Peter's second day being kidnapped by Venom. (Part 9)

/\/\/\/\

Peter's body twitched then he was abruptly wrenched back to reality with a shocking jolt. Mind ripped rudely back to full consciousness, the boy mentally winced as bright light stabbed into his eyes, making him blink back tears as his brain raced to catch up with the situation. Disoriented, the teen instinctually froze, his muscles going ridged as he tried to place his surrounds. Then he sighed as recognition dawned upon him, the tension from an instant before draining from his exhausted body. His eyelids drooped wearily, his tired eyes gazing blankly forward as he accepted the fact that he was still in the damned bathroom, wrapped in nothing but a blanket, cradled in Venom's lap and was so fucking wiped physically and mentally he couldn't even really bring himself to care. Absently the teen found himself wondering why he was even awake. He couldn't sense any immediate danger even if-

The firm warmth of the alien's bulk against his back shifted, shattering the Peter's fragile train as the motion attracted the minute amount of mental power he still possessed. Blearily, the youth lifted his tired gaze to find the symbiote looking down at him, it's face lined with worry.

"We are sssorry we woke you," the alien said softly, settling again with it's dark form hugging the boy's body, easily supporting the human's meager weight.

The youth blinked as his dazed mind slowly processed the words. "I don't-"

A sudden sharp twinge of pain cut off Peter's words and he flinched, his eyes squeezing shut as he sucked in a sharp breath. Through the darkness behind his eyes he heard Venom whimper in response, it's body seeming to hold him even tighter as if it could somehow shield him from the pain. At another time the teen might have been alarmed by the being's proximity, but right now he was just too beaten down to care. He bit his lip, a whimper escaping him, and pressed the side of his face into the symbiote warmth, his mind unconsciously searching for comfort against his hurt. A soft, sympathetic coo drew itself from the symbiote at the boy's action and it nuzzled it's cheek against the brunet's soft hair. "We are sssorry it hurtssssssss. If we could, we would make it ssstop."

Peter nodded his head against the creature's chest, not really agreeing or disagreeing with the symbiote's words, but rather just reacting to them. Letting out a slow breath, he forced his aching body to relax and he blinked open tear-clouded eyes to focus on what was the source of his pain: his hands - his small, swollen, bruised and bloodied hands cradled in the alien's dark grip - and the once-white cloth the symbiote was futiley dabbing at the small red rivelets that continued to trickle from the rents in his skin. Entranced, the boy watched as a ruby red droplet of blood welled fat within one of his split knuckles before cascading down his wrist, leaving behind a vibrant scarlet slash against his pale flesh. How could such small injuries hurt so much? He thought numbly as Venom whimpered again and wiped away the blood on his arm only to have another thin stream of red take it's place a moment later.

Absently, the boy tried to move his fingers - he wasn't sure why, he just felt like he should - and winced at the fresh stab of pain lace up through his broken hands. Shit, I really messed up this time, he thought, huffing out a tight breath through clenched teeth. Why the hell do normal people fist fight if this is what it feels like afterward? Suddenly all those movies scenes where an angry protagonist punches a wall seemed incredibly dumb to him.

As if thinking about the injuries has awoken their vengeance anew, a hot spike of pain stabbed through Peter's knuckles, radiating out passed his wrist and all the way up to ache in his elbows. Startled, the teen tensed with a sharp gasped. Shit this sucked, he thought, now completely aware of what had woken him from his exhausted sleep. His wounds weren't going to allow him the gentle release of sleep. No, he had fucked his hands up and now he was going to suffer for it. Intellectually he had known how easy he had it with not only super strength, speed and agility, but also super, SUPER fast healing, but in reality he had taken that gift for granted. Sure it had saved his life a few times – which was great – but he never really considered all the pain and suffering it shielded him from. Now he did and what he wouldn't give for a nice, heavy pain killer to dull… well, everything. Or something to simply knock him out; yah, that would be nice.

A fresh white cloth suddenly lifted into Peter's line of vision to dab at the blood oozing from his injured hands, which were still cradled in one of the sybiotes own. "A-ow," he flinched and pressed back against Venom as the hand towel pressed down on his wounds in an effort to stop the bleeding. A whimper escaped him and he buried his face into the alien's dark chest again as his hands screamed in retaliation. It hurts. It hurts. Oh god, oh FUCK it hurts! A low moan that was more of a sob escaped the boy as his body spasmed against the pain, his fingers twitching involuntarily, shooting lines of red hot agony through him.

"We are sssorry. We have to."

The anguish in the alien's voice cut through the suffering, impossibly wrenching the teen's focus away from his pain. Peter swallowed hard, his throat burning with unshed tears and he opened his mouth to reply, but only a strangled sob escaped him.

"We do not mean to hurt you ssspider. We don't," the creature insisted furtively.

"I k-know," he whispered, his voice choked as his body trembling uncontrollably with pain. He was now certain he had done more than simply bruise his knuckles. Bones had to be broken; there was no way anything less could feel this bad. Tears wetted his cheeks, but he didn't bother to try and stop them. He couldn't bring himself to care about something so trivial right then. Instead he swallowed hard again, forcing his attention away from the burning agony of his hands. A soft whimper fell unbidden from his lips as he squeezed his eyes tight shut and pressed his face closer to the aliens chest, his mind focused on the warmth of the creature as the shudders of his body eased slightly.

A brief moment of relief flooded through him and for a second Peter thought he would drift off to sleep again, but then a gentle clawed digit drift over the line of his jaw, tipping his chin up and he opened his bleary eyes to find the symbiote studying his face with lines of worry etched into it's own ebony features. "You are in ssssssuch pain," it murmured mournfully, more to itself then to him as it stroked a hand over his tear stained cheek. "Why would you do this to yoursself?"

It took a long moment for the alien's words to permeate Peter's pain-addled mind and another moment of the creature staring at him for him to realize it was looking for an answer.

"Venom," teen sighed, feeling a bone deep weariness settle heavily upon him. The creature was so child-like sometimes, not understanding the simplest of things. Not that he could even think of the words to explain the intense emotion, the degradation, the rage that had pushed him over the edge. "No," he said shaking his head, then immediately regretting it as the room swayed alarmingly with the motion. Swallowing hard, Peter closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as a wave of sickening heat rushed thought his trembling body, making his stomach roil.

"Ssspider?"

"No," he whispered again with a tight jerk of his head as he tried to force the sudden pain induced nausea down. "I can't- I can't explain."

He felt the creature shift against him with a disgruntled whine. "We are jussst trying to underssstand-"

"I CAN'T!" Peter sobbed, the feverish flush rising within him, threatening to overcome him.

"Sssssshhh, sssssshhh," Venom coaxed desperately and the teen felt the creature press something damp and blessedly cool against his face. "It'sss okay. It'sss okay ssssspider."

It's NOT OKAY! He wanted to scream, but all he could do was gulp at the air as the rush of sickness revenged his stricken body. Heat built within him, joining the pain, tearing merciless at his body, ripping into his mind, until suddenly nothing remained and the relief of blessed unconsciousness rolled over him as he passed out.

/\/\/\/\/\

A wet snuffing drifted to Peter through the darkness, pulling him back into the light. Self awareness infused with confusion slowly seeped into him through the nothingness of unconsciousness. Then pain came spiking in, hot and prickly, making him stiffen mentally with a small gasp. He frowned at the pain, taking account of it's presence and source before stealing himself and pushing it to the back of his mind. Next heat came raging in, radiating though him in molten waves, hot on his cheek and aching behind his eyes. With an effort he pushed it away as well, his consciousness surging up through the darkness, up towards the waking world. The snuffling around him took on a whimpering tone as it grew louder in his ears. It was the strangest sound – miserable and… moist? He couldn't place- Oh…

With a soft exhalation, the teen peeled his eyelids open to find his head tipped back against Venom's shoulder, his bleary eyes gazing up at the ceiling. He couldn't quite bring himself to lift his head, not just yet, but he shifted his eyes down to see dark arms wrapped around his chest.

"Venom?" The word sounded dull, clumsy in his mouth and frail even to his own ears, but the symbiote's reacted instantaneously.

The creature's body started and Peter sensed it's head jerk up from where it had had it's face buried, whimpering into his shoulder.

"Sspider; you are awake!" The awe in the alien's voice was all but palpable. "Are you better?"

It took a long time, far too long for the symbiote's words to resolve themselves in the teen's brain. Upon comprehension he focused his mind's eye inward, taking stock of all his pains and ache – the agony of his hands, the hot spike of a headache resolving behind his eyes, the nausea coiling in his stomach, the heat burning within him – and shook his head slowly, careful not to add vertigo to his list of problems. "Not really."

"But you are awake." Venom insisted repetitively, clinging to the only 'good' to be found in the mess of a situation.

Peter only grunted in reply before laboriously lifted his head to look down at himself. He found the major source of his suffering – his hands – cradled protectively against his chest. Sometime in his unconsciousness Venom must have had abandoned it's care of them, but there was still a small towel wrapped around each of them, keeping him from smearing fresh blood all over himself. His eyes wandered on to find the rest of his body a mess of bruises, scrapes and bloody streaks and completely naked. Somewhere along the way the blanket that had been so carefully wrapped around him before had bunched beneath his butt with a bare corner lying limply across his right thigh. For a moment he considered trying to adjust the cloth into a more modest position, but quickly gave up on that thought, knowing such an endeavor would require his hands. And it wasn't as if Venom hadn't seen everything already, he thought bitterly. But what confused his foggy mind most was the lack of cold. If anything he was hot. Too hot. Much too hot. Could the alien have accidentally adjusted the temperature in his prison from freezing to roasting? No, that didn't seem likely. He doubted a place like this would even have a thermostat, but what then? Could he have a fever? It was possible. Likely probable, but with that option came the more worrying prospect of infection. The teen mentally shuddered at the thought. With his healing on the fritz, less then sanitary surroundings and all these open wounds, infection was highly likely and what would happen then? Would he just wither away in this room until he died? Or would Venom let him go? Would it take him to a doctor if he got too sick? Would-

"Ssspider?" Venom said, catching the boys wandering attention. Peter glanced up to find the alien watching him with worried eyes.

The brunet blinked, suddenly feeling uncertain, knowing he had lost time, but not knowing why. "What happened?"

Strangely the symbiote seemed to shrink away from the question, it's eye's flicking away from his gaze. "You…" It's tongue snaked out to lick nervously at it's lips. "You were in pain. Sssuffering. Lots of ssssssuffering." The alien's pale eyes shifted back to Peter, beseeching though Peter didn't understand why. "We wanted to help, but we did not know how. We… your handsssssss, but other wrong. It… You… We worry. We connect. Too much feel. Too much and... and… You fell asssleep."

Peter silently watched the creature as it tried in vain to describe all it had seen and felt; it's vocabulary slipping away from it as it struggled to find the proper human words only to become more inarticulate and agitated as it failed.

"We… We tried to wake you. Could not. Ssssssscary. We not know. We-"

"So I fainted," Peter surmised, cutting off the symbiotes babbling explanation. Really it was the only thing that made sense. Overcome by… well, everything his body had hit the reset button and he had pass out as it rebooted itself.

"Yes, but more." Venom insisted it's grip tightening around him. "Ssssscary sssssleep not right."

"Okaaay," the teen said slowly. "So how long was I, uh, asleep?"

"Sssscary long." The alien said straight-faced, it's tone completely serious.

Well that's not much help. Peter sighed with slight exasperation and leaned his head back against the symbiote's shoulder, closing his tired eyes. But then again, it didn't seem like his situation had changed much. He had probably only been out for a few minutes, but that seemed to be more than enough time to freak Venom. Freak Venom… he mused silently, his mood lifting slightly. Yet another sign the symbiote really did care for him in it's own twisted way. Maybe I can use that knowledge to escape somehow; if only I could think. The teen sighed again, sinking further back against the alien's warmth. Later; he'd worry about it later. Right now he just needed to rest, but his mind wandered as he relaxed, casting back to first his waking moments; to the snuffling whimpers that had almost been sobs. Wet sobs. Had the symbiote been crying? Had it… Wait a minute.

Peter's eyes flicked open, the corners of his mouth dipping down in the beginnings of a frown. "Venom," he said, a reproachful tone seeping into his voice. "Have you been licking me?"

The symbiote abruptly stiffed at the accusation and somehow seemed to cringe away even as it had it's arms wrapped around the teen's body. "We may have been overcome and…" the creature paused, clearly working very hard to choose it's words with care while also keeping it's tongue well inside it's mouth. The sight made Peter remember his previous threat with just a touch of rueful amusement as he waited for the alien to continue. Though, having been connected together before, the creature should have known him well enough to realize he could never truly 'rip the tongue' from another living creature, but despite that the symbiote seemed to be taking his threat very seriously. Annoyingly Peter felt a bit guilty about that, not that Venom didn't deserve it but- The symbiote began speaking again and the boy pulled himself away from his train of thought, curious to hear what Venom had to say in it's defense.

"We could possibly have been unaware of what partsss of usss were doing in our worry."

Finished speaking, Venom gave itself a slight nod and Peter could sense it was quite proud of it's work to communicate with 'annoying humans words.'

Silently, the human considered the aliens words, trying to puzzle out their meaning. From what the being had said it seemed as if when he had passed out the symbiote had broken down and… what? Been anxiously licking him? That would have been odd of another human to do but Venom… Well Venom seemed unfortunately orally attuned. Was it like a dog or a cat or something – licking out of affection or concern? The boy wondered idly, his mind wandering. He knew for sure the being definitely did lick in affection and it certainly received reassurance, even pleasure from the act, but… But why would it lick when it was so clearly worried about the consequences of that action. Had it been trying to wake him up or was it a compulsive habit? Or could it be a scenting thing like snakes? Could it 'smell' how sick he was with it's tongue? Or did he just taste that good to it. Would the symbiote eat him after he died like those horror stories about pets? The boy mentally winced at the thought before rolling his eyes, exasperated with himself. Why the hell am I worrying about this now? There are much bigger things on my plate then the mystery of why Venom licks things. Like how to get away. How am I ever going to do that?

Peter sighed, sagging under the weight of that final thought. It was impossible. Completely-

An inquiring whine scattered his thoughts as he glanced up to see the symbiote cock it's head at him in question.

The boy blinked, his mind flicking back to alien's pervious words. "Sooo," he said slowly. "You're saying your tongue got away from you?"

"Got away?" The alien blinked, baffled by the question. "No, it isss right here," it said, opening it's mouth to show the boy, but then froze, eyes widening alarm and it quickly sucked it tongue back, snapping it's jaws closed.

What the…? Peter's brow furrowed, confused by the reaction. For a moment the creature almost looked scared- oh. It thought he was trying to trick it. The boy sighed, exasperated. God the symbiote could be so literal. Glancing up he couldn't help but notice the being was still tense, eyeing him worriedly. Well, that was one way to shut it up, but…

"Don't worry," Peter sighed, unable to bring himself to let the creature live in such fear. " I'm too tired to bother pulling out your tongue today." The words almost felt like a joke coming from his lips. Almost… Absently he wondered if he could really be pushed far enough to do such a thing. A part of him knew the answer was yes; he just hoped it never came down to that.

Venom relaxed with a relieved hiss at the boy's reassurance, it's tongue flopping from it's mouth.

Peter grimaced in disgust as the slimy pink flesh dangled close to his face. He glanced up, scowling. "But don't you dare start licking me again."

The creature's tongue pulled back at the rebuke, but a few inches still hung from it's lips as if it were somehow too large to actually fit comfortably in it's mouth, which wasn't too hard to believe considering the thing seemed to go on forever.

"And don't drool on me," the boy added with a grumble, sitting back with a huff.

The alien rumbled in acceptance, then surprised Peter by pulling the blanket free from under him and folding it carefully around him once more. It was only then he realized he was shivering, rather violently in fact, but it all felt so distant… That was never a good thing.

"Uh… thanks," he murmured almost shyly as those big dark arms wrapped around him again. He was then doubly surprised to realize he wasn't the only one shivering; Venom was trembling too. He could see the motion rippling through it's dark skin, though he doubted in it's case it was because of cold or fever. No, the alien seemed… shaken, stressed by the night's occurrences, much like himself though for much different reasons.

Shifting slightly to one side, the boy snuggled into a more comfortable position and laid his cheek on the being's warm chest, his eyes dropping with exhaustion. His hands automatically slid up to grasp the edge of the blanket and tuck up under his jaw, but the moment his fingers started to open, fire shot through his hands, striking at his body. The teen hissed, his body going ridged with the pain.

A soft whine sounded through the throbbing agony and he felt gentle hand stroked through his hair, making him looked up, blinking back tears.

The creatures face seemed to crumple at his pain and Peter was surprised to find himself thinking the alien looked worn, almost tired. It seem to consider something as he watched, then it suddenly shifted out from behind him.

Startled he let out an involuntary cry, hands automatically clutching at the creatures arm, sending a fresh burst of pain through him. He moaned, going limp, half expecting to hit the ground, but the creatures strong arms cradled his blanket-wrapped body, carefully lowering him to the floor.

"Ssssshh, love, ssssssssshh," it whispered, stroking his hair and neck, trying to comfort. "We know you hurt. We will try… ssssstay here."

Dazedly Peter felt the symbiote's presence shift away. He shivered as the pain slowly faded, startled to find himself longing for the alien's warm embrace. He couldn't really want to be close to the creature, could he? No… he just longed for the company, the warmth of the creatures body, the comfort of another but… Was the threat of imitate rape really worth that?

Peter lay there, wrapped in a blanket on the bathroom floor, uncomfortable thoughts swirling around his mind until the shuffle of footsteps brought him back to the present. He lifted his head wearily as Venom crouched beside him again and placed a small white plastic box on the floor beside him. For a moment Peter was confused, until the being began pulling bandages from the first aid kit.

The boy's eyes widened and he clumsily shifted himself up on one elbow to get a better look at the c contents of the container. "When did you get that?" he asked, astonished.

Venom looked up from it's rummaging, a soft little smile spreading on it's lips at the boy's question. "We found it," it said, it's attention moving back to the first aid supplies. "We are glad we kept it sssince you will not let ussssss…" It trailed off with a sigh before it began speaking again. "We will try to do thissss the sstupid human way," it said, a note of frustration in it's tone.

Well someone is testy, Peter thought with a touch of amusement as he eyed the first aid kit curiously. The container was very old; so old in fact that the plastic had warped and cracked on one side. Despite the box's age, Venom pulled from it what looked suspiciously like new supplies. Taking an unwrapped roll of gauze in hand, the alien reached for him. Instinctually, Peter shielded away from the symbiote, worry flaring within him. "Wait. What are you going to do with that?" he said, suddenly afraid the creature might bind him again.

The alien froze, recognizing the flare of fear within the teen's eyes and itself fearing a flare in the boy's temper. Cocking it's head to one side, it debated how best to put the human at ease. It could not afford to rile him again; he could injure himself worse after all, Venom thought, pointedly ignored the small part of itself that whispered hatefully 'he could hurt you too.' After a moment it lowered it's hands, deciding to try to explain it's intentions. "Your handsss are hurt. If you will not let ussss lic- tend to you assss we want we at leassst wisssh to bandage your woundsssssss."

Peter blinked, startled by the symbiote's patient eloquence. "What do you know about first aid?" he finally asked.

Venom glanced away, looking almost shy as it spoke. "We have… we are trying to learn how bessst to take care of you," it said, fiddling idly with the bandages in it's hands. "Ssssstudying human thingsssss. Remembering…" It trailed off before glancing back up at Peter, an almost pleading look shining in it's white eyes. "Will you let usssss help? Pleassssse?" it asked, gesturing towards the injured hands the boy held protectively against his chest.

The teen stared for a moment longer before tentatively extending his hands out to the creature.

Venom rumbled appreciatively at the gesture, gently taking the boy's bruised and bloodied hands into it's own. With startling care the creature spread a gel (assumingly an antibiotic) over one of the teens hands before settling a gauze pad over his split knuckles and wrapping more gauze around his hand, making it look like he was wearing a white fingerless mitts.

"We do not underssstand," the alien said quietly as it turned it's attention to the teen's other hand, repeating the process. "We tried- We were gentle but… you ssstill do not ressspond well to mating. You were ssssupposed to be hard and moaning and pleassssured. Like the onessss we watched..."

Oh god. Peter blushed at the creature's words, pointedly refusing to respond as he stared at the floor, futile trying to shut out the embarrassing words.

"It wassss not sssupposed to be like thisssss," the alien added as it finished its work, letting Peter retract both his freshly bandaged hands. "Not… not like thisssssssss," it said, it's gaze mournful.

Silence stretched as the symbiote sat there staring at him. Peter felt his face flushed even warmer under the creatures searching gaze. He was trapped against the wall, eyes desperately evading the being's gaze. Please just go away. Please. The boy silently begged, but the being seemed to have endless patience. It just sat there and waited… and waited… and-

Peter broke under the pressure. "I'm not gay," he stated, the words slipping free before he could stop them. Then the sudden true implication of the being's words hit him and he glanced up. "Wait, you watch people?"

But the symbiote ignored the question, it's mind clamping down on what the boy first said. "Gay?" it asked tilting it's head in confusion. "What isss gay? Can we bring it to you? Can we-?" The questions came bubbling out in a flurry as hope rose within the creature. Maybe 'gay' could make mating better. Maybe it was what it had been missing all along. Maybe with 'gay' the spider would finally love it too-

"No Venom," Peter sighed, wishing the alien wasn't so dense. ""It's not a thing. It's… You know… homosexual?" he said, noticing dimly that the antibiotic the alien had used must have had a pain killer in it since his hands didn't ache so badly anymore. His head however; when had his head starting hurting so bad?

The creature blinked uncomprehending. As a species with no sexual differentiation between individuals, the concept of 'homosexual' completely evaded it's understanding.

"Oh never mind," Peter grumbled, frustrated at the symbiotes ignorance.

But unwilling to let the matter go, Venom delved into the memories of its host, searching for clues about the strange concept of 'gay.' It found them easily, the idea of males mating- no, not mating; they could not produce children together, but performing the act of mating. A sharp tang of disgust lingered around this part of it's host's memory and Venom winced as a bitter flash of revulsion accompanied an image of two men entwined in passion. The alien pulled it's questing consciousness back quickly, the negative emotions attached to the host thoughts leaving an acrid taste on its tongue. What the symbiote had thought would clarify the spider's words only now left it more confused. Why made it's host feel such revulsion? It didn't make sense. What it had glimpsed briefly had been beautiful, the sight of shared pleasures. What could be disgusting about that? The thought left it uneasy even before a second more unsettling one intruded; did the spider feel that way too? Did it's love hate pleasure?

Dread sizzled through Venom as it jerked it consciousness back to the waking world, it's inhuman senses straining toward Peter, fearing what it would find, but unable to keep itself from questing further. It pressed it's thoughts gently against the fragile bubbly of the boy's mind, trying to skim the surface of his emotions without delving so deeply that the boy would feel it's presence. Treading that thin mental line was difficult, but it was worth not distressing it's love. Slowly the creature felt itself relax as if found it's fears unfathomed. There was no hint disgust attached to the boy's feelings towards 'gay.' Only the taste of exhaustion, embarrassment, desperation… fear…

A whine reverberated up Venom's throat and it nuzzled the boy's soft hair, concern clouding it's emotion. It felt the boy sigh, sagging back against it, defeated and tired. It wanted to leave the human to his rest, but it still had so many questions. Another word in particular had jumped out of it's hosts mind at the thought of 'gay' and it wanted to know. It wanted- it had to understand. "Love," the symbiote queried gently, it's head cock curiously to one side. "Are you homophobe?"

"What?!" Peter started, shocked, his eyes jerking up to look at the symbiote. "No! I- How do you-" With an effort the boy, cut himself off with the shake of his head, refusing to fall down that particular rabbit hole with the symbiote. Seriously how did it even know that term, even if it did use it grammatically incorrectly. "It's not that Venom," he sighed, letting himself relax back against the wall again.

"Then why?" the creature whined, sounding for all the world like a petulant child.

"I just..." Peter paused, gathering his thoughts. "I don't like this Venom," he finally said, one hand gesturing bluntly at the room around him.

Disgruntled, Venom huffed, its face scrunching into a pout. It didn't know how to do this any better. It had tried letting the boy range free and... and… The alien flinched with a low moan, it's mind shielded away from the painful thoughts of it's lost children.

Peter quietly watched the play of emotions on the creature's face with mild fascination, certain it would have been much more interesting if his damned head would stop hurting. The teen grunted, squeezing his eyes shut against the pounding in his head. If only-

Something cool and soft touched his cheek, startling his eyes open to find Venom crouched over him with a towel in hand. The creature moved to wipe at his face again, but he pulled back with a confused frown. "What are you doing?"

"You are messsssy," the symbiote said, a mirror suddenly appearing in it's hands, showing Peter his own bloody reflection.

Peter winced at the sight. Dried blood smeared his face in dark streaks, making his skin look sickly and pale. Stomach coiling in disgust, he wrenched his eyes away from his mirror, but not before noticing the bloody mess extended down his chest, his hands having trailed blood wherever they touched. Now knowing it was there, he could feel the dried crust of blood on his skin, making him itch to clean it off himself.

The touch of the damp towel came again, dabbing at his cheek and he looked up with eyes aching for sleep. It felt rather ridiculous, but he was too tired to complain as the creature continued wiping his face clean, taking his silence as acceptance.

The alien's eyes flicked to his then away, looking almost shy as it silently wiped blood from his face.

"You are so messssssssy," it murmured to itself, disappearing the mirror somewhere on its person.

Feeling foolish, Peter reached up to take the towel and clean himself. "Here, let me-" he said but Venom jerked the towel back out of his reach.

"We want to!" the alien said, a desperate edge in it's voice. "We want to take care of you. Pleasssse," it insisted piteously, brow furrowing.

Peter hesitated, then relaxed back with a sigh, willing to let the symbiote care for him this once without fuss. It was it's mess after all. It could clean it up. "Alright. Whatever," he conceded out loud for the creature's benefit. "Go ahead."

For a heartbeat Venom hesitated, seemingly surprised by his compliance, but then quickly scooted closer and started to wipe more vigorously at Peter's skin. The water was warm, but quickly cooled on the towel, rising gooseflesh on Peter's skin. So this is what it feels like to get a sponge-bath, the teen thought ruefully, his eyelids drooping. Almost nice, if it wasn't so creepy.

It took several more minutes and another towel before the last of the blood was finally wiped from his skin. Satisfied Venom gave a final nod, throwing the dirtied towel into the corner with the other. The alien then carefully pulled the blanket back around the boy's shoulders, tenderly tucking him into its fold again.

Peter couldn't help the soft sleepy smile that came to his lips as the cloth enfolded him in its warmth. So peaceful. So-

A tug on Peter's arm jerked him out of his doze and he found himself being pulled into Venom's lap. "H-hey. What are you doing?!" the teen said, sudden panic rising within him, chasing sleep away. If Venom tried mating with him again…

"Comforting," the symbiote rumbled, wrapping its arms around his waist with a contented sigh.

Peter felt himself relax at that. He wasn't sure if the alien meant to comfort him or itself, but that didn't really matter, not now. As long as it didn't try anything funny he didn't care. Plus Venom was warm. The boy sighed, relaxing into the heat at his back, so tired it felt like his head was swimming. It was strangely comfortable, being cradled in the symbiote's arms. The being's skin was so warm, so alive. He sighed, nuzzling his cheek against the creature's chest. He could hear the human heart of Venom's host beating steadily within that broad chest. It was a nice sound, a calming sound that mixed with the physical warmth radiating from the alien's form. Maybe this really is comforting, Peter thought dazedly, feeling ever muscle in his body relax with relief, thoughts of Venom's host flickering through his sleepy mind.

TBC...

Hiya guys. Long time no 'see.' I'm so happy to finally be able to bring you the brand new chapter you've been waiting for! Hurray! Sorry for the long, long, looooong hiatus. I kinda wrote myself into a bit of a corner with Peter's wounded hands and had to rearrange a bunch of stuff in the outline to make things fit nicely again. Originally I was going to update with just the first part of this chapter (the stuff before Peter faint, AGAIN), but there just wasn't enough substance for me to bear to do that to all of you, my wonderful readers. Sooo I busted my butt and 7 ½ additional pages later here we are. I really hope you like. Special thanks to all the fabulous readers out there who have shown this fic such enthusiasm and support! I really appreciate hearing for you all :)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Soooo, if you don't know yet I've pretty much moved my writing to Archive of Our Own, but I still update fics that are currently on FF, this chapter case in point. The only snag is I comparatively don't have many fics going on FF so it took awhile to remember how to update things here. A3O's system is just different enough to make it frustrating. Anyway, I just wanted to mention that for a little, LITTLE bit of a quicker update (we're talking hours here), please check my account on AO3.

UPDATED NOTE: Hi all. So a reader had a query that I thought I probably should answer to everyone. So to clarify, all of my FF fics are also on Archive of Our Own as well as quite a few additional fics and drawings. I just keep updating the fics I originally had on FF here since I still have readers on FF that I don't want to abandon. Otherwise I have pretty much left FF. Also I have the same author-name on AO3 so I'm easy to find.

P.S. Happy Halloween.