We Are Riot

11

Eddie and Venom patiently waited out Riot's story. The symbiote did not lie to them and laid out the truth bare.
"If only Drake would allow me to eat at least one head, everything would have been better," Riot said, "but he doesn't like the idea of cannibalism."
"Well, I'm just sort of used to it by now," Eddie replied with a small grin. Venom smirked.
"That's because we actually have a decent bond," he added.
"I do not know why Drake's body is still rejecting me," Riot growled. "We have been together for at least three months and the bond still hasn't been fully complete!"
"Well, if it makes you feel better, most symbiotes don't achieve perfect symbiosis until the human fully accepts them," Venom said.
"So it's on Drake's end that's at fault? Not mine?"
"Yes."
Riot hummed thoughtfully for a moment and then turned to the living room.
"Why hasn't he accepted me then? He obviously wants me."
"Uh...you sure about that? He dumped you. Threw you away," Venom replied. "I don't mean it in a bad way, it's just that...Drake isn't exactly the most mentally stable or normal human being on this planet."
"He is only like that because he wants to achieve great things," Riot said, turning back to the two. "Don't tear him down again." The faint growl echoed softly in the apartment and Eddie put his hands up in a submissive manner.
"We weren't tearing him down, we were just staying the facts," he replied meekly.
"Now the question is, how to make him believe I was not eating his organs out of instinct, it was because he didn't give me heads," Riot said thoughtfully. "Of course, I ate whatever he gave me but I need variation! I can't just eat salad! I need meat! Protein! Human brains!"
"Well, you emptied our fridge in like, two minutes flat," Eddie said with a weak smile. "I guess if you're still hungry, V and I could take you on a hunt?"
"But what about Drake? We need to convince him that—"
"One cannot think on an empty stomach," Venom chided.
"Hmfph. Fine."

Drake sat in his cell, too worn out from all the activity that had followed suite after his and Riot's somewhat easy split. But now...now he needed the alien. Sure, he was eating his insides, sure he had stabbed him with one of his makeshift weapons, but Drake was in deep water and he needed to get out.
Almost as deep as the water when he and Riot had fallen into the bay after the explosion. Did Riot actually care for him? Drake replayed the scenes over in his mind.
Riot desperately trying to keep him from burning as the rocket exploded all around them and the flames licked up everywhere. He could feel Riot leaving him as they plummeted down towards the water.
He remembered finding himself on the shore, still damp and weak from the battle before. Riot had returned back to him and had healed him almost completely. They both had been very weak.
Drake looked back into the memories of when he and Riot were together. Was the alien just using him? Drake wasn't sure. Some days when he and the symbiote were together, it seemed like the creature genuinely cared. But the last few days had been...whoof. They hadn't been pleasant.
And now he was empty. And he needed Riot. He needed him now. Questions whirled around in his mind. Who knew about all what he had done? How did Haley find out? How did she know?
Drake shook his head.
Where was Riot?
Riot, come back. I need you.

The two fully formed symbiotes leaped across the buildings, Venom leading. Riot would have normally led the way, but he was feeling a bit distracted by Drake and how they could figure out a way to get it into his head that Riot wasn't trying to kill him!
Stupid Carlton. Always so...
Venom stopped suddenly as they heard the faint sounds of gunshots. Riot stopped too and practically drooled with anticipation.
"Bad guys!" Venom cheered happily and then was off towards the sound, Riot close behind.
Leaping down into an alleyway, they both roared, startling the gang of men who were trying to ensue chaos on the streets. Most of them had guns but that didn't mean anything for Venom or Riot.
Snatching the guns out from the men's hands, Venom easily discarded them into a nearby dumpster, while Riot was already at work, slashing with his weapons and swallowing the men whole. When Venom turned back around, he saw that there was only one man left and he was struggling in the powerful grip of Riot. Riot held the man out to the black symbiote and grinned widely, the blood covering his mouth and claws and dripping onto the ground. He licked his teeth to clean them as he advanced.
"This one's for you," he grunted and the dropped the man down to the ground.
Venom eagerly scooped the man up and quickly dispatched him with a large bite, leaving the headless man to fall to the ground with a loud thud.
"Mmm. Juicy," Venom said, licking his lips. Riot hummed in approval.
"Now that my hunger is sated, we must figure out a plan to get Drake back. He won't believe me if I tell him."
"You want us to come with you?" Venom asked.
"It would be a help, yes."

"This is the place," Riot said as they looked up at the apartment that Drake lived in. "I will go up first. If I don't come down in three minutes, come up."
"Fine."
"Good."
Riot leaped up towards his old apartment window and squeezed through it and into their living room. The lights and TV were still on, as well as bedroom lights. Riot looked around the room slowly, his eyes searching for the man who he held so close.
"Carlton?" he asked, stepping around the couch to look everywhere. After two minutes of frantic searching, Riot growled. "Carlton! You better come out here right now, you stupid little bitch!"
He was angry. And scared.
Wait, scared?
No. He couldn't be.
Riot never got scared.
He was a team leader on his planet back home! Fearless! Respected by his kind! He must have gotten that trait when he was with Drake.
Humans and their stupid emotions. Always messing things up, making symbiotes like him appear weak! Unacceptable!
Riot turned when he heard Venom entering.
"He's not here," Riot snarled.
"Then where could he be?" Venom wondered.
"I don't know!" Riot roared as he threw a chair across the room. "Fuck Drake and his stupid little bitch brain! I don't care what happens after this but if I don't find Drake in the next hour, I swear I will kill everyone on this puny planet!"
Suddenly their attention was caught by the television. Curious, they both went over to it and listened.
There was someone talking on the screen but Riot wasn't interested in that. His eyes went to the familiar picture and stayed there, seeming to drink in the man's appearance as if he would never see him again. Riot made a low sound in his throat and moved closer.
The words "Carlton Drake found and taken into custody" were the only things he saw before he flew into a rage.
Venom backed away but remained calm.
"Calm down," he growled.
"Calm down! How can I when that idiot is being held captive!" Riot thundered and seized Venom around the neck. "You are going to take me there right now, do you understand?"
"Gladly, although you might want to loosen your grip a little," Venom replied, trying to breathe around the massive hand. Riot realized what the situation was and placed Venom back down on the ground, muttering something.
"Drake told me once that laying low was a good thing," Riot grunted. "That it would keep us safe. And we did. But now look what happened."
"Well, don't mind me saying this, but you weren't really thinking clearly when you came back to your apartment. You should have moved apartments, that way the police couldn't track you down. Maybe even put on a disguise," Venom ventured.
"Drake isn't the smartest man when it comes to his own safety," Riot growled.
"I'm sure he'll be delighted to see you, once we're done rescuing him," Venom said.
"He better be or else I'm suing," the gray grunted.
"Now the only thing is to convince him that you won't eat his organs anymore..."
"That is the part we still need to work on."

The fact that Venom and Eddie are willing to help Riot get Drake back just makes me smile bc they're the best in the world for doing this. I mean Riot and Drake TRIED TO KILL THEM AND THEY'RE HELPING THEM!!!