𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎 || 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘐𝘯 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯

THE SUSPECTS FOR THE BANK ROBBERY WERE ARRESTED. They had been just some random low-level crooks with no affiliation to a group of power. But the only suspected reason was entirely based on the tech they had used in their failed attempt to rob the ATM store, which Imani had to hear all about when her Dad got home before she was ushered to bed by the man.

But he hadn't failed to mention Spider-Man was a prime suspect. Trying to convince her that this vigilante lifestyle Spider-Man was living wasn't the right course of action. Which she entirely agreed with, despite his shortsighted ignorance of the vigilante's actions to help instead of cause bigger problems. Despite how agitated she was by Peter's actions the night prior, she knew he had the best intentions.

That being said, she also knew a lot of superheroes had the best intent when trying to save the day. But letting them run free reign only attracted bigger problems which resulted in an ever-expanding web of infliction on the city and communities within. It's why she was a heavy advocate of the Sokvian Accords. It may not be the best act to be passed through, but it was enough to start the building blocks that may help these heroes act in controlled chaos.

Until that could be established, Imani would continue to hold silent judgment to the people that she looked up to when she was a kid. Which had enabled her to glare at the small TV displaying Captain America as the pre-recorded VHS tape explained the fitness challenge they would be subjugated to.

"Today, my good friend, your gym teacher will be conducting the Captain America Fitness Challenge."

Coach Wilson smiled. "Thank you, Captain. Pretty sure this guy's a war criminal now, but I have to show these videos. It's required by the state. Let's do it."

The piercing ring of the whistle had Imani's eyes snapping away from the TV and her classmates who were slowly partnering up. Adam, unfortunately, was quickly swept away by some of his football teammates. Leaving Imani to glance around, hopeful to find someone the tiniest bit bearable for this next hour of torture.

"You need a partner?"

Imani damn near jumped at the sudden voice and found Michelle Jones looking up at her with her casual expression; uncaring, bored, and unacknowledgeable to most who approached her. The perfect partner in Imani's eyes.

"You too?" Imani asked, smiling faintly as the quiet girl placed her book down and tucked her hands in her short pockets.

"Not too many are keen to spend an hour with me. Unless they're forced," Michelle commented. "Not like I care either."

That had been enough to make a smile stretch across Imani's lips. "We're gonna be good friends, Michelle."

See, Imani was an observer. Whenever Adam wasn't at school or she was waiting for him to be done with a football meeting, she just watched. Taking in the unravelling of so many friendships or relationships. Something about being on the outside of the chaos was admittedly entertaining.

So, on most days, she had witnessed Michelle sitting at a cafeteria table alone. The only semblance of company came from Peter and Ned who sat a few feet away. And now knowing Adam's crush on her, she couldn't help but notice the small things that Michelle unintentionally showed.

If it is the faint glances or pursed lips restricting the words neither were confident to say, they were a match made in heaven. Of course, they were complete opposites. It was apparent but Imani suspected that was what drove the two to have some sort of interest. That was unless she was beginning to show symptoms of the "cupid effect" where she was just trying to find anything to convince her friend to finally date.

Then again, she was willing to put her time into anything besides wondering if Peter was going to pull another stupid idea out of his ass and cause more problems. But even as she blocked out the sound of Ned claiming Peter knew Spider-Man to the entirety of the gym, she couldn't be bothered to try and provide some help. If Ned somehow knew Peter's identity, it wasn't her problem if he made him look like a fool.

"Is it me or has Peter been acting weird lately?" Michelle muttered, squinted eyes watching the boy in question.

Glancing over her shoulder, Imani hummed for a moment before she looked at Michelle. Raising a brow in question. "You interested?"

That'd been enough for Michelle to stand to her feet and begin walking away just in time for the bell to ring. "Glad to meet you, Imani. See you at Nationals."

"You love me, MJ, and you know it," Imani teased, laughing as the girl flipped her off over her shoulder as she made her way out. She didn't expect their one interaction to blossom into anything, but she did like the silence Michelle Jones provided.

After Imani had gotten changed into her regular clothes, she was glad to inhale oxygen that wasn't stifled by the words of drama going around school. Much like Michelle, she got out of there as soon as she could and made sure to hurry to her next class and avoid any interactions with most people.

But she should've expected Adam to be waiting for her and dismissing his friends inviting him along. And when he saw her, the lights of curiosity filled his eyes.

"Hello, Adam. Thank you for waiting," she muttered, lips cut into a smile.

"Enough small talk. Give it to me. Tell me what Michelle said about me–I bet she loves me, huh?" He quirked, overtly aware of his outlandish claims. "Nah, but did she say anything about her type or something?"

Imani let out a laugh as she looked up at him. "Do you think we sat there braiding each other's hair? Talked about all the cute boys and who'd we go on a date?"

"Girls don't do that- Ha! Blocked you that time!"

As Imani shook her aching hand that he had deflected with a firm and crisp slap, she sighed. "Michelle didn't say anything, Adam. Neither do I think she would say it to me," she pointed out with a shrug. "Stupid to your trust blindly in someone you've only had one formal conversation with."

Still, Imani managed a shrug. "Maybe you just gotta put some effort in. Use that charm of yours that has kept me around me."

An inquisitive grin formed on Adam's lips. Leaning down just enough to invade her space. "You saying I'm irresistible- OW! Let go! Let go!"

"Oh, but I wanna show how irresistible you are," she teased, fingers tightening the hold she had on his nose. Pulling him along like he was a dog on a leash. Grabbing the attention of a few students watching in shock at a football being treated like a belligerent child. Little did they know, that was exactly what he was. And she was the only thing keeping him in line when he acted out.

There may have been a time when Imani harboured some sort of crush on her best friend. Admitting that would be like the Avengers admitting they were wrong–impossible. But she wouldn't see her "crush" as nothing more than a friendship that felt like they were in a relationship. Like, platonic soulmates or something. A story draft that was left uncompleted by two characters not having the right cohesion to be romantic.

He'd been her first kiss, her first date, practically her first boyfriend, if they were being entirely honest. People thought they dated by how close they were as it was so she just chalked it to them "dating" despite Adam knowing very well they were nothing more than best friends. And she knew that as well. But she wasn't afraid to acknowledge that he was attractive and partially up her alley of what she looked for in a guy. But that goddamn ego and insistent need to tease drove her up the wall and made the idea of dating him repulsive.

By the time she let go of his nose, the boy was whining as he grabbed the flesh with a groan. "Damn near pulled the fucking thing off my face," he pouted.

If Imani didn't know better, she would've found it adorable. But she only let out a scoff and rolled her eyes. "You'll be all right," she reassured, patting his head like he was a young boy crying over a scrape on his knee. "Do you want me to kiss it better?"

"Well, if you're offering-"

"I swear to God, Adam. I will throw you straight out the classroom window."

The boy let out a laugh as they entered their afternoon class and found their seats at the back of the classroom. Away from the prying eyes that occasionally flickered back at the pair from their loud conversations.

As Mr. Cobberweb started the class, Adam leaned over. "You going to Flash's party?" He asked, looking down at the girl. But the deadpan he was met with had been enough for him to nod with pursed lips. "Right. Very stupid question."

Imani shook her head. "For you to assume I'd be willing to deal with that asshole's obnoxious personality after school hours is insulting."

"I mean, you put up with me," Adam quipped. Upon seeing that the supposed joke didn't have the effect he wanted, he sighed. "But since it's the weekend and we have nothing better to do, how about we go for a patrol?"

The moment he saw her lips part in protest, he continued. "We don't have to go looking for a fight, all right? It can be a little hangout if you want," he suggests. "It gets you out of the apartment. You get to chill with me. And if we're lucky, we beat up some random, unfortunate, petty thieves."

It'll be your ass doing community service...

Alarm bells were going off in her head with signs telling her to stop. Her Dad's words of warning from yesterday and the year before became more apparent the longer she thought about it. Conflict riddled the corners of her skull, and by the time she came to a decision it had already been made up. Because, when had she last been out on a patrol? And what was the harm of going out on one if it wasn't going to be anything dangerous, right?

"I'll go." The mere glint of excitement that flooded Adam's eyes had been enough for the girl to sharpen her eyes and lift a finger. "If by the first hour, I find it boring or useless, I'm going home, okay?"

"Hey, fine by me," Adam reassured with a smile. "It'll be good to just have my sidekick with me."

Imani let out a laugh and elbowed him playfully. "Piss off."

IT SHOULD'VE BEEN A BIT NERVE-WRACKING FOR IMANI TO GO OUT ON A PATROL. It'd been almost a year since she had a traditional one before her Dad made her promise to stop. But the last semblance of combat she had was back in Germany where it took her 10 minutes to be knocked out of the fight by a sympathetic Nova Usoro. Since then, she'd kept her head to the ground and continued her tirade of resentment for the Avengers that didn't seem like it would ever change.

And she knew why she was glad to not go out on patrols was simply because she would be a hypocrite. She would be doing the same thing that the Avengers do and that Peter does. It wasn't like she'd be able to escape it as well as she was vocal about her opinions on such things. So, some part of her was nervous about being out again.

But she wouldn't lie and say it didn't feel nice to wear her generic costume again; a pair of black cargo pants, a ski mask, and a black sweater. When Tony offered to get her something more modern and fit, she shut him down. The last thing she would do was take a gift from a man whom she hated with more than every ounce of her being. And it wasn't like she was trying to go for style points. This whole superhero thing still wasn't something she wanted but indulged in it from time to time.

The job wasn't to look good.

"You know, you never said why you continued doing these patrols when I quit." Adam lifted his gaze from one of his daggers and to the girl sat beside him. Her eyes squinted beneath the slits of the ski mask, with a smile likely cut across her lips. "I thought you would've stopped when I did."

Adam hummed, smiling beneath his mask that cut off just above his mouth. "Nah, this is all I have for myself. I mean, I got football, but it isn't the same, you know?" He asked aloud with a sigh. "Football is for my Dad and whatever I'm taking in school is for him as well. But this is mine. This is where I belong, you know."

Imani didn't know. She wished she did. Really. But the reality was unavoidable, and she had to accept it when she was young. Something that she wished wasn't the case, but that was reality, sadly.

Sighing, the boy rose from his spot on the ledge of the apartment and tucked his dagger of many into its sheath on his shoulder. "Don't get to say that for many things. But I'm glad this is it. Even if it sucked not having you around."

"Aw, you missed me, didn't you?" Imani teased.

He laughed as he crouched down and slumped an arm around her shoulder. "Why wouldn't I?"

Before the conversation could go any further, Imani's phone began to ring in her pocket. Making her groan and pull it out. "It's Peter," she announced before pressing the phone to her ear. "Hi, Parker. What can I do for you at this time of the night?"

"I just saw an explosion. A blue one. Any chance you willing to come help me out with whatever-"

"Adam and I are on our way. Send the deets to my phone."

Peter could barely get a word out before she hung up the phone and sighed. "Spider-Man got news of something. Some sort of explosion."

"Wait, Peter Parker is Spider-Man?" Adam questioned incredulously.

But despite the shock written on his face, Imani didn't see how surprising it was. "Yeah?" She frowned. "Am I the only one aware that he's been dropping everything since he got his Stark Internship?"

"Well, now that you mention it. It does seem painfully obvious," he replied, humming.

"Exactly." Imani stood from her spot and stepped off the ledge. The air became a solid surface for her as she placed her hands on her hips and looked at her friend. "C'mon, we'll be late."

As she turned to start making her way toward the location Peter had sent, Adam stopped her. "Hold on!" She turned with a raised brow. "Are you sure you're okay with this? I mean, your Dad has been pretty stingy with doing this type of thing. I don't need him busting down my door because I dragged you out here."

"I told you unless this was useless or boring, I would head home. This is interesting and a chance to mitigate damage control if Peter goes overboard like he did with that robbery a couple of nights ago," she justified, knowing damn well that it would be enough to bring Adam along. "Now, I know you want to do something, and this is your chance. So, are you coming or I'm going on my own?"

Adam pursed his lips with an exhale of exasperation. Lunging from the edge where Imani caught his hand. Dangling from her grasp with an unpleasant fall below him. He would be anxious, but he can't remember the amount of times they'd done this last year in evading police or criminals.

By the time they drew close to the location, the pillars of blue electric smoke were more apparent. And the blasts of some sort of weapon were able to be heard, which enabled Imani to try and fly out of sight. When she saw Peter, she slowly floated behind him, tilting her head to see a trio of men testing weapons. And if this was the tech Peter had been talking about, he hadn't been wrong about it being weird and abstract.

"What'd we miss?" Imani's sudden voice made Peter flinch and nearly fall from the wall he stuck to. Looking over his shoulder at the masked girl that floated behind him. Adam swung from her arm and climbed onto the bridge over the men. Likely going for an advantage point where he could drop and catch the men off guard.

"I think we found our prime suspects for those weapons used during the ATM robbery," he announced, looking back as one of the arms dealers looked into the back of the van.

But the silence and the eavesdropping of the conversation were interrupted by Peter's phone ringing. His ringtone was almost comparable to a city evacuation alarm as Imani quietly told him to shut it off. Ready to grab the phone herself and snap it in half.

Still, the guys below had heard and one pulled a gun on the other. "Did you set us up?"

The man in question raised his hands, bumping into the van's back doors. "Hey, hey, man."

Before anything else could happen, Peter was already dropping down. No plan. Just improvised, and it was very clear to Imani that he hadn't thought this through.

"Hey!" Peter called out, grabbing the group's attention. "Hey, come on. You gonna shoot at someone, shoot at me."

"All right."

As the man turned his gun toward Peter and fired, Imani was quick to stop the bullets, directing them to the bottom of the bridge. That gave enough time for Peter to fire a web at the gun, rip it from his grasp, and sprint at him. But with very little consideration to their arsenal in front of his eyes, the second arms dealer had turned around and punched him with some sort of gauntlet that sent Peter flying back.

Peter groaned. "What was that?"

"A gauntlet," Imani commented, landing beside him and pulling him to his feet. "Best we get some of these weapons instead of the guys."

When the van began to pull away, Adam had dropped from above and landed on top. Daggers stabbed into the roof as the dirt road caused his body to slam into it. Peter was quick to fire a web and began to be pulled as Imani flew close behind.

The man in the back of the weapon was grabbing a weapon and that had been enough for Imani to use her powers and pull the weapon from his grasp. Tossing it into a garbage can to be picked up later by the police when this whole ordeal was done.

They continued to give chase to the dealers. Peter was swung around from the back, Adam tried to break through the windshield and attack the driver, and Imani did her best to cause little to no damage around them. Using items from around her to be some sort of barrier to the blasts. But the man in the back of the van didn't relent in firing that tech at them. He seemed to only stop when Peter had been left behind and Imani's continued success in evading the blasts and stealing the weapons.

She wasn't trying to attack, only mitigate and trust Adam would have sort of success in stopping the vehicle.

But maybe she'd been too faithful that these were just a group of idiots because a blast emerged from the front of the vehicle and Adam was sent flying with a yell. Imani was quick to catch him in midair and gently placed him down in the center of the street.

Pants fell from the man's lips as he shook his head in exhaustion. "No way those guys weren't ex-military. The dude driving was putting up a fight." He growled, slamming a fist into the ground. "Should've had him."

"Eh, don't worry about it. Got some of their weapons. I'll tag 'em before we head back," she reassured. "Are you okay-!"

The words barely fell from her lips before something scooped her up from the ground. She was quick to use her powers and begin to twist whatever had its hold on her. "Hey, it's me! Don't damage the suit!"

That voice. It'd been enough for Imani to destroy the hands holding her and turn around to float opposite to Tony Stark.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She spat, glaring at the man.

"Oh, nothing much. Just saving yours and Peter's asses. So, yeah, nothing much."

His insistent need for sarcasm and jokes was capable to push Imani and crush the suit in front of her. Hopeful that he feels the worst type of pain whilst doing so. But judging by the fact that he had no response to her mangling the arms of the suit, he wasn't in it. Which just furthered the fact that he was an asshole.

"I'm not one to pass off the blame, but maybe you should get your boy scout on a leash," she suggested. "Or, I don't know, maybe get control of the situation at hand. Alien tech weapons being handed out like candy doesn't look good."

"Noted. But it still doesn't change the fact that you two acted recklessly," he pointed out. "Also, pulling in a classmate? Are you trying to get someone killed?"

Imani nodded in agreement. "I won't lie, the plan seemed sketched in crayon by how ill-minded it was, but don't try and act high and mighty, shithead."

The man gasped, placing a hand on his chest. "You kiss your mother with that mouth?"

That'd been enough for Imani's jaw to flex as her eyes widened, a warm sensation rising into her chest as her hand clenched. The legs of the suit twisted and folded in on themselves as she slowly floated toward the man.

"I think you forget Stark, I owe nothing to you. I wasn't given a fancy suit nor did I get a stupid internship for your company," she hissed as the arms were ripped clean from the torso that floated idly by Imani's choice. "And I'm glad to know you remember one of the victims from your wars. But you mention her one more time and I swear to you Tony, I will make sure no one can identify your body when I'm done with it."

Destroying the rest of the suit, Imani set the mangled piece of metal flying in the opposite direction where she watched it hit the ground and scrape across the street.

She may have felt guilty. Maybe even a bit anxious after something as abrasive as that. But that was the closest she would likely ever get to hurting Tony Stark. And she enjoyed every moment.