Spider-Man. The House Of Venom

Carnage had found the crispy remains of Khaos not too far from the Manhatten apartment. He had nudged the host with a toe and received a hiss of annoyance in response.

“You look like shit. I should just put you out of your misery but our lord and master will be angry,” Carnage grumbled. “But, that doesn't mean I can’t have some fun.”

Carnage smiled as his hand became a large blade. He stabbed it through the back of Khaos's neck. He grinned as he heard the satisfying gurgle as the other host choked on its own blood. He was tempted just to separate the annoyance’s head from his shoulders, but while he was free, he knew he wasn’t that free.

Harry was still alive, and while he wished he could remedy that, he wasn’t strong enough. Not yet anyway.

Lizard had been tough, but it was only that stupid collar that saved him. It made him fuzzy. He could kill and main but it stopped him from acting how he wanted. It dulled his instincts and made fighting difficult. Until Lizard had smashed it enough it wasn't working properly.

Stick one on Osborn. See how he likes to be chained. We need to be free to perform our art.

The same collar he had just removed from the back of Khaos. The same collar the Lizard had cleanly bitten through when attacking. Harry should have been clearer. He wasn’t allowed to free himself, but he never said he couldn’t free anyone else.

“You’ll behave. You’ll do as you’re told, kill who I tell you to kill, and if I don’t think you’re pulling your weight.” Carnage stepped back and the teeth in his maw lengthened, “I’ll eat you raw.”

Khaos snorted as he stood and then slowly nodded.

Carnage breathed in the New York air. Osborn wouldn’t let this go unpunished and that was unacceptable to Cletus. He needed to make it big. Big enough that when that bastard crawled out from his hole and pulled on Carnage's leash it wasn’t just him that choked.

“I’m spreading the news,” he sang.

“I’m cleaving today.”

“I'm gonna tear apart you all.”

“New York New York.”

The harrowing screeching laugh of Carnage echoed around the alleyway.

⁂

Peter sat the phone down as he finished talking to May.

“A creature of some kind attacked the house,” he said solemnly. “It sounds like Agent Webb has gone rogue.”

He paused for a second and dialled Felicia, it rung for a few seconds before she picked up,

“You called me? Pete, learn to text, asshole.” before she hung up.

He rolled his eyes.

Curt and Aunt May were attacked. Do you have any news?

Shit, Are they okay?

Lizard is a badass, tried to eat the monster, sounds like a host though.

Shit, fine. I’ll be there in ten, war council, I’ll bring Elektra as well.

Take care, if it's one of us, then,

He had barely finished when his phone rang,

“Turn on the news right now.” It was Felicia.

Peter laughed and pointed at the remote for Gwen to switch on the TV, “So, calling huh?”

There was silence on the other end of the phone as the TV flicked to life,

“A red monster, with strange tentacles, is stalking the streets. At Manhatten, Fifth Avenue has already been evacuated. Stay indoors, arm yourself but do not approach the creature. It is considered extremely dangerous.”

The camera panned around and there was a skinny bright red and black host walking down the street. He was singing ‘New York New York’ with modified lyrics, badly. The camera panned around to the bodies scattered across the pavement. Each one was a mess of bleeding and severed body parts. Whatever the creature was was merciless. "It appears to be a red variant of the Venom outfit. At this time we are unsure if it is an associate of Venom or simply a copycat."

“Meet us at Fifth,” Peter said before he hung up and Venom slid over him.

⁂

Harry was watching the news gritting his teeth. Carnage was not acting according to the plan. He was strolling down Fifth Avenue as if it was a holiday. His blatant attitude was revealing part of Harry's plan on camera for everyone to see. He could already see the switchboard for his phone light up. Everyone was calling, and he knew nobody would be happy.

Harry growled and lifted his phone, He dialled. “Get a containment squad out there right now. Kill those two before they make more mess.” there was a pause, “No, I don’t care. If he shows, test it on him as well.”

He snorted. Fine, if nobody wanted to listen, he’d just make them.

⁂

Tony was relaxing under a sunlamp with two masseurs rubbing his hands as he sat with nothing but a towel on. He groaned as the phone rang.

“Jarvis, Cut that call.” he sighed and turned his hand over so the masseur could work on his plan, “I have one more digit that needs.” The phone rang again.

“Jarvis?” he asked

“Yes Sir.”

“I specifically asked you to cut that call.”

“And I did Sir. Miss Potts rerouted it. She said," The voice cut to a recording of Pepper. “Tell Tony he can get a happy ending after he saves the city.”

The television switched itself on. “We go live as it appears one of Venom’s associates, clad in a red costume, is attacking Fifth Avenue.”

“Mute!” Tony said, He stared at the two blonde twins who had stopped. Tipping a finger against the massage chair, he frowned and shook his head, “Fine. Jarvis, get the Mark Fifty prepped.”

He stood, uncaring the towel fell, “Well, sorry ladies but I’m needed. Kiss for luck?”

One of the blondes stood but he grinned, “Not there.” The other strolled her eyes before kissing him exactly where he wanted.

Tony sighed happily as her tongue worked its magic.

It was good to be Tony Stark.

⁂

After a few minutes of surveying the scene, it was not good to be Tony Stark. The monster was the incarnation of sadism. It had maimed a little girl, taking one of her legs and slashing open her face but left the parents alive. The father had stab wounds up one side, a missing eye and a ruined ear. The mother was his mirror.

Tony's scans from his armour told him neither would work again. That meant medical bills and caring for a disabled child would ruin them. Whatever sick bastard was in that costume was making sure to leave survivors. Ones that would wish they were dead.

"Jarvis, set up a foundation. One that helps survivors of costumed vigilante attacks."

It was not a good time to be Tony Stark, but whoever did this was about to find it was not a good time to be them either.

⁂

Peter was glared at by Elektra, “You made another one?”

Peter sat the cup down, “Of course not. Plus, nobody gets to dictate.” but she just waved a hand at him, dismissing him outright.

“We go live right now. Iron Man, in a fantastic new suit, is fighting the associate of Venom.”

The group watched as Tony stayed high, making sure the bladed tentacles couldn't reach him. Even throwing cars just infuriated the Symbiote as Iron Man blasted them away.

“They, uh, seem kinda crappy,” Peter admitted. Watching the new host was like watching a kid throw a tantrum. Right until another one lept from above and sliced through the leg armour of Iron Man's suit. He kicked it away but hovered unsteadily.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Yes, yes we have a confirmed shot of the black-clad Venom. It is now confirmed that the red attacker is in league with Venom.” 

The group stared at the television as the cameraman tried to follow the black Symbiote as it sprang from building to building. 

“Right, we go help.” Venom stood, not waiting for an answer. Huntress covered Felicia but Elektra sat staring at her coffee. “All of us.”

Elektra shrugged, “I am a fighter, yes, but You can play hero, that is not my way, nor is it yours, Felicia. We work in the shadows, not in the news or in gaudy suits of red and gold.”

Huntress huffed, “She has a point. We agreed we can’t be seen together. Huntress works for Black Cat.”

Venom ran a hand over his face “Goddammit.” He stared at the pair, “Fine!” he shook his head, “If I die, I’m haunting you both.” Felicia snorted, “I mean it, I’m going to make comments while you're trying to pee.”

Felicia was hiding her grin and laughter behind her cup while Elektra looked unamused. “Some hero you are,” she said while raising her eyebrow and shaking her head. “If you cannot defeat your own kind then I think you should just retire.”

Venom dismissively waved a hand at her, mimicking her earlier gesture and shot a web out. Leaping up to the rooftop hatch the duo followed and they swung out into the New York night.

⁂

A woman, with dark skin and long curled hair, watched a small camera. “We have confirmation. Peter Parker is the villain known as Venom. What are your orders.”

The women waited and nodded. Observation was not her favourite duty, but today it paid off. They knew of the attack but her orders were only for Venom. While she kept watch her unit prepared. If Venom stepped out of line it would be her that hunted the beast.

⁂

Tony was cursing as he rerouted power to his left leg. Whatever these creatures were made of just shrugged off a repulsor blast like it was nothing. The Mark Fifty was the latest. It was supposed to be almost indestructible. It was supposed to be strong enough to take out a Hulk but in the field, Venom's friends had cut through it like butter.

The black one hissed at him. It looked like Venom but the suit was slightly different. Until he knew otherwise, it wasn’t him. Red stayed low but the Black liked to climb buildings and leap at him. It stretched out an arm and the liquid that covered its body seemed to flow forward creating a spike. Lowering his hands Tony blasted upwards and as Black missed Iron Man blasted him down. “Not nice Venomette. Try this.” A shoulder-mounted rocket launcher whirred and a small missile whooshed towards the monster.

Khaos screamed as the warhead exploded, showering him in white phosphorus.

“Good. That works.” Iron Man readied a salvo and five streaked up towards Black and four streaked down towards Red. Blasting apart the costume of his attacker allowed him to gather a good-sized sample. Once it was analysed he could home in on any weakness and adjust his suit.

Tony wasn’t called the smartest man alive for nothing. Every time one of these new villains appeared he tested their defences. Sought out the scenes of their fights and gathered intelligence.

Each mark of armour was an upgrade. Heavier armour for villains such as Rhino. Shielded and redundant systems in case he met Electro. Finally highly concentrated heavier repulsor blasters for someone like Ock or Sandman.

He had reached out to Ross for intel on Hulk but he got the brush off. With no invite to their headquarters, he only had his dad's notes to go on. For now, it was a huge suit of Hulkbuster armour he hoped was strong enough.

These strange creatures, whatever they and Venom were, needed to be analysed in a lab. Fire worked, but generally, fire worked on pretty much everything. He needed to find out what the suit was and how to neutralise it. There were too many casualties and he wouldn't rest until they were stopped.

⁂

Venom, Huntress and Hades swung from the warehouse into Manhatten. The ETF had set up a cordon to keep the civilians back while EMTs worked on the victims.

"Go high," and the trio swung overhead. "Hades, thoughts?"

Venom wasn't stupid. Elektra was more experienced and her advice would dictate the fight.

"Really?" The white eye on his suit raised, "Fine. The red one fought Lizard, he fights like an amateur but strikes like a butcher. The Black one is holding back, he is fighting wildly, as if he is being forced."

Venom swore, "Collars?" and both Huntress and Hades nodded. "Huntress, take the black one, help Iron Man, Hades, we need to get that red one contained. Lizard said he was there to kill, once we get involved, things will change."

Hades shrugged, "Then we do too. I taught you strategies to deal with change Venom. If he wants to kill you, simply kill him first."

Venom was about to argue. Under the influence of the collar Liv had gotten desperate enough to build a nuclear bomb. It wasn't until Hades patted him and pointed down to the ruined mess of a little girl he gritted his teeth. Liv had a collar and worked within her commands until she was out of options. Nobody under control of one of those damn things would be as brutal as that. The red Symbiote was collared but the man was a psychopath anyway.

Whoever it was, deserved what was coming.