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Peter had been making a lot of friends post-hospital stay, and they were all pretty varied in morality. The arachnid wondered if his spider puberty had given him attraction powers or something, as every so often he came across a new crazy person to hang out with.
His begrudging father figure (Frank he guessed though it was pretty strange to think of Frank as his dad) and said father figure's boyfriend (Frank would kill him if he knew he thought this) had strong feelings about these new friends. Especially the most recent pair that he had encountered on one of his bad days on patrol.
Panic attacks weren't new to him. Spider sense honestly made them worse, as his mind would go haywire before his body caught up. Leaving him in an endless loop of waiting for whatever horrible thing that's going to happen to happen. Sometimes it didn't even occur as he would get so wound up he would negate it and become a shaking mess.
This embarrassed him so he tried to hide it, especially from the police whose trust in him had started to crack. Nobody needed to know that the vigilante was high-strung and running on two hours of sleep a week. He did everything he could to bury these episodes but sometimes he was left in a tough spot unable to do a thing.
That was what happened that fateful day. His ears rang as he crawled up a building and curled up on a rough. His suit suddenly felt like it was clinging to his skin, his chest tightening as he imagined a hand on his throat. This patrol was a tough one. Multiple attackers at once, slashes that came from all angles that left him bleeding.
He would heal like always but that didn't mean he wasn't suffering from the sensory overload. A gun had gone off right by his left ear, causing it to throb as he swung a web around its holder and flung it away. Everyone had just pounced on him, their bodies weighing him down like a mountain.
It was all so overwhelming, he couldn't think straight. In a fit he pulled his mask off and groaned at the touch of cool air hitting his itching skin. His entire body was screaming for relief. It was like he was having a seizure as his spidey sense kept going off and off about what was going to happen back to back.
Like a broken record his sense just compounded leaving him gasping for breath as he tried to get his bearings. Peter could tell he had a head injury from the fight that was making the overload worse but his nose also felt funny. It was wet and was awfully crooked.
"A-Ah fuck..." The spider whimpered as he felt his healing factor slowly fix what it could.
He was still in pain despite this and he curled into a ball, gurgling on his own bloody spit as he tried not to lose consciousness. "Please...please I need rest..."
"Child?" A strange voice that sounded like an amalgamation of an older man's, a little girl's and an otherworldly being answered his plea sending his spidey sense through the roof as the voice's owner left the shadows.
"A monster?" Peter whimpered as he watched the possessed man stroll over to him. Each step became louder than the next, thundering in his head.
The mysterious hulking figure didn't attack him as he expected. It sat standing above him, leaning down in full view of the vigilante's face. Peter swore to himself for taking it off. He was so goddamn stupid! His skin had been so itchy and he felt like he was drowning so he tore it off but now this monster knew who he was.
The spider lay there in his weakened state, gritting his teeth as he prepared for another fight. He was in no state to deal a decent blow but he refused to be beaten when so many people needed him to get on the street and protect them. He pushed himself up, his arms bruised from the goons who jumped him, and spoke hoarsely.
"I won't let you hurt anyone." He groaned, coughing up a blood clot in the process.
The monster twitched, its blonde hair speckled as its face that was a strange mix of middle aged caucasian man and demon slowly made a smile. "A little one on this planet? Oh, Eddie! How P-E-R-F-E-C-T."
Peter coughed again and stared in utter disbelief. "Who is Eddie? What do you mean little one?"
He could see the creature's eyes were sparkling and he inched away as it leaned in closer, a long tongue hanging out its torn mouth. "What the?! Get away from me!"
The possessed blonde didn't listen, slippery arms opening as they closed in and pulled his injured body against their damp chest. "Shh baby. Venom is here."
Venom was motherly, which Peter found strange. The alien would constantly lick his body, cleaning him like he was a puppy dog and slobbering all over him to stake his "claim". It was uncomfortable and made Peter feel bad about himself but he didn't want to make Venom feel wrong about his instincts so he kept his mouth shut. Eddie was a big help when these things happened. He would sit the spider down and tell him about how Venom saw him through his nonhuman mindset.
To Venom's kind, Peter would be regarded as nothing more than a cute toddler. He even smelled like a baby symbiote to the creature which is why it helped him when they met instead of eating him. Something about his mutation caused this and Eddie was even affected by it. Now, he didn't vocalize this to the vigilante but he could tell by the way Eddie began to treat him. He wasn't annoyed by his presence anymore or irritated when Venom asked about him.
Instead, the older man went out of his way to text him and ask if he was alright. To make sure Peter wasn't having panic attacks as often, comforting him when he did leaving the boy to feel like he was a useless burden on everyone around him.
Eddie was nice to him and Peter was overjoyed. It was awesome to have a friend with a similar powerset who also had anxiety and flashbacks. Peter felt comfortable sharing these bad days with the couple as they never judged him. They listened.
"Little one," He had long grown used to Venom speaking through Eddie's body at this point so he smiled as the possessed man held him. "You haven't visited in soooo long. Why?"
He blushed, embarrassed for being called out on his flakiness. "Sorry, Venom. I have so much to do now that the police aren't too friendly with me."
Blank eyes filled with rage and a black goop-covered claw held his chin protectively. "Baby fighting alone. No help?"
Venom snarled and hissed. "Earth is disgraceful!"
"Don't worry, Venom. I have plenty of friends who help me out. Punisher and Daredevil always look out for me these days. They're such dads." Peter giggled as he recalled how both men treated days with him as if it were custody exchanges.
The dynamic between the two was rather strange. Frank acted like Matt was a nuisance and denied their relationship even though he behaved like a stereotypical toxic boyfriend whenever another vigilante was around. Matt was more open with the fact they had a thing and was pretty fragrant about his "whorish ways" as Frank so boldly claimed one day Peter walked into...something rather slippery.
"Venom mommy?" The symbiote asked and the human blushed.
He twiddled his thumbs as he tried to respond. "Well, I don't know. You already act like a mother hen with me, but are you even a girl, Venom?"
"V's been pregnant before." Eddie randomly took back control and said with a big ole grin on his face as he bragged to the younger man about his exploits. "Lots of times."
Peter felt a little jealous hearing he wasn't the only baby in question, but he also had a million questions when it came to the idea of mini venoms running about. "Where are they then?"
"Well, one is being pretty rebellious of late," Eddie said with an eye roll. "Part of why V spoils you so much. We finally have a kid who doesn't try to murder us!"
"Baby, eat." Venom spoke through the blonde as Peter shuddered and pushed the decapitated head away.
He didn't know whose it was but he could only assume Venom had killed them despite his insistence they don't hurt anyone. He was too tired to yell at them right now, his body sluggish from a lack of sleep and hunger. The young man had been running on pure hopes and dreams as of late, barely hanging on.
Crime was ramping up with people claiming some new threat was near despite Shield and Damage Control's insistence otherwise. Even Matt was on edge, which told Peter he needed to watch his back carefully.
"I don't eat humans, Venom." Peter muttered and he whined at the sight of the alien using Eddie's body to pout. "Nuh uh! No puppy dog eyes when you just killed a man!"
"He attacked my Eddie so free meal." Venom argued and crossed their arms, even sticking their tongue out at him.
Peter groaned and ended his argument for the time being. Being friends with an alien that saw you as an infant was hard. He loved the attention, it was a nice contrast to the loneliness he used to feel for so many years. But Venom was well, Venom.
With Eddie being less of a serial killer only due to him claiming that he had better ways of hurting someone. Whatever that meant. Peter decided not to ask as he didn't want to know and the pair promised to calm down. Which they did, no more torture and no more trying to become one with him after his initial freak out.
Venom had been offended when he demanded this claiming that as a little one it was his duty to bond with them and their mate. That Peter would have no more panic attacks, no more bad memories, no more daydreams of him if they just became one entity. He refused no matter how tempting this was.
He had Frank and Matt who kept the memories away. They helped him get sleep when they could and he was debating getting some therapy for the constant guilt he felt about what he did. Becoming part of a hive mind was the last thing he needed to do, but he knew Venom only offered because it genuinely wanted to help. So, he didn't get mad when they asked him again.
"It's peaceful. You'll always be safe and warm. Never forgotten." Venom said as they helped him eat some actual food, not a person.
The man shook his head, sighing. "I know it's great for you and Eddie but me? I can't do it. I can't just let you into my mind like that, Venom."
"Baby, why?" Venom used Eddie's eyes to stare at him; its puppet's face forced into a weird smile.
"I don't feel comfortable with that type of bond." Violation- that way of giving away complete consent terrified him if he were to be honest.
He didn't want Eddie to do that to him or Venom. He wanted them to continue being his friend. Continue helping him when the static got too loud, and the world was squishing him into paste. They could do that without becoming one sole person, one merged soul, so he wouldn't do that for them.
It just sucked that it hurt Venom so badly for him to reject them in such an intimate way repeatedly. Eddie had told him it was like he was ripping Venom's heart out, that it saw him as its child after imprinting on him that fateful night on the roof.
"I want to just. Be Peter. Is being Peter enough for you?" He asked in a voice that was so soft he wondered if Venom could even hear him still.
The symbiote looked at him, frowning as the darkness in their eyes faded and Eddie came back. He put a hand on Peter's head and ruffled his hair playfully. "V's just in mommy mode. They respect your decision and want to help you feel better. And they'd prefer you lay off the energy drinks."
"I need those!"
Eddie and Venom were not liked by anybody else in Peter's life. He tried to introduce them the best way possible, inviting both them and his favorite toxic relationship, Matt and Frank, over. He was a ball of nerves as he bounced his leg against the kitchen counter he sat on as the four faced each other.
Frank looked...well Frank had his guns out so his expression didn't even matter anymore. The man was pissed, and Peter could only slouch as he was scolded as if he were a naughty toddler.
"Are you serious, kid? These freaks are your new best buds!" The Punisher had one gun aimed at Eddie's head and the other at his crotch.
Matt was merely disappointed, his face in a firm scowl as he gave Peter a head shake. "I know you have a big heart but they're dangerous, Peter."
It hurt knowing Matt and Frank were upset at him. They meant so much to him these days. They sheltered him and helped him after everyone else forgot him. Hell, Matt didn't even remember representing him but he still treated the boy with respect and kindness.
They were a ragtag group of vigilantes who had mental issues, it made perfect sense for them to care about his well-being. But they should trust him. Trust that he knew who Eddie/Venom were and that while they were unruly, they could be reformed. All they needed was someone to give them a chance and goddammit Peter would.
His throat ached as he begged them, pleading for the pair to give his friends a freebie just this once. "Please just hear them out. They've helped me out a bunch and they're really nice once you get to know them."
Frank scowled, refusing to drop his weapons even as Eddie gave the man a glare. "Sorry, I'm not giving a cannibal and his body snatcher boyfriend a hug to make you feel better."
"We are not a body snatcher." Venom was annoyed as they checked Eddie's nails and hissed like a wet cat. "The little one is asking you for a favor and you deny them? You ignorant human."
"Ignorant my ass. You better keep that tongue of yours in your mouth or else I'll put a bullet in your pet's head." Frank wasn't kidding as the two entered a staring match, daring the other to flinch.
"Daredevil! Talk him down!" Peter didn't want them to fight, this was supposed to be a bonding moment!
His breathing sped up becoming erratic as Matt once again denied him what he desired and spoke to him with a strained tone. "Peter, please. Venom is not someone you can merely talk to and they'll change their ways. He's not to be trusted."
"Stop lying to our little one!' Like a mad man Venom used Eddie's body to attempt to strike Matt who dodged without even breaking a sweat. "He's OURS! OURS! O-U-R-S!"
Shots echoed in Peter's head, his eyes widening as he watched Frank proceed to shoot Eddie's body right in the penis with ease. The symbiote screeched and jumped in the two men's direction but Frank kept shooting him. Bullets rained down as he growled in utter frustration at such a wild beast being unleashed on him and his partner.
Matt wasn't even attempting to stop the man as he looked so done Peter wouldn't be shocked if he turned around and just left. Venom was no threat to them as it was having a tantrum and was barely coordinated enough to scratch the vigilantes.
Still, Peter was distraught as he sat there, shaking as his words came in a rushed mess. "Frank! Venom! Stop fighting! Stop it! This isn't supposed to go this way!"
"Sorry, but I'm not letting this fucker go without bullet holes decorating its body." Frank huffed as he slapped Eddie's body with the butt of his gun.
The symbiote let out a screech that caused everyone in the room, especially Matt, to clap their hands over their ears as it raged. "HOW DARE YOU HURT OUR MATE! MAKE LITTLE ONE SAD! HOW DARE YOU!"
"You're lucky I don't stab your mate in the throat you goddamn parasite!" Frank growled back as the alien stomped its feet and screeched some more.
"DARE, AND WE GUT YOURS." Venom snickered and Frank had to be held back by a cursing Matt to keep from tearing the alien apart, the Punisher frothing at the mouth as he spiraled into rage.
Peter was stuck. His body trembled as his hands began to feel numb and he tried not to completely shut down. He was horrible. He was a horrible person. All he wanted was for everyone to get along and he selfishly ignored all the warning signs that said otherwise would happen.
Now, Frank and Venom were hurting each other with threats of hurting their lovers thrown into the chaos to make matters worse. Peter didn't want anyone bleeding, anyone bruised. But that had happened and like a selfish weakling all he could do was sit there with pure panic ruling his mind.
Static filled his ears as he felt the world begin to darken. He faded away while the group of men argued and Matt played a poor attempt at mediator. He was awful. Truly, completely, utterly awful for what he had done. Wanting a family with both couples was just idiotic.
The mutant shuddered and closed his eyes as he tried to drown out the high-pitched squealing in his head that reminded him of a train whistle. He ignored the sour taste in his mouth and sat there, shaking so much that his feet hit the counter loudly, beating himself up for the whole ruined day.
Fading further and further as the fighting turned into a figment of his fragile mind...
..."Peter? Can you hear me? Okay, Frank help me get him into bed. Shut up! You shooting his friend made it spiral out of control so don't start with me now. I told you time and time again he needs help and you refuse to listen to me. Well, look at us now. He's curled up like an actual bug and can't even open his eyes."
He heard chunks of Matt yelling at Frank and he wished that he could tell the man not to be upset. He wished he could tell Frank that he shouldn't have shot Venom and that he was sorry Venom threatened to hurt Matt because of his immaturity.
Peter wanted to do a lot, but like the devil said his mind was locked into spider mode which meant talking, much less thinking was out of the question. All he could do was lie in bed, huddled in place as he worried if Venom was going to be okay.