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After the first experience with Venom, Danny didn’t want to be in contact with it again. Not only had it’s thoughts temporaily with his own but he also had to deal with the lack of costume after the goop had destroyed it. The latter was something that was easily fixed but the thoughts still lingered. As soon as he had gotten back to the Helicarrier it was simple to acquire a new costume and get over the embarrassment of being seen in his underwear. It was not as simple, however, to fix the thoughts that were now in his head.
Just like the goop had stuck to his costume, the thoughts of the monster clung to his own. They were trying to mix, to gain control. Despite knowing that Venom wasn’t actually in his head Danny knew that the symbiote was a serious danger.
As he sat down to clear his head he felt the ground vibrate beneath him which usually meant someone was walking near his room. Judging by the weight of the many steps it most likely the team or a few S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. He looked to the door as Luke walked in with the rest of the team following after. “What brings you here, my friends?” Danny questioned, unmoving from his position on the floor.
“Well we were talking and it soon came to Venom. You said something about it being confusing.” Sam said, getting into a comfortable spot on the floor.
“The rest of us only felt it’s anger. Is there anything else you know? Nick wants to know everything about it.”
Danny brought himself back to the thoughts of the symbiote. It was too many emotions and only one goal. “I know that it had feelings. I was confused as to what to feel and how to feel it. It only had one goal: To get you, Peter.” Danny pointed to his friend. “After that it had no motivation though, just to keep you and it alive. Like you were meant to be bonded…”
Iron Fist decided not to tell the team about anything he had thought in his head. There was too much that went by before he escaped. It was confusing but all of it stayed in his head.
“But why did it continue to attack after it had him? Wouldn't it just try to get away after that?” Luke asked.
“I think it knew that it had to get rid of us so Peter couldn’t get out. Plus destroying his friends is another good way to make him feel too sad to fight against it.” Ava reasoned.
“Uh let's not talk about me when I’m right here??” Peter said, taking his own seat on the floor. “Plus when it was in my head there were only a few things I remember. There was anger, it was dark, and just like Daniel said it wanted to be attached to me.”
The team nodded. “I’m just glad it’s over. No more gooeyness please and thank you!” Sam said. “Although I can still feel it’s sliminess squirming. Gross!”
“Same! I already took a shower but I think that I need another one.” White Tiger voiced her thoughts. “I’m just glad it didn’t stain my costume.”
“Well, I’m glad that I can’t hear it still cause that was pretty creepy.” Sam said, stretching out on the floor.
“Actually,” Danny said, “I would like to know if any of you hear it still. The creature, Venom, I can feel it trying to interrupt my thoughts. I know it’s not there but the feeling is… a lot.”
“I mean, I can still feel it’s sliminess but I’m guessing that’s not the same thing?” Ava said. “Are you okay Danny?”
“Yeah I’m fine.” Danny smiled at the team.
“Are you sure dude? You seem kinda… I don’t know, just a little agitated I guess.” Peter said. Ava nodded while Sam and Luke looked expectantly at him, hoping for him to explain himself.
“I just need to rest for a bit. I wish you all a wonderful night.” Daniel said.
“Okay, just know that we’re here for you whenever you need us and you can tell us anything.” Luke said, already moving out the door.
“We’ll be in the training room if you need us.” Sam said, following Luke. Ava waved to him, leaving Peter still in his room.
“Yes?” He asked his friend, confused as to why he was still here.
He shrugged and took a breath. “I can feel it- Venom, I mean. It’s weird. Tell me if you see anything, ‘kay?” Danny nodded and watched him walk out the door. He was alone, left to deal with what had just happened.
If no one else was feeling it, was it just because he had special training or had Venom actually affected his head? He would have to clear his thoughts and let everything else rest. He knew that he needed to get the thought out, weather he was imagining it or not.
Danny let himself calm down and zone out. He needed to clean his thoughts. Bringing a candle over, he lit it and closed his eyes. He breathed in the smoke from a candle and imagined himself in a treehouse on a sunny day. He opened his eyes and saw the view before him.
“We are alone.” He said. He waited patiently. The tree's leaves rustled and the cool air was gentle on his skin. “I will not fight you. Not right now.”
Daniel turned around and saw goop emerge and show itself. It gurgled and moved forwards. Taking a step back, Danny spoke calmly to the creature. “I want to know why you are here. What do you want from me?” The goop stopped and looked into the hero’s eyes.
“Spider-Man…” The mouth formed. “Want… no Spider-Man. Want you.”
Danny hesitated to say anything back to the creature. If he said something wrong the stable treehouse could collapse, leaving both of them in a mindspace where everything was jumbled. “I apologize but I do not understand. Why me?”
“You… nice calm head. Tree nice.” Venom, as the creature had called itself touched the leaves of the tree.
“It is calm, isn’t it?” Daniel said, taking a seat at the edge of the tree trunk. “But you can’t stay here. I know you want Spider-Man and I can’t let you be close to him.”
Venom took a seat on another branch. “Venom know… Venom stay here. Calm. Like it.” The symbiote said. “Not real. Same like real. Like it.”
So Venom liked his head and he wanted to stay. This was not good. “Listen Venom, you cannot stay here. You must leave before I make you. I will not allow you to stay here and attack my friends with my own head.” Daniel didn’t move from his spot but he prepared to attack the goop if it suddenly moved. Plus it was in his head so anything that happened could be controlled.
“NO! Stay! No trouble. Stay.” It said rising from his seat. “Stay stay stay!” It didn’t attack, just kept yelling to stay. Venom was telling him he wanted to stay in his head. This was so not good.