Symbiotic Agent

Hm, hm?" Gwen, still lost in thought over the fuss she had just caused, subconsciously hummed when she suddenly heard her name. But the next sentence snapped her back to reality, and she instantly understood what was going on.

Why did he suddenly call my name? How could he have found out my identity? I didn't reveal any flaws!

Impossible. Impossible. He must've said something else.

Countless thoughts raced through Gwen's mind in an instant. She tried to calm herself, convincing herself not to panic. Maybe Holm had called the wrong name. But before she could finish that comforting thought, a chill brushed against her face. The fresh, cool morning air pierced through, and she realized it was more vivid than before.

Her mask was gone.

Gwen's wide eyes stared in shock, her lips slightly parted. She froze, utterly stunned. Her pale face, partly due to her injuries, was streaked with strands of golden hair, some clinging to her sweat-dampened forehead and cheeks.

Looking at the familiar face before him, Holm's suspicion was confirmed. "As expected," he muttered internally, but he said nothing for a moment.

Calmly, he handed Gwen her mask before taking out a tissue. "Wipe your sweat," he said, his voice steady.

Gwen pursed her lips, hesitated, then took the tissue, her gaze lowering. "How did you figure it out?" she asked quietly.

Holm rubbed the bridge of his nose, thinking. Finally, he answered truthfully, "You know I'm… different. My senses are far more sensitive than ordinary people's."

He paused, then continued, "I remember your scent."

Gwen blinked.

"Gwen Stacy and Spider-Woman have the same scent. I didn't realize it at first; I just thought it seemed familiar."

Holm shrugged. "But today, when I overheard you and Dr. Lizard talking about Peter Parker, things clicked. I've met your father and noticed the connection. After combining all the clues, it became clear."

Gwen remained silent, digesting his words.

"But don't worry," Holm reassured her. "I won't reveal your identity. That's a promise."

He added, "Besides, we're both… unique. You've seen me turn into that black monster. That's my secret, and I trust you to keep it safe too."

Relief washed over Gwen. She hadn't considered that her scent could be a giveaway—something so subtle, she hadn't even noticed it herself. Yet Holm had pieced it together.

She exhaled softly. Knowing they shared secrets eased her fears. She no longer had to worry about hiding every part of herself from Holm.

For a moment, she thought about Peter Parker. He had been her confidant, someone who understood the weight of her responsibilities. Since his death, Gwen had bottled up her emotions, unable to confide in anyone.

Now, another person knew her truth. It was a strange but welcome feeling. She could finally lower her mask, if only for this one person.

A small, long-forgotten smile appeared on her pale face. "Alright," she said, her voice lighter. "It's a deal. We keep each other's secrets."

Holm smiled in return. He extended his hand. "Deal. Let's get reacquainted. I'm Holm Clint."

"I'm Gwen Stacy," she said, smiling faintly. "Also, Spider-Woman."

Gwen instinctively reached to shake his hand but winced as pain shot through her wound.

"Sorry, that's on me," Holm said quickly, lowering his hand. He pressed gently against her wound, maintaining just enough pressure.

As he worked, Holm explained his idea to heal her injury using his symbiotic abilities. He deliberately avoided mentioning Venom's name, instead referring to it as his "special ability."

Listening carefully, Gwen's expression shifted. "That explains it. I wondered why you weren't hurt earlier—not from the manhole cover, not from Dr. Lizard's attacks."

Holm nodded. "I do get hurt. It's just… my healing is faster. The pain's still there, though."

"That's incredible," Gwen said, her tone tinged with envy. "Even your clothes repair themselves. Do you know how many combat uniforms I've gone through?"

Holm chuckled.

"If something gets damaged, I have to replace it completely," Gwen continued. "Honestly, if I hadn't budgeted my pocket money well, just replacing costumes and refilling spider silk would've drained me dry."

As she spoke, Venom chimed in within Holm's mind. She has good taste, it said smugly. She noticed my subtle abilities. I didn't even think much of them myself. Heh, guess I'm pretty impressive.

The symbiote's pride only grew. So… snacks? Don't forget my snacks! A symbiote of my caliber deserves the best. I'm the top-tier symbiote, after all.

Holm sighed inwardly but humored Venom. He promised to get it chocolates and snacks soon.

Meanwhile, Gwen suddenly stopped mid-thought. "Wait, we're getting off-topic." She shifted her focus back to the matter at hand. "Let's try your idea. I'm ready."

Holm smiled, noticing how much more relaxed she seemed. She was more talkative now that her mask was off.

With a thought, Holm activated Venom. Black, sticky liquid began to ooze from his palm, coating his hand as he pressed against Gwen's wound.

The symbiotic material flowed smoothly onto her skin, wrapping itself around her injury. Gwen's nervous eyes followed the movement, unsure of what to expect.

Though its appearance was unsettling, the venom brought immediate relief. The sharp pain faded, replaced by a cool, tingling sensation.

Gwen blinked. "Is it… healing?" she wondered aloud, her voice filled with cautious hope.

The black liquid pulsed, its movements slowing as it worked. Then, it receded back into Holm's hand.

Holm removed the gauze, revealing smooth, unbroken skin where the wound had been.

Gwen stared, wide-eyed. She lightly touched the area, still in disbelief. "It's… completely healed."

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