E
Venom slowly exhaled and let a cloud of smoke from his cigar disappear into the air.
"Want another smoke?"
He turned to look at Miller, the only friend he'd been able to stay in touch with after starting Outer Heaven.
"You know this isn't what we're here for Miller."
"You think I don't goddamn know that! ... Sorry. It's just, every day of my life, it seems like a new person leaves me. First my dad, then Big Boss, and now you."
"You act like I have a say, Miller."
"Yeah, I know."
" I'll try to stay in touch, but..."
They both sighed. They knew this would be the last time the would be able to meet. Miller was joining foxhoundstraining unit, and Venom Snake was creating an army. Snake was dropping off Miller at the Foxhound department, but they had one stop.
Solid Snake's Adoption centre.
"Ready to go, old friend?"
"... yeah. Yeah, I'm ready."
Chapter 2
They both got out the car and walked to the building. It was a dark, cold stormy night, enough to make the ground shake.
Venom had to help Miller stand up straight every other step. When they reached the door, Venom went to open it... but he couldn't. He just stood there, frozen in time. Miller lowered his friends hand, and opened the door slowly. Venom snapped out of his
trance, and started a smile, but couldn't finish it without showing his pain.
"Hello sir? Whose father are you?"
"Dave Hayter, and I'm... Max Hayter."
They were allowed into his room. Where he was asleep. The little boy was fast asleep, but he had the expression of someone there werehardly any light at all,Miller could see the few specks of light reflecting off his friends tears.
With his voice in pieces, Venom said " Y'know... the one thing I regret Boss giving me was his memory of his cl- kids. The one thing that you can't replicate exactly are emotions. He might not have cared for them, but I do. Miller, I need you to do
me a favour." Miller looked at his friend in surprise.
"What, Snake?"
"Keep an eye on this guy for me. He's something special."
"Heh..."
"What's funny?"
" Y'know, I just thought that, if I'm gonna support this little guy, Ocelots gonna get Liquid. That's a dangerous combination."
" I thought that might happen. Miller, there's a time when no one is ever going what the future holds in store for them. But you don't worry about that. You worry about leaving your mark on the good and whether it helps them... or hurts them. And if you
hurt his son, I'll kill you myself."
Snake went over to the bedside and, with one last word, said "Goodbye."
A few minutes later, they arrived at the Foxhound base. They used no words, only nods, and then a lighting of each other's cigars. One of them walked into the base, one of them drove to it. The only other difference being one of them looked back. The
other did not