Betty was furious with Eddie as he blew her off one more time. They were supposed to be going out to a wine tasting but he came home, full of excuses of a mugging and wanted to stay in.

She had almost broken up with him. The thick black bruise over his shoulder, where he claimed the mugger twisted his arm, saved him. So for one last time, she gave in and after grabbing her purse, left.

Eddie shook his head, he hated lying to her. The bruise was from the water cascading down the building and right now he only had one thing on his mind,

Finding that bastard Venom and kicking his ass.

He had felt the vibrations of whatever it was. He arrived as Venom, Black Cat, and their newest partner swung away. They had split up so rather than chase them he had investigated the warehouse.

He found two webbed-up guns and a huge mess. There was a ruined console and a huge gouge on the floor. He couldn't hold his breath long enough but it looked like a giant machine had been dumped into the water.

Some kind of plot to poison the river? He thought but without any science background, he had no clue. Whatever it was looked broken, and the state of the one console he found was a mess. Did they stop someone or did it just blow up in their faces?

It didn't matter. After Sandman and the flood, he owed Venom anyway. This was just the final straw.

⁂

Gwen had let Peter know Felicia would be over the next day, and needing some stress relief, he had ventured out. He had helped save the city, but at the cost of two lives, and while Liv was safe, she would take months to recover.

It wasn’t right. Super-powered villains were now the talk of the town. How long until someone he couldn't beat showed up? Venom shook his head. Until then, he would still keep the streets safe.

⁂

Finding Venom was easy enough. You just swung about Hell's Kitchen long enough and listened for the screams. They were different from the normal ones. Muggings called for help. Muggers called for mommy when Venom was involved.

As Spider-Man crested the top of a building he found his man.

Venom was manhandling another victim. Blood leaked from a broken nose and the man's glassy eyes hinted that he might even have a concussion.

As usual, whoever he had saved had just run off. They were either grateful for the save or simply too terrified of Venom to hang around.

Looking around he must have spotted something. Grabbing him by the scruff of the neck he lifted him up and stuffed him into a trash can, webbing him into it.

Spider-Man watched as Venom lifted a wad of cash and it somehow folded into his skin. He cursed. He had never gotten cool powers like that. Shaking his head, now was not the time for a jealous fit.

He webbed his camera to the building, made sure he got a good angle and hit the Bluetooth remote in his packet. He wanted this on film. If he was going to show people exactly who Venom was, he needed proof.

Before he could swing away Venom caught the movement of air. He looked up and saw the red and blue idiot swinging down to greet him,

Great. Doofer-Man.

“Venom, we need to talk. You helped Sandman escape, and you need to answer for that.”

Venom shrugged, “if you knew then you were there. Don't remember you helping take out the bad guy Spider-Man, or what? Did you wait until I left and took your victory snap then?”

Venom heard Spider-Mans heart rate increase and he chuckled to himself. That was exactly it,

“So, you made that mess huh? What? Wanted the glory without the effort? Taking credit for my actions is bad. Didn’t you lecture me on being more honest Spider-Man? Seems you need to take your own advice.”

“You left a criminal webbed to the roof of a building. He escaped and my involvement doesn't matter. What matters is you left him there. Who knows what damage he could have done? He admitted to destroying that diner. What if he did that again? or do you not care?”

Venom clenched his fist, “You don't get to lecture me Spider-Man. I know how bad it can be when people get hurt. I know!" He unclenched his fist, trying not to yell.

No, I can't take it out on anyone. Not here, not now.

"You remember what I said. Pictures, a little video but stay away. I know Black Cat already warned you, and now I'm saying the same. Eddie.”

As his heart started to pound in his chest Spider-Man knew Venom wasn't kidding around.

Venom could hear Spider-Mans heart rate shoot up. He smirked under his mask,

Eddie Brock. A fucking reporter, he cursed.

“Stay away from me, and stay away from Black Cat as well. If I see another picture of her ass with some bullshit headline about her, it won't be a conversation you’ll enjoy.”

“And the machine on Staten Island? I'm supposed to ignore that?”

“That was dealt with, and no, you shouldn't care. Stay out of things that dont involve you Spider-Man. You’ll live longer.”

It hadn't meant to sound like a threat, just a friendly piece of advice. Venom shook his head. He knew he should leave before he made it worse. It was not a good night to deal with Spider-Mans brand of two-toned justice.

Venom raised a hand and as the web line shot out and snagged the top of a building, Spider-Man made his choice.

Roaring, he sent out his own line and pulled. He dragged Venom down towards him and as he fell he swung out, catching him in the gut. “No more Venom, tonight you face me, and then prison. You’re a menace, and one that needs to be stopped.”

As Venom recoiled from the punch, Spider-Man sent another into the right side of his face. As Venom reeled back, he sent another into his gut.

It wasn't until Venom avoided a second left and grabbed his wrist that Spider-Man realised he wasn’t hurt.

“Childish.” Venom bodychecked Spider-Man and then as he fell back, slammed his fist into his stomach. Spider-Man had never been hit that hard before and bile and vomit rose in his throat.

"We told you, we don't play. We warned you to improve yourself."

Pulling him back again Venom headbutted him and as Spider-Man fell back, let him go. He shot out a web from both wrists, and once the webbing connected to his chest swung him up and over his head. Slamming him hard into the pavement.

“You asked for this Spider-Man. We were happy to leave things alone, but you interfered.”

As Spider-Man lay on the ground Venom raised a foot and slammed it down.

Narrowly avoiding it, Spider-Man rolled across the ground. He shot out a web line and caught Venom on the ankle. As it caught him off balance he slammed the foot down and braced himself. A long thin blade slid out of Venom's hand and he slashed down, cutting the line.

“We will fight you Spider-Man, but,” and he shook his head, “you are weak, like a child,” and Venom sighed. “When we started, we were like you, so full of ourselves and we were hurt. Train, Spider-Man. Train or this will never end well for you.”

Spider-Man picked himself up, shakily standing in front of Venom, “I, I can’t let you go.”

Venom shook his head. Before he could react Venom grabbed him around the throat. Lifting him one-handed from the ground he lay punch after punch into his stomach.

Venom was tired. Tired of being punished for trying his best. The super-powered idiots in the city needed to know that he would not stand back and allow them free reign. He might not be perfect but he would not hurt innocent lives. He was not the one attacking people.

They needed to know that revenge and vengeance were two different things.

Spider-Man felt his ribs cave and he struggled helplessly against the much stronger man.

“A reminder.” Venom made a small blade, no bigger than a finger and he stabbed it into Spider-Man's shoulder. "We do not hate you Spider-Man, but we will not do things your way. Too many people are hurt. Too many criminals walk free."

Venom pushed with his finger and the blade broke. “Stay away from us. We will not warn you again.” Venom dropping him, sent out another line and leapt off into the New York skyline.

Spider-Man lay panting, his breathing was short and hard. Even his enhanced physique was finding it difficult to deal with the damage dealt by Venom. He could only watch as Venom climbed high and then swung away.

Slowly and carefully he climbed the building, retrieved his camera and made his way home. Too sore to swing, too tired to run, each step was torture on broken ribs and burning shoulder. He cried out as he pulled the blade free and stared at it. He wasn't good enough, Sandman and then Venom, both played him like an idiot, and he let them.

As he climbed the last fire escape and opened his window. He fell into his apartment and collapsed on the floor. He didn't care about the mess, and as the light turned on even the moments of panic faded, replaced by pain in his chest.

“Shit Eddie,” Betty shouted, “Eddie?” and as she came over, he barely had the strength to lift himself off the floor. “Well, either you've got the weirdest fetish ever, or you’re Spider-Man. Either way, you've got a lot of explaining to do.”

Eddie was in too much pain to care, and as Betty stared, “Uh Eddie?” and she came over. “Shit, is that blood? Oh shit Eddie,” as she lifted her phone and began to dial 911, he knocked it from her hand,

“Can't. Please,” and instead she lifted his mask. Underneath his face was a mess of bruises. A burst lip bubbled with blood, and his eye was already starting st swell shut,

“Well, at least I know why the wine mixer was cancelled,” and as he tried to laugh he winced. “Come on,” and she tore the costume from him, ”let’s clean you up, and then if you can, talk.”

With great effort, she half dragged, half carried him to his shower. After dumping him in, stripping off the bottom of his costume and his boots she turned on the water. As it soaked him, she peeled off his top, biting her lip at the mess of blood and bruise covering his chest.

Looking in the small medicine cabinet she found a bottle of iodine and some cotton swabs. As gently as she could, she cleaned the knife wound on his shoulder. "You need a better medicine cabinet, Eddie. Band-Aids and Iodine won't help this."

He groaned, "I heal fast, just clean me."

Able to stand and walk, and wrapped in just a towel she helped him back through to the living room. Letting him slide onto the couch, she stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him.

“Make it good or I walk and tomorrow you have a new job as a superhero celebrity while I get a raise.”

“I’m Spider-Man,” to which she rolled her eyes at him. “I was bitten about eight months ago.”

It was the start of his tale. He grabbed the folder on Oscorp he had. His big break story that he never finished. He explained, not just about his own powers but about Venom and Black Cat.

Betty paced back and forth, holding the anger on her face inside until he finished,

“And then tonight I confronted him, and well, he kicked the crap outta me.”

Betty crossed her arms, stared for a moment and then headed into the kitchen. Eddie heard her fill the coffee pot and a few seconds later it began to brew.

“He’s right, you are an idiot.” Eddie was too sore to complain, “You attacked someone, on your own, with no training and no backup? I honestly thought you were smarter than that Eddie.”

She made them both coffee and as she was about to lift the cups, Eddie shouted, "under the sink. I uh, think, yeah, under the sink."

When she reached under the cabinet she found a quarter bottle. She smirked and poured a decent amount into both cups.

Eddie didn't complain as the Irish coffee burned on the way down, the alcohol a glad addition, “so?” He glanced over at her.

“Well, first, healing. Some proper first aid and sleep. Then Mr ‘I’m Spider-Man’ you owe me at least 10 dates, and we are going on them all. You’re paying and then sex after. Mr ‘I’ve got boundless stamina 'cause I’m a superhero’ will damn well make sure it’s good as well."

Eddie was smiling but Betty was past playing. "And then you stupid shit,“ she finally broke, “and then,” she took a breath and wiped the tears from her face. “You train, you get a teacher and you learn and you don’t do something as stupid as taking on that monster yourself.”

Eddie leaned over the best he could and rubbed a hand on her leg. “oh and if you didn't get footage, then you’re sleeping, alone for a week.”

Eddie held his stomach as he tried not to laugh. It was painful but broke the tension. “In there.”

He pointed to the onesie pants she had cut free. Sliding the memory card into her phone she sat and watched the video footage. It wasn't a fight, it was a beating and her face contorted through various emotions.

“He knows who you are?”

Eddie nodded. He had tied the mic to a Bluetooth headset he wore, in case a criminal decided to confess. The microphone had recorded their entire conversation.

“So he’s smart, and what this about Black Cats ass?” Betty raised an angry eyebrow as he tried not to look guilty, “where's the rest?”

Sighing, Eddie pointed to a drawer with USB drives in it. “I’ll be taking these and if, and I mean that, if any of these are less than suitable, you will be in trouble, mister.”

Eddie tried not to laugh. Betty was taking this a lot better than he thought.

She flicked through her phone. “There’s a cheap gym not too far from here. Lessons aren't too expensive and oh, a boxing champion trained there. Fogwells. Bit scruffy but considering,” She gave Eddie a look. One that promised punishments if he disobeyed her.

He rubbed a hand over his stubbly face, which he regretted as it stung. “I know, I know,”

Betty looked sternly at him, “Eddie, please. You can't lie to me, not after all this, is there anything else?” but Eddie shook his head, “If there is, it's over, you know that right?“

“Betty, you’re the most important thing that's ever happened to me. I swear, there isn't anything, I’m Spider-Man, that's it, you know everything else.” He held his hand over his heart, “I swear.”

“You know a smart man would have used that as an opportunity to suck up to me, but, I guess that's not you huh?”

As she laughed, Eddie felt a warmth spreading through him. A sense of peace that a problem shared was a problem solved.