If Bren Waters knew what he was really getting into, he would have run for the hills right about now. Standing outside the gates of Korlliya Middle School, his eyes drifted to the statue of the costume man off to the right inside the grounds. It was apparently some early Pro Hero who eventually retired and made big contributions to education in this city. Unfortunately, this didn't help to fully distract Bren from his main concern. No, despite all the tutoring and training he's done, Bren was still nervous about going back to an actual school with actual kids.
It's not that he was particularly anti-social or anything. It was just that, after so many months of basically being a free-range kid, he had to back to being…normal. But then, what was normal to him compared to everyone else? Normal wasn't having an alien symbiote who pulls double duty of being your best friend and source of superpowers. Normal wasn't being yanked from another universe to fight a looming cosmic threat. And normal wasn't starting your first day of school to track his fellow peers of taking illegal power-boosting substances. Then again, this was the life he lived. Not just as Bren Waters. Not just the symbiote. Together, they were Toxin, and they can survive school.
Bren noticed footsteps and turned to face his first friend in Japan, Ryo.
"So, ready for your first step back into the wonderful world of public school?" Ryo asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Bren answered.
Come on, I want to sink our teeth into the student body. The symbiote communicated telepathically.
There were other ways of saying you wanted to get to know other kids without putting it that way. Bren replied.
Just keeping you on your toes.
Uh-huh.
The two stepped through the gate and looked around the courtyard. Kids who were either the same age as them or younger were scatted across the yard. Some were just hanging out, others on their phones, some were actively trying to finish homework that was probably due in the next couple hours or so. Despite his extensive planning, Bren was still dissatisfied that he was considered a middle school student.
"It's hard to keep thinking myself as a middle schooler," Bren noted. "Back home, we would be freshmen in high school by now."
"Right, but then we would be at the bottom of the social totem pole." Ryo argued. "Here, we get to lord all the lower classmen, like what you'd call the seventh graders."
"That's the problem. I don't want to lord over seventh graders. I hated seventh grade! Why would I want to subject myself to interacting with seventh graders?"
"Because seniority holds power, and it's satisfying having a bunch of twelve-year-olds respect you. Also, it's probably best to keep on their good sides."
"I remember what we were like back then. We were cringe but exceptionally vicious when motivated."
"Alright, enough about the lower classmen. Let me show you where homeroom is!" Ryo guided Bren further inside.
Ryo led Bren to his assigned homeroom class, which thankfully, was the same as hers. Upon arriving, Bren was able to recognize some familiar faces from those who volunteered at Sanctuary House. Some students waved or nodded at Bren; others just gave him a glance. The official introduction was quick. The teacher asked Bren to introduce himself to the class. Bren gave out his name and his (fake) Quirk and then was told to take a seat. Classes went on as usual. Well, usual for everyone who was familiar with the Japanese education system. Bren had to catch up, but he was doing…fine, he would guess. It didn't help that Toxin kept voicing his opinion on nearly everything, like a bad commentator. Some Bren was used to by now and could tune the symbiote out.
Still, at least he was not completely ostracized by his peers. Those who knew him from Sanctuary House said their greetings and continued as normal. The rest of the student body treated Bren as a mix of the new kid and the foreign kid. Their brief interactions were filled with surface level kindness and some wonder on where Bren was from, or they wanted to know more about his Quirk. After that, they mostly just left Bren alone, content with their preexisting friend groups.
Then again, there were two students Bren had to keep an eye on. One was a boy with a crow-like head named Tokoyami. The guy didn't do anything egregious, but Bren kept getting the feeling that he was being watched, studied. He kept catching Tokoyami staring at him before quickly turning away. It all came to a head during lunch. Bren was sitting at a table with Ryo and her friends. Across the room, to Bren's right, was Tokoyami, sitting mostly by himself. Bren kept catching the bird-headed boy staring at him.
Bren leaned close to Fukuzawa and whispered, "Hey, do you guys know what's up with this Tokoyami guy or whatever?"
Hideki turned to glance at the next table over and shrugged. "I don't know. Tokoyami's usually just very dark and moody and takes himself way too seriously, but he's mostly harmless. Maybe he's taking a liking to ya?"
Bren took another glance at Tokoyami who seemed to be enjoying his meal. "Okay, but that really doesn't explain why he's been giving me the side-eye all day." Bren paused before asking. "Wait, what do you mean, "mostly harmless"?"
"Oh, it's his Quirk. It's some kind of…living shadow Quirk. I don't remember its name, but I hear it's pretty strong. I think Tokoyami's planning to go into UA's Hero Course."
Bren bristled at the description of Tokoyami's Quirk. It was alive, and if he had to guess, symbiotic. Could that mean Tokoyami has symbiote, or something similar? Is that why he kept trying to study Bren, to see if they were more alike than they appear? The duo decided it was best to not let this linger any longer and confront the boy as directly as possible.
Quickly excusing himself, Bren took his lunch and sat down right across from Tokoyami. The bird student didn't seem to react particularly to Bren's sudden arrival. Bren was the first to speak.
"Look, I don't know about you, but I'm getting real tired of this cryptic, side-eye bull. So, just tell me what you want from me, and then we can just leave each other alone."
Tokoyami paused from eating his meal. "And why would approaching a creature of the dark so readily solve your problem?"
Bren was slightly taken back by Tokoyami's way of speech. Guess they weren't kidding when they said he was dark and serious.
"Well, we can either settle this now, or we can wait until our emotions boil over and fistfight in the school's parking lot."
Tokoyami now seemed to be the one off-guard. "Did that happen often at your old school? You got into fights?"
"I mean, I didn't, but I heard about them." Bren shook his head. "Let's just stay on topic, why do you keeping staring at me?"
"I apologize if I unnerved you. I'm told I do that sometimes," Tokoyami apologized. "The reason I've been studying you is because I have this sense that you and I are connected in some way."
Bren became silent as he let Tokoyami explain.
"All of us, in one way or the other, are born from the great shadow of darkness. Some of us are more in tune with this darkness, which manifests within ourselves as Quirks. My Quirk allows me to summon a creature from the dark, and I had a feeling you had something similar within yourself."
Bren and Toxin began digesting this information. This sounded way too similar to a symbiote just to be a coincidence. Plus, Bren already told the class about his fake "Bloodflow" Quirk. If Tokoyami's Quirk was something very similar to a symbiote, and he was able to guess that Bren could have something similar, then Fumikage could figure out that Bren was hiding something and potentially discover the Toxin symbiote.
Bren didn't like that implication. Toxin really didn't like that implication.
Still, Bren needed to know more before he could act.
"So, they say you have a sentient Quirk," Bren said. "Think you can show it to me?"
Tokoyami's head darted from side to side, checking if any teacher was looking at them. He then lifted up his arm and a shadowy figure emerged from the boy. It was a being made up of purple-black shadows with two full yellow eyes on a bird-like head.
"This is my Quirk, Dark Shadow," Tokoyami introduced Bren to the shadow being.
"Yo," Dark Shadow said.
"Huh," Bren answered, momentarily surprised.
Fukuzawa was right in that Tokoyami's Quirk was sentient. Then again, in a world full of superheroes and powers, this shouldn't have been out of the realm of possibilities.
"Sorry, I never really knew anyone with a sentient Quirk before, much less actually seeing one," Bren said to save face.
"That is understandable. Sentient Quirks are quite uncommon in this age, even after all these years," Tokoyami said.
"Yep, I'm one of a kind!" Dark Shadow answered with a small peace sign.
Pfft, more like a cheap knock-off to me. Toxin said mentally.
If you're going to antagonize the guy, then don't, seriously. Bren responded.
Why not, huh? Why shouldn't I?
Oh gee, let me think. Does the phrase "secret identity" mean anything to you? We're supposed to be regular kids for the time being. You're not even legally existing! If we show off now, then we're in so much trouble you wouldn't believe!
Fine, fine! I wasn't going to anyway. You don't have to lecture me, you know?
"You okay?" Tokoyami asked, snapping Bren from his mental argument with Toxin.
"Yeah, sorry, just sorting my thoughts out." Bren answered. "So, I hear that you're planning to try for UA's Hero course. Must be a pretty cool Quirk if you think you can make it."
"Indeed, Dark Shadow is powerful. Though, it is the intellectual challenge that worries me the most."
"Yeah, Fuki here's not the sharpest tool in the shed," Dark Shadow added mischievously.
Tokoyami glared at the sentient Quirk before resuming. "While Dark Shadow could have worded it better, I admit that I am not an ace in the academic side of things."
"Hey, don't sweat it," Bren said. "It's not your fault teachers like giving tests that seem like they're full of trick questions."
Tokoyami answered with a cawing laugh.
"Hey, so, what can Dark Shadow do? You know, like in terms of powers?" Bren asked.
"Dark Shadow has great strength and can extend himself beyond my immediate surroundings." Tokoyami answered. "As a being of shadow, he is difficult to damage physically. However, in dark places, his power grows ablet at the cost of control."
"Sorry, the dark brings out impulses in me," Dark Shadow responded. "Mean, nasty thoughts."
Yep, bad impulses do sound familiar, Bren thought before asking, "So, if he's stronger in the dark, does that mean his weakness is light?"
"Yes." Tokoyami answered. "The light weakens and docile him."
Dark Shadow looks up at the cafeteria lights, squints, and then shrinks back into Tokoyami's body even further.
"Ugh, why do all school lights have to be so freaking bright, man?" The sentient Quirk complained.
Hah! Loser can't even handle a little bit of light and is too scared to be let out in the dark. Toxin mocked internally.
Stones in glass houses much, Tox? Or do I need to remind you that you're the reason I can't ever go to a concert ever again?
Bah, whatever.
The sharp bell rung, signally that lunch was in the process of ending and that classes would begin soon. As the two students were getting ready to pack it up and finish what remaining food they had, Bren made one final statement to Tokoyami.
"Look, it was nice meeting you and Dark Shadow, but I just want to set the record straight. I don't have a Quirk that ties into "the great darkness" or whatever. I'm just a regular kid with regular problems. So, are we cool?"
Bren studied the serious bird-face of Tokoyami, hoping the boy would accept his offer. He was worried Tokoyami would see through his lies, but the wielder of Dark Shadow simply nodded in confirmation. Bren let out an internal sigh. One bullet dodged for now, and potentially, a new friend was made. Or at least, an acquaintance.
The other student turned out to be one of the ones Ryo was looking into. She met with Bren just as school ended and pointed the kid out. His name was Daredemo Murakami, and he looked like an average, well-adjusted boy. No visible mutations, an outgoing personality, seemingly fine by all appearances.
"This guy doesn't look like he's on something. What makes you think he's taking Trigger Lite?" Bren asked in hushed tones.
"You haven't know him for as long as I have," Ryo responded. "This only started a couple months ago. Back then, he was usually quiet, shy, had trouble talking to people. Plus, some days he gets snappy and irritable, almost a 180 from his old self or this version of himself."
"So, you want me to keep an eye on him?"
"Yeah, just make sure nobody sees you, okay?"
"And if I see he's in trouble?"
"Then get him and yourself out of it."
As the kids all went on their separate ways home, Bren hid and changed into Toxin. He stayed on Murakami's trail for a while. The kid hung around after school for a bit before heading off. Toxin noted that the boy started to become more antsy and a bit paranoid, as Murakami kept looking around before ducking into an alley a couple blocks away from school.
Toxin watched as the kid waited in the alley until a shady looking man came out from a separate passageway. If anyone was the textbook definition of shady drug dealer, this guy was it. Hunched posture, face obscured by a hoodie, even his voice was oozing with trouble. The two went back-and-forth. Murakami asked the dealer for a replenish of the Trigger-like drug. The dealer informed the kid that the new supply would be coming in later. The kid begs, pleads for another fix. The dealer toys with the boy, playing into his addiction with a promise of more power for more money. Toxin feels their patience boil, their claws involuntarily extend ready to pounce. Their mouth already forming the shape of a sharp-toothed snarl.
They decide to stand by no longer and act.
The vigilante lands in the middle of the two and quickly rushes for the dealer. Before he could make a move, Toxin already lands a punch on the crook's face, holds his arm behind his back, and slams him to the wall nearby. The kid looks on in fear. Toxin holds sympathy for the child, but they need to get him away from here.
"Go, now." Toxin says with the symbiote's deep, gravelly voice.
Murakami takes the hint and runs out of there as fast as he can. Now, Toxin and the dealer are left.
"Hey, man, don't hurt me! Don't hurt me! I'll tell ya what you want to know, okay!" The dealer squealed.
"Pretty wimpy for someone who deals to kids. Then again, why should we expect anything more?"
"Hey, what are you - ?!"
Tendrils emerged from Toxin's arm to wrap around the drug dealer's body. Then, the vigilante climbed and leaped above the walls with the dealer in tow. There weren't too many tall buildings in the immediate area, but Toxin did find one where a fall would lead to sever injury.
"Okay, here's the deal," Toxin said to the webbed man at the ledge of a roof. "You tell us what we want to know, or we're going to use you as practice for inner-city bungee jumping. Understand?"
"Yes! Yes!" The dealer nodded.
"Good. First question: we know you're selling a new form of Trigger. Why? For what purpose?"
"Look, I'm just a dealer, okay? I don't know the in-and-outs of the economics."
Toxin's brows furrowed. A section of the tendrils went limp and stretched down. The dealer screamed as he fell several feet before Toxin yanked him back up.
"Dodge the question, again, and we may not be so careful making sure you don't hit the ground." Toxin threatened.
"Okay, okay! It's about customer retention!" The dealer squealed. "Look, the old Trigger was super powerful, and it got results. But you can't exactly keep getting guys back for more if they keep getting arrested by the heroes, can ya? That's where the new stuff comes in. It gives them just enough push to come back for more and stay out of the law's sights. That's why they call it Push."
"And you people think it's okay to sell this stuff to kids."
"Look, man, I didn't even want to sell to those brats! I don't even like kids. Between you and me, I would rather try and sell my product to some homeless bum than one of those snot-nosed punks."
"And yet, you still did. Not exactly warming me up to you. And you still haven't answered the question."
"Not everybody has a bad ass Quirk like yours, okay?! Some of them have useless or plain awful Quirks they gotta deal with every day! Sure, more kids now have stronger Quirks to be heroes or whatnot, but a good majority don't. That's what Push offers to these people, not just kids. A chance to be strong, you know?"
Toxin receded the tendrils till he was eye-to-eye with the dealer. The dealer shrank from Toxin's slowly growing monstrous mask.
"Who makes the drug?" Toxin growled.
"I don't know! I certainly don't. I just get it and go!"
"Then who are the suppliers?!"
"Some guys who are, like, the middle managers of this stuff." The dealer answered. "They probably know where, but let me tell ya, they're tough sons of bitches. They don't just crack for anybody."
"They haven't met me yet. Now, where can I find them?"
The dealer didn't answer. Just groaned, internally debating on whether or not he should spill.
"My arm's getting tired." Toxin warned.
The tendril shook a few to sell his readiness to drop at a moment's notice.
"Alright, alright! I don't know where they do business, but I can tell you where they meet at!" The dealer finally said. "There's this restaurant on Rokaku Street. A noodle shop, mid-sized. It's sort of old, so you can't miss it. Please just let me go!"
"Hmmm…" Toxin mused for a bit before saying, "Okay."
The tendril went limp as the dealer fell. He screamed and screamed before being suddenly slammed into the wall behind him. His web cocoon was now stuck to the wall, and he could do nothing but struggle as Toxin crawled down to face him.
"Wasn't that fun?" Toxin laughed as his own little quip.
"You asshole! I told you everything! Aren't you going to let me go?" The dealer protested.
"What makes you think we'll let scum like you walk away? We'll make sure you stay right here while the cops come pick you up. Who knows, maybe you'll even get to meet your favorite Pro Hero while you get hauled off to jail?"
With that, Toxin shot a web-line and swung away from the struggling dealer. After calling in an anonymous tip to the police, Toxin web-swinged over to the address the dealer provided. The sun was already setting when the vigilante arrived. Toxin found a group of five men, all chatting with one another at a corner table. There were four big, strong looking dudes, and one guy who was a head shorter than the rest of them. Toxin knew they couldn't just bust in and started attacking. So, they had to wait and stake out the place.
What nobody told either Bren or the symbiote was how boring the stakeouts where. Sure, the cop shows Bren overheard his dad watching always make a crack at how boring stakeouts were, but Bren never had to do one. It was already difficult for Bren to keep his attention on the shop, but the symbiote hated waiting when they could pounce right then and there.
The moon was already in the night sky by the time the men came out. They were still reeling in the aftermath of their dinner. With their bellies full and spirits high, they shuffled out of the restaurant and into the night. Toxin followed them. They swerved and danced along the sidewalks and into a yard-like area, surrounded by a small fence and the large walls of other buildings. As the group calmed down and began to get serious, that is when Toxin struck.
Toxin dropped down hard and ran for the one who looked like the leader. The others immediately tried to defend this friend, but Toxin's cape shifted into tendrils that held down each of them individually. He grabbed the leader with one hand and lifted him up by the collar. The leader was quick, procuring a small, foldable knife and stabbed it into Toxin's shoulder. However, the symbiote was able to prevent any damage. It pushed the knife out of the shoulder and toss it aside like a twig. Toxin pulled the leader to eye-level just like he did with the dealer.
"It's been a bit of a long day, so we'll make it simple," Toxin said. "We know your group has been supplying dealers with Push and sending them out onto the streets like plague rats. We want to know who is making it and where."
"You hotshot idiot!" The boss sneered. "You think I'll roll over for some punk-ass vigilante? I've been interrogated by some of the scariest heroes around, and you are not one of them."
Toxin felt one of his tendrils convulsing. He turned to see one of the henchmen, whose hands were sparking with electricity, trying to wrestle himself free from Toxin's grasp. It wasn't enough to break free, but it did get Toxin's attention. The tendril threw the taser henchmen over to a nearby wall. The rest of the tendrils threw their captives as well, leading to a pile up of goons. Unfortunately for them, the first henchmen didn't turn off his Quirk immediately, leading to a chain reaction of all the thugs getting tazed unconscious.
Now with them out of the way, Toxin turned his attention back to the leader.
"Now that we won't be interrupted, let's get back to business." Toxin said. "Who is making Push?"
"Someone with big connections." The leader said. "Someone you don't ask questions about. Someone you don't screw around with. But since you're dumb enough to just that, I think I'll let you find out how screwed you are."
The leader gained a knowing grin. Toxin pressed on.
"We'll come back to that one. Now, where are the drugs being made?"
"It won't matter anyway. This operation's too big for one man to take down. You shut down one, two more will pop up. I'd feel sorry for ya if I cared enough."
Toxin could have continued with his usual interrogation method. He was tired, running out of patience, and was tired of this guy's attitude. They decided to speed up the process.
"You know, if you're going to be so tight lipped about it, maybe we'll just find out what you know from the source…" Toxin said ominously.
"What are you -?" The leader asked before pausing in fear.
Toxin grew to his monstrous form. His mouth unclenched and hung above the man's head like a guillotine in waiting. The long green and black tongue snaked around the man's throat while saliva dripped down from Toxin's maw.
"See, here's a little secret that most people don't know about. We can learn new things through people's brains. Do you know what that means?"
Toxin's mouth didn't move as they spoke. The man's eyes went wide with fear and began to squirm and break free. It was useless.
"Yes, you get it," Toxin taunted. "So, here's how it goes: you continue to not give us what we want, and we'll eat your brain. Of course, we'll let you get the choice of the how. Do you want us to chomp straight down? Or do you want us to tighten our tongue around your throat till it pops clean off. The choice is yours."
The man continued to stare down the abyss that was inside Toxin. Finally, he closed his eyes and answered.
"There's a warehouse in Naruhata! I never knew the specific address. That's where they're making it! Please don't kill me!" The man sobbed.
In an instant, the tongue and maw receded back to regular proportions as Toxin smiled in sick delight.
"See, was that so hard?"
The man cautiously opened his eyes, a self-indication that he was still alive.
"What are you going to do with me now?" He said in a quiet voice.
"This."
And with that, Toxin threw the man over to the pile of unconscious bodies. Once he hit it, Toxin let out a large web of symbiote goo and trapped them all together. The vigilante then leaped off into the night. As they got away from the scene, Toxin's mask revealed Bren's youthful and tired face. He knew both himself and the symbiote were too quick to violence and lethal threats that night. This couldn't be a habit. They needed to think things through and not resort to brute force and intimidation. Then again, things have been stressful lately. Not only does Toxin have Amos's prophecy looming over him, the fact this whole Push situation is affecting people his age has gotten towards him. It was one thing to go around being a vigilante when he didn't have much of a personal life as Bren Waters, but now he had personal responsibilities. School, friends, an actual social life. Heroes always said their job was never easy, but they never mentioned how hard it was to keep yourself in balance.
"I don't know about you, Tox, but I'm ready to head home," Bren said.
"Same here. Hopefully, we get something good to eat on the way back." The symbiote answered.
"Ugh, sorry, but take-out's not going to be an option."
"Why not?"
"Because we have homework due tomorrow. Seriously, first day here and already I'm getting swamped with homework."
"You weren't kidding; school is cruel and harsh."
"You got that, dude," Bren said as Toxin shrank and covered his head. "Let's go home."
They swung off into the night.
Several days later…
The train's horn blared loudly over the pouring rain and raging wind. A sea of umbrellas covers the walkways. Citizens of all ages wait at train stations for their next stop. And yet, none of them look up to see Toxin riding on top of one of the cars. The vigilante squints against the raindrops. It's the weekend, and there's nothing more he'd like to do than to stay inside and relax on a day like this. But they have responsibilities to do, keeping the city he now calls home safe. Of course, this isn't his home. This is Naruhata, and this is Toxin's stop. Once the trains come to a halt, Toxin leaps off and web-swings into the downpour. His mind thinks back to earlier this week, on the night he began investigating into Push.
Bren sits on a chair in Amos's living room, slouching. His fingers absent mindedly taping away at homework. Yet, his mind is focused elsewhere.
"So, you've found out that the people making this Push drug are located in Naruhata?" Amos asked, working at setting the table.
"Yeah, why? You're gonna tell me not to go?" Bren questioned.
"No, if anything, cracking this case will be a benefit. With less societal troubles, it means there will be more heroes available to prevent Carnage from causing any massive loss of life. Besides, it will be a good place to start recruiting allies. Ever heard of the man named Knuckleduster?"
"No, should I?"
"Knuckleduster is a vigilante operating in Naruhata. He's been at this game for years, and he has experience dealing with Trigger. When you arrive there, seek him out. He may prove useful."
Bren took a mental note to do some research on this Knuckleduster guy. See if there's anything Toxin can track with.
"When do you plan on leaving?" Amos inquired. "It's not a simple walk from Musutafu to Naruhata, you know?"
"Well, not tonight, I've got homework to catch up on." Bren sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. It's been getting longer now. "I don't know. Probably on the weekend when I've got more time."
"Have you told your friend? The one who informed you of this crime."
"Not yet. I'm gonna tell her later, like tomorrow. I don't want her to worry too much about me."
"Kid, she's going to worry about you ever since you told her about your true self."
Bren felt his hand clenched in anger.
"Look, it's not like I just told her on purpose. It was an accident, and I didn't want her to think that I was some dangerous vigilante like the news always talks about."
"So, you revealed all your secrets just so you could keep a friend." Amos mused.
Bren turned around and glared at the old man.
"So, what? You think I should have pushed her away? Is that what you think?" Bren accused.
Amos kept a serene composure as he answered. "No, you managed to forge a human connection with someone else. We were never meant to be alone. But there will always be a specter of danger to the people we bring in our lives. That is the curse of the Hero, Bren. "
There was a moment of silence before Bren spoke up.
"And how many people did you turn away?"
Amos did not respond, seemingly not even hearing it. Eventually, as Bren finished typing and headed to his room, Toxin's enhanced senses picked up a low answer coming from Amos.
"More than you know."
Toxin's mind returned to the present day. He swung his way up to a tall, thin tower. He spun around the top and came to a stop on it, overlooking the city below.
You sure the rain isn't going to mess with your senses, Tox? Bren asked mentally.
Nah, this is nothing but a cool, refreshing shower to me, Toxin answered. Once we got him in our sights, there's nowhere he can hide.
Alright, Toxin, do your thing.
Bren closed his eyes and let the symbiote take over. Toxin's senses flared across the city. Thousands of people were felt, each with their own unique combination of DNA make up, scents, and hormones. Toxin searched through these to find anything that matched with the few, scattered details about Knuckleduster. It took him a while to locate him, but he found him. The sweat that instantly got mixed in with the rain. The sound of brass breaking through flesh and spilling blood. The gruff voice begging his opponents to actually try. Toxin found him.
The vigilante opened his eyes and looked off into the distance. Knuckleduster was there, hidden in the darkness, doing what he did best, beating up criminals. Toxin leaped off the tower, falling into a dive, and fired a web-line. Swinging off it and soaring into the air, the symbiote vigilante tore through the stormy sky to go meet his fellow vigilante.
And that's a wrap! Sorry it took so long. I have my usual excuses, but I'll be honest. I had to re-do this chapter a bit because I wasn't liking how it was going. I needed to rework it a bit. Also, this chapter was supposed to be longer. It was going to include Toxin and Knuckleduster's team up here, instead of next chapter. However, I've kept you guys waiting long enough. So here you go, enjoy!
I want to say thanks to everyone who read and stuck around. It means a lot to me. Plus, thanks to those who left comments. Let's get into them now!
Hateful Ronin: It sounds like a neat idea, but I'm not going to do it. Spider-verse and symbiotes tend to be separate things within the massive Marvel multiverse. Besides, I want to play into how having a sentient lifeform that acts as your powers contrasts with a world full of people with innate superpowers.
KitsuG57: Hmmm, never thought about it like that before. Then again, who's to say?
Bias1230: Thanks.
NuclearNachos: I'm glad you like how things are going. This little investigation arc is going to last a couple of chapters, so I hope you and the readers are enjoying it. Carnage is definitely going to be a "Big Event" villain that's going to shape how this fic's going to go. Hopefully, I'll upload enough to actually get there in a timely manner, like Bakugo and Toxin's reunion. I do pledge to make the latter funny. Thanks so much for the kind words!
MBS41: Happy New Year! ... 3 months late. Thanks for kind words. To be fair, I haven't seen Madame Web, so I can't say for sure, but I think MW's powers are clairvoyance, future sight. Amos more or less interacts with other universes. Think Multiverse of Madness, but in a more limited scope.
Athrun Zala: Thanks for sending it in. Himiko will be featured but probably not in a big way. While Toga getting a Carnage-type symbiote is pretty common with these sorts of fics, I don't know if she's going to get one. Nor any potential romance with Bren. Maybe. They're fourteen, they can make poor romantical choices. Though there will be an arc about Toxin having offsprings.
IsseixAtalanta777: Neat story idea. I don't have the time to do it, so maybe you can write it. I don't know.
Guest: Thanks for the w, man. I will keep it up as best I can.
Myzor king of war: Carnage coming is bad. The Avengers will most likely not show up. They're probably busy with some big event/ alternate dimension/ the West Coast to help.
CallMeOsvold: Yep, you're correct in that Toxin is more resilient to the symbiote's weaknesses. I'm the one who has to keep putting this guy in perilous situations to keep the story interesting. Don't worry, Toxin's durability will come up again in future chapters.
Guest: The next chapter is right here! Go read it again, silly!
That's all I've got for now. See ya next time!