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Chapter 20: One Surprise Too Many
🕑 Added 2025-08-08 09:17:04 +0000 UTCThe Baxter Building rose above Manhattan, and Jay stood on the sidewalk, craning his neck to take in all thirty-five floors of it, feeling simultaneously impressed and slightly intimidated.
He'd been to Reed's lab before, but arriving as an official consultant felt different.
The elevator ride was smooth and silent, giving Jay time to review his strategy.
The doors opened directly to the top floor which had been converted into a combination laboratory, workshop, and living space, while holographic displays showed everything from weather patterns to molecular structures.
"Jay!" Reed's voice carried across the space as he emerged from behind a bank of computers, his arm stretching an extra few feet to shake hands. "Perfect timing. I was just running some calculations on our body’s cosmic radiation absorption rates."
"Naturally," Jay said with a grin.
Reed laughed, "Come on, let me introduce you to everyone properly. They're in the common area—well, most of them."
"Everyone," Reed said, his voice carrying that particular tone people used for Important Announcements, "I'd like you to meet Jay officially. He's going to be working with us as a strategic consultant."
Susan stood gracefully, extending her hand. "Susan Storm. Reed's told me about you." Her grip was firm, professional, but Jay caught the way her eyes studied his face—looking for tells, measuring his trustworthiness.
"All good things, I hope," Jay replied.
"Mostly," she said with a slight smile.
Ben raised a massive hand in greeting. "Ben Grimm. Thanks for keepin' Stretch here from blowin' himself up the other day."
"Actually, it wasn't that bad.” Reed started.
Johnny finally looked up from his baseball match, his expression shifting from bored to skeptical. "Wait, he's our consultant? What, did we run out of actual scientists?"
The silence that followed was the kind that made everyone mentally count to ten.
"Johnny—" Reed began.
"No, it's fine," Jay said, holding up a hand. "It's a fair question. I'm not anything impressive. What I do have are ideas in dealing with the kinds of problems you're about to face."
Johnny sat up straighter, suddenly more interested. "What kind of problems?"
Jay settled into an empty chair, noting how it had been subtly reinforced to handle Ben's weight if needed. "The kind that come from being public superheroes in a world that doesn't know how to handle you yet."
"Meaning?" Susan asked.
"Meaning you're about to get very popular, very fast, with people who want to own you, study you, or use you." Jay's tone grew more serious. "Government agencies, private corporations, foreign powers—everyone's going to want a piece of the Fantastic Four."
Reed nodded grimly. "We've talked about this yesterday… but go on."
"And it's only going to get worse," Jay said. "The good news is, you have options."
He leaned forward, warming to the subject. "First strategy is controlled engagement. Give them something that satisfies their curiosity without compromising your independence. Low-level tech applications, medical devices, energy solutions—stuff that's impressive but not game-changing."
Ben grunted approvingly. "Keep 'em happy with scraps while we keep the good stuff."
"Exactly. But if that doesn't work—and it might not—you go nuclear."
Johnny perked up. "Nuclear how?"
"You go public with everything. Full transparency. You tell your story directly to the people, make them fall in love with you before anyone can paint you as threats." Jay grinned. "Hard to dissect America's sweethearts, and yesterday was a good start. You guys helping people at the bridge."
He paused, then added more carefully, "And Ben, I know this sounds cold, but the public seeing your personal struggles... it humanizes all of you. Makes you relatable instead of just powerful."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
"Absolutely not," Susan said, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. "We are not turning Ben's pain into a publicity strategy."
Ben's rocky features had gone completely still, and when he spoke, his voice was dangerously quiet. "Ya want me to parade around my broken engagement for good press? That what you're suggestin'?"
Jay realized he'd stepped in it. Hard. "No, that's not—I didn't mean exploit it. I meant that when people see you're dealing with real consequences, real loss, they'll understand the cost of what happened to you. That you're not just some invulnerable monster."
"I think ya said enough," Ben rumbled.
"You know Fame as a superhero," Johnny said slowly, and Jay could practically see the wheels turning. "I... actually kind of love that."
"Course you do," Ben muttered.
Susan was nodding thoughtfully. "It's not a bad strategy. Public support would make it much harder for anyone to move against us openly."
"Plus," Jay added, "it gives you leverage. Politicians can't ignore public opinion, and corporations can't function if everyone hates them."
They spent the next hour running through scenarios and strategies, with Reed frequently veering off into philosophical tangents until Susan steered him back on course. Growing up in the age of social media, Jay knew better than anyone how quickly public opinion could turn someone into a villain—or a viral sensation.
It was during a lull in the conversation that Jay noticed the lingering signs of their recent adventures. Susan had a barely healed cut on her wrist. Johnny's knuckles showed scrapes that were taking longer to heal than they should. Even Reed had some bruising on his arms that he kept absently rubbing.
Only Ben looked completely uninjured, though that was probably because his rock-like skin made minor injuries irrelevant.
Jay made a decision.
"Okay," he said, standing up abruptly. "There's something I've been keeping under wraps, and I think it's time to come clean."
The room went quiet. Susan set down her coffee cup. Johnny stopped spinning his ball. Even Reed's holographic display froze mid-rotation.
"I'm a mutant," Jay said simply.
The silence stretched for several seconds.
"Oh," Susan said finally. "Is that... is that all?"
Jay, acting surprised, blinked. "Is that all?"
"Well, yeah," Johnny said with a shrug. "I mean, we are also not normal. Sue can turn invisible. Reed can stretch like taffy. Ben's made of rocks. Did you really think we'd be weird about genetic mutations?"
"It's just another way of being different," Reed added gently. "And considering the current political climate around mutant rights, I understand why you'd be cautious about revealing it."
Jay, expecting this reaction, still acts surprised. "Thanks. That... means more than you know."
"What kind of mutation?" Susan asked, her scientific curiosity clearly overriding any other concerns.
Instead of answering, Jay walked over and touched her wrist where the cut was healing. His hand glowed with soft green light, and the wound closed completely, leaving unmarked skin behind.
Susan stared at her wrist in wonder. "Accelerated healing?"
"For myself and others," Jay confirmed, moving to Johnny next. The young man held out his scraped knuckles without hesitation, watching in fascination as the injuries disappeared. "Though it takes a toll. The more severe the injury, the more energy it costs me."
He healed Reed's bruises last, noting how the scientist immediately began examining his own arms with intense curiosity.
"Remarkable," Reed murmured. "The cellular regeneration rate must be incredible. How do you direct the energy? Is it conscious control or instinctive?"
"Bit of both," Jay said, settling back into his chair. He was definitely more tired now, but not dangerously so. "It takes a bit of intuition, but my background in human biology and medical science helps a lot."
"That's amazing," Susan said softly. "How many people know?"
"Not many. I had some tests done at Xavier's School recently—that's how I confirmed the mutant thing. But given the current anti-mutant sentiment..." Jay shrugged. "Seemed safer to keep quiet."
Johnny was examining his now-perfect knuckles with obvious delight. "Dude, this is so cool. No more waiting for bruises to fade before photo shoots."
"Johnny," Susan said with fond exasperation, "there are more important applications than your non-existent modeling career."
"Hey, looking good is important too."
Ben had been unusually quiet during the healing demonstration, watching with an expression Jay couldn't quite read. Now he spoke up, his voice carefully neutral. "So, uh, how severe an injury we talkin' about? Like, could you fix a broken bone, or...?"
Jay met his eyes directly. "I can’t heal anything too severe or if the injury is too old."
Which was technically true, even if it wasn't the whole truth.
"But I'm not done with the reveals," Jay added, standing up again. "There's something else I want to show you."
He walked over to where Ben sat, the massive man looking suddenly uncertain. "Ben, would you trust me for a minute?"
"Uh, sure, but what—"
Jay placed his hand on Ben's rocky forearm and concentrated.Using the newly discovered application of power theft, Power nullification. He reached out with his power, for a moment, nothing happened. Then Ben's rocky orange skin began to shimmer, like heat waves rising from summer pavement.
"What the hell—" Ben started, then stopped as his forearm began to change.
The rocky exterior softened, transforming back into human skin. Not completely—just his hand and part of his forearm—but it was unmistakably human flesh, complete with the scars and calluses Ben had accumulated over the years.
The silence was deafening.
Ben stared at his human hand like it was the most precious thing in the world. "I... how did you..."
The transformation lasted maybe thirty seconds before the rocky exterior returned, but those thirty seconds changed everything.
'Looks like suppressing physical mutations is a lot harder than I thought. Sure, I managed to block his super strength—but his transformation? That’s a whole other level. I’d probably have to fully steal it to reverse that.'
"HOLY FUCK!" Johnny exploded, jumping up from the couch. "Did you just—did he just—Ben, you were human!"
"Language," Susan said automatically, but she was staring at Ben's arm with wide eyes.
Ben, meanwhile, had gone completely still. When he looked up at Jay, his eyes were bright with unshed tears. "You can... you can make me human again?"
Jay felt the weight of that hope like a physical thing. "Partially, and only temporarily. It's exhausting, and I can only sustain it for short periods right now."
"But you did it," Ben said softly. "Even for a few seconds, you made me... me again."
"Hey now," Reed said gently, moving closer to his friend. "You're always you, Ben. Powers or no powers."
"Yeah, but..." Ben held up his rocky hand, flexing the massive fingers. "I ain't been able to feel textures properly in months. Can't touch nothin' delicate without breakin' it. And Alicia..." He trailed off, shaking his head.
"The stamina cost was too much," Jay admitted, slumping back into his chair now fully drenched in sweat. "My body isn't strong enough to handle this level of supresssion right now. But if I could boost my physical capabilities somehow..."
Reed's eyes lit up like Christmas morning. "Controlled enhancement! We could explore cosmic radiation exposure in a controlled environment, or perhaps a Captain America-style supersoldier treatment, or maybe even technological amplification through—"
"Reed," Susan interrupted gently. "Breathe."
"But the possibilities!" Reed continued, his enthusiasm undimmed. "If Jay's healing abilities could be enhanced or amplified, we could potentially develop treatments for all kinds of conditions. Not just Ben's transformation, but genetic disorders, degenerative diseases, traumatic injuries—"
Johnny looked like his brain was melting. "Okay, I'm lost. Are we talking about making Jay into Captain America, or turning him into some kind of super-healer, or what?"
"Both?" Reed suggested hopefully.
Ben, meanwhile, was staring at his hand again, flexing his fingers. "You really think you could do more? Make it last longer?"
"Maybe," Jay said with a deliberate frown, carefully choosing his words.. "But it would require some kind of physical. Right now, the stamina cost is beyond what my body can handle safely."
"Then we make you stronger," Ben said with that gravel-sure finality that meant the argument had already lost.. He stood, all rock and resolve, and before Jay could react, crushed him into a hug that felt like being tackled by a friendly bulldozer.
"Thank you," Ben said quietly, his voice rough with emotion. "I ain't been able to hope for somethin' like this in... hell, since the accident. Thank you."
Jay patted Ben's massive shoulder as best he could while being compressed. "Don't thank me yet. We don't know if enhancement is even possible."
"We'll figure it out," Reed said with absolute confidence. "If there's a way to boost your abilities safely, we'll find it."
Susan was watching the whole scene with a soft smile. "This is amazing, Jay. Not just what you can do, but that you're willing to try."
"Course he's willing," Ben said, finally releasing Jay from the crushing embrace. "Guy's got a good heart. I can tell."
Jay felt a warm flush, then guilt… then nothing. The Fantastic Four had just learned he was a mutant with potentially world-changing abilities, and their first instinct had been to offer help. Support. Trust. Exactly the reaction he was counting on. This—this was why he’d inserted himself into their lives. Because good people with power made the best shields. The lies, the half-truths, the carefully curated image—they were all worth it if it meant protecting his freedom. In a world that hunted anything different, trust was just another resource—and he intended to use it.
"I should probably go," Jay said after a moment. "This is a lot to process, and I have another appointment."
"What, you got another superhero team to consult?" Johnny asked with a grin.
"Something like that." Jay stood, still feeling the lingering effects of his demonstration. "But I'll be in touch about the enhancement research. If there's a way to make this work..."
"There will be," Reed said firmly. "I'll start the research immediately. Genetic enhancement, technological augmentation, controlled radiation exposure—we'll explore every option."
Susan, seeing Jay walk to the elevator, thoughtfully said. "Well, this was an interesting meeting."
Jay smiled as the elevator descended. Phase one was complete. He'd given them hope, revealed carefully selected secrets, and opened the door to possibilities none of them had imagined before today. More importantly, he'd positioned himself as indispensable—the key to Ben's humanity, the solution to problems they didn't even know they had yet.
The guilt tried to surface again, but Jay pushed it down. This wasn't about manipulation, he told himself. This was about survival.
If they happened to benefit from the arrangement too, well, that just made it easier to sleep at night.
