James sighed as he looked out the plane window. Things didn't look good, not only for the rachni but for hero's as a group. Not only did it seem like the registration act would pass, but several of his contacts in New York had told him the parker had been taken to the Xavier mansion for some kind of medical emergency. Sighing again James rubbed his eyes, and looked down at the small piece of paper in front of him. Peter's old home address looked back up at him. James sighed again. He really was getting old, and soon he would have to die so the new generation of rachni would not be burdened by old ways. As he sat there James found himself thinking back to the Rachni's most sacred rule. 'one generation cannot live while the other grows.'

CHAPTER 9

Hours turned to days, and days to weeks. And over that time venom watched parker get 'better' about a week after being brought to the mansion he woke up for an hour or so before going back to sleep. And now there were times when he would be up for a few hours before going back to bed to rest. Rest was essential hank kept saying. Without it peter could easily find himself overwhelmed by the rate of his body's mutations. At first parker had been afraid of what he was becoming. Venom had seen the fear in his eyes and in the way he moved. Even now he didn't seem to be 100% at peace with what he was becoming. But after seeing that he wouldn't become the man-spider again parker did visibly relax. Over the next month or so parker continued to regain his lost strength, and when he felt up to it he and venom would make use of the danger room to exercise and allow parker to get used to his new mutations. Of course some of his mutations came with a price. His new spinnerets for instance. Peter often complained of pain in his wrists and after a short examination hank shrugged and called it 'growing pains.' But he had given parker something for the pain.

And still parker was getting better. About a month after coming to the mansion parker had felt well enough to leave the lower levels and walk amongst the students of the school. A few times he had even sat in on a lecture about physics, or psychology. At first students had given him odd looks and had whispered, "Isn't that peter parker?" "Doesn't he take pictures of spider-man?" "What do you think he can do?" but over time the students had gotten used to him being there. It had taken them considerably longer to get used to venom who shadowed parker wherever he went like some kind of living alien shadow. But eventually they had stopped pointing and a few times now venom had seen a student look at him with curiosity rather than fear. for the first time in a long time venom found himself happy. Parker was getting better, no one was trying to kill them on a constant basis and here at the mansion he didn't have to hide in the shadows like he did in the city. Of course sometimes he still did but that was out of his choice not out of need. But like all good things everything must come to an end. And come to an end it did. On a rainy Monday while everyone was crowded around the TV. Peter sat in a small chair rubbing his wrists. Venom hung upside down on the ceiling watching him. On the couch Cyclops and gambit were watching TV. On a small table across the room, rouge was arm wrestling with hank. They both seemed to be equally matched. Cyclops had just told them to give it a rest when a loud annoying tone split the air. For a moment everyone just looked around and venom watched as rouge pulled out the human devise called a cell phone from her pocket. But she shook her head. "Not mine." Across the room gambit shrugged, "don't have one. Hank?" hank shook his head. "Mine's down in the lab charging."

Parker on the other hand smiled sheepishly and pulled out hiS. "Sorry." Everyone shrugged and peter answered it. "Hello?" A moment later venom felt his skin prickle as Mary Jane's voice met his ears. "Peter?" peter's hand gripped into a fist. "What?" venom smiled at the briskness in parker's voice. . A slight pause then, "peter I think we need to talk about this. It's been 2 and a half months. Please. We need to talk about this. You're aunt is worried." Venom watched as peter's face softened slightly. After a moment he spoke. "Alright, tomorrow, at Piza's pizzas on 8th street. I'll be there. But I won't pull any punches and you may not like what I have to say" a slight pause then, "Thank you." Venom watched as parker hung up the phone and set it on the table next to him. Rouge and hank had stopped arm wrestling and were now looking at him so was Cyclops, only gambit seemed to not be looking at pete;r who stood up and slowly left the room. Following venom ignored several students who pointed to him crawling along the ceiling. Venom followed peter as he moved through the mansion and out to the grounds. Dropping from the ceiling venom continued to follow him as parker wound his way through the gardens before stopping in front of a lake. Venom had been about to move closer when Xavier's voice met his ears. Scrambling venom charged upwards and into a tree. From there he could not only see but hear Xavier as he floated next to peter in his specialized wheel/hover chair. After a moment of silence peter spoke. "Mary Jane wants to talk." Xavier nodded. "Yes. I thought it might be something along those lines." Parker looked at him. "I thought you didn't read minds unless other's gave you permission." Xavier shrugged. "One bad thing about being telepathic is that it's very hard to turn off. A person who is particularly troubled or is thinking a strong enough thought can project those thoughts or feelings into my mind. I had no intention of reading your mind." Peter shrugged.

"What do I say to her?" Xavier shook his head. "I don't understand?" peter sighed. "I guess on some level I can understand why she did it. I'm not home very often. And when I am home I'm exhausted from fighting some random super villain or saving the world. So there's not a lot of time for 'couple time.' But at the same time I'm still angry at her. I've never cheated on her. Not once. I've had a few other heroes throw themselves at me. Black cat, spider women, hell at one point even mystique hit on me. But I never allowed anything to happen, because I was married. But now……. Once when she and I were out on a date I didn't go off to fight a crime, even though it happened right in front of us. It was a stupid crime some random thug snatched a purse that only had 5 dollars in it. Mary Jane found out and wouldn't speak to me for the rest of the night. Now all I can think about is…. What if every time she pushed he out the window to go fight a crime she was really just trying to get me out of the house because, she was with some other man?" Xavier nodded and patted parker on the shoulder. "In the mind few troubles weigh as heavily as those involving relationships. I can only say this. Listen to what you feel. Even in none mutants the human mind and body are powerful. They alone know what is truly healthy and right for the person. Listen to what they say, and then ask yourself it what they say makes sense. If so then follow it, if not then try again." Parker nodded. "Thanks Xavier. For everything, for the advice, for letting me stay here, for letting venom be here. Thanks." Xavier shook his head and waved his hand. "Oh no dear boy, do not thank me. You needed help. And as for venom……. I may not be able to read his mind completely but I know full well what he could do if we tried to forcibly remove him. It's not pretty." Parker chuckled. "I didn't think it would be." Xavier smiled and excused himself leaving peter alone in front of the lake. After making sure Xavier was gone venom dropped silently from the tree and moved closer to parker.

Hesitantly he sat down next to parker who looked at him and smiled. For a long time silence stretched between them, then, "you know if a month ago someone told me I'd be sitting next to you, at the X-mansion, and we weren't trying to kill each other, I would have said they were crazy." Venom stayed silent. He wasn't sure how to react. But peter continued. "Venom…. I won't lie….. I still don't fully trust you. Not after everything that's happened between us, but…. I'm glad things have worked out this way. I'm glad you're on the right side, and I'm glad that at the very least things are better between us." Venom nodded. "We are glad to parker. But we do have a request of you." Peter looked at him, his eyes showed suspicion. "What?" venom took a deep breath. "we wish to come with you to talk to your mate." Silence followed that. The only other sound in the air was birds singing off in the distance. "Why?" venom shrugged, a human gesture he had learned a while ago. "We're not sure. For some time we've wondered if your mate has some power over you. Some strange way of bending you to her will. If we are right we wish to be there to stop it. Our spider will not be subject to another's will. We will not allow it." Peter nodded. "ok….. but I have my own request." Venom nodded. "Anything. Name it and we'll do it." "you have to create a human form." Venom cocked his head to one side. "What do you mean?" parker smiled. "Have you forgotten? Until a little while ago you were trying to kill spider-man. I take pictures of spider-man. If people see you and me together acting like we're friends, they will get suspicious, and I know they'll find something." Venom nodded. "We see your concern. Very well parker. We shall….. Build a human form. What form would please you?' venom's skin wriggled and trembled, reshaping and coloring itself to make an imitation of rouge. "this form?" storm's form came next, "or this form? What pleases you?"

Peter shook his head, as venom reverted back to his normal form. "I don't want you stealing someone's form. Make your own. One that's unique to only you." Venom felt confused. "We don't understand. A form for only us?" Peter nodded. "Haven't you noticed how few humans look the exact same?' venom nodded. "We had noticed, but we assumed they could change their form at will. We've seen it done. Humans can change their hair color, or their eye color. We've seen it done." Peter shook his head. "That's done with chemicals or special contacts. Only a few people can change how they look completely, and most of those people are mutants, or the chameleon." Venom nodded slowly. "How shall we build this form?" peter shrugged. "I don't know. I've never had to change how I look. I guess do it the same was you changed how I looked when you were my suit." Venom nodded again. "yes we can do that. Give us time parker. We'll find a form for us." Peter watched as venom left. Turning his attention back to the lake peter sat for a few more minutes before heading back inside, and going to sleep.

THE NEXT DAY

When peter first woke up he thought that perhaps a student had come down to see him. He had certainly never met the person who stood next to his bed smiling down at him. "Hello?" the man spoke. "Hello parker. We've chosen a form. Does it please you?" peter pushed himself up so he could see venom better. Venom's form certainly was pleasing, to say the least. Tall, and thin he looked a bit like a super model than an ex-villain. His skin had a light tan to it that gave the impression he worked near a window or at the very least walked to work every day. Looking at venom's face peter, found a set of creepy jet black eyes staring back at him. Venom's face was young maybe early to mid 20s. His mouth was normal looking and had nice shape to it. It looked like he was smiling even though he wasn't. Venom's hair like his eyes was black, but if peter moved his head slightly he could see snatches of other colors in the hair. Thankfully venom was wearing clothing; a set of simple black cargo pants with a t-shirt, his traditional spider symbol covered the front of the shirt. Peter smiled. "Not bad. You might just get asked out on a date by someone." Venom smiled. "We'd only go out with you spider." Peter shivered at that. For some reason that comment stirred something in him. But peter shook it away and began getting ready changing from his pajamas to some clothes that Xavier had provided for him. After quick breakfast of eggs, bacon, and waffles, Xavier gave peter a set of keys and wished him luck.

As peter drove to Manhattan it stuck him how odd it felt to be driving again. Of course had had a license, but he rarely drove anymore. Web swinging was so much faster, and was way more efficient when it came to getting somewhere for cheap. Parking the car in a parking complex peter glanced across the street and after a moment of searching easily made out the forms of Mary Jane and Logan sitting at a table and looking around for them. Taking the elevator down again peter was struck by how odd it felt to be doing things like a normal civilian rather than a super hero. As they stepped out of the elevator peter felt a slight lurch in his chest as he and venom crossed the street and sat down in front of Logan and Mary Jane. Mary Jane smiled weakly at peter and looked curiously at venom. Behind her Logan sat straighter and growled. "What are you doing here alien?" venom grinned, his ungodly long tongue snaking out over his mouth, before vanishing. "We're here to make sure the spider is not being manipulated." Mary Jane looked from peter to venom before speaking. "Peter who is this?" Peter shrugged. "venom." Mary Jane's eyes went wide. "Venom. As in your old suit venom." Peter nodded. Mary Jane looked around before speaking again. "Do you have any idea what he tried to do to me?! He kidnapped me, stuck me to the side of a building and-" Venom cut her off with an air vibrating growl. "We didn't do that. The other bonded to black cat did." Peter turned to Venom. "Black cat has a symbiote? When did this happen?" Venom shook his head. "We confess we don't know. We would have searched for an answer but then you needed help." Peter sighed and nodded. "Ok. I guess maybe we should have a talk with her before things get to bad." Mary Jane looked stunned. "You trust him?" she waved her hand at Venom who smiled again and leaned back in his chair.

Peter nodded. "Yes I trust him. Not 100% but enough to not immediately think everything he says is a lie." Mary Jane rolled her eyes. "Have you forgotten what he made you do before? What he put you through? How do you know he's not just waiting for another change to control you again?" Venom's eyes narrowed. "We sot to control our host in the past. But then we found ourselves under another's control. We would never subject the spider to that; Never. We only want symbiosis with him." Logan chuckled. "Sure. If it's all the same I'm going to keep my claws sharpened. Just in case." Peter shrugged. "you don't have to trust him but I do. But that's not why we're here." Peter glared at Logan for a moment before continuing. "You're both going to sit and listen to what I have to say. If you interrupt me I'll leave right now. When I'm done talking you're both going to explain how all this happened. I've made up my mind about what I'm going to do so I won't be swayed by tears or promises. Ok?" Mary Jane nodded, and Logan shrugged. Peter took a deep breath. "Mary Jane….. You broke my trust. I would have died for you. I would have let the whole world burn if it meant I could save you. And now I find you've been unfaithful. I'm hurt, and upset. But for the most part I can understand why you did it." Venom sat upright. "What?" Peter ignored him and continued. "However, that doesn't make what you did ok. If you were unhappy then why didn't you just come to me? Why didn't you tell me?" Peter turned to Logan. "Anything I said to you before still stands. Don't come to me if you need help. You won't get it." Peter sighed and leaned back folding his arms in front of him. "Now it's your turn. Explain."

Mary Jane looked to Logan and then down at her hands. When she did speak it was in little more than a whisper. "I don't know what to say. This all started a little while ago. You were out and Logan came looking for you. I said he could wait here, and one thing led to another." Peter slammed his hand down against the table. "One thing led to another!? That's all you have to say?!" Mary Jane didn't look up but instead continued to look at her hands. Peter sighed and closed his eyes. "Mary Jane….." Mary Jane looked up at Peter and Venom could see the hope in her eyes. But a moment later the hope was crushed by parker's next words. "I want a divorce." Normally Peter would have been watching how Mary Jane would react. But that thought was in the very back of his mind as the feeling of wires against his neck exploded in his brain. Moving in a blur Peter put his foot against Mary Jane's chair and pushed sending her skidding across the concrete and away from the table. At the same time Peter and Venom both leapt backwards away from the table. A moment later the table they had been sitting at was crushed by a car. Rolling and coming up on his feet Peter had been about to leap into battle when he felt Venom grab his arm. "Parker no. you don't have a suit on." Peter swore, dashed inside the pizza shop, hurtled passed a dozen terrified looking customers and threw himself into the bathroom. Locking the door Peter had been about to tear his shirt off when another thought hit him. He wasn't wearing his suit in the first place.

Peter cursed his stupidity. Why had he chosen today out of all days to not wear his suit, under his clothing? Behind him Peter hear what sounded like running water, as Venom wormed his way under the door and reformed. "Parker What is wrong?" Peter looked up at Venom. "I don't have my suit." There was silence for a moment. But that silence was broken by another loud crash and an other worldly scream of "WHERE IS THE SPIDER?!" Venom shuddered. "Parker. We sense the other of black cat. We must act fast." Peter growled and slammed his fist into the wall, making large cracks appear in the wall. "I know Venom. But I'd have no way to get back to the mansion, put on my suit and get back here. Too many people could be hurt." More silence then, "wear us." Peter looked at Venom oddly. "What?" Venom looked at the door as another crash echoed through the air. "Wear us parker." Peter took a step backwards. "This is some trick isn't it?" Venom shook his head. "No parker. Wear us. We wouldn't fuse. We'd just cover you." Peter weighed his choices. On one hand if he didn't he was shit out of options for how to hide his identity. But on the other hand he was very aware of how trap like this situation felt. But his thoughts were interrupted by a loud crash just outside the door. A moment later Venom flinched away from the door as the wood cracked and a symbiote claw tried to force it's way under the door. "WE KNOW YOUR THERE SPIDER! COME OUT AND PLAY." Moving to the back of the bathroom Peter pointed at Venom. "don't try anything funny Or our deal's off." Venom nodded and surged forward as the door behind him exploded sending splinters flying in every direction.

As the dust cleared Peter got his first view of what symbiote black cat looked like. Unlike her old costume which had a certain amount of a PG13 look to it; symbiote black cat showed no skin. Her whole body was covered in symgoo. Gone was her long flowing white hair, replaced instead by a dozen white tendrils that whipped through the air like so many angry snakes. Like most symbiotes, a mouthful of seemingly endless razor sharp teeth. Even as black cat peered into the room Peter leapt from his spot behind the debris and hit her. The force of the leap sent both of them hurling backwards, through the shop, through the front window, and out into the street. Rolling to his feet Peter crouched low ready to leap again as black cat picked herself up off the ground and spoke. "You dare to touch our spider?" Peter felt his suit shift on its own and with a slight amount of alarm he noted he now seemed to have a mouth where he stomach was. "Your spider?" black cat screamed and hurled a man hole cover at Peter who easily caught it with webbing and imbedded it into the concrete road. Even as he did that Peter was forced to move as black cat hurled herself at him and did her best to tear his suit off with her claws. Somersaulting across a wall Peter noted the deep gouges black cat left against the brick. "mid flip Peter flicked his wrist and send webbing flying through the air, and catching black cat's hands and feet and sticking them to the ground. "Cat have you lost it?"

In response black cat tore the webbing away, tearing a large section of concrete out of the road and throwing it at Peter who easily dodged it, and retaliate by using his webbing to slingshot the piece of concrete back at cat who tore it in half. In the back of his mind Peter heard Venom speak. "Parker, if black cat has an other then she will have our weaknesses. We would suggest exploiting this knowledge." agreeing with Venom Peter spent the next moment taunting black cat before taking to the steel canyons and swinging from building to building. All the while he could feel black cat behind him, matching his speed. Leaping off a building Peter zipped through the air, passed a man with a large cup of coffee down a subway access station, past the ticket counter and a dozen passengers, down the dimly lit corridor and out onto the station platform. Turning in mid air he only had time to note the black blur behind him, before it slammed into him and sent him into the tiled wall. Grunting Peter fought with all his strength, to free himself from the vise like grip black cat now seemed to posses. But it was in vain as a moment later Peter was lifted off the ground and flung away from black cat. He hadn't gone more than a few feet when Peter felt cat grab his ankle. In his mind Peter swore, he knew what was coming next. And sure enough he found himself being slammed into just about anything solid mainly but not limited to the floor, ceiling, walls, trashcans, train schedule stands, and support pillars.

As black cat finished tenderizing him Peter felt her release his ankle and send him hurtling into a large billboard for the daily bugle. As he slid down the wall Peter swore he could almost hear Jonah laughing at him. Behind him black cat spoke. "join us spider. Join us and be your true self." Peter's eyes darted to the large station clock that had somehow remained undamaged through his beating. It read 11:49AM. He grinned. He could hear it now. The 11:50 train was fastly approaching. And sure enough Peter had just turned himself so he could look at black cat when the train hurtled pasted them sending loud echoes through the station. Peter felt Venom recoil, and for a moment he wondered if he should have tried something else. but Venom didn't leave, his body. Black cat on the other hand was on the ground; hands clasped tightly over her ears and was howling in pain. Taking that moment of weakness to strike Peter gave cat what had to be the worst beating she had ever had in her life. He webbed her, punched, kicked, head butted, face ground and in general wiped the floor with her, in just about every section of the station. Lifting her off the ground he had been about to try and separate the human from the symbiote when a loud shout echoed down the station. "SOMEONE HELP! MY SON'S NOT BREATHING!" glancing in the direction of the scream Peter saw a mother franticly shaking what looked like her 15 or 16 year old son. The boy's eyes were closed and he looked to be unconscious. Looking from cat to the boy Peter made his choice in the blink of an eye. Tossing cat into the air Peter stuck her to the ceiling before bounding over the the boy and scooping him up in his arms. Sending once last glance at black cat he noted that in somewhat of a cliché manner she had vanished. But he spent no time thinking of that he had to get the boy to the hospital.

AN: WELL FOLKS CHAPTER 9 IS UP AND DONE. HOPE EVERYONE STILL LIKES THIS STORY. I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT A LOT AND I THINK I'VE FINALLY SETTLED ON A PLOT THAT I LIKE. AND YES I'LL STILL BE USING THE CIVIL WAR ARC IN THIS STORY.

THANK YOU FOR READING AND DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE REVIEWS. PLEAS E AND THANK YOU.

BYE.