Chapter Text
Other than Daredevil's totally overkill beatdowns, teaming up with him is fun. Funner when he's not got Venom in his head though, no offense to his bonded buddy.
They've just about got the gang of thugs tracked down and cornered in a building.
"Okay, you get them from here, I'll go from the other angle," he whispers to Daredevil. Bonus of Venom being here is the black suit at least, making it even easier to blend in unseen when he climbs up on the ceiling. Good when you're woefully outnumbered like they are.
Daredevil's not the bait exactly, but he pretty much is. Peter's happy to play back-up and watch the wannabe-ninja do his thing.
So in Daredevil stealths. Then he takes out one of the men and advances threateningly on a second.
These are bad guys? Venom assumes, his voice in Peter's head.
Yeah, these are bad guys, Peter agrees, keeping his Spidey-senses open as he crawls across the ceiling, initially at least keeping an eye on Daredevil. A fight breaks out, nothing the vigilante can't deal with on his own.
We will beat them. It will be easy, Venom says. And then we can have a snack.
Yep. Easy. We'll grab chocolate once we leave Daredevil, he thinks, not twigging the importance of snack as he checks his web-shooters are ready.
We will not need chocolate.
We're not referring to sex as a snack now, and we're not having sex with Daredevil, he says, just to clear that up, not for the first time.
He does not mind weird things, Venom points out. But that is not what I mean.
Still not happening. It takes a moment for his brain to skip back and process exactly what Venom means. Nope. No, no snacks.
The battle below is forgotten as Venom argues, I am hungry.
You're not eating anyone! We can get chocolate after, he returns, remaining firm.
They are bad men, Venom points out. Why can we not eat them?
No! We're not eating anyone. You're not eating anyone! He tries to specify it as many ways as he can. That includes biting!
They hurt people. That is bad, if we eat them, good people will not get hurt, Venom tries to reason.
No killing people, that's the rule. We stick by the rule. And the other rules too. You can't eat people, Venom.
He can feel Venom seething as he tries to come up with another argument for cannibalizing the criminals, but nothing else matters when his focus returns to their surroundings. And on one shout that rises above all else.
"Peter!"
He shouldn't hear his name here. He definitely should not hear it coming from Daredevil.
No more arguing, no biting, he warns the symbiote, dropping down to the ground and blocking one of the thugs from getting a swing in on Daredevil, his fellow black-suited vigilante restrained by two others. He throws the thug into one of the others as he assures, "I'm here, I'm here, just got sidetracked!" Nothing wrong with that. It's... way too difficult to explain why he's sidetracked to anyone.
Venom doesn't speak again, but they're able to beat the thugs before too long. Once they're all on the ground, they have space to talk again.
Daredevil pauses to take some deep breaths afterwards. "Spider-Man, I'm sorry I shouted out like that," he says. "But I needed your attention."
"Honestly, fair," he says, dusting off his hands. "I shouldn't have left you to it on your own." It'd be easier to blame Venom, if he could even begin to explain Venom to him. "Man without fear though? Might need a rebrand," he teases.
"I'm without fear – but desperation? That I have plenty of," Daredevil responds.
He pulls a face behind his mask. "Yeah. Seriously, my bad. But, uh, 'Peter'?" he questions, like he didn't answer it in an instant.
"Yup," Daredevil confirms. "And you must be wondering. Behind the mask, I'm Matt Murdock."
Peter stares at him. "What. What???" he asks, the question marks practically audible.
"Let's go somewhere to talk. My apartment is nearby," Matt – Matt??? – offers.
Daredevil leads him to an apartment with a blazingly bright advertisement staring across into it. Peter climbs the fire escape after him, following him through the window into the dark living area.
"This is it," Daredevil says.
"Matt. Seriously, Matt?" he says once his feet are on the ground. He realizes Matt knowing his name is Peter doesn't mean he knows he's Peter Parker. But still, Matt had been his lawyer (briefly, kinda, after Gwen... after Gwen died), at least he's got a reason to be shocked. "But you're... But... How?"
Matt removes his mask, illuminated by the colorful lights. "How is a blind man fighting criminals in the streets?" he suggests. "A lot of training, and really good ears."
"Yeah," he says, stunned. "Wow. You're the last person I'd think would. Sorry. Wow."
Matt laughs softly. "Makes a few things click into place, I imagine."
"Oh yeah, it does," he agrees. "Always wondered how you could see through the mask, figured you had X-ray vision or something." He grins. "So this whole time I've been talking to you as Matt and you as Daredevil... Huh." And been crushing on both. Except it's really just one bigger crush.
"Yeah. Sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but... It felt safer, at the time," Matt admits.
"Hey, I get it. Secret identities are important," he assures him. "Though I don't get how you figured out my name." He pauses. "Did I say it out loud? Probably said it out loud, didn't I?"
"No. Surprisingly," Matt says with a grin. "I knew when I met you on the bus. Your heartbeat is unlike any I've ever heard."
Peter stares at him. Meeting Matt on the bus had been such a brief thing, and he'd been as careful as possible. It had also been months ago, before he'd even had Venom. "What? You're... You could tell by my heartbeat?" he repeats. "That's really neat. What kind of power is that?"
"Listening," Matt answers. "You're welcome to stick around as long as you like. Get comfortable."
He's still trying to wrap his head around that, but he does sit on his sofa. "You've known this whole time?" he murmurs. "Wow."
"I wasn't certain right away, but yes," Matt confirms. "Do you want anything to drink?"
"Uh, yeah please, anything," he says. "Thanks." He tries very hard not to offer to get it himself. "God, that's... Okay. Well, I'm glad you know. Better you than others, and that makes things way easier to talk to you."
"Yeah, a bit," Matt agrees. "I've got coke, with or without whiskey."
"Without's good, can't really get drunk," he says, finally taking off his mask, even though it doesn't matter now around Matt. "If you can work me out just from my heart, what else can you hear?"
"Most things," Matt responds. "That's how I know when there are problems in Hell's Kitchen."
"Huh. So you're definitely not just human then?"
"Who's to say?" Matt answers. "My hearing seems to be better than anyone else's, but I have the strength and speed of... Well, not an average man, but certainly not more than makes sense for someone who works out as much as I do." He brings Peter's glass as well as his own to come sit down.
He thinks about it as he takes his glass. "Huh. Most people I know with powers get a bit of extra strength," he says. "Or healing. How'd it happen? You better not say 'lab experiment', it's getting kinda old."
Matt laughs softly. That damn laugh. It's amazing. "Car accident," he says. "There was a toxic chemical spill. What about you – lab experiment?"
"Unique, nice," he grins. "Kinda. Bitten by a genetically modified spider."
Matt looks surprised. "Really?" He asks. "I guess that explains why spiders."
He grins. "Yeah, I went with the theme and ran with it. Why devils for you? Not very toxic waste of you."
"Got raised Catholic, and some of these people need to meet the devil," Matt answers.
"Mmm, not gonna disagree, but you ever thought they might start worshiping you instead?" he asks, sipping his coke. "Y'know. The ones that survive you or just get lucky enough to be spooked."
Scoffing, Matt shakes his head. "I hope not."
"Heard weirder things. Experienced weirder things," he says. "So, you... didn't tell anyone, right? About knowing who I am. Just. Y'know."
"Of course not," he promises. "Your secret is safe with me."
"Thanks. You too. Your secret with me," he clarifies. "It's good to have someone to talk to– oh shit that's what you meant." Months later, but it clicks now. As his lawyer, Matt had recommended he talk to people about what he was going through, with Gwen dead and Harry's lawyers defending him any way they could. The guilt he'd gone through... and all that time, Matt had been hinting that he talk to Daredevil about his problems.
Matt laughs again, then apologizes, "Sorry. I don't mean to laugh, but yes. I wasn't certain yet whether to trust you, but I did want to help."
He shakes his head, smiling. "No, it's okay. I like your laugh. The sound of your laugh. I like hearing laughter," he stumbles to make it sound right . No, this is actually the worst, now that he knows Matt and Daredevil are the same. He's definitely going to be an awkward mess even more often. "Thanks. I didn't... I didn't think about it seriously at the time. I'm kinda bad at taking advice."
"That's alright," Matt assures him. "I'll have to be more clear in the future."
And then the worst thing really happens.
Still no sex? Venom asks, apparently deciding this is the best time ever to make a reappearance. Not physically, at least. But the question makes him choke on his drink.
No! he thinks as loudly as possible.
Then, trying to keep it together and passing over Matt's visibly confused expression, Peter says, "Sorry. Yeah, maybe. Still bad at it though. Can I ask some more questions?"
"Yeah, sure."
He reels through a bunch of questions that have already started to form. "Do you just, like, navigate by hearing? Why didn't you go by Batman, other than it being taken? What made you start the vigilante gig? Did you really want to hang out or did you just kinda feel bad for me?" He probably shouldn't focus on them so much, especially with the feeling of Venom pouting in his head.
For Venom's benefit, he adds a thought: Please be normal and just sleep or rest or something. Not that that's ever worked or anything. Venom doesn't sleep.
Why is resting the only normal option? Venom questions, but Peter shushes him in order to hear Matt's answers.
"Yes. And feeling. I don't like bats and it would be a bit risky to put clues in my name. I want to make my home a better place." Matt smiles. "And yes. I did."
Peter grins, then hides it, then supposes he can't see it anyway so he's free to grin after all. "It's kinda weird. I've enjoyed hanging out with you separately. It's cool hanging out with you and knowing. I... You're the only one who really knows other than Captain America."
"You've met Captain America?" Matt asks. Not the first person to not believe that.
"Yeah. He's cool. Scary in an authority figure way, but he's cool. He was... He was there after Gwen... You and him both kinda pulled me out of the bad place."
And you, he adds for Venom.
I thought you did not want to talk to me, sulks said symbiote.
"I'm glad you weren't alone," Matt says. "And I'm glad I was there."
The verbal reply overlaps with Venom's reply, leaving Peter playing catch-up for a moment.
Are you sulking?? I just don't want to think about sex or your sex addiction.
It takes him a moment to reply to Matt, processing his words again, then realizes, if Matt knows his identity, he can finally say what he wasn't able to before. "Yeah. She was my girlfriend," he says, though he wonders if that was obvious even when he thought he was covering it up. "Harry... My best friend. He doesn't remember now, finding out about me, or what he did. Or what I did." He smiles slightly as he jokes, "There, case closed, you finally got the full picture."
Even as he's speaking, Venom answers, It is not my fault we are hungry.
Which, fair.
See this is when it would be great for you to detach and go on a shopping or sex trip on your own, he returns, even so a bit sourly. It's completely improbable and dangerous for Venom to do anything on his own. They don't need to try to be sure of that.
"Mm. That makes sense," Matt says. "It must have felt impossible. I can't imagine."
"It's why I didn't reach out. To you. Properly, it was just..." He's struggling to keep up with both conversations. "Anyway. Thanks. I guess, now... Well, you can probably call me for backup easier, right?" he jokes.
Matt grins. "Yeah, I guess I can. Maybe we can hang out sometime too," he suggests.
Then Venom decides to respond with just one word: Okay.
"I'd love th—" he stops, to rush his thoughts in answer, No! Not right now. He might sense you. It wasn't a serious suggestion. Stay as the suit.
Matt tilts his head. "Are you okay?"
"Y... Yeah," he says, making sure Venom isn't going to complain anymore. "Sorry. I... I would really love that. Like that. Hanging out."
"Alright. I'd like that, too."
There's nothing more from Venom, to his immense relief.
"You still like coffee cake?" he asks.
"Yeah. Especially theirs," Matt confirms. "Though I wouldn't say no to dinner, either."
He takes a moment. "Okay," he says, a little dumbstruck.
"There's a little Vietnamese place a couple blocks up 15th Street," Matt suggests
He pointlessly nods slowly but he's not fully listening, and then he just checks, almost blurting it out, "Are you asking me out on a date? Like a date ?"
Matt smiles. It's the best smile he's seen in... in a while. "Yes. I am."
"Oh god yes," he agrees, somehow even more enthusiastically than he had been.
That makes Matt laugh softly. "Great. Hopefully your aunt can overlook that I brought you home before our first date," he jokes.
He grins and becomes extra glad that Matt can't see him blush, but also begs Venom to remain chill. "Yeah. I mean. She's not like... She's chill. She also doesn't know about the whole," he gestures, then corrects himself, "Spidey stuff. At all."
"Fair," Matt notes. "You're the only one who knows about me."
Which is wild, but he doesn't say that.
"I'm honored," he jokes. "Well... Good news: I'm pretty sure my aunt will forgive you. Assuming the date goes well." It's gonna go well, he can feel it, it's definitely not just being hopelessly optimistic. "Don't worry. I'll make sure when, if, if you meet her, it's neutral territory. Coffee shop territory."
Matt grins. "I'm not as worried as all that. I'm great with older ladies."
He laughs. "Yeah, I think she's gonna love you."
"When are you free? For the date, that is?"
Is he imagining it or is Matt blushing?
"Assuming New York doesn't scream for help for either of us?" he plays. "Is... tomorrow night too soon?"
"Tomorrow works for me," Matt promises.
"Okay," he grins. "Where'd you say again?"
"You could meet me here? We can walk there together."
"I'm pretty sure the usual date etiquette is that we go back to yours," he jokes. "But yeah. That'd be nice. I'll leave the Spidey suit at home. Well, in my bag. Just in case."
Matt grins. Is it catching or does he find him genuinely funny? Peter hopes it's both. "Just in case," Matt agrees. "I'll have to get better at my quick change."
"I'd offer to help but that's skipping some steps," he says, regretting it immediately.
"It is," he agrees.
"Buuuut it's not off the cards?" he jokes. "Seriously though... I've... Actually, I'm gonna save that for the actual date."
Matt laughs. "You should probably get home, huh?"
"Hint taken," he grins. "Maybe. Yeah. See you tomorrow night," he says, getting to his feet.