CHAPTER ONE; AVENGERS

❝ war does not determine who is right — only who is left ❞

MAY 30TH, TWO THOUSAND EIGHTEEN

NEW YORK CITY

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ midtown high dance studio ❞

IT HAD BEEN NEARLY FOUR MONTHS SINCE Alina had taken down the red room with Natasha and Yelena. Ross had her interrogated for all of thirty minutes before Tony came with lawyers taking her out. They couldn't actually prove she'd done anything, even on the footage the suit was different than the one they had proof of her owning, her face was covered, and witness such as Peter, Ned, Connor, and Gwen confirmed to have seen her and heard from her at the same time he accused her of being in Budapest. Ross didn't trust Connor or Peter, but he honestly believed Gwen and Ned were too scared to lie.

And they were scared, just not really of him. Of course, they didn't really think she'd kill them, but she very well might break a bone of theirs if they said a word. Besides, all of them knew what was at risk for her, they weren't taking chances. Since then, Ross had been keeping a heavy eye on her that she pretended to not notice before losing them in crowds. It was New York City, disappearing for a girl who could make herself invisible was the easiest thing in the world. Alina didn't need to even become invisible to accomplish losing them.

Which she had repeated that morning when she was on her way to the school early so she could use their dance studio. Sabrina was supposed to be there, she was the only other person who knew ballet. Though Sabrina was increasingly becoming more surprised with how perfect Alina was at it. The Dranganov had said her uncle had gotten her private lessons when she was young, she couldn't say where she'd really learned it.

Alina could stand on her toes for hours and it was as if she felt nothing, and if she were honest, she was certain she didn't feel any pain. And as her small warm up before Sabrina got there slowly had become her on her toes for more than an hour. Which Alina was certain a professional ballerina would be more used to the pain and the prolonged hours of dance than herself sometimes. Alina had made complete turn of the body on one foot, on point, when flashes overwhelmed her eyesight made her stumble and fall back.

She didn't get a chance to process what she fell into because when Alina looked at the ground beneath her, the studio floor had turned to cold metal grating. Alina could smell blood, and a lot of it. She was too frightened to move, something deep inside her warned her against it. Her body didn't want to move, it was stuck frozen. But she'd never been known for listening to that voice before, why start now? "You'll...never be...a god," those words made her finally get off the ground.

The world was completely different, the bar in front of the mirror and the mirror itself had become chunks of metal on a ship taller than anything she'd seen before. As her eyes looked out the window closest, she saw she wasn't even on earth. "What the fuck," she mumbled backing away until she bumped into one of the many broken of pieces of the ship on the ground.

"Who's there," a voice so calm and incredibly filled with control asked. Suddenly, Alina realized, the sense of death, the cruel darkness that surrounded the ship, was them. Before she could do anything, something, or rather, someone managed to scare her. She shrieked seeing a tall woman like creature, perhaps an alien given her location, with horns like the devil coming out from her temples. The whites of her eyes were devoid of any color, and had been given darkness in its place. Not only that, but her pupils were a bright piercing red that starred right through Alina.

The Dranganov waited for hands to grab her, but they never did. "Nothing. Must've been something sliding," she declared walking away from Alina. The Dranganov hesitated a moment before following behind the alien back to voices she heard. Alina was ducked behind one of the ripped off pieces of the ship trying to catch a glimpse. Peering her head out she could see exactly what she had been smelling. Piled high were the bodies of what seemed to be, people, and children. Some ripped apart, others lying dead drenched in blood with them but all of them couldn't be saved.

Covering her mouth from making sure the sound of her own horror wasn't heard still. Standing in the center of it all was a what looked to Alina was a giant, one with purple skin and gold armor. "I need to get out," Alina whispered knowing she was no good to anyone this confused and out of the loop, but she wasn't even sure how to get home.

To know that she would have to know how she left it in the first place and she never wanted to be anywhere but in front of the mirror. Alina was just about to find a safer part of the ship when, she noticed a familiar face that had the body dropped in front it. Thors, it seemed different than the last time she'd see him, but she knew, it was him. Suddenly no longer caring for herself, Alina stepped out shouting, "Thor!!"

But no one could hear her, she could interact with this world, but she couldn't be seen or heard while in it, at least Alina didn't know how to be heard. She began running towards him when the man in gold raised the glowing gauntlet on his hand. Alina's breath sucked in; it had stones that glowed similarly to the memories she'd seen of Loki's scepter. The same stone she'd been subjected to time and time again.

Something horrible was happening, it was a nightmare she'd suddenly yanked into, it had to be. Yes. Yes, that had to be what was happening. But as she watched him snap his fingers and the ship began to shake and catch a purple fire she didn't care. Alina kept running even as a portal opened sucking all the air on the ship towards it. She watched as the alien in gold and companions made their way toward it. The others all appeared ( at least in her limited view ) to be men, with various shades of grey as their skin colors. One looked tall and lengthy like a cartoon villain, the other two looked like his bickering henchmen. And all of them reported to the man in gold, she could sense their unwavering and unyielding loyalty to him.

As soon as she'd gotten close to any of them, Alina felt a force tug her back through the air with such fury her insides turned completely inside out. She shielded her head creating a blue force field around her body. When the force finally stopped pulling it was only to throw her forward on the ground. She rolled across the ground unable to slow herself or see anything. The second her frantic hands grabbed hold of something, she gripped it tight hoping it would slow her. Which it did, allowing her to see she was in the woods somewhere. She had absolutely no idea where.

She took a few steps back up to the top of the hill and she was nearly at the bottom of it when Alina froze. She saw the familiar glow of her own magic, coming from...herself? Besides her was Wanda, when she tried to take a step closer to see what they were attacking, she was yanked once again. Terrified and frustrated Alina shouted, "That's enough!" Her eyes became filled with sapphire as her magic exploded out of her hands and in an instant, she was dropped onto the hard dance floor once more. But as she fell, it was like a kaleidoscope raced around her showering her with glimpses of things she could hardly make out. Flickers of Wanda and her magic in a vortex of magical energy, flashes of Steve using all his might, and it not being enough. Images of Peter screaming had left her in shaken breaths her heart nearly beating straight out of her chest.

Alina skittishly backed up until she hit the mirror, her breaths were ragged and uneven. The Dranganov teen gripped the bar above her head desperately clinging to the world around her. She was so focused on making sure the floor wasn't moving she hadn't heard or noticed the door opening. Not until Sabrina's gentle touch traced the skin of her shoulder asking her concerned, "Lina? Are you alright? What's wrong?"

Her touch snapped Alina back into reality, her breaths became slower as she lied, "Y-yeah I'm okay. I uh...I had a panic attack."

Sabrina sat back asking, "Did something bring it on?"

Alina shook her lead lying again, "No. Sometimes I just get 'em." She rubbed her hands across her face trying to relax and tell herself it was all just a lie. Everyone was fine, Peter was fine.

The Benson teen reached into her bag pulling out a pen cartridge for weed saying, "Hit this, it's thc and it will help calm you. I'll help distract you because that always helps me if I have them. So screw practice, we can just talk about your birthday party. I've got it all planned." Sabrina had become such a force in Alina's life since Liz had left town. It wasn't until then they knew of their shared interest, but it was during that time that Sabrina discovered Alina, for whatever reason, had never celebrated her bothered to celebrate her own birthday. Something the Benson girl had taken great care to remedy, to which Alina silently appreciated while listening to all the details.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ midtown art studio ❞

Ever since that morning Alina had been replaying what she had seen in her mind over and over trying to keep the images fresh in her mind. The further she'd gotten from the initial flashes the less she understood. The one thing that was firmly imprinted on her mind was the stones she saw. Each of them different colors, all of them calling to her.

The most vivid of them being the one made of orange shades and the other yellow, the same one that had been used on her. Alina was doing her best to draw out the things she had seen when a voice called out, "Alina?"

Her eyes tore themselves from the paper seeing Connor hesitantly standing in the doorway. The two of them had seldom spoken since she came back, despite their promises to do so. Connor didn't want to force the issue and every time Alina went to dial the number, she remembered the sight of Connor in Ross's office. She did however keep her promise to at least appear to be friends. She couldn't exactly give the others a reason for their fighting so playing along was the better fate. "Hey, did you need something," she asked as he came to stand at the edge of the desk.

Reaching into his bag he said, "Just wanted to give you this, I know it's your birthday tomorrow and wanted to make sure you got this." He pulled out a leather-bound book that was as thick as one of their textbooks.

Alina reached out her hands skimming his and instantly she could sense the difference. Before, he was calm, never nervous but now? Now she could feel just what he did, and he was scared. Fearful of being rejected, and still being hated by her. He didn't have the luxury of Alina's powers; he couldn't know that she never hated him. Not even the day she found out truth, and not in that very moment she saw in in Secretary Ross's office.

She had only been heartbroken by him; she didn't have it in her to be angry anymore with a boy who just trying to survive. Opening the book to see empty page after page, "A notebook," she questioned feeling like it was anticlimactic.

"For your spells, I-I figured it might be hard to keep it all straight. You never mentioned having something so I figured this might be nice," explained a stuttering Connor.

The Dranganov teen offered a small smile, "T-thank you. You didn't have to do this," she said.

Connor shrugged assuring her, "I did, so happy early birthday, I hope you have fun." The much taller blonde Stacy boy turned his back not wanting to overstay his welcome.

As she watched him making his way to the door, she thought over about them on that rooftop the night of the decathlon. How in the moment they were just two teenagers. Two teens that had been manipulated by the same government that was meant to protect them. How could she ask to be forgiven of her sins, but not forgive others their lesser sins. He'd lied and spied on her; Alina had been responsible for deaths of kids their very own age. "Connor," she protested making him stop in the open doorway.

"Yeah, Lina," he questioned her nickname easily falling from his lips like it always had. She hadn't realized how much she missed hearing his voice say so, or how much it sounded like rivers of gold when he called her name.

Awkwardly the brunette scratched the back of her head offering, "I'm having a party this weekend to celebrate...first one I'm throwing myself, well not by myself because Peter's aunt and Brina are helping. Actually, they're doing everything I am just confirming I like it. Anyways, I would like for you and Gwen to be there. Saturday night, tomorrow night."

The Stacy boy smiled with the type of grin only Alina could make on his face. "I'll- we both will be there," he agreed, "I'll see you then..." Alina offered a small smiling waving him goodbye as he walked out of the studio.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ midtown high hallways ❞

"So, after school do you want to go to the diner and start on our chemistry project," wondered Peter as he and Alina exited the science lab.

The brunette groaned as she caved in, "Fine, but only because if we start it, we can end it sooner."

"For someone as smart as you are I wouldn't think you'd drag your feet on this so much. Seriously, I don't think I've seen you get anything below a 94 before," Peter reasoned with a small chuckle as they walked side by side bumbling shoulders. Since getting to their school, she had excelled at everything, sometimes it was almost hurtful how easily she adapted. Yet, science had remained the bane of her teenage existence.

"Ah well when your existence breaks the laws of chem and physics you can come talk to me. Until then, understand that it annoys and frustrates me to answer questions about rules I break everyday that are supposed to be, unbreakable," Alina joked as they stopped at their lockers to drop of their stuff before lunch.

Peter chucked, "Fair enough, but you understand the material. Every time you get called on you know the answers," he returned stuffing his backpack in his locker.

Shutting her locker, Alina pointed out as they began walking towards the cafeteria, "I know because 10 hours of my day consisted of studying."

The Parker boys mouth became a tight slipped apologetic smile, "My bad, forgot," he mused.

Alina threw her arm playfully around the teen vigilante insisting, "Which is a good thing, means it's not the first thing you think of when you look at me, Parker." They had just made it through the double doors when Gwen noticed them.

Peter starred at her for a moment, had she really thought that was all he saw when he looked at her before? He opened his mouth to tell her what exactly he saw when he looked at her since the moment he had seen her in Germany, when Gwen arrived, "Alina, can I borrow you for a second?"

The Dranganov could feel peters questioning glance, she nodded allowing him to walk away leaving them to it. The whole while he walked away, he kept his eyes on them. Once they were alone the brunette questioned dryly, "What do you want?"

"To say thank you," Gwen said only confusing the girl whom she was speaking with, "Connor told me about your invite, I was going to give you your present today, but I'll do it Saturday instead."

Shaking her head Alina assured, "You don't have to thank me."

The blonde's eyes lifted a bit in surprise, "Yes I do Alina." Checking no one was near she lowered her voice and finished, "I hurt you, betrayed you. You don't have to even be speaking to me, but you are. You should know how thankful I am for that alone." Alina didn't say anything, she wasn't sure what to say. Her mind was blank, but she could still tell, Gwen was being honest. "Anyways that's all I had to say, we'll see you then, okay?"

Gwen wanted to hug her, but she decided against it walking to join her brother and Malik at the other end of the hall. The blonde eyes caught a glimpse of Peter, he knew what she was thinking, he could see the forgiveness in her eyes. Gwen had only done exactly what Peter would do for Alina, or vice versa. Alina knew she would sacrifice anyone for Peter, he was her best friend. Again, how could she not forgive other peoples sins when hers would always be so much worse than theirs. Gwen knew exactly what she was, and she was never afraid of her. Conflicted, but never scared, which is something that was in rare supply for Alina.

Alina groaned at herself as she called out, "Gwen!" The blonde abruptly stopped and turned back to face the much shorter girl, "Do you guys want to come sit with me, Peter, and everyone?" Gwen's smile inched across her face, "It's been kinda weird without you three."

Elated, the Stacy girl yanked the small Dranganov into a hug which Alina, to her own surprise, didn't want to fight. All she did was wrap her arms around Gwen in return. Having Gwen in her life was like having compassion on an endless supply, Alina didn't want to lose that. Not anymore. "I missed this," Gwen remarked her smile unwavering.

"Me too," admitted Alina finally. Her anger was like a rope in this very moment, the second she let it go it was gone. As they pulled apart, Gwen looked back at her brother and Malik pointing them towards the table Ned, Sabrina, MJ, Peter, and the rest of the decathlon team was at. The second they received the green light both boys were up from their table making their way over. They and the girls arrived at the same time, Alina took her usual seat between Peter and Sabrina.

Sabrina had been so nice to her since they got there, and when she noticed the drift between her and Gwen, she didn't ask what happened which was what both girls wanted. She did her best to support each of the girls during a time neither would tell her anything. Alina watched as Gwen, Connor, and Malik sat directly across them. "What's up, long time no see Alina," stated Malik who had been utterly confused by all the fighting and had been switching between each friend group hoping one would explain something to him.

"Hello Malik," she greeted happily. Everyone around her felt truly happy, except Peter, who was starring daggers into Connor. Under the table, Alina reached for his hand squeezing it reaffirming they were okay.

She could feel his concerned judgment be washed away by her touch as he looked towards her not letting go of her hand. Distracting them Malik questioned, "So what is this I hear about a birthday party this weekend?"

Alina blushed as MJ spoke up questioning, "Do we have to dress a certain way?"

Flash, who Alina had begun to be nicer to after seeing how no one came to pick him up after DC as well said, "Yeah do I have to wear a suit or something?"

Alina looked to Sabrina not having any idea yet. The curly haired girl perked up telling everyone, "This is Alina's first birthday with us AND I chose a glitz and glamour theme. We're using shades of blue and purple as our main colors so do with that what you will." Turning towards Alina she added, "Which reminds me, you have to come over tonight for me to make sure all the alterations to your dress are done."

"You're making her dress," Peter confirmed having seen the talents of Sabrina Benson in almost every outfit she wore.

Sabrina nodded swallowing the bite of her pizza before saying, "Of course! It's part of her birthday gift."

"Well who is in charge of the music," Connor asked looking around at the table. Alina tuned out of the conversation just enjoying the feeling of Peters hand still in hers and the sight of all her friends talking about celebrating her. For the first time ever, Alina was free and had a life full of possibilities. Perhaps they were all flawed, they all had secrets that hide their weaknesses, but this was home. Her friends, they were her life now and she would do anything for them.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ midtown high bus ❞

Alina's head rested tiredly on Peter shoulder as their bus drove them to somewhere called MoMA. She wasn't sure what it was but a break from her afternoon classes was what she needed so she didn't argue. Her eyes had just begun to shut when the support Peter offered her was suddenly yanked out from under her, "Woah," Alina squealed catching her body before she smacked onto the seat cushions. She was about to question his abrupt movement when he grabbed her arm pulling her to the window. "Peter, the fuck," Alina snapped from the suddenness of it all.

Grabbing her chin turning her so she was looking out the window he said, "No time, you see this too right?" Alina's eyes widened as they locked on to a huge circular ship in the sky floating downwards near Bleecker Street. 

"Yeah, I definitely see that," Alina said as the two teens locked panicked eyes for a moment. "We have to get off the bus," added the brunette.

Having been sitting behind them and seeing them get up Connor took out his headphones asking, "What's wrong?" Trying not to create a panic both Peter and Alina pointed out the window. Connor followed their line of sight, he slowly rose to his feet whisperingly shouting, "What the fuck is that?"

Peter started to move fast tapping his friend from the seat in front of him, "Ned, hey. We need you to cause a distraction."

Following the same line of sight he'd given the others Peter watched as Ned accidently did what was needed, "Holy shit! We're all gonna die! There's a spaceship!"

Before Alina had a chance to get the bus to stop, Peter opened a window using his web shooter. "Peter wait," she tried but he was so quick to climb out and cling to the side of the bus. No one but Connor and Alina saw him while the other students scrambled to the windows to see the spaceship.

As Alina rushed to the window to tell him to wait the bus driver asked them all, "What's the matter with you kids? You've never seen a spaceship before?"

"No why the fuck would we have seen a spaceship before," Connor shouted up towards the man.

"Peter wait," she protested desperately trying to stop him from getting too far ahead of her. Putting on her suit and jumping out the window looked decidedly different for her than him.

"I can't, I'll be okay," he promised her as he pulled on his Spider-Man mask before swinging off to make his way towards the ship.

Angrily the brunette smacked the bus, "Shit!" Alina pulled herself from her bench trying to think.

Assuming they would need all the help they could with this Connor quietly asked, "Do you have plan to catch up?"

"Yes, just, hold on to something," Alina said tapping Ned's shoulder she warned him to get down. Connor grabbed his sisters hand pulling her down from the windows and into seats just in time for the tires to make a loud popping sound. Students squealed and shrieked bumping into each other as Alina carefully slowed them down and the cars behind them.

The second the bus was stopped; all the students and bus driver ran out of it. In a flash Alina twisted her wrist revealing the suit with the burned edges of her regular clothes becoming her new suit. Connor had gripped up his duffle that presumably had the suit he needed inside. "Where are you guys going," a panicked Gwen asked as she blocked Alina from being seen through the window.

"To deal with the flying donut of doom," Alina said through her mask covering her jaw. While Connor switched into his suit, she created walls around him that covered him the same way someone wearing green in front of a green screen would look.

"Shouldn't that be an Avenger thing? Is that where Peter went," Gwen asked realizing he wasn't with Alina anymore.

"A well I am pretty sure Iron man doesn't have enough ammunition for what they have on there. Plus, neither of us are avengers but if it were either of us it would be me first," said Alina as she opened the window fully as Connor finished and the spell immediately dropped shocking him.

"Did you know I was done," he wondered speaking through his own mask.

"Does that really matter right now," Alina asked back as she climbed out the bus window.

Mumbling as he followed suit Connor said, "It might a little..."

Rushing to the window they just went out, Ned asked them, "Are you guys going to be, okay?"

"Yes." Alina knew she was lying, she couldn't promise that, but she couldn't tell Ned who looked so happy to have hope differently.

Looking to her brother through the window she confirmed, "You're going to come back, right?"

Cheeky with her as he always was, Connor pointed at himself with the knife saying, "Me!? Of course, have I ever not?"

Gwen's eyes were wide and untrusting of her brothers confidence, "I'll be with him, I promise, I'll stay with him," Alina swore knowing full we Connor had never dealt with anything near whatever this was. "But we have to go, Peters probably halfway there by now," she said holding out her hand for Connor who starred at her puzzled.

"Your little grappling hooks aren't going to be faster than me," she insisted pulling his hand in towards her so she could grip him and lift him with her as she flew.

Gwen and Ned watched wide eyes watching as they became smaller the further, they flew away, "Wild," the two of them said in unison.

Flying above the city had Connor gripping onto Alina, "You're not going to drop me, right?"

"Nope, but I could. Remember that," Alina said as an underlining somewhat playful warning.

The blonde Stacy boy let out a nervous laugh, "Right. Understood."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ bleeker street ❞

Tony was doing his best to hold off his attackers from catching up with Strange. He had stood back to his feet only to feel a hammer triple the size of Thors smacking him across the grass. He'd hardly stood back up when the giant grey alien beast roared swinging down on him again. Before he could be hit, he was shielded by Peter catching the hammer.

The older man was left stunned and relieved, "Hey, man. What's up, Mr. Stark?"

"Kid, where'd you come from," he questioned not sure if it was even a good idea for him to be there.

Casual as ever as he fought of the hammer coming down on them, he said, "Field trip to MoMA—" the last of his words were cut off by him being flung off the hammer like one would a bug.

"Get ready," Alina warned Connor as they descended down towards the fighting.

Connor hadn't realized just how fast Alina was flying until she had placed him towards the ground allowing him to tuck and roll to safety and she took off faster than a bullet towards Peter who was flying through the air. Before Peter even knew it, arms had gripped him into their grasp breaking their landing as they crashed into the ground. Peter swiftly got up not sure who had grabbed him and still on guard. He was immediately relieved to see Alina pulling herself up from the crater made from their impact. "This was you being careful," she stated bitterly as he held out his hand pulling her up from the ground.

As the three teens stood united, Alina shouted out, "Mind telling us what's going on here!?"

"He's from space. He came here to steal a necklace from a wizard," Tony shrugged.

Blocks away, Wong and Doctor Strange were doing their best to defend against the lengthy alien Tony named Squidward. Which had apparently left him extremely frustrated even though he didn't understand the reference, he knew disrespect. Strange had to assume that was the reason he lifted several bricks from the ground turning them into sharp points before sending them in their direction. The two each in an instant created portals that sent them back towards the alien with Stark and the others.

Frustrated, he lifted a car to protect himself, but one spike still hits his head, creating a cut. Wong was knocked back into rubble and a car, falling to the ground unconscious. Knowing they had little time to waste, Strange flew forward to fight him but was easily knocked back into a building. Before he knew it bricks were swallowing him up keeping him still. The creature lifted himself up to him using the rubble beneath them, "Your powers are quaint. You must be popular with children." The thin alien tried to grab the amulet holding the Time Stone but was left jerking back when it burned his hand.

Cocky as ever, Doctor Strange informed him, "It's a simple spell but quite unbreakable."

"Then I'll take it off your corpse," spat his opponent frustrated with any obstacle to his goal. Without a thought he pulled Strange away from the building throwing him to the ground. Several wires wrapped around different parts of Strange's body coming from the ground form the aliens command, One cord, finding it's way to slowly be tightening around his neck.

"You'll find...removing a dead man's spell... Troublesome," Strange said as his vision became darker and darker with each passing second.

"You'll only wish you were dead," he warned as Strange fell completely unconscious and as the alien moved to grab him, the Cloak of Levitation flew Strange away, "No!"

The cloak moved too fast diving and dodging everything in its way. Catching sight of Strange passing through the park Tony shouted, "Kid, that's the wizard. Get on it."

"Which kid," shouted Connor as he attempted to use the metal poles to tie down the giant only for him to break it with ease. Seeing his wind up with his hammer, Connor used his grappling hook to attach himself to the building across the street and pull himself away just in time.

While he was fleeing the giant attempted to grab his leg but before he could his wrist snapped backwards forcing a howl to come out. "Who is that," Tony asked knowing full well there wasn't a third kid as his 'intern,' he questioned.

"WHICH ONE OF US DO YOU WANT TO GO," Alina asked forcefully digging her feet into the ground absorbing the force being given to her.

Tony stammered thinking fast the first name being, "Parker go, take the other one with you."

Instantly Peter agreed, "On it!"

"And it's Stacy, Karma. Whatever works for you," Connor said quickly as he used his hooks to follow Peter.

"Friend of yours," confirmed suggestively Tony as he landed near Alina.

"You really want to try and Obi Wan my personal life even now," Alina challenged before she shoved him out of the way. The second they landed the hammer came down again forcing the two of them to break apart and roll away.

Shooting beams into the giant who was using his armor to try and block it Tony said, "I just thought Parker had more a shot than him, but what do I know." Just as the words left his mouth, the giant used his hammer to knock him into the fountain.

The second he was dealt with, the giant used its good arm to try and grab Alina. But the enhanced teen used it to her advantage, grabbing its hand sending thousands of bolts of electricity through it. The giant stumbled and Alina was about to charge again when she heard, "Alina, Mr. Stark? I'm being beamed up."

"I've tried to follow but he's too far for me to grab," Connor groaned having almost gotten to him before the lengthy alien threw him.

"I'm coming," Alina said instantly turning her back on the giant coming towards her and taking off at supersonic speed toward the ship leaving their atmosphere.

"Wait Alina! You don't know if you'll be able to breathe out there," Tony shouted out to her.

Still not turning back she informed, "Then you better think of a solution quick because I am going."

Tony was faced with the giant and unable to move when the creature jumped towards him. He braved himself inside his suit only for him to watch as the alien ran straight into the portal suddenly blocking his way. Tony turned towards the one who made the portal, "Wong, you're invited to my wedding," he said swiftly before taking off after the two teenagers.

"Give me a little juice, F.R.I.D.A.Y," he ordered his AI and instantly his feet thrusters morphed together into a larger one. Already having thought of his solution he ordered, "Unlock 17-A and 17-B."

Alina could see Peter in her sights, but it was getting harder for her to breath and harder to fly because of it. None of that matter as she saw him let go of the ship, with every ounce of will she had, Alina flew towards him catching him in her arms before he fell too far from the ship. She forcefully hit the buttons of his web shooter attaching them to the ship while pulling them somewhere she could hold them on.

"Y-your n-not suppo-sed to be here...Lina," Peter said clinging to her with labored breaths.

Breathing perhaps a little bit better than him she answered, "N...n-neither were you."

Through their earpieces they heard Tony tell them, "Guys, you gotta let go. I'm gonna catch you."

"But you said save the wizard," he spat as Peter, based on lack of oxygen, pulled off his mask,
"I can't breathe!" 

"You're too high up. You're running out of air," he warned them still in pursuit of them. 

Angrily she snapped at herself at them, "You think!?" Ripping her mask off and looking to Peter she gripped his hand telling him, "Don't let g-go!" He nodded unable to speak as Alina released her grip on the ship and sent them tumbling back towards the earth. Alina could feel herself drifting out of consciousness, but Peter was still holding onto her through it.

At least he was until each of them felt something attaches itself to them. The force jerked their hands apart as a new metal covered her mouth and encased her entire body. The second it had, Alina felt the air return and she flew towards Peter flying him onto the ship as his suit formed around him.

As they both stopped to stabilize themselves on the ship Alina saw the new matte metal spider on his suit. Not only that but the colors were red, blue, and gold outlining the black spider in the middle of his suit. Alina's suit was different than anything she had ever known, the lighter colors, the pants with a skirt of shorts with the sides cut out. But seeing how heroic Peter looked even with his mask covering his face was still enough to distract her.

"Mr. Stark, it smells like a new car in here," Peter exclaimed happily making Alina laugh at him.

"Good, F.R.I.D.A.Y. send them home," he ordered the AI.

Before either of them knew it, large parachute extended from their new suits, pulling them spiraling back to Earth, "Oh, come on!"

"I CAN FLY," shouted Alina in protest hating how the parachute was yanking her. Reaching for the reigns she burned them just enough to break the straps and allow her to control her how flying. Once she had she noticed Peter struggling to get his second strap off, in a flash she flew to him. "This is gonna drop you fast," she warned him feeling him wrap his arm around her waist.

As he saw the strap about to break, he fired a web attaching them to the slowly shutting doors before them. The two of the held onto each other dodging the doors before they could close. The second they were inside the two of them finally had a chance to slow down. In between breaths Alina joked, "This was more exciting than MoMA huh?"

Peter laughed slowly coming to his feet quietly saying, "Definitely, but we should find Stark." Alina nodded taking the hand he offered her, but as soon as she tried to walk flashes of Thor, Wanda, the stones, herself...Peter, and all those images flashed through her mind once more stopping her in her tracks. Not only that, but her promise to Gwen to make sure her brother didn't get hurt. "Alina," he turned back around removing his mask, "Are you okay?"

"I had a vision this morning," the Dranganov teen blurted out. Peter looked at her strangely not sure what she was trying to say. "I saw the same aliens that attacked us in it. They were after a stone, and I saw myself, with Wanda. I think that was a warning, I think I have to find her. But I don't want to leave you here because—"

Peter cut her off cupping the sides of her face assuring, "I trust you, if you think that's the next best move for everyone than do it. I'll be okay." Alina shook her head refusing her own proposal, "Hey, if this is what has to happen, then it has to happen. We'll be okay."

Alina wanted to stay with him, but her vision screamed that she had to go back to Earth. Knowing her own choice was made, Alina hugged Peter tightly nuzzling her face into him absorbing every detail. She could feel the warmth of his hand on the back of her head cradling her. "How do you plan on getting back," he wondered.

"Remember that time I beat you to the top of that building," she reminded him still holding onto him.

Chuckling almost sadly he said, "Yeah, I remember. You cheated with, portals." She didn't know it, but he thought about that day all the time. Since she'd come back from bringing down the red room everyday had been like that day. Almost, they were never quite as perfect, but neither of them never needed it to be.

Pulling away from him she reached under her suit for her crescent pendant and confirmed, "Do you still have yours?"

Reaching under his suit he pulled out the piece of the moon the crescent moon could fill to create a full moon. "Always," he told her.

Alina took a good look at everything about Peter, "Remember I can open a portal as fast as I can close them. Just touch that and I'll come find you, no matter what I will find you."

"I know, but go before it's too late," he warned her sadly not wanting her to go just as much as she wanted to stay.

One last time Alina threw her arms around him every piece of her refusing to let go, Peter pulled away for her this time. Behind him, a sapphire and white portal opened for her. "Stay alive Spidey, promise me," she told him standing in front of it preparing herself to leave.

Peter nodded telling her, "I promise. I'll see you after we save the world." Alina wanted to say more, do more. But she couldn't. So instead, she offered him one last faint smile before walking through her own portal back to earth.  As she went through Peter fought every urge to ask her to stay, people needed her, more than he did right now.



















alina's outfit next chapter

[ a/n

admittedly, i did not get the exact timeline between black widow and infinity war in terms of just how many months were between them however it doesn't matter. I have decided it took place six months ago and that is where ill stay with it. its a fun little fanfic please do not make me start going insane trying to figure out the dates and math. I keep it on track for the most part but sometimes I just want to make it easier for me. It might be fairly close with the time between those movies but I know I did get the exact date for the battle of Wakanda and the day before. I wanted the battle to be on Alina's birthday, the day she turns seventeen. ]