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Oscar was fighting harder than he ever had in his life against Doc Ock, who seemed to be able to bat him away like a fly, like he was little more than an irritation to his day. Oscar was gasping for air, feeling the breaks in his ribs shift with every move he made; the cut above his left eyebrow dripping blood into his eye. The superhero was running on pure adrenaline, every muscle screaming and aching. But he wouldn't stop. He couldn't stop. Not while Doc Ock had Lando gripped in one of his metal arms, hovering him in the mid-air at the top of a thirty story building. It was Oscar's fault Lando was even here. Being Spiderman's boyfriend had dragged that gentle, beautiful boy into this situation, now it was Spiderman's responsibility to get him out of it.
"Please, just let him go! He has nothing to do with this." Oscar shouted, as he wrapped another web around one of the doctor's terrifying metal arms, preventing it from moving. The supervillain just grinned viciously at his former apprentice.
"You brought him into this when you interfered with my plans and betrayed me! Now you will pay with his life!" The doctor roared, blood and spit flying from his mouth. He loosened the metal arm's grip on Lando slightly, just enough that Lando would jolt in the air but not fall yet. A ragged yell escaped from Lando's lips.
"Oscar!" Oscah. Lando's voice was dripping with fear; it turned Oscar's veins to ice. Oscar was now dodging the only metal arm he hadn't managed to web up, fighting his way to his love. He managed to dodge hit after hit, getting close to the roof edge, closer to Lando. Cool metal enclosed around his ankle just as his feet touched the ledge, dragging him down. His face smashed against the concrete and he pulled his mask off to spit out the blood that had filled his mouth. Anonymity didn't really matter when your ex-boss was trying to murder the love of your life. Oscar barely had time to begin pushing himself up onto his elbows before a rough hand grabbed a fistful of his hair, forcing his head up. Oscar's eyes met Lando's. Brown eyes locked onto green, both wide with fear. Tears tracked down the British man's face, his mouth open in shock as he watched the scene unfold. Doc Ock brought Lando closer, enough so that he could touch the ledge with the tips of his toes. Oscar and Lando were now separated by only a couple of metres. Fighting against the restraint of the metal arm, Lando tried to free his arm and reach for Oscar. At the same time, the vigilante thrashed against Doc Ock's grip, reaching out to try and pull Lando to safety. They were devastatingly close, but yet still too far from each other. The doctor's cold, callous laugh rang out into the night. He lowered himself to be level with Oscar's ear as he spoke.
"Ah, young love. Seems a shame to end it, but you must pay, Piastri. You will feel the pain I do."
"Don't. Please, don't. I know you don't want to do this, Otto." Oscar pleaded with his former mentor, eyes never leaving Lando. The villian ignored him, eyes flicking back up to the other man in his grasp.
"Mr Norris, it seems our dear Oscar will not save you this time. Any last words?" Doc Ock called, his face curving back into that awful grin. Oscar kept fighting against the grip on his hair and ankle, knowing he was running out of time.
"Oscar-" Lando's words were cut off by a sharp grasp as the metal arm released its grip. He plummeted backwards into the dark air, arm reaching out for something that wasn't there. Oscar's heart plummeted into his stomach at the sight.
The next moments seemed to stretch out for hours. With newfound strength, Oscar broke free of Doc Ock's grasp, knocking the man onto his back. Using the ledge for leverage, he dived headfirst into the night air after Lando. He was falling faster than Oscar could reach him, his face frozen in place, mouth open in an "O" as the fall knocked the air out of his lungs. Oscar stretched out his arm, pressing his web shooter. The silvery web shot out instantly, stretching out like a tiny hand to latch onto Lando. Grabbing onto a railing on the side of the building, Oscar stopped his fall and pulled the web taut.
It wasn't enough.
Oscar would have this scene replay in his mind for the rest of his life.
Lando's fall was slowed, but not enough to stop his head hitting the floor with a sickening crack, his spine bending at an unnatural angle. The sound resonated, bouncing around in Oscar's skull. Securing the web to the railing, he swung himself down to the ground where Lando remained suspended a few feet in the air, eyes closed. Cutting the web attached to Lando's abdomen, Oscar wrapped his arms around his lover. His limp body weighed heavy in the superhero's arms, heavier than anything Oscar had ever carried on his life. He placed his hand against Lando's cheek, stroking gently. Sitting himself down on the cold, wet ground, Oscar focused in on the sound of Lando's heartbeat.
"Stay with me, Lan. Stay with me, I'm here." Oscar's voice cracked as he heard one, two, three slow heartbeats.
Then nothing.
In the silence, the world collapsed around Oscar. He felt like someone had ripped his heart out of his chest, leaving him broken and bleeding. Continuing to stroke Lando's face, Oscar watched with complete devastation as blood began to trickle out of Lando's nose, marring his perfect face. Another sign that Lando, his other half, love of his life, was gone.
"Lando, please. Please don't go. Don't go." His sobs echoed through the alley. "I can't do this without you."
Folding into himself, Oscar placed his forehead against Lando's, tears falling onto the still body beneath him. He clutched Lando tighter, as if just holding him would bring him back to life. Heartbreak and grief crashed over him like waves, each more suffocating than the last. Lando was dead because of him. Because of who he was. How could he ever forgive himself?
The sound of sirens filled the air as the police dashed towards the scene. Oscar knew he now had limited time to escape but he couldn't bring himself to leave just yet. He just wanted one more minute to feel the warmth of Lando's skin, to study the features of his face. The minute passed then, with gentle reverence, Oscar lowered Lando's body to the floor, fingers carding through those brown curls one last time.
Blue flashes began to flood the alley as multiple police cars arrived. Suddenly remembering he'd abandoned his mask on the roof, Oscar stood and turned away from the glaring lights. He began his ascent of the building, stopping briefly on the roof to grab his mask and watch as the police surrounded Lando's broken body. Pulling on the mask, he swung away into the night, leaving his heart behind.