"Ange, hey, Angie, wait up!" Angie turned to see Gwen jogging down the sidewalk to catch up with her. Angie waited for the blonde to reach her before smiling at her.
"Hey, Gwen, what's up?" Angie asked
"Well, homecoming is coming up soon" Gwen said "Who are you going with?"
"Who do you think?" Angie gave the girl a deadpan look.
"Wade?" Gwen guessed. Angie nodded.
"Did he already ask you?" Gwen asked
"Not yet" Angie shrugged "I'll bring it up soon"
"You can't ask him" Gwen protested
"Why not?" Angie frowned
"Tradition" Gwen said. Angie rolled her eyes.
"Tradition, eh?" Angie asked "So you want me to wait around for a guy to ask me to an event he doesn't even know about?" Gwen paused.
"Just let him ask you" Gwen said
"Did Peter ask you yet?" Angie smirked. Gwen blushed.
"No" Gwen admitted
"He probably just assumes you know you're going with him, and will bring it up the day of" Angie said "If I were you, I'd go remind him that he still has to ask"
"You may have a point there" Gwen nodded "Peter always seems a little zoned out, like he always has something on his mind" Angie nodded.
"That's guys for ya" Angie nodded "I gotta jet. See ya around?" Gwen nodded and Angie jogged off.
At the same time, on the opposite side of town, Spiderman and Deadpool sat together on a building, masks pulled up as they ate.
"So, we have a homecoming dance at our school coming up" Spiderman said "You should ask Angie" Deadpool glanced at Spiderman.
"Bad idea" Deadpool said "As much as I'd love to go to a dance with Ange, my face isn't exactly cut out for public viewing"
"It's a masquerade theme" Spiderman said "Everyone's gonna be wearing masks and stuff" Deadpool nodded.
"Are you bringing that cute Gwen girl?" Deadpool asked
"Yeah" Spiderman nodded
"Did you already ask her?" Deadpool asked
"Well, no, not yet" Spiderman shrugged "But she knows we're going together"
"You might wanna ask her" Deadpool said "Before she gets the wrong impression"
"Since when are you the love guru?" Spiderman snorted
"Since forever, man" Deadpool grinned "Since forever"
Dragon groaned as someone landed a punch to her stomach. She shot her fist out and caught them back in the jaw. She was so incredibly outnumbered, and already tiring. Dragon managed to get free and half run, half fly from the warehouse she was cornered in, getting in to an alley and hiding behind a dumpster, head leaning back against the wall. Suddenly, her phone rang and Dragon answered it.
"Hello?" Dragon murmured
"Hey, baby-cakes" Wade hummed "What'cha doin?"
"Hiding" Dragon whispered "This is a bad time, Wade. Can I call you back?"
"When you're done wherever you are, meet at the usual spot, okay?" Wade asked "Alive, preferably"
"What, you're not gonna come back me up?" Dragon wheezed
"I'm dealing with some stuff too, Sweetums, or I would. Where's Parker?" Wade asked
"Out of town" Dragon said. She heard the thugs approach the alley and held her breath.
"Ange?" Wade called. The thugs got closer, just on the other side of the dumpsters. Dragon surged upwards.
"Call you back!" Dragon yelled, hanging up and sliding her phone in her boot before tackling the nearest thug. One whacked her leg with a bat and Dragon shouted in pain before letting out a hot breath of fire, deterring the thugs. She managed to take them out before locking down the warehouse the others were in and calling the police. Then, Dragon flew off towards Deadpool. She landed on the usual roof and
nearly fell to her knees. That asshole messed up her leg. Dragon glanced around, no Deadpool in sight. Suddenly, an arrow lit up, pointing to the right. Dragon followed it to see another arrow. The pattern continued until Dragon got to the local opera house. Dragon flew in to see a man in a tuxedo on the stage, a white mask hiding
most of his face from sight.
"Wade?" Dragon muttered. A grin spread across his face and Wade pulled a thick rope and the curtains opened to reveal a large sign. 'Homecoming?' was scrawled across it in black paint. Dragon flew up to the stage and put her hands on her hips.
"Seriously? I got beat up for this?" Dragon asked
"I wanted to make it special" Wade said. Dragon sighed as Wade walked over. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
"Ow" Dragon muttered.
"I'm sorry" Wade murmured, pulling down her hood and pressing a kiss to her head.
"Yes, I'll go to homecoming with you, you dork" Dragon muttered "For now, though, you can take me home, because I'm going to pass out soon and Stark Tower has medical" Wade scooped Dragon up in his arms and pressed another kiss to her forehead.
"You'll be okay" he promised "Then you can go get your dress and we can go to homecoming next week"
"You do realize its not for three weeks, right?"
"That's what I said"
"Miss Stark Rogers, Mister Wilson has arrived" Jarvis announced.
"Yo, Ange! Your boy toy is here!" Clint yelled a second later. Angie rolled her eyes, looked at her dress one last time in the mirror, adjusted her mask, then walked out of her room. Steve and Tony were waiting there, and Steve had a camera. Angie groaned.
"Dad, Pops, it's just homecoming" Angie said
"You're our daughter; leave us be" Tony muttered. Angie sighed and allowed Steve to take a picture of her. She walked to the elevator, her dad's trailing after her. They got to the lobby and Wade was waiting there, Pepper talking with him softly. He was nodding every so often and didn't seem to fear for his life, so that was a plus.
"Wade!" Angie called. He looked up with a smile.
"Hey, Sweetums" he greeted "You look amazing"
"You too" Angie smiled "Lovin the mask" Wade grinned widely.
"Pose together or something" Tony said "We want a picture" Angie rolled her eyes, but posed with Wade regardless. Steve snapped a couple pictures and smiled at his daughter.
"Remember-" Steve started
"-keep your phone on at all times, don't take anything from anyone I don't know, be home within the hour after it ends, drive safe, have fun, and no fighting" Angie finished "Trust me, Natasha gave me the same spiel when I was getting ready earlier"
"Tasha said no fighting?" Clint asked as he exited the elevator.
"Well, not exactly, but I don't wanna ruin my dress" Angie said
"C'mon, Wade. We have to pick up Petey and Gwen"
"Of course" Wade smiled.
"Bye, dads! Pepper already interrogated Wade, so your jobs are done" Angie said as she pulled Wade towards the door. He chuckled and followed her, arm going around her shoulders.
"Wait!" Angie turned to see Thor lumbering after her.
"Yes?" Angie tilted her head. Thor held out a bracelet.
"My Lady Jane was supposed to give this to you, but she has been very preoccupied with her work as of late, and did not get the chance" Thor said. Angie smiled and slipped the bracelet on.
"It's beautiful, Uncle Thor. I've gotta jet though" Thor nodded and Angie and Wade exited, getting in the limo parked out front.
"All ready to go, Miss Stark Rogers?" Happy asked
"Yes, Happy" Angie nodded "To Gwen's place" Happy nodded and pulled out into the streets. He managed to get to Gwen's house, pick up Gwen and Peter, and get to the school in record time.
"I'll call when I need pick-up" Angie said "And please tell my dads to stop trying to bug me; I've learned how to disable them" Angie pulled the bug from her purse and crushed it under her heel.
"You'd think they would have learned by now" Angie muttered
"They're parents" Gwen said "They never learn" Angie chuckled and the group walked into the gym, giving their tickets to the doorman; some poor freshman who was probably trying to get his volunteer hours done.
"So, do I finally get to meet all your friends?" Wade asked
"You've already met them" Angie said
"Seriously? You only have two friends?" Wade asked
"Ange, you're friends with basically everyone" Peter said
"I'm friendly with basically everyone" Angie corrected "There's a difference" Peter shook his head. Angie grinned and link her arm with Wade's.
"Wanna vote on Homecoming King and Queen?" Wade asked "I always see it happen in movies, and I feel like a trip to Homecoming would be incomplete without it" Angie laughed.
"Yeah, sure" Wade and Angie walked over to the booth and the couple running it both stared at Wade.
"What?" Wade frowned
"Dude, your Phantom costume is rocking" the guy said. Wade grinned proudly and Angie slapped her forehead.
"I should've seen this coming a mile away" Angie muttered, grabbing a piece of paper, scribbling a name down, then putting it in the Homecoming King box, then repeating the process for Homecoming Queen. Wade and Angie circulated among her peers, occasionally stopping to talk to someone. At one point in time, Wade snuck off, leaving Angie talking to Gwen and Peter. He reappeared not long after, grinning.
"What did you do?" Angie put her hands on her hips.
"Nothing?"
"Wade!"
"Nothing!" Gwen and Peter chuckled and Wade pressed a kiss to Angie's lips.
"C'mon, let's dance" Wade said, pulling Angie to the dance floor. The song suddenly switched to some 40's swing song and Angie grinned.
"You are so responsible for this" Angie accused, tapping her foot to the beat.
"I'd have to say that I am not" Wade grinned "But I have a feelin we could kill it either way" Angie grinned and took Wade's hands in her own, feet moving quickly. Steve had decided to take swing classes, and dragged Angie into it, and she had passed her knowledge onto Wade, so the pair was adequately prepared for a quick dance. Angie ducked as Wade swung his leg over her head before she popped back up, spinning around with the man. When the song ended, Wade scooped Angie up into his arms easily to loud applause and cheering. Angie laughed as Wade put her down and she kissed him. She could feel him grin into the kiss and pulled back to see his grin growing.
"What?" Angie asked
"Sing once again with me" he said "Our strange duet" Angie rolled her eyes and smacked Wade's arm.
"I am in no way Christine" Angie said
"You've read Phantom of the Opera?" Wade sounded surprised
"Pepper made me read it to improve my French" Angie said "You sound surprised"
"Didn't think it was your type of book" Wade admitted
"It's not" Angie said "It was really interesting, but Christine had a major case of Stockholm Syndrome" Wade shook his head.
"You could technically say I have Stockholm Syndrome then" Wade winked and Angie put her hands on her hips.
"How so?" Angie asked
"Think of how we officially met" Wade said "When you actually managed to kidnap me" Angie rolled her eyes, grin pulling at her lips. Wade pecked her cheek and Angie nudged him with her shoulder. Around them, couples had begun to slow dance to the song that was on. Wade held out his hand, doing a mock bow as he did so. Angie chuckled and took his hand, arms going around Wade's shoulders. His arms went around her waist as Angie pressed her face into the crook of Wade's neck. He was a good head taller than her, but at least she was still taller than Peter. For now. Damn. Angie was gonna be that short friend even though she wasn't even that short. It sucked.
"What you thinkin about?" Wade murmured
"How I'm gonna be the short friend" Angie muttered and Wade chuckled. His arms tightened around her waist and Angie was suddenly lifted into the air.
"There. Not short anymore" Wade grinned. Angie laughed, but Wade didn't put her down. People were starting to look over now.
"You can put me down now" Angie said quietly. Wade just grinned up at her.
"Wade" Angie groaned, but was grinning. Wade put Angie on her feet gently and kissed her forehead.
"I think you're the perfect height" Wade said
"And why's that?" Angie asked
"Do you have to lean up or down to put your head on my shoulder?" Wade asked
"No" Angie said
"Then you're the perfect height" Wade murmured before wrapping his arms back around Angie. Angie smiled to herself, resting her head on Wade's shoulder, arms wrapping around his neck.
"Okay, everyone! Time to announce the Homecoming King and Queen!" The principal said, taking to the stage. Wade and Angie turned, Peter and Gwen walking over to join them. Peter had red lipstick on his cheek and Wade smirked.
"Might wanna head to the little spiders room to freshen up your makeup, Parker" Wade muttered. Peter's eyes widened and he felt around his face. Gwen quickly rubbed the mark off while Angie and Wade snickered.
"And, the Homecoming Queen is...Angela Rogers!" Angie paused, glancing around. Wade was grinning. Angie glared at him.
"You had something to do with this, and are in so much trouble" Angie muttered before walking up to the stage and throwing a quick smile at her peers.
"You have to do a speech" the principal whispered as a crown was placed on her head. Angie sighed, but took to the microphone.
"So, somehow I managed to get the majority of you to vote me in for Homecoming Queen. Thanks. I think. And if it had anything to do with the guy singing the Phantom of the Opera telling you to vote for me, then you all suck, because that's coercion and you shouldn't fall to peer pressure" Angie said, stirring a few laughs from the crowd.
"Do I actually have to make a speech? Or can I just get off stage now?" Angie asked, glancing back at the principal. He made a motion for her to keep going.
"Equality to all. Don't discriminate. Everyone keep being smart and staying in school and I so didn't pick up on my dad's natural ability to give on the spot speeches" Angie said "Or my god-mother's to that. Wow. This is almost frightening" Angie watched as everyone laughed slightly.
"Can I just do stand-up comedy? Is that a thing I can do? No?" Angie glanced at the principal, who looked slightly mortified "Yeah, that's what you guys get for letting me have power. Gwen Stacy better be our Valedictorian so we can actually have a decent speech at Graduation. You go Midtown High!" Angie tossed the mic to her principal before walking off the stage.
"Wait, you have to stay up here" the principal called. Angie sighed and walked back up.
"And now, what is a Queen without her king?" the principal asked
"Historically? Better" Angie muttered
"This year's Homecoming King: Flash Thompson!" Angie suppressed a groan as Flash sauntered up and took his crown.
"I'm gonna keep my speech short and sweet: Firstly, not surprised I'm up here. Secondly, y'all rock! Go Midtown High, yeah man!" Flash pumped his fist and Angie shook her head.
"Your Homecoming King and Queen everyone!" The principal said "Let's have a dance" Angie walked down from the stage and tried to disappear into the crowd before Flash cut her off.
"C'mon. It's tradition. King dances with the Queen" Flash said
"Despite who they are" Angie sighed, but let Flash lead her in a dance. When the song was over, Angie sought out Peter, Gwen, and Wade. Peter was laughing, looking at his phone. Gwen was shaking her head with a grin. Wade was smiling at Angie.
"How could you have possibly known I had anything to do with it?" Wade asked
"Because you're you" Angie said
"You're face!" Peter wheezed "You looked so disgusted!" Angie laughed and grabbed Peter's phone, looking at the picture. It was from the second the Homecoming King had been announced and Angie had wrinkled her nose and curled her lips back. Angie laughed and shook her head.
"So, who are you, exactly?" Everyone turned to see two classmates there; Stephanie and her boyfriend Brock.
"Me?" Wade asked
"Yeah. We've never seen you around" Stephanie nodded
"Oh, that's because I'm a professional masked mercenary that works with both Spiderman and Dragon to protect the city from crime" Wade said. Angie rolled her eyes.
"Very funny" Angie said "This is Wade. He's my boyfriend"
"You're tapping that?" Brock asked "Respect, man" Wade frowned.
"What?" Brock tilted his head.
"I'm in a loving, respected, and trusting relationship with her, yes" Wade nodded "She's not a chisel; I don't need to tap her to date her"
"Oh. I just thought that you two would be screwing, given how much make-up she made you wear" Brock said
"Make up?" Wade tilted his head
"Yeah. All those scars" Brock nodded "That must've taken hours"
"Right. Sure." Wade sent a look at Angie, Peter, and Gwen, who all grinned slightly.
"And, since, y'know, she's kinda got a reputation" Brock said. Angie turned on him, hands on her hips.
"Oh really? That right, Brock?" Angie asked
"Well, you are a Stark, technically" Brock said. Angie rolled her eyes.
"My dad is in a committed relationship, believe it or not" Angie said "And so am I. You done here?"
"Wait, you mean they're actually gay?" Brock gaped "I thought that that was just a publicity thing" Angie pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Brock, why don't you go before you say anything stupid" Gwen said "Wait, too late for that" Angie's head snapped towards her blonde friend, mouth gaping. Angie had never heard Gwen sass someone that wasn't her or Peter. Brock slinked away, Stephanie following.
"This is exactly why I only have two friends" Angie said to Wade, who nodded.
"People are stupid" he said.
"Agreed" Angie nodded "And Gwen? That was amazing, go you" Gwen grinned. Suddenly, the gym doors burst open.
"Stark!" Angie pulled out her phone as she walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Wade grabbed her shoulder.
"I'm calling my Uncle" Angie said. She heard someone answer and put her phone to her ear.
"Hey, Uncle Clint. Yeah, it's me, Angie" Angie said "Hey, I was just wondering, can you head over? Someone is calling me out, and I don't feel like dealing with it right now. Yeah, bring Aunt Tasha, if you want. Okay, see you soon" Angie stood in front of the people who had burst in and pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance.
"Seriously?" Angie muttered "I'm gonna have to ruin my hair for Justin Hammer and two goons?"
"There you are, Stark" Justin said "Come with me, and we won't have to kill anyone" Angie sighed deeply before toeing off her heels.
"Who's first?" Angie asked, shifting into a loose fighting stance. The two goons rushed forwards and Angie rolled her eyes. She scooped up one of her shoes and slammed it into one guy's gut, winding him and causing him to fall back, groaning. The other guy grabbed her from behind and Angie snorted before stepping down hard on his feet, using his tough hold around her arms as leverage before dropping backwards and slamming his onto the ground. Angie stood as more goons ran in.
"Hut hut!" The football team suddenly converged on the goons, outnumbering them five to one. Angie watched in amazement as Flash dragged Justin Hammer over.
"I get that you don't like me, but how about this is our truce?" Flash asked
"You organized this?" Angie asked, glancing at the footballers taking down the goons.
"What good king let's his Queen get kidnapped?" Flash grinned "Not to mention, we've been waiting to be able to do something like that for forever" Angie snorted and nodded.
"Truce over Justin Hammer's incarceration" Angie said
"You can't throw me in jail! I'll get bailed out" Justin Hammer protested. Angie frowned.
"Let him go" Angie said "And clear his path to the door" Flash frowned.
"But-" Flash started. Angie fixed him with a look.
"Mustangs! Break!" Flash called "Let the douche nozzle through!" The football team all cleared a path to the door. Justin Hammer stood and dusted himself off.
"Glad you came to your senses" Hammer said before walking off. Angie waited until she had enough space before running after him. She jumped, locking her legs around his neck and bent backwards before twisting around, slamming Hammer to the floor. Wade walked over, whistling, Angie's heels in one hand. Angie slipped them on and dusted herself off.
"Where'd you learn to do that?" Flash asked
"My dad's invested in, uh, self defense lessons for me since I was a kid" Angie said "I take my personal safety very seriously"
"Are you okay?" Peter demanded
"I'm fine, Petey" Angie said.
"He's right to be worried, you know" Angie watched as everyone jumped when Natasha appeared with neck-snapping distance.
"Hammer may not have been trouble, but had he had more goons, you could have had a problem here" Natasha continued
"Yes, but the football team came to the rescue and I didn't even have to mess my hair up" Angie said "Where's Uncle Clint?"
"Dealing with Hammer and his goons" Natasha said "You're sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine, Tasha" Angie promised "Wade was watching the whole time, and made sure I was okay, right?"
"One of them tried to grab her from behind" Wade said "I can point him out later" Angie rolled her eyes, but let Wade's arm curl around her waist protectively. Angie phone rang and she answered it.
"Hello?" Angie greeted
"What happened? Are you hurt? Why didn't you call us?" Tony demanded all in one breath.
"Hammer was being stupid again, no, and because I handled it" Angie listed "In fact, Aunt Tasha and Uncle Clint were in the neighbourhood, and they actually showed up to help me, so I was perfectly safe"
"In the neighbourhood, eh? Because Jarvis says that Barton got a call from you, and then they went without us knowing" Tony said and Angie winced.
"Hey, I'm going into the restroom, the reception is shit, I think we're breaking up -chabsdkjfjk -sorry-fgkidfgjfg-bye" Angie said quickly before hanging up. Clint, Natasha, Peter, Gwen, and Wade were all staring at her with various levels of incredulity.
"What?" Angie asked
"Seriously? Super-genius can't think of a better excuse than that?" Peter asked
"Hey, you can't even talk Mr 'I was washing the American flag'" Angie put her hands on her hips. Peter gaped comically while Wade and Clint snorted.
"Seriously dude? No one washes the American flag" Clint said
"I live with the Captain America and I can second that" Angie said, leaning over and patting Peter's cheek.
"Who's the dumb genius now, Parker?"
"I feel like if I say you, half the people in this group could make me disappear" Peter muttered.
"More than half" Angie and Gwen said at the same time before glancing at each other and chuckling. Peter paled.
"Yup. I am officially moving far, far away"
A/N Sorry once again, but I've been caught up in a lot of school work lately and I had major writers block for this chapter. On the bright side, I do have more chapters in their final stages and they should be up a lot quicker than the last few have been. Thank you for being so patient with me. You are all beautiful people.