Chapter 4
Once back in New York Peter sets about finding out every possible thing he can about his dad’s work. But there isn’t much information available to the public. There are a handful of articles which are cause him an intense amount of pain, describing the accident which killed his parents in frightening detail. He knows he should just skip these but information on his dad is so scarce that he’s afraid to let anything pass by unnoticed.
It’s on his third hour of reading OSCORP experimentation journals which vaguely reference his dad that JARVIS helpfully suggests Peter asks Tony for help.
The idea had crossed his mind of course, but something about asking his adoptive dad to dig up information on his biological dad feels rude. Deep down he knows he needs someone who can retrieve files only available to OSCORP employees if he’s going to find out anything really useful and Tony can definitely do that.
Of course, there’s also Harry but Peter shoots down that idea as soon as it appears at the corners of his mind. Harry has a bad enough relationship with his dad and the family company without Peter asking him to access private company files.
With a heavy sigh Peter pushes away from the dining table on his floor and makes his way to Steve and Tony’s private floor after asking JARVIS where the billionaire is.
His parents are curled up on the couch together when Peter wanders over to join them. One of the Harry Potter movies, Peter isn’t sure which, is playing on the TV and Steve is utterly engrossed.
Harry Potter has been the Captain’s most recent series to catch up on and he’s been quickly making his way through the books, watching the corresponding movie after he finishes each one. It’s been more than a little amusing for the other Tower inhabitants to see the Super Soldier’s reactions to some of the biggest moments from the series.
Peter doesn’t want to disturb so he just joins their comfortable silence. The thing is, Peter is a fidgetier, ever since he was a child whenever something is bothering him he fidgets. So, he makes it all of twenty minutes into the movie before Tony pulls away from his husband, who isn’t breaking concentration from this movie for anything less than a world-ending event, to gesture to Peter to join him in the kitchen.
“Alright squirmy Simon what’s wrong?”
Under Tony’s gaze Peter suddenly doesn’t feel as confident as he did five minutes ago, which wasn’t very confident at all. “Erm, well… It’s just… I was wondering… Umm… Never mind it doesn’t matter.”
“Out with-it kid. I promise it won’t be half as bad as the things I said to my old man when I was your age.” Tony smiles kindly at Peter attempting to put his son at ease.
“Okay…” Peter begins slowly. “Before I say anything I want you to know that I love living here and I love being your son and I don’t want anything to change and I really, really, don’t want to upset or offend you in anyway.” Tony just nods and motions for Peter to continue. “You can say no to this, of course, I’d never want you to abuse any influence that you have for my benefit and-”
“Getting grey here Pete.”
“Sorry.” He shuffles his feet staring down hard at the kitchen counter. Peter takes a deep shuddering breath and then explains. “I found out that my dad, Richard Parker, worked for OSCORP and I would really like to read some of his work but it’s not available to the public, and I know it’s like totally inappropriate but could you maybe…”
“Get them for you?” Tony supplies helpfully. “The short answer is yes. I absolutely could. The long answer is that I shouldn’t.” Peter’s eyes fly up to meet his adoptive dad’s apologetic ones. “I had a pretty nasty falling out with old Norman a few years back for doing exactly that, I won’t get into the details, but I’d rather not drag all that through the press again. Sorry kid.”
Peter tries to not let his disappointment show on his face as Tony approaches and pulls the boy against his chest under the comfortable weight of the older man’s arm. “Aren’t you friends with the OSCORP heir? Maybe he could help.” Peter shrugs non-committedly in response finally resigning himself to the fact that he’ll need to ask Harry for help if he wants to get anywhere.
Tony leads them back over to the couch where Peter curls up in between both of his parents, head resting on Steve’s shoulder and feet placed on Tony’s lap, to watch Harry fight off Voldemort in a graveyard.
---
Harry makes the whole situation easier than Peter could have hoped for. He’s barely finished telling his friend that Richard worked at OSCORP when an invitation has already been extended to visit the company at the weekend.
They meet outside of OSCORP on Saturday just after twelve o’clock. As per usual Harry looks effortlessly stylish in a pair of light blue baggy jeans, cuffed at the bottom, and a black The Smiths t-shirt tucked into the jeans to show off a belt which is clearly designer. Peter knows he doesn’t have much style but beside Harry he feels like he’s dressed in a potato sack.
Something which Peter enjoys watching his blonde-haired friend do is charm others. He supposes that if he had been raised in the same world as Harry he would possess many of the same skills. Harry glides effortlessly through the halls of the company he will one day inherit after convincing the pretty girl at the reception to give him passes with clearance for employee only areas.
Peter follows along silently, attempting to keep his head down so as not to draw any attention to himself. Harry clearly does not have the same concern as he strolls down hallways waving at scientists and greeting interns. Eventually they reach a set of double doors marked ‘616 – Dr Parker Memorial Lab’.
“I knew this was here but I never made the connection.” He shrugs apologetically at Peter and pushes open the doors.
The lab looks like any other, standard equipment and shiny sterile surfaces, however there is a desk in the corner which looks out of place amongst the silver surfaces with its oak wood finish.
Peter makes his way over to the desk where he finds a few open documents lying on the top. Towards the corner of the desk underneath a lamp are two framed pictures, one of a couple on their wedding day and another of the same couple holding a laughing baby.
“You look like your dad.” Harry says over his shoulder.
There’s a heavy silence between them as they look at the pictures of Richard and Mary Parker.
“It’s hard to miss them when you never really knew them, isn’t it?” Harry vocalises exactly what Peter is thinking. He looks at the blonde boy to see a vulnerability on Harry’s features that has never been present before. “My mom. She died when I was five. I look at pictures of her and I feel like something is missing but I don’t know what it is.”
Peter nods in agreement. “I have some memories…” He breaks off to clear his throat as his voice cracks thick with emotion. “But I can never tell what’s real and what I’ve created from stories my Aunt May and Uncle Ben told me.”
“Does it ever make you feel guilty?” Harry turns to look at him now, there are unshed tears shining in his eyes. “That you don’t remember them properly?”
Peter considers this for a moment while looking deep into Harry’s eyes where his emotions are laid bare. He reaches out to take the other boy’s hands. “Sometimes. But just because they’re gone doesn’t mean they’re not with us. The one’s that love us never really leave us.”
Harry’s eyebrows crease together as he lets out a small laugh. “Did you just quote Harry Potter?” Peter joins in and soon they’re both laughing, hands still joined between them. “You’re such a nerd.”
“You are too, you’re the one that recognised it.” Their laughter dies down until they’re standing in the lab holding hands, smiling and staring deep into each other’s eyes. There’s a noticeable crack of energy between them exactly like that day in Harry’s bedroom.
“Is that my son I hear?” Harry and Peter fly apart blushing furiously as a well-dressed man strolls into the lab. “Harry, my boy, you didn’t tell me you would be visiting today.” The man, Norman Osborn Peter guesses, comes to a stop in front of the pair towering over them easily with a distinct air of power surrounding him.
“Sorry dad it was kind of a last-minute decision.” Harry’s posture has changed dramatically since Norman entered the room. He’s standing straighter, almost rigid, and his hands are balled in fists by his side.
Norman narrows his eyebrows disapprovingly. “Are you going to continue to be rude or are you going to introduce me to your guest?”
Harry stays still showing no signs of budging, so Peter attempts to break the tension. He steps forward with a hand extended. “Peter Parker, sir.”
Mr Osborn shakes Peter’s hand as he slowly draws the disapproving glare away from his son. “Richard and Mary’s boy?” Peter nods wilting slightly under Norman’s imposing gaze. “That certainly explains why you entered one of the secure areas. No doubt it was my son’s idea.” The sneer moves back to Harry’s direction now.
Feeling a distinct need to protect his friend Peter steps closer to the blonde boy in an attempt to intercept Norman’s gaze. “Actually, it was all my doing sir. I recently found out that my dad worked here and I asked Harry to help me find out more about him. Sorry.”
This seems to appease Mr Osborn somewhat. He encourages Peter to help himself to the medical journals lining the walls, and despite it being exactly what he’s looking for Peter puts up a protest. “I assume you attend the same school as my son Mr Parker, and unlike him, I’m assuming you have the same knack for science that Richard did. So please be my guest. Richard was not only a colleague but a friend. He would want you to have them.” He agrees after that desperately trying not to smile in triumph. “I’ll leave you now. Harry don’t con my staff out of access to areas you don’t have clearance for ever again.” He turns on his heel and strides from the room in the same fashion he entered.
Peter tries to talk to Harry but the boy seems to have all but shut down so he sets about collecting all of the journals that deal with anything remotely related to arachnids, gene editing or radioactive experimentations. He stuffs them into his backpack before ushering Harry out of the door.
They get all the way back to the Tower and have just entered the elevator when Harry finally speaks. “Thanks.” Peter reaches across the space between them silently to squeeze Harry’s hand in a gesture he hopes is comforting.
Dinner is just being served by Steve and Bucky to the group of Super Heroes who appear to be debating something loudly.
“Pete! Harry! Excellent timing boys, settle an argument for us.” Peter watches as Harry’s face slips back into the mask he presents to the world, joining in gladly with the debate.
Towards the end of dinner, when the debate has gone unresolved, the topic changes to where the two boys have been all day.
Bruce notably leans forward as Peter awkwardly explains his new endeavour to learn more about his birth father. “I knew Dr. Parker.” All eyes fly over to the scientist. “He was one of the leading researchers in radioactive experimentation. We corresponded a few times after the… accident…” The mention of the Hulk makes everyone uncomfortable and they all begin to disperse from the dining table.
Peter and Harry offer to do the dishes and are mid-way through when Harry’s phone rings. He signals to Peter that he’ll be a second before walking off to take the call. When he returns there’s a smile on his face that causes Peter’s breath to catch in his throat a little. “So, you know how I am the most amazing friend you have?”
“Debatable, but continue.”
“Well, I just got off the phone with two friends who have tickets to this amazing concert tonight in an old warehouse. Very underground. It’s gonna be amazing, and you and I are going.” Harry shimmies his shoulders while waggling his eyebrows at Peter in a way that is completely ridiculous and causes him to laugh.
“Alright I’ll come if you stop doing that.” This only causes the shimmying to intensify until Harry’s putting his hands onto Peter’s shoulders and forcing him to join in.
Steve finds them like this standing by the sink laughing hysterically and shimmying back and forth. “Doing a great job of washing the dishes boys.” He leans against the counter and smiles over at them. The ridiculous shaking slowly comes to a halt and the pair glance over at Steve with guilty looks. “Don’t stop on my account. It’s nice to see you having fun.”
“Someone’s having fun in the kitchen? Unheard of.” Tony walks in and wraps an arm around Steve’s waist. “So, I’m intrigued now, why was there fun being had?”
The smile remains on Peter’s face looking at his adoptive parents. They’re so openly comfortable with one another, Peter hopes he can be that relaxed and in love with someone in the future. “Harry has tickets to a concert tonight, would it be okay if I went?”
“Of course, you can go Peter. Will it be just the two of you?”
Harry shakes his head. “No a few of my friends are meeting us there.”
This couple seem pleased that there will be a group of them attending. “Okay kid. Harry can you give me the address?” Tony pulls out his phone and hands it to Harry. “Just make sure your home by twelve, and tell JARVIS to let us know when you’re back.”
---
When Harry said the concert was going to be in a warehouse Peter had expected to show up to a run-down old structure with rusting beams and a steel door. He did not expect everything to look so put together and not like a warehouse at all. There’s a large stage towards the back of the room where the band are setting up, a curtain of black hangs behind them highlighted by purple stage lights, wrapped around the steel beams at the edges of the room are hundreds of strings of fairy lights which somehow make the massive space feel smaller and more intimate.
“Harry!” Squeal two girls who run full speed towards the boy and practically tackle him to the ground. The three teens fall into rapid conversation that Peter can barely keep up with, so he hangs by awkwardly trying not to look out of place.
Eventually they seem to remember that Peter is standing with them and Harry introduces them all. The first girl with impossibly long, pin straight blonde hair is Gwen. The other girl with darker skin and warm brown eyes introduces herself as Liz. Turns out that the trio went to middle school together before Harry started getting shipped off to various boarding schools around the world, but they all kept in touch.
The girls bring Peter into the fold asking a hundred questions to the point where he begins to feel overwhelmed with the attention. Harry is no help and simply smirks when Peter shoots him a ‘help me!’ look.
Just as the band are taking the stage Liz and Gwen announce that they’re going to the bar for drinks so Peter and Harry make their way into the crowd without them. The group are comprised of three men and a girl on drums, their name is a bit odd, Hep Alien, but Peter decides it actually suits their strange style.
After a few upbeat songs, the tempo drops dramatically to a slow and pleasant melody backing soft lyrics about first love and life changing events. As the second softer song begins Harry’s fingers brush subtly across the back of Peter’s hand, so carefully that he might not even know they were there if he didn’t have super-senses. He slowly turns his hand over so that his palm is facing towards Harry.
The movement is indirect enough that Peter could pass it off as nothing if Harry were to question it, but luckily, he doesn’t have to do that as the other boy places their palms together and intertwines their fingers in the space between them.
It’s different from holding hands with MJ. He felt nervous and sweaty when their hands met across the bus seat. But with Harry it feels natural, like their hands belong together.
Peter can feel his thoughts descending into peak overthinking mode but it is quickly overridden as his Spidey-sense goes into overdrive. There’s a massive explosion as the roof of the warehouse is torn off exposing the crowded room to the dark New York sky.
Harry and Peter are pushed around in the crowd as people run screaming towards the door. Their joined hands drop but Peter is frozen in spot staring up at the open space where the ceiling used to be, he’s aware of Harry pushing him, trying to get him to join the fray of panicked people but Peter is transfixed by the sight of two men floating at the edges of the warehouse.
“People of New York!” The rushing comes to an abrupt halt as one of the figures speaks and everyone turns towards the sound. “We have one request, bring us the Spider-Man.” Peter doesn’t recognise this first voice, but the second is all too familiar.
“Give up your precious Spidey and we might consider not dropping these two so that they make splatter art on the concrete.” Green Goblin swoops down to grab two of the band members off of the stage soaring high into the sky with them and passing one off to the other mysterious villain.
The other villain lowers slightly so that he comes into view. He’s definitely human, wearing a jacket and a pair of goggles but the most impressive and terrifying part of his ensemble are the giant wings sprouting from his back. Peter can hear the tell-tale whir that confirms the wings are mechanical.
“No one willing to give him up? Maybe you just need more of an incentive.” The man with the metal wings drops the band member he was holding by the foot, people are screaming and Peter’s trying to figure out how he can intercept without his suit when a familiar red and gold blur swoops in to catch the bassist seconds before he would hit the ground.
Captain America and Black Widow come storming through the crowd to stand beside Iron Man who has safely returned the terrified band member to the ground.
“The game is over birds of paradise, drop the act.” Iron Man takes up his classic stance, hands raised towards the two villains.
Although this was probably the wrong thing to say and Peter can see the moment Steve realises Tony’s poor choice of words as the Green Goblin says. “Okay.” And sends the second band member plummeting towards the ground.
Tony catches the lead singer with similar success, Captain America’s shield flies through the air towards the Green Goblin taking out one of the engines on his hover board. He veers off to the side struggling to stay in the air before giving up with a cry of anguish and flying away. The other man lets out a similar frustrated cry and flies off after his accomplice.
The three Avengers begin dispersing the crowd once they are satisfied that all signs of danger have been avoided. Harry makes sure Peter is okay and heads off to find the girls with a promise to return once he has checked on them. The crowd has almost completely depleted when Natasha wanders over to Peter’s spot in the corner of the room.
“You okay?” Peter nods. “We’ve been tracking the technology they used to tear off the roof for a few months now, it's almost certainly alien tech. Your dads aren’t stalking you.” She smiles in a way that causes Peter to laugh slightly. “Is Harry still here?”
“Yeah he went to find his friends to make sure they were okay. I should probably go find him actually, can you tell my dad’s that I’ll see them back at the Tower?”
“Sure thing Peter.” She squeezes his shoulder lightly and walks over to talk to a SHILED agent who’s just arrived on the scene.
Harry is just waving goodbye to the retreating figures of Liz and Gwen when Peter catches up to him. “Well this was a total bust. Sorry Pete, I had hoped this would be a nice end to our… shall we say, complicated, day.”
Peter shrugs. “Hey, it’s not your fault two crazy flying guys showed up to terrorize everyone.”
Harry smiles in that way Peter likes just a bit too much. “So, I was thinking, especially after how much of a train wreck tonight was, of throwing a party after the dance next week. Thoughts?” They’ve started walking away from the warehouse now.
“That sounds like a great idea Harry.”
There’s an awkward pause in which Peter can tell there’s something on Harry’s mind. He’s just about to ask what’s up when the question is answered for him. “Are you still going to the dance with MJ?” Harry is pointedly not looking in Peter’s direction.
Peter clears his throat suddenly very uncomfortable. Although he isn’t sure why. Harry knew he was planning to ask MJ to the dance, that isn’t something he has to feel guilty for. Is it? “Yeah, yeah I am…”
“Okay… Well, just save me a dance, alright?” Harry winks and then waltzes through the doors of his apartment building leaving a dazed, confused and blushing Peter standing on the street alone.