saudade

“I might need some help over here”, Peter said as he saw Brock in front of him.

“Well, I’m a little busy right now”, Harry shouted as Sandman materialised directly before him. “Take my hand.”

Without questioning, Peter took it. Harry smashed Peter into sandman, not letting go of him.

“Now”, Peter demanded.

Harry let go of him. Peter crashed into Brock, and they flew a couple of metres wide. Harry took his glider and flew above Sandman. Then he activated the feature of spreading flames. Another part of Sandman’s body exploded. Now, Harry had pissed him off. Harry tried to escape but Sandman shoved him off the glider.

Harry fell but a hand caught him.

“I got you.” With Harry in his arms, Peter swung into the building.

Harry grabbed his glider again and they flew away before Sandman could get them.

The taxi was falling directly on Aunt May.

“Pete, on top!”, Harry yelled as he saw Aunt May falling. He grabbed Peter’s hand and threw him above time and again to make him reach his aunt faster.

“It doesn’t work”, Peter screamed, his voice full of fear. “She can’t die!”

Harry grabbed Peter and they shared his glider. They had to dodge Sandman.

“Can’t this thing fly faster?”, Peter shouted.

“I’m trying my best. Hold on”, Harry said, and they were getting nearer to Aunt May. “You have to jump. I’ll be there to catch you.”

So, Peter jumped. He caught Aunt May and like Harry promised, he was there. Peter shot a web at the glider and Harry flew them to a building nearby. Aunt May was safe.

“Are you okay?”, Peter asked.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Everything will be fine”, he assured her.

“Er, Pete? I could need some help”, Harry yelled in panic as Sandman almost got him.

Peter jumped off the edge and swung around Sandman to distract him from Harry. He was thrown into the scaffolding but at least Harry had a chance now.

Harry was flying around Sandman, throwing bombs at him. Sandman exploded and stumbled. Then he fell on the ground. He was destroyed.

But another shriek told Harry Peter was in danger. As Harry arrived, Peter was threatened by a blond man in a black suit with a blade in his hand.

He’d kill Peter.

Harry couldn’t let that happen. Not after everything they’ve been through.

As the dude raised his hand, Harry rammed him with his glider and tried to stab him. That guy grabbed his glider, making Harry bump against a bar. He fell on the ground with a couple of bars falling on him. By the sound of the bars hitting the ground the guy started to shriek.

Harry got up as he saw the guy approaching Peter with his glider, ready to stab him. Harry didn’t hesitate for a second. He jumped between them and gently cupped Peter’s face with his hands.

Then he pressed his lips against Peter’s.

At first, Peter hesitated but then he returned the kiss.

Harry passionately kissed Peter, knowing it will be their last kiss. Before he died, Harry wanted to feel Peter’s lips on his own again, to get to taste his sweet lips again. But Peter should feel he still loved him.

Peter should know Harry never stopped loving him.

Then the blade stabbed his body, and he was thrown aside. Harry fell off the edge.

“NO! Harry!”, Peter shrieked. The panic couldn’t be overheard. He tried everything to free himself from the webs that tied him up.

The mix of panic and anger made him strong again. Peter freed himself and picked up the blade so Brock couldn’t start another attempt to stab him. The he picked up some of the bars and made a hell of a noise.

Peter did it time and again until Brock was free of the symbiote. Then he threw one of Harry’s bombs onto the slime.

“What are you doing?”, Brock shouted and jumped straightforward into the explosion.

After the fire ended, nothing was left.

Peter needed to find Harry. He had to save him. Harry couldn’t die. He had to bring him to the hospital, no matter the costs. Harry couldn’t die because he did the right thing. It wasn’t fair.

Peter ran down the platform, but he was stopped by Flint Marko.

“I didn’t want this”, Marko said, “But I had no choice.”

“We always have a choice”, Peter countered. Harry had just proved that. “You had a choice when you killed my uncle. And now I have a choice to save my boyfriend.” He tried to shove Marko out of the way, but he held him back.

“My daughter was dying, and I needed money. I was scared.” Marko paused. “I told you all I wanted was the car. He asked me to put down the gun and go home. I realised just now that he was trying to help me. Then I saw my partner running over with the cash. And the gun was in my hand. I spent a lot of nights wishing I didn’t pull the trigger. I’m not asking you to forgive me, but I want you to understand.”

Peter struggled to hold back tears. That was a typical move of his uncle, trying to prevent other people from doing bad things. And who was Peter to judge? He had done so many terrible things. “I forgive you.” And Peter meant it.

Marko combusted to sand and the sand was blown away by the wind. Both had found their inner peace now that things were sorted out.

As fast as he could, Peter jumped down the floors, searching for Harry. He found Harry lying on the ground some floors below. Peter ran towards him. “I’ll get help. I won’t let you die”, he said, the desperation in his voice was impossible to overhear.

Harry weakly reached out for him, but his wound caused him too much pain. “No. Please, stay with me.”

“But you’ll die!”

“Just stay with me. Can you do that for me?”, Harry whispered.

Peter nodded, tears rolling down his cheeks. He’d do everything for him. He knelt next to Harry and took his hand. “I’m so sorry for everything that happened between us.”

“None of that matters, Pete. I know you didn’t kill my father. I forgive you. I love you. I never stopped loving you”, Harry assured him. Peter had to know that. “I’ve been terrible to you.”

“Don’t think of that, okay?” Peter squeezed his hand. “I love you, Harry, and that’s why I won’t be Spider-Man any longer.”

“No, Pete. New York needs you. I want you to be Spider-Man, okay? Be Spider-Man. For me.”

“Okay, I promise”, Peter sobbed. There couldn’t be any bigger proof of Harry’s forgiveness.

“I love you, my little spider”, Harry whispered.

Harry wouldn’t die alone. They sorted things out and Peter didn’t hate him. He had back the person he loved the most, even if it was just for a few minutes. And that was all that mattered to him. He found his inner peace.

In the last seconds of his life, Harry was genuinely happy.

Harry didn’t move anymore. His eyes were still fixed on Peter and his lips showed a little smile.

“I love you too, Harry, I love you so much”, Peter sobbed and buried his face in Harry’s chest. That he couldn’t hear Harry’s heartbeat anymore was too much to bear. Just as he thought everything would work out, he lost everything. Peter pressed Harry’s hand against his heart. “You can’t leave me. How am I supposed to carry on without you?”

Peter visited too many funerals within the last two years and this one was the hardest. Harry was now gone forever, leaving him behind in pieces.

Peter knelt in front of Harry’s grave. “Wherever you are, I hope you are happy. I hope you found peace. Because you deserve it. Maybe one day, we are united again.” He laid a dark red rose on the grave.

Aunt May blew her nose as she approached him. “I’m sure he’ll wait for you. He was a good boy. I owe him my life.”

Peter threw himself into her arms. “Aunt May, will it ever stop hurting?”

She gently kissed his forehead. “The pain will pass but the little hole that nothing can fill stays.”

“Peter? Can I do anything for you?” It was Gwen. She eyed him worriedly.

Aunt May left them alone so they could talk.

“I don’t think so but thank you for your offer. It means a lot to me. I’m sorry that I left you behind that afternoon”, he said and wiped away his tears.

“I forgive you. You weren’t ready for something new, were you?”

Peter nodded. “I thought I was but then I realised I wasn’t. I didn’t mean to hurt you or play with your feelings. You’re important to me.”

Gwen smiled a little. “I know. And I think I wasn’t ready either. But we will continue to be friends, right?”

“Right.” Peter pulled her into a tight hug.

“So, Harry was the one who showed you the little ice cream parlour?”, she asked.

“Yes. It was our first date.” Peter smiled but new tears rolled down his cheek.

“I have to thank him then. I’ve never eaten such a good ice cream in my entire life.” Gwen approached the grave and knelt in front of it. “Thank you, Harry. I promise I’ll take care of Peter for you.”

When all the guests were gone, Bernard approached Peter. “I should’ve taken better care of him. It could’ve prevented so much.”

“You were there for him when no one else was, so thank you for everything you did for him”, Peter said.

“I think it’s time that I give you this.” Bernard handed him an envelope before he left.

Peter opened it and found a letter as well as a picture. It was the picture Harry had thrown on the floor in their flat. It was their favourite picture. Peter pressed it against his heart and closed his eyes. “You’ll be in my heart forever, Harry.”

The noises of the wind almost sounded like a response.

Then Peter took the letter. It was Harry’s testament.

I, Harry Osborn, hereby bequeath the mansion as well as my whole property to my one true love, Peter Parker. He will also be the new CEO of OSCORP in case something happens to me.

Peter, if you’re reading this, it means I’m gone. But it doesn’t mean I left you. I’m still with you and I’ll always be. I’m in your heart. And I know you’ll probably say something like “I can’t take that from you” or “I’m not good enough to be the CEO of such a big company”. I want you to know that you can. I wouldn’t have made it without your support, so I know you’ll do great. And I also know that there is not a single scientist on this planet who would fit better than you. I know you’ll take the company beyond anyone’s imagination. If you ever need my advice, listen to your heart.

Yours sincerely,

Harry

Peter sank to his knees, the letter and the photo pressed against his chest. “I won’t disappoint you.”