Chapter 2: If... (4/4)
"...The uncontrollable fire in a train station at Queens was finally put to end after three hours, thanks to the effort of the Firefighters. There hasn't been reports of any injured, but the damage caused st the station wa-" The News Report was on the TV.
"See, no one got hurt." Jean reassured him as she held his hand.
Nero Carnby and Jean Grey were currently inside a theater in order to watch movie together. They agreed to meet while eating breakfast on their homes. Apparently, her family was going somewhere that she didn't want to go. Nero actually told her everything about what happened the previous day. The ring, the fire, and his first kiss.
Ironically, the only thing that seemed to bother her, was the kiss. Mainly because she couldn't believe that he would actually blackmail someone into kissing him, alongside the fact that she couldn't understand why she would want to kiss a girl that put him through what she did.
Though, she quickly forgave him.
"... The robbery that occurred at the Osborn Penthouse still under investigation, as the robber made out with a ring worth approximately..." The news report about the ring that the Black Cat stole. Which luckily, there's no suspect or description of him involved. For some reason, though as long as Nero is off the hook, he doesn't care.
Both friends were on a line, waiting to get some popcorn.
"How was it?" She asked him.
"What?" Nero asked in confusion.
"The kiss." She asked in curiosity.
"Umm..." Nero didn't know how to answer that. "It was... Sweet... But... Bitter too."
Jean looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"
Nero looked down, looking a bit sad. "Well... Sweet, because the kiss was good but..." He paused a bit. "Bitter, because I got it through blackmail."
"If it bothers you, why did you ask for it?" She asked in full confusion.
Nero paused a bit, still looking down. The truth was that, he genuinely didn't believe any girl would actually want to kiss him. So he decided to get it through blackmail.
"Why?" Jean suddenly asked him. "What exactly makes you think that no girl would kiss you."
The white haired boy widened his eyes. "You read my mind?" They read each other's mind all the time but it's usually for communication, not particularly to see what goes through their mind.
"Sorry, you were taking too long to answer." Jean apologized. "But, seriously... Why?" She asked him.
Nero just stared at her green eyes for a bit. Before he took a deep breath. "Read it again." He allowed her this time. He then, closed his eyes and thought about some memories that always upset him. Memories of families that were looking for a boy to adopt, but instantly changed their mind when they saw him. Because they all thought that there was something wrong with him due to his appearance.
A minute or two passed, before Nero opened his eyes again. Once he did. He saw Jean staring at him with a sad look on her eyes. Suddenly however, she put her hands on his cheeks and approached her face. "Listen, those people that judge you based purely on your appearance are a bunch of jerks, and you were lucky that you weren't adopted by people like that." She consoled him. "And if they can't appreciate the wonderful person that you are, it's their lost." Jean told him that with a lot of conviction in her voice.
Nero paused for a bit, not sure how he should reply to her. But he did something. He moved his head forward and connected his forehead with hers.
Jean didn't reacted to that. She just did the same and pressed her forehead into Nero's.
The two friends stayed like that for a bit. Until Nero finally decided to speak.
"Thank you, Jean Grey." Nero told her through telepathy.
"You're welcome, Nero Carnby." She replied while smiling at him.
"Next!" The guy serving the popcorn yelled at them.
Both of them blushed after they realized that several people were staring at the two them while they were having their little moment. "Umm... An large one please." Nero quickly ordered so the two could get out of there.
The two quickly choose a movie and went to take their seat. They watched an old movie called Excalibur as the theater was mainly playing old movies. Jean and Nero actually decided to do a marathon of films due to some money that she got from her father. Nero felt bad that she had to pay for him, but she kept reassuring him that it was okay.
"Those armors are really shinning." Jean spoke to him through telepathy.
"Duh," Nero spoke back. "Knight in shinning armor."
"Oh..." Jean understood what he meant.
Both watched the whole film together. They both decided to go into another one. "Come father, let us embrace at last." Nero made his best impression of the film as the two walked.
Jean giggled a bit. "You sounded just like him." Jean told him as they walk besides one another.
"So, what should we watch now?" Nero asked. "Your choice." He was the one that picked the other one.
Jean looked carefully, until she made her decision. "That one."
She pointed at a poster of the movie Casablanca. Nero grabbed some extra popcorn to distract himself as he saw that it was a romantic film. Ironically, it was much better than he expected.
"We'll always have Paris." Nero made another impression.
"With this whole world crumbling, we pick this time to fall in love." Jean also decided to make an impression.
Both laughed at each other in response. Nero then grabbed Jean's hand. "So, what now?" He asked.
"Let's watch one more." Jean suggested.
Nero nodded in response before they went to buy another ticket, but on their way there. The hooded boy noticed something, a familiar face on the line. "What the?" He accidentally spoke through telepathy.
"What?" Jean asked.
The familiar face, was someone he met yesterday. He looked at Jean before replying. "That's the boy that helped me yesterday." Nero then lifted his sleeve to show his bandaged arm.
"You mean that boy named Peter?" Jean actually saw everything through Nero's memories. "Let's go talk to him."
"Ummm, I don't thin-" Nero was trying to say that it was better not bother him. But Jean suddenly and without any warning, dragged him towards the line.
"Excuse me." Jean called his attention.
Peter was standing in the line wearing a blue plaid shirt and jeans. He turned his gaze to look at them and widened his eyes. "It's you," He instantly recognized him. "It's Nero, right."
"Yup," It was Nero's reply. "Good to see you again, and thanks one more time for..." He pointed at his arm.
"It was no problem, really." Peter said in return. Before he looked at Jean.
Nero noticing that decided to introduce her to him. "Peter Parker, this is Jean Grey, my best friend." He told him as he wrapped his arm around Jean, who smiled in response before waving at him.
She extended her hand and Peter shakes it. "Thank you very much for helping Nero." She sounded very grateful.
"Like I said, it was no problem." Peter replied while adjusting his glasses. "What are you two doing?" He asked in curiosity.
"Movie marathon." Nero answered his question. "So, which one did you come to see?" He asked as there was no other visible reason to why he was in the theater.
Peter then pointed at a movie poster of the movie Blade Runner. "I wanted to finally see that film." He explained.
Nero looked at Jean, without the need to say anything or use telepathy, she was easily able to figure it out what he was planning. She nodded in response before she spoke. "Fancy some company?" Jean asked Peter.
The hooded boy had a very fun time watching the movie with Peter and Jean. Peter watched the film with a lot of enthusiasm. Jean actually cried during a monologue scene. Nero himself adored the film.
"Like tears in the rain..." That quote strangely stood out in Nero's mind for some reason. The boy with white hair was standing in front of the door of the theater, looking at the street. He was waiting for Jean and Peter, mainly Jean as he's gonna walk her home. Although, he definitely wouldn't mind hanging out with Peter again. As he waited, he watched as several people enter and exit the theater. No one really worth noting though.
Well, except for a trio that just entered the theater. All of them were wearing letterman jackets. There was a blond guy, a fat guy, and a dark skinned guy. They were all laughing like idiots and as soon as they were in, they started to look at the movie posters, probably to decide which movie they want to see.
Nero didn't really care about them and was just waiting for Jean and Peter. Maybe we can invite Peter to hang out again, he seems cool. He thought as he looks around. Luckily, he sees Peter coming back with a cup of soda. But Nero noticed that as Peter approached him, the three guys wearing Letterman jackets, saw Peter and started to laugh. What's so funny? He wondered.
But as Peter passed through them, the blond guy put his foot forward and tripped Peter, making him fall into the floor right on top of the soda. They laughed at him like bunch of idiots.
Nero, however, didn't thought it was funny, at all. And he approached them as soon as he saw that.
"Puny Parker, always tripping on your own feet." The blond guy joked while laughing like an idiot.
"Come on Flash." Peter complained as he searched for his glasses that fell from his face at the fall. Unknowingly to Peter however, the fat guy that was besides the blond one grabbed his glasses.
The three idiots laughed at Peter as he searched for his glasses on the floor. As they laughed however Nero approached them and stood in front of the fat guy. Who after laughing like idiot a little more, noticed Nero's presence. "What do you want?" He asked as he saw Nero standing in front of him.
Nero extended his left hand. "Give me the glasses." He demanded.
"Nero, it's okay." Peter, who was still on the floor, told him.
"Hah! You already replaced Osborn, Parker?" The blond guy, who's name apparently is Flash, spoke in a mocking manner. "Where did you find this freak?"
Flash didn't know that, but he just made a huge mistake. Nero moved from the fat guy and stood in front of Flash. "Say that again." Nero dared him to do it.
The blond idiot just chuckled.
"Nero, please don't do it." Peter pleaded with him.
"Come on, go ahead, say it again, I dare you." Nero ignored Peter's pleads and dared Flash once more.
Flash, with a arrogant smug, decided to comply. "Freak."
With that however, in the blink of an eye, Nero delivered a very powerful uppercut at Flash's jaw. Once his fist connect, Flash was knocked out cold and went down instantly. The fat guy, in response of that, tried to charge at Nero. But as soon as he got close, Nero delivered a precise left jab to his nose, which apparently broke it due to the loud crack that Nero heard, before he fell on his ass. The dark skinned guy was smart enough to not try anything and just stayed back with his hands up, signalling that he wanted no trouble.
"AAAHHH!" The fat guy that was sitting on the floor, yelled in pain while holding his bleeding nose. But Nero ignored his pain and went to grab Peter's glasses from his hand.
"Nero, not again!" Suddenly, Nero heard a Jean's voice coming from behind him. He turned around to see his red head friend staring at him apprehensively.
"What?" Nero asked in confusion before handing the glasses back to Peter. "Here, put them back on."
Peter then stood up from the floor, and quickly put his glasses back on. "What the?" He noticed the two idiots on the floor. "How..."
"Boxing." Nero told him. "Let's bounce before someone notices." There weren't many people at the theater at that hour, and the ones that were there, were distracted. So Nero wanted to leave before someone notices.
Luckily, they all managed to get out before someone noticed what Nero did with those two. All of them were making their way to a train station that Peter is going to get to go home. Jean and Nero were accompanying him.
"Seriously Nero, you got to stop doing that!" Jean yelled at him with telepathy, retaining that apprehensive look from early.
"Doing what?" He asked.
"Beating up people! You gonna get yourself into deep trouble if you keep doing that!" She lectured him, as he did got into trouble for it on a few occasions. "I know that they were bullies but still."
"Sorry, I just can't help it." He apologized as he didn't want to upset Jean. "Please don't be mad."
Jean stared at him with the same look. Before she sighed. "I'm not mad at you, so don't worry."
Nero smiled before wrapping his arm on her torso and placing his head on her shoulder. Jean smiled in response before wrapping her arm around his neck.
While the two did that, Peter, who was walking besides them, said something. "Sorry, that you had to do that." Peter apologized.
Nero turned his head towards Peter. "You helped me, and I helped you, but watch yourself because he'll probably want some pay back later." He warned him.
"Who were they anyway?" Jean asked in concern.
"We go to the same school, they're football players." Peter informed them, but Nero was already aware of that due to the jackets they wore. "The blond guy lives nearby my home, his name Flash Thompson and he kind loves to mess with me."
"Thompson?" He remembered the name. "Ah, shit!"
"What is it?" Jean asked.
"He's the guy I stole this hoodie from, I saw his name on a Football Jersey." Nero explained.
"Speaking of which, didn't sister Maggie or anyone notice that it's a different hoodie?" Jean asked as she already chastised him over stealing earlier. "That other hoodie you used to wear was a zip-up and this one is a pullover."
"Sister Maggie has a lot of people to watch over, she might pay special attention to me, but she doesn't really notice this little details." He explained to her.
"Why don't you tell your family about it?" Jean asked Peter. "I can tell that he bullies you often." It was pretty obvious to both of them.
"I don't wanna bother my aunt and uncle with that." Peter replied while looking down. "Besides, it wouldn't really help, Flash would just stop for a time but then start to do it again after a while." He explained. Before any of the two could say something else, they noticed that they arrived at the train station. "Well, it was nice hanging out with you guys."
"Likewise, wanna hang out again sometime?" Nero asked him.
"Sure," Peter spoke. "Thanks again for... You know."
"It was no problem," He tells him again.
Peter waved at the two before entering the subway. Nero and Jean waved back at him as well.
"I wish there was more we could do to help him." Jean commented.
"Me too." Nero agreed before holding Jean's hand. "Come on, I'll walk you home."
With that, the two started to walk while each other's hand on their way to Jean's home. As they walked however, Nero wanted to say something to Jean.
"Sorry for... You know..." He told her through telepathy.
"I'm not mad, but, I really don't like it when you hit people like that." She replied.
"It's just... I really hate bullies."
"Does anyone like bullies?" It wasn't really a question, she was just stating the obvious.
"Well... Maybe other bullies, but that's a different story." Nero replied with a bit of uncertainty. "I used to be bullied a lot before I learned boxing, so I kind of developed a deep hatred towards bullies."
Jean looked at Nero with a surprised expression. "Wait, what?" She asked. "You never mentioned that."
"It's not exactly something that I like talking about it." He explained.
"But still..." Jean sounded curious. "Was it that bad?"
"You tell me." Nero basically gave her permission to look into his mind as the two walk together.
Jean stared at his gray eyes for a bit. Before stopping him in the middle of the way, then she made Nero stand in front of her. Then, just like before, she pressed her forehead into his. He actually really like that. She closed her eyes, probably to focus. Nero did the same, it was probably not necessary, but he did not care.
For a minute or two, Jean looked a flashes of his childhood at the orphanage. Childhood mainly composed of some of the other orphans except for Matt, treating him badly because of the way he looked. The one that specifically messed with him was a big dumb kid that used to beat him up repeatedly. "Oh my god..." It was Jean's reaction.
"Nah, considering that I got the last laugh." Then a flash of Nero knocking some of his teeth with punches.
Jean sighed. "It's wrong but, I just can't feel bad for him." She admit it sadly. Both then separated and stare at each other's eyes once again. "Sorry you had to go through that."
"Things are much better now, so..." He reinforced her.
Jean seemed curious about that answer. "How so?" She asked.
Nero just smiled at her for bit, hoping that she'll figure it out. Which she apparently did. "It's... Because of me?" She asked him.
Nero looked away a little embarrassed. But it was true, things would be much, much worse without Jean around. Especially since his other best friend is gone. He moved his head up to look at her again, only to be met by a her beautiful smile.
"I... Feel the same way," She spoke a little embarrassed. "Honestly, you're the only thing I like about living here." She explained to him.
Hearing that caused Nero to wonder something, or at least wonder again as he's been meaning to ask her but he decided to wait until she'll tell him herself but. "Jean, can I ask you a question?"
"Anything." She replied.
"Why... Did your family moved here?" Nero has been wondering that for a while, Jean's father had a stable job as a teacher back in their old home but for some reason, he had moved here and it's now working for less. And Nero can't forget what he heard Jean's sister say, the day he accidentally teleported himself. But he didn't ask her out of respect for her.
Jean ,however , seemed bothered by that question as she looked down as soon as Nero asked. "Can we... Catch the bus first?" Both took a bus to get there.
"Okay." Nero nodded before grabbing Jean's hand.
The two of them walked the rest of the way towards the bus stop in silence. But once they arrive, Nero and Jean entered the bus that would lead them to her neighborhood. They sat down at the bottom of the bus close to the window.
Jean placed her head on Nero's shoulder as soon as the bus started to go. "Do you still wanna know why my family and I moved here?"
"If you don't wanna tell me, it's okay." He assured her. "But, as your friend, I really wanna know in case of it... Being something..." He didn't know how to say it.
"Serious?" She completed for him.
Nero just nodded in response.
Jean looked at him with her green eyes, before taking a deep breath. "It's because of sister." She revealed to him.
Nero looked at her before speaking. "What did she do?"
"My sister always was... Problematic." She seemed to be ashamed as she spoke. "She loves to disappoint mom and dad, by doing things like drinking, staying out all night and a lot of other stuff." Basically what Nero does, but he doesn't really have parents to disappoint for doing those things. "But, one of those things caused a lot of problems."
What could it be? He asked himself.
"My sister... Started to date... Two older guys, at the same time." That, surprised Nero. Causing him to widened his eyes at her. Jean looked away embarrassed. "One of them, was a teacher that worked with my father."
"So, you guys moved here because..."
"Their relationship was discovered and... That brought a lot of problems." She explained sadly. "So dad asked a friend here for a job and moved us all here."
"Damn," It was all that Nero could say. "Sorry that you family had to go through that."
"It's all her fault, I love Sara, believe me...But..."Jean was clearly upset, which made Nero regret asking about it. "She's so problematic."
Nero really wanted to end this conversation in order to not upset Jean any further. But unfortunately, his curiosity got the better of him as he had one more question. "Who... Was the other guy?" He wanted to know.
"A jerk..." That was all that she said about him. "I'm pretty sure she still talking to him, and I don't like it."
"Why? It's her problem." Nero told her in response.
"Yes, but... He's dangerous and he wasn't happy when he discovered that she was seeing someone else while she was with him." Jean explained.
"How so?"
"He set the teacher's house on fire." That surprised Nero.
"Why don't you tell your parents?" Nero couldn't help but ask.
"I did, but they haven't done anything about it and I can't understand why." She sounded deeply frustrated.
Nero was confused when he heard that. "Maybe they have their reasons." He suggested. "You already did what you could, if they don't act upon it, that's on them."
"Yeah, but..." She tried to argue but apparently, she didn't know what to say.
"But nothing," It was his response. "You don't have control over other people's actions."
Jean didn't say anything after that. She just hugged his arm tightly and closed her eyes with her head on his shoulder.
Nero decided to not say anything either, he just enjoyed the moment with her.
Unfortunately, for the two, their peaceful ride came to an end. It was going to be time for them to separate as soon as they arrive at Jean's home. The two of them walked their way there quietly and relatively slowly while holding hands as always. Nero always has the feeling that Jean doesn't want to go home, every single time he walks her there.
After a short walk however, they arrived.
"Thanks." Jean said to him.
"For what?" Nero asked in confusion. "I should be thanking you for paying everything for me." He was embarrassed by that.
"It was no problem, and it was a lovely day." She hugged him and he gladly accepted. "Except for the whole, beating up Peter's bullies but... I'm glad you helped him."
"Peter is cool." He would definitely like to be friends with Peter Parker.
Both separated, but once they did, Nero noticed something. "Is your family back?" He asked ad he noticed her door open.
Jean seemed confused by that question. She turned around and noticed the same thing as Nero but she looked around for a bit. "Our car is no here." Nero looked around and saw that she was right. The Grey's car was nowhere to be found. "They all left on the car after the drove me to the theater."
Nero was not liking this and he had a strange feeling about this. "Wait here." He told her before he approached the front door. What the fuck? The door's lock was busted. Did someone robbed the place? Suddenly however, the hooded boy decided to walk in. On his way inside, in order to check if there was some damage or if whoever broke in took something valuable. But, unfortunately for the pale boy, someone was still inside.
As soon as Nero walked in the living room. He saw someone, sitting on the couch watching TV. It was a guy around his mid-twenties, with black curly hair and a ugly moustache. He was wearing dark blue jeans, brown boots, a red T-shirt. While he was confused, the guy turned his head to face Nero's. "Who the hell are you?" He asked him with a deep voice.
The white haired boy stared at him for a bit before replying with another question. "Who the fuck are you?" The place wasn't damaged in any way and nothing seemed to be missing. So he probably wasn't a robber.
"That wasn't very polite." It was the man's reply.
"Breaking into people's home isn't polite either, asshole!" He instantly rebuffed.
While he was distracted by yelling at the guy. He did not heard the steps coming from behind him until it was close. Turning his head around, he saw that Jean actually entered. But as soon as she saw the guy, she widened her eyes and looked scared. "If it isn't little Birdie." The guy spoke to her as if he knew her.
"Do you know this guy?" Nero asked through telepathy.
"His name is Paul Bailey, he's the guy that my sister was dating alongside that teacher." She explained to him.
"What the fuck?!" It was Nero's reaction.
Jean quickly touched Nero's shoulder and shakes her head, signalling him to go to the door. "Let's get out of here, this guy is dangerous."
Nero turned his head to look at Jean. Her worried expression was enough to convince him to do what she said. However, before they could. Paul stood up and grabbed the two by their arms. "Why don't you two sit down."
"Hey!" Jean yelled.
"Let go of her!" Nero also yelled.
The two struggled to try to break free from his grip but Paul was stronger and dragged them towards the couch and pushed then on it. Both fell on top of the couch and quickly turned to face him. "Now, you two be good and wait until the everybody else comes home."
"Fuck you asshole!" Nero quickly stood up, only to be met by a hard back fist to the face that send him to the floor.
"No!" All he could do, was hear Jean yell in horror. "Please don't hurt him." She practically bagged the bastard.
"Then make your friend shut his dirty mouth while we wait for your parents, your sister specifically, to come home." The guy told Jean as Nero struggled to stand up.
Jean quickly got on her knees on the floor and helped him stand up. "Please, just sit down." She told him through telepathy as she helped him get to the couch.
Nero reluctantly obeyed as trying to fight this guy was suicide. Fuck! My cheek. He thought he got used to getting punched, but he was apparently wrong. His head was hurting and his vision is a little blurry. But he needed to know something. "What... do you... want?" He asked.
The guy just stared at Nero with his brown eyes. Before he reached for something on the back of his pants. To both Nero and Jean's horror, the guy pulled out a revolver. "Sara and I had some unresolved feelings that we need to solve." He pointed at the two of them, causing Nero to sloppily stand up and stand in front of Jean. "Beautiful, but you gonna have to wait until the rest get here for the show to really start."
Thanks everyone following this story. Your support means a lot to me.
Questions and Answers:
Marvel FanBoy
Okay, I have a request:
Can we get maybe a preview of when Nero is already a superhero.
Just a small one:
{
As he made his way towards the path of the forest covered in snow, all he could think of, was the rage that was consuming him. Part of him didn't want to fight him out of respect for Laura, but she repeatedly told him herself that Akihiro Howlett was no brother of hers.
His time for consideration was cut short as he sees Akihiro standing in the middle of the woods, shirtless, with only a katana in hand.
Nero wasn't really in mood to talk to him. He just wanted to get that over with and encounter Laura and Logan. So all he did was put the Ebony Blade down, alongside the Captain America's shield, before removing his top of his suit as well. "Out." He ordered the symbiote.
"Noooo!"
"Now! Or I'll use the sonic wave again." He threatened his clingy alien. It worked as the symbiote left and stood on top of the shield. "You can come back once this is over."
"Don't take too long, please." The symbiote pleaded.
Nero then took off his mask and put down the Phoenix Gun to face Daken.
"Are you gonna face me like a man, or you gonna use you baby claws?" Nero asked.
Akihiro just stared at him with a completely stoic look.
Nero got into a fighting stance. "Sorry, but you really need to ask your dad for some lessons in intimidations, because that was pathetic." Wolverine can be terrifying when he wants to be, but this guy is a joke.
{