Chapter Text
“i do not like the doctor.”
“Trust me, kiddo. I hated going to the doctor. Most kids do.”
“hmm.”
A lot had happened since Absolute Carnage’s downfall.
Unsurprisingly, the first thing to have happened was the government got in contact with Eddie. Pretty damn quickly. Actually.
“Who’s the other symbiote? Does it have a name? Have you ever been in contact with it before?” Etcetera etcetera, so on and so on. They’d played dumb. It helped that the government didn’t know Agony was connected with Dr. Payne. The symbiote hadn’t appeared during Area 51. Not in any way that had been noticed. The government couldn’t connect any of the dots because they barely had any dots.
Eddie had simply promised he’d keep an eye out. Let them know if he heard anything else or if the new symbiote popped up again. Sleeper’s own existence had managed to remain secret too since Teddy and Sadie had taken Sleeper immediately after its separation from Carnage.
Venom’s involvement in Palene’s downfall had been largely covered up. Palene’s death had been swept under the rug and his surviving men arrested. Eddie and Venom walked with the deal they’d inform the right authorities if they heard from the new symbiote again, if they complied with the government’s story, and as thanks for once again saving the world. As far as New York and any other interested third parties were concerned, Eddie Brock had uncovered Palene’s terrorist plot. He’d gone to the authorities. Gotten them to act on the threat. Then, the government had stepped in to finally end and round up Palene’s cult.
How they’d managed to keep the cops shut who had seen Eddie and Venom transform? Well, there were a few different ways the government could have gone. But they couldn’t hide it all. Like with San Francisco, whispers of a large, black creature spread through New York. Rumors and thoughts circulated everywhere, though Eddie Brock refused to report on any of it. He didn’t just report on rumors after all. Only facts.
After that, they’d met back up with Teddy and Sadie in their safe house. Eddie had hugged his sister so hard. Who’d been pissed about getting taken away and so fucking scared and had so many questions, but she was safe. Eddie was alive. There would be time to figure things out and they slowly had.
Teddy and Sadie had run a few tests on Sleeper to make sure there wasn’t any lingering damage or changes due to Carnage. Despite Sleeper not wanting it, Eddie and Venom had agreed they could study Sleeper a bit more with the promise nothing was invasive and the main goal right now was making sure Sleeper was safe and healthy. Sleeper was in a good spot now, but it still didn’t like going to see them. Though it did like Sadie just a little more.
Once Eddie and Venom had been able to bring Sleeper home, things had smoothed out a bit more. They of course called Anne and Dan. Made sure they knew everything had calmed down and that they were ok. That Carnage was gone. Like really, really gone this time. Then, they went to Fisk’s trial. Published two articles. Had a few interviews. There was going to be a book too. Eddie had said he had enough information to write a story on Palene. Hell, he’d already written most of it. And now the world was sure as shit interested in it. He was already in talks with a publisher. He just needed to edit a few parts. Work on the ending some. It would probably hit shelves by the end of the month.
His reporting on Palene and added notoriety had helped Eddie’s career too. No longer freelance, he was put on the payroll. Was also offered to get out of the advice column, but Eddie said he’d keep doing that too. In all honesty, readers had liked the slight change to it, and Venom actually enjoyed writing it, so it was a win-win for everyone.
Eddie talked with Mary through it all. They answered anything she wanted to know. Past and present. She was the only human besides the scientists and Eddie that Sleeper wasn’t overly anxious around either. Eddie would have managed if she hadn’t wanted to be in his life. In their lives. But he was happy for it. Sleeper was better off for it. He knew it. Could see the results every time Mary ‘babysat’ while Eddie and Venom were out longer than usual.
All that being said though, Sleeper still wasn’t a fan of going to the doctors. But it had at least gotten good at following their directions and didn’t jump so much anymore.
When Venom and Eddie walked through the doors, Sleeper gracefully jumped down from their shoulder.
“Hello Sleeper,” Sadie smiled.
The symbiote purred for her before the green and black quickly slipped off the long haired cat. It returned to looking like a brown and white tabby with blue eyes. The cat pawed at the symbiote. Almost playfully. Sleeper easily avoided the paws and zipped up into one of the equipment modules it knew to go to. The cat Sleeper was bonding to seemed fine. It didn’t even run away when Sleeper wasn’t bonded to it. From what Teddy had said, Sleeper had an affinity for animals, though whatever form it took didn’t matter when it came to communication. Where as Venom’s communication was modeled after whatever host he was bonded to, Sleeper admitted hormones into the air. Communicated telepathically with anyone near it. Definitely a useful ability to have.
Teddy and Agony went straight to work with barely a hello. Sadie at least turned to them.
“The results so far have remained stable,” Sadie smiled. “Sleeper’s been doing well. I don’t think there will be any cause for concern, going forward.”
“Good,” Venom said as he appeared over Eddie’s shoulder.
Eddie nodded in agreement. “If it is good, though, it gets say on if it wants to stop this. Ok? We’ll take Sleeper to you like…like once a year or if we think something is wrong. Like an actual doctor’s office, but I’m not going to keep putting it through this if it doesn’t want to.”
“I understand. Teddy does too. Even if she doesn’t say it,” Sadie earnestly replied. “If Sleeper doesn’t want to, we’ll make do just fine without it. We just appreciate the chance you’ve all given us.”
“Thank you. For making sure the kiddo is ok,” sighed Eddie.
“Of course. We’re here for you and your family should you ever need us.”