The ceiling of Fisk Tower's executive office is a masterpiece of architectural intimidation, vaulted glass panels that let in just enough natural light to make you feel exposed while keeping the room's occupants in dramatic shadow. I've been staring at it for the past fifteen minutes, trying to focus on anything besides the vise-like grip Taskmistress has maintained on my shoulder since we arrived. Her fingers dig into muscle with precise pressure, not enough to bruise, just enough to remind me that teleporting isn't an option.
"Stop fidgeting," she mutters, her skull mask tilting toward me. "You're making us both look unprofessional."
"Sorry if I'm not thrilled about meeting the most powerful crime lord in New York," I whisper back, shifting in the absurdly comfortable leather chair that probably costs more than my entire college tuition.
Taskmistress's fingers flex against my shoulder. "Heads up," she says quietly. "She's coming."
A hidden door slides open in the far wall, and my breath catches in my throat. Willow Fisk emerges like a battleship entering harbor, massive, imposing, and utterly commanding of respect. Her bald head gleams under the recessed lighting, reflecting the power she exudes with every movement. She wears a pristine white suit that somehow makes her hulking frame look even more intimidating, the fabric stretched taut across shoulders that could probably support a small car.
"Holy shit," I breathe, immediately regretting the words as they leave my mouth.
Fisk's eyes find mine instantly, cold and calculating. Despite her size, she moves with surprising grace, crossing the expanse of her office in smooth, measured steps. Up close, what might be mistaken for fat by an ignorant observer is clearly dense, powerful muscle, the physique of someone who could snap me in half without breaking a sweat.
She settles into the chair across from me, the expensive furniture creaking slightly under her impressive frame. Her eyes never leave mine as she folds her massive hands on the desk between us.
"Gold Mask," she says, her voice surprisingly melodic for someone so imposing, "thank you for accepting my invitation."
I remain silent, my tongue suddenly glued to the roof of my mouth. Every witty response I'd rehearsed on the way here evaporates like morning dew. Better to say nothing than to blurt out something that might get me killed.
Fisk's gaze shifts to Taskmistress, one eyebrow arching elegantly. "Why is my guest still wearing his mask? This isn't a costume party."
Taskmistress's grip on my shoulder tightens imperceptibly. "Well, you know how heroes can be," she replies with practiced casualness. "Very protective of their identities. This one was particularly adamant."
Before I can process what's happening, Taskmistress leans toward me. "By the way," she says, her voice carrying an unmistakable note of warning, "what is your name? Your hero name?"
"Skip Step," I answer automatically, grateful for the prompt.
Fisk studies me, her expression unreadable except for the slightest twitch at the corner of her mouth. "Skip Step," she repeats, testing the syllables. "I suppose there are worse names one could choose."
I clear my throat, determined to take control of the conversation before it spirals into territory I can't navigate. "Mrs. Fisk, I'm... thankful you wanted to reach out to me, but I saved your daughter purely because it was the right thing to do. No other reason. There's really no need for us to…"
Fisk cuts me off with a wave of her massive hand. "Mr. Step, your modesty is unnecessary." Her gaze shifts to Taskmistress, lips curving into something resembling a smile. "Task, would you kindly remove our guest's mask? I prefer to conduct business face to face."
My stomach drops. I glance at Taskmistress, whose grip has tightened on my shoulder to the point of pain.
"Look," I blurt out, "I don't mean to overstep here, but nobody's asking her to take off her mask." I gesture toward Taskmistress, whose skull face remains impassive despite the tension radiating from her body. "Seems like a double standard."
Taskmistress clears her throat. "Fisk, I'm not sure it's exactly appropriate to…"
"ENOUGH!" Fisk slams her palm against the desk with such force that the solid mahogany actually cracks. The sound echoes through the office like a gunshot. "I did not invite either of you here to be lectured on fairness."
She rises from her chair in one fluid motion, towering over us both. The temperature in the room seems to drop several degrees as she leans forward, massive hands splayed across the desk.
"You misunderstand the nature of our relationship," she continues, her voice dangerously soft. "This is not a negotiation between equals. This is a courtesy extended to someone who helped my daughter. A courtesy that can be withdrawn at any moment."
I hold up my hands in a placating gesture, desperate to defuse the situation before it gets worse. "Look, Mrs. Fisk, I…"
The side of the building explodes inward with a deafening roar, sending glass and concrete flying across the office. I dive to the floor, covering my head as debris rains down around me. When I look up, my heart nearly stops.
Venom stands in the gaping hole where the wall used to be, her massive form silhouetted against the Manhattan skyline. I've never seen her this angry before, the symbiote ripples across her body in violent waves, tendrils lashing out like living whips. Her jaws stretch impossibly wide as she lets out a roar that physically hurts my ears, the sound vibrating through my chest like a bass drum.
"YOU TOOK WHAT'S OURS!" she bellows, her voice a nightmarish chorus that echoes through the destroyed office.
Taskmistress reacts instantly, yanking me out of my chair pulling me behind her. Her body becomes a shield between me and Venom as she draws a weapon from her hip in one fluid motion.
"I never did ask you what your relationship with Venom is, did I?" she says, her voice unnervingly calm despite the chaos erupting around us. Her grip on my arm is firm but not painful as she holds me steady.
"We work together," I manage to say, my eyes locked on Ellie's massive form as she advances into the room. The symbiote swirls across her body in violent patterns, those white eyes fixed on Taskmistress with murderous intent.
"Is she going to hurt you?" Taskmistress asks, her head tilting slightly toward me while keeping her weapon trained on Venom.
"No," I answer without hesitation, my voice steadier than I feel.
To my surprise, Taskmistress immediately releases her grip on me, stepping aside with a casual shrug.
"Well then, I'll leave protecting you to her for today," she says, holstering her weapon with practiced ease. "Seems like she's got it covered."
Taskmistress bolts for the exit with impressive speed, her white cloak fluttering behind her like a ghost. Almost simultaneously, a squad of armed guards floods through the doorway, their weapons trained on Venom. The synchronized precision of their movement suggests they've drilled for this exact scenario.
I don't hesitate. I teleport directly to Ellie's side. The world bends around me for a split second before I materialize next to her massive form. Immediately, she moves to shield me, her enormous body curling protectively around mine like living armor.
"Stand down! STAND DOWN!" Fisk's voice booms across the destroyed office with enough authority to momentarily freeze everyone in place. Despite the chaos, she remains completely composed, her massive frame unmoved from behind her desk.
Her cold eyes assess Venom with clinical detachment. "Venom, I presume?"
Ellie's massive jaws part, revealing rows of nightmarish teeth as she lets out a screech that makes my bones vibrate. "YOU TRIED TO TAKE SOMETHING OF MINE!" The symbiote flows across her skin in violent patterns, tendrils whipping through the air like living weapons.
Fisk raises one massive hand, and remarkably, her guards lower their weapons slightly. "I believe there's been a misunderstanding," she says, her voice surprisingly calm for someone facing a creature that could tear her limb from limb.
"Ellie," I whisper, placing my hand on her arm. The symbiote feels hot beneath my palm, pulsing with rage. "It's okay. I'm okay."
Ellie's massive head swivels toward the armed guards, then back to me, those white eyes narrowing as she evaluates the threat.
"We're not going to hurt you," Fisk announces, her voice carrying that unmistakable tone of someone used to being obeyed. "I simply wanted to meet the man who saved my daughter."
A sound erupts from Ellie's monstrous jaws, a laugh that's part snarl, part derision, sending chills down my spine despite my trust in her.
"You think those pathetic weapons could even scratch me?" she growls, tendrils flaring outward like a cobra's hood. "I could tear through your entire security team before they empty their first clip."
Fisk's expression shifts, a flash of surprise crossing her features before settling into something like respectful caution. "I had no idea Skip Step had such... impressive protection." She raises her hands in a placating gesture, eyes fixed on Venom's huge form. "I apologize sincerely. I had no intention of…"
Before Fisk can finish her sentence, Ellie lunges forward with terrifying speed. The symbiote flows across her form like liquid darkness as she moves, her massive claws extended. My heart nearly stops as she tears through the guards with brutal efficiency.
It happens so fast I can barely process it. One moment the guards are standing with weapons raised, the next they're collapsing to the floor, crimson spraying across the pristine white walls of Fisk's office. Ellie's claws slice through flesh and bone with horrifying ease, leaving gaping wounds in their wake.
I stand frozen, unable to look away as the last guard drops to the floor. The metallic smell of blood fills the air, making my stomach churn.
Fisk sighs deeply, touching the bridge of her nose between two massive fingers. Her expression isn't one of fear or even anger, just mild annoyance, like someone just spilled coffee on her paperwork.
"Those people had families, Venom," she says, her voice eerily calm despite the carnage surrounding her. Blood pools around her expensive shoes, but she doesn't step back.
Ellie moves to stand protectively in front of me, her massive form blocking me from Fisk's view. "He's off limits," she growls, those terrible jaws snapping with each syllable. "No one touches what's ours."
Fisk's eyes meet mine over Ellie's shoulder, calculating and cold. After a moment, she gives a single, deliberate nod.
"Yes, yes. Understood," she says, straightening her immaculate white suit jacket.
I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry as sandpaper.
"We're leaving," Ellie announces, reaching behind her to grab my arm without taking her eyes off Fisk. The symbiote's touch is hot against my skin, pulsing with agitation.
Suddenly, the symbiote wraps around my waist in a vice-like grip. I barely have time to gasp before Ellie yanks me against her massive form, my back colliding with her chest. The world tilts violently as she launches us backward through the gaping hole in the wall.
"WAIT…" I start to protest, but my words transform into a terrified scream as we plummet into open air.
Manhattan spreads beneath us like a glittering mosaic, buildings and streets rushing up at sickening speed. The wind tears at my face, nearly ripping my gold mask away. My stomach lurches into my throat as we free-fall twenty, thirty, forty stories.
At the last possible second, Ellie's arm whips out, the symbiote extending into a thick black tendril that latches onto a nearby building. The sudden change in direction nearly dislocates my shoulder as we swing in a wide arc between skyscrapers.
Only when we're at least twenty blocks away does she finally slow our pace, landing with surprising gentleness on a water tower atop some nondescript building.
"What the hell was that?" I demand, my voice shaking as I struggle to catch my breath. "You just slaughtered those people!"
The symbiote recedes from her face like a curtain being drawn back, revealing Ellie's furious expression beneath. Her blue eyes burn with intensity that makes my heart ache.
"They tried to take you from us," she growls, her voice still carrying that inhuman echo despite her human face.