I’m Not Becoming Spider-Man - Chapter 69: Broke (Patreon)

Peter and Otto got along so well that it felt as though they'd known each other for years. Peter even got his hands dirty, building a few things to prove that his knowledge wasn't purely theoretical. That impressed Otto even more.

Dr. Otto was an exceptionally proud man. He considered himself a genius of the highest order and had little interest in associating with anyone he regarded as less intelligent. Most people earned nothing but his contempt.

Connors, with his two doctorates, qualified as a fellow genius in Otto's eyes. That was why the two men had become close friends. Peter, however, was an even more delightful discovery.

The boy had extraordinary potential, and Otto recognized it at once. Perhaps Connors really did have an eye for talent.

Otto never formally offered to take Peter on as a student, but he did tell him he was welcome to stop by and help whenever he had time. Coming from Otto, that was quite an invitation.

Ordinarily, the doctor handled every aspect of his project himself. He hated letting anyone touch his precious inventions. The assistants Norma had assigned him were a collection of mediocrities, less capable than the high school student standing in front of him.

And so Gwen spent the entire day watching the two of them tinker with machinery. They were so engrossed that they forgot to eat. Eventually, Peter pointed out that they needed food, went to the laboratory's living quarters, and cooked a meal. Once Peter and Otto had eaten, they went straight back to their machines.

Gwen had been completely forgotten.

By the time they finally stopped for a break, both were exhausted, and Peter had established a comfortable rapport with Otto.

"Dr. Otto, have you heard what's happened to Dr. Connors?" he asked.

"Uh... not really. I only know there was some kind of trouble in his laboratory."

"This is what came out of his work." Peter showed him a video of the fight between the Lizard and Spider-Woman.

Otto frowned at the enormous creature on the screen. "He created that monster?"

"That monster is Dr. Connors."

Otto stared at him blankly.

"His laboratory was going to be shut down, so he panicked and injected himself with an unfinished serum. That's what happened to him," Peter explained.

"He truly is a genius," Otto said with genuine admiration. Even if the experiment had gone wrong, creating a creature of that kind was no ordinary achievement.

"He has no idea what to do now. He needs an inhibitor to stop the transformation, and we don't know what Norma intends to do about any of this," Peter continued.

"I see. I'll help him work something out," Otto replied. "You may prepare the inhibitor here. I'll provide the materials, but you will do it under my direct supervision."

Everything went surprisingly smoothly. Peter and Gwen prepared the inhibitor in Otto's laboratory. Once he'd satisfied himself that they weren't doing anything reckless, he let them take the finished doses away.

Gwen had been nervous the entire time. Otto was far more intimidating than the kindly Dr. Connors, and she'd been afraid their request would be rejected. Somehow, Peter had pulled it off.

Back at the apartment, Peter immediately handed the new inhibitor to Connors.

"Here you go. I made a few improvements to the preparation process," he said. "It should last longer, although I can't say yet whether there'll be any side effects."

"Thank you so much, Peter," Connors said.

"Otto agreed to help, too. You should probably call him." Peter passed over the phone.

Connors carried it onto the balcony and spoke to his friend. When he came back, he seemed relieved.

"It's all settled. Otto is willing to help me. For safety's sake, though, he'd prefer you to be the one who visits his lab."

"Without Gwen, right?" Peter asked with a knowing smile.

"Uh..."

"It's fine. I know he doesn't like me," Gwen muttered. "It's not as though I'm an expert in neural mechanics or anything."

How embarrassing. Connors had thought so highly of her, yet she'd been the student Otto didn't want.

Still, with Otto's assistance secured, Peter and Gwen could finally breathe a little easier. Many of the remaining problems no longer had to fall entirely on their shoulders. Connors now had a reliable supply of inhibitor, and things seemed to be moving in the right direction.

Both teenagers, however, were practically dead on their feet.

"Oh, Peter! Where have you been?" Harley was holding a sweet drink when Peter and Gwen trudged upstairs. She stared at their exhausted faces. "And why weren't you two at school today?"

"Don't ask, Harley. Last night I had to go help Spider-Woman deal with the Lizard again, and today I went with Gwen to sort out her business. You remember her internship with Dr. Connors, right?"

"What? Why didn't you take me with you?" Harley exclaimed. "The Lizard and Spider-Woman!"

She seemed to have skipped right over Gwen's internship troubles. Compared with the prospect of joining a fight against a giant lizard, that sounded hopelessly dull.

"Next time, I promise. You were already asleep, anyway. Why would I wake you?" Peter replied. "Oh, and I'll get around to repairing the car in a couple of days."

"Huh? Don't bother. I'll just buy another one," Harley said casually.

"No, Harley, remember we're supposed to modify it? We can't trust an ordinary garage with that kind of work. Better to do it ourselves."

"Okay, then. Are we still going fishing this weekend?"

"We'll see."

Peter could barely think that far ahead. The week had already been an unmitigated disaster.

Gwen wasn't doing much better. Losing the internship was annoying, but her real headache was the cost of webbing. She'd used up in a single day what would normally have lasted for weeks of dealing with street thugs.

For the first time in her life, Gwen truly understood what it meant to be broke.

She collapsed onto the couch. "Peter, do you know any ways to make money fast?"

"Well, there are several illegal ones..."

Gwen kicked him. "I meant legal ways!"

"What, are you two running low on cash?" Harley asked from her spot on the couch.

"Yes," Peter and Gwen answered together.

Peter didn't receive an allowance. Uncle Ben's household wasn't exactly wealthy. Most of the little gadgets he'd made had been paid for with money he earned mowing lawns or repairing other people's cars. Recently, though, his expenses had shot up.

Gwen usually had a reasonable amount of pocket money, but between buying musical instruments and making webbing, she'd drained her savings in a matter of days. Her emergency fund was empty.

"Why don't I give you some money? You can just owe me," Harley offered.

"I'd rather not." Peter waved the suggestion aside. "Friends need to keep money matters clear, or things can turn ugly. Oh, that reminds me, Gwen. You still owe me money."

"I haven't forgotten," Gwen said. "But I've got absolutely nothing right now. Why don't you just take something from my room instead?"