Chapter 2
Anna Maria Marconi loved two things: science and cooking. Otto didn't care about being in the third place, in fact, it was one of the things he loved about Anna Maria, even her coffee was special, it wasn't like the instant coffee that had filled his stomach estoy this morning, Otto could taste the freshness of the beans freshly roasted to their ideal point.
Anna Maria's look said it all: driving, suspicion, curiosity and hatred.
-It's a great coffee.
-Freshly roasted, I was about to go to work.
-Oh. I shouldn't have come. I'll leave.
-Calm down tiger. I told them I'd be late, besides, I have the real Spider-Man on speed dial.
Otto smiled despite himself, that little piece of information told him that she hadn't called Spider-Man yet... or she was lying to him and stalling for time.
-I would never hurt you. I hope you know that. I only came here because you're the only person I trust in this world.
-thats a low bar Considering that you once tried to destroy the world.
-I think I made it clear that it was mostly a bluff. I don't expect you to believe me, I just hope you answer a few questions and I'll leave your life.
-ask away then
Otto felt a little insulted by the alacrity with which Anna Maria had rejected him, but he remembered what he had done to this wonderful woman. He swallowed his pride along with coffe and listed the most important questions that came to mind in order of importance.
-What happened to the other original Octavius?… I've read several reports from the Clarin but I want to hear It from you.
-Don't you remember?
-No. I've been in suspended animation since I took the alias of Superior Octopus but I was awakened by the lack of news from Superior Octopus and Superior Spider-Man. I've been dead for a few months now, haven't I?
A solitary tear ran down her beautiful cheek, which she quickly wiped away a little embarrassed. A primordial protective instinct moved Otto's hand but he recovered. He had lost the right to comfort such a beautiful woman.
Anna Maria then told him how Elliot Tolivar had entered her life, discarding the alias of Superior Octopus and returning to the alias of Superior Spider-Man, she briefly told him about her adventures helping that reformed villain not as a girlfriend but as an ally. She got to the point where His other self had made a deal with Mephisto to return to his former self. The fat one
-WHAT? Why? It was just fucking Norman Osborn. Even if was better than me, why didn't the other heroes help me? Why didn't Peter help me?
-We didn't have time and you were desperate.
-Then why didn't I try to be me again? My true self?
-Do you truly see yourself as Spiderman?
-Yes, and as Spider-Man I've messed up. But no more. Never again.
Four mechanical legs came out from between Otto's clothes and undressed him with absolute speed and care. It was so fast that he could barely see that those clothes had been stored in the mechanical backpack where the mechanical legs come out, under his civilian clothes was his superior Spider-Man suit and at some point during that transformation he had taken his mask from somewhere, Otto while he was holding the mask in His hands he seemed to hesitate to put it on.
-It's strange. The world knows that I am the superior Spider-Man but it is still imperative that I wear the mask
and without further ado he put on the mask and it seemed that his posture and body language changed when he covered his face with that piece of cloth.
-Where are you going, Otto?
-To fix a mistake. Don't worry, I won't bother you again.
He hadn't finished finishing the sentence when he had disappeared. Anna Maria knew that Spider-Man was as fast as a flash but Otto had just disappeared. She deduced that it had been some kind of camouflage technology. No one saw Otto Octavius leave that apartment. The girl sighed tiredly. She had never liked the superhero thing but when she had realized that her boyfriend was Spider-Man she had gotten used to the idea of being the girlfriend of a superhero, she even thought that it wasn't a big deal and it wouldn't stop her from marrying that man but when she found out that her boyfriend had died being a hero after a life of atrocities she didn't know what to think. Now the door was open to get out of that life. and it was her own decision but she cursed herself under her breath in Italian. In short she was stupid.
She called Peter Parker's contact. It's been a while since she called him, the phone took 3 rings to answer, but it wasn't Peter's voice.
-Hello? Parker residence.
-Hello. My name is Maria Marconi. Is Peter there?
-He's taking a shower, do you want to leave him a message?
-It's urgent. It's from work.
-Wait... What did you say your name was?
-Anna Maria Marconi, I didn't catch your name
-I'm Mary Jane Watson. His wife
-Oh, I'm a friend of Peter, well something like that- Anna Maria could feel the hostility in Mary Jane's words.
Peter's wife hung up and immediately got a call from an unknown phone
-I'm sorry. That line wasn't secure. Peter told me about you, Octopus's ex right?. What's going on?
-Do you know? Of course you do. I need to talk to Peter back. Otto's back.
-Back to New York? That's worrying but Peter doesn't wear the mask anymore.
- Did he quit?
- Something like that. I can give you the new Spider-Man's number if you need it.
- Yes, please.
Mary Jean hung up after dictating her the new Spider-Man's phone number. Anna Maria knew she had been rude but she didn't blame her, after all she was trying to get Peter away from that life. And she was trying to drag him into one of the responsibilities Peter had taken on because of his foolish sense of responsibility. Anna Maria hesitated for a moment. The new Spider-Man might be a rookie and Otto was dangerous, very dangerous. It once took the Avengers to stop him. He might be sending a boy to his death, but she knew there was goodness in Otto's heart, he's Otto Octavius purified by Peter Parker's memories after all, he wasn't the same eight-armed monster that once held the world hostage. She couldn't lose Otto for a third time.
Anna Maria marconi Called this new phone number and had to call 3 more times until a voice identical to Peter Parker answered the phone.
-Who is it?- The voice was definitely passed through a voice distorter, but from the way he spoke Anna maria assumed it was someone young, too young
-Hello,emmm Spider-Man?
-How did you got this number?
-I'm a friend of a mutual friend. My name is Anna Maria Marconi and I need your help.
-Show me that I can trust you
-I know that You're not the original Spiderman, Peter is.
-… ok i Trust you
-I don't care. Listen kid, Otto is back. No, not Octopus the… ugh (I hate that alias). Superior Spider-Man is back
-wait, he hit the gym or Time travelled?
-no, He's a perfect clone with the memory up to the moment he called himself the Superior Octopus
-Oh. I'm getting it now, but, wait. He was supposed to be some kind of superhero at the time. What's the problem?
She told him how he had returned, the chat they had and she told him how His other self returned to being Doctor Octopus and he stormed out.
For a solid second miles didnt said anything but It ended Suddenly
-Damn it
Anna Maria didn't hear the sound of the wind on the other end of the phone. He had stopped somewhere
-Shit, shit, shit.
-What? What's going on?
-A long time ago, Otto found out about his future, that he would lose control of Peter's body and almost destroy the universe trying to stop his future from happening. Now that he's back I can only imagine what he would do to his fatter counterpart
-Not to mention what Octopus would do to a version of himself with Peter's memory and younger and more handsome.
-Blood will flow and one of them will kill the other.
-You have to stop it.
-I'll try. Call me if you get to know something. Anything.
She hated not having the last word but there were more important things to do. She called in for the day off from work and went off to find Otto Octavius on her own, in the end Otto always came back to her.