Spider-Man. The House Of Venom

After everyone was finished, Peter was left to clean up the mess.  As Peter collected and started to wash the plates he scowled as the sixth plate appeared. Everyone had their own plate, so if they wanted seconds all they needed to do was reuse it. Peter then collected the finished dishes and washed them. Someone had seconds and took a clean plate rather than using their own one twice. It wasn't a big deal and as he shrugged, he went back and finished them off.

Peter had sat at the table and finished his sketches for the morning. The CLS was now becoming more than just a pipe dream. The first working prototype was built and ready to install. He just hoped that Liv wouldn't freak out over it.

“Peter dear, can you come here for a moment?” he heard from his home.

It was part of his day that Liv needed help. It had become routine, so much so that he had become numb to seeing or cleaning bodily fluids.

He had also seen and touched Liv in more places than the others combined. Which was strangely why he was having problems crossing that final line. It was obvious Liv liked him, and he liked her. They were cut from the same cloth. It wasn’t just a physical attraction. They shared the same passion for science, even in differing fields. Collaborating, discussing and implementing ideas came as naturally as breathing to them both. Which gave Peter pause for thought. Looking after her made him hesitant to take the final plunge. Was he taking advantage of her?

He didn’t want to ruin their relationship. He was having some difficulty with three already, but a fourth? Not just a fourth but someone older, wiser, and right now, more like a mentor to him. Was it worth it just for sex? Was it worth discovering that it was the one thing they weren't compatible with? To ruin everything else?

Liv seeming had no issue with the small poly group they were building, but Peter was thinking of the future. Was there a limit to how big the group could get before it broke apart? Felicia and MJ proved that not every relationship was roses and chocolates.

He sighed and slid the sketchbook onto the table, knowing it wouldn't take too long and headed into his home. It was a discussion with everyone, and it could wait until later.

“So, bathroom or?” he left the question hanging,

“Neither. Problem.” Liv replied, holding up a torn ad bloody shirt.

Peter frowned in confusion, “Not one of mine.” His powers had settled, and unless he willed it, Venom stayed nice and snug, inside him.

“But it is, and,“ Liv pointed at the bed, “that's one of my blankets, and there is more.” Liv offered up the shirt.

Peter shrugged but he knew what she meant as he took it. It was a woman's scent, heavy. It was her blood, it was her sweat mixed with other things and it was not one of the women in the warehouse.

⁂

They had to wait until everyone was home. Peter and Liv searched everywhere in their own things to find anything out of place. Peter’s dirty hamper had been gone through. Liv was missing underwear, and Peter had scowled at the missing food. Someone had been in the warehouse. Someone they were dubbing Goldilocks, as she had eaten and slept, but seemingly not much else.

Peter and Liv had gathered all their evidence and waited until Gwen, MJ and Felicia finished.

Gwen and MJ both shrugged as they came from their homes, but it was Felicia that looked the most worried.

“Right, so. I hate paperwork, “ she stated, “I mean I really really hate it.”

Peter shrugged, “And?”

“I mark all the files I've gone through so I dont have to do extra work, and I store the unsafe files separately.”

“You know I could have built you a PC to do that right? I mean, just because Aleksei liked paper doesn't mean you have to.”

Felicia groaned but closed her eyes and huffed. “Thanks.” she said with a grimace, “but not the issue. The issue is all the files I had marked as unsafe are gone.”

“All of them?” Peter asked. That was serious. The files had the. He frowned, “Let me guess, you can’t remember what was in them.”

Felicia’s face scrunched up in annoyance, “yeah, and I bet neither can you.”

Peter sighed, “sorry Liv, I promise never to do this.”

Liv nodded, she knew what he was about to say,

“We have files that you can’t read. Their content is about Norman Osborn and his experiments.” He had his hands on hers, not just to check for a reaction but to comfort her if a seizure started.

Liv frowned, “Nope, nothing. Maxwell Dillon, Aleksei Sytsevich and Flint Marco were all given a, a, “ and she paused. “I can’t remember.”

Gwen swore, “I never checked my lab.” She darted off, crouched and leapt across the warehouse, landing heavily on the railing of the lab. Checking files only took as long as the PC needed to boot up. Then they heard the swearing.

“It's all gone.” Gwen shouted from the lab, “my PC has files missing.”

This time she walked back over. “Like Fel, I have a system, and a block of twenty files are missing.” Gwen slumped down in her chair. “There is also evidence of experiments in the lab. A lingering burning smell and missing equipment.”

Peter scratched behind his ear, “so, invisible mind-controlling werewolves.”

Liv snorted while Gwen just shook her head, “Pete, be serious.”

Peter laughed, “Nah, he was a dog, it was his friend that was the werewolf.”

Felicia rolled her eyes, “I will hurt you.”

“Fine.” he sat up straight, “so, we have an intruder. One who was physically enhanced, liked my clothes for some reason, and was female. Then we have missing files and the fact that talking about Norman doesn't set Liv off.”

Peter sat back and tapped his finger on the table,

“Which means we saved someone and she spend a day at least here. Then her friends came looking, saw what we did, and what we learned and tidied it up." Everyone nodded in agreement. "But they were in a rush so left a whole bunch of stuff either they didn't care or knew we couldn't do anything. Sound good?”

With reluctant nods, the group agreed again.

MJ sat down, nursing a fresh coffee, “So what do we do?”

Peter shrugged, but it was Liv that spoke up.

“Nothing. If they can remove someone, even with all your powers, from right under our noses, then they could have done worse. We can only assume we found not just a person but a lot of information they would rather remain hidden. They took it and her and left us alive. Plus.”

The group looked at her,

“My name is Olivia Octavius. I worked on black projects for Norman Osborn. They included illegal genetic research. Nuclear fusion of unstable particles. And finally, highly illegal weapon production using a small blue cube. Which he swore me never to reveal.” All while she held up a steady hand.

“However.” Liv opened her mouth and while her hand started to shake she clenched her fist a few times. “There are things I cannot say, but I find myself unable to even concentrate on them. Someone put another block in, one that stops me from being harmed by the harness.”

“So, whoever it was really didn't mean any harm, or we’d be dead and you’d be having an episode?” Peter asked.

Liv smiled. “Exactly right. So, we do nothing as we can do nothing. Chalk it down to a don’t mess with some things and move on.”

Felicia looked over at Gwen, “So, we take the hit, get drunk and make out?”

Liv laughed before Gwen could answer, “I tried that, and he said no.”

“I said no because it was something to discuss later, with everyone else,” Peter said. He really didn’t want to talk about it.

MJ smiled, “It’s fine Pete. We get it.” She smiled again and stood next to Liv. She gave Peter a small smile before she bent over and whispered something in Liv's ear. Even with his superb hearing, she made sure he didn’t catch it.

Liv’s sorrowful expression brightened and she patted MJ on the hand.

I think invisible mind-controlling werewolves would be easier than lonely sex-starved cougars. Peter thought to himself

⁂

The rest of the year passed quickly. Peter and Gwen both continued college, while Felicia hunted for a part-time job.

She ended up as a delivery driver. Delivering pizza wasn’t the most exciting job in the world but it paid. She even teased Peter that she could swing to the address and stop muggings on the way.

MJ continued to get small parts and offers of less than savoury work, all supplemented by her job at the diner.

As November crept up on them it was that time of the year again. Peter and Gwen sat at the breakfast table discussing Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Peter sighed. “How about we have a small Thanksgiving meal here, and then we can hang out? I won’t be at Aunt Mays all day, so I’ll be back.”

Gwen nodded and put down her cup, “same here, dad wants me to stay over but I'm not. I’d just sit and watch him drink while he watches football, and I’d rather be here. So. food, some drinks, and maybe a bit of fun?” and the group had all nodded.

As the day grew closer, the warehouse entered a more festive feel. Gwen and MJ had gone shopping and procured food for everyone while Felicia and Peter cleaned. Once they were back, Peter moved to cook their feast while they set up for the celebration at night.

With it just being Aunt May, Peter had made sure she was okay if he left early. While he had a new family he didn't want to ignore the old one but she was fine.

She’d joined a keep-fit class and they were out for drinks later that night. Most of the class were older widowed ladies and they had no problems sharing a few glasses of wine over food. The meal she and Peter shared was going to be small to accommodate their plans.

George ended up being an ass. He cited tradition and Gwen had huffed and pointed out that football and beer weren't a tradition. and while she was still going to stay for a meal, she wasn't staying long after. When she got there nothing was made and she realized that normally she cooked for them. This was the first year that she’d been away from home. Cursing and shaking her head she picked up the phone and dialled for take-out.

MJ headed to her old place as well only to be greeted by the usual sight. Her father passed out on the couch, surrounded by bottles. She hadn't even stayed long enough to let him know she was there.

In the end, the three met up, swung back to the warehouse and proceed to drink Gwen's brewery dry. There was food and music, dancing and laughter. While it started with a lot of bitching about family, it changed into what they were all thankful for. A place where they could be themselves.

“And Pete's big dick!” a slightly drunk MJ shouted to the universe.

⁂

Christmas was a different matter.

Gwen stayed one hour with her father. MJ didn’t even bother and Felicia wasn’t even out of bed before Gwen was home.

Peter put his newfound skills to use and cooked a massive turkey for everyone.

May would be round later, having dinner with a new man-friend she had met at the keep fit. They were old friends and had reconnected. Peter couldn't really say anything. As long as Aunt May was happy, and this new ‘Otto’ wasn’t a complete jerk, then he would stay out of it.

While he made sure everyone got their own unique presents. It was Liv who he was most hesitant about.

After food they tidied, none wanting to do the dishes. MJ and Felicia lifted Gwen and carried her to her home as she complained about eating too much. Poison had eaten most of a Christmas cake to herself and then fallen asleep on the couch.

Alone at last, Peter wheeled out Liv’s present.

“A new wheelchair?” Liv asked, slightly confused, “but this one isn’t a year old.”

Peter smiled and nodded, “buuut, it's not this one.”

Please don’t freak out. Please don’t freak out.

Peter sat in it and rested his left hand comfortably on the armrest. It moulded itself to his wrist. He had Gwen create a hydromorphic gel. It was designed to be lighter than memory foam but just as comfortable. The chair moulded itself to him and would stop Liv from getting pressure sores.

The whole chair was built using Peter's new polymer creation. Once the formula had been cracked it was easy to shape and manufacture it. A few moulds later and he had a frame build. It was then onto a cushioning system, and after that, it was the electrics, which he had scratch-built himself.

“This one is special.”

The wheelchair rolled forwards, silently gliding. It moved back, swivelled side to side and then adjusted itself into a resting position. He showed Liv that it could stretch out, like a recliner. “Want to try?”

Liv frowned slightly, “It uses a neural interface doesn't it?”

Peter slid from the chair, which defaulted back to a normal seat. “Yeah, but not like the harness. There is no two-way communication. One way only with no implant. It's all done through the nerves in your wrist and at the base of the spine. It's fine.”

Liv stared at the new chair, “If I say no?”

Peter shrugged, “Then you say no.”

Liv continued to stare, “Put me in it.”

Peter laughed “You just want me to grope you”

Liv smirked and half-heartedly shrugged. “A big strong man like you should have no problems lifting a dainty woman such as myself, and, it is Christmas, Peter.”

Peter laughed and slid an arm under her legs, letting Liv slide one of her own around his neck.

As he picked her up, she kissed him on the side of the face, “thank you.”

He laughed as Liv made herself comfortable and spend half an hour playing.

“I do have a question, Peter. Why does this have a seatbelt on it?”

Unlike a car seatbelt, this one came down as an X, cushioning the person's whole torso, clipping in at two sides. Peter had added it after making one small mistake.

“Uh. The engine doesn't have a limiter on it, and I uh, kinda salvaged it from a scooter.”

“One of those road-worthy motorised ones?” Liv asked.

Peter coughed softly, “Uh. No. A Vespa. Your chair can go about fifty miles an hour.”