Chapter 10: Comfortable

Surprisingly, meeting her parents for dinner wasn't as difficult as Otto had imagined. He'd been psyching himself up for it since the day before, planning an appropriate outfit, thinking about topics of conversation.

Rosie had always been the more social one. Everyone was drawn to her friendly attitude and loved talking with her. Otto would talk as well, but never for long periods. His speech before Oscorp employers and reporters had been planned for months in advance. And Rosie had been her patient, wonderful self, helping him cut out parts that were not necessary.

'Stay focused, Handsome. You'll be fine,' he could hear her say and took a deep breath as Ada's father approached him.

"I'm just about to step outside for a smoke. Care to join me?"

Otto nodded and politely followed the man, looking back briefly at Ada who looked at him and mouthed, 'need help?'

'No, I'm good,' was his reply.

He wasn't nervous. He'd talked to Ezekiel before at the hospital and the man didn't intimidate him. He'd found he could cloud his romantic feelings for Ada if he concentrated more on being her friend. And after all that had happened to her, she needed a friend. So, there was no worry there…though he did feel a little awkward when he learned he and Ezekiel were the same age. It made him want to suppress his feelings for her even more.

"Take a seat," her father pointed to a plastic lawn chair that had definitely seen better days.

They sat side by side and out of his top pocket, he produced a small cigarette which he passed to Otto.

Otto took it and was surprised (and glad) that it wasn't a real one. He held it up for inspection and it didn't go unnoticed by the other man.

"E-cig. All the research in the world and I still got addicted to cigarettes. I quit two years ago but weaned myself with these. This is only my second one this month."

"Congratulations."

"Sadly, I had a setback when Ada was in the hospital. Had twenty in one week," Ezekiel sighed heavily and looked at the darkening sky, "she would have killed me had I picked up a pack at the local store."

"She is very vocal about her beliefs. She refuses to use any plastic utensils from the takeout because-"

"We need to work to save the environment," he smiled and shook his head, "she's always been unconventional. Even before her accident."

Otto held the small cigarette in his hand and rolled it between his fingers as he thought about her.

"She reminds me very much of my wife. Headstrong, confident, and kind. And a strong sense of humour."

"Yeah, I'm not sure where she gets that from."

"Rosie had a few hard knocks in life herself. She said she developed a humour because," he paused trying to remember her words, "'why spend life grim when you can laugh until the end?' I don't know if it was a misquote but she was always telling stories and jokes, keeping people happy. Including myself."

He hadn't realised he was staring out at the small front yard, missing his wife, and feeling a new sense of guilt at his feelings for Ada. He also didn't know that Ezekiel was gazing at him, assessing a man he barely knew but had a good feeling about.

A man, who despite what the world saw him as had genuinely been in love with his wife.

"You are truly a good man, Doctor."

Otto looked over in shock, but Ada's father was now staring out at the front yard. He hadn't heard those words in years, said with such honesty.

It was surprisingly overwhelming, and he found himself actually taking a long drag on the cigarette.

And then immediately sputtering since he hadn't smoked since his twenties.

Meanwhile…

"And tell all the stars above, this is dedicated to the one I love," Linda sang along to the song on the radio as she wiped the dish in her hand with her soapy sponge, before passing it to her daughter.

"Thanks for the dinner tonight, I think Otto appreciated it," Ada wiped the plate dry before stacking it carefully on the table in front of her, "your meatloaf always goes down a treat."

"Well, your father and I wanted to thank him for all he's done for you. We can see how important he is to you."

"He's my boss, mother," Ada went through the words in her head and corrected herself, "and friend. He just did what-"

"Don't say 'what anyone else would do' because not everyone would do what he did. He-he stayed by your side and looked after you," a small sob escaped from her before she could stop and she had to pause before she could continue, "he did a wonderful, thoughtful thing."

"Hey," Ada reached out, putting her arm around her mother's shoulders, "I'm ok now, mom. It's in the past."

"I know. I know, it's just…it's a hard thing to keep talking about," she took a deep breath before pasting on a brave smile, "but at least we got this time back. More family time to spend together."

"Of course."

They went back to cleaning and crying, but it appeared that something else was on Linda's mind.

"And, if Otto would like to join, he's invited as well."

Ada gave her mother a very suspicious look.

"That's kind of you…why?"

"Well, as I've said, we know how important he is to you. And if he matters to you, then he matters to us."

'Oh, no.'

"Ok, mother, I think you've gotten the wrong end of the stick-"

"I'm just saying, if-"

"Please, I'm begging you, don't just say."

"Ada," her mother turned fully and gave her 'the look', "you cannot fool me. You tried to so many times in high school but I know you better than you think. I know how you feel about that man."

"Ugh, mom," she groaned and placed the dishcloth over her face, "please don't give me this, I don't need it."

"I'm not giving you anything only…well, a blessing."

The cloth came away and the look turned to surprise.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Ada…your father and I have almost lost you, twice. I don't want to spend my life telling you what I DON'T approve of in YOUR life. I know you like him-"

"Shh, please!" Ada hushed her mother and quickly looked to the closed front door, "Please-just…he doesn't know."

Ada had been developing feelings for Otto since she discovered his thoughtfulness for her during her coma. How his voice had carried into her dreams.

And when he wasn't looking at her at work, she found herself quietly contemplating his handsome face.

"Sweetheart, you should tell him. I'm not aware of his feelings for you, but I know that these feelings don't go away. You cannot ignore them."

"I'm not trying to, but…I'm just his assistant. And I do like being his friend," something quicky dawned on her and she squinted, "wait…are you saying that you give your blessing if we…get together?"

"I dislike the way you put that…but yes," her mother went back to the dishes and seemed to be treating the conversation a lot more casually than Ada was, "there is a concern about the age difference, but I know for a fact how smart you are, and you don't jump into decisions without thinking about them first. You're a smart, capable young woman and I trust you to make the right choice when the time comes."

Ada almost started to cry. It wasn't quite the 'I'm proud of you' but her mother had just praised her intelligence. To her face. That was the first time she'd ever heard those words. She even felt herself flush when the front door opened, and her father and Otto moved back in.

"I hate to rush you, but we really should get a move on before it gets too dark," Otto put his hands in his pockets and arched his brow, "are you well? You look a little feverish?"

"No, no, I'm fine, just some of the wine went straight to my head," she busied herself with giving her mother the dishcloth and quickly made her excuses to her parents.

Luckily, she'd talked with Otto earlier about the 'emergency escape' and he was enacting it now, so she had a feeling he'd had enough of everything for one day as well.

Despite her protests for them to stay inside and not bother, both her mother and father escorted them out and even waited outside the door, saying their goodbyes, and looking very much like they did on her prom night when her date escorted her to their dad's car.

'Oh God, if they make a joke about staying safe or calling us kids, I might die.'

They got to the end of her parent's drive and the sun was just beginning to set.

"Where can we call a cab?" Otto began walking but stopped a few feet away, looking up and down the quiet street, "I've no idea where we are."

Ada didn't want the evening to end so quickly now it was just them. It was still warm, and she enjoyed his company. And since her mother's talk, she really wanted to be near him.

"Well, we COULD go a few blocks down and get a cab, or…do you want to walk through the park?"

Otto looked at her in mild surprise. It wasn't that he hadn't wanted to, it was just that he hadn't done that in so long. In fact, the last time he'd walked out in public with anyone was with Rosie.

"You know what, that sounds like a good idea," he walked back over to her and held out his arm for her to lead the way, "we can walk off your mother's meatloaf."

"I'm surprised you ate the whole plate. I used to give it to the dog"

"You had a dog when you were younger?"

"Bulldog. Absolute monster. We had him, a cat, and one fish that lasted a day."

"Oh, tough luck."

"You're telling me…I had to Heimlich him out of the cat."

That elicited a loud laugh out of Otto and as they made their way through the park, they talked about anything from their pasts that anyone else would. Pets. School. Bullies. Books. But to the other, they were fascinated.

Every little detail was absorbed. Otto now knew what had molded and formed this strong, confident young woman whom he was in love with.

And Ada was growing to see another side of him that she hadn't believed existed. That to his intelligent, calm mind there was also a sort of…shyness. And he'd always been gentle with her. Even when passing her equipment whilst in a mind, he and the claws treated her delicately. No one had done that before.

Speaking of his claws…

"Is there a problem or," she looked over her shoulder at the appendages, waving almost erratically behind him, "are they just frolicking in the last bit of sunshine?"

"This is New York. Don't want to give anyone a reason to try to rob us."

"Oh, you never know. Spiderman might show up," she threw out the name casually but remembered their past after she said it.

Luckily, he didn't seem offended.

"Well, yes…but I was hoping I would suffice."

"I think in your capable hands we'll be fine."

All four claws came around and seemed to point at her and she knew what they wanted.

"Of course, I mean claws as well," she laughed when one snapped playfully at her before they all withdrew and the two carried on their way.

Their pleasant stroll was only interrupted when her foot went down an unexpected short hole and she stumbled forward. Luckily, he grabbed her before she could fall completely and pulled her, so she stumbled more into him.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Someone probably came down here with a skateboard and got a little carried away."

"Here, take my arm. There might be more."

Whilst it wasn't completely dark, she was glad for his support. She didn't particularly want to twist her ankle and have him carry her.

Whilst the thought may have been appealing to some people, she didn't want him to view her as a ditzy damsel. Still, she was enjoying their closeness now.

And she could tell people were purposefully keeping their distance, so the claws were working.

And for the first time in a long while, Otto felt normal. And even if people were looking at him, he still didn't care. All that mattered was her.