Work Text:
Otto sat on the couch, watching the news. It was about 9PM, and New York was preparing for the New Year Ball Drop in Times Square. Otto was always intrigued by New York’s events. The fairs, the parades, he always liked to watch them.
This would be his first event in 20 years he’d watch. Well. It didn’t really feel like 20 years. Though he was now in a new, second chance at life, Otto still struggled to find the meaning of what that had meant. Despite two decades of his absense, the city still hated him, and he could never go out in public to let them know he was alive and well. For the past few months, he had been rotting away in his apartment.
Norman, however, was able to come and go as he pleased. With no arms fused to his spine to cause fear, or the Goblin able to randomly lash put and rack havoc, an older Norman Osborn would only be curiously questioned in public. “Hey, you look like that old CEO!” were remarks Norman would occasionally get while running errands, but people were so set on him being dead that they never accused him of actually behind who he was.
Norman stood in the kitchen, waiting for his waffle to cook in the toaster. As he waited, he watched Otto stare solemnly at the TV, his hands fiddling with each-other.
“You doing alright?” Norman called out to Otto.
Otto stopped fidgeting and almost spoke in shock, like he had forgotten Norman was in the kitchen. He could be so quiet sometimes, and the actuators were comfortable enough with Norman to not tell Otto any senses of threats.
“Yeah… I’m okay.” Otto sighed.
Norman’s toaster dinged and he prepared the waffles onto his plate as he continued. “You sure? You fidget when you think hard about something.”
Otto chuckled, “you know me so well.” He turned to wait until Norman walked over and sat on the couch with him. “I just always liked watching the Times Square ball drop. I usually was in the crowd. It’s just sad ill never be able to participate in it again.”
“I was never one for the crowds. I always watched it with Harry though.” Norman related as he took a bite of his waffle, watching as the TV went to commercials.
Otto continued to fumble with his fingers and looked down towards them since ads were not very amusing to watch. He closed his mind around the positive things around them as he did when he felt shut out like this. He and Norman lived together, he had a second chance at life, and he had a good relationship with Peter.
But what about his relationship with Norman? He listened as Norman ate his waffle only a foot away from him on the couch. He loved Norman so much… over the months they had spent together, Otto felt feelings for his roommate he had had when they were both in college. He had almost forgotten how comforting his presence could be, even if it was Norman… loudly chewing on a waffle?
Otto snapped back to his senses and turned locking eyes on Norman. “You know I hate it when you chew so damn loudly.”
“I’m sorry.” Norman laughed while his food still in his mouth. “You just seemed lost in thought. Figured I’d snap you out of it.”
“Well. Thank you?” Otto gritted a fake smile onto Norman, repressing the feelings he had when seeing Norman’s stupid, playful smile across his cheeks.
The TV went back to commercial and the two watched as a newscaster talked about the upcoming event for a few moments.
“How many times have you went?” Norman asked.
“Last time I went… was the decade event.”
“You mean, the 2000 event?”
Otto laughed. “Yeah. Sorry. Good god, the time we live in is still so hard to wrap my head around.”
Norman, now done with his food, dropped the plate to the vacant side of the couch and leaned up against Otto a little. “Did you go with Rosie?”
“No. I always went alone. She was always sleeping in early.”
“Well. Thats a bummer.”
“Yeah. I’m glad I get to experience tonights new year with you, though.” Otto wrapped his hand around Norman’s shoulder, and leaned into Norman a little as well. Even if they were only friends, Otto would never not accept Norman’s touching offers.
They sat there for a moment and continued to watch the TV, until Norman sparked upright, jolting Otto was well.
“Something wrong?” Otto said concerningly. He feared for some reason the touching moment he had was his fault and Norman had become conscious about it.
“Nothing!” Norman exclaimed. “I just had a great idea.”
“And what’s that?”
“Lets go see the ball drop, in person.”
“Norman. In case you haven’t noticed…” Otto lifted his actuators around. “I can’t really go out.”
“You’ve been cooped up in here far too long. Come on, everyones too focused on the New Years broadcast to see the rest of New York. Let’s travel the rooftops til we get to Time Square.”
Otto hesitated for a moment. “We… Norman I don’t think this is a great idea.” Even though he wanted to do it so bad. Oh god, this was the best idea ever.
“We can be careful. This is probably the only night the city won’t notice us.”
Otto sighed. “Fine, what the hell.”
***
Now 11:45 PM, Otto and Norman stood on the balcony watching the city. It was so quiet, probably the quietest they had ever seen New York been before. Everyone was either at Times Square, or watching it on their tele.
“You ready?” Norman asked, placing a hand on Otto’s.
Otto shuddered at the touch, though, trying to hide in his tone, slowly gaining the confidence to continue with their plan. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
Otto took his arms and picked up Norman, one had in his back and the other in the pits of his knees. This was the most he had ever touched Norman, and his face was flushing red at the thought. Thank god it was probably too dark for Norman to notice. Don’t think too much of it. Were only doing this to get to Times Square.
Slowly, his actuators placed himself onto the wall, and onto the roof of the apartment complex. He hesitated at the cold air of the city before jumping onto the next building. Then onto the next, onto the next. Though he was in total fear he would be spotted, the thought of spending one more New Years, and with Norman, was enough to keep him moving forward.
Finally, they reached Times Square with five minutes to spare. Otto let go of Norman, and they both walked to the end of the rooftop, sitting on the edge and overlooking the ball drop, and the massive crowd below them. Thank god they were probably too high up, and the night sky being too dark to spot them.
“Alright. This is a pretty good view.” Otto laughed.
“Your telling me. I always watched this from OSCORP and thought THAT was a good view.” Norman agreed.
The two shared a nice moment in silence as they continued to watch the crowd cheer below them. Almost unconciously, Norman again placed his hand on Otto’s.
“Do you ever do resolutions?” Otto asked.
“I try. I think I’ve thought of one this year, though.”
“What is it?”
“Ill tell you after midnight.” Norman turns to Otto and smiles, almost playfully.
“What the hell are you hiding?” Otto questions. He knows that cheeky look all too well.
“Nothing…” Norman purrs. They get interrupted as the newscasters yell to the crowd that there’s 3 minutes left until the ball drop.
“I’m guessing that because Rosie sleeps in early, you never got a news years kiss.”
“Nope. Did you?”
“With Emily? No.”
“What about all those beautiful ladies your serading at New Years parties?” Otto joked, playfully punching Normans shoulder.
“Oh no. OSCORP never did New Year’s parties.”
“Oh. Too bad.” Otto went quiet.
The newscasters spoke again. Two minutes til midnight.
“Otto…” Norman’s hand that still rested on Otto’s curled. “I have a weird question.”
“Go for it. You’ve only got all year.” Otto joked.
“I’m serious.” Norman turned to Otto, who Otto, even in this light, could see it was beet red. “I don’t suppose, you’d… like to share a New Years kiss with me?”
Otto blinked once. Twice. He couldn’t believe the words Norman had just spoke. His cheeks flustered in heat, the cold air now hitting his face in a almost numbing way. “I…” that was all he could get out.
“Nevermind.” Norman turned away quickly. “It was a stupid idea. Forget I said anything.” His hand almost picked up and turned away from Otto, until Otto grabbed it, making Norman face his doctor once again.
“No no! That wasn’t a stupid idea.”
“I mean… what’s not to loose, right? Just the two of us, only we will know. Not like you can go down there and start kissing anyone you want.” Norman nervously chuckled.
“I… yes. Norman I would like to do that with you. I would love it.”
The two nervously looked at eachother in agreement, smiling and chuckling. Otto thought over what Norman had said. A New Years kiss. Though, was it truly romantic? He surely wanted it to be, every day he fought the will to kiss Norman.
One minute til midnight.
“Just for the sake of New Years?” Otto asked.
Norman focused on his hand, still holding Otto’s. He only smiled and nodded.
Otto felt the pit of his stomach drop. Damnit. He thought. Though, an opportunity to kiss Norman wasn’t something he was just going to let go.
They listened together as the crowd got louder and louder in excitement below them. Slowly as the seconds ticked down and down, they got closer to eachother.
10 seconds.
Their faces now inches away from eachother.
5 seconds.
Otto closed his eyes, he could feel the cold breath of Norman breathe onto his cheeks.
4…
Norman watched Otto’s lips desperately open. He smiled, god he had wanted this for such a long time.
3…
Norman took his free hand and rubbed it into the back of Otto’s head, fingers slipping into his hair.
2…
Otto let a soft whisper escape his lips at the sense of Norman’s touch.
1…
Happy New Year!
The two softly pressed their lips into each other, the buzzers and crowds going off almost silent as they focused on each other. This moment could almost last forever. Otto placed his hand slowly on Norman’s waist and pulled him in more. In response, Norman gripped at Otto’s hair, their bodies now closer than ever before.
They didn’t want it to end, they didn’t want to let go. Though, it had to. Otto realized despite the pleasure, this kiss was going on for two long. In nervousness, he pulled back, meeting Norman’s eyes and a cheeky ass smile.
“Happy New Year.” Was the only thing Norman could rasp out, his breath still close enough to touch Otto’s. Despite the kiss being over, Norman hung in for dear life to keep his hands on Ottos’ head and hand.
Otto panted for a few moments, trying to understand the moment the two had just shared. He was speechless.
“Well if your not gonna say anything, I will.”
“Norman… i’m sorry-“
“Wanna hear my New Years resolution?” He interrupted.
“Yeah. Go ahead.”
“My News Years Resolution was to make a damn move, Octavius.”
And with that, Norman pulled in for a more passionate kiss.