Sitting in Eddie's beat-up car, the two of you leaned back in your seats, the smell of freshly grilled burgers filling the air. Outside, the dim glow of the takeout joint's neon sign flickered, casting soft red and blue lights across the windshield. Rain pattered lightly against the car roof, creating a steady rhythm that made the night feel almost peaceful.

You took a bite of your burger, savoring the flavor before glancing over at Eddie. He was halfway through his own burger, chewing with that distracted, brooding expression he always seemed to wear. The guy never really relaxed.

"So," you said, breaking the silence. "Met Gala to this greasy driveway. How's that for a change of pace?"

Eddie chuckled around his food, shaking his head. "Honestly? I prefer this." He swallowed, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Fancy parties aren't really my thing."

Venom's voice echoed suddenly, his deep growl cutting through the quiet. "We hated it. No food. Just weird smells and annoying people. This is much better."

You laughed, shaking your head. "Glad you approve, Venom." You glanced at Eddie with a smirk. "At least you didn't eat anyone."

Eddie groaned. "Yeah, let's not talk about that. I'm still trying to keep him under control."

Venom grumbled. "We are under control. Mostly. But that Hydra guy? I wanted to eat him."

You raised an eyebrow, tossing a fry into your mouth. "Gabriel? He's not worth the calories."

Venom huffed. "Still. Would've made a good snack."

Eddie shot you a sheepish look. "See what I'm dealing with?"

You smirked, leaning back in your seat and staring out the rain-speckled window. "I get it. It's not easy carrying around a monster in your head." Your voice softened, a touch of empathy slipping through. "But you're doing better than you think, Eddie. Most people wouldn't even try to control it."

Eddie looked down at his burger, quiet for a moment. "Thanks. That... means a lot."

Silence fell again, but it was comfortable now. The sound of rain and the occasional car passing by filled the space as the two of you ate. After a while, Eddie spoke again.

"So... this whole Avenger thing. You really think I belong there?"

You tilted your head, considering him. "Yeah. I do."

Eddie frowned. "Why?"

You smiled softly. "Because you've got a good heart. And you've got Venom, which makes you strong. But more importantly..." You pointed at him with a fry. "You're not afraid to fight for what's right. Even when the world tells you you're a monster."

Venom purred softly. "We like her."

Eddie chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. She's alright."

You laughed, finishing the last of your burger before wiping your hands on a napkin. "So, what do you say, Brock? You ready to join the team?"

Eddie gave you a lopsided grin. "As long as there's food, I'm in."

Venom's voice rumbled with approval. "And no more fancy parties."

You laughed, tossing your empty wrapper into the bag. "Deal."

As the rain continued to fall outside, the two of you sat there in companionable silence, the weight of your mission easing just a little. For now, you had a moment of peace — burgers, rain, and the oddest friendship the universe had ever seen.

-

You parked the sleek Rover near the towering Stark mansion, its dark exterior gleaming under the pale glow of the evening sky. The air was crisp, charged with the quiet hum of the city that seemed to fade away as you stepped out of the car. You straightened your back, the soft rustle of your clothing barely audible, and then, with deliberate slowness, you pulled your blindfold down. It revealed your eyes — piercing, impossibly clear, and radiating a depth that seemed to hold the weight of galaxies within them.

Eddie's breath hitched as he watched, unable to look away. His eyes locked on yours, mesmerized by the sheer intensity they held. The world around you seemed to blur, the stark contrast of your irises against the dimming light drawing him in like a moth to a flame.

Noticing the way his gaze lingered, you tilted your head ever so slightly, the faintest of smiles tugging at your lips. It was a smile that spoke of secrets, of things unsaid, of power and beauty contained within a single look.

"You've got your own lounge suite now, Eddie," you murmured, your voice laced with a touch of amusement, as though this were all a game to you — a game you knew you'd already won.

Eddie blinked, and his mouth parted in surprise. His eyes widened, his mind reeling with the impossible shift in his reality. A suite. For him. Here. Now. He had expected nothing like this — expected nothing at all, really. He hadn't even had time to process his thoughts before a young servant, one of Stark's assistants, approached you with the grace of someone who had spent their life in high society.

She gave a polite nod, her gaze flicking respectfully from you to Eddie, waiting for her next command.

"She'll take you there," you said smoothly, gesturing to the servant with a nonchalant flick of your hand. Your movements were fluid, effortless, like you owned the air itself. "Enjoy your stay," you added, a quiet hint of sarcasm wrapped in sweetness.

Eddie's gaze darted between you and the servant, his eyes flickering with a mixture of uncertainty and discomfort. He didn't know what to do with this sudden shift in his life. A lounge suite, a servant, a woman who seemed to move through the world as though it was a stage built just for her. His heartbeat quickened, a jittery anxiety rising within him.

Before the words could even form in his mind, Eddie's hand shot out, grabbing your wrist with surprising force. His fingers tightened, just enough to feel his pulse racing through his veins.

"Wait, wait— I... I..." he stammered, his voice cracking as he fumbled for something coherent. His cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, a color that matched the anxiety flooding his chest. His grip on your wrist tightened, and he took an unsteady step closer. "Um... Can't you come with us?"

The words hung in the air like a plea, desperate but unsure. Eddie's eyes were wide, and there was something raw in his gaze — something that told you he was unaccustomed to this world, this wealth, this attention. He was still a man trying to find his place in a world that was far too big for him.

You didn't answer immediately. Instead, you studied him with the quiet intensity of someone who had seen the underbelly of the universe and understood its truths. With a tilt of your head, you glanced at the young servant, her expression frozen, unsure of how to proceed.

Then, you looked back at Eddie, a small smile playing at the corners of your lips, a look that was both teasing and comforting all at once.

"You're not alone, Eddie," you said, voice soft, but heavy with unspoken promises. You let your wrist slip from his grasp, offering him an unspoken choice, a chance to decide for himself.

And in that moment, you knew that Eddie Brock was not the only one who was about to step into a world far greater than either of you had imagined.

The servant girl stepped forward, her voice tentative and soft, breaking the silence that had settled between you and Eddie. "Um, ma'am, Mr. Stark would like to see you in his room now."

You turned to her with a nod, your movements fluid and deliberate. There was no rush, no tension in your step — just the calm assurance of someone used to being followed, to being listened to. But before you made your way to follow the servant, you let your hand drift toward Eddie, gently cupping his cheek with a soft, almost intimate touch.

"We'll see each other at the training room tomorrow, Eddie, dear," you murmured, your voice smooth, wrapped in the promise of something more. Your fingers lingered on his skin for a heartbeat longer than necessary, as though offering him reassurance, a silent understanding between the two of you.

Eddie's expression faltered — a blend of confusion, admiration, and a touch of something deeper. His gaze flickered between your hand and your face, a flurry of thoughts racing through his mind that he couldn't quite pin down. And for a brief moment, you saw that raw vulnerability in him — the part of him that didn't quite fit in this world, the part that was still trying to find his place.

You smiled softly, a smile that spoke of quiet strength and subtle confidence. You stroked his cheek, your fingers brushing lightly over the stubble there, and then, as though the words had slipped out as naturally as your touch, you added, "You too, Venom." The nickname slipped from your lips effortlessly, like a secret only the two of you shared.

For a heartbeat, you let that moment hang between you — delicate, tender, but fleeting. Then, with a swift motion, you reached up and pulled your blindfold back into place, covering your eyes once more. The soft material of the blindfold fell over your eyes like a veil, hiding the mesmerizing depths that had captivated Eddie, shrouding them in mystery once again.

You turned away, your steps poised and confident, each one carrying you further into the mansion. Your movements were a blend of grace and power, the air around you seeming to part as you walked, a silent authority in every step.

Behind you, Eddie stood frozen for a moment, his gaze lingering on the space you'd left behind, still trying to process the moment. The servant girl waited patiently for him to follow, and Eddie slowly turned to face her, his eyes still wide, still processing everything that had just happened.

With one last glance over his shoulder, Eddie followed the girl, the uncertainty still clear on his face, but with something else there too — the spark of curiosity, of hope, perhaps even a little bit of wonder. He didn't know what this all meant yet, but he was about to find out.