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Otto fished the keys to the apartment he shared with Norman out of his pocket. He had just finished picking up groceries, it was a seemingly normal day so far. Nothing out of the blue. He struggled a bit with the key fumbling in the doorknob before finally getting it open by using both of his hands. Grocery bags were held with the help of his actuators until he let them settle them onto the counter in the kitchen.
Today had been a bit lonely, but it's nothing he couldn't handle. Some days, Norman would be focussed in the lab of their apartment, working almost the entire day. Other days, Goblin would be the one to take over Norman and would either work on his own projects or cause mayhem in New York. Otto could always tell who was who by the color of his roommate's eyes. If it was a cold, icy blue, it was Norman. Though, if he was met with emerald green eyes, the Goblin had taken over. He found himself gazing into Norman and Goblin's eyes too many times to count. Norman never minded. They loved each other, after all. But he knew that romantic affairs had to cease once Goblin was there, as the two were separate people. Besides, Otto only liked Norman. Not like Goblin HAD anyone he cared for, let alone loved, anyway.
Otto sighs and continues to put the groceries away, into the counter and fridge. Though, his head perks up, as some kind of noise starts from Norman's room.
Is that... 50's music?
The sound of music from Norman's room gets louder and louder as a song begins to play. No words, just a nice melody of piano and some sort of trumpet. Otto is reminded of how he used to love this era of music, listening to it as he studied.
He finishes his duty with the food and decides to go investigate. Though Otto liked to give Norman his space when in his private room, the curiosity got to the doctor to see what was going on.
By opening the door Otto was greeted by dim lighting and a man facing the wall as he swayed side to side, humming the song.
"Welcome home, honey," Norman says to Otto, his back still turned toward him. It ALMOST sounds like the low voice of the Goblin, but then again, Norman has the same tone when he's up to something mischievous.
"I didn't know you liked 50's music," Otto says as he walks towards Norman.
Norman turns around, still in the dim light. Along with Otto's sunglasses, he's unable to make out the details of Norman's face, nor the color of his eyes. But he was certain this was Norman. Goblin was never one for music. He places his hands on Otto's hips and steps in closer, their face only inches away from each other.
"Won't you slow dance with me?" Norman whispers out. Almost... nervously.
Otto laughs and takes his hands onto Norman's shoulders, the actuators wrapping around them in excitement for the touch of Norman. "How could I ever say no to that?"
The two started to waltz, Otto leading as Norman followed. Norman closed his eyes and leaned his head into Otto's shoulder. Not something that Norman would normally do, but he enjoyed the warmth and touch of his lover, and didn't protest against it. The two continued to slowly waltz in Norman's bedroom, stepping back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Otto closed his eyes as well and leaned his head against Norman, focussing on the music and the slow, steady breathing the two shared in unison.
Otto realized he had never danced with Norman before. The last time he danced with someone... was with an old girlfriend in high school prom. Though, this was different. He knew with Norman he felt safe. And he knew Norman felt the same way. The two just in silence together, their bodies in the same repeating movement, there was something about it that just told him his life right now was completely perfect. In the heat of all that had been going on, the craziness of returning to their universe, back from the dead... this one little moment was something he wanted to continue forever. He wished he could just hold Norman here forever.
The music stopped. Otto knew all good things had to end sooner or later.
"Otto..." Norman whispered, their eyes still closed. The way he said his name felt different, almost if it was the first time he pronounced it. Nonetheless, he pushed his head out of his position and placed his hands on Otto's cheek, pulling him in for a kiss.
Otto didn't reject and kissed back. The kiss was soft and gentle, the two pulling away to catch their breath, then pushing into each other's lips once more. More passionate, yet still warm and safe. Their bodies curved into each other, now being closer than ever before.
Otto opened his eyes first, realizing their waltz had brought them into the most well-lit portion of the room. He chuckled a bit. "I've never danced with anyone since high school."
Though, Norman still closed his eyes, resting his face on Otto's chin.
Otto moved his chin in protest, playfully giggling in innocence. "Well, say something, dummy."
The shorter man finally opened his eyes as an actuator took Otto's glasses off of his face. Even if Otto couldn't stand the light (due to his reactor accident) for long without his glasses, he at least wanted to see the beautiful eyes of his lover and gaze into them as an end to this perfect moment.
Except, those eyes weren't blue.
They were green.
Otto gives a double-take before realizing that he had, this whole time, been slow dancing with someone else. Not his lover, but his other roommate. And he had just stolen a kiss from him.
He takes his hands off of the short man's hips and backs away a step. "You're not Norman."
"Ock..."
Another devastating reminder that this was the Goblin. Norman never called him Ock. Only the Goblin did.
"Cant this... stay between us?" The Goblin let out a sheepish smile.
Otto couldn't begin to wonder why the Goblin was being so affectionate. But in the heat of the surprise, he didn't want to know. Otto only loved Norman. NORMAN. Goblin was just a roommate, not even a friend. A partner in crime. Otto couldn't bear to think what Norman would say if he found out Otto had just kissed his alter-ego. Let alone, almost enjoyed it.
No. He didn't know. He should have checked. But he didn't know. He thought this was Norman. Norman... Norman.
No. No way. This wasn't going to happen, nor could it BEGIN to happen.
"Get out, Goblin."
"But, this is my room-"
"I don't give a fuck." Otto's tone turned to disgust and grit. "Take your damn glider and leave somewhere, I don't care! Don't come back until Norman's blue eyes are the ones I'm looking at."
"Fine." Sad eyebrows creased to anger as Goblin's green eyes harshly stared into Otto's. In a hurry, Goblin grabbed his mask and glider, then ran to the balcony to escape into the night.
***
Goblin finally glided down to the roof of the Hilton hotel. He sighed as he got off, and took to the edge of the building, sitting down and overlooking the view. People walking from sidewalk to sidewalk, cars, taxis, and trucks... and the Oscorp Tower in the distance. This was Goblin's favorite spot to lay low. Not that he would sit in one spot for long periods of time... but over the weeks Goblin found himself sitting here to take breaks and recollect his thoughts.
Though Goblin was in Norman's 60-year-old body, the Goblin himself was quite young. He felt mature, sure, but his existence technically only began a few years back. During this time, Goblin felt his personality become one of brashness and mischief, of an overinflated ego with too much confidence. He felt that he was the superior one over Norman, having everything that Norman didn't.
Except for one thing.
Over the weeks from looking at Norman's domestic life behind his eyes, Goblin realized that a simple life was something Norman had, and Goblin could never grasp. He realized how lucky Norman was... and he wanted a piece of that.
Week after week, Goblin began to crave the warmth that the domestic life could bring, and Ock was a big part of that. He felt needy for the touch of Ock, so much so that sometimes when they were sleeping together, Goblin would take over and wake up, only just to feel what it was like to fall back asleep in Ock’s arms.
All of course, when Otto didn't realize. He thought with the dim lighting and the closed eyes, he could shield the fact that Otto wasn't with his usual lover. But obviously, it didn't work. Why the hell did he open his eyes?!
Goblin sighed as he repeated the memory of his mistake tonight. He took out a cigar from his pocket. One he stole from Ock. He had never smoked, and neither did Norman, but he felt a craving for it tonight. Goblin was weirdly into trying new things today.
As his lips gripped the cigar, he remembered the kiss he stole from Otto. It was warm and safe. Goblin liked the feeling of intimacy. But at the same time, he realized how wrong it was, to be kissing a man who loved someone else.
He knew that he didn't love Ock. He loved the idea of him. But at the same time, he craved for more. It's not like the Goblin could just go out and start mingling to look for a lover. Though he always wore a mask when he was out for crime, and nobody knew that the Goblin and Norman Osborn shared the same body, that wasn't the problem. Goblin was just a mistake in Norman's life, as he sought day after day to find a cure to get rid of him. Sooner or later, the Goblin would cease to exist. And he wouldn't lie if he said he said he just wanted to enjoy life a bit before it ended.
Thank god Norman couldn't see behind Goblin's eyes as he could. If he knew that Goblin kissed Ock, the Goblin would cease to exist in no time. Goblin took a puff of his cigar and sighed, watching the smoke as it disappeared into the night sky.
***
Otto almost regretted yelling at the Goblin. Though, he knew how wrong it was, to have kissed Norman's body when he couldn't consent.
It was wrong. It was wrong, right? It had to be.
Then again, Otto's curiosity got the best of him when he wondered WHY Goblin would go about doing that sort of thing in the first place. Slow dancing, gentle touching, soft kisses... this was only something he and Norman enjoyed, and Goblin never wanted anything of the sorts, let alone domestic company with Otto.
They barely even knew each other, just the occasional partners in crime shindig were the only thing between them. So why would Goblin kiss Otto?
Otto gripped the balcony, watching the city in the night. He realized it was wrong to lash out at Goblin like that. When he returned the situation wouldn't improve. And when Norman returned...
Otto realized that there was no way that Goblin would give Norman that memory. Norman had always said how he wanted nothing to do with the Goblin. He worked hard almost every day in trying to get rid of him. Goblin would be digging himself an even deeper hole if Norman found out.
Otto though didn't want to tell Norman either. Both in embarrassment for himself, and care for the Goblin. Though Norman couldn't see it, the Goblin wasn't all that bad. He sort of... liked Goblin's company. Even in the few moments they saw each other, Otto couldn't help but feel bad if Goblin's life were to just end. Then again, Otto wouldn't bear to look at Norman in his eyes once he was back. He knew each time he looked into those blue eyes he would remind himself of the green eyes that had opened right after a soft, tender kiss.
He had to make it right. Otto let his arms raise him from the balcony's rails and jump onto the next building, in pursuit of Goblin.
***
"I knew you'd be here."
Goblin felt a rush of heat rise to his face as he heard the voice creep closer and closer to him. Though he wanted to be alone, he was secretly fond of the fact that Ock had come back after their fight.
"Really, how's that?" The goblins voice replied emotionless.
Otto's arms sunk letting Otto walk on his own two feet, then carefully sitting down close to Goblin. He still kept his distance, but was close enough to talk without the city's wind and traffic blocking their conversation.
"It's a perfect view towards the Oscorp Tower. Where else would you sit and admire your brilliance?"
Goblin sighed. "That's all Norman's doing."
"Maybe so, but you're a big help in there too." Otto turned to meet Goblin's eyes, his sunglasses off as the night sky had no effect on his condition. The eyes were still green.
The two shared a moment of silence, Otto realizing Goblin wasn't going to make the first move here. He sighed and continued, "Goblin, do you-"
"No." He interrupted harshly.
"You don't even know what I was going to say."
"I don't want to open up right now, Ock."
"Well you certainly wanted to do that with me earlier." Otto chuckled, his face still toward's Goblin, desperate for any type of emotion that Goblin was feeling.
"I don't like you. I mean, I like you, I..."
"You like me?"
"No!" Goblin spat. "Yes. Not like Norman does."
"You kissed me."
"I haven't even kissed anyone. Norman doesn't allow me to." Goblin, now at the bud of the cigar, carelessly flicked it off the building, watching it as it dropped story after story. "I don't like you, Ock. I like the IDEA of you."
"The idea of me? You mean my four children harnessed on my back?" Otto knew Goblin didn't mean that and toyed at his brain. If Otto responded with a wrong answer, Goblin would correct him. That's one thing he found that tricked Goblin's ego into talking.
"No. I never thought I'd be jealous of Norman, but really... he's got it good. I haven't ever realized how much I like the warmth of your... the warmth of another person. But Norman's not going to let me have nice things like that."
"So you think you'd got a soft side now?"
"I don't like thinking about things like this. But I'm still figuring it out. I've never had any friends before."
Otto scooted a little closer towards Goblin. "Well, you can start with me."
Goblin finally turned towards Ock to meet his eyes. "What?" He asked in confusion.
"If you promise not to kiss me again, I won't tell Norman what happened. I don't think it's really fair the way Norman treats you. You're not all bad. The least I can do is offer you some friendship."
Goblin sighed, and let himself lean into Ock's shoulder a bit. "I'm sorry for kissing you."
"I... It's fine. I didn't know you were so good of a waltzer, though."
"I practiced all day."
"Aw, that's sweet. Maybe I can be your partner for a while." Otto corrected his words. "Dance partner."
"I would like that."
"Just don't try to kiss me again." Otto reminded, though this time, his tone was playful and understanding.
"I won't. Thank you, Ock."
Otto smiled as he watched the city bustle from beneath his, focussing on Goblin's breathing. He understood that Goblin just wanted a shot at friendship, caring qualities of life that he had never experienced before. Though the Goblin was rash, he meant well. He just didn't know how to go about it yet. The kissing couldn't continue, but that didn't mean a friendship couldn't blossom from out of it.
"...Otto?" A voice finally said.
The smaller man leaned off Octavius, and Otto turned to meet blue eyes. Norman was back.
"Where are we?" Norman asked.
"I was just enjoying the view with Goblin."
"Oh, I'm sorry, did he-" Norman immediately apologized for Goblin's actions, even though he didn't know what had happened, he assumed they were up to no good. Though, Otto was quick to shut him out of these thoughts.
"He didn't do anything wrong, don't worry," Otto responded. "You know, Norman, maybe we should let him stay for a while."