Happy New Years doods, apologize for the lack of chapters since the beginning of December but I've been in a bit of a writers block and been busy to add to it. So, first things first! This story is now on AO3! The story will be updated there as well, every previous chapter is already up so go read through it again if you're feeling nostalgic. Anyway let's continue.
Black Knights Hangout
The last thing Steve felt was an incredibly sharp pain followed by an intense cold, in his mind it felt like when he fell into the ice all those years ago. He didn't know how long he had been frozen, but the first thing he saw when he awoke was Kallen.
"You good there Steve?" Kallen asked, concern as Steve fell on his rear.
"What happened?" Steve asked as he slowly stood up.
"We have a guest." Kallen said as she nodded to the newcomer.
He stood with a suit and tie, and a devilish smile. Steve didn't trust him at all.
"My apologies, Captain, but I knew you would stop me from meeting Zero." The man put his left hand over his right, and just then did Steve see his jewelry. On his hand, each finger was decorated with a ring. Each ring was a different color, but one was missing. His left middle finger was empty, something told Steve that it probably shouldn't be.
"How did you know we were here?"
"Careful reconnaissance, the Ten Rings know how to find a target. Even one so elusive as the Black Knights. I hope this doesn't ruin our business relationship moving forward." The man left with a smile on his face, going back into the Black Knights luxury vehicle.
"Who is he?" Steve asked Kallen.
"Calls himself Eugene Khan, aka The Mandarin, leader of the Ten Rings. Some sort of criminal group in China that helped us out, allegedly. So, he got the drop on you?" Kallen asked.
"He had to; I didn't even see him. Then there is the instant freeze, how did he do that?" Steve looked to Kallen, only to receive a shrug. Steve could only frown, unsure of the company that has invited themselves into their home.
"Let's head inside, we can only trust Zero to do what's best for the group." Steve nodded and headed inside with her.
Government Bureau, Next Morning
Let it not be said that Euphemia Li Britannia was not an empathetic woman, in fact one could say she cared a little too much about the subjects under her.
"How are you, Suzaku?" She asked the ace pilot as he lie on the medical bed, his sides were lightly bandaged and an adhesive over his forehead. Other than that, he wore a military issued shirt and shorts, something so casual…she wondered if she could ever get away with dressing that simple in public.
"I'm doing fine, thank you Princess. If I'm going to be honest, Ms. Croomy was the one who insisted I be off duty. My injuries weren't that dire." Suzaku appreciated Cecile, but she was a real worry-wort.
"She cares about you; she wouldn't do this if she didn't." Suzaku wanted to waive it off, but Euphemia is right. Suzaku should really thank Cecile when he had the chance. "Ah, I forget I'm technically here for professional reasons." Euphemia reached down into her bag and pulled out a small box. She opened it to reveal a small medal.
"Is that…?" Suzaku was hesitant.
"I insisted that your bravery be rewarded, my sister was quick to fold. I tend to have that effect on her." Euphemia handed the small box to him, Suzaku looked it over. "Congratulations on the promotion, Chief Warrant Officer Kururugi."
"Thank you, princess." Suzaku gave a small bow.
"I think we can skip the formality, if that's alright with you." Euphemia said.
"Um, sure. We can do that."
"Call me Euphie then."
"Suzaku is fine for me, I guess." It was a little awkward being this comfortable near someone who had so much power over him. It was like being comfortable with his drill sergeant…if his drill sergeant didn't hate him.
"Okay, Suzaku. I should warn you that you've managed to impress quite a lot of people last night." Suzaku looked confused.
"Isn't that a good thing?" He asked.
"Yes, and no. Darlton has certainly been keeping his eye on you, evaluating your skills. But he's not the only one. The Purebloods – or what's left of them – haven't forgotten their vows, I wouldn't worry too much about them though, they hardly have enough manpower to effect any real change."
"Who else?"
"Royals, and perhaps the Knights of the Rounds."
"The Knights of the Round?" Suzaku asked incredulously.
"You've impressed some of them, I'll have you know the selection process is incredibly rigorous, so finding an addition is a lengthy and boring process. The Knight of One, Bismarck Waldstein, interviews each new candidate and he's very picky. He's also a remarkably busy man, so don't be surprised if you see a Knight or two pass by our area."
"Knights of the Round scouting me, yeah that's not a particularly scary thought." Suzaku chuckled.
"If they aren't, surely the attention of royals should be, they may not have as much teeth as they used to but don't be lenient. None of them are happy of someone like you being in the spotlight."
"You mean an Eleven." Suzaku asked solemnly.
"Unfortunately, yes. Some, like my sister Guinevere, would rather see the dogma upheld than let people like you prosper. It's a shame."
"No pressure, right?" Suzaku asked.
"Such is the burden of the spotlight; all eyes are on you and not all of them are looking for something good. If I can give any advice, keep close to your chest, and find people you can trust. Friends are a hard commodity to find when people try to use you for their own gain."
"Thank you, Euphie."
Ashford Academy
Miles felt a chill in the air, the feeling of the fall wind was coming to Area 11. But for now, the sun still shone with its vibrant heat.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Milly sat beside him on a bench overlooking the campus. The roof was a good spot to think, sometimes better than his own room.
"I have a lot on my mind, but mostly? I think he was right." Miles leaned onto his knees, continuing to look forward.
"He?" Milly asked.
"That general guy, Tohdoh? He had a point, is this what Peter would have wanted? Fighting people who want their country back? With great power comes great responsibility, but who am I responsible for? The Britannian government? The Japanese? Who am I to decide I should save?" Miles sunk into the bench, obviously at a lost.
"Miles, I can't answer that for you. Only you can decide who you save, sorry Miles."
Miles sighed, "Well, it was worth the shot."
"I think you need to do some soul-searching Miles. Walk around, sometimes the simpler things will answer your question." Milly gave a small smile; one Miles didn't return.
"Thanks." Miles stood up and wandered off,
x-x
Sinister Hideout
"Your reports have been very lacking, Agent." The voice of the emperor loomed over Flash Thompson.
"It has been slow work your majesty. I have been studying Area 11 thoroughly, what scenarios to trap the spider in and kill him with. We should be ready soon." Flash was diligent in his investigations, watching old footage of this Spider-Man and using Electro to mimic any scenario they could be in. The work they did was vital to their work.
"Study only goes so far; results are all that matters." The emperor was right, and Flash knew it.
"We'll be enacting out plans soon, your majesty. The spider will die, and your will be done." Flash gave a small bow, Charles look satisfied enough.
"Then see to it, or else you and your underlings will be left behind." The communications were cut brief, which left Flash alone.
"Quite a thrilling conversation Mr. Thompson." Almost alone.
"Beck." Flash sighed as he turned around to the man behind him.
Quentin was, if Flash could be honest, the most off-putting of all the villains under his command. He never heard of the man, he never came up on any records, and he certainly wasn't any villain he heard of. He was the most…calm? It was hard to put it into words, there was just something off about the man.
"Oh? Was I interrupting?" Quentin asked as he entered the room.
"No, you're fine. Is there something you need?" Flash asked.
"Oh nothing, I just wished to watch. It is so rarely I get to ever see his majesty's face, usually my tasks are given to me by the OSI. You should feel grateful that his majesty saw it fit to speak with you directly, he is a terribly busy man." Flash rolled his eyes as he walked out of the room.
"Go get Marko, I need him to come with me to secure our plan." Flash ordered Quentin, wanting to be out of his company.
"As you say, commander." Quentin walked off, perhaps happier than he should have been.
Why did you help the pretender at the school?
The voice of the Symbiote spoke in his mind, 'You mean Spider-Man?' Flash spoke to it in his mind, it was still jarring to hear another voice in your head.
You purpose is to hunt him down and end him, why not take advantage of the situation. Your task would have been over, and you would be rid of these vermin.
'Those kids were in danger, I had to do something. Why do you ask?' No one needed to die, especially not innocent bystanders.
It felt good, to be a hero again.
"Yeah, I guess it did."
x-x
Ashford Academy Halls
Soul searching wasn't as easy as Miles thought it'd be. Walking through the halls of Ashford brought now answers or reprieve. In fact, it felt like it only worsened it.
"We understand your worries about recent events, but we at Ashford can confidently say that this will not happen again." Down the hall was a group of people coming his way. In front was none other than Nunnally, with her was another girl, and behind them were a couple handful of adults. Parents?
"Nunnally? What's all this?" Miles asked. Nunnally stopped on her wheelchair and turned to the girl beside her.
"Kelly, do you mind escorting the parents for a bit?" Nunnally asked.
"Sure Nunna! Okay parents, follow me!" The energetic brunette clapped her hands as if to beckon to parents as they walked past him, leaving him and Nunnally alone.
"Sorry I didn't hear you Miles, it's been a little busy as of late. Many of the parents of our high school students, understandably, were worried about their children's schooling. Me and the junior council have been trying to ease their worries, that was just the latest group of parents we were showing around."
Walk around, sometimes the simpler things will answer your question.
"Nunnally, do you have a minute to talk?" Miles asked.
"Um, sure. What is it?" Nunnally moved her wheelchair closer to him.
"I... I have these two friends that hate each other and…well I don't agree with either of them but I want to help. But I think if I just help one the other will hate me, I don't want that. I just don't know what to do." Miles leaned back against the wall, waiting for Nunnally's opinion.
"Hmm, sounds like a sticky situation. You know what I think?" Milly leaned forward in her wheelchair, vaguely looking in his direction.
"What?"
"Just help them." Nunnally smiled.
"Just help them. That's it?" Miles looked at the girl with a raised brow.
"Of course, you can choose where to help. You aren't obligated to choose one over the other, in fact you don't have to help either of them. You can decide what to do. Sorry if it's a bit too vague, if I had more information, I could probably be a bit more specific."
"Huh, maybe Milly was right." Miles remarked.
"What about Milly?"
"It's nothing, thank you Nunnally. You really helped."
"My ears are always open; I hope your problem can be resolved." Nunnally gave a small smile, glad to hear she helped.
As Miles walked away, he sent a text to Milly, it was time for a shakeup.
x-x
Outside the Ashford campus, Rueben Ashford walked with a briefcase and phone in hand, talking to his granddaughter, Milly.
"Yes, Milly, I am on my way to the insurance office. I'm not as old as you think I am. I'll be back in a later tonight, so tell your mother to eat without me. Yes, I love you too." Rueben gave a quick farewell to his daughter as he hung up.
Unknown to him, eyeing him from the sewer drain across were the sharp yellow eyes of a predator hunting his prey.
"Assshforrrrrrd."
Again, I apologize for the late chapter and quite an uneventful one at that. Next chapter should have a bit more content to it. Anyway, Happy New Year and hope you've enjoyed.