Queen's note: Don't be a Creep. Also, sorry it took so long, FF did not want to let me update. So if it happens again, you can find me on A03 under the same screen name!

Obsidian Dragon

Chapter Three

Hungry Nights

(Hungry...)

Behave.

(But foood...)

Food has to be paid for first, Eddie kept that thought in mind as he grabbed things for his hand held basket. Making sure almost by sear stubbornness that it was him grabbing things, focusing on his muscles and breathing, and ignoring the huff like sound in the back of his mind. In a way that was impressive, more often than not, Venom would hiss if they did not get their way.

Yet, the symbiot still did not know the differences between good junk food, food, and crap junk food.

Eddie did not want to throw up. He swung into the candy isle, grabbing the better chocolate he could see. Reaching for the darker kinds of chocolate, but getting a few milk chocolate things as much for him as for the little girl. Protein-granola bars and a large jar of peanut butter were also added into the basket. Eddie had learned that peanut butter at least was really good for getting food and being low on funds.

With food and a promise to hunt some of those rumored turkeys later on, the man was able to swing around the back of the store. Intending on taking a quick peak at the seasonal area, just in case there was some sale food there. On his way, Eddie slowed as something shiny but a purple-black color got his attention.

It was an odd feeling suddenly, standing there in the middle of the 24 hour Walmart. At nearly two in the morning, it was quiet enough that Eddie could hear the clicking and buzzing of the overhead florescent lights. The odd blue tint that came from the old style of lighting- Brock wondered when the store would switch to something more contemporary even as he walked closer to the end-cap display that had caught his attention.

There was a mix of stuffed toys, a few dragons that were too cartoony for Eddie's taste. A horse and some sort of carrot with eyes? There was a bright orange sign with big bold letters, 'CLEARANCE.' Half buried in the pile was a fabric that caught the man's attention.

(What is it?) Venom asked, his attention shifting from the thought of food, to what his host was doing. There was a ripple of confused-interest that came off the symbiot, and a vague sense of movement on Eddie's left shoulder, under the edge of his hoodie. Peeking out, slender as a cornsnake, and not too far off from that shape, other than notable tiny needle fags on the outside of the jaw instead of in, (Those aren't alive, or even corpses...?)

"Seahorse." Eddie said aloud, smiling despite himself as he looked over the semi chubby plush. Turning it over in his hands, the smooth fabric shimmered a little between black and purple, with vivid silver fins and opal… plastic or glass eyes? The softness really got Eddie's attention after the color, something about being bonded with Venom, they enhanced his sense of touch more than anything it seems like, and taste.

The man tucked the plush seahorse under his left arm, staring to the front and the check stands. Mentally promising that they could eat as soon as they were outside, and once away from the cameras Venom could come out for a bit. Eddie scanned the isles as he walked, on the lookout for anyone or anything that might be interesting, trying to do mental math for the cash he had on hand, not wanting to take the long run with Venom back to his motorcycle just for his debit card.

All the while there was a not so soft chant of, (Chocolate, chocolate, hungry, chocolate, fooood Eddie, chocolate-), in the back of his mind.

Good gods, this was his life and he half picked it...

The man hummed softly to himself, trying to temporary placate Venom and distract them. He was not the best singer, but humming was not too bad, and it bought time to get to check out. The little teen girl behind the counter glanced over at Eddie once he was in sight, and the man caught the worry in her. Yet he could sense something off… and then once closer heard what the man in front of him was saying. It brought Eddie up short, and snapped Venom's attention to listening- Brock could see Venom in a reflection on a soda fridge's glass. The fangs mostly pulled back and arching an eye ridge in puzzlement.

"You're so young and bright, and pretty!" The voice of the other man was saying, leaning on the moving belt before the register.

"Sir you can't lean on that," The girl started, motioning to what the person in front of her was doing. "You can damage my belt like that and I could get in trouble-"

"Oh, I can do that for you," The greasy haired man said leaning closer, and just missed catching the waving hand. He added as the girl took a step back "Where you going? I just want to talk with you. I'm a nice guy, you should come with me after your shift, I know this great Chinese place-"

There was almost no sound, not even when Eddie set his things down on the end of the belt. His eyes were narrowed as he came up and used just his bigger size to his advantage. Brock had been fit before, even more so now with his other- and being so late (early?) his tolerance was shortened. With the distress from the cashier's voice ringing in his ears, Eddie moved forward to grab the back of the other man's shirt caller, and twisted.

"Enough of that," Eddie growled, holding back Venom- far too many cameras in the store, as he gave a careful push. "You paid, time to go."

"What the hell?!" The skinner man yelped, more squealed as he was pushed forward at a pace that just barely let him grab a mostly empty back set at the end of the second belt. "I wasn't doing anything wrong-"

"Time. To go." Channeling old bouncer jobs he once had to do, and perhaps also remembering personal experience from the other side, Eddie's tone went drier as he just continued walking. "Keep walking."

(Can we eat him?)

The greasy man protested again, almost as if he heard but Venom had not spoken aloud, Eddie did not stop marching the creep until he shoved the other man out the second set of doors.

Eddie made a face and shook his hand as he turned back, grabbing one of those cleaner wipes that was on a stand. Those wipes for people to clean their carts, but he used it to clean off his right hand, making a face at the sensation left behind. Possibly it was just a mental thing of thinking there was residue, but with how dirty the cloth felt...

(...I don't think I want to eat that one after all.)

Yeah, that creeper might actually give you food poisoning. Eddie thought back, tossing the cloth once his hand felt cleaner. He glanced up as he returned to the cashier and where he left his own food and seahorse plushy. Brock's voice changing from the stern no-shits given tone a minute ago to something softer, as the girl behind the register did not look old enough to be working a late shift, "You okay?"

Eddie thought there were laws supposed to protect younger workers? He scanned around and noted the lack of anyone else around.

The girl (young woman?) gave a nod, rubbing her arms for a moment before shaking herself, "Yeah, thanks. That guy has come in about what feels like twenty times on my shift already." She hesitated and carefully offered the hand sanitizer bottle.

Eddie smiled and took it, scrubbing his hands well, glancing over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of someone hovering just out of line of light from the doors, "Thanks, that was I think one of the grossest people I've met." Brock frowned, and snorted, "Maybe the second."

An image of Riot coming out invariantly come to mind, not unlike it does in Eddie's nightmares before something cool shifted in his mind. Then Venom gave a protective growl in the back of the man's head. There was a grumbling air, more so with how his old team leader still managed to stick his fangs into his host's life, even if just this left over. If it would not hurt Eddie, Venom might consider taking those memories, but damage to those fragile nerves and neurons... well, those were what made up who the man was, and Venom liked their host. Their confused, inquisitive, sometimes sad but mostly now relaxed host.

Venom shifted their attention back to what was happening outside their host, after doing another check to make sure Brock's internal organs were all still in the right place and the scarring from Riot was still healed and showing no signs of stress. They gave a pleased sound realizing that Eddie had made it outside finally. He waited it seemed for someone to come up and be in the front with that female human worker, Venom was mostly focused on the bag Eddie was holding, waiting for the best part of choco-

"Hey you!" A voice yelled behind Eddie, and there was rapid steps running after the somewhat taller man.

For a moment, Eddie almost paused, his feet still moving but the flat look he gave the middle distance spoke volumes. More so as there was an eerie shifting over Eddie's eyes, making them almost like a black-sliver milky flow as he walked onto the inner urban tail that lead to the hospital Eddie came from.

Into the park, away from the cameras of the stores.

"Hey I'm talking to you dick, I wasn't hurting that girl!" The greasy man yelled, having worked himself up after being marched out. Now he followed Eddie into the path, one hand in his pocket.

If only because it was this late at night, there were no random bystanders. Whoever might have heard the horrified scream a minute later, no one would want to come out this late to investigate.

Though sometime tomorrow someone might find a traumatized, babbling 'junky' with a new phobia of both the dark and of Walmart's.

Reviews!

Holy cow the reviews! ;_; thank you so much for all the sapport, it means a whole lot to see people enjoy my writing.

ZabuzasGirl:
This story is following the movie timeline ish, only it's taking place AFTER the movie, not during it n.n hope that helps! and thank you for the review!

Sailor Alpha Tomboy:
Thank you! [also, great name]

Stacked Waters:
omg, #LethalDad is epic, maybe more uncle but still, that's great! there will be next chapter! this one took on a bigger scene then I was expecting.

InvaderPeppermim:
-offers all the loves and hugs- thank you for taking the time to review, and I'm happy I could make something that you enojyed reading!

iloveyou1234:
Thank you! and here you go!

Becka-ah:
-happy dance- You my friend, are not the only one to like that sort of dynamic! Be prepared for some cutes in the next chapter though.

Macire:
I'm so happy you enjoyed it so far!

THE VILLIAN:
Thank you!

AlchemyWriter:
I'm happy you like this fic!

TimeZone13:
-squeaking- thank you so much for saying so, that makes my day! I hope you enjoyed this chapter too!

Valkyrie Summers:
I'm so happy you liked this story, and here you are! hopefully FF will let me update sooner

Rexsnipspercabeth:
omg, I'm glade to see you think so, I was worried about Eddie and Venom's reactions. and I'm going as I can, but FF was a brat. You can find me on A03 too.

Added Note from Omie:

Dudes, thank you so, so much for the amazing responses 3 you all are epic.