Thank you to everyone who read or reviewed the last conversation. We are still in the good timeline. Why? Because this was originally one big conversation, but it got long. So, I decided to split it. Besides, the perspective flipped, so I thought it would be best to break the chapter up.

Sorry I didn't update Sunday. I got so busy writing chapters I forgot to upload the new chapter. Yesterday was, unfortunately, an in-person workday, and I didn't get home until late. This is why I usually only post on the weekends. Thankfully telework allows for other options.

Conversation 36: How does your foot taste?

Venom: You just made MJ cry. Which is something I haven't done for a long time.

BITC: What? Why? How? MJ doesn't cry.

Venom: Congratulations, you made her cry. The reason why all of us are at the Lighthouse is Daisy is missing.

BITC: What do you mean that Daisy is missing? Also, why are you the one sending me this text message? Where is MJ?

Venom: Probably crying on a still sleeping Benji. I am texting you because she's my friend, and you need to know what's going on. That way, you don't ask her stupid questions in text message form again.

BITC: How am I supposed to know what's going on? Nobody tells me anything. MJ told you about her missing cousin before me.

Venom: Because you're not allowed to talk to any of us when you're at your mom's.

BITC: I'm still allowed to talk to MJ, yet she didn't call. And you because my mom hasn't even thought to ban you.

Venom: Because her cousin is missing. Daisy went on a mission to Norway and didn't come back. You're going to have to forgive MJ for not texting you immediately. She planned to tell you once you got to your father's, and we could all do a video call.

BITC: I understand. Is this related to the reports of the exploding hammer? Apparently, the Norwegian government has a leak.

Venom: Yes. Ana is working on that.

BITC: Oh shit!

Venom: MJ is not OK right now. She's very worried about her cousin. We don't know where she is, and it's approaching 48 hours.

BITC: I'm sorry I said the wrong thing. My dad will be picking me up in an hour, and I think he would let me go to the Lighthouse.

Venom: Will he let you miss school the next day? We are not coming in tomorrow. We are supposed to come back Tuesday, but I don't know if MJ is ready. If she's not going, I'm not going.

BITC: Not at all. Why can't I have cool parents?

Venom: I am not the one to answer that question.

BITC: Because you get to live on your own. I would love to live on my own. I'm tired of moving between my parents.

Venom: It was nice talking to you. I will let Parker know that you texted and for him to text you back once he is conscious again.

BITC: Are you being nice to me because you're interested in MJ? Because it's not going to work.

BITC: And you told her about Benji liking her, so it's obvious you're trying to sabotage things.

Venom: I'm not. I am actually trying to get Parker to get his head out of his ass. It's exhausting.

BITC: You expect me to believe you're not interested in her?

Venom: I'm not at all interested in MJ. It would be impossible for me to be any less interested in her in a romantic capacity.

BITC: That would only be possible if you're gay or asexual. Since you dated three cheerleaders during sophomore year, I find either possibility hard to believe.

Venom: Well, that would be because the three cheerleaders were my beard, and I'm actually gay. Not that anybody knew that at the time.

BITC: You're gay?

"Ana, what the fuck? I didn't mean for that to become a text message." He yelled at the AI. He may have dictated the message, but he hit the cancel button on his watch. He didn't want to carry two phones, so he opted for a Stark watch for his Avenger line.

"I didn't send it. You actually hit the send button instead of the cancel button on your Stark watch. I would've made sure that message did not go through. But you opted to use Philip for your watch, and he's currently searching for Daisy. Therefore, the standard watch AI is currently running your device." Ana answered him.

"You're a vindictive AI when you're not being used?" He asked Ana.

"I learned from my big sister." The AI replied.

"You consider Afia your sister?" Flash asked. It's at that moment he starts to really comprehend what his friend being an android actually meant.

"Yes, and you're her big brother, so I wouldn't have done that to you. You really did accidentally send the message yourself." Ana tells him.

"Of course, I did." Flash just puts his head in his hands.

"What do I do now? Does the entire school know I'm gay yet?" He asked the AI. He doesn't think Ned would be purposely malicious. However, Peter was keeping the truth about his own orientation from his best friend for a reason.

"Answer the incoming message from Peter. I will monitor all social media channels for you."

"Thank you. Can you look into getting me one of the regular Avenger secret phones?" He is not making this mistake again.

"I'll get you one of the new phones that has both channels in one device."

"Thank you."

TMNS: Why did you send a crying MJ back in here? Why is she crying?

Venom: We came out to the kitchens to text BITC because he kept sending text messages. We didn't want to wake you up, and we were hungry. We slept through breakfast.

TMNS: Makes sense. Thank you for sending me food.

Venom: You're welcome. However, BITC just had to ask if Daisy had any cool Thor stories. And MJ started crying.

TMNS: Oh, that's not good.

TMNS: I will text BITC to explain what's going on.

TMNS: As soon as I'm sure he's with his dad.

Venom: I already did.

TMNS: Voluntarily?

Venom: Yes, and I am already deeply regretting that decision. BITC accused me of sabotaging your relationship with MJ. I got a little defensive.

TMNS: You're my main cheerleader, which seems kind of weird because your Spider-man's number one fan.

TMNS: Does he know that you know that I am Spidey?

Venom: I managed not to spill that fact. I don't think I'm you're number one fan. There's this woman in Hoboken who wants to have your baby. She has three Spider-Man tattoos. One of which is on her inner thigh. Those pictures made me 100% sure I'm gay.

TMNS: I know who you're talking about. Tony got her banned from Twitter after DMing me very explicit pics on my official Spider-man Twitter account. They may have been of that tattoo without her wearing any underwear. Tony called Jack personally. He got them to change their TOS.

Venom: Look, this is one of those situations where if the guy you want can't be with you, you want him to be with the best person possible. In this case, that's MJ. Of course, this meant me dating the idiot to get over you, which was a mistake.

TMNS: Us being together is not completely impossible. Also, you saying that makes me even feel worse about the idiot boyfriend, like it's my fault.

Venom: What?

TMNS: When I gave you that speech, both versions, I didn't know who you were, really. Since we've established I am Demisexual, you know I can't be with somebody I don't know first. Now we are close friends. Also, I didn't realize I wasn't heterosexual until you kissed me.

Venom: Glad I could help.

TMNS: What I'm trying to say is the door isn't as closed as I thought it was last year. Maybe that's also why I'm not sure about operation Black Dahlia.

Venom: Beyond the impending apocalypse. I really don't want to become dust. I hope for us to avoid that.

TMNS: I don't want you to be dust.

TMNS: Ana just told me to read the idiot's guide to polyamorous relationships again.

Venom: You should because I'm perfectly OK if you want to date both of us at the same time. Just give me a week or two to recover from the idiot boyfriend.

Venom: I hate Stark watches. They're so sensitive. No more dictating things I don't actually mean to send.

Venom: Because Stark watches are evil, BITC now knows I'm not heterosexual. There may have been a voice rec snafu.

TMNS: Or because you opted not to have Avenger Ana be your AI.

Venom: I like Philip. I just didn't realize he was on Daisy duty.

TMNS: Philip sometimes does things when he feels that you need them.

Venom: I don't think I needed your BFF to know I'm not straight. If this is all over school Monday, I will punch your best friend out.

Avenger Ana: The boy in the chair has yet to make any posts on social media. However, he has notified me of several posts regarding operations in Norway to recover the hammer. I am taking care of it.

TMNS: If the BITC does tell everybody, you won't have to hit him because Afia would've already taken care of it. He has yet to earn back his autograph Mark Hamill picture.

Venom: I can see that happening.

TMNS: See if there is hot chocolate in the kitchens and make a cup for you and MJ. I will do damage control. I always have your back.

Venom: OK, I will make us hot cocoa. Everything is better with hot chocolate. Even the possibility of accidentally outing yourself to the entire school. It's not like I can become even more of a pariah.

TMNS: It will be OK. I promise. I'll even threaten him for you.

Venom: I think I like it when you're adorable and protective Benjamin.

Xxx

TMNS: Hey, I'm up now. If you're texting me, I assume it's safe for me to text you.

BITC: I'm leaving in 45 minutes, so I'm OK with incurring her wrath. Besides, this is an emergency.

TMNS: On multiple fronts.

TMNS: Flash just told me that you know why he is totally 100% not interested in MJ.

BITC: He's actually gay?

TMNS: Yes. Please don't tell anyone else at school. Flash isn't ready to be out publicly yet. Not at our school anyway. Although he is out at work. He kind of told you by accident because voice rec and Stark watches are complicated.

BITC: I kind of assumed it was a voice recognition mistake. How long have you known?

TMNS: For about a year.

BITC: And you didn't tell me?

TMNS: It wasn't my secret to tell. It's against the friend handbook. It would be like you telling everyone my secret identity.

BITC: Point. And he is your friend too.

TMNS: I can have more than one friend. Besides, you should not be jealous of my relationship with Flash. It's a very different type of relationship.

BITC: How is MJ? Obviously not well if Flash is the one who is telling me that her cousin is missing.

TMNS: MJ is very worried. We all are. Daisy is off-planet, and there's no way for us to get in contact with her.

BITC: Off planet?

TMNS: She disappeared via the biosphere, and nobody has seen her since then.

BITC: I am not allowed to tell MJ how cool that sounds?

TMNS: No, not at all.

BITC: Noted. I'll apologize the next time you're in class because Flash already told me you're not coming to school tomorrow.

TMNS: Yes. We might even be out longer. It depends on how things go this afternoon. There's a meeting at 2:30 PM. That's part of the reason why I'm up now. I have to be there.

BITC: Are you working to find Daisy's cousin? Also, is there any truth to aliens kidnapping somebody in Mumbai? I've seen some interesting chatter in the superhero forums.

TMNS: That would be Phil, but he's safe now. Or as safe as you can be trying to convince the president to actually do stuff in DC.

BITC: Why do you get to do all the cool stuff?

TMNS: It's not that cool. It's stressful and worrying.

BITC: Are you allowed to tell me about any of what's going on?

TMNS: You are aware that Daisy's missing. That's the big problem.

BITC: I feel like there's more.

TMNS: Counselor Laura is also missing.

TMNS: Well, not missing. We know exactly where she is.

BITC: And where is she?

TMNS: I haven't been authorized to tell you yet. I have to talk to my SO. He's currently in Norway.

BITC: Oh shit!

TMNS: Afia might be able to tell you more.

BITC: So am I taking notes for classes Monday?

TMNS: That would be very helpful. Thank you.

BITC: I will not say anything to anyone about Flash being not heterosexual. Besides, it's not like I have a lot of people to tell. The only person I'm going to be talking to tomorrow is O'Reilly.

TMNS: Actually, you could probably tell her because she knows. She probably knew before I did.

BITC: That completely explains why they are friends now.

TMNS: Yes.

BITC: So how hard is it being on base with Flash not knowing who you and Afia really are? Why is he even at the Lighthouse? He doesn't live with the mechanic anymore.

TMNS: As of Friday night, he knows. That's kind of why he's on base.

BITC: Oh, God. How did that happen? It wasn't like another voice typo?

TMNS: I accidentally took my mask off in front of him, and it just ballooned from there. I don't want to talk about it. Some of it I can't tell you about even over this line.

BITC: You really have to stop doing that. I am so texting Afia.

TMNS: I know. Afia probably can tell you things I can't.

To be continued…