[ act two ]

«  We're not monster! We're not! We can't be! No! No!  »  

«  It's either you now . . . or the entire planet later.  »    

- T&B -

Tony Stark knew this place like the back of his hand yet it felt like he was a visitant. He was rethinking his decision on walking in without notice on his partner in crime after calculating the chances. He knew the consequences of offhand arrival at the laboratory in the Stark compound that was reinstated to this man for research purposes. The man who could singlehandedly whoop Tony's ass if the vicious alter ego was to be prodded. But still, so, he took his chances.

'Banner. Got a sec?'

Doctor Bruce Banner was the other half of his outlandish ideas and a part of Tony's mundane mental support system that commonly appeared to malfunction. However tactless they seemed, Bruce added his endless effort into whatever mad-science experiments they embarked on. So when the Laura Sharp episode came across, the first he turned to after Pepper was the man who owned seven PhDs and went hand-in-hand with the Hulk.

Bruce lifted his head from the table projecting a hologram of something new he'd been working on for his fellow Avengers. His mouth flopped open with surprise, doing a double-take at the docile billionaire. 

'I thought you were in San Francisco.'

'Hello to you, too,' he sang dryly. 'Yeah, I was. But I had to talk to you.'

Bruce cocked his eyebrow. 'So you just flew back here?'

'Talk urgently.'

Tony shrugged and walked to face the doctor directly. He randomly swiped against the slides on the projecting table, trying to prolong the situation but testing Banner's patience.

'Is it about Elle?'

Tony rolled his eyes. Elle and he was the talk of the town after their little vendetta. But he didn't expect Mr. Live-under-a-rock to speak about it candidly. Bruce had him surprised and outlawed for a moment.

'I'm not some lovesick ballad. Moreover, Ms Preece and I parted on high-grade terms.'

'Sure. Enlighten me on the motive behind this conversation, then.'

'I met a woman and she's clearly something to talk about if we are,' he said with a purse of his lips. 'Sob stories and history aside, she has a rare case of variant angina which I want to eradicate.'

Bruce shook his head in disbelief not knowing which to address first. A woman who could romantically be associated with Tony or the fact that he wanted to help a stray girl without expertise.

'You're not a qualified medical professional.'

'But you are. I want you to help me help her.'

'This isn't Ultron or JARVIS, Tony. This is a physically unfit girl in need of medication and you want to inject my frenzied deftness on her. Hold on, is that even legal?'

'Everything is legal to a philanthropist,' Tony said begrudgingly and nudged his arm with the transparent phone in his hand. 'You just need supplies, tech and that push from your sponsor.'

Bruce ran a hand down his face. He used air quotes when terming this woman. 'Is this girl another one of your rebound arm candy?'

'I refuse to give our platonic relationship a mainstream title,' Tony snorted. 'I just like her enough to trust her with us.'

'I don't even trust us,' Bruce sighed. 'This is once again, a chance encounter. If we misread into this, we are committing an international blunder.'

'Don't be a downer, Banner. Think of her as one of your scientific pursuits.'

Bruce scoffed out loud. 'Except she is deeply unlikely to profit the team. On that note, are you pursuing her?'

Tony tried to shroud the disappointment of his face with monotony. He couldn't disagree with him least, he had taken on a higher level of liking for the small-time reporter with a sardonic twist on her inner virtues. At first, he ignored it as one of his playboy tendencies and then soon, read between the lines to complicate the matter more. He was winging it as the millennials called it but he preferred to go with the flow.

'I'll take your silence as a yes,' Bruce declared. 'You're the Iron Man. What's her deal?'

Tony placed the phone on the table to reveal Laura's profile with Eddie Brock's name in bright flashy letters in the relations box. Her scans and reports were what interested Bruce instead, scrolling through them on the screen with parted lips.

'Ooh, she's a good one. And what the hell is a shym-bee - symbiote?'

Tony pinched the bridge of his nose in despair. How could someone such a large opposite personality have such a small span of attention? 'It's living Jell-O. Okay, the situation?'

'Go ahead.'

Tony tried to be as honest as possible, bracing his arms against the table for support. This was Bruce Banner, his science bro. It was them against the world.

'That I don't stand a chance.'

Banner sympathized with a wrinkle of his nose. 'She's off the market?'

'Permanently. Given she lost her child for him.'

'So there is involvement of grief,' Bruce nodded with comprehension and scratched it onto a virtual note beside her sketch. 'This trauma and stress could be affecting her disease without her knowledge.'

Without any more confirmations, he could tell Banner was willing to give this one a try. But deep down, he knew it was only because Banner owed him after so many misjudged scenarios.

'Just,' Tony inhaled sharply. 'Go easy on her, okay? She's an offbeat one. Smart but temperamental.'

'She sounds a lot like you. I mean, I dealt with you. Is that enough exercise?'

Tony smiled largely. 'Perfect.'

'And, Tony?'

'Yeah, doc?'

'It's best to leave your relationship with her where it is. Don't complicate it. For both of them.'

For both of them. He knew he was crossing his boundaries to help this woman. But this was the only chance for him to get to know her better. In a more friendlier way than normal since they'd gotten off the wrong foot. In the end, he knew he was going to breed some chaos in both their lives. 

For even the sweetest fruits bore firm seeds of misfortune.

'Oh, Bruce. I'd never.'

- ♣ -

LAURA

All my life, I had regretted a lot of obligations. It was the most earthly thing to do as a human. So me being a rookie and klutz, I always learned things the hard way. No matter how important the circumstance. May it be the inebriating process of dragging my body out of the comforter or calling in late at work, I had the worst luck. 

Speaking of luck, I was the last one to catch up to my boss to strike out the few puzzling pointers on my notes regarding the latest issue on the Daily Globe. In my four-inch heels, it was near to impossible to slip between the hoards of interns who scampered for attention and I had no other choice but to sigh and give up like every other day. My old ten-dollar blouse wrinkled with the rush around me, making it arduous to even view my chief.

Journalism was all about clawing your way up the social pariah in your workplace. Everything depended on grasping every chance that came your way, otherwise, you could end up losing your every other opening. So it was a go or go out kind of job. I chose it because it was the only thing I knew to do: speak up. I could speak out to save my life and I knew to speak for what was right regardless of the consequences. 

My chief, Paul Barnum, had a major stick up his ass after the controversial yet popular front-page article penned by Eddie Brock about the inexplicable events at Roosevelt Island, two months ago. He wouldn't stop cutting in between conferences to talk about something irrelevant from the San Fran district offices and the cesspool of murders around town. 

Obviously, no one paid attention because it was the least important thing to discuss when one of the biggest show out in business commerce was reportedly in a penitentiary for furtive reasons. The one and only Eddie Brock himself was tight-lipped about the matter and that caused a stir in the room.

'Sir, the legal cases say that SHIELD's agents had full authority to bring in Keith with his own lawyers pitting against - '

Barnum went beet red with anger. 'If it is anything regarding that shady bastard, please leave. I have nothing to say.'

I knew I had the chance to cut in when the hallway dimmed to murmurs. I looked around me for anyone to pique up and ask about the mysteriously gruesome murders that Barnum used to pry for attention. Seeing no one, I raised my hand elusively.

'Yes, Sharp?'

'Regarding the trivial deaths of vics in Twin Peaks and Sunset in the last two weeks, do you think the killer could maybe,' I drawled undecidedly, 'be related? Or possibly the same?'

His eyes lightened at the sound of his article coming to view. He lifted his chin and answered. 'Both were grisly murders of innocent in similar ways. The killer has frankly put, consumed their cerebella. This has to be the work of our very own symbiote guardian, Venom.'

I felt myself go cold with fear. 'Venom?'

'Our dark hero, yes.'

'Venom is a hero. He'd wouldn't commit a crime given that he safeguards this city and obviously, it's a misconception - '

'Seeing the evidence collected at the spot,' he cut into my angry rambling. 'It matches with the evidence flocked at multiple other Venom sightings around town. It's getting hard to track him down so we have no other choice but to involve the police.'

I was shaken up inevitably. My hands gripped the notepad, the letters I had written a while ago burning holes into my head. It couldn't be true. The cops being involved would just take a heavy toll on his life. There must be some sort of a conspiracy revolving around this case. Maybe another masked murderer, using Venom's techniques to convince the press that it was indeed the symbiote himself.

'Sharp? Is that it?'

I blinked twice and looked up at my chief. He was raising his eyebrows and had a sliver of a smile. I shot glances at my fellow colleagues who are started their round of whispers and then back at Barnum. 

'Yeah. That'll be all.'

Forget about it. It's all in a day's work. Focus on what's next, I thought to myself internally. Shaking my head to forgo the cramping thoughts, I stuffed the notepad in my pocket. Retrieving the lanyard for the next meeting out of my pocket, I slipped it on. 

Reminding myself I needed a strong cup of coffee, I passed by the hallway to the elevator. I could spot the doors from the end of the hallway, the red blinking numbers almost bypassing my floor. Before I could make a run for it, my motion was stopped by a firm grasp latching over my elbow and pulling me aside. When the doors opened, a batch of members cast me concerned glances when a gasp peeled out of me and my dark hair going haywire from the smooth position I'd forced it to settle.

'What the - '

The door opened behind my enforcer, forcing both of us in and clicking it shut behind me. When the familiar musky scent enveloped my senses, a spike of annoyance caused me to thwack his chest sharply.

'You absolute dick,' I hissed at him. Eddie's brown eyes shone with humor at my anger, his long arms trapping my body to the door. I had no other choice but to lose all the fight in me and chuckle back. 

Eddie Brock was a man of many words. Some would call him egotistical and conceited because of his closed-off nature and approach at anything in his workspace. And there were some who knew he was successful because of those qualities, therefore, his luck was just golden compared to most. So the question was: how did the rookiest of interns end up with the popular publisher king, Eddie freaking Brock?

Our relationship was the scandalous gossip in the building. I remembered having a hard time focusing, with all the jibbering of my co-workers and their insolent questions about our sex life. Sex was the last thing on my mind before the topic caught heat. This part was the most entertaining.

Apparently one of the boys in the social department started the rumour about me getting a job at the company because of our hookup but of course, my saviour came to the rescue. He was frank about the matter, conveying to them that we were a bit rocky when I got this spot and it was purely on my own terms.

There were times when I refused to even talk to Eddie in public, scurrying off to the nearest cafe as a hideout spots but he had hunted me down. I was worried about his status in the block and if it would both of our careers in jeopardy.

Eddie's lips fit between mine, moving them tenderly. I smiled into the kiss, taking in a shaky breath and holding his head in my hands and working in more passion into this kiss. His hands roamed past every crevasse in my body, the world falling away into silence. When he reached to up to the buttons of my blouse to hook it off, I pulled back dejected, with a glare. He leaned his face forward to catch my lips, but I jerked back with a tsk.

'You want to take me in your office?'

His eyes thinned with brooding. 'I'd take you anytime, anywhere.'

I rolled my eyes, taking in shallow breaths and straightening my further crinkled blouse. 'What do you want?'

His lips brushed the edge of my temple, breathing deeply. 'I wanted to tell you that I'm very disappointed.'

I pursed my lips. I tried to suppress the bubbling laughter at his ridiculous sad pout. His actions told something else. His hands traversed down to my waist and his lips moving into my hairline. 

I was confused ultimately. 'Wha - what did I do?'

'I had a reservation for the both of us at the restaurant down the street and you didn't show up,' he murmured. I widened my eyes at the forgotten words and closed them in repent. So, I owed an apology and an excuse.

'I was at the conference the head chief and Paul,' I said, hoping contact would make it better. I placed my hands over his cheek and forced his eyes on mine. He shrugged.

'It's okay,' he said with an indifferent smile. 'I drank wine for two. Which is an issue.'

I laughed and took a whiff. He didn't seem drunk and there was no stench. That was probably Venom's doing.

Venom was San Fran's very own 'Lethal Protector' as Eddie had dubbed himself. The most volatile of cases were handled by Venom; the only way to identify such a supervillain/hero was by the amorphous suit that he wore and the signature fangs. His growls rang through the night, terrifying the wrong-doers and punishing them with death.

Yes. Eddie and Venom were one.

'You're fine and,' I sighed and decided to apologize not able to find any valid excuse. 'I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you,' I added with an idea striking me. 'Dinner's on me tomorrow. From scratch.'

A mischievous smile lit his features as he pulled back. 'You're going to cook?'

I narrowed my eyes with faux anger. I knew I couldn't cook for shit. Instant noddles excluded, I sucked at anything kitchen related but I promised Eddie I was learning for him. 

His arms left the wall, pushing his fists into his pockets. He nodded at me. 'Do you need me to pick you up after work?'

Unmistakably, the internship at Daily Globe paid zilch. I had to keep my end of the bargain with the apartment I shared with Eddie by working part-time at a mini-mart near our block. It was a little pay but it was temporary until I got a continual job at the Daily Globe. I was hell-bent on earning a fixed job somewhere that I found it hard to balance Eddie and work, sometimes neglecting to have my meals.

'I might have to stay back today,' I said nipping my lip. Leaning forward, I crashed my forehead into his shoulder in sheer tiredness. The fraying ends of this leather jacket dug into my skin but I paid no heed. 'And, I didn't get my confirmation letter yet.'

'Hey,' he said and encircled his arms around me, rubbing my back soothingly. 'Give it a few more days. Believe me, they'll love you.'

'At this rate, I might have to move out.'

'Too late. I would have put a ring on you.'

I half-laughed, linking my arms at the small of his back. God, I wished I could stay like this forever. He had an inviting coldness to his skin, the chill feeling good against my sore skin.

'What did I do to deserve you?'

'A few can be that lucky.'

Before I could crush him with the engaging kiss ever, someone rapped on the door. Taken by surprise, I took a step back and away from Eddie, letting my fingers interlaced behind my back. He looked at me if we were a go and allowed the person in

The intruder turned out to be Paul. 

'Brock - oh hey, Laura.'

I waved at him sheepishly and felt suddenly conscious. Was my lipstick smudged or my eyeliner wavy? Oh, what the hell, we didn't even kiss.

'Uh, I'll just leave you two to it,' I said, ready to walk out the door. 

'No, stay! It won't take long and I was hoping I could get input for you,' he said quickly, using his hand gestures to explain his point. 

Certainly, there was a bit of tension between Paul and I, given the fake date I had convinced him to go on a few months ago was still on his mind. Except to him, it was totally and undoubtedly real. Not that Paul wasn't a looker - I just needed him for a tab bit of information regarding the Malik case. 

When Paul found out about Eddie and me, he took it better than I imagined. Of course, there were the uneasy glances and uncomfortable approaches but I had cleared it out to him. I was in love with Eddie and for a long time now.

'You could solve this case since you've got great eyes,' he chuckled and the room fell into an awkward silence. Eddie made a noise at the back of his throat precariously. I dug my nails into my palms, looking at my feet in despair.

'I meant observant eyes. You've got pretty eyes too, don't get me wrong - '

Eddie cut into his bullshit, rubbing a hand over his temple. 'Barnum, get to the point.'

Paul sighed and walked to the table to stick a note on his desk. I couldn't decipher it yet, but Paul disclosed it before I could peak.

'It's about the killing spree that Venom is on. We've got leads and a memo from the head chief to send word to the police. They can advance and corner him down.'

- ♣ -

[ w/n: the plot has been unraveled? starting off with a murder and a love arc, how do you think this one's going to come about? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the plot's forthcoming and see if I can improvise! on that note, you're in for a 'scream'. Got it yet? ]