Marvel: Master Of Role-Playing

"Alright..."

Jean replied softly, slowly undoing the handkerchief and gently placing it on the table beside her.

"I'll apply the medicine."

Scott immediately sat next to her, taking her hand in his and skillfully applying the ointment. His movements were quick and efficient, and soon, the medicine was thoroughly spread on her wound.

"I can bandage it myself."

Not wanting to trouble Scott any further, Jean took the bandages from the table and started wrapping her hand herself.

Scott didn't stop her. He stood up and casually began looking around the room. Everything was just as he remembered.

It wasn't the first time he had been inside Jean's room. Their relationship had already gone beyond friendship, though they hadn't quite crossed the line into being a couple. It was more of an unspoken bond, one step away from something more.

In his mind, Jean had already become his girlfriend. He was sure she felt the same way.

But there were still some changes in the room.

For instance, the handkerchief Jean had used to bind her wound was the only item that didn't carry any trace of their relationship.

On his way here, Scott had heard about why Jean was injured. That damn human had dared to send her a rose to express his feelings. The nerve of him.

As Scott looked at the handkerchief, it reminded him of that human, and his anger flared. He felt an overwhelming urge to erase all signs of that man.

"This handkerchief looks awful. It's probably from that human. Jean, let me take care of it. Humans shouldn't be allowed to leave anything behind."

As he said this, Scott reached for the handkerchief, ready to use his laser vision to turn it to ash. He wanted to destroy any last trace of that human and cut off any connection Jean might still have with him.

"Don't!"

Just as Scott's hand was about to touch the handkerchief, Jean's sharp scream echoed through the room. A powerful shockwave spread outward from her, sending Scott, who was closest to her, flying across the room and crashing to the ground.

"Ah! Jean, what are you doing?!"

Scott lay on the ground, writhing in pain.

Unlike Erik, he didn't have special battle gear, nor could he control magnetic fields to absorb the shock. After taking the full force of the impact, he felt his blood surge painfully within him, leaving him in agony.

Meanwhile, Jean, who had once been so close to him and almost became his lover, showed no concern for Scott's condition. She immediately stood up and clutched the handkerchief tightly to her chest.

"I... I don't want to lose it."

It was as if she could feel Reid's warmth through the cold fabric of the handkerchief. Slowly, Jean began to calm down, realizing she had just lost control and hurt Scott in the process.

"I'm sorry, Scott."

However, Jean didn't reach out to help him. Instead, she used her telekinetic powers to lift Scott up and steady him.

"Could you please leave for now? I'm feeling a bit tired today."

Though she said the words kindly, Scott still felt an invisible force pushing him out of the room, as if he had no choice but to leave.

"Wait! Jean, I still have something to say, wait..."

Before Scott could finish, the door slammed shut with a bang, and it was locked from the inside.

"Jean...."

Realizing that Jean had kicked him out, Scott first felt a wave of disappointment. But soon, his thoughts turned to that damn human.

"It's all that bastard's fault! I'll kill him!"

Looking at the darkening sky outside the window, Scott could only comfort himself, thinking it wasn't the right time yet. He would wait for an opportunity with the professor and the others.

Inside the room, Jean was back to being alone. Her emotions slowly stabilized as she lay on the bed.

'Reid.'

Clutching the bloodstained handkerchief, she slowly drifted into sleep.

...

Elsewhere, in a hotel.

Reid had decided not to go to New York today. Sitting on the bed, he pulled up the system again.

'System, did you do something to my appearance? Jean fell for me at first sight. How can I believe this?'

It wasn't like he hadn't looked at himself in a mirror. He thought he looked quite handsome, but it shouldn't have been that exaggerated.

Sure, Marvel's female heroes liked to fall for anyone they met, but this was a bit much.

Even when Logan and Jean kissed, it was because Phoenix was behind it.

[Host, didn't you originally plan to make Jean contract the Joker Infection? Have you completely ignored the effects of the Joker Infection?]

'The Joker Infection?' Reid frowned slightly.

'Even if it's the effect of the Joker Infection, shouldn't Jean just be seeing hallucinations of the Joker? She contracted the Joker Infection, but what does that have to do with me, Reid?'

[Host, this virus flows through your blood. Do you really think the Joker Infection alone can explain it? You've inherited the Joker's abilities, but they aren't an exact replica. Due to the differences between you and the Joker, the virus in your body is also different.] the system explained patiently.

Reid began to grasp the meaning behind its words. 'So, the virus in my body is influenced by my personality, but it has similar effects to the Joker Infection. Is that correct?'

[Precisely, Host.]

Now that he understood, Reid quickly began to analyze the situation.

The Joker Infection rewires the infected person's brain over time, gradually making them like the Joker. For example, when Batman contracted the Joker Infection, he transformed into the Batman Who Laughs. However, infecting someone as strong-willed as Batman required the purest form of the Joker Infection from the Joker's heart.

But Batman's mental fortitude was leagues above Jean Grey's. If it was difficult to infect someone like him, Jean would be far easier to influence.

Even with the diluted form of the virus from his blood, Reid was confident Jean wouldn't be able to resist it. Sooner or later, her brain would be altered by the virus.

"If the Joker Infection makes the infected as insane as the Joker, then what does the virus in my body do?" Reid wondered aloud. "System, stop hiding and explain!"

If the system had eyes, it would've rolled them by now. But it answered obediently.

[Host, your virus also has the power to alter an infected person's thinking. However, it doesn't completely turn them into you. Instead, it subconsciously makes the infected regard you as someone special. The specific effects vary from person to person, but the results always benefit you.]

"Regard me as someone special?" Reid grinned. Knowing this made everything so much clearer. The virus gave him an undeniable advantage, making future interactions and plans significantly easier.

From the looks of it, Jean's response to the virus was a growing affection for him.

'If it were Tony Stark…'

**

**

**

Thank you for reading! If you'd like access to extra chapters and want to support my work, you can visit my P@treon:

P@treon/SilverShark769

Your support means a lot, thank you!