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With every nasty word Flash had ever said, at least he was a decent enough person to avoid the touchier subjects, like dead family members for example.
But this new kid was definitely not afraid to cross that line.
He had been at Midtown only two weeks, had bragged about his father’s cushy job at Stark Industries since he got there, and before long had the popular crowd wrapped around his finger. Peter never even said two words to the guy, but one look that the guy took the wrong way, and the vigilante was in the bully’s crosshairs.
It was like the universe was just adding insult to injury by having his bully be his Uncle’s namesake.
And as soon as Ben found that out, he had a field day with it, holding that over Peter’s head every chance he could.
“Hey, Parker, doesn’t it suck when you hear the teachers call my name?”
Right now was one of those chances.
Ben seemed to know the perfect moments to strike. Ned and MJ weren’t around, neither were any teachers. The only others around were some of Ben’s friends, who were content to just watch and laugh along.
Peter clenched his jaw, trying to act like they weren’t there as he switched books at his locker.
“What do you even do when its Parents’ Night? Do you have an excuse note from the mortician?”
Shutting his locker, Peter couldn’t help but inwardly scoff at how lame his taunts sounded.
And he also couldn’t help but scold himself for even letting said taunts hurt him.
“Ya know, if I did your Aunt, she would have plenty of practice calling out my name!”
Peter, as usual, said nothing, just grabbed his bag at his feet, turned and walked down the hallway, leaving Ben and his friends to laugh.
“Aww, leaving so soon? What’s wrong, Little Orphan Annie?”
His voice echoed off the hallway walls, following the teen as he sped-walked around the corner, only stopping to wipe away forming tears once he was surely out of their line of sight.
“Oh, hey, Parker.” Greeted a different voice.
Peter looked up to see Harley Keener strolling in his direction, his heart dropping. He had never had any objection to Harley enrolling in the same high school once he came to finish high school in New York and then begin working for Tony, he never even objected to the comments Tony would make about them being his "kids" and this making them "brothers." But "family" or not, Peter really didn’t need anyone to see him crying over something as ridiculous as a bully’s pathetic insults. If anything, he thought it'd make the older teen laugh at him.
Acting quickly, Peter dashed down the hall past the confused older boy, and rushed into a janitor’s closet, where he sunk to the floor, wrapping his arms around his knees.
The door opened moments later. Peter looked up startled, at Harley standing over him, not really having expected him to follow.
The older teen observed him for a moment, and then let out a huff.
“Make room.” He shoved Peter to the side of the already-cramped closet and sat down beside him, pulling him close to allow the younger to lean on him.
At this, Peter couldn’t help but grin. Harley was certainly far from the most touchy-feely person; he frequently ducked away from Tony trying to ruffle his hair, or from Pepper trying to kiss his cheek. Really the only one he ever allowed physical contact with without hesitation was Morgan, who loved to come running at him, jump onto him, and cling like a koala as he went about his day (but if anyone brought that up, he’d outright deny that he allows that.)
“Okay.” Harley finally spoke up after a minute, breaking Peter out of his thoughts. “Who did this to you?”
Peter sat up. “What?”
“You heard me, Parker. Who hurt you?”
The younger pushed himself up to his feet, his words coming a mile a minute. “It was no one! I mean, no hurt me really, it’s just, I dunno, I’ve had a lot of stuff going on, and-“
“Webs, shut up.” Peter stopped talking. Harley carefully stood and placed both hands on the younger’s shoulders. “I want to know who’s been being a dick to you, okay? Why else would you be sitting on this gross floor?”
“How do you even know it’s someone who’s bothering me?”
Harley snorted. “Call it a ‘brother’s intuition.’ For the first time in days, Peter laughed. “So, drop the name. Who’s the asshole?”
The smile on his face faded. Peter shifted his weight and looked towards the ground. “Um, Ben Stevenson. He just transferred here a few weeks ago.”
“Oh the one that’s always bragging about his dad working at SI? What’s he been saying to you?”
“It’s nothing, really. Actually, I don’t know why I’m so upset about it. Just that…he keeps making fun of the fact that he and my uncle had the same name, and that I don’t have parents, but-”
“That’s just fucked up!”
“But it’s not like he’s not saying anything that isn’t true. It’s nothing you need to worry about-”
“I know I haven’t been the greatest…um, ‘big brother’, as Tony and Pepper would put it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like seeing some piece of shit putting you down. It doesn’t matter if what he’s saying has any basis in reality, it’s fucked up, and I’m gonna see to it that he stops!”
Peter blinked at him. “You’re not gonna beat him up, are you?”
The older teen shook his head. “Nah! I got a better idea that’ll scare ‘em off!” Before Peter could reply, Harley left the janitor’s closet.
~~~
A few days later, Peter’s teacher got a phone call for him to go down the main office.
When he got there, he saw the door to Principal Morita’s office wide open. In it, standing nearby, he immediately recognized May, Pepper, and a very angry looking Tony. Even with his eyes hidden behind sunglasses as per usual, Peter could see the anger in his face, as if the clenched vibranium fist didn't say enough by itself.
Mr. Morita noticed him and waved him inside. It was only once he stepped into the room that he saw a very regretful looking Ben sitting with his own parents standing behind him, neither of them pleased.
“Hello, Peter, have a seat.” Mr. Morita said, gesturing to the empty chair in front of Peter’s parental figures. Peter looked at the scene once more before doing so, sitting down and immediately having May’s reassuring hand lay on his shoulder. “So, we hear you and Ben have been having some issues?”
Peter glanced over at the other boy who glaring daggers at him now, before looking over at the principal once more. “Um, sort of.”
“’Sort of?’” Tony scoffed. “Kid, I don’t think poking fun at deceased relatives counts as ‘sort of’!” His voice seemed to darken with every word. “Actually, it’s downright disgusting!”
“Mr. Stark, sir, please try to stay calm.” The principal began.
“I’m sorry, could you tell me why I should be calm when this punk has been harassing my personal intern?”
“Tony, calm down.” Pepper hissed.
Tony’s shoulders immediately deflated and he cleared his throat. “Yes. There’s a problem.”
“Why don’t we let Peter tell the story?” May suggested, giving the teen’s shoulder a gentle squeeze.
Peter looked from her, to the principal once again, who gestured for him to speak.
~~~~
When it was all said and done, Ben was receiving a week’s detention, and his father’s job at Stark Industries was threatened if he didn’t see his son shape up. Tony spent the remainder of the meeting quietly seething, wanting nothing more than to fire the dad and wave the repulsor he built into his prosthetic arm in Ben’s face, but with Pepper and May reigning him in, he settled for the outcome.
Ben and his parents left the office first, neither of his parents happy with him. After a few minutes, Peter left the office with the three adults behind him, only to find Harley hanging out in the hallway, leaning casually against the wall.
“Shouldn’t you be in class?” Tony asked, lowering his sunglasses at him.
Harley shrugged. “I got better things to do.”
The inventor sighed. “You kids are gonna make me go grey.”
“I think it’s a little too late to start worrying about that, old man!” He received a gentle cuff on the back of head from Tony in response. “So Stevenson didn’t look too happy when he and folks left. I’m guessing that means it went well?”
Pepper nodded. “Yes. He won’t be bothering anyone if he wants his father to keep his job…and to keep Tony from writing him a letter of un-recommendation for any college he applies to!”
May chuckled before leaning forward and giving Peter a kiss on the cheek. “I suppose we should get going. I’ll see you at home, tonight, okay sweetie?” Peter nodded, and with a kiss from Pepper and a hug from Tony (both of which Harley rolled his eyes at receiving as well, but accepted), the adults turned to leave.
“Get back to class, both of you, or you’re grounded!” Tony called just before reaching the exit.
Once they’d left, Peter looked at the older teen, who was still acting casual. “You told them?”
Harley shrugged. “Hey. I toldja I was just gonna scare that little shit, and what better way than to get dear ol’ ‘dad’ to go after him?”
His smile got bigger. “Thanks for having my back!”
Harley couldn’t help but smile back. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t get all sappy, Parker! The only reason I did it is because no one’s allowed to pick on my ‘kid brother’… except for me!” He grabbed Peter in a headlock and rubbed his fist in his hair roughly, letting go after a few seconds, both of them laughing as they started down the hall.