Peter Parker's life has always been complicated.
Whether it was his parents dying, leaving him orphaned, never fitting in with others, never having friends, and getting whatever semblance he had of a normal life shattered when he was given powers, there has never really been a moment where things have been easy.
But, with the year-long living nightmare he would find himself immersed in, his first eight months as Spider-Man and everything prior would be looked back on with fondness.
For the most part.
Invading The Fantastic Fours headquarters and battling them as a way to introduce himself and get a job, constantly hitting on Sue, and not being friends with Johnny sooner would be memories of sheer embarrassment that would keep him up at night.
But everything changed on July Fourteenth of Twenty-twenty.
Before that day, it was villain of the week stuff, Dock Ock out for revenge of some sort, Vulture Electro, Sandman, and Rhino out robbing a bank or doing whatever, with the occasional team-up from the Fantastic Four and Johnny happening at least once a week, and on the Peter Parker side of things, he would just be doing what he usually did, go to school, hang out with Harry, figure out his feelings for Gwen, get bullied, go on ride-alongs with Captain Stacy and attend his Internship at Oscorp where he was unofficially Norman Osborn's apprentice...
He missed one of those, the other he desperately regretted.
It was summer, and he was spending time with the only two friends he really had until their phones alongside everyone else's blared the ominous alarm which told everyone in the Manhattan District to stay inside due to a monster on a glider causing mass terror and death in the downtown area.
Confusion, fear, and a want to know what was going on had crossed everyone's faces but when the friend group looked at one another, they would find that one of them had gone missing.
He remembers swinging as fast as he possibly could, a trail of police vehicles, ambulances, and news 'copters behind him.
He remembers seeing The Human Torch, seemingly dead, lying limply on a rooftop.
At this point in time, they had warmed to one another, their bitter rivalry becoming a friendlier one.
Obviously, he worryingly went to go check on the blonde-haired idiot, and obviously, Johnny waved it off like he was fine despite him wheezing as if breathing was an exhausting challenge which took all his effort.
But despite the front he put up, there was a look in his eye which conveyed that he was deeply scared...fearful...traumatized…a look that he too would share.
They bantered a bit, the two still actively denying that they didn't care about the other even though all evidence pointed to the contrary.
But when the obvious question was asked, The boy merely pointed at the horizon.
Wearing green armor which had a tattered, stitched-up medieval-inspired purple shirt over it, with boots and gloves that had razor-sharp metallic tips sharing the same pattern, was a masked monster wearing a long purple hat which danced with the wind.
"Can someone give me something good to eat!"
His twisted green face malformed for the demonic laughter which ensued upon besting a man in bulky golden armor.
Down below was a sight he could never forget.
He's dealt with death before, rushing into his home while the medics picked up his Uncle's dead body.
But to see what he saw that day…
He wasn't really the same after that.
Johnny had warned him that the Green Goblin before him had tricks up his sleeve and hit as hard as Peter did.
He took that note into consideration and his plea to be careful before slingshotting himself with his webs to reach The Goblin.
The two foes clashed, white lenses meeting yellow ones.
"I don't know if you've noticed but it's a little early for Halloween!" Spider-Man sternly said which prompted a chuckle from the villain responsible for mass death.
"Said the itsy-bitsy-spider in costume and mask!" The Green Goblin hysterically responded, batting Spider-Man off his glider and knocking his tooth out.
"Every day is Halloween little spider and The MONSTERS HAVE COME OUT TO PLAY!"
Spider-Man and The Green Goblin fought in the skies.
Spider-Man and The Hobgoblin did the same.
It was eleven-thirty at night.
A middle-aged man clinging to what was left of his balding hair leaned back on his chair and let out a sigh of relief for his pain-staking shift had just ended. He needed to stay overtime to complete some forms and documents for his boss who was always up his ass which was the most aggravating thing for him due to him being – in his mind, the most productive and hardworking employee in the building.
He closed his eyes and loosened his tie, relishing in the idea of going home and spending time with the man he loved.
Today they were going to have lasagna and binge-watch horrible movies on the couch, a hallmark staple for any life-lasting-loving relationship.
He let the knowledge of future events push him up onto his feet and off his chair.
At least, that's what he was planning.
Right now… he was in the air.
Blown right off his chair along with every other office appliance by an explosion of such devastating yields and capacity that it had sent him soaring through the sky, rupturing his ears which disoriented him further.
Bursting out the ear-shattering explosion was The Hobgoblin who landed with a roll, observing the new building he had just entered and looking for the quickest way out. Swiftly looking around, his orbs of blood paused on the airborne body of a man, his mouth fully open in fear, and eyes pleading him to save him from his inevitable demise.
The Hobgoblin looked at the man who had his own life, who had his own friends, and lover, and family and he simply smiled, giving him a sailor salute and wink as the man's body collided with the window he was approaching – breaking it, and sending him plummeting to his death.
His fate – sealed.
Realizing he had been stationary for too long, The Hobgoblin immediately broke out into a sprint for Spider-Man had caught up with him, but he let out a chuckle upon hearing the terrifying screams of the falling insect.
Following quickly behind, a cut-up and darkened by soot Spider-Man entered the room, eyes deadly focused, completely tunneled on the fleeing form of The Hobgoblin but not unaware of the man who was currently plummeting to his death, he changed his course while The Hobgoblin body checked the wall before him.
Jumping out the window, Peter caught the man just before he hit the pavement while simultaneously using another hand to start his web-swinging pursuit.
At the lowest point of the pendulum motion, Peter released the man onto the ground in a motion he's done more than a hundred times, not even sparing him a glance as the man stumbled for the Hobgoblin was at the top of his priority list.
Spider-Man turned the corner of the building, eyes narrowed with the faintest growl, catching sight of The Hobgoblin landing on his glider before jetting off in hysterical laughter.
Far from even considering ceasing his pursuit, Spider-Man hastily gave chase, using as much strength as he could in tandem with his web-shooters and physics to up his speed and contest the Goblin who wouldn't simply just allow Spider-Man to do this.
'Thwips' were instantaneously drowned out by the ear-piercing explosions of The Hobgoblin's wildly thrown pumpkin bombs which caused Peter to abruptly change his course during his pursuit to avert coming into collision with his ghastly inspired weapons.
Peter Parker and the residents of New York City had found themselves once again forcefully taking part in The Goblin's game.
Created by the sick and intelligent mind of Norman Osborn, The Pumpkin Bomb was a compact – easy to carry explosive which despite its size, had a devastating explosive yield which could atomize regular humans who were caught in its blast. Stylized to resemble a Halloween pumpkin that was carved with a sinister smile, there were internal lights underneath the metallic casing which illuminated the smile and the button above, which broadcasted to its user that the explosive payload underneath had been primed while the screams it emanated got progressively worse until the payload went off.
The bombs had three modes: Contact explosion, timed explosion, and timed-contact explosion.
There were slight, very, very, very slight, visual differences that displayed the modes which only those who were experienced with the weapon could tell.
And Peter Parker could tell.
The Hobgoblin had made an error when he tossed one of the bombs and instead of dodging it, he grabbed a bomb mistakenly set to timed and threw it right back at him which caused him to swerve, just barely missing the explosion.
Looking over his shoulder almost immediately to see Spider-Mans form still after him, The Hobgoblin stared at his own reflection within The Web-slingers reflective lenses and chuckled like a child who knew something his parents didn't.
The commotion outside prompted a young, curious, and naïve child to open the window in his room. Peering his head out from the twenty-third floor where his parent's apartment was, a young – no older than thirteen-year-old boy of Arabic descent looked around the New York horizon he often stared at with immense curiosity to see what was causing the noise only to be left shrieking and traumatized for The Hobgoblin soon quickly appeared, coming into view with his decrepit demonic visage, snarling at the kid like a monster about to devour him while he violently wrapped his hand around the frightened boy's tiny skull but he abruptly retracted his grasp for a powerful blow had sent him spiraling far away from the child who had recoiled and fallen back onto his floor.
Once horrified eyes had widened and looked on in disbelief as Spider-Man stood over his window, looking past his feet and sharing a glance with the child to make sure he was alright.
Letting out a little nod, the child confirmed that he was and Spider-Man once more followed The Hobgoblin who felt the spot Peter had struck him with his no-holds-barred punch. Laughing in amusement, he turned his excited red eyes onto the horizon once more, greatly increasing his glider's speed, its afterburner pushed to the max and exhaust on full throttle, with Spider-Man following closely behind.
The monsters had come out to play.
And he was going to bring them back down to whatever level of hell they crawled out from.
Chapter 16: Brimstone Boscage Brawl
The thrust of a spear sparked the reaction of a back heel sweeping kick meant to slash at his tendons but The Hunter expected such a counter so he leaped over the attack and adjusted his spear for a downward thrust which caused the girl to spontaneously go into a backward handstand roll, keeping her body parallel with the spear which had viciously planted itself in the ground.
Forced to dodge the crescent slash in the only way possible – a way Talon had planned, Kraven – the moment his spear pierced the ground, stepped on its body and leaped off it.
Soaring in the air from a backflip, Kraven landed on his knees a good distance away from his opponent who had just separated him from his preferred and second most powerful weapon within his arsenal.
"Neveroyatnyy…"
"Incredible…" Kraven muttered with amazement, hungry eyes fixated on Laura, "Not only did you manage to close the distance between me and my spear but you forced me to abandon it less I suffer a devastating injury. Well done Malen'kaya l'vitsa, well done," Kraven commended, admiring the small wound he sustained.
"Your creators taught you well," At the mere mention of The Facility, Laura lunged at Kraven which prompted him to block her claws with his metallic bracelets. Spark's illuminated both their faces as they entered combat once more, neither inflicting wounds on the other, constantly pulling moves from their extensive catalogs of combat which spanned knowledge and skill over all one-hundred and eighty styles of martial arts.
Laura had gone on the offensive, her hard-wired brain already aware of Kraven's fighting styles and patterns, had pinpointed several flaws in his technique.
"They may have sent you here to capture me, but all The Facility did was send you here to die," Laura had gone to strike. She slashed, she fainted, she countered, but each attempt to harm was just met with The Hunter blocking or parrying her attacks effortlessly, but that would all change for this was bait to get him to repeat a move.
And her plan worked.
She weaved through a punch from Kraven and aimed to thrust her claws deep into his side, but breaking his patterns, he ducked onto his knees, sweeping her off her feet with a kick and uppercutting her while he came up and she fell.
Sent on her back, her nose and teeth both broken, Laura got up onto her feet quickly before Kraven could strike; narrowing her eyes and spitting out blood jumbled with broken teeth. The Hunter raised an amused brow and watched with intrigue and amazement upon witnessing her impressive healing capabilities rejuvenate her nose and teeth at speeds he hadn't seen before.
Laura glared angrily at the man, her burning fury more so aimed towards herself due to her foolishness for even believing that she had him understood – something he wanted.
Where she was a master of most martial arts, those who bared the mantle of Kraven The Hunter were masters of all, and as Laura quickly learned, this whole entire time…he was toying with her – seeing what she had to offer.
She would show him that she was made to be the best there is.
"Oh, Facility? Capture you? I know of no such thing," Kraven slyly remarked as Laura wiped away the blood from her face.
"There is no point in lying, you said you came here to hunt a weapon – to hunt me," she declared, circling around Kraven as he did her, the two resembling two hungry predators analyzing the other.
"Undoubtedly, you are a weapon, a good one too, but you and I both know that I was not lying when I said 'I know of no such thing,'" Kraven pointed out which confused her. Yes, she could detect that he was not lying when he was talking about hunting her, but there were other a plethora of things she could not detect from him, and taking him at face value was beyond naïve.
His previous statements indicated that he was here for a weapon – her, until Peter caught his attention but much to his dismay, he was stolen by the monster who she would deal with after him.
Any other interpretation of his words contradicted her knowledge but if he were to be telling the truth, if he did not indeed come for her...
"I said before, 'I came here for the spider – to hunt a weapon, like me,'" Laura Kinney paused.
Her stoic expression shattered.
Weapon?
Kraven The Hunter, a renowned and deadly title given to heirs who were known to all related in the criminal and mercenary business had not come for her at the behest of The Facility.
If she was not plagued by the statement he just spoke, she would almost be relieved but Kraven The Hunter knew something about Peter Parker which she didn't.
Something that was not possible.
"He is not a weapon!" Laura staunchly snarled but this earned a snort from Kraven.
"The arrogance of the young, you think you know, but you do not," he scolded before continuing what he was going to say, "Here is a little question for you. You call yourself a weapon, no? Your skills, your abilities, your body crafted for perfection – crafted for battle, but do you not find it odd that he is almost the same?" Kraven asked which caused Laura to slightly lower her gaze, contemplating his words.
Kraven had a point, she was crafted for battle, and her powers resembled that. All of her abilities allowed her to excel or be proficient at all things, enabling her to adapt to countless situations and battles quickly but Peter Parker was the same.
His speed, his reflexes, they both matched hers and though his primary senses may not have been enhanced to the same levels of hers, his sixth one had equalized it, and if her theories were correct on its potential, then it could possibly far exceed hers when it came to combat efficiency.
But his power, his durability, even his stamina when it came to regeneration far outmatched hers. Where she could regenerate wounds instantaneously, a small amount of respite was all Peter Parker needed to regain his strength and fight at full capacity despite being gravely injured.
All of these traits made him perfect for everything combat related.
Like her….
"On this beautiful blue marble we call home, there are those who have been bestowed gifts through multiple means. Those who are born with them, those who gain them through a mystical mist, and those who gain them through fate, but what all these sub-races of superhumans have in common is that they all follow the same principle," Kraven spoke, lifting up a finger, never once dropping his guard, "They have control over one theme or one ability. Take your fellow geroy The Human Torch, he can generate flame and control them, yes? Or Electro, who is living electricity. Now there are exceptions, those who have more, but then there are those who have everything."
"Those who have the strength of goliaths."
Powerman grunted as he swung his fists Taskmaster's way.
"Speed faster than any cheetah, reflexes as fast as lightning."
Taskmaster chuckled, effortlessly dodging the brain-splattering punch which traveled at inhuman speeds with a modest display of agility.
"Senses so keen, so advanced, that they make a healthy man seem blind and deaf."
In an area of the city separated from the battles that took place but related, blood seeped past the crevice of a door that caged prisoners – men, women, boys, girls, and anything else watched with desperate and hopeful eyes upon hearing gun fire and yells be silenced.
The door was kicked down.
The victims who were subjected to treatment which made them feel like less than human eyed the three blood-soaked claws belonging to the man who had just dealt with their captors.
"And a brain so smart – so fast, that everyone else seems slow."
Shurikens in the shape of bats quickly sliced through Spider-Man's web-lines, which precisely led him into The Hobgoblin's pumpkin bombs that were seemingly wildly thrown but always a quick thinker, Peter Parker survived the array of weapons thrown at him unscathed.
"And do you want to know why these select few have such abilities which make them perfect for most, if not all situations? It is because they are weapons, and once you know this, it is easy to differentiate a weapon from the rest. When I look at you, I can easily tell that you are a weapon, but I can also tell that you are one who is also born with power due to your claws and impressive regeneration – a trait not displayed by all weapons," Kraven explained to Laura who was still trying to wrap her head around the possibilities of what came with this knowledge.
If everything that he said were to be true then Spider-Man…then Peter…was a weapon…but…that did not make sense.
He was bitten by a spider which was the source of his powers, and she knew that Peter Parker had not lied to her because that was not who Peter Parker was but…
"The Spider…" Laura thought within her mind.
Peter Parker was bitten by a genetically engineered Spider.
She had not questioned it – had not even thought about it, but why would anyone be genetically engineering spiders which could grant powers?
What could possibly be given to create such spiders?
"But the term 'weapon' is too broad, used in order to replace the other – more accurate term," Kraven trailed off which piqued Laura's interest immensely.
There was another term for weapon?
Kraven grinned upon noticing the keen interest on the weapon's face.
"You see Malen'kaya l'vitsa, the other term for 'weapon'– the proper term is…"
"The Super Soldier," Kraven eagerly and proudly declared.
Though her expression remained stoic, the slight jolting of her body had told Kraven enough.
Told him that she was caught off guard by such a revelation.
"Yes Little Lioness, you, me, your spider, The so-called 'Powerman' and a select few at some point have all been exposed to our government's attempt at recreating the legendary super soldier serum. Me, through inheriting my father's apex genetics which was then furthered through the KGB's own attempts, and you and your spider through your own means."
"We are real super-soldiers, unlike this poor excuse who sullies us by laying claim to the title with his lackluster skills," Kraven spat at the unconscious body of Crossbones, "Though he is a good example, for all the flaws that he is riddled with, are flaws that we too have – though, not nearly to the same extent. We all lack certain abilities or do not meet the same capabilities as our apex, the first, the perfect weapon… The Sentinel of Liberty, The Living Legend, Steve Roger's: Captain America," Kraven stated with the utmost admirability and respect.
"These flaws however allow us to be superior in certain aspects, like you with your incredible speed and senses, and me with my senses and strength," Kraven informed her.
Captain America.
She had encountered him before, even battled him for a brief moment, but despite all her training, all her abilities, the relic of a bygone age had easily bested her in a matter of seconds.
Too many thoughts were running through her head, despite her vast knowledge of most things, she lacked much when it came to her own origins due to The Facility limiting information relating to the matter but…but everything made sense. It made sense as to why both she and Logan had vastly more powers than the other mutants at the Institute, made sense as to why Peter Parker had matched her in most feats.
Everything made sense, save for one thing…
"Why are you telling me this!" Laura demanded to know why The Hunter would even bother informing her of such a thing.
The Hunter chuckled.
"Because everyone should have the right to the knowledge of their heritage, and it is the very reasoning as to why I am here…you see, your Pauk and Powerman are the first of the next generation of Super Soldiers, not meant to recreate but to Evolve it. Powerman however, isn't as nimble, sacrificing agility for power, whereas the Pauk, doesn't just take strength to the next, but speed and agility as well – maintaining the perfect balance as seen with The Captain. Who better than to test my skill and power than him!" Kraven excitedly explained, his simple, modest, and methodical voice had ramped up to be uproarious and untamed.
"Me," Talon staunchly declared as she entered her fighting stance once more, putting all her thoughts to the side, "You will not touch him," she hissed.
Kraven laughed in amusement, taking out a pair of dual machetes which were sheathed on his back in response to her words.
"You are good lioness, you truly are! This fight has not let me down and I have truly found more than what I was initially looking for but all this battle has done is make me reconsider my previous arrangement. Once I am done with you, I will slay the Goblin who dares take my hunt, I will kill your Pauk! And I will be a living legend, Just like my Father!" Kraven madly yelled, rushing towards her as she did him.
They clashed with each other once more.
"You'll be dead meat!" She snarled, immediately fainting, baiting Kraven to attack which prompted her to counter, giving her the opportunity to carve open his side, but a powerful elbow to her check had ceased any attempt to continue her assault.
Stumbling back a bit due to the force of what she believed to be two tons. Laura quickly recovered as both she and Kraven opposed each other, The Hunter greatly impressed by the wound he had just received.
"Such anger, such lethality, such loyalty for the boy! perhaps I misjudged you…" Kraven backtracked with fire in his eyes, going on the complete offensive this time – fighting for real, with levels of excitement that were unbounded appearing on his face.
The girl was not just second's he received, no, she was an equal and perfect substitute for his burning passion for fighting – for hunting.
Gritting her teeth, Talon kept up with Kraven's offensive assault, able to not just stand before, but fight the esteemed assassin whose prestige was earned. Where she fought with speed and agility, incorporating acrobatics and gymnastics to incorporate her foot claws into her string of attacks, Kraven used his power and fighting prowess to mitigate the damage she could do and predict her moves.
Though he was marginally slower, his battle intellect was much above hers, allowing him to diagonally slash her against the chest.
Stopping the other machete from doing the same, she growled in pain, not expecting her wounds from the machetes to heal due to the radioactive smell they emitted.
And her wounds did not indeed heal, which proved her suspicion that the metal which made up Kraven's machetes was that of Carbonadium – a radioactive metal that was stronger than steel and much more malleable but this caused it to be weaker than any grade of adamantium but still nearly invulnerable, making it hard for her to cleave through.
But the metal, outside its greater affordability, had the advantage of negating healing factors due to its radioactive properties and it would make sense that The Hunter would have such weapons for not only would they be useful against a being like her, but the metal had also hailed from his family's home country.
And The Kravenoff's were a very influential family.
"I call you Lioness because The Pauk is a lion, has the lion's heart, its power, it's conviction, but you…you are a wolf…yes…a wolf, that is what you are…" Kraven stated, noticing how much harder she pushed when he mentioned Spider-Man, witnessing the traits she displayed which were common with the hound that did anything to survive and protect the ones it cared about.
"You have the wolf's undying loyalty and protection when you step in front The Pauk in the face of numerous enemies, you have their ferocity with your anger, and you have their instincts," He blocked a move from her which would have killed him should he be anyone lesser, "But you waste them, rather choosing to fight like a computer – planning out every single optimal move before striking, instead of letting instinct guide you," and as he said this, he blocked each one of Laura's moves as her brain did exactly what Kraven said.
Planning and choosing the most optimal move.
"And you have their nature – hunting and murder being rooted within your own," He slashed her on her collar, just above her breasts, adding to the numerous scratches and wounds which littered her body.
"You are wrong!" She spat, managing to clash against Kraven's weapons once again, ceasing his assault which surprised The Hunter.
"Am I?" Kraven arrogantly rhetorically asked, "Like I was wrong with the Super Soldier? What about those you bled dry in that club or that seks-torgovets who is teasing Lady Death herself not too far from here?" He viciously pointed out, managing to get the upper hand, headbutting her and sending her stumbling back.
"If anything, it is you who are wrong, you who does not know your nature. Even as we fight, every move you make is intended to be a fatal blow and yet you argue that killing is not in your nature?" Laura had gone on the defensive at this point, Kraven pushing her more and more, The Hunter being able to read her as easily as he would a children's book.
"You are a wolf standing amongst lions, trying to live their way, trying to believe you are one of them, that you do not want to kill," With each slash he attempted to maim her with, Laura blocked and weaved, pushing through the pain, refusing to let him attack her again and with her staunch determination, in a moment where she didn't think, she managed to devastatingly impale her claws deep into his side before pulling them out with an animalistic roar.
"I don't!" Laura staunchly declared before making a move to attack him again,
"Then tell me, why is it that you're trying to kill me?" Kraven asked, countering her lethal blow, ceasing her momentary triumph.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Kraven instantly ceased whatever it was he was going to do as the battle between Hunter and Assassin had been interrupted by the hysterical, deranged laughter of The Hobgoblin who was speedily approaching them at a hundred-thirty miles per hour.
Starved eyes locked on Laura, The Hobgoblin shifted his weight to have his glider rotate in a series of three-hundred-and-sixty-degree spins while excitedly and repeatedly tossed handfuls of horrifically smiling bombs that were yearning to fulfil their one and only purpose of conducting death through complete obliteration. Ceasing their fight with an elbow across her cheek, Kraven got a head start on leaving the blast radius as he and Laura ran to opposite sides but where Kraven would just make it out, Laura Kinney's brain informed her that escape would be impossible through the countless scenario's that played within her head.
Fortunately, her brain failed to think about the scenario that would most likely happen
Peter Parker came just in time, speedily collecting all the airborne bombs around her with his webs before tossing them high into the air and at The Hobgoblin who was vertically looping above him.
Immediately after the explosion, Kraven leaped through the cloud of combustion and instantly went after Spider-Man who was still in the air.
Completely and utterly focused on The Hobgoblin and protecting Laura, his spider-sense was the only thing that alerted him that Kraven was going for his heart, and in a split second, he managed to kick both the machete's within his grasp out of his hands which left the Russian Hunter resorting to tackling him to the ground.
Initially aiming to aid him with Kraven, Laura had rushed towards Peter but her senses dictated her to look up into the sky, watching on as The Hobgoblin finished his vertical loop and aimed to take advantage of the heated scuffle Spider-Man was tangled with, a devious smile displaying his intent to crucify the both of them with his gliders razor sharp prongs.
Seeing the surprise attack heading towards Peter, Laura intervened, slashing at The Hobgoblins prongs before they could impale the two.
"Yes, I can finally have my hunt!" Kraven excitedly declared, pinning Peter to the ground, saliva dripping from his mouth due to him having the moment he was dreaming of.
"Oh, No-no-no!" The Hobgoblin violently shook his head, bringing his glider beyond Laura's reach before regaining control of it. "That was going to be a phenomenal death – a perfect death, a poetic death! oh well...I'll just kill you instead," he raged before shrugging, changing tone and deviously rushing at her with deranged laughter.
"You're gonna have to take a rain check on that!" Spider-Man's voice violently spat, flinging Kraven off of him with his feet and directly at The Hobgoblin, diverting his course from Laura before forcing him to stay as far away from her as possible.
With both parties resuming their battle with their matched opponents, Peter attached himself to the Hobgoblin's glider with a web-line before he rocketed above the clouds while Laura clashed with Kraven, intercepting his attempt to take Spider-Man all for himself.
Ceasing his ascent, The Hobgoblin reset himself and looked around for Spider-Man, only to be flung off his glider by him. Peter had propelled himself into a loop, hitting The Goblin square in the chest and forcing the two to trade blows with each other as they free-fell in the air.
The Hobgoblin joyfully laughed, enjoying the exhilarating high-speed free-fall combat he had with Spider-Man and the empowered blows he hit him with. Even with his increased strength, The Hobgoblin took his blows – which were stronger than anything he gave Norman, with a smile.
Peter's mind told him it was most likely due to some shock-absorbing material in his garb.
In their midst between who would hit the ground first, The Hobgoblin chuckled and Spider-Man's spider-sense went off, and already knowing what he was going to do, The Goblin experienced vigilante decided to show that he had already done this dance before.
Instead of the glider ramming into Spider-Man, getting him off The Hobgoblin and allowing him to set foot on his advantageous glider, Peter used his spider-like agility to contort his body just enough to dodge it, and with him being parallel with the glider, he did the only thing that he could.
He took control of it.
The Hobgoblin watched with dazzled eyes as The Spider-themed hero jet past him until enough distance could be made between the two, and with a specific movement from his right foot, a cable ejected from the bottom of the glider, ensnaring the Hobgoblin in a tight metallic cord specifically crafted and designed to hold and contain Spider-Man himself.
Commandeering the glider with a tight hold around The Hobgoblin, Peter waited until he almost collided with the street to instantly pull up, sending The Hobgoblin to violently create a crater within the eight-inch concrete street – but this was just the beginning. He dragged his body across the ground at high speeds, planning on using him as a makeshift wrecking ball to ram into Kraven and assist the struggling Laura.
He forced Kraven to dodge lest he be hit with a more than two-hundred-pound man of pure muscle which allowed Laura to slash him across his chest and put him on the defensive.
After having him crash into the surrounding area, Spider-Man pulled up once more, forcefully taking the Hobgoblin with him. Pushing the glider to go as fast as he could, he released his bound assailant, leaving him suspended in the air. The Hobgoblin quickly took this as an opportunity to free himself but upon hearing the roaring of a familiar engine, he turned around only to get instantly clotheslined from his foe who spiraled at him like a twirling torpedo which had sent him crashing onto the rooftop of a building.
Quick to get on his feet, he watched as Peter flew overhead, instinctually – as if it was hard-wired deep into his being, doing a small trick where he briefly jumped off the glider only to land back on it, using the abrupt weight to sharply pull up into the sky.
He commanded the glider to summon a pumpkin bomb in each hand as he blankly – hauntingly, stared at The Hobgoblin who watched him in amazement.
Leaping off from the glider, Peter tossed both bombs at it, causing a sky-shaking explosion and deafening scream by the ignition and explosion of the endless supply of bombs that the glider contained.
Firing a web-line with the full intention of ramming his two feet into The Hobgoblin's torso, Peter was about to do such a thing, but the predictable motion of the swing allowed for the Hobgoblin to dodge it and instantaneously wrap his arms around Peter's torso.
With an excited chuckle, he suplexed him so hard that the two of them fell through the roof and entered the apartment down below, absolutely terrifying the family who were left shrieking upon witnessing the two costumed powerhouses that abruptly came crashing into their living room, destroying and demolishing everything in it.
The Hobgoblin was the first to stand and upon witnessing the family he maniacally laughed, pointing his fingers at them – aiming right at the child who was stuffed behind his father.
Panic crossed his face, already knowing what he was going to do, Peter jumped in the way before the violent aggressive current could vaporize them.
Another one of The Green Goblin's weapons, interwoven in the gloves were micro-circuit-conducting filaments that were connected to a battery pack in the cuffs which allowed for the discharge a volatile electrical current – named The Goblin Blast, at the tip of the index finger which would kill any regular person with a single strike.
But instead of a green electrical blast hitting him and him recoiling and spazzing from the excruciating pain which surged all over his body, he was met with a blazing blast of flames and overwhelming heat which scorched his costume, the concussive force of the blast sending him crashing out of the room.
Matching Spider-Man's tumbling speed, The Hobgoblin aggressively gave chase, reaching out into his back leather pouch before throwing six razor-bat shuriken's which sped past Spider-Man who the Hobgoblin picked up by the neck and spun around with, the razor bat's he threw ricocheting off the walls and lacerating Peter while The Hobgoblin choke slammed him through another floor.
Again, The Hobgoblin was first to get onto his feet but he was soon sent off of them as his chin came into contact with both of Peter's heels. Turning the tables, Peter came rocketing from his spot, lifting the both of them into the air. Using his momentum which carried him past his foe, Peter used both his web-shooters to fire two web-lines at the floor beneath them, using his strength to pull himself down to crash into both The Hobgoblin and the ground, causing the both of them to crash through it, and the floor underneath.
Backflipping away from The Hobgoblin who sought to get him off with an attack, the two – both on their feet, charged at each other, dodging each other's moves and attacking before their fists collided, and as if it was two equal opposing forces, both Spider-Man and The Hobgoblin recoiled from the power of the other before instantly entering a grapple.
Red and white eyes fiercely and intensely started the other down as they battled for control.
"I'll give it to you Hobby, you're pretty good. You pull off the disgusting, evil, psychotic maniac part well, but I've done this dance before, and I've done it with someone better than you!" The Hobgoblin certainly had the insanity part down, alongside the proficiency of his gadgets, but he was not Norman Osborn. Insane he may have been, Norman Osborn was an expert at using his arsenal, more than proficient at hand-to-hand combat, and what made him terrifying was how seemingly everything went according to his plan.
And there was something about The Hobgoblin losing the grapple, getting sucker punched across the face and bleeding from the mouth which informed Peter that this was not a part of whatever plan he had.
The Hobgoblin fought like a wild beast – like Rhino, wildly and un-strategically using his power for the sole purpose of killing him – different from Osborn who fought strategically.
The Hobgoblin, however, as Peter noticed, was much stronger.
Though he still held himself back from using his full strength, he wasn't exactly pulling his punches.
He wondered if The Hobgoblin was holding back.
He narrowed his eyes.
It wouldn't matter.
Now Peter Parker wasn't the best fighter either, but having to fight multiple assassins in the past, The Green Goblin, and having some fighting tips from Daredevil himself, he was at least better than average and with his powers, better than average allowed him to win most fights.
And he was going to win this one.
"Oh spider, you have to give me a chance, I promise you I'm a whole lot better than what Norman ever could be," The Hobgoblin smeared the blood from his mouth onto his glove before launching himself at Spider-Man, swiping at him with his talons.
"A whole lot better in what way? Not being my competition? Or wearing prison orange?" Spider-Man snickered, weaving The Hobgoblin's animalistic slashes, "A real Goblin uses his power to take what he wants, you use yours to follow the orders of someone who The Green Goblin wouldn't even look at," Spider-Man stated fiercely, catching The Hobgoblin's animalistic slash and hitting him with all his might, the force sending The Hobgoblin straight out of the building.
The Hobgoblin during all of this though…was laughing like he had the entire time.
But his laughs were quickly silenced, replaced by grunts and screeches as he clenched his fists so hard – digging his talons deep into his hands that blood came out.
And with a shriek, his momentum ceased.
The Hobgoblin found a spot in the air.
Peter Parker widened his eyes.
Out from The Goblin's back came wings.
What?
Large, demonic wings which had unfurled themselves underneath his cape had left Spider-Man completely stunned.
The Hobgoblin hauntingly screeched before instantly rocketing towards Peter at speeds which left him unprepared.
Grabbing him by the mouth, he rammed him through the opposite end of the building he was in with a grip so hard, so strong, that it threatened to break his jaw.
The unveiling of his wings accompanied by The Hobgoblins new found strength, or strength he always had, left his mind in a frenzy but discarding all his previous thoughts due to his currently dire situation, Spider-Man struggled against The Hobgoblin's hold on him, a hold he once could break but now no longer.
But an idea soon came to mind which made it so he didn't have to.
The Hobgoblin wasn't the only one with upgrades.
On top of more strength and sixteen-inch stingers – which destroyed his web-shooters, Spider-Man had another ability up his sleeve.
He had fangs laced with poison.
And a hand right over his mouth.
Biting through his mask and deep into The Hobgoblin's hand, Peter Parker's fangs courtesy of his recent mutation pumped a paralyzing poison deep into The Hobgoblin's body which immediately froze him and caused the two to crash for his wings had ceased to flap as well.
They went through a billboard, ceasing their momentum and causing them to tumble across the concrete rooftops just above Kraven and Laura.
Struggling to get up, Peter got his reins as quickly as he could to avoid any attack from The Hobgoblin but upon getting onto his feet, he saw that his body was still frozen.
He hesitantly made his way towards the frozen body of The Hobgoblin, his mind racing with too many questions while he constantly searched for his spider-sense.
He told himself that the wings were not real, that the exposed goblin skin and mask were just a part of the outfit, with the wings just being a piece of technology that followed Norman Osborn's flair for medieval theatrics and monsters.
"You're not the only one who's better than what came before Hobby… I am too…" Spider-Man declared in between breaths, kneeling down beside his paralyzed opponent.
"Now it's time to see who you really are," Spider-Man said as he wrapped his hand around The Hobgoblin's mask.
He paused for a moment, contemplating who it could be before taking a firm hold and pulling it off.
Except he didn't take it off.
He didn't pull on a mask.
He pulled on skin.
The Hobgoblin's eyes lit up.
Spider-Man's spider-sense went off.
It went on overdrive, warning him to get as far away from where he was as possible.
In no less than a second, The Hobgoblin's body blew up in a flash of light and flame which sent Spider-Man off the rooftop they were on.
Catching himself, he latched onto the opposing building and watched with growing anxiety.
With fearful eyes which were behind scorched lenses, Peter watched as The Hobgoblin slowly raised to his feet, his malignant primordial roar echoing while flames surrounded and encased his darkened silhouette like he was a demon from hell.
This was no illusion, no trick, no piece of technology created by Norman Osborn.
This was power.
Real power.
The Hobgoblin stood up strong, the flames which once encased his body quickly dissipating as he devilishly grinned at the hero's expression which could easily be seen despite the mask.
"Oh…you are fantastic…I'm glad I decided to give you a chance," He praised hysterically as if he had already triumphed, "I can see why Osborn lost himself with you!" He enthusiastically roared, his voice hitting new depths while his eyes emitted red embers.
"Osborn?" Laura thought as she overheard what the demon in orange said but all current and future rapidly growing questions would all be answered and quickly replaced by even more alarming ones upon hearing what came next.
"YOU TRULY ARE HIS GREATEST CREATION!" The Hobgoblin continued as Spider-Man watched on blankly, unable to comprehend what was happening.
"HIS GOBLIN HEIR!"
Laura looked in surprise, Kraven doing the same thing as The Hobgoblin laughed viciously.
"Greatest creation? Goblin Heir?" The Hobgoblin's words rang throughout her mind as she looked at Peter who was clinging on a wall.
In the span of three sentences, The costumed villain who Peter was battling had all but confirmed what Kraven had said, confirmed that he was a weapon like her while giving her the invaluable pieces of information that Norman Osborn was the notorious and murderous monster known as "The Green Goblin."
Someone who had created Peter Parker, or at the very least – as she theorized, the spider that bit him.
Someone who wanted to turn him into something he was not.
Her heart sank a bit.
He had not told her any of this.
"YOU ASKED ME HOW I WAS BETTER? I'll TELL YOU!" The Hobgoblin yelled, reaching for his belt, "NORMAN OSBORN WANTED SO DESPERATELY TO MAKE YOU HIS SUCCESSOR, WHERE AS I…" he pulled out a sword with no blade, it's gothic hilt in the shape of a winged pumpkin's smile, lit up.
"I JUST WANT TO KILL YOU! AND GET YOU OUT OF THE WAY!" And out from the hilt, with a mighty 'fwoosh', The Hobgoblin illuminated the sky with an orange blade constructed of pure plasma which was encased in a vicious storm of flames before rushing at him with a harrowing screech which sent terror down Spider-Man's spine.
Barley dodging The Hobgoblin's attack, Spider-Man watched as when The Hobgoblin struck previous his spot, everything which was caught in the blade's path was atomized.
As The Hobgoblin turned around, Peter immediately broke into the opposing building, his brain trying to come up with some semblance of plan as to what to do against an amped goblin who could fly, had fire powers, and a laser-fire sword.
A freaking fire laser sword.
What the hell could he do against that?
He looked down at his wrists.
"Your bone density allows your stingers to cut through most metals with ease, while also being extremely hard to break, Peter," He heard the voice of Reed Richards speak, his brain recalling the various tests they did.
Trying to instinctively tell him what to do.
Oh no…
He didn't like what it was trying to do but with no other option, he gulped.
Reed's never let him down before, he won't now.
"Reed Richard's you better be right!" Spider-Man urgently took off the web shooter on his right hand and webbed it to a wall.
His spider-sense went off as he pulled his glove back up.
Whipping his body around, he watched The Hobgoblin come bursting through the floor he was running on, sword over head, aimed to split him in two.
Putting all his faith into the smartest man on the planet, Spider-Man withdrew the stinger on his main hand – a gift from his x-gene, and clashed against the plasma sword.
Sparks flew wildly everywhere as both The Hobgoblin and Peter were stunned by his stingers resilience, but feeling the odd sensation of the sword making its way through his now much-loved power, Spider-Man pushed The Hobgoblin's blade to the side and punched him as hard as he could with his left hand, sending him back.
The Hobgoblin snarled, spitting out blood.
Peter's punch obviously damaged him.
Angering him.
Strengthening the flames of the sword by imbuing it with his power, he let out a primordial animalistic roar and instigated combat, swinging his sword more viciously and speedily at Peter who dodged when he could and used his stinger when he couldn't.
Clashing and slashing, Peter's bone-blade had an easier time contesting The Hobgoblin's plasma brand, but with each clash – he made sure to be no more than a second, he could feel more and more of the bone marrow quickly giving in.
Peter wondered if he could heal these back.
They were a big help.
What would've been a big help would be Laura's adamantium claws but having her fight The Hobgoblin was something he would not – under any circumstance, allow.
But that would quickly change as The Hobgoblin instantly went to strike, using his superhuman strength and wings to go at fast speeds.
Spider-Sense going off yet again along with his accelerated vision, he managed to dodge The Hobgoblin's vicious strikes which left a trail of flames, but forced to clash against his sword once more – for the fourth time, Peter had to sacrifice his stinger to keep the rest of his body intact as The Hobgoblin overpowered him.
"I've told you how I'm better than Osborn – showed you that I am, now tell me, how are you better than the you from before!" The Hobgoblin angrily asked, both he and Spider-Man battling above the streets once more. Peter struggled to move in his domain, the absence of one of his web-shooters hindering his movement greatly and leaving him susceptible to The Hobgoblin's suffocating aerial assault, "Is it because you have new powers?" he shouted, flying around Peter who was barely able to keep up.
Unrelentlessly The Hobgoblin propelled himself towards Spider-Man, taking large swings at The Webslinger who just barely managed to pull himself away with his webs or contort his body just the right way, causing him to zoom past him.
Whatever gave The Hobgoblin his powers made him stronger than the Green Goblin, not as strong as Peter but his hide – his skin, turned the odds in The Hobgoblin's favor on a physical aspect and The Hobgoblin's wings had given him more prowess than the glider.
"What is this? Fanfiction? Oh, How do I make my M.C. better – more interesting? OOOH OOOH I know, I'll make him super-overpowered and screw every girl in the story!" The Hobgoblin laughed as he used his whole hand to conjure up a goblin blast of scorching heat which hit Peter directly in the shoulder, the pain of the burn leaving him too preoccupied to deal with the fact that he was falling.
He crashed down onto the street.
The Hobgoblin did the same, ceasing the movement of his wings and having gravity use his weight to send him onto the street with a loud 'boom.' Shattering it with his landing – with his power.
He looked past his hood with his hellish eyes, relishing in the sight of Spider-Man who grunted in agonizing pain from the quickly dying flame which burnt his shoulder.
"You think more power makes you better? Please don't ever pick up a pen," he laughed to himself, beginning his menacing walk towards the struggling hero, flourishing his eager blade.
The rampant flames generated by whatever mechanism were brought to new levels; the out-of-control, unshackled flames of the sword displaying The Hobgoblin's burning intent to eviscerate him from the face of the earth.
"Now, you see, I'm an honest believer that narratively a hero is better the more they struggle – the more they suffer!...But in the real world!" He yelled, bringing his sword overhead in a reverse grip, "THEY'RE BETTER OFF DEAD!" he brought it down with all his might, intending to impale the hero.
"No!" Laura growled, her claws instantly meeting the blade and stopping it from going further.
Crouching over Peter's body so that she could simultaneously protect him and meet the Hobgoblin's sword, her adamantium claws effortlessly endured The Hobgoblin's plasma sword much to his vexation.
Snarling fiercely like a rabid animal, The Hobgoblin eyed Talon as she did the same to the demon before her.
"You wretched interloper!" He viciously spoke through his teeth, using his strength to push against her claws and win the stalemate but with Peter Parker's life on the line, Laura Kinney refused to crumble against The Hobgoblin's daunting might.
Panicking immediately as Laura had joined in their fight, Peter from his fallen position immediately tripped up The Hobgoblin and threw him as far away as he could by his leg.
"Get out of here!" Spider-Man stood up, imploring her to get as far away from here as possible, "This isn't your fight!" having Laura fight The Hobgoblin was the last he ever wanted to happen right now.
"IT IS!" She snapped, glaring at the wounds and burns that adorned his body, her blood and anger reaching new heights at the sight before her.
Super Soldiers, Weapons, Norman Osborn, The Green Goblin, The Goblin Heir, Kraven, her nature, none of that mattered in the moment for her.
All that mattered was Peter Parker and the bittering, infuriating, wrathful idea of someone taking his life.
"And I'll end it!" She charged at The Hobgoblin who did the same, flying towards her, his sword eagerly craving for her head.
"YOU'LL BE ENDING YOUR PATHETIC LIFE FIGHTING ME GIRL!" he screeched, readying his sword for a strike but this was Talon – not Spider-Man, someone who was not just proficient, not just an expert, but one of the best.
Dodging his sword strike, she slashed across his side which caused him to agonizingly grunt and a punch from Peter who had quickly jumped in to assist Laura, capitalized on his distraction and sent the creature back the way he came.
The Hobgoblin dug his feet into the ground but immediately tumbled, realizing that his tendons had been slashed. He grit his teeth and recovered, using his Goblin strength - his tenacity to force his legs to bear his weight and allow him to wildly slash in a large arc behind him where he knew Talon was.
His sword being made of plasma and flame – wielded by The Hobgoblin who had monstrous strength and stamina, had practically no weight which allowed him to rapidly swing, leaving Laura no room to attack. She blocked each strike with her claws, finding that The Hobgoblin's speed was a perfect match for hers – a perfect match of Peter's.
But could his speed keep up with two?
Spider-Man joined in quickly and The Hobgoblin took the two teens on.
But the demon's speed allowed him to take both of them on.
With a petrifying open smile, The six-one devil weaved their barrage with his intense speed and agility, using one hand to wield his mighty sword and the other to use his demonic strength and control over scalding fire.
He pushed the two heroes reaction times and speed to their limits with his hastened attacks but with having his attention split between the two, the tag team duo had found that there were more chances of attack, and upon taking advantage of such chances, they quickly found themselves gaining the upper hand.
Snarling, he sent the two back with a burst of flames, using his wings to gain altitude and come up with a plan.
He hadn't counted on the rumors of Spider-Man's partner being true.
Even with his augmented form, handling both of them would prove to be a challenge.
It was why he didn't outright murder Kraven, putting the hunter in his place and having him settle for his partner while he went off to kill Spider-Man but even that paltry task seemed to be too much for him.
No matter, he would just –
He shrieked in utter pain, feeling the excruciating sensation of flesh tearing – the sting of cold metal piercing his back, causing him to fall back down on the ground in agony. Ears twitching, hearing the rustling of clothes in the wind and the singing of a metal, The Hobgoblin instantly turned around, using his sword to clash against the metallic spear which went for his heart.
"What are you doing?" The Hobgoblin hissed at Kraven who had just aimed to kill him, "They are the ones who we are supposed to kill, not me, you brain-dead dog!"
"I have not forgotten, demon! But Kraven The Hunter will not settle for seconds! I came here to kill the spider, to test my skills –"
"And I gave you the girl!" he angrily growled, pushing The Hunter's spear back, but moving with his spear, Kraven spun around and twirled his weapon, meeting The Hobgoblin's sword once more
"And I am taking her too, along with your head!" and with that declaration, The Hobgoblin found himself battling Spider-Man, Talon, and Kraven The Hunter.
Not a coward, The Hobgoblin was going to fight all three, however, he ceased his dash and screech when an odd feeling commanded him to look at his hand.
He narrowed his eyes in absolute loathing upon witnessing talons retract and the decay of skin.
He growled.
"You want to take them…FINE! JOIN THEM IN ANNIHILATION!" He yelled and in swift motion, he yanked his belt from his side and threw his pouches full of bombs far into the air, before clenching his hand as if he was hurting himself – pushing himself beyond his limit, and releasing a devastating beam of fire headed straight for a bag of explosives.
And in an instant, the blast eviscerated the pouches – igniting the bombs, in a blinding light and incinerating flame which enveloped the surrounding area in a catastrophic explosion which emitted frightening screams that jumbled together into a ghastly and deafening cry.
When the dust settled, Laura Kinney regained consciousness with her head throbbing, ears ringing, and nose blinded by the powerful and eye-irritating black cloud of smoke she was immersed in.
Body feeling like it unable to support itself and her once clean and brand new costume now torn and tattered, covered in soot in blood, Laura Kinney searched her surroundings – for Peter, her exposed emerald eye and her covered one scanning the area frantically, her last memory of the boy being him sheltering her from the blast.
Nose rendered useless, she urgently scoured the area for any indication of Peter Parker, not letting any of her injuries get in the way of the task.
Unintentionally, she found herself walking outside of the smoke cloud.
The Hobgoblin was gone.
Her emerald eyes instantly widened before angrily glaring; her claws followed suit as she caught sight of Kraven wielding his spear, facing her with an intense gaze.
He was also wounded, cuts from her and minor burns from the Hobgoblin's bombs decorating his body.
She grit her teeth.
He holstered his spear on his back.
Her claws remained ready.
"Smart, very smart," He praised her once more, "You have impressed me a lot Malen'kiy volk, you really have done well," he finished as he subconsciously spoke in his native tongue.
A tongue she understood.
"I could kill you and the Pauk, however, that would be beneath me, much less than either both you and him deserve. I will kill the both of you on my own terms, in our own battle, and when that happens Malen'kiy volk, one of us will not be walking out alive," Kraven said as he began walking away, stopping only once to look at her over her shoulder.
"Until then, sharpen your fangs little wolf, remember what I told you," he said with a grin before disappearing into the night.
He carried the scent of the mad demon's bombs with him, meaning that she could detect him while he fled, and she made sure he disappeared far from her range before taking her eyes off the direction he was in.
She could track him – yes, chase after him even, but that was not the most optimal thing to do.
Neither was it a priority right now.
Coughing in the distance had caught her attention.
She rushed towards the cough which belonged to a distinct voice she could instantly recognize, letting the sound of it guide her through the quickly fading smoke cloud.
Her heart skipped a beat when she caught sight of him, getting up on all fours, his costume looking even worse than hers.
Head throbbing and ears ringing, Peter Parker powered through all the pulsating pains to search for Laura, his train of thought already reaching levels of worry beyond all reason, but his heart stopped when he caught sight of her.
The two looked at each other, their minds sharing the same thought process before Peter Parker ultimately bolted her way and did something which overwhelmed her to lengths never reached before.
He hugged her.
"I'm so glad you're alright!" He graciously admitted, holding her tightly, smothering her and securing her limp body in his grasp.
She blinked a lot.
Her cheeks became rosy.
Her heart skipped multiple beats.
She did not know how to react.
"Wha…What are you doing?" she questioned, no indication of displeasure or a want of him to cease however he did so immediately upon hearing her question.
She was left…disappointed as Peter was left incredibly embarrassed.
"I was just ...sorry, I-" He stammered, trying to explain the brainless move he often displayed to those he cared about when his mind led him to new levels of worry, but to his comfort, the girl he just hugged had no issue with it.
"There…there is nothing to be sorry about," Laura slowly affirmed, regaining control over the profuse reaction which sparked within her – which touched her.
Peter nodded, fortunate that despite his mask being torn and patches of hair poking through the holes, his cheeks were still mostly covering the massive blush he had.
He lowered his gaze, unable to meet her eyes due to his embarrassment which was quickly put to the side, upon looking at the wounds which still hadn't healed.
"Hey, your wounds…they…" He instantly pointed out in a worried tone, but she quickly soothed his worries.
"They will heal, you should worry about yourself," She added with concern of her own, looking at the burns, lacerations, and bruises which adorned his body.
"I'm not really too good at that," Peter huffed before offering to use his webs to cover her wounds.
She told him that it would not be needed for they had stopped bleeding but he did it anyway.
She forced him to do the same for himself.
They were on a rooftop now, the streets quiet once again as the two gazed at the night sky.
"Looks like The villains got away – again," Spider-Man mumbled bitterly.
Standing behind him and gaze locked on his wounds, Laura lowered her gaze, "For the best…" she stated softly before her mind trailed back to the information given to her and memories of her actions and words played within her mind.
She had so many questions...
Norman Osborn was The Green Goblin.
He had something to do with Spider-Man's creation.
Wanted him to be his heir.
He probably also knew what Kraven had told her….that they were super soldiers…weapons.
She did not want to believe it but it would explain a lot.
Explain why he never called her by her number after she initially told him….
Why didn't he tell her about The Green Goblin's involvement? Why didn't he tell her that he too was a weapon? Why didn't he…trust her…?
What did being The Goblin Heir mean?
Her gaze fell lower.
"I don't like talking about it…but you get it…I wasn't kidding when I said we were two of a kind."
It raised, as a surprised expression found its way on her face.
He had.
He did tell her.
He just did it in his own, indirect way.
He did trust her.
And he never lied.
Though relieved at the thought, she was now left with questions of her own nature.
She could do more than kill but…could she ever stop?
"You are a wolf standing amongst lions, trying to live their way, trying to believe you are one of them, that you do not want to kill."
Every move when pushed was a killing blow.
Even though she claimed that she did not want to kill…
…she still made attempts to do so.
On Kraven…on the sex trafficker….
And she wanted to kill them both.
Wanted to kill The Hobgoblin.
Peter had told her that anyone can be a hero…but could she ever escape what The Facility had intended for her?
Was her nature really to kill?
She did not know.
Laura Kinney looked at the sky.
Peter Parker was doing the same, laughter and screams replaying in his mind.
Next: Farewell to The Amazing Spider-Man
How was it?
What was your favorite part?
I wanted to shorten this by like 2k words but I was like, nah, lets spoil you guys.
You don't know how long I've wanted to write this part, it's been in my head even before I left, back when I was writing the ending of the Lizard arc and I had a lot of fun writing this and it took like, a quarter of the time of chapter 14 did.
This and Brace yourself, and the next one are chapters im proud of.
This is the moment where this Peter Parker and the world will drastically deviate from the Spider-Man and world you know, if anything prior did not do that already.
This and the chapter before it also will show and dictate how our heroes will progress.
Writing will be easier now since I've set everything in place. The first act of this arc is done with the next chapter.
Yeah, I just did what I did with The Hobgoblin.
Anyone who knows, you know.
There is a very specific reason why I showed a very specific scene in Spider-Man vs The Green Goblin's final battle. Norman Osborn needs to reach a character point which allows for…well…things…lets just put it like that.
Not only is it just really sick, it plays well into themes and what I want to do with Peter and Laura.
The Goblins medieval/fantasy themes play well with an aspect of Laura that has been forgotten and I want to explore it.
I hope you guys liked these chapters, and I hope you'll like the next one cause after that, Peter Parker will be heading down a new path, and his cast will follow, with Laura Kinney at his right, and Johnny Storm at his left.
P.s: It is now canon That any Goblin(s) who appears or will appear in this story listens to opium.
Norman Osborn listens, well – listened, to Carti, Yeat, and Destroy Lonely.
Yeat x Dxnnyfxntom "Talk" and Destroy Lonely "If looks can kill," helped me write the fight.