Invitation

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***

2 July 2013, 19:25.

New York, Peter Parker's flat.

Peter Benjamin Parker.

- Peter Parker, may we come in?

After the question rang out, I didn't even immediately have time to react and only frantically pondered what could have brought the X-Men themselves to me, but those ponderings were quickly pushed out by the panicked thought that I had the most powerful known telepath in front of me and I tried to concentrate hard and figure out how to avoid having them interfere in my head.

- Excuse me, who are you? - I asked, buying myself time to calm my emotions.

- 'It's not very polite to cut to the chase when you have guests on your doorstep, lad,' the Canadian Mr Politeness scolded me.

- The young man has every right to know who wants to enter his house, so no need to be rude, Logan," Charles spoke softly.

I see, good cop, bad cop.

- Allow me to introduce myself, I'm Professor Charles Xavier, these are my teachers James Howlett, Ororo Monroe, Gina Gray and Scott Summers, and students Kitty Pryde and Kurt Wagner," the telepath took turns introducing his entire squad. - Now we can take advantage of your hospitality," he said with the same kind smile.

- Yes, come in, - well, I can't keep the Xs on the doorstep, can I?

The whole group goes into the flat. I just glance at the X's teleporter wrist. I think they're the ones that holographically disguise his mutant appearance.

Interesting technology.

- It's very nice here, Mr Parker," Thunderstorm said.

- Thank you. Peter is fine.

- Oh, do we have company? - Mary came out of the bedroom.

She was wearing a simple green house dress, but even in it she looked like a true supermodel.

That's why the look Logan gave my girl didn't please me.

Maybe I should throw him out the window. Just as a precaution.

Fey clearly sensed something in the air and quickly approached Mary Jane, snuggling up to her, still on the edge of propriety and female friendship, but in a slightly possessive gesture.

- Yes, Carrot, guests," I replied, nodding gratefully to Kitten.

- Then we'll go and make tea, - my blondie said again in time and the girls went to the kitchen.

- Well, please, have a seat," I invite the Xs, observing decorum.

Logan, Scott and Jean took my couch, and judging by the fact that Miss Telepathic was in the centre, and Wolverine and Cyclops on the edges, which did not prevent them from throwing heavy glances at each other, I can not worry about my girl, here mutants have their own, extremely interesting story. Kitty sat in the far chair and Wagner leaned on its back. Storm sat in the nearer chair, and the professor's wheelchair pulled up beside her.

I had no choice but to move to the wall and lean against it, next to the TV. Of course, I could have gone to the kitchen and got stools, but I thought that staying on my feet and having a direct line of sight to all the visitors would be a better approach.

- To be honest, I recognise you, Professor, - I decide to take the initiative of the conversation, - I read your works on genetics and the phenomenon of mutation. Very impressive.

- Thank you, young man, - Xavier looked at me in a completely different way, - not every young man at your age will be ready to familiarise himself with such researches.

- I got my love of science from my parents," I mumbled, ruffling my hair a little.

- Oh, I'm sure you do," Logan interjected.

- Excuse me? - I could tell by the mocking look in his eyes that he understood.

- It's nothing, it's just that you reminded me of an old friend of mine, and he's supposed to have a son your age," he too realised that I understood, that he understood everything.

- What an amazing coincidence, huh? - I said, clenching my teeth a little.

In response, Rosya only snickers.

The rest of the X-Men seem a little confused by this altercation. Except for Charles, of course. I hope he's just a good psychologist and doesn't get in everyone's head when he doesn't understand something. I'd probably feel interfered with, though.

Mary finally brought a tray of tea. Fey also brought two stools. I don't think they plan to leave me here alone.

- Please," Mary offered the guests mugs of tea, taking a seat next to Felicia.

- Thank you, Miss?

- Watson. Mary Jane Watson, and this is Felicia Hardy.

- Thank you, Miss Watson," Xavier nods good-naturedly. - Miss Hardy, - like a true gentleman, Chuck does not ignore the other lady, taking the mug in his hands.

Apparently only Charles speaks at these events. And Logan, that guy doesn't care about decorum anyway.

The rest of the X-Men just take their mugs and drink their tea in silence.

I decide to take advantage of my support group and move closer, standing right behind the girls and putting my hands behind my back.

- I'll get right to the reason we're here on your doorstep," Xavier said, taking a sip of tea and setting the mug aside.

Chuck folds his hands together.

- I think, this time it will be much easier for me to conduct the upcoming conversation, since you already know about mutants, X-gene and the possibilities it gives upon awakening, - the X's mastermind began to broadcast in a quiet, but heartfelt voice.

A true professor.

- You see, Peter, yesterday I had a strange feeling, as if a flash flashed on the periphery of my consciousness, and then it immediately went out. I spent the rest of the day thinking about it, and finally, towards evening, I was able to use my device and trace this signal that pointed to you.

- What are you trying to say? - I'm getting to the point.

- That device is called Cerebro and it allows me, as a telepath, to spread the influence of my mind and thus detect mutants. This time Cerebro led me to you," the professor looked directly into my eyes, "you're a mutant, Peter.

So Maria's serum didn't send the X-gene into hibernation as it was supposed to. That should be investigated.

- I understand you're shocked," Chuck interpreted my silence in his own way, "but what happened to you isn't terrible, you're not a monster, you're not a monstrosity, mutants are just as much a part of society as normal people.

- So you say you're a telepath," I interrupt the pathetic pep talk, "can you prove it?

"Is that enough?" - Xavier's voice echoes in my head.

- I believe it," I replied, frowning slightly, "can you read minds too?

- I can," Charles didn't dodge the question or lie, "but I never do it against the will of my interlocutor. Your thoughts, as well as those of your beautiful neighbours, are safe, I give you my word.

Oh, it's fresh, Prof. I hope you really are a man of honour.

The girls just shifted their gazes from me to Chuck, but showed no emotion whatsoever, well done.

The X's were doing much the same thing.

- I've come to help you, Peter, to help you learn to control your gift," Charles continued his campaign speech.

Oh.

- And maybe you can enlighten me what my gift is, because I feel quite normal? - I ask a question to test the bald man's honesty.

Logan looks at me with an obvious question, but I ignore it.

Xavier himself, to my surprise, frowns.

- Are you telling me you haven't noticed anything unusual about yourself lately?

- Nope," I lie easily.

- Hmm," Chuck rubs his chin thoughtfully, "do you mind if I try to find out if the answer might be lurking in your mind?

Oh, great. Here we go. A good opportunity to test the theory with the Sense. Whether it can protect me from contact with the mind of one of the strongest and most skilful telepaths in this world.

- Sure, try it," I agreed, while I turned to my sensors, trying to imagine the sensations of Spider Sense as a shield enveloping my mind.

"Raj, stay in the shadows if anything," I feel the slight emanations of agreement from the symbiote in the report.

Chuck closes his eyes and brings two fingers to his temple.

I close my eyes, too, and focus.

A second later, I feel an unobtrusive touch on my mind and a clear attempt to go further, as if a huge safe were being cracked with a lock pick. For a few minutes I feel this picking, but nothing more. Then I felt the onslaught intensify, as if the lockpick had been replaced by a tire iron, and then the shields closed tighter. And the picking started again.

I'm distracted for a second as I feel another presence, but not a familiar one.

Xavier feels like a transparent blue figure, Raj like an all-consuming black vortex, and this one feels like a bright orange flash and I think I suspect who it might be. Abruptly I wish I could end the contact and open my eyes.

Judging by Chuck's surprised look, he was immediately thrown out of my mind.

- What was that? - I ask the question with a frown.

- What are you talking about, Peter? It was just a normal telepathic contact," Charles held my gaze calmly.

- Then why did I think there was someone else in my head? - I asked and looked round at the X's in turn, stopping my gaze on Grey, who was blushing. - I suspect your squad is also made up of mutants, right?

- You're right," the professor replies, also shifting his gaze to the redhead, "and why did you do it, Gina? - turned to the young girl the man as if to a naughty girl.

- I'm sorry, Professor," said the confused Gin, "I was just curious.

- Next time, either temper your curiosity or ask permission, Miss Grey," I said with cold displeasure in my voice.

Even though my complaint was objective, Summers flashed his glasses in my direction. He didn't like me talking to his sweetheart like that.

On the other hand, how would I like it if some dickhead ran over my girls?

- I'm sorry, Peter," Gina said, lowering her eyes.

- I guess this incident is over? - Chuck asked me diplomatically.

- It's over," I nod, "Did you find out anything? - I ask with an obvious hint that the reception hours in my head are over.

- Not much," Charles pursed his lips. - In fact, I'm shocked; in my entire life I've met few people with as much natural mind defence as yours.

- So my strength is that I'm anti-thelepathic?

- Oh, of course not," Chuck smiled at my assumption. - Though perhaps that's one of the facets of your talent," Xavier tilts his head thoughtfully, "You sure you haven't discovered anything extraordinary about yourself, Peter?

So here's the dilemma, should I trust the X's with my secret or not? The theory is confirmed, telepaths can't forcibly read my mind, at least not unless they try hard enough, Sense took care of that. At the same time, Logan knows I'm Spider-Man, but he's obviously not going to talk, and I'm not sure about the others, I can't rely on them to keep quiet out of mutant solidarity, can I?

Although, there is something Spider-Man hasn't shown yet. Yeah, I think that'll be enough.

- Okay," I sigh and raise my wrists.

My Stingers burst out of them.

- Peter! - MJ and Fey exclaim.

And well done, actresses, they understood my idea, I told them about the mutation and its consequences yesterday. I even demonstrated it.

- I'm sorry I didn't tell you, girls," I continue our little performance.

- Don't worry, Tiger, it's okay," MJ stands up and kisses me. Fey on the other hand holds back, because of the witnesses and just hugs us.

- Ahem, sorry to interrupt, but can we get back to talking? - Chuck asks tactfully, but with a slight smile.

- Sure," I agreed, letting the girls go.

- Why didn't you share? - I nodded at my bony outgrowths.

- No offence, but if you hadn't confirmed your own abilities I would have kept silent.

- I know, but an old friend of mine didn't trust anyone, either," Chuck sighed sadly. - He still doesn't.

He's about Magneto, one hundred percent.

- My school is made for people like us, Peter, where you'll be safe and learn all the facets of your mutation, and I think you'll be glad to meet another of our teachers, he's a geneticist too, maybe you've heard, Hank McCoy.

- Yes, I have," I confirm. Yeah, well, he's a telepath. - But I've grown out of high school crawlers, prof, you know? I'm already a student, I've finished the first year, I don't want to become a schoolboy again.

- You don't have to be," Chuck smiled again. - Most of the students are teenagers, of course, but there are plenty of young people your age, too. Even older. The point is, you'll be among your own, Peter.

- I beg your pardon? - I arch an eyebrow. - Waking Gene doesn't mean I'm no longer human," I look at the X's one by one, "and neither do all of you, by the way.

- That's not what I meant..." Charles tried to express his thought more clearly, but was interrupted.

- What's the matter, why do you deny your nature?! - Scott jumped up from the couch, "Accept your changes and don't be a coward. Mutants aren't ugly!

Oh, right, I'd forgotten I was dealing with a boy who was a fierce advocate for his species.

- I didn't say that, - I calmly explain, - it's just that this approach of fencing off mutants into an independent commune suggests not the best thoughts. I mean, do all your students keep in touch with their families, for example? Who aren't mutants?

- Hey, we're not the bad guys here, that's the other guys' prerogative! - Kurt shrieks, but he immediately clamps his mouth shut, realising he's said too much.

- The other guys? - I catch the caveat, looking closely at Charles.

- There's a group of mutants led by an old friend of mine, Eric Lensherr," Xavier sighed. - He calls himself Magneto, perhaps you may have heard of the recent incident in San Francisco involving two groups of mutants?

- Was one of them you? - I'm guessing.

- That's right," Xavier nods. - and the other was the Brotherhood of Mutants, led by Eric. Such skirmishes between us have been going on for years, but this is the first time we've attracted such attention. Mutants are being talked about openly and in large numbers. Sometimes that's a bad thing. - Charles folded his hands in a thoughtful gesture. - You're right, Peter, what you're describing does happen, but you have to realise that not all people react to the news that a member of their family is a mutant the way your friends did, sometimes the results are much worse.

I turn my attention to a saddened Kitty, to whom Wagner placed a palm on her shoulder.

- My school's goal is to teach young and not-so-young mutants to control their powers so that they can become part of society and through that we can exist peacefully. Eric believes that human hatred cannot be eradicated and tries to take care of mutants in his own way, which I think is overly excessive, but he also seeks supporters, more often among mutants whose powers have awakened too abruptly and who may be persecuted, for example, because of the destruction they have caused. Still, sometimes he comes to families, as I came to you. My school also takes care not to turn children into weapons.

- They do? - I cast a glance at Kitty and Kurt, who look even younger than me.

- But they learn to defend themselves and sometimes choose their own path, even if they're warned that it's dangerous," Charles answered me confidently.

Better a child soldier on our side than on the enemy's side, right? Flexible morality.

Not that I'm aroused by it, having worn the suit myself when I was sixteen, and yet, it's alarming. How much influence does Chuck have over the X-Men team's decision-making?

- So I'm supposed to come with you to this school and cut ties with my life?

- No, not at all. - Xavier sighed. He seemed to be getting sick of me. - But this way you'll keep your loved ones safe in case the Brotherhood takes an interest in you.

I don't fancy meeting Magneto, though it would be interesting to talk to him. Still one of my favourite Marvel anti-heroes. Hopefully here he's not just a bigot, like in the 1610 universe for example.

- You said you found me with some kind of device, does this Magneto have one too?

- No, the Brotherhood doesn't have Cerebro, but Eric gets information about awakened mutants in his own way.

- Well, I see," I sigh, "I appreciate you coming all this way to warn me, but I'm going to pass," I look firmly into Xavier's eyes. - I'm sorry, but this is my life and I'm not leaving it.

- I understand," Charles sighed a little, "Anyway, this offer is open-ended, Peter, you will always be welcome in my mansion.

- I understand, Professor, thank you.

The Ixes silently rise from their seats and walk towards the door behind their leader.

- How's your memory, bro? - Logan asks at the door.

- I don't get it," I said confusedly.

- Can you remember the address? - Wolverine asks mockingly, but finally speaks with concentration. - We'll have to talk.

- Um, I think I'll remember it.

- Rosla Boulevard on the Upper West Side, Seventeen Colfey Street, it's a bar. Meet me tomorrow night at six, don't be late," Logan mumbled, joining the patiently waiting Ix.

- I'll be there. Everyone else, it was nice to meet you," they nodded back at me.

- Good evening, Peter," Charles says goodbye.

And the X-Men leave my house.