Jean did not want me calling for outside help. No matter how much I tried to convince her otherwise, she was determined that Charles Xavier would treat her like a lab rat. I couldn't tell her that he was a mutant himself, or that he ran a school specifically for people like her, because — well — how could I? Officially, Xavier was a private academic. His school wasn't registered anywhere publicly. So I couldn't have known any of that. I was stuck, helplessly listening to Jean go off about how Xavier was probably some creep with unsavoury intentions.
So instead we reached a compromise. Jean needed to learn to control her powers; she wouldn't seek outside help; so the training would fall to me.
Felicia didn't like the idea of me spending so much time alone with another girl, so she insisted on coming along. Then Liz and MJ asked to join as well — the girls had apparently grown much closer since learning about Jean's powers, and now they were all inseparable.
I built a psychic dampener into my helmet, just to be safe. Jean couldn't access my thoughts about the future, I was fairly certain of that, but someone more powerful — like Xavier himself — potentially could. Better safe than sorry.
A week went quickly by. The four girls were now frequently seen together at school, and they drew the attention of most of the boys there, given that most of them were single.
I walked into school on Monday morning and was surprised to find a jock leaning against Felicia's locker, talking to her. He wore a sports jacket and was built like a bodybuilder.
"So, babe — what are you doing tonight?" he asked, waggling his eyebrow.
"Probably spending the evening with my boyfriend," Felicia replied flatly.
"Who?" he asked, in what appeared to be genuine surprise.
"Peter," Felicia said coolly.
"Parker? Are you serious? Forget that wimp! I know how to show you a good time," he said, stepping closer. And that was when I decided to step in.
"Excuse me, coming through," I said, driving a jab into his ribs. He buckled with a grunt of pain. "You alright there, mate? You look constipated — you really should stop being so full of it." I glared.
"Good morning to you too, Tiger," Felicia smiled. "Bye, Brad — lovely chat." She took my hand and we walked toward first period. "That was a little excessive," she whispered.
"He deserved it," I shrugged.
"I've watched you bend steel with your bare hands, Tiger. He didn't know that — he was just being an idiot," Felicia said. "You really shouldn't let yourself get so jealous."
I smirked. "Oh, really? Two words, Kitten: Jean Grey."
"That is completely different and you know it!"
"Is it?" I smiled, raising an eyebrow.
"Brad isn't in love with me," Felicia said, rolling her eyes.
I stopped mid-step. "Sexy cat lady, say that again?"
"Oh, come on, Peter — you've seen the way she looks at you. I swear, that girl doesn't even try to hide it. I'm surprised you didn't notice sooner."
I blinked. I just — I never thought it was a possibility. This was Jean bloody Grey. The Phoenix! How on earth had she developed feelings for me? "This is so weird."
"Get used to it, Tiger," Felicia murmured. "If I weren't here to keep the competition at bay, you'd be drowning in admirers." She glanced sideways and shot a look at a group of girls who had been smiling in my direction.
"They're staring at the clothes," I pointed out. Felicia had picked out my outfit, and I had been getting a lot of attention because of it. "It's not me."
"Oh, please. The clothes don't make the man — well, they do, but in this case they're staring because of what's underneath them. You've changed, you know."
She was right. I'd grown. I now stood at five feet ten, with broader shoulders and noticeably larger arms from all the web-swinging. There were certain advantages to spending your days hurling yourself between skyscrapers.
We walked into class and found MJ, Liz, and Jean already seated together. Jean, who would normally have sat alone near the back with her head down, was now fully integrated into the group.
Felicia and I settled in, with MJ in front of us and Liz and Jean just behind.
"Hey, Felicia," Liz greeted us, then turned to me with a smirk. "Morning, Parker. Heard you beat up Brad for flirting with your girlfriend."
"How do you already know about that?" I asked.
"A couple of kids filmed it," Liz shrugged, showing me the clip on her phone. I was dropping him like a sack of flour.
I smiled and immediately pulled out my phone to comment on the video:
My Kitten. Back off.
Felicia saw the comment and rolled her eyes. "Possessive."
"Oh, you love it," I waved her off.
"So what are we doing today?" Jean asked eagerly. "I've been working on the mind-reading — I think I can actually try to read thoughts on purpose now!"
"Not so loud, Jean!" MJ hissed, scanning the room and exhaling when she found no one paying attention.
"Sorry," the redhead blushed.
"It's fine, Birdie — just keep your voice down," I told her, using the nickname I'd settled on for her. Like I said: not the glorious Phoenix, not yet. Just a little bird.
"R-right. Sorry," Jean said, blushing a shade deeper.
Felicia leaned close and whispered, "Keep doing that and she'll fall even harder for you."
I winced inwardly. I looked at Jean, who had turned her attention to her textbook, and let out a quiet sigh. Focus.
The door swung open and the class's resident pair of idiots walked in — Harry Osborn and Flash...Thompson. I'd actually temporarily forgotten his last name, which was mildly embarrassing.
"Hey, Kitten," I murmured, "what's Flash's last name again?"
"Thompson. Why?" Felicia asked.
"I forgot," I admitted.
"You forgot Flash Thompson's last name?" MJ asked, looking at me like I'd sprouted a second head.
"Try doing quadratic equations in your head and see how many trivial names you retain," I shrugged.
Liz rolled her eyes. "If only I could forget him as easily."
As though on cue, Flash spotted Liz and grinned. "Liz! Hey! What's new, girl?"
"Nothing, Flash," Liz replied flatly. Then she clocked the girl hanging off his arm and her expression turned sharp. "Who's this?"
"Oh, ah — this is Paulie," Flash said, looking suddenly uncomfortable.
"Hey," the girl, Pauline, said with a small wave.
"Want a cracker, Paulie?" Liz muttered under her breath.
The girl's smile faltered. Flash looked furious. "Not cool, Liz."
"Whatever, Flash. Get lost."
"No need to start something," Harry said, stepping in smoothly. He glanced down at MJ and smiled. "Hey, MJ — long time no speak."
"Believe me, that was intentional," MJ replied.
Harry conceded with a slight shrug. "Fair enough." He then noticed Jean for the first time. "Hey — you're Jean, right?"
Jean gulped. "Y-yeah. Hi."
"Nice to meet you." He dismissed her immediately and turned back to MJ. "So — what are you up to later?"
"Hanging out with my friends," MJ said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, really," Felicia and I said at exactly the same time. I loved that she could do that.
Harry looked between us and sighed. "Too bad. Hey — when you're free, we should catch up. Just the two of us."
"I'll think about it," MJ said, in a tone that clearly meant she wouldn't.
"Cool," Harry said. He moved past me. "Parker."
"Osborn," I nodded, not looking at him.
After school, we all regrouped at the café and settled into our usual table at the back. I had taken on tutoring all four girls in their weakest subjects — MJ and Felicia had physics, Liz had chemistry, and Jean had maths. It was a lot of effort, but the hour we spent together had genuinely brought us all closer.
"Pete, what's this?" Jean asked, sliding her textbook toward me and leaning in close.
I looked down at the page. She was making an obvious effort to close the distance between us, and I sighed internally. Focus, man. Focus. I answered her question as thoroughly as I could, deliberately ignoring the increasingly transparent attempts at flirting. When you were dating the Black Cat, things like this seemed fairly tame by comparison.
Felicia, watching from across the table, felt a small wave of sympathy for Jean. She knew — she was certain — that Peter wouldn't leave her for someone like Jean Grey. They had been together for months, and there was nothing pulling them apart. No secrets left between them, no tension. She genuinely felt for the girl. But Peter's eyes were clear.
Eventually we packed up and filed out of the café.
"So what do you all want to do now?" I asked.
"Train," Jean said immediately. "I'm sure there are things I can do that I haven't even scratched the surface of yet. I just need to find out what they are."
"Jean, what is it you actually want to do with your powers?" MJ asked.
Everyone turned to her. She shrugged. "What? You've all thought about it, haven't you? She can read minds, for God's sake — she could be anything she wants!"
I nodded. "She's right. So — what do you want, Birdie?"
"I...I think I want to help people," Jean said quietly. "Like Spider-Man."
I raised an eyebrow. "You want to go around town in spandex?"
"For your information, Spider-Man looks excellent in spandex," Liz huffed. "That backside is absolutely pinchable."
"I know," Felicia grinned, raising her eyebrows at me.
I rolled my eyes.
"Right — but do you actually want to do that? Be a superhero?"
"Well...yeah," Jean nodded. "I think so."
"Why?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Why do you want to be a superhero?"
Jean looked down at her hands. "Well...I should do something good with my powers, shouldn't I? I don't know why I have them, but I do, and...shouldn't I try to use them for good?"
"Well, Tiger," MJ chuckled, "looks like she really is your student."
"Self-righteous and everything — perfect fit," Felicia snorted.
"What do you mean?" Liz asked, Jean looking equally confused.
"My uncle has a saying," I said. "With great power—"
"—Comes great responsibility," MJ and Felicia finished together.
I chuckled. "Yeah — that's the one. And basically, I try to live by it. I try to make things better with what I know, push things forward. So if you're going through with this — if you genuinely want to protect people — you have to remember that your actions have weight. Every choice you make matters. And if you have the power to do good, it becomes your obligation to do so."
Jean stared at me.
"Birdie? Still with us?" I asked.
She slowly nodded. "Yeah. With great power comes great responsibility."
"Exactly."
"Damn, Parker," Liz chuckled. "Since when have you been so philosophical?"
I smiled and shrugged. "Always have been."
We walked a few blocks to where MJ was heading to her new acting class. After dropping her off, Liz drove away and it was just Felicia, Jean, and me walking back. My training session with David was coming up. The douche bag.
Then my spider-sense fired.
I looked up and saw a massive construction crane beginning to sway above us, a steel beam slipping loose from its load.
"Get down!" I yelled, grabbing the girls and pulling them clear. But as I looked back up I saw an elderly woman still standing directly beneath the beam, frozen with fear.
"No—!"
The beam was a storey away from the ground when it suddenly stopped.
I turned to the only other powered person present. Jean had both hands raised, her jaw set, every ounce of her concentration poured into holding that beam in place. The scent of mint surrounded her like a cloud.
I was on my feet in an instant. I grabbed the old woman and pulled her clear. The very next second, Jean released the beam and it crashed into the pavement with a sound like a thunderclap.
"Oh, thank you, young man!" the old woman cried.
I looked around quickly. Cameras everywhere. People snapping pictures. None of them were focused on Jean — all eyes were on me and the fallen beam. Good.
I turned to Felicia and spoke quietly. "Slip away — I'll draw their attention."
She nodded and quietly steered Jean and Liz out of sight. I stayed put and let myself be mobbed by the gathering crowd, the old woman shaking my hand over and over while I stood there and absorbed it for as long as I could. Eventually the police arrived and I was able to give a statement and begin working my way clear.
It was evening by the time I finally met up with the girls again at MJ's house. I climbed the wall and tapped on the window. MJ opened it and smiled. "Hey, Tiger. Get in here."
Jean immediately stood up. "I'm so sorry — I didn't think—"
"No," I said, sitting down next to Felicia while the others settled on chairs. "You did good, Jean. I told you — great power, great responsibility. You saved that woman's life without a second thought. That matters."
"Told you he wouldn't be upset," Felicia pressed a kiss to my cheek. "He's too much of a softie."
Jean exhaled. "Thank you."
"Did anyone connect what happened to Jean?" MJ asked.
"No," I said. "I kept all the attention on me. When someone brought it up I passed it off as a trick of the light. The police arriving helped clear the crowd before anyone could look too closely."
"So we're safe? Nobody knows about Jean?" Liz asked.
"For now," I said. "Although — there were cameras around, and I can't be completely sure."
Liz immediately grabbed her phone and started searching. A moment later she swore. "Found something."
She turned the screen to show us. The photograph was taken from across the road. In the foreground, I was pulling the old woman clear — but in the corner of the frame, just barely visible, was Jean with one hand outstretched.
"It's not that bad," Felicia said reassuringly.
"Yeah — it almost looks like she's reaching out toward Peter," MJ added.
"Are there any others?" I asked.
"With Jean in them? No. Just this one," Liz said.
We all breathed a little easier.
"You're going to have to be more careful, Jean," I said. "Your identity is your most important secret. Guard it."
"Yeah," Jean nodded. "Should I get something to wear? Like spandex?"
I snorted. "Maybe."
"Oh, we should design her a costume!" Liz's eyes lit up. "You'd look amazing in a jacket-and-jeans combo — classy and practical!"
"Yes!" MJ exclaimed. "Let's do it!"
They dragged Jean toward MJ's fashion magazines before she could protest.
Felicia shifted closer and whispered, "Do you think SHIELD is interested in her?"
I gritted my teeth. "I don't know. I know they keep me under watch, and I know they monitor my friends, but — I don't think they connected what happened today to Jean. It was an accident, and I've more than proven my loyalty to them." I paused. "No. I think she's safe. For now."
"Then who else might be?" Felicia asked.
"There are things that go bump in the night besides SHIELD," I said quietly.
Another week passed without incident. People at school were once again talking about me saving the old woman's life, and I deflected it as best I could. I genuinely didn't like the attention, and I hadn't even been the one to stop the beam.
MJ and Liz were busy in the evenings working on Jean's costume. I caught a few glimpses of their progress and I was genuinely impressed — they had real talent. I offered a few suggestions: green and yellow for the colour scheme. They loved it. Of course they did.
On Saturday night we gathered again in MJ's room. Felicia and I sat on the bed while Liz and MJ stood by the door, looking impossibly pleased with themselves.
"And now, presenting — for the very first time — Marvel Girl!" Liz announced with a flourish.
The door opened and Jean walked in.
The costume was striking. Green trousers, a black top with an 'M' stitched in yellow at the chest. Over it she wore a green coat with yellow trim running down the sides, paired with fitted gloves. Around her head, tied in the style I'd once seen Iron Fist wear, was a yellow scarf that covered her hair entirely. The eye cut-outs were shaped into elegant curved arches, perfectly framing Jean's features.
Felicia whistled. "Damn."
I nodded. "You look the part, Birdie. What's it made from?"
Liz and MJ looked at each other. "Cloth? The jacket's leather and the trousers are about fifty percent cotton, I think," MJ shrugged.
I stared. "You're telling me you made a superhero costume with absolutely no physical protection? She's a telepath — not bulletproof."
"And just where were we supposed to get armour?!" Liz cried.
"Oh, I don't know — how about asking the person who works in the central hub of cutting-edge technology?!" I replied.
"They really should have asked you, Tiger," Felicia agreed, nodding sagely.
I sighed. "Fine. I know how to work with the polymer blend now — I can put something together at the Baxter Building. Shouldn't take long."
"Great. Don't come complaining to us about bulletproofing then," Liz grumbled, collapsing into a chair.
"It's amazing," Jean said, beaming at the two of them. "I feel genuinely cool."
"Good," MJ grinned.
"So when are we going out?" Liz asked excitedly.
I raised an eyebrow. "We?"
"Out?" MJ mirrored my tone.
"Yeah — we've got the suit and the girl. Shouldn't we test her?" Liz asked.
"It might be a little soon," Felicia said. "I mean, she's only just started. Maybe a bit more training first — I can teach her some basic hand-to-hand that would actually be useful."
I nodded. "Agreed."
"No," Jean said quietly. "I want to go. I want to see what I can do."
I looked at her. "Jean — you need to be ready. Your powers won't always be enough."
"Yeah — trust him, he knows what he's talking about," Felicia said, in a tone that confused the others but that Jean and I both understood perfectly.
"Peter, please," Jean said.
I looked at Felicia. She gave a small shrug.
"Fine," I said. "One night. After that, no more going out until Felicia's put you through some proper training."
"And what makes Felicia such an authority on fighting?" MJ asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm a black belt in taekwondo and national champion in women's judo," Felicia said lightly.
"Huh," MJ blinked. "Fair enough."
Jean grinned. "This is going to be incredible!"
I sighed. I quickly thought through how to keep her reasonably safe, and settled on a plan. "Alright. I have to go — work calls. But Jean, Felicia, MJ, and Liz will be there with you."
"We've got you, girl!" Liz cheered.
"You really have to go? Now?" Jean asked, suddenly uncertain.
"Yeah, sorry," I kissed Felicia on the lips and whispered in her ear, "I'll be watching over her as Spider-Man."
Felicia nodded. "Okay."
"Peter — I don't think I can do this without you," Jean said.
I smiled. "I won't always be there to hold your hand, Birdie. You're going to have to spread your wings and fly. But if anything goes wrong, I'll be there immediately."
I said goodbye and slipped back to my house to suit up. The costume exploded outward from the pack as I activated it, and I snapped the arc reactor into place. I checked my spider arms — still getting used to the weight of them, but they were dormant for now. I rolled my shoulders and slipped into the night just as Liz pulled away with the others in the car.
I kept pace with them across the rooftops, following at a distance as they drove into the rougher end of the borough. Liz parked a few blocks from Peak's Point and the girls climbed out. Jean stepped onto the pavement looking nervous.
She wasn't ready. That much was clear.
My phone buzzed. Felicia. "Hey, Kitten."
"We're at Peak's Point," she said.
"I know. Look up." She glanced up carefully, and I gave a small wave from the rooftop. "She's not ready."
"She'll be fine."
"She doesn't have the training."
"Did you — when you started?"
I paused. "I had spider-sense and reflexes. She can move things with her mind." I watched Jean step cautiously out of the alleyway, posture stiff. "I'll call you back — I'm going to make sure our girl doesn't get herself killed."
"Good luck, Tiger," Felicia purred.
I followed Jean from rooftop to rooftop as she walked through the streets. She got cat-called more than once and heckled for her costume by a group of lads on a corner. She ignored every bit of it and kept walking. I was honestly impressed — the nervous wreck I'd known a few weeks ago would have frozen on the spot. She had grown, and quickly.
Eventually, she found trouble.
She turned into an alley and immediately five people stepped out — three in front, two behind. They were carrying a knife and baseball bats, laughing at the sight of her. I couldn't make out the exact words from the roof, but whatever they were saying made my jaw tighten.
Then they attacked.
Jean moved. She shoved the knife-wielder back with a hard telekinetic push. They all stared, momentarily stunned. Jean didn't stop. She hurled a rubbish bin at the nearest one, knocking two of them off their feet, then threw a second one into the alley wall. When one of the men charged at her from behind, she sent him flying clean over her head and into another man trying to get to his feet.
She looked like she was actually enjoying herself.
Then I saw it — one man who had gone quiet, looking furious, circling wide to come at Jean from her blind side with his knife hand raised.
"That's not very sporting!" I called out, shooting a web line to yank the weapon right out of his hand.
Everyone froze. They turned to find me standing on the wall a few feet off the ground, examining the knife with an air of mild academic interest.
"This is genuinely dangerous, you know. Someone could get hurt. Like unsuspecting pieces of junk mail."
"S-Spider-Man?!" one of them yelled. "Forget this! She's not worth it!" They scattered, leaving Jean and me alone in the alley.
I dropped down and tossed the knife over my shoulder. "You know, I do miss the old days when street thugs actually stood their ground. They had more character back then. Sigh."
I looked at Jean. Her jaw had dropped. Her eyes were wide and sparkling.
I tilted my head — the closest thing to an expression my mask would allow. "So...who are you supposed to be?"
"I — I'm Marvel Girl," she squeaked.
I chuckled. "It's alright, Marvel — I don't bite. Unless you ask." Jean squeaked again. I glanced around the alley and let out an impressed whistle. "Decent work, actually. Telekinesis?"
"M-mutant," she managed. "And you're — you're Spider-Man!"
"Right on the first try. Was it the giant spider on my chest? It usually is." Jean let out a nervous laugh. "Oh good — you can laugh. I was starting to worry you could only squeak. If you're going to be a hero, you need to be brave, Marvel Girl."
"I am brave!" she said, with a flash of real fire.
"Good," I said, flicking her lightly on the forehead. "Then go home, train, learn, adapt. Your powers aren't a crutch, they're a tool. Got that?"
Jean nodded. "I know. I just...wanted to see what I could do."
"From what I saw, you have the potential to be something remarkable," I said, pulling out my phone. "Selfie?"
Jean's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
I put an arm around her and we both held our poses — Jean with a peace sign, me with my trademark devil horns. I posted it to Instagram with the caption:
Just met a real Marvel today, New York. Say hello to Marvel Girl! Careful — she bites.
I made sure Jean's face was slightly out of focus in the image, enough to protect her identity without being obvious.
"Alright, Marvel Girl — stay safe. Don't do anything I wouldn't do. And trust me, you'll get this hero thing. I just know it."
Jean smiled as I scaled the wall. "Thank you, Spidey!"
"You're welcome!" I called back.
I tracked her from the rooftops until she reached Liz's car and climbed in, already talking excitedly — almost certainly about her first meeting with Spider-Man. It seemed like the night was wrapping up cleanly.
Then I saw something land in the middle of the road ahead of them.
A metal beam, driven into the asphalt.
Liz's car screeched to a halt. The girls stared. And I felt the cold hand of dread close around my chest.
He was here. How had he known? Was it the photo? No — I hadn't tagged a location, and I seriously doubted that Magneto was a regular Instagram user. But even as I was working through it, I saw the man himself come into view, descending from above.
He floated down in front of the car, his trademark helmet gleaming, his purple cape billowing behind him. His suit was black with a red breastplate, his arms fitted with purple bracers. He looked exactly the way I remembered.
"You," he said quietly, and his voice carried all the way up to me. His eyes — pale, cold behind the shadow of his helmet — were fixed on Jean. "You are a mutant. Strong, and perfect in every way."