Chapter Text
Chapter One
Peter is cold. It’s something he’s never been able to adjust to. He’s pretty sure they do it to keep him uncomfortable and he’s got to admit, it’s working.
His head rolls against the wall trying to distract himself from the sound of screaming. Curling his hands into his hair, he tugs harshly as if to pull the sound out of his ears. Maybe if he closes his eyes tight enough he can disappear into himself - disappear from the world.
He pushes his body tighter into the corner of the ceiling scraping at any feeling of safety he can get from the concrete box. High spaces have always helped to calm his nerves but nothing seems to work in here. His senses burn persistently, warning him of every danger passing the metal door.
It’s exhausting.
It’s almost time. The voice hisses. Peter shivers still not used to sharing his mind with someone else. Are you ready, little spider?
“Yes.” No. He’d never be ready for this. But time was slipping through his fingers and he refuses to let another year drag by with him trapped in this prison alone.
You are not alone. I am here. Peter smiles a little.
“Thanks, V.” The symbiote hums, rippling beneath his skin. It still fascinates him how Venom moves within his body, black tendrils curling around his arms and fingers.
It’s been a while since Venom was forced to bond with Peter. He's not sure how long. He's not even sure what day it is. Time moves weirdly in here. Every second feels like an hour. Everyday, a lifetime. No one expected the alien to have such a strong connection to the boy. It was supposed to be another means of control. After all, HYDRA is all about control.
Their plan was to turn Peter into a weapon, a machine they could turn on and off. Venom was supposed to be their switch. But he took a liking to the boy; Formed a loyalty to him, becoming a prisoner alongside Peter instead of a manipulator. Since the moment he was placed into Peter’s chest, the two have looked out for each other. Peter isn’t sure he’ll be able to survive on his own again.
He holds up his hand and watches, frowning in worry. “You promise you’ll come back?”
The blackness tightens across his wrist. Always. I am not going anywhere. Venom vows, curling up in his mind like a cat; It’s hard to explain exactly how Peter knows this.
“I won’t leave without you.” Peter mumbles. Venom is quiet for a moment before he rushes up around his neck, carefully avoiding the metal collar strapped tightly to Peter's skin. The boy nuzzles into the makeshift scarf, greedily taking the warmth he provides.
I know. Though I do not agree. You should take escape if it comes. Peter ignores him.
They sit there for what must be hours. Peter is certain he’s going to lose himself to the silence. Just him and the stillness. It a torture all on it’s own. Venom acts as a good anchor pulling him back to the present when he gets too lost in the crevices of his mind.
But before him there was nothing stopping Peter from becoming a ghost haunting the same four walls. He’d sit for days alone and cold and hungry. A corpse of the boy he used to be. After the death of-
well, Peter doesn’t like to think about him, his only flickering flame of hope died with the man. He stopped trying. Gave up on the idea of feeling the breeze against his skin or watching the sun bleed through the leaves in the trees.
He accepted the fact that he was going to die here. Until Venom came along. The flame was ignited once more and together they created a plan. Peter had shown the alien memories of the outside world and Venom was fascinated. He became obsessed with experiencing life. Peter could hardly blame him. He’d do anything to be out there just one last time, hugging his best friend and eating popcorn or running in a field and smelling flowers. He misses playing with puppies and swimming in the sea. He misses a lot of things.
So when Venom played a new idea into Peter’s mind, one where they ended up on the outside world and free, Peter couldn’t help but hope.
Their plan was simple. A little pain for a lifetime of freedom. It all narrowed down to the collar. If Peter could egg on the doctor enough for him to shock Peter hard, then Venom could escape and distract. The boy would be weak and vulnerable but Venom would be there as a shield. As long as everything went to plan then they’d be out of here by nightfall.
They’re coming, little Spider. Prepare yourself. Peter tenses, slowly extracting himself from the corner of the ceiling and drags his stiff body down to the floor.
Heavy footsteps echo beyond the door before the sound of metal grinds against stone fills the room. Peter keeps his head down, hands laced behind his back in submission. Four guards with heavy guns pile into the room led by Dr. Sovolko. The doctor stands tall, white lab coat gleaming in the dull light and a too wide grin spread across his face, stretching the scar running through his bottom lip.
“Ah Пити! (Petey) How is my favourite insect?” Dr. Sovolko circles the boy running a gloved finger across his arm. Peter freezes, his blood turning to ice. Venom hisses in his mind, vibrating under his skin in an effort to hold himself back from biting the doctor's finger off. And his arm. And his head.
Peter’s spider sense hums against his neck making a trail of goosebumps rise on his arms. Dr. Sovolko leans forward, his hot breath tickling his ear. “I’ve missed you, my sweet boy.” Memories of hands burning into his skin flood to the forefront of his mind. Peter clenches his jaw, hands trembling. Venom is not so composed. He gathers himself onto Peter’s shoulder, his face hovering in the air and snarls at the man.
“Back off before I eat your head and use your arms as a toothpick.” Dr. Sovolko lurches back and clears his throat. He pulls the collar of his lab coat down and sneers at the symbiote.
“Careful, parasite.” He pulls out a small remote, a smug smirk gracing his lips. He shakes it just out of reach, taunting both Peter and Venom. “Do you really want to test me?”
This was getting out of hand. They were straying from the plan and Peter couldn't let that happen. He reaches up and gently nudges Venom back under who reluctantly goes after Peter sends a strong memory of a much younger Peter at the beach in his direction. Venom is desperate to feel the sand between his toes.
“We’re sorry, sir.” Peter mumbles voice rough from disuse. The doctor grunts and signals to the guards who march forward and roughly take hold of the boy. He’s yanked along with the threat of a gun jabbing into his side. Peter’s heart races anxiously, his eyes dart around the halls categorising all exit points and the number of guards monitoring each corridor. After months, years, of following the same routine Peter knows exactly what to expect.
Be brave. We are leaving today. Venom promises, his voice filled with so much conviction it’s hard not to believe him. Peter lets his confidence wash over him.
He takes a deep breath seeing the opening draw closer and closer. They turn the corner leading to the labs.
Now.
Peter pounces. He crashes his body hard against the unsuspecting guard with the gun and shoots a web towards the weapon, webbing it to the wall and ignoring the way his wrist burns. Using their surprise against them he lashes out, cracking his fist into another guard's face and kicking the other in the knee who crumbles down with a cry.
Venom paces in his mind, watching restlessly. He can’t go full venom, not with the collar still wrapped around his throat and for the alien, that’s torture.
It will hurt but you are strong. Remember those tasty fluffy things you are so fond of? Peter grunts as an elbow jabs him in the stomach.
Puppies, he thinks distractedly. And they aren’t snacks, Peter adds as an afterthought. The banter helps ease the anxiety.
Yes, puppies. Get through this and you can have as many puppies as you want. Peter smiles at the thought, webbing another guard away as he tries to taser him. He can’t see Venom and a dog surviving in the same room for very long.
“Enough, Pyotr (Peter).” Dr. Sovolko's voice pierces through the air like a whip, his face blotchy and red. Peter has only a moment of warning until his body seizes up. A choked gasp slips through his lips as electricity zaps every nerve ending. The pain is excruciating; bolts of lightning travel up his spine and tightening around his throat.
He crumples to the floor twitching like a dying insect as the doctor stands over him observing the boy. Venom screeches, vibrating over Peter’s skin in an attempt to escape the shocks. It’s overwhelming. Fire spreads through his veins, a crescendo of pain consumes every movement.
Peter screams.
The electricity only seems to heighten, coiling around the boy like barbed wire and firing all his senses. The smell of burnt flesh reaches Peter's nose. It’s hard to concentrate, to remember the plan but as Dr. Sovolko crouches down and reaches for him, his senses scream move move move.
“V-venom!” Peter chokes. With a roar, the alien launches himself out of Peter’s body and onto the doctor’s chest. The impact sends the remote flying to the floor, cutting off the shocks. In a panic, the doctor stumbles back clawing at Venom who sinks deeper into his body.
“Soldiers! Soldiers!” Dr. Sovolko screams. Peter’s body sags to the floor trembling from the loss of both electricity and Venom. The absence was almost worse than the shocking. It was an ache so deep he didn't know where the hollowness inside him ended. His mind was so quiet he couldn’t focus on anything else aside from the emptiness. He whimpers curling into himself to ease the void now opening in his chest.
He can’t do this. He can’t move. He can’t think. He can’t breathe-
“Peter.” Venom’s menacing growl rumbled the air. A tendril of fluid blackness lifts Peter’s chin up. Soulless white eyes stare intensely at the boy while his gaping mouth expands unnaturally into a grin, showcasing rows of sharp jagged teeth. His tongue flickers out darting across Peter’s cheek. Startled Peter rubs distractedly at the slime left behind.
“Hello, little spider.” Venom stands to his full height. His gloss black skin ripples chaotically over thick muscle as his hands flex at his side. Each finger ends in a claw sharp enough to slice through stone.
Peter smiles weakly, “Hey buddy.” Before either can move, a horde of guards enter the corridor and start shooting, raining bullets at the pair. Venom moves fluidly, his large body acting like a shield. Peter watches in fascination as bullets absorb into the black mass just to be spat back in a blur. Cries of agony fill the air as soldiers fall from wounds inflicked by their own weapons.
An alarm booms overhead, the hall submerging into a red glow. “We gotta go.” Peter whispers, shaking his head to dislodge the dissociation threatening to overwhelm him. “Venom, we gotta go. Now!” He struggles to his feet, muscles spasming under his weight, and uses the wall to drag himself along.
“I’ll be right behind you.” Venom grumbles before turning to the group of soldiers who continue to pointlessly shoot the alien down. Shouts of outrage and commands tumble over one another growing more frantic as Venom stalks closer, his tongue hanging out in anticipation. “Time to feast.”
Peter doesn’t look back but he can hear the way venom tears into each soldier, ripping their limbs apart with his bare teeth. The sound of blood splattering onto the floor and screams of fear ring in Peter’s ears. His hearing can pinpoint the exact second each heart beat stops and his nose highlights the smell of blood and sweat, even the slight stench of piss as one of the soldiers cowers in fear.
He can sense all this without seeing a thing. Peter hates to admit it but a deep dark part of himself is glad. Glad that their evil has been wiped from the world. That no one else has to suffer by their hands. He hates himself a little for the feeling.
Peter leaves venom to finish eating. He drags his broken body along the wall letting his senses defend himself from any dangers. Tingles shoot from the collar, left over energy expelling into his neck making it hard to focus. The first thing Peter plans to do is remove this thing and swear off any collared shirts.
The escape route Peter and Venom have been planning for months forms in his mind. He turns left then right then left again knocking down soldiers and doctors alike like dominos. He’s desperate now, the taste of freedom becoming an addiction.
The exit hatch glows in the distance, adrenaline pumps through his veins fueling him forward despite the exhaustion tugging at his heels. His neck buzzes in warning before three soldiers ambush him. They fight like well trained warriors, targeting his weak points all at once. On a good day, when Peter is fed and not falling apart, he could take them down in seconds. Today is not a good day. He’s tired and he's starving and he’s so so empty in his own body that his arms move sluggishly. His reflexes are slow giving them the necessary vantage to pin him down.
One soldier pulls out a baton and slams it down onto his face, enticing a groan. Again and again he smashes it down, shattering Peter’s ribs and bruising his stomach black and blue. Peter yelps using his arms to cover his head from any more violence.
He’s going to die. He’s so close and he’s going to die. Peter can’t help the tears gathering in his eyes. He always knew this would be the end. Surrounded by hate and pain and false hope.
Bitterness stirs in his stomach. It’s not fair; Nothing about this is fair. He never asked for any of this, never asked to witness his aunt and uncle be shot in front of him, never asked to be dragged away and thrown into a cell just to be experimented on for years. And then to be given a second chance of hope just for it to be ripped away. He would’ve rather no hope than this.
He squeezes his eyes closed tears carving a path down his cheeks, washing away the blood on his face. Then, through the sound of metal hitting flesh and heavy breathing he heard an animalistic growl. The floor shudders at the sound. Three thick whisps of darkness snap around the throats of each soldier. The hits stop, as well as all three heart beats.
Peter rolls over and watches Venom devour the three men, licking the blood that coats his teeth with a satisfied sigh. “Delicious.” He hisses.
“About time.” Peter laughs breathlessly, clutching his ribs as relief like none other washes over him. Venom turns to watch the boy curled up on the floor. He tilts his head assessing the blood and bruises littering the boy's body.
“Their deaths were not slow enough.” Anger tinges his words. He walks over and gently lifts the boy into his arms cradling him close. “I’ve got you.”
“Thanks, V.” Peter keeps his arm tight across his chest trying to hold his broken pieces together as Venom moves with serpentine grace to the hatch.
Peter holds his breath.
The red lights glow across the halls as the alarm continues to blare over the sound of soldiers closing in on their location. “Go go go.” Peter pleads, terror gripping his heart. Venom leaps up the ladder, his claws embedding themselves into the stone as he hauls them up. With one last guttered roar, Venom smashes through the hatch, shielding Peter from fallen debris.
He lands hard onto the ground. Peter looks up soaking in the fresh air. Trees. Miles and miles of trees surround them, green leaves waving softly in the wind. It’s night out, the sky smothered in stars. And, god, the moon. It shines down, lighting up the forest that they were currently in.
Peter swivels his head with wide eyes, taking in everything he possibly could. It’s overwhelming. The smells, the noises, the colours of the world. Everything he’s missed for so long is finally in his grasp.
Venom is quiet above him for a blissful few seconds taking in all the new sights until Peter’s senses snap to attention. HYDRA’s men clamber up the ladder, their guns loaded and ready. Venom turns away and starts to sprint, weaving in and out of the trees while dodging bullets. No, not bullets. Tranquilizers.
“Venom.” Peter murmurs. “They aren’t shooting to kill. They want us back. You- you can’t let them take us back.” hysteria laces his voice. Death would be kinder than returning there.
“I will not let them touch you. I will eat them all.” Venom rumbles.
“You gotta promise me. Promise me that- that if they get us, you have to kill me.”
“What?!” Venom shouts, outrage evident. He ducks under a fallen tree branch. “I will never kill you, little spider.”
Peter stays quiet. It was clear that they would not agree on this. Venom’s speed increases, his anger pushes him forward. The movement jolts Peter’s ribs making him wince. “You are hurt. I need to help you.” Peter doesn’t admit it but relief inflates his heart.
Venom comes to a slow stop, making sure they are hidden from view of HYDRA. Peter is carefully placed onto an upturned log while Venom walks backwards to a fallen tree. The boy watches warily as Venom takes a snapped off branch and without a second of hesitation, impales it through his chest. Peter gasps.
“Venom! What are you doing?” He goes to stand but the symbiote growls low in warning. He stops. Peter watches as Venom melts away, leaving the doctor gurgling blood with the branch through his chest. He stares hauntingly at Peter, his face ashened. His mouth opens, words trying to form.
"H-hail H-HYDRA." The doctor whispers a maic smile pulling at his lips.
Peter doesn’t move. He should get up, yank that branch out his chest and force Venom to fix the hole. But memories flash before his eyes. Cold hand touching and taking what they believed is theirs. A sickly sweet smile and the hum of a song being sung as a blade is dug under his skin and his screams fill a cold white room.
Stars shining bright above you. Night breezes seem to whisper I love you.
Peter doesn’t move. The shuffle of leaves has the boy peering to the ground, watching as Venom churns and swirls violently forward seeking him out. He crawls up Peter’s leg and soaks into his chest. Instantly, the emptiness disappears and is replaced by warmth. He shivers.
Venom hums happily, finding his favourite corner of Peter’s mind and settling down. I can not do both. I will fix your ribs but you must move. Now. Keeping his word, Peter feels his ribs slowly mend, the pain no longer as sharp. He looks over to the doctor who struggles weakly with the branch before leaving him there to die alone. He deserves to die alone. Let the big puppies eat him alive. Peter doesn't bother correcting him on the term big puppies.
Instead he walks and he walks. Enjoying the dull throb in his toes at the stones and twigs littering the floor get stuck to the bottom of his feet. Peter smiles, tears streaming down his face.
“Why are you sad?” Venom's confusion slips between his thoughts. It makes Peter grin wildly.
“I’m not sad, I'm happy. I’m so happy, V.”
He laughs freely for the first time in what feels like years. He laughs until his cheeks are hurting and the haunting sound of hail HYDRA drifts away in the wind.