Chapter 14: The return of the Male Mantis!
Ada had never felt more alive than she had done in the last two weeks working with Otto. Well, 'working' wasn't necessarily all they did. Otto and Ada had agreed that their work would not be interrupted by their blossoming relationship, but Otto would steal kisses when he hovered behind Ada doing her work and she in turn would brush her hands up against his chest when she handed him his paperwork.
The after-work routine didn't change either, because between kissing, eating food, and dancing to movies, she even convinced him to go on late-night walks through the parks, just as they did after her parents' dinner.
And he didn't admit it at first, but he missed this. He didn't realise how much he had needed a friend and how much he had missed romantic human contact.
Heck, they'd even opened up about past relationships one evening over Chinese food.
"Believe it or not, I was quite popular in my early days of internship. I tried to concentrate on my work, but I had a few dates here and there. Nothing lasted until Rosie though."
"Was it love at first sight?"
"Actually, all we could do was argue. I thought she hated me but after a few months, we finally sat down properly and talked. Turns out I 'rubbed her up the wrong way' and every time she wanted to ask me out previously, we would just get in a heated argument about literature."
"Could have been worse. Could have…what was her name? The one you said kept crying on your date because her boyfriend had dumped her for her sister?"
"Cornelia Umbridge. Good lord," he rubbed his face and laughed, "she was definitely the worse."
"I never had a crier. I had a boy that thought he was already a fully grown man because he had a thin mustache, a girl with serious hygiene issues, and a lech."
"Oh, we've not heard about the lech," he asked curiously but she grimaced, and he wondered if he'd overstepped the mark, "I mean if you want to talk about it."
"It wasn't really a relationship. But it did teach me about trust a lot more."
She reached across the desk and placed her cool hand on top of his warm one.
"I know you said you were worried about age, but truthfully it doesn't bother me. You're not the first man I've had a crush on who was older than me and I can assure you now it's not 'daddy issues' or that I'm looking for 'men of authority.' I like you for you."
He turned his hand over and gently squeezed her fingers.
"Go on," he prompted, and they let go of one another as she took a deep breath.
"I…I had a crush on my college professor. As most girls do. He was in his forties, married, and had two kids. He even bought his dog to class occasionally. I wasn't looking to rebel against my father or saw him as strong and powerful. I saw him as kind and smart. Sound familiar?"
"I get the smart, but not the kind."
She snorted and then her face darkened.
"Well, he was kind at first…until he made a pass at me after class."
Otto felt his blood boil when he saw how it affected her.
"Did he hurt you?"
"No. But I never met him after class again. He didn't flunk me or mark down my grade, so he wasn't bitter, but I also saw the resentment lingering at some points. He wouldn't look at me. It sort of dissolved my faith a little."
She lightened up and smiled when she looked at his sour face.
"BUT…then I met you. And when you tried to reject me, I saw only regret in your eyes. And I know, if you had somehow convinced me that a relationship would not work, you would not have resented me."
"I would have hated myself more had I been successful."
She reached again, this time scooping up his hand and playfully tugged.
"STOP that. I know you feel guilty."
"I've been talking with the therapist about Rosie. I-"
She held up her fingers and shook her head.
"Not about Rosie. About that night. You saved my life, but you still feel guilty."
"If I had gotten there quicker, you wouldn't have been hurt so-"
"Otto," she groaned and lowered her head down, placing a quick kiss against his knuckles before raising it again and giving him a stern look, "All these…'if I had'. You got there in time. You couldn't save me from what he did, but you did save me from what could have been. And you were there with me then and…now."
He caught the look in her eye and even before she stood up, he turned himself to face outwards on his chair.
She got up from her side and joined him, standing between his legs and draping her arms over his shoulders.
"And I'll continue to be with you…next to you or, in front of you."
She smirked and lowered her face to hover over his own, smiling one last time before kissing him.
'I wouldn't mind where you were as long as you were with me.'
Xx The next day xX
"Morning."
Ada looked up from her desk and smiled when Otto came happily through the doors.
"Morning to you. You seem to be in a good mood," she looked at him clutching a pile of papers under one arm and a large white box in his other.
"Reports are up to date and," he placed the box on the desk in front of her and slid it closer, "they had a sale on at that chocolate shop a block away."
"OH!" She dropped her pencil and eagerly slipped the box closer, sniffing and sighing happily, "Oh, you're spoiling us this week. We'll have to go for an extra long walk later. If you're up for it?"
"My knee isn't acting up and I'll look forward to it."
"Can I?" She touched the lid gingerly and wiggled her brows.
"You may," he took the seat opposite her and smiled as he placed the papers down, "we just have to make sure not to get smudges on the papers."
Ada came up with a genius idea for this. Whilst he looked over and read allowed the important parts, she would occasionally hold out and let him take chocolate from her fingers. His lips would sometimes brush against her nails, and it was extremely sensual, though he didn't seem to have any idea what he was doing to her.
She would hide her blush by turning to the window and patting her cheeks with one hand.
"I don't think the AC is on, it's a little warm today-oh," her other hand had reached for another chocolate, but found nothing but empty space.
She looked down at the box and pouted, not realising she had given him the last one.
"What flavour was that one?"
"Cherry," he looked over at her and arched a brow, "no need for a sour expression, you might not have liked it."
"I don't know, I didn't try any."
He put the papers down on the desk and smirked at her.
"Well, now I just feel terrible," he leaned over and folded his arms, winking at her, "I mean, you can still taste it if you want?"
For a moment, Ada was unsure of what he meant, but he had that teasing look in his eye and-
'Oh.'
"Oh," she smiled saucily and pushing herself up so she was standing, leaned forward with her hands on the desk between them and lowered herself down until her nose could touch his, "is it that good?"
"I'll let you be the judge."
She broke the distance, pressing her lips to his and flicking the tip of her tongue out playfully. He took the invitation and opened his mouth for her, allowing her to taste him. A sigh escaped him, as just for a moment, his tortured soul felt truly at peace.
"Mmm," she pulled back, but only slightly to look down at him with a relaxed grin, "you were wrong. I do like it."
She moved again to continue the kiss, but the small, familiar 'ping' startled them, and they quickly righted themselves back into place, trying to appear normal.
She looked behind him to see it was just Harry Osborn and Peter Parker, but she had to compose herself since she knew what a gossip Harry was, and they didn't need THIS reaching Norman's ears.
"Good morning, Doctor Octavius," Harry came in, adjusting his cufflinks and giving Ada a devastating smile, "And the lovely Ada. Looking dazzling as usual."
"Good morning, Mr. Osborn," she said politely but with cold tones. Harry had been flirting with her since the day she was hired, but she wasn't having any of it. And now she had Otto, she was going to make it even more clear that she wasn't interested in him, even if he did think it, was just harmless fun.
"Harry," Otto definitely was not amused and stood up to meet the young man for a handshake, "Peter. To what do we owe the pleasure."
"Progress report, nothing to worry about," Harry turned the charm on Otto, "when are you going to get your assistant to address me as Harry?"
"My assistant has a name and opinions of her own," he chuckled, catching her wary expression, "that's why your father hired her. She's brilliant and professional."
Ada decided not to butt in, knowing that whilst she could handle Harry, she really enjoyed it when Otto did.
Unfortunately, she was still a little flustered at almost being caught and Peter seemed VERY sharp that morning.
"You feeling alright? You look a little hot?"
"I'm fine," she kept her composure and got up, tidying the chocolate box and mess they had left, "just working hard. How is your new job going by the way?"
"It pays the bills," he smirked at her, and she nodded in understanding.
"That bad, huh? Don't worry, you're a smart man Peter, you'll find something else soon. But, uh," she winced, knowing the painful truth needed to be heard, "until then, maybe double up on some blankets? Winter's going to be hard this year."
He groaned and whilst Otto and Harry talked about work, Ada enjoyed discussing 'small and cheap' apartment problems with Peter. Her first one away from home had been less desirable, but luckily, she'd moved out as soon as Norman had hired her. She swapped ideas with him, mostly on smart ways to conserve and make heat without spending too much on heating.
"Thick thermal socks are your friend. And if you don't have those, double up at night. Your toes will thank you in the morning."
"Should I buy a hot water bottle?" He chuckled but she gave him a severe look.
"You better believe it. Put it in your bed and you'll be in heaven."
"You must," Peter began but drifted off and Ada looked up at his confused, faraway look, "what is that?"
She followed his gaze and saw that he was looking out the window. At first, she couldn't see anything wrong. The view hadn't changed. Buildings were still in place. But Peter had a much sharper eyesight than she thought because in the distance, was a small, moving dot. At first, she thought it was a fly on the window, but it began to grow inside.
"What is that?" She stood up from her seat and squinted. Was someone flying a drone through the city? That was illegal, especially around Oscorp.
But whatever it was kept getting bigger and bigger. She could hear car horns below and the sound of people yelling.
It reminded her of…
Flashes of the Green Goblin flew through her mind. Monsters and mad men plastered over the internet and news. Videos that changed their city forever.
Then, as the flying figure finally began to materialise and form the shape of a winged man, something else came towards them. Something the figure had thrown and was much smaller.
"What the-" Harry began, but Ada didn't hear anything else, because Otto suddenly grabbed her and screamed, "GET BACK!"
She did hear the sound of glass crashing, but the flurry of movement distracted her. Otto threw her off balance, pulling her down to the floor so she landed on top of him, but before she could right herself, he scrambled around and pulled her again, laying her flat so his body was on top of hers.
A loud 'BANG!' rang through the air, so loud it made her ears hurt and she shut her eyes instinctively, even though Otto was on top of her. More glass broke and debris fell over her, hitting her eyelids.
Throughout this all, she kept her grip on Otto and he in turn did not move, even though he was probably in a lot of pain himself.
The debris settled and the only reason she opened her eyes again was that she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her cheek.
Otto was still looking down at her, sweating, dirty, and breathing heavily.
"Ada, are you alright?!"
There was still smoke and bits of dust flying around him, so there definitely had been an explosion, but other than her cheek, she seemed unharmed.
"I'm fine," her hand quickly moved over his cheek, "I'm ok, are you?!"
He nodded but his eyes flicked to her cheek.
"You're hurt."
Her fingers gingerly touched her face and she winced at the pain. Something small had cut her, not too deep, but enough to hurt.
"What happened?"
Otto moved back and helped sit her up and they both looked around at the damage.
"Oh my God, the lab," she looked at the place she had come to love and felt only sorrow at the destruction she saw. The windows were broken, the work on the desks gone and the small chunks of brick and rubble on the floor had come from the very walls around them.
"Harry?!" Otto yelled out as he stood, the claws bracing on the floor and helping him pull her to her feet also, "Peter?!"
She heard a loud groan and a sharp cough and looked over to see Harry, sitting slackly against a wall.
"Over there!" She ran to him and crouched down, Otto not far behind, "Harry? Harry, can you hear me?!"
Harry seemed to be coming around and whilst he was bruised and had a small gash on his eyebrow, he seemed alright. His expensive suit was ruined though.
"Where's…Peter?" He groaned and seemed to be struggling to hold his head up.
"I have a feeling his head hit the wall," Otto reached forward and placed his hand on the back of Harry's head, "Harry, you need to stay awake. We're going to get help, but you can't fall asleep."
"Peter," he groaned again, and Ada stood up, looking around.
"I don't-I don't know. I'll find him, just stay here."
She got up and cautiously made her way through the debris under her feet, looking around to see where Peter could have been blasted to. She looked behind the long rows of tables and just reached the opposite side of the lab when Otto screamed at her.
"ADA, GET DOWN!"
Instinctively, she threw herself behind a desk and covered her ears.
Sure enough, another explosion followed, this time Ada felt it reverberate through the floor underneath her.
This time, she moved quicker, trying to head back towards Otto and the doors, but just as she moved from crawling on the floor to standing, something else came through the window. No, not something.
Someone.
"Not so fast, girly!"
She looked at the being before her and immediately recognised the costume from police photos.
The Male Mantis.
In a panic, she searched for Otto and Harry, but Otto was now laying face-first down on the floor and Harry was barely keeping himself conscious, though he seemed to be fighting to stay awake and trying to use the wall to push himself up.
"Otto!" She cried out but had to step hastily back as the Mantis stomped towards her.
"No heroes to save you this time."
"Hey!"
The Mantis and Ada looked back at Harry, who had shouted in a hoarse voice and was currently pushing himself up with whatever strength he had left.
"Yeah, you!" He managed to stand but looked like a newborn deer trying to gather its wits, "You came all this way for a fight, and you just expected me to sit here and watch you torment her? Nah, not happening."
Harry managed to take shaky steps forward, one hand holding his side, and Ada had a horrible feeling he had either bruised or broken ribs.
But the Mantis was distracted, and she knew that was what Harry wanted. Whilst she couldn't exactly run to the exit for help, it did give her a moment to look around her for weapons. But other than a few nasty chemicals, there was nothing else that could help them...unless?
Older experiments were kept in a box. Some of the weapons from Otto and Norman's older days. Some that were duds and only used for experiments and others that could be used…if she remembered the instructions right.
She had questioned Otto as to why they were keeping them, but now, she was thankful.
Only issue was, she couldn't remember where the damned box was!
Whilst Harry shouted insults and tried to keep the Mantis' attention, she quickly scanned the tables and desks, trying to remember where they'd shoved the blasted thing last.
But the Mantis was not patient and didn't take kindly to Harry's barbs, especially when he used the term 'crappy idiot insect costume'. He threw something much smaller at Harry and the young man gasped when it stuck to his chest. He seemed to convulse for a moment before his entire body shot back by some unseen force and threw him against the wall.
"Harry!" Overcome with concern, Ada tried to run around and aid her friend, but the Mantis was quicker. He reached her before she could cross the room and grabbed her neck with one hand.
"Hello, pretty, pretty," he snarled in that family voice and began to squeeze, "miss me?"
Ada grimaced and grabbed his hand with both of her own. She was forced to walk backward on the balls of her feet as he pushed and held on tightly.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance," he snarled again, drawing his face close to hers, "you foiled my plans once, but not this time."
"Fuck you, you pathetic little-" he shook her by the neck, cutting off any other insult.
"Oh, that dirty tongue will need to come out. BUT," he inhaled deeply through his nose and cackled, "I bet you taste as sweet as pie."
She tried to fight him off, but he raised her higher, almost on her tiptoes, and pulled her face close to his.
She cried out when she felt his own wet tongue lick a long, hot strip over her cheek.
"I think I'll-"
Suddenly, the pressure around her throat was gone and she fell back down to the floor, gasping for breath and hurriedly wiping her face.
"You bastard!"
She looked up at the familiar cry and smiled at the sight of Otto, currently flinging Mantis about with his claws, as though he were no more than a ragdoll.
"I'll kill you myself!"
Ada scurried behind the tables to safety and between watching Otto fight and attempting to fling Mantis out of the window (which was tricky, because he kept flying back in), she hurriedly pulled open cabinets and drawers, looking for that blasted box!
"Try this one!"
She should have been paying attention, but how was she to know he was about to draw her back into another fight?
"ADA!"
Something small rolled towards her and stopped when it touched her foot.
"Oh god," she tried not to panic and turned quickly, heading in the opposite direction. Unfortunately, she was running by the massive window when the item went off and another explosion knocked her off her feet. In fact, the blast was so powerful, she fell to the floor and rolled out of the massive window before she could stop herself.
She gripped onto the sides, but small shards of glass still stuck up out of the splintered frame and she could feel herself slipping.
"ADA!"