Just a collection of a few fics that I really really like. None of them are mine obviously. Most of them are reader inserts unless marked otherwise. Mostly female reader inserts.
When stated 18+ DO NOT PROCEED AS A MINOR
☆ fluff, ◇ angst/sad, * smut, ♡ personal favourite (even tho most of them are my favs)
(unfinished and unedited, if a link doesn’t work tell me in the comments)
Pairing: Eddie Brock/Venom x former military/mutant!OC (Kasey Eliades)
Series summary: Eddie and Kasey go to a Society of Professional Journalists holiday party together, and their insecurities threaten to tear them apart. Featuring an appearance from the one and only James Buchanan Barnes!
Word count:3,200
Author’s note: Title from the Bring Me the Horizon song of the same name (highly recommend checking out the lyrics). We starting off mostly fluffy and then dissolving into a deep pit of angst. I love sweetheart Eddy as much as the next gal, but y'all, where is the brokenness?? The ego?? The flaws?? We stan an imperfect relationship in this house. Also, Kasey has geokinetic powers as a result of military experimentation that I may cover in some future piece
—
It was the perfect lazy Sunday morning, with no obligations and bright sunlight streaming in through the window blinds in Eddie’s bedroom.
Kasey smiled as she looked up at a still-sleeping Eddie. There he was, peaceful and sweet and dreamy in the early light that illuminated his full eyelashes, the soft lips she could never get enough of. Tattooed arms and inky-black tendrils encircled her waist, rising and falling with each breath she took.
She felt safe, secure. Home.
For a group that was well accustomed to, and even thrived in, chaos, these quiet little moments together were some of the ones they cherished the most.
Kasey sighed happily, savoring Eddie and Venom’s warm embrace for another few minutes before she untangled herself from them and slid out of bed.
She tiptoed into the kitchen, waving at the plants on the windowsill that swayed slightly as she drew nearer, her power stirring the energy inside them.
She opened the cupboards quietly, scanning for ingredients to make the perfect chocolate-chip pancakes to surprise her boys. She assembled everything in a few short minutes and had just opened a bag of coffee grounds when she heard her boyfriend shuffling across the living room floor.
She looked up and grinned at a half-awake Eddie, who had thrown on his tattered orange bathrobe over his pajamas. His hair was sticking up in all directions, and he gave her the kind of adorable, sleepy smile that softened every part of her, a visceral gratitude that they had wound up in each others’ lives.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” Kasey said. “I was just about to put coffee on.”
Eddie yawned in response and came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder as she turned her attention to the batter.
“Pancakes?,” he mumbled happily.
Venom’s head quickly popped out next to Eddie, his red tongue running eagerly over his teeth.
“With chocolate?”
“You bet.”
“You’re the best, babe.“ Eddie pressed his lips against Kasey’s cheek. "‘M gonna go check the mail.”
Venom was agitated. “But Eddie, she is making us pancakes!”
Kasey shook her head. “They aren’t done, V, and I don’t think even you would like raw batter.”
“We want a taste, now!”
Kasey rolled her eyes, simultaneously exasperated and amused about how the hulking symbiote so frequently behaved like a small child. She reached into the bag of chocolate chips, tossing a handful at Venom, who snatched them out of the air with a grin.
“Delicious. Thank you, sweetest.”
“You’re welcome.”
Venom then retracted back into Eddie, knocking him off balance as he flew from the kitchen to where Eddie was standing at the door.
“Jesus, V, would it kill you to be gentle?”
“Probably.”
Kasey chuckled as the door shut, perfectly used to their squabbling. She turned the coffee maker on and started dolling out generous spoonfuls of sticky batter, letting herself savor the resulting sizzle on the griddle and the delicious, comforting aroma that filled the room.
She had just started stacking a few finished products on the plate, slathering them in butter, when the door flung open.
“Eddie Brock is not cancelled!”
Kasey turned to see a grinning Eddie waving a piece of mail around.
“What do you mean?” she asked, flipping another pancake over.
Eddie rushed into the kitchen, pushing himself up onto the counter next to where Kasey was cooking.
“The Society of Professional Journalists for North Cal does a Christmas party every year. All the big names go and hang out, swap sources, get drunk. I normally avoid these things like the plague, but after everything with the Life Foundation and my very public lobster tank breakdown, I thought I’d be in permanent exile.” He smiled wide, rapping the card with his ring-clad knuckles. “But I’m back in the game.”
Kasey inwardly shared his relief. She knew how devastated Eddie was after losing his show, and she saw how frustrated he was picking up light-hearted freelance pieces that were a far cry from his normal investigative work. But he worked his ass off on them just the same, and she respected him for it. Hopefully, this would be a chance for him to get back doing the work he loved.
She slid another pancake onto the plate and abandoned her post, jumping up onto the counter next to Eddie to bring him into a big hug.
“Hell yeah, you are!” She pulled back to kiss him, smiling at the hum of contentment it elicited from Eddie. “I’m happy for you. Now this breakfast is a celebratory breakfast!”
Venom emerged, planting a deliberately sloppy kiss on Eddie’s cheek. Kasey giggled as Eddie wiped his face, but he was still grinning. It was endearing, seeing him come so alive.
“Yes, congrats, you are not such a loser after all, Eddie!”
“Thanks, buddy.”
Eddie placed a hand on Kasey’s thigh, his thumb rubbing gentle circles against her sweatpants. “Will you come with me?”
“I thought it was a thing for journalists?”
“Yeah, but people bring their partners and spouses.” He paused, rubbing at the back of his neck, a particular nervous tic that Kasey noticed occurred whenever his ex-fiancé was about to come up in conversation. “I took Anne before. And I always feel better when you’re around,” he added hurriedly. A mischievous glint came into his eyes. “And I also selfishly wanna see you in a really hot dress.”
“Oooo, we cannot wait to see either and ravish you, pretty girl,” Venom purred.
“At least you’re both transparent,” Kasey replied. She dropped her head onto Eddie’s shoulder, interlacing her fingers with his. She didn’t want to admit it, but she felt nervous about going. Particularly as Eddie’s first relationship after Anne.
She didn’t have anything against Anne personally,—well, except her telling Eddie he was incapable of love. Which Kasey had firmly told him was bullshit and just Anne lashing out at not getting the reaction she wanted from him. But Anne was a good person. Kasey just found it hard to not compare herself to someone that beautiful, that accomplished, that witty. Someone that Eddie had fully intended to spend the rest of his life with. Someone he had still been in love with long after she had dumped him.
On the whole, Kasey did actually believe him when he said he had moved on and that it ended up being for the best, that he thought Anne was more in love with who she wanted Eddie to be than the actual guy in front of her. But still, the tiniest drop of gnawing, insecurity-fueled doubt would sneak in every now and then. And this was one of those times.
Kasey kept her tone light, feigning nonchalance. “You sure I can hang among the sea of the well-educated liberal elite?”
“What, are you kidding?” Eddie asked incredulously, tilting Kasey’s chin up to face him. “You’re easily smarter than 90% of the people that will be there, myself included.”
“And if anyone is mean to you, we will rip out their brains so they can see just how stupid they are,” Venom added in a growl.
Kasey relaxed a little, reminding herself that Eddie Brock wasn’t someone who forced himself to do things unless he genuinely wanted to do them. He wouldn’t have asked her to go if he didn’t want her there beside him.
The corner of her mouth lifted. “Ok. I’ll go.” Her grin widened. “I too would like to see you looking all professional and extra handsome.”
“Is that so?” Eddie asked in reply, dropping Kasey’s hand so he could slide his along her waist. He leaned in closer and Kasey embraced the dopamine surge as she breathed in his familiar scent, deep and warm and distinctly masculine.
“Mhm.” Their lips met and she framed his face with her hands, deepening the kiss, a soft sigh of pleasure escaping her as Eddie’s tongue slipped into her mouth.
BANG.
The two of them jumped apart, startled, before realizing the source of the noise was the now-empty plate of pancakes clattering to the floor.
“V, you seriously couldn’t have waited?” Eddie huffed.
Venom swiveled to look at his host, narrowing his normally wide, milky-white eyes.
“You two were too busy eating each other’s faces! I wanted pancakes!”
Kasey sighed, smiling. “And I’ll make more, V, don’t worry your pretty little gooey head.” She reached out her hand and Venom slid past Eddie and right into her touch, purring as she scratched at him like a cat.
Eddie grimaced. "You are one hell of a spoiled symbiote, you know that?”
Venom just flashed a toothy grin, sticking out his tongue in response.
“You’re just jealous because I’m her favorite.”
Eddie opened his mouth to retort while Kasey flicked Venom against the side of the head and quickly slid her palm over Eddie’s lips.
“No, no, none of this. We are having a quiet, happy little Sunday together. Be nice.”
“I’malways nice,” Eddie replied.
“I’m nicer,”Venom countered.
“You literally eat people!”
“Only the ones who deserve to be eaten!”
Kasey didn’t even bother to protest this time. She jumped off the counter, grabbing the plate off the floor before heading back to grab more pancake ingredients while the two continued bickering.
By the time she finished the next batch and loaded up three plates, the two of them had moved to the couch but were still at it – something about Venom wanting to go to the duck pond later to see if he could find a new friend for Sonny and Cher. She dropped their plates on the coffee table and took a bite from her own stack, pleased with the fluffy, syrupy final product.
“Thanks, beautiful,” Eddie and Venom said in unison.
A happy little Sunday, indeed.
—
Two weeks went by in a blink, and suddenly it was the night of the SPJ party. Kasey was nervous. She took the day off, knowing she didn’t want to be rushed when trying to get herself fully dolled up – something she was relatively out of practice with. If she wasn’t in her chef jacket, she was either in activewear or some kind of flannel and t-shirt, her hair tied in a high ponytail or bun. Sure, she could do her hair and some make-up on date nights and throw on a cute top and a real bra, but this felt different.
This was a full-scale professional holiday party, with dignified reporters and networking and social scrutinizing. This was something that meant something to Eddie, and while she normally didn’t concern herself with the opinions of strangers (outside of her cooking), tonight, she wanted to make a good impression.
She sighed, thinking of what Eddie had told her.
“I took Anne before.”
Of course, Anne would have been able to mingle effortlessly, gorgeous and eloquent and charming as she was – no one would question why Eddie was with her, it would be apparent. Kasey bit at her lip, then swore when she remembered she had just swiped on a creamy nude color that was now a quarter missing.
“Goddammit.”
She grabbed the tube off her dresser and reapplied it in the mirror. Slapping her cheeks lightly in an attempt to fend off her sense of impending doom, Kasey took a few steps back to appraise her full reflection.
She turned slightly to admire the way the wine-colored dress clung to her curves, the asymmetrical cut across her thighs that showed off just enough skin, the muscle of her toned legs.
The sweetheart neckline and off-the-shoulder cut accentuated her breasts, and the dark mesh sleeves strategically only showed the faintest outlines of her litany of tattoos. Her long hair was done in simple waves, pulled back behind one ear to reveal sparkling studs. She finished the look with strappy black heels, borrowed from a co-worker.
She smiled. She had done it—she looked good, she looked sophisticated, and she felt pretty. Like she was worthy of being Eddie’s date to a gathering like this.
She clapped her hands, hyping herself up in the mirror.
“You are beautiful! You are strong! You are a Kelly Clarkson song! You have parleyed with hostile insurgents, surveyed genetic experimentation, and have been called up as a temporary Avenger! All before age 30! You can handle one fancy Christmas party with a bunch of strangers!
Kasey was pulled out of her pep talk by the rhythmic sound of knocking on her door. Taking one last look at herself in the mirror, she gave herself a quick hug of encouragement. Then she grabbed her jacket and clutch from the table, steadying herself as her heels clicked across the hardwood floor as she walked toward the door.
—
Eddie was nervous. He’d been working tirelessly to rebuild his career over the past few years, and he felt like this was his first chance in a while to show his peers that he still had it. That he wasn’t just some washed-up nobody.
It was also the first real chance Kasey had to see him around other people in his field, and even though she repeatedly told him how talented she thought he was, he still found himself feeling like he had something to prove. He desperately craved the certainty that he was enough for her, that she could be proud of him. Andjusthim, just regular old Eddie, separate from the Eddie with the swirling vortex of extraterrestrial power inside him.
Eddie stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror as Venom floated next to him. Feeling his host’s apprehension, Venom did his best to be encouraging:
“Eddie, you need to relax. We are going to be the center of attention, Kasey will not be able to keep her hands off us! We look great!”
“You’re just saying that,” Eddie grumbled, but he was secretly pleased. ‘Formal’ for Eddie was usually just a leather jacket and his least-faded jeans, but tonight, he figured he might as well look the part of someone in a prestigious reporter crowd. He’d attacked his normally disheveled brown locks with pomade to keep them neatly in place and pulled out one of his rarely worn suits from the back of his closet. It was a deep navy color, offset against a grey t-shirt underneath.
He looked down at his phone’s lockscreen (a candid he took of Kasey gleefully devouring a massive pile of nachos on one of their first dates) and saw it was 6:30, meaning it was time to grab his girlfriend and head out. This was one of those times when Eddie was extra glad they lived in the same building – he didn’t need to fight the end of rush hour traffic, and his hair wasn’t about to get messed up from his helmet.
“Ready, bud?” Eddie asked the symbiote, who bobbed his head vigorously in response.
“Ready!”Eddie grabbed his jacket and walked to the door, waiting before Venom had merged back into his body before he exited and walked down the hall to the elevator.
His anxiety morphed into curiosity as he got off on Kasey’s floor, wondering what she ended up deciding to wear. He had asked a few days earlier, but she had said she wanted it to be a surprise.
Always in sync with his host, Venom filled his head as Eddie approached Kasey’s door, knocking in quick succession.
“This is the most exciting part of today! We have never seen our Kasey in a dress! We already cannot wait to tear it off her.”
Eddie chuckled. “Easy there, Casanova, we still have the whole night ahead of us.”
But then Kasey opened the door, and Eddie was instantly on the same page as Venom. He thought his heart physically skipped a beat or three when he saw her standing there so pretty, so damnsexy. For him.
His wide eyes drank in every part of her, roaming over her breasts, her curves, her thighs. He was always attracted to her, but seeing her this girly was really doing something to him. He forced himself to focus on her face and that the two of them needed to leave, fighting against the growing hardness between his legs.
Venom, on the other hand, could not give two shits about the party.
“Eddie, take her. Now. Look at that beautiful, delicious flesh, just begging for us to taste it.”
“Later, V, definitely later,” he muttered, still awestruck at the stunning woman in front of him. HisKasey.
Kasey didn’t have to hear Venom to get the context of Eddie’s response – judging by the way Eddie was looking at her, the faintest hint of swirling black and white just around the edges, she could tell her boys were happy with how she looked. Veryhappy.
Eddie exhaled, taking Kasey’s hand in his and guiding her into a twirl so he could see her from every angle. shaking his head slightly with a lopsided grin. “You are …”
“Thank you,” Kasey replied, grinning. She ran her hands up his chest, eyeing him up and down. “You look so, so good. How lucky am I to show off the hottest reporter in North Cal?”
She meant it. He had put something in his hair to keep the normally disheveled points in check, and he swapped out his rumpled hoodie and jeans for a crisp grey t-shirt underneath a fitted navy suit, one that made his ocean-blue eyes all the more prominent. Kasey smiled slightly at the sight of his usual bracelets peeking out under the sleeves, the scuffs on his brown sneakers. Still her Eddie.
Venom grinned as his humans kissed, sidling up to Kasey and sneaking a tendril underneath where Eddie’s hand was around her waist.
“I helped style him! Much better than those sad, sweaty t-shirts.”
Eddie pulled back, swatting at the rippling black form.
“Dude, you don’t wear clothes, don’t pretend you’re qualified to give fashion advice.”
“I still have eyes, idiot. And we look great. Our Kasey looks great. We should do something about that.”
Suddenly, Venom’s tendril was caressing her ass, sneakily creeping up the back of her dress before Kasey dragged him off.
“Nope, nope, not now, V.“ She lowered her voice, relishing how Eddie’s grip on her hips tightened in response. "Like this one said, later.”
“100%,” Eddie breathed out, lust straining his tone. He kissed her again, and pulled back, grinning and a little dazed, as he grabbed her hand. “You ready?”
“Mhm.” Kasey turned her attention to Venom. “V? before you disappear, remember that tonight is about Eddie, ok? So best behavior. From both of us.”
“Fine,”Venom conceded. For you, sweetest. But he better find me chocolate for my silence.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Once Venom was out of sight, the two walked out the door and down the hall, the reassurance of their intertwined fingers bolstering both of them in the deepest places where their hurt and fear lived, unseen.
Summary: When you left to spend a weekend with your friends, Eddie did not expect himself to miss you so much, and Venom’s constant comments didn’t help either.
When you came up with the fact that you are going to leave to spend the weekend with your friends, both Eddie and Venom shivered.
Of course, Venom was the first one to voice his opinion on the matter.
You can’t leave us! We love you!
“You’ll be fine! You two can have a guys’ night, watch sports, drink beer, or watch even porn!” you said as you excitedly packed your bag. “I’ll miss you guys.” you said as you kissed them goodbye before you closed the door behind yourself. They watched from the window as your friends picked you up and off you went.
At first, Eddie enjoyed being alone…well as alone as someone can be with a symbiote in them.
He got beer, a good game on the TV, life looked to be good.
But Eddie didn’t expect to miss you so much. Maybe Venom also added to that feeling, no, not maybe, definitely.
When is she coming back? Is she safe? What is she needs our help? Eddie, let’s go after her. I don’t like this, let’s get her back.
Eddie was seriously getting annoyed with the symbiote, but he knew better than to think about that, instead he numbed his brain with alcohol and lots and lots of food.
But a day later, “Fuck I miss her.”
That’s what I said! Let’s go and see her! We need her.
Eddie didn’t argue with that but still didn’t go. He knew you needed a little peace. A little time for yourself, he could survive another day, right?
Right?
…
No.
Twenty-four hours.
Twenty-four hours of suffering.
Twenty-four hours of only hearing Venom constantly groan and comment.
Another twenty-four hours without you.
Terrible. Awful. Torture.
The worst weekend of his life!
He couldn’t even concentrate. Not even when they had to chase a burglar down the streets wasn’t Eddie thinking about you. All he could see was your face, your smile. Even if he was sure Venom made him see those pictures in his head.
They loved you. And you loved them.
Later that night, both of them were staring at the clock. It was almost seven and Eddie was going insane.
Where is she? She should be back with us!
“I don’t know. She will be back soon.” but of course, Venom was not known for his patience.
Get her back Eddie! We can’t sleep without her, we can’t eat without her! Eating people is not the same without her!
“I know. She will be back soon.” Eddie said that so many times, he started to not believe himself anymore.
What if you left? What if something happened? What if you found someone and you will never come back?
SHE LEFT WITH SOMEONE? WHO?! LET’S EAT HIM! SHE IS OURS!
“She didn’t. I’m just…overreacting. All will be okay. I’m sure it’s just the traffic. She’ll be back soon.”
And just as Eddie finished his sentence, the front door opened.
“Guys! I’m back!” they watched you enter. “Oh, there you are!” you smiled as you saw them on the couch.
Eddie stood up as you ran to give him a hug.
“I missed you.”
Both of them embraced you, Eddie with his arms, Venom with his squishy tentacles.
“We missed you too, did you have fun?”
We missed her too much, don’t let her leave again.
“Oh, yes! So much fun! We got massages, our nails done, and we had amazing cocktails!” Eddie couldn’t help but smile as he listened to you be all excited.
Imagine teasing Eddie, eventually leading to Venom’s intervention
Warnings: Smut
A/N:For the anon who asked for phone sex and @willowick13 who asked for dirty talk + bondagy. (Except I suck at dirty talk!)
I know I got a bit off track at some point and I really don’t know how I feel about what I did, but this piece had been promised, so here it is, as long as Venom’s tongue!
It had been a tough week at work. By the time you finally arrived home, you were exhausted. After throwing all your things on the sofa, you headed to the bedroom, looking forward to a much deserved rest.
“Eddie?” – A bright smile formed on your lips when you saw your fiancé; your whole face lit up with excitement, especially your eyes. Slipping your arms around his waist, you laid your face on his shoulder, suddenly interested in using the bed for something other than rest.
Eddie brock going out with his gf at like 3am to a cafe just to drink hot chocolate and chill cause they had trouble sleeping. Is that a decent one shot tiny idea thingy?
———————————————————————
The moon was bright in the night’s sky. Stars sprinkled the blank area surrounding the glowing orb, glittering in the sky vibrantly. The city below was dark, most homes cascaded in a sheet of black as the owners slept peacefully behind closed doors. There were cars that would occasionally speed down the empty streets, fleeing past the lights that had been tinted green for majority of the night. There were a few fast food restaurants still open, sleepy employees residing inside with bored expressions and droopy eyes as they impatiently waiting for the clocks on the wall to strike a certain time, signaling for their departure. And for the remaining people who remained awake along with the city, people like you and your boyfriend, it was night’s like these when you just couldn’t seem to fall into slumber.
The air outside was chilly, much chillier than it was during the day now that you were without the heated glow from the sun. You walked alongside your boyfriend, clumpy slippers slapping the pavement beneath you as you shuffled beside him. Your hair was drawn up in a messy bun, fingertips wrapped around a dark purple, fluffy blanket that you had lugged off the sofa on your way out the front door and clutched around your body. You had smeared eyeliner under your eyes from the night before and you were dressed down in a pair of pyjama pants that belonged to the man at your side but they were too small for him, yet still baggy on you, so you’d taken them. Your eyes dropped to the plaid material, studying it for half a second before your attention was pulled to the heavy weight added to your shoulders.
Eddie Brock moved along beside you, his arm now rested around you snugly. His fingertips were gentle on the comfy fabric of the blanket, rubbing your arm through the thick material as he continued to talk to you about the nightmare he’d seemed to keep slipping into throughout the night.
“I’m telling you, babe,” He sighed breathily, his breaths visible in the streetlights glow. “It was terrifying. I mean, really, imagine a sixty foot tall horse trampling over you.” He lifted his gaze to the trees in the distance, as if a dark shadow would emerge from the clutter of leaves to reveal itself as this creature his brain had conjured up.
“Eddie.” Your eyes fluttered as they drifted up to his own. Your long lashes tickled your cheeks every time you blinked. “Honey, you have a parasite living inside you, how can you possibly be scared of a horse.” The amusement in your tone told Eddie that you were merely teasing the symbiote that lived inside him by using the term Venom hated most. Parasite. The flicker of Venom in Eddie’s gaze made your lips curve up on one side into a lopsided smirk. Opening your blanket, you stepped in closer to him and weaved your strong grip around his waist, squeezing him tightly.
Eddie peered down at you, doing his best to ignore the internal complaints that Venom continued to drone on about. Eddie wished that your thoughts could be invaded just as his were. It really wasn’t fair that he had to suffer all on his own.
The conversation came to a halt when you drew the heavy door open that led to the diner. The place was small, a hole in the wall, but it was known for its family business and original recipes — not to mention it was delicious — so the customers would pile in on a daily basis, typically in the mornings. They were also open 24/7 and any business that was tended to be worthy of being so. You stepped inside, unsurprised to find that it was even colder inside the small building. Eddie held the door open and piled in directly after you, coming to a stop when his chest brushed against your back. He was taller than you, chin almost pressed against the back of your head as his hands lifted to graze your covered arms.
The redhead by the door was busy smacking on a piece of gum, pink apron tied around her waist with a frilly lace lining the bottom. She was wearing a frizzy wig and bright blue eyeshadow. It was all a part of the outfit that her mother insisted was adorable — and therefore good for business. She thought she looked like a cheap extra, auditioning for a role in some movie that took place in the 50’s. The name tag on her white shirt read ‘Margaret’ and as you parted your lips to greet her, she did the same. Her lengthy nails lifted to dip past the curls and scratch at the wig that had been irritating her scalp for hours.
“Welcome.” She smiled sweetly, almost too kindly. “Would you like a table or a booth?”
Eddie’s eyes were busy dragging along the length of the room. There weren’t many people inside, but why would there be? The only other people here at this time of night would be people who travelled for work, policemen, the elderly, and people like you — people who couldn’t sleep.
You shuffled in front of your boyfriend, arm lifting so you could point toward the booth in the corner. “Booth is fine.” You didn’t mean to suggest a specific one, it was just habit to animatedly use your hands.
Eddie’s eyes flickered back to the girl as she spoke to you, gathering two menu’s and a slip of paper with the specials scribbled along the front. “Right this way.” She sighed before stepping past the pair of you and leading you through the scattered tables. Eddie was dressed down in a dark grey hoodie and some jeans he’d yanked on when you snagged the blanket from the sofa. His hand managed to find yours as it barely crept out of the underside of the blanket. Taking it in his own, he followed you toward the table that the lady ushered toward. You slid into the booth and Eddie followed suit. The woman would’ve given the pair of you a look of judgement, but she was too tired to poke fun at the fact that you’d both settled for one side when booths were double-sided. She dropped the menu’s down on the table before ensuring she’d be right back.
You knew she was probably lying, no doubt heading into the back to prepare some coffee and cups of water before she’d slip out the back door for a quick cigarette. Well, you assumed so since she stunk of ash and smoke, not that it bothered you. It wasn’t as if the pair of you were in a rush to get back home so you wouldn’t have minded if she climbed into her car and drove off to buy a pack of cigarettes, much less had a quick one in the alley. You frowned softly, realizing that you were lost in your thoughts and analyzing such a small thing. If it weren’t for Eddie’s raised brows and inquisitive stare you probably would’ve remained there, inspecting each person tucked away inside.
You didn’t feel the sleepy droopiness yanking at your stubborn eyelids just yet so you fixed them on your boyfriend. A slow smile pulled at your lips. Unlike you, he did look exhausted. He had forming bags under his eyes that left a visible dark shadow and his chin was propped up in his palm, supporting the weight of it since he didn’t have a pillow to lay on. It wouldn’t matter if he did and it didn’t matter that his eyes begged him to close. He couldn’t find the oblivion that was ordinarily so easy.
“So,” You spoke up as you grabbed ahold of one of the menu’s. Lifting it so you could inspect the muddled words in front of you, your heart sank. The font was small on the plastic, rectangular card. “Shit, i didn’t bring my contacts.”
Eddie’s brows arched at your choice of words before directing his stare toward the menu you clutched. Lifting his arm, he draped it across your shoulders, warm and exposed muscles grazing the softness of the purple blanket you still had draped around your body. “Here, I’ll read it to you.” He mumbled out, voice drowning with tiredness. He grasped one corner of the sheet but instead of dragging it away from you, he slid across the seat so that your bodies were closer together. Staring down at the options, he tried to keep it simple instead of running through a hundred different items. “Do you know sort of what you want?” He inquired, heavy breaths tickling your shoulder and cheek.
You craned you’re neck to the side, lips almost bumping his cheek. “Um.. pancakes.”
“Plain?” He grunted, doing his best to avoid the breaths of yours that tickled his rough skin.
“Plain?” You scoffed. “Are you sure you’re my boyfriend?” Plucking the menu away from him completely, you discarded it back on the clean table before rotating on the squishy cushion to face him.
“Nutella.” He corrected himself, looking in your direction slowly. Even sitting, he was taller than you. His fingertips pressed against your arm firmly, dragging you toward him so that you were forced to meet him in the middle for a gentle kiss.
“Mh, there you go.” You mumbled against his lips, not daring to break it first.
His smile broke the lip lock, teeth on show and therefore forcing your lips to graze his pearly whites. “Nutella is so sticky. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,” His eyes were tinted over with amusement. “You’re disgusting.”
“Funny you should say that.. last time I had Nutella smeared on my lips, you licked it off.” Your brows arched in an accusing manner. “So clearly I’m not that disgusting.”
Eddie chuckled under his breath at the memory that formed in his head. Turning toward the little machine perched on the corner of the table, he drew it toward him to rest so he could type in your order. “Two pancakes?” He asked quietly.
Your eyes moved to the screen. The longer you thought about the pancakes, the lesser they seemed to appeal to you. Pursing your lips, you reached out and let your hand cover his own, big eyes squinting. “Nevermind, Baby. I don’t think I’m hungry enough for food.” Your eyes lit up at the beverages. “I think I just want a hot chocolate.”
Eddie turned his head toward your own to inspect you. “Are you sure? We can always bring them home if you don’t eat them all.” He offered.
The table in front of the pair of you blinked, waiting for the order to be placed. Eddie waited for your response, but you were busy scrolling through the lengthy list of flavors that they could add into the hot, creamy, mug of chocolate. You’d grown up hating the cup of goodness. You could hear your mother’s faint voice as she asked you if you were interested in a cup. You’d stick your tongue out in distaste before claiming that it was too sweet for your liking. Now, you drank it so often that Eddie joked at times you should just grow out a mustache — seeing as you typically had a faux chocolate one across your upper lip most mornings.
“No,” You finally spoke up quietly, pressing on a cup of hot chocolate with a cocoa stick and whipped cream. “It’s okay, baby, really. I think I’m just trying to convince myself I’m hungry because we’re here, but i probably wouldn’t even be able to take one bite, I know it.” Kissing his rough, stubbly cheek, you lingered in place before offering the tablet up to him. Eddie was the farthest thing from picky so with a brief inspection of what you’d ordered, he pressed the small ‘1’ that resided beside your drink and changed it to a ‘2’ so he could have the exact same thing.
In the corner of the room, a small computer lit up brightly with your order. You briefly looked in the direction where the quiet ding erupted from before lifting your hand to the back of your boyfriends neck. Giving him your sole attention, you ignored the woman — a different woman than the one who had seated you.
Eddie set his elbow on the table and let a heavy breath of air escape his lips. He was tired, but it seemed that the only time his body was willing to sleep was at the worst times. Now was not the most opportune moment and yet there he sat in the bright diner, chilly air wrapped around his body as he sat in the booth with droopy eyes directed at you.
Your hand lifted to his hair, brushing through the thick strands slowly, smoothing them down. “You know, for a person who couldn’t get any sleep, you sure do look like you’re on the verge of passing out.”
Eddie smirked toward you before leaning in and slowly wrapping his arm around your shoulders. His lips moved to your own, stealing a few soft kisses before he shrunk back against the chair and directed his stare toward the table. “It’s a lot easier to sleep when I’m not suppose to be.” He grunted. “And Venom’s being awfully quiet so that helps too.”
Your eyes searched his for a few moments, wondering silently if the symbiote’s need to talk all night was what kept your boyfriend up at such late hours. “Well we can take our hot chocolate’s to go.” You murmured sleepily. The bright light was beaming down on your sensitive eyes, forcing them to grow droopy just as Eddie’s had. “Maybe we need to start sleeping with our bedroom lights on and our air conditioner on high.”
Eddie chuckled lowly before moving his hand to rest on your upper back. He traced lazy shapes along your skin, over your shirt. “We can stay here. We’ll grow sleepier and sleepier and then when we get home, hopefully we’ll pass out.” He drew you toward him so your head could lay against his broad chest. The sound of his heartbeat comforted you, lulling your droopy eyes to flutter before closing. The pair of you were probably a sight, curled up in the small booth pressed against one another while you waited for your drinks.
Shockingly, it didn’t take long at all before a waitress came sauntering over with a tiny try. She lifted each mug by the warm handles and set them on the table in front of each of you before taking the tablet and setting the screen to check-out. She made sure there was nothing else either of you needed before excusing herself so she could tend to the other tables. Not chocolate must’ve been very popular at this hour because you hadn’t had to wait very long. You lifted your head away from Eddie’s chest, unsurprised to find that it felt so heavy. Peering down at the whipped cream that lined the rim of your mug, you leaned forward and licked the topping before looking toward your boyfriend when he did the exact same. The only difference was that he’d managed to smear some on his nose. You didn’t have a chance to point it out before he lifted his hand to his face and with the back of his wrist, wiped away the smudge. You smiled fondly toward the man before slipping your hand beneath the table and letting your fingertips graze his thigh. It was innocent. A touch just to touch him. But he sent you a side glance either way, inspecting your true intentions for only a moment before his hand lowered to cover your own.
A peaceful silence settled over the two of you. The only sounds present were your occasional giggles when he was messy due to the cream. The hot beverage was soothing on your throat, it made your body internally hot but weirdly comfortable. It was probably because of how cold it was inside the establishment. Eddie leaned his head to the side and let his temple find your shoulder as he continued to sip at the chocolate.
“We should’ve drove.” He finally spoke. His voice was heavy and low. The gruffness of it told you all you needed to know — he didn’t feel like walking. Especially not now, now that his limbs were deadweights and his body was ready to absolutely collapse. He leaned against your body further, arm moving to loop around your waist. You lifted your hand to his hair and began to caress the messy strands. With your free hand, you adjusted the blanket that was draped around you and made it so that it laid across him as well.
“I can get us an uber, baby. Don’t worry about walking.” You assured him. Sending a look toward a waitress in the corner, who’d been gawking at Eddie for what seemed like the second she handed him his hot chocolate, you turned your head and kissed his nose softly. It was the easiest part of him to reach. You were unsurprised when his head tipped and he leaned in for an even better kiss. Your lips pressed to his own for a few seconds before you drew back and pulled your phone from the little zip on the front of your purse. Eddie watched the blinding light from your phone before his eyes slid shut. He could hear the faint tapping of your thumbs as you clicked the little icons and typed in the addresses. Your hot chocolate wasn’t even close to being finished though, so before confirming the ride, you set your phone on the table so it would be ready when the pair of you were.
As you sipped your got chocolate, indulging in pointless conversation every now and then, Eddie remained slumped against you with his mouth hanging partially open and his eyes closed completely. It was only when you were in the middle of discussing the strangeness about chocolate being able to rock them to sleep that you heard a faint, little snore leave his lips. Your head turned, inspecting the big, sleepy bear. Your heart tightened and a little smile graced your lips. You figured you could get his hot chocolate to go, but he wouldn’t drink it cold and he’d insist it didn’t taste the same if he warmed it up. You reached around his body for the little screen on the ledge and pulled your wallet from your pocket so you could pay for the drinks.
Eddie’s body followed your shoulder wherever it went and when you began to squirm to get back in your regular position, he sleepily wrapped his arms around your body more securely. You could tell, with each passing second, that he was falling deeper and deeper asleep. So the guilt that pooled in your stomach seemed to instantly swallow you whole.
How the hell were you going to wake him up and get him to the uber?
He was finally sleeping.
The envy that flooded you intertwined with the guilt though and as you felt the reluctance to wake him, you also felt the desire to join him. Your hands fell to his hard shoulders, squeezing them tenderly before your thumb mashed the ‘confirm’ button on your phone. You supposed you could let him sleep until the headlights rolled up outside. Tilting your head so that it rested against his own, you let your eyes flutter just for the time being. The driver was still 8 minutes away, so you figured it would be okay to just rest your eyes.
The waitress in the corner lifted a brow. The pair of you definitely were a sight. Sitting in a booth, laid against one another with a frilly blanket draped around you. The glow from your phone pulled her gaze to the glass door, peering outside. She wasn’t stupid. Loads of people came to the diner at all hours in the morning. You weren’t the first couple to fall asleep while waiting for your ride, and you wouldn’t be the last. She crept up to the table and cleaned the dishes off the surface before making her way back to the counter. Along with waitressing and clean up duty, she also considered herself to be an alarm clock — for she would wonder over and wake any slumbering customers when their lifts had arrived. She slumped against the wall and waited patiently, arms folding over her chest and big green eyes sliding along the darkness that kissed the windows. Patience seemed to be a necessity — a requirement for this job. She was lucky she had plenty.
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A/N: I know this is shitty and very simple, but I’ve gotta her back into it thank you so much for your patience!!
Summary: Peter’s ever growing resentment, her need to make things right, Tony’s everlasting judgment, and Eddie’s hope for a second chance, and his needs for just one chance. 15 years goes by fast; but with unfortunate circumstances and wayward absences…the heart does not always grow fonder.
Chapter 1
Angsty as all hell
Warnings for full series: dysfunctional family, character death, talks of teen pregnancy, single mother, connon typical violence, alcohol amd drug (weed) use, mention of sexual acts but no smut, parents forcing child out home, rehabilitation centers and military services, trying to make amends with estranged family members, maybe some inaccuracies about everything I just listened.
Disclaimer: This is my first time writing fanfiction in over 15 years lol so am sorry if this just plain sucks. Also am on mobile and I can figure out out how to add “read more”, sorry. Its a reader insert,but is written in first person, am going to tey to by as inclusive as pos3for anyone can read it, but the reader is a cis female she/her because for the plot of story. And I still dont know whom she is going to end up with in the end lol this fic is 18+ because of the warnings above.
Your media consumption is your responsibility. I have no way to verify your real age other then the trust and respect that if you are 18 tou will not read, but you have been warn about what the context of this story will contain.
I never thought I would end up back here…well so soon that is. After what happened with Eddie in high school, dad dying, my self destructive spiral down, the fight with mom….
I shook my head causing my (hair length)(hair color) hair to been even mored messed up. The winds are high today, almost as if they’re pushing me to go back to the base and reconsider my retirement.
If I kept over thinking and listing all of the events that lead up to this moment I would be gone another 15 years.
Rubbing my calloused fingers on my temple the fell of my (hair type) hair tickling the tips. It has become of habit of being overly aware of my body. My therapist said it was sensory thing. But this anxiety headache just will not go away.
But standing here outside the JFK airport in the autumn chill is not getting me anywhere. I could make the miles long walk to the house. It would give time to practice what I would say. Maybe time to back out? No, I have to do this! Its time.
Deciding on taking an Uber, it will get me there faster, which is not what I want but I wont be dragging my luggage with me through Queens. I was Gripping my (favorite color) phone so tight my knuckle were turning off color.
*
The ride felt shorter then I anticipated.
Standing in front of the red door for the first time in 15 years felt like a fever dream. 15 years have lead up to this moment and I pray it is last moment I have to come back because I want it to be the first moment I stay.
Closing my tried (eye color) eyes I take a deep shaky breath in, count to three, let a shaky breath out. I rise my first and lightly knock on the door.
The next few seconds felt like the longest moments in my life.
When she open the door she looked as beautiful as ever. It wasn’t the Hallmark movie reunion people would expect. Hell of no fury like a woman scorned, right?
“Hi, mom” I say, my voice betraying me as it cracked. Right now I feel like that scared 14 year girl again, and I just need a hug from my mom.
She lets out an exhausted sigh as she says my name in why that makes me my heart drop to my stomach. The look of -I told you so- mixed with the smallest amounts of pride and relief.
She steps aside to let me in. It looks the same as it did all those years ago. Looking around I see all the photos on the wall of him growing up…with out me. Probably for the best though. Still doesn’t hurt any less. Dad’s earn is still on the shelf where it always has been.
I was back in that fever dream as I walked further into the house. The living room still had the ugly brown rug in it.
The shutting of the door was louder then I remember, the nose bringing me back to reality.
“Am glad you made it here safe” she took a poignant pause. “That you’re safe…” stopping before she could finish her thought. A thought her and I both didn’t want to have. Being overseas and almost not coming back in piece.
“Yea…me too” I add softly.
The silence was deafening.
Taking up whatever courage I had left; fighting in this god forsaken war seemed easy but talking to my mother not so much.
“Is he here?” I ask.
Mom started to open her mouth but the front door opened. My breath got cought in my lungs, my knees locked, and my heart speed up so fast I thought it was to explode.
With each one of his foot steps I heard, my fear would creep further up my spine.
“Hey Anut May I need to go with Mr. Stark this weekend to…..” his voice dead with his question when he walked into the living room and saw me standing there, in his home, his safe place.
“H..H…Hi Peter.” I stuttered, trying to keep my tears in.
Shock was a understatement for the look on his face.
“Mom?” Distained was evident in his entire body, face, and voice.
