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"I won't pay for this carton of milk unless it has the seal!"
Peter’s laugh echoed throughout the lab as he kept doing the impossibly "low voice" which was supposed to be an intimidation of Otto.
Peter usually wasn't the curious type, but until he saw Otto's spare trench coat, his goggles, big shoes and a little harness waist, Peter couldn't resist himself in trying the stuff on that made his mentor so cool looking.
The coat dragged impossibly long along the ground, with the sleeves of the coat completely swallowing up the boy’s arms. The boots made the biggest and ridiculous clinking noises as they clattered along the floor. Since Peter was a few hours early to him and Ottos lab session, a few minutes to play around wouldn't hurt. His college classes wouldn't start till noon, and he always made sure to set an alarm to his watch so he wouldn't miss Curtis’s class.
"Norman, I told you that the coats you buy for me are Larry's least favorite color. He's sensitive!" He giggled as he looked himself in the mirror, trying to think of other things to say. He adjusted the science goggles on his head.
"Peter, you have been doing so well my boy, I think it's time for a promotion. Why don't you become my senior assistant? That way, you can come to all the science conventions with me. It...it would be an awesome experience Mr.Parker."
That would be super awesome. Like, us geeking out? About different scientists, and their inventions, with Otto! Ah, what a dream!
"Well, I don't know if I would say awesome, but I would purpose a similar statement since I think you are grown up enough."
Peter yelped as he saw…Otto…wave at him through the mirror.
Catching him off guard as he turned around, Peter accidentally tripped on the shoe laces of the boots, causing him to fall right on his butt. The boy suddenly felt himself being picked up by the waist as an actuator kept him in he air.
He wasn’t supposed to see that! Peter couldn’t help but face away from Otto. Great. Now Otto is gonna think I’m mocking him or something-
Otto immediately pulled the boy in for a hug, ruffling his hair slightly as he was tucked into the scientist’s own coat. Peter instinctively made a little OOF noise.
"You got me spot on, I'm not even surprised you got my mannerisms down. I’m flattered, really, my boy, I am. Is that going to be your Halloween costume?" Otto couldn't help but let out a roaring laugh, Peter feeling only slightly relieved in Otto’s reaction.
"No, cause only scary ones make the cut." Peter mumbled inside the coat, feeling absolutely calm and safe in the embrace. "That wasn't professional of me. I'm sorry."
Otto couldn’t help but raise a brow, pulling Peter out of the embrace to fully look at him.
“You're treating me as if I haven't seen you drool on my desk or myself before or something. I think you're okay, kiddo."
Otto chuckled as he gently set Peter down, fixing his hair and fixing the attire on him. "Come on boy, don't go shy on me."
"Well now you're just embarrassing me." Peter huffed playfully, about to take it off before Otto stopped him.
"Wait..I just want to look at you for a second."
Peter blinked, now feeling how ridiculous he probably looked. He couldn’t help but feel small as he now felt the big clothes almost fall off of him. He probably looked dumb!
Little did he know that Otto thought the quite opposite, looking at the boy through his shades with absolute fondness, taking in just how similar Peter was trying to replicate his style, and..how much he looked like a little kid. He almost looked like a tiny Otto!
CLICK!
"Hey!" Peter gasped as soon as he saw the Kodak camera in Otto’s hands, the flash going off several times. Otto’s smiled increased as Peter let out a growl and tried to grab it. "I'm the photographer here, not the photographee! You better not print that, Otto!”
"I won't, I won't! I swear!" Otto snorted as Peter tried jumping to his height, the boots clacking as Peter tried to snatch the camera away. "It will stay in perfect condition for the projector scrapbook. Oh, who am I kidding? You look absolutely adorable! Norman definitely has to see this. Thanks for the idea my boy! You always use that big brain of yours!”
“Nooohooo! Otto!! Come on, I don’t even know if that was a compliment or criticism!” Peter tried to web Otto as his last attempt, but the actuators immediately caught the web and placed it on the floor of the lab. Peter couldn’t help the loud scoff that flew out of his mouth as he quickly undressed to reveal his actual clothes.
“It’s great what technology can keep as well remembered memories, right my boy?” Otto laughed loudly as they were having an intense chase scene around the apartment, laughs and giggles filling the air as the camera was treated like a hot potato.
Little did they know that it managed to go off during the chaos and took plenty of pictures reflecting how much fun they had for the chase game, Otto later finding out when he actually went to print the pictures at a local pharmacy.
“Oh, how precious. You and your son look adorable!” The lady at the picture department cooed, not noticing the way Otto’s ears perked up or turned cherry red. “Cameras can’t capture everything, but at least they capture the most unexpected things to come your way, right?”
Feeling his throat choke up a bit, Otto settled for a bashful smile and a nod.
Maybe he should start a photo album for the future.