"…And that's how I met Tony Stark."
Arthur finished his story with a half-smile, as if he had just told something trivial — yet to Jean, it sounded more like an impossible joke.
She blinked a few times, trying to process what she had just heard.
"...Okay, hold on. Are you serious?" She leaned her elbow on the counter, narrowing her eyes at him. "What does that have to do with your old job? And, more importantly... how did you even end up there?"
Arthur chuckled softly, almost amused.
"Right, right, let me think…" He ran a hand through his hair, as if reaching back into memory. "It was just an ordinary day — probably a Monday."
He made an exaggerated grimace, as though merely mentioning the day was torture. "I hate Mondays."
Jean laughed, shaking her head. "Who doesn't?"
"Exactly," he went on, resting an elbow on the counter. "Anyway, I was just trying to have a normal day. Then out of nowhere, a few shady guys show up and start threatening Gwen. And you know me… I'm not exactly the type to sit back and ignore that. So I followed one of them — mostly for fun, honestly."
Jean arched an eyebrow. "For fun?"
Arthur shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Yeah, fun. Turns out those idiots were after information about one of my former employers. And that's when things got… interesting."
Jean let out a low whistle, crossing her arms. "Okay, that was… unexpected. Even for you."
Arthur laughed — a rough, relaxed sound, the kind that belongs to someone who's lived through a lot. "Ah, Jean, if I told you half the things I've been through, you'd think I made them all up."
She smiled faintly, though her eyes still held genuine curiosity.
"Ahh~" He stretched lazily and pulled off his apron. "It's getting late… See you around, Jean. I've got a few things to take care of at home."
After saying goodbye to her, Arthur exchanged a few words with Tony before heading out.
Jean opened her mouth — maybe to say take care or you still owe me an explanation — but she hesitated. There was something in his tone that made her stay quiet.
She was still watching his back when a familiar voice echoed in her mind — calm, patient, like a gentle tide washing through her consciousness:
{"Jean, are you all right? What happened at the party?"}
She sighed softly, resting her chin on her hand and replying in silence.
I'm fine, Professor. I just… ran into an old acquaintance of ours.
{"An acquaintance?"} Charles Xavier's voice sounded closer now, curious. {"Who?"}
Jean let out a quiet laugh, glancing at the half-full glass on the counter.
You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Professor... she replied, smiling as she stood up and walked toward the exit.
Outside, the wind played with her red hair as she lifted her gaze toward the darkened sky.
---
The Next Morning
The first ray of sunlight slipped through the half-open curtains, bathing the room in soft gold. The distant chirping of birds blended with the faint hum of a city awakening.
Arthur opened his eyes slowly, still half-asleep. For a moment, he simply lay there, listening to the calm around him — that quiet, therapeutic silence that only comes after restless days.
He yawned lazily, stretching his arms until his shoulders popped, then sat up, running a hand through his messy hair and letting out a contented sigh.
Rising to his feet, he walked over to the window and pulled the curtains open. A wave of warm light flooded the room, wrapping him in golden brightness. For a few seconds, he simply stood there, feeling the cool morning breeze against his face.
After washing up and changing clothes, Arthur stepped into the backyard, where the crisp air greeted him. The ground was still damp with dew, and the sky was a clear, vivid blue. He picked up his bokken — a wooden practice sword — and began his morning exercises, moving with precise, fluid motions.
Each swing cut through the air with a clean, rhythmic sound, revealing the strength and discipline behind every strike. His movements flowed effortlessly — the product of countless hours of practice.
---
Meanwhile...
On the other side of the city, Gwen woke up to the same sunlight filtering through her window — but unlike Arthur, she didn't feel calm at all.
She walked down the stairs slowly, her eyes heavy and her mind adrift in thought.
In the living room, her father, George, was reading the morning paper over a cup of coffee. When he noticed her expression, he lowered the paper.
"What's wrong, Gwen?" he asked, frowning slightly.
"It's nothing, Dad… I just didn't sleep well," she answered with a small sigh.
George watched her for a few seconds but chose not to press the issue. She seemed far too distracted.
After a quick breakfast, Gwen slung her backpack over her shoulders.
"Dad, Mom — I'm going to see Arthur," she said while tying her hair into a ponytail. "I might come back after dinner, so don't wait up for me."
She had barely finished speaking when her mother's voice came from the kitchen:
"Don't forget to use protection!"
Gwen nearly tripped over her own feet, her face turning crimson. Behind her, George choked on his coffee, coughing uncontrollably.
"MOM!" Gwen shouted in mortified outrage before storming out of the house — though she could still hear Helen's laughter echoing from inside.
---
Outside, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. The sky was brilliantly blue, and for a moment she simply stood there, watching the drifting clouds.
But soon her thoughts drifted back to the night before. Gwen looked down at her hands, remembering that strange sensation — the strength, the agility, the heightened senses.
"That dream… was it real?"
Images flashed through her mind: the nightmare where she turned into a giant spider — the screams, the sticky webbing, the suffocating loss of control.
She shook her head, trying to banish the memory. Hailing a cab, she gave the driver Arthur's address. The whole ride, she stayed silent, watching the streets roll by through the window.
Arthur was the only person she could trust with this. The only one who might understand what was happening to her.
When the cab stopped in front of his gate, Gwen paid the fare and stepped out. For a moment, she just stood there, staring at the entrance.
"If Arthur finds out… and thinks I'm turning into some kind of monster… will he push me away?"
She truly loved him — deeply — but fear of rejection made her hesitate.
Frustrated, she ran her hands through her hair.
"Ugh! This is ridiculous! Why would I even doubt him!?"
Then an idea struck her — sudden and, in her mind, brilliant.
"I know! I'll just say a friend of mine is having a problem… and see what Arthur says!"
She smiled, proud of her own cleverness.
"Yes! That's perfect!"
Unfortunately, what she didn't realize was that anyone with half a brain would immediately know that "the friend" was actually her.
Still, wearing a confident smile, Gwen opened the gate and walked in.
---
In the backyard, rhythmic thuds echoed through the air. Arthur, shirtless, was training with his bokken, sweat glistening under the sunlight.
Gwen paused for a moment, mesmerized. The way he moved — sharp, graceful, yet deadly — was hypnotic.
"Decided to come watch your boyfriend?" Arthur teased, pausing his movements and flashing her a playful grin.
"What did you expect me to do? You never come over to my place," Gwen shot back with a laugh, picking up a towel nearby.
She approached and handed it to him.
"I'd rather avoid getting shot by your dad," Arthur joked, wiping his face.
"Can't help you there," Gwen said with a shrug — then slipped her arms around his neck.
"I'm all sweaty, Gwen…" Arthur murmured, smiling as his hands settled on her waist.
"I don't care~ You have no idea how long I've been holding back," she whispered before kissing him.
---
Later...
"Ahh~ much better now," Arthur said as he stepped out of the bathroom, towel-drying his hair.
As he walked toward the living room, a delicious smell wafted from the kitchen.
"Did you decide to cook breakfast today?" he asked, wrapping his arms around Gwen from behind.
"Of course! I can't let you do everything all the time. Besides, if you keep cooking, I might lose my job," she replied, smiling.
The moment was simple, but it carried a quiet warmth — the kind of natural closeness that only comes when two people have grown used to sharing their lives.
---
After breakfast, they curled up together on the couch, watching some random Netflix series. Gwen fidgeted, biting her lip and playing with her fingers.
Arthur noticed her unease and smiled faintly.
"You look like you want to ask me something… Why not just say it?"
Gwen hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"It's just that… a friend of mine has been going through some things lately."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
Ah, of course… the old 'friend' story. He recognized that trick instantly but decided to play along.
"I see. And what kind of problem is your friend dealing with?"
Thinking he had bought the story, Gwen relaxed a bit.
Ha! I'm such a genius, she thought, unaware of Arthur's amused smirk.
"Well… this friend of mine got something recently, and she's afraid it might cause trouble for her. But she can't get rid of it. What do you think she should do?"
Arthur crossed his arms, pretending to ponder deeply.
"Hm… sounds complicated. But what exactly did she get?"
Gwen blinked, uncertain how to continue. She took a deep breath.
"It's just that… she got a superpower."
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."