May 25th - 2031
"How much has he uncovered so far?" The figure embraced by darkness within the room questioned from his seat that was set in front of the large horizontal window, giving him one exclusive view of the night in Manhattan.
His subordinate besides him answered, "We guess he has found her name. It shouldn't take much longer until he actually finds the girl, sir." He always found the tone of his employer's voice unsettling, yet he remained composed.
"That would be… problematic, and too soon as well."
"I thought he had been busy locating, what would be the name… the carnage symbiote?"
He finally stood up and approached the window, his cloak and hood could now be seen from behind. "It's the only thing that might keep his sister alive for good, and the only thing that keeps him from killing me in sight as well... despite me once giving Mr Brock the tool he needed the most." He paused, moving his hands behind his waist. "You are right, it won't be much longer now. He's losing control and they will clash... who survives will come to me."
"And then what?"
"Then a debt will be paid, hopefully the oldest one."
He nodded. "What's the course of action then?"
"Set everything up, if things go south, there's still the Parker girl. She might turn out as useful as her mother, the latter helped us before… and she didn't even realize that."
He recalled the moment when they first talked to each other, how she gave him one of the things he had been looking for and the reason she was there, herblood… their blood.
The scent that will guide them towards their ultimate goal.
"You'll accomplish what Gustav Fiers tried to achieve during his whole life."
His rough voice added, "I'll do more than that."
The man nodded and turned on his back so that he could stroll through the hallway. He eventually reached the main doors in the opposite side of the room and they automatically opened once he got near them.
Now finally alone, he sighed and approached the seat once again, sliding the tip of his indicative finger over the surface of the metallic armrest, turning on some kind of digital control panel within the seat.
Structures on both sides of the room began changing as the walls rose one by one towards the ceiling, revealing the glass that separated the green lighted chambers, all of them filled with water.
He reached for the closest one to him, standing inches from the glass. He moved his gloved hand against the glass and opened said hand, waiting for something to respond his touch.
It didn't take long. The black substance from the other side of the glass and within the water finally manifested and harshly touched the area of the glass where his hand could be seen. It demanded for a host, like the many other symbiotes inside the tubes that filled both sides of the room.
A high pitched shriek caught his attention. It came from the path in the middle of the hallway.
He moved himself towards the urgent calling, stopping only when his feet made contact with the glass in the floor under his position. He observed the red symbiote moving itself rapidly inside the capsule, eager to come out.
Tubes were attached to each side of the main chamber, tubes that led to both corners of the room and reached the other chambers, now filled with a respective symbiote, an equation that only grew bigger with each day and the main seed underneath him guaranteed that.
He would get what he wanted, one way or the other, he would turn the original six into hundreds, and then thousands.
July 1st - 2031
"How many stars are there in the galaxy?" Aiden asked, as Peter sat with him and the twins in the couch. They watched one of their favorite late night cartoons, the one in particular being space themed.
"I have no idea exactly, Aiden." He shrugged, moving his arm around his small shoulder and doing the same with the other twin in the opposite side. "There are hundreds of thousands of them out there, I'm sure some proper scientist knows exactly how many there are though."
"Does mummy know?"
He chuckled. "Most likely."
David surveyed the amazing view found in the windows beside the door that led to the balcony. "What's... beyond our galaxy then?"
"Well... there's more galaxies, it goes on endlessly as far as we know," Peter explained.
"Has anyone been to the other galaxies?"
"Not that I know of, who knows when everyday we find something new in our own planet." He shook his head. "Though we have sent some stuff out of our home, no one has tried to go to any other galaxy as of yet."
"Do you think there are other species out there, like us?"
"Without a doubt, honey." He nodded. "Though who knows what they are like, they could be like us or completely different."
David turned from the window he had been glued to for quite some time. "I wanna go there!"
Peter smiled. "Well, maybe one day you will."
"I want to go too." Aiden continued, "You could take us!"
"Well… you two are my boys, of course I will… one day, if possible?" Peter rubbed the back of his neck. He had just committed treason towards his children by promising them an unlikely adventure to another galaxy.
I've missed you boys…
He smiled and watched them exchange a few enthusiastic plans as to what they were going to do when they eventually moved to the stars with their father. He felt like he could spend the whole night hearing the sound of their excited voices, there weren't many things in comparison that could give him the same amount of satisfaction.
That was one of the things he wanted to do for the rest of his life if he was allowed to.
"It's already late for you folks to be watching TV." Gwen walked downstairs, wearing a bathrobe around her body. She had just showered.
The twins raised their chins so that they could look at their father.
Peter chuckled. "What? Your mum's the one with power in this house. I'm just a sheep."
She sat in the armrest besides Peter, letting her naked right leg appear in sight as she crossed them. "That's about right, daddy." She raised an eyebrow, playfully.
Peter smiled to himself. He whispered, "You managed to sneak that one, right?"
She shrugged her shoulders in response. "The girls are already in bed, it's late. I want a goodnight kiss before you two go upstairs."
"Fine… mum." They replied at the same time, jumping off their father's comfort and into the ground, before approaching Gwen and giving her a peck in the cheek.
Gwen caressed their hair and smiled kindly at them. "I love you, sleep well now." She said, softly.
They nodded.
Aiden spoke, "Come, Dave!" David hopped on his brother's back and his brother carried him upstairs, much to Gwen's affliction as she watched them. They were so fast she didn't have time to talk them out of it.
Peter joked, "They're definitely not going to sleep anytime soon." He rested his hand over the exposed and smooth skin of her thigh.
"They're gonna make me have a heart attack one of these days, that's for sure." Gwen sighed heavily once they were out of sight. She looked back at him. "How are you, honey?"
"I'm good." He replied, drawing circles over her thigh with the tip of his thumb. "What about you?"
She moved herself down into his lap, resting her arm around his shoulders. "Better now." Peter kissed her tiny nose. She continued, "I've missed this… you know, our family together... happy."
"As we should always be."
She looked into his brown eyes and nodded. "I want us... to remain this way, forever. No matter what."
He cupped her cheek and brought her towards him, gently. He captured her lips and took a moment to meet her eyes once again. "No matter what then."
Gwen sighed. "You remember what you said in the night when you asked me to marry you?"
"I do."
"You said that we would grow old together."
Peter caressed her cheek, breaking eye contact for one moment as he observed the details in her face. "... that's what I've always wanted the moment you came into my life." He raised his chin slightly to meet her again. He cleared his throat.
They didn't have to say anything else as they watched each other, a simple stare spoke a thousands words between them.
Gwen hugged him, holding her husband for as long as she could in her embrace.
Peter wrapped his arms around her and rested his head against the side of her golden hair, closing her eyes as he took a deep inhale.
From outside, Elizabeth reached for the currently slightly open window of her bedroom. She had been crawling the building's wall for a couple of minutes at this point.
She hadn't properly figured how to swing around with the web-shooters, her attempts so far had only resulted in terrible collisions and a few bruises here and there.
Elizabeth took a quick glance inside, making sure no one could see her, specially her parents. That wouldn't end well.
Her bedroom was dark and quiet. Just what she needed, no one to spot her.
Elizabeth moved the window to the side and sneaked herself inside, carefully, and as her right foot touched the ground, the lamp besides her bed was lighten.
"Liz...?" Olive spoke from her improvised bed in the ground besides Elizabeth's.
She ceased, halfway into the bedroom. "Olive…"
"Why… are you wearing your dad's mask?"
Elizabeth sighed as she fully entered the room. She brought her hoodie down and pulled the mask off, carrying it in her left hand.
"You need to understand."
Olive continued, "Where were you? Why are you… hurt?" She had noticed the bruises found in her friend's cheek along with the tiny cut in her lower lip.
Elizabeth sat besides her in the bed. "You can't tell my parents… Olive."
"Why?"
"Because… they would worry."
"You shouldn't be getting yourself hurt then." Olive protested. "Your dad… he can protect you."
Elizabeth sighed heavily. "But he can't… not always. I want my family… to be safe, these bruises exist because of people I want to keep away from them, the same people who kept me away from days."
"Liz…"
"Olive, please. This is important to me… you guys, there's nothing else that matters to me and I can't stay here doing nothing when I have these gifts, even if father won't allow me to."
The looked at each other.
Olive embraced her and rested her head over her shoulder. "Promise me that you'll always come back."
Elizabeth hugged her back and closed her eyes. "I promise, Olive."
The next morning...
Peter stirred from his sleep, an intoxicating scent filling his nostrils as he slowly began to wake. He felt someone next to him, and a smile came onto his face when he realized who it was. He pressed his body closer to hers, burying his head in the back of her neck, soaking her in as he lightly toyed with her arm – running his fingers up and down then eventually ending up with her hand grasped in his.
Gwen's breath quickened as she began to wake, her body pushing herself closer to his as she rolled onto her back. The sleepy smile she flashed him sent his heart racing.
"You know… no one should be allowed to look as good as you do when waking up," He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
She smirked, bringing her left hand up to his cheek, staring into his eyes, "... hmm... and no one should be as lucky as I am to be able to wake up next to you."
He brought himself up on one arm, moving closer to her. He sighed.
"I love you… so much."
Peter leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.
Both of their bodies tensed with anticipation, but neither of them pulled the other closer to finish the kiss. Instead, they began a battle of wills with one another.
He moved his hand down to her waist, and leisurely began inching his way up her lone shirt. She bit her bottom lip, a small moan escaping her as her nails gently ran down the sinews of his back. Peter tried to control the shiver that ran down his spine as she did, but failed – and all breathe escaped him as he fought to compose himself.
He clutched at her bare skin as his hands slowly climbed up her stomach – a shudder coursing through her body. She rose slightly to meet his lips.
He wanted her, and she wanted him, now more than ever.
Feeling as if he won the battle, Peter inwardly triumphed, but as Gwen's lips neared his – she turned her head slightly, instead migrating to his ear.
"You're going to have to do better than that, bugboy." She whispered. With that, she hooked her leg behind his and rolled on top of him, pressing her hips firmly into his.
He let out a small laugh as he rose to meet her. A satisfied expression colored her face, and as he traced the line of her jaw with his mouth, a tiny squeal of pleasure passed from her lips.
He felt joyful for the first time in weeks, as if nothing else truly mattered in the moment, and maybe nothing did indeed.
He sent his hands exploring back up her loose shirt, and as they gently found the silky skin below her breasts, she quickly grasped his arms and pushed him back down.
Gwen slowly removed her shirt, toying with Peter – a smile on her face as she flung the fabric to the other side of the room. She leaned down, resting her body on top of his, all of the tension between the two evaporated.
"I want you..." Gwen whispered, softly. She didn't have to complete her sentence.
She brought her lips near his – trying to get him to succumb. A small laugh escaped him as he hooked his leg behind hers, and flipped them – repeating the move she pulled on him just a few moments before.
Looking down at Gwen, Peter began to fully appreciate her beauty. The soft glow from outer space amplified every curve on her body – and the way her eyes flashed up at him sent his heart racing.
"Gwen…" He whispered softly. She brought a finger up to his face before he could continue. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him down to her – and kissed him deeply.
A smile came to her face as he pulled away, "I love you too, Peter."
In all the years he had been alive, he had never met a woman such as her. There were many times when he almost died and she got him together in one piece again. Maybe only in death could he have ever met an angel as beautiful and as strong as she.
No one else knew him just as she did – and no one else knew her like him. They were a perfect puzzle – waiting to be put together.
She lightly nipped at his bottom lip, teasing him one last time, before they surrendered themselves completely. Her hands wandered to his pants, unbuttoning them as their kiss grew more passionate. After tugging the fabric away from his hips, she eased her legs to his sides.
A small moan escaped Gwen's lip as Peter threaded his hand through her hair and their bodies pressed together.
"Have me…"
Lost in the passion they had for one another, they kissed each other fervidly, daring the universe to try and them apart.
After the couple stopped to catch their breath, Peter sat in the edge of the bed, panting slightly.
Gwen wrapped the sheets around her body and laid herself on her stomach, crossing her legs. "A shame I can't moan harder with the kids in bed, you certainly made me want to." She teased.
Peter chuckled as he leaned forward to take his boxers from the ground, thanks to his wife, and wear them once again.
"We knew what we were getting ourselves into before we made our first baby."
Gwen bit her lower lip. "I remember that, it was fun… it will always be."
He smiled, before looking over his shoulder and at her, watching her sweaty and flushed skin from her face and beyond. "You're gorgeous."
"You think so?"
Peter continued, "And a tease." She winked and kept swinging her slim legs in the air.
He stood up and approached his part of the wardrobe, before moving his hands further inside as he searched for his suit.
"Are you going out?" Gwen asked, concerned.
"I think so, I wanted to do some patrolling before the meeting with my fellow wanted vigilantes." He took a white towel instead and threw it above his shoulder.
"Can't you do that after the meeting?" She tilted her head at him.
Peter closed the wardrobe and turned back to his wife, leaning in so that he could plant a single kiss on top her forehead. "I'm sorry, I'll make up for you later." He kissed her forehead again and began walking towards the bathroom.
Gwen sighed in disappointment, before speaking, "... well, a shame you won't spend the morning with me and little May then."
He ceased on his tracks and turned on his back."What….?"
Gwen tried to suppress a smile but failed regardless. She nodded.
Peter quickly sat besides her frame in the bed. "Are you... sure?"
"It's been about a month… I took the test once I noticed some of the usual symptoms." She explained.
"I… I thought you were...?"
She chuckled. "I was, but apparently you were so good that you won the battle that day."
He paused, processing the information he was just given.
She began to feel worried. "Are you… mad with me?"
Peter put on a big smile. "Of course not!" He spun her around so that she would lay on her back as he moved himself above his wife. "Never."
He cupped her cheek and kissed her deeply.
Gwen eventually broke the kiss. "I take it you're happy then?" She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling relieved.
"I am, I truly am… I-I didn't expect this again, but I honestly can't wait for it!"
"Well, maybe you should have done some things differently then." She teased.
"I'm glad I didn't." Peter met her lips and they enjoyed the taste of each other's tongues for awhile. When they separated to catch their breath, he asked, "How do you know it's girl?"
"I don't… but if it's one, I want her to be called May."
Peter cupped her cheek, spotting the now much smaller but present stain in his hand, she still didn't know. He chose to ignore it for the moment and smiled at his wife. "It seems… we will need a bigger house then."
She caressed his hair. "A much bigger one if Olive stays with us."
"A horde of children…" He moved his free hand above her flat stomach, stroking the soft skin with his thumb.
"I never expected another baby since we weren't really trying for one, it's not like we only have one or two, but… I'm happy, Pete. I'm truly happy."
"And so am I, Gwendy. The happiest in ages..." He leaned in and captured her lips, making the decision to spend the rest of the morning with his wife and unborn child that took shelter within her.
Later in the day…
"Why would we join you of all people?" Luke Cage asked from his table set besides many others that were also occupied by his fellow vigilantes in the city and beyond.
They had gathered inside an old and in decay manor after Peter contacted those in his reach, some didn't even bother to show up.
Cage continued, "Not long ago you were arresting some of us, you were at Stark's side."
Jessica Jones added, "He does have a point." She crossed her arms in her seat besides her partner.
Danny Rand argued back, "You shouldn't have gotten yourself captured in the first place, Luke."
He looked over his shoulder to the table behind him. "Whose side are you even on now?"
Spider-Man found himself leaned against the main table in front of the crowd within the abandoned dining section of the manor. He sighed. "Steve... asked me to keep us together in his absence… if-"
Luke interjected, "So, you've found someone else to follow around?"
Ezekiel had his arms crossed in the wall behind the table his brother from another life was located.
Matt Murdock spoke carefully, "Luke…"
Spider-man protested, "Everything I ever did... was meant for the good of my family."
Jessica argued back, "Yet you just said Steve asked you something."
"I'm not following, anyone, Jessica." He added, "We, those who are left and free, shouldn't be divided in a moment like this, there's already far too many people doing that."
She insisted, "Are you asking us... to forget the harm you and your group caused us and the people that were taken from us?"
Spider-Man finally rose his voice, "I'm not asking you to forget anything! I'll never forget who left me because of this! A hero's legacy... is judged by the lives he's saved, mine will be judged by those I lost. I'm guilty, I know that, but I'm trying."
They finally silenced.
The Punisher, or simply Frank Castle to some, watched them from a distance, far behind all the tables, leaned against a rounded and fancy pillar in the opposite direction of the room.
He continued, "I lost a woman I considered to be my very mother, my daughter was taken from me for weeks, my wife almost fell to her death and I got shot in the head." He paused. "Now, think of your children and family, will they be able to live safely in this country if we choose to not hunt our brothers and sisters? Do you accept this punishment for wanting your agency to be preserved?"
Danny questioned, "What… what would you propose then?"
He let out a deep exhale. "We need to stand together now… or die. That's what will happen if we don't end this war now that public perception seems to finally be changing. They'll hunt us forever."
"Who's exactly they?" Cage demanded.
"There's a secret unit out there… dedicated exclusively to the pursuit of our kind, they almost got me killed in the sewers after I deserted." Spider-Man continued, "Not only that, though. I'm sure most of you have heard of a symbiote… well, they have one with them too, he leads them in the field… Venom, and let me tell you, I've wore one once… I felt unstoppable, powerful... but I also felt the stench of death coming from everyone that stood in my way, a symbiote does make you unstoppable, you don't tire, you don't care… you don't feel."
"Do they… have only one at least?" Matt inquired.
Spider-Man looked at him. "I'm not sure, I do know there's another one that also belonged to Cletus Kassady, but I haven't managed to track it down once he was jailed, so there's a possibility. What if they somehow… have more? I can't beat one alone, now imagine dozens of them, if not more, that's a risk I can't allow myself to take."
Matt cleared his throat. "That would be… problematic. I'm probably the only one powerless here."
He insisted, "You would be useful in many other ways, Matt. Perhaps… we wouldn't be able to stop them, and I would fear for the citizens once we are out of the picture. Only together... we may have a chance, and if we fail, at least we gave them one hell of fight."
Frank finally gave his input, "... you've got a lot of nerve to show up and ask us to follow you wherever you go."
Peter looked up to him. "This is serious… I wouldn't be asking you if it wasn't." He continued, "The Avengers are no more, at least for the time being, it's just us now… and them."
They eventually began chatting among themselves. Peter watched them and heard the many whispers coming from the small crowd in front of him.
It didn't look very good for him.
Noticing how the same undesired mood didn't change despite Peter's best efforts, Ezekiel left the wall and stood besides Peter. He cleared his throat so that he could gather their attention. "If I may speak… I understand the reluctance most of you are showing right now, it's only natural, and expected… it's also hard to believe that a horde of... symbiotes might be out there, sure - I would doubt him too, sounds like a desperate attempt at gathering you together, right? But the thing is…"
Spider-Man looked over his shoulder and at him.
Ezekiel continued, "... he was the one that saved the city from Curt Connors' intentions, he stopped Max Dillon from burning this city and the population to the ground in a single blink of an eye, he also put an end to the Six's main goal that was raising hell while someone else did their own dirty work, then he joined the Avengers, at the time, their youngest member, who managed to reason with Ultron and end his plan of making flesh and steel as one together…"
Peter sighed heavily, listening to him, not sure if what Ezekiel was doing was the ideal course of action in the moment despite his best intentions.
"... like you he also lost many beloved ones throughout his journey and endangered his own family many times, all for the good of the people he sworn to protect, if there's anyone… that has their best interest at heart, it's him." He paused. "People chose him as their beacon of hope for a reason, and even if they don't want him anymore he'll continue to act like one."
They exchanged a look between one another.
Matt Murdock exhaled deeply. He began, "I wasn't with you when you needed me weeks ago. I thought the man I considered a good friend for many years was gone, but I was wrong…" He looked up to the other vigilantes in the room. "Peter freed us, he was the one who sent our location to Steve, despite the consequences he would be inflicted upon, and here he is again… trying to do what's best to the people he didn't even have to. I'll stand behind you, Peter, as your brother in arms, whenever you need me."
Spider-Man nodded at him, thankful. He moved his sight to the others around Matt who were still hesitating, but in the end, finally opted to unite as one and choose who they would fight besides with.
"I'm with Parker." Frank Castle declared from his spot of isolation.
Danny agreed, "So am I."
"You can count on me as well." Jones declared.
Peter nodded again and looked at Luke who was yet to inform them of his choice. He met her partner's eyes for a second, receiving an approval from her, before focusing on Spider-Man and nodding back at him.
He did it.
Lutheran Cemetery - Queens
"I'm doing… my best to stay true to your word, May." Peter slid his hand gently over the grass that kept him separated from his aunt. "To be the man you wanted me to be."
He looked up to her grave, reading her name. "I miss you… I miss you a lot." He sighed heavily as the winds brushed against his dark coat.
He only hoped that she was in a better place now, one where he could eventually see her again when the time comes. Some comfort could be found in that, at least to him.
Peter was observed from a small distance by the group of three men behind him, a group consisted of people he could always trust.
Harry began first,, "It feels like we may see more moments like this." He watched his friend mourn.
Flash crossed his arms as they looked at the lone Parker. "Surely you could try to be less grim."
Harry shook his shoulders. "I do make an effort."
They smiled, never taking their eyes off May's resting area.
Ezekiel started, "Now that Peter got his reinforcements… you may be right, Harry. It won't be long until the fighting starts."
"You really think there are more… Venoms… out there?" Harry questioned.
"It's always a possibility, one we shouldn't dismiss." Ezekiel answered. "Peter suspects the man who captured Gwen is also connected with Venom, somehow. That would make two capable people holding so much power in their hands."
Flash added, "God, I rather not get close to one of those things ever again."
Harry looked over his shoulder and at him. "I thought you had a better experience in contrast to Peter's…?"
"Maybe… but there were times… I felt something else living… within me, something deadly, waiting to come out and take me fully. There were nights where I woke out of my bed and above some building, it became haunting."
Harry sighed heavily. "We are really screwed, right?"
Ezekiel nodded. "It's not over yet."
Flash began, "Think about where we all started, everything we went through, the people who left us, and now… we're still here."
"We shouldn't hesitate when time comes, no matter what happens." Ezekiel declared.
Back at the Parker's resting section, Peter adjusted the flowers set against May's stone. The moment he took his hand off the flowers and began wearing his glove once again, he spotted the dark stain inside the skin in the palm of his hand reach for his fingers.
He hadn't told anyone yet, nor did he know if he should. It could mean anything, a terrible outcome, a better one, or both. There would be an appropriate moment for it. He thought.
Peter finally slid the glove down his hand and rose from the grass. He approached the trio and hid his hands inside the pockets in his coat. "You guys do know I can hear you, right?"
Flash smiled. "We do remember that you are an all too powerful human being."
"Not enough, one could say." Peter replied back. "I do my best too."
Ezekiel argued back, "You just united people to fight for you and for them when it comes to it, not all of your strength comes from your muscles."
"They almost didn't, if you weren't there…"
"What matters is the present, Peter, and the future." He continued, "That's what you always fought for, that's what we all fight for."
Peter nodded. "Thank you… all of you, thank for sticking up with me despite everything. I don't know where the next days will lead us to as we make our stand, but it has been an honour.. knowing you guys."
Harry spoke, "Come on now, we aren't dead yet. Surely there might be something else for us to cheer for."
Peter took a deep inhale. "Well… there is one, I am going to be a father again." He grinned as he was eventually embraced by his friends once they reacted and cheered in happiness for him.
He wouldn't ever stand alone.
After taking the children to school, Peter carefully edged his face forwards, pressing his nose to the buzzer of the apartment. About ten seconds passed before the door opened, Gwen speaking as it did.
"Peter, honey, why do… um," She stopped, trying to peer around him at the mass of folders in his fully laden arms. "That's quite some work there."
"Pretty much."
He walked past her, dropping the folders on a table as Gwen closed the front door. He sank into one of the sofas, rubbing his eyes forcefully. Gwen came and sat next to him, picking up a large bowl full of miniature papadums and beginning to crunch happily through them.
"I thought you were with MJ here."
"She got called away as we were chatting, the busy life of a supermodel."
"Flash didn't tell me anything. I guess he would tag along."
"They are used to it, it's how their relationship work sometimes." She smirked. "They're not like us who are stuck with each other most of the day."
Peter smiled back and teased, "And in many ways too." She giggled and smacked him playfully in the shoulder. "Well, she must be great at her job."
"She is." Gwen paused, giving him a once over. "More importantly though, how was your meeting?"
He shook his head slowly, running his hands through his hair. "A disaster from start to finish, almost."
"It can't have been that bad?" She inquired gently. "What happened?"
"I'm joking, it went fine." He continued, "We're going to work together for the time being until everything goes back to normal, with me… at the helm." He sighed, deeply.
"How do you feel… about that last part?"
Peter shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not much of a leader, Gwendy. I've acted on my own for the most part in my life."
She gave him a cold stare.
He chuckled and corrected himself, "You and I." He planted a kiss in her forehead.
Peter stood up, walking over to the kitchen area whilst continuing to speak. "They're experienced, so I don't think gotta worry about anyone losing their head as we act, well… aside from Castle, that one is always a time bomb. I'll need to talk to him first. I guess being a 'leader' is no different from being a lone wolf."
"You've got me then, I'll be your team," He peered from behind the fridge at her, momentarily pausing in his search for beer. "I have some sort of degrees in finance, business, health, and some more stuff." She teased.
"Maybe you're smarter than me after all." She chuckled. He returned to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of natural juice his wife had made for them, before returning to Gwen on the sofa. "But it's not the point. I'm going to steer this ship Steve asked me to, but I'm not sure I'm up to the job. And I don't want you to have to do loads of extra work, especially not with our baby in the way."
"I'm pregnant, not ill." Gwen softened her tone. She placed the now empty bowl back on the table, surprising Peter with the sheer speed of how quickly she had devoured the contents.
He took a sip of his juice."I know, you're just as strong as ever, if not more. But I don't want you involved with this. I don't want you to be caught in the crossfire again. I want to end this nightmare so that we can go on with our lives, maybe in a different way now. And you're right."
"As ever," She smirked before moving around on the couch, leaning her back onto his shoulder and stretching her legs out along the sofa. Then she reached for a folder from the table, resting it on her stomach and beginning to flick through it contently.
He had gathered more info about the life of Eddie Brock. She had a determined husband, she wouldn't lie.
"I could easily help you with this, though, honey."
They fell into a silence as Gwen examined the files. Peter being quite happy to watch her and drink his juice quietly. He wouldn't have much time to spend with her due to his other duties, but he wouldn't waste any possible moment with the most beautiful woman there was in the world.
"You are just… wow, amazing." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pressing a kiss to her head.
She smiled as he kissed her skin, before looking into his eyes as he returned. "And you're great with people, Peter, able to inspire confidence in even the most lost of people," She continued on. "You know how to treat people, when to be kind and when to give them a kick up the backside. I have faith in you, we all do."
"Thanks, babe." He stole a kiss as Gwen kissed him back, caressing the back of his neck, until they parted lips.
She reached again for the folder. "There's some goodies for you on our bedroom, you should check them before heading out." She smiled happily.
"Goodies? Why's that?"
"I wanted to make you a little happier today."
"Now I'm curious." He continued, "But thank you, Gwendy." He leaned forward to place his jug of juice over the table.
"But first, you should check this one package before you go upstairs, the more … exotic… stuff I looked for." Her voice purred, sensually.
Peter's eyes went wide. He began to get slightly concerned with her ridiculous sexual urges. He turned around to face her, seeing her with a devilish grin and clasping a packet in her hands.
She spoke, "Sweet and salted popcorn – in one packet! Can you believe it, I've never seen something so amazing!"
There was a few seconds of silence before he couldn't hold it in, Peter burst out laughing and she joined in pretty soon after.
Brooklyn - New York
"Move out of the way!"
Miles Morales jumped out of his chair set near the desk where his old computer could be found and headed towards his window, where he tried to watch what was going outside his bedroom.
His window wouldn't fully open so that he could take a peek outside.
"Maintain the line!"
He became even more agitated.
"What in the heck is going on?" He moved his fingers under the small opening and made an effort to raise the currently stuck window.
He groaned. "Come on, Miles, come on…"
It finally moved and in the process the window smashed against the top due to the amount of sheer force he had been applying against it, causing a huge noise that made him fear the wrath that could come next.
"Miles…?!" His mother called from outside his room. "Are you trying to move our house to the ground?!"
He turned over his shoulder and towards his locked door. "Sorry, mama! My window was stuck!"
She didn't reply.
Miles let out a relieved sigh. Once she got angry, there weren't many walls in the world that could make him safe from her response which would take shape in many words directed at him.
He heard more of the commotion in the streets and approached his window once again. He still couldn't see anything, they were in the other side of the building.
Miles looked over his shoulder and at his door, it remained closed and there were no signs of his parents. He had a chance.
Miles dove his torso inside the window and reached for the fire escape, dragging himself through until he was fully on top of the metallic surface. He stood up and observed the steps above.
Some of them were missing.
"Great."
He leaped forward when a considerable space was found between the steps, gasping slightly as the adrenaline began to run through his veins.
He could either fall leagues until he reached the ground or get some infection due to the possible tetanus waiting for him over the rough surface of the rusty metal around him.
Maybe I'm overreacting…
Once finally on top of the building he lived on, the orange light coming from the sun as the colossal star began to disappear in the horizon, casted over Miles as he hurried towards the direction of the unusual occurrence in his neighborhood. He finally leaned himself against the very edge of the structure, looking down at the streets.
A suspended truck could be seen in the middle of the large network of webbing that reached both sides of the street and its buildings.
Under the vehicle, a perimeter was set by a group of people that protected their flanks.
He could distinguish Daredevil and The Punisher, the others were too afar from his sight.
The back doors of the truck were open and Spider-Man flew past them from inside, carrying an individual as he swung towards the ground.
Everything looked so… heroic. Miles found himself amazed towards what he was seeing.
They were freeing vigilantes that had been captured before and were on their way to prison, possibly.
"Wow…"
A voice spoke from behind him, "Amazing, right?"
"What-" He turned on his feet and pressed himself against the handrail in surprise when he saw the illustrious visitor.
Elizabeth remained crouched over the door that led to the rooftop, the one Miles avoided so that the chances of him being spotted didn't increase.
She wore a hoodie over her head and a white jacket with shades of purple sliding down her sleeves. Her father's mask covered her face.
"Who are you?" Miles inquired, keeping his distance from her.
"A friend."
Miles cleared his throat. "Erm… you don't look like a friend."
She flipped towards the ground, landing safely, and rose so that she could approach him. "Your father works at the NYPD."
"Well, yes." Miles walked backwards, stumbling on his feet and clumsily landing on his back in the ground. "I have done nothing wrong, please, don't torture me."
She laughed, briefly. "Why would I torture you, Miles? Silly." She offered her hand.
"You're the one wearing… a Spider-Man mask... I don't know why, and you're shorter than him, you ain't him."
"I'm taller than you, though." She insisted. "I just need your help."
"Why should I be helping you? I don't know you."
Elizabeth sighed heavily and took her mask off. "It's me, Miles."
His eyes expressed the shock he was going through. "What the f-... frick, Liz? Elizabeth? Elizabeth Stacy Parker?"
She smiled and offered her hand again. "Now will you help me?"
He finally accepted her help and took her hand as she helped lift him up from the cold floor. "Wait… you… and Spider-Man, so… no… yes? I have so many questions now."
"I'll answer them later, but you must keep this a secret, okay?"
"Why?"
"Because I want you to, it's important to me, Miles. Okay?" He finally nodded in response. "Now will you help me or not?"
"What… what do you need?"
"I need access to the NYPD's database. I think your father has access to it."
"He does… but why should you have to as well?"
"Because… I want to find the man who… killed my father's Aunt, before he tries to finds us again." She paused. "Will you help me now?"
Spider-Man followed the truck's guard inside the alleyway as kept jumping from fire escape to fire escape in each side of the claustrophobic backstreet above the man that ran from his life. He finally leaped towards the air between them and dropped his weight over him, trapping him against the ground.
He grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up against the wall. "I don't think you're going anywhere, man."
The guard quickly moved his right hand to his hip and pulled his gun towards Spider-Man who quickly took advantage of a free hand to press his arm against the wall until he released the gun into the ground.
"Not today." Spider-Man quipped. "Where were you moving them to?"
"I'm not afraid of you." He gasped..
"I'm not expecting you to be. I would put you in the ground but you just pointed a gun at me." Spider-Man continued, "Care to answer what I asked?"
"Look, I got mouths to feed… I take no pleasure doing all of this."
"So do we, and putting us in cell will do no one any good." Spider-Man argued back.
"Easy for you to say, you have… powers, we don't. You could have just left the country."
He tightened his grip over him. "I'm asking you something, not forcing you."
"Will you let me go if I don't say anything then?"
Peter sighed. He wouldn't get anything out of him, and the frustration began to fill the veins of his body.
The curvy lenses of Spider-Man's mask were fixated at the desperate eyes of the man in front of the vigilante who then moved his once free hand away from the man's arm only to press it against his throat, slowly tightening his grip as the seconds went by, noticing how he began to struggle to gather fresh air into his lungs after having his neck held by the hero.
Peter noticed how the spandex around his left arm had been suddenly covered by the developing symbiote stuck inside his left hand. It came out in a period where he found himself so concentrated in suffocating the man that his senses failed him as he never got to realize what was going on with his own body.
He released the man who slid his back against the wall before landing into the ground.
"I'm fine… I'm in control." Spider-Man let out a tired sigh and cleared his throat, holding his left wrist on his right hand. "Just go now." He ordered.
The man didn't waste any time and rose so that he could stroll towards the far end of the deserted alley, disappearing from sight.
Peter inhaled deeply, watching the symbiote retreat itself back to his hand and within the suit, until the substance couldn't easily be found anymore.
"I'm in control…" He closed both his fists and stretched the spandex in his gloves as he did, assuring himself he was stronger than anything else that could influence his will.
Peter was brought out of it when he felt his phone vibrate from within the hidden pocket in his waist. He slid down the zipper and moved his hand inside, bringing the device in front of his lenses as the screen was reflected against the same material.
Maybe it was his wife, at least he hoped to. Talking to her during his vigilante duties often reminded him that he was just like anyone else despite his enhanced gifts. Just like common folk, he was also told by his wife to visit the bakery and get some bread for next morning's breakfast.
It was indeed a text message, just not from one of the two blonde ladies of his life. Instead, it was sent from an unknown number.
Your once friend has been seen wandering inside The Daily Bugle, you might want to talk to him first before he unleashes the worst of him there.
"Eddie…?"
Spider-Man used his free hand to fire a web-cable above him as he jumped into the air and swung away from the alley.
The Daily Bugle Building
Eddie Brock tried his best to avoid any employee as he sneaked inside the higher levels of the Daily Bundle, hiding behind columns or walls whenever someone walked towards his direction, taking cover within shadows or avoiding eye contact when that was still possible.
Nothing else mattered, what did matter was the information he had to get in order to maybe know better the whereabouts of his long lost niece. That was the one thing he actively looked for regardless of the day or hour, aside from making sure his sister was able to endure the condition she still had to live with.
He finally reached for the archives and all he could see were the many tall stands that contained countless editions of the in-house newspaper that were released during the course of many years since its inception.
Since his arrival, Eddie had now spent hours reading hundreds of pieces from the moment he turned to be one of the major points behind the actual conflict that took place in the city and beyond, a fact that many still didn't know the entire truth about it, and they would probably never know. Yet - he didn't mind, everything he ever did was for the good his family.
Eddie pilled many issues on top of each other over the one table he chose to stay on as he read them. He widened his eyes once he found a crucial piece of information within the pages he held in his hands. He brought his hood down the back of his head.
It can't be… she's with…
"Eddie…!"
He looked up in distress once he heard the familiar voice call for his name from the main entrance. He immediately stood up and leaned his back against the corner of the stand besides the main hall within the two sides of the room.
There he was.
Spider-Man insisted, "I know you're here." He continued, "... I don't want to fight, Eddie. Please."
The symbiote began to crawl its way over the skin of his neck and towards his face.
Spider-Man remained still at the entrance of the archives. "You know who I am and I know who you are. There's no point in prolonging this… fight of ours. Let me understand, let me… help you."
Peter waited for an response, yet everything he got was the stands in the left side starting to fall over each other until the last one in front of him threatened to crush and incapacitate him at least for a brief moment.
He shot a thicker bio-cable from each hand towards both his left and right directions, forming a stronger net of webbing that kept the stand from crashing fiercely into the ground under his feet.
Spider-Man looked over his shoulder and noticed Eddie use his shoulder to throw himself against the locked door that led to the building's alternative staircase. "Eddie!"
He fired another web-line to the ceiling and boosted himself towards the entrance, sprinting his way down the stairwell with the hope of catching up to him.
After the small glimpses he managed to get of Eddie Brock before the one accelerated his pace and cut some distance by leaping over the handrail and landing into the next floor, Peter realized that Eddie still hadn't turned into the form that made a mess of him when they clashed at the warehouse.
Maybe there was still some time left. He had to try once again.
Interesting enough, Eddie kept making his way towards the deepest level of the building, never once hesitating to take the closest door he rushed past by.
Spider-Man finally entered the last possible entrance within the lowest level of the building, finding himself inside the house of machines that were set in the middle of the deserted room held by the many support beams between them.
Eddie remained still between two columns, waiting for the Parker to finally cease movement.
He now could be seen in his lite Venom status, having the symbiote cover the entirety of his body, showcasing the fat spider in his chest that connected with the other part in his back along with the white, big and curvy eyes, a distorted portrait of Spider-Man.
They exchanged a look despite their eyes being covered by their respective suits.
"Eddie…" Peter broke the silence. "I know what happened to you... I understand why you insist with the symbiote, I truly do. But… why? Why do we stand where we stand? Why's the need for all of this… violence?"
Venom tilted his head the side, remaining in silence.
Spider-Man sighed. "What do you think will happen to us if we keep doing this over and over again?" He raised the question, but the answer never came.
He started to think nothing good would come out of it.
"... everything I ever did… I did for the sake of my family, and I would do it all over again, Peter."
Spider-Man raised his chin once again. "As did I. I'm ready to give my life for them if I have to… yet, you haven't struck me again so far."
"I don't have to… but you will be forcing my hand if you keep trying to dig up my life."
"Eddie, someone sent me a text warning me that you would be here, someone that knows very well what you are up to, whoever this person might be, whatever your connection with him might be, it's a game for them and you don't have to keep working for them any longer, let me help you now." Spider-Man took a single step closer.
Eddie was caught off guard by such revelation, but he chose to remain himself composed. Everything was starting to make sense now.
"... you said you understand why I keep this… thing, within my body, but you don't… you really don't, and I'm not letting you compromise the one thing I still haven't lost in my life. I'm not letting any of you."
"Brock…" Peter carefully raised his left hand at him. "Make me understand, there's still time." He took another single step further.
Venom dropped his chin and filled his lungs with fresh air. "There's not enough time… certainly not enough to one of us. I'm not the person you thought I was."
"I don't believe that, you were there for me during one of the most important moments in my life, you were my right hand for a long time, we helped each other the best we could. We can still do that again."
Eddie's head twitched in a brief moment, as if something else fought for control within his body. It called for blood. His arms pulsed in agony, they screamed for something to test his strength.
Peter noticed how his build started to turn slightly bigger. The teeth began to take shape and the symbiote finally came out. Both his arms turned into the shape of sharp axes as he began to spread them open to the sides.
"Eddie…!" He started to run forward once he noticed what he was about to do with the structures in his sides that helped hold the building.
Venom turned out to be faster than his opponent as his arms extended considerably and colidded against the many pillars, bringing them down to the ground around them.
An extensive crack immediately took place in the middle of the ceiling and as Spider-Man tried to reach for Venom, large debris started to fall from the opening that formed above them and landed on Peter's back, bringing him down to his knees.
He could feel the many tremors coming from the building's structures as his knees struggled to support the amount of weight that he kept in his back.
Venom also noticed how the room was about to be filled any minute now. The entire building was on the brink of collapse. He took a long look at Spider-Man, before walking past him and leaving him to his grave under The Daily Bugle.
Peter panted heavily, he felt the spandex in his biceps stretch as he held the many rocks above him, his feet slowly got buried deeper into the ground under him as the time progressed.
I can't go out like this… these people… can't go out like this.
He looked slightly over his shoulder and noticed other cracks forming in each side from his position. He shot a thicker webbing from his wrist towards them, trying to glue everything that wasn't in his reach together, but struggled since he couldn't move his arms much.
Push...
He panted heavier now, spotting the spandex in his biceps finally opening due to how much strength he was trying to gather. He managed to move his arms above his head and his hands against the debris so that he could lift the weight and hold it still for as long as he could before the building was fully evacuated.
Come on, Parker, come on…
New York - 39th Street and Second Avenue
Gwen stepped out of the cab that couldn't move forward due to the amount of people gathered in front of them, effectively blocking their path.
"Keep the change."
She closed the door and began to stroll her way through the crowd in hope to eventually reach the other side and see what was really going on there. It didn't look like anything ordinary.
Her phone began to rang. She picked it from her coat and brought the device to her ear. "There's a huge possibility that he's somewhere here."
Harry answered, "He's there. Venom was just spotted fleeing the building."
"Hold on, Harry." Gwen used her arms to move herself between the last line of people that remained still in her way. She never understood why the citizens of the city had this weird habit of hanging around near situations of extreme danger.
What am I saying…. I'm guilty of it too.
She arrived at the blockade and now only a pair of officers kept her from going any further. She could see the Daily Bugle Building and the many people rushing outside the front doors while being escorted by the police and firefighters.
She also noticed how the building seemed to be inclined slightly to the right. "Something happened."
Harry informed, "I can't get in touch with Peter. Something bad really must have happened there, authorities are saying the structure is condemned."
"You mean he's inside there?" She asked, extremely worried.
"... most likely, Gwen. They must have clashed and the building got compromised, somehow. What I do know from the reports I've read is that the structure should have fallen already."
She cleared her throat. "What if… he's the one keeping it still?"
Harry sighed from the other end of the line. "Knowing your husband... that's the most plausible scenario now.
Gwen quickly asked, "What can we do?"
"I don't think we can do anything, Gwen. Even if you wanted to they won't let anyone get inside. It's… up to him."
"The building is going to bury him alive, Harry!"
"Gwen… I…"
The people around her screamed when another tremor was felt and many parts in the side of the building began to fall. She almost lost her balance, her phone fell to the ground and the screen shattered, cutting the connection with Harry. The officers then began to shout and order them to move back away from there.
Gwen stood up and set her eyes at the building. She brought her right hand to her stomach, never taking her eyes off the place her husband might be.
She whispered, "... be strong, honey… to us. Please."
Peter looked over his shoulder, watching the considerable amount of webbing he put inside the collapsed room hold things together for the meantime. He had most likely emptied his web-cartridges. The pressure he sustained felt like there were many planes that had just nose dived towards him, and every muscle in his body screamed in infinite pain as felt weaker and weaker.
The lack of steps and voices from the floors above him informed that the people previously stationed within the Bugle were already outside.
Everything would now come down over him, eventually, but the people were safe. He could rest easy knowing that if it came to it, there was nothing else he could have done now.
Am I… really?
He focused in his left hand that currently rested in the dusty ground. The only thing keeping the ceiling from fully coming down towards him was his back. He could barely feel his hands after keeping them above his head and against the rubbles for so long.
A pipe of water from above exploded and traces of water began falling over his masked head, sliding down his suit until reaching the floor and forming a puddle around him. The support beam above kept pushing him harder into the ground.
"I need.. you to come out now."
The last time he wore the symbiote it felt like a part of his body, like they were one together, complimenting each other's weakness so that none could be found by his enemies. Now, the symbiote growing in his hand remained in isolation from the rest of his body.
There were only a few occasions it threatened to show, like earlier with the man he cornered in the alleyway. He needed the potential such organism his father created could provide him with.
Peter gasped. "You can't be there for nothing… t-there must be a reason."
He waited for the substance to finally come from within the spandex and then pursue the entirety of his body. If he had the chance to live and see his family again, he would take any opportunity at hand and he still couldn't tell himself he had done everything he could for the good of the people he loved.
Yet, he still stood alone in the darkness around him. The symbiote failed to show up.
Push.
The air was becoming harder to pull into his lungs. He managed to pull his mask above his nose with the intention to make breathing an easier task.
Keep pushing, Parker.
Peter dropped his head, feeling the weight of the building bring his torso closer to his knees. In matter of minutes, he would be one with the ground. His body would probably never even be recovered.
He found comfort that at least he might have the chance of meeting his long gone beloved ones again, at least he hoped. That's what he chose to believe in, and he knew Uncle Ben would approve of what he became since he passed away, there were only a few couple of things in life that would give him the same joy.
Ben was the reason he stood where he stood now. Probably the most honorable men he ever got to meet, and Peter tried to be half the man he was, well aware that he would never achieve such thing.
But he persisted, he wanted to, until his last breath.
He sighed. "If this be my destiny…"
Spider-Man groaned as he slowly rose his torso towards the ceiling after moving both his hands against the rubbles, gasping harder while his muscles did the work necessary so that he could once again stand on his feet.
His arms trembled heavily and his grunts became more intense as he managed to move a few inches of rubble. He kept tons of weight above his hands, and slowly he changed his standing to an upright position, fully supporting himself now with his feet.
He then pressed the button that activated his web-shooters, pumping what was left of the fluids towards the ceiling above him as they found no way forward against the debris and spread themselves to every other free route from inside the room.
Peter emptied the rest of his strength and poured it into the one obstacle keeping him apart from the rest of his family.
Fate.
Venom viciously pushed the metallic doors open to the side and strolled inside the bridge that led towards the seat of his former overseer. "You lied to me!" He walked over the main hallway that, as usual, was surrounded by darkness.
The figure sat in the seat that faced the window remained in silence.
Eddie continued, "You kept her hidden from me all these years…!" His right arm took shape of an axe, now only a few meters away from climbing the steps that led towards the single seat. "Why?!"
He didn't move a limb in his seat. "She would be a distraction to your potential."
"You didn't have the right!" Venom shouted.
"And you didn't have the right to continue living before I found you in your hospital bed."
"You think I'm grateful… for this?!" Eddie gestured to himself.
He sighed. "If it weren't for me, you would never be able to fight again, for the one thing you love in your life, your family. If it weren't for me your sister would be long gone already, and if it weren't for me… your niece would have lived one miserable life under your arm." He continued, "She found a family, but you took that from her."
Venom's head twitched once again. "It wasn't… my intention. I tried to stop them first."
"Everything you ever did brought where you are now. Does it seem too bad?"
"... you're right, here I am now… and I'm tired of following your lies, Quentin. I'll bring us together instead now." Venom began making his way towards him with arms ready to strike the moment they were inches from each other.
He sighed in his seat and before Venom finally struck him, he spoke, "A pity, Eddie. Our association turned out to be as fruitful as I hoped, if not more." He heard the sound of the heavy steps from death itself coming towards him. "... but at the same time, I made some insurances, your sister being one of them."
Eddie immediately stopped on his tracks. "What do you mean…?" He questioned, reluctantly.
Quentin rose from his seat and approached the window. "Here's what's going to happen now, I want you to kill Peter Parker before he finds his way here, do that and you'll see her again… you can also have your niece when you are done."
Venom inhaled heavily, feeling powerless despite outmaching the man in front of him in every way possible.
He continued, "You think I would risk everything… in a fist-fight with you, Eddie?" He continued, "... it's nothing personal, truly. Now, you do what I ask of you, and then you can have what you want the most… after he's no more."
Venom recomposed himself, allowing his arm to go back to its usual form once again. He took a long stare at him, before turning on his feet and slowly walking towards the entrance he had just crushed, leaving Quentin alone to his thoughts within the darkness of the room, wondering if this was it.
The near end.
Spider-Man leaned heavily back against a dumpster, panting. He tried to catch his breath and not pass out from the pain that infused his body. He then tried to push himself away from the wall, but a sudden bout of dizziness made his slump back against it.
His shoulder, arms, legs, everything burned like it was on fire. He considered himself lucky if he hadn't pulled more than one ligament somewhere within his joints.
Rain began to fall from the skies and splash against the lenses of his mask as he lay on his back, staring blearily up at the sky. In matter of seconds, his surroundings turned out to be more peaceful than ever, despite the many sirens firing a few blocks away from him.
He felt slightly better as the rain cooled his body.
"Still alive…" He sighed, heavily. "... the luck strikes back."
He wiped the trace of blood coming from his nose with his thumb.
But for how long…?
Peter rested his head against the dumpster. He sighed and began taking slower inhales as the seconds passed, one progressively slower with each exhale. He finally felt at ease, despite lacking the strength to make a single effort to move.
He could finally rest for a bit, only a bit. No one would suffer from that. No one would notice…
"Peter…? Is that you?"
He looked over his shoulder, doing his best to see past the darkness all over his vision. "G-Gwen…?"
"Hey, you dork." She stood on her right knee and besides, before moving both hands to his cheeks. "Are you alright? How are you feeling? What happened?"
"That's… too many questions at once, honey." He breathed through his slightly open mouth and looked at her stomach. "How's our baby?"
"We're fine." She caressed his covered cheek with her thumb. "You should be worrying about yourself now."
"How did you find me here?"
"You have an affinity for alleyways, just had to look around." She caught him smiling. "You're impossible, aren't you? Always proving everyone wrong, and having fun at the end."
"I do my best."
She declared, "We need to get you out of here now."
"It may not look cozy but it's actually quite nice here, though."
He managed to get a smile out of her. She added, "You're crazy."
"... well, if I weren't… I don't think you would have settled for me. You're a woman of adventures."
Gwen nodded. "Very true." She continued, "And I hope we can continue having many others, hopefully these new ones are much easier to deal with." She took his hand on hers, squeezing it gently.
He looked into her green eyes and whispered, "So do I."
"Then come with me now... to our family, and we'll live."
A/N : Well, here we are now. This chapter… turned out to be a pretty enjoyable one to write, because up until now, I was focusing in putting these characters in situations that will connect to the end of their respective arcs, which I felt like I had to because I really like them, and I didn't want to end the story just for Peter and Gwen, they're all part of my story, and they will all have an end to their own stories. So here, I had the opportunity to slow down the pace for a little bit, and have this couple be… well, a lovingly couple once again, they deserve it.
Elizabeth is a hobby of mine, I'm sure I could have done many things in the story a lot better, especially as I got better with my writing, at least I think so, but where she's coming from, and where she's going, makes me proud of her character, even if she's so young and fresh in comparison to other characters we've know even before this story.
Yes, that's his name, and yup, he's been here before.
As for Peter himself, he's trying to tie everything together, to make sure the people in his city can go on to live normal lives once again. He bought this fight, he didn't have to, for a moment he didn't want to. He's risking everything and even himself, that's just Peter Parker in a nutshell, he doesn't know when to stop, but if he does, he needs to have a good reason, wouldn't he? Like Gwen said, he's an impossible man.
The only thing he's sure is that this is a fight he can't pretend it doesn't exist, ignoring, that's not part of his character, at least that's my interpretation for Webb's universe, he broke two times with Gwen because of his gift, and then he suffered the consequences when they couldn't stay apart from each other, unfortunately, Peter Parker suffers a consequence for every action he does. He left to England to be with her, blaming himself as well for leaving the city for a couple of years, that would be the 'No more' arc in my story.
He even thinks about the possibility of letting them leave him due to what had been happening to his beloved ones in a short space of time, maybe leave for good. It's not that clear but it's there. Honestly, I wouldn't ever wish to be in his place.
In my view, "villains" can be a victim of their own story, and Venom is no different. The original Venom, from the comics, isn't that much of an interesting character, he's just… kinda angry at Peter for no real reason and stalks him? So I've tried to humanize him and make us understand where he's coming, I wanted it to be a slow transition but not a long one too. Eddie is a character that I always knew that would come back in one way or another the moment I left him out for a good while, and my intention here was much more than having someone for Peter to fight before the story ends.
Speaking of ends, my goal is to release 3-4 chapters, the last one being a conclusion/epilogue, but it's not guaranteed. I think we're at a point where these characters endured enough and they deserve some closure. That's the plan, hopefully. Before anything happens, I ask of you to read all the way through the end, I'm a reader as well, I understand how we can feel towards endings, especially here. So there's that.
It won't be a joyride, but the opposite of that won't happen as well. In fact, get ready for the next chapters, it will be wild.
By the way, did you guys enjoy the more spicy moment between Peter and Gwen? I actually really like writing stuff like this for them, but I rated the story as T so I guess it shouldn't happen that often. I try to be as ambiguous as possible with these scenes. I wrote a smut earlier, and I got a good reception overall regarding that. What do you think?
Thank you for reading and for the patience, I said many times I would see this story to the end, and I won't let you down, even if life compared to when I started is now far more complicated, I have to find the time to write this in a short amount of free time, I try my best. I began writing this story as a way to give me and others interested a treat after the second movie came out, and then it became larger than that, so now, for those that are here, I want you to enjoy how my interpretation of their journeys will conclude since they didn't give us a chance.
Have a great one.