And here we go, kicking off the last two short arcs before Infinity War/End Game. Just want to note that, in contrast to the last arc, these two kinda move at a fast pace. Which is... Sort of the point?

Either way, I hope you enjoy!

Three Months Later

They never let me go see her.

After what happened at the CIT, I was debriefed by a less than happy Secretary Ross. According to him, I was supposed to call this in, I shouldn't have acted alone, I abused my power. He didn't care what the situation was, and his reaction to learning that Connors was getting his material from someone in damage control was suspiciously tame. But I wouldn't be surprised to learn he was connected somehow, or if he'd just known about it and not said anything. I was of the firm belief that the man didn't care about us enhanced.

From my understanding, all the enhanced involved were moved to another prison. I just didn't know where... Which was probably good, because if I did I might do something stupid.

Things around the compound had changed, there was a shift in the atmosphere. Rhodes wasn't very talkative, Vision was often gone on trips to who knows where, while Tony and I were at odds. Because he agreed with Ross, I should have called for help, I shouldn't have tried to handle it alone. And he didn't do much to argue with Ross not allowing me to go see Amy. We'd had a few shouting matches over it, nothing too serious. Just a lasting sting between us.

So I spent the last three months training, studying, growing. Because I had to prepare for whatever was ahead. Even if that meant doing so in isolation. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd screwed up. Maybe if I'd done things differently, those two wouldn't have been forced into that position. Amy in particular was hard to think about. I'd promised to help her get better, and then I didn't.

But that was the past, today I had to put on a smile. It was time for my debut, the one I'd been putting off for awhile. But with my 18th birthday tomorrow, along with the signing of the Accords in a few days, it was about time they officially announce the newest Avenger.

"Alright, there are about twenty reporters waiting on the other side of that door." Tony explained, as we neared the door leading out to the main lobby. Yeah, I could already hear the chatter and smell those on the other side. "You get up to the podium, introduce yourself, they ask some questions and its over in an hour."

An hour? Good lord, "Right, in and out." I sighed lightly, mentally bracing myself. "I'll try to make sure Venom behaves."

Stark stopped for a brief second, "Yeah... About that," Bringing his hands together, shifting nervously. "Are you sure you want to introduce Venom?"

Oh boy, here we go. "Of course I'm going to," I scoffed, crossing my arms. "He's just as much part of this as I am."

"I know but," He paused briefly, trying to figure out how to word this. "Venom is, to those who aren't aware of all his lovable personality traits, kind of scary."

"Heheheheheh."

Was I supposed to care? "Aaaand?"

This didn't need to turn into an argument, but I was certainly willing to make it one. "Look, just... Make sure he's on his best behavior." Before he turned to the door, and took hold of the handle. "Here we go."

As the door opened, I was hit with flashing lights and instant vocal reactions. I could already tell I'd have a headache before this was over.

"That's right everyone, here she is!" Tony took to the podium first, the noise dying down and all camera's on him. "Our resident trainee, soon to be new Avenger, Venom!" Before he stepped down, ushering me forward.

I nodded, stepping up and getting blasted by more flashes. My god its broad daylight we have plenty of light, do these idiots not know how to turn off their flashes!?

"Yep, that's me," I laughed nervously, setting aside my growing annoyance as I stood at the podium. "Venom, at your service." I was bombarded by more noise as they barked questions, hands were raised, everyone was trying to get their voices heard.

"We'll start with... You!" Stark was evidently going to pick the reporters for me, great.

The others quieted down quickly as the man prepared to speak, at least they were polite. "Thank you, my questions is about your current attire, all images and video of you caught in action before now has been in full gear," He explained quickly. "So why is it you've chosen now not to wear your suit?"

Oh right, "Oh, well you see-" I let my suit begin to form, people snapping pictures left and right as I went through the transformation. Hiding my face, which was great because I was tired of fake smiling. "I've always got my suit."

"You, redhead in the back," Tony pointed out another reporter. "Fire away."

"So, Venom, the question on everyone's mind is what exactly are your abilities." She stated bluntly, holding the mic to her lips. "And what are their origins?"

Hmm, well I probably shouldn't show them everything. "Well, its kind of a long story," I scratched the back of my head, the hood and mask melting away to reveal my face again. "But basically, the meteor that crashed down in Queens six months ago had a passenger." I could practically feel Tony tensing up, fearing I was about to show off Venom. "He and I sort of... Bonded, and now I can do all these things." I held up one hand, my fingers growing in long jagged claws. Tendrils extended from my back as well, four hanging over my with their jagged or blunted tips. "That's the flashy stuff, the more subtle changes are that I'm basically better than an average person in every way." Finishing with a confident smirk.

Before she could ask any more, Tony pointed to another young man. "Your turn, front row."

"Yes thank you, so, you say that you... Bonded, with this alien, does that mean he is... Also here right now?"

Well this was a good a time as any, "Go for it."

"That is correct!" A series of shocked cries rang out as Venom jutted from my chest in a manner perhaps a little too similar to an Alien. Taking his usual form as the big, jagged toothed face slithering through the air. Cameras flashing pictures, and footage, or him. "Yes, please hold your applause..." He chuckled in amusement, shifting to my shoulder.

I looked over to Tony, who had a hand over his face. He shot me a look, to which I replied with a smug grin.

"This, is Venom." I introduced casually, getting into the groove of it. These reporters were eating out of the palm of my hand.

The questions kept coming, most revolving around Venom but some going back to me trying to figure more about who exactly I was. I made sure to duck questions that were perhaps a little too personal. And of course I didn't answer all the questions about our powers, keeping certain things in the dark. Like how we ate people, yeah that probably wouldn't inspire much confidence.

Over all, it went well. And after the hour passed, I was on my way out. Walking alongside Tony as the reporters were guided out.

"So, that went better than I expected." He pointed out.

I had my hands up behind my head, stretching as I walked. "I find your lack of faith, disturbing." Tony shot me a look, "What? Its from Star Wars."

"Have you been talking to Parker again?"

"Maybe..." He was the only one I knew that made those kinds of stupid references. "Not like I have much to do around here." Our activity in the last three months had been basically nothing. Nothing that required the entire team anyways.

"That's not a bad thing you know." Stark pointed out, as we reached the kitchen. "The whole reason we fight is to end the fighting."

I guess, "Yeah I know..." I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, removing the cap. "I'm just bored."

"Get a hobby," Stark shrugged casually, idly messing with his phone. "What do teenage girls your age normally do in their free time?"

I rolled my eyes at that, "Text their boyfriends and make stupid instagram posts."

"Huh, guess you can't do that." Tony answered absentmindedly, "I mean, you could try to get a boyfriend but... Yikes."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Not that I was offended... But I was kind of offended.

Rather than answer, Stark cleared his throat. "Anyways," Setting his phone aside. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for your big trip?"

Ugh, this again. "Yeah I know..." I sighed, shaking my head and setting the water aside. "I still don't understand why everyone is making such a big deal out of me signing the Accords."

"Well its... Mostly symbolic," Stark explained as he walked around the counter between us. "You've accomplished a lot, and the media is buzzing about you so... Signing shows that enhanced individuals can trust in the Accords." But I don't trust the Accords, not that I was going to say that. "On the legal side of things, its necessary because technically everything you've done in the field so far has been... Not, legal." He shrugged, "Once you turn eighteen, you could be held accountable... Assuming the council wants to keep up the idea that there is no favoritism with the Avengers."

"You'd think that would have been obvious when they broke the Avengers in half." Ah yes, another world class performance of putting my foot in my mouth. I looked up from my hands to him, and boy was he giving me a look. One that just said, "Really?" But I quickly looked away, "Sorry, its just nerves... Forget I said anything."

After letting the silence hang between us for a moment. "No, you're partially right." Tony admitted, "The Accords created a lot of tension between us... But the way we handled it is what broke us."

He never did like to talk about what happened between him and Captain America. And this was the least antagonistic conversation we'd had in a long time, since before the CIT. "Well, no use dwelling on the past..." Yeah, I wasn't really sure what to say. "I guess I'll get packing..." Walking past him, and heading for my room.

"Don't stress too much over the details," Stark advised as I went. "You've just gotta stand in front of some cameras, say a few words and sign a piece of paper... Easy."

"Right, no big deal." I shrugged it off, before making the climb up to the floor my room was on.

"So, have you decided what to do yet?"

"No... I know what I should do, but I don't know what I want to do." Stepping through the door to our room, I closed it tightly and turned on the speakers nearby through my computer. Playing some relaxing music, trying to calm my nerves as I started packing.

"Well, you've got two days to decide."

Thanks Venom, always helpful.

"What do you think we should do?" I asked, opening up my suitcase and starting to dig through various clothes in nearby drawers. I really only needed a few extra pairs of clothes, I would only be in Vienna for like two days. "Do you want to sign the Accords?"

"... No, not really." The hesitation was surprising, like he actually had to consider it. "But... It may be the best course of action for the time being."

"For the time being?" I repeated, quirking an eyebrow while folding some clothes.

"A piece of paper cannot stop us from doing what we want," He scoffed, "No matter how many times we sign it."

"Its legally binding, we're expected to act with integrity."

"Hahahahahaahahahahaahahahahaahahahahah!"

I don't know what kind of response I was expecting. "Fair point... But seriously Venom, I'm starting to freak out here." I stated, stuffing the outfits I'd picked out into the case. "I want to keep being an Avenger, but I don't know if its worth shackling myself to these damn laws." I hated to admit it but, "I'm... I'm scared."

His laughter had come to a stop, and he was quiet for a moment. "What is most important to you, Gwen?"

Was that even a question? "My dad, of course." Making my way to the bathroom to grab my spare toothbrush.

"No, I mean... Beyond sentimentality and your connections to others." He elaborated, but somehow made even less sense. "What is most important to you, Gwen Stacy?"

Great, now we were having a deep conversation. I wasn't sure how to answer, before I paused briefly as I saw my reflection in the mirror. I remembered something, a sense of relief I felt a long time ago after my first mission. I stared into my own eyes, my reflection. And I knew who I was looking at.

Despite everything that's happened, it's still me.

"I think... No matter what happens," The words came out naturally, like it was obvious the whole time. "I want to be able to look at myself, and still see me staring back... Is that good enough?"

"..." Ah, back to silence. He was pondering my words more than usual lately. "I will go along with whatever you decide, I trust your judgement."

So no pressure, right?

Oh well, like Venom said... I've got two days to decide, great.