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Otto’s eyes widened in disbelief, dark gaze piercing through Norman.
“Show me your teeth.”
Norman's bony grip tightened on the man’s hand pressed against his chest in a last-ditch attempt to ground himself. The unfamiliar lack of heartbeat behind his sternum only amplified the life he could now sense thrumming under his friend’s skin, a healthy pulse that climbed steadily by the second. Searing blood and warm flesh that made him a corpse by comparison.
At least he knew this wasn’t some trick of his fevered brain. His old partner was really here. Without hesitation, Otto had dropped everything to visit Norman in this nondescript hotel, barely phased by the filth and the stench. Or if he was, it was buried beneath an unwavering façade. He’d even gone so far as to peel layer after layer of blood-encrusted clothing from Norman’s wiry frame and bathe him without reservation, firm hands pressing a washcloth to every inch of blanched and gore-streaked skin…
Shifting as he remembered his nakedness, he focused once more on Octavius’ command. Was there really something to find here? Some definite proof to explain away the grim reality of his situation?
The severe line of Osborn's jaw relaxed as he unclenched muscles that he didn’t even realize were tense. Cracked lips parted in a grimace to reveal teeth, usually pristine and pearly, now stained with what was left of Stromm's week-old blood. And there they were. New fangs extruding from the upper gumline, breaking through the irritated skin and painfully crowding incisor and cuspid. Blood welled around the enamel, fresh droplets rolling down to join the stale film coating the neighboring teeth.
Otto grasped his chin and gently pried the changing mouth open, brows knit in concentration. A gleam illuminated his deep brown eyes, and Norman recognized it as that familiar spark of scientific curiosity. Releasing the gaunt man's hand Otto rose to his feet, guiding Norman to a standing position by the chin, not once looking away from the razor-sharp fangs. Osborn swallowed nervously - as much as he could with his mouth open - otherwise motionless under the intense observation. If he did still have a heartbeat, the sound would be drowning out everything else around them.
Before Norman could react or truthfully even register what was happening, Otto pushed his upper lip back and ran the calloused pad of his thumb along the man's inflamed gums, eliciting a barely audible gasp. His mouth ached, his chest was wracked with hunger pangs; but overpowering that was the sudden lust that flooded Norman's senses. Seemingly oblivious to this shift while engrossed in his inspection the doctor continued on, steadying the angular jaw with his left hand and pressing his tongue down with a finger to keep it from obstructing his view. Norman's pupils dilated as Otto's pulse radiated against the sensitive organ, hot fresh blood singing out just beneath the skin. Pliant flesh that would easily give under Norman's new fangs if he clamped down. That would break and bleed and sate his monstrous thirst if he just wrapped his lips around Otto's finger and sucked. Whatever happened when he tested that serum seemed to be part of him now, whispering in his ear to bite-drain-FEED. To pull his best friend close and drink him down just like he'd done Stromm, blood gushing against his soft palate and filling his greedy mouth. Flooding his throat until he gagged, nearly choking while he struggled to swallow it all down.
If you bled precious Otto dry, the voice in his head purred, you wouldn't waste anything; you'd savor every last drop...