Chapter 2
Otto's alarm had blared out bright and early at 7 am, a harsh mechanical blast of noise. Norman had expected something nice or pleasant to ease them both awake. Perhaps Otto would prove to be full of surprises.
Norman had rolled out of bed, hastily dressed himself in the nicest outfit he could muster, and slipped from the room as quickly as possible. Otto had trailed closely behind, taking more care in his appearance, carefully maintaining his clean-shaven face by taking the time to shave, much to Norman's frustration. Otto had taken his time selecting a watch that he claimed matched his outfit- which Norman, for all his fashionable inclinations, thought was a load of shit- and had finally followed the hasty yet elegant Norman out of the dorm.
Norman knew how much of a walking contradiction he was- luxury shirts and polished shoes, simple yet effective silver jewelry, maybe an earring if he was feeling flirty, and yet all of these things thrown on in a reckless rush to get out of the door. Calm, cool, and collected to the outside world, and an utter mess behind closed doors. He knew Otto saw through it, and he wasn't sure he minded. They were living together, what was the harm in letting Otto see the unfiltered Norman Osborne? He had nothing to prove besides intellectual superiority, which he knew he could do easily.
They walked together, silently, through the commons to the lecture hall.
Otto may know a thing or two about music. He's not the bore I took him to be. But I'll be damned if he's going to have a higher GPA than me.
Norman knew he wasn't being fair with these thoughts. He knew he was being competitive and toxic and whatever other horrible adjectives his past teachers usually used on him, but it was only natural. They were two men in an academic environment. Competition was encouraged by everyone and everything around them.
Absolutely no harm in a healthy contest. Whether or not Otto knows he's competing.
They finally arrived at the doors of the lecture hall, where Norman paused and looked at Otto for the first time since the start of their walk. He had been too busy brooding to observe his roommate, who was now standing, outstretched hand on the doorknob.
Norman noted the watch on Otto's wrist, a delicate gold number with a beautifully simple white face.
Damn. Otto's right, that watch does match his outfit.
With some frustration, Norman finally spoke. "Otto," he paused. "I like your watch."
Otto let out the smallest of laughs and thanked Norman, opening the door and promptly pulling his sleeve down to hide the Rolex.
What kind of move is that? Is he trying to be humble, or does he think I have that bad of taste?
The two men entered the hall and found seats next to each other close to the front. The professor came in and began lecturing shortly.
Norman tried to focus, he really did, but his mind kept wandering. Back to thoughts of home, and his high school friends. Back to his and Otto's conversation, which had lasted well into the night. Back to the way Otto had tugged his sweater down to cover his very expensive watch which was created to be shown off.
Norman believed he was experiencing cognitive dissonance. How could a man who sounded so utterly dry and unentertaining keep Norman up till the odd hours of the morning with simple discussion? Could Otto Octavius, the nerdy scientist who was nothing to Norman but a challenger to defeat, be more to him than a roommate?
Could Otto and I be friends?
---
The lecture ended and Norman was pulled out of his thoughts by Otto standing to leave. The movement caused by the tall man rising from his seat immediately snapped Norman back to reality.
Holy shit, did I miss the whole lecture?
Norman panicked as he, too, rose to his feet and began to head for the door. What had the professor taught? What had he been meant to learn? Was there an assignment?
He couldn't ask Otto, no, of course not. That would reveal Norman's inattention and therefore show weakness.
Otto's supposed to be the one on defense, but here I am guarding my mind like a fucking hellhound.
Norman gritted his teeth and steeled his nerves as he jogged to catch up with Otto. They were outside now, off to their respective classes; physics was the only period the men shared.
"Otto, did you..." Norman trailed off as Otto paused to meet the shorter man's eyes.
"Norman, your chemistry lab is on the other side of campus, in the west building. If that's what you were wondering," Otto spat out in an uncharacteristically harsh tone.
Someone's guard is up, too.
And then, for the first time that morning, It occurred to Norman that Otto could've taken some offense to his silence. Norman hadn't said a word to Otto all day aside from the watch compliment.
Is Otto really offended that I'm not talking to him? Is he that sensitive?
Norman finally found the courage to speak. "No, actually. I was wondering if you could, um... tell me what we discussed in Physics?"
Otto scoffed, his shoulders falling as the tall scientist relaxed. "You mean...just now... in the lecture?"
Norman nodded sheepishly.
"Were you not paying attention? We just went over the syllabus. It's online."
Norman heaved a sigh of relief.
"Thank you! Yeah, I think I didn't get enough sleep last night..."
Otto nodded and began to continue on his way.
"Otto, are you mad at me?" Norman blurted, causing Otto to once again turn around and look down at the shorter scientist.
"You were glaring at me all the way to our lecture, and then you made that snide comment about my watch," Otto explained, matter-of-factly.
Shit. I need to watch my tone.
"Oh, my god, no, that was genuine. I'm so sorry!" Norman began to hurry away. "See you tonight!" He called back before breaking into a jog- across the commons, towards his lab.
Otto stood for a second, processing Norman's words. So he wasn't mad. Otto had gotten worked up over nothing.
And then the men were apart.
---
The rest of the day was droll. Norman slugged through his lab, ate his lunch, attended his mandatory humanities course- Ethics in Science. Finally, he arrived back at the dorm and threw himself onto the bed, not bothering to turn on the light. Time passed as Norman drifted from conscious to unconscious and back again, unable to be solidly asleep or awake. Eventually, he heard a key turn in the door, and looked up drowsily to see Otto entering the room.
"Hey," Norman groaned out. "I'm out for the night."
Otto laughed, his mood somewhat lighter than it was in the morning. "I can see that," he responded, tossing his stuff down and retiring to his own bed. "I'm pretty spent myself. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow?"
"7 in the AM," Norman muttered, pulling the blanket up to his chin.