The alliance between the X Men and the Avengers

A beginning of nine

Ten years later

Morgan:

The sun burns my skin. I stop and put my hands to my eyes. So I can look better against the sun. I stop at a red traffic light. As I wait, I pull out my phone and pick a new song. As soon as the song starts, my cell phone rings. Without unplugging the headphones, I accept the call.
"Hi Mum !" I say as I cross the street.
"Morgan, where are you?" she asks. I can't help but smile.
"Don't worry. I'm on my way home."
"Is it very bad for you if you are alone tonight?"
"No, why?" I ask.
"Like...as you probably don't know, I'm running the business now," she says sadly.
No dad! Since the funeral she has never called him by name, always avoiding direct address. Even though she did it for me at first, she hasn't broken the habit. And somehow I feel an inexplicable pain.
"No problem. Can I accompany you?" I ask although I already know the answer. Mum hesitates for a moment before answering.
"I'm sorry honey. But no." And although I suspected it, I'm still a little disappointed. But I don't let it show.
"So I'll be home alone tonight?" I ask, a little disappointed. I want to bite my lip. But I can't take my words back, so instead I pretend I didn't say anything.
"Wait, didn't you just say you don't mind?" she asks me.
"Uh, I meant, of course, that it's a shame I don't go with you," I correct my comment.
"I'm sorry," she repeats before she has to hang up because she was called. I also hang up and turn my music back on. Then I walk the last two blocks home. As always, I close the gate behind me and I stop in shock. Pieter Parker is sitting in front of me on the narrow steps to the front door. Or Spiderman, as you put it.
"What do you want here?" I ask and stop in front of him. He gets up and sees me. He towers over me by almost two heads and I have to tilt my head back to see his face.
"I need to talk to you," he says. But I just glare at him. Without a word, I trudge past him and put the key in the front door.
"So you want to talk to me," I repeat coldly. He looks at me guiltily.
"I'm sorry," he tells me. But I don't take his words.
"Are you serious? You were the one who betrayed me!" I say. And although I don't want it, there is a sad undertone.
"Yes, I hurt you. But it's not that bad," Pieter replies. I slowly turn the key in the lock. I know very well that I'm annoying him, but I don't care. The door handle in my hand, I turn halfway to him.
"Before you say anything else, I don't care. It's better if we don't have a relationship anyway. Think of the team."
"Are you serious? Since your father's death, the team has sort of disintegrated. There were no more attacks and most have settled down and now have a different life. And besides, may I point out that it's not uncommon for two Avengers to have had a relationship?!" He takes another breath to say something, but I cut him off.
"If you ever bring my father into it again, I'll kill you. And I'm serious. Stop it!" I yell at him. Before he can see my tears, I slam the front door in his face. I can hear him swearing off, but I don't react. Let him be offended! Me go to the kitchen and open the fridge. While I'm gulping down a yoghurt, I'm not hungry anymore, I involuntarily think about Pieter's words. Maybe he's right and I'm really taking it too hard. Or am I not? I am just too cautious and just taking it a little too hard? I'm trying to sort out all the swirling thoughts in my head and think of something else. But of course I have to think back to how the breakup came about.

There is quite a bit of chaos in the school corridors and neither tries to get past the others.
"Hey, are you still listening to me?" asks Lila Barton. She's Clint Barton's daughter. I look at my friend guiltily. She pouts.
"'sorry. I was... distracted." I apologize. Her face lights up instantly.
"You weren't thinking about him just now, were you?" I try to appear as unbiased as possible. Which doesn't work so well, however, because her older brother Cooper just passed by at that moment. that I don't have ready.
"Well girls? he asks. His sister just gives him a scathing look while I just stand by. Before they involve me in their arguments, I open my locker and delve into my book collection. They argue too even as we are on our way home. I stop abruptly when I spot Pieter. He is leaning next to the bike stand and....
"What's going on, Morgan?" Lila asks worried. She and Cooper also stop and look silently in Pieter's direction.
"What kind of asshole is that?" he says abusively. Lila hugs me comfortingly.
"Let's go. Mum cooked and you will like it! Let him kiss someone else!"

I feel something wet drip onto my hand. I quickly wipe my cheek. Shaking my head, I throw my spoon in the sink and go to my room. I'm trying desperately to focus on my homework, but my mind keeps wandering.