The Kingpin's perspective:
"Enter," said The Kingpin.
A black woman entered The Kingpin's office. "You can call me Shauniqua Brown, Willy."
The New York crime boss also known as Wilson Fisk frowned. "You may call me Kingpin."
"No thanks, Willy," said Shauniqua.
"Allow me to put it another way," said Kingpin. "I insist on being referred to only as The Kingpin when the... miscellaneous side of my business is being discussed. Not Wilson, not Mr. Fisk, absolutely not Willy. Kingpin."
"But Willy suits you," grinned Shauniqua knowingly. "I've done my research. You weren't always a desk boy. You weren't even all that white. Still probably ain't. You pumped yourself up and bullied a lot of gangs. Took 'em over. That's how you got to where you are today, not PR and pen-pushin'."
The Kingpin was struggling to hold onto his temper, but he had to admit that this young lady knew him. "I have the equipment for you."
"For what I'm paying you," said Shauniqua in a threatening way, "You'd better have my secret weapon."
"It's in the lab," promised The Kingpin. "You may test it before you go."
"How many samples are available?" Shauniqua asked.
"You only agreed to pay for one," said The Kingpin. "So that's all you get."
"Good," smiled Shauniqua. "I don't trust the boys with enough shit to scare me."
"A wise decision," Kingpin nodded. "As for the smaller tools, I have an employee getting the very last of them. He won't be far behind you."
"I hope not," said Shauniqua. "To the lab?"
"To the lab," said The Kingpin. I hope this solves your Venom problem. He was a problem with me a year ago, and I would like to see him eliminated."
"Yeah," chuckled Shauniqua. "He picked on you like you were in high school again, Willy."
"How did you...?" The Kingpin paused to regain his composure.
I can hardly wait to double-cross that bitch after she is finished with Spider-Man and Venom.
Shauniqua's perspective:
John Bozeman was Shauniqua's assistant. "So did you get the stuff?"
"Mm-hmm," said Shauniqua. "Tested it, too. I have it on good faith that more toys are coming, so don't worry."
"So what's your New York counterpart like?" asked John.
Shauniqua smiled. "He's nothing like they say. Underneath his impressive discipline is a boiling pit of rage. I'd have liked him for it if he weren't married."
"So the plan to destroy him and expand our business to the Northeast is still on?" laughed John.
"Yeah," Shauniqua said evilly. "First Venom. Then him."
Spider-Man's perspective:
Spider-Man had reached a military base north of New York City to find The Rhino stealing assault rifles. This was weird. Why steal lethal weapons? That got you too much attention from the authorities.
Spidey delivered a swinging kick to The Rhino, flooring him, but not forcing him to drop the several rifles he had obtained.
"If anyone's gonna enforce gun control on you," vowed Spider-Man, "It's me. Not that even the NRA wants you to have those."
"Funny," Rhino grinned. "But get lost. This doesn't involve you." He ran away at a high pace. This surprised Spider-Man. Since when was The Rhino one to run from a fight?
Because of how fast The Rhino was, it was difficult to keep up. And when he entered a forest, that was it. He disappeared among the trees below where Spider-Man was web swinging.
The Web-Slinger snapped his fingers in frustration. The Rhino had escaped. This was not good. Whatever he was using the rifles for, he had to have enough by this time. But Spider-Man had a good idea of who was pulling the gray super-criminal's strings.
Spider-Man entered The Kingpin's office at Fisk Industries. There sat The Kingpin in his desk. "So what brings you here?" he smiled upon seeing Spider-Man.
"What do you have The Rhino stealing guns for, tubby?" asked Spider-Man.
"He just might be heading to Atlanta," said The Kingpin.
"You admit you're behind this?" asked a surprised Spider-Man. Why would The Kingpin reveal this so easily?
"I'm behind nothing," said Kingpin with the evident sincerity of a stereotypical used car salesman. "Call it... an educated guess."
"Hit the treadmill," Spidey took a parting shot before leaving. If Atlanta was The Rhino's destination, it could not have come at a worse time: the opening months of the life of Peter Parker's daughter.
Before anything else, Peter would have to explain to MJ why he had to leave town rather than tend to their daughter. That seemed far harder than taking down a criminal with awe-inspiring strength and speed.
Peter Parker's perspective:
"You have to go where?" asked MJ.
"Atlanta," said Peter. "Weren't you listening?"
"Don't get smart with me," MJ frowned. "You're a father now. Our baby needs lots of attention. Besides, how will you tell Dr. Connors that you have to take off on such short notice?"
"I've never taken a vacation unless he was off as well," explained Peter. "I've got some weeks off coming. I know The Kingpin's planning something big with The Rhino and the guns he's stolen."
"In that case," said MJ, "PM and I are coming too."
"I don't think so," said Peter.
"You know how many times you've needed my support," MJ reminded her husband. "Besides, this is a chance for the baby to go to her first amusement park. Because I do believe there's a Six Flags in Atlanta."
"Can she actually enjoy it at this age?" said Peter.
"She's learning fast," said MJ. "Something she picked up from you. Don't believe me? Hold her for a bit."
"No thanks," Peter said quickly. He was still nervous about this kind of thing.
"Peter," MJ grinned slyly, "You can handle super-criminals but not a little baby?"
Peter sighed and took the baby. This actually felt pleasant. And MJ had been right. PM did seem to know her father.
"OK," said Peter. "We all leave first thing tomorrow."
"One other thing," said MJ. "Atlanta's where Venom lives, right?"
"I'm afraid so," said Peter. "But Atlanta's a big city. Not New York, but with any luck, we'll be able to avoid him." He had never forgotten the symbiote-vigilante's vendetta against Spider-Man. And while they had since made peace, they had agreed that they did not want to ever see each other again, about the one thing they could agree on.
Venom's perspective:
While swinging through Atlanta with imitations of Spider-Man's webbing made of his alien costume's substance, Venom saw a woman running into an alley from a man with a knife. Obviously, the young lady was in a state of panic; she seemed to be reasonably intelligent yet had run into a alley with a dead end. So Venom followed.
Cornered, the woman said, "My boyfriend's birthday is coming up."
"I'm your boyfriend now," threatened the man.
So Venom webbed the knife out of the punk's hand. "She never said she was available," grinned Venom.
The punk was clearly not very bright because he charged at the superhuman Venom. Before he would have thrown a punch, Venom's right fist had busted up his skull!
Venom saw that the young lady was even more frightened. "You're safe now, Madam. Go about your business. But for your sake, be more careful from now on." She nervously and slowly walked past Venom. At least she got the message that she had to be cautious.
As he swung home, Venom said to his symbiote, "Yes, I agree. I don't like how even the innocents we save believe the bad press that we get."
Venom returned to his house and his symbiote changed into street clothes. This would be more acceptable to his girlfriend.
"Welcome back, Eddie," said Mandy Grayson, the woman who Venom lived with. They hugged.
"Say," said Mandy. "I'm told that you've met the famous Spider-Man. What's he like?"
"We don't want to talk about it," frowned Eddie. "Let's just say we haven't seen him in a long time. Here's hoping we never see him again." Even though Venom's rivalry with Spider-Man had been over for a long time, Venom still did not trust The Web-Slinger. But he was no longer a problem. Spider-Man and Venom were on opposite ends of the East Coast. It would not be easy for them to meet again.
MJ's perspective:
Peter, MJ and PM had been riding for ten hours, and were crossing through Virginia. There had been few words between Peter and MJ. Because PM had not been used to being stuck in a car, MJ had been preoccupied by keeping her from crying. By this time, the baby had gotten used to the drive.
"So how is Spider-Man going to find The Rhino?" MJ finally tried to make conversation with her husband.
"Knowing the big dunce," said Peter with a smile, "He'll get lost more than once. We'll probably beat him to Atlanta. All I have to do is watch for someone speeding through the greater Atlanta area."
MJ nodded. It was time to hit Peter with something else. "I've read that Venom's got a girlfriend. I'd like to meet her." She knew the response would be cold.
Sure enough, Peter frowned and said, "While I understand that you'd like to talk to another girlfriend of a super-guy, no. We need to have as little contact with Venom as possible."
"I'm not saying I won't be careful," MJ pressed her case, "But he's stayed out of trouble."
"Didn't he get arrested months ago?" asked Peter.
"The case was dropped," said MJ.
"He was still arrested," said Peter. "I'm not taking any chances."
MJ thought for a second. Peter had merely said that he would not take any chances. Technically, MJ could meet up with Venom's girlfriend if she really wanted to. Besides, if they became friends, it could only help the chances of their men not killing each other.
Spider-Man's perspective:
As the car neared the Atlanta city limits, Peter turned over the wheel to MJ. This enabled him to put on his Spider-Man costume while hidden in the backseat floor. He web swung into Atlanta itself and went on patrol. Since The Rhino was at least a day away from Atlanta, it was business as usual for the time being. He soon noticed a criminal beating a man with a club and webbed the club out of his hand from atop a lamppost.
The criminal got on his knees and begged, "I know I'm a bad guy, but I'm no killer. I swear to God."
This gave Spider-Man an idea of what Venom did to criminals. He was a real piece of work.
Three days later, Spidey noticed The Rhino while on patrol and dive bombed him from above, feet-first!
"You again?" complained Rhino. "Here?"
"Mm-hmm," said The Web-Slinger. "When I 'like' a guy, he can run, but he can't hide until I hit home plate. I've got a nice hotel picked out called the Fulton County Jail."
"Lame," growled The Rhino. "Just like you in a bit, Wall-Crawler!" He charged. The Spider-Sense warned Spider-Man a microsecond too late for him to avoid the plastic horn. He was knocked back and down. Gotta remember how fast The Rhino is!
Accordingly, Spidey jumped over the next charge. Rhino avoided the follow-up diving punch. Instead of landing, Spider-Man collided with a camouflaged Venom. This forced his symbiote to lose concentration, disrupting the shrouding effect.
"What are you doing here?" Venom demanded.
"He's getting away," said Spider-Man.
"Then we'll catch him," said Venom. No doubt he meant Eddie Brock and his alien cohabitant, not Spider-Man.
"Finders keepers," said Spider-Man. "Never mind. He's gone. Thanks a lot, Venom."
Venom delivered a punch that knocked Spider-Man into the driver's seat of an empty car. Venom was charging the car when Spider-Man mashed the horn, stunning Venom via his sound weakness.
Venom had dropped to his knees when a tendril from the left shoulder area of the symbiote launched at Spider-Man. Since Venom did not trigger the Spider-Sense, this caught Spider-Man by surprise, stuck to his chest, and threw him into a fire hydrant breaking it off the ground.
Venom dived at Spider-Man, but The Web-Slinger quickly seized the dislodged hydrant and whacked Venom in the head with it! Both combatants stood up, staring each other down like gunslingers in the old West.
A siren signaled the police coming. Sure enough, it was a cop car.
"Better run while you still have a chance, Venom," Spider-Man grinned under his mask. Controversial or not, he had always been popular with the NYPD. He doubted the APD disagreed. But why was the Spider-Sense suddenly tingling?
"You're a long way from home, Spider-Man," said a confident Venom.
Out of the car came two officers each pointing a gun at Spider-Man. "Freeze," said one. "You're under arrest for assault and entering the city of Atlanta without authorization."
"What?" screamed Spider-Man. Things suddenly looked bleak.
"Looks like you need a padded cell," said the other officer. "Not prison." Judged the psychotic compared to Venom, of all people. The ol' Parker luck was working overtime.
"Relax," said Venom. "Just a little misunderstanding. One we're as responsible for as him."
He's defending me?
"You sure?" asked the first officer.
"He's very sorry," said Venom.
Summoning all his self-control, Spider-Man said, "This town is crazy. It suits you, Venom." Spidey web swung away. Atlanta was certainly Venom's town. If Spider-Man forgot that, he would be liable to end up in prison or dead.
Venom's perspective:
Why didn't we help the police catch him? asked the symbiote.
"I don't know," frowned Venom as he web swung on patrol. "We don't even like him. Guess we still feel a certain responsibility to him because we worked together once. Needless to say, we won't be so generous if we run into the accursed Spider-Man again."
Venom noticed two people sneaking into an electronics store and smiled. Hopefully, this would take his mind off Spider-Man's ingratitude.
MJ's perspective:
Against her husband's wishes, MJ was eating lunch with Mandy Grayson, girlfriend of Eddie Brock, at her house.
"So what's it like living with a super person?" asked MJ.
"I can't imagine a better life for myself," said Mandy. "And I do consider Eddie a superhero."
"Some say he's a psychotic vigilante," said MJ. Mandy clearly liked him, so MJ had to choose her words carefully.
"What he is," Mandy said calmly but dead seriously, "Is a good man who took a wrong turn."
"I take it you, being a lawyer, helped him back on the straight and narrow?" asked MJ.
Mandy nodded. "In fact, I got him out of jail."
"How did it feel like to save a... superhero?" asked MJ.
"Filled me with pride," beamed Mandy.
"Yeah, it feels good, doesn't it?" smiled MJ.
"Behind every successful man..." Mandy uttered the old epitaph. "By the way, I've noticed you've got a baby."
"Great baby girl," said MJ. "I think she's got her father's powers."
"Won't be the case with our children," said Mandy. "Eddie gets his powers from his alien friend."
"I do think that thing can give birth," suggested MJ. "It's done so before."
"We'll see," said Mandy. "I see you've finished your food. You'd better move. I'd rather not explain this to Eddie?"
"Peter wouldn't like me being here either," said MJ.
"Think they'll kill each other?" asked Mandy.
"Let's hope not," said MJ. But she knew the chances of their husbands engaging in mortal combat were, at least, decent.
Spider-Man's perspective:
Spidey was checking the areas that either the police were investigating or where witnesses had claimed to see The Rhino racing through town. While The Rhino was long gone by this time, Spider-Man hoped he could find where his suspect was staying with his Spider-Sense.
After hours of searching, the Spider-Sense finally pointed him in the direction of a warehouse with what looked like a gang inside. He carefully entered through the door by moving too fast to be seen and climbed up the wall to cling to the ceiling. He wanted to find out more about this mob before he pounced it.
This seemed to be the rare gang that was lead by a woman. It consisted of only black people with one exception: The Rhino.
"I went to a lot of trouble for you, Ms. Brown," said The Rhino. "It better be worth it."
"It will be," promised the leader. "And no need to be formal. I prefer Shauniqua. The point is, we've now got the shit to expand to New York. And after I've double-crossed fat boy, I'll own that town too. And you'll be making many times what you do now."
And fat boy can only mean The Kingpin. Looks like I got here just in time.
"Shauniqua," said one gangster, "I hate to interrupt, but we've got some new recruits."
"Excellent," said Shauniqua. "Bring them in."
A bunch of men entered the warehouse. Surprisingly, less than half of them were black. Apparently, every thug in Atlanta smelled a winner. How guns alone were enough for that, Spidey could not tell. What was Shauniqua's secret? But he did not think about that for long. He was too worried about the more than a hundred criminals who had to be in the warehouse by this time. Things looked grim.
"Welcome, boys," Shauniqua smiled at her men. "You sure jumped on the right train. Not that there's any other trains in this town anymore. Hell, there won't be any more trains in the country for long. Hold the phone! I recognize you." She pointed at a very specific bearded black man. "Very clever, Venom. But I am just a little bit smarter."
Spider-Man looked at the man Shauniqua had accused of being Venom in disguise. Now that she mentioned it, the Spider-Sense did not seem able to identify him. How many others could hide from it?
"Ain't Venom white?" asked one of Shauniqua's cronies. A few others voiced their agreement.
Shauniqua sighed. "Venom's alien buddy can turn itself into clothes, teeth, and blend into shit, why not our skin color, you fuckin' morons?!"
The disguised Eddie Brock smiled and transformed into Venom. All the gangsters pointed their guns at him.
Showing no fear, Venom said, "You predators of the innocent can shoot your bullets in Hell!"
Before anyone made a move, Spider- Man dived on three thugs, knocking them out with a fist and feet. He could not believe he was doing this with the odds stacked against him for someone he intensely disliked, but if you wanted to be a hero, you had to do stupid things every now and then.
Spider-Man and Venom began a pattern of dodging and countering. It was difficult at first. Then they began whittling down the numbers of Shauniqua's men until they began fleeing.
"That was for getting the cops off my back," said Spider-Man. "Nothing else."
"When this is over," Venom glared at Spider-Man. "Don't ever show your face in Atlanta again."
"Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here anyway," Spider-Man complied. "At least not with you here."
The Rhino charged in, swatting both crimefighters away with his fists. Venom got up and ran towards Rhino.
"No," shouted The Web-Slinger. "We've gotta take 'im together!"
Venom briefly looked back at Spider-Man and warned, "Dodge!"
Spider-Man leapt to his side just in time to avoid gunfire from his right-diagonal. It was Shauniqua, MAC-32 in hand.
Why didn't my Spider-Sense warn me of her?
Venom's perspective:
Charging The Rhino had only gotten Venom hit a few more times.
We can't take much more of this, cautioned the symbiote.
"Yeah," agreed Venom.
"Who are you talking to?" asked a puzzled Rhino.
Venom smiled. If The Rhino had not guessed that Venom could talk to his symbiote, he must not have been very smart. That gave Venom an idea.
"Come and get us, blockhead," shouted Venom. He turned around and showed his behind. "Here's your target."
Rhino roared and charged again. Venom dodged and launched a web line at The Rhino's left knee. The element of surprise enabled the symbiote bearer to swing him around in circles. While Rhino was the far stronger one, being suspended in midair and having rapid momentum worked against him.
"Let me go," demanded a frightened Rhino.
"Your wish is our command," Venom laughed. With that, he threw The Rhino straight up through the roof! The Rhino landed with a thud and dizziness. Five punches by Venom and The Rhino was out.
"Mind over muscle," Venom dry-washed his hands.
Spider-Man's perspective:
Spider-Man dodged two more burst of gunfire from Shauniqua's MAC-16 before using a web line to snatch it free of her grasp.
"That's not lady-like," quipped Spidey.
Shauniqua smiled broadly. "So you think without a gun, I ain't shit, huh?"
"I know where this is going," said Spider-Man. "What surprise do you have for me?"
Shauniqua chuckled. She appeared to change into a symbiote's monstrous form, but Shauniqua's was yellow and black with long, blonde and red hair. "Call me Scream," she growled in the feminine equivalent of the beastly voice of Venom. "I may not attract men with this, especially those afraid of strong women, but I'll kick your ass."
"Evidence?" asked Spider-Man. Scream leap at him and kicked, knocking him through a wall of the warehouse, and outside.
"Evidence accepted," Spidey conceded as he got up. But Scream was gone. Spider-Man started looking around. Scream had clearly shrouded herself. And knowing symbiotes, the Spider-Sense would be ineffective here.
Sure enough, Spider-Man felt what he guessed was a tendril engulf his head. He was unable to see or even breathe. Another tendril encircled his legs and dragged him to the ground.
"Gotcha," boasted Scream. But Spider-Man had one card left to play. He crawled forward until he felt the road underneath his hands. Then he fired a web line forward to latch it onto a vehicle. Pulling on his webbing with one arm after the other, he eventually reached the car.
"I can feel your muscles slowing," said Scream sadistically. "Won't be long now. I know you're too cute to die, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do."
Ripping off a locked door enabled The Web-Slinger to enter the car and honk the horn. Scream lived up to her name and wailed in pain as the sound weakness of a symbiote was exploited. Spider-Man grabbed hold of the tendril that had prevented his breath or sight to keep it from being rescinded. Within minutes, Scream was unconscious.
Now able to free his head, Spider-Man began gasping for breath. "Spider-Man," Venom called behind him.
Spider-Man looked. Venom had dragged an unconscious Rhino out to the street.
"As much as we don't like each other," panted Spider-Man, "I have to admit that we make a good team."
"Well, don't invite us to your birthday party or anything," said Venom coldly. "But have a nice trip back to New York."
"I know you've found someone," said Spider-Man. "Find a way to not blow it and you'll know the joy of fatherhood."
"My woman will be happy to know we didn't fight too much this time," noted Venom. "Will yours?"
"You better believe it," said Spider-Man.
Eddie's perspective:
Upon having his symbiote change back into normal clothes and return home, Mandy hugged her boyfriend.
"You run into him?" asked Mandy.
"Didn't go so badly this time," said Eddie.
"You sure you can't be friends?" asked Mandy.
"Your head's in the clouds," Eddie shook his head.
Peter's perspective:
The next day, Peter was driving MJ and PM on the long ride home.
"So what do you think?" asked MJ. "Is it possible that Venom's changed?"
Peter thought for a moment. PM began crying.
"I think she wet herself," MJ noticed.
"And she's out of diapers," said Peter. "I need to get another pack of them." He had been saved by baby urine.
That's it for this fic. I may write a sequel. Or not. Either way, I'm taking a break for now.