SOFIA NEVER BELIEVED IN COINCIDENCES. Everything happens for a reason. Just like sharing a birthday with someone you just met or running into an old friend at the supermarket. All things happen for a reason.

Just like it wasn't a coincidence when a building gets bombed by the Winter Soldier and Sofia's watching the news channel simultaneously. 

He was finally back out in public again, after six and a half years.

Sofia didn't even know how to react. She was happy, but not the type of happy you are when someone buys you a gift. No, she was the type of happy someone gets when everything goes according to plan. She was happy that everything was finally working out in her favor.

Felicia was out, probably robbing a bank or something, but Sofia called her immediately. 

The phone rang for a few moments but was then picked up. Felicia knew that if Sofia was calling during her 'play time', something serious was up. "What's wrong?"

A cat-like smile crept onto Sofia's mouth. She was exhilarated and beyond excited. "Oh, nothing is wrong. In fact, everything is excellent." Sofia paused for dramatic effect, "Our timeline has moved up. Mr. Metal Arm has shown his face in public again. He just bombed some building in Europe and apparently, even the Avengers are looking for him now." 

Panting heavily because she was in the middle of a chase, Felicia replied, "About damn time. I'll be back in just a few so we can make some concrete plan." 

And without another word, the call ended. 

Sofia put down her phone and walked over to the workbench. With one light shove, she moved everything off of the table and onto the floor. Sofia needed space to work with. 

With a pencil in hand and a blank sheet of paper in front of her, she began to sketch things out. Six and a half years gives someone a lot of time to think about something, and in her case, Sofia has not stopped thinking about it.

She was obsessed.

A chance finally presented itself and she was not going to waste a single moment of it.

And that thought brought her back to the silly costume Felicia had been making. Sofia's gaze dropped to the floor where she had shoved the outfit away. It was almost done, except for a few minor details. Felicia has been working nonstop on it and until now, Sofia didn't find a reason for it.

In this new era, new superheroes and villains are appearing every single day. It was just a few days ago that a new hero self-proclaimed himself 'The Spider-Man," and Black Cat has been on the streets for quite some time as well. 

Sofia was now reconsidering what Felicia had said to her. Being on the field would make it much easier for her to search for the Winter Soldier instead of being behind a screen. Before, her excuse had been drawing too much attention to her for someone she doesn't even know still exists. But now, Sofia knows what country he's in and that's enough for her.

Felicia suddenly barged through the door. "Okay. I'm here!"

"Great," Sofia began, biting the tip of her pencil as she processed her thoughts, "I think I've come up with a plan, but I think I know how to make it better."

Fully intrigued, Felicia walked over to her friend. She then fake pouted when she saw Sofia's costume and other things are thrown on the floor. "I worked hard on this you know." Sofia was not thrown off by it though, Felicia always complains. However, Felicia hated seeing all her work not being appreciated. Seeing it on the floor triggered something in her, but she let it slide for now.

"As I was saying, I was thinking about joining your side as another crime-causing superhuman on the streets." Sofia watched as Felicia's face lit up with excitement. "But, I've got an even better idea. Do you think you can create another suit for me, one with no relevance to fire at all?"

"Weird request but yes," Felicia was not catching on to what Sofia was trying to say yet, but didn't decline the question.

"Okay, so what if I become both hero and villain? For example, I draw the attention of the Avengers and gain their trust. They'll take me in as their own as they've done before with the Maximoff twins and now Spider-Man. However, I also do my own thing attempting to find the Winter Soldier." 

When she sees Felicia's unconvinced look, Sofia continues to elaborate. "Just think about it. The Avengers are in the search for James Barnes so they'll be getting new leads every day! Using those leads, it will become much easier for me to find him! And with you on my side, we could most definitely do it before any of them do it."

Felicia started warming up to the idea, but still believed it was insane. "But what about your 'evil' alter ego and 'superhero' alter ego having the same powers? Someone would piece it together before you stepped foot into the Tower."

"Hm, you're right about that. Obviously, I shouldn't use my actual abilities whilst inside the Tower so they don't learn my strengths or weaknesses. If I were to get caught, they wouldn't know how to fight against my actual abilities. The big question is," Sofia stopped biting the pencil as she realized something. She turned her gaze back up to Felicia, "is there a way to fabricate superpowers? Like not permanently but like magnetic gloves or something?"

Felicia was not only super smart, but she was an incredible inventor/ engineer. She could have probably chosen any job in the entire world, but she decided to carry on the family legacy, and for that, Sofia respected her.

"Now that you bring it up, I think it just might be possible." Felicia rushed up from her seated position and pulled something up on the computer screen. "Last week, I started a design for a contacts prototype. You've seen the Superman movies, right?" She didn't wait for Sofia's answer. "So basically, the goal of these contacts is to shoot laser beams out of them, without hurting your eye. They draw energy from the sun basically and run on that as a battery. But all the people I've tested it on ended up going permanently blind....."

Sofia was shocked by the idea and even more shocked that Felicia has actually tried them out on people. "Who volunteered for this?"

"I never said they volunteered, more like voluntold." they both paused, "But anyway. If I can get this to work then you'll practically be superman. And the contacts are completely transparent. And if anyone asks, you can say you need glasses. And if they ask you to use the lasers without the contacts on, say you need to see clearly in order for it to work."

Sofia was super surprised by Felicia's plan. It was so out of the blue. "Did you just think of that?"

"Yep." Felicia turned her attention away from the computer screen, "ADHD."

Sofia was now fully confident in their plan. After all this time, she was finally going to complete her mission.

-♕-

"So have you thought about both your undercover names?" Felicia began randomly. The two of them sat on the apartment rooftop, simply enjoying a sandwich together. They've been working on Sofia's undercover story for almost the entire day. A break was due. "I was thinking we could match. How about the Chesire Cat? You do have a creepy ass smile after all."

"No, Felicia. I'm not going to be named after a fucking cat." Sofia harshly took a bit out of her food and almost spit it out once she realized it was cold. "Did you not heat up the food?"

Sofia usually wasn't so salty with Felicia, but bringing up the Chesire Cat brought some bad memories back. It was a vague memory, but Sofia remembers Alice in Wonderland being her all-time favorite movie ever. She remembers wanting to even adopt a cat just to name it Chesire.

But that was over now, and Sofia hated the Chesire Cat. She hated Alice in Wonderland. After all, what idiot climbs into a tree after chasing a rabbit holding a watch? 

"Well, no. I thought maybe you could do it," Felicia now realizes the idea might have been stupid. She just loves it when Sofia uses her powers. She doesn't like, however, is Sofia's personality.

Sofia took one more look at the sandwich and threw it away from her. Then, she roughly stood up and began walking back inside. "We don't have time for this. We need to work on my undercover aliases. If you're going to be useless, then leave."

After watching her slowly walk away, Felicia scoffed heavily. Sofia would have rough moments that would piss her off, but not like this. Felicia knew she had her problems, but that is no excuse to act like this. "What a bitch. So unappreciative." 

Once she was back inside, Sofia started writing possible names for herself. Superhero names. 

Ugh, just the thought of superheroes made her gag in disgust. They were all failures to the world who feel bad about themselves so they decide to 'help'.

But everyone knows they aren't actually helping. Sure they stop a car chase or end a bank robbery, but they're the ones always almost ending the world. What if it was the United States instead of Sokovia? All of Europe? South America? What if millions more people died? Would people still praise the Avengers after knowing they doomed the Earth?

Sofia has done the research. Crime rates- supervillain rates were severely lower before Tony Stark announced himself as Iron Man. Just comes to show that if the Avengers went extinct, the world would go back to normal.

And James Barnes was just the first name on Sofia's list. Of course, she wanted him gone, but she wanted all of them gone. They only help the big cities or the big problems. Where are they when someone is getting killed? Where are they when the people actually need their help? No, they only show up when it's their own mess to clean up.

And for that, Sofia was going to enjoy ending the Avengers, one way or another. And in her case, she was going to tear them apart from the inside, without them even noticing.

"Okay, what the fuck was that?" Felicia came charging in, the sandwich still in her hand. She did not look happy.

"What?" Sofia turned around and gave Felicia her undivided attention, both curious and a tad annoyed at her sudden outburst.

"Oh don't give me that," Felicia began, "You're making it seem like I'm simply working for you. Yes, we are making you another alias but for both our benefits. I'm not just going to make your suits and cool contacts for you- I'm making it so that we both take a step forward in our plans. So do not throw away a sandwich I gave you and do not give me that ridiculous attitude. What we have going is a two-way street, not one."

"Of course, you're working for me!" Sofia almost laughed. She said it as if it were the most obvious thing ever. "We tried doing it your way and it was not working. Petty crimes will not draw Kingpin's attention. You don't have the guts to put yourself out in the world. You hide behind a mask! So no Felicia, this is not a team effort. Not anymore. At least I'm trying to do something, all you do is annoy the police and Spider-Man!" Sofia raised her voice, becoming angry with the girl.

Truth be told, Sofia was simply becoming too attached to Felicia. The two had spent months together and right now, the last thing Sofia needed was a friend. Sofia was moving forward while Felicia was staying behind. She was severing their friendship right now.

Felicia remained silent. She was utterly shocked into silence. The two of them have had petty fights before, but it was never like this. So finally, she let out a deep breath. "You know, I used to pity you, but now I've realized you're just like everybody else. No one cares that you're parents died. Everyone hates the Avengers except little children. You're not special, Sofia. Thank you for making me realize that. I hope you enjoyed our time together, but I'm leaving. This whole thing isn't about you anymore. Good luck infiltrating the Avengers, you're going to need it." Felicia ended with a scoff. She truly did not believe Sofia could fool the Avengers without her help but now it didn't matter. She was leaving and no one was going to stop her.

Sofia clenched her jaw in fury. If she pressed any harder, surely her teeth would shatter.

Except this was good. It was finally freeing her of Felicia. 

But a small part of Sofia was sad. She just hated being alone and for the longest time, Felicia stood by her side. They both needed each other at one point, and maybe, they still do.

No. Sofia rapidly removed those thoughts from her mind. Felicia would only slow her down. Besides, she already has the entire plan set and ready.

But she hated being alone.

"Fuck," Sofia mumbled to herself as she watched Felicia grab her things and head for the door. No. Sofia did not need her. She was just a means to an end.

Once Felicia arrived at the door, she didn't look back which only caused Sofia to become angrier. She wanted Felicia to come back, pleading. She wanted to feel superior, and Felicia was not giving her that satisfaction. 

It was humiliating.

"Fuck!" Sofia yelled louder this time. She grabbed the nearest chair (which happened to be wooden) and shattered it, setting the pieces on fire.

She was pissed, but at least the anger was fueling her; making her stronger.

And there she was, all alone in an empty apartment, once again.