Arc Four. Chapter Ninety-Six. Hidden Agenda

"I must say, Peter, this is very impressive." Otto was looking at the work Peter had put into the warehouse, and even his own place paled in comparison, "and you say it was only a year to fix up, very good, very good." Peter gave Otto a cursory glance. The man was tall, slender, and a bit scruffy as far as Peter could see. His blonde hair was dyed and the darker brown roots showed though as well as the dirty blond five o'clock shadow he had. Did he not shave before coming here?

Peter was also dying to ask which limb was fake but MJ, and then Gwen, and then Felicia had threatened that if he embarrassed the poor man by bringing it up, there would be no sex for a month. He thought it was his arm, as it seemed stiff compared to the other but unless he was obvious, he couldn't get a good look.

Otto and Aunt May had come round for dinner, while Peter was willing to head over to her apartment, Aunt May had wanted to show off her nephew and his achievements. Otto and May were at the table sat in the middle, and Peter had the portable grill close by, turning steaks and chicken wings while potatoes roasted, the new vent he fitted let him use the grill without risk of poisoning everyone and during the warm summer, it would be nice to have a barbeque.

Gwen and Felicia were out, they knew that meeting Otto for the first time would be a bit strange and had decided to head out for a dinner date on their own. Gwen was spending most of her time at her old house right now, with the paperwork concerning her father and everything she had taken a leave of absence from school. A lot of people hadn't come back over Easter and the whole city, the whole country, mourned the death toll.

MJ was working and had promised to make it up to Peter, and it was just Liv as usual. The issues with the government hadn't been solved and a warrant was still out for her arrest. Peter had told her she was more than welcome but she shook her head, it was a family meal and family time, she'd be fine for the night, promised to be quiet and secured second use of the new grill he had installed in the warehouse. It had been years since she had a well-cooked steak and she had made Peter promise to cook it for her.

He was drizzling marinated over the steaks when he heard a crash and Liv shouting, "Peter, sorry dear but can you help?"

Otto looked over and Peter shrugged, "One of the tenants is in a wheelchair, sorry, um Otto, can you watch these?"

"Of course, of course, but uh, you know if she wants she can come out, I don't mind and I'm sure May doesn't either," and May shook her head, she thought Peter was better than to hide another houseguest, and a thought crossed her mind, that they were hiding for a reason.

"Peter," Liv yelled this time,

Peter bolted, entering the home he swore, "shit." Liv had knocked over a glass and it had not just soaked her, but shattered and her leg was cut, "Aunt May, can you grab me a first aid kit, it's under the table." And as Peter grabbed a towel and began to try to soak up the water, Liv just stared in horror at the door.

"Well, isn't this a problem?" Peter turned and saw Otto stood in the doorway, first aid kit in hand. "Hello Liv, didn't expect to see you here" and Peter stood between them,

"uh, Liv?" Peter asked, unsure of what was going on,

"Cuh. Curt," she stammered, trying to wheel herself back from him.

"Wait? You're Curt? But doesn't he only have one arm?" and Otto, maybe Curt banged on his left arm, which rather than being flesh made a hollow thunking noise.

"Prosthetic Peter, but I guess the cats out the bag then." Black oozed over Peter and as he grew Curt held up his hands, "wait wait, I'm not here to fight."

Venom didn't stop, "explain before I have to have a very difficult conversation with my Aunt."

"I ran into a wall, a problem with the formula. I, I needed your father notes, I was going to approach you if May didn't have them."

Venom flexed his hands, letting them ball into fists, "you know that's not better, you used my Aunt," and Curt looked defeated.

"No Peter, I do love her, your aunt knows who I am. I already told her plus we had met before, through your father. She got rid of your father's notes years ago, she said an agent came and took them, but that you had your father's old laptop. I was hoping to have a look at it, to get your help and I need Ms Stacy. I was actually hoping to talk to her tonight but uh, well."

"You know, this is all lovely but before you get a room, can you please clean up my leg and get me some dry clothes." Liv interrupted.

Venom rubbed the back of his head, "sorry Liv." He let his armour shrink back into the normal clothes he was wearing and took the first aid kit from Curt.

"So, hiding with Venom, how exciting Liv," Curt said, as Peter opened the kit and handed her some bandages, "and I must say I'm jealous. I've been living in a sewer."

"Yes Curt, cause being under the thumb of an egomaniac and having your spine shredded by his mind control device was a picnic. Stop being such a drama queen and get out so Peter can change my pants."

"You and Peter?" Curt raised an eyebrow, "but I thought that it was Peter and-" and as Liv shot him a stare he coughed, "of course, none of my business who he uh, well. I'll let May know everything's fine and leave you to it."

Peter helped Liv into her new pants,

"So?" He asked her, "that's Curt."

"Peter dear, if he's here voluntarily then listen to what he has to say. I doubt very much that he'd try anything, if May knows then it's a safe bet that he's telling the truth."

Peter nodded, and talking one of Livs hands kissed the back of it, "thank you."

"Yes yes, now let's go out and eat, no point in hiding now is there," and Liv let Peter wheel her out into the common area where she smiled at May.

"So, you know, and I guess Liv too?" and a grinning Peter just rubbed the back of his head while May shook her head.

"If you're happy Peter, then there isn't much I can say, even if I don't approve, MJ and Gwen were fine, Felicia was tolerable, but really Peter, four. Are there more? Is someone else hiding in one of these boxes you keep building in here?"

"No Aunt May no, Liv just happened, uh," and as he looked at Liv, "it's complicated, really complicated, please, just fine, we're all happy, please, just accept it okay."

"Fine, fine Peter but I can't say I am happy, I mean really, Ben and I raised you better than that." May was livid,

"You did Aunt May but you're wrong, we're happy, not just five people but a family, a happy family and this time, Aunt May I love you I really do but don't speak like that about them," and Peter took a deep breath, "or you can leave."

Aunt May recoiled, Peter never spoke to her like that, never once raised his voice at her, never once talked back. He maybe said something stupid, he maybe raised a protest, but he always turned to her for advice, for guidance. "Well, Peter, we are allowed to live our lives as we see fit, and while I may not agree I guess that I have to accept it."

Peter seemed to visibly relax. He had always looked up to and respected his Aunt but now he was moving on, and a part of that was realising that different people had different attitudes. Aunt May belonged to a group that would not understand the kind of relationship he had with the others. While he respected that, she had to understand and respect their choice. He had been avoiding her for that very reason, he would always keep his identity as Venom a secret, to protect her, but his relationships were another matter. He knew his Aunt wouldn't understand, and with Liv being a permanent resident it was hard to have her there while Liv was around, and he refused to make Liv feel he was ashamed of her.

The atmosphere for the rest of the meal was quiet, the food that he prepared was delicious but as Curt and Liv kept giving each other glances they knew that family time was definitely over for Peter and May.

"Well," Curt said, "I guess that this is the awkward bit then, May, thank you for introducing me to Peter and Peter, thank you for dinner, it was lovely, but I'm afraid I need to speak to Ms Stacy, to ask for her help, plus, seeing as we're all being honest here, May tell him."

May glared at Curt and pursed her lips, scowling at him, "now's not the time Curt," and she raised an eyebrow and gave him a look Peter recognised, the one that said, 'keep talking and they'll never find the body.'

"No dear, I'm sorry Peter deserves to know and after your little outburst it'll clear the air."

"Wait? Are you two?" and Curt nodded and taking out a box knelt down. "May Parker, will you marry me?" and while May looked like she simultaneously wanted to cry, commit murder, or run and hide, she squeaked, "yes," and Curt excitedly slipped the ring onto her finger, while Liv nudged Peter in the ribs.

"I want you to help me cure myself of the Lizard, I've been researching since my accident but I'm nowhere nearer to a cure, but you are aren't you? I was hoping that a fresh pair of eyes would give me some new insights, that maybe with her work at Oscorp Gwen could help me, but Liv being here is even better. Can I ask you to help too?" but Liv was sat open-mouthed.

"Uh, maybe save that until, you know, the celebrations are over," and May batted Curt on his good arm, "propose and then straight to work huh? The honeymoon had better be good"

"Well, I do have my very spacious sewer abode, we could always spend a week there?" Curt winked at her. May laughed but Peter grimaced, seeing his Aunt happy was one thing, but watching her and Curt flirt was another.

"Uh, if you need help with that, I have some, um, funds I can probably spring for a small vacation somehow, you know as a wedding gift?"

Aunt May shook her head and grinned, "If you have four girlfriends, Mr Parker, then I think you should be worried about them and not your old fashioned Aunt. There is also the issue of why exactly Ms Stacy is the target of Curt here. I'm not stupid Peter, I know what your father was involved in and what Curt was asking for, so would you like to explain, or shall I wait until everyone is here and ask them?"

Aunt May glared at Peter, and as he looked over at Liv, even she shrugged. This was not something anyone would be getting involved in, Peter was on his own.

With Gwen and Felicia out of the warehouse, Peter sighed and began to explain.

Peter stared at his Aunt. He knew lying would do him no good as she could always tell.

Peter sighed and stared at the plate in front of him. "When I was sick at Oscorp, I was exposed to something, and I'm still sick."

Aunt May straightened up, "You're sick? And you didn't say?" and Peter nodded.

"Gwen's been trying to find out what was wrong with me and uh, Liv was helping." Peter looked over at Liv.

Liv swore at him in her mind but kept it from her face. Peter had dumped this mess in her lap and he would pay for that later. "I'm a doctor at Oscorp and I found out they've been doing illegal research, Gwen was my intern and she was using my notes to try and help Peter. I found out and I've been helping."

May looked sceptical, "and Curt?"

"Same research they were doing all those years ago darling," he added, it wasn't going to help if May was suspicious of Peter and Liv. He needed their help to cure the Lizard, not isolate himself from them by making May angry.

May shook her head, Peter didn't have his normal guilty look when he lied and with Liv and Curt backing him up, it seemed he was telling the truth. "Okay, but if you're lying to me young man, and if I find out later on, you are in so much trouble." She knew there was more going on but if Peter was willing to keep it from her, she had to trust his judgement, plus she would get the truth from Curt sooner or later.

Peter sat up straight, "I'm not Aunt May," giving her a grin, "uh, cake? I have brownies." Peter deflected by changing the subject. Normally when he made brownies Gwen stole them, running around the warehouse as the others chased her, laughing while Poison gorged herself but today, he made them while she wasn't here. Sighing with relief he had cleared that hurdle, with Aunt May safe and ignorant, Peter hoped she would never know the truth.