3rd POV:
''It was a nice gesture you did for Rogue,'' Jean said. The two of them were in her room. Jean was sitting on her bed on the edge, while Bell was laying with half his body on the bed.
''Hm,'' he absentmindedly replied.
''She hasn't stopped hugging or making contact with anyone since then,'' Jean added.
''Yes, yes. I just don't like that I have an energy string that connects us now. I would need to find an energy source that is infinite. Say, she can't absorb your powers, how do you accomplish that? Is it also by creating a thin barrier on her skin or even yours?,'' Bell asked her.
''I think I can answer that better then Jean,'' Phoenix said, Jeans eyes changing from green to amber,''It should be obvious by now, that there are different types of energy, kinetic, potential, nuclear, electric, heat, etc. While she can absorb almost all of them, she can not absorb cosmic or conceptual energy. For that she needs a special vessel. Should she touch Jean she will absorb her powers and only her powers, while me and mine are left undisturbed. In others words, it is still a good idea for Jean to create a barrier on her skin or on Rogues.''
Bell nodded and was silent for a bit letting the information digest as Phoenix stoked his chin in affection.
''Anyway, enough about that. How was your exam, Jean,'' Bell asked her and changed the subject.
''It was good. I'm confident that I should have a good enough grade to easily enroll in university,'' Jean replied, her eyes changing back to green.
''Were you tempted to peek into your teachers minds when writing the exam?,'' Bell teased her a little.
''No. Are you ever tempted to do that? You must be, for where could you find the time to study for your own exams,'' Jean teased right back.
''I have excellent time management skills. I resent that accusation,'' Bell replied with mock offense.
Jean giggled a little, but then put her hands on her lap appearing suddenly nervous.
''Say, you know that the Graduation Ceremony will soon take place. And I was wondering, if you would go there with me to ...dance and stuff...,'' she finished lamely as she played with her hair a little.
''Of course. How do you want me to come? As Nexus, Bell or some other appearance?,'' Bell asked her.
''However you are most comfortable. So long as you share that moment with me and we share a dance, I don't care about much more then that,'' Jean replied. Though, she would prefer him to come as Bell. She was not gonna request this as she knew he wanted to keep his identity secret. She did not want to look upon a strangers face, so that only left Nexus. But then she couldn't finish the night with a kiss.
She looked a little downtrodden.
Bell rolled his eyes. He did not need telepathy to read her mind to know what was going through it. Sometimes, things are self evident.
''Then I will come as Bell. You focus on having a good time, I will come up with something that keeps my identity hidden,'' Bell waved his hand.
Jean beamed and quickly moved to stand in his face.
''Really?,'' she asked eagerly.
''Yes, yes,'' Bell replied, moving his hand a little to rub her cheek, mostly to move her hair strands out of the way as they were threatening to poke his eyes.
She promptly lowered her head and gave Bell a kiss. A bit of an awkward kiss as the two's head were positioned opposite from each other. Bell did have her breast slightly press into his forehead so, perhaps he got the better end of the deal.
''Anyway. The visit was brief, but I gotta go. Sorry, but duty and investigations call,'' Bell stood up from the bed and waved at her.
''Bye. Have a great time and stay safe,'' Jean said her own goodbyes and blew him a kiss.
A very affectionate women as Bell found out very quickly...then again Gwen was affectionate too. No, it would be more accurate to say that Jean was very romantic. Despite feeling silly about it he grabbed the kiss from the air and tucked it near his heart, before teleporting away.
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Not soon afterwards Bell had to plan for his date with Phoenix. Or was it more accurate to say that they were courting each other? She was...old, not that the would point that out. He would not open that can of worms. For one, because he knew women did not like their age brought up and two his own mental age.
But that is to say, that Phoenix probably preferred more formal dates, aka courting.
Maybe.
Bell thought and reasoned.
...
Urgh.
She did love touching him, so maybe she did not prefer formal settings.
...
Maybe.
Arggggghhh!
Screw it.
Do it.
Just do it!
---
''Oh, my I see you have dressed rather ...dashing,'' Phoenix said as she looked him up and down when he came to pick her up from Jeans room. He teleported into it.
''And you look...spectacular,'' Bell complimented feeling a silly. It was still Jeans body and he already complimented her before.
Also, that red dress could not be comfortable. It was VERY tight and clung to her body to the point Bell wondered if it was cutting any blood circulation.
Bell presented her with two pots of flowers on a tray, so that she wouldn't touch the dirt. One pot was housing a Hundred Leaved Rose, the other pot housed a Pink flower.
Phoenix looked at them perplexed and then raised an eyebrow at him. Though there was a sudden touch of fondness in her expression.
''Well, you are someone that governs over life. And the usual gift is a bouquet of flowers, but the flowers would have eventually wilted. I thought it more appropriate to gift you flowers in pots. You know... because they live longer,'' Bell finished lamely.
It was not that he was suddenly a retard and did not know how to talk to a woman, but Phoenix was not just any woman.
Though it may not have been the choice he would have made, once he does make a choice he stands by it. He was trying to make it work.
Phoenix gave him a smile and telekinetically moved the tray over to the window bank of Jeans room.
''I appreciate the gesture and thank you for the message. Well then, my beloved, shall we?,'' Phoenix asked him.
''Of course. Please, follow me,'' Bell offered her his arm, which she eagerly took by intertwining her arm in his.
---
''The surface of the sun?,'' Phoenix asked him a little amused as she took in the place Bell had teleported them to.
''You can't deny that it is a magnificent scenery, even if you have probably seen this for a million times,'' Bell said as he held out the chair for her.
''I see you are pulling out all the stops,'' Phoenix teased him a little.
''I'm trying to make this work,'' Bell told her.
''You can try to make this work by being yourself. As I said, I was attracted to you initially for your power, but I fell in love with you for who you are. You are usually not such a gentleman. That said I'm not complaining about the gestures,'' Phoenix tried to get him to relax.
Well, in that case. Bell removed his bow tie from his neck and opened up the first button to his shirt and opened up the rest of his suit. The waist coat he kept as it would look a little weird otherwise. He was never one for suits anyway, even if they have their place and time every now and then.
''Sorry, I just tried to make this a good time for you,'' Bell told her.
''Any time with you is a good time for me. Frankly, it was you who insisted on the date anyway, not that I'm complaining spending time with you,'' Phoenix told him.
''Hm. I cooked for us. Seared Scallops and Cauliflower Rice Risotto,'' Bell presented as two plates materialized on the table,'' Do you wish for red wine or water.''
''That depends. Will the wine lead to a nice surprise afterwards?,'' Phoenix asked with some anticipation.
''No,'' Bell flatly told her. There is still some time till he was going to think about any of that. Also, it was Jeans body first and foremost.
''That is a shame. I will have sparkling water then,'' Phoenix told him, feeling a little disappointed.
Bell nodded and filled both of their glasses with water. At the suns horizon, the first sight of Mercury could be seen as it became steadily more and more visibly. It did take only 80 days to circle around the sun. There was a reason why it was named after the roman god Mercury. Unfortunately, despite most of the planets residing and facing part of the sun, they couldn't really be seen, unless someone possessed enhanced vision.
''Say, did you know what would happen with Katherine? Is that why you lead me to her?,'' Bell asked as he took a seat.
''This is not the first time I encountered her situation. That said, I did not know for sure, which situation she found herself in. All these small variations do make it hard to pinpoint the exact source of the problem. But I took a gamble and you always did prefer to form a group for your ambitions. You are welcome, my dear,'' Phoenix told him as she took the fork and knife and took a bite from her food.
''Mhm. I must thank you then. Her ability is not easily dismissible and certainly one that makes her a formidable opponent,'' Bell thanked her.
She wasn't wrong in her observation. Even Stan didn't do everything by himself. Even though he could, Bell was sure. The Living Tribunal and probably a lot more other systems to which he could delegate duties to, came to Bells minds as an example. Bell was much the same, the fact that he was now a reality warper and could take care of everything by himself did not change that fact.
''I wasn't aware that you can cook so well. I thought you prefer simpler dishes. It is delicious,'' Phoenix complimented and then took another bite.
''I do like cooking. It is just... well, it doesn't matter. I'm glad people can find joy in my cooking,'' Bell waved his hand. Granted he was mostly going to cook for his loved ones, but still.
Phoenix' mood soured a little as she was reminded that it was not her that first broke through Bells shell.
''By the way, I must give you a warning, my dear,'' she changed the subject,''I know parts of your ambition and I must put a damper on them. Whatever you do, you can not create a perfect Utopia. As a matter of fact you can not even create a perfect dystopia,'' Phoenix told him.
''Why not?,'' Bell asked her calmly, instead of getting angry. Surely she must have a reason.
''Because then I would be forced to destroy humanity. And I would really rather not fight you. It would put a dampener on our relationship,'' Phoenix told him.
''Wasn't it you who threatened to kill Gwen even if it killed you, if you could not have me?,'' Bell asked her confused. Why was she suddenly changing her stance?
''Yes, well...,'' Phoenix cleared her throat a little embarrassed,''I admit I could have handled that with more care. But I wouldn't have actually harmed Gwen.''
She would have just subtly manipulated Gwen telepathically to break up with him and then swoop in to mend his broken heart. Granted she would have first needed to see if Bell was a good enough telepath to detect her shenanigans, but that was rather easy to find out. After that she just needed to make it look natural.
Hmm. Now she kind of regret her past fervor and hasty actions. She couldn't take her actions back now and must suffer the consequences. Bell was a bit of a cheater. No matter how bad a telepath he was, to protect others or feel telepathic attacks to himself, he personally would never suffer or fear for an attack to his mind, thanks to his void mind.
She couldn't erase his memories and frankly even if she could she wouldn't. Because at that point it was no longer Bell and nor was he the man she fell in love with. It would take away from what made him him.
Not that it mattered. She didn't like the circumstances, but the choice was made. What did it matter if she had to share him with Gwen? In the end, she was his and he was hers, any other girl was just delusional.
Jean could share her position every now and then, for she was very fond of her host. She was almost like a sister to her.
Bell blinked, but offered no words. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure, he was totally gonna believe her claim that she wouldn't have attacked Gwen.
''Anyway,'' Phoenix continued on,''As I said, it's my task to burn away the rot, the stagnation. And perfection, for all that imperfect beings chase it, is exactly that. Stagnation, rot.
Not even I or my fellow cosmic or conceptual entities are perfect, even if we are powerful. Only one being can truly claim to be perfect, but then it is rather telling that he made imperfect beings and gave me the task to eradicate any perfection.''
''I see...That does force me to change quite a few of my plans. But I can make the world a better place, so long as I don't make an Utopia right?,'' Bell pursed his lips in displeasure. Still, he bowed to her expertise. He was not the kind that would let power get to his head and she knew better.
''Yes. But I wouldn't worry too much. Despite the multiverse being infinite, utopias do not exist for long. Every now and then they pop up, but something always happens and then they dissolve. Very rarely do I need to go and personally intervene, though it does happen. If that happens, you need not worry, I will always return my primary consciousness as quickly as possible back to you,'' Phoenix explained to him.
Soooo... she was a bum.
''Why did you kick me?,'' Bell rubbed his leg a little.
''I'm not a bum, my dear,'' Phoenix chastised.
''I thought you can't read my mind,'' Bell raised an eyebrow.
''I can't. I just know you very well. Most of my tasks are done by just me existing. I was just trying to tell you, that I only needed to intervene sometimes,'' Phoenix replied.
Sooo, she was not a bum then. Just a couch potato.
Bell winced as she gave him a much stronger kick this time.
''You are toeing the line, my dear. I will not have you denigrate or downplay my duties, just because you don't yet comprehend what they all entail. I take quite a lot of pride in my work and duties. I hope that one day you can see the beauty in what I do,'' Phoenix chastised further with a frown on her face.
''You are right, that was rude of me. I'm sorry,'' Bell told her. Guess, there is one subject that he should not joke with her about.
Phoenix sharply nodded and then looked apologetic at him.
''I'm sorry, for kicking you,'' she apologized.
''On the contrary, I deserve it. You all should always call me out if I'm being overly insensitive. Though with less violence the first time around,'' Bell joked.
Phoenix sighed. He did not need to remind her that she was part of a harem.
''By the way, I meant it. The food was absolutely delicious,'' Phoenix complimented again and took a sip from her drink to wash it all down. She did eat this a few times in her lifetime, or more like her host, but it coming from Bell and being carefully prepared for their special moment made it taste soooo much better.
Bell nodded and finished his last bite as well. Just when he was about to be done washing the food down as well and suggest to have a dance (the old classic for a first date), Phoenix spoke first.
''I'm rather full and don't think I can do anything else. Come, come my dear, let us rest a little on this couch,'' Phoenix said as she waved her hand and materialized a nice couch for them.
Hm. Guess there won't be a dance after all. Or maybe she just did not prefer to have an identical date to Jeans after all. In his defense, only the first date was 'boring'. After that, he would have tried to make each one more special or spontaneous.
''Come closer, my dear. Here, Bell, put your head on my lap,'' Phoenix grabbed his head and gently (a little forcefully when he tried resisting in the beginning) laid his head on her tights.
Bell blinked up at her with a deadpan expression as things suddenly clicked in place.
''Stop reading Gwen minds, Phoenix,'' Bell tried instructing her.
''No,'' she promptly shot him down. The bitch must be shown her place. She may be part of a harem, but it was necessary to remind everyone that she was the first in the hierarchy. Whatever they thought they could offer Bell, she could offer it to him better.
''Do you like my thigh pillow, my beloved,'' Phoenix grabbed his cheeks and pressed him back down when he tried standing back up.
''Jeans thighs are very pleasant,'' Bell told her, causing her eye to twitch.
''The body I sculpted for you is not too dissimilar from Jeans body. I will take this as a compliment... Are they better then Gwens?,'' Phoenix asked him.
Bell was not about to step on that minefield. No matter what he answered, it would blow up in his face.
''The silent treatment? I have a way of convincing you,'' Phoenix replied as her hand slowly trailed down his chin, chest, stomach and was about to make its way under his pants. In other words, she was about to push for her desired outcome if the red wine wouldn't have led to a nice surprise.
''No,'' Bell firmly replied as he grabbed her hand.
''But we had our date, surely we can make love now?,'' Phoenix asked him. As far as she was concerned, they were already the human equivalent of husband and wife. Though she had context, because of how many times she observed Jean, she found the whole dating/courting thing ridiculous.
A man and wife had to spend more time near each other then just a few hours on a date. For her, every moment was special, if it was spent with him.
Though she appreciated the date and the gestures, it was first and foremost done at his insistence and probably for his peace of mind.
''I'm not the kind who fucks his partner after one date. Besides, this is Jeans body,'' Bell told her.
Yes, something that Jean was screaming in her head since she made the offer.
Honestly, Phoenix was sure Jean would change her mind once she began making love with Bell.
''You would reject me?,'' Phoenix asked him a little annoyed.
''Right now? Yes. Maybe you are eager to engage in that with me, but to me it would cheapen our relationship. All we would prove is that our relationship has no substance. Any attachment we would have to each other would be denigrated or downplayed by just one action,'' Bell smoothly used her own words against her.
Phoenix looked down at him and then slowly moved her hand back up to his jaw and began fondly stroking it.
''Are you sure? Our children would be beautiful. They would inherit the stars,'' Phoenix sadly asked him.
'Holy shit, she was jumping several steps. Calm down!', Bell was screaming in his head. His face remained neutral though.
''That may be so. But that will be true in the future as well. We are immortals. A few years will pass by in the blink of an eye for us. Even when we engage in sex, children will be far off into the future. I want to be at my prime, to better defend you all, optimally I also want to have access to my void powers. It would be nice to have children with you and not just with Jean or through Jeans body. I think she deserves better then be reduced to a broodmare by you. My void powers, should allow me to mask you from any fools who wish to seek you out,'' Bell reasoned with her.
'Yes, Bell, tell her. Tell her!,' Jean screamed in Phoenix' head. She promptly tuned Jean out.
''...Fine. Fine,'' Phoenix acquiesced.
A few years, huh? And even more till she could have children with him? It won't be easy, but if Bell REALLY wanted to...
She bowed down to kiss him. After a while she came back up and descended back down to kiss him again.
If she couldn't have that, then at least she would drown him in kisses today.
Just her luck, that Bell was not the kind to jump at sex even after he got over whatever plagued him.
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Bell snapped his fingers and several furnitures materialized in the apartment. He looked at Jean to see if she was happy. Though she may have gotten much better with her own telekinetic powers, she is not yet at the point where she can materialize stuff with her powers like Phoenix or Bell.
Jean looked down at her phone.
''Mmmm. Too fancy and pretentious. It doesn't fit the rest of the apartment. Can you try this couch instead?,'' Jean requested and showed him her phone.
Bell suppressed a sigh and complied.
Despite school not being completely over for her, she was an adult and so she rented an apartment just a few blocks away from Gwen. It was Bell who would pay for everything.
If someone tried to look into matter, they would find out that he was paying for her with the money from his music channel. And if someone wanted to butt their nose into their private matters past this point, well... they run the risk to be considered an enemy and would be treated as such.
It was going to be their HQ until he was old enough to rent his own apartment. So honestly this all was only temporary and for one year.
But, since it was Jean who had to talk with the landlord (and manipulate him a little telepathically because he was doubtful someone so young could pay the rent properly) as well as Jean being the one that would primarily reside here, with the rest dropping by every so often, Bell wanted to make her home comfortable.
''What do you think, Bell?,'' Jean asked him a little unsure.
''I think it looks good, Jean,'' he replied.
''Do you think it need a little more red? But then I don't know where to put the red. Wouldn't it look ugly with the wall being white and all that?,'' Jean asked him for his opinion again.
They have been at this for THREE FUCKING HOURS!
The things we do for love.
Bell did not let his annoyance show on his face.
''I think, the couch should be a shade of grey, probably a darker grey. We can put a carpet under the table one that is mostly red, but with some black streaks cutting through it, maybe with some white as well. And maybe that table should be a darker brown, instead of light brown. What do you think?,'' Bell suggested and snapped his fingers so that she could see what he meant.
She looked at the changes he proposed and smiled.
''Yes. I really like. Now, lets us work on the kitchen,'' Jean eagerly replied and typed in her phone to look up kitchen stuff.
Yes, they spent three hours on one room.
The things we do for love.
It was fine. It was her home primarily. But once they moved into their proper home/HQ when he was an adult, he would design most of their home and she would have to worry only about her own room.
''So, how about we try this out?,'' Jean asked him as she pointed at something.
---
Ghost Spider landed on the roof and quickly changed into her civilian attire. She stuffed her suit into her back pack and made her way over to they apartment to ring the bell.
Jean opened the door to greet her.
''Gwen, hi. It is nice to meet under better circumstances this time. Please come in,'' Jean let her in.
''Very cozy,'' Gwen complimented as she took the apartment in. She spotted Bell sitting on the couch with his head as far as possible leaning back. He looked tired, but she knew he was probably somewhat annoyed.
''Thank you. Though to be fair, most of the finer touches were added by Bell. I quite like them,'' Jean said.
''I brought you a welcoming gift,'' Gwen said as she pulled out a bottle of champagne from her back pack. Bell perked up at that and came over, quickly taking it from Jeans hands after she took it for herself.
''How did you buy Champagne. You are underage. You didn't steal it, did you?,'' Bell asked her.
''I entered a store as Ghost Spider and paid for it. No ID needed,'' she replied.
''Well. That will certainly make headlines. JJJ will probably call you an alcoholic now. Yes, I can see it: 'Dangerous Menace. Unchecked Vigilantism under influence. Can we trust her decision making?' Or something. Did you swing over here?,'' Bell asked her and caused them to chuckle.
''Wait, till Peter is done with his own suit. He is almost done anyway. Then JJJ will have an aneurysm. And no, I did not directly swing over here. I made a detour... and stopped a few purse thieves and otherwise as well,'' Gwen replied.
Bell nodded and moved his hands along the bottle to change the state of affairs in it. Then he gave it to Jean who popped it, with some foam foaming and poured it into the three glasses that he summoned.
''I'm not usually one for alcohol, but I guess this is a special occasion. To us and our health and to a prosperous future. Cheers,'' Jean cheered, the others quickly cheering as well as they clanked their glasses against each other.
''You didn't have any trouble, convincing your parents to move here or the X-Men or any other trouble, really?,'' Gwen asked as they all sat on the couch, with Jean in the middle. Bell was too mentally drained to interfere in their girl talk, but also his thoughts were somewhere else.
''No. For my parents, I simply told them that I wanted to study here and that I would move in with my boyfriend... which is technically the truth. They didn't particularly like it, mostly my father...,'' Jean began.
''You also have an overbearing father?,'' Gwen teased.
''Yes! I mean, I wouldn't have it any other way. You know how it is, sometimes you don't know how much you miss things until you lose them. I wouldn't have it any other way, honestly,'' Jean quickly agreed.
''...But that doesn't mean our fathers can't exasperate us,'' Gwen finished together with Jean.
''Right? But in the end I did convince them. That said, they might make an impromptu visit to me during the summer to meet 'my boyfriend'. Thought they haven't said anything and I haven't seen them in years I'm quite sure of that.
Now, the X-Men were a bit more difficult. Sinister took away one of my family, but I gained another. It was a little more hard to break the news to them, but I told them that I'm one call phone away and that I am still part of the X-Men. I mean, ... that is no problem, right?,'' Jean looked at Bell for reassurance.
''Of course not. Most of our goals align, but our goals go beyond mutant/ human coexistence as well as the scope of our goals. We are not enemies,'' Bell reassured her and caused her to sigh in relief.
She gave him an appreciative smile and returned to talking with Gwen. Now she was telling her how they resolved renting the apartment and that it was close enough to Gwens home as well as close enough to an university for Jean to make her way there. Just in case Gwen needed to make a stop somewhere that wasn't her home.
Bell just watched him relieved.
Well, seems that at least two of the four of them seemed to get along.
Mmmm, probably three of the four of them would get along. It was just Phoenix who probably wouldn't get along with the other two and would just tolerate them.
At least he would have less drama in his life then he expected. He continued to watch them, letting them bond as he rested his mind from Jeans bullshit, that she subjected him under when they were decorating.
...
''I think we should call it quits for today. My father will soon come home from work and I don't want to risk him asking questions,'' Gwen declared.
''Oh, yes. Of course. Gwen, you are always welcome here. Don't be afraid to just enter, just because this is my home. Bell, do we have a spare key? I don't think my landlord gave me any spare keys,'' Jean quickly made her way over to the kitchen counter to look at her keys.
''Don't bother. He only gave you one set of keys. Here, Gwen. Two keys and a wrist band,'' Bell materialized a copy of the keys. One to the entrance of the apartment and one to the door of the apartment Jean resided in.
Gwen immediately began adding them to her key chain.
''I know what the keys are for. But what is the wristband for?,'' Gwen asked him as Jean came over to look at them.
''This apartment has three bedrooms. In other words, there are two guest rooms. If for some reason you need to quickly make your way here, then just think if it and the wrist band will teleport you here. Fair warning, it can only teleport you back and forth, so try to find an inconspicuous place if you want to teleport back. Or just leave the apartment like a normal person and override the previous last known location by teleporting here again,'' Bell explained to her.
''Is it like the program inside of me?,'' Gwen asked as she put the wrist band on. Bell seemed to have spent some time on how to design the wrist band. Gwen could tell it would not interfere with her suit up as it could be attached to her web shooters, like an extension in a way. By all means she would have two wrist bands. One would just be slightly thicker then the other.
''More or less. Yes,'' Bell replied.
Jean would not need one as she had Phoenix. If she could not do it herself, then she could just temporarily give control to Phoenix who then would teleport her here. At least he managed to convince her and Phoenix to accept his protection program as well. Mostly for his own peace of mind, just in case she every needed help for some reason.
Gwen nodded.
''By the way, before you go I have something to share with you two. Give me a moment,'' Bell said as he teleported away, before they could say anything.
He needed to see if Laura was available, but he honestly could have told them the news even without her there.
He teleported back with Laura who just raised her eyebrow at Jean and a strange girl.
''Anyway. I didn't foresee things turning this way. But Gwen, Jean, Laura is now past of the harem,'' Bell simply told them.
(In a way he was a bit of a coward, even if he did profess that he was trying to avoid drama. This marked the second time, that he tried dropping a bombshell of some information on their lap when they said they needed to go. It would have forced the awkwardness to end sooner and they were forced to digest the information with some calmness and away from the source of their ire.)
They women couldn't have reacted more different if they tried.
Laura simply nodded her head. She was, admittedly, a little surprised. He said he had a girlfriend, singular, probably Gwen. But Jean being here suggested that she was part of the harem too. Frankly she didn't mind, so long as she was together with Bell. It was something she already knew to expect since she pushed for being his girlfriend despite him having one.
(Normal people would have expected him to break things off with his girlfriend or considered him being a cheater otherwise, but Laura was a bit socially awkward.)
Jean looked a little unsure, but then smiled at her. Perhaps unconventional and out of the norm. But she got along with Gwen and she definitely got along with Laura, nor did Bell seem to struggle to find time for them all, so she honestly didn't mind too much.
Gwen just looked annoyed, judging by her frown.
''I don't mind. Let's get along, Laura,'' Jean waved at her.
''Well, I do. Bell, what the fuck? I wasn't completely serious when I said ten should be the limit. At the very least I would have like to be consulted and give my approval,'' Gwen complained to him.
''That makes two of us. I can't believe I have to share you with another, bitch,'' Phoenix huffed as Jeans eyes changed color.
Laura frowned and was to ask a question.
''Laura, wait. Let me navigate this. I will explain everything to you later when we will go on our walk,'' Bell instructed her.
''Phoenix, can you stop calling Gwen or Laura a bitch?,'' Bell politely requested.
''No,'' she simply shot his request down. She would tolerate Gwen, but she didn't want any other competition.
''Don't change the subject, Bell. You should have consulted us,'' Gwen got the matter back on track.
Hmm. Well, they reacted more strongly then he expected. Gwen certainly more then Phoenix. Though Jeans response was a nice and welcome surprise.
That said...
He narrowed his eyes at them. He was not about to suffer unnecessary drama or conflict or any accusations here.
''I'm gonna stop you right there. I deserve to be called out for my bullshit and I fully expect you do that, for I want partners not puppets. But likewise I reserve the right to do that to you as well,'' Bell began.
''But...,'' Gwen began only to be immediately silenced as Bell narrowed his eyes at her.
''But nothing, Gwen. Perhaps it has not sunken into your brain yet, but I do not read your mind 24/7 with telepathy. You do have your privacy. A lot of it in fact. If anything it is Phoenix that considers you a nuisance and reads your mind all the time. (*More like her rival, but Bell was not about to say that, for Phoenix was too proud of herself to consider Gwen a rival for his affections, at least out loud*).
In other words, I was not obligated to do anything, for no such wishes or requests or obligations were expressed to me. Not from you, Jean or Phoenix. That we are here is not my failing, though I do take a part of the blame, most of the blame falls on all of your shoulders. All three of you. (*It was after all Phoenix that opened Pandoras Box, but Gwen played her own part as well when she wouldn't let him break up with her*)
Perhaps next time, use your mouth and communicate things more properly with me. Hmm?
What is done is done. In the future I will, of course, consult you and listen to your vote, now that you have expressed that wish. Your request is after all, more then reasonable. It would hardly benefit anyone if you all couldn't get along.
But Laura is here to stay. Am I understood?,'' Bell calmly continued with finality. It was, if anything, a request that he was eager to fulfill. It nicely solved his issues of any additional women joining his harem, thanks to him giving in. It was in a way, a system of checks and balances.
(Nothing would have ever caused him to stray if he was in a monogamous relationship. But there was a reason why he was constantly comparing his situation akin to Pandoras Box in his mind. Some things, once they are done, are not easily or can never be undone. But yes, their request was more then reasonable.)
Phoenix turned her head with some annoyance to the side and Gwen did so as well, but in shame and rubbed her shoulder.
''Yes, Bell. So, next time just... consult us. Alright?,'' Gwen agreed, calming herself down a lot.
''Tch. Fine. I agree with the bitch. This bitch can be part of your harem too, but don't expect me to easily give my vote to let anyone else in, if ever. Don't call me for a while,'' Phoenix said and Jeans eyes changed back to green. What? Did she have to read every womens mind around Bell to watch out for competition?
Jean chuckled awkwardly.
''Well...I'm glad we could resolve that,'' she replied amicably,''But I have to agree too, that it is a reasonable system. That said. I'm glad to have you onboard too, Laura.''
Bell clicked his tongue.
Right.
He appreciated what Jean was trying to do.
But...
...
Yup. There is the awkward silence setting in.
''Right. Well, Gwen you need to go home before George gets home and I need to fill Laura in. Sooo... Jean, enjoy your new home. See you soon,'' Bell gently guided Laura by the back as they walked outside of the apartment from the awkward situation.
Gwen sighed and said her goodbyes to Jean again as she began making her way to the roof top.
Meanwhile, Jean, who was (mostly) alone began blushing and making her way to her room. Bell taking such a firm approach to them all, was... a response.
(Phoenix snorted. Guess they were all meant for each other. A little dysfunctional family, the lot of them, she thought mockingly).
---
Bell explained as much as he reasonably could. Information overload did exist, after all. But he caught her up on most things.
Laura, as usual, simply accepted things as they were and took the wrist bands as well. She promised to keep his secrets and that was it. It was rather anticlimatic as she didn't have any additional questions, which Bell was frankly thankful for.
He brought her back to her room in the X-Mansion and then just teleported himself back home to collapse on his bed.
Well... that all was awkward.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''I would really love to inspect, the wrist band,'' Hank expressed his wish. Surely, Rogue was not going to be the only one on whom the Suppression Collars would not work. Gaining insight into how Nexus accomplished that, could only help future mutants.
''Don't touch it!,'' Rogue almost hissed harshly as she retracted her hand to her chest and turned her body a little sideways. After so long of everyone else failing to help her, she finally had a way of touching others skin to skin.
(She did not care if that sounded selfish.)
(Skin to skin was the important part here. If only she knew how the wrist band worked, but Nexus never explained and she never asked and assumed.)
''OK. OK. Peace. Do you at least know how it works. Can you tell me? Then I can have a reference point from which to go off,'' Hank asked her, not giving up in his quest.
''Well... no. I don't know how it allows me to touch others. You would need to ask Nexus,'' Rogue replied.
''Hmm. I think I will do that at the next opportunity. I apologize for having bothered you. Have a nice day, Rogue,'' Hank said his goodbyes and wandered off deep in his thoughts.
''You too, Dr.Hank,'' Rogue said and walked to her own destination.
...
She eventually went to sleep while holding her wrist band close to her heart. It was perhaps her greatest treasure, gifted to her by Nexus. He saved her where everyone else failed.
She was trying to think of a way to repay him for the past few days, almost a week.
She didn't come up with too many solutions. But the few she did left her rather giddy.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today was the day.
Peter checked one final time his two wrist bands, his web shooters. Frankly, he needed to one day repay Bell for financing his equipment.
Peter was confident that if he went dumpster diving he would have found enough pieces to built this himself. But then it probably wouldn't be so sleek and compact when folded in.
He would probably need to find a way to repay Gwen too for the web solution, but again he was confident that he could have come up with the web fluid himself.
Uhhh...
Was that why they calmed him down every time he opened up the subject of repaying them?
Probably.
Still, it was a matter of principle and so he would find a way to repay them.
Frankly, he would have expected more training, but he only received some training and then was told by Gwen that he should immediately apply it. Apparently that is how she trained.
Peter had his misgivings about that, but she was his teacher. He was a little anxious. He would have really preferred a little more training.
No matter. It wasn't like he would be left alone today. He would be under the supervision of Gwen.
Everything checked out so he started making his way down.
---
''Wait, Peter. Come here, for a moment. Would you?,'' Uncle Ben grabbed his attention as he was making his way down.
''Huh? Ugh,'' Peter looked at the door a little excited and anxious,'' Y-yes, Uncle Ben? What is it?''
''What's the matter? You haven't been yourself for the past few days. You haven't been responding, when Aunt May called you on the phone. You were barely home? I checked over with Melina who said that Bell and you weren't there. Apparently that is normal behavior for Bell. I have my misgivings, but how she raises her son is her matter so long as she doesn't endanger him. But that is not normal behavior for you...
Peter, what I'm trying to say is... Are you in trouble? You can always talk to us. We just want to help you,'' Ben tried communicating with him as adult to 'adult'. Ben remembered his own young years. God, he hated it when his parents immediately accused him or his brother of something, only for it to turn out that they didn't do anything.
''No. Nothing, is wrong. Sorry, if I gave you that impression,'' Peter quickly replied, trying to hide his nervousness.
Ben sighed in disappointment. Clearly that is not what he wanted to hear.
''Are you sure? Peter, I know you. You have to admit that it is weird behavior coming from you. I'm really just trying to help you,'' Ben tried again calmly.
''No. No. I'm pretty sure. No trouble at all on my side. Hey, look. I really need to go. I'm expected somewhere. I made an appointment, so...,'' Peter tried to end the conversation.
''Is it a girl that has you so nervous?,'' Ben 'teased' him a little. He did not like how the conversation was going, but he recognized that he couldn't force the issue. So he was willing to provide him an out, but he was going to pick the topic up again later.
''Yes. Yes. A girl. With some hope I will make this work, so you know...,'' Peter grasped the lifeline provided to him and moved his hands a little. In a way it was the truth, though he would never betray his friend like that, but he was going to take the opportunity given to him.
''Then what are you waiting for? GO! Make it work and good luck. Introduce her to us, if it all works out,'' Ben shooed him away.
''Right. Thank you. Talk to you later. Love you, Uncle Ben,'' Peter said as he bolted out of the house.
Ben stepped outside and watched him sprint away with some disappointment.
Peter lied to him. About something very serious too.
He really hoped to get him to talk before whatever troubled him became too much of a problem.
---
Peter slammed the door behind him that was leading up to the rooftop.
''I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was held up by Uncle Ben and...,'' Peter moved behind a wall and a water tank for privacy and began changing into his suit. He quickly adjusted his lenses and tested if everything was alright, especially with the rudimentary AI provided by Raezen. Apparently Ghost Spider used it too, though he was a little queasy about using the AI, it probably made no difference as Raezen could easily find out everything about him another way with his technomancy.
''Spider-Man. Calm down. Remember what I taught you. Besides you are only late by two minutes. What? Did you run all the way here and forget to take the train?,'' Ghost Spider teased him a little to calm him down.
Yes, actually. Peter admitted to himself in embarrassment.
He stepped from behind the wall and presented himself in his suit. It was a mixture of a red and blue suit with some white here and there.
''Looking sharp. I'm sure the ladies will love you,'' she teased him further and caused him to rub his head in abashment.
''Jokes aside. I hope you calmed down a little. You are being more nervous then usual,'' Ghost Spider remarked to him. More so then during the training at least.
''Can you fault me?,'' Spider-Man asked her,'' Were you not nervous the first time?''
''I was terrified. You know our mutual friend. He can be a right bastard sometimes, even if I do love him dearly. He was ready to see what I would do, ready to intervene at any time. Though I didn't know it at that time. So I thought I had to defeat The Lizard and save Captain Stacy myself. So, yes, I was more terrified then nervous. Spider-Man, I wouldn't have suggested us doing this today, if I wouldn't have thought you ready,'' Ghost Spider told him.
''Right. Okay. Okay,'' Spider-Man took a few breaths. He jumped out of his skin as he received a phone call from Aunt May. He quickly clicked something on his lenses to take the call and indicated to Ghost Spider to wait a moment.
''Aunt May. Hi.''
''Peter. Sorry, to disturb if you are anywhere important. I will make this quick. I did some shopping on my way home, but I forget to buy eggs. I don't need them for today, but I need them tomorrow. Could you buy some on your way home, please?,'' she asked him.
''Yes. Yes, of course. I will do that. Goodbye, Aunt May. Love you,'' Spider-Man said and hang up after she said her own goodbye.
''Sorry, about that. It was Au-,'' he swiftly received an elbow to his ribs as he stepped besides her at the edge of the roof.
''Secret identity, Spider-Man. We can't slip up or pick up bad habits,'' Ghost Spider chastised him.
''Right. Sorry,'' he apologized again as he looked down from the skyscraper to the streets below.
''You're kind of saying 'sorry' a lot. Keep some for when you actually need them. You're kind of crashing the economy here by devaluing them,'' Ghost Spider joked.
''Sorr- Erhg. I mean, right. I will do that. So... that is massive drop down,'' Spider-Man remarked nervously.
''It is. Remember what I taught you. And your training in that abandoned train yard. Just apply it on a larger scale. Run the calculations, something that should be easy to you, but let most of the heavy lifting be done by your instincts. Do that and you should be golden,'' Ghost Spider reminded him.
''...I'm scared,'' he admitted ashamed. He probably sounded silly.
''I know. I was too. Despite my own training I was also scared,'' Ghost Spider admitted. Granted her fear to lose her father was greater then her fear to jump, so it kind of was a passing moment for her before she jumped out from her room and engaged in large scale swinging.
''How did you overcome it anyway?,'' Spider-Man asked her.
''I simply jumped,'' she replied.
''...,'' Spider-Man was listening.
''No one can teach you how to use your powers. Not truly. Everyone has their own way of doing things. Even our mutual friend had to learn most hings himself. At best, I can give you some pointers, but you must do the rest.
So, yes. I simply jumped.
That is all it is, Peter. It's a leap of faith,'' Ghost Spider, momentarily abandoned her own teachings so that she could really drive the message home. Raezen/ Bell was probably messing with technology near them anyway. Not that she would do this again any time soon.
Spider-Man watched her walk backwards, until she fell down back wards, head down first after she stepped over the edge of the roof. Shortly afterwards a web line shot out and he could her swing past a few skyscrapers.
Leap of faith, huh? Spider-Man looked at his hand and balled it into a fist.
He took several steps backwards and took a calming breath.
Okay.
Okay, he was doing it.
Okay.
Leap of faith.
Okay.
Spider-Man took another calming breath and then began to run.
Slowly at first. But then he ascended into a full blown sprint.
The wind was howling in his ears. It turned out that it was him releasing a continuous scream to hype himself up.
Finally he jumped over the edge and entered a free fall.
His scream turned slightly desperate as realization sunk in that he could go splat on the ground.
(He forgot, in his stress, that Gwen told him that they, thanks to their constitution, would more or less be fine after falling from great heights. Even if it was not advised to do so.)
He desperately pressed the web shooters and released his own web line. After a full swing he released the web line and shot another. The motion was clumsy, inexperienced, but what mattered was that he did it.
His scream turned into a howl of celebration as he shot his fifth web line.
''Good Day, New York City! Wuhuuuhuhu,'' Spider-Man yelled out as he came rather close to the ground.
He swiftly accepted the call from Ghost Spider by clicking his the rim of his lens.
''I see you got the hang of it as quickly as I did. Told you it was a leap of faith,'' there was some strain every now and then, but their constitution allowed them to have insane stamina.
''You were right,'' Spider-Man replied.
''Try do some tricks and stuff. It will make you more sure footed. Keep your ears sharp for anyone calling for helping. Today you are just going to take care of petty thieves. There are always some of them going around. Remember this is still training for you. You will NOT be fighting Rhino or Shocker or anything in case they escaped the RAFT. Also, I'm right behind you, but I will not intervene until I deem it necessary. So go do some superhero stuff,'' Ghost Spider instructed and he momentarily spotted her when he did a spin in the air.
''Got it,Ma'am,'' Spider-Man saluted while shooting upwards before shooting another web line.
---
Ghost Spider was watching him (while hiding so that the thugs wouldn't immediately give up) as he was taking care of some small gang. She was a little apprehensive to have him fight them, but they didn't seem to have any extremely dangerous weapons, like guns. So she didn't say anything when he engaged them. Worst case scenario, he had the spider sense.
This was going to be the last activity they will be today as it was getting rather late. She told her father that she was with Bell, but she would be home by 10 O'clock and Peter probably needed to home as well.
Frankly he was doing a very good job of applying everything she had taught him. That is until something happened. She immediately zipped herself down, but it all happened rather quickly.
Spider-Man kicked someone down and webbed his leg down to incapacitate him. But the momentary distraction allowed one of his enemies to get into a car. The maniac kicked the car into full throttle and Spider-Man was just about to jump away as his spider sense kicked in, when he remembered that the guy behind him was still tied down.
So he made the split second decision to crouch down a little and tackle the car with his shoulder. Only for it to go a little wrong as he miscalculated his head placement and received the full front of the bumper in his face.
Spider-Man lost his nerves a little and in his panic he quickly grabbed the car from under it and flipped it into the air with ease. The two ton metal cage did two flips in the air before it landed, thankfully, on its front, instead of on its head or else it would have crushed the gangster to death. He was also lucky that none of the other gangsters was anywhere near the landing zone of the car.
The gangsters just starred at the car, the one enemy in the car groaning as his ribs were cracked (thanks to not wearing his seat belt) and moved their heads to look at Ghost Spider, who landed nearby to check on the enemy and then quickly on Spider-Man, after dismissing his injuries as non threatening.
They did the smart thing and all immediately laid on their stomach with no one trying anything, realizing that they were in WAY over their heads.
''You fine?,'' she quickly asked him.
''Yes. Yes. Shit, I wasn't thinking. I was scared. Is he dead?,'' Spider-Man asked a little afraid.
''No. Calm down. Look, why don't you go where we met and wait for me there. I will take of everything and then come for you. OK? Use the opportunity to check over yourself a little too,'' Ghost Spider shooed him away. It has been a while since she received such an attack, but he should be fine. Mostly. Maybe some heavily blue skin and a red eye, but it will heal in a half a day, if he was lucky maybe less then that.
''Who was that?,'' one of the gangsters asked her after Spider-Man swung away.
''Oh, him? My protegé. Anyway, why don't you all line up nicely and allow me to tie your hands while we wait for the ambulance and police. Yes?,'' Ghost Spider jovially asked them.
They grumbled, but complied as they all lined in a line near the wall.
---
''Let me see you,'' Gwen instructed as she looked at him. Yup, she was right. A quarter on his face on one side was completely blue and his eye on the same side, no longer had any white, it being completely red.
''Am I in trouble?,'' Peter winced.
''No. I explained things and while the police did not like it, they did not charge you with excessive force. They did give you a warning though, so... don't flip any more cars when fighting normal humans. Reserve that strength for enhanced enemies,'' Gwen replied and sighed.
He would be fine, she assessed.
''Is it bad? I don't feel as bad as I expected, actually,'' Peter said.
''See for yourself,'' Gwen told him and gave him her phone in selfie mode.
''Oh, shit,'' Peter cursed in panic and gently touched the blue spot.
''Calm down. You have super healing,'' Gwen reminded him.
''Even so. It will take a few hours to heal. And I'm expected to deliver eggs to Aunt May. Shit, Gwen, they can't see me,'' Peter wailed theatrically.
Gwen rolled her eyes. He would be fine.
''Then sneak into your room. There is no other way around it. Or sneak in, drop the eggs in the fridge and then say that you are having a sleepover at Bells. You know he will cover for you,'' Gwen suggested.
''I know. But knowing my Parker luck, Uncle Ben will go over to check and demand to see me. It's not like our homes are far apart,'' Peter further complained.
''Then lock yourself in your room and give an excuse so that they will leave you alone. I did do it myself a few times. You know...womans issues...,'' Gwen explained.
''I get it, don't need to elaborate,'' Peter quickly stopped her, getting uncomfortable,''Gwen, I can't do the same things you do. I'm a boy, things aren't the same for me as for you. They will push.''
Gwen rubbed the bridge of her nose.
''Oh, for fucks sake. Peter (*she firmly grabbed him by the shoulders*), my own father suspects me to be Ghost Spider. You think I don't have to lie to him and keep track of my lies. But, I'm doing it because not only is it the right thing, but it helps keep everyone safe. Not just strangers, but our loved ones as well.
Even Bell, sometimes goes somewhere to do his own thing, though he prefers subterfuge more then being in the spot light. Not that either approach is wrong anyway. Remember, everyone has his own way of doing things.
You can come clean and constantly worry them to death every time you move out to fight against god knows what. Or you can keep them ignorant. Ignorance is bliss after all.
Sneak in and hide yourself from them for a day, even if it does make things uncomfortable and tense. Or come clean. These are the only two options you really have, Peter,'' Gwen patiently explained to him. He was new to all of this, but she could not coddle him for long.
Hell, Bell did not coddle her at all and threw her into the fire. Peter should be lucky it was her that was training him and not Bell, but Bell was right. The world will not wait for one to be comfortable, it moves and one can move with it or be swept away.
''Okay. You're right, sor- (*Gwen raised her eyebrow*). I mean, thank you for the advise. I think I made my choice,'' Peter said more confidently, returning a little to his normal self.
Gwen gave him a sharp nod.
---
''Ladies and Gentlemen and everything in betwe- Oh, screw this. There are two genders. Two!
Ladies and Gentlemen I do not want to be the bearer of bad news, but today I have bad news to share with you. We all know of the wall crawling menace calling herself Ghost Spider.
It is bad enough that there is one vigilante terrorizing the city with unchecked power.
BUT NOW THERE ARE TWO OF THEM!!
You heard me right. Two wall crawling menaces. He was just spotted today and some speculated that they are boyfriend and girlfriend or some such nonsense.
I DON'T CARE! NO ONE HERE IS ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, SO I WILL!!
Why are there two of them now? Are they breeding? Is this some nefarious plot to take over the government? Can we expect more of them?
Apparently, the other wall crawling menace calls himself Spider-Man. He threw a two ton car in the air in his rage. He was lucky enough that no innocent was nearby or else he would be held accountable for reckless endangerment. He already hospitalized the driver. Every bone in his body was broken...
What was that? (*JJJ's voice trails of a bit and becomes distant*)...Cracked ribs and nothing else? ...OK. (*JJJ's voice returns to his usual volume*).
Every bone in his body could have been broken, he was lucky enough to only sustain cracked ribs!!!
Ladies and Gentlemen, I will not rest until I have exposed these menaces for the danger that they truly are. Mark my words, these menaces are her to plot and overthrow our government and I, John Jonah Jameson, will be the one to reveal the wall crawlers true nature. I urge you to remain up to date by listening to the Daily Bugles Radio Show...''
---
Peter was listening with his ears as he was sneaking to the kitchen from their backyard. On his way here, he spotted Uncle Ben sitting on the porch, waiting for him, so he decided to take the backdoor.
He slowly turned the key and entered the kitchen. He could hear some movement up in the his Aunts and Uncles bedroom. Then he deposited the eggs quickly, but gently into the fridge and stepped back outside and closed the door.
He looked around and then climbed up like a normal person (though his grip did make it easier to climb up, comparable to a normal human that is) to the garage roof and then climbed from it through the window to his room. He gently closed the door and locked it then he lied in his bed and tried to rest.
...
*Knock, Knock, Knock*
Peters eyes snapped open. His heart hammering in his chest. He was completely silent to await what would happen next.
He released a sigh, when no one knocked again. Though he didn't relax as he didn't hear foot steps. So whoever it was was still in front of his door.
He heard some rustling and Peters heart skipped a beat as he tried to find his phone. Though he didn't pay attention where he dropped it and he couldn't make too much of a ruckus or he would give away that he was here, truly here that is.
Unfortunately Peter didn't succeed in his endeavor and he just locked under the bed as it rang.
He didn't move and hoped that the would think he has forgotten his phone home.
(...Except he already revealed that he had his phone on him when he answered Aunt Mays call. He had yet to learn how to remain calm under stress.)
*Knock, Knock, Knock*
Peter sighed softly feeling exasperated. Yeah, the game was up.
''What is it?,'' Peter called out as he grabbed his phone from under his bed and looked at the time. He slept only three hours as it was 2 in the morning. Well, a little past it, but that was negligible.
''Peter, we want to talk with you. We were worried sick,'' Uncle Ben demanded.
''I told you, I was with a girl,'' Peter repeated his earlier lie.
''Then you don't mind answering some of my questions about her do you?,'' Ben asked.
''Nope,'' Peter replied.
For a moment sweet silence reigned.
''Without the door in the way, Peter,'' Ben added.
Peter closed his eyes in exasperation.
''Can't I do that tomorrow? I'm tired,'' Peter tried to reason.
''You're tired...? Well, guess what, so are we! And unlike you we have spent all this time worrying over you. Your Aunt has been inconsolable with worry, even if she tried to keep herself busy. As a matter of fact, why sneak through the back door to deliver the eggs? Do you have something to hide, Peter?,'' Ben asked.
''No,'' Peter replied, maybe a little to quick,'' I'm sorry for worrying you, but I'm really tired. Can't we talk tomorrow?''
Please, just walk away, Peter pleaded in his mind.
''No. So long as you are under my roof, you have to accept that all of us have to carry some responsibilities to each other. It is your responsibility to listen to me and it is my responsibility to keep you safe. So you can either open the door, so that we can talk face to face or I will kick the door in,'' Ben warned him.
Peter sat upright at that.
''Dude, you can't just kick in the door to my room!,'' Peter complained.
''This is my house. You think I won't if you refuse to open the door. You have ten seconds,'' Ben warned.
''Ben, don't make a scene, please. You are pushing him away,'' came the muffled voice of May, who has climber up the stairs after all that commotion.
''May, please. Sometimes a young man needs a firm hand and some stern talking to. Peter, I'm counting down. 10, 9...,'' Ben began.
Shit. Peter bolted from his bed and locked in the mirror. Most of his blue spots healed. And there was only spot in his eye that was red. That said, it still looked as if someone punched him. They couldn't see him like this, so he quickly put on his pants.
''Are you dressing yourself? Peter open the door right now!,'' Ben banged the door.
Peter made the split second decision to take his back pack with his suit and leave his phone on the bed. Then hastily climbed through his window and bolted away hearing the first kick to the door, before switching his focus to where he was running.
Ben having finally kicked the door in, turned on the light and looked through the room. He quickly opened the closet to look in it and looked under the bed as well. Then he cursed as he spotted Peters phone on the bed.
''Ben, calm down... Ben, you have to give him some space,'' May followed him down the stairs and pleaded with him.
''May, go to bed. I will find Peter and bring him back,'' Ben instructed.
''Ben...,'' May tried again.
''May!,'' he sternly warned her as he stepped outside and looked left and right down the street. He left leaving her behind with worry.
---
Peter released a sigh as he sat down a bench in a small childrens park.
At least it was Sunday. Not that he would be too tired for not sleeping, but still. He would have to spend the night out. He could not go to Bells house as Uncle Ben will probably look there. And all the worry he inflicted on his Uncle and Aunt would not matter too much as they wouldn't work today.
For a moment, he thought about suiting up and helping people, but Gwen would probably lynch him, soooo...
He would have nothing to do, except sit around and wait for his face to heal. By first day light he should be completely healed.
Peter sighed as he began waiting, but still vigilant just in case someone tried to rob him or his uncle was about to find him.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben looked everywhere as he was walking down the street with worry.
''Stop him! He robbed me!,'' Ben heard someone shout as one person bolted out of a 24/7 store and another yelled out, presumably the cashier.
Ben took his hands out of his pocket as he stepped in the robbers path, when the robber tried to run around him, in order to intercept him.
''Let go, damned old man,'' the robber told him, but Ben was relentless.
The robber brought out his gun and Ben froze. The robber tried to shoot him anyway in anger, but surprisingly the gun jammed as the robber tried to pull the trigger several times. Ben looked at the gun in surprise and with new wind under his sails tried to grapple the robber again.
This time the robber managed to bring out a knife and just when he was about to stab Ben...
''Hey. Hey! What do you think you are doing? Police. Hands in the air. Hands in the air!,'' someone from afar yelled as he dropped his cup of coffee and he and his partner began running over to them with their hands on their gun holster if they needed to bring it out just in case.
''Shit!,'' the robber cursed and used all his force to shove Ben away, so that he could sprint away.
Ben landed with his back on a pair of stairs leading up to a random house. He yelled out in pain, causing one officer to stop and check on him, forcing him to temporarily abandon his partner.
The officer checked on Ben, said a few numbers, codes, and called an ambulance upon seeing that his injuries were not too serious, before sprinting after his partner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''Peter,'' Bell sneaked up on him and said, just before first daylight. Peter nearly jumped out of his skin as he didn't manage to hear him. What the fuck?
''Bell, god you scared the ever living shit out of me,'' Peter grabbed his chest. Could he really use telekinesis to make himself so silent?
''How did you find me?,'' Peter asked him.
''Raezen tracked you down via your mask and lead me to you. Come with me, there is a situation,'' Bell simply told him and turned to walk away.
Peter jumped from the bench and quickly started following him.
''What are we looking at?,'' Peter asked him.
''Your moron of an uncle is in the hospital,'' Bell told him without tact as they came upon Gwen nearby.
''What?! What happened?,'' Peter asked shakily ,fearing the worst.
Gwen quickly explained the situation to him as Bell was silent.
''He just pulled a muscle on his back. Some ointment, massages and a few pain relievers will have him back in a jiffy,'' Gwen explained, causing Peter to sigh in relief.
''I guess we are making our way over. How does my face look?,'' Peter asked her.
''Completely healed, so you're good,'' Gwen told him after looking at him.
Before they could say anything else, Bell shoved him into an alleyway.
''Dude, why are you acting like this today?,'' Peter asked him perplexed.
Bell said nothing as he just pulled out a lipstick from his pocket and pulled out his phone in selfie mode and began applying it to his lips.
''What are you doing?...Gwen?,'' Peter asked her.
She rubbed her face in exasperation.
''Bear with him. He is apoplectic. Also, he is providing your alibi. You will say that we introduced you to a girl named Hunter from school and that your date went ...well. Not you fucked on the first date - well, but kissed you all over - well. In other words, you got frisky with each other without taking the final step. No one needs more details then that.
Before you ask Raezen checks in on us every now and then, he did spy on you for your first rodeo so you were lucky today. Don't spend too much time worrying about Raezen. It will make your life easier. Trust me. If it helps, just remind yourself that the government is spying on you the same way as he does... more or less. If anything our life is made easier by him, since he runs interference on the government and ensures our identity remains a secret,'' Gwen quickly explained to him.
Bell smacked his lips against each other, after applying enough lipstick.
''Hey. Hey. Wait a minute. Can't Gwen do that?,'' Peter asked desperately. Bell just deadpanned at him and pinned him to the wall with an unseen force. Peter tried moving his body, but aside from his chest and his head and eyes he was rock solid pressed against the wall.
Bell kissed him on the neck, near the collarbone, a little below the jaw and after briefly hesitating and a sigh, on the cheek and mouth twice.
(To make the lipstick stick, it had to be always a kiss with some pressure.)
He promptly turned his head to the side and spat several times as he brought out a small bottle of alcohol and began cleaning his mouth.
By now Peter was released by the telekinetic powers, yet he just starred off in the distance with a life less lock.
''I will never emotionally recover from this,'' Peter mumbled, then he despaired,'' That was my first kiss too.''
''That makes two of us. The first part I mean,'' Bell spat down again and wiped his lips again with a cloth of alcohol.
Gwen grabbed Peters arm and began rubbing his sleeve on his mouth and over all the other places where Bell kissed him, to wipe the evidence away...mostly. That lipstick would only completely disappear with alcohol or until the skin is rubbed till it bled.
Peters skins was already red from all the friction, but it was already visibly returning to his normal color. In the end it just looked like Peter tried to wipe off the evidence from himself and failed more or less. One could still tell that the red tint on his skin originated from a kiss.
''How do I look? Is all the red gone?,'' Bell asked her.
''Yes, but now your breath smells a little of alcohol,'' Gwen pointed out.
''If anyone asks I will just tell them I engaged in underage drinking, the lesser evil between this and anyone finding about Peters secret,'' Bell promptly replied.
...
''Peter, I'm so glad you are... oh my,'' May quickly went to hug him when she saw him, only to then later register his appearance. She hugged him anyway.
''Peter, you have some ex-,'' Ben began from his hospital bed.
''Shut the fuck up. The reasonable people are talking here,'' Bell promptly put an end to his theatrics. Ben gaped at him in disbelief.
''Mmm. Not how I would have put it, but I have to agree with Bell. What were you thinking?,'' George asked him.
''How is this my fault suddenly? I was just about to discipline Peter,'' Ben asked him surprised.
''Oh?,'' Bell sharply said,'' No one here has told him?''
He looked around and the others shook their heads.
''Told me what?,'' Ben asked him, looking around.
''What has the nurse said?,'' Bell asked over him.
''After you left she left too, shortly afterwards. She told us to stay put and that she would bring the papers to discharge him, as well as the bills for the ambulance, hospital stay and all that other stuff, as you know,'' Evelyn replied.
''Ah, then even better. We can show him,'' Bell said, smiling like a shark. Melina released a sigh, knowing that nothing would stop Bell from ranting now that he was angry.
''What happened to you?,'' George changed the subject, taking in Peters disheveled appearance and lipstick smear.
Peter blushed and stammered. Ironically, for once benefiting from his nervousness.
''Well, Bell and Gwen introduced me to this girl names, Hunter... and well...,'' Peter trailed off.
''Did you have sex? Please tell me you used protection,'' George flatly asked him.
''No. No!,'' Peter looked a little sick,''No. Things got well a little intense, well, frisky if you will, but no... no sex.''
''Things just keep getting better and better. It seems it was just a teenager overreacting,'' George snorted.
''Yes, I'm sure only the teenager was overreacting,'' Bell mockingly whispered under his own breath. George shot him a warning look as he was pushing things.
''Peter, why didn't you tell us. We would have been happy for you,'' May asked.
''I felt... embarrassed,'' Peter confessed lamely,''And i did not want to have the talk about the bees and the birds or responsibility. It would have mortified me.''
''Peter, you can't put off such a talk simply because you are embarrassed. You are around that age, the most important time of your life, were a man or woman is being shaped into a someone who they will be for the rest of their life. I was just trying to do goof by and by your father and raise you into someone you could be proud off, someone responsible too,'' Ben tried explaining to him.
Bell snorted and moved to stand with his back towards all of them as he leaned against the wall.
The conversation kind off trailed off from there into silent awkwardness as they all waited for the nurse.
Who came in shortly afterwards, saving them from any additional awkward moments.
''Give the bill to my mom. I will pay for everything, but she will make the transaction. So long as everything is paid for, everything should be good. No?,'' Bell instructed the nurse while pointing at his mother.
''No we will pay for it,'' May quickly intervened.
''It's 4.569 dollars. Will your insurance cover this or do you want to pay yourself?,'' the nurse asked them. Bell just gently took the clipboard from her and handed it to his mother with a pencil, when May and Ben winced in shock.
Melina began writing a check and added all the necessary information, before handing the clip board back to the nurse, who checked over everything.
''Well, everything checks out. Please do not forget to take the bottle of medication with you on your way out,'' the nurse told them as she held the door open for all of them.
...
''We will pay you back,'' May told Bell, Ben nodding alongside her.
''Yes, yes. Responsibility and all that, right? Anyway, we are here,'' Bell said as they stood in front of a window. Past it there were two patients. One was a stranger, who Bell did not bother to look into. But the other was the police man who was the first to go after the robber and was stabbed two times.
Of course, by then his partner came and shot the robber to death before he could flee or do any more harm.
''Who is this?,'' Ben asked him confused.
''Oh, this? Your responsibility. To be more precise, your heroics that split the officers temporarily caused the one that run after the robber, the first one, to be stabbed two times. Doctors are not completely sure if he will make it,'' Bell informed him. Of course, he will make it. He gave the police man a small helping hand, since he was a good guy. The rest will now be up to time and his own body.
Screw this, since he was already here and in such a foul mood he decided to give most of the patients some small healing. Most, because there were some genuine pieces of shit.
''I...'' Ben said a little unsure.
''Do you know why I'm angry with you, George too even if he doesn't let it on like me?,'' Bell asked him.
Ben just starred at the police man in the medical room, guilt starting to set in.
''You constantly tout some philosophy about responsibility, but you have forgotten the most important thing about your philosophy. Priorities. You have your priorities all backwards.
You were presented with the choice to let a robber walk away or walk back home to your family. And you, genius that you are, decided to risk your life over- how much money was it again?'' Bell asked George.
''700 and something dollars,'' he replied.
''700 and something dollars. Instead of using your power to walk home and see to your responsibilities, be an emotional, moral, economic, familial, pillar of support and god knows what else support, you decided to risk your life and risk breaking their heart over 700 and something dollars.
Truly I must bow to your superior decision making skills,'' Bell mocked.
Ben frowned.
''I'm not angry with you because you tried to do something good. God knows that I dislike complacent people and everyone falters in their morals and philosophy every now and then, for we are human and humans make mistakes. But risking your life over money? 57 years of living, 33 years of marriage, 12 years of raising someone like a son, memories upon memories. All thrown away over money. No amount of money is worth that,'' Bell continued.
''I completely agree with him. There is a time and place for everything. You already know that I don't like vigilantes, but at least they have power. They compensate what they lack in discipline with overwhelming powers, but even then there is a small margin of error. Eventually they will make a mistake too.
But you don't even have that. No offense, but you are old. It is nothing but a miracle that you only pulled a muscle and were not harmed more.
The clerk clearly yelled, that he was robbed you told me. That was all the information you needed to know that then was not the time to play the hero,'' George added, Peter and Gwen listening a little more carefully, when he mentioned vigilantes.
''This? You may not have pulled the trigger, but you pointed the gun. Police go in pairs, they are advised not to split, but your actions forced them temporarily apart as his colleague had to assess the situation and called the ambulance for you,'' George continued.
''With some luck, he will pull through,'' Bell tried to cheer him up a bit, now that he calmed down a bit. Ge out his arm around Gwen and rubbed her shoulder a little.
''I'm sure he will,'' Gwen agreed.
Bell was not angry, because Ben tried to stick to his principles. If anything he respected him a little. It wasn't like Bell didn't do mistakes in his lifetime. But as George said, there is a time and place for everything. And he was scarred to lose one of his friends over MONEY, off all things.
God damn money, the source and solution to all of lives problems.
...
Urhg. He may have a little overreacted there. He certainly was very rude.
A lot of overreactions going around here lately.
(Just because he learned to control souls and pull them back, did not mean that he wanted to have them die in the first place.)
''Look, how about we all go home now, take a bath and rest a little. I'm sure we learned many lessons today and are wiser and smarter then we were yesterday. Many things were said today and we should all calm down a little before we say something we regret. Yes?,'' Melina tried to distract them.
If they already haven't reached that point yet. She would give Bell some stern talking too, once they get home.
---
Peter moved the broom to gather all the splinters of his broken door frame. Well, he wouldn't have privacy for a while.
Still, the conversation he listened to wouldn't leave his mind.
He stopped brushing.
A time and place for everything.
Priorities.
...
It didn't sound like Bell was speaking about some 'greater good' or 'sacrificing the few for the many' or some such.
More like...
It sounded more like, Bell and George were chastising Uncle Ben for trying to do too much. For trying to shoulder all the worlds problems, in a way. As if Uncle Ben thought himself God, since only he could manage all issues and responsibilities.
...
It sounded like they were telling him to calm down and that he should realize he was only human. That he was holding himself to an impossible standard.
...
Maybe.
Peter had to admit that Bell and George used some confusing language to convey that message, but that is what it sounded like to him.
Peter looked at his hand and clenched and unclenched it into a fist.
...
Priorities, huh?
Guess he needed to change his philosophy slightly, again.
Perhaps it wasn't so bad after all to be part of a team that wanted to make the world a better place.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''I can't believe you kissed him,'' Gwen remarked, when he visited her later on in the day, once things calmed down.
''Not my proudest moment,'' Bell admitted with a grimace.
But he did and suffered worse.
(A.N.: 14120 words. Hope you enjoyed reading that. Cheers.)