Chapter 38: Chapter 37
The Grey family farmhouse near Bard College was the kind of place where you half-expected to see a deer sipping tea on the porch. It had all the charming clichés: rolling hills, a picket fence, and a barn so Instagrammable it practically begged for a filter called "Rustic Whimsy." To most people, it screamed normal. To Jean, it screamed please don't let my mutant and demigod friends accidentally blow this place up.
The ancient, slightly lopsided Delphi Strawberries van screeched into the driveway like it was fleeing a fruit truck police chase. Coach Hedge, their resident satyr-slash-unofficial driver, slammed the brakes so hard that everyone inside was thrown forward. Jean's face smushed into the back of Rogue's seat, which smelled faintly of leather and mild irritation.
"Alright, you freeloading whippersnappers," Coach Hedge bellowed, leaping out like the chaotic goat-man he was. "Out you go! I've got important satyr stuff to do."
"Define important," Lance muttered as he climbed out, brushing Dorito crumbs off of the Camp Half-Blood t-shirt Jean had gifted him.
"Finding snacks," Natasha deadpanned.
Jean, hopping out after them, took a deep breath of fresh country air. This was her home, her safe place. And now it was about to be invaded by a small army of superheroes and demigods with varying degrees of impulse control. What could possibly go wrong?
Behind her, her friends from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and Camp Half-Blood poured out of the van. There was Natasha, who could make anyone feel like they were about to confess state secrets. Yelena, her equally intimidating sister, who somehow managed to be both sarcastic and terrifyingly cool. Rogue, who looked like she could take down a bear with a flick of her hair. Kitty, the sweetest person alive (unless you counted her habit of walking through walls and scaring people half to death). Lance, the poster child for "I swear I didn't mean to break it." Kayla and Katie, Camp Half-Blood's resident dream team of archery and plant magic. And Remy, who looked like trouble wrapped in a Cajun accent. Oh, and Scott. Who, as far as Jean could tell, was only here because leaving him at Xavier's would have felt like bullying.
"This is your house?" Kayla asked, eyeing the farmhouse like it might sprout legs and walk away.
"Yep," Jean said, trying not to sound too proud. "My dad's a history professor at Bard, and my mom's a nurse. Oh, and my sister Sara is—"
"Let me guess," Yelena interrupted. "An angsty teenager who will judge us all?"
Jean sighed. "She's thirteen. So, yeah."
Before anyone could add to the roast session, the front door swung open. Jean's dad, John, stepped out onto the porch, waving like he was either really happy to see her or terrified about what she'd brought home. Her mom, Elaine, appeared behind him, smiling warmly but with the wary expression of someone mentally preparing for chaos. And then there was Sara, ponytail bobbing, arms crossed, radiating pure big sister skepticism.
"Jean!" her dad called. "You made it!"
"Hey, Dad!" Jean called back, trying to keep her voice steady. "These are my friends!"
Jean watched as her parents scanned the group, their expressions shifting from polite curiosity to mild panic as they processed the sheer variety of chaos standing on their front lawn.
Natasha, ever the diplomat, stepped forward first. "Natasha Romanoff. Thank you for having us."
"Yelena Belova," her sister added, her smile sharp enough to cut glass. "Don't worry. We're only a little dangerous."
Sara raised an eyebrow. "Cool. Same."
Jean winced. "Okay! Let's keep moving. Mom, Dad, Sara—this is Katie, Kayla, Rogue, Kitty, Lance, Remy, and Scott. They're, uh… really excited to be here."
Scott, who clearly wasn't, managed a stiff "Hi."
"Great," Sara said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Now that the superhero circus is here, what's the plan?"
Jean hesitated. What was the plan? Her tenth birthday was tomorrow, and she was mostly focused on hoping Harry and Hermione—her best friends from Camp Half-Blood who were currently training in the mystical, probably-in-another-dimension city of K'un Lun—would somehow show up like Harry had promised. Harry always found a way, but this? Even for him, it seemed impossible.
"You'll see," Jean said, plastering on a smile. "First, let's get everyone settled."
As her friends lugged their bags inside (and by "bags," she meant assorted weapons, enchanted objects, and whatever snacks Coach Hedge hadn't confiscated), Jean caught her mom's eye. Elaine gave her a knowing look—the kind that said I don't know what you're planning, but I trust you. Mostly.
"Jean," her mom said softly, "you've got this. And if you need help, we're here."
"Thanks, Mom," Jean said, feeling a flicker of hope. She just had to keep everyone from accidentally setting the barn on fire or challenging Sara to a duel.
As the door closed behind them, Jean took a deep breath. Her birthday hadn't even started yet, and already it felt like juggling a dozen live grenades. But if there was one thing she'd learned from her double life as a mutant-slash-avatar-of-a-cosmic-force-of-nature, it was this: chaos wasn't optional. It was inevitable.
And honestly? She wouldn't have it any other way.
—
The farmhouse buzzed with the kind of energy you'd expect from a group of super-powered teens crammed into one space. Katie and Kayla were already outside, one growing flowers faster than Sara could roll her eyes, the other turning the newly bloomed tulips into target practice. Kitty was phasing through walls just to see where they led (and nearly scared Sara out of her sneakers when she popped into her room uninvited). Natasha and Yelena were having an in-depth conversation about what made the best spy disguises. Rogue and Lance were arguing about who could bench press more, while Remy leaned casually against the staircase, flipping a glowing card between his fingers like it was no big deal.
And Scott? He was staring at Jean like a lost puppy, as usual.
Jean sighed and focused on her immediate to-do list: make sure no one demolished the house, keep Sara from threatening to move out, and figure out how to politely ask Scott to stop hovering without hurting his feelings. Oh, and keep an eye on the sky—because if Harry and the others did manage to show up, she'd need to prepare her parents for the fact that one of her friends could summon shadows, and had a knack for showing up covered in magical bruises.
"Hey, Jean," Rogue called from the living room, where she was perched on the arm of a couch. "So, what's the plan for tomorrow? Big party? Cake? Maybe a little smackdown if Sara's up for it?"
Sara, passing by with an exaggerated sigh, didn't even stop walking. "I'll pass, thanks."
Jean smiled tightly. "Just a low-key day. Family, friends, nothing crazy."
Natasha raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Right. Because nothing crazy ever happens when you're around."
"It's not like I try to attract chaos," Jean protested, though she had to admit Natasha had a point. "It just… finds me."
Remy chuckled, his Cajun drawl practically dripping with amusement. "Chère, chaos doesn't find you. It follows you like a lost puppy."
"And occasionally tackles me," Jean muttered under her breath, earning a laugh from Kitty.
As the evening wore on, Jean's nerves began to settle. Her friends—mutant, demigod, or otherwise—seemed to be getting along just fine. Even Sara had softened a little, though she kept shooting suspicious looks at Lance, who'd managed to accidentally knock over a lamp and a plate of cookies within ten minutes.
But as Jean stared out at the moonlit fields from her bedroom window later that night, her mind wandered to Harry and the others. K'un Lun wasn't exactly a short trip from New York. Okay, it wasn't even on the same plane of existence. But Harry had promised. And if there was one thing she'd learned about him, it was that he didn't break promises.
Still, as the hours ticked by and the farmhouse grew quiet, Jean couldn't shake the feeling that something big was coming. Not just her birthday, but… something else. The kind of something that usually came with an explosion or a battle cry.
Because, as much as Jean wanted a normal, drama-free birthday, she was starting to realize the truth: "normal" wasn't part of her life anymore. Not when she had friends who could walk through walls, shoot lasers out of their eyes, or literally summon thunderstorms.
And especially not when Harry Lokison was involved.
---
Meanwhile, in K'un Lun…
"Harry," Hermione hissed in that special tone she reserved for life-or-death situations—or when Harry was being particularly Harry. She dodged a particularly aggressive swing of a jade staff, her expression caught somewhere between exasperation and homicidal rage. "You promised Jean we'd be there for her birthday. Tomorrow."
"Working on it!" Harry called back, flipping over his opponent with the kind of acrobatic ease that screamed, Yes, I'm showing off, and no, I'm not sorry.
The training hall was dimly lit, the flickering lanterns casting shadows over the chaos unfolding within. A blur of glowing weapons, mystical sigils, and annoyed monks moved like clockwork—except this clock apparently had a vendetta against escaping children. Harry dodged, Hermione parried, and their small band of misfits tried their best not to look entirely incompetent.
Luke ducked as a pair of kunai whizzed past his head, then shot Harry a look. "This wasn't part of the plan."
"This is the plan," Harry replied, grinning like he was having the time of his life. "Improvisation, Luke! Keep up."
Annabeth groaned, deflecting a flying kick with her shield. "Harry, when we agreed to follow you, we didn't sign up to fight kung-fu monks at midnight!"
"Technically," Thalia added, sparks dancing at her fingertips as she kept a safe perimeter, "we did sign up for chaos. It's just worse because Harry's involved."
"Rude," Harry shot back, though he was too busy ducking a glowing bo staff to sound genuinely offended.
On the far side of the hall, Clarisse had abandoned all semblance of stealth. "Why are we still here? We should just smash our way out!" she yelled, knocking one monk flat on his back with a single swing of her spear.
"Because subtlety is key, Clarisse!" Annabeth snapped. "We're trying to sneak out, not start a war."
"Too late for that!" Travis called, dodging another monk's fist while Connor casually tripped the poor guy. The twins grinned at each other like they were having the time of their lives.
"Will all of you shut up?" Brunhilde hissed, her voice sharp as the blade in her hand. She darted forward, her movements as smooth and precise as a cat stalking prey. "If we get caught, none of us are leaving this place."
"Pretty sure we're already caught," Beckendorf muttered, pulling Silena back as a monk nearly landed a hit. She gave him a grateful smile before flipping her hair dramatically, temporarily distracting the monk.
"We wouldn't be caught," Hermione cut in, barely avoiding a flying kick, "if someone hadn't insisted on taking the 'flashy' route out." Her eyes darted to Harry, whose grin hadn't faded in the slightest.
"I'm getting us out of here," Harry said cheerfully, his green eyes practically glowing with mischief. "Trust me."
Annabeth looked like she wanted to argue, but Brunhilde cut her off. "Fine. What's the actual plan, Lokison?"
Harry stopped mid-dodge, glanced at the group, and smirked. "We shadow-travel under the cover of darkness. Easy."
"Easy?" Silena repeated, incredulous. "You're telling me all this chaos wasn't part of the plan?"
"Nope!" Harry replied, popping the p for emphasis. "It's called a distraction. And it's working beautifully."
Hermione groaned. "Harry, define 'beautifully.'"
"Jean's about to have a birthday she'll never forget," Harry said, sidestepping another monk and giving the group a thumbs-up.
Luke rolled his eyes but waved everyone toward the shadowy corner Harry was motioning to. "Fine, we'll follow your lead. But if this fails—"
"It won't fail," Harry interrupted, his grin widening as shadows began to swirl around his feet. "I'm me. When have I ever let you down?"
The chorus of groans from the group was almost louder than the monks shouting nearby.
With a flick of his wrist, Harry summoned the shadows, which rippled and swirled like living things. "Everyone hold hands," he instructed. "Don't let go, no matter what."
"Wait, wait!" Travis said, grabbing Connor's hand. "Is this like one of those teleportation deals? Because I hate teleportation deals."
"Shut up and grab on," Thalia snapped, latching onto Annabeth's hand.
"Everyone ready?" Harry asked, his voice dripping with excitement.
"Not really," Luke muttered, though he tightened his grip on Annabeth and Beckendorf.
"Perfect," Harry said, and with a flash of light and a swirl of shadows, the group vanished into the night.
The monks stopped in their tracks, staring at the now-empty training hall. One turned to the other, sighed heavily, and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "Children."
---
Back at the farmhouse, Jean finally crawled into bed, trying not to think about all the ways tomorrow could go wrong. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and told herself that everything would be fine.
And then, somewhere in the distance, a loud CRACK split the night.
Jean's eyes shot open. "Oh no," she whispered.
Because if that sound wasn't a dimensional portal, she'd eat her strawberry-shaped Camp Half-Blood necklace.
—
Jean threw the covers off, heart racing as the unmistakable sound of a portal cracking through the air echoed again. That was no coincidence. She'd heard it before—the sound of space and time bending, splitting open. Harry had promised, but she'd never expected this much chaos.
She shoved her feet into her sneakers and bolted downstairs, her mind already running through the possibilities. The farmhouse was eerily quiet, and her friends were scattered in the living room. They all turned their heads as Jean practically skidded to a halt in the doorway.
"What's going on?" Rogue asked, raising a brow.
"I think Harry's here," Jean muttered, her voice barely above a whisper as she listened, feeling the air shift with her telepathy. She strained to catch any hint of a presence that wasn't supposed to be there.
"You think?" Natasha gave her a skeptical glance. "You're not sure?"
Jean spun on her heels, moving toward the door. "No, I'm sure. That sound—that's a portal."
Lance, who had been in the kitchen with cookies, strolled into the room with one hanging from his mouth, raising an eyebrow. "So, we're just gonna sit here and pretend nothing's going on? We're not even gonna get ready for the madness?"
"Madness, you say?" Kitty grinned, practically bouncing with excitement. "I'm in."
"Do we even need to ask if we're ready for chaos?" Rogue muttered, exchanging a glance with Natasha.
"Guess we're going to find out," Jean sighed, pushing open the door. "Let's see what kind of insanity they brought this time."
---
Out in the moonlit field, the portal crackled open once more, this time swirling with dark green energy, a tear in space-time that smelled like ozone and magic. And then, without a moment's hesitation, the first figure stepped through the rift, brushing off his jacket as if nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred.
"Well, this is new," Harry said with a mischievous grin, glancing around at the open field. "Didn't expect to step right into a birthday party on a farm."
Behind him, Hermione shot him a look that was somewhere between exasperation and disbelief. "Harry, I swear, next time I'm picking the mode of travel. You could have just warned me we were landing in a field."
"Did you want me to say 'Hold on, Hermione, we're about to land in a field?'" Harry shot back with a devilish grin. "I don't think that would have helped."
Hermione huffed, adjusting her robes as she scanned their surroundings. "Do you even know where we are?"
"We're close," Harry replied, his gaze turning to the lights of the farmhouse up ahead. "Jean's here. This way."
Before Hermione could respond, the unmistakable sound of footsteps crunching on grass reached their ears. Jean appeared, standing at the edge of the field, her expression a mix of frustration and amusement.
"I knew it," Jean muttered, a rueful smile creeping onto her lips as she locked eyes with Harry. "You're late, as usual."
"Sorry!" Harry grinned, waving energetically. "You know how it goes—saving the world, dodging a few monks, jumping through portals. Not much of a smooth landing this time, but hey, we made it!"
Jean raised an eyebrow. "Monks?"
"Oh, you know," Harry shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing I couldn't handle. But hey, better late than never. And I brought company!"
Jean blinked, her eyes narrowing as more figures began stepping through the another shadow portal Harry conjured. Luke, Thalia, Annabeth, Clarisse, Silena, Travis, Connor, Charles Beckendorf—and of course, the ever-grinning Valkyrie, Brunhilde—followed closely behind. The familiar faces of her demigod friends brought an immediate smile to Jean's lips.
"Really?" Jean crossed her arms, but her grin was widening. "You all decided to come at this time?"
Luke gave her a wry smile. "Harry doesn't do things halfway. You know that."
Hermione glanced over at Jean, shaking her head. "I'm sorry. We tried to keep it small."
Jean raised an eyebrow at her. "Small? This is an army."
"Just wait until you see the chaos we can bring," Travis chimed in with a grin.
Clarisse, rolling her eyes, crossed her arms. "If there's no battle to fight, I'll make one. Don't worry."
Jean couldn't help but laugh. "It's my birthday. Can't you all just behave for once?"
Silena smiled, "We've got cake on the agenda, Jean. I promise nothing too wild... at least, not yet."
"Chaos is practically my middle name," Harry called out, grinning at the group, "but no worries—I came for the cake, not to destroy the place. Maybe just a little bit of a distraction."
"Well, I've heard enough about 'distractions' for one lifetime," Jean replied, exasperated but clearly amused. "So what's the plan, then?"
"Birthday fun and a side of madness," Harry answered, his eyes twinkling. "Also, no dragons this time. I promise."
"I'd prefer you didn't bring anything that breathes fire," Jean said with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, in that case," Harry said, his grin growing wider, "I'll just stick to magic and whatever tricks I have up my sleeve."
"Let me guess," Natasha said dryly, stepping forward from the group, "We're preparing for the end of the world again?"
"Don't worry," Harry answered breezily, "this time, it's more of a 'best party ever' situation."
Jean rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. "Alright, then. Let's see if we can survive the day without another explosion."
Harry gave a mock salute. "Living's overrated. It's surviving that's the real challenge."
With that, the rest of the demigods and their friends began to filter out of the field and toward the farmhouse, laughter and chatter filling the air. It was far from the quiet birthday Jean had imagined, but as her friends gathered around her, all chaos and energy in full swing, she realized one thing for sure:
Normal was never going to happen, not when Harry was involved. But maybe, just maybe, it was better that way.
"Well," Jean muttered to herself, "here we go again."
—
The farmhouse was alive with energy as Harry and his chaotic entourage made their way inside, the sound of laughter and teasing already filling the air. Jean took a deep breath and glanced over her shoulder as she heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the back of the house. Her parents and Sara had been keeping to themselves all afternoon, preparing for her birthday dinner, but now it was time for the inevitable explanation.
The door to the kitchen swung open, and her mom, a knowing smile on her face, stepped in first, followed by her dad, who looked more curious than anything. Sara trailed behind them, looking slightly bemused but not exactly surprised. Jean knew her family had gotten used to Harry's unpredictable visits by now, but explaining this level of commotion? That was a different story.
"Everything okay out here?" her mom asked, raising an eyebrow as she took in the sight of the many unfamiliar faces filling the room—Luke, Annabeth, Thalia, Clarisse, and the others—each one chatting and laughing as if they'd known each other forever.
Jean let out a long sigh. "Yeah, it's just… Harry," she said, trying to sound more exasperated than she actually felt. "And, well, you know how he is."
Her dad chuckled softly. "Right. The boy's a walking natural disaster."
"An understatement," Jean muttered, rubbing her temples. "You remember the whole portal business, right?"
"Can't forget that," her mom replied, half-smiling. "And we're just supposed to pretend we're not on the verge of being swept up in another one of his... adventures?"
"Pretty much," Jean said. "Except this time, it's more of an army of demigods. And friends. And no dragons—well, at least none that we can see right now."
Sara, standing a little further back, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Is it always this... loud?"
"Pretty much," Jean confirmed, then winced as she heard Harry's voice drifting through the walls. "Okay, so here's the deal. Harry brought his usual entourage, and—"
"Oh, don't worry about that," Sara said, cutting her off with a grin. "I've met him before. And trust me, I know what 'chaos' looks like when it's his idea of a good time."
Jean gave a half-laugh, half-groan. "Great. So, everyone's basically going to pretend like we didn't just get invaded by more people than we were expecting?"
"Considering your entourage isn't exactly the usual crowd, I think we can manage," her mom said, folding her arms across her chest. "Though I'd say there are more faces in here than at one of those big family reunions of yours."
Jean sighed again, glancing over at the rest of the group as they spilled out into the living room. "I just hope we make it through the day without any spontaneous explosions or world-threatening monsters showing up. But no promises."
Sara shot her a teasing look. "You didn't honestly think Harry would show up quietly, did you?"
"Well, I was hoping for it," Jean said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But no—he's gotta turn my birthday into some kind of world-saving, disaster event."
Her dad raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, at least the kid's entertaining."
Jean shot him a pointed look. "You should never encourage him, Dad."
"Too late for that," her mom replied with a grin. "We're stuck with him now."
Just then, the sounds of Harry's laughter floated in from the next room as he joked with Thalia. Jean's eyes narrowed in mock disapproval. "There's no way we're getting through the evening without something going wrong. It's impossible."
Sara laughed softly. "Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way."
Jean glanced over at her friends, who were all happily chatting and picking at the snacks they had set up. Even with the madness, she couldn't deny the warmth that spread through her chest, knowing her family was here and her friends were gathered around.
"Alright, fine. You're right," Jean admitted, giving in with a sigh. "It's just... well, when Harry's around, things get interesting."
"Well, it's your birthday," her dad said with a wink. "If you can't have a little chaos today, when can you?"
Jean rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile that crept onto her face. "Yeah, yeah. Chaos is his middle name."
Her mom smiled knowingly. "That's our Harry."
As the door to the kitchen swung open and the laughter from the living room grew louder, Jean couldn't help but feel a sense of inevitability. Another birthday, another round of chaos. But at least this time, it was her chaos. And in the end, maybe that was all that mattered.
"Well," Jean said, with a dramatic sigh, "I guess it's time to dive in."
With one last glance at her parents and Sara, she headed back to the group, already bracing herself for the mayhem that was sure to follow. But somehow, with friends like these, she knew it would be a day she wouldn't forget—no matter how much chaos they caused.
—
The night was winding down, the kind of quiet that only came after a night full of laughter, cake crumbs, and the fading echoes of overexcited conversations. Jean stood by the window, staring out at the moonlit fields beyond, the faint glimmer of stars scattered like broken promises across the sky. She'd almost convinced herself that Harry wouldn't make it. That something would pull him away at the last minute—some last-minute catastrophe, or another one of his impromptu adventures. It always seemed like that with him.
But then, like a force of nature (which, let's face it, he technically was), Harry had shown up—wild grin, disheveled hair, and that general air of chaos that seemed to follow him everywhere. He hadn't been late, though. For once, he'd been on time. And in his own way, that felt like a miracle.
Footsteps echoed softly behind her, followed by the creak of the door as it swung open. Jean didn't even need to turn around. She could feel it. That unmistakable presence. Harry.
"Still up?" he asked, his voice as casual as ever, but there was something different in it tonight. Something… softer.
Jean looked over her shoulder, her lips curling into a smile she couldn't quite hide. "I guess I'm still recovering from all the excitement."
Harry slid in next to her like he belonged there, leaning casually against the wall with a small, almost uncharacteristically serious look on his face. "Yeah, I know the feeling. I've had my fair share of explosive parties. Wouldn't exactly call them 'fun,' but they were memorable."
Jean chuckled, the tension in her shoulders finally loosening. "I wasn't sure you'd show. Thought you might get swept away by one of your other adventures or, you know, saving the world again."
Harry raised an eyebrow, his mischievous grin creeping back into place. "You thought I'd leave you hanging on your birthday?"
Jean snorted, rolling her eyes. "I mean, it wouldn't have held it against you."
He shot her a sidelong glance, clearly amused. "I'll have you know, I'm a man of my word, Jean. If I say I'll be there, I'll be there." He paused, his voice softening just a fraction. "You don't have to doubt me."
Jean's gaze faltered for a second, her fingers brushing the cool surface of the window as she let out a quiet breath. "I guess I just wanted this to be… normal. No monsters. No chaos. Just a normal birthday."
Harry smirked, his eyes twinkling in that way that made everything feel a little bit less ordinary. "Normal isn't really my thing. But I'll tell you what—I'm here, and I'm here for you. That counts, right?"
There was a flicker in her eyes, something like relief. Or maybe hope. It was a little hard to pin down.
"You know," Jean said, her voice quieter now, "It means a lot that you came. You didn't have to. But you did."
Harry's grin widened, and he nudged her lightly with his shoulder. "What can I say? I've got a soft spot for cake and chaos—and you, Jean, are like a walking invitation to both." He gave her that boyish smile, the one that always seemed to have a hint of trouble lurking behind it. "You're stuck with me now. Deal with it."
Jean couldn't help but laugh, the tension in her chest fully melting away. "Yeah, yeah. I'm stuck with you. But... thanks, Harry. Really."
"Anytime." He paused, stretching his arms dramatically as though preparing to leave. "Now, get some sleep. You've got a birthday to survive tomorrow."
Jean watched him head toward the door, his usual swagger back in full force. He wasn't kidding. Tomorrow was bound to be chaotic. But maybe, just maybe, having Harry there would make it a little less overwhelming.
As he disappeared out the door, she turned back to the window, the quiet peace of the night settling over her like a blanket. Maybe tomorrow would be crazy, maybe there'd be monsters or explosions, or Harry would show up dressed like a giant bird. But for tonight, with Harry's words hanging in the air like the last sparkles of a firework, Jean could feel a little spark of hope. Maybe normal didn't have to be boring. Maybe chaos, with the right company, was just another kind of normal.
And as for Harry? Well, Jean figured if she was going to survive anything with him, she'd have to be very good at rolling with the punches. After all, with his family background and all the power he could call on, normal wasn't something Harry could ever be.
But maybe that was okay.
—
Scott Summers crouched behind the wall, his heart pounding in his chest like it was trying to escape. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white, but he didn't dare make a sound. Not yet. Not while he was there.
He'd been sneaky—real sneaky. Slipping through the shadows like a pro, keeping a safe distance so they wouldn't know he was watching. After all, he had to know. He had to see for himself whether Jean and Harry were... too close.
And yeah, okay, maybe his heart was doing that annoying thing where it twisted up in knots every time he saw them together. Maybe he didn't like the way Harry looked at her like she was the only person in the room. Maybe he didn't like how casually Harry leaned on the window, all relaxed, like he didn't have a care in the world, and then flashed that ridiculously cocky grin—one that he could never seem to pull off, no matter how hard he tried.
The way Harry made everything sound so easy… so natural. As if he wasn't a son of some god who could probably snap his fingers and blow up the whole house. As if he didn't have powers that were enough to make Scott's optic blasts look like a child's toy by comparison.
Scott wasn't stupid. He knew exactly what he was seeing. The way Jean looked at Harry, like she couldn't help but smile at every word he said, no matter how offhanded. The way she laughed, the way she genuinely seemed to appreciate the idiot's antics. It was the kind of thing that made Scott's chest feel like it was about to explode.
"Normal isn't really my thing. But I'll tell you what—I'm here, and I'm here for you. That counts, right?"
Scott swallowed hard, his hands trembling. No, that wasn't right. That line, that look—they weren't supposed to be like that. They weren't supposed to have this easy... thing between them. They weren't supposed to be so comfortable.
Jean was supposed to be with him. He was the one who would protect her. He was the one who would always be there, even when it was hard, even when they didn't know what the hell they were doing. She had to see that, right? She had to understand that they were meant to be together. That was how it worked. She was his soulmate. It was destiny. Their destiny. He was sure of it.
He clenched his jaw as he watched Harry leave, that stupid grin on his face, probably off to do something crazy and dangerous because that's what Harry did. He was crazy. And Scott hated it.
"Anytime," Harry had said, with that look in his eyes like he knew exactly what Jean needed, like he was exactly what Jean needed. Scott could practically hear the unspoken promise in those words—whatever it was Jean needed, Harry was going to give it to her. That smile, that effortless confidence—it was like a weapon. It was the kind of thing that made people swoon, that made people fall for him, and Scott knew he couldn't compete with that.
Not when Harry was... well, Harry.
But Scott wasn't an idiot. He wasn't going to let this happen. He wasn't going to let some other guy come in and steal his place. No way.
Taking a deep breath, Scott stood up from his hiding spot, brushing his hands off as though that would wipe away the anger and frustration bubbling inside of him. He had a lot of things to sort out—mostly what the hell he was going to do about Harry—but one thing was for sure: Jean was his. And no matter how charming or godly or absurdly attractive Harry was, he wasn't going to let some trickster from the middle of nowhere steal what was his.
And just as he started walking toward the door, ready to put his plan into motion—because if there was one thing Scott Summers was, it was determined—he heard it. A soft chuckle, and then, in the distance, Harry's voice.
"You're not as sneaky as you think you are, Summers."
Scott froze. His face turned bright red.
"You're, uh... good at this," Harry's voice continued, tinged with amusement. "But you might want to work on the 'not looking like a stalker' part."
Scott winced. Oh, this was just perfect.
---
Hey fellow fanfic enthusiasts!
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Whether you loved it, hated it, or have some constructive criticism, your feedback is super important to me. Feel free to drop a comment or send me a message with your thoughts. Can't wait to hear from you!
If you're passionate about fanfiction and love discussing stories, characters, and plot twists, then you're in the right place! I've created a Discord server dedicated to diving deep into the world of fanfiction, especially my own stories. Whether you're a reader, a writer, or just someone who enjoys a good tale, I welcome you to join us for lively discussions, feedback sessions, and maybe even some sneak peeks into upcoming chapters, along with artwork related to the stories. Let's nerd out together over our favorite fandoms and explore the endless possibilities of storytelling!
Click the link below to join the conversation:
https://discord.com/invite/HHHwRsB6wd
Can't wait to see you there!
If you appreciate my work and want to support me, consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support helps me keep writing and bringing more stories to you. You can do so via PayPal here:
https://www.paypal.me/VikrantUtekar007
Or through my Buy Me a Coffee page:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/vikired001s
Thank you for your support!