A/N Going a bit AU with the Sentinels here, but I'm too lazy to create a new thing, and they fit pretty much what I need them to. Taking bits and pieces and frankensteining them together, please don't throw things :O I know Salem Center is a bit north of NYC, but roll with me and pretend it is just a biiiit closer, because geography doesn't matter when you have super powers?...

Also, I have not decided how to end this one...I usually have an end game. But nope. Just a beginning and middle, with lots of the normal drama bs.

The sound of the alarm clock on Harry's nightstand cut through the early morning haze. Peter rolled over and slapped at it until his hand found the off button. He rolled back over and flung his arm across his boyfriend's torso, snuggling against him.

In the early morning it was easy to forget the reality of the world outside and lose himself if Harry's warm, soothing, presence. He hadn't planned on falling in love with his best friend. And he certainly hadn't planned on telling him so. But when Harry had kissed him nearly a year ago, he threw all of his not-plans away.

And Peter couldn't have been happier.

Harry groaned as he woke up. "Mornin' Pete."

Peter kissed along his jawline, "Morning."

From the other side of the room, Peter's communicator buzzed. So much for a peaceful morning.

He sat up to retrieve it.

Harry wrapped an arm around Peter to prevent him from leaving. "Can't work wait? Don't go just once? Pretend you didn't hear it?"

Peter leaned down and kissed Harry. If he knew what he really did, Harry wouldn't have asked. Then, again, maybe he would have insisted harder. But, while he had been busy not planning to be in a relationship, he had also not planned to tell Harry he was Spider-Man. Which was something that was getting harder to hide.

"I need to make a living, if getting shots of the fights was easy, everyone would do it." He hopped to the floor and began to remove his pajamas.

"You don't have to Pete. Get another job. Shit, you know I have enough money to support the both of us."

Peter turned away, pretending to search for his shirt. He knew where Harry was leading the conversation and he didn't have the time for it.

"Peter," Harry was sitting on the bed with his feet on the floor. "Pete, have you thought about it? You haven't really given me a real answer."

Peter closed his eyes with a sigh. "I- I just need some time to think, Harry."

A growl rumbled from Harry's throat. "It's been a week, Peter! What is there to think about?" Peter cringed as Harry raised his voice. "We've been dating for almost a year! Why are you so hesitant about moving in with me?"

Peter sighed and threw on his shirt. "Harry." He didn't know what to say. He didn't have time to explain either. How could he move in without Harry finding out he was Spider-Man? He shook his head, he needed to tell him. "Can we talk when I get back?"

"Whatever." Harry disappeared into the bathroom. Peter heard the shower turn on and wished he could go comfort his boyfriend. His communicator buzzed again and he glanced at the message.

Nova: 911 at the institute. All hands on deck. Major wreckage. 1407 Graymalkin Lane Salem Center. Hurry.

Peter reread the message. That was the Jean Gray institute. He cursed, it was the third attack that month. After changing quickly he grabbed his camera bag, which had his costume hidden underneath. He hesitated as he passed the bathroom door.

He opened the door and leaned in. "Harry, I love you. I'll see you in a few hours."

Through the steam he heard Harry snort. He didn't have time to do what he should. He would just make it up to him later. They had lunch reservations at some fancy restaurant Peter really didn't feel like he belonged in. Hopefully he would have time to meet Harry there at 1pm.

Once outside, he hopped on his bike and rode to where his spidey cycle was stowed. Salem Center was a bit too far to go on foot- or web. He linked his communicator and instantly heard the others.

"-front main-two incoming-"
"Got it"

"Tiger, on your six"

He waited for a break to chime in. "This is Spider-Man, inbound. 2 minutes."

"Spider-Man, take the west side."

"What are we looking at?"

"Sentinels."

Shit. Peter raced towards the mutant school, hoping to arrive before it was too late. The attacks were getting more and more open. And they were still no closer to finding out who was behind it.

Harry toweled his hair dry as he walked into his kitchen. Peter had left in a hurry, like usual, and all his plans for the day were out the window. He wished his boyfriend would stop his work at the Bugle. More often than not, Peter came home bruised or cut from being so close to the fighting.

And recently it was getting more dangerous. He threw the towel into the hall and turned on the living room tv.

MJ's face greeted him and he smiled. His smile quickly fell as MJ spoke in a clipped tone.

"We are getting images from the scene now. So far, all we know is the Mutant Institute is under attack. The school is currently believed to be mostly empty, except for some personnel. As you may remember, the school was attacked last month amid rising tensions due to the anti-hero politics." Their cameraman must have been a few blocks away, it was difficult to make out much more than smoke and costumed heroes flying around.

"After last month's supreme court ruling, the anti-hero factions have made several threats against schools and agencies supportive of mutants. Right now, it is speculation, however there is strong evidence towards this being another attack funded by an unknown terrorist group."

Harry scanned the footage, trying to get a glimpse of Peter, to know if he was alright. Peter always got too close for Harry's comfort. He was paid well for his shots, but Harry begged him to quit. The money wasn't worth the risk.

"We are getting visual confirmation that it is two Sentinel robots. And-what is this? Spider-Man is on the scene too. That makes Nova, White Tiger, Night Crawler, Wolverine, and Northstar confirmed. There are still some we have not gotten good enough visual to confirm, but it is suspected Falcon, Emma Frost and Beast are among those fighting."

There was no sign of Peter, and Harry took that as a good sign. Wherever he was, hopefully it was safe from the fighting. He let his mind wander as he watched the scene in front of him. The fighting should have ended. They duked it out, on the streets, and in the court room. The mutants and heroes had won on both accounts. So why keep fighting? It made no sense.

And the love of his life was down there, somewhere, risking everything to get that one shot that would be everywhere online. Peter always shrugged or laughed it off when Harry brought up the dangers of his job. He always insisted it was the best paying, and easiest, job he would ever have. Harry thought that, maybe, showing Peter he was in it for the long haul would make him consider a new line of work. Because, like he kept reminding Peter, he had more than enough money to support him.

He ran a hand over his face. It had to be a pride thing for Peter. And he understood, but there had to be something more. Why else would he flat out refuse to talk about moving in together? He had a brief moment of panic, was there someone else? No, he flat out refused to think Peter would cheat on him. They were best friends first.

"One robot is down!"

Harry focused back to the TV. The cameraperson was closer now, nearly at the gate of the school. The camera panned and showed a giant robot in pieces. Harry was surprised at the size of it. The robots that were used before were not so large. The camera jerked to the side. It focused to the side of the building in time to capture the second robot falling, it's head laying at Nova's feet.

He watched as Spider-Man jumped down from the wreckage and landed next to Nova. Harry's hands closed into fists at the sight of him. Spider-Man had taken his father, lied to him, then started to flat out refuse to talk to him when his father was cured.

"Oh!" The camera was still zoomed in on the Sentinel, but panned slightly to the side to focus on Spider-Man and webbed hero's mask was pushed up slightly and the shorter hero was pulling Spider-Man down into a kiss.

He snorted. Nova could do better.

He turned the tv off and stalked back to his room, stopping to throw his towel into the hamper. It was nearly noon already. Harry dressed, debating if he should wait for Peter.

He decided that no, he would not wait for Peter. Harry paused as he put on his watch. He wasn't sure what sort of decision he had just made. Because he wasn't entirely sure he just meant their lunch reservations.

Harry ran a hand through his hair. He didn't know why Peter was dragging his feet about moving in. He also didn't know how to go on with their relationship if Peter refused. It was important to him that they share that bond. He could live with it if Peter said he just wasn't ready yet. But the mountain of different excuses he was getting from his boyfriend was getting to him.

They had known eachother for years. What was going on with Peter that he couldn't tell him?

Peter shoved Nova away and pulled his mask down. "What was that?" He looked around to see if anyone had seen.

"I-uh." Sam shrugged. "I thought you died...I-" He shook his head.

Peter couldn't see his face and had to guess at his expression. He sighed and sat down, exhausted. He thought he was going to die too. It had been a last ditch effort, and, hey, it worked. But, Nova kissing him? What? His words lacked any bite to them, though it would have been deserved. "Sam, you know I'm in a committed relationship. Why- what the hell?"

"I know. I know." Sam sat next to him. "I'm sorry. I- shouldn't have...shit." He dropped his head into his hands. "I should have told you. I should have told you before…"

"Sam…"

"Don't. I'm sorry. I just- I thought you were going to die. Then you didn't. And I had to…" Nova stood up. "I'm going to fly the parmiter, make sure nothing else is lurking around."

Peter let Sam fly off, wondering what Sam had meant by 'before'. Before he started dating Harry? Peter sighed, life would have been easier. He loved Harry. He did. With all of his heart. But he had been lying to him since they started dating. He felt guilty enough when they were just friends. How could he tell Harry he was Spider-Man? He wasn't sure Harry loved Peter Parker more than he hated Spider-Man

He couldn't move in with Harry without telling him. It would be a huge step in their relationship, and he wasn't going to keep lying. Even if it mean Harry no longer wanted to be with him.

The debriefing at SHIELD went the same as normal. The intel wasn't in yet. No one knew who was behind the attacks. It wasn't normal for a villain to not claim their work. So, that left them with the definite possibility of a civilian culprit.

He filed out of the meeting room with a heavy heart. The attacks would just keep happening if they didn't find the the one, or ones, who were guilty.

Sam was leaning against the wall and Peter correctly guessed he was waiting for him. As he walked passed, Sam joined him, matching his brisk stride.

"Hey, can we, like talk about it?"

Peter didn't look at him. "There is nothing to talk about. It happened. It shouldn't have. The end."

Sam faltered. "Peter..."

Peter stopped, glad they were in an empty hallway. He pushed Sam against the wall and used his height to tower over him. "Sam. No. I'm not going to cheat on Harry."

"I'm not asking you to." Sam stared up at Peter with pleading eyes.

"What are you asking then?" Peter crossed his arms.

"I-I don't know!" Sam looked to the side. "Just...I've liked you for a long time, okay? And I thought you and Harry were breaking up and...shit." He closed his eyes tight.

"We're not breaking up. I love him. He's my best friend too. Why would you think that?" He didn't voice the possibility of Harry breaking up with him once he got the courage to tell him about Spider-Man...

"You've been spending less time with him this week. And been looking sad, and..." Sam shook his head. "I'm sorry. I just wanted...I'll stay back. Hands to myself, don't worry."

Peter wondered just how often Sam watched him to pick up on his behavior like that. "Okay. Hands off."

Sam nodded.

Peter stepped back and was about to walk away when his communicator beeped.

Fury's face materialized on the screen. "Spider-Man return to the meeting room."

So much for meeting Harry for lunch. With a last look over Sam he backtracked to the meeting room. Fury, Coulson, and Black Widow were already seated.

Peter took the seat Fury motioned towards. "So…?"

Black Widow looked him dead in the eye. "For the record, I'm against telling you."

Coulson coughed. "We've traced the money used to fund these new Sentinels."

Peter had a feeling he wasn't going to like the answer.

"The funds are coming from Oscorp." Fury hit a few buttons and some documents appeared on the screen, but Peter couldn't focus on them.

"Harry wouldn't!"

Black Widow swept her hand towards him. "That is why I didn't want you involved." She turned to Fury, "He's not going to be objective."

"I don't expect him to be." Fury turned to Peter. "You are close to Harry Osborne. I am asking you to accompany Agent Coulson, as Peter Parker."

Blood pounded in Peter's ears. He wouldn't, couldn't, believe Harry could do such a thing. The only one of them he hated was Spider-Man. During the riots and court battles, Harry always spoke against the violence, against the bigotry.

Coulson rested a hand on his shoulder. "It will be okay. I'm not accusing Harry of anything. Yet. I'm going to talk to him, dig into his company."

Peter shook his head. "We all know Harry is the only one with access to move funds like this." He gestured to the floating documents. Norman had gone missing shortly before he and Harry began dating. No one had seen him in over a year, and even Harry seemed to have given up.

He listened as Fury and Coulson explained how the operation would go down. It seemed like he was coming along more as a professional courtesy than anything. As he followed Coulson down the corridors he locked eyes with Sam, who was still leaning against the wall where he left him. Sam opened his mouth to talk, but Peter shook his head. "Later, Sam."

Peter continued to follow Coulson, his heart heavy with what was to come.

Thank you for reading!