Chapter 145: Arc Five. Chapter One Hundred Forty-Three. A Moment Of Peace

Jean remembered the first time she had laid eyes on him. He was skinny but kinda cute, and even after Scott and her started dating, she always had eyes for him. She had to stand back, helpless as Flash and the others made his life heel, and after a warning from the Professor, she knew to stay away from him completely. It wasn’t until Flash finally got his wish and he was expelled she realised she missed him. Now as she got a good look at him, he was no longer that skinny bookish nerd he had been in high school. A year away and he had filled out and she could see the lean muscles under his t-shirt. Her cheeks burned as she imagined him without it on, get a grip Jean, you’re dating Scott now.

Finding out that quiet sweet boy had turned into a monster made Jean hesitant. She had read what he had done, killed a man, read what he and his accomplice, Huntress, were doing and her stomach turned. She knew bullying could drive someone to an extreme and she had hidden the fact that she used her powers to keep Flash occupied with someone else, that she did the best she could to keep them away from Peter but it still hurt her chest to see him so angry.

Charles and she had both sensed the massive amount of mutant minds being snuffed out that night, and once they investigated they found the warehouse. Wolverine was ready to simply smash into the place and take Laura back until Charles stopped him. Rather than alert Venom to their existence, they would simply vanish Laura and cover up the lab.

“Yeah, still does not change the fact that you killed someone,” Scott said, standing in front of Jean and holding his hand at the visor control switch.

“Yeah, I remember you were always a bit of a dick Scott. So now you believe J.J? I didn’t kill John, and still, kidnapping, so fuck off.” Peter walked towards Laura and Logan, seemingly unaware of the danger the man posed.

“Laura came of her own free will Peter,” Charles explained,

“Yeah, then she can leave of her own free will,” but as he said that Logan growled again and took a step forwards.

“And they called me overprotective. You’re all missing the point. Not.Your. Call.” Peter looked up at Laura, “Stay or go? I won't fight them to take you, but it's up to you.”

Laura looked over at Logan and then the professor, taking a breath, “stay, my dad, but come visit?” and Peter nodded, leaned in and whispered, “but leave the douchebag at home, okay?”

Laura tilted her head and asked innocently, “what’s a douchebag?” so Peter shrugged and pointed at Scott.

Charles shook his head, “Peter, please, Laura has barely socialised, don't teach her bad habits,” and pushing his controls the wheelchair moved over to her. “Come on dear, we’ll get you back to the dorms and then fed,” but she refused to take his hand

“Peter didn't lie, made me trust you, bad baldy.” and Laura huffed at him, stood, and walked over to Logan. “Be nice, he’s mine” and she stalked off to where Peter guessed she lived.

“Well, that went better than expected, care to explain why you’re helping him Erik, and then kindly fuck off back to Sokovia and out of our-”

“Hair?” Peter asked, and while he got a few stares no one laughed, “oh come on.”

Charles sighed, “lives, Peter, out of our lives.” he said, absentmindedly running a hand over his head. Looking over at Erik, “We have a lot to discuss, and the sooner you leave Peter, the better.”

Erik and Charles headed back into the main house while Peter stood with the group watching him “so, uh hey Jean, how's life?” even at school he had hardly spoken to her or had he? Hell with the Professor they could have six kids and he might not remember. The only reason he was sure his mind had been tampered with was the regenerative and enhancing effects of the mind stone but as it had been over a year since meeting Jean he had no idea if it could repair any damage that old. 

The more he thought about it the more he realised that he had no idea if this was the first time he had ever really thought about Jean. He hadn’t seen her since school and his memories of her were fuzzy.

Scott walked forwards, “don't bother Parker, you’re not welcome here,” and a group gathered around Scott and he and the rest of the students walked away. As Peter was left standing on his own in front of the damaged jet, the door behind him creaked and buckled outwards as Wanda pushed it free.

Jean gave him one last look, a strange mix of fear and apprehension, and even Peter caught the want to talk but the hesitation. “Jean,” Scott shouted and she darted away, leaving Peter shaking his head, yup, still a douchebag. 

“Nice, so my dad was right, Charles is creating a bunch of tools to save the world,” and even Nat laughed.

“Any chance you can get a Shield jet or car to pick us up?” and Nat pulled out her phone, and checking for signal, nodded,

“We’re in New York, we could just get a cab?”

“I am coming with you,“ Wanda said, “my dad just ditched me for that man,” and Nat and Peter looked at each other,

“Hey, don't look at me, you're the landlord here, so, lord it over her land,” and Peter shook his head, and motioned.

“Phone. Please, I need to give them some warning before I turn up,” remembering what happened last time and Carol almost ending up punching Gwen. “They can be, a handful,“ he added diplomatically, tapping on the phone he sent Gwen a text and handed the phone back, “So uh, no cash, it all got blown up, “ and it was Nat’s turn to shake her head.

“Shield is sending a car.”

“And uh, you live with all your girlfriends?” Wanda tentatively asked, and Peter nodded.

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“That's not a problem is it?” and she hesitated before coming in whispering

“And how much of that vision was, you know, real?” and Nat stifled a laugh while Peter sighed,

“Nat has enhanced hearing, and she knows and uh, all of it, in fact, some of that was pretty tame but if we have guests we don't, you know, do that, lots. Really,” he said as she looked disbelievingly at him

Tutting she smiled and leaned in, “got a thing for powerful women huh?” and as her phone rang Natasha walked off towards the gate in the distance and Peter grabbed Wanda's suitcase, sighing. It was going to be one of those days.

As Wanda, Natasha, and Peter made their way back across New York to the warehouse, in Stark Tower Pepper was staring at a bed. Tony had still to recover from his ordeal at the Stark facility, and as the monitor beeped she shook her head and turned to Phil Coulson,

“You said he’d be safe,” she almost whispered and Coulson nodded,

“We made a miscalculation, but he’s fine, the procedure went well and to be honest Ms Potts, Tony is in better shape than the other agent.” He had neglected to mention the medical team Iron Man had killed, and Clint had offered his resignation after undergoing several surgeries of his own. His loss of a hand hadn’t degraded his abilities, but his wife had made sure that this would be his one and only injury as a Shield agent.

As Pepper gestured at the bed, ”this isn’t fine Phil, he’s only been lucid for a few minutes each day and he isn’t getting better. Stark stock is in the toilet and you’re still here asking about the Avengers initiative. No, tell Fury the deal is off, tell Fury he’s lucky I don't sue him and Shield into next week.” 

She had called in a favour and Olivia Octavious had graciously come in to help remove the harness from Tony. She was the leading expert of Peter’s CLS system, barring Peter himself but as he was away on assignment Olivia was the obvious choice, as while he designed the system, she was the one to implement and construct most of their prototypes. The surgery had been a success, but afterwards Tony had seemed to be unusually disorientated. The scans Olivia ran showed nothing and so far he had been in and out of consciousness for almost a week.

“I’m fine,” a voice came from the bed, “I’m fine,” and Tony tried to lift himself up. “Hey, how come I can’t move?” and he looked down at the bed, “not again,” was all he said, and blinking a few times he lifted an arm to his eyes, waving it back and forth, laughing, “oh, morphine, oh yeah, I remember this,” and laying back down. “Jarvis, how's the scan coming” and the stuffy English voice came over the intercom.

“Ultron program has been decompiled, and assimilation of code will take approximately 6 hours Mr Stark, shall I wake you?”

“Nah, been sleeping enough, oh hey Pep, uh, Shield guy. Little help?”

“Sleeping? Morphine? You’re faking it?” and Pepper clenched her fists in anger. “Tony Stark, you get your ass out of bed right now or I swear-” and Tony waved a hand at her

“I'm fine Pep, I'm fine, I needed time to think that's all.” Tony shakily raised himself up in the bed, reaching over for the controls and smiled as it whirred, the back of the bed rising.

“Tell Fury the Avengers thing is off, I don't appreciate having secret orders on someone that was supposed to be guarding my back. Oh and if I find any drones or tech missing, you’ll get a bill.”

Coulson looked over at Pepper who shrugged, “Sorry Phil, uh, we can still do some of the list though.” and she patted Coulson on the arm.

“It's okay. Tony’s profile suggested he might be a bit, belligerent. We can still negotiate for an advisor role. Maybe look at some upgrades for our equipment.” He nodded at Tony and then Pepper, “Mr Stark, Pepper.” before walking away and out of the room.

“Tony, pissing off Shield is not a good idea, even with the loss of military contracts they still make up a large chunk of our revenue. This isn't the time for a hissy fit.” She said as she sat on the end of his bed,

Tony shook his head “Pep, look, they, they lied. Ultron wasn't made by some kid in his garage, this is way beyond even something I could code. Being lied to got,'' and Tony balled his fists and clenched his jaw, “being lied to got me this,'' and he tapped his chest reactor, “being lied to almost got Jebediah the company and an army of Ironmongers, so no, never again.” and Pepper rubbed a hand over the bottom of his leg.

Tony sighed “Look Pep, it's fine, I’m fine. So we don't take part in Fury’s little scheme, I've got a better one, one that’ll keep everyone safe and there doesn't need to be any casualties.” Tony scratched his head, “but, I need to take a longer sabbatical. Can you uh, maybe take over as CEO for me?”

Pepper laughed. “Take over? Who’s did you think’s been taking care of the mess you left,” Pepper lifted her tablet and handed it to Tony, “sign,” and as Tony frowned and stared, confused, at the tablet he nodded.

“You already knew?” but Pepper shook her head,

“Took a guess that the world's most irresponsible man would dump his work on me? Not a difficult guess.” and Tony snorted,

“Not completely irresponsible, I mean I did stop Ultron, who else did that?”

Pepper shook her head while grinning. “You’ve still got the movie walk on, and then Rhodey wants to see you, and you owe Olivia Octavious a huge thank you,  and then-” but Tony raised his hands in surrender,

“Okay, okay, I get it, I get it. Send me an itinerary and you know, see what I can do.”

“Just get dressed first okay, we’ve got enough scandals without adding a nurse or two to them,” and as Tony looked away Pepper missed the look on his face, the one that said it was already too late for that.

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