An entire body flew through her window. Coincidentally, it was her best friend. And right after him, Havardr stepped in gracefully, grinning like a fool behind his full-coverage black helmet that he'd pulled back to see her better. "Sorry about the window. I've been trying to train him to transform in mid-air without hiccups, but he keeps hesitating. You okay?"

Sanjeevani gave him a deadpan expression, huffing indignantly. "Do I look okay, bro?" Havardr, eyebrows high and eyes wide, opened his mouth to respond and held up his index finger, and she put a hand up, pinching the bridge of her nose with her other hand. "Don't answer that. Just…you have magic right? Can you fix the window?"

He grinned again, giving her two thumbs up. "Yep! Let us get out of here first, and I'll fix it for you. Sorry again."

Sighing, she nodded. "Yeah, thanks. No worries. Need any help?"

Havardr shook his head, laughing as he helped Ahmed off the floor. The poor guy had shredded his suit in the process of shapeshifting and then promptly crashing through Sanjeevani's window. Still in the form of what looked like a bird on fire, Ahmed waved at her with a wing, cawing uncomfortably due to the glass stuck in his feathers.

For some unfathomable reason, Sanjeevani could understand him despite the, you know, animal noises. "Yeah, whatever. It's fine. Just please leave. I have a whole day ahead of me, and lots of things to think about and lots of things to do." Groaning, she put her face in her hands and rubbed hard, trying to force the drowse of the previous night out of her skin. The two waved again before Ahmed flew out of the room.

Havardr bowed his head down in a show of gentlemanly respect, and he too stepped out of the room, sending one last soft smile her way to apologize for the window before waving his hands in some weird motion. Green light and black fibers wove themselves around his fingers, and after a flick of his hands, the window pulled back together, as if time were moving backward.

She simply smiled weakly, nodding her thanks. Man, it was tiring to see these guys so much. Maybe she really did need that vacation day with Eddie and his friends.

So, she crawled out of bed and grasped the edge of her bedside table, holding herself up by the heel of her right palm, using the other to rub at tender and exhausted eyes. "Goddammit."

After getting ready, she set up her backpack and headed down at eight forty-five to wait in the lobby.

Her incredible tardiness was her least favorite thing about her. After missing a critical meeting for dance club in high school (and consequently missing their biggest performance that year), Sanjeevani figured it would be a good idea to set herself back fifteen minutes so she could avoid being late to anything ever again. Of course, it only worked a handful of times, but it did come in handy for important meetings and friendly hangouts with her fellow asylum-seekers.

She didn't get a call from Eddie, but she did see the giant dumbass loitering around the front of the residence building, the hood of his sweatshirt up and hands in his pockets. He looked like a stereotypical criminal or predator. "Fucking idiot," she muttered angrily.

After ensuring she had all her belongings, Sanjeevani slung her backpack over her shoulders and hurried towards the door. The receptionist shot her a wink and a laugh.

She pushed the door open with her shoulder so she could fiddle with her phone and text her friends about where she was going and with whom. Ahmed, Kuro, and Lien promised to watch over and check on her if she's in their areas of jurisdiction. Sonia and Olivia swore to call the police if she didn't come back by dinnertime without sending them a text. And then they said they'd call the police if, even after texting them about her whereabouts, she didn't come back by two in the morning the next day. Sanjeevani just loved how protective her friends were. It literally was the only thing that made her feel safe in that country.

Eddie greeted her with a giant hug that nearly cut off her air supply. "Hey, kid."

"Sup, old man."

He gave her a good-natured scowl and ruffled her hair, tossing an arm around her shoulders. "Come on. Anne and Dan are waiting in the taxi. You ready to go?" She grinned and nodded her head. Eddie gave her a quick up and down to see her outfit and raised an eyebrow. "You dress like my mother, kiddo."

She scowled then, kicking his leg. "That's fucking rude, Eddie." Her outfit wasn't too bad, in her opinion. A light brown cardigan, her cleanest, freshest white shirt, dark blue jeans, and the only pair of shoes she owned at that point in time. She really needed more clothes, but shopping would have to wait. She needed rest and relaxation first.

He laughed and patted her back with a few hard hits, guiding her to the bright yellow car, letting her sit up front next to the driver so she wouldn't be stuck between two strangers in the backseat. "Alright, guys. Let's do the intros once we get to the restaurant. I am starving!"

As soon as Sanjeevani opened the passenger door, she saw the two middle-aged adults occupying the back seat. They waved hello, smiling big and welcoming. Except, the lady seemed a lot more un-chill than the guy. Not wanting to be rude, the young woman waved back and returned their smiles with a hesitant grin. It was a lot easier to smile more genuinely when she started speaking to the driver, an older man who probably should have retired by then, but was still driving assholes around the city to make a living.

"Bonjour!" he greeted with a cheeky wink. "Your friends?" the man probed through a thick German accent.

Sanjeevani, ever the people pleaser, laughed and shrugged. "Bonjour, monsieur. And no. Not yet."

Hanz, who introduced himself by name a few seconds later, patted the seat invitingly and grinned, the yellow of his tobacco-stained teeth reflecting some of the sunlight from the bright morning. "Come in, come in."

She plopped down, dragging her purse into her lap so she could put on her seatbelt comfortably. Eddie piped up a few seconds later, "Can we go now?" Well, then. That's something you don't hear every day: Eddie Brock whining. The guy wanted so badly to seem like an invulnerable badass that never could be bothered by anything ever. But now he sounded like a kindergartner who didn't want to wait in line to get on their favorite rollercoaster.

The driver, understanding his childish impatience, laughed and nodded. "Oui, oui. Of course." And he slowly pulled away from the curb and towards the main road. At this signal, Anne and Dan, completely ignoring their friend's suggestion, introduced themselves to Sanjeevani, smiling big and sweet again.

Still unsure about the new older adults, she returned their gracious smiles with a grin of her own. "It's so nice to meet you both. My name is Sanjeevani Rao."

Dan prompted with a pointed look at Eddie, "You're the girl who was on the news a few weeks ago, right? The dancer who was taking lessons in the middle of a park?"

She nodded. "Not really the middle of the park, but basically, yeah. Eddie really hasn't told me much about you two, I'm afraid. So forgive me if I sound a little awkward or uncomfortable. I just don't know anything about you guys, so I'm not sure what to expect."

Anne nodded understandingly, shooting Eddie something too intense to merely be called a death glare. "You're totally fine, sweetie. If anyone's to blame, it's Eddie." With that, the redhead scowled and kicked him in the knee. Sanjeevani really didn't know how she did that when they were all sitting down.

"We are so sorry you feel uncomfortable right now, but Dan and I both hope you'll have fun today. We really wanted to get to know you since Eddie never shuts up about what a good kid you are."

Sanjeevani shot her old-man-friend a shit-eating grin, to which he slapped hands over his friends' mouths and told the driver to take them to the Seine. The German man nodded with a laugh and sped off towards the street, weaving his way through Parisian traffic like a racecar driver at his prime. He pulled into a parking spot with a high-pitched screech, leaving each passenger to hang onto the nearest support for dear life.

Sanjeevani wasn't too perturbed, having experienced similar motion after so many supervillains tossed her around Paris like a rag doll.

Anne and Dan, on the other hand, looked as frazzled as Ms. Frizzle's hair itself. Faces pale, eyes narrowed, knuckles white from their grips on the door handles and on Eddie's arms. Eddie himself also seemed pretty chill, in terms of posture. However, his face was just as startled as Dan's.

The young dancer smiled warmly at the driver before asking her questions in weak French. "Thank you, sir. Have they already paid you?"

He nodded, patting her hand. "Yes, they have," he replied in better but heavily accented French. "You may go. Have a nice day."

She tipped her head at him in thanks and practically skipped out of the car. The three older adults trudged along behind her slowly, nodding their gratitude to their driver before hurrying after the girl. Eddie pulled her back by the strap of her purse and snorted. "Slow down, we're not running a five-K. Come on, let's take a little walk. Anne showed me a great spot a little further into the river walk."

At some point, she got distracted by a little flurry of birds swooping around, making little dives towards the water before pivoting upwards sharply. Their fluid, free movements mesmerized the exhausted teen. Sanjeevani stared with unwavering focus, only to jump when Eddie called back to her. "Hey, hurry up! We're going to the river to sit and talk!" She hadn't even noticed how far the three friends had walked.

She hurried along behind the semi-middle-aged trio. Anne and Dan seemed pretty comfortable with Eddie even though he used to hold Dan's place in the relationship. Despite knowing that, Dan seemed to almost idolize the guy. Big, starstruck eyes, laughing at anything and everything Eddie said. Even when Eddie wasn't looking, Dan would shoot him these soft, adoring looks. They really closely mirrored the kinds of looks Kuro would give Havardr when the Asgardian man wasn't paying attention. Sanjeevani grinned quietly and addressed Anne quietly as the men walked ahead.

"Is Dan Eddie's biggest fan or something? I've never seen anyone go gaga over that trash goblin before in the time I've known Eddie." After realizing her insulting comment, Sanjeevani wanted to retract her words, but the older woman snickered and nodded.

Anne winked at her and smirked conspiratorially. "Eddie had a news show. The Brock Report. Dan was obsessed with him for so many years. He was super excited when meeting Eddie for the first time but kept it to himself. It's kind of also why he was willing to help Eddie after discovering Venom and all that mess. He adores Eddie."

The young woman smiled and giggled, nodding her head. "That's so cute. I didn't know Eddie had such a big following." Anne laughed and nodded her head, grinning innocently when the men turned back to give her and Sanjeevani raised eyebrows.

"I'm bonding with my new friend. Fuck off, Eddie." Eddie put his hands up in surrender and turned back around to resume his and Dan's conversation. Anne chuckled. "But yeah. Eddie definitely had a sizable fanbase. People loved his anti-corporation takedowns. Especially how he wove those CEOs into knots with their own statements."

Sanjeevani stared in wide-eyed awe at the older woman. "That is so cool. But didn't Eddie work for a corporation himself? He's not really an anti-corp reporter. He just got his company the views they wanted."

Anne, impressed and amused at the girl's quick wit, nodded. "Yep. That is indeed correct. But that didn't stop people from falling in love with him. And it helps that he's good-looking and has that unlikable asshole charm. There's just something attractive about someone who looks like they don't care about your opinion but still want to hear what you've gotta say."

That lost the girl's admiration. Sanjeevani raised an eyebrow and responded flatly, "That made exactly zero sense, but I think I get what you mean." The two hurried after Eddie and Dan, who'd practically run off towards their chosen spot near the water. She kept her eyes on them, still flicking her gaze around and about to search for any threat of danger or anyone in need. Over the past weeks, that had become common practice for her, scanning her surroundings to seek out danger or helplessness.

Anne took notice of that, clearly, because she walked with the young woman quietly, calculating gaze focused on the dancer's flat expression. "You're one of those hero types, aren't you?"

Sanjeevani froze. Anne laughed. "Don't worry. I'm not about to tell anyone. I'm not what you'd call a snitch."

The girl didn't believe her. "You're a lawyer. In a top-notch law firm, at that. You've got every reason to snitch, I think."

"Nope. Not at all. You're important to Eddie. He's just in need of another companion. A good friend to keep an eye out for him besides Venom. Venom is amazing. One of the better beings I've met in a long time, despite their appetite for human flesh. But they're not human, and that can be stressful for Eddie." Sanjeevani tossed a bewildered look her way, and Anne grinned. "Yes, I do know Venom personally. So does Dan. We were with Eddie for the duration of his and Venom's introduction. But truly, I wouldn't spill these details. You're young, in a city unfamiliar to you. You're under a lot of duress constantly."

Sanjeevani, unable to tear her attention away from the fascinating woman, listened with rapture.

"Running your own dance school, saving the city from bad guys, protecting innocent people. You've got a lot on your plate, and I understand that. Eddie has vouched for you constantly, always praising and dramatizing your heroism. Venom does that too, but with more exaggeration. Aliens, much like humans, love to stir up shit, as I've observed."

"How, um. How did you know?"

Anne's face puckered like she had eaten a particularly sour orange that she assumed would be sweet. "Come on. You do that whole cop thing without looking like an asshole."

"What the fuck?" Sanjeevani had never felt more offended in her life, not even that time her high school principal shared a bunch of racist memes about pretty much every racial minority in America on the school's social media accounts.

She nodded. "I should probably explain. Cops, federal officers, anyone with enforcing power and weapons in the US. They tend to be the kind of people to attempt to blend into surrounding areas and fail horribly. They almost always sit closest to exits in order to make quick escapes for their own safety or for the pursuit of suspects. They have these ugly black boots assigned to every officer. They look like work boots, but they're very distinct. You'll know when you see them. What else? Hmm…" Anne paused for a minute to sit down on a bench near where Eddie and Dan seated themselves at the water's edge.

"Oh yeah, they'll probably get a small drink if they're in a cafe or something to act casual since it's weird to sit there randomly without participating in the environment, and they'll have a watch on, along with some kind of weapon concealed under a loose shirt, tucked into a belt that can hide under the baggy clothing. And, you know, the traditional short hair expected for law enforcement by the government."

Sanjeevani stared. "It literally feels insulting that you're saying I act like an American cop, ma'am."

Anne snorted. "No, you're nothing like them. You've got a softer gaze when looking around, surveying your surroundings. Not searching for criminals to put down with a gun, but rather looking for people who need shielding. Maybe you are searching for criminals, but more to talk them down or something."

She huffed, nodding her head. "That's a little better. But yeah. Heroics are part of my daily activities. That being said, it's more a feeling of personal responsibility than wanting to be all cool and save the world. I do care about people, but more than that, I just wanna be at peace and get through my childhood trauma, but I don't have the time for that. I can't be selfish and spend all my time on myself if I need to help people." At Anne's concerned but somewhat amused expression, Sanjeevani sighed and put up her hands.

"Relax. Eddie and…" How could she mention Loki without saying his name outright? Speaking about him so openly would cause some speculation, she knew. "And someone else we know, they're trying to find me a therapist. No idea how I'll fit that into my schedule, but I guess we'll see."

"I guess we will."

"I do wanna make something clear, though."

Anne raised the other eyebrow this time. "Hm?"

Sanjeevani rubbed a hand down her face and looked at the other woman cautiously. "I'm not trying to enforce any laws. I just don't want to give the big bads more people to drag into crime, nor the shitty cops in this city more people to arrest or kill. I want to take away both groups' ability to hurt innocent people by undoing a lot of the problems that pull people into lives of crime in the first place. Can I get your help with that? In a legal aspect?"

"Maybe. I'm not practicing here in Paris, and I don't know Parisian or French law, so I'm not sure I'll be able to do much, but I can try and connect you to some powerful lawyers and NGOs here to help you out with your mission. You'll speak to them in disguise, right? How can you be sure both you and those people will uphold your sides of any agreement?"

The young woman, ever the confident and unhurried, smiled sweetly. "Everyone has someone who needs healing or helping. If I can convince them that I'm on their side by giving out a bit of free healthcare and giving them protection from the corrupt law enforcement and the bitches running this city, they'll join me for sure."

Anne thought that was a bit of a stretch, but then again, she didn't know this girl or what she was capable of. Everything she knew, she learned from Eddie and Loki, both of whom had apparently been observing her closely or long enough to predict accurately what she would do in most situations. But still, the girl seemed too optimistic about the situation she was in. Surprisingly so. Most people under so much stress wouldn't still care about being nice to criminals or try to understand them. The superheroes she did see were pretty brutal with anyone who breaks the law.

This kid seemed to like talking to bad guys more than everybody else. Or, well, she trusted in their kindness more than she trusted in anyone else's. "Why is it that you're so sure of that? It's not easy to make criminals choose good."

Sanjeevani rolled her eyes. "People turn to crime because of circumstance. Humans aren't born good or bad. It's their upbringing, their circumstances in childhood, their mental health, and their perception of the world that causes them to do bad things and hurt people."

Anne couldn't disagree there. Most of the people she represented at the start of her career were first-time offenders who had run into tough times. The girl pressed on. "If you take a moment to stop seeing them as personifications of evil and just see them as people, you can start to understand why they do certain things. I have to have faith that I can help them find security and safety in a world that hates them. The moment I act as a positive force for them, they'll remember that. They'll open up. That's all I need."

"So, you see them like kicked puppies."

She snorted. "I see them as people who were abused. Kicked puppies are defenseless and need constant protection and care. These people just need compassion and a helping hand to pull them out of whatever situation forced them into crime in the first place. I have a lot of faith in humanity's ability to improve for the better. I think it's high time the other superheroes of the world develop that kind of mentality too."

Well, if that wasn't optimism at its peak, Anne didn't know what was.

Sanjeevani turned her head to watch Eddie and spoke softly. "Were you two once in love?"

That wasn't exactly the question Anne had expected from the girl, considering their topic of discussion, but she answered anyway. "Yeah. Eddie had proposed. We were going to get married."

"And then?" Man, that kid had such innocent eyes. Anne couldn't help but sigh and smile sadly. Those truly were good times, but Eddie didn't love her like Dan did. Eddie put his own justice, his own career above hers, and that wasn't okay. But she didn't tell the young hero as much.

"Eddie betrayed me. Looked through some work files I'd stored on my computer because I had info about a company he wanted to take down. I got fired because of it. And so did he, for other reasons. I kicked him out. It was…rough to say the least."

Wordlessly, Sanjeevani stared at the older woman, dark brown eyes wide and worried.

"Don't get me wrong, I love him as a friend. But it was so heartbreaking. I couldn't handle that kind of grief, but then I met Dan. He just, he was so good to me, without asking anything of me." The kiddo said nothing else, seeming to understand what Anne meant. The two stood together without any other conversation for several minutes before the men called them over.

"Why are you two just standing over there. Come and sit!" Dan exclaimed, waving his hands. Rolling their eyes, the two stepped forward, sitting next to their respective companions. Eddie raised an eyebrow at the young woman, who just frowned at him silently. He assumed they were talking about him. Sanjeevani wasn't exactly good at quiet conversation, but her and Anne's expressions spoke volumes.

The four of them sat together at the water's edge, nibbling on snacks they'd brought, offering only snippets of audible discussion to any passersby. Sanjeevani said very little after her and Anne's last conversation.

As they got up to go eat lunch, Eddie asked about the ladies' conversation, mostly because Anne and Dan decided to walk in front to lead the group to the restaurant. "So. What did you and Anne talk about?"

She huffed at him, crossing her arms. "I didn't offer anything to the discussion. She said you were an asshole to her and nearly destroyed her career."

He winced. "Fuck." Eddie's face cringed in a way he never thought possible, and Sanjeevani sighed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean-. I meant…" Her eyebrows pinched together, and her face turned downward. "I never intended to hurt your heart, Eddie. But I can't understand how you could do that to her."

The man raked a hand through his hair, letting his gaze hold her expression. "I know. I don't wanna infantilize you or patronize you, but you're still young. You haven't been exposed to the kind of shit Anne and I have seen, much less what Dan's seen." When she tossed a certain look his way, he laughed. "He's a doctor. I bet he's seen really gross shit." She nodded in understanding and motioned for him to continue. "But seriously, hon. I was selfish. I just wanted to win. I wanted to prove myself. I don't know who I wanted to prove myself to. But I did that, and I thought I could get away with it."

She frowned a bit more lightly and nodded slowly, walking close enough to grab onto his elbow and lean her head against his arm. "I still don't get how, but I at least understand why. Are all adults like this? Hurting each other, pushing each other around for their own reasons?"

He then frowned, unable to comprehend how a girl her age could stay so innocent after being a hero in a city like Paris for a whole month, after experiencing all that she did. "You really do trust people a lot, don't you?"

Sanjeevani's expression said more than her voice ever could. But she spoke anyway. "I don't have much of a choice, Eddie. I'm alone here. Truly. Like, there's nothing familiar to me in this world, in this universe. I have to be hopeful and happy and trusting and push through whatever hurts me. Because if I don't? I'll die. I'll die alone, and I can't handle that. I need to trust so I'll have people who will like me and care for me. If I don't have that…"

The man sighed, chuckling weakly at the thought of a nature documentary he and Anne had watched years ago. "So it's like living in a warzone. Either you trust people and you live, or you distrust people and you die."

She let out a little giggle but nodded. "Yeah. I've got no other options. Besides, if I can't trust that people will be kind, then who will? Your generation is tired and hurt. My generation is tired and hurting and will still be hurt in the future." She groaned, pressing her face into his shoulder. He felt bad for her, but maybe she didn't want that. "For fuck's sake. Everyone is tired and hurt. But I can heal myself quickly, and all I need to keep going is lots of calories. I can be the energy people need. Someone has to be the caffeinated pain medication to bring the world back to functionality in times like these. If that can be me, why shouldn't I try?"

"You want to be the Tylenol of humanity."

The girl rolled her eyes at her pseudo-mentor but nodded. "In a word? Yeah."

They walked in silence, each too lost in thought, too stressed out to communicate effectively. Sanjeevani was feeling the weight of physical trauma on her body after not healing it for several days to save energy. Eddie was feeling the weight of emotional trauma on his heart after not going to therapy for a few days to be able to rest properly. Neither was doing well, but they took solace in that. If they suffered, at least they wouldn't suffer alone. Venom, ever the efficient, took that time to do a health check of Eddie's body before poking at the man to ask if they could do that for the young heroine. "I'd have to ask her, bud. It's her choice, not mine." Sanjeevani took a mental guess as to what the question was and laughed after hearing it.

"I'd really appreciate it, V. Thank you." The symbiote bopped the top of her head with its jaw and lunged forward through her skin, shoving her back a few steps from the sheer force. "Well, someone's feeling dramatic today," she laughed.

Venom chortled deep in the back of her mind. "Blame Eddie. I get half of my personality from that sweaty meat bag." She snorted through the next few laughs.

"V, that's so mean!"

Venom laughed again, emotionally rolling their eyes at the accusation. "He called me a disgusting little banana slug. Do you know how offensive that is to me? He compared an extraterrestrial superior organism to a fucking stripe of slime. Eddie should be grateful I didn't eat him after that."

Sanjeevani, feeling particularly snarky that day, shot back mentally, "Eat him or eat him out? You both are drama queens, V." The alien sputtered for a few seconds before smacking the back of her head and rushing into Eddie after finishing the check-up.

"Your asshole child is fine, Eddie," Venom growled, sticking their spiny tongue out at Sanjeevani, who mimicked them effortlessly, giggling all the while.

"Asshole? Aren't you the one who says she's the brightest light you've ever seen?" Eddie prompted with a smirk.

Venom hissed. "That's before she made a joke at the expense of our sex life."

Eddie choked on air. Sanjeevani nearly died laughing. It was a good afternoon.

The restaurant was way too fancy, though. Sanjeevani could physically feel the eyes of the other patrons. While the older adults had dressed quite nicely, she opted for a more comfortable, casual look (mostly because she didn't have any nicer clothes yet). Between Dan's nice polo and khakis, Anne's pencil skirt and floral blouse, and Eddie's button-down shirt, leather jacket, and nice jeans, she felt like a weirdo. Her clothes were a bit too autumnal for the dramatic establishment, and even the host gave her an odd look at seeing her attire.

She winced and kept her head down, hiding behind her hair to kind of shield her face. What a familiar gesture. She'd hoped this action wouldn't come in handy in this new dimension, but she was wrong. So so wrong. People don't change just because you switch dimensions. Here, they just expected more from her than her previous dimension's people did.

Eddie noticed her behavior and pressed a hand to her shoulder, provoking a squeak of surprise from the young woman. She retreated from the three adults' personal space and sat a bit more distant from them once the host guided them to a table.

Anne and Dan seated quickly, looking over the drink menus for a few minutes before calling over a waiter. Eddie took note of his young companion's expressions and decided to ask about it later so she could cool down a bit.

The waiter took Anne's order first since she knew what she wanted. Dan spoke up next, asking for a glass of high-end champagne, even though it wasn't a special occasion of any kind. Eddie requested a simple bourbon. Sanjeevani asked for water with lemon. The waiter nodded after confirming their orders and headed away, shooting the girl one more amused look while walking to the kitchen.

But Dan didn't have Eddie's knowledge of Sanjeevani's thought process and bumbled ahead without realizing it. "Are you alright? You're acting somewhat strange compared to what we've seen of you so far. I don't mean any offense! I'm just worried."

Her face crumpled, and she dragged the cloth napkin into her lap. Sanjeevani bit her lip hard, trying to not draw blood and still hold the pressure long enough to distract her mind. "Let me keep it simple for you." Even when she spoke, she could feel the stares of the older patrons of the restaurant. A few of the elderly people (a couple coming from much wealth, she could guess from their attire and accessories) sitting near their table openly watched her, eyes narrowed at Sanjeevani, pretty much the only non-white guest of the establishment.

"I am a dark-skinned young woman sitting in a restaurant full of old white people. Every single person in here has been staring at me, and it's not because I was on the news a while ago. Why wouldn't I feel uncomfortable?" she explained as patiently as possible without snapping at the man. She could understand his confusion, but how could people be this oblivious to her behaviors? Wait. She tilted her head up a little to glance at Eddie, who had a palm pressed to his forehead, exasperated at his ex-fiance's boyfriend's tactless question. She smiled thinly. At least he got it.

She tried to remediate the situation a little bit, not wanting to startle the other patrons and make them freak out at her because she argued with her table-mates. "Look, doc. I know you mean well. I'm sorry for sounding so terse. But seriously, I will not be comfortable here at all. There's just so much staring. I thought I could escape this when I came here, but it's maybe gotten worse. In my hometown, the judgment was open. I knew who hated me. Here, I need to guess. And that's really scary. So please don't mind me not talking for the rest of the time here. I'm just scared," she admitted breathlessly, eyes trained on the crisp white linen tablecloth to avoid looking at her companions.

Eddie just patted her hand gently and sighed. "I'm sorry, kid. If I knew they were taking us here, I would have suggested some other place," he promised with a soft tone only she could hear. He probably didn't want to upset his friends, but Sanjeevani figured Anne felt guilty. Dan even more so. That man experienced every emotion so much more intensely than Anne or Eddie did, from what she could tell.

Grateful for the genuine words, she shrugged and offered a quiet smile in return. "Thanks, old man."

He chuckled, pinching her arm. "Rude little brat."

A female server brought their drinks soon after, smiling shyly at Sanjeevani, who really didn't know what to do about the suddenly non-negative attention. The girl blushed softly and handed the dancer a simple note written on delicate white paper after giving each person their drink. When the young woman hurried away with a red face and hopeful eyes, Sanjeevani got curious and read the note, only to beam like the sun upon realizing the girl's intentions.

Eddie raised an eyebrow, grimacing at the cold burn of his drink. "So? What does it say?"

She flushed soft pink and giggled, tucking it away into her purse. "Apparently she saw me on TV. Gave me her number and asked me out. I think I'm gonna die."

Anne hummed. "I didn't know you're gay."

Sanjeevani waved her hand in the air, dismissing the idea. "No, no. I'm bi. I'm just more comfortable with women and non-binary people. Guys make me kinda nervous."

Dan laughed quietly, shaking his head. "You're so cool though, and pretty nice. Why would you be nervous? I thought you're one of those girls that all the boys fall for."

She smiled awkwardly at the compliment and shook her head. "I grew up in a town of racists, doc. Not much luck with the gentlemen there. But the ones who did have crushes on me were really…creepy."

Eddie, having had this discussion with some non-white female coworkers and having researched some intersectionality stuff for a blog post he'd written last week, proposed his theory. "Is it that they just didn't know how to interact with girls, or were they weird about your ethnicity and stuff?"

"…the second one. They really thought I was some kind of foreign exchange student. These idiots didn't realize I'd been living in that city since birth, probably because they didn't notice me most of the time. It was a weird duality. The couple of times they talked to me, it was all about my body or how my family perceived my future, trying to figure out if they had a chance with me or if I'd been engaged as a kid. That's racist on its own, though."

Dan was trying to listen intently and understand what made her feel awkward about this space. She had said so little about that, but he did want to understand. Somehow, Eddie nodded at everything the girl was explaining, like he knew it all already.

"The worst was the older guys. When I was maybe nine or ten, my parents started swim lessons for me. Because they hated the idea of a girl showing too much skin, they had me wear these swim shorts that went down to my knees and short-sleeve activewear shirts. I was a fat kid, growing up, so I looked more mature than the other girls, comparatively. I often forgot my towel in the locker rooms, where I stored my backpack and other supplies. And you had to go through the locker room to get to the pool. Several times, middle-aged strangers would whistle or stare at me as I walked past them soaking wet. The clothes would stick to me, and…"

Sanjeevani closed up, her head down far enough to touch her chin to her sternum. She had said so much that she didn't plan on saying, but once she started, it was hard to stop. Her mouth was a river that never stopped flowing, and this was the worst time for that to happen. "It always started with them following me with their eyes. And then turning their heads to look. The whistles came last. None of them had the courage to touch me because there were security cameras in the locker room hallways, but I didn't trust that the security people would do anything if something did happen or get that far."

Eddie just kept quiet. What the fuck was he supposed to say after that? Anne empathized with her, reaching an outstretched hand across the table. Sanjeevani rested her fingers over the older woman's palm and sighed. "I have never felt safe. And now, it's twice the work to protect myself."

Dan choked out, unable to speak as openly as he did before. "Did, um. Did anyone ever…go that far, so to speak?"

She chuckled darkly. "I think you'd cry if I said yes. But no. No one did. But I'm sure that if I hadn't had a big group of female friends around me at all times, something would have happened, and I'd be another story on the screen, forgotten once the drama died off."

Eddie only murmured a question at Venom's desperate pleadings for Eddie to ask on their behalf. "Is it any safer for you in India?"

After considering the question for a few minutes, she shook her head. "No. I'm sure it's about the same. Worse in some specific areas of India. Women who look like me are not people to many men in many countries. We are either beautiful exotic objects that only live to hang off of those men's arms and obey their every whim, or we're malicious little monsters that will do anything to hurt the innocent fair-skinned women that occupy their homes. Or, we're the monstrous harlot homewreckers willing to get rich off of destroying the lives of the strong, fair-skinned men that run those homes."

She sighed and pressed the heel of one palm to her eye to calm down. "I never did answer the question, did I? Well, not directly. I'm uncomfortable here because I got the same stares whenever my family went out to eat. I would usually finish first because I was so hungry all the time and would wash my hands first. Once they finished, the three of them would leave to wash their hands, and I was all alone."

Sanjeevani tried to not shiver and shake in her seat, but she was sure her companions could see her quaking anyway. These weren't good memories, but they had to be told for these guys to understand her experience. "A few times, when my family was otherwise occupied, some people would say things to me. Mostly threats, sometimes dumping food or drinks on me. Laughing, promising violent things. It was enough that I had nightmares about that stuff when I was a kid. Combined with those creepy guys at school and during some extracurricular activities, it was a lot. I just don't trust anyone old and pale." She grimaced. It felt like telling someone else's story, explaining all this. Like it hadn't happened to her. But what the fuck was she to do? She couldn't separate herself from her own history.

"This was in the Deep South, by the way. I don't know what my parents expected, but they chose wrong, to say the least." She paused and looked at Dan. "If those people could be so cruel after knowing me for so many years. Knowing who I am, the physical work and volunteering I've done for their communities, what guarantee do I have that these strangers won't be worse?"

Eddie scowled. He knew it was true. That it was all real. But why did those things sound so much more painful coming from this kid's mouth?

Dan bit back his words and looked down at the table.

Sanjeevani, now realizing what had transpired in the time that she opened up about her childhood sexual traumas, frowned deeply. "I'm really sorry for ruining the mood. I don't usually get into these traumas when first meeting people, but…this environment is really not a good one. Brings back too much from my childhood."

Figuring it was time for a switch, Anne spoke up to suggest they go someplace else for lunch. Eddie offered her a patient smile, a quiet "Good call, Annie."

The girl smiled quietly and hesitated. Eddie then interrupted, patting her shoulder. "Go talk to that girl first, and then we can go," he promised with a wink.

Sanjeevani flushed red and groaned, covering her face. "I hate you, old man."

"Keep telling yourself that, brat."

After each person paid for their drink, Eddie, Anne, and Dan observed from a distance as Sanjeevani awkwardly waited to speak to the server who'd brought them their drinks. Sanjeevani stood near the empty table standing closest to the kitchen. The server, apparently surprised at the presence of the young dancer, blushed red and stopped to speak to Sanjeevani after serving one more round of drinks to some other patrons. Eddie knew Venom could hear the two talking but didn't dare ask what they were saying.

Well, not until Anne asked Venom, who spilled the beans. The two of them giggled together at the adorable conversation the girls were having.

At one point, Sanjeevani murmured something in the girl's ear, and the server laughed hard, only to cover her mouth in embarrassment. Sanju, who clearly had more suave in her than the trio anticipated, gently drew the girl's hand down and muttered something else, causing the server to blush harder. After one more exchange, the two exchanged kisses. Sanjeevani kissing her date's knuckles, and the server kissing Sanjeevani's cheek, leaving both of them red and excited.

The four of them left after the hero-in-training returned to her older companions, a big pep in her step and light practically radiating off of her skin. Her face wore such a huge smile, Eddie wondered if her skin was hurting but decided to not say anything. He didn't want to ruin her moment.

"What did she say to you?" Dan prompted with a grin.

She blushed and smiled, keeping her head down in a shy motion. "I asked if she wanted to come to a recital I'm holding in a few weeks and then go to dinner afterward. She said yes, and that she'd drive since I don't have any kind of car of my own."

Eddie smirked to himself, bumping his shoulder against hers. "You were pret-ty smooth back there, kid. I didn't know you were so good with ladies."

Sanjeevani, as dramatic as ever, winked back at him. "Come on, old man. If men know exactly what other men want, women know exactly what other women want. It's just a matter of confidence, respect, and being honest. Besides, I'm completely genuine with my words. I tend not to exaggerate when trying to woo someone. It just feels fake and sounds weird coming from me."

He nodded, eyebrows high in respect. "Understandable. That was still cool, though. Do you get a lot of admirers like this, or was this a one-time event?"

She shrugged. "Not often. If someone does ask, I usually just entertain them for a bit but don't tend to go out with anyone. I just have a hard time trusting people in this city," she admitted.

Anne raised an eyebrow. "So what about this time?"

Sanjeevani shrugged, grinning sheepishly. "She was cuter than the rest."

Snorting in response, Eddie patted her back. "That's extremely valid. So. What cuisine did you want to try?"

She tapped her chin with her index finger, eyes wandering up to the sky as she thought about it. "Well, I'm pretty open to trying most kinds of food, but I just need some confirmed vegetarian options. As in like, no cross-contamination or anything. That's the only requirement, honestly."

Anne clapped, hurrying back to walk with the two of them so she could show a list of the restaurants in the area. "I've got a few. Two Thai places, a pho restaurant, and three Italian restaurants on the other side of the Seine. Oh, and two Ethiopian places too. Which one?"

A grin. "Eenie meenie miney mo."

Eddie laughed, nodding his head.

After completing the children's rhyme, Sanjeevani's finger landed on the name of the pho restaurant from the list. She stared at the others with wide eyes. "Good place?"

Anne shrugged. "I'm not from here, so I don't really know how good the restaurant is. I've had pho a few times in California. The Asian community's pretty big in San Francisco, so there's a lot more authentic food. Have you ever had pho?"

"Nope. I have heard of it, though, and watched cooking videos on YouTube where people made it for their vlogs or whatever. But I'm down to try it!"

Agreeing with the plans, the group changed course and looked for another cab to go to the restaurant. But before they could continue walking to the main road, Eddie just about lurched back to throw both hands out to his sides and stop his three companions from continuing their walk forward. When asked why, the former reporter only explained that Venom had warned him of an incoming assault and to remain vigilant. Sanjeevani was on high alert the moment he uttered those words. She stepped around Anne and Dan and looked around as far as possible, rerouting her body's energy resources to her eyes, scanning everything within view for any possible threat. "V, what exactly makes you think something will happen?"

The symbiote growled out via Eddie's voice, "Premonition of sorts. My kind have a mild predictive ability with danger. Our senses extend far beyond yours. Be cautious as you move, dancer."

Sanjeevani nodded slowly, patting Eddie's shoulder while rushing to call up her team to get them to take a survey around the area. "Any clue of how big a threat, V?"

The alien slipped out of Eddie's skin and stared at her cautiously. "I am not sure if it is a true threat. But they carry many weapons. Many. One of which may be able to separate Eddie and me. I will not ask you to risk your safety for us, but we must leave. All of us. Go to our own homes and hide until the threat passes," Venom warned darkly. Sanjeevani winced. That was probably the worst, most negative thing they'd ever told her in the time she knew them.

"But…is that gonna be enough? If it's that big of a threat, wouldn't they be able to find us?"

Venom scowled. "I do not know, little one. But I advise that you and the rest of the team stay far away while this beast roams the city. It is not safe for any of us to be out right now. Can you call upon your mate? Ask him to remove us from here?" Venom advised lowly, trying to not startle her or the other two humans in their companionship.

She nodded quickly, closing her eyes and focusing on the quiet of her mind to reach out to Havardr. With each wordless second passing on, her nerves worsened. Why wasn't he hearing her? Havardr was usually so responsive whenever the two of them conversed mentally. But now? Not a single reply from him. Sanjeevani gasped in relief when she heard his warm, accented tones.

What's happening, logr? Why are you so freaked out?

She almost cried at the sound of his voice. There's a threat. Something huge. Venom's super antsy about it, and they keep saying we should leave. Havardr, can you open a portal? Take us to our individual homes? Take Anne and Dan first. They're normal humans. No powers. Please?

He tensed, voice tight and concerned. I'll come to you. If it's that big of an issue, we should stop it. Fight against it.

No! I know you want to help with this, but please. Just get us out of here. I'm not sure I can stop it. Even Venom is worried, Havardr. I don't think this is something worth fighting against if it can kill us, she warned, still terrified at Venom's harried suggestions.

It sounded like he didn't want to let down arms so quickly, but he agreed. Alright. Ask them where they live. The portal will drop them off in their rooms. Sanjeevani did as he requested. "What room are you guys in? My friend will open a portal and take you to your rooms." Dan seemed unsure, but Anne spoke up.

"Room one-oh-five, the hotel right across from the street leading to the Louvre." Sanjeevani nodded, relaying this info to Havardr, who began muttering something in a language that sounded like Norwegian or Swedish. A ring of black swirling energy expanded next to the group. Anne and Dan gave Eddie tight, worried hugs and patted Sanjeevani's shoulders.

"I'm sorry this didn't go as planned, Sanjeevani. I wish today ended better," Dan regretfully uttered in a soft tone.

She smiled. "Meeting you guys was the best part of today. I'm glad we were at least able to talk today. It was nice. I hope I can see y'all later." Dan returned her grin and hurried into the portal before Anne, who waited to give Sanjeevani her business card.

"If you need anything…"

The girl chuckled. "Yes, ma'am. I'll let you or Eddie know. I promise. Go now." Anne, still hesitant, waved goodbye and stepped in. The portal closed up behind her.

Havardr?

He froze and then replied softly. I'm listening, Sanjeevani.

Eddie's next.

Done.

A new portal opened up beside Eddie, who gave her a deep frown. "Kid…"

She shook her head. "Don't tell me no, Eddie. I'm doing this to keep you safe. Don't question it, and just go. Please."

He sighed, slapping his palm to his forehead. "Kiddo, we don't need to do this. We can both get away."

Sanjeevani scowled up at the sky. She could even hear the engines of that massive machine. "I don't think so, Eddie. It's too close now. You just need to go. Please. Please just do as I ask. Please." She didn't know if her pleading worked, but the older man groaned, pulling her into a hug.

"Be careful. If anything happens to you, at all, let someone know. V and I will hunt you down and bring you home. I promise." She buried her face into his shoulder and nodded, squeezing Eddie in a hug strong enough to crack ribs.

"I know. I know. Thanks, Eddie. Just…keep the others safe for me? If something goes wrong?"

He shook his head and patted her back with a few hard hits. "That won't be necessary because nothing will happen to you. You're going to be okay, but I'll promise to protect them anyway. Be safe, kiddo."

She smiled, pecking his cheek and then Venom's head. "Good. You too, Eddie. Take care of him, V."

The symbiote chuckled in their low chitter. "You know I always do, little one. Be wise, be careful. Call on us if you need us." With that, the two of them jumped into the portal, which closed as soon as Eddie was out of view.

Sanjeevani sighed in relief, bending over and holding her knees for support. "My god. Okay. What now, Sanju? What now? What do we do?"

Havardr then murmured again. Now can I come and help?

Just as she was about to reply, the shadow of some behemoth rolled over her, blocking the sun and most of everything else that was visible in the sky. A hatch opened at the bottom, and a group of secret agents in black semi-military gear dropped down on a bunch of ropes. Sanjeevani felt like the victim of a US army op. The last person to drop down to ground level was a tall man with a bald head and an eyepatch over his left eye. Everything about him was strict and no-nonsense, from his pure black trench coat to his goatee-beard-thing.

The man walked forward, almost towering over her in a somewhat-threatening move. "Ms. Sanjeevani Rao? My name is Nick Fury, director of SHIELD. We're taking you into custody."

She wanted to cry. Um, I think it's a little too late for that, Sena. Keep an eye on me?

He tried his best to soothe her. Of course.

The only thing keeping her from shitting her pants at that very moment was Havardr's voice in her head. Without that? Well, that would be a different scene entirely.

"Um, can I get some lunch first? I haven't eaten anything, and I'm really hungry," she requested as meekly as possible. Fury gave her an amused eyebrow and nodded.

Okay, say what you will about SHIELD, but they had pretty damn good food in Sanjeevani's opinion. That being said, she hadn't eaten since breakfast, so maybe she was just hungry, but still! That was a damn good vegan salad, considering it was made in a giant hunk of metal without any proper chefs, apparently.

"Thank you so much. My god, I haven't had such a good salad before. There any drugs in here? I'm tasting some weird stuff. Tranquilizers?" When the lady with the bun and Nick Fury stared at her with wide eyes, she winced. "I said that out loud, didn't I? Fuck…"

The lady (Mary Mountain or something like that) spoke up awkwardly. "We've never had anyone who can taste drugs in their food."

Sanjeevani scowled. "Well, you've never kidnapped anyone like me, I'm quite sure."

"You came with us willingly, ma'am," Fury contested.

She snorted at that, rolling her eyes while chewing on a mouthful of tomatoes and spinach. "My guy, you got a bunch of guys in paramilitary gear to point those giant ugly machine guns at me while telling me I was being taken into custody. So, that classifies as a kidnapping by gunpoint."

Fury huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "You argue a lot for someone whose safety isn't guaranteed yet."

"You argue a lot for someone who looks like he got his eye scratched out by a cat."

That made his face shift. Mary stared at his expression before bursting into laughter. "Wait, seriously? Director Fury, I know you have a reputation here, but that is not what I expected of your eyepatch," she bumbled out through laughs.

Sanjeevani winked. "It was pretty surface. Not even deep."

Fury grabbed Mary's gun and held it to the young dancer's head, making her snort. "What do you know, and how do you know it?"

"Chill out, dude. I read through your bodily history the moment you grabbed my arm and dragged me into this junkrat of a space ship. I know that you got your eye scratched out by a cat. I know that you had something with lots of spice and oil for lunch today, and I know that you broke your nose sometime in the eighties or nineties. I think because someone punched you."

Mary raised both eyebrows, watching the young woman happily finish her salad and recline in her chair. "Oh man, that was a good lunch. Thanks, guys. But I think I'll be going now."

A voice rose up from the darker corners of the room. "Not quite yet…"

She turned her head. Rage sparked and then blazed deep in her heart. Fucking assholes, every single one of these bastards. The Avengers wanted to pay her a visit. And that guiltless idiot Thor was there too. She scowled at them.

"Oh, great. I fucking knew it. You idiots don't know how to keep your dicks out of other people's lives. I'm sure Mr. Loki told you I needed time, and you fucks decided to ignore him, huh? Great. Absolutely wonderful." And then she reached for her fork. "Who do I stab first?"

Steve Rogers stepped forward, putting both hands up in a peaceful gesture. "Please, miss. We're just wanted to talk to you."

That was not impressive at all. Her thoughts must have shown on her face because the guy stepped back awkwardly. "Riiiight. And the best way to do that is hold me captive in this hunk of shit after kidnapping me by gunpoint? Yeah, you guys are real smart. Very wise of you. Much brain cells."

One of them snorted at that, clearly liking her response. To her surprise (or lack thereof), it was Loki. She waved. "Hello, sir."

He chuckled and waved back. "Hello, child. I'm sorry for these fools. They have not yet learned tact. I told them to back off, but you know how these people are."

She rolled her eyes, nodding. "Fuckin' tell me about it. Absolutely no common sense, no nothin'. Not to mention, you all have suddenly made yourselves the villains of this story. You didn't think to get me when I was suited up? Stupid."

Tony scowled, walking into the light to smack Fury on the back of his bald head with a rolled-up magazine. "I told them to wait until the city was quiet, or at least until you were in costume, but 'SHIELD has different protocols'," Tony mocked with a snort. "Sorry about this mess, kid."

Sanjeevani sighed, sitting down again to rub both temples. "It's fine, man. What the fuck is it that y'all want from me? I was having a lovely day of chilling with some new friends when y'all came in and ruined it for me."

Loki conjured up a chair and sat down to her right, whipping up a small glass of some kind of alcohol. "Well, we need your help."

She gave him another unimpressed scowl.

"Yes, yes, I know. These idiots fucked over your great day. But I will personally ensure that they make it up to you."

"Toss in a few hundred bucks since I had to reschedule classes for today's rest day and an extra box of nice fancy Swiss chocolate, and you have a deal, good sir."

Loki smirked, nodding his head with a short laugh. "I like your style. Very well. Those too."

They shook on it, and Sanjeevani marveled at how cold the man's hands were. Like ice, but not as painfully cold. In fact, it seemed like Loki emanated cold air, his skin a plane of ice shielding an internal core made of pure winter. Fucking weird as hell, but pretty cool. She guessed it was probably just an Asgardian thing.

"So what's the problem?"

He sighed and looked at Tony, one hand outstretched. "Plans, please." He set down the tablet on the table, making a few quick swipes to reveal a large three-dimensional holographic image of the Earth.

"This is Earth."

She snickered. "Yes, I'm quite familiar with it. I hear they have a lot of water there." She put her hands up in surrender when Loki stared wordlessly at her, clearly exhausted and not amused by her response. "Sorry, sorry."

"As I was saying. There are many countries and communities around the world requesting aid for food, water, medical supplies, and other necessities. I've been creating teams to manage many of these issues in different countries, but I am unable to conceive of a way to connect these people to the group in power, the Global Repatriation Council."

Sanjeevani winced and wrung her hands. She didn't like hearing about those guys at all. The GRC was full of wealthy jackasses who didn't give a fuck about the common people. She herself had done more medical work in Paris than they had done since their creation.

"Why do you need them? Can't you just provide these services without them?"

He nodded, understanding her confusion. "They provide funding and housing to many communities. I worry, however, that they are affording more money to the wealthy of these countries than the real people in need. You have a good reputation with the people of Paris. The most critical need is the medical care people need."

She took a careful look at his face and then at the globe. "Where are the most critical areas?"

Loki rubbed a hand down his face. "Every area is critical. There isn't a single country whose infrastructure hasn't collapsed."

"Okay. So what do you want me to do? I'm just a healer."

Tony grinned. "Well, about that…you know that boyfriend of yours?"

Sanjeevani's eyes widened.

"Oh, good. Okay, yeah. We've decided on a little deal for you two and the sorcerers, and us. It'll benefit all of us."

She didn't like how he said that, but she didn't know how else to react. She narrowed her eyes. "What's the catch?"

Tony grinned wider.