[center][img]https://comicvine.gamespot.com/a/uploads/original/1/15776/6219635-superior%20octopus%203.png[/img][/center][hr]
When it rains it pours.

Otto had been having an eventful past few days that was for sure. The most eventful of his life so far, that was an easy bet to make. In the space of just a week he'd stopped a mugging, got battered by a giant mechanical crab monster, and helped the X-Men stop a riot. He was feeling pretty good about himself, all things considered - and if it wasn't for the bruises and lack of sleep he'd have felt like he could conquer anything.

Instead, he felt like he could just about stay awake.

The fluorescent lights of the lecture hall buzzed faintly overhead, casting everything in that slightly sickly tone that made even the most enthusiastic lecturer sound like they were delivering a eulogy. Otto sat slouched in his chair, one hand propping his head up while the other loosely held a pen that had only touched paper to draw crude octopus doodles in the corners of the pages. His laptop screen glowed back at him with a half-finished document that hadn't changed since he opened it.

It took everything in his power to hold his eyes open. He was in that listless half state of consciousness - neither here nor there. Was this what meditating was like? The words on the projected screen at the end of the hall might well have been German for how well he could understand them. Every time he tried to focus on them they blurred again. He was well and truly exhausted.

"-and if you refer to the reading I set last week...Mr. Octavius?"

Otto's head snapped up, entirely alert now. [color=#00FF00]"Yeah-yeah, sorry."[/color]

A few people turned to look at him. He sat up a little straighter, trying to look like someone who had definitely been paying attention the entire time.

"Would you care to explain the principle behind-"

There was a pause, the lecturer rolling his wrist expectantly. An answer was warranted - Otto didn't even know the question. His brain, usually quick, usually sharp, felt like it was wading through quicksand.

[color=#00FF00]"Uh...Yeah."[/color] He coughed, trying to give himself some time. [color=#00FF00]"It's, uh-"[/color]

What followed was an awkward silence as he glanced around the room, searching for any semblance of help. Any unknown ally ready to jump to his aid. He was completely alone in a sea of eyes staring back at him.

From somewhere to his right, a voice muttered under their breath. "Jeeee-sus" He could practically hear the eye-roll that went along with the comment.

Otto exhaled through his nose, accepting defeat. [color=#00FF00]"Sorry, I didn't catch that part."[/color]

A few quiet snickers from the crowd. The lecturer frowned, but moved on. Otto leaned back in his chair again, dragging a hand down his face. That hadn't happened before. He was always quick to the draw when it came to this stuff. Even if he didn't know the answer he could've talked around it in a way that made him sound like he did.

"Dude, you look like shit."

Otto glanced up as he stepped out into the hallway, blinking against the change in lighting. [color=#00FF00]"Good to see you too."[/color]

Peter fell into step beside him, hands shoved into his pockets, a smirk playing on his lips. "I'm serious. I saw you in there, man. You, like, short-circuited.”

[color=#00FF00]"I'm just tired. Plus, who are you? The new hall-monitor?"[/color]

"Uh-huh. Tired from what? You don't do anything."

[color=#00FF00]"I do plenty."[/color]

Peter raised an eyebrow. "Name one thing you've done this week that isn't sitting in front of a screen or arguing about sandwiches."

Otto hesitated for a moment. He wasn't a great liar, it was better to tell small truths and omit details than it was to make something up he'd just get tangled in later. [color=#00FF00]"I've been busy."[/color]

"Right. Sure."

They walked in silence for a few seconds before Peter spoke again, sounding more enthusiastic than before. "So. Harry's been asking about you. He says you've not been replying to his texts."

Otto groaned, slapping himself on the forehead. [color=#00FF00]"Ugh, don't start. I've sort of been avoiding life this week I need to text him back."[/color]

"I'm not starting anything." Peter said, grinning. "He just wanted to know if you were still interested in that internship thing."

Otto stopped, to the irritation of the people walking behind him who shoved their way past. [color=#00FF00]"Oh shit, really?"[/color]

"Yeah. Said his dad's looking at bringing in a few students this summer. Engineering, research, all that Oscorp stuff."

[color=#00FF00]"It's probably nothing. I doubt I'll even get through the first round of interviews."[/color]

Peter snorted. "Dude, it's Oscorp. Even 'nothing' is something. Plus, it's not like you don't have the nepotism advantage."

[color=#00FF00]"Yeah, well..."[/color] Otto shrugged. [color=#00FF00]"Guys like me don’t just walk into places like that. Plus, isn't Harry's dad kind of a dick?"[/color]

"Guys like you?" Peter stopped walking, turning to look at him properly now. "Other than myself you're probably the smartest guy I know, Otto."

[color=#00FF00]"Doesn't mean anything. You barely know anyone.""[/color]

Peter shrugged. "And Harry's dad might be a dick, but every time I've met him he's been fine. You know what Harry's like."

Harry had always been vocal - especially after a few drinks - about the friction between him and his father. Too many expectations and not enough tender loving care through his youth. Harry suspected it had something to do with his mother's death. Otto had never properly met the guy, only seen his picture in magazines or caught a glimpse of him picking Harry up from school when they were younger.

[hr]

Later that evening, Otto sat at his desk, the glow of his monitor illuminating the clutter around him - notes, half-finished designs, scattered tools.

On the screen was an email draft. One that he had been staring at for the better part of an hour now. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, never daring to touch the keys. He'd typed it out three times already, and deleted it twice entirely. The third version - the most excessively preened and pruned of the triplets sat there now, awaiting the decision on whether or not it would serve its purpose and be sent - or be destroyed like its brethren.

[quote]Dear Mr. Osborn,
Harry mentioned there may be internship opportunities available this summer. I'd be interested in discussing-[/quote]

Otto stared at it a while longer. Something about it felt off. Was it too eager? Too formal? Was it enough? Too much? He sighed, leaning back in his chair.

[color=#00FF00]"Yeah, that's not getting sent. Not tonight anyway."[/color]

The laptop clicked shut. He sat in silence for a moment, pushing himself away from the desk on his office chair and interlocking his fingers behind his head. He stared at the ceiling for a moment, and then spun slightly on his chair, glancing at the dim part of his room out of the corner of his eye.

He watched for a time, he could almost see it breathing from beneath the loose covering. Finally he rose from his chair and moved over to the edge of the room. He removed the covering and pulled out the harness from its hiding place.

He hesitated for a moment, turning over the cold metal in his hands before shaking his head and letting out a sigh.

[color=#00FF00]"Not tonight."[/color]

He set it back down carefully, pulling the covering over it again. He needed a break. The other heroes could pick up his slack in the meantime.

Instead, he grabbed his phone, scrolling for a moment before stopping on a contact. Then he hit call.

"Hoh, if it isn't the invisible man!" Harry's voice crackled through the speaker.

Otto leaned back in his chair, staring through the window. [color=#00FF00]"Yeah, yeah - sorry I've been a bit M.I.A. I've been busy with...stuff."[/color] He was going to need to come up with a better excuse - or any excuse at all for that matter. It could only go on so long before his friends start getting suspicious.

"No problemo there 'Big O'. So, what's up?"

[color=#00FF00]"I'm bored, plus I need your advice on an email."[/color]

"Say no more, amigo. Wanna come to mine? I can set up [i]Tekken[/i] if you can afford to switch your brain off for a bit."

Otto smiled. [color=#00FF00]"Sounds great."[/color]

[hr]

Harry's apartment was a far cry from Otto's family home.

Otto had been here enough times that the novelty had worn off. It was still expensive, obviously, but it felt lived in. Jackets lazily slung over chairs, empty bottles tucked half-heartedly into corners, a general sense that someone actually existed here rather than just passed through it. Even if the occupant didn't take the best care of his belongings.

"Make yourself at home" Harry said, already moving toward the kitchen. "Drink?"

[color=#00FF00]"Yeah, sure."[/color]

Peter didn't even look up from where he was flicking through the TV channels. "He means help yourself, by the way. If you wait for him you'll die of thirst."

"Hey!" Harry called back, grabbing a couple of beers and tossing one toward Otto. "Ungrateful. Free beer is free beer, Parker."

Otto caught it easily, cracking it open as he leaned against the back of the couch.

"So" Harry said, dropping onto the sofa and grabbing a controller "This mystery email. Let's hear it."

Otto exhaled through his nose, already feeling that slight knot in his stomach again. [color=#00FF00]"It's nothing, really. I just don't want to make the wrong first impression with your dad."[/color]

Peter glanced over. "You're overthinking it. As per usual. It's just your friends dad."

[color=#00FF00]"I am not overthinking it! It's not just my friend's dad, it's-"[/color] He gestured vaguely. [color=#00FF00]"It's [i]him[/i]."[/color]

Harry let out a short laugh at that, though there wasn't much humour in it. "Yeah. [i]Him[/i]. You said it buddy."

Otto hesitated for a second before asking, [color=#00FF00]"So, what's he actually like? When he's not on the cover of Time Magazine - that is."[/color]

There was a pause. Harry leaned back into the couch, rolling the controller idly between his hands as he stared at the screen without really taking in what was on it. "Depends who you ask, I guess." he said eventually. "Public version? Genius. Visionary. Built Oscorp into what it is. Real man of the people stuff." He took a swig of beer. "Private version? Let's just say you don't get to where he is by being a particularly nice guy."

Otto frowned a little. [color=#00FF00]"Right..."[/color]

"I mean, don't get me wrong" Harry added, a little more quickly now. "He'll like you. Yo'’re exactly the kind of person he loves. Smart, driven, not an idiot." A small smirk tugged at his mouth. "Unlike some people."

"Wow." Peter muttered. "Just catching strays for no reason now."

"He'll size you up in about ten seconds." He continued. "He'll be deciding if you're worth his time. If you are? Great. Doors open. Opportunities. The whole shebang." He tapped the controller against his knee. "If you're not then...you may as well not exist."

[color=#00FF00]"Sounds encouraging."[/color]

Harry let out a laugh. "Hey, you asked!"

[color=#00FF00]“Yeah, I guess I did."[/color] Otto admitted. [color=#00FF00]"Just trying to figure out how not to completely embarrass myself and potentially fuck up my future forever."[/color]

Harry snorted. "Oh, come off it. You'll be fine." He shifted in his seat, speaking more pointedly now. "Look, you want my advice - keep it direct. Don't grovel, he hates that. And don't try to be clever for the sake of it. He was a scientist before he was a businessman he'll see right through it."

[color=#00FF00]"Right. Duly noted."[/color]

Peter suddenly perked up, as if he was roused from deep slumber. He tossed a controller toward Otto. "Alright, enough career counselling. Let's play a game."

Otto caught the controller then held up both hands in mock surrender. [color=#00FF00]"I didn't come here to get humiliated."[/color]

"You came to the wrong place then!" Peter shot back.

Harry smirked, already selecting his character on the screen. "Relax, we'll go easy on you."

"Speak for yourself!" Peter said. "I'm not holding back."

Otto sighed, but took the controller anyway, dropping into the seat beside them. [color=#00FF00]"Fine. Just don't start crying when I beat you."[/color]

It was nice to go back to normal for a while, even if it was just for a night.