Chapter 1

This evening seemed particularly awkward for Harry and his father. They both sat silently at the dinner table, staring down at the cooked lobster on their plates.

Harry received yet another C on his math test. Despite his father's amnesia, the grade still angered him. Norman yelled at Harry when he picked him up from school and ended up giving him the silent treatment all the way home and up until dinner.

"How could you drop back down to a C?" his father had said in the limo. "One of your report cards had a B-. I thought you were improving!"

I was, Harry thought to himself, both then in the limo and at the dinner table. I was until you became a monster. I was until you left me all alone. I was until no grade was good enough for you.

Prodding the scarlet lobster with his fork, he sighed. Norman glanced over at Harry.

After sighing himself, he asked, "It's undercooked, don't you agree?"

Harry shrugged. "Yeah."

The lobster isn't the problem, he thought, setting his fork on the plate.

Norman had a butler dispose of the perfectly good lobster. As soon as he left the room, he glared over at Harry.

"Are you going to study?" he asked as Harry plopped onto the couch in the living room.

"What's the point? I'll just get a C again," Harry scoffed, crossing his arms.

"You are not going to play those worthless video games either way! My son will not give up nor waste his time. I'm sure you don't want to get held back, or go to summer school," Norman demanded and threatened.

Norman stood, angered, in front of the huge flat screen TV. Harry refused to make eye contact. Whatever Norman said wouldn't suddenly give him an urge to study.

"A C is passing," Harry grumbled.

"A C is average. Anyone can get a C," Norman corrected.

The way his father emphasized anyone struck at his core. It was as if his father was saying anyone could replace him. Anyone could get better grades than Harry.

Noticing how much his previous comment had flustered Harry, Norman added, "What are Peter's grades like? Are they 'passing' as well?"

You did not just compare me to him, Harry growled in his head. He wanted to yell that as his father. Instead, he gritted his teeth and pulled his hands into fists. Somehow he had to get back at his father.

"Mom wouldn't have patronized me like that!" Harry shouted, standing up from the couch.

"Don't you dare raise you voice at me!" Norman yelled back, taking a step towards Harry. "And don't ever mention her in that tone."

"I hate you," Harry mumbled, shooting his father a nasty scowl.

Turning to leave, his father immediately seized his wrist. Norman pulled Harry over to his side. Harry half expected Norman to slap him.

"You ungrateful brat, your mother should have been the one who lived," his father growled in his face.

Staring into his father's eyes with shock and disbelief, Harry freed his wrist. He turned away. He wouldn't dare cry. That's what his father wanted. Clenching his jaw, he stalked off up the stairs.

You're not my father, Harry thought. He leaned against the wall just outside his room. Norman remained downstairs. The urge to cry or to somehow react overpowered him as he thrust his fist against the wall. It left a small dent. Some skin peeled from his knuckles, but there was no blood.

"Ouch," he complained under his breath, grasping his fist and pressing his forehead to the wall.

After taking a few deep breaths, he snuck up to the roof of the penthouse. Going outside always calmed his nerves. He leaned on a ledge at his favorite spot, the spot where he used to mope about having lost his father to the Goblin and Spider-man would drop by to update him on how his father was doing.

"What is his problem?" Harry muttered into the air. "I do what he wants and he gets mad. I don't do what he wants and he gets mad. I put in minimal effort and he gets mad. I just can't win…"

Clutching the sleeves of his sweater, he gazed down at the cars and people below. So many people would probably love to take his place. Who wouldn't want to be rich and inherit Oscorp? Then again, Norman would want someone with above average grades. He'd want someone like Peter.

"My father would rather have my best friend than me. The Goblin even said so. He and Peter have so much in common. Did I just get all the rejected genes or something?" Harry wondered.

A pit began to grow in his core. The more he thought the more he wanted to leave. He had to get out of here. Somewhere, anywhere but here would work. He didn't want to see his father tonight or tomorrow or maybe even forever. Yeah, that sounded nice.

Creating a plan, he pulled out his cell phone and called Pete's number. He held the phone to his ear. …Ring…. A small gust of wind sent shivers down Harry's neck. …Ring… He took a breath. …Ring… Slowly, he rolled his shoulders. …Ring… Harry grew impatient. …Ring… It went straight to voicemail.

"Come on, it's barely eight o'clock," he sighed, promptly hanging up before recording a message.

Quickly, he called Peter's number again. He rubbed his shoe against the cement as he waited. …Ring…ring…ring…ring…ring… Again there was no answer. No, he needed Peter to answer. He needed someone to talk to, someone who wouldn't talk down to him in a degrading manner.

"Please, just answer," Harry begged, calling the number for a third time.

…Ring…

…Ring…

…Ring…

…Ring…

…Ri-

After jamming the end call button with his thumb, he crossed his arms and glared down at the roof. What was Peter doing? Maybe he was ignoring his calls. No, no he wouldn't do that, especially after three calls. He had to be busy with something.

Harry hit his fist against the ledge and snuck back down to his bedroom. While searching through his closet for an empty backpack, he didn't hear his father at all. He either went to sleep early or was cooped up in his office. As long as he stayed where he was, Harry could leave without him noticing.

Quietly, he packed some spare clothes, a toothbrush and toothpaste, his wallet, and his phone charger in the backpack. Coming back soon wasn't an option to him. The longer he left the better.

I hope you enjoy this new little story I'm doing! After Flash became Agent Venom I just got so angry... Harry was Venom over and over again yet Flash of all people gets Venom?! I'm sure it made sense in the comics, but in the cartoon it's just so awkward and forced. Anyways, I shall restore the natural balance of things. Please let me know what you think and if you have any ideas for what I should do with this. Thanks.