way down.

//

“Ah, those fancy parties. I was never a fan growing up but my father always made sure we went to at least one.” Harry laughs a little though while he glances over at Reed from his spot in the elevator. “I’m sure most children weren’t into them …” Does he miss them now? Maybe only a little but his presence in Star City could be for making new memories. He thought this was nice, the conversation is never forced when it comes to talking to Reed. Which is why Harry always looks forward to their meetings. “My son wants to do gingerbread houses this year so we’re going to do that on Christmas Eve. We’re staying home this year which is very different but I’m looking forward to it, you know? I got us matching pajamas since Normie requested them.” Networking isn’t always the most enjoyable experience but the Baxter Foundation is close to his heart and one of the good ons. The elevator stops and they come to the floor, which the young Osborn nods his head for his friend to follow him. “Do you want anything to drink before we get started?” His assistant could grab them something.

-

“I’ll never believe how he forced me to make nice with everyone for an entire night.” Reed laughed shortly. His relationship with his father since his mother’s passing wasn’t a good one. Reed had been distanced from his dad for quite some time now. While he still got the invitations, Reed just figured it was best not to go and cause the inevitable scene. “That sounds like a nice relaxing evening.” He nodded in agreement. Part of him thought by now he’d have a child or two to create new traditions with. However, life didn’t go quite as planned after the Fantastic Four split up. Reed didn’t agree with a lot of the higher up businessmen in Star City, but he found Harry to be the most genuine out of all of them. That was the main reason that Reed wanted to involve him with the Baxter Foundation. “Uh, I’ll just take a water-- thanks.”

Susan rubbed at the foam outside of her coffee cup with the pad of her thumb. It was incessant. Eventually she’d run a hole through it - thankfully, her small act of vandalism was towards the lid and the coffee only sat about two inches inside. It was room temperature by now. She focused on that instead of the growing nerves that bundled up inside her; still, Susan kept her cool on the outside, her smile small. Her bottom lip twitched. Maybe seeing him again, like this, was a mistake. She could feel that familiar heartbreak, the ghost of its pain.

“For the job, yes. I am pretty perfect. I’m just glad all my kids like me. You can’t imagine the horror stories some of these long time teachers have.” She visibly shuddered and sipped her coffee. “That’s good, though. You’re helping the kids - even if your main source of income is Iron Man,” Susan teased and polished off the remainder of her drink. She tossed the cup into the nearby waste basket. “Wow, about time. I thought you’d never hit a rough patch… though you’d just keep going and going like the Energizer bunny. Not that I’m glad for your brain lapse, but… y’know, take a break. Go smell some flowers or something.”

“It’s hard to imagine you not being perfect at anything.” It was true-- Sue was seemingly effortless in everything she did. Reed admired that about her, that even if things got tough, she’d find a way to handle it with ease. It couldn’t have been easy for her either with all the crap that the team put each other through. He was glad to see his former teammates, his best friends, his ex girlfriend-- he was glad to see them thriving. “Just wait, I’m sure you’ll have your own horror stories too. I taught at the community college for a year and the new teacher bliss only lasted about one class period.” He smirked. Reed dropped the teaching gig fairly quickly, it just wasn’t for him. He greatly preferred secluding himself in his office for hours on end.

Reed scoffed playfully before letting out a sigh. “I’m just happy it happened now and not when I’m like... fifty or something. If I burnout now, I’ll be able to kick it back into gear in a few years. But at fifty? I’d just go into a sad retirement.” Reed smirked as he leaned back in his chair. “I’d look like an idiot smelling flowers alone-- would you care to join me?” What was a harmless dinner between old friends anyway? Reed hadn’t had any sort of company in years, and he felt he and Sue were in a place where they could at least grab dinner together. 

///

Harry has been in charge of Oscorp for the last six years and it’s important to him to work along with other organizations. Especially when it comes to the Baxter Foundation. He would always support anything that would encourage the younger generation to be interested in science. Considering the kind of work his company does when it comes to scientific advancements of their own it was a no brainer to give donations. Harry had just been coming back from lunch with a coffee in hand while approaching the elevator only to see the person he was expecting for his next meeting. “Mr. Richards! It’s good to see you as always.” The smile spreading on his face while looking at Reed then motions for them both to step into the elevator as the doors opened up. “I’ve been well, thank you for asking. How are you and your family?” Harry asks while leaning against the wall once inside. They could just go right to his office to talk.

-

Reed stepped into the elevator with Harry and adjusted the book bag strap he was carrying to cross his chest. “Uh- I think my father’s holding some fancy Christmas party back in New York but I think I’ll be skipping out again.” Since the Fantastic Four broke up, Reed’s holidays had been increasingly lonely. While he knew they all needed the space to form their own independent identities, part of Reed wished the team would come back together again. “Do you have any plans coming up?” Reed tilted his head as he leaned against the railing near the wall. He used to hate networking, but after working with Franklin Storm for the Baxter Foundation, he actually enjoyed talking to fellow people of the science world. 

Despite the familiarity, Sue felt like she didn’t belong there. She could hear that nagging voice in the back of her head that judged her for giving in to the impulse that lead her there, to Reed’s lab. It laughed at her, even, for being weak when all she wanted was to be strong; it would have been smarter to stay away. Sue worried her bottom lip for a split second, a nervous tick that tended to give away too much information, before she mirrored Reed’s smile. “Not when he has the money, no,” she joked back; Tony was usually good for it. 

“Mm, this one,” Sue commented and offered the other cup. “Mine has, like, twelve sugars in it right now. I don’t think you want that.” Her comment was punctuated with a small laugh, the sound weak; it held little substance. She tucked a shorter strand of blonde hair behind an ear, what little bundle couldn’t reach the high point of her ponytail, and settled into the empty spot beside his desk. A slow breath escaped her. “It’s going, pretty well for the most part. I think the novelty of me being the Invisible Woman has finally worn off,” she uttered a nervous laugh and shook her head. “It’s pretty rewarding, though. How have you been? With your work, I mean.” With everything.

-

His lab had been so lonely the last couple years. Reed couldn’t remember the last time he spoke to Ben or Johnny, and when he texted Sue just to catch up he felt like a burden. Reed was so oblivious to the feelings of those around him sometimes, and he knew the group’s break up had partly been his fault. He didn’t know if the Fantastic Four would ever get back together, but he still held onto an inkling of hope for him and Sue. She was his best friend, his everything. Something kept telling him that he couldn’t just let her go.

“I think I’m pretty jittery as is, wouldn’t want to test it.” He let out a nervous laugh right along with her. “That’s-- that’s great. I’m sure you’re perfect,” Reed paused for a moment, “for the job, I mean.” He leaned back in his chair and slowly sipped at the hot coffee. “Well, I’ve been pretty busy trying to get more donations and grants secured for the kids working at the Baxter Foundation. That’s been it really... I uh, I’ve been going through a mental block as far as any actual inventing.” Reed pursed his lips in thought before shrugging. “It was bound to happen some time.”

“Honestly, Tony, who else am I supposed to go to?” Reed whined playfully. He was still trying to collect more donations for kids without funded projects at the Baxter Foundation. “If anything, me coming to you should be a compliment to your status and you as a kind, giving person.” Reed had come to Tony asking for donations before, and always offered something in return. This time though, Reed really was just messing with him. He had started getting something that was sort of like a list going. Truth be told, not many people cared for him after his stance in support of the ban. Even if Reed had seen the error in his ways, he was still hesitant to put himself out there again.

Sue didn’t really expect to see Reed - not so soon, anyway. Granted, it had been some time, but, it still felt too soon. For her, anyway. She’d meant to stay away, to learn what really mattered to her, to figure out exactly what she deserved. But Reed had been too large a part of her life for too long, in all of their lives. It felt wrong to cast him out in one go. But she hadn’t expected to give in to her impulse and take the short journey up to his lab. Her lip quirked up faintly at his nerves; in her right hand she balanced a drink tray, two coffees sat on either end to keep it level. Sue nodded her head and set her purse down on an empty chair and gestured to him with the drink tray. “Yeah, everything’s fine, I just, um - hope I’m not interrupting anything? I just… Was in the area, saw the lights on up here… Figured it’d be a late night. Coffee?”

-

Reed didn’t blame Sue for wanting to get away and experience life on her own. They had all become so consumed with being the Fantastic Four, and near the end of it, they all were losing track of who they were as individuals. Reed saw the toll it had taken on all of them, and he knew splitting up was going to be the best for all of them. After Sue left, Reed tried taking more breaks from his work. He met with Tony on occasion, he’d go on long walks, he’d even try a new TV show-- but during all of those things, he only ever thought of Sue. He really loved her, he knew that much was true. “Yes-- yeah, uh, yeah. It’s been a long night. We’re trying to get a couple more donors for kids that still need projects funded. Is it wrong to keep going to Tony for these things?” Reed laughed lightly. “Please,” he motioned to a chair beside his desk as he elongated his arm out to grab one off the drinks. “How’s the uh-- the teaching going?”

Reed’s bottom half sat at his desk while his torso was stretched out and looped around his entire lab in search of some missing notes. He wasn’t expecting anybody that evening, so when his door opened, Reed quickly returned back to sitting in one human sized piece at his desk. Reed swiveled around in his chair to stop at once. “Sue,” he breathed out gently. Since their break up years ago, Reed had been lucky she still wanted to be friends and have anything to do with him. Reed had gotten a little too deep into his work, and he didn’t realize it until Sue left him. “I-- I wasn’t expecting anyone tonight... Is-- Is everything okay?” Reed stuttered slightly. Even though there were semi-frequent phone calls and texts back and forth, Reed was taken aback to see her in front of him again.

Reed pressed the up button before stepping back to impatiently wait for the elevator. Every year or so, Reed went to Oscorp on behalf of the Baxter Foundation to see if they’d like to make donations to any of the ongoing laboratory projects. The Baxter Foundation was primarily focused on helping young minds get a head start in the science world, and Reed wanted to maintain a good relationship with Oscorp. While waiting for the elevator, Reed turned his head to see exactly the guy he came here to see. “Harry! How’ve you been?” He said just a little too excitedly.