Spider-Man - The Black Costume

Spider-Man

The Black Costume

By Cheri.

TITLE: The Black Costume

AUTHOR: Cheri ([email protected])

RATING: R

ARCHIVE: Anywhere, just let me know where it’s going first

KEYWORDS: Romance, angst, drama, Peter/MJ pairing

SUMMARY: After a shuttle crash, Peter acquires a new costume and finds it’s not the blessing it seems to be.

DISCLAIMER: Spider-Man doesn’t belong to me, it belongs to Marvel Comics and Stan Lee. I’m making no money off of this. This story is copywrited Nov 2002 and may not be altered in any way without the express permission of the author.

A/N: I’m using the cartoon version of events for the way Peter discovers the black costume, because frankly it’s easier to explain than the whole Secret Wars saga lol

The Black Costume

By Cheri.

Part One

Peter sighed as he swung through the city. It had been almost six months since the funeral and he felt as though it had been six years. His longing for Mary Jane had gotten so bad, he literally had to talk himself out of bed every morning just to go out and do what had to be done. He neared his apartment and swung up landing with gracefully on the balcony of his bedroom. He hurried inside and headed downstairs, pulling off his costume as he headed for the kitchen. He opened the freezer and pulled out a box of Hot Pockets. Putting a couple in the microwave, he closed it and turned on the TV to CNN. As the microwave buzzer sounded, he grabbed a napkin and slid the first Hot Pocket into it. He munched on it as he listened to the news.

“John Jameson, son of Daily Bugle publisher J Jonah Jameson returns today from a exploration of an uncharted section of the moon with two other crew members. All are reported to be in good spirits and looking forward to landing back on earth.” The reporter paused as he listened to the microphone in his ear. Suddenly, his eyes widened. “We just got a report the John Jameson’s shuttle is now out of control and heading straight for the George Washington Bridge. People on the bridge are advised to clear the area as soon as…”

Peter didn’t wait around to hear the rest of it. He threw the hot pocket in the sink, pulled his costume back on along with his mask and lept out the living room balcony towards the George Washington Bridge.

By the time, he got there. He saw that the bridge had been cleared. It was a good thing too because as he looked up in the sky, he could see a white object growing bigger in the sky as it headed for the bridge. He knew there was no way in Hell he could prevent the shuttle from crashing, he only hoped that John and the others would make it through okay. As the shuttle neared impact, he jumped back to the building behind him, bracing himself for the concussive shock. And sure enough, when the shuttle impacted, the ground shook violently everywhere. Peter was glad he had his ability to stick, otherwise he might have been shaken off the top of the building. As the shuttle finally came to rest on its side, Peter shot out two web lines and created a human slingshot like he had when he had to leap over to the Queensboro bridge the night of the final battle with the Goblin.

He heard the distant wail of sirens and knew there wasn’t much time before the police surrounded the bridge. Finding the emergency hatch on the top of the shuttle, he pulled it off with a grunt and crawled inside. He coughed as he navigated himself through the smoky interior, trusting on his spider sense to help guide him. Finally he came to the cockpit and saw John and the other two astronauts lying unconscious, still strapped into their seats. Working quickly, he tore the restraints off of the two astronauts and quickly pulled them outside into the open air. He made a quick check to see if they were still breathing and when he saw they were, he climbed back in to fetch John Jameson. Knowing the way, he made his way there easily and hopped up to the chair beside the one John was in. He ripped off his restraints and lifting him onto his shoulders, guided himself back to the hatch and laid him outside on the road with the others. He frowned as he looked down at John. He seemed to be covered with a black ooze like substance. Peter tentatively reached out his hand to touch it wondering what it was. He thought maybe it could be oil or tar? His eyes widened in alarm as the ooze suddenly jumped off John’s body and began to spread up his arm. He pawed frantically at the substance as it began to cover first his arm and then his body. He shut his eyes and held his breath as the ooze began to cover his head. Finally it stopped and Peter opened one eye and then the other. He let out his breath and found he could breathe normally. He could even see. Whatever it was had given him eye holes where his eye shields had been. As he stood and wondered what the Hell it was, he saw the police drive up. He waved sheepishly as the two policemen in the first car pointed and shouted at him as they got out.

“Christ, I need to get out of here quick!” he mumbled.

Suddenly, Peter let out a gasp as his hand suddenly shot up and let out a web line.

“Huh? I didn’t release that. What’s going on?”

He yelped as suddenly he found himself swinging.

“What the Hell is going on? I’m swinging, but I’m not doing it. It’s almost like I’m on cruise control!” he said.

He gulped.

“Um…whoever is controlling me, I need to go home.” He said aloud.

His eyes widened as he instantly changed course and headed directly back for his apartment.

*I don’t believe this. What’s doing this?* he thought. *Could it be this ooze stuff?*

He hoped that when he found out the answer, it wasn’t something terrible.

*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*

Part Two

Peter swung through the living room balcony. He immediately began to paw at the black substance covering him.

“Dammit, get off me!” he muttered.

He let out a grunt of frustration as the substance stuck fast to his body, He began to pull at it but it only stretched out. The harder he pulled, the more it stretched and would not tear. As soon as he let it go, it went right back into the rest of the ooze. Peter let out a frustrated yell. He couldn’t spend the rest of his life walking around like this.

“Arrrgh! I want to change into my regular clothes!” he yelled.

Suddenly, Peter gasped as the black ooze began to morph and change shape. He stared in wonder. Instead of being covered in the black ooze, he was now dressed in jeans and a blue sweater.

“What the Hell?” he muttered.

He gingerly felt the sweater and jeans and his eyes widened as he noticed the material wasn’t slimy in any way. In fact, it felt like he was wearing jeans and a sweater. Peter stared at the clothes, confused. It almost seemed like magic. He decided to try a little test. He walked to a nearby mirror and cleared his throat.

“Um…that black costume thingy.” He said, hesitantly.

Immediately, the clothes morphed back into the black costume. Peter stared at it. It was completely black except for a huge white Spider covering his chest. He turned and saw that the legs of the spider extended around his sides and back into a duplicate white spider on his back. He turned back around. His face was completely black except for two opaque eye shields. He looked down and noticed a little white square on the top of each of his hands. Other than that, it was all solid black. Peter admired himself in the mirror.

“Doesn’t look that bad.” He said to himself. “In fact, it makes me look kind of mysterious.”

He wondered what Mary Jane would think of it. Would she think it looked creepy or would she actually like it better than his red and blue costume? He made a mental note to go and show it to her as soon as he figured out all of its properties. He cleared his throat again as he thought.

“Um…okay, let’s see…something stylish.”

He whistled as the costume morphed into an Armani suit.

“Wow, I think I’ll like this new costume.” He said. “Um…In the meantime though, better just give me back that sweater and jeans.”

He grinned as the suit changed back.

“Wonder what else this little baby can do?” he said.

He decided to find out. He ordered the jeans and sweater to change back into the black costume. He stood for a moment waiting for something to happen. He frowned.

“Well, come on costume. Where’s the automatic webbing?” he said.

His arm jerked up and a web strand shot out of the top of his right hand. He stared at it, transfixed.

“Hmmm, different way of shooting my web. I’ll have to get used to it.” He muttered.

He began to think. He imagined himself swinging out the window and suddenly he was.

“Okay, so this costume is controlled by thought, looks like.” He said.

He decided to swing around the Bugle, he grinned as he imagined giving Jameson a good scare. He imagined the Bugle building in his head and gasped as the costume suddenly started web slinging like crazy. His eyes widened in wonder as he saw the buildings going by him in a blur. He had never web slinged so fast in his life. The distance he would normally take a minute or two to cover was now taking thirty seconds or less. He was going so fast, he doubted Jonah would be able to make out more than a black blur if he was looking out the window at all.

“Wait, Whoa…stop, stop!” he called out.

Instantly, the costume stopped its web slinging and he dangled at the end of the strand. Looking around, he made sure no one was below him and thought about letting go. He fell away from the strand and landed nimbly on the sidewalk. He looked around and noticed no one was in the immediate area. He noticed a school bus parked right outside a little deli. The bus was empty. Peter figured the driver was inside getting something to eat. He decided to try a quick test of his strength. He knew that he barely lift a Volkswagon Beetle over his head and that was on a good day. Hoping what he was about to do wouldn’t break every bone in his body, he snuck over and put his hands under the bus. He lifted the bus and gave out a yell. Not only did he not lift the bus, but he had lifted it so easily, he had almost thrown it down the block. Peter grinned from ear to ear. He was liking this costume more and more with every moment.

“Hey! What the Hell are you doing?”

Peter looked around to see the irate bus driver staring at him from the door of the deli. Peter looked up at the bus in his hands and back at the driver.

“Um…I’m working out. I’m getting some love handles and the doctor said I should try more weigh lifting.” Peter said, sheepishly as he sat the bus back down.

Peter’s eyes widened as the bus driver pulled a gun out from inside of his coat.

“Um…well, it’s been nice chatting with you. Keep driving those kids to school, education is important, you know. See ya!”

Peter jumped back and screamed as he sailed up into the air. He flailed his arms as he went above the rooftops, as he went back down. He thought about shooting out a strand and instantly his arm raised and shot a strand up at the rooftop of the building. He let out a grunt as the strand pulled taut and he jerked to a stop. His mouth dropped as he noticed with that one jump, he had gone backwards nearly half a block.

“Jesus Christ, this suit is incredible.” He said as he dropped back down to the ground. “I thought I was powerful before, but this suit enhances all my powers somehow. This stuff the suit is made of came from the shuttle too. I wonder if it’s from outer space? Maybe it’s from the moon? Well, wherever you came from, you are mine now.” He said, rubbing his arm. “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

Willing the costume to go home, he sailed up into the sky and began to web sling back towards his apartment.

*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*

Part Three

Peter decided halfway home that he didn’t want to go home yet. After all, that had happened today, he wanted to go and show Mary Jane his new costume. He could imagine her voice in his head as he swung along.

“Ooooo, Spider-Man, I love that new costume. It looks so…sexy on you.” He could hear her saying.

Laughing to himself, he willed the costume to go to her apartment.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mary Jane sat silently in front of the TV stabbing at some spaghetti. Most days she had to force herself to eat and not give up living, despite what her gut was telling her. She chewed quietly on the noodles, not really tasting them as she listened to Jerry Springer. She had never really liked the show, but since Peter’s rejection, it gave her a little comfort knowing that there were other people out there whose lives were just as screwed up as hers was.

She looked over at the phone as it rang. Picking it up, she cleared her throat of the spaghetti.

“Yes?” she said.

“MJ? Is that you?” Harry said. “You alright? You sound depressed.”

*I do? Wow, I thought I was sounding better today. * Mary Jane thought, sarcastically.

She shook her head. Harry didn’t mean anything by his remark. She sighed.

“Yeah, I guess I am.” She said sadly. “My life hasn’t been the same since the funeral.”

“Yeah, neither has mine.”

Mary Jane’s eyes widened as she suddenly heard Harry’s voice switch from a concerned tone to one that was filled with malice. She had heard a little of Harry and Peter’s conversation after the funeral. She knew Harry thought that Spider-Man was responsible for Norman’s death. Mary Jane couldn’t believe that. The Spider-Man she knew would never murder anyone. She looked down at the spaghetti on her plate and suddenly realized that maybe what she and Harry both needed right now was some friendly company.

“Um…Harry. Do you like spaghetti?” she asked.

“Yeah, usually I have to eat out to get it though because I’m not very good at cooking it. Usually, it comes out hard with me.” Harry said, reverting back to his normal tone of voice.

“Well, I was wondering if you would like to come over for awhile. I’m eating spaghetti and I can make some more and we can just keep each other company for a while. It must be lonely being in that huge mansion by yourself.”

Harry laughed.

“Yeah, actually it is. Spaghetti sounds good, MJ. I’ll be over soon.” He said.

Mary Jane smiled as she hung up the phone. At least a friendly conversation would help to ease some of the pain in her heart, if only temporarily.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

About twenty minutes later, Mary Jane opened the door.

“Hey, Harry.” She said giving him a hug.

“Hey, MJ. Thanks for inviting me.” He said.

They broke the hug and Mary Jane pointed to the couch.

“Make yourself at home, Harry. The spaghetti isn’t quite done yet. Do you want something to drink?”

Harry sat down.

“Yeah…um…Milk’ll be fine.” He said.

He glanced over at the TV and laughed.

“Oh my God, MJ. Jerry Springer? Don’t tell me you’re a fan.” He said, with a grin.

Mary Jane laughed.

“Nah, it amuses me, that’s all.” She said.

She brought the milk over and gave it to Harry.

“Let me see if I can find a TV tray for you.” She said.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Peter grinned as he neared Mary Jane’s balcony. He couldn’t wait to see her, to talk to her…to have wild sex with her.

Peter blinked.

*Whoa! * He thought. *Where did that thought come from? *

He landed lightly on the railing of the balcony and looked through the door. He frowned as he noticed Mary Jane sitting on the couch…with Harry.

Peter felt an anger rise up within him. Mary Jane was back with Harry now? How could she betray him?

*Whoa…Peter. Betray you? If anyone did the betraying, it was you, Parker. * He thought to himself.

*But you had a reason, Parker. You were still going to remain close. * He heard another part of him say. *It was over and done with Harry. He saw the two of you in your aunt May’s hospital room. He should have gotten the hint. But apparently, he didn’t and now here he is, sitting by your girl. Talking to your girl and pretty soon, she and him will be…*

Peter’s eyes narrowed in a blind rage as he pictured Mary Jane…HIS Mary Jane in bed with Harry. He gritted his teeth as he pictured himself bursting through the balcony doors, grabbing Harry Osborne and beating the living shit out of him.

Peter’s eyes widened. Why the Hell was he thinking that? From what he could see, all Mary Jane and Harry had been doing so far was sitting on the couch eating spaghetti and talking to each other. They weren’t holding hands, they weren’t kissing, and Harry didn’t even have his arm on the back of the couch behind Mary Jane. So why was he suddenly being so paranoid? He shook his head. He had to calm this wild imagination of his.

Suddenly, his spider sense screamed at him and he quickly went down and under the balcony just as Mary Jane looked over at the window. His spider sense faded away and he took a peek over the bottom of the balcony. Mary Jane was looking back at Harry again. He hopped back up to the railing and crouched there, studying them as he tried to read Mary Jane’s lips. Tried to make out what she was saying.

*You better not be inviting him to bed, MJ. * He thought as his eyes narrowed.

His eyes narrowed even more as Mary Jane and Harry suddenly laughed. Images of Harry and Mary Jane having sex crept back into his mind. Peter shook his head.

*What is wrong with me? * He thought.

*What do you mean what is wrong with you, Parker? * His other inner voice said. *Mary Jane belongs to you; you’re the alpha male in this scenario, aren’t you? The alpha male defends his female against other males who barge in on his territory…and kills them, if he has to. *

Peter’s eyes widened. He had to get away from here. He had to distance himself from Mary Jane’s apartment before he did something he was gonna regret. With great effort on his part, he forced himself to swing away back to his apartment.

*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*

Part Four

Peter’s mind reeled as he headed back to his apartment. He couldn’t believe he had thoughts of killing Harry. Even if, God forbid, they were in her apartment getting it on, it was not a killable offense. But every time he thought that way, a sinister inner voice was telling him he was wrong. He had a right to defend Mary Jane from other suitors and he had a right to do whatever the Hell he wanted with her too even rape and kill her if she got out of line.

Peter swung up and landed on top of a building. He put his head in his hands.

“God, stop thinking that way. You would never hurt Mary Jane. You love her with all of your heart. It kills you if she gets a paper cut, for Christ’s sake. Why are you even entertaining the idea of raping or killing her?”

Peter slapped his head with his hands willing away the sick, evil thoughts from his brain. He would rather die than see her in pain and he could never hurt Harry either. Harry was his best friend.

*He is, huh? He didn’t act like it at the funeral when he swore revenge on you! * His inner voice challenged.

“He swore revenge on Spider-Man, he didn’t swear revenge on Peter Parker!”

*Same thing. *

Peter cursed. He felt as if he was losing his mind. It was almost as if there was someone in his head egging him on, hoping he was going to commit these violent acts he was imagining.

Suddenly, he heard a scream beside him in the alley. He carefully hopped over to the edge and looked down. A mugger was below him.

“Alright, bitch, give me your purse or I slit your fucking throat.” He said, menacingly. “And if you scream again, I’ll guarantee I’ll do it!”

“Wow, a guarantee. Do you have that in writing?” Peter said, as he leapt off the edge of the roof.

He grinned as he saw the fear in the mugger’s eyes. After years of being tormented, it was nice to see someone afraid of him for a change. As he landed, he grabbed the mugger’s head and threw him down the alley. He sneered as the mugger let out a scream and scrambled to his feet, holding his injured leg.

“Okay, okay! I surrender!” he said, holding up a hand in front of him.

Peter snorted.

“That’s nice. The only problem is, I’m not finished with you yet.”

The mugger’s eyes widened in terror as Peter laughed.

“Aw, what’s the matter? You weren’t afraid a moment ago when you were assaulting a woman. I thought you were a big, bad, tough guy. Well, I eat tough guys like you for breakfast!

Suddenly he lashed out and caught the mugger with a haymaker. As the mugger flew back into the wall, Peter lunged himself at him and holding him against the wall began to deliver punch after punch to the face.

“I am going to teach all you lowlifes one way or another!” He yelled as he continued to punch. “I’m going to make it so criminals can’t say my name without pissing their pants in fear! I’m…”

Peter suddenly stopped in mid punch. He stared at the unconscious mugger who now had blood pouring out his nose and mouth.

“Dear God, what am I doing?” Peter said, trembling. “What am I becoming? I am losing my mind!”

He let the mugger sink to the ground and looked over at the woman who was literally shaking with fear at the sight. Without a word, Peter jumped up onto the building above the mugger and hurried off as fast as he could trying to shake the image of him beating the mugger to death out of his head. He finally stopped a mile away, and sitting down on the edge of a roof, he began to tremble in fear and confusion.

“Oh God, I almost killed that guy. I almost had more blood on my hands! I know he’s a criminal, but I was being his judge, jury and executioner. I can’t do that. The Bugle already thinks I’m evil, I can’t do things that’ll prove them right, and Spider-Man would never be safe. Why am I suddenly acting this way? Wait, I started acting like this shortly after…this costume. I started thinking these thoughts after I started wearing this costume.”

He stared down at the blackness covering his arm.

“No, I gotta get it off. It’s not worth it having all these enhanced powers if it drives me insane or turns me into a murderer.”

He tugged furiously at the costume and gritted his teeth as the ooze merely stretched and snapped back into place.

“Get off me!” he yelled at his arm. “I command you to get off!”

He snarled, as the costume didn’t obey.

He looked over and saw that next door was an abandoned building. He leapt to the wall and smashed to bits one of the broken windows. He climbed in the room and searching, found the biggest shard of glass.

“If you won’t come off me voluntarily, I’ll cut you off.” He snarled.

He put the shard to his arm hoping he would cut only the costume and not his entire arm. His eyes widened though as the moment he put the shard on his arm, the costume oozed up his arm exposing his skin under the shard. Peter gnashed his teeth as he put the shard up higher, but again the costume oozed up higher until his whole arm was exposed. Peter let out a howl of rage and threw the shard to the floor. The moment he did, the costume oozed back down his arm covering it once again in inky blackness.

“You aren’t gonna win!” He screamed at it. “You are coming off my body whether you like it or not! I’m not gonna hurt MJ or Harry or anybody else because of you.”

His eyes widened as he heard evil laughter ringing through his brain. Laughter that didn’t belong to him. He tried to ignore it as he thought hard about what to do. Suddenly, he had an idea. Trying to keep the main gist of what his plan was out of his thoughts, he willed the costume to go towards Empire State University and Doctor Connor’s lab.

*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*

Part Five

Doctor Connor finished pouring a pinkish liquid into a glass beaker. He put the test tube the liquid had been in back in its holder and wrote down the results in his notebook.

“Doc Connors!”

Doctor Connors gave out a yell and spun around. He stared at Spider-Man who was crouched on the floor behind him. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the black costume.

“Spider-Man? Is that you?” he said, hesitantly.

Peter nodded.

“I need your help, Doc. I need to get this costume off of me.” He said.

Doctor Connors frowned.

“You need my help to undress yourself?” he asked.

Peter sighed.

“It’s not as easy as it sounds, Doc. This costume seems to have a mind of its own. It won’t let me take it off.”

“It…won’t let you get it off?” Doctor Connors asked, confused.

Peter nodded.

“I was wondering if you could figure out a way to help me.”

“Um…well, let me take a look, Spider-Man.” He said.

He walked to Peter’s side and ran his hands along Peter’s arm. He bent around and examined Peter’s backside.

“I don’t see a zipper or anything. How did you get it on?” he asked, frowning.

“Well, the…um…costume kinda jumped on my body and spread all over me.” Peter said, sheepishly.

Doctor Connors stared at him.

“And this didn’t alarm you until now?”

“Well, um…it didn’t seem like such a bad thing for awhile. It was enhancing all my powers and I liked that. But now, it’s making me paranoid and I’m becoming more violent. I nearly killed a mugger just now even after he told me he’d give up.”

Doctor Connors shook his head.

“Then I agree, Spider-Man. It needs to come off and soon. Have you tried cutting yourself out of it.”

Peter snorted.

“Yeah, it made sure I couldn’t cut it when I tried.”

“It did? How so?” Doctor Connors asked, confused.

“Try it, Doc. You’ll see what I mean.”

Doctor Connors nodded. He walked to his lab table and found a little pair of scissors. He walked back to Peter and held the scissors next to his arm as he prepared to cut into the costume. His eyes widened as he noticed the ooze instantly retreat up Peter’s arm.

“This stuff is incredible.” He said, in awe.

Peter snorted.

“Yeah, incredibly dangerous.” He said, dryly.

As Doctor Connors withdrew the scissors, the ooze snaked back up Peter’s arm. He shook his head.

“I don’t have a clue how we’re gonna get this off of you, Spider-Man, if it is capable of protecting itself.” He said.

Peter suddenly had an idea. Without warning, he snatched up a piece of the costume from his arm and stretched it out.

“Okay, Doc. Cut here!” he yelled.” And hurry, the stuff is fighting me.” He grunted.

Doctor Connors quickly cut off a piece. As Peter let go, he quickly ran over to a beaker and dropped it in. Putting a lid on the top, he turned to Peter.

“I’ll analyze this sample, Spider-Man. Come back in a few hours and hopefully, I’ll have an answer for you. Although, I’m already afraid of what this stuff is.”

Peter nodded.

“That makes two of us, Doc.”

He shot out a web line and swung out an open window as Doctor Connors assembled some equipment for testing.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Peter sighed as he swung into his apartment. He stared down with hatred at the black costume, wishing he had never even laid eyes on the thing. He decided to get a couple hours sleep before returning to Doctor Connors. He hoped he wouldn’t get into trouble while he was asleep, or cause any…

He mentally ordered the costume to change into a pair of boxers. As the ooze morphed into a pair of red boxers, he suddenly had a thought. He grabbed the sides of the boxers and tried to pull them off. He gritted his teeth as the boxers stuck to his skin like glue.

*Shit. Well, I had to try…* Peter thought to himself.

He climbed into bed and after about fifteen minutes finally succeeded in going to sleep

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Peter found himself walking along the sidewalk. He turned down a nearby alley and stopped. In front of him stood Mary Jane and Harry. He walked to Mary Jane’s side and stared at her lovingly. His eyes widened as he saw Mary Jane and Harry’s eyes suddenly widen in fear. They both pointed up above Peter’s head and he turned to look at what they were pointing at. His eyes widened as he saw his shadow cast on the wall behind him. Only his shadow was now as tall as the building with two very sinister white eyes that looked like the eye shields on the black costume. The white eyes stared hatefully down at Mary Jane and Harry as they stared at it in shock. As Peter turned to scream out a warning to them, the shadow suddenly formed arms and hands. It grabbed Mary Jane in one hand and Harry in the other. As Peter looked on in horror, the shadow held Harry up to its face and then suddenly squeezed Harry, crushing him. He dropped the twisted remains of Peter’s best friend at his feet as an evil laugh rang out from the shadow. Peter screamed as he watched the shadow focus its attention next on Mary Jane. As Mary Jane begged Peter to help her, the hand that was holding her, began to liquefy and cover Mary Jane’s body as it had covered Peter. Peter watched horrified as the shadow let go of Mary Jane and she dropped down next to Harry’s body, completely covered in the black ooze. Peter shook his head in disbelief as Mary Jane opened her mouth to reveal glistening fangs and a V shaped tongue. She laughed mockingly at him as Peter screamed…

Peter shot up in bed, the scream still echoing in his apartment. His body shook as he remembered what had happened in the dream. He knew he had to get the stuff off of his body before his dream became a reality. He decided to swing back to Doctor Connors lab and hope that he had found the answer.

*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*

Part Six

As Peter swung towards Empire State University, he swung past the hospital where John Jameson and the other crewmembers had been taken after the shuttle crash. He suddenly had a thought. He dropped down in front of the hospital and had the costume change into a surgeon’s scrubs complete with facemask and cap so he wouldn’t be recognized. He walked in the front doors and up to the information desk in the lobby. The receptionist looked at him.

“Hi, I’m a specialist. I’ve been sent by NASA to check out John Jameson and make sure he’s progressing well. The suits at NASA want to make sure their top astronaut will be returning to duty soon.” Peter said, hoping they’d buy it. “What room is he in?”

“Do you have any ID?” the receptionist said, in a snotty voice.

Peter rolled his eyes. She would have to ask him that.

“Um, yeah. But I left it in my other scrubs.” He said, sheepishly.

The receptionist folder her arms and stared at Peter, suspiciously.

“I can’t let you go up without confirmation.” She said.

Peter opened his mouth to protest when suddenly the front of the scrubs shot out and forming a kind of fist, hit the receptionist in the face, knocking her out cold. Peter stared in shock as the makeshift fist went back into his scrubs.

*Jesus, I need to get this stuff off now! * He thought to himself.

Muttering an apology to the unconscious receptionist, Peter reached over the desk and found the clipboard with the patient’s room numbers. Scanning it quickly, he found John’s room number and placing the clipboard back where he found it, headed towards the elevator.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Peter looked around the doorframe into John Jameson’s room. He breathed a sigh of relief as he noticed that John was on the far side of the room. The curtain was drawn blocking his view of the door and he was alone in the room. Peter slipped in and closed the door behind him. He stood near the empty bed and willed the scrubs back into his black costume. Praying he would keep his sanity long enough to talk to John, he peeked his head around the curtain. John was sitting up in bed quietly engrossed in a book. Peter cleared his throat and as John looked over, he saw his eyes widen in shock.

“Easy John Boy. I’m not gonna hurt you.” Peter said, stepping around the curtain.” I want to talk to you.”

“What do you want to talk to me about, Spider-Man? At least I assume you’re Spider-Man.” John said, eyeing the costume.

Peter nodded and he pointed to his chest.

“Actually, I want to ask you about this. It came from the black ooze that was on your spacesuit. When I rescued you, I touched it and it jumped onto me and formed this costume around me. I was wondering if you had any idea what the stuff was?”

John’s eyes widened. He pointed to the costume.

“Keep that stuff away from me!” he said, in a panicky voice.

Peter backed up against the wall as John calmed down.

“What is it, John? Where did it come from?” he asked.

John gulped.

“All I know is it came from a moon rock.” He said.

“A moon rock?” Peter asked.

John nodded.

“We were exploring the surface of the moon and I was getting a sample of some moon rocks. I took my little pickaxe and as I was cutting away a piece of moon rock, I saw this black ooze under it. I was fascinated by it and I decided to take a sample of it too. I put a portion of it in a specialized baggie and took it and the rock back to the shuttle. I didn’t think anything of it after that until we headed for home. We were attempting re-entry and somehow that stuff got out of the baggie. As I was talking to Houston, the stuff suddenly crawled up on me. I don’t know how I can describe it better than that. It must have crawled from the baggie to my spacesuit. As it crawled up me, I was trying to get it off. The others wanted to help me, but I ordered them to stay in their seats since we were about to land. I tried and tried to get it off, Spider-Man, but it just kept spreading and then…it looked like it was trying to get inside the spacesuit to my skin, but the spacesuit was built so well, I guess it couldn’t pierce it. The next thing I know, we were crashing and there was smoke everywhere. The stuff stopped spreading after that. When I woke up, I was in here and they had taken the spacesuit off of me. They never said anything about any black ooze being on it so I assumed it had gone off of me and went somewhere. I guess I was right.” He said, pointing to the costume.

Peter nodded.

“And believe me, you are lucky it didn’t succeed in getting through to your skin. The stuff is more trouble than it’s worth.”

He smiled at John even though he knew he couldn’t see it.

“Thanks John, you’ve been a big help to me. I have a friend trying to figure out how to get this stuff off of me, and I’m hoping the info you’ve given me will help him out.”

John nodded.

“Good luck, Spider-Man…and thanks for saving me and the others. I know dad gives you a hard time, but even he would probably admit you saved my life.”

*I wouldn’t count on it. * Peter thought to himself.

He nodded to John instead.

“Thanks! And get well soon too!” he said. “You don’t mind if I use your window there, by the way? Um…this costume knocked out the receptionist, so I think walking out the front door is not an option now.”

John stared at him in confusion and then shook his head.

“Nah, I don’t wanna know.” He said. “ Um…yeah, go ahead, Spider-Man.”

Peter nodded. Opening the window, he shot out a web line and headed on towards Empire State University.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Spider-Man! Thank heavens you’re here! You have got to get the costume off immediately!” Doctor Connors cried out as Peter swung into the lab.

Peter gulped. He had a feeling he wasn’t going to like what was coming next.

“What did you find out?” he asked, hesitantly.

“Spider-Man, I don’t know how or why, but that stuff is alive!”

Peter blinked.

“Alive?” he said, feeling a sickness in the pit of his stomach.

Doctor Connors nodded.

“Not only is it alive, but it’s taking over your body.”

“It is?” Peter said, feeling even sicker.

Doctor Connors nodded.

“Here, come here.” He said, motioning over to his lab table.” See this microscope? I want you to look into it and I’ll demonstrate what I mean.”

Peter nodded. He walked to the microscope and looked at a slide containing a blood sample.

“Okay, that is a sample of my blood.” Doctor Connors said, as Peter continued to look. “Now watch what happens when I add some of that stuff to the slide.”

Peter’s eyes widened. The moment he saw Doctor Connors add the ooze to the slide, it split three ways and attached itself to the side of three of the blood cells. Then the ooze split again and attached itself to three other blood cells. Peter looked up at Doctor Connors.

“It’s bonding with the cells.” He said, in awe.

Doctor Connors nodded.

“But not only is it bonding, Spider-Man, it’s also replacing the cell’s chromosomes with its own. In essence, it is taking it over completely. And, this is what is happening to you, Spider-Man. This stuff is multiplying and taking over your body. It is bonding with you on a cellular level and I suspect it is even bonding with your DNA. This stuff is a symbiotic organism and you are the host. If you don’t get it off soon, it’ll bond so completely with you that any attempt to remove it will result in both you and that stuff dying.”

Peter gulped.

“And that is why I’m suddenly becoming more violent and aggressive?” he asked.

“I think so, Spider-Man. This ooze is a sentient being. It is taking over your body and pretty soon, you’ll be its slave.”

Peter’s eyes widened. He quickly explained what John had told him.

Doctor Connors nodded.

“Nothing on earth can do what this stuff does, so I suspected as much.”

“Can you get it off me?” Peter asked, hopefully.

“I haven’t been able to figure that part of the puzzle out yet, unfortunately. Therefore, I want you to stay so I can run some more tests on you. See what kinds of things can affect this symbiote.

Peter nodded. Suddenly, he heard that foreign voice echoing in his head.

“No! You will not destroy us! We won’t let you!”

Before Peter could act, his arm shot up and he felt himself sailing out the window as Doctor Connors screamed at him to go back.

“Take me back!” Peter screamed out.

“No!” The voice hissed in his head. “ We have a better plan! We know how much you long for Mary Jane. We have decided she is suitable enough to be a mate for us.”

Images of the nightmare and the black ooze covering Mary Jane flashed through Peter’s mind. He heard the voice laugh.

“Yes!” it hissed. “ That is what we have in mind…our mind, that is.”

“No! I won’t let you hurt her!” Peter cried out in anguish. “I won’t let you turn her into a monster!”

“You don’t have a choice, Peter Parker. The bonding is almost complete and you are powerless to resist us!”

Peter screamed as he felt his will slipping away. He felt himself turn the corner and head for Mary Jane’s apartment.

*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*

Part Seven

Mary Jane sighed, as she got ready for bed. Harry had just left. She was glad to have had some company for a while. Even if the company she had really wanted was Peter. Still, it felt good to laugh for a change. Her spirits had been lifted and she thought that Harry spirits had been given a little boost too. At least she felt as if she could face another day now. Even if that meant it was a day without Peter.

She headed into the kitchen to make some warm milk. As she put the glass in the microwave and turned it on, she heard a loud shattering of glass behind her. She turned and gasped as she saw Spider-Man standing in her living room.

“Spider-Man? Is that you? You changed your costume.” She said.

She stared at the glass shards around his feet.

“Why did you do that? You coulda just knocked. I would have let you in.”

“Where is he?”

Mary Jane frowned.

“Where is who, Spider-Man?” she asked, confused.

“Harry Osborne. Where is he? Is he in bed waiting for you?” Peter said, pointing down the hall.

Mary Jane blinked in surprise.

“No. He was here earlier. But he just left.”

“YOU’RE LYING!”

Mary Jane was taken aback as Peter screamed at her.

“I’m not lying to you, Spider-Man. I swear.” She said, suddenly afraid of him for the first time in her life.“I don’t know why you think he’s here…”

“BECAUSE YOU’RE CHEATING ON ME, YOU LITTLE WHORE!”

Mary Jane’s mouth dropped open as tears came to her eyes.

“Spider-Man, how can you say something like that? I can’t believe you just called me that. Not you! Besides, I…I don’t love you. I did once, but now, I’m in love with Peter Parker.” She said, crying.

Mary Jane gasped as Peter suddenly leapt towards her. He grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her against the refrigerator. Mary Jane winced in pain. Suddenly, her eyes widened as the mask around Spider-Man’s face liquefied and slid down to his neck. She gasped as she stared at Peter Parker’s enraged face.

“Oh my God, it’s true.” She said to herself. “I didn’t want to believe it was you, even after all that’s happened. Oh my God, Peter, you’re Spider-Man.”

Peter snorted and his eyes narrowed.

“What’s wrong, MJ?” he said, sarcastically. “You sound disappointed. Were you expecting me to be Harry?”

Mary Jane’s eyes widened.

“No! I’m glad it’s you, Pete. Why do you think I’m still with Harry, especially after everything I said to you at the funeral? I love you with all my heart, Peter.”

“Then why was he here earlier?” Peter spat out.

“I…I was lonely.” She gulped as Peter’s eyes narrowed.” But not like that, Peter. I’ve been depressed since you walked away from me and I needed some cheering up. I thought Harry could use some cheering up too. Please believe me, Peter. I love you and only you.”

Her eyes widened as Peter’s mouth twisted into an evil sneer.

“Good, MJ. I’m glad you love me. Then you’ll have no objections to what I’m about to do.”

Mary Jane began to tremble.

“What are you going to do to me?” she whimpered.

“You and I are going to go through a little bonding, MJ. I want to make sure you will never be Harry’s girl ever again.”

“Peter, please…please don’t hurt me.” She pleaded.

“I’m not going to hurt you, MJ. I’m going to show you a whole new way of looking at the world.” Peter said, with an evil grin.

Mary Jane stared at the grin and felt a cold chill running down her spine.

“Peter, listen to me. You aren’t yourself. You need to get some help. I heard earlier on the news how Spider-Man had almost beaten a mugger to death. That isn’t like you, Pete. I don’t know what’s happened, but you aren’t even talking like yourself anymore. I’m scared for you, Tiger.” She said, with tears in her eyes.

Peter snorted.

“Don’t worry about me, Mary Jane. I’m perfectly fine now. In fact, I’ve never felt more alive and more powerful in my life. And now, I want to share that power with you. And if you love me, you’ll cooperate. You do love me, don’t you?” he said, with narrowed eyes.

Mary Jane nodded, too stunned to speak.

“Good. Then let’s get going! I know the perfect spot and…”

Suddenly, Mary Jane’s eyes widened as Peter let out a strangled scream and fell to his knees as he held his head.

“Peter…Are you okay?” Mary Jane said, tentatively touching his back.

“GET AWAY FROM ME, MJ!” Peter screamed between clenched teeth. “PLEASE!”

“Tiger? What’s happening to you?” Mary Jane asked, sensing that it was her Peter who was speaking now.

“IT’S TAKING OVER MY MIND! IT’S FORCING ME TO DO THINGS I DON’T WANT TO DO. YOU AREN’T SAFE HERE, MJ! GO! PLEASE!”

Mary Jane’s eyes widened as Peter let out another strangled scream. Fighting the urge to stay and comfort him when she knew he was in so much pain, she instead found the strength to run past him towards the front door. As she laid her hand on the door handle, she yelped in surprise as two black tentacles snaked around her middle and pulled her backwards towards Peter. Mary Jane felt Peter’s hands grabbing her arms and when she looked up at him, she could see the madness had returned.

“Oh no, MJ. You aren’t going to get away from us so easily.” He hissed. “You are going to become like us, whether you like it or not.”

Mary Jane gasped as Peter tightened her grip on her middle. Suddenly, she felt herself flying out the window and web slinging through the city as Peter let out a sinister laugh.

*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*-----------------------------*

Part Eight

Mary Jane struggled to breathe as they swung through the city. The speed they were traveling, combined with the crushing grip he had on her was taking her breath away. She glanced up at Peter every once in a while searching for any signs of the Peter Parker she knew, but all she saw was the madness in his eyes as he swung feverishly towards whatever destination he had in mind.

*Oh God, Tiger. I hope you are strong enough to fight this before you do something you’ll regret. * She thought to herself.

They swung into the city and after awhile, Mary Jane felt Peter’s speed slow down as they neared St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Peter shot out a web line and angled himself up into the belfry. As they entered the belfry, Peter let go of the strand and landed on the wooden floor with a thump.

Mary Jane gasped as Peter released her hold on her a little. It still wasn’t enough to actually get away from him, though. She stared up at Peter who was looking down at her with a smirk on his face.

“Why have you brought me here, Pete?’ she asked.

He pulled her to an open space and pointed towards Rockefeller Center. Mary Jane gasped as she recognized the roof garden.

“Remember this place, MJ?” Peter hissed.” This was the first spot we took you too after we rescued you for the first time. We thought it fitting that your bonding should take place right next to the place where we first met you as Spider-Man.

Mary Jane gulped down the fear. She had to try to get through to Peter.

“Peter, fight it! You have to be stronger than this. I know you can do it, Peter. I have faith in you. I know even if your mind is telling you to hurt me, your heart won’t let you do it! Please, Peter. Resist it!”

For a moment, Mary Jane could see Peter’s eyes tear up and a brief hint of determination. Then it faded back into the maniacal look.

“It’s no use, MJ. We are in control now!” Peter hissed. “We are controlling his mind and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Now, just relax and let the symbiote do it’s work.”

Mary Jane’s eyes widened in fear as she watched a part of the symbiote on Peter’s chest pull away from his body and start to stretch towards her. Mary Jane began to shake her head “No!” as it came closer and closer to her. She watched in horror as the ooze touched her leg and began to creep up it.

Suddenly, Mary Jane let out a scream of pain as the bell behind them began to gong. She covered her ears and gritted her teeth, as the belfry began to shake slightly from the sound vibrations. She looked up at Peter and was amazed to see the ooze going crazy on his body as if it were in great pain. Peter felt to his knees and suddenly, she could see the madness gone from his eyes as the ooze writhed over his body.

Peter bit his lip as he heard the symbiote screaming in pain inside his head. For a moment, he was confused and then it suddenly hit him.

“The sound vibrations!” he cried out. “It must drive it nuts.”

Seeing his chance, Peter mashed his hands against his ears and forced himself closer to the bell. He gritted his teeth as the symbiote’s scream of pain increased in his head and the ooze began to pull itself away from his body. Finally, with one last enraged scream, the symbiote tore itself away from Peter’s body and felt through the hole in the floor below the bell. Peter gave out a gasp and as the last gong sounded, he slumped to the floor.

Mary Jane rushed to his side and cradled his naked body, crying with relief as she stroked his hair and kissed him. She watched as Peter gave out a groan and slowly opened his eyes.

“M…J?” he said, weakly.

Mary Jane nodded as she continued to stroke his hair.

“You did it, Tiger.” She whispered. “You defeated it.”

Peter smiled weakly and raised his hand. He stroked her cheek lovingly.

“Thank God.” He said.” It’s over…it’s all over.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mary Jane and Peter sat there for a while until Peter got enough of his strength back to be able to walk downstairs. Mary Jane supported Peter around the waist as he kept his right arm slung around her shoulder. They proceeded down the stairs, slowly and as they reached the bottom, Mary Jane noticed the ooze lying on the floor in a huge black puddle. She stared at it disdainfully.

“Good riddance.” She said.

She opened the door and led Peter out into the main part of the cathedral. She sat him down in the front pew and looked around. She spied a tablecloth on a table that held a huge bible and some gold candlesticks on it. She gently lowered the bible and candlesticks to the floor and taking the tablecloth, helped Peter to tie it around his midsection. Then, helping him to his feet, she and him walked down the aisle and out of the church. As Peter raised his hand and shot out a web line, Mary Jane looked at him with a questioning look in her eyes.

“It’s okay, MJ. I’m strong enough now.” Peter reassured her.

Mary Jane nodded and wrapping her arms around his neck, he catapulted them up into the air and began to web sling back to Mary Jane’s apartment.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Eddie Brock grumbled as he entered St. Patrick’s Cathedral. There had been sightings of Spider-Man going into the belfry the night before, and after the attempted murder of the mugger, Jameson had decided to let Brock go and see if he could dig up any evidence that Spider-Man was up to no good.

“At the very least, we could say he was illegally trespassing after hours.” Jameson had said.

Eddie frowned.

“Why do I have to do this? I thought Parker was Jameson’s pet photographer.” He muttered.

According to Jameson, Parker had called in sick. But, Eddie didn’t buy it for a moment.

“He’s hoping Spider-Man will attack me or something. Then, he’d be the star photographer at the Bugle.” Eddie opened the door to the belfry. “And if I do get hurt in here, it’s gonna be Parker’s hide.”

Eddie paused as he noticed a huge black puddle of ooze on the floor.

“Hmmm, wonder what that could be?’ he thought aloud.

He reached out a hand to touch it.

Suddenly, the air outside the church was pierced by a terrified scream that slowly dissolved into maniacal laughter.

THE END

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