WE Are (Veddie)

Mandy

Venom really did mean it. He really does think the blue dress was perfect. And while he's so clearly teasing her, he also really is completely serious... He seeps slowly out of her right shoulder, keeps quiet as he simply watches her typing away on her latest article. She doesn't seem to notice his large white orbs slowly drifting up and down her slightly hunched over form in that fluffy red robe she loves so much. So ladylike, he can't help thinking with deep fondness.

”I could be your dress...” He finally blurts out.

Eddie jumps, slightly caught off guard while in the writing zone. “I... what?” She asks, still half distracted.

“I could be your dress.” Venom huffs as he plants his floating head right in front of the laptop screen.

Eddie rolls her eyes at that absurd little grin, knows trouble when she sees it. “Oh, you're gonna be my dress and my date, huh?”

”I told you, Eddie, I can be anything you want me to be...”

He says it so seriously, but Eddie knows better. “Absolutely not.” She shoots him a playful glare before going back to her typing.

”How is it any different to all the other times you wear me?”

“I don't wear...” Eddie has to think before finishing that sentence. “Yeah, OK. I wear you.” She mumbles with a defeated huff. She rolls her eyes when he only shoots her that dopey-ass grin of his (all 300 razor-sharp fangs on show.) “It's still not the same. Besides, I don't trust you enough. What happens when I piss you off and you then leave me standin' buck fuckin' naked? Anne may kill you before I do, that's what.”

”I would not do that to you!” Venom exclaims, sounds slightly outraged. ”Not unless you asked me to...”

Eddie rolls her eyes at his cheeky grin. “Sayin' s**t like that doesn't help your cause, V.” She scowls, adds, “Anyway, I thought you liked the blue dress.”

”I do. It shows off your ink and brings out the little flecks of green in your irises.” Venom states simply. Not teasing, but not quite complimenting. Merely just saying what he thinks. Like he most often does. In fact, it’s rare when he doesn’t.

“Awh.” Eddie can’t help swoon just a tiny bit as she grins back at him. “Anne’s the only other person who’s ever noticed the green in my eyes.”

”Of course she would. Anne is the most caring and thoughtful person we know.”

“Anne’s the only caring and thoughtful person we know.” Eddie’s smirk falters, nose wrinkling as she begrudgingly adds, “Dan, too, but he’s just more of an all-round people pleaser. Anne’s the real do-gooder.”

Venom huffs, sounds almost tired with it as he says, “Always selling yourself so short, Eddie.” He shakes his head in dismay.

Eddie arches a brow, shoots him a pointed look. “Says you?”

Venom rolls his pupil-less eyes, and Eddie can only tell because he always rolls his entire floating head along in the gesture (it’s somewhat comical.) “My harsh words all come from a place of love.” He tells her, now sounds slightly offended... hurt even. The audacity.

“I’ve had tough love all my damn miserable life. But thanks for addin’ to pile.” Eddie chirps, voice deeply laced in sarcasm. Though, Venom can feel the hurt anyway. No matter how much she tries to hide it.

Venom stares at her as she ignores him in favour of getting back to her typing. “I have never thought of it that way before...” He sighs when she ignores him. “I’m sorry, Eddie.” He floats to her side, gently nudges his inky closed maw against her left cheek.

Eddie’s typing pauses briefly, a soft sigh of defeat escaping her. Even though she still resists the urge to lean into his affectionate warmth. She keeps on typing, doesn’t respond to him, or lean into his touch. Though, she doesn’t pull away either as he shrinks his floating head just enough to fit into the crook of her neck.

Venom rests his chin over her left shoulder. He stares blankly at the screen, eyes tracking the words she types, but taking none of their meaning in as his thoughts slightly race... with that stupid guilty feeling again! Stupid Eddie! Stupid Venom! ‘They really do all come from a place of love. I only want what is best for you, Eddie. Always.’

Eddie halts her typing at the oddly soft tone rumbling around her head. He almost sounds... guilty? Eddie almost wants to smirk. Almost wants to taunt him. Almost wants to milk this rare little gem of a moment for all it’s worth.

‘Alright, alright – don’t push it!’ Venom thinks, though, his adorably annoyed little huff is audibly loud and clear right in her left ear. Eddie does laugh at him then, and the pretty sound somehow distracts him from actually being mad at her for laughing at him. Because he hates it when she laughs at him. Likes it better when she laughs with him. But then sometimes, like this time, her stupid pretty laugh makes it hard for him to focus on anything else. Especially when he’s the reason she’s laughing – that he can make her laugh with nothing other than genuine humour seems to be another new little obsession for him. He doesn’t know why, but he doesn’t question it. Mainly because it’s fun and he likes it – he likes making Eddie laugh... stupid Eddie.

Eddie goes back to her typing, now almost finished with just a few more sentences to sum up the article – about a certain young woman found locked up in a metal box in the middle of the Nevada desert and the absolute sicko crackpot of an excuse of a human who put her there – she feels almost as good about the quality of her writing on this article as she does about knowing that by this time tomorrow that sick bastard will finally be shuffled off of this mortal coil.

‘It doesn’t have to be a dress.’ Venom finally thinks once he’s watched her save her work and close the tab.

His voice is far too casual for Eddie’s liking as he inches slowly away from her to blink blankly down at her, clearly waiting for her answer. Clearly not letting this go.

“Not until you give me a good enough reason.” Venom states, voice almost smug.

Eddie huffs, half-hearted glare shrouded across her face. “I already gave you my reason. And I think it’s a good enough reason. Because it is a good enough reason.”

Venom pouts, feels slightly stung. Because he knows she jokes around, but he’d never stopped to consider – “You really don’t trust me?”

“No, no. Don’t – don’t do that.” Eddie shakes her head, shoots him a disapproving scowl. “Don’t try to make me feel bad for you. You damn well know I trust you for the things that really count. You know I trust you with my life. So don’t even!” She snips out the last part, shoots him a weak glare when he only blinks those disturbing versions of puppy-dog eyes at her. Ugh – f**k her life... seriously.

“Fine!” Venom snaps back. Though, only because he knows she’s right. She’s always right. It’s infuriating! He’s supposed to be the one with billions of years worth of knowledge! Ugh – f**k his life... seriously! And f**k Eddie! Venom shivers at the thought of those last three words, has to instead will his thoughts not to go down that... filthy path...

“I...” Eddie pauses, huffs and mutters to herself, “God, help me.” She shakes her head, lifts her eyes back up to his and tells him, “I may one day take you up on that... offer. But –“ She narrows her eyes at his when they widen with excitement. “– you really have to promise Anne and I that you will not come out. Anne murderin’ our asses, I can handle. But I cannot disappoint her yet again... OK?” She tries to be firm, but gentle – just wants him to understand.

Venom nods. “I promise, Eddie.”

Eddie smiles softly, because she can still hear the slight sadness behind his rumbling tone. “It’s nothin’ to do with you, V. I know you want more than anythin’ just to be free... with the wind blowin’ through your hair.” She smirks playfully when his eyes narrow very slightly. “Humans are just delicate and cruel idiots, like you’ve said... many, many times before.”

“Well, they are... Well, all but Barry Manilowe... and you and Annie, of course.” Venom scoffs out. Has to suppress a shiver when he makes her do that pretty little laugh again.

“Mandy, huh?” Eddie can’t help teasing, can’t help chuckling, because she can literally hear him quietly humming the tune in their head.

“So what if I like power ballads? It doesn’t make me any less of a bad-ass mother-fucker.”

Eddie can’t help scoffing out a laugh. “Uh-huh. What’d you want from Kaspas?”

“CHOCOLATE BROWNIE AND DOUBLE CHOCOLATE COOKIE DOUGH, PLEASE!” Venom can barely contain his glee. Can already feel himself drooling.

“And chocolate ice-cream.” Eddie chirps as flicks through the menu.

”NO! I have been good!”

Eddie can hear the slight begging in his voice – is sick for even having to stop that train of thought. Has she suddenly become kinkier because of a damn parasite?

“We will come back to the ‘parasite’ thing in a moment.” Venom’s voice is low, smug looking smirk slapped across his face, practically lighting it up. “But first – I would like to go back the me-making-you-kinkier thing...”