Forest Hills, Queens
"This sure is a long walk…." Kitty said as we were walking down the streets
"Don't worry, just a few more blocks…."
"So you used to live in Queens?" She asked
"Yup"
"You had to go from home, to school, to the Bugle, go to wherever you had to snap photos in, go all the way home at 10, and be able to finish your schoolwork?" She asked
I nodded "Plus an internship at a lab. I also had to do some web design for the Bugle."
"How did you even manage that procedure?"
"I got used to it" I smirked
If 'used to it' means jumping around in a skin-tight red and blue suit, then you're totally right Parker
I walked up in front of Aunt May's house, and Kitty followed
"This is it, my old home" I said
"Humble!" She commented
I walked up the stairs and rang the doorbell
"Hello?" Aunt May asked behind the door
"Peter" I said
She quickly unlocked the door and opened it, arms spread wide
"Peter!" She said
I walked over and tightly hugged her
"Oh my little boy! You've grown so much!" She said
"I know, I know." I said as I let go " I still want to live here again though"
"You expect me to pay for your house repairs?" May said
"No, don't. No. Please don't -no. Don't waste a penny on me" I said
"Not even for a loaf of bread?"
"No. You already know my guidelines, I can do this myself. Don't stress yourself over me" I smiled
"Ben would be so proud" She said while bringing her hands together
I brought my head down, smiling with eyes closed "I know, I know."
Aunt May looked over to Kitty "And the young lady is?"
"Oh! You two haven't met yet, c'mon" I motioned towards Kitty to come inside
"Hello May Parker, I'm Katherine Pryde." Kitty held her hand out to May "You can call me Kitty"
"Nice to meet you, Katherine" May said, shaking Kitty's hand
"Thanks, really an honor to meet you. Peter's said some great things about you" Kitty said, standing beside me
"I know he would, such a good boy." May said "Is she from your college Peter?"
"My college? No she—"
"Institute" she blurted
"Yeah..." I said
"Which Institute?" Aunt May asked
"Uh..." She started getting tense
This had me thinking. So the two people with her in that museum are confirmed to be X-Men, judging by the time I saw them earlier. Y'know, Colossus and Iceman. Was she that girl that was with them in the museum? Is she an X-Man? And if she is, why are they so obsessed with tracking me down? Are they actually working on a cure for me? And if so, why do they care? Not a bad thing, but why?
Or maybe it isn't that, maybe she just wants someone to hang out with. I mean, she never asked for my number after that whole battle with the winged-dude, she did it before. Just to see Spider-Man like her inner fangirl always wanted, right? Plus, it's not like the X-Men know that Peter Parker is Spider-Man either. Maybe she just wants to hang out, and if she is a mutant, it makes that tougher. If she is here because of the X-Men though, why do they want to help? I'm not even a mutant! It all seems so weird to me...
Chill out Parker, it will all be good.
"Hope Institute" She said
"Really? Never heard of it" Aunt May responded as she started walking to the Kitchen
"Yeah, not really well known..." Kitty said, brushing her arm
Or maybe she's making things up because she's an X-Man.
Or, maybe Peter Parker needs to chill out before he pops a vessel
"Does anyone want some banana bread?" Aunt May asked while getting out of the Kitchen with the banana bread
"Banana bread?" Kitty asked
"She gave that to me all the time. Come check it out" I lead her to the table
"So tell me Katherine, since you and Peter seem to be far distances away, how did you two meet?" Aunt May asked
Kitty was too focused on the banana bread than anything around her
She realised that she was getting asked a question, so she stopped and took a deep breath before speaking
"I'm so sorry for not responding May, but this Banana Bread is so good!" she said "I never thought I'd ever say that!"
Aunt May had a quick laugh "I knew you would!"
"Send me the recipe please. Even though I can have a huge chance of messing up" Kitty said
"I already gave it to Peter" Aunt May points towards me, while I was simply eating my banana bread
"I'm sorry?" I said
Kitty and Aunt May both started laughing
Once they stop, Kitty answers May's question.
"We both met at a museum. I decided to call him one day to sight-see Spider-Man. Plans didn't go that way, but at least I learned just how much of a good person Peter is"
"In other words, you raised me well" I add
"I know I did" Aunt May said "I tried my best, after we lost Ben…."
"Yeah, Peter told me about all that. Your husband must've been a great person, May" Kitty said
"He was...Peter has gone through so much. I only felt like it was my duty to raise him the best way possible" Aunt May said
The whole conversation just made me want to drown my sorrows somehow. May is right, I have lost a lot. To make matters worse, I have this weird disease, which I still need to cure by the way.
While eating the banana bread, Kitty, May, and I started talking around the table for some time. Mainly stories about my times in High School. Many giggles and face palms, with the facepalms being my main actions.
"Alright, that was some nice banana bread" Kitty said
"Told you it was good" I said
"You don't exaggerate things. Your Aunt is so awesome" Kitty said
Kitty stood up from her chair and started heading upstairs "I'll go ahead and wait for Peter upstairs, excited for a tour!"
I stood up and started heading to the stairs until Aunt May grabbed my hand
I turned around. "Yeah?"
"Thought you were cleaning the dishes" May said
"I will, just let me do this short tour" I said "And please, do not touch the dishes"
Aunt May chuckled "I won't, don't worry"
"What's taking so long, slow poke?" Kitty hollered
"Heading there in a second!"
"Last one up is a rotten egg!" She yelled back
"Cheating!" I run upstairs
I open the doors to my old room wide.
"Behold, my old fortress" I said
"Looks alright to me…." Kitty said
"Looks like May started clearing out the room, since I just left." I said "At least the bed's still here!"
"I'm presuming that's for visitors….." She said
"Probably…." I walk over to my bed and jump on top of it.
"Mind if I look around?" she asked
"Sure" I said
She started looking through the empty room, trying to catch something that was worth her notice.
"Do you mind telling me who all these people are?"
Kitty brought a photo to me, which was left on the table of the room
I smiled brightly; it was my old High School Graduation photo! Liz, MJ, Flash, Kong, Sally, Robby, everyone was on it!
I also saw Gwen and Harry in the corner of the picture, which I quickly covered with my thumb. No need to think on what happened to them now, it'll only make the situation worse.
"So…." She said, sitting next to me on the bed
"These were the people I knew in High School!" I said, standing up from the bed to sit beside her
"It was a graduation picture, and you didn't take it with you" She said
"I know!" I said "Brings back lots of , a lot of bad memories, but still memories"
"Bad?" Kitty raised an eyebrow
"As in, more than half the people on this picture treated me like crap. It got better after I started dating Liz, so that was a plus." I said
I start to point out each person, and what social status they were
" This is Flash, school's main Jock and his 'partner in crime' Kong. Liz Allen: the nicest of the popular girls, who was also my first girlfriend. Mary Jane, known to many as 'Miss Wonderful Personality' -"
"That's 'Miss Wonderful Personality' ?" She said
"Yeah, one of the few people that go to the same college I do." I said "Everyone went their separate ways. Flash moved out for Military recruiting, Robby and Sally moved out of the state, y'know, stuff like that"
"MJ has me in a friendzone though" I say
Ever since we went to the same college, I've always tried to ask her out, but it always ends up being an awkward hang out.
I remember exactly what she said the last time:
'Peter, you're a really great guy, I swear, but I'd like it if we were friends and call it a day' MJ said, outside the movie theatre
"Friendzone? Ugh, those suck. I was in the friendzone with a guy at the Institute. Gave up on it already." Kitty said "Y'know, the blonde guy that was with me in the museum?"
"Ah, him?" I said
Wait a second, the blonde guy? At the museum? From her Institute? It's clear that Iceman looks identical to that blonde guy out of his ice form. She's a mutant, I'm sure! But in order for me to say that, I'll have to reveal my identity to her...
"Yeah, him. I saw hints that he liked me too but….I just sort of, dropped it" she responded
"At least you didn't go through any rejection or something. MJ told it to me directly " I said
"Ouch." Kitty replied
"It stings, hard. She's still incredibly bright and nice, which I'm happy for. And the college isn't too bad either..." I said
"Which college?" She asked
"ESU." I responded
"Ah, I see!" Kitty said
"Before looking any further at this picture, I need to know something..." I told her
"What's up?" She said
"I know this is out of nowhere but..." I gulped "What is your opinion on mutants?"
Her muscles were tense at the mention of the word
"I..." before Kitty could start speaking , there was a loud ring coming from her pocket
She picks it up and takes a small glance at the caller I.D.
"Ugh….I'm sorry but I'll have to go now" She stood up and started heading out of the room
"Oh. See you tomorrow then…" I said "Can we talk about this over the phone?"
She stopped and bit her lip
"I... can we talk about this tomorrow?" She said
"Tomorrow?" I asked
"Yeah, outside of ESU?" She asked
"Oh, sure" I responded as she left the room, noticeably taking a deep breath.
I look out my window and see Kitty walking down the street, into the darkness. Maybe I could just...follow her? She'll go to her Institute, I'm sure. If I follow her, maybe I can find out if -
Ugh Parker, what are you thinking?
Just drop it, maybe web sling a bit, but drop this, for now. In fact, who cares if she's a mutant or not? Who cares if she's an X-Man or not? Your main focus is on the disease. Find out if the X-Men are following me tomorrow
I rush downstairs and open the door
"You're leaving now Peter?" Aunt May asked
"Yeah, I'll revisit soon, don't worry" I said as I open the door to the house
"What about the dishes?" May asked
I sighed. Might as well do this first
"Fine, I'll clean them" I smirked