Michelle "MJ" Jones

With me having Spider-Man's name blocked on Twitter, I figured I wouldn't have to see any story about him as I scrolled through my timeline.

I figured wrong.

I was lying in bed, going through Twitter to see what was going on. While Spider-Man didn't end up on my trends, X-Men did. That wasn't too unusual. But, with Beck likely out there, I wasn't so sure they were trending for the most positive of reasons. After one tap of the screen, and I realized the reason why.

"Well, guess what we know what the X-Men are dealing with next," wrote a user – ESUBulldogsFan73, to be exact. Attached to that tweet was a video. It was a short clip, but it was all I needed to see. The clip was some video that looked like it was being taken through the window of someone's apartment. Spider-Man, clad in his black outfit, was being slammed into the ground by this fiery figure. He was slammed so hard that a crater formed under him. I winced at the sight of it. Peter and I may not have been cool, but I was no sadist and seeing Peter get hurt was never a sight I enjoyed. I could barely make it, but this mystery person placed a foot on his chest for some seconds before they flew off. That was the end of it as the video ended.

"…What the fuck?" I uttered as I sat up.

I kept on scrolling. A lot of tweets were putting out the same video. Quite a few were unimpressed, thinking things were going to end up the same way it did with Scorpion. I was hoping that was the case. But something was different about this. At least, that's what I felt like. I guess it was because this person came out of nowhere – no press conference, no kind video, or even a picture. This person might as well have been form outer space. Maybe I was being paranoid, but something told me that this was a different kind of threat. How are the X-Men feeling about this?

How is Peter feeling about this?

I closed Twitter and went through my contacts. I selected Peter's name and tapped the text option. I was about to type something, but I stopped my thumb before it could even touch a letter on the screen. What was even the point? Peter and I weren't on talking terms. All that was going to happen was me getting no response and getting left on read. I shook my head. I was about to lock my phone when I saw the three dots. Peter was typing a text. I was a bit surprised. I was then anticipating what he had to say. I stared at the screen, seeing the pulsating dots as I waited for what felt like a good minute straight. And then they disappeared. I couldn't quite describe how I felt at that moment. It was like this mixture of disappointment in not getting a text from Peter and anger at myself for even getting my hopes up and wanting to see words from him.

I put the phone off to the side and lay back in bed. I stared up at the ceiling as I thought about this coldness between me and Peter. I was also wondering why Peter was being so stubborn and why he won't just talk to me. Then I felt disgusted with myself when I remembered that that was what I asked for and that there wasn't anything really stopping me from just calling him.

Pot and kettle, a voice in my head said.

"I'm just trying to give myself a mental break," I muttered to myself.

Yeah, because having your own little cold war is doing wonders on that front.

I sneered, but I didn't say anything. I was done with this conversation with myself. Instead, I closed my eyes and went to sleep. Or, at least, I tried to. A few seconds later, I looked over at my phone. I reached out for it. If I called him, maybe he'd pick up and we could finally squashed this tension between us. Before I touched the phone, I stopped myself. If I did call him, would he even pick up? I just didn't know. So, I withdrew my hand.

The next day, at school, I was on the roof with Ned and Cessily. As I looked out towards the city, Ned was speaking with Cessily.

"Like seriously, where did that person come from?" Ned asked.

"I don't know," Cessily replied simply. "It's not like I keep a tabs on those who'd want to go after Peter. If I did, I'd be stuck in some kind of secret location looking over some digital database since I'm sure the list of people who wants Spider-Man out of the picture is long enough to fill a library."

"So what are we supposed to do?"

"The only thing we can do," I replied with a shrug of my shoulders. I felt the gazes on my back. "Let's just let Scott handle things."

"You're awfully calm about this," Cessily pointed out. I turned around and looked at her. She tilted her head. "I'm just saying."

I shrugged. "Peter can handle himself."

"Sounds like you're still bitter," Ned muttered out as he looked away.

I looked at him. "What was that?"

Ned looked back at me and narrowed his eyes. "You heard me."

I sneered. "You know very well that things aren't cool between Peter and I and they probably won't be for a while. You know what Peter did, so I don't understand why you expect me to be all buddy-buddy with him."

"Don't you think you're being unfair?"

I glared at him. "No, I don't think I'm being unfair. You haven't been through what I've been through since The Spell, Ned. And now Peter wants to be upset with me? For what?"

Ned tilted his head as he raised an eyebrow. "…Really? Do you really need me to answer that? After Peter and I saw you with – ?"

"Guys," Cessily interjected as she stepped in between us. "This is neither the time nor place. We don't want to do anything to bring attention to ourselves. More than that, fighting each other is not going to get us anywhere. So let's just drop this for now, okay?"

I looked at her. I then scoffed. "Whatever," I muttered before I walked away from the two of them.

After school, I was at work, wiping down the counter. Meanwhile, Cessily was mopping the floor. There were no customers. I really wished there were. Maybe I wouldn't be thinking about what Ned said to me on the roof of Midtown. As we worked in silence, I had a feeling that Cessily wanted to say something to me. Every now and again, she'd send me a glace. Each time, I pretended I didn't notice. After several minutes, she finally spoke up.

"…Are you okay?" Cessily asked.

I stopped what I was doing and looked at her. She was still mopping.

"Yeah, I'm good," I said. I wasn't really truthful.

"Are you sure? I don't want to press, but I don't quite know the dynamic you and Ned have and you two looked like you were going to be at each other's throats, so…"

"It's not that serious. Ned and I argue every now and again. Plus, I guess I'm still trying to keep myself in check with everything that's going on." That part was true, I supposed.

"I get that." Cessily stopped mopping and looked at me. "Look, I know you don't know me much from a can of paint, but maybe you should talk to someone about what you're going through."

"I already have an appointment with one during Spring Break."

"Maybe you should move that appointment up."

I paused for a moment. I then tilted my head briefly. "Maybe you're right."

Before that conversation could continue, the bell from the front door sounded. I looked towards the door to see Betty walk in. She didn't look happy – not even a little bit. Something was up.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked.

"No, I'm not," Betty said. She stopped in her tracks and looked at Cessily. She then looked at me. "Can we talk in private, just the two of us?"

"She can be trusted." I looked at Cessily and beckoned towards Betty. "Cessily, this is Betty. She's within our friend group. Betty, this is Cessily. She goes to Midtown and just started working here. She's also one of Scott's peoples."

"Pleased to meet you," Cessily said with a nod.

"Pleasure's all mine," Betty replied. She then looked back at me with a frown. "I'm guessing you haven't seen the news."

"The news?" I raised an eyebrow. I then looked across the counter until I saw the remote. I walked over and picked it up. I then aimed it at the TV and pressed the power button. The TV turned on and opened up on a channel showing some kind of movie from decades before my time. After flipping the channels, I landed on CNBC right when they were in a middle of a breaking news report by Trish Tilby.

"…are still in shock from the incident as Jessica Jones, local vigilante and private investigator, allegedly assaulted Justin Hammer, CEO of Hammer Industries. The vicious attack took place at Hammer Industries HQ, where a corporate meeting was being held. According to witnesses, Jessica Jones bypassed security before breaking into the meeting and beating down Hammer with her bare hands until he was unconscious. Jones left right afterwards. Three hours later, Jessica was arrested at the Alias Investigations office. We'll keep you posted on any new details on this story."

I turned off the TV. I tilted my head.

"First Luke Cage, and now Jessica Jones," I mused. I looked at Betty. "Did she do that?"

"No, she didn't," Betty answered defensively.

"Are you sure?" Cessily asked.

Betty looked at Cessily with a glare. "Yes, I'm sure! Jessica wouldn't do such a thing, okay?! Besides, when that happened, I was with Jessica on a case in Staten. We weren't even close to Manhattan!"

Cessily brought her hands up defensively, letting the mop drop to the floor. "I don't mean to offend you. I just wanted to be sure." She kneeled down and grabbed the mop. "Can't she just explain to the detectives that she was on a case and provide proof of that?"

"She can't."

I sneered. "Why not?" I asked.

Betty walked up to the counter and took a seat on one of the stools. "…The kind of case we've been investigating… we can't turn over the evidence." I narrowed my eyes. She needed to do better than that. "Look… You know about Luke Cage being in police custody?"

"I think everyone knows about that," Cessily said. She herself walked up to the counter and took a seat. Somehow, I didn't think it was mere coincidence that she chose to leave a seat between her and Betty.

"Well, ever since his arrest, everyone at Alias has been doing their best to investigate what really happened since Luke insists he wasn't responsible for what they accuse him of. We're even working with Matt Murdock's firm since Murdock is representing Luke in this case. We found some stuff that might help us out and to clear Jessica's name, we'd have to turn that in. So… Jessica's stuck."

"And she's cool with that?" Cessily asked.

"She's the one who told us not to clear her name since she doesn't want to do anything that puts Luke Cage's chance at freedom in jeopardy. I don't like it, but that's what it is." Betty shook her head. "Fuck superhero politics."

Cessily chuckled bitterly. "Reason number 1200 why I don't get involved in this shit usually."

Betty looked at her. "Then why are you involved with the X-Men?"

"I owe Scott and I owe Spider-Man. This is just me repaying debts – nothing more, nothing less."

A thought occurred to me right there and then. "You know, we might want to tell Kitty about this," I said.

Betty looked at me. "Why?"

"Think about it. Jessica Jones got arrested for something she didn't do, even though a lot of people allegedly seen her do it. Similarly, Luke Cage got arrested for something he's denying. If she didn't do what she's accused of and Luke Cage didn't do what he's accused of, then obviously someone is doing a rather great impression of them. And who do we know that can make rather convincing impressions?"

Betty blinked slowly before she turned her face away. "…Oh… shit. Mysterio."

"Or an actual shapeshifter," Cessily added.

Betty and I both looked at her. "You think there's an actual shapeshifter that's after Spider-Man?" I asked.

"It wouldn't surprise me in the least if there was." She then shrugged. "Granted, if it is an actual shapeshifter, it wouldn't exactly discount Mysterio from being involved. But, I think we need to keep an open mind on this."

From my peripheral vision, I saw Betty slowly shake her head. "What other powers do people possess in this world?"

Cessily smiled. "Wait until you guys see what I can do." Her smile faded. "Still, I'm with MJ – Kitty ought to be told about this. So please tell her today. At the very least, she needs to know about any potential threats the X-Men would have to deal with."

Betty nodded. "I will, I promise."

"Oh, and since Scott told me about this, I should warn you – please don't pull a Bunker Move, whatever that is. Scott would be… less than thrilled. Am I clear?" Betty and I nodded our heads emphatically. With Kitty, Craig, or Carmilla, I at least had an idea of what they would do to me if they got tired of my shit. Scott, I wasn't so sure. And that was scary to me. "Good. Now let's back to work before my boss comes in and starts bitching."

After work, Cessily escorted me home and walked me up to my door.

"So, you want to step in for a drink or something?" I asked as we stood outside of my door.

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm good," Cessily said gently. "Besides, I'm needed back at home. My roommates need me, especially since one of them is looking after Peter and Betty at The Daily Bugle."

I nodded, glad to know that bit of information. I wanted to ask if Peter was okay, but I decided against it. "Well, hopefully this situation won't last too long and you can get back to doing what passes for normal for you."

"I'm 'gifted', MJ. For me, normal is weird." She smiled at me. "But I appreciate the sentiment."

"You're welcome." I nodded. "Well, I'll see you in the morning."

"Likewise. If anything happens, just call Scott, Kitty, or even me."

"Noted."

Cessily waved at me as she walked away. I watched her for a bit, before I unlocked the door and stepped inside.