Jealous
Time apart was good. Time apart was healthy. Time apart was necessary.
That’s what Eddie kept repeating in his head like a mantra as he walked beside Flash and Venom. Every now and then Flash would separate from his Anti-Venom suit and V would temporarily leave him to spend a few hours bonded to Flash Thompson, their former host. And Eddie was not jealous or insecure about this arrangement at all. Not at all.
Venom and Flash had been close ever since they were bonded as Agent Venom before they and Eddie were reunited. Venom’s time with Flash had changed them in a lot of ways, changed them in better ways. Venom’s time with Flash was the first time they weren’t a villain or an anti-hero but a full fledged hero. Turns out V preferred the anti-hero role but that was still something Eddie never gave them. Not that he couldn’t but it never occurred to him back then. It never occurred to Venom either. But then Flash came along and it was such a natural transition.
Flash was bonded to Venom and carrying Sleeper and the older kids were in school right now so Eddie didn’t even have anybody on his side to walk with.
“I-I can hold Sleeper.” Eddie offered.
“It’s okay, Eddie. He’s happy with Flash.”
“Yeah, I don’t mind at all. You know how much I love the little avocado.” Flash beamed.
Eddie tensed his jaw and shoved his hands in his pockets.
The two of them had to be conversing in Flash’s head because he kept laughing out loud. Flash usually didn’t like wearing his prosthetics but with the symbiote replacing his missing limbs he didn’t need them, Flash and Venom complimented each other in ways Eddie could never compete with. He found himself accidentally glaring and had to quickly change his expression before anybody noticed.
“Now that your all legit and stuff with SHIELD, you should consider joining back up with the Avengers, Ven.” Flash suggested making Eddie bristle.
“You’re the honorary Avenger, Flash. Not me.” Venom laughed at the notion.
“We are honorary Avengers.” Flash reminded them.
Yeah, you guys all move into Avengers Tower and he’ll just die alone. Sure. Cool.
“I’m being serious here! They could really use you and I know they’d love Eddie too!”
That was the worst part. Flash actually, genuinely, honest to God liked him. Liked him a lot even. Eddie couldn’t hate Flash, or even dislike the guy. He was undeniably great in all possible ways. But Eddie still couldn’t stop the jealousy from seeping in whenever he watched his beloved with their previous host. The feeling of a gaping hole in the middle of his chest. And Flash just walked along completely oblivious to his inner turmoil- bonded with his spouse, holding his baby.
They got home and he sat on the couch fiddling with his wedding ring as the other two kept on having a great time together. After a while Sleeper got restless, shifted in Flash’s hold and started reaching for him.
“You want your Daddy? Okay kiddo.” Flash said passing him over.
Eddie took him and felt very smug about it even though he knew his son was just hungry.
Another two hours later their friend finally left leaving them with a characteristically warm goodbye and plans to see them soon.
“What’s wrong? You’ve been sulking for hours.” His other asked immediately.
“Nothing.” He sulked some more.
“Come on, Eddie.” They pressed.
“I’m just sorry I’m not more like Flash. He’s better for you than I am.” He was really going all out with the self pity here but it was truly how he felt.
A shot of both confusion and disbelief radiated from Venom to him.
“Edward.”
Venom only ever called him that when they were really demanding his attention, the last time he could even remember them calling him that was when they told him he was a father for the second time.
“Flash is a close friend whom I very much admire and care for and I love you but you’re so fucking dumb sometimes.”
“Thanks that helps a lot.”
“Flash and I have fun together sure, but none of it compares to you. You, Eddie, are my host, my husband and the father of my children. That bond is more than sacred. Do you really think that would be true if I preferred Flash over you? If that were even remotely true there’d be six little Thompsons running around here instead of six little Brocks. And that thought really does make me cringe by the way.”
“Really?” He pouted a just little bit on purpose.
“Yes you absolute goddamn dumbass.”
They bumped their forehead to his like they did in the first few minutes after they’d met making him mist up and grin as he pressed back. Sleeper squeaked from his spot in the space between them making them both laugh into each other.
“Well, I think there might be someone coming between us.” They teased.