KevEdd: Spider Bites

Chapter One

There are few things in this world as freeing as being able to swing above New York when the sky is growing dark and the streets are coming alive with light and nightlife. No matter how many nights Edd spends this way, it will never get old. Even now, after a rough fight, his muscles aching and bruises painting his back, it's the most wonderful thing he has ever experienced.

Behind him is Kevin, skin jet-black with Venom's wicked form and face contorted into a nightmare grin, as always. He hangs back as he usually does, allowing Edd to take the lead. At first he found it odd considering how competitive and dominant Kevin is (not to mention Venom which, according to Kevin and from Edd's unfortunate personal experience, is practically its own entity) but after fighting together and for so long Edd has realized it's because Kevin wants to be able to watch over him. There have been countless times Edd has been knocked from the air or sideswiped by a sudden attack but Kevin is always there, right behind him, ready to tear the assailant away, to push Edd out of the path of the attack or warn him.

It's hard to believe they were once enemies when Kevin treats him with such care.

As the bustling city begins to fade behind them, the shadowy form of their meeting spot, a long-abandoned factory with shattered windows and smatterings of graffiti painting its walls, rises before them. Edd lands on the roof soundlessly but the same can't be said for Kevin as the concrete cracks under the force of Venom's feet.

With a huff, Edd tugs off his mask and turns to glare at the hulking form of the combined man and parasite. The maw of the beast splits wide with a ragged grin, tongue lashing across its dripping fangs, and Double D scowls at the shine of saliva.

"Such an unsanitary beast! Don't you know Venom is nothing more than a glorified parasite?" he snips. This is a conversation they have time and time again, at this point it's not an insult or judgement, more teasing.

Venom's grating laugh still sends a shiver down Edd's spine even after all this time. It's honestly a relief when the strange substance that covers Kevin's form like a second skin knits the twisted mouth together only to unfurl from his face, revealing Kevin's freckled skin, warm eyes and crooked smile. The monster disappears to reveal the all-American boy, the perfect human form; there's something about it that never fails to awe Edd.

"Aw, c'mon, Double Dork," he drawls. "Venom's not that bad."

Edd rolls his eyes but he doesn't feel like discussing the parasite that once tried to kill him so he instead turns towards the two duffel bags tucked away by the roof bulkhead. This is where they always come at the end of the day to take a few minutes to catch their breath, drink some sports drinks and just relax. No one ever comes here but them, luckily, so Edd feels comfortable removing his mask and sliding out of the top half of his suit.

He can feel Kevin's eyes on him, which brings a fierce blush to his face; he quickly grabs a tshirt from his bag and slips it on. "What's wrong?" he asks and coughs, embarrassed by his raspy voice.

Kevin smirks but it's almost a tender look on his face, not the severe one that Edd has grown so used to. "Does it really gross you out that much?"

Though he doesn't sound upset, only amused, Edd's chest constricts with his guilt. "It did try to consume my being, Kevin..." he mutters and tucks a strand of hair behind his ear before shoving the mask to the bottom of his bag and snatching up his hat. "It's nothing against you."

"Yeah but... it's sort of me, at this point," he mutters, finally joining Edd over the duffel bags.

Edd looks away as the the living suit peels away from Kevin's torso, baring the smooth planes of his chest, his abs, dipping dangerously close to his sex. Even though they've had this routine for a while now, Edd will never get used to seeing Kevin Barr shirtless. He actually feels a little guilty about it because surely Kevin wouldn't want to be checked out by Edd or any other guy and he always does his best not to.