When my alarm beeped me 'awake' from my meditations, I found myself surprisingly well-rested.
The benefits of meditation were truly astounding. I felt like I'd slept six hours instead of the 0 I actually slept.
This might be the greatest of all my boons!
After a short shower and an apple for breakfast I grabbed my bag and caught the bus to school.
Despite having already sat through the route countless times, I found myself enamored by the alternate world around me.
I chuckled to myself as I spied a Stark Industries ad for a new computer.
…Which reminds me to do some research on what sorta Marvel world I'm really in. X-men? Fantastic Four? Meeting a mind-manipulator was not on my to-do list.
School was… surprisingly bland. If not for the sheer wonder of it all, I would've been bored out of my mind. Mid Town High, a seriously exceptional school — I had no plans to drop it either — as it was my parents wish for me to get into this school, I still remember the joy on their faces when I got a full-ride.
Not to mention the sheer cast of characters that somehow found their way to this institution.
It was hard not to stare as I sat at the back of the class.
Peter motherfuckin Parker — currently his nerd form, sitting with Ned Leeds. They looked familiar yet slightly different, Peter especially looked like some amalgam of all the spider-men of my old world.
I also spied a one Gwen Stacy, quiet, reserved yet seemingly bursting at the seems with enthusiasm over knowledge.
MJ was in her brunette form, not the fiery haired counter-part I'd expected.
I went through class after class in practical obscurity. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself at the realization that I was a side-character.
Did I really have no friends?
…
Whatever, who needs friends when you have the force!
…
Lunch was a sordid affair, the large cafeteria bursting with teenage excitement and angst alike. I sat alone of course, gnawing on a slice of pizza pie, my mind ruminating over my next steps.
I needed cash — for one, I wanted to move out of the hell-hole I currently called an apartment.
Then I needed to somehow translate my newfound cash, whether stolen or otherwise, into legal funds to purchase or rent a nicer home.
I'd also love a secret base, god, who doesn't like a secret base — my own Jedi Temple if you will…
Talking about temples, should I visit Kamar-taj? What was the address again? 177A baker street? No, Blocker street? Bleacher? I'll figure it out.
Now, the chances that The Ancient One removes me from the face of reality for being a transmitigator? I'm sure she's already throwing a fit at my presence… wait, is she even alive? It's what, barely 2016…. Mmm, according to my memories the battle for New York has already happened, which is crazy by the way, to still be going to school after a goddamn alien invasion, the people of this world are nothing but resilient.
Alien Invasions, World Destroying A.I, Sokovia is destroyed which means Vision is running around with an infinity stone in his head, Shield should be gone and the Avenger's initiative should be in full-throttle.
Jesus fucking christ, it's one thing to watch a world of aliens, magic and gods — it's a whole-notha thing to actually BE in a world with Aliens, magic and gods… oh my--
I'm suddenly pulled out of my ruminations by mental tug in my mind. My Force Sense tingles, and I feel an intrusion trying to penetrate my thoughts. My reaction is instinctive, I clamp down on the invader, viciously smothering it with the Force until it pulls away.
What the fuck was that?!
I frantically look around me as a cold dread runs down my spine. I see a drop-dead gorgeous red-head staring straight at me, her eyes widened in both surprise and guilt as we make eye contact. Next to her is a cute brunette and two guys, one wearing a pair of aviators and shit-eating smug grin, while the other is a nervous looking, seemingly normal dark-blue haired pasty boy.
Except, I know for a fact that none of these people are normal.
I look away from her, already feeling a migraine coming at the confrontation and what it meant.I can't help but drop my head and groan.
One day! One day and I'm already getting mind probed!
To my utter dismay the red-head decides that being unable to breach my privacy was a free invitation to talk. Her fellow mutant friends around her look at her in surprise before they share a knowing nod. The red-head unceremoniously sit across from me.
With a sigh I place my slice of pie back down and interlock my fingers.
"Please do not read my mind." I ask very politely, while simultaneously wrapping the Force around my mind. I had literally no idea if it would do anything. I knew the Force was capable of mental fortitude… too bad I literally got it yesterday.
Looks like mind-based Force abilities have shot to the top of my to-do list.
Jean's eyes widen in surprise and I see Scott Summers tense behind her. Kitty snickers while Kurt just scratches the back of his head awkwardly.
"What—" Jean replies but I cut her off.
"Please. It's basic privacy and no — by the way, — I'm not a mutant." Might as well clear the board from the beginning, I reaaaaally don't wanna meet Xavier.
Scott scoffs, frowning at me. "Thats rich coming from someone who just called us Mutants."
My brow quirks, and I pull out my trap card — ignoring him.
Jean shifts awkwardly, glancing over at Scott and he eases up. They're really talking about me behind my… in front of my face.
"Who are you?" Jean asks.
I just shake my head, "You came to me, who are you?" Which somehow pisses Scott off again.
Is this guy just like this or is Xavier mind-probing douchebaggery into him.
Jean coughs and nods, "I'm Jean," She says which prompts the rest of her posse to do their intros.
Kitty Pryde waves her hand, "Kitty,"
"Kurt," Kurt says with a visibly nervous wave.
Scott glares at me and grunts out his name as if incapable of verbal communication.
"Scott Summers."
I nod, "Riven. Nice to meet you. What do you want?"
"Why the hell would we want something from you?" Scott says, crossing his arms defensively.
I roll my eyes, and splay my hands towards all of them. "Uh, bro, you all randomly pulled up after trying to tickle my mental cajones?"
Kitty and Kurt chuckle while Jean reddens a little with embarrassment. Scott shifts his stance, stabbing a finger towards me.
"What the hell did you—"
"Scott it's fine," Jean calms him with a Jedi-mind trick wave of her hand. "and also sorry, but it's just, y'know weird that I can't read you… you said you aren't a mutant? What are you?"
"What am I? The hell?" I can't help but reply, "What am I supposed to say, poor? Handsome and humble?"
Scott mutters under his breath and rolls his death rayes. "Yah, really fucking humble~"
"You're handsome?" Kitty asks with a teasing smile.
I grin back at her but then wave my hand. "Yeah, and don't forget humble, but seriously," I say turning back to Jean, "what do you want? Did you seriously come over because you couldn't get into my head?"
Jean just stares at me for a little, before giving me a wry smile. "Yeah I guess?"
I sigh, dropping my eyes to the cooling pizza.
"Okay? Well, are you satisfied? Can I get back to eating my now cold pizza or…?"
"Oh, you can eat your pizza man, don't let us stop you." Kurt chimes in, but I only give him a dead stare in return.
"Are you into that or something? Because I'm not the kinda guy who likes an audience."
Kitty chuckles as Kurt tries to correct the misunderstanding, "N-no I meant you can just—"
I cut him off. "--Liiiiisten people, this has been lovely, but really, seriously, do you not see how weird this is? Imagine feeling a mind-probe in the middle of lunch and then being suddenly approached by three cuties and maverick over here," I say thumbing towards a pissed of Scott Summers, "if and when you figure out what you want from me, you can hit me up, but until then — if you'll excuse me, I have a pizza date."
I unceremoniously stand up, giving a curt nod to the X-gang and leave, storing my tray and taking my cold pizza to go.
I could feel all their stares through the Force, then a gentle probe into my head that makes me tense. I turn around and see Jean wincing in my direction.
I gesture a what the fuck? then tiredly shrug and leave.
There's too many damn characters in this school maaaaan. She's for sure going to tell Xavier, ahhhh GOD! And if not her then Scott for sure will — why! WHY! Give me a freakin WEEK or something Jesus Christ.
I continue mentally cursing all the way to my final classes of the day.
—
The moment the bell rings I dash out of school, already feeling Jean's looming presence approaching.
I'm thankfully able loose her on a leaving bus. We make awkward eye contact as the bus gushes air and leaves. I shake my head at her and she just awkwardly smiles back.
What is with these people?
I could already feel another headache coming tomorrow, but that's a tomorrow me problem.
I get off the bus outside a massive public library, I needed to do some research, and unfortunately all I had was a phone with no data.
After a good long while of googling on a public computer I finally have a better picture of the world I'm in.
Firstly, thankfully, no Fantastic Four — and while I would've loved to fawn over Sue, I didn't want to deal with doom and Reed's constant fuckery.
The X-men are a thing though, as I found a couple papers on the X-gene by Xavier.
Cap is back in public eye, and a number of "Heroes" are active. Spider-man as guessed isn't a thing yet — funny enough we have a school trip planned next week on Wednesday. Ding Ding Ding! Which also means Osborn and the Green-Gobloid is a thing, and from the public research papers I can find, so is Doc Ock, and Connors. Oh boy.
Okay, well, at least this clears things up for me. I'm honest to god not a crazy marvel buff, I read some comics, movies, and other amateur fictions — but it wasn't nearly my life. Kinda the same with Star Wars to be frank.
My next order of operations is finding a dojo that teaches both hand-to-hand and sword-based martial arts. I carefully sift through the dojos I find, trying to avoid The Hand and any ninja fuckery.
Afterwards I spent time looking up real-estate prices, just to get an idea. Looks like I'll need over 150K... wow, land prices aren't that bad, I guess with all the shit happening in the NYC area people are hesitant to invest or something. Townhouses with basements in NYC proper were still 300K plus, but even that was doable… I think.
Regardless I got what I needed.
I left the library and made my way down the street looking for an Outdoor/hiking shop.
Inside I buy an overly priced Ski-mask and a nice pair of light-weight hiking boots. I didn't mind paying the price since I'd be fighting in them, I needed the breathability and durability.
I also made a stop by a clothing then thrift store to grab myself a pair of black cargo pants and a muscle-fit black turtleneck — breaking the hoodie-hero tradition.
I was going to look supremely edgy but I really didn't have the funds or skills to make myself anything better. I bought the pants, and stole the stupidly expensive Turtleneck with my Storage.
Honestly, I could go around stealing everything but I have some money and don't wanna catch too many eyes with my building kleptomania.
After my purchases I dipped into an alleyway and vanished all of my new clothing.
To my surprise I found that I could mentally pick and chose whether to summon them back in my hands, or directly onto my body.
I could even designate 'sets' and apply my whole bank-burglar ensemble in a split second, shoes, socks and all.
I changed back into my casual clothes and made my way to the Dojo I picked, only a fifteen minutes from my shitty apartment.