the-tangle-web

[the-tangle-web]

Question, how does one go back to the Avengers tower without being bombarded and lectured by the star spangled Boy Scout for being missing for like a good while without telling them and not contacting them and just sort of making it look like I had died but in reality I escaped from a lab prison after being experimented on and I opted to stay with someone I trusted and all of my friends who I also has a symbiote parasite who also just told me to stop trying to help and ran off to go to whatever and leaves you and your friend alone with some lawyer devil guy and destroyed the door.

[the-tangle-web]

“Where are you going?”

A low growl.

The red symbiote turned his head slowly over his shoulder, white eyes pale and teeth bared in a forever smile. He saw a flash of his tongue as he licked his teeth before reaching his claws against the ceiling, digging into the wood and leaving marks with a skkt… crack

Anthony stood still, wearing Gabe’s sweatshirt. He wore if for the past few hours and Gabe hasn’t yelled at him to take it off.

He hasn’t for days.

And he hasn’t stopped Gareth from picking at his bandages.

Anthony had to do that.

They moved out of that damn sewer and into a safe house Murdock dragged them to. Jen has been near them ever since. And Jen hasn’t let Anthony outside alone for the last few months.

She argues he has to go back to the tower. That she should tell someone, at least Rogers. Steve was worried as hell. Fury was pissed, apparently even Tony was trying to get full access of surveillance in the city to try and locate him.

But Anthony refused. He didn’t want to go back. Not yet.

Jen still had to tell someone, so she told Bruce the whole story.

And, despite himself, Bruce agreed to not say a word of where he was. But he did tell everyone at the tower that Anthony was safe, but not where he was.

And that would give him a bit of privacy.

Anthony swallowed the lump in his throat and stuck his chin outward, looking up at the symbiote.

“Where are you going?” He asked, more firm this time.

Carnage narrowed his eyes, a heave of his shoulders and a slight downward tilt of his head.

“To fix things.”

“Without me?”

Carnage turned his head back around, “Yes. Without you.”

Anthony clenched his fists to his sides, “You’re a fucking hypocrite-“

“We are not in the mood for this conversation again.”

Carnage snarled, his claws closing in around the wood until it splintered.

Anthony stopped.

Another beat of silence.

“Gareth said his brother isn’t picking up.”

“We know.”

“We need you, man-“

Carnage shook his head, “Stop it-“

Anthony took a step forward and felt his vision get blurry, “You don’t tell us shit anymore- we don’t see you anymore- I haven’t seen Gabe in forever!” He shouted, “I haven’t seen you sleep, I haven’t seen you do anything but come in and out of that door- and sometimes, you’re gone for days!”

Carnage reared his head back and let out a roar, “STOP IT!”

The symbiote snapped, his head turning over his shoulder and the claw gripping the wooden boards over his head splintered and broke, landing on the ground in between the two as he swung his hand around and turned his body, baring his teeth with in arch in his assumed brow.

Anthony stepped back.

Silence.

“You will go back to the tower! You will take off that suit and when it’s night, you’re going to sleep! You won’t fight, you won’t kill, you won’t hurt yourself, you won’t die!”

. . .

“You will stay alive! Both of you! All of you- and you won’t follow us!”

. . .

The door was torn off its hinges. It was fucking cold.

Anthony felt a pair of arms wrap around his middle and messy black hair over his shoulders. He felt Gareth pressed his face against the divot in his back between his shoulders.

It was a little less cold.

But not warm enough.

[the-tangle-web]

“So… this is the one?”

“Yes.”

“It’s tiny.”

“Yes.”

“Are you just gonna keep agreeing with me?”

“No.”

“…”

“You go left, we take right,”

“I want the right,”

“No.”

“Fuck you.”

“Karma-“

“Fine… you go right.”

[the-tangle-web]

Tara held her face in her hands, her knees bunched up to her chest and she shut her eyes tightly. Her jaw clenched and every part of her body strained.

Everything felt wrong.

Everything was wrong.

Tara felt like sometimes she and Teddy were growing up too fast. She had to grow up fast. Ever since Teddy came into the family, they grew up together. Parents weren’t there… well… barely. Maybe some babysitters when they were to young but once highschool started… she knew there was no attempt at getting them back. Her parents, she meant.

For Teddy, it was easier, which she wish wasn’t true but it was. They neglected Teddy to much for him to care at this point.

So why did it still hurt when she was told that their… her… mom and dad were dead.

She would like to think, maybe long ago and she forgot, that her parent held her in their arms and cuddled and praised her simply just for being happy. Or at least be seen. Be noticed. She barely even recognized the people in the photo when it popped up on her phone for the funeral- distant relatives like aunts and uncles were hosting it across state. She didn’t want to go. She doesn’t think that the rest of the family knows she and Teddy exist.

Has it been that long? Has it been that long that she barely even recognized her own parents? Yes, yes it was. And it was infuriating. She was pissed.

In the darkness I will meet my creators

Tara raised her head up and let her hand drag down her face, rubbing her eyes and then holding it over her mouth. She didn’t cry about it, she just hated it. Like your favorite show ending but the writers complete screwed you over and wrote the worst ending to mankind.

But when you have no one, you instinctively reach out desperate to find something, anything, to keep you upright.

And that first came in the form of Teddy.

And when it was to much for both of them.

There was Karma… and there was Ravage.

Karma was the other half of her, Tara and Karma like to think.

And they will all agree that I’m a suffocator

For Teddy and Ravage, no doubt the same.

So she and Karma empathized with Gabe and Carnage.

And looking back at it. The mere thought of somehow being separated from Karma like her brother and Gabe were from their symbiotes? … she doesn’t like the word symbiotes, she just calls Karma her ‘half.’ So thinking about Gabe and Teddy being away from their half seemed bleak.

She wasn’t alone, ever. Which strangely gave her comfort. Tara and Karma didn’t need to speak to understand each other and what each other needed. There’s no word to describe the bond you have with your half, it’s just… there. If you truly understand each other and work as a team, you can be one.

Suffocator

And for a long time, Tara thought she’d never find that half of herself.

Suffocator

And thinking about someone trying to take that away from her… from them.

Karma didn’t like that.

Tara didn’t either.

Karma gripped at the edge of the building under her claws, her right hand raised as she gripped it into a fist and then flexed her claws, her eyes narrowed and her forever smile seemed more grim in a wish it could frown.

The symbiote turned her head when she felt a heavy body hit the surface behind her.

Oh, love

Carnage approached from behind before hopping and perching next to her.

I’m sorry if I smothered you

“This cannot continue.”

“It won’t.”

Carnage turned his head, “It won’t be easy,”

“Or legal.”

I’m sorry if I smothered you

Karma turned and looked back at Carnage, hissing through her teeth as she bared them and sized up the other next to her,

“But we will not be threatened because of our existence, we are happy now,” she snarled, “they won’t take that from us- from our brothers,”

I sometimes with I stayed inside

“They won’t.”

My mother

. . .

“You willing to pay the price?”

Carnage stood his ground, his eyes narrowing. Gabe had no doubt. Neither did Carnage.

And Karma felt Tara’s determination.

“We already have.”

Never to come out.

—

Metal mirrors concludes…

Eye For An Eye… begins

[the-tangle-web]

“This place smells but I guess you get used to it…”

“I’m just stuck. Carnage won’t let us see Gabe still, Jen is blowing up my phone but I don’t even know what to say to her. Hi Jen, sorry you had to figure out I’ve been hanging out with the Punisher for most of my time and becoming a teenage vigilante without letting you know. Oh yeah, and I was taken and they put weird ass shit in my head most likely.”

“This is mostly my fault. Damn it past me. I’m not staying in here for all my time. I need to at least get some fresh air. Just no visible fighting. Carnage said he doesn’t want us to…”

“But I at least gotta tell somebody I’m ok. Like Jen? Or Castle? Fuck, maybe even Fury. I feel helpless and I’m tired of it..”

[the-tangle-web]

“We were all altered. Our body feels foreign. But there is no rest if these people continue to exist. We will not let this happen to more.”

“We will meet you in the middle.”

Athena: I need someone to watch Miles. I’m going on an OsCorp lab recon and I do not need him following me. Thalia can’t do it cause she’s going to be on my comms and tech support and Θείο is at work.

[the-tangle-web]

“We would offer if we weren’t on the same endeavor. But you can try with Jen if nothing else works out. She needs something to keep her busy, and it seems the blind devil also has a busy schedule. She hasn’t stopped trying to contact Anthony. For good reason, but for our sake not now.”

“It would very wise for this random child you have picked up not to get involved.”

Athena: I need someone to watch Miles. I’m going on an OsCorp lab recon and I do not need him following me. Thalia can’t do it cause she’s going to be on my comms and tech support and Θείο is at work.

[the-tangle-web]

Well, it's good to see that everybody's alive and healing!

Anthony: Suppose. More or less. Carnage is still out and the sewers where these mutants live aren’t exactly spacious. I don’t know if symbiotes have a spine but if they did, it would be broken by now.

Gabe talks through Carnage, but I guess they still want more time. Carnage and Gabe always acted as one and get through everything as one. I think it’s just time for Carnage to take the lead for now until Gabe’s body regenerates… or whenever he’s ready.

Gareth scarcely remembers anything. He just remembers being hungry and in pain and really gained consciousness and thought after he fed on half the scientists there.

Teddy is more or less the same deal. At least for now.

They did something to all of us. None of us feel the same. You don’t have to ask to know. But whatever it is… well fuck, we’ll figure it out.

Besides, any time away from Nick is a time to cherish.

… and I still need to work out what to say to Jen.

[the-tangle-web]

Anthony: “Gabe gave access to my blog to some turtles??? I would beat his ass if he wouldn’t beat me first.”

Gareth: “Cmon, they aren’t that bad. Besides, not like they did anything to sabotage you. They were keeping updates.”

Donnie: “I promise, nothing out of the ordinary was posted… if I remember…”

Anthony: “well, I have no choice but to trust you now, do I?”

Gareth: “If Gabe trusted them then I’ll trust them. They already seem to know each other a bit.”

Anthony: “And we haven’t even seen Gabe physically yet- Carnage is still out even after a day.”

Gareth: “So was Ravage, we just saw Ted a few hours ago. You know how Gabe said that symbiote need to heal their hosts? Maybe Gabe just needs more time for Carnage to help him out.”

Donnie: “From what I’ve observed, that’s the best possibility. I try not to ask them- whenever we do, they deflect. Best give them time, right?”

Anthony: “gotta agree with the Amazing World of Gumball anthropomorphic turtle. We all need time to cool down…. Even if sewers smell like crap.”

Donnie: “Least we’re updating everyone, some people were worried about you I bet-“

Anthony: “Anyone on here? Doubt it… but Jen is probably worried…”

[the-tangle-web]

“OK SO UH- our home is spacious but not THAT spacious!”

[the-tangle-web]

Loud ass beeping in his ears.

Being stuck restrained in some sort of metal tube isn’t a fun experience. And certainly not one Gabe wants to experience again.

His whole body under his neck was numb for the first few days. There were needles in his arms and some sort of mask over his face. After awhile, he started to gain more feeling in his body. But something wasn’t right. It wasn’t all him.

Everything else felt like flesh. But one side was off balance. He could feel it, but it wasn’t the same. It was hard to explain, but it just felt…. Different.

Carnage wasn’t far away from him. Stuck in a different clear tube. Even when separated, he could have sworn he felt how Carnage felt. Both of them were trapped and didn’t know how long it had been. He started to forget as days passed what exactly happened.

It was a muffled alarm that tore him from his thoughts. Shouts and a roar. He flinched as something cracked just outside his holding. Like something shattering. Then, he felt a familiar sensation, tendrils gripping at his legs and sneaking through his confinements. He didn’t need to look to know who it was. He couldn’t even move his head anyways. His fingers stretched downwards at his sides, and he felt Carnage grip at his hand.

. . .

Karma swallowed the scientist whole, her tongue licking her teeth as their screams muffled and the room was clear. Red lights flashing and a promise of backup.

The symbiote flinched and whipped her head around as a side of the room shattered. Emerging a red symbiote with bared teeth.

“Carnage,”

“Karma,”

Karma growled, “Go get the others,” and she gestured over her shoulder to the opening of debris that led to another room, “we are finding Teddy and Ravage,”

“Our memories are jumbled- but your brother is not far. They are separate but in the same room. Just beyond here.”

. . .

Ravage bonded to a weak body that disoriented him. But slowly, he was able to repair what he could not after all this time. Slowly, he stepped outward from the glass cell Teddy was in. Across the room, he saw the box he used to be stuck in, now torn. Glass littered the ground.

“Ravage,”

“Karma-“

The other symbiote shook her head, “No time, we are leaving. You both can move?”

“We are dizzy, but we will be fine,”

. . .

His head hurt like shit… he went from being restrained upright to almost face planting the cold ground. Anthony gritted his teeth, slowly lifting himself up with his arms. A large claw gently but firmly lifted him to his feet.

“Gareth is feeding. Backup is coming. We need to leave, now.”

He blinked rapidly, his gaze falling across the room. Several dead and drained bodies of scientists and Gareth still hunched over one. When the vampire lifted his head, his mouth was bloodied, but he no longer looked so crazed. His eyes dilated and his eyes shut tightly before opening again.

“What- where the fuck-“

“No time. We have to go!”

A loud crash and Anthony whipped his head over his shoulder. Heavy footsteps and shouts were getting louder.

He looked back ahead and he saw a large opening in the wall to the outside of the building. The rooms trashed and broken, research destroyed and littered with bodies.

Anthony ran on autopilot. He wasn’t sure who gave him a zip up jacket, but it was most likely Gabe. He didn’t remember when Ravage and Karma came around the corner and they all reassembled. And he didn’t remember forcing his body to sprint and jump through his opening to freedom.

. . .

Jen stood in front of the TV, her body frozen and eyes wide. An Oscorp lab destroyed and escaping it, three symbiotes and two humanoid beings. One shooting a web and swinging across to hide in an alleyway. Their faces unable to be recognized.

But she knew.

And she was relieved and horrified.

. . .

Castle was already searching the city, top to bottom, and tearing it apart.

Nick Fury and the Avengers have been failing to find the lost teen.

And Carnage led them, for the time being, the only place he knew they would be safe until the coast was clear. And safe to say, the turtle mutants had lots of questions.

“HOW THE FU-“

[the-tangle-web]

Not a bad idea! Hey! How about we play monopoly again?

ABSOLUTELY NOT

Why?!

You get way too competitive! Last time you put Leo in an actual jail cell!

HE WENT TO PRISON!

Still no real luck in finding exactly where Gabe is- or any of the other boys for that matter. We overheard one of them escaped! And that’s good news! But… I don’t think it’s appropriate to bombard her with questions at this moment.

I just hope they’re doing alright. We’ve not left the sewers ever since Gabe told us not to. And Splinter doesn’t take it lightly. We’re still not allowed to leave until we get an all clear! And Leon is REALLY getting bored and when he gets bored- he goes into my lab and touches things. And I want him to NOT touch my things. So the situation is becoming dire.

Any ideas? Literally anything to help in this overall situation would be splendid.

[the-tangle-web]

I’ll offer as much help as I can from down here! And you’re always free to visit but like- it’s a sewer. And humans don’t seem to take well to the sewers. Nor do cat spiders apparently… otherwise keep us posted. I can try and pick up that signal with you and I’ll let you know what I find.

Still no real luck in finding exactly where Gabe is- or any of the other boys for that matter. We overheard one of them escaped! And that’s good news! But… I don’t think it’s appropriate to bombard her with questions at this moment.

I just hope they’re doing alright. We’ve not left the sewers ever since Gabe told us not to. And Splinter doesn’t take it lightly. We’re still not allowed to leave until we get an all clear! And Leon is REALLY getting bored and when he gets bored- he goes into my lab and touches things. And I want him to NOT touch my things. So the situation is becoming dire.

Any ideas? Literally anything to help in this overall situation would be splendid.

[the-tangle-web]

Athena and Thalia are…well, I don’t think they’re fine emotionally, but they’re outta there and back at home!!

That’s good to hear. We were worried! I hope this mess gets resolved-

Leon? LEONARDO DO NOT TOUCH THAT REACTOR-

[the-tangle-web]

Still no real luck in finding exactly where Gabe is- or any of the other boys for that matter. We overheard one of them escaped! And that’s good news! But… I don’t think it’s appropriate to bombard her with questions at this moment.

I just hope they’re doing alright. We’ve not left the sewers ever since Gabe told us not to. And Splinter doesn’t take it lightly. We’re still not allowed to leave until we get an all clear! And Leon is REALLY getting bored and when he gets bored- he goes into my lab and touches things. And I want him to NOT touch my things. So the situation is becoming dire.

Any ideas? Literally anything to help in this overall situation would be splendid.

[the-tangle-web]

She was a black cat with eight eyes (and legs I think??) Either way it’ll be hard to miss her.

“….. she’s a what-“

“I mean… I guess that is rather hard to miss- uh- regardless- we’ll keep an eye out…”

[the-tangle-web]

WAIT SHIT WHERE'S ARACHNE THE CAT THERE WAS A CAT ANTHONY HAD A CAT

“A cat? Uhhhh- uh oh- uhm no? All we have is this weird dog-“

“Further clarification, the breed is a borzoi, also known as the Russian wolfhound. Raph recognizes it. Apparently it’s Gabe’s dog…. But no cat has run by… perhaps you can give a description? We can keep an eye out-“