Chapter Text
It started with a playdate.
Emily wanted Harry to get to spend time with other kids his age. Mary Parker couldn't find a reason to turn down her boss's wife.
Harry was bigger than Peter and Peter was a cuddly trusting toddler. Harry spent the whole time following Peter and shoving his toys into Peter's hands. During snack they mixed their cheerios together and Harry made sure that Peter ate as much as he did. After that the boys fell asleep cuddling together.
Mary was charmed and Emily was just so pleased to see her spoiled boy sharing. So it became an every other day thing, then a month later Harry's nanny was watching both boys every day and refused to take a dime from the Parkers because Harry was so much easier to manage with Peter. So the grateful couple bought passes for Snapology and tumbling classes and piano lessons as a way to share costs.
Norman was doubtful of the attachment his boy was forming. But he and Emily took a day and took the boys to a Maker Fair. The boys were 3 and 4 but already taking things a part and they loved the whole event. Harry said he needed a Cupcake Car, Peter was oddly still as he watched the synchronized drones.
"Just watch." She told him as they found a make your own robot booth. He had thought to set the boys to compete against each other but Emily pulled him back. Peter took the lead on drawing plans, but Harry made them happen. Peter's idea was sneered at by a bigger kid which made the kid deflate and curl in on himself and Harry whispered something to Peter that made the younger boy perk up and dig in to their creation. In the end they had a quadcopter with claws that swooped down and started picking up trash.
Norman knew then that Harry was not going to be an innovator, but he was going to be a leader. His son would be his heir as planned, but he would be his best with a mind like Peter's to protect and defend. That night he finalized Harry's place in the line of succession. He also drew up a contract for the Parker's to ensure that Peter would only have the best education no matter what happened.
Several years later it felt like his world was crashing. Emily's leukemia won, the Parkers were assassinated… Peter was living in a rent controlled two bed in Queens with his aunt and uncle and Norman knew the two hated him, he thought maybe even blamed him. Norman focused on what he could control, his company.
He focused on his legacy plan too. They moved from the penthouse in Manhattan to a large brownstone in Queens. It was close to the apartment Peter lived in. He found a small private school in Forest Hills with both a great science focus and fantastic teacher to class ratios he paid extra to ensure school supplies where there and that his boys were always together.
He made sure the Parkers knew that if they needed help he was there. He faked a contract that made it look like the assistance for Peter was required by his late parents. It was the only way he could find that didn't make it look like charity to the proud couple.
Harry would become a great leader and businessman, Peter would be an amazing scientist. He followed their schooling and made playdates happen. He learned how to praise the boys because Emily would have been so proud of them.
He learned not to compare them, but find where they raised each other up. Harry had an ear for music and languages. Peter found math easier than speaking. He couldn't help but feel something snap back into place the first time the boys fell asleep on him while watching some old animated movie.
Yes, they were his legacy.