Chapter Text
Peter Parker was Spider-man and the entire world knew about it.
It should come as a relief, not having to hide. It would have, if it wasn’t for the circumstances of the unmasking.
Now he was no longer your friendly neighbourhood Spider-man, no, he was now public enemy number one. All thanks to Mysterio.
So that is why Maria Hill had called an emergency meeting. Peter had been on his way to Dr. Strange when her call came in, and after the whole debacle of ignoring Fury, he felt like he couldn’t make the same mistake again. Also he had already been heard by the police, he wasn’t stupid, he knew he needed Hill to be on his side.
He had gotten so far that he even had the sanctum in sight, when he decided to turn around. Heaving a sigh, he looked to the sky and well, since everyone already knew, he swung through New York still dressed in jeans and a hoodie.
They were to meet at Stark Tower. Just swinging by it caused a thorn of unease and grief to tear at his side, having to actually enter the building was much harder. But he braved it.
He was surprised to see that May was there, sitting in one of the couches that had used to be the common area when the Avengers still operated from the tower. She looked out of place, dressed in jeans and a jean jacket. Her presence meant one thing; whatever this meeting was supposed to be about, it was more serious than he had initially thought.
Peter went over to sit down beside her and she immediately threw her arm around his shoulder and tucked him to her side. He went easily, seeking out her familiar scent. Beta and non-threatening. Opposite them sat Happy looking uncomfortable but trying to smile supportively when Peter glanced at him.
“What’s going on?” Peter murmured.
May’s calm scent turned into something sour as her face twisted in what Peter recognized to be anger. “That goddamn J.J Jameson...”
Before she could throw herself into a rant, she was interrupted by the clicking of heels as Hill entered the room, followed by Mrs. Stark. Pepper looked tired, her face gaunt with grief but her suit was as always impeccable. Every time he saw her he was haunted by the notion that he should have done more.
“Shall we start?” Hill asked, choosing to remain standing, even as Pepper took a seat by Happy’s side.
“Have you been following the news lately?” Hill asked, turning her gaze sharply on Peter. She was an alpha, while she had always demanded respect, her presence had never been overbearing. It was a small comfort in a situation like this.
“Of course” Peter answered. “It’s a little hard not to, when everyone’s writing or saying something about me.”
“Have you seen the latest story The Bugle is running?”
Peter thought for a moment, but then shook his head. May was still holding him and was carding her fingers through his hair in support.
Hill was trying very hard not to pace, by the way her muscles tensed and she tapped her feet. “Well, it was only a matter of time before the media figured out your status”
“My status?” Peter said, voice shaking as realization dawned. Spiderman could be anything, so Peter had made him a beta. Peter Parker, however, was born an omega. The world had gotten better, but while there were laws about equal rights and laws against discremination, prejudice was still rampant.
The humiliation took him by surprise. Wasn't it enough that Spiderman had been unmasked, now the entire world knew he was an omega too?
“I still don’t see how Peter’s second-gender would be a problem” May said.
“Trust me, they will make it a problem.” was Hill’s answer as she finally gave in to the urge to pace. “A young, unmated omega with abilities such as yours, also in the ownership of a mass-destructive weapon such as E.D.I.T.H.? Public enemy number one just got more dangerous”
“That’s just bull” May protested. “Old conservative bullshit! Peter being an omega does not make him more reckless than anyone else his age.”
“Mrs. Parker, I am not agreeing with the critics, I’m simply stating the facts of their reasoning.” Hill said calmly, before she once more turned her attention on Peter. “They claim you to be thoughtless and impressionable. They say that it was due to you being an omega that you were manipulated by Mr. Beck.”
“That’s not true!” Peter said, drawing himself out of May’s arms.
Peter had trusted Quentin, not because Quentin was an alpha who had tried to lure him, but because he was an adult who had listened to him. Had respected him, or at least pretended to. (And also because he reminded him so much of Mr. Stark)
Hill ignored him. “Unmated means unrestrained. We don’t need you to be viewed as more of a threat than you already are right now.”
“Is this about omegas being ‘unhinged’?” May asked, air-quotes and all. “Cause you know what? I’ve been to protests about shit like this! Peter is not unhinged! He’s not some weak omega-stereotype who can’t control his emotions or his lusts! He’s no man-eater if that is what the world is so fucking afraid of!”
Peter’s face was blushing red. “May”
Even Happy looked uncomfortable with May’s outburst, and he usually adored everything May ever did. Hill quirked her eyebrows, humming softly.
Pepper, who had been quiet up until that point, cleared her throat. “There is little we can do to change the public's perception of omegas in general, but if we can use their prejudice to soften Peter’s image, it might save him a lot of trouble.”
“This is insane” May muttered, but Peter was intrigued now.
“What is it that you have in mind?”
“Until the investigation is over and we can clear up all misunderstandings, we need to do something about your status. Since you don’t have any parental alpha-figure in your life…” here Hill stopped, throwing Peter an apologetic smile, commiserating in his loss. “We need someone else to step into that role. In the public eye, you need to be ‘controlled’.”
May threw her hands into the air. “Really? Really?! Is this the best S.H.I.E.L.D can come up with? So much for being a big, world renown spy organisation. I wonder what your founder would have said about this”
“It is not an ideal situation” Pepper said, voice tired but soft, trying to console. “This is not about saving the world, it’s about saving an image. Spiderman is too important to be lost to bad reputation. Peter is too important.”
Peter swallowed, having a clue of where this was going. “So you want me to find a mate? An alpha?”
The mere thought wasn’t just terrifying, it was physically painful. He had MJ. He loved her. They had sorted their shit out and they were finally together. But she was a beta. A beta was not enough, not in a situation like this.
The tears came with the realization that he had to quit her. He didn’t know how.
“Who…” he started before his voice broke and he had to try again. May reached out to rub his back, the motion familiar and comforting. “Who do you have in mind?”
Pepper smiled sadly. “You’ve met him once, at Tony’s funeral.”
He had met a lot of people there. Great heroes, loyal friends. But his mind had been so occupied by the fresh grief that he hadn’t been able to pay them much mind. He’d kept close to May and Happy. Keeping his head low. He’d talked to Dr. Strange for a bit too, but as far as he was aware Strange was caste-less since becoming Sorcerer Supreme. Beyond that, Peter couldn’t draw any other interaction into mind.
But then he suddenly remembered a young man a couple of years older than himself, tall, silent and with red-rimmed eyes. An alpha.
“What’s his name again?” Peter asked.
“Harley.” Pepper answered, her smile gentle. “Harley Keener. Tony met him in Tennessee some years back. I know Tony saw potential in him.”
Maybe it was the severity of the situation or the use of Tony’s name that had Peter relent in the end. He sighed in defeat. There was no point hiding his tears anymore. He just wanted to go home, curl up in bed and not resurface until the world had stopped going mad.
Why hadn’t he ignored Hill’s call? Why didn’t he just go to Dr. Strange anyway? No matter what Strange’s solution might have been, it ought to have been better than this.
Hadn’t he lost enough already? His parents, his uncle, Mr. Stark. His identity, his credibility, his freedom. And now, was he supposed to sacrifice his heart as well?
May’s voice was tired when she spoke. “Happy, can you drive us home?”
“Of course” Happy nodded, rising from his seat.
May helped Peter up on his feet and for once, Peter allowed himself to lean on her. Before they could make their way over to the lift, Hill stepped in front of them. Her face was apologetic as she reached out a hand and placed it on Peter’s arm.
“I truly am sorry, but this is the best option that we currently have. We need to get your name cleared, that is the most important goal right now.”
“When will…?” Peter started but found himself incapable of finishing.
Hill seemed to understand either way, briefly glancing over at Pepper. “We wanted to run this by you first, before we talked to Keener. We’ll contact you as soon as we have words.”
Peter nodded slowly, unable to fully take the situation in. May pulled him towards the elevator and, followed by Happy, they made their descent.
___________
As soon as they got back to the apartment, Peter wasted no time curling into bed. May came in with a cup of hot cocoa, urging Peter to come out from beneath the comforter. Reluctantly, Peter sat up against the headboard. He took a slow sip, trying to smile at May, but it felt forced. May petted his hair, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
Peter didn’t know. What was he supposed to feel? What could he even do?
“I was going to talk to Dr. Strange” he murmured quietly. “Maybe he could have done so that people forgot I was Spiderman.”
May’s smile was sad. “Yeah, maybe that would have been easier.”
Her fingers continued to card through his hair. No matter what happened, she would always be on his side as she always had. It was a small consolation as the world was crumbling beneath his feet. Shifting too fast for him to adapt to.
Then a thought occurred to him and he felt like choking.
“Hey, baby, what’s the matter?” May wondered, a hint of panic in her eyes.
“MJ, I have to tell her that… I just got her and I have to...”
And then he was sobbing, curling close to May’s chest. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. They stayed like that until Peter’s crying had subsided.
“You will not lose MJ. If she is your friend she will understand” May tried to soothe.
“I can’t do this to her.”
May sighed, cupping his cheek. “I wish you didn’t have to do this at all.”
“Maybe…” he began, not certain if it was hope or more desperation clogging up his throat. “Maybe Harley won’t agree”
“We’ll see” May hummed.
____________
He had avoided class for a lot of reasons recently, but he knew that giving up on his degree would be to admit defeat. The scums working for the Daily Bugle didn’t deserve that kind of satisfaction just because they loved to see him fail.
Peter hadn’t seen Ned and MJ since the meeting with Hill and he had no idea how he would broach the subject without bawling his eyes out.
MJ and Ned stood waiting for him in front of the entrance. Choosing to go to the same university together was perhaps the best choice of their life. When they caught sight of him they immediately hurried over. MJ had a shy smile on her lips as she leaned forward to grasp his hand. The small contact made his stomach flutter. For once he was grateful for Ned’s third-wheeling, as he patted Peter’s shoulder and brought him out of his head.
They went inside while Ned tried to distract them with a story from the class in programming he took.
“What’s wrong?” MJ whispered, ever so perceptive, brushing her thumb over the back of his hand.
“I…” Peter began and then found himself incapable of going on.
The silence that followed made even Ned quiet down. He and MJ watched Peter with growing worry. Peter took calming breaths, leading them down the corridor to the closest bathroom. As soon as the door closed behind them, Peter started pacing.
Eventually it was MJ’s calm voice that brought him back from the brink of panic.
“Is this about you being an omega?” she asked. “I saw an article…”
“Dude, they’re really tearing your life apart, aren’t they?” Ned said, anger lacing his voice. “it’s insane”
“Yeah” Peter nodded half-heartedly. Grateful, at least, that he had their support.
MJ looked at him, but Peter couldn’t meet her eyes. She hummed in thought.
“There’s something more, isn’t there?”
“Agent Hill fears that my status as an unmated omega will damage my credibility. Possibly complicate the entire investigation.” Peter said, still incapable of meeting either of their eyes.
There was a sharp intake of air and he looked up to see realization dawning on MJ’s face and his heart broke all over again.
“You need an alpha” she said as if it was the simplest thing in the world, while just hearing the words was more than Peter could take.
“Oh my god” Ned breathed as he too realized the severity of the situation. “Shit, dude, I’m sorry I can’t help you.”
MJ reached out to cup Peter’s cheek, and Peter leaned into the touch. Longing a tangible thing in his chest. “I’m sorry too”
“MJ”
Her name came out as nothing more than a plea. For what, he wasn’t quite sure. For more time? A plea for forgiveness?
“We’ll figure this out” Ned said beside them. His voice full of certainty, completely oblivious to the emotional turmoil in front of him. Not because he was in anyway ignorant to the severity of the situation or that he didn’t care, but because he cared. He wanted to help.
Peter couldn’t keep the tears at bay then, so he drew the both of them into his arms and just held on. MJ stroked her hand down his back.
“We’ll find a way”
____________
Peter found himself back at the tower roughly a week later. Pepper was waiting for him in the common area like last time, seated on a couch, dressed as impeccable as ever in a white suit. Beside her sat a young man, talking rapidly about one thing or another. Peter stopped short at the sight of him.
Harley Keener was dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt, as if someone had picked him straight out of a Tennessee stereotype. The only thing missing was the cowboy hat. Instead there was blonde hair, curling wildly, framing a strong-jawed face with piercing blue eyes. He was tall, even when seated, sprawled out on the couch with long limbs dangling about him. A small portion of Peter’s mind could even admit that he was handsome.
They hadn’t discovered him yet, Pepper seated with her back towards him and Harley too occupied with talking, so Peter entertained the thought of sneaking back out again.
May couldn’t accompany him because of work, but he still had Happy by his side, pushing him forward into the room. Peter wanted to protest, but found himself tongue-tied.
Harley saw him first. He tilted his head to the side, curiosity leaking through his scent. Then a slow smile curled his lips and Peter couldn’t determine whether it was friendly or mocking.
Pepper immediately noticed the shift in Harley’s attention and turned around to greet Peter with a proper smile.
“Hi, there you are. We were beginning to wonder if something had happened”
No, Peter thought, I just didn’t feel like coming.
Happy pushed him forward until Peter was forced to take a seat in one of the couches unless he wanted to stand in the middle of the room as the center of attention. Which of course he would be either way, but at least he could be that while seated comfortably.
Harley had straightened himself, sitting up properly. He reached his hand out between the couches.
“I’m Harley Keener. We met at Tony’s funeral.”
Peter shook the hand gingerly. “I know”
Pepper, having noted Peter’s reluctance, opened her mouth to say something, but was sidetracked by Harley, who had leaned back into his seat.
“He spoke about you.” Harley said, bleeding honesty lacing his voice. “He was proud of you”
Peter snarled.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like people speaking of Mr. Stark, of Tony - if anything he appreciated the way his memory was kept alive through reminiscing - but that Tony would be proud of him? After everything Peter had done? He had been so irrensponsible and stupid to trust Beck. Putting not only his loved ones but also innocent civilians in harm's way. And now this? Everything was fucked up because Peter had fucked it up. Tony would not be proud. How could he?
Harley raised his hands disarmingly. “I meant no harm.”
“You know nothing about me” Peter hissed.
If Peter had expected a sheepish apology, which - let's be frank - he had, that’s not what he received.
“I know that you’re Spiderman and that Tony thought the world of you” Harley shot back. Determination made his eyes sharpen and Peter found himself caught off guard by how blue and penetrating they were. As if Harley could see right through him. It was uncomfortable to say the least.
“I also know that you need my help. That’s three things.” Harley continued. Then his gaze softened to that of pity, and Peter didn’t know which he’d prefered. “It’s fucked up the way media treats you”
Peter sighed in defeat and just shrugged.
“Harley will move into the Tower” Pepper interrupted quickly, clearly afraid that their stand-still wouldn’t last for long. “He’ll be continuing to work with some of Tony’s old projects, creating an image of him as a potential heir. The two of you will be seen out in public…”
This was not a suggestion.
“... a couple of times before we announce your union. The ceremony will be small and private, since I suspect it might be hard on you even without the media coverage. Then, Peter, you will move in here, to the Tower, with Harley. In your own room of course. I have cleared this by May and she agrees, with one condition: that you return to her apartment during your heats where you would feel the most safe.”
And where he couldn’t send Harley into a rut, was left unsaid.
“How long will this go on for?” Peter dared to ask.
“For as long as it will take until the accusations against you are cleared. Maybe a year or two.”
A year? He could probably ask MJ to wait for him for a year, but two? That felt cruel. He liked her. He really, really liked her. But not to the point of being selfish, or rather; he loved her so much so that the thought of hurting her made his chest ache.
Peter glanced over at Harley, who in turn was observing him passively. What did he have to lose? Some reputation, marrying a publically disgraced omega? But what did he not gain? The possibility of being the next Tony Stark.
Peter Parker’s world was falling apart and Harley Keener would build on its ashes.