Michelle "MJ" Jones

A couple of days later, I got a text from Kitty. She told me that she set me up with a meeting with Colleen Wing at her dojo. I was happy to hear it. That happiness lasted for all of three seconds when I realized I needed to tell my parents about it. There was a part of me that just wanted to keep it a secret. However, I decided against it. For one, it was a really trivial thing to hide. Secondly, my mom would have sniffed me out in a moment. My talent for observation came from her, after all. So, at dinner, I brought it up with my folks. It didn't really take me much to convince them.

It turns out that living in a city where wild stuff can happen at any moment makes for a great supporting argumnet.

The next day, after school, I made my way to the Chikara Dojo. After eyeing the door for a bit, I walked up to it to try and open it. It was at this moment that I heard a buzzing sound. I narrowed my eyes, before I looked upward. Pointing down towards me was a security camera. I swallowed as I looked back at the door before I opened it.

I made my way up the stairs and to the floor that the dojo was on. I walked down the hallway until I saw what I assumed was the training room. In the center of it was a small table. On top of the table was a teapot and two teacups. The table itself was so small that one would have to sit on the floor to properly sit at it. That was perhaps the point, if the woman sitting at it was of any indication. She looked over at me, then nodded.

"You must be Michelle," she said. She beckoned towards the table. "Please, sit." I hesitated for a moment. I then walked over and took a seat at the table, sitting cross legged.

"I take it you're Colleen Wing," I said quietly.

Colleen nodded. "The one and only… as far as I know, anyway." She smiled slightly. She gestured to the teapot. "Would you like a cup?" I nodded. I watched her as she grabbed the teapot and poured tea into the cups. "I had to admit, I was a bit surprised to get that phone call from Kitty." She set the pot down before she pushed one of the cups towards me. "I was even more surprised that she called me for training someone outside of her workplace." I had a feeling that she was using the word "workplace" euphemistically. She tilted her head. "Are you familiar with Kitty's line of work?"

I picked up the cup and took a sip. I blinked a couple of times, taking in the tea's smoky taste.

"Lapsang tea?" I asked almost rhetorically.

Colleen smiled, looking a bit impressed "I see you're also a fellow tea connoisseur."

I smiled back at her. "I am, thank you." My smiled faded. "But, to answer your question, I'm more than familiar with the X-Men."

"…Are you a vigilante?" I shook my head. "But the way Kitty speaks of you, it sounds like you're involved in that world."

I nodded. "It's kind of hard not be in my position."

She stared at me intently. I had a feeling she was trying to get a read on me. I was afraid that Colleen would try to pry even further. I didn't want to explain that I was dating Spider-Man or how I was dealing with two magic spells. I knew that Kitty trusted her, which was probably why I wasn't as walled off with her as I would usually be with someone I just met. Also, to be fair, she had all the right to know a bit about the person Kitty wants her to train. This was her dojo, after all. At the same time, while I respected Kitty's judgement, I wasn't ready to be fully open with this woman – not yet, anyway. Fortunately, Colleen didn't probe any further. Instead she nodded as she made a noncommittal sound with her throat. I held back the urge to let loose a sigh of relief.

"So, is that why you're looking for someone to train you?" Colleen asked.

I thought about her questin for a moment. I then nodded. "That's a good part of it," I admitted. "I've been mulling it over for a long while, years actually. Certain things happened – both during that time and recently – that made me make up my mind."

"I see." She paused for a few moments. "Do you have any martial arts experience?"

"Does dropping a Friend of Humanity member with a straight right count?"

Colleen closed her eyes, bowed her head and shook it as she snickered. She looked back at me. "Let's say that it does." Her expression became very serious. "So you want me to train you. Before I do, I need you to understand that I'll be training you hard, much like I have done so with my previous students. That doesn't mean I will force you to go at a pace you're not comfortable with. What it does mean, however, that I'll be drilling into you everything I can. You don't want to be a vigilante? That's fine. However, I've always felt a sense responsibility over every student I ever had. The way I see it, if I'm training, it's my responsibility to make sure you can, at the very least, escape as many a bad situation you can. If that's not your cup of tea, okay. We can finish our tea and part ways, no hard feelings."

"I can handle it," I promised without hesitation.

Colleen nodded. "Good. Now let's talk schedule."

The next day, I started training under Colleen after work. During the first week, she taught me the basics – proper stances, proper breathing, basic strikes, and the like. By the time the weekend rolled around, I was in bed, never being so sore before in my life.

On Monday, after school, Peter swung by Peter Pan. It had been a few days since I saw him face to face. He looked more than a little beat up. Instead of taking something to go, he decided to stay, taking a seat at the counter.

"You've been getting trained in martial arts, too?" I said after he explained why he looked like he been through the wringer.

"Yeah," Peter replied. "Carmilla and Craig are teaching me what they know under Kitty's orders. Carmilla did warn me that she was going to train me hard. She wasn't kidding."

I scoffed. "Were you hoping otherwise?"

Peter smirked. "Honestly? Yeah, I was."

I shook my head as I chuckled, grimacing slightly when I was reminded how sore my neck muscles were. "Well, I'm not much better. Colleen Wing is a tough teacher. Even brushing my teeth was a bit of a struggle this morning." Peter smiled in amusement. I stuck my tongue out at him. I was about to ask what kind of sweet he wanted to go with his coffee when the front door opened. On instinct, I spoke as I turned my head. "Welcome to Peter Pan, I'll be right with… you." I almost trailed off completely as I was caught off guard.

If I was to make a list of who I expected to walk through that door at that very moment, well, I don't know who would be on it beyond my fellow American Idiots, the X-Men, and some of the regulars. I definitely knew who I wouldn't have on it, though.

Kraven.

But, there he was, standing at the door, looking left and right as he took in the establishment. He was dressed in his version of Peter's quick change outfit. I swallowed. From the corner of my eye, I saw Peter shift. I wanted to tell Kraven to get out as rudely as possible. I wanted to curse him out. I had to keep it calm, though. As far as he knew, I was just a girl working at a coffee shop. I had to keep a mask on, so to speak. I had to be the polite girl behind the register that smiles and tells people to have a nice day, whether they're super polite and courteous or they make me hope they spill their hot coffee on their crotch and get burns of varying degrees in that area. So, when Kraven walked up to the counter, I only spared a glance at Peter before I walked up to the register.

"You're Kraven," I said nonchalantly as I forced a small smile.

"I see my reputation precedes me," he replied.

I raised my eyebrows briefly. "You've been the talk of the town for days on an end, if not weeks. One would have to be under a rock to not know who you are."

Kraven nod stoically. "True. It seems like the people of New York have their opinions of me. Some accepted me, some scorn me." He raised an eyebrow. "What do you think about me?"

I shrugged casually, trying to pretend I wasn't uncomfortable with how intently he was staring into my eyes. I put on a front of apathy. On the inside, I wanted nothing more to than to tell Kraven exactly how I felt about him. "I'm just a girl on a job, and you're just a customer. Is there anything I can get for you?"

"A cup of coffee, if you would kindly."

I nodded. "Small, medium, or large?"

"Small will suffice."

"Okay, I'll get your coffee. That's be a dollar fifty." I turned away. I briefly looked at Peter, checking to see if he was okay. Seeing that he was on his phone, I grabbed a cup and a cardboard sleeve. After putting the sleeve around the cup, I went up to one of the machines and put the cup underneath the nozzle before I pulled the lever on top of it. Hot coffee poured into the cup, causing steam to rise from it. Once it was full, I walked up to the counter. After placing a lid on the cup, I placed the cup on the counter in front of Kraven. Kraven, in turn, placed two dollar bills on the counter and pushed then towards me. I picked up the bills and rang him up on the cash register. Once the drawer of the register opened, I put the bills in the proper section.

"Keep the change," Kraven said. I nodded before I closed the drawer. I was about to tell him to have a nice day, but he stared at me for some seconds. "I'm curious. How do you feel about the previous Spider-Man?"

I grimaced. "That's a tough question for me to answer," I replied.

Kraven raised an eyebrow. "And why's that?"

"Because I don't recognize you as Spider-Man. To me, you're just another guy on the government's payroll trying to put out a fire with gasoline, just like Hammer and Scorpion – the non-X-Men Scorpion, that is." I paused for a moment, trying to choose my next words carefully. "Though, to answer your question, I can't say I am unbiased. When someone has saved your life multiple times, you tend to have a more positive opinion about them and a not-so-positive opinion about those thinking they're fit for his suit." At that point, I wished I could see the look on Peter's face or hear the thoughts going through his head.

Kraven narrowed his eyes. "So you do scorn me."

"I don't scorn you." That was a lie. "I just think you're playing a loser's game."

Kraven took in a breath. I had a feeling that I struck a nerve. "Is that so? Are you not aware that I've taken down the X-Men and helped made him powerless?"

I frowned. "I'm well aware. But you said it yourself in that press conference, didn't you? Spider-Man escaped. You didn't finish the job. And if what he did to Scorpion is of any indication, he's likely just waiting around until the proper time to strike." I sighed. "A word to the wise, Kraven – quit while you're ahead. The only people who accept you as Spider-Man in this city or anywhere else are those who already hated the real Spider-Man to begin with. You'll never be fully embraced by this city, and as long as you're here, you'll have a target on your back." I grimaced. "Or you can stay in this city. Do you."

He glared at me for some seconds. He then took in a breath. "…Thank you for the coffee. You have a nice day."

I smiled. "You as well," Kraven.

He turned and left. I looked at the door for some seconds. I then swallowed as my stomach churned. I didn't care much for this job. There were even days I hated it. And yet, there I was, bothered… offended even… that he even set foot inside of Peter Pan. I bit my lip before I looked towards Peter. He had a look of frustration on his face as he stared down at the counter. It was at this point that Sasha, my coworker, walked in.

I looked at Sasha. "Take the register," I said. "I'm going on break." I walked up to Peter and grabbed him by the hand. He looked up at me, a bit surprised. "Come with me."

The two of us went out back into the alley. Once there, Peter leaned back against a wall. He took in a deep breath.

"You think I can take him?" Peter breathed out.

I glared at him. "You better not," I warned.

He smirked. "What? You don't want to see me kick him in the dick?"

I closed my eyes and rolled them before I stared back at him. "I know for a fact you're just joking to hide how upset you are."

His smirk shrunk a bit. "That obvious?" I nodded. His smirk disappeared as he frowned. "…I hate this. I hate all of this."

I scoffed. "It'll be fine." I wondered if I was talking to both him and myself. To be honest, while I was being patient, there was a part of me that was a bit worried that Peter would be permanently depowered. But, of course, this was me we're talking about – a pessimist in recovery. "We just have to wait."

"I know, I know," Peter replied with a nod. "But still…"

"I get it," I said. "I get it." I smiled. "Come on. I'll get you that coffee and donut."

Peter's eyes lit up a bit. "I might take two."

I chuckled as I watched him. I then held my arms out. "Come here, Loser."

Without hesitation, he walked up to me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close. We embraced for a good minute or so. I rubbed my cheek against his, causing him to chuckle heartily. After some time I tried to pull away. I felt Peter move his hands away from me. Oddly, though, I felt a tug on the back of my dress.

"Um… MJ," Peter uttered. "I got good news, and I got bad news."

I narrowed my eyes. "Okay," I replied slowly, not sure where he was going with this.

"So, good news… I think I'm starting to get my powers back."

I nodded. "Okay, that is good news. So, what's the bad news?"

"…I think the first thing that came back is my ability to… cling to walls and… other things." I felt another tug on the back of my dress. I blinked a couple of times. I then pulled away just enough so I could look Peter in the eye.

"…Are you saying that your hands are -?"

"Stuck?" Peter finished for me. He nodded. "Yes."

My eyes went a bit wide. "Well, get them unstuck!" I exclaimed.

"I'm trying!" As he said this, I felt more tugging at my dress.

"Well, try harder!"

"I can't!"

"Why not?!"

"If I do, I'll rip your dress off!"

I opened my mouth to retort, closed it, then tilted my head briefly. "…Fair point." I huffed out a breath as I pouted.

"I'm sorry, Em."

"It's not your fault." I took in a breath. "Okay, I have an idea. Just… close your eyes."

"Um… okay…" I waited for Peter to close his eyes before I did the same.

"Okay, I need you to take a deep breath, hold for about three seconds, then let it out for four, and while we do this, we're going to think about nothing, starting… now." I breathed with him as I felt his body expand. After holding our breaths, we let them out slowly. "Again." Once again, we breathed in deeply, held our breaths for a few seconds, then let them out slowly. This time, we were more in sync. I felt the tug of the fabric of my dress. He was trying to pull his hands away again. "Again." We went through the breathing in exercise one last time. It was then that Peter was able to pull his hand away. I let go of Peter and I opened my eyes, seeing him back away with his hands up.

"Sorry," Peter said as he gave me a smile that looked more like a visible cringe.

"Don't worry about it, Dork," I said dismissively. "I'm just glad there wasn't a wardrobe malfunction…" I then narrowed my eyes. "…unless you were banking on that." I stared at him as his face heated up. He was about to sputter because of course I'm still able to fluster him. Before he could start speaking, I walked up to him and planted a quick kiss on his lips. "Come on, let's get your donut and coffee."

Peter smiled wryly as he shook his head. "I hate you."

"I love you, too, Tiger. Now let's get back inside before I get fired."