Arc Five. Chapter One Hundred Forty-Four. AIM For The Stars

Wanda had taken a bit of time to get used to being in the warehouse. At first, the foursome looked over her with a wary eye, and once more Peter was unceremoniously thrown from the warehouse so they could ‘talk’

“So,” Gwen asked, putting a coffee down in front of Wanda, “spill everything.” and Wanda grabbed the cup looking apprehensive,

“But, we did nothing?” and she held it to her chest as if the small cup would shield her from the gazes of the four women.

“Uh-huh. Peter told you, and yet you’re still sat here. So it’s either you weren't willing or Peter was distracted, so spill.”

Wanda sighed, “In a dreamscape, we might have, a little, but nothing in the real world.”

Felicia sighed, “boring, well, I’m out, work beckons, Gwen, fill me in later if she admits anything juicy,” and with that Huntress covered her, and leaping to the roof she dived out of the hatchway and into the city.

“Wait? Are you all like Peter?” and the group nodded, this was definitely not like the dreamscape.

“Oh yes, and more,” Gwen said, laughing, “but first, if you and Peter, then there are rules,” and Wanda wondered if she was in over her head as Gwen and the rest began to rather graphically describe, not just their own sex lives, but who else Peter had spent time with.

With Peter away, Wanda admitted to the group what happened, what they had done and they were fine. With MJ away filming, Peter would move into her place temporarily, Wanda would get Peter's home and as she was a fugitive they would provide for her, as long as she helped around the warehouse.

While Wanda was being grilled over her time in Peters mind, Pietro was getting an interrogation of his own.

“So, Wanda gets to shack up with some stupid guy and I’m stuck here, babysitting, is that it?” Pietro zipped around the room, complaining,

“Wanda is keeping tabs on a possible threat, and you need to learn to control your powers, so yes, that is is,” Selene explained to him, for what felt like the hundredth time,

“Uh-huh, you know they're boinking right?” Pietro said, looking as innocent as he could and Selene just sighed and shook her head, 

“Even if they are, she is old enough and no one complained when you and Angel disappeared for an hour yesterday,” and stopping briefly Pietro stuttered

“Uh, she was giving me a tour,” before vanishing again, disappearing off to the rest of the group he hung out with.

“You told?” he asked Angel and she grinned and nodded,

“You can’t keep secrets from Selene, P. She knows what goes on, it is her island,”

“But uh, you, uh, didn’t tell her, you know everything?”

Angel gave him a look, “oh, about you lasting 5 seconds and giving me a friction burn. I needed to go to the infirmary, so of course she knows.” and she shrugged a shoulder, “but she doesn't care, but, if you get a grip on your powers, then we can do it again,” and she traced a finger up his chest, stopping at his lips, “but only if you get a grip on them. Man, I am not letting the doc scoosh my lady parts with anaesthetic for anything, I couldn't feel my ass when I sat down.” and the pair shared a laugh.

“Fine, fine, I’ll join those stupid classes, but I’m not promising anything.”

As Pietro and Angel decided that while his powers needed training his lips were just fine,

While Pietro was locking lips with his new girlfriend, Peter was stuck in an office, locking horns with Director Fury. Peter needed to head out and buy the materials needed for refurbishing the offices lining the back wall, a task he had been putting off for a while now and Wanda’s appearance gave him the final push. Before that, he needed to face Fury and give a full report. One that Nat had helped him with. He had just missed out a few details, Wanda's current location and the small visit with Charles had no need to be on Fury's desk, and as he headed to Shield HQ, he hoped it was enough.

“You realise that I could just have the whole thing classified and then throw you in jail right?” Fury asked, leaning back in his chair

“I got the armour destroyed, even if it was slightly not me, and we found out that Shield has a problem.”

“Shield always has problems. What I don’t get is the blatant murder of several high-level Shield operatives, including a well known and well respected one. I might not have known the man personally but Alexander Pierce, one of MY bosses recommended him for the Sokovia position. So right now he’s on a warpath, trying to figure out who exactly made this giant mess and then have them shot, and I don’t intend for that to be me.”

Peter could only shrug, “Sir, uh, Director Fury, sir. They were using mind control on several people, including the one who did all this,” and he swept his hand over a pile of reports, photos and after-action mission report, one he had filed out himself. “Wanda and her father were national Sokovian citizens, known fugitives and well, my report says everything I’m willing to admit.” Peter sat back in his chair and huffed, sure his report was mostly lies, but there was still a grain of truth in there, enough to pass inspection when the shit hit the fan.

Fury rubbed his head, “and that’s the problem, Parker. You need to be honest when you fill out a report, as Agent Romanov was, lying gets you in a world of trouble as well, even if it’s not the same level. So, please, for me, can you redo your report and this time, include everything. I’ll make sure that no one other than me sees it,”

Peter paused for a second, “Uh, what if I give you a verbal account?” and Fury shook his head

“Really?” and Peter shrugged,

“You said it yourself, they’re looking for someone to blame and me putting anything incriminating down on paper lands that right at my door, and right now you’re pushing me to do that. So how can I trust you won’t throw me under the bus to save your own ass later down the line?” Peter explained,

“Fine, Fine! but we need to set up a secure location, somewhere we can check for bugs,” but Peter stopped him, as he touched Fury’s wrist everything, barring a few black spots were sent to Fury’s mind, and as the man recoiled and drew his gun he pointed it at Peter.

“Do not do that again. Ever!” and Peter shrugged,

“Nat didn’t mind,” 

Fury holstered his pistol and shaking his head, sat back down. “Is that it?” and Peter nodded,

“Except a few things with me and my-” but Fury raised a hand

“I like being a spy because of the intrigue, I don’t get my kicks watching other people’s love lives, it’s fine.” with a small nod at Natasha.

“Now, Mr Parker, thank you for your contribution but I would like to discuss a few things with my agent here, so if you don’t mind,” and Peter was up and out the door before Fury could finish. Nat laughed and stood to close the door.

“Is he a problem?” Peter heard him ask her but the door closed and he never heard the reply.

With Fury and Shield taken care of, with Wanda settling into her new life in America all that was left was for MJ to come home, and once she had finished with the film’s wrap party and press junket in Paris, their little family would be back together again.

At first, MJ was having a miserable time. Filming was taking them all over the country, and a lot of the time she would stay in her trailer, unfamiliar with any of the cast and crew. The one time she reached out and tried to mingle she felt their gazes upon her, and soon enough the rumour she had threatened Tony to get the job hit her ears.

She hated it, she wanted to be home, not here. She missed Peter and most of all she missed her family. The life of an actress wasn’t as glamorous as she had expected. Long hours, constant reshoots over the smallest detail being wrong, and the harassment of the crew was all grating on her, and even talking to Gwen on the phone wasn’t enough to ward off her homesickness. As she put down her phone and curled up in bed, MJ decided on her choice of career, even if the others might not agree.

It wasn't until she was in front of the crowded theatre she marvelled at being a true star. This was why she wanted to be an actress, this was it. As the camera flashed and she smiled, it was all worth it. 

The lead actor, Robin Towny Jnr and MJ made their way down the red carpet to the front of the theatre. Waving to the photographers and stopping to pose.

It was Paris, while MJ wished she could have been here with Peter, she felt it was unfair to invite him and none of the others, wishing that she could have gotten a ticket for Gwen as well. However it had been made quite apparent that being in an open relationship would hurt her career and for now, Mary Jane Watson was being touted as single, with the usual rumours that she was sleeping with Tony.

Right now though she didn’t care, she was in the place she wanted and even as Tony came over with Pepper in tow and kissed her hand before they all posed together it was worth it,

“Looking good kid” Tony smiled as he spoke, casting an eye over the low cut dress that MJ was wearing. As MJ ignored him, her first impression of the man had put her off and even as she did kissing and touching scenes with others she found herself always thinking of Peter and she now wished he was here. Even if it was just to punch Tony a few times.

It wasn’t until the after-party that Tony became a real problem. As MJ stood at the bar, fulfilling her commitment to becoming more sociable, a slightly drunk, or to her he smelled that way, Tony approached her and as he touched her elbow she was forced to smile at him,

“Mr Stark,” MJ said quietly. “Are you having fun?” and he smiled and nodded, it was a lie though, some idiot he’d been at college with approached him dressed as a waiter, Killian something, wanting to join up for a venture into a new more stable Oscorp formula. As Tony had no interest in the disaster that was anything to do with Oscorp he nodded and brushed him off, leaving the poor sap for security to evict.

“But, I had an idea for something even more fun.” and to MJ’s shock he pulled out a small tin of Gwen’s cream, “I scored this in New York, some backstreet hack makes it but damn its good stuff.”

MJ panicked, Muse, close off my sense of smell NOW! She yelled and as Tony brandished the tin between two fingers,  MJ knew that as soon as she smelled that it would be over, even if she didn’t understand the chemistry behind it a small amount made the symbiotes go wild and even the low strength stuff would make her accept Tony’s advances.

“I hear it makes any kitten purr.”

“Sorry, Mr Stark, I have a boyfriend at home, and I won’t cheat on him.”

Tony smiled, “but he’s not here,” and opening the tin he smeared a little between two fingers, “and I am.” As he moved to rub it on the back of MJ’s hand she flinched, and even with her sense of smell closed off the pheromone still invaded her scenes,

Muse, help, and inside her, the symbiote growled, but not in anger. Even Muse was succumbing and MJ fled in a panic. Tony looked at her as she fled, and frowned, sniffed his fingers, and then the cream in confusion.

You owe me, a redhead texted a number in New York and dressed in her waitress uniform made her way over the Tony,

“Sorry Sir, but the use of illicit substances at the Party is forbidden, no matter who you are,” and as she took Tony’s hand she felt the rush of the warmth through her. “Although, if you make it worth my while, I can forget what I saw, Mr Stark.” and as Tony smirked at the fleeing MJ, he smiled and nodded his head, "I'm sure we can find a quiet corner." and leading her away, he figured this night wasn't so bad after all.

Across the room, Pepper was watching. After the incident at the Stark Facility, she and Tony had had a huge argument and broken up. His selfish and uncaring attitude had driven her off, and she could tell something was wrong. As he refused to talk to her, which led to arguments, which then led to the situation they were in right now. 

As she watched MJ, the woman she’d been forced to give the part to in fear of a sexual harassment lawsuit, flee in panic and another waitress take Tony by the hand and lead him away, Pepper decided that she had enough. 

Making her way to the women’s bathroom she could hear someone crying in a cubicle and shaking her head she quietly knocked. This was the last straw and as the door bolt slid back she would get the whole story this time, not just Tony’s bullshit excuses.