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[/]: ok,, so hi. I’m alive and I’m hyperfixated on the mental tentacle man. I had so much fun writing this and as always my wonderful partner and editor helped me — @lilliryth

[]: Love notes. Stupidity ensues.

[]: Otto Octavius x Reader.

[ ]: 5400k words.

[]: Angst with a happy ending. Mental illness mentions, suicide mentions. Overall, it’s really fluffy.

Otto Octavius had always been a man of logic and reason, a man with an inclination for science, and more importantly what made sense—even if the grey abstracts of the field themselves didn’t at first. Because, in the end, an explanation, a hypothesis would be constructed.

However, what doesn’t make sense, what has his brows knitted, lips drawn into a confused scowl is the pink piece of paper in his large, tremulous hands. Both forefingers and thumbs pinch the edges, his pinkies upturned with strain.

The writing glares at him, a sweet innocence contrasted with the bleak anaemia that is his surroundings. And, by extension, himself.

‘I would like to be the air that inhabits you for a moment only. I would like to be that unnoticed and that necessary.’

He’d found the curious note in his diary planner—well, it had fallen out, to be more truthful. It was a surprise to be sure, and from the moment his eyes processed the paper’s hue, he knew it wasn’t his own. Curiosity bloomed, fingers unearthing.

Absent, he shifts in his seat as the chair scrapes against the tiled floor. The distant paranoia, which feels like a lifetime ago, flickers the lights of his mind before the whispers are silenced just as fast.

There’s no more of that.

He’s reformed, even if he does deem himself unworthy of such… a note (it was certainly a note, yes). Even if he does believe it is just that — a joke — one set up to frame him as a laughing stock. There’s no more of that behaviour.

The probability of that occurring, anyway, is slim and, once more, borders on the line of the delusions he suffered from the AI’s influence.

Yet, the thorned coils which had wrapped and solidified their insidious hold around the organ that keeps his body moving, his brain working, year and years ago, won’t let him fumble for the threads of hope; of happiness. It’s too risky. He’s at a standstill, a stalemate with his own self—a meddlesome, pitiful thing. His logical mind screams:

Occam’s Razor.

And so, the natural presumption despite external opinions of himself is that someone is enamoured.

Maneuvering so that his left hand is holding the message, he places a fist against his mouth. His teeth bite into his knuckles with a tender force. His eyes remain fixated on the words, reading them over and over, expecting the mirage to dissipate—a hallucination conjured up by the deepest shadows of his mind, claws of the past.

Who—

“You alright, doc?”

Otto lets out a noise of surprise as his actuators react immediately. Taking up as much space as they can, they straighten out and he swears he can now sympathise with terrified cats.

He feels like a cartoon.

The crash next to him is wilfully ignored. His smile is half-hearted as he looks towards his co-worker, and as if caught doing something rather inappropriate, he shoves the tiny piece of paper into one of his coat pockets.

“Yes! Yes, yes… perfectly fine.”

The co-worker, Matthew, looks at him like he’s grown two heads, or perhaps a few more metal arms, and leaves without another word. It’s to be expected and yet Otto holds his head in his hands, rubbing at his eyes with haste.

They sting with the burden of sleepless nights.

While he’s been in remission for ages, has healed and had his inhibitor chip reinstated, there of course is room — the room being very spacious and able to accommodate an elephant, though a room nonetheless — for doubt. If it’s happened once, it can happen again.

And, in all honesty, Otto agrees.

There’s always going to be the stain of his background, the stain of his mishaps, the stain on his reputation as a scientist. Brilliant but reckless. Impulsive. Harbouring the grandiosity of the greats with nothing to show for…

Yes, this is his burden to bear. He’s never going to be trusted again, not with the mechanical reminder attached to him for the span of forever; and since he’s never gotten his way - such a forever will be a long time.

He’s getting distracted.

Swiping his thumb to uncrumple the paper, a glance downwards determined the reality of the situation.

Real. Very real.

The walls of the establishment with each flickering glance creep towards him. Further and further they close in until that electrifying card of freedom is being wrenched out of his pocket and shoved into the lab’s clock-in system.

He’s taking his break early.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ✦ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

He notices you long before you notice him, the quickened strides you take are enough of an indication of where your head is at, and subsequently, your availability. Something settles in his chest at this conclusion, it’s not painful, though it’s not exactly comfortable either. There’s a heaviness there, a weight that he can’t quite shake.

Such a sensation deepens when you smile at one of your coworkers, making a small quip, he assumes, because they bark a laugh. It’s so surprising to you that your own amusement tangles with their own.

A lone star in the sky, tearing through the darkness with such a pertinacious conviction one’s free will to observe is obliterated. No, you demand attention, his attention, without even knowing, and it’s akin to the biological need to survive.

To breathe.

And now, it’s his turn to laugh. Rehashing poetry he’s been gifted to the local librarian was not a level he would stoop to.

The sigh he breathes is automatic and he drops his stuff in his usual spot, ignoring the holes that sear into him as he passes people by.

Soon, he finds himself in queue at the cafe nestled along the library’s front, glasses up and fixed (thanks to the trusty assistance of Mo), against the bridge of his nose. His research papers take a good chunk of his attention away from the vexing length of the line and the gawking, until the loud drawl from the counter, harbouring a mirrored resentment, interrupts his sinuous arithmetic.

Without looking up, he recites his order. A black coffee, no sugar, and a blueberry muffin. Within minutes he’s tucked away at the back of the library where no one ventures. The noise is rare, the whispers unheard and the halls gloomier.

He likes it that way.

“I always wished I could do maths. Aside from how awful and traumatic the teachers were, it actually seemed fun. Though, you do make it look easy.”

Otto’s eyes widen. His gaze darts from you to the notepad he’d apparently pulled out at some point. Hovering centimetres from the page are one of his actuators with the pen that he stuffs in his coat pocket in case of emergencies. One quick scan determines that his thoughts — which were purely hypothetical — have been transcribed for him.

Ah, the pros and cons of AI.

A smile takes over his surprise, and he shifts in his seat.

“Anyone can do mathematics, no matter the setbacks. There’s always time if you put in the work.”

You roll your eyes and sit on the table, a hand’s length away from his notepad. The movement is so delicate and with such grace Otto’s breath hitches. He tries not to notice the way your grey pencil skirt rides up your thighs, the floral seduction of your perfume so close it coaxes the subtle fluttering of his eyelids.

“Oh, come on. Otto, how long have we known each other now? You know there’s no hope for me.”

“Quite the contrary, my dear. I will admit the education system is very flawed, though if there’s a will, there’s a way.”

“Well, for most, the will needs to be created. And considering you’re loving my muffin so much there needs to be free muffins after math classes. That’s an incentive don’t you think? Muffins and math!” you grin with jazz hands and, to him, it’s near irksome how delightful you are.

Then, your forefinger swipes at your bottom lip and he can practically see the light bulb going off.

“Hell, maybe I should pitch that to my superior. It’ll get more of the kids involved in our programs.”

Once the words process — you had the tendency to shoot sentences like bullets — he gives a soft laugh. He almost wants to tell you how enamoured he is, though his mouth is pinned. The urge comes out in other ways, however, as before he can stop the movement, an actuator is giving you head pats.

Your giggles light up the near-abandoned end of the library.

To his surprise, you’re not scared of him. Sure, he’s known you for a while now, but there’s never been such an intimate form of contact.

Considering all things, it wouldn’t have shocked him if you got up and left screaming. It wasn’t too long ago he was out of his mind — and criminal — and the bad reactions have happened enough times to where he’s sure it’s to happen again in the near future. What would highlight this experience as different, setting the event in bold, red ink, would’ve been the pain. Yes, worst of all, the pain.

“You baked this?” Otto asks, opting to change the subject as he reels in the actuator with a mental tug that looks unnaturally rough—as if it had been held by a string and yanked. He’s just thankful there’s no one behind him, he didn’t want to be accused of being evil again after smacking someone into the wall by accident and ruining half the library…

Anyway…

Watching on with a fondness, your eventual nod is hesitant and shy. Slowly, it gains confidence.

“We’re a family! The staff is all really close so if one of us is having trouble, then we do the best we can to help. I bake as a hobby and I think because of that I’m the only one Olivia trusts to assist whenever she doesn’t have the time.”

“That’s lovely. How kind.”

Your smile has a blissful sway and Otto finds himself falling into it, lingering a second too long.

“I could bake something for you! I know how hard you work, you practically kill yourself.“

Ha! If only.

His lips quirk upwards.

"Oh! There’s just so much to choose from. I could make you tiny cakes! Or some more muffins! Or cinnamon rolls—you kind of remind me of them, actually,” you say, ending in a thoughtful tone.

The smile you wear is beaming, the passion for one of the oldest crafts humanity has engaged in, is inspiring. Words are not enough to measure the warmth he feels.

With what Otto can only pinpoint as a sudden realisation, the fear of coming on too strong about a special interest — which he immediately identifies with — your joy falls, and your eyes widen.

Freezing, your stuttering begins.

The display is adorable and sympathetic. The dull ache in his chest bubbles a series of compulsions, yet never truly do they pop free. Reaching out and lacing his fingers with yours is the most overbearing and he has to physically clasp his own together to stop them. So far, his actuators have not betrayed him and he thanks the heavens.

“Oh— uh— I mean only if you want to,” you waver. “Of course, I don’t want to force you and I don’t want to give the impression that I’m great at it. I just—”

Otto releases a laugh, and he hopes it’s more reassuring than seen as an interruption.

“Darling, I’d love that.”

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ✦ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

Curiously, when he gets home and checks his diary planner, there’s another note. The only places he’d visited were the library and his work—meaning the prolific, perfervid poet hovers around either area.

The only thing Otto is sure of is that it’s not you. He’d been watching you the entire time and there’s no possibility you’d slipped under his radar. Either way, the idea that the notes are coming from you is wishful thinking. A hope, a yearn which should have been quashed long ago.

He’s not a foolish, young boy anymore.

It read:

“Holding this poem

Close, like a mirror,

I breathe upon it.

I watch for some sign.

There is a faint mist

Spreading across it.

It takes hold. It clings

To the lean hollows

As the sun rises,

This sun that is going

To burn the mist off.

I give you chamois

To clear the surface.

I give you this sun.”

Otto feels his consciousness, along with his reason, leave his body. He’s now convinced this is personal, the stanzas, to his very limited knowledge of poetry and his inhibited talent despite all efforts of comprehension, call to his deepest sorrows. His regrets. Broken dreams. Still, what he gets from this is redemption, the idea of rebirth—forgiveness through the metaphor of the cloth. Of the sun’s rays signalling anew.

And somehow, it evokes something he hasn’t felt in a long time. The complex coupling of pain and release, the hope for a future. Even if one person has forgiven him, just one, he can live with that. Yes, he can press on and somehow that eases the weight. In the aftermath of all he’d done, awakening from that terrible abhorrent dream — for that’s what it had been, right? A dream? (Some days he’s not so sure) — he didn’t believe he was ever going to forgive himself. It seemed that such a luxury was off the table, not in the cards. Not for someone like him. And now, this tiny piece of paper who has no name, no indication of a presence, is telling him otherwise.

Again, he could always be misinterpreting it.

His own personal bias. Typically human. Typically Otto. Perhaps, he was seeing what he wanted to see because living with the pain is too much.

Heavens.

Solving complex equations, constructing blueprints, calculus.

It’s all things Otto has no trouble with and, in fact, found himself enjoying quite often in his free time. At least you get a straight answer!

This, though?

Of poetry?

Of love?

The trials and tribulations of relation — saying the right things, doing the right things instead of standing like a dumbstruck statue — turned to stone by the infamous Gorgon herself, Medusa?

It’s overwhelming.

He’s never been good at it. Not even with Rosie, who’d had the misfortune of marrying him.

He can’t help the way his thoughts wander back to you, and he notes that their winding, spiralling, tracks aren’t making much sense right now.

At this time of night, what did you do? Did you have a family to come back to? Did you care for your kids with as much gentleness as the ones at the library?

He’s never been to your home, though he can picture you lounging on a daybed by your window, curtains pulled back with the shimmering beams of the moon trickling in. He can see the celestial light emphasising the glow of your features, he can picture it so vividly as if it’s happening right at that very moment; unfolding before his gaze while he floats from the melancholia.

Perhaps you’re the sole one awake in your household, once again — as you’ve recounted many a time — forgetting the importance of sleep, so engrossed by a novel you’re reading.

Every time he looks at you, there’s a new book in your hand. To be fair, it’s one of the many things he admires about you. You have such a thirst for knowledge, a will to learn, bestowing it to those willing to listen. Not once had he seen you bitter, resentful or condescending. You use your intelligence as a tool to help others — a pillar he very much believes in.

His thoughts are no longer focused on the papers he took home. And, like wandering insects, they have a determination of their own, no matter his pacific nudgings.

You, you, you.

It’s time for bed.

That much is clear.

With a puff of a sigh, he sheds his clothes leaving his chest bare while swapping out his slacks with pyjama pants. Once he’s in bed an actuator tugs on the thin chain of his lamp, plunging his room into darkness.

The war against insomnia is a harsh and unwilling one, creeping into the early hours of dawn. The all but few hours he spends sleeping on his stomach is the only solace his back gets.

He’s unsure where he musters up the will to move again.

But, he does.

Swallowing his painkillers with instant coffee, he leaves.

The next few days pass with some ease and it’s something he’s thankful for. There’s an incident with one of the interns, though it isn’t enough to make him entirely lose his temper. All it takes these days is a look. The things attached to his back evoke more from people than what shouting could ever do. The fear of possibility, the fear that he wasn’t who he said he was — recovered and healthy — overtakes anything.

It’s as exhausting as the sideways glances.

By the time his last day rolls around, he doesn’t have the energy to visit the library. Seeing you would have been the highlight of his week. A break between the madness. But, with the ache in his bones, the heaviness of his limbs, the resolve never crystalises.

The sleep comes easier this time, bringing with it the passing realisation that he never received a note that week.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ✦ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

In all honesty, he feels a bit ridiculous.

No different to three kids shrouded in a trenchcoat, incongruous, feigning the certainty and self-actualisation adults possessed (though, honestly, time has taught him this really is a facade), he leans against one of the rickety oak bookshelves, hat tipped downwards, nose buried in what was the nearest book he—

He never did check what he picked up.

One quick glance at the cover and his face falls in horror. With quick fingers, he slots it back into the nearest opening and finds something more… appropriate. From now on, he knows to always look at the titles he picks up—lesson learned.

So far, in the half-hour he’s stood there, no one has passed his table and his quest to find out his ‘secret admirer’ is no closer than when he started. His things lay dormant, calling to him, pleading with him to end this charade.

He’s going to have to think of something—

“What are you doing?”

“Gah!” Otto drops the book he was holding and it falls to the ground with a heavy, reverberating thud. An actuator clamps on the wrist of whoever was about to touch his shoulder and he spins to meet the perpetrator with a scowl.

The techiness vaporises as soon as his eyes land on you. There’s a wince in your expression and he lets go of his hold immediately—he hadn’t even intended to be rough.

“My dear, forgive me! It seems I’m a bit on edge, I’m terribly sorry.”

With the poise of a feather, he takes your wrist in his hand observing the slight indent in the softness of your skin. It’s the first time he’s touched you, the warmth forever imprinted into the coolness of his own. He can’t help but notice how small your hand is compared to his, and following that same train of thought, how your everything is small compared to his.

If only the contact was under better circumstances.

“It’s okay,” you breathe.

There’s a shallow quality to it and Otto quirks a brow.

“Are you sure? Are you hurt?” his voice lowers to a whisper.

One of his worst fears rears its ugly head, slithering from the shadows with a treacherous grin.

It promises torture.

He can’t have you afraid of him. He could not — would not — stand for it. The hammering of his heart assaults his ribcage and for the second time in the span of an absurd couple of weeks, he feels like he’s an animation brought to life.

“I’m okay, I’m okay,” you reassure him, lips curling upwards into something so honeyed he melts. The soft noise of surprise that leaves him is accompanied by his own relieved elation.

“Oh. Good, good.”

“So…” you begin, sliding your hand back from his. “What’s with the get-up? You look like a spy who’s trying not to give away that he isa spy and is failing miserably.”

Otto shoots you a look before pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I’m looking for someone,” he answers plainly. He wants to elaborate but he already feels nonsensical.

“Ooo a stakeout! I love a good stakeout,” you form your hands into tight circles, placing them around your eyes. “Any luck, commander?”

Otto rolls his eyes and with a huff, he admits defeat. He can’t believe he’s in this situation.

Nonetheless, you’re cute.

“No, nothing.”

“Who are you looking for anyway, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Someone has been leaving me these… notes. And I’m trying to work out who it is.”

“By conducting a stakeout in the library?”

“Do you have a better idea?”

“Depends. What are these notes?”
Otto feels a fire spreading in his cheeks and his jaw tenses.

“It’s poetry. They’re love notes.”

This is humiliating.

You gasp, hands flying up to your face, voice high-pitched and whiney, “Otto you never told me you had a secret admirer. How very high school!”

“Shush, shush! You’re going to give me away!” Otto whispers harshly, arms raising up in a frantic attempt to lower your voice.

Some librarian!

“Oh honey, you didn’t need my help with that,” your gaze looks him up and down and he squirms. The pet name does not go unnoticed.

“Alright,darling,” he smirks. “I’m asking again, what do you propose?”

He takes a step forward and you have to crane your neck all the way to meet him. He swears he sees you swallow, yet the hues of your cheeks he believes are delusory.

He fights the urge to take you by the chin, choosing instead to lean down.

"I-I— oh. Um. Well, I can keep watch,” nervous laughter punctuates your speech. “I’ll be your eyes and ears!”

With your hands on your hips, the stuttering leaves, “that way you don’t have to dress like a Looney Tunes villain in the middle of mylibrary.”

“Oh, it’s your library now, is it?”

“Yes,” you very innocently exclaim, batting your eyelashes.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” you rock your form sideways, looking beyond him.

“I have important librarian things to do! Besides, it looks like you have a visitor!”

Otto swivels around so fast he can hear the wrinkling of his coat. When his eyes latch onto his table there’s no one there and neither are you when he revolves.

As he reaches his table, he quickly finds there’s another note:

“Love starts as a feeling,

But to continue is a choice;

And I find myself choosing you

More and more every day.”

In the wise words of Sylvester himself—

Sufferin’ succotash.

∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ✦ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

The stinging in his eyes and the cramp in his hand could perfectly describe the day he’s having. Aching fingers release the pen from its confines and Otto stretches his back.

“Heavens,” he grunts.

He goes to return to his work and yet a tiny part of him screams to take a break, demands to be heard after being snubbed for so long. One quick glance at the pile of paper in front of him determines the small, squeaking voice is right. The dread making its home in the pit of his stomach will not ease with perseverance. Only with time.

A coffee would fix the problem.

Probably.

He’s almost on the opposite end of the library — which in the early hours of the night is a ghost-town, who would have thought? — when he realises he’s forgotten his wallet. Blaming the lack of sleep and his obsessive work ethic he makes a sharp u-turn. The lack of people is a blessing and he tells himself if he’s working late or can’t sleep this would be the perfect place to venture.

No interruptions, no weird looks, no bitter weight on his shoulders.

He’s about to take a detour, to stroll and loosen the ridged hinges of his knees when he spots movement at his desk. It’s unbelievable. Hilarious with the right dashes of irony. He’d wanted nothing more than to catch this anonymous little poet and because of such will, he had never gotten it. Not even close to it.

And now, because he’s not seeking — at least for today — to find what he desires, to solve the riddle which has been haunting him for more than a week now, he’s gotten exactly that.

Time to put an end to the cat and mouse game.

As he steps closer, he can see them better.

The hue of their hair is familiar, their frame, their body, their little idiocracies identifiable even from behind; the fidgeting of their fingers, the rocking on their heels. Movements that highlight the activity in your brain, a big beautiful world in which he wished was laid out before him and he could, with some sort of magnification, watch the magic unfold—real magic.

A childlike enamour. A true love with all the sparks and the hope.

Whimsical.

“It’s you,“ he whispers under his breath and he begins to walk forward, a pilgrim seeking the divine.

"It’s you,” he repeats once more, a means to convince himself or to announce the processing of such a fact, he’s not sure. Perhaps both, sprinkled in with the desire for your attention.

It works.

You jump, knee slamming into the table followed by your shaking palms which fall onto the wood surface. You spin on your heels with a grimace, fast, harsh and evidently disorienting. He watches your form sway, eyes wider than an owl’s, blinking furiously.

He’s sure you’re in pain but you don’t voice it.

“Uh… me?” you grin and it’s tumultuous as you wring your hands.

“You’ve been leaving the notes all along,” he says, inching closer.

“Oh, whaaat? Noooo… no wayyy…” you scrunch your face up in what can only be perceived as a horribly forced look of confusion. “What notes?”

Otto wants to laugh, but he’s swamped by shock.

“But there’s something I don’t quite understand. How did you leave one for me yesterday? I was talking to you the whole time.”

He continues to close in on you.

“I asked someone else to do it while I had your attention. You had your back turned,” you say, shifting your weight from foot to foot. “Not even they noticed.”

You nod towards his actuators and he hums in agreement, the pieces coming together.

“Yes, it seems even they were too occupied with you.”

Otto shakes his head, finally releasing a laugh intertwined with disbelief.

“I agreed to you keeping watch, and all along… it was you,“ Otto muses as he closes the distance between your bodies. Pressed against the table, you look up at him.

The restraint he’d felt in all your interactions evaporates.

His thumb swipes your bottom lip and he watches as it trembles. Your shallow breaths caress the back of his hand and his wrist, its warmth shooting through him as if directly accessing his nerves and suddenly it all makes sense.

The sound of the table creaking as you lean backwards, the scraping of your nails into the wood are enough for him. With a smirk, he leans down, centimetres from your mouth. Otto fails to notice his actuators cocooning you both.

"Not so eloquent now, are we?” He chuckles deeply, pressing his chest to yours when the actuators coiling around your forms tighten. Without looking, an actuator unwinds and the arm brings the new note forward.

He reads aloud.

“I hurt the most when lost, yet also when not had at all. I’m sometimes the hardest to express, but the easiest to ignore. I can be given to many, or just one. What am I?”

Otto quirks a brow before chuckling, “oh? How very highschool.”

He pauses for a moment, already knowing the answer. There’s a vulnerability to it, a hurdle he must cross for beyond is the green grass he’s always dreamt of. The dried weeds of the past have held him back long enough. In this, he realises he does want redemption, salvation—forgiveness. Nothing a God could ever provide, but a choice he has to make for himself.

“Love,” Otto breathes. "The answer is love.”

When he looks back down at you, your eyes are closed. Waiting patiently—just for him.

“Otto,” you whisper with a lull so sweet he groans with fluttering eyelids.

His nose brushes against yours and he’s keenly aware of the way you hold onto him, fingers curled around his arms, nails digging into the charcoal wool of his coat.

“My dear.”

Finally, he kisses you.

Lips in sync, hearts beating, the flitter of his eyelashes against your cheek. Their pairing is as tender as he’d imagined, the light almost hesitant nature of your reciprocation says more than anything he could ask—and he’s glad for it. For he, too, hasn’t done this in a while.

So long, in fact.

Your hands move from his arms and one rests against the fullness of his cheek, while the other travels through his umber curls. There’s a slight tug and he leans into the motion with a whispered, mellifluous moan. You slip in your tongue then, and Otto’s actuators unwind. Two latch onto the carpet with a carefulness to ensure no damage is done, and he assumes they’re reacting to the dizziness he feels, while the other two grip the table in a similar manner. There, he lowers you with a tilt. He hovers over you, kiss yet to be broken as you rest against the wooden surface. While your legs go to wrap around him, Otto pulls away with a lovestruck smile. It’s light and his brows are lifted at their tips, eyes hooded.

“How long?” He asks.

He’s so gentle, he can’t help it—he doesn’t want to misstep, make the wrong move or harm you in any way. There’s such a deep, intrinsic need to keep you safe it’s overwhelming. Suffocating.

Once you open your eyes, delayed as if still soaring from the kiss yourself, he feels the warm giddiness in his stomach intensify. Part of him expects the scenery to change, to morph into the darkness of his room, far from you; without a light.

“Since the beginning,” you confess.

He recalls the early days of his healing. While he had gotten his inhibitor chip fixed, the psychological damage was done. And so, for a long while he struggled. With the looks: suspicious, fearful, disgusted. He struggled with his co-workers’ opinions, the hecklers, the random acts of unkindness. In a way, at the start, it was as if he hadn’t changed at all, the irritability, the impulses, minus the lack of impulse control, were still there. He wasn’t as stable as he is now, he had to get there. And so, logically, this did not make sense, for how could someone love a monster such as he?

“How were you not scared of me?” He says, honestly. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, he hangs on your every word.

“Otto,” you ease, thumb reaching down to stroke his bottom lip. “I don’t believe anyone’s more fearful of you, than yourself.”

He says nothing. He knows you’re right.

With a knowing look, you cup both of his cheeks and he leans down to rest his forehead against yours. It’s easy to get lost while in the entrancement of the library; a gentle giant. It really does feel like they’re alone there, just the two of them hidden in the clearing of the secretive shelves.

“You don’t have to be so afraid anymore,” she punctuates her sentence with a kiss. “You’re so full of goodness. You’ve always tried to do your best.”

Another kiss.

“You’re enough even if you think you’ve lost yourself.”

And another.

“But you don’t have to be alone anymore. We can find that, together.”

Otto is the first one to close the gap this time, and he tries to ignore the trails running down his cheeks which are swiped away by your thumbs.

Always so perceptive and so caring.

That night, he doesn’t go home alone and the blandness of his apartment doesn’t feel so bland anymore. Not with you near it.

And he finds, with you by his side, he falls asleep without difficulty.

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Twenty-Nine}

Eyes narrowing, you yawn with a groan. 

It felt as if you had run an entire marathon, just to reach the finish line to be catapulted into a brick wall. 

Okay maybe that was a LITTLE dramatic, but still….

Memories of last night flooding your foggy mind, you couldn’t help but blush. To say that Otto was an animal in bed would almost be an understatement and you could definitely feel it. (Don’t be fooled by his age or size, that man has fucking stamina for days)  

Shifting slightly, you feel the older man’s bare body pressed against yours; arms possessively wrapped around as his head chin was tucked securely over top your head 

Rolling your eyes and smirking, the firm bulging pressure pressed against your ass did not go unnoticed either.

Despite your physical exhaustion, the warm Sunday sunlight filling your room couldn’t help but make you sigh. Just a lazy Saturday morning spent with your love. 

What more could you ask for?  

After some struggle, you were able to wriggle your way to face Octavius, schooching yourself upwards.

 Looking upon his sleeping face, a warm tingle crawls its way across your body.

He always slept so peacefully and he looked quite like a puppy whenever he was. 

Pudgy cheek squished slightly against the pillow, his growing stubble scritched subtly at the pillow case as his chest rose and fell. 

“You know it is rude to stare, little one…~” 

Chocolate eyes opening suddenly, a playful smirk played on his lips as he squeezed you closer. 

Had he been awake this whole time? 

Sticking out your tongue defiantly, you push against him. 

“You were awake this whole time, weren’t you?” 

A low rubbing chuckle vibrates his chest as you’re pulled upwards as he flips over on his back, situating you on top of his chest. 

“Hmmm…..Perhaps~” 

Yawn stretching his mouth, he looks up at you with lulled eyes. Rising and lowering with his breath, you rest your head on your hands, looking back at him. 

Tilting his head slightly, while he was fairly confident in his abilities….it had been a while.

“Did you have fun last night?” 

Moving a strand of hair from your face and tucking it behind your ear, he smiles hopefully up at you. 

“Of course! You were…..Well…..You were amazing….”

Mouth creasing into a nervous line, you avert your gaze from him. 

“It…..It was my first time, so I hope I was able to make it fun for you too…”

As embarrassing as it was (despite not knowing why you were embarrassed), Otto really had been your first time. With all the teasing and joking your friends did with you though, you couldn’t have been more thankful for the condoms they had gotten you as a gag gift. 

Eyebrows furrowing, Octavius couldn’t help but gape at you. Had he really been your first time? As much as that boosted his ego to be the first, his stomach couldn’t help but twist worriedly. 

While there was nothing wrong with being rough, he wished he would’ve known this before so that he could’ve been more gentle and slow.  

“I-I didn’t realize–You should have said something. While I will take your word for enjoying it, I would’ve preferred your first time being more gentle and romantic.” 

Cupping your cheek, he’d be lying to say he didn’t feel a little guilty. 

He should’ve been slower, he shouldn’t have gotten so comfortable and jumped you like he had, he shouldn’t have just assumed- 

“Hey, no really, it’s okay! I meant what I said when I said it was wonderful. It was exciting…..I mean, you seem to have a habit of making things exciting, so it suits you.” 

Walking your fingers up his chest playfully, you hoped that he’d stop worrying about things.  

Watching as your fingers make their way upwards, he can only sigh, the knots in his stomach slowly detangling themselves. 

Gently taking your hand into his, he kisses it. 

“Well, I must say, you learn quite quickly: Smart and receptive as always~” 

Heart thumping quicker, he still couldn’t help but smile knowing that he had the privilege of having you first. 

Laughter like church bells, he feels you jab his arm gently. 

“Though I will say….for someone so “innocent”, you certainly like to push the envelope with your little….Stunts.” 

While tone remained sauve, heat began to pool southwards at just the mere remembrance of when you had called him that devious little name. 

Mischievous smirk pulling at your lips, you were sure you looked like the cat that ate the canary. You knew EXACTLY what he was referring to…..

“Well as a scientist, you must know theories are only good if they are tested. I was only taking after you~. Plus, we both know how you like my “pushing”. 

Now it was his turn to be flustered. 

“T-Theory?” 

He didn’t know what was more embarrassing: The fact that you had suspected he had that certain “preference” to begin with, or the question of how long you had this little theory. 

Tensing up, his eyes flick around as his face begins to glow. 

Oh how you were enjoying this little showing he was putting on for you. 

Finally meeting your gaze once more after regaining composure over himself, he narrows his eyes. 

“You. Little. Minx. You enjoy toying with me, don’t you?”

Gasping in faux indignation at such an accusation, you bring your hand cheekily to your mouth. 

“……Hmmm perhaps~” 

Mimicking him, you move your hand away to reveal a rebellious smirk. 

Half tempted to come up with some witty counter, he settles with a little laugh. 

Your fiery wit and energy was why he had fallen in love with you to begin with. (Amongst many other things of course)  

Glancing over to the forgotten rose bouquet on your desk however, his eyes widened as his breath caught.

With getting wrapped in, well, last night; he had completely forgotten….!

“Um, though one thing that I forgot to mention last night. I-I actually made reservations for dinner last night for dinner. If you are up for it, I can call to reschedule it to tonight. 

Internally groaning, while it was guaranteed that he could get it rescheduled, his ego was not very pleased with the fact that he had to admit to said contact that he was right about last night. 

Eyes widening, a rush of heat runs to your face. 

“O-Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin your reservation-” 

Despite your guilt, your heart still soared at the thought of Octavius taking you out to a romantic dinner. 

“Dear, it’s completely fine….A good friend of mine has contacts there: Rescheduling is no trouble.” 

Sighing at him, you kiss the tip of his nose. 

“You certainly seem to have a lot of vague “friends”.”

While you weren’t particularly suspicious about what friends he had, it was really none of your business anyways, you just thought it was funny you were just now hearing about the apparent bigger social life he had.  

Mouth creating a pensive line for a few seconds, he wets his lips. 

“You happen to meet a lot of people while working at Oscorp.” 

Sinking into him more, you enjoy the soft sensation of his fingers dragging up your spine. 

His tone was vague and somewhat distant. 

Hmm. Weird…

You’d have to ask him about it later. 

Right now you just wanted a shower. 

Squirming in his grasp, he gets the message and gently places you back on the bed. As you try to get up, you can’t help but hiss.

Oh yeah, the whole marathon getting slammed against a brick wall thing. 

A protective wave came over him as he put a gentle hand on your side. 

“Are you alright, Yekiratì?”

He really had done a number on you. 

“Yeah-Yeah, just sore” 

As you try to roll out of bed, you feel those strong arms around you. 

“Here, I don’t want you straining yourself.”

Easing himself up, he cradles you in his arms. 

Eyes grazing your naked body, he coos. 

You’re such a beautiful thing and the fact that you had allowed him to share in such a special part of you only fueled his protective desire for you. You were strong and you had taken on so much and kept your head held up high. You were perfect for him while also pushing him: Being able to keep up with him as well as running ahead. The fact that you had let him mark you made his chest puff up. 

“Now who said staring was rude again~?”  

Despite the cheekiness in your voice, you couldn’t help but avert your gaze and look down at yourself. 

He really had his way with you…..bite marks and bruises peppering your neck, stomach, sides, and inner thighs like kisses.

Smirking to yourself, you could already picture getting “even“ with him. 

Feeling the feathery sensation of Otto’s lips on your head, you decide to leave those thoughts be….For now anyways….

Padding his way to the bathroom, he hugs you closer, a humored warm smile pulling at his lips

“Let Daddy take care of you….”

Previous - In Progress

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

Warning: CONTENTS EXTREMELY HOT - Some kinky explicit shit ahead folks ;)))))

{Chapter Twenty-Eight}

Time passed, as time often does. Slowly but surely, both of you were able to heal; and while that didn’t mean you were any less affectionate with each other, you both felt as the heavy weight of that night be lessened and lessened with each day. 

With Christmas and New Years passing you by….You were even beginning to be able to sleep in the same bed as Octavius without having nightmares! (that kinda sounded bad, but hey, the victory was what mattered) 

With Otto being still somewhat of a wanted man still, he had taken more or less permanent residence in your apartment. But despite the questionable size of the apartment, you both managed. 

And just like that, he became routine in your life: Just in a new way.

Instead of coming home to an empty apartment after your new grocer job, you were met with either the smell of food, the scratching of pencil on paper, or stray crackle of tools (You had told him almost a hundred times you didn’t want him using work tools inside….) 

But even with the challenges that came with the new addition to your dorm, particularly with stuff getting knocked over by the doctor’s children, it was still lovely having Octavius around.

Especially the Octavius you knew and loved. 

However, as school started back up again….you were starting to see Octavius less and less. 

Sure, he’d help with homework when he could or make sure you were eating a little bit better than microwavable kraft macaroni, but he wouldn’t be at the dorm waiting for you like you were now used to. 

Of course you weren’t saying he wasn’t allowed to leave, he was a grown ass man after all (a man at least 30 years older than you at that), but it did start to bother you. 

Whenever you asked about it, he had said that he was meeting with one of his friends (Toomes was it?) to get his stuff from his old place. 

Okay, that was reasonable, if you were in his shoes you’d want your stuff too: But then it would change to just meeting with him to discuss a new project, and then it was helping with his friend’s work……

Even more worrying was whenever you were trying to be affectionate with him now, whenever you dared even get near his stomach or chest area, he’d flinch away. 

It hurt you: Especially when he’d never give you an answer.  

You certainly didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but surely after everything….. 

In all honesty, even if he was seeing someone else, as much as it made you angry and hurt, you were willing to try to hear him and work it out. You managed to forgive him for nearly killing you on multiple occasions, so if that wasn’t loyalty (to almost a fault you wondered….), then you didn’t know what was. 

What made matters worse, was you didn’t ruin the few moments you did get to spend with him after school or work with your questions…

Either Way, something was going to have to change though, because you just couldn’t stand another night in a cold bed.

It had been a particularly exhausting day at school today, working on a group project as well as multiple three plus hour long lab sessions, and you just wanted to go home. To your luck, you bet a dime a dozen that, like always nowadays, Octavius wouldn’t be. But really you couldn’t find it in yourself to care. 

With a sigh, you trudge your way down the hall to your dorm, turning the unlocking and turning the knob on the door. 

However even in your exhaustion, your eyes still narrow suspiciously at the fact that the dorm was completely dark. No matter how long you were gone that day, you always kept at least one light on for Octavius. 

Slowly making your way into the dorm, you feel around blindly for the light switch, a heavy weight beginning to grow in your stomach. 

Finally finding the switch, you squint slightly at the sudden light. 

As the lights were flicked on, you see Octavius standing in the middle of the room, a bouquet of flowers in his hands. 

But the longer you looked, you felt as your bags dropped to the floor. 

His actuators, his metal girdle–They were gone. 

“I’m sorry for being so secretive as of late and while I’m sure you have your doubts, I just wanted this to be a surprise….With my friend’s help, I…I was able to make the metal belt and arms detachable.” 

Though that warm familiar smile making its way onto his face, you can see a twinge of nervousness in them. 

“Again, I apologize with being gone recently and not communicating with you, I just–” 

Before he is able to even finish his sentence, you run to him, jumping into his arms with a laugh. Timid smile breaking into a hearty laugh, he holds onto you securely, spinning you around. 

“T-That’s great, I’m so happy!!! You d-don’t have to be in so much pain anymore! You can finally heal!!!” 

Burrowing your face into his plush neck, all your insecurities and fears melt away as his scent washes over you. 

Even though he was more or less reformed, you had personally seen the toll that the arms had taken on his body. Whether it be the countless nights you’ve stayed up with him as he suffered muscle spasms, or comforted him as he cried from the sheer pain his back caused him (which you were sure was chronic now), or having to do simple tasks for him because his hands would stop shaking. 

“I know my condition has become somewhat a burden for you, I just hope now that I can start being less of a bother for you and give you as much as you have-” 

Eyebrows furrowing, you instantly stop him. 

“Your condition is not a burden, Octavius. You’re hurt and maybe that means that you need a little extra help: That’s nothing to be ashamed about. The fact that you’re finally on your way to getting some real help is what I care about.” 

Searching your gaze, he sighs, squeezing you tighter. 

“You are too good to me, my dear.” 

Placing a gentle peck on your lips, you can’t help but smile into it. 

Being placed back on the ground once more, your eyes grazed over the doctor’s sweater clad chest.

With that corset-like metal brace, he was even bigger, flesh now truly free to extend out to its natural girth. The consistent (maybe more fattening than entirely necessary) meals you had been making sure he was eating probably was responsible for the sudden growth as well. 

Sensing your gaze, he can’t help but shrink slightly. As uncomfortable as the belt was, it was a protective barrier he had gotten used to. And while you had certainly helped him feel more confident, the restrictive metal had helped as well. However now you were seeing him in his actual size, a size that he had noticed had grown somewhat since before the accident. 

“Can I see?” 

Those beautiful eyes of yours were looking up at him again as he could feel your hands already at the hem of his sweater. 

As much as he wanted to say no, to stay in this comfort zone without having to be vulnerable in front of you, he could only sigh. 

“If you would like, Yekiratì….”

Heart fluttering, you bite the corner of your lip. 

Slowly pulling the fabric upwards, you feel a dark blush rise into your cheeks. 

Thick long pink scars wrapped around his midsection and you could see exactly where the metal brace had sat with the indent under his floating ribs. Stretch marks peppered his sides as his love handles circled to the front to form a paunch roll under his stomach. Eyes roaming up higher as you rode the piece of fabric upwards, his doughy middle served as a resting place for his sagging chubby breast. 

To put it simply: He was a large man. 

And you loved it. 

Dragging your eyes away (which was extremely difficult mind you), you search his gaze for any hint of discomfort or hesitation. 

An embarrassed pink hue tinted his cheeks and ears as those honeyed eyes avoided your gaze. 

“Is it okay if I touch you?” 

With the amount of scaring, you could imagine the area would be even more sensitive than the chest area usually was. As much as you wanted to ravage and explore the doctor’s body right then and there, you wanted to make sure you weren’t pushing him too much. 

After a few seconds of silence, Octavius closes his eyes. 

“Y-Yes” 

Voice breathy and timid, you could tell he was getting hot under the collar just by your eyes being on him. 

A sweet encouraging smile pulling at your lips, you gently bring your palms to his soft stomach.  

The instant your hands made contact with his skin, he melts. Even with insecurities still pulling at his brain, he found himself biting his lip to prevent some very unbecoming sounds coming out. 

The warmth and gentle grazing of your fingers across his tender damaged skin alone nearly drove him to insanity.

Kneading and squeezing, your hands roam up the fold of his sides, he is nearly shaking. 

He’d never been touched like this while looking like this; and while he had never been what would be considered fit, he certainly never would have imagined someone finding his fat aged body attractive. 

Watching as the high and mighty Dr. Otto Octavius squirmed and trembled under your touch was delectable. You’d be lying to say reducing such an imposing man to putty beneath your fingertips wasn’t a huge ego boost.

But as satisfying a feeling it was, you hoped more so that Octavius would understand how much you found him attractive: You wanted to be good to him and you wanted him to feel good. 

A soft hum vibrated your throat as you tugged on the gathered sweater at his neck, guiding him to the bed like a dog on a leash.

Wet eyes wide and confused, he lets himself be guided. 

He was always the dominant when it came to things like this, so he barely had any idea what to do with himself now that he was on the receiving end. While the man in him told him to take control, in this moment of weakness he decided to ignore it. 

It was embarrassing how exciting and arousing this new change of pace was. 

Gently pushing the older man onto the bed, your hair rose with tension and the heat that seemed to fill every corner of the room. 

Crawling on all fours now, you backed Octavius all the way up the bed. 

Chest rising and falling, he feels the wall suddenly push against his back. Mouth opening and closing slightly, he finds that he truly doesn’t know what to say. 

Though one thing was certain: He wanted to feel your touch. 

Finally closing the gap between you, he gives you a cheeky smile, those soft dark curls framing his face. 

Pressing yourself up against his slightly hairy chest, you smile back at him as together you peel the sweater fully off. Discarding it to the floor, you look back at the man through your lashes. 

He felt his skin was on fire, burning hotter than a thousand suns. Tugging at your chin, he pulls you into a slow deep kiss. 

While he wasn’t stealing the show entirely, he was afforded a little wiggle room, wasn’t he?

Chuckling slightly, you let the doctor have his fun, gasping slightly as you feel the slight tug at your upper lip as it was caught between his teeth. Your core churned and tingled as his tongue flicked at the inside of your mouth. 

As much as you were enjoying the feistiness though, you weren’t quite ready to give up control just yet. 

A string of salvia stretching between both of your mouths as you part, you can feel him try to pull you back in. 

A mischievous wink is all the doctor is afforded as answer for your sudden retreat as you lower yourself down. 

Eyes widening his mouth is made dry as his dilated pupils follow you like a hawk. 

Fingers dragging up his clothed inner thighs, you painfully slowly pull them apart to make a place for you. Eyes sparing the growing bulge a glance, you move your hands up to either side of his doughy midriff. 

Thighs twitching needily, he lets a throaty moan as he feels your soft lips against the scar just above his belly button. It takes all his self control not to just mewel and moan pathetically as you pepper every single scar with a chaste kiss. 

Body responding wantonly to his noises, you ensure every single blistered mark was given its due attention. 

Chest rising and falling erratically, Octavius whispered your name like a dirty curse. 

Body stalling out slightly from growing heat inside you, you pull away from your perch and situate yourself on his lap. 

Draping arms gracefully over the older man’s bare shoulders, you lean your forehead against his with a shaky exhale. Both of you were sweating now. 

A tender sigh exiting from Octavius, it tickled your skin like blue velvet. 

“Yekiratì…”

Not breaking eye contact with him, you press your hands onto his shoulders as you guide him downwards. 

Obediently following your direction, he’s now looking up at you. 

While the fever of lust still filled his veins, it had tempered out into something more innocent. 

How had he been so lucky in finding some like you? Someone that was able to still love him despite every time he fell; or how imperfect he was. While he was not one to believe in the things of the metaphysical, like fate; science being his only religion. You somehow stirred up that black and white view. 

Devotion couldn’t be inspected under a microscope or fabricated in a lab. Love couldn’t be pulled apart to a molecular level or explained by a formula. This feeling he had for you was more than just the primitive evolutionary need to procreate. 

Expression loving and dazed, you move yourself on top of Octavius, perching yourself carefully over his stomach and ribs. 

Lids closed, in the darkness you focused on the feeling of your thighs spreading and moving as Octavius breathed in and out. Essentially riding his stomach, soft slightly giving flesh tickles the inside of your inner thighs and core. 

Opening once more, you lovingly look down at the doctor beneath you. Responding to your gaze, the older man moves his large paws to your hips, massaging them gently between his digits. 

“Ani ohev ot-akh…”

Mind foggy, while you don’t understand what he is saying, you can’t help but blush at the tenderness conveyed in his whispered words. 

“What does that mean…?” 

Lowering yourself once more, the tip of your nose nuzzles Octavius’s 

Fingers tangling in your hair, he wets his lips 

“It means……I love you….in Hebrew” 

You never knew you loved or thought Hebrew was sexy, but you certainly did now. 

Hands resting on his chest, you edge your face closer. 

“Will you say it again…..” 

The smile line in his weathered face stretches as his smile widens. 

“I will repeat it as many times as you would like, my dear….You must only ask.” 

Blinking slowly, you bat your eyelashes at him, a cheeky smirk making its way to your lips. 

“Please repeat it…..Daddy~”

Brain frying, the burning desire from earlier leaped up in him like an unquenchable fire. 

Even in the moment, even you knew that was exactly what you were playing with here: Fire. 

While caught off guard in the moment, it’s quickly replaced with a sardonic grin. 

Like the door being opened to the cage of an animal, he moved with sudden and predatory precision. 

The next thing you know is you’re under Octavius, wrists captured in his large hand above your head. Mouth instantly drying up and hanging open, a deep crimson takes over your entire face. 

You can feel the comforting weight of his stomach on top of you, but you can’t take your eyes away from his domineering gaze. Those chestnut curls creating a shadow over his face, his crooked teeth are bared in a fanged smirk. 

Eyes lazily grazing up and down your small form, he looks back to you, pausing. 

“Do you want this?” 

Frazzled and caught off guard, the sudden break in his predatory tone encourages you to answer. 

“Y-Yes” 

You can’t help but smile as excitement washes over you. 

Nodding silently, he gives you a few seconds of silence to say otherwise. 

Seeing no hesitation, that same dangerous smirk pulls at his lips once more. 

“Now sweetheart, I need you to choose a safe word for me…..”

Tightening his grip on your wrists, he licks his lips in anticipation. 

Honey or venom, in their consistency they were one and the same as it dripped from his guttural growl. 

Wracking your brain for something to say, it was getting harder and harder to focus on anything other than the man above. 

“U-um, uh, s-sweater..?”

Seeing the discarded piece of clothing on the floor, the word came out of your mouth faster than you could think. 

Taking a moment to think about how out of the words you could’ve chosen, you chose something as innocent and unassuming as “sweater”, he chuckles darkly. 

How cute. 

“Now. You had your fun toying with me earlier, now didn’t you~? For that, someone is going to have to be taught a lesson. Don’t. They.” 

Tone dark and demanding, you’re practically shaking from arousal and confusion. So many things and emotions were happening, you thought you would burst into flames out of embarrassment. 

“Y-Yes” 

Voice shaky, you didn’t even know if he really wanted you to respond or not. 

Judging by his thick rising eyebrow and autocratic gaze, it seems that while he was pleased with your answer; it was missing something. 

Oh truly he was going to be the death of you. Your cheeks could only burn so bright before a blood vessel burst or something. 

“…Yes..D-Daddy.” 

At that a satisfied hummed laugh filled the air. 

“That’s what I thought.” 

And with the stage set and the prey cornered, you were at Octavius’s mercy.

Previous-Next 

Chapter 1 

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4  [Spicy warning] 

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14 [Violencewarning]

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19 [Violencewarning]

Chapter 20 [Violencewarning]

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23 [Violencewarning]

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26 

Chapter 27

Chapter 28 [Extreme Spice warning ]

Chapter 29 

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Twenty-Seven}

Wrapped up safely in his arms and lap, one of the actuators stretches and turns on the TV. Cheesy Christmas rom coms playing in the background as he brushes your hair out. As you both just enjoyed each other’s company, you couldn’t help but snuggle back into him. It was cute how much of a caregiver he was. 

However, as the night drew on, so did your exhaustion. After the fifth yawn in a row, Octavius can’t help but squeeze you in his arms.  

“I think it’s time for a certain someone to get someone to get some much needed rest..” 

Patting your head and placing your brush on the bed side table, you feel the familiar feeling of metal wrap around your waist as he lifts you off him. 

As much as you knew he meant well, you couldn’t help but flinch at the cruel reminder the movement caused. 

“I hope I would not be intruding if I stayed?” 

Placing you down on the ground in front of him as he got up as well, your mouth pulls into a stiff smile. 

Instantly seeing the change in your demeanor, his brows knit together in worry. 

“Please, if you would prefer that I go, tell me: I’d rather you be comfortable-”

“No it’s okay! Really, it’s fine!”  

Waving your hands frantically, you still can’t help but feel nervous. 

His children chirping and tilting their heads along with him, he can’t help but be a little perplexed at your behavior. 

“If you are sure….But is everything alright? I feel I have somehow missed something.”

“No-No, you didn’t do anything…” 

You’d be lying somewhat saying that, but that wasn’t what you were really worried about now. 

Tilting his head down further, he tries to catch your eyes as you look away from him. Determined to get to the bottom of this, he brings his hand to your chin, gently tugging it up to face him. 

“Then what is wrong? Because you are clearly distressed by something: You can tell me anything you know….”  

Following their father’s lead, the actuators encircle you slightly, chirping and whirring quietly as they studied you. 

Trying to focus on the doctor’s warm gaze, it was hard when you could see those pinpricks in your peripheral vision. 

As much as you had repeated the line to Octavius, you wish healing didn’t have to take time. You loved Octavius and wanted to trust him fully, but those memories held you back, which made what you wanted to say even harder. 

“I want you to stay….but….I can’t sleep with you.” 

Well okay, that’s definitely NOT what you were trying to say: And judging but the crimson blush that came over the older man’s face as well as his eyes getting as large as saucers, it came across that way. 

“OKAY that came out really wrong–I-In the future I wouldn’t mind sleeping with you like THAT–I mean that’s s-something we would have to, like, talk about of course and whatever and now I’m getting off topic, b-but that’s not what I’m talking about right now-I mean like “sleep-with-you” as in like sleeping next to you, uh, in the same bed ya know and even though I wanna do THAT now, I just a-am still a little nervous about everything and even though I trust you and love I just d-don’t think I can do that right now even though I-I really want to.”  

Were you even being coherent anymore? You were getting so out of breath that you couldn’t even tell. 

However, with the slight fall in Octavius’s face while listening to you made you feel even worse that he was actually able to understand it. Flicking his eyes away from you for a second, he meets your gaze once more. 

Was he….smiling at you? 

“I very astute woman once told me that “we need time” and that “we” includes you. I am just glad you felt comfortable enough to tell me this…..I know….I know this isn’t easy for you.” 

It felt as if his stomach was tying itself into knots. 

It was selfish really to feel upset that you weren’t quite comfortable enough to sleep in the same bed as him yet. While everyone was human and emotions would do as they pleased, the fact that you had even been affectionate with him at all earlier was a wonder in itself. 

As much as he wanted to hold you in his arms where he knew for certain you would be safe, he could only protect you so much when he was the object of your fear.

As much as it hurt his heart, you were more than worth waiting for and being patient with. 

“I-I’m sorry, I feel like I’m being so stupid-” 

If only he knew how much it hurt you to admit it too. 

However before you’re able to pull your face away from him in shame, you hear a quiet shushing as the tentacles move slowly back behind their master. 

“Never be sorry for needing time to heal, Yekiratì..”

Dropping his hand from your face, as much as he wants to continue to touch you, he wants to show you how committed he is.  

Melting slightly, your heart flutters in your chest. 

“Thank you….”

It comes out as a mere tentative whisper but in response a light chuckle could be heard rumbling through Octavius. 

“You’re welcome.” 

The cheeriness coming back to you, you meet the older man’s gaze with a mischievous one of your own. 

“I have a cot I can pull out, but you’re getting the bed because there’s no way in hell that I’m letting your old-man-back go through that.” 

Thick eyebrow raising at this, he narrows his eyes at you. 

“Maybe I do have an “old-man-back” but what kind of man would I be to force a lady out of her own bed.” 

Mimicking him as he crosses his arms, you pop your hip. 

“Well maybeeee this lady doesn’t need you to be all mancho manly and whatever.”

Mimicking you now, he pops his hip out as well, a crooked smile playing on his lips. 

“Hmm, somehow I believe that you are lying in that statement.” 

Chirping in a weird metallic snickering, the actuators peek out from behind Octavius like nosy children. 

“Well what if I’m not lying~” 

Hands on your hips, despite the drastic height difference you smile challengingly up at him all the same. 

Eyebrow raising even further, he only tuts at you. 

“Well then I would simply call you a liar~”

At that he snatches you up by the waist, flipping you to face away from him as he begins to attack your now exposed stomach. 

Kicking and shrieking with laughter it was very evident that you would not be escaping any time soon and as you squirmed and laughed, Octavius couldn’t help but laugh with you. 

After a few minutes, as much as he found your laugh adorable, he felt his “punishment” was sufficient though. Working together, you both drag out the clunky cot from your supplies closet and set up at the foot of the bed. 

While the dorm was not meant for more than one person and working around not only the size of Octavius, but also his restless robotic children, you both were eventually able to get ready for bed. With some convincing, Octavius finally settled on taking your bed (not without some bribing of course) and before you both knew it, his loud snores filled the room. 

Even though the snoring was not ideal, it did make you laugh somewhat, as it practically sounded like he was cutting down an entire rainforest. 

Curling up on the creaky cot, you put your earbuds in and close your eyes. Maybe sometime soon you’d be able to join him, but until then, this was good enough. With the long day you had, falling asleep wasn’t hard, the calming music in your ears knocking you out with no problem. 

You were so fast asleep however, that you didn’t even feel the cot shake as Octavius’s metal arms dragged it closer to the bed, resting themselves around you in a protective circle.

Previous-Next  

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Twenty-Six}

As cute as the moment was, however, that was broken slightly by the fact it was fucking freezing. And while Octavius had a giant metal harness housing the AI and hydraulics to power his four metal arms around his stomach to keep him warm, you did not have such a luxury. 

“My dear you are shivering an awful lot, and as much as I enjoy staying here with you, I feel getting you home so you don’t get hypothermia would be ideal.”

Trembling like a leaf and teeth chattering, you’re barely able to speak.

“R-Really? W-what g-ave y-you that i-idea?”

However even in your stubborn quippiness, your cold blushed face gets brighter at the new nickname. 

“M-My car is j-just oVER!” 

Right as you were about to begin walking to the car, you feel your feet suddenly leaving the ground. 

Whipping your head towards the man responsible, you’re only met with a sly smile.

“I can walk ya know…” 

Despite the comment, you were already getting comfortable in the older man’s arms, wedging your head into his neck. 

“I am well aware of that, Yekiratì.” 

Voice a light with loving playful coo, he turns his head and places a kiss on your forehead. 

While you said you could walk, you never said that you necessarily wanted to….. 

Both making your way to your hidden vehicle, it becomes increasingly obvious fitting the doctor in the car would be a lot easier said than done. Even without his whiny children to take into consideration, the doctor wasn’t exactly a small man. 

“Um….are you….comfortable…?”

Wow did you feel stupid asking that.

Legs spread uncomfortably wide while pushed against the dash, his actuators had somehow wormed themselves in back or pressed against the roof. 

“Um, well…..I would be lying somewhat if I said that your car is, um, slightly smaller than what I’m used to.” 

Shifting slightly, an awkward smile pulled at his lips as annoyed hissing could be heard from the back. 

“…..I’ll just make sure to drive carefully!” 

Though you couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity of it all, you really didn’t want your new boyfriend (could you actually call him that now…?) to break his knees or fly through the windshield.

Luckily your trip back to the apartment did not result in the permanent disfigurement of Octavius’s legs, and after ten minutes of trying to detangle and squeeze the poor man back out of the car, you both took your separate ways to get to your room (guess it worked out for him that you STILL hadn’t gotten your window fixed) 

Unlocking the door, you were met with the surprising sound of running water.

“I hope it’s alright that I started a bath for you. With how much you were shivering, I thought that maybe some warm water might help in warming you back up.”  

Walking out of the bathroom to meet you, Octavius’s chocolate eyes looked expectantly at you, hands wet from testing the water. 

You couldn’t help but smile at the cute gesture.

“Well don’t use up all the hot water: You’re not the only one that I think would benefit from a bath~”

Pushing past him with a playful nudge, you couldn’t help but giggle at the offended gasp your comment elicited. 

“Are perhaps implying something, dear?” 

Though he turned to stare back at you with a scolding look, there was no real maliciousness to his demand. However, watching you pick out some clean clothes, his confidence did began to shrink slightly. Would it be weird to suggest what he was planning on asking? He certainly didn’t want to make you uncomfortable or push you in anyway. 

But oh how he wanted to show you how much you meant to him. Especially after everything, he wanted to do anything he could possibly do to make it up to you. 

Looking back at the metal tentacles prepping the bath for you, he felt a light blush beginning to burn his ears and cheeks.

“…Yekiratì?” 

Finally deciding on what fluffy socks you were going to wear, you nod. 

“Yes my dearest~?”

Smiling to yourself, while you were joking, you couldn’t help but still feel giddy being able to say it.  

There was a long pause, and you were half tempted to glance back at the doctor to see if he had heard you. 

“I was wondering if you wouldn’t perhaps mind if I…..Help you. You’ve been through quite a lot, and I just thought that just being able to relax would help you feel better. If you would prefer, you could still keep your, um, undergarments on while I am in the bathroom with you–Though do not think you’re under any obligation to say yes, I completely understand if you would prefer me not interfere-” 

The doctor continued to nervously ramble on, however, you couldn’t even focus with the growing buzzing and crimson blush overtaking your entire body. 

To be perfectly honest you were so ill prepared for a suggestion like that, you didn’t even know what to say. 

You were flattered, you were caught off guard, but most importantly; You were nervous 

As your inner tension grew, so did the internal Insecurities bouncing around your head. 

“I-I’m flattered-um–Sure! I-If you’re um, cool with doing that.” 

No. You weren’t going to let your fears ruin this moment. 

While you had been in nothing but your bra and panties in front of other men before, those men weren’t Dr. Otto Octavius. 

Stopping mid-rant (which you were sure if you hadn’t intervened where you had, the older man would have been halfway out the window by now), Octavius’s eyes crinkled in a shy smile. 

Despite his teeth being somewhat uneven and crooked, you quickly began to realize how endearing they were. 

“O-Of course…..pampering you is no burden. But here! You can get undressed in the bathroom and you can tell me when you’re ready for me to come in.” 

Voice soft and gentle, he briskly commands his actuators to leave the bathroom so you could have some privacy (as nice as watching would be of course), moving to the side so you could get past. 

Briskly walking through to the door, you couldn’t help but avert your eyes. 

Fire hydrants got nothing on you. 

Finally exhaling as you close the door, you deposit your dry clothes on the sink, before peeling off your own sopping wet ones.    

Trying to control your blush when lowering yourself into the pleasantly warm soapy water, you find it only got worse. (Getting in the tub with your bra and underwear still on was weird in itself)

Dr. Otto Octavius was going to help you bathe, like you were some kid or something. 

Despite the imagery though, the gesture itself was incredibly sweet and cute, which made the whole “trying to compose yourself before said man comes in” thing even harder. 

It was such a weird trivial thing and anytime any guy had even suggested anything like this before, you could tell there were ulterior motives.

Not that said ulterior motives were necessarily bad, just that not only did Octavius clearly not have any, but that the tone he had used suggesting it had been completely foriegn to you. 

Though while you certainly could run circles around yourself all night, the warm water on your frigid skin slowly dissolved the will to engage further in such things. 

While intimacy and uncertainty scared you……maybe just letting go and enjoying the moment wouldn’t be so bad. 

Closing your eyes, they were only opened at the sound of muffled inquisitive chirping and whirring. 

“Shush, leave her be.” 

While the words barely made it through the door to you, you could recognize that firm tone anywhere. 

With a laugh you wondered what the actuators had been saying. 

If they had actually said something, you might have to ask later about how that even worked. 

“Y-You can come in now!” 

With a gentle click, the door opens as Octavius peeks his head in. 

Despite a blush making its way to his own face, his dimples are emphasized with a fond affectionate smile. 

With one his children carrying a stool in, he tried his best to keep them well behaved. 

You didn’t have to know that any angle or visual that they picked up, he in turn saw. 

Smiling up at the doctor, you stop yourself from instinctually covering yourself up. Then again, now that you were looking at him, you quickly realized he wasn’t wearing a shirt either. And judging on his body language, he seemed like he was a little insecure and nervous too. 

With the stool set down, the older man slowly sat himself down at the foot of the tub, squeezing some shampoo into his large hands. Lathering it up between his digits until it forms a delicate foam, he looks to you. 

“May I?” 

Averting your gaze at the sweetness of his tone, you only nod and sit up. 

Reaching out to you, you feel his large calloused hands begin to massage the shampoo into your hair. 

It was quiet as he worked your hair, the only sound being the placid splash of water or the stray actuator squeak. 

Closing your eyes, you lean into his touch, the relaxing sensations making your scalp and temples tingle. 

Chest welling up, the older man savored every moment like it was his last. There was something so fulfilling and rewarding about taking care of someone you loved like this: Such a simple mundane part of the day being taken over by someone out of care and gratitude. Each soft drawn out hum that came from you only made him fall in love with you all over again. 

He was taking care of you. He was providing for you. What more could he ask for?

Cupping water in his palms, he gently rinses out the foamy suds, using one of his metal arms to grab the loofah and soap from the shower caddy above. 

Now moving on to your body, he gently scrubs around your shoulders, back, arms, and sides. 

It felt as if your skin was alive with electricity with every touch as he got lower and lower. 

He was much closer now, and you could feel his humid breath on your back as worked on cleaning you from the back. However, ever the gentleman, he never went lower than the water. 

“Are you still comfortable? Is there anything you need?” 

While breathy, his tone was innocent in its desire. 

Smiling to yourself, you decided there was one thing you wanted…..

“There is one thing…” 

Trailing off, you turn back to look at Octavius. 

Face instantly alight, he pulls the loofah back to himself, poised over the edge of the bathtub as his mahogany eyes looked attentively at you. 

In the fluorescent light, his dark curls were visibly still damp, pooling around his slightly wrinkled face. Double chin much more visible at this angle, the pudginess faded into his worked shoulders. Leaned over, his upper stomach paunch hung over the metal girdle, hairy pale chest resting on the gathered flesh. 

While his body had flaws and imperfections that came with age, the true humanity of it made it all the more welcoming and sexy. While the “perfect” male figure was chiseled and finished, those bodies seemed almost inhumane in their unattainability. 

But in all his imperfection, Octavius was perfect in your eyes.

Pulling your arm out of the water, you took his free hand into yours and tugged. 

“Would you join me?”  

Meeting your gaze, you could see the uncertainty in his eyes fading as a shy blush peppered his face and bare chest. 

“If…If that’s what you would prefer.” 

Metal claw snatching up the loofah, another the bench, he stands to his full height. 

Kicking off his shoes and placing them neatly at the door, he undoes his belt and starts pulling down his pants. 

While you tried to look away to give the man some privacy, you couldn’t help but peek every now and then. 

Finally struggling out of his already tight pants, his bare hairy legs and thick thighs were completely free. 

You try to look away before your eyes move too dangerously close to the prominent bulge in his boxers. 

Folding his clothes and belt neatly on the sink, he moves over to the tub, already seeing that you had moved forward for him. 

He didn’t even know what to do with himself at this point. 

For someone who had been around as long as he had, this surprisingly was a first. But then again, you had been a lot of firsts in his life. 

Using his metal arms as support, he gently lowers himself behind you. A gasp exiting his mouth as the warm water surrounded him. 

As he situated himself, you gently push yourself in between his thighs, his hair tickling your legs slightly. Just letting you take the lead, he lets you guide his hand and the scrubber to your bare chest. A soft hum rumbles through the larger man’s body as you do so. 

Understanding your silent direction, he takes to cleaning your chest, stomach, and legs like he had your back. 

Head finding its new resting place in the crook of your neck, he methodically moves to your inner thighs, finger pads tracing the soft flesh as he goes.

Finally finishing up with you, you swivel yourself to face him, gently taking the scrubber from him and beginning to clean his chest. Looking down for a moment at your working hands, he looks back at you from under his thick eyebrows. 

“I should be taking care of you, not the other way around.”   

However, he really couldn’t deny that the personal attention wasn’t nice. 

Chest gently rising and falling with each breath, you sneak in a touch or a squeeze here and there, however nothing too extreme.

You weren’t entirely sure where this fell on the intimacy scale, but you liked where it was all the same. 

Legs now draped over his, you tuck your chin on his firm shoulders, scrubbing his back. Gently, he wraps his own thick arms around you, pushing you flush against his chest. 

Enjoying the feeling of your chest against his, he couldn’t help but close his eyes. 

Eventually the both of you do realize sitting in lukewarm (at best) water wasn’t ideal and wash off quickly in the actual shower. Spending the better part of the night cleaning and drying his tentacles, you pop his pants and boxer in the washer and dryer. 

Yeah….that was awkward for both parties

But with dry and clean clothes acquired, the both of you were finally able to finish up the last wet sections of his arms. 

“So, I heard you like….talking to them earlier. Do they talk to you? And if so, is it their chirps or something else.” 

Pulling down once more on the tentacle you had been working on drying, this once seemed to make its mission to make the entire process as difficult as conceivably possible. 

Looking up from the claw current nestled in his lap, he can’t help but chuckle slightly at your antics. 

“Yes, they do talk. I would say while I somewhat understand the sounds they actually make, they speak more to me in my mind as they are able to access my higher consciousness. The noises seem to serve as a vehicle for emphasis as it is–Also I apologize for him, he tends to be the more rowdy of them all.” 

Ah yes, and you know their names now!

The one you were currently working with was Harry, and then there was Larry, Mo, and the one the doctor was working on was Flo. 

Tuting as Harry twists out of your grasp defiantly before you’re able to let go of him, you just sigh and place your dirty towel on your bedside table. 

Sitting on the bed, you flop down on your back, sticking your tongue out at Mo as it snaked over and looked down at you curiously. 

“Well, do they talk to you alot?” 

It is silent for a time as Octavius lets out a deep sigh.

“Yes….they talk often. I suppose that is one of the reasons why I acted the way I did….before. Their constant chatter was something to get used to and with my already compromised and agitated condition…..” 

Lifting your head slightly from the bed, both you and Mo look back at the older man as he finishes with Flo.

You can’t help but think he looks older: Even though you went through a lot, so did Octavius. 

“…I’m sorry. I never even thought of that” 

Sheepishly leaning yourself up against your elbows, you throw him an apologetic frown. 

Searching your gaze for a moment, he only lets out a quiet chuckle and shakes his head. Getting up from the desk chair, the bed sinks in as he sits down next to you. 

“It’s nothing to be sorry about….I did this to myself and it is my responsibility to make sure that my condition doesn’t affect the things around me: It is simply something I am going to have to learn to live with.” 

Turning to you, he gives you a somewhat shy smile. 

“And perhaps with my guidance and you, my dear, learning might not be so bad.” 

Stomach fluttering at this, you meet his gaze. 

“You sure are laying it on thick huh? You butter up all the people you almost kill like this?”

At that you nudge the doctor jokingly.

Color blanching from his face, the actuators seemed to curl in on themselves slightly. 

“I–It was a joke, I promise. S-sorry, I make jokes to cope s-so uh my bad-”

Before you’re even able to finish, you feel yourself being pulled in Octavius’s soft lap, arms protectively wrapping around you.  

“I know….I know…” 

Wedging your head under his, he interlocks one of his hands with yours. 

“But regardless, I want you to that I am sorry and that I-” 

Shushing him gently before he finishes, you turn your head up, placing a quick kiss on his soft jaw line. 

“I know you are…..I really do and I don’t want you to hold that over yourself: You have already proved it. We just need time” 

Looking back down at you, the color slowly returns to his face as his thick brows unfurrow. 

Bringing his face to yours, he pauses. 

“As long as I get to spend that time with you…..” 

And with that, he closes the gap between you.

Previous-Next 

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Twenty-Five}

Watching as Spider Man shot into the sky and swung away, you turned back to the unconscious man beside you.

It was cold, extremely cold.

Though exhausted, you move yourself over to Octavius’s head, gently pulling it into your lap. Even sopping wet, his hair was soft.

It was quiet.

Until a soft groan met your ears.

Eyes flicking downward, you laugh in relief

“O-Octavius!”

Scooting back slightly, you watch as the doctor slowly rights himself (not without the help of his arms of course)

Blearily looking around, his eyebrows are furrowed, wrinkles emphasized in a confused frown.

Eyes suddenly widening, he whips his head back to you.

The color blanching from his face, he looks in horror at the dark ugly purple and green bruises that lined your neck.

He did that.

He did that to you.

Heart ceasing to beat, he can only sneer at himself in disgust.

He was still a monster and destroying his machine did not change the damage that had already been done.

Sensing exactly what the doctor was thinking, you smile reassuringly.

“Hey-Hey, it’s okay. It’s over…I’m okay”

How could he let himself do this to you?

Fat tears began to well in his eyes, threatening to overflow.

“I almost killed you….I would have succeeded if he hadn’t stopped me..”

His words came out in a quiet breathless whisper as looked away from you.

He felt like he suddenly weighed a thousand pounds, barely being able to move.

Lost, oh how lost he was.

Looking down at his now shaking hands, he felt his fight or flight reflexes grind into gear.

He was terrified of himself.

Wide eyed and dazed, you could practically hear the thoughts racing in the older man’s head.

“O-Octavius, it’s okay, everything is ok-”

Before you could say anything, he was suddenly right in front of you, on his hands and knees grasping your hand in his. You nearly jump back at the sudden motion, desperately trying to slow your heart beat.

It was okay…..This was Octavius…You didn’t have to be afraid.

“I-I’m sorry—I’m so sorry. What I-I’ve done to you—I can’t”

Graveling at your feet, his body trembled as he pressed his face against the ground.

You can’t help but frown as you place your palm on his back.

“It’s okay, y-you don’t have to apologize: I understand, I-”

Whipping his head up at you, the look in his eyes squeezed your heart.

“No! N-No, what I-I’ve done c-can never be remedied. What my creation–No. I’VE done. It’s inexcusable!”

Letting go of your hands, he scrambles back from you, eyebrows furrowed.

“But it’s o-okay, together we can work through th-”

You try to reach out to him.

“How could we–how could YOU possibly work through this??? What I did to you….T-Therapy is the least that you will need after this! You’re so young and I have forced you to do and s-suffer through things….things that no one, let alone someone as young as you, should ever have to go through! I’m despicable! I’m selfish and h-horrible! And I-I-I deserve to be at the bottom of the river along with these monstrous things!”

Slowly lifting himself up with his mechanical arms, they hiss and screech as he looks towards the river.

Stomach dropping, you rush to your feet, closing the gap between the both of you.

Grabbing onto his hand, he only lowers his head in shame.

“I-I will never forgive myself for what I’ve done…..”

Seething through bared teeth he squeezed his eyes shut: He can’t even bear to look at you, your kindness carving him open like a knife.

“But you don’t have to forgive yourself now and……and while I can’t forgive you yet, I know I will with time. We just need time. We need time to work through this…..Together.”

Timidly meeting your gaze, he can only let out a choked cry.

“How….How can you even consider still loving a monster like me?”

Though he wants to pull away from you, he knew he couldn’t bring himself to. No matter how much he knew he needed to leave, he just couldn’t with you looking at him like that.

After everything, how could he?

“L-Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres….”

Tears pricking at your own eyes, you could only hold onto his hand like your personal life line.

Lowering himself back to the ground, it was as if the whole world slowed around you.

Eyes locked with his, you push yourself closer to him.

“I-I’m not good for you….I don’t want you to hurt yourself and force yourself to love me…..you need to find someone who is like you so that it is easier-”

His words only decrease in volume as you both get closer and closer to each other.

Now eye to eye, your noses are practically touching.

“I don’t want easy…..I want you.”

Grabbing the lapels of his leather jacket, you gently pull him forward, your lips pressing against his.

While calloused and chapped, the feeling was still pleasant.

Gasping in surprise, he could feel his heart thump so loudly against his chest, he half expected it to jump right out into your hands.

The surprise and confliction only lasted a moment, however, as he relaxed into you.

Moving his hand to cradle your head, he deepens the kiss, his large nose nuzzling against yours.

Oh how long he wanted to touch you like this….

You were soft like silk under his wanting touch. Starved so long for affection and love, you were like the sun peaking through the turbulent storm of his heart.

You meant more to him than you, or he, would ever fully realize.

After everything he had done, you had waited for him.

He would make you wait no longer.

Pulling you right up against his soft chest, he moves his large hand under you, pulling you up.

Following his lead, you drag your hands through his hair. Months of sexual frustration and relief being conveyed through movement of your lips with his. While he was more experienced than you were, you didn’t really have a problem with him taking the lead anyways.

You felt weightless….truly weightless.

Finally you could say Octavius was yours, and him the same.

That in itself felt like a tremendous weight being lifted from your shoulders.

Finally breaking away with a shy smile, you lean your forehead against the doctor’s

“Yekiratì…..”

While bittersweet, a smile still found its way on Octavius’s face, his eyes crinkling slightly at its intensity.

Using one of his metal arms to support you, he moves both of his hands to either side of your face, tracing your cheek with his thumb.

Hesitating for only a moment, he speaks.

“Tell me now that you want this, and I promise I will devote myself completely to you.”

While his voice was soft, you could hear the hope in his tone.

Moving your hands over top of his, your fingers lace in between his.

“That’s what I’ve wanted from the beginning.”

Previous-Next

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Twenty-Four}

Right as the black was about to fully overtake your vision, you feel the tentacle holding you captive and the doctor lurch forward with an ugly crack.

As you drop to the floor, you’re barely able to gasp for air as you feel yourself being scooped up and off the floor. Looking back, you could see the ground getting farther and farther away.

“I’m so sorry-I’m sorry.”

Tightening your grip around your spider savior in fear, you’re just glad you were able to get away.

While the doctor tried to reach for you and Spiderman after recovering from getting slammed fast first into the ground, he was too late.

Swinging his way out of the broken window of the warehouse, Spider Man lands gracefully on the dock.

Though he wanted to stay to make sure you were alright, the machine was already getting out of control. He couldn’t stay no matter how guilty he felt

“I-I’m sorry I can’t stay, I have to stop that machine before it gets more out of control! Call an ambulance-Get to the car, j-just get away please!”

All you could manage was a hoarse whistle as you felt yourself being placed down gently on the dock, the young man zipping right back up in the air towards the slowly collapsing building.

While you could hear banging and yelling inside, you could only gasp painfully as you touch your bruised neck. Rolling over sluggishly on your side, you squeezed your eyes shut, just trying to breathe.

You almost died.

Even now, you could still see the look in Octavius’s eye through the cracked shade lens.

He was going to kill you, and he wouldn’ve been succesful if Spider Man hadn’t intervened.

Letting out a choked cry, you covered your eyes with your hands.

You tried to tell yourself that it wasn’t really Octavius; that he wasn’t really in control.

But the look in his eyes….His face……

Was it really that selfish to be angry and afraid.

How were you supposed to come back from this?

Ever since the accident happened, you had been pushed to do things you would never do: The consequences of those actions having to be something you would wrestle with for the rest of your life, let alone the near death experience you had to deal with now.

And for what? Love?

Was your love, was anyones love, really strong enough to overcome that amount of trauma and hurt?

Pushing yourself weakly up, you put a hand to your head to steady swimming fog that seemed to encase it. Oh did your throat hurt like a bitch.

Would there be anything left of your heart after this?

Struggling to your feet, you’re finally able to manage some actual breaths.

Coughing slightly, you slowly start to regain your footing.

Were you really going to leave after everything?

Do you really have any other choice?

Even in your fogginess, you couldn’t help but turn around and watch as the building began to cave in.

There was no way Spider Man would be able to stop the machine now, there was just no way.

Then again, if there was ever a time for you to be obliterated, you supposed this was the best possible time.

The enlarging ball of flame glistened in your eyes as you looked on.

No matter how destructive it was, no matter how much pain it could cause you if you got too close, fire was still beautiful.

The more you thought, the more you understood why Icarus went too close to the sun despite knowing it would be his end, or why Prometheus was willing to sacrifice himself each day so that he could gift its power to man.

There was an allure to it; the pain it could cause being outweighed by the warmth it would bring.

Love was a lot like fire.

Looking on, you watch as more of the building was sucked into the blazing inferno.

However the longer you looked, you began to notice the obscured form of a man walking closer to it.

Was….Was that Octavius.

Narrowing your eyes, you’re barely able to make it out, but it was clear it was him.

What was he doing?

As he got closer to it, you see him get under the belly of the machine, a claw attaching to each prong. The screeching of struggling metal met your ears as the metal prongs began to bend.

He was destroying the machine himself.

Your fogginess was suddenly ripped from you like the tearing of a piece of fabric.

He was destroying his machine himself.

He was destroying his dream himself.

He was destroying his creation himself.

The one thing that had kept him going, the one thing he was willing to kill and rob banks for, the one thing that he sacrificed and lost everything….

But if he was destroying the machine, what would happen to him?

Were you really going to leave after everything?

Do you really have any other choice?

Watching as the prongs were torn apart, the entire machine plummets through the brittle wooden floor.

Taking Octavius along with it.

A barrage of emotions washes over you like a tsunami. The light going out in your eyes along with the machine and the warehouse as it sank into the river.

Feet seemingly moving on their own, you find your walk growing into a run.

No, after everything you couldn’t let him die like this.

“OCTAVIUS!”

Faster and faster you rushed down the dock, the gaping hole that the building had left only getting closer and closer. Teeth bared, you swallow your doubts and fears.

While you couldn’t bring yourself to forgive Octavius for what he did now, you knew in time you could. Everyone deserves a second chance, and if the doctor was willing to sacrifice his dream and self for the greater good, you couldn’t bring yourself to let him throw that away.

It would be hard, but love was never easy, now was it?

Launching yourself off the splintered wooden platform, you feel the turbulent inky black water swallow you up.

Pushing your way through bits of floating wood and scrap, you look down into the dark depths, seeing the outline of the doctor against the sinking burning sun.

Hair and clothes flowing around you, you swim deeper, ignoring the numbing cold. He was so close you could practically touch him.

With the weightlessness serene of the water, the scene was almost angelic, the fusion reactor creating a full body halo around Octavius’s body as you stretched your arm out to him.

Actuators drifting around his body uselessly, you finally reach him, grabbing desperately at the lapels of his leather jacket.

His glasses must have floated off at some point as you were finally met with eyes of honeyed hazel.

They looked out beyond you, as if gazing at some happier, better future.

Eyes narrowing in a silent yell, you wrapped your arms around his limp form, pulling up as hard as you could.

No, it couldn’t end like this. You weren’t going to let it end like this.

He was cold, so cold beneath your touch.

Kicking with everything you had, you so desperately tried to pull him up with you. However as the light of the sun behind you fell deeper and deeper into the depths, so did you. It was as if the doctor was still connected to it, sinking along with his dream.

Face twisting, you lean your face against Octavius’s. While your lungs burned for air, you kept trying. You had to keep trying for the both of you.

Through the darkness however, you watch as something shoots into the water from above, attaching to you.

Unable to hold your breath any longer, you feel your lungs fill with water as you bury your face in Octavius’s shoulder and hug him tighter.

More threads shoot into the water like bullets, attaching to you and the doctor’s body.

Choking helplessly on the water that filled you, both you and the doctor are yanked upwards.

Ears popping in the sudden change in pressure, water rushed past you as you both breached the surface.

Now at the surface of the water, you see Spider Man crouched at the end of the dock, straining as he both pulled you up.

While you coughed and spewed up water, you never let go of Octavius

“Are you okay???? You ran faster than I could get to you, I’m sorry I wasn’t fast enough–I’m so sorry for everything!”

Pulling you up onto the dock with him, he pats your trembling body in an attempt to help you empty the water out of your system

“D…Don’t m-mention it”

Your voice came out hoarsely, but strong nonetheless.

Finally unwrapping your iron grip from around Octavius you realize you’re straddling him.

Blushing, you ignore your feelings as you start to search for a pulse. He was so cold and motionless beneath you, eyes and face staring placidly into the night sky.

You’re barely able to hold back a crazed laugh as you finally find it, as weak as it may be.

“I-I think he passed out after pulling apart the reactor, probably the stress, so hopefully he didn’t swallow too much water.”

Flicking eyes from you and Octavius, he instantly notices the actuators regaining their consciousness. Instantly put on guard, he readies himself to pull you away.

However, as they lifted themselves in the air they only squeaked nervously as they looked down at the doctor.

Jumping as one of the claws nudges your shoulder, you’re about to scream and push it away before Spider Man puts a comforting hand on your shoulder.

“It’s okay, I think they’re…good now.”

Still uncertain, you gulp and look back at the one that had nudged you.

Bowing its head in a show of submission, the red pin prick changes to a faded white.

Mouth creating a thin line, you wipe the wetness from your face.

“O-Okay, if you’re good now, you’re going to help me. Okay.”

With a chirp and a nod, the arm extends and snakes towards Octavius’s face, nudging it slightly.

Following the lead of their sibling, the other actuators begin inspecting the doctor’s body. Swinging your leg off, you move towards Spider Man.

“Are you okay? You’re shaking a lot”

Messing with his hands awkwardly, he’s not sure if patting you on the back more would make you feel better.

“Y-Yeah, just nerves. If you hadn’t shown up when you did though, m-might be worse.”

Throwing the young man an appreciative smile, he nods, detensing slightly.

“What you did was kind of insane-”

“Don’t even give me that bullshit, you continued fighting him after you got me out of there: We’re both crazy.”

You both can’t help but laugh as you move back towards Octavius. The actuators move away to make room for you as you put a hand to the doctor’s chest.

“….You love him…don’t you?”

Now that you thought about, the conversation you started with Octavius in an attempt to distract him was basically made right in front of Spider Man. Ears and cheeks burning a deep crimson, you take to focusing on the older man’s face. Moving some sopping wet curls out of the doctor’s face, you dry off his face with your palm.

“…Y-Yeah, guess that was pretty obvious, huh?”

It was a little strange, while he didn’t doubt that Octavius could pull women, he didn’t really expect someone as……young….as you.

“Well with all the stuff you were willing to do for him…..I think he’d be lucky to have you…”

While he still wasn’t sure how he felt about this, he could tell you were a good person at heart.

“Thanks…”

Leaning your ear against the doctor’s chest, you sigh in relief as you were met with a slow heartbeat.

He would be okay.

A sigh follows as Spider Man looks away from the both of you.

“If you have to go, don’t let me keep you. I think we’ll be okay.”

“Are you sure, I mean your neck and Octavius-”

“We’ll be okay, don’t worry.”

As he was about to protest again, he stopped himself.

“Okay, well just…uh…holler if you need anything. My spidey sense will probably….uh….ya know”

Awkwardly standing up, he rubs his neck.

You can’t help but shake your head and chuckle.

“Thank you again, for everything….I really owe you my life…Dr. Octavius does too”

Eyes locking with the white of Spider Man’s mask, you hoped your true appreciation came across.

A nod follows as the young man walks off back down the dock.

“Wait!”

Stopping, he turns his head back at you.

“I mean, after everything….can I maybe….get a name? I mean as much as I like Spider Man, maybe something a little less….”

You trail off, hoping he got the gist.

After everything, giving you a name did feel fitting. He wanted to give you a name, he really did. It was not every day where he had a genuine connection with someone while on a mission: It was nice.

But after everything….How everyone who ever got close to him seemed to get hurt….

“Ben……You can call me Ben.”

Testing the name on your tongue, you smile.

“Well take care of yourself, Ben.”

Previous-Next 

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

Warning: Violent content ahead! Choking and near death

{Chapter Twenty-Three}

Getting out of the car, the both of you make your way to the dock. Listening closely, you could hear sounds of sizzling and shifting inside, though based on Spiderman’s body language, it seemed he caught it long before you.

“So….do we have a plan of attack now that you have a sidekick?”

Nudging the man’s arm, while humor was in your voice, there was a certain seriousness to the question.

“Well um…I guess I will just do my thing and maybe you can calm him down?”

Yeah, he knew that wasn’t a great plan.

“I just don’t know how he’ll react to….all of this. Maybe if there was a way to distract him, I could dismantle the machine….”

Most of the time he just had to come up with plans on the go (and while they usually ended up working in the end, it usually resulted in getting something thrown at him in the process), so it was nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of.

Nodding, you scratch your chin.

“Wait….What if I go in there to distract him so you can go in and do your thing. You’ll have the element of surprise on your side and longer to figure out how to destroy the machine.”

While you were fairly confident in your safety with Octavius (he wouldn’t ACTUALLY kill you, right?), you still found yourself becoming nervous. But hey, if Spiderman was willing to take risks for the greater good, so were you.

Before he’s able to protest your idea, he closes his mouth.

As much as he didn’t want to put a civilian in direct danger, that might actually work. While he was still a little unsure of what kind of interactions you’ve had with Octavius after his accident, you appeared to come out of these supposed situations generally unscathed, so you had to mean something to the doctor.

“Are you sure you’re okay with doing that? I understand you say you’ve spoken with him after the accident, but I don’t know how-”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

Looking him in the eyes you push down your insecurities: You could do this.

“….Okay, but if anything happens…. I have to get you out of there. I hope you understand that.”

Well, you would just have to make sure that didn’t happen.

Nodding, you watch as he crouches to the ground, two silky silky ribbons of thread shooting from his wrists to the warehouse.

And with that, he zoomed off in a red and blue blur.

After some self-hyping up later, you find yourself pushing your way through the rusty door of the slightly caved in building.

Despite the state of the building on the outside, the inside was surprisingly spacious. Scrap metal and bits littered the corners of the room with a large work table in the back. You had to stifle a laugh with how simmarily it was set up to the lab the doctor used to work at.

Making your way further in, your eyes can’t help but be drawn to the machine.

Or more importantly, the light emanating from it.

With four scythe-like prongs raising up like arms to heaven, the light emanating from it made you squint. And compared to the diagrams he had briefly shown you, this thing was at least four times larger.

“Beautiful isn’t it?”

Jumping at least a foot in the air, you whipped your head to face the source of the sudden inquiry.

Doc Ock.

Smiling at your jumpiness, his arm maneuvers him over you and onto the ground, now in front of you.

“Like the power of the sun at my fingertips…”

“U-Uh, yeah. I mean, it’s really impressive! Like I mean, yeah, with how bright it is I could totally see that”

Something felt…..off. While his tone and words matched to what Octavius would say, something just seemed off.

Who were you talking to?

Doc Ock? Otto Octavius? A mix of both?

Shrinking slightly under the older man’s gaze, you try to find something to say.

“I just thought after….after last night that maybe I could find you and….”

You trail off as Octavius turns from you to make his way to his work table, ground shaking with each impact of the actuator’s claws.

Following him in silence, you feel your stomach churn. Was this wrong? Was what you were doing wrong? Of course you understood why you were doing this, but it still felt like you were taking advantage of the doctor.

No, this was bigger than your or him: People’s lives were at stake here.

A dark rumble of a chuckle exits the older man’s throat.

“Ah yes, I did get a little handsy did I?”

Turning head slightly back to you, his protective shades glistened in the warm bright light.

“You did, and I felt like leaving me all high and dry like that was a little uncalled for.”

Mustering up a witty quip, you hoped that you would make you stop acting as out of character as you felt.

Turning back to his beautiful creation, his arms however, did not turn away from you.

With a series of hisses, one of them comes forward, seeming to scrutinize every minuscule movement of yours.

“Don’t mind Flo, she is very protective of my creation.”

They had names now? Or did they always have names?

“S-Sorry, didn’t mean to intrude-”

Right as you are about to continue, you notice Spiderman crawling silently on the roof. Noticing that he had been spotted by you, he points a finger at Octavius and jabs his thumb to the side.

You were going to have to put more skin in the game if you wanted to actually give Spiderman a chance to take down the machine.

No matter how smoothly it appeared to be running…..

With a sigh, you soothe your rising nerves.

“Look, I came here because I wanted to finish from where we left off. After some space, I thought maybe you’d be a little more….eager.”

Letting the confidence of the moment fill you, you gently push the actuator aside. (judging by the offended screech it elicited from the thing, it clearly did not like the sudden dismissal). As you finally reach him, you let your hands crawl up his sides.

At this he turns around, capturing your wrists with one of his claws. With a poker face he tilts his head, studying silently. If you were nervous and unsure before, you sure as hell were now. Without any expression or telling body language to base anything off of, you felt as if you were being dangled in the dark.

Shakily exhaling, you try to relax yourself, giving him your best bedroom eyes.

“Bondage huh? Didn’t know you were into that…”

Despite your cheeky comment, you were anything but at ease.

Face twitching slightly, you noticed his emphatic facade crumble slightly as a light blush spreads across his cheeks.

“An irritating creature you are. I am not entirely sure why you’re so at ease right now….”

Biting right back, you have to keep yourself from squirming as you feel stiff metal snake around your waist and chest. His face breaks into an expression you can’t quite recognize.

“W-Why wouldn’t I be at ease? I trust you”

Palming the claw around your wrists, you search the older man’s covered eyes.

Yanking you suddenly towards his face, his crooked nose is nearly touching yours.

“Well that trust is very ill put. Dear.”

Hurt and betrayal dripped from his words like venom as he bared his teeth.

Your heart was nearly caught in your throat as you could feel the tentacle around your constrict around you like a snake that has found its prey.

He knew. He knew from the very beginning.

“O-Octavius, you have to understand I was only doing this becaus-”

The words were ripped from you as you could feel your ribs beginning to bow at the pressure.

With a muffled shout you see a blur of red and blue descend from the ceiling.

“Let her go! I was the one who made her do this, this between you and me!”

Web shooting out from his wrists, he tries to restrain the other free actuators.

Oh the doctor’s children would not allow this.

With a fluid movement, the metal arms dodge the stream and soar straight towards Spiderman’s chest.

“Oh don’t be ridiculous Spiderman. I know her well enough to know she would not let herself be pushed around, especially by a man like yourself. No no, this was her idea, wasn’t it.”

Flipping out of the way as wood fragments flew in the air at the tentacles making contact with one of the wooden supports, Spiderman could only watch helplessly as Octavius started to climb up the farther wall of the building.

Moving his attention away from the spider pest, the doctor looks back to you with a sneer.

“I have tolerated your insulting insolence long enough-”

“P-Please Octavius, please d-d-don’t do this. I-I love you, I w-would n-never betray y-you unless it was for y-your good!”

Tears streaming down your face, you’re barely able to push out anything coherent as your restraints tightened mercilessly around you. You were afraid. You were never more afraid in your life.

“So was not showing up to my demonstration a part of that moral crusade of yours, hmm. Or was it all the times you pushed yourself into my life despite knowing I cannot have you? Or was it teaming up with the very man who made my project fail and made me like this?!?!”

With a sneer, he was practically spitting at you. Ignoring your pleas and fearful cries he continued to climb the building, rage being a fuel to the fire burning inside of him.

“I-I’m sorry-I”

You can’t even finish as an almost animalistic fear tremors through you. All you needed was to get away. But fight or flight was only useful to you when you had an actual ability to do any of those things. Squirming and writhing you try so desperately to escape despite knowing it was impossible.

“Don’t be sorry. BE BETTER!!!”

Booming voice filled with such a torrent of colliding emotions, you weren’t even able to process Spiderman soaring towards Octavius’s head. His feet making contact with the doctor’s face, the doctor’s glasses shatter on impact.

With a pained yell the actuators stutter in their perpetual climbs as the older man’s body is flung forward. Because of this, you found yourself being flung with him. The claw encasing your wrists are yanked away, leaving you to be unceremoniously pitched downwards.

Oh how high up in the air you are.

A blood curdling scream exiting your mouth, the fear of the situation overcoming you. Everything that could have possibly gone wrong did. Why hadn’t you seen it earlier? Why hadn’t you noticed the change? How naively did you think you had any authority?

Why had you been so stupid?

It was like feeding a crocodile—hoping it will eat you last. Doc Ock WOULD and COULD kill you and Octavius was clearly not in control. You had gotten too comfortable and that was your downfall.

Now being dangled upside down, you could only scream and cry more.

Coming right back, Spiderman was right on Octavius once more, throwing a hearty punch before launching himself with a spray of webs. Silky threads covering the doctor’s eyes and upper arms, the older man swung his arms blindly in an attempt to retaliate. Feeling himself slip farther down the wall, Octavius tore the web from his face and grabbed at Spidey’s leg.

Making contact with its prey, the claw whipped the boy through the air with an enraged hiss, smashing him against the wooden floor below. More screeching filled the thick and hot air as the actuators descended the wall.

Wailing and screaming however, you can’t help but notice as the comfortable heat in the air increases. Along with that, you notice that the mini sun was not so mini anymore.

In fact, it looked as if it was outgrowing the enclosure that it had been built for, hungrilly flaring out in blinding rings and beginning to take metal scraps along with it.

Being tugged behind the doctor, your glassy eyes are now on Octavius and Spiderman. They appeared to be too occupied to notice what was happening with the machine.

Using one of the shooting tentacles at him as a launch pad, Spiderman coated the claw in web affixing it to the floor, scapering up it in an attempt to get you.

However, being wise to his plans, Spiderman can feel as one of the neglected claws wrap around his ankle.

And the next thing he knew, air howled around him as he was launched through the roof

Watching in horror as Spiderman broke through the roof up into the sky, you whip your head right back to the doctor.

“P-Please…..Dr. Octavius”

Voice quivering and hoarse, you feel your stomach sink deeper and deeper.

Meeting your gaze, you’re met only with unadulterated contempt.

Pulling you right back in front of him, you’re slammed against the already abused wooden pillar.

The air being knocked out of you, you’re left gasping for air as a claw flies back to its familiar place around your neck.

“You should know by now that people who take me as a fool are not treated kindly.”

You could feel your windpipe beginning to buckle, the muscles in your neck and lungs screaming. Clawing at the hold around your neck, you can only gag in response.

“You are done.”

Legs slowing in their kicking, your head becomes light as blackness creeps in from the edges of your vision.

Previous-Next 

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Twenty-Two}

Some light conversation passes between the both of you as you make your way towards the river. While you weren’t 100% sure where exactly Octavius had decided to hide, you guessed if he was rebuilding his machine, it would have to be some abandoned building of some kind.

Luckily for you, the searching was made much easier with what Spider Man called his “Spidey senses”. While you still weren’t sure just how legit those “senses” of his were, you guessed that wasn’t the weirdest thing that he could do.

Stopping at an abandoned dock, you both are met with the sight of a large abandoned fisher warehouse. All things considered, this would be the perfect place for Otto to work without being bothered by outsiders.

Well other than you and Spidey of course.

Lights being shut off, you quietly park your car next to one of the overhangs of one of the abandoned buildings nearby. You weren’t sure if that made you seem more or less suspicious, but guessed it’d be better to be on the safer side.

As you’re about to leave the car, however, you notice how on edge Spider Man was. He did get progressively quieter as you got closer, but you had just assumed that was him just being focused.

“Hey, you good?”

Eyes flicking across his masked face, you struggled to tell just what exactly he was feeling.

At this he scratches his neck.

“I……”

He trails off, trying to find the words for what he wanted to say.

“It’s just hard fighting him.”

While you were sure fighting anyone with six arms (four of those arms having no problem with killing or destroying anyone or anything that came in their way), his tone let on something deeper than that.

You just sit and listen.

“Even though I know Octavius is being controlled by those things, anytime I fight him, it’s like I’m still fighting the real Octavius. When he takes a hit, that’s the real Octavius getting hurt….It just feels wrong.”

Mask facing towards the window, you could tell he was still struggling to explain better how he felt.

Emotions were just complicated like that sometimes.

“While just having to deal with him on a basic interactional level was hard, I can’t imagine what it’s like to actually fight him…”

To be honest, if you were in Spider Man’s shoes, you weren’t sure if you really had it in you to even lift a fist at the doctor.

“I guess it’s a part of the job though. You have to be steady. You just have to be steady-”

With his tone, shame coated his words of doubt.

“But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. And that doesn’t mean you gotta pretend you’re okay with it either”

Before you didn’t get it, but after that night you understood.

No matter how bad someone was, killing or hurting another person was not easy. No matter how inhumane people were, there was still that ounce of humanity in everyone, and to completely ignore that in another person was impossible.

Superheroes, heroes or not, were not immune to this either.

Though you couldn’t see his eyes, you could feel his gaze.

“You know….I’m sure you get this alot but….thank you. It’s easy for people to forget how hard doing your job is. Guess the whole existential stuff makes sense: I’d lose my mind if I had to do what you do day in and day out too.”

A light chuckle follows as you look outside the window at the abandoned warehouse.

It’s silent as you both think about what you said.

“Thanks.”

Moving away from the window, you look back at him.

“You’re welcome.”

Offering a smile, your present your balled fist.

“So, you’re ready to get Dr. Octavius back?”

After a moment of silence, he gives a firm nod, receiving your fist with his own in a fist bump.

Previous-Next 

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Twenty-One}

You wanted to scream. You wanted to throw something to where it smashed into a million pieces. It was like every step forward was countered with two steps back: Whenever you thought you were close, something would snap him right back.

It was frustrating, aggravating, and most of all it was discouraging.

Glaring at the night from outside the window, a bitter laugh exited your lips. It was as if you were a yo-yo: Being swung around up and then down by the doctor.

But even in your frustrated disappointment, the intimacy that had been shared between you both stuck with you. It was almost as if you could still feel his large hands under your shirt at the small of your back.

Why did a man like Octavius have to make you feel this way? Why couldn’t things just go back to what they were? Why couldn’t things be easy?

But then the more you thought about it, the more you realized that no matter how hard this relationship was, it was more intimate and real than even your most devoted actualized relationships.

Staring out of the window for a few more seconds, you turn away.

As the night continued, your slumber was restless and filled with thoughts of Dr. Octavius (some being of the “not very appropriate” variety).

With the light flooding from the window (you really needed to get blinds), the morning came much sooner than you preferred. Dragging yourself out of bed, going through your morning routine, everything just seemed less important. But even still, as much as you wanted to go out and find Octavius again, you knew you needed space.

As much as you loved him, you could only take so much. Especially being left so hot and heavy like last night.

The day was painfully average, even with going around and enjoying the Christmas sights. With everything going off the rails, you almost forgot that it was still the holidays. Then again, the holidays had lost most of their wonderment and splendor a while ago for you. You knew it was just a part of growing up, but it still made you a little sad.

Even so, you tried to make the most of the day and forget about “you know who” and “you know what”. After coming back to the dorm after some shopping, you even manage to put up some festive decorations and lights. It was a sad attempt compared to what you were used to at the house, but you managed. You even hung up some mistletoe just for fun.

But even after setting up your decorations and treating yourself to some delicious ramen and christmas rom-coms, you still felt….

Empty.

This man really had you all screwed up didn’t he.

Wiping your face with an irritated growl, you throw the blanket off yourself and stare at the wall. Everything in this damn place reminded you of him now. Pulling your eyes away from the very interesting cream colored wallpaper, you decided that maybe driving out and seeing the Christmas lights in the evening would help get your mind off of things. Plus, who didn’t like seeing Christmas lights at night?

While, making your way through downtown New York was a headache in a half, the lights did help clear your mind a bit.

No matter how old you were, Christmas lights and decorations always brought a smile to your face.

After an hour or so of searching for a parking spot that wasn’t the size of a tin can, you slowly start to pull in.

However, right as you’re about to straighten up your car, the roof suddenly crunches under the pressure of some unseen heavy falling object. The bang alone was enough to get a good scream out of you and the dent only made it increase in pitch. (the poor dogs would be barking if you went any higher). Engaged in fight or flight mode, images of the men you and Octavius had taken out a day prior played in your mind like a twisted recording. Had they come back for revenge? Were you going to get kidnapped by the mafia? Why couldn’t your life just be fucking normal for once?!?!

Right as you’re about to use your purse as a makeshift weapon, you see a red and blue mass slide down your windshield. Hearing muffled groans, your heart nearly stopped.

Did someone just fall on top of your car?

Mind racing with thoughts possible suicide, your practically fling the car door off its hinges (which almost got it taken off by on coming traffic) and run to the front of your vehicle.

“OH MY GOD ARE YOU OKAY-”

Before you’re able to finish however, the red and blue colored costume on the guy finally clicks in your brain.

The guy who fell on top of your car was Spider Man.

“Uh- Spider Man???”

You didn’t mean to sound so unbothered now by the fact he had just dropped on top of your car, but with all the fights he’s been in, you assumed falling on top of a car wasn’t as big of a deal.

Spider man only manages a groaned “I’m sorry about your car” and something about “my back” at you before pushing himself up with his elbows.

“Uh, well I guess my question still stands…are you….okay?”

As stupid and awkward as you were sure you sounded, what else were you supposed to do? Doc Ock was flook because you already knew him, but it wasn’t every day that you just met a superhero: Especially after said hero fell on top of your car.

“Y-Yeah, I’m good. Thanks”

He tries getting up, but he just manages to slide further down the hood. Quickly supporting his arms with yours, you somewhat drag/pull him off the hood and onto the curb, helping him sit down.

After some awkward silence, you speak up.

“Soooo, webs wigging out on you or something?”

You weren’t sure if your attempt to be witty and friendly worked, as you had no facial expressions to base the receival off of.

“Eh, something like that….Existential stuff.”

The last bit was slightly muffled as he scratched his head.

Wow, who knew Spider Man was so awkward.

Then again, not like you were doing much better.

Looking around to see if any supervillains would suddenly come out of nowhere to wreck your car in an attempt to get at him, you swivel your feet on the icey asphalt.

“Well, were you headed anywhere in particular….if you wanna give your web slinging a break, I could….drive you?”

Guess you were offering Spider Man a ride now. What was even happening with your life nowadays?

You were also going to have to get your car checked out and fixed now. Fun.

Mask moving slightly, you could tell his eyebrows were furrowing in thought.

“I appreciate the offer, but there’s actually a…disturbance I was heading towards. And with you being a citizen, I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Nodding slightly, you squint trying to figure out what exactly he meant by that.

“A disturbance, like a crime or something?”

He only nods back at you as you see him struggle to his feet. Seeing this, you offer him a hand, which he gratefully takes.

“You could say something like that…..”

“What, is that like your catchphrase or something?”

Chuckling slightly, you can’t help but smile.

“Uh yeah, guess so? I mean, since you’re here….you haven’t happened to see a guy with four metal arms, have you?”

Before you can start to question the fact of how it sounded like this guy has never had a normal conversation in his life, your eyes widen.

Guy with four metal arms.

Octavius.

“Ott-I mean, Doc Ock?”

You’re barely able to catch yourself before saying his real name instead of his new alias. While you were sure that it wouldn’t matter, you still couldn’t help but be wary of what Spider Man would do if he figured out you knew the man behind the guy who had effectively been throwing cars and money bags at him for the past week personally.

Noticing your slip up, Spider Man’s head quirks to the side.

“Dr. Otto Octavius…..did you…do you…know him?”

Voice was slow and methodical.

Mouth forming a tight line, you could feel yourself coming to an impasse. As far as the general public and police were concerned, Doc Ock was a criminal. Whether you liked it or not or knew Octavius personally, he still was a wanted man. You knew not helping Spider Man would be wrong because he was just trying to do his job, especially when you had information that could help Spider Man keep the public safe. However, Octavius was still your friend, and while you knew that they were misguided, there were good reasons behind what he was doing. Of course you didn’t know what he was doing, but you knew that he was a good and logical man at heart. So the reason had to be a good reason, right? But then again, while the massacre at the hospital had been the only time you were aware of him killing anyone innocent, he still robbed a bank and threw people’s cars…..

It felt like you were doing something wrong no matter what you chose to say.

The confliction must have been pretty clear on your face, because you could see him get closer to you.

“If you know him or know where he is, I need to know. That machine he built that caused the accident before that turned him into what he is…..He’s trying to rebuild it, and even bigger this time.”

Mouth forming an “o”, it was almost as if a light bulb went off in your head.

The scraps, him buying those parts……

It all made sense.

“But he’s a genius scientist; anything that went wrong last time would be smoothed out this time, right?”

At this point, you both knew you knew Octavius, so there was no reason to keep up the act.

Spider Man only shakes his head.

“There is a flaw in his equation: To fully initiate the stabilizing reaction-”

Seeing your dazed and confused wide eyes, he stops himself. He just needed to get to the point.

“At first I didn’t believe it either, but it just won’t and can’t work. I’ve tried telling him, but he won’t listen. And with it being bigger, instead of just taking out a block like it could have last time, it will take out half of New York.”

His tone was becoming more and more breathless and rushed.

“I don’t know how well you know Dr. Octavius, but I know him too. I know that he is a good man that has good intentions, but he just won’t listen to me. Those actuators have turned him into something that he’s not and I have to stop him before it’s too late. So if you know where he is…..please tell me”

If it wasn’t for the true gravity of the situation, you would have laughed at how movie-esque and cheesy he sounded.

Looking away, you bite your lip.

While Spider Man’s speech was convincing, you still weren’t quite sure.

Dr. Otto Octavius was a genius who had spent months, maybe even years on this project. If it really couldn’t work, wouldn’t someone have caught it by now? Who were you or Spider Man to question his abilities?

But the genuine fear in the Spider Man’s voice

He seemed so convinced, so sure, of what he was saying…..

“I……okay”

The young man’s shoulders instantly relax.

“But I will tell you on ONE condition.”

“Okay, what is the condition?”

“I get to come with you.”

With arms crossed and stance wide, this was not something that you were willing to debate.

You could already see the thoughts racing in man’s head.

“I can’t just take you, it’s dangerous. I am not sure how well you know Dr. Octavius, but he’s not himself-”

If only this guy knew how much you were aware of that.

“I know. But I’ve been able to bring him back before; I could help.”

Taken aback by this, Spider Man can’t help but wonder what exact relationship you and Octavius had.

Guess he was the only guy getting the “Imma throw a car at you” treatment either way.

“I understand but-”

“BUT I am going if you want to know where he is.”

Yep, no negotiating on that one. You would play this game as long as you needed.

And play the game you did.

Because next thing you know, you’re behind the wheel driving Spider Man to the river.

“So I have to ask…..how do you know Dr. Octavius?”

Luckily through the car ride, while quiet, the guy was getting a little easier to talk to.

You just laugh, seeing through the innocent presentation of the question.

“Dr. Octavius was (is?) my Nuclear Physics professor. I would have office hours with him and it was a pretty nice setup. He actually invited me to the lab a couple times to help test out the actuators.”

Maybe don’t mention the whole breaking and entering thing…

He just nods thoughtfully, looking back out the window.

“How’d you know him?”

This gets you a laugh in return.

“I unfortunately didn’t have the privilege of knowing him that much, though he’s kind of my idol when it comes to science. I was actually going to write a paper on him and a friend of mine was able to get me in to talk to him. He’s a brilliant man….I just wish I didn’t have to fight him like this…”

There was a heartbroken melancholy to his voice.

You understood him perfectly.

“Yeah…..it’s horrible what those things have done to him….”

Remembering Octavius’s little speech when you were cleaning up his back, you can’t help but frown.

Maybe with a little help from Spider Man, you could get Octavius fully back.

Previous-Next 

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope

Warning: Slightly suggestive content ahead!   

{Chapter Twenty}

Some back and forth banter later (some things just never change), you reached your apartment window. The fact that the large man was even able to get through your window was still a mystery to you, but you felt asking about it would probably not be the best idea when he pretty much had your life in his hands (actuators?).

“Well you know the drill: Just park yourself on the chair and I’ll get the first aid kit”

Grumbling something about “not needing to be told what to do”, he uses his tentacles to lower himself down onto the chair with a hiss.

Kicking off your socks and shoes, you quickly change into something more comfortable and grab the first aid kit and a few towels from the bathroom.

“You want something to eat? Drink?”

You still didn’t know where this man was taking up residence now, but you didn’t think he was lucky enough to just stumble upon some place with a stocked fridge or kitchen.

“Water. Ice”

Short and concise. You’re not really sure why you expected any less.

Man, whatever those arms did to Octavius, they sure did make him into a grump.

Rolling your eyes, you place everything on your desk and move to the fridge to fill a glass with water and ice.

“One water on the rocks, my good sir,”

With an illustrious bow, the offered water is taken from your hands by one of the actuators. While you weren’t sure what their sentience level was, you could have sworn the red little pin prick eye narrowed at you with a territorial hiss.

Offering the water to its master, he downs the glass in seconds, coughing slightly at the end due to the speed.

“Hey take it easy big guy, I can get you more water if you like.”

While the offer was good natured, you watched as the doctor’s ears turned a bright pink at the nickname.

Though he doesn’t ask for more water, you refill it anyway.

After you are satisfied with Octavius’s hydration, you start pulling your kit apart to get the necessary tools.

“Oh yeah, you’re gonna need to take off the trench so I can operate on you.”

Saying nothing in response, the doctor concedes and shrugs the leather coat off. Even with the actuators help, you could tell he was struggling. (This did make you wonder how he got it on to begin with) Eventually after getting tired of seeing him struggle, you help and despite nothing being said, you could tell he was thankful.

With the trench coat off, you’re able to get a full look of the doctor’s expansive body.

Even with it being marred with burns and bruises, it still was beautiful.

But despite your desire to just stare, you knew you had to patch the poor doctor up: And by the looks of the bullet hole, it looked painful.

Under closer inspection, the bullet wound was luckily was back to back, meaning no retrieving any bloody bullets (while you would do it for him, the mere thought of digging into the man made you feel squeamish). It also was closer to his collarbone, rather than his shoulder.

“Okay, so lucky for you, the bullet went all the way through. So I’m just gonna do my best to clean and patch it up.”

All you got in response was a huff.

Though you wanted to counter that with a comment along the lines of “be more grateful”, you bite your tongue.

By how tense he was, you could tell he was not only nervous, but scared.

After a few seconds of thinking, it did make sense: As the goon had said, his back was the weakest most injured part of him, so the vulnerability probably was extremely difficult for him.

Your suspicions were only further supported with how the actuators scrutinized your every move in a defensive position above you. Kinda creepy, but they were trying to look out for Octavius at least.

Eyes lightly grazing his spin, you can’t help but frown out painful and irritated it looked. No wonder putting pressure on it had sent him to his knees.

Maybe you could take care of that after the bullet hole.

“It’s not polite to stare.”

It came out as a defensive snarl: Reminded you of what a corned injured animal sounded like.

“Sorry, I just can’t imagine how much that hurts. Guess I just felt bad.”

Starting to clean the bullet hole, you feel his shoulders slump slightly.

“I did this to myself: I don’t need your pity”

At that comment, you hear the tentacles begin to chatter amongst themselves and to Octavius. It almost sounded indignant. But the grimace that sketched his face as the chatter started did not get past you.

You wondered if the chattering maybe has something to do with change in him.

Being gentle, you softly wrap the bandage under his arm up to the other side of his neck. Even with everything his body had gone through, it was still soft and doughy beneath your touch. Palming the crest of his collar bone gently, you took in the hidden relaxed sighs that it elicited from the older man. While you could tell he was trying to hold back and retain his grumpy domineering appearance, you could see the cracks already forming at your touch.

How you wished you could explore him further.

Eventually finishing with patching him up, you timidly handed a bag of ice to one of the actuators, biting back your fear to give it a confident pat. While very suspicious of your attempt to touch it, it seemed to take it more or less well, chattering with its siblings after handing the ice to its master.

Now that the doctor seemed to be in a more or less calm state……

“Hey, so like, the burns on your back seem pretty irritated and stuff. I could put some cream and stuff on it that might help.”

Already digging around in the kit, you fail to see the doctor’s eyebrows fly up.

“No. I don’t think you will. I let you patch my shoulder up and that will be all.”

His words were rushed out and stressed.

Your hands were already on his back to steady yourself, preparing to squeeze some cream on the red push-y and irritated skin.

“But these things will get infected if I don’t do something. If you just let me look at them, I could get you some relief-”

“I do not care and if you don’t let go of me, there will be consequences.”

Aggressively shaking his head and your hands off, you could tell he was losing his patience.

“I promise I’ll be careful, It won’t even take me a minute! I just need to take care of these before they get infected and get worse! Something like this could kill you Dr. Octavius-”

“I said NO.”

A chorus of loud metallic hissing filled the room as he tried to get up and leave, continuing to shake you off him.

While the screeching and his tone were enough to encourage any normal person to just drop it, you were no normal person.

There were hills you were and weren’t willing to die on, but this one certainly was.

Firmly pressing down on his shoulders, the doctor is forced back into his chair. In his shocked state, you grab a fistful of his curly mahogany hair, you keep him and his head in place.

“Look Dr. Octavius, this is not something I am going to argue with you about. You are clearly hurt and in pain and if these burns are not taken care of NOW, they could not only get you sick, but maybe even kill you in the future. I know you know me and I know you know that you can trust me, so sit your ass down and just let me do this. Okay.”

At this, the actuators are circling around you, their angered screeching intensified in outrage at you daring to disrespect their father in that way.

Despite this, your eyes don’t leave Octavius as you look down at him through his shades.

He looked angry, pissed even, that you thought you had the right to restrain him and tell him what to do.

Letting go of his hair, you move your hands to just sit on top of it, giving it a few gentle rubs.

“Just let me help you…Please…”

At this, you see that familiar look peek through once more: And more stronger this time.

You both just stare at each other as the actuators desperately try to get yours and their master’s attention.

“Just….be gentle.”

His voice barely above a whisper, but you hear it loud and clear.

You couldn’t help but warmly smile down at him, gently running your hands through his hair.

You were talking to the real Octavius now…..you could feel it.

With the confused and resentful squeaks of his children being hushed by the doctor, you take the green light and get to work.

With the long metal spine brace running up his back, it all gathered into a much larger and expansive base where the tentacles were actually attached to. Unfortunately, this resulted in at least %25 of the skin on his back being burned. You had a lot of work ahead of you.

In silence Octavius reorients himself with his stomach against the back of the chair, blushing slightly at remembering the last time he was in this position. It was awkward now that he was afforded some clarity. It was so strange how he went in and out from being in control.

Sometimes he didn’t even know who was talking.

But here you were, taking care of him and dealing with him, despite not deserving any of it.

While you tried to be as gentle and delicate as possible, pain was inevitable. Even still, the low whines and whimpers that would escape the doctor’s seethed teeth felt like little needles in your heart.

“I’m sorry….for everything. I truly don’t deserve your kindness.”

It almost hurt you with how sorrowful and guilty he sounded.

“Don’t mention it doc, and it’s good to have you back.”

While you didn’t require apologies or affirmations to continue what you were doing, it certainly didn’t stop a comfortable warmth from filling you.

“But I have to: The way I have been acting has been out of line. I have been cruel to you and no excuse can make up for that unwarranted mistreatment.”

A bitter laugh falls from his lips.

“I don’t know if it’s the AI or my own mind slipping, but I barely have any idea who’s in control anymore. I must gain control of this “thing” inside me, but how do I deal
with a foe I can’t even see but is a part of me?”

His lamentation, as heartbreaking as it was, was quite poetic.

Even sorrowful tragedy can be made beautiful by Dr. Otto Octavius.

Standing up to your full height, you wrap your arms around from behind the larger man, nestling your face into the uninjured flesh of his shoulder.

“While I can’t imagine how hard it is, I know for sure that I am willing to work and fight for you to help you.”

Sighing softly, he just closes his eyes, moving his hands over yours.

It was quiet. Just quiet.

While there was so much he wanted to say to you, he dare not break that silence.

Cupping his hands around yours, he softly removed your arms from their position. Getting up from the chair with a quelled hiss, he coaxes you closer, pulling your arms around the front of him.

Eager to follow his lead, you wrap your arms around his middle with a comforting squeeze. With the height difference, your chest fluttered as you felt him rest his chin atop your head. Even with the metal wrapped around his lowering stomach pressed against you, the softenness was not lost.

Sinking into him with a sigh, you enjoy the intimate closeness. Tracing little designs along the soft curves of his side, you felt him shiver. It was warmer, much warmer than his hugs had been in the past.

Looking down at you with a bittersweet smile, he removes his shades, revealing his slightly wetted hazelnut eyes. Starting timidly, you could feel his large hands move down your shoulders, arms, and back. He was testing the waters and you knew if you made any slight movement to suggest any uncomfort, he would instantly retract his hands and stop.

Sighing, you lean further into him, encouraging him on.

Eyes becoming lulled, he lets the heat of the moment wash over him. When had been the last time he had ever been this intimate with someone?

Never removing his arms from you, he gently guides you to your bed, the actuators raising and setting you both down on the soft mattress.

Gasping softly in surprise, you feel yourself pulled onto Octavius’ lap, straddling his thick slightly parted thighs. It was a bit of stretching, but you could manage. The surprise only lasted a second as a coy shy smile made its way onto your lips. Those chocolate eyes just looked at you with such intensity, you couldn’t look away. Everything about this man was gravitating, pulling you in deeper and wanting more.

Growing in confidence, you drag your fingers up his chest, squeezing his soft breasts in either hand. While some might say the dad-bod was unattractive, you had to beg to differ.

It was like a dance, you both responding and waiting on each other.

A pleased delicious hum rumbled through the older man, causing your ears and cheeks to burn.

At this, you felt the warmth of his hand pull slightly at the hem of your shirt. Letting out a wanting sigh, you hoped that would be enough to encourage him to continue, giving his chest another gentle squeeze.

However, as you’re about to intertwine your finger in his hair, it’s as if something snapped. Retracting his hand completely from you, a confused dazed expression took over the doctor’s face.

This was wrong. This was all wrong.

While he could sense what you wanted, this was wrong. He couldn’t do this, not now.

He doesn’t hear your confused questioning as he removes you from his lap to get up.

With the barrage of confused and anxious thoughts flooding his head, the chatter began once more in full force.

He was slipping again and he could feel it.

He didn’t hear you as you got up from the bed and called out to him. And with the switch slowly turning, it didn’t really matter if he did.

That familiar expression washing from his face, you blanch as the doctor retrieves his shades from their forgotten place on his desk.

No matter what you say to try to calm him and bring him back, it’s too late.

All you can do is watch as he slips away from you again.

And you let him.

Previous-Next 

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope 

Warning: Violent content ahead! 

{Chapter Nineteen}

After the feeling of weightlessness finally settled, you tried to focus on the rest of the note.

What did he mean by “This will not matter when I am finished”? Did this have something to do with him robbing banks?

What was that beautifully dangerous mind of his thinking?

With a sigh, you placed the note back down on the desk, absentmindedly running your fingers across the well loved cover of the book below. The fact that he actually took the time, or even noticed the notebook was in the trash, to put it back on the desk pulled at your heartstrings. He did care about you, but his suffering overshined that for the both of you.

Honestly you couldn’t blame yourself for being afraid and running away, the need for self preservation was a very reasonable thing to have. But you had wished you would have stopped to realize what was happening, or what greater things were afoot. Dr. Octavius or Doc Ock was not some insane doctor gone off the rails, he was a human man who was suffering.

People who were suffering did not get better if you pushed them away and alienated them.

So now that you wanted to help Octavius though, how exactly were you supposed to do that? You had no way of calling him or bringing him back to the apartment, so you were kind of at a disadvantage here: He knew where you were, but not the other way around.

After you got changed into some real clothes and reheated your ramen (hey man, you weren’t going to waste perfectly good food!), you pocketed the note.

If you were going to help Octavius, you were going to have to come to him.

In hindsight, maybe going out without a plan wasn’t the best course of action.

While the news had been helpful before, saying where Doc Ock’s whereabouts were and where you should move your car from (now that you mentioned that, Octavius sure seemed to like throwing cars nowadays), the sightings had pretty much stopped all together. To be honest, you weren’t exactly sure if that was a good thing or not, but that sure as hell made it harder to figure out where to start.

Kicking some snow from the litter strewn sidewalk, you anxiously palmed your pepper spray in your pocket.

In trying to think like Octavius, you guessed he’d choose a more secluded area to hide, considering he was quite literally a giant 6 armed man. Also considering he was wanted now, that ruled out Oscorp. So yeah, that still didn’t leave all that much to work with.

Unfortunately, what you came up with that would be the best place to most likely fit the doctor’s needs was the more sceavier parts of the city. And from the stares you were getting, the residents knew you didn’t belong here.

Despite feeling like you stuck out like a sore thumb, most of the onlookers luckily left you alone. After making your way through the area with relative ease, only getting a few cat calls here and there and dealing with some paranoid teenagers, you grew in courage and even started talking to a few people. While you probably sounded like a drug addict asking about the possible whereabouts of a 6 armed supervillain, your questions were received surprisingly well (maybe even with a few laughs).

Despite being different from you and looking intimidating, these people were still just people.

Much like Octavius.

After tossing a few dollars in an approachable homeless woman’s can, you ended up striking up a conversation that lasted two to three hours.

“So, it’s been lovely talking with you, but it’s getting kinda late so I probably should head back. Before I go though, you haven’t happened to see a guy around here……big build ….late 40’s……trench coat and shades……4 giant metallic arms?”

Gesturing with your hands to illustrate your point, even after the tenth time asking this, you still felt pretty stupid.

Instead of laughing at you, the homeless woman (who’s name was Pepper as you learned from introducing yourself earlier) scratched her chin in thought. Seeing the state of her fingerless gloves, you wished you had some better gloves you could have given her.

“Ya know, as crazy as that sounds, I think I did see this 6 armed man you’re referrin’ to. I thought I was seein’ things, but he left some money in my can before he went on his way. Guess after being on the streets a while, crazy things like that are just ‘part of the average day.”

Heart soaring, you still couldn’t help laugh along with Pepper at the ending statement.

“T-That’s great! Did you see where he was heading off to? Or where he might be going??”

Clasping your hands together, you tried your best to reign in your excitement.

“So many questions, so many questions. Why’s it important to you anyhow, is he important to you or somethin’?”

You could feel your ears heat up at this, a nervous smile playing on your face.

“Uh, y-yeah, just a journalist so”

Despite the very unconvincing delivery, Pepper seemed to take it as a good enough answer. Then again, she most likely was wise to you and just decided to leave it be.

Either way you were thankful.

“He’s been through the area ‘couple a times with bags of things, like parts and what not. Makes me wonder if he’s buildin’ somethin’. Oh! And I might be mistaken, but he did smell like the river. Know there’s a lotta scrap there, so if he is buildin’ something, that’s the place to go.”

Now that you thought about it, in your panicked state from the last visit, you hadn’t even noticed the strange smell coming off his clothes and arms

Like electricity rushing through you, you could feel yourself getting jittery.

“The river! Yes, okay–Thank you! Thank you so much! This really helps!”

Aggressively taking her hand, you shake it.

There was still hope!

And with that you were off, leaving a very confused (and somewhat worried Pepper) in the dust.

Though you hear her shout something about “you need to get home” and “it is not safe for young ladies to be out so late!”, you ignore it. This was your chance to make things right and you weren’t going to just let this opportunity pass you by: When the universe opens a door, you go through it.

As you make your way to the river, the buildings seemed to get darker and in further disrepair. The streets were cracked, and the only things that seemed to be properly working were the street lamps. With all the trash and scrap on the ground already, you knew exactly what Pepper meant about the river.

Despite your excitement, however, you did realize this part of town was even more dangerous and less welcoming: especially at night.

While Octavius was in a much better position than you when it came to defending one’s self, you could help but feel your hairs raise on end worrying about him.

Then again, the hair raising might be just a result of your own fear for yourself.

Making your way aimlessly through the streets to get to the river, you were almost tempted to just go home and start back tomorrow, your hope and excitement perhaps blurring your judgment somewhat.

The universe door would surely be still open tomorrow during the day when you weren’t afraid of getting shanked, right?

However, right as you’re about to turn around, a hushed voice makes its way to your keen ears. While it was low and clearly meant to not be heard by people outside the conversation, you could recognize the timbre anywhere.

Octavius.

Slowing to a near stop, you inch yourself towards the alley way it seemed to be coming from. While the effort to keep his voice quiet was a valiant one, Octavius’s voice simply carried too well to be truly quiet, you thought with amusement.

Though that did make you wonder; who exactly was he talking to?

That buzzing began to creep along your body once more, mouth growing dry as you felt as if you were doing something you were not supposed to.

Peeking around the lip of the alley, you have to keep yourself from gasping seeing a group of men conversing with Octavius just a mere few feet away. Yes, while you were aware that it was Octavius who was the one speaking long before peeping into the space, seeing him in the flesh was still a relief.

While Octavius was facing you, the backs of the men he was talking with were towards you, obscuring your view somewhat. All together it was fairly shady and you were curious as to why exactly Octavius was meeting with these people mafia/drug deal style.

Squinting, you could make out a bag of things the actuators seemed to be sifting through. Was he buying parts? And what was he building exactly? Was this the thing he was going to “finish” in his note?

Before your brain could think of any more questions, the color instantly washes from your face as you see the man in front of Octavius slowly pull a gun from behind his back. With practiced precision, you probably would have not caught it if not for the fact you were looking directly at the man’s back.

The world seemed to slow as your body switched into fight or flight mode. Adrenaline pumping through your veins, it’s almost as if all higher brain functions were canceled out. Heavy breathing and the pounding of your heart filling your head, you feel your feet carry you towards the man, hands grasping around a scraped metal pipe that had been leaning against the wall.

In an instant, you’re upon the man. Arm raised and teeth bared, with howling speed the pipe made contact with the side of the man’s skull. Like streamers, ribbons of red flew through the air and onto your face.

Did you just kill someone? Did you actually just kill someone?

The primal fire fizzling out from your eyes, you are barely able to let the bloodied metal pipe fall to the floor as the entire alley is filled with the light of gunshots. The sound is deafening and you’re so disoriented by the flashes and speeding metal you’re barely able to register Octavius falling to his feet.

And just like that, it’s silent.

However, now you feel the constricting pressure of the collar of your shirt being pulled tight. In your slow state, you finally register the fact that there was a man behind you holding you in place: That place happened to be right in front of the barrel of a gun.

You felt small, so incredibly small.

Stomach plummeting, you see Octavius on his knees, the foot of one of the goons on his abused injured spine. This seemed to cause the doctor so much pain, that despite actuator’s hissing and squealing, they were unable to do anything to stop it.

“Such a pretty little thing you are, really is a waste ain’t it~”

The sultry tone of the man made your skin crawl. The fact that he didn’t even seem affected by the fact that you had just killed one of the men he was working with only made the disgusted feeling in your mouth grow. Every fiber in your body screamed at you to move away, but the gun pressed to your neck served as a chilling reminder of what would happen if you did.

Helplessly looking back Octavius, despite the pain twisting his face, fear and anger was a light in his eyes at the man who held you captive. You wanted to call out to him. You wanted to reach out to him where you knew you would be safe.

“Let her go.”

Despite his voice being agonizingly forced, the command did not lose any of its power.

“And whatcha gonna do about it old man, seems like that back of yours is a bit of a weakness~”

The sound of laughter filled the space as the man behind Octavius pushed harder, eliciting a pained hiss from the doctor.

“I will DESTROY you.”

With the chuckle, the man behind you pressed you against himself further. Lowering himself towards your face, his twisted grin only grew wider.

“Imagine a guy like you knowing a girl like her, huh~? Does she taste as good as she looks~”

No one was going to save you or Octavius.

This was no fairytale where you could just fall back on the shining knight in armor to come and save you when things got hard. The shining knight in armor was not invincible, he was only human and has weaknesses just like the princess.

Who was supposed to save him whenever HE was in trouble?

With clenched jaw, your nostrils flared with anger.

No, this was not a fairytale, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t end like one.

As the man above you relaxed, reading himself to hungrily take you in, you pulled the pepper spray out of your pocket.

Spraying it directly in the man’s mouth, you could feel the burn even through your closed eyes. The gun instantly falls to the ground as the man behind you screams and coughs, falling to the ground in a writhing heap.

Taking this moment of surprise to his advantage, the actuators shot out with speed of lunging snakes, throwing one of the goons down against the pavement with an ugly crack and running the other one through with deathly precision. Numbing your mind, you take two shots at the remaining goon; while they were sloppy shots that wouldn’t have killed a person instantly, the actuator slithering around his neck finished the job.

It doesn’t take a killer to murder. It only takes a reason to kill.

Dropping the gun to your feet, you rush over to Octavius, now elevated by his children.

Right as you’re about to speak, one his metal tendrils wraps around you and brings you up to meet him.

“I had the situation completely under control until you intervened.”

His tone was low, and if it wasn’t for the severity of it, you would have laughed at the fact he was scolding you.

Ah yes, you had to deal with Doc Ock before you could reach Octavius.

“Ya know, just a thanks for like killing two guys to protect you would suffice”

You could only fight fire with fire, so you were going to have to stand up to this new version of Octavius if you wanted to get anywhere.

Lifting you up closer to his face, you challenged his domineering look with one of your own.

“You need to stay out of my business or I’ll-”

“Or you’ll what?”

Judging by the widening of his eyes behind his shades, you could tell your quip caught him off guard.

And why the fuck was he wearing shades at night anyways?!?

“If you get in the way of my mission, I will not hesitate to run you through like I did with the men here. You’re not special.”

Even though you knew this was not the real Octavius you were speaking to, that did not make his statement hurt any less. You just had to remember that this wasn’t going to be easy.

“Say what you like, but I think this little note says otherwise.”

Pulling out the little note from your pocket, you presented it in between your fingers in front of his face proudly.

As his eyebrows furrow looking at it, your proud rebellious expression softens.

“I don’t know what makes you like this, but I know the real Octavius wrote this to me and that he is in there somewhere. And I am willing to fight, bother, follow, or bitch as much as I have to get that man back.”

Each word was filled with earnestness as you looked Octavius directly in the eyes.

It is silent between you two as Octavius stews on the note.

“It was a moment of weakness. Really, I wouldn’t bother; I don’t need to be FIXED by you of all people”

All you can do is laugh.

“Was it a moment of weakness, or was it really a moment when you were actually yourself? Because I think we both know which one is true.”

You were really just poking the hornet’s nest here, weren’t you.

“An irritatingly pushy and annoying creature you are.”

The words came out as an annoyed snarl, though you could tell there was no true bite behind them.

“What can I say, I get that a lot. Plus, I thought you liked my pushing~”

Right as the doctor was about to snap at you, his face twisted slightly.

Blood. His shoulder was covered in blood.

“You’re hurt! Hey, come on, if we get to my apartment I can patch you up.”

“I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you.”

Despite the attempt being a convincing one, discomfort seeped through.

“Sheesh, now that I’m offering to patch you up, now you don’t even want me to. Are you like a cat or something? Do you want me to pretend I don’t want you to go to the apartment so you can come?”

All he does is grumble in response.

In an instant, you’re scaling up the alleyway wall, one of the actuators snagging the box of scraps on its way up.

“W-Woah, mind giving me a warning next time??”

Hands already slick with sweat, you grasp at the tentacle wrapped around you.

“What? Not so witty now, are we~?”

A sardonic smirk played on the older man’s face as he watched you quiver.

“Well yeah, c-cause I’m afraid of heights, asshole! You know this!”

Turning away from you, he only tuts disapprovingly.

“Swearing is very unbecoming of a young woman.”

Were his actuators snickering at you?!?!

“Well treating a young woman like this is very unbecoming of a gentleman, so guess we both need to work on ourselves!”

While you tried your best to snap back at the doctor, you could only be so snarky when the ground was so far below you. Just looking down made you dizzy and your stomach heavy. Instinctively, you tried to claw your way closer to the older man. Though he was being an asshole right now, it was better than being precariously dangled above roof tops.

Humming in thought, the doctor only continued on his way, purposefully moving the tentacle around as much as possible.

“And why should I when you have given me nothing but attitude~”

Trench coat tails flapped in the wind as a particularly strong gust of wind blew through.

As much as you tried to reason with yourself that this was not the same Octavius, the fact that he blew off your fear so easily when he had seen personally how severe it was hurt. But you couldn’t let yourself take it to heart, no matter how infuriating it was.

It was like talking to a wall.

“J-Just – I’m sorry, okay! Can you just not hold me out so far! Please!”

The sass act was dropped and replaced with genuine fear.

For a split second, you could see the wall crumbling as he glanced back at you. Like a sunrise, you could see the light and warmth peeking through.

With a reluctant sigh, the light was snuffed out.

But even with the familiar Octavius being pushed back down, he concedes and brings you closer. You were a mere foot away, that familiar scent being diluted slightly by river water.

Maybe you could get him to take a shower when you both got to your place.

With a sigh, you try to relax yourself. Even with your fear, you tried to reason with yourself that Octavius, Doc Ock or not, would not actually drop you.

While the progress you were making with the doctor was slow, you did manage to get a glimpse of the man you knew, meaning there was still hope. You just wished that you could just get through this quicker.

But love was never easy, now was it?

Previous-Next 

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Eighteen}

Mother fucking damn did your feet hurt.

Eyes blearily opening, you hiss angrily at the light coming from your window.

What time was it even?

Sitting up in your bed, you rub the tiredness from your eyes. Something felt different about the room now and you just couldn’t place your finger on it. Reaching for one of various monster energy drink cans that used to congregate at your bedside table, you almost knock over the glass of water that took their place.

With a confused shake of the head, you flick your eyes to the small table.

It was clean. In fact, the whole space was.

Instead of being met with the “depression room” you had been used to looking at, you were instead met with a perfectly neat and tidy apartment.

What the hell? What had you done last night?

And why THE FUCK did your feet hurt so bad???

Whipping the covers back, your eyebrows rose even farther up your face as you saw the bandages that your feet were snug in.

Like a tidal wave, it all came crashing back.

The second visit. The running. The getting caught…..

Heart racing once more in your chest, your mind seemed to short circuit.

How did you end up back here?

Bringing your legs to your chest, you timidly run your fingers across the medical tape and gauze. Fingers followed perfectly the straight white lines, the bandage clearly being wrapped with care.

Had……Had Octavius done this?

As outlandish as it seemed, that would be the only logical explanation for everything.

Despite everything, you couldn’t help but blush in embarrassment. Had he really cleaned your room for you?

Turning towards your bedside table once more, you gratefully popped the pain medication in your mouth, downing the water with equal vigor.

But even after polishing off the glass in seconds, it remained in your hands.

While this change in demeanor did not change what happened, it did change things.

Whatever had happened to Dr. Otto Octavius might have changed who was on the outside, but this showed to you that the man you knew (and more importantly, loved) was still in there.

Placing the cup back down on the table, you lightly pad your way to your desk.

Not only was the notebook back, there was a little note adorning it as well

“I feel words would fail me in trying to justify or give a reason to what has happened to me. But I am sorry that you became collateral. This will not matter when I am finished, but ever since I met you my life has become better. You have brought a light and refreshingly youthful outlook to my life that I thought I had lost a long time ago. For an old man such as myself, you have done wonders.

And while it is not a lot and probably too late to admit: I love you.

You are a bright young woman with a bright future ahead of you and I whole heartily wish you the best. I am thankful you wanted to share some of that future with me.

- Your’s truly, Dr. Otto Octavius”

All you can do is look dumbly at the little crowded sticky note in your palm. While the handwriting was messy and slightly slanted, it did not matter.

Dr. Otto Octavius loved you.

The rest of the world becomes unfocused as you re-read the note over and over again.

While it might be a stretch to say just based on the hand writing, you knew what it was saying was true.

He had cleaned your apartment and bandaged your feet, why else would he do those things if it wasn’t true?

It’s not like he would be gaining anything by lying.

Everything felt light, like you could just float away. This feeling bubbled up in you until it could only be let go.

Laughing fills your room.

Whether it was meant to or not, you would answer this call for help.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Even though you were still afraid of the man the doctor had become, you weren’t going to be a coward and let him destroy himself. If this was a love you were willing to work for before, it was a love you were willing to work for now.

While you were no superhero with super strength, if you had the power to do something, it was your responsibility to.

Previous-Next 

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Seventeen}

Despite being freezing to the touch, he held you close to his bare chest. With how feverish he had become these past few days, the blistering cold was actually quite welcomed. While the scorching temperatures of the hydraulics inside the metal girdle originally burned so severely against his stomach he could barely stand, now he couldn’t say he felt anything anymore. This was most likely due to total and utter nerve failure: But then again, he wasn’t that kind of doctor.

Luckily now, this heat came in handy as he held your frigid body close, coaxing some of the warmth to transfer to you. Cradled in his arms, it almost felt like they were made perfectly to fit you.

Bobbing from one roof top to the next, the thought of just taking you back with him had crossed his mind: Or more like, his children had made it cross his mind. The AI was very pragmatic in nature and simply was not programmed to take into consideration the nuances required in correctly achieving goals: things like morals or the feelings of others.

But while his want, no, NEED for you was strong, his love for you was stronger. While love in fairytales might be portrayed as superficial, it was still an extremely strong force. A force even stronger than vengeance or hurt. Even now, this had been the quietest and the most in control he had been since the accident.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Looking down at you, he indulged in his selfish desires slightly by leaving a chaste kiss upon your forehead. Luckily, with the actuator’s abilities of processing and relaying information, he was essentially able to switch to autopilot and just focus on you while making his way to your dorm. You were such a pretty delicate little thing, was it truly his fault if he wanted to keep you all for himself? Well then again, while you definitely looked the part of being delicate, you were anything but. The fact that you were able to stand up to him in itself was impressive.

Unfortunately his children had gotten to your apartment a little faster than he would have preferred, sighing slightly as he oriented himself through the already open window.

Looking around, some snow had already begun to accumulate on the floor, even some white ice-y flakes making their way into your abandoned ramen. Not to mention the entire apartment had dropped about ten degrees from his last visit.

Mouth creasing into a guilty frown, he walked to your bed, placing you gently down in it. While he didn’t expect you to instantly forgive all of his wrongs because of his kindness, that didn’t stop that light weightless feeling from filling his heart. Though bittersweet, doing anything for you was easy.

Attending to the state of the room, one of his metal arms grabbed the broom from next to the bathroom and began sweeping up all the remaining snow it could, promptly depositing the filled dust pan out the window before taking to the floor once more. Using his other metal arms in tandem, he tried his best to refix any objects that had fallen or been misplaced by the wind. Along with this, he also took it upon himself to do some desperately needed cleaning. (he could only hope that your slobishness had been stress induced). Finding a space heater in his re-cleaning and re-organizing, he plugged it in hopes of bringing some warmth back into the space.

Feeling the sensations of objects through his actuators was fairly therapeutic, as the feeling in his hands was not as reliable as they once were. He suspected that it was the doing of the same culprit responsible for the lack of feeling in his stomach. Either way, that did not make the change any easier or less scary to adapt to.

That was not even mentioning the sudden hand tremors and tingles which would take over his hands and body at random. There were points in the night when he tried to sleep that the tremors would last for hours.

As agnozing as the pain was and as much as he wanted relief, however, he knew getting any professional help was not an option at this point. Plus, the suffering endured now would be worth it when he was finished.

It was a situation of mind over matter, and no matter what, his mind would prevail.

And his children would make sure of it.

Right as one of the actuators started focusing on fixing the window frame, the doctor’s eye locked on the discarded notebook in the trash.

While nothing about the notebook necessitated his focus, mahogany eyes alighted with recognition in an instant.

It was your Nuclear Physics notebook.

Bending down to retrieve it, he only could hiss out a choked wheeze.

Noticing their father’s struggle, one of the acautor instantly snaked over and retrieved the little book, depositing it in the older man’s hands with a proud squeak.

With a sad smile, all he could was run his leather gloved fingers over the surface.

How he wished he could go back to that, if only for a second.

Then again, life very rarely allowed a person to have their cake and eat it too, and with the life he had now chosen, going back would be impossible.

It would be for the best of everyone that he forgot.

Placing the notebook on the table, he snagged a sticky note from the pile of supplies on your desk, trying his best to scrawl out a little message.

With his hand dexterity being somewhat compromised, it did take longer than he would have liked to admit, but eventually he did manage it.

Satisfied with his work, he turned back to you.

While thankful, he was very surprised you were still asleep.

Eyes taking you in, just looking at you made him feel refreshed. This feeling only lasted a second as his thick eyebrows flew up and furrowed seeing the state of your feet.

Bloodied, bruised, and blistered, they were practically as black as the asphalt you had been running across.

Fatherly instincts free to take over, he quickly summoned his children to retrieve the first aid kit from its familiar place on the floor as well as a wetted towel before he took his place at your side.

Letting out a shushed comforting coo, despite knowing you wouldn’t hear it, he peeled his leather gloves off.

With the now damp towelette deposited in his waiting hand, he gently pressed it against the tender pads of your feet. Being as attentive and gentle as possible, he still couldn’t but respond with a worried frown to the stray winces in your sleep. Why had he let himself put you through this?

Cradling your calf in his large hand, he elevated your leg to begin applying cream and bandages to your injuries. Despite his compromised senses, his toes curled feeling the softness and warmth of your skin underneath his calloused fingertips.

Reluctantly lowering your newly wrapped foot to the bed, he moves to the next. Being slow and methodical, he took his time in caring for you. Why rush?

Eventually he could only stall for so long, especially with how the actuators were beginning to chatter to him and amongst themselves. Being purely built for utilitarian purposes, his children were having a hard time understanding why exactly he was wasting his time with some girl when he had much bigger things to be focusing on.

While he reasoned with them that he was aware of this, a man should be afforded a few luxuries.

And your calm peaceful state was most definitely a luxury.

Pulling you into his arms once more, he can’t help but hum to himself as his children lifted up the comforter on your bed. The room had luckily regained its heat, so he felt dressing you in something warmer was unnecessary. Ears and cheeks burning a deep crimson, he mentally slapped himself.

Hey, at least the thought was well meant!

As the arms backed off, he nestled you under the covers, flattening and tucking the comforter around you. This was as beneficial to you as it was to him. Each touch seemed to breathe an almost forgotten sense of humanity into the doctor. Dare he say he almost felt completely like himself again?

Admiring his work (and you) he leans down and caresses your cheek. Despite the pain that leaning down caused, it was washed away into meaninglessness as he placed another kiss on your forehead.

He knew the time he would have to leave was getting closer and closer, but would lingering just a little longer really be such a crime?

“I’m sorry Yekiratì……”

While he tried to keep his voice steady, it still somehow broke at saying the pet name he had for you.

Retrieving a glass of water and a few painkillers from his pocket, he placed them on your now clean desk.

And with that, he was gone.

Previous-Next 

TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Sixteen}

Once you were finished with dressing his burns, one of his actuators grabbed the bottles of pain medication you had gathered, and he left. With leaving so abruptly, it almost didn’t occur to you that he had.

However, with your heart effectively crushed and thoroughly stomped on until no discernible shards were left, it was hard to accurately process anything.

After that encounter you scarcely left your dorm.

Headlines flooded the news feed: “Dr. Octavius Flys Off the Rails!” this “New Supervillain Takes Center Stage “ that. You even began to see some headlines proclaiming how the “public menace” Spider Man was taking this new supervillain head on. Though honestly, after a while you just couldn’t keep reading them.

While before you never really cared about the business of heroes or villains (luckily you hadn’t had the privilege of dealing with your car being used as collateral by one of them yet.) and mostly blocked it out, this was different. Unlike before where the villain was just some faceless person who happened to be categorized as a threat to society, you knew this one: You knew the human man behind Dr. Octopus (a name coined by the press that you still were not very sure of).

More importantly, you knew Dr. Otto Octavius; the real Dr. Otto Octavius.

You knew that his project, while run and overseen by him, was in partnership with Oscorp Industries. You knew that for a very short time he was in theater in highschool and that his crowning achievement was Fiddler on the Roof. And you knew that he liked cold brew with foamed milk.

But on top of it all, you knew the good kind man that was behind the character he was playing.

Or at least that’s what you hoped.

It was like the world had turned upside down. Nothing made any sense anymore and you couldn’t adapt fast enough to how your life was changing.

You tried to snuff out the fire that the doctor had started in your heart, but you just couldn’t. No matter how many guys you thought about or looked into, you always came back to him. You didn’t know if that was healthy, especially with his little impromptu visit, but the facts were the facts. As broken and disfigured as it was, your heart still belonged to him.

You had fallen for Judas: even after such a betrayal you still couldn’t help but love him purely.

However, as much as you did love him, that didn’t help the situation hurt any less. And no matter how much you loved the doctor, nothing you could fabricate could justify him wrapping his clawed actuator around your throat. As much as you wanted to reach out to him to further understand what had happened to him, you had seen first hand how dangerous he could be.

Plus, you were no superhero: You didn’t have super strength, speed, or intelligence.

You were just a normal person who somehow got involved in something they had no control (or business) being involved in.

What could you possibly do to make things better?

Now that you thought about it, maybe staying in your dorm when you knew full well that Octavius now knew where you lived wasn’t such a great idea.

Looking at your crudely duck taped window in an attempt to lock it, you almost had to laugh.

It was either you laughed or you cried, and you personally preferred the latter. (Plus, you had been crying way too much recently)

Just shaking your head, you tried to push the negative thoughts from your mind. For someone who had watched five people be brutally murdered only to be threatened at actuator-point (was that even a thing?) shortly after, you were doing fairly alright.

Falling back into your messy bed, you let out a deep sigh, running your fingers through your hair. When was the last time you had taken a shower anyways? Considering you were afraid to close your eyes in any enclosed spaces now, probably a while ago.

Digging around your crowded night stand, knocking over a few cans of Monster as you went, you finally located the TV remote.

Maybe putting on a show or something would help.

Turning on the TV, you were instantly shown a news headline.

“Doc Ock Successfully Robs Bank with Spider Man’s Help”

While you were fairly certain Spider Man’s “helping” was really him trying to stop the doctor, unlike instantly dismissing it like you had started whenever any kind of news came on, you couldn’t help but linger.

Why the hell was Octavius robbing banks?

Why after everything (his dream essentially being ruined) would the man turn to robbing banks of all things?

At the end of the day, you supposed it didn’t really matter (or should matter) what the doctor did with his newly acquired “children”, but it did confuse you.

Dr. Otto Octavius was not a criminal.

Then again, you THOUGHT he wasn’t a murder, but here you were.

You really needed to stop defending him.

Wiping face with hand, you press the channel button a little bit harder than you had to.

The sun was well under the horizon until the gnawing hunger in your stomach convinced you to turn away from the TV to make some dinner.

Ah yes, ramen: The meal of champions.

It wasn’t much, but it was better than the copious amount of energy drink that you had essentially been getting all your nutrition from during the past couple days. What could you say, you didn’t do well under stress.

With the noise of the TV on in the background, you casually glanced at your desk.

There was nothing especially intriguing about it, though your eyes did land on your physics notebook.

Staring at it, your mouth forms a fine line.

Within a second, it is now sitting in your trash can.

Returning to your ramen, you snag a pair of chopsticks and take to the bed once more.

Right as you’re about to get comfortable, however, an ominous sound pricks at your ears

It was the sound of distant rumbling: soft, like distant footsteps.

Chopsticks being dropped to the floor, you whip your head towards the window.

This was not happening again, you were just imagining things.

However, as the sound got louder and louder, that possibility became less and less believable.

Leaping out of your bed, you could hear the duck tape on the window already being snapped as it was thrown open.

Without even waiting to put on shoes or watch as Octavius entered the room, you were already out the door.

Where someone was even supposed to go when running from a six armed psycho was beyond you, but you planned on finding out.

As you bolted down the hallway, you could hear yelling from inside your room. Probably getting the doctor angry wasn’t the best course of action, but you just couldn’t take another “visit” from him.

Your heart and nerves could only take so much.

Skipping the elevators entirely, you practically fly into the wall as you skid in front of the staircase. The concrete was painfully cold underneath your pounding feet and you can’t help but regret not putting on shoes.

Then again, getting bruised and blistered feet was better than getting torn apart by a metal tentacle.

Busting through the staircase doors, you find yourself out back in the alley behind the building, a blast of cold air unceremoniously slapping you in the face as you swung open the door. While normally you would be too worried about getting your foot impaled by broken glass or discarded drug-y needles, you plowed through without a second thought. You could hear the grinding pound of the doctor’s actuators even clearer out here and you could tell he was scaling down the side of the building to get closer to you.

Even though you could hear more yelling as well, it was blocked out by the buzz of adrenaline pumping through your body.

Coming out onto the sidewalk, you were sure you probably looked like an absolute lunatic: Wearing nothing but a hoodie and gym shorts without any shoes in 30 degree weather was quite the sight to behold after all. Then again, the citizens of New York (yourself included) have definitely seen weirder.

Sprinting through the freshly fallen snow, you anxiously realize that there is next to no one else out.

Due to the weather and hour of the night, it was not surprising, but that didn’t exactly help you in your attempt to escape.

Trying your best to ignore how the pounding was getting noticeably closer, you continue running down the sidewalk. Where were you planning on going exactly?

With your dorm being off campus and it being the holidays, it’s not like you could take cover in one of the academic buildings. And though you were unsure of what lengths Octavius was willing to go to catch you, you couldn’t bring yourself to take refuge in any of the few stores that were open. While you might have been a coward before, you were at least going to try to keep the people involved in this to a minimum this time. The sudden heroics might be what do’s you in, but at least you could say you weren’t completely spineless.

Then again, you wouldn’t be saying much of anything if you were dead.

At this point you had no idea where your most likely bleeding feet were taking you, but you couldn’t say you recognized any of the scenery. Seriously, where were you even?

Breathing was becoming more painful as the frigid air stung your lungs. Everything was sore and you didn’t even want to see what your feet looked like. You would cry if you even could get a sure enough breath for it.

You were not some superhero.

Running was probably the dumbest possible thing you could have done.

Would giving up now mean he would at least be quick in tearing you apart?

Probably not.

Now you were in an area that you didn’t recognize, in freezing weather without any protection from the elements, without any real way of getting back home.

If it wasn’t for the doctor looking for you, you would have screamed.

Why had everything in your life gone so wrong?

Clenching your teeth, all you could do was stumble into an alleyway, your breath coming out as weak puffs of mist.

You were exhausted and lost and if Octavius didn’t find you, some rapist probably would.

God, how could you have been so stupid?

Limping deeper into the alleyway, you fall to your knees.

You tried to throw up, but nothing came out.

With bleary eyes, your numb fingers grasp clumsily at a piece of loose asphalt.

You couldn’t even feel any of your limbs anymore.

Though even still, you could feel the ground shake underneath you.

Turning around, your suspicions were confirmed as you saw the shadowed form of a man and four large arms scaling down the inside of the alley. In the light, he almost looked like a spider, seeing that its prey was helplessly caught in its web.

You look away, clenching the asphalt in your hand.

As the man lowered himself to the ground further, you could hear how labored his breath was. At least you made him work at finding you.

“You’re getting on my nerves.”

Ah yes, that new dark tone of his. Though you did notice it had lost a bit of its bite.

Not like that mattered much anyways.

You stay silent as you feel him getting closer.

“I told you to stop running.”

Your anxiety spikes once more as you feel one of the metal arms wrap around your waist, lifting you up.

As you are turned around however, you notice the dark circles underneath the older man’s eyes as well as how his chest heaved up and down. He looked a lot less threatening now, but that did not negate the fact that he had chased you for the past ten minutes.

You quickly look down at the ground, not willing to look the doctor in the eyes. They were still covered by those fucking shades anyways. (Who wears shades at night?!?)

Even looking away though, you could still feel the doctor’s eyes on you.

Beyond the distant city ambience, it was completely silent between you two.

Clenching the chunk in your hand harder, the silence only made you angry.

You were unable to see the doctor’s mouth open in an attempt to speak.

“What are you waiting for??? Just finish the job already! After chasing me down, you finally got what you wanted!”

Despite your fear, the emotions that had been brewing inside of you for the last couple days could not be contained any longer. Betrayal and hurt coated your words like inky black venom.

“If you would be quiet and let me finish-”

He was clearly getting angry with you again.

“No, I don’t think I’ll be quiet! After everything you think you can just BARGE into MY apartment and command me around like I’m your slave or something?!?!? And when I have the audacity to cry out of FEAR of YOU, YOU THREATEN TO KILL ME!!! ARE YOU MENTAL?!?!? OF COURSE I RAN FROM YOU! I’M FUCKING TERRIFIED OF YOU!!!”

With each word your voice picks up in volume until you’re screaming.

The jolt and shift you felt in the actuator alerted you that you had caught the doctor off guard.

“I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD OCTAVIUS! I DROVE TO EVERY HOSPITAL IN THE FUCKING AREA TO FIND YOU I WAS SO WORRIED!! I EVEN BROKE INTO THE BACK OF HOSPITAL JUST TO SEE YOU!!! AND WHEN I FINALLY GOT THERE THINKING YOU’D BE OKAY, I WATCHED AS YOUR FUCKING TENTACLE ARMS KILLED THE FIVE DOCTORS WHO WERE TRYING TO DO SURGEY ON YOU!!! AND EVEN AFTER THAT I STILL LOVED YOU!!!”

Oh here comes the water works. In your hysterics, you didn’t even process what you were admitting.

“I-I honestly can’t believe I still f-fucking love you even though I-I’m scared out of mind o-of you! W-what kind of dumbass kid a-am I to think a-any of the time we spent together meant a-anything to you.”

At this point you were a crying mess, the adrenaline wearing off and leaving you with little to no energy to scream anymore.

“I-I Idolized you…..y-you were my mentor a-and friend….a-and you treated m-me like I meant n-nothing.”

Being held limply in the air, all you can do is squeeze your eyes shut. The tears burned your frostbitten face, but you couldn’t keep them from coming.

Raising the piece of broken cement in your hand, all you could was weakly toss it at the doctor. It merely bounced off the man’s leather clad shoulder, pathetically tumbling to the ground.

In a moment of clarity, all Octavius could do was look upon your spent form.

You were afraid of him and he had hurt you. Actually hurt you.

While his children were perfectly content with terrorizing you for even daring to disrespect him, he managed to silence their chatter, even if just for a second.

What had become of him these last few days? Everything had been so blurry….

The pain he was in was excruciating.

Along with his destroyed dream and the constant never ending whispering in his head, lashing out and letting his children take over had been easy. What else could he do when he had nothing left? What choice did he really have?

But while he did have something left, did he really have a choice?

Without his inhibitor chip, his children had free rein to act almost completely independently. Along with that, their AI had reached his brain, meaning going against their desires was nearly impossible; especially with the weak vulnerable state he was in.

He felt like a prisoner in his own body.

But that did not excuse his weakness.

It was his fault that he let his pain and weakness blind him to allow his children to do the things they were doing. He was the parent, and with his children’s permanent residence, it was his responsibility to guide them.

Face falling, he takes off his shades. Once more his hazel eyes gaze upon you with their recognizable warmness and affection. Too bad you didn’t see it.

You looked so scared and it was his fault.

Even acknowledging this fact made his stomach twist. While his mission couldn’t be compromised, this had to stop.

Wanting nothing more to reach out, whisper sweet nothings, and apologies to you, he knew that it would only make things worse.

It pained his heart to feel you trembling through the actuator’s grasp. To think before you touching his creation made him feel warm inside.

Now he only felt sick, knowing what he had done to you while using it.

The fluttering in his heart was only crushed by the overwhelming feeling of grief.

You had said you had loved him.

Even after everything, you said you still loved him.

Eyes flicking from you, he couldn’t even bear to look. It hurt too much.

Even after denying you, you had still even shown up to his demonstration, even going as far as to look for him after.

Leather squeaked slightly as the doctor balled his fists, the actuators responding with a distressed hiss. Eyes squeezed shut as a choked noise left his mouth.

“You are going to listen to me now: WE are going to leave her alone.”

His voice came out as a labored whisper, but with teeth bared, the tone was enough to command anyone who heard it to listen.

He knew only you could pull him out of the darkness and confusion he had dragged himself into, but knowing forcing you to stay would break you kept him from even considering the idea.

Though the actuators squealed in protest, they conceded to their father’s wishes. If this didn’t compromise their father’s mission, they would allow it.

When finally he was able to compose himself, the doctor quickly realized that you had fallen asleep. If it had been under much better circumstances, he would have smiled.

He didn’t entirely blame you: You had been through a lot.

Even still, seeing how peaceful and unafraid you were was like a breath of fresh air.

Oh how he missed you dearly.

Why did the universe have to keep pulling you from him?

Though he supposed fate wasn’t entirely to blame, sometimes to do the right thing, one had to give up the thing they wanted the most.

As he rescaled the buildings back to your apartment, you safely secured in his human arms, his children were unable to kill the thought before it entered his mind.

But was doing this really the right thing?

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TW: mentions of blood and death: Slight belly kink and body worship: Teacher/student trope  

{Chapter Fifteen}

The light seemed to burn a brighter crimson as it studied you.

All the moisture in your mouth evaporated as you slowly began to realize what exactly the thing was outside your window.

Almost in response to this realization, the claw moved away from its splayed position on the window, positioning itself on the lip of the frame.

It was trying to get in.

Despite the locks being done, the window stood no chance. With just a mere second of struggle, the locks buckled under the pressure and snapped off. You only could watch in horror as shards of metal and plastic flew across the room with an ominous crack.

In an instant, a claw pounded the floor on either side of you, bending and twisting to enable its master to enter.

You could only gravel at what you saw.

The doctor’s face was no longer alight with that gravitating warmness you were so familiar with. He looked older in a way; the unfamiliar pursed firm expression seeming to be the culprit for this change. In some hopeless effort to find comfort, you tried to look for an explanation in those dark eyes of his.

You were only met with the cold image of your reflection through his circular shades.

He looked down at you like some displeased dark malevolent god and even in your fear, you couldn’t help but submit out of respect. And clothed in his all too familiar trench coat only emphasized the magnitude of his imposing physique, as well as your inferiority.

Despite all the questions and emotions that screamed in your head, you couldn’t help but cringe seeing the jagged burn scars across his torso. It looked excruciating.

Even with lowering himself to the floor, he still looked down on you.

“You are going to help me.”

Like the harsh nip of the wind coming through the now opened window, you couldn’t help but flinch.

That was not a question: That was a demand.

His tone was so unfamiliar to you, it almost made you wonder if it was really him who was speaking.

Despite your fear and confusion, you eventually found your voice.

“Dr. Octavius, I-I was so worried. I was going to your demonstration, I was l-late! I’m sorry, I just. A-Are you okay? Is everything o-okay? I-I’m just worried – you’ve just changed a-and-”

Like a crumbling dam, you just couldn’t stop the flood of words coming out of your mouth. You just wanted to understand. You just wanted to understand what had happened to him.

In your rambling, he merely spared you a disinterested glance through his tinted glasses.

Your questioning was starting to grind on his already thin nerves.

“It would be in your best interest to stop asking stupid questions.”

His tone was low and threatening, dark eyebrows furrowing with his narrowing eyes. This was a warning shot and next time he would not be so generous.

It was like a slap to the face, but it had its desired effect.

You instantly shut your mouth.

It was like he didn’t even know you.

To him you were nobody.

How could he? After all the moments shared between the two of you, how could he treat you this way? You would have vocalized your angered confusion more if it wasn’t for the fact you were utterly terrified of the doctor. To think at a time you could have said there was no safer place to be than with Dr. Octavius.

But all you could feel now was the sickening truth that in this state, he could easily (and possibly would) kill you.

You dumbly get up from your position on the floor and silently wait for his next orders, hoping that if you cooperate he would just go.

To think not even an hour before you would have given anything to see that he was well again.

This seemed to please the doctor somewhat, his expression of dominating disdain softening slightly.

“Give me any pain medication you have and grab your first aid kit.”

Concise and brazenly to the point.

The fact that he simply assumed you had a first aid kit made you all the more thankful that you did indeed have one. What would have happened to you if you didn’t?

You paid no mind to the trembling that had taken over your body as you carried out what he had asked.

Maybe that was your way of trying to alleviate the agonizing emotions that were at war in your head.

In disgust you knew deep down you still loved this man.

You supposed that’s what truly made this entire situation so unbearable…..

Scooping every last bottle of painkillers you could find, you grabbed your first aid kit from under the sink in your bathroom.

You couldn’t bear looking at yourself in the mirror as you left.

Being discontent was staying suspended in the middle of your room, the doctor had moved to your desk chair, actuators instantly whiping towards you as you approached their master. This time you knew you heard menacing hissing.

As you tried to find the words to say you had gotten what he asked, you quickly realized no words would come out.

Luckily, the doctor seemed too impatient to wait for any sort of verbal confirmation.

“I have burns on my stomach that need attending to.”

As much as how short he was with you hurt, you reasoned that it would be worse if wasn’t it. At least this way you could more easily disconnect yourself.

Getting to work, you bite down on your now trembling lip.

His chest was bare, and it’s condition was so much worse than it was at a distance. Eyebrows furrowing, the weak feeling of sympathy bubbled to the surface of your turbulent sea of thought.

To think that before you would have jumped at the possibility of feeling his bare skin underneath your fingertips, but now, it only brought you heart ache.

Why? Why was he doing this to you?

It felt as if your heart was being crushed inside your chest. Or more accurately, the doctor had ripped it out and had the honor of crushing it himself.

As your shaky hands wrap the gauze around his irritated chest, you couldn’t help but let out a choked sob.

Instantly you felt the doctor’s eyes on you, tentacles joining their master in his glowering.

“Be quiet.”

With all the chattering voices in his head, your crying only worsened his already painful headache.

And with that, your crying instantly stopped.

Words did not describe how terrified you were.

With your own eyes you had witnessed this man’s creation slaughter five innocent people, and in this moment, you were becoming less and less sure that it was entirely their doing.

You could taste the metallic twinge of blood on your lips as you bit down harder.

You tried, you really tried to be good and do as he asked.

“I’m s-s-sorry, I-I’m sorry, I’m s-sorry! I d-didn’t mean – I-I’ll be quiet I p-promise! I-I’m scared I-I’m really scared. O-O-Octavius I’m s-s-scared, I–”

In an instant you felt the crushing pressure of metal around your throat.

Hands flying to angry claw, you could only squeeze your eyes shut.

This was not real. None of this was real. This wasn’t real.

For a split second the doctor’s face softened with surprise, and even slight fear.

It only lasted a second.

“Don’t be sorry. Be better.”

Each sneered syllable cut into you like a knife.

Eventually you were carelessly dropped to your feet and if it wasn’t for the overwhelming fear that moment had been instilled within you, you would have dropped to the ground in a limp heap.

You finished dressing his wounds in complete silence.

As the minutes dragged on, the man sitting in the room became less and less familiar to you. Maybe it was a way of coping, but you just couldn’t let yourself believe that this man was your Dr. Octavius.

However wishful as it was, it was still only thinking, and no amount of thinking changed the undeniable fact that this man was indeed Dr. Otto Octavius: Your love and idol.

There was a stranger in everyone, and it was about time you started recognizing the stranger in him if you had a hope of getting out of this alive.

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