Chapter Text
Peter Parker and Harley Keener liked their life. It took them a long time to get to where they were. A lot of hard conversations, a lot of confusion and many misunderstandings. But at some point something just clicked. Something magical happened. They weren’t perfect by any means. But it was their perfect relationship. It wasn’t for anyone but them.
It started when they were 22. Stupid and horny enough to try anything…
—-----------------------------------------------
Harley heard him before he could see him. The heavy click of the deadbolt locking their door. The sound of Peter kicking off his shoes. The muffled footsteps growing louder and louder before a slow squeak of the door to their home office cracking open.
Harley spins around to see Peter sticking his head into the doorway, silently asking to be let in.
Harley smiles, waving his hand over.
“You can come in Peter, I’m not in a meeting."
Peter lets out a breath and b-lines to Harley’s desk; plopping down in his partner’s lap.
“Hi.”
“Hi, baby. How was work?”
Peter groans and shrinks lower into Harley’s body. His back pressed firmly into Harley’s strong chest.
“So fucking boring. I somehow ended up doing Tony’s paperwork for him. I’m a chemical engineer, you know? Have a degree and everything. You’d never fucking know it with the shit he has me doing.”
Harley frowns at this.
“Do you want me to talk to him?”
“No, that’s the last thing I want. I’m not trying to guilt him into taking me seriously. I just want him to want to actually work with me.”
“Are you sure? ‘Cause I can go down there tomorrow.”
“It’s fine, Love. I just want to relax. Thank you though.” Pete smiles up at the man.
“Alright well I have one more email to write. But if you wait a second, I can make you a tea. Would that help?
“Oh my god. Yes. Please. That sounds so nice.”
“Okay go be good for me and wait on the couch. I’ll be there in a sec.” Harley wraps a callused hand around the crook of Peter's neck, and gently pushes forward, encouraging Peter to stand up.
And that's all it took.
Just like that, a craving Peter forgot he had, resurfaces in his gut.
It was something he’d thought about a lot over the past few weeks. Something Michelle had confided in him about after a particularly good night with Jess.
Peter has yet to get up. But he does twist a bit to look up at Harley. Trying to gauge the reaction to a question he hasn't asked yet.
“I don’t want to be nervous, but I’m nervous.” Peter bites his lip.
Harley’s brows knit together, as he bites his tongue. Waiting for Pete to elaborate.
When he doesn’t say more, Harley frowns a little deeper.
“I’m sorry. But what? I feel like I’ve missed something.”
“I’m just feeling a little shy.” Peter tries.
“A little shy..?”
“Yeah.”
“Care to tell me why you’re feeling shy, baby?” Harley reaches up and combs his fingers through the brunette’s hair.
Peter squirms a bit but ultimately finds his voice.
“Ok. So like, I was talking with MJ, and she kinda got this idea in my head.”
“Hmm, never a good sign.” Harley teases.
Peter lets out a small laugh but carries on.
“And I guess. Well…I think I want you to tie me up.
This causes Harley to freeze. He needed more information. Like way more information.
“Elaberate. Please…” Harley drops his hand only to rest it on Peter’s waist. Gently stroking beneath his dress shirt.
Peter looked nervous. Hell, he was nervous. But he was never going to get what he wanted if he didn’t ask for it…
Peter stares up at Harley’s blue eyes. Looks up at the freckles right below his eyes. Looks at the faint lines of crows feet he was starting to develop.
“Baby…?”
“Hi. Sorry.”
“Hi, my love. You want me to tie you up…?”
Yeah, like in bed? Next time we fuck I thought it might be cool if you like…tied my hands behind my back or something.”
“Cool if I…”
Harley didn’t know what to think. Like obviously he would try it. He would try anything for Peter. But it was so out of left field for them.
Well, maybe not.
Harley thinks about Peter’s face when he holds his waist down to stop him from bucking up. Or when he holds his hands away from his face so he can look at his baby’s face scrunch up so good.
Okay. So they were into restraints. He can see that now.
“Or not. We don’t have to. I just thought that it could maybe be fun. But I–”
“No, No, Peter. Let’s do it.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Like maybe not right away. Um, I've never done it before, and I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won't hurt me, Harley.”
“No I won't. Which is why I need to practice.” Harley smiles, “Give me some time. I’ll figure something out, okay?
“Okay.”
“Okay, now go sit on the couch so I can actually write this damn email.”
“What, am I distracting you?” Peter smirked.
“Always.” Harley kisses the top of his head.
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From that point on their bed time play time got a little more intense, every session.
They began introducing toys into their play; fantasies. They began falling into rolls. A deep wave of belonging and purpose now securely attached to their night time desires. It was unlike anything either of them have ever done.
It was vulnerable, and scary, but also extremely rewarding. And god did it feel so, so, good.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“So.”
Peter was jabbing his fork into the cardboard bowl sitting in his lap. Stabbing the cherry tomatoes with more force than necessary before deploying them into Harley’s mouth.
“So.” Harley looks up at the man beside him.
The brown haired ball of energy was cross legged on top of his workbench. Lab coat sprawled out next to him, covered in some kind of orange stain.
“I had a thought.”
“I like those.” Harley smiles, leaned up against the workbench. Peter rolls his eyes and shoves another tomato in the blond’s face.
“So like, I was thinking about how I was telling you how all the submissive stuff has been helping me to, like, regulate my stress and whatever. And like, how it helps me turn my brain off for a bit. And just feel kinda taken care of. And how you were telling me that it was helping you, too.”
And yeah. Doming had been helping Harley. For the first time in his life it felt like his urges to take control were actually benefiting someone. His need to come up with a plan and execute it had found an outlet. And it was refreshing. He liked making Peter feel good. And he liked knowing that he knew his partner inside and out. Knew how to make him reel. Knew what would set him off. The power was all encompassing. The responsibility was something tangible. He didn’t know he needed this until it was gifted to him, but there was no going back now.
The two had talked about it, about a week ago. Peter had been asking if he minded that he never wanted to take control. If it was okay that he was being a little selfish and asking for direction all the time.
Harley had laughed at him (which did not bode well) and told him that he was the one being selfish, always trying to get Peter the way he wanted him.
That then led to a very long conversation about desire, and what the other needed to feel taken care of when playing around.
Which had led to another very long conversation about what consent meant to the both of them. And how their quickly evolving dom/sub relationship was changing those definitions.
“Yeah it’s pretty great.” Harley smiles.
“Yeah! So anyway, I was doing some research.”
“As you do.”
“As I do. And I came across something that I think might be interesting.”
“Alright. Lay it on me. What are you going to have me do to you?”
“Well it’s not really like that…”
“No?”
“More PG13.”
“You’ve done it Love, you’ve successfully lost me. What exactly are we talking about?”
Peter smiles and puts the salad down. Shifting a bit to face his boyfriend a little better.
“We’re already kinda doing it.”
“Okay…”
“I just want to be more intentional about it.”
“Peter, you have three seconds before I lose my shit. Please, just tell me.”
And instead of saying anything, Peter smiles. Like he’s won something.
And Harley rolls his eyes, before spinning around to completely face the work bench.
The blond reaches for Peter’s thighs and drags him forward.
Peter sticks his tongue out at the other man.
Harley unapologetically retaliates in the form of tickling.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO.”
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“STOP PLEASE, HARLEY. STOPP.”
“Tell me.”
“OKAY OKAY OKAY OKAY.”
Harley stops but keeps a tight grip on the man's waist. Ready to start again if he doesn’t get his way.
“I want to try power exchange.”
Harley purses his lips. Racking his brain, trying to remember if he knows what the hell Peter was talking about.
“More information, please.”
“I want to give you more power in our relationship. I want you to make decisions for me. I want you to control some aspects of my life.”
“I don’t know Peter…”
“Just hear me out.”
“Always.” Harley smiles and circles his thumbs over his clothes.
“So like. Take today for example.”
“Mhmm.”
“You came in here. Demanded I take a break, and handed me a salad.”
“Yeah, because it’s like 4pm and you haven’t eaten anything.” Harley steps back and crosses his arms. Becoming a bit defensive.
“I’m not criticizing, babe. I liked it. I like when you tell me what to do.”
“Oh. Alright..”
“Last night, when you asked me to wash the bedding.”
“And you pretended like you couldn’t hear me like a jackass…I remember.”
“Yeah, and you got stern and made me do it…”
“I remember, Pete.”
“I really liked that.”
“Did you now?”
“I did. And like, I want you to force me to do things that you know are good for me. More. I guess.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
Harley chuckles at the disbelief radiating off of his partner.
“Okay. Listen, we’re going to have to talk about it more. Like there’s got to be things that are off limits. I don’t want to take away your autonomy. But…I like it too. I like taking care of you. It feels kinda good knowing I can help make your day go smoother, even just by making a few decisions.”
“You are literally. The. Best.” Peter peppers Harley’s cheek in kisses.
“I just want you to be happy.”
“I love you so much.”
“I love you too.
“When do you have to go back to work?”
“Pep has me in a meeting at 4:45.” Harley looks down at his watch, “So you’ve got me for another 12 minutes before I’m Audi 5000.”
“You are such a dork.”
“And you’re a dork fucker, so arguably that’s much worse.” Harley grins.
Peter flings a tomato towards him.
—-----------------------------------------------------------
And so…The boys did talk. And they tried some stuff, and they workshopped this new aspect of their relationship to a point where they could both feel confident that the other would tell them if something was wrong. It was working, and it felt good. It felt real. Surely nothing could go wrong.
_____________________________________
Harley could tell Peter was getting ansty.
From the way he was playing with Harley’s cufflink, and slowly shutting himself out of the conversation. It was time to go home.
Tony was about to get into another story about his sorry life pre-attack on New York. But Harley cuts him off.
“Hey Peter. Go and grab out coats please. Oh and bring this with you.” Harley hands over his mostly full whisky glass.
Peter shakes his head, but takes the glass, anyway. Shifting over to be impossibly closer to his boyfriend.
“Go, my love.”
“No, no…Let’s stay. You’ll like this one.” Peter says, referring to the story he knows he’s heard a million times before.
“Now. Peter.”
Peter silently unglues himself from Harley, and walks towards the kitchen. Presumably to put the glass in the sink.
“Jesus Christ, Kid. What the fuck was that?” Tony frowns at the younger man.
“Huh?”
“Since when do you speak to anyone like that? Let alone Peter.”
“Oh. Uhh.”
Harley knew this was going to happen eventually. Someone was going to say something about the shift in his and Pete’s relationship.
Despite knowing it was coming, he was nowhere near prepared on knowing how to handle the situation.
How do you tell your mentor that you are dominating his pseudo son inside and out of the bedroom?
It was bound to get a little weird, right?
“Listen Tony. He wants to go home. I’m giving him an out.”
“And how the fuck do you know he wants to leave? Can you read minds now?” Tony seemed pissed. And Harley couldn’t really blame him. It sure as hell looked a lot like disrespect from an outside perspective.
“No Tony. I can’t read minds.”
“So stop acting like it. God, when did you become a fucking prick.”
“Hold on, hold on. I know that man inside and out. It’s time to go home.”
“He can speak for himself, Harley.”
“Maybe, but he’s been telling me for the last 10 minutes that he’s done.”
“And how the fuck is that.”
It’s then that Peter returns wearing his fall jacket and handing Harley his.
“Hey, what’s happening? What’s wrong?” Peter's head swivels between the two men.
“Nothing baby. Let’s go home.” Harley grabs his hand, ready to head out.
“Now hold on a second, there.” Tony raises his palm stopping anyone from moving. “Peter. You can’t let people talk to you like that.”
“Excuse me?” Peter was usually really good at keeping up with Tony. But Peter had absolutely no clue what the man was on about.
“Harley. The way he was just talking to you. Super not okay, kid.”
“What?” Peter looks up at Harley. Looking for any clarity his lover could offer.
Harley just shook his head, frowning. Giving one solid squeeze to the other’s hand.
“Come on kid. You don’t have to play coy. I got your back. I always will.”
“Thank you Tony. But I actually do not have any idea on what you’re talking about.”
“The way Harley made you leave the conversation. The way he forced you out.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah. Frankly it was pretty fucking gross to watch.”
Harley opened his mouth to defend but Peter beat him to it.
“Hold on Tony. Harley was actually being really considerate.”
“Pete…I’m worried.”
“No, just listen for a sec.”
Tony stayed silent. An offer for Peter to continue. He was listening.
“I’m exhausted. I’m overwhelmed. And I really want to be alone right now, in the comfort of my own apartment. And I think Harley could sense that. That's why he told me to go get ready to head out. Give me a chance to calm down a bit on my own before having to get on the subway.”
“Then why the hell did you say you wanted to hear the rest of the story. You could have just told me you wanted to leave. I wouldn’t have minded Peter.”
“Because I wasn’t sure if Harley really wanted to stay. I was trying to tell him that I would be okay. We could do one more story.”
Harley squeezes his hand at that. ‘I’ll never want to stay if you don’t Peter.’ Harley whispers to the man beside him.
Peter smiles and leans in a little closer.
“Listen man. I love Peter with my entire being. I wouldn’t ever do something disrespectful to him. He means the world to me Tony, but frankly, I don’t want to be spending the rest of my evening explaining our relationship to you. When I could be at home, cuddled under a blanket watching Love Island.
Tony pursed his lips. Keeping whatever he wanted to say inside his throat.
Harley was sure they would be forced to revisit this conversation eventually. He would save that joy for future Harley.
Instead he leads his love out the front door and towards the station.
“He’s not entitled to our personal lives Harley.”
“No but we’re kinda making it everyone's problems by making it so public.”
“Please don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth Pete. You know I love every part of our relationship. I wouldn’t change it for the world. But maybe there should be some more restrictions.”
Peter frowns at that but carries on.
“If that’s really what you want, we can negotiate in the morning. But know that I don’t like the idea that you want to change because of someone who is not a part of our dynamic.”
“We’ll talk more in the morning.”
“Okay…”
And the two make it back home. Hand in hand.
—-----------------------------------------------
And so they do talk about it. Like they’ve done from the very beginning. Harley expresses his fears, and Peter holds them close. They think up scenarios and try to find solutions to what they can.
Sooner or later something else will come up and they’ll have to figure that out too. But if one thing was for certain it was that they were capable of anything.
For they loved each other unconditionally and they would hear the other out for eternity. Because that’s what you do for your other half. You listen and you receive only to hope the other will be there to do the same when the time comes.
Because to love is to hold space.
To love is to listen.