Spiderling

Peter stood behind the counter, organizing supplies and preparing for the day. The door opened promptly at 8 a.m., and Harley Quinn burst in, her usual infectious energy in full swing.

“Morning, boss!” she called out, giving Peter a salute.

Peter smiled and handed her a neatly folded set of clothes. “Morning, Harley. Here’s your uniform. You can change in the back.”

Harley took the clothes and examined them with a smirk. “A skirt and a black top, huh? Not my usual style, but I can work with it.” She gave him a wink and disappeared into the back room.

A few minutes later, Harley emerged, looking surprisingly professional in her new attire. The red and black skirt reached her knees, with black shorts peeking out underneath, and the black top contrasted with her usual bold colors.

“How do I look?” she asked, twirling around.

Peter nodded approvingly. “You look great. Now, let’s get you started. First, I’ll show you how to make our most popular coffee drinks.”

Harley followed Peter behind the counter, paying close attention as he demonstrated how to use the espresso machine and make a variety of drinks. She nodded along, her focus unwavering.

“I think I got it,” she said confidently. “Let me give it a whirl.”

Peter stepped back as Harley took over, expertly grinding the beans and pulling a perfect shot of espresso. She added milk and flavorings with surprising finesse, creating a latte with a flourish.

“Ta-da!” she exclaimed, handing the drink to Peter.

Peter took a sip and nodded, impressed. “Not bad, Harley. Not bad at all.”

As the morning rush began, Harley threw herself into the job with gusto. She greeted customers with her usual exuberance, her infectious energy putting smiles on their faces. Some regulars were taken aback by her transformation, but they quickly warmed up to her cheerful personality.

“Hey there, sugar! What can I get ya?” she asked one customer, who ordered a cappuccino.

“Comin’ right up!” Harley said, expertly crafting the drink and handing it over with a wink.

However, as the day wore on, Harley’s natural chaos started to peek through. She accidentally knocked over a stack of cups, spilling coffee beans everywhere.

“Oops! My bad,” she said, quickly grabbing a broom and sweeping up the mess.

Peter watched her with a mix of amusement and mild exasperation. “Just try to be a bit more careful, okay?”

“Got it, boss!” Harley replied, not missing a beat.

Despite a few minor mishaps, Harley’s enthusiasm and charm won over both customers and staff. By the end of her shift, she was chatting animatedly with the regulars, making everyone laugh with her stories.

As the day wound down, Peter approached her with a smile. “You did good today, Harley. A few bumps, but nothing we can’t handle.”

Harley grinned, wiping her brow. “Thanks, Petey. I told ya I’d do my best.’’

Peter nodded. “And you did. Just keep working on those careful movements, and you’ll fit right in.”

As the day wound down, Peter approached Harley with a smile. “You did good today, Harley. A few bumps, but nothing we can’t handle.”

As she prepared to leave, Harley hesitated, looking uncharacteristically uncertain. “Hey, Peter, can I ask ya somethin’?”

“Sure, what’s up?” Peter replied, noticing her sudden shift in demeanor.

Harley fidgeted with her skirt, avoiding eye contact for a moment. “I, uh, don’t really have a place to stay right now. Gotham’s a long way you know with the dementional travel, and I didn’t exactly plan things out. Think I could crash at your place for a bit? Just until I get back on my feet.

Peter’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected this. But he saw the vulnerability in her eyes and understood that behind all her bravado, Harley needed help.

“Yeah, sure, Harley,” Peter said gently. “I’ve got a spare room you can use. It’s not much, but it’s yours as long as you need it.”

Harley’s face lit up with relief and gratitude. “Really? Thanks, Petey! You’re a real stand-up guy, ya know that?”

Peter chuckled. “Don’t mention it. Come on, I’ll show you the way. Oh and we might have to talk about the demential travel”

“Sure Pete”

They closed up the café together, and Peter led Harley to his apartment. As they walked, they chatted about their favorite movies and music, slowly building a friendship beyond their initial connection.

When they arrived, Peter showed Harley the spare room. “It’s not fancy, but it’s clean and quiet.”

Harley looked around, taking in the simple furnishings. “It’s perfect. Thanks, Pete. I owe ya one.”

Peter smiled. “Just promise not to redecorate too wildly, okay?”

Harley laughed. “No promises!”

---

As she settled into her temporary home, Harley felt a rare sense of peace. She had found an ally in Peter Parker, and for the first time in a long while, she felt like she belonged.

After settling into Peter's apartment, the duo decided to make a trip to the mall to pick up some essentials for Harley and maybe a few extra goodies. Loki deciding that he tag along when they met by accident. Peter, always mindful of his budget, tried to steer the shopping spree towards practical items, but Harley's infectious energy and Loki's mischievous suggestions led to a slightly more extravagant outing.

As they wandered through the mall, Harley's eyes lit up at every shiny object, while Loki added his own flair to the shopping experience.

"Ooh, look at those shoes!" Harley exclaimed, pointing at a pair of neon pink sneakers.

Loki smirked. "Those would certainly make a statement."

Peter chuckled nervously. "Uh, maybe we should focus on getting you some basic clothes first, Harley."

But Harley was already off, dragging Loki along to explore the latest fashion trends.

"Come on, Petey, live a little!" she called back, her laughter echoing through the mall.

Peter sighed, resigned to the fact that this shopping trip might end up costing him more than he anticipated.

After browsing through racks of clothes and trying on numerous outfits, they finally settled on a few basics for Harley. But Loki couldn't resist adding his own touch to the mix.

"How about this sofa?" he suggested, gesturing to a plush leather couch that looked like it belonged in a palace.

Peter hesitated, eyeing the price tag warily. "I don't know, Loki. It's a bit... extravagant."

But Harley was already lounging on it, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Come on, Petey, it's perfect!" she insisted, patting the cushion next to her.

With a reluctant sigh, Peter relented, knowing that arguing with Loki and Harley was like trying to stop a freight train with a feather.

As they made their way to the checkout, Peter couldn't help but shake his head at the assortment of items in their cart.

"We might need to take out a second mortgage to pay for all this," he joked.

But Harley just shrugged, her infectious energy undimmed.

"Money comes and goes, Petey," she said with a wink. "But memories last forever."

And with that, they headed back to Peter's apartment, ready to make some new memories together.

Peter couldn't help but wince at the total amount spent, but seeing the smiles on Harley and Loki's faces made it all worth it.

As they made their way back to Peter's apartment, laden with bags of goodies and a coutch carried by lokis magic, Peter couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected friendships he had found in Harley and Loki. Despite the chaos and occasional craziness, he knew that life was never dull with them around.