What If Spider-Man Were an Immortal (4/5)
Title: What If Spider-Man Were an Immortal, (4/5)
Author: mark_clark
Fandom: Spider-Man (comics)/Highlander crossover
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1749
Beta: htbthomas
Summary: Through a twist of fate, Spider-Man becomes an Immortal.
First Quickening and a Major Revelation
Over the next several weeks, Peter continued his training. He received a sword he could use either when he was out as Spider-Man or as himself. It was a two-handed Claymore broadsword with a red, black and blue-colored grip, which matched the colors of his Spider-Man costume.
There was something extra special about Peter’s Claymore: at the midpoint of the sword’s length it could be separated into two pieces, making it easier to conceal and carry. That characteristic alone would make carrying it while Peter was out as Spider-Man that much easier. He would not need a sheath to transport the sword but that could still be an option if he desired to.
With the broadsword now in hand, Peter began to use it during his sword training with Duncan. His teacher was no stranger to the Claymore. Duncan had told Peter about himself and the clan MacLeod -- his father, the chieftain, had used a Claymore.
Peter’s previous training before he got the new sword had helped him greatly. The more he trained with that broadsword the faster he became a master of it. He had enjoyed using a katana before he received the Claymore but with his strength, the broadsword was better suited for him.
During their latest training session, Peter had learned Duncan‘s reason for being in New York: to search for a pair of Immortals. MacLeod had come across the duo in the early part of the twentieth century. Their names were Martin St. Clair and Joel Dumont. They were always up to no good and profited from the suffering of others. Mac had come close to taking either of their heads but was thwarted each time.
“What makes this time different, Duncan?” Peter asked, wondering if he could help.
“I’ve heard that they are part of a militant group that has recently surfaced in this part of the United States. I made a promise to someone long ago to bring them to justice and I would like to keep that promise.”
“Would that group be Black Monday?”
“As a matter of fact, it is.”
“Damn!” Peter put his fist through a bench they were sitting on and startled Duncan in the process. “Those guys probably took part in bringing that building down on me and thus turning me into an Immortal.”
At that moment, Duncan didn’t know what to say. He knew that his friend had a right to be upset. MacLeod had told Peter and Mary Jane about how a potential Immortal had to have a violent death to become one. If the potential didn’t have that kind of death, he would live out his life normally. That was the thing that really upset Peter.
“If you want my help in finding those guys, you got it,” stated Peter in no uncertain terms.
“I gladly accept. But I’ll tell you this, if you come across either of them, it would mean a fight to the death,” Duncan told Peter, letting him know the seriousness of the situation. “Do you think you can do that?”
“To tell you the truth, MacLeod, I’m not sure. The whole Immortal thing is new to me… It’s something I’ll have to get used to.”
“Killing is something you never get used to, Peter. It’s also something you don’t do on a whim. I’ve been around death and killing my whole life. I’ve been the cause of it as well. It’s something we Immortals live with -- but I know I’m not used to it, not at all.”
This comforted Peter. He had never found killing to be a solution to anything and that is why he never crossed that line while he was out as Spider-Man. The thought had crossed his mind a time or two especially when he fought someone that the world could really live without, but that wasn’t his way. Being an Immortal would change that.
Peter decided to change the subject, for now. “We can work out the details of finding those guys later. Besides, Aunt May is expecting us for dinner tonight and she wouldn’t like us to be late.”
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Duncan replied, looking forward to what Peter’s aunt had waiting for them at the Parker’s residence.
*****
Days later
Duncan knew that Dumont and St. Clair were still in the Manhattan area from what information he gathered. Peter was no slouch in intelligence gathering. As Spider-Man, he had gone to his usual establishments where he could get the news he was looking for. The last time he went out, the wallcrawler got very lucky. He learned that the terrorist group that St. Clair and Dumont were working for at the moment had a headquarters of sorts in the Midtown region. The person that gave him that information needed some convincing and hanging upside for a lamppost by webbing gave Spider-Man’s informant the courage to tell him what he wanted to know.
With this information, Peter and Duncan made their way to their desired location. It was a three-story building and the pair decided to split up to increase their chances of finding one or both of the Immortals they were seeking. Being the spider-powered member of the group, Peter decided that it would be best for him to start looking on the top floor while Duncan started at ground level.
For this particular outing, Peter was not garbed in his Spider-Man costume. The main reason for this was that he wanted to try to keep his life as the friendly neighborhood webswinger separate from his immortal one. It might not always be that way, but he truly wanted to try and keep it that way.
Peter made it to the top and went inside, beginning his search. Within the first few minutes of looking around, he felt the presence of another Immortal as well as his spider-sense tingling. He cautiously maneuvered through the dark when lights began to turn on.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” a voice asked from out of nowhere.
Peter didn’t answer as he drew his sword and tried to pinpoint from where the voice came.
“Ah, a fellow Immortal… what brings you here?” the mysterious voice asked as he appeared in front of Peter, albeit several feet away.
“Oh, just out for a stroll… looking to take an Immortal’s head… you know, the usual,” Peter wisecracked with well-practiced ease.
“I haven’t seen you before, have I?”
“I highly doubt that.”
“Maybe I should introduce myself, my name is Joel Dumont and you are…”
“Someone who’s going to take your head is who I am,” Peter grated out angrily.
“My, my, such hostility, what did I ever do to you?”
Peter laughed before he replied, “What did you do to me? I’ll tell you what you did. I just happened to be in one of the buildings you and your precious Black Monday had blown up a while back. That’s what you did to me.”
“Then you should be thanking me, my boy. Whatever mundane life you had before should be much improved now that you are an Immortal.”
“I happened to like my life before and now you’ve made even more complicated.”
“Now, now…”
“But, if you want my thanks…”
Peter raised his Claymore and swiftly swung it at Dumont who deflected the blow with his own sword. For the next few minutes they dueled without either one gaining the upper hand but it was only a matter of time. The only difference was that Dumont began to tire while Peter, with his spider-like stamina, did not.
What is it going to take to get rid of this guy? Dumont thought as he caught his breath. He had tried to use whatever was near him to distract Peter but to no avail. Peter was able to either deflect the object tossed at him or avoid it completely.
Dumont made an off-balance move that exposed his left side and Peter took advantage of that. First, he slashed Dumont’s ribcage and then right behind his opponent’s left knee.
“Damn you!” Dumont dropped to one knee with sword still in hand.
Peter quickly made his foe drop his sword with a blow from his. Raising his sword to take Dumont’s head, Peter told the man, “Duncan MacLeod says hello.”
“MacLeod,” was the last thing Dumont said.
A cloudy mist then formed over the beheaded body and it enveloped Peter’s. Bolts of electricity began to bombard Peter as the Quickening began. A crackling sound was heard along with the shattering of windows. The power from the Quickening caused Peter to fall down to his knees. With a couple more electrical strikes, it came to an end.
“Now that was some Quickening.” Peter slowly got up with his sword, swaying slightly.
“Peter?” Duncan called out, not sure who had lost his head -- hoping his friend had not.
“Over here, Mac.” Peter waved his friend over. “Did you find, St. Clair?”
“No, but I take it you found Dumont.”
“Yeah.”
Before Peter could say more, a few members of Black Monday appeared and started firing guns in their direction. The Immortals made a hasty retreat through the nearest window. A quick webline from Peter’s webshooters allowed the pair a safe landing.
*****
A few weeks later, Peter started back to his normal routine but he still helped Duncan in his search for Martin St. Clair. It seemed that since the beheading of Dumont, St. Clair went into hiding. It would take some time to find him again. To get his mind off it, Peter had accepted a photography assignment from the Daily Bugle. Editor-in-chief Robbie Robertson wanted him to cover a press conference with Betty Brant over at Oscorp.
Despite what he felt about the company and Norman Osborn, the man who was also the Green Goblin, Peter took the assignment anyway.
“What do you think Osborn has to say, Betts?” Peter asked as they were in front of the crowd of other news people covering the press conference.
“I guess will find out shortly -- here comes Mr. Osborn.” Betty lifted her pen and pad for the commencement of the event.
As Norman strode to the microphone, Peter felt the presence of another Immortal. He began to look around until he finally found who he was looking for.
“Well, I’ll be…” Peter stared at the other Immortal.
“Damned,” Norman Osborn said silently, looking directly towards Peter Parker.
Author: mark_clark
Fandom: Spider-Man (comics)/Highlander crossover
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1749
Beta: htbthomas
Summary: Through a twist of fate, Spider-Man becomes an Immortal.
First Quickening and a Major Revelation
Over the next several weeks, Peter continued his training. He received a sword he could use either when he was out as Spider-Man or as himself. It was a two-handed Claymore broadsword with a red, black and blue-colored grip, which matched the colors of his Spider-Man costume.
There was something extra special about Peter’s Claymore: at the midpoint of the sword’s length it could be separated into two pieces, making it easier to conceal and carry. That characteristic alone would make carrying it while Peter was out as Spider-Man that much easier. He would not need a sheath to transport the sword but that could still be an option if he desired to.
With the broadsword now in hand, Peter began to use it during his sword training with Duncan. His teacher was no stranger to the Claymore. Duncan had told Peter about himself and the clan MacLeod -- his father, the chieftain, had used a Claymore.
Peter’s previous training before he got the new sword had helped him greatly. The more he trained with that broadsword the faster he became a master of it. He had enjoyed using a katana before he received the Claymore but with his strength, the broadsword was better suited for him.
During their latest training session, Peter had learned Duncan‘s reason for being in New York: to search for a pair of Immortals. MacLeod had come across the duo in the early part of the twentieth century. Their names were Martin St. Clair and Joel Dumont. They were always up to no good and profited from the suffering of others. Mac had come close to taking either of their heads but was thwarted each time.
“What makes this time different, Duncan?” Peter asked, wondering if he could help.
“I’ve heard that they are part of a militant group that has recently surfaced in this part of the United States. I made a promise to someone long ago to bring them to justice and I would like to keep that promise.”
“Would that group be Black Monday?”
“As a matter of fact, it is.”
“Damn!” Peter put his fist through a bench they were sitting on and startled Duncan in the process. “Those guys probably took part in bringing that building down on me and thus turning me into an Immortal.”
At that moment, Duncan didn’t know what to say. He knew that his friend had a right to be upset. MacLeod had told Peter and Mary Jane about how a potential Immortal had to have a violent death to become one. If the potential didn’t have that kind of death, he would live out his life normally. That was the thing that really upset Peter.
“If you want my help in finding those guys, you got it,” stated Peter in no uncertain terms.
“I gladly accept. But I’ll tell you this, if you come across either of them, it would mean a fight to the death,” Duncan told Peter, letting him know the seriousness of the situation. “Do you think you can do that?”
“To tell you the truth, MacLeod, I’m not sure. The whole Immortal thing is new to me… It’s something I’ll have to get used to.”
“Killing is something you never get used to, Peter. It’s also something you don’t do on a whim. I’ve been around death and killing my whole life. I’ve been the cause of it as well. It’s something we Immortals live with -- but I know I’m not used to it, not at all.”
This comforted Peter. He had never found killing to be a solution to anything and that is why he never crossed that line while he was out as Spider-Man. The thought had crossed his mind a time or two especially when he fought someone that the world could really live without, but that wasn’t his way. Being an Immortal would change that.
Peter decided to change the subject, for now. “We can work out the details of finding those guys later. Besides, Aunt May is expecting us for dinner tonight and she wouldn’t like us to be late.”
“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Duncan replied, looking forward to what Peter’s aunt had waiting for them at the Parker’s residence.
*****
Days later
Duncan knew that Dumont and St. Clair were still in the Manhattan area from what information he gathered. Peter was no slouch in intelligence gathering. As Spider-Man, he had gone to his usual establishments where he could get the news he was looking for. The last time he went out, the wallcrawler got very lucky. He learned that the terrorist group that St. Clair and Dumont were working for at the moment had a headquarters of sorts in the Midtown region. The person that gave him that information needed some convincing and hanging upside for a lamppost by webbing gave Spider-Man’s informant the courage to tell him what he wanted to know.
With this information, Peter and Duncan made their way to their desired location. It was a three-story building and the pair decided to split up to increase their chances of finding one or both of the Immortals they were seeking. Being the spider-powered member of the group, Peter decided that it would be best for him to start looking on the top floor while Duncan started at ground level.
For this particular outing, Peter was not garbed in his Spider-Man costume. The main reason for this was that he wanted to try to keep his life as the friendly neighborhood webswinger separate from his immortal one. It might not always be that way, but he truly wanted to try and keep it that way.
Peter made it to the top and went inside, beginning his search. Within the first few minutes of looking around, he felt the presence of another Immortal as well as his spider-sense tingling. He cautiously maneuvered through the dark when lights began to turn on.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” a voice asked from out of nowhere.
Peter didn’t answer as he drew his sword and tried to pinpoint from where the voice came.
“Ah, a fellow Immortal… what brings you here?” the mysterious voice asked as he appeared in front of Peter, albeit several feet away.
“Oh, just out for a stroll… looking to take an Immortal’s head… you know, the usual,” Peter wisecracked with well-practiced ease.
“I haven’t seen you before, have I?”
“I highly doubt that.”
“Maybe I should introduce myself, my name is Joel Dumont and you are…”
“Someone who’s going to take your head is who I am,” Peter grated out angrily.
“My, my, such hostility, what did I ever do to you?”
Peter laughed before he replied, “What did you do to me? I’ll tell you what you did. I just happened to be in one of the buildings you and your precious Black Monday had blown up a while back. That’s what you did to me.”
“Then you should be thanking me, my boy. Whatever mundane life you had before should be much improved now that you are an Immortal.”
“I happened to like my life before and now you’ve made even more complicated.”
“Now, now…”
“But, if you want my thanks…”
Peter raised his Claymore and swiftly swung it at Dumont who deflected the blow with his own sword. For the next few minutes they dueled without either one gaining the upper hand but it was only a matter of time. The only difference was that Dumont began to tire while Peter, with his spider-like stamina, did not.
What is it going to take to get rid of this guy? Dumont thought as he caught his breath. He had tried to use whatever was near him to distract Peter but to no avail. Peter was able to either deflect the object tossed at him or avoid it completely.
Dumont made an off-balance move that exposed his left side and Peter took advantage of that. First, he slashed Dumont’s ribcage and then right behind his opponent’s left knee.
“Damn you!” Dumont dropped to one knee with sword still in hand.
Peter quickly made his foe drop his sword with a blow from his. Raising his sword to take Dumont’s head, Peter told the man, “Duncan MacLeod says hello.”
“MacLeod,” was the last thing Dumont said.
A cloudy mist then formed over the beheaded body and it enveloped Peter’s. Bolts of electricity began to bombard Peter as the Quickening began. A crackling sound was heard along with the shattering of windows. The power from the Quickening caused Peter to fall down to his knees. With a couple more electrical strikes, it came to an end.
“Now that was some Quickening.” Peter slowly got up with his sword, swaying slightly.
“Peter?” Duncan called out, not sure who had lost his head -- hoping his friend had not.
“Over here, Mac.” Peter waved his friend over. “Did you find, St. Clair?”
“No, but I take it you found Dumont.”
“Yeah.”
Before Peter could say more, a few members of Black Monday appeared and started firing guns in their direction. The Immortals made a hasty retreat through the nearest window. A quick webline from Peter’s webshooters allowed the pair a safe landing.
*****
A few weeks later, Peter started back to his normal routine but he still helped Duncan in his search for Martin St. Clair. It seemed that since the beheading of Dumont, St. Clair went into hiding. It would take some time to find him again. To get his mind off it, Peter had accepted a photography assignment from the Daily Bugle. Editor-in-chief Robbie Robertson wanted him to cover a press conference with Betty Brant over at Oscorp.
Despite what he felt about the company and Norman Osborn, the man who was also the Green Goblin, Peter took the assignment anyway.
“What do you think Osborn has to say, Betts?” Peter asked as they were in front of the crowd of other news people covering the press conference.
“I guess will find out shortly -- here comes Mr. Osborn.” Betty lifted her pen and pad for the commencement of the event.
As Norman strode to the microphone, Peter felt the presence of another Immortal. He began to look around until he finally found who he was looking for.
“Well, I’ll be…” Peter stared at the other Immortal.
“Damned,” Norman Osborn said silently, looking directly towards Peter Parker.