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Eddie hates Robin.
"Do you think I am... unlovable?"
That's precisely why Eddie can't stand him: for the poison that kid infected Stephanie with by making her believe she is not skilled, talented, strong and smart enough even though she is, by far, more brilliant than the third bird will ever dream to become, for this way of life. Not... good enough to be loved.
"One night, I'm gonna bit that dumbass' head off."
"... We talked about that. No 'bitting off' my friends' head."
"He doesn't deserve your friendship! He doesn't deserve anything after... everything he put you through."
While Steph intended their exchange stays on the joking tone, she felt invaded by... an intense, crushing chagrin.
"Eddie... do you think I'm stupid?"
The symbiote locked away another wave of rage directed at that repelling Replacement.
"Anyone thinking that about you is beyond stupid, they're... hopeless. Never listen to them, Sunshine."
Two smooth hands cupped her cheeks to wipe the tears that fell from the pretty Caribbean blue eyes.
Stephie managed a small smile between two hiccups.
Her teenage years were... messy.
Eddie detached from her body sometimes, to wander around... Mostly when she expressly asked for privacy. Whereas it never bothered her to host the alien 24-hours-a-day, recently she wanted to... experience a few things on her own, without her roommate witnessing.
Ed noticed when he fused with her one morning after they split for the night and he squatted inside Diedre Vance, the owner of the club Pandora's Box. He felt something... different, in the girl's organism.
The first test came out negative, it was too early so Stephanie brushed it off, pretexting her bestie probably detects something else.
Three weeks later, turned out she is pregnant.
Four full months after this discovery, Steph finally agreed to put Spoiler in the closet in order to keep her baby safe until the delivery.
To this day, she hasn't decided what to do. She refused to look up the sex of the child at its third month, pretexting it'd be 'easier' to separate without knowing more about it, in case she puts it up to adoption.
"Stephanie," Ed commanded at present. "Look at me."
The fifteen-year-old future mom did so.
"I promise you, you will always be surrounded. You and your child if you decide to keep it with us. I will never, ever leave you or the baby unloved, alone in this world."
Despite her nerves being subjected to critical stress due to hormones, Stephie ended up laughing, relieved, when her symbiote hugged her tenderly, Eddie's supple frame even curling up around her bump in a protective fashion.
What a cute family picture.
