One-X

by Terrence Johnny Stanford

A multiverse has been accidentally opened upon Eddie's son Ashton Brock. Will he reunite with the Peter Parker of his universe and return home?

8. A Spot to See

Welcome one welcome all. I'm glad it took 2 months rather than another milk trip to return to you all

And I am grateful for the 16 of you who have followed/ favorited. It means a lot it entertains some people

And now for my patient darlings. I present to you. THE LONGEST CHAPTER of this story and THE LONGEST CHAPTER I have ever written so far in my years of writing

I hope this will be nice and juicy

Amd special thanks to Theallaroundnerd who I totally didn't kidnap and force to listen to my babble

I totally never said that he's fine

True-Killer: I have something in store for you eventually. I promise that

UNTO THINE STOWY

Play: Falling Up - Stormland

The next morning has came as everyone is beginning to come out to go on their business. As Ashton walks taking a look into the sky as he thought about a familiar presence that happens to appear the previous night. He wondered if he was going crazy for it

"That feeling…..why is it so familiar..?" Thought Ashton walking through the city with his ice pack still on his head looking for Spot's apartment to check on him

"Ashton. I felt that too. There's no way it could be anyone else" thought Venom

"…does that mean he successfully found a way to jump?" Thought Ashton as he passes a basketball court full of people his age playing a game of pick-up. He knew his father liked basketball leading him to have a slight smile before it disappeared

"The ball or the dimension?" Thought Venom comically making. Ashton frown "You know I'm fucking with you. Ha! But. If he was there for only a split second. Or even longer. It appeared he relied on something to have him stick around..."

"Peter…." Thought Ashton as a flash of what happened that brought the duo in the first place

"PETER!"

"ASHTON!"

"…" Said Ashton remembered how they were unable to reach each other

As Venom's thoughts swirled in Ashton's mind, a mischievous glint danced in his eyes as he spotted an ATM machine nearby, hoping it would distract from Ashton's guilt

"Ash" Venom whispered in Ashton's mind, nudging him to glance at the machine. "I have an idea," he continued eagerly, "stick your finger into the card slot."

Ashton raised an eyebrow skeptically, his thoughts dripping with sarcasm

"You want me to jam my finger in it?" thought Ashton a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as Venom chuckled in response. Nevertheless, Ashton complied, placing his thumb on the card slot as a trickle of symbiotic goop oozed out. Within moments, a cascade of bills, mostly 10s and 20s, began to spew from the machine

"Dude, sweet" Ashton muttered with a slight grin as he quickly gathered the cash, stuffing some into his wallet and rolling the rest into a makeshift bundle, which he promptly stashed in his pocket. Glancing around, he noted with relief that no one saw

"Cheer up, buddy" Venom's voice echoed in Ashton's mind, brimming with excitement. "We're making good time. And imagine, if this works out, we'll reunite with Peter soon. Or even better, Cindy!" The thought does make Ashton have some relief as he continues holding the ice pack on his head

As he make his way toward Spot's apartment, he walks up the wall effortlessly like how any Spiderman would carefully waving until he got onto a platform. He then passed by the window of a blind old lady's apartment. Curiously, Ashton peeked and observed her movements, noting the meticulousness with which she went about her chores

Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a jar of rubber bands sitting on the windowsill. An idea sparked in Ashton's mind, and Venom chuckled in anticipation. Quietly, Ashton tiptoed to the window, carefully sliding it open with practiced stealth. With a quick glance to ensure the old lady remained unaware, he reached for the jar of rubber bands

But it was just out of reach. Undeterred, Ashton shoots a tendril of webbing to grasp the jar and pull it closer with a soft tug

"Like taking candy from a baby" thought Venom and giggling gleefully in Ashton's mind as he retrieved several rubber bands from the jar

With his prize in hand, Ashton gently placed the jar back on the counter, closing the window with a quiet click. The blind old lady continued her chores, oblivious to the small act of mischief that had transpired just outside her window

Ashton deftly wrapped the wad of bills together with one of the rubber bands, the crisp paper crinkling softly under his touch. With his impromptu offering in hand, he made his way to Spot's door and rapped his knuckles against the weathered wood.

"Yes?" A somewhat timid voice emanated from behind the door it calling out uncertainly belonging to Spot

"It's me" said Ashton flatly as he heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching. Spot's anxious energy was palpable as he fumbled with the lock before swinging the door open

"Sorry for the wait, boss. Everything is fine," Spot stammered nervously, his eyes darting around anxiously. Ashton met his gaze with a reassuring smile as he held out the wad of cash, placing it gently into Spot's trembling hand before stepping inside.

Ashton's eyes scanned the room, noting the subtle changes since his last visit. His attention was drawn to the contraption in the corner, a makeshift assembly of wires and metal components. Spot beamed proudly, gesturing towards the device with a hint of excitement.

"Do you like it?" Said Spot hoping it would satisfy him. "I call it a mini collider."

"….what does it do?" Said Ashton raising a brow and stepping closer to inspect the unfinished machine

"Well, it gives me more transparent transportation material, same as what you see on me," Spot explained as he points to a couple of his holes

Ashton's expression remained neutral, his mind trying to understand what Spot said

"He's talking about his holes" Venom interjected with a mischievous chuckle, prompting Ashton to nod in understanding

"And what about building the thing so far?" Said Ashton

"Well, of all the materials I've gathered, I've managed to calculate how to assemble part of it without causing any explosions," Spot exclaimed, a hint of triumph in his voice, while Ashton, still nursing an ice pack on his head, listened with an air of indifference

"Well um…. isn't there a way you can ensure none of it goes boom?" said Ashton arching a brow as just a Venom tendril emerged from his back, startling Spot

"And where are the chocolates!? I need them to keep your head intact!" Said Venom

"Boss, I made sure to purchase all the chocolate bars with the leftover money from each supply run. They're in the fridge!" Said Spot visibly nervous pointing to the fridge across the room

"Spot on" said Venom with a goofy grin shifting his tone from menacing to amusement as Ashton squinted at the pun

"Did you really have to scare him like that?" muttered Ashton

"If scaring him makes him work faster, I might as well ask him if he wants to meet my teeth." Said Venom, flashing a toothy grin making Spot shiver involuntarily as Ashton rolled his eyes

"Look, Spot, just keep doing what you're doing. You're doing fine" said Ashton trying to reassure him, before opening the fridge to grab several chocolate bars

"Yummy yummy yummy" said Venom excitedly as Ashton began to unwrap one, his mouth already open in anticipation for Ashton to place it in as Spot thought of another concerning matter

"You know uh.. boss, can I ask for some further reassurance regarding a particular matter?" said Spot with his nerves still frayed and slight hesitation

"And what would that be?" said Ashton curiously

"Well, it's just that with something as ambitious as this project, it's bound to attract Ghost Spider's attention." Said Spot with his voice wavering slightly making Ashton tense slightly

Ashton considered Spot's words for a moment

"Just let us handle her. You focus on your thing or... whatever you want to call your increase in power." Said Ashton as he unwraps another chocolate bar

"And make sure to stock up on chocolate along the way" said Venom with an ominous chuckle "Nom nom nom nom."

Spot was still unnerved by the sight of Venom's tendril, nodded hesitantly as he watched Venom open his mouth again for Ashton to put the other chocolate bar in and munching on it

"Well,.. if you say so,… boss," said Spot feeling slightly reassured as he turned back to his work on constructing part of the machine

"How much more to keep the headaches and twitching down?" said Ashton with concern if he goes ballistic when around Gwen or at a really bad time

"Mmm the rest in your hands" said Venom as one by one Ashton unwrapped all the chocolate bars and one by one he loaded them in Venom's mouth who happily munched as Ashton then puts the ice pack in the freezer "And Spot?"

"Yes?" said Spot perking up slightly nervous

"Remember, it'll be your head. Not lead" said Venom ominously before retracting back into Ashton

"…I'll see you later" said Ashton as thoughts clouded his mind as he checked his phone

"You got it uh.. Boss" said Spot hoping not to provoke him as he watched him leave his apartment

"God that guy is fun to scare! Hahaha ha! Imagine making him wet himself prior to being a powerhouse!" thought Venom

"Well don't do it too often. It would make him potentially double cross us" thought Ashton

"It's fun either way hehehehe" thought Venom

Ashton couldn't shake off the nagging feeling of unease. Gwen's potential interference is always a wildcard, and he knew they needed to avoid her enough, so the same won't happen to her like Cindy. Which in turn made him feel even more guilty

"…Gwen… Cindy… I'm sorry…" muttered Ashton shaking his head knowing it will definitely be much more difficult

To Gwen

Gwen perched herself on the rooftop, the cool breeze tousling her hair as she reminisced about her time with Ashton. Her phone in hand, she intended to lose herself in her usual playlist, but her gaze lingered on another option—a playlist she hadn't explored in a while. Curiosity piqued, she tapped on it, and there it was, her father's favorite song, "What the World Needs Now is Love" by Tom Jones

With a soft smile, she hit play, allowing the melodic strains to envelop her. Closing her eyes, she envisioned herself far from her current rooftop perch, transported to the vibrant cityscape of Seattle. The Space Needle loomed in the background, a beacon of possibility against the gray sky

In her mind's eye, Gwen found herself strolling through the misty streets, the patter of raindrops providing a soothing backdrop to her thoughts. She felt a shift in her attire, a transformation to a more vintage style reminiscent of the '60s, as if she were stepping into another era

Lost in her reverie, she hummed along with the music, her steps light and carefree. Suddenly, a familiar figure emerged, obscured by the shelter of an umbrella. Intrigued, Gwen hesitated before accepting the silent invitation to dance, her heart quickening with anticipation

As they swayed together in the middle of the deserted road, the umbrella caught a gust of wind, spiraling away into the gray sky. With a twist of fate, the figure turned to reveal himself, and there stood Ashton, his eyes locking with hers in a moment of shared surprise

"!" Said Gwen as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she snapped out of her daydream, the vivid imagery fading away like morning mist. She chuckled softly at the whimsy of her imagination, yet couldn't shake the lingering warmth of the fantasy that had momentarily consumed her

*ring ring ring*

Play: Jack Stauber – Oh Klahoma

"!" said Gwen looks over to her phone ringing She turns off her alarm as she realized she doesn't have band practice today

Flicking through her phone, she browsed for updates on her favorite artists before slipping it back into her pocket, her mind already wandering to potential activities.

The thought of finding Ashton nudged its way into her consciousness, igniting a spark of curiosity. But where would he be?

Her thoughts meandered, inadvertently stumbling upon memories of Eddie's fondness for German cuisine

Why his preference lingered in her thoughts, she couldn't quite discern. Yet, with a shrug, she reasoned it couldn't hurt to check if Ashton happened to be around

Navigating the bustling sidewalks, Gwen's eyes scanned the streets, leading her to the most authentic German restaurant in the vicinity. Spotting Ashton immersed in conversation with the vendor, her heart skipped a beat as she hastened her steps, her face breaking into a radiant smile upon reaching him

"Ah, ich sehe, dass der Laden wie üblich sehr beschäftigt ist," Ashton remarked to the vendor, who nodded in acknowledgment before departing with a handful of bratwursts. Gwen's approach didn't go unnoticed by Ashton, who turned to greet her with a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Hey, Ashton!" Said Gwen, closing the distance between them

"Oh?" Said Ashton his eyes alight with amusement at her sudden appearance "What's up?"

"Just wandering the neighborhood" said Gwen with a smile, her gaze flickering to the bratwursts in Ashton's hands. "So... just indulging in some breakfast sausages?"

"Bratwursts" said Ashton with a chuckle as he extended one towards her "Want one?"

Gwen's expression brightened as she accepted the offer

"Thanks" said Gwen before taking a bite, savoring the savory flavor. "I overheard you speaking earlier."

"Oh, you did?" Said Ashton surprised secretly hiding a hint of nervousness

"Yeah. You never told me you spoke German" said Gwen genuinely making Ashton ease

"Oh, well, I... I don't know if it's that impressive," Ashton replied, his cheeks tinted with a faint blush as he finished his bratwurst

"Pfft. It's more than I can speak," said Gwen as they continued their stroll through the bustling sidewalks. "Some of my family speak the Irish language, but... I never learned."

"Mm" murmured Ashton with a slight chuckle

"So, what are you up to now that we've had breakfast?" asked Gwen as she continued walking down the street

"So far, nothing much," said Ashton with a shrug. "Went to sleep, woke up, and now I'm here... Did you want to do, what do you call them, patrols?"

"I'd love to," said Gwen, her eyes lighting up. "So, what kind of music do you listen to?"

"Music?" Ashton pondered for a moment. "I'd say… Type O Negative and maybe definitely RED."

Gwen pulled out her phone and began looking them up

"I don't think I've heard of either of them." Said Gwen

"Well, if you listen to a lot of rock, maybe you'd hear a song or two from either of them," Ashton replied with a nonchalant shrug

"Cool," said Gwen with a smile. "Planning on doing any swinging soon?"

"Hmm, in a bit. You gonna join?" asked Ashton, noticing Gwen's growing smile of confidence

"You know it," said Gwen, her excitement palpable. "Just let me get ready."

They both ducked into a nearby alleyway. Gwen quickly slipped behind a dumpster to put on her Ghost Spider suit, while Ashton morphed seamlessly into Venom, the symbiote covering him in an instant

Gwen emerged from behind the dumpster, adjusting her mask. "Alright, so yo-...you got dressed fast," she said, eyes widening in surprise

Venom shrugged nonchalantly. "Bet you didn't sneak a peek, huh?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes

"Wha-!?" Venom stammered, caught off guard. Gwen laughed, giving him a playful boop on the nose before shooting a web to launch herself onto the top of a nearby rooftop.

Venom smiled behind his mask, watching her graceful ascent, then followed suit, shooting a web and swinging up to join her on the rooftop.

From their vantage point, the city sprawled out beneath them, bustling with life. Gwen turned to Venom, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Ready?"

"Ready as ever" said Venom

With a shared nod, they leapt into the air, webs shooting out and latching onto buildings as they soared above the streets, keeping a vigilant eye on the city below

As they swung through the city, Spider-Gwen glanced over at Venom. "What's the place you spend most of your time in again?" she asked, her voice curious.

"Washington State," Venom replied. "It's certainly less busy there than here." They both landed and stuck to the side of a building, noticing J. Jonah Jameson's giant TV screen lighting up. "Ugh... not him."

"We have new reports that Ghost Spider has a new web-slinging menace," Jameson's voice boomed across the city. "Making not one, BUT TWO TROUBLEMAKERS TO THE CITY. This is a complete outrage! Why would someone join Ghost Spider's footsteps? To which I dub... SPIDERMAN."

"Oh, come on! It's Venom," Venom growled in frustration, his eyes narrowing

Spider-Gwen giggled. "Don't let it get to your head, big boy. Let's go fight crime. Double the people, double the fun, ya know?" She gave him a playful nudge before they both swung off into the night

Just as they got into the rhythm of their swinging, Gwen's spidey sense tingled. "And already, we have entertainment," she said, a smile spreading across her face

Venom hoped that his allies, Shadow Man, Snake Man, and Hard Man, weren't causing trouble as he had instructed them to lay low. Fortunately, it was just the Enforcers at a warehouse

"Well, I'll be damned. It's Ghosty and her... boyfriend or something," Shocker sneered as he readied his gauntlets. "Now this'll be a show."

Several goons armed with machine guns began to fire upon Spider-Gwen and Venom. They both expertly dodged, their movements fluid and precise

Venom held back, knowing Gwen wouldn't want him to be excessively violent. "Keep firing, boys!" Shocker yelled, noticing Venom coming in fast

Ox then jumped into the air, trading a powerful blow with Venom. "!" Ox grunted as he hit the ground, getting back up quickly. "I don't like you already, SPIDERMAN!"

Venom's eyes flashed with irritation as a few more goons fired at him. He shot webs at their guns, yanking them out of their hands with ease. "IT'S VENOM!" he roared, refraining from opening his mouth

Ox charged at Venom like a runaway train. Venom grinned, meeting the charge head-on. The impact was like a thunderclap, but Venom managed to overpower Ox, lifting him off the ground and throwing him into multiple goons. The force of Ox's body knocked them down like bowling pins

Fancy Dan launched himself into the air, dual-wielding knives flashing under the streetlights. He descended on Spider-Gwen with a flurry of slashes, each one aimed with deadly precision. Gwen dodged with effortless grace, her movements fluid and precise, narrowly avoiding the razor-sharp blades

As Dan pressed his attack, Gwen backflipped and twisted, using her agility to stay just out of reach. The sound of metal slicing through the air was a constant reminder of how close each attack came. With a swift sidestep, she created a small opening and countered with a well-aimed web shot, catching one of Dan's wrists and yanking it to the side

Dan grunted in frustration, cutting through the webbing with his free knife. He spun around and came at Gwen again, slashing wildly. Gwen ducked under a horizontal swipe and kicked Dan's legs out from under him. He stumbled but quickly regained his footing, a snarl on his face

"You're quick, I'll give you that," he growled, lunging at her again

Gwen saw her chance. She ducked low and swept her leg out, tripping Dan and sending him sprawling to the ground. Before he could recover, she fired another web shot, this time binding his ankles together. Dan struggled, slashing at the webs, but Gwen was already moving

She grabbed him by the collar and, with a powerful swing, launched him into a stack of crates. The boxes exploded in a cloud of splinters and debris as Dan crashed through them, finally coming to rest in a heap, dazed and defeated

"Don't just stands there's! Get them!" Shocker barked, his gauntlets crackling with energy. He raised his arms and fired a concussive blast at Spider-Gwen, who nimbly dodged to the side, the force of the blast shattering the wall behind her as more goons with guns began to pour in

"Nice try, Herman," she quipped, firing a web shot at his face. Shocker stumbled back, ripping the webbing off, but the distraction was enough for Gwen to close the distance. She spun and delivered a powerful kick to his midsection, sending him crashing into a stack of crates

Venom charged at the raining goons and as His tendrils shot out, wrapping around two goons and slamming them together before tossing them aside

A third goon tried to flee, but Venom was faster. He leapt, grabbed the man by the collar, and flung him into a dumpster

Two more goons fired wildly. Venom crouched low, then sprang up, disarming them with his tendrils. He grabbed one by the wrist and flung him into the other, sending both crashing to the ground.

The last goon, desperate and terrified, aimed his gun with shaking hands. Venom's eyes glowed as he advanced slowly. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a tendril snaking around the man's ankle, yanking him off his feet. The gun flew from the goon's grasp

Venom loomed over the fallen man, lifting him by the front of his shirt. "Boo," he growled

"AH!" said the goon as Venom tossed him aside as the police could be heard coming

The warehouse was soon littered with unconscious and groaning criminals

"Well, that was nice and quick. Let's go," Venom said as he and Spider-Gwen swung out of the warehouse. They landed on a nearby rooftop, watching as the police stormed the building to arrest the criminals inside

"Hey, Ash?" Spider-Gwen said, gaining his attention

"Yeah?" Venom replied

"I'm glad you're here. The three of them are always a pain in my ass whenever they are up to their goof troop stunts," Spider-Gwen said, relief evident in her voice

"Again, Gwen, it's no worries," Venom reassured her

Venom's voice echoed in Ashton's mind, "Here's an idea, Ash. Ask her out."

"What!? What am I supposed to say!?" Ashton thought back, panic creeping into his mental voice

"It's no different than asking Cindy out. Now ask her out to coffee," Venom insisted

Gwen noticed his brief silence. "Is something wrong?" she asked, concern in her eyes

"Nope," Venom replied quickly, trying to sound reassuring

"Do it," Venom prodded again

"Fine," Ashton thought, taking a deep breath. He tried to steady his nerves. "...wanna grab a coffee?" he asked, the words coming out more smoothly than he expected

Spider-Gwen looked slightly taken aback, but then a warm smile spread across her face. "I'd love to," she said. "Dunkin'?"

"Now you're talking," Venom said with a chuckle

They descended to the ground, Gwen gracefully shifting back into her civilian clothes. Venom morphed back into Ashton, the symbiote retracting to reveal his normal appearance

"Say, Ash. Did anyone ever ask you what you thought of Pokémon?" Gwen asked, glancing over at Ashton as they strolled down the bustling city street

"On occasion," Ashton replied with a chuckle. "It's fun, but I haven't played much."

"Well, 'Ketchum,' I'm sure surprised you haven't," Gwen teased, nudging him playfully

Ashton shrugged, laughing. "I guess I just never got around to it."

"Tell her you watch a lot of SpongeBob," Venom's voice echoed in Ashton's mind

"...I spent more time on SpongeBob than anything," Ashton admitted, scratching the back of his head.

Gwen's eyes sparkled with amusement. "How are the inner machinations of your mind?" she asked with a grin

"It's an enigma" said Ashton They both chuckled as they approached a Dunkin' Donuts and joined the line

"So, what's the one you always get?" Ashton asked, eyeing the menu

"Whatever's in season," Gwen replied with a shrug. "What about you?"

"Of course." Thought Venom

"Regular mocha," Ashton said as they moved up to order their drinks.

Ashton smirked. Neither he nor Venom were surprised by Gwen's choice. "What's your favorite season?" he asked as they waited for their drinks

"Fall, all the way," Gwen replied without hesitation

"Halloween?" Ashton guessed, thinking about the pumpkins and decorations that defined the season.

"Yup," Gwen said, popping the 'p.' "And I love my pumpkin spice."

They found a cozy corner and sat down with their drinks. Ashton took a sip of his mocha, savoring the warmth. "You ever seen 'Sicario'?" he asked

"Awesome movie," Gwen said, her eyes lighting up as Ashton pays. "The tension, the cinematography... it's all so good."

Ashton nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Benicio del Toro was incredible in it. That scene on the bridge... man, it had me on the edge of my ass"

"Totally," Gwen said, leaning back in her chair. "I love movies that keep you guessing."

"..you know I have several errands errands run. And it's a pain in my ass. So I'll be gone largely for the day' said Ashton half lying

"What? You sure don't need help with anything?" said Gwen

"Yeah I'm sure" said Ashton as he hoped she wouldn't press on as they contued to stick around until they finished their coffee

"Tell her you'll see her gotta get moving!" thought Venom

"See ya then" said Ashton

"Alright, can't wait" said Gwen as once she saw Ashton leave she had a slight frown that they didn't hang longer

Later

Ashton began to think about the three strange villains he recalls as he then grabs his phone. As he then gets an idea

Hey Hitoshi. What are you and your friends up too?" – Ashton

Doesn't matter. Did you find a way to leave this? – Hitoshi

Funny how you say that. I have an idea. But can we talk about in person? – Ashton

Ok. Meet at the McDonald's – Hitoshi

As Ashton strolled down the bustling New York street, he couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement at finding himself outside a McDonald's

"McDonald's… didn't expect there of all places," he mused to himself. But the sight of the familiar golden arches triggered a memory

"I think the fat kid wanted a meal there" thought Venom

Suppressing a chuckle, Ashton continued his leisurely walk, scanning the names of the various stores until his eyes landed on the unmistakable McDonald's sign

Despite the abundance of McDonald's in New York, locating the one Venom mentioned wasn't a daunting task. It was merely a matter of following his instincts and the scent of grease wafting through the air. Pushing the door open, Ashton stepped inside and immediately spotted the large man Venom referred to, munching on a Mega Burger

"Hitoshi. I see you enjoy simple fast food?" said Ashton with a smirk as he approached the table. As Hitoshi rolled his eyes at the comment

"Maybe we can get mocha here! I want to try I want to try!" Thought Venom as his excitement reverberated in Ashton's mind as Hitoshi and his companions made room for him to join them

"Calm down. We will" thought Ashton, taking a seat. "So, uh, what are your friends' names?"

"My name is Pat" said the large man between bites, Ashton recognizing him as Hard Man

"Robert" said the creepy-looking guy with an ominous chuckle, Ashton recalling him as Snake Man

"Uh huh.." Said Ashton awkwardly, trying to gauge the atmosphere. "So, you guys are itching to leave. I've got an idea…"

As the three of them gave Ashton their full attention,

"I have found a man with the power to do so. But he needs cash. Not too much, but small scores will do."

"Hai. Sounds simple" said Hitoshi his eyes glinting with anticipation.

"…what part of Japan did you come from?" said Ashton curiously

"Sapporo" said Hitoshi prompting Ashton's further confusion

"…where?" Said Ashton curiously trying to place the location

"Hokkaido island" clarified Hitoshi

"-But what about that Spider girl?" said Pat, his tone tinged with resentment. "I want revenge. In fact, I'm not over our fight just yet."

"Chill out, big man. You can stay here if you don't like the idea," said Ashton with a hint of annoyance "And besides, the Spider girl may be… focused on other things."

"Maybe we can eat him" Venom thought mischievously, referring to Pat

"No, we aren't doing that" thought Ashton

"So, how long will this take?" Hitoshi inquired, steering the conversation back to the plan at hand

"About a week. And then you three can get your revenge on whatever Spider-Man or other superhero you are all fighting" said Ashton

The three of them seemed satisfied enough with Ashton's answer, their expressions morphing into looks of anticipation

"So I hope you guys enjoy your meal. Call me when you have small scores. In the meantime. Ill be doing what I can to ensure it" said Ashton

"But I trust the Ghost Spider won't ruin it. Hai?" said Hitoshi

"….Hai." Said Ashton "Let her be my problem." As he then gets in line to order

Unbeknownst to them from afar. A man in a trench coat has been listening the entire conversation

After Ashton gets his Mocha and leaves the trio to their McDonald's meal unbeknownst to him. A man had kept his eye on the trio and moving into the McDonald's the moment he noticed Ashton is far enough away

"…fuck. It looks like it's getting cloudy" thought Ashton looking at the sky as it continued get more cloudy as he felt his 9hone ring

You still doing alright? – Gwen

Yeah. Id say halfway at this point – Ashton

So what exactly are you doing? – Gwen

Moving – Ashton

"I hope that'll satisfy her enough to stop asking" thought Venom as Ashton hoped she wouldn't press further

Later

A man's heart pounded against his ribcage as he sprinted through the dimly lit alleyways, his breath ragged. Each step reverberated with the sound of impending danger. His eyes widened in terror as he spotted the towering silhouette of Green Goblin cutting through the night sky, his glider whirring ominously hearing the demonic laughs of the rider

"Tsks, tsks, tsks. Who would've thought the battery would have a hard time charging?" Green Goblin's voice echoed with malice, sending shivers down the man's spine. He dashed into a nearby scrap yard

"Stay back!" the man called out, his voice trembling with nervousness as he pressed his back against a pile of debris, his eyes darting frantically

Green Goblin's eyes started glowing with sinister amusement

"Hahahhaha! Oh, Electro, you don't have to be hostile. We can do this the easy way or the fun way," said Goblin with his voice dripping with mockery

Fear coiled in the man's chest as he felt the surge of electricity coursing through his veins. With a surge of desperation, he ignited his fists with crackling bolts of lightning

"Haha! The fun way it is!" Green Goblin cackled, his goblin grin widening

Green Goblin flew towards him laughing maniacally as Electro crackled with electricity, ready to unleash his power. With a flash of lightning, Electro launched bolts of electricity at Green Goblin, who dodged and weaved with agility

Green Goblin retaliated with pumpkin bombs, exploding around Electro, disorienting him momentarily. Seizing the opportunity, Green Goblin swooped down and delivered a devastating blow with his razor-sharp claws, sending Electro crashing to the ground

As Electro struggled to rise, Green Goblin loomed over him, his eyes glinting with malice. With a swift strike, he incapacitated Electro, leaving him defeated on the pavement

"Looks like the power surge has fizzled out, Electro," Green Goblin taunted, his victory assured. With a wicked grin "Now time for the prize. Hehehhee.."

As he grabs Electro and slings him over his shoulder

"You're power will make a fine addition to my experiments hehehe" said Green Goblin as he flew away

To Venom

The three crooks skulked through the dimly lit alley, The one clutching the duffel bag of cash glanced nervously around, paranoia prickling his skin. With a silent signal, they charged into the alleyway.

Unbeknownst to them, a veil of black webbing slithered silently across the security cameras, cloaking their movements from prying eyes

"!" said the first crook as he spotted Venom om the wall

The crooks froze in terror as they caught sight of Venom clinging effortlessly to the wall with gleaming eyes.

"Spider-Man!" one of them blurted out in panic, his voice trembling with fear making Venom have a slight twitch

"If I didn't know any better. They'd be dinner" thought Venom

Without warning, the two armed crooks opened fire at Venom who jumped off into a blind spot with an ominous chuckle

Venom swiftly webbed both guns out of the crooks' hands, disarming them with ease. As two of them lunged at him with raised fists, Venom caught their blows effortlessly

"You boys should understand that I am Venom!" he growled and with a savage twist, he wrenched their arms, eliciting grunts of pain before effortlessly shoving them aside

The third crook, his nerves fraying at the sight of his comrades' defeat as Venom turns to him

"The bag. Now…" said Venom as the third crook steps back before dropping the duffel bag in surrender

"C-come on, guys, let's go!" Stammered the third crook fear as the other two and the they all ran off as the distant wail of police sirens echoed through the night

"This is almost too easy," he muttered to himself, his voice a low, ominous rumble. With a sinuous tendril, he snatched the duffel bag into his grasp before shooting a web into the darkness, swinging away into the night

"Alright, I don't think Gwen saw this. But let's make sure she doesn't see us" thought Ashton

"You need to relax. If she did, we wouldn't be here" thought Venom, his voice a low murmur echoing within Ashton's mind to reassure him

"You sure?" thought Ashton as he couldn't shake off the worry gnawing at him

"Yes" affirmed Venom firmly, his confidence cutting through the tension like a blade "Now, to Spot's."

Venom slinked silently through the shadows eventually reaching Spot's apartment. Venom morphs back into Ashton as he then knocks on the door . Spot peeked from behind his blinds before unlocking the door

"Boss? What are you doing out this late?" Spot's voice startled Ashton as he stepped inside

"Well, you could say it was a perfect score," said Ashton smoothly as he placed the duffel bag on the table to unzip it revealing all the stolen cash inside

"Oh boss, this is just perfect!" said Spot, his excitement palpable as he rubbed his hands together eagerly "This should take care of plenty."

"So… how long would it take you to build the thing?" Ashton inquired, his gaze fixed on Spot as he began unpacking the cash

"Well, there's the other complication. There are a few things I need to properly make it. Otherwise, we are golden," said Spot, his tone tinged with a hint of uncertainty

"What do you mean, a few things!?" Venom's tendril emerged from Ashton's back. "You're telling us we have to go even more grocery shopping!?" as Ashton quickly restrained Venom to keep him from getting closer to Spot

"Please understand, there are limits to what I can do!" said Spot nervously, holding his hands up in defense

"Venom, relax" said Ashton, his voice calm yet authoritative, quelling the symbiote's agitation. "So, what are these things you need?"

"Well, I have a list and photos of the things I need but can't get through legal means," said Spot sheepishly, while handing Ashton a collection of images and a small list "Then, I'll be able to fully build my machine, and then… I'm not sure why you want to do dimensional travel, but I respect it."

Ashton studied the contents before him thoughtfully, weighing their options carefully

"Hm… I guess this will be a little complicated then" muttered Venom

"We have that covered" said Ashton as he opens the fridge. And Venom looks at the contents gleaming in his eyes as he glanced at the abundance of chocolate bars

"MMM… Spot, you have gotten on my good side" said Venom changing his mood with his tendrils reaching eagerly for the sweet treats, momentarily easing Spot's nerves

"Until next time, Spot. I expect good progress" said Ashton as he prepared to depart, Venom retracting into him as they left Spot's apartment and jumped down

He then began to unwrap a couple of the chocolate bars as one by one he slips them into his sleeves. As he watches in amusement that Venom is eating the chocolate

"...I wonder how Cindy is doing…" muttered Ashton as the thought of her hit his head

"Well I'm sure she's better off than we are. I mean. We had to deal with another girl. And might I say they are both very fine" thought Venom with a chuckle making Ashton slightly flustered at the thought of Cindy and Gwen up close and their curves

"Venom!" whispered Ashton as he immediately covers his mouth realizing he said that out loud

"Aw.. wittle Ash misses his waifus?" Thought Venom making Ashton frown in annoyance "Fine fine. I'll stop"

"But changing the subject. I think the three guys can help us with that list" thought Ashton "And thankfully it's nothing nuclear"

Ashton then looks up into the sky to see its getting cloudier

"Fuck" muttered Ashton to himself as he notices it is starting to drip

Later that night to Gwen

Spider-Gwen perched on a rooftop, surveying the city below in the rain. She lwikey wished Ashton was near so it'll make whatever is easier

Her spidey sense suddenly tingled, alerting her to danger. She swung into action, heading towards the disturbance. As she approached, she saw the familiar figure of the Vulture soaring through the sky, his mechanical wings casting a dark shadow over the city

"Great," Gwen muttered to herself. "Of all nights for him to show up."

The Vulture spotted her and dove in her direction, talons outstretched. Gwen dodged at the last second, flipping gracefully to avoid his attack

"Ghost Spider," Vulture sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Out on your own tonight? Bad move."

"Yeah, well, someone's gotta keep you in check," Gwen shot back, launching a web to swing herself closer to him

Vulture lashed out with a wing, catching Gwen off guard and sending her spiraling through the air. She managed to right herself, but not before Vulture was on her again. They traded blows mid-air, Gwen struggling to find an opening. Without Venom's brute strength, she had to rely more on her agility and quick thinking.

She narrowly avoided another swipe from Vulture's talons, landing on a nearby rooftop. She panted, trying to catch her breath. "Gotta stay focused," she told herself

Vulture circled back, diving towards her with a predatory grin. As Vulture zoomed over at Spider Gwen ctahcing her off guard arranging her with his talons

"!" Said Spider Gwen as she kick flips Vulture making him relieve ever as she shoots a web at him and pulls him into a spinning kick "Nice try!"

"Grhh!" Said Vulture as couple laser gun appeared on his shoulder and began firing ay her as she gracefully dodged the shSaidas she shoots multiple web balls at Vulture's wings causing one to nearly burst

"OH NO!" yelled Vulture

Gwen timed her move perfectly, launching a web at his wings and yanking him off course. He crashed into the rooftop, and she took the opportunity to web his wings down, immobilizing him

"You think you've won?" Vulture growled, struggling against the webbing.

"Pretty sure," Gwen replied, leaping forward to deliver a knockout punch

Vulture slumped to the ground, unconscious. Gwen sighed in relief, but her muscles ached from the effort. "That was tougher than it needed to be," she muttered. As she tied up Vulture for the authorities

Swinging away from the scene, she decided that it was enough for the night, Pulling out her phone, she sent a quick message to Ashton

Missed you out there tonight. Could've used your help. Hope everything's okay - Gwen

To Ashton

Play: KSLV - Chase

While the day seemed more rainy than earlier as lightning struck in the sky illuminating Venom as he watched over the streets

"Another rainy day. I hope Gwen is doing better than me" thought Ashton

"in a rainy day like this? I think she's fine.. but focus on the little scores and the more likely spotty boy can get his machine thing" thought Venom

Then. Something felt very wrong as despite the heavy rain. But then it began to be clear. The Goblin is near as Venom turns his head to see Green Goblin descending closer

"Well well well. The second Spider shows his face again. Hahahahahahaha!" Said Green Goblin "Don't think I haven't forgotten our little 'play date'. I know some of your tricks"

"Yeah? I guess we will see how much more you'll see" said Venom getting in a fighting stance as Green Goblin ominously chuckled as his gauntlets slightly electrified

"Hey uh… Venom? Those look more powerful than Shocker's gauntlets" thought Ashton

"…but Shocker's is more stable and safe to use compared to… Electro.." thought Venom recognized the different look as Venom felt some pent up rage as he noticed Goblin's glider activate its machine gun as Venom leaped out of the way to avoid fire

Venom them shoots black web balls at Goblin as he flew around. Eventually hitting the machine gun part. Causing a slight jam

They kept trading blows on the hovercraft until they got closer to one of the building. With a smug chuckle green gets an idea as he then flies closed to rhe building smashing Venom into the windows

Causing some of the Venom goop to scrap off Ashton's face giving him a noticeable scrape on the cheek

"You're lucky you have me. Otherwise, your face could've been shredded cheese" thought Venom as they both continued to fly like crazy in the air crashing into the sides of multiple buildings

Goblin manages to push Venom off only for Venom to grab his leg and thrust him down to an unfinished construction site.

They both crashed through a couple floors as Goblin then gives himself a shot of adrenaline making him get up in a very fast pace.

"While I do enjoy our little tussle… Venom… without your girlfriend you can't beat me. Hahahahaha" said Green Goblin as Venom groaned as he tries to muster the strength to look up

"!?" said Venom shocked he even knew his name

"You don't think I've seen what you've been up to Venom?" said Green Goblin

"Besides fighting crime with her. You seem to be up to fun times behind her back! Haha!" Said Green Goblin enraging Venom as Venom was able to slash at him with his claws, and Goblin ducked under the attack, "Going for the kill I see. Look at how you prove my point." Goblin taunted as he threw a punch across Venom's jaw,

"Why bother trying to be a hero!? It's clear there is only one thing on your mind." Goblin got behind Venom and locked his arm around Venom's before shoulder throwing the alien onto his back, making yell out in pain as the wind got knocked out of him. "You are nothing more than a leach." Goblin taunted as he kicked Venom in the gut,

"You feed off others around you. A parasite that needs others to survive. You know you wouldn't survive as a hero so you keep a hero around you to keep you on a leash. You know you would lose yourself as a villain so you force yourself to work with others and only do 'victimless' crimes."

he kicked again, this time Venom's mouth opened up and he let out a cry as well as some gnarly green spit, "You are a coward, stuck with the anxiety of two identities. You won't even let your true self out until you've been pushed far enough." Goblin turned around, acting as if the battle was over, "What a disappointment."

"I...no...we. We will NOT allow you to leave again!" Venom yelled out, his body becoming much larger and his face becoming more monstrous as he opened his large mouth, showing off his gnarly teeth, and long alien tongue. Unbeknownst to the symbiote and the host, the mad Goblin was smiling beneath his mask.

"You know NOTHING about US. Nothing about what we do!" Venom launched himself forward using his tendrils and went to tackle the Goblin. The two rolled on the ground for a few feet bofore Venom lifted up the green menace and started to strangle him.

"Impressive." Goblin said in an almost maniacal tone as he shot his leg upwards, kicking Venom in the jaw so hard that the alien's jaw was forced close, biting his tongue in the process.

"AAAAAGH! BITCH!" Venom yelled out in pain and dropped the Goblin in the process. The green menace followed up by sending a powerful uppercut to Venom's gut, practically knocking the wind out of his body. Goblin then tapped his wrist, sending his glider flying into Venom's gut and launching him in the air.

"Piece of JUNK!" Venom yelled out as he ripped the glider from his gut, large blades being shown, before he spun in the air and threw the machine back down to the Goblin. "THAT WON'T STOP US!" Venom then pointed his arms to the ground and fired his thin tendrils from his wrists and yanked himself down to get the drop on Goblin.

"NOT GOOD ENOUGH!" Goblin laughed as he jumped in the air wrapped his arms around Venom's stomach before coming down and slamming the large alien on his back, making a small crater in the ground.

"RAAAAAH!" Venom let out a vicious growl on the ground as he used one hand to grab Goblin by his torso, sinking his claws into his chest before throwing him up slightly, grabbing the villain by the leg with his opposite arm, and proceeded to slam Goblin's body over and over again against the ground before throwing him against a steel beam, causing it to bend and several steal beams hanging in suspension to fall down, looking as if they'd crush Goblin.

"GOT YOU!" Venom cheered. The cheering was short lived as, instead of being crushed by the steel beams, Goblin CAUGHT one of the steel beams and used it to protect himself.

"A shame." Goblin stated as he tossed the beam to the side like it was a bag of flour, "To have all this power and to waste it. To have this GIFT and deny it its PURPOSE. What is the point of this power if you are not going to truly use it? You could be part of something greater, you could be leading an army into battle yet you choose to play it safe. You choose to live the life of a coward!"

Lightning flashed in the sky, lighting up the night sky followed by the roaring sound of thunder sounding out across the city. "Heh." Goblin smirked under his mask before pointing his hand to the air. Another burst of lightning came down and struck the villain, where one would normally fall over from the pain alone, Goblin simply stood there and laughed. He then pointed his other hand forward, and in an instant a bolt of lightning fired from Goblin's wrist gauntlet.

"OH SHIT!" Venom jumped out of the way at the last moment to avoid getting hit by the lightning strike, "This guy is fucking insane!" Thinking quickly, Venom fired a couple web balls at Goblin's wrists, blocking the flow of whatever electricity Goblin had left stored up.

"We have you now!" Venom yelled out as he used the symbiote to fire weblines out from each part of his body and tying up Goblin in the process before he dashed in and jumped from beam to beam, punching Goblin every time he crossed over, "This is one we've saved in the vault for years!"

Venom then finished the attack by tackling Goblin and breaking him out of his bindings and slamming his body on the concrete below. He then got up with Goblin wrapped in his claws and performed a German Suplex, then flipped over and performed the move again, then when Venom flipped back the third time, instead of doing the suplex, he used his large foot to kick Goblin to the top floor of the office building behind them.

Venom let out a loud roar before loading up a jump and launching himself after Goblin, cracking the concrete beneath him as he leapt through the air. He crashed through another window and rolled, landing in front of Goblin as he was just getting off the ground,

"How's this? Is this us WASTING our power!" Venom shouted with a smug grin as he sent a backhand to Goblin and launched him in the air and juggling him with a couple of punches before forming two large tendrils with his arms and slamming Goblin into the ground, his tendrils wrapping around the villain before throwing Goblin through the ceiling and onto the rooftop.

"HAD ENOUGH, BASTARD?!" Venom asked as he followed Goblin to the roof. He was then thrown off guard as the Goblin threw an uppercut across his jaw, staggering him back.

"Had your fun yet?" Goblin asked as he threw a right hook across Venom's jaw, and then a belly shot, "How about now?" he then clasped his two hands together and slammed overtop Venom's head, slamming him down onto the floor before kicking him back up and catching him, giving Venom a belly-to-belly suplex.

Venom growled and tried to retaliate by throwing a tendrilled backhand, but Goblin dodged it by performing a back handspring and jumping off the side of the building and landing on his glider, taking to the air above Venom. "There's that fighting spirit!" Goblin taunted as he used the gun on the front of the glider to fire at Venom from above, the alien taking the brunt of the attack

"Had enough? No? Hahaha…" Goblin pulled out several pumpkin bombs and swooped down, tossing the bombs, but Venom's tendrils lash out, snatching them away leading to a couple explosions in the air. The explosion was enough to knock Goblin off the glider again and back to the surface of the rooftop. "Heh, not so bad." Goblin mentioned as he got back to his feet, "But you still aren't nearly as strong as you could be."

Venom let out slight growl as his body dropped the bullets that lodged into him earlier.

"Though I must give you credit. You last much longer than the Ghost Spider!" Said Green Goblin as he drove his knee up on Venom's chest "She's never lasted this long haha! You're even more of a challenge!"

Goblin threw another fist at Venom only for him to catch it. As he then threw him to the side and then webbed him up. Venom readied his claws

"ILL TEAR YOU TO PIECES OSBOURNE" Yelled Venom

As he then charged at Goblin who ominously laughed as he activated an arm blade to cut through it as he electrified them

"WHAT A SHOCKING ORDEAL!" said Goblin laughing maniacally as he slashed at Venom even cutting past his protective goop

"HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE. HES NEVER THIS POWERFULL" thought Venom

"I don't understand… how…" thought Ashton "He's just human this time!"

As Venom narrowly avoids another stab as Goblin then throws his spinning g blades at him as Venom raises his arms as he felt some of the blades hit him. Goblin then threw two pumpkin bombs at him

*boom*

Green Goblin looked around to look for signs of Venom

Only for Venom to drive his knee against his back catching him back as they both fell a further distance onto another roof closer to the ground

Venom then punched at his Helmet multiple times

Venom raised both his fists to bash Goblin one last time before he then very a sharp pain in his side and more pressure. From Goblin's hovercraft

"!" Said Venom genuinely shocked as he is thrown off the roof and crashed through as Venom hit an electric sign and fell with a loud thud As Green Goblin gets up and leaps onto his hovercraft and flies over to where Venom landed

Green Goblin hovered over him a bit more as he watched Venom slowly retracting back into Ashton who was breathing heavily

"what a fascinating power you possess boy…. Heheehe…" said Goblin watched in ominous amusement Ashton closed his eyes for any further impact

"Though… you have potential.. yes…." Said Goblin as Ashton opened his eyes again to see he has flew a few spaces back. "ILL see you again soon... toot-a-loo!~ Hahahahahahhaa!" said Green Goblin as Ashton watched as he flew away into the rainy night

Ashton clenched his fists in frustration before smashing he gets up and watched as Green Goblin disappeared into the rainy night

Ashton felt himself twitching nonstop as further frustration kept bubbling within him as he had a slight growl and clenching his fists. He then began to prowl the rain soaked streets

"I will make him pay…" muttered Ashton darkly as he starts to have a slight headache as he then sees a blind man walking by "….dinner…" as he ominously followed the blind who was unaware

Venom then appeared as a tendril as lightning struck as Ashton got closer to Venom to reach as Venom opened his jaws ready to Chomp the man's head off

Then a split second. Ashton saw glimpses of 3 people. Peter Parker, Cindy Moon, and Gwen Stacy

"!" said Ashton immediately grabbing the Venom tendril and yanking it back

"what are you doing!?" said Venom

"We can't be eating right now! What if she sees us!?" said Ashton as thankfully the blind man left without noticing the two of them

"….good point" said the Venom tendril as he retraced back into Ashton as he then takes a good look Kat himself the moment he felt multiple stinging sensations in many places

His beanie is missing. Not that it would matter anymore, his Grey jacket and the shirt he had underneath was all torn up

He felt like he had bruises and cuts all over. He had been through difficult fights. But only anyone with a symbiote or Spiderman had done this much damage to him

Ashton felt a massive headache in his head as further flashes go through his mind as then for s moment it stops the moment he hears another thunder strike prompting him to look up ignoring the pain through his head

"Ash we need to leave. And maybe get some new clothes too" thought Venom as Ashton fully stands up and began to walk under the cover of a bus stop as he looked through all the signs that are legible in the rain

"…" muttered Ashton, glancing around the street. Spotting the open store, he made his way over, grateful it was still open as he walked in

The store owner, a middle-aged man with a graying mustache, looked up in surprise at Ashton's disheveled appearance. "Sir, we don't allow homeless people into the store," he said sternly, pointing towards the door. "The homeless shelter is down the road. Go there!"

"What? Hey!" Ashton protested as the store owner grabbed a broom and began poking him with it

"I'm a customer, you idiot! Stop that!" Ashton exclaimed, trying to fend off the weak but persistent jabs

"You have money?" the store owner demanded, squinting suspiciously

"Yes, now stop!" Ashton snapped, pulling out his wallet. The store owner eyed the cash, grumbled something under his breath, and returned to his cash register, resuming his reading of a well-worn magazine

"Gahahahah! Stupid old man!" thought Venom, laughing uproariously in the back of Ashton's head

"You were no help," Ashton retorted internally, scowling

"It was amusing enough. Oh, if only Cindy or Gwen were here to see it," Venom mused, still chuckling

Rolling his eyes, Ashton began to browse the store. He picked out a new pair of jeans and a simple black shirt, then noticed a shelf of medical supplies. He grabbed a box of bandages, and on a whim, snagged a couple of hotdogs from the refrigerated section and all the remaining chocolate bars in a nearby display box

"All this, please," Ashton said, approaching the counter

The store owner barely looked up, his expression still sour as he scanned each item. After a brief, tense silence, he loaded everything into a bag. Ashton paid in cash, taking the bag with a nod of thanks that went unacknowledged

"So now what?" Venom inquired as Ashton stepped back into the rainy street

"Well, since I don't want hypothermia, you know exactly where I'm going," Ashton replied mentally. The moment he was outside, he suited up, securing the bag tightly before swinging away into the night

The rain pelted down, making the city streets glisten under the dim streetlights. Venom moved swiftly, leaping from building to building, until they reached Spot's apartment. Landing lightly on the balcony, Venom retracted, leaving Ashton in his civilian form as he approached the door

He knocked, the sound barely audible over the relentless pounding of the rain. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing Spot

"Boss? What happened to you?" said Spot stunned at Ashton's battered appearance, taking in the torn clothes and bloodied bandages

"A fuck load of everything" said Ashton tossing a few more rolls of cash at him. "Believe me. You're lucky you aren't dealing with it."

As he spoke, a Venom tendril popped out of his back, startling Spot once more

"I trust you've been progressing on the machine?" the tendril hissed, displaying a toothy grin that sent a shiver down Spot's spine

"Y-Yes, boss!" Spot stammered, his eyes darting nervously from Ashton to the tendril as Ashton put the chocolate bars and hotdogs he'd bought into the fridge

"Good. Heheheh..." The tendril's sinister laugh echoed in the apartment

"One of these days, spooking him this much might force him to run," Ashton thought

"But it forces him to behave," Venom countered in his mind, causing Ashton to roll his eyes. He grabbed his bag and headed to the bathroom to change out of his wrecked clothes

"Look at us. The Goblin did this. THE GOBLIN. And he was just a puny human this time!" Venom's voice echoed in his mind as Ashton began to apply bandages to the cuts that stung the most

"Can't you stitch my cuts together?" Ashton asked, wincing as he pressed a bandage to his side

"With electric searing like that? I cannot," Venom replied, the irritation clear in his voice

"Of course," Ashton muttered, dejected, as he put on the last bandage and then looked at his reflection in the mirror. "...maybe Gwen or Cindy would dig it," he thought, a slight smile forming

"I bet they would. Heheheh, they already dig you enough" Venom chuckled as Ashton changed into his new clothes. Once finished, he exited the bathroom and returned to the main room "You know. If you grow out your stubble. You'll really start looking like your father"

"…You really think so?" said Ashton

"Mhm…"

That made Ashton regain more a smile even though the bight went horribly

He looked over at Spot tinkering with the machine, noticing the significant progress that had been made. "Damn. Looks like you got a lot done."

"Yeah, I guess I can't treat you like burger right now. Hahah!" The Venom tendril darted out briefly before retracting back into Ashton

"Well, my machine will still take a bit, but the cash you've been getting can go a long way," Spot said, a hint of optimism in his voice

"Sweet," Ashton replied, glancing out the window at the heavy rain still pouring down. "...I'll be sticking around for the night..." He grabbed his hotdogs, put them in the microwave, then grabbed a bunch of chocolate bars and plopped down on the couch

"Of course, boss," Spot said, focusing on his work

"Yummy, yummy, yummy for my teeth n tummy," the Venom tendril sang, poking out again. Ashton began to unwrap each chocolate bar, feeding them one by one to the tendril, who munched happily. "Mmmm," Venom purred in contentment

"Venom, I have an idea," Ashton thought, a glint of mischief in his eyes

"Ooo, me like, me like, me like!" Venom replied, his mental voice taking on a childishly excited tone, which made Ashton smirk

"Spot, write me a list of your old 'workplace.' I think I'll go... 'shopping' there soon," Ashton said, subtly referring to Alchemax. Spot immediately grabbed a pen and paper, scribbling furiously. Ashton glanced at his phone and noticed it was out of power

He sighed before shooting a web at a charger, pulling it into his hand. "I hope I didn't miss any texts," he muttered, plugging in his phone and setting it aside

"Considering how late it is, she might assume you went home and fell asleep already," Venom mused

"Hey boss. Take this. And you can download plenty of data and significantly help a lot and speed things along" said Spot

"Got it" said Ashton as Spot tosses him a thumb drive

"Wait... does she know that you're sentient?" Ashton wondered, curious

"Huh... now that I think of it, knowing how perceptive she is, I wouldn't be surprised if she does. But we've never explicitly said we were two. She might think I'm just your powers. Maybe we should give subtle hints to see if she knows or not," Venom suggested

"Sounds good. Even though I doubt she'd freak out, knowing all the monsters and supervillains that exist," Ashton thought. "I mean, Cindy wasn't that bothered when she found out."

"True. Very true," Venom agreed.

Ashton settled in for the night, relaxing despite the noise Spot was making as he tinkered with a machine in the corner

To Gwen

Gwen felt like she couldn't deal with the rain as she swung back to her apartment

She checks her phone. Noticing Ashton still hasn't seen or responded to her texts making her frown. She considered that he was probably very tired and already went home

While she hasn't seen him for the night. It doesn't seem like him to straight up disappear. But she shrugs him off as simply busy

Gwen then undresses out of her costume and plops down on her bed. She hoped to see a text from him the next day

That night, Gwen tossed and turned in her sleep, her mind plagued by a vivid nightmare

Gwen's drem

In her dream, she found herself standing in a dark, deserted alley, the only source of light coming from a flickering streetlamp. Ashton stood before her, his expression serious but kind

"Ashton?" she called out, reaching for him.

But as she stepped forward, he began to fade, his form dissolving into mist. "No, Ashton, don't go!" she cried, her voice echoing in the empty alley.

Suddenly, the scene shifted. Gwen was surrounded by her worst enemies all closing in on her. They jeered and taunted her, their faces twisted with malice

"This is what you get for meddling with Alchemax's plans!" Shocker sneered, his gauntlets crackling with energy.

She fought desperately, but their numbers overwhelmed her. Each blow, each taunt cut deeper, filling her with fear and despair. As she struggled, she saw a split-second vision of her father, Captain George Stacy, standing in the shadows, watching her with a look of concern and sorrow

"Dad!" she screamed, but the vision vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the encroaching darkness.

Dreamcape end

Gwen jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest. She sat up in bed, gasping for breath, the remnants of the nightmare still clinging to her mind. The early morning light filtered through her window, casting a soft glow over her room. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself

"It was just a dream," she whispered, running a hand through her hair. She reached for her phone on the bedside table, hoping to find some comfort in a message from Ashton. But as she checked her notifications, her heart sank. There were no new messages from him

"He still hasn't texted back," she muttered, a wave of anxiety washing over her. She tried to reassure herself. "He's probably sleeping.. yeah"

Despite her words, the unease lingered. She got out of bed and stretched, trying to shake off the lingering fear from her nightmare. As she moved through her morning routine, her thoughts kept drifting back to Ashton and the dream. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off

After a quick shower, Gwen sat by her window, looking out at the city. She considered texting Ashton again but hesitated

Hey – Ashton

Sorry I didn't reach out last night. Things got messy - Ashton

Gone was caught off guard by the sudden text. But felt relief he's alright

What happened – Gwen

Could say ran into a friend – Ashton

Gwen sighed as she got dressed for the day, anticipating her meet-up with Ashton. She packed her suit into her backpack before stepping out of her apartment, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of him. She wondered if she should ask Ashton about his living arrangements, assuming he had an apartment at all. Deciding to get them both coffee, she felt it was the least she could do since he had paid for hers the previous day

Remembering his preference for mocha, she made sure to get it just right. "Okay, Gwen. He was at the German restaurant when I saw him the other day. Surely, he'd be over there," she mused, walking down the streets toward the familiar location

As she approached, she overheard Ashton speaking with the vendor. "-Nein nein, es war nur ein Unfall. Mir geht es gut," Ashton said, but Gwen's heart sank when she saw his bruised and beaten face. Nearly dropping both coffees, she called out, "Ashton?"

Ashton turned, his expression sheepish. "Gwen? What's up?" He tried to smile as she gave him a slightly annoyed look

"Are you ok?" said Gwen

"Yes I am ok" said Ashton as he turns to the vendor "Uh... Guten Tag jetzt," as he awkwardly as he took his mocha from Gwen

"Du auch," the vendor replied with a nod

Gwen's concern was evident. "What happened?" she asked, her voice soft but firm

"Oooo~ you're in trouble," Venom thought with amusement. "But you got this. I believe in you, haha!"

"...Let's go somewhere more private," Ashton suggested, leading Gwen into an alley. They scaled the walls until they reached a rooftop, away from prying eyes

Gwen gently examined the bruises on Ashton's face, her worry growing. "Ashton..." she murmured, reaching out to touch his face. He winced slightly at her touch

"I'm sorry, Gwen," Ashton said, his voice filled with regret

"Sorry!?" Gwen's tone was a mix of frustration and concern. "I barely heard from you last night. What happened!?"

"Oh no. This is just like when Cindy got frustrated. You did it again, Ash. Good going," Venom thought, his tone sarcastic

"You're not helping," Ashton thought back in annoyance

"Not trying to," Venom thought smugly

"Look, Gwen. It's just errands," Ashton tried to explain

"Don't give me that crap," Gwen snapped, not buying his excuse

"I wanted to give you a slight break, alright?" Ashton admitted. "I know that before we met, you largely protected the city by yourself. It's inspiring, really. So I thought maybe I could just lighten the load."

"And those were the errands?" Gwen asked, her skepticism clear.

"Yes," Ashton replied, half-lying

"Look, Ash. That's very sweet. But with you around, it's already a break enough," Gwen said, her expression softening. "You make everything much easier, and that's fine by me. You don't have to give me breaks."

"I wanted to," Ashton insisted. "You honestly deserve it. But fine. I'll only save it for occasions. Alright?"

Gwen rolled her eyes but smiled, her irritation fading. They both sat down, the tension easing between them

"You're crazy, but I like that," Gwen said, her tone affectionate. "But you have to make sure to respond more often. I don't need to save your sorry butt."

"I'll give you that one, Ash. That went smoother than I expected," Venom thought, a hint of approval in his voice

Ashton smiled, feeling a sense of relief. "I'll do better, Gwen. Promise."

Gwen nodded, satisfied with his answer. However, she realized there was a question she had wanted to ask Ashton for a while. "Can I ask you something?" she said, gaining his attention. "...Who was that guy?"

Ashton felt a slight panic. Did she see him talking to Spot or Hitoshi? Or the other two guys? "…Which guy do you mean?" he asked, nearly concealing his nervousness

"That guy... you know, he was flying when we met," Gwen said, as Ashton remembered how their first meeting had gone

"Oh... him," Ashton said with slight relief, realizing she meant Green Goblin "What about him?"

"You know him," Gwen said, her eyes narrowing slightly

"Well, sort of?" Ashton replied, trying to sound casual

"Sort of?" Gwen raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued

"That's Green Goblin. He's uh... certainly an insane guy. But you haven't seen him before?" Ashton asked, genuinely curious

"Of course not," Gwen said. "The day you showed up was also the day he showed up."

"…Do you know a Norman Osborn?" Ashton asked cautiously.

"No, who is that?" Gwen replied

"…Fascinating," Venom thought, intrigued by her answer "Perhaps Norman Osborn never existed in this universe"

"Well, that's his name. But I personally don't know him," Ashton said. "He's a tech genius, but that's all I really know."

"But we'll take him together, right?" Gwen said, her determination clear in her eyes

"Yeah," Ashton said, though he felt a slight hidden guilt about what was to come.

Gwen leaned back, sipping her coffee thoughtfully. "It's strange, you know? Meeting you and then facing all these new villains. It's like my world's expanded in ways I never expected."

Ashton nodded, his mind racing with the possibilities and challenges ahead. "I guess that's the thing about being a hero. New threats, new allies. You never know what's coming next."

"Well, for starters, I do have something in mind. I would've done it alone, but I think you'd want to come," Ashton said, gaining Gwen's attention. "Do you... want to go with me to Alchemax?" Hoping she would say yes.

"Alchemax? I don't wanna swing all the way there," Gwen replied, eyeing him playfully. "Unless you want to carry me."

"Huh. That actually worked," Venom thought, mildly surprised

Ashton and Gwen then proceeded to walk back down to ground level and headed to a bus stop

"This will take pretty much the whole day. But thankfully, I've got nothing better to do now," Gwen said

Meanwhile

"She's so out of the band," said a girl with a leader-like demeanor. "Okay, which one of you can play drums?"

Back to Gwen and Ashton

Gwen and Ashton boarded a bus, passing a few passengers before settling in the back. Gwen put in one AirPod and started scrolling through her playlist

"…Wanna listen?" Gwen asked, holding out the other AirPod to him. "You can pick the next song."

"Sure," Ashton said, taking the AirPod and putting it in his ear. The bus ride would take a few hours to reach Hudson Valley.

"This will take a real minute. So, get comfortable," Gwen said with a smile, enjoying his presence

Play: Jack Stauber - Fighter

Later

Ashton and Gwen got off the bus and began walking up the road toward Alchemax

"Alchemax is full of nerds. I already broke in there once, so I doubt I can go in the same way I did before," Gwen explained as they both ducked into the trees to suit up, now that no one else was around to see

They trekked through the snow, eventually spotting the imposing Alchemax building

"You know the ins and outs of this place, right?" Venom asked through Ashton

Spider-Gwen waved her hand in an "eh" motion

"Well, I trust you know what you're doing," Venom said as they surveyed the building from afar. Gwen began to lead the way, and they both snuck over to the Alchemax building, climbing onto the roof

"So, what errand does this have to be exactly?" asked Spider-Gwen as she watched Venom slip off the ventilation shaft.

"Break in and stop whatever they're doing with Green Goblin," Venom lied, keeping the real motive concealed

"Wait. He was here?" Spider-Gwen's eyes widened

"I don't know. I just know he had something to do with this place. He is a tech wizard, after all," Venom said, sliding into the shaft, with Spider-Gwen following closely behind

As the two of them quietly crawled through the vents, Venom scanned for the items Spot had mentioned. Recognizing the area of ventilation, he quietly opened another shaft, and they slipped into a computer room. Venom immediately webbed all the security cameras

"What are you doing?" Spider-Gwen asked, watching Venom sit down and turn on a computer

"What do you think?" Venom shrugged nonchalantly qs he began sorting all the files Spot asked him to retrieve. Thankfully there really wasn't that many

"...You never told me you were good at getting access to computers," Spider-Gwen remarked, a hint of surprise in her voice

"Eh, not really," Venom replied. As she glanced away, he plugged in a drive and began collect the data

"How long are we going to stick around?" Spider-Gwen asked, her anxiety growing

"Give it a few moments," Venom said, creating a folder and copying all the files to the drive. Within a few more moments, he removed the drive and with a flick of his wrist, made the thumb drive disappear. "Okay, let's go."

Sensing her growing unease, Venom moved towards the exit just as a woman entered the room, her eyes widening in surprise

"Well, if it isn't Ghost-Spider and her boyfriend, Spider-Man," the woman chuckled. "It appears you've shown up once again. I wonder what you want this time."

"Ugh… this bitch again," muttered Ghost-Spider in annoyance as Doc Ock had a slight eye twitch hearing Gwen's comment

"It's Venom," Venom corrected, equally annoyed

"Well, Venom, it's nice to meet you," said Doc Ock, her four mechanical arms extending menacingly. "I am Olivia Octavius. It's nice to meet you and tear you apart!"

With a swift motion, her arms lunged at both Spider-Gwen and Venom. They dodged in unison, their movements synchronized from countless battles fought together

"I'll beat you again!" yelled Spider Gwen

Doc Ock's mechanical arms struck out again, but Spider-Gwen was ready. She leaped onto one of the arms, using it as a springboard to flip over Olivia's head. Venom, meanwhile, engaged two of the other arms, using his strength to hold them back

"We need to disable her arms," Spider-Gwen called out as she landed on the far side of the room As Venom was wresting with the appendages

"Don't think I have forgotten your last escapade here, Ghost-Spider," said Doc Ock, her eyes gleaming with excitement. She used her free octo-arms to grab a table at incredible speed

"!" exclaimed both Venom and Spider-Gwen as the table struck them, sending them crashing through the glass walls into the hallway

"Oh my God. Ghost-Spider! And Spider-Man!" said a startled scientist as Venom grabbed Spider-Gwen and ran past him

"Hi Jerry. Be a dear and alert security," said Doc Ock, darting after Venom and Spider-Gwen as Jerry the scientist saluted in response

Venom set Spider-Gwen on her feet as they continued running. "Well, we're not exactly obligated to fight," he said, scanning the rooms they passed

"I'm sure that makes me feel better," said Spider-Gwen sarcastically. Suddenly, Venom burst through one of the doors, looking around and grabbing a few small pieces of tech, then webbing a bag to carry them

"Venom, what are you doing?" asked Spider-Gwen, confused

"Souvenirs, Ghost. Gotta put a dent in their plans somehow," Venom replied

Spider-Gwen was about to respond when, "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" yelled a security guard. A team of guards rushed in, aiming laser guns at the two of them. Venom and Spider-Gwen ducked as the guards opened fire

"Not good!" Spider-Gwen shouted as she rolled to the side, avoiding the laser blasts. Venom followed suit, using his webbing to disarm a few guards by yanking their weapons away

"We need to split up!" Venom suggested, webbing a guard to the wall

"On it!" Spider-Gwen replied, sprinting down the hallway and drawing some of the guards away from Venom

As she leaped over obstacles and swung from the ceiling, she noticed an emergency exit. "This way!" she called out, hoping Venom would follow as Venom charged through plenty of the security guard

"Actually, we'll split up. I'll distract the octopus lady," said Venom, knocking out several of the security guards in their way

"!" Venom exclaimed as he narrowly avoided being grabbed by Doc Ock

"I'm going to need whatever you stole back," Doc Ock demanded, her mechanical arms reaching out menacingly

"Do your friends call you octopus?" Venom asked, absorbing the bag into his symbiote

"They call me Liv, actually," Doc Ock replied with slight amusement as her octo-arms transformed into razor blades, repeatedly slashing at him

"GAH!" Said Venom as she managed to slice him

"Venom!" said Spider Gwen as she launched herself forward to punch Doc Ock in the face to get her off VVenomas they both contued running despite the heavy laser fire

"Oh, the basement. FOR FUCKS SAKEWHY DID THE BATTERIES HAVE TO BE IN THE BASEMENT!?" Venom thought in frustration

Venom charged through more security guards, brute-forcing his way past them like bowling pins despite taking numerous laser shots

"Venom!?" Spider-Gwen shouted as she watched Venom punch through the elevator door and jump down the shaft. She quickly launched herself over to follow him

"Hey, Ghost. What exactly did you see when you were here last time?" Venom asked as they descended

"A portal thingy. Now slow down, we're supposed to be a team!" Spider-Gwen replied, her voice tinged with frustration

Venom then busted the elevator door opened as he and Spider Gwen entered the basement levels as Venom looked for the specific power source Spot told him about

However. They saw a giant robot as all the alarms started to go off

"…that can't be good" said Spider Gwen

"I guess they were up to other things again" thought Venom as he looks around

"But where could it be!? Spot said it looked like a disc! It can't be that hard to find it around here!" thought Ashton

Venom and Spider Gwen see the massive Hunter-Killer Drone, towering over them with its gleaming metal body and advanced weaponry. Its red eyes locked onto the two heroes, and it let out a mechanical growl

"Incoming!" Venom shouted, pushing Spider-Gwen out of the way just as the drone's arm cannon fired a series of plasma blasts. The ground where they had been standing erupted in sparks and debris

Spider-Gwen quickly recovered, flipping back onto her feet and firing web lines at the drone's eyes. "Gotta blind it!"

The webs splattered across the drone's optics, momentarily obscuring its vision. It swiped at the air with its razor-sharp claws, narrowly missing Spider-Gwen as she acrobatically dodged the attacks.

Venom lunged at the drone, his symbiote forming a massive fist that he slammed into the drone's chest. The impact barely dented the metal, and the drone retaliated by grabbing Venom and throwing him into a wall

"Ugh!" Venom grunted, shaking off the impact and charging again

The drone's chest compartment opened, revealing a missile launcher. It fired a barrage of missiles at Spider-Gwen, who leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the explosions. The force of the blasts sent her crashing into a control panel. As it then senses where she was and began to spin launching her in the air

"!" Said Venom as he quickly jumped so she would crash into him to lessen the impact om her. Albeit feeling her on him felt very nice

"Ow…thanks Venom" said Spider Gwen as he nodded to her in acknowledgement as they both jumped towards the drone

The drone's arm cannon spun up, preparing to fire again. Venom tackled it from the side, disrupting its aim. The cannon fired, the blast narrowly missing Spider-Gwen but grazing Venom, searing his symbiote

"Agh!" Venom yelled in pain, but he held on, ripping out wires and components from the drone's side

Spider Gwen then webbed plenty of its sensors preventing it from having more accurate shots giving Venom the chance to repeat punch the head like no tomorrow

Sparks flew as the drone tried to shake them off, its movements becoming more erratic.

Venom them launching himself and realized where the power was. It was in the back. As he dove straight in tearing row insides apart as he finally grabbed all the battery disks he was searching for

The machine sputtered and sparked before collapsing to the ground, its red eyes dimming giving both tired Venom and Spider Gwen great relief

"I think that does it-or not!" said Spider Gwen as she sees Doc Ock jump through the window

Doc Ock sadistically smiles knowing that her drone has weakened them as she lunged at then both with ferocity

More security came in as Venom lunched at them punching through the ones that got close Gwen dodged Doc Dock's tentacles as one struck her harder than before making her hit the wall

"NO!" Yelled Venom as he then bulked up revealing his mouth startling the security while Doc Ock looked fascinated as he sharpened his claws as he lunged at her . He was now significantly more terrifying to see

"!" Said Doc Ock as Venom violently them ripped off all the tentacle arms one by leaving her both stunned and intrigued Ashe shots web balls at her into the wall with several others

Venom roared startling more of the security guards as he dashed to Gwen to grab her as he then smashes through all security guards station into he way while also avoiding further laser fire

"Stay awake, Gwen! We are getting out of here!" yelled Venom as he bulldozed past all the security guards who stood in his way. He climbed up the elevator shaft as fast as he could, yanking out the blaring speakers with his tendrils to silence the alarms

"!" exclaimed the stunned scientists as they saw Venom burst through the walls, carrying Spider-Gwen. Venom then smashed through a window and leaped into the night, landing on a car before bounding into the woods

With each powerful leap, they got further away from the laser fire and the Alchemax facility. The further they got, the more Venom's form began to shrink back to his regular size. But then, an ominous, maniacal laugh echoed through the trees, a laugh Venom recognized all too well. It was Green Goblin

Panic surged through Venom as he saw the silhouette of the Goblin flying above the woods. He swung faster through the snowy terrain, clutching Spider-Gwen tightly

"Ugh… my head," Spider-Gwen groaned, starting to regain consciousness. "Did we do it?

"Yup, but let's focus on reaching the bus stop!" said Venom, his voice tense with urgency. He continued swinging until they were much closer to the Hudson bus stop. Only then did he begin to calm down

Landing on the ground, he gently placed Gwen against a tree. "Can you get up?" he asked, his form morphing back into Ashton

"Yeah," said Spider-Gwen, holding out her hand for him to pull her up. Ashton took her hand and helped her to her feet

"We're almost there. Get back into your civilian clothes. I think we're in the clear," said Ashton, though he still seemed nervous about what he had seen

Gwen nodded, quickly slipping out of her suit and into her street clothes. The snowy woods were eerily quiet, the only sounds being their hurried movements and their heavy breathing

As they neared the bus stop, Ashton glanced over at Gwen, who was wincing slightly from her injuries. "You okay?

"I've been better," Gwen replied with a weak smile. "But I'll live. Thanks for getting us out of there."

Gwen and Ashton, both looking battered and bruised—though Ashton more so than Gwen—finally reached the bus stop at the edge of the snowy forest, far from the Alchemax building. The frigid air bit at their exposed skin as they stood silently, waiting for the bus to arrive

When the bus eventually came into view, its headlights piercing the wintry gloom, both of them felt a wave of relief wash over them. They boarded and made their way to the back, seeking some privacy. Ashton slumped into his seat, his head resting against the cold window, while Gwen settled in next to him

"I'm sorry things went that way," Ashton said, breaking the silence. Gwen chuckled softly, her breath visible in the chilly air

"It's alright, Ash. Stuff like this happens all the time. I already told you I fought that vampire, remember? So, a big robot isn't that much," she replied with a reassuring smile

"Did the vampire have big machine guns?" Ashton quipped, prompting Gwen to stifle a laugh

"I wish," she said with a yawn, exhaustion evident in her voice. "How long until we reach Queens?"

"About three hours. So, I guess we'll have to get comfortable," Ashton replied, glancing at his watch. The bus rumbled on, its steady motion lulling them into a state of relaxation

As the miles rolled by, Gwen's eyelids grew heavy. Eventually, she succumbed to her fatigue, her head unknowingly coming to rest on Ashton's shoulder. Ashton felt a warmth spread through him at the contact, a small comfort in the aftermath of their ordeal. He hoped the moment would last

"Congratulations, Ashton. You didn't have to do anything once again," Venom's voice echoed in his mind, laced with sarcasm. Ashton suppressed a chuckle, not wanting to wake Gwen

He checked the bag of the stuff he stole from the building. Thankfully all was still there and nothing broken. Now he just has to not let Gwen see them as he hides them

The bus continued its journey through the snowy landscape, the rhythmic hum of the engine providing a soothing backdrop. Ashton gazed out the window, watching the snowflakes dance in the bus's headlights, reflecting on the day's events and the unexpected solace he found in Gwen's presence

"Oh an Ashton. Wrap your arm around her" thought Venom as Ashton looked at Gwen's sleeping form "She won't mind. I just know it"

However. Ashton couldn't help but think

Should he tell her at all at this point? In case there maybe another repeat of unexpected events with Cindy?

However, little did either of them know… what Ashton saw was real

"Well, well. What do you know? Venom did trick his girlfriend into this… heheheh," Goblin muttered to himself before soaring into the sky

With Goblin's laughter echoing in the distance, the snowy forest ominously quiet, leaving an air of uncertainty lingering

To be continued

Banana slama. That's away for this. Maybe it was too much but eh. Considering how long I disappear I hope it's sustainable

Trivia

1: Originally rather than Gwen. Ashton was supposed to break into Alchemax with Shadow Man. Hut I thought it would be more for to have him do it with Gwen while gaslighting her

2: once again. Theallaroundnerd, God bless that magnificent bastard. Has largely written Venom's fight with Green Goblin

You can tell as he's much better at fighting details than I am.

So as I point this totally safe flashlight in his face. I implore you all to check out his Spiderman stuff. He'd like that a lot

3: the longest chapter prior to this I believe was my Life Starts Now Story. I forget which chapter but it was at 13.5k

4: I would definitely say. I have been listening to Jack Stauber, Gorillaz, and other indie sounding stuff compared to my usual music stuff

5: I know I can't control your minds. BUT. I always imagined whenever Ashton speaks. He would have the same voice as Billy Kametz (RIP) using his Naofumi voice of Shield Hero or Macaque of Lego Monkie Kid

6: any of you seen the Spider Within? Because dayum it gets me excited for Beyond the Spiderverse

7: I got disappointed when the Silk series got canned. But then again. It should've been a red flag that largely nothing was done for the years it was announced. Such a shame :(

But maybe they'll be something to Kickstart her MAINSTREAM movie or show appearances. Ah well. Nothing beyond waiting will do

8: VENOM 3. WHOS READY FOR VENOM 3!? WOOOOOOOOOOO

What's this? A bonus bit. AS IF THIS FUCKING ISNT LONG ENOUGH

Elsewhere in the Spiderverse

Riot's metallic form loomed over Carnage, tendrils writhing with eager anticipation, as he attempted to reason with the chaotic symbiote

"Carnage, think about this rationally. Together, we'll be stronger" said Riot

Carnage, however, seemed unswayed, his laughter ringing out maniacally

"You and your pathetic therapy group are no good to me!" he retorted, his blood-red tendrils sharpening menacingly, causing Riot to grimace in acknowledgment of the inevitable confrontation ahead "ahahahaha!"

With a deafening roar, Riot launched an onslaught of metallic projectiles at Carnage, who effortlessly dodged and weaved between them, closing the distance with alarming speed. Carnage's own tendrils lashed out, slashing through the air with deadly precision

"Can't stand a few paper cuts?" Carnage taunted, extending his claws with a sinister grin. "How about a Machete cut!" he bellowed, his laughter reverberating through the air as Riot morphed his arms into blades, bracing for the clash that was about to unfold

"Ahaha! Oh, Riot. At this point, I'd think you're the new Brock!" Carnage mocked, his laughter filled with madness as the two symbiotes prepared to collide once more in a flurry of violence and chaos

Even as Carnage staggered under Riot's assault, his eyes gleamed with unholy fervor, a twisted grin etched upon his face. With a guttural growl, he lunged forward once more, the primal instinct for destruction driving him relentlessly forward

But Riot was not deterred. Pinning Carnage down against the unforgiving rocks, he spoke with a firm resolve. "Listen here, Carnage. I am offering you a chance. A chance to unleash untold destruction upon the world."

Carnage remained silent, his gaze fixed upon Riot with a mix of curiosity and defiance

"Not just for yourself, but for all our brothers and sisters of symbiotes who choose to join us," Riot continued, his voice resonating with persuasive conviction. "Together, we will be unstoppable... think about it. I've already convinced Ashton about this.."

Carnage's grin widened, a sinister chuckle escaping his lips. "You can't be serious," he replied, his tone dripping with skepticism. "He's too buddy-buddy with the Spider for my taste."

"Perhaps," Riot conceded, his gaze unwavering. "But he is one of us. He will learn the ways that Eddie Brock could not."

A moment of tense silence hung between them, before Carnage finally spoke, his voice laced with anticipation. "Very well... I look forward to the chaos," he declared, his laughter echoing into the night as Riot's ominous smile mirrored the impending storm of destruction they would unleash together.

Next up:… Spotty Records