TheUnknown325: I just really like writing Gambit and Black Cat together they just play off of each other so well. I'll think about that but no more Kaine talk for awhile okay? I'm getting sick of it and I may NOT put him in just to spite you if you keep going on and on about it.
The Uncanny R-Man: Well they can get better for their relationship at least. That Sandra girl is Shriek. Glad you liked the Piotr/Illyana one.
Mark C: Only Sandman is an Acolyte in this the others are Brotherhood. You'll see Peter's talk with Xavier soon.
Prometheus: I need to even out the teams the Brotherhood lost three members last time remember? So if the X-Men gain three then the Brotherhood needs three more so I'm not bringing in too many villains I'm just balancing things out.
Episodic: Yeah that is what Gambit/Black Cat are about after all lol. At least at first it will be. Yeah don't worry I don't plan on a major triangle and remember Gambit will be involved too so think of it like a love square. I may do that theme song thing.
Laser Crusader: Very soon Peter needs to heal mentally and emotionally first.
Worker72: No this will be more like when Venom first showed up in the comics.
Sean Malloy-1: I'll have Kurt meet Amanda's parents soon, those two villains will show up later, and lastly I was thinking of Scarlet Spider.
Multifan: I'm in the same mind as those two as to Rogue's looks honestly. That Peter's her idiot was just a joke between two people in love. Nope no relations between the two Markos. Felecia is an Acolyte so it will be some time before those teams see her. There is also something wrong with your e-mail address, nothing I send you gets through so get that looked at.
Slickboy444: Yep it will be a road for recovery given who he is, as for sparks? If they get any more it will be full blown fire lol. You'll see who Mystique's new recruit is.
Aaron: Yep Magneto is growing in forces but they're not the only villains that will show up that's for sure, and you Black Cat will be surprised. I really wanted a good reason for Piotr to do what he does.
Doza: Sorry you felt that way, I really did try but I just couldn't get a decent handle on it. Oh well you can't win them all. Like it said with Magneto turning humans into mutants that just means eventually there will be no humans. So he only 'associates' with them only as much as he can stand. And you're thinking of U-Men. Omegas were those kids at the mansion that rioted.
Jenskott: Yeah that is where I got the idea for Black Cat. Yeah long term for those two I can't either but then neither one is looking for long term, plus I have seen messed up relationships before that are worse. But yeah when those four get together will be something.
Kaliann: Yep Peter will have regular talks with Xavier and stuff later. I think she's just naturally that sexual in nature, one of the reasons I like writing her.
TheFuzzyOne1989: Delilah has super strength I think you're thinking of someone else. Shriek will be with Brotherhood.
And thanks to everyone else, sorry but I got limited space to work with here people. So I can only respond to certain reviews to save space and not have a whole page of responses.
AN: Flint Marko (Sandman) will be an Acolyte the others Morrie Bench (Hydro-Man) Sandra Deel (Shriek) will be Brotherhood with Delilah. Venom will show up later. I needed a valid reason for Piotr to work for Magneto but I went a different way this time with his little sister. Also I'm not hooking Shriek and Carnage up.
THE RETURN OF SPIDER-X
CHAPTER 3: MYSTIQUE'S RECRUIT
Sandra Deel was a seventeen year old girl that was now on her own. Sometimes she used the alias Frances Louise Barrison but everyone knew her as Sandra. She was a frail looking girl but she hadn't always been that way. Once she had been overweight but that was when she was with her family. Although family is not the term she would use, her mother was ashamed of her and her father was abusive to her. Her live was pretty much a living hell, back then she had no friends, no one cared for her and the beatings and hateful words drove her into depression.
She remembered when she first turned to drugs to help get rid of the pain. That had been three years ago, she started off with pot but then her father had found it. She was put in the hospital from 'falling down the stairs' as the people there were told.
As soon as she had been healed that was it for her, she packed up what clothing she could take, took anything of value in the house and then just ran off without looking back. That had been over a year ago, at the moment she was a groupie for a underground band. She fell into the rock crowd, by then she had thinned out from not being able to afford to eat that much. Sandra found a job with the band though, it wasn't pleasant but it let her earn money to eat. Basically she sold drugs, the band made some money on the side with it and so she sold it during the concerts in the crowd.
But then she had used some of her money on drugs themselves, she of course got the discount prices. She tried cocaine, uppers, ecstasy and also heroine. She used them all to take away the pain of her life to get rid of all the bad memories. Fact was she was still alone in the world.
So here she was in a room in some building, the band was playing downstairs she could hear it and feel the vibrations through the dirty floor. She looked in a cracked mirror and turned away from it, she looked horrible. Her long black hair was a mess there were bags under her eyes and she was slightly too thin. She dressed all in black now. In fact you wouldn't recognize her if you had known her years ago. She knew her life was messed up beyond hope, that was another reason she turned to drugs at least if this stuff killed her she hoped she would die happy.
She was holding a spoon with a lighter in the other hand melting down some heroine to shoot up with. After it was in liquid form she took a needle and with slightly shaky hands she drained it with the needle. Sandra took her belt and tied off her arm. Sandra took the needle in her hand trying to stop the shaking.
"I wouldn't do that, that stuff is poison," Came a female voice and she looked at the doorway and there stood a tall imposing woman in a power suit, glasses and short dark hair. She obviously wasn't here for the music.
"What do you want?" Sandra snapped at her.
The woman walked in with a slight look of pity on her face, "For you actually."
"Y-you a cop?" Her heart stopped for a second wondering if she was going to go to jail now. She wasn't sure she could survive in there.
She smiled at her, "No I'm not. I'm here to offer you a deal of your life."
Sandra gave out a small laugh, "Yeah right, look lady you got nothing I want."
"Actually I do, I can give you a place where you'll be accepted for once," She smiled at Sandra interests seemed to be peeked. "Now then my name is Raven Darkholme but I have another name," Sandra watched wide eyed as the woman turned blue with red hair, yellow eyes and even her clothing turned into this black leather. "You can also call me Mystique."
Sandra looked at her for a moment, "I could have sworn I didn't take any acid today."
"You're not imaging this, I'm here to offer you everything your heart ever wanted, I can even offer you power. Real power, you'll never be weak again." Mystique looked at the young girl as she seemed to be thinking it over. Raven had seen a lot of things but this pathetic little girl was one of the worst. She was just another lost soul that was slowly killing herself from the weight of the world. She was completely alone and no one to turn to. Mystique could empathies with that it had been years before she met Irene her first and only friend.
Mystique took the needle off the floor, "You can be stronger then this! You don't need this crap in you anymore."
"I can't…I tried living without it…It's too hard…" Sandra had tried to go both cold and cool turkey from drugs but she was an addict and she knew it. She knew the signs and she had them.
Mystique placed a hand on the young girl's shoulder, "You have more potential then you know, more strength then you know. I can help you through this, I can bring it out in you and make you into something stronger and better then human just like I am. There is a place for you with us."
Sandra didn't know what to think, she knew she was on her way to either jail or death at this point. Most likely to end up dead from an overdose on something and no one would care. "Why? Why are you doing this?" She asked her.
Mystique's face actually softened a little, "Because I know what it's like to be alone in the world. Because I know what it's like to have no one are for you. I was alone for years before I found someone I could trust and who cared for me."
The girl was quiet for another moment, "What about your family? Your parents?"
"What do you think parents did to me when I suddenly turned blue on them?" Raven asked and Sandra looked into her yellow eyes and for a moment there was an understanding between them. Both had suffered in life, with pain, with loneliness. Raven was sure that if her life was just a bit differently then she could easily had been like this girl. Was this the reason Irene said she had to come here and find her? To find a young girl that reminded her of herself so many years ago before she had found the strength to not be that scared young woman she had been?
Sandra was thinking this over, she still wasn't sure this was all some drug induced illusion. But the truth was she was so empty inside. She had been for years and the only thing in her life had been pain. Now this woman came into her life wanting to take her away from it all, all the drugs, the loneliness and the pain. She never fit in anywhere, he had no home, nerve been apart of anything not even her own family. She looked at the needle in the blue woman's hand, she wanted it so bad she was starting to crave it.
But she craved something more, to get out of this hell of a life. "What will happen to me?"
Raven too a gentle tone with her, "I can promise you this…You're life will be better then this."
Sandra felt herself near tears she wanted that so badly for so long. She wanted out of this existence but if there was any chance to do it then she would take it. It didn't matter what happened, or the consequences of her actions. If she could do what she said then why not? She had nothing to lose and everything to gain. "Alright…You got yourself a deal…"
-Xavier's Mansion-
It was after school and Peter stood in front of Xavier's office door. He just stood there for a moment and took a breath before knocking, he heard Xavier say to come in and he walked in feeling a little nervous about all of this but he told Rogue he would try this out. "Hello Professor," Peter said weakly and a bit nervously.
Xavier gave him a warm and assuring smiled as he motioned for a chair, "Please have a seat Peter," he waited until Peter sat down, "So what is it you want to see me about?"
Peter fidgeted in his chair he had no idea where to start. He took a breath to calm himself and looked at the Professor with a serious expression on his face, "Well…I was told that sometimes the others come and talk to you about their problems…"
Xavier nodded his head his attention on Peter as he continued, "Well as you know…I've been having difficulties from that suit thing that happened."
"Yes I had noticed it, I have talked to your Aunt on the subject a few times. She's very worried about you." He told him in a gentle manner and saw Peter hung his head a little he didn't need his telepathy to know he was now feeling guilty about worrying his aunt. He had to wonder how sometimes Peter could handle all the guilt he build up about him.
"Peter you really shouldn't keep all this guilt inside of you it's not healthy especially because many of these things I suspect are not you're fault."
"I know, I know, I keep telling myself that but it never stops." Peter felt slightly frustrated with himself. There were times that he really hated that about him, how he kept on feeling responsible for everything it seems. There were times when it seemed like he was being crushed by the weight on his shoulders.
"Peter trust me…No one blames you for your actions. You were not in control of yourself we all know that."
"Thanks that is good to know…It's just that…"
Xavier went over to the young man and placed a gently hand on his shoulder. He knew that Peter had been through a lot in life, his parents death, being a loner and outsider in his old school with little or no friends except for Harry and MJ, the death of his Uncle. There was so much pain already in the young man it was amazing at times that Peter was as well adjusted as he was.
"Professor…That whole thing…I just feel like I don't know who I am anymore. That whole just really…Mess me up in my head…"
"Tell me Peter what is it?"
Peter sighed he needed to get this off his chest, "It's just that…That thing brought out all this evil in my I didn't know…"
"Peter we all have something inside of us…Even I do," Peter looked at him surprised and Xavier smiled and nodded, "Yes with my powers I had to place in powerful mental shields in my mind so none of my more…Darker urges don't happen. You see with telepaths we need to keep ourselves in check because our powers come from out minds and no one really completely understands the human mind."
"Does the mean Jean has the same thing?" He asked him wondering just how difficult it was to be a telepath.
"To a certain point yes but her telepathy isn't as powerful as mine. I have to keep myself on guard a lot or else I could lose control of my darker nature." Peter suddenly remembered that old film Forbidden Planet when that guy used the machine to increase his mind but made that monster by accident.
"I…Never knew about this." Peter admitted, Xavier was so calm and collect he never would have guessed that he had to stay that way.
"We all have out demons Peter it's how we face them that defines the kind of person we are in life. I can only image what you must be going though Peter but you don't have to be alone in this. I created this place to help young people like yourself and also everyone here helps each other as well."
Peter felt a small smile on his face it did feel good to have people here for you, friends you can talk to and not have to keep secrets from. He never told Harry or MJ about any of this he wasn't sure how they would take it. He hated lying to them when he talked to them but at least here he could be open about himself. For so long he felt alone in the world but coming here he felt like he found a place where he not only fit in but where he might actually belong.
He also felt like an idiot for not taking advantage about all of this. He looked at Xavier feeling a bit better, "Thanks Professor."
Xavier smiled back and nodded, "Is there anything else you need?"
"Yeah…you see…I've been having nightmares…"
-Later that Day-
In the den a few of the students were working on homework or just relaxing. Spyder and Jamie were helping each other with their homework on the floor. She liked the fact that Jamie was here to help her she wasn't stupid but it did make it easier plus they seemed to be better in certain areas then the other so it worked out nicely.
Jamie was trying to focus on a math problem but he was having trouble focusing. He didn't know when but lately he was always a bit…Distracted when Spyder was around. She was his best friend but lately he was feeling things differently about her. When she was close he felt his heart rate go up a little and sometimes he just looked at her and couldn't turn away. He looked over to this left and saw her chewing the back of a pencil a strand of her grey hair was in her face and he wanted to reach over and brush it back for some reason.
He didn't dare fist off she might take it the wrong way and secondly…She hits hard for a girl, in fact he was sure she hit harder then some of the boys he knew. So why did he look at her? Why lately had he been distracted by thoughts of her? Did he like her? He froze at that thought, he couldn't like her, she was his best friend and since when had he thought of girls like this?
"Hey Jamie can you help me out here?" Spyder asked him.
"Uh..yeah…sure," He leaned over and looked at the problem it was one of the harder ones but he knew how to solve it. Although being so close to her he tried to focus it didn't help that he could smell her hair or was so close he was nearly touching. He gave a mental groan at this thoughts, he wished he didn't feel this way it was really complicated. Maybe later he would ask one of the older boys what was going on later.
Jean and Scott were in a love seat talking about planning a date for Thursday night since there was a movie both of them wanted to see. Especially for Scott for two reasons first being alone in a dark place with Jean and secondly thanks to Peter's little invention he could finally see a movie in color for once. He still took the time to admire the views around him and all the colors. He and Jean had watched pretty much every sunset since then.
Rogue was on a couch trying to read a book but she had been reading the same page over and over again for the past fifteen minutes. Her thought kept going back to Peter and wondering how it was going with him. She hoped this would help him heal from his experience she hated seeing him like this, but he was a bit better after their talk.
She blushed a bit and hide her face behind her book remembering their kiss. It had been awhile since they kissed like that and she missed it. Of course the others had given them no end of grief, well except Jean and Scott thankfully. At least with those two she knew she could rely on being more mature then the others. Although Evan, Kurt and when Kitty found out she got no end of it, although it had been worth it.
She was so caught up in trying to read she didn't notice someone walking up behind her and when a gently breath of air was felt on her neck she jumped and looked behind her giving a mock glare at who was there, "Peter! Ya scared meh!"
Peter shrugged an gave her this innocent smile, "Sorry couldn't resist."
Her annoyance passed as she got up to him, "So…How did it go?"
"Pretty good…I do feel a bit better thanks for the kick in the head earlier." He told her with a small smile of thanks on his face.
Rogue's face softened a bit, "You're welcome," She was glad that Peter was trying to find some help for overcoming that whole thing with the suit. Plus he looked better too, not totally back to his old self but it did seem like he looked like some of the weight on his shoulders had been dropped.
"So…uh Rogue…you wanna go for a walk or something?" Peter asked a little shyly trying to ignore the looks of the others.
Rogue blushed a bit noticing the looks but then gave them a small glare to tell them to mind their own business. She placed her book on a small table and took his hand, "Ah'd lahke that."
Peter smiled at her as they walked off he had some time to make up for while he was brooding alone. Plus he didn't want to be alone at the moment as well. Rogue was just happy to have Peter back and also to get away from prying eyes. Privacy was hard to come by in this place and she was still a bit uncomfortable in public at times. She just wanted to be alone with Peter and just enjoy it, it had been too long since they just sat together just enjoying each other's company.
Jean watched them go hand in hand and she had to smile at it. She was very happy for those two especially Rogue, ever since she and Peter started dating Rogue had been a bit more open and with the invention of the power nullifiers things just got better it seemed. That nasty business with the suit had strained their relationship but Jean was glad that they were getting things back together.
"What are you thinking about?" Scott asked her. She turned and looked into those beautiful blue eyes of his. She had only seen his eyes once when Magneto had used that machine on Scott but now thanks to the nullifier watch he ware she could look into them. They were the most beautiful blue eyes she had seen, she felt she could just lose herself in them. She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder, feeling the warm comfort she had with Scott, why she never dating him before she never knew.
"I'm…Just happy is all," She told him and he smiled and brushed her long red hair. She loved his touch it was just so gentle and soft. He did little things like that all the time and it made her feel special in a way, why she went out with that jerk Duncan instead she knew she would regret for the rest of her life. Scott had been her best friend for years, and so she guessed she didn't want to ruin their friendship just in case. But now that they had taken the chance she found they still had their friendship and a lot more. Jean was sure that she was falling in love with him and to her it was the most uplifting and greatest thing in her life. And taking the change to be with him like this had been well worth the risk and that was a choice she would never forget.
She still remembered Scott's words to her when her powers had been out of control, how he knew her better then anyone ever will. He was right he did and she knew him just as well.
She looked over at Jamie and Spyder and gave a small smile. She saw how Jamie was sneaking looks at her and it was just so adorable. She was sure that Jamie had his first crush at the moment although Spyder was harder to read without her telepathy but that's something she would never do. But she hoped Jamie wouldn't get crushed from his feelings but then again she and Scott had been friends first and so had Rogue and Peter. So who was to say how things worked out but she did hope for the best.
NEXT UP CHAPTER 4: BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS
Also I want to ask everyone here to check out a new and interesting fic by a new writer and friend of mine. It's in the Evo section and it's called Knight's Calling by band20