Chapter Text
Gwen was starting to get worried. It’s been hours since Peter had fallen into restless sleep, hours since the thunderstorm has started and still hadn’t ended, hours since… Closing the book, she placed it on the drawer and stood up.
Pacing the room was not in her many habits, but right now worry was so strong, she couldn’t shake it off just by sitting at one spot. She needed to move, needed to do something-- ANYTHING to just stop thinking. Anything to forget about the silhouette she saw in the window.
Peter Parker was the new Green Goblin. He was the one who did all that. He was the one who… She closed her eyes before raising her hand to rub her temples with a tired sigh. It was the cruelest joke made reality. The worst nightmare of all existing ones.
“Why hadn’t you said anything?” She whispered, turning her head slightly to look at Peter. He was still slightly shaking and looked like he was having a nightmare. Maybe he was. Who knows what’s going on in his head anymore…
‘Don’t be such a crybaby. Where’s your smile? Where’s the laughter?’
“Somewhere,” Peter shouted back and furiously caught the suit, “where you’re going!” he tried to take it off, to free himself from the parasitic entity, “Why can’t i--!?” He didn’t finish. A sudden jolt of sharp pain made him clench his throat.
‘Ohohoahahahaha! Why won’t you go and find what you need to ease the pain INSTEAD of whining around?’ The voice whispered.
“I don’t… Don’t need it. D-don’t… Need it” He wheezed, trying to shut the voices.
They kept on mumbling and mumbling that he needs something.
That he has to find it, that he needs it.
“Get out of my head!” He shouted.
‘But how can a part of you get out of your head?’ The voice whispered and its words made Peter’s entire body freeze. ‘Face it, Spider man, there’s no running away anymore’
The poison. It felt so wrong, so painful. It was burning him from the inside. So many voices, thoughts, desires. They were his desires. The desires he had promised himself to forget and focus on his life, on helping people.
‘Helping people. That’s what you keep spending your life on!’ The voice hissed and Peter felt how his own head turned to look at the ghostly projections of his friends, ’And what for? For all the hate you’ve gotten? It doesn’t even make your life better!’
“LIAR!” Peter shouted at the top of his lungs. Will this nightmare ever end? Will the pain go away? Will It finally stop to feel like I’m drowning? “I’m doing this because it’s right! Because it’s who I am!” He clawed at the collar of the parasitic costume.
No more.
No more!
NO MORE!
“Pete!” Loud scream tore him out of his thoughts, out of the nightmare. His eyes snapped open. Sitting up so suddenly, he hit someone’s head with his forehead. Groaning quietly, Peter rubbed the hurting spot before looking up.
“Gwen?” He asked. His voice was so quiet, it almost got lost in the loud roar of the thunderstorm. “What’s going on?” Closing his eyes for a moment, he instantly opened them with a realization, “Aunt May! Is she---?”
“She’s fine. She called; I answered and told her you’re home. Safe and sound” Another voice answered. Peter immediately turned his head towards the sound. There, standing leaned on the door frame was Harry.
“I- Thanks.” Peter said, rubbing his temples. Silence fell between the three of them for a long moment before he jumped off the bed, “I don’t want to think what Aunt May would have done if she didn’t know where I was.”
“Don’t mention it,” Harry said dryly. His eyes were locked on a spot above Peter’s head. Peter raised his eyebrow slightly, but said nothing. He didn’t want to think what exactly his friend was thinking about. Not after what he suggested earlier.
“Okay, new plan,” Peter said, clapping his hands once, “We already know what is wrong with me, so we find a way how to get that thing out of my system and then we deal with that new guy. What was his name?” He smiled slightly.
“Scorpion,” Gwen said dryly. She wasn’t looking at Peter, her gaze was locked on her phone as she was quickly checking news, “He went complete radio static ever since he disappeared… I don’t like it.” She muttered, finally looking at Peter and Harry.
“Nobody likes it,” Peter said dryly. Looking in the window, at the wall of rain drops, he frowned slightly. Someone was out there… Watching. Maybe even listening to their conversation. Suddenly the silhouette moved to the right and disappeared out of sight.
Jumping on the next rooftop, Black cat sighed, fixing her coat. She was just a few rooftops from Peter’s house, and it was making her doubt her decision. Thunderstorm was not helping with her ‘last minute crisis’ only worse.
“What if he’s not going to talk to me? What if he hadn’t recovered enough? What if he hates me? What if---?” The train of nervous thoughts came to halt when a big looking silhouette moved on the opposite rooftop.
Frowning to herself, Felicia ran forward, following the silhouette that jumped on the next rooftop. She did too. Then on the last one until she was able to see the massive figure hidden in the shadows. Her eyes instantly narrowed.
“I don’t care what you are,” She started, standing into fight stance, “But if you’re here for---” She didn’t have time to finish. The silhouette made a swift movement, catching the reiling before ripping it out and throwing in Black cat’s direction.
She dodged, and instantly dashed forward. If whoever it is wanted the fight, then she would deliver them a fight. Dodging the punch, she circled the attacker and jumped on their back, clawing at it’s costume… Only for it to shift.
“What in the--?!” She exclaimed, but before she had time to fully formulate the sentence, tentacle caught her by her neck and threw away. She hit the floor of the roof. Hard. But quickly made a side roll to avoid another attack.
“What do you want!?” The voice snarled and the one to whom it belonged, finally revealed himself by running towards her to attack her with its claws. Black cat dodged the attack, and quickly walked to the edge of the roof.
“Who…?” She stopped, her eyes widened slightly before narrowing almost instantly with realization, “You.” She hissed, clending hands in fists. The white creature, with a mouth filled with sharp teeth and black spider emblem on its chest only frowned.
“Black cat,” They hissed, clenching their hands in fists. Silence fell between the two of them for a few moments before the monster suddenly dashed forward, “We were not expecting to see you here. Not after what happened!”
“After what happened!?” Black cat shouted, dodging their claws and counter attacking, “Who are you to bring that up? Aren’t you the one who was actively making his life worse?” She spat, kicking them in the jaw, “Answer me, you Venom’ous trash!”
“…” They didn’t answer, only growled angrily while rubbing their chin. The insult didn’t hurt as much as memories. Straightening to their full size, white symbiot took a step towards Black cat, “Not Venom…” They finally hissed, “It’s ANTI-VENOM!”
Before Black cat had time to react, white symbiotic tentacles caught her by her leg and, with a spin, Anti-Venom threw her towards the nearest wall. The sound of her body hitting it didn’t make them flinch, just grin.
“This is bad,” Peter thought, watching the silhouettes on the rooftop. Two, if I’m not mistaken. Fighting. “This is really, really bad.” He turned his head to look at his two friends. If only I could sneak out unnoticed.
Moving a little bit towards the edge of his bed, Peter threw a quick glance at his friends. Too busy talking. Good. Slowly he stood and started to walk towards the door. Step by step, just a few more meters and—
“Where do you think you’re going?”
The sound of this question was like a gunshot echoing in the silence of the forest. Sudden, loud… Deadly.
Turning his head to the right, Peter smiled slowly, looking at his friend with an apologetic gaze.
“For a glass of water?” He said with a minor shrug. ‘A glass of water! Are you serious? It’s the best excuse that could have come to your mind?’ He thought to himself, resisting the urge to facepalm right there and then.
“Mh,” Harry nodded and crossed arms on his shoulder, “Go for a glass of water and disappear again, like it happened the last time?” Peter’s apologetic smile widened when he saw how his friend’s eyebrow started to slowly crawl up.
“Well… Last time I didn’t know about what is going on and why is going on…” Peter titled his head to the side, his gaze locked on a spot a bit above Harry’s head, “This time I know and I promise that I will be careful, and---”
“No,”
Peter blinked, then again. The coldness in Gwen’s voice was… unexpected, to say the least. No, it was expected with how reckless he had been acting, but not when he tries so hard to show them that he’s fine. That everthing is fine and great.
“No, you are not going there all alone. You’re still shaking,” She said, pointing at him. Peter blinked again, only now actually paying attention to it, “If you need water, I can bring it to you, along with some ACTUAL food.”
“Gwen, come on, you don’t think I’ve been starving myself this whole tim--?” He started saying, but stopped when saw Gwen’s frown, “Okay, you do think so,” He mumbled to himself. Great. This is just perfect. Another point to my ‘unlucky Peter Parker’ jar.
“Since when do you care about him so much?” Anti-Venom made a swift movement, but Black cat ducked under their arm, successfully avoiding the attack. She wanted to yell the truth in their face, but stopped herself in time.
He- they- whatever it was didn’t need to know anything. Didn’t need to know how she messed up. Didn’t need to know why she came here despite the thunderstorm, despite knowing that she might end up being hated.
“Let’s just say,” She coughed, rubbing her chin. This was getting them nowhere, “I’ve realized my mistakes and wanted to change a few things.” Taking a few quick steps back, she raised her fists, “And you, big guy?”
“… Same,” Anti-Venom huffed, looking at Parker house for a few moments. Black Cat, ignoring the bite of surprise at the answer, instantly jumped on them and slammed her fist against their head, then again, again, and again.
“As IF I’m going to believe you,” She hissed, dodging the claws and symbiotic tentacles that tried to take her off their back, “Known I one liar, who did the same thing. Told that realized everything, pretended to change, but then backstab--”
“THAT’S NOT WHY WE’RE HERE!” Anti-Venom snarled, finally managing to catch her and throw off their back. Raising her high in the air, they stared Black Cat in the eyes, “We— I came here to talk, to apologize. Not to fight.”
Woah. Okay. Now that’s new. Black cat thought, looking at them with slightly raised eyebrows. What-what, but she was not expecting this as an answer. But then again, what WAS the expecting in the first place?
“Uh-huh…” She nodded slowly, “So that’s the reason why you thought attacking me was better than explaining why you came here?” Black Cat titled her head to the side. Watching how white symbiot’s eyes widened then narrowed was funny.
“Wasn’t expecting to see anyone else here,” Anti-Venom grumbled, letting go of her and walking towards the edge of the building to look down, right at Parker house, “… Especially not you.” They hissed, shooting the stare at her.
“Ouch,” She faked being hurt, “Now that’s a way to make a cat feel guilty,” She gave him a sly grin that didn’t reach her eyes. Putting an act on a front felt like lying to Spidey in the face all over again. It was hard. It hurt.
Anti-Venom didn’t answer, just huffed, walking close to the edge of the roof and staring down. For a long moment there was heavy silence. Then, they chuckled, “You memorized what you’re gonna say to OUR friend over there?” and turned to look at her.
“I hope so,” Aunt May sighed, rubbing her temples worriedly, "… Peter refused to tell me what happened that day when…" She shook her head, slowly looking in the window, at the rain only starting to slow down. A minor frown appeared on her face.
“I’m sure if it was something he couldn’t have dealt with on his own, he would have came to you,” Anna Watson said, placing a calming hand on May’s shoulder, “Just give him time.” She pat the old lady’s shoulder gently before looking away.
“Good to see you’re finally realizing just how easier life is when you stop being a fool, am I right?” Miles Warren smirked, patting Moris Bench on his shoulder, “After all, working for me is not so bad… Considering---”
Before he could finish the sentence, Morris Bench leaped forward, raising his fist to punch. Miles Warren instantly moved to the right and avoided the fist. A moment later, he pressed the button on the remote.
Instantly a loud scream filled the laboratory. The absolute agony was all Morris felt for long ten seconds, but it was enough to burn all his want to do anything at all. When it stopped, he was standing on all four, shaking, and trying to breathe.
"You better get ready,” Miles Warren said, turning his back at Morris, “Tomorrow we're going to have real fun" He said and a smile appeared on his lips, “But now?” He raised the remote control, looking at it, “Go and find Captain Stacy. There are some questions I have for him”
Morris Bench didn’t say anything for a long moment, only frowned as he watched Miles Warren walk away. Just like that. Simple and without other words being said. “Fucking moron…” He thought, clenching hands in fists.
Ripping out the page from the notebook, he turned to the next one and tapped it with his pen. Nothing he wrote was apologetic enough, convincing enough… Simply enough in his eyes. No. The text had to be perfect. Simple ‘I’m sorry’ won’t be enough.
It was never enough.
Sighing, he collapsed against the wall and closed his eyes. Another day in hiding, another begging for things to change for the better, or for going back to how they used to… Even if it’s impossible. It is impossible…
To say things went suspected way would be a big lie. Well, kind of. Peter chuckled dryly, watching how Gwen and Harry were talking about the events that had happened while he was in the hospital. Turns out a LOT of things have happened.
“Hold, up. You mean to tell me that Liz… LIZ Allen actually brought up this whole ‘break up’ thing AND you and she worked it out?” Harry asked, gesturing with a cup filled with water, “Okay. Now that’s an unsuspected thing to happen.”
“We… Had gotten into a fight once,” Gwen spoke, looking at the water in her cup, “Said a lot of mean stuff to each other…” She frowned slightly, “But eventually, we talked it all out.” Raising her head, she gave Harry a small smile.
Almost immediately a snake sleeping in Peter’s gut woke up. The bite was painful, but he tried to ignore it. Not now. Not when things are still too crazy and absolutely not normal. After all, the shock of finding out that---
The train of thoughts didn’t have enough time to elaborate further. The doorbell’s ring cut the silence in the kitchen like a gunshot. Instantly, the trio turned their heads towards the door. Peter frowned; Gwen raised her eyebrow slightly, while Harry’s expression remained unreadable.
Looking from one friend to another, Peter took a step forward. Then another and another. Stopping before the door, he frowned slightly, but still reached for the doorknob. One turn and the door slowly opened.
“I can’t believe it…” George Stacy sighed, rubbing his temples. It was getting very late and Gwen was still not home. Raising his hand to take his phone, the man froze. The sudden flicker of the lights made him look up with a frown.
“What in the--?” He muttered, slowly rising to his feet. Hand instantly flew to his side, right where his pistol was kept. His gaze quickly scanned the room. Nobody. Nobody was here, “Just a minor black out,” He muttered, “Nothing serious. Nothing to worry ab—“
His sentence was cut short by a hand grabbing his neck. Acting on pure autopilot, he took out his pistol and shot at the one who held him, but… His bullets just flew through it. “The hell-?!” He thought, trying to break free.
“Captain Stacy,” The voice hissed. The grip on the man’s neck tightened, making him gasp. The lack of oxygen was making it harder to think, harder to stay awake. George Stacy barely managed to see two pair of eyes staring at him through the hog in his head, “… We need to talk.”
“Alright, Peter," Dr. Bromwell said, turning his head towards Peter, "My professional recommendation is that you take a few days off” The doctor walked closer to the bed and looked at young adult with a serious gaze.
"Criminals don't take breaks," Peter said, looking away from the doctor and unto the window instead. He heard how Bromwell sighed, how the man placed a hand on his shoulder, “… And this city needs its hero.”
"The cops can handle a few thugs," The doctor sighed, shaking his head with a flicker of disappointment on his face, "But Peter, please, you have to understand that you need breaks too.” He raised his hand, preventing Peter from speaking, “just a few hours of bed rest for a few days is all I ask."
And now here he was. Eddie. Standing and looking at him with a frown. Peter shot Eddie the 'I will punch you in your jaw' look and was about to close the door when he noticed someone else standing right behind him.
“… Felicia?” He exhaled. The word was barely audible. It couldn’t- She left him, betrayed him! She couldn’t possibly be here! But… She was. And she was looking at him with such guilty gaze that his heart skipped a beat.
"I don't know what your game is here Brock," Peter said, turning his head to Eddie once again. He didn’t need to turn around to know that Gwen and Harry were standing behind him, looking at two unwelcomed visitors, "but you better stay the hell away from me, my family AND friends!"
Eddie said nothing to this, only sighed. It was a ‘that’s not why I came here, but it’s pointless to try and explain, you won’t believe me’ kind of sigh and it made Peter frown even more. What’s you’re playing here, Eddie? He thought.
‘An entertaining game, obviously’
Peter flinched slightly, but instantly forced himself to calm down. Now was not the time to pay any attention to the voice in his head. Not when he had a literal double trouble in a face of Ex-Venom and Black Cat in his house.
‘Oh, ignoring me again? How ungrateful.’
“What do you want?” Peter asked. His voice was barely audible. He wasn’t sure who he was talking to, Eddie or Felicia, but one thing he knew for sure. He was tired and wanted nothing to do with them or their arguments.
“I want--” Eddie started, taking a step forward when Felicia, pushing him out of the way, took two steps forward and stopped right in front of Peter. Her gaze was locked with his, expression still a mix of guilt and minor sadness.
“I wanted to apologize. Properly,” She spoke, but stopped, throwing a quick glare at Gwen and Harry as if silently asking: ‘Do they know your secret?’
Peter caught the gaze and silently shook his head.
Right, then left.
“For… Everything,” She said, trying very hard to shape her words so they won’t rise suspicion, “I was so worried about my father and I… Wasn’t thinking about the consequenses.” Felicia sighed, rubbing her temples.
‘… What?’ Peter thought. ‘Felicia was apologizing for what she has done? She was actually feeling bad for--? Okay, wow. I was not expecting this’ He blinked a few times before giving her a nod and turning his head to look at Eddie.
“You know, it IS better to give these three some space,” Harry muttered, taking Gwen by her arm and starting to move towards the door, “We’ll be at Gwen’s place if you need us!” The boy said and quickly disappeared out of sight with Gwen.
Now there were only the three of them and an awkward silence.
Peter looked from Eddie to Felicia, then back at Eddie. With a heavy sigh, he rubbed his temples. Exactly what I wanted to happen.
“And what is YOUR reason to be here?” He asked angrily, shooting daggers at Eddie.
“Wait at my place? Why was this first thing that came to your mind?” Gwen said, trying to fix her hair. The rain, albeit small and calming, still wet it and it was annoying, “Would have just waited in his room…” She muttered quietly.
“Well, excuse me for thinking the situation was too awkward as it was!” Harry said sarcastically, crossing arms on his chest. The Stare that was shot at him by Gwen was chosen to be ignored. “Plus, I’ve just thought it was… Weird.”
“What was weird?” Gwen muttered, shaking her head slightly to try and dry it at least a little bit, “Sudden appearance of Eddie at Peter’s house or him arriving with a white haired girl?” Her eyebrow arched slightly in a mix of confusion and slightly annoyance.
“All of it…” Harry mumbled, throwing a glare at Peter’s house. The rain was finally stopping and allowing them to see what’s going on in there via windows much better. He didn’t turn his head to look at Gwen, and didn’t notice how her face darkened just slightly.
“… Is so weird,” Peter thought, looking at Eddie who was sitting at his table, taking slow sips from the cup before throwing a glance at Felicia. She just shrugged slightly, still looking anywhere, but not him in the eyes. Yeah. Super awkward.
Suddenly, before he realized what he was doing, Peter slammed his both hands against the table and looked directly at Eddie, “Either you’re telling me what’s the deal of your arrival or get outta my house this instant!” He snapped.
The silence that followed was absolute. Eddie slowly lowered the cup, placing it back on the table with an unreadable expression while Felicia turned her head so quickly, it was a miracle she didn’t break her neck.
‘See? How easy it is to put them on their rightful places’
Before Peter could reply, his own hands clenched into tight fists and eyes locked with Eddie’s, “Well?” He heard himself speak, “Are you planning to speak up?” He didn’t move a muscle while Eddie silently rose to his feet.
“…” He didn’t say anything for a long moment, only kept looking Peter in the eyes. Finally, after what felt like hours, he sighed, “I’m sorry,”
The word was loud and firm.
‘Peter’ blinked. Just once. Before frowning. “… Is this all you’re here for? To say ‘I’m sorry’ and think this can change anything you’ve put me through?” He heard himself laugh dryly before ‘it’ took a step towards Eddie, “Oh, that’s just rich!”
“And you,” He said, throwing a glare at Felicia who frowned slightly, “What a funny joke for you to show up right now! Ha! Was you getting eaten by guilt or just wanted to manipulate me again?“ His mouth twitched, morphing a smile.
“This is NEVER going to happen, Bench,” Captain Stacy growled, looking right in Hydro-man’s eyes, “I’m not going to let you get so many people hurt just to achive your sic---” He stopped mid-sentence, clawing at the tightened grip on his neck.
“You don’t get to talk like this!” Hydro-man snarled and brought Captain Stacy closer to his face, “Not with how ignorant you are!” With it, he threw the man towards the wall. George hit it and collapsed on the floor.
Rising to his feet, George raised his gun and shot, but Hydro-man dodged and moved towards him. “Why does everyone keep making it harder? First these mother fuckers, then that bitch of a scientist, now YOU!”
“You know why I did it!” Felicia shouted, raising her finger and pointing at him, “And I regret my decision! There! Does it make you feel any better?” She asked, crossing arms on her chest.
“And what do you want from me?!” Captain Stacy hissed, straightening up while holding his hurting ribs, “Help? If so, that’s not how you ask for it!” He coughed, keeping his trembling gun pointed right at Hydro-man despite how pointless it was.
“That’s not how you ask for help,” He snarled and caught George Stacy by his wrist before slamming against the wall. It knocked the man out cold. Without thinking twice, he took Captain Stacy by his collar and raised in the air. “That’s how you take it.”
“… Interesting way of dealing with a problem,” Miles Warren’s voice echoed through the comm. While the man was doing his job, the scientist walked to the table and took a jar where Symbiote used to be. It was now empty.
“Look, who’s talking,” Came the grumpy reply, but Miles Warren didn’t even pay attention to it. No need to waste time on the dogs that can only bark when lost ability to bite. It’s completely pointless. And overall stupid.
“I thought I made it clear, Morris. Do your job and things won’t get complicated for you,” Miles hissed, placing the empty jar back on the table with a bit more force than needed. The clank of glass was loud enough to be heard. Morris didn’t answer.
“Good call,” Miles chuckled dryly and put the comm on mute before taking his phone, “Hello? Oh, yes. I will be free tomorrow. We could talk it all out, just name the place. However,” He said, “It won’t be free. You understand it, don’t you?”
“Of course, I do,” The voice answered. It was high, manic and filled with with a hint of madness, “I hadn’t been born yesterday, Doc.” With it, call ended. Throwing the phone back on the table, the doctor grinned to himself.
“Okay, let’s say I believe you,” ‘Peter’ said, rubbing his temples with a frown. ‘Let’s see how quickly they break, eh Peter?’ His eyes locked on Eddie, “Why now of all times?” This simple question instantly stunned him, and even thought Eddie tried to hide it, the frown still flashed on his face.
“Here!” Hydro-man asked, throwing unconscious Captain Stacy on the floor in front of the scientist, “Now get this thing outta me and we’ll call it a day!” He snarled, pointing at his neck, but heard only the quiet chuckle as an answer.
“Oh, no. I don’t think you’ve gotten it quite right,” Miles said, finally turning his head to look at Morris, “You’re working FOR me, Morris. And unless I say you’re free to go, you won’t” With it, he raised the remote he was holding, ready to press the button.
Hydro-man stood frozen, staring daggers at Miles, but after a few moments he lowered his hand and looked away.
“There,” Miles said, putting the remote back in his pocket, “Easy, isn’t it?”
‘Once I get myself out of this mess, I’ll make you pay…’ He thought angrily, but said only, “… Yeah… You could say so,” He hissed. His face darkened. Miles only chuckled dryly, walking towards unconscious Captain Stacy and checking his pulse.
“Not what I expected, but we can work with that,” He muttered, taking him by his arms and dragging towards the chair. Sitting him there, Miles looked at Morris Bench, “You’re free to go… For now, obviously.”
Hydro-man didn’t answer. Only crossed arms on his chest and dissolved into the wave, flowing away through the vent. Miles Warren watched him go before turning back to Captain Stacy, a small smile spread on his lips.
This has just gotten much more interesting.