VENOMOUS GENEROSITY

Two hours later, Rarity was standing right in front of the glamorous Red Spider Casino, wearing her signature black dress and cape. She was the next in a line that stretched for nearly two city blocks. It was unlikely that the bodyguards (who somehow resembled Jules and Vincent from Pulp Fiction) would let her inside the building, but she had no doubt that the Symbiote would watch her back if there was any trouble. Both of them were really hoping that there would be trouble.

With that in mind, she confidently approached the bodyguards. However, they immediately stood in her way.

"Hold on a minute, Miss. You don't look old enough to enter this place. May we ask what are you doing here?", asked the John Travolta lookalike.

"Certainly, gents", Rarity answered. "I came here to have a conversation with Mr. Fisk on a very sensitive matter. It's really important that I see him immediately."

The bodyguards looked at each other with confusion before the Sam Jackson lookalike turned to Rarity.

"You must be confused, Miss. Mr. Fisk isn't expecting any personal meetings tonight and even if he did, the person he would be meeting wouldn't be as young as you. We need to ask you to leave and go home."

"Really? Then, tell him that I simply refuse to leave until he comes here and gives me some straight answers regarding his business with a friend of mine."

The guards reached for their belts and revealed their gun holsters.

"Final warning, lady", said Travolta.

"Don't make us do something uncivilized", added Jackson.

Rarity was just about to unleash the Symbiote's power on them until someone called out behind her.

"Ah, you're finally here!"

When Rarity turned towards the voice's direction, she saw a huge bald man with a white suit smiling to her. She was so intimidated by his appearance that almost squealed.

"Relax, gentlemen. I was expecting her all evening."

The guards looked at each other again before letting go of their gun holsters. Then, the gigantic man extended his hand towards Rarity.

"I believe we haven't been formally introduced. My name is Wilson Grant Fisk, the CEO of Fisk Industries. And you are..."

Rarity nervously shook his hand.

"Uh, I'm Rarity. I... I've been really looking forward to meeting you in person, sir."

"The feeling's mutual, Miss Rarity."

"It is? How do you know about me?"

"Well, let's just say some of my people had a peculiar encounter with you recently. The way they described your appearance and actions were quite intriguing."

"Oh. Yes, about that-"

"Perhaps it would be best if we talked in a much more private place. If you would please follow me."

"Oh, of course. By all means, lead the way."

"Hmmm, I already like you."

She followed her towards the building and as they entered, they were greeted by a shimmering view.

The casino was, indeed, a sight to behold. Its walls and floors were the color of gold and there were so many people gambling, drinking, or drinking that one might assume that he/she had stumbled upon some sort of paradise.

Upon seeing all of this, all Rarity wanted to was explore the entire floor, meet all these fascinating people, and maybe make a few bets. However, his friend snapped her out of it just in time,

"Remember what we're here to do."

Rarity let out a sigh and responded with her thoughts.

"You're right. Focus on the job, have fun later."

"Hey, I didn't say we can't have fun. In fact, we'll surely have some with this behemoth and his goons."

"Only as a last resort. Even then, we have to make sure these people don't get hurt during the fight."

"Don't worry. By the time we're done with these brutes, no one will have a clue about our presence here tonight."

"I sure hope so."

She continued following Fisk through the casino floor until they reached a fairly large room that contained a desk, a billards table with balls and cue sticks, and four armed guards. Fisk promptly sat on a leather chair near the desk and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

"Please take a seat, Miss Rarity."

She sat on the chair opposite to the one Fisk was sitting.

"So, let's talk about how you dispatched my men so easily and why."

"Uh, it's kind of a long story, actually."

"No need to worry. I have plenty of time. Besides, it does sound like a very interesting one."

"Well, let's just say I recently gained a extraordinary friend who, in exchange for helping him find a chemical he needs to survive, gave me amazing abilities."

"Hmmm, I see. Is there any chance I can meet this 'extraordinary friend'?

"Oh, I don't think you'd like that. His appearance is a bit, uh, disturbing."

"Disturbing? Do you really believe that I can't handle something disturbing, Miss?"

"I, uh, don't actually know a lot about you, actually. So..."

She laughed nervously while Fisk took a sip from his glass of whiskey.

"So, you came to meet me without knowing almost nothing about me. That's a bit sad and insulting, if you ask me. Normally, these kinds of people are punished with a good beating by me. However, I think I can make an exception for a gifted young girl like you. As for whether or not I can handle disturbing things, I once knew a man who brutally abused his wife with physical violence, and made his son both stare at a white wall and listen to his mother's screams. One day, the boy couldn't take it anymore. He grabbed a hammer and repeatedly hit his father's head with it repeatedly until the father's skull crushed. Afterwards, the mother comforted his son and in order to hide the body, they cut it up and threw the pieces to a nearby river. So, what do you say, Miss Rarity? Still think that I can't handle disturbing?"

Rarity was at a lost for words after hearing this story and was even more intimidated by him. She could only pull herself together after about fifteen seconds.

"Oh my goodness! That was a truly intense story. How do you know all this?"

"I was about to pay them a visit and witnessed the whole ordeal through a window. After it was over, I helped with the mother and the child clean up the mess."

"Was the father your friend?"

"A long time ago, yes. He was an inspiring figure in my life and I looked up to him like a mentor. However, once he started treating his wife and kid like that, I began to despise him. A part of me is glad that his son gave him what he deserved that night."

"Oh, my! And what happened to the boy?"

"No one knows. Some people think that he went to live with his relatives on a farm outside the city. Others believe that he travelled to Asia and became a powerful criminal by establishing relationships with a special kind of Yakuza. Either way, finding him is next to impossible right now."

"Really? That's kind of sad. I would've liked to meet him and maybe help him in any way I could."

"Even if you could. Miss Rarity, I don't think he would've needed your help. That kid was scarred for life and the only way he could feel complete again was spending some time alone and finding an opportunity to release his sorrow."

Rarity began to think about what he said before her thoughts were rudely interrupted by the Symbiote.

"I can't take much more of this irritatingly sappy story! Just cut a deal with the guy and get us out of here pronto!"

She realized he was right and turned her attention to Fisk.

"Well, Mr. Fisk, the story you told was quite amazing and I now know that you can definitely handle something as disturbing-looking as my new friend. However, before I can arrange a meeting with him, you have to promise me that you will stop going after my friend Sweetie Drops and harassing her in any way. Do we have a deal?"

"You mean the newspaper reporter who decided to snoop around one of my factories and saw more than I expected her to see? I'm afraid that can't be arranged. Unless she decides not to publish the information she gathered, which we both know is highly unlikely, she remains a loose end. Leaving loose ends like her untied is always bad for business. I'm sure someone like you can understand that."

Rarity raised an eyebrow and stood up.

"No, I honestly don't. So sorry it had to be this way, Mr. Fisk, but I refuse to make any deals with you until my friend is left alone. This is my final answer. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

Although she turned to leave, Fisk snapped his fingers and the guards in the room circled around Rarity, holding her at gunpoint.

"Then, I regret to inform you that you just became a loose end yourself, Miss Rarity. A shame really. You and your friend could've eliminated all my competitors in a single week. But, as sad as it is, I have to do whatever it takes to protect my business. Any last words?"

Rarity thought really hard about finding a solution to this predicament before coming to a realization and contacting the Symbiote with her thoughts.

"Let's do that trick you wanted to do so badly."

"Are you sure? We didn't even practice that properly."

"Trust me, it's going to work. Wait for my signal."

She turned her attention to Fisk.

"I can see only one loose end that needs to be tied up, Fisk, and that's you!"

Just then, four tentacles came out of her body and pushed the guards against the walls extremely hard, knocking them unconscious. Fisk, meanwhile, was only mildly fazed by this.

"Impressive. Now, let's see if you can handle this."

He took out a remote from his pocket and as soon as he pressed a button on it, the billards table is split in two and an advanced rocket launcher came out of the floor. It immediately fired a missile at Rarity, but she dodged it at the last second, grabbed the missile with a tentacle from her arm, and threw it towards the launcher, destroying it. At that moment, Fisk got up and walked towards Rarity while clenching his fists.

"Alright, this is now starting to get tiresome."

"If you're tired, mister, then the solution is simple. Give up and leave my friend alone."

"Do not insult me, girl. I became one of the biggest names in this city by never denying a single challenge. I have no intention to make an exception for you."

"Good, because we don't want to make an exception for behemoth like you either."

Right after that, he threw a barrage of heavy punches at her, but she avoided every single one of them. Then, she hit his face with the chair (in which the chair is destroyed and he is only slightly dazed) and managed to get him down with a kick to the knee, but when she tried to punch him, he blocked her attack and threw her to a nearby wall by grabbing her head. Afterwards, she avoided Fisk's stomp by jumping in front of the desk and barely avoided another attack when he accidentally crushed the desk with his fists.

"Very cowardly for someone so bold and powerful like you to run away from pain like that!"

"Really? Well, I think it's even more cowardly to try to assassinate a girl to protect a criminal empire!"

"My 'criminal empire' is what's been keeping the order in this city since you were going to preschool! If I'm put behind bars, everything will collapse and chaos will reign supreme!"

"The lesser of two evils is still evil!"

Fisk came at her with such ferocity that Rarity was grabbed before she could react. In a few seconds, he began crushing her with a bear hug. As she desperately struggled to get herself free, a malicious grin appeared on Fisk's face. Before he could finish her off, however, the Symbiote came out of her neck and sunk its razor sharp teeth into Fisk's neck, causing him to release Rarity and back away in agony. As she recovered from the torture, she warmly smiled to the Symbiote.

"Thank you so much, darling."

"You're welcome, but it's not time to rest yet."

"You're right. It's time to bring him down once and for all!"

"And I've got the perfect tools for that!"

As soon as he went back inside her, Rarity's hands turned into enormous dark claws. Though she was a bit surprised at this, she decided not to question it and instead focus on the fight, Despite his injury, Fisk was still as ferocious as ever and once again tried to attack Rarity with punches. She, meanwhile, proceeded to both dodge these attacks and slash his arms and legs with her claws at the same time. A minute later Fisk was completely on his knees and his whole attire was turned red from all the blood coming out of her injuries. Once Rarity stopped panting, she inflicted on more injury on Fisk by slashing his face and blinding him in one eye. As he screamed in agony and rage, huge amounts of blood poured from the cuts.

"WHAT KIND OF A MONSTER ARE YOU?!"

"We are not monsters. We're simply a dynamic duo that managed to accomplish what everyone failed to do since you came to power: We made you vulnerable. When Sweetie Drops publishes the information regarding your criminal activities, that eye will certainly not be the only thing you'll be missing."

"Misguided fools! Without me keeping my competitors in check, not a single ounce of order will be left in this city!"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that. In my opinion, once everyone learns about what happened here and how badly you were beaten by us, your rivals won't have a drop of courage left in them to resume their activities at night. If they do, we will go after all of them and treat them exactly how we treated you. Rest assured, eventually, every single one of them will taste our venom. Good night."

Then, her blood-soaked clothes changed into a black-leather outfit and turned to leave while the kingpin of the city shouted behind her.

"ONE MONTH! ONE MONTH AND YOU WISH YOU HAD ME BACK! YOU HEAR ME!"

Neither Rarity nor the Symbiote paid attention to the screams as they promptly exited the building.