Eddie Brock

I’m sorry - I really, really am, but this thing- it’s- you don’t understand how dangerous it is.  

Please, trust me, this is what has to be - it’s the only way to-!

I’m your hero, right? Trust me - it’s a bad thing.  

*struggles against Spider-Man’s grasp, still trying to reach the knob as the glass frosts over and the dark substance inside stops sliding*

We won’t because you’re killing it! You’re—how would you even know how dangerous this is?! Stop it, stop, I need this!

*the substance stops moving, frost covering it as it sits at the bottom of the glass; Eddie’s hand sags*

He finds himself stuttering and at a loss for words, which is unusual for him when he’s being Spider-Man.*

I- I-…*shakes his head.* 

You…you just gotta trust me on this.  It’s for the greater good.  

*He wants to wish him luck, or to reassure him that everything’s going to be okay.  But all he finds he can say is-*

I’m sorry.

*he swerves around, glaring up at the skylight where Spidey just was*

You're SORRY?!

*waves his arms at the empty space, his voice rising and becoming sharp with anger*

You don't care! You weren't here when it was taken, why should you care what happens now?! You don't understand it so let's just kill it! Let's kill Eddie's life too while we're at it!

*the ice around the symbiote cracks as Eddie's rant picks up steam*

Let's pretend we're sorry, let's pretend we're good! You're not the first, Spider-Man, not by a fucking long shot. God, you're just like the rest--you're no better than Parker. Everyone is just as miserable--

*the cracking of the ice and a slithering sound grabs his attention mid-sentence, and Eddie turns to see the symbiote spread across the glass in front of him*

*whispering* Holy shit you're--*presses his hand against the glass*--you're still alive.

*the symbiote pulls itself together making itself into the shape of Eddie's hand. Eddie pulls his hand back and stares with wonder at it.*

What...you're...trying to communicate with me?

*Eddie blinks, and abandons all caution, opening the glass door. The symbiote wriggles and stretches, tentacles flicking around Eddie. As the world becomes drained of color Eddie can feel a deep hissing voice in his head, and he knows, without hesitation, that it's the alien.*

Edward Brock, you have much anger...much hatred...and it tastes delicious!

What...what do you want?

We want what you want. We want to live. We want to make those that hurt us feel the pain they have inflicted upon us. We have much to teach you, Edward. Much you would like to see...

*a tentacle zips forward, shooting straight up Eddie's nose, his eyes turning black*

*in his mind he can see, all in tones of grey, the symbiote's memories, eons of endless starlit nights, a brilliant cosmos in vibrant rich colors, planets upon planets, lifeform upon lifeform--but there is more. There familiar faces; his parents, Peter's parents, the aching pain of loss when they died--*

*these are Peter's memories*

*he sees it all, and sees with clarity his exploits as Spider-Man, his attempt to keep the symbiote, the power it gave him, the strength...and how he rejected it*

Do you see, Edward Brock?

Yes. He was...Peter was Spider-Man this whole time. He could have stopped all of this if he'd just brought you back--

He rejected us! Just as he rejected you!

Lied to me the whole time--

Yes! Do you hate him?

Yes...

Do you want the power to stop him?

Yes.

Do you accept us, Edward Brock? Will you use your hatred to become a poison to the one who hurt us?

YES.

Then JOIN US!

*the symbiote expands in a dome around Eddie before crashing in on him, wrapping and covering him from head to toe. He lets out an ear splitting shriek of pain.*

*he struggles and pushes until he can stand once again, now larger, heavier, stronger than he has every been*

*his jaw opens, not quite his own anymore, now theirs, and a snaking tongue flickers over a row of sharp teeth*

*they laugh*

*He really wishes he could apologize for more right now.*

This thing - it’s nothing but trouble; it’s dangerous.  It…It shouldn’t even be here.  

*turns the knob the rest of the way.*

This is the only way - I’m sorry.

What?! No!

*Eddie makes a desperate noise between a shriek and a yelp and launches himself at the knob*

No! *he’s about to say Eddie’s name, but of course he has to stop himself.*

I’m sorry - I really, really am, but this thing- it’s- you don’t understand how dangerous it is.  

Please, trust me, this is what has to be - it’s the only way to-!

We won't because you're killing it! You're--how would you even know how dangerous this is?! Stop it, stop, I need this!

*the substance stops moving, frost covering it as it sits at the bottom of the glass; Eddie's hand sags*

*oh god he hopes it can be studied post-mortem, please let them be able to study it post-mortem.*

That’s- uh- it’s okay! It’s late.  You don’t have to wake her up - I left a note.

*points down at it.

*stops as he notices Spider-Man turn the temperature down, his grin faltering. He points to it, emphatically.*

I’m sorry, but I have to.

*He really wishes he could apologize for more right now.*

This thing - it’s nothing but trouble; it’s dangerous.  It…It shouldn’t even be here.  

*turns the knob the rest of the way.*

*Eddie makes a desperate noise between a shriek and a yelp and launches himself at the knob*

*after getting rid of the symbiote (and taking a very very quick trip home to retrieve and get into his old suit (via the window scenic route of course)), Peter travels to Empire State University.*

I just gotta figure out how to get into Doc Martha’s lab to return this thing…

Can’t use the front door, that wouldn’t work.  …Oh hey they have a sun roof!

*and so he slips in there.  It’s easy to find the containment chamber for the symbiote.  It’s right at the center of the room.  If Peter hadn’t known it before, he’d know it now: this thing…this terrible alien is important.

Well, now it’s time to do what’s right.

He sets out his note in advance.*

Finally got your missing symbiote back to you! Sorry it took so long.  Also sorry I had to freeze it and kill it.  It’s a lot of trouble - that’s the reason it took so long to get it back to you - and really shouldn’t be handled by anything living.  It’s very dangerous.  I hope you’re able to study it post-mortem.  Sorry again :o(

*unshaven and sleep deprived, Eddie carries a small box with the meager amount of possessions he’d brought here with him in the first place out into the lab proper. He’d like to take one last look at the place, one last look at what his future was going to be.*

*in the low light it takes him a few seconds to realize he’s not alone in here*

Spider-Man? What are you—

*notices the dark substance crawling up the glass freezer container and his eyes widen*

That’s—that’s the alien life! The one that got stolen! You brought it back—oh my goddudeohmygod!

*drops his box on the desk and rushes over, a manic grin breaking out on his face*

*oh god he hopes it can be studied post-mortem, please let them be able to study it post-mortem.*

That’s- uh- it’s okay! It’s late.  You don’t have to wake her up - I left a note.

*points down at it.

*stops as he notices Spider-Man turn the temperature down, his grin faltering. He points to it, emphatically.*

*after getting rid of the symbiote (and taking a very very quick trip home to retrieve and get into his old suit (via the window scenic route of course)), Peter travels to Empire State University.*

I just gotta figure out how to get into Doc Martha’s lab to return this thing…

Can’t use the front door, that wouldn’t work.  …Oh hey they have a sun roof!

*and so he slips in there.  It’s easy to find the containment chamber for the symbiote.  It’s right at the center of the room.  If Peter hadn’t known it before, he’d know it now: this thing…this terrible alien is important.

Well, now it’s time to do what’s right.

He sets out his note in advance.*

Finally got your missing symbiote back to you! Sorry it took so long.  Also sorry I had to freeze it and kill it.  It’s a lot of trouble - that’s the reason it took so long to get it back to you - and really shouldn’t be handled by anything living.  It’s very dangerous.  I hope you’re able to study it post-mortem.  Sorry again :o(

*unshaven and sleep deprived, Eddie carries a small box with the meager amount of possessions he'd brought here with him in the first place out into the lab proper. He'd like to take one last look at the place, one last look at what his future was going to be.*

*in the low light it takes him a few seconds to realize he's not alone in here*

Spider-Man? What are you--

*notices the dark substance crawling up the glass freezer container and his eyes widen*

That's--that's the alien life! The one that got stolen! You brought it back--oh my goddudeohmygod!

*drops his box on the desk and rushes over, a manic grin breaking out on his face*

So it’s doormat or bust, huh? *grips the phone a bit too tight* You either let everyone walk all over you or take your ball and go home? *his tone becomes sharp and sarcastic* Must be a nice luxury to do that. To be able to quit because of your feelings and not have everything in your life go to shit.

Yeah, maybe I will! Hey, maybe I can take your old job. And when I do, I’ll be sure to call and thank you for all the help.

You don’t know anything about me! We were best friends when we were little, but that was a long time ago and a lot has changed - you don’t know me! Don’t act like you do!

You know what! Take my fucking job! Really, go in there and demand it, tell them you can do it better than Peter Parker ever could! See what happens! See if it works out!

*quietly and coldly* Yeah, you have changed. I used to think you were a decent human being.

Guess I was wrong.

I'll tell them just that when I see them, Peter. Good fucking luck to you. Hope you make May proud the next time you quit a job.

*hangs up, throwing the phone across the room in a fit of anger. It clatters against the floor, skidding to a stop underneath his desk.*

*glares.*

What does it matter?

I tried making nice.  I tried.  You don’t think I tried?! That I wanted to-

…Oh.  Oh, I see what this is, I get it now.  So I’m supposed to get verbally abused so that you have a backup plan. An escape route.  Huh? That’s it, right? I’m supposed to take that bullet for you, right?

*laughs bitterly and wears a deceptively cheerful smile.*

*looks up at the ceiling, rubbing his face*

That came out wrong, bro, it did. But, Peter, I am am beyond backup plans. If I don’t find something right now, I’m gonna have to drop out of school. I—I don’t have anywhere to go after this. My future’s gonna go down the crapper, and *lets out a frustrated groan* I didn’t even screw this up!

Yeah, maybe I will! Hey, maybe I can take your old job. And when I do, I'll be sure to call and thank you for all the help.

*glares.*

What does it matter?

I tried making nice.  I tried.  You don’t think I tried?! That I wanted to-

…Oh.  Oh, I see what this is, I get it now.  So I’m supposed to get verbally abused so that you have a backup plan. An escape route.  Huh? That’s it, right? I’m supposed to take that bullet for you, right?

*laughs bitterly and wears a deceptively cheerful smile.*

*looks up at the ceiling, rubbing his face*

That came out wrong, bro, it did. But, Peter, I am am beyond backup plans. If I don't find something right now, I'm gonna have to drop out of school. I--I don't have anywhere to go after this. My future's gonna go down the crapper, and *lets out a frustrated groan* I didn't even screw this up!

Just like always before he had the symbiote.  He’s not weak anymore.  If he fought in that battle again now, he’d win.  And Eddie is only trying to guilt him.  Emotional manipulation.  He sneers.  It won’t work.*

That sucks.

I quit.

*Eddie smacks himself in the face, his hand traveling up to his head where he grabs on his hair and yanks on it*

Yeah.  Because, guess what? Iron Man? is kind of a dick.  All the time.  

*glares.*

Ohhh nothing much, bro, life’s been amazing over here.

*stops drumming his fingers on the box*

*pause*

If only he could have been competent and fought back instead of joking around.  But no, no instead he lost.  He failed just like always.  

Just like always before he had the symbiote.  He’s not weak anymore.  If he fought in that battle again now, he’d win.  And Eddie is only trying to guilt him.  Emotional manipulation.  He sneers.  It won’t work.*

That sucks.

Ohhh nothing much, bro, life’s been amazing over here.

*stops drumming his fingers on the box*

*pause*

*Life has full on sucked since that metal armed jerkwad stole from  Martha Connors’s lab. After begging, pleading, and doing everything he can to salvage everything, Eddie is at the end of his options.*

*needing someone to talk to (and yeah, someone who has connections to a possible job, let’s be real) he dials up Peter’s number*

Ooh baby, baby.  B-Baby, baby.  Ooh baby, baby.  B-Ba-

*picks up the phone without even looking to see who’s calling.*

Yello.

*pauses for a reply for only a moment before laughing too hard and continuing on*

You heard about the Octopus freak, right? He freaking broke in and stole from us! And, get this, even after fighting with—hell, I dunno, I heard Iron Man and Spider-Man, but the Bugle says Spidey was in on it—they never recovered the alien life form.

He addresses nothing but Eddie’s initial question.*

*Life has full on sucked since that metal armed jerkwad stole from  Martha Connors’s lab. After begging, pleading, and doing everything he can to salvage everything, Eddie is at the end of his options.*

*needing someone to talk to (and yeah, someone who has connections to a possible job, let’s be real) he dials up Peter’s number*

Ooh baby, baby.  B-Baby, baby.  Ooh baby, baby.  B-Ba-

*picks up the phone without even looking to see who’s calling.*

Yello.

*pauses for a reply for only a moment before laughing too hard and continuing on*

You heard about the Octopus freak, right? He freaking broke in and stole from us! And, get this, even after fighting with--hell, I dunno, I heard Iron Man and Spider-Man, but the Bugle says Spidey was in on it--they never recovered the alien life form.

*smacks himself in the forehead*

Compass! Why didn’t I think of that? Dammit! *laughs* Photography’s cool, though. Useful, too. You can see a lot you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise with it. Different perspective and all that. All else fails, we can get you a “You Tried” t-shirt, so everyone knows you gave it your best. *grins* You will be building bridges, bro. Bringing disparate concepts together into something new and fascinating.

But maybe.  I’m always kinda wary of mass production.  If only because the word just sounds so…corporate.  *pulls an “ew” face.*  Ya know? But if it’s to help people, I’m all for that.

Specialized knowledge is all. There’s a reason I’m a biochem major and not engineering. *grins* Doesn’t stop me from brainstorming for everything, though.

Compass! Why didn't I think of that? Dammit! *laughs* Photography's cool, though. Useful, too. You can see a lot you wouldn't have noticed otherwise with it. Different perspective and all that. All else fails, we can get you a "You Tried" t-shirt, so everyone knows you gave it your best. *grins* You will be building bridges, bro. Bringing disparate concepts together into something new and fascinating.