Peter Parker was Spider-Man. That was a fact. Harry knew that every single time he saw Spider-Man, he saw his best friend. He knew that voice anywhere. Harry and Peter spent years together. They were best friends. Harry memorised Peter's favourite songs, favourite flowers. The path he would take from his house to the park where they'd meet up to talk. Harry knew Peter.
That is how Harry knew that Peter was Spider-Man.
That is also how Harry knew that Spider-Man killed his father.
It was obvious. It was all over the news and everyone in the city was talking about it. His father hated Spider-Man. Everyone did. Spider-Man would always be at the scene of the crime. 'Spider Menace', they called him. Norman Osborn would always come home bloodied and beat, bruises and cuts lining his jaw and body from the hits from the Spider Menace. Harry didn't want to believe it at first. Who would want to believe that their best friend killed the one person who had stayed? It was true though. Peter had done it. Spider-Man had done it? Harry wasn't sure, but he needed to know the truth. Had Peter really betrayed him? There was only one way to find out.
It was time to confront Peter Benjamin Parker.
Harry slowly got changed. Making sure to wear enough so that if he got hurt, he'd be somewhat okay. He knew it was ridiculous, Peter would never do something like that, right? On the other hand though, Peter.. Peter killed his father. Peter had hurt the only family he had left, so hurting himself wasn't that far off. Harry also packed a small bag. Something light and full of things he didn't find too important so that if he had to drop everything, he could. Harry needed to be sure. Once Harry was ready, he set off. He didn't warn Peter that he was coming because why would he? Peter had murdered his father. He didn't deserve a warning. Harry got into his fathers car. His father hadn't gotten him a car yet. They were going to go together to pick one out. Norman had always loved cars, so Harry did too. Harry drove to Peter's apartment and parked outside. He locked the car door as he stood outside for a moment. He stared up at the closed window of Peter's bedroom. This was where he'd find the truth. Harry raced up the stairs, not noticing how hard he was breathing until he brought his fist up to the door. His hands were shaking and he had tears in his eyes.
What was happening? This had never happened before. Harry didn't seem to care. He took a deep breath and banged his fist on the door. Once, twice. "Peter! Open the door!" Harry didn't hear anything. There was no response. Maybe Peter was afraid? Maybe he knew that this moment would come and he wasn't prepared for it. It was too late though. Harry was confronting Peter if it was the last thing he did. Harry heard Peter walk towards the door, but it was too late. Harry took his spare key out of his pocket, one that Peter gave to him months ago so that if he ever wanted to stop by, he could. Harry unlocked the door, his hands trembling, and threw the door open. There stood Peter. He was in a t-shirt and shorts. 'Pathetic.' Harry thought. Peter didn't care enough to change. He knew that Harry was outside and didn't even bother to look decent enough. Harry was furious.
"What the fuck have you done, Peter." Harry muttered under his breath.
"Harry, I-" Harry didn't even want to hear it. "No." Harry interrupts. The look of pure terror and guilt on Peter's face is a look Harry will never forget. Peter knew why Harry was here. Peter knew that Harry knew. Harry walked into the room. Peter took a sharp step back, wanted to keep the distance between them. Harry looked down at Peter, taking another step closer. "You killed him. You murdered my father." Harry cried. The tears running down his face were unknown to him. "Harry, please. I need you to listen. I promise it wasn't me, it was his-" Harry scoffed, of course. Peter wouldn't take accountability. Why would he? This was all his fault, and he knew it. "I wish I never met you, Parker. I wish.." Harry trailed off. He looked to the side, balling his hands into fists. Peter tried to step back, but bumped into the wall behind him. That's when he made his first mistake. He ran into his room, Harry following shortly behind him. "You can't run forever, Peter! You know what you did and you're gonna suffer for what you've done!" Harry brings his hands up and swings. Peter dodges the first hit, but wasn't quick enough for the second. Peter fell to the ground. "Harry, stop! Please just listen to me. You don't know the truth!" Peter tried to use his webs, he was Spider-Man after all, he could do this. Within a moment, Peter had gotten back up and webbed Harry to the bed.
"Fuck you, Peter! Fuck you! You deserve to die for what you did to him!" Harry spat at his 'friend'. "It was his glider. He tried killing me, Harry! I didn't know he would die! I didn't want it to happen, I swear!" Harry sobbed, he didn't know what to believe. "No.. you.. It was you. I-I know it was you. He told me it was you." Harry couldn't look at him. He hated him. Harry hated Peter with every bone in his body. "Fuck you, Peter.. fuck you." Peter turned away for a moment, trying to stay calm. He knew that reasoning with Harry wasn't going to work. Harry was convinced that it was his fault. "Y-You have her, Peter. You have Aunt May and MJ. What about me? What do I have, huh? You took the only good thing I had. I have no one anymore. I don't have you, my dad, MJ. You couldn't even let me have that. First you take her from me, then you take my own father? The person who paid for almost everything that you have? You wouldn't have anything if it weren't for me and my father. We took you and May in after Ben passed. We were actually there for you. We actually cared, and this is how you repay me? By killing the only person on this planet who loves me?" Peter paused. He looked to the side, trying to stop himself, but he couldn't. He finally said it.
"I love you."
Harry didn't believe what he just heard. He couldn't believe what he just heard. Did Peter really just say that? How could he say that? "..what?" Harry asked, quietly. He stared blankly at Peter, weak and vulnerable as he sat on the bed. "I love you, Harry." Harry clenched his fists. "You.. I.. You can't. You can't do that!" Harry screamed. "you can't do that.. y-you killed him. You killed my father, you don't deserve.. You can't!" Peter stepped closer and Harry flinched. "Stop! Stop it! You can't say that! You can't kill him and say you love me! It's not- Just stop!" Harry stood up, grabbing Peter's shirt. His hands shook and tears streamed down his face. Harry always cried when he was mad. Harry threw Peter against the wall. Peter knew he could stop it, but he needed to let Harry get his anger out. He needed to help his best friend. That was why. "I.." Harry began. "I loved you, Peter.. I loved you. I was in love with you.." Peter nodded, starting to speak. Harry clenched his fists in anger, raising his hands as if he was going to hurt Peter. "Don't. Just stop talking. Stop moving. Just stop." Peter responded by freezing in place. He didn't move, didn't speak. Just listened. "God, I can't believe I loved you. It's shameful. You killed him.. fuck. Okay. Just.. okay. Speak. Explain. Tell me. Why did.. How.. How did it.. happen?" Peter didn't respond, just stared. He wasn't sure if Harry really wanted him to talk. "Say it!" Harry yelled. Peter nodded.
"Okay, okay. Yes, I'm Spider-Man. I know you know, so there's no point denying it. Um, I.. I didn't kill your dad, Harry. I-I know you don't believe me, but before you say anything, I just want you to know it's true. I didn't kill him. We were fighting, okay? He pretended to be hurt and when I went down to help him, he tricked me. He was going to kill me with his glider, but I moved out of the way. It was instinct. I swear, I didn't mean for it to hit him. I didn't even know he was pretending. Please just trust me on that." Harry stepped back. "How? How can I trust you, Peter. You lied to me about being Spider-Man. You lied to me about MJ. You lied to MJ, for gods sake!" Harry never knew how badly he needed Peter until now. He has to keep this up though. Peter needs to earn his trust back. Peter has to get down and beg to be forgiven. Then, and only then, will Harry forgive Peter. Until he has no where else to go and no one left to turn to. "I know. I know I lied to her, okay? But I didn't lie to you. I would never ever lie to you, Harry. I couldn't tell you I was Spider-Man. You'd never speak to me again. You would tell your father and he'd hurt me, he'd hurt Aunt May."
"You don't know that! How can you know that! If you just told me, for fucks sake! If you had just told me and let me help you! I could have helped you, Peter! Why can't you see that? Jesus Christ! You're.. Fuck! You're such an idiot, Pete! You're a fucking idiot, you know that? For someone who is 'so incredibly smart', you're really dumb." Harry shot back, staring back at Peter with tears in his eyes. Peter saw the regret in Harry's eyes. God knows that Peter wished he could wipe his tears. Just sit down with him on the couch and hold him, but he can't. Despite everything, Peter loves Harry. Peter Parker loves Harry Osborn, and Harry hates him? Harry blames him for the death of his father, and there is nothing he can do about it.
"Harry, just listen, okay? Please." Peter asked, quietly. "Okay. Alright, sorry. Keep going." "Okay. I'm really sorry I didn't tell you, Harry. I mean it. If I was confident you would be safe, I would have told you, but I wasn't. I was scared, okay? If you found out.. If you knew then you could have gotten hurt. I don't ever want you getting hurt, Harry. You're the reason I do this. You're the reason I'm Spider-Man. To protect other people, yeah, but also to protect you. Every time a criminal gets sent to jail with my help, I feel better because I know that it's one less person who could do something to hurt you. I want you to know that I love you. I-I know that you don't. I know. You don't need to say it, but I do. I need you to know that I'm here. I'm someone who can be here for you, Peter. I am here for you. You have me. Whenever you want. You don't ever have to talk to me again if you don't want, but please know that I am here for you and I love you so much. I'm so sorry about what happened to Norman. I really am. I'll never forgive myself for how it ended." A tear drop fell from Peter's cheek. Harry stared at Peter, completely broken and torn from the feelings. He was confident that Peter had done it, and now? God, how could he think such horrible things about his friend. His.. friend. Friend. How could Harry think Peter would do something like that.
"I'm.." Harry couldn't do it. He felt sick. Like he was going to vomit. He felt like someone had just punched him in the gut and kicked him to the ground. "Oh, god, Peter.. I.." Peter stepped towards Harry. "It's okay." Harry shook his head as he stepped closer to Peter. "No.. It's.. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." Peter wrapped his arms around his best friend. "It's okay. You have no reason to apologise. It's gonna be okay, I promise." Peter held Harry as he cried. "I didn't want to think.. I didn't.. I should have.." Peter sat down with Harry and held him, keeping him close. "It's okay, Harry. I know. It's not your fault, I'm not mad. Your dad would be so proud of you. I am proud of you. It's all okay." Harry stopped crying, he just shook as Peter rubbed his back. "It's.. are we okay? I'm really.. I feel so shitty. I fucked up so badly. I'm so sorry for accusing you of.. that. I just.. he's the only one I had left. You know, mom's out of the picture and MJ barely wants to talk to me. I don't have any other actual friends besides you. You and Dad are the only ones I had left and then.. well once I found out dad died. After he told me.. after I thought it was you? I just.. I didn't know what to do. I was alone." Peter nodded as if nothing made more sense.
"I know. It's okay. I understand, Harry. It's okay. We're okay." Harry nodded. He smiled softly and hugged Peter. "Thank you. I.. Thank you." Peter smiled, moving to look Harry in the eyes. "Of course. Are you.. are you alright? I mean obviously not, but do you.. do you wanna do something? We can watch a movie and order something in? I know you like doing stuff like that." Harry nodded, moving to sit up, but not too far away from Peter. "Okay. Yeah, I'd like that." Harry spoke softly, trying not to speak to loud as his throat hurt from screaming. "Okay. You can take a bath if you want. I'll pick out a movie if that's okay? I'll also order the food." Harry smiled. Despite Peter giving his idea, Harry didn't move. He enjoyed being with Peter. He loved his Spider-Man. "Okay." Peter got up and Harry followed shortly after. "You know where the bathroom is, I'll get everything ready." Peter hugged Harry and walked into the other room, leaving Harry standing alone. Harry felt intense guilt as Peter left. He held back tears as he walked to the closet, picking out some clothes to wear.
Peter Parker is Spider-Man.
Of course he was.
The son of the Green Goblin was in love with Spider-Man.