An interview with fate
/START TAPE/
“Mister Osborn, can we please keep this professional?” The voice on the tape was exasperated, tired.
“Petey, it’s Me, Harry, the whole reason I even agreed to the bugles interview was because it would be you!” This voice sounded raspier, his tone more playful.
A drawn out sigh came from the first voice, “Yeah, but I’m a photographer, not a writer.”
“Which is why I compromised on letting you record this conversation, for-“
“-Interview. This is an interview,” The other voice interjected, like he was begging.
“Listen, why don’t we just,”
…
Harry Osborn pressed on the recorder between them, and the sound of running tape went short. “Press pause when we want to be less formal for the Bugle, then we can press it on again when we can be professional.”
Sliding his hand back to slick his hair, a newfound habit when negotiating, a habit he really hadn’t meant to pick up, reminded him of his father. But smoothing over his hair or making small efforts to straighter out his suit were better then chewing his nails or tapping his foot.
“Orrr, we could just, not goof off? This is our third time trying to record sir”
It almost soured Harry’s mood at how obviously Peter didn’t want to talk to him. Or even about his aunt, or Gwen, or anything other than Oscorps new experimental tech for restraining those with…abnormal abilities.
Harrys lips curled down in a dissatisfied meaning, but more akin to a pout than any intimidating expression of displeasure. Definitely not something the head of Oscorp should be using to get pity points. Especially not from his ex best friend.
“We’ve never been able to not goof off,” Harry laughed, though his tone was quieter, pleading.
Peter paused a moment, this. This was supposed to be easy. But of course Harry had made it all perfect for him to take the position of writer. A title that made Mr. Jameson nearly burst a blood vessel, but once Peter was shooed out of his office, he could have sworn he heard the words “finally growing” and “proud” come from the devils distant cousin.
Ever since Captain Jupiter, he’d gotten more calm.
It was weird at first, to come into the office and sometimes be thanked for what you were doing.
But the guilt of what had happened to Jameson's son kept Peter from enjoying the fatherly aspects of his bosses presence; he'd started to email pictures to the Daily Bugle instead of actually handing them in. He couldn’t take being in the office knowing how many times they’d been in danger because of him.
How many times he’d put everyone around him in danger.
How many times he failed his friends.
Peter looked up to see the same pouty expression on Harry, but it seemed more legit now, with Peter’s zoning out for however knows how long likely hurting Harry’s ego a bit.
This was for Spider-Man. Just see what OsCrop had in store if they were planning on catching him, and learn to be prepared. That was it. He had to keep them safe, he’d hurt Harry’s father, he wouldn’t, couldn’t hurt Harry too.
“Yeah, gosh I was a horrible tutor huh? All those stupid jokes-“ Peter tried to laugh off the tension.
When he even bothered to show, or stay the full time. Harry pushed away the thought to make the snide comment, it’s all be okay soon. The city had their time with Peter, now it was his turn, even if it was a tad bittersweet.
…
“Question one,” The first voice began again, “Why provide these containment units now, have they been in development or a newer idea?”
“OsCorp saw the danger that supers provide to civilians from day one, with new villains only being added to the roster while older ones go missing, the company decided to work with law enforcement to find the best ways to contain and neutralize threats. With weaker versions working for those of us Normies, it’s time too continue on with more loaded attacks towards the threats on our city” The response of a businessman refining himself on public speaking,
“And what about those who,” a pause to find the right words, “suffer from mental strains due to their ailments?”
A snort,
…
“Seriously Petey? ‘Suffer from mental strains due to their ailments? You sound like you’re trying to buff up your word count for an English essay!” Harry laughed, enjoying Peter’s face of embarrassment,
“We have made it painfully obvious I’m not a writer Harry! I just take pictures!” Peters voice had playful desperation, and Harry felt a wave of familiarity rush over him as Peter giggled out his defense.
This was what they were meant to be. Laughing out excuses for messing up the most simplistic of tasks, and keeping the mood light as they trudged through the task together. Harry had daydreamed of the group working together one day. He wasn’t scientific, but the other three were, he’d probably take on some managerial position while the others worked in the lab. Maybe they’d get lunch together, and the others would all fight for the chance to be the one to explain their cool new project to him.
It was a fun thought while it lasted.
But after high school Peter had focused on the Bugle, Gwen had begun her time at Midvilles police academy, Eddie had lost it, and he was alone for his lunches.
…
“How will these devices help people feel safe from more mundane threats?”
“Well we’ve already tested these products on more tame dangers, but as soon as our larger issues are dealt with a OsCorp plans on manufacturing devices that could be carried on one’s person, from self defense to self pleasure-“
…
“That was not a professional answer Harry!” Peter laughed out after he pressed pause on the tape,
Harry was crouched in on himself, giggling profusely “Oh c’mon it was right there! Forgive me for thinking every article needs at least one tasteless sex joke!”
Snickering, Peter responded “Oh JJ would absolutely ask it go to 4 point font on page 42 or something, he’d hate to say it but I think he secretly enjoy it too,”
…
The interview went on, the topic of how the device would work for most of the cities main villain specified in great detail.
“But really, with most of the villains gone Spiderman can stop the hero shtick, and then we’ll all be better off” The voice was a far reach from earlier, darker.
“Spider-Man is not a villain,” the other laughed out, but this faded quicker and there was no warmth in this one’s tone either.
“Well, he is certainty suffering from” Harry smirked, and it reminded Peter of his father, “Mental strains due to their ailments, why on earth would we risk the safety of so many civilians with him killing anyone who dared to make a mistake?”
“What?”
“Well c’mon Petey, it’s QnA time, so let’s get them all out right?” The tone was, harsh.
“I did what I had to do,” This tone matched the venom in the other, the lighthearted atmosphere gone completely now.
“Had to do?” The other asked, the voice had a new sickly sweetness to it.
“I,” Peter swallowed, “I did what I had to do to keep Aunt May and I afloat.”
/END TAPE/
…
Click.
There was silence after the pause button was pressed again, and this time there was some finality to it as Harry lingered on the button. Ensuring it was obeying.
“So your obsession with Spider-Man was more important than your friends?”
“No, I always missed you,”
“Oh please, you didn’t even know about Gwen making top of her class at the academy, or let us know when Aunt Mays funeral was. Eddies finally been doing better thanks to the help of OsCorp, and you still haven’t seen him, he asks for you! I worked with the police and Ravencroft to set up a better system for the city!” Harry pleaded, hoping to see his friends smiling back at him
He was met with silence, and Harry’s smile faded fast.
“You ruined a lot of things Peter Parker.”
“I-“
“Like Eddie, after you two fight he was stuck in Raven Croft, or- or Gwen following in her dad’s footsteps because of how every lab started to make her think of you.” The speech was thought out, but still seemed too difficult to say out loud, his words stuttering while he got even angrier: “You hurt people Pete.” Harry stated.
“I know,” was a soft, uncomfortable whisper.
“Even now, even now when you know how much you’ve hurt us, you can’t admit it?”
“Admit what?” Peter didn’t know if this was for him to and it how shitty of a friend he had been, or something about being a caped crusader. He didn’t know which he’d prefer honestly, wouldn’t it be a relief to have his best- ex best friend know? Would they be able to admit to what never could be?
“You know hiring a private eye to follow someone around ain’t that hard.” Harry interrupted Peters thoughts, and Peters wondering was answered.
“What.” Peter knew what, of course. And the hope that it being off his chest would result in less guilt was washed away by horrible guilt as cold eyes met his. No, this felt like something was coming straight for him, his Spidey senses and gut rang out with some premature grief.
“You take pictures Peter, do these live up to your expectations?” Harry asked,
as he threw several folders onto the paper, the folders were clearly full, but they had pictures paper clipped to the front.
Damning pictures, when Peter had thought he was safe from prying eyes when he’d needed to swing into action fast. He’d always counted on people being too busy to notice where the nerd went, but that method didn’t exactly work (at all) when someone’s looking for you.
Clear evidence. Margins written backing up dates and time
s.
“Don’t worry, there’s spares incase you want to try and destroy these.” Harry’s voice said, but it was very far away, and capers calm for someone who openly admitted to wanting to capture, punish spidey.
“Harry I can’t-“ For once in the years of hero work, Peter spoke instead of Spider-Man. Wanted to make amends instead of witty banter.
“It’s Mister Osborn to you” was all Peter could hear, but the words shifted to ringing in his ears, ever looming onto him.
Silence.
Harry didn’t know if the web slinger was too shocked or too scared to make any witty comment.
Really, from the way he used to talk Harry should have known it all long ago. With how Peter would lean in, and whisper his jokes into Harry’s ear.
He remembered the way he’d clutch his pencil a little tighter when Peter had that look in his eyes, or how his heart would make the wrong kind of thump as he heard Peter snicking at his own joke before he could even say it, oh the way Peter’s breath would tickle the hairs on Harry’s neck as he whispered the joke into his ear.
And The way Peter would smile at him once he’d said it, waiting for Harry to laugh at the joke too, waiting for his approval.
“I’m so sorry, I just wanted to help,” Peter grabbed Harry’s hand, desperately looking for some kind of mercy. Pleading eyes searching Harry’s for some sort of emotion, before blinking rapidly, ans looking down again to their intertwined hands.
On which Harry had inserted a very small, very empty needle.
Oh,
Oh no,
And as the world faded to black, all Peter could see was the crooked smile of his ex best friend.
…
“He’s out.” Harry stated, and a tall man came into the room. The two looked at the body a moment, Harry could see the man shuffling his hands impatiently out of the corner of his eye, he wanted something.
“You uh, gonna sell the info to the Bugle or somethin? It’ll go for crazy cash!” Ah, he wanted to real even more rewards then the very generous offer he’d been given to keep his mouth shut and his hands on the camera. Oh well, greed truly did ruin such nice moments.
Harry smiled, folding his hands neatly in front of him. “As a bonus to your assistance, why don’t you take the pictures to sell, I’m sure the news would love it, but imagine the ‘crazy cash’ it’ll go for from some of his more nefarious foes”
It took the guy a minute to comprehend, but he smiled excitedly at the chance for such a payout.
As soon as the man’s back was turned to look at his crude, but effective photos of the web slinger, Harry very slowly, very carefully reached into his suit jacket.
*BANG*
Harry jumped a bit, he wasn’t expecting the noise.
With being the head of OsCorp, he’d needed to take certain precautions to protect himself. One of which, was a friendly neighborhood firearm. That for this special occasion may or may not have added a silencer neutralizing darts instead of bullets (what if Peter hadn’t complied properly?!) but just for the night. As soon as he was in his car he would be adding the real bullets back in.
He usually wore ear plugs to protect his hearing at the range, but this was more of a now emergency. He’d order the lanky bodied mook to be taken to OsCorp facilities, they were always looking for new testing volunteers!
Taking Peter over his arm, Harry thought about how in some universe they were
happy. He’d make sure to show Spider-Man the consequences of what he’d done, but he’d take care of Peter. He was sick after all, they all were. Harry’d take care of them.
The city had its time with Spiderman, it was his turn with Peter Parker.