The wind high in the sky ruffled Finn's hair, his gaze locked firmly on Peter, his eyes clear and steadfast.
At this moment, New York was still a chaotic ruin of invasion, with debris scattered everywhere, but the light on the skyline would not be extinguished because of it.
That beam of light was currently contained within Finn's jewel-like beautiful green eyes, radiating a beautiful and fearless glow.
It was so dazzlingly bright.
And before Peter's eyes, the green eyes of his beloved were fixed steadily on his figure, carrying a sense of unreserved trust and support.
The words in the young man's eyes and the words in his heart seemed to overlap into a single sentence:
Nothing can stop you from joining the Avengers. In my eyes, you are the greatest hero in this universe.
[Spider-Man is the best.]
With a loud bang.
Like a firework exploding.
——Like it.
—I love it so much.
That kind of affection, which Peter had carefully hidden deep within his heart, never daring to speak aloud, desperately suppressed.
At this moment, it was as if it could no longer be suppressed.
It expanded and spread wildly, filling his entire heart.
I.. really, really love it.
Peter's heart raced wildly, as if it were about to burst through his chest.
His fingertips trembled slightly out of control, then he slowly clenched his fists.
—I really want you to hear.. the voice in my heart.
Chapter 65: Brothers in Hospitalization
When Harry Osborn woke up, he encountered a strange and unexpected alien visitor.
—The First Prince of Asgard.
—Thor.
Harry: "?" After the alien invasion of New York, an alien god even made a special visit to the Osborn Group to offer condolences?
Thor also quickly stated the purpose of his visit, it all began with Max.
After Loki mentioned that a stray [Thunder Brother] of Thor had been found in Midgard, Thor truly took it to heart.
After the battle with the Chitauri Army ended, Thor found Max, thereby learning the story behind Max's transformation into Electro-man, in this story—or rather, in eight out of every ten sentences from Max's mouth—one name could not be avoided: Finn Osborn. To Max, he was an existence akin to a faith that had saved his entire life's destiny.
Thor was happy to listen, Max was very willing to speak; the two of them truly hit it off and chatted for a long time.
Thor understood perfectly—
The Osborn Group is a massive commercial empire standing tall in Midgard, the father of the Osborn brothers had long ago left the "throne" of this empire to his eldest son, Harry Osborn.
Just like the relationship between Thor and Loki, as the younger brother, Finn also, much like Loki, failed to receive the throne.
With such a background, it was as if the script involving him and Loki had been transplanted to Midgard, yet it had taken a completely different direction.
"How did you do it?" Thor asked sincerely.
It was rare for Harry to falter, his genius brain momentarily unable to keep up with the rhythm: "Do what?"
Finn Osborn is your younger brother. After your father handed this empire into your hands, instead of being jealous of you, he can even support you with all his heart." Thor also saw the video that Max had shown him, which was said to be visible to all the subjects of Midgard and had caused a massive sensation. "He could even publicly praise you in front of all the subjects, claiming that this nation can only walk toward a more glorious and great future under your leadership.
—Listen, just listen!
Thor even went out of his way to play this video for Loki, who had been shackled and reduced to a prisoner.
—Why do other people's younger brothers speak so sweetly!?
—And you? What about you?
Of course, Loki looked on with a face full of disdain.
But my brother only says I am arrogant, foolish, conceited, that I am unworthy of being the King of Asgard," Thor said discontentedly. "And when you are in times of peril, your brother would come to your aid without a moment's hesitation.
After learning about the Osborn brothers and their parallel counterparts, it was only natural for Thor to make comparisons.
Comparing them caused a massive psychological gap.
—Every time his younger brother rushed to him, he was full of nothing but bad intentions!
Forget about encountering danger, it could even be said that Loki is the one targeting me, the one who creates the greatest peril." Thor began to recall the events that happened after he was exiled to Midgard by his father; the traps Loki set for him were truly one after another. "He even stabbed me with a knife not long ago!
As he spoke, Thor lifted his armor, revealing a wound that was nearly healed.
".." Harry couldn't help but recall it as well.
—Although it wasn't physical, he had certainly taken plenty of mental stabs in the past.
But it didn't matter; it was all in the past anyway.
Harry had already forgotten how he had almost been driven mad by Finn, was now looking calmly at the indignant Asgardian Crown Prince before him.
—Even if he is Thor, he still can't find a brother like Finn.
Your brother even painted so many portraits of you!" Thor was incredibly envious, especially when Max showed him the many Mr. Suit memes in Finn's account that used "Osborn" as the prototype; every single one was so vivid and interesting, something that Thor couldn't even imagine happening between him and Loki. "He even put a crown on you in every single portrait!
—Even if it was a crookedly placed crown, it was still a crown of coronation in every sense of the word!
Listening to Thor's exclamation, Harry's eyebrows twitched slightly, the corners of his mouth curled up almost imperceptibly. He suddenly felt that the value of these emojis that Finn had casually cobbled together in the conference room was rapidly increasing.
"How do you get your brother to admire, respect, support you so much?" Thor asked, specifically seeking advice from Harry in the hospital bed.
The gap between this brother and that brother is simply too vast.
It was only now that Thor realized that the outside world actually possessed such a perfect younger brother.
Very well, Harry had also reflected on this question privately.
However—there was no answer.
Harry felt that, prior to this, he had not given anything to Finn at all. However, it was as if low-level code had been implanted into Finn's brain; the word "family" was enough to make Finn do anything for him.
In fact, Harry would feel.. that Finn might be more like the Thor before him.
A passion and expectation for family; even if he were hurt or stabbed, he would only make a fuss for a little while before turning around and casting those unpleasantries aside, still holding a sincere heart and rushing toward him without hesitation.
Finn and I had no real connection before our father passed away." Since Thor was asking so sincerely, Harry answered truthfully in a flat tone, "Finn was raised by my father all along. I think the person who had the deepest influence on his personality and his views on family was our father. I don't know how our father raised Finn, but without a doubt, Finn was indeed raised to be full of passion and love.
Thor was stunned.
It was at this moment that Thor suddenly realized, the crux of the matter suddenly became clear to him.
It turned out that the root of the tension and deep rift between him and Loki lay in the way their father, Odin, had raised them!
But in the next second, Thor seemed to be suddenly stimulated by something. A flash of inspiration struck him, his expression darkened again as he spoke hesitantly, "Then.. could it be that Finn is secretly plotting to usurp your position while you are seriously ill?"
The more Thor thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, his tone grew somewhat urgent, "Once you have recovered from your illness, he might not necessarily return everything of Osborn to you. This might have been a carefully laid trap by your brother from the very beginning!"
—Didn't that match up again! That's exactly how Loki deceived him back then!
Harry could tell that this Thor likely had PTSD and was already traumatized.
Finn wouldn't do such a thing. If he really wanted my life, why would he bring the Avengers to save me?" Harry naturally defended Finn immediately, "You don't understand Finn. Rather than taking over the Osborn Group, I think he wants a life of freedom, to hang out with friends, to spend all his energy on how to throw parties, thinking of every possible way to eat, drink, have fun every single day.
Thinking of every possible way to plan spectacular parties, helping Hamster Rise to rule humanity, filming those melodramatic short dramas where hearts swap back and forth..
Harry was certain that as long as Finn's parties continued, his younger brother would have all sorts of wonderful entrepreneurial ideas.
Instead of being stuck in the traditional business model of Osborn Group.
"It would be wonderful if Loki could make some friends and have fun at parties every day, instead of spending all his time instigating attacks here and there," Thor remarked. If Loki didn't cause trouble, it would be his greatest contribution to the peace of Asgard.
Harry: ".." All I can say is that your brother truly is a special existence that surpasses 99.99% of the entire universe.
He thought of his cute and well-behaved younger brother.
That's right, on ordinary days, he just eats and drinks, finds friends to play something interesting with, spends his free time painting or dancing.
Although Finn spends a lot of money, it's just that.. he isn't bribing aliens to attack humans, is he?
In the past, Harry looked down on Finn's "unproductive" habits, but now they have all become genuine virtues of being law-abiding and steady.
In the past, Harry also couldn't stand stubborn fellows like Thor; so what if he was a god?
But now—it's quite good.
When he was suffering from illness and pain, a god arrived, carrying a heart full of blunt envy.
It truly comforted him.
Harry felt much more relieved, even his physical discomfort seemed to ease slightly.
And after Finn took over the Osborn Group, everything had been quite manageable for him.
Harry had always intended to pave the way for Finn, recently, he had even brought Finn into deep contact with the various core affairs of the group. Furthermore, Finn's series of strategic layouts at the New Energy Base had long been observed by the group's high-level executives. The young man's powerful and efficient execution, combined with his precise strategic vision, was enough to prove that he and his brother were of the same "involution king" model.
Precisely because of this, when Harry announced that Finn would serve as interim CEO due to his medical condition, there was no objection from anyone within the group. After all, they were both Osborn brothers; whether being outpaced by his older brother or by his younger brother.. did it really make much of a difference?
But no one expected that Finn had only been in office for two days.
This new CEO actually turned around and ran straight to the laboratory, beginning to assign tasks to Harry in the hospital bed in a completely unconventional manner.
Pale, covered in various monitoring instruments, with his physical mutations still not subsided, Harry Osborn stared with constricted pupils at Finn, who was standing by the bedside clearly and logically assigning him work.
Harry: "??"
"Your brother is in this state, you're still arranging work for him?" Even Iron Man found it hard to watch.
Stark certainly wasn't here all the time; he only occasionally took some time to be called over by Banner to push forward the progress of the genetic disease experiments. It seemed that it was almost finished now, the follow-up would be left to Banner, but he never expected to encounter such a strange sight.
Iron Man even subconsciously imagined a scene. For instance, back when he was on the verge of death from palladium poisoning, Pepper would no longer be softly comforting him to rest and telling him that she would take care of everything at the Osborn Group. Instead, she would walk to his bedside with a stack of folders in her hand and a smile, casually saying, "You're not dead, right? If you're not dead, get back to work." Just the thought of it made Stark feel suffocated.
"I have to go to the recording for Rat Rise tomorrow, it probably won't end until at least three in the afternoon." But Finn didn't think there was anything wrong with his schedule at all.
"New York is already in this state? And you hamsters are still planning a rise!" Even Iron Man felt he was being unprofessional enough, but he didn't expect Finn to be even more outrageous.
Banner had heard Finn mention the show "Rat Rise" before; of course, the show's promotion was already world-famous, Banner found it quite amusing. They had only just repelled the aliens, now an army of rats was on the move; the key was that Finn, who had become the Osborn Group CEO, still had the leisure to mess around with such things.