Chapter 1: Foundation
Likenesses used
Tanner Buchanan as Norman Osborn
Dylan Minnette as Richard Parker
Ansel Elgort as Ben Parker
Bryan Cranston as Amberson Osborn
Kate Winslet as Katherine Osborn
Pierce Brosnan as Michael Parker
Diane Lane as Diana Parker
Domenick Lombardozzi as Bill Fisk
December 11, 1985
Snow engulfed New York. The usual bustle of cars and people swarmed the streets, sounding noises all-too familiar to the urban acolyte from outside the apartment window.
"Norman!" Richard exclaimed as his roommate entered the foyer.. "How'd the finals go? Didn't fail too miserably, right?"
Norman smirked as he pat Richard's back. "Nice. Real funny, Richard. They went well, for the record. You?"
"Eh, pretty good. Insane to think that we have one semester left."
"It'll be great. Good riddance, college," Norman admitted as he walked over to the kitchen.
"I don't know, man. ESU is really something," Richard snidely remarked.
"Yeah, but three years of this shit gets repetitive. It also doesn't help that I'm double majoring."
"Well, you got a month to relax," Richard pointed out. "Speaking of which, are you sure you don't want to just stay with my family or something? We'd love the company, and I know my mom would-"
"Richard, it's fine," Norman assured his friend. "I'll be alright."
"Okay, but the offer is still on the table if you want it."
"It won't be that bad, Richard. Your concern's appreciated, but it's really just gonna be the same thing all over again."
"But still, you'd think-"
"Richard, she needs me," Norman interjected.
Silence filled the room.
"R-right, sorry, Norman. Really sorry, didn't think about that," Richard apologized.
"All good."
Norman's taxi drove up to a small house in Queens. He stepped out, letting out a lemantable sigh as he approached the front door. "Home sweet home," Norman thought. He knocked.
A tower of a man lethargically opened the door. His pale, weathered skin looked a sickly gray in the light of winter. With statuesque demeanor, he stood there, unmoved by the figure before him.
"Hi dad," Norman quickly greeted as he walked inside.
"Norman. How was the semester?" Amberson monotonously asked his son as he closed the door.
"Pretty good. Nothing new," Norman said as he took off his jacket.
"Seems to be the same answer you've given the past three years. Makes me question whether you're going somewhere different for once."
"I'll be fine, dad."
"If you say so. How's Richard doing?"
Norman sighed. "He's fine. Still majoring in chemical engineering."
"Interesting. Seems a little more streamlined than double majoring in chemistry and electrical engineering, don't you think? Work smart, not hard, son...don't know how many times I need to say it."
"Gee, thanks."
That night, on another side of Queens, Richard knocked on the door to his house. Richard's mother opened the door, and a smile instantly formed on her face.
"Richard!" Diana happily exclaimed as she hugged her son. "That whole semester felt like forever."
"I'm here, mom," Richard chuckled.
Richard's father Michael quickly walked over and joined in on the hug. "Richie, you made it! How were classes?"
"Pretty good."
Richard walked inside the house and sat on the couch. A second later, his older brother walked down.
"Yo, Richard! What's good, man?"
"Ben! Everything's been good," Richard answered as he hugged his brother. "Mom and dad been bugging you?"
"Occasionally. Looking for full-time work is a pain in the ass. Be thankful you still got a semester of school left. After that, it's the adult life for eternity," Ben warned.
"I'll take your word for it."
Ben walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out two beers, handing one to Richard. They opened their bottles, clinked their drinks, and started drinking.
"Anyways, how've things been since… you know?" Richard reluctantly asked.
"Darla? It's been fine. I'm lucky I'm even doing better. Believe me, there's nothing worse than walking in on your girlfriend and the biggest geek in your stats class. That dude's lucky he can still see."
"Look, I know it's been hard. But at the same time, you can't let it dictate your life."
"I get it...but when you're with someone for two years, there's a connection that forms, you know? Kind of like covalent bonds and that chemistry stuff you and Norman never shut up about. Damn, it happened two months ago and it still hurts. Darla really was a gal."
Richard shrugged. "I bet."
"I mean, I still miss it. Man, I'm telling you…she was unstoppable. Her night wasn't complete until she hit the joint, downed three four lokos, and hooked up with the dude from room 4b (me, by the way). I remember that one time we almost got pulled over for—"
"Okay, I'm gonna stop you there. I think you're gonna be fine, in the end. Maybe you just need, I don't know...a nicer girl?"
Ben laughed. "You're funny, Richard. If that happens, I'll go see Back to the Future for the eighth time at the theater. What about you, though? Any special lady?"
"Sort of. This girl named Mary in my calc class. We started chatting, and it's been going well. She wants to do intelligent system engineering, some stuff in informatics."
"So you got a smart girl?! Very cool."
Norman knelt in front of the bed, somber.
"So school's still going well?" Katherine weakly asked her son. "Norman, I couldn't be more proud."
"Thanks, mom. But I can seriously take off a semester and—"
"No! Norman, you can't waste that amount of time. Given how smart you are, you need to take every chance you get."
"You're never gonna let me help you, are you?"
"You already are."
"No, I'm not!" Norman countered. "Not when I'm constantly leaving you alone with him."
"I'm always gonna appreciate the sentiment, but your future is what's most important at this point. Your father, I can handle him. It's not like it's been much different from past years," Katherine assured.
Norman shook his head. "Mom, that's what I mean. With the condition you're in now, you need me. I can't keep going to school knowing he's most likely to…you know…"
Norman couldn't answer.
"Regardless, mom," he said, composing himself. "The only reason I do it is—"
"You do it because you know I left college sophomore year after my family was having financial problems. I never got to graduate...I know that, but I want you to have that moment. You can tell people there that you made it," Katherine stated.
"Mom-"
"When you were growing up, you'd watch the science channel instead of the cartoons. Instead of drawing, you wrote theories and equations. In high school, I recall you mentioning you'd always go to the library to 'research' during lunch."
Norman softly chuckled. "Mom, I've had seven semesters to study. I say it's fair I-"
"It's fair that you finish college. If your father's right about something, an Osborn finishes what they've started. Tie up all loose ends and do what you have to do to achieve. I know it's hard to believe, but your dad's hard on you because this world likes to be really cruel. He didn't go about it in the right ways, but he wants you to be the best."
"Well, it's not like his fists ever taught me what it meant to stand up to this world."
"I have faith, Norman. You've got gifts, and I think you're gonna use them well. I've told you this before, but I never knew my older brother. We had some cousins that ended up being locked behind those dreadful camps. My brother went to go fight after seeing Captain Rogers taking the Nazis out...thought he could be some hero on the vanguard. He did what he believed in...even if he never came back home. Norman, it's your choice on whether you want to do good things in this world. With your gifts, I believe you will."
Norman started to tear up. "I promise I will, mom. As for you, did the doctors say anything new?"
"As far as they know, the tumor is still inoperable. They're still looking for other options, so we just have to wish for the best."
Norman started crying. "Mom…"
He buried his face into his mom's belly, his hand still holding hers.
At the center of New York City lay the 105-story Cobalt Tower, which lit up the night with its neon green aesthetic. On the top floor, Amberson was admiring the beautiful view from his office, while smoking a cigar. On top of the glass wall view, Amberson also admired the puff of smoke that clouded his face, as it was a burning feeling that oddly satisfied him. However, footsteps approached, and the door opened.
"It's ten to midnight, Fisk. Go home. Get some rest," Amberson stated.
"I could say the same for you, Amberson."
Amberson turned around and smirked. A shorter and petite man, he walked up to Amberson.
"What are you going to whine about this time? I said it would be handled. Like it always is," Amberson grumbled.
"Well, promising something and actually doing it aren't exactly the same thing. There's people out there, Amberson. The NYPD, FBI, one of our men could be an informant for all we know," Bill argued. "If we get caught, it's done. Can't imagine what'll happen to Marlene, or Wilson, or-"
"Stop complaining, Bill! You've known me for three years, and you really don't think I have my precautions? I have my insights on all the people I hire. Even if someone does find out the truth, they'll be dealt with."
Amberson turned around and walked back towards the view. "Go home, Bill. Get your mind off of all this."
"You're not gonna take me seriously? What we're doing could make or break the world, and if there's even half a chance people could find out, than everything we've done is all gonna collapse."
Amberson continued smoking his cigar. "You have a problem with repetition?"
"Amberson, if you really think you've got shit like this under control, you're amazingly ignorant. I'm trying to do what's best for both of us!"
Amberson dropped his cigar and stepped on it. He walked over to Bill and stuck out his hand. "I'll take all your concerns into consideration. Until then, I have it all under control. Put it there."
"B-but-"
"Shake my hand, Bill."
Reluctantly, Bill took Amberson's hand. Amberson proceeded to crush Bill's hand and deliver a punch to his ribcage. Groaning in pain, Bill hit the floor. Despite the struggle, Bill got back on his feet and threw another punch. Casually moving his head to the side, Amberson's fist smashed Bill's face, provoking a bone-crunching snap that was followed by some fresh blood. Bill held his nose and yelled, though he received a kick to his chest.
"Uhh, goddamn it! Shit!" Bill yelled as he clenched his nose and chest.
Breathing heavily, Amberson walked over to his desk and pulled out some tissues. Cleaning his bloody knuckles, Amberson walked back to Bill.
"Never call me ignorant again. You really are one to talk, since you thought it was gonna be a good idea to confront the one man who allows you to provide the food for your happy little family. Pay the bills. Well, in case your miniscule brain couldn't comprehend it before, allow me to say it again."
Amberson grabbed Bill's collar.
"I have it all under control. Unless you want to do the cliche thing where you spit in my face, I wouldn't advise it. Your bloody nose would agree."
Amberson dropped Bill, who stumbled out of the office. Amberson then lit another cigar, and went back to the view.
Thanks for reading. Look out for Chapter 2 soon.