Chapter 463: Chapter 463: In the Lool
[Third Person Pov]
"Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!" Madeline said quickly, shaking her head as she tried to process everything she had just been told. She held up both hands like she needed the entire conversation to pause for a second. "Let me get this straight."
She pointed between Peter and MJ while narrowing her eyes in disbelief.
"You and your friends were bitten by genetically experimented-on spiders, gained powers and abilities from them, and now you put on masks, sneak out in the middle of the night, and go around fighting criminals and supervillains?" Madeline recounted slowly, pressing a hand against her forehead as a migraine started forming.
"Pretty much," MJ admitted with a nod. She leaned back into the couch cushions and let out a long exhale, relieved that the secret was finally out in the open.
"Although not all of us were bitten by spiders," Peter added, raising a finger slightly. "Only most of us were."
"And honestly," MJ continued with a sigh, "there’s also been a surprising lack of actual supervillains lately, which is kind of disappointing."
"That’s because I’m doing my job and stopping them before they can become supervillains," Peter scoffed defensively. "Otherwise this city would have a new lunatic trying to destroy it every other day."
MJ pursed her lips. "...I mean, it would probably be okay to let one or two happen once in a while."
"Oh yeah, that’s a fantastic idea—Not." Peter stared at her with a side-eye.
MJ immediately started giggling while Peter rolled his eyes. Madeline meanwhile was still rubbing at her temple like the conversation alone was physically exhausting her. "Who else knows about this?"
"Ughhh..." MJ awkwardly drew out the sound while giving an uneasy grin. "There’s Aunt May, Uncle Ben, George, Lydia—"
"Does everyone know?!" Madeline snapped in disbelief. "Am I seriously the last person to find out?! How long exactly have you been keeping this from me behind my back?"
MJ winced and tilted her hand side to side uncertainly. "Around five months... maybe closer to six."
The hurt in Madeline’s eyes immediately became obvious. She looked directly at MJ before asking quietly, "Am I really that untrustworthy to you? You honestly thought you couldn’t tell me something this important? That you couldn’t confide in me?"
"No! No, of course not!" MJ said immediately, guilt washing over her face. "It wasn’t like that at all. I was just... scared, okay? I didn’t know how you’d react, and the longer I waited the harder it became to say anything."
Madeline leaned back against the couch, folding her arms tightly as she tried to organize her thoughts.
"I’m honestly more hurt than shocked," she admitted. "Have I ever come across as someone that would react badly to something like this?" She looked down at her lap, her expression tightening. "What hurts most is knowing everyone else already knew except me. I don’t even know how I’m supposed to process that. I was completely isolated from something this important. Something involving my own daughter."
MJ lowered her head as well, unable to even look at her mother properly anymore. Her face was full of genuine remorse, and her eyes started watering as the guilt settled deeper in her chest. She knew there wasn’t really any excuse she could give that would make the situation better.
"I’m really sorry..." MJ whispered, her throat tightening around the words.
Madeline let out a long sigh before finally turning toward her daughter again. Her expression softened as she reached over and placed a hand on MJ’s shoulder.
"I’m not mad," she said gently. "And I’m not upset either... just hurt, like I said."
MJ slowly looked up at her.
"But overall?" Madeline continued. "I’m very proud of you." She then reached over and rested her other hand on top of Peter’s.
"Of both of you," she clarified. "What you’re doing takes an unbelievable amount of courage. And heart. Most people wouldn’t risk themselves for strangers the way you two do."
MJ immediately sighed in relief while Peter smiled appreciatively. After a few seconds, MJ cautiously asked, "So... does this mean we’re not in trouble?"
Madeline stared at her for a moment before scoffing. "Oh missy, trouble doesn’t even begin to describe this situation." She pointed directly at MJ. "Just because I’m proud of you doesn’t mean I’m suddenly okay with you and your entire friend group running around fighting dangerous criminals at night. Noble or not, it’s reckless. Extremely reckless."
Peter quietly scoffed under his breath. "If this gets us in trouble," he muttered, "just wait until she finds out about the Super Soldier Serum."
Madeline blinked rapidly, staring at Peter like she was waiting for him to suddenly say he was joking. "The what— excuse me?"
"Ughhh," MJ groaned, throwing her head back before shooting Peter a reproachful glare. "We could’ve eased her into this. Why did you have to bring it up now?"
"There’s more to all this?!" Madeline exclaimed in disbelief, sitting up straighter. "Just how many secrets am I going to be learning about today?!"
Peter pursed his lips and awkwardly looked away. "With this one... there’s technically two more."
Madeline leaned forward, resting her elbows over her thighs as she dragged a hand through her hair. Letting out a long sigh, she muttered, "Just lay them on me already. Let’s get this over with."
Peter and MJ exchanged a brief glance before they started explaining everything regarding the Super Soldier Serum and what it actually did.
The moment they finished, Madeline slapped both hands against her thighs and shot to her feet. "I knew it! I knew something was up!" she shouted triumphantly. "I thought I was losing my freaking mind!"
"What?" MJ asked, completely bewildered, while Peter immediately doubled over laughing on the couch.
"Everyone suddenly started getting taller and more muscular!" Madeline continued, wildly gesturing with her hands. "And don’t even get me started on May and Benjamin looking like they took a dive straight into the fountain of youth! I was so confused about what was happening, but nobody else seemed concerned or weirded out by it, so I mostly kept it to myself. At one point I seriously thought I was the crazy one!"
MJ finally started laughing too as everything clearly clicked into place for Madeline.
"And you!" Madeline suddenly accused, pointing directly at MJ.
MJ startled and pointed at herself in confusion. "Me?!"
"Yes, you!"
"What did I even do?!"
"That’s exactly my point!" Madeline huffed, though it was obvious she was being more playful than genuinely upset. "You didn’t do anything. You think I don’t want to be young and beautiful too? You see me come home from work with aching feet, swollen ankles, sore hips, a bad back, and not once did you think, ’You know what my mother needs? A major upgrade.’"
MJ awkwardly looked off to the side as her cheeks turned red with embarrassment. Meanwhile, Peter had completely lost it. He was wheezing so hard he nearly slid off the couch.
"Okay, that one’s on me. I’m sorry," MJ admitted, her face somehow matching the color of her hair now. "But hey, we’re telling you now, aren’t we?"
Madeline looked over at Peter with visible hesitation. "Am I seriously going to get one too?"
Peter nodded. "With the added bonus of picking three animal-based abilities and powers for yourself too, like I mentioned earlier."
"Okay... give me a second to think this through, because this sounds like a life-altering decision," Madeline said, suddenly looking much more pensive.
She shook her head lightly, trying to organize her thoughts before glancing back up at Peter. "While I’m processing that, what’s the other secret you said you needed to tell me?"
Peter scratched awkwardly at his cheek and gave an uneasy smile. "I... honestly have no idea how to even start explaining this one."
MJ snorted in amusement at his hesitation. "Want me to do it?"
Peter immediately pointed toward her. "I am begging you, please."
MJ smiled innocently before speaking with alarming casualness. "Peter basically has a harem of girls and I’m one of them. You could technically call me his mistress in a way. So while he’s my boyfriend, he’s also dating Gwen and Felicia. And honestly, we have reasons to believe there’s probably going to be a fourth eventually, but we’re not completely sure yet."
Madeline stared at both of them in absolute silence.
Next to her, Peter slowly turned his head toward MJ in slow motion like he couldn’t quite believe she just said that to her mother of all people.
MJ simply kept smiling, looking entirely too pleased with herself.
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