Jumping through the sky should be easy when you got super resistant spider webs to hang on. A spider suit tailored right to your body and reinforced by Oscorp's labs to be even more durable. Easy work especially after he was Venom once or twice, right?

Wrong.

How did Peter even move in this thing?! The mask smelled like stale milkshake, the entire suit felt too warm, it was so weird wearing socks over his own shoes, and he was sure Peter barely ever cleaned the thing. Actually, did he ever clean it with his aunt around? That'd be a bad move if he wanted to keep his identity secret, so Harry supposed he'd better get used to the smell.

Not to mention, the web shooters required a lot more precision than when he was Venom. The web wouldn't always go where he wanted, he had to aim right and make sure he landed on the surface correctly (he really should've paid more attention in gym class), and if that wasn't all, he didn't have the authorization to use the other gadgets yet.

He mumbled a few complaints before getting a heads up.

"How's it hanging, Spidey?"

Harry, or rather, Spider-Man, sighed as he looked at the watch on his wrist. Peter had a S.H.I.E.L.D. communicator that camouflaged itself on his arm whenever he wanted. He wondered how many times Pete must've had messages during class or in the halls, at least he knew that with his "rich kid" status, S.H.I.E.L.D. would have no issues getting him out of class more often than Peter had to.

"Fine, am just wondering how many buildings do I have left to finish this 'crash course' of yours." he practically spat into the device.

Nova's laughter came from the communicator. "And here I thought you didn't have humor. You're just getting started, keep it up and maybe you'll keep the suit, too."

Rolling his eyes, Harry looked at the device through his mask, watching it disappear. He was almost tempted to throw it away, but he knew it was a bad idea. That kind of stuff was expensive and he'd get a lecture for losing it.

Speaking of which, he also had to replenish this costume's web fluid soon. He hoped it wouldn't be too damaged when Peter takes it back.

If Peter takes it back.

The symbiote blankly stared at the newly repaired screen his father was showing him, symbols on the panels he didn't understand.

"When I first became the Goblin, I had no idea of what I was doing, only motivated by revenge and my own wild instinct, just like you, my son. Then my mind progressively evolved into the way it is now. If we share anything in common, our intellects will be an imperative part of the transformation."

Though he hadn't understood completely everything, Carnage nodded.

"Now, I want you to focus and solve that problem on your own. Take a look at the keyboard in front of you before making your answer."

Curiously, Carnage peeked at the device. A computer. He could remember people used these things for work, entertainment, daily use... but how? And what kind? His father must've used plenty to make them the way they are now. Did it mean he had to create something too?

He brought a clawed hand to one of the buttons, another symbol appearing on the screen. Goblin frowned, though Carnage hadn't noticed. He didn't realize he was doing it wrong, unaware of what his demanded task was. Though a few seconds after he put his hand on the buttons, he suddenly started moving a little faster.

Deleting what he previously wrote, memories and knowledge of similar questions were popping into his mind. As if gears started rotating inside his brains, he knew he was facing a mathematics problem, and that the symbols he was looking at were an "equation". It was child's play, literally, though the symbiote was still naive about it, unaware that as of until a few seconds ago, he didn't know basic math.

Or that, despite who Carnage previously was being a high schooler, he simply answered to masters levels of science questions as if it was nothing. The symbiote's heightened abilities, combined with the host's intelligence, had increased the way his reasoning functioned. It however did take longer than it should have.

"Hm. The answer is correct, but you should've answered faster than this." said Goblin, lifting a hand to pat Carnage.

Although he didn't notice, the symbiote almost backed down, afraid it would be shocked for not being up to the task again. He however did see the crooked smile Carnage sported afterwards, eager to please him again.

"We'll try harder next time. Try not to stall and think logically before answering. You know those superheroes will take a chance at any opening you'll have."

Goblin smirked as Carnage growled, blood lust clearly present on the web-slinging creature's face. Mentioning those bugs was enough to put him into attack mode, he could only dream of the utter violence that would be unleashed once Carnage reached his full potential.

"Can you believe it? He left without a warning! No texts, no phone calls, I had to ask his aunt for- Hey, Harry, are you with me?"

"Uh..."

After the chase to get through the course S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agents put for him, Harry experienced another of Peter's favorite games: coming back to class on time to go through a test he was supposed to prepare for. At least with Peter's notes, he hoped he passed well. Not like Peter was there to compare answers either...

"Sorry, MJ, I feel a bit dizzy after last period. You were saying?"

"I'm talking about Peter, can you believe he's gone?"

Mary Jane couldn't possibly know about the whole symbiote mayhem, could she? And no "disappeared teen" announcements were done today, so he had to assume S.H.I.E.L.D. also covered his kidnapping as well.

"Well, Peter did always look like the kind of guy to go places, even if he should think about inviting us."

Her confused look confirmed that he wasn't totally listening. She decided to brush off his lightheadedness today, he did seem preoccupied by something else. "One day, we're all talking about what we're doing next weekend, and the next, Coulson just takes him without a warning to a 'multinational smart students contest' or whatever he called it. I'm not saying Peter doesn't deserve it, but don't you find it weird none of the other kids in our class were accepted?"

He guessed lying wasn't a superhero's best power (except maybe for Peter), that was one of the lamest excuses he could come up with.

"No idea where they get their standards for who's a gifted student and who isn't. Maybe Peter got... lucky, that's all."

"Well, I wish he was luckier on timing. We didn't even get to wish him good luck or say goodbye. He's not answering his phone either. I guess he must be busy, but it still kinda sucks." she sighed. "Anyways, everything's fine? You seem a bit... out there."

Harry bit his lip, looking the other way. He couldn't exactly tell MJ that Peter was gone because his best bud's dad kidnapped him, injected him with a weird goo that made him a monster. Never mind the fact that Peter was Spider-Man and that he would now rampage the city like a wild animal. Or that Harry as of recently became Peter's stunt double in superheroics.

"Just... kinda feels boring without him. I was thinking of going to the movies the other day, we haven't done that in a while. Looks like I'll have to wait until he comes back from this contest if I wanna hang out. What about you?"

"Well, Jameson liked my previous work, he just still wants me to talk more about Spider-Man. And by 'talk', I mean he wants me to prove how dangerous and how much of a menace he is. You know, same thing as last time I submitted something."

"Well, maybe he should dial down a bit if he ever wants his ratings to get higher. Even if Spider-Man causes a lot of trouble, no one's gonna want to read the same thing about a guy in a spider costume over and over, are they?"

"Good luck telling Jameson that." she snorted. "It's funny, I swear Peter almost told me the same thing last time."

"I'm sure he thinks so too." said Harry. "If I was Spider-Man for one, I wouldn't like hearing someone calling me a threat all day."

"You mean all year long, this is Jameson we're talking about. Though I'm kind of surprised, I thought you hated Spider-Man."

"I... well..." 'I hate the guy behind the suit. No, too awkward to say when I know it's me. I hate his stupid costume. No, that's a lame reason to hate a guy. His powers make no sense. Noooo, none of the superheroes ever have a power that make sense.' "It's not that I hate Spider-Man. I mean I do but, you know... it's more because of what he does, or uh, doesn't do that I can't really like what he's supposed to be."

There was no doubt he was Peter's best friend with an explanation like this one, though she somewhat got the gist of what he was saying.

"He isn't exactly perfect, you're right. Then again, if all superheroes were perfect, you'd have more people like Tony Stark owning successful industries and forming superhero teams left and right." Never mind the fact Stark Industries rivaled Oscorp or that Peter did form a superhero team of his own. Well, provided by S.H.I.E.L.D., but still.

"Hope Flash will be too busy at practice to read your work. He's always after Peter but... he'd be annoyed if you kept damaging Spider-Man's reputation."

The utter irony of Flash Thompson, one of Peter's oldest school bullies, being Spider-Man's biggest fan now hit him. Flash's attitude was stupid, but now it was harder to describe when he knew Peter's bully was also Peter's biggest fan in a way. For Harry, it was the other way around.

Though considering who wore the mask now, hard to tell if Peter was still the one Flash was unknowingly idolizing...

He suddenly felt his arm getting pulled. Turning around, he saw a group of young teenagers he recognized as Peter's other friends. Did they hear about Peter's... school competition too?

"Hey, MJ. Sorry, we're borrowing him for a second." said the teen wearing a blue shirt, one he recognized as Sam. "Harry promised he'd show us his newest trampoline after school."

"Really?" Mary Jane raised a brow, eyeing Harry.

"Uhhh..."

Harry was unsure to respond. The black-haired girl, whose name he thinks was Ava, took over while the other boys literally dragged Harry away. "Principal Coulson told us all about Peter leaving school for a while. We figured Harry could hang out with us while Peter's away."

Mary Jane felt like something was going on under her nose with how strange everyone was acting today. It's as if someone was pulling some sort of extra-sized prank on her, or hiding a terrible mistake from her. Regardless, she still had no time and too much homework to deal with this.

"Call me if you need help with the history report due for next week, I'm about to finish mine at the library. See you around." she said, excusing herself before leaving, while Harry annoyedly glared at the other teens.

"What is your problem? If you want to know, I don't have anything to do with Pete-"

"Save it for later." said the boy he recognized as Luke. "Fury wants us back to training."

There was a stunned silence before the teens pulled out what looked like ID cards with the S.H.I.E.L.D. insignia on them, complete with superhero names. Another detail he apparently missed from Peter being a superhero: the guys he supposedly met at a 'sandwich club' (Peter really needed to stop picking excuses from old school movies) were also his superhero team.

"Wait, hold on... right now?! The school day isn't even over!"

"Missing on full attendance is part of the job." said Sam, or rather, Nova.

"You'll get used to it." said Danny, or Iron Fist.

He sighed. Maybe superheroes didn't have it that easy over normal people after all...

It had started with his hands, now Carnage didn't even need to lift a finger. Though Goblin didn't want him to get too ahead of himself, he was pleased to see Carnage was answering the next batch of logic questions without a problem. Producing tendrils with the symbiote's abilities, he was working faster than regular human speed.

He had observed Peter's results even as Norman. Even for him, this was a major improvement. He would've loved hearing words of gratitude from his son, though for now, his grunts would do. Really, the boy needed his father in his life, it would only do him good to distance himself from those pesky bugs.

At least, that's what Carnage understood from what his father was telling him. He'd never contradict him anyway, he'd never upset his only real family on purpose. Not again.

"You're making small progress, Carnage." he said, crossing his hands. "Soon enough, I'll allow you to go on missions all by yourself, you'll be able to instill fear into those S.H.I.E.L.D. brats. I presume you'll also want to speak with Harry." 'Speak', in his case, probably meant throwing a building on him.

"Venom..." hissed the symbiote angrily at the mention of Peter's best friend. "Hate Venom. Family."

"Don't worry about him, my boy. He doesn't have his powers anymore, now that you're here. Unless he wanted to get on our level and beg those fools for superpowers, he won't be a bother again to either of us."

"Thief. Father family."

Anyone in their right mind would find Goblin's expression twisted and full of madness. Yet there was no doubt he was grinning with pride over the symbiote's words, no matter how limited they could be at the time.

"I am so glad you think that way. But I'm sure you'll love what I have in mind for you later more, you'll need some 'upgrades' for your next battles, and I know just what you need. Just think back of your little toys when you were Spider-Man, only stronger and more advanced. And with some modifications, the symbiote inside your bloodstream will also allow you more control over what you can do with it. Doesn't that sound great?"

Carnage's own grin seemed to mirror his own. He looked like a puppy, foolishly following the Green Goblin's every word, even standing on all fours whenever he was being talked to. But while things were becoming harder to control for Venom, it was the opposite for Carnage. His mind just felt clearer and clearer with every moment that passed, a proof that Venom disrespected their father for nothing. Proof that he was better than Venom, proof his father would never replace him with Venom.

"Yesssssssssss..."

"Just wait to see what you'll be able to do, to think, to make, to destroy." said the Goblin. "Tell me, Carnage, what's your biggest wish? What do you want the most out of being you?"

The symbiote looked down, seemingly thinking. He had to keep Carnage apt and willing to obey while he was still at his beginnings, if he didn't want the same thing as Venom to repeat.

"You. Happy. Family. Happy. Together." answered Carnage.

Goblin hummed at his response. He would've expected revenge, power, maybe even wealth, but he was pleasantly surprised to know it was something else. Clearly, Carnage retained some of Spider-Man's heroic streak. But considering his reaction whenever they mentioned Harry, he could tell his son was deeply despising that traitorous brat.

Of course he'd be, Harry never realized he was wasting Peter's time, blaming him for his inability to live up to Norman's name and disapproving of Peter's powers, Carnage was bound to be frustrated and angry with him. And Carnage hadn't expressed anything other than making his father happy, so there was definitely some selfishness in there, the symbiote would not want anyone else to take his place as Goblin's one and only son.

So as long as Carnage was nice and happy to be there, he'd do anything Goblin asked him to. Anything Goblin wanted him to be. He wouldn't be that weak, vulnerable boy everyone picked on because he could never fight back, nor that nuisance looming over town and wrecking his plans. He didn't even aim for boundless violence like Venom and the other experiments had, he was the only one to learn how to control himself, something he and Goblin shared.

Truly father and son.

Carnage was his newest and most loyal creation, he wouldn't make the same mistakes the one before him did. Harry had disappointed them both, he wasn't needed anymore. Neither to serve Norman, neither to entertain Peter. They shared a few genes, but everyone would agree they were better off with him out of the equation.

"I'm there, now. You won't need to run away again, my boy."

If you could even call it that, it seemed the symbiote felt warm hearing his father's reassurance. For once, it felt like Carnage wouldn't fail to protect his only family again.