Just Friends (Johnathan)

[Jacey Grant]

“Bye dad I’ll be back in a few hours!” Jacey said giving one last wave goodbye to her father before she went out the front door a smile on her face. One of her best friends Jonathan Brock was coming into Gotham City and they were going to be spending the day together. Jonathan actually lived in New York but he came to Gotham City often for reasons unknown to her, she just always assumed maybe he just tagged along on business trips with his aunt or something. Giving a shrug to the thought Jacey pulled her pea coat closer to her body suddenly feeling very cold. She didn’t usually dress all that girly but today she felt like doing so. She wore a black pea coat with a v neck black long sleeve shirt underneath. Her skirt was grey with black spots on it like a Rorschach type of design. Underneath was black leggings then black ankle boots to cover her feet. She wasn’t sure why she dressed up she just felt like it was all.

When she got to the shopping district of Gotham where she was suppose to meet Jonathan she sat on a bench and looked around. It was a nice day the sun was out despite the wind that blew through the city. In the distance she saw the Wayne Enterprise building in all it’s glory. According to her father, Selina Kyle her mother had known Bruce Wayne she thought that was pretty cool sort of. It was nice knowing rich people right? Shaking her head Jacey looked down at her watch and sighed, Jonathan was late again.

[Jonathan Brock]

Punching the last robber, Jonathan cracked his neck as he climbed up a wall. This robbery had been one of the easiest things he had been able to do lately. He had been finding it hard to focus when he saved people, and he had no idea why. He wasn’t sure if it was because of the symbiote, or just the fact he couldn’t think clearly. Looking around as he got to the top of the building, he remembered something and rubbed his face with his hands as the mask unravelled. He had meant to meet up with Jacey Grant, one of his best friends, soon. Cracking his neck, he allowed the mask to ravel up once again and he ran across the building, towards the edge of it. As soon as he got to the edge of the building, he leapt off of it, and sent a string of webbing towards another building swinging forward at an incredible pace.

Swinging forward at a faster and quicker pace, Jonathan kept swinging from building to building to get to the shopping district of Gotham. How could he have forgotten about meeting up with Jacey? He honestly had no idea. Within the distance, he saw the shopping district. Swinging across to the next building, Jonathan kept swinging from building to building, and several people could probably see him. As he swung to an alleyway,he checked and saw that it was empty. Dropping down, he landed squarely on his feet, and he smiled as he allowed the suit to go back into his atoms. However, he allowed a portion of it to turn into a blue jacket around his shirt. That was a good thing about the symbiote, that the colour of it could also change.. Running into the shopping district, Jonathan walked towards Jacey and he said “Sorry Jace. I was at a meeting, and it ran a bit long.”

[Jacey Grant]

As Jacey looked up at the buildings she could have sworn she saw a flash of white. Is that Anti-venom?! she thought trying to get a better look but it disappeared as quickly as it came so she supposed it might be a trick of light. Sighing she crossed her arms being a little annoyed that Jonathan wasn’t here yet. Then the second this thought came into her mind, Sorry Jace. I was at a meeting, and it ran a bit long.. Jacey sighed it seemed he was always late these days but she let it drop, she had come to expect things like this from him.

“It’s fine I wasn’t here that long anyways” Jacey said hugging her friend in greeting forcing a smile to go to her face. She had a tendency to hold a grudge but she would let it go this time. Letting go of him and taking a step back Jacey checked the time.
“So what do you want to do? The movie I was hoping we could catch doesn’t start till another hour so we have time to do whatever any ideas?” She was hoping to get some shopping done either with or without Jonathan. She couldn’t usually go with her father, he wasn’t all that girly and her Aunt Dinah could only come on certain days and Jacey desperately needed to restock her wardrobe.

[Jonathan Brock]

Jonathan needed to be a bit more careful when he was going around as Anti-Venom II. He could have sworn that several people had looked up when they saw him web-swinging. However, right now he did not need to worry about that. He was meeting one of his best friends, and he also had a small crush on Jacey. She was a beautiful girl, and he thought that she was an amazing person. When she hugged him, he hugged back, knowing she could hold a grudge, and would probably be holding one against him for being late. He had been late several times that they had been going to meet up.

Jonathan knew that the movie would not be for a while, and that they had some time on their hands. He thought about asking her if she wanted to go shopping for a bit, but he thought it might be a bit of a sappy idea, coming form a guys lips. Deciding it was worth a shot, Jonathan said “I was thinking, that uhm, maybe you would want to go shopping? It’d be a nice thing to do for a while before the movie. I’ll even pay for a couple of things as a friend.” Smiling at her, he knew that he could pay for a couple of things if she wanted. He had a good bit of money with him, and he rubbed the back of his neck, waiting to see what she would say.

[Jacey Grant]

“I swear you’re a mind reader I was just thinking that! And you don’t need to pay for anything I got money just pay for the popcorn and snacks we’ll get later” Jacey said with a smile grabbing Jonathan’s arm and trying to tug him in the direction of the stores she liked. She had her eye on a leather jacket that had been taunting her in the store window for days now. Now she just had enough money for it then maybe they could get Jonathan some things too. Knowing it was useless to drag him the whole way Jace let his arm go and just walked side by side with him. She stared at the city and people around her sometimes looking at other guys not that she meant any of it, she had her eye on another boy who had a tendency to be late to pretty much everything involving her.

When her store came into sight her smile grew wide in pleasure. They were playing music, A cover of the song hold it against me sung by Sam Tsui.
“Come on Jonathan I need you to tell me what I look good in!” Jacey said with a laugh before practically running into the store and pulling clothes off the racks that she liked or thought looked good. She had some money to spend and didn’t think about going over the limit. She liked shiny or expensive looking things just eye catchers really. Something she had been told was acquired from her mother Selina Kyle.

[Jonathan Brock]

Jonathan chuckled a bit as Jacey tried to tug him behind her. It was funny and a bit cute, so he let her drag him towards the stores. He said “I’m not a mind reader Jacey. I’m just quite intuitive.” Smiling at her, he had gottenn the feeling that he’d be paying for the popcorn and snacks. However, sometimes, because of the symbiote, he felt like he needed to desperatly eat something, and whenever he ate chocolate, the craving seemed to disappear for a while. Mentally shaking off these thoughts, he walked with Jacey towards the stores. He was wondering if he should also get himself some new clothes. There was always a chance that he might stop buying clothes and start using the symbiote for his clothing. However, he was not going to do that.

When Jacey ran into a certain store, Jonathan laughed a bit and walked in after her. Everytime they went out and to a store, he always had the job of telling her if she looked good or bad in the outfit she picked. He enjoyed it because it meant he was able to spend time with one of his best and most beautiful friends. Rubbing the back of his neck as she looked at the tight and shiny outfits, he felt his mouth dry up a bit. Clearing his throat a bit, he said “So, uhm, whenever you are ready, we can start seeing what looks good on you. I mean if you want to.” He always got nervous around Jacey.

[Jacey Grant]

“Of course just let me change and I’ll be out in a sec” Jacey said with a smile before disappearing into a changing room. She looked at the assorted outfits and decided on a dress first, it was a dark shade of green just like her eyes and went much better with her hair than the darker clothes did. Stripping off her clothing she stared at herself in the mirror before putting on the dress. She had a mix look to her she didn’t look that much like her father there was a lot of her mother in there or she supposed it was her mother. She didn’t remember much of her mother it was rare to get pictures of her outside of the Catwoman suit as well. Shaking her head of these thoughts she slipped the emerald dress onto her body. It was tight fitting in the right places and a bit too low cut for her liking but nothing too horrible. It had straps on the back which made an X formation though her dark hair covered it quite nicely.

With a smirk to herself she exited the dressing room turning around so Jonathan could get a good look of her from all angles. Then she turned to look at his face wanting to see his reaction to the dress, she wasn’t sure where she would wear this type of thing maybe to a school dance or something like that.
“So what do you think? Yay or nay the fate of the world depends on your response Johnny” Jacey teased with a coy smirk.

[Jonathan Brock]

When Jacey went into the dressing room to try on some of the clothes, Jonathan took this time to think a little bit about a lot of things. Lately, his father had been on his mind a lot, and this always caused emotional turmoil for Jonathan. His father had willingly gave his life up by forcefully seperating himself from the symbiote. Even though he had told Jonathan that he loved him before he died, Jonathan still felt that Eddie hadn’t cared for him. Sometimes, this sort of thinking caused him to ponder it all night, or while he was fighting crime as Anti-Venom II. All Eddie Brock had left his son was the Symbiote, and his old house, as well as several new clippings about Venom, Anti-Venom and Spider-man.

Shaking these thoughts, Jonathan thought about more recent things. His grades were good, and his aunt had been letting him go out more and more. She, however, did not know he had followed in his father’s footsteps as Anti-Venom. Not a lot of people knew that either. Only those of the Young Avengers and some others that Jonathan had trusted enough to tell. Jacey didn’t know, and Jonathan had a feeling that he may tell her at some point. When she came out in a very beautiful, and form fitting emerald green dress, Jonathan felt his mouth dry up again. Allowing his mouth to moisturise again, Jonathan said “Well, I think that you look very beautiful in this dress Jacey. Its a nice dress, and it matches your eyes as well.” Smiling a bit, he looked at her and noted she looked quite beautiful in it, more beautiful than he would admit, due to them being friends.

[Jacey Grant]

“Thanks!” Jacey said with a smile on her face, she knew he wouldn’t notice but she liked it when Jonathan said she looked beautiful not that he would ever notice his mind was always on different things. Going back into the changing room she changed into a different outfit it was a tank top, black shorts and a jacket a little bit more casual this time she came out and spun around once more though this time her expression was of confusion.
“I’m not so sure about this one, if my hair wasn’t so dark maybe it would work….I should start dying it blonde and see if that works better with the dark colors” Jacey said thoughtfully. She dyed her hair brown because she thought it looked better than way than the black she did like being a brunette but still she liked being fashionable as well.
“So how has school been? You get a girlfriend yet because if you have I want to meet her and dress you up” Jacey said with a childish pout on her lips. She would honestly be hurt if Jonathan got a girlfriend and didn’t tell her, they were best friends after all she had to know about these type of things right?

[Jonathan Brock]

Even though Jacey might not think he did, Jonathan had always noticed how she seemed to like it when he called her beautiful. Was that a possibility that she had deeper feelings for him, or was it just something she liked him calling her as a friend. He was not entirely sure right now. When she went to change into a different outfit, Jonathan’s thoughts briefly turned back to his father, and how life might have been different if his father had been mentally stable. But, pondering on the past and alternate realities was not healthy, and it could drive anyone man. So, once again, he pushed these thoughts away.

When Jacey came out in her new outfit, Jonathan listened to her talk about how she might go blond to better suit this outfit. When she asked how school was, and if he had gotten a girlfriend, he blushed a bit. Jonathan said “Schools been okay. My grades are still good. And no, I don’t have a girlfriend.” He wasn’t sure if he should tell her the reasons he didn’t have a girlfriend. Some girls found him nerdy and weird, and one other reason was that, as Anti-Venom II, he could not really have a relationship, or his girlfriend could be hurt by those who were against him.

[Jacey Grant]

Jacey frowned a bit when Jonathan told her he still didn’t have a girlfriend yet, she knew that at a first glance it would be easy to write him off but once you got to know him some more she couldn’t see how someone could not fall for him.
“Ah don’t worry Jonathan, one day you’re going to meet a girl who makes everything seem colorful and who knows she might think the same way about you” Jacey said to him staring at him from the mirror as she looked at her reflection she wasn’t going to take the outfit she had decided on that it wasn’t showy enough for her. Jacey liked eye catchers and shiny things and this outfit wasn’t exactly that but it’s alright she had a whole bunch of clothes left to put on. Disappearing inside the dressing room this outfit was definitely an eye catcher in a seductive way, he dad wouldn’t let her wear it in a million years but still Jacey liked it.

“How about this one?” The jeans were tight fitting and a black color, for a shirt she only had a corset that was black with dark blue ribbons tying it up. Then a black mini jacket covering her shoulders, personally Jacey thought she looked sexy but maybe a little slutty as well.

[Jonathan Brock]

Jonathan smiled a bit when Jacey said “Ah don’t worry Jonathan, one day you’re going to meet a girl who makes everything seem colorful and who knows she might think the same way about you.” He said “Well, girls only seem to think that I am nerdy, weak and weird. I don’t know why they think that, but it’s not exactly a confidence booster. Besides, who needs a girlfriend when I have wonderful friends like you.” Smiling at her, he didn’t tell her his other reason for nnot getting a girlfriend. If he did, there was a chance that some of his enemies would try and get to her and hurt her. He was starting to wonder if he should tell her about his symbiote, when she came out in her next outfit.

Jonathan’s jaw almost dropped when he saw Jacey in the outfit she had picked. She looked aboloutly beautiful and stunning, and Jonathan turned a dark shade of red when she asked him what he thought. Stammering several times, Jonatha managed to say, without stammering “Your look extemely beautiful Jacey.” What he didn’t say was that he had a crush on her, but it was possible that his reaction may have tipped her off about it. At least his symbiote had not changed colour or shape, otherwise she might figure out he was Anti-Venom II.

[Jacey Grant]

“Well I don’t think you’re weak and weird! Maybe a bit nerdy but hey nerds always get the girls eventually” Jacey joked checking herself out in the mirror doing various poses for the hell of it at times just to see what would the most fun for her. Jacey didn’t have a boyfriend currently, sure she flirted with boys at her school and often went to dances or things with them but she never considered them her boyfriends just fun and games for her really. Though she couldn’t help but smirk when she noticed Jonathan’s reaction to her outfit it was even better than she hoped it would be. Okay maybe her crush wasn’t all that small. To be honest Jacey wasn’t sure why she liked Jonathan more than a friend he was the complete opposite of her past relationships in which the men were tall, dark knight type of people. The kind who had danger constantly over their shoulders and were exciting, Jonathan wasn’t that yet Jacey couldn’t help but constantly want his attention.

Jacey opened her mouth to tell him something when gun shots went off bullets causing lights behind her to break and sparks fly. She went down covering her head out of instinct and looked up to find men with guns and ski masks demanding money. Jacey looked at Jonathan she was a bit scared but she could protect herself, she was taught how to fight but still she didn’t want anything to happen to her best friend.
“Nice outfit girly” A deep voice chuckled grabbing Jacey by the arm pulling her against him, he smelt like tobacco and other unattractive smells. Plus this guy was probably around her dad’s age gross. He had his arm around her throat the gun pointed to her head.
“Anybody try to move the girl gets a head full of lead you go it people!” The man barked staring down at the crowd, Jacey had to bite back a snarl, she could probably save herself if she timed it right but he could shoot the crowd she wasn’t a hero her dad was.

[Jonathan Brock]

Jonathan smiled when Jacey made her joke. However, when these guys with the ski masks and guns came in, and one of them grabbed Jacey and aimed his gun at her head, his temper exploded into an inferno of anger. However, what made his inferno of anger even more intense was how they seemed to be ready to kill Jacey, and the fear he saw in her eyes. Lowering his head, the jacket he was wearing changed from blue to white as it began to grow. He said “You shouldn’t threaten my friends. And you definetly should not annoy me. Want to know why? Some people think I’m just a weak teenager. But sometimes, I feel like a monster.” Slowly raising his head, the symbiote grew and as his head raised fully, the Anti-Venom suit had formed fully. However, instead of it being in its refined stage, it was in its feral state.

Snarling, Jonathan quickly rushed to the robber, and grabbed his gun. Yanking it out of the robbers hand, he crushed it in his hand, and he headbutted the robber. Turning to the others, he raised his hand and sent strands of webbing towards them. As it wrapped around their waists, it formed a semi-cocoon, webbing their hands to their sides. Looking at Jacey, the eyes of the suit turned black as it became more refined. However, when he heard a gun cock, he pivoted and saw the barrel of a shotgun pointed at his forehead by a robber who had waited for this.

The robber said “Move, and you’re dead.” Jonathan cracked his neck, and the robber shot him in the head, blowing the mask apart and doing damage to his brain. However, what the robber did not know was that this symbiote had very powerful healing properties, and as his father had told him, could heal even a shot to the head. And that is what happened. Jonathan’s injury healed very fast, and the mask reformed. Grabbing the shotgun, he ripped it out of the robbers hands, and headbutted him as he looked terrified. Setting it down, Jonathan allowed the mask to unravel. He couldn’t look at Jacey and he said quietly “Now you know why I’ve always been late when we were gonna meet.”

[Jacey Grant]

Jacey moved away from Jonathan a look of fear in her eyes, no not fear she couldn’t be afraid of him he was her best friend! But he looked like…like that! And the powers it was too much for her to take in and Jacey wasn’t sure if she could take it in. No Jonathan is still Jonathan no matter what he is….but there goes the little normalcy I thought I had in life Jacey thought bitterly focusing on the floor for a moment or two and not at Jonathan in all his Anti-Venom glory she supposed. She looked at Anti-Venom and mouthed ‘Meet me in the alley’ meaning the alley a few blocks from here they would have to pass it on the way to the movie theatre.

“Get out of here before the cops show up and think you did it” Jacey told him fists clenched and looking down at the floor angrily. She was really tired of people in her lives being superheroes, people who wouldn’t always be there for her cause they were busy saving the world or something like that. It really made her mad sometimes; she remembered how her dad had to leave her at times to save the city. All the missed birthdays, coming home with wounds, to think Jonathan was just going to be another one of those memories made her want to cry from frustration.