I made this for Jenna, but at her request (because she is kind and sharing) I am posting it for anyone that would like to read it, please enjoy.
This story takes place just after 'the Hood' series of comics.
Webs That Bind.
This is the requested sequal to Evil for Evil.
Parker Robbins woke with a start. He realized he had been sleeping while sitting in a chair. Strange. His head throbbed dully, but when he tried to bring his hand to his temple he realized his hands were bound behind the simple wooden chair he sat on.
''Fuck! Again!?''
Parker scanned the room quickly, fighting his lightheaded state, trying to focus on his surroundings. He was in the upstairs bedroom of safe house 3, the lights were out and faint moonlight drifted in past closed curtains. Sitting across the room on the bed was a feminine form casually staring at him. So muddled were his thoughts that he did not immediately recognize her as Madam Masque.
''Again, huh?'' Masque sounded amused. ''Don't worry lover, you are safe. I have realized that some drastic measures had to be taken to help you help yourself; consider this a bit of tough love.''
Annoyance crossed Parker's face, and he struggled to stand, thinking to pull his bound hands over the back of the chair, only to realize dully that his legs were each tied to the chair legs as well.
''Please tell me what has you so distracted lately Mr. Robbins, the others are starting to notice.''
Parker blinked at her, ''It's just Sara...'' Parker's mouth snapped shut audibly and his eyes widened then blazed with quiet anger. ''You drugged me? What? Some kind of Truth Serum?''
Madam Masque shrugged in response, ''You're a pathological liar Parker.''
Parker felt the urge to verbally agree with her, then squelched it with force of will, his ire rising. He had to stay silent and focused.
Madam Masque stood and he could see clearly now the golden mask she wore as what little light there was in the room moved across it. ''I think you have said enough, I know who Sara is, information hard won I assure you,'' Parker heard her smile rather than saw it, ''You are very difficult to track but you will find that I am quite resourceful. Rest here until I return, and we shall set matters straight.'' With that she moved into the shadows and disappeared soundlessly, as if she too had the power of invisibility.
''What are you planning? Masque!'' Parker struggled with his restraints for what seemed a lifetime, but Masque had tied them expertly and whatever drugs she had fed him weakened him besides. On the bright side, he thought, being groggy like this seems to have pushed Dormammu out of my head for the time being.
Parker heard noise below; someone climbing the stairs. At least my head has cleared this much. Parker heard footsteps behind him but could not turn enough to see who entered. He pressed his lips together tightly in anticipation, better to ignore any questions asked of him.
Instead, he heard a question directed away from him, in Sara's voice. ''Why is he tied up?''
Madam Masque replied as her slender figure framed the door, ''For his own protection. As I mentioned before, the powers he manifests, while useful to our cause, can sometimes be a danger to himself.'' Masque lied fluently as she circled in front of Parker, ''Don't worry, he should be fine in another few hours, and we can release him to see you.''
Parker shot Masque a glare as Sara also moved around him to kneel in front of him. She wore a green sweater and faded blue jeans with white sneakers and her short brown hair was unruly, likely from being roused from sleep recently. Worry was written in her brown eyes, ''She told me everything, how you lied to me to protect me from your powers. Honey, you could have told me you worked for the government, and I'm not ashamed of you for being a mutant. I didn't realize how much you were bearing all alone, can you let me take a share of this burden with you?''
Parker bit his tongue and lifted his brow apologetically while managing a weak smile as a response.
Sara's eyes watered as she hugged him tightly, ''Oh I'm so sorry baby; you took that horrible beating without saying a word. This agent told me that the John King I had spoken to was a mutant criminal who wanted to get back at you for jailing him. I called John and he agreed that he never said those things. You couldn't tell me it was a fake because you were afraid I would hate you for being a mutant, right? I'd never judge you like that, sweetie.''
Parker maintained his expression and tasted blood, so hard was he biting his tongue.
Madam Masque stepped forward now, Parker finally able to see her well enough to see she wore a S.H.I.E.L.D. helmet and uniform. ''Thank you for honoring Mr. Robbin's request to see you, I see you have cheered him considerably, but I must escort you out now, he will need to be debriefed from his last mission momentarily.''
Sara kissed Parker gently, ''Call me as soon as you can.'' She stood then and walked out; Parker could hear her descending the stairs.
Parker stared wide-eyed into the darkness. Did that just happen? He felt dizzy; perhaps this whole experience was just a dream.
A hard slap woke him from his stupor; he had not heard Masque's return. He jerked his head back around to glare at her. ''Was that necessary? I never asked for your help, either. This complicates matters.''
Madam Masque regarded him for a moment, her expression hidden from view, ''Do you really feel that way? We all live in our own web of lies here, I have simply helped you mend your double life.''
Parker looked at her levelly, ''I try not to lie.''
''Bullshit.''
''It's your truth serum.''
Masque considered him a moment longer then took off her helmet and visor. Long dark hair flowed down, no longer pent in by the helmet, and hideous scars ran the length of her face. One of her eyes was gray and stared sightlessly as she leaned close to him. ''Alright then. Let's be candid, between you and me.'' She pulled a knife and began cutting the bonds on his feet as she spoke, ''I have gleaned from what I have heard today that Sara beat you in an effort to get the truth from you.'' Masque paused for a moment as she cut, giving him a look that gave him a chill, ''Obviously, she failed. Frankly, I'm not surprised that I was not your only mistress, but I am jealous that she got to hit you and I didn't.''
Parker's eyes widened at this, ''...Wha?'' Before he could try to rise on his own, Masque turned him over powerfully while seating herself in the chair, laying him across her lap and wrapping a strong leg around his to pin him in place. She grabbed his hair and pulled his head close, whispering in his ear, ''I won't fail.''
Oh Jesus, not again.
Masque pulled off his thick brown leather belt and folded it as he struggled in vain to wriggle free. ''C'mon, Masque, at least give me the chance to answer questions honestly before you start this shit!''
''Fair enough, what's with the crazy burning cloak?'' Masque watched him carefully.
Where is she going with this? ''I actually don't know, it might surprise you, but I stole that cloak.''
Masque appraised his answer for a moment, then, ''Why have you gathered all of us freelancers together like this?''
''Easy, we can watch each other's backs like this, strength in numbers means we can pull bigger jobs and bust individuals out of jail if need be.''
Masque drew his pants down and slapped him hard across the ass in one fluid motion.
''Ow! What was that for? That was the... Ow!''
The belt stung more viciously the second time and Masque lifted it again menacingly as he squirmed. ''That's not it,'' she said, ''or maybe that is part of it, but you're hiding something, I know you must have a bigger plan.''
Sweat beaded on Parker's forehead. Masque swung much harder than Sara with those athletic arms; this could get really painful. He bit his lip in frustration, and Masque struck him twice more rapidly, making him gasp from the shock of it. ''OK; fine; I promised my ailing mother I would do something great, something that helps people.''
Masque scowled and raised the belt again, ''So you collected a group of criminals under one banner? You must think me an idiot to try and sell me a story like that. My truth serum has obviously worn off; you will need another form of encouragement.'' Masque began hitting Parker in earnest now, and he gritted his teeth in pain.
''I-it's what I have to work with! I grew up on the street; it's all I know! Ow! They are channeled under... ow! ...my direction! Ow! Ow! Ow! They have rules this way, I don't let them kill cops or murder people who aren't crooks, ow!'' Tears of pain began to well up in his eyes as he spoke, ''It's the truth, I swear!''
Masque let up suddenly, and Parker shuddered as if she had struck him again. ''OK, I'll drop this one. Next question. You obviously love Sara, you turn a great deal of your time and resources to comforts for her and your kid, so why do you cheat on her with someone like me?''
Parker studied her for a long moment, his dark eyes intense, ''Because I love you.''
Masque's scarred face twisted into a mask of rage, and Parker felt fear. ''You...!''
Any plea that might have escaped Parker was drowned out by the sound of a vicious burst of furious slaps. ''You bastard!'' she screamed, ''Don't try to pull that shit on me! I'm not your doe-eyed girlfriend!''
''N-no! It's true, I... Ah! Ahh! Oww!'' Parker's comment was cut short as Masque violently yanked his head back, her grip pulling his hair painfully as she increased the power of the already severe beating. Tears ran down his cheeks in rivers now, his voice hitched in pain. He still did not feel Dormammu, likely the demon had fled to escape this awful torture.
''Liar!'' Masque was crying now, ''You're a crook, you always lie, no one would want to be with a girl with a face like mine! I was content to pretend, but this lie hurts too much.''
The spanking picked up tempo and Parker felt certain it would never end. He gritted his teeth against the numbing sharp rawness spreading over his ass and spoke as well as he could between jarring slaps, ''I... owe Sara... I mean... I love her, but... '' he gasped at a sharp cut, ''...not like that anymore... I have to... ow!... do her right... and my kid too... but you, ah!... I'm young, so maybe, ow!... maybe I'm wrong... but I think I love you.''
Masque looked into his eyes and dropped the belt, her hand falling limply to her side as her other hand covered her sobbing face. ''I don't...'' Her eyes snapped up in surprise as Parker took her hands in his and sat up, kissing her forehead softly. ''You were tied...!''
The ropes lay on the floor at their feet. Parker smiled down at her, ''Yeah, getting out of bonds is a pretty standard skill for small time thieves.''
''Then why did you...?''
Parker drew her close, locking eyes with her, ''I wanted to be sure that you know I'm not lying. To show you what I'm willing to do for you.''
After a long moment Masque gave in to her desires and hugged him tightly, crying into his shoulder and feeling a massive weight slide off of her chest. After a few minutes of holding each other, she drew back and looked at him whimsically, ''I suppose now we return to our webs of lies.''
Parker smiled and gently ran a hand through her soft hair, ''Let's spin it together.''