Chapter 3
Will wasn't fond of what he had to put himself through, but Jack left no room for argument on the matter. If he had to put up with this, then so did Will and in turn so did Hannibal. Will faintly wondered how Hannibal reacted to being told he had to sit down for an interview, but given his status, Will imagined that this might be closer to the norm for him.
Things between him and his unofficial doctor have shifted from being semi-professional to far from it. It was a miracle that Jack or Alana has called them out yet, they haven't always been discreet. Hannibal hasn't left marks – yet, but touches and being closer than friends should be have been frequent in public.
Will enjoyed the long night conversations, the daytime debates and bouncing thoughts about cases back and forth. It was enjoyable being able to talk to someone who doesn't view him as weird or something to be studied. More so enjoyable that there was someone who could keep up with his line of thinking.
It was because of these moments that eventually drew the truth out. About Hannibal, what he did when he had free time and no witnesses. Will still found himself on uneven ground in the matter. The thought of murder and cannibalism was disturbing, but not as disturbing as the fact that he has yet to do anything about it.
He should turn Hannibal in. And he tells himself after the next conversation or after the next case. It's been three months since Will found out. Four months since he was cured of Encephalitis. Thanks to Hannibal.
Next month. He'll do it next month.
Will tried to ignore the horrible threat of loneliness that threatened him with. The sound of a motorcycle and the stirring of his dogs made that easy. Both thankfully and unfortunately. It meant he had to go through with the interview with someone called Eddie Brock, Will looked him up. This wasn't the normal story that the man seems to be doing. Most of his work dealt with human rights or corrupt companies. So much so that it ruined his life, but the man still tried. There was a lot of unanswered questions surrounding the Life Foundation, it was like that whole situation was being forced and pushed under the rug. Even Eddie Brock seemed unusually quiet regarding that company.
Will's dogs started barking which was something that was normal, however, Winston started to growl and that wasn't normal. The last time he did, there was a large bear in his yard. A predator. He's never growled at a person before, at least while he was with Will. The motorcycle parked and was turned off. Will watched from his window as the man approached but seemed to hesitate on going onto the porch. The dogs maybe? Will knows that the amount of dogs that he has can be intimidating.
Will shushes them and sends them into the kitchen, putting up a baby gate to keep them there. The barking and scratching at the floor continued, especially after Will let Eddie in. The man seemed almost hesitant as he introduced himself.
“Uh – sorry if my being here's upsetting your dogs... how many dogs do you have?” The man – Eddie said, voice taking a polite tone.
“Seven. Give me a moment, I'll let them out. They'll stick around the house. I'll be right back.” Will knows he probably should be more polite, but something about the man felt off to Will. The easiest way to describe it was like being in the same room with a known killer or with someone who had a tiger on a leash.
When he came back, Eddie Brock was still in the same spot. Staring out the window and for a moment – a split second Will could have sworn something shifted underneath the man's skin.
He made a note to talk to Hannibal about it, maybe he's having some residual effects from his sickness. His imagination was good, but it never had him see moving blackness underneath someone's skin before. At least when he wasn't sick it didn't.
“How does this work?” Will asked, the sooner he gets this finished the better. Will couldn't help but wonder if he'll be anything like Freddie Lounds and twist everything. A shrug with his hands facing palm up.
“We talk. I ask a few questions, but mostly we just talk.” Eddie answered and Will made a noise that clearly showed his displeasure on the matter. Enough to get Eddie saying, “It's not going to be bad. This interview isn't designed to make you or where you work look like shit. Word got out, my boss thought the idea of a teacher and a psychiatrist helping the FBI would make for a good story. No one's interested in shitting on what you're doing.”
Will found himself laughing at that, both in genuine amusement and partially in bitterness. A reporter who wasn't here to shit on his image, that's a first.
~ POV change ~
Eddie found it took him some time to actually find Will Graham's house, missed the driveway twice. Something Venom mocked him for, it was Venom who spotted the driveway. The property was nice, big and had a nice isolated feel to it. Eddie wouldn't have minded a nice sizable property like this, but give where he likes to live and what he makes as a reporter. That wasn't possible. And it wasn't just him anymore, it was Venom as well. Eddie would want his others opinion on things like that as well. It was why their apartment was a mixture of both of them.
For a moment, it was almost like his chest vibrated with the silent purr that Venom let out. The symbiote nestled among his upper organs today. Specifically close to his heart.
There was a car in the driveway, letting him know that Will Graham was home. Something that was backed up as he spotted the man at the window watching for him, the sound of dogs caught his attention at this point. He was informed that Will had pet dogs, just nobody told him how much. Sounded like there was more than a few.
“I count seven.”
“Six.” Eddie guessed and had to deal with the smugness when Venom's count was the correct one. The dogs themselves seemed agitated at his presence, so much that it seemed to catch Will's attention and concern as putting them in the kitchen clearly wasn't going to cut it. Letting them out helped some, but Eddie still heard the odd bark and growl at the door.
Venom wasn't taking too kindly to the response, an offer to silence them was made and turned down. They weren't going to be here for long and it seemed like they weren't welcome so the need to have him go was lingering over both of Eddie and Will. So the sooner he was out of here, the better. For everyone.
“How does this work?” Not the first person to ask Eddie this, but this time it seemed like the question would have to be taken with some more care. Defuse any fear as best that he could. If he could. Eddie shrugged, showing his palms and trying not to fidget. A habit he had at times.
“We talk. I ask a few questions, but mostly we just talk.” Eddie answered and took note the sound that Will made at this.
“He's scared of what we can write.” Eddie couldn't help but agree, Venom enjoyed pointing things out to Eddie just as much as he enjoyed bickering with or complaining at Eddie.
It was this that had Eddie reassuring, “It's not going to be bad. This interview isn't designed to make you or where you work look like shit. Word got out, my boss thought the idea of a teacher and a psychiatrist helping the FBI would make for a good story. No one's interested in shitting on what you're doing.” The laughter was a bit defeating. But given the research he did, Eddie couldn't blame him. It made him wonder what happened to the bright-eyed fierce girl he had a fling with a lifetime ago it seemed.
“Listen, before we get to this. I'm not bullshitting you. You're not a bad guy, you're just a teacher who helps catch serial killers. You're not the kind of guy I'd take sadistic pleasure in ripping to pieces in a story. Okay.” Eddie said, his voice conveying as much honesty as he feels. If Will Graham was a corrupt and backwards guy, Eddie might but as far as Eddie saw he wasn't. So why would he be an ass and try to destroy a career over a fact that the man has no filter on his mouth.
“He won't make eye contact.”
No, he wouldn't, and not for the lack of subtly trying on Eddie's part.
Moving on, with Will's permission they got themselves comfortable. Eddie pulled his recorder out, blank and ready for this particular interview. His notebook sitting comfortably on his lap. Will wasn't relaxing, so Eddie started them off easily. He spoke about Will's dogs, asking about them. Learned each of their names.
“Do you rescue them?” Eddie asked.
“Kind of, I tend to find them when life abandons them.” Will answered he seemed quite happy to talk about them. Will finally relaxing enough, kept the conversation going without prompting from Eddie, “You're not interested in dogs, I'm assuming you're not a dog person?” There was an assuming tone that gave Eddie the notion that normally this was a very prickly kind of guy.
Eddie laughed, “Uh-no. No you'd be right there. I'm more of a cat person, but only have a plant. My roommate doesn't mix well with pets even when he tries. They don't mesh with him.” Venom wasn't actually male, from what he gathered the symbiote had no gender. But calling him it in the conversation may raise red flags. There was a near playful comment on his being a cat person must be why Will's dogs weren't fond of him.
Little did Will know.
Eventually, the near casual setting brought on thanks to the conversation about dogs settled back to a tense one as their conversation moved back towards Will's job. First as a teacher, then as a profiler who worked with Jack. Specifically one case above all others. The Chesapeake Ripper case.
“And have you guys made progress with that case?” Eddie asked he read up about this case. Horrific, fascinating in a morbid kind of way and Eddie hoped that they caught the killer before he kills too many more. But Eddie doubted the competence of the ones leading the team on this case.
“No.” Will answered quickly.
“Lies.”
Eddie agreed. He wasn't a reporter for nothing. Will moved on to explain that they had no physical evidence and the profile that was created can fit more than a few people within Baltimore alone. Eddie might guess that this was a half-truth.
“Corrupt Eddie?”
Eddie didn't think so, not completely.
“Okay, so we covered how you're working in the field. Why you're a teacher and part-time profiler. But we didn't really cover the reason why you let yourself look as you call it. Why do you put yourself through that or let yourself get put through that?” Eddie asked Venom paid close attention because it was partially intrigued by someone putting themselves through this.
“Like Eddie with your stories, chasing the truth and us chasing the bad guys.”
Eddie didn't think it was completely the same. The same notion, maybe. But not the same at the same time.
“I'm the best -” Will repeated, it almost sounded like Jack. Will was the best at looking, this was why Jack had him look. But only partially why Will looked.
“We covered that, why do you look time and time again.” Eddie knows it's rude, but he needs to know. Publicly this guy was an asshole. Dogs will only do so much to help his image to be anything near positive. Will glared at him, momentarily looking over the rims of his glasses and making eye contact that lasted almost a few seconds.
Venom let out a rumbling laugh that nearly vibrated through his rib cage and echoed in his mind.
“He likes looking. Gets a thrill from it, Eddie. Like you when I bite bad guys.”
Eddie hummed slightly leaned back. Will seemed tense and concerned. How to spin this, and should he follow Freddie Lounds lead? Eddie didn't feel like it was as bad as his old fling made it sound. But is it bad enough to put a red flag next to the man before him? The man who rescues abandoned dogs teaches young minds and catches killers.
“You want to help people, by getting the killer off the streets.” True, but not fully true. Eddie's giving this to the man, and he seemed to catch on and agreed. Reluctantly. Eddie let the conversation fall away after that. Eventually, Eddie concluded the interview and got up, bidding the man farewell and managing to get to his motorcycle before the dogs caught on that he was outside.
It was the smallest and the sandy coloured dog that seemed to put themselves between Will as well as the rest of the pack and Eddie. The smallest dog barked and bared its teeth. There was a low growl from the sandy coloured one.
“Buster! Winston! Come here.” Will ordered.
Eddie watched them carefully and felt Venom inching closer to spilling out of his skin, coming so close that Eddie could see darkened veins spreading across the backs of his hands. Eddie had to remind Venom that dogs weren't a threat, not in this instance. His life wasn't being threatened, so stay put. Stay hidden.
Eddie started his motorcycle and only then did they seem to deem Eddie no longer a threat and obeyed Will's call. Eddie took off from Wolf Trap, making plans to stop at a fast food restaurant to get something to eat before buying some chocolate for Venom.
Come say hi: justsimplymeagain