Chapter Forty-Three: Stirring Trouble

In the stillness of the late night, the disciplined American military base lay silent under a shroud of darkness. Yet in a certain officer's private quarters, subtle sounds disturbed the quiet.

Under the dim yellow light, Kyle, clad in the suit formed by Venom, was warming up—using the ironwood single bed as a barbell, adapting to the boost in strength his body now possessed. With the rhythmic flexing of his abdominal muscles, his limbs engaged in high-intensity warm-up exercises. The suit gradually melded with Kyle's form, fitting closer to its host, like a layer of black leather skin that accentuated every contour of his perfectly sculpted physique.

“Venom, you’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Kyle smiled, feeling not only Venom’s transmitted delight but also a surge of energy and an uplifted mood within himself. Once Venom fused with its host, their strength and emotions intertwined, influencing and elevating one another.

Today marked Venom’s first day of existence, and its initial symbiosis with a super soldier; the thrill was so intense it couldn’t be contained. Yet tomorrow might bring news of Red Skull’s whereabouts—a mission was imminent, and Kyle couldn’t afford to indulge Venom any longer.

Exhaling a hot breath, Kyle set the bed back down and soothed his living suit, “Alright, I’ll take you out tomorrow. If we keep this up, I won’t get any sleep tonight.”

As he prepared to remove the suit, a knock sounded from outside his door.

“Who could be looking for me so late?” Kyle wondered, patting his suit reassuringly before opening the door.

He was surprised to see a young man in sleepwear standing outside. “Steve, what brings you here at this hour?” he asked, baffled.

“I should ask you the same! It’s the middle of the night and you’re still up. What are you doing in here…” Steve yawned, his messy blond hair a clear sign he’d been roused from sleep.

Right, Steve’s room was assigned directly below Kyle’s. Kyle recalled this, shrugged, and said, “There was a cockroach in my room, so I got up and dealt with it.”

“Are you sure it was just a cockroach…” Steve eyed Kyle’s combat suit with a wry expression. “Anyone who didn’t know would think you just got back from the front lines.”

Kyle spread his hands helplessly. “You know I don’t have many clothes. Sometimes I just sleep in the suit—makes it easier to be ready for action.”

“Well, get some rest. We might have to move out tomorrow,” Steve said, rubbing his sleepy eyes as he headed back downstairs.

Kyle closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief. That was close—if Steve had entered and seen his original combat suit hanging on the rack, he’d have no idea how to explain it.

“It’s time to sleep,” Kyle muttered, about to transform Venom into a card when another knock came from outside.

Again?

This time, Kyle was quick. He swiftly extracted the original combat suit from the rack, converting it into a card, before opening the door. “Steve, aren’t you going to sleep—”

He stopped mid-sentence upon seeing the visitor.

“Carter? What brings you here at this hour?” Kyle asked, tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Indeed, at the door stood Carter, dressed in a simple long-sleeved nightgown. Her fair skin was visible at her neck, and her short golden hair fell lazily over her shoulders, lending her a softer allure than the icy beauty she projected in the daytime.

Will I get any sleep tonight?

Kyle silently complained, then, seeing Carter silent, asked directly, “Would you like to come inside?”

“Keep dreaming.” Carter shot him a glance, turned, and leaned against the wooden rail of the second-floor corridor, her silhouette melting into the night. “I have something to say to you.”

“Don’t worry,” Kyle said softly, moving to stand beside Carter in the corridor, gazing at the star-studded night sky. “Tomorrow, like always, no matter how many times, I’ll bring Steve back.”

Carter was silent for a moment, then glanced at Kyle with cool eyes, asking, “Aren’t you afraid you might not come back?”

“Not come back?” Kyle was briefly taken aback, then shook his head. “I haven’t really considered that. I don’t want to tempt fate, but I have confidence in my abilities.”

It wasn’t arrogance, but a measured assessment based on his knowledge of the Marvel universe and his own combined abilities and equipment. Super soldier physique, dozens of combat techniques, a carbon-sodium steel blade, vibranium bracers, tonight’s newly acquired Venom suit—not to mention his hidden cards, Blue Eagle and Senzu Beans.

If Red Skull was the villain for this stage, Kyle didn’t take him seriously; he’d confront him head-on and see if he could withstand it.

Carter continued, “Confidence is good, but there’s always the chance of the unexpected. Kyle, you always charge ahead so recklessly—aren’t you afraid one day it’ll cost you?”

“So you’re worried I’ll die on the battlefield?” Kyle blinked in surprise. Tonight, she seemed a bit out of character.

“Of course!” Carter nodded, then clarified, “You’re one of the candidates whose super soldier records I’m perfecting. If you don’t come back, it’ll be a significant loss for the army.”

“So I’m just a research subject? I’m a major now, an American hero. Show some respect in your tone,” Kyle retorted.

Meanwhile, he sensed something odd with the Venom suit, instinctively glancing behind him.

At some point, the back of the Venom suit had extended a liquid black tendril, slowly reaching toward Carter like a curious probe.

Carter’s hands rested on the railing, one supporting her chin, completely unaware of the suit’s inquisitive intentions behind her.

Don’t start trouble, Venom!

Kyle felt his scalp tingle. Venom meant no harm—just encountering a female human for the first time, curious about the structure of a woman’s body.

“What’s wrong? You look pale,” Carter asked, puzzled.

“Nothing. Don’t worry, I’ll be back safe tomorrow…” Kyle replied, trying to keep his composure as Venom’s tendril neared Carter’s back, about to cover it out of curiosity.

Stop right now!

Kyle shouted silently, quickly reaching out to grab the extended Venom probe, pinching the tip and merging it back into his glove.

Yet his hand kept moving forward, landing gently on Carter’s raised hip.

A crisp slap echoed through the night, freezing the atmosphere between them.

Carter’s beautiful face first showed shock, then transformed into wintry coldness as she glared fiercely at Kyle.

“That was a misunderstanding, really… There was a mosquito,” Kyle withdrew his hand awkwardly, not believing his own excuse—where would a mosquito come from in the icy depths of winter?

“Enjoyed the feel, did you?” Carter snorted, turning to leave down the corridor, her words icy: “American hero? Major? I see now—just another lecherous scoundrel!”

“Forget it, time to sleep.”

Kyle shook his head and sighed, eager to drift into sleep and end this exhausting night.