A Leisure Day

In the serene study of the X-Mansion, Charles Xavier sat quietly, his fingers steepled in contemplation. Jean, Scott, Kurt, and Ororo were seated across from him, the atmosphere tense after their encounter with Alice. Charles had called this meeting to address the recent events.

"Jean, Scott, Kurt, Ororo," Charles began, his voice calm but firm. "I have received some important information regarding Alice. She is not to be meddled with anymore."

Scott's frustration was evident as he crossed his arms. "But Professor, she attacked us. We were just trying to understand if she was a threat."

Charles nodded. "I understand your concerns, Scott. However, Alice is the granddaughter of an old friend of mine. He reached out to me to inform me of her situation. She is not a threat to us or to the world. Her abilities are misunderstood."

Jean shifted uncomfortably in her seat, guilt washing over her. "Professor, it was my fault. I tried to read her mind without her consent. I thought she was hiding something dangerous."

Charles gave her a gentle smile. "Jean, you acted on what you believed was right to protect others. But we must respect the privacy and autonomy of others, especially those who are not posing a direct threat."

Kurt, still nursing a bruise from the encounter, nodded. "She is very skilled in combat, Professor. Her reactions and movements were almost too fast to follow."

Ororo added, "It seemed she was not trying to hurt us, just defending herself."

Charles leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Alice has claimed to have a power called 'Analyse,' which allows her to detect and understand other mutants' abilities within her range. This ability could be incredibly useful for identifying mutants and understanding their capabilities. It may even have more depth than we realise."

Scott looked confused. "But if she's not an omega-level mutant, why did we sense such strong energy fluctuations?"

Charles sighed. "Alice's ability might have other aspects that we have not yet observed. We must respect her choice to keep them hidden."

Jean felt a wave of relief but also a sense of responsibility. "Professor, I'm sorry for my actions. I didn't mean to cause such a confrontation."

Charles reached out, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We learn from our mistakes, Jean. The important thing is that we grow from them. Alice is not our enemy. She is navigating a difficult path, much like many of us have."

Scott's frustration began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of understanding. "So, what do we do now, Professor?"

Charles smiled. "We give Alice the space she needs. If she wishes to reach out to us, we will be here to support her. Until then, we focus on our mission and continue to protect and guide mutants who need our help."

Jean nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "Understood, Professor."

It's Sunday, my designated day for intense training and experimentation. I start my morning with my usual flexibility exercises in the gym, focusing on maintaining the agility that is crucial for my night-time activities as Ghost Spider. Each stretch and each movement is precise and controlled, pushing my body to its limits.

After an hour of flexibility training, I head to an abandoned building on the outskirts of town. This place has become my secret training ground, perfect for testing the boundaries of my strength without prying eyes. I grab an iron bar, determined to push my lifting limits. The cold metal bites into my palms as I lift it repeatedly, my muscles straining with each rep.

Once I've completed my strength training, I move on to my martial arts routine. Taekwondo has always been my go-to for maintaining my combat skills. I flow through the forms and moves, each kick and punch executed with precision. Sweat drips down my face, but I ignore it, focused on perfecting each motion.

After hours of physical training, I take a short break to hydrate and then shift my focus to mental exercise. I pull out the materials Hank Pym sent me on quantum physics. Revising these concepts is essential for understanding the depths of my abilities. I sit in a quiet corner of the building, immersing myself in equations and theories, the quiet hum of the city in the background providing a strange sense of comfort.

With my brain sufficiently exercised, I head back to my apartment and straight to my workshop. The workshop is my sanctuary, filled with tools and gadgets that are both familiar and comforting. Today, I'm focused on upgrading my web shooters. Inspired by the advanced tech I've seen, I want to create a versatile tool similar to Peter Parker's Spider-Man suit made by Tony Stark in Homecoming.

I sit at my workbench, scattered with parts and blueprints. "Alright, let's see what we can do today," I mutter to myself, rolling up my sleeves.

Creating a web shooter with multiple tactical web types is far more challenging than it sounds. So far, I've managed to develop three modes: one for normal swinging, another for creating web nets, and the last one, an impact web that catches its target on impact. I've also managed to add an electrocution mode by utilising the conductive properties of my web to transfer venom charge. But even with these, I only have four types of tactical webs, and I know there's so much more potential.

I toyed with the idea of adding more features, like web grenades or taser webs. I have already made those things, but it is too difficult to put all those things in one web shooter. I take a deep breath, trying to figure out my next step. The intricate balance of chemicals, mechanics, and physics makes this project a daunting task.

"Maybe I should wait for Tony to make the spider suit for Peter," I muse aloud, thinking about the advanced tech Tony Stark is capable of creating. But I quickly pushed the thought aside. Depending on others isn't my style. If I want to be the best, I need to push my own limits.

An idea suddenly hits me. The Spider-Verse. If I could dive into the Spider-Verse, I might find new technology and ideas from other versions of Spider-Man. But opening a portal to another dimension is no small feat. I would need to master quantum manipulation to the point where I could reliably open and control such a portal.

I sigh, feeling a mix of excitement and frustration. "Such a misfortune," I mutter, leaning back in my chair. The path to mastering my abilities and enhancing my tech is filled with obstacles, but that's what makes it worthwhile.

After a moment of reflection, I lean forward and get back to work. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that progress is made one step at a time. With each improvement, no matter how small, I'm getting closer to my goal.

After a long day of training and tinkering in my workshop, I decided to take a stroll down the nearby street for some leisure time. It was a pleasant evening; the sky tinged with hues of orange and pink as the sun began to set. I walked aimlessly, enjoying the quiet moments of normalcy.

As I rounded a corner, I spotted a familiar face—Gwen Stacy. Of all people, she was the last person I expected to run into. The encounter felt awkward, mainly because I couldn't help but think about Spider-Gwen from another dimension. It was like a constant reminder that we had no common ground and no shared experiences to discuss.

I considered turning around and avoiding her altogether, but before I could act on that thought, my spider sense tingled. I noticed a group of guys surrounding Gwen, demanding money. She looked nervous and cornered.

"Such misfortune," I muttered under my breath. It was turning into a classic "hero saves the beauty" scene. Without hesitation, I stood behind them, determined to help Gwen without revealing my true abilities.

"Hey!" I shouted, drawing their attention. "Leave her alone!"

One of the guys sneered at me. "Mind your own business, girl."

Ignoring the threat, I launched into action. Using only my normal human strength and speed, I delivered a series of well-placed punches and kicks, taking down the assailants one by one. Within moments, they were on the ground, groaning in pain.

Gwen watched in awe, her eyes wide with surprise. "Alice, that was incredible! I didn't know you could fight like that."

I shrugged, trying to downplay the situation. "Just a bit of self-defence training. Are you okay?"

Gwen nodded, her admiration clear. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks to you."

I smiled, relieved that she was safe. "What are you doing out here alone?"

She sighed. "I was just bored at home, so I decided to take a walk."

"Well, my place is nearby," I offered. "You can come over if you want."

Gwen hesitated for a moment but then nodded. "Sure, why not?"

We walked back to my apartment, and as we entered, Gwen looked around, impressed by the modern decor and spacious layout. "Wow, your place is amazing, Alice!"

"Thanks," I said, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Make yourself at home."

Gwen wandered around, taking in the sights. "I don't see any family photos. Do you live alone?"

I bit my lip, the question hitting a sore spot. "I don't know who my parents are. I was adopted by someone who works far away from here."

Gwen's expression softened with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Alice. I didn't mean to pry."

"It's okay," I replied, trying to brush it off.

An awkward silence fell over us, and I quickly switched on the TV to break the tension. Mr. Bean was on, and soon enough, the goofy antics of the character lightened the mood.

Gwen laughed at the show, and gradually, the atmosphere became more relaxed. She started talking about herself, her hobbies, and her experiences at school. She was a non-stop chatterbox, and for an introvert like me, it was a bit overwhelming. But I appreciated her efforts to connect.

"So, Alice, what about you? What do you like to do?" Gwen asked, her eyes shining with curiosity.

I hesitated, feeling a bit exposed. "I like parkour, reading, and working on tech projects. I'm not very exciting."

Gwen shook her head. "I think you're fascinating. There's so much more to you than you let on."

I smiled faintly, grateful for her kindness. Before I could respond, Gwen's phone buzzed. She glanced at it and sighed. "My dad's here to pick me up."

"Do you want to stay for a bit longer?" I asked, feeling a bit sad to see her go.

She shook her head. "Thanks, Alice, but I should get home. Maybe we can hang out again soon?"

"Sure," I said, walking her to the door. "Take care, Gwen."

As we stepped outside, I saw a car pull up. Gwen's father got out, giving me a nod of acknowledgment. Gwen waved goodbye, and I watched as she got into the car and drove away.