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CHAPTER TWELVE
the mystic arts
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"THIS IS GOOD, right on track," Stephen spoke as Kendra kept up with the sparkling circle she was conjuring before her, her heart raced as she watched it. It was almost mesmerizing as she stared into it.

"Okay, stop," Stephen spoke, making Kendra retract her arms, the portal falling away.

"I'm going to give you a few books to read, starter spells, then, you can move on to the harder ones," Stephen spoke and Kendra smiled, watching as he disappeared and as soon as he did, he reappeared with a stack of them. He thrusted them out and Kendra held them tightly.

"Thank you, Stephen," She spoke quietly and patted his shoulder as she looked to Zeus. He looked to be ready to go back to the base.

"You're welcome, bring them back when your done," he spoke and Kendra chuckled as she headed for the door, getting the door open and herself through, Zeus flying by and hovering by her.

I'll meet you back at the base, see you soon, Zeus spoke and Kendra smiled. She walked down the stairs and made her way to a cafe to call Happy and get herself something to drink while she waited. She wanted to make sure that they wouldn't know where's she's been, walking almost twelve blocks before the books started to get heavy and she would need a break.

"Need some help carrying those?" Peters familiar voice chimed in from behind her and she stopped, a smile breaking out. Turning around.

"Thank you Pete-"

He was in his Spider-Man suit.

"Spider-Man!" She chirped, hoping that he wouldn't get nervous. He awkwardly stood there as she heaved the books up a bit to get a better hold.

"You sound just like this guy I go to school with!" Kendra spoke as she held some books out. Peter seemed really nervous, with she kicked herself up about.

"Oh really, that's so strange," Peter spoke and Kendra chuckled, shrugging.

"I mean, it's not hard to mistake people," Kendra spoke as they continued to walk.

"So where are we going?" Peter asked.

"A cafe, where I'm getting myself a coffee and I'm calling my ride home," Kendra answered, looking around, "although I only know three places in New York and none of them are cafes."

Peter snorted as he looked to her.

"Well, you're new so I won't hold it against you," Peter joked and Kendra raised her eyebrows in amusement.

"You won't? Thank God, I wouldn't want you to hold anything against me," Kendra winked as she looked at street signs and buildings that lined the blocks.

"Well, uh, the closest cafe is down the street there," Peter pointed out and Kendra nodded as she stopped for the traffic to pass.

"Here," Peter spoke as he fashioned a small webbing sack to hold the books, putting the ones he was carrying in, Kendra putting the rest in after. He handed it to her and she gently took it.

"Now, you good with heights?" He asked and Kendra nodded.

"Yeah-" she was cut off by her own small shriek when Peter grabbed her by the waist and swung her over traffic, landing them in front of the cafe, her hair falling into her face.

"Okay, never do that without warning again," Kendra spoke, holding a finger out as she tried getting her heart rate under control.

"Sorry," Peter chuckled and she gave him a small smile, patting his shoulder.

"Thank you for helping me," Kendra pulled out her phone and pulled up Happys contact.

Peter awkwardly stood there and then coughed, shaking his shoulders, Kendra could tell he was gathering courage to say something.

"Do you-" Peters voice came out high-pitched and squeaky, making Kendra crack a big smile, "Do you want to do something tomorrow afternoon?"

"Sure! Here?" Kendra asked and Peter nodded looking around.

"Yeah, look I do have to go, I'll see you, stay safe!" Peter spoke, thwipping a web out and waved as he flew off, leaving Kendra in a fit of smiles and hot cheeks.

She went inside and brushed the hair behind her ear as she walked up to the barista, noticing him smile a little brighter as she approached. She looked at his name and smiled at the irony of his name being Tom. Kendra looked up at the menu ordering something that sounded familiar and hoped it wouldn't be terrible. She silently paid as she looked around, wanting to find a table quickly.

"Go ahead and take a seat, we'll bring it to you," Tom smiled and Kendra nodded.

"Thank you," Kendra spoke and walked over to a booth near a window to get better lighting. She pulled out a book from the webbing and opened it up, reading slowly as the pages translated themselves to English.

Kendra pulled her phone out, finally calling Happy.

"Hey, I'm at the Coffee Shop on thirty-eight and eighth," Kendra spoke as she flipped a page, "take your time, I got coffee and I'm reading something."

"Alright, see you soon, and order me a bagel while you're there," Happy answered, making Kendra smile.

"Alright, see you," Kendra spoke and watched as Tom came by with her coffee.

"Here you go, if you need anything else, my name is Tom," He spoke, winking as he turned.

"Actually, my ride wants a bagel, he didn't specify which though, what do you suggest?" Kendra asked.

"Our best seller is the everything bagel," Tom spoke and Kendra slowly stood up, shutting her book and flipped it over to hide the title as she grabbed her wallet.

"Alright, I'll get an everything bagel with cream cheese," Kendra smiled and Tom nodded as the two headed for the register. She paid once more and went back to her booth, sipping from the coffee as she opened back up and began reading again.

Kendra could feel her mind expanding as she read, she caught herself making small sparkles in her seat using her fingers, nothing dramatic, just something to stimulate her mind as she read. Everything about what she was doing felt weird to her. Forced even. She wasn't sure if it was the fact that she felt as if though everything was just so surreal or that she has to do everything she can to make sure the timeline is set for the avengers to win with minimal death among the team.

She heard the bell at the door ring as Tom approached her with her bagel and Kendra smiled, thanking him as Happys familiar face appeared.

"Happy!" Kendra chirped as Tom walked away, Happy looked at the web covered books and sighed.

"You ran into Peter?" Happy asked.

"Yeah, I almost outed him on the street I didn't realize he was out Spider-Manning today," Kendra chuckled, she was able to drink from the cup like a normal person due to it cooling down.

She listened to Happy eat his bagel as she quietly flipped the page, her eyes scanning the words so fast, Happy could have swore they would roll out of her head. He noticed that as she twirled her fingers, little sparkling circles came out, like the little fireworks on the Fourth of July.

"How are you doing that?" Happy asked, looking around to make sure no one was watching them.

"I learned it today," Kendra smiled as she looked up, cracking a smile as she stopped the show, closing her book as she finished the coffee, "you ready?"

Happy nodded, wiping his mouth with the napkin and Kendra widened her eyes when they caught the ink in the corner. She quickly grabbed and as saw that Tom left his number on the napkin.

"Awe, poor thing," Kendra frowned as Happy noticed it and he frowned as well, grabbing it back and crumpled it up.

"We gotta focus, boys later, and don't think Peter is an exception cause he's not," Happy spoke as Kendra put the book away.

"What does Peter have to do with this?" Kendra asked, her eyes wide as she heaved up the books. Happy looked to her, tilting his head as the two left the cafe.

"You don't think I don't know that you have a little crush on him?" Happy asked, "and certainly won't shut up about you, I ought to block his number!"

"Happy, I have to be around him I'm the new point guy remember?" Kendra laughed, her cheek bright red as they got into the car, "but certainly don't have a crush on him, that's absolutely ridiculous."

"I know what crushes are, believe me, I've been around enough women and Tony to know which ones have feeling or not," Happy spoke and Kendra rolled her eyes.

"What do you know," She crossed her arms, looking out the window as the sun got closer to its sunset hours.

Her liking Peter? No way. Not when she has so much to do before she can focus on boys. The whole thing is complicated, especially when she has to call Tony 'Dad' in public. One day, she's going to slip up and cause PR nightmares for months. And with all the suspicion around her already, it's hard to keep up her act.

Kendra looked down at her fingers and started the sparkles again, hoping that someone her stress will be lifted soon.