Spider-Man: Duty and Loss Chapter 121: Personal

Peter couldn't help but let out a whistle as he caught sight of the Xavier Mansion for Gifted Youngsters slowly get closer. This was the first time Peter had been to the mansion, he had looked it up after finding out Jean went there, but the pictures just didn't do it justice in his opinion.

He could appreciate the amount of work that went into maintaining the huge grounds that appeared before him. Laura who had already been over a few times wasn't as shocked as Peter, as she looked disinterested at the spectacle.

Opting out of taking a flight over to the mansion, Peter and Laura were sitting next to each other as the car, slowly pulled through the gates into the grounds. Tony Stark, being Tony Stark has insisted using one of his latest self-driving cars when he found out they were going. Controlled by a sub routine of Jarvis, the car ride had been relaxing as they moved through the city.

Yes the flight would have been faster, but Peter enjoyed the company and the small talk he had with Laura. Both sported small smiles as they got out of the car. Peter barely put one foot out the door before a red missile came in from the side and tackled him into a crushing hug.

"Peter!" Those were the only words said before Jean dragged him out of the area, to the slight shock of Laura. Looking at the red head drag Peter off, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at their antics, something she had only slightly seen when Jean visited the tower constantly.

Her eyes rested on Scott as he stood at the doors to the mansion, his scowl was ever present as he watched Jean and Peter disappear into the deeper parts of the building. Seeing the scene, Laura shook her head in pity, it was obvious he was jealous, as long as he didn't do anything drastic she wouldn't care about his unrequited love.

Though she could feel her knuckles itching in anticipation, should he try to pull something, she pushed the thoughts to the side as 'He' walked over. Standing a bit shorter that herself, and with the ever present gruff attitude, Logan looked Laura up and down, before nudging his head to the side.

"Well let's not waste time. I reckon we could go up another level if we push ourselves today." Everything else forgotten, a feral grin appeared on Laura's lips as she followed after him, they may have had a rocky start, and they still weren't on casual speaking terms, they did get along in one thing.

Fighting.

For the both of them, that was enough for now. 'Yes, that was enough.'

Other children in the corridors made way as Jean pulled Peter through hallways, doors and upstairs before finally resting at the door to one room. Pulling it open, she almost threw his body onto the bed before closing the door behind her, an excited expression on her face.

On the way up, Peter couldn't help but notice the casual use of powers, by other people in the mansion. One girl had walked right through a wall as they passed, while another had appeared in a puff of blue smoke and another had been playing with a solid block of ice in his hand, which had been changing over and over into different shapes.

The scientist in Peter couldn't help but want to understand exactly how their mutations worked and what it could possible mean for scientific discovery, while another part just couldn't wait to get to know everyone.

This was the first time Peter had been in the company of some many people with different powers. Of course he had met the defenders, the fantastic four and there was no need to mention his rouges gallery, but they were so much variety here, that Peter couldn't help but anticipate what could happen in the future.

The grin wouldn't leave his face as Jean moved over to a desk at the side and turned on the phone hooked up to a small set of speakers. Some music started to play, a pop beat that Peter, easily identified. "Dazzler... Star Chaser, huh."

Finally sitting across from him on her bed, Jean gave a nod as she relaxed into the music. "You got to support one of your own when you can." Peter gave another smile thinking back on something, from years long past. "Yeah as one of the only super stars and celebrities that came out as a mutant, I hear she had more global attention after she announced that. I certainly know I started to listen to more of her music. Not to mention I think I heard her fans almost doubled overnight after that."

Jean gave a small chuckle as she passed a hand through her hair looking at Peter across from her. "At least the popularity has given her quite a bit of protection, her fans would go crazy if something happened to her, her power while flashy wouldn't protect her well if she was targeted." A small sad smile floated over her features as she said the words, knowing just how true they were, when it came to the treatment of Mutants.

Peter gave a small chuckle at Jean's words, causing her to look up in confusion as he shook his head. "I don't know, I think her powers would protect her just fine." A wider knowing smile passed Jean's lips as she continued to look at him. "What blinding people and then running away?... You wouldn't happen to be one of her dedicated fans now would you?"

Peter just gave another laugh as he shook his head. "No… I've just been to one of her concerts before, one of her earlier ones before she got too famous, it's too hard to grab tickets these days. Not with her global tours and popularity."

Jean gave Peter a playful nudge at his words. "Good, I was getting worried you had a secret crush on her, she is our age, she might go for the brown hair and rugged look you got going. I don't want to give my Peter up to anyone." Though she said it in a joking manner, and Peter lightly laughed off the words, a small part of her was being dead serious as she said the words.

The room lapsed back into silence as peter looked around. No one else was in the room, so Peter got a clear look at everything around. There were another 2 bed's in the room, meaning 3 people shared the same space.

Each corner of the room had different posters and items that were lying about, and Peter had to stop a chuckle from coming out as he saw one side of the room, had a gigantic Spider-Man poster next to the bed, and a small plush in its sheets. He wondered who's it was.

His gaze skimmed over, that before moving past the next bed and settling back onto Jean. Wearing a white shirt, that showed a little midriff; and Jeans, which Peter thought were a bit too tight, his gaze couldn't help but stop on her green eyes as she starred back.

His mind drifted back for a second, to all those years ago when they had both been so much younger, almost sitting in the exact same way on his own bed, talking the day away. 'Her smile was the same back then.' "You know you can take it off."

Those words snapped Peter right out of his thoughts as he looked up at her, as a specific thought went through his mind at the words , his face couldn't help but heat up. His mind couldn't help but drift to exactly what she could be implying. Seeing the widened eyes and shocked look, Jean spluttered for a second as she realized what she just said.

She quickly pulled up her hands and waved them about in a negative speaking quickly. "Wait! That's not how I meant it! I meant you can take off the ear piece, it's just us here…" Her voice slowly got lower in trepidation.

"It's been such a long time since we had a 'personal' chat." The embarrassment lasted another few seconds before Peter to get back to normal, understanding what she truly meant now. Back before Jean had to leave, and when they were trying to train her powers, they had started to talk through their thoughts.

It was a little thing, and it made sure that any prank they wanted to play on Aunt May, or Uncle Ben couldn't be overheard. Just before she had to leave, she had gotten good enough to create a mental playground they could play in. Of course it was a weird experience and they only did it like, 3 times, but it had been fun on those cold days were they couldn't go out.

Peter looked at the hopeful expression in Jeans eyes as she waited for a response and couldn't help but slowly reach for the Nano-bots in his ear. Transformed into the specific ear piece that could disrupt telepathy, he could easily make it dissolve back into his necklace, but instead took it out, as Jean was right there.

Slowly taking the piece out of his ear, Jean's smile got wider as she patted the pillow behind Peter, moving so that she was next to him. "Ok, just lean back and relax, even without the ear piece; I would say your mental defenses are tough. If you relax I'll show you all the new mind scapes I've created over the years."

Peter gave a hesitant nod and shaky smile at her joyful words, as he slowly reclined; Jean positioning herself so she was lying next to him. He was a bit self-conscious about how close they were for a second, before he turned slightly so he could see her red hair, glistening next to him. "Jean…" There was a bit of trepidation in his voice as he said the words.

Jean moved her head so she could see his hazel eyes staring back. "Just don't go too deep into my head, I got some things I want to keep secret still." His smile was a bit shaky, but Jean didn't notice, she nodded her head, a smile still on her lips.

"Of course!"

With those words, Peter, gave Jean one more look before closing his eyes and relaxing his mind. Jean looked at Peter slowly relax before closing her own eyes. Her mind reached out to touch her childhood friends, and there was something relaxing, feeling it again after so long.

Her body completely relaxed as their minds connected, a smile on her lips.

Chapter end