Chapter Text
You groan in your pillow while the boy's wish continues to ring in your brain.
"I wish to meet Doc Ock."
Of all the wishes you helped accomplish, this one is undoubtedly the hardest. You are sure that you won't be considered a miracle worker anymore. While it was easy to ask the other superheroes to meet the children as Scarlet Spider, you are certain that you can't waltz up to Octavius and ask him to grant a wish to a sick kid dressed as his archenemy.
You hit the pillow and stand up, determination flashing in your eyes. You will do your best to grant Hercule's wish. He is a fantastic child, and he deserves to have his wish granted. Your mind works a mile a minute. The most pressing issue is where to find the former scientist. It's not like you can look him up in the phone book.
One thing you know for certain, Ock likes the finer things in life and indulges in them even though he is a wanted man. So, your best bet is to scout the high-end shops and extravagant restaurants.
Determination courses through you, and you are ready to start your search.
The plan was good in retrospect, but after you scour 50 locations and don't find him, your spirit deflates. You have 10 times more places to search, but you don't know how you will manage to find him in time.
You drag your feet to one of the most expensive bars and are half surprised that the bodyguards don't stop you from entering since you are far from their clientele. While your body thanks you for getting out of the cold and windy December night, your eyes scan the crowd, and you can't help but note the luxurious outfits the people wear. You bet that with your salary in a year, you could barely afford a pair of shoes the women in the bar wear.
You sigh and prepare to leave dejected. It may be dumb luck or divine intervention because you catch a flash of white in the corner of your eye. You turn and are close to dancing in happiness when you see Octavius in his pristine white suit sitting at the bar. You are close to running to him and pushing everyone out of the way, worse than a rugby player. But you compose yourself as you walk toward him and take the seat on his left. He doesn't react, and you are grateful because you are trying out sentences in your mind about how to approach this issue.
You take a deep breath and turn to him "Excuse me, Dr. Octavius?" you breathe out and you hope that he didn't notice how your voice wavered.
It's one thing to face him as Scarlet Spider and a whole other to do that as a civilian when you can’t defend yourself if needed.
His hand stops midair as he was bringing his glass of whiskey to his pink lips. He puts it back down and tilts his head, enough so his eyes can go up and down your figure. You flush because his gaze seems to linger as he roams over you, paying special attention to your face.
He turns properly and gives you a charming smile that makes you pause. You never saw your enemy smile like this.
"Yes?" His sensuous voice intones, and it baffles you how warm it sounds.
"Sorry to bother you. I'm from an organization..." You don't get the chance to finish your sentence because his smile turns cold, and his rich brown eyes seem to have ice in them.
"I'm not interested in what you have to say." He says sharply and focuses back on his drink, completely ignoring you.
"But, sir!"
"Pardon my rudeness, but I don't care what you have to convey," he utters in the sharp tone you are used to.
“I don't care.”
Those words echo in your brain over and over again, and your anger ignites.
You stand up abruptly "You bloody bastard!" You shout, completely ignoring exactly who you are yelling at and that you are making a scene "You can't say to a dying child 'I don't care', you monster!"
You freeze when a metal arm winds up around your body and panic because your Spider sense didn't alert you. His other metal arms lift him gracefully and under the stupefied gazes of the other people in the bar, he dashes with you out. You swallow hard when his actuators climb with him, and you up the side of the building until you reach the very top. You are terrified by the prospect of him throwing you off the building and having to save yourself, thus divulging who you are.
You reach the top, and to your surprise and relief, he sets you down on the rooftop while his actuators lower him soundlessly as well. You can't see his eyes because the glasses darken due to the light outside, but from the frown line between his eyebrows, you can discern that he isn't overly happy with your outburst.
His actuators help him put his coat on "Who is dying?" He asks astonishingly calmly after the scene you made "And please refrain from yelling."
You take a deep breath "I'm with the 'Make a wish' foundation" his eyebrows shoot up instantly, showing you that he heard of it "A boy..." You take out your phone and show him the picture of the green-eyed child "... Hercule wants to meet you. That's his wish."
"Meet me?" He asks incredulously "Why not a hero like Scarlet Spider?!"
You sigh and rub the space between your eyes "Because somehow you are more interesting. I admit I feed his curiosity regarding you."
One eyebrow arches instantly "How so?"
"Hercule mentioned that he found you intriguing, and I told him about your actuators," you declare, slightly annoyed that you did that instead of diverting the child's attention to one of the heroes.
He chuckles softly "So, I wasn't mistaken down at the bar." At the puzzlement you display, he details with a brilliant smile "You were at my lecture when I showed my harness for the first time." Two of his actuators move behind you and form a makeshift bench, another urging you to sit while his flesh and blood ones aid him to light up a cigarette "You were in the first row to the left" he informs you as he exhales upward the smoke that leaves his mouth leisurely.
You debate whether you need to be flattered or terrified that he has such a good memory "I... yes, I was," you admit since there's no sense in lying.
"It's a little unfair, don't you agree? You know my name, but I don't know yours."
You really don't wish to tell him, but if you refuse, you will be suspicious. Not only that, but knowing him, even if you somehow managed to avoid giving him your name, he would find out what it is within a day.
"F/n Reilly."
Bewilderment colors your face when he takes your hand and places a kiss on it. His pink lips almost burn your cold skin.
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Reilly." He says pleasantly "Now, regarding the issue you presented, how do I know it isn't a trap nicely laid out by Scarlet Spider?" You bristle because you would never stoop so low "You must understand that the thought of a child wanting to meet me is close to incredulous."
Your anger subsides somewhat "I assure you, no hero will bother you if you will visit Hercule. I will fight them off if I have to."
A beat and melodious laughter escapes him. It shocks you. Never did you hear him laugh in merriment. Only wicked chuckles graced your ears until now.
"A feisty one, aren't you?" He asks, amused.
"You have no idea."
He finishes his cigarette and stares in your direction as your hot puffs of air turn to clouds in the cold air.
"I will come to visit him," he utters, and you are a step away from hugging your enemy.
You jump off his actuators "Thank you!" You nearly shout in happiness.
"However..." Your smile freezes on your face "... I expect you to be there as well."
"Why?"
He tilts his head and gives you a loop-sided grin "If I will be attacked by Scarlet Spider, I will require a hostage to keep her off my case until I make my escape. I won't kidnap a sick child."
You do wonder how shocked he would be if he found out that you and Scarlet Spider are one and the same "Deal" you hold out your hand.
He takes it and shakes it lightly "We have an accord. Now, let me get you back down," he says softly, one of his metal arms gently picking you up as the other takes the two of you down.
“Why did you refuse to hear me out at the bar?” you inquire as you steadily get closer to the ground.
“I apologize for that. I was approached in the past by organizations that wanted me to make weapons for them. I always refused, and I foolishly thought that you were one of them.”
You nod and thank your lucky stars that Octavius has a moral code he sticks by "When will you drop by?" you breathe out when your feet touch the ground and it must be your imagination but his metal arms linger a second longer around your waist before releasing you.
"This week."
You refrain from rolling your eyes "You can't expect me to stay in the hospital the whole week from sunrise till sunset."
He snickers "I suppose not. Make sure to be at the hospital on Wednesday."
You nod, making a note to ask Matt to patrol your side of the city on that day "Very well. I will see you on Wednesday, Dr. Octavius. Thank you again for agreeing." You intone, turning to leave.
"You're welcome, my dear."
You nearly stagger in your steps at the endearment and wonder if the Christmas spirit got the scientist and made him more agreeable this time of the year.