So, this chapter is basically some in-between fluff. But next chapter we get to learn a bit about the villain and from there we'll start moving in to the real action, so yeah! There's not much else to say at this point except thank you for your continued support and I love hearing your thoughts and theories about what's going to happen, so absolutely keep them coming! :)

A little over an hour later, Peter was settling into his room in the mansion.

Miss Potts had given him a full tour, and that in itself had taken most of the hour. There was just so much. The main living area, kitchen, pool, inside dining area, outside dining area, Mr. Stark's workshop, several living quarters, and even more that his poor brain couldn't remember as they weren't really important to him at the moment. He focused on remembering the main parts of the mansion he'd need to know: how to get to his room, the living areas, and where Stark's office and workshop were, as he'd probably be spending a lot of time in there. Miss Potts had told him only Stark's personal spaces - the workshop, his office, his room - were off limits, unless there was an emergency or Stark was with him or gave him permission to be there otherwise.

Simple enough for Peter. That still left the whole mansion to explore, and the fact it was a mansion was awesome enough even without full access to it.

He was starting to feel better about this whole thing now, slowly but surely. Being here made it real, and he wasn't getting any immediate red flags to make him regret his decision like he'd worried he would. Between that and finally seeming to get an understanding between him and Mr. Stark this morning, things were starting to look good. Like this might even be... fun. A real learning experience that he might enjoy, just as much as he'd hoped it would be.

Miss Potts had left him at his room with a "see you later" and he'd just nodded and watched the door close behind her. He set his bag on the bed, looking around. This bedroom alone was as big as the whole apartment he shared with May back home. He felt a pang at the thought, but pushed it away. This was home for the next two months at least, and May was only one call away.

Actually, that was a pretty good idea. He pulled his phone from his pocket, flopping back on the bed and calling his aunt. She should be on nightshift, tonight, as far as he knew, so she should be able to answer.

She did, on the second ring. Her face appeared on his screen, brows already drawn together in worry. "Peter? Is everything alright?"

Peter sat up and grinned at her. "Everything is great! We just got here and it's already awesome, May!" He turned the phone, giving her a panoramic view of his room. "I mean, this is just my room! And look at the view!" He practically jumped the six or so feet to the window, holding the phone against it and showing her the view of the ocean.

"It's nice," May agreed, smiling back at him. "Isn't this supposed to be a work thing, though? Shouldn't you be working?"

"Nah. Mr. Stark has a meeting to get ready for and he's not anticipating being back til late, so basically I just get to chill. Did you know we're in a mansion?" He turned the phone back to face him, unable to keep a grin off his face. Okay, so he was getting excited now. He was still worried in the back of his mind, but the edge was starting to fade, especially now that Stark wasn't directly around him.

"Well, he's a billionaire, sweetheart. I figured it would be a nice place." May was laughing slightly at him.

Peter just shrugged it off. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I made it here. I know planes freak us both out, but I'm okay!" He wasn't going to tell her he'd had a panic attack on the plane; she didn't really need to know that right now. He wouldn't have to get back on a plane until the end of the summer, from the sound of it, and Miss Potts had helped him through it, so there was no need to burden her with it.

"I'm glad to hear it. Thanks for letting me know. Go try to enjoy yourself, okay?"

"You got it, May. Love you."

"Love you too." She smiled at him and hung up.

Peter stared at the phone for a long minute after she was gone. It was simple enough to agree on the phone, but he actually wasn't sure what to do. There was just so much.

A second glance at his phone and all the missed texts he had was enough to make up his mind again. He walked to the far side of the room, where the door led to his combined private sitting area and office - he had an office; he didn't really know why, but still, how cool was that? - and took a seat on his couch. He hadn't seen his best friend Ned since school ended the week before, and he had about a dozen missed texts from being so busy with the interviews leading up to him getting the internship and using his new free time to do some extra patrolling around the city.

He paused for half a second as the thought crossed his mind. He could go right out his window and swing down to the city to do some patrolling. But… no. That was a bad idea. He had no idea if Stark was still here or not, if anyone would come check on him, or even if Jarvis would rat him out for it. For all he knew, Jarvis was watching his every move to report back to Stark. Besides, he'd known before coming here that the moment Spider-Man popped up in Malibu, all hope of keeping his secret would probably go out the window with him.

He shook the thoughts away, turning back to his phone and scrolling through all his missed texts with a sigh. He'd been so busy he hadn't even caught Ned up to the fact he'd gotten to the point of a second interview, let alone to now. He shot off a text to him.

P: Hey Ned! Sorry it's been so long! I just got really caught up in the process of the interviews and stuff and forgot to text you. But good news, I got the position!

Ned's response was almost immediate, spamming him with replies.

N: Oh thank God! I was starting to think you'd been murdered in an alley somewhere and I needed to come look for your body!

N: No way! That's insane P! Congrats! You should come over so we can celebrate!

N: Have you started yet? Have you actually met Stark? What's he like?

Peter couldn't help but smile. He missed Ned already.

P: I missed you too man. Anyway, I've technically started already, yeah, although I haven't done any work yet really. I met Mr. Stark too. He's... intimidating.

He sent the message and then quickly typed another, realizing how that might sound.

P: But it looks like it's going to be a lot of fun! And… sorry, I can't come over.

N: That's SO COOL! What are you going to be doing? Any ideas?

N: AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T COME OVER?

P: I have no idea. We haven't really got to talk about it yet.

P: And I mean exactly what I said. I'm not in Queens anymore.

N: WHAT? Where are you dude?

P: Malibu.

N: WHAT? You're in California! DUDE!

N: That's insane! Why didn't you tell me? I thought the internship was here in New York!

P: I thought it was too, but Mr. Stark had to leave so I had to come with him if I wanted it.

P: Sorry I didn't tell you sooner. It just kind of happened. We actually just got here.

P: He came and got me last night and we left this morning. It's been a whirlwind week man.

N: TONY STARK PICKED YOU UP? DUDE!

N: That's INSANE man.

P: Yeah, now that I think about it, it kind of is.

He stopped. He hadn't even thought about the fact that it was Stark himself who had came and gotten him, not Miss Potts or Happy. He wondered why.

Oh well. Stark wasn't available at the moment, so that was a question for later.

They texted about random things for the next hour or so until Jarvis spoke suddenly into the quiet room.

"Peter, Miss Potts would like me to inform you that lunch is ready whenever you are."

Peter jumped so hard he dropped his phone. He'd almost forgotten about the AI. "Oh, uh, thanks, Jarvis."

"No problem, Peter. I apologize for startling you."

So the AI definitely had some way of monitoring him, then. "It's alright." He shot off a quick text to Ned to let him know he'd be back later and got up, but stopped halfway to the door. "Jarvis?"

"Yes, Peter?"

"How did you know you startled me?" he asked, curious of what he was actually capable of.

"I have access to all security protocols in every room, including visual surveillance. Aside from that, your heart rate skyrocketed the moment I spoke."

So there was definitely cameras, then, and surely Stark could access them any time he wanted. He doubted he'd waste a lot of time actually spying on him with them - that sounded like way too much of a waste of his time, even to Peter - but he'd still have to be careful about where he hid the suit and flashing it around. If he decided to check on him at an inopportune time…

"Makes sense. Thanks, Jarvis." He left, heading up to the kitchen.

When he arrived, there wasn't anyone anywhere to be seen. He walked up to the counter and looked around, almost wondering if he was in the right place until he came upon a note stuck to the microwave. It could only be Pepper's handwriting.

Peter,

Your lunch is in the microwave to keep it warm until you're ready. Sorry I couldn't stay and that you're first day is so uneventful. I promise it will get better. Enjoy!

~ Pepper Potts

Peter crumpled up the note and tossed it in the trash with a small smile and a shrug. He couldn't say he was entirely surprised by this turn of events; they did run a company, so of course they were busy. He wondered if she had to attend the same meeting as Mr. Stark or if she was doing something else. Either was possible, from what he knew.

He opened the microwave and took out his plate, blinking slightly when he saw the heaps of food on it. Either she had assumed, as most people did, that he was a teenage boy and that meant he ate ridiculous portion sizes, or she'd also caught his hesitation this morning, or had at least heard Mr. Stark call him out on it.

Either way, his stomach growled at the sight, and he wasted no time in sitting down and eating it all. He got up and rinsed off his plate, then stood there for a moment, unsure what else to do. The urge to go out as Spider-Man was stronger than ever, knowing there wasn't even anyone here, but he was afraid if he so much as took the suit out of the bag Stark might find out, what with the AI seeing everything.

Then it hit him. Miss Potts had briefly mentioned a gym on the floor above them during her tour. He could go up there and blow off some steam instead! Surely that would keep him occupied for a while, and help him feel less restless.

This thought in mind, he went to his room to change, then headed up the elevator to the gym.