boxofmisfits | A Meeting of Aliens

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A Meeting of Aliens

The whole Thanos thing had shook the world. Sure, Earth was used to super powered threats by now, be they men in power armor, supernatural beings come to destroy or enslave humanity, or entire cities destroyed because a sentient robot interpreted his programming in a certain way. But Thanos had come very close to destroying half the population of the entire universe, thanks to the Infinity Stones.

Eddie and Venom hadn't known about it at the time, or else they might have caught the first fight to Wakanda's nearest neighboring city. Thankfully, they hadn't needed to. Thor's brother, the infamous Loki, had shown up, after seemingly having been killed, according to the God of Thunder. Loki's trickery and magic had helped turn the tide, so the Avengers had been able to save the world once more. The details of the battle were still vague, since most of the Avengers didn't feel like talking about it, but Thanos was gone.

That brought Eddie to where he was right now. In a lounge room, notebook in hand and his phone set to record, prepared to interview the one man who was willing to talk. Venom had agreed to stay quiet for now, as they always did when Eddie had to do an interview.

"So, let's get started," Eddie pushes the record button on his phone, before getting his pen ready. "You faked your death, is that correct?"

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Loki had honestly been a little surprised when the man had managed to contact him. He'd been staying at the Avenger's compound, having been given a second chance by the entire team after the way he'd helped save their world. He made it clear that he no longer wanted to be king. What he wanted was to change.

It had been a long time coming and it seemed he was welcome by everyone there. Even the people of Midgard seemed to be ready to forgive him. Still, he wanted to tell his story.

So. Here he was.

"I have faked my death many times, Mr. Brock." He said, an amused smile on his face even as he studied the man. From the moment he'd met him, something about him had felt...off. He just wished he could put his finger on what.

"The most recent time, yes. It was a...desperate act. I had made it seem as if I were offering the Mad Titan one of the stones he so desperately sought. In actuality I meant to betray him, but he knew my tricks far too well. I knew if I could not come up with a good enough illusion, he would kill me. Thankfully I am good at teleportation as well as illusion. I merely made him think he held me within his grasp. He thought he truly crushed my throat."

His hand lifted briefly, touching his throat as he looked away. "Then I hid. Before he blew the ship up, I teleported away. Before Thor could realize. I knew if anyone knew, including him, that I would be of no help to anyone."

Eddie could sense that Venom had something to say, but he kept it to himself for now. The symbiote wasn't unreasonable, and at least understood that his partner could do his job better when there wasn't a second voice in his head.

As Loki spoke, Eddie took notes, looking up briefly when Loki mentioned how Thanos had supposedly killed him. "Yikes."

Eddie had been living in New York when Loki had attacked it, and at the time he hadn't felt too sorry for him upon being thwarted and carted off back to Asgard. Now, though, he felt a stab of pity for the God of Trickery, and Eddie could tell just from their first meeting that he wasn't the same person who had torn apart New York.

"I understand that Thanos also had something to do with the attack on New York a few years ago as well."

"Ah yes, the attack on New York." He said, sighing softly as he leaned back in the seat, staying quiet for a moment to gather his thoughts. "My ambition was my downfall then. I wanted to be king of Asgard, but it was not meant to be. Due to my...foolishness, the Bifrost was destroyed and I cast myself into the darkest part of the universe. I fully accepted that I would die there."

He cleared his throat, shifting before looking around. "Is there something I can drink? This...I always have...difficulty with this part." He said quietly, getting some water and taking a sip before he continued.

"Death was not what found me. Thanos and the Other did. At first I denied his orders. I did not want to do his bidding, I wanted to be left alone in my misery." He shook his head, pushing his fingers through. "He...tortured me. The visage you see is not my true form. I am from Jotunheim, not Asgard. I am a frost giant and therefore, I am rather sensitive to heat. Thanos discovered this and used it to torture me until I was desperate to do anything he wanted so it would end."

It was the moment he honestly regretted more than anything else in his life. He wished to forget it, but he knew he never would.

"So I agreed to get the stone for him and to...help keep my mind focused, he promised the realm to me. I had suffered so much I wanted someone else to as well. That someone else was to be Thor. Who loves Midgard so much. I regret it. I wish I could take it back, but I never can."

"Take your time," Eddie waved at the glass of water he'd provided. He'd done interviews in the past where the interviewee needed a moment to compose themselves, so he wasn't about to get snippy with Loki.

Eddie continued to take notes, occasionally glancing up and giving Loki a sympathetic look. He felt Venom give a little hum of sympathy when Loki mentioned the weakness to heat. "So, you're not entirely to blame for what happened in New York."

Whatever image Eddie had of Loki from years ago was taking a very different turn. He wasn't some madman out to kill people, but someone manipulated and used by a very evil man. Thanos, on the other hand, sounded like a real bastard, to put it mildly.

"Maybe my article can help change people's minds about you. You did help save the world, after all."

Eddie took another sip of water, before asking his next question, "What are your plans for the future?"

"I would like that. I mean no offense, but...Midgardians seem to be fickle creatures. I have been told that I am forgiven, given a second chance, but many times I don't feel that is entirely true. Many still believe I only helped so that I could try to take over again later. That is certainly not my intention." He said, shaking his head as he thought about it.

"My plans? I have grown to like Midgard quite a lot. It is a beautiful planet with many interesting things. The technologies here are amazing. Some of the people I have met...well, I am making connections I never thought I would have. Though I am still rather lonely." He shrugged a shoulder, giving a soft sigh. "There are many who are not keen to have more than amicable friendship with an alien."

Eddie did a remarkably good job at keeping a straight face, even while Venom remarked that the irony was thick enough to use a butcher knife on. Loki's words echoed Venom's own, when the symbiote had confessed to coming around to liking Earth. Likewise, Venom had not thought to make such a strong connection to his host, yet here they were.

"Oh, I dunno, I think you'd be surprised. I think some humans can get pretty attached to aliens." Literally, in his case.

"You've certainly giving me plenty to write my article about, but is there anything else you'd like my loyal readers to hear about about you?"

"Maybe some can, but I have yet to meet them. Well, I take that back. Everyone seems to grow attached to Thor." He huffed, looking away for a moment. It was obvious he was troubled, that he wished for more, but he didn't mention it.

"What? Oh. Nothing that I can think of. Well, except perhaps to give a true apology for my actions. To anyone willing to accept it, to the families of the people who lost their lives. I am well and truly sorry. If it were possible to return them to their loved ones, I would do so." He bowed his head, indicating that he was done before sighing softly.

"Thank you for asking me to do this, Mr. Brock. It means far more than you understand. Having someone who is willing to let me tell my side without fighting me about it." He said, standing and holding out his hand.

"No problem. It's what I do," Eddie took a few more notes, before leaning down to tap his phone and stop recording. "I feel like it's important for others to know the truth."

Eddie pocketed his phone and notebook, and reached across the little table to shake Loki's hand. "Thank you for agreeing to the interview."

Standing up and walking towards the door, Eddie heard that familiar voice in his head.

It's about time.

"We'll talk out in the hallway," Eddie whispered. He didn't realize he hadn't closed the door behind him before he verbally answered Venom.

Loki raised an eyebrow when he heard Eddie speak to himself, walking towards the door he'd just left out of. Something had seemed a bit off about the human earlier, but he'd pushed the thought aside thinking that perhaps it was an uneasiness about interviewing him.

Now? He wasn't so sure.

He moved closer, very carefully pushing the door open just enough to look at the man without being noticed. If he had to, he would use an illusion to hide himself better.

Eddie figured Loki needed a moment to get some of his things before leaving, and therefor had time to speak with the symbiote.

A mass of black ooze emerged from Eddie's back, curling around to face him and forming a frightening visage with sharp white eyes and jagged teeth. Eddie showed no fear, and was in fact smiling at Venom.

"Thanks for being patient."

"Aren't I always?"

"What do you feel like doing now?"

"We could use something to eat."

He blinked, shaking himself before staring harder, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. There was a creature...connected to the man? He leaned closer to the door, fascinated before pushing the door open.

"And what does one such as you eat exactly?" He asked boldly, stepping out into the hallway where they could both see him. He showed no sign of fear, only curiousity and, one more, fascination in what he was seeing.

Surely this creature wasn't of Earth. Could this have been why Eddie had seemed like he was so understanding about aliens? Because he truly was connected to one?

Venom noticed Loki before he made himself known, turning to look at him a second before Eddie turned that way. The symbiote eyed Loki warily, while Eddie murmured 'whoops' under his breath. At least Loki wasn't running away in terror or trying to attack them.

"Organs, heads, and raw meat are delicious."

The words were said casually enough, though there was a bit of an undertone of threat to the symbiote's words. It was meant to scare Loki a little, even while Eddie gave his partner a look that said 'please don't piss off the guy with superpowers'.

"Lately, however, I have developed a taste for chocolate."

"Well, while I am not the dedicated meat eater that my brother is, I can appreciate it when prepared properly. Though I feel you...prefer your meats from specific prey." He said, still just as casual before leaning against the wall next to the two of them. "I happen to know a very upscale butcher who can and will supply anything you ask for within his capabilities. He is very good and has provided me with absolutely pristine sweet breads. Perhaps I should give him a call." He smiled, tilting his head a bit at the two of them.

"And I do have to say that chocolate is divine. One of the things that can be appreciated about not only my magic but also my long life is that immortals know how to plan for the future. Many, many years ago I hid things on this planet. Treasures that I could use in the future should I ever want to come back. I found them, thankfully untouched, and have made myself a very handsome fortune. So please, I would love to dine with you. It will give me a chance to learn more about the two of you...if you are so willing?" He said, raising an eyebrow as his smile widened.

When Loki still showed no fear, it earned him another bit of respect from Venom, while Eddie sighed with relief. The offer of a meal practically had the symbiote drooling. Eddie was just glad Venom had learned to line up his tastes with his host.

"Off the record interview?" Eddie quipped. "In all seriousness, we'd love to have dinner with you."

"We find you interesting and would like further conversation."

"The Avengers got you a place to stay, or do you wanna have dinner at our apartment?"

"I mostly stay at the Avenger's Compound because they like to keep an eye on me, but I do have a place of my own as well. A few actually, it just depends on how I'm feeling at the moment." He said softly, watching the both of them. He hesitated before extending his hand, his eyes on Venom. "May I ask what you are called? Somehow I don't think you both go by Eddie."

He wanted to touch the symbiote, to see what the creature felt like, what it would be like. He really was infinitely curious. "I have a penthouse just a few miles from here. We could go there and order in."

Eddie shook Loki's hand, while Venom continued to watch him. His gaze was now more curious than threatening, though it might have been hard to tell. Eddie of course knew Venom's facial expressions by now.

"Venom."

"You wanna take my ride or your's? Actually, do you even have a car?"

Loki was an alien, and therefor he probably didn't have a driver's license, never mind a car. Or maybe he came in some alternate transport.

"Hmm I have a car, though if you aren't exactly comfortable riding with someone who isn't...quite legal, then we can find another way." He said, looking between them again.

Venom. Interesting. Oh he felt like this was going to be the beginning of something.

Even if it only meant a friendship, it would be one that would mean a lot. Loki rarely admitted things to people he wasn't comfortable with. It was why he had been surprised that the interview had gone so well. He had never expected to be comfortable sharing so much.

He was lonely though and he wondered if the two before him might be interested in ending that loneliness for him.

"Tell you what? Why don't we follow your car on our bike? That way we don't have to come back for it."

The two of them definitely wanted to get to know Loki better, since now they were both curious and Venom especially thought it would be interesting to speak with one who also wasn't from Earth.

"Sounds like a reasonable plan." He answered, turning to head down the hallway, figuring the two would follow him. "So how did...this come to be?" He motioned between the two of them. "You both seek to be reasonably accustomed to one another. You've had time to adjust, obviously. You even seem...well, fond of one another."

He seemed almost wistful as he made the statement, shaking his head. "It's at least good to see someone so accepting." He cleared his throat, fingers brushing through his hair. "I should hope to find someone so understanding." He wondered briefly if the coexistence between the two stopped at merely one being a host to the other or if there were more to it. He almost hoped there was more, not that he expected to be privy to anything like that between them.

"It's kind of a long story," Eddie replied, following Loki. Venom sank back into his host's body, so he could just 'enjoy the ride' for now. "I was getting evidence that the company that found Venom and more of his kind was killing people through their experiments, and Venom ended up latching onto me."

He felt Venom give a pleased little thrill. And it worked out for both of us.

"It was kinda scary at first, what with the voice in my head and wanting to eat everything in sight. But we worked through it, and now we're closer than ever." A smaller version of Venom's head emerged from Eddie's upper back to nuzzle his cheek.

"We think we understand you pretty good, so far."

"A long story that we will have plenty of time to go into over dinner." He said with a smile, listening to the short version and nodding slowly. "Well, it seems to have been quite the match. You are lucky."

Oh what he wouldn't give to have something like that with someone. He sighed wistfully before looking at them again.

"Well I meant...for companionship. It seems like the two of you have one another for that." He could see the affection between them, especially when the smaller Venom head slipped out and nuzzled the human.

"We are lucky. We are Venom."

"It's weird, because you'd think this," Eddie pointed to Venom. "Would be freaky, but it's like, since we bonded we know we'll never be alone."

Eddie could see how Loki felt. It was how he felt when he'd nearly lost everything, and never felt more alone in his life. At least he had Venom. But here Loki was, on a planet that he saved but still had to work to earn humanity's trust.

"But, you know, I'm sure companionship's just right around the corner." Venom tucked himself back into Eddie's body as they stepped outside.

"I don't know. It..I mean, you said it yourself. You know that you will never be alone again. He knows he will never be alone again. Some might think that is a curse, but...well, I know what its like to truly be alone. To float through the infinity of space alone, fearing you might never speak to another soul again." He said quietly, shaking his head and sighing.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to make it seem...well, I don't know. Perhaps I envy the bond you two have. Wish for one myself, but I highly doubt it. Regardless of what I have done to save the planet, Mr. Brock, I will continue to be seen as a monster for what I did before." He said, having obviously accepted it as truth.

That anyone could be jealous of them might have sounded silly at first, but really, Eddie and Venom were close on a level that many could only dream of. No wonder someone as lonely as Loki envied them.

"I mean, we could see ourselves being your friend," Eddie said. "Believe it or not, but this whole bonding to an alien thing was dumb luck on both our parts."

Eddie's motorcycle wasn't too away, so he took out his keys. Once he mounted the bike, he looked up at Loki, "Lead the way."

He looked at Eddie, meeting his eyes and hoping that his words would be taken to heart by both beings. "I would be honored to have you both as my friend." He said, clapping a hand lightly on his shoulder and squeezing before moving to his own car.

He got in the car, starting up before pulling out. He looked in the rear view, making sure the motorcycle was behind him. From there he led the way to the his building, waving them both into the parking garage before pulling into his normal spot.

After a few minutes he got out, waiting for Eddie to get off the bike. "We have plenty of places we can order from. I've got a plethora of menus in the kitchen. So order whatever it is the two of you would desire. On me." He said, smiling softly.

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