A Date With A Goblin

The Oscorp testing facility loomed in the darkness, a skeleton of forgotten research projects and long-abandoned experiments. Flickering lights illuminated the cracked pavement leading up to the entrance, where the team stood, shrouded in the shifting forms of their symbiote suits.

The air was thick with tension as Gwen Stacy, Wanda Maximoff, Natasha Romanoff, and Talia Stark surveyed the area. Their symbiote suits shifted and pulsed, adapting to the environment, their bodies enhanced by raw power—but that didn't make the dread in Gwen's chest any lighter.

The Goblin was waiting for them.

"Alright," Talia whispered. "We all agree this is a trap, yeah?"

"Obvious," Natasha said, eyes scanning the perimeter. "The question is—how bad?"

**"Very,"**Fracture answered casually through Gwen's suit. **"But, hey, on the bright side, if we die, at least we'll look great doing it."**

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Fracture. Very comforting."

**"I aim to please."**

Wanda smirked at Gwen, then gripped the Chitauri Scepter, the artifact glowing faintly in her grasp. "Let's not waste time."

They moved in silently, their suits adjusting to dampen their footsteps. Talia pulled up a holographic map from her wrist device, tracking any movement. "I'm not seeing any hostiles yet."

Natasha frowned. "That's because he's watching us."

And just as the words left her mouth—

The lights shut off.

A cold, distorted voice echoed through the facility.

"Ah, my dear Spider-Woman. You finally made it."

The air crackled with tension as the ceiling shattered.

A blur of green and gold crashed down onto the central catwalk above them. The Green Goblin perched on his glider, his eerie yellow lenses glowing, the metallic shine of his suit reflecting the dim light.

"I was beginning to think you'd ignore my invitation," he sneered. "But no… you couldn't resist, could you?"

Gwen clenched her fists. "You sent the coordinates. Here we are. What do you want?"

The Goblin tilted his head. "Oh, you already know." His gaze lingered on her, analyzing, studying. "I wanted to see you up close. You're different now."

His grin widened as he gestured toward her shifting black-and-red suit.

"Ahh… now I see. You've evolved."

Gwen narrowed her eyes. "Not interested in compliments from a maniac."

The Goblin ignored her, his gaze sweeping over the others. "And look at this… you brought friends."

His tone was mocking, but there was something else beneath it. Something… fascinated.

His eyes flickered to Wanda's scepter, the raw power within it. "Now that… that is interesting."

Wanda tightened her grip. "You talk too much."

The Goblin let out a manic laugh. "Oh, my dear Maximoff, words are my favorite weapon. Right after, of course—"

In a flash, he threw a pumpkin bomb directly at them.

Fracture sarcastically screamed. **"EXPLOSIONS EVERYBODY PANIC!"**

The team dodged as the blast erupted, sending shockwaves through the facility. Gwen flipped back, webbing onto a high beam, while Natasha and Talia used their enhanced speed to avoid the debris. Wanda created a chaos shield, deflecting most of the blast.

The Goblin swooped down, targeting Gwen directly.

She barely had time to react as he slammed into her mid-air, sending them both crashing into the side of a storage container. Gwen's symbiote absorbed most of the impact, but the force still rattled her.

"Do you feel it?" the Goblin hissed. "The strength, the power—it's intoxicating, isn't it?"

Gwen shoved him off, flipping to her feet. "Not as intoxicating as punching you in the face."

She launched forward, enhanced reflexes making her faster than ever. Her symbiote-coated fist connected with his helmet, cracking the surface slightly.

The Goblin stumbled back—then laughed.

"Good," he mused. "Very good."

Gwen narrowed her eyes. Why did he sound… pleased?

The battle exploded into chaos.

Natasha and Talia engaged Goblin's drones, their symbiotes making them faster, stronger, deadlier. Wanda faced off against the Goblin, her chaos magic colliding with his tech-based attacks. Gwen fought at her side, their battle brutal, unrelenting.

But something was off.

Even as Gwen landed hit after hit, the Goblin barely reacted.

She dodged a glider blade, twisting mid-air, landing a solid kick to his ribs. "You're not even trying, are you?"

The Goblin's laughter sent a chill down her spine.

"Oh, my dear girl… this isn't about winning."

Gwen felt her stomach drop.

He was toying with her.

The Goblin suddenly grabbed her by the throat, slamming her into the nearest wall. Gwen struggled, but he held her with ease.

"You're stronger now, Spider-Woman," he murmured. "But I wonder… how much stronger could you become?"

She froze.

"I see it in you," he continued. "That hunger. That drive. You don't just want to be strong. You need it."

His grip tightened. "You could be more. You could stand above them all."

Gwen's vision swam.

"No," she rasped.

He leaned in. "Why crawl when you could fly?"

Then—Wanda's magic exploded behind him.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!"

A blast of raw energy sent the Goblin flying, releasing Gwen from his grip.

She collapsed, gasping for breath.

Natasha and Talia closed in, weapons ready.

The Goblin pushed himself up slowly, chuckling. "Tsk, tsk. Always ruining my speeches."

Wanda helped Gwen to her feet, keeping her close.

The Goblin glanced at them, as if calculating something.

Then he grinned.

"Well, my dear Spider-Woman, I suppose we'll have to continue this discussion later."

Before anyone could react, he activated a failsafe.

The entire facility trembled.

"SELF-DESTRUCT INITIATED."

The Goblin saluted mockingly. "Consider this… a parting gift."

Then he vanished into the smoke.

The team barely made it out before the facility exploded behind them.

They landed on a nearby rooftop, Gwen shaking, bruised, but alive.

Wanda turned to her, concerned. "Are you okay?"

Gwen forced a breathless laugh. "Oh, you know. Just another Tuesday."

Fracture hummed. **"Hey, at least he thinks you're special."**

Gwen groaned. "Please never say that again."

Natasha, scanning the area, muttered, "We didn't get him this time."

Wanda's gaze hardened. "Then we get him next time."

Gwen clenched her fists. "Yeah."

As the smoke from the explosion filled the skyline, one thing was certain.

The final battle was coming.

And next time?

The Goblin wouldn't walk away.

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