Asset
Peter wasn’t sure how he ended up wrapped in baby blue robes with delicate golden blossom designs, but somehow he had. It made him stand out like an oriental doll. He was thankful that Norman hadn’t demanded full-length ones though. These just grazed the back of his calves as he walked arm in arm with his alpha up the steps to the town hall.
“I wouldn’t worry about anyone here, Pete.” Norman smiled and kept his eyes fixed on the open front door. It was lit up and the gentle sound of string instruments drifted from the lobby. “No one would dare touch you.”
And they wouldn’t. Any omega here- and Norman knew there would be a few- would clearly already be owned.
Peter exhaled and turned his head to look up at the man. He was planning on sticking close to his side anyway. Attending a large event so soon unnerved him. It was only their first week together.
As they reached the entrance he noticed how another suited alpha stopped dead in his conversation to gawk at him. He gave the man a polite smile and let himself be escorted inside.
His eyes wandered across the open hall, scanning over the formally dressed guests, over the orchestra, over the gold-plated bar. The side doors were open and led out onto the back of the property. Peter had only seen it from the skyline, but he knew that the lush garden was well-kept and beautiful. It was something that only the royalty of New York got to see.
Norman reached into his pocket and held out a card. Peter took it and inspected it quickly. He felt his throat go dry. It was a credit card. With his name on.
“I’ll be putting your allowance on that weekly. You’re free to spend the million I’ve already given you of course, but I think it would be nice to continue to treat you.” The alpha paused, looking around the lobby. “It might teach you how to manage your money… which I understand the working class needs a good lesson in.”
Peter raised an eyebrow as the bold assumption sank in. Annoyance twisted in his gut. The reason he didn’t have money was because only a couple of months ago he’d been a literal high school student. Sure, he’d had a couple of jobs but they’d barely paid for the necessities. His Aunt had been scraping the rent together and she’d been struggling since Ben’s death. It was hardly a case of money management but more of circumstance.
Peter bit back his sharp response, telling himself that someone as wealthy as Norman Osborn just couldn’t understand or relate to their struggles.
“Thank you.”
“You can go shopping… or to the spa with your friends… or maybe…” The alpha’s head twisted around, clearly done with the conversation. Peter realized that he was searching for someone. “I told Harry to be here tonight. He better not have bailed on me again.”
Peter shifted from one foot to the other and bit his lip. He scanned the room too trying to find the boy with slicked-back dark waves. The leathery scent was filling his nose again; a ghostly reminder of the effect that Harry had had on him the other day. He hadn’t seen him since.
“Maybe you should call him.”
“Good idea.” Norman fumbled for his phone and at the same time awkwardly handed his omega another payment card- his own. “You go and get the drinks. I’ll have an Old Fashioned. Large.”
Alcohol. Great. Peter stalled, not sure if Norman had already forgotten his age, or if he just didn’t care.
“But Norman, they won’t serve me-”
“They will.” He cut Peter off and a smile twisted onto his face. He looked at the boy as though he was the stupidest creature on earth. “Just flutter your pretty little eyelashes and tell them who your alpha is if they dare ask. No one argues with an Osborn.”
Peter took the card and swallowed.
“Order yourself something fruity too.”
The boy nodded mechanically and turned to walk towards the bar, squeezing the card between his fingers. He’d drunk before. The first time had been at MJ’s house pre-spider bite. They’d raided her stepfather’s liquor cabinet for ‘taste-testing’ and had both agreed that it was all awful.
The second time had been with Wade. Not wanting to give his age away Peter had accepted a beer and had reluctantly swallowed the bitter drink. That had been the first and only time he’d accepted going into the merc’s apartment. Wade, as kind as he was, had been a little pushy. He’d probably thought it as a bonding activity and the cheesy rom-com musical that he’d put on was enough to give Peter a sign that he should be leaving.
His swing had felt a little wobbly on the way home. That had been the night that he’d realized that Wade’s feelings for him ran deeper than playful flirting.
-
The bartender stared Peter down as he approached.
“Hey. So my alpha says he wants something called an Old Fashioned- but make it really large.” The boy bit his lip, wondering if he should just order a coke. Norman probably wouldn’t like that. He wanted him to try to fit in. “And that I should get something fruity.”
The bartender huffed in amusement and reached to grab a large whisky glass. He pulled a bottle of bourbon off the back wall. Peter's eyes locked onto it, remembering the bottle that Harry had sat with at their breakfast together.
It seemed that father and son had similar tastes.
“Okay ‘baby.’ What cocktails do you like?” The man smirked to himself and Peter realized that he was mocking him. Perhaps it wasn’t mean. It sounded like teasing but he felt ruffled by it anyway. “How about a Blue Lagoon to match those pretty robes?”
“Um… yeah… sure.”
He observed the bartender as he poured an ungodly amount of vodka with the rest of the mix before serving it into a highball glass. The shaved ice dusted the top like froth merging from the sea.
“Let me guess… you’re Osborn’s new boy?” He wedged a slice of orange onto the side of the glass.
“Yeah, I am.” A strange tension prickled at Peter’s neck. The stranger had hooked him with that sentence alone. He had a knowing smile on his face; a hint of a secret that Peter didn’t know and was afraid to ask.
“Just… watch yourself around him. I’ve heard he’s not as nice as he makes himself out to be. Especially towards his omegas.”
Peter turned his head to search the crowd for Norman again. The man was still standing near the entrance. A volatile scowl scrunched at his face and he gestured angrily with his free hand as he shouted down the phone. It seemed like Harry was getting a mouthful.
The omega turned his attention back to the bar.
“Thanks… but so far he’s been really sweet to me.” Peter wouldn’t be naive to completely ignore the warning though. He thought back to how nasty Norman had been toward the omega he’d given the boot.
“Oh, darling.” The man shook his head. “They always are at first.”
He dropped a pink umbrella and straw into the glass and offered Peter the card machine without question.
-
“Ah. There you are. No problems I hope?” Norman beckoned Peter as he approached with the drinks. He stole the fancy-looking whiskey from him without wasting a second and brought it to his lips.
Peter eyed the strange Asian man who was now standing with his alpha. He was dressed in a black suit and looked at least a decade younger. “No problems, no.” He forced a smile and quickly, not wanting to appear rude, greeted the newcomer. “Hi.”
“Hello.” The man gave him a suave smile. “You won’t remember me but I placed a bid on you back at the auction house… but unfortunately there’s no competing with Norman or Stark when it comes to fresh omegas.” He joked jubilantly, sounding unoffended by Norman’s success. “Maybe I’ll get you next time.”
Norman snorted. “If he continues to be the angel that he has been since he got here, you won’t be getting him at all.”
Peter fiddled with his straw and then gave it a gentle suck, tasting the blue drink for the first time. It was good. Better than anything he’d tried before. Maybe he really would need alcohol if he were to continue kissing his alpha’s ass all night. He reached out to take Norman’s arm, knowing that he would like that.
“That’s really nice of you, Sir… but I really like Norman… and if he offers me a second term I might have to consider it.” He hugged him closer and felt a wave of relief when Norman turned his head to fondly kiss his hair.
The Asian man’s eyes darkened and his whole pleasant demeanor dropped at the sweet sight in front of him. Then he was laughing again. Peter felt his neck tingle and he looked around, searching for the invisible threat.
Nothing. The maniacal chuckle just rang in his ears.
“I wonder if your omega will be considered one of your ‘assets’ when I sue you? Who knows, I might get him along with your billions after what you did to me.”
The man turned, and without even looking back, stormed out of the building. A rumble of thunder crashed overhead, deafening the music.
-
“I wouldn’t worry about Martin Li, Pete.” Norman settled into a plush couch in the corner of the room. The ice in his glass clattered and he rolled his eyes to himself. “He’s under the impression that Oscorp did something to him years ago. He’s a fucking loon.”
Peter sank down next to his alpha and clasped his drink in both hands. Oscorp had done something to him too. He’d interned there on and off over the years. That’s how he’d gotten the damn spider bite.
It wasn’t impossible that this strange man had been affected by them too.
Norman fumbled in his pocket for something and then sidled closer, his hand hovering close to Peter’s drink, then he was waving at the door.
“Oh good. Harry is here. Finally.”
Peter turned his attention away from Norman and his drink and instead swizzled his head to look at the entrance.
“What the hell is he wearing!?” The man cursed and pulled himself to his feet. His face was red and his gaze steely as he observed his son’s attire.
The older boy waved to a couple of people he recognized before heading over to greet them.
“Evening, Father.” A smirk tugged at his lips as he took a seat in the adjacent armchair. “Thought I’d stop by before I go to a real party. It’s the weekend after all.”
Long gone was the dark suit that he’d been wearing to intimidate Peter the other morning. He lounged in the chair, looking reminiscent of James Dean. His leather jacket hung open and his casual white t-shirt hugged his frame. Peter’s eyes scanned over him and he shifted in his seat and crossed his legs. Suddenly, he felt like the soft silk garments he was wearing were far too thin.
Harry caught his gaze and raised his eyebrows. “You look nice today, Peter Parker. Very spruced up.”
Norman’s jaw clenched at his cheekiness and swagger. “You’ve been drinking again.”
“I actually haven’t tonight. I came on the bike and I intend to leave on it too.” Harry glanced at the blue concoction in Peter’s hand and flicked his eyes back to his father. “And you can hardly chastise me for it when you’re buying your sugar baby booze. Isn’t he younger than me?”
The omega glanced down at his drink and stirred it with his straw. The strange powder that had been sprinkled on top mixed in with the ice and he took another unaware suck.
“You come here dressed like a brat for all my acquaintances to see. Then you take off again to get drunk and high. If this continues, Harry, then I really will be forcing you into rehab again.”
Norman placed his hands on his hips, looking like a schoolteacher who was giving a lecture. People were already starting to glance over thanks to his aggressive-sounding voice.
“I’m not doing drugs, dad.”
“Well you’re not doing anything constructive either, are you!?” The older alpha snapped. “I need a son that will step up. I need you to commit to learning how our business works! I need you to stop acting the fool all the damn time!”
Peter had drained most of his drink. He didn’t know where else to put his face during this squabble, which was quickly becoming more and more heated. A low rumble echoed from Harry’s throat and he recognized it as a challenging growl. He was thinking about scrapping with his own father. Right here. Right now.
He was out of control.
“I’m going to go to the restroom!” The omega shot up, purposefully getting in between the two alphas to break their line of sight on each other. He’d prevented fights as Spider-Man. He’d even managed to break a few up.
As he stepped forward, he suddenly felt dizzy.
Harry seemed to calm instantly as his attention was snapped away. He watched as Peter swayed a little and reached out to offer his arm, thinking the other was going to trip. His eyes settled on the almost empty glass in his hand and plucked it from him and placed it down on the coffee table.
The stuff they served here was strong and Peter clearly wasn’t a drinker.
“Woah, careful Pete.” His smirk was back.
“Harry? Why don’t you come with me?” Peter suggested, taking his arm. He was still trying to make the situation better. If he could get him away from Norman for a while it might calm them both down. “I don’t like going on my own.”
Harry raised his eyebrow at his seemingly tipsy state. Okay. He’d bite. Only because he knew it would piss Norman off more than anything else right now. He turned to look at the older alpha and gave a little shrug.
“Guess I'm taking Peter to the restroom." He paused and then landed the final blow. "You know, it’s a sad day when your omega likes me more than you.”
Harry gave his father a cheeky wink before leading Peter across the hall by the arm, taking care to swerve him out of the way of upper-class socialites.