Inside your mind, Venom's deep, growling voice echoed like a shadow in the back of your consciousness.

We need to be careful, it warned, a note of irritation laced in the words.

You rolled your eyes, lounging casually as if the conversation happening in your head wasn't completely abnormal. "Don't worry about it. Peter won't even have the brains to understand what I am," you said, your tone dripping with confidence. A small smirk curled at the corner of your lips, a private, knowing expression no one else could see.

Venom hummed, a low, guttural sound that seemed to vibrate through your entire body. Maybe, maybe not, it mused, its tone contemplative but sharp. But he's not stupid. That annoying spider sense of his will sniff us out if we're sloppy. If we want to get the drop on him, we have to move fast.

You exhaled, tapping your fingers on the table in front of you, your nails clicking against the surface with a deliberate rhythm. "Fast, huh?" you muttered. "What are you so worried about? You're Venom, remember? All teeth and claws and cosmic bad vibes. What's one little spider?"

Venom's growl turned darker, more pointed, sending a shiver down your spine. "One little spider," it hissed, "who's been taking down things far bigger and scarier than us for years. Do not underestimate him. The moment you do, he'll web us up and toss us to the curb like yesterday's trash."

You frowned slightly, but the smirk returned just as quickly. "Fine, fine. We'll be 'careful,'" you said with mock seriousness. "But let's be honest—he won't even see me coming until it's too late. Spidey sense or not, Peter Parker is just another kid playing hero."

Venom chuckled darkly in your mind, a sinister laugh that felt like a ripple of shadows curling around your thoughts. "You talk a big game, but if you slip up, I'll make sure to remind you who's in control here, Y/N."

You raised an eyebrow, speaking with cool defiance. "Oh, don't get your tentacles in a twist, big guy. I've got this."

Still, as the buzzing presence of Venom settled back into the recesses of your consciousness, you couldn't shake the lingering thought. Peter wasn't just some random kid. He was more than he seemed, and for all your bravado, part of you knew Venom might actually have a point.

You returned to your meal, the clinking of your fork against the plate grounding you as Venom settled into a low buzz at the back of your mind. The constant hum of its presence was something you'd grown used to, though its voice still occasionally surfaced with an uninvited comment or critique.

Suddenly, a shadow fell across your table. A hand, strong and confident, rested on its surface. You looked up, your curiosity piqued, and your gaze met a pair of striking eyes. The boy standing there had a polished, effortless charm about him—messy yet deliberate hair, a tailored uniform, and an easy smile that could melt glaciers.

"Hey there," he said, his voice smooth and casual. "I'm Harry Osborn. Mind if I sit here?"

You blinked in surprise, masking it quickly. Harry Osborn. Of course, you recognized him. The golden boy, the heir to one of the city's most powerful corporations, the kind of person who walked through life with doors opening before him. If you weren't so self-assured, you might have felt intimidated. Instead, you met his gaze with a sharp, pretty smile, letting your lips curl just enough to exude confidence and mystery.

"No," you replied smoothly, your tone light but laced with an undertone of intrigue. "I don't mind."

As Harry pulled out the chair and sat down, Venom stirred within you, its voice cutting through your mind like a cold wind. "Careful," it growled, low and dangerous. "Don't get lured."

You internally rolled your eyes. Lured? Please, you thought back, keeping your expression composed. He's a rich kid with perfect teeth and daddy's money. I've seen a thousand of him before.

Venom wasn't convinced, its presence sharpening slightly. "He's more than that. There's something about him. Trust me—don't let your guard down."

You ignored the warning for now, leaning back in your seat as you watched Harry with a curious tilt of your head. "So," you said, your tone light but edged with just enough curiosity to keep him engaged, "what brings you to the world of the common cafeteria dwellers, Osborn? Don't you have some penthouse dining room to lord over?"

Harry laughed, an easy, genuine sound that made the students at nearby tables glance over. "What, and miss out on the joy of plastic trays and questionable mashed potatoes? Never."

You couldn't help but smirk, but you kept your expression guarded. Harry might seem harmless, but Venom's warning lingered like a whisper in the back of your mind. There was something about him, something beneath the surface that didn't quite add up.

Still, if he wanted to sit at your table, you weren't going to stop him. After all, what harm could a little conversation do?

SCENEBREAK

Harry was a nice enough kid, sure—a bit self-assured, but nothing you couldn't handle. If anything, his confidence bordered on charming rather than obnoxious, which was a rare find in someone with his pedigree. He was honest too, or at least he seemed that way, and that was a plus in your book. People like Harry usually came wrapped in layers of pretense, but he carried himself with an authenticity that was hard to fake.

But, of course, there was the matter of Peter Parker—Harry's best friend. Peter was an entirely different kind of person, a bit shy and awkward but kind in a way that stood out. Harry always seemed to be trying to nudge Peter into dating, cracking jokes or setting up opportunities for him to step out of his shell. But Peter, for whatever reason, always backed out, retreating behind that polite smile of his and making some excuse to dodge the subject.

You understood, though. If you knew anything about Spider-Man—and you had your suspicions—dating wasn't exactly on his priority list. Juggling a secret identity, school, and saving the city didn't leave much room for romance, after all.

Still, it was interesting, watching the dynamic between the two of them. Harry's effortless charm balanced against Peter's quiet humility. It made you wonder what Harry saw in Peter, what made them such close friends despite their differences. And, more importantly, it made you curious about the boy behind the mask—not just Spider-Man, but Peter Parker himself.

But that curiosity was something you'd tuck away for now. For the moment, Harry was here at your table, chatting easily, and Peter was somewhere else, probably buried in his thoughts or a textbook. You let yourself relax, even as Venom simmered quietly in the background, its presence reminding you to stay alert. After all, no matter how ordinary things seemed on the surface, you knew better than to trust appearances completely.

"Sorry about what Flash did," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward motion. His usual confidence seemed to falter as he glanced at you, his expression apologetic. "Sometimes that jerk just can't seem to get the hint."

You raised an eyebrow, leaning back in your seat and crossing your arms. A wry smile tugged at your lips. "You don't need to apologize for him. Flash is... well, Flash. Let's just say I've dealt with worse and leave it at that."

Harry chuckled softly, his hand dropping from his neck. "Yeah, but still... he's one of those guys who makes everyone in the room cringe. I just wish he'd figure it out already." He shook his head, his frustration with his classmate clear, though there was a certain warmth in his voice that made you realize he genuinely felt bad about the whole thing.

You shrugged, letting the moment roll off your shoulders. "Don't worry about it. If he keeps it up, I've got ways to deal with guys like him." Your tone was light, but there was an edge of something more—a quiet confidence that said you were more than capable of standing your ground.

Harry caught that tone, his head tilting slightly as he regarded you with new interest. "You're tougher than you look, huh?"

You smirked, not bothering to confirm or deny the observation. "Guess you'll just have to stick around and find out," you said, turning your attention back to your food.

Harry laughed at that, the tension from moments earlier melting away. "Fair enough. But if Flash gets on your nerves again, let me know. I've got plenty of embarrassing stories about him I'd be happy to share."

The offer made you laugh, a genuine sound that surprised even you. "I'll keep that in mind, Osborn. Thanks."

For a moment, the two of you sat in easy silence, and you couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, Harry Osborn wasn't as shallow as you'd initially pegged him to be.

You stood from the table, picking up your plate with a casual grace. You didn't miss the way both boys' muscles tensed slightly, a flicker of unspoken awareness passing between them as they watched you. Flash Thompson might have been the loudest in the room, but Harry and Peter? They had their own kind of alertness.

"I'll see you around then, Harry. Peter," you said, your voice smooth and composed, with just a hint of playful detachment. Your gaze lingered on Peter for the briefest of moments, catching the way he blinked, almost startled, before you turned and walked off without another word.

As you moved through the cafeteria, the quiet hum of Venom stirred within you, its voice like a shadow curling around your thoughts. "Not bad," it murmured, its tone carrying a hint of approval. "Well handled. Didn't draw too much attention, but left them curious. I like it."

You snorted softly at the commentary, a small smile tugging at your lips. "Thanks for the glowing review," you replied dryly, heading toward the trash bins to deposit your plate.

Venom chuckled, its voice a low, amused growl. "Don't let it go to your head, L/N. There's still plenty of room for you to screw this up."

You couldn't help but laugh under your breath, shaking your head slightly as you left the cafeteria behind. Venom might've been an overbearing, snarky shadow in your life, but in moments like this, it almost felt like having a very dark, very twisted cheerleader in your corner.