Christmas Shopping and Almost Kisses
6 days till Christmas
Harley was stressed. He still had to get gifts for Steve, Happy, and MJ with 6 days till Christmas! He had no idea what to get them! If he ordered something online it wouldn’t come until after Christmas and he didn’t know where to look in store.
Oh god, what should I do?
The conversation he’d had with Peter last night jumped into his head. Peter knew the Avengers really well and was good at heartfelt gifts. He was so innocent and had those chocolate eyes that Harley could get lost in. Also, he did offer help… and Harley really needed it…
That’s how Harley found himself bursting into the kitchen where FRIDAY had told him Peter was.
“Peter!” Harley called loudly. The boy yelled in surprise and jumped onto the ceiling.
“God, Harley! You scared the crap out of me!” Peter gasped, pulling out his AirPods.
“I’m sorry, but I need your help.” Harley told him.
“Who do you have left to shop for?” Peter asked.
“Steve, MJ, and Happy. I have no idea what to get them!” Harley complained.
“Alright, I’ll tell you what,” Peter began, “get a tote bag, meet me back here in ten minutes, and we’ll go shopping for those three.”
Harley gave him a quick nod and ran back to his room. He snatched up the tote bag he’d left on the floor from a week ago that he’d never bothered to pick up and grabbed his wallet. Shoving his phone in the back pocket of his baggy jeans, Harley walked into his bathroom and fixed his hair in the mirror. Once he deemed himself worthy to go out, he headed to the kitchen where Peter would be waiting.
Sure enough, he was there, adorable, unruly, curls and all. He grinned as Harley entered. “You ready to go? I already told Mr Stark we’re going out.”
I would love to go out with you. He thought.
“Yeah, let’s go. Thank you.” He replied. Peter just smiled at him.
“No worries. I did say that if you needed help I would be there.”
The boys got in the elevator and were greeted by FRIDAY.
“Hello, do you two want to go to the ground floor again?”
“Yeah, thank you.” Harley told her. He turned to Peter. “What do you think I should get Steve?”
“Uh, he likes to draw, so get him something artsy. Maybe you could get a sketchbook personalised at one of those stores that can do it in like half an hour?” Peter suggested, shrugging.
“That’s a really good idea! What do you think I should get Happy?”
“A gag gift? I don’t know we’ll see when we get there.” Peter hurried out of the building with Harley right by his side. They kept walking down the bustling streets of New York until they reached a large shopping centre. It was covered in lights and tinsel for Christmas, and as they entered through the glass doors, their ears were assaulted with loud Christmas carols playing over the speakers. It was packed with last minute shoppers like himself. They weaved through the crowds in search of an art store for Steve. When they found one, they searched through the sketchbooks until they found one that was perfect. It’s cover was the exact blue that was on Steve’s shield. They got it personalised to say ‘STEVE’ on the front in red, white, and a darker blue.
“Steve, check.” Harley whispered to himself as he put the sketchbook in his bag. “Next, Happy.”
“I was thinking, sunglasses.” Peter suggested. “That way he can really pull off the security guard look.”
Harley laughed. “I love that idea. There’s a Specsavers over there.” (Idk if there are any Specsavers in America don’t kill me)
The boys wandered into the store and started searching through sunglasses. Harley was inspecting a rack when someone snuck up behind him and slipped a pair of the shades over his eyes. He whirled around to see a giggling Peter standing there. Harley smiled at him, slid the sunglasses off his face and leaned forward to slide them onto Peter’s.
Their faces were so close together. Harley could easily press his lips against Peter’s, but he couldn’t. What if Peter pushed him away?
Harley pulled back, clearing his throat. “I uh, think these will do.” Peter slid the glasses off his nose and handed them to Harley.
“Yeah, I think he’ll like ‘em.” He scratched the back of his neck.
“Let’s, uh,” Harley indicated to the checkout. That was close. Cant let that happen again.
Once they’d payed for the sunglasses, they went off in search of a bookstore.
“MJ gave me a list of books she wants, but I couldn’t get all of them, so that’s her sorted.” Peter mumbled.
They searched the bookstore until they found ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’. They checked it out and then began the walk home.
They fell into a comfortable silence. As he walked, Harley’s mind kept drifting back to the almost-kiss. What if he hadn’t pulled away? What would have happened?
He’d been crushing on Peter ever since he first met him. He was being toured around the tower by Tony himself and they’d run into the boy drenched in motor oil. He was a hot mess and Harley had instantly wanted to get to know him better. He’d fallen even harder once he found out about Peter’s endearing and innocent personality. He was shaken out of his thoughts when they arrived back at the tower. They rode the elevator up to the communal living areas, where Tony was playing with Morgan.
“Hey!” He called as they entered.
“Hey, Mr Stark! Hey Morgan!”
“Petey!”
“Stop calling me Mr Stark! It makes me feel old!”
“You are old!” Harley quipped. Peter laughed adorably. I’d do anything to make you laugh like that again. No! Bad Harley!
“How was shopping?” Tony asked.
“It was good.” Harley told him, his mind once again wandering to the kiss that could have been.
“I gotta go on patrol, sorry!” Peter shouted, going to get his suit. “Bye!”
“And I gotta go wrap these.” Harley backed out of the room, missing the knowing look Tony shot him.
“They’re never gonna get together.” The man sighed