Halloween
It was the best night of the year according to Eddie's family- it was Halloween. It was one of the only human holidays that Venom cared about or understood (and they hardly understood it at all). Eddie tried for years to explain the concept of dressing up but none of his kids understood the point and the more he explained it the less he understood it either. Venom called it a stupid human thing too which didn't help Eddie's crusade.
But this year, after a long and painstaking effort- the kids were not only dressing up but they were actually excited about it. Eddie knew it was the other kids at school being excited about dressing up that was in turn making his kids excited but dammit he’d take it.
Scream was apparently inspired by her earlier encounter and was dressed as Iron Man, much to Eddie’s chagrin. Carnage’s costume was a little on the lazy side being that they decided to be a devil and just sprouted horns and a barbed tail. Lasher wanted to go as a mummy and was wrapped head to toe in toilet paper. Agony was a knight in shining armor and Phage was a vampire, though unhappy about not getting to wear the plastic fangs despite Eddie and Venom’s insistence that his real fangs were better.
And finally, needing a costume that was both warm and comfortable, Sleeper was a very ferocious baby wolf with Eddie as a very strapping Little Red Riding Hood. It was just jeans and a tee shirt complimented by a flowing and hooded red cape with a basket but not bad for having come up with the idea at the last minute.
“Come on dad, you're so slow!” Carnage whined at Eddie making Venom snicker.
“I'm coming, I'm coming. Remember, you will be polite and you will say thank you.”
The kids all nodded except for Carnage who just looked bored at whatever it was their father was saying.
Flash, Andi and Felicia were also joining them on their trick or treating quest. The trio was dressed as Han Solo, Princess Leia and Darth Vader (Andi was Darth). Eddie and Venom herded the kids out the door to meet them out on the sidewalk. The kids were very excited to see their uncle, cousin and Felicia but the closer they got to them the stiffer Sleeper became in Eddie’s arms. Until they were mere inches away from each other when Sleeper whimpered and sobbed and hid his face in the side of Eddie’s neck.
“What’s wrong Sleeper?” Eddie tilted his head.
“Sleeper.” Darth Vader’s modulated voice spoke making him squeeze Eddie tighter.
“Papa!” Sleeper’s little voice cried in fear.
Andi quickly pulled off the Vader helmet revealing her face.
“It’s just me Sleeps!” Andi apologized.
Sleeper very cautiously peeked out from under Eddie’s jaw and saw Andi. He eyed her for a moment before breaking out into a big smile.
“Aaah!” He pointed at Andi and then looked at Eddie and V like he was showing them it was okay.
“Yes, it’s just Andi. That’s my brave boy.” Venom nuzzled Sleeper.
“Come on!” It was Agony’s turn to whine.
Apparently the adults were taking entirely too long to get going.
After the first house Scream quickly unwrapped her first piece of candy and happily shoved it in her mouth.
“You can't wait until we get home?” Eddie asked her.
She shook her head, not even bothering to stop her candy consumption to say any actual words.
“We are long suffering, Eddie.” Venom said.
“We are.” Eddie agreed.
The kids all ran ahead to the next house, except for Lasher who hung back to hold Flash’s hand because he was just a little nervous to go to the doors alone. House after house they accumulated candy and made their way down the street. The next house stood ominously at the edge of the block, a large and dark Victorian towering imposingly over them. The old house was probably well over a hundred years old. The lawn was decorated with (fake) tombstones and a hidden fog machine was pouring rolling white fog all across the property, the porch light was replaced with a red bulb that bathed the porch in bloody light. Thick spider webs hung haphazardly across the wrought iron fence and bushes. The kids all looked at the house and fidgeted with their candy buckets.
“We should skip this one.” Phage suggested quietly.
The other kids didn’t seem to think that was a terrible idea.
But as they turned to head across the street Lasher abruptly let go of Flash’s hand and stepped forward.
“Lasher?” Flash asked after his nephew.
Lasher clenched his fists and steeled himself before marching straight up to the iron gate. They all watched with bated breath (though for different reasons) as Lasher pushed the gate open with a long creak and marched up the walk, passed the tombstones and into the red light of the porch. Eddie, Venom and all the others looked on in shock at Lasher’s sudden boldness. The front door opened to reveal a hooded figure with a large scythe and Lasher gasped loudly but still held his ground.
“I-I-I w-would like some candy for my siblings, p-please.” Lasher stuttered out as fast as he could.
“Oh sorry, kiddo. I forget the costume is a little PG-13. My wife keeps telling me to take it off...maybe she’s right.” The man laughed and apologized as he pulled the hood off and revealed a warm middle aged face.
The owner of the spooky house knelt down to Lasher’s eye level, smiled and held out the big bowl of king size candy bars. Lasher smiled and grabbed enough for himself and his brothers and sisters. When he came back his siblings all excitedly commended Lasher’s bravery.
They hit several more houses before Sleeper started yawning a lot and blinking slowly which was their signal that it was time to wrap things up. They got home and the kids all ran inside while they said goodbye to Flash, Felicia and Andi at the front door. By the time they finished putting Sleeper down and came back downstairs the other children were already about elbow deep in their candy haul.