A/N: So I guess we gotta do some more plot now? Also, sorry for the cliffhanger. I'm trying to come up with ways for emotional tension, but it hurts me so I'm doing my best. Also, this story is really OOC in some ways, but I think it's because this is a first draft that I'm sometimes writing down on Post-it notes in between classes. It's a work in progress. :)
Songs for this chapter:
"In Too Deep" by Sum 41
"Dark Red" by Steve Lacy
Chapter Ten: "Thank God I Didn't Peak in High School. The School Board Hates Me"
-O-
Red and blue flashed above her head as she turned, falling with her back toward the ground, reaching madly for a non-existent lifeline. Peter lunged, twisting from the side of the building. She reached the same moment he did for her. Her face twisted in terror.
She only fell for a few seconds, but those few moments he struggled to reach her stretched into eons. He latched onto her wrist first before yanking her closer, hooking her legs around his waist. His voice was strained,
"Told you I would catch you,"
Thwack!
For the benefit of the comms, he said more loudly, "Hello, this is your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. I hope you bought flight insurance because this ride is about to get bump-ayyy,"
He shot a web to an adjacent office building smaller than the surrounding skyscrapers. If she had eaten anything, she definitely would have thrown up on his first swing. By the last, she had wrapped herself around him, gasping for breath, forcing him to make the landing for both of them.
Peter set her on her feet before yanking his mask off, jamming the comms through a tap against his wrist gauntlet. His lively color had dropped to ashen pale. He gripped her shoulders as she struggled to take a deep breath, his eyes manically roving her. "Are you OK?"
"I –," Her eyes were dazed.
He grabbed her tighter. "Maren! Are you OK? I thought –." He shook his head. "No, you can't— you can't do that to me. Ok? Promise me you won't do that to me,"
She saw his fear teetering on panic, and she moved on instinct, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist; his arms encased her viciously while she tucked her head under his chin. "I'm OK. We are OK, Peter."
He nodded against the top of her head, and she pretended not to hear him clearing choked emotion from his throat.
"There are easier ways to check in after a date, y'know?" He took a shattering breath, threading his fingers through her hair.
"You didn't answer your phone." He laughed before she pulled back sharply.
"Hawkeye—,"
"Is fine." He said, rubbing her arms. " he made it to the original extraction point. My question is –," he stepped back, picking his mask up from the ground, dusting loose gravel and dust from it.
She took the opportunity to pull the bulletproof vest from underneath her white button-up, a pleasant numbness tingling down her limbs. "Ahh. That's so much better,"
Peter had wandered to the edge of the roof. "I'm curious how anyone knew you were there. Isn't SHIELD supposed to be on top of the whole secret, classified operation thing?"
Her head was swimming, her vision fuzzy and gray around the edges. A derisive chuckle escaped her, "Yeah, you would think so. But we got what we came for. There is enough to keep any analyst busy for three weeks."
She preferred the numbness to the sudden pins and needles scraping against her skin now. A sharpness in her side made her look –… Oh. That's not good.
Deep red blossomed against her white blouse. "I probably need to go to stake out the damage. Wonder what Jameson will say this time," Peter continued while at the same time Maren murmured.
"Peter… Peter,"
He spun with a jovial smile, his color just starting to return. The smile dropped as her hand came away from her abdomen with warm, red dampness. His retort died in his throat, his voice uncertain, "Maren?"
Her legs went out from under her as the gray tinging her vision morphed to total darkness. Her eyes closed as his heavy footfalls echoed against the rooftop gravel. "Maren!"
-O-
Beep…beep…click…beep…click…
Maren roused from sleep reluctantly. Her coffee maker was jammed by the sounds of it. She hoped she hadn't overslept again. She took a deep breath. Then froze. The smell of chemical disinfectant and latex assaulted her. This wasn't her apartment.
Beep..beep..click…click…beep-beep-beep…
Something rested on her face, something else tied around her wrist. Fumbling her hand against her face, a tube ran from her nose, cool oxygen drying out her nostrils and throat painfully.
Hands pushed her down, pressing against her shoulders, slowing her movements. Panic set in. She thrashed before her eyes popped open. A blurry figure in a blue and red suit loomed over her.
"Hey, no, no, no, no," the voice soothed. "It's ok, you're ok. No, don't pull that,"
A gloved hand pulled her fingers away from the IV in the crook of her and she yanked her hand away, bawling it into a fist before dealing a blow to the figure's chest.
"Uufff," he coughed. "Ok, I deserved that,"
That voice. There was no fear when she heard it. He caught her hand again, and his face finally came into focus. "Peter?"
His smile was gentle, but the lines around his eyes and mouth were harder, visible with worry. "About time you woke up." He looked over his shoulder. "If I had to listen to them anymore, I was going to throw myself out the window without any attempt to save myself,"
"Who's them?" Her chuckle scraped against her throat. She coughed before grabbing her side with a grimace. She grieved when he pulled his hand away, reaching over her, grabbing a cup with a single white tablet and another cup with ice water. He pushed the ice water into her hands. She believed he would do the same with the pill, but he knocked the pill into his palm, saying,
"Aahhh,"
She frowned before dutifully opening her mouth, sticking out her tongue. He dropped the pill, and she swallowed with a blissful mouth full of ice water.
"Thanks for not making me fight you,"
"I would win," she said, her voice not as gravelly as before.
"I know you would," he said quietly. Retaking her hand, sitting on the edge of her bed.
"I'm assuming we're at the med unit?"
"Yeah." He sniffed, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, you scared the hell out of me. Please refrain from ever doing so again,"
"Trust me, it wasn't on my agenda either."
Silence drifted between the two of them before different chaos drifted past the closed door. Peter sighed.
"I'm assuming this is the reason for your despair?"
"It's been going on for 20 minutes," she peered around Peter.
Hill's voice came through more clearly, "Compromised? You called this compromised!? We left that behind when two of my agents almost died because of something that should've been brought to our attention ages ago,"
"Perhaps, that's also something you should take up with your new data analyst in the next room. She made the discovery regarding the children." Lindh's voice surprised her. While her response was lower, more controlled, it held the same intensity. "All paperwork was filed in order of discovery,"
Maren saw Kitty through the glass pane separating them. "A possible information leak goes beyond bureaucracy last I checked. These aren't emails sold to fill spam folders with discounts for a damn herbal viagra!"
Maren's eyes went wide, "What's all that about?"
"Apparently, an information leak was well known for some departments but not others. Lindh's had an open investigation for seven months."
"But it just came into my view two weeks ago. How's that possible?"
He shrugged, "But everything's under control. I'll let you figure out where the air quotes go on that statement,"
Maren's mind whirred, even with the detriment of fast dissolving pain meds in her system. Urgency to get to the encoded images overrode logic as she tried to sit up.
"Whoa. Where do you think you're going?"
Kitty phased through the glass wall, exclaiming, "Maren!"
Hill and Barton followed, scanning through the door. Lindh remained outside, offering Maren a stiff nod before striding away, golden squid earrings glinting as she pivoted. Maren settled back against her pillow. She went to pull away from Peter's hand, but his grip tightened. His eyes warned her off trying again. A flush warmed her neck. Kitty smirked, and Maren was grateful Hill and Barton were still chatting with one another.
Barton held an ice pack to another blackened eye while also sporting stitches on his opposite temple.
"Ouch." Maren winced in sympathy.
Barton looked her way with a half-smile. "Still look better than you,"
"Careful, you might hurt my feelings. Don't have many of those left,"
He offered a fist bump with a fond wink. "Glad you're OK, kid."
Kitty's ire returned. "Yeah, but she almost wasn't, thanks to your screwup."
Hill didn't wither under Kitty's glare; instead, she straightened her shoulders. "And I believe I've already apologized for this misstep. It won't happen again," she said, leaving no room for argument or for future failure.
Clint flopped into the pathetic plastic chair. "We were played,"
"But the bait was tempting," Maren murmured.
Kitty's retort was quick, "Most bait usually is,"
Hill handed Maren a tablet, and Peter reluctantly released her hand. "We've started decryption, but I've been told you may be able to get through the images more quickly than traditional methods,"
"Your secret hacking ways have been found out is what she's saying," Barton said.
"It's not like it was a secret before," Maren rolled her eyes. She laid the tablet in her lap, switching to 3-D hologram mode with a flick of her wrist. She swished one of the images. "Three images…so nine different layers of information. It's all in the colors. Overlay the code here, Peter. It's faster,"
She slid copies of the images to Peter, who arched a brow at her before shrugging.
Hill continued after pursing her lips, "Our analysts did find some information,"
"About?" Maren looked up briefly.
"About the need for greater test subjects. More specifically, Psy-mutants, level omega and higher,"
Maren's heart dropped a bit, but she kept working. "For comparison studies?"
Kitty crossed her arms, tapping her foot against the floor. She tilted her head toward Maren. "Go on. Tell her what else they found,"
Peter looked up next as he waited for the code to convert from binary to text. "I haven't heard this yet. What else did they find?"
Kitty huffed impatiently. "You. Maren, they were after you tonight,"
-O-
Maren sat in her computer lab. It was a wonder they let her leave the med unit, but wonders could be worked if she threatened a hissy fit. Peter had placed a Coke on her desk before walking to the other side of the lab. She knew he was listening, his movements measured and intentional. Kitty's words still hung over her head.
You…they were after you…
Maren ran locations, formulating stories to feed to the press about the Oscorp gala, even though she had a feeling they would keep this quiet on their own.
She redirected her thoughts back to filtering the data. Financials were indirectly related back to Oscorp, but nothing solid on if Norman Osborne had a finger in any of this. She wished she had taken the other pain pill the doctor offered before she left the med unit. At least then she could calm down.
Another flash…
If you wouldn't struggle so much, the pain wouldn't be so great…
A wave of nausea ran through her as she could still feel a hand covered in a latex glove pass over her hair, a mirage of an affectionate caress. The burning cold of a metal scalpel against her neck.
You…they were after you…
A hand clasped her shoulder. She spun in her chair, roughly demanding, "What!?"
Kitty arched a brow, removing her hand, "Geez. I said your name like three times,"
She motioned to the figures on the screen. "Well, I'm a little caught up here," she caught herself. Her eyes pinched shut. She took a centering breath. Guilt arrived like a fashionably late dinner guest. "I'm sorry, dude. I didn't mean it like that,"
Kitty's eyes softened. "I know you didn't. You've been looking over here for over an hour,"
Maren balked. "An hour? It hasn't been that long,"
"Yeah," she jerked her head toward the clock on the wall. "An hour. The school board will be calling in a few minutes," her eyes widened for emphasis.
Maren groaned, "Ooh. Really?"
"Yup. This has to do with all of us now,"
Peter wasn't even trying to mask his snooping now. He stood with his back turned, hovering near a long table.
Clint prompted, "Us who?"
Kitty and Maren shared a grim understanding as they answered together, "Mutants,"
Maren said, "We like to carry on a Dumas-like philosophy,"
"Assistant Director Hill insisted on me being the liaison." Kitty leaned against the table next to Maren's chair. "This is me. Liaising,"
Banner glared over the top of his glasses when Clint propped his boots on the table. He cleared his throat, "Doctor Bennett, has your old supervisor sent over her investigation files yet?"
Maren glanced at her screens before shaking her head, "Not yet,"
Clint shook a finger. "Nah. No, no, no. I've got this," he said, reaching for his cell phone.
"You know, I really don't want to know what he's going to do,"
"Speak for yourself," Kitty said, pushing herself away from the desk, crossing the room to sit across from Barton and next to a discomfited Banner.
Her heart lurched when Peter suddenly sat next to her.
"Oh my god! Peter, you can't do that," she gripped her chest. She glared. "You are supernaturally quiet. It's very annoying,"
Not a hint of joking could be found on his face. Deep lines etched themselves. He didn't say a word.
She nodded. "Oo-kayyyy." she looked between Peter and her screens a few times before deciding the screens were her safer option. "You know you don't have to stay for the meeting, Peter. I've seen your top five worst fears, and bureaucracy is at least number three,"
She didn't expect the intensity in his voice when he asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"
When he didn't elaborate, she prompted, "About?"
His eyes were sharp when they met hers. Her breath caught in her throat.
"What you were investigating with Oscorp. The kids going missing from the school you went to. You should have come to me. You promised me, Maren,"
Her hackles rose. It felt like an accusation against her more than a concern for her safety.
He met her sharp gaze unflinchingly as she leaned over, invading his space. His nostrils flared.
"I am perfectly qualified, and you know it,"
He whispered heatedly, "You know damn well I'm not talking about qualifications,"
"Then what?" she spat. "What are you talking about? Half the time, I feel like I'm guessing. The other half-,"
He scrubbed a hand over his face. "You have to know, Maren. You have to-," he stopped himself, his foot bouncing against the ground.
Her patience wore thin. "If you're finished, I'm busy,"
"You are it, Maren." he snapped, and she jerked back. She was glad for the ruckus Clint and Kitty were raising across the room. "Do you understand? Besides Peter, who has his own life and has every right to it. I'm happy if he's happy. But… but. You. Are. It. You are it here. For me," he ducked his head for a moment, taking a deep breath. "So you can't,"
Her breath caught. Her voice softened as she reached for him, placing a hand on his knee, stopping its harried movement. "Can't what?"
He looked up, his eyes shining, "You can't not let me help you. Ok? Please? You have to let me. I'm not asking you to stop because I know you won't. Stopping isn't for people like us. But you have to let me help you,"
Her heart threatened to stop and beat out of her chest all at once. He reached up, grasping the back of her neck, pressing their foreheads together. She closed her eyes, exhausted tears welling in them.
"Ok?" he asked again.
She nodded. "Ok,"
She waited for the claustrophobia, for the need to run away from him, to escape to safety. She waited a moment. Two. It never came.
His thumb stroked over the scar that stretched from the base of her skull to the middle of her shoulders. His voice was quiet, "Kitty told me what happened. I saw the scars when they were patching you up, found the Weapon X files on the SHIELD intranet subfiles,"
She inhaled quickly, "I'm sorry you had to see. They're not the prettiest in the world." she opened her eyes. "But do you understand? I can't let this go. I won't let another kid be a guinea pig for an agenda they have no part in,"
He wiped away a stray tear from her cheek, nodding. "But not alone?"
She shook her head with a watery smile. "No. Not alone." she raised her hand, pulling her head back. "Pinky promise?"
He chuckled, "Pinky promise," hooking his pinky with hers.
"Maren," Kitty called from across the room. "We're up in five,"
Maren shook her head ruefully. "I hoped it would never come to this,"
"What?" the teasing arch in his brow returned.
She sighed, "You're going to have to meet Logan,"
-O-
Maren sat across from two Avengers and an active X-Men member. Peter sat next to her, his mask fully in place again. She flicked her wrist, saying, "Ok, we're live in 3…2…-,"
The hologram screen floated in the center of the conference table, buffering on the Xavier School logo before three clear figures came into view.
A gruff voice sounded first, "Better be a good reason for me t'have t'be up before four in the morning,"
The refined and polished gentleman spoke next. "Please, Wolverine. If you wouldn't mind,"
Maren scoffed, "Good to see you too, Logan,"
Logan stood shirtless with a single white coffee mug. Taking a gulp, he gestured with the cup, he asked, "Who's the ballerina next t'ya?"
"Lemme guess, you're the smart one," Peter said.
Logan remained unimpressed. "Fuck you,"
Peter looked over to Maren, "It's Shakespearean truly,"
Professor Xavier interjected, his smile warm when he looked at Maren, "Not that it's not wonderful to see you, my dear. But I don't believe you would have made me rouse Logan had you not due cause for it,"
"Unfortunately not. I'm sending some files and videos to you through the Overwatch server. There's been a mishap,"
Kitty said. "Yeah, if you call a mishap, a one-star encounter with Logan's obsessed ex BFF,"
Logan paused mid-coffee gulp, growling, "Say again,"
Maren could nearly feel Peter's snarky retorts building in his throat.
"Sabertooth risked an encounter with the Avengers?" Xavier considered. "Seems unlikely," Xavier leaned forward. "Can you start the second clip again?"
They watched as sabertooth cornered Dr. Banner before the Hulk appeared. "Didn't want you by the looks of it. Wanted your friend pretty bad though,"
"Astounding logic," Peter murmured.
Logan's stare turned lethal, his eyes reflecting in the poor lighting. "Say again, bub,"
Peter held up his hands, placating. "If I had known that that was your only line, I wouldn't have started if I had known you didn't have the tools to finish,"
Maren smacked him in the arm, "Peter!"
"What? It was an apology,"
Logan took a grumpy sip. "Punk ass," he griped. "Does he need to be here, MJ?"
Peter chortled, "Oh, abso-freaking-lutely. We're taking a poll on whether—…. Wait. MJ? Who—?"
Maren wanted to shrivel up and die in her seat. Kitty appeared nonplussed, Clint near the brink of unconsciousness, Banner calculating if he should be offended by Logan or not. She could feel Peter's stare and was glad she couldn't see his expressions. It would've been too much.
Maren's reply was shorter than she meant, but the blood heating her face softened the edge. "Yes, hello. That's me, thank you."
Maren plowed through the rest of the details with efficiency with Clint throwing in the big tactical words and Kitty managing the crime scene details when necessary, showing 3-D renderings of the lab in Manhattan. Peter let her speak, remaining quiet for the next several explanations. Quiet was dangerous.
Briefly, she considered reaching into his thoughts, seeing what he was thinking. Just a little peek of—
She reeled back any curiosity, locking them down. She guessed she would've (might've) told him about the nickname eventually. It was terrible to admit, but she was scared to become just another one in this universe. Another MJ who met a Peter Parker. She had listened to the other peters enough to hear stories. She wished she was more like the other MJs in fact. A flaming whirlwind Broadway actress like Mary Jane. A deeply mistrusting and brave genius like Michelle Jones. She wanted that for her Peter — extraordinary instead of bared and jagged brokenness. She even had a regular TV schedule— Hogan's Heroes on Wednesdays and Golden Girls on Fridays.
She wanted extraordinary too.
Kitty's next question brought her back. "You think this has something to do with the little visit he and his friends paid us a year and a half ago?"
"The break-in?" Maren said. "You said he was just trying to chop sunshine hair and muttonchops off at the knees like usual?"
Peter snorted. He leaned back, putting his hand on the back of Maren's chair when Logan didn't have the decency to look offended. She tried not to be, but she became hyperaware of how close Peter suddenly was.
Kitty tilted her head back and forth, considering. "Yeah, that's what we all thought. But usually, he tries to lure Wolvie out into the open. It's like a weird dominance thing,"
Banner surmised a guess, "And this time he didn't?"
"Bingo,"
Xavier grew grave. "She's right, Logan. It took months to finish the total repairs to the mansion after your last tryst,"
He grunted, "Ain't my fault everything in this house is so breakable,"
"He was covering up for something else," Maren realized, the tension suddenly dropping from her shoulders. "Covering up so you wouldn't know that anything was missing,"
"It would appear so, my dear,"
Clint drummed his hands against the table. "So, who's up for a field trip tomorrow?"
