Takes place during Season 3: Episode 10 - Venom Returns. The venom symbiote disobeys Mordo and wants to rebond with its first host. In accident neither wanted, the venom symbiote bonds with Debra Withman, Peter's classmate and the sister he never had… or wanted.
Inspired by aresdoo0667's "Symbiote Spider-Man what ifs and one shots." Specifically "spider man animated series , the woman"
A couple were relaxing in Central Park when they saw something fall from the sky and rushed to see what it was.
"It might be worth something." The boyfriend said as he grabbed a stick to touch the meteor stone with.
"What are you doing?"The girlfriend questioned her lover as she preferred to not touch it, afraid of its content.
Taken by surprise, a black and a red mass of goo leaked from the stone and leaped towards the couple. The last thing they'd remember was the sound of their own screams.
The venom symbiote had returned to Earth and it didn't know how. Suddenly a projection of Baron Mordo appeared in front of the alien who bonded to the woman.
My master Dormmanu has commanded me to guide you back to Eddie Brock. In exchange, both of you will serve my master. Go, Eddie awaits at Ryker Prison. Mordo said before he disappeared.
But the symbiote had no interest in serving for this "Dormammu" nor reuniting with Eddie Brock. Having spent time in space, it had time to reflect on its action and wanted to reunite with Peter Parker and show they were made for each other. The symbiote accepted the female host and began looking for its old one.
STARK INDUSTRIES, THE NEXT DAY - DAYTIME
"Peter… Do you really think they can make an interdimensional probe?" Debra asked.
"If anyone can Debra, it's Stark Enterprises." Peter replied.
"This could be one of the most important scientific breakthroughs in history. It could create a gateway to whole new worlds, another dimensions." Debra excitedly expressed as she looked at Peter for his opinion.
"Yeah…" Peter said not so enthusiastically. "And it could also let something accidentally through to us… that shouldn't." Peter muttered.
"Peter, Debra!" Dr. Connors called out.
Debra waved back. "Dr. Connors!
"Come on! The demonstration is about to start." Connors begged his students to hurry up.
"There's the interdimensional probe; just think, a machine that might allow us to transcend space and time. If it works, Tony Stark's a genius!" couldn't hide his excitement as he eagerly awaited the demonstration.
"That's Ardent Broom. His electric company is a supplier to Stark Enterprises." Connors pointed out as Broom sat down.
"If that's not Baron Mordo then I do not stick to walls" Peter thought. "He must want this technology to transport Dormammu! To our dimension" Peter continued his train of thoughts.
"Good day! Scientists and scholars. Today we begin a new era in technology. Our plan is to actually transport solid matter from our institute in New York to our labs here in Los Angeles. We'll be using an interdimensional gateway built specifically for that purpose." Tony Stark announced live from Los Angeles.
"Incredible!" Debra couldn't wait for the presentation to start as her eyes were glued to the probe.
Suddenly, Peter sensed something and it wasn't his spider-sense calling as he turned around to see a woman wearing a thick and black leather jacket staring at him from the entrance.
Debra noticed Peter's stare and decided to ask "Is something wrong Peter?" She whispered.
"Sorry what? I was just in deep thoughts" Peter whispers back as he feels the woman stare into his soul.
Seeing the glossy black jacket, it clicks, it was the symbiote.
"How did it come back? Nevermind that, it can't be a coincidence that both Venom and Mordo are here."
The woman flicked her fingers, instructing Peter to follow as she walked away from the room.
"Whatever the alien is planning, it can't be good." Peter left his seat and headed for the exit.
"Peter, where are you going? It's about to start." Debra worryingly whispered.
"Stay here, It won't take long." Peter reassured as he chased after the woman. Debra hesitated, wondering if Peter was in some kind of trouble.
Against her better judgment, Debra sneaks after Peter.
The woman walked towards the end of the hallway where there were minimal security cameras and quickly destroyed the cameras using its tendrils while Peter had just caught up to his enemy.
"What do you want? And how did you come back?" Peter demanded as he prepared to fight.
"No need to be hostile, we just wanna chat, that's all." The symbiote infected woman giggled as she walked closer to Peter.
"Whatever you think you're doing, it won't work and whatever plan you and Mordo are scheming, you should really rethink your life choices." Peter remarked.
"Witty as always, I see. Mordo? That man has no interest to us… We missed you." The woman seductively teased as she was standing face to face and grabbed Peter's hand and put it onto her "jacket."
"Let go of me, you monster! I almost did things I regretted because of you." Peter yelled as he slapped away his hand from her grasp.
"Don't say that. You loved being together or did you forget?" The woman teased.
"I stopped you before and I'll do it again! What are you up to Venom and why isn't Eddie with you?!" Peter pushed for answers.
"Eddie doesn't interest us anymore, we came for one reason only and that's TO BECOME ONE AGAIN!" The woman roared as the symbiote left its temporary host, rendering the woman unconscious and dashed towards Peter who dodged.
Peter? Debra asked.
A FEW MINUTES EARLIER
"Where did he go?" Debra wondered as she searched the hallways. "Why did I leave? Now I'm going to miss the big reveal." Debra sighed as she heard 2 voices coming from down the hall.
As she turned around the corner, she saw Peter and the woman arguing when the symbiote leaped towards Peter.
"Debra? Watch out!" Peter warned but it was too late as the symbiote accidentally attached itself to Debra and quickly transformed.
"Peter! What is this!" Debra screamed as the symbiote covered her within itself and tore apart her clothes and her glasses fell to the floor.
"Debra! Let go of her!" Peter angrily demanded.
The new Venom had a similar appearance as when it bonded with Brock but more suited for a woman as it highlighted Debra's curves.
"Hard to catch as ever, we'll admit that but if you want her, you know what you have to do." Venom hissed teasingly while Peter hesitated.
"What's wrong Tiger? Don't you want your friend back?" Venom ironically asked as the mask opened up.
"Peter, help me!" Debra screamed in fear as she tried to rip apart the suit before the symbiote closed it back up.
"Let her go Venom, she has nothing to do with this!" Peter demanded as he pointed towards the alien.
Both fired webs against each other but Venom easily brushed off Peter's as Peter got stuck to the wall.
"The alien got even stronger!" Peter thought as he struggled to get the webs off. "Don't misunderstand us, we don't want to hurt you but we know how stubborn you can be" Venom stated as she walked up to her target.
"What is it going to be Pete? You or her?"Venom asked as she licked his face with her grotesque tongue.
Suddenly, they heard screams coming from the conference room as people rushed towards the exit in a rush of fear, distracting both from their feud. Peter prioritised the danger coming from the demonstration room and sneaked away.
When Venom looked back, Peter was gone. Suddenly Venom sensed something familiar yet unknown.
"What is this?" Venom thought as she headed for the source, figuring Peter was there as well.
Peter, who had changed into his Spider-Man costume, arrived to see the probe being stolen by a red symbiote who was fighting against a person looking like a robot.
"Another symbiote?!" Spider-Man couldn't believe his luck today. The red symbiote knocked out the armour guy as he introduced himself.
"You can call us Carnage." Carnage laughed.
"Carnage?!" Spider-Man thought out loud.
"We hoped to run into you again." Carnage pointed out.
You know me? Spider-man asked as Carnage opened up his mask, revealing the host to be Cletus Kasady.
"KASADY!"
"Think of the destruction we can do now, hahah!" Carnage laughed.
"You won't though. You have to go through me! War-Machine." The armoured guy stated as he tried to attack from behind but Carnage jumped out of the way and Venom arrived.
"Who are you?" Venom asked Carnage as she entered the scene.
"We are your offspring." Carnage revealed. "Our offspring… Yes, we remember." Venom recalled.
Spider-Man tried a surprise attack while the symbiotes were distracted but Carnage easily countered.
"Don't hurt him, he's mine!" Venom growled at her son.
LOh, what's wrong mommy, didn't we do good?" Carnage laughed as he couldn't care less who he hurt as he threw away Spider-Man and used his tendrils to steal the probe.
"Venom, what are you doing! You shall serve Dormammu!" Mordo appeared in his projection form and demanded an explanation.
"We never agreed to serve, we only serve ourself." Venom stated.
"Disappointing. Carnage, take her out if you must." Mordo ordered as he disappeared again.
"With pleasure, hahaha." Carnaged wickedly laughed as the family fought but Venom quickly got overpowered by her child.
Spider-Man and War Machine tried to stop Carnage from stealing the probe but they were no match for Carnage's raw destructive power as Spider-Man and War-Machine got pushed back and crashed into the rows of seats.
"We could leave now, we got what we wanted but we want a BONUS, haha!" Carnage laughed as he grabbed the unconscious Spider-Man, ready to cut him with his morphed double edged axe.
Suddenly Venom webbed Carnage's axe arm. "Stop, he's ours and ours alone! You may be our spawn but that won't keep us from destroying you!" Venom claimed.
They were about to fight but Mordo intervened. "Stop this petty squabble. Master commanded you to bring back the probe and you will be punished for going against him."
"The heck with my word man, I'mma gonna bring this back and I can't wait for the horrors, Dormammu gonna commit once he gets here." Carnage laughed.
"You won't be lucky next time." Carnage pointed towards Venom before he escaped with the probe.
"Get back here! Aghhh!" Venom screamed in pain as War Machine knocked her out with a sonic blast.
"Wait! Don't hurt her!" Spider-Man ordered as he rushed to Debra's side as the symbiote retracted back into her skin.
At first Spider-Man didn't know what to do but remembered Connors had mentioned he figured out a solution to separate a symbiote a while back. So he webbed her up and put Debra over his shoulder and rushed to Connor's lab while War Machine left to get his injuries healed.
"I conducted an experiment with the piece of the symbiote you brought to me a few months ago. I learned a combination of high range sonic and infrared heat might separate Debra from the alien organism." Connors explained.
Debra, who had been passed out, twitched her eyes before waking up, breathing heavily.
"Wow, slow down there, it's OK, you're safe Debra." Spider-Man reassured the stressed out blondie.
"Spider-Man, the black goo… Pe-" Debra was about to say but Spider-Man put his hands on her mouth, preventing her from revealing his identity.
"What do you remember?" Connors asked, ignoring Spider-man's sudden action.
"I'd remember…. ARGHHH!" Debra grabbed her head as the symbiote began morphing.
"Spider-Man! Put her over there!" Connor pointed out as Spider-Man grabbed the symbiote infected Debra and threw her into the chamber as much it pained him, hurting her.
Connors started up the machine and a mix of high vibration and infrared heat blasts onto the alien, causing it pain before it had no choice but to leave Debra. Connors grabbed it using a clamper tool to put it into a container.
"We can hold it in this container. Sporadic sound pulses will keep it at bay. " Connors reassured the two as Debra passed out again, this time due to the shock impact from being separated.
Spider-Man immediately covered his friend with blankets and put her onto an ambulance stretcher.
Seeing as Debra was safe, Spider-Man headed to find where Mordo and Carnage were hiding.
"Take care of her for me Doc." Spider-Man said as he swung away.
Spider-Man learned Carnage had been given the power to steal people's life force and caused carnage around the city, taking away people's souls. Spider-Man got lucky twice as Carnage couldn't absorb anymore souls or Iron-Man saved him.
He also had an encounter with Madame Web who suggested he kept his friends close and his enemies closer. Realising she meant the symbiote, he rushed back to Connor's lab.
Meanwhile Debra had been awake for some time now and given some spare clothes. She was scared of the symbiote for what it did to her yet she felt a unique bond to it.
All the new memories and feelings she had of people she'd never met and knowing Spider-Man and Peter were one and the same. It was so much to take in. While she was controlled, she still saw what happened from inside their shared mind.
First of all, she learned the being known as Venom hated her for getting in the way of reuniting with Peter. Secondly, she felt powerful, wearing the symbiote and lastly, sadness as the symbiote loves Peter and wanted to show it had changed.
Right now she was staring at the black mass and touched the container while the symbiote stared right into her eyes, looking sad. The power was like an addiction.
"Why reunite with Peter like that? Surely there's a better way to see you've changed?"
"He will never understand unless he's in our hands."
"I'm sure he'll understand if you don't force it, you're not making it any easier."
"Why do you trust us?"
"Because I dislike when people are misjudged, yes you did some bad things but I can feel you want to change."
Just then Spider-Man had returned.
"Spider-Man!" Debra reached out.
"Debra, you seem to look better." Spider-Man complimented.
"Yeah. I'm still feeling a bit shaky from being a hostage to an alien." Debra admitted.
"Trust me, I know better than anyone. I'm just glad we got it off before it could do some serious damage." Spider-Man said in relief.
Before Debra had the chance to discuss the symbiote's feelings, Iron-Man interrupted.
"So what did you come up with, Spider-man?" Iron-Man asked as he entered the room.
"We don't know where they're hiding but the symbiote might know. Seeing as Mordo seemingly tried to hire it to help with the heist." Spider-Man explained.
"And how are you planning to extract that information, exactly?" Iron-Man asked.
"That's the thing, I'm not sure and the only option would be to bond with it. " Spider-Man said with a distaste in his voice.
"That does seem risky." Iron-Man admitted.
"And knowing what happened last time you bonded with it, it's best to leave it alone." Connors expressed his own opinion.
"Don't remind me Doc." Spider-Man replied as he had flashbacks of wearing the black costume.
Debra who had been listening into the conversation, decided to join in on the discussion. "Actually, I know the alien knows where it can find its offspring." Debra claimed as she caught everyone's attention.
"How?" Iron-Man asked.
"When I was bonded with it, it sensed the presence of Carnage when it was fighting Spider-Man back at Stark Enterprises."
"Interesting, too early to say but by the sound of it, it seems the symbiotes have a hivemind." Connors was intrigued by the symbiote's biology.
"But it's too dangerous and we don't have time to wait! Dormammu could arrive anytime soon." Spider-Man reminded everyone in the room.
"What if I bond with it again?" Debra suggested.
"Why would you do that?" Spider-Man questioned her.
"I sense the alien even right now, I feel a connection, it wants to redeem itself and show you that." Debra explained.
"Don't listen to it, the alien only wants to do what it wants. It's tricking you." Spider-Man warned.
"Spider-Man, I felt its love for you, It truly has changed, can't you give it another chance?" Debra asked.
"It had its chance and I almost killed people!" Spider-Man bemoaned his discontent towards the symbiote.
After not going anywhere with their discussion, everyone took a breather to collect their thoughts while Spider-Man and Debra had a private talk.
"I can't believe it, you've been Spider-Man all this time!" Debra expressed her surprise as she didn't need Spider-Man to take off his mask as she had some of his memories now.
"I'm guessing the symbiote showed my memories?"Spider-Man remarked.
"Yeah… Sorry, it's disorienting experiencing all these new feelings for people I've never met. Debra reminisces particularly at Venom's love. So there's no chance you'll rebond with the symbiote?"
"Debra… I know the power is addictive, I know it all too well but it can't be trusted!" Spider-Man berated.
"But-"
"Debra, NO! And that's final. I don't wanna hear more of this." Spider-Man made it clear he wasn't going to trust the symbiote anytime soon. But Debra got an idea.
Seeing as Spider-Man still refused and she believed in second chances. While the others weren't watching, she opened up the container and they bonded.
"Debra!" Spider-Man called out.
The mask opened up only half open and both were speaking.
Spider-Man, listen to what Venom has to say, please. Debra begged.
"Ughhh, fine but if you do anything to hurt her Venom, I won't hesitate to end what we started." Spider-Man threatened.
"We had some time to think and we're sorry for what we did. As a species from another galaxy, we don't understand human feelings and we thought we did what was best for you, it was never our intention to make you evil." Venom apologized.
"I don't know what you're thinking but I still don't believe a word of what you're saying!" Spider-Man clearly wasn't ready to forgive.
Venom sighed as the mask opened but still wearing the suit, Debra returned to the captain's seat.
"Spider-Man, it's telling the truth, it wants to be with you again and redeem itself. Please give it a chance." Debra begged.
"Are you sure it's a smart move lady? How can we trust the alien?" Iron-Man asked.
"I wanna help, the symbiote is misunderstood, it only wants to help Spider-Man. I'm not taking a no for an answer." Debra claimed as she fired a webbing towards Connors who tried to reactivate the sound weapon.
"Does she always have to be so stubborn?" Spider-Man thought.
"Do you want the symbiote's help or not?" Debra asked. The guys looked at each other before giving in.
"Fine, but Debra, promise me you will take it off once we're done." Spider-Man offered. "Only if you're willing to give it one more chance to prove itself, it's not really evil." Debra added her stipulation.
"Huh, there's no other option isn't there?"Spider-Man sighed in defeat. "OK, can you show us they are hiding now?" Iron-Man was getting tired of their bickering.
Debra, Spider-Man and Iron-Man headed for Dormammu's hideout as Debra quickly learned how to use Venom's powers on the way.
They arrived just in time as Carnage and Mordo were releasing the souls into the portal and from the other side, the flame headed man arrived.
"Another world to consume more souls." Doramammu talked to himself as he was relieved to be free once more and to make matters worse, Debra gave back control to Venom.
But as things were looking dark, Venom showed she had changed as she helped Spider-Man and Iron Man to send back Dormammu whence he came by reverse engineering the probe.
However, they quickly realised they needed to send Carnage too as Dormammu had made him a gateway between the dimensions. In a last minute attempt, Carnage refused to leave without taking someone with him. Using its tendrils, Carnage took hold of Spider-Man and dragged him along.
Spider-Man almost joined the bad guys in the dark dimension but Venom just managed to extend her tendrils to grab hold of him long enough for Carnage to give up before he was sealed.
"You saved me, why?" Spider-Man asked as he was genuinely surprised that one of his greatest foes saved him despite their history.
"Like we said, we want to earn back your trust again." Venom reminded its former host.
Spider-Man stuttered. "I… I don't know what to say."
"Hey! Catch him!" Iron Man shouted as he destroyed the probe while Mordo was fleeing. Neither Spider-Man or Venom reacted in time as he successfully escaped.
Some time later, Spider-Man and Venom were swinging around the city, looking for a place to hash things out while Iron Man went his own way.
"I'm grateful for what you did back there but I can't see myself being bonded with you again." Spider-Man gave her his answer.
"We suspected as much but we think we have found someone who might be with us." Venom said as she handed Debra the controls.
"Venom, I… I don't know, I wanted you and Peter to be together again, I don't know if I'm up for it."
"You were rough around the edges but you did what I couldn't Debra, you controlled the symbiote and saved me. I think you have the potential and I'm always here to help. But being a superhero isn't just about powers, it's a responsibility and balancing your life isn't easy." Spider-Man stated.
"Thanks Peter, it means a lot coming from you. I guess then, starting from today, I'm… We're Venom." Debra corrected herself as the mask closed.
"What do we do now?" Venom asked as police sirens could be heard in the distance.
"Looks like the universe answered for you." Spider-Man said as both swung towards the crime scene.
"She might have been my greatest enemy but in the end, she ended up being my greatest ally" Spider-Man thought as purple smoke appeared out of nowhere and he was back in Madame Web's dimension.
"I sense you're confused." Madame Web pointed out.
"I am." Spider-Man replied. "I didn't expect the symbiote to become an ally." Spider-Man admitted.
"You must learn to expect the unexpected. You yourself might soon have to make such a sacrifice." Madame Web simply stated.
"What are you preparing me for anyway?"
"A horror beyond horrors." Madame simply said as she disappeared.
"Where were you? You just disappeared on us! We were worried." Venom blurted.
"It's a long story, I'll tell you sometime, let's go." Spider-Man said as he swung away. Venom decided to not question her partner and chased after him.
EPILOGUE
Debra and Venom became one as their bond grew stronger, eventually stopped using *we* and started using *I* as everyone else. For the most part, Debra was the one in control but if needed Venom would be in charge. As for how you could tell who was in control, you just needed to look in Debra's irises. If they were purple then Venom was steering the boat.
Debra and Peter thought they were just good friends and crime fighting partners till the day MJ disappeared into another dimension.
Peter was devastated and quit being Spider-Man. Debra & Venom tried to be there for him but in a fit of rage, he pushed them away and they ended up arguing leading to Deobrah/Venom having to protect New York on their own.
Eventually, Peter healed and apologised to Debra/Venom and their friendship blossomed into something more.