I do not own Spiderman or any of the characters.
Finished
Ben roars in agony as much as effort, doubling over as a spike of snot drives itself through his abdomen, spreading into a sort of grappling hook of spikes on the front of Ben's stomach, only for the spikes to shred their way back to the hole before being sucked back in, then forced out the back. Then, dozens of claws form, driving themselves into Ben all at once, one even driving itself into each eye socket, impaling his eyes. For one terrible moment, it seems like Carnage might actually win. Then, it's over. In one massive spray of blood and one long, blood-curdling scream, Carnage sails away, chunks of ice spread over him as Ben collapses to the ground like a ragdoll, blood beginning to leak out of his shredded, nearly unrecognizable body, but there wasn't even enough blood to pool. Lexi doesn't even hesitate, leaving Gwen and forcing herself into Ben through any opening she can find.
Ben sighs slowly as consciousness tugs at him. The pain is gone finally, and he wants to sleep, but every time he starts to slip into the bliss of unconsciousness, something tugs him back. he can feel something. A presence. He thinks he recognizes it. He's too comfortable to focus on it, though. Warmth begins to blanket him, slowly pushing away the cold feeling he had been suffering with before.
"It's so warm," Ben breathes.
"Sshh," Lexi's voice coos into his ear. "Don't talk. just rest. I'm here. We're together now."
Ben supposes he must have fallen asleep. But what had they been doing. Were they on a date? He feels bad for falling asleep on her. He doesn't try to move, and doesn't open his eyes, but he forces himself to stay awake for her, since he somehow knows she wants him to. He hears Gwen's voice shouting. No, screaming and images begin to drift back to him. Symbiotes. A machine. Carnage. Fear grips him.
"The others..."
"They're holding Carnage off so I can heal you," Lexi says, voice sounding more worried than before, or maybe he was just able to notice it now that he was paying better attention. "You have to stay still."
"We have to help them," Ben says. "They'll die."
"That's their choice," Lexi says. "If they choose to give their lives for you, that's on them."
"But I don't deserve their lives!" Ben argues, panic beginning to set in. "I'm selfish, and arrogant, and I hate everyone! I've never done anything selfless! I'm an asshole! I don't deserve their sacrifices!"
"No you don't," Lexi agrees, a pang of hurt and guilt lancing through Ben. "You're self-centered, stubborn, and care nothing for those around you. But if you try to get up right now, you'll die, and then their deaths will be for nothing."
Ben feels himself choke up at her admission. So she always knew. And she still cared about him. He didn't deserve her love either. Especially after how he had treated her at the beach. He forces his eyes open, head lulling to the side and watching the others struggle against Carnage. He's got no host, but there's something severely wrong. He's faster. And he's stronger. Gwen moves to punch him and he flows around her easily, drilling a punch into her side that sends blood spraying out of her mouth as she sails across the room. Miles roars in anger, electricity screaming along his arms as he streaks forward, striking at Carnage rapidly. Carnage isn't affected by the electricity, however, and catches Miles by his arms with one hand, lifting him off the ground. Miles slams a kick into Carnage uselessly. Spider-Ham, Spiderman Noir, and Peter all lunge at Carnage, three new arms erupt from his sides, slamming a fist into each of them, Peter losing several teeth, Spiderman Noir's neck snapping loudly, though his scream of pain shows he had survived, even if he is paralyzed, and Spider-Ham's face inverts as he bounces around the room before popping back out, blood running out of his snout, darkening his mask rapidly. Then, Carnage's extra arms retract and his free hand drives itself through Miles' abdomen to the elbow. Miles doesn't even scream, just goes limp before Carnage casts him aside. Carnage turns as Gwen and Peter reach him, slamming a fist down on one of their shoulders, both shoulders dropping nearly six inches with a series of loud snaps, crunches, and tearing sounds before Gwen and Peter's bodies follow, bouncing off the floor.
"Done!" Lexi's voice announces as Carnage's hands raise to impale the two of them.
Ben's fist crashes into the ground and a massive fist made of ice explodes out of the ground, crashing into Carnage and hurling him away. Carnage splats against the wall as Ben stands.
"Heal them," Ben orders. "Miles first."
Lexi leaves him instantly, streaking across the room to Miles as Ben begins to walk toward Carnage, who roars loudly, claws extending a couple inches. Ben raises his hands, ice knuckles forming on his fingers with two inch spikes on the fronts of his fists. Then, he forms himself ice armor and shoots forward, Carnage roaring and moving to meet him. Carnage slashes at him and Ben drops under it before standing and drilling his left fist into the underside of Carnage's jaw. Carnage staggers backward before Ben slams his other fist into the side of Carnage's jaw. Carnage staggers to the side and Ben holds out a hand, webbing made of ice shooting out of his palm, attaching to Carnage's torso before Ben spins around Carnage as Carnage slashes downward. Then, Ben yanks on the ice webbing, Carnage being yanked into motion and streaking across the room, bouncing off of the ground and crashing into the side of the machine in the center, a thick brown fluid beginning to trickle down the side slowly. Carnage roars, charging and Ben stomps, a sheet of ice flashing across the ground, Carnage's feet flipping out from under him before he crashes down on his back. Then, Ben slams his hands down and massive spikes of ice explode out of the ground below Carnage, impaling him. Carnage roars, the ice shattering and dropping him onto his feet just in time for a shot of ice webbing to hit him in the face, obscuring his vision just long enough for Ben to charge and jump into the air, superman punching him in the face, hurling him back into the machine again, the fluid beginning to leak a little faster. Then, as he lands, Carnage shoots forward, drilling a punch of his own into Ben's chin, launching him backward. Men flips, landing on his feet in time to leap to the side, Carnage's claws connecting with his armor, the left side of it all but exploding off of him as it shatters.
Ben lets the rest of the armor evaporate and forms an ice sword as solid as he can make it in time to hold it up in front of himself, blocking the claws on both of Carnage's hands, the blade cracking but holding. However, as soon as he blocks the claws, Ben lets go of the sword and leaps over it, a third arm bursting out of Carnage's chest and catching Ben's ankle, only to freeze sold and snap off as Ben's jump continues. Ben flips, smashing the frozen arm on his leg into Carnage, shattering it and freeing himself before landing on his feet and stepping forward, slamming a punch into Carnage's back, sending him staggering forward. Carnage spins, slashing at Ben, only for Ben to duck under it and begin to slam his fists into Carnage rapidly, forcing him backward. Then, just as Carnage moves to catch one of Ben's fists, Lexi suddenly envelopes Ben, his punch speeding up and crashing into Carnage hard, sending him flying backward, smashing into the wall and cracking it.
"I'm done," Lexi says. "They'll all live. I can finish healing them after we finish this fight."
"Alright," Ben says. "Then let's finish this quickly shall we?"
"You arrogant insect," Carnage snarls, voice vibrating and grating on Ben's ears like a fork on a plate, even though it's nowhere near as high. "You're nothing but vermin to me! You're food! I will take the bitch! Her power will be mine!"
"No," Ben growls. "You're going to die screaming, and I'm going to piss on your remains."
Carnage roars angrily, charging only for Ben to tap his foot on the ground, a pillar of ice exploding out of the ground and crashing into him, throwing him backward again.
"You amped up my powers," Ben notes. "How much longer can Carnage go without a host?"
"Days," Lexi says. "Carnage is different than other Klyntar. He can survive for days without a host, and is more powerful on his own than even with a cooperative compatible host."
"I see," Ben nods. "Then I guess we'll have to end this the face way."
He hold their arms out, ice forming along Lexi's claws, extending them several inches as well as sharpening the back edges and forming serrated teeth along the insides. Then, they charge, Carnage meeting them partway, slashing them across the chest in a spray of blood, only for the wounds to instantly heal as they tear into him, bits of him flying off rapidly. He roars, kicking them and throwing them backward before catching them with several strands of his body. However, the strands freeze instantly and they flip, landing on their feet before catching the strands and swing Carnage over themselves, smashing him headfirst into the side of the machine. Oil floods out of it instantly, washing over Carnage as he pushes himself up, roaring angrily.
"It's over," Ben says.
"It will never be over!" Carnage roars. "You can't stop me! I'm the ultimate Klyntar! I don't need a host! I've devoured countless spiders and gained power from each! I will never stop hunting you!"
"Yes, you will," Ben says, sending a strand of ice webbing at Carnage, only for him to lean out of the way, grinning wickedly as it misses.
"You missed!" Carnage sneers.
"No I didn't," Ben says. "I just wasn't aiming for you."
Carnage blinks in confusion before turning, looking around, seeing the webbing wrapped around the exposed section of the missile Peni had fired earlier. Then, Ben yanks on the webbing and the missile breaks free of the ice, crashing into Carnage's chest and exploding into a massive fireball, destroying the machine and igniting Carnage. Carnage roared in agony, collapsing in the center of the flames, his voice growing well past a fork and plate in both pitch and annoyance. he rolls back and forth for a moment before reaching out toward them.
"I'll kill you!" Carnage shrieks. "I'll make you wish you were never born!"
"No, you won't," Ben says. "Now shut up and burn."
Carnage screams again as pieces of him begin to disintegrate. Then, finally, the scream dies off as the rest of his body falls away as ash. Ben turns, Lexi separating from him and quickly switching to Gwen, continuing to heal her while helping Ben gather the others, both of them heading back up the stairs, leaving the fire to burn out. After about another fifteen minutes, they set the others down on a rooftop a few blocks away and Lexi finishes healing the others one at a time before separating from them, having finished with Spiderman Noir, and retakes her human form, staring at the ground in silence. Ben watches the smoke curl out of the front of Oscorp in silence for several minutes before Lexi speaks.
"If...If you still want me to leave, I will," Lexi says. "I know you can't forgive me for lying to you, but you're safe now, and that's enough for me, so..."
Ben turns, watching her for a moment before walking over and lifting her head up before kissing her. She stands there, too surprised to react for a moment before he pulls back, his eyes watering as regret and guilt roll through him in waves.
"I'm sorry for what I said," Ben says. "I'm sorry for threatening you...for hurting you. I don't want you to leave. I know I don't deserve you...I don't deserve anything besides a swift kick in the ass...but I-"
Lexi cuts him off with a kiss, remaining there for several seconds before pulling back. "I love you Ben."
"I love you too," Ben smiles, kissing her again.
After a moment, Peter clears his throat and they separate, looking over at the others.
"Thank you for saving us," Peter says. "And...uh...sorry for hunting you."
Lexi smiles and shakes her head. "It's alright. I'm just glad you're all okay."
"Thanks to you," Gwen says. "Without you, Miles would be dead...several times over. We all would. Thank you. I don't know if I can ever repay you."
"You don't owe me," Lexi smiles. "Honestly, I didn't save any of you for you. Everything I did was for Ben. I was being selfish."
"Even so, you saved us," Spider-Ham says. "I'm going to let you two in on a little secret. No hero is ever really selfless. We all have selfish reasons for what we do. Sure maybe sometimes it's selfless, but most of the time, we do what we do because it means something to us. So congratulations Ben. You're a hero."
Ben sighs. "Damn. I guess you're right. You guys ruined me."
The others all laugh.
"We should all head back to Aunt May's," Peter says. "I think all of us can use a nice long rest, this time without any Symbiotes to fuck it up. Or...well...any others, I suppose."
"Hey, speaking of, where'd Venom and Toxin end up?" Ben asks. "And Riot?"
They all look around, realizing the three other Symbiotes had disappeared during the fight sometime. However, before they wonder about it too long, Venom and Toxin both land on the roof behind Lexi and Ben, both bowing.
"Riot?" Lexi asks.
"Dead," Venom says. "Finally. We shoved him into some hobo's trashcan fire."
"I think we gave the hobo a heart attack," Toxin says.
"He'll probably be fine," Lexi says. "Toxin, how's your host holding up?"
"He's getting close to expiring," Toxin says. "I'm going to drop him off at a hospital later and find a new one."
"Try to find a compatible one and make peace with him," Lexi says. "If you keep burning out hosts, eventually you'll be hunted down."
Toxin nods and Lexi waves a hand, he and Venom leaving instantly. Then, Lexi turns back to the others.
"Alright, we can go now," Lexi says.
The others nod and they leave, Ben and Lexi bringing up the rear, both smiling knowingly as they see Miles and Gwen holding hair and swinging together using their free hands.
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