Chapter 5
Peter ends up being directly involved in the Avengers debriefing that night when he makes it back to the Tower. It’s a strange experience because he’s never been involved in anything so formal in his life, and he gets to meet Nick Fury.
Steve catches him as soon as he steps into the Tower’s entrance pulling him into a tight hug and frantically checking he’s okay. It takes a lot of reassuring but eventually Steve seems satisfied enough to move on to other matters. He explains what will happen in the debriefing on their way up to the conference room.
Apparently, Nick Fury had personally asked for Peter to be present. Tony and Steve were completely opposed, wishing to keep their son as far away from Avengers-related business as possible, but what Director Fury wants Director Fury gets.
So, Peter is brought to a conference room where Tony also fusses over him in the same way his husband had, before guiding the boy to a seat beside Bucky.
The always helpful part of Peter’s brain reminds him that he’s dealing with the Director of SHIELD here, a highly trained spy and extremely powerful man, there is every possibility Nick Fury knows he is Spider-Man. And there is every possibility he insisted Peter was invited to this debriefing because the two flying idiots had been after him.
As the room fills with Avengers waiting for Fury to video-call into the meeting Peter’s anxiety levels slowly start to rise as he over-thinks the possibility of Nick Fury knowing his identity.
Natasha slides into the seat on his other side and places a careful hand over his fingers which had been drumming a steady beat into the table without Peter even realising.
“Relax паучок, you’re just a convenient first-hand account of what happened, nothing else.” Natasha whispers quietly enough that only he can hear her.
Peter makes a face of confusion, turning to look at the woman. “What did you just call me?”
A small smile appears on her face. “Паучок.”
He rolls his eyes, there is no such thing as a simple answer with Nat. “Okay… And what does that mean?”
She is full-on smirking now. “Spiderling. Like a baby spider.” Peter’s ready to retort but is cut off by the image of Nick Fury appearing on the monitor at the front of the room.
Of course, the female spy was correct and Nick Fury purely wanted Peter’s first-hand account of the night. He retold the whole event from start to end, only stumbling a bit when he remembered holding hands with Harry in the crowd, how natural and easy it had felt.
When he gets to the part when Iron Man appeared Steve takes over.
“You’re certain they were using the alien tech?” Fury questions.
Steve nods. “Absolutely sir. Tony has been tracking it for weeks now.” Tony launches into an explanation of the tracking process and notable points of activity over the past few months. Eventually he hands over to Bruce who discusses the energy signals the tech is giving off which confirms it to be alien.
Peter keeps up for the most part but it’s late and about twenty minutes into Bruce’s speech, that has essentially become a science lecture, he’s struggling to keep his eyelids open. He’s trying desperately to keep his head up when a hand, which feels distinctly metal, snakes around his shoulders and guides his drooping head towards a very inviting shoulder. He stops resisting, gladly giving into the exhaustion, allowing his eyes to close.
The next thing he’s aware of are two arms slipping under his legs and shoulders to lift him bridal style. He tries to protest but someone, he’s fairly sure it’s Steve, shushes him. And then all that matters is the soft press of his mattress and pillow as sleep fully takes him.
---
Three days before the school dance Tony comes sliding into the kitchen in a blind panic bringing the conversation between his husband, son and Bucky to an abrupt end. “Peter!”
“Yes?”
“You don’t have a suit!”
So maybe not remembering to buy a suit for his school dance was a major oversight on Peter’s part, but he’s never been to such a fancy event before so he thinks he deserves a bit of slack. Besides Tony seems to be really enjoying shopping in all the best and fanciest places so Peter is more than happy to indulge in his adoptive father’s wishes, even if the amount of money being spent is making him deeply uncomfortable.
After visiting several designer stores they finally settle on a simple and classic black suit, Tony had been pushing for a dark green suit but thankfully Steve stepped in to help his son choose the more simple and understated option.
Peter is over the moon when they finally get back to the Tower, shopping is unquestionably not his favourite pastime. Bucky and Sam are waiting for them in the kitchen twin smiles of mischief painted on their faces, the smiles are explained as soon as Sam starts pestering Peter to try on the suit for them.
He almost escapes but Natasha appears and joins in, so for the next twenty minutes Peter is at the mercy of five super-heroes who coo over ‘how cute’ and ‘how dapper’ he looks. As if it couldn’t get any worse Bucky pipes up with another wicked grin and quite possibly the evilest question.
“Do you know how to dance Ace?”
Peter scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. “Erm… Not really?”
“Best way to win a dame over is with dancing, believe me. It was my signature move back in the day, isn’t that right Stevie?” The super soldier winks at Peter, grin still firmly in place.
Steve rolls his eyes at Bucky’s words. “Buck, don’t call women dames.” He rises and walks closer to his son. “He’s somewhat right though Peter, come here.” Steve takes up a stance, legs shoulder width apart and arms raised. When Peter doesn’t move he gestures to his son. “Come on.”
There’s a snort from the kitchen table as Peter, face bright red, slots into Steve’s arms. “JARVIS, make sure you’re filming this.” Steve turns around to glare at his husband.
“Ignore them Peter, just follow my lead.” It’s awkward and clumsy, and Peter definitely steps on Steve’s feet more than once, although the blonde is too polite to say anything.
It takes ten minutes of awkward feet shuffling for Natasha to step in. “This is too painful to watch, take a seat old man I’ve got it from here.”
Natasha is a much better teacher than Steve was, as good as the man’s intentions had been Peter just felt clumsy the entire time. Nat on the other hand makes Peter look graceful, which he didn’t know was possible outside of running about as a crime fighting spider.
“Looking good Peter.” Sam smirks from his place beside Bucky who is nodding in agreement, both of them smiling bigger than he has ever seen them, and all because of his embarrassment.
“Okay, can I stop now?” He pleads with the adults who laugh, Tony waves him off to go get out of the suit and he takes off at a run to get back into jeans and a t-shirt.
---
The night of the dance Peter is subjected to more humiliation by his extended family who insist on taking thousands of pictures of him in the suit. He pretends to be annoyed but the look of joy on his adoptive parent’s faces make it a bit difficult to really feel any emotions other than love and happiness.
A few months ago, Peter never would have believed he could have a happy family unit again. He felt like the gaping hole Aunt May left would never be filled. Yet here he is surrounded by people who love and care for him.
He feels the loss of May every single day and tonight the pain hurts just a bit more because he knows she should be here. Knows how much she would’ve loved putting him in a suit, showing him how to tie his tie correctly, taking hundreds of pictures and teasing him about his date.
But the pain is easier to handle now because he has Tony and Steve. And Nat, Bucky, Bruce and Sam. Even Rhodey had texted him to tell him to have a good night, and not to let his Dads embarrass him in front of his date, which Peter is planning to stick to.
Tony wanted to drive him to MJ’s house but Peter had managed to wear him down to letting Happy drive them. Peter really wanted to get a taxi but that idea went down like a led balloon. So Happy driving was the best compromise.
Ever since the night at the concert Tony and Steve had been a bit more protective of Peter. For the past week he hadn’t been allowed to get the train to school. Happy had driven Peter, and Harry, every single day despite his protests. His friend hadn’t had the same reservations about being driven to and from school, in fact he had taken great delight in trying to break Happy’s cool demeanour each morning and afternoon.
Eventually Peter convinces the Avengers that they have more than enough pictures and it really is time to go before he’s late to pick up MJ. They all wave him off as he climbs into the car Tony picked out, which feels much too fancy for a school dance put Peter figures there’s no point arguing with the man.
MJ looks just about as uncomfortable as Peter did when her parents force the pair of them into another round of pictures before finally releasing them to get back in the car. “Tony and Steve did the same to me.” He tells the girl as they settle into the car, she cracks a smile at that and some of the tension slips away.
The dance is just about as boring as Peter imagined it would be. He dances with MJ a few times, Ned and other Decathlon members joining in for the faster songs, but it’s obvious to them both that neither one of them is particularly comfortable.
Harry doesn’t appear until the evening is nearly over, Peter’s desperately trying not to think about the fact that the sight of the boy takes his breath away something that hadn’t happened when he had seen MJ.
The blonde boy comes bounding over to their table where MJ, Ned and Peter are sitting bored out of their minds.
“Well, guess I’ve finally found the party table. Come on, all of you up, I’ve got a car waiting outside to take us back to mine.” Harry takes Peter’s hands in his own to pull the boy up from his seated position. “The real party starts now.” With a beaming smile Harry pulls the trio out of the gymnasium doors all the while shouting his address at everyone they pass.
Peter only just remembers to text Happy and his dads to let them all know about going back to Harry’s place, although he doesn’t mention that every other person in their school has also been invited. As far as the adults in his life know Peter’s on his way to a small gathering of just his close friends.
The scene at Harry’s apartment doesn’t come remotely close to the words ‘small’ or ‘gathering’, it’s full on chaos.
Apparently, Harry had started sending people along to his house before he had even left the school grounds, so when they finally arrive there are at least a hundred people already wandering around dancing and drinking. The apartment is certainly big enough to hold this many people but Harry has hired a DJ to play and the flashing lights on the DJ stand make the space feel a lot smaller than it actually is.
“Okay so there’s a fully stocked bar with servers, who I paid heavily to serve to minors so take advantage, and Peter you remember where the bathrooms are, right?” He nods “Great, I’ll catch up with you guys in a bit, hosting duties call!” And just like that Harry has disappeared into the crowd and from sight.
The trio stand awkwardly at the edge of the crowd, neither one of them exactly what to do in this situation. Peter had been hoping Harry would stick around a bit longer, everything is so much easier with the other boy.
Thankfully Harry’s friends from the concert, Liz and Gwen, appear at Peter’s side and pull the trio into the fold of the party. A cup containing something that is definitely not soda is pushed into his hand by Liz, but unlike his two friends Peter decides not to drink. He’s fairly certain his increased metabolism means he can’t get drunk but right now doesn’t feel like the best time to test that theory.
They manage to snag an empty couch where Peter sits in the middle with Ned making love heart eyes at Liz on one side of him, and MJ and Gwen chatting away on the other side. Turns out the two girls know each other quite well, but any time he asks how he’s met with giggles or stoic silence, so he decides to give up on that pursuit of knowledge.
Gwen and MJ eventually get up and disappear without telling anyone where they’re going, Peter figures this is something else better left unknown, so now it’s just him, Ned and Liz sitting on the couch. However, the latter pair are getting progressively sloppier and closer together as the night wears on, and Peter doesn’t really want to be stuck on a couch beside his best friend as he drunkenly makes out with a girl, so he decides to go find Harry.
He pushes through the crowd of sweaty bodies dancing in the centre of the room and manages to make it out into the long hallway Harry had led him down the time Peter came here to study. The time they listened to music. That time Harry kissed him…
He spots a few people he knows from class and asks them if they’ve seen his friend and someone says they think Harry went into the room at the end of the hall. Which makes Peter feel stupid, because of course, why didn’t he check Harry’s bedroom in the first place?
When he reaches the door and pushes it open he immediately regrets the decision. Harry’s in there. He just isn’t alone.
His friend has a boy pushed up against the edge of his bed, the two of them kissing heatedly. Peter thinks he must have gasped or said something without even realising because the pair break apart with twin looks of confusion.
“I’m… Sorry… Sorry, I’ll go. I’m leaving.” Peter stutters out through the all-consuming embarrassment, and something else lingering underneath the mortification. Anger? Guilt? No none of those make sense. He turns on his heel and rushes back into the hallway, through the groups of people in search of something to distract him, because he’s figured out what the other feeling is. Jealousy. And quite honestly Peter cannot handle that right now.
So, he finds the bar and asks the bartender to give him whatever she comes to first. He gulps down the liquid, ignoring the distinct burn at the back of his mouth. Now seems like as good a time as any to put that theory about his metabolism and alcohol to test.
He drinks two more of whatever the bartender is pouring into the cup before a girl from his English class appears at his side to slide a tiny glass of clear liquid and a wedge of lime into his hand. There are people all around him now chanting about shots but Peter tunes them out and concentrates solely on the burn of the clear liquid as it slides down his throat.
All of a sudden, it’s way too hot and Peter is overcome with the need for fresh air because right now his head feels really foggy. Eventually he stumbles out onto the balcony which is blissfully quiet, the change from the pounding thrum of music inside to the sound of New York at night time is more than a little disorientating. He makes his way over to the railing and takes deep breaths while looking out at the skyline.
Someone clears their throat causing Peter to jump, he hadn’t even noticed someone else was out here. Not someone. Harry.
The blonde boy is standing to Peter’s right watching the him with a cigarette dangling from his fingertips. “Having a good time?” Harry’s voice isn’t as light and teasing as it normally is so even through the alcohol induced haze Peter can tell his friend is upset. When Peter doesn’t respond Harry slides closer so that their shoulders are touching. “I’m not.”
Peter looks up, surprised. He can’t even stop the snide remark falling from his lips before his brain has even registered it. “Didn’t look that way to me.”
A silence hangs between them as Harry flicks his finished cigarette off of the balcony and takes another out of his pocket. This one look distinctly different and Peter knows right away that it’s not tobacco wrapped expertly in the paper. Wordlessly Harry lights the end of the paper, taking a long drag before offering it to Peter to do the same. He leans forward and inhales deeply then almost instantly he’s doubled over coughing and spluttering in a way he hasn’t done since his last asthma attack, months before the spider bite.
Harry chuckles rubbing soothing circles into Peter’s back as he continues to cough. “Easy Pete, don’t inhale as quickly next time.” He brings the tip of the cigarette back down to Peter’s mouth where he takes a more even drag, feeling the smoke fill his lungs before letting it back out.
Peter pushes Harry’s hand off and takes a few steps back from the railing. “What’s your problem?” The hard edge is back in the blonde boy’s voice.
He sighs exasperatedly, running a hand through his hair. “My problem is you. Why are you even out here? What happened to that guy from earlier? You seemed pretty cosy in your room.”
Harry moves away from the railing now too, closer to Peter again. “Oh yeah, what about you? Where’s your little girlfriend run off to Peter?”
“She’s not my girlfriend.” He says through gritted teeth.
“Seems that way to me.”
“Well you don’t know anything Harry, so just keep your mouth shut.”
“Oh, come on Pete, tell me. Cause I’m oh so invested. Why haven’t you asked Michelle to be your girlfriend yet?”
Peter looks at Harry fully now, they’re standing with barely any space between them, and when he meets Harry’s eyes there’s something swimming beneath the false show of anger and mocking. Peter can tell it’s false, he can see it in Harry’s eyes which are far too expressive and give everything away.
“I don’t want her to be.”
Harry lets out a bitter laugh. “Why not? You’re perfect together. Perfect little genius couple.”
Taking a deep breath Peter musters up all of the courage he has and finally decides to stop running away from this. “There’s someone else. You know there’s someone else.” Harry’s expression shifts, as if he wasn’t expecting Peter to say that. “I think you knew before I even did.”
Their gaze locks again and this time there’s only hope in Harry’s expression. “Don’t do this if you aren’t sure.” It’s Peter’s turn to look confused now. “I can’t handle it again, if you pretend nothing happened, like… like the last time. After that day when we studied… That day when I kissed you.” There it is. The first time the kiss has been acknowledge out loud between the two of them. “I can’t go through that again Peter.”
“You won’t.”
“Promise me.” Harry takes his hands, the still burning cigarette lies forgotten on the floor. “Promise me you won’t run away this time.”
Peter leans forward to close the space between them, the barely existent space that all at once feels to big and too small. Their lips meet in a passionate kiss. Peter doesn’t know why he was trying to hide and deny this for so long. This, like everything with Harry, feels more natural than it ever has with anyone else. They fit together so well, like pieces of a puzzle finally being joined. Peter feels as though a massive weight has been lifted as he stands on a balcony with his arms wrapped tight around the boy who has turned his world upside down.
“I promise.” He whispers against Harry’s lips and then the other boy is pulling him back in urgently.
At some point Harry pushes Peter up against the railing of the balcony, their mouths only detaching to breath in air when their heads start to swim from lack of oxygen. They kiss for what feels like an eternity until a yell of anger has them jumping apart.
Norman Osborn has just walked out onto the balcony; his face is bright red as he takes in the sight of the two boys pressed so close together. “Harold Osborn!” The furious man stalks towards the pair with an intensity Peter has never seen on a parent. “We spoke about this. This ridiculous behaviour was to stop when you came back here to live with me. I will not have a fag for a son! Do you hear me boy?”
Peter’s is frozen in complete shock, but Harry seems to have expected this as he opens his mouth to respond. “Sorry dad, can’t help it. I just love dick too much.”
There’s barely a split second between the words leaving Harry’s mouth and Norman raising a fist above his head. Without even thinking Peter pushes Harry out of the way and lets the fist come into direct contact with the top of his cheek. The sting left behind promises a black eye by the morning.
“Peter!” Harry calls out, rushing over to where he has crumpled on the floor. Norman seems even angrier now but strides off inside to start screaming at everyone to get out of his house rather than trying to take it out on Harry again.
“Oh my God, Pete! Are you okay?” Harry helps him into a sitting position. “You shouldn’t have done that you idiot.”
“Promised I wouldn’t let you get hurt again didn’t I?” He smiles slightly trying to reassure Harry that everything is okay. He’s had worse, but obviously he can’t tell the other boy that.
“Alright Mr Heroic, you need to get out of here before my dad comes back.” The blonde boy helps lift him up from the ground and starts to guide him back inside.
Peter pulls on his arm to bring them to a stop. “You need to come as well, I can’t leave you here. What if he hurts you?”
“I’ll be fine Pete, honestly. He’s clearly drunk and in half an hour he’ll be passed out on the couch.” Peter isn’t convinced and wants to protest further, but Harry’s pushing him towards the door again. “I’m serious. I’ll be fine but you need to go. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” Before the elevator doors shut Peter pulls the boy toward him, pressing their lips together one last time so that he can savour the smile on Harry’s face as the doors slide shut.