Not So Friendly Anymore

Peter Parker stood on the rooftop of a dilapidated building, looking out over the city he once vowed to protect. The neon lights of New York flickered beneath him, casting long, jagged shadows across his figure. He could feel the weight of the black suit clinging to his skin, a dark reminder of the symbiote's presence. The wind was cold and biting, but Peter barely noticed. His mind was elsewhere, tangled in the web of memories and regrets.

It had only been a few weeks since he had regained control of his body from Otto Octavius. The brilliant but twisted mind of Doctor Octopus had taken over Peter's life, masquerading as Spider-Man and leaving a trail of chaos in his wake. Now, Peter was left to pick up the pieces of his shattered existence. His friends and family had turned their backs on him, believing he had truly become the monster Otto had portrayed. The city, once his home, now viewed him with suspicion and fear.

Peter clenched his fists, feeling the symbiote respond to his anger. It thrived on his darker emotions, amplifying them, feeding off his despair. He had promised himself he would never wear the black suit again, but desperate times called for desperate measures. If the people of New York thought he was a menace, then maybe it was time to show them just how menacing he could be.

A low growl escaped his lips as he remembered the letter. The letter from Eddie Brock. Peter had found it among his old belongings, a final message from the man who had once been his enemy, then his reluctant ally. Eddie had been dying, his body ravaged by cancer, and he had reached out to Peter in his last moments.

"Spider-Man, if you're reading this, it means I'm already gone. I know we had our differences, but I wanted to tell you... I never hated you. Not really. The symbiote... it changed us both. I made my peace with it. I hope you can too. Goodbye, old friend."

Peter had crumpled the letter in his hand, his heart heavy with guilt. Eddie's death had been a turning point, a catalyst for the symbiote to sense the change in him. It had sought him out, finding him at his lowest, and bonded with him once more. But this time, Peter wasn't fighting it. He was embracing it.

He leaped from the rooftop, his black suit morphing into tendrils that propelled him through the air. He moved with a fluid grace, a shadow blending into the night. The city streets blurred beneath him as he swung from building to building, his mind focused on a single purpose. If New York no longer wanted the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, then they would have to deal with something much darker.

Peter's target tonight was a villain who had capitalized on Otto's reign as the Superior Spider-Man: Shocker. Herman Schultz had thrived in the chaos, knowing full well the truth behind Spider-Man's altered behavior. It was time to make him confess—publicly.

Peter found Shocker mid-heist at a high-end jewelry store. With a burst of webbing, he crashed through the window, landing amidst the chaos. Shocker's henchmen turned their weapons on him, but Peter was faster, his movements a blur. He took them down one by one with brutal efficiency, not holding back his strength. The henchmen's screams filled the air, but Peter felt nothing but cold resolve.

"Spider-Man!" Shocker shouted, raising his gauntlets. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

Peter's eyes narrowed as he approached. "Hello, Shocker," he replied, his voice a low growl. "I have some questions for you."

Shocker fired his gauntlets, sending a shockwave towards Peter. He dodged effortlessly, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. He grabbed Shocker by the throat, lifting him off the ground with one hand.

"Confess," Peter snarled, tightening his grip. "Tell them what you know about Otto."

Shocker's eyes widened in fear. "You're crazy, man! Let me go!"

Peter slammed him into the ground, the impact sending cracks spiderwebbing through the floor. "Confess!" he roared, his voice echoing through the store.

The commotion had drawn a crowd outside, news cameras capturing the scene. The citizens of New York watched in stunned silence as Spider-Man, their once-beloved hero, brutalized his enemy.

Shocker coughed, blood trickling from his mouth. "Alright, alright! I'll talk! Otto Octavius... he swapped minds with you. He was the one in your body, calling himself the Superior Spider-Man!"

Peter's grip tightened. "Louder. Make sure they all hear you."

Shocker's voice rose, trembling with fear. "It wasn't you! It was Octavius! He was pretending to be Spider-Man!"

Satisfied, Peter released Shocker, who crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath. But Peter wasn't done. He felt the eyes of the city on him, the judgment and fear. He turned to face Shocker, his eyes cold and unfeeling.

Shocker struggled to his feet, raising his gauntlets in a last-ditch effort to defend himself. Peter moved faster, webbing the gauntlets to the ground and delivering a savage kick to Shocker's chest. The force sent Shocker crashing through a display case, shards of glass embedding in his skin.

Peter stalked forward, his voice a low, menacing growl. "I'm not finished with you."

Shocker tried to crawl away, but Peter grabbed him by the leg, swinging him like a ragdoll into the wall. The impact left a dent, and Shocker's body slumped, barely conscious. The crowd outside was growing, the flashing lights of news cameras illuminating the scene.

Peter looked down at Shocker, his voice dripping with contempt. "You think you can just confess and walk away? You think that makes up for everything?"

Shocker groaned, trying to lift his head. "Please... I give up. Don't... don't do this."

Peter's lips curled into a cruel smile. "That's funny. I give up too. I give up trying to be the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man."

He reached down, grabbing a piece of rubble from the destroyed counter. The crowd watched in horror, the realization of what was about to happen dawning on them. Peter lifted the rubble high above his head, his muscles tensing with the effort.

Shocker's eyes widened in terror. "No! Please! I beg you!"

With a roar, Peter brought the rubble crashing down on Shocker's head, the force of the blow silencing him forever. The crowd gasped, screams echoing through the street. Peter turned to face them, his chest heaving, the black suit pulsing with dark energy.

He roared, the sound primal and filled with fury. The onlookers flinched, stepping back in fear. Satisfied, Peter shot a web and swung away, leaving behind a city that no longer recognized its hero.

As he moved through the night, Peter felt a strange sense of liberation. He no longer cared what people thought of him, no longer felt the burden of their expectations. He was free to be the Spider-Man he needed to be: ruthless, unyielding, and feared. The shadows welcomed him, and he embraced them in return.

Peter's next target was the Kingpin. Wilson Fisk had been growing bolder in his absence, expanding his criminal empire while Spider-Man was dealing with his own problems. It was time to remind Fisk that there was still someone willing to stand up to him.

He landed on the roof of Fisk Tower, the tallest building in the city. The Kingpin's headquarters. Peter knew it would be heavily guarded, but that didn't matter. He wasn't here for a stealth mission. He was here to send a message.

The guards at the entrance barely had time to react before Peter was on them, his movements a blur of black and fury. He dispatched them quickly, his fists connecting with bone-crushing force. The symbiote heightened his strength, his senses, making him an unstoppable force of nature.

He burst into the Kingpin's office, the doors slamming open with a resounding crash. Wilson Fisk looked up from his desk, his expression calm and composed. "Spider-Man. I was wondering when you'd show up."

Peter advanced with a cold, unwavering gaze fixed on Fisk. "This ends tonight, Fisk. No more games, no more mercy. You're done."

Fisk chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "You think you can just waltz in here and threaten me? You're even more foolish than I thought."

Peter's fists clenched, the symbiote rippling with anger. "I'm not here to threaten you, Fisk. I'm here to kill you."

With a roar, Peter lunged at Fisk, his movements a blur. The Kingpin was surprisingly agile for his size, dodging the initial attack and countering with a powerful punch. Peter felt the impact but shrugged it off, his rage fueling him.

The two titans clashed, their blows echoing through the office. Fisk was strong, but Peter was faster, more relentless. He dodged and weaved, landing punches that would have shattered bones in a normal man. But Fisk was no normal man.

Finally, Peter managed to land a solid hit, sending Fisk crashing into his desk. The Kingpin grunted, struggling to get back on his feet. "You can't win, Parker. The city hates you. No one will stand by your side."

Peter stood over him, his breathing heavy. "Maybe not. But that doesn't mean I'll stop fighting."

With a powerful kick, he sent Fisk crashing through the window, the Kingpin's massive body plummeting to the streets below. Peter watched him fall, a sense of grim satisfaction washing over him.

As he turned to leave, he felt the eyes of the city on him once more. The news cameras were still rolling, capturing every moment. Peter knew what they were thinking, what they were saying. But he didn't care.

He was no longer the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. He was something else, something darker. And he would make sure that everyone in New York knew it.

Swinging away into the night, Peter felt a sense of purpose he hadn't felt in a long time. The city was his to protect, his way. No more jokes. No more mercy. Just the cold, hard truth: Spider-Man was no longer their friendly neighborhood hero. He was their darkest nightmare.

The shadows welcomed him, and he embraced them in return.

Thanks for reading everyone

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