𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 || 𝘈 𝘔𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘐𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦

GRAVEYARDS WERE THE LAST PLACE IMANI WISHED TO BE AFTER THE NIGHT SHE'D HAD. It'd been years since she had taken the time to go out of her way and be amongst the stones of the dead. And, truthfully, she hadn't planned on going back for another few.

Usually, when she did come, she tried to be serious for the sake of her Father who accompanied her. But it was hard to be serious when she could hear Adam's metal music blasting from his helmet resting on one of his motorcycle handles. His attention solely focused on his mother's gravestone which laid half a dozen from Annabeth and Issac's graves. So, Imani could cut him the slack he deserved. Because much like Imani, he hated coming to the graveyard in the upper part of Harlem.

It was far too sombre for Imani's liking. She could deal with the fact that the apartment felt a void of itself. Or how the kitchen table was far too big for just two people. And no matter what her Dad said about keeping it just in case of visitors, it was to hold onto something that was long gone.

That felt like something she and her Father shared with the loss. They held onto things that kept them connected to memories that were slowly fading with time. And although they knew better, nothing would shake them from letting it go despite the inevitability that they would lose their importance.

"Hey, guys," Imani muttered, lips faintly cut into a smile. Her knees straining beneath her as she crouched between the marble stones. Gently placing the bundle flowers against them, smiling faintly. "Hope you didn't miss me."

Humour wasn't Imani's strong suit. She wasn't all too funny and she had terrible timing. But she'd like to think this was one of those times where she tried to hold the door for her emotions to come through. And despite her best efforts, they seeped from the cracks beneath and began to imprint themselves on every thought in her mind. Mangling them beyond disfigurement 'til Imani could do nothing but cry.

But Imani wouldn't cry. It's been long enough that she should try and have some sort of grasp of self-control.

"Uh, what have I been up to?" She muttered aloud, the inexperience of visiting evident. "I guess, I have just been doing school. Getting through it and seeing what I'm passionate about. I'm going to the Nationals Decathlon today. So, I guess that's something, right?"

In her mind, she'd like to think Issac and their Mother were listening. Maybe exchanging responses to the update to her life. But neither she nor Adam had been big believers in something beyond the mortal coil. Or in the supernatural. She wasn't devoted to any religion because she was never raised in a household with ideals like that. And perhaps her twisted and rather blunt outlook on life forged the idea that when death finally came, you were just met with darkness. Like, some sort of game over and pat on the back for everything you contributed to society.

For a 15-year-old to have that type of mindset shocked a lot of people. But Imani couldn't help but see it as the most realistic outlook. She didn't discredit people's religions and how they believed there to be an afterlife. It took a while for her to come to the conclusion and opinion she had, and to accept it took longer. Yet, that only made her appreciative of everything in front of her. Even if she was talking to herself in a way to comfort her with the loss of half of her family. Their memories were with her to give consoling with the rarity of the situation.

"I, uh... I got myself into some really big trouble recently. Got pulled into something that I feel like I'm too late to back out on," she explained, pursing her lips. "Hadn't been the plan, but I guess curiosity finally drove its hook into me. Now, I'm dealing with a billionaire and a kid at my school who doesn't know when to just stop when I tell him to."

Licking her bottom lip, she gently bit down and stared at the engravings of their names. Etched forever into the marble stone with words that had some form of weight to their character. It still didn't seem like enough to show the impact they had on people's lives.

She lifted a shaking hand to fall onto her Mother's gravestone. The cold surface sent a wave of body-trembling goosebumps across her skin. Pulling a quivering exhale from her lips.

"I know I made a promise to you, Mama. But I think a certain someone is going to make it hard to keep." Imani smiled faintly. "Don't hold it against me, okay? When it's done, I promise to come back."

Standing to her feet, she walked her way back to Adam's motorcycle just as he was walking past. His usual jovial energy now simmered to something far calmer. It took a lot for Imani to restrain asking if he was okay. Constantly reminding herself that he wouldn't let her in even if she did. She hated it but knew that giving him his time to recuperate would, and hopefully be enough for him to get back to his usual self.

And the only way to tell was by his selection of music. Whenever they rode late at night or sometimes to school, the music varied on environment or mood. Most of the time, it was metal and although she started off hating it, the heaviness of it eventually grew onto her. Then came the times when something softer played through the speakers built into their helmets. Maybe EDEN, Sabrina Claudio, Adele, Keshi, or Cigarettes After Sex. It all was dictated by whatever he was feeling at the moment.

But despite the sunny weather and busy streets, Moses Sumney's Doomed placed a veil over the pair. Everything seemed duller and darker like they were moving their realm. An accomplished sense of dread filled the air that Imani could feel suffocating her gradually trembling breaths.

Her arms squeezed tighter around Adam's waist, the front of her helmet nestled into his backpack. She was clenching her jaw to restrain the quiver of her bottom lip. She knew what he felt. The hopelessness, the failure of purpose in oneself, and the dullness of life. Every single thing he felt she knew like the back of her hand. An ancient text that only she could read and decipher.

They never talked about what happened 8-years-ago. If it is in fear of where their minds may go or of reliving something so traumatizing, they avoid it like an incurable plague. What was there to say, after all? People died, the Avengers stopped the Chiaturi, and the people affected were left to pick up the pieces of what was lost. So, it was never needed to be brought up. But Imani hoped and prayed that Adam knew she understood what he was feeling.

When they got to school, the bus for the Decathlon team was waiting idly with the group already there. But the surprising addition to the group was Peter, the polar opposite of what she and Adam had been told.

Getting off the motorcycle, Imani peeled the helmet off and turned to Adam. "You planning on keeping your bike here?"

Adam let out a sarcastic laugh. "That's funny, Imani. You're a comedian," he joked, setting his helmet on the seat along with hers. "But, no. My Dad is going to swing by with Robert and ride back home. He's been keen to give a test drive since I got it."

She shook her head in amusement. Barely been a year since he turned 16 and he already got his motorcycle license. It's like he was asking for an early funeral.

"Ah, Ms. Roark and Mr. Deacon. Glad you two can join us," Mr. Harrington greeted with a smile.

"Hope we didn't hold you guys up," Adam commented.

"Not at all. But now that we're all here, we should start the drive. Everyone, let's go!"

As the group began to pile on, Imani passed a smiling Flash Thompson. But before he could throw out any dirty or snide remark, Adam shoved him into the side of the bus. A smile crossed his lips as he said, "Sorry, Flash. Didn't see you there. Watch yourself."

It was a soft and gentle warning to the rich boy, who clenched his jaw. No one had seen it, including Mr. Harrington. Which only pronounced the warning to the boy.

The thing was Imani and Flash may have dated. Or whatever you call flirting and then making the girl the running joke at school for a year. It took forever for everyone to not look at Imani and call her "orphan girl". It took Adam and the football team to tape Flash to the goalpost in the football field for everyone to not mess with anyone close to Adam. That'd been the last and only time someone tried to pull anything like that with Imani.

But Imani is a bitter person and doesn't see her hate for Flash changing until her final breath leaves her body.

Settling in the very back of the bus, Imani is fully prepared to take advantage of this full-blown vacation to Washington D.C. Maybe even adventure to the Triskelion's location and explore the destroyed structure.

What she wasn't prepared for was Peter and Ned to come walking to the back with cautious gazes flickering to the rest of the group before sitting in each seat in front of both Adam and Imani.

"We found where those guys are."

"Does it have anything to do with the reason you're suddenly back on the Decathlon team?" Imani asked, raising a brow.

The boy shrugged, glancing at Ned before looking back at her. "More or less."

Turning her gaze to Ned, she nodded to him. "You know, don't you?"

"That Peter is Spider-Man, you're Nexus, and Adam is Lifeweaver?" Ned listed off like it was the most casual thing. "The initial shock is long gone. Pretty cool I know actual superheroes though."

Although Adam was glaring at the side of Imani's head for his identity being revealed, which she may have no thought of the night prior, she was more focused on Peter.

Leaning against the leather seat in front of her, she rested her chin on her arms and stared quizzically at Peter. "What's your plan, Parker?" As his mouth opened to speak, she lifted a finger. "I should preface, I'm not going and neither is Adam. In all technicality, we shouldn't even be here considering you're back. So, if he and I are gone, someone's going to sense something is up."

Despite the news and the very noticeable disappointment that fell over his features, which only made Imani smile in amusement, Peter sighed. "Well, I put a tracker on one of those guys. All of last night, we were watching and waiting to see where they would end up stopping. Turns out they stopped in Maryland, and that's why I'm here," he explained, exhaling heavily from the long-winded explanation.

Imani hummed, glancing at Ned who held the holographic tracker. A blinking blip was able to be seen as it moved. Another chance to piss Tony off, and it is tempting to take the chance.

But she leaned back in her seat and sighed. "If anything happens or if you need help, get ahold of me. Adam nearly had a hole blasted through his chest. I don't plan on him getting killed," she commented, pulling out her phone and headphones.

"I can handle myself fine," Adam commented resolutely as he nodded in confirmation to Peter as if his reassurance would be enough for the other boy. But when Imani looked at him with an unimpressed look, Adam relented with a sigh. "Okay, so, maybe last time wasn't my greatest moment-"

"When is there a great moment with you?"

"Oh, shut up, Roark!"

Although Imani thought she'd prepared herself for the trip, she was sadly mistaken. For almost two hours, she's had to sit and hear the sound of bells going on in rapid succession to practice questions. Along with the exclaimings of answers to said questions, her sanity was wearing thinner and thinner the longer she was stuck on this bus. Even conversing with Ned who talked A LOT (which was very adorable) wasn't enough to block out the sound.

It'd been a gift when they finally arrived at the event center that was holding the Decathlon. Tents and banners were scattered around and inside the premises. Which wasn't anything Imani was used to seeing considering her lack of extracurricular commitments. However, the closest comparison she could draw from was all of Adam's football games that she attended.

Entering the premises, they were greeted by the sight of students from different schools attending. Along with the verticality of the hotel on the grounds of the center.

At the front of the group, Liz turned and called, "Everyone stick together."

"Yeah," Mr. Harrington agreed, glancing back at the group.

"You kidding me? This place is huge," Charlie commented, looking around in astonishment.

Flash scoffed. "I've seen bigger."

When the group was given keys, Liz approached Imani and smiled. "You and Michelle will be sharing a room."

Almost like a puppy hearing his name called, Adam spun around from Abraham's side wide-eyed. Imani laughed anxiously as she glanced at Michelle who didn't at all seem thrilled about the idea either. Then again, a blank expression was hard to read when that's all that's shown.

"No offence, but I think pairing me with Adam would be a better idea. We've grown up together," Imani explained. "It's not like we're going to get up to anything."

"Not in a million years!"

Despite the childish addition to the conversation, Liz smiled. "If it was my decision, I would allow it."

"But it is. You quite literally gave each person a roomie for the night."

Whatever had compelled Michelle to do so, she grabbed Imani's hand and the keys, tugging the girl along. "I'm not in the mood to stand around and hear you complain about this."

Getting settled hadn't taken long and the warnings rolled out to everyone had taken less. But Imani wasn't even entirely listening as her gaze flickered to Peter, who looked about ready for Mr. Harrington to be done talking.

Since the night she'd finally indulged his insistence on working together, the boy had been annoyingly difficult to get off her mind. Her mind conjured up the next possible problem she'd have to help fix because of his abrasiveness. It made sleep difficult for the past two days and she wouldn't admit it was him. That was just the brewery of a whole lot of teasing from Adam, which she had no intention of dealing with.

But it bugged her to have him on her mind. Much like the day he hadn't spoken a word to her. She shouldn't have been so hung up on it, but he was breaking their normal formula. This was almost the same, yet, she was the one stunting their relationship. Or friendship? Partnership? Putting their "thing" under a direct banner was entirely too much for her to think about. Especially when her eyes were glossing over every delicate feature on his face.

Mr. Harrington clapping his hands, announcing the end of his schpeel, had broke Imani from her trance as she turned and walked back to hers and Michelle's room.

The moment she entered, an arm was slung over her shoulder. Looking up to find it to be Adam as he entered the space of privacy. Imani wouldn't give a damn if it was just her room. She'd spent years with him sleeping in her room or her sleeping in his. It'd been like that since they were kids and to the present. But it was hard to tell if Michelle shared the same lack of care as her.

"Listen, I'm not in the mood to be on Michelle's bad side if it turns out she prefers her room silent," Imani spoke up as she reached into her backpack and pulled out her laptop.

Adam moved to the desk tucked in the far corner of the room, opposite her bed. He collapsed in its chair with a childish whine just as Michelle entered. But despite the closed space he now shared with the girl of his interest, he kept his gaze on Imani. "Abraham is cool and all, but he barely talks. I need some interaction to survive."

"Well, you won't be getting it from me. I got some TV shows to watch and provide me comfort," Imani stated, turning her gaze to Michelle who didn't seem to have shredded a single ounce of care for the boy now in her room. Her gaze fixated on her book. "How about you, Michelle? You willing to put up with this brat?"

Looking up from her book, her gaze connected with Adam's. "Most football players don't have an extreme grasp on academic knowledge. Mostly boxed into being the idiot high school jocks that make up the marginal group that show some promise to be interesting. But based on experience and word of mouth, I don't think I'll humour him."

Imani sat silently, watching the pair with wide eyes and pursed lips. Enjoying the shocked and offended look on Adam's face as he stared at Michelle. But something told Imani that despite the clear insult to the boy's ego and pride, it probably only made the attraction he had for Michelle to grow. And that was grasped by his lips curling into a smile.

He dug his heels into the ground as he carefully wheeled himself over to the end of her bed. "Humour me, yeah?" He asked, leaning against the cushioning as Michelle lowered her book and raised a brow.

Their conversation carried on for hours as Imani had placed her headphones on and watched her TV shows. But occasionally, she glanced over and saw the pair laughing. With the volume overwhelming her senses, she watched them move in animated ways to push whatever point was trying to be made.

And by the time either of them stopped or Imani saw it should've been time to sleep, her awareness of how long she'd been watching TV or movies had deteriorated as the clock read 11 AM. The team had even slipped away to go to the pool, but she still hadn't even noticed. Her thoughts drifted from the plot of whatever she was watching to Peter who had undoubtedly left to pursue the guys in Maryland.

They got to the event center and Peter was still nowhere to be found. And throughout the entire finals, he hadn't called or texted. Adam tried to reassure her that she shouldn't worry considering she already told the boy they wouldn't help. As well as the fact that Imani tried to warn him to leave it alone. But neither Adam nor her own words to smother the anxiety helped.

Now, standing outside the Washington Monument, his lack of contact was beginning to wear Imani thin. Subconsciously continuing to look at her phone, surprisingly hoping his name would pop up. But there was nothing.

As the rest of the group went to the entrance, Imani stood by the front doors. Nail between her teeth as she chewed, unbothered by Adam's worried expression. "Hey, you good?"

"Peter isn't picking up his phone or hasn't called," Imani stated, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know what to do."

"I'm sure he's fine, Imani. The kid has a knack for getting himself out of rather dire predicaments."

That was true, but still didn't provide the girl with the reassurance she needed. "If he gets killed or hurt, Tony comes after me, and the last thing I need is that asshole on my ass."

Her irrational fears were justified and almost fooled Imani herself. But the normalcy was out of balance and that bothered her. Peter called or texted whatever the outcome of the mission was. So, hearing nothing was enough to put the girl into a tailspin of thoughts.

Adam sighed as he glanced around. "I think you just need to enjoy what's in front of you, okay? Such as this." He motioned to the Washington Monument. "A piece of history that you'll rarely get to see."

"It was built by slaves, Adam."

The boy's face twisted. "It was?"

"Why do you think Michelle isn't going in?"

The mention of the girl made the boy look over his shoulder to indeed see Michelle sitting on the bench with her book. He hummed, nodding his head. "Learn something new every day."

"So, to answer your suggestion, no. I need to be ready in case Peter shows up," she explained.

"For what? To tare him a new one?" Adam laughed. "Listen, I love you. I do. But you need to just take a moment and enjoy yourself, all right? I mean, this isn't ideal, but this is something that can take your mind off everything."

"But Adam-"

"Nope! No, buts." He placed his hands on the girl's shoulders and turned her toward the entrance. Giving a light push, he said, "Enjoy yourself, for once."

She shouldn't have listened. She wasn't the main priority at the moment. But perhaps it would be enough to get her mind off the situation. So, she did.

Getting through security, she squeezed into the elevator and found an open spot beside Ned. And as soon as the elevator began to rise, she blanked out the guide's fun facts. Pinching the bridge of her nose harshly in an attempt to focus on what was in front of her.

But the ringing in her ears was overwhelmed by a piercing metallic noise. The elevator jostled as the group cried out. Looking up, large searing incisions of the metal burned hot. Having pierced through the ceiling and likely other important components in the shaft.

"Oh, my God. Look at the ceiling," Flash said.

"Just stay calm, everyone," Liz announced.

But despite her best efforts, Abraham softly stated. "Oh, we are all gonna die here."

"We're freaking screwed!" Charles exclaimed, looking through the glass and up the shaft.

"Okay, guys. I know that was scary, but our safety system are working. We're very safe in here." The guide didn't even sound very confident with her statements. Which only made the others panic as Imani tried to subtly use her powers to hopefully lift the elevator to the top floor. But with the brakes locking the metal box of death in place, it proved to be difficult and more of a hazard than aid.

Once the top hatch of the elevator was opened, Mr. Harrington began to help lift the students out to where security stood at the doors to help them onto stable ground.

It didn't take long for Cindy, Abraham, and Charles to get to safety. Mr. Harrington prepared himself to lift another. "Who's next?"

As Liz was ready to step up, Flash shoved her out of the way. "Me, it's my turn."

Imani growled. "Classic Flash Thompson. Selfish, cowardly, piece of shit!"

The elevator shook again from the boy's rapid movements climbing out. Its roof straining and bending under the weight and the breaks of the elevator beginning to falter. But just as Flash was lifted off, the breaks seized their grip and began its freefall. Imani gripped the railing, using her powers in the hope of trying to stop the fall, but it didn't work. A rare occurrence when Imani has stopped moving cars on a dime from hitting someone or something.

But as sudden as it was, the elevator stopped with Mr. Harrington falling to the ground and Liz's screams more apparent now. Yet, it was only for a moment as the freefall happened once more and came to another stop. In a matter of seconds, Spider-Man came flying down and hit the floor, which broke the grip of whatever the elevator had caught, causing it to fall more.

Quickly enough, Peter fired a web to the top of the shaft. When it caught, he anchored his body to the edge of the opening on the ceiling and stopped the elevator once more.

Peter looked up at the upside-down images of the four still inside the elevator and cleared his throat. "Hey, how you doing? Don't worry, I got you." The comedic change of voice to a normal New York accent would've possibly made Imani laugh if she wasn't feeling antsy about the situation.

Ned, on the other hand, grinned widely. "Yes! Yes."

But as he began to stamp his foot, Peter was quick to stop him. "Hey, hey, hey. Big guy, quit moving around."

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm so sorry."

Slowly but surely, Peter managed to pull the elevator up just enough to the top doors where they were peeled open with everyone rushing off. Imani helps Liz and Ned hop off as Mr. Harrington and the others begin to pull them off. Peter's urging comments played in the back of her mind as she was now the last one left.

But as Liz held out a hand for her to grab, the metal Peter's feet were pressed against finally snapped and the elevator fell. "Imani!" He yelled, firing a web that caught around the girl's wrist as she panted, looking down at the elevator that soon hit the ground and smoke billowing into the air.

Looking up, for the first time, she was glad to see Peter. And although she wanted to tear his head off for worrying her so much, she couldn't help the clench of her chest as she smiled.

"Good catch, Spidey."

IMANI DEFINITELY SHOULD'VE EXPECTED HER DAD TO FORCE HER OUT AFTER WHAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON. When he picked her up, along with so many other parents of the Decathlon team, he had barely been able to unwrap his arms from around her. And she tolerated it because it was good to see her Father. That should've been it.

But, sadly, it wasn't.

He'd called the school to say that she was sick, which she saw as a plus. But it had been to take her out to Central Park after grabbing some food. And now, she was subjugated to eating and hearing her Dad rant about work or how worried he'd been after hearing what had happened.

See, she wasn't going to judge or be angry with her Dad for worrying about her. That was what a parent was for–provide, love, protect, and raise. But this was a step far enough to make even Imani uncomfortable with the amount of love he was overwhelming her with.

The unfamiliarity was unsettling, and Robert was pushing it to a fault.

"You are overly compassionate today," Imani pointed out over the brim of the pop bottle. Staring inquisitively at her Father who hummed, glancing at her. "What's this about? No way you'd casually just let me take a day off school and call in sick for work."

Robert nodded, chucking softly. "You're as sharp as your Mother. Nothing ever gets past you."

"The perks of being raised by two cops. Now, spill," she urged, taking a bite of her sandwich and chewing idly, watching her Father purse his lips.

"I don't know, I just..." He sighed. "We don't ever do this, you know? Work is taking all my attention, the school has yours, and I barely have enough energy to make plans for us."

"Well, it's good that you are conscious of it. But that doesn't mean it's something you have control over," she reasoned, using a napkin to wipe the corner of her lips. "Got the promotion coming up, have to deal with me nearly dying in another state, and the arms dealer I tipped you guys on."

"Which I am extremely grateful for. As well as the fact that you stopped when you did," he said with a certain twist of his tone. It sounded condescending, in a way. Like it was something that she was expected to do. It irked her. "I'm clearing up time a month or so after I get the big promotion. Use the big cheques to fly somewhere nice. We could go to Galway like you always wanted."

Escaping New York sounded like a well-needed remedy for Imani. After all, the last one she had been on was when she was 5. The only difference now was time and responsibilities held over her head like a totem.

Truthfully, she wasn't sure why her life had twisted and mangled itself beyond recognition, resulting in this current predicament. Not once had she wished to have powers or to be dragged into Peter's problems.

"This isn't a responsibility. It's an obligation, Imani."

Imani nearly wanted to gag at the voice that shook inside her head. Although it may be an innate deal she'd been born into, it didn't change how she felt about the decision. Saving the day wasn't her job. Fighting the bad guy wasn't her job either. This was it. Sitting with her Father and enjoying what was in front of her.

Vibrating in her pocket pulled her from her thoughts. Smiling up at her Father, and nodding in agreement. "I'd like that." She looked down at her phone and internally groaned. "Uh, sorry, a friend's calling me. I need to take this."

"Go. Go, go, it's no problem." He waved her away, smiling reassuringly.

Once out of earshot, she answered the phone and sighed. "Yes?"

"Imani, I just got a hit on our guys. They're on the Staten Island Ferry," he stated in a hushed breath, which made Imani believe he was doing surveillance or hiding. "Wondering if you'd like to come help me out?"

"Great, when?"

"Now?"

She froze in her spot and frowned. Subtly, she glanced back at her Dad to see his attention focused on the pond where they had set up their blanket. "Right now? Why the hell are you asking for my help if it's right now? I got stuff going on right now."

"Adam can't fly and I'm pretty confident giant flying bird man will likely show up," he stated. "Listen, I know you told me to leave this alone and I know you hate me constantly begging for your help. But-"

"I'm on my way."

Hanging up the phone, Imani walked over to her Dad. But it seemed the moment he met her gaze, he sensed something beyond a simple phone call had occurred.

And Imani was quick to try and reason with the man. "Listen, I know you said I can't-"

"Imani, I'm not doing this with you," he argued. "I did everything in my power to clear today for us. The last thing I'm going to allow is you to do the very thing you promised you wouldn't do."

"But I did it less than a week ago!"

"Which doesn't mean I ain't pissed about it!" He erupted just as furiously as his daughter. If she got her Mother's insightfulness, she got his anger. "But this is different, Iman. You are going toward the fight instead of trying to play sideline."

"So, I have to sit on the bench and do nothing?"

"Yes. Yes, you are meant to sit on the bench and do nothing," he stated, now standing with his hands on his hips. "Leave it to the police."

And for the first time, Imani bit her bottom lip and shook her head. "No."

Such a simple, yet, impactful challenge to the authority that she'd followed and obeyed for years. And it felt invigorating. Like a flush of life and energy pulsed through her like a beating heart. If this was what Peter felt every time he went behind Tony's back, she understood the thrill and the addictiveness of it.

"Staten Island Ferry. Be ready for the police calls." And without another word, Imani shot off into the air. Leaving Robert fuming and quickly calling Alexander.

She flew back to her apartment, grabbing her clothes and slipping them on quickly. Very aware of her lack of time to dwell on the little things. She had to push her body faster with her speed. Although this was Peter's problem in the end, he still reached out to her despite his knowledge of her feelings. And something about that spoke volumes to the girl who would've easily discredited whatever he felt. Though it may just be her wanting to pay him back, something irked inside of her far deeper than the need to repay him.

By the time she arrived, the big giant flying bird man that Peter had mentioned in passing was shooting at him. But by the time she acted to do something, a large beam shot through the ship like a hot blade melting butter. As fast it appeared, the sooner it disappeared.

But it took only for a moment as the ship began to split in half. And it'd been the perfect opening for the flying dude to grab one of his men and fly off. A real dilemma was placed in front of Imani, despite her definitive answer already made in her mind. Imani extended her hands out directed to the two broken pieces and halted their unravelling. Able to see Peter working quickly to shoot webs to help her keep the two pieces together. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep it all together, but she was defiant enough to let Peter secure it.

Once she was sure Peter had secured the pieces, she pulled out her phone and called him. Placed her earbuds in before slowly floating down, hearing the call connect. "Parker, sorry I didn't come in time to help take care of those guys."

Peter could be heard panting, likely from how fast and precise he had to be in the last minute or so. "In my mind, you showed up right when I needed you. Thank you so much, Iman-"

His words were interrupted by the snapping of his webs, the sliced halves of the ship morning as they continued to unfold. "No!" Imani exclaimed, flying closer and reapplying her powers to the two pieces.

When she used her powers, it was hard to describe without possibly twisting into tangents and comparables of the feeling. Imani had settled on the varying degree of stress it placed on her body. If she was lifting a fork and spinning it around in the air, it did nothing. Lifting a car needed energy, but not enough that she would start feeling lightheaded. But this was a huge step from lifting cars, people, and forks.

Her entire body trembled. The strength from her legs gravitated to her upper body which felt on fire from the soreness beginning to settle in. A gut-wrenching scream bubbled from the pit of her throat as she cried. "Pete!"

If she could keep her eyes open through the pain, she'd see he was struggling just as much as her. Holding onto two webs attached to either side of the ship and using his strength to keep them from sinking into the river.

But once she started to feel the lack of need in her powers, she forced her eyes to see Tony Stark with his voice filling the phone call like a painful bell.

"Well, hello, you two."

That'd been enough for Imani's arms to go limp at her sides as she sighed. "Parker, I'll be on shore. See you then." She didn't care to listen to what either Peter or Tony had to say as she hung up the phone call and put her music on shuffle. Happily gliding across the sky slowly toward the edge of the mainland with a perfectly little building breaking off and resting comfortably on the edge of the river would provide her solace. Isolated, beautiful view, and likely where she would be sleeping for the night.

The fury of her Father would be expected. How couldn't it when she disobeyed him? But she had a feeling that despite her helpful assistance in keeping the people on the boat safe, he would find some way to make her feel worse. It was one of his specialties.

It hadn't been long for Peter to show up and even he didn't say a word. Deciding to just sit on the ledge and stare down at his mask as Imani had her eyes closed, laying down a foot or two from him.

But it'd been longer when the coast guard had fully secured and evacuated the civilians on board that the sound of Tony's suit engines could be heard. Enough so that Imani lifted her head to see the man come to a stop behind the pair.

"Previously on Peter and Imani Screws the Pooch, I tell you to stay away from this," he began. "Instead, you hacked a multimillion-dollar suit so you could sneak around behind my back doing the one thing I told you not to do. And, Imani, I'm very surprised. Didn't pull in another friend of yours? A real good step forward for you."

The snide remark had Imani's lips parting in shock with the corners curling.

"Is everyone okay?" Peter asked, not daring to look at his mentor.

"No thanks to you."

That had been enough for Peter to look at him incredulously. "No thanks to me?" He shifted in his position, piquing Imani's interest as she sat up from her position. Watching the boy approach the suit that began to lower. "Those weapons were out there, and I tried to tell you about it but you didn't listen. None of this would've happened if you had just listened to me."

He scoffed. "If you even cared, you'd actually be here."

Upon the statement, the front of the suit unfurled with Tony stepped out. The shock of it caused Peter to back away as Tony stepped toward him. And Imani, well, she could feel that anger grow tenfold.

"I did listen, kid. Who do you think called the FBI, huh? Do you know I was the only one who believed in either of you? Everyone else said I was crazy to recruit two 14-year-old kids."

"I'm 15."

The correction made Tony burst. "No, this is where you zip it, all right? The adult is talking," he ordered. "What if somebody had died tonight? Different story, right? Because that's on you. And if you two had died, I feel like that is on me. I don't need that on my conscious."

Peter nodded. "Yes, Sir-"

"Yes?"

"I-I'm sorry-"

"Sorry doesn't cut it."

"-I understand." Peter pursed his lips, fighting back the tears. "I just wanted to be like you."

Tony shook his head faintly. "And I wanted you to be better." The response broke Peter. Imani could see it in his eyes and it tore her apart seeing him like this. Although Tony had every right to be mad, the extent of the punishment seemed to grow longer and longer each waking second. And Imani found it hard to witness. "Okay. It's not working out. I'm gonna need the suit back.

"For how long?"

"Forever."

That'd been enough for Peter to shake his head. "No-"

"Yeah. Yeah, that's right.

"Please-"

"Let's have it."

"You don't understand. Please, this is all I have," he pleaded with the man. "I'm not without this suit."

"If you're nothing without this suit, then you shouldn't have it. Okay?" Tony groaned. "God, I sound like my Dad."

A painful silence fell over the pair as Peter fought back the tears, glancing away with a sniffle. "I don't have any other clothes."

Tony thought for a moment before nodding. "Okay, we'll sort that out," he agreed before looking at Imani. "But I need to badger this girl now."

Imani scoffed, pushing off the ledge. "Piss off, Stark."

"Again, time and time again, you continue to enthrall me with your recklessness. I told you to leave this alone, Iman. I told you time and time again, but you continue to not listen to me," Tony complained loudly as the girl kept her back turned to him. "And I understand how you feel about me. I do-"

A cackle tumbled from the girl's lips as she turned to him in surprise. "You do?! You know what it feels like to know the type of person your childhood hero is? Really?" She exclaimed, laughing as she motioned toward the man. "Well, that's something I would've never thought. I'm so sorry for not giving you a chance for me to understand you."

"The attitude isn't needed when I'm not the one at wrong here."

His continued insistence on this being hers and Peter's fault was astonishing. Sure, were they practically amateurs on the scaling of experience? Yes. But wouldn't that have made Tony more inclined to have a presence in the situation? Imani doesn't know why she would even waste her time asking such questions when it was Tony-fucking-Stark. Many thought he'd changed from his war tyrant, weapon dealing, and bringer of death identity. But Imani doesn't think a single thing about him changed.

He had the same arrogance as he did when he was younger.

"You asked him "What if someone had died tonight," and I have a perfect response from someone all three of us know with varied experience. This isn't a responsibility. It's an obligation," she recited, glaring at the man. "Nova Usoro told me that before you nearly killed her. And although I hate her just as much as I do you, I respect her for being forthright with me."

Brushing past the man, she pointed at Peter, saying, "Through all his faults, Peter has been at this 24/7 and you've been across the world with your thumb up your ass doing nothing. Lives are lost, that is the cost of this job. You and any of the vets should know this better than anyone, Stark!"

Then she laughed, harshly slapping the back of her hands against his chest. "So, please, do come and lecture me about death when it was your fault my family was torn apart, huh?"

Elevating from her position, she quickly twisted his suit into a mangled piece of garbage and smiled mockingly at the man. "Gonna need another suit, Mr. Stark."