answers to reviewers questions or statements:
Omni-Creator Kami of Anime: You haven't seen forceful.
DxD-Supreme: I'm not taking you out of context. All I'm asking is either tone down on the constant badgering about adding practically the same women over and over again or whoever is 'best of the best'.
Adtr509: Elektra wouldn't be a bad addition.
RubixJr: It may.
Val: A good size role.
pokeriks18: Quinn's a bit too out there given she's not really the assassin type.
Reverse: Doom may make an appearance in this. Yeah, Talia has no idea just how far down the rabbit hole Peter's gone since she's last seen him.
WriterSpenser: Never seen Cobra Kai but I'll give it a look when I get the chance.
Harbinger of Kaos: It's a combination of things that play a part in Peter's mental instability, the biggest being his time as an Assassin and his own upbringing. You don't through all that and come out sane. As for what level, enough to get a very long stay at Arkham. Mystique and Domino could work, though Artemis, the Amazon would be a bit of a challenge. Cheetah's nature might be a few steps from this kind of life. Yes she's a mass murdering cannibal with the power to take on Wonder Woman, but she doesn't really fit the mold of an assassin per say.
Nonamewarrior: Maybe.
Nomad98: I'll strongly consider it.
E NIG MA: Talia's already beginning to notice some oddities about Peter's behavior in terms of his apparent lack of security. She'll begin to notice more soon enough.
CRUDEN: I can see Mystique being in here and Kwannon could make a great addition to either Cain or Nyssa's side, show just how much firepower the other sides have to force Talia to seek out Peter, even with her own elite assassins.
Unlimitedpower: Don't see why not. She is a red head after all...
Uzu: A bit of all of them honestly, comics, games, film, and a few shows.
Guest: Well Talia was never one to really inspire personal loyalty in the past given her rather ruthless nature. I mean she has tried to kill her own son on a few occasions. Sides, just because she has the smallest force doesn't mean she's weak. Peter wanted a romantic relationship with Talia but he was excommunicated before it could happen, and there was also that twat Matthew Hagen being the center of Talia's attentions at the time. No Peter is unaware of Talia and Batman's relationship, let alone they have a child. He knows that the Dark Knight and League have faced off on multiple occasions but that's it.
Iron Spider Fan: I've read some.
Disclaimer: I don't own any Marvel or DC characters seen, mentioned or used.
At nineteen years old, Peter was certain that few if any people his age have been through as much as he has and still kept their sanity.
Three years ago Peter was lying in a literal Hell Hole in the middle of some distant desert out in the Middle East, dying from starvation, infection and God knows what else thanks to a combination of his father's crimes and his loyalty to a dear friend of his. Now he was in some old fortress, hugging a remote mountain in the Himalayas, in some sort of dojo, fighting and training to become sort kind of assassin to help fight 'injustice' and 'corruption'. Across from him was a young caucasian male with short blond hair, bright green eyes and skin almost as pale as Peter's was. He was a bit taller and broader than the young adult but Peter knew, and so did everyone else present, he was the more skilled between them...
Certainly the more brutal.
Along the edges of the dojo, various other Shadows watched the two in silence, some completely covered from head to toe in black to the point they seemed like actual shadows while others were leaving their masks hanging at their necks or sides. A few would stifle a chuckle when either Peter or his opponent made a particularly brutal blow but other than that, they remined silent.
Peter's face had certainly seen better days, it was swollen and covered in bruises and his lip had been split. It was a bit difficult to see out his right eye and Peter's jaw was swollen to the point that moving it was almost to painful to talk... almost.
But his adversary, Matthew Hagen, had little to any marks on his face like Peter did. To anyone that would just be walking into the room to watch, they'd think that Peter was the one that was losing. But the spectators would be quick to point out that just because Matthew's face had escaped harm from Peter's attacks that didn't mean the rest of his body had. Many of the novices in the crowd could see how Matthew was favoring his left leg more than his right after a particularly painful hit to his right knee earlier and the more seasoned warriors will notice how labored Matthew's breathing was or how when he turned he'd wince in pain, the blows he's received to his chest had likely cracked or even broken a rib or two over the course of this 'spar'.
"I must admit Peter, you've lasted longer than anyone else that I've faced" Matthew said with a smirk as he circled Peter slowly "Your 'lessons' with Shiva seem to be finally paying off"
"Still upset she's teaching me and not you?" Peter asked, though his words sounded more sluggish as he kept his hands up and his eyes on Matthew's every move.
"Not so much anymore" Matthew said with a chuckle those his eyes were ice "In fact I'm glad she decided to aid you in further developing your technique. It was almost saddening to watch your... particular style"
This earned a few laughs from some of the younger Shadows around the two fighter's age in the dojo before they were quickly silenced by a harsh look from one of the older Shadows.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" Peter said with a shrug before he winced as his shoulder flared up in pain, he could've sworn he re-set the dislocated limb properly earlier.
Matthew scoffed at this before he rushed Peter and sent a strike aimed for his throat. Peter brought his arms up to absorb the blow before he used his legs to push back and force Matthew's arm down while he sent his head right into the man's face. Peter's headbutt was met with a sickening 'crack' followed by a small explosion of blood erupting from the older Shadow's nose. A few of the Shadows watching let out whistles and laughs as Matthew stumbled back clutching his face before Peter tackled the man to the ground and began to land a series of blows on the man's half covered face.
"ENOUGH!"
Peter froze mid-strike and turned to see that Talia, dressed in black pants with black soft soled boots and a sleeveless black top had entered the room with two fully armed shadows as her escort. No one uttered a word as the daughter of Ra's al Ghul's eyes glided across them all before it rested on Peter and they grew angry. Peter was tempted to mutter something witty but he's come to recognize that look of rage in Talia's eyes as something to not provoke any further.
Silently Talia stalked across the dojo while several of the elder Shadows began to dismiss the younger ones to other parts of the fortress while Talia's guard remained at the entryway. Peter slowly climbed off of Matthew, his eyes on the floor, unwilling to meet Talia's wrath filled ones.
"Afternoon Ta-" Peter began before Matthew interrupted him.
"Talia, good afternoon dear!" the blonde haired man said with a bloodied grin as he stared up at the young dark haired beauty.
"Matthew" Talia said with a small nod as her gaze briefly flickered down to him before it returned to Peter's bloodied and beaten face "Is there a reason you and Peter here were fighting?"
"It was just a simple spar that went a bit farther than usual my lady" Matthew said as he climbed back to his feet with a groan "Nothing more"
"I've seen enough fighting to know what it looks like Matthew, this was one of those" Talia said in a clipped tone that caused the older man to flinch.
"Yes my lady, I meant no-" Matthew began before Talia held a hand up.
"I wish to speak with Peter alone first. Save your excuses when I come for you" she commanded.
Matthew bowed and quickly departed towards the edge of the dojo where he left his gear. Peter watched him go for a moment before he turned to see Talia looking at him with a hard look on her face. But it was her eyes that bothered him the most, the disappointment filling them left him feeling like he just took a punch to the gut from the likes of bane or Slade.
"Peter, your better than this!" she whispered harshly.
"Apparently not" Peter said as he reached up to rub his sore jaw.
Talia's eyes narrowed in rage and for a moment, Peter thought she'd strike him before she turned on her heel and walked away... towards Matthew.
"I'm fine, thanks for asking" Peter muttered under his breath with a hint of bitterness in his tone as he sat back down on the ground. He was just about to start unwrap his hands before he sensed a presence behind him and he slowly looked over his shoulder to see David Cain, one of Ra's al Ghul's most trusted assassins, standing only a few feet from him "Cain..."
"Mister Parker" Cain said with a small bow and a amused grin on his face "I see you and Matthew were having fun again"
"Just a bit of light sparring is all" Peter replied with narrowed eyes.
Cain hummed in thought at this before his gaze flickered to where Matthew had retreated to after Talia's curt dismissal of him. Talia was now there, speaking with the young Shadow in a calm but commanding tone if the straightening of Matthew's back was anything to go by. Peter saw and felt a small amount of vindictive pleasure at seeing the man being scolded by his... whatever it was that he and Talia were now. Ever since the man's transfer to here from a branch of the League stationed in America, he and Talia have been joined at the hip.
'It's the little things that help me get through the day' Peter thought as he returned to unwrapping his hands.
"You hate him, don't you?" Cain said after a few moments.
"Hmm?" Peter said as he looked up towards the elder Shadow.
"Matthew" Cain nodded towards the man "You hate how he stole your... friend, from you"
"Talia's allowed to have more than one friend" Peter said with a frown "I have plenty that aren't her"
Granted Peter only had Shiva to count as a friend and even then it was up in the air half the time but it was better than none in is opinion.
"Yes, but her and Matthew's friendship isn't the same... is it?" Cain said with a knowing look "You've noticed the fleeting glances. The lingering touches between them. It's more than simple comradery"
"What do you want Cain?" Peter asked in a clipped tone as he continued to unwrap his hands, though it seemed he was ripping the wraps off at this point "If it's to tell me the younger apprentices gossip, find someone else to share it with"
"Actually, I wish to ask you of something" Cain revealed with a small shrug "Ra's al Ghul as allowed me permission to begin working on my next project"
"Oh, and what's that?" Peter asked as he ripped the last of the wraps off his hands to show they were bruised and several of the knuckles had split at some point during the fight "Another 'perfect assassin'?"
Peter's heard plenty of rumors about David Cain's work from some of the elder Shadows and his frequent training sessions with Shiva. Years ago, Cain approached Shiva with the proposition of creating the ultimate warrior through a combination of their genes, Shiva's intense training regime and chemical augmentations. Safe to say, the experiment was somewhat of a success but Shiva was silent on the final outcome of her and Cain's child and Peter wasn't brave enough to pursue the matter,
"Yes, as a matter of fact" Cain said with a nod, unaware of Peter's current thoughts "And I'd like you to be involved if possible"
"In what way?" Peter asked with a frown as Cain smirked knowingly at him.
It was than that Talia's gaze flickered over towards Peter and seemed to grow concern before she called out to him.
"Peter!"
...
"Peter!"
Peter blinked and found himself walking down a small road deep in the Alaskan wilderness, thousands of miles away from the Himalayas. He looked to his side and saw Talia, older but still as beautiful as ever, walking beside him.
"Huh? Sorry, my mind was elsewhere" Peter said with a sheepish grin.
"What were you thinking about?" Talia asked as they silently made their way down a small two lane road, the painted lines barely visible after years of nature's abuse inflicted on it.
"Oh, just the old days is all" Peter answered with a shrug as he slid his hands into his pockets.
"Which old days?" Talia inquired with a side glance "Our time in the Pit? Or with the League?"
"The League" Peter answered honestly, knowing that Talia wont leave him be if he tried to play coy "Towards the end specifically"
"Anything of particular note?"
Peter was silent for a moment before he answered "I was thinking of your little boyfriend, what's his name. Uh, Mitchel? Michael-"
"Matthew" Talia responded in a curt tone, her expression unreadable though her eyes grew cold "Matthew Hagen"
"Right, that guy" Peter nodded as he and Talia made their way over a small bridge, cold icy waters rushing by underneath "Whatever happened to him anyway? Ran into Deathstroke once when I was in South America and I asked about the League. He mentioned some kind of... falling out between you all. He didn't elaborate on account he started to shoot at me"
"Falling out is one way to put it" Talia said with a shake of her head before she sighed "He was diagnosed with some sort of terminal disease he contracted while operating in Africa. He believed that if he could get close enough to me, I'll give him access to my father's Lazarus Pit for him to use"
"Ah, so it was your father's pool of immortal juice that he wanted a dip in" Peter said with a laugh "Or did he drink it? You've seen him use it before haven't you?"
Even to this day Peter still had trouble wrapping his head around the idea a pool of liquid could prolong someone's life like a Fountain of Youth. It just seemed too good to be true in his opinion, to perfect for the world they lived in. Granted said pool is being used, or was being used by a leader of assassins that's tried to wipe out a good portion of humanity but that was besides the point.
"He bathes in it yes" Talia said with a nod "It's like stepping into a pool of gel, but it's as hot as a kettle of boiling water over an open flame but you never truly burn from it"
"You've used it?" Peter said with surprise on his face.
"Not me specifically" Talia shook her head "I helped a young man use it to help restore his mind. I guided him into the pool and held him down until it worked"
"I bet your father loved that" Peter said with a chuckle.
"He wasn't... pleased" Talia admitted with a faint grin as she remembered the talk she shared with her father after she used the Pit to help restore Jason Todd's mind "I blame you"
"For what?" Peter asked with an incredulous expression.
"Your rebellious behavior rubbed off on me a bit" Talia said with a laugh.
"Oh now that I'm gonna have to call bull on" Peter said with a shake of his head "It was you that's always been the little rule breaker"
Talia shot Peter an amused smirk "Your still upset that I was able to steal bread from Guthan and get away with it while you were beaten for your attempt, aren't you?"
"I took less than you did and got twice as bad a punishment!" Peter explained with a scowl as his mind flashed back to the days before the League, when he and Talia still lived in the Pit.
Guthan, the resident 'king' of the Pit always had first pick of the very, very limited food that was delivered and he once caught Talia trying to steal from him for herself and her dying mother. To this day Peter still isn't sure why Guthan spared Talia any sort of punishment, but it was enough at the time to inspire Peter to make an attempt...
The broken arm and cracked skull he received for it afterwards dissuaded him from ever making another attempt.
Talia broke out into a fit of laughter at this "Well, I apologize... for the hundred and sixth time"
"You can apologize another hundred and it still won't make up for it" Peter grumbled.
"I'll keep that in mind than" Talia said as she looked around at the various flowers growing along the side of the road "This is a lovely place you've settled down in. A far cry from the Hell we were born into"
"You were born into it remember? I was born outside it and placed in there when I was only eight months old" Peter said.
"You know what I meant" Talia said with a wave of her hand.
"I do..." Peter said with a nod before he stopped, causing Talia to stop as well. She turned to ask him what was wrong before she noticed the pointed look on his face "You still haven't told me what happened to him. Nothing's ever a simple 'falling out' with the League... what happened to him?"
Talia met Peter's hard stare with one of her own as she set her jaw "What's it matter to you? Your no longer with the Shadows and the Shadows is no longer in existence. Ergo, what he's done no longer matters"
"It matters if he's hurt you" Peter said as he stepped closer to Talia, forcing her to crane her neck a little to look him in the eye "What. Happened. To. Him?"
Talia said nothing as she braved the stormy look in her childhood friend's eyes. She's seen him angry in the past, many times, but this anger, the dark inferno raging within the windows to his soul was something else entirely. There was something far more sinister in there, something that was never present, even at Peter's worse-
'No, I've only ever saw that look once... the day I escaped from that hell hole' Talia thought as she stared into the depths of anger that were surging through her friend. After some time had passed, she had no idea how long exactly nor did she really care, she answered in a quiet voice.
"He's dead... I slit his throat myself when he tried to take what wasn't his"
...
If Jade was hoping to find any sort of dark secret while she and Psylocke searched Peter's home, than she can safely say that those hopes were promptly dashed as she came up empty after her and Psylocke's FOURTH attempt to uncover just who exactly this Peter Parker was. No dead girlfriends in the closets, no stashes of drugs hidden in some secret panel or a arsenal of weaponry stored away for a rainy day, no computer with a hard drive filled to the brim with child porn or even a stash of speeding tickets. In fact, there was very little of anything that would even suggest that this home was even being used to live in aside from a few clear attempts to keep it clean.
'No one's this clean' Jade thought as she searched through Peter's closet 'And if they seem this clean, the secret they have hidden must be prey big-'
'Jade, meet me down in the basement now' Psylocke's voice flowed through Jade's mind and caused the woman to almost shiver.
It was always unsettling for Jade to hear someone else's voice in her head, the one place she still had complete control over. Thankfully, Psylocke only sends brief messages and rarely engages in prolonged conversations over a telepathic link. Jade sent back a response and quickly arranged Peter's closet back to how she first found it and quietly made her way downstairs and towards the door that led to the basement.
The basement was rather bland with only a few small collapsible work tables scattered along the room's edges collecting dust and a surprising amount of cleaning supplies. Earlier Jade and Psylocke tried to see if there was some kind of secret panel that led to a tunnel or another hidden room but only found a few dead rats that looked like they lost a match against a rather ferocious cat.
"What'd you find?" Jade said when she entered the basement only to stop when she realized something...
Psylocke wasn't there!
"Psylocke?" Jade said in a cautious tone as she scanned the room for signs of the purple haired beauty.
'Straight ahead, the wall isn't real' a message filtered through Jade's mind, causing her to briefly stiffen before she looked at the wall her fellow assassin referred to and quickly approached it.
"How's that possible? We checked all the walls" Jade said with confusion in her voice as she came to a stop before the wall and stared at it with narrowed eyes, searching for some sort of seam in it's paint chipped ridden surface.
Suddenly a arm wearing a black elbow length glove shot out of the wall and grabbed Jade by the front of her kimono. A lesser Shadow would've screamed in surprise, hell even a few seasoned ones, but all Jade did was stiffen before she allowed herself to be pulled into the 'wall'. Suddenly Jade was standing face to face with Psylocke, the purplette's mask mouth was morphed into a frown and her hair seemed a bit disheveled. Jade was about to make a witty retort if she'd been invited down here for something else when her face scrunched up at the smell.
"What... is that pungent odor?" Jade said with a cough as she struggled to not breath through her nose.
"Rotted flesh" Psylocke answered as she stepped away from the green garbed assassin "The barrier hiding this room stops it from spreading through the rest of the house"
Jade nodded as she turned back towards the 'wall' she came through and saw that it showed the basement she was in though the image looked a little... fuzzy, for the lack of a better term.
"What kind of barrier is that?" she asked with a nod towards this room's entryway "And how'd we miss it the first time?"
"It's a section of wall that's been phased out with the use of phantom phase tech" Psylocke nodded towards a projector that was set up on the ceiling with a 'light' aimed at the section of wall that she stumbled through earlier "As for why we didn't find it earlier, it's on a timer. It just happen to switch on when I was coming down here for another search when I noticed a sudden draft down here that was there before"
Jade hummed at this before she returned her attention to Psylocke "And the ungodly smell?"
"That's..." Psylocke began before she paused and glanced behind her towards a small tunnel that she explored earlier "It'd be easier to just show you Jade... words can't really describe it"
"That's rather ominous Elizabeth" Jade commented as she followed the hyper lethal woman down the tunnel where the smell began to worsen if that was even possible.
Psylocke didn't respond as she led Jade down the tunnel to a small room roughly the size of the basement. Jade watched as Psylocke stepped to the side when she entered the room and allowed the cat themed assassin a clear look of what she discovered.
Jade wished she hadn't.
"Oh my god..." Jade whispered as she took in the scene before her.
Dozens of various animal corpses in various states of decay laid about the room, bent, broken and forced into unrecognizable shapes. Jade recognized numerous deer and elk and moose had been ripped to pieces and their antlers torn off and stabbed into what she thought were once bears of some sort. numerous dog like bodies that she knew had to be wolves were seemingly held against the walls on what she thought was some kind of webbing while dozens of squirrels, birds and other small animals were strewn about on the floor.
It was like a slaughter house if said house was designed by some sort of Arkham inmate.
"I counted twenty two deer, six elk, nine moose, five bears of varying ages, all grizzly, sixty one squirrels and about a hundred and twelve birds of various types" Psylocke started as she stepped next to Jade and stared at the horrid scene "And that's what I can recognize. God knows what else is in here"
"Probably a few humans" Jade commented as she fought the urge to breath through her nose.
"Jade, just what kind of man is he?" Psylocke asked as she glanced at the Vietnamese beauty with a disturbed look on her face.
"I have no idea..." Jade said with a slow shake of her head as she stared at the various mutilated animal corpses and tried to imagine just what kind of person was capable of this level of malice and cruelty.
She's seen plenty in her time as an assassin for the League of Shadows, there's quite a few members that make some of the inmates of Arkham Asylum look sane in comparison, but this was something else entirely.
She couldn't help but wonder if Talia knew just how far down the rabbit hole her friend has fallen...
Because what she was seeing showed it was pretty fucking far.
...
"Seriously, how are your feet not killing you?" Peter asked as he and Talia approached the outskirts of the small town "You've walked close to five miles, half of it over rough, uneven terrain in high heels of all things. I've seen people in shoes and boots made for that still complain about their feet hurting"
Talia gave Peter an amused look "What if they are? Will you give me a foot massage later?"
"I've seen where your feet used to be, I ain't touching them with a pair of sterile gloves" Peter said with a shiver.
The bathrooms in the Pit they grew up in was more or less wherever you wanted it to be and with the lack of shoes or cloth to cover one's feet... well Peter's come to greatly appreciate shoes and socks.
And watch his step.
Talia rolled her eyes at this "Such a child"
"Well I never did have a actual childhood so I have to live it out at some point" Peter said with a shrug as the two finally arrived at the small town.
It wasn't very large, only a few dozen buildings and a couple of side streets and one main street that went right through the town. It was so small and isolated that Talia couldn't even begin to bother remembering the name of the settlement. Though it also did strike her as the perfect place that no one, not even her beloved, would think to look for one of the world's most dangerous men alive.
Talia only knew to look here because of the notes of her father on Peter's movements and sheer dumb luck.
'Hopefully Nyssa or Cain won't be as fortunate as I was' Talia thought as she and Peter passed a small little shop selling little wooden figurines "So where's this phone?"
"The bar" Peter nodded towards a two story building that laid up ahead, the only two story building in the whole town "I know the owner. I'll let her know you have to talk to a few people that she and I know and she'll make sure no one bothers us. Well you since you'll be using it but you know what I mean"
"Can't I just use a cell phone?" Talia asked with a frown.
Peter shook his head at this "The people I know don't use smart phones. Too many ways it can be tracked so they use old phonebooths that they've somehow had set up and networked from here. Don't ask why it's from here, I just go with it and hope for the best"
"That's rather much, isn't it?" Talia asked with some amusement.
"None of them have been caught yet, so I say it's enough" Peter responded with a shrug "How else do you think Deathstroke has been able to get any kind of work with half the world after him? Sure as hell isn't Craig's List"
"...Fair enough" Talia said as they arrived at the bar and Peter grabbed the door and opened it for her.
"After you" Peter gestured towards the bar interior.
"Such a gentleman" Talia teased with a smirk as she stepped into the dimly lit bar.
"Give it another day and you'll be calling me something else" Peter said as he followed Talia inside.
The interior of the bar was much more clean than Talia thought it'd be and there was more patrons present than she thought appropriate for eleven thirty in the morning. The tables and booths were arranged along the edges of the room while the bar itself was located in the center of the room, like an island. Some kind of rock and roll band's music was being played but the music was too low for Talia to properly identify it.
"Well, welcome to The Kuekuatsu" Peter said with a nod towards the bar where a lone woman was mixing a few drinks for 'happy hour' "That's Laura, she's the owner since her father left it to her"
"It's... charming" Talia said as she looked around the room.
"It's the middle of the day, wait until midnight" Peter said with a snort as he gestured for Talia to follow him to the bar.
The woman at the bar, Laura, noticed their approach and gave them, or more specifically Peter, a small smile. Laura was beautiful, Talia noted, pale white skin, long black hair, bright green eyes and a body that was built for all manner of sin tastefully displayed by a tight black tank top that showed off a bit of her midriff and jeans that looked painted on her legs.
"Hey Pete..." Laura said as she pushed the drinks she was making aside and leaned forward on the bar's counter top "Haven't seen you in a while. What brings you back to civilization? It can't be just little old me hmm?"
"Friend needed help" Peter nodded towards Talia "Laura, I'd like for you to meet Talia a-"
"Tate" the daughter of the demon offered her hand out with a charming grin "Talia Tate. I'm an old friend of Peter's from when we were children"
The moment Talia identified herself as a childhood friend of Peter's, Laura's friendly demeanor vanished and was replaced with something far darker. Talia was a bit taken back by how cold and harsh Laura's grew and the air around them changed from simple civility to one that a person would feel in a fight o the death. Even Laura's stance changed to something far more aggressive looking than before.
"Oh... your that 'Talia'" she muttered before she gave the exotic beauty an exaggerated bow "Welcome to my humble adore Talia al Ghul"
Talia's brow furrowed before her gaze snapped towards Peter and narrowed "You told her about me?"
"A little, yeah..." Peter said with a cough.
Talia growled at this before she retuned her gaze to Laura "I was told you could help me?"
"I'd sooner run you through and throw you out of my bar" Laura snapped before she caught herself and took a deep breath "But... if Peter says you need help than I'm willing to lend you some form of aid"
"How generous of you" Talia said in a almost sarcastic tone.
"This is not how I thought this meeting would go" Peter said quietly to himself as he rubbed his temples, his head already starting to hurt.
"What, you expected me and the princess here to be best friends?" Laura asked in a tone drier than a desert.
"Hoped we'd do each other's nails and braid one another's hair?" Talia inputted before she and Laura glanced at one another "Nice top. Surprised you didn't just decide to say to hell with it and stick to a bra with how much you wanna show off"
"Nice heels" Laura replied as her gaze flickered up and down Talia's figure "If your trying to go for the innocent boring country gal look, your failing miserably. You look like a whore from some Sultan's harem trying to role play sweet innocent American girl"
"Like how your failing to pull off the dark sexy bartender that everyone wants to fuck if it means free drinks?" Talia responded with a raised brow as she folded her arms across her chest.
"It's working better than yours" Laura shot back with narrowed eyes.
"Guys, guys, can we not do this here?" Peter said as he noticed a few people were looking at them.
"Would you prefer we take this out back and settle it like real women?" Talia said as she and Laura continued to stare one another down.
"Oh you know how to fight? I thought that's what your legion of little yes men were for. So you don't have to risk chipping a nail" Laura said in a sarcastic, mocking tone.
"I'll break a nail off in your eye as I gauge it out if you want" Talia threatened before Laura held up a hand and two metal claws suddenly emerged from between her index and middle finger and her ring and pinky finger with a notable 'snikt'.
"Be a little hard when your stomach's on the ground bitch" Laura growled.
"Guys can you please just-" Peter began before he suddenly found himself standing in the middle of the bar, the floors littered with severed limbs and gore.
Peter' eyes widened as he looked around to see claw marks on the walls, dents in the floors, and the chairs and tables were all shattered and in pieces. A few people were hanging rom the ceiling from either a single line of web wrapped around their necks or from their own intestines that have been ripped from their bodies.
"P-Peter..."
Peter turned to see Laura lying on the floor, half of her face ripped off and exposing the muscle and bone of her head while Talia laid next to her, her body bent backwards until her head was even with her heels and a pool of blood gathered underneath her. Peter took a step towards her with his hand reaching out to take her's before he noticed that he was holding her hand... and her whole severed arm.
"P-Peter!" Laura sobbed as blood poured from her exposed skull, her eye dangling uselessly on her cheek "P-Please s-s-stop-"
"Peter!"
Peter blinked and found himself looking at Talia sitting on a bar stool with a drink in her hands while Laura was opening a bottle of her own. He quickly looked around to see that the whole room was still alive and the walls and floors weren't dotted with the insides of the bar's patrons.
"He does that from time to time" Laura said as she took a sip of her beer "Spaces out like he's contemplating the meaning of our existence"
"Your fault no doubt" Talia said with a chuckle as she held her glass up and clinked it against Laura's bottle.
"Wait, what?" Peter said as he looked back and forth between the two "Now your friends? How long was I out?"
At this Talia and Laura both gave Peter confused looks.
"Peter... what are you talking about?" Talia said with confusion evident in her voice.
"You..." Peter pointed towards Talia than Laura "And you, you guys were insulting each other. You even went as far as top pop your claws out!"
Laura quirked a brow at this "How's me saying her heels aren't very good for hiking to and from your house an insult? And I haven't popped my claws out in almost ten years Pete. Some silly argument you think we had wont be enough for me to bring them out now"
"No, you started to call each other names and than it looked like you guys were about to go outside and fight or something" Peter said with growing confusion.
He could've sworn that these two's meeting was going down the drain faster than a rock in water.
"Peter..." Talia said as she set her glass down and stood up and rested a hand against his face "Are you sure your well? You've been acting very odd since I've arrived"
"I'm fine" Peter said as he gently reached up and removed Talia's hand "But I saw and heard you guys-"
"Peter" Laura interrupted as she set her own drink down and hopped over the bar and rested a hand on his shoulder "What do you think happened?"
Peter stared at her for a moment before his gaze flickered to Talia's "We came in and once I introduce Talia, you guys started to get into some kind of pissing contest with each other"
Talia and Laura both glanced at each other in confusion before the former answered "No, once you introduced us, we started talking about how we knew you before we noticed you spaced out on us"
"Really?" Peter said with surprise.
Talia and Laura both nodded before the former spoke "Peter, do you want to head back and rest some more? I can come back down tomorrow and speak with Laura about my... requirements"
"I..." Peter began before he stopped as he noticed the concerned looks on both women's faces.
This meeting was definitely not going how he thought it'd would...
...
And done.
Next chapter, Not so silent night...