saudade

After Harry got expelled from another private school his father sent him to, he was finally allowed to go to Midtown High since there was no private school left that he didn’t already get expelled from and his father didn’t have any other option left. He was finally going to the same school as his best friend and crush Peter, and it didn’t take much time until Peter and him got together.

But of course, Harry couldn’t tell his father about their relationship so whenever he was asked why he visited Peter, he told his father that Peter tutors him. It wasn’t exactly a lie since Peter actually tutored him but only once a week and they met quite often to hang out or go on dates.

Today was the day in the week when he went to Peter’s house so he could help him with his maths exercises but after that Harry had the plan to ask Peter if he wants to go in the city to get some ice cream – Harry would pay of course – as a reward for all the effort he put into making a better student out of Harry.

When he rang the doorbell, Aunt May welcomed him with a hug. “You’re looking good today. Peter is upstairs. Do you want a piece of strawberry cake?”

“I’d love to try a piece of your cake. Your cakes taste divine”, Harry answered with a smile as he entered the house. May made the best cakes he ever tried, and he could never refuse any of her offers.

“Thank you, dear.” She smiled brightly. “You go upstairs, and I’ll bring you two your cakes and a cup of coffee.”

“Wait, I help you”, he offered and followed her into the kitchen.

“Oh, that’s very polite of you, Harry, dear, but you should go upstairs to study. I can manage that alone.” She gave him a look that told him there was no point in discussion. He couldn’t help but smile. Aunt May was such a lovely person to have around you.

He did as he was told and found Peter in his room. “Hi, Pete.” As always, his mood was lifted only by the sight of his boyfriend. He placed a soft kiss on Peter’s nose. “What do you think about having some ice cream?”

“But first we do your maths exercises”, Peter ordered. “I’m not up to discussion.”

“Aye, Captain.”

“We better finish your work quickly”, Peter murmured.

Harry giggled. He knew Peter loved ice cream and that he would do anything to get it.

They sat down at Peter’s desk and Harry got the exercises out of his backpack. Peter let him try to solve the tasks on his own but when he didn’t know what to do or when he got something wrong, Peter interrupted him and explained him his mistakes. Then they continued the task together.

“Harry, you’re not concentrated”, Peter sighed, “You did really well at first but now you make such unnecessary mistakes. What’s up with you?”

“I’m sorry, I’ll try to do better”, Harry muttered. He was ashamed of himself.

“Should I explain it to you one more time?”

Harry nodded but when Peter started explaining again, he didn’t really listen to what he said. He rather admired Peter who passionately explained the topic to him. Peter was so enthusiastic and adorable while explaining something.

“Harry!”, Peter scolded him, “You’re not paying attention.” But Harry didn’t react. He couldn’t help but staring at Peter’s lips. Oh, how much he wanted to kiss those lips. “Harold Osborn, you’re not listening to me!”

Harry was jolted out of his thoughts. “Huh?”

“Do you pay any attention at all?”

“Sorry, it’s just … you’re so cute when you explain maths.”

Peter blushed. That was an answer he didn’t expect.

It knocked on the door and Aunt May entered the room. “I’m just here to bring you two boys some food for your nerves. Are your exercises going well?” She placed the tablet with the cake and coffee on the desk.

“If Harry were listening to me, they would go way better”, Peter said.

“I’m sorry but your adorableness distracts me”, Harry defended himself and took a bite of the cake. “May, you outdid yourself again. The cake is marvellous.”

“You two are adorable. I’ll give you another piece to take home with you, Harry.”

“Now we take a little break and then I’ll explain it to you one more time so we can get that stuff done before we can continue with something we enjoy more. But it depends on your concentration”, Peter instructed like a real teacher.

“You’d be a great teacher, you know”, Harry said, “I wish we could replace Mr. Anderson with you.”

Peter laughed but he appreciated his compliment. He was glad he could help Harry.

“You really love Aunt May’s cake, don’t you?”, he said as he watched Harry eating Peter’s piece of cake.

Harry tried to look innocent, but it didn’t really work. “If we share a flat after school, you have to bring her with you.”

“I’m sure Uncle Ben wouldn’t be very happy with it”, Peter smiled, “But I can ask her if she bakes a cake for your birthday.”

“But that will take so looong.”

“Well, you have to be patient, I guess. But I know exactly how to pass the time.” Peter kissed Harry’s cheek. “We will do maths.”

Harry groaned unwillingly.

Like Peter had instructed, he explained the topic one more time and Harry did his exercises. It went way better than before, and Harry even managed to do the difficult exercises on his own. After he had finished the exercises, Peter corrected mistakes where it was necessary, and Harry didn’t do many mistakes

“You did very well today”, Peter praised him and leaned forwards to kiss him. He could feel the smile on Harry’s soft lips as he kissed him.

“And now we get some ice cream”, Peter said after their kiss.

Harry grinned and nodded in agreement.

They went downtown to their favourite ice cream parlour. It was a small but cosy café. They sat down at a little table in the corner near the window. Harry liked to have a look on what’s happening on the streets.

“Would you like to place your order?”, the waitress asked.

“I’d like to have a spaghetti ice cream”, Peter said.

“And I’d like a strawberry sundae”, Harry added.

“Of course, thank you for your order.” The waitress walked away.

“I want to make Aunt May and Uncle Ben happy, and they could need some money and I found an ad for a wrestling competition where you can win a lot of money”, Peter told him.

“Pete, if your family has financial problems, I can help you. You can always come to me with your problems”, Harry said.

Peter shook his head. “I know and I’m grateful for that, but I can’t take your money and I’m sure my aunt and uncle don’t want to take it from you either. I’ll participate in that wrestling thing.”

“Are you sure?” Harry gave him a concerned look. “I know you can fight. Everybody knows after you beat up Flash, but wrestling is a whole different level. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

The waitress came back with their orders, and they thanked her.

“There is no need to worry about me, I know what I’m doing”, Peter assured him.

Harry frowned in confusion. There was something going on with Peter that he didn’t understand. “Can I help you with that competition thing?”

“If you help me hiding it from Aunt May and Uncle Ben, it will be the greatest help you could give me.”

“Of course, I will.” And Harry meant it. Peter helped him with his father so he didn’t have to out himself in front of his father and now he could finally do something in return.  

They ate their ice cream while talking about other things. Harry indicated to the waitress that he wanted to pay.

“How much does it cost?”, Peter asked him.

“I’ll pay for you.”

“Harry, I don’t want you to pay just because you know about our financial situation. I’m still independent”, Peter insisted.

“Pete, I know that very well, but I wanted to pay for you anyways. It was supposed to be some kind of thanks for all the effort you put into teaching me maths”, Harry explained.

Peter didn’t expect that. “Oh … thank you. But I teach you maths because I love you and because I want to help you and not to get something in return”, he muttered.

Harry couldn’t suppress a smile. “I know that, but I wanted to make you happy, and I know you love ice cream.” He leaned forwards and kissed him. “There is nothing wrong in accepting gifts from people who love you.”

Peter nodded shyly and Harry paid the waitress.

Harry walked Peter home and picked up his backpack in Peter’s room. “Good luck with that wrestling thing.” He placed a kiss on Peter’s forehead. “See ya.”

“Don’t forget your piece of strawberry cake”, Aunt May reminded him as he went downstairs. She handed him the plate wrapped in cling film. “I added another one for your father.”

“Thank you so much, that’s very kind of you. I’m sure he will be very delighted.”

“You’re a good boy, Harry, I’m glad Peter has you.” She placed a soft kiss on his cheek. “He’s behaving so strangely lately. Ben and I are worried about him.”

Internally, he agreed and thought of the weird plan Peter came up with, but he promised not to tell anyone, and he didn’t want to break that promise. “There is no need to worry, May. I can assure you he’s fine.”

She sighed in relief. “Get home safely, Harry.”

“I will. Have a good evening.”

Even though Peter assured him he knew what he was doing, Harry was still worried about his boyfriend.