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The sun had already finished decorating New York by the time Peter woke. The loft was lit by the glow of the morning sun peeking around the edge of the curtains. He blinked and gasped while he stretched and felt the many bruises that had finished decorating his body while he slept ache. He relaxed and rolled over to see a mop of red hair spread over the pillow. He breathed out with a smile and rolled onto his side and wrapped an arm around the body beside him. Her vest had ridden up and his fingers touched soft warm skin and then tightened their grip and pulled her closer. The day could wait a little longer for them. He shifted his arm to awkwardly place it above her so as not to disturb her and simply marvelled at the sight of her. It had been six months since they first met and in many ways that wasn’t that long but given their circumstances and life experience it didn’t matter. Six months could feel like six years with the right person, especially when they person has built a psychic connection with you.
He felt her shift and then stir and adjusted his own position to let her move. It was like watching the universe rumble and spark into new life, fire awoke in her eyes and then recognition of who was beside her. Her lips spread into a thin smile and then she relaxed again and faced him on her side. He rolled onto his to mirror her and smiled sweetly.
“Hey.” He whispered softly.
“Hey.” She echoed.
He continued to stare at her, his gaze perfectly aligned to detect every freckle that adorned her face. She blushed and closed her eyes and wiggled under the covers.
“Have you been awake long?”
“No.” He answered honestly, “no just now.”
“Mm, and you’ve recovered?” She asked, opening her eyes to stare at him.
His smile waned but he jerked his head down and then back up in an attempt to reassure her. She didn’t buy it. He knew she didn’t. The silence stretched under the covers with them while the sun continued to warm the loft.
“Who was it?” She asked, moving to lie on him.
He rolled onto his back and felt her head gently move onto his chest, her hands on his shoulders. He breathed in and out slowly and kissed her brow.
“I don’t know, someone new, someone different.” Peter replied.
Jean drew a pattern in his skin with her fingertip and remained in her newfound position. His heart was loud, steady, clear and loud in her ear. She sucked her lips in and cleared her throat.
“Different how?” She asked after a beat.
“Strong, fast, like he knew I was coming, like he knew how I would attack.” Peter replied.
Jean hummed and then shifted and moved to sit up beside him. Her hair fell down onto her shoulders and she brought her hands up to her face and rubbed her eyes and then pulled the large t-shirt back down to cover her shorts.
“Another telepath?” She asked, concerned.
Peter shook his head, “no, no I don’t…I don’t think so.”
“Someone skilled?” She continued, scratching at a scab on her knee.
Peter nodded, “yeah, I…yeah, skilled, he was definitely skilled, dressed like some sort of safari hunter as well.”
Jean nodded and then pushed a single finger against his chest. He looked up at her with raised eyebrows and intrigue in his eyes.
“So you’ll catch him, he may be skilled but you’re better.” She said.
“Yeah.” Peter said slowly.
Jean smiled and leaned down and kissed him softly on the cheek, “hey, in or out of that mask, you are the best hero I know.” Jean insisted.
Peter sat up and returned the smile, he stretched his arm out towards her and ran his hand through her hair and pulled her in for a soft kiss. He opened his eyes as it ended to see that she had already opened hers.
“I had a good teacher.” He said simply.
It wasn’t long before the bed was empty and made and then the shower was full and running. Two towels hung side by side on hooks on the inside of the small bathroom door. The bathroom had seen some more recent changes along with the rest of the apartment since Jean had moved in. One Peter wasn’t too upset about was the new collection of shampoos, conditioners and body wash bottles. Both worked together to ensure they were under the water and out when they each needed to be. Before long the shower was turned off and Peter stepped out and quickly wrapped his towel around himself and then picked up Jean’s and handed it to her. The loft was warm when they exited the bathroom. The sun had done its job.
“Eve, throw us out some jazz, would you please.” Peter said while they stood in the bedroom area together.
Both paused and looked at each other as a song neither recognised began to play. Jean dropped her towel and swayed her hips and Peter stood silently and watched her dance around the apartment. There was a wild look in her eyes, a fierce joy that he hadn’t found in anyone else and he couldn’t do anything but smile. Slowly but surely through the song’s many verses, different items of clothing were found and put on. By the time the song faded out slowly only to be replaced with another, both of them were dressed. Peter stood before the mirror that Jean had bought and smoothed down his Black Sabbath tee and then paired it with a black zip up jacket.
“How do I look?” Jean asked
He raised his head and looked up at her standing across from him. She was wearing a blue shirt with a low collar hidden beneath a form fitting plain corduroy orange dress. She shimmied her hips and he watched as the bottom of the dress mirrored her movements.
“Wow…you…you look…amazing.” Peter said softly.
“Such a sweetheart,” Jean said in a low voice.
They gave the window the day off and left the apartment through the door. New York had been waiting for them patiently outside and greeted them loudly. Car horns beeped, bicycles whirred past, music was playing from multiple different sources and people were yelling in various levels of frustration at one thing or another. Fingers bumped together while they walked and then bumped again until Peter laced his fingers through hers and held her tight. Jean smiled. She shifted her hand and adjusted the way they were connected and then didn’t let go. The sidewalk turned a corner and they entered the next block over and with many of the over patrons of the city, ducked inside a deli. The noise of the city mutated into a pandemonium of different voices calling out multiple orders all at the same time.
They joined the queue. Both breathed in deeply and then out and Peter looked around at every source of noise that he could identify, the knife slicing bread slowly, the spoon scraping against a metal tin in the counter, a can opening sharply, and the ding of the bell, loud and clear, cutting through all the din. He breathed in and focused on one and tracked it. He turned his head and looked beyond the counter to where an older man with grey hair under a blue hairnet was working. He held the knife securely in his left hand which was gloved and ran it through a loaf of bread which he held tightly with his other hand. The jagged edge of the knife caught on the bread and with every sawing motion, Peter heard it jag in his ears. The rest of the world faded away into distant background noise.
He breathed out.
Then turned and saw Jean, her eyes were clenched shut, her lips drawn thin and her nose scrunched up. Her head twitched from side to side, little movements that indicated everything Peter needed to know. He squeezed her hand and leaned in.
“Focus on me, find me, I’m right here, I’m at your side.” He whispered.
Jean scrunched her eyes tighter and nodded sharply. Customers barged past them and Peter rolled his shoulder to ensure they didn’t hit him too hard and then breathed out upon feeling her mind press upon his. He breathed in again alongside her and nodded in encouragement. He pictured a door, large and brown and watched in his mind’s eye as the handle turned and then the door swung open. It felt like a tendril had moved through his ear into his head, and he kept himself calm upon feeling her.
“There. I’m here, focus on me, focus on me.” He said softly.
He watched as Jean’s face softened, the lines around her mouth smoothed away and her eyebrows lowered. She squeezed his hand tight and then breathed out slowly. Her shoulders slumped and chest deflated and she pressed herself against him. He nodded again and slipped his hand out from hers and wrapped his arm tightly around her shoulders. He guided them forward and to the counter and greeted the staff member. Quickly and kindly he put the order in and then paid. Within a moment they were outside, Jean in a chair and Peter stood before her, his hands on her shoulders.
“I’m okay…I am…I’m…okay…just…just wasn’t ready for all those voices.” She said weakly.
“We’ll have a quiet day.” He said kindly.
He stepped away and looked down at the ticket in his hand and then up through the window into the busy shop. He twitched his mouth side to side and then offered her a strained smile.
“I’ll be right back, okay?”
She nodded and he ducked back inside. He breathed in and smiled at the man whom he stood beside and simply waited in silence. He looked over his shoulder out through the window and saw that Jean had closed her eyes again. He frowned.
“At least nothing’s levitating.” He muttered to himself.
“You say something man?” The man next to him said.
Peter jerked his head back to look forward and then turned to the man next to him, “Oh uh no no…just…you know…talking to myself.”
“Right.” The man said.
Peter smiled awkwardly and then flicked his ticket with his fingers and then went back to waiting in silence. Sirens sounded. He looked out of the window again and watched them zoom past down the street. The bell dinged loudly, regaining his attention.
“Order five four six.” The man running the deli called out.
Peter glanced down at his ticket and nodded and raised his hand, “Ai. Here.”
The man nodded and placed a white bag on the counter. Peter showed the ticket which the man took with a nod and then moved on. Peter took the bag, checked the contents and left. The door clanged shut loud behind him. He sucked his lips in at the sight of Jean, she had brought her feet up and tucked them under her legs and was sat upright, her hair tied up, her fingers on her temples.
“Hey…you okay?” He asked kindly.
“I am now.” She answered, lowering her hands.
“The city quieter now?”
She opened her eyes and smiled softly, “no, you’re back.”
He chuckled and reached his hand out which she took and stood. Together they walked down the street and then across the road when it was safe to do so. She didn’t speak, he didn’t press the matter. Together they moved through the city until at last they turned a final corner and then after a couple of buildings ducked into a corridor that led into a waiting area next to an open courtyard. The sky above was clear, for the sunlight bounced off of the tarmac and the bus windows. Peter looked up at the boards above the exit and found the number he was looking for.
“What do we need?” Jean asked.
“Bus six four seven.” Peter stated simply.
Jean closed her eyes and pointed out of the window to a grey bus off to the side, “that one.”
“You read the driver’s mind?” He asked.
“Something like that.” she answered.
“Come on then.” He said, taking her hand.
He led her through the doors and across the courtyard to the bus, where a small queue of people were already there. They joined the end and Peter loaded up his phone and then upon reaching the front of the queue, presented it to the driver. He scanned it once, then Peter swiped the screen to the side and the driver scanned it again.
“All done.”
“Thanks.” Peter said.
“Thanks.” Jean added.
The driver nodded and then stepped back to the side, they climbed on board. The smell of fake leather and cheap cleaning detergent filled his nose. He scrunched it up for a second and then pressed forward deeper into the bus. He stopped halfway down and pointed to a pair of seats on the left side. Jean nodded and swung in and sat down on the inside seat and looked out of the window at the rest of the queue. Peter joined her. The bag was placed on the floor between his legs and he grabbed the seatbelt and buckled himself in.
“Really?” Jean asked.
“What?” Peter replied coyly.
She turned and looked at him and then looked down at his lap and then up at him and raised her eyebrows, “Really?”
Peter shrugged, his lips parted in a playful expression.
“We haven’t even left yet, the bus isn’t even on.” She chuckled.
“Jean, it’s New York, you can never be too careful,” He said seriously.
He pointed to her lap and then up above their heads. They looked up at the handful of signs including a seatbelt one and he looked back at her and raised an eyebrow.
“You can’t be serious.” She said.
“I’m always serious, I never joke about safety during travel.” He teased.
She narrowed her eyes and stared at him, “you leap off of buildings every day.”
“And I do it safely.” He smirked.
Jeans expression soured and she bared her teeth, “you absolutely do not.”
“Well I’m afraid you’ll have to take that complaint up with my manager.”
“Oh. Oh oh oh, I absolutely would, let me go visit that bath house and I’m sure you’ll be called up by that Russian one soon enough.” She said in a low voice.
Peter dropped his smile and raised his hands up, “hey hey hey we do not need to get her involved, and you definitely do not need to visit her!”
Jean turned her head to the side slowly and grinned, “what’s the matter Peter? Don’t want me visiting her? Or don’t want her to see me?”
Peter sucked his lips in and held her gaze, “I think we should change the subject, Yelena Belova is no laughing matter.”
Jean shrugged and let it slide and then went back to looking out of the window. Peter shook his head and then shifted the items in the bag. Other passengers boarded the bus and moved past them to sit further back. Eventually the driver sat on his seat and the doors closed. The engine rumbled to life loudly and shook the bus, Jean pulled away from the window and looked forward and watched the bus pull away from its position and then drive out of the courtyard. She turned to look at Peter and found him already facing her, a plain look on his face. She held his gaze. Silence somehow spoke volumes between them and without using her powers she read his mind.
“I’m not putting it on.” She said firmly
“Don’t make me call Dewolff.” He said.
Jean gasped, her mouth open in disbelief and then with a final pout she turned and faced forward and clicked her seatbelt on. Peter nodded and relaxed with a loud exhale. Within a second he unbuckled his with a smile.
“Right I gotta use the bathroom-“ he muttered quickly, moving to stand up.
“Why you little…” Jean said in exasperation.
Peter laughed as he sat back down and rebuckled himself and then leaned over and nudged her shoulder.
“What? Little what? Hmm? Spider got your tongue?” He asked
She sucked her lip in and bit it and then released it and simmered, “oh the spider that has me is hardly little.”
Her voice was low, and her eyes were fixed on him, and suddenly he regretted choosing a bus so early in the day.
“He does?” He asked, brushing his hair back with a hand.
“Mmhmm, he’s actually huge, biggest I’ve ever had.” Jean admitted.
“Really?” Peter asked.
“Uh-huh, biggest pain in my ass I’ve ever had, in fact since the day I met him he’s been nothing but annoying.” Jean deadpanned.
Peter deflated and glared at her while she laughed and then rolled his eyes.
“Uh-huh and where did I first meet you again, technically?” Peter asked in a quiet voice.
“I mean if you’re referring to the tank, I was barely involved.” Jean replied in a sweet tone.
“Really?” Peter asked incredulously.
“Mmhmm, barely even there, I mean to be honest that old lady wanted to do it, I barely had to control her at all, just nudged her to follow through on her dreams.” Jean teased.
“Jean.” He groaned.
“Honestly, she’s quite the anarchist, Evelyn Jackson was a real rebel back in the day, 18 year old her would love the fact she crashed a tank into a government building later in her life.”
Peter groaned and dragged his hands down his face and then shook his head and sighed.
“What am I going to do with you?” He asked in wonder.
“Something sweet I hope, I quite like spending time with you.” She said softly.
He watched as she turned away and looked out of the window. The city passed them by slowly as the bus did its best to navigate the city traffic. His gaze lowered to her hands on her lap, her fingers fidgeting with a scrunchie on her wrist.
“Hey, hey, you know I’m not leaving you.” He said softly.
She caught herself and turned to look at him, “…yeah. Yeah. I know, I know, yeah, no, I just…”
“Jean.”
“I…keep having… nightmares.” She admitted quietly.
“About that room?” He asked.
“Mm.” She nodded.
His smiles strained and he reached out and linked his fingers with hers, his two digits folded gently in place with hers on her wrist. The bus jolted over a bump and then the city began to fade behind them. The river came into view out of the window and both of them turned together and watched the sunlight glisten on the water. Ships were dotted about near the various ports and harbours. The bridge chopped up the view and eventually the river also fell behind as the scenery changed from grey concrete to green leaves.
“What happens?” Peter pressed gently.
Jean sniffed sharply and wiped her eyes, “I go through with it.”
Peter nodded once. Jean sniffed again and closed her eyes tightly and shook her head slightly. His grip tightened on her fingers and he held her along with the silence. He glanced at the seats behind them and opposite them, glad to find they were empty. He sighed. He was familiar with nightmares. In those dark years between saying goodbye to May and saying hello to Jean, he had been alone in the dark with only his regrets and his nightmares for company. He knew what it was like to fight the darkest voices that the subconscious could manifest.
“But you didn’t.” he said kindly.
She sniffed and shook her head.
“Jean.”
“But I almost did, I almost, it would have been so easy, I could have done it.” She whispered, her voice hollow, eyes empty.
He tapped her wrist twice and watched her blink and come back to him. Her eyes were shiny and nose pink and her lips were turned down while they trembled. He offered her a small sad smile and then pulled her close. For a long moment they sat like that, the awkward angle of armrests in his side ignored while he held her tight. She shook in his arm and then after a moment sucked in a long raspy breath and then exhaled against his neck. The hairs on his nape stood at attention. He felt her tap him gently on the back with her hand and he pulled away and looked at her again.
“I caused so much pain, even now I can still feel it, feel all those minds I froze in place, all those people I froze, their fear…it…it suffocates me, Peter, I’m in that room and I watch him die…I watch you die…” She flicked her gaze up and held his, and a small spark of fire flared for a moment.
“Jean, I’m okay, I am, Frank learnt his lesson, everyone is fine, and more importantly you didn’t kill anyone.” He insisted.
Jean closed her eyes and shook her head and he watched tears run down her cheeks and drop from her chin.
“Listen, I won’t pretend to know what it feels like to have all those voices crash down on your mind, but you know I know what it’s like to almost go too far and stand on that line, you know I know.” He said, taking both of her hands in his.
He squeezed them.
“But you didn’t. You didn’t cross that line, I know you didn’t, and you know I didn’t. That’s what’s most important to remember and focus on, you are not your worst thoughts or darkest desires, you are the choice you made not to give in when it was so easy and so tempting.” Peter said.
Jean nodded and then breathed in again and then out again, her chest rose and fell slowly and her hands slipped out of his and then her fingers knitted themselves together with his and she squeezed him back.
“You stopped me.” she said.
“Yeah well, everyone needs a friendly neighborhood Spider-man to stop them going too far occasionally.” He mused.
“Even you?” She asked.
“Even me,” he agreed.
“Still weird to think that at one point there were three of you.” She commented quietly.
“Tell me about it, but I’m glad I met them, it didn’t really end well but they helped me learn how to be better.” he said quietly.
“Guess Spider-man is a good teacher.” She said.
“He should get a job in a school one day, you know, when he’s ready to retire.” He commented.
Jean looked at him and tilted her head, “you think he’ll retire one day?”
Peter swallowed and rolled his jaw, he looked out of the window at the trees, the bright vibrant shades of green filled his sight while they danced in the wind beneath the blue sky. He sniffed and brushed his nose with the back of his hand and shrugged.
“He can’t do it forever.” He said solemnly.
“Mm, are you saying he should retire?” She asked.
“One day.” He said quickly.
He turned to look at her and shrugged, “I mean, doesn’t he deserve to rest and be happy? Step away and teach new heroes how to do it?” He asked.
“I think…” Jean said slowly, “he does.”
She brought her hand up and touched his chest, her fingers pressed against the fabric of his top and both knew what lay underneath the clothes, hidden from view.
“He deserves to enjoy spending time with the people in his life.”
“I think he would like that.” he said quietly.
“I think the people in his life would like that too.” She said simply.
They fell back into a comfortable silence and together watched the scenery continue to tell them that they were no longer in the city anymore. Trees had replaced skyscrapers and they proudly stretched up to reach the sky in a way that humanity had learned to copy as best they could with concrete and metal. The bus pulled in and out occasionally and Peter reached down into the bag and pulled out a bag of chocolates which he opened and offered to her. They ate side by side, the chocolates shared, their shoulders pressed together, their minds in harmony as they existed together.
Eventually the bus pulled off of the main road and down a quieter one and pulled in at a large open space. Trees surrounded the space and helped make it look like a courtyard. There were a small handful of other buses and coaches already parked up in the space with a large collection of people exiting each. The bus swung in and parked up at the end of the line behind another bus and came to a stop. The rumble of the engine stopped and soon enough the hiss of the suspension replaced it while the bus deflated down. The door opened and the pair unbuckled and stood up. Peter grabbed the bag of food and they made their way off the bus and out into the open air. The sound of the wind rustling through the trees filled their ears and Peter smiled.
Gravel crunched under his boots. The silence continued between them while they walked hand in hand down the path and into the woods. Soon enough the path curved and the buses were lost from view. The city was a distant memory, there were no sirens, no superpower criminals, no need for Spider-man. Peter could simply be Peter. Jean was beside him and the sky was clear, the sun danced between the trees and a squirrel darted across the path and then raced up a tree. They paused and watched it go, their heads moved up and they watched as it jumped from branch to branch and from tree to tree until they lost sight of it.
“You know, if things don’t work out as Spider-man, you’ve always got a back up there, new alternative identity if you ever needed it.” Jean teased.
“Oh yeah? What’s that exactly?” Peter asked with a grin.
“Squirril boy.” Jean said loudly with glee.
Peter’s eye twitched but he held the smile, aware that she was teasing him.
“I don’t think the new power set would fit the theme.” He said, raising his forearm.
He tensed and the gland became more visible alongside his veins and Jean glanced down at his arm and let her smirk grow.
“What?” Peter asked.
Jean dropped her smirk and blinked quickly and then looked away, “nothing.”
“Uh-huh.” Peter said with a grin.
A flock of birds flew over their heads, geese in a wide V shape, their wings large as they flapped. They moved along the path and came to find themselves near a small lake. A small collection of ducks could be seen on the surface, floating along. Reeds grew in small islands in various spots along the lake, each one housing nests of different sizes and shapes. They came to a stop and watched a duck bob under the water and then reappear and shake itself, its feathers wet from diving under the water. Jean looked around and then brushed her hair up behind her ears.
“This is nice.” she said simply.
“It is.” He agreed.
“It’s quiet here.” She commented.
“Mm.”
They moved on. The path curved around the lake and then back into a new area of the woods, a fallen tree was parallel to the path and Peter jumped up and walked along it. Jean rolled her eyes. He walked without hesitation despite the uneven footing, the various branches rose up and he jumped from one to the other and then jumped down nimbly and pulled his shirt back into place.
“Smooth.” Jean commented, earning a coy smile.
“My squirrel theory lives.” she added.
He laughed, and she laughed with him. They came to stop at a bench and he gestured to it. They sat side by side and Peter pulled the bag up and placed it on the wooden seat next to him. He pulled out two bottles of water and then two containers and passed one of each to her.
“Thanks.” She said simply, opening the bottle.
He watched her drink for a moment and smiled. She pulled the bottle away and wiped her mouth and looked up at him.
“What?” She asked.
“Nothing.”
“No, what? Come on, do I have something on my face?” She asked.
“No, no.” he said playfully.
“No?” She asked, turning her head slightly.
“No.” He said, “Not yet.”
Her eyebrows went up, “not yet?”
“No, not yet.” He said, reaching out to run his hand through her hair.
“Oh? Am I about to?” She asked, leaning in towards him.
“Maybe, here let me find out.” he said, pulling her in closer.
She smiled with him and then closed her eyes, their lips met tenderly and in the solitude of the woods, Peter Parker kissed the woman who had restarted his heart. Jean’s fingers gently landed upon the sides of his face and held him steady while the kiss deepened. He pulled away and smiled gently at her, while she bit her lip.
“There, got it.” he joked.
“You dork.” She laughed.
They opened their containers and ate side by side. Soon enough the meal was finished and Peter collected the boxes and placed them back in the bag. Once more the sound of gravel, leaves, and the twigs that decorated the floor crunching under their heels filled their ears. The sun was now at its zenith and the cool morning had come to an end to be replaced with a hot afternoon. Eventually the paths moved deeper into the woods and soon enough a new lake came into view, smaller than the last. Peter stopped and stared out at the water.
“You know, for a while, I thought you were taking me somewhere else.” Jean said quietly.
“Yeah?” Peter asked.
“Mmhmm, for a moment I was worried we were going to go visit some official building with fancy blacked out cars and government agents wearing ear pieces, and have to witness superheroes in capes flying off in jets that rise up out of secret hangers underground.” she said.
Peter turned and looked at her thoughtfully, “would you want that?”
Jean caught herself and closed her mouth. She turned and looked out over the water and sucked her lips in. The wind blew her hair into her face and she quickly pulled it back into place and tucked it under her collar.
“No.” she said simply.
“I mean, they live in a tower now anyways, and despite leaning on them occasionally, I don’t really trust the people they work for.” Peter said.
“Government departments don’t exactly go down well with us huh.” She said sadly.
“No.” He commented.
“So what? Date day out hiking in the woods? Give your psychic girlfriend a break from hearing all the voices?” She asked with a smile.
“Kind of, but I did actually want you to uhh,” he paused and looked around and then turned back to her to see her smile had shrunk, “I did want to introduce you to someone.”
“Oh.” She said sharply.
“Don’t worry, I promise you it’s nothing bad, I promise, you know I would tell you otherwise.” He said firmly.
She nodded slowly, “yeah, yeah, I know.”
He smiled sadly and nodded, “okay then, yeah, yeah, okay, just…just around the lake, the other side.” he said, pointing across the water.
Jean looked up and across the lake and saw a small jetty on the opposite bank and next to it a single wooden house. They moved on. Peter fidgeted with his fingers. His hands clenched shut, then opened again, clenched shut once more and then opened again. His fingers straightened out and then he squeezed his thumbs until they clicked loudly.
“Hey…” Jean said softly, reaching out and taking his hand in hers.
He blew out a breath, low and slow and felt his shoulders slump.
“It’s okay, it is, I’m here.” she said softly.
They walked slowly, the various ducks and moorhens bopped along, he looked up and saw a small group of swans floating away from them into the centre of the lake. They reached the other bank. They stopped once more and turned to face the lake again and Peter glanced to the right at the house and saw that it was empty, the windows were dark, the door boarded up. He closed his eyes and sighed. He opened them again and looked at Jean who turned and met his gaze with a solemn expression, he smiled again, his lips trembled however and he blinked and found his eyes were shinny, his vision blurred from tears.
“It’s okay.” She whispered, squeezing his hand.
He blew out his breath and felt his chest ache and then turned and looked at the small stone dug into the ground. It was modest and clean, and beneath it, along the grass. sat a large collection of bouquets of flowers, all vibrant in colour, a mixture of messages scrawn on cards attached. There in the middle of them all lay the familiar glass cube placed on top of a wreath.
“Proof that Tony Stark has a heart.” Jean read out.
Peter gasped and sniffed and nodded, his shoulders rose up and shook and he squeezed her hand.
“Do you know what it means.” She asked.
He nodded once, his gaze fixed on the headstone.
“Tony Stark, Father, Husband, Avenger, Earth’s greatest defender.” Jean said.
Peter sniffed again and felt his heart draw two lines down his cheeks. He brought his hand up and wiped one and then the other and chuckled wetly.
“He…he would have liked you.” Peter whispered.
“Really?” Jean asked in disbelief.
“Okay he might have needed some convincing at first with the rampage, but he…” He paused and looked at the cabin and then back to the grave and nodded quickly, “yeah…yeah he would have liked you, liked your sass.”
“I’m sorry Peter, really, you’ve lost so much, May, MJ, Tony, the world hasn’t been fair to you.” She said quietly.
“I…he…he always inspired me to be better you knows always, to do better, pushed me, even when I didn’t like it or couldn’t see it. I…I wouldn’t be who I am today without him, and May, without everyone.” He answered.
“Did you get to say goodbye?” She asked, wrapping herself around his arm, her head on his shoulder.
“I did, after the battle, after we won, after he won.” He answered.
“Mm.” She hummed.
They stood there together, side by side, in silence for a moment. The wind held its breath and let the trees stand behind them at attention and even the sun shone down upon the grave. Jean pulled away and then turned to face him. He mirrored her and raised his eyebrows.
“Do you trust me?” She asked, earning a nod.
“Okay, just…relax, let me lead.” She said softly, her fingers on his temple.
He nodded once more and then closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, the familiar sensation of her vibrating against his mind and then through it and into it causing him to gasp. He blinked and then found himself inside his mind and inside his memory. He looked down at his body and saw that his outfit had changed. He looked up and gasped as the sight of his childhood bedroom from the apartment back in Queens greeted him. The door was closed opposite him and he saw his reflection and noted how much smaller he looked, how much younger, his hair shorter, face chubbier.
“You were cute even then huh.” Jean’s voice called out from the side.
He turned and saw her in the corner against the desk. Behind her the pile of old equipment he had found in various dumpsters in the block was pilled up. He met her gaze and then frowned. May wasn’t in sight, he looked back at the other room and heard the muffled sound of music playing.
“Is she…? Is she through there?” He asked nervously.
“Who?” Jean asked.
“May…is…is she through there? Can I walk through that door and see her again?” He asked.
Jean frowned, and looked at the door for a second and then back at him and met his gaze, “I don’t think that’s how this works, I can only bring us into memories, I can’t alter them beyond the space the memory is in, the shape of them are set.” Jean answered sadly.
“I…I don’t…so why are we in this memory?” He asked, his voice thin.
Jean offered him a small smile, “because you said you wanted to introduce me to him.”
At her response Peter gasped and then felt the bed dip. He turned his head and felt his mouth fall open slowly. Oh. It wasn’t a memory of May. Of course. How could Peter forget? How could he not realise what memory Jean was bringing to the surface. Peter looked across the small space of his old bedroom to the chair opposite the bed and gasped at the sight of the man who had changed his life. The bruise shone painfully on his cheek, his beard was styled perfectly, his trademark smile was on his face and his eyes were bright with joy as they were fixed on Peter. His jacket was perfectly in place on top of the band t-shirt and Peter watched as he stood up and made his way towards him. He glanced at Jean who was stood in the corner and watched as she nodded in encouragement.
“I’m going to sit down here so you move the leg, alright?” Tony asked.
Peter smiled fondly and shuffled across the bed and turned his head to watch his mentor sit down next to him. He continued to watch Tony reposition himself and then twist his body to face him. Everything within Peter froze and he watched as Tony lifted up his arm and then placed his hand on his shoulder. His chest ached yet he didn’t feel pain, instead Peter stared longingly at the man who selfishly barged into his life. He knew what was coming, watched as Tony smirked.
“Hey, you gotta passport?” Tony asked coyly.
Peter chuckled and held his tongue for a second and looked up at Tony and sighed and shook his head, aware of what he needed to say to continue the memory.
What? No, no, I don’t have a passport. I don’t even have a drivers license.” Peter said, fully aware it wouldn’t make any difference or persuade Tony.
“You ever been to Germany?” Tony asked
“No.” Peter said, speaking both truth and lie at the same time.
Tony turned his head slightly, “oh you’ll love it.”
Peter watched as the memory paused and Tony froze in position. He tore his gaze away and looked up at Jean. She smiled. He smiled back with a soft chuckle and then turned back to Tony.
“Oh you’ll love it.” He said quickly, shooting down Peter’s rejection.
Peter rolled his jaw and shook his head, aware of how foolish his next line was going to sound.
“I…I can’t go to Germany.” He said, he shook his head and closed his eyes for a second and then opened them to see Tony staring at him. “I…have homework.”
He cringed at his reply and looked at Tony to see that he had frozen. He smiled sadly and looked over at Jean.
“You had homework? Seriously? Iron man knocks on your door and you turn him down because you have homework?” Jean asked incredulously.
“Hey!” Peter whined, rubbing his neck, “I genuinely did, and besides it’s not like I was expecting him back then, and it didn’t work anyway, he dragged me to Germany.” Peter chuckled and looked at his mentor and smiled fondly.
“I’m glad I went, I met Happy, got my first real suit, realised how crazy big the world is, both literally and in the sense of how crazy the avengers were.” Peter added.
The memory faded away and Peter was left along on the twin bed. The space around them in every direction was white and Peter looked up to see Jean now directly in front of him.
“I can give you one more, if you want, you have quite a few with him.” Jean said.
“I…yeah…yeah maybe one more.” Peter said.
“A nice one?” Jean asked.
Peter nodded and watched as the white void that was the inside of his mind shifted and darkened and at once Peter felt the familiar sense of adrenaline rush through him as the memory activated. Only this time he was viewing it alongside Jean. He stood on the side and watched the battle against Thanos’ army rage against the heroes. He saw himself flip into view and kick a grotesque alien and punch another and then look across the field. Peter followed his own former self’s line of sight to see Tony on the ground before an enemy. Peter knew what was about to happen. He watched as his younger self in the memory quickly fired two webs and the yank them back once they connected with the foe. Peter stepped forward only to stop as he watched his younger self leap towards Tony and help him up.
“This all looks terrifying.” Jean comments.
Peter looks around at the wider scene and for the first time truly takes in the sheer size of the battle. Enemy aliens were everywhere, valiant heroes from different fractions stood arm in arm together and there at the centre of it all was his sixteen year old self helping Tony up.
“You must have been so scared.” Jean said.
“No…no I…I was just so happy to see him.” Peter replied.
Together they stood side by side and watched his former self babble at Tony and spin his hands around only to stop at being embraced by Tony. Peter watched in silence, his gaze fixed on Tony’s expression while relief visibly poured over him. Peter sniffed and continued to watch as Tony held his blipped self tight. He closed his eyes and Peter watched his former self embrace the hug fully and moved his arms to hug Tony back properly.
“He really loved you.” Jean said gently.
Peter nodded, unable to speak, his throat clogged up, he felt Jean grip his hand and then the memory faded again. The mental imagery vanished and Peter opened his eyes physically and saw Jean stood before him, her eyes wet and tears on her cheeks. The lake was to his right, the woods before him beyond the bank and he pressed his head against hers and closed his eyes. The memory was still there, near the surface and for a moment he imagined Tony in his mind, and relived the many times he hugged him.
“Thank you.” Whispered Peter.
“You’re welcome.” Jean whispered back.
He pulled away and blinked, fingers pressed against his cheeks and wiped the tears away and then soft lips pressed against his and kissed him gently. He held her. His hands were planted firmly on her back holding her in place. He couldn’t let her go, couldn’t lose her too. He deepened the kiss and felt her march his energy. Her own hands moved to wrap around his neck and he pulled her closer so that there was no distance between them. She pulled away slowly and then placed one more gentle kiss briefly on his lips and ran a hand up through his hair.
“You are amazing, Peter Parker, so amazing that at fourteen years old, Iron man not only knew who you were but also sought you out and recruited you to go fight his coworkers. I mean, if that doesn’t show it, I don’t know what will.” Jean said.
Peter chuckled and wrapped his arms around her waist and made sure the space between them couldn’t grow. His eyes never left hers and within them he saw the sky, and endless possibilities of a future full of happiness. He only needed to be brave and take it. He leaned forward and kissed her slowly. His lips moved with hers, his tongue found hers and he poured his heart into the motion, every last part of his heart was poured into the kiss until he had nothing left to communicate. The kiss ended slowly. Peter pulled away and looked at her and smiled and stared at her in awe.
“You are amazing too, Jean Grey, and I couldn’t imagine anyone being here by my side, visiting Tony.” He replied.
She smiled widely and leaned up and kissed his cheek and then turned to stand beside him. Her fingers moved and found his palm, flat and smooth and slowly she moved her fingers down over the flat surface of his hand and into the gaps between his fingers until she felt her knuckles slide into place against his. No matter how many times she completed that action it always felt right, as if her knuckles existed to press against his. She folded her fingers down over the back of his hand and locked her own into position and squeezed. He wasn’t going anywhere, not if she could help it.
“So what do you want to do now? Do you want to go back home?” He asked her.
She shook her head and looked forward towards the trees. Birds chirped and the surface of the lake rippled and she breathed in deeply and sighed, aware of only his presence next to her.
“No.” She answered happily, “we took so long to get here, it would be a shame to rush back to the city.”
Peter nodded and looked out at the lake and then back over his shoulder to the bank the other side of the cabin where the jetty was. He smiled fondly once more as a final memory came to mind of when he had said goodbye to Tony along with many others who had fought alongside him against Thanos and other threats.
“I guess you’re right, we came all this way, would be silly to immediately leave.” Peter agreed.
Jean pressed herself against him and wrapped an arm around him and then lifted it when he mirrored her.
“Exactly, we can take the scenic route home, we’ll get there eventually, New York will still be there waiting for us.” Jean said confidently.
“Come on then, let’s go explore these woods properly.” Peter said, tightening his grip and pulling her into position to rest against his body.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist and looked at him with two big blue eyes full of affection.
“Come on then Peter Parker, show me how good you are at being a squirrel and let’s go fly through the trees.” Jean joked.
He groaned but didn’t argue and with a quick run forward a few steps, he leapt high into the air and shot a web out to connect to one of the trees. The web guided them forward and up into the sky where green met blue and the glow of the sun warmed their hearts.