The storm approaches with torrential tidal waves
They text Harley and Tony filling them in and brainstorming a plan to make Mr Harrington pay which ranged from getting him fired or setting Natasha on him which was Peter's initial plan but that got quickly scrapped as it wasn't creative enough.
They ended up beating the bus there by an hour which had nothing to do with Peter politely asking FRIDAY to make as many lights red for them, not at all.
When they got into the tower, Happy was on the phone with the legal department to get some NDAs immediately. As Peter rushed past security most of them did not bother him as most of security knew Peter. He cheerfully waved to Kathy who gave him an odd look but waved nonetheless.
FRIDAY pushed the elevator to the max to get him up to the penthouse which was mostly deserted as he had handed out rolls for almost everyone.
“Hey Darling, I've got your lab clothes ready. Do you want me to head down to the lobby or should I try to find the tour guide to tell her what's up?” Harley's voice floated from the hall shortly followed by his gorgeous smile that made Peter blush instantly come on pull it together Parker
“Hey Harley, maybe give her a heads up that you'll be joining her on the tour, but nothing more I want authentic reactions” Harley gave a hearty laugh that made Peter melt
“Alright, authentic reactions it is.” gods what is Harley doing to Peter
“But in all seriousness are you okay?” huh is Peter okay?
“Yeah, of course, I am, why wouldn't I be?”
Harley reached out with his hand reaching towards his face but dropped short to his shoulder “Your teacher just called you a liar and laughed at you kicking you off a school trip, Darling he harassed you, so, are you okay?”
“What no he harassed Ned he pushed him not me!” peter protested
“Alright, so how are you feeling about that then?” How was Peter feeling?
“Rage and hurt I guess” Peter looks up to see Harley's face hoping to see the right answer but instead gets pulled into a soul-crushing hug
Peter normally finds hugs awkward. Most people hug too long, they smell weird or their clothes are itchy on Peter's enhanced senses, their perfume or cologne reeks but with Harley, Peter felt nothing but comfort. Hugging Harley felt right.
With Harley's breath brushing just under his ear Harley told Peter “You didn't deserve that, you deserve the world Darling” Peter's breath hitched a blush crept up his neck his cheeks felt a little wet and by god Peter just melted into a puddle at Harley’s feet he would do anything for this man.
Wait, why were his checks wet? Was he crying? Peter pushed back immediately struggling to regain his composure “I uhh need to get ready. Thanks, Harley” Peter gave him a small smile before all but running to his room.
Once in the safety of his room, Peter’s mind ran rampant.
He's been told before that he didn't deserve something to happen and Peter would shrug it off mentally asking what more did he deserve?
Uncle Ben could have lived if Peter hadn't gone out that night. He could have lived if Peter had stood up to that robber but he didn't.
So now he tries to help out in any way he can, letting Flash take his anger out on him so others don't have to, Peter can take it, not really caring when Mr Harrington calls him a liar.
These things Peter knows he can brush off, but when they target anyone else, Peter never stands aside; he takes the brunt of it because he doesn’t deserve anything more and now Harley believes he deserves the world.
He doesn’t understand why? Harley doesn’t even know that Peter’s Spider-Man so why does he deserve the world?
As Peter tries to find a reason. He chucks on his lab clothes just some old Jeans a graphic top and a dark green hoodie
Loki had gotten it for him saying it was the colours of his favourite people Bruce in Hulk mode and Loki while Tony watched looking downright depressed. It brings Peter comfort in hard times so he can look back at his favourite moment with his extended superhero family.
Before heading out into the labs to fiddle around on his way FRIDAY informs him a military official is coming in for a meeting later and Peter is expected to fill in for Pepper (Tony’s not allowed anywhere near them not after what happened last time)
As Peter enters he gets a chorus of hellos and Can you check out this equation or project while Peter rolls his eyes, he walks up to the closest person who asked for help to offer his assistance.
A few minutes later he gets a text from Harley.
[Potato Boy]
Midtown has arrived
[Pete]
👍
[potato boy]
Explaining why they're late, blaming you :(
[pete]
🙄 it will Not matter He will pay. :)
[Potato boy]
:)
Peter braces himself for when the whirlwind of midtown gets to his part of the tour which should be in about an hour or so.
Fifteen minutes later an alarm is pounding through the lab with FRIDAY’s voice politely saying
“Miniboss protocol has been activated per Boss’s request.”
“Thanks, FRIDAY any meetings for today”
“Just with Lieutenant George which you already know and a pending request to touch base on the new ad for the Stark phone upgrade.”
“Thanks, FRIDAY”
Peter knew most of what FRIDAY told him but he always loves talking to her anyway.
Peter knew Tony was transferring boss duties to him, as soon as the tour got moving, as a way to give Peter a heads-up, which was much appreciated as Peter was incredibly engrossed in the equation he was solving for a run down intern.
So now Peter had roughly 45 minutes until Midtown was to arrive at the labs. Things were going according to plan and Peter couldn't be happier.
“MINI BOSS EMERGENCY PROTOCOL IN SECTOR 2 CODE 10.356”
Peter could have facepalmed himself right then and there because he just had to jinx it didn’t he?
Wait sector 2? Isn't that the Avengers museum? Right where Midtown was heading 20 minutes ago? Shit! A code 10.356 was someone who had tried to steal something.
Just great now Peter had to deal with that before Midtown arrived at the labs for Peter's plan to work.
Of course, he could just get security to do it but Tony had told him he needed to be more involved in all aspects of the company. So Peter is already in the elevator when his phone dings.
[potato boy]
We might need your help down here darling. Your teacher is causing a right little scene, while some Eugene kid denies even touching the exhibit. 😂
[Pete]
Shit that was them? I'm on my way. Hang tight.
[potato boy]
🫡
Peter steps out of the elevator and is immediately overwhelmed by the screeching coming from the museum so it doesn't take any effort before he finds his team in front of the Spider-Man section which Peter inwardly cringes at.
Peter walks to the closest security guard who looks slightly pained by all the noise and he asks him what happened which is met by a shrug of the shoulder and a
“you'd have to ask Happy, sorry I couldn't be more of a help mini-boss.”
Peter squares his shoulders and walks toward Happy, who is currently trying to calm Mr Harrington down by making threats of removing him from the building, so, of course, Peter taps Happy on the shoulder before he can make good those very real threats.
Peter couldn’t believe how this small action causes almost everyone (excluding Flash and Mr Harrington) to gasp in surprise followed by frenzied whispers. When Happy finally turns around and faces Peter the anger deflates right off his face.
“Hey kid, I don’t know what you want me to do with them but FRIDAY caught the kid trying reach in to grab the old web shooters but these dickheads keep saying FRIDAY’s wrong which”
At this he gives Peter a pointed look which he giggles at
“I say give Flash a warning and tell Mr Harrington we will be in contact with the school before the trip is over to discuss his current employment”
Happy nods in agreement before turning back to Mr Harrington to explain the situation which is met with indigent squawks and a face redder than his Spider suit.
Peter walks past where Harley and the tour guide are standing. The latter of the two is slack jawed, while Harley gives out uncontrollable laughter.
Harley gives him a smile as he gets closer which Peter returns ten fold because how could he not his teacher looked like a seagull flapping about and Harley had smiled at him with such enjoyment Peter couldn’t help it.
But before any of his team could understand why Peter had just shown up out of the blue, he sprinted back to the safety of the elevator.
Peter laughed because he knew exactly what he was leaving behind: A seagull of a teacher and a shocked academic decathlon team, a baffled security guard, a very angry man named Happy, a slack jawed tour guide and a kind good looking boy from Tennessee.