And we're back with the 3rd chapter! One more chapter to go after this!

Enjoy some emotional-talking between the boys, because heaven knows they NEED it.

Because this day couldn't get any worse, Peter desperately thought to himself as he was hauled from another building and the grip on his waist jolted. He instinctively clung to Harry – Venom's? – body more tightly, so he didn't fall and become human paste for Bugle to scorn for his idiocy. He still had his webshooters, thank goodness, so in the circumstances that he did fall, the only thing he needed to worry about was someone spotting regular Peter Parker skedaddling from a large, goop monster with attachment issues.

Venom's grip was strong though, and very sturdy, and after a few minutes of sailing through the air, Peter was semi-confident that he wasn't going to get dropped. Still, his heartbeat a nervous rhythm when he spared a thought to what Venom's intentions might be.

They said they wanted to "end this," and Peter hoped they didn't mean by ripping out his throat and leaving his bloody carcass for SHIELD to find.

Despite the frantic clamor of his brain making the time drag endlessly, their trip was rather short-lived and in just a few minutes Harry/Venom landed on top of a large building, a good distance from Oscorp. Peter stumbled when they dropped him, and quickly regained his footing and straightened out.

"Harry, what are you-" he started and stopped, his heart jumping up his throat when he noticed just how close Venom was. He backed up without thinking about it and craned his neck to meet Venom's eyes. "H-Har? You still with me?"

"Of coursssse we are," Venom said, though their irritated scowl didn't lessen and did little to ease Peter's fears. They stepped forward and Peter stepped back, and they continued in such a pattern until Peter's back inevitably hit the wall to the stairway compartment that led into the building. Venom closed off any other escape routes from there by placing his immense arms against the walls on both Peter's sides, caging him in.

"O – okay," Peter stuttered, holding out his arms as if to keep them at bay. His hands hit the wide berth of Venom's chest and Peter quickly withdrew them again, blushing deeply. Goop monster or not, that was Harry somewhere down there. "I - I want to talk to Harry."

"We are lissstening."

"Not Venom. I want to talk to Harry, not you."

"We are the sssame."

"No, you're not," Peter insisted and swallowed roughly, looking to the side when Venom's gaze became too much to handle. His arms were curled up against his chest now, fingers pinched together and knuckles white.

"Peter," Peter looked up, surprised with how much that did sound like Harry. Venom crouched down so they were more eye-level. Peter tried not to balk when those large white eyes settled on his. "We are the sssame. Harry and Venom. We are lissstening."

Peter took a deep breath, one that rattled in his chest like a loose screw. Being so close to the symbiote put him on a sword's edge. The only time he's been this close to one was when it was either a) attacking him, or b) controlling him. His heart was dong a terrified jig in his ribs and adrenaline raced through his body like a spooked cartoon character. He felt too jumpy to handle a calm conversation. Too much like Carnage.

Venom's head cocked to the side, "You are sscared of usss." They said and Peter grimaced. "Do we ssscare you like thisss?"

Peter exhaled shakily, keeping eye-contact with the ground. "I want to see Harry."

Venom was still for several seconds, unblinking and completely motionless other than the large expanding of their chest as they breathed. Then, miraculously, they started shrinking. It's hulking mass fell in on itself, it's bugling muscles dissolving into a thinner build and the maw of teeth and tongue knitted together to create an unblemished mask. Within seconds Venom was gone and replaced by the black-Spider-Man suit that Harry donned when he first got the symbiote. The mask pulled away from his face in thin strands, revealing Harry's wavy red hair and sinfully blue eyes underneath. Peter's nerves ebb slightly and his shoulders sagged. He had to stop himself from completely engulfing the other boy in a hug.

It wasn't completely Harry, but it was better.

"Okay, you can see me," Harry said, arms still braced on either side of Peter, "What?"

"Okay, I...I know this is weird, you know, what happened, and - and with your dad kidnapping me, and I'm sorry you had to find out I'm" Peter waved his hand slightly, "you know, Spider-Man, this way. I...wish it was under better circumstances, and – and I'm just really sorry about everything. And the fact that the symbiote is back, and you're just," Peter hesitated, looking Harry over again "Are – are you feeling alright? It's not freaking you out?"

Harry took one hand from the wall to look it over as if studying a specimen he'd never seen before. "Honestly," he said, "It's not. Just," he flexed his hand into a fist, "feels like an old friend." Then he looked back at Peter, the hard edge returning in his eyes. "We'll talk about you being Spider-Man later, what did my dad want with you?"

"Ah." Peter looked down, rubbing his neck. There was no running from this conversation and he didn't think he'd be lucky enough to get interrupted by the Goblin a second time. Harry and Norman's relationship was already so messed up as it was, it worried Peter to think how Harry would react to Goblin trying to "adopt" him.

"Uh...that's...that's a little more complicated," Peter said quietly, tapping his fingers together.

"Peter," Harry said, his hand coming up near Peter's face, and for a second, he thought Harry was going to tilt his chin up. It hovered in the air but never closed the distance. "Please, I need to know. Did he hurt you? Was he just experimenting on you to get to me? What did he do to you?"

"He did inject me with the symbiote," Peter admitted cautiously, "And he, uh, sent me out to...kill Spider-Man. Since that's me, and I wasn't going to kill myself, we – er, well, the symbiote - decided to go find you," he awkwardly poked Harry's chest, "instead. Which is why we, you know, went to Oscorp."

Harry nodded slowly. His eyes were sharp and intense, but it was so much like Norman's it left a bad taste on Peter's tongue. Harry was usually soft and nice and warm, whenever he got that cold look in his eyes it made Peter want to drag Norman back by his ears and demand to know what he's done to the real Harry. This cold intensity didn't suit him, and it left an unhappy coil in Peter's stomach.

"Why did he take you, Peter?" Harry repeated.

"He..." Peter bit his lip and said quietly, as if admitting a shameful secret, "He...called me his son."

Harry blinked and leaned back. His arms dropped to his sides and his eyebrows curved upward, "He...did?"

"Yeah, he – he said that I was is, uh, well...it was – it was something like that," Peter added guilty, feeling as if just by saying those words, he'd betrayed Harry's trust somehow.

Harry's eyebrows crashed back down into a scowl, "Of course, he did," he muttered, "He's always liked you more than me."

Peter shuffled uncomfortably, "If it's any condolence, I really don't want him to be my dad, so....are – are you mad?"

"No," Harry said on a sigh and rubbed a tired hand over his face, "I'm not mad at you, Peter. I can't help it if you're just amazing like that," Peter blushed, unsure how to take that praise, "I'm pissed at my dad. I'm never - .... he always...." He took a deep breath and stepped back, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Thing is," he chuckled bitterly, "I'm not even surprised that's why he took you. Of course, he tried adopting you, or whatever that creepy kidnapping thing was. Seems just like him."

Peter leaned over, trying to get a look at Harry's face. "If...if it helps any, I really don't want to be your brother – not that there's anything wrong with, like, brothers or anything. I just don't think that's where I'd want our relationship to go..."

Harry quirked an eyebrow at that, glancing back up at him through his fingers. A stroke of red brightened his cheeks, but there was the slightest curve a smile. "Then...where do you want our relationship to go?"

Peter flushed, unable to meet Harry's eyes once more for entirely different reasons this time. "I – I just mean, I think we could be...I don't know...maybe something more than friends...maybe...or just friends if that suits your fancy."

Suits your fancy? What the frick was he even saying?

"Ah, I mean, uh," Peter coughed into his fist, "We – we could, I don't know, maybe exclusively watch bad monsters' movies, or...go for walks, or – I don't know, there's this really cool place in the park. There's a squirrel infestation, but-" he knew he was babbling, but the words just didn't know where to stop.

"Peter," Peter stopped his word vomit, barely able to look up at Harry, "are you asking me to be your boyfriend?"

Peter was pretty sure he was going to die right there. If only they'd brought him there to give him a swift and painful end. He was messing everything up, wasn't he? Their entire friendship was at stake and it was because he couldn't shut his stupid mouth. He didn't want to lose it. Harry was probably the best thing that's happened to him since he started Midtown High. He was amazing, funny, and he cared, and Peter hated that it was all changing because his stupid emotions couldn't get a grip.

"I - I mean, only if you want – we don't have to, we can still be buds. Bestest of pals. Best bro's forever, or whatever, I don't – "

Harry laughed and Peter was certain he was going to drop dead. Just like that. He could feel his soul ascending through the sheer humiliation of the moment. After a few seconds though, he realized Harry wasn't really laughing at him.

"I can't believe this is how it happened," Harry said through his chuckles, taking a step toward Peter, "You're asking me to be your boyfriend on a roof of," he glanced around, "I don't even know where we're at, after my dad just kidnapped you and sent you to kill yourself. Only you, Pete."

Peter chuckled, his heart slowly lightening again, "Just my luck."

Harry smiled and leaned his head down, resting it on Peter's shoulder, the aftershocks of his giggles still bouncing in his shoulders. Peter's hands fell on his shoulders to keep him steady as his heart kicked up again.

Harry sighed near the crook of Peter's neck and a wave of goosebumps rose over Peter's arms. "Pete, I've wanted to be your boyfriend since forever now."

Peter stopped breathing. "For real?"

"Yeah, weird right? I mean, you're always late for everything and you can't dress nice to save your life, but...you're so amazing, and smart, and cute, and I didn't know how to ask you without making it awkward and weird between us."

"That's what I was worried about," Peter admitted, "And...and I know you hate Spider-Man, so even the thought of dating you when you didn't know made me feel sleazy."

Harry sighed into Peter's shoulder again, but this was a sadder sound, "Pete...why didn't you tell me? I mean...I told you the moment the symbiote and I decided to be heroes. You were the only person I ever told. Do I....Did you not trust me?"

"What? No. No, Harry," Peter grabbed Harry's shoulders and pulled him up so he could see his face, "Harry, you are the most amazing -...I didn't tell you because I cared so much. I...I didn't want to worry any of you guys. Besides, I just...really wanted to keep you guys safe. If anything happened to you, I...I couldn't live with myself."

"Well, did it ever cross your mind that it might've made things easier," Harry said, "I could've covered for you when you went out. If you ever got hurt, you could've come by my place – I can buy the best medical kit in the state and I'd research first aid, and – and I could've brought your homework to you and told you what you missed in class. I could've help, Pete, if you had just trusted me."

Peter sighed and closed his eyes. The look Harry was giving him was only making him feel worse. He didn't mention that SHIELD covered all his medical expenses now, and that they could whip up enough excuses to get him out of school for an entire semester. Everything Harry said, the picture he painted in Peter's mind, pulled at his heartstrings like the cords of a guitar. Before he had SHIELD to fall back to, the thought of having Harry there as his safety net warmed him down to his bones. He didn't doubt that Harry would do his best to help either. Didn't doubt it for a second.

He probably would have researched First Aid and bought a medical kit to rival any local hospital. The image of Harry patching him up after rough fights, bandaging his cuts, giving his bruises soft, butterfly kisses to soothe the ache, made Peter's throat swell with emotion.

But...

"But what if I put you in danger?" Peter whispered, "Would if one of my enemies trailed me to you? Remember that day the Frightful Four attacked school? That was because I led them there. You ended up in the hospital, Harry, because I put you in harm's way. If something happened to you-"

"Nothing is going to happen to me."

Peter gave him a hard look, "Did you not just hear me say you were hospitalized by a group of villains that tracked me to Midtown? Not to mention you were taken over by a goop monster created from my blood, your dad got turned into a freakish monster-thing, and the symbiote is bonded to you again after we'd just saved you from it. AND, let's not forget, you've been put in harm's way so SO much, that SHIELD actually has to keep tabs on you."

"Okay, when you say it like -," Harry paused with a blanch, "Wait, Venom was created from your blood?"

Peter waved his hand flittingly, "Yeah, that's a big ol' thing. Point is, so much has happened to you just because you know me as Peter Parker. Now that you know Spider-Man, I can't help but feel like...like it'll make it worse."

Harry pulled Peter closer, almost into a hug but not quite. His arms were wrapped around his sides and his lips quirked up just slightly into a soft smile, "My dad is a large, green monster that rides around on a glider all day, throwing bombs at superheroes. He literally calls himself the Goblin. How much worse can it get?"

Peter chuckled dryly, "Never say that, Harry. First thing you learn when you put on the hero tights is that everything can get worse."

Harry was quiet for a minute. Then, he asked, "And if I kissed you? Would that make things better? Or worse?"

Peter flushed and had to fight the urge to look away, "It...might," he mumbled. "make things a little bit better. Maybe."

Then Harry was leaning down, and all Peter could think was 'oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh' before Harry's lips touched his and his mind went blank. Every thought stopped short like his brain had short-circuited a wire and he was left with nothing but the feel of Harry's lips to center himself around.

They were soft.

Harry pulled back just as quickly, pausing to see how Peter would react. When he didn't get any protest, he swooped in again and this one didn't stop with a small peck. It deepened. Harry pressed him into the wall, his hands sliding down Peter's sides gently, and it was at moments like this that Peter remembered just how experienced Harry was in this department. He's dated quite a few people, both boys and girls, and has had plenty of time to master the art of lip-locking. In contrast to Peter, who's only ever gotten a kiss from Aunt May (on the cheek) and MJ (but they'd been naive children, so that didn't count).

To say the least, Peter was completely fine with giving Harry the lead, because aside from providing his lips, he had no idea what to do.

When Harry's lips started moving, Peter tried his best to move with him, but it was rough and they clacked teeth a few times before they found a good rhythm.

He wasn't sure how long they were going but allowed himself to sink into the moment, only coming up for air when they really needed it.

They were interrupted by a loud obnoxious cough, and they jumped apart, red-faced and breathing heavy. Peter flushed an even deeper shade of red when he realized it was Powerman, White Tiger, Iron Fist, and Nova standing on the other side of the roof, all with their arms crossed and hands-on-hips, wearing identical smirks that foretold the endless teasing Peter was going to endure once this was all over.

How long have they been standing there?

"You know, we came to save you from Venom, but now I'm thinking that maybe it's Venom who needs saving," Nova said, his smirk so large and sinister, Peter contemplated throwing himself off the roof.

"Yeah, but if you guys aren't done..." White Tiger said, taking a step backward as if to give them privacy.

Of which, Powerman added to rub salt in the wound, "You want us to give you a few more minutes? We can wait over there if you'd like."

Harry cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped away from Peter, putting a good, innocent distance between them. "No...no, we're good," he muttered.

Peter straightened his shirt in an effort to smooth away his embarrassment, and hoped his face wasn't as red as it felt when he said, "Alright, we're all here then. We still need to track down Goblin, so we should probably get on that."

"You sure you don't want to get on that," Nova pointed to Harry, "first?"

"Nova, I will push you off this building."

He snickered in response.

Iron Fist's grin was no less cruel, but he tossed Peter his backpack, "I'm assuming you told Harry the truth, in which case, here's your costume."

Peter grabbed it out of the air and was unzipping it in a matter of seconds with a breath of relief, "Thanks, Fist." He pulled the costume out, immediately seeking out the comfort of his mask to hide the red flush still gathered on his cheeks. "I'm going to go get changed, meet me back at Oscorp in 5."

"If it's going to take you that long, I'm sure Harry wouldn't mind giving you a hand," White Tiger said as Peter turned.

"Nah, I'm pretty sure it'd take longer in that case," Powerman continued easily.

Peter made a loud, groaning noise in the back of his throat and stalked over to the small utility compartment, tore open the door, and descended down the steps. Harry fidgeted on his feet, unsure if he was actually supposed to follow Peter, or if he was supposed to wait. He settled on leaning against the wall, arms crossed, and trying to look as nonchalant as possible.

Powerman snorted, "Look, man, we'll head back to Oscorp. Try not to distract Webs too much. We've still got a villain to catch."

"Oh, sure. Yeah, you bet," Harry mumbled. Venom sighed inwardly and gave him the mercy of covering his face, so the team didn't have to see him get any redder. He appreciated it.

The team was still snickering and casting mirthful glances back at Harry as they leapt one by one off the side of the building. He watched them make their way back to Oscorp, somehow still feeling embarrassed. That was awkward. Guess, he was technically introduced to Peter's team, so that was one step in the right direction, he supposed.

Were they going too fast? He and Peter hadn't even told MJ or Aunt May that they're together.

Are we even together? Harry questioned in a burst of panic. Technically, they just kissed and revealed their long-time crush on one another. But did that automatically make them a couple? Were they still deciding? Was it going to be a friends-with-benefits situation? This was so much different than the other people he's dated. They always assumed after the first date that they were an official 'thing.' But did Peter see it that way?

Hossst needsss to calm, Venom said, its voice resounding in Harry's head as if someone had installed a speaker into his brain. The clarity was crisp and clear, like Venom was standing right next to him. Peter likesss Harry. We know, we sssaw hissss thoughtsss and felt hisss emotionssss.

"Really?" Harry asked tentatively, "Do you think he'd want to make us a thing?"

Of courssse, why do you think he ssssought you out when him and usss were bonded?

"He said you though – or, well, whatever that other red version of you was - that Goblin would be happy with me over Spider-Man."

He could feel Venom's eyeroll. Parker wanted to find you becausse he caresss for you. You make him feel happy and ssssafe.

"I...I make him feel safe?"

Yesss.

Harry grinned despite himself, and something pleased and warm spread throughout his chest. He didn't get a chance to contemplate on that feeling as the door opened again and Peter stepped back out, now dressed in his costume, mask on.

"I see the entourage left," he said with an exhale of relief, "They're not going to let me live this down, you know. Especially Nova, he's gonna torture me."

"Heh, sorry about that," Harry rubbed his neck awkwardly.

"Don't be," Peter was feeling much more confident with the mask on and he only hesitated for a second before he gave Harry a quick peck on the cheek, "C'mon, let's go fight your crazy dad."

Harry chuckled, slipping his hand into Peter's to give it an affectionate squeeze, "Let's."

Peter squeezed back, before slipping it out and taking a running leap toward the edge of the building. He turned around briefly in the air, shot Harry a nerdy salute, before he was falling. He watched a strand of webbing latch onto the opposite building as Peter pulled himself back up. They still needed to talk about whatever this was going to be, and Harry couldn't brush over the fact that Peter's been Spider-Man for nearly 2 years now without telling him.

But that would have to wait for later. Harry watched him for a moment or two, breathless, before chuckling and following in suit.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed writing the Parksborn kiss scene T.T

Anyway, it's time to go after the Goblin. The boys have their feelings on the table and they did the kissy-kissy, but they still got to talk some things out. Oh sure hope nothing BAD happens next chapter. :D

See you in a few days!