Chapter Ten:

Black Suit Symbiote Swing

Beneath the black mask granted to him with the suit by the black alien substance, Bruckner was grinning like a maniac until he restrained himself a little.

He felt Natalie leaning against the Inkling, her arms looped gently around his shoulders, and they stood upon an apartment roof near the street leading into Inkopolis Square. After heading back into the city, Bruckner had climbed a couple of buildings to test the spider-like power the suit was giving him, and Natalie had held onto his back during a few climbs.

Now, they were about to go for a little joyride.

For a moment, Bruckner was imagining the look on Jameson's face when he saw what appeared to be a black-suited Spider-Squid web-swinging through Inkopolis. The talk of the town, a day to be remembered.

'Just think about how Spider-Squid will react when he sees this.' Bruckner thought.

He looked at Natalie again, seeing the keen smile on her face, and then, he took the leap.

Bruckner dove off the edge, and flicked his wrist as he picked up speed. A black line of webbing burst forth, and latched onto another building. Bruckner bent his legs, and swung forward, held onto the line with both hands, and let go when he gained altitude before spinning another web he could use to swing near the next building.

Natalie laughed in a bubbly Octo manner as she felt her legs and tentacles swing in the breeze from Brucker's web-slinging, and she glanced down to see the colorful view below. A pair of Jellyfish in the street snapped some pictures, and an Inkling gasped when they caught a glimpse of the costumed Bruckner.

"You like the view, Nat?" Bruckner asked.

"Catch me, Bruck." He heard her reply.

"Wha...?"

Before he knew it, Natalie let go, and fell with a shriek, falling towards the city streets below. Time slowed down for the Inkling, and he acted fast. He released his web, dove towards the Octoling, and grabbed her in his arms before spinning a web, and pulled away from the streets.

"Real dangerous." Bruckner told the secretary in a lightly stern manner.

"Oh, we were just having fun." Natalie chided, "I could've morphed into my octopus form any time if you didn't catch me... WHEEEEEEE!"

Bruckner's webs latched onto one of Inkopolis' city towers, just under the Great Zapfish, and the blonde Inkling swung around the tower with Natalie holding on tight. The Octoling seemed to really enjoy the action, and she was laughing with excitement until Bruckner leaped away from the structure.

"Spider-Squid better eat his heart out!" Bruckner bragged, "I can see the look of shock underneath his mask right now when he sees me."

"But, what is that substance supposed to be?" Natalie inquired.

"Hang on."

Bruckner swung to the roof of a building, and he set down the Octoling. Once he made sure his date wasn't in trouble, the blonde-Inkling put his hand up to his temple to think, right as he heard a voice in his head.

'We are bonding. We thrive when we bond with one like you.'

'Just what...?'

"What is this alien substance that provides this suit and power?" Bruckner asked aloud.

'I am a symbiote.' The voice said, 'I am from a very distant world that is unlike the one you know, Inkling. I can see your mind, and I can see that web-slinging Inkling. Spiders shoot webs, squids and octopi shoot ink. I give you the strength found within the Spider-Squid...'

"Bruckner?"

He looked to Natalie, seeing how the Octoling was a little worried as she observed and listened. It was best to tell her what he'd just learned.

"The substance is a symbiote." Bruckner told her, "It's a sentient entity that bonds with hosts to thrive... and I guess it can create outfits for it's wearer, outfits such as the black Spider-Squid suit I'm wearing."

"Is it parasitic?"

'Symbiotes are not parasites. The bond is symbiotic.'

Bruckner chuckled. "You don't have to worry, Nat." He held her close, "We're not dealing with a parasite, so the symbiote is safe. I don't know if the one I'm bonding with can divide itself and give you a suit like mine though."

Natalie batted her eyes in a dreamy manner. "I don't care..." She remarked in a sultry tone, "...as long as you show me a good time, and as long as that suit looks sexy on you. How about you take me to your place now, squid boy? I think we should get out of the night air before the bugs start to bite..."

He lit the candles in the bedroom, and dimmed the light. Bruckner tossed his shirt into the laundry basket, and sat back on the bed. Moments later, Natalie entered the room, wearing a silk robe that revealed her cleavage. The Octoling eyed him with a sly smile, and closed the door.

'Feels great to get the girl.' The brash Bruckner thought.

Moments later, the robe dropped to the floor, and the slender Octoling made her advance. Natalie climbed atop the Inkling, locked eyes with him, and gave Bruckner a peck on the cheek before claiming him in a deep kiss. Brucker threw his hands around her hips, and Natalie lay atop his body while gyrating her legs a little.

Bruckner kissed Natalie, and held her close. The Octoling broke the kiss, and looked up into his eyes with a smile. The blonde Inkling grinned again, and kissed the attractive octopus girl before the candles extinguished as the room filled with love...