Preview for Chapter 35 of True Purpose.

(Avengers Mansion)

As far as first days on the job go, this is in the top three for Peter. Like his first day as Spider-Man was a disaster, he was a teenager and going through some stuff, and his first day as a teacher. The less said about that one the better.

But as bad as those days were, this definitely beats them because it resulted in one friend killing another.

Peter leans on the table of the situation room without his mask and watches a holographic display of the news. The expression on the hero’s face is grim, he is expecting plenty of negativity.

“No official statement has been made by any of the heroes over this event,” a news woman on the TV says as she stands at the edge of the cordoned off area of the park, “Spider-Man had no comment to offer at this time. But Mayor Jameson had plenty to say.”

Peter groans and rubs his head. He is hoping that he is worrying over nothing and Jonah will say something that will be pleasantly surprising. But he knows his former boss too well expect that.

“To my fellow New Yorkers,” Jameson voice makes Peter look at the screen to see the mustached man sitting in his office, “What was supposed to be an momentous occasion, symbolizing progress towards uniting mutants and non-mutants, has turned into a day of tragedy. All because of a jealous few.”

Peter grimaces at his boss’s choice of words as he continues to listen, “A group of wanted criminal mutants, led by the unmistakable Cyclops, attacked the assembly gathered to hear of the new Unity team. The man was outraged over our illustrious hero, Spider-Man, was chosen to lead and speak for this team.”

It sounds so weird for Peter to hear the man who has been calling him a menace for years now compliment him.

“Fortunately, thanks to his quick thinking and actions, Spider-Man was able to coordinate his team and prevented these men and women from hurting anyone caught in the battle.”

‘Well, if there is some solace to take out if this, it’s that at least,’ Peter thinks to himself.

"Though it was a tragedy a member of the X-Men had to kill one of her former friends and teammate, I believe she still should be applauded for her actions. Let this be a lesson to all those who would threaten our city," Jameson declares, his voice rising, "We will not tolerate violence, even from those who once claim to be our protectors. The Unity team has proven its worth today, and I stand behind them one hundred percent."

Peter hangs his head at his boss’s words, ‘Not tolerating violence but making threats. My god, how was he elected.'

 The sound of doors sliding open make Peter turn to Alex walking into the room. Peter can see the pain and anger etched on his face, and Peter can only imagine what he must be feeling right now considering it was his brother that led a group of his friends to attack them in the middle of the park.

“Hey,” Alex says, his voice low and strained.

Peter turns off the holograph and greets his teammate, “Hey.”

Alex drops into an empty chair , “I can’t believe he would do this,” he says rubbing his forehead, “I can’t believe Scott would attack us like that, like we were enemies.“

Peter nods and comments, “Kind of makes me think Magneto has a lot of influence on him.”

Alex lets out a sigh, “My brother is not the man he used to be. He is not the student or leader Charles Xavier was once proud of.”

Peter would like to offer some words of comfort to the Summers sibling, but he’s got nothing. As close as he is to the X-Men, being an honorary member and all, recent years and events have made it hard for him to be as close as he used to be with them. Logan, Hank, and Bobby are the only ones he really talks to, Logan more so since that man is on so many teams.

Scott and him were always more acquaintances than anything. The former X-Men leader was not fond of the Queens-born-hero because like many, he found the hero’s humor to be insufferable. He wasn’t unfriendly or anything, but he hardly ever showed Spider-Man any respect. He was cordial and blunt.

“Listen to me you crook!” He hears Jameson’s voice and turns to see him entering the room, phone to his ear, “What happened at that rally was not on me or my people! I will not be holding them fiscally or legally responsible for the damages!” Jonah hangs up, “Hmph! The nerve of that guy!”

Boy what Peter would give to have had the same conversation with Jonah in all the years since he’s been Spider-Man.

He looks at the older man curiously and says, “So, Mr. Sunshine, who were you yelling at today.”

Jameson scowls, his mustache twitching in irritation. "Some hotshot lawyer representing the park. Trying to pin the damages on us! Can you believe it?"

Peter can believe that actually. Now that there is a team of heroes that is being sponsored by someone that isn’t Tony Stark and back by an army of lawyers, well the sharks will definitely be testing the waters to see what they can bite.

Alex looks up, his eyes narrowing. "The park was destroyed because my brother attacked us. How is that our fault?"

"Exactly!" Jonah exclaims, pacing the room. "These vultures are always looking for someone to blame, someone with deep pockets. Well, not on my watch!"

Peter sighs, feeling the weight of the day's events settling on his shoulders. "Maybe we should focus on what's important right now. Like how we're going to handle the fallout from this."

Jonah stops pacing and turns to face Peter, his expression softening slightly. "You're right, Parker. We need a strategy. The press is having a field day with this, and we need to get ahead of it."

Alex stands up, his fists clenched at his sides. "What about Scott? What about the others who attacked us? Are we just going to let them get away with this?"

Peter places a hand on Alex's shoulder, trying to calm him. "We'll deal with that too, Alex. But right now, we need to make sure the public understands what happened. We need to show them that the Unity team is still committed to its mission, despite what happened today."

Jonah nods, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "A press conference. We'll hold one first thing tomorrow morning. Parker, you'll speak on behalf of the team. Show them that Spider-Man, the leader of the Unity team, is still standing strong."

Peter feels a knot form in his stomach. Public speaking has never been his strong suit, especially not as Spider-Man. But he knows Jonah is right. They need to present a united front.

"Alright," Peter agrees reluctantly. "But we need to be careful about how we frame this. We can't vilify all mutants because of the actions of a few."

Alex nods in agreement. "We need to emphasize that this was an isolated incident. That the actions of my brother and his followers don't represent all mutants."

As they continue to discuss their strategy for the press conference, Peter can't help but wonder how things got to this point. How did they end up in a world where heroes were fighting heroes, where brothers were on opposite sides of a conflict that seemed to have no end in sight?

He looks down at his mask, lying on the table next to him. The weight of responsibility feels heavier than ever. But he knows he has to carry it, for the sake of the team, for the city, and for the hope of a future where mutants and humans can truly live in unity. For Charles Xavier’s dream.

“By the way,” Alex brings him back out of his head, “What’s happening with Colossus’s body?”

Jonah crosses his arms and answers gruffly, “It’s being dealt with.”

Peter does not like the sound of that and cautiously asks, “Dealt with how?”

Jonah scowls does not leave as he says, “He is being taken and placed in an unmarked grave.”

Peter and Alex eyes widen in shock at this news, “What?”

“That man was a terrorist.”

“Jonah!” Spider-Man reprimands his old boss, “He was a friend of ours!”

Jonah doesn't back down, “Doesn't change the simple fact that what he did today was inexcusable! Him and all of his friends need to be brought in or put down!”

Peter bites his tongue so as not to yell at his old boss. Much as he wants to tell him how wrong he is to say that, the last thing he needs right now is to get into a screaming match with the team's sponsor. 

Fortunately, Jonah’s phone rings, and he leaves the room to answer it. Leaving Peter with Alex.

Peter sighs before looking at bis teammate, “I’m sorry about him,” he says to the Summers sibling, “To him, these things are always black and white, which is probably why he loved the newspaper so much.” 

Maybe not the best time for jokes, but that's just his thing.

Alex just lets out a tired sigh, “Well better I’m here than Logan or Rogue.”

Spider-Man grimaces at the mention of the southern mutant, “I’d ask how she’s doing, but that’s stupid even for me.”

Alex shakes his head and says, “Why do we keep doing this to each other? We’re all on the same side and yet we fight each other almost as much as we do the bad guys.”

Peter nods in agreement, “I was having the same thoughts, man,” he says. “It’s one of the many reasons why I was always so hesitant to share who I am underneath the mask.”

Alex looks at him curiously and asks, “So why do I know? I mean, you and I have hardly ever had any interaction with each other.”

Peter nods, “True,” he responds, “But it turns out you are a very trustworthy guy.”

Alex raises a brow at this, “Okay?” He says uncertainly, “And what? Word of me was good enough for you?”

“Thats not what I meant,” Peter says with a shake of his head before he continues, “You know my spider sense is a well-known power of mine. Mostly because I never really shut up about how I can’t be surprised or caught off guard. But it turns out it is so much more versatile than that. I can tell who I can trust with my secret identity.”

That revelation makes Alex’s eyes widen in surprise, “Dang, for real?”

Peter nods, “Oh yeah. So when I showed Jonah my face, even with you in the room, my spider sense would have told me that it would have been a bad idea if it was.”

Alex huffs in disbelief and comments, “Man that is so useful.”

Before they can go deeper into that discussion, Logan walks in with a somber look as he hangs up his phone. “Just got off the phone with Kitty,” Logan informs them. 

The hero grimaces as the mood drops back down. He is aware that the metal-skinned mutant and Kitty had on and off again thing through Bobby. ‘Cause the ice user also had an on-again-off-again thing with the headmistress. 

Oddly enough, their thing is not all too dissimilar to what he used to have with MJ and Felicia. Before his current relationship status, which is more complicated to explain than it is complicated to be in. Which is a first. 

“She’s devasted,” Logan continues morosely, “Was crying her eyes out and asking to talk to Rogue.”

Now Peter is concerned, “Is she blaming her?”

Logan doesn’t say anything. Which Peter takes as bad sign that Kitty does likely blame Rogue for what happened to her ex.

Peter looks at Logan and sees he has a thoughtful look, “What is it?”

Logan continues to look thoughtfully down, "Something ain't right about this whole situation," he growls, his voice low and gravelly.

Peter perks up, "What do you mean?"

Logan runs a hand through his wild hair, his eyes distant as if replaying the battle in his mind. "When Magneto threw me... it didn't feel right. I've been tossed around by him before, but this was different. It didn't feel like magnetism. It felt more like...” he struggles to find the right words before he recalls a certain redhead he loved, “A telepathic push."

Alex sits up straighter, his eyes widening with a hint of hope in them, "Are you saying it wasn't really Magneto?"

Logan shakes his head and shrugs, "I don't know. But something's off. My guts screaming at me."

Peter nods slowly, a grimace crossing his face. "Now that you mention it, I've been feeling off since the fight too. When Cyclops hit me with his optic blast, it hurt way more than it should have. I've taken hits from him before, but this... this was different."

He rolls his shoulder, wincing slightly at the ache he is feeling on his back, "I still haven't fully recovered from it,” he informs them, “My healing factor is much stronger than it used to be, so this thing should have cleared up as fast as it would have for you."

Alex looks between them, confusion and concern etched on his face. "What are you two suggesting? That the X-Men we fought weren't really them?"

Logan pushes off the wall, pacing the room. "Maybe. Or maybe they've been... enhanced somehow. Either way, something's not adding up."

Peter rubs his chin thoughtfully. "It could explain why Scott would attack so brazenly. It's not like him to be so reckless, especially in such a public setting." He looks at Logan and says, “We’d have to talk to the others and see what they noticed too.”

Logan frowns and looks down, “Well, good luck with that. The only three here are Carol, Wanda, and Rogue. And Rogue isn’t talking to anyone,” he informs them, “She’s in shock.” 

Peter sighs and lowers his head. Barely a day back from his vacation and a day on the job, and things are bad as they can get.

"You should talk to her, Web-head," Logan suggests, his gruff voice tinged with an uncharacteristic softness. "Rogue could use a friend right now, and you've always had a way of getting through to people."
Peter looks at the feral man agape at the suggestion, “Are you serious? You do know I am the last person she would want to talk to. And that is including Wanda.”

"Look, kid," Logan growls, his patience wearing thin thanks to the day they had, "I know you and Rogue have your issues, but this isn't about you. It's about her. She just killed someone she used to call a friend. Someone she fought alongside for years. That kind of thing... it changes a person."

Peter winces at Logan's words, knowing the older hero speaks from experience. Logan doesn’t share much but what Peter does know comes from other sources like Steve, Natasha, or even Carol. People who have seen what few do.

He can understand what Rogue must be going through right now. The inner demons the southern girl is fighting against. The guilt, the self-loathing, the doubt. Hell, it wasn’t that long ago he was having those same feelings.

Still, even if he can understand, is he the best to talk to her.

"Why me?" Peter asks, his voice filled with doubt. "Wouldn't she rather talk to you, or Alex, or... I don't know, anyone else?"

Logan rolls his eyes and shakes his head, "Because you've got a gift, Webs. You've been through hell more times than I can count, but you always come out the other side with that damn optimism of yours intact. Rogue needs that right now. She needs someone to remind her that there's still good in this world, that one terrible act doesn't define who she is."

Peter feels a little flattered by this. He's never been good at taking compliments, always deflecting them with a joke or a quip. But right now, he can't find it in himself to make light of the situation.

So, with some reluctance, he grabs his mask and slips it on before he walks out of the room in search of his teammate.

Yep, as far as first days on the job go, this one is definitely among the worst.