Chapter Text
The monster carries him up, hand over hand up the side of the building until Dylan is clutching at their neck in desperate terror. It must have realised his panic, because it stops at the top and steadies him, holding him in place with a massive clawed hand.
He’d- dreamed of this. For someone to come, to break down the door and scoop him up and gone. He’d dreamed of it so many times, with so many saviors. Captain America. Mrs Majorie from school. Even sister Mary. Someone. Anyone.
He’d never imagined this beast. This- demon. It has to be. He’d never quite believed father’s rants about demons walking the streets of a new Sodom, but clearly they are real. Huge and hulking and slick black, with massive empty white eyes and a broad smile of needle teeth. The claws wrapped around his back are long black knives, so sharp his jacket is already fraying where they bite into the fabric. Holding him tight as they jump from the top of the building.
The rushing wind tears the scream out of his mouth before it can come out properly, but long black tentacles lash out of the demon’s body, catching on the buildings opposite and swinging them across the road.
“Safe.” The beast rumbles, the heat of its breath ruffling his hair. “Not letting you fall.”
Dylan tightens his grip and nods. Yes. Of course it wouldn’t. Because of course father was wrong. Everything he thought evil and perverse would be kind. Thought. Had thought. Never would again.
The gun, kicking in his hands. The look of shock frozen forever on father’s face. Dylan closes his eyes and buries his face into the demon’s shoulder, the hand on his back squeezes gently as his tears run down the slick black skin. “Shh, nearly home.”
Dylan does look up at that. Home? Are- are they going to hell? The fear flickers up for a moment, then collapses again. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. If it’s anything like this beast, perhaps it would be a nice place; warm, with damned souls roasting marshmallows over the flames and the devil playing all the music Dylan had never been allowed to listen to. Besides, if father is in heaven- Dylan really, really doesn’t want to go there.
But the demon doesn’t drop them into a hole straight to the abyss. Instead, they swing down and drop onto a roof, then crawl down a few floors before hooking a claw under a window, and pulling it open.
“Here,” it nudges him. “Go in.”
Dylan tries not to look down and swings his legs through the window. He squints around the darkened room, but there are no flickering flames, no red-tailed devil. Just a living room with a kitchen attached, a big, squashy sofa and a battered little table, everything worn and tired but- welcoming, radiating a warmth that has nothing to do with heat.
The lights come on and Dylan jumps. The demon blinks in the light, but doesn’t seem bothered by it. The light glistens on its oily skin, flashing off its needle teeth. It had been big in the garage, but here it’s huge, head nearly brushing the ceiling, Dylan huddles back, bumps into the sofa, and sits down hard.
The demon doesn’t follow, cocks its head as though considering something, then just- melts away.
Dylan gives a short cry because as terrifying as the thing is- the idea of being left alone is so much worse.
But the beast doesn’t disappear, instead, the black pours away into pale and very human skin, the long, savage head sinking back into a round human head, the claws shrinking away like ice under fire. The white eyes blink and blink away and Dylan’s jaw drops.
Eddie Brock gives him a small smile. “Hey kid.”
He- he- how? Father had said he was a monster, a creature so utterly wrong it didn’t know whether it was man or woman. He’d never quite understood that, he’d seen the Eddie Brock show at the library, when he could get away from home. Eddie seemed a lot like a man to him. “You-“ he starts up, and has no idea what to say.
“Yeah.” He steps closer, and gently pushes Dylan down to the sofa. “It’s okay.”
His voice is a strange mash of his and the demon’s, and when Dylan looks up, the demon’s head is peering over Eddie’s shoulder, black flesh flowing endlessly as water away from those teeth, those eyes narrowed in concern. “This is Vee.” Eddie strokes the demon’s neck. “He won’t hurt you.”
“You’re safe here.” The demon growls.
Safe. Dylan feels the shivering start again, he clenches his fists to try and control it, but it’s- too much. Eddie Brock, staring at him across from the protest, about to cry at the sight of him. The horrible, foul words ripping from his throat, father’s hands digging new bruises into his shoulders. Father’s hands on the… the…
“The bombs.” He chokes.
Oh god but they were still there. Father had been putting the last wires and then the others would come and take them tomorrow and-
“It’s okay.” Eddie pulls a blanket off the back of a chair and tucks it around his shoulders. “We’re on it, deep breaths.”
The air is coming in short, ragged pants, he hugs his knees and shudders as Eddie pulls his phone out, and types in a number. “It’s okay.” He looks steadily at Dylan as it rings. “It’s all gonna be fine, promise.”
The demon snakes down beside him, large eyes blinking at him, teeth tucked away. “We will eat anyone who tries to hurt us.” It murmurs.
“Shush, darling. Yes,” Eddie speaks up, “Eddie Brock, yeah- that Eddie Brock. I’ve picked up a lost kid.“
Dylan jumps, horror and betrayal blazing through him until he’s about to be sick. He’s- getting rid of him. Of course, why wouldn’t he? It’s not like he’d want some dumb kid running around-
“No,” The demon whispers. “You stay. This is a plan. Shh, just follow along.”
Dylan shivers and nods, the demon extends a fluid arm and strokes his shoulders gently. Eddie nods approvingly. “Found him along Powell.” He raises his eyebrows at Dylan, Dylan swallows and nods. “Father just left him on the side of the road and disappeared. Yeah, of course we looked. Three hours wandering around Tenderloin. I do, I’m next of kin. The boy’s my brother.”
Brother, it’s another shock, but- a good one. He’d- never had a brother before. He had Mary, and- they never did use a word for Eddie. Not ones he wants to even think about, anyway. He closes his eyes and leans into the demon’s comforting arm.
It nudges him, and he quickly opens his eyes again, Eddie’s eyes are wide, “Uh, yeah, surname Brock, first name-“ He flaps a hand frantically at Dylan.
“Dylan.” He puts in quickly.
“Dylan. D-L-Y-A-N.” He watches him closely, and Dylan nods.
“Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Around the old shoe warehouse. No, he does that, but never for this long. Yeah, soon as you can. Thanks.”
He exhales and hangs up. “Okay, shouldn’t take long. They’ll have people out checking the place out, and we left the door open.”
“You called the police?” Dylan’s head snapped up, “They’ll-“
“They won’t.” Eddie slides in sits beside him. “There’s nothing too find. Just the bombs; and that’ll get them freaked out. The others’ll be arrested, and they’ll think he’s gone to ground.”
“But- father said- the bombs-“
“Not your fault.” The demon growls.
“You saw father doing something,” Eddie says firmly, “You didn’t know what it was. You saw him putting things in the bags-“ his voice cracks, he stops, swallows, and the demon wraps itself around his shoulders and squeezes. He closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. “You don’t know any of this. Father just left you on the side of the road and you don’t know where he went. And now, we need a lawyer.”
The demon perks up eagerly. “Annie?”
“Annie.”
The boy- Dylan- is tucked up warm with blankets and a mug of their best hot chocolate, and is starting to look a bit less pale when the phones rings. Eddie doesn’t bother answering, and just goes straight to the door.
“Which one was it.” It’s not even a question, just a flat statement as Annie barges in. “The MAGAs, the KKK or the fucking Nazis?” She gives Venom a brief nod, and stops short when she sees Dylan.
“For once, it wasn’t us.” Eddie walks over to stand beside the boy. “Dylan, this is Annie, she’s a friend of ours. Annie-“ he takes a breath and Venom purrs at the tangle of joy-pain flashing through them as he finished, “This is Dylan. My brother.”
That puts an end to whatever speech Annie was planning. She stiffens, and looks between Eddie and Dylan, her face falling from its stiff lines to softened sorrow. “Oh, Eddie, did you-”
Eddie hesitates, and Dylan scrunches himself into an even tighter ball. Venom nudges him gently, “She is safe. You can tell her.”
“We can say it.” Eddie puts in.
Dylan shakes his head, and lifts it. “I- I-“ he chokes, shudders, “I killed him.” Tears break over his cheeks, “He- he was going to- I had to-“
“He was making bombs.” Eddie looks away. “Guess he finally decided to make his last stand.” Venom shivers at the old horror locked inside like permafrost.
“No.” Annie’s gone pale. “Is the police-“
“I sent them a tip off.” Eddie sighs, “They’ll be finding them pretty soon. Vee and I took care of the body.”
“Shit.” She sinks down on a chair and rubs her face. “Okay. That’s- a new one. You want me to take care of the police?”
“I saw Dylan in the protest, with father.” Eddie’s voice is steady, relaying the plan they’d put together on the way home. “I wanted to find them; I knew what a- fucking monster he was. I wanted to help Dylan; I saw Dylan wandering around Tenderloin alone and I wanted to make sure he was okay.”
Annie nods, she knows they’re lying, but it’s okay. They can trust her. “Why did you and- Mr Brock come to San Francisco?” Her voice is soft, gentle.
Dylan looks at Eddie and him, takes in a deep breath. “I don’t know. He wanted to go to the protest but he had- something in the bags. I don’t know what it was, but he was keeping it for the others. I saw him putting- things with wires, inside.”
“Leave off the last bit.” Annie shakes her head. “You just saw the bags, nothing inside. That’s more than enough when they find the bombs.”
“Okay, I just saw the bags. He- he didn’t let me see inside.” He sips at the chocolate, but it’s all gone.
Eddie takes a mug and starts making more. “Want some, Annie?”
“Got anything stronger?” Annie rubs her face. “Good, he was keeping it away from you. You thought you were just going to the protest, then he left you on the side of the road and- drove off?”
“No,” Eddie pours the hot water, four big mugs, Venom sniffs hungrily at his. “I said I found him near the warehouse.”
“He stopped the car and pushes me out.” Dylan closes his eyes, he's a good liar. He'd have to be, living like that. “He told me to fuck off and not come back.” Venom shivers, it might not have been what happened tonight, but he knows it too well. He feels the shadows of it clinging to Eddie and hugs him a little closer.
“It happened before?” Annie coaxes, Dylan nods. “Good, use that. But he never left you alone for so long?” At Dylan’s all-too-telling shrug. “In a strange place?”
“I told you about him.” Eddie says stiffly. “But- yeah, three hours, more than usual, right?”
Dylan nods.
“So that would have been around seven this evening?” Annie continues.
“Maybe more like seven thirty.” Eddie puts in.
“Seven twenty two.” Dylan nods, Annie blinks. “I saw the clock before he kicked me out, it was after half past, but the clock was fast.”
“They’re going to find the car.” Annie frowns, “Is the clock fast?”
“Yeah.”
“Good, then use that. That’ll help.” She rubs her eyes and sighs. “This was not how I was planning to spend my evening but- shit.” She looks between them, helpless, Eddie rests a hand on Venom’s neck, the other on Dylan’s shoulder. The boy slumps under the touch turning his face up to them. How often had he been touched in kindness, before tonight? Venom gives a low growl, just off a purr, and he relaxes a little more.
Annie shakes her head. “And what about after this?” She sighs, “Got any plans?”
Eddie looks at him, and Venom nods, but anything they’d like to say is lost by the sudden scream of sirens outside. Annie groans and stands up, downing the remains of her mug. “Showtime.”
In the end, there isn’t much for them to do. Just relate the same story over and over. He’d seen Dylan at the protest; he went after them because he knew their father was a piece of shit. And oh fuck when Dylan took his shirt off to show the bruises and old welts and he’s sure there’s something wrong with his collarbone Eddie can’t wait until the cops fuck off and Venom can have a proper look at him. He found Dylan wandering the streets and took him home. No, they didn’t know about the bombs, no, they had no idea of the targets.
“Haven’t spoken to the fucker in years.” Eddie continues, still resting a hand on Dylan’s shoulder because the boy is doing better with contact. “But- yeah, that’s one of the reasons. You’ve probably got a few of my tip-offs on file, I’ve been warning about him for decades.”
The cop’s not looking too good, and no wonder. There was probably enough in those bombs to take out most of the Castro, and she must be imagining what the front pages of tomorrow’s newspapers would have looked like. “We’re following up with the FBI,” is all she says. “Do you know where he may have gone?”
Eddie looks at her pale face, the hand shaking on her notebook, just a little and- oh. Oh fuck. They- hadn’t considered how that might look. It does look like Carl might have taken a bomb and gone off to get the party started by himself.
“He wouldn’t have done it alone.” Eddie says carefully. “He brought all his buddies to join in. Maybe he got mugged or something.” It sounds weak even to his own ears.
“We’ll be bringing them in as soon as possible.”
The cop looks so fucking miserable that Eddie actually feels sorry for her. “I know two of them took Carl’s truck,” he puts in, “I can give you the numberplate.”
Her eyes light up as Eddie scribbles it down. About the best thing that’s come out of this evening is that Annie’s monopolized all the attention from Dylan. He’s curled up on the sofa, half asleep, the mug trailing from his fingers and tipping cold chocolate on the floor. Don’t think about it.
No, Venom sounds oddly subdued, Can wait for later, Eddie.
You okay, darling?
Don’t want them here, Eddie. Need to be just us, heal from today.
What about Dylan?
Heal him too.
Eddie nods; he wishes Venom was out here for him to hold. He… needs it now, be held close and warm and loved. Go to sleep- fucking god, sleep and wake up to a better morning tomorrow.
Finally, Annie manages to convince the police that they really don’t know anything else. They insist on having a cop stationed outside their door no matter how much Eddie insists no one knows where they live, and finally finally finally leave.
Dylan starts up as the door snaps shut; the mug clatters to the floor, and he looks around in a panic. “You’re safe,” Venom peels off his shoulder, nudging Dylan gently. “We ate him, remember?”
It doesn’t help much, the memories slam in and Dylan goes even paler. Eddie pats his shoulder. “It’s okay, you can stay for as long as you want.”
Dylan gives him the bleakest look because- where else could he go? Eddie knows that too well.
“And it’s- gone three AM.” Annie yawns, “Do I have to call Dan to pick me up, or could I crash here?”
Eddie pauses, and smiles. “If Dylan doesn’t mind sharing with us. The bed’s big enough- or we can set things up on the floor?”
Dylan shakes his head, but looks too groggy to say much. “Don’ mind the bed.” He's still shivering, still exhausted and jumpy- he needs someone close by tonight.
“Come on then.”
Dylan just balls up in the bed and vanishes in a bundle of duvet and pillows. Eddie checks on Annie, but she hasn’t even bothered pulling out the sofa, just slumping on the thing with her legs hanging off the end, already asleep.
He waits a moment, waiting as Venom laps up the discarded chocolate on the floor. A few months ago, Annie would have rather walk home than spend an evening with them, let alone overnight. It’s- a relief. It feels good. After being so alone, and now it’s not just Venom, but a whole web of friends around them. Friends, and a family.
Eddie walks back to the bedroom and lies down on the bed beside Dylan. He lets the boy keep the blankets, and Venom wells out around him, wrapping around them in a warm and endless hug. Eddie closes his eyes and buries his face in the tender coils. He could have all the world, and he’d give it all up just for Vee.
Venom murmurs in his ear, soft and senseless. Love you, my Eddie, love you so much. All mine, Eddie, safe now. So good, when we wake up, Eddie. Safer, kinder, better because of us.
Eddie nods. “I know, sweetheart. Love you too. We did good today.” His eyes ache with exhaustion, but he looks across to the softly breathing pile of duvet beside them, and smiles. “Hell of lot of good.”
Yes. He leans down and brushes his muzzle across Eddie’s mouth in a kiss. Sleep, my Eddie, a good morning tomorrow.
Yeah, a good morning. And another, after that. And another, after that. Morning after morning, and every one brighter than the one that came before. Eddie closes his eyes, and falls asleep with a happy smile.