Chapter Text
It had been nearly half a year since the Homecoming fiasco, and Peter was winding down in the labs with Mr. Stark for his full time, actual, real, not a ruse summer internship.
“Can you pass me that?”
“Pass you what?” Peter asked, looking up to Tony..
“What’s in your hand. Hand it over.” He made grabby fingers at Peter.
“I am not giving you my M&Ms,” Peter stated, aghast.
“Yes, you will.”
Peter raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?”
“Because then I get to tell you the exciting news.”
Tentatively but now piqued with interest and curiosity, he begrudgingly handed over the remains of his M&Ms.
“There is another intern that’s gonna work with you in the labs.”
“Oh?” Peter responded, an uncomfortable looming feeling of being replaced lingering in the forefront of his mind.
“I don’t want you to be alone in here when I’m going to meetings and doing bla bla boring stuff, so I figured what better than to have someone come join you. You’re gonna like him. He’s your age. Name’s Harley.”
Peter just nodded quietly. “Sounds great, Mr. Stark.”
There was a knock on the door.
“And that must be him,” Tony said. “FRIDAY, door.”
“Hey, Tony! Look at you. You barely look a day over sixty four. I mean, the grey really adds a new distinguished wisdom to the whole look.”
Tony rolled his eyes. “Ha ha. Nice to see you too, Keener.” He shifted, holding a hand to motion to Peter. “This is the intern I was telling you about.”
Peter couldn’t help but gape at the handsome teen standing before him. He cleared his throat awkwardly, lost in his blue eyes, and pushed up from his seat, going to shake his hand. “Peter. Parker. It’s very nice to meet you.
“Polite,” Harley stated. “And to think, I thought I was supposed to be the one with the southern hospitality.”
Peter’s face flushed. “You’re not from around here?”
“Born and raised in Rose Hill, Tennessee. Though, I think I’m liking the city. Definitely got a lot of sites to see.” He made eye contact with Peter, making his legs feel wobbly beneath him. “I’m really enjoying the view.”
Tony, oblivious to the undertone to Harley’s words, patted him on the back. “Well," he looked to his watch, "it's almost time for lunch and I'm really craving burgers, so I'm gonna go grab us some. Peter, can you give Harley the grand tour? Team bonding and whatnot? Yup? Good."
Peter struggled to stammer out an affirmative before Tony was already out the door.
“So, uh. The labs. This is the main lab that I use with Mr. Stark, and I guess you will be too. Your workbench is over here. Total blank slate, lots of room and space to do what you want. I work over here. Ignore the mess, it gets pretty chaotic when Mr. Stark and I get concentrated. That’s his stuff over there. This is just one of his many labs, so sometimes he steps out to work in there.”
Harley nodded, running his fingers over the table. “Guess we’ll be spendin’ a lot of time together.”
Peter pursed his lips and let out a high, “Mhm.”
“What kinds of projects have you been up to?”
Peter let out a relieved breath. “I help Spider-Man with his tech, but that’s not my main project. I’m working on an alternative energy source to replace oil in cars. The demand for oil is higher than ever and it’s irrefutably detrimental to the climate with its carbon emissions, and I’m on the verge of figuring out how to convert trash into environmentally safe fuel.”
Harley’s eyes went wide. “Oh, uh, wow. That’s fantastic.”
Peter shrugged bashfully. “Just something I’m working on.”
Tony entered the labs again, a bag of burgers in hand.
“How’d you get these so fast?” Peter questioned.
“Ordered them in advance. Just had to pick them up from down the hall,” Tony replied.
Harley nearly moaned at the smell. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve had a burger. At least, one that I’ve actually eaten.”
“Got you bacon cheeseburger,” Tony said.
Harley’s mouth watered. “You are heaven sent.” He pulled it out, humming in delight at the scent. He pulled a little bottle from his bag and dripped the contents on the bun before taking a bite.
Suddenly, Peter’s mouth flushed with the familiar, tear inducing burn with the distinct flavor of bacon cheeseburger. Peter looked up to Harley in shock, face red and throat stinging.
“You asshole!” Peter blurted out before he could stop himself.
Harley froze, just about to take another bite of his hamburger. “What?”
“The poblano? I could handle. The cayenne and the chipotle? That was pushing it but I was getting used to it. But then you just had to start getting into Carolina Reapers, didn’t you? Do you know how many presentations I’ve ruined because I couldn’t breath through the fire that you set in my mouth?! And don’t get me started on the fact that you put hot sauce on your salads . Your SALADS?!”
“I’m not following here,” Tony stated.
Harley had now set his burger down. “You…” He furrowed his brows. “You don’t look like a vampire.”
“I’m really not following here,” Tony repeated.
“Why would you…” Peter started but paled. “Oh, God. You could taste that?”
“I taste everything you taste! That’s kinda how the soul connection works!”
Tony’s eyes bugged out in understanding. “I’m gonna… leave you two to it. Need a drink? I’m gonna get you drinks. Mhm. Great.”
Peter took a step towards Harley, his anger shifting into a soft smile. “Hi. I’m Peter Parker, and I’m your soulmate.”
Harley grinned cheekily. “Hi. I’m Harley Keener, and I’m your soulmate.” He went to pick up his burger. “And I’m sorry, but I am so hungry and this burger is really good.”
“Don’t make me take off my sweaty sock and suck on it. Because I will.”
Harley laughed, and oh my, his laugh was beautiful. “Guess I’ll have to risk it.”
Peter’s lips tingled, mouth burning, and heart burning even hotter.