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Harry followed closely behind Peter, speeding up to walk beside him as they made their way to Harry's family car. Harry sent a quick text to let his driver know that they'd be needing a ride. He didn't slow his stride as he did so, trusting Peter's footsteps in his peripheral vision to guide him as they approached the exit. Once outside, Harry sat down on the curb in front of them and patted the concrete as an invitation for Peter to do the same.

Harry sat with his arms comfortably around hid knees and watched the approaching sunset. He enjoyed the silence between them; the ability to just be there with his best friend; to simply exist with Peter by his side. It was nice. But the questions lingering in his mind were too prominent to ignore. His curiosity overwhelmed him. He took a breath before turning to face Peter.

"So... What do you think happened back there?"

"What?" The sudden noise caught Peter off guard. "I thought we were going to worry about all that tomorrow," he said, chuckling lightly as he turned to raise an eyebrow playfully at his friend.

"I know, I'm just... curious. I mean, if you had to guess, what do you think could have caused all ...that?" Harry remained vague, mostly because he hadn't actually seen much. He'd have to rely on Peter to fill him in on the details later.

Peter looked up at the dimming sky now, thinking about the question he'd been asking himself all day. "Well-" He was cut off by the arrival of a lavish, clearly expensive limousine, which stopped directly before their feet. Peter mentally thanked their ride for interrupting him, as he didn't actually have an answer at the moment.

"Well, that's our ride," Harry stood before offering a hand to Peter, who gladly accepted. "Hey Bernie, Pete's house, please."

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The ride was short and quiet. Harry decided to drop the subject until tomorrow like he'd promised, or at least, until Peter was ready to talk about it. He wanted to make sure his friend was okay above all else. Until then, Harry once again enjoyed the comfortable silence between him and Peter, closing his eyes and listening to the hum of the engine and taking in the small, periodic bumps on the road.

Peter, for one, appreciated the silence. He knew that his friend wouldn't push anything that wasn't a matter of life and death, and finding an explanation could definitely wait for the time being, although he wanted answers just as much as Harry did.

Within a matter of minutes, the car slowed to a stop and Bernie informed the two that they had reached their destination. Harry stepped out first, walking to the sidewalk on Peter's side of the car and opening the door for him.

"Thanks, Bernie," Harry gave his driver a smile of gratitude before closing the door.

Peter let Harry lead now, his hands tucked in his sweatshirt pockets. Now that he'd had some time to process, he was anxious to figure out what was happening to him. Harry's question lingered at the front of his mind, and he couldn't seem to shake it. He didn't necessarily want to wait until tomorrow anymore. Peter looked up at Harry. He knew Harry would support him either way. 'We're in this together,' he remembered his friend's words from earlier, noting their sincerity. He noticed Harry's frequent glances backwards toward him as they approached his front door. He chuckled lightly to himself, a small smile forming in appreciation for his friend's concern.

They stopped at the door. "You gonna be okay, Pete?"

"Yeah, yeah I'll be fine," Peter answered while absentmindedly grabbing his keys and unlocking the door. He let out a small sigh, slightly disappointed that Harry was only dropping him off. A part of him wanted – needed him to stay the night. His aunt and uncle were out late and he could really use the company.

"Uh, Pete?!"

Peter's focus shifted back to opening the door. It took him a moment to realize why Harry's voice sounded so alarmed. The door handle was no longer on the door at all, but in his hand.

"Oh shit-" Peter dropped the handle in shock, taking a step back. "Well, uh, I guess I'll have to use the back door," Peter breathed.

He composed himself enough to turn back towards Harry and thank him for the ride. Before he could take two steps, Harry grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Hold on! You just broke the door handle off! You don't think that's a little weird?"

Peter sighed, "Harry, everything about today is weird!"

Harry cocked his head in agreement.

"In any case, maybe I should stay and make sure you don't – y'know – get yourself killed or anything."

Peter's face instantly lit up. He wanted nothing more than for his friend to stay with him, but he decided to play along anyway. He calmed his excitement the best he could, cocking an eyebrow and forming a smirk, although he couldn't calm his accelerated heartbeat.

"I don't have a choice, do I?"

"Nope." Harry smiled triumphantly, holding a hand out as indication that he wanted Peter's house keys. Peter complies, unable to deny his obvious need for the assistance.

"Alright then, after you. By the looks of it I'm better off not touching anything right now, anyway." peter lets out a forced chuckle. He was concerned– of course he was! But this was no stranger than anything else that had happened today, so he decided to chalk it up as yet another thing to investigate later. 'All these strange occurrences have a common factor, but what?' He thought to himself as he watched Harry open the back door and followed him inside.

Harry immediately made his way to the living room couch while Peter trailed behind. Peter didn't wait to wait anymore. Too much had happened today and there was no way he'd be able sleep on it all. If nothing else, he had to at least address it all; try to find a connection, something that could serve as a logical explanation. Peter met his friend by the couch, but soon found that, as exhausted as he was, he couldn't bring himself to relax. He began pacing once again. He moved back and forth across his living room, much to Harry's concern, who had quickly sat up from his comfortable, lazy position on the couch.

"You okay there?" Harry knew the answer, obviously, but he hoped that it would help Peter voice the reason behind his anxious behavior and calm him down. Maybe he'd even be able to get some answers tonight after all.

Peter stopped to look toward Harry, a focussed yet sheepish expression on his face as he was pulled from his thoughts.

"I just can't stop thinking about it all. I was on the ceiling. The ceiling, Harry! That's definitely not normal. I-I broke the door, apparently? I'm ripped now, so that's a thing-"

"Yeah, it sure is" Harry let his eyelids drop in admiration, his eyes shifting momentarily from Peter's eyes to his midsection.

"Right... and this-" Peter brings his friend's attention back to his now fully capable eyes, "-I don't even know what to make of this."

Harry took it all in. Everything that had happened to Peter today had to be connected somehow. If they found out the source they could surely figure out the rest, right? Harry could only think of one question that might get them anywhere. It was straight forward, sure, but it was the best he had at the moment.

"When exactly did this all start, anyway?"

Peter looked down momentarily in an attempt to remember anything that had happened before his symptoms began. He remembered feeling pain just before running off. He thought back to that moment. 'It was my.. my hand yeah. Something bit me and I...' Peter's eyes widened in sudden realization. He looked down at his hand. "No way..." Peter muttered, almost unable to believe that he's actually considering a bug bite as the reason behind it all.

"What? What are you..?" Harry's confusion rose, followed by his curiosity as he stood to see the bite on his friend's hand.

"Oh man, that looks bad. But why...?" Harry looks up to meet Peter's gaze, his eyes now wide as well, "You don't think-"

"I mean that's the only explanation, right? I mean everything started right after the bite! So, yeah?" Peter throws his arms out to the side for emphasis, his heart racing with excitement now that he had somewhat of an explanation. At least now he had something.

"How can we know if you're right?"

"I guess there's only one way to be sure." Peter smiles excitedly, waiting for Harry to question him.

"And that is?" Harry smiled too, happy to see his friend so excited.

"The 5 steps of the scientific method!" Peter was giddy with excitement, he couldn't wait to test his new theory.

Harry laughed, rolling his eyes, "Oh my god, you're such a nerd."
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