Chapter 26

Time waits for no one, and Peter felt this truth more than ever. The more he accomplished, the more he realized there was still left to do.

With MJ tentatively agreeing to rent the other unit, he now raced to finish both homes before summer arrived and before the end of school for Gwen and MJ. Gwen was eager to be settled in before her new term began, and although MJ wasn't in quite as much of a rush, she wanted to move in alongside Gwen so it wouldn't feel "weird," as she'd put it.

Peter was unsure about MJ moving in. They'd been close when they were younger, but in high school, Flash had made it very clear that Peter was to keep his distance from her. Even when Peter tried to talk to MJ, she often responded with a cold shoulder. He couldn't figure out if MJ's attitude came from her own feelings or from Flash's influence. Given how cruel Flash had been to Peter, it was easy to imagine he wasn't exactly a good boyfriend either.

Still, Peter felt he should give her a fair chance, even if it meant potentially dealing with Flash. MJ had been his only friend when he was young, the one person who stayed by his side after Uncle Ben passed away, and it had crushed him when they grew apart. But this wasn't high school anymore. Flash might have been influential there, but not here. Here, Peter was the landlord. At the first sign of Flash being a problem, Peter could—and would—legally kick him out.

With two tenants now, Peter had to ensure everything was up to code. The wiring needed to be redone so that each unit had its own power, and he needed to tile, waterproof the wet rooms, and install showers. He'd asked Aleksei if he knew any licensed plumbers and electricians, since the city required certified professionals. Aleksei had given him a book of contacts, and Peter found two who were willing to handle the work.

The walkways had also been secured, so unless MJ or Gwen decided to jump over the iron bars, they'd be safe. The flooring was complete, and the exteriors of the homes and his own office were finished.

He'd considered repainting the place, as it was bright blue, but after the flooring went in, he decided against it. Peter figured if Gwen or MJ wanted to change the color, he'd let them, but it would be their responsibility. The same went for the interior walls, which he had whitewashed throughout. If either MJ or Felicia wanted different colors, they could arrange that on their own.

As far as he was concerned, the two homes were finished and decorated.

With work and warehouse renovations consuming most of his time, Peter hadn't done much patrolling. His encounter with Black Cat had cooled his enthusiasm for nighttime outings as Venom. While he could easily overpower an untrained thief or mugger, he lacked finesse against skilled opponents. Black Cat had demonstrated her proficiency in several martial arts, and he knew he'd simply gotten lucky in that fight.

He needed training, but that brought complications of its own. He could attend self-defense or martial arts classes as Peter, but doing so as Venom or revealing his abilities would be difficult. Even so, he enrolled in a self-defense course that incorporated various techniques, thinking his enhanced speed and strength would make up for any skill gaps. He wanted something more adaptable than traditional martial arts, and a Middle Eastern martial art used by special forces fit the bill perfectly, giving him the flexibility he needed without requiring multiple classes.

His biggest challenges stemmed from his heightened senses. He could move faster and hit harder than most people, but loud noises and bright lights gave him headaches. His enhanced senses were almost always overstimulated, and it was even worse when he was Venom. He'd sketched out a basic design for a headset: sound-dampening ear muffs with a speaker to filter out specific sounds while still allowing him to hear, and goggles with light-sensitive lenses. Simple dark covers wouldn't work; he needed something he could adjust.

The headset would be easy enough to build. A quick trip to RadioShack and a couple hundred dollars would get him a working prototype, so he wasn't too worried about that. What did concern him was the latest issue of the Daily Bugle.

The paper had clearer, more detailed photos of Spider-Man and Black Cat. Whoever was taking them was getting bolder, which was bad news for Peter. The coverage wasn't flattering either; headlines like "Costumed Menaces" were common, with Black Cat shown in action while Spider-Man received a bit more favorable coverage, such as "A New Hero for a New Year."

Spider-Man had apparently started leaving memory cards with crime-scene photos next to subdued criminals, ensuring that evidence was preserved. But Peter cursed as he watched a video of his fight with Black Cat; whoever had taken it was on a nearby rooftop. The footage was grainy but clear enough to recognize him.

Thankfully, no one from the Daily Bugle had reached out to him about it. Either the person who filmed it didn't know it was his building or wasn't sure where the fight had taken place. Still, it was worrisome. Not only had Black Cat surprised him, but someone else had been close enough to record it.

Peter realized his security had been lacking, and with two tenants moving in, he needed to make sure it improved.

Between finishing the warehouse, preparing the homes, and handling paperwork, Peter was overwhelmed. What had started as a small stack of forms had now ballooned into a mountain of permits and license applications.

Matt was kind enough to offer his help, which also gave Karen practice with her paralegal training as she handled form filing and processing. Meanwhile, Peter ensured everything was properly stamped and official.

The extra expenses hit hard, especially when he discovered how costly some of the permits were. Yet, they were necessary to obtain the right paperwork for renting out the units. Each visit to the bank left Peter feeling nearly defeated.

The last of the money from his settlement was nearly gone—spent on carpeting, permits, and various small items he hadn't even realized he needed until Karen brought them up.

Still, each permit he secured and every inspection he passed moved him closer to the first goal: renting to tenants and generating income.

Thankfully, he was able to find a legally binding lease online for just a few dollars. Once notarized, it wouldn't pose any issues. After the homes passed their final inspections, Gwen and MJ were all set to move in.

They agreed on a reasonable rent of one thousand dollars a month. Peter had compared it to other listings and saw that smaller apartments in some areas were going for significantly more. Although he could have asked for a higher price, these were his friends, and he pointed out that the area wasn't residential, which lowered the rental value.

Leases were signed, and move-in dates were confirmed.

Peter took advantage of the warehouse's open roof by the bay, making it as eco-friendly as possible. Adding insulation and solar panels cost him a few extra hundred dollars, but it would save on energy costs over time. Lower utility bills made everyone happy, especially after he saw how high they could be.

Peter was starting to understand that being an adult was no walk in the park.

But by month's end, he had completed everything. High school would soon end, and since he'd dropped out, he didn't have exams or prom to worry about.

He'd heard about the accident at school and knew the college accepting displaced students from the explosion and fire would be busy.

Gwen was disappointed that prom was canceled. The school district issued an apology, but that was it. Nothing else was planned, and complaints were ignored. Peter wondered if his settlement had something to do with it—a final jab at Midtown High.

At Gwen's request, he built two decks on top of each unit, giving the girls more room, while his own space remained just the double office.

He asked Aleksei where he'd sourced the materials, but it was cheaper to buy secondhand. Soon enough, he bought another four to complete the last side of the warehouse.

Small expenses gradually ate away at his funds, and after the final inspection, his bank balance was back down to three figures.

Broke but satisfied, Peter was ready to move on to the next stage of his life.

"Hey, Pete," Gwen greeted him, keys in hand as she let herself in. "I've set my moving-in date for the weekend after school wraps up." She wrapped her arms around him and rested her chin on his shoulder.

"Oh yeah? And how's Captain Stacy reacting to that?"

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Uh, Daaaad doesn't know yet, 'cause he's gonna freak when he does."

"Oh, great plan, Gwen," Peter teased, rolling his eyes back at her. Her dad wasn't exactly known for his patience when it came to her.

"Oh, relax. He'll grumble, realize it's too late, and then jump in to take charge."

"Uh-huh," Peter replied dryly.

"So, I was thinking—you, me, Felicia, and MJ should go out for our first official drink once school ends. You know, to celebrate the new place." She flopped down in the chair beside him. "MJ's in, we're all ID'd and legal, so it's just you, Pete."

Peter rolled his eyes again. He had never been especially social in school, and now he hated crowds even more. His heightened senses provided more detail than he wanted. While tuning out voices and whispers was easy, body odors were another issue. Unless he wore nose plugs, he'd probably smell stale beer and sweat for a month.

But it was Gwen, and as much as he hated to admit it, she was right. "Alright, but how about a diner instead? There's a burger joint on 3rd Avenue with a bar, so we can still have drinks."

In an effort to curb underage drinking, New York had set a policy for two weeks after high school graduation: anyone over eighteen could drink legally as long as there was a designated driver or adult present—lower than the standard age of twenty-one. Police grew tired of finding kids passed out or causing trouble, and this policy shifted responsibility to parents for the graduates' celebrations.

Gwen gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll let MJ know." She pulled out her phone and checked her calendar. "Moving is on the fifteenth, so what about the night before? That should keep us from, uh, overdoing it."

Peter knew what she meant. The last thing they wanted was to move while hungover. "Sounds good," he said, marking the date on his workstation calendar. It was a little over a month away.

"Phff, so retro, Pete."

Peter laughed. "Just make sure Flash doesn't show up. He's not welcome, and I don't want to see him."

Gwen nodded. "Yeah, MJ knows. Unless he's being a total idiot, he won't."

"She's been kinda off the last few times I saw her, but I'll check."

Gwen stretched. "Well, I've got a few hours." She moved over and sat on his lap. "Any ideas?"

Peter grinned and pulled her in for a kiss.

Once Gwen had gone home for the night, Peter looked around the warehouse, noting the last tasks he had left.

It was a good distraction. Although he still felt bitter about what had happened, he was beginning to lose the edge on his anger toward Flash.

Things were moving in the right direction. Once school ended, he'd have tenants and some steady income. Once they settled in, he could start phase two of his plan: earning a diploma and advancing Parker Industries.

While a formal education wasn't strictly necessary, he knew people would take him far more seriously if he had a degree—even if it was just a piece of paper in the end.

Peter was gradually learning.

Being an adult meant having the right paperwork—and the funds to cover it.