Peter and Harry, backdated to March 7
Mar. 7th, 2015 02:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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om_mainAfter some Avenging in Times Square, Peter drops in on a stressed-out Harry.
Harry went out on the terrace to wait for Peter, having no doubt that the elevator wasn't gonna get any use today. He'd shrugged on his leather jacket, but it was unbuttoned; the whiskey in his hand had no ice in it, but it was cold enough outside that he didn't even notice.
Too many questions. He was going to answer them all, Oscorp was going to answer them all, and immediately... but first, he had some explaining to do to Peter. And Tony, truth be told. Even if he could never have predicted the test pilots going rogue, Harry had accepted the responsibility of cleaning up his house. And he'd failed.
Relief coursed through Peter at the sight of Harry’s apartment in the distance. After everything that had happened today, the trip (barely a trip really with how close Harry’s apartment was) had felt like it had taken ages. He was exhausted and couldn’t wait to just sit down.
Peter let go of his webbing on an upswing and landed on the terrace in a small run. Pulling off his mask, he gave Harry a smile, “Hey, man.”
"Glad to see you unscathed," Harry said with an answering smile. He nodded towards the door. "C'mon inside. You could probably use a drink. Or a hot tub."
“You have one of those?!” Peter asked excitedly, following Harry. His mouth dropped once they were inside, and then turned into a huge grin. “Wow, Harry, the place looks great!” He whistled, impressed, and turned in a slow circle, taking the whole apartment in.
"Still working on a little more personalization, but since I'm only here weekends..." Harry shrugged and sipped at his drink some more. "No hot tub, but I do have an incredible Jacuzzi tub that's just as good."
Peter dropped his backpack down on the floor, “Do not tempt me, man.” He dropped down onto the couch to tug off his boots.
Harry smiled--hard not to, with Pete--but then frowned and settled down on the chaise lounge. "So, about those armored assholes..."
Pulling off his second boot, Peter wiggled his free toes. “The robo-nos? No, no. Wait. I had a better one.” His brow knit. “Oh, God, what was it? Crap. I can’t remember.”
"How about: disgruntled Oscorp employees?" Harry sighed and killed the rest of his drink.
Peter froze in the process of taking the rest of his costume off, “Wait. What? Seriously?” The position, it turned out, wasn’t very comfortably, as the fight had left his side one big bruise, so he straightened his costume and dropped his arms.
Harry nodded and set aside his empty glass. He'd need more soon, but first, explanations. No point hiding it anymore; even if Tony hadn't told all his sidekicks that Stark Industries was involved, Peter must've guessed it by now. "Remember when I told you about that stuff with your dad? And that there was more I found that I couldn't tell you about? I couldn't tell you because it was related to Stark Industries; it was Tony's shit as much as mine."
Brow knit, Peter nodded slowly. He’d figured Stark Industries had to be involved in some way, but Oscorp? “Harry, man...,” he said, not sure what to say, where to even begin. “How? When did they--? Holy crap.”
"Exactly," Harry said. He set aside the empty glass and leaned forward, elbows on his thighs. "Someone up high 5am the brilliant idea to combine Stark body armor prototypes--which, that's a whole other story how they even got them but I think they stole them from Tony--and Oscorp CNS interface tech. When Doug hacked us, he found it--I found the Stark link when I went in with Illyana and Caius.
"The suits were at Oscorp for tweaks and testing. I shut down the program. The guys--apparently flipped out and decided to go rogue rather than give them up."
“Holy crap,” Peter said again, because, in this case, it really bore repeating. “Um,” he rubbed the back of his neck and then leaned forward, mirroring Harry’s pose. “Why? Is there something wrong with the CNS interface? Something that wasn’t predicted? Like a--a addiction or something? Or...” he remembered how strong the armored men had been and his stomach sunk sickeningly, “Or did they just not want to give it up?”
"I can't rule out the former yet, but for the moment it looks like the latter. Who knows what they've been through to put that into their heads, though." There were all kinds of sketchy testing going on that even Harry--who really, really did not want to die--wouldn't have been okay with, probably. "Pete, you gotta know--I had no idea it could get to this level. I promised Tony I'd clean up my house if he cleaned up his, but it turned out I didn't have the power. It's on me; I take responsibility. I'm gonna fix it so it can't happen again."
Peter shook his head, brow knit with concern, “Of course, you didn’t know. Of course--” He reached over and took Harry’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “This isn’t your fault, Harry. You don’t run Oscorp yet. You did everything you could, everything you were able. That’s what matters.”
He blinked as he realized something, “Oh, man, what is Oscorp going to say?”
Harry wasn't going to touch the first part. Don't think that well of me, Pete. I'm bound to disappoint, someday. He just moved on to the rest: "Even if people aren't aware of the CNS interface tech--they will be, and no one could do that but us. I have a 24-hour no comment policy in effect, since I'm sure accusations and theories are already flying.
"Believe it or not, Norman backed me up on that." If Harry didn't look too excited about that, he didn't expect Peter would be surprised. Norman Osborn's 'back-up' wasn't support; it was a test. To see if whatever game Harry had set in motion would be a win or a lose, if he allowed it to play through.
He stood to get himself another drink to wipe the grimace off his face. "Hopefully Tony won't be too banged up to talk to me soon, because I'd rather not make any big decisions until we talk to him. But we're trying to clean it up as quietly as possible." Thank fuck no one had gotten hurt... too hurt, anyhow...
Peter nodded. He couldn’t imagine how something like that could be kept quiet for 24 hours, but if Harry said it could then it could. Harry would know how, and Oscorp would have that kind of power. “Well... Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. I know... I know there probably isn’t much. It’s not like I have any pull or anything, but still...” His shoulder lifted in a barely there shrug and he gave Harry a small, reassuring smile. “I’m here for you, man.”
"After the day I've had--which I realize is nothing compared to Tony's at this point--that's more than I deserve, but everything I want." Harry managed a little chuckle, there, as he finished pouring. "You sure you don't want a drink?"
Peter laughed, “Actually, I’m reconsidering it. I need to get out of this costume first though.” He started tugging his way out of it again, grimacing when his bruised side twisted the wrong way.
Harry grimaced at the picture he made. "I know you heal fast but--if you need a discrete doctor, I can have one here in five, you know." He started pouring another drink because, yeah... Pete was gonna need it.
“Noooo, no doctor. No. I’m good.” Peter peeled off the last of his costume, and stuffed it and the rest into his backpack in exchange for his civvies. Lifting his boxer brief-clad butt off the couch, he pulled on his jeans and buttoned them up. He tugged on his shirt next, a worn blue t-shirt, and then hopped to his feet.
“There!” Peter said with a grin. “Spiderwho?”
Harry, meanwhile, was totally not watching his ripped best friend change. No, actually, he was pouring said ripped best friend a much-needed drink. "You do this way too often, Pete. I worry about you even when there aren't crazy fucking Oscorp Bots on the loose." He held out the drink.
Peter accepted the drink, “I’m alright, man. This is nothing. Tis but a scratch.” He took a sip, nose wrinkling at the first, burning strong taste of the drink. “I mean, yeah, the armored guys were new, but new keeps me on my toes. Or something.”
"I'd rather not be the source of it, at least." But Harry had obviously relaxed a little, and threw himself down on the couch again, sprawling. "So, lemme ask your opinion about this, since hopefully I'll be talking to Tony about it tomorrow? I mean, now that you know everything..."
Peter dropped down beside Harry, “Of course, man.” He let out a small, wry, but good-natured chuckle. “I don’t know much about armored guys or multi-billion dollar corporations, but I’ll try my best.”
Harry didn't bother pointing out that was precisely why he wanted to ask Peter; his opinion would be honest and unbiased, except possibly by affection for Harry. Which was exactly the kind of bias Harry could use more of in his life, truth be told. "I need to get in there and wipe everything out that references this body armor project, like I told Tony I would. But the CNS interface--that has real healing applications and was developed separately, then folded in. That can stay. It should--and not just because it could save--a lot of people." Yeah, just rushing through that bit there, thanks. "So even if no one connects Oscorp with this clusterfuck now--which they will, but just theoretically--they will eventually, once that tech is public.
"How shitty would it be to just say someone stole it? Someone vague, not the guys who went rogue, necessarily, though they're gonna go down hard for this anyhow. Just, corporate espionage happened and we're taking steps to fix it. Which we are. I am."
Peter opened his mouth, and then closed it. That was...that was a big thing to trust him with. “I don’t know, Harry,” he said, shaking his head a little, conflicted. “It’s partially the truth, but it’s also not and that’s a slippery slope. I know you’re not like Norman. I know you never will be. He’s not even half the person you are. But, I know you too. I know how hard you are on yourself, and I don’t want you to do something you might end up hating yourself for.”
Peter worried his bottom lip, “Is it the only way to protect the CNS interface? If it is, do it. The good it could do for you...for everyone, is too important.”
"That's what I'm thinking," Harry admitted. "There may be other ways, but this is the safest and surest. And then a month or so after, I'd see to it we rolled out the interface with some major fanfare, let people know how useful it can be for medical purposes. Try and wipe off the weaponizing stain."
Peter nodded a little. He was still worried, but it seem like the best choice, given everything... He’d just have to hope, and trust in Harry, which was easy. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” he said, giving a smile. “I mean, there probably isn’t much, but still.”
You're here," Harry said. Then looked away quickly, sipping on his new drink. "It helps.
"Anyhow, good. I wanted to ask someone with a brain and no ulterior motive. You know how it is."
“Yeah, I like having you around for a second opinion too,” Peter told Harry.
He gave Harry’s leg a playful push with his foot, “Come on, man, let’s watch bad movies and binge on junk food. I’ll even let you pick the movie. I’m selfless like that.”
"The ultimate superhero." Harry said, back to smirking, now.
He had a lot of shit to deal with, yeah. But it could wait until tomorrow.
Harry went out on the terrace to wait for Peter, having no doubt that the elevator wasn't gonna get any use today. He'd shrugged on his leather jacket, but it was unbuttoned; the whiskey in his hand had no ice in it, but it was cold enough outside that he didn't even notice.
Too many questions. He was going to answer them all, Oscorp was going to answer them all, and immediately... but first, he had some explaining to do to Peter. And Tony, truth be told. Even if he could never have predicted the test pilots going rogue, Harry had accepted the responsibility of cleaning up his house. And he'd failed.
Relief coursed through Peter at the sight of Harry’s apartment in the distance. After everything that had happened today, the trip (barely a trip really with how close Harry’s apartment was) had felt like it had taken ages. He was exhausted and couldn’t wait to just sit down.
Peter let go of his webbing on an upswing and landed on the terrace in a small run. Pulling off his mask, he gave Harry a smile, “Hey, man.”
"Glad to see you unscathed," Harry said with an answering smile. He nodded towards the door. "C'mon inside. You could probably use a drink. Or a hot tub."
“You have one of those?!” Peter asked excitedly, following Harry. His mouth dropped once they were inside, and then turned into a huge grin. “Wow, Harry, the place looks great!” He whistled, impressed, and turned in a slow circle, taking the whole apartment in.
"Still working on a little more personalization, but since I'm only here weekends..." Harry shrugged and sipped at his drink some more. "No hot tub, but I do have an incredible Jacuzzi tub that's just as good."
Peter dropped his backpack down on the floor, “Do not tempt me, man.” He dropped down onto the couch to tug off his boots.
Harry smiled--hard not to, with Pete--but then frowned and settled down on the chaise lounge. "So, about those armored assholes..."
Pulling off his second boot, Peter wiggled his free toes. “The robo-nos? No, no. Wait. I had a better one.” His brow knit. “Oh, God, what was it? Crap. I can’t remember.”
"How about: disgruntled Oscorp employees?" Harry sighed and killed the rest of his drink.
Peter froze in the process of taking the rest of his costume off, “Wait. What? Seriously?” The position, it turned out, wasn’t very comfortably, as the fight had left his side one big bruise, so he straightened his costume and dropped his arms.
Harry nodded and set aside his empty glass. He'd need more soon, but first, explanations. No point hiding it anymore; even if Tony hadn't told all his sidekicks that Stark Industries was involved, Peter must've guessed it by now. "Remember when I told you about that stuff with your dad? And that there was more I found that I couldn't tell you about? I couldn't tell you because it was related to Stark Industries; it was Tony's shit as much as mine."
Brow knit, Peter nodded slowly. He’d figured Stark Industries had to be involved in some way, but Oscorp? “Harry, man...,” he said, not sure what to say, where to even begin. “How? When did they--? Holy crap.”
"Exactly," Harry said. He set aside the empty glass and leaned forward, elbows on his thighs. "Someone up high 5am the brilliant idea to combine Stark body armor prototypes--which, that's a whole other story how they even got them but I think they stole them from Tony--and Oscorp CNS interface tech. When Doug hacked us, he found it--I found the Stark link when I went in with Illyana and Caius.
"The suits were at Oscorp for tweaks and testing. I shut down the program. The guys--apparently flipped out and decided to go rogue rather than give them up."
“Holy crap,” Peter said again, because, in this case, it really bore repeating. “Um,” he rubbed the back of his neck and then leaned forward, mirroring Harry’s pose. “Why? Is there something wrong with the CNS interface? Something that wasn’t predicted? Like a--a addiction or something? Or...” he remembered how strong the armored men had been and his stomach sunk sickeningly, “Or did they just not want to give it up?”
"I can't rule out the former yet, but for the moment it looks like the latter. Who knows what they've been through to put that into their heads, though." There were all kinds of sketchy testing going on that even Harry--who really, really did not want to die--wouldn't have been okay with, probably. "Pete, you gotta know--I had no idea it could get to this level. I promised Tony I'd clean up my house if he cleaned up his, but it turned out I didn't have the power. It's on me; I take responsibility. I'm gonna fix it so it can't happen again."
Peter shook his head, brow knit with concern, “Of course, you didn’t know. Of course--” He reached over and took Harry’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “This isn’t your fault, Harry. You don’t run Oscorp yet. You did everything you could, everything you were able. That’s what matters.”
He blinked as he realized something, “Oh, man, what is Oscorp going to say?”
Harry wasn't going to touch the first part. Don't think that well of me, Pete. I'm bound to disappoint, someday. He just moved on to the rest: "Even if people aren't aware of the CNS interface tech--they will be, and no one could do that but us. I have a 24-hour no comment policy in effect, since I'm sure accusations and theories are already flying.
"Believe it or not, Norman backed me up on that." If Harry didn't look too excited about that, he didn't expect Peter would be surprised. Norman Osborn's 'back-up' wasn't support; it was a test. To see if whatever game Harry had set in motion would be a win or a lose, if he allowed it to play through.
He stood to get himself another drink to wipe the grimace off his face. "Hopefully Tony won't be too banged up to talk to me soon, because I'd rather not make any big decisions until we talk to him. But we're trying to clean it up as quietly as possible." Thank fuck no one had gotten hurt... too hurt, anyhow...
Peter nodded. He couldn’t imagine how something like that could be kept quiet for 24 hours, but if Harry said it could then it could. Harry would know how, and Oscorp would have that kind of power. “Well... Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help. I know... I know there probably isn’t much. It’s not like I have any pull or anything, but still...” His shoulder lifted in a barely there shrug and he gave Harry a small, reassuring smile. “I’m here for you, man.”
"After the day I've had--which I realize is nothing compared to Tony's at this point--that's more than I deserve, but everything I want." Harry managed a little chuckle, there, as he finished pouring. "You sure you don't want a drink?"
Peter laughed, “Actually, I’m reconsidering it. I need to get out of this costume first though.” He started tugging his way out of it again, grimacing when his bruised side twisted the wrong way.
Harry grimaced at the picture he made. "I know you heal fast but--if you need a discrete doctor, I can have one here in five, you know." He started pouring another drink because, yeah... Pete was gonna need it.
“Noooo, no doctor. No. I’m good.” Peter peeled off the last of his costume, and stuffed it and the rest into his backpack in exchange for his civvies. Lifting his boxer brief-clad butt off the couch, he pulled on his jeans and buttoned them up. He tugged on his shirt next, a worn blue t-shirt, and then hopped to his feet.
“There!” Peter said with a grin. “Spiderwho?”
Harry, meanwhile, was totally not watching his ripped best friend change. No, actually, he was pouring said ripped best friend a much-needed drink. "You do this way too often, Pete. I worry about you even when there aren't crazy fucking Oscorp Bots on the loose." He held out the drink.
Peter accepted the drink, “I’m alright, man. This is nothing. Tis but a scratch.” He took a sip, nose wrinkling at the first, burning strong taste of the drink. “I mean, yeah, the armored guys were new, but new keeps me on my toes. Or something.”
"I'd rather not be the source of it, at least." But Harry had obviously relaxed a little, and threw himself down on the couch again, sprawling. "So, lemme ask your opinion about this, since hopefully I'll be talking to Tony about it tomorrow? I mean, now that you know everything..."
Peter dropped down beside Harry, “Of course, man.” He let out a small, wry, but good-natured chuckle. “I don’t know much about armored guys or multi-billion dollar corporations, but I’ll try my best.”
Harry didn't bother pointing out that was precisely why he wanted to ask Peter; his opinion would be honest and unbiased, except possibly by affection for Harry. Which was exactly the kind of bias Harry could use more of in his life, truth be told. "I need to get in there and wipe everything out that references this body armor project, like I told Tony I would. But the CNS interface--that has real healing applications and was developed separately, then folded in. That can stay. It should--and not just because it could save--a lot of people." Yeah, just rushing through that bit there, thanks. "So even if no one connects Oscorp with this clusterfuck now--which they will, but just theoretically--they will eventually, once that tech is public.
"How shitty would it be to just say someone stole it? Someone vague, not the guys who went rogue, necessarily, though they're gonna go down hard for this anyhow. Just, corporate espionage happened and we're taking steps to fix it. Which we are. I am."
Peter opened his mouth, and then closed it. That was...that was a big thing to trust him with. “I don’t know, Harry,” he said, shaking his head a little, conflicted. “It’s partially the truth, but it’s also not and that’s a slippery slope. I know you’re not like Norman. I know you never will be. He’s not even half the person you are. But, I know you too. I know how hard you are on yourself, and I don’t want you to do something you might end up hating yourself for.”
Peter worried his bottom lip, “Is it the only way to protect the CNS interface? If it is, do it. The good it could do for you...for everyone, is too important.”
"That's what I'm thinking," Harry admitted. "There may be other ways, but this is the safest and surest. And then a month or so after, I'd see to it we rolled out the interface with some major fanfare, let people know how useful it can be for medical purposes. Try and wipe off the weaponizing stain."
Peter nodded a little. He was still worried, but it seem like the best choice, given everything... He’d just have to hope, and trust in Harry, which was easy. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” he said, giving a smile. “I mean, there probably isn’t much, but still.”
You're here," Harry said. Then looked away quickly, sipping on his new drink. "It helps.
"Anyhow, good. I wanted to ask someone with a brain and no ulterior motive. You know how it is."
“Yeah, I like having you around for a second opinion too,” Peter told Harry.
He gave Harry’s leg a playful push with his foot, “Come on, man, let’s watch bad movies and binge on junk food. I’ll even let you pick the movie. I’m selfless like that.”
"The ultimate superhero." Harry said, back to smirking, now.
He had a lot of shit to deal with, yeah. But it could wait until tomorrow.
