Work Text:
Peter waltzed into Harry’s office for the fourth time this week only to find Harry hunched over his computer next to a large stack of documents with pages so askew it was a miracle it hadn’t toppled over yet. He had thought it was supposed to be Harry’s lunch break. Oh well, he thought. I hope he can still find the time for me.
Harry seemed not to notice Peter, either that or he chose to pay him no mind. He couldn’t quite tell. Harry already seemed ticked off about the amount of work he had let accumulate, twiddling a pen anxiously between his fingers. Peter glanced down at his dirty shoes, noticing the contrast between them and the pristine floors of Oscorp. He looked back up, catching Felicia’s eye from beyond the tablet she held. She stared at Peter for a moment, shifted her glare to Harry, and cleared her throat to get his attention. Harry looked up at her, seeming annoyed, until she motioned her head toward Peter, who was still lurking in the doorway. Harry finally looked up and acknowledged Peter with a long sigh. He shoved the stack of documents out from in front of him to allow a clear line of sight towards his friend, sending a few sheets fluttering to the floor with Felicia silently chasing after them.
“Pete.” Harry said, rolling his eyes and giving a slight grin. “What a surprise. To what do I owe this pleasure today?”
Peter made his way over to Harry’s desk and placed a crumpled brown paper bag in between them. The smell of fresh bread, meat, and cheese wafted from inside. “I thought you might appreciate some lunch. And well, some company. For lunch. Company and lunch.” He shrugged his backpack off and placed it onto the floor, showing that he was indeed planning on staying.
“Parker, I swear you have my schedule memorized better than I do.” Harry, seemingly exasperated, stood up, grabbed the paper bag, and led Peter across the room to a white modern-style couch and coffee table facing a large expanse of windows. He set the bag on the table and gestured for Peter to take a seat.
The two boys lounged on the couch and ate the sandwiches Peter had picked up, chatting about nothing in particular. How was class? Fine. How has work been? Busy. Peter had kicked his dirty half-tied shoes up onto the couch at this point. How’s May holding up? She’s alright. The sound of crinkling paper and Peter’s chewing filled Harry’s head through every pause and every silence. Until he decided to end the small talk and get to the point that had been bugging him for quite a while now.
“Why is it that you come here every day? You know how little time I have to myself anymore.”
“I…don’t know?” Peter started. “Something to do.” He looked away and fiddled with the cuff of his jacket. He did his best to look casual and nonchalant while trying to hide the flush of embarrassment that had begun to spread across his face.
“I’m sure there’s loads of things to do around the city. Why don’t you try some of them,” Harry snarked back. “You’re always following me around like some kind of lap dog.”
Peter was shocked by Harry’s sudden change of feelings. He hadn’t noticed Harry growing upset with his visits prior to this day. But then again, Peter knew how good Harry could be at hiding what was upsetting him, especially when he wanted something from someone. Harry was difficult to manage even at his best, so spotting him at his worst was an acquired skill that Peter had managed to lose in their eight years apart. “I just thought,” Peter replied, “that maybe you’d like to see me. That’s all.”
“That’s all?” Harry gripped the edge of the couch. “I have a multi-billion dollar company to run and you barge in here every single day to interrupt me and…and that’s all?” He stood up paced to the other side of the couch and leaned against it, his back to Peter.
“It’s supposed to be your break! I didn’t think I was interrupting anything!” Peter got up and followed Harry. “Maybe I thought you just needed someone to check in on you. After everything you’ve been through” He hoped his excuses would get through to him and provide him an exit until Harry calmed down.
“What is it, Spider-Man? You afraid I’m gonna go dark side and start tearing apart your life again? I don’t need a lap dog, and I sure as hell don’t need a babysitter.”
“No, Har. I didn’t mean–”
“I think you’ve said what you meant. There’s no other reason you would keep coming here and refuse to leave me al–”
Peter panicked and decided to try what he had been waiting for through all of these weeks of visits; he leaned in quickly and started to kiss Harry, momentarily silencing his rageful remarks. When Peter pulled away, Harry was left stunned. His mouth hung open and he was staring blankly ahead. He took a few moments to snap back into reality, then responded with a sharp shove to Peter’s shoulders.
“What the hell was that, Parker?” His dry anger had turned to something else, perhaps hurt? Peter again wasn’t sure. Peter backed up a few steps and stared at Harry, mortified at what he had just done.
“I…I…uh–”
“Get the fuck out.”
“What?”
“Get. The fuck. Out. You don’t get to mock me like that. It’s just some fucking game to you.”
Peter backed up again, reaching Harry’s desk. He bent down to grab his backpack all without breaking eye contact with Harry. “I’m sorry. I had just hoped…nevermind.” Peter turned away and walked hastily out of the office, toward the elevator.
Harry looked down and went to wipe his eyes, but found himself staring across the room at Felicia, who had been an unfortunate witness to the whole outburst. She seemed more sad than upset. As she and Harry looked at each other, she wordlessly fiddled with the case on her tablet. She glanced slowly over to the doorway, then back at Harry, tilting her head. “What?” Harry spat. Felicia didn’t respond, simply looking away from Harry and toward her tablet. She sighed heavily and continued her work, attempting to look visibly frustrated. “What?” Harry repeated, more urgently.
“Harry,” Felicia answered, “I know it’s not my place but…” she trailed off for a second, pondering if it may be best to keep her observations to herself, but eventually deciding against it. “Don’t you think he might have been flirting with you?”
“Flirting. With me?” Harry laughed sarcastically. He held his disingenuous grin for a few seconds as Felicia continued to glare at him.
“With all due respect, take a hint, Mr. Osborn.”
His smirk slowly began to fade as the realization sank in. Peter has been visiting me every day for weeks because he was flirting. Bringing me lunch because he was flirting. He wanted to see me because he was flirting. Because he likes me? No. That can’t be right. But what if…
Harry couldn’t bear the uncertainty anymore and darted after Peter, hoping to catch him before the elevator did. Felicia remained in the office, rolling her eyes and letting out a relieved sigh as she trotted back to her desk.
He saw the panel for the elevator ticking upwards - 45…46..47 - hurrying to find Peter. As he rounded the corner, he felt a wave of relief to see Peter standing there, phone in his hand as he tried to distract himself from his mistake. He was so absorbed in his own thoughts that he didn’t notice Harry had approached until he had laid his hands on his shoulders and forced him around to look at him.
“Pete,” Harry exhaled. “Were…were you serious?”
Peter looked almost as if he could cry, not knowing what to make of the situation. He took a deep breath in to steady himself, but could barely think to respond over the roar of his heartbeat in his ears.
“Pete. Please.”
Peter steadied himself and swallowed the lump in his throat. “Yes. I was. I thought maybe you felt… I shouldn’t have assumed, I’m sorry.”
“I do. I have. Ever since we were kids.”
The two stared at each other for a moment, Peter’s deep brown eyes sinking into Harry’s ocean blue ones. Peter once again tried to respond and found himself unable.
“I never thought that you could truly like me. Especially after everything I did.” Harry looked down to Peter’s hands, imagining how they would feel within his own.
“That wasn’t your fault,” Peter said, finally regaining a bit of confidence in his words. “I should have helped you when you asked. But that’s not the point. What matters is here and now, Har. All you have to do is say yes.”
Harry nervously tucked his hands in his pockets, experiencing a sensation of vulnerability that he had not felt in a long while. He pondered the offer for a moment. Could he really let himself fall for Peter? He had spent so many years repressing his feelings and covering his loneliness with drugs and supermodels and name brand fashion. Could he really allow himself into a relationship? A date?
“Okay,” Harry sighed, a small smile appearing on his face, this time genuine. “I want to try.”