saudade

The portal closed and Peter was back in his world. In a small alley, he put off the suit and put on his normal clothes again. He still couldn’t process what he had just experienced. But who could say they met alternative version of themselves?

The other Peters would always have a special place in his heart. If it was up to him, he would’ve taken them with him. They were like his younger brothers.

Peter walked through New York to get to his apartment. The wound where Norman Osborn stabbed him made the walk a living hell. But he was cured so it was worth it. It still bled so he had to press his suit against the wound.

The greatest challenge were the stairs to his apartment but then he could clean his wound and rest. He took the key out of his pocket and unlocked the door.

The pain was forgotten as soon as Peter saw Harry sitting at a table, occupied with papers.

Peter’s heart skipped a beat. He blinked to check if the events of today caused him hallucinations, but Harry was still sitting there as he opened his eyes again. He was about to faint.

“Pete! Is everything okay?”, Harry asked and went towards him.

“Yeah.” Peter cleared his throat. “It’s more than okay.” Hearing Harry’s voice again almost made him break down.

Peter threw himself into Harry’s arms. His brain was occupied with processing Harry’s presence. Harry was as old as he was, but Harry aged way better than he did. Harry’s hair was still dark but if he focused his look, he found some grey ones. His face had some wrinkles, but they didn’t let him appear old.

“That’s a nice way of greeting me. You could do it more often”, Harry said and hugged him even tighter.

Peter let out a quiet groan because of his wound but he didn’t care. Harry was back at his side. He buried his face in his chest.

But Harry gently shoved Peter away and pulled his jacket aside. “Whose blood is that?” He looked like he was about to murder someone.

“It’s nothing”, Peter tried to shut him off, but his knees buckled.

Harry caught him before he hit the floor. “Don’t you dare lying to me.” He led Peter to the sofa and pushed the shirt up to reveal the stabbing wound. “Pete, who did that to you?”

“It isn’t as bad as it looks.”

“I’ll clean your wound. Try not to move”, Harry instructed.

Peter did as he was told.

Harry came back with the first aid kit. “It’ll hurt so I apologize in advance.” Then he cleaned Peter’s wound, careful not to hurt him but Peter groaned in pain. “I’m sorry.”

As the wound was cleaned, he bandaged it gently. “Look, I know how important it is for you to be Spider-Man, but I’m so worried every time you’re out there. What if you get hurt and I’m not there to take care of you?”

Peter started crying. He didn’t know how to deal with all that. Harry knew about his secret and accepted him for who he was. He wasn’t Green Goblin. He was just Harry whom Peter missed so much in the past years.

“Please, don’t cry. I didn’t want to upset you”, Harry said and knelt next to the sofa to take his hand.

“It’s so good to have you back”, Peter sobbed and squeezed Harry’s hand way to harshly, but he was afraid that Harry would be gone if he didn’t do it.

“I’ve never been away. I’m always there for you, Pete. Always.” Harry stroked his cheek.

Hearing those words made Peter’s sobbing even worse. If Harry knew what Peter had been going through …

Harry softly stroked his shoulder, trying to make Peter calm down. “I don’t know what happened since you left the apartment in the morning, and I respect it if you don’t want to talk about it. I just want you to know you’re safe. You’re with me and I won’t let anything happen to you, okay?”

Peter nodded; his sobbing decreased. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to-“

“Don’t apologise. It’s fine”, Harry assured him. “Do you need painkillers?”

Peter shook his head.

“All right. You should try to get some sleep.”

Peter tugged on Harry’s arm. “Don’t go.”

“I won’t go. I’ll stay here in the room. You find me sitting at the table, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Close your eyes, little spider.” Harry placed a kiss on his forehead and knelt beside Peter until he fell asleep. He had never seen Peter like that, and he was seriously worried about his boyfriend.

Peter was standing in front of the altar. His muscles were tensed because of his nervousness, and he tried to adjust his suit time and again. He needed to look good.

Aunt May and Gwen were smiling at him, Peter 3 and a blond woman who must be his Gwen Stacy nodded to him to show their support. Peter 1, his MJ and Ned were sitting next to them, and Peter 1 had his thumbs up to send him some strength. Peter nodded into their direction to thank them.

But as Harry entered the church, the nervousness was forgotten. Peter desperately tried to prevent his chin from dropping. Harry looked absolutely stunning in his black suit. The nervous smile on his face revealed his dimples.

Peter couldn’t believe he was worthy of Harry. How did such a wonderful human being decide to be with someone like him? Peter would never be enough to deserve him.

A big smile appeared on Peter’s face, and he had to wipe the tears away. Norman Osborn led Harry down the aisle and Harry took Peter’s hand. They brightly smiled at each other, and Peter could see that Harry was about to tear up as well. Peter squeezed his hand. He faded out everything around them.

All that mattered now was Harry.

Peter didn’t even recognise what the pastor was saying but as Harry tightened the grip on Peter’s hand, he knew it was about to get serious.

“I, Harry Osborn, take you, Peter Parker, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honour you in all the days of my life”, Harry said, trying to keep his voice up. His eyes were fixed on Peter’s and his smile made his eyes even brighter.

Peter’s heart was beating faster and faster and he cleared his throat. He was already close to crying. He took a deep breath. “I, Peter Parker, take you, Harry Osborn, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honour you in all the days of my life.” A tear was rolling down his cheek, but Harry gently wiped it away.

The pastor handed them the rings. Harry’s fingers were shaking as he took the ring and put it on Peter’s finger. Peter’s fingers were shaking as he took the ring and put it on Harry’s finger. Both couldn’t hold back their tears. They wiped each other’s tears away and took their hands.

“You can now seal your marriage with a kiss”, the pastor said.

Harry cupped Peter’s face with his hands and Peter grabbed Harry’s waist to pull him closer. Then they pressed their lips against each other. Peter’s innards exploded as he got to taste Harry’s love. Heat spread through him, and he closed his eyes to feel it more intensely.

Peter wanted their kiss to go on forever.

Peter opened his eyes, and he needed some seconds until he recognised he was sitting on the sofa in the living room of his apartment.

He was alone.

Harry was gone.

Peter started to sob uncontrollably. Was he starting to hallucinate? Was he going insane? Like the fool he was, he believed his hallucinations. He had really been convinced that Harry was alive.

Harry was in the kitchen to get himself a cup of coffee as he heard sobs from the living room. He left the coffee immediately and ran to Peter who was crying bitterly. Harry took his hand and knelt before him. “Pete, shh, I’m here. You’re fine.”

“You were gone”, Peter sobbed. “I- I was scared.”

“I was in the kitchen to get some coffee. I’m worried about you, Pete. What happened?”

“Can you hug me?”, Peter asked.

Harry sat down next to him and embraced him with his arms, careful not to touch the wound. “It’s okay. There is no need to be scared.”

Peter gradually calmed down. “Do you remember our stargazing date?”

“You mean my surprise for your birthday? I could never forget that. It was one of the best evenings in my life. Do you want to repeat it now?”

Peter nodded.

Harry helped Peter to get up and walk on the balcony. They sat down on a bench, curled up under a blanket.

“Tell me about your day”, Peter whispered.

“I had a stressful day at OSCORP, like always. And Dad was there again. I think it will take a long time until he can accept that I’m the CEO now and he can enjoy his retirement”, Harry told him.

Norman was still alive? Their attempt to cure their opponents was successful. Maybe Peter 3 got Gwen back. Peter smiled at this thought. Peter 3 deserved to be happy.

“Will you tell me about your day?”, Harry asked carefully.

“I had a fight with a lot of people. But I had help and we’ve been successful. And that’s all that matters”, Peter said.

“Look! Pegasus can be seen”, Harry exclaimed.

Peter smiled. “You remember it?”

“How could I forget your favourite constellation?”

“Harry?”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to marry me?”, Peter asked and looked Harry in his beautiful brown eyes. His dream must have been a sign.

And he didn’t want to ever let go of Harry.

“Are you serious?”, Harry gasped.

“Yeah?”, Peter asked insecurely. Did he do it wrong?

“Of course, I want to.” Harry cupped Peter’s face in his hands and kissed him.

The kiss was even more intense than the one in Peter’s dream.

“Meeting you was the best thing that happened in my entire life, and I don’t want to ever let go of you, Pete”, Harry said.

“I want to grow old with you. I bet you’ll still be looking way better than me then but I don’t care”, Peter agreed.

“You look gorgeous”, Harry assured him and took his hand. “I’d never had wanted someone else but you.”

Peter pulled Harry closer and kissed his forehead. “I can’t express how much I love you.”

They had a long discussion about their wedding plans, but Harry fell asleep at some point. His head rested on Peter’s shoulder. Peter’s arm was wrapped around him. Peter was still processing that Harry was alive. With the help of the other Peters, MJ, Ned and Stephen Strange, he had corrected his biggest mistakes.

“Thank you”, he said into the sky.

Maybe they got his message somehow. Maybe they would meet again soon. Who knew?