Chapter Text
TW: Mentions of self harm
It was quiet, the silence full of ache, guilt, and memories. The wind was soft, ruffling everyone's hair and clothes gently, possibly trying to reassure them everything would be fine. Or perhaps it was reminding them of everything that had happened, the sacrifices that had been made. Like those two things were on everyone's mind constantly. No one really knew what to say, how to act. They had lost people. And Peter... well he wasn't sure what to do anymore. One person had believed in him when he had been at his lowest, when no one else had faith in him. And now that person was gone. Mr. Stark was gone. Iron Man was gone. It was like a hole had been ripped out of his chest. Peter was sure the others felt the same, but some were slightly better at hiding their emotions than Peter was. In fact, almost everyone was.
Peter's eyes teared up once more, and May held him close. The sobs wracked his body as he clung to her. He had clung to Mr. Stark like this once, when he was turning to dust. That seemed so long ago now, and Peter could remember the fear, the agony, as he felt his body fade away. But oh, what he would given to hug Mr. Stark like that again, even if it meant going through lifetimes of the same pain.
'I know Peter... I know...' May whispered, running her hands through his hair, trying to comfort him the best she could. She hadn't had the same relationship with Mr. Stark. Sure, she had known him, barely. She couldn't understand Peter's pain, as much as he wished she could.
Peter clung tighter. May helped him lots, and Peter was so glad she was here. But nothing compared to Mr. Stark at the moment. Nothing did, and it was doubtful anything ever would. No matter how much time passed.
-
Harley watched from the corner of the living room as Morgan held onto Pepper's black dress, her mind too young to understand what was going on. Everyone had moved inside now, the service finished, for the most part. Morgan was still confused, but she had called for Tony anyway. She was just a kid, she couldn't lose her father yet. But she had. She had lost her father because Tony needed to save the world. Because Tony needed to be a hero. Which he was. It was just no one expected it to actually end in such a way.
Calling him Tony now, or even Stark or some other nickname, it all felt ridiculous. Tony had constantly been insisting he call him dad, yet Harley had never been able to. But now, he wished he had. He wished he had spent more time getting to know him, getting to know Morgan and Pepper when Tony had been around.
Someone walked up to him with an older woman, and Harley forced himself to not uncross his arms. It wasn't exactly the most polite thing ever, to keep them crossed, but it gave him comfort. Especially when his nails could lightly scratch against the revealing skin of his wrist and forearm. A habit he really should stop, but who cared?
The boy who had walked up had black hair, and red-rimmed eyes. Most likely from crying a lot. It was fair though. Harley didn't like crying in front of others, but the moment he was alone he was bound to cry a river. The woman had brown hair, and looked like she had been crying too, but no where near as much as the boy. Or was teenager more appropriate? Either way, Harley assumed she was his mother. Maybe aunt.
'Hi...' The woman said, smiling softly. Maybe she was trying to be nice, or just keep everyone calm. Still, it felt wrong. Too civil for such an occasion. 'Could you look after Peter for a few moments..? I just wanted to talk with some of the others but I couldn't leave-'
Harley hummed in agreement before she could finish. Yeah, he wanted to be left alone as much as possible, but the kid looked like he really needed someone. The boy glanced at the woman, not wanting her to leave, but she just smiled and said a few words before leaving. Peter looked around, nervous, before sliding to the ground. He brought his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Looking much smaller than he had seconds ago. Harley thought about staying still for a few moments, before sitting down anyway. Peter seemed to be the only one around his age at the funeral, besides a few others that had either already left, or were busy. Harley kept his legs crossed like a pre-schooler in class or a meditator, something he had done for ages. He wasn't exactly sure why he sat like that, but it wasn't the most pressing issue at the moment. How was he supposed to help a near breakdown kid? Yeah, he knew how to look after his sister, but when she was sad, it was different. He had lived with her his whole life. He had just met Peter.
'Peter Parker.' The boy mumbled, resting his face on his knees.
Harley blinked at the sudden full name, before nodding. Well, he might as well get to know the guy, even if it was doubtful they would ever see each other again.
'Harley Keener.'
Peter smiled faintly, but stayed wrapped up in his little ball. 'How did you know Mr. Stark?' His voice was still quiet, cracked from the crying he had done.
Harley didn't respond to that, looking away himself now. He didn't exactly feel like unpacking how he knew Tony, and everything that came after. It was too soon, and regret followed every thought about him.
'Sorry. Wrong time.' Peter muttered a few seconds later.
'It's okay. Just... don't want to get into it.'
'Mhm. Fair.'
The woman with the brown hair walked over a few moments later, Pepper, which for some reason didn't include Morgan this time, following behind. The woman leaned down and spoke to Peter gently, while Harley stood up for Pepper. She smiled at him, much like the brown haired lady had earlier. Only her smile was sadder, despite how much she obviously tried to hide it.
'We're going to look at the message Tony left. Do you want to-'
'I'll wait outside.' Harley said instantly, giving Pepper a small nod before leaving the building. There were some uncomfortable looking wooden stairs he could sit on for the time being. Just until everyone else had left, and he could retreat to his make-shift room. Harley still wanted to thank Pepper again and again for allowing him to stay over until he went back to Tennessee. Though, he doubted he would stay for very long. His mother and sister needed him, and as much as Harley would've liked to stay, Tony felt... closer here. Which Harley didn't need right now. Though in Tennessee it was likely Harley would feel Tony there too. Despite the man rarely actually visiting. It was more the other way around. Harley coming up here for a few days with his sister, and at times his sister's girlfriend, before going all the way back down to Tennessee.
It didn't matter if he were still in the near vicinity of countless people. The moment he sat down, tears begun to fall. Harley buried his face in his hands, willing them to stop. He couldn't cry now. Not yet. There were too many people around. Too many people that would hear him, that would think of him as weak or pathetic.
-
May had told him Mr. Stark had left a holographic message for Pepper and Morgan, and that it was going to be played shortly. Peter noticed the other guy, Harley, had already left. Peter already knew damn well he wouldn't be able to deal with seeing Mr. Stark right now, even if it was only a holograph. So he gently said no to May, and followed Harley out.
The man was sitting on the stairs, hunched over as he seemed to sob into his hands. The guy hadn't looked like he had cried earlier, so why was he now? The pressure probably. When he sat down next to him, the crying ceased.
'You can cry I'm... I'm not going to judge you.' Peter tried, hoping the other man would at least let some form of his emotions out. May had always told him it was better to let your emotions out than hold them in.
Harley laughed softly. Though it came out more like another choked sob. 'Mhm. Still doesn't mean I like crying in front of others.'
'Fair.'
'You look like you've cried a damn ocean.' Harley quipped, looking up at Peter.
'Well... yeah! But...' Peter pouted.
'It's fine.' Harley said softly, the mood falling as quickly as it had risen. 'He was... amazing.'
Peter immediately understood who Harley was talking about. 'Little bit more than amazing.'
Harley laughed again, still just as soft and still sounding like a sob, but it had to count for something.
'Yeah. He was.'
They stayed on the stairs for a while after that, finding comfort in random things, talking about anything other than the fact they had lost someone so vital to the world. To their lives, and to so many others. It was still nice. Nice to have something good in all the bad. In all the misery and the ache. When May came out of the building, looking at the two boys actually smiling since the incident, she decided not to bother them. Just for now.
'So...' Peter begun. 'Where do you live? I haven't seen you around. Like ever.'
Harley smiled slightly at the way Peter phrased it. He wasn't sure what about it made him smile, but it didn't matter. 'Tennessee but I-.'
'No way! Is it cool there?'
Harley smiled once more at Peter's enthusiasm. 'Yeah. Pretty cool I guess. Gets boring after a bit but, I figure it out. But as I was saying, I'll have school soon so I won't be there as much. '
Peter hummed. 'I would agree about being bored but being spiderman doesn't really mean I get time for boring. Anyways, tell me more about Tennessee. And then tell me about school.'
'You want to here more about my boring life?' Harley asked, raising an eyebrow. He couldn't imagine anyone wanting to hear about his life outside of family. The words about spiderman slipped over his head for the moment.
Peter laughed. It was insane how quickly they had forgotten where they were. It was nice though, feeling happiness with each other.
When Pepper and May finally came out, Morgan still inside. May smiled, and it brightened Peter's mood a bit. Harley's not so much given he didn't know May much yet, if at all.
'You two having fun?' She asked, and Peter nodded, before looking away. Pepper and May's appearance made both him and Harley remember why they were here, and the cause of what had them meeting in the first place.
Pepper herself smiled. 'You're welcome to stay the night.' Peter blinked, glancing at May who just smiled again.
'I've already said yes.'
'If he does stay though, he'll have to share a room with you Harley.' Pepper explained.
Harley hummed, not bothered by the idea. Though he did stand, and Peter followed his movement. 'I'll just go clean it up a bit.' Harley muttered, before retreating into the house.
Pepper and May's eyes followed him, before turning back to Peter.
'I'll be going back home tonight, but I'll be back sometime tomorrow to pick you up. Unless you want to spidey your way home.' May said, laughing softly at her own final sentence. Peter wasn't sure he wanted May to leave, but he also know she couldn't stay. There weren't enough rooms in the house for her to sleep, and she probably wanted to go home anyway. If only for a bit.
-
Harley sat in his room, staring at the walls. It wouldn't be long before Pepper showed Peter up, or before Peter's Aunt May, as Peter himself had explained earlier, would come up to say bye. Harley wasn't exactly distraught about Peter staying over, but it also meant Harley would hide his emotions longer.
His room was already pretty clean, all he had to do was shove some bad robot things into a box, along with several notebooks. Everything else was... clean enough given he had only been here two days.
Harley groaned, but it came out more as a sob as he flopped flat onto his bed. He hoped he didn't sound like that around Peter. Would've been embarrassing.
Damnit.
Harley had lived most of his life praying to see Tony. Missing him when he wasn't around. And now he was gone forever. If only he were back when he was a kid, when he first met Tony. He had been so insensitive then, thinking about it now. Thinking about it anytime after. Why hadn't he just shut up half the time? He just kept talking while Tony was having an anxiety attack right in front of him, making it worse! And then Tony had thought to reward Harley with a bunch of fancy mechanics and toys he didn't deserve. He barely even helped fix the suit, just giving Tony a terrible pep-talk until the man did it himself.
The moment he heard footsteps, Harley sat up, wiping his eyes just to make sure. Pepper knocked on the door, and Harley shoved down another urge to cry. It was Tony that had gotten him so many times before, unless he was working. Which yeah, was most of the time, but it was still the thought of anything tied to Tony that made his heart ache.
'Come in.' He said.
The door swung open and Pepper stepped in, Peter giving May a big hug behind her. When they stopped, May looked over.
'Thank you so much. I'll be back tomorrow!' She blew Pepper a kiss and Pepper laughed softly, like they had already become best friends, before May disappeared from sight.
'You two have fun, and I'll come and get you for dinner in a bit.' Pepper said, before she too left.
Peter took her place in the room, door swinging closed behind him. He looked around, before falling onto Harley's bed. 'You know, I expected your room to be messy from the way you were talking earlier.' He noted, propping up onto his hands.
Harley huffed, Peter already doing an amazing job at distracting him. 'It is normally. But I've only been here two days so there hasn't been much time to mess it all up.'
Peter grinned, and looked over. 'What's in the box?' Harley was thankful he hadn't mentioned how Harley literally said he was coming up here to clean.
Harley glanced over, noticing the box of overflowing things sitting under his desk. He stood, nudging the box with his foot until it was in the wardrobe. Shutting it away. Away from Peter's and his own view.
'Come on Harley!' Peter whined. How was he so cheerful?
Harley rolled his eyes, and if Peter were closer, he would've flicked him on the forehead. 'It's just some random shit. Not important.'
'If it wasn't important you'd let me see.'
'That's not- just personal projects.'
'Like school stuff?' Peter questioned.
'Hopefully one day.' Harley muttered, looking away.
'One day?' Peter looked interested, staring at Harley with confusion and eagerness.
'Uh well first, during the five years where everyone was gone, I was busy caring for my sister. My mother she...'
'She blipped?' Peter finished for him. Harley thanked Peter silently. It had always been impossible to say that simple word.
Harley eventually nodded. Getting his mother back had been one of the best moments of his life. 'Anyway, because of that I couldn't start university, so I just made random stuff sometimes'
'Damn. Have you started? School I mean.'
'I'm enrolled. Get to go soon.'
'Cool! Just... enrolled where?' Peter tilted his head as he spoke, actually interested.
'MIT.' Harley looked away as he said it, finding something else to watch instead of Peter.
'MIT?!' Peter gasped. 'That's insane! What do you study?'
'Aerospace mechanics and mechanical engineering.' Harley muttered as he looked back at Peter.
'Holy shit. Teach me some of that sometime. I'm good at stuff like that but I've never had someone properly teach me! But... how old are you actually?'
Twenty-one.'
'If I didn't turn into dust, I would've been twenty-one as well.' Peter said, thinking for a few moments.
Harley hummed in acknowledgement, about to say something else when his phone begun ringing. It was his mother.
'Sorry I gotta take this.' Harley muttered, standing and going to a corner of the room.
Peter hummed, pulling out his own phone to scroll while Harley took the call.
When Harley answered, it was his sister was already yelling in his ear. Harley almost dropped his phone from shock. Why was his sister yelling at him? Peter of course, noticed and barely held back his laugh. Harley glared at Peter before putting the phone back up to his ear.
'Yeah?'
'How are you?' His mother asked, voice much softer than his sister. He had missed her voice so much damn it.
'Good.'
'Are you sure?'
'Yeah. I'm fine. I swear.' The endless pestering if he was okay, he didn't miss as much, but whatever. Anything to do with his mother made his life better, made him happier.
'Harley sweetheart, you broke down the moment the news reached you. It's okay to ask for help.'
'I know.' Harley muttered. Thank the heavens he didn't put his phone on speaker. 'Just no one I want to go to.'
Harley heard a small sigh from the other end. 'I got a day off, so Hannah and I are driving down in a few hours. We'll be there to see you in the morning.'
'You don't have to-.'
'Sweetheart, I'm coming down whether you like it or not.'
'Alright. Okay.' Harley muttered, glancing over at Peter who was still laying down on Harley's bed, scrolling through social media. He probably had a lot too catch up on, especially if he blipped.
'Thank you. I love you.'
Harley could practically hear his mother's smile. 'I love you too.'
'Now before Hannah speaks to you, promise me something.'
'Sure. What is it?'
'Go to Pepper if you need anything. Or call me.'
Harley paused for a few moments. He really didn't want to lie to his mother, say that yeah, he would go to someone if he felt like he needed things. But he also knew he couldn't tell her the truth. Harley had lived five years of his life burying his emotions to everyone, including Tony. It had just become habit, to wait until he was alone. When people were sleeping, or when Hannah was at school and he wasn't working.
'Yeah. I promise.' The words forced themselves out, and Harley blinked away whatever tears he could feel coming. Peter was still in the room, and he was on the phone. Crying was not okay right now.
'Harley!' His sister yelled, snatching the phone. She quietened down at something his mother said, and muttered a response back. Harley brightened his tone instantly, more habit. He couldn't show his little sister he was sad. That would make her question him. Sure, she was stupidly good at telling when he was upset, but hopefully she wouldn't realise today.
'Hi Hannah. How are you?'
'Good. I got that painting set, and I'm currently making you a painting. Well, when we're back home I'll make it. No buts by the way, you will be accepting it.' The painting set. Harley would've gotten it for her weeks ago, if the rent hadn't been raised. At least their mother had been able to get it for her quickly.
'Fine. I'll take the painting. I'm sure it'll be beautiful.'
'Oh it will be. It'll be way better than all that stuff you draw up. The tech stuff. No idea how your brain thinks of it.' Hannah continued to ramble, and Harley leaned against the wall, listening to her talk. He barely heard Pepper knock on the door, but luckily Peter got up and answered for him. Even at 16, his sister still loved to talk to him. That was rare in kids these days. He knew it firsthand. He had barely spoken to his mother for two years, before he hadn't been able to for five.
It was something he regretted every single day.
-
'Dinner's ready.' Pepper said, looking over at Harley in the corner. 'His mother?' She assumed quietly, eyes softening at the scene.
Peter hummed, looking over to Harley too. He was smiling at whatever his mother, or someone else was saying. He looked happy, but it looked forced almost. Peter thought about asking later, but that probably wasn't a good idea. Harley was extremely closed off.
'Okay. Well, he can come down when he's finished.'
'Should I wait with-'
'No. It's better if he speaks to them alone.'
'Oh. Okay.'
Peter gave one final glance at Harley who was still entranced in his call. Peter hoped he would come down to eat soon. But then he followed Pepper downstairs, where Morgan was sitting at the table, talking about all sorts of things to a stuffed rabbit sitting in it's own chair. Cute. As Peter sat down, he couldn't help but imagine what family dinners used to be like here. When Mr. Stark had been around. Probably teasing Morgan while Pepper reprimanded him.
But how would he know? Peter had been gone for five years while the world moved on without him. Mr. Stark moved on. At least he had made a family. Done something with his life.
Yeah, it did kinda hurt that Mr. Stark hadn't seemed to remember him, but Pepper had invited him to stay over, so maybe he was more important than he realised.
Peter hoped that was the case.
Morgan looked at him, smiling wide. She must not understand yet that her father wasn't going to come home. Just thinking about it almost made Peter tear up, but he forced it down and smiled as Pepper sat down. They continue to eat, but Harley never came down. Pepper asked about Peter's school, and asked about his friends. Peter didn't have much to talk about. It had been years. Morgan however, quickly got bored then talked some more to her rabbit.
'Do you want help with the dishes?' Peter asked when they were finished.
Pepper smiled as she collected cutlery and plates. 'It's alright. Could you bring some food to Harley though?'
'Uh yeah. Sure. Will he be finished on call?'
'Knowing him, not likely. His sister is probably talking about all sorts of things.'
'Okay.' Peter grabbed a plate from Pepper and walked back upstairs. He could hear Harley laughing inside, his voice light. Lighter than it had been earlier. That was good.
Peter opened the door, and Harley looked up from his phone. He was sitting on the floor cross-legged now, phone lodged between his shoulder and head while he drew. Harley smiled faintly, muttering into the phone about how he would be back soon. He put the phone and his drawing stuff onto the floor, pressing a few buttons upon the phone's screen. Peter assumed he was setting the call on mute.
'Thanks I... lost track of time.'
'It's fine. I lose track of time everyday.' Peter said as he walked over, sitting down and placing the plate onto the floor.
Harley smiled again, taking the plate and eating slowly. Peter glanced at the now closed sketchbook. He would've liked to know what was in it, but it didn't feel right, asking.
Harley obviously noticed him looking and rolled his eyes. 'Just random ideas. It's not much to look at it.'
'Can I still look?' Peter asked, giving Harley a hopeful glance.'
The man hesitated then hummed, pushing it towards Peter before continuing to eat. Peter grinned, grabbing the book and flipping through the countless pages. There were dozens of designs for robots, weapons, countless things Peter barely understood. Which was crazy given how much he did know. Each sketch was surrounded by words. Sometimes the order didn't make sense, sometimes it did. But the sketches were detailed, so intricate that it seemed shocking. Peter had guessed that Harley was good at art, but this good? That was insane!
'Harley...' Peter breathed, running his finger over one of the sketches, doing his best to ignore the muddled words beside. Sure, the words seemed to be who Harley was. A mess of thoughts, but they were far too complicated and unorganised for Peter to understand. He could try and decipher the words after.
Harley looked away, sheepish. 'It's a mess right? Just had to-'
Peter laughed. 'I mean yeah but it's insane. This is insane.' Peter repeated, looking between Harley and the book. 'All of this? How do you even handle this many thoughts in your head? And these sketches! If you ever wanted to change career paths you could become an artist!'
Harley looked the side once more. He looked seconds away from crawling into a hole and hiding from the world. Peter just grinned and continued admiring the work.
'I should probably finish my call...' Harley muttered, placing the half-empty plate onto the floor.
'Finish your food first. It's good for you.'
Harley smiled again at that. 'I know. Thank you for bringing me something to eat. I think I'm finished now though.'
'You barely ate anything!' Peter protested. "What am I going to do when I want to sleep?!
'I'll go outside when you want to sleep. Finish my call there.'
'It's cold outside.'
'What are you trying to say Peter? That I should leave my sister on hold? I can't do that.' Harley snapped, a bit too harsh for his liking but whatever. He would listen to his sister talk until his mother told her to hang up the phone.
Peter blinked than nodded. 'Right. Sorry. Don't know what I was saying.' Peter took Harley's plate and stood up, giving an apologetic glance before leaving.
Harley looked at his sketchbook, the thought of Peter complimenting his work moments before. It was sweet that he cared, but Harley assumed Peter didn't have siblings. He wouldn't know what it was like to care for your sister for five years. During all of her middle school years, and the two first years of High School, Harley had been providing for her. Helping her with homework. He couldn't ditch her now.
He brought the phone back up to his ear once it was unmuted, announcing himself before his sister started talking again. This time, it was about some guy from school that was flirting with her friend. Their conversation from before Peter came in completely forgotten.
-
Peter waited downstairs, bored. Ned was playing video games. So now, he was alone, scrolling. If Morgan was awake, she could've kept him busy, but Pepper had put her to bed, and then hadn't come back down. Probably staying with her daughter given Mr. Stark couldn't now. Peter tried not to cry again at the thought. Hanging out with Harley had distracted him from that. But then he messed things up with Harley. It was probably the fact that Harley thought the world of his sister. Something Harley hadn't told Peter, but it had been pretty damn obvious.
Whining, Peter leaned back on the couch. Maybe it would be easier if he stayed down here for the night. Let Harley stay warm, and continue the conversation with his sister. Speaking of which, how old was Harley's sister? Older than 6 at least, but that wasn't much help. Harley didn't seem like the type to know how to care for a baby, and then a toddler. Though, Peter barely knew anything about Harley.
One thing Peter had noticed about Harley, was that the man was closed off. That he hid his emotions as much as Peter hid that he was Spiderman. If not more. Whether that had stemmed from not wanting his sister to see him feel anything but happiness, or from something else, Peter couldn't be entirely sure. He was leaning towards the sister option. Another thing Peter had learned however, was that Harley was really damn smart intellectually. All the sketches, the writing, it all made sense to Harley. All of it. Peter had barely grasped the concept of some of the things he had written. If he hadn't been caring for his sister, Peter imagined Harley would've been in MIT much earlier.
'What are you thinking about?'
Peter jumped at Harley's voice. He thought Harley was talking with his sister?
'Sorry. I... Hannah needed sleep. Or to call her girlfriend. Not sure. Anyway I, uhm, I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier.' Harley muttered the last sentence, sitting down beside Peter.
Peter huffed. 'It's fine. You wanted to talk more with your sister.'
'Mhm yeah.'
'How old is your sister?' Peter asked, watching Harley.
'Sixteen.' Harley said, as if looking after a teenager for five years hadn't been hell.
'Sixteen?!' Peter exclaimed, shocked before realising people were asleep and lowering his voice. 'Wouldn't that be terrible?! I mean yeah she's your sister so surely she's gotta be amazing but teenagers-'
'She's the sweetest teenager I've ever met.' Harley said softly. 'Loves to help others, she loves painting and talking to others. She has a girlfriend, Anabelle. Or Belle as she insists we call her.' Harley smiled at the thoughts, and Peter smiled too. It was rare for teenagers to be like that. Not even he had been like that, though he was still a teenager so it barely counted.
'Can I meet her someday? She sounds really cool.'
'Maybe one day. If you ever come down to Tennessee.'
'Well why doesn't she come to Queens?'
'She's in school Peter.' Harley deadpanned, as if holidays didn't exist. Which was exactly what Peter would state.
'Holidays exist. Harley.'
Harley huffed, looking away. 'She'd only wanna go with Belle. It's a miracle she's even coming to pick me up without her.'
'So why doesn't she? The more the merrier?' Peter begun to wonder if Harley just didn't want his sister coming to meet him.
'It's not that simple. Belle has medical conditions that make flying not the safest.' Harley muttered.
Peter suddenly felt bad. 'What type of condition?' He also wanted to ask why not just drive, but he'd probably figure it out soon enough.
'Epilepsy and asthma. Sure, she could fly sometimes, but it's better not to risk it. Driving would work, but neither of them have a job, and I don't have enough money to take both of them places.'
Oh. Well, surely that wasn't that bad. Peter could help out, and surely Harley's mother would now that she was back. 'I'll help! So that next holidays, your family can come visit. Or I can visit you guys.'
'You don't have to-' Harley begun, before Peter cut him off.
'I want to. It's fine. I'll have a job soon, besides being Spider-Man of course. May would love to meet them! She'd like them. I know it.'
Harley sighed, but a small smile played on his lips. 'Alright. Sure.' His eyes were fluttering closed as he spoke, and he seemed to fight to keep them open.
'Thanks. Now, lets get your tired ass to bed.' Peter grinned, attempting to drag Harley off the couch. Harley seemed to become tired really quickly. Or was he just good at hiding that as well?
Harley whined faintly, a sound Peter only grinned more at. Whiny Harley was fun. A thought occurred to Peter at that moment. What would Harley be like drunk? Would he be whiny or outgoing? Or would he just sob or say nothing? Maybe, if Peter ever actually saw Harley again after this, they would drink. But who knows? It was possible they would never see each other again.
'Come on Harley.' Peter muttered, dragging Harley again.
This time, Harley stood up, following Peter back to his own room. When they were inside, Harley collapsed onto the bed. Curling up under blankets. Peter smiled. Harley was an idiot when he was tired. Or possibly sleep-deprived. Peter just hoped it hadn't been too long Harley had gone without sleep, if that was the case.
'Peter?' Harley muttered, eyes cracking open to stare. His hair was already everywhere. He hadn't even bothered to get out of the suit he wore to the funeral.
'Yeah?
'You good?'
'Yeah. I'm just gonna go get changed. You should too.'
Harley huffed and chucked a pillow at Peter. Peter laughed and took that as a no. When Peter went to the bathroom, he realised he didn't actually have other clothes here. He hadn't expected to stay over.
Someone rapped on the door, and Peter opened the wooden door, coming face to face with Harley. The man had clothes in his arms.
'Take these dumbass.' He muttered, shoving the clothes into Peter's arms before leaving.
Peter blinked then smiled. Hopefully Harley had gotten the right size. If he had it. Once Peter was dressed, the clothes slightly baggy on him but otherwise fitting, he went back to Harley's room.
Harley was curled up on the bed, eyes glued to his phone screen. The bright light illuminating his face.
'You should really put your phone away like an hour before you sleep.' Peter quipped, grinning as he sat on the edge of the bed.
Harley huffed, rolling over and clicking his phone shut. 'Please don't be one of those people who goes on and on about how terrible technology is.'
'I'm not. But seriously, go to sleep. You look like you haven't gotten sleep in forever.'
Harley rolled his eyes like Peter sentence was wrong, while knowing that it wasn't. Harley hadn't been getting a lot of sleep in well, five years. Even before that. Maybe it was something he got from Tony, though they weren't related so that was doubtful. Maybe it was his father's trait. Not like he would ever know.
'Come on Harley. Sleep.' Peter insisted.
'Yeah yeah. Alright.' Harley groaned, plugging his phone into a charger.
Peter laid down next to Harley, watching the roof. It had little intricate carvings designed into it.
'Did you do those?' Peter questioned.
Harley rolled to face the roof, looking at the design for a bit before humming. 'Yeah. My sister and I did them two years ago.'
'They're pretty.'
'Thanks.'
They laid in silence after that, before Peter stood and flicked the light off. With the room bathed in darkness, Peter closed his eyes. He hoped sleep would be kind enough to accept him.
-
It was early morning when Harley sat up, looking to see if Peter was asleep yet. From the look, and sound of it he was. Harley might've thought he was dead beside from the occasional snore. He smiled faintly at the sight, before standing and stretching. Harley didn't feel like waking Peter, or anyone else, so he moved throughout the house with as little sound as possible.
When Harley made it outside, the air was cooler than it had been earlier. Not too bad, but still. Harley sat on the front steps, wrapping his arms around his stomach. It would've been likely for Tony to be up at this time, working on something. Sometimes, when Harley really couldn't sleep, he would join him. Give a few ideas, or just watch.
Harley hadn't been able to sleep a lot, while his mother had gone. Half the time it was because he had to care for Hannah, or work on something. The other half was because he just couldn't. One night, when Hannah was 15, she had suggested sleep medication after Harley nearly passed out. He had brushed her off, refusing to tell that the real reason was because they couldn't afford it. Though Harley was certain she already knew.
Now that he was alone, Harley allowed his eyes to water, and allowed the sobs to consume him. Tony was gone, and Harley hadn't been there. He hadn't helped, hadn't done anything. He didn't even get to say goodbye! It was horrible. When Pepper had called him for the funeral, Harley just getting back into the habit of having his mother back and literally planning on calling Tony to let him know, he had broken down on the floor. Unable to hold it in. He was damn lucky Hannah had been at school and hadn't seen him break down. Harley was glad Hannah hadn't followed in his footsteps. That she didn't hold her emotions in like he did. He knew he should tell people, but he couldn't help it. Hannah didn't need to focus on him, she needed to focus on herself. Harley was certain he would just distract people, bringing them down with him if he showed them his emotions anyway.
'I didn't expect you to come out here in the cold.' A voice muttered. Harley looked back, wiping his tears instantly. Why was Peter here, why was he awake, and how had he known?
'Spidey sense. It went off and I woke up to you gone. Came to find you.' Peter explained, sitting down beside Harley yet again.
Harley looked away, making sure there were no lingering tears sticking to his cheeks or eyelashes. Peter huffed, bumping Harley's shoulder with his own.
'You can cry you know. I won't judge. I cried a whole ocean earlier.'
'Yeah well... you're... you.'
'I feel like you're calling me weird or something in the most polite way ever.' Peter muttered, smiling faintly.
Harley smiled back. 'I'm not. I think. I'm just saying, I don't like crying in front of others.'
'Oh. Well, I'm freezing out here so can we go back inside?' Peter asked, and Harley noticed he was shivering. Why had Peter had to follow him?
'I might stay out here a little longer.' Harley mumbled, glancing down at the water only a little bit away. The dark grass seeming to stretch between Harley and the body of water. The same body of water that Tony's arc reactor heart thingy had floated down only hours ago.
'It's freezing Harley! You'll seriously catch hypothermia and die or something.' Peter exclaimed, not moving.
'I like the cold.'
'Yeah sure you do. Come on. You still need sleep.' Peter whined, dragging Harley up and back into the house.
Harley followed, dragging his feet. He preferred it outside, but Peter being Peter, just had to take him outside. So what if it was cold? Being cold was more enjoyable when you were miserable. Which Harley was at the moment.
'Peter-' Harley tried, but Peter simply ignored him, dragging him further. Up the stairs to Harley's room.
'Peter!' Harley whisper-yelled, cautious of those in the building. He didn't want to upset Pepper. Or Morgan.
Finally, Peter stopped, looking back. 'Yeah?'
'I like it outside.'
'It's cold, and you need sleep. You can go outside tomorrow. Just get some sleep.' Peter insisted, taking Harley into the room.
Harley huffed but finally gave in, curling back onto the bed. Peter laid down beside him, curling up under the blanket. Harley watched Peter's eyes flutter closed, before they snapped open again.
'Stop watching me. It's weird.'
A hum came from Harley. 'You can't be talking about weird when you're literally spiderman.'
'Touché. Anyway, goodnight... or is it good morning now?' Peter said, already questioning himself.
'Sleep well Peter,' Harley muttered, helping Peter out before allowing his eyes to close. Sleep took him faster than he expected.
--
Peter awoke to bright light shining through the window, and someone's hair almost in his mouth. How had that even happened?! Peter didn't move however, instead letting his brain wake up and figure out exactly what he had gotten into.
Harley's head was tucked against his neck, the soft breathing tickling Peter's skin. Harley's hands clung to Peter's shirt, and one of his legs were curled around Peter's. He was clingy as hell. It was kinda cute. Brooding Harley who didn't like showing his emotions, cuddling up to Peter.
Peter debated getting up, but then remembered how late, or early that Harley had been up, and went against it. He could deal with this for however long it took.
Harley shifted around a lot as he continued to sleep, hands either loosening or tightening in Peter's shirt, but his leg stayed locked around Peter's. Peter was overthinking every little shift that rippled through Harley's body, holding his breath faintly before the other man eventually let go completely and rolled to the other side of the bed. Peter exhaled in relief, sitting up. When he glanced over at Harley, the man was already using a pillow as his new teddy bear.
Peter crawled out of bed, exiting the room as quietly as he could. When he begun walked downstairs, he could hear voices. Three women. Pepper and May were two of them, but he didn't know the third voice. Who was over? It wasn't any of the avengers, Peter would remember. He stepped down the stairs, and sure enough, Pepper, May and another woman with dirty blonde hair were talking. One the couch rested a teenage girl who was texting on her phone. Her hair was much darker than the other woman's.
May spotted him first, and smiled, heading over to give him a hug before motioning to the stranger.
'This is Grace. Harley's mother. And on the couch is his sister Hannah.'
Grace smiled, yet Hannah hadn't looked up yet, invested in her phone.
'Say hello Hannah!' Grace, or was Mrs? Ms Keener more polite? said to Hannah.
Hannah gave a short wave without turning around. 'Pleasure to meet you!' Before she went back to typing. Maybe she was talking to her girlfriend that Harley had mentioned.
'Uh hi. I'm Peter. Why are you guys here? Sorry, that sounded rude. Harley didn't mention you were coming down? Or does he not know? I would've cleaned up if I had known-' Peter begun to ramble, nervous with the new people he didn't know.
Ms. Keener smiled, laughing softly. Her voice was strangely similar to Harley's, now that he was actually paying attention. 'It's alright, I'm not bothered by how you look. And yes, Harley does know. But since he hasn't come down yet, I assume he's either still asleep, or perhaps working on something?'
Peter calmed significantly after that. She was very easy to talk to. Maybe that was why Peter and Harley spoke so easily. 'Uh sleeping. Hugging a pillow like it'll leave him.'
'He does that a lot. You should've gotten a picture.' Hannah muttered, throwing a smile over her shoulder.
Peter smiled back, and Pepper took over the conversation. 'Well, Peter you should eat given it's almost midday.'
Midday?! He had no idea he had slept that long. Peter felt around his pockets for his phone, only to come up empty handed and realise he had left it in Harley's room. Damn it. Would it be rude to go and get it? Probably. But Ned would've messaged him, probably called too. And not responding would make Ned think he was dead.
'I'm gonna go get my phone, my friend would've texted me, but then I'll come down and eat!' Peter called as he rushed back up the stairs. When he made it to the top, he paused and stepped down a few more just so he could see the others.
'Should I wake Harley?' He questioned, tilting his head.
'No. Let him sleep.' Ms. Keener replied, giving Peter another smile.
Peter nodded and snuck into the bedroom where Harley was still dead to the world. Only now the was falling of the bed, face smashed into the mattress. His hair was everywhere, falling over his face. Peter smiled and grabbed his phone, taking a photo like Hannah had suggested. Maybe she had a collection to tease him with. If she did, Peter could get her number and send it to her. When he properly unlocked his phone, there were tons of miscalls and unread texts from Ned. A few from May from a few hours ago, saying she had arrived.
Peter read through all of the messages as he walked back downstairs, giving some replies. Once he had finished all of them, assuring Ned he was fine, and that while he had cried a lot, he would be fine now. Something that was most likely a total lie, and he would probably break down into tears the moment he got back. Fun.
Once Peter had eaten breakfast, something that Pepper had prepared for him, Harley stumbled downstairs. Hair still everywhere, and suit rumpled from sleeping in it. He literally looked like shit. And somehow still giving the energy of sleep-deprived cat. Ms. Keener begun fussing instantly, trying to smooth down his hair, to which Harley just let her. He looked so tired, and it was kind of scary. It was also like he had forgotten where he was, and that other people were around with the way he swayed.
'Are you alright sweetheart?' Ms. Keener asked, looking at her son with concern.
Harley nodded. 'Yeah. I'm okay. Just hungry.' His voice was low, but once he looked up and saw Peter, he tried to straighten. It was as if a switch had flicked, and he suddenly remembered where he was. How to act around others. The difference was... unsettling.
'Pepper has prepared some food for you. So eat up okay?' Ms. Keener said softly, kissing Harley on the top of his head before ushering him into the kitchen to eat.
--
Harley sat by the lake, watching the water. Just yesterday the service had been. Just yesterday had Tony been sent off to a better place. Harley's hands were curled inwards, fighting not to scratch at the skin of his wrists. The pain always kept him awake, made him realise that he had to take care of his sister. But now his mother was back, and he didn't have to focus on Hannah constantly. He could live his own life.
If only things were that easy. It was like an ingrained thought that he needed to be there for Hannah. It had been hard enough to apply for MIT, despite how much he wanted to. What if Hannah needed him while he was gone? What if something happened to their mother and he wasn't there? There were so many things that could go wrong if he wasn't there. And even if Harley was still in Tennessee, who could say that he would even be able to help?
Tears dripped down his cheeks slowly, and Harley wiped them away instantly. Yeah, he was alone sure, but still. It was too much. There were so many people inside, where they could see him. They were probably watching him right now. He had cried enough yesterday.
He heard someone walking closer and looked up, eyes meeting Hannah's. She sat down beside him in the grass, looking out at the water.
'You okay?' She asked softly, still not looking at him. Harley silently thanked her for that.
He thought about telling her the truth, he knew she would listen. That was how she was. But he couldn't. She didn't need to listen to his pathetic thoughts. So he lied. Again. Like he always did.
'Yeah. I'm fine.
Hannah opened her mouth, as if she wanted to push. However, she closed it again. Another thing for Harley to appreciate. He couldn't understand how after five years of him basically parenting her, she turned out so sweet. Probably from their mother.
'Your new friend is leaving in a bit. If you want to say bye.' Hannah said softly, nudging Harley with her shoulder.
Harley blinked, then nodded. It made sense. Peter needed to leave eventually, and Harley did too. When Hannah stood, she helped Harley up, and they went back inside. Peter was on call, reassuring someone that he was coming back and would build some Lego star wars thing.
--
Peter made sure to give Harley a long hug before he left, hoping to give some sort of comfort to him. It was obvious Harley didn't want to get emotional. The most Peter could do was say that everything would be okay. Even if he wasn't sure it was. Harley smiled, but it was sad.
He also made sure to get Harley's number, and Hannah insisted on getting Peter's for some reason. Once he had both of the new numbers in his phone, Peter told Harley he would be calling several times, and he expected a response. Harley simply smiled again, looking far too tired to do more.
Eventually, Peter left. Watching the scenery through the window of May's car. He hoped Harley would be okay. But he was also happy to see Ned in person again, despite the fact it had only been two days without him.
Then again, a lot had happened in those two days.