Not This Time

2

"That was undignified." Norman complained as Otto settled them upon a rooftop somewhere in the city.

"You don't have your glider." Otto reasoned, straightening his coat, "and there was no time to strategize."

Norman huffed softly, finding no flaw in Otto's statements.

"What should we do?"

Otto's heart nearly stopped at his words.

We.

What should we do.

Even after all this time, and everything the two had been through, Norman still refers to
them as a duo. As a unit. A pair.

"I'm not going to leave you again."

The smaller man gave a look of confusion. "How do you mean... again?" He asked, gently.

"At Oscorp..." Otto took a deep breath. "When you began to create the enhancement serum... I left."

"That's not-"

Otto gently grabbed Norman's forearms, prompting him to quiet down as he mirrored his grip.
"I should have stayed, Norman!" He couldn't help the small edge to his voice. "I knew what you were doing was unethical and dangerous and I should have looked after you! I wanted to look after you!"

Otto could have sworn that the whole city of New York could hear his frantic and pounding heart as he and Norman stood staring wide eyed at each other.

"I slunk off as you were destroying yourself..." Otto continued, "I should have stopped you from going down the path you did, but I just let it happen!"

Norman's eyes welled with tears as he followed Otto's words.

"You hired me straight out of college, giving me a hand and friendship when I needed it the most but when you needed someone..." he hesitated, collecting his breath, "I walked out. I turned my back and... and what resulted was the Green Goblin."

A tear slipped from Norman's eye and trailed down his face.

"Don't blame yourself for my-"

"I wanted to be there you... I still do... but I didn't have the guts to do it."

The smaller man stared blankly at Otto before a look of realization in his eyes.

"Otto... are you-" Norman swallowed hard, another tear rolling. "Are you saying...?"

"For a scientist, you can be pretty daft at times." Otto smiled softly.

The corner of Norman's lip twitched up at the insult.

"Well, I was dealing with my own sexuality crisis at that time."

It was Otto's turn to stare at Norman, a look of relief crossing his features.

"Otto, I would love nothing more than for you to look after me." Norman removed one hand from his arm and held his fingers lightly.

Otto gave him a shy smile, pulling him in closer with one hand making its way to the small of his back while the other hesitantly made its way to cradle his jawline.

Norman pressed his hand on top of Otto's, reflecting his smile as his head rested in the palm of Otto's.

"May I?" Otto's voice was as soft as a whisper on the wind, meant for Norman and Norman alone.

The smaller man closed the space between them in response, kissing him as gently as possible, as if he were made of glass. As if he would hurt him if he touched any harder.

Otto could still taste the blood from a fight long gone on Norman's slightly dry lips, the metallic tinge reminding him of just how close they had come to losing each other after only having just found themselves together once again.
Norman pressed into his hand as Otto stroked his thumb across his defined cheekbone, a physical shiver of a soft sob passing through his enhanced body.

Reluctantly Norman pulled away, meeting Otto's loving gaze with a soft smile.

The actuators whirred on high alert just as the metal access door to the roof banged open, revealing a number of S.W.A.T. Team members in full gear filing onto the roof.

"Octavius and unknown individual!" Their microphone and harsh lights cut through the peaceful silence. "Put your hands where I can see 'em!"

Otto instinctively tensed his shoulders and stood slightly in front of Norman, shielding him from the onslaught.

"I said hands up!"

The taller man could see the wave of realization hit the cops as they recognized the unknown man as none other than Norman Osborn.

Whispers and speculation filled the air as the two very much alive men shifted closer to each other, Norman inconspicuously grabbing hold of Otto's hand.

"I'm not leaving you." Otto reassured him.

"Not this time."