I do not own Marvel, Spider-Man, or any other characters associated with the franchise – just Hayley my OC.
Harry was exhausted.
His body still ached and he had barely moved since Hayley's departure. Of course he was curious as to why she had a meeting with the evil doctor, but he was too knackered to truly care. He was still unsure of what exactly happened after he was sedated; being equally sore everywhere, Harry couldn't locate any part of his body that might have been further inspected after he blacked out. The only thing that had obviously changed was his nail length. No doubt the doctors had cut his finger and toenails to study in the laboratory. It wasn't quite the manicure Doctor Poland had promised but he now looked more civilised and less like a monster.
When Harry scratched his head in thought his fingers discovered a small tuft of hair at the back that was shorter than the rest. He ran his thumb over the short bristles, growing irritated that another part of him was now under the assessment of some microscope. Along with the extra blood test, Harry was starting to wonder what kind of other tests Ravencroft were conducting. Sure they wanted to understand his transformation, as did he, however he was suspicious of their motives. To understand his goblin-like changes the doctors would have to comprehend his illness.
Norman Osborn had spent his entire life trying to find a cure, paying the best and brightest, so what interest would an institution for the criminal insane have when they weren't being paid? Or maybe they were? Maybe there was an outside force, something bigger than Doctor Scott and Ravencroft, which wanted to discover the physical interactions the OsCorp spider venom caused. Harry thought back to a name Hayley had mentioned in one of their sessions; Doctor Curtis Connors. More knowledge on Connors would be useful since Hayley's tale of the doctor had sparked his interest. He could barely remember hearing that name at his first meeting as acting CEO all those many months ago.
When he heard the cell door opening slowly, Harry groaned, praying it wasn't the guards back for more. However, after the door closed quietly, a sniffing sound alerted him to a female visitor. Idly turning his head towards the intruder, his eyes fell on Hayley, visibly shaking, tears flowing down her distraught face.
"I…I… sniff, I didn't know where else t…to go…" Hayley hiccupped trying to construct a coherent sentence.
She stood for just a moment holding on to the small shred of authority and dignity she still had, before the emotions became to strong. Glancing towards the ceiling in defeat, Hayley crumbled, dropping to the cold ground, giving into the intensity of her sadness. She wasn't a noisy crier, only verbalising small emotive squeaks and heavy breathing. Her world was falling apart.
Remaining rooted to his bed, Harry sat up, staring intently at the crying girl before him. He had no idea what to do. No one had ever cried in front of him before. Once, at a party, a drunken model started to weep because she was apparently in love with him – Harry quickly left before things became too complicated. But that was different.
Here Hayley was, broken and exposed, vulnerable, and she had come to him? It made him feel important, honoured even that she seemed to need him. As a boy, Harry had always cried alone after his father hurt him – never would he cry with an audience. His lips curled triumphantly, recognising a small victory; Hayley needed him. She craved him, no, she was drawn to him.
Getting to his feet, Harry cautiously approached his psychiatrist, still unsure how to provide her with comfort. He crouched down beside her and moved away her hands that covered her petite face. Harry then took her face in his own hands causing Hayley to unfurl from her heap on the floor. She straightened slightly in her kneeling position so that Harry could cradle her cheeks softly.
He skimmed her bruised and swollen jaw with his fingers, "I never did thank you for taking that punch for me," Harry purred. "It was foolish and stupid, you silly foolish girl," he chastised with a smirk before tapping her on the nose like he was telling her off. A small shy smile appeared momentarily on Hayley's face, and Harry was once again blown away by her inner strength. He then wiped away the tears from her face, though diamond droplets remained on her long eyelashes, "Tell me who did this to you."
Hayley was unsure; by revealing the incident with Doctor Scott, it could undermine the doctor's authority and cause Harry to be less cooperative in the future. However, she was pretty sure that he despised the doctor as much as she did, and Hayley really had no one else to confide in. She couldn't tell Peter because this was Ravencroft business and, as he worked freelance for the Daily Bugle, he might blab to the editor about the corrupt institute – Hayley couldn't take that risk.
The only person in this whole world that would understand was Harry. So she took a risk.
"I…I…Doctor Scott, he…I…"
"Breathe, Hayley," whispered Harry, stroking the hair away from her face.
"You saw how they treated me," she sobbed, "They don't respect me, they don't value the work that I do. I…I have a degree in Psychiatry, Harry; we've been making good progress together. But Scott…he…he doesn't agree with the practise of psychiatry. He thinks its mumbo jumbo. He only lets me act as a therapist to patient's he can't control or who face court trials because the law requires psychiatric evaluation." Hayley faltered to take in large breaths of air, "I'm employed as a nurse. I…I can't pay my rent, my bills, my medica… I asked for a raise…and…and he threatened me!"
Collapsing into fresh tears, Hayley reached for Harry, flinging her arms around his neck to cry into his shoulder. Harry fell back on his bum with the force of her hug, his back hitting the wall behind. She clung to him and he could feel Hayley's fingers entwining subconsciously in his hair as she searched for stability and comfort.
A grin that the Cheshire cat himself would be proud of spread across Harry's face. Inside, the Goblin was practically dancing, urging him to run his hands over Hayley's body.
"She's ours now!" sang the Goblin in Harry's mind. "Look at her! It's almost pathetic. Though, she is beautiful in her weakness… now's your chance, make a move! Now!"
Still crying on his shoulder, Hayley couldn't see how Harry's eyes flashed in anger at the Goblin's demands that were raging in his head. "Do you really have no tact at all?" Harry thought, "she's bearing her soul, and you want to fuck her? Seriously, do you think of nothing else?"
"No. I will always want to fuck her."
"True," smirked Harry in silent agreement with the Goblin. He then became aware that Hayley had stopped sobbing and was mumbling something against his shoulder.
She felt Harry pulling her gently away from his shoulder so that he could hear her words. Complying, Hayley continued, "He said he'd fire me! And then he implied that we… that I… If I told the world of his torturous ways, he would fire me and take me to court…I could loose my medical license!"
Now Harry was confused, "Why would you loose your license?"
Gulping hard, Hayley shook her head, her doe eyes wide in fear of how he might respond.
This made Harry sigh exasperatedly at her uneasiness and he gripped her chin harshly. "Don't make me ask you again."
Unable to hang her head in shame, Hayley looked down at the floor instead. "They think that I'm in…in love with you. That I'm sl…sleeping with you to further my career…" She then peeked up through her lashes at him, "I'm not though. Why would they think that? I know we kis… but I wouldn't…wouldn't take advantage… I wouldn't!"
Her blabbering was beginning to be annoying but he held her regardless, shushing her and placing her unkempt auburn locks behind her ear.
"Shame," Harry whispered, his hot breath caressing her earlobe, "I think I would quite like you to take advantage of me."
Quickly, Harry dropped his arm around her waist, tightening it, effectively trapping her against his body. She squeaked at his sudden action and looked up to see him smirking. He then made a move to kiss her but Hayley jerked her face back, conscious of Doctor Scott's allegations.
Tutting at her hesitance, Harry used his grip on her chin to move her face closer, "Enjoyed yourself last time didn't you? I doubt one more kiss would jeopardise your career." His tongue darted out and licked Hayley's bottom lips making her moan, "Besides, I think I'm taking advantage of you."
Laughing kindly at her innocence, Harry pressed his lips to hers, feeling a euphoric high at her softness. Feeling her still trying to pull away slightly, he moved his hand to the back of her head, entwining his fingers in her hair to prevent her hesitance.
Briefly breaking the contact, Harry murmured, "I know you want this, Hayley, give in."
So she did.
Hayley's heart was aflame with desire, with need; his kiss ensnared her, it made her feel alive for the first time. He was like a drug, the most potent drug she had ever taken, her loneliness and self doubt slowly easing with every caress of his wanting lips. The grip around her body constricted like he could barely believe she was real. Letting her lips part, Hayley felt a rumble of pleasure from his throat when he slipped his tongue over hers; it was the most desirable feeling in the world.
Their heavy breathing echoed in the room with occasional squeaks from Hayley when Harry decided to assert his dominance. Sharp nips on her bottom lip from his harsh teeth made Hayley's head roll back in ecstasy, making her moan his name breathily.
"Harry!"
He chuckled at how quickly she succumbed to his advances, running his free hand down her long neck towards her chest. With the sensation of her porcelain skin causing him to feel aroused, Harry began peppering her neck with soft kisses. It delighted him to hear her breathing stop momentarily in shock before going back to whimpering his name.
"Harry…Harry, we can't…oh, Harry!"
The Goblin was demanding for him to take her, here and now, but Harry had a game plan. Making Hayley go against her professional instincts to fall for him was a delicate situation and had to be handled with class. Running his tongue along her pointy collarbones, Harry marvelled at how tiny and fragile she was in his arms.
"You, are so beautiful, Hayley," he purred against her skin. He smiled and gave her a playful bite when Hayley's hands gripped the front of his jumpsuit in yearning. "You want more don't you?"
"Y…yes."
Pulling away from her body, Harry gripped her chin again so he could look directly into her eyes, "How much more?" He wanted to hear her say it.
However, now that she wasn't being ravished, Hayley's conscience started to kick in. She had crossed a line. No matter how many years went by or if their situation changed, the doctor and patient relationship would always be there.
"Harry, we can't! You're my patient, they'll fire me, I need my job, and I need money for…"
"I need you."
"You need me?"
Harry gripped her face desperately in his hand; she couldn't reject him, not now. "I, need, you. I need you, Hayley." And to make sure she wouldn't rebuff him again, Harry forced her into another deep and long wondrous kiss. "You need me too, don't you Hayley?" he asked after a few lip crushing moments.
"Yes…"
"Yes, what?" he demanded.
"Yes Harry, I need you too."
That was all he needed to hear before descending to her shoulder again and overwhelming her senses with more delectable kisses. Hayley responded by rubbing her hands on the base of his neck and massaging her fingers through his floppy hair. The arousal hidden beneath his jumpsuit was starting to ache, spurring Harry's advances further. Moving her flowing hair over one shoulder and away from her neck, Harry began to lick and suck at the skin that was hidden beneath it.
However, something made him stop sharply. Hayley hadn't noticed, but now her hair was no longer on her neck, the scars and irritated broken skin that ran down her spine had been revealed. It was a shock to see such horrible wounds on her snowy skin. Harry could see more clearly the scars on her shoulder blades and upper back that he had spotted when they first met. There was no doubt in his mind that the girl had been burnt. He didn't say anything but stored the information away for later. His attention was brought back to the woman who had now begun to timidly kiss his neck in return.
"Tell me, why do you need more money?" he mused, continuing to touch her shoulder in a soothing way.
Too ashamed to even look at him when she responded, Hayley just stared at the horrible orange jumpsuit that clothed him. "I'm two months behind on my…my rent, and I could be evicted any day now. I don't get paid enough to cover it all…I thought if I got promoted…but he said I would never get a pay rise," she said, humiliated to admit her money issues to a billionaire. "And then my bills have gone up, and then there's food, and medica…and other things…"
"Other things?" Harry questioned, gripping her neck to bring her face to where he could see her. He had an idea of what "other things" meant.
"Please, please don't ask me Harry," she stammered, "Not yet, please, I can't..."
The fear in her eyes stopped Harry from forcing the answer from her. A man of many secrets, he understood that some things were too painful to express, as he too, held onto untold experiences that Hayley would never know. In time she would tell him the whole story, in time, there would be nothing that would be hidden from him.
"Shh doll, don't worry your pretty little head."
"But he threatened me, he said he'd ruin me if I tried to leave…not that I would, I can't leave you here…he said he owned me!" Hayley wailed, "I'm so scared Harry!"
"I want to fucking kill him! He's dead, Harry, that doctor is fucking DEAD!" the Goblin screamed in Harry's head, "No one owns that girl but US!"
The soft pads of his thumbs gently removed the new tear droplets that had formed on Hayley's face. His anger was evident in the way his voice shook when he spoke, "Listen to me, if he hurts you, I. Will. Kill. Him."
His exclamation stunned Hayley, reminding her that the green side of him was not completely locked away for good. "What? Harry you can't, that's, that's not you."
"No, but I can!" the Goblin gleefully hummed to Harry.
Grinning in agreement, Harry ignored the girl's protest, bringing her head back to lie on his shoulder. He tenderly held Hayley close, running his free hand softly down her back. Harry then whistled the Jeopardy tune, his strange interpretation of a soothing lullaby.
The day had been long and draining. From being belittled and ripped apart by the male doctors, to trying to protect Harry, then having her career and life threatened by Doctor Scott. Not to mention confusing but amazing moments with Harry – the auburn nurse was shattered.
Returning to her apartment, Hayley managed to successfully dodge Mr Boothroyd, legging it up the stairs as soon as the handle of his door turned to open. Currently, she was preparing a Pot Noddle, boiling the kettle to soften the hard pasta. It was then that she noticed her second-hand telephone flashing at her; someone had left Hayley a message. Thinking it strange since no one really knew where she lived, Hayley curiously pressed the play button.
"Miss Carmichael, this is a remainder of your appointment with Doctor Jacobi in the burns unit at New York-Presbyterian Hospital at 10am," said the machine in a monotone voice that clearly belonged to a disgruntled secretary.
"Shit!" Hayley moaned whilst she poured the boiled water into her noodle pot.
She had completely forgotten about going to the hospital the next day. At least she had already booked the time off work in advance, but with the drama at Ravencroft recently, her normal life was almost becoming obsolete.
Getting to the hospital meant a very early start and a stifling journey on the subway, which Hayley was not looking forward to at all! Plus, she really hated hospitals. She had done so ever since the accident. Also, Hayley didn't really trust doctors. As a member of the medical community herself, she knew that her view was a tad hypocritical. However, if Doctor Scott was anything to go by, then the majority of consultants were corrupt. Hayley just didn't agree with how cold some nurses and doctors could be to their patients.
Hayley took her food into the bathroom and reached for her stash of stolen medication. Placing the pills and warm noodle pot on the cabinet beside the sink, she reluctantly cast her eyes to her reflection in the mirror.
Her appearance was worse than she had anticipated; bloodshot puffy eyes were obvious against her pale skin, her once glistening hair was tangled and dull, and the strands nearest her neck were caked in blood from the wounds underneath. When she removed her work shirt, Hayley gasped at a large purple bruise surrounded with little red grooves. She touched it carefully, smiling at the memory of Harry biting and licking her shoulder; he had left his mark but it had been worth it. Although Hayley was grinning like a love struck loon, her already raw eyes filled with tears once more.
Sick of constantly crying she rubbed at her sore eyes but still felt distressed at what was reflected in the mirror. More bones on her body had become prominent from her horrendous diet, making her skin appear paler from the lack of nutrients and iron. This sickly pallor caused her burns to seem darker, more red and painful. She was a damaged monster.
How could Harry call her beautiful? It was the one thing that Hayley could not comprehend. All his life, stunning models had surrounded Harry, and yet, he needed her of all people. It truly dumbfounded her.
Filling a glass of water from the tap, Hayley popped her sleeping pills into her mouth along with some extra strong painkillers. She then turned on the shower and removed the remainder of her clothes. Then she felt the drug induced buzz in her veins, a calming haze of nothingness filled her. Climbing into the shower, Hayley let the freezing water cascade over her body, wishing that the icy liquid could wash away her scars.
Then she could be beautiful.
The next day, Hayley managed to nab a seat on the over packed subway train during the morning work rush. Wearing an oversized baggy jumper was probably not the best of ideas since the heat was beginning to make her feel faint. However Hayley preferred to hide herself under loose-fitting clothes when she wasn't at work, because it meant that she could remain invisible to the Manhattan general public. Although today, her desire to remain unseen did not go to plan.
A few stations away from her stop, she became aware of someone staring at her. The carriage was extremely crowded so Hayley could not be certain but she definitely felt the sensation of being watched. It was only when the train reached the next station and the majority of the people left that Hayley could identify the person.
Grinning from ear to ear, Peter Parker skated down the now clear carriage towards where Hayley sat relatively alone. Peter swerved on his skateboard to miss the central metal poles, before stopping abruptly in front of Hayley, flicking his board with his Converse shoed foot so that it flew into the air. He caught it swiftly and plopped down into the vacant seat next to the petite redhead.
"We, er, really should stop bumping into each other, you know?" Peter spoke softly, trying not to disturb two sleeping commuters opposite them.
"I think you're stalking me Parker," Hayley whispered in jest.
Peter rubbed the back of his neck and ran his hand through his messy hair. "Me? I'm going to work, to The Daily Bugle. You, however, are not going to Ravencroft, as, er, it's like in the opposite direction," he mumbled leaning forward, pretending to scrutinize Hayley, "You're the stalker here Carmichael!"
She rolled her eyes at the use of her surname, "Fine. I give up. I'm following obsessively," Hayley said sarcastically.
"Knew it!" chuckled Peter, "But, in all seriousness, where are you going?" When Hayley flashed him a "non of your beeswax" look, he continued, "You look ill! Just a concerned, er, friend here. Have you been crying?"
Knowing that Peter probably wouldn't stop questioning her, she decided to throw him a small bone, "Just stressed with work is all. And I'm having problems paying my rent…I'm a few months behind."
"Really? That's not, you know, er, good. You could get a evicted right?"
"Mmm, yeah, probably," Hayley murmured, trying to down play the reality of her sticky situation.
An automated voice rang out in the carriage interrupting Peter, "Next stop New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Mind the doors on your departure."
Saved by the bell, Hayley scuttled away from Peter, as the subway train came to a sudden stop. She shouted a hasty goodbye as she exited the carriage, leaping onto the platform, and disappearing from sight into a sea of businessmen and women.
WHAT did you think about that then my lovelies? I was mean by leaving the last chapter on a cliff-hanger, but I hope I made up for it with wonderful Harry and Hayley time hehe – is that consider a lemon?
Also, don't abuse drugs guys! And even if you have scars and imperfections, you are all beautiful – Harry thinks so too!
I apologise for the shortish chapter, I will make up for it in the next one – I had a busy week travelling to my graduation! Exciting I now have a degree AHHHH scary thing guys – my degree was in Fashion Design specialising in accessories, for those interested in knowing :D
Oh, and to my Guest reviewer who asked, my update frequency shouldn't be longer than two weeks. I plan to write a chapter a week or more if my creativity allows me.
Until next time xxx love and hugs