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"Come on Pete, let's go. I think you got poison in you for one night."
"Poison? Nuh uh. I gotta. Gotta. Uhhh." Peter fumbled, his head almost banging onto the bar counter since his head felt heavy. "Wanna show these people what I'm made of." He gestured lazily to the random people in the bar.
Harry raised a curious brow. "Yeah, pretty sure they know you're made out of muscle mass and bones, like all people." He poked Peter's side, causing the drunk young man to giggle. Harry frowned because if he did do that to Peter he would usually retaliate. Peter isn’t a big fan of physical affection. He concluded Peter was drunk as hell.
"B- big strong bones though. I drink lots of milk Harry." Peter rambled as Harry paid the tabs for his drinks and maybe slid a few extra dollars for the cracked counter where Peter was gripping. "My body is strong. Strong. Strong."
"I don't doubt that for one bit pal." Harry started to grab his coat and sling it on himself. He gently tugged on Peter's arm to sling it over his back to help him up. "Come on Pete, let's go back to my place. You're staying the a couple days with me, remember?”
"Yeah. Yeah. Because Mary- Jane hates me." He said in a small voice, tugging his arm back weakly.
"Don't say that." Harry did not have the patience to have a heartfelt conversation at this really ghetto bar that Peter insisted on taking him after he and Mary Jane had a fight. He actually had no idea why they fought because as soon as he asked Peter, Peter started drinking like there was no tomorrow. He might have to ask MJ later over the phone later, but he didn’t want to pry into their relationship.
"Come on Pete, let's go."
As soon as he said that, a nice quick jazz tune started to play over the speakers and instantly Peter perked from his depressed slouch. "Noooooo." He drawled out, a cheeky grin playing on his face. "I wanna hear this song! Yeah!" He started snapping his fingers and started to hum loudly, annoying the nearby drinkers.
Should have known Peter was a lightweight. Harry rolled his eyes and sighed. "Pete, no, it's getting late and you have work tomorrow, remember? Jameson? " He tried tugging Peter back with him but Peter was strong as hell, even when drunk. He was glued to the barstool seat.
To Harry's horror another jazz tune started playing, this time very lively one which prompted Peter to jump off the barstool and started to dance away.
To say Harry was surprised was a bit of an understatement.
Peter was thrusting his hips and even trying to twirl some girls and guys around. Luckily, the people he twirled weren't bothered and even laughed. Peter continued to draw a crowd in, especially when he- wait, where did he go?
"Where the hell is he? I just looked away for like 2 seconds. Stupid Peter." Harry grumbled as he searched now for his drunk bestfriend.
He eventually found him playing a piano the bar had, but he was playing really really badly. There was people yelling and laughing at him. Harry just started throwing money at people while he tried getting Peter to leave the crowd. Peter's head suddenly flopped on the piano letting out an awful ear piercing sound you’d here in those old cartoons.
"Okay! Okay! Shows over folks! Byeeee!!" Harry shooed the onlookers away and ignored their pictures. Great, hopefully no PR mess. Last thing he needs plastered on Facebook or that fairly new social media platform Twitter that Harry Osborn at a dingy bar with drunk photographer Peter Parker. "Peter, wake up. Wake up!"
His eyes widened in surprise when he heard a low petulant whine. "G'way. You missed my show." Peter sniffed, keeping his head low. "Bestfriends don't miss their bestfriends shows."
Oh, so we’re doing this now.
Last thing he needed after this whole show fiasco was dragging away an emotional unstable Peter. So, he had to play his cards nicely and leave his usual snarky remarks that could potentially set of Peter at the door. He needs to get Peter back at his mansion ASAP.
“I'm sorry." Harry really wasn't, but, whatever to be said to get his ass to follow him. "Maybe you can show me when we head back to my place, okay?" He hauled Peter's arm over his back and they headed outside, Peter lazily walking underneath him. They were only about 5 minutes away from the mansion anyways.
Peter was getting wayyy to heavy to carry. As strong as Harry was, Harry was tired honestly. After the whole black goo, sandman fiasco, he was really trying to admend everything with the Osborn company. He has made progress so far, even managed to take a few vacation trips! But he was still tired regardless. Tonight he extremely felt it.
They finally made it back to the mansion, the elevator carrying the duo as they plopped onto Harry's floor, Harry practically dragging Pete to the couch. Peter flopped on the couch pathetically, the impact making him giggle as his head started to spin.
"Stars are pretty tonight. Pew Pew. Pew Pew Pew!!" He giggled as he started to examine his hands, shooting webs onto Harry's ceiling. "Harryyyy, I'm gonna- gonna make stars on your ceiling, okayyyyy?" He slurred, the webs tiredly shooting out.
Harry rolled his eyes playfully. Even when drunk, he was happy Peter was a happy drunk. His innocence hasn't entirely been flown away with everything he's been through. "Alright, whatever you wanna do. Just stay right here, okay? I don't need you getting sick all over the floor."
He received a hiccup in response and quickly went to the kitchen, digging out medicine, ginger ale and everything else he usually used after a hangover. He's usually never needed this stuff anymore since he's gotten used to the hangovers. Knowing Pete though, this was his first time getting wasted- well, to Harry's extent, Peter will burn through the alcohol pretty quick. He wasn’t surprised if Peter started feeling the hangover in the next couple of hours.
He saved all that stuff for later and brought back a glass of water for Peter. He was gonna make sure Peter wasn't gonna think about MJ for a while. "Hey buddy, drink some water, okay? Im gonna go grab some DVDS from my room and we can have a movie night.” He said softly.
Peter's glassy eyes blinked at Harry innocently and a little drowsy smile played at his lips. Harry didn’t want to admit it but this was the definition of adorable.
Of course he wouldn’t let Peter know because Peter would try to kick his ass.
Id like to see him try though…
Harry chuckled at the thought of Peter trying to fight him just because of his opinion of Peter being definition of a puppy.
Harry ran to his room and selected a bunch of DVDS from his room, he also went to grab some blankets, pillows and some extra clothes for Peter that he may want to sleep in. He was hoping by then Peter would still be capable enough to dress himself cause frankly, tonight was more than losing enough Parker dignity.
It wasn't until he dumped all the stuff by the couch he noticed Peter standing in the corner of the living room, his head bowed down and his shoulders moving up and down softly. He went closer and noticed Peter was crying.
Harry was instantly alarmed. "Pal? What's wrong? You didn't hurt yourself again did you?" He held onto the crying younger man’s shoulders. Last time he saw Peter cry this much was when Harry almost died on that building- it's been 1 year since that's happened.
"Petey, look at me." I haven’t called him Petey since middle school.
His heart broke when Peter's head shot up, his red bloodshot glossy eyes ; lips were pressed firmly together to hold himself from making any more noise.
"I- i spilled my water." Before any confused comments were made, to Harry's horror Peter started to sob, clinging onto him like it was his life support. “I- I didn't mean- to spill it, I'm im sorry." He wailed into Harry's t-shirt.
What the fu-
"Hey hey! It's just water Pete, I'm not mad." He rubbed Peter's back gently, trying to hide the confusion of why Peter would be crying about spilled water out of all things he would be upset about. He looked back to where Peter was sitting and saw a spilled glass of water on the carpet.
At least it was just water. Harry made a mental note to clean that up later, right now figuring out what’s the best way to calm Peter down.
He continued to rub his back. Man. He was not the best at comforting. Maybe if he had to act nice, but he actually wanted to make his bestfriend feel better. “Pete. It’s just water. It’s okay.”
“Please stop crying?” Harry asked hopefully.
This resulted in Peter crying harder.
“Okay! Okay! Uh- I’ll grab you a water bottle this time, okay? No harm no foul, pal!" He smiled, trying to hide his worry. He felt a nod on his shirt. Peter slowly let go of Harry on his own and sat on the carpeted floor with the grace of a drunk toddler. Peter hiccuped a bit and harshly continued to wipe his tears away.
Harry was very worried now. It only took such a minor occurrence that led Peter to breakdown. Either that alcohol is reacting badly to his spider enhanced body or Peter needs help.
Most likely, second option Osborn. You know Peter, the man who does not like to share his feelings in fear of burdening someone with his problems.
Harry sighed pushing that out of the way for now, grabbing a water bottle and handing it to Peter. Peter looked at him with such an innocent childlike glint of hope. Like Harry just handed him a bottle that solved all his problems.
Harry ignored the stinging sensation in his eyes as he gathered all the fallen blankets and pillows. He made a mini nest where Peter was now calmly drinking his water. By the time the nest was about done, Peter looked a little more happier.
For a moment, Harry forgot that the sad lug on the carpet was spiderman.
Sometimes, he forgot Pete in general was the man in a suit who frequently risks his life to save others.
But who saves him?
He gave Peter a handbook of DVDS to choose from while Harry went and made some snacks for them.
Out of all the movies he could have picked, for some reason Peter chose Finding Nemo. Huh. Well, Harry wasn't sure why he has it. He knew MJ loved animated films as much as the- well, let's just say he kept them because he started exploring different genre of films because his father wasn't there to haunt him with generalizations or expectations. He could make his own rules.
Peter moved to sit on the pillows, Harry laughing as Peter messily took his shoes off, having trouble with his jacket.
"Note to self; not letting you drink so much in one night." He said as he helped tug off the jacket off of Peter, Peter slumping back onto the pillows. "Do you want any clean clothes Pete?"
Peter shook his head and Harry nodded in understanding. Everything was according to plan. Peter was half asleep already, propped up onto a pillow, blankets and a few buckets of popcorn were on the side. Peter's medicine and ginger ale nearby and Henry was as cozy as he can be. This should help Peter forget his troubles.
***
It wasn't until the DVD player started rejecting the disc that problems started flowing abound in the middle of the movie.
"Why won' it play?" Peter asked worriedly, a little more awake than he was supposed to be. Well, there goes a calm Peter.
“Ya know, I probably need to buy a new DVD player. Stupid cheap knockoffs." He laughed, cleaning the back of the disc before trying to insert it again, it started dejecting the disc and the big (UNREADABLE DISC) text was on screen. Harry checked the disc and realized it was filled with lots of sticky fingerprints, it wouldn't come off.
"Hey, sorry Pete. This ones a bust. What's another movie you want to watch?"
"W-what?"
"We can't watch this one dude, the disc is broken. I have must have scratched it, I'm sorry. What's another one you had in mind?"
Peter looked hesitant which prompted Harry to hand him the disc himself and as soon as Peter laid eyes on it, he started to tense. “G’nna fix it." He muttered, moving tiredly to the disc player. He cleaned, blew on it, everything. He frustratedly put it back inside the disc only for it to spit it out again.
"I wanted to watch this movie."
"It's just a movie, Peter. I’ll buy another one and we can watch it later.”
"I break everything I touch." Peter sniffed, Harry mentally cursing himself for letting Peter examine the disc. Sticky fingers do come with a cost.
“Pete, you didn’t mean-“
“I ruin everything.” The small voice muttered, Peter curling into himself.
This wasn’t about this disc anymore.
Harry sighed tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Peter, what’s going on with you? What’s wrong?”
Yeah Osborn, what a smart question. Ask your broken hearted drunk bestfriend who has the trauma of a soldier what’s wrong.
But…what exactly was wrong?
"I ruin everything I touch." He repeated.
"Pete, that's not true-“ His breath hitched when Peter scooted back to him, delicately touching Harry’s side of his scarred face.
"Pete. Stop. ” That wasn't you , Harry wanted to say.
“ I mess up people lives wherever I go.” He let out a small whimper as he rocked himself slowly in order to calm himself down.
Harry sighed, he wiped the oncoming tears he felt on his own face. He grabbed the disc from the DVD player again, patiently cleaned it for a while and plopped it back into the DVD player. Even with the scratches and fingerprints embedded onto the disc, it was readable again.
“We make mistakes. That’s just a part of growing up.” Harry gently gripped on Peter’s shoulders. “Sometimes, the actual test is whether we learn from it or not, pal.” Peter’s head slowly peaked out of his knees, a few tears dripping onto his pants.
“You just…have to be patient. Without that, it’s going to make learning from your mistakes twice as hard.” Harry gently grabbed Peter and hoisted him back to the pillows.
“Believe me, Pete. Even with power, you’re still human. Don’t let that make you think that you’re suppose’ to be perfect. We just make as many mistakes as the next fella.”
Peter looked at with him wide eyes, like he didn’t expect Harry to actually give him heartfelt advice. With understanding eyes and a small nod, Peter scooted closer to Harry and placed his head onto his shoulder. He let out a small sigh of relief from the comfort that felt better than a single pillow.
“Tired?” Harry asked as he found his hand rubbing up and down Peter’s arm in a comforting gesture.
“M’ sleepy.”
"Then go to sleep, you're gonna feel like shit tomorrow, I can tell ya that."
Peter mumbled something along the lines of already feeling like shit, which prompted Harry to belt out an unexpected laugh.
Man, hearing Peter swear was just wrong. Peter was wasted as hell. He gets a free pass today. "Figured. Go to sleep, punk."
“Stay?” Peter asked hopefully, almost like a child would to their parent or older sibling if they had a nightmare, someone they could trust.
"Not going anywhere, Pete." Harry reassured him, patting his bestfriends head repeatedly, mentally cheering seeing Peter's eyes closing.
“Luh you Harry. G’night.”
Harry couldn’t fight the grin off his face. “Cant wait to deal with your hungover ass tomorrow.” He joked with no venom. “I’ll call Jameson for a sick day, okay? One day won’t kill you. You need to rest, Parker.”
Peter mumbled something along the lines of “okay mom or yeah yeah pal.” until they collectively turned into little snores. Harry continued to pat Peter’s head until he was sure that’s his brother not by blood was full on asleep.
So yeah, was Henry prepared to deal with a hangovered Spiderman? Who most likely will fight to get out of bed to go save the city over and over again, who would put their health last in face of saving others?
No, Harry wasn’t prepared in the slightest.
But to take care of a hangovered Peter Parker? The same guy he’s been friends with for years, a determined optimistic little fellow with dreams and ambitions to make this world a better place? The one who’s hopelessly in love with Mary Jane and fret how to fix their relationship? Questioning himself whether on how well he’s placed in other people’s lives?
Yeah. Yeah, he can handle that. Even if he can’t somehow-
Anything for Peter.