Arc Six. Chapter One Hundred Sixty. Monster Mash

“We know this place is secure, which is why Rumlow is trying to get eyes here. So, while I'm officially suspended I was tasked with two things, one was to find out if you would be willing to enhance a group for Fury, not Shield but Fury,” Natasha explained.

“And the second?” Peter asked, readying the mind stone to make sure she was telling the truth,

Natasha sighed, “I really like you, Pete. You don't judge and you know, you're a nice guy, so I wanted to get to know you, not on orders or for any reason than I wanted to.'' Natasha took a breath. “The Red Room forbid relationships, they were a weakness. Disobeying this order made you a target, and unless you were willing to hunt down the one you were with, it was you or them, and if you refused both. I’ve never been in a relationship, never had this kind of life, never felt anything for anyone, and you do that. You make me stupid and lazy, you make me happy and  I want more, not just as a Shield agent but you know, more.”

“I believe Ms Romanov is confessing dear, so be nice and stop staring,” and Peter laughed.

“Liv’s right, sorry Nat, yeah, I like you too, wouldn't be here if I didn't. A symbiote though, you know that is a big deal right? Not a simple ask.” and Natasha nodded.

“You all share this amazing thing, and I watch you train, hell I can say right now you’ll ace the physical course no problem. I want that too, even apart you always are together, and I want to be a part of that.”

Strangely it was Felicia that ventured forth, “hold out your arm,” and even as Nat looked quizzically at her, she complied. As she held it out Huntress flowed from Felicia and covered Nat, who quietly swore under breath as the symbiote bonded with her,

“What? Huntress wanted to see how I compared to another warrior. She’s been restless since Carol. Plus you know, the symbiotes gain more power the more hosts they have, they learn from each person's DNA, fighting styles, knowledge stuff like that, I mean, after getting a whole bunch of military knowledge from Carol I've been even more kickass.” and she looked at the group who were now staring at her, “uh, something on my face?”

“What the hell do you mean by that? And you never thought to, I dunno, tell anyone?” Gwen shouted and Felicia looked guiltily at her,

“Huntress wanted to be better than everyone, so uh, she made me keep it quiet.”

“Punishment?” Gwen said and the rest nodded, “oh yeah punishment” and Felicia’s face fell, 

“Oh come on guys, it’s not a big deal really, is it? I mean, one extra host isn't going to make me...why are you all staring at me again?”

“Cause you dumbass, we could have all shared each other's symbiotes. I mean, I could be turning invisible and shit while you made yourself look different, gah, Huntress is a stupid snot ball, Poisons words, not mine,” and Felicia just looked down.

“Oh, I didn’t think of that.” and she sighed while frowning, “uh, sorry.”

“Nope, it’s fine, yup, completely fine” and Felicia looked happily at Gwen for a moment before realising she had a wicked grin on her face, “I think, as she was selfish that we are all selfish. I’ll call Elektra and let her know, and Pete, no sex for Fel, not until we say so.” and as her face fell, Peter nodded. It was nice that he wasn’t the one being punished, even if it was kinda mean to watch it happen to someone else. “Maybe Huntress can learn to appreciate being part of the group again, plus, she never thought that maybe we had powers she would like, such as acid webs or something stronger than her tasers, but it's fine.”

“Fine I get it, I was bad. Bad Felicia, spank me later, but right now, aren't we also missing the whole Natasha has Huntress and she’s being really quiet.”

As the group looked at where Natasha had been they realised that she was gone, she wasn't being quiet, she had completely vanished.

“It's fine, let her play. Hurt anyone though and I’ll stuff you in a jar,” and the group heard a raspberry being blown from somewhere in the rafters. Carol had taught her how to do that, and now when she was upset, all they got was a raspberry blow at them.

“So, if you all swap, what about me?” Peter asked and Liv shook her head,

“Sorry dear, as Octave says, you're our creator, and if a symbiote tries to bond with you its lights out, remember Monarch? She does. They don't know what you did but we do, and no, never ever try to host a symbiote dear. Ever!” Liv emphasised the last part and Peter was reminded of what happened.

MJ shrugged, “Why, what happened with Monarch?”

“Uh, I ate him,” and MJ looked at him.

“What the hell? You ate him?” and Peter moved to one side as a web splatted on the ground next to him.

“Yup, ate him, absorbed him into me and took his knowledge, helped with using the stone too.”

“And you don’t think that’s fucking weird Pete?” Gwen asked and he shrugged,

“Some species hunted them for that very reason, and no, he had spawned several and ate them, you already knew the symbiotes were cannibals, this is just that, but a big, you  know, bigger.”

“It’s still fucking weird Pete,” Gwen was shaking her head and she winced as a web splatted against her back. “I guess Huntress is having fun,” and she giggled from the darkness.

“I think that might be Nat more, but sure, as long as it's just web it’s fine, fight back if it’s annoying. I’m sure she’d love it” and Gwen smiled, and as Poison spread over her,

“Wait, Felicia, come here” and as Felicia came over Gwen held out a hand and Poison spread over to her, “damn, I missed how much they juice you up, I mean, it’s kinda quiet in here now,” but Liv came over. 

“I don't want to play dear, so Huntress, splat me and I will make you regret it, not in the mood, not after that arse came here.” and she held out a hand and Octave spread over to Gwen.

“I kinda do, but we ran out of bodies,“ MJ pouted, with Liv now free she was the only host available,

“Then just swap back, or swap with Gwen,” and the pair shrugged, and letting Poison cover Liv, Gwen took Muse and Octave moved onto MJ. 

MJ shuddered, “I did not want to find out that was how two felt inside, Liv you horndog,” and Liv just laughed, 

“you should try it dear. It’s divine.” 

MJ shook her head, “one is enough thank you, but now. Huntress you giant snot monster, come get some,” and whooping, swung a web out and pulled herself up into the rafters.

Poison flowed from Liv onto Felicia. Felicia stared up, a strange look on her face, as if she wanted to but was expecting a lecture,

“Go ahead, we know you want to” and she smiled, kissed Liv on the cheek, Peter on the other, and then leapt straight up, grabbing MJ’s web and joining in.

“Rumlow that bad huh?” and Liv sighed,

“It's that life again isn't it, where we don't know where the dagger in the dark is coming from, and I don't like it, Peter. If this was Shield HQ I wouldn't care but he came to our home. My home Peter, the first place I’ve felt safe for years and that pisses me off, but it also scares me.”

Ignoring the laughter and shouts from above Peter looked up, “sorry Nat, for you at least playtime's over, I need you.” and he heard the course of awws and he was sure he heard “but daaad” from someone, but it was quiet enough he couldn't pinpoint who, and as he laughed, “sorry but this is serious and I need Nat’s opinion.”

Poison landed a few feet away from him and it was Nat, they had played symbiote tag, swapping over when someone was caught and Nat had ended up with Poison, the rest had all changed and right now they had all been host to each other with the exception of Liv.

“Go ahead while I talk to Nat,” and Liv nodded and the four stalked off the swap around her and then moved back to their original hosts.

“You heard, if you didn’t I would be surprised,” and Nat nodded,

“You want to set a trap right? Have Liv use her phone openly, so we can find out who he works for.” and Peter nodded.

“But you’re the trained spy here, will it work or is it stupid?” and Nat took a breath in through her nose before letting it out,

“Traps only work if it's believable, will Rumlow believe Liv? That depends on how far you go, what if it's a listening device? Cause then you need to be the same, no crappy acting, and no hiding anything, Liv has to take her phone wherever she would normally, bathroom, bedroom, anywhere she would normally and act naturally, no hiding it no covering it up, use it like there is nothing there.”

“Dear, I had to have Peter wipe my arse when I was hurt, I’m not ashamed of things like that?”

“Really, I’ve got a good idea of what you're capable of but let be honest, you want Rumlow to hear you having sex with Pete, to hear you beg him to stick it in your ass? For him to hear you being told you’re a good girl when you swallow? Cause he will and you can’t say shit, you can't be quieter than normal and you can't stop.” Nat paused and looked at Liv, Octave crawling over her and sliding back inside as Liv cooed and whispered to her, smiling she knew she wanted one more than ever, it wasn't a pet, it was a partner, someone she could depend on no matter what.

“For the trap to be convincing you have to do everything someone would normally do with your phone. Hell, stick a pic of Pete’s dick on there, a few candids of you as well, anyone you come in contact with and have sex with, which I now know is all of them. So do that, sell the lie, make Rumlow so fucking hungry for it that he bites on the hook hard. If you can do that, then go right ahead, if not, then ditch the phone, tell him it crashed and stopped working, buy a new one. Sell it hard or not at all, Rumlow might act like an idiot but he's the pilot of War Machine for a reason. He’s as good an agent as I am and as much of a killer, sell it hard or not at all.”

Liv looked at the cup in front of her, with the group playing, her coffee had gone cold and she pondered getting another cup, “Peter?” and he shook his head,

“Not this time Liv, this is on you, I’ll have Nat and Wanda with me, you’re on your own.” but Octave hissed,

Not alone, she has me, and we now have the pretty pretties.

“Still up to the pair of you, I’ll go along with whatever you decide but the risk is yours and yours alone.”

Liv picked up her cup, slowly turning it as she thought, “Fine, yes, if we get those bastards I can go back to being just regular old Liv Octavious and not Doc Ock, so Mr Parker, pants off. Candids eh? I have just the thing in mind,” and as Peter sighed the rest perked up. 

A chant of “take them off” started, and the girls all whooped and laughed as Peter was once more stripped while Liv fetched her phone.