45: Chapter 45 Ability Control

Jean shook her head violently: "No... I can't! I don't even know how to read other people's thoughts."

"Hmm, this really needs to be addressed." Peter sighed.

"What? What do you mean?" Mary Jane asked.

"Jean needs to learn to control her abilities." Peter explained to them, "Otherwise, she's going to end up in big trouble sooner or later. We know almost nothing about her abilities. What if they get stronger later, so strong that the inhibitor I made can't suppress them anymore?"

Jean shivered, her hand unconsciously touching her headband: "Will... will that happen?"

"It's possible." Peter nodded, "You need to learn control. Hmm... grab your things, I know where to go."

The girls looked at each other. It took Peter a long time to convince Jean to accept training, and she finally reluctantly agreed. Although Liz Allan was afraid, she was too proud to show it; Mary Jane immediately expressed her willingness to accompany them; as for Felicia, she just didn't want Peter to be alone with three pretty girls.

The way she got jealous was truly cute.

The group arrived at an abandoned railway yard.

Peter pushed open the rusty iron gate, and the five of them filed in.

"Ugh, I hate this place. It's the worst place I've ever kissed in." Liz Allan complained as soon as she entered.

"Agreed." Mary Jane glared at a corner with a dark expression. Harry Osborn had brought her here once and forced a kiss on her; Peter thought that if he hadn't arrived in time, he really didn't know what would have happened.

"Alright, let me see." Peter scanned the area and found an empty soda can in the corner, "Perfect."

He picked up the soda can and placed it in the center of the yard.

"Jean, stand in front of it. Everyone else, back up."

The girls stepped back as instructed. Jean and Peter stood in front of the soda can.

"You want me to... move it with my mind?" Jean's voice sounded a bit shaky.

"Yes."

"I... I can't, I don't think I can do it."

"You can." Peter gave her a confident smile, "I know you can do it."

"But those voices..."

"As long as you ignore them, they can't affect you. Your brain is like a muscle; it should be controlled by you, not the other way around... probably, it shouldn't be a big problem."

Peter paused, then added: "Also, if you do read my thoughts, let me explain a few things before you get freaked out, okay?"

Jean was stunned: "What?"

"We all have our own secrets, Jean." Peter shrugged.

Jean swallowed, trembling as she raised her hand and slowly took off her headband.

The voices rushed in like a tide. Her body swayed slightly, and her face went pale.

Peter couldn't help it; subconsciously, he thought of the entity Jean would become in the future—Phoenix.

Jean looked at him in confusion: "What was that?"

"I... I can explain. What did you hear?"

"I... I didn't hear anything clearly." She shook her head, "It's too chaotic."

Peter was stunned, then mentally repeated a sentence.

Jean, you are so beautiful.

Jean's face turned red instantly: "You... you said I'm beautiful."

Peter nodded frankly: "Yes."

He narrowed his eyes and tested again in his mind.

Jean, you will become Phoenix when you grow up.

"I don't understand that part." Jean blinked, "It felt like... a burst of noise."

Peter felt a slight shock.

She couldn't read the complete information in his mind related to established facts and the future?

He immediately continued the test.

S.H.I.E.L.D. is HYDRA, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers will start a civil war, and I'll probably join the Avengers later.

"Uh..." Jean frowned, trying hard to discern, "You said you're going to join the Avengers? I can't hear the rest."

Peter roughly understood.

Jean could read his current thoughts and speculations, but couldn't access the future information he truly possessed. It seemed that whatever entity brought him to this World had placed restrictions on these memories.

"Alright, let's put that aside for now, Jean. Now, focus back on controlling your abilities."

Jean nodded: "Okay."

Peter focused his attention entirely on the present, not thinking about anything else.

"Focus on listening to my voice, Jean. Push all other voices down."

Jean frowned tightly: "I... I can't do it!"

"You can do it!" Peter raised his voice, "Listen to me carefully. Imagine your ability is a huge speaker, with all the sounds amplified and stuffed into your head. Now imagine there is a huge volume knob on the speaker, and right now it's turned to the maximum."

"Those sounds are desperately gushing out. Now, I want you to slowly turn the volume down."

Jean closed her eyes, trying hard to concentrate.

Peter remembered a TV show he had once watched called Legion. Charles Xavier's son had also been tortured by countless voices in his head, and eventually learned to control them. He hoped Jean could do it too.

She was still struggling, her brows furrowed.

"It's coming down." Jean suddenly spoke.

"Very good, continue. Slowly turn it to mute, until you can't hear anything at all."

After a while, Jean opened her eyes and looked at him.

"They... they're gone!"

Peter grinned: "Well done. Remember the image from just now; whenever they come back in the future, you'll know how to deal with them."

"Holy crap, did you guys see that?" Mary Jane lowered her voice.

"How did he know what to do?" Liz Allan's tone was full of suspicion.

"I don't know either." Felicia frowned, watching the two in the yard.

"Alright, Jean." Peter turned to her, "Now focus on looking at the soda can in front of you. You think you can't move it, but you can. Your brain is more powerful than you imagine; as long as you are willing to try, you can do it."

Jean looked at him with eyes full of shock and admiration, nodding heavily: "Okay!"

She turned to face the soda can, concentrating fully, trying to lift it with her mind.

Peter could smell the intense determination surging from her—the scent of mint was so strong it was almost scorching.

The next second, the soda can wobbled slightly.

"Oh my god! Did you see that?" Jean turned back suddenly, her eyes wide.

"Jean, that was so cool!" Liz Allan was the first to rush over, and the other girls gathered around too, "Do it again!"

Jean nodded, blushing, and made the soda can wobble again. The girls erupted in cheers, and Liz Allan even urged her to try lifting the soda can into mid-air.

Jean was eager to try.

Before long, the soda can really left the ground, hovering shakily in mid-air.

While Jean continued to practice, Felicia gently poked Peter.

Peter turned his head, meeting her worried gaze: "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She reached out and wrapped her arms around Peter's waist, hugging him tightly.

"Kitten, if something is making you unhappy, tell me." Peter kissed the top of her head and also reached out to hug her.

"It's just... you get along with her too naturally. You just met, and you're like her old friend." Felicia muttered sullenly.

Peter laughed: "You look really cute when you're jealous."

"Hey! I'm not jealous!" Felicia bared her teeth.

"Alright, alright, not jealous." Peter laughed, coaxing her, "She just reminds me of myself when I first got my abilities. Back then, no one helped me, so I want to help her; that's about it."

This was the truth.

Of course, there was another reason he didn't say. If no one helped Jean control her abilities now, she might become extremely dangerous in the future, even threatening the entire World.

He had to ensure Jean wouldn't be consumed by the dark side, and definitely couldn't let the Dark Phoenix awaken.

The two walked back to Jean and the girls. Felicia's hand was tightly clasped with Peter's, as if declaring her territory.

Peter smiled and said to Jean: "You did very well, Jean."

"This is incredible, Peter!" Jean stared at the soda can hovering in mid-air, her eyes slightly red, "Thank you so much!"

"No, this is your own achievement." Peter shook his head, "But from now on, you need more professional guidance. I happen to know someone who can help you."

The girls looked over curiously.

"Who?" Jean asked.

Peter took out his phone, searched for "Charles Xavier", and showed them his wiki page.

"His name is Charles Xavier, and he is the most authoritative Mutant expert in this World."

He put away his phone and looked into Jean's eyes.

"I think we should give him a call."