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Published:
2025-11-25
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Red Crayola

Summary:

Harry Osborn had always known who he was, who he was supposed to be.

Then he met Peter Parker.

And Peter Parker was everything and nothing all at once.

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

Harry Osborn was not smart.

It was a simple fact of life, but he did like to think he knew a thing or two when it came to people.

Every person was different, and every person had the capacity to change in some way, whether it be in looks, mind, or health, every person was capable of change, whether they choose it or not, every person goes through a metamorphosis at least once in their life.

But he didn't think Peter Parker would.

Because Peter was different from every one else. He was smart, kind, and he didn't have the capacity to change. Maybe, in truth, Peter Parker didn't change.

Maybe, unknowingly, it was Harry who had changed.

 

 

Ever since he could remember, Peter had always had this- this thing about him that Harry could never quite put into words. He was too kind for the world and as loyal as a dog, but there was no word to really describe him.

He still remembers the day they met, illogically, he remembered it as if it was just yesterday that it had happened.

It was August 11th, 7:47 am and Harry Osborn was at a science fair.

And now, Harry had never been all that interested in science it was so... bland. He much preferred the mechanics of law, like his mother, but his father had expectations for him.

And Harry Osborn was nothing if not his father's son, so alas, here he was, barely tall enough to see over the heads of his youngest peers.

But there; right at the edge of the crowd was a boy, no older than himself, holding a cardboard cutout of Tony Stark, a detailed description next to it, and an analysis on something far beyond Harrys comprehension scribbled in chicken scratch on a poster board.

It was the greatest thing he'd ever seen. It was the greatest thing he'll ever see, because right there was where Harry Osborn became Harry, and where Peter Parker became Peter.

It was the happiest moment of his life. Every moment he had with Peter Benjamin Parker was the happiest of his life.

Because he was with Peter.

And with Peter; Harry felt on top of the world.

 

Harry Osborn was 15 years old and it had been seven months, six days, and eleven hours since he had last seen Peter.

He was away at boarding school, rather than at public school, with Peter, like he should be. His father's decision, really. At first it was don't get too out of the know, then it was don't get too into the know, you don't want people thinking you're poor, Harry.

It was a complete 180 and Harry hated it, like most things related to Norman Osborn, because as much as his father had liked Peter Parker's brain, he did not like Peter.

It was harrowing, to him. Some may say that Harry lived off of approval from his father, but it wasn't approval he craved, not really, he just wanted his attention.

That much, he could admit.

But that much, he would never admit to Peter. Because sweet, kind, amazing Peter would ask if he, the heir to Oscorp, was okay!

Of course he was okay.

What wasn't okay was the fact that it had been two months, sixteen days, and three hours since he had last gotten a letter back from Peter fucking Parker.

That was what was truly harrowing.

 

Harry Osborn was twenty and a half when he had gotten news that Benjamin Parker had died, a shooting his father had said. 5 years late.

5 years since he had last gotten a letter from his Peter.

5 years since he had last truly lived. But okay, fine.

If Peter Parker didn't want him, then he wouldn't have him. Peter Parker was a nobody. What good is a nobody in the face of the future of Oscorp? What good is a nobody when it comes to him, I mean come on.

Harry Osborn was forever done with Peter Parker.

And if later, he was found with a science major on his arm, one with big, brown, doe eyes and dimples, that was no ones business but his own.

 

Harry Osborn was twenty two when he saw his Peter again. There was a beautiful red haired woman hanging off his arm, and Peter looked much too tall, much too un nerdy to really be Peter, but when he saw that perfect, amazing, beautiful smile from across the room, he knew.

It was Peter Parker, no matter how much he tried to deny it, and the woman leeching off his perfectness made Harry want to claw his eyes out and scream, but alas, Harry Osborn was nothing if not the future of Oscorp, and such a thing would be shameful.

So he avoided it. Avoided him. Even when those big, brown eyes stared right at him, Harry Osborn ignored it because it had been years, and Peter Parker didn't want him.

 

 

Harry Osborn was twenty two and three weeks old when he was pulled into a bruising hug. He, of course, shoved the perpetrator right off, but then he saw him.

But then there he was.

Peter.

His sweet, too perfect for the world, Peter.

And he was trying to hug him. Him!

And so, like many things in his life, he ignored the growing pit in his belly, and plastering a much too large smile on his face, he spoke, "Peter! Man, how long has it been? It's great to see you again."

And when he looked down at Harry, eyes too open, and smile too hopeful, "It's good to see you again too, Harry."

He knew this was never going to end well.

He wished Peter Parker had just stayed away.

 

 

Harry Osborn was twenty two and eight months old and there was not a day that went by where he wasn't with his Pete.

Life was amazing, and like anything that had to do with Peter Parker, Harry had felt on top of the world.

They were in their spot, from when they were kids, and Peter looked like a stray dog drenched in sewer water.

Harry couldn't stop smiling.

"Oh I am definitely sending this one to May, honestly, Parker, how do you pull of that wet dog look?-"

Harry didn't get very far before he was pulled into the pond.

That day, like any other he spent with Pete, was the best he'd ever had.

"We should move to Colorado."

Harry didn't know what to think of that statement. But he could imagine it.

And so, like with anything Peter said, he agreed.

"We should, I'll even send May pictures of you slipping on ice during winter-"

Harry was drug back into the water, forever ruining his one of a kind jacket made by some designer in France, but he didn't have it in himself to care.

Because it made Peter happy. And Harry Osborn was nothing if not bred to make his Peter happy.

 

 

Harry Osborn was twenty three and two days old when his father was killed. By Spider-Man, of all people!

It was an outrage, a belittlement to the name Osborn.

But most of all, it was a beginning, because now- now he was Oscorp, no longer the future of it.

 

 

Harry Osborn had lapses in memory sometimes, but that didn't matter, because he remembered what was important.

Peter.

He'd always remember Peter.

 

 

He had to kill Spider-Man, he did- he needed too, it was final, there was no other way to get revenge for his father!

There was no other way.

Spider-Man had to die.

 

 

His Peter had stopped by today. He'd left some takeout in the office.

He made a comment, about a therapist. Suggested that he, Harry Osborn, needed help!

Harry Osborn didn't need help, he needed that mutant gone and dead!-

 

 

Green Goblin couldn't remember his name.

His real one, at least.

Was it Peter?

No- no Peter was someone else.

Who was Peter?

Peterpeterpeterpeterpeterpeterpeterpeter-

 

 

Peter Parker was twenty four and his best friend was dead.

He was dead, and Spider-Man was alive. He shouldn't be, but he was.

And if he could go back and change that, he would, a million times over.

It didn't matter what it took, all that mattered was getting Harry back but he couldn't- because Harry Osborn was dead.

Peter could still remember the first day they met, almost like it was yesterday.

It was August 11th, 7:51 am and somebody had finally come over to his table at the science fair. He didn't recognize the boy but hey, an audience is an audience.

And Peter didn't regret it, not once.

Because that day was the day that Peter Parker became Peter, and where Harry Osborn became Harry.

And if you asked him now, if he would change anything.

He wouldn't be able to find it in himself to say yes.

Because everyday with Harry Osborn was the best, and now, even in death, Peter Parker still remembered.

 

 

Notes:

Parksborn, in every universe, I fear, is doomed. I love them sm and it makes me wanna kms bc WHY WHY WHY AHHHH

p.s. pls comment bro💔