My entire body is sore and my head feels like it's trapped under a power drill. I go to grab my aching skull when I feel resistance against my wrists and the clink of metal. Cracking open an eye I see a set of shiny handcuffs clamped around my wrists.
"What the?" opening the other eye I take in my surroundings, steel walls with a thick steel door, small, maybe eight feet in each dimension, with a singular bunk that I'm now sitting in.
"Shield heli-carrier by the way." looking up I can see a figure through the window in the door. "Figured you'd be wondering." Tall with a black goatee and combed black hair. He wears a white buttoned shirt with a black jacket
It's when I recognize him that I realize that I may be in some real trouble this time.
"I'm Tony by the way, Tony Stark. You've heard of me, I assume?" Iron-Man the Golden Avenger. In the past few weeks the group known as the Avengers has been making headlines worldwide. Half of the sources are unreliable but if you believe the tabloids they've been in some major fights involving international super villains. Most of their members have secret identities but of the few that are public everyone knows Tony Stark. Camps are split on whether he or Reed Richards holds the title of world's smartest. Considering that both of them are heroes I wonder again if I've made the best choices of late.
My position on this side of the jail cell certainly implies an answer but it still leaves me questioning, how did this happen? The last thing I remember is fighting Luke Cage and then dim, vague memories, an explosion? Red white blue?
"Hey kid, you don't look so good. You okay there? Maybe you're missing your buddy?"
What buddy? I was alone- Stark steps to the side so that I can see the large metal canister supported by something I can't see. It's capped with steel on both ends but the center is a clear glass allowing me to see the roiling black liquid contained within. "Huh, that got your attention didn't it? Real nasty looking if you ask me, but seeing as it let you put the hurt on Cage I can see the attraction."
"Venom." the words are out of my mouth before I can think. I instantly recognize it despite never seeing it this way. My face hits the ground as I move to stand on my sore legs.
"Venom? Is that what you call it?" I see him shaking his head as I roll myself to the side. While I'm on the ground I test the handcuffs, I can feel the metal bend but stop before it breaks. "I'll be straight with you kid, Peter right? I'm gonna call you Pete. This thing-" he shakes the container and Venom reacts violently surging against the confines of the container. "-is bad news, it may have given you super strength and all that, but it was feeding on you. It's some kind of parasite"
He thinks Venom is what gave me powers? That explains the cheap handcuffs.
"Pete I honestly feel bad for you, I know you've gotten into some trouble. Heard about your little run in with the human torch the other day by the way. It's never too late to turn things around though, trust me. Work with me and I can even see you getting off with community service. I bet you do a lot more good that way than rotting in Rykers. What do you say? Help me get you outta those cuffs."
He wants to treat me like a victim? Fine by me. "I'm not really sure what's going on or how I got here. If you let me out I'll do whatever you need me to." It's mostly true, I would do whatever I needed to until I could find a way to reconnect with Venom and escape. Regardless of my feelings towards the symbiote we have a better chance of escaping than I do
Tony Stark pauses for a second, and looks at me with a raised eyebrow. "Well, here's the thing Pete. I believe you, really I do. Mostly because the alternative doesn't really make sense but the thing is…" He taps the frame of his glasses, "These bad boys are loaded with an onboard computer with optical and auditory soundware specifically designed by me to detect all the things common in liars. You've seen TV, you know what I'm talking about. Elevated heart rate, increased perspiration, etcetera, etcetera. Point is, They give you a 73% chance of falsehood with that last statement."
The confused expression I had been trying for slowly drops as I can't help but glare at his smug face while he monologues.
"Oh, and that brings it up to 87%. Yeah, definitely not letting you out of there anytime soon. So why don't you sit and cool your head while I go and run some more tests on your 'Venom'." He says, shaking the container holding Venom. He takes a few steps away before turning back, "Oh and don't get any ideas. Remember, Heli-carrier: we're at fifty thousand feet over the middle of the Atlantic." He gives a two finger salute as he walks off with venom in hand.
Asshole. Now with him gone I take a proper look at the cell. My head still hurts but it's getting better by the second. I've got on a pair of cuffs that I can probably snap in a second or two but the problem is this cell. If that door is half as tough as it looks it'll take me a good couple of minutes to get it open enough to fit through not to mention that I'm probably in one of the best prisons imaginable. A shield heli-carrier! How did I end up captured by the Avengers of all people? Don't they have better things to do?
When we get out of this Venom and I are going to have a serious conversation. While I didn't actually trust the parasite I had thought we had an understanding. But clearly there are some things about it that I don't understand. Maybe Gwen was right. Seems like I'm in for an 'I told you so in the near future'. I smile at the thought. The smile drops when I remember that if I want the opportunity to speak with my friend in the near future I'll need to find a way to escape from here
Looking around the tools that I have to work with are one metal cot welded into the floor, a steel toilet also part of the floor, a thin mattress, and the handcuffs I'm wearing. No phone either, must have lost that in the fight, and without Venom no suit or webbing to speak of. Ok I might actually be in trouble here.
With a sigh I sit back on the bunk. I'm stuck, I'm going to have to wait for some kind of opportunity. They still don't know about my powers so with any luck I can use that to my advantage. I might as well catch a nap.
-some time later-
I'm not sure how long I was able to sleep before I awake to the feeling of being watched. Before I open my eyes I take a quick survey of my condition. My head feels better than it did before if only marginally the rest of my body still aches but nothing feels horribly damaged, just a soreness everywhere. Not to mention the fact that I'm starving. When was the last time we- I ate.
It's that thought that finally convinces me to stop stalling as along with the feeling of being watched is the familiar smell of pizza coming from the door. Sitting up I open my eyes to see the person who might be the most famous man in America sitting on the other side of the door with an open pizza box in his lap. Sitting down he cuts a less impressive figure than the times I've seen him on T.V. but it is still impossible to mistake the chiseled jaw of Steve Rogers the Captain America. Noticing me he inclines his head slightly and smiles. "Figured you might be hungry. You like pepperoni?"
It's funny, if this were a few months ago I probably would have asked for his autograph. Things certainly have changed. As I sit up I hear the sound of a shutter closing. On the other side of the door there's a quiet beep as on my side a panel opens up revealing a paper plate with two slices of greasy pepperoni pizza. In another situation I might be more wary but the empty feeling in my stomach has me reaching out and shoving the first slice into my mouth before I consider hesitating.
On the other side of the window Captain America finishes his slice as he watches me devour the two I was given. "You must really be starving. I was planning on taking the rest of this down for Tony and some of the agents but you look like you need it more." There's another sliding sound followed by a beep and two more slices of pizza reveal themselves in the food slot.
This time with the ravenous edge of my hunger quiet I look the older man in the eyes. I tried playing a scared kid to win Iron man's sympathies but I get the feeling that if he could see through me there's not a chance I could fool Captain America. "So are you the good cop?"
He shrugs, "I prefer Steve, but most people end up calling me 'Cap' or 'Captain'. Use whichever you prefer. You go by Peter right?" The fact that he didn't even deny it should make me even more wary but instead I find myself relaxing as I grab the new slices of pizza and begin eating, this time at a more civilized pace. I wonder if that's because of the pizza or just because I can't imagine Captain America doing anything underhanded. Either way I steel myself mentally, no matter how nice he acts I can't forget that he's a superhero, and even if it's a role I don't want my actions of late leave no question to my status as a super villain.
After a few moments of silence Steve continues talking. "Well Peter you've put us into an interesting situation." He puts two more slices of pizza into the slot and places the box to the side. "I know that there's a whole lot about your situation that I don't know." He leans forward and the thoughtful expression on his face makes me pause. The lines of his face deepen and his eyes look at me sorrowfully making him look much older than before. "Regardless I want you to know that myself and the other Avengers that have heard your story aren't your enemies. It seems to me that things have gotten a bit out of control but you're still young. We're the adults here, why don't you let us help you? I'm sure together we can figure out how to resolve things peacefully.
My first instinct is to laugh. He thinks that I'd trust him because he's an adult? As if adults ever make life easier. I think of the teachers that did nothing while I was being bullied, Katherine's uncle who would choose a convenient lie over an inconvenient truth, even the X-Men who for all their feigned kindness I could never trust. All adults ever do is complicate the issue.
He must have seen something in my expression because soon as I finish the thought he sighs. "Although I guess you wouldn't have the best experiences relying on others." He runs his hand through his hair. "We spoke to your foster parents, the Belladonna's."
"What?"
It's not until the word leaves my mouth that I realize that I'm speaking. Of all the things he could have brought up from the fight with Luke Cage, Venom, or even the attack on the school that seems like forever ago he chooses to bring them up?
Captain America nods with a grim expression on his face. "The police launched an investigation into you after the incident at your high school, starting with questioning your foster parents. Child services were brought in once it became apparent that you hadn't been staying there for some time." At my still baffled look he continues on, "Once the full extent of the incident involving super villains and the chase across town were connected, the case was turned over to SHIELD. I didn't speak to them personally but I read the reports. You should know that they're being investigated for child abuse. Your testimony might be helpful in the case… If you're willing, that is?"
I blink a few times before I can wrap my head around what he's saying. Captain America is here telling me that I might be able to actually put away my awful foster parents? I'm certain I've had a dream like this before. "Yes- I mean I would. Offer testimony that is."
He smiles at me, his blue eyes looking sincere. "That's great Peter, really. When I was going through the file I came across a couple of people who would love to talk to you about that and I'd be happy to put you in contact with them." He sighs. "But first I think we need to sort out this whole 'Spider' business don't you?"
It's like a bucket of cold water is dumped on me. It's surprising just how caught off guard I am, I know where I am, I'm sitting in a jail cell of a SHIELD heli-carrier after having a fight with a superhero. Hell, he didn't even deny being the 'good cop' and I still somehow let my guard down. Am I that easy to manipulate? My dealings with Kingpin would suggest that I am, but I think it more likely that it's something about the man across from me that caused me to get comfortable.
Still since it seems that they likely know pretty much everything. Is there even a point in trying to hide it? Putting the plate down I sigh as I put my hands on my knees. "Alright. I get it now. What do you want to know?"
If he's surprised at my sudden compliance he doesn't show it. "Why don't we start with the attack on the police station?"
"It was a job." Confessing to him is so much easier than it was to tell Gwen, I wonder if that's because of the practice, if that's because he's Captain America, or if it's just because he's not Gwen. Either way it makes sense to start here I suppose, as my first public appearance. It was only a few months ago but it feels so much longer. "I was supposed to steal a file, I wasn't supposed to get caught though."
Steve nods along. "For the Kingpin, I assume?"
I nod in response. "It was a test to see if I could follow orders. Not sure what was in the file or even if it was important."
Rogers is silent for a minute before replying. "Kingpin is confirmed dead. We've received intelligence that you are involved. His will involved putting a million dollar bounty on the heads of you and Katherine Pryde."
I squirm a little at the mention of her name. "Kitty is my friend, I'll tell you what you want about me, but leave her out of it."
"Fair enough." Captain America nods before refocusing. "Did you do it; Kill the Kingpin?"
"Kingpin had me going out on jobs to do his dirty work." I tense up a little at the memory, "At first it was exciting, getting to use these new powers that I had. But after the adrenaline wore off I began to realize that Kingpin didn't ever intend on letting me go. He wanted me under his thumb, and after speaking to an ex 'employee' of his I came to realize that there weren't a lot of ways this ended well for me. At the time I decided that the best outcome involved confronting him. It…didn't exactly go the way that I had planned. In the end it was him or me"
Steve looks at me for a moment before nodding, hopefully reading into a confession that isn't mine. "Killing is never the answer, but seeing your circumstances I can understand why you would think it might be. I take it you had no idea of his contingencies?"
The laugh that comes out of my throat takes me by surprise. "No, definitely not."
He nods to himself for a second with a small smile on his face as if he'd noticed something interesting. I wait for him to call me out on the not quite lie. "Tell me about the fight with Luke Cage. From talking with him it sounds like you ended up in a similar situation working for Cottonmouth."
Had I? From a certain perspective I can see why one might think so. "Not quite. I spent some time laying low after the attack on the school. I needed information on the people that tried to kill me. Word on the street was that Cottonmouth would be able to find them. He wanted me to distract Luke Cage in exchange for his help."
Steve raises an eyebrow in response. "You're saying that throwing him halfway across Manhattan was just a distraction? A little overboard don't you think?"
"That's an exaggeration right?" The look on his face tells me otherwise. "I guess not. I-." I pause for a second realizing the truth of how much this bothers me. "I don't remember much of the fight. I didn't intend to do that. In fact I went to Harlem and intended to steer clear of Cage. That was the plan." When he doesn't respond I keep going. "A lot of the events around that seem off now that I think about it." I remember the gangsters I intimidated, I remember tasting one of their scalps as I contemplated taking his head off with my teeth. Our teeth. "Venom had other plans."
At the mention of Venom Captain America straightens his hair and leans forward. "Why don't you tell me about Venom?" From his body language alone I can tell this is what he's been waiting for. The Belladonna's and Fisk were just his opening to get to this point.
Even still I can't think of much reason to lie, if anything this is the least incriminating thing we've talked about, so I tell him.
I tell him about how I don't really remember when Venom attached himself to me, that I first noticed him as a whisper in my head. That Venom is an alien but doesn't seem to know much more about itself. The only part I notice Steve reacts to is when I mention Venom's desire for human brains.
At the end I'm nearly out of breath and am grateful when Steve produces a styrofoam cup filled with water and passes it to me through the door slot. "And those cravings are gone now?" I nod while drinking through the straw. "If everything you've told me is true then it's possible it could have been influencing you for some time." He stands up, empty pizza boxes in hand. "I'm going to talk with Tony, he's the smartest man I know, don't tell him I said that." He grins, "He's been studying this Venom so until he gives the all clear I'm afraid you're going to be stuck here. For what It's worth I don't think you're a bad kid. We all make mistakes, it's how you fix them that shows the type of person that you are. Someone will be down to talk to you in a few hours. Get some sleep kid, when you wake up we'll hopefully have some good news for you."
After he left I tried to sleep. Unfortunately after basically confessing all of the illegal things I've done to an authority that has the power to punish me for them I find that I'm too restless to sleep. Seriously, what was I thinking? I'm guilty of some major crimes here, I worked for the Kingpin and basically confessed to his murder as well. When Captain America was here speaking to me it all felt so reasonable.
Regardless, there's not much I can do about it now. I can definitely get out of these handcuffs and could probably get out of this room without too much effort but where would I go? Not to mention I couldn't do it quietly and I'd have to escape at least two Avengers.
It's as I finish that thought that my danger sense goes wild.
[SHIELD Heli-carrier 02 mobile laboratory]
Tony looks up from his tablet at the sound of footsteps rounding the corner, upon seeing Steve Rogers he lowers them again before snapping back up giving a betrayed look. "Rogers, I seem to recall you mentioning a Pizza when I last saw you? Where's the brave Captain to save me from starvation?"
For his part Steve refrains from rolling his eyes, well used to Tony's dramatics. "The kid was hungry."
"Yeah I'll bet." With a swipe Tony moves his tablet display to a large screen on the wall. "Take a look at this." The screen displays the most recent diagnostic he'd been able to run on the parasite they pulled off of the kid. "I sent a cut of this to Richards hoping he might have seen something like this before. I sure haven't."
Steve looks at it for a moment taking in the different displays and graphs. More than a few entries had question marks on them. "The question marks are unidentified compounds?" Tony Nods. "Peter did say it was an alien."
Humming for a moment Tony considers it. "Hmm it's been a while since the last invasion so I guess it's about time." He leans back for a moment studying the glass canister holding the living black goo in the center of the room. When they first pulled it off of the kid it had been thrashing wildly and with impossible strength for such a small mass. Now it still moves but slowly back and forth like a tiger in a cage. "Not that I'm particularly troubled by flubber over there."
For his part Rogers looks at the creature that Peter had referred to as Venom. "He said it was sentient. It talked to him, and claimed it wanted to partner with him." There's a moment of silence as Tony takes that in and considers it, working it into his theories about the creature. To give him a more complete picture Steve figures that it's probably best to share everything. "He also said it was trying to convince him to eat human brains."
Now that got Tony's attention. He looks up from his tablet to read the expression on Steve's face. Still wearing the glasses they of course tell him that Captain America is most likely telling the truth. "And you're trusting his word on that? Seems likely that he killed Kingpin. There's a few other crimes that previously were unsolved fitting the time frame we have him active for. At least one other murder." Mostly low lives but with injuries consistent with getting hit by someone with superhuman strength. "Pete seems like he might be a pretty messed up kid."
In response Steve shakes his head while taking a seat near Tony. "He's still just a kid and it sounds like he's never had a positive role model in his life. Someone to teach him what was right. I Can't say much about the others but I don't think he killed Fisk. He sounds like he intended to but I got the feeling he was protecting someone else."
Typical Cap. "You like him don't you? It's bad to get attached, this kid was able to throw down with Luke Cage and it took the three of us together to wear him down. Sympathy is all good but don't let it outweigh your common sense." Tony gives the contained parasite another look. He opens his mouth to continue but is cut off as alarms start blaring.
Without a wasted moment Cap is on his way out the door while Tony moves to pull camera feeds but both are interrupted by the ship lurching violently to the side as the lights flicker. In the next moment Steve is running through the halls while Tony connects a call between the two of them. Steve's voice comes through the line clearly, perfectly cutting out the sound of his footsteps. "Peter?"
Having had the same thought Tony was already pulling up the stream to the kid's cell, the camera feed showing him stuck to the wall opposite his bunk somehow with his hands and feet gripping the smooth surface, even from here he could tell that the expression on the kid's face is alarmed. "Not him. He's fine but looks even more surprised than we are." With another flick of a finger the outer camera feeds come to motion around him and the problem becomes clear.
Flying on the port side of the heli-carrier is an unmistakable figure clad in green robes with polished steel covering every inch of his body. At the same time the surveillance microphones connect to the audio in Tony's display, he patches it into their call so that they can both hear.
"Fools of SHIELD, your arrogance has led you to trespass against the sovereign nation of Latveria! I am Victor von Doom, and by my will alone, your feeble organization now stands as an enemy of Latveria, a transgression for which you shall pay dearly.
Your pitiful defenses, your so-called heroes. They are but insects before the might of Doom. You have meddled in affairs beyond your comprehension, and now you will see what it means to challenge one who commands both intellect and sorcery beyond mortal ken!"
As Doom talks Tony is already patching into other SHIELD resources while the personnel on the heli-carrier switch to combat protocols. Steve coms in nearly at the exterior. "Almost there, is it really him? I thought Doom was playing diplomat?"
"It could be." Tony disconnects from the SHIELD comms net as he begins to suit up. "About the same time we got hit I picked up distress signals from the other heli-carrier and from the tower. Got a line on the Baxter building as well, everyone else is swimming in Doom bots."
The sigh from Rogers is audible and he braces for a fight. "Vision?"
Tony's audio is delayed for a second as it switches from his borrowed shield headset to the Iron Man interface. "Thirty minutes out at best. We're in the wind. Keep him busy, I'm on my way out."