He had tried so hard, but Billy hadn't even looked at him. He had said that he made him feel uncomfortable. He pushed a hand through his hair and sighed. This was never going to work out. He was never going to get Billy back. Things were never going to be like before.

Of course they weren't. He had destroyed all of that. He could hardly blame Billy for not trusting him, after all he had done. He didn't even fully trust himself, how could he expect his 13 year old son to trust him. To like him. It wasn't like he could ever be a good parent. It wasn't like he had anything to offer.

Yet it hurt. Even though he knew he deserved it, it hurt. Billy was the only thing on the earth he had left, the only reason he even wanted to live on this earth, and he had rejected him, and he didn't know if he would ever stop rejecting him. He had meant every word he said in that room. If it weren't for Billy, he would be so much worse off. Billy and Martha had been what kept him alive for all those years. Now Martha was gone, and he didn't have Billy anymore. How could he not fight for him? Fight for the only person he loved?

But it makes no sssensse, the voice whispered. Offssspring doess not care. Let it go.

No. He refused to let go. Refused to listen to the voice. If he would listen to the voice, everything would be lost, and he would never get Billy back.

The anger wouldn't go away. He didn't even know who he was angry at. He wouldn't allow himself to be angry at Billy. He was angry at himself, at the Lizard, at everything but Billy. He wanted to scream, and he could feel the rage filling his veins, trying to make its way to his throat, but he wouldn't allow it. He wouldn't allow his anger to control him, because he knew that as soon as he did, the Lizard would take over. As soon as he let his anger get the better of him, it would all be over. So he tried to calm himself down. He tried closing his eyes, he tried breathing in and out and in and out, but it just wouldn't work.

Why would you, Connorsss? You have nothing left, no one wantss you. Why would you even care?

He wanted to refute those words. To scream back at the voice and prove him how wrong he was, but he couldn't find the strength to do so. The voice was right, of course, as it had been so many times. It would be so much easier to give in, so much easier to -

No. He couldn't. He wouldn't. Billy -

- doesss not care about you.

Doesn't matter, I care. I am human and I care.

Petty human, weak human, the voice hissed, and he wished he could just make it stop, make him shut up.

He grabbed his coat and started searching. It had to be in there somewhere.

Rage. Nothing but rage. Filling his head, devouring his brain, blinding his eyes. Pain and rage were all that was left.

Billy.

Finally his hand found what it was searching for and he felt how it enclosed the serum. He could feel his consciousness fading, but he had to hold on. Just a little more.

Billy. Martha.

He held the needle to his arm. The voice inside him screamed, told him to stop, urged him to set him free. It screamed and screamed until he couldn't bear it anymore and pressed the needle into his arm. He swore that he could feel his blood warming. The voice died away a bit. It never really disappeared, but it was less present, and he liked it that way. He breathed in and out, slowly, this time succeeding in calming himself down.

He just had to be patient. With Billy. Not make any more mistakes, keep the Lizard in. He stood a chance. Billy was young. He had to be patient.

But what if patience isn't enough?

(A/N: I don't know what Billy's age is, but he was 13 somewhere in Sensational Spiderman so I'm just gonna roll with that)