Spider-Man. The House Of Venom

The buzzer for the front gate went. Peter had wired up a few boxes letting each home have a buzzer rather than having to check the main door. Peter idly flicked the switch and watched the video monitor flicker into life.

He groaned as he slumped onto Gwen, "It's Talia and a weird guy."

Gwen pouted and stared at the, "They are also armed. So yeah. Some kind of agent. I'll stay with Liv. They don't look tougher than Norman," she added with a small snort.

"Stay in there, unless you hear the shooting start. They only know about me, well maybe me." He hit the switch on the door buzzer, "Yeah, give me a minute," and then killed the connection. He would meet them at the door once her know Gwen was safe.

At the door, he opened it a crack and saw Talia and another tall imposing completely bald black man. The long leather jacket was imposing enough without the scarred eye, covered by a black patch.

"Mr Parker, I am Shield Director Nicholas Fury. I was wondering if myself and an agent could speak with you?" Fury said. Peter raised an eyebrow but Talia refused to meet his gaze.

Peter shrugged, “I don’t do threesomes.” he winked at Talia who rolled her eyes.

"Jokes aside, this is important. May we?" Fury pointed past him to the coffee table in the centre.

“Sure,” Peter lifted his arm, pointing Fury and Talia over to the table.

"Coffee?” Peter poured himself a cup, offering the pair one of their own, and both shook their heads.

"If we were interrupting we can come back,” Nick said, pointing at the other cup, half full and still hot.

Peter shrugged, “it's fine. Let's just get this over with. What do you want?"

"Not one for small talk huh? You know your mother was like that, I knew her, back at the academy.” Fury began,

"Oh really?" Peter interrupted, "Was that before or after she got killed? I guess by academy you mean the pirates or ninjas academy, going by the theme you both have on, and ninjas by the way, so, go on,”

Fury sighed. “Your mom was an agent. S.H.I.E.L.D. Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement Logistics Department. One of the best actually, she'd have my job if well, you know the rest.”

“Nice name, you have a department for that?"

Fury looked at him, “Sure. Agents of A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Assistants Continually Researching Obvious Names You Memorise.”

Peter raised an eyebrow, “Guess you get asked that a lot huh?”

Fury shrugged, “Often enough, but back to my story about your mom,”

“Not interested. Get to the point?” Peter asked.

“Not interested huh? Well, it was worth a shot.” Fury shrugged, disappointed, but he had other cards to play to get what he wanted from Peter.

“Oh, okay, then where were you guys when she died? Cause I don't remember anyone mentioning a pirate Pete at the funeral. Or oh I don't know. when my uncle died and my aunt had to work two jobs." Peter had stood glaring at the pair. "Or how about when I hit eighteen and the insurance cleared? It was great when I realised that the government pension we got for her and my dad was worth shit. So no, let's go there, Agent Willie.” Peter had no patience for Fury's shit right now,

“Agent Willie? Oh, the Goonies, yeah I get that, so, right up until Flash Thompson ratted you out things were pretty great I bet. Yeah, threatening to rip someone's head off really doesn't make them sympathetic to you. So you, Gwen Stacy, Mary Jane Watson, and Felicia Hardy. All Enhanced, all very dangerous.” Fury leaned forwards and his leather jacket squeaked.

Peter hid a small smile with his coffee mug. “What do you want? Agent Fury?”

“I want to do a quid pro quo Mr Parker, you share then I share, simple, no strings and no bullshit. One question, one answer, and if you don't want to answer then it's over. I'll leave and we can do this the much harder way.“ Fury leaned back, "I only want answers."

Peter snorted. “Come on, at least Talia or whatever your name is bought me coffee before she fucked me. Questions? And if you don't like my answer then you come in guns blazing huh? I don't think you'll like that option, Agent Fury.” Peter shook his head. He knew if he admitted he was Venom, his next stop would be jail, or worse.

“You listen to what I have to say, and I can make a lot of your problems disappear.” Fury pulled out a file from his coat and slid it across the table to Peter. “You get what’s in that file, but only once you answer my questions. Well then, let’s stop with the bullshit and the deflection and just talk. So are you Venom?”

Peter laughed, “Right to the heart of it huh? Nope, you first, let's build some trust, what do you want?” He tapped a finger on the file. “This is maybe a nice offer, but this could be empty, and once I talk I’m at your mercy.”

“Oh that's easy, you were in Harlem, right? Well, You, Hulk, and those other costumed idiots. I want you and your kind to stop wrecking the city. For you to come to an understanding with law enforcement that saves lives. An understanding that if I scratch your back then you know, you can scratch mine. Now, are you Venom?” The impatience was thick in Fury's voice. While Peter was in no mood for games, neither was he.

“Well, that was as vague an answer as you could possibly give. The last time law enforcement came after Venom, someone died. The last time Venom checked the shitholes were operating by paying off the cops. So as you never really answered my question. What do you want? Cause that bullshit answer doesn't wash Agent Fury.”

“I want a team of Enhanced individuals to deal with and terminate threats against the world, Mr Parker." Fury gave up. Parker was stubborn and completely unwilling to back down. Natasha had been right, Unless they resorted to threats, he wasn't going to risk anything.

Fury pointed at the file and Peter flicked it open, lifting the first page. "Avengers Initiative? Sounds fancy. Bruce Banner also known as Hulk. Agent Natasha Romanov, aka Black Widow." Peter raised an eyebrow at Natasha, "So, I finally get one answer." He flicked the pages and continued to read. "Agent Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye. Captain Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, and finally. Tony Stark as technical advisor. Very impressive, so why me?"

“That's three. Answer the damn question first or we walk and I sent in a squad of agents to arrest your ass.”

Peter snorted, “Yeah, on what charge?”

"You just piss me off is good enough. I get to be the Director of a multinational law enforcement agency for a very good reason. Agent Romanov might have bought you coffee but I won't even use lube when I fuck you." Fury was up and leaning over the table, staring at Peter.

"And if I admit I'm Venom, then you cart me off to a lab and try to dissect me?”

Fury shook his head. "Nope. Your powers, while impressive, I bet aren't replicable. I don't care who gave them to you or how you got them, only that I can depend on you if the time comes."

"Well, Director Fury, I'll need a contract, a guarantee, in writing for me and those I am associated with. I'm not about to wipe my ass for you. Get me those and we can talk properly."

“Second to last page,” was all Fury said.

Peter raised an eyebrow at the contract. The last page was a written guarantee of immunity as long as a certain number of rules were followed. They would even pay him for freelance work he did.

"You know I can't agree to this without discussing it with the others first.”

"I can respect that, oh and nice place," Fury said as the pair stood, "but my Agent already has an apartment."

Peter smiled, "I will give you one for free though. Talia. The next time you're sent after someone you suspect of having powers, wear a different scent. Some people can smell the formula they used on you, and yours is bad."

Natasha frowned, "bad?" and she sniffed the back of her hand, "then why?"

Peter laughed, "You're sexy as hell." He got the reaction he wanted as she actually tried to hide a small smile. "I'm not going to say no to a super hot woman who offers herself willingly," Peter said. Fury glared but Natasha shook her head, smirking at his words.

Fury flicked his eyes between them, "you know we're at work right? Save the flirting for later. You have twenty-four hours. Talk to your people and call the number on the last page. If I don't hear from you, don't expect the same deal, Mr Parker."

Peter just scowled, “Yeah yeah,” and waved a hand at the pair, while reading. “The doors over there, show yourselves out.”

Peter watched as Fury and Romanov headed out the door, and soon enough Gwen poked her head out, followed by Liv

"I heard. You'll take it won't you?" Liv asked and he nodded.

"Even if it's just for you Liv. Amnesty means you can go out again," She moved to his chair and he lifted her into his lap. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"but freedom for me means a cage or worse for you Peter dear."

"Anything, if you are all safe then anything.” He brushed away the frizz of her hair and kissed her on the forehead, "Not just you. Gwen, you, and MJ."

Gwen snorted, "Felicia?"

Peter laughed, "Felicia would kick his ass into space if he gave her the same 'but what about your mom' speech."

Both Gwen and Liv burst out laughing, "Yeah, Fel does kinda have daddy issues. But, we're all big girls Peter, we can look after ourselves.”

Peter shook his head and wrapped his arms around her. “They already know. The honey trap, the excuse to turn up today. They know. If Flash talked then it doesn't matter. He knows about everyone. So no, I've got no choice do I?”

"Burn the world huh, even yourself?"

Peter shook his head "If Shield was as great as they said then they'd have come in here guns blazing. They need us Liv, need me. Even if it's for a crappy job. It pays, and really well.” Peter flipped open the contract. The pay per consultancy was good. The pay per actual job was even better. He hadn't looked at the field agent's pay though. Working for Shield might be problematic, given Talia.

“Pays good, and Fel and I will run out of scumbags to shakedown eventually. Even now most are pulling out of Manhatten and Hell's Kitchen. So legit might not be too bad.”

“Who's legit?” Felicia asked as she came back from work, laden with shopping bags. Peter shrugged and slid the file over to her, waiting for her response.

"Super-Spy Peter Parker huh, the names Parker, Peter Parker. Yeah, I dig it," she shrugged. "Things are stabilizing now Kingpin and Prowler are out of the picture. Immunity for the five of us seems pretty sweet if you ask me. You should phone Matt though. I’m pretty sure he’d be over the moon to know you were actually legit, and not the giant monster he thinks you are."

Peter just snorted and while he shook his head, dialled and started to go over the contract with Matt. They just had to wait until MJ woke up before they could all decide.

They chatted and talked, Shield being the favourite topic until MJ finally woke up. She still had to do shifts at the diner until her paychecks for the advert and the movie came through.

"I still have doubts dear," Liv had snuggled up to Peter again, something she always did when she was anxious. "It still doesn't sit right with me. but, I will trust you and support you, so, yes.” a sleepy MJ, still in her PJs, drinking a coffee just shrugged and leant back.

"I'm easy, up to you," and Peter snorted, "ass," she whispered behind her cup but still grinned.

Peter flicked on his phone and sent a text to the number. "I'm in," was all he sent and soon an e-doc with the contract arrived. He sent it off to Matt, who sent it back an hour later with a thumbs-up.

Once it was sent, a Shield e-badge with "Peter Parker. Consultant" was displayed.