Marvel : the Author

Greetings, fellow Earthlings ! I hope you enjoy this chapter. And I'll quickly remind you that you can visit my Patréon page to read more of my writings ! Also, please comment, review or leave stones ! Thanks and enjoy your day !

============

These days, I feel a little, how to say… Conflicted ? That's the most appropriate word I can think of at the moment. The reason for that is that Doreen's spilled my secret to Peter. Well, to be clear, she spilled her secret - which wasn't really one with her domino mask - and Peter figured out who I was with that.

He's been a little clingy ever since. I mean, I get why ! Until now and for almost a year, he believed he was alone in the school with superpowers. He felt alone, isolated… Even more than he was when he was simply a smart nerd. Then, he found out that there were two upperclassmen in the same situation as him… Or at least a similar one, 'cause Doreen and I were both born with our powers… Kind of. I mean, I was born with the potential for it.

In addition, another reason for Peter wanting to spend time with us is because he's not stupid. His aunt told him about the 'human-squid alien' who helped them and saved his uncle Ben. Knowing that I was in his school, it enthused him. It also puzzled him somewhat, since I don't exactly live near his house and therefore, there should have been no reason for me to be there. My excuse ? I was working on a new spell…

Which brings us to the third reason why Peter's spending more and more time with us : the mystic arts. You see, Peter is and always has been a scientist at heart. He didn't believe in magic, even though he liked fantasy and space opera stories. Finding out about my power and then about my parents being magic users : it blew his mind away.

Even after a couple of weeks, Peter still can't reconcile his understanding of the world with the revelation that there are people out there who can simply shape reality however they see fit. Okay, maybe not however they see fit… The Mystic arts need a great deal of knowledge in linguistics, mathematics, physics and quantum physics, not to mention energy manipulations and knowledge about other dimensions before you can use it to alter the world around you.

He keeps asking me about magic lessons, as if it was some kind of hobby you could practice for a couple hours a week and become proficient at it quickly. And I keep telling him it's not. The Mystic arts are as time consuming and difficult as school… no, as college is ! Concentration, dedication, hard work, long hours and a modicum of intelligence are all needed in order to become a master. Which is why, even after more than a year, I'm very far from becoming one !

Besides, according to mom and dad, I'm becoming something different from the usual master of the mystic arts. Then again, with mom's witchcraft lessons, and my nature as an Alterhuman, that's only natural. Especially given the nature of my power : it's a cheat most magical practitioner would kill for…

Oh ! That's another potential threat I need to be wary of. While normal people can't make use of my ink without my cooperation, what about some kind of dark mage ? Isn't there a ritual out there to steal my power ? And besides, Weapon-X and Hydra are known for their despicable methods… While they can't make use of my ink themselves, they're not above simply conditioning me into being the good little toy soldier, or worse, their puppet !

Sitting at our usual table underneath the tree, I shiver and Peter notices it :

« What's wrong, Nate ? You feeling sick ? »

I shake my head :

« I simply had an unpleasant thought… » Then, I look at him. « Say, Peter… Don't you have other friends ? Like MJ and Harry… These days, you're always with us, don't you think you should also spend some time with them ? »

Peter frowns at my words. Before he speaks, I can already tell that things aren't going well between the trio for some reason. I inwardly sigh at the teenage drama I'm about to hear…

« MJ and Harry hang out with another crowd nowadays. Flash and his people… » He says Flash's name with a great amount of distaste, which I understand : the kid's a stupid, foolish bully who thinks himself above everyone else because he's good at throwing a ball. Doesn't matter that he's crap at everything else, and has the emotional and intellectual maturity of an brain-dead oyster. Wait… Do oyster even have brains ? Anyway, you get the idea : he's a moron ! « Besides… » Peter continues. « … I don't want to hear about those two anymore. »

Doreen asks without thinking : « Why ? »

Cory's the one who gives her a glare and tells the teenager :

« You can talk to us… If you want. You know we won't blabber your secrets to anyone else. »

« Yeah, don't worry ! It's usually our secrets that we reveal thoughtlessly… » I add with just a pinch of sarcasm and a bigger dose of humor in my voice.

Peter goes silent for a while, looking intently at the wood of the table, as if it suddenly is very interesting and contains some kind of universal truth… My guess is, he's not really looking at the table though. Finally, he sighs and I just know that he will talk to us. If I were asked, I would have said : 'you can keep your secrets and your drama !' But as usual, nobody cares what I think.

« It's just… Harry started going out with MJ. He knows how much I… I mean, he knows I like her ! » Another sigh as he admits : « I've liked her since elementary school, really. Which, now that I say it, I realize is the reason why he decided to act… He probably figured I never would. »

I don't comment on his almost slipping up, but seeing Doreen's gaze, I slap the back of her head lightly and look elsewhere. She gives me the stink eye but I ignore her and the situation, pretending that watching the kids walking and chatting is riveting… It isn't.

Before Doreen can open her mouth, Cory saves my bacon :

« So… Have you guys considered the bald pirate's offer ? »

A few days after the Frightful Four's attack on the school, Fury 'ambushed' Peter on a rooftop after the teenager retrieved an old lady's purse and returned… The old lady was not grateful, by the way ; Jameson's already hard at work defaming the web-slinger. The master spy surprised Peter, as was his intended purpose and offered him to train him - and us. He also hinted at the possibility of joining a government-sanctioned team of superheroes. Most probably, the Avengers.

I say :

« I'm not interested. » I shake my head. « Between school and my parents lessons, I already have enough on my plate. Besides, they'd never agree for me to join a government agency… Magic's supposed to be a secret and being part of the government would be counterproductive to that. »

What I don't say, is that I actually don't really want to be a hero. I think… I'm not even sure anymore. I mean, on one hand I think it's cool and helping people is a good thing. On the other, it's too much responsibility, it's scary and it's dangerous.

After a long silence, Peter speaks, unsure :

« I'm still considering it. I feel like I need the training… »

Doreen energetically raises her hand up and exclaims :

« I'm interested ! I want to become a badass, ninja-pirate spy girl ! »

I smile wryly and tells her :

« You do know he's not a real pirate, right ? Besides, if you want to join them, I'll have to ask you to wear a better mask. This thing hides nothing ! » I say, referring to her domino mask.

Tensing, she asks warily :

« And what do you suggest I wear ? Not something like the full-face mask of Peter, right ? »

I nod and she instantly retorts :

« But it looks so stuffy ! »

I sigh and point out :

« Do you prefer to be a little uncomfortable, or do you prefer every criminals, villains and their mother knowing who you are ? Have you thought about your parents ? Us ? Peter's figured out who I was with your identity and now that he spends time with us, his identity is also in danger if yours is discovered… »

As I continue to mercilessly list the number of problems her not wearing a better mask could pose, she raises her hands and says :

« I give ! I give ! » She sighs : « Alright… I'll change my mask ! »