Negotiations
"As of this moment you're banned, permanently, from visiting the Nexus."
The director might have been expecting him to be horrified at these consequences of his actions, to beg for lenience or maybe even weep. But Baldwin doesn't do any of that. "No, I'm not."
"Beg pardon?"
He looks up, meeting Osborn's eyes without flinching. "I said. No, I'm not."
He's trying to stay calm, Robbie can tell. Being met with flat defiance, though, doesn't do much for the Director's mood. "And why is this, Mr. Baldwin?"
Robbie, on the other hand, is as calm as the ocean on a windless day. "Because, sir, I'm a volunteer, not a prisoner. And if you try to turn me into a prisoner, I'll scream rights violation so loud Mr. Stark will be able to hear it in Avengers Tower."
"And what makes you think, Mr. Baldwin, that anyone will side with you, after the mess you've made?"
He almost says Well, the alternative is siding with you, but he curbs his tongue. There's a time and place for everything, after all.
Instead, he replies with a still-calm "They might," and a stiff shrug. "But I'd fight it every step of the way, sir, and make sure it took a very long time for them to decide."
And they both know, and he can see on Osborn's face that he knows they both know, that the director doesn't want or need that kind of interference. And he sees something else, too -- a curious softness around his eyes, as he clasps his hands together on his desk. "The place means quite a lot to you, then."
Robbie almost tilts his head, curious at the change in demeandor. "It's a nice change from the military thing."
A sigh. "I remember, Mr. Baldwin, when I fought, just as hard as you're prepared to, for the same thing you're so desperate for. Before it ate me alive."
"You seem pretty whole to me, sir."
"Don't play dumb with people who know better, m'boy. It doesn't suit you." (Not bad advice, really.) Osborn catches his eyes, and maintains the contact as he speaks. "You will discuss this incident with both Dr. Ableton and Dr. Samson, and undergo with them grief counseling in addition to your current sessions. You will also assist Dr. Octavius in the reconstruction of his arms, in any way he wishes. In exchange for this, you may continue to visit the Nexus, provided you don't have another episode like this. Do we have a deal?"
"What happens if it happens again, sir?" Not that he intends it, no, but it just -- sneaks up on him, you know? He doesn't want to be like this.
"Then I don't care how loud you'll scream. Are we understood?"
Robbie takes a deep breath. "Yes, sir. And we have a deal."
Osborn extends his hand across the desk, and after a moment's hesitation -- he still doesn't like touching anyone, let alone someone like this guy -- Robbie takes it, and shakes.
-----
Norman doesn't let himself chuckle, just softly, until after Baldwin leaves. He might have lost this round, but that just meant the boy was learning.
The director might have been expecting him to be horrified at these consequences of his actions, to beg for lenience or maybe even weep. But Baldwin doesn't do any of that. "No, I'm not."
"Beg pardon?"
He looks up, meeting Osborn's eyes without flinching. "I said. No, I'm not."
He's trying to stay calm, Robbie can tell. Being met with flat defiance, though, doesn't do much for the Director's mood. "And why is this, Mr. Baldwin?"
Robbie, on the other hand, is as calm as the ocean on a windless day. "Because, sir, I'm a volunteer, not a prisoner. And if you try to turn me into a prisoner, I'll scream rights violation so loud Mr. Stark will be able to hear it in Avengers Tower."
"And what makes you think, Mr. Baldwin, that anyone will side with you, after the mess you've made?"
He almost says Well, the alternative is siding with you, but he curbs his tongue. There's a time and place for everything, after all.
Instead, he replies with a still-calm "They might," and a stiff shrug. "But I'd fight it every step of the way, sir, and make sure it took a very long time for them to decide."
And they both know, and he can see on Osborn's face that he knows they both know, that the director doesn't want or need that kind of interference. And he sees something else, too -- a curious softness around his eyes, as he clasps his hands together on his desk. "The place means quite a lot to you, then."
Robbie almost tilts his head, curious at the change in demeandor. "It's a nice change from the military thing."
A sigh. "I remember, Mr. Baldwin, when I fought, just as hard as you're prepared to, for the same thing you're so desperate for. Before it ate me alive."
"You seem pretty whole to me, sir."
"Don't play dumb with people who know better, m'boy. It doesn't suit you." (Not bad advice, really.) Osborn catches his eyes, and maintains the contact as he speaks. "You will discuss this incident with both Dr. Ableton and Dr. Samson, and undergo with them grief counseling in addition to your current sessions. You will also assist Dr. Octavius in the reconstruction of his arms, in any way he wishes. In exchange for this, you may continue to visit the Nexus, provided you don't have another episode like this. Do we have a deal?"
"What happens if it happens again, sir?" Not that he intends it, no, but it just -- sneaks up on him, you know? He doesn't want to be like this.
"Then I don't care how loud you'll scream. Are we understood?"
Robbie takes a deep breath. "Yes, sir. And we have a deal."
Osborn extends his hand across the desk, and after a moment's hesitation -- he still doesn't like touching anyone, let alone someone like this guy -- Robbie takes it, and shakes.
-----
Norman doesn't let himself chuckle, just softly, until after Baldwin leaves. He might have lost this round, but that just meant the boy was learning.