Doing homework was as interesting as it could be, the two kids on Manny's bed, laying on their stomachs scribbling on the sheets of paper that laid out before them. Manny ran his eraser over his answer, rubbing out what he had written as he twirled the pencil in his hand, rewriting his answer down.
"This is boring" Manny breathed as no kid enjoyed doing homework, picking up one of the apple slices that his father had laid upon the plate, running it across the smear of peanut butter and taking a bite, reaching for another slice as he hand connected with Zoe who simply retracted it quickly. They both looked at the last slice of apple.
"You can have it" Manny offered as Zoe was the guest in his house to which she picked it out, placing the slice in her mouth. the two finished up, comparing their works. Zoe assuring Manny she wasn't going to help him cheat on his homework but would help him as she looked over his answers.
"Better than I thought, you only have three wrong, go over it again" Zoe instructed, handing the paper back to Manny who went over it, finding two of the wrong answers, deciding to leave one wrong on purpose.
once the two were done they put their papers back in their backpacks, Manny picking up the empty plate, saying he was going to wash the dirty plate as he got up off the bed, walking into the hall, closing the door behind him. Zoe basically shot up nervously, she was alone in Manny's bedroom, a place she had only visited in her mind previously. every cell of her brain was screaming to look around.
Zoe just sat on the bed, probably having a moral dilemma for the first time in her life, Manny invited her into his home as she finally had his friendship, something she wanted for the longest time was she really going to jeopardize that by snooping through his stuff. she snapped herself back to reality.
NO, not now, besides snooping through his stuff was more a job for Black Cuervo and there would be opportunities later as she wanted to keep her personal life and supervillain life separate especially considering she was also Manny's enemy. Her chance passed by anyways as Manny would return any second.
Manny finished drying the plate as he set it back in the cupboard as his father who was preparing a cup of coffee, asked Manny how things were going with his friend as he shrugged, adding that Zoe was smart and helped him with his homework as she nodded.
"Good grades are important Mijo, I'm glad she could help you with that" Rodolfo replied, taking a sip from mug, asking himself why Zoe would start hanging out with him now, granted they used to be friends they had not been close in about a decade. and Zoe just happened to get her wings recently. Rodolfo liked to see the best in everybody, but he wasn't blind and part of him was convinced this was some Flock plot.
Manny stepped away from his dad and headed back to the hall and entering his room seeing Zoe zipping up her bookbag, looking at him nervously, it was weird for him to see as she was calm when they were doing homework as she smiled, in a way that felt uncomfortable
"Well, thanks for inviting me over, I should get going" Zoe frantically said, quickly shaking Manny's hand as he looked at her, saying she was welcome to stay as Zoe smiled before she bolted out of the house, making Manny trying to figure out what happened. he just laid on his bed.
This did not take long as he decided since his homework was done, he'd do some patrolling, telling his dad he was going out before spinning his belt to transform in El Tigre, jumping from his bedroom window, using his chain claw to grapple across the cityscape. Manny was a good hour into his patrol when there was an explosion coming from ground level as Manny saw the smoke from the Miracle City Bank.
Manny used his chains to descend to the Bank where the culprit kicked the vault door away, the shadow of a towering man exiting the vault, carrying two bags of money. Manny quickly identified the criminal as El Oso, whose whole thing was robbing the Miracle City Bank, seriously, like every week.
"Alright El Oso, set the bags down and I'll go easy on you, this time" Manny called out drawing out his claws as the bear themed villain ran towards him, swinging the heavy bags as weapons, Manny swung his one claws, ripping the bags as bills flew through the air.
"Hey man, don't cut a man's haul, not cool" El Oso called out, tossing the bags aside as he bent over, picking up the golden vault door, throwing it overhead, straight at El Tigre as he dodged it at the last second, the huge slab of metal landing in the wall. El Oso was stronger than Manny, but he was not bright, all brawn and little brains as subduing the villain was almost too easy.
All Manny needed to do was take advantage of the right openings, watching the predictable moves and he could counter with ease, jumping in, slashing the villain with his claws. it wasn't hard enough to seriously hurt him but leave mild cuts that would heal given time. El Oso managed to grab Manny's leg, throwing him in the air.
The Tiger managed to compose himself jamming his hand into the ceiling hanging there as he slashed through the cable, holding up up of the lights as they feel, beaning El Oso in the head as he stumbled before hitting the ground, Manny taking the time to tie him up as the bank teller was getting the cops on the phone. "That's my cue, see ya next week".
The next few days went by as it was recess and Manny and Zoe were playing the tetherball game, hitting the ball back and forth, slapping the red rubber ball with their palms as Manny looked at her, suggesting they do the movies as that new horror film was in theaters.
"Blood Lake 3, I've heard it's good. and seeing it with you" Zoe replied, swatting the ball as the two continued hearing a voice behind them. the voice in question belonged to Frida who told them that she had a good set of conversations with her father. taking Manny's advice to work the tears.
"I've managed to convince him to give it another chance" Frida explained as Manny smiled, telling Frida that was GREAT news as she brought up the film they were talking about, asking if she could tag along, to which Manny agreed. Zoe looked at him, saying she had the impression it was just going to be the two of them.
Manny looked at Zoe, explaining that he hadn't hung out with Frida in a week. Telling the black-haired girl, they'd do something later. "I'm not gonna stop being your friend just cause Frida's back, but I would like to spend some time with her".
Zoe simply nodded, walking off, leaving the two to catch up as Frida looking at Manny, again asking how she could be friends with her arch enemy. Manny was quick to defend Zoe, telling Frida she wasn't that bad once he took the time to know her.
"Seriously try befriending her" Manny suggested as Frida looked at him shocked, like being told the city's churro supply was gone, telling Manny he was insane for suggesting that. befriend the girl who had made her school life miserable. Manny sighed.
"Look, I can't force you to be friends with Zoe, but I am. can you at least try to tolerate me hanging out with her, she probably fells the same way as you " Manny suggested as Frida huffed, saying she would do it for him, the reason being she did not want to lose Manny's friendship again.
The two veered their conversation towards the movie they were seeing. both having seen Blood Lake 1 and 2, talking about how great the movie was supposed to be wrapping up the trilogy. The two kept talking about the movie, eventually Zoe came back with a cooler head.
"Okay, Manny; I just needed to clear my thoughts. I'm okay with Frida tagging along, really I am" Zoe replied nervous but willing to play nice if it meant staying in Manny's good graces. Manny smiled looking at Zoe, before looking at Frida. "Zoe if we are gonna be friends, you should at least apologize to Frida".
Both girls were genuinely surprised by this request; Frida thinking Zoe would never do that and Zoe asking why she had to apologize as the two just glared at each other. Frida asking if she and Zoe could have a moment alone, not even waiting before holding Zoe's hand and leading her into the school, walking through the hall and ending up in the girls' bathroom. Frida checked the stalls before looking at Zoe.
"Okay Aves, what is your deal, you're doing this JUST to spite me aren't you, get in the way of me and my best friend" Frida called out as Zoe tried to keep herself under composure. It took every ounce of restraint for her now to suit up and blast Frida through the roof. she just had Manny's friendship and this blue-haired siren was really getting on her nerves.
"YOU'RE best friend, you mean MINE; you STOLE him me" Zoe called out as Frida looked at Zoe with a look that honestly said 'she had no idea what Zoe was talking about' as she looked at Zoe, asking what she meant. Zoe looked Frida, asking if she remembers the day the two of them met, a question which went over Frida's head.
Well, I do, the moment you stole him from me, when he left me and started hanging out with you, I swore I would get even, and I would reclaim my rightful spot by his side" Zoe explained as Frida looked at her. telling Zoe that she never asked Manny to stop hanging out with her. that she should be mad with Manny for just abandoning her as Zoe just bit back saying it was her fault before stopping and realizing what she was saying.
"Oh god, I'm no different from Titan" Zoe realized as all these years she had been blaming Frida for something that was not HER fault, she was too blinded by her crush on Manny to see the truth and shifted all the blame on Frida. Zoe recently witnessed firsthand how revenge consumed Titanium Titan, leaving him irrational, disheveled, a shadow of his former self; burning hate just to stay alive. Zoe did NOT want to become just like that.
"Frida, I... all this time... I" for the first time since she could remember Zoe began crying Infront of another person, and that person being Frida Suarez. she simply sobbed, wrapping her arms around her. "I Don't want to be that person" Zoe admitted as Frida was more confused than anything as Zoe was realized the consequences of revenge. Frida looked at her confused before simply patting her back. Eventually Zoe dried her eyes, wiping the mascara with her arm as she pushed herself away from Frida.
"Don't you dare tell anyone I cried, I mean it Frida" Zoe threatened, regaining her composure as Frida handed her a paper towel, letting her know the secret was safe as Zoe wiper her eyes, throwing the black stained paper away, thanking Frida for probably the first time in her life.
(Since I was gonna make Zoe Manny's friend in this timeline, I was curious of how to handle the Frida/Zoe dynamic and after rereading the earlier chapters, giving Zoe a moment of realization sounded good, showing where the road of revenge could lead, No I did not plan that).