Chapter 11
THE FINALS: SPIDER-MAN VS. IRON PATRIOT, PT. 6
Just as his fellow Avengers were having problems in dealing with Zemo and his new Thunderbolts, Spidey was still trying to survive what could be the biggest fight of his life as he jumped and flipped to the right side to avoid a repulser blast from the Iron Patriot. After landing on his feet, Spidey decided it was time to fight back and thus held up his right hand and shot a web-line, intending to hit the Patriot’s faceplate and go for a web-zip attack.
Unfortunately, the Patriot saw this and easily held up his right hand to catch the web-line before it could hit him. To make matters worse, he spotted Spidey using his left hand to shoot another line, and thus used his other hand to catch that line as well. Moments later, the Thunderbolt responded by yanking back on his end of the lines, pulling the Web-Head towards him.
While flying towards the Patriot, Spidey saw his armored enemy holding up his right foot for the Web-Slinger to slam into. Naturally, this prompted Spidey to release his end of the lines and managed to save himself by darting both feet on the floor and perform a baseball slice. A tactic which paid off in another way, as he slid right underneath the Patriot’s right leg and ended up kneeling and turning to face the Thunderbolt’s back.
The Patriot took a moment to charge up and fire two repulser blasts upward to destroy the webbing still stuck to his hands, then spun around and saw Spidey throwing a left uppercut, and thus leaned back to avoid it. He then spotted the Wall-Crawler throwing a web-fisted right hook and held up his right arm to easily block the punch. Moments later, the Patriot took his left hand, and with a least thirty percent of his strength, gave Spidey a palm strike to his heavily taped chest, sending the Web-Head flying a backward a few feet and landing hard on the steel floor. Now in control, the Patriot pointed his palms down and powered up both repulsers and jet boots to launch himself in the air and hover over the fallen Spidey, who by this time was clutching his chest in agony. “It always pains me to see such talent wasted,” said the Patriot, sounding disappointed. “Which is why I’m offering you one last chance. Stay down…and let me take you under my wing! Let me help you become a better, Superior Spider-Man!”
Those three words, ‘under my wing’, were enough to stir an angry fire within Spidey, for he remembered how the Patriot took Harry, how own son, and made him a lab rat by making him bond with a symbiote and drove him over the edge. This anger and disdain for the enemy that he once respected was enough to motivate Spidey roll backward, then end up in a kneeling position and pushed himself back up on his feet, all while wincing as this action aggravated his chest wounded. Nevertheless, Spidey shook off the pain and looked up at the airborne Patriot as he told him this in defiance. “Sorry, but no. Aside from the butt load of pain in right now, I think I’m doing fine all things considered. Besides, I’ve learned a long time ago that nothing good comes from being working with you Osborn, lackey or otherwise.”
Whether it was in a business suit while running Oscorp, in the grotesque costume of the Green Goblin, or in his armor leading the Thunderbolts, the Patriot never took kindly to being told no. As he showed by growling loudly, then pointed both of his hands down at the Web-Head and fired two repulser blasts.
Naturally, Spidey jumped up to avoid the blasts, and while in mid-air, he used his left hand to shoot a web-line which ended up hitting and sticking to the Patriot’s chest plate. Moments later, he web-zipped over to him and made his move by spreading his legs up, then wrapped them around the Patriot’s neck and flipped back, which in turn caused the Patriot himself to flip forward and dive straight down into the steel floor with impact so hard, it made a large dent underneath him. As for Spidey, he managed to land safely on all fours, then stood up and turned to face the Patriot, who by this time was getting up and irritably ripping the webbing off his chest plate. Once his armored opponent was back on his feet, Spidey angrily narrowed his eyes at him. “I’ve also learned a long time ago that with great power comes great responsibility. And you’ve clearly haven’t been very responsible with all the power you’ve been given.” As he continued, the determined Web-Head got into a readied stance to continue the fight. “Which is why for everyone’s sake, I’m taking you down here and now!”
The now enraged Patriot gave Spidey a death glare, furious as he refused his generous offer. “So disappointing. You could have been the son I’ve always wanted, as opposed to the weakling I have for a son right now!” With that said, the Patriot flew straight towards Spidey, intending to literally run him down.
Fortunately, Spidey saved himself by jumping and flipping over the incoming Patriot, and in the process, used both of his feet to kick the back of the Thunderbolt’s head, causing him to tumble forward. As he landed, the Wall-Crawler spun around to face the fallen Patriot, angered with how he just referred to Harry not too long ago. “Ooohhh, just keeping talking, pal,” Spidey said with disdain, then as he watched the Patriot get back up, he pointed his right hand at a spot that was between him and his old foe, shot a web-line at it and slingshot himself towards the Thunderbolt, determined more than ever to bring this madness to an end.