"In the end, I still have to pay you, my little assistant~"
Jack Kadere ran his fingers lazily through Skye's hair, gently guiding her closer. The girl was right in front of him—beautiful, teasing, bold. If he didn't make a move now, could he still call himself a man?
Jessica might've gotten pocket money on the side, but Skye? She'd get… interest.
"Mmh~" Skye tensed at first, her breath hitching from the sudden proximity. But as Jack's hands moved with practiced charm, she began to relax. Her defenses lowered—bit by bit—as her legs gradually looped around his waist, holding him tight.
Where Jessica's figure was lithe and graceful like a dancer, Skye's was firm and balanced, her every movement confident, unhurried, deliberate.
Words gave way to warmth.
Skye, who had traded jabs with him just hours earlier, now squirmed with quiet delight, seeking more contact, more sensation. On the quiet riverside street, beneath the pale glow of the lampposts, they consumed each other's presence like oxygen. The occasional call of a white swan echoed from the nearby river, a strange backdrop to their stolen moment.
A few curious passersby slowed to stare. After all, Jack and Skye were both strikingly attractive—and visibly enjoying themselves. Phones came out.
But before a single picture could be taken, a sudden burst of wind and dust swept through the air, obscuring visibility.
A mild sandstorm—conveniently summoned.
Jack barely lifted a hand, using his weather manipulation to protect their privacy. They weren't doing anything explicit—clothes remained intact—but he had no interest in letting the internet capture their personal moment.
....
Elsewhere...
"Gwen, you have no idea," Jessica groaned as she lay across Gwen Stacy's bed. "Uncle George keeps checking up on me, like every time I so much as sneeze, he's there asking if I've run off to be a vigilante."
Gwen laughed into her pillow. "I wonder whose fault that is."
Jessica rolled her eyes dramatically. "I swear, if I was even half as good at keeping secrets as you, I'd be living stress-free."
"Maybe you shouldn't have shown up to that Halloween party in a Ghost Spider costume," Gwen teased. "Way to keep a low profile, Jess."
"My idol is Ghost Spider, thank you very much."
Gwen shot a web line to the corner of the room and reeled in two cans of soda from her mini fridge. She tossed one to Jessica.
"At least your brother gets you," Gwen said, sipping from her can. "Mine would totally flip."
Jessica took the drink and glanced at Gwen's wrist-mounted web shooters. "Seriously though, your gear's amazing. You made those yourself?"
"Yeah," Gwen said, pride flashing across her face. "Took weeks. The cartridge still needs upgrading, though. I run out of web fluid too fast."
"I've been working on improving my flight technique," Jessica said, stretching her legs. "Jack gave me some pointers last week. I feel like he's been quietly looking out for us this whole time."
Gwen's smile softened, her cheeks flushing. "I love him so much…"
Jessica arched a brow. "Wow. Ghost Spider really is a hopeless romantic."
Gwen shrugged. "Let the fanboys cry. I only care what Jack thinks."
"Ever thought about telling him who you really are?"
"I've considered it," Gwen admitted. "But I haven't found the right moment. I used to worry it might mess with his life, but now that you're out in the open…"
Jessica leaned forward like she'd just had a breakthrough. "I've got it! You're gonna love this."
"Oh no…"
"Listen!" Jessica said. "Why don't we have the Ghost Spider fan club send Jack—our 'Vice President'—a formal invitation to meet the club president in person. You show up in costume, peel off your mask, boom! Surprise romance!"
Gwen hesitated. "That sounds... kind of cheesy."
Jessica clapped her hands. "That's what makes it perfect! Trust me, Gwen, he'll melt."
Gwen buried her face in her soda can.
"Trust me! This is what legends are made of!" Jessica was practically vibrating with excitement now. "Besides, communication isn't an issue anymore. The club's got some serious players—me, you, Jack… and now Skye!"
Gwen gave her a look. "Isn't this supposed to be my fan club?"
Jessica winked. "Relax. We're evolving into something greater. Imagine this—whatever supervillain dares show up, the Ghost Spider Club will take them down as a team!"
Gwen buried her face in her hands. The fan club had started off as a silly cover—and now, somehow, it was turning into a superhero task force.
And little did either of them know… the ridiculous goal Jessica proposed that afternoon would, in the future, propel the Ghost Spider Club into a planetary-level phenomenon. Their name would echo not just through New York, but across the stars.
....
Elsewhere…
[Quake Ability Loaded]
[Hacking Expertise Integrated]
Jack Kadere blinked as the system feed updated.
Strange.
He hadn't seen Skye (real name Daisy Johnson) awaken her Inhuman powers yet—so how had her abilities registered for upload? Was the system adapting preemptively?
And Stephen—Doctor Strange—hadn't triggered anything either.
He frowned thoughtfully.
...Could it be that only female superheroes triggered the system's missions?
"Am I really on track to become… a gigolo?" he whispered to himself.
Disgraceful. Ridiculous. Degenerate.
…He smirked. "I could get used to that."
Jack wrapped his arms around Skye, who was still recovering from their earlier playful session. "So, Miss Intern Assistant… what's our next lesson?"
Skye tilted her head and purred, "Well, Professor, my real name is Daisy Johnson."
"I still like Skye better."
Daisy leaned into him with a pout and murmured, "Then please… instruct me however you want. I'll follow my teacher's orders~"
Hooking her legs around his, she slowly stood up, hands slipping to his shoulders, eyes half-lidded. "After all… I'm just an unpaid intern. If I don't obey… I might get kicked out~"
Jack cleared his throat, side-eyeing a couple of pedestrians on the sidewalk. "Skye, maybe we should… take this somewhere more private. This isn't exactly Broadway."
"Eep!" Skye blinked, suddenly remembering where they were. She quickly unwrapped herself from him and straightened her clothes.
Across the street, a pair of sharp eyes watched from behind a pair of tinted sunglasses.
A blonde agent frowned slightly.
Daisy Johnson… recruited prospect with latent Inhuman potential… getting hot and heavy with a civilian?
Well, not exactly a "civilian." Her tablet showed the same profile photo and dossier.
Jack Kadere. Artist, rumored metahuman[1]. Tied to Jessica Campbell, Gwen Stacy, and Skye?
The agent narrowed her eyes. This would have to be reported.
Agent Bobbi Morse had seen plenty of strange things in S.H.I.E.L.D.—but this? This was starting to look like a pattern.
[1] Wrong multiverse, but oh well...