Chapter 3
Norman was dreaming. He was sure of it. How else would he be in this position?
His legs were wrapped around Otto and his hands were on the tall man's back, caressing his shoulder blades and moving down to grip his hips. The two men's crotches rubbed together as Otto rolled his hips upward into Norman's. The friction of fabric on fabric was driving Norman crazy- he needed skin on skin contact. He reached down to undo the button to his trousers-
Otto's obnoxiously industrial alarm blared in Norman's ears. He jolted awake.
What the fuck was that?
Norman's mind was racing as he glanced over to see Otto just rising from bed, shutting the alarm off.
That was just a fucking dream. Just a dream. Jesus. I'm hard.
The revelation came to Norman and panic set in immediately. He couldn't exactly relieve himself, as Otto was mere feet from him.
Otto.
There was the other problem. The thoughts that had led to the unfortunate situation were about Otto. A man, and not just any man. Otto. Norman's roommate, his academic competitor, his.. friend?
I'm not gay. I'm not gay.
That was the only thought that took over Norman's mind as a wave of disgust settled over his body. As soon as Otto turned his back, he jumped up and ran to the showers with his clothes. Otto called after him, to no avail. Norman was on a mission.
He stumbled into the shower and turned on the faucet, cold water blasting across his back, shocking Norman fully awake and to his senses.
I'm not fucking gay.
He frantically scrubbed at his skin with soap as he tried to erase the imaginary touches of the male scientist from his dreams. Norman couldn't believe his brain could've even conceptualized the filthy things he had done to Otto in the subconscious realm. Norman wasn't attracted to men, much less Otto. It wasn't that he was homophobic, per se. He didn't hate gay people. He had known some gay people in high school. To be fair, many at Norman's past school also thought he was gay, and constantly made him aware of it. The effect of those names he had gotten called in the hallways had never quite worn off, and Norman still felt he had to prove his heterosexuality to others- and now, it seemed, to himself. To be clear, Norman was never bullied. He was just envied, and his peers would do anything to knock him down a peg. At least that's what Norman told himself.
I am not. Fucking. Gay!
Norman heard the door to the bathroom open and shut. Soon after, he heard the familiar but presently unwelcome sound of Otto's voice.
"Norman, what the hell are you doing showering? We have to be in the lecture in ten minutes!" Otto cried into the almost empty bathrooms.
"Go without me!" Norman called back, hoping he wouldn't be forced to provide an excuse for his erratic behavior.
He could hear Otto sigh and retreat from the men's room. Norman let out a sigh of his own, and shut off the water, wrapping his lower half in a towel and stepping out.
---
Norman finally caught up with Otto halfway through the physic lecture. He apologised profusely to the professor, and stumbled to his seat.
I'm not making a good first impression on the student body, or the faculty for that matter. What's gotten into me? This isn't my normal state. If only they knew that.
As Norman sat down, Otto gave him a questioning look. Norman refused to meet his gaze, opting instead to glance at his notes, which he promptly copied into his own notebook.
Norman actually paid attention today, taking his own notes for the rest of the lecture, processing each bit of information as it left the lips of his professor and fell on Norman's ears. Most of the lecture was familiar to Norman, as he had taken many a physics class prior to beginning his higher education. Alas, entry level courses were mandatory, as failure to internalize even the smallest piece of information from the complex science could prevent a student from grasping concepts in higher level courses. Professors couldn't stand to waste time relaying a concept to a student who had missed one day in tenth grade and been behind ever since.
And so Norman listened intently, writing down facts that he was sure he could recite backwards in his sleep, just for the sake of being thorough.
Eventually, much to the relief of both Norman and Otto, the lecture ended and they were released to continue their day, hopefully with more engaging lessons.
It was an easy day for Norman. He didn't have lab today, and his next class wouldn't be till late afternoon, after dinner. He followed Otto out of the lecture hall and caught up with him in the commons.
Seems we're establishing a routine. I chase him out of physics and catch him here, we exchange words, I go on my way. I'll have to beat him out tomorrow, shake things up.
"Otto, listen, I'm free until 7. Can I come to Orchestra with you?" Norman looked hopefully up at Otto. Norman himself didn't actually play an instrument, but Otto had dabbled in Cello, and was proficient enough to take part in the student orchestra.
"Of course, dear, you're always welcome."
As the men had become more comfortable with each other over the past few days, Otto had become more himself and allowed his typical speech patterns to slip through. He used a lot of pet names on everyone. He had even called a dining hall worker "darling" the other day as she served him rice. Yet it still caught Norman off guard every time. One could even say he was flustered by Otto's behavior. Norman would never admit to that, though. Despite his odd dream, Norman was still decidedly straight. What reason would he have to be flustered by Otto's name calling?
Norman followed Otto to the orchestra room, and sat quietly in a corner while the group rehearsed. They sounded about as good as you'd expect a music group at a STEM school to sound. There was talent present, sure, but it was nothing compared to Norman's usual nights out at the symphony.
Otto set his cello down after rehearsal had ended and walked over to Norman.
"Well? Are we any good? I know your ears are accustomed to more posh groups," Otto said, half-teasing. He said the word posh with a certain honey in his voice. It made Norman contemplate the sound of Otto's singing. He'd have a great voice, Norman was sure of it.
"You're no New York Philharmonic, that's for sure."
Otto gasped, feigning offense. "I'm hurt, really."
"Well, then let my critique motivate you to improve," Norman said, his tone going almost serious. Otto laughed his comment off and they headed for the dining hall.
Over dinner, Norman mostly sat in cool silence as Otto explained his plans for future experiments with mechanics and fusion. He was only half listening as the messy-haired scientist prattled on.
Norman ran his hand through his own neatly combed, longer hair, and let his mind wander.
I'm off. Something's off.
Norman was typically calculated and analytical about things. He had an emotional side, sure, but for the greater part of his life he had been suave and poised. He even bordered on mean. Every action in his life had been carefully and deliberately performed to catapult him further on the path to success. Norman had but one goal in life- start a tech company and deliver top notch chemical solutions to clients across the nation, and maybe even the world. He had doodled many a hypothetical logo on his notes, and he had perfected the mission statement for his imaginary corporation. Even now, as Otto rambled about his own endeavors, Norman was sounding out his company's future name in his head.
Oscorp. Osssscorp. Os-corp.
But even lost deep in his thoughts on business and money, Norman couldn't help but gaze at the scientist seated across from him. He knew he had perhaps finally found someone with which he could match wits. It was a new and uncomfortable feeling.
Feeling.
There it was again, emotion. Slipping into Norman's daily life, beginning to rule his behavior. His platonic interest in Otto had allowed him to relax his guard and give up a bit on the competition. The two men's grades were even, and Norman hadn't even felt motivated to change that. Norman had found himself to be even more careless than usual in the mornings, and just the other day he had managed to wear one navy blue sock and one black sock- a minute mistake which had upset him for the rest of the day.
Norman's eyes traced Otto's figure. He was wearing a dark brown jacket today, over a white button up, tucked in to brown slacks. He looked the same as always. His hair was dark, and it fell in careless curls across his face. Norman could see the remains of a middle part in Otto's current hairstyle, but now the hair fell across the front of his face rather evenly, albeit wildly. Otto's watch today was some sort of French brand that specialized in square faces. Norman noticed that there were no numbers or roman numerals on the face of this particular watch, and he paused to appreciate that fact.
He just knows, instinctively, the number that each hand is pointing at. Or at least what number should be there.
Norman could read an analog clock. He wasn't an idiot. But they had always confused him when the numbers were removed. He fully believed that Otto could be shown a blank watch face at any angle, through any number of mirrors or levels of visual distortion, and still be able to tell the time to the second. Norman had no evidence to support this theory, but something in his gut just told him it was true. Bad science, he was aware, but he had become quite acquainted with the science of the heart lately- that baseless science which does no research and formulates no hypothesis- its process begins and ends at the conclusion.
Norman became suddenly aware that Otto was staring at him. The man had stopped talking, and was now waiting for some sort of response from Norman.
Shit. I'm really a horrible audience.
"That's fascinating, Otto. I had no idea that people were looking so deeply into fusion!" Norman finally said, sure that it would be relevant.
Otto's face lit up and he beamed. "I am, we are! I think that we're on the cusp of a really big breakthrough. If I could just get some sort of support from a corporation or the government or something..."
Otto trailed off, lost in his own thoughts.
Norman smiled. "When I get Oscorp off the ground, I'll be sure to send a check your way."
"Oscorp?" Otto questioned.
Shit. Did I really just say the name of my fantasy corporation out loud? Otto's going to think I'm such an egotistical bastard. Not that that would be untrue.
"Ah, just a placeholder name for the company I want to start. Nothing serious."
Otto grinned and invited Norman to elaborate, and elaborate he did. It was Norman's turn to ramble now, and Otto was intently listening. Norman explained his plans until it was time to go to his next class. Otto said goodbye and headed for their dorm. Another day was soon to be done, and with it, another week at the school. The days seemed to really fly by now, and Norman knew that before too long, it'd be time for break.
Freshman weren't allowed to leave for break.
Norman was going to be stuck with Otto for an entire week, with no courses to distract him.
The prospect wasn't looking so daunting anymore.