✓ | parted [ ➁ ]

[ chapter thirteen ]

Andi wasn't sure where to go. Arrows flew overhead, targeted at someone who was flying, she wasn't sure who, and the sound of metal against metal filled her ears from all sides. For the moment she focused on what Wanda was doing, which was flinging nearby cars and other small airport vehicles in Peter's direction as he swung around on a web to avoid it.

Andi stepped in, using her powers over metal to try and get in the way and keep the things away from Peter but it only worked if the objects were made of metal. They managed for a while, and then Peter got out of the way for good when he went after Steve, who was running ahead. He'd somehow gotten away from Tony, and instead of looking back to see what happened to him, she followed behind Peter since both Clint and Wanda were occupied by Nat now.

Steve anticipated Peter's arrival because he turned around and threw is shield. It sliced right through the webbing, causing Peter to fall, and right when the shield was about to return to Steve, Andi intervened, holding her arms out and willing the shield to come to her instead.

It did so with such force that she was thrown off balance a little, and had to take a few steps back, but she held the shield firmly in her hands while looking at Steve.

"That thing does not obey the law of physics at all," Peter muttered, rising to his feet after recovering from falling down.

"Look," Steve said, looking between both Andi and Peter. "There's a lot going on here that you don't understand."

"Mr. Stark said you'd say that," Peter replied before throwing his arm forward and letting a web shoot toward Steve. He got him by the legs, and began to pull, throwing Steve onto his back so he was dragged forward. Once he was close enough, Peter used his hold on him to kick forward, sending Steve flying back into a nearby aerobridge.

Andi didn't particularly enjoy going up against Steve — or anyone here since almost all of them had been considered her family at one point — but she was still confused.

As Steve got to his feet, Peter intervened yet again, but this time, Steve was prepared. When the webs shot out to grab his arms, he used it against Peter and turned around, so Peter was dragged forward instead. Steve swiftly kicked him aside as if it was nothing, and this time it was Peter who slammed against bottom of the aerobridge.

"What else did Stark say about me?" Steve asked, looking at Peter.

"That you're wrong," Peter mumbled, slowly getting to his feet. "You think you're right. And that makes you dangerous."

Steve considered this with a small shrug. "Guess he had a point," he murmured, running forward and kicking the the structure that held the bridge up. In one move, it gave away, and the bridge fell down on Peter.

Andi reached forward instinctively, but Peter managed to hold up the weight of it before it crushed him. He was too occupied to fight back now though, so Steve turned on her.

"Andi," he regarded her.

"Steve," she replied, gripping the shield tight.

"You know that there's something bigger at play here," he told her. "This isn't about the Accords anymore, or even me trying to protect Bucky."

Andi knew Steve wouldn't lie about something like that, and he wouldn't have Wanda and Clint and Sam helping him if it wasn't for something bigger. But they were still going up against the law.

"Maybe you can talk it out with Tony," Andi reasoned, even if she knew that was impossible at this point. "If this is as big as you say it is then you'll need all the help you can get, and—"

"You know that isn't going to happen, Andi," he said, walking toward her, though moving slowly. "We need to do this. And I can't let anyone stop us."

If it came down to a fight, then Andi would participate. But she didn't want it to come down to that. She couldn't bring herself to fight her mentor. She didn't even know how good she'd be at it. She may have learned from him, but he was still stronger, more experienced. The only advantage she had was that she held his shield, but it's not like she could do anything with it.

"Then I won't stop you," Andi said softly, having made up her mind. Not because she didn't want to fight Steve, but because she didn't want to fight anyone. And she believed that something more important was at play here. All the fighting was only going to make things worse.

After a moment of hesitation, she held out her hand, so Steve could take his shield. She could tell he was a little surprised, based on his expression, but he wasted no time taking the shield from her and attaching it to his arm.

"Stay out of trouble," he told her before turning to look at a still struggling Peter. "You've got heart, kid." Andi saw him smile as he said that, but almost immediately after, he took off.

Andi turned to Peter and tried to help by using her powers. She was growing increasingly tired, but determination kept her active. She was able to hold up the aerobridge long enough for him to slide out from underneath it. He rolled to a stop in front of her and got to his feet.

"You okay?" He asked. She knew he wasn't talking about physical injuries, but rather about what just went down.

Andi nodded, which prompted him to ask another question. "Are you sure about what you just did?" He definitely sounded worried. "I mean, Mr. Stark said—"

"I know what he said," she cut him off. "But I also know Steve. This isn't just a fight about a stupid set of rules anymore. I need to get Tony to see that." And in explaining it to Peter, she wondered if he would believe her, or think differently of her now.

A moment of silence passed between them. Andi couldn't even tell what he was thinking because he had his mask on, but then he spoke. "Okay," Peter nodded slowly. "If you think that's the right thing to do then... then I trust you."

Feeling relief flood her, Andi straightened her posture. "Then we need to find Tony," she said. Maybe there was still some time to try and fix this before it got worse.

"Hey lovebirds," Tony's voice came from above and they both looked up to see him hovering in the air. Perfect. Andi was about to say something to him when he spoke again. "We've got a situation."

Tony flew off before Andi could even understand what he was talking about. She and Peter both followed his movement for a few feet till they saw what Tony mentioned.

"What the hell?" Peter muttered as he stared.

Andi more or less felt the same. The man that had once grown into full size from being tiny had now taken things to the next level, because he was a giant. All the focus was on him, which meant that Steve had some time to get away. It was a good diversion, since Tony and Rhodey were already occupied with trying to take him down.

As much as Andi wanted Steve to leave, she also couldn't leave Tony to battle this on his own. Besides, trying to take him down was definitely going to take up some chunk of their time anyway, so she gestured for Peter to follow. "Come on."

She had no idea how they were going to do this, but this entire day had been crazy to begin with. What's one more ridiculous event added to that list?