Spider-Man. The House Of Venom

Venom had no clue as to why anyone would want to work in such an ugly building. It seemed to him, that as soon as you had money and power, your taste went with your morals. 

Manhatten was home to Stark Tower, the Baxter Building, and Oscorp Tower. Each one was a giant advert to just how little taste rich people had. As if sticking a giant nameplate on things wasn't enough of a giant ego trip. It declared, "this is mine, and not yours," to the world. as if being rich and in the news every week wasn't enough.

The building that Felicia was being directed to was on Staten Island. To Venom's surprise, it was really boring. It was just an office block. Yes, it was modern steel and glass, but there were no signs, no giant billboards that flashed and screamed look at me! Venom figured if he was a giant crimelord he probably wouldn't advertise it either.

Aaron waved a pass in front of the security gate and ushered the pair in, “uh, we need to check you for weapons.” As Huntress and Venom stared at each other he shook his head. “Uh, right, you know you couldn't just I dunno take off the masks?” As Venom glared at him he shook his head, “never mind, never mind.”

They were waved through by a bored-looking but alert security guard. In the elevator, Aaron inserted a key into the control panel and pressed the button for the penthouse. Tinny and bad elevator music played as the trio stood in an award silence.

“So, Felicia. You two work for Black Cat huh?" Aaron asked nervously. It was painfully obvious they did. It was his hope that getting information from the two might help smooth things over with Kingpin.

“I don't really want to talk about it, Aaron. Maybe though, if you know anything about my dad?” She retorted.

He shook his head. “Nah, Tom was a good man, never tied down for one job, but no. No one in the biz touched him. He was just too good to waste you know.” Aaron wasn't about to admit he was working for Fisk before he went missing. He knew perfectly well what Thomas Hardy was doing when Oscorp snatched him.

There was honour amongst thieves but fuck her, he thought. After that beating, he owed her shit.

Felicia wished the bottom of the elevator would open up and drop the man to his death. While she was still looking for her father, she had a life now, friends, lovers, and a place that was her own. He wouldn't understand that, but she would make him.

The elevator dinged, and Aaron led them into a brightly lit office. It was expensive but sparsely decorated. A single glass table sat at the window end and they could see the back of a huge leather chair facing away from them.

“I hope you have good news Aaron,” a voice rumbled from a large leather chair.

“No sir, no I don't. I have two guests for you.”

As the chair turned the giant man stood. His muscles bulged under the jacket that framed his massive body. Venom looked over and he figured the man must be at least seven feet tall and the same in width. A shiny bald head glinting under the bright lights topped off a fat face, betraying the man's true stature. Venom knew from the way the suit creased and sat that he was all muscle, if there was any fat on him it was fake or just skin.

“I’m disappointed Aaron, but you and I will talk later. I'm a businessman, so what are your terms? I assume you’re here as you bested my man,” The giant pointed a finger briefly at Aaron. “And Bullseye?”

Venom looked at Huntress, who nodded. “Dead.”

The man shifted, frowning but doing little else. “A lot of people will be upset with that, Venom, but he won't be missed.”

Venom shook his head, he really didn’t care. “Our terms are simple, lay low, stop dealing in the more dangerous stuff, and we’ll leave you alone,” Venom stated.

“Dangerous stuff? Guns, drugs, personal services. All these could be classed as dangerous, so what are your real terms? You give me nothing and want everything. A business isn't run like that. What did you offer Aaron to betray me?”

“His life,” Huntress stated. “One fight. He won, and we walked. We won, so he brought us here. We gave Bullseye the same deal but he refused, so now he’s dead.”

“Hmm, street rules, I like that. But you still offer nothing. I can get another Aaron. I can find another Bullseye. You walk in here expecting to intimidate me." Kingpin cracked his neck, "I don't intimidate easily."

Huntress put a hand on Venom's chest, "Then. Information. Bullseye was going to kill you."

Kingpin laughed, "I don't," but Huntress interrupted him.

"I can read surface thoughts, so. Kill that fat fuck. I don't care how messy you make it. He ignored our first message, he doesn't get another. Tell the White King he's being taken from the board."

Kingpin's face flickered with a moment of anger. He glanced down at his desk, and while Venom couldn't see the picture, a hint of pain registered. It didn't take a genius to figure out what the first message was.

It was obvious that Kingpin was angry. He clenched his fists so hard that the popping of his knuckles was loud. He stared at Aaron, who shrugged, "I didn't know."

Kingpin huffed before adjusting his tie. "Fine. Then you get the same deal. I win, you help me with my problem. Then you walk so far away that if I see a kid in a black onesie he vanishes. You and your girlfriend here move from New York. You win and I walk, I’ll sell my interests to you and leave. I'm not an unreasonable man, Venom. A business can be rebuilt. A life, however. You only have one of those."

Venom looked at Huntress who nodded. “Fine, you vs me. Huntress already beat your man, so you and me. Take all the time you need.” Venom stretched, feeling his joints and muscles loosen.

Bullseye had been a stark reminder that he wasn’t all-powerful, and he needed a win to get some of his confidence back.

“Oh, I'm fine.” Kingpin took off his jacket, tie, and then his waistcoat. “No gouging eyes, no groin shots. Proper street rules, anything else goes till one of us gives up and can’t fight anymore,” the giant said.

“Uh one thing, how do we know you’ll keep your word, I mean, I don't even know who you are,” Venom asked before they started.

“Hmm, then a trade, Aaron, phone. You too," he waved a hand at Huntress. "If Venom is the muscle, then I guess you're the brains."

Aaron pointed his phone and Huntress did the same.

“My name is Wilson Fisk and I am the crime boss operating out of Hell's Kitchen. I swear that if I lose this fight then Venom and his associate will take over. If I win then Venom and associate leave New York.”

He looked over at Venom, “your turn.”

Venom shook his head, "she's the boss," and even Huntress looked at him, well, it's true, this is your show. Black Cats, tending the streets, I'm the muscle here, You're the boss.

Huntress laughed and shook her head, Don't you forget it, oh and you owe me. bed later, and you'll find out exactly who the boss is.

Felicia let her symbarmour slide back,

“My name is Felicia Hardy, and I am the Boss of the Black Cats. I swear that if I lose this fight then Venom and I will leave New York, never to return. If I win then Wilson Fisk will leave and never return." As Huntress slid back over her she spoke, “satisfied?”

Wilson looked at Aaron, “Tom's kid? Yes.” He shook his head. He was fine with who she was, it was her age that bothered him.

Venom instantly hated the pair, they were young, yes but life wasn't a picnic. He hated being looked down on and he would show them just who was in charge here.

Wilson and Venom stood a few meters apart and they nodded to each other. Wilson brought up his fist in a boxer's stance while Venom had a looser style.

Brazenly Venom let Fisk hit him with a light jab. The man's bulk hid a quick arm and jabs thudded into not just his chest but his jaw and ribs. Venom had to respect the man. He was a normal man, and yet he hit just as hard as Poison did when they were sparred. Hard enough when Fisk threw out another hook to his jaw, Venom leant back and thudded a right into Fisk's ribs.

It was like hitting a rock. He had been right. The man was all muscle and he probably had less fat on him than Venom did. It didn't matter to him. Rocks broke and crumbled, Venom just needed to apply enough pressure.

Fisk dodged and weaved as Venom tried to hit him. It was obvious that despite his size, he was an experienced fighter. Every now and again he forced Venom back with a series of blows. His longer reach drove Venom back and away from him.

As Venom tried to close in, Fisk grinned and stepped to one side to avoid a jab. He grabbed Venom around the waist, lifted them both up and slammed him on the floor. It cracked and groaned in complaint. Venom felt the world spin and sat upon him Fisk drove a fist into his face again and again.

Even Venom’s armoured skin creaked as the heavier man rained down blow after blow. Venom felt his face armour soften with the blows and had had enough. He lifted with his waist and lifted Fisk into the air, the bigger man tipping as Venom bucked him off.

Venom slid forwards and as Kingpin rose, Venom slammed his own fist into the side of his jaw. Even with the man's larger bulk, he spun comically before collapsing down. Venom knelt on one arm and holding his head, smashed a fist into his face.

“Enough!" Fisk yelled and the man swelled and grew. The hair on his body thickened and he fell on his knuckles. His muscles bulged even further and his white shirt split. Thick black hair covered his body and a line of lighter silver hair spread up his back. Deep yellow eyes and vicious fangs now sat on his face.

“Silverback. Neat name huh? You all have one so why not me?” He howled and charged at Venom. He slammed two fists into Venoms and knocked him flying. He roared and beat his chest before he charged over, thumping both heavy fists down on Venom's chest.

Venom felt each heavy blow like a hammer. Driving spikes of pain that echoed through his chest. Rhino was strong, but this mutated Fisk was stronger. His ribs and bones were fine but each blow made it harder for him to gain breath. He wheezed as the wind was knocked out of him.

But he wasn't inactive. Silverback was smashing his fists into Venom's chest but hadn't secured his arms. Venom created a small blade and drove it into Silverback's side, twisting and snapping it off.

Rolling to one side, Silverback felt at his ribs and pulled the blade out, spitting out blood. "Not good enough." Venom could see the wound starting to close.

Silverback charged again to drive Venom back to the floor. Venom sidestepped and tried to kick Silverback in the face, but was rewarded with a leglock.

Silverback, holding his leg, smashed his elbow into the joint and Venom roared in pain. His leg was crooked and it popped as Venom straightened it back up. Tentatively he tested his weight and winced. Pain shot into his knee and he snarled as it clicked back into place.

Silverback snorted at him. “Give it up Venom, you won't win. You're not fast enough, not strong enough, and not good enough.”

As Silverback taunted him, he saw the look on Huntress's face and knew he might be in trouble.

“Good enough? One punch and you think I’m not good enough? Try again fat and hairy, you’ll see who's good enough.”

It was seeing that smug grin on Bullsye's face. It was seeing and feeling the worry from Huntress. It was hearing Fisk taunting him. It was Flash all over again.

It hurt. To be so strong but still so weak. It hurt to know that one man could defeat him. It hurt to know Huntress had so little faith in him.

It lit a fire inside. He was strong. He wasn't puny Parker, He was Venom. and he wasn't afraid of anyone. He would show them who was weak.

Venom thickened the plates over his body, allowing the harness to extend. The four limbs waved menacingly around his back

“Fuck me,” Aaron exclaimed, “you're the multi-limbed, no wait huh?” but Venom wasn't in the mood to answer.

One limb would dart out and as Fisk moved to avoid it he would head straight into another. It wasn't perfect, but Bullseye taught him to stop holding back. Now Fisk was the punching bag for Venom's anger at being bested.

As Silverback roared and charged him Venom lifted himself up using two arms. He shot out webbing onto Silverback's legs as he charged past and yanked them out from under him. “I don't need a leg when I've got seven more.”

Two arms grabbed Silverback's wrists and they whined as Venom lifted him.  He laid punch after punch with the other two into his ribs. The final pair of arms grabbed Silverback's legs and pulled him forward. Once Silverback was on the floor, Venom webbed him down before renewing his assault.

Silverback endured the beating and tried his best to lift himself up. He roared as the webbing on the floor ripped up as his fangs grew longer and his face wrinkled up. His arms bulged even more as more and more formula pumped around his system

“Shit, we had three vials,” Aaron muttered under his breath but Venom never heard him. As Silverback roared and raged against his webbing, he tore off patches. He stopped caring if it ripped at him, and blood trickled down his body where his skin had torn.

Thumping his bloody fists against his chest he charged once more and Venom dived to avoid him. Silverback reached out with a dinner plate-sized hand and grabbed one the limbs of the harness. He used them to swing himself around and drove himself, feet first into his chest.

As the limbs had anchored them down the pair went tumbling together. Venom landed on top, and smashed a thick fist into the snarling face of Silverback.

He had had enough of this. He would make him pay. Not just for the women, but for the drugs, the pain, and the misery he spread like a disease around New York. Even if he was next, he also blamed him for Bullseye. For the mess he made, for the building he destroyed, all to get to him. He laid the blame right at Silverback’s feet, and now he would return the favour.

Four limbs each thudding into Silverback left the giant man with no escape. Two battered against his ribs and his arms while Venom pounded on his face. Venom's maw split and he screeched at Silverback as he brutalised him.

The snapping of bone could be heard and Silverback was left a bloody and mangled mess on the floor. Venom hoisted himself upon two limbs and roared.

Silverback's features melted back to Fisk. He was barely recognisable under the blood and bruises. Venom dropped him and the tendrils of the harness moved back, tensed and ready to strike. He coated them with his symbskin and each of them plugged back down. Stabbing Fisk through his legs and shoulders, "now we end this," Venom hissed.

He raised one arm and it formed a massive spike. Tensing back, he was poised to strike the unconscious Fisk.

Aaron moved and stood over Fisk, “Please, we’ll leave, just please, don't,” and he held up both hands in surrender. Blood leaked from Fisk's bruised and battered face and his arms were bent at an unnatural angle.

Venom huffed and snarled at the man but Huntress ran a hand over his chest, “you won, Venom, you won. Calm please, calm,” and he took her hand in his and rubbed it over his cheek. Venom stepped back and let out a breath. “You will leave, sign over everything, we’ve got cash and you’ll take it.”

He just wondered how he was going to explain to everyone why he was broke again. Maybe he’d let Felicia explain, after all, it was her he spent it on.

Venom motioned, "Phone." When offered, he grabbed the phone from Aaron and deleted the single video he had taken of Felicia. Once he was sure there were no back-ups, he threw it back. "This time, if you double-cross us I'll rip out your spine and beat him to death with it."