"Oh…" Fungi Man drew out his words, and when everyone had sat down at the dining table, he lowered his voice and said to Jarvis, "There are two tickets to the airborne vehicle technology expo in the Queens District slipped under the game console. Nightingale got them. They're VIP tickets."
Understanding the hint, Jarvis blinked quickly, watching Wanda's expression in secret. He was certain that the magic-wielding Scarlet Witch must have heard what Fungi Man had said. From her expression, she didn't seem to be repelled by the idea of a tech expo.
So after dinner, Jarvis turned to Wanda, who was about to leave and said, "I've downloaded a new two-player game on the game console. Do you want to play for a bit?"
Before Wanda could even respond, Jarvis quickly spoke again, "A certain camera on a certain computer in a certain office told me that Professor Charles is still napping. You might disturb him if you go now. Why don't you wait a bit?"
Wanda widened her eyes, yet couldn't help but walk toward the television. She tossed her hand somewhat annoyedly and said, "You can't hack into the professor's computer. That's unethical!"
"The computer told me this itself."
"Nonsense."
The two of them sat down on the living room couch, each holding a game controller, ready to start playing. When Jarvis went to tweak the game console, he pulled out the two tickets and quietly slipped them into his pocket.
Right after they finished a short round of the game, Jarvis suddenly tapped his right temple. A flicker of information flashed in his eyes. He put down the controller and turned to Wanda, saying, "Sorry, someone's calling me. I might have to step out for a bit."
"Go ahead." Wanda waved her hand, then turned her head to call Squirrel Girl.
Once Jarvis had left the underground base, he again pressed his temple and said, "Hey, Eddie, what's up? Didn't I send you all the info about the shuttle routes last time? Didn't you get it?"
"Look behind you." Came a deep voice in Jarvis's brain.
Jarvis turned around to see a giant black monster crouched on the roof of the garage. Venom jumped down and walked up to Jarvis, saying, "Jarvis, I need another favor."
"What do you want to do?" Jarvis slightly frowned.
"I need to separate from Eddie." Venom's voice was filled with a strange emotion, "But I can't do it myself. A symbiote can't willingly separate from its host. I need some kind of stimulus."
"The last time I parasitized Stark, you nearly shook me out by manipulating the Stark Building's sound system. You should do the same this time."
Jarvis stared at him in disbelief, "Are you insane? Fire and vibration are weaknesses of the symbiotes. You're going to be in extreme pain."
"But I must do it." Venom's white spider-like eyes blinked, "I can't let Eddie Brock turn into a lunatic. The tug of war and internal consumption between him and me are driving him mad, and some damned psychiatrist is giving regular psychological evaluations to all superheroes with special abilities."
"I know what that evaluation means." Venom bared his teeth, "All powers-that-be place great importance on Shiller's evaluation report. They don't need mentally unstable superheroes with destructive potential wandering around in front of them. They say it's for the future of the human race."
"You're overthinking it." Jarvis tried to persuade, "Nick and Shiller simply believe that we should pay more attention to the mental health of superheroes. It doesn't mean that if they're unwell, they'll be locked up. There's no such thing. I've never heard of it."
"But I must find a way to help Eddie back to normal." There was impatience in Venom's tone. In fact, the fact that he could refrain from roaring showed growth, "Eddie needs to go back to his regular life, not retire and then succumb to alcohol."
"According to my analysis, it's only your physical strength that's nurturing your soul, hence you've reached what the symbiote race calls the growth period, or what humans refer to as the rebellious phase. It's quite normal for you to be emotionally unstable, and you should go through it together…"
"Stop gabbing!" Venom roared, "Think of a solution quickly!"
JARVIS puckered his lips and said, "I must remind you that it's not worthwhile to do this in the Stark Building. Don't think I'm oblivious to your intentions."
"I will not hurt Tony Stark. I know better than you how important he is. For Eddie's sake at least, I won't do that."
"I just need a temporary refuge. That scum bag will want to see me. Although he doesn't say it, I am sure that's what he desires."
JARVIS sighed and looked at Venom with pity, saying, "Alright, I grant you the elevator access. Now go to Laboratory 2 on the top floor. I'll alert the medical staff to take care of Eddie."
After Venom left, JARVIS shook his head and mumbled, "I did warn you…"
Soon, Eddie arrived at the Stark Building. Of course, now it was Venom, as JARVIS had said, who was controlling his body. Having absorbed a massive amount of energy, the symbiote had strength beyond compare. He could even plunge Eddie's consciousness into unconsciousness and control the body himself.
This, in fact, profoundly violated the host's rights, but Venom felt he had no other choice, because he knew that Eddie, more than him, didn't want them to part ways.
However, to some extent, Venom also trusted Shiller's judgment, that the soul status in which he and Eddie were entangled was unhealthy. If he truly had a rebellious phase, he'd rather torment another lousy man who had this phase 365 days a year. At least they could harm each other.
Before long, a buzzing sound echoed in the laboratory, and the continuous intense vibration made every symbiotic factor in Venom scream. But he still contained the energy suppressing Eddie's soul, so he wouldn't wake up.
The black goo was gradually stripped off the ground and flowed out of the door gap. In the next room, Stark, who was dozing off on the table, vaguely felt something sticky winding around his ankle.
Through the wall in the two rooms, exhausted Eddie was assisted by the medical staff onto the bed, soon falling sound asleep. Stark who just awoke from his sleep, was startled by an evil voice booming all of a sudden.
"I'm back, you lousy man!"
Instantly, a monstrous black creature made up of surging symbiotic factors appeared in Stark's psychic space.
Stark was taken aback, while Venom was clearly pleased with his reunion prank, his wild and evil laughter echoing in Stark's mind.
"Didn't expect, did you? I am now so powerful. Hahahaha...Burp!"
A choking noise like someone having their neck squeezed suddenly emerged. The only pair of white eyes in the black muck was covered by another more enormous and terrifying shadow.
Slowly looking up, Venom saw a pair of eyes - strange yet familiar - slowly lighting up beneath the endlessly looming black tide.
When that gaze, like a deep-sea monster's, focused on Venom, an even more intense scream than the laughter reverberated in Stark's consciousness space.
"BATMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"