Gene's about to volunteer when Tony steps up, and he opts to let Tony have that dubious honor. He's done this before - he's a veritable venom veteran - but this application of the stuff, the new formula, is a little unnerving. Coward, his mind whispers to him. He ignores it.

Tony's movement draws his eye, and the outreach both surprises and heartens him. Maybe Tony doesn't hate him. After a long second, he takes Tony's hand.