Spider-Man. The House Of Venom

Matthew stood staring at the pair with his cloudy eyes. Felicia wasn't fooled and she knew that he could sense just as well without vision as she could with. Huntress had noted the way he moved, the way he reacted. He might not have normal vision, but Matt could see just as well as anyone here. Daredevil was not someone to be trifled with.

Felicia stood, taking Elektra's advice, stretching. "Right, so. You want to see how a Symbiote host can fight?"

Matt nodded. If they were as dangerous as he imagined this would let him know if he needed to call for Stick or not. He was already upset with the one bonded to Elektra.

His talk with Karen had not gone well. He had lied a little and told her Elektra got him drunk and he woke up in bed with her. It was enough she yelled at him and took the week off for ‘personal’ reasons. From her heart rate and blood pressure, he knew they were over and she was spending the week looking for a new job.

"And I am here to see if you have been slacking off," Elektra added with a small smirk. Hades was forthcoming with memories, but not everything was shared. Felicia and Huntress had closed off certain parts of her life.

Felicia laughed, and Huntress morphed into a more appropriate sports bra and shorts. "You have no idea what I'm capable of."

Matt and Elektra both finished their stretches as well, "we shall see Kitten, we shall see."

Elektra smiled, "then, shall we make it more interesting? a small wager perhaps?"

Matt huffed, “I don't mind. But there will be no repeat of last night.” He crossed his arms, “If I win, then I lead this little group, and you do more than just tolerate the scumbags." Matt knew that Elektra and Felicia could be an asset to Stick. If he could get them under control.

Felicia rolled her eyes. "look, batboy. I don't care what you think. We have an accord and we stick to that. Nobody cares that you hunt the ones that won't listen. Nobody cares about Daredevil.”

As she saw the small wince from him, maybe that was the issue. Right now they were dictating terms to someone who was always independent. He had his own agenda, his own life and nobody paid him any mind.

Felicia sighed. “Look, this is to decide what training Elektra will give me and Pete. No one's expecting her or you to team up with Peter. Just me, just the Cats, to keep them safe. When you know, none of us can.” The annoyance in her voice was evident. "We just don't want any crossed wires. We can do this together."

He laughed as he smirked at her. “How about, I win and the Cats stop selling drugs in Hell's Kitchen, move back and let me clean up the dealers?”

Felicia thought about it.

The drug scene was bad news to her anyway. The lighter stuff was fine. It was mainly college kids wanting to get high but the dealers wanted the harder stuff as well. She had agreed in practice but not in principle. It was only to keep the more civilised addicts getting a clean supply without having to resort to crime.

“Agreed, but only if you win.”

Matt nodded, “But uh. What did you guys bet on?” he asked.

Felicia glared at Elektra who grinned at her. “Oh nothing much Matthew, just a small thing. It does not break our agreement, but it is personal.''

Matt huffed while Felicia was relieved. What they discussed was none of his business.

Hades and Huntress both knew what Elektra was after. Felicia had mentioned it during Peter's punishment and nobody argued. She still had to prove herself trustworthy before Peter was brought into it. Felicia knew that it would take one person to destroy what they had, and she wasn't about to let that happen.

“So free for all or limits on powers or what?” Felicia asked. While Elektra was a more seasoned fighter than her, and Matt had his super senses. Felicia was hesitant to unleash her full powers as Huntress. She was afraid that she’d just hurt both their feelings as well as their bodies.

“I say free for all. The floor is reinforced as are the walls and we never really cut loose, right Matthew?”

He was limbering up, stripping down to loose pants and a simple t-shirt. “Right, but uh, she’s just a kid, you’re not worried about hurting her?” he asked innocently. As far as his senses told him, Felicia was a bit stronger and tougher than a normal person. What he really wanted was for her to unleash her full power.

“No, Matthew. I want to fight the Huntress. I have seen it and you cannot imagine how much she changes, how ferocious and terrifying she actually is.”

Matt just shrugged, “Fine, but no suing if you lose,” and he gave her a wide smile, that had Felicia grinning back.

“You sure? Cause you know, this isn't a game.“ Felicia warned him as she finished her warm-up.

Matt shrugged and began to stretch. “Is that your warm-up?” he asked.

Felicia shook her head, “I don't need to. The Symbiotes absorb and break down any acid build-up in the muscles. We heal fast so they take care of micro-fractures from the stress of fighting. Elektra,” she said as she shook her head, ”you don't need to do that.”

Elektra shrugged, “It's a mindset kitten. You should, even if you don't need to. To mentally prepare yourself to be ready to fight.”

As Huntress wrapped herself around Felicia and the woman grew to almost 7 feet. “That's my secret Electra, I'm always ready.”

Huntress stretched and Matt caught not just her physical change but a primal one as well. A predator had arrived and all his instincts were telling him to run.

“Describe what she just did Ele, my senses are going nuts. Is this a chemical attack? Did you plan this?” Matt stomped over the Huntress trying to shake the dizzy feeling.

The slight vibration he could see was now like a persistent hum that set his teeth on edge. Where she stood was like someone was bringing a hundred tiny bells. It hurt to try and look at her, and even as Elektra changed into a different outfit, Huntress was on a different level.

“What? No,” Huntress slipped back. ''We give off a chemical scent, and I guess so do we when we use the Symbiotes, no wonder everyone is so shit scared of us. Sorry, Matt, you're the first that’s been enhanced without fighting, well, sorta enhanced.” She stepped back and shook her head, “We never knew, it just smells good to us.”

Matt shook his head, “Do it again.” Felicia looked over at Elektra who shrugged and he shouted, “Again!”

As Huntress slipped over her he stepped back. Felicia could see the sweat pouring from him and she could hear the pounding of his heart. As he stood staring at her she felt like he was examining every inch of her, and in his own way, he was.

The cloud of pheromone coming from the creature was overpowering and every fibre said to run. His heart was hammering in his chest and he wanted nothing more than to listen to it, but he couldn't. If he wanted to take down Venom, to fight one of these creatures he needed to control his emotions.

Letting the pheromone circulate in his system he felt each nerve as it lit up. Anger and fear. The change was palpable but he was the man without fear and he calmed his heart and slowed his breathing. As he took in more and more, his heart steadied and he calmed down. Now he knew if he had to fight Venom, whatever the hell that was would be no problem.

Once more took his stance. “Now I am ready.”

With that, he launched a high kick at Felicia, who was too busy looking at Elektra to notice. As his foot sped towards her Huntress stepped back to avoid it. She ducked, grabbed him around the thigh and leapt up, slamming him into the mat.

“Naughty naughty,” she hissed and she rolled backwards and Matt lay on the floor, stunned.

Elektra laughed, “she is enhanced and more Matthew, you should be aware.”

As he lifted himself up he shook. “Are you that fast?”

Elektra shook her head, “There is an adjustment, where the host and Symbiote need time to get used to one another. I cannot use Hades to her full power yet,” she explained. “Hades is afraid she hurts you. It seems however Huntress has no fear in that department.”

Huntress laughed. “We asked, and you agreed,” she hissed back.

“Okay, then how about we spar, just me, no fighting back. I’ll forfeit if after one round I don’t hit you, but if I touch you, then you're out.” He really hoped she would agree. He was confident he could at least get one hit in.

“Sure, we agree, but with more. If you fail, then you pay for our next date night.”

Matt tutted but scowled, “Sure sure, take advantage of the blind guy,” and he dropped back into his stance.

Copying, Huntress moved into her own watching him as he circled. He would send out a few test jabs that she easily avoided. As one sailed past her head a left kick followed it. She pirouetted out of the way and straight into another punch. Twisting she bent backwards and ducked underneath it and the real fight began.

Kicks followed punches followed kicks as Matt threw out every move he could think of. As she moved and he sensed the direction she was moving to he sent out a limb but everything he did she avoided. Every punch, each kick, every elbow or knee, she was simply too fast for him. No matter where he moved to, no matter how far his reach was, she was just better.

Elektra watched the pair intently. Sparring with a young Felicia had been fun. The older and now better-trained Felicia was giving her goosebumps. Watching Huntress dance around Daredevil like he was a child was making her heart pump. She was deadly grace, and Hades was howling for their own match, both on the mat and elsewhere.

“Your win, I can’t touch you. Let me see it, fight back.” With that Matt found himself being touched behind both knees, once on the neck. As he spun to avoid a blow to the face he found a large dark grey sword at his neck.

To him, it was like fighting a ghost. He could track her movements by the disturbance in the air but it was not good enough. By the time he processed what was happening, she had moved and was already moving once more. A fire lit within him.

I’m going to call Stick, he thought.

If she was the new breed of villain, even if she refused to be named as such, then he either needed allies or more training. Stick had once offered him a more active role. He now knew he needed that, he needed to be stronger than Huntress if he was to keep the city safe.

“I yield,” he said, pushing the flat of the blade down with two fingers, “So, I guess, I lost then huh?”

Huntress snorted. “We were never in any doubt Matt. You are strong, but we learned that there are stronger than us in the world.” Felicia stepped back, “yeah, always someone stronger Matt. Better trained, better equipped. I try to get that through to Pete. Sometimes it’s not the powers, it's the setup, you've got Elektra to help you, you don’t need to fight alone.”

He still snorted and moved back to sit on the dojo floor. “Nice pep talk, but she spends more time with you than me, uh can someone get me water, I don't know where it is in your new place.”

Elektra looked over at Felicia who shrugged and shook her head. She opened the fridge and tossed the bottle to Matt. As he caught it he had the decency to look a little guilty. Both women knew he was just being childish.

“I can run out and get a baby bottle if you want?” Felicia teased him as he drank and Elektra laughed,

“Poor Matthew, being picked on after being picked on. But do not worry. I shall fight for your honour my sweet prince,” Elektra teased him as well.

As she moved over she took her stance in the middle of the floor. “I however will be using these,'' she said as she twirled two sai in her hand. “I am not as,” but Huntress dived forwards and grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the mat.

“No weapons, and no talking.”

As Elektra struggled under Huntress’s grip she tried to wrap her legs around her head. "Tried that." Huntress lifted Elektra from the mat and held her up high, "and then he did this." Huntress slammed Elektra back to the floor, where she tapped out.

"That was cheating, Kitten," Elektra said as she stood, "and Hades is most upset with you."

“We are Huntress, and until you are Enhanced, there is nothing you can do to hurt me.” 

Huntress slid back, leaving a smirking Felicia, "Could be worse. Pete screwed my brains out right after he did that."

Elektra smiled, "And why is that worse?" leaving Matt to cough and choke on his water.

He cleared his throat. "Maybe pick someone else's house to do that in." He lifted himself from the floor and grabbed his cane, "I have enough problems." He grabbed his towel and slung it over his neck. "I want to talk to Liv, about," and he waved his hand in front of his eyes. "I don't expect to fix it, but it would be nice to know what happened." It would also give him a chance to find out more about the Symbiotes and whatever Felicia meant by enhanced.

"My place? Nine?" Elektra asked Felicia as the pair changed. "But first, the Cats?"

"Sure, I'll let the other know I won't be home." Felicia tapped out a quick message,

She will want to see us all, but for now, I won't be home til tomorrow.