A Grudge

Author's Note: Yet another random one-shot I came up with a few months ago after watching The Ring and pretty much losing sleep for several days because like Emma I scare too easily with some movies. I hope you all are doing well wherever you are in the world. As always, I love hearing whatever you think about these pieces. It's been a little while since I've really written anything and hope I can get back into it properly again. Enjoy xx

Emma was not sure what possessed her to think this would be a good idea. It was well past midnight and she wanted to wait up for the boys. Like a normal person she could have put on something funny like Friends or The Office to pass the time. But not her. No, she decided to watch The Grudge, a movie that traumatized her so much as a teen that she could not look at the stairs in her house the same again for months.

The thing is Emma loves scary movies. There was a handful, or more, she could watch over and over again and never tire of. But there were movies like this particular one that always sent chills up and down her spine. And not in the good way. So, she is not sure how she went from having pizza while playing Animal Crossing to sitting on her couch buried in covers watching the movie.

Sure, she could turn it off but there was some sick pleasure in how terrified it made her feel that she could not turn it off. Regardless how much she would regret it later.

Emma was so in tuned with the movie she did not even hear Eddie walk through the door. So, she was not prepared for what he and Venom were about to do. Pulling the covers closer to her face, she prepared herself for the scene that always freaked her out the most. Almost in time with the figure coming down the steps on the screen, Eddie and Venom both jumped in front of Emma roaring which caused her to let out such a scream as she popped Eddie right in the forehead.

"Ow" Emma shouted as tears started pouring from her eyes more so out of fright than the pain her hand was now feeling.

"Ah, shit." Eddie mumbled as he touched his forehead.

"EDDIE, YOU SAID THIS WOULD BE FUNNY. BUT NO ONE'S LAUGHING. WE MADE EMMA CRY!" Venom hissed as they ran a tendril through Emma's hair trying to soothe her.

Taking deep breaths to calm herself, Emma her eyes narrowed at what Venom was saying. She knew Eddie loved to play tricks on her and what not, and she loved him for it, but it felt so cruel right now. Only because she was so terrified after watching a movie, she knew she should not have. But instead Emma shifted most of the blame for this situation to Eddie.

"So, you think it's funny scaring me half to death, Eddie Brock?" Emma asked as she crossed her arms while giving him an unimpressed look.

"Dammit, Vee." Eddie whispered under his breath before he continued rambling, "Fuck, babe, I'm sorry I didn't think we would scare you that bad. Are you okay? How's your hand?"

Pouting, she replied, "Fine. No thanks to you. You know I scare easily, Eddie."

"I wasn't thinking I guess, babe." He tried. Deep down Emma knew he did not mean to scare her as much as he did. He was just having fun. But she could not let it go and move on so she could enjoy a little bit of time together before going to bed.

"That's right, you never think do you?" Emma said before she could stop yourself.

Instantly she regretted it. The look on his face told her what she said struck a nerve in him. Just like that it was gone and replaced with a look of annoyance as he said, "What about you, huh? You say you scare so easily but decided to watch that movie while home alone in the dark. Kind of stupid if you ask me."

"EDDIE!"

"If I'm so stupid, I guess you wouldn't wanna sleep next to me tonight then?" Emma shouted as she stomped toward the bedroom. Grabbing his pillows and a blanket, she threw them in the direction of the couch before going back into the bedroom and slamming the door not even looking to see Eddie's reaction.

Emma knew it was stupid and she really could not believe she just argued with Eddie over something as silly as being scared. Sure, he scared her so bad she felt like her heart was going to burst into chunks of confetti, but did it warrant a fight that put him out of bed? Shaking her head, Emma decided to forget about it for now and get ready for bed.

Turning the lights off, she climbed into bed hoping to fall asleep quickly. But of course, luck was not on her side. The shadows danced throughout the room, tricking Emma's eyes into thinking something was there when it was just a hoodie thrown onto a chair or makeup cluttered on one of the dressers. She could not even close her eyes in fear of something that was not there getting her.

While Emma was laying scared shitless in bed, Eddie was getting a verbal beating from Venom.

"YOU ARE THE STUPID ONE, EDDIE! NOW WE'RE STUCK OUT HERE WHEN WE COUL-"

"I KNOW, VEE! You don't need to keep reminding me every 5 seconds, okay? I don't think."

If anything, this whole fight was what was stupid. When she told him he never thinks, all he could think of was what he did to Anne and how that ended their relationship. He did not think then when he went behind Anne's back and got her fired. All he could think about was trying to expose Carlton Drake for the monster he was, no matter the cost. And he did not think now, not that this could even compare to what he did to Anne, but it still hit too close for him.

"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO INTERRUPT ME?"

"Let's just try to sleep, okay?" He said as he rolled over and shut his eyes feeling no comfort at all. Not in the pillow and blankets. And definitely not from Venom, who was still fuming because they were so far away from Emma right now.

Tossing and turning, Emma knew she was not going to get any sleep. Her imagination was running wild and she knew if she stayed in this room another minute, she was going to have a heart attack or at the very least pass out from a panic attack.

Sucking it up, she decided to leave the bedroom. Emma sighed sadly to herself because it looked like Eddie was already out cold. Not wanting to disturb him she turned to go back into the bedroom even though she was terrified.

"EMMA? WHAT'S WRONG?"

She suddenly felt like a child with how scared she felt. She knew none of what she watched was real, but it didn't help stop her brain from making her think every weird shadow-shape in their room was some malicious creature waiting to pounce on her.

"I don't wanna be alone right now, Vee. I'm scared." Emma spoke so softly while hugging herself with her arms.

"COME LAY WITH US."

She was about to protest because she did not want to disturb Eddie, but it seemed Venom already took care of that for her by waking Eddie up himself.

"Vee, what is it? I was asleep." He grumbled with his voice full of sleep. Rubbing his eyes, he turned to look at Emma with slight shock in his eyes to see her still awake.

Sitting upright, he pats the cushion next to him silently asking her to sit with him. "What's the matter, babe?"

"I really was stupid, Eddie. I shouldn't have made you sleep out here and now I can't even lay in that bed right now without my imagination trying to kill me. I'm sorry." Emma almost sobbed as she climbed onto his lap and wrapped her arms around him as she buried her face into his shoulder. His scent instantly calming her.

"I can't sleep without you." Emma mumbled into his neck.

Eddie moved to lay them down on the couch as he replied, "You're not stupid. I shouldn't have said that, babe. I'm sorry too."

She snuggled further into him as Venom pulled the blankets over them and purred as they curled their tendrils around Emma.

"Good thing we picked the bigger couch, huh?" Eddie giggled.

Smiling as he wrapped his arms around her, Emma whispered as she closed her eyes, "I love you, Eddie."

"Love you too, babe."