Life's Little Crossroads
A/N: Peter runs into an old friend... and Harry gets some 'good' news.
Mary Jane Watson enters into this chapter… when it comes to casting for the role… I'd love to see Sophie Turner give Mary Jane a spin. Sophie is well known as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones ;)
"Eureka!" Dr. Otto Octavius exclaims as he looks through the microscope and watches the extracted venom bond eagerly with the blood cells from Spider-man… the melding is seamless and perfect… and it sparks a new change in the enhanced venom. The small mixture starts turning black right before the expert bio-chemist's goggled eyes. "What is this? Such a strange reaction." Doc Ock watches a little longer and sees the cells shift and change under the microscope.
"Hmm." Octavius hums as he watches the mixture settle down. He studies the new venom… the fluid is now a grayish color and the blood cells and venom molecules have altered into new molecular chains that are black looking under the microscope. "Interesting."
_
Harry Osborn sighs as he sits roughly into a plush leather chair in his Midtown apartment. He is still wearing his advanced bio-tech battle armor. It is keeping him alive… but just barely. He looks more and more green in the skin every time he looks in a mirror or reflective surface.
He is bone tired right now… last night was wild. He and Vulture went north to Canada. They arrived in Montreal and Adrian met up with his contact there. The gold was exchanged for a reasonable sum of money (fourteen hundred dollars per ounce) and then Adrian was about to leave… when suddenly, Harry burst in and took out the fence and his men. Adrian had been pissed. But Harry told him that now they had the money and the gold… and they could always find another fence. Adrian grumbled about how the Black Market community would shun them if they continued killing fences like this. Harry had shrugged it off and ignored his hired goon.
Now Harry just wants to sleep. He leans his head back and his eyes start to flutter shut… then the comlink on his left forearm band starts beeping. Harry groans and looks down at the flashing little blue light. He hits the button.
"What?!" He growls.
"I have some results for you, Harry… concerning Spider-man's blood." Doc Ock says and Harry can hear the smile in the greasy little man's voice. Harry sits up straight and all thought of sleep is washed away in the excitement that follows.
"I'll be right there." Harry says with a wicked smile and taps on the keypad upon his forearm band. His glider comes whizzing over and Harry hops on it. He then goes through the large windows which are open at the moment. He laughs maniacally as he hurries under the cover of the pre-dawn gloom to Oscorp's underwater facility out in the Hudson Bay.
_
"So what miracle have you wrought for me, Octavius?" Harry says as he comes strutting in once the elevator opens. Doc Ock turns and gives a short lived frown to the impetuous youth then grins wickedly.
"It would seem that the Wall-crawler's blood and the enhanced venom have bonded and altered to form a newer version of the venom. See for yourself." Doc Ock says as one of his mechanical arms waves to a large flat screen nearby. Harry walks over and eyes the new molecular chain. "And with the added supply provided by Miss Hardy some hours ago… we are not hurting for quantity." Octavius adds as he reveals a sealed beaker containing roughly a cup's worth of the rippling black liquid. "Initial prognosis has me believing this new venom is… promising… but I'll need to test it further to determine-"
"Inject me with it… now." Harry says gruffly.
"I don't know what it will do to you… it could kill you." Octavius says as his thin lips move into a line.
"I don't care what it'll do to me as long as it heals me… so just inject me with it… NOW!" Harry shouts as his eyes turn fully yellow. Doc Ock is quiet and just stares at the angry Osborn boy.
"As you wish then, Mr. Osborn… but don't say I didn't warn you." Octavius says as he readies a syringe.
"Mr. Osborn was my father." Harry retorts sullenly as he exposes his right forearm for injection. The needle goes in, the plunger is depressed, and the black looking liquid is pushed into Harry's veins. Doc Ock then pulls away and watches Harry very closely for whatever reaction will occur.
"Do you feel any different?" Octavius asks curious and clinical as he continues to study from behind his red tinted goggles which spin and whirl as they zoom in and out.
"No… not really." Harry says and sighs as he waits for something and yet nothing happens. Anger then wells up inside of the Osborn boy and he explodes pushing a lab table over and screaming out his frustration. "You're a hack, Octavius!" Harry shouts and Octavius' goggles whirl wide open as he moves back and away watching as Harry moves towards him… stalking… and pissed off. "I'm going to rip you limb from-" And like that Harry is cut off as he stops suddenly and his eyes go wide. His momentary silence is then ended as he screams… this time in pain. Harry falls to the floor and writhes.
"What were you going to do to me, Osborn brat?" Doc Ock asks curiously and mocking as he moves around Harry watching this reaction unfold. Harry then convulses and vomits up black liquid… which quickly covers him. "An intriguing development." Octavius says as he studies the scene from afar now goggles whirling to zoom in once more. Harry soon disappears under a cocoon of the black stuff. "Very intriguing indeed."
_
Peter wakes up bright eyed and bushy tailed at six in the morning… or rather about as bright eyed and bushy tailed as he can. He hits his snooze button twice before FINALLY crawling out of bed. He then gets ready for the day and heads out on his bicycle and makes his way towards Midtown from Queens. Along the way he slows down and stops outside of the outdoor area of a local café… Peter pauses and gets lost in a memory of when him and Gwen came here after school for iced coffees like they did as often as they could. They'd joke around… rather Peter would joke around and Gwen would laugh. Such simple shared moments with his lost love haunt him at random moments… like now… and no matter what, he'll never forget Gwen Stacy and how she both saved his life and gave it meaning…
~f~*~l~*~a~*~s~*~h~*~b~*~a~*~c~*~k~
"Ya know one day you'll lose interest in me." Gwen says after a round of laughter from some silly joke that Peter had told her.
"What? No way. You're stuck with me." Peter retorts back and smiles at her.
"Til my dying day." Gwen says mockingly and Peter clams up at that little jest. His smile dimming down.
"Don't… don't say that, please." Peter says with a shake of his head as he starts to frown and looks down at the table.
"I'm sorry… that was in poor taste." Gwen apologizes and then she sighs as she now looks down at her caramel latte. "Especially after… my dad."
"I swear to you, Gwen, on everything that I am… I will protect you with my every breath." Peter vows to the beautiful blonde. "I… I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." Peter then adds and his brown eyes get misty. Gwen sighs and looks Peter directly in the eyes.
"I know what I've signed up for by dating you, by being with you… Peter Parker. I know there is risk to it… and yes, when you are out there… swingin' around doing god-knows-what trying to save lives… I worry. I will always worry… but I will not hesitate to help you if I can be of some assistance. Just don't shut me out, please… or you'll wind up pushing me away… and keep me informed, too, Mister." Gwen says to her boyfriend. Peter's frown slowly morphs into a smile.
"Okay… any other requests and conditions to this agreement that I should be aware of, Princess?" Peter says a bit teasingly.
"I'm being serious, you butt." Gwen says and smacks his arm repeatedly with her open palm. She is smiling though even as her tone sounds heated.
"Whoa there, Mike Tyson! Don't bite my ear off." Peter teases some more as he laughs at the assault he is enduring. "I think I may have to tie you up if you don't stop."
"Oh? So now you are going to tie me up?" Gwen says and she stops hitting him. Peter is still hunched over and away from her just incase she resumes her attack.
"Yeah." He retorts.
"Sounds… kinky." Gwen then says with a smirk and gives him a sexy look.
"Is that all you think about… you perv?" Peter then jokes and Gwen smacks him again. Peter complains of pain after that and they tease each other as they leave.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Peter gives a small smile then starts to push his bike along the sidewalk.
"Pete? Peter Parker?" Comes a voice… Peter turns to see someone he hasn't talked to in a long time… "Remember me? MJ Watson?"
"Yeah… yeah I remember you… wow it's been like freshmen year since we last talked. You joined the school paper while I went and did yearbook. So what are you up to these days?" Peter says making conversation with the pretty redheaded girl.
"Well, I started going to college at University of New York. I'm majoring in Journalism and Media Arts."
"So you're goin' full throttle on the whole reporter thing then?" Peter asks and Mary Jane answers with a cheerful 'yep'.
"So tell me about you, Peter." Mary Jane asks and Peter sighs as he looks down at his sneakers. He doesn't answer right away. So Mary Jane continues, "I heard what happened to Gwen… that was really sad. I'm so sorry." She then places a gentle hand on Peter's shoulder. She gives a squeeze and Peter looks into her sorrow filled blue eyes.
"I miss her everyday." Peter starts and he blinks rapidly to hide his rising tears. "I thought I could move on… I have to some extent… but it's harder on some days than others." Peter then sighs and shakes his head. "Hell, I thought I HAD but I haven't… not really."
"We all lose people we love… and we all grieve." Mary Jane says sympathetically. "I'm here for you, Pete. We used to be close… but then we just grew apart… maybe it's time we started talking again." Mary Jane says and fishes a business card from her pocket. She gives it to Peter. "Here. Give me a call sometime. We'll go out for coffee and catch up." She says and smiles warmly at him. Peter looks at the card and then smiles at her.
"Sure. Yeah… I'll text ya sometime… soon." He says and nods his head. "But right now… I gotta get to Avengers Tower."
"What are you doing there?" Mary Jane asks quickly.
"Internship… in the IT department. I'll get a hold of ya later, MJ… it was nice seeing you again." Peter says as he hops on his bicycle and starts down the sidewalk.
"It was nice seeing you, too, Peter!" Mary Jane hollers after him and waves. Peter waves a hand as he risks a look back. He then faces forwards and a pedestrian just steps out without looking first. Peter dodges expertly and leaves the surprised guy behind with a yelled 'sorry' as he continues on his way… hurrying to his 'job' at Avengers Tower.
_
One hour and twenty-two minutes later…
After stopping two robberies, a purse-snatcher, and saving a distracted teenaged girl from getting hit by a bus… Spider-man arrives at Avengers Tower… late. There is a flurry of activity going on as he heads towards Tony's tinker shop. Spidey moves out of the way as Captain America comes past flanked by Maria Hill and Black Widow. He catches snippets of Maria Hill discussing 'the location' and its connection to Hydra. Something about a 'mobile unit' and a facility in Utah once owned by CyberTech Inc. Peter knew that company was having troubles, what with Stark Industries investing into cybernetic prosthetics… so of course everyone is going to flock to see what new marvels Tony Stark has for them now… but a connection to Hydra… well, that sorta thing will wind up causing investors to run for the hills… so it looks like CyberTech Inc. may get buried sooner rather than later.
"What's going down?" Spider-man asks Tony as he enters and sees the billionaire talking to Bruce Banner.
"Good for you finally getting some, big guy." Tony says with a smirk as Spidey walks up. He then turns to the Wall-crawler as Bruce shakes his head and walks away. "What's going down… you ask, Itsy Bitsy? Hmm… it turns out we got some excellent intel earlier this morning about a suspected Hydra operation and now it is cleared for go… and the Avengers have been called in." Tony answers.
"Sweet! Can I come help since Thor isn't back yet? He IS still gone, right?" Spidey asks hopeful and trepidatiously. Tony looks around as he slings an arm around Spider-man's narrow shoulders.
"Well, that's the thing… I have a special mission just for you." Tony says in a near-whisper.
"Ooo… I like special missions." Spider-man says excitedly in a hushed tone to contain his mini-outburst.
"I need you to stay here and keep an eye on things." Tony says to the teenager. Spidey stops in his tracks thus slipping out of Tony's arm. He then levels a glare at the billionaire… but Tony can't see it under the mask.
"Seriously? You're leaving me behind… like I'm some kid." Spider-man says and shakes his head.
"It's not like that, Pete." Tony starts with hands raised non-threateningly. "And technically… to me… you are still just a kid… but it's just that what with these new crazy, bad guys running around here in New York… well, we need someone to stay behind and keep things from falling to shit while we're away." Tony goes for sounding as sincere as possible but Spider-man just crosses his arms over his lean chest. "Ok… check this out… just in case things get too crazy… you'll have this as a back-up plan." Tony says and pulls out his high tech Starkphone. After punching in the passcode… the ceiling opens up and down comes a new Iron man suit… or rather an Iron Spider suit. It is all red with gold webbing designs and a gold spider logo on the chest.
"Whoa." Spidey says under his breath as he slowly uncrosses his arms.
"Yeah… well… I wasn't going to give you this until Christmas… but plans change. So… Merry Christmas." Tony says with a smile to Spider-man.
"Man, I-I don't know what to say. Thanks!" Spidey says finally and hugs Tony hard. Tony pats Spider-man on the shoulder and the back… then more urgently as his need for air takes over.
"Whew… you hug like Thor." Tony says after he is let go and given a shy apology. Tony then gestures between himself and Spidey, "So we good?"
"Yeah." Spider-man says happily and nods his head.
"Good. Now no wild parties while the grown-ups are gone." Tony then says as he makes a pulling gesture and pieces of his suit come out and cover him.
"Oh, come on! Like I'm going to pull some stupid teenaged stunt like that. You've watched too many Teen Movies, Stark!" Spider-man then says and waves his hands as if gesturing for Iron man to leave. The tinny sounding laugh comes then.
"You're right… as if Agent Hill would let you get away with such a thing." Iron man says and then zooms away through an opening to the outside.
_
The day goes by quietly for Octavius as he studies the black cocoon in the middle of the lab's floor space. He has run various tests and scans on the solidified black encasement. Harry Osborn is secured within… safely sleeping. Octavius knows because his instruments have detected Harry's steady heart beat and Delta brainwaves. There are periods of lucid dreaming and Doc Ock watches closely… then around 9:27 PM… there is a change.
Harry's brainwaves shift to those of normal consciousness and there is a great deal of movement from inside the cocoon. Soon Harry's hands and arms come out and tear at the rest over his torso and face. He quickly frees himself of his confinement and as he does so… his armor breaks apart and falls off of his lean frame. Octavius takes a few steps back as he watches Harry stand.
"What the hell happened?" Harry asks tiredly and stumbles just a little. He reaches out and catches himself on a lab table. That's when Harry notices that he is naked. "What the fuck happened to my armor?!" He growls out and glares hard at Otto. "What did you do to me, you sick hack?!" Harry demands.
"I gave you what you asked for… I injected the new venom into you." Octavius starts. He moves forward a little and gestures for Harry to head towards the changing area and showers. "And, I must say, the results have proven to be unexpectedly extraordinary." Octavius adds and Harry scowls but as soon as he enters the changing area and sees himself in the mirror… he knows Doc Ock is right.
Harry's once lean frame is now far more toned and cut. His eyes are bright and clear… and they have returned to their normal blue. His skin is its normal healthy color as well. No more green… NO MORE GREEN! And best of all… Harry feels much better than he has in the last four months!
Harry suddenly realizes he is hyper-aware of his surroundings. He can sense the air current in the lab. He can hear the subtle creaks of the water pressure outside on the hull of this underwater facility. He knows every movement that Doc Ock makes with every limb… flesh and mechanical.
"What the hell?" Harry mutters as he feels his wrists itch. As he makes a fist and bends his wrist backwards… a stream of spider webbing goes shooting from a new opening located in the area between his wrist and palm.
"That would be a side-effect of this venom." Doc Ock says as he taps away on his tablet taking notes on Harry's new physiology.
"That's it." Harry says as he is struck with a thought and suddenly the black liquid seeps from his pores and covers his body completely to form a new outfit… a very Spider-man looking outfit… only black with shiny slivery-white webbing lines and a white spider symbol on the chest. His face is covered last and the large white eye lens look angry. "Call it Venom… and call me that as well when I wear this suit." Harry says from behind his new black Spidey mask.
"Very well… Venom." Doc Ock says and smiles wickedly.