Everything would lose all meaning.
This was a hundred times more desperate than making Harry Osborn calmly accept his miserable death.
Finn, how can you not be afraid?
Harry grit his teeth, the words almost squeezed out from between them, beneath the surging fury in his eyes lay extreme terror.
The way that blue light condensed at the tip of the staff flashed repeatedly before his eyes—
When you are facing an attack that threatens your life, how can you not be afraid?
When you say you want to move into a mental hospital with such a relaxed expression, how can you be so indifferent?
When you use a knife to carve one scar after another into your arm, how can you do something so cruel?
..
Finn's sense of [Loss] terrified Harry.
[Misery Value rising, Misery Value +1%]
I will be afraid.
Finn fell silent for a moment, as if seriously contemplating Harry's question, then looked up, answering in an unusually calm tone. Those green eyes were clear and firm, looking straight at Harry: "If I weren't afraid, I wouldn't stand up."
At this moment, Harry realized that the fear Finn spoke of was the fear that he would die.
Meeting those green eyes, which were as clear and pure as always, the raging anger that had been boiling just moments ago was suddenly extinguished. Along with it, the tension and fury that had erupted were transformed into an indescribable sense of bitterness.
An extremely bitter taste lodged in his throat, aching with a stifling sensation.
"Not worth it." Harry let out an instinctive cold laugh, a light chuckle that carried a sense of self-deprecating disdain for himself.
If Finn were to die for him, Harry would feel it was extremely, extremely, extremely not worth it.
Your life is far more valuable than mine." Harry's eyes drooped wearily, his tone filled with unmistakable decadence, as blunt as it was cruel, "If something like this happens again, your own life is the priority above everything else.
Finn stared at him blankly, as if he hadn't expected him to say such words.
What right do you have to say that?" Finn stared fixedly at the pale-faced Harry. "How do you define and compare the value of life?
Harry felt nothing but a wave of mockery.
Weighing pros and cons was an instinct etched into his very bones, including weighing the value of a life.
Finn Osborn did not need to bear the genetic curse of the Osborn family. Even if he did indeed have an illness, it was one he had brought upon himself, a curable one. He was young, vibrant, hardworking, possessed sufficient talent and a brilliant mind; before long, Finn would be able to take over everything within the Osborn Group. With his vibrant charisma and qualities that fit the New Era, even Harry believed that Finn was the one who could truly lead the Osborn Group into a brand-new era.
—But what about him?
The scales symbolizing the curse on his body were increasing, manic, pessimistic, depressive emotions frequently flooded his mind.
Now, even the glare of bright light made him feel uncomfortable.
Harry could even clearly imagine his own future—devolving into the form of a monster, cowering in a dim hospital ward, with various research instruments inserted into his body, relying on cold machines to maintain basic life, without dignity and without meaning.
Such a life, ridiculous, bleak, miserable, held not a shred of value whatsoever.
But these words, Harry could only bury deep within his heart. He could not tell Finn about his condition, he feared even more that his illness would cause Finn's already fragile mental state to deteriorate to an uncontrollable degree.
He lived in profound contradiction.
He hoped Finn would value him and love him, yet he also hoped.. that Finn wouldn't value him so much.
“Why do you deny your own value?”
This time, the one interrogating was Finn, his gaze burning as he locked onto Harry.
I won't allow you to say that." Finn frowned deeply, continuing to discuss the issue with Harry. "I cannot understand the thought that at that moment, you believed self-respect was more important than life, but I will respect your thoughts.
But I cannot simply stand by and let you deny your own worth.
Just as you said, have you ever thought about what I should do if the one who met with an accident today was you?
Harry had indeed thought about it; if he were to die unexpectedly, he would no longer have to endure the various torments caused by his hereditary illness, his brother Finn could naturally take over everything at Osborn Group. Perhaps—this would also be the best arrangement.
Do what must be done." Harry forced himself to remain calm, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists. He spoke in a cold, hard tone, with a hint of deliberate indifference, "Taking over the Osborn Group—you can do it, you must do it.
Finn slowly tilted his head, his green eyes now carrying an almost inorganic chill.
Then everything I have done would have been meaningless.
Finn's tone was no longer fluctuating, as if his emotions had been completely detached.
Harry, life is inherently full of ups and downs; you have merely fallen into a low point for a moment. You might develop self-destructive tendencies because of it, but this condition is only temporary.
Only those who do cruel, vile, depraved things deserve a terrible end," Finn said, his tone firm yet sounding completely emotionless. "No one is perfect, but you have done your best. Furthermore, you possess precious qualities that others do not: a genius mind, calm rationality, unwavering conviction, rigorous self-discipline..
Besides, you still have me.
I will help you without reservation. If you deny your own value, you are denying me.
Please do not make such an assumption; I cannot allow such a failure.
Harry was completely stunned.
This seemed to be the first time he had heard Finn Osborn's younger brother speak to him in such a tone.
Serious and determined.
He was clearly trying to comfort him, yet there was an indescribable sense of strangeness about it.
Harry would suddenly feel that his younger brother, right before his eyes, had once again become very distant from him.
Moreover, Finn said [such a failure is unacceptable].. He defined this as [failure]?
Harry appeared calm on the surface, but his heart tightened with a sudden surge of fear; he was afraid that he might trigger Finn's condition again.
Just then, someone knocked on the car window.
Finn and Harry looked up at the same time, only to see that Peter was standing outside the car.
"Peter, what are you doing here?" Harry suppressed the turmoil in his heart and lowered the car window with some surprise, but at the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief.
I heard from Andrew that you guys ran into an accident, so I rushed over immediately." Having long ago prepared an excuse for these two Osborn brothers who had caused him so much worry, Peter asked, "Are you two okay?
Harry knew that Peter was a warm and kindhearted friend, so he did not doubt a word Peter said.
"We're fine." Harry shook his head, but his eyes looked toward Finn with worry.
Peter!" Finn saw Peter take the opportunity to open the car door and rush out like a bird breaking free from a confined space, he quickly hurried to Peter's side. Didn't Harry think he lacked a sense of crisis? Finn was going to provide Harry with a lesson right now. "You have no idea what just happened! A man dressed like he was in a Halloween costume suddenly appeared, holding a glowing scepter, with a loud bang, he smashed a massive statue into pieces!
"I was seriously scared to death!" Finn emphasized, his eyes still filled with lingering fear.
Spider-Man: ".." Such exaggerated acting.
It was very scary." Peter did not disappoint Finn's hard work in his performance, showing a worried expression as he reached out to pat Finn in a gesture of comfort. "You aren't hurt, are you?
I'm fine." Finn grabbed Peter's arm and preemptively spoke up very decisively, "Quickly, tell Harry that everyone was terrified, of course, I was too. Only he had to insist on confronting that mysterious villain in public. I'm going to be killed by him! A clever person in power must learn to read the situation, but he—he chose to show off at such a dangerous moment.
[That scared me to death, scared me to death!]
Isn't Harry Osborn even more terrifying than that one wielding the scepter?
[If I were still the System, I could just pretend to crash to avoid the heat.]
But it's not a big problem. As long as I know how to strike first, Harry's sharp verbal attacks won't be able to hit me anymore!
Finn did not dare attack Harry himself, so he kept gesturing with his eyes to Peter, urging him to "strike a heavy blow."
Peter: ".."
Harry: ".."
Peter, of course, did not dare speak up against Harry either; as the peace ambassador for these two brothers, he had always merely acted as a mediator, pulling and weaving between them like a web.
Anyway, you're all mentally ill, so I can't say anything to anyone.
Peter even seemed to suddenly understand how Elias felt, being constantly caught between Noah and Finn.
In short, as long as you're okay, that's all that matters." Peter sighed helplessly, his peripheral vision catching sight of Max walking over, he knew that Max had already reached an agreement with S. H. I. E. L. D. "Once you get home, get some good rest.
I have other things to do tonight, so I won't be coming to see you later." Peter leaned toward Finn's ear and whispered with some lingering concern, "Don't go running around everywhere, okay? It's not safe outside right now.
Peter thought that since Max could protect the Osborn brothers, there shouldn't be any major problems.
[Why is it unsafe? What exactly happened? Who on earth is that guy holding the scepter?]
Finn had originally thought that Peter could come to satisfy his curiosity tonight.
"I'll tell you later," Peter said helplessly, looking at Finn, who was staring at him with blinking eyes.
Alright." Finn nodded solemnly, then turned back to remind him, "You stay safe too, don't run around aimlessly.
[But you can fly around anywhere! After all, you are Spider-Man!]
Hearing Finn's inner thoughts, Peter couldn't help but laugh.
Harry sat in the car, he didn't know what Peter was laughing at; he just watched his younger brother, who seemed to have regained his usual brightness and vitality in an instant. Even his tone of voice seemed to have been colored once again. The calm indifference he had just displayed in front of him seemed almost like an illusion.
Harry, it's good that nothing happened. Don't overthink it." Noticing Harry's gaze falling on him, Peter feared that Harry might lecture Finn again on the way back, so he also spoke up, "Just relax. If you need to, you can have a chat with Dr. Thomas.
I understand." Harry nodded to Peter. "It's also quite late, Peter. Go home early.
"If anything happens, call me, I'll come immediately," Peter said, looking at Finn with lingering concern.
"I got it, go on, go on." Finn also knew that as a hero, Spider-Man would inevitably have to get busy.
Harry frowned.
Sometimes, he couldn't help but feel that his best friend and his brother were almost inseparable.
Harry also felt that Peter took too much care of Finn, but on second thought, there were many such people around Finn. Noah Hart was clearly even more extreme, handling everything from Finn's daily outfits to installing tracking devices on him, acting as if he weren't an outsider at all.. Compared to someone like Noah, Peter seemed like nothing more than a perfectly normal good friend.
Moreover, Peter is just that kind of "good person"—always friendly, enthusiastic, responsible. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stayed by his side to support and help him, working so hard to maintain the brotherhood between him and Finn.
Harry had not yet thought of how to thank Peter, who had been running around for them.
The silence in the carriage still held a trace of uncomfortable tension. Harry didn't want to argue with Finn anymore, so he simply changed the subject, attempting to ease the atmosphere: "What do you think Peter likes? I want to give him a gift."
He wouldn't accept anything too expensive either," Finn said with a blink. "Maybe he would like something more meaningful?
Harry frowned; clearly, for the Osborn CEO, a gift with heartfelt meaning was the hardest thing to choose.
If you really want to give something, then give it to Peter's family," Finn thought for a moment and suggested earnestly, "It's not hard to pick an exquisite gift for a beautiful lady, I think Peter will accept it because he'll feel that Aunt May will be happy.
"Okay." Harry nodded solemnly.
System PP has something to say: 【..】He likes your younger brother, are you going to give him away?