3rd Person's POV

"Welcome home."

Cora looks towards Harry who shrugs as they are both led into Norman Osborne's mansion. Cora looks around in awe as Harry rolls his eyes.

"Enough sightseeing, come on."

Harry grabs her hand and pulls her up the stairs where Donald Menken holds open the master bedroom door.

"It's dark in there. Your eyes will adjust. It's better this way."

A monitor beeps loudly as the two teens get closer to their father on his deathbed.

"Dad." Harry stares blankly as he pulls out a chair for Cora to sit in.

Cora frowns sitting down looking at her hands. She hadn't seen her dad in years, only receiving communication from letters or a phone call once a month.

"This is not how I imagined I would die. Looking at my son and seeing a stranger. My own blood. My daughter by marriage has made me happier than you ever could've. You have such potential, Harry. Such fierce intelligence, and you're throwing it all away."

"No, you threw me away."

Cora grips Harry's hand hearing the pain and anger in his voice as he argues with Norman.

She didn't want to be sitting in a middle of a fight that had nothing to do with her. But she would be there for her brother. Norman had never shown him love or care when they were growing up. He leaned more towards Cora even though Harry was his own blood. That always made Harry feel slightly resentful towards Cora.

"You kicked me off to boarding school when I was 11. On my 16th birthday, you sent me Scotch. Or one of your assistants did. I'm pretty sure because the card read:
With compliments, Norman Osborn."

"I don't expect forgiveness from you anymore. I don't believe in miracles." Norman scoffs, "How could you possibly understand that your childhood had to be sacrificed for something greater? And not just for me... For you!"

Harry looks away as his hand starts to throb. Cora frowns looking at him then at Norman who looks at Harry.

"Has your hand started to twitch yet? When you lay awake and you feel it coming, hiding under your skin, waiting to show itself. To show you who you really are."

Norman begins coughing. Cora picks up a glass of water and hands it to him.

"You were always my favorite... I wasn't around as much as I know you wanted me to be. Yet even as I lay on my deathbed she care enough for the both of you."

Harry grips Cora's hand making her sigh, "We both care, dad."

Norman doesn't reply. He continues staring at Harry, "Retroviral hyperplasia.I never told you...that it's genetic. Our disease, the Osborn curse."

Harry glares at the wall as Cora peeks up at him in shock. This meant that whatever was happening to Norman would happen to Harry. And because Cora wasn't a blood child of Norman, she would not carry the disease. If Harry wasn't resentful before, he sure would be now.

"And it began at your age. Let me see it. Your hand. Give it to me. The greatest inheritance I can give you isn't merely money. It's this."

Norman puts a flash drive in Harry's hand, "The sum total of all my work. Everything I did to stay alive. Maybe you can succeed
where I failed."

Harry storms out of the room leaving Cora with Norman.

"You shouldn't have said those things. This talk will be the last memory he will have of you."

"It's for his own good. Before for him to hate me and not miss me. Then to wallow in self pity and despair when I go."

"And what about me?" Cora frowns, "I don't hate you. I'm upset with the way you chose to parent us... but I don't hate the you."

"And for that I am sorry."

...

"Hold the elevator please!"

Max smiles putting his hand out to stop the doors from closing. Mila runs inside with her hands behind her back.

"Deja vu, hello again!"

"Hi."

"So... Max I have something for you."

Max frowns confused as Mila pulls out a cupcake that she was hiding behind her back.

"What is that for?"

Mila chuckles shaking her head, "Well it's for you silly! Happy birthday Max!"

Max stares at her in disbelief, "You know it's my birthday?"

Mila nods pressing emergency stop on the elevator, "Of course I know it's your birthday. I know everyone's birthday. I make it my job to."

"But I'm a nobody."

Max's eyes tear up as Mila lights the single candle on top.

She frowns at his comment feeling her heart drop.

"No you're not Max. You're a somebody. Now blow out your candle and make a wish."

Max smiles and nods. It was as if a small child was taking his place. Mila felt happy but also sad.

Was she the only person who remembered his birthday?

After Max blows out the candle, Mila cheers and presses the button turning off the emergency stop on the elevator.

"I know you can't tell me what you wished for... but I hope it was a good one."

Max nods. "Mila you remember when we talked about Spider-Man?"

Mila freezes for a moment before clearing her throat and nodding slowly, "Yeah I remember. Why?"

"J-just... He told me I was a somebody to... just like you. Thank you for making me feel special."

Mila frowns placing her hand on Max's shoulder, "You are special Max. Everyone is special in their own way. And you're important. Just like everyone. You matter. Don't let anyone tell you different. Okay?"

Max smiles.

Mila glances down at her watch and curses, "Shoot it's almost 6, I gotta go. Hope you have a great rest of your day max!

"Thank you Mila."

"Of course! Bye!" Mila runs out the elevator leaving Max to smile at the cupcake in his hand.

"I matter..." Max mumbles to himself with a shy smile on his face.

The elevator dings as it stops allowing Max to get out of it. As soon as he steps out he bumps into his boss. The two stand in the corridor as the crowd of people get in the elevator.

"Whoa. Dillon. You stay here."

Max frowns, "What?"

"There's a current flow problem in the lab. Why don't you take a look?"

"It's my birthday. Everybody else is leaving. Why do I have to stay?"

Smythe gets on the elevator turning to Max, "Because you're special."

"Smythe... I mean, Mr. Smythe."

"Happy birthday."

The doors close and Max sighs heading off to the lab.

KARI speaks robotically skipping as the screen statics in the lab, "Bioelectrogenesis: The generation of electricity by living organisms to fend off..."

"Let's see what's going on with you."Max turns the screen before looking at the eels, "Hey, guys."

"The genetically manipulated..."

"At least somebody's partying." Max says as he looks at the eels then up at a flash of electrics sparking.

"All right. Just a little sick. Mm-hm. I got your medicine, though."

Max climbs the stairs, "I'm so sick that I can't get to my birthday after all I put together for this company. Designed the grid..."

He grunts standing up looking at the sparks fly off a machine, "I should've stretched."

KARI, "Malfunction in Sector 5A."

"I know. Just a little indigestion. I bet you didn't know it was my birthday, huh, did you, Kari? Think you can sing Happy Birthday for me? I'll just have to sing it
for myself."

Max pulls out his radio looking around at the wiring, "Gilbert?"

"What?"

"It's Max. Can we shut down power on Sector 32, please?"

"Forget it. I'm out the door."

"What do you mean? I'm up here. It's dangerous."

"Sorry, Max."

The radio statics before going silent. Max groans shaking his head, "Hello? Fine. I'll do it myself. And sing my birthday song too."

He climbs up on a rail before lifting his other leg to another rail across from him. He reaches up to the two tubes, "This is crazy. Happy birthday to me... Happy birthday, dear Max... Happy birthday to me."

Electricity hisses as he connects the tubes together. He sighs in relief then goes to put them back up when he is electrocuted. He then falls off the railing into the vat of eels still holding the wired tubing. The eels attack him as he begins to phase into pure power and electricity.

The vat of water bursts into pieces as water goes everywhere

KARI, "System restored. Have a nice day."

...

"Harry, Oscorp's been under intense public scrutiny in the wake of Dr. Connors' recent, uh, breach of trust." Mencken states

"You mean people are pissed off
because he tried to turn everyone in New York City into giant lizards."

"Given that, all the animal hybrid programs
he was involved in were destroyed to restore investor confidence."

Harry scoffs, "Ah. That is the Osborn way.
Whatever's inconvenient around here, just get rid of it, right?"

"Much of that scrutiny may fall on you now. We felt that plausible deniability was your best option."

"Sure, sure. I get it. Twenty-year-old kid. Two hundred billion dollar company.
What was Dad thinking? I mean, you're all lawyers, right? Surely, someone must've
questioned his sanity in the end. Someone must've thought about having him declared legally incompetent. It would've made this
conversation a lot easier."

"Harry..."

"It's Mr. Osborn. We're not friends."

As Menken opens his mouth to speak, Mila walks into the room after knocking

"Hi."

Mencken frowns, "You are his assistant, right?"

"Mm-hm."

"What's your name?"

"Mila..."

Harry stands up walking beside Mila, "From now on, everybody at this table
works for Mila because Mila works for me.
Would anybody like to speak up? Well, good. Then you can all keep your jobs a little longer."

Harry turns to Mila to see why she came into the room, "Yes sorry? What is it?"

Mila smiles softly, "The doorman said that there's someone here to see you."

Harry nods, "Mila, I wanna see every file on this list. Every single one."

Mila nods watching him leave. She then sees Menken whispering to the others about a special project. Shaking her head she leaves the room and freezes hearing a familiar voice down the hall.

"Peter Parker. It's like seeing a ghost."

Peter smiles holding onto his backpack strap as he stands by the front door, "Hey, Harry."

"Random." Harry shrugs, "What, 10 years."

"It's eight. But you're close."

Harry clears his throat, "What's up?"

"I saw the news, man." Peter starts slowly walking to the stairs, "I heard about your dad and I wanted to come and... Just wanted to come and see you. Check to see how you were doing."

"I'm with some people." Harry sighs, "I'm in a... I'm in a meeting."

Peter smiles backing up, "I'm sorry, I don't wanna intrude. I know it's been a long time.
I kind of know exactly what you're going through right now. And you were so there for me when my parents... Well, that's why I'm here for you."

Harry nods, "Thank you... Ah, it's good to see you, man."

Peter nods turning towards the door, "It's good to see you. I'm sorry about your dad."

Harry chuckles shaking his head walking down a few stairs, "You got your braces off... Now there's nothing to
distract from your unibrow."

Peter turns back to his old friend, "There he is... There he is."

Harry laughs as Peter smiles.

"You still blow-dry your hair every morning?"

"Um... You know, one of my manservants holds the hair dryer but I work the comb, okay? So at least I'm not completely helpless."

"You're stupid."

Peter goes up and steps and pulls Harry into a hug. Harry texts Mila and tells her to tell Menken the meeting would be postponed until further notice. Peter and Harry walk around New York reconnecting.

"After graduation, I went to Brazil, then Singapore."

Peter nods, "That's right, yeah."

"Yeah. And then Europe... You know, I went to Europe."

"I saw you." Peter slaps the back of Harry's shoulder making Harry chuckle in confusion.

"What do you mean, you saw me?"

"I saw you in some magazine with some French supermodel. You know what I'm talking about?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Harry laughs, "Dude, that whole model thing is so exhausting."

"I know."

Harry raises an eyebrow at him.

"My best friend... s-she models... yeah..."

The two stand a rail that looks over the water by the bridge. Harry glances over at Peter who now looked sad.

"You got a lady?"

"Uh... That's a question..." Peter groans as he leans over the railing then gets on the other side of it, "That's a question."

Harry holds his hands out just in case Peter started to fall, "Whoa, buddy."

Peter sighs looking out to the bridge, "No, I don't... Yeah... I don't know. It's, uh... I don't know. It's complicated."

Harry nods, "Yeah, I don't do complicated. Uh, what's her name? Who is she?"

Peter bites the inside of his cheek, "Her name's Mila."

"Mila?"

"She works for you. She's your sisters best friend."

Harry nods in awe, "Mila Stacey? Wow..."

Peter nods with a grimace, "Yeah... I uh messed up, pretty bad."

"Well if anything I know she probably would take you back if you asked."

Peter shakes his head, "Nah... why would you think that?"

"I uh tried to woo her, with my charm. It hasn't worked and now I know it's not going to. I've heard her talk about you to my sister... never your name but I know now that it's you. You know what Cora's mother used to say?"

Peter shrugs waiting for the golden answer.

"If you love something let it go, if it comes back it's meant for you."

Peter nods smiling, "Thanks man."

A few minutes later the two stand by the shore, skipping rocks into the water.

"You gotta admit, though. Things have gotten crazy around here, man. Giant lizards and spider guys."

Peter sighs, "Just one guy. Just one spider man. Or woman. We don't know for sure."

Harry chuckles, "Whatever, dude. He wears spandex to rescue kittens from trees. I'm so impressed."

"I kind of like to think he gives people hope."

"For what?"

"Maybe eventually everything's gonna be all right."

"Yeah, I just wish I had time
for 'eventually.'"

...
{PLAY ZULA SONG 🥹🥺🥲😭😩}

Horns honk and bicycle bells ring in the busy New York street. Peter, who had just come from talking with Harry, walks slowly down the street getting closer and closer to the market. He feels his heart sink into his chest as he nervously paces back and forth.

Feeling a tingle, Peter's head snaps to the left and immediately notices Mila from the crowd of people. She walks up to a booth and smiles at the merchant who gives her a flower. Turning around she gives the flower to a little girl. Looking up, her eyes instantly connect with Peter's.

Mila smiles lightly as Pete's mouth slightly gapes open. He walks into the traffic in a literal daze.

Tires screech and horns honk as cars slam into their brakes to stop from hitting Peter.

"Hey, moron! Get out of the street!"

A mirror hits Peter's arm flying off not even phasing him as he walks over Luna who was smiling yet shaking her head.

"Hey."

Mila slaps Peter's arm staring at him incredulously, "Hi... What was that? You trying to get hit, crazy boy?"

"Hi." Peter didn't listen to a word she had just said. She was radiating. She looked even more stunning than he thought possible.

"You look amazing. You look... you look beautiful."

Peter can't help but stare in awe and longing at Mila as she smiles that beautiful smile that he couldn't get out of his head. He was and had always been and will forever be, whipped.

"I-I uh thank you." Mila smiles looking down at the ring on her finger, "I-I... Um... I'm sorry for the spontaneous outreach. There was just a lot of stuff going on yesterday. It was kind of..."

Peter shakes his head smiling lightly as he glances down at the promise ring she still wore, "No. I don't... I... Spontaneous... is all right. You know."

Mila nods putting her hands in her pockets with a light shrug, "Well I just figured it was time..."

"Time for what?"

"For us to be friends..."

Peter frowns then smiles softly, "Friends..."

Mila could hear the disappointment in his voice. She frowns, "Sorry I um...yeah..."

"No no no no... That's great."

"Oh... Okay good."

"Well if that's all then I guess I'll leave you to it. And um since we're friends, just know that you can call me whenever... Whenever you're sad or lonely or just want to talk."

Mila nods with a light smile.

Peter nods once more looking over and remembering every piece of Mila's face, before he turns around to leave.

His phone rings making him stop and dig in his pocket to find it. Looking at the name and picture on the screen he turns around and smiles.

Mila shrugs holding up her phone, "I'm sad, and lonely, and would love to talk."

Peter nods chuckling to himself before putting his phone away, "Great, I mean...
Ha, ha. If we're gonna be friends, I think
we gotta establish some ground rules."

Mila raises an eyebrow at him as they begin to walk side by side. Neither of them noticing that their arms were touching.

"Some ground rules?"

"Yeah, some ground rules."

Mila laughs to herself making Peter freeze and point at her.

"Like that."

"Mila frowns confused, "Like what?"

"That. That laugh."

Mila gasps, "What?"

Peter shrugs, "That's off the table."

"My laugh is off the table?"

Peter nods, "Off the table. You gotta figure out a more annoying laugh."

Mila rolls her eyes, "Well alright... Fine then.."

She tries to laughs loudly and annoyingly but Peter just stares at her in awe.

"That's still adorable."

Mila lightly pokes Peter's arm, "That was not adorable."

Peter's arm nudges Mila, "It's adorable."

"No, it's not adorable..." Mila smiles laughing to herself, "Okay. I have a ground rule. Um..."

"Oh, good. What is it?"

Mila raises up a finger grinning, "Don't tell me that I look amazing like you just did a second ago... With your big brown doe eyes. Okay?"

Peter halts and stands in place just looking at Mila's face. Remembering the smile she was currently wearing.

Mila sighs trying to look away from Peter's eyes as the back of her hand lightly dabs her cold nose, "I'm really serious about that one."

"Oh, no."

Mila frowns, "What?"

Peter shrugs, "I just figured out the next ground rule."

"What?"

"No more of this..." Peter mimics Mila wiping her nose, "No more of this little nose rub that you do."

"This?" Mila pats her nose with the back of her hand and smiles, "What am I supposed to do? It's allergy season."

Peter groans dramatically, "This is killing me. You're just spitting in the face of my ground rules. I'm out."

Mila giggles shaking her head as Peter starts to slowly walk away, "No come on. I'll stop I promise."

Peter turns to her smiling, "First we get ice cream, and then I'm out."

After getting ice cream the two walk down the market area talking about how their summer had been going.

"Um, yeah. So I did that." Mila throws away her ice cream cup as Peter does the same.

"And I got completely addicted to this place that has Korean meatballs."

"Yeah. No, I know you love Korean food." Peter smiles looking at her as he had all night.

Like she was the only person in the world.

Mila smiles nervously looking down at her hands as she sees the look Peter is giving her, "Have you been there? It's mind blowing."

Peter nods, "That place on 6th. I know. You love it there."

Mila nods then freezes as Peter curses and walks over to a tree, "How do you know that?"

"Hm?" Peter hums trying to think of something as he knew he had fucked up.

Mila analyzes his body language as she watches him walk around the tree, "How do you know I love it there?"

"Because, um... Because you told me."

Mila nods slowly then shrugs, "It just opened last month."

Peter hides behind the tree as Mila smiles at him.

"Have you been following me, Petey boy?"

Peter doesn't say anything but Mila knew better.

"I knew it." She scoffs laughing, "How often?"

Peter shrugs, "Just once a day. Sometimes.
Sometimes more."

Mila feels her heart beam as she sighs rubbing her head, "Oh, boy. Why? Make sure I'm safe?"

Peter nods, "And..."

"And what?"

"And because it's the closest I can get to still being with you."

Mila looks at Peter in awe as they both move around the tree again.

"I miss you... I really do Peter."

Peter leans closer to Mila as she now leans against a tree. She looks down as their hands slowly find one another and their foreheads touch. Mila plays with the ring on Peter's finger as his free hand caresses her cheek.

"Mila I've missed you more than you'll ever know. Ever comprehend... I just want the best for you... I want you to be happy... to be safe."

Mila shrugs still not looking up at him, "Isn't that my decision? It's my life. My choice... just like you chose to be who you are... and save the world. What if I choose to be by your side a-and-"

"You can't pretty girl. Your life without me has been... you've been so successful."

Mila closes her eyes feeling a small pain in her chest as her old nickname leaves peters lips.

"You're incredible. You're talented. You're intelligent. I don't want you to waste that... you could do something amazing."

Peter frowns as Mila sniffles and tears fall down her cheeks. Sighing, Peter gently pulls his hand from Mila's and raises his to her face. He wipes away her tears as he stares intensely into her sad eyes.

"What's going on in that head of yours pretty girl?"

Mila smiles letting out a breath before pouting and whispering, "I'm scared..."

Peter shakes his head frowning, trying to find some kind of answer in Mila's body language, "Why are you scared? What's happening?"

"Peter I have something to tell you. Something important."

Peter nods, "okay I'm all ears, bab- Ror..."

Mila glances away for a second, "I'm moving to England."

Peter frowns, "What?"

"I um... I have a... I'm up for a scholarship to Oxford... so I'll be rooming with Gwen. Well I have a verbal test but it's a pretty set thing already."

"Woah... wow t-thats amazing."

Mila frowns, "Yeah."

"I-I'm uh I'm proud of you. That's really great."

"Thanks. Um but I actually have one other thing... I mean it's important. It's not like- well it is life changing but I mean um... maybe I should stop rambling and tell you?"

Peter smiles nodding, "That would be nice but I'm also not against listening to you continue to ramble."

Mila smiles, "Of course you're not. So I um-"

Peter's head snaps to the side as he hears police sirens down the block. Mila freezes watching him take off his backpack.

"I'm so sorry can we finish this conversation another time."

Mila smiles sadly with a nod, "Duty calls."

She takes the back pack from him as he pulls out his suit wrapped in a jacket. She watches him disappear before slapping her forehead.

"You idiot," she mutters to herself.

Literally so sad for Max. He did not deserve that.

Also KARI was shady and I hate Smythe. Like what the heck is this stupid staff and bosses.

Peter and Mila 🥹🥺😭😩 I should've told y'all to get the tissues. That's my bad.

Harry and Peter... I wish we had more time to see Harry and Peters friendship build. They're too cute.

Future predictions?

Any special request...