Author's Note: My people! I'm back with chapter 2, and from what I'm able to tell, you guys enjoyed chapter 1. I wanna give a big thank you to everyone who has given this story a favorite, a follow, and a review. You guys are awesome. Now, it's review replying time.
Narutomaster500: Haha. Well, I'm glad that I'm able to give you a PeterXJean story. And I assure you that you're getting more!
Alpha02Fury97: Nice! I ship them too, obviously. Lol
KaidoFett: Scott hate? Not gonna lie, I'm cracking up at that, XD.
Miguel Bettencou: Don't worry, my friend. I'm continuing this story!
Christwhite2004: Chapter 2 is here!
Cookie The Great: Well, your wait officially ends, because chapter 2 finally exists!
Alright, that's all the reviews. To all my readers, make sure to leave a review, and I'll reply to it in the next chapter. With that being said, have fun reading.
Tangled in Flames
Intro Music: X-Men (2000) - Main Theme
Chapter 2: Co-Workers
Peter's Apartment
BGM: Jet - Hold On
Morning light poured through the cracks of a sun-faded curtain, illuminating the cozy chaos of Peter's small New York apartment. The scent of burnt toast still lingered in the air, but Peter didn't have time to worry about breakfast. Today was important. Monumental, even.
Inside the cramped bathroom, Peter stood in front of the mirror, meticulously adjusting the collar of his slightly-wrinkled dress shirt. He tugged at the fabric, straightened his tie, and tried to flatten the one lock of stubborn hair that always stood up no matter what he did. He tilted his head side to side, studying his reflection as if it might reveal some deeper truth about his readiness.
"Brand new day," he said quietly to himself, his voice filled with both nerves and hope. A small smile formed on his lips. "You've got this, Pete."
After everything he'd been through—the battles, the heartbreak, the sleepless nights swinging across rooftops—this felt like a fresh start. He was officially going to be a chemistry professor at Empire State University, his alma mater. Dr. Connors had put in a good word for him, and for once, the dominoes of his life seemed to be falling into place in the right direction.
Grabbing his bag and slipping on his jacket, Peter headed out of his apartment with purpose. The second the door closed behind him…
"RENT!"
Peter froze mid-step. His eyes widened.
There stood Mr. Ditkovich, arms crossed, eyes squinting suspiciously like a hawk who had just spotted its prey.
"Morning, Mr. Ditkovich!" Peter blurted, voice slightly panicked as he quickly picked up the pace. "Can't talk! Big day! New job! I'll have it soon!"
"Soon isn't a day on the calendar, Parker!" Ditkovich shouted, but Peter was already out the door.
Once outside, he sighed in relief, glancing back to make sure Ditkovich wasn't tailing him. "I'll pay him someday," he muttered, "Maybe by the time rent actually becomes vintage."
He started down the sidewalk with renewed focus, determined to make it to campus on time, until-
WEEOOO WEEOOO WEEOOO!
BGM Change: Warbly Jets - Alive
A cluster of NYPD squad cars screamed past, sirens wailing, tires screeching as they veered through traffic at breakneck speeds.
Peter's shoulders sagged, his lips curling into a slight frown. "And there it is…"
There was only one reason cops moved like that. Trouble. And when trouble showed up in New York, it usually meant Spider-Man was about to be fashionably late for something important.
Again.
Peter looked down at his watch and sighed.
"Okay. Fast in, fast out," he told himself. "Take down the bad guys, then go teach some chemistry. Simple." He paused. "Right?"
Checking his surroundings, Peter darted into a narrow alleyway, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no prying eyes followed. With practiced efficiency, he peeled off his outer clothes, revealing the red and blue Spider-Man suit beneath. He slipped the mask on over his head, securing it with a tug before crouching down.
"Alright, Spidey. Let's make this quick."
In one fluid motion, he launched himself up the alley wall, scaling it with ease before flipping over onto the rooftop. The wind greeted him instantly, brushing against his suit as he fired a webline and took to the skies.
Below him, the trail of police cruisers carved a path through the city streets. He followed, swinging fast and low between buildings as the morning sun cast golden rays over the skyline.
Whatever chaos waited at the end of the trail, Peter was ready.
At least... he hoped he was.
Jean's Apartment
BGM: X-Men TAS Theme - Chill Remix
The morning light filtered into Jean's apartment, casting long, warm beams across the hardwood floor. A cup of coffee sat forgotten on her kitchen table, half-full, the steam from it having long since faded. She stood in front of her mirror, brushing a strand of red hair behind her ear as she adjusted her blouse. She looked polished—professional, even. Ready for her lecture at Empire State University. On the outside, at least.
But her reflection told a different story.
The eyes staring back at her weren't tired in the physical sense, but there was a weight behind them. A silent burden.
The Phoenix.
No matter how carefully she curated her life, it lingered. Dormant, for now, but ever-present. It was why she left the X-Mansion. Why she distanced herself from those she loved. It was for their safety. For everyone's safety.
And yet…
Her fingers paused at the buttons of her blouse as memories of last night slowly drifted into her thoughts. The rooftop. The moonlight. Peter.
A soft smile formed on her lips as she recalled the way he brought her pizza, and somehow managed to break through the dark cloud that had followed her for a good amount of time now. His kindness had been so simple, so genuine. He hadn't pushed her, hadn't pried. He was just there, and that was enough.
It had been a long time since she felt that kind of comfort.
But then…
WEEOOO WEEOOO WEEOOO!
The sudden blast of sirens cut through the quiet morning. Jean blinked, drawn out of her thoughts. She turned her head toward the open window, the sound growing louder as it echoed between the buildings. Curiosity edged into concern as she approached the window, pulling back the curtain slightly.
Below, a stream of police cruisers flew down the street, lights flashing, engines roaring.
But it wasn't the police that caught her breath.
It was Spider-Man.
Swinging just above the chaos, his movements fluid and fast, no doubt heading straight for the source of the trouble.
Jean's hand tightened slightly around the window frame.
"Of course you're already out there," she thought. "You never rest, do you, Peter?"
She wanted to stay still. To go back to her coffee, finish getting ready for class, and push these feelings down again. But she couldn't.
Her brow furrowed, conflicted. The Phoenix had been silent—slumbering—for a while now, and part of her knew that was because she had stayed out of the fight. Away from action. Away from stress.
But she couldn't ignore the ache that followed. The longing to help. The instinct to do something.
She had been a hero. She still was a hero.
And right now, her friend was flying into danger.
Jean clenched her jaw as the police cars and Spider-Man grew smaller in the distance. Her stomach twisted in a familiar, painful knot.
She was afraid.
Not of the fight.
But of herself.
Of what she could become.
Still… as the last siren's echo started to fade and the skyline seemed to swallow Peter up, Jean exhaled slowly, her decision rising like a storm behind her eyes.
"Screw it," she muttered.
A soft hum of energy vibrated through her body, subtle at first, then radiant. Her eyes glowed faintly as she stepped away from the window. With a swift motion, she opened it fully, and in an instant, she was airborne—rising into the sky with a grace and speed that only a true omega-level mutant could possess.
The wind rushed past her as she soared higher, the city sprawling beneath her feet. She pushed forward, eyes narrowed in the direction Peter had gone.
She didn't know what she'd find.
She didn't know if she'd be able to stay in control.
But what she did know was this:
Peter was out there.
And she wasn't going to let him face whatever was coming alone.
Sometime Later…
BGM: Spider-Man 2002 OST - Main Titles
Spider-Man soared through the city skyline, effortlessly keeping pace with the screaming fleet of police cars down below. His eyes darted between buildings, searching for whatever chaos lay ahead, the wind tugging at his suit as he swung with practiced precision.
"Whatever this is," he muttered to himself, "probably just another Tuesday in the Big Apple. I can handle it."
But then he saw it.
The moment his eyes locked onto the source of the panic, his stomach dropped. High above the city streets, a construction crane on a nearby building had snapped free of its mechanical sanity. The massive machine flailed in jerky, uncontrolled motions, and the steel beam it carried had gone rogue—swinging violently through the air like a battering ram.
Then…
CRASH!
The beam smashed through the windows of the adjacent high-rise, glass and metal showering down like confetti. The screams of the office workers inside echoed in the air, and worse, below on the street, pedestrians ran in terror as chunks of concrete and debris fell like rain.
Spider-Man's mind raced. Two disasters, and only one wall-crawler. He couldn't be in two places at once. "Okay, okay, think-"
"Peter!"
The voice made his heart jolt. Mid-swing, he twisted and turned, eyes wide behind his lenses as he caught sight of Jean flying toward him. Her hair flowed in the wind, her presence almost celestial against the morning light.
"Jean?!" he called out in surprise.
"We don't have time," she said quickly, flying up beside him. "You go get the people inside the building. I'll handle the streets."
Peter blinked, hesitating for only a heartbeat. But seeing her expression—focused, steady, determined—snapped him into action.
"Got it!" he nodded. "Let's do this!"
With that, Spider-Man veered toward the building, swinging faster now with pinpoint momentum. His eyes scanned the shattered floors for trapped civilians. Inside, chaos reigned: smoke, shattered furniture, frightened office workers frozen in place.
Spider-Man crashed through the broken window, landing in a crouch. "Alright, folks! Spider-Man's on the clock, and today's special is free rooftop evacuations! Let's move!"
The panicked people stared, but some started toward him, the fear in their eyes slowly replaced by hope.
As he shot webs into makeshift slings and guided them toward safer floors, Jean descended like a flame-tinged comet toward the street below. Her feet touched down gently, and the moment they did, her hands lifted toward the sky.
The debris halted mid-air, trembling within her telekinetic hold. Massive chunks of concrete hovered inches from colliding with innocent lives. Jean's brow furrowed, a faint aura surrounding her as she concentrated.
But within her mind, something stirred.
A warmth. A flicker of gold.
The Phoenix.
It was brief—just a whisper in her soul—but it was enough to send a shiver up her spine. Her breath caught for a second, but she pushed through it.
Not now.
Not today.
She focused harder, guiding the debris safely to the ground and away from the crowds. A ripple of relief passed through the onlookers as they backed away from the wreckage. Jean took a steadying breath, reclaiming her composure as her glowing eyes dimmed back to normal.
Afterward, she looked up.
Spider-Man swung out from the building just then, cradling the last person in his arms. He landed beside her with a soft thud and set the woman down gently.
"That's everyone," he said, panting slightly beneath the mask. "Couldn't have pulled that off without you."
Jean gave him a soft smile, brushing a bit of dust from her sleeve. "I couldn't have done anything without your help either."
Peter chuckled, returning Jean's smile with a smile of his own. "You know, we make a pretty good team."
Jean's smile lingered, but her eyes told another story. A flicker of sadness crept into them, her gaze drifting away from his.
"Don't get used to it," she said quietly.
Peter's smile faded.
The weight behind her words settled into the silence between them. He didn't push. He didn't ask. But the ache in his chest told him enough. She was hurting, still carrying something she hadn't fully shared.
And then, just as quickly as she arrived, Jean took a step back. Her feet lifted off the ground, wind brushing against her face as she began to rise.
"Hopefully I'll see you later," she said softly.
And with that, she took off into the sky.
Peter stood there, watching as his red-headed friend disappeared into the clouds. A mixture of concern and admiration flickered in his eyes.
"I hope so too," he whispered to himself.
Empire State University
BGM: Naruto OST - Afternoon of Konoha
Peter sprinted across the sprawling lawn of Empire State University, weaving between students, his bag bouncing against his side, and his heart thumping in his ears.
"Late, late, late," he muttered under his breath between ragged gasps. "Gotta stop making this a tradition."
Of course, in true Parker fashion, his grand first day as ESU's newest chemistry professor had already been derailed by a rogue crane, a falling building, and an impromptu superhero tag team. But now, back in his everyday clothes, he was determined to switch hats—figuratively—from friendly neighborhood Spider-Man to enthusiastic, hopefully competent educator.
His shoes squeaked as he darted through the entrance of the science building, practically skidding across the floor.
And that's when it happened.
Out of the corner of his eye, another figure barreled toward him at full speed. Red hair flowing, and a familiar face wide-eyed with panic. Both of them realized the impending collision a second too late.
"Peter?!"
"Jean?!"
CRASH!
They crashed into each other and tumbled back, landing squarely on the tiled floor with a THUD that echoed through the hallway.
Peter blinked up at the ceiling, momentarily dazed, rubbing the back of his head. "Ow… I think I just saw my first star of the day."
Next to him, Jean sat up, brushing her hair back with a groan, also rubbing her head. "Well... I did say I hoped to see you later," she said dryly. "Just didn't think it would be face-first."
Peter laughed, grinning through the pain. "I'll admit, this wasn't the kind of staff meeting I expected."
Getting to his feet, he quickly extended a hand to Jean. She took it with a sigh, letting him help her up.
"Sorry about that," Peter said sheepishly. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good. And I'm sorry too." Jean genuinely replied. "Guess we both had the same idea. Running late?"
"Always," he said with a breathless nod, but curiosity tugged at him. "Wait, what are you doing here?"
Jean straightened up a bit and smiled. "I'm the biology professor. Been teaching here for a while now."
Peter blinked. "You're kidding."
"Nope." She gave a little shrug. "Small world, huh?"
He grinned, genuinely surprised. "Well, I guess we'll be seeing a lot more of each other, then. Today's my first day. I'm the newest chemistry professor."
Jean's face lit up. "Peter, that's amazing! Welcome to the ESU professor club."
"Thanks," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Honestly, I'm a little nervous. First time teaching. Kinda feels like standing at the edge of a skyscraper."
Jean smiled warmly. "Then you'll do what you always do—take a leap of faith."
Peter smiled at Jean's words, but before he could respond, a familiar voice chimed in behind them.
"Well, isn't this a surprise?"
They both turned to see Dr. Curt Connors, standing nearby with a smirk tugging at his lips. He glanced between the two of them.
"Jean Grey being late? That's a first. But Peter being late…" He chuckled. "Now that's just business as usual."
Peter offered a sheepish smile. "I, uh… overslept."
"Uh-huh," Connors replied, clearly not buying it.
Jean opened her mouth to offer her excuse, but Connors raised a finger.
"Don't even bother, Jean," he said, pulling out his phone. "I already know."
Connors turned the screen toward them, showing a news feed that revealed Jean telekinetically catching the debris earlier, all of it being played in vivid color.
Peter glanced at Jean, who blushed slightly.
"You looked like you were back with the X-Men," Connors said with a knowing smile.
Jean hesitated, then nodded. "I didn't have the team… but it felt good to help again."
Connors nodded, his tone softer now. "You were always one of the best."
After this, though, Connors' phone buzzed. He glanced down at it, quietly reading the text he received, before looking back up at Peter and Jean. "I have to step out. Administrative stuff. But it's been good seeing both of you." he told them, beginning to walk away.
However, before he could leave, Peter wanted to tell him something. "Hey, Dr. Connors… Thank you. Thank you for putting in the good word for me. I wouldn't be here without it."
Connors paused, smiled, and shook his head. "I put in a word, Peter. But you got the job because you earned it."
And with that, he walked off, leaving Peter and Jean alone in the hallway.
There was a silence that followed. Not awkward. Just quiet. Simple.
Then Peter turned to her. "Hey… when lunch break hits, wanna join me? Could be fun. Might even find a pizza slice that rivals last night's."
Jean's smile returned, warm and genuine. "I'd like that."
Peter grinned. "Cool. It's a date." But then he paused, his eyes widening a bit at the phrasing. "Uh, I mean… not a date. Just… you know, two coworkers… eating food. Platonically."
Jean chuckled, clearly amused. "Relax, Peter. I get it. I'll see you at lunch."
They exchanged one last look, then turned and walked off in opposite directions, both of them heading to their classrooms.
Quietly, though, the two friends were looking forward to being co-workers for the foreseeable future.
END OF CHAPTER 2: CO-WORKERS
BGM: Spider-Man TAS 1994 - Ending Theme
Wolverine: Oh, so now they're co-workers, huh? Well, I think we all know what this means, Summers.
Cyclops: They're just co-workers, Logan.
Emma: Keep telling yourself that, darling.
Author's Note: Alrighty, y'all. There goes chapter 2, and I hope you guys enjoyed it. If you did, then make sure to give this story a FOLLOW and a FAVORITE! Don't forget to READ and REVIEW! I'll see y'all next time. Excelsior!