Chapter 5
Harley hadn’t always been so confident. Sure, he had always had fire to him but it took a long time (and finally a move to New York) for him to not be seen as lesser than his peers from the first introduction.
He remembers the moment that he finally understood why everyone had always kept their distance from him like it happened yesterday.
It was a normal day at first. The country sun burned down on the group of school boys as they sat by the lake. His best friend at the time, Chester, with his legs over Harley’s, lay sprawled on the grass with his arms above his head.
Harley had only looked down from the book he was reading for a second, eyes too drawn to the strained muscle of his friend’s arms, but that was all it took. He remembers the shout from another boy in their class. Just a shout for his friend to join them, but it was too quick. Or rather, Harley wasn’t quick enough to look away and the moment Chester opened his eyes and saw him looking down, he knew their friendship was over.
Sure, the additional slur that was spat at him as his ‘friend’ shoved him away and ran off to join the others in the lake definitely confirmed it but he had already known. He had realised in that moment that the way he looked at the other boy was not normal. He was not normal.
And yet, that didn’t bother him so much.
No. What bothered him was the fact that somehow everyone else had known before he had any idea, and nobody ever thought to tell him.
That night he went straight to his mother, voice scratchy as he explained the day’s events, only to see the understanding in her eyes and flinch away.
“Mom, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what, dear?”
He had shaken his head in disbelief and ran up to his room. Was she ashamed of him? Could she not say it out loud?
The next morning at breakfast she had held his hand and sighed before telling him there was nothing wrong with him, and honestly in the relief of having his mother support him he forgot all about his concern for how everyone knew before him.
He didn’t expect for the issue to come back up years later as he whispered to an AI in his ceiling in the early hours of the morning.
Harley had been unable to fall asleep since him and Peter had split off to their separate rooms for the night, too caught up in the revelation that those ‘feelings’ he had once had for Chester had reared their ugly head again. An untamable fondness for his new roommate ached in his chest to the point he had to ask the AI if it was normal.
“It is entirely possible you cared for Peter before you had met him, Tony sure seemed to talk about him enough.” Karen had suggested it so casually. He frowned.
“Did you know this would happen?”
“I’m not psychic, so no. However, I did perceive a high possibility of close friendship or more between the two of you based on your shared interests and compatibility.”
Harley’s body warmed with a dark flush settling over his skin. “Peter and I are just friends.”
“For now.” She answered harmlessly, not understanding how dangerous just putting the idea into Harley’s head was.
That was why, the next day when he walked out into the living area and Peter asked him what they were doing that day-
“I’m going to work.”
“Sorry, what? Why?” Peter frowned, rubbing at his wrists subtly, worrying he had done something to offend the blonde.
“Well… I have to go eventually or Tony will start to think I’m dead. And besides, you can occupy yourself for a day can’t you?” His explanation comes out rushed as he practically dances around the kitchen, not stopping to look at the other as he frantically pours coffee and tosses a breakfast bar into his bag.
“I mean, yeah. Yeah I guess so.” Peter replies, frozen in place, watching him as he goes straight for the door.
“Great, thanks. Uh, sorry for rushing, I just don’t want to be late.” Harley rambles.
“It’s fine. Have a good day?” He doesn’t mean for it to sound like a question but the pace of everything has him so flustered.
Harley pauses with his hand on the lock of the front door. He turns back and finally looks at Peter. Before his brain can talk him out of it, he steps closer to him and pulls him into a tight hug. The brunette tenses up in shock but he still returns the hug, arms lifting to pat his roommate's back.
“Call me if you need me.”
With that, it’s almost like Harley is the one with superpowers because he is gone in a flash.
Peter remains frozen, staring at the door for a moment, mouth opening and closing in pure confusion before he stumbles back to sit on the sofa.
“Karen, what just happened?”
“Figuratively or literally?” The AI whirs, causing Peter to roll his eyes and flap his hands.
“Forget it, I’m sure he’s just nervous for his first day.” Karen stays silent at that while he pulls himself together and sits up straighter. “Well, if I have the day to myself, any suggestions what I should do?”
Karen, ever helpful and aware of how sidetracked her pseudo-son can get without instruction, just prints him out a list which he hears buzz down the hall. He gives his thanks and goes to retrieve it, giving it a quick scan and picking the first thing that jumps out at him.
“Lab time certainly sounds good right now.” He mumbles to himself mulling it over in his head. “But, legos…”
“How about you do both, Peter?” The young man smiles at the AI’s solution. The day looked like it would be more fun than he thought.
However, while Peter had moved on from the morning’s awkwardness, it was all Harley could think about as he rode his bike to the tower. Perhaps that’s why he wasn’t remotely prepared when he actually made it and Tony Motherfucking Stark appeared in all his glory to welcome him to the building.
He hadn’t considered how difficult it would end up being for him to keep Peter to himself until the web-slinger was ready to see Tony, and right now he was struggling to maintain his composure as his boss (well honestly he’s more like some crazy uncle) pulled him into a tight hug.
“Keener, I have missed you! How’s the country been treating you? You settled into the city well?” With a fatherly clap on the shoulder he pulls away and Harley takes a breath.
“You sound old, stop being so formal we literally spoke on the phone a few days ago.” He bashes shoulders with the flamboyant man gently, not that he would admit it but he was still wary of accidentally hurting Tony after everything.
Tony rolls his eyes. “Fine, fine. Be a brat, can’t a man be curious what his protege has been getting up to on his first few days in New York?”
“You mean besides settling into the huge penthouse I told you not to buy me? I have a personal lab for christ’s sake!” A hand closes over his mouth as the old man tuts condescendingly.
“The blasphemy-”
“Oh as if you haven’t said things a million times worse today alone, Tony.” A melodic voice to the tune of heels clicking calls to them. Harley smiles wide as he pushes Tony aside to envelope Pepper in a warm hug.
“How ever do you put up with him, Peps?” She snorts at the question as well as the nickname.
“The same way your future partner will have to put up with you no doubt.” She teases, bringing a light pink to the young man’s cheeks, swatting away her motherly touch fussing with his hair.
“Now, Harley is on the clock right now so he has to do some actual work-” she glares at Tony, threat clear in her eyes, “-and he isn’t the only one mister.”
Tony groans but accepts his fate, placing a kiss on her cheek before dragging a still flapping Harley behind him and up to the lab to ‘do some actual work’.
It obviously doesn’t take long before all pretence of working evaporates and they’re just chatting, mocking each other to their heart's content.
“-handcuffs in my drawer?!” Tony’s laughter had been non-stop as Harley chastised him for everything within his home; from the size of it to the price of the furniture; until it had come to this and his laughter became full-on breathless cackling as he struggled to hold himself upright.
“Not to mention putting an actual AI into my home-”
“You found her already?” Tony’s laughter dies off, an impressed smirk taking over his features instead. Harley rubs at the back of his neck.
“Uh, yeah. I mean, it wasn’t hard.” The older man lifts an eyebrow.
“Not hard? How exactly did you find her then? How’s she treating you?” The younger racks his brain for answers he can give his boss.
“Oh well, um… I figured you’d pull some kind of secret surveillance bullshit so I scanned the walls for hidden wiring and saw there was something in there, knocked it to see how hollow it was and yeah.” He was immensely thankful for his years of improv classes at that moment, and the fact that Tony knew nothing about the theatrical side of his life. Without those classes he was sure his face would have given something away.
“Potato with a brain.” The annoying genius jokes, earning a particularly unimpressed glare from Harley.
“Yes. That. And she’s cool, I’ve named her Karen and she’s been helpful in giving me insider tips for living in New York.” Perfect, that would be a great cover for anything Peter tells him that he lets slip and would have no way of knowing. He mentally pats himself on the back for that one.
“K.A.R.E.N?” Tony grimaces. “What does that stand for?”
“It doesn’t stand for anything, I’m not you.” Harley notes to ask Peter if the name did actually stand for anything.
“That’s boring, but whatever, it’s your AI.” That comment stings a little as he knows that Karen is not his but he can’t tell Tony that, not yet.
They settle back into a comfortable mix of banter and tinkering, Tony explaining how he will show him around next time he’s there because Pepper would be dragging them upstairs for dinner. He had been given free reign of his schedule especially because he had his own lab at home and could technically work from there. At least, that was the case for now while he was simply working as a ‘personal lab assistant’ to Tony and not an official employee in any capacity. Harley was kind of thankful for that, he appreciated having the time to adjust to moving across the country (and having a certain spider to help out).
It isn’t until late that night that he finally gets to return back to the apartment after countless questions from the Stark family about what he has been up to, how he’s feeling, and more. Morgan had been particularly insistent on getting him to stay as long as humanly possible, almost getting to the point of using those dangerous puppy dog eyes of hers to convince Tony into giving Harley a room in the tower.
When he finally did crash through the front door with an over the top groan, complaints about Tony dripping from his tongue like they’re the only words he knows, he’s imagining the kind of reaction he’s used to. He thinks of how his mother and sister would shake their heads fondly at his complaints before his mother would beckon him to the table, food already lay out.
So when what he got instead was Peter launching himself from the couch, legos scattering across the floor as he LITERALLY ATTACHES HIMSELF TO THE CEILING, well Harley couldn’t help but laugh.
After a moment of staring at each other in shock, the blonde’s faked pout turns into an overjoyed smirk as he bends in half, unable to contain himself.
“Peter. What the fuck?” He rasps out breathlessly between bursts of laughter, tearing his eyes away from the brunette who slips back onto the ground having adopted the pout Harley wore as he came through the door.
“Yeah yeah, laugh it up.” Peter crouches to the ground, making to start picking up the lego pieces as a way of hiding the embarrassed flush on his cheeks.
“How are you so jumpy? What happened to your senses?” Harley asks, walking closer as he collects himself, wiping at his eyes as if he had cried in his giggle fit. Peter shakes his head at his Tony-like behaviour.
“Don’t see you as a threat.” He attempts to make it sound teasing through his lingering embarrassment, succeeding enough to earn a huff and murmured whines of offence. Soon the offended male joins him on the floor, collecting the lego pieces helpfully.
“Is this what you’ve been up to today then?” He prompts as they lay the pieces back onto the table beside the half built structure.
“Mostly yeah. Had to find something to occupy my time and seeing as I’m banned from web-slinging Karen went against my lab plans.” Harley tilts his head at Peter, eyebrows creasing together.
“But why can’t you work on gear, so long as you aren’t using it?” He questions, both boys standing and walking over to the kitchen island to lean against it and chat.
“If I may, I went against his lab plans because he was beginning to get over excited and I worried he would become upset about being unable to use the new equipment he planned to install.” Karen answered, causing Harley to nod in understanding, lips pursed as he absorbed the explanation. Peter looked at him in disbelief.
“Do you agree with her? You’re both so mean to me-” Harley chuckled to himself as Peter’s rant continued against their AI.
His eyes tracked the expression on the younger man’s face. The way his jaw was set from the pout of his bitten pink lips that wrapped around his arguments with a Stark flare, how his cheeks remained a shade darker from his earlier embarrassment, and the sparkle in his sunken eyes. Peter looks so content, even in his exaggerated frustrations.
Bags under his eyes or not, this boy does not understand how beautiful he is.
Harley chokes on his own breath. Peter’s head whips around to look at him.
“You okay?” Brown eyes squint in concern, taking in the suddenly wide eyes and straight spine Harley has acquired during his rant.
“Yeah.” He coughs. “Just- Uh…” He turns to the fridge, shaky hands pulling it open to yank out a bottle of water. “Need water, didn’t realise how thirsty I was.”
Peter looks unconvinced but doesn’t push it. Even though he can hear Harley’s rapidly beating heart, it isn’t any of his business if he accidentally triggered some kind of memory that panicked his friend or something.
The moment passes as they wind down from the hectic welcome home, both settling onto the couch while discussing their separate days. It’s… peaceful. Which in modern New York City was very hard to come by.
If you were the kind of person to believe in destiny and fate, you could say that them meeting was written in the stars as both boys slotted into each other’s space like puzzle pieces. Their voices, their laughter, their very souls seem to fit together in a way that settles all of the worry soaked bone deep under their skin. And it’s clear that both of them feel it.
Maybe that’s why, despite the pleasant conversation and calm atmosphere, Harley’s mind reels, because even if Peter feels this same deep trust and connection that he does, he certainly can’t be feeling the same electricity he is when his skin brushes against the hero next to him. Peter can’t be caught up in his eyes like he is in Peter’s, fixated on the way they dilate and shrink as he switches between topics. Most certainly, his heart can’t be aching the same as Harley’s is as he keeps reminding himself-
Peter loves MJ.
So, the southern boy bites down the feelings bubbling in his throat. It’s an infatuation. It will pass. Sure, he and Peter compliment each other well but they’ve only known each other formally for a few days, surely a time will come where they clash and bicker. It’s just a crush. A silly little crush. Certainly not worth harbouring, nothing will come of it except heartache and he knows it.
But oh how Harley aches anyway.
His heart pleads for their brief moments of contact, longs for their late night talks as each day passes, and as days turn to weeks suddenly a month has gone by.
As time passed Peter just looked healthier and healthier, to Karen and Harley’s joy he was beginning to feel at home, no longer on edge like he was about to be alone again. A month does not erase two years but the progress was certainly clear and they were overjoyed.
Of course, that time only meant the two of them got closer, that friendship Tony had insisted would happen was blossoming more and more day by day (friendship Harley! Don’t even think about it) with that natural ease they had from the start. In all honesty, Harley found it difficult at times when the spider hero would waltz into the living room and drape himself across his lap to complain about how much he missed his patrols; but he ignores it.
The patrols though, were what shifted things. As soon as Karen, the all-knowing, gave her blessing for Peter to start patrolling again the young man was frantically grabbing his suit, Harley’s laughter his backing track.
It was only once he had the full suit on, body facing the slowly opening window, that he turned to who he considered his best friend and considered what this could do.
“Harley, I don’t want you to be waiting for me and worrying.” He mumbles through gritted teeth, gesturing to the anxious way the blonde was rubbing his palms despite his encouraging smile.
Said smile flickers, blue eyes glistening with a mix of understanding and guilt. “Peter, I’m going to worry. I’m sorry but that's unavoidable.”
Peter sighs and slumps against the blonde’s chest, wrapping Harley in his distractingly strong arms and squeezing lightly. “I’m not made of glass, Harls.”
Harley tips his head back to take a deep breath, desperately trying to contain his reaction to the nickname Peter has taken to calling him. “I know.”
He brings his cheek down to press against the shorter boy’s temple, letting his hands grasp the back of the suit possessively. “Karen is going to call me if you get hurt, I know precautions are in place. It still doesn’t stop me from worrying. Darlin’ I-”
He pulls back from the embrace, palms running down the hero’s arms to hold his wrists gently just beneath the web shooters. Masked eyes look up at him, curiosity somehow visible despite the protective layers.
“I care about you too much to suddenly not worry.” The weight of the conversation lies heavy in the air as Peter gasps out his name, only to be cut off with a finger to his covered mouth.
“However…I believe in you. I would never try to stop you. Just come home safe. Please.”
Peter’s eyes mist over and he blinks away tears threatening to spill from looking at the affection in Harley’s gaze. “Harls…”
Serious expression melting into a warm smile, Harley’s voice sinks to a whisper. “Go on, Spider-Man.”
With a deep breath and a nod, Spider-Man throws himself out of the window, taking that thick fog of an atmosphere with him.
Harley lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
Home. He will come home.