” May repeats softer as if that ‘oh’ somehow encapsulates everything she's thinking.
Harley can't help but grin slightly
Peter drops his face into his hands. “Don’t say it like that.”
“Like what?” May asks innocently.
“Like you already know!”
“I don’t know,” she says, which is a complete lie. “But I have a very strong suspicion.”
Peter peeks through his fingers, absolutely betrayed. “…You do?”
May just smiles.
And stays looking at them. A little too intensely for Peter's liking, smile never leaving her face.
The silence stretches on, Peter getting visibly more restless, he looks down at his food, shoulders tenses, and in one breath, “Harley and I are dating.”
It comes out more as one word, but the meaning is all the same.
He forces himself to stop spiraling, squeezing his eyes shut for just a second before taking a breath.
Slowly, carefully, he looks up.
“I was right!” she says happily. “I was worried I was assuming too much with that last guess.”
“So that ‘Oh’ really was–”
“Was me really figuring it out? Yes.”
Harley can't help but laugh at the interaction, it being what he hopes is an accurate display of most of the two's interactions.
May joins in, laughing a little softer, “Oh god, my baby's all grown up…”
“...So, you’re ok with it?”
“Huh? You two dating? Of course!” she shrugs off the question as if it wasn't the most important thing at the moment. “I’m happy for you.”
“I honestly thought you would've made a bigger deal, at least giving Harley the shovel talk at the table.”
“Oh trust he will be getting it, just not now.”
Now it's Harley's turn to look like he's seen a ghost, I mean Tony's even scared of May's wrath.
After the laughter settles down a bit May adds, “…Did you want me to make it a bigger deal?”
“No!”
“Because I can absolutely make it a bigger deal.”
“Please don’t make it a bigger deal.”
“I could cry.”
“Don’t cry!”
“I could start planning things.”
“What things??”
“Dinner. Outings. Bonding.”
Peter makes a distressed noise. “Why is ‘bonding’ scary when you say it like that?”
Harley, meanwhile, looks delighted. “I’m open to bonding.”
Peter turns on him. “Of course you are!”
May beams. “Oh, I like him.”
“You’ve known him for five minutes!”
“I have excellent judgment.”
Harley nods. “She does.”
Peter stares at both of them, deeply betrayed. “…I regret everything.”
May reaches over, patting his cheek. “Oh, honey, no you don’t.”
“…I don’t,” Peter admits quietly.