46: Chapter 46 Unexpected

Jean was firmly against Peter Parker seeking help from the outside.

No matter how Peter tried to persuade her, she remained convinced that Charles Xavier would treat her like a lab rat.

Peter couldn't tell her that Charles was a Mutant himself, and had even opened a school for Mutant students.

After all, in official records, Charles was a human through and through, and that school wasn't registered anywhere.

Peter was forced to compromise, listening to Jean complain that Xavier was probably a pervert who liked little girls.

In the end, the two reached a compromise.

Jean needed to learn to control her abilities; since she refused to seek outside help, Peter would train her himself.

Felicia had some complaints about Peter spending too much time with another girl, so she insisted on accompanying them the whole time.

Liz Allan and Mary Jane also joined in.

After the girls learned that Jean possessed superpowers, their relationship warmed up rapidly, and they became inseparable best friends.

Just in case, Peter installed a psychic inhibitor in his helmet.

He knew that Jean couldn't read the memories and information about the future in his mind for the time being, but if it were a powerhouse of Xavier's level, they might be able to see through it.

Better safe than sorry.

A week later, Jean's control over her abilities was already showing initial results.

After school, the group left together.

Jean suddenly looked at Peter and asked seriously, "If I can control my abilities well, I want to help others just like Spider-Man."

Peter's footsteps faltered slightly.

"Have you thought it through? Abilities aren't toys. You can save people, but you could also hurt them because of a single mistake."

Jean clenched her fingers and nodded gently, "I understand. But since I have this ability, I can't just do nothing."

Peter glanced at her, just about to speak—

His Spider-Sense suddenly wailed a frantic warning.

Peter looked up abruptly and saw a massive construction crane swaying, a steel beam detaching and plummeting straight toward them.

"Get down!"

Peter roared and shoved the girls to the side of the road.

He lifted his head from the ground only to see an old lady still standing where she was, right beneath the falling steel beam.

"No!"

The steel beam was only a story above the ground; Peter was already prepared for a gruesome scene.

But then, as if by magic, the steel beam stopped.

He turned his head toward the only other superhuman. Jean was using all her might to hold the steel beam up with telekinesis, and the rich scent of mint instantly filled the entire street.

Peter flipped up and pulled the old lady out of the danger zone. The next second, Jean withdrew her telekinesis, and the steel beam crashed onto the asphalt.

"Thank you so much, young man!" The old lady's eyes were filled with tears.

Peter looked around; everywhere were passersby holding up their phones to take pictures.

Good, the focus of the cameras was temporarily on him, and Jean hadn't been noticed yet.

He turned to look at Felicia and signaled with his eyes, "Take them and leave first; I'll draw the attention."

Felicia nodded and quickly pulled the girls away.

Peter was soon surrounded by the crowd, the old lady thanking him repeatedly, and he could only stand there and try his best to stall for time.

Not long after, the Police arrived and dispersed the crowd.

It wasn't until it was completely dark that Peter left the scene.

By the time he arrived at Mary Jane's house to meet up with the girls, it was already very late.

He climbed the wall to the second floor and knocked on the window.

Mary Jane opened the window and smiled, "Tiger, come in quickly."

Peter flipped into the room, and Jean stood up immediately, "I'm sorry, I didn't think it would turn out like this..."

"No, you did great, Jean."

Peter sat down on Mary Jane's bed next to Felicia, Mary Jane leaned in as well, while Liz Allan and Jean sat on separate chairs.

"I've said it before, with great power comes great responsibility. You saved that woman's life without hesitation. You did great."

"I told you he wouldn't be angry." Felicia kissed Peter on the cheek, "My man is just a soft-hearted guy."

Jean let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you."

"Has anyone linked the steel beam incident to Jean?" Mary Jane asked.

"No," Peter shook his head, "I kept drawing the focus onto myself. Whenever someone brought it up, I just said it was their imagination. It was quite a hassle, but fortunately, the Police arrived in time and dispersed the crowd."

"So we're safe? No one knows about Jean?" Liz Allan asked.

Peter shook his head, "That's the case for now. Although there were cameras around... I can't be one hundred percent sure."

Liz Allan immediately took out her phone to search and suddenly cursed, "Damn."

"What's wrong? What did you find?" Peter asked.

"This."

She handed over a photo taken from across the street. In the center of the frame was Peter pulling the old lady, but in the corner, one could see Jean reaching out her hand.

"It doesn't look that bad," Felicia comforted.

"Yeah... it looks more like Jean was calling out to Peter for help," Mary Jane added.

"Are there any other photos?" Peter asked cautiously.

"Of Jean? No, just this one." Liz Allan sighed.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"You have to be more careful, Jean," Peter warned, "Your identity is the biggest secret, and you must protect it."

"Yeah," Jean nodded, "What do you think I should do? Wear a spandex suit?"

Peter chuckled, "Maybe."

"Oh, maybe we can go buy one!" Liz Allan said excitedly, "A jacket with jeans would be absolutely stunning! Both elegant and practical!"

"We have to design a combat suit for her!" Mary Jane also got excited.

"Definitely!" Liz Allan agreed enthusiastically. The two grabbed Jean and started flipping through fashion magazines.

Felicia leaned close to Peter's ear and whispered, "Do you think S.H.I.E.L.D. would be interested in her?"

Peter gritted his teeth, "I don't know. I know they are monitoring me and keeping an eye on my friends, but I don't think they've discovered Jean yet. That incident was just an accident; unless they are watching me twenty-four hours a day and happened to capture Jean acting, it's impossible for them to notice."

He paused for a moment.

"And, I have fully proven my loyalty to S.H.I.E.L.D. I think she is safe for now."

"Then who else is there?" Felicia asked.

Peter's gaze darkened, "There are plenty of things in the night that are much scarier than S.H.I.E.L.D."

The following week was calm. People at school were praising Peter's heroism in saving someone, but he just tried to brush off the praise. He didn't like this kind of attention and felt he didn't deserve it.

Mary Jane and Liz Allan were busy designing a combat suit for Jean. Peter caught glimpses of it occasionally and they were indeed quite talented. He offered some suggestions, like using green and yellow for the color scheme, which they thought was perfect.

On Saturday night, the group gathered in Mary Jane's room again. Peter and Felicia sat on the bed, while Liz Allan and Mary Jane pushed the door open and entered.

"Now, presenting for the first time—Marvel Girl!" Liz Allan announced loudly.

The door opened, and Jean walked out wearing her new combat suit.

Green trousers, a black top, with a yellow "M" sewn on the chest. She wore a green jacket over it with yellow stripes on the sides, and gloves. On her head was a yellow headband similar to Iron Fist's style, covering her hair; the headband had cat-eye shaped holes for her eyes, which perfectly framed Jean's eye shape.

Felicia whistled, "Not bad at all."

Peter nodded, "Very fitting, little bird. What material is it made of?"

Liz Allan and Mary Jane were stunned for a moment.

"Uh, fabric?" Mary Jane shrugged, "The jacket is leather, and the pants are probably fifty percent cotton?"

Peter sighed, "You're telling me you made a combat suit with no protection at all? She's a superhuman, not invulnerable!"

"Where are we supposed to get bulletproof armor?!" Liz Allan shouted.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe ask that guy who works at the Baxter Building?!" Peter retorted sarcastically.

"You two really should have asked Peter sooner," Felicia nodded, "But it's fine, Tiger, can you get her a set?"

Peter sighed and nodded, "Fine. I know how to mix polymer composites now, so getting a suit like this at the Baxter Building won't be a problem."

"Great, then don't come asking us for bulletproof stuff anymore." Liz Allan muttered and slumped into the chair.

"That's wonderful, thank you," Jean said with a smile, "I feel like I look so cool!"

"Yeah," Mary Jane grinned.

"So, when are we going out?" Liz Allan asked excitedly.

"We?" Peter raised an eyebrow.

"Going out?" Mary Jane also looked confused.

"Yeah. We have the suit, we have the person, shouldn't we go and test it?" Liz Allan shrugged.

"It might be too early for Jean," Felicia countered, "She's just getting started after all. Maybe she should practice more; I know some basic combat techniques that would be useful for her."

Peter nodded, "Agreed."

"No," Jean suddenly spoke up, "I, I want to go. I at least want to see what I can do!"

Peter raised an eyebrow, "Jean, you have to be prepared. You can't rely on your superpowers to save the day every time."

Felicia chuckled, "Believe him, he knows what he's talking about."

The other girls were a bit confused by this statement, but Peter didn't pay it any mind.

"Peter, I have to go, please," Jean said in a pleading tone.

Peter looked at Felicia, and she shrugged.

Peter sighed, "Fine. But only for tonight. After that, you must accept Felicia's training and you are not allowed to go out alone again."

"Why is Felicia so good at fighting?" Mary Jane rolled her eyes.

"I'm a Taekwondo black belt, and I've won the national women's Judo championship," Felicia answered coldly.

"Oh... that's enough," Mary Jane nodded.

Jean grinned, "That's amazing!"

Peter sighed and quickly started calculating a plan to protect her.

"Alright, I have to go, I have work. But Jean, Felicia, Mary Jane, and Liz Allan will stay here to help you."

"We've got your back, sister!" Liz Allan shouted.

"Do you really have to go now?" Jean asked, feeling a bit unsure.

"Sorry," Peter kissed Felicia, "I'll keep an eye on her as Spider-Man."

Felicia nodded, "Okay."

"Peter, without you, I'm afraid I can't do it," Jean said.

Peter smiled, "I can't hold your hand forever, little bird. You have to spread your wings and fly on your own. Don't worry, if anything happens, I'll be there in an instant."

He said goodbye to the girls and immediately went home to change.

Peter took out his backpack and pressed the hidden spider emblem on the side. The suit instantly popped out, he quickly put it on, slapped his chest, and activated the Arc Reactor.

Then, he put on his mask and Web-shooters. He rotated his shoulders, feeling the weight of the newly installed spider mechanical arms on his back. They were currently in sleep mode; he hadn't used them in real combat yet, and he hoped he wouldn't need to tonight.

Just as he slipped out of the house, Liz Allan drove off with Jean, Felicia, and Mary Jane toward the roughest neighborhood.

Peter sighed, a strong sense of foreboding welling up in his heart.