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The first day of summer vacation had finally arrived, bringing with it the promise of endless sunny days and carefree adventures. Peter and Harry, both fifteen years old, were eager to make the most of their newfound freedom. With the sun high in the sky, they hopped on their bikes and pedaled toward the town, the wind rustling through their hair.
As they reached the town, the scent of summer filled the air. They headed straight for the ice cream parlor, their anticipation building with every pedal stroke. Peter, his eyes glimmering with excitement, chose a scoop of creamy chocolate chip, while Harry, his mouth watering, settled on a generous scoop of indulgent brownie ice cream.
With ice cream in hand, they found a shaded spot under a vibrant parasol. Harry kindly treated Peter to a refreshing Coca-Cola, knowing his friend's love for the fizzy drink. They sat on a nearby bench, their laughter blending with the cheerful chatter of passersby.
The sun's warm rays beckoned them further, and they decided to explore the small forest situated near their school. Their bikes glided along the winding path, surrounded by lush greenery. The sound of birdsong filled the air, creating a symphony of nature's melodies.
After a short ride, they stumbled upon a hidden clearing, bathed in a golden glow as sunlight filtered through the lofty treetops. The soft moss welcomed their weary bodies, inviting them to take a moment and relish in the tranquility of the forest.
They settled down, facing each other, their ice creams glistening with summer delight. Harry, his eyes shining with mischief, turned to Peter and asked, "Hey, wanna try some of mine?"
Peter's eyes widened with curiosity as he nodded eagerly. Carefully, Harry scooped a small portion of his brownie ice cream onto the spoon and extended it toward Peter's mouth. With a tentative smile, Peter opened his lips and savored the rich, chocolatey goodness.
Delighted by Peter's reaction, Harry couldn't resist taking a taste of Peter's chocolate chip ice cream in return. Their laughter intertwined with the rustling leaves as they continued sharing bites. When they finished eating, Peter sank back into the soft moss, gazing up at the beautiful blue sky above.
"Come, Harry, let’s watch the skies together," Peter said, patting the empty space beside him and smiling at Harry.
"Aw, you're funny," Harry grinned and stuck out his tongue before plopping down next to Peter, emitting a surprised sound when he felt how soft the moss actually was. "Woah, it's so soft!" he exclaimed, rolling around like a happy dog. Peter chuckled and shook his head. "You're one of a kind, Harry," he said happily, and Harry's heart swelled with love at Peter's words. He had been in love with Peter for a long time but had never acted on his feelings, afraid of how Peter might react. Now, sitting in the sunlit clearing, he couldn't help but steal glances at Peter's delicate features.
Lost in his thoughts, Harry jerked when he felt Peter's hand on his shoulder. "Hey, Harry? What's wrong?" Peter asked with his soft voice, sending a warm and fuzzy feeling through Harry's body.
"Oh-uhm…" Harry stuttered, his heartbeat quickening in his ears. Peter smiled at him, his endless blue eyes captivating Harry's gaze. "I was just asking what you think that cloud looks like," Peter continued, pointing at a big fluffy cloud in the sky. It appeared to be shaped like a grinning goblin.
"I-I think it looks like one of those goblins from, uh, Lord of the Rings?" he tries, and the moment those words left his mouth, he wants to hit himself in the face for sounding so stupid.
Peter, oblivious as always, raises an eyebrow as he looks at Harry and then to the cloud. "Really? A goblin? Well, I can see it, but I rather think it looks more like a spider!" he grins and looks back at the sky, admiring the clouds and the sun. Harry swallows hard and looks at the same cloud as Peter, but he can't see anything but the goblin.
Peter keeps pointing at other clouds, telling Harry about the different shapes and animals he sees in the fluffy clouds. Harry tries to look at them and see what Peter sees, but he can't concentrate on anything else but the way the crinkles form at the edge of Peter's eyes when he smiles, the way his eyes light up when he sees more than one animal in a cloud, and the way he excitedly speaks about how he and his dad used to paint the clouds they were watching together. Peter's constant talking suddenly grows quiet, and Harry sees him looking away from the sky.
"Hey... Pete? What's up?" Harry asks softly. Peter relaxes his arms and puts them over his chest, holding them together. He turns his head to the side, looking at Harry. His eyes are impossibly bluer than ever, and all Harry wants is to kiss those soft-looking lips and see those ocean-blue eyes light up when their lips meet. "Nothing!" he says and smiles, acting like everything is okay, but Harry knows him too well to know that he's faking. He always does this whenever stuff about his father comes up. Harry just wants Peter to be comfortable sharing his past with him, no matter how dark it is. They've talked a bit about when his father left him and his mother for good, and Harry remembers some of it from when they were little kids, but he'd like to know Peter's version of it and not just what's been told to Peter from his mom's experience.
Peter points at the sky and waves his hand to catch Harry's attention. "Harry! Look at that cloud! It looks just like a star!"
Harry looks up at the sky and sees the giant star-shaped cloud. It's like a huge version of a wishing star but during the daytime. They have to make a wish!
"It's huge! Peter, we have to make a wish!" he breathes excitedly.
"Of course, we are! Just need to get closer!" Peter calls out. Harry looks over to where Peter is, but he isn't there anymore. "Peter? Where did you go?" he calls out, and a grunt of pain makes him turn to the sound. Peter is climbing up a nearby tree, and he has scraped his knee, with some blood showing through the tear in his jeans.
"Crap! Aunt May's gonna be mad!" he sighs exasperatedly but shakes his head and brushes it off. It's just a pair of jeans. He continues climbing upwards smoothly, grabbing branch by branch with ease.
"Pete! I don't think this is a good idea! What if you fall down?" Harry calls out worriedly, putting his palms on the tree bark and trying to figure out how to climb the bark so he can grab the first branch.
Peter just laughs at Harry's worry as he climbs higher and higher, reaching one of the branches on top. "Wow! You can see *everything* from here! Oh, Harry, you've got to see this! The sky goes on forever!" he calls breathlessly, leaning down slightly to see if Harry has started climbing yet. With a loud crack, the branch gives way, and Peter falls helplessly to the ground, landing with a loud grunt of pain on his stomach. His arm breaks, and he feels it go completely numb. He tries to catch his breath, his chest rising and falling quickly as he struggles to get some air into his lungs. "H-Harr…" he croaks, seeing Harry running towards him, falling to his knees in front of him, causing dust to rise around his legs.
"Peter! Are you okay?!" Harry asks, panic evident in his voice. Anxiety tightens in Harry's chest, making it harder for him to breathe. He's close to tears as he tries to help Peter get up from the ground. Peter looks pale, except for the dirt stains on his cheeks and forehead. He hugs his right arm tightly to his chest, with bruises on his chin that are bleeding slightly. Harry quickly looks Peter over but doesn't notice anything odd except for the angle of Peter's arm. It must be broken.
"P-Pete, I think your arm is broken," Harry says hoarsely as he carefully puts his hand on it to check, and Peter winces, not letting Harry touch it.
"Yeah, that confirms it," Harry adds and helps Peter up. "We have to… We have to go to a hospital o-or something." Harry's mind races as he tries to remember the location of the closest hospital.
"N-No. No hospital. Please. Aunt May and Uncle Ben are going to kill me if they find out what I did to break my arm. Please, Harry!" Peter begs his friend. Harry gives him a doubtful look but nods, giving in to Peter's pleading blue eyes.
"Okay. I'll call Bernard, and maybe he can help figure this out," Harry says, taking out his phone. In just 10 minutes, Bernard, the Osborn family's servant, arrives to assist. He carries their bikes to the expensive car and insists on carrying Peter to the car, despite Peter's protests. It's a futile effort, and they all get into the car. Bernard starts driving towards the Osborn manor, and the engine's quietness somehow adds to Harry's nerves. He looks at Peter, who is still clutching his arm protectively to his chest, shielding it from further harm.
"Hey Pete, are you okay?" Harry asks quietly, wanting to hold Peter's hand and brush the dirt off his palm. Peter looks at him and gives him a reassuring smile. "Yeah, I'm okay. My arm hurts though. I should've listened to you," he sighs, curiously observing as Harry reaches out and places his hand on the middle seat. Peter looks down at their hands and then up at Harry's face, noticing a pink tinge on his usually pale cheeks.
"Peter, there's something I'd like to say…" Harry begins, whispering quietly so Bernard can't hear. Not that he would eavesdrop anyway, as he holds great respect for his master and would never do anything to cause harm or shame to him. Harry is aware of this.
Harry looks down at their hands and then at Peter's face, taking in every feature that makes Peter who he is. His heart flutters nervously, and he swallows anxiously.
"What? What do you want to say?" Peter asks, raising his eyebrows, not understanding what Harry is about to say. He starts feeling anxious, wondering if Harry is going to suggest telling Aunt May and Uncle Ben about the accident.
Harry bites his lower lip anxiously, unsure of how to express himself. "I-I... I'm..." He takes a deep breath, attempting to calm his pounding heart. "I'm in love with you, Peter." He almost doesn't look at Peter when he finally says it, afraid to see disgust and hatred on his face. But he should've known Peter isn't anything close to being a hateful person. He feels Peter's hand slowly grabbing his, their joined hands resting on the leather seat. His hand is slightly damp from sweat, but Harry doesn't care. All that matters now is Peter, nothing else.
"I'm in love with you too, Harry. I've been for a long time," he whispers back, and his cheeks turn even redder than Harry's.
Harry breaks into a bright smile, holding Peter's hand tighter, and gently unfastens his seatbelt. Carefully, he lifts their joined hands up so he can sit in the middle seat, closer to Peter. "I've wanted to tell you for years, but I didn't know how. It just, somehow, felt right to do it now a-and..."
Peter hushes him with a gentle kiss on his cheek. "You don't have to explain yourself, Harry. I think we both have known for a long time about our feelings for each other. And I'm glad we finally said it."
Harry beams, not knowing what to say or do, except to take Peter's words in and be mesmerized by his beautiful features, which seem even more beautiful now after their shared confession. "I love you, Peter," Harry murmurs, softly placing his hands on Peter's cheeks as he leans in and presses his lips against Peter's softness. Peter eagerly opens his mouth, inviting Harry to enter, which he does. Their tongues meet, and Harry feels like his insides are made of jelly, his heart pounding loudly in his ears. He wonders if Peter feels the same way as him when suddenly Peter digs his fingers into Harry's curls and pushes his head slightly forward, deepening their kiss.
Harry lets out a deep breath through his nose, feeling like he's getting lost in the taste of Peter, his warmth, his touch. He feels a bit dizzy and so warm, as if his blood is boiling. Peter loosens his grip on Harry's hair, and their kiss is broken. They both breathe heavily as Peter looks at Harry with dilated pupils. He's grinning, his cheeks wearing a red blush. "I love you. I love you with all my heart. I love you, Harry," he breathes, the hold of their hands tightening with every word he utters. Harry shivers all over, feeling his heart pounding wildly when he hears Peter uttering those words he's waited to hear for so long.
Harry embraces him with one of his arms, being careful not to rub or touch his broken arm, and places a kiss on his temple. "I love you, Peter. I've loved you for a long, long time," he whispers passionately, leaning his head on top of Peter's and closing his eyes. Peter leans into Harry's warmth, feeling his familiar scent, and thinks about how he tasted. He thinks about how loved and appreciated their kiss made him feel. For the first time in Peter's life, he feels like he truly belongs somewhere, and that is by Harry's side.
———————
When Peter's arm is casted, and both he and Harry have showered off the dirt from the forest, they find themselves sitting propped together on Harry's giant canopy bed. Peter has seen it before but never slept in it, and never seen it at night. On the top layer of the canopy, closest to the ceiling, there are tiny bioluminescent stars spread all over the fabric, making it look like a sky filled with stars. Peter tries to count each of them, but there are too many, so he gives up and instead snuggles up closer to Harry, who's scrolling on his iPad. He pulls up the silk blanket Harry gave him and feels like a king. He's never slept in such luxury before, and he can't help but wonder if he's going to be met with a breakfast buffet tomorrow morning. Knowing Harry and Bernard, he's pretty sure it will happen. Glancing at Harry's iPad, he sees pictures of cute kittens, and that warms his chest. Harry looking at kittens. How adorable!
"Are you looking for kittens for sale?" Peter asks, leaning his head on Harry's shoulder, watching Harry's delicate fingers tapping on the screen, scrolling through sales ads. Harry turns to Peter with his iconic grin, crinkles forming at the end of his eyes.
"Maybe," he says, pulling Peter closer and draping the blanket over both of them so their bodies touch slightly. He puts the iPad away and lies down on his side facing Peter, resting his head on his hand. "You know, Peter, we never wished to the cloud star. We should do it now, shouldn't we?"
"Oh, that's right! Do you want to start, or should I?" Peter asks, now excited, inching closer to Harry while keeping his cast arm from touching anything that could cause pain. Harry puts his arm around Peter and helps him come even closer, their chests brushing together. Harry kisses his forehead and tucks a lock of hair behind his ear.
"I can start. If I were to wish to the cloud star back then, I would have wished for us to have a moment like this..." Harry says softly, taking Peter's hand in his and kissing each of his fingers. "I'll kiss the other five when your arm has healed, sweetheart," Harry whispers, surprising himself with the term of endearment. It just came out automatically, as if it had always been hiding inside him, ready to be released at the right moment. "But if I were to wish to the cloud star now, I would wish that we would be together forever. Just like we are now in this moment..."
Peter blushes heavily, taken aback by the deep meaning in Harry's words. He didn't quite expect this answer, but it's so much like Harry. It's exactly what Harry would say, and by all means, it's not weird to think that he would wish for love in his life, considering how little he received and still receives from his harsh father, Norman Osborn.
Peter stays quiet for a little while, thinking about what he would wish for. "I would wish to always be kind to the people around me, to lend a helping hand to those who need it, and to be with my loved ones for as long as possible," he says finally, feeling proud of himself. He looks up at Harry, almost feeling a bit afraid of his reaction. What if he upsets him?
Harry's brown eyes meet his gaze, and he can see tears sparkling in those beautiful eyes. "Oh, Peter," he whispers, hugging him tighter than ever before. A sob escapes him, and Peter's stomach churns with anxiety. Did he upset him?
"You're... you're so kind, so caring, so sweet... You're so precious, Pete. You don't even know how much you do and mean to everyone around you," he says, taking a breath. "To me." Harry sniffs in Peter's hair, and Peter shivers from Harry's warmth and embrace, loving every second he spends in his arms.
"I love you, Harry. I love you so much," Peter murmurs after a couple of minutes of quiet, hoping it will calm him down. Harry is still holding him in his embrace, but he slowly releases him and lies down on his back, with Peter's head resting on his collarbone. Tenderly, Harry trails his fingers through Peter's hair.
"Say it again," he asks, his voice warm as Peter looks up at him with a beaming smile.
"I love you, Harry Osborn," he whispers, seeing Harry's bright smile and the crinkles forming at his eyes.
"I love you, Peter Parker," Harry murmurs, leaning down and letting their lips meet again. As their lips meet in a sweet and tender kiss, time seems to stand still for Peter and Harry. The room, adorned with the shimmering stars of the canopy bed, feels like their own little universe and Harry wishes that they could stay like this forever, frozen in this moment.