Peter Parker

The fact that MJ and I started sharing each other's clothes was a blessing. When she packed clothes, she ended up bringing quite a bit of mine. I didn't mind wearing MJ's clothes. A lot of what she wore was rather unisex. But having some of my own clothes on this trip gave me a peace of mind.

Anyway, with the ladies going what was Craig's sister's room, Craig took us to his old room. Craig's room was rather bare. There was a bed with blue sheets, a small desk, a dresser with a TV on top of it… and that was about it.

"My folks converted my room and my sister's room into guestrooms," he explained as he unpacked some of his stuff. "Mine's was first to be turned into one when it became clear that I was going to be a superhero for the long term. My sister's room was next. She was living here while she was getting her Bachelor's and Master's in Accounting at Nova Southeastern. Once that was done, she got a job with some company out west."

I looked at him from my spot on the bed. "Your sister, is she older or younger?" I asked.

"Older." Craig removed his jacket and dumped it onto the bed. "Alex is about eight years older than I am." He paused for a moment as he stared off into nowhere. "I should call her."

"So, how do you think your parents will feel about Carmilla?" Ned asked.

Craig shrugged as he sat down on the bed and started untying his shoes. "I don't know. I hope they like her, okay. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to break up with her if they don't like her. But I would like for Carmilla to be cool with my parents and vice versa. Especially since…" He trailed off. I didn't say anything, but I something told me that he was thinking a bit ahead in the future. He cleared his throat and looked at me. "How're you holding up, Peter? I know you and Michelle made out last night."

"What else is new?" Ned teased. I glared at him.

Craig sighed. "Ned, remember what Kitty said." He looked at back at me. "But, I know it's been a lot, with you having no powers at the moment and basically finding out you have a brother you didn't know about."

"I'm… okay now," I replied. I smiled slightly. "MJ helped a lot with that. But she's always does."

"What, you guys used to make out a lot before The Spell?" Ned asked.

I shook my head. "Honestly… no. MJ and I making out is something that happened very recently. And even now, it's not like we go around making out every chance we get. What I mean is… Ever since MJ and I got close, even before The Spell, she's been like this… this…" I paused. "…Whenever I feel like I'm about to break down or go nuts, MJ somehow manages to calm me down. And it's not just with kissing. It would be something simple like a hug or a holding of the hand or even a cuddle." I paused again as I blinked. "…I guess that's why I always visited Peter Pan during that time between The Spell and The St. James Incident."

Ned nodded. "Trust me, we know."

"I noticed the first day Kitty and I met you," Craig added.

I went quiet for a bit. I was thinking about our time here. We still had a couple of days before we meet Dr. Drumm to help with my powers. But until then…

"Craig, you know all of the spots around here, right?" I said as I looked at him. He stopped in his unpacking and looked at me. "I mean… do you know good spots for a date?"

"I can think of a couple," Craig replied.

"What are you thinking?" Ned inquired with a suggestive smile.

"I just… I want to do something special for MJ before we meet up with Jericho." I looked around at the both of them. "She's been doing a lot for me and… I don't want to be all take and no give, you know?"

Ned nodded enthusiastically. "I think that's a great idea!"

"I do, too, but I don't think I can back you up on that one," Craig said as he shook his head.

I looked at him. "Why not?"

"Well, if you're trying to do something for MJ, then that means you want to do something with only the two of you. Right now, you have no powers, and you're in a place you never been to before. I don't want to act like a helicopter parent, but if something happens to you and MJ, I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself. Even if I was cool with it, there's also the matter of convincing Kitty, and… well…" He trailed off as he tilted his head briefly. He didn't need to complete his sentence. Getting Kitty on board wouldn't be easy under the circumstances we were under.

"He does have a point," Ned said in agreement. I looked at him, feeling a bit betrayed. I must have had a look on my face because he held his hands up defensively. "Look, Peter, right now, you are literally the only person in the room without powers."

I frowned as I looked back and forth between Ned and Craig. "I get that, I really do. But, I don't know when will be the next time I'll have some downtime, and I really want to show MJ that I appreciate her."

"I'm sure she understands that," Craig said. "She's a lot more understanding about this superhero game goes more than a lot of non-heroes I know." He pressed his lips together. He sighed. "Look, let's talk it over with Kitty after lunch and see if we can work something out. I can't promise anything, especially since Kitty is the leader and what she says goes, but if we can come up with something viable, then we'll go with that. Sounds good?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that's cool with me."

A few hours later, we all went downstairs for lunch. The ladies were already seated, along with Craig's parents. Ned sat next to Betty. I sat next to MJ. Craig sat with Carmilla. At each seat was a cup and a plate with sweet potato fries. In the center of the table was a larger plate holding a pile of sandwiches – patty melts, to be exact. Right next to it was a pitcher of iced tea and a pitcher of lemonade.

"Dig in," Craig Senior urged.

After a chorus of thanks, we each grabbed sandwiches and started eating. We ate in silence for a few minutes. As we ate, MJ's held my hand underneath the table. As I chewed on a bite of my sandwich, I looked at MJ and smiled. She smiled back as she raised her eyebrows briefly.

"So, Carmilla," Desiree spoke up. We all looked at her. "How did you and Craig meet?"

"At the mansion," Carmilla said quietly. "….We um… we didn't get off to a good start."

"We were in two different headspaces and we kind of clashed," Craig added. "But, we came to an understanding. The understanding became a friendship, and, now… you know."

Desiree nodded slowly. "Where are you from?"

"I'm originally from Albuquerque." Carmilla paused. "I… I had to leave due to my powers becoming active."

"And how did your parents take it?"

"Mom," Craig spoke up defensively.

"Craig, it's fine," Carmilla assured as she looked at him and smiled. She looked back at Craig's mother. "I wouldn't know. The parents who I thought were my parents… weren't." She took in a deep breath. "…I, um… I'm a SHIELD agent. I became one after they picked me up at my so-called parents' house. Turns out they – my fake parents – were working for some very bad people. My real mother, if you can call her that, basically wanted me to be trained up as a terrorist… a human weapon." She sighed. "I wasn't so much as born as I was created."

We all went quiet for some seconds. Carmilla bowed her head, looking like she was dreading what Craig's parents were about to say. I swallowed the lump in my throat. I was about to speak when Craig's father spoke up.

"Man, just when I thought my son's life can get no crazier," he commented with a chuckle. She looked at Carmilla. "And you're sure you want to date Craig? He's a bit of a handful."

"I'm not that bad," Craig retorted with a roll of his eyes.

Craig Senior stared at his son. "Son, I love you, but I still remember how we had to talk to you after you fought one of your teammates back in high school."

"Wow, I thought you were a Goody Two Shoes in high school," Carmilla joked as she looked over Craig. I could see the relief in her eyes.

"I was," Craig protested. "But even I can only hear someone brag about taking my girl in front of my face so many times without retaliating. Not that I'm saying I was justified, but…"

"Well, you won't have to hear that again, I promise you."

Craig smiled. "I'm going to hold you to that."

"So do you have any family you can trust?" Desiree asked with concern in her voice.

"Other than three other SHIELD agents and Scott, well… you're looking at them," Carmilla replied.

Desiree nodded in understanding before she smiled. "Well, I'm glad you have a good support system."

The rest of the lunch was easygoing. Carmilla seemed to be a bit more at ease. I felt a nudge on my shoulder. I looked over at MJ. She winked at me. I winked back at her. As I did so, I was reminded that I needed to speak to Kitty.

After lunch was over, and we helped clean up, Craig and I pulled Kitty aside to talk near the pool. I explained to Kitty that I wanted to do something special for MJ. She listened to me in silence for a few moments. After I was done, I looked at her, hoping she'd say yes.

Yeah, that didn't happen.

"Yeah, no, absolutely not," Kitty declared with a shake of her head.

"But Kitty," I replied, about to protest.

"Peter." As she said my name, she brought her hands together. "I love you to death. I love MJ to death. I know you want to show MJ that you appreciate her, and I really, REALLY don't want to get in the way of you doing that. But I'm not okay with you two being out in the open by yourselves. I know we're in a different part of the country, far from New York, but anything can happen. And the way you are now, I don't think you'll be able to protect yourself or MJ is something does come up."

I tilted my head. "You know, I didn't always have my powers."

"Uh-huh," Craig spoke up. "Quick question, though. Do you have a fighting style that isn't related to your powers?"

I looked at Craig, eyes a bit wide. "I, uh…"

"Do you know how to box? Do you know Karate, Kung Fu, Judo, or…?"

I looked at him. I then bowed my head. "I don't."

"We'll need to change that," Kitty said. "But as it is now…" She shook her head. "I'm sorry Peter."

"It's okay," I said. I hated to admit it, but they were right. Going out alone with MJ in my current state was a risk. I felt a pat on my shoulder. I looked over at Craig, who smiled at me.

"Don't worry your head over it, homie," Craig said reassuringly. "I'm sure she knows you appreciate her, and you'll get an opportunity to show it. Just not now, okay?"

I nodded. My plan would have to wait… as soon as I come up with one, anyway.

That was when the sliding door opened. We all looked at Joanna, who was grimacing.

"You guys might want to come and see this," she said.

Kitty, Craig, and I looked at each other before we went inside. Once inside, we all removed our shoes before we followed Joanna into the living room. Ned, Betty, Carmilla, and MJ were there, looking at the TV screen. I looked at the television. There was Kraven, speaking from behind a podium in front of New York's City Hall.

"Turn it up," Kitty said. Betty picked up the remote and turned up the volume.

"…unfortunately, Spider-Man managed to escape," Kraven said. "However, it won't be too long until he is captured since he has been rendered powerless. But fret not. From now on, I'll be taking over the mantle as Spider-Man. While I give New York a worthy hero, I'll hunt down the rest of the X-Men."

"Ugh!" Betty grunted out in disgust before she turned off the TV.

"…Did he just say what I think he just said?" I asked as my right eye twitched.

"He said he's going to take over the mantle of Spider-Man," Craig said. I looked over at him as he shook his head in disgust. "That's just straight up disrespectful!"

Carmilla took in a breath before she stood up. "I have a phone call to make," she announced before she walked out of the room.

"So… in the category for audacity, where does this rank?" Joanna deadpanned.

"I think this might me be in the top five," Ned replied.

"He's going for the GOAT status," Craig grumbled.

I didn't say anything. I just stood there. I felt my heartrate go up. I was getting angry. It was already bad enough that Kraven was using Tony Stark as a reason to go after me. It was even worse that he had me abducted and had his wife strip me of my powers. But the fact that he said he was going to take my name… my mantle… and hunt down my family while using it… that made my blood boil. Slowly, I turned and walked away. Behind me, I heard MJ call out to me, only for Kitty to tell her to let me go. I made my way upstairs and into the boys' guestroom. I closed the door behind me, walked over to the bed, and sat down.

I bowed my head and closed my eyes. I checked in with my feelings. How did I feel at that time? I was angry. I was upset. I felt insulted. I felt offended. I just wanted to smash something into pieces. Of course, I couldn't do that. I try not to destroy other people's property, for the most part. And I'd rather not ruin whatever good impression we left on Craig's parents. I haven't felt these kinds of feelings in my chest since we faced off against Justin Hammer and his bootleg version of Scorpion. And I hated feeling like that.

"I hate this," I muttered to myself. I lifted up my head when I heard the door open. There was Ned, looking at me with a look of worry.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked.

"No," I replied honestly.

He frowned. "…You want to talk about it?"

I thought about it for a moment. I then shook my head. "No."

"…Do you want me to go?"

I stared at him for a few seconds. I shook my head again. "No."

Ned nodded before he walked over and took a seat next to me. Without saying a word, I leaned against him. The two of just sat there in silence.