Chapter Text
Having someone (thing?) in your head constantly was - weird.
Having someone (thing?) periodically controlling your body and also using its tentacles from your body? - Even weirder.
Eddie had found that out the hard way. But, strangely, he wouldn’t change it for the world. He actually liked having Venom with him all the time, and by all, he meant all. Even though his thoughts weren’t his own, he still liked it. Vemon could be very sweet when he wanted to be, whispering tips and praises as Eddie went through life. Showing him which way to go in order to succeed.
So yeah, it was strange. Very strange. But he wouldn’t want it any other way.
“Why’d you do it?” Eddie asked. He was sitting opposite a man who had chains on both wrists and one ankle, effectively pinning him to the side of the cell he was in. The man, The Red Bandit (his real name was Brian) didn’t answer, a small smirk on his face. “What was in it for you?” Eddie continued, not fazed by the silence. “You ever asked your clients for money, you never asked for anything in fact. Was it fun, do you just enjoy killing people?”
Why can’t we eat him ?
Because we’re interviewing him.
So?
If he's dead we can’t ask him questions.
After?
Maybe. Depends .
“Why wouldn’t I?” Brain asked. “It’s fun and I like it.”
He is bad.
Yeah.
We eat bad people.
Not when we’re interviewing them.
Your rules are dumb.
We can’t eat him, our editor will get mad if our subject dies.
“Not so scary then,” Eddie replied fully aware it would cause the rise he was looking for. This kind of person needed validation, even if it was negative. It was working as well, Brain was starting to go red. “Lots of people like killing people or do it for fun. I’ve met hundreds like that. Don’t know why my editor sent me here.”
Smart Eddie.
“Don’t you know, I’m being called the craziest person in San Fransico,” Brian snarled out through gritted teeth. Venom tightened his grip around Eddie’s insides, not liking how Brian was talking to them. “That’s probably why you were sent here. You’re the best reporter and I’m the best serial killer.”
We’ve killed more people than him.
Don’t want to think about that right now, Vee.
We don’t like him.
We’re not eating him. Behave and we’ll stop at the store and get some chocolate.
“I’ve met plenty of people better than you,” Eddie said. “No, I think my editor saw something in you that others haven’t seen. You’re different. Not just crazy. Not just a killer. Something else.”
“Yeah,” Brain said with a smile. Eddie had to suppress his own grin.
Smart Eddie.
~~
Mrs. Chen nodded when Eddie called out a greeting. Venom pushed them towards the stand of chocolate towards the back. It definitely wasn’t Eddie controlling his hand when he started loading his arms with the bars of chocolate. Mrs. Chen rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything, she didn’t anymore. Happy with the reputation her store had now. Once Venom had gotten enough chocolate, some ham and another packet of tater tots they paid and left.
Hungry.
We’re going home now.
Hungry.
Yeah. We’re nearly home and then we can eat. All the chocolate you want. Promise.
A cat passed by them, arching its back and hissing at them. Eddie ignored it but Venom hissed back in Eddie’s mind. Eddie rolled his eyes.
Hungry.
We’re not eating the cat.
Why not?
Because it’s - it’s - no.
Unfair.
Sorry.
They got back to the apartment without much more trouble. Eddie tried to check his phone but Venom was already steering them to the kitchen. Black veins started spreading across Eddie’s arm. A clear sign that, if he didn’t get his way, Venom would come out and do whatever he needed to do without Eddie’s control. With a sigh, Eddie left his phone and started cooking. Nothing fancy, because A) he couldn’t cook that well and B) Venom wasn’t a patient thing. At all.
Every second bit of ham Eddie cut Venom would steal, meaning Eddie had to cut even more.
You’re so annoying.
We.
I’m not annoying.
I’m not.
Now it’s I, huh?
Venom didn’t reply. Instead, he retreated into Eddie, meaning that Eddie could actually cook for a bit. After a few more moments they were some sandwiches, tater tots and a few chocolate bars on the plate. He took it over to the table, setting it down and picking up his phone. Annie had messaged him, wondering if he wanted dinner with her and Dan, he replied with a positive before moving onto work. As he read the email from his editor Venom made his reappearance.
Hungry.
Sorry, two seconds.
No.
A black tentacle shot out of Eddie’s side. The sensation didn’t hurt and it wasn’t exactly unpleasant. It was just an odd feeling. The feeling of skin stretching and moving out of the way was the odd part. When the actual tentacle moved through, well, not that he’d admit it to anyone, it was nice. A pleasant and warm feeling. Venom hummed happily as he read Eddie’s thoughts on the matter.
The tentacle reached for one of the sandwiches, wrapping around it gently. He lifted it up and brought it to their mouth. Eddie laughed lightly and opened their mouth, letting Venom feed it to him bite by bite. It was good. Even better because Venom was feeding it to him. Again, Venom purred as the thought crossed Eddie’s mind.
You feeding us now?
Hungry. To slow.
Eddie shrugged and picked up his phone. Continuing to read emails and sending his own as Venom pushed food up against his lips. The entire meal passed by to quickly for Eddie, who pouted a little when he saw that the food was gone. He wasn’t finished his work and that was the only reason he didn’t want it to be over (it wasn’t).
Venom laughed and reached out to the kitchen. Eddie didn’t know how far the gooey limbs could reach, but to the kitchen in their small apartment was no problem. The tentacle came back with another bar of chocolate. And this time, instead of feeding it to Eddie in big chunks, he smashed it to tiny bits. Before Eddie could ask ‘why’ Venom was picking up a small piece and bringing it to their lips.
The question died on Eddie’s lip as he figured it out. And a small, chocolate covered, smile appeared on their lips. Venom was one of the sweetest thing (people? animal?) Eddie had ever known. Another piece of chocolate was pressed to his lips as Venom sent a shock of something down their spine. Whatever the feeling was, it was amazing and Eddie wanted more of it. Like soft electricity and warmth and happiness all mixed into one feeling.
A hum of content ran through them as Venom placed one of the tentacles on their cheek and stroked it lightly.
Good food?
Very.
What do you want to do now?
Dropped onto their lap was the TV remote, Eddie laughed as he picked it up. Flicking onto something he couldn’t name. They relaxed back onto the sofa, phone discarded by their side and chocolate coming slower than before. The show itself wasn’t the most entertaining thing, something about people getting married to strangers or whatever. But it wasn’t the show that really mattered.
What did matter to them at that moment was just being. Together. Curled so tight that all they could feel was each other. Eddie couldn’t remember not having Venom in him. Didn’t want to remember it either. The idea left him feeling cold, empty. Not something he wanted to feel. It was strange, he thought as his mind drifted, he hadn’t wanted Venom in the beginning. Had been freaked to high heaven at the idea of having an alien co-inhabit his body. But now? He wouldn’t give it up for the world. Noting could convince him to get rid of Venom. It’d be like cutting off his own limb. Giving apart of himself away.
It’s because we are one . Venom growled lowly, interrupting Eddie’s spiralling thoughts. And Eddie was grateful for it. He didn’t like the place his brain had gone so quickly. The cold, hollow, emptiness that he felt when he remembered a time before Venom. Eddie, stop thinking.
Yeah, yeah. Okay.
Don’t be sad. We don’t like it when we’re sad.
Thanks.
What for?
Just being here, with me. Being me.
We’re here. Always here.
I know.
Are we still sad?
Some chocolate would cheer me up?
Eddie felt the laugh from Venom, it echoed through his body. But a few tentacles shot out, one going to the chocolate, one wrapping it’s self around their torso and one went around their wrist, rubbing up and down their arm. Eddie smiled and settled in even more, happily surrounded by Venom.