Chapter - 4

--------

Chapter - 4: Interlude

--------

[Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters]

Kitty Pride Pov

This day was strange.

Maybe that's an understatement, but how else could I describe it?

Spider-Man, one of the greatest heroes around, saved us. Not because we couldn't defend ourselves, but… He handled the situation so easily and efficiently, like he had everything under control.

Thanks to him, we didn't even have to lift a finger, which honestly gave me mixed feelings. After all, I'm supposed to be a hero helping others too, but it turns out I'm not as good as he is.

I was thinking about that as we walked towards the X-Mansion in silence, our footsteps echoing on the driveway. Jubilee kept glancing at me with a mix of frustration and amusement.

"I can't believe we didn't even use our powers," Jubilee murmured, breaking the silence that had accompanied us for most of the walk as we passed through the gates of the school.

"Yeah," I replied, giving her a quick look. "But... you get it, right? With him there, there wasn't really a reason to. Besides, if they had found out we're mutants, things could've ended a lot worse."

"Of course I know," Jubilee shot me a mischievous smile. "And there's nothing wrong with letting a guy make us play damsels in distress, is there? I wouldn't mind if he wanted a nice reward for his help."

I felt myself blush slightly; I had to admit, I was fascinated by him. There was something magnetic, even seductive, in the way he moved and fought—it was like he was a true predator.

Honestly, now I wanted to know more about Spider-Man. He wasn't just the typical superhero who shows up at the last minute; there was so much more behind that mask of his.

"Obviously, he showed up just in time," I added, almost as if to justify myself. "There was no need for our help—or at least I think so."

Jubilee giggled, putting a finger to her lips. "Tell the truth, Kitty. You were just mesmerized by all those nice muscles in that tight costume, weren't you?" she teased.

Before I could embarrass myself with a hesitant response, we crossed the threshold of the X-Mansion. The familiar warmth of the school greeted me, but I knew it wouldn't be so easy to leave behind what had happened.

I sighed heavily, opening the front door. I didn't want to discuss it again, but I knew I wouldn't be able to avoid it for long. We entered the living room, and as usual, Logan was already there, sitting in an armchair with a beer in hand.

He fixed me with his usual probing look. "Everything alright, kids?" he asked, scrutinizing me with those piercing eyes. "Looks like you had a rough time in the city."

I collapsed into another chair, feeling exhausted. Jubilee sat down next to me, crossing her arms and looking at Logan. "We had a busy day," she said, anticipating what I was about to say.

Logan raised an eyebrow and set his beer bottle on a nearby table. "What does 'busy' mean? Did you run into trouble?"

I stared at the floor, trying to find the right words. I didn't want to admit that I had hesitated, that I froze. "There was… a little incident in the city," I began slowly. "Nothing too serious, just a group of thugs. I thought I could handle it, but then things got more complicated."

Logan stared at me for a moment, then nodded slowly. "You hesitated to reveal your powers," he said, his voice low and calm. It wasn't an accusation, just a statement.

"Yeah," I admitted reluctantly. "I could've done something, but I didn't. I was afraid I might hurt someone with my powers."

"Oh, it wasn't a big deal. Spider-Man saved us," Jubilee threw herself onto the couch, laughing to herself. "He wasn't even in his usual red and blue costume this time. His suit was black, and it was damn cool and hot."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Spider-Man? The new hero from New York? The one we thought might have the X-Gene like us, right?"

"Yeah," Jubilee sighed, her tone slightly disappointed. "It's such a shame Cerebro confirmed he's not a mutant. I wouldn't mind at all having someone cute and fun like him on our team."

Though I understood her disappointment, a part of me was relieved.

"One Bobby Drake is more than enough," Logan quipped with a small amused smile. "And how are you so sure the kid's cute under that mask?" he couldn't help but ask, his tone teasing.

Jubilee huffed, shrugging her shoulders. "Oh, we girls just know, right, Kitty?"

I immediately felt my cheeks warm and found myself trying to suppress a smile. "Well, you never know…" I tried to downplay it, but my voice betrayed a hint of embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Logan took a sip of his beer, watching me with a slightly amused expression. "Well, I'm happy for the kid that he doesn't have to live in hiding like we do."

In truth, I completely agreed with him. Even though Spider-Man certainly faced his own difficulties, at least he didn't have to carry the burden of being seen as a threat just for existing.

"Honestly, I'm happy for him," I said after a moment of reflection. "He doesn't have the 'mutant' label, doesn't face that kind of hate or racism... It's like he gets to just be a hero, without all the extra baggage."

Jubilee nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Yeah, that's true. In a way, he's free. But it still can't be easy for him. Being Spider-Man doesn't seem like a simple job."

"It's not easy for any of us," Logan commented, placing the empty bottle on the table. "But at least the kid has a choice. He can take off the mask whenever he wants and go back to being just another guy. We don't have that luxury."

"Yeah, I guess that's a big deal," I said quietly, reflecting. "Being able to be yourself without being defined by your powers. I bet that's a great kind of freedom."

Logan fixed me with a serious look, his voice lowering slightly. "Don't dwell on it too much, kid. It's the kind of thinking that can lead you to some dark places. Trust me, I've been there for a long time."

His warning hit home... He was right; thinking too much about what we could or couldn't be didn't lead anywhere.

"Anyway," Logan continued, trying to ease the tension a bit, "why don't you tell me how things went down in the city?"

I took a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. "It was all under control... more or less. But when things got complicated, and we were surrounded, we didn't even have time to react. And then, suddenly, he showed up."

Logan looked at us, seeming to understand where we were coming from. One thing I liked about him was his ability to listen. "And let me guess, you two felt safe letting him handle the situation?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Jubilee answered with a playful smirk. "Nothing wrong with letting a hero do his job, right?"

I sat down next to her, trying to avoid Logan's judging gaze. "It's not like we wanted him to do all the work. It's just that... Spider-Man came out of nowhere. He took out all the thugs in a heartbeat. He practically got us out of the way and solved the situation on his own."

Logan seemed to contemplate my words. "I've seen some videos of the kid online. His biggest asset is his reflexes and reaction time—would make even Sabretooth jealous."

I lowered my gaze, giving a simple nod. He was right about everything he said. "He threw himself right in the middle of the criminals and... did his job. It all happened so fast we didn't even have time to process what was going on around us."

Logan nodded again, never taking his eyes off me. "I get it, but when you're out there, you don't always have the luxury of hesitation. You two are still missing enough experience in these fights that don't rely on some Omega-level power."

I shrugged, feeling even smaller under his gaze. After all, he was the one teaching self-defense lessons at this school. "I know, but... at that moment, I couldn't move to join in. And I don't want to be the one who hesitates during important moments."

At that point, Jean entered the room, probably drawn in by the conversation. "What's going on?" she asked, looking from Logan to me and Jubilee.

"We had a rough day," Jubilee explained quickly, without going into details.

Jean looked at me with understanding. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I sighed again. I didn't want to talk about it, but at the same time, I knew it would do me some good. "I was in the city with Jubilee, and we ran into a group of armed thugs. I had the chance to stop them, but we hesitated until Spider-Man showed up and took care of everything in just a few minutes."

Jean moved closer and sat beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It's normal to feel fear or even just anxiety in a situation that's out of your control, Kitty. We're human before we're mutants or X-Men."

"Yeah, but…" I tried to respond, but Jubilee cut me off.

"But nothing, Kitty. Neither you nor I have to be perfect all the time. We all make mistakes," she said.

Scott entered just then, drawn by the tone of the conversation. "What happened?" he asked, crossing his arms and looking between me and Jean.

"Kitty and Jubilee had a rough day in the city," Jean explained in her usual calm and reassuring tone. "They had an encounter, and Kitty feels guilty for not using her powers to help."

Scott gave me a careful look, that expression of his that always seemed to dig beneath the surface of things. It made me feel like I was under examination, though I knew it wasn't his intention. "Kitty, making decisions in the field is never easy. But the fact that you're here, safe and sound, is what matters most."

I felt a little better after his words, but I knew I had to be honest with them—and, more importantly, with myself. "It's not just that. I feel like I let everyone down. We're X-Men, we're supposed to be ready to act at any moment, and I... I froze."

Logan scoffed slightly, sipping his beer. "If you expect never to mess up, then you're aiming too high, kid. Even the best freeze up sometimes. What matters is what you do next to avoid making the same mistake."

Jubilee nodded vigorously next to me. "Exactly! We were there, we assessed the situation, and we decided based on what we felt. There's nothing wrong with pausing for a moment."

"Jubilee's right," Jean gave me an affectionate pat on the shoulder. "And remember, we're here for you. You don't have to find the solution on your own."

Scott nodded firmly. "And you will, Kitty. We all started this way, with doubts and fears. But over time, you'll learn to trust your instincts and react naturally."

I relaxed a little in the chair, feeling some of the weight finally lift from my shoulders. "Thanks, guys. I know I have a lot to learn, but I want to get stronger, more confident."

Logan stood up, finishing his beer. "I don't want to hear any more talk about how 'cool' he was. I want you to be ready next time. Got it?"

Jubilee nodded, but her playful smirk didn't fade. "Sure, sure. Next time, we'll be ready... But if Spider-Man happens to swing by close to me again, I wouldn't mind."

Jean chuckled, shaking her head. "Jubilee…"

I let out a laugh too, feeling a bit lighter. Spider-Man had saved us, sure, but it wasn't just about his abilities. It was his willpower, and most of all, his determination to save innocent lives.

And maybe, we had something to learn from him too.

As we left the living room, Jubilee gave me a light nudge. "Hey, Kitty, next time we see that guy, we have to ask him to join us for pizza."

I smiled, shaking my head. "Yeah, maybe we should."

"And in the meantime," Jubilee added with a grin, "you can always count on us to lend a hand, or to distract you with a movie marathon when you need it."

For the first time since the conversation started, I smiled. Jubilee had a special way of making everything lighter, even the heaviest situations. "Yeah, a movie marathon might not be a bad idea," I said, trying to break the tension.

Logan got up from his chair and gestured toward the door. "Well, if you want to keep talking about feelings, I'm out. But if you ever need someone to help you improve your combat skills, you know where to find me."

We all laughed as Logan left the room, and Jubilee turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "See? Even the grumpy old man has a heart, though he'll never admit it."

Jean stood up and gave me one last warm smile. "Take your time, Kitty. No one expects you to be perfect. The important thing is to keep growing."

I nodded, finally feeling a bit lighter. I still had a lot to process, but at least I knew I wasn't alone. I had a team that supported me, and friends who believed in me even when I had doubts about myself.

Jubilee stretched, raising her arms behind her head. "So, what do you say? Movie marathon tonight?"

-------------

Marvel: I'm Spider-Man in this Damn Reincarnation: 3 advanced chapters

Osmosian Sorcerer?: 3 advanced chapters

Son of Li Qiye?: 3 advanced chapters

patreon.com/Demon_King22

Chapter - 5: A Universe of My Own - Chapter - 6: Jessica Jones - Chapter - 7: Way of Spider

Chapter - 14: Magix - Chapter - 15: Bloom - Chapter - 16: Demon Sorcerers

 Chapter - 6: Wind Lightning Emperor Inheritance - Chapter - 7: Hobby - Chapter - 8: New Hunt

On the other hand, if you want to see something specific in the next chapters, or even just have some good advice for the story as a whole, I am always willing to read a comment if it is constructive criticism.

If you see any mistakes, I would be grateful if you would point them out to me, so that I can correct them when I have some spare time, and make the story as complete as possible for myself and especially for you.

To facilitate a clearer understanding, I've retained pictures of the respective characters. Your feedback is always valued, and if you have any suggestions for the upcoming chapter, please feel free to comment—I'll be sure to respond as usual.

Please leave a review if you like the story.