Chapter Text
Peter’s cheeks are on fire. All the other sounds in the world, the ones that never seem to turn off, are quiet for the first time since the bite. The silence allows Peter to focus on what's important, Harley's perfectly soft lips on Peters. The faint smell of oil and pine from the shampoo Harley uses filling Peters nostrils stealing away his focus. A soft ruffling of the sheets alerts Peter to Harley falling back onto his heels. Staring at Peter while reaching out a hand to ruffle his hazel curls.
“You with me, darlin’?” His voice is soft and low, carrying that unwavering attention and that unrelenting sass, the smirk clearly heard in his words. Taking his hand back, reaching down to take Peters in his. Slowly stroking his thumb over the back of Peter's hand.
“Hm…? U-uh, yeah. Yeah! Of course.” Blinking back into reality, a deeper blush spreads all the way to his ears. Peter can’t help but give a small smile. So lost in the tantalizing smell of Harley, the one that always seems to bring him peace, to notice his loss of focus. Hoping he's not some freak who likes smelling people but just some weird side effect from the spider.
Flipping his hand over in Harleys he gives it a light squeeze, looking up into Harley's eyes.
Harley locks eyes with him, a small smile forming on both their lips. He leans in again, giving a chasing kiss to Peter’s lips. “Sure you are, sweetheart. That’s why you’re giving me that look.”
“Look? What look?” Peter says defensively. “I’m fine. I wasn't looking at anybody in anyway I don’t even know how to look at someone.” His blush deepens and his eyes dart away trying to find something else to focus on. His eyes wander the room, the desk on the far wall littered with bits of tech and homework. And over to the two backpacks laying side by side, his backpack being brand new due to his habit of losing them, whereas Harleys still has an old and well loved one. Harleys a dark navy blue close to the color of Peter’s suit, whereas Peter’s is a bright red, which he may have gotten on purpose. Who’s to know.
Harley raises a brow, noticing the other boy's eyes wandering. Again. “Sure you are sweetheart. That's why you’re lookin’ for a way out of this conversation as we speak. Ain’t it?” His voice lowers, grin transforming into something mischievous. Peter still smirking to himself about the backpack situation is interrupted by a hand on his stomach. Oh no his weak spot! Harley continues to tickle him smile never leaving his face.
Peter barks out a laugh, flailing his limbs . “I just,” Peter blurts, “you smell good. That’s it. Now stop tickling me!” his laugh ebbs off as Harley removes his hands. “ And then I started looking around the room, finding our backpacks clever.” They lay in a tangled mess of limbs before Harley props himself up.
Harley laughs, a deep belly laugh that makes his whole body shake. “You are too cute, sweetheart… too cute.”
How did we get here…
Let’s take it from the top.
About six months ago, at the start of summer break, there was a small disturbance in Peter’s normalcy. After the events of Homecoming, Aunt May and Tony came to an agreement about how to share the boy. It was really more Aunt May yelling at Tony for letting Peter get into such a mess, not that she even knows the whole story. They came up with the plan that Peter stays over from Thursday night to Monday morning in his own room at the Tower. How cool is that? His very own room, littered with Iron man and Spider-Man posters, a desk with the newest StarkTech. And a bed too big for really anyone but the Hulk of course the sheets are red and blue, the room also having an ensuite bathroom with what Peter bets is the nicest shower in New York.
Ned was freaking out when Peter told him about the development a few days after the situation worked itself out. “DUED! You have a room at the tower with freaking The Tony Stark! And you've even started calling him just Tony.” Ned Shreaks over the phone. Ned has been Peter's best friend since the start, the guy in the chair, and always there to have Peters back.
“You’ll have to come over sometime I'm sure Tony wouldn't mind”
“REALLY oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! That would be amazing Peter, thanks!” excitement bleeding from his voice.
The rest of the year went smoothly, Peter kept Spider-Maning. Improving his gear when staying with Tony, learning all the odds and ends of being a mechanic while getting to learn more biochem with Dr. Banner.
At school Ned, Mj, and Peter all stayed close. Crushing all the AcDec competitions, which to Peter's surprise Tony came to most of. Which was very sweet of course but Peter didn't think he was worth the time of such an important man.
Aunt May now works mainly when Peter is with Tony. It’s been a few months of this already, and Peter has the routine down to a T. It’s actually quite nice. He gets to spend more time with Aunt May without her being at work all the time, and he gets to spend his weekends with Tony. His pseudo mentor father figure thing, not that tony will ever know that's what Peter thinks of him but alas.
As Junior year wraps up, one of the first days of summer break Tony walks into the kitchen, seeing Peter sitting, brooding over a bowl of cereal at 1pm in the afternoon. Tony thinks now will be a good time to let Peter know, maybe cheering him up over whatever's on his mind. “Hey kid, later this week I'm going to have someone you'll want to meet. I’ve talked about him before. Harley, that little rascal begged to come for the summer.” Fondness comes through as he talks about the boy. And Tony has mentioned him before, really just in passing not loving to bring up the trauma from the time of the mandarin. But at least Harley came out of it so it wasn't all bad.
“Oh yeah you've mentioned him, cool do you know what day he'll be in?” Peter says as he looks up from his bowl.
“Yeah Friday” He walks over sitting next to peter, placing his hand on his chin he asks “But what's got you all down in the dumps Pete?”
“N-nothing… I'm just, just bored. Yeah just bored that's it” turning to face Tony clearly forcing a smile, but it more comes out as a grimace.
“And this is why I tell you never to lie kid” Tony says with a small chuckle “Underoos, what's actually getting to you? Spider-Man or Peter Parker problem, there’re both you so spill. I told Aunt Hottie that I would take care of you so help me out here man.”
Peter cringes at the name used for his aunt “I told you to stop calling her that Mr. Stark.” he grumbles. “Its just… I don't know. I'm going into senior year and I haven't dated anyone except for a girl whose dad tried to kill me. And Ned got a girlfriend and I just feel like I'm falling behind.” his shoulders slumping and voice getting soft. “Don't get me wrong I'm very happy for Ned. It's just hard sometimes.”
“Oh kid…” Tony sighs, bringing his arms up and around Peter, who practically melts into his hold. Tony starts carding his hands through Peter's curls, knowing it comforts the boy. A small sigh escapes Peter's lips. “Look Pete, I get it I had a hard time too at your age, I was already in college and being picked on for being younger making getting a partner impossible. So let me just tell you this, your person will come eventually. I mean I was almost 40 by the time I met Pepper.” Tony's voice lingering on the thought of his fiance. “All that's to say you're not falling behind, because it's not a race. Time will work it all out. Plus you're an amazing kid.”
“Thanks Tony” a small voice says, muffled due to Peter's face being pressed against his father-figure's chest.
A few days later on a Friday, later into the day, Peter stumbles out of the elevator, clothes a mess from the projects he’s been working on in his and Tony’s lab. Seeing the setting sun beat down from the wall of windows, the New York skyline painting a peaceful picture, Peter waddles his way into the kitchen that's attached to the living room.
I am getting kinda hungry...
As if on cue, his stomach grumbles, so he makes his way over to the fridge. Cracking it open, he finds a stick of butter, some cheese, a quarter gallon of milk, and some pizza. Maybe dad Tony isn’t joking when he says I’m eating him out of house and home, he thinks, stuffing his face with however many days old cold pizza.
Just as Peter settles onto the breakfast bar, the ding of the elevator sounds. Out steps a rather happy Tony and a taller than six foot, dirty blond, blue eyed, flannel wearing, Harley keener.
Harley really can’t help but laugh. He isn’t trying to make the kid feel bad. It’s just that Tony’s been talking about how amazing Peter is for the past few months. And this. This is perfect. Perfect material to make fun of both of them for. Peter is sitting there, hair sitting on his head like a bird's nest, grease and whatever else littering his clothes, and half a slice of pizzas stuffed into his mouth.
Peter starts choking on the slice in his mouth. How is that guy so… hot? Wait, hot? No bad Peter, you just met him. Peter can't help but stare, Harley stands there, still chuckling slightly, the golden light of the lowering sun catching in his already golden hair, seeming to illuminate the rest of the room. And the smile that reaches those blue eyes feels like the final touch on a masterpiece. Harley stares back noticing the dimples on Peter's face that appear once he finally stopped choking.
Tony coughs.
“So, Pete, you know Harley? The one I’ve talked about. Potato gun menace, that one.”
“Uhhh… yeah?” Standing up to walk over to the two men, Peter's eyes glaze over the tall blond man.
“Well, here he is in the flesh.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Pete,” Harley drawls in his thick Tennessee accent. Hand outstretched.
A light blush peppers Peter’s face at the nickname… or the accent, his mouth slightly agape, opening and closing as if it might find the words in his currently blank brain. “Hi.” is all he manages. Before he takes the lightly scared hand in his, giving it a light shake. Then they both just go back to staring, Peter taking in the way the light catches on Harleys toned arms. Harley not failing to notice that strength that lies behind the science pun shirt Peter always seems to be wearing.
Tony starts to feel bad and steps in. “You boys should go get to know each other in the lab. Right, Underoos?” Knowing that’s where the kid is most comfortable.
“Y-yeah. Great idea, D-Tony,” Peter mutters, not even catching the slight slip up.
Tony’s eyes widen for a moment, but he schools his expression. Harley watches the interaction, unable to help his own small smile. It’s cute.
“Then get to it, kid. Kids?”
“I’m eighteen, Tony,” Harley sighs. The smile is still evident on his face. Turing he takes Peter by the arm to go back to the elevator.
“And I’m halfway through seventeen,” Peter mumbles as he’s dragged past Tony, who reaches out to ruffle his curls. Peter squawks and tries, unsuccessfully, to fix his hair. “Tonyyyy” the kid whines.
“Come on kid, it's not like your hair was in great condition before” Smirking he reaches up again to ruffle his hair
Peter swats away the hand as he's dragged away by Harley, saying nothing but giving a rather intense glare.
Harley turns to salute Tony as they both step into the elevator, the awkward tension thick in the air. The boys really can't help it; they're both a bit of awkward nerds at heart.
After a silent ride down to the ninety sixth floor, the doors open to a massive lab spanning the entire level. Multiple tables are cluttered with scraps and tools, holograms floating above almost every surface. A few Iron Man suits stand tall against one wall. Most of the walls are glass, but with the sun dipping under the horizon, the lights come on keeping the place well lit.
A small gasp comes from Peter’s right. He turns to see Harley, whose eyes sparkle like a kid in a candy store, except this is a mechanic in a really nice workshop. But that doesn’t sound as fun.
“You like what you see?” Peter asks. “I can give you the rundown if you want. But if not, that’s cool. I get it. Just let me know what works best for you. I mean I just finished what I was working on but I can totally start something new with you or leave you be.”
As Peter rambles, Harley hasn’t moved at all, standing there with his mouth slightly agape.
“It’s fuckn’ amazing,” Harley says quietly.
“I’m sure no amount of description could encapsulate the feeling this lab gives me.” A smile gracing Peters face. Reminiscing about all the fun times he’s had here with Tony.
“It’s… it’s. Wow,” is all Harley manages. Before he takes a step out walking all around the lab, letting his hand drag over the sides of tables. Stopping every once in a while to pick something up, turning it over in his hand before setting it back down and moving on.
Peter takes a step out, sauntering over to his workstation, completely forgetting about the Spider-Man equipment he had been working on that lays across his area of the lab.
“What are you working on?” A voice says coming from behind a slightly panicked Peter.
“Oh shi—” Peter grimaces. “I, uh… I work primarily on Spider Man’s gear. Just some of my web shooter upgrades.”
“Your web shooters?” Harley asks, looking at Peter a little too intensely.
“Mine… haha. No, no, I mean like… yeah.” Peter takes a breath I shouldn’t say this, this could put Aunt May in danger . But he did save Tony “I’m Spider Man.” Peter grimaces out. Plus he’s not the best at lying. Best to stop while he’s ahead.
“YOU?” Harley says, a mix of disbelief and admiration in his voice. “You, Peter Parker, tin can man’s intern, are Spider-Man?” Harley says as he grabs Peter by the shoulders. “No offense, I just couldn’t see someone as cute as you fighting crime in spandex. Or Tony letting you…
C-cute…?
“ Tony doesn't really “let me” so to speak, he knows I wont stop. So he does his best to keep me safe.” Peter thinks this could've gone worse for a first meeting, and hopes he made the right choice letting Harley know. But he's not wrong, his lying skills really need some work…
“Explains a lot though” Harley says, bringing Peter back to the present. “Or explains something.”
“Explains what?” Peter asks, visibly tensing, thoughts already starting to run amok.
“The way Tony looks at you.”