About mid-November I was contacted by Raylena Starrling (another author here on , go see here fics!) who wanted to do a collaboration with me. And here it is (or at least the first chapter). It isn't much, but trust me: it's gonna get real good soon. At any rate, Raylena wrote the first half of this chapter and I wrote the second half. I hope you all enjoy it and please, and for every review you post on this fic please be sure to send a PM Raylena; this was her own idea! I'm just helping with the writing and grammar.

Okay? Okay! Here we go!

Neither Raylena Starrling or I own Spider-Man...pity.

Between Black and Red

1 - Reunions and Apologies

Eddie Brock, or Venom as he was known by the media, looked at the high school that he used to go to with eyes full of sadness and longing. After he had grown a better, and more firm grip, on his sanity, Eddie couldn't believe that he'd left behind his home, friends and family just so that he could get revenge for something so trivial. He felt even sadder that, because of his current status as a villain, he couldn't see the one person that he wanted to see the most. And that person was Peter Parker.

The former friend of the web-slinger knew that Peter wouldn't let him come within a quarter inch of him because of the trouble he caused in the past, especially the whole outing him as Spiderman incident, even if he managed to take suspicion off himself. And oddly enough, Eddie seemed to miss Peter more than he missed anyone else. He guessed that it was because he and Peter were so close but he couldn't help but feel that there was something more to that feeling.

It was more than simple friendship; that much he knew. So what could this other feeling be? Eddie wished he knew, but that wish never seemed to come true. So instead, the blonde settled for speculation. However, Eddie's self-reflection was giving the black symbiote that attached itself to him a headache (if the thing had a head).

"Stop concentrating so much, Edward. You think too loud and it gives me a headache. I share your brain, remember?" exclaimed the black symbiote, or Symbio, as Eddie dubbed him, in an annoyed tone.

"Well deal with it, Symbio. I'm trying to figure something out. And quit calling me Edward," Eddie replied back.

"Then stop calling me Symbio, you annoying brat! Gracious, it's time's like this I wish that I had one of those Earth animals as a host! At least it wouldn't over-think and give me a headache!" Symbio complained.

"It's that over-thinking that got both our sanity back." Eddie retorted.

Suddenly a bell rang and the entire student population of Midtown Manhattan Magnet High School came pouring out of the doors. Eddie waited patiently for one particular student to come out. It wasn't long before a familiar mop of brunette hair came out of the building. Eddie starred in admiration at the young man.

Peter Parker was a rarity amongst teenagers. He was responsible, trust-worthy, and he didn't abuse the power he'd been given (at least not after the death of his Uncle). Eddie found those attributes quite appealing, and he wanted nothing more than to prove to Peter that he had those attributes too. That was the whole reason for why he was back in the city.

He watched Peter as the younger boy turned a corner and began walking down a road. Eddie followed, hoping that he could get close enough to the boy to explain things to him. It wasn't going to be easy, and Eddie didn't want to end up hurting him.

For about four blocks Eddie followed Peter until Eddie rounded a corner and found that Peter wasn't there! Eddie looked around trying to see if he could find the boy.

"He is hiding; that means he is on to us!"

Eddie noticed a lock of brunette hair quickly disappear behind the corner of a building which led into an alley. Eddie ran for the alley, and just as he rounded the corner he found himself hanging midair, a noose around his right ankle. He was far enough into the alley that no one outside noticed.

Eddie turned and saw Peter coming out from behind a dumpster, his face showing anger and a hint of fear.

"Venom," he spat, "what the hell are you doing here?"

"Listen Bro, I know this looks bad, but you gotta believe me…I'm not Venom anymore."

Eddie noticed a glint of hope in Peter's eyes, but there was also a bit of suspicion. "So you got rid of the symbiote?"

Eddie sheepishly replied, "No."

The hope that Eddie had seen died immediately; nothing but anger and suspicion in Peter's hazel eyes. "It's still attached to you?"

"Yes."

"Then give me one good reason not to kill you, after all you've done."

"Because I want to make up for those sins, because I want to be a hero instead of a villain...and, because…I want to make amends with you. I want us to be friends again…bro's!"

Peter rolled his eyes. "Nice speech; how long did it take you to think it up?"

"Pete, I'm being serious. I've been working on myself and the symbiote. Neither of us are insane, vengeful, overtaken-by-anger nut-jobs anymore! Neither of us intends to hurt anyone. Neither of us intends to hurt you."

Peter looked straight into Eddie's eyes, looking for some sign that his best friend and bro was telling the truth. Deep down he badly wanted what was happening to be true. He wanted Eddie back. He looked up to the Eddie. He owed Eddie for everyday that they were in school and Eddie had protected Peter from Flash Thompson and his ilk.

Peter walked over to where the web was attached to the wall and pulled it off. He then eased Eddie down to the ground. He then walked over to Eddie and looked at the older boy with a dead-serious glare in his eyes.

"You saved my hide countless times back in school. For that I still owe you, which is why I'm letting you go. But if I get the slightest notion that any of this is a lie, I will bring you down. Permanently."

A slight shiver ran down Eddie's spine at Peter's cold glare and harsh tone. He never knew Peter could be this…forceful. Despite the foreignness of such traits, Eddie couldn't help but find them appealing in Peter.

An exasperated voice from within Eddie's head muttered, "Stupid adolescent meat-bags…"