❛ I want to hear it again ❜

Being uncomfortable had become a new normal for me. I had been uncomfortable my entire life with the constant experiments and questioning of who would be sent to Rehabilitation next, but being uncomfortable in a place that shouldn't make you so, that was my new normal. Especially since I had never been in someplace "normal."

I felt very out of place as I sat in a small coffee shop filled with girls my age laughing at things I most likely wouldn't understand. I was very tired today, and I only wanted answers about what people really knew abou the Lost Children. I had accepted that Peter Parker didn't want to help in my search and it took me a while to decide to do this on my own. I wasn't looking for him, yet he found me. And here I sat, in this petite coffee shop, with no idea what I was actually doing here.

I only looked up when a distinct change in wind blew in from of me and I noticed Peter Parker placing a red mug of warm coffee in front of me. "You okay?" he wondered, one of his eyebrows raising in concern for his new acquaintance. I met his eyes, his hopeful eyes, and I pursed my lips and nodded before wrapping my hands around the cup. "I'm fine," I responded before taking another glance at the shop, making sure no one would be able to hear us. "Are you sure we're far enough back? What if someone hears us?"

Peter looked to where I was and saw the girls - maybe from his school - whispering to each other with no attention to who was around them. "It's fine, Aniya," he replied, scooting his chair closer. I let out a sigh and he sucked an air bubble into his mouth as he thought about his conversation starter. I think I  was intriguing to him. I was uneducated about the real world, frightened easily, and very paranoid. But he couldn't judge me because he would never be able to understand what I'd gone through for the past ten years.

"How did you know I was Spider-Man?" he questioned, wanting to know what I did, but I knew that wouldn't be possible for I knew too much for my own good. "I already told you," I snapped back. Peter huffed, "I want to hear it again."

I looked at my hands that were wrapped around the mug and noticed how they began to lightly shake. Peter noticed, too, but before he could say anything I began to speak in a low whisper, "Once the Forefront compound was destroyed, my friends told me to run because I am the only one who can stay hidden. I listened to them and ran, but when I got back they were gone ... and so were my two friends that died during the ... massacre. I got my file from this room and I found this man who had turned me into the orphanage when I was little. I went to his home and he helped me. Apparently, he's been helping forefront kids for a while, and he was looking for the rest of us lost kids, but never found us. He called someone named Tony ... Stank? Stark?"

"Stark," he corrected. I mindlessly nodded, my eyes staring at the table. "Right, Stark. The guy told me to come find you and he told me who you were, but when you didn't listen, I figured I would do this on my own." 

"Do what exactly?"

"Find my brothers."

'Oh," Peter said with a hint of sadness laced in his voice. "What about the other two?" 

I shrugged and continued to stare at my shaking fingers that made the coffee splash around in the mug. Peter watched my fingers move before he finally reached out and placed a still hand over my own. I froze, not daring to move. I looked carefully at the hand atop of mine and didn't see a reason or explanation for it. Peter hesitantly took his hand back after realizing what he did and I sat still before moving my eyes up to his. "They died during the invasion, and I don't know what happened to them." 

"What were their names?" 

I closed my eyes, images flashed behind my eyelids. I saw gorgeous blonde hair bouncing up and down as Kathryn ran down the hallway. I saw a frail boy whip around and scream a soundless scream to his sister's impending doom. I wanted to pull myself out of this image but I couldn't. It was too compelling. But thankfully Peter saying my name made me open my eyes and I refused to meet his gaze. "Kathryn and Marcus," I quickly blurted out. "They were siblings so at least they went together."

"I see. And the others?" 

"Jax and Luca." 

"You said you had powers," Peter mentioned, his phrase not quite being a question yet not being a direct statement either. I was more than happy to answer his questions if it meant I could have his help. But I wasn't ready to talk about Jax and Luca as if they were dead. I still had hope for them. Even the topic of Marcus and Kathryn was hard for me to tell, yet I knew I had to overcome my own weaknesses if I were to find the boys. 

"Yes," I shortly stated. "I have the power to turn invisible, but it's really me being able to use the air at my disposal. I'm a wind bender. Jax is a pyro, and Luca is electrokinetic. Kathryn was able to manipulate water, and Marcus could move the earth. You know what those mean, don't you?" I asked, my tone being slightly harsher than I wish it had. Peter scoffed and nodded to my inquiry.

"And you need my help?" 

"Is that fair to ask?" I replied back, my eyebrows arching with my question and my heart beating quickly in anticipation of my newfound hope. '"Yes, and I'll do it. I'll help you find your friends."