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Heeseung was annoyed. He’s never felt this annoyed as he dodges the punches being thrown his way with Beomgyu chewing loudly on popcorn in his face. There was so much going on at once, that Heeseung didn’t know how to handle all the pent-up annoyance and frustration.
Beomgyu crunches down on a kernel and Heeseung growls. “Where is Taehyun?” He asks for the thousandth time, making sure his opponent couldn’t hear his words. “I want Taehyun.” Heeseung doesn’t think he’s ever longed for someone as much as he longs for Taehyun at this exact moment -- Taehyun Kang, the guy in the chair, Heeseung’s tech man, the boy who upgraded Heeseung’s measly Spiderman suit to something so high powered Heeseung’s practically invincible when he slides the suit on.
“I told you,” Beomgyu says, his voice laced with the same tone of annoyance Heeseung was wearing, “he’s taking a shit.”
“Bullshit. Taehyun is a robot, he can’t pee. Or poop.”
“How do you know that? Are you his boyfriend?”
“Fuck off Beomgyu,” Heeseung grunts, dodging another punch. He really doesn’t want any physical harm done to him, not when he’s supposed to be meeting Jake in five minutes at that cute cat cafe that Riki suggested to Heeseung and Jake after recording videos of Jungwon with cats and posting them all over his social media. “I didn’t let Taehyun install some weird ass bodycam just for you to sit in front of his computer, with popcorn, and watch me beat up some middle-aged guy.”
“Too bad,” Beomgyu remarks drily, “I’m going to watch your ass get kicked.”
Heeseung growls again and fights back twice as hard, not letting the older man -- who was stealing an old lady’s handbag -- land a hit on his body. Heeseung really doesn’t want to show up to his date with Jake with fresh bruises because then he’ll have to admit that he, Heeseung Lee, is Spiderman , and Heeseung already knows how that will go down.
Heeseung’s friends are such huge fans of Spiderman and sometimes it gets a bit overwhelming. Heeseung’s pretty sure Jay and Riki are close to establishing some sort of religion surrounding the worshipping of Spiderman, and Heeseung isn’t sure if he likes the idea or hates the idea. But, because of their overwhelming infatuation with the Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman, only two people know of Heeseung’s identity; Taehyun Kang, and Beomgyu Choi -- which was purely accidental.
There’s a loud scuffle sounding through the weird communication device Taehyun placed in Heeseung’s mask and, finally, Taehyun’s voice replaces Beomgyu’s annoying cackles. “Heeseung, hi, sorry, I couldn’t stop petting the three cats that were hanging out on my balcony, if I had known you were fighting some old man I would’ve stopped sooner but Beomgyu didn’t alert me like I asked him to.” Heeseung hears a loud slap and then Beomgyu cursing dramatically, Taehyun’s voice following the cursing with a ‘shut the fuck up.’
“It’s fine,” Heeseung grunts, shooting webs from his wrist, “I have this under control.”
Heeseung gets punched in the face and knocked back into the dumpster.
“Nevermind.”
Heeseung shows up at the cat cafe thirty minutes late and with a swelling left eye. At first, Heeseung thought it wasn’t that bad -- and then he saw all the looks he was being given, and then Jake’s eyes are wider than they’ve ever been before and Heeseung knows he’s fucked.
“Hee, what happened?” Jake asks, concern growing in his eyes and his hand reaching for Heeseung’s to grip tightly. “Do I need to have a word with someone?”
Heeseung laughs. “It’s fine, Jake, I just ran into a bit of trouble,” he squeeze Jake’s hand hoping the boy believes Heeseung’s words and doesn’t pry further. “It’s nothing to worry about, and we all know the only thing you’ll be talking to them about is how kindness always wins.”
Jake pouts, tugging Heeseung into the cafe, “doesn’t it, though?”
Heeseung sighs, hissing as he touches the swell, “not all the time, baby.”
Jake vibrates on the spot and his cheeks turn a bright red flush, still not used to the pet names Heeseung so casually says. “Still,” Jake huffs, “if you get cornered just compliment them all, I’m sure it’ll throw them off!”
Heeseung laughs again. “I’ll consider it next time I get mugged, Jake.”
Jake scowls, looking at Heeseung as they find an open table, “there won’t be a next time, Hee. Maybe I should start walking with you everywhere -- like, to school, from school, to work, back from work --”
Heeseung leans across the table and kisses the words from his boyfriend’s mouth. Humming as Jake freezes. Pulling back, Heeseung smiles at the malfunctioning boy. “I appreciate you looking out for me, Jake, but I don’t need a knight in shining armor, even if they’re my very hot boyfriend.”
Jake huffs, “if you say so.”
Heeseung sits with Jungwon on the bleachers during their P.E class together -- classes from the sophomore, junior, and senior years had mixed together to create one big dodgeball tournament and Heeseung was able to escape from the tournament just by his teacher looking at him and seeing how badly bruised the boy was. Heeseung doesn’t know how Jungwon was able to sit beside Heeseung and not get called back into the game, but he doesn’t question Jungwon, he knows better than to question Jungwon Yang.
“No offense, Heeseung, but I don’t see the appeal in mugging you,” Jungwon says.
Heeseung snorts, running a hand through his teal-green hair. “Neither, Won. Neither do I.”
“Maybe it’s internalized homophobia,” Jungwon says with a shrug, “they see a pretty boy on the street and decide to mug him. That’s probably something Nate Jacobs would do.”
“You watch Euphoria?”
“Who doesn’t watch Euphoria, Heeseung?”
“Riki,” Heeseung responds instantly.
Jungwon smiles, sighing heavily and patting Heeseung’s shoulder. “Are you sure?”
Heeseung stands up so abruptly that his head pounds and the world spins. “Riki watches Euphoria?!”
“Sorry, Heeseung. Riki’s too stubborn sometimes, Sunoo couldn’t get him to leave the room whenever he was watching Euphoria with Jay,” Jungwon gives Heeseung a look, “and you know how Sunoo gets whenever he can’t have his alone time with Jay.”
Heeseung shakes his head, “that kid is insane.”
“He has a death wish,” Jungwon agrees somberly.
“Jungwon, when the next Euphoria episode comes on, make out with Riki.”
Jungwon squints up at Heeseung, “you want to use your underage friends?”
Heeseung blanches at Jungwon’s words. “What? No -- no -- that’s not what I --”
Jungwon laughs loudly, “I know, Heeseung. I was just joking around with you. Besides, Riki won’t be around for the next episode anyway, I’m forcing him to hang out with Wonyoung, Hikaru, Taki, and I.”
Heeseung exhales and sits back down on the bleachers, clutching his head in his hands, “that’s good. He needs to socialize more. Make more friends that are his age other than clinging to Jake and I.”
“Well, you three do make a good family.”
Heeseung throws Jungwon a deadpan look. He looks the other way and starts whistling to the tune of Spiderman’s Theme Song on Jay and Riki’s shared youtube channel that fanboys over everything Spiderman-related.
“You watch those videos?” Heeseung asks, surprised that someone like Jungwon would indulge in those videos.
“Sunoo and I do to make fun of Riki and Jay, I don’t think what they’re doing is productive -- Spiderman will never notice them, and even if he does, he won’t be like ‘hey, let’s be best friends and I’ll feature on your Youtube channel!’”
Heeseung laughs, scratching the back of his neck. “Right. Yeah. He wouldn’t.”
It’s silent for a moment and Heeseung looks out at the mass of bodies throwing red balls at each other. He easily spots Jake amongst the crowd, the boy’s nose was already bleeding and there was a rip in the sleeve of his P.E. uniform, but that didn’t stop the younger boy from throwing a red ball at a poor crying girl with all his might. Heeseung doesn’t understand Jake.
“You’re Spiderman, aren’t you, Heeseung?” Jungwon breaks the silence and it sends Heeseung into a choking fit. Jungwon patiently waits for Heeseung to calm down, occupying the time with scrolling through TikTok as Heeseung simultaneously gasps for breath and watches Jake tackle some boy to the ground with a vicious scream.
“I’m sorry -- you think I’m Spiderman, Jungwon?” Heeseung turns to Jungwon with wide, comical eyes.
Jungwon nods his head, “I’ve thought about it for a while. You’re not exactly subtle -- your excuses and lies are shit and I’m surprised our group believes those shitty lies. Seriously, Heeseung, it’s no wonder during Mafia games you’re always voted out first regardless.”
Heeseung doesn’t know how to respond, so he simply gives in. “You can’t tell anyone.”
Jungwon scoffs, “of course, Heeseung. I can keep secrets. My lips are sealed shut.”
They both know that’s a lie.
Sunoo corners Heeseung a few days later with Jungwon lagging behind. “You’re Spiderman, Heeseung?” Sunoo exclaims in a loud voice and Heeseung scowls, throwing Jungwon a look who, once again, avoids the blatant threatening look.
“Could you be any louder, Sunoo?” Heeseung asks his tone sweet and condescending which earns him a scowl. “Yes, I am. Now shut up before I hand you and Jungwon over to some bad guy I know and promise to come back and rescue you, except I never do and let you both rot in the hands of some awful bad guy.”
Sunoo whacks Heeseung on the shoulder. “You’re the worst Spiderman ever. I was expecting someone hot and smart, I was thinking of someone like Jay.” Sunoo throws Heeseung a disapproving look, “but instead Spiderman is you.”
“Wow. Thanks, Sunoo, really boosting my confidence there.”
Sunoo shrugs, “you’re welcome.”
“Hey, hey!” Jake shouts, running down the steps of the school, “Robotics club ended early!” He flies straight into Heeseung’s arms and cuddles up to the older boy. “Does this mean we can go to the animal shelter and pet all the dogs?”
Heeseung smiles down at Jake fondly, poking his cheeks and pressing a light kiss to the tip of Jake’s nose. “Of course, Jake, anything you want.”
Jake giggles, stars in his eyes, and loops his arms around Heeseung’s neck, rising onto his toes and kissing the older boy breathless. They both ignore Jungwon and Sunoo’s remarks as the two leave them alone.
“How was Robotics, Jake?” Heeseung asks sliding his arm around Jake’s shoulder as they set off to the animal shelter Jake was obsessed with.
“Boring since you’re not there anymore,” Jake pouts, looking up at Heeseung, “why did you quit? You were our best member.”
“Personal reasons, Jake.”
“And for personal reasons, I’m telling you that you need to come back.”
“Jake --”
“At least think about it, Hee?”
How could Heeseung ever say no to Jake?
Heeseung lands in front of an ATM bank and sighs as he watches a group of three masked figures stuff money into their duffle bags. “Why is it always stupid ATM robberies,” Heeseung mutters as he kicks open the glass door, bringing attention to himself.
Taehyun laughs. “Maybe I should run an experiment or something. See why New York criminals prefer robbing banks over trivial crimes like pickpocketing and stealing mail out of mailboxes.”
Heeseung leaps up to the ceiling and crawls across it to reach the other side of the small ATM bank. “Do it, I’ll fund your experiment, Tae.” Landing down on the ground, Heeseung is thrown into a fight that takes all his strength. He can’t throw random quips at Taehyun, or Beomgyu who he can hear in the background chewing on something again -- it must be some gummies of some kind, maybe those plane gummies Beomgyu bought after school.
Heeseung narrowly dodges a fist thrown at his face, but he can’t dodge the kick to his gut that sends him flying against the tan wall. The wall dents around Heeseung’s curved spine and he groans, shakily standing up onto his feet, gripping the wall for balance.
“Heeseung’s getting his ass kicked!” Beomgyu guffaws in the background. (Taehyun doesn’t shut him up like he usually does.)
“Fuck you, Gyu,” Heeseung grumbles and does his best to finish the job and hopefully render Beomgyu speechless. It goes easier than he expected, slinging his web around one intruder’s two ankles and pining him to the ground under his sticky webs, another intruder is knocked out with some random metal pole Heeseung found, and now he’s face-to-face with the last.
“Come on,” Heeseung groans, “let’s make this easy. I need at least eight hours of sleep each night.”
“Sleep is for pussies,” the last standing man remarks.
“Robbing ATM banks is for pussies.”
“Wearing a suit and mask is for pussies.”
“That makes you a pussy too! Since you’re wearing a Thor mask!”
“At least it’s a mask of the strongest Avenger. What kind of mask are you wearing? One that tells the whole of New York that you’re some punk ass bitch?”
Heeseung throws a punch.
“Weak punch,” Thor-mask says, easily sidestepping Heeseung’s swing.
“Weak game,” Heeseung remarks bitterly, “I can just tell you get no bitches.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Someone who gets bitches doesn’t rob ATMs at one in the morning. They’re out getting laid.”
Thor throws a punch and Heeseung easily webs it against the wall behind him. After that, Heeseung easily renders Thor weak, and, for caution, he also sticks his unconscious robber-mate up against the wall as well.
“People who get bitches win every fight they're in,” Heeseung adds, puffing out his chest, “and I get bitches since I’ve won every fight I’ve ever been in.”
Thor-mask snorts and Heeseung punches him.
Jake lay on Heeseung’s bed after school, a gentle hand carding through Heeseung’s hair as they watch Gravity Falls playing on Heeseung’s laptop. Heeseung likes this atmosphere -- he likes coming back home with Jake and falling onto the bed together to watch whatever they decided on. It was a lot better than rushing home, tugging on his suit, and slinging off in the direction of some screaming he heard on his way home.
Lifting his head off Jake’s chest, Heeseung stares at his boyfriend with the honey-sweet look in his eye that Sunghoon teases him about. Leaning in, Heeseung places kisses on Jake’s cheeks, earning a giggle from the boy who pushes him away.
“What do you want, Hee?”
“A proper kiss,” Heeseung pouts, “you haven’t kissed me at all today.”
“That’s because you ditched our arcade date yesterday.”
Oh. Heeseung had been too busy helping some guy get his bicycle back that his date with Jake was long forgotten and he only remembered it two hours later when he saw the dozens of missed calls and texts from Jake.
“I know, I’m sorry, Jake,” Heeseung apologizes, “really. I’m sorry.”
“Are you?”
“Jake --”
“You’ve been routinely missing our dates, or showing up super late with bruises and never telling me what’s going on, even your excuses for missing our dates are pathetic, Heeseung, and I didn’t say anything because I thought you would’ve told me why this just keeps on happening. But you never have and I’m getting tired of it, Heeseung.” Jake sighs, “I’m tired of waiting.”
“Jake --”
Jake leans forward and pauses Gravity Falls. “I think you should go, Heeseung.”
The silence in the bedroom is overwhelming and Heeseung doesn’t know how he can make this better. For the first time in his life, Heeseung curses ever getting bit by that stupid spider Riki brought to school for show-and-tell in his biology class.
“If that’s what you want, Jake.”
As much as Heeseung wishes for Jake to stop him from walking out the door, it doesn’t happen.
Heeseung finds Sunoo and Jungwon the following day, sitting in a cafe with Riki and Jay, watching their latest Spiderman youtube video. Heeseung cringes as he sees Jay and Riki fawning over the latest Spiderman video taken of the hero beating up the masked robbers at the ATM bank.
“There’s a reason more people dislike the video than like it, y’know?” Heeseung says.
“Don’t be such a hater,” Jay responds without taking his eyes off the video, “just because Spiderman is more famous than you will ever be with a face like that.”
Heeseung scoffs. “Fuck you, Jay.”
“I’m not talking to you,” Riki says, turning in his chair to look at Heeseung, “you made Jake upset.”
“I did not --”
“He told me everything, I’m his favorite, after all,” Riki grins his mischievous grin that unsettles Heeseung.
“Whatever. I’m here for Sunoo and Jungwon.”
“Why?” Jay asks, finally looking interested.
“Because.”
“Bad reason. No, you can’t have them,” Riki says, latching onto Jungwon.
“What about our opinion?” Sunoo asks.
“You don’t deserve one for making fun of our Youtube videos,” Jay pouts.
“Tough love,” Sunoo shrugs, standing up and swinging his school bag over his shoulder. “Anyway, whatever Heeseung has to say will be more interesting than this stupid video. Ready to go, Won?”
Jungwon nods and slides out of Riki’s tight grip. “I’ll facetime you later tonight, Riki.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Sunoo kisses Jay’s cheek. “Send me a photo of you with the facemask I bought you.”
“But --”
“No buts. Wear it, or we’re breaking up.” Sunoo follows Heeseung and Jungwon out of the cafe before Jay could get his response in. Heeseung regroups up with Taehyun and Beomgyu who give Jungwon and Sunoo side looks before finally asking the question they’re all wondering.
“What’s going on?” Beomgyu asks, “and why are the two worst gossipers at our school here?”
Sunoo hisses and Beomgyu leaps away, shielding himself behind Taehyun who rolls his eyes and gives Jungwon a light grin, “hey Jungwon.”
Jungwon beams, “hey Taehyun!”
“I think Jake is going to break up with me because I’m Spiderman,” Heeseung blurts out, not caring about privacy.
“Oh. Damn, that sucks?” Beomgyu scratches the back of his neck, “I don’t know what you want us to say?”
Taehyun elbows Beomgyu.
“Just tell him,” Sunoo shrugs, “what’s the worst that could happen?”
“He breaks up with Heeseung and tells the Daily Bugle?” Beomgyu offers, getting elbowed by Taehyun again.
Heeseung whines loudly and curls into a ball on the ground, making onlookers walk around him. “What do I do?”
“Tell him,” Taehyun says, “just tell him. Jake will understand and be happy for you.”
“No, he won’t. You don’t know him like I do, Taehyun.”
“Then why ask us for help?” Taehyun exclaims, exasperated.
“Because -- because -- I don’t know!”
“What’s going on here?” Sunghoon asks, a fierce look in his eyes as he stares down at Heeseung.
“Oh, nothing much,” Sunoo shrugs, “just discussing whether or not Heeseung should tell Jake he’s Spiderman.”
There’s a pause, and then Taehyun’s smacking his forehead with his palm, groaning loudly as Heeseung wails louder.
“Sunoo!”
“What? Don’t blame me, blame yourself for letting Jungwon find out you’re Spiderman! We all know the moment Jungwon figures something out, it’s over for you.”
“He’s not wrong,” Jungwon shrugs, giving Heeseung a sheepish smile.
Sunghoon laughs loudly, bending over and slapping his knees. “Nice joke!” He takes a look at the five faces staring back at him and he pales. “You’re not joking?”
“Nope!” Beomgyu smiles.
“Heeseung, no offense, but I would’ve never thought you were Spiderman.”
“What the fuck? Why does everyone think that?”
“Have you looked in a mirror, Heeseung?”
“Shut up, Beomgyu.”
Heeseung was seriously planning on going over to Jake’s apartment and begging for forgiveness but instead, he got sidetracked and ended up fighting some masked figure inside Midtown High at night. Heeseung grunts as he’s punched into the lockers, ignoring Beomgyu’s loud laughter and Taehyun’s annoyed “shut the fuck up.”
“Damn, I thought you were a better fighter, Heeseung.”
Heeseung tenses. “How do you know my name?”
“Next time, don’t have a breakdown in the middle of the street.”
“Oh.”
Heeseung doesn’t move to stand up and the figure doesn’t move to pummel him further into the lockers.
“Did you overhear my entire breakdown?”
“Uh, yeah?”
“Cool.”
They stay still again.
“Does this mean I should be like Tony Stark and release my identity?”
“No, probably not.”
“Why?”
“Well, first of all, you’re a high school student,” the masked figure says, approaching Heeseung with gentle footsteps, “second of all, will you be able to handle the fame that comes with being Spiderman? Will you be able to handle being called to all these stupid jobs, like helping a little kid open up their jar of pickles?”
“I’ve done that already.”
“Oh.”
“I am your Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman, after all. I help anyone out.”
“Sounds. . . Stupid, pathetic, and boring. Don’t you want to have bigger problems to fight?”
Heeseung shrugs. “I think I like what I’m doing right now. Not really huge on the whole ‘fight-to-the-death’ thing. I like knowing my odds and being able to visit my boyfriend in one piece, not on the verge of death.”
“Oh, right,” the figure slides down the lockers to sit beside Heesueng, “the boyfriend. Jake, was it?”
Heeseung hums, tilting his head back to lean on the lockers behind him. “Yeah, Jake. What do you think I should do?”
“Not go public.”
“No, yeah, I won’t go public but I meant about Jake -- do you think I should tell him? And if I do tell him, how should I tell him?”
“Go, ‘Hey, Jake, I’m Spiderman. Let’s make out and then I’ll swing through the streets of Queens with you on my back.’”
“Thanks for the help.”
“That’s what vigilantes are known for, Heeseung!”
Heeseung groans. “Be serious. Help me out, here, dude.”
The figure scoffs, “first off, I’m a girl.”
Heeseung turns his head to see a familiar face. “Karina?!”
“Hey, Heeseung,” she smiles. “You can remove your mask too.”
“You better not tell anyone,” Heeseung grumbles, pulling off his mask and running a hand through his hair.
“I’m not Sunoo. Or Jungwon. But I have an idea --”
“How are you able to hit that hard, Karina? You’re like, a girl?”
Karina narrows her eyes, “girls can’t be strong, Heeseung?”
“No -- no -- that’s not what I meant!”
Karina giggles, “it’s fine. I have super strength.”
“Oh. Cool.”
“Yeah. Anyway, let me beat you up, Heeseung.”
“What?”
“I beat you up, you land on Jake’s balcony and ask him to patch you up. Jake can’t get mad and break up with you when you’re bleeding out on the floor of his bedroom.”
“Isn’t that like, some kind of manipulation?”
Karina shrugs, “worked for me.”
“Oh.” Heeseung pauses, “congratulations, by the way, Minjeong is super pretty. You’re basically dating Sunoo.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Sorry.”
“You’re forgiven.”
Heeseung sighs, “what do I have to lose? Beat me up, Karina.”
Heeseung grunts as he lands on the balcony outside of Jake’s bedroom. In his mask, Taehyun sighs again. “I can’t believe you let Karina beat you up, Heeseung.” Heeseung taps on Jake’s sliding door, breathing heavily as he clutches his stomach.
“Shut up, Taehyun.”
“Yeah, whatever. I’m signing off so I don’t have to listen to Jake break up with you.”
The sliding door opens and Jake stares at Heeseung.
“Jake, hey.”
“Spiderman? How do you know my name?” Jake takes a step back and slides to shut the door, but Heeseung reaches out to stop the door from shutting, yelping suddenly as it squishes his hand against the door frame.
“Shit! Please don’t hurt me, Spiderman!”
Heeseung reaches up with his uninjured hand and pulls off his mask, giving Jake a lopsided grin. “Hey, Jakey.”
“What the fuck. Heeseung?”
“In the flesh.”
“You’re Spiderman?”
“Yeah.”
“No offense, Hee but --”
“Why does everyone think that? I, for one, think I suit the whole ‘Spiderman’ concept! It’s getting annoying hearing people doubt me --”
“You told other people before me?” Jake sounds hurt and Heeseung’s heart plummets.
“Can I come in, Jake? I’m badly bleeding. If you couldn’t tell.”
“Right, come in.”
Heeseung takes a seat on Jake’s bed as his boyfriend rushes around to accommodate a bleeding Heeseung. Jake enters the room with a first aid kit and kneels in front of Heeseung, lightly tilting his chin up so he can wipe away the blood spilling down the side of his face.
“What happened, Hee?”
“Got beaten up by a girl.”
Jake snorts, “not surprised.”
“Hey -- ow!”
“Who else knows, Heeseung?”
“Taehyun, Beomgyu, Jungwon, Sunoo, and Sunghoon.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Heeseung sighs and reaches out to squeeze Jake’s waist reassuringly, but it only makes him hiss as the multiple kicks Karina gave him in the stomach render him from doing anything comforting. “I didn’t want to tell you because I wanted to protect you and keep you safe, Jake.”
“You sound like every superhero to ever exist, Heeseung,” Jake scoffs, “and I’m going to sound like every love interest, but I can handle myself, Hee. You know I can.”
“Jake --”
“I like helping people, Heeseung. I could’ve been helping you all this time!”
“I know, Jake. And I’m sorry, but I -- I really lo -- I really like you and I don’t want to see you get hurt because of me.”
Jake sighs and cups Heeseung’s face. “I guess that’s a valid reason.”
“I want to keep you safe, Jake, is that so bad?”
Jake looks away, “are you hurt anywhere else?”
“My heart,” Heeseung clutches his chest, “my heart hurts.”
Jake scoffs and stands up. “I’ll be back.”
Heeseung watches Jake go and his heart really does hurt. He hopes nothing changes, he hopes Jake understands him, he hopes Jake won’t walk back into the room and tell Heeseung they’re breaking up because he heard Heeseung hesitate to say the three words Heeseung’s been longing to say from the moment they kissed for the first time.
Heeseung loves Jake so much he forgets how to breathe when he spots Jake in a crowded room. Heeseung loves Jake so much he was willing to lie to the boy just so he’s safe from the bad people Heeseung spends his nights fighting into unconsciousness.
Heeseung loves being Spiderman, but he loves Jake more. He would do anything for Jake, he would lay the world out at Jake’s feet if it meant forgiveness from the boy. Heeseung would give up being Spiderman for Jake, he would give up his house, his family, and his friends for Jake. (Maybe that’s overdoing it, but Heeseung really really loves Jake).
“I love you, Jake,” Heeseung blurts out.
Jake pauses in front of the door he just closed.
“I really love you. I want to love you forever, and the only way I can do that is by keeping you safe.”
“Heeseung --”
“I love you, Jake, and I’m sorry. I was afraid that telling you meant you would end up getting hurt if someone figures out who I am, and what my kryptonite was, which is you, by the way, Jake. You’re my kryptonite. You’re my weakness. You’re my strength. You’re my world. You’re my universe --”
“I get it, Heeseung.”
“Do you?”
Jake snorts, “of course I do. I love you too, Heeseung.”
“Really?”
Jake nods his head, approaching Heeseung with a gentle smile. “I love you more, Heeseung.”
Heeseung meets Jake halfway and kisses him feverishly, his mask falling to the ground as his hands settle on Jake’s waist, pulling the younger boy onto his lap and ignoring the pain of the blossoming bruises on his stomach. All that matters right now is Jake. The love of his life.
Heeseung loves Jake, and Jake loves him back. This feels like the beginning of a fairytale, this feels like the beginning of Heeseung’s life. This feels like the beginning of everything.
Two nights later, Jake is screaming in Heeseung’s ear as he slings them both through Queens late in the night.
“Shut up, Jake!” Heeseung shouts.
“No!” Jake screams back, his arms tightening around Heeseung’s throat, choking the boy without care.
Heeseung retracts his statement. He doesn’t love Jake because he can feel himself going faint. Heeseung likes being choked, but not like this.
They stumble onto the rooftop of a tall office building and Heeseung gladly stumbles out of Jake’s grip, wheezing for air. Jake, on the other hand, drops to his knees to regain the air he lost from screaming loudly in Heeseung’s ear.
“I think I’ve gone deaf,” Heeseung glowers in Jake’s direction.
“I think I’m going to puke,” Jake responds, looking extremely pale.
“Oh shit. Don’t puke, Jake, if you puke --”
Jake pukes and Heeseung feels himself grow dizzy.
Heeseung wishes he never told Jake he was Spiderman.