Black Light

If in high-school someone had told you that you would become a supervillain for an easy way into your chosen industry and to pay for college tuition, you would have laughed. You? A supervillain? First off, you were too busy with school to even date, let alone lead a double life with a secret identity. Secondly, you didn't have an evil bone in your body! You could never hurt even the ugliest spider!

You learned quickly that college can change a person. Which, you know sounds a tad dramatic, but school can be a lot!

This was your third solo job, beforehand you'd been strictly regulated to assisting in larger jobs your professor orchestrated, but now you felt confident enough to start doing small things on your own. No evil mastermind schemes yet, you were too busy with school to try anything on a larger scale on your own, and you felt that maybe you should start off practicing your petty skills first. Which was how you ended up on the roof of a high security jewelry store on a Tuesday night in a black and indigo catsuit with your face hidden under a mask.

“And just what do you think you're doing, ma'am?”

You spun around, caught mid escape, raising something resembling a mad scientist's gun, your spoils from the break-in in a semi-transparent black pouch tied to your utility belt. The diamonds inside glittered.

“Ah. Spider-Man. Figured I'd run into you at some point, just didn't think it'd be so early in my career.” You spoke with a false accent whenever you were doing jobs. You didn't want to run the risk of anybody recognizing your voice. “Tell me, what sort of spider is red and blue?”

Spider-Man raised his hands slightly, palms open and at chest level, facing you, you guessed he was eying your weapon under his mask. “I usually wait to tell my origin story to girls after we get to know each other.” He nodded to your hand. “That doesn't look like an ordinary gun you got there.”

You looked toward the weapon in your grip. “Oh, this old thing? Just something I've been experi-” You were caught off guard by a swift web shot out of- was that out of his hand?

Your gun knocked out of your hand and exploded on impact with the wall.

“Oh, shit-!”

Guess he didn't see that coming, did he? You took advantage of the loud distraction and began to run for it, hoping to get away before someone called the police. You reached the edge of the building and realized you were on the wrong side, your pre-planned path was on the other side of Spider-Man. You hesitated a moment to long, and heard the sound of a second web shoot towards you, spinning sideways just in time for it to land where your right foot had been seconds before. He was running towards you, you had nowhere to go, trapped on the edge of the rooftop. You weren't confident enough with your acrobatic skills to jump across the whole street to the next building, so you took an uncharacteristic risk instead, and went straight to punch him in the face, the air around your fist humming as it began to glow an indigo purple. He dodged, moving just slightly to the side, and stumbling.

Taking advantage of the space between him and the now charred brick wall, you crouched, feeling the energy build up in your feet, the air humming and some of the loose dirt starting to vibrate away from your feet. Your feet began to glow indigo, and you used the energy to jump up a story to the attached building next door, grabbing onto the ledge and hauling yourself onto the new rooftop. There was a whoosh, and Spider-Man landed six feet in front of you, dropping from a web.

“What even is your costume anyway? Are those pointy things ears?”

“It's a work in progress, okay?”

“Were you going for like, a Catwoman thing? I mean, I guess I get it since you're a cat burglar and all but-”

“It's not supposed to be like Catwoman!”

“Sure thing, kitty-cat.”

“Whatever, Spider-Man. Like you made your costume all on your own-”

“I did, actually.” He shot out another web in an attempt to stick your feet to the ground again and stop you from escaping. You were ready this time. Your disguise might not have the best design, and you might not have much experience fighting superheroes, but you still caught on quick. You spun out of the way, and your feet and hands began to glow as you crouched, building up force to pounce. If he was going to call you a cat, you might as well roll with it.

“Okay, seriously, what the hell is up with the glowing shit? What is that?”

“Not sure, honestly.” Your feet were starting to vibrate in your boots, and you leaped, aiming for his head- he ducked, and you rolled, landing on your shoulder on the other side, rolling in a somersault and coming up in another crouch. You jumped up, spinning around, and he was coming towards you, swinging on a string of web, feet out ready to kick you down, and you were bracing yourself to jump aside and catch him in the chest with a glowing indigo arm when--

“Here, kitty-kitty-!”

FWAM. Your arm collided right across his logo, the web snapped, he gasped as the air was knocked out of him and he went straight down, landing on his back with a heavy thud.

“That's for calling me ma'am earlier!” The indigo light faded from your arm and the humming in the air quieted. You jumped back down to where your gun had exploded to collect the scraps. You couldn't risk anyone stealing your tech, you found as many pieces as you could and tucked them into a spare belt pocket. Now you were in a real hurry because you could hear distant sirens. As you finished, you looked up and saw Spider-Man attempting to get up, looking over the edge of the higher building at you and felt a surge of self-satisfaction that you'd been able to knock him down so hard.

Even though you couldn't see his actual eyes, you knew you two had locked eye contact. You grinned, showing your teeth. “Nice meeting you, Spidey! Maybe I'll see you around sometime!” You gave a little sassy salute, running off towards your preplanned escape route and disappearing, leaving nothing behind but a charred brick wall, a strangely dust free circle of rooftop, and a growing bruise on Spider-Man's chest to remember your fight by.

Professor Noble's class was one of your favorite classes, not only was it on the subject you had chosen to base your life around, but it was just fun. You were always one of the first ones there these days, eager to get a good seat in the crowded auditorium. Materials ready to begin taking notes, you sat back and doodled as the classroom around you slowly began to fill up.

“Alright, class! Does everyone have their materials out and ready to go?” Professor Noble walked in through one of the side doors. “I see you all do, very good! Who remembers where we left off last class?” She dropped her bag onto the desk beside the podium at the front, and placing her laptop on the podium opening it up to find the power point for the class.

Another student called out where they had left off, and class began.

Six minutes in, the side door near the front of the class that Noble had walked through swung open, and a frazzled student rushed in, stopping when he saw everyone looking at him.

“Late again, Parker.” Noble shook her head at him. “Find a seat, get out your notes.”

He grinned sheepishly, and slid into the open desk beside you. You watched him out of the corner of your eye, pausing in your note taking. He was pulling out a spiral notebook, and rummaging for something to write with. He paused, feeling eyes on him, and made eye contact with you.

Oh, no. He's hot.

You swallowed, blushing slightly, and offered him your spare pen silently. He accepted, finger brushing yours, and winked as he clicked it with his thumb. You looked away, trying not to burst out in a nervous grin.

“Y/n! Perhaps you have some ideas to share? I know you've been doing your own personal research into Stark tech,” Noble called on you, catching you by surprise.

“Oh, uhm, yeah, I do-” you cleared your throat, feeling eyes on you. Normally you enjoyed the attention, you knew you were intelligent and like to show off. You glanced at—what was his name? Parker? He was grinning at you. You looked away quickly and shifted in your seat, crossing your legs. “Yeah. So, I was thinking about how Stark could potentially use his Iron Man tech for prosthetics or even for mobility aids for people with paralysis...” And off you went, as soon as you started talking about your ideas, the whole world melted away, all you could think of was the bright sparkling future you were speaking about in your head.

As you continued talking, people looked away, either bored or taking down notes of your ideas, knowing Noble had a habit of using them for future class discussions. You finished speaking, and stole a glance at Parker again. His shit eating grin was replaced by genuine interest. You smiled, embarrassed at being caught looking once again, and looked away.

Nearly two hours later, class ended and students hurriedly began packing, ready to run to their next classes or wherever else they needed to be. You were in no rush, this was your last class of the day and you had five hours before you needed to be at Professor Noble's laboratory, so you packed at a leisurely pace.

“Hey.”

You looked up to find Parker standing in front of your desk, backpack slung over just one shoulder. You gave a casual smile in greeting. “Parker, right?”

“Peter Parker.”

“Right. You're the late kid.” You grinned.

He laughed. “Busy guy. What's your name?”

You gave him your first name.

“There a last name that goes with that?” He smiled down at you, standing just at the edge of your personal bubble.

“Who wants to know?”

“Just that I have a friend who knows Stark personally, and he might like to hear some of your ideas.”

“They're just ideas, I'm sure he's already thought of them.”

“You'd be surprised how busy he is with other stuff.”

“Y/l/n.”

“What?”

“That's my last name.” You smiled up at him from your seat, closing your bag, and standing up.

“Y/n Y/l/n. That's pretty.”

You grinned. “It's alright.”

“So, Y/n Y/l/n, how about I get my friend to introduce you to Iron Man?”

You paused. This Peter guy was pretty cute, and Noble would kill for access to Stark's labs. You knew because she almost had.

Peter was waiting, staring at you eagerly for a response.

“How about you take me out to coffee and I'll think about it?”

His face split into a huge grin. “I know a great place not too far from here.”

You grinned back, and followed him out the door.