incitethemuse Tabloids
ooc: normanosborn used with permission.
When Bruce is placed on Psychiatric hold, Harry has a moment where he loses it completely. It's a private freak out. One that he saves until he's driving home from the Wayne Clinic. The music is blaring, and Harry feels it hit him suddenly. Bruce is on Psychiatric hold.
If anyone knows what Psychiatric hold is like, it's Harry Osborn. If there's anyone that Harry can't see handling being placed in that kind of environment, it's Bruce Wayne.
It's not that he doesn't get why it was done. Wasn't it Harry who has been claiming that something has been off with Bruce for months? Wasn't it Harry who spent countless hours over the last few months trying to find the answer to what is going on with Bruce in his text books? Has Bruce lost it? Has he finally snapped?
Is he suicidal?
Harry screams. He screams at the top of his lungs as he pounds on the steering wheel with his fists and ignores the looks he's getting from inside the car parked at the light with him. Maybe he should just be grateful they didn't attempt to snap a camera phone picture of it to sell to the tabloids.
The tabloids have been dying for a quote since Vesper died and Bruce was charged with her murder. Not just the tabloids of course. No, the real press, the respectable press, has been dying for an exclusive as well. Harry has no comment.
Bruce is charged with murder.
No comment.
Bruce is held without bail.
No comment.
Bruce is attacked in prison and nearly dies.
No comment.
Bruce is on Psychiatric hold.
No comment.
Lex tries to talk to him. Tries to get Harry to open up. Harry has no comment for him either. His answers are short and controlled. He's checked out to a degree. Stress will do that to someone. Lex isn't impressed. Harry is past caring.
Talia is more addictive than most drugs that Harry has tried. When he's fucking her he feels like he's someone else. Someone who doesn't feel like they're cracking around the edges. He's sneaking around and lying just like he does when he's using drugs. He's covering his tracks just like he does when he's on drugs. He's justifying this betrayal to his loved ones just like he does when he's on drugs.
Talia is an escape. She's a tie to Bruce. She's a fantasy that is able to be touched. She's a sin. She's revenge. She's a way to act out because he's being ignored by Bruce. She's a way to self-destruct. She's just so fucking addictive, and Harry doesn't want to give her up. Even though he knows it's temporary. It has to be temporary.
When Bruce escapes on Friday, Harry feels something else inside him give. It's not so much that he thinks Bruce has escaped to kill himself. Talia would tell him if she believed that was the case right? She would tell him if Bruce was going to take himself. She'd know, right?
It's that Bruce is really good at disappearing. He was gone for seven years the last time. Who's to say he will even turn back up this time?
He's been planning a trip to New York for weeks to see the Stark Expo opening. Tony has secured him and Kara tickets.
Kara.
Harry's an asshole, and he knows it every time he walks into his home and sees his wife and kids. His devoted wife. He's fucking another woman, and Kara Marie is oblivious. He's such a fucking asshole. His guilt makes him want to buy her overly expensive gifts. To be extra sweet and affectionate.
His Psych training tells him that is a big red flag with spouses who are being cheated on. So, he reels it in as much as he can. He tries to act normal. As normal as anyone can act with the way things are.
They don't cancel their trip to New York. Addie stays behind with her grandfather, and Harry and Kara take the nanny and Coco with them. Evan's with his mother for Mother's Day. They attend the Expo and Kara beams with joy. Harry feels like even more of an asshole. She's so fucking beautiful, and better than he deserves. This isn't the first time he's betrayed her.
But he hides that guilt. He tries to make this little get away special. Tony puts on an amazing show, and Harry's glad they went. He wants to support Tony, and it's a good distraction from everything going on in Gotham. New York isn't Harry's city anymore, but he's alright with visiting to support Tony. He's alright with being there when Kara seems happy.
He deletes two voicemails from his father without listening to them.
Mother's Day is spent in Gotham. Harry is every bit the devoted father and husband he's expected to be. He goes a little overboard. The necklace he buys her is a bit much, but Mother's Day is a big deal. She's the mother of his children. He needs her to understand how grateful he is for everything she does.
He doesn't call Talia on Saturday or Sunday.
On Monday he has two exams. He's taken the week off from work so he can focus on finishing up this final semester of school. Exams has been his excuse for being able to sneak off and see Talia. Kara hasn't questioned any of his excuses. She hasn't questioned his distance. There's a lot going on after all, and while he isn't sure she's convinced of Bruce's innocence, she is convinced of Harry's loyalty.
There's a blocked number on his cell phone after his first exam. Harry assumes it's Talia, so he answers.
"Harry, we need to talk."
Harry slams his book closed and resists the instinct to hang up on Norman. Old habits die hard though, and he resigns himself to hearing Norman out. "Yes?"
"Have you seen OsCorp's stocks since your buddy Wayne took off?"
"No."
"No?" There's disgust in his father's voice. He has to give Norman credit. No one can do disgust and disappointment in one word like Stormin' Norman can. "Unbelievable. You have a responsibility to the stockholders to pay attention to these things. You have a responsibility to our family to save our legacy from going down like the Titanic with Wayne Enterprises."
"I don't run OsCorp."
"That's my point."
"I don't care about what happens to OsCorp." There's silence on the other end, and Harry wonders for a moment if he's been hung up on.
"I will not stand by and allow you to run my company into the ground because of your misguided trust in a murderer."
Harry laughs. He can't help it. The way Norman says murderer is fucking hilarious. "Accused murderer."
"Your loyalty is misplaced."
"And I should place it in who exactly? You? Have you forgotten that you nearly killed Mary Jane and me when you took out the board members on the balcony? If I have to choose between trusting Bruce or you, I'll put my money on the one who I didn't see kill someone in front of me."
Norman's words take on a tone that transports Harry to childhood. To closets and bruises. To being terrorized. "You will watch how you speak to me."
Harry isn't terrified anymore. He just doesn't give a shit. "Goodbye, Dad."
There's no focusing on his next exam. Harry leaves the classroom convinced he's failed, and will probably be delayed from graduating Grad school on time. His temper is ready to snap at the slightest provocation. When he's on a downward spiral with depression and anxiety it doesn't take much to make the paranoia to kick in. He has visions of being told he won't be able to attend Medical school after all. He has visions of Kara finding out about Talia. Of receiving word that Bruce has taken himself out. Of his father trying a hostile takeover of OsCorp.
The anxiety is choking.
When he sees the tabloid photographers swarmed around his car in the University parking lot he feels the cracks in the surface spread.
"Harry, over here."
"Mr. Osborn, what do you think about Bruce Wayne's escape?"
"Do you know where Mr. Wayne is?"
"Harry, have you been in contact with Bruce since he left?"
"Harry, look over here."
They all seem to be speaking at once, and he can hear the cameras going off in rapid succession. Harry pushes his way through, but one is blocking his car door. "Give us a quote, Harry."
"Get the fuck out of my way."
"Not the quote we're looking for. What's your thoughts on Bruce escaping? Still think he's innocent?"
"Get out of my way." The tone is a little lower. His eyes a little dangerous. It's the Osborn anger surfacing. Like father like son after all.
"Where do you think Bruce is hiding, Harry?"
Harry punches the guy in the face hard enough that he hears something crack. Maybe it's the guy's jaw. Maybe it's his own hand. No matter, they catch it on film. Pictures and video.
He only gives one statement though, "No comment."
The cops will be called, but Harry doesn't give a shit.
He climbs behind the wheel of his car and drives off. It's not like it will be hard for the police to find him, and frankly they have bigger fish to fry than Harry Osborn punching a pushy paparazzi.
Bruce Wayne has escaped and is believed to be a danger to himself and others.
When Bruce is placed on Psychiatric hold, Harry has a moment where he loses it completely. It's a private freak out. One that he saves until he's driving home from the Wayne Clinic. The music is blaring, and Harry feels it hit him suddenly. Bruce is on Psychiatric hold.
If anyone knows what Psychiatric hold is like, it's Harry Osborn. If there's anyone that Harry can't see handling being placed in that kind of environment, it's Bruce Wayne.
It's not that he doesn't get why it was done. Wasn't it Harry who has been claiming that something has been off with Bruce for months? Wasn't it Harry who spent countless hours over the last few months trying to find the answer to what is going on with Bruce in his text books? Has Bruce lost it? Has he finally snapped?
Is he suicidal?
Harry screams. He screams at the top of his lungs as he pounds on the steering wheel with his fists and ignores the looks he's getting from inside the car parked at the light with him. Maybe he should just be grateful they didn't attempt to snap a camera phone picture of it to sell to the tabloids.
The tabloids have been dying for a quote since Vesper died and Bruce was charged with her murder. Not just the tabloids of course. No, the real press, the respectable press, has been dying for an exclusive as well. Harry has no comment.
Bruce is charged with murder.
No comment.
Bruce is held without bail.
No comment.
Bruce is attacked in prison and nearly dies.
No comment.
Bruce is on Psychiatric hold.
No comment.
Lex tries to talk to him. Tries to get Harry to open up. Harry has no comment for him either. His answers are short and controlled. He's checked out to a degree. Stress will do that to someone. Lex isn't impressed. Harry is past caring.
Talia is more addictive than most drugs that Harry has tried. When he's fucking her he feels like he's someone else. Someone who doesn't feel like they're cracking around the edges. He's sneaking around and lying just like he does when he's using drugs. He's covering his tracks just like he does when he's on drugs. He's justifying this betrayal to his loved ones just like he does when he's on drugs.
Talia is an escape. She's a tie to Bruce. She's a fantasy that is able to be touched. She's a sin. She's revenge. She's a way to act out because he's being ignored by Bruce. She's a way to self-destruct. She's just so fucking addictive, and Harry doesn't want to give her up. Even though he knows it's temporary. It has to be temporary.
When Bruce escapes on Friday, Harry feels something else inside him give. It's not so much that he thinks Bruce has escaped to kill himself. Talia would tell him if she believed that was the case right? She would tell him if Bruce was going to take himself. She'd know, right?
It's that Bruce is really good at disappearing. He was gone for seven years the last time. Who's to say he will even turn back up this time?
He's been planning a trip to New York for weeks to see the Stark Expo opening. Tony has secured him and Kara tickets.
Kara.
Harry's an asshole, and he knows it every time he walks into his home and sees his wife and kids. His devoted wife. He's fucking another woman, and Kara Marie is oblivious. He's such a fucking asshole. His guilt makes him want to buy her overly expensive gifts. To be extra sweet and affectionate.
His Psych training tells him that is a big red flag with spouses who are being cheated on. So, he reels it in as much as he can. He tries to act normal. As normal as anyone can act with the way things are.
They don't cancel their trip to New York. Addie stays behind with her grandfather, and Harry and Kara take the nanny and Coco with them. Evan's with his mother for Mother's Day. They attend the Expo and Kara beams with joy. Harry feels like even more of an asshole. She's so fucking beautiful, and better than he deserves. This isn't the first time he's betrayed her.
But he hides that guilt. He tries to make this little get away special. Tony puts on an amazing show, and Harry's glad they went. He wants to support Tony, and it's a good distraction from everything going on in Gotham. New York isn't Harry's city anymore, but he's alright with visiting to support Tony. He's alright with being there when Kara seems happy.
He deletes two voicemails from his father without listening to them.
Mother's Day is spent in Gotham. Harry is every bit the devoted father and husband he's expected to be. He goes a little overboard. The necklace he buys her is a bit much, but Mother's Day is a big deal. She's the mother of his children. He needs her to understand how grateful he is for everything she does.
He doesn't call Talia on Saturday or Sunday.
On Monday he has two exams. He's taken the week off from work so he can focus on finishing up this final semester of school. Exams has been his excuse for being able to sneak off and see Talia. Kara hasn't questioned any of his excuses. She hasn't questioned his distance. There's a lot going on after all, and while he isn't sure she's convinced of Bruce's innocence, she is convinced of Harry's loyalty.
There's a blocked number on his cell phone after his first exam. Harry assumes it's Talia, so he answers.
"Harry, we need to talk."
Harry slams his book closed and resists the instinct to hang up on Norman. Old habits die hard though, and he resigns himself to hearing Norman out. "Yes?"
"Have you seen OsCorp's stocks since your buddy Wayne took off?"
"No."
"No?" There's disgust in his father's voice. He has to give Norman credit. No one can do disgust and disappointment in one word like Stormin' Norman can. "Unbelievable. You have a responsibility to the stockholders to pay attention to these things. You have a responsibility to our family to save our legacy from going down like the Titanic with Wayne Enterprises."
"I don't run OsCorp."
"That's my point."
"I don't care about what happens to OsCorp." There's silence on the other end, and Harry wonders for a moment if he's been hung up on.
"I will not stand by and allow you to run my company into the ground because of your misguided trust in a murderer."
Harry laughs. He can't help it. The way Norman says murderer is fucking hilarious. "Accused murderer."
"Your loyalty is misplaced."
"And I should place it in who exactly? You? Have you forgotten that you nearly killed Mary Jane and me when you took out the board members on the balcony? If I have to choose between trusting Bruce or you, I'll put my money on the one who I didn't see kill someone in front of me."
Norman's words take on a tone that transports Harry to childhood. To closets and bruises. To being terrorized. "You will watch how you speak to me."
Harry isn't terrified anymore. He just doesn't give a shit. "Goodbye, Dad."
There's no focusing on his next exam. Harry leaves the classroom convinced he's failed, and will probably be delayed from graduating Grad school on time. His temper is ready to snap at the slightest provocation. When he's on a downward spiral with depression and anxiety it doesn't take much to make the paranoia to kick in. He has visions of being told he won't be able to attend Medical school after all. He has visions of Kara finding out about Talia. Of receiving word that Bruce has taken himself out. Of his father trying a hostile takeover of OsCorp.
The anxiety is choking.
When he sees the tabloid photographers swarmed around his car in the University parking lot he feels the cracks in the surface spread.
"Harry, over here."
"Mr. Osborn, what do you think about Bruce Wayne's escape?"
"Do you know where Mr. Wayne is?"
"Harry, have you been in contact with Bruce since he left?"
"Harry, look over here."
They all seem to be speaking at once, and he can hear the cameras going off in rapid succession. Harry pushes his way through, but one is blocking his car door. "Give us a quote, Harry."
"Get the fuck out of my way."
"Not the quote we're looking for. What's your thoughts on Bruce escaping? Still think he's innocent?"
"Get out of my way." The tone is a little lower. His eyes a little dangerous. It's the Osborn anger surfacing. Like father like son after all.
"Where do you think Bruce is hiding, Harry?"
Harry punches the guy in the face hard enough that he hears something crack. Maybe it's the guy's jaw. Maybe it's his own hand. No matter, they catch it on film. Pictures and video.
He only gives one statement though, "No comment."
The cops will be called, but Harry doesn't give a shit.
He climbs behind the wheel of his car and drives off. It's not like it will be hard for the police to find him, and frankly they have bigger fish to fry than Harry Osborn punching a pushy paparazzi.
Bruce Wayne has escaped and is believed to be a danger to himself and others.