Chapter 7
Peter Parker POV:
The first thing he notices when he opens his eyes is the shear blinding lights that assault his vision.
The second thing he notices is a hospital bed.
The third thing he notices is Harley, draped over the corner of the bed with his hand in Peters.
The fourth thing he notices is Tony on the other side, cuddled up next to Steve holding Peter's other free hand.
The fifth thing he notices are the feeling of stitches in his abdomen, and the stinging sensation in his throat.
He slowly reaches over and takes his hand out of Harleys so he can rub their hair.
He fingers through Harley's dirty blonde hair and smiles when he hears a small grunt of appreciation from him.
“You alright?” A deeper voice from the back of the room quietly asks.
He turns his head slightly towards the person who was speaking to him and sees Clint on another couch balancing Bruce’s head on his lap and Natasha on his shoulder. Thor had taken an armchair next to it with Wanda leaning against it, slumped on the floor.
“Uh-“ he pauses and looks down at his body wrapped in bandages “Definitely been better, definitely been worse…”
Clint winces but quickly plasters a reassuring smile back on his face. “Sorry that was a pretty stupid question”
“No, no it's fine!” Peter takes his hand out of Tony’s, and waves it around (yes one hand as the other was currently ’occupied’) in what can only be assumed to be a ‘it’s fine don’t worry about it’ gesture.
They stare at each other for a few seconds, absorbing each other’s presence before Peter starts to speak again. “I also wanted to say thank you, I haven’t really had a chance to say it yet, but if it wasn’t for you I probably would’ve still been stuck there.”
“Are you kidding me? That creepy ‘doctor’ would’ve either shot me or Harley before I had a chance, I should be thanking you!” Clint gasped out in mock outrage.
They both narrow their eyes at each other before bursting out into quiet laughter, trying to be as quiet as possible around the sleeping avengers (plus Harley).
“Seriously though, I’m glad you didn’t shoot me.” Clint tells him in a tone which reminds him of May, comforting after he was shaken up by something.
A warm pang runs across his gains.
They care for you. He thinks
Do they? The voice in his head bites back, but he swallows it down (not the only time he swallows ;) )
“I could say the same about you, Hawkeye.” He retorts
“Hawkeye? Really?” Clint raises his brow and grimaces “It's Clint, and don’t with all that ‘mister’ shit, makes me feel old.”
Peter laughs “Sure Clint, sure.”
Clint smiles in triumph.
“So… you sure look ‘comfy’” He tells Clint as Bruce lets out a drowsy snort in his sleep.
“As if you’re one to talk!” Clint points towards Peter, who’s hand is still in Harley's hair and the other one that has resided back into Tony’s own hand.
“Hey! It’s not my fault they just happen to fall asleep near me.” Peter defends himself (although his voice cracks horrendously. He swears it’s just puberty!!!!)
“Uhuh, I TOTALLY believe you.” Clint tells him in a voice which makes it seem like he doesn’t actually ‘TOTALLY’ believe Peter.
“As you should!”
“Besides the point Pete, instead of talking about whatever our comrades were thinking when they fell asleep on our mighty selves we should talk about the probability of ‘Stony’” Clint grins at him mischievously.
“What the flippidy, flying, flop is Stone-ey?” Pete asks him
“Steve and Tony, duh!”
“Ohhh! Like how they’re totally husband and wife coded?” Peter grins back.
“Uhuh, like right now they’re cuddling! And Tony doesn’t even let me fist bump him!” Clint whines pointing at the two men in twined up next to each other.
“That's because Tony doesn’t think you’re cool.” Peter points out and Clint lets out another whine “like he would totally fist bump me, Nat, Bruce or Thor.”
“Blasphemy!” Clint yells (quietly) back at him.
“Hmhm. But yeah I totally get where you are on the ‘stony’ thingy, I’m genuinely surprised they’re not together yet.” Peter murmurs staring at the two outrageously homosexual men.
“Why? Got any scoop on Tones?” Clint eyes glint in the tea that is about to be spilt. Peter has the exact same look.
“Oh yeah, loads! He used to be my mentor and we’d spend a fuc- I mean a duck load of time together!” He smiles and racks his brain back to nine months ago “like once he was telling me about how his celebrity crush was Captain America when he was younger!”
“N-no way!” Clint sputters out under muffled laughter.
“And did you know he has a Captain America poster in his lab!”
Clint is shaking with laughter now, “Is it still there!?”
Peter remembers this morning (or was it yesterday?) and recalls Steve Rogers smouldering face in a photo frame, abs and all shown through a tight suit which hung in a photo frame, proudly above one of his lab tables. “Yep, still hanging very proudly.”
“Oh. My. God!” Clint gasps “Is that why I’m never allowed in the lab?”
“No, you’re not allowed because you’d cause havoc. The rest of the avengers, EXCLUDING STEVE, aren’t allowed in there because of the photo.”
“First off, HEY! secondly, I can’t fucki- I mean, I can’t diddly darn believe that Tony has a photo of him!”
“Yeah he used to be a big fan.” Peter says making his eyes go massive and doey like a puppy.
“And I’m pretty sure Steve could retaliate, he’s always making sure Tony gets at least some sleep and that he eats three meals a day, and he's always saying 'oh didn't Tony just do so wonderful today!’‘.” Clint imitates Steve’s Brooklyn accent.
“And Tony’s all ‘isn't Cap just so gorgeous and muscular? I made little robots of us so we could kiss!’” Peter imitates in a high pitched version of Tony’s voice.
“I do not sound like that!” Tony objected.
They both turn to look at Tony who’s now wide (that’s an exaggeration, he’s yawning and there’s sleep in his eyes.) awake staring at them with a disgruntled look.
“You literally sound like that right now.” Peter pointed out.
“Pete! I'm wounded, when did my innocent, baby prodigy turn against me!” He says with a hand to his arc reactor and fakes fainting.
Peter bets it’s an excuse to lay back on Steve.
Tony then looked up and glared at Clint. ”It was you wasn’t it! You turned my own mini me against me!”
Peter was cracking up and Tony had a pleased look on his face when he saw Peter smile.
“I’m glad to see you up, kid.” Tony said in a much gentler voice.
Peter practically melted there and then,
“God, you’re such a sap, ’dad’” Peter told him, meaning the dad as more of a joke but deep down they both know he means it.
Tony gets up from Rogers chest and walks a couple steps so he’s right next to Peter. He leans down and envelopes him into a hug and squeezes him tightly, avoiding the bandaged areas.
“Jeez kid you gotta stop scaring me like this, I’m gonna have a heart attack one of these days.” Tony whispers into his hair.
“That’s because you’re all old and wrinkly now.” He pauses a little before leaning into his arms “I’m sorry.” He whispers back, his eyes disgustingly teary from the amount of affection he’s been lacking for so many months.
“It’s fine, you’re alright now. I’m gonna keep you safe. We will keep you safe, okay?” Tony tells him and he just murmurs something back, not even paying attention to the soft tears running down his face, only warm hands around him and soft words.
‘I’m gonna keep you safe’ The sentence left his heart lighter. ‘He’s gonna keep him safe’
‘You’re finally safe’
Peter hugs him back even tighter.
A loud click and flash makes them jerk away from each other in surprise and they both simultaneously turn around towards the culprit.
Clint stands there awkwardly with a camera in his hands “whoops? Sorry I kinda ruined the moment there…” he awkwardly chuckles as Tony glares daggers at him.
If he could guess, Peter recons that Clint would’ve ran off in fear by now but Bruce and Natasha were kind of occupying his only ticket of standing up.
“‘Kinda’ ruined the moment my ass, Barton.” An annoyed Tony grumbles but it quickly gets replaced again when his hand ruffles Peter's fluffy hair.
“Anyways!” Peter interrupts, wiping the remainder of his tears left. “I’m hungry and you’re a billionaire so in conclusion we should go and eat away our sadness and trauma with food!”
Clint nods “The Kid does have a great point right there”
“Wait, are you even good to get up?” Tony asks, leaning over and peering closer at Peter with narrowed eyes.
Peter tugs up the front of his hoodie and peers at the wound with a grimace, it’s a little red but mostly healed due to the fancy medical equipment and enhanced healing powers.
“Yeah I’m alright now.” Peter told him with what he can only hope is a reassuring smile.
Tony sighs dramatically. “I suppose so… but Clint you have to wake up Thor this time!”
Clint lets out a cry of despair before banging his head against the back wall with a loud ‘thunk’.
“Wait, am I missing something? It feels like I’m missing something, why do you not wanna wake up Thor?” Peter asks genuinely curious about it.
“Because, last time someone attempted to wake Thor up from a nap they got sent through the ceiling.” Tony explains.
“Oh… uh- that’s fair enough I suppose.” Peter replies as if that didn’t absolutely want to make him quake in his boots.
“Pete, will you wake up Harley?” Tony tells him before going back to where Steve is sitting so Tony can wake him up.
He slowly turns his side and stares at Harley for a few moments, taking in his fluffy hair that's standing out in random tufts. His face is squished up against his arm, making him look tired and adorable.
“Hey, Harley?” He whispers, brushing some of Harley's hair from his closed eyes.
The blonde doesn’t shift so he tries again.
“Harls?”
No response again…. Well other than Tony in the background with his mouth wide open, protesting against his nickname for Harley. He blatantly ignores him with a smile.
“Harleyyy~!” He shout-whispers into the boy's ear.
Peter mentally sighs. Maybe he could use his last name?
“Keener?”
He scrunches his brow when Harley remains sleeping.
“Well screw me…” he mutters under his breath before getting up off the bed and sliding up next to Harley before putting his hands under the mechanic's arms and lifting him up.
He curls the boy up to his chest and gets ready to set off to scrounge for food.
“Huh.” Bruce comments.
He looks back at the group, who are now all awake and staring at him.
He shrugs back at them and heads out the door.
Spidermanspidermandoeswhateveraspidercan
Everyone is seated (or standing) around the large table in the dining room that’s connected with the kitchen.
Steve’s cooking some sort of pasta dish and Peter’s talking to Tony and Bruce about green energy.
Nat and Clint lay by the corner and gossip.
Thor looks out the large windows and admires the storm outside with a loving look (kind of weird but he’s a god so he can do whatever I guess?).
Wanda is reading a book in what he believes to be Cyrillic, which he mentally bookmarks so he can ask her about it later.
Harley is occupying his shoulder, still dead asleep and snoring softly against the sleeve of Tony’s MIT sweatshirts.
And most importantly he’s absolutely adoring it, or rather he’s adoring them.
Nobody’s asked him about what happened and they’re all acting normal around him which is more than he could’ve asked for.
Soon a large plate of carbonara is set in front of him, a large knot in his stomach tightens.
He gives the food a little grimace before picking up his fork with an uncomfortably shaky hand.
Besides him Steve seems to notice and whispers under his breath, just loud enough for him and nobody else. “Only eat what you can, kid. Don’t force yourself or anything.”
Peter lets out a nod of gratitude before eating a fork full of the creamy pasta.
It’s a little hard eating with one arm as Harley was sleeping on the other but he didn’t really mind.
He swallows the pasta, which is absolutely delicious!
Honestly, who knew Steve would be such a good cook?
After he finishes about a third of the meal he pushes the plate away from him, knowing if he eats anymore he’ll probably throw it back up.
Steve looks at him and smiles fondly, making something inside of Peter glow.
When Steve and Bruce finished loading the ‘stark smart dishwasher’ they both headed back outside into the diner.
Tony and Peter are now fangirling over new additional ideas for the Avengers tech, but his voice was still as quietly as Peter could muster because he’ll be damned if he’s spent all of his time as an armrest just for the boy to be woken up by his excitement.
At some point Harley droops further into the crook of his shoulder, making Peter turn a violent shade of pink. He knew Tony would’ve been making fun of him if it wasn’t for his previous medic room visit, so he relishes leaning against the blondie, hoping that Harley won’t mind when he wakes up.
Spidermanspidermandoeswhateveraspidercan
Twentyafter dinner Clint and Natasha get a call from shield for a short mission and a few minutes later Tony gets dragged off to a board meeting much to his complaints. Once they’re gone the remaining of the Avengers scatter around, He and a still sleeping Harley are sent to go relax and rest so that Peter won’t pull any of the stitches on his side, which are almost healed but still slightly fragile.
Once he sits down on the plush couch, he switches on one of his favourite episodes of “Brooklyn nine-nine’ and settles himself against Harley.
“Pete?” A hoarse voice from beside him says.
He turns around and looks at Harls, who’s staring at him with bleary eyes and a confused look.
“Hey Harls.” He smiles at the boy softly.
“Are you-… Are you alright now?” Harley asks him slowly, sadness swimming through his eyes.
“You betcha, right as rain!” He grins, trying his best to reassure him.
Harley looks at him with eyes that make Peter feel like he doesn’t believe him. “You really scared me Peter. Are you sure you’re okay?”
A gut retching feeling passes him and he stays silent for a while. Trying to think of a good response. “I’m sorry I scared you Harley, I’m all good now I swear. You can check if you want to?” He offers.
“You’d let me check?” Harleys asks in a small voice that really doesn’t suit his ‘rough’n’tough’ look going on.
“If you’d like to, you can.” Peter tells Harley. To be honest he hasn’t really looked at the wound properly himself, but if Harley feels better because of it then it’s fine.
Harley nods at him. “Only if you’re comfortable though.”
Peter gives a thumbs up before pulling the front of his sweatshirt up for Harley to see.
Harley clambours half on top of him and steadily puts his hand on Peter's chest.
He can hear his own breath hitch as Harley gradually moves his finger around the pinkish wound as carefully and gently as he could’ve done, almost feathering his skin.
The sensation feels absolutely amazing on his skin, but he’s not quite sure Harley realizes what kind of position this scene would imply if someone had walked in on them right now.
After Harley's finger ran across his torso for the third time he forgets why he would care.
After the seventh time he can feel his eyes slowly drifting shut.
“Is this alright?” Harley asks softly and quietly.
Peter nods sluggishly and against his stomachs Harley breathes steadily, he must’ve noticed how he was barely conscious anymore. “Go to sleep Darlin’” He says soothingly, and so he does.
Spidermanspidermandoeswhateveraspidercan
Harley Keener POV:
There was nothing that could have described the relief from his head when he saw that Peter was okay.
He’s not quite sure how they came from the medic room to the sofa but he doesn’t ask.
He asks if Peters alright, when the boy answers it’s obviously a lie. Not to mention a shitty one, he’s kinda glad though because it MAY or MAY NOT give him an excuse to check.
He makes sure Peter is alright with it, he’d absolutely despise himself if Peter was anything but.
But Peter pulls his hoodie up before Harley can backtrack (not that he’s complaining).
Harley looks at the wound, significantly better than it had been yesterday. And feels much lighter than he did before.
He slowly traces the edge of the wound whilst trying his best to not hurt Pete in any way.
“Is this alright?” He asks Peter in a soft tone he’d only use when his sister was sick or Tony was in a specially bad episode.
He feels Peter nod weakly and then Harley realizes just how he must be exhausted right now.
“Go to sleep darlin’.” He whispers.
In under a minute Peters knocked out like a light.
He slowly pulls Peter’s shirt down and climbs up a bit more so he’s straddling his torso. He promptly falls to his side so he can watch whatever Peter had put on when he was snoozing as well as cuddle him, *cough, cough*, he means protect him from evil and give him a totally manly and platonic hug.
Obviously.
He has never seen the show on Tv before but he thinks it’s pretty funny so he keeps it on.
Not that he’s really paying any attention to it anygays, Peter’s eyes are closed, the freckles on his face look like beautiful stars and his scars look like rivers, flowing though his face with such grace and beauty, framed by his curly brown hair.
Ah Fuck. ‘That's kinda gay.’ He thinks to himself because although he’s loud and proud about being bi, Peters makes him question how could he have liked anyone other than his gorgeous hazel doe eyes and pretty, fluffy hair.
But for now he can just bask in Peter's presence, like a cat with a patch of warm sunshine or a sponge with water.
He groans again louder. God he hasn’t been this down bad since middle school where he had a crush on Cindy; a girl in his science class and which he decided it would be a great idea to ask her to the winter dance by building her fucking robotic flowers! I mean sure they were awesome as shit, never died but functioned like the real deal just cooler.
But long (and painful) story short, he never got a dance with Cindy and his ‘robotic flowers’ are in some dump somewhere.
But with Peter it still feels more real and intense. Like he’s back with Cindy just 10x more whipped.
He is so screwed when Tony or Natasha finds out.
He doesn’t even want Pepper to come back in case she files a lawsuit against him for trying to wife up there (presumably?) future heir.
He looks back down at Peter.
Ah screw it.
He is so going to try and get Peter to go on at least one date with him before he dies of being pathetic. I mean if he says no it might be hella awkward but it’s still better than fawning from a distance.
But not right now, of course. He’s gonna wait a little, he wants Peter to get better, he wants to know him better and he wants to help him. So right now he will be fawning from a distance, but if that means that Peter's happy he’s happy about it as well.
He carries on half watching the show, half watching Peter as the time goes by hugging Peter's side.
He hears someone’s footsteps but he stays by the other boy's side, too drowsy and happy to care, only turning his head to see Tony plopping himself on the sofa at the other end.
“You seem to be enjoying yourself.” He adds giving him a sneaky side glance and then returning his attention to the tv before he can splutter some kind of excuse to him. “oh, I love this episode.” Tony grins.
Harley's eyes narrow. “Uhuh, sure you do. Anyways, what brings you to interrupt my very important cuddling time.”
Tony puts his hands up “Alright, alright. I’m sorry to interrupt you from corrupting my very good and well behaved son with your ‘evil-ness’, but I desperately need to escape this nightmare of a board meeting! And what better excuse than my two children I have left unsupervised.”
Harley rolls his eyes. “Yeah whatever old man.”
They both go back to their half watching half staring at Peter thingy before Steve walks in.
“Hey aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting?” Steve points an accusing finger at Tony.
“But my babies!” Tony cries out pointing back at Harley and Peter.
Harley rolls his eyes again.
God, are all old people always this dramatic? He thinks to himself.
Probably. He thinks again as he looks back to see Steve and Tony bantering with large smiles on their faces.
“Guys stop flirting.” He tells them, after getting sick of the seventh, your mum jokes. Who on earth introduced ‘your mom jokes’ to Steve???
He gets his answer when Clint walks into the room “Yeah stop flirting!”
Nataha walks in shortly afterwards and then points at Harley “Hey, same goes for you”
“Whaaatttttt, that’s crazzyyyyy?” He and Tony both say simultaneously with a sheepish expression on their faces.
“Wait, aren't you two supposed to be on a mission?” Steve asks.
“Oh yeah, that. Don’t worry about it, we finished in like twenty minutes.” Natasha responds to Steve.
Steve smiled approvingly which then made Tony go back to teasing him in which Steve had already had a comeback to, thus repeating in their fighting-flirting situation.
Everyone (excluding Peter who was curled up next to him asleep) inwardly sighed.
After everyone gets settled down on the sofa with a newly acquired bag of popcorn from god knows where, it isn’t long before Bruce and Thor come back out from wherever they where before together to join them.