Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last conversation. You're so fabulous. With so many of us practicing social distancing right now, I thought it would be a good time to upload a chapter a little early. Remember to put this story on alert, so you don't miss any chapters.

Welcome back to the "Tony and Steve have their shit together" timeline.

Warning: Discussions of past child abuse.

Conversation 4: We Need to Talk About the Spider in The Room

Venom: I've been told that I'm not leaving medical without you. When will you be back?

Venom: Also, bring ice cream or any type of junk food. I feel like I deserve it today. I mean, I did find out my boyfriend was fucking around on me, and I made out with you a year ago and didn't know. That would've been an appropriate time to tell me the truth.

Venom: Also, you let me down gently for the same person twice. A person you have yet to make a move on.

TMNS: I was planning to do something this summer when we're in Europe, although that may not happen now. There may not even be a trip anymore because of things I am probably not allowed to even put in a rapid Avenger message. I wish Tylenol still worked on me. I have such a bad headache right now.

Venom: I'll give you a massage when you come. That usually helps. What the hell were you talking about in that meeting? Are aliens coming again?

Venom: Actually, don't answer that because I feel like your answer will be yes and I don't have the energy. Not if I'm going to stay sober. Although is MJ's cousin okay?

Venom: Apparently, because that's a nickname, the filters let that go through.

TMNS: Agent Tremors was well at the time of her last communication.

Venom: That doesn't sound as reassuring as it should be.

TMNS: I think we will be done in half an hour. I'm going to need ice cream too.

Venom: Ice cream is good. I would've gained so much weight this year if we weren't working out together.

Venom: I just realized you were probably always holding back because you're a superhero. So, we're not going to talk about the spider in the room?

TMNS: I'm not sure how to address that spider. Everyone keeps finding out by accident, and they never react well. My aunt freaked out and was about to bring lawyers against Mr. Stark.

TMNS: Actually, so did [redacted], but differently. Which led to him telling everybody that I was friends with Spider-Man and forcing me to make an appearance at Liz's party. MJ has been the only one who hasn't freaked out about it. She just casually mentioned it in a conversation.

Venom: That is not surprising. At least I didn't freak out, nor did I tweet about it. Me knowing Spider-Man would get rid of my pariah status at school. I know they're still all pissed off at me about losing Damien, our star basketball player, despite the fact he's a date raping terrorist group joining prick.

TMNS: You lost consciousness. I only caught you because I started to tingle. I think that counts as freaking out.

Venom: That wasn't about you. It's been a long day [redacted], and it just caught up all at once. Although I really want to know more about this tingling.

TMNS: Afia told me about the breakup. I'm sorry.

Venom: It was for the best. I don't really want to talk about it right now.

TMNS: Understandable. You still didn't deserve to be hurt like that.

Venom: Why didn't you tell me the truth? Did you not tell me the truth because you were afraid I was going to tell the entire Flash Mob about it? Because you know I wouldn't do that. Especially after you kept the truth about my ridiculously fucked up family and the fact that I'm gay to yourself. You haven't even told your BFF.

TMNS: Of course, I didn't think you would do that. You don't really care if you're still a pariah at school because you have real friends now. You don't throw those friends under the bus. If popularity was all you cared about, everybody would know that you are best friends with Aifa Stark-Rogers, and Tony Stark-Rogers was practically your guardian for a year. You don't even tweet that much anymore.

Venom: I'm no longer dependent on social media for my social interactions because, apparently, I have actual friends now.

Venom: So, if you were not worried about me telling the entire world the Spidey truth, why did you never tell me? I think we're friends now.

TMNS: Yes, considering you don't call me Penis [redacted] anymore. Although that name has taken on a different context. I'm starting to think the first time it was a Freudian slip, and you tried to pass it off as an insult.

Venom: You're aware I'm totally oblivious.

TMNS: You ended up living with the Stark-Rogers for a year. You became the target of a terrorist group because you're friends with Afia, and Damien told everybody that you're Inhuman. The watchdogs almost killed you twice. Me and Afia were the only ones who kept it from happening. I don't want to put you in danger again, and knowing the truth would've done that. It's a dangerous secret.

Venom: Of course, she's the Purple Princess. I'm already on the Watchdog's shit list. What's one more?

Venom: Also, I was staying with the Stark-Rogers because my dad is an alcoholic piece of shit who used to beat the crap out of me. The Watchdogs were a convenient excuse to get me out of hell. That's not on you, Benji.

TMNS: I don't want you dead, especially because of me. I don't need more blood on my hands.

Venom: Is this the time we remind you that your uncle's death wasn't your fault? I thought that was a November thing.

TMNS: There's also those that I was unable to save. Do not say, "you can't save everyone." I already had my powers by the time Uncle Ben was killed in front of me, and I did nothing.

Venom: I wasn't going to.

TMNS: You were thinking about it.

Venom: Maybe. Also, you were scared and 14. I bet you just got your powers before it happened. You need to get over your martyrdom complex, Benji.

TMNS: Can we just leave it at that you're on my list of people I care about?

Venom: I feel like there's more to it than this.

TMNS: Maybe I was afraid of how you were going to react. I either get fear or hero-worship. Tony compares coming out as a person with superpowers to coming out gay or bi. Tony said he announced to the world he was Ironman because he wanted to come out the second time on his own terms.

Venom: I get the analogy. Is it the same?

TMNS: I don't know because I haven't even told the boy in the chair that I'm demisexual queer romantic.

Venom: Did Afia gave you that label or MJ?

Venom: Also, I'm happy I'm on your people that you care about list.

TMNS: It helps that you're not a dick anymore, and it was MJ or rather the book she got me. She's been buying me a lot of books about that stuff lately. It's been helping me figure things out a little.

Venom: I'm working on not being a dick. It's easier not living with my parents anymore. [Redacted] doesn't know yet?

TMNS: I'll tell him if I ever have a boyfriend. Which may not be anytime soon because I don't know if I should get anybody else involved in this life.

Venom: And there's MJ already. She already knows your Spidey and has not abandoned you yet.

TMNS: Are you going to abandon me now?

Venom: No, I don't scare that easily.

TMNS: Are you mad at me for not telling you that I'm Spidey? I really should've told you after the kiss.

Venom: Yes, although I was finally telling people about my fucked-up family, so maybe it wasn't the right time to add one more thing. You made a cute pillow.

Venom: I typed "nice pillow," and my grammar IA changed it.

TMNS: Sure. I know about your old crush, there's no point in covering it up.

Venom: I'm not lying.

TMNS: Are you mad about Afia not telling you?

Venom: Actually, she did tell me that she's not a biologically based person. I just didn't listen.

TMNS: I mean about me.

Venom: It wasn't her secret to tell. That would be like her telling everyone that I'm gay.

TMNS: That is something she would never do.

Venom: Exactly, which is why I'm not mad at her. She's a good friend.

TMNS: Hey, they are letting me and Afia leave because apparently, the grown-ups need to keep talking.

Venom: That is not reassuring.

TMNS: We have Avengers Ben & Jerry's.

Venom: Including Spidey Berry Crunch?

TMNS: Yes.

Venom: Good. Bring ice cream, and maybe I won't need to put you on pillow duty again.

To be continued

We will be spending more time with Tony and Steve in the next few chapters, but I wanted to Address the Flash now knows Peter's secret identity cliffhanger from text messages from the Edge right away before we move forward.

I also wanted to contrast the Peter and Flash in this timeline compared to where they are in Far From Home. We've come a long way from that.

Also, I actually worked in one of my crazy typos into the story because it made an amusing joke. See if you can spot it.