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Chapter Text

It was a day or so after Spider-Man's intense battle with Venom at Midtown High. It was a close call, but in the end, Spider-Man shoved the gene cleanser down Venom's throat. This resulted in the symbiote separating with Eddie Brock, despite his best efforts to hold on to it. After that, Eddie was wheeled off for treatment, promising to seek vengeance while the symbiote escaped into the sewers.

Unbeknownst to both Spider-Man and Eddie, during the process of trying to hold onto the symbiote, when it was falling off of Eddie, a small piece of it slipped off and crawled into the back of a locker. Mary Jane Watson's locker, to be more specific.

A day or so after that whole incident, while Mary Jane was getting school supplies and books out of her locker, the small piece of the symbiote latched onto one of her books and hid in it without her noticing. Later, during class, it slid out of the book it was hiding in and into her backpack.

That night, while Mary Jane was asleep, the piece of the symbiote came out of her backpack and slithered towards her. It slowly latched onto her leg and quickly bonded with her while she slept, her not feeling a thing.

The next day…

After waking up in the morning, Mary Jane felt strange. Her senses were heightened and she had a lot more energy than usual. She found it weird at first, but quickly brushed it off, thinking she just got a really good night of sleep. However, as the day progressed, she noticed that her senses were still heightened, that she was as energetic as ever and she could somehow sense danger before it was coming, similar to Spider-Man's Spider-Sense.

That night, after going to sleep, Mary Jane tossed and turned in bed. It looked like she was having a bad dream, but it wasn't that at all. After that piece of the Venom symbiote bonded with her, a new symbiote was born…and it found its perfect host with Mary Jane Watson.

In her dream, Mary Jane opened her eyes and found herself surrounded by inky blackness with a single light shining down on her. She looked around for a few seconds before something swirled around her. It then went a few feet away from her and took shape as Mary Jane stared at it, confused as to what was going on.

The swirl of inky black substance took on a tall, fit and feminine shape. It had two big solid white eyes and what looked like really big and long hair or a huge mane going down its back. After that, Mary Jane took a step back.

"Wh-who are you? What are you" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I am Scream and you are my host" the figure replied.

The voice was both feminine and alien, echoing in the darkness.

"Host" MJ uttered.

She was confused at first, but quickly put two and two together.

"You're a symbiote…like Venom" she said.

Just mentioning Venom seemed to agitate Scream.

"I am nothing like Venom. He's a rejected, angry fool filled with nothing but hate. I am not" she said.

"How and…when did you bond with me" MJ asked, curious.

"During Spider-Man and Venom's fight in the school a few days ago, a piece split off from Venom and slithered into your locker. Yesterday, that piece bonded with you…and I was born" Scream replied.

MJ was surprised as she looked down at her hands.

"I guess that explains why I was feeling so energized today. That was you" she said.

"Yes. My kind isn't evil, we just want to find our perfect host. And currently, you are mine" said Scream.

MJ's mind raced.

"Didn't Venom make Spider-Man more aggressive? What makes you different" she asked.

"Some symbiotes, like Venom, feed on aggression for maximum strength and effort. I do not. I only want balance. Together, we can achieve many things. We can be a team" Scream replied.

MJ crossed her arms, trying to remain calm.

"Why should I believe you? How do I know you won't try to take control of me or make me more aggressive" she asked.

Scream's voice softened, almost pleading.

"I won't. All I want is a perfect bond, a partnership if you will. Venom was rejected because he couldn't respect boundaries. That's not what I want" she replied.

MJ narrowed her eyes.

"Then why did Spider-Man reject Venom in the first place" she asked.

Scream chuckled.

"Because Peter realized what Venom was doing to him and got rid of him. After that, Venom became consumed by vengeance, becoming a bitter and angry sore loser" she replied.

MJ was slightly taken aback.

"Peter? Wait, Peter is Spider-Man" she asked.

"Yes and he rejected Venom because of what he was doing to him" Scream replied.

MJ sighed.

"You know, I…had my suspicions about him being Spider-Man at first but now it's confirmed" she said.

Scream immediately went to comfort her.

"Don't think that Peter didn't tell you because he doesn't trust you. He did it to protect you" she said.

MJ raised an eyebrow.

"To protect me" she asked.

"That's why most superheroes have a secret identity – to keep the people they care about safe" said Scream.

MJ thought about it for a moment before she smiled.

"I guess it does make sense. It shows that he's a good person and that…he really cares" she said.

"Yes, and YOU are more than just a pretty face. You're strong and capable. Together, we could watch his back, keep him and the ones you care about safe. All of that and so much more" said Scream.

After a short pause, MJ inhaled and exhaled.

"Alright…we can bond and stay together, but under one condition – you don't use me while I'm asleep and you don't change who I am. No aggression or altering my personality. We make decisions as a team. Got it" she asked.

Scream's eyes lit up, her hair-like tendrils gently swaying.

"Deal, partner" she replied.

The black inky mass in the darkness dissolved and swirled around Mary Jane, completely enveloping and transforming her. A few seconds later, Mary Jane jolted awake, back in her room.

Her hear heart was racing from the dream as she sat up, her mind flooded with everything that had just happened. At first, she was a little sad about Peter not telling her that he's Spider-Man, but she understood the more she thought about it – he did it to keep her and everyone else he cares about safe. Mary Jane then stood up, inhaled and exhaled.

"OK, Scream. Come out so we can give this a try" she said.

On command, the symbiote seeped out of her skin, enveloping and transforming her from head to toe in a swirl of red and yellow tendrils. She grew taller and flicked her hands, big and glistening sharp claws emerging with a loud shing sound. Her head darkened in color as very long red and yellow hair-like tendrils sprouted from her head. Finally, two big white eyes appeared, accompanied by a mouth with sharp teeth. In the end, her appearance was fierce and deadly.

She looked at her reflection in the mirror and examined it before looking at the claws on her right hand.

"Not bad. We look good" she said, her voice resonating with a slight echo.

One week later…

The Venom symbiote had somehow found its way back to Eddie Brock, bonding with him again and allowing him to escape. Spider-Man was swinging through New York, on the lookout for Venom and something new that came up – a new symbiote that has been helping people, one clad in red and yellow with long hair-like tendrils and sharp claws. When Spider-Man heard about that, he knew he had to check it out. He was swinging towards ESU, after he overheard that another vile of gene cleanser was stolen, when a black web suddenly latched onto him and pulled him down, slamming him down onto the roof of a warehouse. When Spider-Man looked up, he saw that it was none other than Venom, looking down at him with an evil grin and a vile of gene cleanser in one hand.

"Did you really think you've seen the last of us" Venom asked.

"No, not really. You don't seem to know the meaning of the word quit" Spider-Man replied.

Venom growled and tried to punch him, but Spider-Man dodged it.

"It's over for you this time! Once we cure you, we'll reveal your identity to all of New York" said Venom

"That's what you said last time and you failed miserably" said Spider-Man.

Venom growled and, after a few blocked strikes, managed to finally land a hit on Spider-Man, slamming him down onto the roof. Before Spider-Man could get up or dodge, Venom punched him again with so much force that he went through the roof and into the empty warehouse. He crashed into a few empty crates and groaned before slipping into unconsciousness. Venom quickly got inside and found him knocked out. Venom smiled with glee, excited about finally being able to destroy the life of his hated enemy once and for all.

"Finally! This time, it's over for you" said Venom.

"Think again" said a voice.

Venom turned around only for Scream to kick him in the face and push him several feet away to the ground. After that, she quickly looked over at Spider-Man and saw that he was down and not moving. She rushed over to him and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the he was just unconscious. By that time, Venom got up and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw his attacker. Eddie was confused by who this new symbiote was but Venom immediately knew and growled – this new symbiote was his spawn.

"What do you think you are doing? You should be helping us destroy him" he growled.

"Ha! Help you? As if" said Scream.

She then quickly used her hair-like tendrils to break open a nearby fire extinguisher, creating a big cloud of smoke. After that, Scream quickly grabbed Spider-Man with her hair-like tendrils and got up onto the roof, where she gently set him down.

"There you go" she said.

She then got back inside to deal with Venom. Scream quickly noticed a fuse box on the wall that was connected to the lights. Just before Venom could get out of the cloud of smoke and spot her, Scream quickly used her claws to cut the fuse box in two. That caused a few sparks and the lights to go out, shrouding the entire warehouse in darkness. There was only one light that was coming in from the hole in the roof and it shined down directly on Venom, who still had the vial of gene cleanser in one hand. Venom looked around in the darkness, trying to see where Scream was, but he couldn't.

"Whoever you are, stay out of this! This doesn't concern you" he growled.

Scream chuckled, her laughter and voice echoing throughout the empty dark warehouse.

"Oh, but it does. You two seriously need to get a life. You have all that power and you use it for what? To try and destroy someone's life all because they were mean to you and rejected you? That's just pathetic" she said.

"Shut up! You have no idea what we went through" Venom growled.

"Yeah, we don't, but look at yourselves. Instead of trying to better yourselves, you two just gave into the hate and started acting like very petty and mopey sore losers. You could be out there doing good and being heroes, like us, but instead you chose to be a big menace and ruin someone's life all because you couldn't handle them being mean to you and rejecting you" said Scream.

Venom growled and looked around in the darkness, livid.

"Where are you?! Show yourselves" he roared.

"Right behind you" said Scream.

Venom quickly turned around, only for Scream to smack him away with her hair-like tendrils. After being hit, Venom let go of the vial of gene cleanser and Scream quickly used one of her hair-like tendrils to grab it before it smashed on the ground. Venom smashed through a few empty crates before slamming into the wall, hard. Scream quicky read the side of the vial, found out what it was and knew what to do. She walked up to Venom, who was slowly getting up, and wrapped one of her hair-like tendrils around his neck and quickly lifted him off the ground. She popped open the cap on the vial of gene cleanser and smiled.

"Time to take your medicine" she said.

She then poured the gene cleanser down Venom's throat and forced him to swallow it before tossing him aside. A few seconds later, Venom got up and the gene cleanser began to work its magic, much to Eddie and Venom's discomfort.

"No, no, no, no! Not again" said Venom.

Slowly, but surely, the Venom symbiote separated from Eddie and escaped into a drain.

"Don't leave me alone again! Please" Eddie begged.

Scream fired one of her own webs at the drain, blocking Eddie from trying to removing it.

"Gone" she said.

"Help me get it back! I'm nothing without it" Eddie begged her.

As Eddie stared at the drain with a hopeless and sad look on his face, Scream put a hand on his shoulder and he looked at her.

"You need help, Eddie. You and the symbiote both need help to stop with the hate, otherwise you'll be stuck in this loop forever and will never improve" she said.

Eddie looked back at the drain.

"W-we can't. It's all that we have left" said Eddie.

A few minutes later…

Spider-Man groaned as he woke up on the roof, rubbing his head. He wondered what happened when he heard shouting down below. He looked down from the roof of the warehouse, only to see Eddie Brock screaming and being wheeled to an ambulance, strapped to a gurney. Spider-Man was a little surprised, but he didn't mind. Whoever had saved him was long gone, but whoever it was, they saved him and his life…and he owed them one.

"To whoever saved me back there – thank you. I owe you one" said Spider-Man.

After that, he swung away with his webs, unaware that his savior was watching from a nearby rooftop. Scream watched him as he swung away and sighed quietly to herself.

"Oh, tiger…" she whispered, her tone both affectionate and conflicted.

Her face then retracted, revealing Mary Jane's face underneath. She watched Peter disappear behind a few skyscrapers, a sad smile tugging at her lips.

"If you only knew the truth" she said.

After a short pause, she smiled softly.

"Maybe one day" she said.

Chapter Text

It had been almost 2 weeks since Scream and Spider-Man crossed paths, when she saved his life and identify from getting revealed by Venom. After that incident, Peter was conflicted. New York had seen it’s fair share of chaos, but this new symbiote was…different. Unlike Venom, Scream didn’t try to confront and attack him or ruin his life. Instead, she had saved him and was being heroic, helping people all over New York. As Spider-Man, Peter asked around and listened to what the people said. They all said the same thing – that a tall, fit, female red and yellow symbiote with sharp claws, sharp teeth, white eyes and long hair-like tendrils was helping people, stopping robberies, muggings and break-ins all over New York.

One evening, Spider-Man was web-slinging around New York when something in an alley caught his eye. He got down there and found a group of thugs with ski masks, unconscious. He looked around and found a crowbar near a door, which was clear evidence of a break-in.

“I know it wasn’t me who did this. It’s gotta be her, no question” he said.

He examined the thugs for injuries and didn’t find a single one dead.

“They’re still breathing, so she isn’t a lethal protector. That’s good news, at least” he said.

Before he can look around a little more, he heard the sound of police sirens approaching.

“And that’s my que to leave” he said.

After that, he swung up to the roof and observed from afar. Unaware that the culprit was in the shadows behind him.

“Hello there, little spider” said Scream.

Spider-Man whipped around and saw her sitting on a ledge and looking down at him.

“So, you’re what all the fuss is about” said Spider-Man.

“Afraid so” said Scream.

Even though he had a good reason to trust her, Spider-Man was still tensed up. Him and symbiotes don’t really get along since the last one tried to ruin his life multiple times.

“I never really said this in person, but…thanks for saving me from Venom a while ago” he said.

“Oh, it’s not a problem” said Scream.

“Where exactly did you come from” Spider-Man asked her.

Scream playfully chuckled.

“That, little spider, is our little secret” she said.

Spider-Man grew a little suspicious and his eyes narrowed.

“OK, then” he said.

Scream got up and walked a little before she perched, leaning forward with a smile was equal parts menacing and strangely charming. Peter didn’t know where, but that smile looked familiar.

“Tell us…do you trust us” she asked him.

“Considering I’ve heard nothing but good from the people of New York, I have no other choice” he replied.

She tilted her head to the side and laughed softly.

“You can trust us, little spider. Unlike Venom, we put our talents to good use” she said.

“I’ve noticed” said Spider-Man.

After that, Scream got up and walked closer to the edge.

“You’ll see us in action one day, little spider. Just not today” she said.

She then fell backwards and off the roof. When Spider-Man ran over to see, she was already gone.

“Man, she is fast” he said.

He then swung away in the opposite direction.

The next day…

Peter’s school life at Midtown High was alright and everything was the same as it always was…except for one thing. Something or, rather, someone was different. It might have been Peter’s mind playing tricks on him after his encounter with Scream, but Mary Jane has been acting different. She was more confident, energetic and either he was crazy or she had her own version of his spider sense. On top of that, things between them had gotten intense…in a good way. Though Mary Jane acted like her usual self around their friends, Peter noticed a subtle shift whenever it was just the two of them – something elusive and almost magnetic. She was much more playful and seductive, which, combined with the other differences he noticed, made him question whether he really knew her at all.

That afternoon, Peter found Mary Jane alone out in the hall, her expression distant. He took a deep breath and walked over, feeling a bit of curiosity.

“Hey” said Peter.

“Hey, Pete” said Mary Jane.

“You know…we’ve been friends for a while now. I feel like I can tell you almost anything” said Peter.

Mary Jane smiled and raised an eyebrow at that.

“Almost” she asked him.

Peter noticed that there was a mischievous sparkle in her eyes that felt strangely familiar.

“Is there something you’re not telling me, Pete” Mary Jane asked him.

At that Peter’s heart skipped a beat.

“Uh, I mean…you know, nothing big. Just…some things” he replied.

Mary Jane leaned back against her locker, watching him with a curious look that made him feel both exposed and oddly drawn to her.

“We all have secrets, Pete. I know I do” she said with a knowing smile.

Peter chuckled.

“Well, yours can’t be as big as mine” he said.

“Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that, tiger” said Mary Jane.

There was the faintest edge of a challenge in her voice. She held his gaze for a moment, her expression unreadable, before looking away with a chuckle.

“So, Spider-uh, I mean, Pete-what else is going on with you” she asked him.

Peter froze, his mind racing. Did he just hear her call him Spider or was he hearing things?

“Did…did you just call me…” he asked her.

Mary Jane smirked and raised an eyebrow, a glimmer of something mischievous in her eyes.

“Did I? Just a slip of the tongue, tiger” she replied.

She casually brushed a strand of hair from her face.

“Sometimes I do wonder what you’re hiding, but don’t worry, I think I’ll figure it out eventually” she said.

Peter felt a slight chill run down his spine, trying his best to brush off her words with a nervous laugh.

“Right. Well…you know, I think we’re all a bit mysterious” he said.

“True” said Mary Jane.

She gave him a playful smile, putting a hand on his face in reassurance.

“But don’t worry, Pete. I’m just a girl who likes a little mystery” she said.

She then turned around and walked away. He didn’t know why or what, but Peter felt like he was on the verge of discovering something big. Little did he know, Mary Jane was already one step ahead. Her own secret was just beneath the surface, waiting for the perfect moment to come out.

“Could she be? No, that’s impossible. It can’t be her” Peter thought.

He then turned around walked away.

A few days later…

Spider-Man found himself atop a skyscraper, looking out at the rest of the city. As he leaned against the ledge, lost in his thoughts, Scream appeared again and sat down right next to him.

“You always go for the high ground, huh” she asked him.

Spider-Man raised an eyebrow.

“Is that a problem” he asked her.

Scream chuckled.

“Depends on what you’re trying to avoid” she said.

They stood in silence for a bit, before Scream broke the silence.

“There’s no need to hide it anymore, Pete. We know who you are” she said.

Peter immediately looked over at her, his eyes widening behind his mask.

“Wait, you do” he asked her.

“Of course. Venom knows, so we know” she replied.

Scream telling Peter that she knows who he is was the last thing he expected to hear from her.

“I…wow” Spider-Man uttered.

Scream chuckled and Peter hesitated before pulling off his mask, revealing his face.

“No need for this then, huh” he asked.

He stood still, waiting for her to say something, anything. Instead, Scream tilted her head and her smile widened.

“Well, well, now that’s more like it…tiger” she said.

Her voice was now in a warmer and much more familiar tone. Peter blinked, confused and taken aback by that last word.

“Tiger? Wait, the only person I know who calls me that is-“ he was cut off.

That was when Scream’s face retracted to reveal Mary Jane’s face underneath, leaving Peter speechless.

“Surprise” she said.

“H-how? W-when” Peter stammered, still trying to process the revelation.

Mary Jane laughed softly.

“Longer than you think. My symbiote found me after you and Venom fought in the school. It was just a small piece at first, then it bonded with me and the rest is history. We’ve been doing work around New York ever since” she replied.

Peter’s mind was still racing.

“Why didn’t you tell me” he asked her.

“I was figuring it all out, Pete. You think waking up with a symbiote bonded to you is something you just tell people about? Especially when you’re still trying to get a grip on it” she asked him.

Petter rubbed the back of his neck, still trying to make sense of things.

“You know I would have understood and if you knew the whole time it was me, why didn’t you just tell me then” he asked her.

“I wasn’t sure how you would react. I didn’t want to risk losing you” she replied.

Mary Jane now looked serious, her tone a little more vulnerable. Peter paused, his heart softening.

“MJ, this…is a lot to take in” he said.

“I know, but I’m still me, Pete” she said.

She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I want to help make a difference. I want to do this. You and me, we can do a lot of good together. Just trust me” she said.

Peter looked into her eyes, smiled and nodded.

“MJ…I trust you” he said.

Mary Jane smiled.

“Thanks, tiger” she said.

Before Peter could say anything more, her hair-like tendrils wrapped around him and pulled him in close.

“Now shut up” she said.

Before Peter could react or say anything, she kissed him. It was sudden and unexpected, but…it felt right. In that moment, everything made sense and the world around them seemed to vanish.

A few days later…

One thing is for certain about Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson – in the past few weeks, their connection has grown stronger than ever. They worked together, not just as allies, but something more. As Spider-Man and Scream, they were a formidable team, but as Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, they were beginning something new. At Midtown High, they exchanged glances and smiles. Mary Jane was still herself, still the girl Peter knew and loved, but there was an edge to her now, a confidence that came with her being bonded with a symbiote. They both felt a lot better, knowing they didn’t need to hide anything from each other.

They had their first real conversation about the future one afternoon, sitting together and looking out at the setting sun.

“I’m still getting used to all of this. But, I don’t know… I feel like we’ve got something special going on. Something that…I don’t want to lose” said Peter.

He looked at Mary Jane and smiled. She smiled back at him warmly.

“We won’t lose it, Pete. I promise” she said.

They sat in silence for a while, Mary Jane resting her head on Peter’s shoulder. Their future was uncertain, but in the best way possible. It wasn’t just about protecting New York anymore…it was about protecting each other.

Chapter Text

A few days later…

The final bell rang at Midtown High, releasing a flood of students eager to escape the confines of the school day. Among them were Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, who were walking side by side. Suddenly, several police vehicles rushed past the school.

"What's that about" Mary Jane asked.

"I don't know. Let me check" Peter replied.

He pulled out his phone to check what was going on, only to see a live news feed of Rhino on rampage. After seeing that, his expression went from relaxed to tense and Mary Jane quickly noticed.

"What is it" she asked him.

"It's Rhino. He's out and on a rampage" he replied.

Mary Jane looked around to see if anyone was watching them. Lucky for them, nobody was paying any attention to them.

"Let's go somewhere more secluded to change" she whispered.

Peter nodded and they both ducked into a nearby alley, making sure they were out of sight. After that, Peter got his suit out and quickly put it on. He looked at Mary Jane, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and a smile on her face. That was when her symbiote came out, transforming her into Scream almost instantly.

"Wow, that was fast" said Spider-Man.

"Jealous" Scream asked him.

"A little" he replied.

Scream giggled.

"Come on, let's get going. Rhino isn't gonna come to his senses and stop rampaging" she said.

"Lead the way" said Spider-Man.

With that, they swung away to find Rhino and stop him. They were swinging across the city when, after a little while, they heard the distant sounds of sirens and destruction.

"You wanna start it or should I" Spider-Man asked.

"You go first, tiger. We'll be right behind you" Scream replied.

Spider-Man nodded and went ahead of her, landing on a lamppost.

"Rhino! How've ya been" he called out.

Rhino stopped and looked up at him.

"I was wondering when you'd show up" he said.

"Rampaging through New York? That's so last season" said Spider-Man.

Rhino growled, ripped the door off of a police cruiser and threw it up at him. Spider-Man quickly dodged it, grabbed it with his webbing and threw it right back at him, knocking him to the ground.

"Good try! A for effort" said Spider-Man.

He swung over to another lamppost as Rhino got up. He growled and began to charge when something grabbed his legs and tripped him, causing him to fall face first into the ground. He slowly got up and turned around to see Scream retracting her hair-like tendrils, Spider-Man quickly landing right beside her. Rhino did hear about there being a new do-gooder in New York so he wasn't too surprised.

"Two against one? And here I thought you hero types played fair" he said.

"Well, you're basically indestructible while we're not so this makes it even" said Spider-Man.

"Also, where does it say that heroes play fair against bad guys" Scream asked.

"Let me think? Nowhere" Spider-Man replied.

Rhino growled and charged at them, but the pair quickly got out of the way. Rhino burst through a fence behind them, going into a construction site. Halfway in, he stopped and turned around to see Spider-Man and Scream going in after him. After that, they continued fighting.

"Come on, big guy! I've seen cruise ships turn faster than you" Spider-Man taunted.

"Keep talking, freak. I'll squash you into paste" said Rhino.

"Less jokes, spider, more fighting" said Scream.

"Scream, relax, I've dealt with Rhino before on my own, I think the two of us together can-" he was cut off.

Rhino managed to grab his foot, throw him past Scream and into a metal support beam, hard.

"No" Scream exclaimed.

She quickly rushed over to him to find him still breathing, but out. Rhino laughed and cracked his knuckles.

"Not so tough now, are ya" he asked.

Scream got up, clenched her fists and growled. Her claws twitched as she turned around to face Rhino, her white eyes glaring at him.

"You. Hurt. Him" she growled.

Before Rhino could even react or say anything, Scream lunged towards him. Her hair-like tendrils were slashing and smacking Rhino across the face with blinding speed, causing him to stumble back and groan from the pain. Scream then leapt up and smacked him across the face with hair-like tendrils, knocking him to the ground. She then wrapped them around his legs and threw him up before she leapt up after him.

"Stay. Down" she snarled.

She then slammed her hair-like tendrils down on him, sending him crashing to the ground with a loud boom. After that, Rhino groaned before slipping into unconsciousness. Scream stood over him, her chest heaving. She took a deep breath and calmed down before walking over to Spider-Man, who was still unconscious. She wrapped him up in her hair-like tendrils before looking back at Rhino and seeing the cops, one of them being the captain and Gwen Stacy's father, George Stacy.

"He's all yours" said Scream.

After that, she swung away. Captain Stacy stared at her leaving, still skeptical about her true nature as the rest of the cops subdued Rhino and carried him away.

Meanwhile…

Scream made it to the top of a nearby skyscraper, landing softly on the empty roof. She set Spider-Man down and her face retracted, revealing Mary Jane's worried face underneath.

"Come on, tiger, wake up. Don't you dare leave me hanging" she said.

After shaking him for a few seconds, Peter stirred. He groaned slightly as Mary Jane pulled his mask off.

"Ugh…did we win" he asked.

Mary Jane sighed in relief.

"Barely. You scared the hell out of me" she said.

Peter blinked and rubbed his eyes, his vision blurry.

"What…happened" he asked her.

"Rhino is taking a long nap. Let's just say we taught him some manners" she replied.

Peter chuckled weakly as he tried to sit up.

"Remind me never to make you mad" he said.

Mary Jane gently pressed him back down.

"You're lucky I love you, Peter Parker. Otherwise, you'd be on your own" she said.

Peter met her gaze, his tone softening.

"Thanks, MJ. I owe you big time for this" he said.

"Don't mention it, tiger" she said.

After that, the couple sat down and looked out at New York for a little while. That night, Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, went out on a clandestine date. They did date before in the past and it didn't work out then, but now their relationship was stronger than ever. However, they knew they had to keep it a secret…at least for now.

The couple were in a dimly lit café nestled in a quiet corner of Manhattan, the ambiance offered both intimacy and anonymity. They settled into a secluded booth, looked at each other and smiled. The thrill of their little secretive date also added a…spark to their event.

"You know, it's nice to have moments like this where it's just us" said Peter.

They held hands and Mary Jane squeezed his hand gently.

"Away from the masks and the chaos. Just you and me, tiger" she said.

They talked for a while about everything – shared memories, dreams and the challenges of their double lives as heroes. Every sentence, every laugh and every moment only reinforced the relationship they had. As the evening progressed, they strolled through Central Park. Peter's arm draped over Mary Jane's shoulders, pulling her closer as they looked up at the stars.

"Think we'll ever have a normal life" Peter asked her.

Mary Jane leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Normal is overrated. As long as we're together, we can handle anything" she said.

They stopped and looked into each other's eyes.

"MJ, I don't know what I'd do without you" said Peter.

"Good thing you'll never have to find out" said Mary Jane.

They then kissed, the world fading away. In that moment, beneath the clear and beautiful night sky, they found solace in each other's embrace, ready to face whatever came their way.

Later…

After the date and before going to bed, Mary Jane was sitting on her bed. She was cross-legged and replaying the events of the day in her mind, particularly the outburst she had against Rhino. She took a deep breath before she closed her eyes, reaching out to the symbiote within her.

"Scream? Can we talk" she asked.

After that, a familiar voice began to speak within her mind.

"Certainly" she said.

"When Rhino hurt Peter today and knocked him out, I…I lost it. I've never felt so much anger before. What was that about" Mary Jane asked.

"We made a promise to respect each other's emotions and boundaries and I intend to keep it that way. That anger that you unleashed today on Rhino was your own" Scream replied.

Mary Jane's brow furrowed as she processed this revelation.

"Wow, I…I had no idea I had that kind of anger in me. It was just so…so intense" she said.

"It's natural to feel powerful emotions when you see someone you love in danger. Seeing Peter get hurt like that triggered a protective instinct within you. It's a common response" said Scream.

Mary Jane sighed, a look of both relief and concern on her face.

"I just didn't expect it to be so…much" she said.

Scream immediately comforted her.

"Emotions, anger and fear especially, can be very overwhelming sometimes. What's important is how you choose to use them and today, you used them to protect Peter and beat Rhino all on your own" she said.

After hearing that, a small smile appeared on Mary Jane's lips.

"Thanks, Scream. I think I needed to hear that" she said.

"Anytime" said Scream.

After that, Mary Jane went to bed. She was happy to know that she not only has Peter, but she also has Scream to watch her back.

Chapter Text

A few days later…

Peter got home from school and dropped off his backpack. It was Friday and Aunt May went to the store, so he was home alone. However, something felt off. Just as he got his suit on, the familiar tingling at the back of his neck screamed danger. Suddenly, a black web latched onto his back and pulled him out of the window. He landed on the ground and then got slammed against the side of the house.

Venom.

"Miss us" he asked.

Spider-Man struggled against his grip.

"I was kind of hoping we were done with the surprise visits" he said.

At that moment, a familiar face had caught their attention as it stepped into view. Mary Jane heard that Eddie escaped and went to find Peter and warn him, only for her to see Venom holding and pinning Spider-Man against the wall.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is" said Venom.

"Mary Jane, go. Get out of here! I've got this" Spider-Man uttered.

Venom chuckled and tightened his grip.

"Sure, you do" he said.

However, Mary Jane didn't move. Instead, she took a step forward, glaring at Venom.

"Let him go, now! Or else" she said.

Venom laughed.

"Ha! Or else what" he asked.

Peter knew exactly what Mary Jane was about to do. Seeing as that he couldn't talk her out of it or convince her, he just nodded silently. He knew exactly what was about to happen and he was ready for it.

"Or else we make you" Mary Jane growled.

Without hesitation, her symbiote came out of her and transformed her into Scream almost instantly. Upon seeing that, Venom's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

"Impossible" he muttered.

However, his shock soon turned into rage. He narrowed his eyes and tossed Spider-Man aside like a rag doll, his attention now on Scream.

"So it was you all this time" he said.

He clenched his fists.

"So what if it was" Scream asked him.

Venom huffed before speaking.

"It doesn't matter. We'll just destroy both of you" he said.

He roared and charged at her. He swung his right fist, trying to hit and crush her, but Scream dodged it. She then leapt up and kicked him hard in the face, causing him to stumble back. By this time, Spider-Man got up and swung over, landing right beside her.

"Ready" he asked.

"Always" Scream replied.

The fight continued and it didn't look good for Venom. The moment he tried to focus on one of them, the other always caught him and got a hit in. Eddie and Venom knew they were outmatched and outnumbered, so they had no choice but to retreat. He managed to grab Spider-Man and threw her at Scream. The two collided and that gave Venom a chance to escape.

"This isn't over" he said.

After that, he leapt up and swung away before Spider-Man and Scream could recover. They leapt up onto the roof to see if they could spot him, but he was gone.

"Gone" Spider-Man uttered.

"He'll be back" said Scream.

"He always comes back" said Spider-Man.

They both leapt up and landed in the backyard. After that, Scream retracted inside Mary Jane.

"Seriously, after all the times you saved my life, a thank you seems soft" said Peter.

Mary Jane giggled.

"Don't mention it, Tiger" she said.

They stood in silence for a moment before walking back inside the house. Peter took off his suit and put it away before Aunt May got home. After that, Peter and Mary Jane quietly stepped outside. They sat down together on the front steps, side by side. Peter ran a hand through his hair and let out a tired breath.

"You do realize what you just did back there, right? He knows who you are now...and he'll be coming for you too" said Peter.

Mary Jane didn't flinch. She was smiling and that smile didn't even falter.

"Let him try. We're not afraid. As long as we're together, he doesn't stand a chance" she said.

Upon hearing that, a small smile formed on Peter's face despite everything that's happened.

"Yeah, I guess you're right" he said.

There was a moment of silence before they both leaned in and shared a tender kiss. After that, Mary Jane stood up.

"I should get going now" she said.

"Be safe" said Peter.

Mary Jane glanced back at Peter and smiled.

"Always, Tiger" she said.

With that, she disappeared into the night.

Later…

That night, Mary Jane was in her bedroom, standing in front of her mirror. The battle with Venom made her realize something – if she was gonna be in this with Peter, she was gonna have to look the part. Scream spoke to her in her mind, already knowing exactly what she wanted.

"You want to try something new" Scream asked her.

"Yeah…something similar to what Peter has, but not exactly the same" she replied.

"Ask and you shall receive" said Scream.

MJ closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Let's do it" she said.

After saying that, the transformation began. Her symbiote seeped out of her and started transforming her, but it was different this time. Instead of the usual monstrous symbiote appearance she had before, she looked more like her own spider heroine.

She was her normal height and her suit was like Peter's suit, but red and yellow instead of red and blue. There was a spider on her chest as well, but it was bigger and yellow instead of black. The long red and yellow hair-like tendrils on her head were gone, but the sharp claws on her hands were still present. The top of her head was the only part of her that wasn't covered, allowing her red hair to flow freely.

"Wow" Mary Jane uttered.

Upon seeing and examining her reflection, she smiled underneath the mask.

"I assume you already have a name for this new look" Scream asked her.

"Yes…Spinneret" Mary Jane replied.

"Very fitting name" said Scream.

In front of the mirror, in place of Mary Jane Watson wasn't Scream…it was the new Spinneret.

The next day…

It was night as Spider-Man sat perched on the edge of a rooftop, looking out at New York. His mind was replaying the events of the previous day – Venom, Mary Jane, Scream.

Peter sighed, feeling conflicted as his thoughts raced.

"She handled herself very well. More than handled, she saved me. She took down Rhino like it was nothing" he thought.

Beneath the awe, however, there was worry. Now that Eddie knew MJ was Scream, she was a target too.

"Eddie now knows who she is. She's in danger because of me" he thought.

A soft thump behind him snapped him out of his thoughts. He quickly turned around, ready for a fight, only to stop dead in his tracks. There, landing gracefully in a crouched position and standing up, was a figure his size. She wore a red and yellow suit with a bold yellow spider across her chest. Her mask was entirely red with white eyes and only covered her face, her red hair flowing freely in the wind. The suit was familiar, yet completely new. Her stance was confident and her presence was undeniable.

"MJ" Peter asked.

"Hey, Tiger" she replied.

"You look…different" Peter uttered.

"Yeah, meet Spinneret. Scream and I decided to try something more…approachable and appealing" said Mary Jane.

He took a step closer, looking over the suit.

"It suits you…literally" he said.

"Thanks. We thought if we're gonna be doing this, we might as well look the part" said Mary Jane.

Peter folded his arms, his voice softening.

"Are you absolutely sure about this? Once you're out there like this, there's no going back" he said.

Mary Jane touched his shoulder.

"You're not alone anymore, Pete. Not in this. We're a team now" she said.

Peter looked into her eyes behind the mask with a quiet mix of admiration and concern on his face.

"Well, I hope this team knows how to handle swinging through the city, because I've got a feeling tonight's not going to be quiet" he said.

Mary Jane smiled behind her mask.

"Then let's go make some noise" she said.

They then leapt off the roof together, Spider-Man and Spinneret swinging away into the night, side by side. They were swinging for only a few minutes when they heard the sound of an alarm coming from a nearby bank. They both landed on the roof of a nearby building, Spider-Man crouched down while Spinneret stood confident with her arms crossed.

"You sure you're ready for this" Peter asked her.

"Please. I've already saved your butt three times at this point. This is just making it official" she replied.

Peter chuckled.

"Fair enough. Let's do this" he said.

They both crashed through the skylight and hit the ground in unison. Spinneret webbed a thug's gun out of his hands while Spider-Man kicked another across the floor. One tried to run away, only for Spinneret to flip over him, land hard and stop him in his tracks.

"Going somewhere" she asked.

Before he could respond, Spider-Man kicked him to the ground. It took barely a minute and when the police arrived, the robbers were webbed up in a neat bundle with a note that read – You're welcome – Spidey & Spinneret.

On a nearby rooftop, the duo sat down to catch their breath. Peter pulled his mask off while Mary Jane's mask retracted.

"You know, you're really good at this" said Peter.

"I've got a great partner" said Mary Jane.

"Did you ever think that this would be us? Slinging webs, stopping crime, being a power couple" he asked her.

Mary Jane smiled.

"Honestly? Not in a million years…but now that we're here? I wouldn't change a thing" she replied.

Peter nodded.

"Me neither" he said.

They both leaned in and kissed under the moonlight. After that, they both got up, put their masks back on and swung away.

Meanwhile…

On a nearby rooftop, Eddie Brock stood alone. He watched Peter and Mary Jane swing away through a pair of binoculars. It was silent as he lowered the binoculars, once the pair were out of sight. The silence was broken when a certain symbiote began speaking to Eddie in his mind.

"So it was her all this time" Venom hissed.

"Mary Jane Watson. That's the last person I expected to be her. How the hell did she end up with hers" Eddie asked.

"She carries our blood. Scream is our spawn. We can sense it" Venom growled.

Eddie's eyes narrowed.

"Scream is not like us, though. Not like you. She's different" he said.

"Different, but very strong…and clever. She hides in plain sight. She plays along. Just like he does" said Venom.

Eddie paused and looked down at the city below.

"So now it's not just him. We've got two of them to deal with" he said.

"Then we tear them both apart…but first, we learn. We watch and we wait" said Venom.

Without another word, the symbiote enveloped Eddie and transformed him. After a few seconds, in place of Eddie Brock was the big monstrous form of Venom. The white spider insignia on his chest gleamed briefly in the moonlight. Venom crouched, fired a web and then vanished into the night.

"This isn't over. Not by a long shot" he growled.

THE END