CH-23. Sit on my lap

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A dull metallic sound echoed as Iron Man hit the ground. Covered in sticky saliva, Tony Stark sat dazed and sluggish in the middle of the street.

"What happened?"

Tony still felt dizzy. The first thing he saw was the familiar, bustling streets of New York—traffic everywhere, the festive sounds of Christmas songs filling the air.

As more and more people gathered around, some began snapping pictures.

Tony stayed silent for a moment. He didn't feel like he had survived this disaster, but instead wanted to swear.

"WTF!"

____

Not long after Mike left.

Inside the office building of the biological base factory.

Eddie looked at the fire outside that had spread through most of the factory and immediately ran in panic. But in his haste, he kicked a chair and fell heavily onto the office floor.

His scratched palm burned. Eddie struggled to get up again, pain shooting through his hand, but at that moment, a cold sensation came from the end of his palm.

It felt as if something was seeping in through his wound!

Eddie stood up and subconsciously examined his palm. There was no wound, no mark at all. It was as if his palm hadn't been scratched.

The fire was quickly reaching the office building.

Without thinking further, Eddie hurriedly opened the door and fled!

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It snowed lightly in New York early that morning, adding a touch of romance to this bustling economic metropolis.

Today was Christmas. Decorations adorned the streets, and holiday songs floated through the air over the streets and alleys.

"Merry Christmas, Mike!"

"Good morning, Senior."

Two young girls with different styles, one wearing a red reindeer hat and the other swinging a Christmas bell, appeared side by side. They walked down the snowy street, undoubtedly becoming the most beautiful sight in the pedestrian area.

"Merry Christmas, good morning." Mike, carrying his schoolbag, waved in response, stifling a yawn from sleepiness. Inside the backpack, Kerry lay on top of the clothes, sound asleep.

"Mike, what did you do last night?" Gwen asked curiously, noticing the dark circles under Mike's eyes.

Mike rubbed his messy black hair and weakly replied, "I was forced to save the world."

"Liar!" Gwen spat angrily.

Mike shrugged. He knew Gwen would take this as a joke.

"Didn't sleep well?" Kara asked gently.

"Yeah." Mike nodded and added, "I'm just not used to hotel beds."

Mike had a particular physique when it came to beds. If he suddenly changed his sleeping environment, he'd have trouble resting.

'Well, except my aunt's bed.'

In fact, he hadn't slept in a bed at all the previous night. He had slept in a tree like a stray cat. It wasn't surprising that he felt sleepy.

Fortunately, his symbiotic ability had activated in time. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to reunite with Gwen and Kara in human form.

Mike sighed inwardly, 'Is it really that hard for me?'

After meeting up with Gwen and Kara, the three continued to visit the morning market. After a simple lunch, they set out for their journey back to Washington.

On the train out of New York, Gwen and Kara read their phones and newspapers, trying to learn more about the events from the previous night.

"Iron Man was eaten alive? Scary!"

"What was that gray-green liquid monster? So gross!"

The two women were having a normal conversation, but soon their topic shifted—

"Wow, that black kitten is so cute! I want to hug it!"

"It's amazing!"

Seeing that Gwen and Kara weren't scared but rather enamored with the black kitten, Mike blinked and said, "I think that cat looks a bit like Kerry."

"Um?!"

Gwen and Kara glanced at the orange kitten sleeping on Mike's lap. At first, they hadn't noticed the resemblance to the little emperor Mike always carried. But after hearing Mike's comment, they realized the black kitten and Kerry were indeed quite different.

The appearance, fur color, and even the aura were distinct. Moreover, the black kitten in the news report seemed to pose a subtle threat to Kara. In contrast, the little emperor, despite being an alien creature, didn't seem threatening at all.

Kara shook her head, and Gwen laughed, retorting, "Kerry, you're different from that black kitten."

"That's right." Mike nodded in agreement, relieved that the topic was over.

"But looking at that black kitten, why do I feel like I've seen it somewhere before?" Gwen muttered in confusion.

"Me too." Kara said, brushing her platinum hair that shimmered in the sunlight. A hint of doubt appeared in her eyes, "I feel like I've encountered it before."

'Is this the legendary woman's sixth sense?'

"How could you have seen it? It's so dangerous and scary, even Iron Man was eaten by it." Mike quickly changed the topic.

No matter what, after the superhero silver-haired goddess made waves on the internet, the mysterious black kitten would become a nightmare for many.

For example, a certain billionaire playboy would wake up in a cold sweat from time to time, haunted by dreams of being swallowed into an unknown space.

This would lead to Stark Industries rushing to produce an "Anti-Black Flash (Black Kitten) Armor," a strategic weapon designed to counter the threat.

___

Washington.

Mike said goodbye to Gwen and Kara at the station. George, who had driven to pick up Gwen, gave Mike a meaningful glance before he drove off.

Mike pretended not to notice.

After seeing Kara off in a taxi, the sky had darkened, and the neon lights of the city flickered beneath the snowflakes.

Christmas Eve was approaching.

Mike considered going home with his schoolbag on his back, but instead, he headed toward another part of the city.

Potomac River, Washington.

The bustling commercial streets nearby were filled with holiday cheer, but the snow-covered woods beside the riverside bridge were a bit desolate.

When Mike arrived, he spotted the perfect figure sitting on a wooden chair by the river and quickened his pace.

"Aunt."

"Are you back?" The woman, sitting elegantly on the wooden chair, turned around. Her beautiful and delicate face was cold yet gentle, and her gem-like clear eyes reflected Mike's figure.

Mike's heart skipped a beat, and he smiled as he nodded, "I'm back. Sorry I kept you waiting."

The two had no prior agreement or contact, but they came here in perfect tacit understanding.

After all, this was the place where they first met, sixteen years ago, on Christmas Eve.

Sixteen years ago today.

One was a demigod, disillusioned with the human world, and the other a reincarnated soul just entering this world. The two lonely individuals became family, spending the rest of their lives together.

"Sit down and talk." Diana said, blinking.

Mike put down his schoolbag and was about to sit on the nearby chair, but his aunt suddenly opened her arms and said, "The chairs outside are cold."

"You treat me like a child again…"

Although Mike said this, he obediently sat on her long and elastic legs.

Who could resist the true fragrance mode?

Diana asked softly, "Was that little black kitten in New York you?"

"Yes." Mike replied, nodding. He explained in detail how he had accidentally encountered the symbiote Venom, the resulting fusion, and the hunt for the symbiote.

"So that's how it happened." Diana gazed thoughtfully at the little emperor, still asleep in Mike's backpack, and said, "If you can, don't let yourself fall into that uncontrollable state again."

"I know." Mike nodded seriously. The complicated emotions and extreme temperament that emerged when the three fused were far more twisted and dangerous than when Venom was parasitic alone.

But this also meant he couldn't use the power of Venom in the future. Once Venom possessed him, the three-in-one mode would be triggered.

Until this issue was resolved, Mike could no longer coexist with Venom.

For now, Venom was parasitic on Kerry, dormant. The fluids between them may already have circulated, meaning Mike couldn't use the Beast's physical abilities again through his Lord of the Dependents power.

"I have an idea." Diana's voice suddenly came from behind Mike's ear.

"What idea?" Mike asked.

"Come home with me." Diana said.

"Aunt, what are you talking about? Of course, I'll come home with you." Mike was confused, "Where else can I go on Christmas?"

"I'm not talking about my home in Washington." Diana took a deep breath and said seriously, "Come back to my hometown with me."

"Hometown?"

Mike was stunned.

Diana's hometown... Mike had heard about it that night in the bathtub.

It wasn't just a simple city or town like New York. It was an ancient land called *Paradise Island,* inhabited by the Amazons—a warrior nation that had been passed down from the age of gods.

Mike could feel the delicate and flexible nature of Diana's long legs through the fabric. He asked uncertainly, "Aunt, didn't you say before that you were exiled from Paradise Island?"