Those Meddling Teens - Spooky Edition

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I was invited to a little group outing by Venus and her friend and apparently Dapple was tagging along as well.

I'm not quite sure why they decided to do this. Maybe I made a good enough impression or maybe they felt sorry for me after the whole moped incident. Really, they didn't have to invite me to this thing.

But I felt a little guilty if I turned it down for no good reason. Besides, I could use a break, right? Standing on the edge of rooftops and atop churches all alone did not sound exactly like a healthy way of spending Halloween. Still, after what had happened at Freakfest, should I let my guard down for one night, my constant vigilance?

I could not be everywhere anyway and one night would not hurt anyone, right?

A lot can happen in one night, the symbiote offered.

Fantastic.

But, it countered, staying together with this group on Halloween basically ensures nothing similar would happen to them, right?

I thought about it for a moment. My alien friend had a point. If we were all walking around together, gathering treats and attending a few festivities, I could still patrol in a more roundabout manner while keeping an eye on my new friends. A win-win scenario. Besides, it gave the symbiote something to do while I enjoyed myself, as long as I promised to give it eighty-percent of the candy we collected.

75% and you have a deal. Tonight is the night you can pig out on as much candy as you want. Seriously, thanks, bud. What would I do without you?

The symbiote smirked. It thought I would probably make a fool out of myself.

How hilarious. Hardy har har. Anyway, I needed to focus on a new design for a Halloween costume with the symbiote's help, of course. Something new and different from my Monster-Bite form that I used for Freakfest. Something slicker and leaner and less bulky to walk around in. It also needed to be able to hide my physique as well. I did not need to give the impression that I worked out or anything like that. No sir, quite the opposite. The more I could pull off the skinny weakling look, the better.

I looked outside my apartment window and saw a variety of Halloween decorations. Pumpkins, skeletons, and even spiders. What would my costume be?

I got it.

No, we got it, the symbiote added.

Tomorrow Night

With the moped not exactly the best way to travel on a day like Halloween (as well as needing a few repairs), the next best thing was web-swinging around and following the Google Maps on my phone. I kept out of sight and out of mind as well as traversing atop rooftops to keep out of sight. Best to make sure no one saw what general direction I was headed before Spider-Bite disappeared for the night and was replaced by, well, the gang will see soon enough.

Assuming I wasn't late as per usual and they didn't leave without me. Now that would majorly suck on my part.

I landed atop the apartment building we were all supposed to meet at. I quickly peered down. Let's see here. That is definitely Dapple. I can here her squawks all the way up here--which, admittedly, is not too hard with superhuman hearing but it was not like I was going to tell anyone that. That meant the other two must be Annabelle and Venus. I'll figure out who is who once I got down there. I leaped off the back of the building, sliding down into the alleyway as my costume shifted and shimmered before reforming into my new and improved Halloween costume. I double-checked my backpack for the extra pair of clothes I stocked away as well as the extra Halloween bags the group or I might need.

All set.

I rounded the corner to the front of the building, shifting and weaving my way through a couple other people and groups before reaching my own.

Say hello to Hallow-Man.

That's right. I was heading towards Skeletor levels of corny for this Halloween, along with my patented Skeletor rip-off voice without the symbiote's assistance on this one and it happened to be a little extra annoying with a dashing of glee and delight. I raised my arms up in an almost evil manner, basking in my own evil glory.

"Nyeh! Nyeh! Nyeh! You're too late, all of you! The Horrible Hallow-Man has arrived! All the candy is now miiine!! Heh!Heh!Heh!"

Then I immediately dropped my arms and rigid villainous posture before waving to the group nonchalantly as I lifted my orange mask to reveal a good portion of my face, as if none of what had just transpired had at all happened.

"Hey, Annabelle. Venus. Dapple. Very nice costumes. You guys didn't wait on me too long, did you?"

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I got two hugs.

Which was amazing.

I hate hugs. Well, not necessarily. I like my space. The symbiote hated physical contact with people other than me. Anytime anyone got close, it always got on edge.

Me? I probably liked keeping a distance after all these years of being a superhero, fighting and dodging stuff.

And yet these two were among the best.

Dapple and Venus wrapped their arms around me, and I tried fighting it at first, but I couldn't escape. Not like I could use my super strength on them.

"Aw, come on, guys! Hey! Stop! I'm not a hugger," I squirmed a little before laughing a little.

I looked down as Dapple looked up. She said hi.

I spoke back.

"Hi."

Then a quick nickname for me was given. Pumpkin head.

". . . sure. I'm Pumpkin Head. Sounds cooler than Hallow Man."

I smiled as everyone let go. The symbiote calmed down, and, sensing my cheerfulness at the situation, figured the hug was okay. At best.

It still liked it if those girls kept their distance.

Pleasantries were exchanged as Morgan began getting a little accustomed to our group. Dapple ever so cheerful, Venus leading the whole group, and Annabelle was still trapped as her finger was still a prisoner within my steel trap of a hand.

She was not happy, which was hilarious to see her squirm a little.

"I'll only let go if you give me half your candy. Sharing is caring after all."

Before I could tease any further, Venus grabbed my arm and grabbed Annabelle's as well before pulling us both along for the trick-or-treating to begin. And, due to the sheer awkwardness involved when the three of us tried walking forward, I let go of the small finger easily enough.

"You get to live another day, Annabelle! Next time, your candy stash won't be so lucky."

No one ruined a good bit of fun unless they wanted to be easily embarrassed as well. And the symbiote was not happy once again with the contact.

I reminded it about the candy. That and I had an easy escape plan stored away. Embarrassment, remember?

"That's quite a bold move, Venus. If you hadn't grabbed Annabelle too, I might have gotten the wrong idea."

Maybe I'd let Venus squirm a bit or maybe she'd let go out of shock. Either way, after a little while, I would hold up an open hand, a sign of quick surrender.

"Kidding. You have very strong arms for arm-holding, obviously."

I glanced over at Morgan, who mentioned about being new here. Interesting. Because, even with all that makeup, I think I had a good idea who that was.

The gem was the biggest clue of all, if nothing else was.

"Welp, stick around. You'll have tons of fun with this group. They're craaaazy!"

I chuckled a little as I threw up a pair of jazz hands. I half-expected someone would punch me in the arm for that. All in good fun.

"I go to Millennium University. I used to live around New York though."

I glanced at Morgan's forehead.

"Nice gem piece by the way."

The same one that belonged to that other meta at the attack on New York. The one with the cloak. I hoped to spark a small reaction or a small change in heartbeat. Anything to see what happened if slightly pressured.

Not like I could do much of that though. It might look suspicious on my part, even if the event might have been recorded.