Hello everyone!

So... I had no idea that today was Venom's birthday until PsychoCells76 left a review. I recalled writing about a birthday, and looked back to see that I had written about Eddie's birthday. It was in that short story that they agreed that Venom's birthday was going to be April 14th, which is today! So I knew I could not let this momentous occasion pass by, and wrote this chapter for you all!

In real-life, Venom is technically 33 years old, having his first cameo appearance in The Amazing Spiderman #299, back in April 1988. He made his first full appearance in May 1988 in #300, but we're going with the cameo, since it was the first appearance of him as a character. He did appear in a 1984 comic as 'The Alien Costume,' but he was not the Venom character we know today, so I do not count that.

So Happy Birthday to Venom, one of the most iconic comic characters to have ever been created!

April 14th

Eddie noticed how quiet Venom was this particular morning, but he could sense the symbiote's excitement. After getting dressed and ready for the day, the young teen went downstairs to eat breakfast.

"EDDIE," the alien finally said, poking his head out of the human's shoulder. "IT'S APRIL 14TH."

"I know," the boy replied, a small smile on his face as he poured his cereal.

"YOU KNOW WHY THIS DAY IS IMPORTANT TO US, RIGHT," Venom asked.

"Hmm… I don't think so," Eddie lied, trying to keep himself from laughing.

"WE CAN SENSE YOUR SMILING," the symbiote said, bringing his head around to look his host square in the eye. The teen finally lost composure, laughing out loud as his friend glared at him. "WE KNEW YOU WERE JUST MESSING WITH US!"

"Of course we did," the human replied after he finished laughing, smiling at his friend. "Happy birthday, buddy!"

"YES," the alien said, baring his sharp teeth in a wide smile. "CAN WE SKIP SCHOOL TODAY?"

"Afraid not, V."

Venom frowned at him. "BUT YOU TOLD US THAT WE GET TO DO WHATEVER WE WANT ON OUR BIRTHDAY. WE DON'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL."

"You can't break the law, and me missing school would get us into trouble."

"WE GUESS THAT MAKES SENSE." The symbiote pooled out onto the table as Eddie started to eat his cereal, a single tendril keeping him connected to his host.

"CAN WE DO SOMETHING AFTER SCHOOL," Venom asked.

"Of course, dude," the teen replied. "And I'm glad you've kept your promise of keeping out of my thoughts this past week."

"IT'S BEEN HARD, BUT WE KNOW YOU WANTED US TO," the alien said, poking another tendril at the bowl of cereal, which was knocked aside by the boy's spoon.

Wanting to surprise Venom with a birthday gift [the symbiote himself wanted to be surprised], Eddie asked that Venom keep out of his thoughts for the week so he could not learn what his present was. A few days ago, Venom had temporarily inhabited a squirrel so the teen could go buy his friend a present, which he would give later that night.

"So what do you want to do after school," Eddie asked when he finished breakfast, the symbiote sinking back into his skin. "We have to be back here for dinner, though."

CAN WE GO TO MRS. CHEN'S FOR CANDY AND THEN TWIN PEAKS, the alien asked in his head.

The young teen flinched a little, not a fan of heights, but nodding his head.

"S-Sure," he replied, forcing a smile onto his face as he shouldered his backpack. "You… Want to climb to the top, or-"

TO THE TOP, Venom said. BUT DON'T WORRY; WE WON'T LET YOU FALL OR ANYTHING!

"You can fall?!"

The symbiote laughed in his head. DON'T WORRY. WE WANT TO HAVE FUN ON OUR BIRTHDAY, BUT ONLY IF YOU'RE HAVING FUN WITH US. AND YOU DYING WOULD NOT BE FUN.

"Thanks, dude," the teen said weakly, walking out of his house, closing and locking the door behind him. He just hoped that the alien's idea of 'fun' would not get him killed or in trouble.

[][][]

Later that day, Eddie was doing his best to enjoy the iconic view of San Francisco.

Twin Peaks was a popular tourist spot, offering panoramic views of the city. Today was crowded, probably because of the perfect weather outside. It was Spring, and the view was like something out of a movie.

The teen, however, was not a fan of heights, and since he had lived in San Francisco most of his life, he was used to such views as this. However, Venom had not been everywhere in the city yet [despite having lived here for nearly two years], and was a fan of scenic places. And, since it was the alien's first birthday, Eddie wanted him to enjoy it.

"So… Why did you want to come up here," he eventually asked, sitting on a bench, his knuckles white as he held onto the seat.

WE SAW IT ON A POSTCARD ONCE, Venom replied. WE THOUGHT IT LOOKED NICE, AND IS HIGH UP ENOUGH FOR US TO SEE THE CITY.

"Y-Yeah, it's nice," the teen said, wanting more than anything to bolt back down the hill.

WE ALSO WANTED TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

The human blinked with surprise. "Really?"

LOOK UP.

Eddie did so, looking up at the late afternoon sky. The moon was faintly rising in the distance, and he could vaguely see a few stars in the slowly darkening sky.

WAIT, LET US ADJUST YOUR HEAD.

"Sure." The teen's head turned on its own, looking at a particular space of sky, where a few stars were still visible.

THAT IS WHERE OUR HOME IS, the symbiote said.

"Really," the boy asked, squinting up at the sky. "Right up there?"

YES. HUMAN EYES CANNOT SEE IT, BUT OURS CAN. Venom's head poked out of his shoulder, looking up at the sky. "IT IS MANY LIGHT YEARS AWAY, AND WE CAN ONLY SEE IT FROM SOMEPLACE HIGH UP WITH NO BUILDINGS IN THE WAY."

Eddie nodded, realizing why his friend wanted to come here for his birthday. While the alien was impressed by all the stuff Earth had to offer, he probably missed his home world. Venom had told him about his planet [Klyntar], and about life there. It was cool, hearing about a whole other planet of symbiotes, but it did not sound like a place he would want to visit. Apparently, symbiotes there either took over their host's body or ate them for food; he had really lucked out when Venom did neither.

"You know what," the human said suddenly, looking back at his backpack. "I think now's a good time to give you your present."

The symbiote looked at him with surprise.

"REALLY," Venom asked. "WE THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER DINNER."

"I know, but I think now would be better." He reached into his backpack, bringing out a small, wrapped gift. "Want me to open it?"

"NO ONE IS AROUND; WE CAN OPEN IT."

A few tendrils sneaked out of Eddie's chest, reaching out for the present. He let the alien take it, and he quickly unwrapped the gift, setting the paper aside. When he saw what it was, the symbiote froze, silently staring at it.

"Uh… do you like it," Eddie asked after his friend had been silent for a full minute. The symbiote did not reply, which only made the teen's worry grow. "V?"

"IT'S…" Venom looked at him. "WHERE DID YOU FIND IT?"

"I… There's this second-hand store a couple blocks away, Stan's Antiques, and I just saw it, and…" He reached out for the gift. "I'm sorry you don't like it-"

"DON'T LIKE IT," the alien repeated. "WE LIKE IT. A LOT."

"You do," the boy asked. "Then why were you quiet for so long?"

"IT'S JUST… WE REALIZED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST PRESENT ANYONE'S EVER GIVEN US." The tendrils turned the small gift around, examining it from all angles. "WE KNOW WHAT THIS IS, BUT WE DON'T REMEMBER IT'S NAME? HOW DOES IT WORK?"

"It's a kaleidoscope," Eddie explained. "You look through it, and turn this piece here, and it causes a bunch of colors and stuff to move around in it."

"OKAY." The alien handed him the gift, sinking back into his skin. LOOK THROUGH IT WITH US.

"Sure." The teen held up the device to his eye, looking through it at the various colors and shapes that danced within. He slowly turned the outer ring, causing the colors and shapes to change.

THIS IS AMAZING, Venom said in his head. IT'S LIKE A NEBULA OR STAR DUST, IN YOUR HANDS.

"Yeah… I guess it is," Eddie agreed, finally lowering the kaleidoscope. "Happy Birthday, buddy."

THANK YOU, EDDIE.

I hoped you all liked this chapter, and don't forget to wish Venom a Happy Birthday!

-aggiefrogger