a second chance | gwen stacy x fem! reader

14: Wasted Youth

"We're here, sir." The driver says as Harry observes outside, turning his head up and down at the large building in front of him. "I won't be long." Harry opens the car door, stepping outside and putting his hands in his trench coat pocket. He closes the car door, walking forward into the familiar Oscorp tower.

Harry walks past the front doors as they automatically open for him. He passes through the front gate as the guards nod their hats towards him as if acknowledging him. Every step he takes is careful as he takes a private elevator, pressing the button for the top floor. He patiently waits with his hands in front of him, crossed over one another. Harry gazes across the brightly lit city, seeing his own reflection as well.

He looks down, preferring to stare at the floor instead. After ascending to the highest floor, Harry steps out of the elevator, adjusting his coat. Weirdly enough, he feels someone is watching him, but can't put a pin on it.

Harry's heavy steps can be heard as he approaches a door, guarded by two men with assault rifles. "Harry.." One of the men nudges the other as they both adjust their posture. "It's.. Mr. Osborn to you two." Harry's tone was completely stoic, opening the door as the guards look straight ahead.

Harry's figure within a darkly-lit room. Next to him is a hospital bed with a large blanket covering it, and a person's outline. "Were the guards really.. necessary?" Octavius' voice is heard. She appears from a dark corner in the room with her hands behind her back.

Harry stays silent, sitting by his father's bedside and observing his shallow breaths. "He's getting worse." He whispers just audibly, his expression angering at the thought of it. Octavius gives no reaction to this, and instead sighs.

Harry furrows his eyebrows, continuing to stare at his father. "What about the test subjects? Have they been.. reacting well to the test runs?" He asks with a slightly hopeful tone. Octavius drops a large case file into Harry's lap as he glances at her with a confused expression. "Well, the subjects did improve, but then.. they started to deteroriate due to the large amount of gamma rays they were exposed to."

Harry grunts, standing up and throwing the case file into Octavius' chest. "Well, then figure something out." He points his finger to Octavius' chest. She shakes her head with a slightly nervous smile.

"H-Harry.." Octavius slowly pushes his finger down. "I'm working with scraps here. This roadblock in the project is something that we've been trying to fix for weeks now. The machine isn't even fully functioning yet, and if we try it on Norman.. I-I mean your dad, it'll kill him." Octavius gives a nonchalant look.

Harry turns his head, sitting back down as he tries to calm himself. "With Spiderwoman on our case, we might not even be able to finish it." Octavius scoffs, holding out her hand. "Trust me, I know. She has caused me trouble like you wouldn't BELIEVE."

Harry rolls his eyes, continuing to stare at his father's weak body. "How can you not finish one simple project?" Harry's voice turns malicious. Octavius laughs a little, rubbing her neck. "Because my star pupil left the project. And, the rest of my staff are useless as is, I don't even know if saving your father will be possible." She snorts a little. Harry's eyes widen as he stands up again, stomping towards Octavius as if he's snapped. "Say that again, and you'll be taking his place."

He clenches his fist as Octavius backs up, raising her hands in defeat. "Alright alright.. sheesh." She mutters through her teeth as Harry scowls at her for a few more moments, following her gaze. All of a sudden, Norman begins groaning on the bed, prompting Harry to break into a worried expression. He runs to his bedside, grasping his hand. "I'm here, dad." Harry whispers as Norman's chest rises up and down in shallow breathes.