Chapter Text
"Hello, Ms. Morales."
"Ah, hello!" she replied with a light chuckle. "What brings you here?" Her curiosity was evident, she hadn't expected him to show up at their door.
"You know, I decided to check on you after everything, see how you and your son are doing..." His demeanor grew serious at the mention of Miles, but a broad smile quickly returned to his lips.
"You're in luck because he just got home." She stepped aside to let him in, her eyes shifting to Miles, who was standing by a glass of spilled water on the floor. "Miles, qué has hecho?" She walked over, taking the glass and inspecting the stained carpet. "Just yesterday I was cleaning up..."
Miles paid no attention to his mother's words or actions. His entire focus was on Edward Brock, now standing in their living room. The situation felt surreal. Should he start fighting him? If he did, his mother would find out everything, and she wouldn't be safe. He needed to think quickly.
"Ah, there you are, Young Morales. Everything okay? How are you?" Brock extended his hand, waiting for Miles to shake it. Venom's malevolent tone was unmistakable. Miles hesitated, fear gripping him, before quickly shaking Eddie's hand. Suddenly, a black tentacle wrapped around his entire arm, and his eyes widened in horror. Gwen, witnessing this, took a step back, her mind flashing back to her previous battle with the black alien.
In an instant, Eddie hurled Miles over his shoulder, and Rio's terrified scream echoed through the room as she fell to the floor. Venom revealed himself, his white eyes and razor-sharp teeth glinting with a hunger for violence. Gwen, knowing she had to act, shot webs from her web-shooters concealed under her shirt. She launched herself towards Venom like a slingshot, but he anticipated her move. He caught her mid-air, immobilizing her, while Miles struggled to crawl out from the rubble where he'd been thrown.
Venom turned to Miles and smirked, then casually broke Gwen like a twig. The sickening crack of her spine filled the room.
"NOOO!" Miles screamed, leaping towards her as Venom released her, letting her fall to the dusty floor. He cradled her head, tears streaming down his face. "Gwen?!" Her face contorted in agony, blood trickling from her nose. "Ple-Please say something..."
"Miles..." she gasped, struggling for breath. "I-I don't feel good... I don't feel anything..." Her eyes struggled to focus, and she seemed on the verge of passing out. Her voice trailed off as her heart stopped. She died in Miles' arms. He looked up, seeing Venom holding his mother by her hair.
"That's how you lose everything, Spider-Man." Venom's hand morphed into a large blade, ready to decapitate his mother in one swift move.
Miles felt his heart stop. Time seemed to slow as he watched the blade glint menacingly in the light. Every muscle in his body screamed to move, but he was rooted in place by sheer terror. His mind raced, searching desperately for a way to save his mother. He could hear her soft sobs, feel her fear radiating through the room.
“Please no…”
"Miles, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Hey, Mijo!" His mother snapped her fingers in front of his face, bringing him back to reality. Behind her, Eddie Brock still waited to shake his hand. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Rio noticed something was wrong, but Miles didn't want to give Eddie any satisfaction. He quickly wiped his forehead and shook Eddie's hand, staring into his eyes.
"Morning, sir. I don't remember your name. Can you remind me?" He decided to just pretend everything is okay to protect his mother and Gwen.
Eddie smirked, deciding to play along. "It's Edward. Edward Brock." He feigned politeness, knowing Venom wanted to toy with the kid a bit longer. He didn't want to waste time on unnecessary games, but Venom was clearly enjoying it.
"Well, please take a seat. Introduce your guest to Gwen, and wait while I bring the food." Rio gently guided Miles and Eddie to the dining room table before heading to the kitchen to continue preparing the meal.
They both sat at the table, staring each other down and monitoring every move. Eddie and Venom had the upper hand and could afford to be more relaxed, confident in their strength and speed. Miles was visibly stressed, worried not just for his own life but also for his loved ones, so he kept an eye on the man in front of him.
Gwen sensed that something was wrong but wasn't sure if it was due to this man's presence. She decided to lighten the mood a bit and investigate further.
"Eddie, was it?" Gwen began, trying to sound casual. "How do you know Miles?"
Eddie turned his sly smile towards Gwen. "Oh, we've had our... encounters," he said, his voice dripping with hidden meaning.
"Encounters?" Gwen asked, raising an eyebrow. She wanted to probe more, but knew she had to be careful. "Like what kind of encounters?"
Eddie leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "You could say we've crossed paths in ways most people couldn't imagine."
Miles' jaw tightened at Eddie's words. He had to keep his composure. "Yeah, Eddie's just been around," Miles interjected, trying to steer the conversation away.
Rio returned with a tray of food, placing it on the table. "Here we go, everyone.”
Gwen took a bite, her eyes never leaving Eddie. "So, Eddie, what do you do for a living?"
Eddie's smile widened, his eyes glinting with a predatory gleam. "Oh, I dabble in a bit of everything. Journalism, mostly."
"Journalism?" Gwen said, her interest piqued. She leaned forward slightly, her curiosity evident. "That's fascinating. Where do you work?"
Eddie's smile turned evasive, his gaze flickering around the room. "A little bit everywhere," he replied nonchalantly. "Freelance, you know?" His tone was casual, but there was an undercurrent of something sinister that made Miles' skin crawl.
Miles knew Eddie was playing games, and it infuriated him. He clenched his fists under the table, he fought to keep his emotions in check. He had to think of a way to protect his mother and Gwen without revealing his secret.
"So, Miles," Eddie continued, turning his attention to the young man with a smirk. "How's school treating you?"
Miles felt a surge of anger and panic. He needed to divert the conversation. "It's... fine, Recently I had a little problem with my teacher, she was mad at me for some reason, I can say she wanted to scratch my eyes out…" he chuckled slightly, forcing his voice to remain steady. "Mom, can you pass the salad?"
Rio looked at him with slight shock “You didn't tell me about this, Mijo…” She watched Miles eat.
He turned to her and said “Everything's fine, mom, it's just a little disagreement. You do not have to worry”
Rio, sensing her son's discomfort but not understanding its cause, handed the bowl to Miles. "Eddie, would you like some more?" she asked, her voice polite but tinged with concern.
Eddie shook his head, still smiling that unsettling smile. "I'm good, thank you," he said smoothly, his eyes never leaving Miles.
Gwen, picking up on the tension, decided to push further. She leaned forward, her expression curious but wary. "So, Eddie, do you have any plans while you're in town?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
Eddie's eyes flickered with amusement, and he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Just catching up with some old... friends," he said, his voice dripping with hidden meaning.
Miles couldn't take it anymore. The tension in the room was suffocating, and he needed a moment to think. He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor with a loud screech. "Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom," he said, his voice tight.
He hurried out of the room, leaving Gwen and Rio exchanging worried glances. Eddie leaned back further, clearly enjoying the tension he was causing. His eyes followed Miles as he left, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips.
In the bathroom, Miles splashed cold water on his face, trying to clear his mind. The coolness of the water was a stark contrast to the heat of his anxiety. He gripped the edges of the sink, and stared at his reflection in the mirror. He had to come up with a plan. Eddie and Venom were dangerous, and he couldn't let them hurt his family. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.
When he returned to the dining room, he forced a smile, though it felt like a mask. "Sorry about that. I'm back," he said, trying to sound casual.
Eddie looked at him, eyes gleaming with malice. "Welcome back, Miles," he said, his voice low and mocking.
The rest of the meal passed in a tense silence, each person lost in their own thoughts. The clinking of cutlery and the occasional murmur were the only sounds that broke the heavy atmosphere. Miles' mind raced with thoughts of how to protect his loved ones. He glanced at his mother, who was trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy, and at Gwen, who was clearly on edge. He knew he had to protect them, no matter the cost. He just hoped he was strong enough to face the challenge ahead.
As the meal came to an end, Rio collected the plates, her movements brisk and efficient. "Thank you for joining us, Eddie," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "It was nice to have you here."
Eddie stood up, his smile never wavering. "The pleasure was all mine," he replied smoothly. He turned to Miles, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I'll be seeing you around, Miles."
Miles nodded stiffly, his jaw clenched. "Yeah, see you around," he said, his voice tight.
As Eddie left, the tension in the room seemed to dissipate slightly, but the underlying sense of unease remained. Miles knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot. He looked at his mother and Gwen, both of whom were trying to put on brave faces, and felt a surge of determination.
He understood now that Venom had a sinister ability to track him, to follow him to the ends of the earth. It was as if the creature knew his deepest secrets, lurking in the shadows of his mind, watching his every move. An unsettling realization crept over him, Venom wasn't just an enemy, he was an omnipresent nightmare, entwined with his very thoughts, as if he had been inside him all along, corrupting him.
Miles walked decisively towards Gwen, who was already standing alone, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and sadness. Rio had already gone to wash the dishes, leaving them in the dimly lit room. "Gwen, stay here and keep an eye on my mom, okay?" His voice was firm.
Gwen's eyes widened, the gravity of the situation slowly dawning on her. “Is that him?” she whispered, her voice trembling.
He didn't want her to worry or to dwell on it. He wanted to handle this himself, to shield everyone else from the looming danger. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he realized that this evening would be long and perilous. “Just stay with her, okay? Please.” His plea was almost desperate.
As he was about to pass her and head towards his room, Gwen grabbed his arm tightly, her grip trembling. "I won't let you go, Miles..." Her voice cracked, her eyes pleading.
He leaned down, pressing their lips together in a short but tender kiss, a moment of solace amid the chaos. As he pulled away, she looked at him again, her voice barely a whisper, "If something happens to you, I won't forgive myself."
“I'll come back to you, Gwen. Don't worry about me, I'm Spider-Man, right?” He tried to muster a reassuring smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. He turned and headed towards his room, leaving the girls alone.
In his room, he quickly grabbed his suit, the familiar fabric a source of comfort and strength, but also pain and suffering, symbol of protector and guardian. He put it on with practiced speed, his mind focused on the task ahead. He opened the window, the cool night air hitting his face as he looked out into the stormy streets of Brooklyn. Lightning illuminated the dark clouds, and rain poured down in relentless sheets. Without a moment's hesitation, he jumped out, disappearing into the tempest.
Miles was swinging and flying between the buildings. Each building he passed seemed to loom over him, mocking his fear. He shot web after web, catapulting himself forward with desperate urgency. The rain pounded down in relentless sheets, turning the world into a blur of gray and slick surfaces.He could feel the eyes boring into his back, a phantom presence that urged him to go faster, faster. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat echoing his growing anxiety. Where could he fight with this monster?
The answer came to him… the school's football field. It was vast and open, a place where he could move freely and perhaps gain an advantage, and don’t make a “big mess”.With a determined grunt, he shot another web, swinging with all his might towards his destination.
In what felt like an eternity, he finally reached the grassy expanse of the football field. He landed with a thud, the wet earth squelching beneath his feet. His breath came in ragged gasps, mixing with the steady drumming of the rain.He stood in the middle of the field, with every muscle tensed and ready. The anticipation was unbearable, the wait for the inevitable clash with his nightmares. The darkness seemed to thicken around him, the rain an unrelenting curtain. He could feel the weight of the impending confrontation bearing down on him.
Suddenly, he heard heavy footsteps behind him, each step a dull thud against the muddy ground. The sound was unmistakable, it could only mean one thing... he had finally arrived.
“What is the little spider doing here?” came Venom's deep and almost demonic voice. “Is he ready to finally end his adventure?”
Miles turned slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. The figure before him was a looming shadow, blacker than the night itself, with eyes that glowed a sinister white. Venom's muscular frame seemed to pulse with malevolence, his presence an oppressive force that made the air around them feel heavy. Miles’s mind raced, searching for any opportunity.
The rain continued to pour, each drop like a tiny hammer against his skin, but he barely noticed. All his focus was on the monstrous figure before him.
“You came here to end your suffering? Why are you trying to defend all these people? They will die by my hand… if not by mine, then by someone else.” Venom's voice was a dark, grating whisper that seemed to crawl into Miles's ears and fester there. His massive figure seemed to tower over Miles like a skyscraper. “You put on that mask thinking you're protecting everyone, but they're afraid of what they might see under the mask.” The words were dripping with malice, each syllable a calculated attempt to erode Miles's resolve.
“Or maybe you are an ex-murderer looking for redemption? Or a psycho who takes out his anger on thieves and rapists? No one will ever appreciate the great Miles Morales! Anyone can be under the mask…” Venom’s mocking tone was accompanied by a grotesque transformation, the eyes on one side of his face morphed, becoming rounded, making him look eerily like Spider-Man himself.
Miles clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening under the strain. Venom's words cut deep, but he couldn't let them break him. He moved towards the black figure with a renewed sense of determination. This fight was no longer just about survival, it was personal. It had become his nightmare, his obsession, and he had to defeat it and crush it in the bud.
Venom, seeing this, roared, showing his razor-sharp fangs. The screech echoed throughout the stadium, sending shivers down Miles' spine. But it didn't bother him anymore. Adrenaline started to flow like crazy through his veins, giving him strength for the life-and-death battle.
Miles launched himself at Venom, his movements a blur of speed and precision. He delivered a flurry of punches and kicks, each one fueled by his inner turmoil and determination. Venom retaliated with brute force, his massive fists swinging with deadly intent. The ground beneath them trembled as they clashed, their battle a storm within a storm.
“You think you can defeat me, Spider-Man?” Venom spat, his voice a guttural growl. “You are nothing but a scared little boy playing hero.”
Miles dodged a powerful swipe, his agility saving him from what could have been a fatal blow. He countered with a web shot to Venom’s face, blinding him momentarily. “I may be scared,” Miles shouted, his voice steady despite the chaos, “but I’m not running away!”
The field was a battlefield, mud and rain flying in all directions as they fought. Miles could feel the weight of every punch, the strain of every dodge, but he refused to back down. He had loved ones to protect, a city that needed him, and he wouldn’t let Venom’s words poison his mind.
With a burst of energy, Miles leaped into the air, twisting mid-flight to deliver a powerful kick to Venom’s head. The impact sent Venom staggering back, his roar of pain echoing through the night. Miles landed gracefully, his eyes locked onto his enemy.
“This ends now, Venom,” Miles declared, his voice filled with unwavering resolve.
Venom snarled, his eyes burning with rage. “We shall see, Spider-Man. We shall see.”
The battle raged on, each second feeling like an eternity. But Miles knew one thing for certain, he would fight with everything he had, not just for himself, but for everyone who believed in him. The night was dark, but he was the light that would pierce through the darkness.
Hit after hit, Miles gracefully used the web to avoid Venom's murderous blows, he tried to land the strongest blows possible on every spot of the Symbiote but each time it hurt more and more, he felt like he was fighting a pile of concrete that didn't care about his efforts, he just was in a losing position, Symbionte was too powerful but he was too weak to withstand fight.
Venom continued his devastating barrage of punches, alternating between using his tentacles to try and cut the young Spider-Man in half. Now that Miles was backing off, he slightly panicked, trying to avoid everything. He got cut in several places. He screamed in pain, clutching the wound on his calf from which blood began to ooze, but the Symbiote continued to press against him. Taking advantage of Miles' inattention, Venom grabbed him and threw him like a rag into the stands, making a colossal crater.
All he could hear was a squeak, everything hurt, and he couldn't move. He saw black dots and his lenses were broken, causing raindrops to fall into his eyes. Venom didn't give him a moment's peace; he immediately appeared next to him, grabbed him by the torso, and started running along the stands, smashing the seats with Miles' body. After a short while, he released his lifeless body.
Venom's laughter of victory rang out, thinking he had finally achieved his goal, he had killed Spider-Man. But Miles didn't want to give up. All sore, he leaned on his hands with great pain and, turning around, delivered an electrifying blow to the Symbiote's jaw. Spider-Man's lightning caused a powerful discharge, cutting through raindrops and throwing the opponent several meters away.
Venom staggered, his body convulsing from the shock. The rain sizzled on his skin as the electricity coursed through him. Miles, despite the excruciating pain, forced himself to stand. His vision was blurred, his body ached, but his spirit was unbroken.
“You think... you can kill me that easily?” Miles panted, his voice filled with defiance. “I’m not done yet.”
Venom roared in anger, shaking off the residual electricity. “You’re a stubborn little insect!” he bellowed. “I’ll crush you once and for all!”
With a feral snarl, Venom charged at Miles, his tentacles flailing wildly. Miles braced himself, summoning every ounce of strength he had left. He ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding the deadly appendages. Each movement was agony, but he pushed through the pain.
Miles knew he had to keep moving, keep fighting. He leapt into the air. The Symbiote roared in frustration, clawing at the sticky webs. Miles seized the opportunity, landing a series of powerful punches to Venom’s midsection.
Venom snarled, his eyes burning with hatred. He lashed out with a tentacle, catching Miles across the chest and sending him sprawling. Miles hit the ground hard, gasping for breath. He could feel the darkness creeping in, threatening to overwhelm him, but he refused to let it win.
With a determined grunt, Miles got to his feet once more. He could see Venom advancing, his form a menacing silhouette against the storm. The rain continued to pour, the droplets like tiny needles against his skin. The world seemed to slow down, each second stretching into an eternity.
Miles clenched his fists, summoning every ounce of strength he had left. He charged at Venom, dodging the tentacles that lashed out at him. He moved with a fluid grace, his fists and feet became a blur of motion, landing blow after blow on Venom's hulking frame.
The storm intensified, lightning flashing across the sky, illuminating the battlefield in stark, violent bursts. Venom retaliated with savage fury, his tentacles whipping through the air, each strike carrying the force of a sledgehammer. Miles felt his bones rattle with every hit, but he refused to back down. Police sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as they were closer and closer.
Miles gritted his teeth, determination burning in his eyes. He launched himself at Venom once more, his body a whirlwind of motion. He delivered a devastating uppercut to Venom's jaw, followed by a series of rapid kicks. Venom roared in pain, staggering back.
The police arrived, setting up a perimeter around the field. Officers shouted orders, trying to keep near houses and civilians safe.
Venom, seeing the encroaching authorities, let out a guttural laugh. "Look at them, Spider-Man! They come to watch your failure!" His voice boomed, echoing through the storm. "You can't protect them all!"
Miles felt a surge of anger. He couldn't let Venom's words shake him. With a fierce shout, he launched himself at Venom, using his agility to dodge the tentacles and land a series of powerful blows.
The ground shook with the force of their battle. Miles could feel his strength waning, but he pushed through, driven by sheer willpower. He had to keep fighting, for his friends, for his city.
Venom, sensing Miles' fatigue, went on the offensive. He grabbed Miles with a tentacle, lifting him off the ground and slamming him into the stands again. Miles cried out in pain, but he refused to give up. He fired a web at Venom's face, and used the distraction to break free.
Miles rolled to his feet, his body aching. Summoning the last of his strength, he charged at Venom, delivering a series of electrifying blows. The energy crackled through the air, lighting up the night.
Venom roared in agony, his body convulsing. Miles didn't let up, pouring every ounce of power he had into the attack. The ground beneath them trembled, the storm raging around them.
Venom let out a horrifying scream and couldn't contain himself, pinning Spider-Man to the ground. “THIS ENDS NOW!” he shouted, showing his fangs.
But Miles was unshaken “I think so too…” He shot a web at the pitch's reflector and with a powerful punch, launched the symbiote into the falling massive floodlight. He fell with a loud bang in the middle of the pitch, and dust from the broken lamps flew all around. As Miles got closer he could see the short circuits further away and Eddie lying right under the floodlight. All he saw was a large black with red accentsgoo, slithering towards Brock.
“This end’s now Venom…” With the last of his strength he released his reserves of electricity to end the alien's life, he knew he had to do it…
"Hey, help me kid" Brock said in a quiet voice, hoping to avoid any consequences.
“They'll take you to prison where you belong.” He responded by looking at the policemen in the distance who were running towards him with flashlights. “Goodbye Brock” he threw it quickly and in one moment he flew into the air swinging away from the stadium. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, every movement hurt, he felt every single spot that bled, every single bruise and possibly broken bones. Luckily he will feel good tomorrow, the advantages of being spider-man, but he still would rather not have any of these injuries.
After a short while he reached home, sat on the windowsill and for a moment gathered his strength to open the window and somehow crawl inside, ofcourse he did it clumsily, making his pain worse.
“Oh my God, Miles…” In a split second Gwen was at his side looking at him and scanning all his wounds. “I was scared, you…” In the darkness Miles could still see tears in her eyes. She did not think about his condition Gwen hugged him tightly and tenderly. At that moment the pain stopped for a moment and he was filled with warmth but after a while the pain returned with double the force.
“Gwen… My ribs are probably broken” he whispered and she immediately came to her senses and helped him to stand up.
“Sorry…” she said shyly looking at him “How do you feel?”
“Like Spider-Man who has broken ribs and has faced a big muscled alien but other than that it's okay” He smiled goofily under his mask. Even now, when he felt terrible, he had to crack a joke to Gwen.
“Dummy…” she whispered under her breath and started helping Miles take off his suit, his entire body was covered in bruises and blood, the sight froze Gwen, but she had seen something similar before so she had to help him, quietly so as not to wake up Rio she went to the bathroom and took the first aid kit and got to work. It took a while but after a while Miles was fully patched up.
“I had to lie to your mother that you felt bad and went to sleep in your room.” she said as she helped Miles get dressed in his sleeping clothes.
“You didn't lie, the time is a bit off but I'm going to bed now because I don't feel well” he lay down and looked at Gwen with an innocent smile.
“Yeah, yeah, well then, good night” Gwen raised her wrist and began to select her land, but Miles' gaze caught her attention, she already knew what it was about but it was a bit of a shock for her, the thought scared her a bit. “What?”
He looked around slightly before he gathered himself to ask a question. “Can't you stay with me…?” The amount of courage he had to muster was beyond anything, but now he was lying under a warm blanket waiting for her to simply stay here with him.
The amount of thoughts running through Gwen's mind was overwhelming, should she stay? What if Rio walked in? Wouldn't her dad worry? but that look of his spoke more than 1000 words, she had no choice but to say yes. “Of course Miles… but I don't have any clothes to sleep in.”
“Choose something from my closet and go to the bathroom to change.” he replied, already calm, that he would stay with him for the night.
“Alright…” She opened his closet and chose a large T-shirt and shorts. She went to the bathroom again, putting the first aid kit away and changing. It took her a moment and when she got back to the room she thought Miles would be asleep but he was still waiting for her with his eyes wide open. She calmly and carefully slid under the blanket facing Miles
It was a new situation for him and her, they didn't know how to behave, should they hug? or maybe something else? They were paralyzed. Gwen decided she would take over and calmly moved closer to him, kissed his forehead and then hugged him carefully so as not to damage his wounds, they wrapped themselves practically and both felt each other's warmth.
“Goodnight Miles.” She said sleepily.
“Goodnight Gwen.”