Marvel University

Chapter 1: There Was an Idea

11:49 PM, SALEM CENTER, NY

Tony Stark is driving with a tired Reed Richards in the middle of the night and pulls up to "Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters."

"Alright, you wanna go up there too? Just me?" Tony asked Reed.

Reed response with an inaudible groan. "Mmph-mmph-pph..."

"... Just me, okay."

They parked in front of the gate and Tony got outside of the car. Tony is about to knock on the door when it suddenly opens, revealing Charles Xavier. Tony blinks a couple times before actually talking.

"You know, that increasingly gets the slightest bit more creepy each time you do that."

"Well, A) I felt your presence before you got up the stairs, and B) You called first." Charles replied. "And it's a good thing, too. You wouldn't want to wake the children would you?"

"What? Oh, yeah, no. Of course, of course. But... speaking of the children..." Tony dragged.

"Oh, yes, you told me about this over the phone."

"So, what do you think? This could be something HUGE. I already got some students I've been studying in mind, and you don't even have to use this school if you want. I even got Fury on the subject."

"Hmm..."

Xavier turns back to the school smiling. While looking into the school, he continues talking.

"I've gotten attached to this place over the past couple of years. It's flourished ever so delightly."

"Yeah, yeah, your kids are great. Especially that one kid who burned my literally brand-new Lamborghini at that One-Year Anniversary." Tony said in a salty voice.

"Oh... John..."

"What happened to the kid? Every time I pass by here, I don't see him anymore. He too embarrassed? It's cool, I got a new one anyway..."

As Tony slowly started to ramble about cars, Charles spaced out and quietly sighed. Not all the students who first joined stayed. Some of them switched to Charles long-time frenemy: Erik Magnus Lehnsherr, aka Magneto, and his Brotherhood of Mutants. His modest smirk slowly turned into a small frown as he started thinking of Magneto and the kids he took with him.

"... and... Charles? Yo."

"What? Oh, yes. He--"

"You what? It's actually really late and I'm here wasting you precious sleep time," Tony realized.

"I-It's alright--" Charles tried to answer.

"No, no, it's cool, we'll talk about it in the morning, which is..." Tony looks at his watch, which just ticked to 11:54. "Crap, in a couple minutes actually. It's funny, I woke Reed up, drove him like 40 minutes here, just to get him back to his place. Ha! He's gonna be pissed... Well, see ya."

"Catch you in a couple of hours, Tony. Oh, and tell Pepper I said hi. She's always been the one to keep you in check."

Tony chuckled. "Heh, heh, yeah..."

And with that, Tony got into his car and only a light silhouette of their shadows was seen before Tony turned the car on. A small "Dude!" was heard with Reed's voice. This was his first "sleep" in a couple days since he'd returned to working on some way to help Ben Grimm, aka The Thing, with his, uh, "skin condition" Johnny liked to call it. Of course, saying that would result in a launch through the couch, but he'd say it was worth it. Even though they've had their powers for about a year and seven months, Ben was still slightly sensitive about the subject. But over time, you could say that his skin got thicker.

After they left, Charles went into the mansion, feeling the presence of a certain Wolverine-themed fellow who had that look that said "Don't mess with me." He was in the kitchen looking for something to eat, feeling the small effects of aging, but was still spry.

"Who was that?" He said. "No, wait, lemme guess, Robert Downey Jr. with an even bigger ego?"

"Oh, Logan." Charles wheeled over to him. "He isn't as terrible as you make him out to be."

"Emphasis on the as, I assume?"

Charles smirked. "Maybe."

Charles and Logan exchange a small chuckle. Charles is about to wheel off, when he stops.

"Oh, would you be a lamb and help me into the bed? You know..." Charles implies his legs.

"Yeah, yeah, sure." Logan replied.

"Thank you." Charles tries to hide his sadness. It's never been the same since that day on the beach in Cuba. Everyday, Charles started to feel more and more useless when he climbed into that wheelchair. But it's gotten better now. It was one of the reasons he started the school: to make sure the kids felt like they had worth.

When the mutant outbreak started to happen, the world was scared. It had never seen anything like this before. There were rumors that S.H.I.E.L.D. was holding some super powered individuals, and Captain America (who had recently been found under all that ice) so many years ago in World War II, but they were under control. The mutants were being found in disastrous situations, at schools, parks, coffee shops, anywhere. They seemed to have absolutely no grip over their power.

But things have slightly changed over the years. Slowly, ever so slowly, things started to die down a little bit. All the attention turned to Tony Stark when he revealed himself as Iron Man, the apparently newly formed Avengers, that one giant wormhole in the sky, and news saying that there was a Spider-themed "hero" in Queens. Of course, that J. Jonah Jameson character was blasting him on the news, calling him "a menace to the entire city." And speaking off...

About an hour away from the school is Peter Parker, aka, Spider-Man, swinging through the city after a night's work. It's been a little over 9 months since Uncle Ben got shot. His coffin is still on his conscience, and Aunt May was gradually slipping in her payments. He got a small job at The Daily Bugle, though, where his boss shrieks at the top of his lungs about more pictures of Spider-Man. He's also still a part-time loser at Midtown High, but he knows that he has to conceal his identity as Spider-Man, so he just continues to let it happen to not arouse any suspicion about who he is.

Peter got to his house in Forest Hills, Queens and silently, but elegantly, slid into the window he purposely left unlocked. He then took his makeshift, but still classic, suit off, revealing his slender yet built physique. He then got into some sleepwear and eased his aunt's door opened. She was asleep. She had been slowly gaining some gray hairs from the stress of bills.

"Don't worry, May. I'll find some way to actually make something for us." He thought, promising her. His boss wasn't necessarily the best allowance giver in the world.

"I promise, I will."

And with that, he eased her door closed, and fell into bed. There wasn't too much crime out that night, but he knew there was more to come in the future.