CHAPTER FOUR; HOMECOMING

❝ surprise, surprise oh dear friend of mine ❞

[ songs to listen to during this chapter / I wanna be yours by arctic monkeys / I'm just a kid by simple plan / for a pessimist I'm pretty optimistic by paramore / line without a hook by ricky montgomery ]

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ parker's apartment [ peter's bedroom ] ❞

"I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THOSE WEAPONS, they nearly took our heads off," Peter said as he climbed up the side of the building.

Landing on the nearby fire escape Alina pulled off her mask before she leaned against the railing. "Well it would've taken you're head off, I probably would've been fine," she told him as he climbed so he was standing perfectly balanced on the other side of the railing.

"What does hurt you," Peter wondered trying to think of any weakness but she seemed to have none.

Immediately the brunette teased, "Why? Planning on killing me Spider Man?"

In a panic that only he could make seem so innocent Peter said, "No! O-of course not, it's just you seem like you don't have to be afraid of anything."

It wasn't until he said that she realized how close their faces were from each other. Pulling back she answered, "In all honesty I'm not sure what could kill me, over exhaustion maybe? Using too much power without channeling a strong enough source. As for weaknesses I have a few, for all my strengths technology and science create fun creative ways to weaken and control someone like me."

Truth was she knew of another weakness he would probably want to know. Something she wasn't sure how long she'd be able to hide it, she hadn't had an incident in a while. Then again, she hadn't been as stressed in the last few months as she was the last three weeks. Frankly she was shocked Tony hadn't warned him about it himself, her condition being what it was.

Full moons were nightmares for her, the entire day she was battling with her worst impulses and instincts. And for someone like her, there were a lot of things her worse desires could convince her to do. That was the worst part, full moons made her want for things and not care how she had to get them. Those days she locked herself up, it was best for everyone but she knew that couldn't last forever. Peter would eventually notice; and she may not have had the most developed sense of pop culture but she knew enough movies existed for him to notice the angle of the full moon.

But she could see his face soften hearing the last part of what she said. Wanting to change his focus Alina offered, "Hey, race you to your bedroom? Loser buys sandwiches for us tomorrow? Though I have to warn you, I'm pretty fast."

Peter seemed to enjoy the idea of the challenge as he hopped over the railing saying confidently, "Oh yeah? Well I'm pretty sure I'm faster."

Alina could see him itching at the chance to prove himself as he bit his lip waiting for her word to start. "Only one way to prove it Spider Man. On three," she challenged standing ready. Standing fairly at her side Peter waited for her to say go, Alina held him in anticipation teasingly before she said, "1, 2, 3!"

Instantly Peter shot up his web as Alina jumped the remaining few feet to his window side. Just as she had gently placed herself down Peter had just touched his foot to the window. "Oh come on," Peter groaned pulling his window up.

"Told you, I'm very fast and can jump faster than you swing," she said with a smirk as she slid into his room onto his top bonk.

Peter came climbing in after her his mask in his mouth as he made his awl across the ceiling. She watched as he threw his mask to the other side of the room. Trying to make no sound, he pushed the door close and hopped down to the floor. She could hear a quiet click as the door latch slid into place.

It wasn't until he closed the door he landed safely back down and Alina focused long enough to realize there wasn't four heartbeats in the apartment, but four. "Peter," she said and just as he turned around still in his suit, they heard the crashing sound of legos.

Alina stayed on top not wanting to do anything as she heard May shout, "What was that?!"

Peter starred at Ned then back to Alina and back again, he was stunned, frozen. All he could do was call back to his aunt, "Uh, it's nothing. It's nothing!"

Ned stood from the bottom bunk his back still to Alina, "You're the Spider-Man. From YouTube."

Peter shook his head insisted despite still standing there in his suit, "I'm not. I'm not." Seeing Alina behind Ned furiously pointing at her suit he realized what she was trying to tell him. He reached for the spider emblem on his chest pressing it causing the suit to instantly become baggy falling down from his body. It wasn't until then her theory about what he was wearing underneath was proven right.

Despite having an outwardly dorky or awkward personality Alina noticed Peter was in fact built like the jock the girl takes to prom at the end of the movie. "You were on the ceiling," Ned reminded him his voice just now pulling Alina from what she saw.

Peter shook his head still refusing, "No, I wasn't. Ned, what are you doing in my room?"

Just as panicked as Peter his friend replied, "May let me in. You said we were gonna finish the Death Star."

Clearly alarmed the Parker teen insisted, "You can't just bust into my room!" Before Alina could even think of something to say she heard foot steps moving closer. Looking down at her suit she raised her hand pointing her pointer and middle finger towards her suit turning her hand backward changing it into outfit from earlier.

Just as she had finished, May opened the door, setting her hair free from its low bun with a laugh. She waved the rag in front of her face to dissipate the smoke coming from the kitchen. Through her laughing and coughing May said, "The turkey meatloaf recipe is a disaster. Let's go to dinner. Thai? Ned, you want Thai?" Glancing up she noticed Alina sitting on the top bunk with Peter standing in his current state in the room, "Oh? Alina? Sweetie I didn't know you were here, with Peter."

For the first time possibly ever, Alina felt like a teenager in trouble.  She looked to Peter for an answer, trying to cover for them both Peter said, "She came right after Ned, right Ned?"

Ned, despite having no idea what they were talking about agreed, "Yeah, I was supposed to wait for her. I don't know why I didn't, but I didn't."

May looked at the three of them seeing nervous smiles all around, she had a feeling there was more to be said. But Peter never had a girl who was a friend, let alone a girl who could be more than that. So instead she decided to let it sly, "Okay." She waved a finger at Peter, who was still clad only in his boxers, "Maybe put on some clothes. How about you guys, Thai?" Peter pulled his closest shirt into his hand covering his boxers.

Ned was about to say yes when Alina spoke up this time refusing, "Actually Ned has to come help me set up my tv, think I messed up something."

"Okay, well next time guys. Peter hurry up please, I'm starving," she said leaving closing the door behind her for them again.

Once she was gone Peter pulled his shirt over his head as Ned realized, "Oh, she doesn't know?" Looking up at Alina he thought, "And she does? Why does she know!?"

As Peter and Ned spoke Alina climbed off the bed careful to put herself between Ned and the door. "Nobody knows. I mean, Mr. Stark knows because he made my suit, and Alina knows because she..."

He trailed off looking to Alina to give an answer so she explained, "I am also a Stark internship kid."

Ned stared at them both in awe whispering, "Tony Stark made you that? Are you an Avenger?" Looking directly at Alina he asked, "Are you a vigilante? Do you have superpowers?"

"I'm the type of girl who likes to keep her secrets, a secret," Alina answered being as brief as possible.

"Cool," Ned trailed off impressed before look to Peter, "And are you an avengers? Both of you?"

Peter hesitated before he admitted, "Yeah, basically." Alina shook her head at them as Peter made his friend promise, "You can't tell anybody about this. You gotta keep it a secret."

Saddened by that last part he asked, "A secret? Why?"

Swiftly he answered him, "Aunt May! You know what she's like. If she finds out people try and kill me every single night, she's not going to let me do this anymore. Come on, Ned, please."

"Not to mention they would more than likely kill Ned, May, or anyone else you care about if your enemies found out who you were. It be the first thing I would do if I found out your identity," Alina reminded both the boys clearly freaking them both out.

Ned nodded seemingly like he understood as he turned to Peter saying, "Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. I'll level with you. I don't think I can keep this a secret." Both of the other teens groaned as Ned insisted, "This is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me, Peter!"

"Ned, May cannot know. I cannot do that to her right now, you know? I mean, everything that's happened with her, I... Please," he begged his voice sad and hopeful.

Not wanting to hurt his friend Ned agreed, "Okay."

"Just swear it, okay?"

"I swear," said Ned.

Peter started pacing, running his hands through his hair. " I can't believe this is happening right now," Alina mumbled looking at the scene before her, "Like this is certainly not what I expected for my first day."

Ned couldn't help but ask him, "Can I try the suit on?"

Alina covered her face as Peter refused, "No."

"How does it work? Is it magnets? How do you shoot the strings," he asked his mind racing with questions.

Wanting to get this all over with, Peter told him, "I'm gonna tell you about this at school tomorrow, okay?"

Ned agreed heading towards the door but not before he said, "Great. Okay, well, wait, then. How do you do this and the Stark internship?"

Peter starred at his friend in amazement, "This is the Stark internship," he told him.

"Oh," Ned said simply before he tried, "But what––"

The brunette raised her arms instantly saying, "Oh that is it!" Alina made her way across the room ushering Ned out of the room to the door. "We will talk tomorrow, just don't say anything to anyone. Otherwise I'll know and be very angry," Alina said shutting the door.

As she turned around after shutting the door she saw Peter looking overwhelmed with his hands in his face. Before he even said anything Alina swatted him upside his head, "Ow! What was that for!!"

"I've known you for two days Peter and my secret identity is in jeporday of no longer being a secret! Which in case you forgot was the one condition both the government and I agree upon!"

"I know, I know! I'm sorry! I didn't know he'd be here and it's not like we can unring the bell," he reasoned rubbing the back of his head.

Alina hummed hearing his words, "Actually, we can." Seeing in inquiring look on his face she elaborated, "I could always compel him to forget it ever happened."

"You can do that," Peter asked.

The brunette nodded, "Yes, hypnosis, compulsion, whatever you want to call it I can make him forget."

"No, we shouldn't mess with his mind," Peter reasoned making her roll her eyes. He was sweet but right about now he was sounding more naive than anything.

"Fine, because he's your friend I won't but know this now, if he becomes an issue to my identity I will have no choice nor will I feel bad afterwards. Just because you trust everyone doesn't mean I should have to," Alina said her tone sharp. Peter didn't even get to say anything back before she opened the door. Before leaving she softly, despite her frustration told him, "I'll see you in the morning Spidey."

"See you tomorrow," he told her watching as she left. Before leaving the apartment she made sure she said goodbye to Aunt May.  As soon as the door shut Aunt May came running back into her nephew's room. "I didn't put on pants yet," he admitted thinking that she was there to rush him.

May waved her hand telling him, "Just put them on now I don't care about that. I wanted to know how things went today with Alina?"

He could tell as he slid on his jeans there was something about the way she was saying her name. "They were great, pretty sure she got lost a lot but she figured it out," he said knowing full well she wanted to figure things out herself.

"And you and her snuck into your bedroom because," she trailed off her statement sounded like a question but her answer was Peter's face.  He looked like a deer in headlights, May chuckled saying, "I thought you liked Liz? And since when do you sneak a girl in?"

Peter's cheeks were a bright red, couldn't she just stop talking he thought, nay, prayed. The only thing he could say was, "It wasn't like that, Alina is just a friend. Ned just stunned us."

"Stunned you so much you lost your clothes," May challenged crossing her arms as she stood in his doorway. They both knew she wasn't angry, but the only thing worse than her worry was her curiosity. Trying to ease his nerves she put her hands up telling him, "Hey I'm just shocked, she must be a pretty impressive girl to win you over in two days."

"She didn't win me over," Peter replied his mind still trying to think of a way that didn't sound like he was just randomly naked in front of Alina.

May smirked teasing him, "Ahhh, so she's still winning you over. Well, I for one am interested to see how this turns out. Now put on your shoes, we'll talk more at dinner."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ draganov's apartment [ alina's bedroom ] ❞

Alina was tired, but more importantly she was hungry. And so almost immediately after walking out of Peter's apartment she called and made and order for lo mein, broccoli and chicken. By the time she finished showering off all the dirt and ash on her it had arrived.

And now she was finally able to eat dinner but instead of watching tv like most people Alina did what she had always done. "Memoriam proiciamus," she said looking towards the tv directing the spell with her eyes.

Memories were Alina's only comfort, so as a result one of the first spell she mastered was one that would allow her to actually see her memories. Since leaving hydra she developed the habit of sometimes watching her memories, the few good ones she had, on the tv screen.

The spell would always play whatever she wanted to see most. It would always take a minute to form the picture, she supposed it was the spell deciding what she wanted most. It usually took on a blue glow on the tv at a glance but as she stared at it long enough she saw specs of a range of shades in the mist. She saw cyan, sapphire, and specs that reminded her of the sky and oceans. The deeper she looked she noticed mixed in were colors like orchid, iris, licic, lavender and violet.

Eventually the colors gave way to shades of other colors until it formed the picture. Alina watched as she saw the memory become clear, she watched it almost like it was a movie. She was in Scotland, that was where she had first gone after Natasha originally rescued her.

She was sitting on an edge to a cliff resting on a grassy hill. There was a cabin surrounded by trees behind her, she had been told to stay inside but it was her first day clear of mind. Her first day feeling things again without anything inhibiting her. As soon as she awoke she needed to be outside.

She sat there with her eyes closed enjoying the none silent, silence that was the woods at that hour. She could hear the animals walking, eating, running, the trees shifting in the wind, everything. Including the heartbeat and approaching steps, "Leave me alone," she said knowing it was Natasha coming over.

"Thought I told you to stay inside," she said standing beside her. Alina didn't say anything, she just wanted to continuing enjoying the silence. The solitude, couldn't she just be left alone? Seeing that she wasn't going to speak Natasha sat down beside her waiting patiently.

It wasn't long before her presence made Alina open her eyes and look to her, "Where am I going after here? What's going to happen to me?"

"What do you think is going to happen," inquired Natasha annoying Alina with how vague she was.

Closing her eyes again she began saying, "That means I'm going to a nice little 'treatment center' where I'll be tested and poked at 24/7."

"Cynical view, probably rightfully earned though," Natasha replied back. Alina still said nothing, so she carried on, "Your cynicism and stubbornness are both rightfully earned."

Growing increasingly annoyed with her rambling Alia looked to her and said, "Do you know what it's like coming back from what you woke me up from? Not feeling anything?"

Natasha shrugged offering, "Sounds numbing."

Alina scoffed telling her, "That's an understatement. It's shutting out every single aspect of yourself. Nothing matters not the people who die or the ones you kill nothing. And the bloodlust? God...I could consume a town and feel nothing. Not satisfaction or joy just, hunger, insatiable hunger. Coming back from it all I can hear is the sound of your heart and think about how much I want to tear your throat out. So yeah I'm not listening to your stupid rule to stay inside."

"You know that wasn't you right," Natasha asked wondering if she knew she wasn't responsible for her actions. "You were a child Alina, you had no choice but survive," the older woman assured.

"That doesn't change the fact that everyone I killed is still dead," she retorted back her voice sharp like a knife.

Natasha reached out her hand touching her hand telling her, "You can't do anything for them, but you can do something to say yourself."

The memory suddenly caught off as Alina lost her focus at the sound of her cell ringing across the room. The memory began to fade, she pulled her phone towards her seeing Gwen calling her. Alina starred at it for a moment before hesitantly picking it up, "Hello," she greeted.

"Alina! Hi, what are you doing," Gwen asked as she sat on her bed in her own bedroom gathering her things for tomorrow.

Out of a bit of nerves and confusions Alina pulled her legs close answering, "Just eating dinner before bed. Did you need something?"

"Yes, I wanted to ask if you wanted to sit with me tomorrow at lunch? Well me and my friend Liz, I wanted to introduce you guys since it's her party I invited you to," the blonde girl said as she sat on top her bed relieved.

Once again Alina hesitated before she said, "I sit with Peter and Ned at lunch."

She could hear the sound of Gwen laughing, "Thats fine! We'll just sit with you guys then. I gotta go, my dads calling me so I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Okay, goodnight," Alina told her to which Gwen returned before hanging up. As the call ended Alina formed a little smile, she didn't want to come and live in New York but it was proving not to be so bad.

Alina's outfit for next chapter