sixthiterationtexts | UN: The Brock Report

[Eddie your heart rate is racing and your endorphins are picking up! Tell. Her. About. Me. Don't make the same sorts of mistakes that lost you Anne...

He reaches for her fingers and holds them there for a moment, adjusting it. Venom rumbles in his chest.]

...I may look like a marshmallow but I can handle sharp pine for days.

[And at any moment you will be honest...

He shrugs.]

I love the smell. My dad was...well. A dad, but one of the best memories I have is of the holidays. He'd get super into it. You have good...Hanukkah memories? Holiday memories?

[His hand is pleasantly warm and Wanda feels herself smiling a little bit wider.]

A few. My parented died when I was ten, so I don't remember too much but we celebrated Hanukkah and last year I went to a friends to celebrate Christmas with their family. [Or maybe it had been two years ago, her time in the village makes it a little hard to tell.]

Are you alright?

You seem tense.

I'm so sorry. [he pauses] about your parents not the holidays. Holidays are awesome.

[he sighs.] I guess thinking about the holidays is getting to me. I want it to be good. I want it to be fun, but it's been...It's been a crazy freakin' year you know?

I mean we're from the same world and you're an Avenger so I can't imagine how nuts it's been for you.

[Say something. about me. say something. say something-

Shut the hell up

bitch

Parasite

A warm sense of affection fills Eddie and it takes every ounce of emotion he has not to show off the sudden spring of emotion inside of him.]

[Wanda's expression softens as she places a hand on Arado's head and scratches behind his ear.]

It's alright. It was a long time ago and it's nice to think about them. The holidays are supposed to be about family and friends.

Right?

[She nods her head though her expression tightens. Wanda doesn't know what happens next but from what she'd picked up from Clint, it isn't anything good. It's probably better not to think about the future.]

All the more reason we should enjoy the holiday here.

We have ornaments, you're getting a tree, now we just need a party.

We could throw one together.

[This is what Anne wants right? Him to make other friends? And truth be told she is some kind of adorable...

Oh that's what this is. Venom sounds amused. Now, finally. You tell her about me...

It's nothing like that jesus shut up. Sit down. Asshole.

Jerk.

He grins.]

I mean who knows what we're gonna get inflicted with but we could do a small thing...Or just like...dinner.

[He smiles.] You guys do parties as Avengers right?

[Wanda meets his gaze and once again, she's fighting a smile. Eddie is far too charming for his own good.]

Yes, the Avengers have parties.

[Tony doesn't skimp out on anything.]

A dinner sounds nice. A lot of what we did were small get togethers. [The Avengers were her family... before it fell apart.]

What are you thinking for this dinner?

Okay cause listen. Tony Stark looks like he throws either the most subdued parties in history or the wildest shindigs this side of wild town.

[Small get-togethers. Eddie considers this.]

Stark's been...Stark's been a good guy to me. Maybe just a small thing for folks from our world? Or a nice...family dinner since we've got to stick together.

Or a couple of worlds. I dunno but just a nice dinner.

Shit do you think they have Turkey? Like is there a Turkey thing out there?

[Turkey is the greatest thing in the United States that they have ever created.

We didn't create the turkey.

Yes but you decided to eat the turkey!

Okay but the Indigenous People did not my sorry white pasty ass.

...Hmn

Eddie has his head cocked to the side for a moment. He shakes it off like a dog.]

Fun fact. Did you know the Turkey was almost the US national bird? Ben Franklin wanted it.

[Wanda continues to wrap the nails into crosses using the leather to bind them. After she runs out of nails she begins tying pieces of holly onto strings to lengthen Eddie's garland. It isn't difficult work but it's time consuming and she's still thinking about how to etch an angel into the glass piece that Eddie had found.]

Wild but I've been told they've lessened over time. I've only been with the Avengers for a few years.

[She glances up, her light green eyes bright and open. Her history with the Avengers is complicated but it's worse with Tony. His company and their weapons are the reason that her parents are dead. Wanda can never forget the fear of being trapped beneath that building for three days, waiting for that missile to kill her and her brother.]

I didn't know that.

[A beat.]

How about chicken? You can't eat Nugget, Drumstick, Strips or any of the others with names but I have a few who I raised for eating.

[It isn't the same but it's very close.]

Do you know how to cook a chicken?

[Eat it. You can cook a chicken. but you need a fryer. And spices. And Popeyes.]

...I could learn. I mean. Better then eating chicken raw -

[EXCUSE YOU Raw chicken is delicious!

Eddie looks distinctly uncomfortable for a moment before he sighs.] I'm completely useless out here. I write. But y'know. I actually hate Walt Whitman.

...You guys must see a lot of people with powers. As Avengers.

[Are you finally going to talk about me?

No. Shut up.]

I know how to roast chicken.

[Her smile wavers when Eddie's features pinch with discomfort. Wanda isn't sure what's wrong or if he wants to talk about it but it's worrying.

Is he okay?

She doubts that there is anything she can do to help but Wanda's first instinct is to offer to ease that discomfort.]

I have and more than that. Prior to my time with the Avengers, I was connected to an infinity stone. It showed me the universe. [And all the dangers that live in it.] It's a pretty big place.

[He has no idea what an infinity stone is, but when he reaches inward and asks Venom Venom goes...quiet. Almost scarily quiet.]

I was investigating aliens before I ended up here. They bonded with people and gave them powers. I was just curious what you'd think. Of that.

I don't see anything wrong with it.

[She glances over at Eddie thoughtfully.]

Why do you ask?

[This didn't feel hypothetical.]

Edited 2018-12-13 04:29 (UTC)

[Is this what growing up looks like? Eddie swallows hard.] I told stark about this. Trying to...get used to telling other people but I have abilities. Okay well-the other..

shit.

I'm going to sound totally nuts. But you've met aliens. I have too and one gave me...powers.

[He is fucking this up so much. It was nice. It was flirty. It was adorable.

...I embarrass you.

No! No!

I do. It's fine.

Are we really doing this?

Eddie's gaze is frozen straight ahead at a distant point past her. his hands drop to his sides before he raises them to the table and puts his face in his hands.]

I swear to god I am not a psychopath.

You don't sound totally nuts.

[Maybe a little but Wanda's long since learned that the universe is nuts and it's best to just roll with it.

She reaches forward and gently takes his hand in hers.]

Eddie?

Are you alright? [Wanda gently squeezes his hand and watches as his eyes refocus before gently pulling away. It's a little alarming but he's done shorter spans of that a few times. Maybe it's related to his powers in some way?] You can tell me.

I won't think that you're a psychopath.

[She's met psychopath's and Eddie really doesn't qualify.]

[He remembers a conversation with Venom - Try to be less of a Dick and Venom-

That's what this is. This is you not being a dick.

Venom snorts.

No matter what. I've got us.]

I agreed to host an alien. Like...we're partners. His name is Venom. When we're together-

[That power. It's superhero level. He's always kind of wanted to be a superhero. No. He's wanted to. yearned to.]

We're superheroes. I mean not avengers level but we do help people.

That isn't so unbelievable. The universe is a very large place with many different species.

[She has first hand knowledge when it comes to the universe at large, having been connected to the stone during her time in Hydra's lab, but she didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it. The universe is big and a very very very scary place. It's one of the reasons that her and her brother were the only ones to survive Hyrda's test; most people were driven mad or killed by the power of the stone.]

It's good that you help people.

[The Avengers can't save everyone.]

-that you both help people.

[She corrects herself quickly.]

The strangest thing I've heard is that I have two son's from an alternate universe version of me. [Wanda hopes that cheers him up a little bit. He isn't the only one in a weird situation.]

[That's...surprising. When Eddie was a kid his dad used to scream at him and then abandon him at the best moments. The good moments. Ever since then he really wanted to help...

Leave that alone!

Venom's voice makes him blink. He wipes as hand over his face as something oozes beneath his skin. Visibly swelling over his fingers.

We move forward now. And what you did? What you did was good He blinks at her then as something swims across his vision before he shakes it off.]

...Sorry he uh...Nevermind. You've got people from an alternate universe too?

Yes.

[Wanda's brow furrows in a frown as she watches Eddie's expression.]

Are you sure you're okay?

[She isn't sure how often she's asked that but he's a very expression person and she has no idea what's going on within in head, all she can see is the way he wipes at his brow or the knot of tension between his eyebrows.

It makes her wonder what he's thinking about.]

[Get your shit together! You're making us look stupid!

Eddie wipes his hand over his eyes.]

Yeah I'm fine. Just trying to process somebody being accepting of the whole alien thing. People do here. It's weird.

Plus I'm listening to him.

[Eddie taps his temple.] It's like having a motivational calendar constantly in your brain. Except instead of saying nice things he says things like "Get your shit together" and "stop being a dick."

Apparently I'm a villain in another reality. That's sure a fucking thing.

[She smiles and shakes her head.]

It's really fine. You might be surprised what people are used too. I know another man from another planet. I'm sure you've heard of Thor if you know the Avengers. [Thor certainly defies a lot of stereotypes of what you think should come out of space.]

I also know what it's like to be in another's head or have more people in my own head. I can't imagine that long term but if you need to speak with him that's fine. [It explains a lot.

Her lips press together thoughtfully and she remembers the other Wanda Maximoff. The woman who would abandon her two son's.]

That person isn't you. I wouldn't worry about what they've done. Worry about you. You and your friend will decide where your life goes next.

[It's so nice listening to her talk. It feels like at any moment the other foot will drop. He'll become something else. Or he'll go back to being what he was.

Enough about me]

Kinda hard to do that when you're stuck here but. That's that I guess.

[See? Was that so hard?

I hate you so much

No you don't.

Those three words are so sincere Eddie looks shocked and then he smiles. His smile is genuine and real and he shrugs his shoulders.]

...Stark said I needed to think about telling people. Well. He told Venom not me but I guess - congratulations are in order can I get you something to drink to celebrate? I came out as a weird...superhuman hybrid.

[He pauses]

...How do you know what's to be in anoth-I thought you had some kind of energy power?

Stark is sometimes very wise.

[Sometimes.

Wanda is still getting to know the Tony Stark that's here in the village. It isn't the same man she'd met in Sokovia and it isn't the same man she knew while she'd been apart of the Avengers. He is changed and while their relationship is mending, Wanda can't help but be worried at the strain she sees in Stark's features.

She mentally shakes away the thought and focuses a light smile on Eddie.]

I could go for a drink but my understanding is that its hard to come by. Unless we're toasting water. [Which Wanda is fairly sure is bad luck.]

I do but it's more than that.

My powers- [Her tongue presses briefly against the inside of her cheek.] I can manipulate energy, use force to fly or create weapons and projectiles, but I can also mentally manipulate others or look into their thoughts.

[She shakes her head.]

Even when I had access to my abilities, it isn't something I used.

[Not after her first run-in with the Avengers.]

Everything with my powers is a little complicated.

[She can read minds. Fascinating. Venom is visibly impressed. Riot should have taken on the Avengers. I would have liked to see him obliterated, to have his connection to the hive ripped apart...]

We took care of riot.

[Pause. Blink. He sighs.] I know something about complicated abilities. I guess.

[Despite that he's grinning as he rises.] Well I have...no alcohol but water works right?

...Man. I'd kill for alcohol though. No ice is okay right?

[Wanda's lips stretched into a grin as she rose to her feet. Arado shifts off her lap and makes a little disgruntled noise but he goes back to curling up next to the table and napping. He's clearly uninterested in what's going on now and seems to trust Venom enough to nap.]

Water works though I've been told its bad luck to toast water.

[She follows a few steps so they remain in the same room while he gets them water.]

No ice. [Wanda echoes in confirmation.] So, who is Riot?

[She can't not ask.]

Then I'll just get a glass.

[He pauses and looks back at her with a wink.] the last thing I want to do is cause you bad luck.

[No ice. This is rotten.] I've been broke before but this is kind of ridiculous. Riot is-

[His hand twitches and curls into a fist before slamming itself into the countertop. Eddie grabs at it and closes his eyes.]

Riot was his squad leader. He took over Carlton Drake. I can only assume they managed to bond but...

[He's breathing hard before he moves quickly to get the water glasses.

He just pisses me the hell off.]

I know.

[Am I interrupting?! I'm sorry. Just-Riot-]

Calm down.

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