End of May:
I heard the doors to the lab open. I pulled my eyes away from my work and looked over my shoulder, seeing Jean leaning against the doorframe with an amused smile and two cups of hot coffee.
She wore a set of grey track pants with a blue 'X' on the side and a black top that hung loosely on her body. Her hair was tied back, no makeup on her face, but she still looked amazing to me.
"Morning," she smiled as she walked in.
"Morning?" I asked in surprise, taking the cup she offered and humming in joy as the scent of the tar-like substance hit me.
"It's six. Have you been here all night?" she asked, amused.
I sighed, "kind of, yes." I sipped the coffee and felt relief wash over me. I may or may not have developed a caffeine addiction over the past months — I couldn't seem to start the day without at least one cup. Then again, I needed the energy. I had been spending a lot of sleepless nights in the X-Men's lab, which Xavier had been kind enough to let me use during my stay.
"What are you working on this time?" she asked as she looked over my shoulder, raising a single perfect eyebrow at the sight behind me. "A...box?"
I smiled and turned. On my table sat a black box, five inches tall and wide, simple and perfectly leveled. Its edges were rounded so as not to cut anything, and no matter how one looked at it, there wasn't a single mark on the surface.
"It's made out of vibranium," I explained. "Using my limited knowledge of the substance, I was able to create a containment box."
"Containment? For what?" she asked curiously.
"For this." I tapped the top of the cube, pressing my hand against it long enough for it to slowly turn blue. I then channeled my magic into it, allowing the runes I had carved inside to react to me, before stating in a clear voice my real name as the password.
Jean blinked, "what?"
"Password," I explained as the box opened itself, revealing a velvet cushion on which rested a single yellow gem that bathed us both in its light.
"What is it?" Jean asked curiously.
"It's complicated. But dangerous — very dangerous." I snapped my fingers and the cube locked itself, returning to its inert state. "It gives off gamma energy along with theta waves, so people can use that energy to track it. But as long as it's inside that box, no one will be able to detect it."
"Just a fingerprint and a password? Isn't that...I don't know, somewhat basic? If this thing is really that dangerous, shouldn't it be harder to get into?" Jean enquired.
I smiled. "You heard me say the password. Can you repeat it?"
Jean blinked, "oh, it's...ah..." she groaned. "Why can't I...why can't I remember it?"
I grinned. "Because it's impossible to remember. Plus, even if someone somehow got my bioscan and the password — the second of which is impossible — they would also have to replicate my aura and magical signature, which is most definitely impossible, as everyone's aura is unique."
Jean blinked, "magic?"
"Yeah." I snapped my fingers and the box slowly began to levitate, causing the psychic to gasp in shock. "Anyone can learn magic, actually. The only difference is that the X-gene allows mutants to grasp it instinctively — it's like a cheat code of sorts. You get it?"
"So...can you read minds?" Jean asked.
I shook my head. "No, telepathy is harder. I can't seem to crack it. But telekinesis is easier." To demonstrate, I had the cube orbit my hand in slow circles. "Cool, huh?"
"So...are mutants magic?" Jean asked.
"In the strictest sense, yes," I nodded, levitating the cube back onto the table.
"Magic..." She shook her head, grumbling into her drink. "It's too early in the morning for this. Next you'll be telling me Hogwarts is real."
I smiled. "It's called Kamar-Taj. It's in Nepal, not Scotland. And it's not nearly as fun as Hogwarts."
Jean spat out her drink. "What?!"
I threw my head back and laughed. "Yeah. Johnny did the same thing."
Jean grumbled, "damn it, Peter, every day it's something new."
I smiled. She smiled back. We stood a few feet apart. She leaned in, and I blinked in surprise as she moved to kiss me. I wanted to kiss her back — but the thought of the silver-haired girl staying in the room across from mine crept into my head.
Almost on instinct, I pulled back. Jean felt it. She opened her eyes, worry flickering in those green depths. "What's wrong?"
I didn't know how to explain it. I wasn't with Felicia — I knew that, and so did she. Felicia had spent the past few days happily helping the mutants around the school, talking, making friends. But every time I walked into a room, she would look at me and smile, with that quiet hope sitting just behind her eyes.
I sighed. "Damn you, Felicia."
Jean smiled. "Too soon?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
"Peter...you know I feel the same way. She didn't just leave you..."
"Yeah. But you weren't on your deathbed when she did."
Jean sighed. She set her cup down and took my hands in hers. "Peter...you know she hates herself for what she did, right?"
"How can I know she won't leave again?"
"I suppose you can't be sure. But Peter...she loves you. And if I'm being honest, she misses me too — though you, a little more." She smiled.
I chuckled softly. "Right...so what? We just become one big happy trio? You know polygamy isn't exactly socially accepted."
"Neither are mutants," she smiled.
I let my expression fall. "I think...I just need time, Jean."
"No, what you need is to actually spend some time with her. You don't even talk to her, Peter. How can you expect to move forward if—"
"There was never anything to forgive," I replied. "It's just...I don't trust her. I've forgiven her, but I don't know if I can trust her yet."
"How can you know? If you don't try to talk to her? If you don't spend more than a minute alone with her?"
I looked into Jean's eyes and sighed. I leaned forward, resting my forehead against hers. "So...what do I do?"
I could sense her joy. "Well, if you must know — my school is hosting a junior prom. Since you and Felicia can't go, and the rest of us will be out...you'll be alone. With her."
"So you want me to spend the evening with her?" I grumbled. "That's going to be easier said than done, Jean."
"I'm sure you and that big brain of yours can figure something out," Jean smiled, planting a kiss on my forehead. "Now come on — you need to eat something and wash up. Because Peter, I love you, but you look like hell."
I chuckled. "Yes, Birdie." I let her pull me along, locking the lab door behind me.
We went upstairs to the kitchen, just as a bowl of cereal came flying through the air at my head. I ducked as it sailed over me; Jean blinked in surprise. "Well, that's new."
"Get back here, Kurt!" Evans yelled, just before Kurt teleported out of the room and into the hallway.
"Hey! Don't knock over my cereal — you already threw out yours!" came Felicia's voice, followed by Evans running out and hurling a bony spike at Kurt, who vanished before it could do any real damage.
We walked in to find the kitchen in chaos. Rogue wore a look of contempt, a sentiment her new best friend Wanda clearly shared, as the two sat apart from the rest at the far end of the table. Scott looked vaguely amused, a rare expression he and Storm and Logan all appeared to share at the moment. Felicia sat a little away from the others, holding her bowl of cereal with a disappointed look, while Kathy just looked flat-out annoyed.
"Lively morning," I grumbled as Jean and I moved toward the table. I was about to sit apart from everyone, but Jean reached over and pinched me before I could.
I turned and glared. She pointedly looked at Felicia, who was sitting alone. I sighed and nodded, sliding in beside Felicia — surprising her — while Jean settled on my right.
"Ah, Peter, you're alive. It's good to know," Charles chuckled. "I was beginning to think you had turned into a stone statue."
I smirked. "You know how it is — get caught up in something interesting and nothing can drag you away."
"Hm. And just what is it you're working on?" Charles asked.
I grinned. "Something interesting. Actually, I was hoping you could come take a look. I could use your input — if you have the time."
"I'm free this afternoon. I'll be at your disposal," the man nodded.
"So...what are you working on, Tiger?" Felicia asked with a small smile.
I smiled back, though it took me a moment. "Something I hope will change the world."
Wanda raised an eyebrow. "That's quite a claim."
"And I don't make it lightly," I nodded.
"Well, if anyone can do it," Felicia shrugged.
"So...what's new with everyone?" I asked, looking around the table at the remaining X-Men.
"Not much — just getting ready for prom," Scott replied with a shrug. "Or trying to, anyway. Someone keeps being stubborn." He sent a look toward Rogue.
"Hey! I told you, proms are lame," Rogue snorted. "I'm not going to one of those."
"A night where we dress up like pompous idiots and shuffle around like we're having seizures? Please." Wanda snorted, earning a solemn nod from her new best friend.
I leaned toward Felicia. "Told you those two would get along." She chuckled and shook her head.
"So what about you, Peter? Did Jean ask you?" Kathy asked eagerly, drawing curious glances from both Jean and Felicia.
I sighed and hung my head. I was living in a world of magic, future technology, and so much more — and yet here I was, caught between two girls like it was any other Tuesday.
"I doubt Peter can attend given his current...status," Professor X said with a knowing smile. "I'm sure he would love to, though." I breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Thank you, Patrick Stewart.
"Oh, that's too bad," Kathy grumbled, then blinked. "Wait — Jean, what are you going to do? Are you going at all?"
"Duncan asked me," Jean shrugged. "Just as friends, though, and I honestly don't want to spend the night sitting here, so..."
Felicia raised an eyebrow. "Duncan?"
Jean smirked. "Yup. Captain of the football team."
"Of course," Felicia rolled her eyes as the conversation quickly devolved into standard high-school gossip. Apparently some girl had gotten pregnant and a handsome new male teacher had been hired. The usual.
I honestly couldn't stand it. The teenagers around me would one day be legendary icons — but right now? They were just teenagers. I felt like the only mature person in the entire—
Oh! Maple syrup! I want that!
That afternoon:
"So what is it you wished to show me, Peter?" Charles asked as we walked into the lab — or rather, my lab.
"Here." We approached the containment box with the Mind Stone inside. I tapped it and turned to him. "I found this in HYDRA's possession. It's...special."
"What is it?" Charles asked.
"An ingot of creation itself," I explained, setting the box on the terminal and connecting several sensor pads along its sides to let the surrounding equipment scan it. "It releases mild forms of gamma energy, but also theta waves woven through them. Its most common and simplified name, however, is the Mind Stone."
I opened the box. The Professor blinked back at the sudden rush of golden light that washed over the lab. He looked impressed, then nodded. "I see. And what exactly do you need me for?"
"I want you to scan it," I replied.
He raised an eyebrow. "You want me to scan it? Like I would a person?" I nodded. He looked uncertain but sighed and turned to face the stone. He closed his eyes and began to focus — and then immediately his eyes flew open and he reeled back in pain.
"Argh!" He staggered as I slammed the box shut and rushed to his side.
"Professor! Are you alright? What happened?"
"I-I..." He shook his head, steadying himself. He looked at me, then at the box. "I can't feel it anymore. That box — it blocks its range?"
I nodded. "Yes. While it's inside, it shouldn't be able to influence anyone or anything. Did you feel something? Did something speak to you?" I asked, worried. Whatever had once corrupted Ultron might have reached Charles too — which was precisely why I had refused to discuss the stone with him until I had a way to cut off its influence.
"No, nothing like that," Charles replied, shaking his head. "But it was...an unusual sensation. Like a kind of psychic interference — strange, yet powerful. Dangerous, even." He narrowed his eyes. "It was like trying to read a hundred minds at once."
I groaned. "Was it anything like Cerebro?"
Charles looked surprised. "I wasn't aware you knew of that machine. Did Jean tell you?"
I shrugged. "We don't hide much from each other." Which was true — she had told me within days of my arrival.
Charles hummed. "Yes, it did feel something like Cerebro. But much...more."
"Interesting," I replied, turning back to the box. If my working theory was correct, this could change everything.
"Peter, what exactly is your idea here?" Charles asked, his voice careful.
I turned to him and sighed. "I suppose I owe you an explanation after that. You see...I've been thinking about HYDRA. Their methods were monstrous, but buried underneath all of it, the core idea wasn't entirely wrong."
Charles looked alarmed. "Peter...we don't need to have a conversation about just how immoral what you're suggesting sounds, do we?"
I chuckled. "No, Professor, we don't. I'm not planning on building my own private army — not yet anyway." I winked. "But what I mean is the idea of a unified world. Not one built on fear and subjugation, but on understanding and compassion."
Charles groaned. "An interesting idea, certainly. But how?"
"Through this." I tapped the box. "The stone isn't just powerful, Professor — it is the literal physical representation of the Mind of the Universe. I have a theory. A working one. And I have reason to believe it's practical."
"Go on."
"You know how a spider builds its web?" I asked, and then began my explanation. "It uses silk threads and starts forming an intricate, connected structure using various nodes and strong anchor points. Using that same principle, I think I can use this stone to save us all. The stone can manipulate minds. Setting aside the horrifying idea of brainwashing — what it can also do is connect minds to one another. Which, I suspect, is what you experienced when you tried to read it."
Charles' eyes widened. "Cerebro allows me to reach a vast number of minds — but that stone..."
"Can connect those minds to each other. Providing the silk to join two anchor points in my web analogy." I grinned as I watched the realisation dawn on his face. "Imagine it, Professor. Every man, woman and child on Earth, made empathic overnight. Every single one able to feel another's pain. No more hatred. No more cruelty — because in the end, you'd only be hurting yourself."
"But what about individuality? What about free will?" he asked quickly.
"Free will wouldn't be affected. We'd simply be showing people the consequences of their choices," I argued. "As for individuality...I'll admit, that is a problem. Which is exactly why I need your help, Professor. I'm trying to work out how to do this without crossing the line..." The image of Ultron, of Tony's well-meaning disaster, drifted through my mind.
But that was the difference between Tony and me. I wasn't obsessed with the idea. A solution had come knocking at my door, and I'd be damned if I didn't follow it through.
The man before me looked torn. On one side, I was offering him a solution to every problem the world had ever known. On the other, the unknown variables were too large to ignore.
After a long moment, he sighed. "Drop your shields."
I did, without hesitation, and felt him step into my mind. He moved through my thoughts carefully, searching for something. After a moment, he withdrew, and I raised my mental barriers again.
He sighed, his eyes heavy. "I was hoping to find an ulterior motive. Some grand design you were working toward. Maybe using the stone for your own benefit. I think I would have almost preferred finding something like that."
I snorted. "Yeah...simpler, right? So. What do you say?"
Charles looked at me for a long moment. "For many years I have sought peace. I won't pretend I haven't thought about it — I'm powerful enough to use Cerebro to compel kindness. I cannot begin to explain the restraint it has taken every morning I wake up and hear about a woman being attacked, or a child killed. So much suffering...and I could end it."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because forcing people to be kind has never been a solution to anything," Charles said quietly. "For a while, maybe it would work. But after my death, what then? Perhaps Jean would carry it on. Perhaps her children after her. And then? You would have a system of enforced virtue, built on compulsion. And when you force people to do anything, there will always be resistance."
"So is my idea workable?"
Charles groaned. "In its current form...no." I sighed, but he went on. "But it is better than anything I would have done. If this stone is truly as powerful as you say, then it can help us. A psychic link between every human being on Earth — not to share thoughts, but emotions. That way it wouldn't be a system controlled by one person, but sustained by every individual on the planet. And it wouldn't be forcing them..."
"...We'd be giving them a choice," I nodded, completing the thought. He looked at me, and I at him. In the 616 universe, he had been part of the Illuminati — a gathering of the greatest minds on Earth. I had no reason to believe this Charles was any less worthy of that distinction.
He nodded slowly. "I'll help you, Peter. I'll come every day and do whatever you need, for however long it takes. But if it ever seems like this project is heading somewhere it shouldn't—"
"I'll destroy every written and digital record I have," I said immediately.
Charles nodded. He looked at the cube and frowned. "That stone — how exactly does it fit into all of this? What if it's damaged? It's far too important to risk."
"Nothing will happen to it," I replied. "It's indestructible. Truly. You might as well try to destroy a primordial force of the universe — which it quite literally is. It will endure. But we do need to be careful."
"It could be stolen," Charles said.
I smiled. I picked up the cube without a word and threw it at the door. The mechanical door slid open automatically, the cube sailed a few feet outside — and then flew right back in, landing neatly on the table.
"I've installed a magical lock rune on it," I said, tapping the table. "It took a while to get right, but the cube can no longer leave this room without me holding it."
Charles blinked. "How?"
"It's linked to my blood," I shrugged. "It's complex — you see—"
"No, not that." Charles fixed me with a look. "What do you mean, magic?"
I grinned. "Oh, this is going to take a while. Do you have a moment?" He nodded, and I began my explanation, taking quiet delight in watching Xavier's jaw drop several times — and hang completely open when I demonstrated that I was telekinetic.