Playing with Fire

Y/N's POV

It had been about a month since we took down Dr. Malcolm and his whole, little army. Nick Fury still hadn't gotten back to us yet about anything on my past however, I wasn't in much of a rush to find out. I know that it would ultimately help me understand my powers and maybe more about myself but I know who I am now. Part of me will always feel sad about my childhood but the other part of me sees now how positive the future can be when you aren't living in the past. I have Peter to thanks for part of that.

I looked to my right to see Peter swinging in his spidey suit next to me as we flew through the streets. We were out patrolling the city together, something that we have been doing just about every day since. Once Tony saw that I could handle the little power boost Dr. Malcolm gave me, I was cleared to officially be allowed into the public. That also meant school once it was back in session. When we beat Malcolm, Peter only had about a week of school left so we decided I would start in the fall as a Junior with Peter to help me navigate. I am excited to get to spend more time with him but even more so, to experience what it is actually like to be a teenager.

Peter snapped me back out of my daydreams when I heard him yell to me, "Something is always going on near the docks. We should stop and catch our bearings and see what's going on around here... so lights out."

Like we have done on many patrols before, mid-air I let the fire wings on my back dissipate as I fell right into Peter's arms mid-swing. He is always paranoid about the light from my wings giving away our locations to enemies... which he isn't wrong.

He landed on a nearby roof and set me down gently. I curtsied in front of him and said, "Why thank you, good sir."

"Anything for you m'lady," he said as he bowed. I giggled in return as we both crouched at the corner edge of the building overlooking the streets and alleyway.

I saw a white van head down the street towards the docks. My gut was telling me this wasn't a coincidence. "Peter, that van," I whispered and he must have known what I was asking.

"Karen, scan that van for anything suspicious," he said to his A.I.

Since I was sitting right next to him, I was able to hear her response. "I'm reading three signatures, a driver, and two passengers in the back, both armed. Whatever they are transporting is not of Earth origin, and is letting off a large energy signature. The source is unidentified."

I popped up from squatting and said sarcastically, "Yep, that sounds like something a normal person would be doing on a Saturday night."

He stood up next to me and although I couldn't see his face, I could tell he was smirking. He stood up onto the ledge and put out his hand as he replied, "I mean hey, normal people don't do what we're doing on Saturday nights either."

I grabbed his hand and met him up on the ledge and hopped on his back. He shot a web and swung us towards the truck as I finished, "Yea, but normal's overrated anyway."

Right as we were about to swing up onto the truck, a gunshot rang out and shot right through his web. We fell about seven feet to the ground where we both rolled and slid to a stop. Owww

I was staring right at the sniper on a nearby rooftop, while Peter shot a tracker onto the van. We agreed a while back that we would try not to split up and right now fending off the guy who just shot at us seemed a little more pressing.

Right as we stood back up, I grabbed Peter's hands and flew us up to the top of the building.

"Something's not right," I yelled over my wings, "If he's as good a shot to hit your web mid-swing, why not just take us out there?"

I dropped us at the top as he yelled back to me running after the sniper, "He must have been hired to stop anyone from interfering with that truck. That or he is a bad shot and hit the web on a wild chance, although I doubt it."

We were a building behind him when Peter shot a web that hit him in the legs. The sniper sliced right through it however we were still able to gain some considerable distance. Now that we were closer to him, I tried to get a look at his face however he had a mask covering his nose down so just his eyes were showing.

Using a web, Peter launched himself at the sniper. With a perfectly-timed roundhouse kick, the sniper sent Peter straight into a nearby wall where he hit his head and sunk to the floor.

"Spidey!" I yelled, as I cautiously ran towards the sniper. No normal person has a kick that powerful.

I started shooting fireballs as I began approaching him, but he avoided each and every one. I made it to him fists ablaze, literally, and we began hand to hand combat. At first, it was mostly him dodging since my hands were on fire, but eventually, he landed a good punch straight to my jaw. As I stumbled back he took his chance and grabbed my neck with an extremely tight grip that I couldn't squirm out of. While I still had some oxygen in my lungs, I gripped his wrist with both hands and set them on fire burning through his jacket, however, the grip didn't loosen as I had anticipated. Releasing my grip, I was able to see the metal arm underneath. I was planning on going for his face next because that obviously wasn't metal but without new oxygen getting into my lungs, I couldn't create any more fire.

As I was clawing at my neck, I was staring into his eyes hoping that there was any ounce of humanity left in him and he would release his grip. Those eyes...where have I seen them before? It could have just been the lack of air but I swear this guy seems familiar. Then again, I would remember someone crazy enough to try and kill me.

Right as black spots began to dance across my vision, a web hit him square in the face causing him to drop me. I crumbled onto the floor in front of him, gasping for air. In between the pulls for oxygen, I was able to glance back behind me. Peter was propped up on the wall with his hand to his head, swaying as he stood up. The glances we were able to exchange let each other know we were good, even though we were both pretty banged up.

I rolled onto my back as I looked back up at the sniper. He ripped the mask right off his face which helped him get the webbing off allowing him to see and breathe.

My whole body went rigid as I realized who this guy was. "Jake?" the name barely audible as it left my lips. Even though his face has aged, I could tell it was his cause of the little birthmark on his chin.

He scrunched his eyebrows closer like he didn't know what I was talking about, put a hand to his earpiece, and then ran off. Peter and I were in no condition to run after him. All I could do was lay there propped up on my elbows as he hopped two buildings and then disappeared into the darkness below.

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Published & Completed: 6/25/2020