Final chapter! Whoo-hoo!

Also, important information at the bottom. Enjoy the chapter tho!

As they swung, Harry kept an acute eye on Peter.

Granted, ever since little butterflies have begun sprouting in his belly whenever he looked at Peter, he's already spent time watching his friend; but there was a bit more reason behind his staring this time. He was watching the way Peter moved when he swung. It was different than how Harry did it. More controlled. Peter put more bodily effort into each swing and his movements were more fluid and agile, as opposed to Harry who mostly just used his arms and was rigid and tight.

Peter used the full power of his body, from his arms pulling him up, to his legs swinging and giving him momentum. His body was a vigorous twisting, arching performance that was so different from how it looked on TV. So few people were lucky enough to get close enough to watch and it was mesmerizing to see first-hand.

Harry did his best to mimic it, but even with Venom's help it was hard. He's come to notice that the symbiote tended to lean toward aggression in its manner – strong swings, fast movements, and powerful landings. Peter was a lot nimbler and more acrobatic; gentler upon approach and light on his feet.

Peter mentioned that the symbiote was created from him somehow, but aside from their similar power-sets, Harry couldn't see how the symbiote had come from someone as gentle-seeming as Peter.

It took only a few short minutes to make it back to Oscorp – he'd been too impatient to talk with Peter to put a real distance between him and SHIELD – and Peter's team was already waiting for them there. They didn't add any further "commendations" to the compromising position they'd found Harry and Peter in, but their amusement was all-too visible on the faces which was almost as bad as any verbal teasing.

Peter, thank goodness, didn't seem to want to shed any more light back on that predicament and went straight to the matter at hand, "Alright," he gave a small cough to clear his throat, "I know where Goblin's hideout is now, thanks to that whole," he waved his hand, "kidnapping thing, but he's expecting his little science experiment to drag Spider-Man back by his webs any minute now."

"So, Goblin sent you out to get you," White Tiger took the moment to clarify "You're lucky the symbiote didn't just out you altogether."

"Yeah, it's all rainbows and sparkles. Either way, if we don't do something soon, he's going to come out to see what's taking so long. We need a plan."

"Oh! I got one," Nova raised his hand eagerly, "Would if we had Harry throw you back into the hideout, he pretends to be the other symbiote, so Goblin is caught off guard, then you double team him."

They all stared at him in deadpan, "That sounds like something Spidey would come up with," White Tiger scoffed, crossing her arms, "Which probably means it'd go wrong instantly."

"Hey!" the aforementioned teen cried indignantly.

"Yeah man, let's try something else," Powerman agreed. "If we tried that, we could just be giving Goblin both Spidey and Harry."

Sam scowled and crossed his arms, "Whatever, you guys are just jealous cause you can't think of anything better."

"Actually," Harry stepped forward, "I think Nova's idea could work. At least for a moment. If you guys follow up as backup, we can take my dad off guard."

"And what if he has those green orb things," Luke countered, folding his arms and turning to Spider-Man, "We tried backing you up this morning Pete, and we all saw how that turned out. What do you plan on doing if Goblin gets the upper hand again?"

"That won't happen," Harry insisted.

White Tiger shared a glance with the rest of her team and clapped a somewhat ambivalent hand on Harry's shoulder, "Uh...look Harry. We know you've had the symbiote, and that you've used it in combat before, but you're not even trained in this. You've held your own well enough, but we weren't exactly going all out when we've fought you," Harry made an offended face, but Tiger carried on, "Look, we've got to be careful about this. We don't want Goblin getting you or Peter. You saw what Goblin turned Pete into. He'll do it again in a heartbeat."

Harry opened his mouth as if to say something, but Luke cut him off, "And we're not saying you can't handle it, man. We're just saying that we've got to take all precautions if we're going to take Goblin down."

"Besides," Iron Fist added, "your relationship with your dad is already a powerful torrent of emotions. Are you sure you're ready to face him like this?"

Harry knocked White Tiger's hand off his shoulder and stepped away from them, affronted, as if they'd personally threatened to tie him up by his toes and dangle him over the George Washington Bridge. "Hey, he's my dad. I'm not sitting this out, alright! And I can fight too. I - I can do this. I want to do this."

"Well, Webs," Nova turned to Spider-Man and gestured to Harry, "He's your boy toy, and you're the 'leader'. So, I guess it's up to you."

Spider-Man might've glared at him, particularly for his wording, but that was quickly overshadowed by the weight of his sudden decision. It shouldn't be that big of a deal, really. This was Goblin after all, and they could use all the help they could get. But Harry's fought his dad before and it's never turned out well.

Peter would never confront Harry about it out loud, or in public, but Harry was extremely sensitive when it came to his dad. Vulnerable, even. Every time they interacted, it either resulted in Harry becoming Venom and ruthlessly attacking his dad, or Goblin trying to lure Harry to his side. It has scared Peter the number of times Harry almost caved in too.

He knew it wasn't because Harry was a bad person. He was just confused. All he wanted was the love and respect of his dad, and he wanted to be around someone who would love him back. He was desperate for his dad's approval because it's been something he's had to fight and climb his way for his entire life.

It honestly worried Peter whenever Goblin got within a mile proximity of Harry. He didn't like how much Gobby tormented and taunted his own son; fiddling around with his head like he was a machine that wasn't working right. Harry didn't deserve that treatment. He deserved more than the father Norman had become, even before the Goblin serum.

But...Peter could understand Harry's side of it too. Harry could even argue that Peter has always had a personal stake when it came to the Osborn's. There were so many missions and fights that Fury ordered Peter to stay on the sidelines because of his personal involvement, and Peter never listened. He's kept secrets from Nick Fury, from his team, for Harry's sake. He's defied orders and gone as far as sabotaging his team when they were ordered to bring Venomized-Harry down. It would be hypocritical of him if he didn't let Harry come along.

But, Peter couldn't deny anymore that he had...feelings, for Harry. If their lip-wrestling wasn't the first clue. He didn't want Harry to get hurt. He cared for him so much, just the thought of letting him waltz into a place where his dad would be waiting made him want to lock Harry up on the Triskelion for safe-keeping.

But that wasn't fair to Harry. He didn't deserve to be locked away like some kind of delicate object.

The seconds ticked on in silence. The team shuffled impatiently, and Harry leaned over to look at Peter more squarely.

Finally, Peter threw up his hands, "I don't know, okay. I. Don't. Know." He turned to Harry with a flourish, "Har, I don't want to see you get hurt. Goblin only makes you feel pain. That's all he's ever done. But...but I know you want to help too. You have a right to be involved in a situation that has everything to do with you and your dad. I just..." he sighed, rubbing his head. "I don't know what call to make right now. I don't know which one is the right one. I...I just don't want him to hurt you anymore."

The ensuing silence is full of thick air and uncertainty and Peter is choking on it. He swallows thickly, forcing himself to look up into Harry's face. It's covered in the symbiote. Just a pair of white, unblinking eyes that look similar to Spider-Man's design, but there's a narrowed quality to them. Something malicious and glaring. It doesn't suite Harry. It reminds Peter too much of the cold look human-Norman used to have. Something silent, but sinister. A monster lurking beneath the depths, just out of sight, but prepared to swallow him whole.

Then Harry moved forward, and Peter found himself pulled into a hug.

"Okay," Harry said, though it was tight and emotional, "Fine. I'll stay here."

Peter hesitated, before sighing and falling into the hug, wrapping his own arms around Harry. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Don't worry about it, Pete," there's something there, a bitterness that mixes in with the fondness when he says Peter's name, "I'm used to be left behind."

Okay, maybe that was a little uncalled for because it pierces something in Peter's heart and makes him want to pull Harry in tighter. "How about you stay on stand-by," Peter offers, breaking the hug. "If things get too dicey and we need a quick escape, we'll call you in."

"Sure," Harry says, but Peter can tell the option doesn't sit well with him.

But for now, it's all he can offer.

Taking a breath, Peter nodded toward his team. "Let's go then, the longer we keep Goblin waiting, the more suspicious he'll get."

They nodded back, already heading toward the busted window. Peter turned back to Harry, who had moved to the side, arms crossed. His shoulders were hunched in a way that meant he was upset, and Peter reached out for him, his fingers barely grazing his shoulders.

"Hey," he said, "Are you okay?"

"M'fine," Harry muttered, but they both knew that was a lie.

Peter thought about bringing him in for another hug but wasn't sure if that'd make it any better. Was there anything he could do to make this better?

His fingers dropped, "We - we should go, we don't want to keep the team waiting."

Peter had only taken a few steps toward the window when Harry's hand clamped onto his wrist, "Pete," he said, and Peter looked up at him, "Do you promise you'll call me in if you need me? You promise?"

Peter stared into the whites of Harry's mask, trying to find his best friends in all the black goop. He twisted their hands around so they're fingers were intertwined, "I will, Harry. As long as you promise not to run in without regard for your own safety."

Nova snorted at his back, "Right, because you always do that."

"Shut up, Nova! We're having a moment over here. And why are you listening in any way, you creep?"

Nova's ensuing cackle had him rolling his eyes.

"Come on, we should get going before Gobby starts to wonder what happened to his problem child."

Harry followed him to the window, watching as the rest of the team jumped out, waiting for Spider-Man to lead them to Goblin's lair. Peter gave Harry another brief look, before he dived headfirst into open air, Harry right on his tail.

It didn't take long to find Goblin's little hideout. As panicked as Peter had been while trapped as Carnage, he still knew the city like he knew his webshooters and retracing the symbiotes steps was a cinch.

They stopped a small distance from the building, the tattered circular glass window glinting in the fading light of the day as dark clouds moved in from the skyline. The weather channel had mentioned a storm moving in – what a day for the forecast to be right.

"Okay, Goblin's not gonna expect a full-frontal attack," Peter said, peering over the building ledge, "but he's got home-field advantage."

"Should we lure him out?" Nova asked, staring at the building as if it were a particularly hard level to a video game.

"And endanger everyone out here?" Tiger said, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"She's right. Best we keep this fight contained. He may have the home field, but he is bigger than us. It'll be more cramped for him."

"Speak for yourself," Powerman muttered.

Peter spared him a glance, "Anyway, here's the plan. I'll go in first, maybe let him think his little spawn dragged me there or something, and you guys follow me in. Don't give him any time to think about what's happening, we need to hit him hard and fast. Nova, you're first. Blind him with your sparky powers and Powerman will follow-up and knock him off his feet. After that, it's just a matter of keeping him down and not relenting. If this goes right, we'll knock him out right in the beginning, call up SHIELD, and have a wonderful rest of the day."

Nova snorted, crossing his arms, "Yeah, or the opposite, where he doesn't go down, punches us back, and hands our butts back to us. You know, like what usually happens."

"Really not helping, Nova."

Said Buckethead shrugged innocently, "Just keeping us practical."

White Tiger gave a short laugh and rapped her fingers against his helmet, "You? Practical? Yeah, as likely as Webs doing laundry more than once a month."

Harry turned to Peter with a stare, "You don't do laundry more than once a month?"

Peter glowered at him, "Hey, you don't even do your own laundry, you can't judge me."

"Too late."

Peter swiped his hands through the air, "Okay, okay, we've got to focus. Powerman, when I give the go-ahead, allioop me into the building. Got it?"

A strong hand curled around the nape of his neck and Powerman picked him up with ease, "Got it."

"Everyone else ready?"

They shot him a thumbs up.

"Harry?"

"Yep, I'm on standby," Harry said, but Peter could tell he was forcing the enthusiasm in his thumbs-up. Peter didn't have time to dwell on that, or the chance to really allow the feelings of intense guilt eat away at him as he said, "Okay, Luke-" before he was being thrown into the air.

"I DIDN'T SAY GOOOOOO!" Peter screamed, and the next thing he knew he was crashing through the shattered glass window, skidding across the floor, and stopping in front of a massive green foot.

Groaning, he followed it up till he was staring into a pair the cruel yellow eyes and a large grin full of sharp teeth and promises of pain.

"Look what we have here?" His rough voice rumbled, as he turned more directly toward Peter, "Spider-Man, right where I want you," and before Peter could even get up on his knees, that same green foot came up and slammed down into him, pinning his chest to the ground, "underfoot."

Peter groaned again. Bruises - not the best way to start off a plan, not to mention there was a rather large disgusting foot pushing him into an equally gross floor. Maybe he should've volunteered Luke to be the bait - he was the one with invulnerable skin. He wouldn't be in danger of catching some funky foot disease.

A noise grabbed Goblin's attention and he looked up, eyes brightening as if prepared to greet a returning war-hero, only for that smug look to twist into something confused, which quickly turned into pained as a bright flash of light slammed directly into his face.

He tittered, rubbing at his face, and Peter used the distraction to push him off and flip back onto his feet.

"Nice to see you too, Gobby."

Nova flew in, using one arm to blind Goblin and the other to toss Powerman through the air, where the invulnerable teen tightened his fist and slammed it into Goblins unprepared form. The force of the blow was enough to knock Goblin clean off his feet, and for a happy, hopeful moment Peter thought they'd done it.

Simple, easy, and effective.

His paradigm quickly shattered when Goblin sat up, looking disgruntled, but not in the least beat down. His green face was twisted into something snarling and angry, like an angry dog, "What is this?"

"It's a surprise attack," Peter replied, "Surprise!"

Powerman grunted and tried to hit Goblin again, but this time the villain caught his fist and tossed him over his shoulder as if he were an empty soda can.

"What did you - why..." Goblin paused and his eyes narrowed, lips curling back, "What did you do to my creation?"

"Oh, you mean that peppy little guy that jumped me?" Peter said, "The kid that you kidnapped and injected with a symbiote? Yeah, got him a little help - didn't think spending so much time around you was good for his health."

Goblin growled, his shoulders hunching and his fists baring their claws in a way that meant he was gearing up to fight. "You will pay for what you did to my son!"

"That wasn't your son," White Tiger said, jumping down from the rafters, "That was a scared kid you abducted off the street."

Peter glowered internally. He hadn't been that scared.

"He was my son!" Goblin roared back, "And you will not keep him from me."

"Honestly, Gobby, that's the best thing we could do for him," It was weird talking about himself, but he couldn't exactly disagree with his point either. Peter would feel a lot better if Goblin was always at an arms-length. Or a mile-length. Or if Goblin just packed up and decided to live on the moon - he wasn't picky.

"Besides," Nova said, flying up around Goblin's other side, "You already have a son, freak-face. Harry Osborn, red hair, about yeh-high."

Goblin snarled up at him, looking angrier than before - if that were possible. "Don't speak that name! He was a disappointment. A mistake blessed with the Osborn genes. He is no son of mine!"

Peter glanced nervously at the broken window, knowing Harry was waiting on just the building opposite, and that with the comm Iron Fist had given him, was hearing every word. But his worry was only matched by his own anger.

"How can you say that?" He demanded, "Harry loved you. He still loves you. How twisted can your heart be if you can't love him back?"

Goblin made a hysteric laughing noise, looking down at Peter as if he had the simplest mind in the world. "Love him back? I loved him before he showed me what a pathetic waste he became. Maybe if he'd proven himself, he'd be more deserving of love."

Peter made an angry noise and lunged at him, landing a solid hit right on that stupidly infuriating grin. "You," punch, "Are," punch, "The," punch, "Worst," punch, "Father ever!" punch, "Now," punch, "Pass," punch, "Out," punch, punch, "Already."

Goblin grabbed his arm, squeezed, and promptly slammed Peter into the wall, before bringing him back and slamming into the floor. He punctuated his attack with a heavy foot falling on Peter's back, and Peter might've shouted if his lungs were wheezing for air. He could feel his ribs straining under the pressure; the painful push of his bones as they threatened to snap.

"No, I'm a reasonable father," Goblin correct.

"Get off him!" White Tiger growled, kicking Goblin in the side so he leaned off Peter. Peter swung an arm over his ribs and Iron Fist stopping briefly to help him to his feet, as White Tiger pressed her advantage. Nova swooped down with her, firing in Goblin's face when he tried to aim a voltage shock at Tiger.

Peter took a moment to assess any injury. No cracked ribs. Maybe a little bruising, but they'd heal up in no time. He and Iron Fist hustled forward to help.

The lab was getting trashed in the wake of the fight, more so when Goblin grabbed Nova by his ankle and swung him into the cabinet of chemical vials and jars. The Nova Force would protect him from the chemicals, Peter hoped. They didn't need Sam going all goop-monster on them too. Besides, chemical burns were no joke.

When Powerman came charging at him from behind, Goblin landed a solid kick to Tiger's middle, then turned and grabbed Powerman by the face and unleashed a strong surge of electricity. He screamed under the assault and Iron Fist wasted no time in lighting his fists and planting them right in Goblins middle in a ferocious punch.

The villain flew back from the impact, and Iron Fist helped Powerman back up when he slumped on his feet, groaning.

Why couldn't plans against Goblin ever go well with minimal injury to his team? Was that really too much to ask?

Peter jumped at Goblin, hoping to catch him at a disadvantage, but Goblin was prepared and caught him by his torso. His grin was vicious and serrated as he slammed Peter down on the very table he'd been strapped to not even an hour ago and charged up his gloves again.

Electrical burns were no stranger to Peter, but the sensation of electricity firing through his body, snapping from nerve-ending to nerve-ending in a painful, crackling, wave was never a pleasant one. He back arched unwilfully and Peter realized, through the burning of hair and crackling of electricity, he was screaming.

The next thing he knew, there was a crash of glass and a thud, and suddenly Goblin was being thrown off.

"Get off him!" A deep, snarling voice roared and Peter glanced up at the pair of large, broad black shoulders in front of him with a debilitated expression.

"Harry?" he groaned, stifling the urge to just lay back on the table and sleep. He's handled his fair share of electrocution, but that didn't make it hurt any less. Still, it wasn't the worst he'd ever received, he could shake this off.

Goblin pulled himself out of the wreckage of monitors and cabinets, his grin replaced with a snarl. "Venom," he growled.

"Yess, Father," Venom growled, his voice dark and riddled with bitter resentment. "I'm here to prove myssself," he took a giant step forward, shoulders hunching with his hands out and claw-like fingers braced, "By ridding the world of you!" His shoulder jerked outward and his arm grew like a tree branch on steroids, slamming Goblin back into the wall.

All humor was gone. Instead of addressing Venom's threat, Goblin thrust out his hand and shouted, "OBEY symbiote! Come to me."

The symbiote must've still harbored a bit of fear for Goblin; a small, inherent push to listen to him, as the black mass of Venom's body began to tremble and with a strained grunt, he inched toward Goblin, much to his own chagrin. He stopped in front of Goblin, bowed down on his knees and Goblin's grin was back.

"Better. Now -" before he could issue a command, a black tendril curled around his hand and Venom swung Goblin over his head and toward the opposite end of the room with a violent snarl. This time, Goblin managed to land on his feet and he curled the tendril around his arm, yanked Venom toward him and landed a solid, wince-inducing punch to his head.

"You will obey!" he declared, now shoving his fist straight into Venom's goopy chest with electricity surging from his fingers. Venom writhed and shrieked, body convulsing as the symbiote struggled to get away. Somewhere in the growling, shrieking mess, Harry was screaming too.

It snapped Peter back to reality, and he was on his feet, jerking Goblin away from his son before he even realized he was moving.

"That's enough!" he shouted.

Goblin snarled at him, "Working together, then?" he demanded, "I would've thought such alliances were below you. Did you have him waiting for you outside? Harry always was so good at following orders like a dog."

"Don't talk about him like that," Peter growled, but was unable to say anything further as Goblin started firing at him,

"What's it to you, Spider?" Goblin questioned, "Why are you so concerned for my former--son anyway? Aside from your basic desire to protect, you seem awfully invested in Harry."

"Maybe because he's a good guy and his dad's an absolute maniac!" Peter shouted back.

Venom was back on his fight by then and grabbed Goblin's firing arm, shoving him away hard enough that he landed on his side in a heap. Peter dropped on Goblin's massive shoulder, poking his grotesque head.

"And yeah, against you, I probably would make many such alliances."

Goblin swung out to hit him, but Peter jumped safely away. Goblin lumbered his feet and Peter grabbed one of the electrical gloves and yanked it so Goblin lost his balance again. The villain hit the floor with a grunt and Venom was in front of him, prepared to strike the final blow, but Goblin lifted his other hand and set off a particularly strong blast of electricity. More juice pumping into this attack than the others.

Venom shrieked in return, the electricity powerful enough for tendrils of the black withering symbiote to uncurl and reveal Harry's screaming face, lit up by the yellow crackling glow of the gloves.

"DAD, STOP!" his voice was so pained, it felt like a stab in the gut.

It must've startled Goblin too because he recoiled and the electricity cut off instantly. The moment it stopped, Venom crashed back around Harry, forming the colossal being once more and he punched Goblin.

It brought Goblin back to reality and he pulled a scowl back over his face. He grabbed the web-line still attached to his shoulder and pulled, pulling Peter along with it. He threw Peter into Venom before tearing it off and making a break for his glider.

Nova intercepted him with several well-placed blasts, and when Goblin had to step away from to avoid him, he sent one mega beam at the tech, completely frying its motors, engines, and systems. Goblin roared in outrage and threw a monitor laying on the ground at Nova, who yelped and dodged.

Powerman was up again and not looking too happy about getting his brain fried. "Alright, Goblin. No more pulling punches," he hit the villain hard, followed by another punch from Iron Fist, then White Tiger, and he fell back on the ground, if not unconscious than at least stunned for the moment.

Peter webbed his limbs down just in case.

"Chew on that, Gobby," he jeered, "It's over."

Venom was walking toward Goblin, his claws sharpening in a way that didn't look very promising.

"It'sss not over yet," he said, stopping in front of Goblin. He lifted his claws, but Peter shot a web-line and pulled his hand away before he did something he might regret later.

"Whoa, easy Harry," he tugged on the line a little more forcefully when Harry's claws didn't drop, "It's okay. We've won. We'll call up SHIELD and we can take your dad into custo - WHOA-"

Venom yanked on the web-line and grabbed Peter by the front of his costume. On instinct, Peter latched onto the giant hand to steady himself, staring widely into Venom's snarling face. "H-Harry?"

"You don't underssstand," Venom said, and Peter could hear the slip of desperation putting a tremor in his tone. A window to Harry's voice, riding just beneath the heavy drone of Venom's bass. "It'ss not over - it'ss never over - until he'sss GONE! You heard him! You heard what he said about usss!"

Peter curled his hand more tightly around Venom's giant knuckles, hoping that Harry might feel it through the miles of goop separating them. "I know," he said, "I know. It sucks, Harry, but please think about this. You can't just kill him. Your dad wasn't the best, even before he became Goblin, but this serum is making him sick. Please, you've gotta-" a blast interrupted him, barely missing them both by centimeters.

"Touching, Spider-Man," Goblin drawled, pulling the webs apart and lumbering to his feet. How was he still going? He pointed his gloved hand at Venom, grin becomes something cruel and sadistic, "But I can't take care of my own mess."

Peter heard the heavy inhale; felt Venom's grip tighten; saw the way his lips pulled back into a hair-raising snarl, giving a perfect view of his serrated teeth. Peter desperately scrambled to get a hold of Harry, grabbing his wrist and his forearm.

"Harry-"

But Venom shook him off, dropping him back on the floor with nothing but a murderous look toward the monster that had once been his father. Right as Venom lunged, Peter shot a web at his arm, pulling it back, as another blast exploded next to him. He glared at Goblin.

"Okay, do you want me to let him kill you, then? Seriously, not helping!"

Snarling again, Venom lurched his webbed arm forward, pulling Peter along with it as he threw a punch and tried to shove his claws through Goblin's gut. Peter found himself dropped right in the middle of their fight and did a little frantic dance in an effort to avoid getting skewered.

The rest of the team was quick to jump in, maneuvering between the two giant, brawling beings in an attempt to separate them.

"Stop this," Iron Fist tried, blocking a hit from Venom, "Harry, you mustn't let the influence of the symbiote control you. Steel your mind."

"SSSSHUT UP!" Venom roared and several tendrils latched onto the monk, throwing him across the room. He kicked Powerman away, while Goblin fought off White Tiger and Nova by throwing them into each other and tossing them aside. A particularly powerful punch from Venom had Peter stumbling back, rubbing his jaw.

This wasn't working. Harry was too far gone in his anger to listen to reason. Peter knew that he was hurt by Goblin; he was hurt by every cruel act and sinister word Norman had given him over the years. But somewhere in there, Peter knew Harry stilled loved his dad, and while that might be strange considering how he's been treated, Peter knew it would destroy him inside if he did kill his father. As soon as the adrenaline wore off and he had a clearer mind, it'd eat away at, annihilating him from the inside out.

Peter refused to let that happen. He needed to get Harry to see reason. But how? He looked at Peter and all he saw was Spider-Man – a hero he didn't even like this morning.

Huh...so maybe he had to show him that he wasn't just Spider-Man and that Peter Parker was here too.

Goblin had Venom pinned and was giving no mercy in his beating.

"C'mon, Harry," Goblin crowed, "We both know you don't have it in you." He grabbed the top and bottom of Venom's jaws and pried them apart, in a way that would've broken any other person's jaw, but another face grew out of Venom's throat and snapped at Goblin. Venom tossed Goblin off and stormed toward him.

The black bristled face pulled away to reveal Harry, blue eyes glaring, red hair mussed. "I just wanted to make you proud," he said. He sounded so hurt, so desperate. So much pain laced in with every word. "But now I know that will never happen, will it? When did you stop caring about me? Huh, Dad? Why am I not good enough for you." He looked away slightly to hide his misty eyes and trembling voice. He didn't expect an answer.

But when he looked back, he was glaring in full, righteous fury. "And if I can't make you proud," the symbiote knit together again, forming Venom's face as he growled, "Then I'll just make you go away!"

He lifted his claws again, forming them into sharp points. But before he could do anything with them, Peter said, "Harry," and Venom paused.

He didn't say it loud. Didn't shout. Didn't push forth the confidence he tried to build as Spider-Man. It was soft and earnest like he was talking to a friend.

Because he was. He was talking to Harry. His best friend. The boy's he's loved probably ever since their first terrible-monster-movie-night. The boy that he wanted to laugh with, and hold, and watch crappy movies with and go out on dates (and probable – maybe – definitely – kiss again).

Venom turned, looking toward him, and Peter could see his expression soften, just a little.

"Stop," Peter said, "You don't need to do this." He was still dressed as Spider-Man, still wearing his mask, but he tried to push as much Peter Parker into it as possible. Reaching for his best friend the way he knew how.

Venom stared at him, a furrow digging between his large white eyes. He made a low growling sound as if arguing with himself, before he grunted, hissed, and grabbed Peter with a long black tendril, slamming him into the wall – cracking the mortar with his back.

Peter didn't let it deter him.

"I know you've been hurt, Harry," he said, staring into those white eyes that dragged shivers down his spines. The only thing holding him up was the large, monstrous hand pinning him to the wall, his feet not even touching the floor, "And I know a lot of people have let you down too. I've let you down. But we can't give up on the people we care about. You didn't give up on Peter Parker...you didn't give up on me," Peter dropped his voice so only Harry could hear, "And I won't give up on you, Har. I never will. Please...please come back to me."

Venom looked to the side, glaring at nothing. Peter couldn't see the internal war waging in his head, but he knew it was happening.

"He's a monster," Venom tried, and looked down, staring at his own reflection in the broken glass. "I'm a monster."

"No!" Peter said, firmly, and he grabbed that big, fanged jaw so he was forced to look at Peter, "No, that suit is making you act like this. You are a good person, Harry. You're a great friend. Probably the best friend anyone could ask for, and if Peter was here right now," his voice dropped slightly, earnestly, "He would agree with me. You're his best friend. You're more than his family. And...and maybe he wants a little something more -" he glanced wearily at Goblin, who still looked unconscious at the moment, but you never could tell when he was faking. "Peter - uh, confided in me after we got the symbiote off him. He's worried about you, Harry. He wanted me to tell you that he's sorry for leaving you alone, and he's sorry you had to carry this burden without him. He...he wants to make it right with you if you will give him the opportunity to do it."

Venom was silent, drinking in Peter's words. He looked down at his reflection, back at Peter, over at Goblin, then back at Peter again. The team waited with bated breath, in case they needed to intervene at the first sign of murderous intent.

"Harry," Peter whispered, and Venom looked back at him, "Please come back to me and let me make it right."

Slowly, Venom let Peter go so he softly landed back on his feet. He looked over at Goblin again, then down at his own two hands as if imagining what he'd almost done.

He looked back at Peter before he started shrinking down. The tongue slid away, the mouth knit itself back together, and he shed several tons of muscle until it was Harry again, wearing the black hero costume from before. He took a deep breath, hands clenching, jaw tight.

"You right," he said in a strangled voice, "I...I don't want to give up on him yet. Maybe he won't ever love me, but..." he looked over at Spider-Man, "maybe his love isn't all that matters."

Peter tried not to melt into a muddle on the floor.

Harry pulled him into a tight hug, squeezing as if terrified that Peter would pull a Houdini and disappear. "Thanks," he said, "Thanks for calming down and..and for everything..." He was still stiff, voice stifled and tight, but he was clinging onto Peter so desperately that Peter didn't dare let go.

Peter returned the hug and he was definitely not about to cry.

"Very touching" a voice sneered, and Peter groaned. Goblin was sitting back up, staring at the two of them with an intrigued look. Maybe that hug had lasted a bit longer than it should have.

"Dad, give it up," Harry said, "We've got you outnumbered, and your gliders broken. You've got nowhere to go."

"On the contrary, Harry, I have many places I could go. But that's beside the point," he was on his feet, "This has been an interesting experience," he glanced between Harry and Peter, "Very interesting. But I better get going now."

Peter eased into his crouch, "You're not going anywhere, Goblin."

Goblin merely grinned. He pushed a button and his glider jerkily, yet very quickly, flew over to him, shuddering and smoking so bad it was almost sad. Peter wanted to point out that that thing wouldn't even survive a trip to the hot-dog stand down the street when Goblin reached in and pulled out a tank of some kind. Before any of them could move, he smashed it into the ground at their feet and it exploded in a hot, fiery mess.

They all were blown back, hitting different parts of the room, and by the time they were back on their feet, coughing and swiping through the smoke, Goblin had done a Houdini and disappeared. Flames were quickly getting higher, fueling itself on the broken chemical vials littering the room.

"We need to get out of here," Peter shouted, gesturing to the window, "Single file, let's-" Harry suddenly yelped and Peter turned to see Goblin emerging from the smoke and pulling Harry up after him as he scaled the top scaffolding.

"GOBLIN!!"

Harry glared at the gruesome green face that had once been his dad, baring his teeth behind the mask. "L - let go! I'm not afraid of you anymore!"

Goblin simply tilted his head. He was wearing an expression Harry couldn't read. He brought Harry closer and said, "Maybe there's something to you after all. Your father would be...proud of you today."

Harry stopped his struggling to stare at the Goblin in stunned silence. He searched those yellow eyes, looking for a trace of the man he'd once known.

He glared, "Tell my father that I don't need his approval anymore."

Goblin didn't have anything to say to that. He looked at Harry with that unreadable expression, then relaxed his fingers and suddenly Harry was falling. He didn't say anything though, he stared up at the Goblin, his moment of bravado slipping.

Faintly, he knew that he should stop his descent, but it didn't matter because a moment later someone was grabbing him and Harry instinctively clutched the red and blue fabric. The sudden clash of color snapped Harry out of his daze and he looked over at Spider-Man, who had caught him in his descent and seemed to be almost cradling him in his arms now.

"Harry? Harry are you okay? Did he hurt you? What'd he say to you?"

His concerned babbling continued and the sharp icy unease Harry was feeling, the sensation of seeking approval and denying it at the same time clashing together, faded. Melting into the background as he focused on the heat of Peter's body and the strong, secure hold of his arms.

Harry curled his arms around Peter's neck, pulling him into a hug again, and Peter's babbling stopped short as he, very slowly - and very concerned - returned it.

"Not that I don't endorse hugs, but are...are you okay?"

"I"m fi-" Harry started, but paused, "No..., no, I'm not. But...but I'm not doing bad either."

"Oh," Peter turned into him slightly, deepening their hug, "Well...that's better than nothing, right?"

Harry laughed and nodded, "Yeah, probably."

They both relaxed into the other's embrace. Harry watched as the rest of the team attempted to follow after the Goblin. He knew Peter should be with him, but he couldn't help but feel grateful that he stayed.

"You know...we should probably get out of here before we get lung cancer or something."

Harry laughed but agreed.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"Annnnd, he got away, didn't he," Peter grumbled, already seeing the look Nick Fury was giving him as he climbed down the steps of the building. "Ugh, but we trashed him."

"Yeah, and so are we, Web-Nerd!" Nova glowered, rubbing his aching muscles. "I didn't see you going after him while you were getting all lovey-dovey with Osborn."

Peter flipped him a gesture and he returned it in kind.

"Regardless, this was far from a loss," Nick assured, "We've obtained custody over one of Goblin's hideouts and there's a chance it can lead us to any other places he might be using as cover. However," his one eye glanced over at Harry, who was standing off to the side, back in his normal clothes, and looking up at the storm clouds overhead. "We're still in debate on whether or not young Osborn there should be permitted to keep the Venom symbiote. He's lashed out with it on more than one occasion and has put countless people in danger with his outbursts. It might be better to keep it as far from him as possible, considering their history."

Peter held up his hands, "All understandable precautions. But instead of just taking it from him, maybe you could, I don't know, ask?"

Nick Fury regarded him coolly, "And what are the chances of young Osborn giving it up?"

That Peter hesitated at and he rubbed the back of his neck, making a so-so gesture, "Eh...50/50? 40/60, maybe? I don't know, they seem kind of attached, but I don't...I don't really know much about it..."

Fury glanced at Harry again, then back at Peter, "Well, I'm making it your mission to figure it out and report back to me. We'll leave Osborn for now, but the moment he shows open signs of hostility with the symbiote, we will be forced to detain him. We will also have him under heavy surveillance, especially now that he knows who you are."

Yeah, Peter saw that one coming. But he was too exhausted, and far to achy, to really argue for the moment. Instead, he made a tired shrugging gesture as if to say, 'what can you do?' that Nick Fury raised an eyebrow at him.

"Your backpack is over on the steps," was his reply. "Rest up and keep an eye on Osborn."

Peter made a salute and grabbed his backpack, "Yes sir," it'd be my pleasure, he added silently and turned toward Harry.

As he walked past him, he said, "Wait for me. I'm gonna go change," then disappeared into an alley a little farther off to get into his civvies. With SHIELD in the area, blocking off the premise and likely combing through all the video feed that might be watching, he didn't need to worry about getting caught.

By the time he was finishing with the last button, it was starting to rain. He stuffed the dirty costume into his backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and hurried back out into the street.

A new limo had pulled up for Harry, and Peter breathed in relief when he saw the other boy waiting outside for him, despite the increasing downpour. Peter approached him, smiling somewhat awkwardly, "Give a bud a ride?"

"And do what?" Harry asked, though there was a small, almost excited tilt to his head.

Peter smiled, "I don't know, hang out...or something..."

Harry raised his eyebrow on the 'or something' part, but he didn't look like he was really objecting to it either. A small smile tugged at his lips and he opened the door with a sigh, "Hop in."

Peter grinned and did so.

He claimed a spot and wasn't at all troubled when Harry didn't take the opposite seat and instead sat next to him. They didn't talk at first as the driver pulled into traffic, but Peter noticed that Harry had already closed the window separating them.

After a moment, Peter cleared his throat and said, "Har...thanks for not giving up on me."

Harry looked a little surprised at that and quickly looked away, cheeks going red. "Same," he muttered, "Thanks for not giving up on me either."

He glanced down at Peter's backpack, and his soft smile dropped, no doubt understanding just what red and blue costume was hiding inside. For the longest time Harry hated Spider-Man. Peter wondered what he was thinking now.

He chewed nervously on his lip for a moment, "I'll explain everything," he promised, gesturing to the backpack, "As soon as we go...wherever it is were going, I'll explain everything."

Harry hummed in response, and to Peter's relief and happiness, he leaned back and put his head to rest on Peter's shoulder. He closed his eyes. "I'd appreciate that."

Peter smiled and found himself tracing the lines of Harry's lips. He thought back to the building, feeling Harry's body pressed against his; the feel of his lips and the skill Harry had with them. He flushed at the thought.

Where were they headed after this? Something more than just their relationship before? He hoped for it with every beat of his heart, but at the same time, the prospect terrified him. If they really did end up as more, there would be no going back to the way things were before.

And maybe...

Maybe that wasn't so bad.

Feeling a burst of courage, Peter let his hand slip down into Harry's, and his heart thumped when Harry's hand closed around his in return. Sighing, smiling for all that he was worth, Peter lay his head on top of Harry's, listening to the patter of rain on the windows and the distant echo of thunder.

Neither saw the large, shadowed figured watching the car drive off from the top of a building ledge, or the way its yellow eyes tracked their progress through the traffic.

Goblin watched them, heedless of the rivulets of water rolling off his huge frame. "Interesting indeed," he rumbled as the car disappeared around the corner.

WHY DO I LEAVE THINGS WITH CLIFFHANGERS? WHY?

I'm was like, "okay, this is going to be a ficlet. Don't get attached. Tie it back into the main story of the show so you don't get attached" – but dangit I've gotten attached. Why do plots have to sneak up on me like this? No, no, no, no – I already have too many fics to work on.

LOL anyway, hope you enjoyed this FINAL chapter that shouldn't have ended with a cliffhanger, but I can't help it because I'm me and I don't know when to stop.

Man, I love Parksborn SOOOOOO much. It's so cute. Spideypool will be my forever ship, but dang if Parksborn doesn't tug at my heart-strings.

You can probably expect more content with this ship from me because I'm that much in love, but I might be going inactive over this next week. I'm very likely going to be moving out of my parent's house this weekend and that shit's scary – but I also REALLY need my own space (parents aren't too happy with the idea, but whatcha gonna do?). So, yeah, moving out will be a big thing and I might be inactive for a bit as I settle in.

Also – HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! 3