"Hey, Mrs. Chen…" It was Brock's upbeat voice the widow heard. She caught Venom's guttural mumbling in the background. She missed his brief residency within her.
Venom and Eddie raised their right hand in greeting to their favorite convenience store proprietress as they entered her florescent-lit place of business. As was usually the case, she had no other customers. Eddie and Venom preferred it that way. Especially now since laying low was a must. Fugitives kept low profiles. They were super-fugitives. Laying sub-low was their new way of life. They hadn't exactly figured out how they'd be Lethal Protector and fly under the radar at the same time. But, they'd figure it out. Their combined minds were up for that challenge.
"I have a big surprise for you two," Mrs. Chen built up, smacking the palms of her hands on the countertop. Her gleaming eyes caught their attention, holding it.
This is going to be hard, Brock thought. Very hard. Sure, saying goodbye was never easy. He should know. Saying goodbye to Anne, wishing her well in her married life with Dr. Dan, had clawed and torn his heart. But, he had wished her well with all his heart because he'd always love her in the deepest part of himself. Deeper than Venom could reach.
Shuffling up to the counter, eye-to-eye with Mrs. Chen, host and symbiote knew this farewell would be no different.
Hard, Venom spoke in Eddie's churning mind. A writhing tendril emerged from Eddie, became a meaty hand, snaking its way to her right hand for an impulsive clutch. Too hard. Pei-Yina is good people.
"You know it, pal," Brock concurred. "The best."
I like her first name. I remember what it means. Do you, Eddie?
Refresh my memory, why don't ya. Brock couldn't take his eyes off Mrs. Chen and Venom holding hands.
"Do you want to know what the surprise is—or not?" she snapped, narrowing her eyes.
Venom made the tickler quick: Pei in Mandarin means Strong.
"Yeah, she sure is that," Eddie concurred.
Yina means graceful girl.
Strong graceful girl. Hmm, her folks pegged her right. He got choked up, struggled to smile with his throat so tight. To the spitfire, who never was one to mince words, Eddie cleared his throat, and said, "Yeah, yeah. Sure. Lay it on us."
Mrs. Chen smiled at them extra mischievously as she worked her hand out of Venom's gooey rock-like grip. Bending down, she disappeared behind the counter, but in the next instant reappeared with a baker's dozen of medium-size bright orange sacks. Spanish on those sacks described what was in them. Importado De Ecuador. "Imported. From Ecuador. The best chocolate in the world. For you. My way of saying thanks so much for keeping the shakedown wolves and petty thieves away."
Phenylethylamine junkie… Eddie sniped.
No I am not! Venom vehemently protested.
"Ah, Mrs. Chen, no need to thank us. It's always our pleasure." Eddie stared at the bulging sacks of hard-core chocolate on the counter, choking up again. Was, as in used to be. He blinked. It really sank in. They wouldn't be around to keep the vermin at bay. Would Pei-Yina survive?
"Yeah!" Half of Venom's face appeared alongside Eddie's with the fraying separation. His eye bulged. "Our pleasure, Pei-Yina! We…we…we." Filled up to his insectoid eyeball with emotion, the symbiote floundered, overcome. "Ed-Eddie, how can we do this? To her—we can't! We can't—"
"What's going on?" Annoyed and wary, sensing there was something way off with them, Mrs. Chen demanded, "What can't you do?"
Time to rip off the Band-Aid. Eddie came out with it as Venom made abysmal gurgly whimpers. "This is goodbye, Mrs. Chen—"
"Eddie!" Venom cried. "Too abrupt. You must ease into it! Not slam it in her face!"
"Ease-schmeeze. It is what it is. And the fact is we have to ditch San Fran. We're too hot to hang around after what's just gone down, and all the prior upheaval that went on when he and I teamed up. If the powers that be catch us, we get shipped to Area 51 for vivisection. Game over."
"Oh, Eddie-Venom. I'm so sorry," Mrs. Chen blurted. "I hate to see you go." Sadness in her eyes, leeching into her face, cast a pall over the already glum occasion.
"We hate we must go too, Pei-Yina. We will miss coming in here to make sure there are bad guys to polish off. You are our first protectee. We are going on the road as the Lethal Protectors."
Eddie thought the idea wasn't half-bad, but there was the huge chance that they'd attract too much attention. Which would defeat the whole purpose of blending into the woodwork, so to speak. "We're still going over that."
"Who's going to protect her!" Venom wondered, loudly aloud.
"Lately, I've been thinking I should close early." Mrs. Chen didn't look sold on her idea. "I'm not getting any younger. But crooks are."
"You lose business," Venom objected. "Unacceptable!"
Eddie agreed, but he didn't comment. Just shrugged his usual way. Uncomfortable in his own skin and Venom's he needed to have this awkward leave-taking end. He raised his right arm and waved his hand.
Venom raised his other arm and fisted his hand. "Pei-Yina! We will not abandon you. You will have us in you. Like I gave you me when Eddie and I separated. You consoled me. Took good care of me. Made me feel whole again. You also are a strong host. Concordant symbiosis like I have with Eddie. You will sweat bad guys like us. Giving back is the least we can do. We are family, Pei-Yina! Hive-minded."
Exactly where Venom was at, Mrs. Chen put her hands to her face. Her eyebrows were high above her eyes. "You would do this for me?"
Before Eddie could get a word in, Venom got in several. "Yes! We do this for you. For your protection. We do it now!" A slender tapered tendril glided to the proprietress. As she held very still, he slipped tendril tip into her left ear. The point of the tip separated from the tendril before Venom retracted his viscid vine, and the fragment coasted down the woman's auditory canal. "Done!"
Looking and sounding unsure, Eddie pointed out, "Spreading yourself a little too thin?"
"No!" Venom surfaced. His head with protruding eyes and long gleaming teeth, rode his tentacle, snaking from around Brock's body to come between Mrs. Chen and Eddie. "When I inhabited her when we split up, it worked out great. We were very simpatico. Capisce? Pei-Yina is an excellent person. A comfy host. My scion will make her even better!"
Mrs. Chen imperceptibly vibrated as tingling ebbed and flowed. The smile on her middle age face grew, like she'd swallowed a canary. Then suddenly, her face went blank as it went stark white, getting 'venomous.' She had Venom's captivating white eyes, his sinister-sharp jagged teeth, much smaller than his. Gratefully, she proudly proclaimed, "We are Venom!" Pei-Yina and Venom high-fived.
"Hey—yo—whoa—Mrs. Chen—" Eddie shouted, "are you okay?" He was simultaneously stunned and impressed. The timbre of her voice was less deep, heavy and rough than Venom's. She made a bizarre, cute host.
"We are excellent," the woman-symbiotic combo assured in a calm low voice.
"This is all kinds of wild!"
"It is wise," Venom corrected. "She can handle it, Eddie." Venom exchanged another high-five with the new and improved Mrs. Chen. "We aren't deserting her. She'll be with us wherever we go. And be safeguarded." Venom, cloaked by Eddie's body once again, tapped their head near the temple with his index finger. "Hive mentality."
Nodding with a shrug, although at a loss for knowing exactly what 'hive mentality' meant, Eddie got on board. "Okay, well then. Guess this is it. We'd better get going."
"Group hug!" Venom advocated as growly as he could. Symbiote and hosts melded. Parting greetings were exchanged several times. Another hug, lasting longer than the first, signaled it was time that Venom and Eddie followed through on their disappearing act.
"We'll write," Eddie promised.
"And 'visit,' sort of, when we can. Now is not the time to explain how we will do that," Venom snuck in. "But we will be together again."
"'Bye, Mrs. Chen." Eddie raised his hand, and waved vigorously. Tears were in his eyes as he watched Venom grab up the large shopping bag Mrs. Chen had packed the smaller bags of chocolate into.
The symbiote followed Eddie's movement, shooting up a muscular tendril in salute. "Thank you so much again for these, Pei-Yina! Goodbye—zai jian!"
"Be careful out there, guys," was Mrs. Chen's heartfelt words of adieu, looking after them as they left her store. "Zai jian." Her symbiote's tendril removed her glasses and delicately wiped tears away from the corners of her eyes.
We love you too, Pei-Yina drifted into her mind.
The sun was setting over the hilly city by the bay. A block away from Mrs. Chen's shop, a breath of fresh Southern Californian air crossed Eddie and Venom's path. It was useful for the more Eddie side of the team to control his emotions lest Venom run wild.
That is a beautiful girl, Venom advocated in ruthless appreciation. His enthusiasm rumbled throughout Eddie's body.
Being cool about the whole thing, Eddie took the blond beauty in with wistful eyes when she happened to smile at him in passing. "Oh, uh—yeah. Way too pretty for me." She was worth several look backs. He had a big thing for curvy blondes with thick, flowing long hair. His heart pinged along with his crotch.
Follow her!
"Okay…" Huh? Kicking his libido to the curb, Eddie snapped, "No way—we can't!" Although, they were changing direction in pursuit of Ms. Sexy. And there was something about her which gave Eddie the impression that she wasn't even trying to be sexy. She was innate sexy, dressed in un-form fitting, un-ripped boot-cut jeans and a perky aqua zip-front fleece jacket. Some people just had great eyes and great everything. Ms. Sexy, case in point. Marilyn Monroe, move over for Lady 2.0.
Go-go-go!
"Look. I'm as twisted as the next guy. But I ain't beat me over the head with a lead pipe clueless. Trust me. Babes—I mean women like her don't mess with weirdness. We, my friend, are poster boys for terminally strange. Our kind of strange she doesn't want in her life. We have no right to suck her in. No right at all." Anne's involvement was still a too fresh, too painful memory.
Trust us. Do something! She's getting away! Venom kicked them into higher gear.
Eddie resisted. "Like what? Jump her?" That was not an image he should embellish. Easily, he could slice her like butter.
Ah—good idea! We jump right in front of her, preventing her escape. We will convince her how much she needs us.
"All that body hopping a while back has fried your brain. We're doin' no such thing. C'mon. Forget this." Eddie wheeled them back around. "We've got travel arrangements to make."
Venom resisted. I like her!
"I'm not telling you again. Quit that!"
Venom wrested momentum from Eddie. Make me!
Eddie stopped talking out loud. The weird, wary looks they were racking up shut his mouth. Don't start that again! We've got bigger worries than getting a date. Despite drawing Venom away from 'the prey,' Eddie couldn't help following her with his eyes. The symbiote with an eye for the ladies was on point. The leggy blonde was artistry in motion. She was astronomically too good for him. Not to mention she had to have a boatload of guys after her.
How do you know unless you try—Eddie! Don't prejudge. We could be just what she's looking for. Let's see where she's headed…
The transformation in Venom surprised his host. No longer pushy, Venom was pumping him up, getting him to think outside the 'you're a loser' box. And the infusion of confidence worked. "Okay, we'll follow. But she can't see us."
No, she won't know we're tracking her. The word stalking came to Eddie's mind, and Venom scoffed at the idea. We mean her no harm.
Night had fallen, but the vicinity of Stockton Street and Pacific Avenue was well lit by street lights and illumination from store windows. Faithfully following, Team Eddie-Venom noted the blonde turned down Vallejo Street. She picked up her pace the farther along she walked where it wasn't as well lighted the way Stockton Street was. They meant her no harm. A burly figure in a long sleeve sweatshirt, sweatpants and combat boots, wearing a bandana as a mask who jumped her from the doorway of a 3-story apartment building, had other ideas. The attacker cut off her yell with a gloved hand over her mouth. She bucked and writhed, struggling to break free, which earned her being knocked to the ground. She wasn't hurt. Stunned, unquestionably.
Her assailant scrambled for the shoulder bag she'd bought at Walmart in Los Angeles, where she was originally from. Her enemy flung the carry-all off to the side and hopped on top of her. Her words gushed like a torrent, as he yanked down the front of her jeans.
"Please—don't hurt me—no! Please! No!" She screamed. "Noooo!"
Team Venom-Eddie was all over it. Before what was going on went any further, Venom-fueled Eddie ripped the enemy away from her and Venom hurled him way down Vallejo. Everything about what had gone down felt thoroughly unreal for the blonde. She sat up looking like someone tumbling out of a nightmare. Eddie retrieved her property and rushed to her side as she sat with both hands to her head. Her friends were right. She needed to get herself a car instead of taking risks on the iffy streets of San Francisco. She'd owned one in L.A., never wanted to own another used car again. Maybe lease?
"Are you hurt?"
"I d-don't think s-so."
Eddie spoke more gently. "Can you stand?"
"Yes. I'm…" She shuddered, but was recovering her wits. She took several deep breaths, and focused on Eddie's caring, unshaven face. She cupped his cheek with a steady hand, liking the prickly feel. "Thank you." As he helped her to her feet, she confirmed, "For sticking your neck out. Not many are so willing these days. I'm in your debt."
I really like this one, Eddie!
I hear ya loud and clear, pal…you're not wrong. She's really something.
"I don't live far from here. If it isn't too big an imposition. Would you mind walking me home?"
Eddie gave her a big goofy grin. Aflutter, his heart thrummed through several beats. "Happy to. You don't have-ta ask us twice."
"Us?" She playfully frowned. "Are you British?"
"Me—I meant--me! No. Americano through and through. I'd like to visit London one day, though." I'm on fire, that's what I am, and desperate.
Emphasis on desperate for female companionship—well—here she is, Eddie.
"So would I. I'm Katrice, by the way. Katrice Kitchell."
"Eddie. Eddie Brock." He stuck out his hand for her to shake, and was captivated by her easy-going nature. "Pleased to meet you. I wish it could've been under better circumstances."
"Eddie Brock—the journalist! Wow! Never thought this would happen to me. I had a feeling it was you back there. When I smiled, but I wasn't sure. I'm very happy to meet you. It's an honor. You're the best in the biz." She couldn't stop pumping his arm as if it were attached to an antique water spigot. "I'm a faithful follower. I never missed your show. I really miss the Brock Report."
He indulged her, when he sighed, and made his smile as obliging as possible. "Yeah. So do I."
"Any chance they'll bring you back?"
"Unlikely. Fake news is all the rage now."
"Sad, but true. And unacceptable." Katrice's frowning pout only made her more attractive. "You really know how to get to the meat of a story. Like that lobster tank thing. Were you going for getting the crustaceans' take on being eaten alive? As opposed to being boiled to death."
After laughing at that, Eddie suggested she show them the way to her home. Three blocks later, in the opposite direction of where Eddie and Venom had chucked Katrice's assaulter, they stood in front of her Pacific Heights one bedroom, one bath apartment house. The place was close to Alta Plaza Park. She lived on the 12th floor, providing her a panoramic view of Alcatraz.
"Yeah, well, thing is. I have to leave town tomorrow." He was careful with indiscriminate 'we' usage. Venom kept quiet, not making a fuss. "Can't say when I'll be back."
"Oh. Then I guess treating you to a 'thank you' dinner tomorrow night isn't in our future."
With hands in his pants pockets, and keeping his eyes on the sidewalk, Eddie shrugged. "Looks like."
Do dinner with her tomorrow night—we can disappear the day after!
Eddie thought about it, loathing snap decisions. Knowing them, they'd get nabbed leaving the chosen restaurant, or this building. You're messin' with me over this way too much!
"Could I make you a cup of coffee tonight?"
Eddie, you like Katrice—a lot—like me. Your feelings are raw. Unable to be hidden from me. Stop sabotaging yourself. Be who you should be. A winner. Let her make us coffee, at least. We like coffee a lot too. And share our chocolate.
Share! This chocolate! Wow, pal, she's really made an impression. Okay, okay. I'm willing if you are.
I am—I am—I am!
Scratching the back of his head, and raising his eyebrows with a sheepish smile, Eddie nodded. "Coffee tonight sounds perfect."
Linking her arm with Eddie's, Katrice agreed. "I think so too."