Fic: Sins of the Father (Harry Osborn/MJ Watson)
Title: Sins of the Father
Author: milleniumrex
Recipient: jtav
Prompt: Harry/MJ. Suppose Harry survived. Can he put his life back together?
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1684
Characters: Mary Jane Watson/Harry Osborn, Nick Fury
Warnings, if including any non-con/dub-con/etc.: Discussion of child abuse. Also, contains discussion of Ultimatum, which kind of deserves a warning in and of itself. But only the USM stuff.
Summary: After coming close to death, Harry struggles with what's left of his life. But an old friend isn't ready to give up on him yet.
When you're in a coma, most people assume you're simply sleeping. Forever. They treat you like you're not there, never even thinking that there might be a chance you're hearing everything they say.
It's not exactly like you're conscious, especially not at first. Harry doesn't remember much of anything from the first few weeks of the coma. But after that, voices began to flit in and out, much like if he was in a deep sleep and people were trying to rouse him. They became more and more clear and frequent as time went on, providing a little snapshot of the world around him.
"...poor kid. Not only did his father do this to him, they say that poison is still in his veins. He'll never..."
"I know he doesn't look like a threat, but this boy took out a dozen agents. So when he wakes up, he's going right back to..."
"Hi, Harry. I just want you to know...I'm not going to stop coming here. They say you might never wake up, but I don't believe it. I know you're still fighting. And when you wake up, I'll be here..."
Harry's mind was still far too hazy to really process exactly who was saying what, but that last voice seemed to have an effect that the others didn't. Every time it showed up, he seemed to listen a little longer and more clearly before drifting away again. And as his mind slowly became clearer, and he started to believe that he could finally open his eyes, it was the face that voice belonged to that he hoped to see by his side.
-----
It was third period when MJ got the text message that Harry had woken up. She had a study hall next period, and was willing to risk the suspension if she didn't get back on time for Geometry. The doctors had told her not to be too hopeful, but she knew, looking at Harry during those long six weeks, that he still had something left in him. She knew he was still in there, fighting to wake up. She had to get there before Nick Fury and his men took him away again. As soon as he was able to stand on his own two feet, the SHIELD agents permanently stationed outside his door had made it clear they'd be hauling him back to a containment cell.
She had been to visit enough time during Harry's coma that she was on good terms with most of the guards (except Earl, the night guard, who seemed to have a mad-on against anyone with superpowers), and the afternoon guards were nice. Pretty soon, she was through the doors. Harry was sleeping when she walked in, but almost all the tubes and monitors were gone, save for an IV drip in his arm. He stirred when she sat down next to him.
"Nnn...MJ?"
MJ gently took Harry's hand, squeezing it. "It's me. How're you feeling?"
"Like I just got thrown off a building." Harry groaned. "This...isn't the first time you visited me, is it?"
MJ pulled back slightly out of surprise. "You...you heard me?"
"Kind of. I heard a voice I knew. Someone who kept coming by, talking to me. I was really out of it, and it's all kind of hazy, but I knew that whoever that person was...they were a big part of the reason I woke up."
MJ felt herself blush involuntarily. "So how much do you remember? Did you hear anything else?"
"Not really. I did watch a little TV when I woke up, though. What happened in New York..."
"Yeah. But it could have been a lot worse. The heroes..."
"Yeah, I hear they did a great job." Harry's face suddenly went pale. "Wait. Did Peter - "
"He made it out okay. It was pretty close, but he survived. Everyone did. Peter, Gwen, Kitty - "
"Wait, Gwen? I thought she was - "
MJ laughed. "Not so much, it turns out. It's a really long story. But everyone's okay now. Well, besides my relationship with Peter, but that's neither here nor there."
"You two broke up again?" Harry asked, trying very hard not to look optimistic at hearing this.
"Yeah. I had a freakout when he was missing. I just...couldn't handle it anymore. I couldn't see anyone else I cared about get hurt. Not after you. I pushed him away...and that's it. I think it's really over this time." MJ paused. "But enough about that. God, I can't believe I'm bugging you with my drama when you just got out of a coma. What did the doctors say? Are you okay now?"
"I'm still testing positive for OZ, but it seems to be dormant at the moment. Still, I don't know if I'll Gob out again. But they think it might have saved my life, fixed most of the damage. So physically, pretty much. Mentally...that's another story. They told me Norman's really dead this time?"
"Shot in the head at point blank range. That's about as dead as it gets. I'm sorry. I know he was still your father, and - "
"Are you kidding me? The guy was a monster. Believe me, MJ. You don't have to pretend on my account."
"Well, he did chuck me off a bridge once..." MJ played with her hair nervously.
"Exactly. But even though he's gone...I'm still my father's son. And if he was such a monster that he would try to kill his own son, what does that make me? How can I be sure that I won't turn into everything I hate?"
"Harry..." MJ took Harry's hand again. "I don't show this to many people." MJ slowly lifted her sleeve up to reveal her forearm. Along it were a series of small, circular scars, some more faded than others.
"Geez. Who did that to you?"
"My father. You know he was a drunk. Well, when I would get him angry, he liked to put out his cigarettes on me. My mother knew it was going on, but she was too scared to stop it, because when she would step in, he would turn on her. The day he left was the best day of our lives. He was abusive, violent...a monster. So now that you know this, does it change the way you look at me?"
"Of course not. MJ, you're the best person I know."
"Aw. I'm not nearly as good as you think. But my point is, if I'm not a monster, neither are you. We're just two messed-up people trying not to let our fathers define our lives."
"Yeah, but you're not literally going to turn into your father at any moment. I've got this monster inside me - "
"And even that can be used for good, if you want it to be. Look at last time! You were the only reason Norman didn't kill more people. If they can't get rid of the Goblin, you can use it."
Harry grinned. "Norman would really hate it if the second Goblin became a hero, wouldn't he?"
"Can you think of a better way to stick it to the evil old man?"
"No. I can't." Harry leaned in and kissed MJ. "And I can't think of anyone else I'd want helping me to do it."
MJ pulled away suddenly. "Whoa."
"Oh." Harry's face fell. "I thought you - Sorry."
"No, it's just - I was surprised. But I shouldn't be. After all, this isn't the first time, right?"
MJ leaned in and kissed Harry back. A lot of things had ended for both of them, but maybe something new was beginning.
Suddenly, a knock came at the door. MJ turned around to see Nick Fury standing there, his trademark scowl on his face.
"Already?" Harry sighed.
"You knew it was coming, Osborn."
"No." MJ stood up. "You can't take him. You nearly got him killed last time, and now you want to thank him by throwing him in a cell again?"
"Your boyfriend's a powerful genetic mutant who nearly destroyed a city block the last time he got out."
"MJ, it's okay - "
"No, it's not!" MJ turned back to Fury and stared him down. "He deserves better than this. Harry isn't his father, and I'm not going to let you treat him like he is!"
Harry slowly got out of the bed, walking over to MJ and putting his arm around her. "Look, I appreciate it, but you're not going to be able to talk SHIELD out of taking me." He turned to Fury. "She's right, you know. I'm not my father. I may have his powers, but the last time you let me out, you know what side I came down on."
"True." Fury nodded. "So what exactly do you want?"
"Training. I want to learn how to control this beast. Then you can use me on missions. Come on - you know a 1000-pound fire-shooting berserker beast would be useful in the Ultimates."
"Decent point. We can see how it goes - but you're still coming with us. Prove yourself, and the next time we let you out, it won't be as a prisoner." Fury nodded towards MJ. "Say your goodbyes for now. I'll be back with transport shortly."
Harry wrapped his arms around MJ as Fury left the room. "It's okay. You heard him - I'll be back."
"It's not fair. You just woke up. You've helped them so much already. Why can't they just leave you alone?"
"Some of us are destined to be on the big stage, I guess. I'm just glad I'll be able to use this curse to do something good - thanks to you." Harry grinned. "Besides, the Ultimates get furloughs."
"And you would look pretty good in a SHIELD uniform."
"That's the spirit." Harry leaned in and kissed MJ goodbye, hopefully not for long. "Anything I become now...it's at least partially because someone believed I could. Here's to breaking free of our fathers."
MJ nodded. "Here's to the future."
Author: milleniumrex
Recipient: jtav
Prompt: Harry/MJ. Suppose Harry survived. Can he put his life back together?
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1684
Characters: Mary Jane Watson/Harry Osborn, Nick Fury
Warnings, if including any non-con/dub-con/etc.: Discussion of child abuse. Also, contains discussion of Ultimatum, which kind of deserves a warning in and of itself. But only the USM stuff.
Summary: After coming close to death, Harry struggles with what's left of his life. But an old friend isn't ready to give up on him yet.
When you're in a coma, most people assume you're simply sleeping. Forever. They treat you like you're not there, never even thinking that there might be a chance you're hearing everything they say.
It's not exactly like you're conscious, especially not at first. Harry doesn't remember much of anything from the first few weeks of the coma. But after that, voices began to flit in and out, much like if he was in a deep sleep and people were trying to rouse him. They became more and more clear and frequent as time went on, providing a little snapshot of the world around him.
"...poor kid. Not only did his father do this to him, they say that poison is still in his veins. He'll never..."
"I know he doesn't look like a threat, but this boy took out a dozen agents. So when he wakes up, he's going right back to..."
"Hi, Harry. I just want you to know...I'm not going to stop coming here. They say you might never wake up, but I don't believe it. I know you're still fighting. And when you wake up, I'll be here..."
Harry's mind was still far too hazy to really process exactly who was saying what, but that last voice seemed to have an effect that the others didn't. Every time it showed up, he seemed to listen a little longer and more clearly before drifting away again. And as his mind slowly became clearer, and he started to believe that he could finally open his eyes, it was the face that voice belonged to that he hoped to see by his side.
-----
It was third period when MJ got the text message that Harry had woken up. She had a study hall next period, and was willing to risk the suspension if she didn't get back on time for Geometry. The doctors had told her not to be too hopeful, but she knew, looking at Harry during those long six weeks, that he still had something left in him. She knew he was still in there, fighting to wake up. She had to get there before Nick Fury and his men took him away again. As soon as he was able to stand on his own two feet, the SHIELD agents permanently stationed outside his door had made it clear they'd be hauling him back to a containment cell.
She had been to visit enough time during Harry's coma that she was on good terms with most of the guards (except Earl, the night guard, who seemed to have a mad-on against anyone with superpowers), and the afternoon guards were nice. Pretty soon, she was through the doors. Harry was sleeping when she walked in, but almost all the tubes and monitors were gone, save for an IV drip in his arm. He stirred when she sat down next to him.
"Nnn...MJ?"
MJ gently took Harry's hand, squeezing it. "It's me. How're you feeling?"
"Like I just got thrown off a building." Harry groaned. "This...isn't the first time you visited me, is it?"
MJ pulled back slightly out of surprise. "You...you heard me?"
"Kind of. I heard a voice I knew. Someone who kept coming by, talking to me. I was really out of it, and it's all kind of hazy, but I knew that whoever that person was...they were a big part of the reason I woke up."
MJ felt herself blush involuntarily. "So how much do you remember? Did you hear anything else?"
"Not really. I did watch a little TV when I woke up, though. What happened in New York..."
"Yeah. But it could have been a lot worse. The heroes..."
"Yeah, I hear they did a great job." Harry's face suddenly went pale. "Wait. Did Peter - "
"He made it out okay. It was pretty close, but he survived. Everyone did. Peter, Gwen, Kitty - "
"Wait, Gwen? I thought she was - "
MJ laughed. "Not so much, it turns out. It's a really long story. But everyone's okay now. Well, besides my relationship with Peter, but that's neither here nor there."
"You two broke up again?" Harry asked, trying very hard not to look optimistic at hearing this.
"Yeah. I had a freakout when he was missing. I just...couldn't handle it anymore. I couldn't see anyone else I cared about get hurt. Not after you. I pushed him away...and that's it. I think it's really over this time." MJ paused. "But enough about that. God, I can't believe I'm bugging you with my drama when you just got out of a coma. What did the doctors say? Are you okay now?"
"I'm still testing positive for OZ, but it seems to be dormant at the moment. Still, I don't know if I'll Gob out again. But they think it might have saved my life, fixed most of the damage. So physically, pretty much. Mentally...that's another story. They told me Norman's really dead this time?"
"Shot in the head at point blank range. That's about as dead as it gets. I'm sorry. I know he was still your father, and - "
"Are you kidding me? The guy was a monster. Believe me, MJ. You don't have to pretend on my account."
"Well, he did chuck me off a bridge once..." MJ played with her hair nervously.
"Exactly. But even though he's gone...I'm still my father's son. And if he was such a monster that he would try to kill his own son, what does that make me? How can I be sure that I won't turn into everything I hate?"
"Harry..." MJ took Harry's hand again. "I don't show this to many people." MJ slowly lifted her sleeve up to reveal her forearm. Along it were a series of small, circular scars, some more faded than others.
"Geez. Who did that to you?"
"My father. You know he was a drunk. Well, when I would get him angry, he liked to put out his cigarettes on me. My mother knew it was going on, but she was too scared to stop it, because when she would step in, he would turn on her. The day he left was the best day of our lives. He was abusive, violent...a monster. So now that you know this, does it change the way you look at me?"
"Of course not. MJ, you're the best person I know."
"Aw. I'm not nearly as good as you think. But my point is, if I'm not a monster, neither are you. We're just two messed-up people trying not to let our fathers define our lives."
"Yeah, but you're not literally going to turn into your father at any moment. I've got this monster inside me - "
"And even that can be used for good, if you want it to be. Look at last time! You were the only reason Norman didn't kill more people. If they can't get rid of the Goblin, you can use it."
Harry grinned. "Norman would really hate it if the second Goblin became a hero, wouldn't he?"
"Can you think of a better way to stick it to the evil old man?"
"No. I can't." Harry leaned in and kissed MJ. "And I can't think of anyone else I'd want helping me to do it."
MJ pulled away suddenly. "Whoa."
"Oh." Harry's face fell. "I thought you - Sorry."
"No, it's just - I was surprised. But I shouldn't be. After all, this isn't the first time, right?"
MJ leaned in and kissed Harry back. A lot of things had ended for both of them, but maybe something new was beginning.
Suddenly, a knock came at the door. MJ turned around to see Nick Fury standing there, his trademark scowl on his face.
"Already?" Harry sighed.
"You knew it was coming, Osborn."
"No." MJ stood up. "You can't take him. You nearly got him killed last time, and now you want to thank him by throwing him in a cell again?"
"Your boyfriend's a powerful genetic mutant who nearly destroyed a city block the last time he got out."
"MJ, it's okay - "
"No, it's not!" MJ turned back to Fury and stared him down. "He deserves better than this. Harry isn't his father, and I'm not going to let you treat him like he is!"
Harry slowly got out of the bed, walking over to MJ and putting his arm around her. "Look, I appreciate it, but you're not going to be able to talk SHIELD out of taking me." He turned to Fury. "She's right, you know. I'm not my father. I may have his powers, but the last time you let me out, you know what side I came down on."
"True." Fury nodded. "So what exactly do you want?"
"Training. I want to learn how to control this beast. Then you can use me on missions. Come on - you know a 1000-pound fire-shooting berserker beast would be useful in the Ultimates."
"Decent point. We can see how it goes - but you're still coming with us. Prove yourself, and the next time we let you out, it won't be as a prisoner." Fury nodded towards MJ. "Say your goodbyes for now. I'll be back with transport shortly."
Harry wrapped his arms around MJ as Fury left the room. "It's okay. You heard him - I'll be back."
"It's not fair. You just woke up. You've helped them so much already. Why can't they just leave you alone?"
"Some of us are destined to be on the big stage, I guess. I'm just glad I'll be able to use this curse to do something good - thanks to you." Harry grinned. "Besides, the Ultimates get furloughs."
"And you would look pretty good in a SHIELD uniform."
"That's the spirit." Harry leaned in and kissed MJ goodbye, hopefully not for long. "Anything I become now...it's at least partially because someone believed I could. Here's to breaking free of our fathers."
MJ nodded. "Here's to the future."