Manny could not believe who was standing in front of him, Zoe Aves. The girl lifted her arm off his shoulder before rubbing her own bicep nervously.
"Hola Manny... I saw what happened back there...with that metal-armed freak, I just wanted to see if you're okay" Zoe comforted with her hands behind her back as Manny dusted himself off, unaware Zoe had seen the fight. That also means she probably saw Manny separate himself from Frida.
"Still a bit sore but I'm not stupid, you show up right as I cut my friendship with Frida... it's no coincidence, is it?"
"What? I can honestly say I was shocked... but maybe I was in the right place at the right time. look, as much as I don't like Frida, I don't want to see her hurt; maybe it's for the best" Zoe explained, hoping she could convince Manny why his friendship with Frida could be a bad thing, Zoe believed Frida wasn't like them. If someone seriously wanted to hurt Frida, she could not do much, she did not have a magical belt or an armored flight-suit with lasers.
"So, let me guess; you're offering to swoop in and be my new bestie. despite all that risk falling onto you" Manny rebutted as Zoe stepped back as if offended but telling him that she was not in any danger could risk Manny discovering her secret identity.
"You don't need to worry about me, I can handle myself Manny" Zoe replied, reaching into her pocket pulling out what appeared to be a taser; pressing the button as electricity crackled through it. "I mean I am the granddaughter of Pachita Aves, being from that family pretty much guarantees being signed up for self-defense classes. if we fought, with no belt... I'd probably beat you" Zoe explained in a half truth.
Since Zoe could remember she had been trained in various ways, considering she was both an Aves and a Supervillain she HAD to know how to fight.
"Oh yeah, your family is like rich right?" Manny remembered, he had heard of the Aves name, something to do with computers but unless they were making the next gaming console, he chose not to dwindle on it.
"Try the biggest tech company in Miracle City, most of its boring, security and surveillance stuff but we've dabbled in electronics" Zoe explained, telling Manny what was commonly known. In the Public eye the Aves Family was squeaky clean, everything on the books. which is mostly true. But it was a well-kept secret that they use their position to aide in their crimes. It's easily to clean out a vault when your family built the security system.
"Tell You what Manny, how about a friendly sparring match. No powers, If I get you on your back you at least give me chance to be your friend, you might like it. I won't even use the taser" Zoe proposed, putting it back in her pocket as Manny thought it over asking what he would get if he won. Zoe pondered as she fumbled through her pocket, before pulling something out. it looked like a piece of black plastic with a light up screen.
"How about this MP3 player, it's a prototype hits the market next month and holds 30 gigabytes worth of music" Zoe offered putting the device back in her pocket as Manny sighed, admitting he did not like fighting someone who did not deserve it but considering she challenged him Manny simply cocked back a fist throwing it.
The strike was caught by Zoe who twisted his arm, pushing Manny on his back as she sat on his chest, her knees on the ground pressing against his sides as she gently held his arm, whispering to him "In this hold, I could break your arm Manny. Admit it, you are at my mercy".
Zoe softly twisted until Manny tapped his free hand against the ground causing her to get off, smoothing out her dress as she held her hand out, smiling before apologizing if she was too rough as Manny simply bit the bullet of defeat and accepted her hand.
In Truth Manny rarely fought without his powers and felt with his belt he could have easily defeated Zoe, but he gave his word, he would try being friends with her. Zoe simply smiled as Manny was more impressed than humiliated, it wasn't even a fight. she instantly disarmed him.
"So, Friend, what do you want to do?" Zoe asked looking at Manny, explaining that she was up for mostly anything if it meant spending time with him. Manny looked at her, asking if Zoe liked the arcade.
"What kid DOESN"T like the arcade" Zoe replied as the two walked away from carnival behind them, making way to the arcade. Manny decided he might as well strike up a conversation with Zoe, since he basically promised to hang out with her. he looked at her admitting that hold she pulled off was impressive as she blushed.
"I didn't hurt you did I, I'm sorry I just... got carried away" Zoe again apologized as Manny brushed it off, saying he dealt with stuff like that all the time, adding if he had used his belt, he would have won to which she nodded. adding that it would not have been a contest as they arrived at the arcade.
Zoe reached into her pocket pulling out a few bills and putting them in a token exchange as a collection of metal coins filled the cup in the bottom before handing half of them to Manny. What happened was a montage of the playing every cabinet in the arcade, burning through tokens as the two were going head-to-head in Super Macho Fighter 2.
"Oh, I'm gonna get you" Manny called out, hitting the buttons to pull off a combo, hitting Zoe's character as she unleashed a special move which Manny managed to jump over, watching her burn through her macho meter as he finished her off with jump kick to the head, Manny cheering as Zoe simply shook her head before extending her hand out to shake his.
"Good game" Zoe praised as Manny reached out to shake her hand only to be cut off by a loud beeping as Zoe covered her wrist, looking around frantically, telling Manny she had to use the bathroom before bolting off. Manny thought it a bit weird but did not question it as he watched her sprint for the bathroom before turning back to the cabinet, putting another token in and fighting an NPC.
Manny never realized how cool Zoe actually was, granted they had not hung out together since Preschool, but he was surprised at what they shared in common once they started talking. Manny started questioning why they ever stopped talking and what his life would have been like if he had kept in touch with her.
Eventually Zoe returned from the bathroom, drying her hands with a paper towel as she headed toward him, looking somewhat disappointed.
"Sorry Manny, My grandmami called. something about the charity drive tonight, her and my mami want me there. you kept up your promise and thanks for giving me a chance but... could we do this again, I felt it got cut short?" Zoe requested, looking at Manny as he thought it before nodding. Manny admitted he had a fun time with her and would like to hang with her again, adding that his family would be at the drive before watching her leave.
After Zoe Left Manny headed home, telling his dad about what happened at the carnival and how he was attacked some metal-armed luchador. surprisingly Rodolfo, knew about the villain in question, explaining he was once a crime-fighting partner, named the Titanium Titan.
"Basically, when I retired, the Titan tried to make it on his as a solo hero, he... did not do well. He then turned to a life of crime, and he always blamed you for tearing our friendship apart" Rodolfo explained as Manny looked at his father, asking how it was his fault. "Well, I retired because Maria was pregnant; being a father meant I could not be a superhero full time. I had to focus on my family first and Me and Titan, we lost touch."
After Rodolfo explaining his past with Titanium Titan Manny went upstairs, laying on his bed. he wondered if he made the right choice, ending his friendship with Frida. It was to keep her safe and he never planned on hanging out with Zoe. He did not want to replace Frida but was having second thoughts, wondering if her did the right thing.
Manny reached under his bed, pulling a Zebra Donkey Lunchbox, flipping it open. inside the metal container were photographs from his adventures with Frida, them participating in the local churro eating contest, him cheering at her band's first Concert, them taking Puma Loco's Sombrero of Chaos for a joyride.
"I'm doing the right thing, right? so why does it feel so lousy?" Manny asked himself, laying back and letting himself drift off in a nap. He would later be woken up by his father who requested Manny put his tuxedo on as they were leaving for the charity drive.
Manny was nervous about the charity drive, he knew Zoe would be there as her family was sponsoring the event, something about wildlife preservation. he also knew Frida would probably be there. as she was the chief's daughter, and they usually attended these events on behalf of the police force. This meant being next to both girls. it was going to be awkward.
After getting his tuxedo on and straightening his tie and huffing as he dreaded these social events his dad always forced him to attend, never turning down the opportunity to do something good and praising the value of charity. Usually these events were boring, grownups talking while the kids sat on the sidelines or by themselves. Manny wished that was the case.
The Three Riveras arrived a fancy black tower with neon lighting as Manny let out an impressive whistle, a mixture of gothic meets sci-fi as the read the name 'Aves Enterprises' in black text on the illuminated background.
"Manny" a voice called out as he turned seeing Frida wearing a red dress, waving to him as she approached. the two smiled as Manny asked how things have been going to which Frida sighed. according to her, Chief Suarez held auditions for her new best friend, none of the applicants seemed interesting as Manny sighed. "I'm sorry Frida, really I am but I don't want to see you get hurt".
"Manny, you made it" another voice called out as Manny turned seeing Zoe in a formal purple dress as she smiled waving to him, turning her head to the blue haired girl speaking bluntly, not a hint of warmth "Frida".
"Zoe Aves, what is she doing here?" Frida asked, looking at Manny as he shrugged, reminding her who's grandmother was hosting the event before Frida changed her question to why she was being so friendly with Manny as Zoe smiled. "Oh, I asked Manny if I could hang out with him earlier and he said yes, standing on the other side of him. Frida, I would just like to let you know, my Vandetta against you is concluded, seriously best of luck".
(The show never actually went into the civilian identities of the Flock of Fury, (despite them being some of the only villains with secret identities) so imagine they're like rich socialites who maintain a squeaky-clean image with charity work and use their company assets to fund and manage their crimes and since it has been brought to my attention that Carmelita is the school art teacher, Pachita/Lady Gobbler owns the company, which makes sense as she is the matriarch/head of the family).