"Wow, the air around here is cooler and fresher. It's pretty clean. What did you do?" Peter exclaimed the moment he stepped a foot into the apartment. His puffy eyes inspected everything inside with immense curiosity. There wasn't any exaggerated makeover, but everything seemed perfectly arranged and tidy.

'It honestly doesn't look like a man's living space. Is Joe's OCD taking over? It must be,' Peter thought with slight amusement.

"I'm quite envious of your superhuman night vision, Spidey," Joe commented as he closed the door.

"I wonder what sort of abilities lie deep within you. How's the spider-human genome intermingling without instability? You're tempting me to cut you up and satiate my instincts as a scientist," he then muttered under his breath, his tone low and casual, but still eerily scary.

Peter paused his actions, a sudden tension assaulting his shoulders and back muscles. With his superb enhanced hearing, how could he not feel terrified by Joe's tone?

Spider-human genome?

Cut me up?

When did bro turn into Victor Frankenstein? And why do his words seem like something he could do?

"Joe, are you joking right now?" Peter's voice wavered as he slowly turned to face Joe.

Joe smirked, ignoring Peter's worry. "Minerva, lighten up the scene or I might keep scaring our heartbroken Peter."

"Affirmative." In response to Joe's command, the lights gradually brightened to medium intensity, fully exposing the sleek apartment.

Peter's eyes widened in surprise when he heard the human-like feminine voice. "Dude, who's that?"

"Oh? Are you curious about my little minx? Minerva, Peter's curious about you. Say hi." Joe chuckled.

"Hi, Peter Parker. I'm Minerva, Joe's personal assistant." Minerva introduced herself. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Wow, just wow. I... I can't believe it. Is she really AI? She sounds a whole lot like a person," Peter stammered, not believing what he was experiencing.

"Um, I... Nice to meet you, Minerva."

The corner of Joe's mouth twitched upward as he watched Peter's bewilderment. He shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

"Dude, when did you make something as incredible as 'her'?" Peter looked around for a moment before quickly edging closer to Joe. He even forgot about personal space.

Joe's smile melted, replaced by a subtle frown. Then, he palmed Peter's face and gently pushed him back like a child due to the height difference.

"You're too damn close, man. Clean your balls first before we talk about anything. I wonder how you survived without a bath in this summer heat," Joe reprimanded Peter before walking past him.

Peter's cheeks flushed, and he ducked his head, running a hand through his hair. "Right, yeah, I should probably..." he trailed off, gesturing vaguely towards the bathroom.

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'I really need that bath or this guy will keep eating me alive with his unfiltered words.' Peter could only swallow back his misgivings.

Some moments later, Peter sat in the living room after showering. He was dressed in Joe's spare clothes and he couldn't be more thankful for the save.

"Here. You really need this." Joe stretched out a cold beer over Peter's shoulder.

"I don't—" Peter wanted to kindly refuse, but Joe intentionally unhanded the beer before moving to the couch.

Peter's superhuman reaction kicked in and he swiftly caught the beer before it could drop on the floor.

"What the heck, bro?" Peter complained, an unhappy expression on his face, however, he understood Joe's motive. He couldn't just refuse him if he offered a beer to drown some of his sorrows.

"Ugh, okay. I can't just be impolite and refuse your goodwill," Peter relented before opening the beer.

Joe nodded in satisfaction as if Peter had passed some initiation rites. "That's the spirit."

Uncorking his beer, Joe extended his bottle to Peter for a toast. "What do you say?"

"You've surely changed, man. Thought you didn't like all this intoxication stuff," Peter helplessly smiled before stretching out his own bottle.

"I'm not particularly fond of them, but they can sometimes be pretty helpful," Joe replied, thoughts of NZT momentarily surfacing in his mind.

"Wait... For a moment, I thought you sounded like a stoner."

"That's insulting, bro," Joe cried out in dissatisfaction before laughing.

"Okay, let's toast or our drinks might get warm."

"Sure."

TING!

"To broken hearts and joblessness!"

"To broken hearts and joblessness!"

Peter suppressed his invisible tears after those ruthless and harsh words. At this point, he could only go with the flow. The only consolation was the chilly drink rolling down his throat, clearing away his bitterness and troubles.

It was his first time drinking beer, but he didn't expect it to be so refreshing and heaven-sent. It hit the spot of his broken heart.

"How is it?" Joe casually asked with a smile.

Peter sighed with contentment as he savored the coolness of the drink.

"It certainly is the best remedy for the occasion."

"Told you that it won't disappoint. Women disappoint, but cold beer during a hot, summer night doesn't." Joe leaned back in his seat.

"So... What's the plan, neighborhood hero?" Joe asked before taking a swig.

"I... I don't know. I feel lost. Like... Like I'm stuck deep in a muddy swamp. I don't know how to proceed forward." A tired sigh escaped Peter's mouth as he helplessly shrugged his shoulders.

"Without MJ, without a job to survive the month... Isn't that a perfect recipe for Peter to just... surrender to depression?" Peter looked down at his bottle, a downcast expression on his face.

"Stop that pussy act, Pete. I'm your friend and seeing you talk yourself down with such... Sigh, you know what? If you weren't superhuman, I would have beat you up for being a downer," Joe growled at him.

Peter blinked in surprise, not knowing how to respond to Joe's sudden aggressive tone.

"This is a trial, Pete. A trial aimed at your mindset, willpower, and tenacity. No amount of crying or mopping will erase something that has already happened."

"Look mate, trials are meant to be conquered. Falling once or stumbling upon a setback doesn't mean you have to surrender to depression and all that shit. I want to see both Peter Parker and Spider-Man soldiering forward. If you want to cry, cry all you want, but never... Never let it stagnate you."

"You are capable of so much, Pete. Mary Jane was just an NPC you met in the newbie village. Women better than her are awaiting you once you venture out into the vast wilderness. What you're just lacking is opportunity."

Peter was entranced by Joe's impactful words that struck something within his soul, arousing a spirit of defiance.

"Oppo... Opportunity?"

A brilliant smile spread on Joe's face like a Buddha. "Yes, opportunity."

"Where can I get that opportunity?" Peter asked, uncertainty in his voice.

Joe exaggeratedly widened his arms. "I am your opportunity, Peter."

Peter's eyes widened in astonishment. "H-How?"

"Peter Parker, you are one of the brightest minds I know. You have the potential, but the world decided that working in a Pizzeria was the best way for you. I say... Fuck the world."

Joe clapped Peter's stiff shoulder. "Hey, someone of your caliber needs something more. Something that may benefit the whole world. With my resources and our two minds, we can be anything we want. We can change the world,"

"You need a glow-up—a fresh start."

Small tears rolled down Peter's face after Joe finalized his inspirational speech. He was beyond touched—moved by his friend's magnanimity.

Joe arched his brows in confusion, seeing Peter cry. He wanted to scold him but controlled himself.

'Let the boy cry before the man is born anew.' He nodded internally. 'He needs that.'

"Man, I don't know how to thank you for that sick talk. I suddenly feel amped for a bright future ahead."

"Like a Jedi?"

"No, not a Jedi. Like a Spartan."

"Wise choice, Pete."

"Thanks, Joe. Sometimes I thought you were cold and detached even when after I got to know you," Peter sniffed back his tears.

"I get that a lot. That's the price of being as handsome as me."

"You just had to ruin it, fucker."

"So what do you think about working under me?" Joe grinned.

Peter warmly smiled, the sadness receding from his eyes. "If it means forever not being jobless, then I'm in."

"The pay will be to your liking. I won't mistreat anyone under me. However, prepare to work yourself to the bone," Joe released a burst of carefree laughter that came off as sinister in Peter's ears. It made his Spidey sense tingle.

"Will it be a game like Candy Crush Saga, your highly grossing game currently that easily topped the popularity ranking this month?" Peter curiously asked.

Joe shook his head. "Not a game. I plan to diversify and all the ventures I would dip my hands in will just be subsidiaries of the main company. You can't just put your eggs in one basket, eh?"

"Yeah. So what's the name you are going to give the company and what will be my role in it?"

Joe smiled mysteriously before gazing at the ceiling.

"The company's name will be Prometheus International, the visionary of mankind. We're going to bring light to the world."

...

[Word Count 1558]