Chapter 7 : Making friends

Author note : hey guys ! Welcome to a new chapter of… *drum roll~* Marvel the author ! It's been a week and as (almost) always, the chapter is (about) on time… truth is I haven't really planned down to the hour, unlike some authors…

Anyways, you can find my (Cathbel)'s page on the Patréon website by using their search engine or use this link : https://www.patre*n.com/user?u=66371596

You'll find up to 10 chapters in advance for both my stories : Squib who became Iron Lad in DC and Marvel : the Author.

Enjoy !

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A few days passed since I made the acquaintance of Doreen Green AKA Squirrel-Girl. And indeed, she is just as exuberant as I've seen her be in the comics. As soon as her initial doubts were cleared, she became friendly and rather funny. It's something I always wanted to be but never really managed. Even, and especially when I was writing… Probably why I always felt my stories lacked something…

Anyway, as our friendship progresses, we're gradually getting to know more of each other. Doreen moved with her parents from California to live in New York City. And now, she's here, in Midtown to finish High School. Though, what she really wanted was to become a Superhero since she's a bit of a nerd and a big fan of comic books. Not that I can talk…

I mean, that's also what I always wanted. Now that I am here however… Well, the things you want often aren't really what you're ready for. Which is why I work so hard on improving my calligraphy and drawing skills, as well as study my powers and magic every chance I get. Also, why I spend most of my nights roaming the astral plane during my written-induced meditations. This is something I discovered recently by the way. What my mom did to put me in a trance… Well, I can do it easily thanks to my ink ! And not just that too. My dad's mad jealous about it too, since he said that meditation is a very valuable and rather difficult skill to achieve and master. Something about correct mind-set and whatnot…

I mean, I know how it works of course and how you're supposed to reach the state required to take on your astral form. To me, it's just easier to write a few lines on a paper and out pop the astral form ! Although… I made a mistake the first time and if my mother hadn't found me and smudged the paper, I might have been stuck in the astral plane forever… Anyways !

Doreen and I joined a study group, since I wasn't really interested in school work (and you could tell with my grades) and Doreen… Well, she's awesome but she's more instinctual than intellectual. Not that she's dumb : she just tends to understand things with her guts rather than her head.

The others of the groups weren't really important except for one ! Cory Sutters, who preferred to be called Skye. When she asked us to call her that, I understood who she was ! The infamous Quake, SHIELD agent, also known later by her birth name of Daisy Johnson. As expected, she's a wizard with computers. Although that was strange in its own way too, since the Hacker-Daisy is from the MCU and her adopted name is something silly… Mary-Sue Poots, I think. Not Cory Sutters.

In any case, I asked her to teach me about computer science. In exchange, she wanted me to teach her about English and History. Much like my former life, History is one of the subjects I enjoy. The main reason is I spent a few years of my life studying History in College and frankly, those were probably my best years. Also, the original reason why I studied it was because I wanted to understand how History was made… So that I could write better stories. Problem was (and still is) I liked happy endings best… And History is filled with tragedies, even to this day.

At first, Cory was rather walled off. Considering what I know of the Skye from the MCU, and supposing her story resembled it somewhat, she must have gone from foster home to foster home up until now. Whether or not it would continue is anyone's guess. But that explains why she doesn't want to get close to someone… Probably afraid of being separated again. Frankly, the girl's situation was crap !

Unfortunately, Cory's family was the reason for her crappy childhood and situation. Whether it was the MCUs or the Marvel Comics main universe was anyone's guess however. Calvin Zabo, her father was a lunatic and expert chemist… Not a good combination. He invented a serum to give someone super strength (in the TV show) and administered himself with it. Unfortunately, it made him prone to murderous outburst. And Jiaying (still in the TV show), turned merciless and racist after being tortured and experimented on by Hydra. As for the comics version, I don't know much… Her father's name is the same, but he takes on the Mr. Hyde persona, which is rather appropriate considering… As for her mother… No idea.

Still, Doreen's outgoing personality and my efforts to grow closer to her have paid off. I don't really have an agenda for becoming friends with her… It's just that she was one of the characters I loved in the shows. Although, she was prone to self-destructive behaviors. Not a fan of this aspect of her personality ! Let's hope she doesn't become like this in the future…

Cory (Skye) is extremely intelligent and rather cunning for our age. People might say the same about me, but that's just because I'm much older on the inside. She doesn't have that advantage ! I wonder if that's what growing up in the foster care system does to children… Forcing them to grow faster that they should. She also already possess her antigovernment views and hacktivist ideas… Ironic since she, herself, will become a part of the government, albeit a covert one (for the most part).

Another interesting aspect of her personality we discovered with Doreen is that Skye is fascinated with super-powered people and the supernatural. Even if she doesn't really believe in the latter, she expresses a remarkable interest in it. As for the former, she often spends her time in the library consulting old newspapers and watching archive footage about mutants, Captain America and other less known enhanced people. I wonder if it has anything to do with her search for her past, or her inhuman heritage on a subconscious level.

At the moment and because we've become rather close with her, Doreen and I are considering coming clean about our own powers… Doreen, in particular, doesn't like keeping her in the dark : she feels as if we're lying to her. On the other hand, I'm conflicted. I know the Skye of the future… At some point, she feared her own inhuman powers and wished never to have them awaken. Besides, her future involvement with SHIELD would mean ourselves potentially getting on their radar. And on Hydra's.

Not to mention the fact that I don't know which version of Nick Fury exists in this reality. Is this the Bruce Wayne/James Bond equivalent of a super spy and paranoid man who would do just about anything for the protection of his country, or the more friendly, mentor to young super-powered people and true ally of the Avengers…

In the end, I cave in to the puppy eyes of Doreen and she's currently dragging the brown haired girl behind her as I follow along. Soon, we reach the school bleachers and we all sit in the middle rows. Nobody's here at this hour, a point I made clear was needed before we break the news to her.

« Why did you drag me all the way out here, Do ? »

Do is the pet name she uses for Doreen. I'm Nate, though I don't particularly like it. Doreen makes a show of looking around before placing a hand to the side of her mouth and whispering loudly to Skye :

« We have a secret to tell you ! »

I roll my eyes at her antics despite the smile I can't prevent from stretching my lips. With a blank look, Skye asks :

« Are you and Nate going out ? »

Hearing this, I imagine myself doing a spit-take if I had something in my mouth at the moment. As it is, I just freeze and look at her with a raised eyebrow :

« Where did this come from ? » I ask her, confused.

She shifts uncomfortably and says :

« Well… I've seen how you and Do always spend time together. The looks you exchange and stuff… » She shrugs : « I mean, it's obvious, you know ? »

Doreen looks at me with her eyebrows wiggling then gives me a saucy wink. I chuckle before I shake my head.

« Maybe in the future, who knows… » This seems to startle the Squirrel-Girl before I add : « But that's not what she meant. »

I waved in Doreen's direction. Skye, on the other hand, doesn't seem to want to change the subject :

« Why not ? You're like… Always together. Don't you guys like each other ? »

It's my turn to shrug now while Doreen remains silent. She seems to ponder the question seriously.

« I feel like I'm too young to date. Besides, I have other priorities at the moment and I probably wouldn't make for a good boyfriend… »

« That's… Pretty thoughtful. » Doreen mutters. She turns to me : « Have you been thinking about it ? »

I stay silent. Truthfully, being a teenager again was a pain in the ass. Especially since my only two friends were rather attractive girls. I would be lying if I say I didn't. In fact, I had some rather heated fantasies I'd rather not think about at the moment.

« Focus, Doreen ! We're here to tell her, remember ? Otherwise, I don't mind, not doing it, you know ? »

« Right ! » She nods but still frowns, noticing I'm avoiding the question. Turning back to Skye, she tells her : « You know how you're a fan of Captain America and interested in mutants ? »

Skye nods, unsure where she is going with this. She has a slight dreamy look as she obviously thinks of the picture of Steve Rogers and the Howling Commando in her locker.

« Well… We… Doreen hesitates, then, as if to rip the bandaid adds : Have powers ! »

Skye blinks in silence several times before she asks :

« Wait… What ?! »