The city sprawls beneath me like a circuit board of light and shadow, pulsing with electric life as I lie flat on my back atop the dining hall roof. The same spot where I first tested my ability to teleport a bit farther feels different now. Sacred almost, like revisiting the site of your own birth. The concrete is cold against my back, but I don't mind. After nearly dying twice in the past week, a little discomfort feels almost comforting. Grounding.
I close my eyes and let my fingers trace the rough texture beneath me.
The air shifts suddenly, that unmistakable whoosh of displaced molecules that comes right before Venom appears. My eyes snap open just as a massive black form lands directly over me, powerful legs standing above my head, muscular thighs framing my vision like the world's most terrifying tunnel.
Two metal objects clatter to the rooftop beside me. Brass knuckles, gleaming dully in the moonlight.
"Here," Venom growls, her monstrous form looming over me. The symbiote bubbles slowly receding to reveal Ellie's face, those piercing blue eyes staring down at me with a mixture of annoyance and excitment.
I can't help the grin that spreads across my face as I reach for the brass knuckles. "Oh my god, thanks babe," I tease, watching her expression darken at the pet name. "You really do care."
"Don't fucking call me that," she snaps, her eyes flashing with irritation. She extends a hand down to me, and I grab it. She pulls me to my feet with effortless strength.
The moment I'm upright, I lean in and press my lips against hers. It's impulsive, but I can't help myself. For a heartbeat, she freezes, and I think I've made a terrible mistake. Then she's kissing me back, her mouth hungry against mine, the symbiote humming with energy where our skin connects.
Just as suddenly, she pulls away, a conflicted expression crossing her face as she sighs deeply. "This doesn't mean I'm helping you become a hero," she mutters, but there's less conviction in her voice than before.
I turn the brass knuckles over in my hands, feeling their solid weight. "These are perfect," I say, slipping them onto my right hand. The metal fits snugly around my fingers, cold and deadly. "Did you steal them or buy them?"
Ellie's lips curl into a predatory smile. "I got them off the woman with the brass knuckles who tried to jump you the other night. Figured they might as well go to better use."
"Oh, well, thank you so much," I say, genuinely touched by the gesture despite its violent origins. "That's actually really thoughtful."
She stares at me for a long moment, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she's trying to decide something. The symbiote ripples subtly beneath her skin, responding to whatever internal debate she's having.
"Alright," she finally says, stepping back and widening her stance. "Come at me."
I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. This is what I've been waiting for, a chance to actually test my powers against someone who can handle them. Without hesitation, I focus on a spot just behind her left shoulder, feeling that familiar electric tingle building beneath my skin.
BAMF
I materialize exactly where I aimed, swinging the brass knuckles toward her ribs in the same motion. She's already turning, impossibly fast, but I'm gone again before she can grab me.
BAMF
This time I appear at her right side, landing a solid hit against her thigh before teleporting away. The impact reverberates up my arm, but I know it barely registers for her. She's Venom after all.
"Is that all you've got?" she taunts, her eyes tracking me with predatory focus.
BAMF
I appear directly in front of her, aiming an uppercut that she blocks with her forearm. The symbiote hardens where I make contact, absorbing the impact completely.
"You're telegraphing your moves," she says, almost bored. "I can see where you're going to appear before you do."
BAMF BAMF BAMF
I start rapid-firing short teleports, never staying in one place for more than a second. Around her, behind her, above her, a constant barrage of motion designed to disorient. With each appearance, I throw a punch or kick, most missing or being easily deflected, but a few landing with satisfying impact, despite doing no damage.
I'm in the middle of a teleport, materializing above her with my fist cocked back, when she catches me. Her hand shoots up with impossible speed, grabbing my collar mid-appearance. My momentum halts abruptly, leaving me dangling in her grasp like a kitten held by its scruff.
"Shit," I gasp, trying to teleport away, but nothing happens. My power fizzles uselessly, the energy building beneath my skin with nowhere to go. Apparently I can't teleport while being physically restrained. The realization sends a chill down my spine, followed immediately by a wave of heat that has nothing to do with exertion.
"Damn," I mutter, hanging helplessly in her grip.
Ellie's lips curl into a victorious smirk. "Look, you're quick, I'll give you that," she says, her eyes tracking my face with predatory intensity. "But your punches hardly tickle, and your form is absolute shit."
"I'm working on my form," I protest, trying not to notice how close her face is to mine, or how the multiple short-range teleports have left both of us breathing harder than the physical effort warrants.
She lowers me slightly, keeping me suspended just enough that my toes barely brush the rooftop. "The knuckles will definitely help you with regular people," she concedes, giving them an appraising glance. "But you're not ready for anything serious."
The look in her eyes has changed, pupils dilating as her gaze drops to my mouth. There's hunger there, unmistakable desire, though nothing compared to the feral intensity from our rooftop encounter. I feel an answering heat coiling in my stomach, my body responding to her proximity in ways that have nothing to do with fear.
"Damn," she murmurs, her voice dropping an octave as she studies my face. "So even teleporting short distances makes people horny, huh?"
I swallow hard, painfully aware of how my body's reacting. "I guess so," I manage, my voice embarrassingly hoarse.
She releases me suddenly, stepping back with a smirk that doesn't quite hide her own affected state.
Her brow furrows as she takes another step back, crossing her arms over her chest. "That's going to make you a serious target in any real fight. Villains won't just try to kill you, some might try to take advantage of your... condition right on the battlefield."
I try to focus on her words, I really do, but my gaze keeps drifting to the way the symbiote clings to her form, especially around her chest. The black material breaths subtly with each breath she takes, accentuating curves that are making it increasingly difficult to concentrate on combat strategy.
"Um, maybe we should continue this at my room?" The words tumble out before I can stop them. "You know, for privacy."
Ellie's eyes narrow, a dangerous smirk playing at the corners of her lips. She steps closer.
"Your room?" she purrs, her voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Is that what this is about? You're not actually interested in training at all, are you?"
Heat floods my face but I hold her gaze. "I am. But I'm also interested in... other things."
She moves with predatory grace, closing the distance between us until she's towering over me again. One finger traces my jawline, tipping my chin up to meet her eyes.
"You're just a little slut, aren't you?" she says, voice dripping with amused condescension.
I don't even hesitate. "If saying yes to that will get you in my room sooner, then sure." I grin up at her without a trace of embarrassment. "I'm a little whore for you, Ellie. Please punish me. I've been such a bad boy."
My complete lack of shame seems to throw her off balance. The predatory confidence falters, replaced by something more complicated. She sighs deeply, shaking her head.
"Jesus, Shane. Come on," she mutters, running a hand through her short blonde hair.
"What?" I ask, genuinely confused by her reaction.
"Not tonight," she says, taking a small step back.
"Why not?" I press, noticing how her eyes keep drifting to my mouth despite her words.
She doesn't answer. Instead, her expression shifts, becoming more serious as the symbiote ripples across her skin.
"Come on," she says, stepping back into a fighting stance. "Let's keep training. You need to work on your defense, not just teleporting around like a hyperactive flea."
I sigh, adjusting the brass knuckles on my hand. The moment's passed, and I can tell she's not going to budge tonight. Part of me wants to push, to tease her further, but another part recognizes that this, her actually helping me train, is something I shouldn't dare take for granted.
"Alright," I reply, raising my fists and widening my stance the way Sensei taught me.