Wakey, wakey, boys! ;D
Venom knew the moment Eddie's consciousness began to stir that the human had indeed had a good night. What with the way that he just laid there on their good side, utterly relaxed in the warm comfort of their fuzzy blanket, thoughts slow to start in the cottony softness of their sleep fogged brain. Synapses firing just a hair faster when he realized that their bed wasn't their bed, and the loose fitting bed time clothes definitely weren't theirs and there was something off about that shou-
Eddie's racing thoughts cut off in a groan when the ridiculous rescuee realized rolling over would be a terrible idea. On account of their shoulder being one big, stiff ball and socket joint of stubborn inflammation and fiery vengeance.
Best to stay still until it forgot they were there.
Good morning for being us, huh?
"We got found, didn't we?" Eddie asked, voice little more than a dry rasp of wonder and disbelief.
Yes. Right after we passed out from deprivation. And hunger.
"Right. Then there was the helicopter, the IV," the human said, pointing to a bandage on their good arm, "the checkup, and-"
And the drugs. Don't forget those. Venom insisted, wishing that they had some of that pain cancelling juice running through their veins right that second.
Eddie didn't deserve to suffer a minute longer after that week of hellfire and- after they'd escaped that forest of nightmares.
"Yeah, those were pretty great too. But I know something that would hit the spot even better right about now."
What?
"That midnight snack I promised ya."
Yes, about that-
"Wait," Eddie said, Venom allowing the rude cut-in because they were still only half awake. "You're not starving anymore. I mean, you're hungry, but it feels like you... ate?"
Yes.
"Without me?
That's what I was about to tell you.
"You hitched a ride on some poor sap and forced them-"
Don't be ridiculous. Anne was happy to oblige.
"Anne's here?! What's she doing- how did she get- who in- and then-"
One of the medics told you before I let them put you to bed, 'They're flying your lawyer in from the other camp.'
"Nobody told me that; I would've remembered. Because I don't have a lawyer." Eddie reasoned as evenly as he could. Still managing to sound like a warped record being played through a poorly tuned phonograph.
They told you twice. You were just busy mumbling to 'yourself' about how you were going to eat a pedophile while no one was watching. Venom informed.
"Damn. They must think I'm loony." Eddie said as he ran a hand roughed by a week in the wilderness across their face.
They think that you just got rescued. That you spent the last week talking to yourself. That you faced death and starvation alone. That you're 'coping'. I know better, and I say you're going to be fine. So does Anne.
"I sure as shit hope so." The human said. Just a hair off hysterical.
Plus, Anne says anything they heard last night can't be submitted into a court of law. Something about survivor's trauma? You'll have to ask her. Venom said in a 'not my thing' tone.
"I'm going to court?!" The human asked. Half a hair off hysterical. So Venom made that soft hushing sound before the guy could start hyperventilating.
The terrorist's lawyer is suing you for wrongful death. If not outright murder. In the first degree. Multiple homicide. Anne thinks she can get that thrown out though, considering there aren't any witnesses. And an entire base camp full of flashing cameras saw you brought in more than half dead last night. He informed. Pleased that their heart rate didn't spike back up halfway through.
"Wait, is this a news story?" Eddie asked, waving a hand around in a vague, indicative gesture.
Eddie Brock, Investigative Journalist, just might be a household name after this. Venom said. Wondering whether it came out a little smug.
"Oh my God, you mean to tell me that every house in America, there's someone watching —on infinite replay— my sorry, half dead ass say-"
'P-para, parachute.' I hear they're making T-shirts. Venom confirmed. A little more entertained than he may have had right to be.
"My life is over."
"Everyone back home misses you."
At the new, not in his head voice, Eddie jerked violently enough that he saw spots. Big ones. Took up most of his vision for a few seconds. More like all of it, actually.
Naw, he just plain passed out, Venom realized as he coaxed his human to breathe and ignore that solar flare in their shoulder.
And wake back up.
"Eddie?" Asked the rightfully concerned voice of their clandestine visitor.
"H-how long were you sitting there?"
The whole time.
"How-how're you feeling? I heard one of the medics say they want you transferred to a hospital," the concerned ex said.
"What?" Eddie asked. Venom feeling the confusion so strong it was practically wafting off his now recumbent human.
She just doesn't want to admit that she likes watching you sleep. And talk to yourself. He explained. Helpfully.
"I'm not; I'm talking to you," Eddie defended, shooting Anne an indignant glance while he was at it.
"You're not looking that bad, and Venom's doing alright. I could probably get them to release you into Dan's care instead?" Anne, the Saint, suggested.
"Why do you sound like you know he's doing alright?" Eddie asked. Venom pretty sure that he'd missed the part about the personal physician altogether.
"Because, I took him out for dinner," the lawyer explained with a tiny smirk. "We didn't want to wake you."
Anne also recognized the mark. Said you worked that case together.
"Wait, wait, wait. You ate a pedophile?"
To Eddie's raised brow, Anne gave a shrug. "I did it for the children."
She did it for us. Venom corrected. Knew I couldn't heal that shoulder without a good meal in me.
"Uh-huh, then why is it still busted?" His human asked. Doing a poor job trying to hide his disappointment at missing their first hunt back out of that barren excuse of a forest.
"The shoulder? Well, while we were out together, Venom and I had a little talk," began Anne, "and we agreed that, just until we get you out of here and back home, we should leave it that way."
"But, I can't even sit up on my own," Eddie whined. Causing Anne to mirror Venom's private, fond smirk.
"An overnight healing would raise all kind of red flags with the medics. Not to mention the dozens of reporters outside. If you looked one hundred percent when you walked out there, they'd have a field day." Anne said with a less than fond gesture at the tent's far wall.
"Venom?" Eddie asked. Wanting to hear the story from both sides before passing judgement.
The symbiote tried not to squirm under the scrutiny.
...She made me promise before she'd let us eat.
"Anne! That sounds suspiciously close to coercion. He was starving." Venom felt warmed by the fact that Eddie had to restrain himself from raising his voice. Rightfully pissed on his symbiote's behalf.
Which reminded Venom that he was still kinda pissed himself.
"I know. I felt it. And I'm sorry, Venom," said the person who probably lied to a sizable audience while under oath on the daily. For a living. "I'm sorry you had to go through... what you both went through. And I'm glad- I'm unspeakably more than glad, that you two made it out okay."
The way her voice caught convinced Venom that she was being as genuine as a known lawyer could be, which reset his opinion of her back up to 'second favorite human'. But then, the way she leaned forward and the soft, kind hand she laid on Eddie's chest, precisely above his resting place, made Venom twitch.
Because Anne meant it. He could feel her sincerity through the pajama top. And the sternum.
Venom rumbled at the good vibrations her caring proximity imparted. Then, when it became obvious she was expecting some sort of response, Venom pushed just a couple square inches of himself up and through his human's chest. Making sure to keep hidden under Anne's palm. Never sure whether they were truly alone in a place as unfamiliar as that funky medical tent.
From there, making physical contact with his two time joyride, he was able to establish a tentative mental connection. One she just might be able to receive a message across.
Thanks.
"No prob. We're buds, right?" The lawyer with the heart of gold asked with an overwhelmed smile. Being apparently pleased to hear his voice.
The way you tore that tasty treat in half last night? Yes. Absolutely.
"Wait, she did what?" Squawked the guy whose lawyer and symbiote were having a moment on either side of his chest. The outside and the inside. Respectively.
Anne said, 'He deserved it.' Venom tattled. Causing Eddie to double take at his symbiote's meal buddy.
"We were gonna eat him anyway," the lawyer defended. Rather poorly.
"Well, I'm glad you two are getting along. Still."
That means he's jealous.
"Yeah, I can tell. We lived together too, while back," Anne explained with a chuckle. Before sending down one more friendly feeling and removing her hand from her ex's chest.
A move Venom mirrored from the inside, keeping his presence completely hidden. Just in case.
"Am not," Eddie pouted. Necessitating the other two laugh at him. Which they did. With gusto.
"You know what? I just realized that I'm hungry. Starving, in fact. And that all they gave me to eat last night was some high protein, instant mix, slop they poured out of a bag and microwaved to taste."
Even Anne cringed at that horrifying description.
"Right? That's what I told them."
No, Eddie, you told them that a live snake tasted better than 'whatever the hell this is'. Then they slipped a sedative in it while you were busy staring off into space. Mumbling to yourself.
"Uh, no, I was talking to you," Eddie corrected.
Nope.
"Actually, you were saying something about how anything was better than squirrel with the fur still attached. One of the medics told me," Anne recorrected.
Yeah, that's why I let you eat laced goo.
"Yeah? Well-"
"I'll see if I can track down that head medic and ask her to okay you some real food," the reasonable human said as she stood from her tiny chair and made for the only way in or out of there.
"Hey, Anne?" The lawyer stopped just inside the exit and turned to look at them. "Thanks. For everything."
"No prob. After all, what are friends for?" And with a cocky smile, the one who was about to get them a second meal and, eventually, some true freedom strutted out the door flap and out of sight.
"...I think she likes you." Eddie said with a teasing grin.
I think she likes ripping people in half. Venom said as he wiped away the teasing grin.
"Well, like she said, that guy deserved it." Said the journalist who'd once investigated the now dead and digested deviant.
You recognize any other scumbags around here who 'deserve it'? Venom asked. Realizing all this talk of food was making him hungry again.
"Uh, I'll keep my eyes out, but it might be less suspicious if we wait till we get back to an actual city before going gangbusters."
Hm. Venom hummed in begrudging agreement. Home does sound nice right about now.
"Yeah. Good thing,"
'Eddie + Venom = home'
The symbiote received the mental message with a start.
Eddie was getting good at that. And using his line.
Hm. If that's what plagiarism felt like, Venom could get used to being stolen from. So long as Eddie was the one doing the stealing.
Aw, Anne confirmed what Eddie'd been wondering about while they were lost. That people back home did notice they were gone.
And it turns out their friends were looking for them! So sweet! XD
