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LAURA
The gagging scent of ammonia once again hit my nostrils with a force like never before. Of course, my first plans included going to the nearest apartment which was obviously Eddie's but I had not entirely thought it through. The place smelt of ageing paper and beer, the sounds coming for the apartment above not too pleasing. I swept my gaze to the refrigerator, sighing in content. Tugging open the door, I scanned the door for a drink. Beer, root beer and orange juice that was probably ice. Leftover pizza, some odd purple container that had been there for as long as I'd known him and two bags of tater tots.
'Jesus,' I said to him. 'Where are the consumable foods? You in a food coma or something?'
He rubbed his eyes and groaned. 'You came off as a surprise. I was supposed to load up on groceries yesterday.'
'More gag-worthy food as usual.'
I left the thawing orange juice on the counter and faced Eddie. He tossed his keys onto the side and closed down the blinds I had opened last morning. He peeped out onto the dead street watchfully, mumbling to Venom under his breath.
Eddie looked so frightened and sick. There would be a lightness to his skin and some colour on his face but today, it was like someone drained the life out of him. His hair stood out messily yet managed to look heart-rending with his hooded eyes.
I walked to him slowly and made sure not to surprise the beast in him. I warped my hands around him, crossing my wrists on his abdomen and locking him in place. His leaned back to let the nape of his neck nudge my forehead softly. 'Are you with the Avengers or something?'
A laugh rumbled out of him. 'I'm way out of their radar. So no, I don't think so.'
'Damn, I really thought I could meet Tony Stark. He's such a hottie.'
An awkward clearing of the throat from Eddie as he bound his fists around my hands. 'I've got competition. Richer and brainier.'
'Nah,' I purred. 'I've got a thing for bad boys.' His amusement cleared the tension when I lightly caressed the thick material of his leather between my fingers. My next question came after a beat when we fell into a soft silence.
'Does it keep bothering you?' I didn't bother calling ET by his name, still not in terms with the alien.
'I got used to it,' he murmured. 'We're just hungry all the time.'
