Maya Stark

Chapter 103: Boh

We ended up at the Saint Marco Polo's square. I walked around with MJ as we both actively avoided Brad who kept showing up. We looked around, went in shops, messed with some pigeons, and MJ gave me random dark facts. I was enjoying myself, forgetting everything else. Until I got the text, that is.

Beck: Be ready.

I lock my jaw and put my phone away. MJ nudges me and motioned to where Peter was just coming out of a store. I rolled my eyes at her but walked over to Peter anyway. I had to be near him when this shit happened anyway.

'Boh!' I said, when I get to him.

'What?' He asks, looking surprised in itself to see me.

'Boh,' I repeated. 'It's the most perfect word in the world. Italians created it, and MJ and I just discovered it.'

'What does it mean?'

'That's the thing, it can mean a million things. It can mean, "I don't know", "Get out of my face", "I don't know and get out of my face". It's the best thing Italy ever created, except for maybe espresso.'

'Oh,' he said, nodding, as if it all made sense now, 'so, you've been drinking espresso.'

'Only a little,' I said, shrugging.

An Italian man comes up to us, holding a rose, gesturing between us.

'German? American?' he asked.

Peter and I shared a confused look. I hesitate and say, 'Boh.' The man frowns and walks off.

'Whoa,' Peter said as we continue walking.

'I am adding Boh to my superpowers. It's like the anti-aloha. I was born to say this... So, what's in the bag?'

'Oh, uh...' Peter hesitates. 'Boh.'

I nod at him. 'Very well played, Parker.'

I look down and notice a bunch of crabs escaping the water by going up the pillars of one of the many docks. Then I noticed the water being sucked into a grate. I could tell Peter noticed it to. Nerves filled my stomach as I knew it was starting. This was the first part of the plan I had the pleasure of being a part of. I looked at Peter as he watched the weird waves of the water. He looked worried, confused. My stomach twisted again as everything stilled. I held my breath, waiting. A second later water erupts from the canal and people start screaming. Peter instinctively pulls me back with him. Ned and Betty scream as their boat is pushed towards the shore by the waves. They slam into the door right next to Peter and me.

We both move forward quickly helping Ned and Betty out of the boat. I let go of Betty by the stairs and hurry back over to Peter and Ned. Looking at the water I saw it forming into what will soon be called an Elemental. It was a water monster so to speak. I knew it wasn't real but the destruction I was already seeing was. Drones. That's what it was. I clicked my ring changing my clothes into my suit.

'What is that?' Ned asks us.

'I don't know,' Peter said as I shrug.

'What're you gonna do?' Ned asks.

'I left my suit in the hotel room,' Peter said.

'Why?' I ask, panicked.

'Because I'm on vacation, Maya!' he said, also panicked. 'Everyone's going to see my face. Ned, just get them outta here!'

Peter pushed Ned towards where Betty was waiting. MJ joined her at some point. The three of them ran away quickly, MJ gave me an encouraging nod before going. It was weird now, how everyone knew I would stay and fight. The water monster smashes its hand into a building, and I wince as more people scream. Peter and I help people up the stairs telling them to hurry. When I turn around the monster was coming right at us. I grab Peter's hand pulling him behind a building. The monster crashes into a nearby building and I watch a bunch of water flow through where we were just standing. Peter hits his wrist together to activate his web-shooters.

He looks determined as he moves around the corner of the building and shoots a web. It falls uselessly and I grimace. I move so I'm next to him. He looked frustrated and confused. It was adorable. Not the time. Focus on the waster monster destroying everything, Maya.

'How do we fight something made of water?' I ask staring at the thing. How do we fight something that looks like water but is actually hidden drones, is what I wanted to say.

'I don't know!' Peter said shrugging. That makes two of us.

We watch the water monster its attention to a bridge full of running people. My heartbeat picks up and I quickly take off, flying towards the bridge. Peter followed behind me quickly. He jumps across poles in the water. I land on the bridge and help some people who had tripped up and off the bridge. Peter lands next to me, helping the last person up. The monster slams its fist into the bridge and Peter, and I fly backwards. It happened so fast I couldn't do anything to stop it. We hit the other side of the bridge at the same time, both of us now soaking wet. I splutter as Peter coughs.

A green blast starts shooting at the monster from somewhere in the sky. I look behind me and lock my jaw. Beck comes flying in, finally. He shoots green blasts at the monster, dodging attacks as he flies through the air. Seeing him reminds me that all this destruction is for no reason. Guilt once again takes over my sense as Peter stands up. I break out of my frozen state as he moves forward and grabs a masquerade mask. I follow Peter as he climbs up a wall to get closer to Beck. I fly next to him, not wanting to do this. I had to play the part.

'Excuse me, sir!' Peter calls out and Beck turns to us. 'I c—I can help! Let me help! I'm really strong and I'm... sticky! She can manipulate energy!'

I scoff as Beck "considers" us. The asshole.

'I need to lead it away from the canals!'

Beck flies off as the monster smashes into the building Peter was sticking to and I was hovering behind. Peter flips away landing on a nearby roof and I fly off staying low enough to see him. The monster smashes into a building and I act quickly forcing energy around my feet to keep me in the air as I use energy from my hands to keep the building together. Peter uses webs so it stays up.

I look around, knowing Beck isn't worried about damage control. It was my job to "protect the civilians and shit". He was really such a lovely person. I see the bell tower start to tilt and a bunch of people about to get crushed. Peter and already seen it and we both get there quickly. I used energy to keep it up until he used webs to stick it back together. I let my energy fade and landed in the top of the bell tower next to him. We both duck under the bell and moved to the other side as Peter takes off the mask. We watch Beck fly around and I resisted the urge to flip him off. He deserved it.

The monster slams into the bell tower again and it starts falling again. I curse as Peter moves to the side finding two buildings to attach webs to. He goes to hold them and the tower shakes making him fall and hit his head on the bell. I quickly use my powers to keep the tower up as I laugh at him. Before I can get a good grasp on it with energy it shakes a little harder making his hold on the webs strengthen. He starts getting pulled forward and slams his head on the bell again.

'Are you okay?' I ask, in between laughing as I get a good hold on the tower. It stops moving and Peter glares at me shooting new webs to help take some of the weight off.

'I'd be better if you'd stop laughing!' Peter screamed back at me, over the noise of the water monster.

I watch Beck finally defeat the monster as Peter and I still try and keep our hold on the bell tower. Peter yells out as his webs snap and my knees bend slightly as all the weight falls on me. I hold it for a minute or so before I knew it would have to fall at some point and I lose my hold. I fly up and Peter rolls out of the tower as it falls. I watch from the air as Beck lands and people start cheering. I roll my eyes and land next to Peter who shoves something in his pocket. I decide to ignore it. Beck turns to us and salutes us before flying away. I run a hand through my hair, which is now wet, trying to get out my frustration without hitting something.