I don't own anything except any original character and/or any original plot

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Chapter Eighteen: Gut Feelings

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As soon as the school was in my sights, the next morning the same pit of anxiety I felt before came back with a vengeance. Sweat formed along my upper lip and palms, and it wasn't because of the warm May weather.

When I stepped inside, I sucked in a deep breath. Harry was already waiting for me at my locker. Slowly, taking my sweet time, I walked towards him. I was probably annoying the people behind me by walking so slow, but they didn't matter. When Harry spotted me he smiled, until he saw how anxious I was.

"What's wrong?" He asked gently, grabbing my hands.

This was it, the moment of truth. Time to spill my guts and hope Harry didn't use his power to make my life a living hell, "Harry, the last month has been amazing. But, um, well-"

"You can stop," Harry smiled sadly, "I know what you're going to say. It's for Peter, isn't it? I've noticed the way you two connect, the way you look at each other. I brushed it off, but that was a mistake. I'm not mad or anything, I get it. I'm gonna support you, alright?"

"Harry," I hugged Harry tightly, a large weight lifted from my shoulders. What did I do to deserve him? He knew I had feelings for Peter, and he was still so kind. He knew I was breaking up with him and still reached out for friendship.

"But if he ever messes up and you're on the market again, then I'll be right here-" Harry laughed when I reached out and smacked his arm, laughing along with him. He raised his hands defensively, "I'm just saying."

"What's going on here?" Ned and MJ approached, sharing conspiratory looks. Peter was behind them, averting his eyes. He was shuffling nervously, aware of the awkward situation.

"Just a pair of friends talking about the exams coming up."

Understanding flashed in the pair's eyes at the statement, and they didn't push further. Peter met my eyes for the first time, and I sent him a wink. He blushed, eyes flitting away again. The warning bell shouted at us and we dispersed.

It wasn't until I was seated and pulled out a pencil that I realized how bad exams could turn out. I had two exams that day, each one spanning half the day. No phones, talking, or bathroom. In other words, I was screwed when my 'side effect' kicked in. I should have brought a water bottle. I could swirl the water inside.

"Alright class. Testing begins... now."

I began my test. I had never not given in to my mutation when the pain began, so this would make for an interesting and painful day. Exams were bad enough already.

The first exam went by smoothly as expected. We had to eat lunch in class so we wouldn't risk spreading the questions or answers. When our slotted time to eat was finished, we settled down again and began our second exam.

Half an hour into said exam, and it started. Like always, it was a simple tingle. Bearable, slightly annoying but nothing I couldn't work through for the sake of my grades. Then, pins and needles poked my skin. In retaliation, my fingers twitched. Things went downhill from there. I struggled to regain control on my pencil, making several random markings on my page.

The needles turned hot as the pain traveled up my arms and down my legs. I winced, biting my lip in a vain attempt to divert some pain away from the larger parts of my body.

Setting down my pencil, I gripped the edge of the desk until my knuckles turned white. I let out a short breath when the pain spread to the rest of my body. MJ looked over, brows furrowing in concern. I closed my eyes, letting out an even slower breath. I felt as though there wasn't anything I could do to stop the pain.

Thinking back, I remembered one of Wade's random lessons on different ways to knock someone out. Tuesdays were insane when he visited, but he had redeeming qualities. Like luring me away from the team to teach me all the different ways to kill or incapacitate someone. Pressure points were a silent but deadly one.

"The neck where your adam's apple would be if you were a man. It's called Stomach Nine. Twist hard enough and they'll be out like a light."

I reached up to my neck, the small movement burning intensely. My fingers wandered until I found the proper point, my pulse thrumming weakly beneath it. Pinching it, I twisted as hard as I could as quickly as I could.

"Oh my God!"

The teacher, MJ, and Peter rushed towards me as my body fell from the chair. Everyone else's mouths fell open in shock. I closed my eyes, more willing to be unconscious than to deal with the pain.

"The Earth is weakened, Xandar's defenses are all but none, Ragnarok is mere moments away, the universe is ready to fall."

I looked around the strange room I was in feeling uneasy. It looked like a classic space ship. Metallic, cold, and frighteningly silent. I knew I was unconscious, dreaming, but something about this dream felt... off. I didn't feel in control even though it was my dream.

A large being rose from a stone throne in the center of the room. He was at least three times the size of me, with purple skin peeking out from beneath golden armor. His eyes wandered over my form, a grin stretching across his large face.

"You've traveled here," the man stated, "Although not all of you is here."

"I-I don't understand," my brows furrowed in confusion, "I'm dreaming aren't I?"

The man didn't answer. He bent down, so he was closer to my height. I took a few steps back; he was intimidating. The unwavering smile didn't help calm my nerves either.

"You remind me of my daughter, Gamora. Curious, strong, I can see a power in you. But how you got here I don't understand," the man stood to his full height again, his shadow shrouding me in darkness, "Perhaps I shall find you in the mortal world. They alienated both of my daughters, another wouldn't be a bad idea."

I took large steps away from the strange man. He wanted to kidnap me and make me one of his daughters? What happened to the other ones? When he took a step towards my shaking form, I began to disappear.

Instead of just waking up I appeared in a strange place, with orange tones surrounding me. I watched in horror as Peter stumbled, his body disappearing as though he were wearing green in front of a green screen.

"Peter," I rushed towards him, grabbing his shoulders. My fingers fell through his body as he disappeared at an even faster rate, "Oh my God no! Peter!"

"I love you, I love you," Peter whispered.

When his body was entirely gone I covered my eyes, forgetting the difference between dream and reality. He was gone. Peter was dead. I didn't do anything.

"You could have healed him," Tony stated before disappearing as well, "You can heal anyone. Why didn't you?"

My eyes opened to bright light, and, for a small moment, I thought I had died. But when I tilted my head and saw my friends standing at my side, I knew I was fine. When I turned my head, the other way I saw my parents, pale with worry.

"Thank God you're alive," my dad stated, "We thought you were dying."

My mom smacked his arm, "What happened?"

"Nothing, I'm fine," I winced at the lingering pain, sitting up. Everyone in the room deadpanned, not believing my B-S at all.

"I'm missing Doctor Strange visiting Rachel, I'm gonna need something better than fine. You passed out in the middle of exams, shaking like crazy. Your teacher thought you were having a seizure, they almost sent you to the emergency room."

"(Y/n), you should just tell them," Peter sighed, placing a gentle hand on my arm, "There's no point in hiding it anymore."

"Peter knows but not us? How long has this been going on?"

I winced, glancing at Harry. He still didn't know, well, anything. Revealing a side-effect to my mutation after passing out during exams was not the way I wanted to tell him I was a mutant.

"Can we talk about this at home? Please?'

My parents, thankfully, agreed that it would be better to talk at home. They shared a few quiet words with the nurse before getting the all-clear. I swung my legs over the side of the cot, facing my friends.

"It'll be fine," Peter assured, being the only one to understand what was going on.

"Text me all about this," MJ ordered.

"Me too," Harry added.

"I'll probably find out from Peter," Ned shrugged, "Or you could just text the group chat. We made one for a reason you know."

"Alright. You four should go catch the bus, or butler, or walk home," my dad stepped towards us, "We'd offer you rides but I'm driving the Kia and (Y/n)'s mom got a cab so we don't have a lot of room. Unless one of you wants to ride on the roof."

Everyone in the room dispersed to their proper places. Retrieving my bag from the office, I silently walked out to the car. Once settled in my seat, I leaned back and stared out the window. I dreaded the oncoming conversation. Having to explain to my parents why I never told them what was happening to me.

When we parked at my building, I took my sweet time walking inside. I didn't wave to Jess when she greeted us, and I most certainly didn't say anything when we finally got to our apartment. With slim hopes, I thought I could go to my room and they would forget about everything that happened. Like I said, slim hopes.

"So, what exactly happened back there?" My mom started the dreaded conversation, plopping down on the couch.

"I found out about this... side effect years ago. Whenever I don't use my mutation for a certain amount of time, it fights back. It starts with pins and needles, then it hurts, and when I couldn't leave class today, it felt like my body was on fire. I used a pressure point to knock myself out."

"And you told Peter about this and not us? Is he somehow better than your parents? I thought we told each other everything."

"You guys worry about me enough! Not just the Riptide thing because I know you couldn't care less as long as I stay alive, but about everything else."

"What do you-"

"Every time we go out in public together you watch me like hawks. When someone points out my hair you try to get out of there as fast as you can. I know mutants aren't viewed greatly, trust me. But I know how to handle hate. I'm not that little (Y/n) in the mall anymore. The world is changing, and it's in our favor."

My parents shared an obvious look, rapidly changing facial expressions before my dad finally spoke up.

"They put Scarlet Witch in a shock collar like a dog. Anytime she moved they hurt her. I saw you in her eyes. I saw you getting taken by one of the organizations you've fought against."

"How do you know that? The UN took all of that out of the public documents."

"I don't work for a normal company. I watched funds for SHIELD. Now, I work for Tony Stark at one of his branches. I'm well trusted, but I kept my file private which is why he doesn't know about you. Well, he didn't find out from me."

"Oh shit," I whispered. Jess, now my dad. How had I missed so many important details about my loved ones?

"No more secrets," my Mom put a hand on my shoulder, squeezing, "We're an open family who trusts each other. Judgment free zone that's how this works."

My mom opened her phone and held it to her ear, "I'm calling Charles. If anyone knows what to do with a mutation problem, it's him and Hank. We'll get this figured out okay?"

"Alright," I let out a slow breath. That was okay, better than I thought it would be. Less yelling than I counted on anyway.

Even as I tried to be grateful, and happy, and joke with my parents about all the things my dad must know about Tony Stark, my mind kept going back to the dream I had. The man talking about the universe falling. Then, after that, being helpless while Peter and Tony disappeared before my eyes.

I tried to tell myself it was just a dream, but something in my gut told me that I tapped into something that showed me more than I was supposed to know.