Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Venom or Justice League. Venom is property of Marvel, Justice League is property of DC, and Sean Ashburn Kruger and Global Tech belong to Dragonlord0.
Enjoy!
Eddie's Mansion, Living Room
Eddie was sitting on his couch, and standing around him were the members of the League. "I never thought you of all people decided to just barge into my new home unannounced so you can get all the info about our big pal." he spoke up.
'Wow, the standards for being a hero have really dropped.' Venom added.
"This wasn't our first choice." said Batman.
"But it's the choice you went with." Eddie countered. "You could have just gotten to know me and then once you've gained my trust I would gladly tell you what you want to know. Instead you rushed and made the situation worse than what it was."
"That's not why we came here today, we need to know some things before we feel comfortable letting you go." Superman said.
Hawkgirl took over, "Superman informed us that you spoke negatively of the League. Do you have reasoning?" Eddie had to admit, she commanded a room and seemed much deadlier than Superman.
"More importantly, why do you keep defending Venom?" the Flash asked. "Don't you know how many people he might hurt next?"
'Ingrates.' Venom growled, already feeling a sense of hatred towards the League as his host glared at them. 'Lay it on them, Eddie.'
Eddie shifted his focus on Wonder Woman and Supergirl, who both had looks of uncertainty on their faces before he spoke.
"Personally I think you're far too soft." A few raised eyebrows around the room met this statement. "Compared to Gotham, Metropolis or Star City, San Francisco looks empty now that crime's down by 60%, thanks to someone who's got the balls to do what needs to be done."
"Now hold on, each city has its own problems and its own solutions and crime at all levels has fallen since the Justice League was created. You can't compare our problems with yours. We're just doing the best we can with what we have." said Green Lantern, clearly not happy with Eddie's view of the League.
"I get that and while I admit you're doing great, you're doing things your way. If you want the same villains that's all well and good but the same villains means the same deaths over again. What would you like to ask next?" Eddie once again remained polite but there was a coldness to his words.
"What exactly is it you want?" asked Superman.
"I want to help people, to save them from horrible futures, by having them turn to someone else who does what no one else will. I've heard and seen what a second chance given to the wrong person can do, is that something Venom's willing to give to half the scum your organization does the jail dance with? Probably not." Eddie crossed his arms and waited for the onslaught.
"You want us to let Venom keep killing? You've got balls asking that!" shouted Green Lantern.
"Anyone can become good with a second chance, Eddie. Who are we to decide who lives and dies?" Hawkgirl asked with authority.
"Really? If none of you decide who lives and who dies, then why do you decide to let the bad guys run free after all the bodies they piled up?" Eddie said with a scoff.
The League all looked at each other, all trying to find the right words to say to put Eddie to ease.
"That's what heroes do. It's the choices we make that define us. It's the examples we set for future generations that really matters." said the Flash in a more solemn tone.
"That's the trade off Eddie, with power comes duty." said Black Canary.
"I guess I see what you mean, but what if you can't stop them again?" Eddie asked.
"That's why we formed the League, so we'd never have to face that alone." Superman said reassuringly.
Eddie could see it, the more optimistic viewpoint that the League shared, something he never thought he'd get.
'They're dodging the question.' Venom growled. 'Have anything else to back us up?'
"You guys really are a bunch of ego stroking politicians, aren't you?" Eddie asked with a cynical chuckle, earning a few frowns from the League.
"What was that?" Green Lantern asked dangerously.
'Touching some nerves now, are we?' Venom asked with interest. 'Keep it coming.'
"You care about your popularity so much you still won't get your hands dirty even when the public demands for scum like the Joker to have their heads on pikes and their bodies burned." Eddie clarified.
"We're trying our best to help whoever we can." Flash said frustratingly.
"Really? Here's the thing. When it comes down to the most common choice, you choose to let the real bad guys go to make yourselves look better while people suffer. You expect the law to do everything when it's both flawed and corrupted. You think the world is perfect, huh? Well, guess what? It's not. And people like you just make things worse. Sure you'll save a few lives every now and then, but what about the lives that say the Joker takes. Are you going to stop them forever by letting him live?" Eddie asked.
Some of the League wanted to retort, but judging by the looks on their faces, they couldn't find an answer.
"You need to understand." Eddie continued. "Venom's helping people who have suffered so much by giving them what they've been wanting from you for so long."
"You mean by murdering people? Because that's what Venom is doing, killing people who will never get a chance to redeem themselves." Batman replied, lightly snarling.
"Never get a chance?" Eddie repeated. "If he's not giving them a chance, then why is he only sparing people who turned to crime to feed their families? Is that something a murderer does?"
"Regardless, he needs to stop this bloodshed." Green Lantern spoke up.
"I think you misunderstood. You put your moral code above an innocent person's life that you won't give them the closure they want." Eddie replied angrily. "You always see the likes of Venom as villains no matter how many people they help or how many people approve of their methods."
"Excuses make it easier." Superman said firmly.
"You know, I'm not wasting my time with the likes of people who are enablers to psychotic killers. Given that's basically your entire League I really have to question why you even recruit those that have killed before in the first place." he shifted his gaze to Wonder Woman and Green Arrow, who both had looks of surprise on their faces. "You willingly letting innocent people die all so you can consider yourselves heroes makes me sick."
"That's not the point." Black Canary argued. "We're trying to give Venom a chance to be a part of something greater than himself before he turns on the very people he's protecting."
'They're trying to soften us up.' Venom snarled with anger. 'Let's wrap up this conversation.'
"Are you telling me that you want him to join your little band so he can let people who lost their loved ones to scum like Joker live the rest of their lives with grief? Without closure? That they should keep assuring their future children to believe in you and your flimsy code before they suffer the same fate?" Eddie asked.
The League stood silent.
"Thought you'd say that." Eddie said spitefully as he got up from his seat and turned to leave. "If you don't agree with my opinions, then I suggest you leave while I do. I ain't got shit to give you."
"We're not finished talking." Batman said firmly as he placed a hand on his shoulder.
'That's it!'
With blinding speed, Eddie grabbed him by the collar of his suit, lifting the Dark Knight off the ground before slamming him on the wall, though with less force as to not wreck it.
"Yes. We. Are!" Eddie growled, and Batman could have sworn he saw the reporter's eyes turn white for a brief moment if he kept still.
"Eddie, stop!" Supergirl shouted for the first time, making the reporter's gaze shift towards her. "We get why you're questioning our decisions, but you don't need to lash out at us!"
"There's no need for further violence." Wonder Woman added. "I too understand where you're getting at with this, and you're right. Please. Put him down."
Eddie stared at them for a moment before letting go of Batman with a shove.
"Leave. Now." he demanded.
"Not yet." Superman said firmly. "No man of your stature should be able to lift someone wearing that much body armor."
"That's natural, right?" Eddie asked cynically, though on the inside, he wished he didn't snap.
'Eddie, get us out of here.' Venom said in a rushed voice, anger subsiding as panic overtook them.
"Unless it's genetically enhanced." Green Lantern insisted.
"Listen, I've been working out for a year to do that." Eddie said, hoping this would get the League to back off. "That sound natural enough?"
Judging by the looks the League gave him, it was obvious they didn't believe him in the slightest.
"Manhunter?" Green Lantern said.
Eddie's eyes widened, knowing exactly who it was.
"Shit."
Martian Manhunter actually looked at the rest of the League wondering if he should begin, when they nodded he turned back to Eddie as his eyes glowed red and he dove into the reporter's mind, but before he could access any thoughts, only one managed to pop up.
'Occupied, Green Bean!'
J'onn almost jumped back in surprise at the voice, and nearly fell to the floor had the Flash not caught him in time.
"What the hell was that?!" Green Lantern shouted.
"Forgive me." J'onn said as he shook his head. "I heard a voice. It sounded like Eddie, but deeper."
Superman narrowed his eyes at the reporter as his X-Ray vision took effect.
His biggest shock came when he saw a flowing mass within Eddie's system, and it wasn't blood.
"Eddie, there's something inside of you." Superman said as it slowly dawned on him. "Is it…?"
"Okay, you got us." Eddie raised his hands up in the air in defeat.
"'Us'?" Superman asked with a raised eyebrow.
To their great shock, the flowing tendril with Venom's face came out of Eddie's shoulder, snarling at them to show his anger at the heroes.
"You wanted us? Here we are." Venom hissed.
"Talk. Now." Batman said with a snarl.
"Do you want the long version, or the extra-long version?" Eddie joked with the Dark Knight, whose glare deepened further. "Extra-long version it is then."
Global Tech
This was all very strange to Deadshot. Being called by Deathstroke no less for a meeting at Global Tech was not something he was expecting. He didn't even talk to Deathstroke all that much, but he would be lying if he wasn't curious what the man wanted.
He was told that Sean Ashburn Kruger also wanted to speak with him. He was surprised that the young CEO of one of the most respected companies that nearly topped off Lex Corp had contacted him. So that begged the question. What did he want with him?
"Deadshot, thank you for coming." Sean says. "Would you like anything to drink?" He offers.
"No, I'm more curious with what you want with me." Deadshot said, shifting his focus on the other recruits, Deathstroke, Volcana and T. O. Morrow, who had arrived just an hour ago.
"Straight to the point, huh? Very well. Like everyone else in this room I have a proposition for you. I want you to join us in helping this world become a better place. Not everyone in this world can change like the Justice League believes." He stops momentarily and sees that he has the mercenary's complete attention.
"Sometimes there's only one way to cure some people." He says.
"…with a bullet between the eyes." Deadshot finished the sentence. "Why would I join?" He asks
"This could be an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself. To have a purpose in life, to be looked up to." As Sean was talking to Deadshot the other three members were also paying close attention to the conversation. "And to help your daughter financially so both of you can get out the neighborhood."
They had to admit, he was good. Knowing how many suicide missions Deadshot has been on, giving him a purpose would be a good motivator.
"And at the end of it all, I'm sure there will still be some people after your head." Sean finished.
"That's supposed to be persuading me to join?" Deadshot comments referring to the last bit.
"It should, because you'd still be able to collect the bounties on anyone who tries you and more importantly, I wouldn't be one of them." He finished. "So what do you say?"
"What if I say no? I assume I'll be killed?"
"No, you can refuse my offer and leave this place right now without a scratch on you." His voice became harder on the next sentence. "But the next time you're on a job and someone innocent is killed because of you, then we might hand you back to Waller for another Squad mission."
Deadshot looks around and sees everyone looking at him, expecting his answer. Volcana on the other hand is reinforcing Sean's threat by producing a fireball from her hand and looking right at him.
He turns to look at Sean and says nothing as he thinks over his options. A chance for something new sounded good to him, he'd still get his bounties, and as much as he didn't want to admit it, being looked up to for once sounded good, mainly by Zoe, whom he might be able to help get out of the neighborhood once he gets enough money by joining this little group.
For the first time, this offer was something Deadshot genuinely couldn't deny.
"Deal."
Sean shakes his hand and says "Welcome aboard."
That was when a bolt of electricity struck from Sean's computer and right next to him, which manifested into a worried Livewire.
"Leslie!" Sean said, surprised at the arrival of the electricity powered ex-villainess before he smiled. "You're right on time. Just got the new recruits on board and-"
"I'm in, I got it." Livewire cut in before she got serious, ignoring the surprised look on Sean's face. "Right now, we've got a major league problem."
Things are getting worse for Eddie/Venom now that they revealed themselves to the League. Meanwhile, Deadshot has come aboard for their new team, and Livewire has come just in time to warn Sean. Next time, Anne and Zatanna have a chat about Eddie, meaning that tensions will rise between her and the League once Eddie and Venom find a way out of their predicament in the next chapter.
Sorry if this chapter was short, but the next chapter will continue with the League's interrogation of Eddie/Venom, meaning there will be more bashing to come. Stay tuned and have a Happy New Year!