Chapter Text
You’d think hiding out in an abandoned warehouse by the docks would mean she’d be able to enjoy a quiet, dark, not at all lonely sleep every night .
Unfortunately for her, her night was interrupted by a bane known by many all across the world.
Teenagers.
It truly was a shame that due to her age, she’d be forced to associate with these creatures.
Honestly she was tempted to try and scare them off, if unnatural spider like movement was enough to scare some criminals it’d probably work on a bunch of teenagers too.
But then they brought out food, and suddenly she was (relatively) fine with them throwing a very bright, extremely loud party in what was now her home.
Because look without a job or Aun-
…
Look, she just didn't have access to food regularly right now, so she’ll take what she can get…
It wasn’t so bad, the food was mostly empty calories but at least they made the ache in her stomach subside and most of the more disruptive noise was drowned out by the band playing. They were pretty good, and the drummer was… um…
…
She shoved some more chips into her mouth, before taking a chug of some hopefully not spiked juice. She really didn’t want to have to deal with those thoughts right-
“Hey, I don’t think I’ve seen you at Midtown before.”
She turned around, half expecting some random guy to be hitting on her (it had happened twice during the night and she… wasn’t sure how to feel about it…) only to find a girl with short dirty blonde hair, multiple ear piercings, and the brightest blue eyes staring back at her.
Fuck.
“Uh… hi…” God, get it together Pe- just get it together! “Yeah, no I was just… passing by and heard the music. Thought I’d check this place out…”
The girl in front of her smiled, showing off the braces that clung to her teeth, that only made her seem more endearing.
“Well, hope we made it worth stopping by.” The girl said, before reaching out her hand, “I’m Gwen.”
“I’m, uh…” she reached out to shake Gwen’s hand as her brain tried desperately to come up with a name. “…hi…”
God, why was she so bad at this…
“Oof, sorry your parents couldn’t think of anything better.”
She let out a weak laugh that pretty quickly evolved into full blown giggles. She likes bad jokes, sue her.
Actually don’t, it's not her fault.
Once she calmed down enough to breathe she and Gwen talked a bit. About Gwen’s band, about which song she liked the most, Gwen even let her have some of the mac and cheese she packed for herself which after stuffing her face with junk food was frankly a godsend.
As they talked though Gwen kept giving her this… look. She didn’t like it.
“Hey can I… be honest with you?”
“Sure I… guess…”
“When we were setting our instruments I kinda saw you… climbing down from the rafter…”
Oh she really didn’t like where this was going.
“I just… are you… okay?”
She blushed a little bit, having this girl worried about her was sweet. Still…
“I’m fine, just had a… rough night. Promise…”
“Okay.” Gwen nodded, looking thoroughly unconvinced. “Well, if you ever have another… rough night you could always head over to a F.E.A.S.T. Center.”
“A what…?”
Gwen looked at her confused.
“A… F.E.A.S.T. Center. It’s a, um… a shelter.” Gwen explained. “It’s got food and heating. Just saying it’s definitely a better place to mope about than some abandoned warehouse.”
“I, uh, do-“
“Plus!” Gwen interrupted, “My dad and I sometimes volunteer at the one closest to here. So if you do go, I might catch you there.”
“…”
“I just…” Gwen fidgeted with the rings on her fingers. “You seem cool, wouldn’t want you to have to add tetanus to your rough day.”
And okay, that got her to smile a bit.
“I… I’ll think about it…”
“Cool!” Gwen gave her a blinding smile, making her face heat up again. “Oh, also.”
Gwen rummaged around in her bag, pulling out a pad of paper and a pen. After writing something down Gwen ripped the sheet out and handed it to her.
“This is my number. In case you wanna chat or something.”
“Oh, uh… t-thanks.”
“No problem.” Gwen looked behind her for a second before, looking back with an apologetic smile, “Well, I should probably be getting ready for the encore. See you soon?”
“Sure.” She nodded.
She watched Gwen walk off, before looking down at the paper. She might drop by one of those centers, if only to get something warm to eat, but much more importantly she got a pretty girl’s number, so maybe tonight wasn’t going to be so-
Before she could enjoy the warm feeling in her chest her head tickled, she felt her hair stand up, and felt a shiver down her spine.
“Oh, son of a-“
The doors to the warehouse were kicked open and she scrambled up to the rafters. Warning shots ring throughout the building as she pulls her hood down and her goggles over her eyes. People tried to run as she prepared to pounce towards the attackers.
“Search the building! Don’t let anyone out until we find the-“
The goons orders are interrupted as she zips towards him, slamming his face into the concrete, knocking him out.
“Seriously, couldn't wait till the party was over, guys? No one likes a narc!”
A spider’s work is never over huh…