Spider-Man. The House Of Venom

MJ and Liv were in the shower with Laura when a tired-looking Huntress and Poison swung down from the roof.

Letting their symbskin slip back, the pair just sat staring as Peter poured them both coffee. They both had hollow stares and faraway expressions. Seeing the look on their faces decided everyone needed some food, even if it was just to stare at.

“We disposed of the bodies in the bay. Took pictures and dropped the camcorder off at the Bugle. The pictures went to every major outlet we could think of.“ Felicia explained, staring at her cup. She sighed and drained it in one swing, "something stronger," and Peter nodded.

Peter moved over to the counter and let a burner heat up.  He started to scramble an egg mix he had left in the fridge for when they got back. As they stared at their cups he cooked for them and then dished up six plates of food. Opened the fridge and pulled out several bottles of beer.

Peter put a plate of scrambled eggs down. High metabolisms meant a healthy appetite. A mix of sausage, bacon, egg, and cheese all fried with spices and a dose of onions, so they could at least say they had some vegetables. He popped the tops of two extra strong bottles of beer, placing them down in front of the pair.

Gwen hesitated and grabbed the beer and drank it in several seconds, shaking her head. “I knew Pete, I knew and it’s not.”

She took a deep breath. “Remember the guy that groped me?” and Peter nodded, he’d had a look but without a name, it was an empty trail. “He attacked me in the parking garage of Oscorp and I killed him.” She took a swig of her beer, “this wasn’t like that, he deserved it, he got what he deserved. These were kids Pete, kids,” she said as she slumped back down.

“And you didn’t kill them, Gwen, those assholes did. And we’ll find them and we got one, safe and from the sounds of it, a handful. If we lose but save one, it’s worth it.”

Gwen shook her head, “Not to me Pete. One isn’t enough,” she stared a the bottle, “not enough”

“Then save more, work with Felicia. A chemical that needs someone's brain to make isn’t going to be difficult to track down. Shit, it should be one of the easiest things to find. Just cause they pay off the cops doesn't mean we can't make sure it never happens again.

A wet and dressed Laura ran from Liv's home chased by a soaked and scowling MJ. Liv followed with a slight smirk on her face. The shower had gone well but when MJ tried to brush her hair the untamed girl had run off. She shot onto Peter's chair and curled up once more. Peter shook his head and put a plate down in front of her and she stared at it.

Liv wheeled herself to the table, "It's okay dear, you can eat." but Laura just stared at the plate." Liv sighed, "where ever Laura was held, it wasn't Oscorp. Looking at her, examining her, there is nothing. No tremors, no wariness. Whatever, and whoever Laura is. She is completely different to anything I've ever seen before."

The group sat quietly at the table, aware that whatever Laura's origin, MGH was a scourge and needed to be stopped. “Her healing is off the charts but whatever was used actually left a scar.” Liv ran her hand over Laura’s head, “I’m so sorry dear. So so sorry.”

MJ handed Liv a cloth, and she wiped her eyes first and then blew her nose.

The shower had been fun. Laura was amazed by the warm flowing water and she danced and giggled underneath the sprays. It hadn't been as much fun for Liv. As she noted and recorded each injury and scar she had to stop several times to keep herself from breaking down.

Laura looked at the plate, and as Peter shrugged it was MJ who smiled and nodded,

“It's okay, you can eat,” and Laura nodded and began to lift the egg mix with her fingers.

Peter sighed and lifted a spoon, and he held the egg mix in front of her face. She took it and made a whining happy noise. She chewed and then swallowed before sitting with her mouth open, waiting for more.

“Uh, you can eat the rest yourself,” but as he made to hand her the spoon she sat on her hands and just sat with her mouth open. She tried to give him the most pitiful expression she could manage.

This place was amazing to her. She had been cleaned, clothed, and now the nice-smelling man was feeding her, and it was real food as well.

“You spoiled her dear, so at least for today,” Liv said.

Peter sighed and patted his lap. Laura scurried over and nestled herself between his legs before making an ‘ahh’ noise.

“Fine, but only for today. Sick people get better you know,” he grumbled. But as he fed her spoon after spoon of scrambled breakfast egg, she wiggled back and forth. Continuing to make the same happy noise as before.

“But, you need to behave okay? Gwen and Liv will run tests, so listen or this little show won't be getting a re-run.”

As she looked up at him, he raised an eyebrow, and she just nodded and opened her mouth again.

The group decided that today would be a rest day. Last night was a nightmare everyone wanted to forget. While MJ was the only one who needed to phone in, the rest set aside their normal tasks.

They ate snacks, watched TV, and just slept when they felt like it. Blankets were pulled out and with Peter in the middle, it turned into a huge hug pile. In the evening, rather than cooking, Peter ordered takeout. Laura ate everything put in front of her and drank the same.

Chips and candy were devoured and sodas were popped and slurped down. Whatever the young girl had suffered seemed like a thing of the past.

It wasn't until bedtime that it became an issue. As Peter settled Liv, gave MJ, Gwen and Felicia all goodnight kisses, he headed into his home. Where he found Laura waiting. She had already invaded his bed. A strange young girl, with attachment issues, wasn't the issue though. The fact she was completely naked, hugging and sniffing one of his old shirts was.

“Laura, you can sleep here but I’ll be outside okay?” 

She just growled at him and patted the bed.

“I can’t.“ Peter tried to explain.

She growled, annoyed at his refusal. “Why? Be safe.”

He frowned. “I’ll be outside okay, you’re safe here, I promise. Nothing will happen, no one knows your here, no one will come for you,”

She whined and patted the bed, “Want, be safe.”

Sighing, Peter obliged.

As she curled up next to him, pressing her back to him he tried not to move too much.

She whimpered and kicked a few times and he could smell the blood as her blades slid out and then back. She was quick to fall into her restless sleep but just as quick to wake, confused as to where she was. He felt her sniff him a few times before calming down.  She squirmed and rolled over again. Her arm draped itself over him and she pressed herself as close to him as she could. She mumbled, “home, smell safe,” before she fell asleep again.

As he closed his eyes he wondered what exactly they had gotten themselves into.

She was a restless sleeper. During the night Peter woke to find her buried in his armpit one moment and then almost sitting on his face the next. As such he just sighed, closed his eyes and mentally prepared for the lack of sleep that he would endure the next day.

Normally, Peter would be enjoying having such an attractive young woman in bed with him. However, Laura stretched out in bed during the night. She was lying across him. One arm wrapped around his leg, with her face dangerously close to his groin. The other was stretched up his body and was almost in his armpit. Which heft her spread legs, open and completely bare, stretched in front of him. Turning his head, he saw the ripped and torn T-shirt Luara had been wearing lying on the floor.

"Laura," he whispered, unwilling to scare the young woman. She had speared his bed several times in the night, and he did not want to find out if his armour was Laura proof.

She groaned as his breath tickled her, "fuck off," she wriggled once more, "sleeping!"

Peter sighed, which considering where she was, was the wrong thing to do. She squeaked and shot from the bed. Huddled in the corner she had all six blades out, glaring at Peter in annoyance.

"After breakfast," she huffed, stretched, and ran off into the breakfast area.

Peter dragged himself out of bed after what felt like several minutes of actual sleep. He ran a hand over his face, and as the yelling started he grabbed Laura a new shirt and pants to wear.

Heading to the breakfast table, he saw that she was patiently sitting in his chair. She frowned, with her eyes fixed on the empty plate in front of her. He lay the shirt and pants on the table. "Dress, then eat."

Gwen saw him and waved, “We saw the pile and figured you'd be late.”

Thankfully she had been up and made coffee, handing Laura a pastry before pouring Peter a cup. ”Eat. Pete isn't making breakfast today.” Laura frowned and whined. “That won't work on me,” Gwen gently scolded her. ”Only Pete has no willpower.”

As Peter sat down in Gwen’s chair he closed his eyes, took a breath and took a drink of the wonderfully sweet hot coffee.

“Eat your pastry. You can use your hand for that,” Gwen told her.

Laura looked down at the golden brown slab in front of her she tilted her head.

“No, I'm not feeding you,” but Gwen teased her by tearing a piece off and popping it into Peter's mouth.

“Now, you. It’s yummy, honest.”

Gwen had found a bakery close by to get sweet treats to bribe Poison when she was being belligerent. While their cookies were okay, according to Poison, she would push Gwen to buy their pastries. Maple syrup pecan plaits were her favourite and it was once a week treat for the warehouse. As Laura was here, Gwen figured today might as well be that day and left early to get them fresh.

Laura sniffed the strange brown rectangle and gave it a prod. Encouraged by Peter she licked the end of her finger clean of the syrup that coated it. Her eyes widened and without taking a breath she lifted and stuffed the whole thing in her mouth.

Gwen tried not to laugh as Laura transformed from wolf girl into squirrel girl. As Laura whined and eyed the plate in the centre of the table, Gwen nodded. Laura took another one, and this time took her time. As the plate slowly emptied Gwen was glad she bought two dozen of several different flavours.

Even if they hadn’t identified what kind of Powered Laura was it was obvious she was. The enhanced healing was just as much of a giveaway as the strange hand and toe blades. If she was anything like them, then her appetite would match.

“Laura,” Gwen asked her as she held a vanilla apple crown in front of her, “I want to run some tests okay? If you’re good and let me, I’ll give you more of those and this.”

Laura stared at the pastry. She hesitated and looked over at Peter, who had leaned back, closed his eyes and sipped his coffee.

“It's fine Laura, you can trust everyone here,” Peter said without even opening his eyes. She seemed to defer to him. He was sure it was his pheromonal power, but if she trusted him, he would make sure she was safe regardless.

As Gwen dropped the pastry on her plate, Laura nodded.

Stretching and letting the coffee do its job, Peter took over from Gwen, mixing up more breakfast egg mix. Pastries were fine for empty calories but they all needed something much heartier.

Peter made breakfast for the rest and Laura sniffed the plate. She began to shovel the food into her mouth with her hands.

“No,” Peter gently chastised her. ”Look at them,” and as she stared at the rest eating with a fork, she took one from the table and began to eat properly.

“Liv, if we can take some blood, do you think you and Gwen could run some tests?” At the word test, Laura made a growling sound. “It’s okay, we just need to know you’re healthy, and if people are looking for you, we don’t want to take you to a hospital.”

“We might need to though Pete. This isn’t a full lab and even though she is brilliant, Liv isn’t a medical doctor,” Gwen stated. She paused for a moment, put down her coffee and looked at Liv. “You, you aren't a medical doctor right?” she asked her,

“Only at night,” Peter said, winking at Gwen.

She rolled her eyes. “Not funny Pete,” she said, shaking her head. She drained the last of her coffee, deciding to have another rather than more food. The images of last night had put her off eating anything

Peter shook his head, “you think I’m funny right?” he asked Laura, who tilted her head,

“Funny looking,” was all she said, and Gwen almost spat out her coffee laughing. As she coughed, trying not to choke, Felicia rubbed her back. The group laughed as Peter sat with Laura on his lap, trying his best to act hurt but couldn’t.

If Laura could crack a joke then she was better than he hoped. If she was better then he hoped that they’d find somewhere she could be safe and have as much time as she needed to recover.

They may have taken out the three factories in New York, but they had no idea who was behind them. That was the start of an investigation, and Peter had no intention of letting Laura join in.

As he drained the last of his coffee, he knew that after the scenes last night, it was going to be a fight. Nobody did that in his city and got a free pass. Peter didn't care who it was.