Disclaimer: I don't own Venom, Spider-Girl, or anything else in this story save its plot and Aloysius. I'm not going to be posting this disclaimer anymore; after all, it will still be true next chapter. If anybody has a problem with that, then bite me! Of course I don't own this stuff! If I did, you think I'd be writing about it here, instead of in an actual comic!?

Chapter 2:

What Makes A Hero?

Several days had passed since Venom had taken residence within Aloysius Qatrefoil. So far, Venom had yet to see anything bad. The human was kind, passionate, easily enraged by the callousness and brutality of the world, and cynical enough to do what was necessary, even if it meant taking a life. Unlike its previous host and the deadly punishment they had doled out together, Venom knew that Aloysius would not kill for the sake of killing. He would strive to incapacitate or, if necessary, cripple his opponent, but he'd try his best not to kill. However, if put in a situation like the first war against Kasady and his little hitchhiker, Qatrefoil would never allow Carnage to slink away like Parker had. Aloysius would have taken the opportunity to avenge those whom Carnage had slain, and to protect everyone who Carnage might kill should he escape. Aloysius would pull the trigger and never look back; he was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, a loss of innocence, to protect the innocence and lives of others.

Venom admired Qatrefoil for that. And the symbiote was infinitely surprised when it realized that Aloysius' best friend was Parker's daughter! Venom couldn't escape Parker, no matter how hard it tried. Moreover, the black ooze was shocked to feel the receptors which fired up whenever May came around. Qatrefoil LIKED her! This was so rich it had to be fattening.

Venom had finally decided that this human was perfect. The next time Aloysius was in danger, Venom would reveal itself and offer its power and wisdom to Qatrefoil. It was almost positive he'd accept.

—SCENEBREAK—

Mark Wollicker, one of the local toughs, stood in class giving his report on Egyptian rulers and politics. "Surprisingly, Imhotep was not just a character from a movie: he was real, and in fact he was a high priest who guided Egypt through some of its toughest times, all the while introducing advance medicinal techniques…" Aloysius had zoned out after Wollicker mispronounced "medicinal." The tall young man rolled his eyes over to May, giving her a poisonous glare. These weren't Wollicker's words, that was for sure. He must've threatened May into doing his work for him, yet again!

Aloysius knew that May was a lot stronger than she looked, and she looked like a gymnast. He knew that if she really wanted to, she'd be an even match for a thug like Wollicker. Aloysius had told May time and time again that he had her back, and if she ever got into a fight, he'd be there to back her up. Together, they'd wipe the floor with a Visigoth like Mark Wollicker! But, for some reason, May refused to stand up for herself. She just chugged along, doing her own work along with the assignments of several local toughs. Aloysius watched as May met his eyes for a moment, and then quickly looked down in shame. That was it; enough was too much! Aloysius brooded silently, exuding an aura of danger and ferocity. He'd grab Wollicker during lunch break, consequences be damned! Nobody was going to bully May; never again!

The bell rang, and class let out. The teacher complimented Mark on his exceedingly well-written report. Did that old fool not see that it obviously wasn't Wollicker's work!? How could someone who couldn't pronounce the word "medicinal" possibly have written a coherent report on an ancient Egyptian doctor and high priest!? The event did have an upside, however. Because Mark had stayed behind to bask in his undeserved praise, he and Aloysius were at the back of the line as the classes filtered into the cafeteria. Nobody would notice they were gone for at least a short while.

Aloysius strode up behind Wollicker and placed a hand on the great lump's shoulder. "Hey, Mark, can I talk to you for a sec?" Anyone who knew Aloysius would instantly recognize that his tone was…off.

Mark, however, was blissfully ignorant. "Sure thing, Al," he replied.

As soon as they were out of sight, Aloysius grabbed Wollicker by the collar and slammed him against the lockers. "Listen here, you braindead sasquatch! You're going to leave May alone, and do your own goddamn homework from now on. Got that?"

Mark threw Aloysius off of him like a rag doll, slugging the taller, thinner man in the face and drawing a deluge of blood from Aloysius' nose. "Back off, Slim! Nobody orders me around! And I'll keep that little piece of ass working for me until I decide to hit that!" He moved to punch Aloysius again, but Mark found his hand stopped. Qatrefoil had halted Wollicker's fist as easily as an adult would stop the punch of a petulant toddler.

"Listen here, you bastard." Aloysius' voice had a kind of dual-tone quality to it; a second, basso reverberation. It sounded as if Satan himself were speaking through the thin man. "You think you can lord your power over everyone else. Well, two things: first, might does not make right. And second, there's always someone stronger!" Aloysius squeezed Mark's fist, and was rewarded with the sound of popping joints and straining tendons. "I'll leave your hand intact this time. But you will leave May alone and do your own work. And if you ever, EVER touch her–" Aloysius didn't finish his sentence. He simply growled, and the deep, monstrous sound vibrated down his arm, up Mark's, and into Wollicker's entire body. It felt to Mark as if his very soul had been squeezed by Aloysius' freakishly powerful hand. "Do we have an understanding?"

Mark could only nod.

Aloysius smiled. Half of the smile was evil; half of it was merely satisfied. "Good. Hope I never have to talk to you again."

So did Wollicker.

—SCENEBREAK—

Aloysius jogged up to meet May at their usual table. May smiled. "What took you so long, Aloysius?"

He shrugged. "I was just threatening Wollicker to stay away from you and do his own damn homework for a change."

"Aw, my hero," she said playfully. Clearly, she didn't believe him. But when Mark Wollicker walked nervously into the cafeteria and shuffled around the room, his eyes continually darting toward Aloysius, May realized that her friend hadn't been joking. "Aloysius, what did you do?"

Qatrefoil swallowed a bite of his turkey sandwich. "I just warned him not to think he can walk all over you. After all, if I can't protect my best friend, how can I be expected to save the world?"

May nodded and giggled slightly, but as she ate her lunch, she couldn't help but wonder: what was Aloysius hiding?