Spider-Man. The House Of Venom

Webb had barely enough time to send out a web line before he thudded against the ground. His muscles and bones complained as he lurched with a sudden stop but it still hurt. Venom had laid into him and he felt it. He had been toying with him and in making him angry he had paid for it. Webb went to click his mic for assistance and remembered he'd thrown it away. He tutted as he realised how stupid he had been.

He lowered himself to the ground and just lay there, gasping for breath and defeated. As his shoulder popped back into place he felt the pain radiate over his entire body. They had been stupid and John was right, they weren’t ready and now they were paying for that mistake. He let the pain subside for a minute and then shakily rose to his feet. If Parker was this strong, Eddie would need his help, and with unsteady hands, he began to scale the building.

⁂

Spider-Man was trying to keep Huntress down. He had webbed her legs to the roof as she stumbled, and her lower body was entangled. Without mobility, he had begun to punch her.

At first, he aimed for the easiest part. Her head. Once she had begun to falter he moved down. He landed blows on her shoulders and arms but then as she tried to protect herself he got in some clean blows to her body. She was armoured but he was strong and she was starting to hurt.

She tried to swing out her claws to slash at the webbing Spider-Man spun. He landed a heavy kick into her ribs, twisting her legs at an awkward angle as she tried to absorb the blow.

Venom glanced over to the other roof and saw the mess she was in. Webb needed time to get back to the roof as he had no doubt he was still alive. Unless Flash was a complete idiot, his symbiote should have saved him.

He aimed high and shot webs at Spider-Man who sprang and dodged them. He swung over on a line and carried himself over the Huntress, slashing at her feet. "Are you okay?" He aimed and shot hard balls of webbing at Spider-Man, giving her a chance to catch her breath.

"Dizzy but unhurt," but Venom knew she was lying. She was favouring her right side, where Spider-Man had laid in a heavy kick and her posture was slumping. He knew she was hurt and was out of the fight.

"Take the bag and go. You have a safe house, stay there. Make sure no one follows you,"

With a small growl, Huntress grabbed the bag, ripped it free from the roof, and swung away into the night.

"S-One, P-One has left the area. Pursue. Pursue," John called into his mic.

As Spider-Man rose and raised an arm to swing after her, Venom leapt. He had given Flash a chance. He had wanted Spider-Man before. Now, with hardware designed to kill and not capture, he was done playing. Large claws raked at Spider-Man and he narrowly avoided the razors swung at his back.

"It's not nice to hit a lady Spider-Man," Venom taunted him.

"Well, if that's your idea of a lady you should get out more," he taunted him back. He shot his own webs at Venom, hoping to slow him down while Webb recovered.

Venom snorted and caught the webbing out of the air and let them wrap around his hands. "Now we will really make you pay."

Containing the webs on his own hands, he wrapped them around them to make gloves. While she could be grating, nobody insulted Felicia. Nobody threatened his family.

It was a disaster. Venom was more powerful than they realised and Spider-Man had less chance than before. John watched as he made Spider-Man into a punching bag just as he had done to Webb. Even Spider-Man’s naturally enhanced speed was still slower than Venoms. He toyed with him and copied the same moves he had hit Huntress with. A hammer blow to the temple sent him staggering. He webbed his feet down and then thudded a second fist into the other side.

“We’ve done this dance Spider-Man. Why did you think help would make it easier?” Venom taunted him as once more Spider-Man fell victim to his punishment.

As Webb climbed back up to the rooftop he watched Parker throw Brock around like a kid. He now realised what Parker meant. Parker was stronger, faster and meaner than before. It made no difference. As he watched him shatter the thick armour plate at Spider-Man's side with a single blow, he still swung over to help.

Venom ducked under the leaping slash and laid a punch into his gut as he flew past. He caught Webb with a line and swung him around into Spider-Man. "No more!" as the pair flew back together they both sent out a web line and separated.

Webb dived to catch Venom's feet, but he leapt and landed on him. He was crushed to the rooftop and used as a springboard to leap at Spider-Man. He doubled over as both fists were driven into Spider-man's stomach. The pair crumpled and lay defeated on the rooftop.

Venom touched his headset, "Are you safe?" he asked Huntress.

"Bruised but no tail. Stay safe. Make them pay." She abruptly cut the channel, knowing talking too much was a distraction. Felicia was safe and unharmed, that was all that mattered.

His senses spiked and he stepped to one side as the round embedded itself in the wall. Even if the shot sounded like it was from another direction he felt the distortion of the airwaves as the bullet sped through towards him. He snarled at the sniper. Fighting one-on-one was fair. Two-on-one was fair when he had an advantage but a sniper, that was bullshit. He watched as Huntress dealt with Spider-Man only to be laid out by a round from Steel Spider, now it was his turn.

Venom shot a web over to the other building and swung over. He found the sniper's rifle leaning against the rooftop edge and he ducked as Steel swung a blade at him.

John was a marine, trained and decorated and if anyone could fight it would be him. The old Venom would be in trouble, but the new Venom was not. He was used to fighting Elektra so he was more worried about killing the man. Even the tactical vest wouldn't save him if a heavy enough blow connected.

As Venom dodged and weaved around the knife strikes, he was trying to figure out how to not just squash the man. As the knife flashed in front of his eye line, he chopped the Steel's wrist, sending him spinning across the roof.

Spider-Man had recovered enough to sit upright. His chest and back ached and his ribs were definitely broken. He crawled run over to Webb who was shaking his head.

Spider-Man shook his head, "You okay?" and he got a weary thumbs up from Webb. "We still need to fight."

They watched as Venom backhanded John and they knew that if they were this hurt, John had no chance. They nodded and swung over. Spider-Man went for a swinging kick while Webb aimed low, hoping to connect to his legs.

Venom leapt to avoid Webb and let Spider-Man connect. He used the momentum to create some distance between himself and the trio. It didn't hurt and was enough to send him flying across the rooftop. He rolled and crouched holding one hand up waiting for the counter-attack but it never came.

Webb was helping John up and Spider-Man had a hold of his ribs. The last punch had probably done a lot more damage than Venom released.

"You lost, even with three you can't beat me," he shouted at them,

"We have to try. You hurt people Venom and you can't get away with this," Spider-man shouted back.

John made his way back to his rifle, sliding back the bolt and checking it was loaded.

"Scumbags and crooks Spider-Man. We hunt those who prey on the weak. The places we find are full of rich sleazebags, preying on the poor and unfortunate. Smug and smiling, knowing there will be no retaliation. We made sure they paid." It was a stall tactic on both sides. This was a show of force, not a bloodbath but all three could be dead if Venom didn't hold himself in check.

"No, in court. You do it in court."

Venom slid right as another round whizzed past his head.

Venom shook his head. "These men see no courts, they built your courts. They control your courts. We cannot reason with someone so blind, so stupid."

Spider-Man had hoped to get Venom talking as Webb edged his way towards him. They had a pincer plan. John would fire and once Venom moved then Spider-Man and Webb could grab and subdue him. Brute strength wouldn't work, so webs and tactics it was.

John lifted the rifle and as he fired Venom moved left, where Webb had already shot several web lines. They connected with his arm, sticking it to his side and Spider-Man did the same, following it up with a blow to the head. With his arms stuck to his side, Spider-Man and Webb rained blows down on the captured Venom, hoping to subdue him.

As he stumbled with each blow they silently cheered and Webb attempted to tackle him to the ground.

The normal ETF units were ordered to approach carefully. They had heavy-duty manacles, that once more Hammer promised them even Hulk would be held. where they could web him down.

"I am VENOM!" He screeched and as his maw spit apart the huge spines rippled out from his body travelling up like razors. The webbing tore and was shredded as the teeth sliced through them.

He grabbed Webb and headbutted him, pushing him back. From the corner of his eye, he saw John raise the rifle once more to fire. Venom spun and fired off a gooball, wanting to gum up the rifle's muzzle. The web ball thudded into him and he fell backwards, tripping and falling over the edge of the roof.

Spider-Man shouted and sent a web line towards John, snagging the huge rifle. He reached out a hand as the rifle was pulled out of his grip and he still fell.

The crew watched in horror as he fell. There was a sickening crunch as his head collided with the metal railing at the bottom of the building. Shouting started and EMTs rushed over to him. Even as they knew they still worked, securing his neck, making sure he was immobilised.

Venom watched as the pair ran to the edge of the building. It was not the point they wanted to make, but it was made nonetheless.  With the commotion, shot out a web line and swung off without hindrance.

Webb collapsed as he watched the EMTs wrestle and tend to John. From above the surgery screen was no barrier to their view. They saw the twisted neck and the empty stare. Both knew John was dead.

Spider-Man was shaking his head, “no, no, no no no no.” He turned to run but Webb grabbed his arm.

"If we run, it's on our head as well." he simply stated and while Spider-Man was quiet he eventually nodded, and sat on the rooftop. 

Each one called it. As the ambulance came and took him to the hospital the EMTs called it and finally, after talking to J.J. it was official. The arrogant and proud man broke down, John Jameson was pronounced dead and his father wept.

⁂

The warehouse was quiet and the quartet watched the news,

"In a statement, today Captain George Stacy has issued an arrest warrant for the person known as Venom. Please be advised that the following report contains scenes some viewers may find disturbing."

The camera showed John falling after Venom swung onto the building and attacked them. It had been edited to miss the crucial part of the fight. The part showing the accident.

They switched to George Stacy, standing on a podium. The ETF, Spider-Man, and Agent Webb standing behind him.

"Today, a good man, a hero was lost. Not only do our thoughts and prayers go out to the Jamesons but to everyone who has been touched by the tragic loss. The individual known as Venom has proven himself to be no hero. That he contributed to this tragedy and that he is directly responsible for this is accurate. Today I am issuing an arrest warrant for the attempted murder of Agent Webb and the murder of John Jameson. An APB has been issued nationwide, and an arrest warrant for the capture of Venom has been issued. Please report any sightings, but please do not attempt to approach him. He is considered armed and very dangerous."

Peter switched off the TV and no one spoke. The mood was quiet and nobody wanted to be the first to break it. They knew that Peter wasn't responsible. It was an accident but he still blamed himself. He still broke his own code but nothing could be said. No one had the right words to stop him from blaming himself.

Felicia sat, nursing a cup of coffee while Gwen busied herself around her. Once she was back at the warehouse, she slipped out of her symbskin and the damage had been clear.

The rifle round had left a massive bruise down her face. Its ugly blackness covered her cheek down to her jaw and up into her hair. The impact point was a broken crater, still split open and bloody. Unknown at the time but Felicia had been seriously injured and a larger round would have killed her. It was only her symbskin that saved her and hid the damage.

In the end, it was Peter who spoke up. "Well, that’s one life. Good thing you’ve got eight more." 

Once Felicia started to laugh the rest joined in. Nobody had guilt over a man who almost killed Felicia.

John, Eddie, and now Flash had attacked him. They had used lethal force against Felicia. They had moved from tentative peace to full-on war. Peter knew if anyone showed up here, showed up and took MJ or Gwen then John wouldn’t be the last, he would merely be the first.