Side Story for True Purpose. Young Spider-Man joins the X-Men in a football game against the Avengers Acadmey.

(Jean Grey School)

Within the halls of the mutant school, the time-displaced Spider-Man walks down the hallway with a backpack over his shoulder and a kick in his step. 

After being told he had to attend the school by Captain America during a training session, which just felt like petty revenge for things his older self has done to the man, the young hero was brought to the school by Wolverine. 

Who knew the iconic legend was a petty man.

Fortunately, his first day won’t be him attending any classes. 

He comes out of his musing when he sees some familiar faces walking down the same hallway. He smiles and waves, “Hey Bobby, Hank. How’s it going?”

The two teenagers he came to the future with turn and Bobby greets him, “Hey, Spidey. What’s up?

The costumed teen stops in front of them, “I’m going to school here.”

Both mutant teens look at the colorful hero in surprise and Hank says, “Really? Why is that? Not that you’re not welcome.”

Spidey crossed his arms and pouts, “Captain America is making me.”

“Captain America?”

“Yep, the old timer wasn’t thrilled with me being out of school so long as I’m here. So he suggested that since the X-Men brought me here, they could educate me.”

Hank seems to approve of this as he nods, “Well he clearly is a man with fine convictions.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that. I felt like he was doing this to get back at me for all the things my older self has done and been doing.”

Bobby tilts his head, “What stuff?”

“He started a running joke about naming Cap’s shield,” Spidey informs them. 

Both get bewildered expressions and Hank says, “I hardly think that something like that would warrant Captain America of all people to mistreat you.”

Yeah, Spidey thought that too. But that glint in the icon’s eye told him differently. 

“So what are you guys up to?” He asks. 

They both get despondent looks and Bobby responds, “Trying to keep our team from falling apart.”

Spidey winces, “Things that bad?”

Hank sighs, “Jean’s not talking to us or Scott, Warren is mad at us for all agreeing to stay without him being okay with it, and Scott is depressed about all of this.”

Spidey feels a pang of sympathy for his friends. He wishes he could do something to help but he doesn’t know what. Before he can ask more, the door to the locker room opens and out walks Jean in a school uniform. 

“Hey,” Peter notes the bags under her eyes and her messy hair, “Yeesh, you look horrible.”

She gives him a flat look, “Thanks.”

“Sorry. But you do. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing that you would be worried about,” she tells him a bit harshly, “Why are you here?”

“Captain America is making him come here.” A new gruff voice speaks up. 

They turn to see four grownups walking to them. Logan, Bobby, Kitty, and Ororo. 

“Told you.”

“I still firmly believe he has your best interest at heart.”

Not caring what that conversation is about, Logan beckons the hero to follow, “C’mon webhead, jets’ waiting.”

Spidey takes off his backpack and holds it out, “What do I do with this?”

“Just take it with you,” Iceman says with a shrug.  

Behind the young hero, the three time displaced teens watch on curiously and young Bobby asks, “Where’re you going?”

“You guys haven’t heard?” Spidey inquires before he jabs his thumb at the adults, “Apparently the Avengers have a school too and Professor Growly here challenged them to a football match.”

Logan growls at the nickname, not helping his case, before he turns his attention to the time displaced teens, “Figured another good way to mend fences between us was some good ole fashioned fun.”

“And Logan wants to get some payback for the cheap shot Hank Pym took at him a while back,” Iceman informs them. 

“That too,” Logan freely admits. 

Spidey raises a brow, which somehow his lenses show, at the feral mutant before looking back at his friends, “You guys should come. It’ll be fun.”

While Bobby and Hank look to be considering it, Jean immediately turns her back and walks away, “No thanks.”

Kitty steps up and gives a pitying look to the retreating younger girl, “It might do you some good to be active, Jean.”

Peter enthusiastically nods, “Yeah it’ll-wait.” He stops when her words register and he looks at the headmistress, “Girls are playing? Is that a good idea?”

Kitty raises a brow at him, “Why would that be a problem?”

“It’s football, they could get hurt playing against guys,” Spider-Man says like it's obvious. 

Jean freezes in place. She slowly turns her head around and gives the arachnid-themed teen hero a murderous glare, “What did you just say?”

Spidey recoils from the glare, “What?” He says perplexed by her sudden hostility, “Football is pretty tough. And it’s football with superpowers, so it’s way more dangerous.”

“And?” Jean inquires. 

Seeing the situation his time-displaced friend is putting himself in, Iceman figures he should save him and informs them, “It’s flag football.”

“Really? Oh then I guess it’s safe for you to play,” Spidey tells her. 

Her furious look becomes incredulous, “Safe for me to-?! Oh that is it!” Without another word she marches back into the locker room and slams the door shut. She opens it again to point her finger at him and say, “Don’t go without me!”

Spidey flinches back when she slams it again. He looks very dumbfounded by what just occurred. 

Behind him Logan takes out his flask and comments, “Well you knocked her out of her funk.” He takes a swig before he continues, “Course now she’ll likely knock out your teeth if given the chance.”

The young hero is genuinely confused, “What’d I say?”

“Times have changed boys.” Iceman tells them, "You can’t think or say stuff like that anymore.”

“So we’re not allowed to speak the truth anymore?”

Snort

“Logan.” Ororo says in a reprimanding tone. 

Logan muffles his mouth with his hand to try and stop more from coming out as he says, “It’s not that. You can’t say girls are delicate or stuff like that.”

“Why?” Spidey questions. 

“Because we’re not,” Ororo firmly tells him. She whirls around and walks away and angrily mutters, “Men.” 

Spidey looks down in thought. Young Bobby pats him on the back, “I made the same mistake with Mistress Pryde. Apparently, it’s wrong to think girls are girls anymore.”

“So do we view them as boys?” Spidey jokingly inquires, “That’s just gonna confuse me.”

The young hero could swear he hears Bobby mutter something like, ‘It works for me’ but he dismisses it when Logan speaks up. 

“It’s a new world, boys.” He says before he walks away too, “Get used to it.”

The teens are left waiting for Jean to come out. Spidey is hoping that it won’t be boys versus girls. He gets the feeling she’ll be vindictive if given the chance.