A Special Present
Venom had been struggling with himself for days. The solution to his problem was actually quite simple. But he hadn't put his plan into action yet. He simply had a bad feeling about it.
He and Eddie had decided to give each other something for Christmas, but Venom himself didn't have any money and could only buy something with Eddie's, which wasn't really the point of it.
No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't think of a better idea. He had to do it. Tonight.
Eddie didn't notice any of this. He was sitting comfortably on the sofa and Venom had made himself comfortable on a cushion next to him in his snake-like form. For a change, they didn't watch a Netflix series, but rather an old Christmas film. It was about a child who had unfortunately been forgotten at home. A strange film, but Venom had to admit that he liked it. Especially because the boy constantly kept the burglars at bay. The boy showed a truly extraordinary imagination.
When the final scene came and the credits finally started rolling, Venom only became more uncomfortable.
Now the time had almost come.
»Did you like it?«, Eddie interrupted him from his thoughts.
Eddie looked at him with a worried look. Venom had become increasingly quiet during the film. Normally he loved asking questions and generally chatting while watching TV.
Just not today.
»Yeah, the film was good«, he said with a grin.
»But we would have bitten the guy's head right off!«, he exclaimed enthusiastically.
»Of course you would have«, Eddie replied, rolling his eyes but not without a slight grin.
Eddie picked up the remote and turned the TV off.
»Time to sleep«, he muttered more to himself.
He stood up from the sofa and Venom followed his movement. On the way he turned off the light and walked towards his bed. Eddie was already in his pajamas, which allowed him to jump straight into bed.
»Something's up«, Eddie broke the silence.
»What do you mean?«
»You're totally quiet and staring at me. Almost as if you wanted to tell me something?«
»I'm just enjoying the peace and quiet right now.«
»Aha…«, Eddie said, unconvinced.
The uneasy feeling continued to grow. He definitely didn't want to lie to Eddie. They actually had no secrets from each other...
But maybe he didn't have to? Just don't tell the whole truth...
»I'm just thinking about something«, he admitted.
Eddie put his phone aside and looked at his friend.
»Do you want to tell me about?"
»Tomorrow«, he replied.
Eddie looked at him for a moment and finally nodded. If he told him tomorrow, it couldn't possibly be anything bad.
»Good night«, Eddie mumbled, his eyes already closed.
»Goodnight, Eddie«, Venom answered him, eyes still on him.
He watched over Eddie until he was asleep.
One last look, then Venom retreated into his body, only to then quietly and secretly separate from him.
If he couldn't get a present with Eddie, he would just do it without him. The plan may have sounded simple, but it was not without danger. In his current form, he absolutely had to find another host. He also couldn't stay with one of them for too long, otherwise he would kill them.
And at the same time he had to take full control, which also meant that he had to act like a normal person so that he wouldn't attract attention.
He crawled from Eddie to the window above the bed and paused for a moment. Even though he didn't have eyes or anything in this form, he could still perceive things in his own unique way. Like, for example, that someone was down in the side alley. He crawled down and found a man at Eddie's motorcycle. He immediately fell on him and began with the symbiosis. Although the word probably didn't seem appropriate in this case.
The man screamed and fought back, but two seconds later he was silent. Venom took control and put him into a deep sleep.
He immediately noticed the tool next to him and after perceiving the man's thoughts and memories, he growled loudly in anger. The asshole had just tried to steal Eddie's motorcycle, which was actually secured with an alarm system.
But it seemed he had already disabled it.
But Eddie's present was now a priority. So he dropped everything and set off. Venom would come up with a punishment that was tough!
The streets were already pretty empty, only a few people were still outside in the dark. He walked along the main street and remained alert. Crime in San Francisco never slept at night.
Venom was heading straight for some shops that he had walked past with Eddie a few days ago. They had caught his attention because the shop windows were bursting with Christmas decorations. He would definitely find something suitable there.
Even though he actually had no idea what to get for Eddie. It was actually absurd when he thought about what he was doing. He was taking a big risk being so far away from Eddie. And this host wouldn't last forever. Hopefully this wouldn't take long...
He quickly reached the shopping street and was disappointed to find that none of the shops were lit.
He stopped, perplexed. He hadn't considered that the shops would be closed so late in the evening. He should have thought earlier that if Eddie went to sleep at night, most other people would too. Why did people need so much sleep? Who wants to sleep through a third of their life?
He stared into one of the shop windows and waited as if something would change. But it didn't. The light remained off and the door locked.
What should he do now? He could hardly come back during the day; Eddie would notice his absence immediately. Hopefully he wouldn't wake up and notice that he wasn't there. He definitely didn't want Eddie to panic because of him.
He quickly thought of a solution. Was Mrs. Chen's shop still open? Maybe she could help him. Anyone who had access to so much chocolate could surely help him find a Christmas present.
Eddie, meanwhile, was sleeping peacefully in his bed and hadn't yet noticed that anything was different. He got some well-earned sleep after a hard day's work and dreamed of living in a magnificent castle. It had hundreds of bedrooms with the softest pillows and the softest beds he had ever slept on. There were ancient paintings on the walls and a thousand corridors to explore.
But the more time he spent there, the emptier it felt. Although he had been overjoyed at first and had everything he could wish for, something was still missing.
When he arrived at Mrs. Chen's shop, he threw open the door with a lot of force.
»I'll be closing any minute!«, she greeted him distractedly.
She was busy sorting something at the counter.
»You'll hopefully make an exception for your best customer«, he replied with a grin.
Mrs. Chen jumped up in shock when she recognized the voice and yet found a stranger in front of her. She stared at him in confusion.
»I need your help, Mrs. C.«
»Venom? What happened? Where's Eddie?«, she asked with wide eyes.
»In bed, sleeping. You have to help me, I need a Christmas present for Eddie. But the shops are closed and I want to get it tonight without him noticing.«
»It's already late, you won't have much luck... Do you already know what you want to give him?«
»No«, he answered curtly.
»Oh, it's going to be difficult to find a good present…«, she thought.
She looked around and thought hard. She knew Eddie well, but not well enough to know what would be a suitable present for him. Meanwhile, Venom looked at her, lost in thought.
»What makes a good Christmas present?«, he finally asked her.
»Well, it's different for everyone. You usually give something that makes the other person happy. And you find the right present by listening and knowing the other person well: their interests, what they enjoy. It doesn't have to be expensive or big. It's the gesture that counts.«
»I know Eddie inside out and still have no idea what to get him. I want to find the perfect present for Eddie!«
»Hmm... Not far from here is the Anchorage Square Mall, I think it's still open. Maybe you'll find what you're looking for there?«
»Thanks, Mrs. C.«
»You're welcome.«
Venom was about to turn around and leave when his eyes fell on the chocolate lying on the counter.
Mrs. Chen followed his gaze.
»Go ahead and take it«, she said with a smile.
»Really?«, he asked with wide eyes.
»Yes, and now go and get your boyfriend a Christmas present«, she added, laughing.
Venom nodded and left the small shop with a grin. Mrs. Chen was always so extraordinarily friendly to him. That's exactly why he liked her so much. And because she got him his beloved chocolate, even though Eddie always only ordered the cheapest from her. Venom knew that there were much better ones.
On the way to the mall, Venom passed Fisherman's Wharf right by the water. It was nice and quiet here at night. There was a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the prison island of Alcatraz. A view that he enjoyed very much. He loved this city, which he was proud to call home. For the first time in his long life, he enjoyed peace and quiet and did not have to be constantly on guard.
The whole thing was made even more perfect when he tore open the bar of chocolate and began to take a bite. Well, almost perfect when he realized that the whole bar didn't fit in his mouth at once.
He was clearly not used to eating as a human. Their jaws were much too small and their teeth were tiny. Nothing compared to his fanged mouth.
And he had to chew too! How did Eddie do that?
Eddie...
Hopefully he would be home soon...
Venom was torn from his thoughts when he heard a scream. He jerked his head around and stared into the darkness.
For a moment nothing happened until he suddenly heard a cry for help. He immediately ran across the street and disappeared into the blackness of the night.
In the alley from which the scream had come, a woman was desperately trying to keep a drunk man away from her. He had already ripped the bag out of her hand and thrown it aside. The woman glanced behind her and saw that she was standing directly in front of a wall. The man came closer and closer to her until, as if from nowhere, something heavy landed behind him, shaking the ground and knocking him off his feet.
Venom dangled him upside down in front of his face.
»I should eat you«, he growled at him.
»W-wwhhaa-?«, the man slurred, confused.
The woman pressed herself even further against the wall in shock and wanted to scream out loud. But she quickly realised that the monster's attention was not on her, so she seized the opportunity, grabbed her bag and ran away as fast as she could.
»Hmm, not very nice…«, Venom commented as he watched the woman go.
»I-I. Juuusssttt. Wannnnnteeeddd-«, the drunken man began to speak, as the alcohol finally took over and hanging upside down caused him to lose consciousness.
He dangled lazily in front of him as Venom looked at him perplexed. He had never experienced anything like this before...
Eddie once told him that he should trust his gut feeling in such cases. And much to his regret, that just told him that the man wasn't on the menu today.
Which didn't mean that he would just let him get away with it!
Venom grinned when he spotted the garbage container next to him.
Meanwhile, Eddie was wandering through his castle. Every corridor looked like the one before. The walls seemed cold. It was impossible to find your way around here, the whole thing was more like a labyrinth...
A cold wind whistled through the corridor, giving Eddie goosebumps. He missed something here, a feeling that was usually always there but now seemed to have disappeared. Without it, this place felt cold and empty.
When Venom finally arrived at the mall and went through the glass doors, he was horrified to see that all of the shops were closed, only the mall itself and the gym inside were still open.
He stopped in the middle of the hallway and anger began to boil up inside him.
If only he hadn't followed that scream! That had cost him far too much time.
How was he ever going to manage to get something for Eddie if his plans kept failing?
He would have loved to throw the bench next to him into a shop window and march in, but he controlled himself. He didn't want to allow any more tantrums and besides, there were cameras everywhere.
He walked briskly back towards the exit. What would he have wanted to get Eddie anyway? He knew him better than anyone else but he still didn't know what he would like.
He somehow regretted having had the idea of presents. Venom knew that Eddie had already got one for him. Three days ago, Eddie had asked him to leave him alone for half an hour and after that he had grinned like he hadn't in a long time. Eddie had definitely found the perfect present. And he wouldn't be able to do the same for him...
Grimly, he turned the corner of a shop outside and saw something in the corner of his eye that immediately interrupted his thoughts. He stopped and turned his head around.
Venom went closer and looked at a puzzle in the window of the souvenir shop that had the Golden Gate Bridge as a motif.
His eyes widened as he got an idea.
If he couldn't get a present, then maybe he could put a smile on Eddie's face. Mrs. Chen said it doesn't have to be expensive or big, it's the gesture that counts. And Christmas is all about joy, isn't it?
Eddie wasn't in the mood for joy at the moment. He sat huddled on the cold stone floor and leaned his head against the wall. Completely exhausted and also infinitely lonely. It felt like he was all alone in the world. He missed his friend.
On the way back home, Venom was very pleased with himself and his trip. Maybe not everything had gone according to plan, but he had still achieved what he wanted. But there was still one thing left to do...
He looked down at himself and examined the motorcycle thief's body. He still had to think of an appropriate punishment before he got home and got rid of him.
Venom reached into his pockets and found his wallet next to headphones and keys. When he took a look inside, he immediately noticed some banknotes on the side. Eddie always told him how responsible you had to be with money. Lost in thought, he began to grin broadly.
Eddie would certainly not approve if he used it for himself. So he decided to do the same as Eddie and donate it to the homeless.
Absentmindedly, he handed out the banknotes to those he passed.
There were a lot of homeless people in San Francisco. He even knew one personally: Maria.
Eddie knew her through his work and also Mrs. Chen because she often sat in front of her shop. Unfortunately, she had allowed the Life Foundation to convince her to have tests done on her for money. They had put Maria in the lab with him back then. He had had no choice and of course bonded with her. And ultimately killed her slowly from the inside out.
She had not been a suitable host and died immediately when Eddie tried to free her. And he almost would have been dead too, if Eddie hadn't been there and he hadn't bonded with him right after.
It was actually an almost impossible coincidence that he met him then and that it later turned out that Eddie was the perfect host. Otherwise he might already be dead.
And just like with Maria, he sensed that his host wasn't well. He'd better hurry up and get home.
Suddenly he got the feeling he was being followed when he noticed that a car was driving suspiciously slowly next to him. With a glance to the side he realized that it was a police car.
There was no one else on the street except him. There wasn't even another car in sight. So what made them do this?
And the moment he realized why, the police officers sounded their sirens and flashed their lights. Venom didn't think twice and started running.
Those damn cameras! He should have realized right away that his host was a wanted criminal when he tried to steal Eddie's motorcycle.
If he didn't get out of here quickly, he wouldn't make it home in time. And he had no choice but to flee. Eddie had expressly forbidden him from hurting police officers!
The car immediately started chasing him. Venom preferred to play it safe and decided to take a detour. He turned the corner to the right and ran a little further and finally turned into a narrow alley when his host suddenly collapsed. Venom gritted his teeth and got up again. He would never made it home like that. He had to think of something quickly, it wouldn't be long before his host would be dead.
He ran on, this time a little slower than before. Behind him he heard the tires of the police car screeching as the car jerked to a halt and the policemen stormed out of the car.
The alley in front of him ended with a fence that he was just able to get over before he finally collapsed on his knees. He wouldn't be able to walk another meter. He had to find a replacement. Quickly. The policemen wouldn't take long to get him from the other side.
Nevertheless, they were happy when they saw that their target had collapsed on the ground and was no longer on the run. They both ran back to the car.
Maybe 20; 30 seconds and they would be here. Venom needed a new host, and right now. But if he took a cop, he would be breaking Eddie's rule.
But did he have a choice?
Suddenly he got the feeling he was being followed when he noticed that a car was driving suspiciously slowly next to him. With a glance to the side he realized that it was a police car.
There was no one else on the street except him. There wasn't even another car in sight. So what made them do this?
And the moment he realized why, the police officers sounded their sirens and flashed their lights. Venom didn't think twice and started running.
Those damn cameras! He should have realized right away that his host was a wanted criminal when he tried to steal Eddie's motorcycle.
If he didn't get out of here quickly, he wouldn't make it home in time. And he had no choice but to flee. Eddie had expressly forbidden him from hurting police officers!
The car immediately started chasing them. Venom preferred to play it safe and decided to take a detour. He turned the corner to the right and ran a little further and finally turned into a narrow alley when his host suddenly collapsed. Venom gritted his teeth and got up again. He never made it home like that. He had to think of something quickly, it wouldn't be long before his host would be dead.
He ran on, this time a little slower than before. Behind him he heard the tires of the police car screeching as the car jerked to a halt and the policemen stormed out of the car.
The alley in front of him ended with a fence that he was just able to get over before he finally collapsed on his knees. He wouldn't be able to walk another meter. He had to find a replacement and quickly. The policemen wouldn't take long to get him from the other side.
He heard how both of them tried to climb over the fence behind him but failed while cursing. Nevertheless, they were happy when they saw that their target had collapsed on the ground and was no longer on the run. They both ran back to the car.
Maybe 20; 30 seconds and they would be here. Venom needed a new host, and right now. But if he took a cop, he would be breaking Eddie's rule.
But did he have a choice?
Just then, there was a rustling next to him and he turned his head.
The cops reached the other side of the alley and were happy to have finally caught their thief.
»We finally got you«, one grinned.
The other ran up to him and handcuffed him.
The thief was breathing heavily and could barely stand on his feet when the cop pulled him up.
»Www-...happened? Where am I?«, he asked slowly.
One of the cops looked at his colleague in confusion.
»Maybe he hit his head…«, he guessed.
»Or drugs?«
»Let me go«, the thief demanded.
The police ignored him and led him to the car, where they placed him in the back seat. Then they both got back in and drove away.
Venom watched all of this vigilantly from his little hiding place under the dumpster.
Now it was really time to go home!
Eddie suddenly heard footsteps at the other end of the room in front of his door. He stretched his head to see over the bed behind which the door was.
It opened and creaked quietly. But only a little. At first it seemed as if no one was coming in until he heard claws scratching on the stone floor.
Something ran around the bed and his heart leapt when he saw what it was.
A small dog ran towards him. Eddie held out his arms and the dog immediately accepted the invitation and jumped onto his lap. His little tail wagged happily back and forth as he stroked him. Eddie's dark thoughts were swept away.
The small dog began to lean on his chest and lick his face, which Eddie only responded to with a laugh. Strangely, this reminded him of someone.
» e.«
»Eddie wake up!«, someone called him.
Everything in front of him blurred and left darkness. But the feeling remained that the dog was still sitting on him.
Frightened, he jumped up and opened his eyes wide as something was licking his face again.
Blinded by the bright sunlight, he looked around in confusion until he saw something black in front of him. His brain worked slowly, so it took a few seconds before Eddie realized who was sitting in front of him. "Venom?" Eddie asked, confused, as he looked his friend in the eyes, but somehow not.
It wasn't in its usual snake-like form, sticking out from his shoulder. Eddie didn't even feel that familiar feeling in his body.
Instead, it had taken the form of a dog.
Shocked, Eddie sat up in his bed and stared at Venom with his mouth open.
»What…«, he stammered.
Venom, on the other hand, grinned at him and let his tongue hang out, which only made him look even more like a dog.
»What happened? Why- why do you look like a dog?«
»I was outside and found him next to a dumpster-«
»Wait, you were outside?!« Eddie asked, panicking.
Venom nodded.
»Oh God... Do you know how dangerous that actually is? How did you even do that?!«
Eddie paused.
»Wait... Don't tell me that's why you were acting so weird last night?«
»I knew you wouldn't let me«, Venom argued.
»Of course not! Just the thought of you out there on your own causing trouble gives me anxiety!«
»And that's why I didn't tell you.«
»But what were you looking for out there?«
»I wanted to get you a Christmas present«, he said defiantly.
Eddie was lost for words. The whole thing was absurd.
Sighing, he leaned back against his pillow and looked his best friend deep in the eyes.
»Did something go wrong that I should be worried about?«
»No«, Venom grinned.
»Good,« Eddie said, relieved, closing his eyes.
Venom had definitely expected Eddie to freak out more. But maybe his bar for this kind of thing has dropped over the last two months...
Silence fell briefly until Eddie sighed a second time and opened his eyes again.
»Was the risk at least worth it?«
»Definitely!«
Eddie nodded absentmindedly and looked at him more closely.
»You look kinda cute as a dog...« he murmured quietly and held out his hand.
Venom began to grin even wider and reached out to Eddie's hand, who began to scratch his chin.
»Why are you bringing the dog with you?«
»Because he was out there all alone and helped me get home when my host was caught by the police...«
»Excuse me?!« he asked in disbelief and stopped his hand movement.
»He was a thief. He tried to steal your motorcycle until I took over.«
»What…«, Eddie said, looking behind him at the window.
»By the way, he cracked your alarm system. If I were you, I'd have a new one installed.«
Eddie looked at Venom in shock. He needed a moment to process this. He almost lost his precious motorcycle...
Venom nudged Eddie's hand and Eddie continued to scratch him, lost in thought.
»And uh... do you want to stay like this now? As a dog?«
Venom raised his head and looked intently at Eddie. He could sense that his friend was worried, but there was also something else going on.
»Am I sensing jealousy, Eddie?«, he grinned.
Eddie flinched slightly and his cheeks turned a light pink.
»No?«, he said quickly, which only made Venom grin even wider.
»Please, Eddie. I enjoyed making you happy in this form, but searching the floor for leftover food and smelling other dogs' butts is really not my style.«
Venom's words made Eddie sigh reassuring.
And relief spread through him when he saw Venom withdraw from the little dog and move onto his hand, thus rebonding with him. Instantly, the familiar feeling and with it the pleasant warmth in his chest returned.
Meanwhile, the dog turned out to be a small gray French bulldog that looked like it had just woken up from a nap. The little guy looked at Eddie with his brown eyes and yawned heartily.
Then he stretched his head and his nose began to wiggle as he smelled Eddie's hand. Since he remained completely calm, Eddie began to stroke him gently, which the little one obviously enjoyed.
»And what do we do with the dog now?«
»I thought we could adopt him?«
Eddie shook his head.
He must have escaped and that's why he was out alone.«
»His previous owner abandoned him«, Venom contradicted him.
»What? Who would do something like that?«
»Bad people, Eddie…«, growled Venom, giving Eddie goosebumps.
»We still can't keep him«, he replied.
»Why not? Look at him: he loves you.«
»But I've never had a dog. I have no idea about it. And besides, how is that supposed to work? I'm already busy day and night with work or with you. There's no room for a dog.
If we take him to the animal shelter, he'll surely find a nice family who can take good care of him.«
Venom stayed quiet.
Too quiet for Eddie's liking.
He finally manifested himself in his snake-like form and looked disapprovingly at Eddie.
»You're not being serious, are you?«
»Well-« he began, embarrassed.
»Look at the little guy!«
Eddie looked at the dog, who had now laid down on his stomach and was looking at him sleepily with half-open eyes.
Eddie sighed loudly and looked from the little one to Venom.
»Two weeks.«
Venom looked at him enthusiastically.
»And then we'll see. That way he won't have to spend Christmas and New Year's Eve in the animal shelter. No one will probably want to adopt a dog during the holidays.«
»And you'll help me!«, he demanded.
»Agreed«, Venom nodded eagerly.
Eddie looked at the little one, who was now sleeping on him.
»What's his name?«
»I don't think he associates it with positive memories.«
»So we should give him a new one?«
Venom nodded again.
»Very well. You decide. You found him.«
»Eddie!«, he suggested.
Eddie looked at him disapprovingly.
»Okay, then another one…«
Venom looked at the little one carefully from all sides. The fact that a large alien was inspecting him didn't seem to bother him at all.
Let's see: muscular body, short legs, large ears, grey fur - although if he looked at him more closely, it almost seemed as if it had a light blue shimmer in the sunlight.
»Blue«, he answered without hesitation.
Eddie looked at him in surprise.
»That's a good one.«
»Hm-hm«, Venom agreed.
»Then it should be clear what's on the agenda today.«
Venom looked at Eddie confused.
»Shopping. And for little Blue here.«
»What do we have to buy?«
»I have no idea,« Eddie answered, laughing.
Blue, meanwhile, didn't notice any of this. He was simply enjoying the peace and warmth that he had just been given.