Stealing serum

The next day

Gwen stood in a secluded alleyway outside Kingsley's office, waiting for an opportunity to slip past security. From the info she'd already gathered, Kingsley liked to keep the serum nearby -- he had to have some stashed away in his office somewhere. She crawled to the top of a roof adjacent to Kingsley's building and began staking out the building's entrance.

"Hey there, Ghost-Spider. It's been a minute, hasn't it?" Jean asked Gwen while landing beside her.

"Jeannie. Good to see you again -- I'm kinda surprised that you're involved in all this. This isn't exactly X-Men business, after all."

"The head of the Looker agency asked for my help," Jean explained. "Emily's a friend -- I met her through some modeling I did a while back."

Gwen nodded in understanding, curious to know more. ""Wait, you were a model?"

"For a while, yeah. Nothing too big, but I did some work when I took a break from the X-Men a couple of years ago."

"Huh. I had no idea," Gwen said, not bothering to hide her surprise. "So what're you up to now?"

"Technically, I'm still an X-Woman, but right now I'm a reserve member. Or a part timer, if you wanna call it that. At the moment, I'm focusing on this whole Hobgoblin investigation," Jean answered.

"Cool. Well, I'm definitely not gonna turn down your help," Gwen smiled. "So, any plans after we nail Kingsley? You gonna go back to X-Men business full time?"

"I was, but to tell you the truth... I'm having way too much fun working for Looker," Jean admitted. "I'm kinda hoping I can keep doing the part time thing. I think I can do a lot of good working with Emily. I think I could use it as a platform to help people... human, mutant, or alien."

Gwen noticed that Jean seemed genuinely excited about what she was doing. "That's awesome. MJ & Kori have told me that Emily's really hoping to look out for **** models who aren't used to the business. And as far as the modeling side of things go, I'm sure you're gonna kill it. You've definitely got the looks for it."

"Thanks," Jean grinned, looking slightly embarrassed. "You know, you'd probably make a good model, too -- you're pretty easy on the eyes without the mask on."

Gwen chuckled at the idea. "Modeling's really not my thing -- I'm more of a science dork. But I appreciate the sentiment."

"I think we could make that work. A lab coat, glasses, a short skirt, a pair of high heels, unbuttoned white blouse with a generous amount of cleavage... I could totally picture you posing like that in a photoshoot," Jean teased.

"Ha! Maybe I'll dress up like that for my girlfriend sometime," Gwen smirked.

"Girlfriend, huh?" Jean grinned. "Anyone I know?"

Gwen smiled widely. "Maybe. Cassie Sandsmark? Of the Titans?"

"We've crossed paths a few times. Can't say I've had the opportunity to get to know her well," Jean answered.

"She's the best," Gwen gushed. "She gets me, Jean. Like, we just... fit together."

Jean smiled warmly as she watched Gwen gush about Cassie. "You're really cute right now, you know that?" Jean commented.

"Yeah, I've been getting that a lot. I get it -- I'm freaking adorable," Gwen joked. "So what else have you been up to lately?"

"Spending a lot of time with your best friend, actually," Jean told Gwen. "And, of course, her girlfriend."

"Uh-oh. MJ's not rubbing off on you, is she?" Gwen teased.

"You could say that," Jean smirked coyly. "She & Kori opened my eyes to the exciting world of girl-on-girl action. Got me seriously reevaluating my love life..."

"So you're into girls, huh?" Gwen asked, intrigued.

"Well, it *was* the best sex I've ever had," Jean admitted. "So... yeah, at this point, I'd say I'm definitely into girls now."

"Heh. I had no idea we were close enough friends that you'd talk about your sex life with me," Gwen laughed. "I'm flattered."

"Hey, I know what you've done with MJ & Kori," Jean teased. "I've read their minds, y'know."

Gwen blushed, chuckling slightly. "OK, well, now that's out in the open. We're both lesbians that fuck our hot mutual redhead friends... that's cool."

Jean nodded, smirking mischievously. "Maybe I should read your mind sometime..."

"And I need to introduce you to Cass," Gwen suggested, "She'd like you. She'd reeeeally like you."

"Set it up then!" Jean requested, eager to meet Gwen's girlfriend.

"Consider it done," Gwen promised, then she paused, looking over at Kingsley's office. "Looks like Kingsley's on his way out. I guess it's skulking time."

"If you want, we could link minds and I can provide support," Jean offered. "I'm sure my powers can help keep you hidden."

"Alright, let's see what you can do, Jean." Gwen leapt off the roof, using a web line to swing down to an open window, with Jean hovering nearby as a lookout. Gwen, sensing the locations of security camera, webbed them up and crawled along the ceilings of the building's hallways, making her way to Kingsley's office.

"A lot of sleeping security guards around here," Gwen noticed. "That's... unexpected."

"I might have... mentally encouraged them to take a nap," Jean telepathically told Gwen, causing the web slinger to smile widely.

"Marry me," Gwen joked.

"Marry you? What would Cassie think?" Jean teased back.

"I could have two wives!" Gwen playfully retorted. "Cassie wouldn't mind sharing, I'm sure."

"Heheheh... flattered as I am, I'm not ready to settle down quite yet," Jean said, chuckling. "Find anything?"

"Hold on... I'm in Kingsley's office right now... nothing so far, there's probably some sort of secret hiding spot... aaaand bingo," Gwen said triumphantly as she found a secret panel in a nearby bookshelf, revealing several vials of green liquid. "A bookshelf? Could this dingdong have picked a more cliche hiding spot? Seriously..."

Jean shrugged. "Hey, it worked out well for us. No point in looking a gift horse in the mouth."

"True enough. I shouldn't complain about actually catching a break," Gwen agreed. "Still, I say we take any opportunity we can to laugh at our supervillains when they give us pathetic efforts like these."

"Unless he *wanted* us to find that serum..." Jean mused.

"Gaaaaahh, don't say *that*, Jeannie!" Gwen groaned. "This has been nice and straightforward so far. Let's not jinx it..."

"Fair enough. At any rate, you should probably get out of there -- the guards could wake up from their nap at any time now."

"Yeah, good idea. Let's head home." Gwen gathered the vials of Goblin serum, carefully packed them into a carrying case and leapt out of a nearby window with Jean hovering nearby.

"So what now?" Jean asked.

"I get this stuff to some chemist pals, and we try and figure out a counteracting agent," Gwen replied.

Jean nodded in understanding. "How long is it going to take? Em's going to want to make preparations."

"Yeah, she texted me about the show you guys are setting up for our goblin buddy. It'll probably be a week. Maybe a little longer, but we should be able to come up with something before your show."

"Sounds good. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help," Jean offered.

"I'll be in touch," Gwen assured the telepath as she prepared to swing off. "And once I'm done... maybe you, Cass & I can hang out, if you're interested."

Jean smiled back. "Sounds like fun," she agreed. "I'll hold you to that."