… Aidan Quinn
The school was already emptying out when Peter called me.
I turned, and there he was, standing in the hallway with his backpack slung over one shoulder and that half-lost look of someone trying to seem chill… but carrying the weight of the world in his throat. The kind of guy who wants to seem normal, but has secrets screaming behind his eyes.
"Hey… got a minute?"
I nodded. I always have time for teenage drama — especially from Peter. Because his drama is never small.
"Shoot. I don't charge for advice until Wednesday."
He let out a soft laugh. That short one that never quite reaches the eyes. Then he started walking beside me, following me out to the courtyard. The air outside was cooler, easier to breathe. A break after the tension of crowded classrooms and bottled-up words.
That awkward kind of silence.
Peter fidgeted with his fingers like he was rehearsing every word.
"I wanted to ask you something. Just to get your opinion, you know?"
I raised an eyebrow, curious. Peter wasn't one for casual conversation, and when he tried to fake lightness, it usually meant he was about to dive into some emotional trench.
"About what?"
He scratched the back of his neck — classic move. Avoided my eyes, stared at the ground, then the horizon. A whole internal war before he finally spoke.
"Like… if you… had someone. A girl. And she was close, you know? But you were scared to really go for it… for reasons."
Heh.
Reasons.
That universal word used to cover everything you're afraid to admit. Trauma, duty, guilt, fear of hurting, fear of feeling...
"And those reasons keep you from doing something?"
"Keep me from… letting it go all the way", he said, the weight in his voice subtle. "But if she came to you… looked for you..." he paused, then asked, like he needed someone to clear the path he couldn't see: "What would you do?"
I leaned against the railing. The sun was dipping between buildings, painting the walls with shades of rust and orange — colors that looked more like the end of the world than the end of a school day.
I took a breath and spoke in the simplest way possible: "I'd say yes."
Peter blinked, caught off guard by how fast — and how simple — the answer came.
"Even with the 'reasons'?"
"Especially with them", I said, looking right at him. "If she came to me knowing what I carry, what could happen, and still wanted to give herself to it?"
I smiled a little.
"Then I'd say yes. Because that's not weakness. That's courage."
He didn't say anything, but he didn't need to.
The look in his eyes said everything. Said he got it, even if he didn't know how to follow it yet.
And yeah, he didn't know I'd already read it all before he even opened his mouth. Her name echoed in the spaces between his words. The girl with sharp eyes and feelings buried under layers of control.
But I didn't say a word.
Because I pretended not to know. And because Peter still pretended he could split the world between what he feels and what he's supposed to do.
As if Peter Parker was just the soft-spoken nerd — and not the kid carrying a mask and a burden no one his age should've ever been handed.
Internally, though, I had a different thought.
Like I told MJ… even I didn't want to stir the beehive that was Gwen and Peter's relationship. They were obviously into each other, but too tangled up or indecisive to make it work.
But if Gwen came to me… I'd accept her.
Because I'm a Contractor.
And most of us aren't good people.
But we know how to recognize something precious when it knocks.
Even if it's just for one night.
Even if it's just to take care of something the world keeps trying to break.
Peter nodded slowly, thoughtful.
"Thanks for that. Really."
I shrugged.
"You're still gonna mess it up. But at least now you'll know you had another option."
He laughed — lighter this time, a little more free.
And for a moment — just one — it looked like the weight of the world wasn't crushing his shoulders so much.
But only for a moment.
...
MJ was leaning against my car when I walked up, arms crossed, sunglasses on — even though there wasn't nearly enough sun to justify them. But let's be honest — she wore those shades for attitude, not UV protection.
There were still a few students lingering in the school parking lot, and it wasn't hard to notice the looks we got when she stepped away from the car and walked toward me.
With her hair down and that expression that said she knew exactly what she was doing… MJ was like an eclipse. Impossible not to look.
"Chauffeur service again?" she asked with a crooked smile.
"Anytime you want, Miss Watson", I said, opening the passenger door with an exaggerated flourish. "Premium service. Comes with questionable playlists and bad jokes."
"Oh, perfect. Just the way I like it."
She slid into the car with that casual grace only someone like MJ could pull off, crossed her legs, and dropped her sunglasses into her lap. I got in right after, started the engine, and we took off.
Comfortable silence, just soft music from the radio filling the background.
"You know half the school's gossiping about us, right?" she said, raising an eyebrow.
"I may have overheard a thing or two", I shrugged. "The algebra teacher's glare almost set fire to my left side."
"Maybe she wants a ride too", MJ said with a mischievous grin. "But seriously… Gwen talked to me today."
"About?"
"Things, Tiger", she said, turning slightly in her seat to look at me. "Wanted to know if we… had done things."
I raised an eyebrow but kept my eyes on the road.
"And you told her I was a gentleman?"
"I told her you're a bastard with great hands. Basically the same thing."
I laughed.
"But seriously…" MJ continued, her tone that mix of teasing and honesty she'd mastered. "She was… thoughtful. Way too quiet for someone like Gwen."
"That explains why Peter came to talk to me."
She turned her head, curious.
"Peter? About Gwen?"
"Uh-huh. Kinda indirect, kinda lost. But yeah, it was about her."
"And what did you say?"
"That he should make up his damn mind."
She stayed quiet for a few seconds. Long enough for me to feel more questions coming — but instead, she shifted topics.
"And you, Aidan Quinn… what would you do?"
"If a pretty girl was falling for me?" I paused dramatically. "I wouldn't let her walk away."
MJ didn't answer right away, but I caught the way she turned her face toward the window — probably to hide her smile. Or at least, that's what I told myself.
A few more minutes of driving. The conversation drifted to movies, food, and how I'm absolutely terrible at remembering birthdays.
"That's gonna get you in trouble someday, Tiger", she teased.
"Only if I need to impress someone more than I already do just by existing."
She rolled her eyes, laughing.
When I pulled up to her house, I killed the engine and turned to her with a light smile. "Here you are. Delivered and safe."
"Safe, yeah", MJ said, unbuckling her seatbelt. "But not delivered yet."
Before I could react, she climbed over from the passenger seat into my lap. Legs around my waist, hands on my face.
And the kiss came with soft moans between our mouths.
Her hands slid up into my hair, gripping with just enough pressure, her hips pressing against mine like she was leaving her signature behind.
"Don't you dare forget me, Tiger", she whispered against my lips.
"Kinda hard with you sitting on me like this."
She smirked and kissed me again — quick, like sealing a deal — then slipped back into her seat like nothing happened.
She opened the door, stepped out, and turned back from the porch steps: "See you tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow, MJ."
She winked and disappeared through the door, leaving the car filled with her perfume and my breathing heavier than it should've been.
The driver's seat definitely needed a break.
But me? I just smiled.
...
"I swear…" said Raven, sitting in the corner of my bed with a perfectly rehearsed expression of boredom, "… if this is a sneaky attempt to start some group sex thing, I'm teleporting you straight into the sun."
"I haven't even said anything yet", I replied, smiling.
"Exactly. I know that look in your eyes. Too many girls in one room for this to be a coincidence."
Not that she was wrong.
The others were already in my room. Jean sat on the edge of the bed, posture straight, gaze curious. Ororo leaned against the wall, arms crossed like she was already judging whatever I was about to say. Rogue... well, Rogue was lounging in the armchair with that smirk of hers — the one that said she knew this was going to be fun.
The night was warm, the lamp cast a soft yellow light over them all. And I stood in the center like I was about to start some pagan ceremony — or pitch exactly what Raven was accusing me of.
This was my harem. Or rather, my retinue. The more respectable term the Company gave me so I wouldn't sound like some dimensional playboy, even if I technically was.
"Relax, ladies", I said, raising my hands with that smile they all knew meant something chaotic was coming. "It's nothing sexual… yet."
"'Yet,' he says…" Jean muttered, shaking her head with a faint smile.
"I'm serious. I just wanted to talk about a trip."
"A trip?" Ororo asked, narrowing her eyes. "This late in the semester?"
"Yeah",— like a few dumb classes could stop me.
"And for what reason, exactly?"
"Celebration", I said, pointing my chin toward Rogue. "Rogue's nearly mastered her power. I figured she deserved something special."
Rogue raised an eyebrow, pleased. "And this 'something special' is…?"
"A group vacation."
Rogue blinked. "Like… a beach?"
"Like, another universe. But yes, there's sand."
Jean looked away for a second, like she needed a break to process.
Ororo, still leaning by the window, arched an eyebrow. "You're kidding."
"I never joke about sand. It's serious business."
"Aidan", Jean said patiently — if you ignored the flicker of fire in her eyes, "what did you do now?"
"It's called [Trajectory. Agreement.]. Long story short: I can travel freely through the multiverse. Come and go as I please. And I thought… why not celebrate Rogue's almost-victory over her genes with a little trip?"
Rogue smiled, half surprised and very satisfied. "I like where this is going."
Raven finally lifted her gaze.
"And where exactly are we going?"
"Someplace with cool powers and… sand. Lots of sand."
"That's your description?"
"That's all you need to know."
Ororo crossed her arms. "That sounds irresponsible."
"Sounds like a regular Tuesday with me", I shrugged. "And it'll be quick. Three, maybe five days max. We'll come back better than we left. Maybe even with a tan."
"If we're not surrounded by god-killers", Raven muttered.
"Whoa, no gods. I promise something light. Sand, sun... maybe people with insane powers, maybe a rebellion… but no global destruction. I think."
Rogue tossed one leg over the other, grinning.
"I'm in."
Jean finally nodded, arms crossed.
"If everyone else is going… I'll go too."
Ororo took a deep breath. "I'll talk to Charles. Tell him it's an alternate mission. Advanced training. With me supervising, he'll agree."
"Perfect", I winked. "Because you're his favorite."
"I'm not", she said flatly.
"Of course not", I said with a sly grin. "Just the most trustworthy. Responsible. Gorgeous. Charismatic…"
"Stop."
"Okay."
Raven, on the other hand, still hadn't said if she was in.
I looked at her.
"You coming?"
She shrugged, closing the book on her lap.
"Someone's gotta make sure you don't die doing something stupid in another universe."
"Knew I could count on you."
She didn't answer, but the corner of her mouth curved just slightly.
Multiversal vacation.
What could possibly go wrong?
...
The room was quieter now.
The soft glow of the lamp cast golden tones on the walls, and the laughter that had filled the space earlier had left with the others. Jean, Ororo, and Rogue had headed out after we finalized the last details of the trip. Light clothes, minimal packing, no drama. Three to five days away. Just us and another universe.
I stayed there for a few seconds, sitting and watching Raven still on the bed, flipping through one of her books like the meeting hadn't even happened. She was wearing an oversized black t-shirt and shorts, legs crossed. Casual posture, but her eyes were always sharp.
I dragged myself over without ceremony and flopped onto the bed. My head found her lap naturally. I adjusted a pillow and closed my eyes, listening to her breathing.
She sighed but didn't push me away.
"This is becoming a habit", she said, her hand still not touching my hair.
"Your fault. You've got a lap that gives off a fake sense of safety. It's psychological warfare."
"Or maybe you're just clingy", she shot back, but her hand finally moved.
Her fingers ran through my hair, slowly, like she didn't want to admit she was being affectionate.
We stayed like that for a while.
It was always like that with Raven.
No declarations or promises.
Just presence — and small gestures that said more than words ever could.
The bed dipped slightly under both of us, the sound of light rain tapping the window being the only thing in the background.
Pure, quiet comfort. One of the few things with her that didn't require words.
But eventually, the words came.
"You can take us there too?"
Her voice was low, no tension. But there was something behind it. A weight that didn't come off easily.
I opened my eyes, looked up at the face that always seemed to carry the weight of a world that wasn't hers anymore.
"Yes, I can", I said plainly. "Whenever you want, Raven. Just say the word."
She didn't react right away. Her fingers kept moving through my hair, tracing invisible paths.
"I'm not ready for that yet…" she finally said, almost a whisper. "But… it's good to know I can. That the door's there."
I closed my eyes again.
"Doors always exist. Sometimes we just need the courage to walk through."
"Cheap philosophy", she muttered.
"It's all I've got today."
The silence returned, but it was comfortable. Ours.
I stayed like that, my head in her lap, her fingers combing through my hair with almost therapeutic precision…
It was the first time we talked about her going back.
To her home. To the DC Universe.
And I only offered the option.
Raven had to choose.
"Thanks, Aidan", her voice came so soft, it barely sounded like her.
Before I could respond, I felt it.
A kiss.
Quick.
A barely-there peck.
But enough to stir something.
My breath paused for a second, and the next moment, her palm dropped over my face and covered my eyes.
"Don't move", she said like nothing had happened. "I'm playing with your hair. Don't ruin the moment."
"You kissed me", I murmured, a smile starting to form.
"Prove it."
"I felt it."
"Then it was a dream. Shut up."
And her fingers went back to running through my hair, same slow pace as before. Like nothing happened. Like she hadn't just flipped all my senses with one stealthy, sexy emotional smoke bomb.
I pretended not to notice too.
But the dumb smile spreading across my face… that, she couldn't stop.