#ordinariums || peter tasm

[inhcritance]

@ordinariums asked: "What happened here?" - From Peter! <3 From this meme || Accepting

Harry coughed, furiously hating the way it echoed throughout the sewers, as if his own body was mocking him. Then again, he thought, that wasn't something new.

He coughed again, and then it was only the sound of water and his own breathing, and he could pretend he was not hearing the drops of his blood hit the ground, nor the creaks and tears of his own body mending the damages. Half of his forearm was covered in scales by now, and much of what remained was still bloody, still the wrong shade of dark, still trying to knit itself.

Another deep breath, another cough, there in the sewers, half sitting against a wall and trying not to fall unconscious, because his enemy was still out there, but he couldn't get himself out just yet. Not while breathing hurt this much, and he didn't trust his leg.

Connors would be back, and Harry's communications were still shorted, his Goblin suit half slashed, the lenses broken. He needed to drag himself out of the sewers, arm himself again, and return. But until he did, he was listening, and clutching a dagger, and trying not to close his eyes.

He moved before he could think of it: He heard a voice and he was immediately on the offensive: on his feet, dagger moving towards the body he could hear better than he could see. Then his brain caught up to his instincts, and the relief teamed up with the wounds on his leg: Harry fell against the wall again, the dagger clanking against the ground.

As much as he didn't like the thought of being seen this vulnerable... this was still so much better than Connors.

"You should... have seen the other guy." He managed.

And then he told himself he was spending far too much time around Spider-Men.

[erthlyheavn]

@ordinariums replied: My TASM!Peter has been making rounds since he got back from NWH, so if you want, he can encounter her! This is like, his main thing. He wants to befriend and help others like him (spideys OR anyone else) <3

//YESSSS! *grabby hands* Give her a good role model and a mentor that will actually stick around and teach her things!

[thedoctornumber11]

🥖- from tasm Peter!

Send a 🥖 to throw a baguette at my muse. For @ordinariums

"What was that for?" the Doctor asked, clearly quite confused.

[inhcritance]

" Who am I to you? " - from tasm!pete <3

Send " Who am I to you? " to hear my muse describe their relationship with your muse/how they perceive them as a person.

"I could say I hope I'd made that clear," he considers, "but then again all I've made clear is that I have feelings for him. And this is not about those feelings."

Not that those feelings had come from thin air, nevertheless.

"He might be the one person I've trusted with more of my difficult truths, and would extend such trust again." He says at last. "A close, dear friend, for all I'm hoping we might get a bit further than that. Which is, fortunately," he admits, "a very far cry from where it all started."

Harry had been at his lowest point, and he knew Peter had been far from at his best. And yet, there they were, doing so much better.

"He's brilliant." He begins. "Brilliant and kind-hearted and with an unfortunate tendency to shoulder responsibilities. Far from naive, with all he's suffered and lost, and yet I have to admire his resolve to keep trying to help. And what is kindness, if not that?" He smiles.

"He's also stubborn. Which, kettle, pot." He admits. "And sometimes trying to read him is... difficult. And, truth is, even now, there are some topics I am hesitant to discuss."

Gwen, for example. The Harry from Peter's universe. The serum, and Harry's fears about it, given the Goblins they've met.

"I trust him, and I value his thoughts. And I've long known that he sees me as my own person, which is never something I take for granted. In the situation we met, and with his past? Something even more valuable."

Even if Harry can't but wonder if the shadow of Peter's once best friend, and the pain he caused, might forever loom over them.

"I admit I was wary, at first, when he started visiting. I don't tend to think the best of people." As if that surprised anyone, ever. "And yet I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I managed to repair the friendship with my universe's Peter in no small part because of the conversations we had, there in the youngest Peter's dimension, and so I was willing to take the risk. And it paid off: our relationship has become a valued part of my life." He adds. "I just wish I could surprise him, visit him instead, return the favor. Feel like I help him as much as he's helped me."

He doesn't wish he didn't have to worry, in truth: heroics are a part of who Peter is, and Harry is a worrier by nature. He'd worry anyway.

"I don't know what the future holds. It won't be easy."

Not when he technically doesn't exist in Harry's universe, and Harry is a public enough figure, these days. Not when any of them can't guarantee a tomorrow, and not with the multiverse there, as a barrier. But then again... that last bit, at least, is not the problem it could be.

"But we shall see. Life is never easy, and that doesn't make it any less worth living."

[inhcritance]

Harry did have an unfair advantage, and was perfectly confortable using it. The Glider, despite its origin and intended application, had ended up being one of Harry's favorite devices. And it let him move rather discreetly.

Still he shrugged, as Peter first refused his challenge. It had been worth trying, if it got the Spider where Harry could keep an eye on him, but perhaps this Peter would choose caution. Maybe so would have his, and all in all Harry couldn't help but miss him: furious as he was, betrayed and guilty as he felt, he would have trusted his Peter not to backstab him at least. Or well, backweb him.

There was no way this could have been a friendly challenge, but part of Harry wished it could have. It should have been nice, meeting other counterparts of his friend. Or well, the person he'd thought his friend was.

His challenge was accepted in the end, however, and he was saved from dwelling in those thoughts as he planned his route, the distinctive sound of a web-shooter making him tense. And then Harry too was on the move, keeping an eye on Peter when he could, and focusing on avoiding flying over open streets even if it had him lose the spider a few times.

His mood was much less somber when he landed, a rooftop away from FEAST. He couldn't help it: he hadn't meant to rush, he hadn't meant to actually race, but there was something exhilarating in flying, in hovering over the city below and feeling the air against him. Something freeing, almost whimsical. Well, when he wasn't fighting.

He turned to check his surroundings, and only then did he fly towards FEAST's actual rooftop, losing the challenge in good grace, an easy grin still on his face as he took a few steps back, to avoid any pedestrians spotting him as he took off the hood and mask, then passed a hand through his hair.

"Well, here we are." He spoke, and soon the ease in his expression was gone, as he focused again, folded the glider after hopping down, and then took off the upper half of his suit, folding it like a jacket. He was not fully comfortable removing part of his armor, but with the armored trousers and only a long-sleeved black shirt, he thought, at least he would look less intimidating, and there was little point in hiding his face in a world where he didn't exist.

The fact that the shirt he wore underneath had some visible tears that had clearly been stitched by hand was probably not the greatest help, but Harry preferred the 'biker gang leader's personal assistant' aesthetic to the villainous image of the full suit. And, he thought, at least the shirt was black and hid the blood stains well, because he knew he didn't bleed red these days.

"Alright, let's do this." He added, mostly to himself, as he glanced at Peter. "Time to find ourselves some answers."

And, after folding the armored jacket over the arm he was holding the folded glider with, he made his way towards the fire escape stairs.

"We might not have long, and I'd rather not bring undue attention to this place." He spoke. "So we could always pretend you're a very eager Spider-fan, if you're going in the suit."

Yeah, he was cautious about travelling. He didn’t have any other clothes with him, which meant he couldn’t fall into the disguise of a pedestrian. He was Spider-Man. That was his only option. Problem in this universe, was apparently, that this version of Spider-Man was revealed to the public. A public which was still new to the information. Which meant, he couldn’t be subtle, and he had to make extra sure to cover his tracks when arriving at any destination. Never thought he’d actually miss the day where he could just be Peter Parker.

“Look, I think you’ve got an unfair advantage here. I’m not racing you.” Harry could fly and he could pass through the city (mostly) anonymously. Definitely not fair. But then, did he really want Harry Osborn getting to Aunt May first? Peter leaned back on his heel, glancing over the glider and then up to Harry’s mask.

His version of Harry, at this point, was too far gone. This Harry didn’t seem to be. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t close. No, he didn’t trust him in the slightest. But God, he secretly wished he could. He missed his friend. Even after everything.

He pulled his mask down over his face, and with a small, defeatist shrug, he nodded, “You’re on.” And with that, he thwipp’d away from Harry, directing himself over to Chinatown. And, obviously, the buildings were different and everything had shifted, but he treated it like going into a more unfamiliar neighbourhood back at home. With a bit more thought, and more reliance on his spider-sense, he got there in no time, even able to take some back alley streets before landing in place on top of the FEAST building. Don’t think anyone followed him. Or saw him, not properly. Good. Last thing he wanted was to make it worse for this world’s Peter Parker.

[inhcritance]

“ perhaps i don’t say it enough, but… i’d like you to know that i’m always here, if you ever wanted to talk. ” - from Pete <3

For all Harry has a very decent poker face when faced with his most volatile emotions, and over the years has become very good at hiding the spectrum of feelings that go from anger to concern, passing across fear and worry, there's something to be said about the warmth of caring and being cared about, and it always breaks through his defenses. He's not sure he can help it, and he isn't sure he'd want to.

So he smiles, there in his dress shirt but no tie, the vest and jacket long discarded, with the sunset behind him. There's something, he feels, strangely adequate in the moment: sunsets and sunrises, his mother used to say, are moments for change.

"Thank you." He replies, soft and fond, knowing that Peter will hear him anyway. "And likewise. I mean it." He adds.

His hair is not yet fully dry, and he passes a hand through it as he tries to choose the right words for what he wishes to say. What does it say about him, he often wonders, that he's so comfortable in front of investors and employees but still so unused to speaking his heart?

"I will try." He settles for. "That's all I can promise. I'm aware I'm not very good at actually talking about things."

At least without life or death situations hanging over him.

"I'm trying, and I will try, and I can say with clear certainty that I've never regretted any conversation we've had, no matter how complicated." He admits.

It's true, like all else he's said. And for all the secrets he holds on to, he thinks Peter is the person who's seen him at his most honest, and does so on the regular. It's surprisingly easy with him.

"There will be things I cannot tell you, and it won't be personal." He warns him. "Even if I will do my best to tell you why if you ask me to." It's the one concession he can make, on this matter. "And I understand it will be the same, on your end. But I ask you the very same: let's talk things out, when it's possible."

And he means it very seriously, but his smile is still fond.

"And maybe even when it's not. You're brilliant and I'm stubborn, we should be able to manage." He adds.

[inhcritance]

@ordinariums asked: 🩸 - from tasm!Pete hehe Send 🩸 to find a wound that my muse was trying to hide

He'd thought he'd had everything under control. Give it a day or two, after all, and he'd be mostly fine, and he didn't give it more than a week before he was completely recovered. Half of that, if he was willing to be optimistic.

It could have been much worse, and a few broken ribs was almost nothing, given how outnumbered he'd been. Of course, he wished he'd have managed to escape unharmed, but it could have been worse. And he was home, and alright, and for a moment, as he reached to change the vinyl he'd had playing in the background, he'd forgotten what the dull, continuous ache every breath had been caused by.

Without the bandages to stop him, he thought, it might have hurt enough to scream. Instead he gasped mid movement, halting because the tension only increased the pain, and he held on to the nearest shelf for a moment, trying to compose himself.

He was fine, he told himself, and there was no need to worry Peter. But he knew he'd taken too long, and he'd completely missed what Peter had been saying.

"Can you repeat that?" He managed, straightening back up, and his voice was almost -almost- completely level.

He was so reinforcing his suit's body armor. Again.

[inhcritance]

❝  did you just wince?  where are you hurt?  ❞ -- From Pete <3

FOR THE “YOU CAN KILL ME BUT DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH THEM” DYNAMICS || Accepting

It tended to start just like that: a wince, a moment of pain, a sharp cramp. Then there came others. Then unsteady hands, and getting tired much faster, and then a slow but steady decline.

Harry kept hoping the pain wouldn't return, but he knew himself too well, and this was far from the first time the pain warned him in the last few days. He was, he knew it, objectively better than he'd been a year prior. He wouldn't have had days of just occasional pain, he'd have looked visibly worse.

But still he wished he could look at Peter and smile and say it was nothing, and mean it. Because for all the concern warmed his chest -and it did, more than he could easily word it- it was also an unfortunate reminder of the situation and his own frustration at it.

"I'm not injured." He said at last, something bitter in his smile. "Really."

And then, when he trusted his hands enough to carefully grab the cup of coffee -he already missed its warmth, he was too cold these days even under the knitted blanket he'd wrapped around his shoulders-, he spoke again.

"There's a science exhibit this weekend." He explained instead. "So I'm waiting a few days more than usual to take the serum."

[ordinariums-a]

bringing back tasm!Peter on my new blog @ordinariums !

[inhcritance]

Harry hadn't had many experiences through the multiverse, and not one of them had been peaceful. Once, when they'd met, then another when Peter had saved his life and brought him to his universe, and then one very particular time he'd feared for his life at the hands of far too many Spider-Men.

The pragmatic, logical thing was to stay. To make the most of his own universe, to keep his safety in his own hands, because right then Harry was simply human, with no strength to fight off a threat, with no enhanced senses to let him know he was safe. So, if something went wrong, he'd have to rely on Peter. Both to return, and to be safe.

He wasn't sure he was comfortable, he considered, as he tilted his head just faintly. And in any other day, maybe pragmatism and common sense might have won. Maybe he would have recognized that he'd already tried his luck once and won, it was better to leave it at that for the day. To tell Peter that he trusted him, but the idea of multiverse traveling still intimidated him.

But he'd long been wondering if he'd ever have a chance to see Peter's home city and actually see it, and well... It did feel like a day to be a bit reckless.

"The whole multiverse perhaps not yet… But I've long wanted to see your New York." He settled for, his smile small and yet morphing into an easier almost-grin as Peter spoke again.

"I'm actually really fond of pizza, and street food." He admitted. "Indian food as well."

The former two, he didn't have as much of a chance to indulge nowadays, because he did try to eat healthy and he tended to eat at home or out, but the latter, well.

"I'm still trying to figure out the right spice ratio for a few curry dishes," he even admitted, "but it's a work in progress. And speaking of spices," he added, "you'll have to tell me how much you can handle. I've been a bit too busy to cook these last weeks, but I should have more time soon."

And so he could stop living off take away and the chefs of the building, and actually do something himself, which he'd been sorely missing. And well, maybe try to impress Peter while he was at it.

Okay, he hadn't done this in a while, and he really had next to zero ideas. But with Harry's reservations about this city? There was one thing he could offer up that he's sure Harry would be expecting. "I mean, we don't have to stay here. We've got the whole multiverse ... if you're comfortable with that."

And Peter would understand if he wasn't. The whole, being trapped in another universe in case something bad happened - paired with the fact that Harry would only be relying on Peter to get back home? It was unsettling. And from experience, Peter knew it wasn't easy being alone in a different world. The amount of times he had been trapped himself? It wasn't fun.

But it would be safe, if they used Peter's universe. Even in the worst case scenario, Peter could make sure Harry had backup plans.

Or they could just be sensible, and use this universe. Peter took a glance out the window, in the direction of the city, before finally looking back to Harry, and grinning. "Soooo what's your favourite kind of food? I'm pretty sure I know New York off by heart by now; even the expensive places."

[inhcritance]

Harry couldn't help the faint beginnings of concern from blooming as Peter first spoke, only to end up wondering, in the end, if it was selfish of him to feel flattered at his words.

"Oh." He managed, a hand on the back of his neck somewhat sheepishly, before he recovered. "I appreciate that."

At first, when Peter had first appeared on a sudden day and with a teddy bear as a peace offering -a bear that Harry still kept on one of the shelves of his living room, next to other gifts and memories he'd been collecting throughout the years- he'd wondered just how much of it was worry that things might not have ended well, in this reality.

But he'd kept coming back, and their strange and sudden alliance had somehow morphed into something Harry held very close to his heart. And while he had already figured out that Peter enjoyed his company, there was something to having it be spoken out loud.

"I mean it." He added. And because he was willing to take what bravery he had and run with it, he spoke again, a bit more seriously. "You're always a very welcome surprise. And I hope you know that if you ever need anything I can help with, all you need to is ask. You're always welcome here."

And perhaps that was a bit too much honesty, because at this rate Harry might admit that he worried about Peter, not because he thought him helpless in any way but because worrying was simply what Harry did, when he cared.

And he'd long figured he'd punch the world for this Peter. And that would certainly include his world's Harry, if he ever met him.

But for all that Harry was getting much better at actually speaking about things, that would be too much.

"For the record, here-Peter does know about the multiverse. I did tell him about those two very chaotic days" He commented, because that topic felt a bit safer. "It's the little Spider that might lose his mind, if he hasn't been told about it."

Both him, and his friend. But that was information Harry wasn't about to simply reveal without reason, and for all he approved of Miles, he didn't actually trust him. Then again, Harry had never been very good at that whole trusting business.

There's a hesitation, as he debates his next few words. Should he? Yeah, why not? "Actually, uh, no. I'm uh, not.... Well, avoiding is the wrong word. I just don't approach him when I see him. Which has only happened, like what, once or twice the entire time I've known you?"

And what had stopped him? He didn't really know. He knew about the Spider-Man in this universe. He knew MJ was his partner. Didn't know if there was a Gwen here (although, he was avoiding those kinds of thoughts all together). And he knew that Harry was his friend, and that the other Peter was damned lucky to have him.

Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it was something else. But something had stopped him from making himself known. And that was impressive, considering his whole thing right now was travelling to help other Spider-Men in different worlds. Was it wise to admit any of this to Harry? He didn't know that either.

"I don't know why." He quickly followed, motioning to Harry. "I guess I just think of this place as-- you. Y'know, the place I come to-- hang out, have a friend. See you. Besides, it seems like your Peter has everything covered. He juggles Spider stuff like a pro, he doesn't need me. And there's no point in blowing his world up just to say hi, y'know?"

[inhcritance]

"Not the most intriguing?" He echoed, and he couldn't help the sudden, affronted gasp that left him.

Were it another day the gesture would have been so much more dramatic, but for now it was only a gasp, and nevertheless the teasing in his tone and the amusement in his gaze made it clear he wasn't wholly serious.

Just partly, and just in the way that he understood that not everyone shared his passion, but also comfortable enough to tease.

"What do you see as intriguing sciences, then?" He asked in return, and he might have punctuated that with a nudge of the shoulder, only he didn't really trust his hands if he does, and he was still holding his coffee.

So, instead, he answered.

"I don't exactly know everything that will be there, but Oscorp is bringing two different stands, one focused on cleaning air pollution and another about ways to gather and destroy microplastics." He told Peter. "I've been overseeing these projects myself and, well, beyond my personal stake in them, the teams are brilliant and this is their chance to shine, to be recognized. And I want to be there for them."

And he was very proud of his scientists, for all that he knew that those projects had only been allowed to take the forefront because Oscorp was in the middle of a strong PR crisis. Unfortunately for Harry's father, however, Harry had learned from the best: every inch he gained in his quest to make Oscorp better was not an inch he would be giving back.

"There are some smaller companies bringing some stands I'm really curious about, at least from their descriptions." He added. "Some new kinds of plastic, solar-powered recycling stations..." he continued. "There's one on bioelectricity I'm faintly concerned about, given they mentioned eels, but beyond that one I'm quite looking forward to see what will be there."

He didn't like not being able to do anything; he's used to getting involved and doing what was best in any given situation. Moreso now than he was before. But faced with something he couldn't fix right away? And something that was bothering Harry, too? He wasn't entirely convinced that he couldn't do more than just the Peter Parker moral support role.

"Environmental projects? Yeah, not the most intriguing science subject, I'll give you that. But seeing how different it might be in this universe might be."

Peter hadn't really slowed down in that regard. He kept finding things that were just different. Different shops in different places; people who got their leases agreed before or after they had expected. It was different, but so similar. He'd wager a guess and say that the environmental problems were at best, similar between universes. If not the same. But there might be something there that could help. "Hey, tell me about it."

[inhcritance]

As Peter spoke, very much quickly moving on after that "again", Harry chose to temporarily understand that he hadn't lost a multiversal experimental travel device. He'd simply dropped it once.

That certainly couldn't become a problem, he thought, biting back a sigh. At least there was another problem that could be solved, somewhat?

"Then I'll get you half a sleeve of our latest material that can withstand explosions." He settled for. "And you can try it and tell me if it interferes or not with the device that definitely doesn't have a long lost sibling somewhere in the multiverse." He added. "I actually have the materials in Pete's lab, which will raise less questions than Oscorp."

Speaking of Peter, however, Harry crossed a leg over his knee, shaking his head slightly.

"It's not about intruding, and I think he'll love the chance to meet you and even have your help on this." He told Peter.

Truth be told, he quite wanted them to meet. Oh, the laboratory might become even more of a chaotic space, but he had a hunch they'd get on swimmingly.

"Still, I want to ask him first." He added. "My family history contains far too many instances of treating joint research as personal research, and the long time grudges it can cause."

And he was being very cautious not to end up doing exactly the same, at any degree.

At the thought of the youngest of the Peters, however, he frowned, gravelly, and nodded. It made sense, worrying as it was, even if he couldn't help a small, good-humored huff of laughter at Peter's final remark.

"You might have a point there." He conceded, before his tone returned to seriousness. "I just hope he's doing well. The kid lost all of his support network within a day, and I still wish I could have done more for him."

@ordinariums

The offer for help went a long way. Somehow, Peter hadn't expected it, and therefore, most certainly hadn't expected it to slip past all of his defences. Damn, he hadn't had help with anything like this since Gwen. Gwen, who had wonderfully made a lot of suggestions that had turned out to be literal life-savers. It was nice. Having someone who knew. Being able to chat about Spider-Stuff, even if it wasn't... just Spider-Stuff.

He really needed some friends, huh?

"Y'know, I don't-- really think it needs any skin contact. It needs to be connected to someone for it to work, it's why I hooked it up to a heartbeat sensor. It means it won't magically disappear on it's own if I accidentally... drop it, again." He said that last bit quickly, and moved on. Peter really was chaos incarnate, huh? And there definitely wasn't some kind of multiversal device hanging around in a different universe, waiting to definitely not be a problem to anyone ever. Nah. No way.

"Yeah, no, check in with your Peter. I don't wanna intrude. Your universe, and everything. I'm just sayin', here to help if you need it. Happy to." He shrugged, his hand finding itself, scratching the back of his head as he wandered around again, putting the multiversal travel device back onto his wrist. He did want to. He really did want to. Because maybe if he could help another Harry get better, properly, then there'd be a chance at helping his own. If he decided he wanted to. Of course he wanted to. But he really didn't. But he knew what the right thing to do was. He shouldn't let his personal feelings get in the way of doing the right thing. Even if he had been doing just that for how many years?

"Uh, I haven't found him." Peter, that was. "I found his universe, but I haven't found him. Not everyone lives in a building like this, I mean, it's really easy to find you, Harry. The whole - Oscorp, logo, on the side of the building? Dead giveaway." @h-osborn

[inhcritance]

Multiversal constants, and for all some sounded obvious, such as the fact that spiders were involved (duh), Harry couldn't help a small frown at the thought of loss as a constant. It stood to reason, because he knew very well it was a part of life, and yet... it didn't sit well with him. How could it.

At least, he thought, given what they'd seen with the youngest spider he'd met, fighting their best friend didn't seem to be a constant. Just a common pattern.

Still, Harry listened. He listened, and considered, and to a degree he thought he understood.

Did he dare speak of it? He tried to choose his words, then bit them back, and finally he decided to just... just try. He was definitely not used to talking about these matters.

"When my mom died, when she was dying... I didn't hold it together at all." He admitted. "I had to learn to pretend I was coping well, because I was expected to be seen in society and sometimes mourning is not polite." He almost spat, before breathing. "My father turned towards his work, and I tried to push through it all, to follow his example. I was a mess." He added, almost offhandedly. "And had to pretend I wasn't."

It had taught him to lie, to put on a facade and pretend to be this nonthreatening rich kid. But it had hurt, when all he wanted was peace and quiet and for the world to just... stop, while he caught his breath. That he could just sleep for a few months, until the pain dimmed.

"And when I thought I had it together, I found out I was dying. I was not good company the last few months, I can tell you that." He admitted, his smile all but amused, with a shrug he didn't feel. "I'd learned to pretend, so pretend I did. I regretted it, in the end. I will never not wish that I had told my friends myself." He added. "That I hadn't thrown myself into investigation, and instead had let myself live, while I still could."

It was not a topic he'd discussed before, with anyone, and he feared he was going off-topic. That this was not about him. And yet, it was hard to stop, because he'd had a point to make.

"Then I woke up, after a year in stasis, and realized that my new situation was not really better. So I pushed myself to do things, bad choice after bad choice."

So much could have been solved, or at least improved, if he'd dared to open up to people.

"What I'm trying to say," he continued, in the end, seeking Peter's eyes, "is that we all deal with pain and mourning differently. That I don't think there's anything wrong in needing time, nor in taking that time. It doesn't take from others' strength, and it doesn't take from the fact that some people deal with pain by doing instead of resting, either." He added, moving a hand to Peter's shoulder, to squeeze it in support.

He tried to view everyone as separate people, hell, he took pride in the fact that he did. But he'd do this with other people, too. Compare himself to others. It was just easier when other Spider-People were involved. Easier to pick up on his shortcomings, and it was so much more obvious how depression had shaped his whole life.

He should take it as inspiring; a way to change, make a difference. And he was. Reapplying to university had been the first step, and the second had been trying to rent a place closer to that university. Top floor, because he wasn't going to be living in a train station his whole life. Unfortunately, top floor apartments tended to cost more too. Mix this stuff in with Spider-paroles his multiversal side project? It was hard to keep himself focused on one thing.

He really didn't know how other Peters did it. Years into this, and he still hadn't cracked the code.

"There are multiversal constants. That's what I call them, anyway; I think the others have a different name. Y'know. Spider-bite, losing someone close to us. Jameson, for some hecking reason. Seriously, I have yet to find a universe where Jameson isn't doing his thing and hating on me. It's so stupid. But uh... the kid, from the universe we got pulled into? He lost everyone. May, MJ, Ned, Happy, Stark - everyone. And he was only down for what? Two weeks? Maybe a month? After Gwen, I tapped out for six months, and I never really... gave it my all again, until now. I can't not compare myself to that. I can't. He's the strongest kid I've come across and he's only seventeen."

[inhcritance]

There was probably no getting ready for such a thing, and yet Peter would have to try. And hearing him admit that despite his misgivings, he would try, made Harry feel a strange form of pride.

If the situation were different, he thought, if it were reversed, he didn't know if they could even be having this conversation, at any point, or he'd have chosen to go for revenge directly, long ago. He didn't think he'd have acted like Peter's Harry, that was true... but he'd seen too much, he'd dived too deep into his desperation, not to think that he wouldn't have gone for revenge against his Peter if he'd thought himself betrayed and with nothing to lose. How far, he didn't know and he didn't want to know.

His heart ached for everyone involved, from the two that lived (probably, for one of them) to the one that had been killed in the crossfire. And Harry wished, not for the first time, that he had something to offer beyond an ear, beyond support. Beyond ideas that might not be useful at all.

Harry considered the situation, fidgeting with the corner of the blanket next to him.

"I suppose a lot might depend," he said at last, very softly, "on whether he disappeared or was made disappear."

There were topics he had never talked about, and would have never talked about, under normal circumstances. But for a life? And for a friend?

"Given the parallels and differences between our worlds this can't be certain, of course, but at least here," he exhaled, "when you're an Osborn, when your family has pissed off as many people as mine has, there are... contingencies in place. Provisions made so that if I ever need to be gone, I can do so." He explained. "Just as there are many people who would benefit greatly if I died, and nobody ever found out."

He'd long been aware of that fact, and the danger it placed on him, and those he loved.

"Contingencies and enemies, those are the starting points I can think of."

At least with his current knowledge of all what had transpired.

"Yeah, no, I know."

Everything that Harry said, he had thought about, over and over again. His biggest worry was May. Someone who (to his knowledge) was not involved in any of this. Someone that Harry had known growing up, when they had used to hang out at his place. If Harry wanted to hurt him, it would be there. But- he hadn't. Assuming his Harry was still alive, he had had all this time to make himself known or to do something to him. There had been nothing. And maybe it was because he was too sick to do anything. Maybe he really was dead. Maybe he knew not to cross that line, but Peter didn't know any of that. And wouldn't, until he found him.

"There's always going to be a reason to not. And I'm tired of those reasons getting in the way. He deserves better. Yeah, he might hate me, he might do something, and this might all be a big mistake. But it's not going to stop me."

He took a breath, and motioned to the other, frowning as he leaned back. Being ready. How could he ever fully be ready for this? He had thought about it for years, even before he had met this Harry, and it had taken him until now to make the decision. He was cautious. And he was scared, too, if he was being honest. For Harry, for himself, and for May.

"I'll be as ready as I can be. But first, I just need to find out where he is. And I have no idea where to look. He's like a-- fudging ghost. Totally disappeared after the clocktower."

[inhcritance]

There was a moment of silence, as Harry considered Peter's words. He remembered far too well what he had learned on their first meeting, what his alternate self had done.

He almost asked Peter if he was certain, then bit back the remark. It might be selfish of him, but no matter what he'd done, a part of Harry would always believe that his counterpart deserved a chance to live, and do so free of the desperation that was their health.

"Good luck." He wished Peter. "And be careful."

And as much as he worried for his friend, he was also proud of his choice. Unless, of course, he was making too many assumptions.

"What will you do, when you find him?"

open || to anyone

"I'm gonna find Harry."