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The water of the river was rhythmic, steadily flowing like an artery that pulsed alongside the city. Darting rays of sunlight flickered between the small waves, radiating each motion in a crystalline manner. Otto’s brown eyes were magnetized by the aquatic feat of nature, his tentacles slumped behind him as he remained standing tall, transfixed onto the serenity.
This was the place his machine had been buried. If it weren’t for the faint scatterings of debris still floating atop the currents, there would be no signs that this spot was a grave. Not just for his life’s work, but for his dreams, his hopes, his love. It had all died with it.
The wisps of brown hair over his forehead were pushed ever so gently to the side by a few particularly strong gusts of wind. This gesture of nature reminded him of Rosie, guiding her gentle hand through his hair, ensuring he was properly dolled up before any day of significance. Swiftly shutting his eyelids, Otto lowered his head as the grief set in yet again. Despite his inhibitor chip being fixed and the matter of the reactor being resolved, he was left with a deep hole in his chest. There was nothing left. He was truly and utterly alone. Despite the trouble they had caused him, he found himself even missing the voices of his pestilent actuators. At least they had provided a way to dull his aching mind.
He knew it would be so easy to just take one leap and be done with it, allowing himself to sink into his own watery grave, but the thought just didn’t sit right with Otto. Returning his focus back onto the water in front of him, clenching one fist tightly, he recognized that the vast expanse of the river felt unnervingly limitless. Ultimately, sacrificing himself would mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. He’d just become another piece of debris, something that wouldn’t better humanity or the world around him.
But one simple fact remained: It was daunting to exist in a world where he had to rebuild himself from the ground up. So much had changed, he wondered if there were any remnants of his past self within him, if it was possible to be that proud man he once was after everything that transpired.
“Doctor Octavius?”
At first, Otto didn’t even register the voice behind him being real. But, it felt tangible enough that he had to turn his head around. He was shocked to find Peter Parker standing a few feet behind him on the small pier, dressed in his everyday attire. As evidenced by the backpack slung over his shoulder, it was likely he had just returned from school.
“Peter?” Otto gruffed. He cleared his throat, recognizing that his tone outwardly projected much more of his internal melancholy than he would’ve liked. A few quiet moments lingered in the air as the physicist collected himself enough to speak in a less tempered manner. “What are you doing here?”
“I was just passing through when I saw you from far away. I wanted to make sure you’re doing alright after, you know…”
Otto put his hands in his coat pockets, swiveling himself around in place so that he could face the young man properly. He couldn’t help but smile a little, quite glad to see him even if the timing wasn’t great. From the night he met the young college student, he knew he had great potential, but lacked the gumption to fully succeed. But, after seeing a glimpse of Parker as his future self, how he grew to become a much more self-assured man, it made Otto feel quite fulfilled. He was incredibly proud of Peter in his current, younger state as well. Not only did he rightfully stand up to stop Doc Ock as Spiderman, but did so with a profound sense of wisdom. He acted very dutifully with the good of mankind at heart.
“I’m alright, dear boy,” Otto lied. “I came here to reflect, is all.”
“Do you miss it? Your reactor?”
Otto couldn’t help but chuckle at that.
“No, not at all.”
“…Rosie?”
The smile on his face fell slightly. Otto darted his vision to the side for a moment, catching a glimpse of his mechanical limbs out of the corner of his eyes.
“Yes. Of course I miss her,” He muttered, his gaze returning to focus on Peter. “She didn’t deserve to get caught in this mess.”
“She loved you a lot…” Peter said before letting out an awkward chuckle. “Sorry, this probably isn’t helping. I meant to say, I saw that she cared for you and would want you to succeed.”
Otto felt appreciative of his efforts to ease his dismay, but didn’t exactly feel worthy of his pity either. His mind went back to that day, the evening before the demonstration.
“The night you had dinner with us,” He started speaking before thinking it through, feeling instinctually inclined to admit something to the young man, “I had a conversation with her. I… I didn’t want kids. Not initially. With the lives we led, we wouldn’t have the bandwidth. But, I saw something, Peter. I saw part of myself in you and felt immense pride. I told her, before we fell asleep, that I might want children. She smiled, said she’d consider it.”
Peter’s eyes widened at that confession, taking a few moments to process it.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Otto shook his head, his voice softening. “This was all my fault. I should’ve known better. Now she’s-…”
Peter stayed quiet, parting his lips while he seemed to be mulling over what to say next. Otto grew worried that he revealed too much, stopping himself from speaking any further. It wasn’t this young man’s burden to bear his insecurities. Otto certainly wouldn’t blame him either if he held onto resentment. It was his own lack of caution that led to him turning mad; trying to kill Spiderman, taunting him, kidnapping and harming innocents to lure him in. It was only on the technicality he was being manipulated by his mechanical limbs that he didn’t face any severe punishment. The real atonement would be social ostracization, and Otto was expecting nothing less than the treatment he deserved.
“I think you’d make a good dad,” Peter finally replied earnestly.
Those exact words made Otto’s heart snap in two, his stoic expression cracking to reveal something much more reflective of his dismay. His head hung low while he tried desperately not to break down. Peter walked up to the scientist, placing a hand on the side of his arm affirmingly, which only served to bring the beginnings of tears to Otto’s eyes. Hesitantly, he craned his head up to get a look at Peter.
“Thank you,” He muttered, unable to fully express the profound gratitude he had as he was fighting back his tears.
“I know you’re trying to do better, Doc.” Peter grinned.
Otto chuckled at his wording, feeling wetness condensing along his undereyes. He loved this boy dearly.