"It has to be this way, Liz. I want to protect you all, but there's no help... I can't." She sighed, her pride visibly hurt as she admitted it.
Peter walked up to her. Qin met his gaze and slowly stood up. The two faced each other.
"If you go with them, you'll get into a lot of trouble."
"I can handle it."
Peter grinned. "I believe you. But after you leave and gradually grow into a powerful Mutants, remember what you learned from us - human beings are not all the devils in Magneto's mouth. Some people will be afraid of you, and some will be willing to stand in front of you. Don't forget, Qin."
Qin nodded. "I won't forget. I promise."
"This is so unfair!" Liz rushed to hug her, "We just got acquainted, and you're leaving?!"
"I'm sorry, Liz. I also wish I had more time." Qin hugged her back, tears oozing from the corners of her eyes.
Others gathered around and hugged her, whispering that they would miss her.
Soon, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s people arrived and took Magneto away. Charles, Logan and Ororo then left. Charles promised to talk to Qin's parents early tomorrow morning.
The next day is Sunday.
Charles convinced Qin's parents to let her go to that school. Peter specifically asked Qin to confirm again - her parents were not mind-controlled. Just to be on the safe side.
So Jean started packing. The girls and Peter came to help.
Peter put on casual clothes and walked to the door of her house. He looked at the house that had been demolished to pieces and whistled. I didn't notice it last night, but Magneto was really ruthless. One wall of Qin's bedroom was completely opened, and Mary Jane, Liz and Felicia were all inside helping to clean it up.
"Hi, girls." He approached with a smile, "You're very motivated."
"Hey, Little Tiger." Felicia kissed him quickly on the cheek, took his hand, looked at the plaster on his arm, and sighed, "What did the doctor say?"
"It will take a few weeks to get better." Peter blinked, "It means that I will be fine by this time tomorrow."
"Does this count as your ability?" Liz lowered his voice.
"Yes, I recover quickly. But... it's better to wait until we have some privacy to talk about this kind of topic." He glanced at the house with a missing wall.
"Yes." Mary·Jian agreed.
With the help of Peter, the luggage was packed before noon. Qin suggested going out for lunch and told her parents that it was a farewell meal for friends, and their parents quickly agreed.
They found a Italy restaurant a few blocks away and chose a secluded booth in the back row.
"How do you explain to your parents that the wall is gone?" Mary·Jian asked.
"Professor Xavier said the foundation was broken." Qin shrugged, "They don't believe it, but they can't think of any other explanation. My dad will probably ask someone to check it out."
"By the way, where's that crazy magnet man?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D. locked him up." Peter said, "He was sent to a secret prison last night. Don't think about getting out in a short time."
"Okay, can we talk about this now?" Liz finally couldn't help it, "You are Spider-Man!"
"Keep your voice down!" Peter glanced around, thank God no one heard, "Yes, Liz, I'm Spider-Man. Are you satisfied?"
"How did it become?!"
"Remember that field trip? The time I was bitten by Spider?"
"Remember..."
"It changed my genes and gave me the same abilities as Spider. Faster speed, stronger strength, and the ability to climb walls. So, Spider-Man. That's enough?"
"But that's just an ordinary Spider, right?" Mary Jane was surprised.
"No, it's Spider who has been genetically modified and irradiated." Peter didn't mention that his blood could be adapted in other ways - too much information would be troublesome.
"Where is Silk?" Qin asked.
"Man-made. I designed it myself at home."
"Did you do it?" Mary·Jian was surprised at first, then rolled her eyes, "Of course it was you. Why should I ask more."
For the next entire afternoon and most of the night, Peter was explaining what he did and why he did it.
As they walked through a nearby park, Liz was still shocked. "Wait, you reverse engineered the Iron Man armor?!"
"Not all of them, only Arc Reactor and Repulsor Cannon were cracked. I have to say that Stark's technology is really powerful."
"Wow," Qin said, "Do you know any other heroes?"
"Not too many. I know Fantastic Four."
"They know you... have another job?" Mary Jane chose her words carefully.
"I know. The first time I fought with Doctor Doom, I was knocked unconscious. They took care of me and found out. They are all easy to get along with. Johnny is especially excited. Finally, I have a partner with whom I can be a superhero."
"This is too outrageous!" Liz shouted. Felicia laughed, and Liz immediately glared at her, "You are still laughing! How long have you known this?!"
Felicia rolled his eyes. "December."
"December." Mary Jane repeated slowly, "Almost half a year? You... how could you hide it for so long?"
Felicia smiled and took Peter's arm, "He is my Little Tiger, how could I betray him?"
Peter raised the corner of his mouth. "Oh, Xiaomaomi, just say this, you will have a good time tonight."
"Oh no, no, you are not allowed to do anything tonight!" Liz immediately announced, "Tonight is Qin's last day at New York, and we are going to spend it together!"
Peter looked at Felicia, and she shrugged. He nodded. "Okay, I'll listen to you. Do you have an idea?"
Liz grinned. "There's... a party!"
That night, the location was Mary·Jian's house. Aunt Anna went out for the weekend, and no one happened to be looking after them in the house.
In the so-called party, there was no loud music and no strangers hanging around. There were just a few young people sitting around the Monopoly board, drinking beer and trying to make things difficult for each other.
Mary·Jian relies on various private transactions to kill everyone.
Peter lost completely.
After he lost all his money, several girls changed the rules on the spot - if they couldn't pay the rent, they would be punished with a drink of wine.
Ordinary beer has no effect on Peter.
It wasn't until Liz took out the whiskey he brought from home that his head finally felt a little dizzy.
The game finally ended with Liz flipping the table in anger.
"No more playing! Mary Jane is definitely cheating!"
"If you can't afford to lose, just say so." Mary·Jian smiled without any guilt.
"You stole money from the bank!"
"Do you have evidence?"
"Peter saw it all!"
Peter leaned on the sofa and slowly raised his hand.
"I'm only responsible for drinking, not testifying."
"Traitor!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
By the end of the quarrel, Liz was so sleepy that she couldn't open her eyes. Mary Jane helped her go to Aunt Anna's room to rest, and soon there were only three people left in the living room.
Peter, Felicia, and piano.
Felicia leaned on Peter's shoulder, fingertips scratching the back of his hand.
"Come back with me tonight?" Peter asked.
"Are you sure Aunt May won't stay up all night to prepare for the wedding?"
"She just picks the day first."
Felicia smiled and punched him.
Sitting opposite, Qin suddenly felt that the laughter was a bit harsh.
"You promised to see me off tonight." She complained in a low voice, "But you are planning to leave me behind again."
Felicia blinked and looked at her with a half-smile.
"Then what do you want to do?"
Qin pursed her lips.
The drunkenness gave her the courage she didn't usually have.
"I want to stay with you."
Peter Before he could react, Qin had already leaned over and kissed him.
A very short moment.
But it made the living room completely quiet.
Peter froze in place.
Felicia was also stunned.
The next second, Qin turned her head and kissed Felicia again.
"Qin!" Felicia backed away suddenly, breathing a little erratically, "Do you know what you are doing?"
"Know."
Qin looked at her without dodge.
"I like Peter, and I also like you."
"And I know you like girls too."
Felicia's face changed. "Have you read my mind?"
"No need to read." Qin said softly, "You and Peter will always look at the same person."
Felicia immediately turned around and stared at Peter.
"You already knew?"
Peter holds her hand.
"Don't I know you yet, Xiaomao?"
"Then why did you never ask?"
"Because when you want to say something, you will tell me naturally."
Felicia looked at him blankly.
His eyes suddenly turned red.
"Peter, I love you."
"I love you too."
Qin sat next to him without urging.
After a while, Felicia took the initiative to hold her hand.
None of the three people joked again.
When he walked to the door of the guest room, Peter stopped and confirmed it one last time.
"It's not too late to regret it now."
No one left.
The door closed slowly.