The Avengers Academy

Chapter XV

Schuyler sat awkwardly in front of Peter. He was wrapped in a blanket, regardless of the natural heat and that from the fire. His right arm and most of the right side of his body was numb. Whenever she moved near him he would automatically shy away. He realized he had done this and blushed.
He looked back at her and grinned nervously. "You know, I used to be scared of you, because you killed so many people. I actually almost met you. You were monitoring clean up of a Skrull attack and I had to go by you to get to a petty robbery across Queens. I took a two minute detour and almost didn't get there in time."
"Geez! How did Spider-Man get so weak?" said Schuyler quietly, almost under her breath. She meant it as a joke, but it didn't come out that way.
"What?!"
"Um, how did Spiderman end up so weak?" Schuyler mumbled again, uncertain whether she wanted to yell or run away.
"Weak?" Peter shot back "Funny, I've always thought of it as self control."
"Yeah, whatever you say..." It was to late.
"Oh, and where is your self control? Does stark not teach you these things?" He was taking this to seriously and she was getting frustrated.
"Self control? That is the inability to kill people, right?"
"Oh, that's so funny, because a lot of people wouldn't see that as a flaw."
"Yeah, well I've become pretty comfortable with the idea that I'm not a lot of people!" Sky made eye contact with him for a split second, then stormed off.
Peter tried to stand but the arm he tried to use was numb, and gave way.
"No, I should do this." Ethan said, and brushed past him. He moved quietly after her in the dark. "Stop it Sky! This is ridiculous!"
"Oh yeah?" As she turned back he say her palm sparking, lighting up her hands from the inside, making her fingernails glow.
"Yes." said Ethan, "Now relax." He knew this would make her angrier and he was right. As Peter tried to get up again (he knew a fight when he saw one) Ethan watched the heat spread up Schuyler's arm. It illuminated more space behind it. Yes, he was sure. Bullets shot through the cold air, cracking of rocks and scaring off a small owl (the not-blue kind). He grabbed Schuyler's hand, ignoring the burning sensation on his palm, and pulled her back toward the light. When he reached it, he helped Peter to his feet and they stood back to back, watching the absence of anything-happening chisel the stars in place. Then in front of them the cracks in the dry ground ignited, shooting up blue flame. The small torches lit up around them, until they were surrounded by the little flower life fires. Ethan gaped at the place a few feet above the ground in front of him and shook Peter and Schuyler.
"What is it?" Sky said turning. She saw what he saw as the words "It's her" died in his mouth.