53: Chapter 53 Three's Company

"It has to be this way, Liz. I want to protect all of you, but without help... I can't do it."

She sighed, her pride visibly wounded as she admitted this.

Peter walked up to her.

Jean met his gaze and slowly stood up as well.

The two stood face to face.

"You'll get into a lot of trouble if you go with them."

"I can handle it."

Peter grinned. "I believe you. But after you leave, as you grow into a powerful Mutant, remember what you learned from us—humanity isn't all the demons Magneto makes them out to be. Some people will fear you, but others will be willing to stand in front of you. Don't forget that, Jean."

Jean nodded. "I won't forget. I promise."

"This is so unfair!" Liz lunged forward to hug her. "We just got close, and now you're leaving?!"

"I'm sorry, Liz. I wish I had more time, too." Jean hugged her back, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.

The others gathered around to hug her as well, whispering that they would miss her.

Soon, the people from S.H.I.E.L.D. arrived and took Magneto away.

Charles, Logan, and Ororo left shortly after.

Charles promised to go talk to Jean's parents first thing tomorrow morning.

The next day was Sunday.

Charles convinced Jean's parents to let her go to that school.

Peter specifically asked Jean to double-check—that her parents hadn't been mind-controlled. Just to be safe.

So, Jean started packing. The girls and Peter all came to help.

Peter changed into casual clothes and walked to her front door, whistling when he saw the house torn to pieces.

He hadn't noticed last night, but Magneto really had gone hard.

One of the walls in Jean's bedroom had been completely ripped off, and Mary Jane, Liz, and Felicia were all inside helping to tidy up.

"Hi, girls." He approached with a smile. "You've got plenty of energy."

"Hey, Kitten." Felicia quickly kissed his cheek, took his hand, and sighed as she looked at the cast on his arm. "What did the Doctor say?"

"It'll take a few weeks." Peter winked. "Which means I'll be fine by this time tomorrow."

"Does that count as one of your abilities?" Liz lowered her voice.

"Yeah, fast recovery. But... topics like this are better saved for somewhere with a bit more privacy." He glanced at the house with the missing wall.

"True." Mary Jane agreed.

With Peter helping, the luggage was packed before noon.

Jean suggested going out for lunch, telling her parents it was a farewell meal with friends, and they quickly agreed.

They found an Italian restaurant a few streets away and picked a secluded booth in the back.

"How did you explain the missing wall to your parents?" Mary Jane asked.

"Professor Xavier said the foundation was damaged." Jean shrugged. "They didn't quite believe it, but they couldn't think of any other explanation. My dad will probably hire someone to check it out."

"By the way, what about that crazy magnet guy?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D. locked him up." Peter said. "He was sent to a secret prison last night; don't expect him to get out anytime soon."

"Alright, can we talk about this properly now?" Liz finally couldn't hold it in anymore. "You're Spider-Man!"

"Keep your voice down!" Peter scanned left and right, thanking heaven no one heard. "Yes, Liz, I'm Spider-Man. Satisfied?"

"How did you become him?!"

"Remember that field trip? The time I got bitten by a spider?"

"I remember..."

"It changed my DNA, giving me spider-like abilities. Faster speed, greater strength, and the ability to climb walls. So, Spider-Man. Enough?"

"But that was just a regular spider, right?" Mary Jane was surprised.

"No, it was a genetically modified and irradiated spider." Peter didn't mention that his blood could adapt in other ways—too much information would just be trouble.

"What about the Webbing?" Jean asked.

"Artificial. I designed it myself at home."

"You made it?" Mary Jane was surprised at first, then rolled her eyes. "Of course it was you. Why did I even ask?"

For the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening, Peter explained what he did and why.

As they walked through a nearby park, Liz was still in shock. "Wait, you reverse-engineered Iron Man's armor?!"

"Not all of it, just cracked the Arc Reactor and the Repulsor Cannon. I have to say, Stark's technology is truly impressive."

"Wow." Jean said. "So, do you know other heroes?"

"Not many. I know the Fantastic Four."

"Do they know about your... other job?" Mary Jane chose her words carefully.

"They do. I was knocked out during my first fight with Doctor Doom, and when they took care of me, they found out. They're all pretty easy to get along with; Johnny Storm is especially excited to finally have a partner to be a superhero with."

"This is just absurd!" Liz shouted. Felicia laughed, and Liz immediately glared at her. "You're still laughing! How long have you known?!"

Felicia rolled her eyes. "December."

"December." Mary Jane repeated slowly. "Almost half a year? How... how could you keep it a secret for so long?"

Felicia smiled and linked her arm with Peter's. "He's my Kitten, how could I ever betray him?"

Peter's lips curled up. "Oh, Kitten, for that line, you're in for it tonight."

"Oh no, no, you two aren't doing anything tonight!" Liz immediately declared. "Tonight is Jean's last day in New York, we're spending it together!"

Peter looked at Felicia, who shrugged. He nodded. "Fine, we'll do as you say. Any ideas?"

Liz grinned. "I do... let's have a party!"

That night, the location was Mary Jane's house. Aunt Anna was out for the weekend, so there was no one home to supervise them.

The so-called party had no loud music or strangers wandering around. It was just a few young people gathered around a Monopoly board, drinking beer and tearing each other down.

Mary Jane was dominating the game through various private deals.

Peter, however, was losing miserably.

By the time he lost all his money, the girls changed the rules on the spot—if you couldn't pay rent, you had to take a drink as a penalty.

Regular beer had no effect on Peter.

It wasn't until Liz pulled out a bottle of whiskey she'd swiped from home that his head finally started to feel a bit fuzzy.

The game ended with Liz angrily flipping the table.

"I'm done! Mary Jane is definitely cheating!"

"Just admit you can't handle losing." Mary Jane laughed without a hint of guilt.

"You even stole money from the bank!"

"Do you have proof?"

"Peter saw it!"

Peter leaned back on the couch and slowly raised his hand.

"I'm only responsible for drinking, not for testifying."

"Traitor!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

By the end of the commotion, Liz was so sleepy she couldn't keep her eyes open. Mary Jane helped her to Aunt Anna's room to rest, and soon only three people were left in the living room.

Peter, Felicia, and Jean.

Felicia leaned on Peter's shoulder, her fingertips tracing the back of his hand absentmindedly.

"Coming back with me tonight?" Peter asked.

"Are you sure Aunt Mei won't start planning the wedding overnight?"

"She'll only start by picking the date."

Felicia laughed and punched him lightly.

Jean sat opposite them, suddenly feeling that laughter was a bit grating.

"We agreed tonight was my farewell." She complained quietly. "And yet you two are preparing to leave me behind again."

Felicia blinked, looking at her with a knowing smile.

"So what do you want to do?"

Jean pursed her lips.

The alcohol gave her a boldness she didn't usually have.

"I want to stay with you both."

Before Peter could react, Jean leaned over and kissed him.

It was a very brief kiss.

But it made the living room fall completely silent.

Peter froze in place.

Felicia was also stunned.

The next second, Jean turned her head and kissed Felicia, too.

"Jean!" Felicia recoiled sharply, her breathing becoming slightly erratic. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"I do."

Jean looked at her without flinching.

"I like Peter, and I like you."

"And I know you like girls, too."

Felicia's expression changed. "Did you read my mind?"

"I don't need to read it." Jean said softly. "You and Peter always look at the same person."

Felicia immediately turned her head to glare at Peter.

"You knew all along?"

Peter held her hand.

"Don't I know you by now, Kitten?"

"Then why didn't you ever ask?"

"Because when you wanted to say it, you would tell me naturally."

Felicia stared at him blankly.

Her eyes suddenly reddened.

"Peter, I love you."

"I love you too."

Jean sat beside them, not rushing them.

A moment later, Felicia reached out and took her hand.

None of the three made any more jokes.

When they reached the door of the guest room, Peter stopped and confirmed one last time.

"It's not too late to change your mind."

No one left.

The door slowly closed.