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When people saw Venom on the street, gentle wasn't the first word that came to anyone's mind. The vigilante was known for his violence, chomping off the heads of criminals to eat their brains and leaving the body in the middle of an alleyway somewhere for some poor sap to find. He had also crushed several cars, broken countless windows, and generally caused tons of property damage. There were many people who thought he was a menace.
But Eddie knew how sweet Venom could truly be. He'd seen his soft side many times.
Whenever it was a kid in danger, after rescuing the kid or dispatching the bad person who had menaced them, Venom would always make sure they couldn't see any carnage that happened, and would always sit with them, talking gruffly but softly until the child calmed down. If the kid ran away from them, Venom would quietly shadow them to make sure they got home safely, or if they stayed, they would either walk them home themselves or stay with them until the cops showed up.
And despite how rough Venom had been with them when they first met, when they became friends, and after they fell in love, Eddie got not only Venom's mischievous side, but his tender one, both physically and emotionally. Venom was always there for Eddie when he had nightmares or needed someone to talk to, even if he didn't always know what to say and do. And Eddie was the only person the symbiote who once felt he had to be tough all the time would open up to when he was the one who was hurting.
And the touches that had been so rough when they first met had become much more gentle as well. Holding hands when they were inside the apartment, cuddling, soft kisses when waking up and before going to sleep... Eddie loved them all. And while Venom was a passionate lover, he always respected consent and was only rough when they both wanted it.
Whatever side Venom decided he wanted others to see, as Eddie lay in his symbiote's arms, cuddled close to his chest as Venom absently traced hearts on his skin after a night of lovemaking, he would always be grateful that Venom trusted him enough to show him this one.