Spider-Man. The House Of Venom

J.J. waited patiently outside the mayor's office before his secretary showed him inside. Even with J.J.’s considerable influence, this was being done as a favour.

The mayor, a balding ferret-faced man smiled like a shark as J.J. approached and he held his hand out, “So John. What do I owe the pleasure.” He motioned for J.J. to sit, before buzzing for coffee.

“You know,” J.J. said sternly. He handed over the written list of demands he had expanded upon and first published in the Bugle. “This goes beyond John, Andrew. This goes further than just,”

Andrew Goldberg raised a hand, “I know about John. Everyone knows thanks to you.” He spun a copy of the Bugle around. The headline “The True Cost Of Loss” was clear on its front. “What did you think was going to happen? Some crackpot scheme to sell more papers?”

J.J. clenched a fist but Andrew once more raised a hand, “Look, I know. My son didn’t come back from Iraq. So I know, but this,” he waved a hand over the paper, “this is even bigger than that.”

J.J.’s solemn stare betrayed nothing, “and you need to put a lid on it right now. The ETF was a sound idea. Look.” J.J. pulled out clippings from national newspapers. San Fransisco, Canada and even some from the forties. Captain America’s era. “You don’t let New Yorkers walk down the street with a gun. So why let these menaces use unnatural abilities to threaten your voters.”

Andrew straightened up, “Voters who right now.”

It was J.J.’s turn to interrupt, “This is my member list for Human Majority.” He handed over a thick file, “Your voters agree with me.” On J.J.’s lapel was the newly created Human Majority pin. An H with a smaller stylised M underneath, “and I can work with the mayor's office to make sure it stays that way.”

Andrew smiled, “Send me a copy of that, will you? And maybe one of those pins”

J.J. smiled for the first time in weeks. He would make them pay for John.

⁂

“I’m a very busy man Andy. What do you want?” Gideon Malik asked. He was the Republican Senator for the State of New York. He was a hardliner but he was still popular. Popular enough that it was rumoured he was running for President in the next election.

Mayor Goldberg slid the proposal over to him. Gideon raised an eyebrow as he read through it, and took in a small breath as he saw the gold pin on the man's lapel. The HM pin.

“The New York Accords. Making using superpowers within the state of New York a criminal act. Without the proper authority of course.” Gideon frowned and shook his head, “You know Stark will tear this to shreds.”

Andrew smiled, “Page fifteen.”

That piqued Gideon's curiosity. In his youth, he was a lawyer, and the doublespeak and legalese were easily cut through. “Corporate sponsorship, with a nice tax incentive on top of it.” he remarked, “very good. So, why me?”

“Because your voters are the same group we’re targeting,” Andrew replied, tapping the gold pin. “And it’ll pass if you help.”

Gideon snorted and threw the proposal on the desk in front of him, “And what's in it for me?”

Andrews smiled. “An upturn in votes. Enough to see your campaign launch and the backing of HM.” He slid a second folder over. The membership list for Human Majority. Gideon slid the folder over and smiled as he saw what else was inside. An invitation card to the Hellfire Club.

“I think we can do good things together.” He smiled as he held out his hand.

⁂

“You know this will bite you on the ass,” Gideon said as he handed Sebastian Shaw his drink.

Shaw looked uninterested. He was a handsome man, with jet-black hair brushed back in a widow's peak. His suit was meticulous, black with a black shirt and a red tie. Befitting his title. The Black King.

“So what? All this does is push my agenda forward a few years, and get you into the White House in three rather than seven.” He sipped at his martini casting an eye over the plump rear of the waitress as she gathered their empty glasses. “Plus, what do I care what some humans think.”

Gideon knew better than to say anything to that comment. He was well aware of his place at this table. Even if Shaw wouldn’t be the one there for very long.

“It still riles up the masses, gives them an excuse to act out. Protests are one thing. Riots are another.”

Shaw snorted, “Riots are perfect. We can move a few of our secondary projects up. Don’t worry.” Shaw said as he lifted the speared olive from his glass, “In fact.” Shaw nodded and a blonde sitting in the corner lowered her newspaper, “Don’t even think about backing out.”

Gideon's eyes glazed over for a moment, “Don’t worry. I won’t. This is all according to the plan.”

Shaw snapped his fingers and the waitress returned. She started to lift the empty glasses onto her tray. “No,” Shaw said as he shook his head, “Gideon is feeling stressed.”

The waitress nodded as Gideon stood and grabbed her by the arm, “Oh and make sure you get pictures. Our loving family man needs a little reminder of who he serves.”

The waitress smiled, “Yes Mr Shaw,” and was led from the room.

“You know that's disturbing?” Emma Frost said as she folded her newspaper, “I mean, I can just change his mind for you.”

Sebastian lifted another martini, brought by another blonde waitress. “I know, but a picture is worth a thousand words, or memories. This way, nobody can interfere.” Sebastian grinned at Emma as he bit the olive from his drink. “If it bothers you that much, go find something or someone to do.”

Emma huffed as she stood. She sighed and looked disapprovingly at Sebastian. He had been so convincing when she first developed her powers. Now he was just as bad as everyone else. A whoremonger and bore. Even as White Queen, he refused to give her a chance. Instead, he used her powers to play politics and power games with the rich and famous.

There was no future here unless it was on her knees licking scraps from her master. It was time for a regime change, and Emma knew just the one to seek out

⁂

“Miss Frost. What an unexpected but not entirely unpleasant happenstance.” Harry beamed and took her elbow. He was just about to visit Sebastion when Emma barged through the back entrance.

“Save it, Osborn.” She looked at him, took in a breath and snorted it out, “In fact. I want to talk to you. Alone.”

Harry smiled, “Of course, but Sebastion.”

Emma interrupted him, “Would be pleased to know what I found, or in your case, what I can’t.”

Harry's face froze and hardened. “That is a dangerous piece of information, Miss Frost. One that may lead to a troubled future.”

Please, as if you can threaten me any more than Shaw can.

Harry raised an eyebrow.

Not going to play? Fine. A car. Five minutes and then we part company.

Harry scowled, “A drive would be more pleasant with company Miss Forst. My business with Shaw can wait.” He held out his arm and she smiled as she took it.

As the limo pulled away from the Hellfire Club Harry sat watching the young woman in front of him. “Five minutes before I have to make a choice. Either you tell me the truth or I find a convenient location to hide a body.”

Emma tutted and reached into the chill cabinet. She grabbed a single-serve bottle, popped the cork and poured herself a drink, “Please. Even if you kill me I have made sure it won’t matter. Plus, what I am about to share has no strings, only promises.”

Harry waved his hand, “well then,”

Emma sipped her champagne, “Shaw is planning a coup. Have you heard about the New York Accords?”

Harry gritted his teeth. His information concerning Shaw and his dealings was limited. After Norman had failed so spectacularly and exposed a lot of their work, he had been tight-lipped. If he wanted leverage, he would have to deal with this woman.

“Go on, and please. Dont hold back on my behalf,” he hissed.

Emma smiled. While he was immune to her charms, he was not immune to what most men wanted.

Power.

⁂

After talking with Emma, Harry phoned Gideon Malik. He had promised her a place in his new world order. A promise he had no intention of keeping.

Shaw might want the rejects but I hate you freaks, he sneered at her back, hoping she could hear his thoughts.

Malik was more important. The Accords would be a small thorn in his side but not enough to derail his plans. He just needed confirmation of what Emma had told him.

As he entered the Life Foundation building he spotted a face he had thought was in prison. Eugene Thompson.

“Eugene.” He said, unhappy he was here. “Didn’t you get arrested?”

Flash snorted, “Nope, they let me go. Eddies got a trial though. Seems I'm just a regular guy. So. check and then I’m gone.”

Harry laughed, “Check? Do you think after that ridiculous shitshow you are getting paid? You went off mission. You removed your headset during the operation. You were supposed to be charged with conspiracy. You spoke to Venom for several minutes before he threw you from the building. Paid? I want you out of here before I call the police.”

Flash laughed. He felt Webb bubble up inside but he couldn’t, not yet, “yeah, I know my contracts. I get paid, failure or not, and I get severance. I got your letter, and it's all bullshit.”

Harry shrugged and smiled as he saw Gideon Malik stride through the lobby. “Get the hell out of my building Eugene before I embarrass you more than Venom did.”

Harry strode away, holding out his hand “Senator, this way, please. Don’t mind him, just a disgruntled ex-employee.”

Harry made a sign with his hand and two security guards unclipped the guards from the holsters. He knew they had those strangely blue-glow pistols. The ones he knew Osborn senior developed.

Flash wasn't stupid. If he started anything he would be taken in and charged for real this time, “Yeah, you better run Osborn. You’ll get yours.” before the guards could move towards him, Flash raised his hands, “Yeah yeah I'm leaving.”

Walking from the building he pulled his coat up around his neck, bracing against the cold,

Fucking asshole.

He stormed from the building, dialling his phone, “Yeah, they kicked me out. So, what's next?”

Flash listened to his instructions, “Yeah, that won’t fly. If you want to speak to him, go do it yourself.” Flash resisted the urge to laugh as the rant on the other end of the phone began. He waited patiently for his new boss to tear him a new one before he started talking, “Yeah and he made it clear he’d kill me next time he saw me. You want to talk to him, you do it, you already pissed him off. It’s not like you can make me.”

Feeling smug Flash hung up, only to stare as his phone buzzed with a text message a few moments later. He downloaded the file, blinked a few times as he read it again to make sure he wasn’t seeing things and then swore.

“Fuck. Well, guess you can.”

His new handler was Enhanced as well, to make sure he was pushed to his limit. It included a small video file, almost embarrassing as he watched the veteran fumble in front of the camera. The message was clear though, there would be no kid gloves from now on, and as loathe as he was to admit it, he would hate to disappoint those piercing baby blue eyes.

“Fuck,” he swore to himself again. He just hoped MJ wasn’t there when he got to the warehouse.