Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jack blearily woke up, squinting at the light in her room. She looked at the door, seeing Medda standing in the doorway.

“Mornin’ sleepyhead. Get up, you got school.” Her voice was chipper as she pushed the door open fully, letting in all the light from the hallway.

“Ugh!” Jack groaned into her pillow, waving her hand dismissively, “All we have is that stupid trip today, can’t I just skip?”

“No, Jack. The trip is educational and you’ve missed too many days this year already and it’s only September. Get up, your brothers are waiting for you.”

Medda was a godsend, having saved Jack and her brothers from the foster system. Jack was the first one fostered by Medda, followed by Race and then Charlie. At first, Medda was just fostering until the kids were adopted, but she grew attached to the pack of kids and officially adopted them the previous year. Each kid has reasons why no one wanted them: Jack was a delinquent, more trouble than she was worth; Race was just as bad, causing trouble wherever he could, and along with his ADHD no one could keep up with him; and then finally, Charlie, or as Jack and Race called him, Crutchie, Charlie was born with a disorder that weakened the muscles in his left leg and his parents gave him up, not able to deal with him.

Jack was the oldest of the three, having picked up the role of eldest sibling. It was hard for Medda to handle three kids, so Jack worked freelance when she could, making art and selling it. Race was a few months younger than her and your typical middle kid. He was hyper and a pain in the ass, but the best kid you’ve ever met when he wants to be. Crutchie was the youngest, younger by a whole year. Crutchie was one of the smartest kids Jack had ever met, taking classes for a whole grade above his. Jack and Race were both juniors, while Crutchie was a sophomore taking some junior-level classes.

Jack groaned again, rolling out of her bed onto the floor with a thud. She crawls towards her dresser, grabbing the first things she sees. Closing the door, she quickly changes and pulls on her boots. She hops toward the door, pulling it open. She leans on the wall, pulling her shoe on entirely. She walks the rest of the way down the hall, seeing her younger brothers at the counter eating breakfast.

Race looks up at her first, glancing down at her feet. “Your shoes are untied, dumbass.”

“Tony! Watch your language!”

Race looks back at his cereal with a smirk, “Not trying to look fancy for all the smart boys at the lab today? I’m shocked.”

Jack rolls her eyes, popping bread into the toaster. She turns back to look at Race, “No, I just broke up with Katherine last week, give me time to process.”

“You mean like another week? We all know you’ll be dating again soon, it’s inevitable.”

“Fuck you, asshole. Maybe my relationship with Kath meant something to me, you ever think that?”

“Yeah, right. You practically set her and Sarah up, introducing them and whatnot.”

Jack’s toast popped up, and she plopped them on a plate. She quickly smears butter on them and tosses the knife into the sink. She took a large bite before continuing the conversation, “So, Crutchie, you excited for the trip today?” Her words come out muffled from the food in her mouth.

“Hmm?” Crutchie looks up at her, gesturing if she can put his bowl away. Jack takes it and puts it in the sink with her knife.

“You excited for today?”

“Oh, yeah. I heard they’re doing some experiments with spiders.”

Jack opens her mouth to respond only to be cut off by Race. “Spiders? Gross! Keep them far away from me!” He stands up, shaking off his arms.

“As long they don’t bite me, I’ll be fine.” Jack finishes her toast and goes to grab her bag. “Hurry up, boys. I don’t wanna be late and not catch the bus for the trip.”

Race chugs the rest of his cereal, bolting to the sink to drop it off. He mumbles something as he fetches his bag. Crutchie, on the other hand, is ready, grabbing his bag with one hand and supporting himself down with the other.

“Hand it here, Crutch. I’ll carry it there.” Jack takes Crutchie’s bag, slinging it over her other shoulder before tying her shoes haphazardly. She opens the front door and lets Crutchie go first. “Come on, Race! We don’t have all day!”

Race comes sliding down the hall, bag on his back and shoes in his hands. He slips them on and chases after Jack and Crutchie.

They reach the high school just before the first bell rings. Race sprints in the building, most likely to find his football player boyfriend. Jack helped Crutchie up the stairs, handing him his bag as they walked into the school.

“See you during the trip.” She pulled him into a hug as best as she could with the crutch. “Love ya’.”

Crutchie just smiled and waved goodbye as he walked to his homeroom. Jack made her own way down the halls towards her class, pushing through the door. Her homeroom was mostly full of jackasses who she didn’t like but did have some pros, being Katherine and Race. Race was currently leaning over some guy’s desk, sweet-talking him it seemed.

Jack rolled her eyes at the sight and sat next to Katherine. Katherine Pulitzer, Jack’s ex and best friend, other than her brothers of course. She was the daughter of the city’s most well-known reporter and current head of the New York World.

“Hey, Kath, ready for this trip today?”

“It means no class, so yes, but I have to take notes on it for the school yearbook and newspaper.”

“You chose that life, Kath, but if you need a photographer, I am available.” She smirked, leaning her face in her hand.

“I’ll probably take you up on that, less stress for me. You do have your camera, right?”

“Of course, I do.” Jack rummaged through her bag, pulling out her old camera. It was beat up but still worked like a charm. “What do you take me for Katherine?”

“You do realize your brother is flirting with Spot Conlon right now, right?” Katherine glanced behind them.

Jack whipped her head around to see Race getting too close to Spot Conlon. She turned back to look at Katherine. “What the fuck? How long were you going to let that happen ‘til you told me?” Jack stands up, storming over to Race. She grabs his ear and pulls him into a seat.

“What the hell, Jack? I wasn’t doing nothing!”

“Whatever, Race. Sit your ass down, before I make you.” Jack sits back down, shooting a withering glare at Spot, who seems amused with the situation.

“You’re not my mom, Jack. I don’t need you up my ass about everything.”

“I’m not doing this with you right now.”

Race opens his mouth to say something back only for the teacher to walk in. The final bell rings and the teacher begins taking attendance.

The rest of the morning is slow leading up to them leaving for the science trip. They would be taking a trip to some laboratory owned by some big-name inventor and scientist. Jack couldn’t remember the guy’s name. All junior science classes were going, hence why Crutchie was going due to him taking junior science.

Jack didn’t care much for science or chemistry, not that she wasn’t good at it. She understood more than most around her, but she found it dull. Plus, she wasn’t the biggest fan of math, again despite being good at it. Art was her favorite subject and she much rather spend all day in the studio instead of going to math and science.

The junior class was split into two and then promptly put on to buses. Jack apologized to Race once she passed him on the bus, but he refused to acknowledge her. Jack ended up sitting with Crutchie, who somehow got on their bus. Jack spent the whole bus ride discussing with him which exhibits he was most excited to see.

Once at their destination, Jack helped Crutchie off the bus. She supported his weight as he hopped down the stairs. The building was large and Jack prayed they would be using some elevators for Crutchie’s sake. Jack glanced around for Katherine when they reached the main landing. Katherine made eye contact with Jack and headed towards her, along with Sarah, Jack’s other ex.

“Hey, Jack. Hey, Charlie.” Katherine waved at them both.

“Hi, Katherine.” Crutchie’s smile was large as Jack helped him up the stairs. The kid was the biggest ball of sunshine ever. He found the best in literally anything or anyone.

“So, Kath, Sarah, how’s it going?” Jack glanced over at them before focusing on the stairs ahead of her.

“Nothing much, Jack. Did you know Sarah’s brother will be here today, as an intern?”

“Ain’t he, like, 10?”

Sarah rolled her eyes, “Not Les, my twin, David.”

“You have a twin?”

“Yes, Jack. We dated for 3 months, how do you not know that?”

Jack helped Crutchie up the final step, turning to Sarah, “Oh? You wanna pull that? Who’s older, Race or Crutchie?”

Sarah rolled her eyes again, “Race, and I know that because I listened to you and paid attention.”

“Hey! I pay attention, occasionally.”

“Hey, let’s go. Maybe we can talk to David before he starts the tour.” Katherine shot a glare at Jack as she led Sarah away.

Sarah and Jack have had a rocky relationship since their breakup. They broke up due to Jack’s obsession with going out west and her inability to focus on anything but her problems. Jack realized her flaws and worked on herself after the relationship ended. Sarah and Jack dated their freshman year, it being both their first relationship with a girl. They had mostly accepted the problems they had with the relationship and had since moved on.

Sarah had found the far and few other lesbians in their school and dated them, all except for Katherine, who hadn’t come out until this year. Jack gravitated towards dating anyone with a pulse, anyone who could fill the void in her heart. She hadn’t yet filled the void, her last relationship having failed like the rest. Jack thought if her and Katherine didn’t work, why not introduce her to Sarah? The pair had hit it off immediately but decided to wait to officially start a relationship.

“Come on, Crutch. Don’t wanna miss all the science.” She supported his weight again as she led them to the doors. Thankfully, one of the workers held the door for Jack and Crutchie. Jack nodded at him, a silent ‘thank you’. The juniors piled up, crowding the area. Jack glanced at the younger boy by her side and hoisted him up into her arms. It wasn’t an unusual thing for Jack to pick up Crutchie when he needed to move fast or to see things better. Jack made her way through the crowd, pushing her way to the front.

Once in the front, she gently let Crutchie down.

“Thanks, Jack. I couldn’t see too well back there.”

Jack glanced over at him, wrapping her arm over his shoulders and pulling him close. “Eh, it was nothin’.” She waved her other hand to dismiss the topic.

Their teachers silenced the students and told them to give their full attention to the head scientist. Jack turned her head to see the head scientist. He was a young guy, in his mid 20s or early 30s. He wore a typical lab coat, one of the sleeves hanging limp. Another look at him and Jack realized his right arm was missing. Jack averted her eyes, glancing at Crutchie, who seemed to be looking at the same thing Jack had just been.

Crutchie nudged her before whispering to her, “Jack, Jack, do you see him? He’s disabled, like me!”

Jack grinned down at him, nodding.

The scientist, Denton, Jack thinks, was talking about something that must have been funny because a few people around her chuckled. Denton kept talking before introducing his interns, including the guy who held the door for them. Jack smirked, focusing on what was being said suddenly. The guy was cute with her little lab coat and green eyes, at least that’s what color Jack thinks they are.

The guy is introduced as David. David, like Sarah’s twin, David. Jack internally groans.

David and the other intern, whose name Jack didn’t catch, split the group to do tours. Jack leads Crutchie toward David’s group. Crutchie shoots a confused glance while they walk over, but walks with her nevertheless.

David glances at them and smiles at them before addressing the group. “Okay, I will be your guide on the tour throughout the facility. I will tell you about certain areas and if you have any questions, I will be welcome to answer them during the tour. Any questions before we start walking around?”

Jack looks around for a second before raising her hand.

David makes eye contact with her, “What’s your question?”

“Will we be going up any stairs? My brother can’t go up many stairs without assistance.”

David looks over to Crutchie and then back to Jack. “There are a few, but when go up any of the floors, I’ll make sure your brother can go up the elevator. Does that work?”

“Yeah, it should. Thank you.”

David smiles at her again before looking back at the group. “Okay. Let’s go!” He claps his hands, leading down a large hallway.

Jack supports Crutchie's weight as they go down the hall.

David leads the group to a large lab, full of glass cases full of insects and small reptiles. He has the group form a semicircle. Jack leads Crutchie near the front again, for Crutchie’s sake and just because their tour guide was so damn cute.

“We are currently in our genetics lab. Dr. Denton is currently trying to replicate animals’ natural abilities in humans. Like how lizards can regrow limbs. We have several specimens in here. You all are welcome to look around at what we have in here before I explain some more. If you have any questions as you look around, don’t hesitate to ask me.”

The crowd dissipates, exploring the lab. Jack tells Crutchie to look for the spiders by himself for a second. Crutchie makes his way to one of the cases, while Jack steps toward David.

David looks at Jack, “Do you have a question?”

“Yeah, you go to Midtown, right?”

“Yeah. Was that it?”

“Are you that smart kid I keep hearing about? I mean, I just found out you’re Sarah’s brother.”

“I guess I would be. How do you know Sarah?”

“She’s my ex. Though, I expect she doesn’t speak too highly of me.”

David winces, glancing away before responding. “Jack?”

“Yep.” She pops the ‘p’, leaning back on her heels. “I should probably go find my brother and these spiders he’s told me so much about.” She points behind her.

David nods, pointing to one of the cases in front of him. Jack smiles and looks to go find Crutchie. She finds her brother by one of the lizard cases.

“Hey, Crutchie, I found where the spiders are. Wanna go over there?”

He nods, following Jack excitedly. They reach the case and Crutchie squeals quietly. Silky webs cover almost every inch of the glass, brown and yellow spiders climbing over them. Jack makes a face, reading the details beside the case.

She reads it aloud to Crutchie, who is still fawning over them. “Orb-weaver spiders. Relatives to brown recluse spiders. Part of animal-human genetic experiments.’ Says there’s twenty of these guys in here. How many do you see, Crutch?”

Crutchie presses his face on the glass, pointing at every spider he sees, “… sixteen, seventeen, eighteen… nineteen.” He leans back. “I only see nineteen. Wonder where the last one is.”

“Maybe with a scientist.” Jack looks around the case, grimacing. “Anything else you wanna see in here?”

“What do you think they do to the spiders?”

“Don’t know, we could ask Davey.”

“Davey?”

“Let’s just go ask him.” Jack pulls him away from the glass and towards Davey, David. “Hey, Dave, what happens to these spiders in here?”

“Oh, they normally just take samples of DNA and observe what they can do.”

Jack pulls Crutchie to her side. “See, Crutchie, they ain’t hurting them.” She looks back at David. “Oh, and you gotta fix that sign beside ‘em. It says you have twenty and there’s only nineteen. We counted.”

David’s eyebrows furrow as he walks towards the case. He quickly counts the spiders once, and then twice. “Crap.”

“What? Do one of the scientists have one of ‘em?”

“No, they’ve moved on from the spiders.” He runs his hands through his hair, pacing. “Everyone! Keep looking around, I need to do something real quick.” He lowers his voice as he steps toward Jack, “Don’t tell anyone about the missing spider, I’m going to go get someone real quick for help.” He nods before sprinting out of the room.

“Shit, I hope he doesn’t get in any trouble. You can keep looking around, those spiders freaked me out, I’m just gonna take some photos for Kath and the yearbook.”

Crutchie nods and walks around towards some other cases. Jack pulls out her camera, snapping a few pictures of the students in the lab and a few of the cases. As she snaps a picture, she feels a pinch on the back of her hand. She yelps, nearly dropping her camera in the process. She pulls the camera strap over her neck before inspecting her hand.

On her wrist is the missing spider. She gasps, covering her mouth. She creeps towards the spider case, opens it up, and drops the spider back in. She quickly closes it and flees the scene. Her hand aches and a large pink spot appears on her hand, two bloody dots in the center. Jack rubs at the bite, putting her camera away in her bag.

David eventually returns with another scientist on his heels. They count the spiders again. The scientist counts twenty twice before quietly reprimanding David for wasting his time. Jack gives him a small smile as an apology. David smiles back before bringing the attention of the crowd back to him.

They continue to tour the building, seeing several other labs and facilities. Jack’s hand continues to hurt during the rest of the tour and all the way back to the school. Jack doesn’t think much of it, remembering that the spider that bit her wasn’t harmful to humans and that the bite must just have been deep.

In fact, Jack doesn’t think about the bite again until she gets home and is changing for bed. Her hand begins to burn and Jack winces and blinks away tears. Jack opens her door to go get some medication for the pain until her vision goes black and she collapses.

Chapter Text

Jack swats away hands by her head. “Medda, I’m fine. I promise.”

“I don’t know, Jack. You took quite a fall, are you sure your head is okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. You can go to bed, I promise I won’t choke on my vomit in my sleep.”

Medda’s eyes widen.

“I’m fine.”

“If you’re so sure, then I guess I’ll leave you be. Wake me up if you get any worse.”

“I will, now go to bed.”

Medda gets up and leaves Jack’s room, closing the door on her way out. A few minutes go by and Jack’s door opens once more. There in the darkness of the hallway are her brothers.

“Come in. Don’t wake up Medda.” She waves them in. They quickly enter the room and push the door closed.

Crutchie sits down on the end of her bed, while Race sits down on the floor.

“So?” Race’s voice is uncharacteristically quiet as he talks.

“I’m fine, guys. I promise. I just must not have eaten enough during the day, that’s all.” She grabs Crutchie’s hand and squeezes it. “Didn’t think you be getting rid of me that easily, didja’?”

Race smirks at her, “I’m sorry about this morning. I was an ass.”

Jack waves her hand, “Nah, I was being a dick. If you want to flirt with Spot Conlon, go for it. I won’t get in your way.”

Crutchie looks between the two of them, his face distorted in confusion. “Spot Conlon, like the Spot Conlon? You were flirting with him?”

“Yeah… he started talking to me and then I just kind of flirted.”

“Well, at least it wasn’t as bad as Jack flirting with our tour guide today.”

Jack’s eyes widen as she begins to sputter out a retort. “I was not- it wasn’t flirti-”

Race cuts off her rambling, “You flirted with the tour guide? Was it a guy? Girl? Were they hot?”

“You both are terrible, ganging up on me like this, but he was very cute. But he’s Sarah's brother, I can’t date him.”

“Sarah’s brother? I thought he was like nine?”

“She has two, apparently.” Jack shrugged, leaning back onto her pillows. “Was there anything else you guys needed, or can I go to bed now?”

Race stands, reaching one of his hands out to help Crutchie up. “We’ll leave you be.” Race leads Crutchie out the door before turning back around to Jack. “You really scared us today.”

“I know and I’m sorry. I promise to take care of myself better.”

“You better ‘cause I’m not cut out to be the oldest.” Race smirks at her as he flicks out the lights and closes the door.

To be honest, Jack didn’t know why she fainted. Today, she ate better than she normally did and she drank water. She wanted to blame the damn spider bite, but that would mean telling everyone she was bit by the spider in the lab. Jack glanced at her hand, the bite looked normal, the two dots being the only sign she was even bit. Her head still ached and her vision was somehow clearer than it normally was. Jack had needed glasses for the past year, but wasn’t able to get them due to money problems, she just resorted to using cheap readers she got from a convenience store.

The back of her head didn’t seem to have even a scratch from her fall. According to Medda, there wasn’t even blood. Jack could remember how her head slammed into her door frame, yet not a scratch. None of it made sense, and it would continue to not make sense the later it got in the night. Jack sighed, leaning back in her bed again. She can deal with the weirdness of today tomorrow.

Morning came with the screeching shrill of Jack’s alarm clock. Throwing her hand over her chest, she reached over to snooze the scream. Instead of slamming down on the button, she felt a faint crunch beneath her hand.

Jack sat up, confused. She leaned over her bed, to see her alarm clock in pieces. Weird. Jack decides to ignore it, choosing to start getting ready. She digs through her clothes, picking a sensible outfit for early September. She tosses the clothes onto her bed, along with her boots. The boots sling from her hands, launching into the wall. She winces, looking at the damage. All that the boots did was leave a slight dent. She examines her shoes, bending the soles. The shoes were in no way heavy enough to create that amount of damage, nor thick enough to leave a dent.

Jack throws on her clothes, hoping she’s merely seeing things. She walks towards her door and grabs her door handle. The handle rips from the door, sticking to her hand. She yelps, jumping backward. She can hear the handle fall out on the other side as she panics. The brass doorknob is stuck to her hand. Repeat, the doorknob is stuck to her hand.

Jack swings her hand around, attempting to shake it off. “God, what is happening?” She groans, falling onto her bed.

From outside her door, she hears Medda’s voice. “Jack? You doing okay in there, sweetie? I heard some thuds.”

“Shit, shit. Fuck!” Jack mutters under her breath. “I’m fine, Medda. Be out in a minute!” She swings her hand around again to get the knob off her hand, only for her hand to stick to the sheets of her bed. She rolls around her bed, shaking off the sheets and knob. The knob falls from her hand, clattering as it hits the floor. The sheets, however, have stuck to both of her hands. In her attempt to get them off, she steps on one end, pressing the sheet to the wall and pulling. Her feet get stuck to not only the sheet but the wall as she writhes in the mess. She kicks up, somehow walking up the wall. Her feet unstick from the wall and she falls backwards onto her bed. The sheets release from her hands. She rolls onto the floor, away from the blankets of her bed.

Her carpet sticks to her hands as she tries to crawl away. Yanking her hands away, she jumps to her feet.

“What the fuck is going on right now?” She mutters as she walks to her door yet again. With the knob having fallen off, she picks it up and presses it into the hole in the door. She gently turns it and pulls the door open.

Tossing the door knob to the side, she carefully exits her room. The bathroom is just across the hall and she ducks into the room. She flicks the light on, seeing her disheveled appearance in the mirror. Her eyes were wide, giving her a crazed look. Her hair was a mess, sticking up everywhere. She washes her face, fixes her hair, and leaves the bathroom.

The hallway is relatively quiet, all the noise mostly coming from the kitchen. As she walks down the hall, the noises around her become increasingly louder. She can hear each of Charlie’s crunches as he eats his cereal, she can hear each time Race taps his pencil on the counter. The sounds blare through her ears, overtaking all of her other senses. She drops to the ground, covering her ears. The sounds continue to get louder. Her breathing becomes ragged as she closes her eyes, forcing tears down her face. Each sound feels like it’s in her ears, screaming at her. Sirens from the street below sound like they’re right next to her, getting closer and closer. She’d never realized how loud the city was. All the screaming, all of the sirens, all of the noise. All she wanted was for it to all stop. The sounds, the noise, the screaming. Tears poured down her face, eyes still screwed shut. Through the sounds of the city, she could barely hear the sounds of her own apartment, the familiar sounds she once loved lost in the cacophony.

The sounds eventually get quieter and her breathing breaks through the sounds. She forces herself to her feet, wiping the tears away. Her face was no doubt a mess, but she didn’t have time to pull herself together in her room so she took another trip to the bathroom. The cool water helps her red and puffy face, mostly covering up the fact she had just cried her eyes in the hallway. The sounds had gone away, that’s all that mattered. She takes one final look at herself before turning back down the hall and towards the kitchen. Once in the kitchen, she drops into the first seat she sees.

Crutchie and Race are in there already eating breakfast and finishing up homework respectively. Medda smiles at Jack as she puts on her coat. “I have to head to the theater early this morning, but I’ll be able to pick you guys up from school today. Be good today and make sure you eat enough, Jack. We don’t need you fainting again. If you need to stay home, just say the word, okay?” She hugs them and heads out the door. “Be careful when you head to school, okay?” She waves and closes the door.

Jack stands up from her, looking over at her brothers, who seem to be staring at her. “What?”

“You good?” Race looked at her weirdly.

“Yeah, of course I am. I feel great.” Jack turns to the cabinet pulling out a slew of food. Her stomach had not stopped growling since she woke up.

“Care to explain the strange noise from your room this morning? And your door?”

Shit.

“Knob’s been broken for weeks now, just decided to fall off today. And the noise was me getting ready, my shoes were giving me a hard time. Why do you care so much anyhow?” Jack pours herself a bowl of cereal. scarfing it down in less than a minute.

She turns back around to face Race and Crutchie, eating her now second bowl of cereal. Race seems more confused than anything, while Crutchie looks concerned.

“Jack? Are you sure you’re feeling okay? You can just tell Medda you weren’t feeling good this morning.”

“No! No, I’m fine, really. I feel great actually, other than the fact that I’m starvin’.”

Now finishing up her third bowl, she grabs her things, shoving her sketchbook and camera into her bookbag.

“You guys almost ready to leave?”

“Yeah, let me put this away. Race, could you?” Race takes Crutchie’s dirty dish, throwing it in the sink. He grabs his bag and slings it over her shoulder. Crutchie climbs down from his seat, limping over to his bag.

“Okay, we good to go?”

Both the boys nod and Jack opens the door for them.

They end up getting to the school earlier than normal, giving them some time to waste before the first bell. Of course, this was Jack’s plan because she wanted to do some research before her first period. Race and Crutchie begin to go up the stairs, Jack trailing behind them.

“Uh, you guys go ahead. I’m gonna head to the library.”

Race turns around on the stairs to look at her. “Library? You never go to the library.”

“I need to finish up an assignment and I need a reference for it.”

Race looks at skeptically but turns around and continues up the stairs. Jack follows in behind them, darting to the school library. Hopefully, it will be unlocked this early. She reached the library, pulling on the door and it, thankfully, opened. She quickly made her way through the aisles, looking at the S’s. She found them, searching for anything on Orb-Weaver spiders. After coming with nothing, she looked through the O’s.

“Need some help?”

Jack jumped, gripping the bookshelf tightly. She looked at the source of the voice, seeing the intern from the trip yesterday.

“You.” Her voice was low and she cleared her throat before speaking again. “Uh, I was looking for a book on spiders.” Davey - that was his name, right? - looked at her oddly and she finished her thought, “I was just inspired by the spiders yesterday and I’m an artist, sort of, and I was looking for a book that might have some reference photos of the orb-weavers that you have at your lab. Well, not your lab, but you work there. God, why am I still talking-”

“I think there was a book on Orb-Weavers right here. Ah, here it is.” He skimmed his finger over the book, pulling out one. He offered it to her.

Jack took it, making sure to not accidentally touch his hand and somehow get stuck to him as well. “Thanks. Sorry for the rambling, it’s been an interesting morning.”

“You’re fine.” He stepped away, turning back to face her, “You’re in my chemistry class, right?”

Yep, Jack and the smart boy shared a class. Jack was placed into one honor class this year, the class being chemistry due to her high test scores in science. She hadn’t even noticed Davey in her science class, too busy doodling or not listening to the teacher.

“Yeah, I somehow made it into an honors class. To be honest with ya’, I don’t belong in that class.”

“I doubt that. They don’t place anyone in that class, but you can keep thinking that. See you in class later, Jack.” He turned, walking away from her.

She gripped the book in her hand, swallowing loudly. He remembered her name and recognized her from their shared class. And he found the book for her, right the book. She quickly moved to one of the tables, tossed the book down, and opened it up. She skimmed the pages, searching for anything on spider bites.

After a few minutes of reading, all she learned was the orb-weavers were harmless to humans and that they are typically found in gardens or forests. Nothing on what happens if you get bit. She slammed the book shut, groaning as she dropped her head to the table.

“Stupid book, stupid spiders.” She stands up, taking the book back to the shelf. As she puts the book away, the first bell rings. She grabs her bag and heads to homeroom. The walk to the classroom was uneventful, the hallways still mostly empty. Her homeroom is still pretty bare when she walks in, a few other students already in seats. Race is sitting down as she walks in, chatting up Spot who is sitting beside him. Jack drops her things on a desk near the back, leaning back in the chair.

Katherine wasn’t in yet, so Jack sat alone, still confused by the morning. Maybe, David would have some answers for her or he’d think she’s crazy and never talk to her again. Speaking of David, Jack would need to apologize to Sarah. Her and Sarah had times like this, where one of them would get pissed at the other, but they still stayed friends. And with Katherine and Sarah becoming a thing, maybe their problems would just be a thing of the past.

As Jack sat and thought, Katherine walked and sat next to her.

“Hey. How’s it going? Your brother told me you fainted last night, are you okay?”

“Eh, I’m fine. Wasn’t anything too bad, wait, which brother told you?” Jack glanced at Race across the room.

“Does it matter?”

“It does if it was Race.”

“Fine, it was Charlie. I ran into him on the way here. He told me so I’d watch out for you today.”

“I’m fine. I feel great, my head doesn’t even hurt.”

“Have you had any problems remembering, feel confused, or had problems with your vision since you fainted?”

Of course, Jack had experienced two of the three, but she couldn’t just tell Katherine that. And if she told Katherine, she would tell Race or Crutchie, and Jack’s brothers and Medda would think there’s something wrong with her. “No, I feel fine. No memory, vision, or brain problems here.” She flashed Katherine a grin.

Katherine nods, squinting at Jack slightly. “Okay, that’s good.”

“So, I have a question.”

“I may have an answer, what is it?”

“It’s about Sarah’s brother.” Jack nervously scratches the back of her neck, biting down on her lower lip.

Katherine looked around the room before leaning over to scold Jack in a hushed tone. “Are you kidding me? Are you seriously about to ask me if you can date your ex’s twin brother? Are you crazy?”

Jack glanced over at Race, making sure he wasn’t listening in. “Look, I’m not saying it’s a definite thing, but I kind of like him. Yesterday, during the tour, he made sure Crutchie could use the elevator and even offered to help him up any steps we came across.”

“In that case, Crutchie should be the one to have a crush on him. Look, if you can genuinely promise me that you won’t break his heart or break up with him after a month, I can try to talk to Sarah about it. No promises on how she’ll react, but I’ll try, but only if you promise me.”

“Kath, I am trying to do better, be better. I won’t screw this up, for him or me. I’ll take baby steps, and carefully make a move. Maybe be friends with him first.”

“Just be careful. David is a good guy and I’d hate to see either of you hurt.”

“I will.”

Jack made it through her first four classes, now headed for her chemistry and after that, she’ll be off to lunch. Her first classes went slowly, but uneventfully. Jack had spent most of her morning sketching the spider that bite her. After her morning classes and lunch, she has two art classes back to back. Her art classes were by far her favorite out of all of them, but they may have some competition.

Jack sat at her typical lab table as she watched David enter the class. He, from what Jack can sort of remember about him, sits alone, as does Jack.

“Hey, Davey! Wanna sit with me?” She waves him over. Davey looks around the room before walking towards her. He sat down across from her, placing his things on the lab table.

Davey looks uncomfortably before breaking the silence between the two. “Did that book help you?”

“Hmm?”Jack was half listening, half committing Davey’s appearance to her memory.

“You said you needed a reference, did it help?”

“Oh! Yeah. You wanna see some of my sketches I did?” Jack digs through her bag, pulling her sketchbook out. She plops it on the table, opening it to her last sketches. She then pushes the book towards him.

His fingers brush the paper over the lines. He flips through the several sketches and looks up at her. “These are great. For such a little subject, you give it so much detail.”

“You smart in more than math and science?”

“What? Oh, I took this art appreciation class last year. Taught me all these fancy words to describe art.”

“Yeah. well, thanks. I don’t show many people my rough sketches but you did find the book for me, so you get a pass. Maybe I’ll show you when I paint it if I paint it.” She takes the book back, stuffing it back into her bag.

“I would like that.”

“So how do get a gig like that? At a big lab like that.”

“Through several interviews, references, and good grades. It was a multiple-step process just to be an intern and fetch coffee. I do more than that now, but in the beginning, that was all I ever did.”

“I have a question, totally hypothetical.”

“Okay, shoot.”

“If someone was bit by the spiders in your lab, what would happen to them?”

“Well, hypothetically, if they were bit, the person might feel a little sick due to some of the chemicals we expose them to, but they would be fine after a day or so.”

“Okay. So they wouldn’t say, stick to things randomly or be crazy strong?”

Davey gives her an odd look, just like everyone has at some point today. “No, that sort of stuff only happens in comic books.”

“Yeah, totally. I was just curious and sometimes I let my imagination run wild. Good to know that we won’t have any super people running around the city.”

“Yeah.”

Their teacher walks in late and starts up the class. Jack doesn’t pay much attention, deep in her thoughts the whole class. They end up taking some notes and wrapping up class early.

After they finish their work, a boy at the table beside Jack and Davey begins to pack up. As he packs up, he begins waving his hands, a textbook in his hand slipping from his grasp. The projectile comes flying towards Davey and time seems to slow down. The hair on the back of Jack’s neck stands up, her brain screaming at her. Davey is too involved in reading his book to see the textbook flying towards him. She leans forward, catching the book in her hand. She places the book down and sits back down in her seat. She can feel Davey’s eyes on her but she refuses to look up at him.

Jack shrugs. “Good reflexes.”

“Yeah.”

The rest of the school day goes by fast. She doesn’t see Davey again after their shared class. This day had been too weird, too weird to just be a concussion or some hallucinations from her fall. She would have to do more research when she got home, maybe check the internet.

Medda picked them like she said she would. Jack as the oldest climbed in the front after helping Crutchie get in. Race hadn’t gotten to the car yet, taking his sweet time packing his things up. After a few moments, he comes running towards the car, throwing his things throwing the window and sitting down in the back seat. Race, despite being so fast, was always late if someone wasn’t in his ear reminding him. ‘It’s my ADHD’ was Race’s excuse every time. There were two very good reasons he was nicknamed Racer: his natural speed and agility, and his ability to run his mouth at high speeds. How he had made it through two whole years of high school without being beaten to a pulp, Jack would never know.

Medda started conversations with them as she drove them all home. Medda was by far the best foster mom Jack had. Most foster parents didn’t know what to do with a kid like Jack, or a kid like Racer or Crutchie. They were scarred, alone, and broken. Medda had cared for Jack the second Jack entered her home. It was the first time since her mom’s death and her dad’s incarceration, that she felt truly loved. Medda was the best thing to happen to Jack, to any of them. She came into their lives and loved them when no one else would.

When Medda asked to adopt them, they were ecstatic. Charlie cried. Race couldn’t believe what he was hearing. And Jack had broken into sobs and clung to Medda. For a girl who had spent her whole life dreaming of faraway places, she finally felt like she was home. Who cared about Santa Fe when she had a mom again?

Jack still hasn’t called Medda ‘mom’ to her face, still skirting away from it. Race and Crutchie had both started calling her it shortly after they were officially adopted, but they never knew their own mothers. Crutchie’s gave him and Race’s died shortly after he was born. Jack knew her mom, knew her smile, her laugh, her voice. Not that made her better than them, it was just harder for her. Medda understood and said she was fine if Jack never called her ‘mom’, but Jack knew better. She knew that it hurt Medda that to Jack that she wasn’t ‘mom’.

They reached the apartment and began to climb up the stairs. Jack had hoisted Crutchie in her arms as he held their bags in his arms. He wasn’t heavy by any standards, but today he felt lighter. Jack chose to ignore that fact just as she did with everything else strange from today. After a few minutes, they were at their door. Jack placed Crutchie down on the floor, taking her things back from him. He supports himself with crutches and then hobbles into the apartment. Jack follows behind him, tossing her bag onto the couch.

Jack drops onto the couch, her face pressing into the couch cushions. Her body instantly relaxes, aches she hadn’t even noticed being relieved. While she lay there, Medda’s phone went off. Medda excused herself, answering the phone down the hall. Jack wondered if she tried hard enough if she could hear the conversation on the phone, but decided against it, choosing to relax instead.

A few minutes go by and Medda returns. Jack sits up, looking at Medda. Medda stood frozen in shock, she clutched her phone tightly. She looked at Jack, face straining as if she was trying to stay calm.

“Boys,” Medda’s voice is gentle as always, but with an edge to it. “Can you leave the room for a minute? I need to talk to Jack.”

Race and Crutchie glance around the room before leaving. They mutter to themselves as they walk down the hall.

Jack sits up fully, her hands sweaty with anxiousness. “What’s going on?” Jack hated the way her voice shook as if she was being put back in the foster system. Medda would never do that to her, right?

“Jack. I just received a call from the state prison. It’s about your father.” Medda sat across from Jack.

Jack’s father, a number one asshole. Less than a year after Jack’s mom’s death, he got himself arrested for armed robbery. Jack had conflicted feelings about him. On one hand, he was her father, on the other, he left his only daughter alone right after her mom died. Jack had changed her name to separate herself from him, changing her last name to her mother’s maiden name: Kelly.

“What about ‘im? He get out early on probation?” Her dad didn’t have any claim to her legally, having given up his parental rights when he was arrested. He was sentenced to fifteen years when she was seven, so there wasn’t much reason for him to care about custody. Jack had visited a few times in the past years.

“Uh, no. Jack, he’s dead.” Medda’s soft voice felt like knives as she spoke. Dead? He couldn’t be.

“What?” Jack stood up, pacing the living room. If you’d asked Jack before today if she cared if her dad died, she would tell you that it didn’t matter either way, but now that it had happened? The air felt like it couldn’t enter her lungs. She clutched her chest, heaving.

Medda helped her sit down, counting with her to steady her breathing. It worked, but it didn’t help the tears running down her face.

“He’s not dead, right? I’m just imagining things because of my fall last night, right? Please tell me my dad isn’t dead.” Her voice was pleading, grasping for any straws.

Medda began to pet her head, brushing through her hair. “Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry. He’s gone.”

Jack clung to Medda’s arm, rocking back and forth like a scared child. “He can’t be. He just can’t be. Mom, tell me he’s alive. Please.”

Jack continued to cling to Medda, not feeling the way she froze. Jack stilled. She called Medda ‘mom’ for the first time. The name slipped out, but Jack knew in her mind she accepted that her biological mom was dead and that Medda was the mom who stepped up.

“I know, baby. I wish I could tell you that I was wrong, but he’s dead, honey.”

“He was my dad. He can’t just leave me again! I need my dad!”

“Jack.” Medda continued to comb through her hair. “Wanna go lie down?”

Jack bolted up, stepping away from Medda. “I need some air. I’ll be back in a bit. I just need some space.” She started towards the door. “I’ll be back. I promise, Mom.”

Jack saw the way Medda’s face lit up as she opened the door. She quickly went down the stairs, lungs desperate for air. She clutched at her chest again, stopping on the stairs to calm her breathing. She continued down, reaching the end of the stairs and bolting out of the building and down the street.

She went as far as her legs would take her, finally stopping at a park. The park was mostly empty as the sun was going down. A few families were scattered across the green. Jack spotted an empty bench and nearly dropped dead on it. She leaned back on the cool metal, grounding herself. Her breathing was harsh and her body ached. She sat there for nearly ten minutes uninterrupted until a voice broke through the relaxation techniques Crutchie taught her.

“Rough day?”

Jack looked up, seeing a man standing by the bench. He motioned at the bench and Jack nodded. He sat down, glancing at her. The man was young, probably only in his late twenties. He had a look to his face, though, almost as if he had seen some of the worst things you could see.

“You could say that.” Her voice was bitter and broken, words coming out sharp as to not let it be known that was crying just twenty minutes ago.

“Wanna talk about it?” The man had an accent, a thick New York accent, and most likely grew up in the city.

“My dad just died.”

“Oh. I’m sorry about that.”

“Why are you sorry? You didn’t kill the son of a bitch.” There it was again, that bitterness.

“I know how you’re feeling right now. Angry, mad at everyone and everything.”

“How do you know how I feel?”

“Because, when I was fifteen, my uncle was killed in front of me. He bleed out in my arms. He was the only thing I had for a father and he died.”

“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that. Were you, I’m sorry, are you an orphan?”

“Yeah, both parents died in a plane crash when I was six. I moved into with my aunt and uncle. After my uncle died, it was just me and my aunt.”

“Oh my God.”

“What?”

“I’m an orphan now. I mean by technical terms, I am. My dad was put in prison ten years ago, right after my mom died.”

“Did he…?” His voice trailed, not quite wanting to finish the question.

“No, he was put away for armed robbery. Not great, but not as bad as murder. After that, I was in the foster system, bouncing from family to family. I got adopted last year by my last foster mom. She’s the best, but-”

“She’s not your mom?”

“Yeah. Is that terrible to think? This woman has done everything she can for me for the past three years, but I feel so guilty to think of her as my mom. My foster brothers call her mom, no problem. Is there something wrong with me? I mean, I guess they don’t remember their parents.”

“No, I felt the same. I could remember my parents, how they spoke, how they looked. I didn’t want to see someone else as my parents in the beginning.”

“I called her mom, my foster mom. After she told me about my dad.”

“Yeah?”

“It felt, it felt nice, freeing almost.” Jack groans, leaning forward. “This day just has been the biggest shit show ever. And the stuff with my dad was the icing on the cake. I, honest to God, think I’m going crazy. Like looney bin type crazy.”

“What happened? I won’t think you’re crazy.”

“You say that now.”

“Come on, tell me.”

“I don’t even know your name.”

“Peter.”

“Jack.”

“Okay then, Jack, tell me why you think you’re crazy.”

“So, it all started last night. I fainted last night, banged my head into my doorframe. I wake up, nothing. My head was fine, no blood, no scratches. And then this morning, I somehow smashed my alarm clock and my doorknob, breaks from the door out of nowhere. Then, it stuck to my hand and then I was trying to get it off my hand. In doin’ that, my hands stick to my bedsheets. Oh, and get this! My feet got stuck to my wall, like I was legit walking up my wall. Once I had dealt with all that, I started hearing everything. Like everything, everything. All the sirens, flies flapping their wings. All of it. And while I was at school, this textbook slipped out of someone’s hand - on a whole other note, who flings textbooks in their hand - anyways, all the hair on my neck like stood up and I felt like tingly and stuff. Then, I just reached out and got the damned thing!” Jack panted as she finished recapping her day before she remembered one detail. “Oh! And for some reason, I think this whole thing started from this spider biting me yesterday while I was on a school trip at a big science facility. Crazy, right?”

Peter went silent, processing her fast-paced words.

“You think I’m crazy.”

“No, I just was thinking.” He stands up, wiping his hands off on his pants. “Jack, I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you are a kid who was gifted some crazy power. I’ll lend you some advice my uncle once told me: ‘With great power, there must also come great responsibility.’ Now it’s up to you to figure out what that responsibility is, but I think you can do it. I believe in you. Come on, I’ll walk you home so you don’t get jumped on a dark New York street.” He reaches out his hand.

Jack takes it and pulls herself up. They walk down the street to her building, chatting along the way.

“This is me.” She stops and turns to look at him. “Thank you. For the advice and letting me know I’m not crazy or a terrible person.”

“No problem.”

She waves goodbye to him and presses the buzzer for her apartment. Peter walks away as Jack announces herself over the buzzer. Medda buzzes her up and Jack enters the building, climbing several flights of stairs.

Jack hesitates before knocking on the door. Jack wishes she had brought her phone or her keys with her, it would make this slightly easier. Just before Jack knocks, the door swings open, and Medda pulls her into a tight hug.

“Oh! Don’t ever do that again! You scared me and you didn’t even have your phone or keys on you.”

Jack pulls back, stray tears falling from her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I needed some time. I won’t do it again, Mom.” This time, Jack felt freed calling Medda ‘mom’. It felt like a huge weight was lifted from her shoulders.

“Oh, sweetie. How are you feeling?” Medda pulls her into the apartment, shutting the door behind her.

“Better. Not entirely, but a little bit.”

“I ordered pizza. Come. Eat.”

Jack grinned, wiping her face. “Thank, God. I’m starving.” She walks to the kitchen, throwing three slices of pizza on a plate before sitting on one of the barstools. “Race and Crutchie asleep?”

“I sent them to bed, but you know them. They’re probably up, waiting for you to come back.”

“I’m sorry for scaring you and them.”

“I know. Just focus on eating. And if you need to stay home tomorrow, that’s fine.”

Jack scarfed down her food, calling it a night and heading to bed. She stopped by her brothers’ room, letting them know she was okay. After a hot shower, she finally collapsed on her bed.

Chapter Text

Jack had decided to stay home the next day, choosing to sulk in her bed. The shock of her father's death was wearing off and she was coming to terms with it. Her father wasn't there most of her childhood and left her when she was seven, so why should she care now? But somewhere in the back of her mind, she always hoped they would get over their issues and be the father and daughter duo they were always meant to be. She felt selfish. Race and Charlie didn't have their fathers, so why did she feel such a need to have hers?

Jack didn't have the courage to ask how he died yet, not wanting to think about it more than she had to. Jack imagined his death was a side effect from his addiction problem or his incessant need to get himself into trouble. Jack didn't want to think of her father as an addict, who only ever dug himself into more problems. She wanted to remember when he was still a good father, from before her mother's death. The older Jack got, the harder it got to remember those days. Hell, Jack could barely remember his mother's appearance, having made a habit of sketching or painting her when she felt herself forgetting her.

Jack eventually made her way out of her room, pushing her broken door open. The knobs were still somewhere on the floor, untouched since the last morning. Jack's stomach ached as she dug out some leftover pizza. She glanced at the kitchen clock, reading the neon lights. It was only ten in the morning, a few short hours since her brothers and Medda left. Jack found herself on the couch, digging into her second piece of pizza. She didn't have enough energy to turn the TV on, choosing to sit in the silence of her chewing.

The past two days drained her, leaving her confused and exhausted. She still hadn't decoded what Peter meant about power and responsibility. He had spoken like he knew about what she was going through as if he had gone through it. But that was impossible, right? It had to be, or Jack would have heard of people getting bit by spiders and then becoming crazy strong and being able to stick to things. She finished her food, arms dropping to her sides. She hadn't had any incidents since yesterday, so she counted this as a win. The more she thought, the more she realized that nothing made sense from the last day. She ran nearly ten blocks in just two minutes. She ended up on the whole other side of Manhattan in two minutes, how was that even real? Had she lost her damn mind?

Her mind ran rampant, going through all sorts of explanations for the last few days. There was no way a spider bite did all this to her. Or was there?

Despite wanting answers, she couldn’t find the energy to look for them. Her legs were still sore from her run last night. Nothing made sense yet, but maybe it never would.

Some power. She could barely stand without feeling like she going to pass out. And why should she be given this ‘great responsibility’? What did she do to deserve it? Why her? She didn’t want the responsibility. She wanted to be a stupid teenager who still had a living father, who didn’t die in prison. It seemed like life just wanted to personally screw her over at every turn. Her mother’s death, her father’s incarceration, growing up in the foster system, the abuse she received in foster homes, being a young gay kid in the foster system, this whole fucking spider bite thing, and finally, her dad’s death.

It was all a bunch of bullshit. She wasn’t granted some great power as a gift. It was a curse. She wasn’t bestowed some great responsibility, she was given another pain in the ass to deal with. As if it wasn’t already hard enough to juggle school, freelance work, and her home life. All she needed was some more responsibility.

God, all of this sucked. She’s seventeen, for God’s sake. Why her?

If only Medda let her skip the trip, then she wouldn’t have been in the situation. But then, she wouldn’t have met David. David. He was different than other guys she had liked. He was sweet and smart. She had a type: smart people. Katherine was smart, as was Sarah, and now, David. Jack had even flirted with some of the honor society kids. But, Jack’s main type was much more broad: anyone with a pulse and semi-attractive. She had a bit of a reputation, not that she cared, it’s high school. You’re supposed to date as much as possible in high school, how else are you supposed to know what you like in a person? Jack learned everything she didn’t like in a person. She didn’t want someone too into themselves. She wanted someone who adored her but also liked her adoring them. She didn’t want someone who was too serious. She needed a person who would joke with her, and laugh at her jokes, even when they aren’t funny. She needed a person who loved her despite all of her flaws, not someone who couldn’t see past the trauma she endured.

But most of all, she needed someone who would listen. Someone who would be supportive during her low points. Someone who didn’t only see damaged goods.

What she wanted, however, was David. Something about him drew her to him. He had been so nice to her. A stark difference to most of her exes. But maybe, that’s just who he was, nice. And with the whole Sarah thing, it would be hard to have anything with him. Katherine told her to be gentle with him. And Jack didn’t want to fuck up the first real thing she’s felt in years.

There was something else about him. The way he stood, held himself. If Jack’s gaydar was right, that man was a major fruit. That didn’t mean he was totally off limits, and if he was gay, Katherine would have said something, right? It wouldn’t be the first time she has pined over a gay guy, not that Race would tease her any less for it. And Jack wasn’t the type of person to go after someone unavailable in hopes she could make him available. He turns out to only like guys, Jack will stop pursuing him and leave it at that.

An hour somehow had passed since Jack started her little quarter-life crisis (if you could even call it a quarter-life crisis). She was still sitting on the couch, curled in a little ball. Jack was still utterly exhausted. Her throat burned and her muscles ached. Standing up, she stretches her legs and arms. Her joints pop as she stretches. She walks to the kitchen, getting herself a glass of water. She gulps it down in a few seconds. Her legs wobbled beneath her and she gripped the counter for stability.

She wobbled as she walked back to the couch. She dropped face-first onto the couch. Her eyelids felt heavy, flicking up and down. She gave in to her exhaustion, dropping her head onto the couch and falling fast asleep.

Jack awoke to talking from the kitchen. Race and Charlie must have just gotten home. They weren’t talking too loud at first, but then they must have moved closer because they got increasingly louder.

“-and they were roommates.”

“Oh my God, they were roommates!”

Jack rolled over, sitting up to look at them. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know, weather boy?”

“Wait. I thought that was me?”

“Shut up.” Race pushed past Charlie. “Move, I’m gay.”

“Are you gonna keep quoting vines until I get up?”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

“Is this an attempt to annoy me or make me feel better?”

“Eh, which is it doing?”

“Neither, both. Fuck if I know.” Jack hops over the back of the couch. “How long were you guys doing that before I realized?”

Race shrugs. "'Bout ten minutes.”

Jack raises her eyebrows, “You have ten minutes worth of vines memorized? You were barely alive when Vine still existed.”

“The internet exists.” Charlie leans back on the couch. “And it seemed like a good way to make you get up.”

“Whatever. I’m going to my room.” Jack starts walking towards the hallway.

“David asked about you today.”

“Oooh, David.” Race begins making kissing noises.

Jack turns back around. “Shut up, Race. He did?”

“Yep.” Crutchie pops the ‘p’. “He asked where you were. He said you were acting strangely yesterday and he was worried.”

“He was worried? About me?” Jack felt her face heat up as she asked.

“Ooh! Jack’s got a crush!”

Crutchie waves his dismissively at Race. “He also wanted me to tell you that he found another book on orb weavers. Whatever that means.”

“Really?”

“What’s an orb-weaver?”

“A spider. I was, uh,” Her mind blanks. The sketches! She has sketches of them, no weird reason for needing a book. “Looking for a reference for some sketches. My art teacher wants me to try sketching other models. I chose a spider because of the spiders at that lab we visited a couple of days ago.”

Race smirks at Jack, leaning on the couch with his elbows. “Have ya’ sketched ‘im yet?”

“What? Who?”

“’ Davey’.” The use of the nickname sounded foreign from Race’s mouth.

“What? No! We just met.”

“But you like him. You sketch everyone you moon over.”

“I do not ‘moon’ over anyone.”

“Heh, funny. Crutch, does she moon over people she likes?”

“Absolutely.”

“Crutchie!”

“It’s the truth.”

“I hate you both. I’m gonna go paint, in my room, alone.” She turns back to the hallway.

As she ventures down the hall, she hears Race begin to talk to Crutchie. “So, tell me more about this David.”

The rest of the conversation is mere white noise, being drowned out the second she closes her bedroom door. The doorknob is still broken, but it works for now. In her room, Jack digs through her things, pulling out a blank canvas, her sketchbook, and her paints and pencils. Medda had been kind enough to buy Jack art supplies when she had begun to foster Jack. Medda’s only stipulation was that Jack would paint backdrops for her shows at the theater. The backdrops were easy enough to paint, being just generic sunsets or forests. They also allowed Jack to paint her favorite setting without crowding her room. Every sunset displayed at the theater was of Santa Fe, the place Jack had never been or seen, but the place that haunted her dreams. Her mother used to speak fondly about Santa Fe, describing the warm sunsets and open fields to her young daughter.

Today would be a Santa Fe painting day because anytime Jack felt down, she would paint Santa Fe. It was how she got her nickname in the family. Cowboy. That’s what Racer started calling her after seeing the third painting of it. He called her cowboy specifically as a way to make fun of her name being Jack, calling it a boy’s name.

As Jack prepped her canvas and sat before the empty white fabric, she reached for her sketchbook. The spider sketches were the latest she’s done, covering the last three filled pages. She opened the book to an empty page, reaching for her pencils. Green eyes entered her mind and she began to sketch. It started with a basic face shape, adding dark curls and expressive eyes.

After fifteen minutes, the sketch was done, a near replicate of Davey filling her page. She shaded the sketch, all of it except the eyes. She grabbed her colored pencils, the nice ones Medda had gotten her for Christmas. She looked for the perfect color, deciding on using two colors to create the perfect green.

Once finished, she leaned back in her chair, glancing at the drawing in her hands. It was looking at the real thing, each detail down to the t. The green stood out on the page full of grays and black, but it only made it better.

God, she had it bad.

Looking at the sketch, she could see the little resemblances to Sarah. The same dark curls, nose, and the same lips. She wondered if his would be as soft as Sarah’s. Or maybe more rough, but equally wonderful?

She needed to ask Katherine if he was gay before making any moves. It would be terrible if she were to continue on like this, only to find out later that he is only into guys. Jack wondered if Davey even knows that she goes both ways. He knows her past with Sarah, so he might not even know she likes guys.

Why was this so complicated? Why was she making it so complicated? She used to be able to just go up to a person, tell them they’re hot, and ten minutes later, they’d be making out behind the bleachers.

Not that she could do that with David, him being her ex’s brother and all. She needed to tread carefully and not sketch him in the privacy of her room.

“God dammit!” She exclaimed, tossing her sketchbook to the side. She smacked her head, trying to focus on the canvas in front of her. “Fucking David Jacobs and his fucking green eyes.” She muttered.

She looks at the paints beside her and grabs a brush. Not having any sort of plan for the painting, she dips her brush into the first color she sees. Vivid orange coats the canvas, becoming the middle of a sunset. Red and yellow soon join the orange. After the sunset is finished, she works on the ground below it. Bright green - like Davey’s eyes, green - becomes grass beneath the sun. Jack adds small trees on the grass and some blue around the sunset.

Soon, the painting was done. Another sunset of Santa Fe to join the collection. Greens, reds, pinks, and yellows meshed together to create the New Mexico landscape. The green bore into her mind, reminding her of a certain smart boy’s eyes. ‘Good job on trying to not think about him’ she thought to herself as she stood up. Her clothes were covered in paint splatters, a typical occurrence for her. Just meant new clothes could join her paint clothing drawer, because, of course, she had a paint clothes drawer.

The discarded sketchbook still laid on the ground, opened to one of the spider sketches. She didn’t have Davey’s number to ask about that book he found, but maybe Katherine would have it. She needed to know more about that damned spider. There has to be an answer somewhere for what’s happening.

Jack reaches for her phone, dialing Kath’s number. The phone rings for a few seconds before she picks up.

“Hello? Jack?”

“Hey, Kath.”

“Hey. You doing okay?”

“Honestly, no. I felt so out of it today. Like I couldn’t do anything. And last night,” She paused, tears pricking at her eyes. “Last night, I ran off. I came back, but I was gone for a few hours.”

“Yeah, Race mentioned that you had a rough night. He was worried about you.”

“I know, both of them were. I didn’t mean to scare them.”

“I know, honey.”

“And also, last night, I, uh, called Medda ‘mom’ for the first time. I mean the first time was during a mental breakdown, but afterward, I called her it again.”

“Really! That’s great, Jack!”

“Yeah. It felt good.” Jack paced her room, running a hand through her hair. She hadn’t brushed it today, so it was all knotted. “Anyways,” she bounced on her feet, “I wanted to ask you something. About David.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Um, I’m not gonna rush anything, but, I was wondering if you had his number.”

There’s silence on the other end for a minute as Jack paces her room again. She’s certain that everyone in the apartment can hear her pacing, but she doesn’t much care.

“Yeah. I have his number. Why do you need it?”

Shit. “He was looking for a book for me. Told Charlie he found one that could work for what I was looking for. That’s all. And I don’t wanna have ta’ wait ‘til Monday.”

“Okay. I’ll text it to you, but Jack?”

“Yeah?”

“Be good to him. Okay?”

“I will. Thank you, Kath.”

“No problem. Call me if you need anything.”

“I will. Good night.”

“Good night, cowboy.”

The line disconnects and the text comes through with David’s number. Jack clicks it and stares at it, trying to decide between calling and texting. She decides to call, dialing the number.

The line rings several times before he picks up.

“Hello?” His voice is slightly gravely, as if he had just woken up.

“Davey?”

“Who’s this?”

“It’s, uh, Jack. I got your number from Katherine.”

“I didn’t see you today.”

“Yeah, I, uh, had some family stuff.”

“Oh. Did you need something or do you call all of your classmates when you miss a day of school?” His voice is teasing, much more awake now.

“No, just the pretty ones.” Jack’s grin is wide as she sits on her bed, gripping her phone tightly.

“Oh.” Davey’s voice wavers on the other end.

“Anyways, Crutchie told me you found another book for me.”

“Oh, yeah! I went through some of my books and found one from when I was first hired at Evo. I was curious about the spiders and picked up something on them. It might have some better pictures and it has some pretty good descriptions for your sketches.”

God, he was a good talker. “Uh, thanks for looking some more. Where do you live? Maybe I could pick it up from you?” A beat goes by and Jack corrects herself, “-If that’s okay with you.”

“Yeah, I live in Hell’s Kitchen, right by Midtown.”

“Well, that won’t be far. I live in the theater district. Just text me the address and I’ll be there in a few.”

“Okay, see you then, Jack.”

“See ya’, Dave.”

Jack hangs up, pacing before grabbing her shoes. They were worn down and torn by the laces, but they worked for now. She grabs a jacket as she exits her room, turning out the light. She jogs down the hall while putting on her jacket. Medda is home now, sitting in the kitchen while Race and Charlie watch TV on the couch.

“Hey, mom?”

Medda looks up, as do Race and Crutchie. “Yes?”

“Is it okay if I go to a friend’s to pick something up? It’ll take no more than an hour. And I’ll have my phone and my keys on me.”

Medda thinks for a moment, “Fine, but you better text me once you get there and when you are on your way back.” She stands up, holding Jack’s face. “Be careful, okay? Text me if there’s anyone or anything weird and I’ll get you.”

Race calls from the couch, “This is New York, ma. Everyone is weird.”

Medda makes a face at him before turning back to Jack. “Just be safe.”

“I will. Love ya’!” Jack walks towards the door as Race calls to her.

“Hey! Whose place you going to?” David’s?”

Jack’s face heats up as she reaches for her keys. “No- no! Why would I be going to Davey’s?” She sputters, walking to the door to avoid any more interrogation.

“Who’s David?” Medda asks as Jack grabs the doorknob.

“He’s no one! I don’t what Race is talking about!”

“Really?” Fuck you, Race.

“I gotta go. Bye!” And with that, Jack was out of the apartment. She glanced at her phone, reading the address. It wouldn’t be more than a ten-minute walk. Jack stuffs her phone in her pocket as she goes down the stairs. The walk wouldn’t be long and it definitely wouldn’t be long if she ran there. So, Jack puts in her dinky little earbuds that she’s had for three years, blasts music in her ears, and begins to run down the streets.

Jack knows New York like the back of her hand, having grown up in the city. And being in the foster system, she moved from neighborhood to neighborhood.

After a few minutes of running and a whole song later, Jack reached Davey’s building. She was slightly out of breath as she went up the elevator. She rechecked the address, checking each apartment’s number. She eventually reached the apartment, stuffing her phone back into her pocket.

She straightens up her back (hehe, straightens) and knocks. She hears muffled noises from the other side and the door opens.

An older woman opens the door, David and Sarah’s mom. She has the same features as David and Sarah, or they have the same features as her. Her hair is tied in a bun, stray curls hanging in front of her face. She’s wearing an apron, most likely having just finished cooking.

“Hi.” Jack waves awkwardly. “I’m here to see David. He had something for me.”

The woman smiles at her, letting her into the apartment. “I’m Esther, David’s mom. You friends with him?”

Jack nods, looking around the apartment. “Yeah, we’re in the same science class.”

The apartment is small but cozy. The kitchen and living are right next to each other, with a small dining table between the counters and couch. A small recliner is off to the side by the couch. Behind the couch is a hallway, leading to the bedrooms and bathroom probably.

“Ooh, honors chemistry? You must be quite a smart girl then.”

Jack smirks, looking back at Mrs. Jacobs. “Well, I most certainly try, Mrs. Jacobs. Is Davey here right now?” She glances around the room again.

“Oh, yes. David! Get in here! Someone’s here to see you.” Mrs. Jacobs calls down the hall. Two figures approach the end of the hall, the smaller of the two stepping into the light first. Davey pushes the other person out of the way, smiling at Jack.

“Hey! Just because your girlfriend is here doesn’t mean you can push me around!”

Les.

Jack grins at Davey. “Your girlfriend, huh? Is that what you’ve been calling me?”

David flushes, scratching the back of his neck. “Uh…” He blinks several times and then smacks the back of Les’ head. “No. He’s an idiot.”

“Not my fault you’ve been talking about her non-stop. This is Jack, right?” Les plops onto the couch, grinning at Jack and waving.

“Yep. Jack Kelly, in the flesh.” Jack sticks out her hand to Les. He shakes it excitedly. She looks back up to Davey, “You got the book?”

“Yeah, come with me. It’s in my room.”

Davey begins to lead her down the hall when his mother calls out to them.

“Don’t close the door fully!”

For the second time since Jack got here, Davey blushes. “Sorry about them. I don’t have many people come over.”

“It’s fine. You haven’t met my family, they’re definitely worse. Well, at least, Race is.” Jack stops in the hall. “Wait, do they know me as Sarah’s ex?”

Davey looks over at her, an indiscernible emotion on his face. “Uh, Sarah isn’t exactly flaunting her relationships here.”

“Oh, sorry. She never told me if her parents knew. Sorry.”

“Not your fault.” Davey opens a door, gesturing for her to enter. The room is small, especially with two beds. A small bookshelf stands beside the door and a desk is on the other side of the room. The beds are pressed against the western wall, leaving just enough room to walk to the desk.

“You share a room?” Jack teases.

“Yeah, with Les.”

“Pain in the ass?”

“Absolutely and sorry about the whole ‘girlfriend’ thing. I mentioned you once and he ran off with it.”

“No, I get it. I have two younger brothers who tease me at every turn.” Jack sits on the neater of the two beds, assuming it’s Davey’s. “Though you seemed pretty flustered at the mention of a girlfriend. Ain’t ever mention a girlfriend to your folks?”

Davey digs through the book, skimming over the spines. “Never been a girlfriend to mention.”

“Oh.” Oh. Shit, shit, fuck. “Uh, don’t swing that way? Or just never had it?”

“Second one. I ‘swing’ both ways.” He makes air quotes at the word swing.

Thank God. All that worrying was for nothing. He's bi! Thank God, he's bi!

“Ah. So do I.”

“You do?”

“Yep.”

“Interesting.”

“Is Sarah here?”

Davey’s slight smile drops before he answers. “Oh! Sarah? No, she’s out right now.”

“Good, don’t need any drama tonight. Sorry, that’s your sister. I don’t mean to badmouth, but she doesn’t like me too much, despite me setting her up with Kath.”

“You set her up?”

“Yeah, after me and Kath kinda fell apart, I introduced her to Sarah. Worked out for them pretty well.”

“Yeah.” He stands back up, holding out the book to Jack. “Here. It has just about everything you need to know about the spiders. Should help you.”

Jack takes it, standing up. “Thanks.”

“No problem. I’ll walk you out.”

They walk back down the hall and into the kitchen/dining room/living room. Les is still sitting on the couch and Mrs. Jacobs is at the stove.

“Bye, Les. Bye, Mrs. Jacobs.” Jack waves goodbye, stepping out of the apartment. Davey follows, pulling the door closed. “Thank you again. This'll really help. And I have one more question.”

“Go for it.”

“Are you totally certain, one hundred percent, that, hypothetically, if someone was bit by one of those spiders, that they’d be entirely fine? No weird side-effects at all?”

Davey looks around, thinking. “I mean, I’m not entirely certain. I don’t imagine anything would happen. Why do you ask?”

“So, if say, I was bit, nothing would happen?” Jack dodges the question, responding with her own.

“Were you bit?”

“Maybe. Hypothetically.”

“Well, hypothetically, if you were bit, you should tell me and these hypothetically side-effects you speak of.”

“Good thing this is all hypothetical.” Jack lets out a strained chuckle. “Look, any longer you stay out here, the more your family is gonna think we’re dating.”

“Okay. Avoid the question. If you experience any side effects, ‘hypothetically’, tell me. Got it?”

“Yep. I will most certainly, hypothetically, tell you.” Jack grins at him. “See ya’, Davey.” Jack waves, walking towards the elevator.

“Bye, Jack.” Davey walks back into the apartment, waving back to Jack and closing the door.

Fuck, Jack had it bad. She was all in.

Jack got home ten minutes later, having preferred to walk most of the way home. She swung the door open and dropped the book on the kitchen counter. Race and Charlie weren't in the living room anymore, leaving Jack in silence. Medda still sat at their little dining table.

“Hey, ma'. I'm back. And I'm fine. See?” Jack does a little spin.

“Get what you need from your ‘friend’?”

Oh, God, she's doing it now.

“Yep. I'm probably about to head to bed.” Jack moves closer to Medda. “Night. Love ya’!”

“Goodnight, Jack.”

Jack saunters down the hall towards her room. She plops the book onto her bed and grabs some pajamas, and by pajamas, they are just clothes she happens to wear to bed. Normal pajamas are either scratchy or too wiggly for her. Glancing across the hall, she perks to see if anyone is in the bathroom. Once she's confirmed it is empty, she dashes over.

The bathroom is quite a nice bathroom. Medda even makes sure the kids all have their own nice amenities. Jack fishes out her shampoo and soap before taking her clothes off.

Jack turns to drop her clothes into the dirty hamper, seeing her reflection in the large mirror. Had she gotten more muscley? She hadn't been this buff, had she? She used to have a softer look to her body, with muscles hidden underneath a slight layer of fat. She never had any problem with it, having fat for a foster kid was the goal. It meant you had money to eat enough to gain weight. Jack had been pretty scrawny when she was first fostered by Medda, but now, after a few years of eating well, she's at a healthy weight. At least, she was.

Where had this muscle come from? She flexes her arms, seeing more defined muscles there. Her stomach was flatter, abs were almost prominent. Jack hadn't had abs since was a poor kid. She hadn't missed those years, it took her body six months after that to get her body weight high enough to get her period back.

Jack sheds her pants, seeing more toned thighs as well. Was she fucking blind or something? How had she not noticed this when she changed yesterday or today?

‘Whatever’ Jack thinks, ‘not the weirdest thing to have happened in the past two days.’

Jack showers quickly. Once out, she looks at her reflection again, still perplexed.

Jack never had too much of a problem with how she looked, but like any teenage girl, she had her qualms with her appearance. She didn't quite have the chest most other girls had or the ass. She always looked more boyish than other girls she knew or saw. Medda had explained to her that was probably due to her having not eaten well during her formative years and that after a few years of eating well, she would develop more womanly curves.

She wasn't wrong. Compared to thirteen-year-old Jack, she had boobs and sort of an ass, but that could also just be puberty.

One thing she did have was height. She stood pretty tall at 5’7”. The only thing.

Jack threw on a pair of biker shorts and a sports bra, looking at herself again. The bra felt tighter than normal and Jack stepped closer to the mirror, grabbing at her own chest. Did she finally get bigger boobs?

Jack looked down and, honest to God, squealed. She hopped up and down, like a schoolgirl. She did it!

Take that, every guy who called her flat.

Jack turned to look at her backside, as a feeble attempt at hoping she had gotten an ass with her boobs. It looked rounder, maybe, she couldn't tell.

Who even cared about the muscles, if she has boobs and an ass? Not Jack, that's who!

Jack threw on a T-shirt and exited the bathroom. She gleefully leaped into her bed.

As Jack giggled to herself, she heard footsteps by her door. She looked at the door frame, seeing Race by the door.

“Hey. Did I wake you up? Sorry. I got a little excited about something.”

Race shrugs, sitting down on Jack's floor. “Are you okay? I feel like other than last night, you haven't been reacting to what happened.”

“I'm fine, Race. I've made my peace with it. He's dead. It's fine. Last night was rough and I'm sorry I scared you guys. It's just… I don't know.” Jack threw up her hands.

“I know. I remember when my parents died. I mean, sort of. I remember them is all. Crutchie doesn't understand very well, but I do. I know what it's like to remember these people you didn't get to know and want to get to know them. Believe me, I do.”

“I feel guilty for mourning.”

Race looks up at her. “What?”

“I felt guilty, I do feel guilty. I think because you guys lost your parents so young, that I am selfish for grieving mine now.”

“That's ridiculous. We would never judge you for mourning your dad. We both saw you on days when you'd go see him. You were so full of light those days. You are allowed to grieve, don't worry yourself by thinking you're selfish.”

Jack wipes away some stray tears, sadly smiling at him. “Thanks, Race. I needed that.” They sit in silence for a few minutes, both basking in the silence before Jack breaks it. “Race, could I tell you something crazy?”

“I love crazy things.”

“Okay, but you can't tell anyone, okay?”

“My lips are sealed.”

“So, the other day, on the trip to Evo, I got might have gotten bit by one of their spiders from their experiments.”

“What?” Race’s voice is loud and echoes in the room.

Jack shushes him, flapping her arms about. “Would you- be quiet.”

He lowers his voice to a whisper. “How?”

“One of them got out of the case and I found it when I bit me.”

“Wait, why are you telling me this? Did something happen, post-bite? Spill!”

“Okay, this is where it gets crazy, but I think I might have gotten powers or something from the spider. And I honestly think I’m losing my mind, Race!”

“Wait, wait. Go back. Powers? Like comic book powers? You’re fucking with me.”

“I’m not, I promise.” Jack leaps up from the bed. “Look! The doorknob! Yesterday, it stuck to my hand and then I just ripped it out.”

“The knob could’ve been old, doesn’t mean you’re a real-life superhero.”

“Uh… oh!” Jack runs towards her bedside dresser. “Look at the alarm clock. I did that, Race. I smashed it like, like it was nothing!”

“Okay… anything else?”

“I stuck to the wall, I ran halfway across Manhattan in ten minutes, I can hear everything around me, I have abs!”

“Fuck.” Race slumps his back onto the back of the bed.

“I know.” Jack drops next to him. “What am I going to do?”

“I don’t know, why’d you tell me? Why not Crutchie?”

“The night I passed out, there wasn’t a scratch on my head, despite how hard I fell. I didn’t want to tell him I got bit by a spider and have all these superpowers while he can barely walk normally. Didn’t feel right.”

“He’s much smarter than I am. He would know what to do here.”

“Davey didn’t and he’s smart.”

Race turns to look at her. “You told him?”

“No. Well, sort of. It was all hypotheticals.”

“God, you’re stupid. You don’t tell people that! They’ll send you to a mental hospital, or worse, experiment on you or something.”

“I know that, Race. Why do you think I told you? You wouldn’t rat me out.”

“Yeah, I guess. Whatcha’ gonna do about this?”

“Honestly, I hadn’t thought that far ahead. All this ‘great responsibility’ on my shoulders.”

“’Great responsibility’? Where’d you get that?”

“I, uh, when I ran off last night, I ended up talking to this guy at a park. Told him everything. He said that I had great power and with that, came great responsibility.”

“That’s a load of bullshit. Dude was probably on drugs or something.”

“So you don’t think because I have these powers, that I should do something with them?”

“I course I think you should do something with them, but not because of some cracked-out guy you met at a park!”

“What do you think I should do with them?”

“Honestly, I think you should be a superhero or something.”

Jack cackled, slapping her leg. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not. I think you should be a hero of sorts, and I’ll be your guy in the chair.”

“Guy in the chair? This isn’t a sci-fi movie.”

“You got bit by a spider and got powers. This is most certainly a sci-fi movie.”

“Whatever. I need to go to bed. Don’t tell anyone about this, okay?”

“I won’t, but think about what I said.”

“The superhero thing or the guy in chair thing?”

“Both.” Race stands up and walks towards the door. “Goodnight, don’t get bit by any more spiders.”

“Night, Race.”

Race walks out and closes the door behind him.

A hero? That wasn’t her.

Jack paced her room, picking up her discarded sketchbook from the ground, the spider sketches mocking her from the page. She flips past the sketches, past the drawing of Davey, to a new page. Her hand twitches as she reaches for a pencil. She begins to draw rough shapes. Rough shapes turn into a generic form of a body.

Her mind flashes memories of Race’s old comic books he used to read. Bright, neon colors and intricate designs.

She continues to sketch, adding details and color. Once she finishes, she looks down at it. It’s red and blue, with white and black accents. She had seen something similar in an old TV show once. The mask has large, buggy, white eyes, rimmed with black. Webbing covers the sketch. A large spider emblem sits on the chest of the figure, the design similar to the look of the orb-weaver that bit her. The boots are black, with white webs trailing up them.

Maybe Race was right. Maybe she could do this. Maybe she owed it to every kid out there who is trapped in a bad home life. Maybe she owed it to herself.

Jack knew how to sew, so making the suit wouldn’t be too hard. And she had some spare cash from her last commission to buy some fabrics. Medda had a sewing machine at her theater, maybe the next time Jack was painting a backdrop, she could sew her suit afterward.

Jack closes her book, placing it down on her desk. She reaches for the book Davey gave her and places it with the sketchbook. She could read it tomorrow, maybe it could give her some insight into what other abilities she might discover.

She was exhausted. She dropped onto her bed, the excitement from earlier forgotten. She would get fabric for her suit tomorrow and maybe ask Race for name ideas.

Her eyes fluttered closed and she was fast asleep.

Chapter Text

Jack tiredly opened her eyes, muffled sounds entering her ears. She looks at the end of her bed and sees a blurry figure. The voice continues to speak, words not fully understood in her dazed state.

She groans, rolling over. The voice doesn’t stop talking but only gets louder.

“Race,” she croaks out. “What are you doing?”

“You mean you didn’t hear anything I said?”

“No, I was sleeping, dumbass.”

“I was telling you my thoughts for a suit. I was thinking purple.” He gestures wildly with his hands, hopping around on her bed.

“I already sketched up a suit. Turns out you were right, I might actually want this. And it’s not purple.”

He pouts at her. “Well, what color is it?”

Jack raises her hand and gets up. She fishes the sketchbook from its place and tosses it to Race. “Check the last page. I did that last night, turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.”

Race flips through the pages, stopping right before the sketch of the suit. He lifts up the page for her to see. “What’s this? Is this ‘Davey’?”

Jack rushes forward, flipping the page. “That’s nothing. I felt inspired the other day and sketched it. Look at this.” She shoves the book back into his hands.

Race’s eyes scan the page, looking up and down. “This,” he pauses. “This is great! You did this last night, just randomly?”

“You got me thinking. And then the suit design came from several things, old TV shows, comic books, and the emblem is based on the spider that bit me.”

“I like it! How are you gonna make this? You don’t have some secret knack for seamstressing, do ya’?”

“I lived with Medda for, what, four, five years? Of course, I know how to sew.”

“Some of this looks complicated, you sure you can make this?”

“Eh, it’ll be fine. Wanna head out with me to go get materials for it?”

Race bolts up, dropping the sketchbook on the bed. “Absolutely! And maybe, on the way there, you can tell me more about this Davey I keep hearing about.”

“In your dreams.” Jack pulls the door open, nudging Race forward.

Race steps out of the door. “Nah, he’s in your dreams.” He makes kissing noises as he heads back to his room.

“Be ready in an hour, asshole!”

Race spins on his heels and gives her a thumbs up. “You got it!”

Jack closes her door and searches her drawers for some paint-free clothes. She finds a pair of dark ripped jeans and a simple graphic tee. Underneath the t-shirt, she puts on a long-sleeve shirt, to help with the beginning fall chill. She slips on her boots and decides to do something with her hair.

Having long hair was a pain, but she liked the look of long hair. She had been battling the decision to chop it all off for almost a year now, but never committed to it. She brushes through the knots in her hair and throws it up into a ponytail, with stray hairs dangling in front of her face.

She walks to the living room, stopping at the kitchen to grab something quick to eat. She drops on the cushions and props up her feet on an ottoman in front of her.

When was the last time she drank any water? Was she dehydrated? She did cry yesterday and the day before. There could have been more than one reason she fainted. Maybe she should drink some water.

Begrudgingly, Jack gets up and grabs a bottle of water. She gulps it down quickly, tossing the plastic into the trash. It was still quite early in the morning, at least for a Saturday. Medda always went into early to the theater on the weekends so she would have the whole day for the kids. Unfortunately, today, Jack needed to go to the fashion district for fabric. It would be more expensive to shop there, but the fabrics will be more high quality, which is what Jack needs. Who knows what she’ll get up to in the suit? If Charlie knew, she would ask his opinion on the density of fabrics or percentages of certain materials, but he didn’t know. She just would have to hope Race had a basic understanding of clothing.

Race shortly walked in, dressed and ready to go. Jack wouldn’t leave the apartment until she was sure that Medda was back and okay with them leaving. Race hops onto one of their barstools, leaning over the counter.

“So… have you given any thoughts on names?”

“First of all, not now. And two, no. I thought you would help me with that.”

“Oooh! I get to name a superhero!” He squeals as he further on the counter.

Jack waves her arms around, shushing him. “Be quiet! Do you want everyone to know?”

Just as she finished scolding Racer, Crutchie hobbled in, coming up behind her. “Know what?”

Shit, shit, fuck.

“Nothing. Race is being stupid.” She answers at the same time Race blurts out:

“Jack has a crush on Sarah’s brother!”

Jack whips her head to glare at Race. “What the fuck?” Race shrugs at her, a shit-eating grin on his face. That bastard.

“That was obvious.”

“What is happening here?”

Race grins at her again, nearly falling off the counter at this point. He rolls over onto his back and looks up at her. “We are talking about your disgustingly sickening crush on David Jacobs. Try to keep up.”

“Do you either of you know when Medda getting home? I need to head out and don’t want to be waiting forever.”

“Oooh, are you going to your boyfriend’s?”

“Oh, please. You and Spot are dating more than me and Davey are. Don’t think I can’t see you two eye-fucking in homeroom.”

Race’s face turns bright red, all the way up to his ears as he sits back. He shakes his head, “We are not- we-” He drops his head in his hands.

“Very literate.”

“Fuck you.” Race mumbles from his arms.

“Anyways, Charlie, Medda?”

Her youngest brother turns to her, a smile on his face. “She said she should be back around nine-thirty, which is right now.”

“So, any minute now?”

“Yep.”

“Perfect. I don’t want to spend all day out. Race, you ready to go?”

Race mumbles and nods his head as Crutchie looks at her. “You guys are going out?”

“Yeah, uh, I need his help with something. We’re heading to the fashion district to go get some things.”

“What do you need from the fashion district?”

“You know how I’m taking that textile class this year? Well, I’m having some trouble with it and I wanted to get some higher quality fabrics to work with.” It wasn’t an entire lie, she was having problems in textiles, but she wasn’t gonna cough up money for expensive fabric to help her.

“But, don’t you know how to sew and all that? Shouldn’t you be doing good in it?”

Why was this kid being so interrogative? He used to just believe whatever Jack said and just went along with it. Maybe one too many stupid plans he was roped into by Jack changed him.

“Just some trouble using certain stitches on certain fabrics. And the school doesn’t have money for any nice fabrics, so I’m buying my own for practice. Race is just mostly tagging along, didn’t really ask for his companionship, but didn’t have much of a say.”

Race lets out a groan of annoyance, head still in his hands. He flips her off and then curls back up into himself.

Crutchie stands there for a few moments, looking back and forth between Race and Jack. Then, he shrugs, walking towards the barstools. “Whatever. I have some homework to catch up on today anyway.”

Just as Crutchie hoists himself up onto the stool, Medda walks through the door, back from the theater.

Jack heads over to hug Medda, flashing her a classic Jack Kelly smile. “Hey, ma’, would it be fine if me and Race went out for a little bit? There’s something I need to go get.”

“Yeah, where are you two headed?”

“Fashion district. I need to get some things for my textiles class.”

God, was that the lie she was going to keep going with? Of all the lies.

“I forgot you were taking that. You still doing good in there?”

“Mostly, having some issues ‘cause I’m not used to stitching by hand, and right now, we’re only stitching by hand.”

A half lie. She could hand stitch, but it sucked ass.

“Well, if you ever need help, you have a professional seamstress right here.”

“I know. Racer! Come on!” Jack hugs her mom again. “Love ya’. Be back in a bit.”

Race gets up, throws on shoes, and runs to the door. He hugs Medda and then runs out of the door.

“Be safe, you two.”

“We will.” Jack waves goodbye to Crutchie and closes the door. Race is standing outside the door, leaning back on the wall. “What?”

“You just lied to both of them.”

“Did you want me to tell them the truth? I don’t even know what this is yet, I am not going to tell them anything until I get a grip of this.” She rolls her eyes, walking towards the stairs. “And you lied to Charlie just a few minutes ago.”

“I did not! I was merely covering up your secret.”

“Whatever, let’s go. I want to get this over with.”

“Up and away! You can do that right?” Race hops down several stairs.

“Are you kidding me? No, I cannot fly.”

“Ugh. You should learn how to.”

“That’s not something you can just do!”

“Excuses, excuses.”

“Let’s just go before I change my mind.”

They head down all the stairs and exit the building. Jack points to where they are going and Race follows.

“So, any name ideas?” Jack asks as she leads Race down the sidewalk.

“You’re letting me help with the name? Actually?”

“Well, I don’t have any ideas, and superheroes typically have names.”

“Okay! Okay.” Race claps his hands together and runs ahead of Jack and spins to look at her. He continues to walk backward as he speaks. “I have a couple, so, veto whatever you don’t like.”

“Come on, give ‘em to me.”

“To start, how about Spider-girl?”

“Spider-girl? Makes me sound like I’m twelve. Next!”

“Scarlet Spider?”

“My suit is red and blue.”

“Okay. Lady Spider?”

“Not terrible. Next.”

“Put that to the side, got it. Web-weaver.” Race wiggles his fingers dramatically. “Like the spider that bit ya’.” He spins back around, continuing to walk.

“Interesting. Next.”

“Spider-ling?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Silk?”

“Not bad.”

“Okay. What about just The Spider?”

“Too vague.”

“Arachnid Kid.”

“Again, makes me sound like I’m twelve. I need something that’s cool, but feels like a classic.”

“You’re impossible.”

They walk in silence for a few minutes until Race starts jumping up and down.

“I got it! It’s perfect!” He stops, turning back around to face her. “Spider-woman.”

Spider-woman. She thought of what it would be like to see her face on the front page of a newspaper, with the mask on of course, and in big lettering ‘Spider-Woman’.

It was perfect.

She stopped, grinning at Race. “I love it. It’s perfect.”

“I knew it! Years from now, I’ll tell everyone I named the famous Spider-Woman and that she was my sister, and whatever.”

“Ha ha, love you too.”

It takes them nearly twenty minutes to find a store that carries what they are looking for and another twenty to find what they need. They pick up a few yards of blue spandex and another few yards of red spandex. Jack finds some other things to help in the making of the suit while there.

They begin their walk back as soon as they find everything.

“So… we got the stuff for your suit and you have your name. Now, tell me about Davey. I want to hear everything. And what you told him last night about you and your powers.”

“I didn’t say much. I just asked if he was entirely sure that the spider couldn’t give someone powers. I might have already asked him that a couple days right after I felt weird.” Jack groans. “I totally messed up everything already, haven’t I?”

“Eh, maybe not. Though, he may think you are a crazy person.”

“Better than him thinking I have superpowers. That’s all I need.”

“Do you plan on telling anyone else?”

“I barely planned on telling you, but it was killing me. I thought I was losing my mind.”

“Well… I still haven’t seen proof of your powers, so…”

“Let’s change that. Come on, we’ll take a detour.”

Jack leads Race to an old abandoned parking garage. She had discovered one day when she was looking for a quiet place to paint outside of school, home, and the theater. It was quiet here and there weren’t many loiters.

It was bright out, it being only noon, but the deeper they went into the garage, the darker it got.

“What is this?”

“Abandoned parking garage. Perfect for superheroes wanting to train, don’t you think?”

“Don’tcha think there’s cameras here or something?”

“Nah, the place has been shut down for a while now. And even if there was, who would be watching an abandoned garage anyhow?”

Jack tosses down her bag. She stretches her arms and back.

“So, how does this work? Do I step back or…?”

“You’re fine, just need to figure out how to do it on command.”

She hops around and flexes her fingers. She shakes her head. With a deep breath, she walks towards one of the walls. Carefully, she presses the pads of her fingers to the concrete. It is cool as she presses her whole hand to it.

She raises her other hand, slightly above the other, and presses it against the concrete. Jack thinks deeply, willing her hands to stick.

‘It’s all willpower, right?’ she thinks to herself.

She raises her hands higher against the concrete, kicking her feet out from underneath her. She winces as she feels herself hang on the wall.

“Holy shit. I’m doing it!” She mutters.

She lifts her right hand and raises it higher. She follows with her left hand. She repeats it over and over, climbing up the wall. She presses the toe of her shoes to the wall, the thin soles allowing her feet to stick.

Climbing higher and higher, she reaches the roof of the garage. She carefully, presses her hands to the roof, slowly transitioning her body for the wall to the roof.

Her hair dangles as she climbs on the roof. She giggles to herself.

“Oh my God.” She hears Race let out from beneath her.

From beneath her!

Jack kicks her feet off of the roof, dangling her body from the roof. Her hands are still very stuck to the roof, her fingertips gripping the concrete tightly.

Jack wills her fingers to release the concrete and she drops. She gracefully lands, her hand dropping to the floor in front of her and her legs bending as she lands.

She stands up straight, looking at Race.

“You just, just climbed a fucking wall. With your hands!” He stammers out, waving his arms around.

“I know. I know!” She jumps around, flapping her hands at her side. Race grabs her arms, taking one of her hands.

“Is there something there? How can you possibly…” He mutters as he traces her hands. He bends down her middle finger and ring finger. As he does, a weird sensation trickles down her wrist and something comes out of her wrist. The something, weird white stuff (not that white stuff, you perv) shoots onto Race’s chest.

They both leap back and Jack clutches her wrist.

“What the fuck?” He asks, very shrilly.

“I don’t know! That never happened before!”

“Well, try again, but point somewhere else.”

Jack shrugs, flexing her wrist out and bending her two middle fingers. The white stuff shoots out again, looking a lot like a spider’s web. Jack pulls her arm back and flexes her fingers.

“Is that?” She walks toward where some of it landed. She pokes it. “Is that a web? Like a spider web?”

Race appears next to her, crouching down beside it. He wipes it with his finger and oddly sniffs it.

“Maybe? You really didn’t know you could do that?”

“Nope. Never happened before.”

“Odd.” He stands up and looks down at her. “Any other powers?”

“Oh! Well, I seem to have some sort of strength.”

Jack gets up and walks to a crumbling column. She shakes out her body and swings her fist towards the concrete. She squeezes her eyes shut as she swings. It makes contact and goes through the concrete. Debris goes everywhere as she jumps back. Her fist is relatively unharmed, dust coating it.

“I have super strength. Good to know.”

“So, you have sticky hands and feet, webbing, and super strength. Any sort of enhancements of your senses?”

“Now that you mention it, the first day, after the bite, there was a few minutes where I heard everything around me. And that same day, I caught a book someone threw, without even thinking. Like I felt the danger and acted without any sort of thinking.”

“Don’t you normally do that?”

“Oh, fuck you.”

“So, you have a sixth sense? One that senses danger?”

“Basically.” Jack picks up her bag from the shops. “Let’s go. I’m starving and I want to get home.”

“Sounds good. And now we know that you aren’t crazy. You actually have powers. You are going to be a full-fledged superhero. How does that feel?”

“Feels, it feels weird. Like I’m in some dream that I’ll wake up from any moment.”

They walk out of the garage, heading to their street. Thankfully, it isn’t very far from the garage and they get there in a few minutes. They make the short walk to their building and up into the building.

A few flights of stairs later, they are at the apartment.

After eating, Jack takes the bag to her room and begins work. She pulls out a sewing kit. It’ll take ages stitching by hand, but she can’t exactly bring this to the theater, so it’ll have to do. She takes her measurements and starts. She lays the fabric on herself as she works to make sure she hasn’t messed up too much. She gives herself extra fabric to work with in case she somehow cuts something too small.

She focuses in on her work, blocking out the rest of the world. She can barely hear any noise around, only her breathing and occasional yawn.

Her hands cramp as she finishes her latest stitch. She had finished about one-half of it by the time her door swung open.

Race comes barreling into her room, throwing himself onto her bed. He leans on his arm, looking at her.

“How’s it going?”

“It’s going alright. My hands are burning, but I need to finish this. I haven’t even started on the mask and that’ll take forever with the eyes - and what about my hair?” She flails about, reaching for her sketchbook. :I didn’t think of that. Shit. I need to work this out-”

Suddenly, Race is by her side, taking her hands away from the book and the needles. “Take a deep breath. Relax. There’s no deadline on this.”

He was right. Holy shit, Race was right. How bad had she been spiraling?

“You’re right. I need a break. Medda make dinner yet?”

“She’s working on it right now.” He leads her to the bed. She sits down as he begins to talk again. “I thought you were calling her mom now.”

“I was, I am. It’s just different, ya’ know? I’m easing into it.”

“I get it. Play around with it, call her different variations of mom. That’s what worked for me. So, she’s not exactly my ‘mom’ but my ‘ma’ or ‘mama’. It helped with the guilt I had.”

“I may have to try that.”

“Cool. Now let’s get you out of here because you need to talk to people who aren’t me.”

She raises her eyebrows at him and huffs. She grabs her phone and checks it. One missed call. “Hey, you go ahead. I gotta do something real quick. If I’m not in there in five minutes, come get me.”

He gets up and walks to the door and points at her. “I will. Five minutes.”

“Five minutes.” And then he’s gone.

Jack holds her phone and dials the number. Her fingers twitch as the line rings. Why had he called her? How had she not noticed it?

“Hello?” Comes from the other side.

“Hi! Davey?” Her voice is unnaturally shrill as she answers.

“Yep.”

She lets out a deep breath. “Uh, I saw that I missed a call from you and was just calling back.”

“Oh, I was just calling to see if the book helped any.”

“It did. Thank you. I bring it over today, or just bring it to school Monday.”

“Monday works.”

“Okay, anything else?” She didn’t ever want this conversation to end.

“Was there any reality ingrained in your questions last night? I couldn’t stop thinking about what you said and I need to know.”

He couldn’t stop thinking about her? She internally giggled as she physically twirled her hair like a schoolgirl.

“No! No. I have occasionally health anxiety and thought I might have been bit and my mind went rampant. It ended up just being some concussion symptoms from a fall I had the other night. Nothing else.”

Health anxiety? Where had that come from? The concussion was a good fallback though. Hopefully, he doesn’t think she’s crazy.

“I’ve heard of that. Is that where you think you have all these medical disorders?”

God, he was smart. Why was he so smart and hot? You can’t be both. Jack had clearly chosen hot, but Davey must just be a gift from God. Or a curse.

“Sort of. I don’t typically have it, I think it was just some paranoia from the concussion with just some good ol’ fashioned anxiety.”

“I get it.”

Jack chews on her lower lip. She didn’t know what to say. For the probably the first time ever, Jack Kelly was speechless.

“Why do you call me ‘Davey’? I don’t have a problem with it, but why?”

Oh, Davey.

“It’s a thing in my family. We give everyone nicknames. My two brothers are Racetrack and Crutchie.”

“I have several questions.”

“Go ahead. Shoot.” As she responds, Race knocks at her door. Had it already been five minutes? She waves him away, pointing to the phone.

“Okay. Why do you call Charlie ‘Crutchie’? I imagine that’s who were talking about at least.”

“It was. Uh, we don’t call him it in a mean way. I promise. A couple years back, these older kids were picking on ‘im and called him ‘Crutchie’ amongst other insults. He took it hard. So, me and Race, told him that ‘Crutchie’ could be his nickname and chose to not let the name bring him down. It helped. He stopped feeling so trapped by the bullies of the world and he embraced the name. I sometimes think he gets called ‘Crutchie’ more than his real name.” A fond smile covered her face as she leaned back on the bed.

“That’s sweet. How did Race get his?”

“Well, Race has had his nickname since his foster home days. Race has always been loud and fast, mostly due to his ADHD, but I think it might just be him. And, Race has this insane love for the racetracks and even enjoys betting on the races, when he has extra money. So, one day, someone called him Racetrack and it stuck. We mostly call him Race or Racer, but we occasionally call him Racetrack, to mix it up.”

“What’s your nickname?”

“Mine?” Her voice chokes in her throat.

“Yeah.”

“Uh, it’s ‘Cowboy’.” She mumbles into the phone.

“’Cowboy’?”

“Yep.”

“I need to know the story for that one.” He laughs out before correcting himself. “If that’s okay with you.”

“It’s fine. When I was little, my mom used to tell me about this town out west, Santa Fe. She told me it was just big, green, and pretty. That the moon was so yellow, it looked like daytime at night. After she died, I clung to the idea of Santa Fe. I have since stopped being so obsessed, but a couple of years back, when Race moved in, I was in a big low point. When I get low, Santa Fe becomes my rock. I paint it and dream of it. Race started calling me ‘Cowboy’ because of my obsession with Santa Fe and also to poke fun at the fact my name is a boy name. I love the kid, but he is a pain in my ass.”

Davey laughed and Jack could almost see the way his eyes had to be crinkling at the corners. “I know. Les is great and all, but, man, does he get on my nerves sometimes.”

“Like when called me your girlfriend in front of your family?”

“Exactly that. I’m still sorry about that. Must’ve been awkward for you.”

Jack grins. “Nah, I’d be lucky to be called your girlfriend.”

Too strong. Too forward. Abort. Abort. Abort. Abort. Abort.

“-What I mean is, that any girl, or guy, would be lucky to be dating you. Not that I want to date you.”

The other end went silent. No laughing. Nothing.

“Dave?”

“Sorry, I dropped my phone. What were you saying?”

Oh, thank you, God.

“Nothing.”

“This was nice, but I have to go. My mom is calling me.”

“Okay, see you Monday, Davey.”

“See you then, Jack.”

The call ended and Jack dropped her phone to the ground. She was fucked. Why had she said that? Did she have no common sense? She squeezed her cheeks to stop her cheeks from being so hot. She was an idiot. A huge, fucking idiot, who was very much so down bad for David ‘Davey’ Jacobs.

She was fucked. So very fucked.

Race knocks again on the door, leaning into the room. “Who was that?”

“No one.”

“Sure.”

Jack gets up and walks past Race. “Shut up, I’m coming now, aren’t I?”

“Whatever.”

She and Race walk down the hall to the living room. Charlie is sat on the ottoman and Race plops down next to him. Jack takes the other end of the couch.

“So, Crutchie, anything new with you?”

Crutchie looks at her oddly before shrugging. “Not really.”

“How’s everything with Spot, Race?” Jack grins at her brother as she leans her arms on the couch arm.

Race’s face turns a bright red as he mutters into his hands. “It’s fine.”

“Just fine?”

“How’s Davey, Jack? Huh?” Race’s words come out sort of scrambled as he fights off his blush.

Jack glares at Race, who just grins at her. “He’s fine. We haven’t really talked since last night.”

“So that wasn’t him on the phone with you a few minutes ago. You were blushing pretty hard for it not to be him.”

This conversation about Jack’s love life lasts till dinner and until Jack escapes to her room for the night.

Jack spends the next few hours working on the suit. Her hands cramp, but she pushes past the pain.

After four hours of blood, sweat, and actual tears, the suit is finished. It’s a little rough around the edges but worked for a first suit. The second one would be neater.

The chest and the back both have the spider emblem, the front one being smaller. The black webbing trails all over the suit, up to the mask and down to right above the boots. The boots had an inside lining that would support her foot but was thin enough to allow her to stick to walls. The mask featured large, buggy eyes. Inside the mask was a mesh sort of material that helped the mask keep its shape when on her face and gave her room for her hair to go into so it wouldn’t be bulky.

She gently stripped down to shorts and sports bra and slipped the suit on. The spandex hugged her body. The gloves fit slightly loose, but she had to cut a slight hole by the wrist for her webs.

She pulls up her hair into a small bun and then pulls on the mask. The eyes slightly blur her vision, but it's not too bad.

Was it two in the morning right now? Yes, but was Jack still focusing on any troubling sounds from the city? Yes. Who can blame her? She’s excited.

As Jack sits and focuses, she hears screaming and the cocking of a gun. Jack opens her window and jumps onto the fire escape. She jumps down the levels and onto the concrete of the alleyway. She sprints down the street, searching for the source of the sounds.

She reaches a convenience store and sees a man in a mask holding a gun at the cashier. Was she bulletproof? No better time than the present to test.

Jack bolts into the store, holding her hands up. The man turns around and points the gun at her. Her blood runs cold as she takes a small step forward. She had essentially stopped breathing at this point and was running off pure adrenaline.

“You don’t have to do this.” Her voice wavers.

The man waves the gun at her face. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Your worst nightmare if you don’t put down the gun.” Jack’s voice seeps with venom. She was still frozen but had managed scraped up some courage. She inches closer to him, lowering her hands slowly.

“Right, my worst nightmare is some idiot in a Halloween costume.”

Jack glances behind the man at the cashier. He was just a kid. She nods towards the door. He nods back her, quietly leading the patrons of the store to the exit.

“Put the gun down. You can still walk out here and pretend this never happened.” She steps closer again, raising her hands up.

“Not gonna happen.”

“Well, then…” Jack trails off as she swings her hand down and shoots a web right at the man’s hand. He tumbles back and his gun drops to the ground. Jack stoots another web at his other hand, sticking him to the counter. She picks up the gun, takes the magazine out, and tosses it to the side.

Jack glances around the store, seeing the cashier and the customers at the door, about to leave.

“You’re safe now. If someone could call the authorities to come get this guy, that would be great.” She grins, though they can’t see it through her mask.

One of the customers steps forward as the cashier bolts to behind the counter to call the cops.

“Who are you?” The customer asks.

“Just your friendly neighborhood hero. You can call me Spider-Woman.”

She waves as she ducks out of the store and bolts down the street. She turns down an alley, panting.

“Oh my God! I did it! I actually did it! Holy shit!” She giggles, hopping up and down. She listens in for more sounds of the night and heads towards a sound once she hears one. She leaps up onto a building, choosing to run across the rooftops instead. She finds the object of her second super-hero-ing of the night and hops down.

Her subject: a group of men surrounding a young girl.

Jack vomits in her mouth. The girl is shaking as they surround her. She couldn’t be much older than Charlie. Fourteen, maybe fifteen.

“Hey, jackasses! Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?” She yells out.

They turn to look at her and the girl takes her chance to run. The men see her run off and Jack sprints in front of them.

God, they were tall.

Jack ducks under their arms and kicks at one of their legs. The man she kicked falls down and Jack leaps over him. She swings her elbow into another’s neck. As she attempts to attack the guy again, one of them grabs her and throws her into a wall.

The impact hurts as she drops to the ground. The man who tossed her walks to her and grabs her chin. Jack wiggles from his grasp and uppercuts him. He responds by sending a punch her way. His fist lands on her eye and drops again.

She grasps her face and bolts down the alley. They chase her and she leaps onto the wall. She climbs up the wall backward, her feet and hands planted on the brick. She pulls one of her hands away and shoots webs at them. Two of them are webbed to the opposing brick wall and the other is webbed to the ground.

Jack drops down, wincing as she lands. She walks over to the men, webbing them once more for good measure.

She spies a bystander across the street and runs over. She quickly explains the situation and asks them to call the cops for her. They agree to and she thanks them as she runs off. She webs her way up onto a roof and peels off her mask. The man’s punch also hit her nose, making blood drip down her face. She was exhausted from the outing and from making the suit and began her way back home. Her mask was drenched in

She was only a few blocks away, but those blocks would feel like forever with the pace she was going at. She looks up at the tall buildings around her and decides to try something.

She shoots a web at the top of a nearby building. She swings off the rooftop she’s on and shoots another web. She continues this the entire way home. She swings onto her fire escape, dropping onto her knees. She pulls off her mask and slips into her room. She had only been out for a half hour, but she was ready to pass out on her bed.

She sheds the suit onto the floor and stuffs it into her paint clothes drawer. She fetches some clothes for bed and heads to the bathroom. It was probably too late for a shower, but all the running and fighting coated her in sweat.

She quickly showered and changed into her night clothes. She looks at her reflection again, this time sporting a large bruise on her eye. Her entire undereye on her left side was dark purple and blue. Her nose had stopped bleeding but was still slightly red.

Hopefully, her eye wasn’t as bad in the morning. Jack exited the bathroom and climbed into her bed. Her room was dark, only being lit up by the night sky from outside her window.

Her painting of Santa Fe still sat in her room, the bright yellows and reds mocking her from across the room. “The moon is brighter in Santa Fe” is what her mom used to tell her. She wondered if it actually was or if it was just some fairy tale for a little girl.

Shortly after lying down, she fell asleep, thoughts of Santa Fe, superheroes, and Davey’s eyes left for tomorrow.

Chapter Text

Jack spends most of Sunday sleeping away from her exhaustion from the previous night. And if sleeping all day meant that she didn’t have to show Medda her mom her black eye.

Jack was getting tired of this lying, but it was needed if she was going to continue this superheroing thing.

Race had checked in on her once it passed twelve, just making sure she wasn’t sewing herself to death. He had overreacted to her black eye and then begged to hear what happened when she went out. She shared the story and in return, Race brought her an ice pack for her eye to lower the swelling and bruising.

After a while of hiding out in her room, Jack got hungry. She hadn’t eaten since the night before and she definitely could feel it. She slowly exited her room, trying to draw the least amount of attention as possible. But, of course, Race had to get up and call her over when she entered the kitchen.

Thank you, Race.

“Hi.” She ducks her head, avoiding Charlie’s or her mom’s gaze. She, of course, fails and Medda gasps dramatically. Medda grabs Jack’s chin and points her head up to the roof.

“What happened? Who did this?”

“No one, mama. I fell and hit my eye last night.” She wriggles out of her mom’s grasp. “I’m fine.”

“Does it hurt? Let me get you ice for that.” Medda turns to the freezer and wraps some ice cubes in a rag. She presses the ice rag to Jack’s face, ignoring Jack’s protests on the matter.

As she continues to ice Jack’s face, Charlie and Race walk over, the former looking shocked and the latter being as smug as ever.

It wasn’t like this was the first Jack had ever had a black eye, nor would it be the last time. It was just that managed to avoid injuries better than Race, who almost got into as many fights as Jack. Luckily for Jack, Medda hadn’t noticed how Jack was walking a tad bit funny. Her back still ached from being thrown into a brick wall.

“Mama, I’m fine. It doesn’t even hurt anymore.” Jack pulls the ice from her face and drops it on the counter.

“If you say so.”

“I’m fine.”

Race then leans over the counter, “So, Jack, how’d you get the shiner?”

“I fell last night. Hit my eye.”

“Interesting…”

“Racer.”

The rest of the day went by pretty fast and before Jack knew it, she was getting ready for bed. She planned to head back to school because she really couldn’t miss another day, even if she was still technically mourning the death of her father. The same father she hasn’t thought about more than two over just as many days.

School wouldn’t be too bad, right? Davey would be there.

Davey.

Jack quickly pushed the thought from her mind and closed her eyes. Hopefully, she would get some good sleep before a long day of school.

She awoke, her eyes still heavy as she made her way out of her bed. Her back was still sore, but she ignored the pain as she unburied some clothes for the day. After finding a relatively paint-free shirt., she throws it on. She digs out a pair of ripped jeans and puts them on.

She quickly packs up what she needs for school: her sketchbook, Davey’s spider book, and….

The suit.

The bright fabric stands out amongst her paint clothes and she can’t even remember why she opened the drawer in the first place.

Bring the suit.

Her internal voice sounds eerily like Race and she turns to find him standing behind her.

“Bring it! You never know what could happen!” He whines, dropping to his knees dramatically.

Jack rolls her eyes, stuffing the suit to the bottom of her bag. “Fine.”

Race hops back up and exits the room with a flourish.

“Hey, Race!” She grabs her things and chases him down the hall. She catches up to him. “Hey, didn’t you mention that you were inviting Spot to lunch with us today? Think anyone would mind if I invited Davey?”

Race quirks an eyebrow up, shrugging. “Prolly not. Text the group chat, though. That’ll give you your answer.”

“Smart.”

Jack pulls out her phone and opens their group of friends’ group chat.

dumbass queers

cowboy(girl): hey, would you guys mind if i invited some1 to lunch with us

blonde.twink: tell em who ur inviting, jack

bird.boy: yeah, who r u inviting jack?

blonde.twink: yeah, jack. who?

cowboy(girl): a friend

ginger.twink: you have other friends?

cowboy(girl): fuck you. ask race who he’s inviting to lunch

bird.boy: oooooh

bird.boy: who?

“Fuck you, Jack!” Race called from the couch. 

“Fuck you too, asshole!”

dumbass queers

cowboy(girl): spot conlon, that’s who

ginger.twink: damn, how’d you pull spot?

blond.twink: jack’s bringing a boy to lunch!

cowboy(girl): race!

blonde.twink: sorry, not sorry

crip.boy: who are you bringing jack?

cowboy(girl): dammit, race!

bird.boy: come on, tell us

juliet: love is in the air, i can feel it

bird.boy: fuck off, romeo. tell us!

cowboy(girl): it’s david jacobs

foureyes: david jacobs?

blonde.twink: she calls him ‘davey’

crip.boy: can confirm

cowboy(girl): fuck both of you. i’m walking home without you guys today

reporterbarbie: you’re inviting david to lunch? and you call him davey?

cowboy(girl): shit, i forgor you were in this groupchat

bird.boy: forgor

cowboy(girl): *forgot

foureyes: forgor

ginger.twink: forgor

blonde.twink: forgor

crip.boy: forgor

juliet: forgor

reporterbarbie: forgor

cowboy(girl): fuck all of you

reporterbarbie: have you asked him yet?

cowboy(girl): no, i was gonna ask him during our chem class

reporterbarbie: he normally sits with me and sarah, but i think i have some stuff to finish up for yearbook, and sarah’ll probably come with me

cowboy(girl): actually?

bird.boy: jack’s got a crush!

reporterbarbie: yeah, he should be free

blonde.twink: you don’t have to hear her pining over him, it’s disgusting

cowboy(girl): thanks kath. fuck you race and finch. i am gonna to make sure i tell the most embarrassing jokes about you when spot sits with us

blonde.twink: worry about your own boyfriend

Jack puts down her phone and quickly eats a bowl of cereal.

“Come on, guys. We gotta go!” She rushes them out the door and out the building.

The trip to the school is boring, just like every morning. They get into the school and part ways, Jack and Race to their homeroom and Crutchie off to his. Race sprints to the room, leaving Jack following behind him.

When Jack finally reaches the room, Race is sat in front of Spot, turned around to talk to him. Katherine is sitting two seats down from Spot and Jack takes the seat between them.

Spot looks over at her and nods. “Nice shiner, Kelly. Who kicked your ass?”

“If you think this looks bad, you should see the other guy.” She smirks and turn to Katherine.

Katherine frowns at her face. “What happened to you?”

“I fell. Nothing more.”

Katherine doesn’t look convinced, being an intrepid reporter and all. She sighs and drops a newspaper on Jack’s desk.

Hero or Public Menace? Sighting of Masked Vigilante

A large blurry picture of Jack at the convenience from the other night sits right beneath the large text.

Fuck.

Jack has to force herself to openly react to the headline, choosing to merely shrug at the paper.

“What’s this?”

“My father got some reports of a masked hero from the other night and is running a story that they are some kind of super villain. But, he’s looking for someone to take photos of this masked person and I thought you might be interested. I know you occasionally sell your photos, so?”

At this point, Race looks over at them, pausing conversation with Spot.

Jack glances over at him before focusing back on Katherine. “Uh, I mean, money’s money, right? Is he looking for someone to get better photos than this so he can make it front page?”

“Yeah, exactly! You could keep an eye out. These two sightings happened right down the street from you, only a few blocks!”

Why did Katherine have to be so good at being a reporter? She worked for the school paper, for Christ’s sake!

“I’ll keep an eye out. See if I can get a photo of anything.”

“Perfect!” Katherine leans back in her seat, snatching the newspaper back. “So… Davey?”

Jack flushes, groans, and drops her head down onto her desk all at once. “Please don’t. I entirely forgot you were in that chat. Kill me now, please.”

Katherine laughs. “It’s not too bad, though now all of your friends know what you call him. Probably shouldn’t have said anything to Race yet.”

From two seats over, Race gasps. “How dare you? I am excellent at keeping secrets!”

Jack turns to look at him. “Race. Really?”

“Yes, really.”

Katherine ignores the siblings, continuing with her conversation. “You need to talk to Sarah, soon. I’m sure she’ll be fine with it.”

“Yeah, right. She’ll hate me, more than she already does.”

“She doesn’t hate you, she just has some feelings that she’s still working out.”

“Whatever. I’ll talk to her. Whenever I see her next.” Jack mumbles the last part.

“Jack!”

“Fine. I’ll talk to her today. I promise.”

“Good.”

Just as they finish talking the bell rings and they head to their classes.

Jack makes it through her morning classes, all except Chemistry. Most of her teachers give their sympathies on her father’s passing and tell her to take all the time she needs.

Jack walks to Chemistry and watches the halls for a familiar green-eyed brunette. She enters the chem room and drops her things at her usual lab table. Davey wasn’t there yet, so she was on edge.

Right as the late bell rings, Davey runs into the room and sits at the lab table. He smiles at Jack and then furrows his brows as he sees her black eye.

“What happened?” He whispers as the teacher begins the class.

“I fell.”

“Did you actually?”

“Yes. I’m fine.” She smiles at him and pulls out the book he lent her. “Here. As promised.”

“Thanks.” He turns around to face the teacher and Jack chews at her lower lip.

A few minutes go by and they begin to work on a worksheet.

“Hey.” She whispers to him.

“Yeah?”

“I have a question. For you.”

“It’s not about spiders, is it?”

Jack chuckles. “No. um, would you be interested in eating lunch at my table? With me?”

He smirks and looks back down at his paper. “I would like that very much.”

“Good. Great! I can introduce you to everyone. It’ll be great.”

“I’ll just tell my sister that I’m eating with you today.”

“I think her and Katherine might be in the yearbook room anyway. Kath mentioned some unfinished work.”

“That’s where they are most of the time.”

“I love Kath, but she cares way too much about the yearbook and school paper.”

Davey just laughs at that and continues on his worksheet.

After chemistry, Jack and Davey walk to lunch together.

“So, what do you do outside of your internship?”

“I like to read. And write, occasionally.”

“Nice.”

“What do you do for fun, I guess?”

“I paint and sketch. Anything art-related mostly. I do photography every now and then. I paint backdrops for my mom’s theater shows.”

“That’s cool. Much more interesting than me saying I read.”

“Nah, not at all. Just mean you’re smart. I admire smart people. Beautiful, independent, smart people.” Jack blushes and coughs, “I mean, what sort of book do you read, Davey?”

“Anything, honestly. I could read anything and be entertained.”

“You ever read the paper?”

“Sometimes.”

“You see yesterday’s issue of the World? I think you would find it interesting.”

“Really? I might have to pick up a copy.”

“Katherine has one if you see her later in the day.”

They reach the cafeteria, walk through the lunch line, and get their lunches. They begin to walk towards Jack’s table until she stops them.

“Uh.. just so you know, my friends are a little eccentric. There will definitely be some swearing and some stupid argument over something ridiculous. And there is a lot of them, so don’t feel bad if you forget their names.”

“I’m sure it's not that bad.”

Jack forces out a chuckle and walks to the group of tables where her and her friends sit at. Most of them look up at her as she drops her tray on the table, shooting her stupid grins.

“Okay, so,” Jack gestures to Davey. “This is David, he’s eating lunch with us today. Davey, that’s Race, my brother; Spot, who is sitting with Race today; Charlie, though you already know him; Finch, Albert, Elmer, Specs, Jojo, Mush, Blink, Romeo, and Smalls. Is that everyone?” Jack points to each person as she lists them off.

She sits down and taps the spot next to her. Charlie is sat on her left and Davey on her right. Race and Spot are sitting across from her and everyone else is scattered across the two tables.

“So, ‘Davey’, how do you know Jack?” Finch asks before taking a bite of his food.

Davey glances at her nervously before answering, “Well, we are in the same chemistry class, but we officially met when I was leading the tour through Evo.”

“Ooh, chemistry!” Someone exclaims from the other end of the table, Jack couldn’t tell who.

Crutchie taps Jack’s shoulder. “Jack, did you see the World today? Apparently, there’s some masked hero or something.”

“Yeah, Kath showed it to me. What do you think of it?”

“I think it’s cool! I mean, could you imagine being a superhero, with powers?”

“Uh, no. It’d be crazy, though.”

“Eh, seems kind of weird to me. I mean, they saved a convenience store and some random girl, both in Manhattan. It just seems fishy is all.” Specs states, not to anyone specifically.

Finch smacks his shoulder. “Come on! Like you wouldn’t kill to have powers.”

“It would sure be a nice way to pick up some fellas, don’t you think?”

“Pretty sure that’s not why they’re doing it, Romeo.”

“Do you think it’s a guy in that suit? ‘Cause those photos weren’t great at all. You can’t see anything in ‘em!”

“Either way, they are most definitely hot under that suit. I’d bang ‘em.”

Okay, this conversation was going off the rails. Time to change it up.

“Davey! What do you think of this masked vigilante in Manhattan?”

Davey’s head whips up from his food, cheeks pink from the sudden calling of his name. “What?”

“The vigilante. What’s your thoughts?”

“Of course she wants his thoughts.” Someone mutters across the table, probably Race or Finch.

“Oh! Um, I think it’s interesting, for sure, but this person is taking the law into their own hands. That doesn’t make them a hero, just another person getting the police’s way.”

Someone (Spot?) quietly asks. “What is he? Some kind of walking mouth?”

“That’s certainly an opinion. You think they’re a villain of sorts?”

“Not a villain, but they aren’t exactly a hero in my books.”

Harsh.

Davey ducks back down to his food and Jack focuses back onto the conversation happening around her.

“You know, in the paper, it mentions a witness from the convenience store saying the masked person told them to call her Spider-Woman. What kind of name is that?”

“Now that you mention it, didn’t the pape also say that there was a web-like substance found at the second scene?”

“Yes! It did!”

“So, it’s a girl?”

“You don’t have to sound so disgusted just because that means you can’t bang ‘em.”

“How do we even know it’s not someone in their thirties or something?”

“We don’t, but most adults in their thirties wouldn’t be cavorting around town late at night?”

“Cavorting? What are you, eighty?”

“Fuck you.”

“So, they gotta be someone college age or younger.”

“Do you think it could be someone here?”

What?

Jack’s mouth went dry. She wasn’t even participating in the conversation.

“In the high school or at this table?”

“Either! Both!”

“I don’t think it could be anyone sitting here, we only have two girls here anyways, unless whoever is in the suit is just pretending to be a girl, then it could be anyone.”

“Who at this table who be able to keep that secret anyhow? That would be way too big for any of us.”

Jack made eye contact with Race, who seemed just as unnerved by the topic. She shakes her head, choosing to focus on anything but what’s being said around her.

The rest of lunch goes by fast, the Spider-Woman topic eventually dying out and the group beginning to interrogate Spot and Race.

Once the bell rang, Jack mutters an apology to Davey about her friends once they all leave the table.

“It wasn’t that bad. Are they always like that?”

“Normally, they’re worse. You got lucky.” She smirks at him and finishes scraping her tray. “See ya’ later, Dave.”

“See you later, Jack.”

It takes everything in her to not giggle right there and then. Her stomach does flips all the way to the art room, where Jack will spend her next three periods.

Art comes easy for Jack, unlike everything else. She can imagine what she wants to make in her mind and then just put it on a canvas. Easy.

Most of the people in her art class are just taking for an art credit, while Jack has taken the same class for three years in a row. Granted, her assignments technically get harder, but Jack has no problem with them.

The final bell rings and Jack begins to clean up her area, her arms and apron covered in paint. She sheds the plastic apron and tosses it in the trash when she sees someone at the door.

Sarah.

“Hey, Sarah. What’s up?” Jack turns back to her area and begins to wipe the counter around her.

“'What’s up?’ What’s up is that you have been talking to my brother and flirting with him!”

Jack starts to wash the paint off of her arms, her back to Sarah. “I was explicitly flirting with him. And I was going to tell you, I swear, I promised Kath today that I would talk to you about him.”

“Katherine? You talked to Katherine about this?”

“Well, I couldn’t exactly tell you about all of this.”

“What are your intentions with my brother, Jack? Hmm?” She places her hands on her hips, leaning back on one of the art tables.

“Intentions? This ain’t the olden day, Sar.”

“Answer the question.”

“I don’t know!” Jack dries off her hands and waves them around frantically. “I don’t know.”

“Do you like him?”

“Maybe. Yes?”

“Jack-”

“I know, I know. I don’t have the best track record, but could you give me a chance, this once? Please, Sarah.”

“Fine. But, if you break his heart, I will destroy you.”

“I don’t doubt it. Thanks, Sarah.”

“Don’t mention it, but I guess I did owe you one. You did introduce me to Katherine.”

“How’s that going?”

“I am not going to talk to my ex about my love life with her other ex.”

Jack laughs as she packs up her things. “I’m happy for you, Sarah.”

“Thanks. And for the record, I think David might like you back. He mentioned a girl to me the other day, said she was calling him by a nickname. He doesn’t let anyone call him anything other than David, so you must be doing something right.”

“Really?”

“Yep. I hope it works out between you guys. Sorry, I’ve been so cold to you for so long. You didn’t deserve that, we were both young when we broke up.”

“I definitely deserved some of it. I was an ass when we dated. Hell, I didn’t even know you had another brother!” Jack swings her bag over her shoulder.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.”

By the time Jack got outside, Race and Crutchie were nowhere to be seen. They most likely left without her because she took too long, they did it at least three times a month.

So, instead of immediately going home, Jack decided to take two birds out with one stone. She could have another Spider-Woman outing and get photos for Pulitzer.

Ducking down an alley, Jack quickly changed into her suit and leaps onto a rooftop. She couldn't exactly just leave her bag in a dark alley, so swings home and drops the bag off. Now with just her camera and her suit, she is off.

Jack perches on a roof, looking out over the city. She scans and listens for any sort of panic or turmoil.

She eventually hears something and leaps off the roof towards it. Her camera hangs from her neck and she makes sure to not make any sudden movements. Jack leaves the camera to the side once she reaches her destination and deals with the problem at hand.

She stops a robber in a store pretty quickly and is off again. On her way out, she grabs her camera and sets it up. Despite it being an older camera that she had gotten for cheap at a pawn shop, it has a timer.

Once it is set up, she swings off, hoping the camera catches it. She does this several times and does several things in front of the camera to create variety.

The photos turn out fine, slightly blurry on some, but overall pretty good.

Jack drops off the camera at her apartment and stops a few more petty thefts before changing out of her suit. Once she's out of it, she continues walking home.

Race and Charlie are both in the living when she gets there, having some conversation over a TV show. Medda is in the kitchen, working on dinner it seems. Jack attempts to stroll past the three of them but unfortunately is stopped.

“What took you so long getting home? Busy talking to your boyfriend?” Race teases her from the couch, pausing his discussion with Crutchie.

“No, it took me a while to finish what I was working on and then I had to clean up. And Sarah came by to talk while I was cleaning.”

“Sarah? I thought you two weren't on good terms.”

“We weren't, but we talked and I think we're good now.”

“That's good, sweetie. How did that assignment for your textiles turn out?”

“Uh, it went good. Having some different fabric to work with helped.”

“That’s good.”

“I think I'm going to go take a shower and then paint a little before dinner, okay?”

“Okay, I'll call you when it's done.”

Jack walked down the hall, dropping her things off to her room, this time not through the window. She grabbed some comfy clothes and headed to the bathroom.

Swinging around the city works up a sweat so her clothes clung to her body. Her black eye had faded significantly over the day, now a grayish-purple instead of dark blue and purple. Her back no longer hurt.

Just another weird ability.

Jack had just decided to not focus on the weirdness of everything and embrace not knowing. She didn't fully understand her abilities but it wasn't worth it to waste time on trying to figure out everything about them.

After a quick shower, Jack sat in front of an empty canvas, having no inspiration. Normally, something would come to her. A feeling, an emotion, a memory, something. Today, she had nothing. She felt sort of numb. She hadn't realized until now, but she had felt distant all day.

She still hadn't processed her dad's death and she would need to soon. She would eventually have to go to his funeral and see him one last time. She needs to get her shit together.

Feelings are hard. Jack knew that, maybe too well.

But there was a time and a place for dealing with her emotions, and right now wasn’t one of them. She had work to do.

Jack fetches her camera and takes out the memory card. She puts the card into her laptop and looks over them. There were some decent photos here, and with some editing, they could be World worthy.

One of the photos is her swinging right by the camera, the blue and red of her suit a blur. Her web was clear as day, the white silk shooting right from her wrist. This one was it. This was the best picture she took and it looked so heroic, despite her not going to save anyone.

She slips the memory card back into the camera and puts the camera away. She’ll print the pictures and take them to Pulitzer later, maybe tomorrow.

Now, onto the canvas, the blank, empty canvas. She had nothing. No ideas. No Santa Fe sunsets. No green eyes. Nothing.

God, why was this so hard?

Jack was a confident person, someone who always knew what to say or what to do. She knew the right words, the right body language, everything. After years in the foster system and effectively scaring away prospective families with her ‘weirdness’, she learned how to be a ‘normal’ person. Whatever that meant. Hiding herself beneath a mask, she became someone different. Someone people could like.

Since moving in with Medda, Jack has slowly dropped her mask, becoming more of herself again. But the person she became was still there, hidden away for safekeeping. It was easier to be normal than to be considered a weirdo and be shunned away. She knew that no one she cared about or surrounded herself with would think that about her, but the fear was always there.

So, Jack was a confident person. Fake ‘til you make it, right? In Jack’s case, she had never ‘made it’, but it was easier to play pretend than to be the sad insecure girl crying over her father’s death.

Dinner went by fast with little conversation directed toward Jack. She went to her room shortly after and quickly fell asleep. Tomorrow was a new day.

Most of the school day was uneventful and Jack tuned out most of the day, electing to stay in her thoughts.

After school was over, Jack walked to the World building, printed copies of her photos in her bag. She told her siblings she would be home a little later and made sure they would tell their mother.

Katherine told Jack that her father would be in late to look over some stories. And he was still actively looking for photographers to capture photos of this new hero in New York before his competitors at the Journal and the Tribune.

Jack entered the building, bag clutched tightly in her hands. The receptionist, Hannah as stated on her nameplate on the desk, was sitting in front of her laptop.

“Hi. I’m here to see Mr. Pulitzer.” Jack tapped her fingers anxiously on the hardwood desk. The whole office had a classic look to it. Like something you would see in an old movie. A large, yellow, chandelier hung in the middle of the lobby.

Hannah looked up at her, glasses falling down her nose. “Do you have an appointment?” Her accent was thick as she spoke.

“No, but I was told that you guys are looking for a photographer who can get pictures of the new vigilante.”

“Really? Mr. Pulitzer is looking for some photos of the vigilante. Do you have them on you? I can call up to him, I believe he’s still up in his office.”

“Yes, I have them right here.” Jack digs through her bag and pulls out the little brown folder full of photos. “Here.” She drops them on the desk. Hannah skims through them, her eyebrow quirking up.

“I’ll call Mr. Pulitzer and see if he can see you. You can sit down over there.” Hannah points over to a set of chairs. Jack grabs her folder and takes a seat.

A few minutes go by and Jack fiddles with her bag. She was really hoping this wouldn’t waste her time, but she also could use the money.

“Mr. Pulitzer will see you now. He’s on the fifth floor, his office is right there when you exit the elevator.”

Jack scrambles to grab her things and mutters a ‘thank you’ and heads to the elevator. She presses the button and waits. It dings, opens, and she rushes in. The way up to the fifth floor is quiet. The doors ding open again and she exits the elevator. A large office with glass windows greets her immediately.

She hesitates before walking into the office. There was Joseph Pulitzer. Master reporter, winner of the Pulitzer Prize (no relation) several times, and now owner and head editor of the New York World. And he was the father of her most recent ex, not that he knew that, but Jack knew.

“So, you’re the kid who got the first clear pictures of New York’s menace vigilante?”

Menace? She was a lot of things, but a menace?

“Yes. I have them right here.” She hands over the folder.

He flips through the photos. “Hmm, these aren’t terrible. How did you get these?”

“Uh, she was out yesterday and I had my camera on me. Your daughter is a friend of mine and she mentioned you were looking for a photographer.”

“Katherine mentioned it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, these are adequate compared to what we published the other day. What’s your price?”

“Hmm?”

“Your price. How much are you charging for these?”

‘Oh! I, uh, don’t know. How much are you willing to offer?”

“I can pay you one-fifty for each photo. Does that work?”

One hundred and fifty dollars? Per picture?

“Yes! That works.”

“Good. If you want to make this a regular thing, keep bringing photos. Next time, you can drop them off to Hannah and she’ll pay you there. I’ll have Hannah get you the money for these.”

“Thank you.” Jack turned and left the office. Maybe the photos would be used to paint her as a villain, but for the price, she was okay with that. She would just have to work harder on her public image.

Back in the lobby, Jack filled out some paperwork and received her first check.

“Try to drop photos off before Saturday. We finish up the paper on Saturday nights and deliver Sunday morning. And Mr. Pulitzer will require more variety next time you bring photos. Different angles and locations. Does that work?”

“Yep. Be back soon with more pictures.”

Jack slings her bag over her shoulder. That went well. As well as it could. Her walk home wouldn’t be too long and she was ready to just drop dead into her bed when she got there.

Maybe after dinner, she could go out again. Since the first night she went out, she has been craving the thrill that came with being Spider-Woman. It was exhilarating and she loved every second of it, except for maybe when she got hurt. And now she sort of has a job as the New York World’s official Spider-Woman photographer, she would need to go out to get more photos. She would have to use the money she just got to invest in some new cameras. She could set them up over the city and have them get photos when she swings by. It was a foolproof plan. No one would possibly think that stupid teenager Jack Kelly was the city’s own superhero.

Foolproof.

Chapter Text

Almost one week, six days, since Jack became Spider-Woman. One week of swinging through the city with no cares. Six days.

In those six days, Jack made the front page of the paper, she stopped her first few criminals, and she got a job.

Six days!

Jack was currently walking through the halls of Midtown High, happily thinking about the past week, with the exception of the bad. As she daydreamed, she bumped into someone.

“Shit, sorry-” she rushed down to grab her things and looked up to who she bumped into.

“Kelly.”

Morris Delancey.

Jack glared at him, picking up the things she dropped. “Morris. Sorry I didn’t see you there, but I was afraid I would hurt my eyes.”

“You fucking bitch. How’d would like it if I pushed you down?”

“I would say that’s very rude of you, Morris.”

Morris shoves her down, her bag falling yet again to the ground. “Never know when to shut up, do you, dyke?”

Homophobic bastard.

Jack got to her knees, glaring at Morris. “Morris, does it make you feel good to be a sexist, homophobic piece of shit?”

He grins. “I just think people like you and your crip brother need to be put in their place.” He seethes.

Just as Morris finishes talking, his brother, Oscar comes up behind him.

Jack jumps to her feet as Morris turns to look at his brother.

Now, let it be known for the record, that Jack is not a violent person. She just resorts to violence very frequently. Violence is not the answer, but bring up Jack’s brothers and it becomes the only answer.

Jack leaped at Morris, tackling him to the ground. He kicked at her, making an attempt to free him from her grasp. Jack pins his hands to the floor.

Jack was pissed. Morris is a worthless piece of garbage who did not get to talk about her family. And Jack would show him what would happen if he ever did it again.

Someone pulls her off of him. She flails and kicks out of their grasp.

“Fuck you, Morris. Talk about my brothers and I’ll kill you. I swear to God, I will.”

“You done?” The person who pulled her off was none other than Davey.

Morris and Oscar run off and shoot her glares as they head to class.

“You some kind of pacifist? You should’ve let me rip his damn head off.”

“No, I think violence is useless, but it can be effective in certain cases. I did that because you were going to get yourself suspended.”

“Like I give a shit. Morris doesn’t get to talk about my family and get away with it.” She pokes Davey’s chest. “Wouldn’t you do the same thing if it were Sarah or Les being the butt of someone’s insults and demeaning?”

His brows furrow and he hands her bag. “That’s different.”

“How so? Tell me.” She snatches the bag away.

“I don’t know! I am not a person who- who fights someone for no reason at all!”

“And I am?”

Davey sputters.

“No, go on, tell me that I am a violent person who attacks people for ‘no reason’.”

He drops his head and turns away from her. “I didn’t mean that.”

“Really? What did you mean then?”

“I don’t know, Jack.”

The late bell rings over their heads and they suddenly realize they are the only ones still in the hall.

“I’ll see you in Chemistry.” Davey runs off.

Jack stood, frozen. She hadn’t meant to be so harsh to Davey, but he caught her at a bad time. She really screwed things up, didn’t she?

Fuck.

Jack decided to try to forget what happened earlier, blocking it out from her thoughts. Though, every time her mind flashed Davey’s green eyes, another flash appeared of him looking like a wounded dog.

As Jack walked to her last class before lunch and her only class with Davey, everything became very clear. Every sound, every smell, everything around her. She could hear it, feel it, smell it, see it.

It was all so suffocating. Her clothes felt itchy on her skin and she wanted to do was hide.

She dashed past the chemistry lab, towards the bathrooms. On her way there, she bumped into the one person she did not want to see: Davey.

He immediately took in her state, his face covered in concern.

“Jack? What’s wrong?”

The worst thing of all this was that Jack couldn’t speak. It was just too much for her at the moment. All she could do was shake her head, tears beginning to fall down her cheeks.

“Okay. Come this way. Is it okay if I touch you?”

His fingers grazed Jack’s arm and she jumped back. It was too much. She shook her head.

“Got it.” He gently grabbed the strap of her bag to lead her through the halls. He led to a gender-neutral bathroom. It was also the accessible bathroom.

She slowly entered and dropped her bag to the floor with a ‘thud’. She shuddered, her shoulders twitching.

God, this was the worst.

“Do you want me to keep the lights off?”

Sweet, perfect Davey.

She nods, gripping at her clothes. If she weren’t in her with Davey, she would rip off her shirt and curl into a little ball. She still curled into a ball and sobbed into her hands. Everything was too loud, too vivid. Her head and shoulder kept jerking to the side.

She heard the door click and Davey shuffle closer to her. The darkness helped, it took away one of her senses. She heard the shuffling come closer and a tap on her shoulder. Davey held out a pair of over-ear headphones. Her heart ached as she took them and put them over her ears. She reaches out her arms, grabbing Davey. He sits down beside her and she clings to him like a child with their favorite toy.

Everything begins to slow, becoming quieter. Davey is still beneath her and she screws her eyes shut and continues to cling.

After a few minutes, the world began to quiet down and her senses went back to normal. No more blaring in her ears or being able to smell everything in a twenty-mile radius.

She pulled the headphones over her head and dropped them beside her. She scoots away from Davey and clears her throat.

Her throat was sore, but she managed to speak. “Thank you.”

Davey looked over at her, concern still written over his features. “It was no problem, really. I’ve dealt with stuff like before with Les. His autism tends to make him have fits like that every now and then.”

Well, that was a new one.

“Autism? You think I’m-” She waves her hand, “Nah.”

“I didn’t mean anything bad by it, I was just stating that Les does the same thing.”

“Well, either way, thank you. I wasn’t expecting to run into anybody.”

He nods and begins to grab his things.

“Shit, we are so late for class. Davey, I am so sorry. Fuck, I am a mess today.” She scrambles to grab her things and pushes the headphones over to Davey, who grabs them and places them in his bag. She flicks the lights on and winces at the intensity of the lights.

Davey gently grabs her shoulders, turning her to him. “Jack. Breathe. It’s okay if we are late.”

“But, but-” Her breathing quickens and Davey gently squeezes her shoulders.

“Jack. Calm down.”

“Okay.” Her voice is little and so uncharacteristically Jack. Her eyes fill with tears again and leans into Davey and wraps her arms around him. “Thank you, Davey. I’m sorry for this morning.”

He really was the perfect person ever. No wonder Jack was so gone for him.

“Hey, we were both in the wrong. I shouldn’t have judged you. You are braver than I am. And you should be allowed to defend your siblings without anyone criticizing you.”

“We should probably get to class, shouldn’t we?”

“Eh, at this point, we are very late.” He shrugs.

Jack giggled, honest to God giggled. “Yeah. We could wait out here until lunch.”

“Will you be good to go in the cafeteria?”

God, he was so caring.

“I should be fine. It’s over now, thank God.”

“You have those often?”

“Not recently. I used to when I was young and in the foster system. Bouncing from home to home and never having any sense of normalcy messed me up. And I should probably tell my mom about it, but with everything else happening right now…” She trailed off, her fingers pulling at her sleeves.

“You can tell me anything- only if you want to, of course.”

He’s adorable.

“It’s just that,” she pauses, “my dad just passed away and everything has gone to shit. So, I’m focusing on all this good that’s also happening, but I still feel so numb and broken.”

“Shit. I’m so sorry, Jack. I didn’t know.”

“No one really knows.” She wipes away her tears. “I have just been pushing down all my feelings for a week now and I am so tired.”

“Well, we have twenty until the bell rings, just relax.”

“That sounds nice. Why do you have to be so nice, Dave? Makes me feel bad for being so shitty.”

He laughs and it sends ripples through his body that Jack feels with her arms wrapped around him. She should probably pull away, but it feels so nice.

“I’ll try to be worser person. Will that help?”

“No, you have to be nice. That’s what I like so much about ‘ya. You’re nice to everyone unless they don’t deserve it.”

“Well then, I’ll keep being nice.”

“Good.”

They continue to sit like that, Jack clinging to Davey for dear life and him holding her while she calms down. Once the bell rings, they’ll go their separate ways and not see each other again for the rest of the day, so Jack was enjoying this while she had him here with her.

Jack wrote off her little spat as a side effect of her stress and decided to de-stress by going out late. Her suit clung to her as she swung through the city, her already set-up cameras photographing her for the World.

She was hoping for a slow night but unfortunately was met with blaring alarms. She made her way towards the sound, swinging several blocks towards it.

Once there, she took in the sight. Several men were holding up a store. At this hour? Jack crouched on a rooftop by the store. She had to make a plan before swooping in. If she went in without a plan, she would be risking the lives of everyone inside.

Muttering under her breath, she scoped out the store. Only a few civilians and five gunmen. Not terrible odds, but she wasn’t bulletproof. If she timed it right, she could web up two of the men on her way and attract the attention of the remaining three. Three men wouldn’t be incredibly hard to take down, especially with agility. But, the civilians. One of them could take one and use them as a human shield. What would she do then?

The police were still a few minutes away and if she wanted to help, she had to do it now. Swooping down, she swung in front of the main entrance. She plowed through the glass doors, glass shattering and falling everywhere. Jack spun on her heels, shooting webs at the first two men she saw. They stuck to their respective walls they had been walking by. Jack ducked and dashed further into the store. The remaining three men were surrounding her, guns pointed at her. She glanced around the room and leaped up to the roof. She stuck to it and crawled around until she was right over one of the men. She dropped onto his shoulders, effectively throwing him off-balance. He falls over and she snatches his gun away and aims it at one of the two men left. She webs the man below her and jumps up.

Gun still in her tight grip, she corners the two men left to a corner of the store. She’d never shot a gun before and wasn’t planning to now. She tosses the gun to the side and webs the men to the wall, guns dropping to the floor.

She did it. Everyone was safe and she made it out safe. Except, there was this burning ache on her shoulder. She ignores it and sprints out of the store. She leaps onto a rooftop and clutches her shoulder. The pain was getting worse. She pulls her hand away.

Blood. She was bleeding. She was shot.

Fuck. This just got very real.

“Fuck, fuck. Fuck!”

What was she going to do? She can’t go home like this.

Fuck.

As she panicked, she heard something in the distance. Even though she shouldn’t be so stupid as to go towards whatever was out there, she goes out. She opts for leaping over roofs instead of swinging.

The hair on her neck stood up.

Must be getting close.

She drops to the ground and goes the rest of the way from the ground level. She begins to hear what sounds like hissing? Odd. She walks closer and reaches what seems to be an abandoned subway station. She hadn’t never been in this part of downtown Brooklyn. She heads down into the station, old, yellow, flickering lights above her.

The whole tunnel was very eerie and the hissing only got louder the further she went into the tunnel. She stood right in front of the tracks and glanced around for anything. The tunnel was empty, so where was the sound coming from?

And then, her hair stood up again just before she was sent pummeling towards the brick wall. Something green and large had tackled her. She bounced up and searched around. It was gone?

She leaped onto the tracks and saw yellow, glowing eyes only twenty or so feet away from her. This time, she chose to jump at it first. She sprinted down the tracks, grabbing the creature by its tail. It kicked and hissed as it tried to get her off.

Jack pulled herself on top of the creature and sent a punch toward its face? Nothing was clear in the dark tunnel, but it was clear that this creature had great eyesight because it sent an equal, if not, stronger punch to Jack’s face. She fell backward before jumping back at the creature.

“Break out from the museum? Dinosaurs coming back to life?” Jack quipped as she leaped out of its grasp. “You know, I think the zoo might be looking for a new attraction.”

The creature, which Jack decided was a mix of a lizard and a dinosaur, growled and lunged at her. It climbed onto the roof, where Jack had clung to.

“Fuck.” She muttered as she jumped down and ran down the tunnel. She turned and shot a web at its face before swinging right into it. “Take that, you wannabe Jurassic Park.”

The lizard thing crawled away, towards an opening to the sewer below them. It ripped open the grates and slipped in. Jack stepped toward the grate, looking down.

It was gone. Again?

Jack dropped into the sewer, the murky water soaking her suit. God, she was going to get an infection. And the lizard clawed at her suit.

She waded through the water, in search of this creature. Something of that size doesn’t just disappear without a trace. And what was it? How was it scientifically possible?

Maybe she could ask Davey. He was smart.

Her cameras! Maybe they picked up the lizard thing and took a picture.

She leaped up back into the tunnel and quickly made her way up the stairs and onto the street. She was sopping wet and reeked of sewage. Her shoulder ached and burned, but she bit back the pain as she swung to her closest camera. The camera picked up several images of her and one blurry one of something green.

It was dark, so it was hard to make out what exactly it was, but she was certain it was the lizard dinosaur. It had to be.

But, it was late and she smelled. It was time to go home. She removed the memory card from the camera and jumped onto a nearby roof. She would need to clean her shoulder and remove the bullet. No biggie, right? It would be easy-peasy. And if she didn’t clean it right or get the bullet out, she would most likely get an infection and possibly die. No biggie.

She swung home and crept into her room. She sheds the suit and tosses it into her hamper. It would need to be washed, but that was another problem for another day. She needed to focus on her wound.

She slips into the bathroom and pulls out the first aid kit. Everything she needs should be right here. She cleans it first and wipes away any blood. Onto the hard part. She pulls out a pair of tweezers and douses them in rubbing alcohol. She turns to the mirror to see what she’s doing. Slowly, she raises the tweezers to the open wound. She presses her middle and ring finger around the gunshot wound to better see the bullet. The metal sticks out slightly and she grabs it with the tweezers.

Gently, she pulls on it. It moves with the tweezers and comes out in one piece. She lets out a sigh and drops the bullet into her hand. This was just in her shoulder. She was shot. Shot.

She was in way over her head. She couldn’t do this, be a hero. Why had she let Race convince her that she could do this?

She could’ve died of an infection or that lizard thing could’ve killed her. She was teetering with death. Playing with the wills of fate.

She was an idiot. A massive idiot.

Dropping the tweezers down, she cleans the wound again and wraps it. She quickly puts the first aid kit away into the cabinet and rushes back to her room. It was late. She should be sleeping, like everyone else in her grade most likely was. But she wasn’t like everyone else in her grade, or in her school. She had her great power and responsibility.

Some great power. It got her shot and nearly killed. If only Peter had told her that.

No use in focusing on the past. She was alive and she removed the bullet. She could worry about the rest tomorrow.

Jack woke up with her shoulder aching. But, she pushed away the pain and got up to check the photos from the night before. She needed to find an explanation for whatever that thing was. She needed to find someone who could help her understand what it was.

Her first thought was to ask Davey. He’s smart, but asking him could put him at risk. As far as she knows, she is the only one to have seen the lizard thing. Other than her camera, of course.

Most of the pictures were blurry as she looked through them, just flashes of blue and red or green. That was until she saw one of the last photos on the card. It was the lizard, looking directly at the camera. The photo after it shows it running off.

She flips through the two photos. There had to be something else there. There had to. Right?

Thank God it was Saturday so she could rot in her room all day and research.

Unfortunately, she forgot she had the biggest pain in the ass as her little brother. Said pain the ass barged into her room and dropped himself on her bed.

“Whatcha’ doin’?”

Jack turns in her chair. “Researching. I ran into something last night and I don’t know what it was.”

“So, it was you who was making that noise last night?”

“Noise? I was quiet, wasn’t I?”

“Eh, not really, but lucky for you, everyone else in this house is a heavy sleeper.”

“Well, I get a free pass for last night. I was soaked in sewer water and I got hurt.’

“Eww! How did you get hurt?” He leaned on the edge of her bed and kicked his feet back and forth.

“There was a store hold-up last night, five guys. I took out three of them with no problem and then one of the remaining two shot me. I didn’t even realize until after I left the store.”

Race dropped to the floor before leaping back up. “What? You were shot?! Holy shit!”

“Shh! I don’t need the whole building knowing!”

Race covered his mouth and stepped back. “Shit. Sorry.” He whispered. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I am. Now. I had to pull the fucking bullet out, it’s over there.” She pointed to her side table, where the bloody bullet had sat since the night before. “I was terrified of getting an infection, but it’s clean now. The wound has mostly closed up too.” She adjusts her shirt to show him her shoulder, a dark scab in place of the oozing wound from before.

“Eww! That came out of you?” He poked the bullet before pulling his hand back.

“Yep.”

“So, what was the thing you ran into?”

“Okay, get this, I hear this weird noise from blocks away and I go to the sound, it’s coming from an abandoned subway station in Brooklyn. I go down and I hear hissing. Hissing! Anyway, I stood there for a few moments and then this thing just attacked me. It was like a goddamn dinosaur. It was massive. And green. But it escaped and I couldn’t find it.”

“Woah. A dinosaur?”

“Seemed like it. Damn thing tore my suit. So, I can’t go out until I mend it. And wash it.”

“Well, if you want to blow some steam in a non-superhero way, there’s a party I heard about.”

“A party? Are you kidding me? Medda will never let us go.”

“She might let us go if you come with me.”

“Why do you want to go so bad?”

Race flushed and ducked his face. “Well, there may be someone there.”

Jack smirks and crosses her arms. “Spot?”

“Maybe…”

“I’ll think about it. When is it?”

“Tomorrow night. The kid’s parents will be out of town. Supposedly, a lot of kids are going.” He leaps and looks at her pleadingly. “Please?”

“I said I will think about it.”

“Yes!” Race jumps around the room and runs out of the room. As he leaves the room, her phone buzzes on her bed.

dumbass queers

ginger.twink: whos going to the party tmr night?

blonde.twink: just convinced cowboy to come, so hopefully, me

bird.boy: jack going to a party, i’ll believe it when i see it

cowboy(girl): fuck you. and race i never said yes

blonde.twink: tomato, tomato

bird.boy: that doesnt really work over text

reporter.barbie: i might be there tmr night

cowboy(girl): really? will a certain jacobs be there with you?

reporter.barbie: sarah or david?

cowboy(girl): i was asking if sarah would be with you. don’t really think thats davey’s environment

cowboy(girl): plus i don’t if i could look him in the eyes ever again after yesterday

blonde.twink: oooh

blonde.twink: what happened?

cowboy(girl): fuck off, race. kath, i’ll txt you privately

reporter.barbie: kk

fav ex

kath: so, what happened?

jack: i basically had a fucking breakdown right in front of him. like, crying and everything

jack: it was terrible

jack: and we had an argument earlier in the day over the fucking delancey brothers

kath: what happened?

jack: i was about to kick morris’ ass for saying something about charlie and davey stopped me. i yelled at him and it just wasn’t pretty.

kath: oh

jack: yeah. maybe a party could do me some good

jack: you’ll be there?

kath: i should be

jack: cool, i guess i’ll see you then

This would either be a very good decision or the worst decision she’s ever made. Either way, she was going to end up drunk and regret everything.

But it would distract her from the lizard thing. Maybe it wouldn’t be terrible.

Chapter Text

This was a terrible idea. Why had she ever listened to Race? Parties had never been Jack’s scene. They were too loud, too vivid.

Race ran off to find Spot and left her alone the second they got to the party. The apartment was dark and Jack could barely see two feet in front of her. Why did people like this?

Jack shot off a text to Katherine, asking where she was. Jack wasn’t sure she could last much longer in this environment all by herself.

Figures bumped into her as she pushed through the apartment. She scouted for an open place to hide out. She dropped onto an empty couch.

It was shocking that Medda even let them come to the party. She was a relatively chill person but was strict when it came to drinking and drugs. She wanted to keep them away from all of that while they were young. She only let them go because Jack was supposed to be watching over Race. And then, Race disappeared as soon as they got here.

Jack was hoping that Spot was the type of guy to make sure Race would stay out of trouble. She would have to check on him at some point, but that would have to be later. Jack could barely make heads or tails of the situation around her. It was too loud. Too bright. Too dark. Too much.

After a few minutes, Katherine came plopping down beside Jack, stumbling on her feet on her way over. She was drunk, followed by a not-very-amused Sarah.

“Jack.” She slurred, dropping her head on Jack’s shoulder. She poked Jack’s face. “Guess who’s here?” She said in a sing-song way.

“Why don’t we get you some water and then you can tell me.” Jack pulled the girl off of her and supported her as she stood up.

“I’ve been trying to get her to drink some water since I got here. Apparently, she wanted to get ‘loose’ tonight.” Sarah exasperates. “She got your text and searched the whole apartment. Where’s Race?”

“Hey, Sarah. And I have no idea. He left me immediately.”

“Fun.”

Katherine whined in Jack’s arms, flinging around. “Jack! You didn’t let me tell you who’s here!”

“Okay, come on. Tell me while we get you water.” Jack, along with the help of Sarah, leads Katherine to the kitchen. Katherine leans on the kitchen counter.

“Jack!”

Jack stops and turns to Katherine. “Okay. Who’s here?”

Sarah glances at Katherine and smirks as Katherine responds.

“Davey. David. Whatever you call ‘im.” She swings her arm around and loses her balance. Jack lunges forward and stabilizes her.

“Davey? What’s he doing here?” Jack asks as she pours herself a drink, staring pointedly at Sarah.

“I may have convinced him to come and told him you would be here.” Sarah shrugs as she holds water to Katherine’s mouth. Katherine pushes the bottle away and whines.

Jack downs her drink. “Why?”

“Because you are making him actually interact with people who aren’t coworkers or his family. He’s branching out because of you. I think you’re good for him. And maybe he can be good for you.”

“He came because you told him I would be here?” If only her drink would kick in, she was too sober for this.

“Yep.” Sarah finally gets Katherine to drink the water. “Don’t know where he went though. I had to find Kath and make sure she didn’t get blackout drunk.”

“How’d that turn out for ya’?”

“Fuck you. Go find him. He’s here somewhere. No way he would leave without me.”

Jack grins as she pours another drink. “I most certainly will find him.” Patting Sarah on the shoulder, Jack leaves the kitchen, drink in her hand.

She squints, trying to look through the crowd of people. It was still loud and dark, she was adjusting to the environment. She felt slightly buzzed, but the feeling was fading quickly. If that damn spider took away her ability to get drunk, she was going to-

There was Race and Spot. Getting very close.

She was going to be sick and had barely even drank. She was fine with her siblings being in relationships, but having to see it, egh!

Jack walked over to them, stumbling over her feet not due to being drunk, but from not being used to how loud the living was. “Race!” She yelled, maybe a bit too loud. She dropped to the floor beside where Spot and Race were sitting and they both glanced at her.

“Are you drunk?” Race asked, “Already?”

“Nope. I am totally sober.” She waved her arms. Very good at showing you aren’t drunk, Jack. “Whatcha’ guys doin’?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yep. Have you seen Davey? ‘Parently he’s here.”

“Davey? Who’s that?” Spot asked, turning over to join the conversation.

“Spotty! I didn’t even see you there!”

What was she saying? This buzz was not fading as fast as she thought it was. God, her head hurt.

“That’s Jack’s friend. If you ask me, they’re a little more than friends.”

“Got it. Was he the one she brought to lunch the other day?”

“Yeah! I kind of forgot that happened, yeah.”

“Did you both forget I’m right here?”

“Sort of. But, I haven’t seen Davey. He might be out on the balcony. Lots of people went out there. Too loud in here.”

Jack stands up, wobbling slightly. “Thanks. I’m gonna go… out there.” She points behind her and stumbles back. She catches herself and runs off.

That was embarrassing.

Jack walked out onto the balcony. It was cool out here, the New York breeze hitting her as she walked out. Less suffocating out here. It was still quite crowded, but it was quieter. Probably why Davey came out here.

She walked past a group of people toward the railing. And there was Davey, right by the railing. She gripped the metal in her hand to balance herself as she walked over.

“Davey.” She grinned as she reached him.

“Jack. Didn’t know you’d be here.”

Liar.

“I didn’t know you would be here. I ran into Sarah and Katherine and they told me.”

“Ah. Having fun?”

“Eh, I was dragged here by Race, who left me, so, not really.”

“Same here. Got brought here by Sarah, and she left to go find Katherine.”

“Your parents know you’re here?”

“God, no! They would kill me. No, we snuck out of the window. I’m just hoping Les doesn’t hear me on my way back in.”

“Wanna go get a drink? I could use something to take the edge off.”

Davey’s brows furrowed with a look Jack couldn’t decipher. “By the way you were walking over here, I would say you have already taken the edge off, but sure. Let’s go.”

He was right. But, the alcohol had now worn off and she needed something if she were to last any longer at this party.

They push their way back through the crowd to the kitchen. Leaning on the kitchen island, Jack watched as Davey poured her and himself a drink. God, he was so pretty.

“Here.” He handed her a drink and she took it. Her hands were sweaty and she did not want him to notice that fact. The pounding of her heart blared in her ears and she was surprised he couldn’t hear it from there.

She sipped her drink this time, Davey, on the other hand, downed his fast and poured himself another right after.

“You good?”

He leaned back. “Yeah. Long week. You know?”

“Absolutely.” She sat there before a terrible thought popped into her head. “Hey, do you think you could put me in contact with that scientist you work with? Trenton?”

Davey nods, laughing. “Denton, and I can. Any certain reason?”

“I took some photos for the World and saw something weird. Thought it might be smart to talk to a scientist or someone real smart before I bring the photos to the World.”

“What sort of weird?”

“It sounds crazy without having the photo evidence on me.”

“Come on.” He pleaded as he got his third drink. He was drinking a little too much too fast.

“Okay.” She takes a sip of her drink. “It was like this big lizard. Like a human-sized lizard dinosaur thing. I only have one clear photo of it.”

“That is weird. A superhero and a large reptile in the same week. Weird.”

“Yeah. I know.”

“I’ll tell him you want to talk to him. You’ll probably have to stop by the lab one day after school. Sound good?”

“Yeah.” She stands up and finishes her drink as Davey finishes his third. “I’m gonna go check on Race. You stay here and maybe don’t drink anymore. Be right back.”

The living room is a little emptier, but still as loud as ever. Race and Spot are hanging out by the wall, drinks in their hands.

Jack approaches them, pushing drunk teens out of her way. “Race! You okay?”

Race, in his drunken state, whips his whole body around. He stumbles and grabs at Spot and the wall. “Me? I’m fine!” His voice was a whole octave higher than normal as he slurred his words.

“Spot, You sober?” She needed someone responsible to watch Race or she would have to watch him. The thought of having to babysit drunk Race made her shiver.

“Yeah.”

“Plan on staying sober?”

“Yep.”

“Good. I’m trusting you with him. Don’t make me regret it. I have enough on my hands and I would hate to have to kick your ass. And don’t think I can’t.”

Spots nods and peels a clinging Race from his body. “Got it. I’ll get you if I need you.”

“I’ll be in the kitchen. Race, don’t be stupid.” She points at the two of them and turns back to the kitchen.

Davey is nowhere to be found. He’s not in the kitchen where she left him. He wasn’t with Katherine and Sarah, who she had run into when she went back to the kitchen. He was gone. Shit.

And he was drunk. Drunk Davey was gone. Missing.

She dashed to the balcony. It was packed full of people and she scanned for any tall guys. None of them looked like Davey, but she pushed through anyway. None of them were Davey and she felt her heart race. This couldn’t be happening. She did not lose Davey. Sarah was going to kill her.

Pushing her way through the crowd, she found Davey. With someone else. This guy was taller than Davey, which made her much taller than Jack. That, of course, didn’t stop Jack from approaching them.

This guy was clearly taking advantage of the fact that Davey was drunk and was putting his hands all over Davey. His hands were on Davey’s side, swaying him to nonexistent music.

“Come on, Davey, it’s time to go home.” She grabbed Davey’s hands and pulled him away.

The guy reached for Davey, looking down at Jack. “Who the hell are you?”

“None of your damn business. Let go of him.”

“What if don’t?”

This bitch.

“I’ll kick your ass.”

“You? That’s funny. You’re like a whole foot shorter than me. Have fun trying though.” He pulled Davey back toward him.

And once again, Jack is not a violent person. She just opts toward violence when people piss her off.

Now as Jack punched the guy in the face, it may seem like she is violent, but don’t be fooled.

The guy stumbles back, holding his nose. “You bitch!”

“Come on, Davey. Time to go.” She grabs Davey’s hand and pulls him closer. “Don’t mess with him again.”

Jack pulled Davey with her through the people to the living room. They were leaving, but she needed to tell a few people she was headed out. Her first stop: Sarah and Katherine.

They were curled up together on the couch, Katherine groaning as she lay on Sarah’s lap. Jack stopped right in front of them and they looked up at her and Davey.

“Hey! You found him.” Sarah points as she sees Davey.

“Yeah. I’m gonna walk him home. He’s drunk and some guy was messing with him. That fine with you?”

“No, that’s fine. Did you kick his ass?”

“I punched him if that’s what you mean.”

“Works for me. Get him home safe and then get yourself home safe. And you can go through the window, but if he’s too drunk, you can go through the front door. He should have a spare key on him, if not, there’s one under the welcome mat.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow, Sar. Have fun with Kath.”

“Goodnight!” Katherine slurs from Sarah’s lap and Sarah pets her hair.

“Goodnight.” Jack pulls Davey over to Spot. She wanted to make sure Race was okay before she left.

Davey stumbled as Jack pulled him through the room to the wall and Jack stopped to support him with her arm. With Davey on her side, she greeted Spot and Race.

“Hey, guys. I’m walking Davey home. Everything okay?” Her eyes flicked between the two. Race stumbled forward to her and clung to her shirt.

“Hi.”

“Hi. Please don’t let him get any more drunk. It’s a Sunday night and I need him at least lucid to get him to school. Can you walk him home? Or do I need to bring him with me now?”

“I can get him home. Only, I don’t know where you live and I don’t he’ll remember.”

“Give me your number. I’ll text it to you.” Jack pulled out her phone and shoved it into Spot’s hands. He quickly inputted the number and handed it back. She quickly sent a message with her address. “Okay, there you go. Get him home by one. I’ll stay up to let him in.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Spot teased, saluting her.

“Just, watch over him. He’s my little brother.”

“I got it. He’ll be fine. Back home in one piece, I promise.”

“Okay. Race, see ya’ in a bit. I’m walking Dave home. Spot is gonna walk you home, okay?”

Race nods, stumbling back into Spot. He waves her away and she walks to the door. It felt like she had been here for hours, yet it had only been an hour. She was entirely sober, walking down the stairs with a six-foot-tall drunk baby. He kept clinging to her arm and muttering as they walked down the steps.

His ramblings were nonsensical and Jack mostly blocked them out.

“Let’s hope for your sake, that you bounce back quickly from a hangover. Or you will be in a world of pain in the morning.” Jack chuckles as she pushes him out the front door after he attempts several wrong doors. “Dave? You still with me?”

He mumbles something before stumbling into her. “You’re really pretty.” What? He giggles, leaning back. “I don’t feel good.”

Jack grabs his shoulders and walks him to a nearby alley. Davey leans over and heaves.

“That’s it, let it out.” She pulls back some of his hair from his forehead.

Davey eventually stops puking and drops to his knees in the alley.

“You wanna get a drink or something? Or do you want to keep walking?”

“Walking. Just, a minute, please.” Drunk Davey was just as quiet as Sober Davey, but Drunk Davey was more outgoing and he also seemed more sad than Sober Davey.

Jack accepted his terms and leaned back onto the wall. She was exhausted, but she needed to get Davey home. That was a normal feeling now. Exhaustion. Either she was full of so much energy or exhausted. It was leaning more to exhaustion these days.

“You ready?” Time for thinking was over and Davey stood up on his wobbling feet. Jack rushed over to him to support his weight.

Davey giggled again, “You’re such a mom. Making sure I don’t fall over.” He wobbles again as he says the last part.

Drunk Davey was very giggly. Jack had never heard Sober Davey giggle, ever.

“I have two younger siblings. Of course, I act like a mom.” Jack pulled Davey’s arms back to the sidewalk. “You telling me you don’t act like a mom to Sarah and little Les. I don’t believe that, Davey.”

“Davey. Why do ya’ call me that?”

“Didn’t we already have this conversation?” Jack thinks back. “I call ya’ it ‘cause everyone around me has a nickname and I get used to them.”

“But Davey is so boring. I want another one!” He whines, pushing Jack slightly.

“Davey is not boring, but I’ll give you anotha’. Sound good?”

“Yes!”

A new nickname for Davey… she hadn’t made many of the nicknames in the group, and Davey was called ‘Davey’ because it slipped off her tongue. “Hmm, let me think.” What did someone at lunch call him? Mouth? Walking mouth! That’s what it was! “How ‘bout Mouth? Ya know, ‘cause you talk a lot.”

Davey pondered the name before shrugging. “Eh, it’s okay.”

“Well, it’s short for Walking Mouth. That’s what someone called you at lunch the other day. Walking mouth. Mouth could just be for short.”

“It’s not terrible. I think I like ‘Davey’ better.”

“Ya know, your sister told me that you don’t let anyone call you nicknames. You must like me.”

Davey flushed, though it could have been the alcohol. “She said that?”

“Yep.”

“I let people call me Dave. Occasionally.”

“Not the same as Davey. Dave makes you sound like a car salesman. Davey sounds youthful, playful. It’s obviously the better choice.”

“Of you’d say that. You gave me the name.”

“You want me to call you ‘Dave’?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“If you don’t like Davey, I won’t call you it. Just say the word.”

“No! I like it when you call me Davey. Just, not so much when everyone else calls me Davey.”

“I think you are too drunk to be having a conversation with me right now, Davey.”

Davey whines and bumps into Jack again. Jack pulls him closer to avoid getting in anyone’s way. “I’m tired.”

“I know. We’re almost there, but you’ll have to be quiet. We don’t want to wake your parents or Les.” She wraps her arm around Davey’s shoulder, leading him down the street. “Make sure you drink lots of water.”

“Mhmm. I don’t wanna!”

“Davey.” They reached his building and they stood before it. “Do you wanna go through the door? Or through the window?”

He merely groans, throwing his head back.

“Dave. Come on, work with me.”

“Window. I’ll be quiet.” He holds his fingers over his mouth, making a shushing sound to accompany it.

“Okay.” Jack nods to the fire escape. “Let’s go. I’ll help you up.”

Davey grumbles as he walks toward the fire escape. Jack supports his weight as he steps onto the metal and climbs up.

“There you go. You steady?”

He nods and grips the metal railing tightly. Jack hops up next to him and leads him up the stairs. She followed behind Davey to make sure he wouldn’t fall down to the alley. Her hands drifted to his side as he wobbled up the stairs. When they reached his window, Jack shushed him and slowly opened the window. It creaked loudly, much to Jack’s dismay. The room was pitch black and Jack climbed in first, dropped to the floor quietly, and then helped pull Davey into the room. He shushed her as he climbed through, dropping his feet a little too loudly.

Les, on the other side of the room, stirred but didn’t seem to wake up. Jack sighed and helped Davey fully into the room. Once he was fully in, she led him to his bed.

“Okay,” she whispers, “everything good? I can go home?”

Davey nodded and leaned back onto his bed.

“I’ll text you in the morning, to check on you. And I will make sure Sarah gets you some water when she gets in. Goodnight, Davey.” She smiled at him, even know it was incredibly dark and he couldn’t see her. She climbed out the window and waved to him. She slid the glass down slowly.

Now, she could go home and drop dead on her bed. But first, she needed to make sure Race was okay. She pulled out her phone as she dropped to the ground. Spot’s number was at the top of her contacts and texted him.

spottie

jack: hey

jack: everything ok with race?

spottie: yes. should be heading out soon

jack: ok

jack: text me when you guys leave

jack: keep him safe

spottie: i know, i know

Jack was putting a lot of trust in Spot, and she didn’t know if she should be. Race was her little brother. She was supposed to be watching him. But then everything happened with Davey and she couldn’t leave him in that situation. Race was going to be fine. Or else Spot Conlon was going to be a dead man.

As she walked down the street towards her street, her phone buzzed.

dumbass queers

bird.boy: jackie boy, where are you?

bird.boy: i was promised to see party jack

cowboy(girl): i left early

cowboy(girl): get there on time next time dumbass

cowboy(girl): can anyone see race? is he okay? i left him with spot

ginger.twink: yeah, he’s fine. all over spot tho

bird.boy: why did you leave early?

cowboy(girl): a friend got to drunk and a guy was all over them. brought them home

ginger.twink: coming back?

cowboy(girl): nope. i’m tired. i’ll see you all tmr

bird.boy: boo come back come get drunk with me

cowboy(girl): ive had enough to drink

reporter.barbie: jack!

ginger.twink: ooh, she’s drunk

cowboy(girl): what, kath?

reporter.barbie: i’m drunk

cowboy(girl): i know

bird.boy: can anyone add spot and sarah to the chat? i feel like theyre part of the group now

ginger.twink: you think spot is apart of the group?

bird.boy: i mean… i just want him in here.

cowboy(girl): do you want me to add spot?

foureyes: you have his number?

cowboy(girl): where the fuck did you come from specs?

foureyes: your mom

cowboy(girl): fuck you and yes i have spots number

bird.boy: add him

cowboy(girl): fine, but if he leaves, thats not on me

cowboy(girl) added spottie

spottie: what the fuck is this?

cowboy(girl): welcome to the dumbass queers spot. finch asked for you to be in here. yell at him

bird.boy: spotty! hows it going

spottie: why am i here?

bird.boy: you and race are close so why not?

foureyes: youre a part of the group now

spottie: what are these names? who is everyone?

cowboy(girl): can’t you tell?

spottie: no and why am i spottie?

cowboy(girl): why not?

spottie: whatever, i’m about to take race home

cowboy(girl): cool, i’m almost home now

bird.boy: jack! you didn’t add sarah

cowboy(girl) added fav.lesbian

fav.lesbian: wtf is this?

bird.boy: jack, get off your phone!

cowboy(girl): jeez, i did what you asked me to do and im getting yelled at

fav.lesbian: no one answered my question

bird.boy: welcome sarah

spottie: i don’t know whats happening, i just got here

cowboy(girl): quit ur griping

Jack stuffed her phone away and continued to her building. She luckily remembered her key when she left, so she quietly lets herself in. The living room is dark when she gets in, the only light coming from the oven in the kitchen. She stumbles slightly as she walks toward the hallway.

“Jack? Is that you?” The voice was much too quiet to be Medda so it had to be Crutchie.

“Hey, Charlie. Sorry for waking you.” She walked down the hall to her room.

“I was already awake. How was the party?”

“Eh, boring. Loud. Left early to walk a friend home. You didn’t miss much.”

Charlie had originally wanted to go to the party with his siblings but ended up changing his mind. He said that he didn’t want to be a burden. He was never a burden to Jack and she would have carried him up every flight of stairs and watched over him all night if he wanted to go. But he was the type of person to prefer smaller gatherings with friends. Not that Jack was a party person.

“Where’s Race?”

“Spot’s walking him home. I was going walk him home with me but then I would have been watching two drunk people, which is two too many.”

“Spot was there? Who else?”

“Kath, Sarah, Finch, and Albert got there shortly after I left, and Davey was there.”

“Was he who you were walking home?”

“Yeah, he drank too much. Some guy was messing with him and I didn’t want anything to happen to him.”

“Did you drink? You don’t seem drunk.”

“I had a few drinks, but I’m pretty much sober now.” She leaned on her door frame. Charlie stood across her in his doorframe. “I think I’m gonna shower real quick before Spot and Race get here. Goodnight, Crutchie.” She waves at him before turning into her room. Her room still has a broken door. She really needed to fix that. Not tonight though. It could be tomorrow’s problem.

After grabbing clothes for bed, Jack quickly showered, dried her hair, and brushed her teeth, all before Spot texted her. A few minutes later, while she sat on bed, her phone buzzed.

spottie

spottie: we’re here

jack: got it, be right there

Jack rushed to the door and let them in. Race fell into her arms, clinging to her shirt. She raised her eyebrows to Spot, who just shrugged.

“I didn’t let him drink anymore after you left, so hopefully his hangover won’t be too bad.”

“Thanks, Spot. And thanks for getting him home safe. I appreciate it.”

“Eh, it was nothing.” He waved his hand. “I probably should head home. Long walk ahead of me.”

“If you want, you could crash on the couch. Our mom wouldn’t mind, ‘specially since you helped Race out.” Jack pulled Race off her and supported his weight with her arm.

Spot scratched the back of his neck nervously. “I should probably go home. Thanks for the offer, though.”

“No problem. Guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Yeah.” Spot waved goodbye to Race and Jack and turned down the hall.

Jack pushed the door closed and leaned back, lifting Race in her arms. “You should probably shower, but I am not helping you with that, so let’s get you into bed.” She carries him down the hall, pushing Crutchie and his door open when she reaches it. “Drunk teen delivery. If you get up early, can you make sure he gets some water and takes a shower?”

Crutchie sits up in his bed, rubbing his eyes. He squints at her and Race in her arms. “Yeah. He asleep?”

“Not yet, just clingy.” She walks over to Race’s bed. “Okay, Race, I’m gonna put you into your bed now.” She crouches down and drops him on the sheet. Race whines and reaches his arms. “Goodnight, Race. Get some sleep.” She pats him on the head and rolls her eyes.

“Night, Jack.”

“Night, Charlie.”

She pulls the door closed as she leaves the room. She crosses the hall and closes the door to her room. She would regret this entire night in the morning, it was almost one in the morning and she needed to be up by six-thirty. She needs sleep, yet as she looks up at her ceiling, she can’t calm her mind.

Tonight was supposed to be a chance to relax. To let loose. And she did neither of those things. All she was play hero, this time to Davey, and talk about Spider-Woman things.

So much for letting loose.

Tomorrow was another day, another chance to relax. But, she would need to talk to Davey about meeting up with Denton. He was her only chance to figure out something about this lizard thing. Maybe she should name it, it being her first big villain and all. Maybe she would talk to Race about it in the morning.

Morning came and Jack woke up with a pounding headache. It seemed as if she couldn’t get properly drunk, she still got hungover. Make it make sense. The lights were too bright and everything was too loud, but she forced herself out of bed. However bad she feeling, Race and Davey were most likely feeling much worse. She should text him, to make sure he’s okay.

She would text him after she finished getting ready. And after she’s packed up her school bag. If she didn’t think herself responsible for making sure Race and Charlie got to school alright, she would drop by his apartment to check on him. But, that was also a bit of an overstep. Texting worked. Hopefully, he didn’t hate her for dragging him out of the party, but she was just trying to be a good friend. She would have done it for any of her friends, whether it have been Finch, Katherine, or any of them!

She was overthinking this. He would be fine. He wouldn’t hate her. He was a smart, sensible person, who would understand her thoughts on the night and most likely agree with her.

Right?

Of course, he would. Or that would be the fastest Jack fucked up a relationship with someone. Not that they had a relationship outside of being friends.

Slipping on her shoes and slinging her bag over her shoulder, she pushed away the thoughts. Maybe seeing hungover Race would make her feel less stressed. Not that she was much less hungover. Her head continued to throb and she felt sick just by looking at the lights in her hallway. She forced herself down to the kitchen, dropping to a chair once she got there.

“Mornin’,” she said to no one in particular. Race was slumped on the counter, sunglasses hanging off his head. Charlie was beaming next to him, chowing down his cereal. Medda sat across from her at the table and was eating her breakfast. She forces a smile and stifles the urge to bang her head on the table. Maybe Race was stifling the same feeling.

“Morning!” Charlie called back to her before focusing back on his food.

“God, stop using your mouth. You’re so loud!” Race groaned.

Jack smirked at Charlie, leaning her head on her hands. “You have lots of fun last night? With Spot Conlon?”

“Shut up!” He groaned again, this time into his hands.

“You both got in earlier than I thought you would have,” Medda stated.

“Were you staying up?” If she made Medda stay up because she wanted to ‘let loose’, she was going to feel much worse about the previous night.

“Couldn’t get much sleep knowing two of my kids were out there. Once I heard you both come in, I did go to sleep.”

“Sorry for keeping you up, Mama.” Her voice was little as if she had been scolded.

“It’s fine. I let you two go out and I trust both of you. I just wanted to make sure you were home before I went to bed. Did you have fun?”

Did she? She drank and talked to friends, but she could do that at any of their gatherings. She did see Davey and talked to him. That was a plus. But didn’t unwind like she wanted to. All she did was drink, pine over Davey, and bring up Spider-Woman stuff.

“Yeah. I had fun. Katherine and Sarah were there.”

“And- and Davey.” Race mumbled from the counter.

Shit. She wasn’t keeping the mention away from her mom, but she didn’t exactly want to get another safe sex talk. They were friends. That was all.

“Davey?” Medda asked, quirking a brow up.

Jack felt her cheeks heat and she glanced at the clock. “Wouldja’ look at the time? It’s time to go. Racer, Charlie, get your stuff.” She bounced out of her seat, grabbing her bag.

Medda frowned at her. “Don’t think you can get out of this conversation.”

“I would never think that.” Jack grabbed herself something small to eat on the way and pulled Race from his stool. “Come on, Race. We gotta go.”

“Be careful. Have a good day.” Medda hugged Charlie goodbye as Race mumbled under his breath while pulling on his bag. She hugged Jack next and then finally, hugged Race, who was now ready.

“Bye, Mama.” Jack ushered Crutchie and Race out of the door and waved a final goodbye before pulling it closed. “Crutch, you want me to carry your stuff down?”

“I think I’m good, thanks.”

“Okay, Racer, need any help down the stairs.”

“Stop screaming.”

“I’m talking normally.” She was very lucky she was not as bad as Race was. But Race did drink more than her, so that’s probably why. Her hangover was mostly over, a slight ache being all that was left. “You need help? This is the last offer.”

He swung out his arm. “Could you-”

“Carry you down?”

Race just nodded, staring down at the floor.

“Come ‘ere.” She stepped closer to Race. She swooped him into her arms. “You okay?”

Race clung to her much like he did the night before. He nodded.

“Let’s go. Don’t wanna waste any more time.” She let Crutchie go ahead of her and she followed a few steps behind. She watched to make sure he didn’t lose his balance or trip. He gripped on the railing beside them, so there wasn’t a real reason for her to worry. Worst case scenario, she would drop Race and jump forward to help Charlie. Or worst worst case scenario, she slung Race to one side of her body and used her webs to help Crutchie. She didn’t even have to look out for him falling due to her new sixth sense. But, she wasn’t fully confident it would warn her about Charlie’s danger.

In her anxious thinking, she didn’t realize they made it to the lobby. She dropped Race to the floor and helped stabilize him.

“Okay.” She clapped her hands together. She reached into her pocket for her phone. “You guys go ahead. I’ll be right behind you.” She quickly typed out a message and followed her brothers out of the building. Her eyes skimmed over her phone, watching the familiar shoes in front of her.

davey

jack: hey, you doing okay?

jack: you were pretty rough last night

A few minutes and nothing. She stuffed her phone away and focused on walking. Race and Charlie were conversing in front of her and she drifted behind them. Her eyes scanned the street. She was much more cautious and observant since the spider. Maybe it was her anxiety plus her abilities or maybe it was just her paying more attention.

They were a block away when her phone finally buzzed. Davey.

davey

davey: sorry about last night. you shouldn't've had to deal with that. i was a mess

jack: dave, you’re fine. i had no problem with it, plus half of my friends were just as bad as you. you remember much?

davey: bits and pieces. i remember you pulling me away from the guy.

jack: i didn’t like how he was touching you. and sarah would have killed me if anything happened to you

davey: thank you

jack: it was nothing. i would do it for anyone

davey: well, either way, it meant a lot. thanks, jack

Jack left the message on opened as she walked up the steps to the school. Race and Charlie were several feet ahead of her and she ran to catch up to them.

“Oh, hi, Jack.” Charlie turned to her.

“Well, hello to you too, Charlie.” She draped her arms over their shoulders, it helped that they were either shorter than her or in Race’s case, her height. “You ready to go to school hungover, Race?”

“How are you so chipper? We both drank last night.”

“What can I say? I just bounce back better.”

“Fucking asshole.” Race muttered, pulling away from Jack. “I’m gonna go find Spot.” He turned down the hall and ran off.

“I should probably head to homeroom, bell’s gonna ring in-”

And just then, the bell rang over their heads.

“Right now, apparently. I’ll see ya’, Crutchie. Don’t get into any trouble.” She began her stride down the hall, swinging her arms by her sides.

The day passed relatively quickly. Nothing of note for her, at least. In chemistry, Davey thanked her again and they told her that she could talk to Denton after school today if she wanted. He made a call in the morning to ask. He called, in the morning, while hungover, to get her an appointment to talk to his boss.

Jack caught Charlie in the hall to tell him that she was going to Evo and to go home without her. She would text Medda on her way there. Evo was a long way away, so she would have to ride the subway. Jack wasn’t the biggest fan of the subway before the lizard and she was an even less fan afterwards.

She was currently on the subway, eying everyone around her. She was on edge and she just wanted to get all this over with. Once she understood what the dinosaur was, the better she could find it and take it down. All she needed was to talk to the doctor.

The subway jerked as it stopped and she got up. She rushed out of the doors the second they opened and bolted up the stairs. She still had to walk another block to Evo, but it wasn’t too far.

Evo was big. A very large building. And this wasn’t even their only building. They had facilities all over the city. Not as big as this one, of course. The glass windows glimmered in the setting sun. This was it. All she had to do was walk in.

She tightened her grip on her book bag straps and made toward the stairs. It had been only a week since she was here on the trip. Only a week since she was bitten. Had it only been a week?

She rushed up the stairs, stopping at the glass doors. Her feet halted and she froze. She shouldn’t be this nervous. It was just a scientist. A scientist who could figure out what she was and have her put into an institution. Or worse, experiment on her.

She mustered up her Spider-Woman courage and pulled open the door. She stepped into the lobby. It was much emptier than it had been last time. Less screaming teenagers this time.

She walked over to the receptionist's desk. Her fingers were slick with sweat.

“Hi.” She flashed a pleasant smile before continuing. The receptionist was a young woman, not more than mid-twenties. Her dark hair was tied back into a tight bun. “I’m supposed to have an appointment with Dr. Denton. I think he’s expecting me.” She tapped her fingers on the overly white counter.

The receptionist, Gwen as it said on her desk, smiled at her and then turned her attention to her monitor. “Let me check. What’s your name?”

“Jack Kelly.”

“Hmm. Let me see.” Her fingers poked away at her keyboard. “Ah, there you are. Right on time. I’ll call up to make sure he’s not busy.”

Jack hummed in response and glanced around. The high ceiling held up several large lights. Blazing white bulbs buzzed over her head.

Gwen dialed her phone. “Dr. Denton? Your four o’clock appointment is here. Do you want me to send her up?”

Jack didn’t care much to focus in on the response from the other side. She would find out soon enough.

Gwen smiled and hung up the phone. “You are good to go. Tenth floor. His office is at the end of the hall.” She pointed to the elevator on the other side of the lobby.

Jack nodded and turned to the elevator. “Thanks.” She walked to the elevator and waited for it to come down.

A few minutes later, she was in Denton’s office. She fidgeted with her bag. Denton was finishing something up and would be right with her. Thankfully for Jack, she downloaded the pictures of the lizard on her phone, just in case. It was too much of a pain to haul around her laptop.

She took in a sharp breath as Denton reentered the room.

“So, David tells me you have a question about something you photographed for the World,” Denton stated as he dropped into his chair.

Jack inhaled again. “Yes! I take pictures for the World. Well, it’s a new position. I take the photos of the new vigilante.” ‘Vigilante.’ The word felt foreign on her tongue. She wasn’t some thug. “I was taking some photos the other night and got a picture of something peculiar.”

“Spider-Woman you say? You take the photos of her?”

“Yeah, the ones in the latest issue were me.”

“Those were quite good.”

“Thank you.”

“So, what was it that you saw?”

“Well, I didn’t quite see it, but I got a picture of it. It was something big. And green. It looked like something from a science fiction movie.”

“Do you have the picture on you?”

Jack fumbled with her phone, searching for the photo in her library. She found it and dropped her phone on the desk. She spun it around to face him. “This is it. I have some other blurry photos of it, but this is the clearest.”

Denton’s brows furrowed and it seemed like he had gotten paler. Jack found it odd but ignored it.

“Hmm. I’m not sure what that could be. Never seen anything like it. Do you think you could send it to David to send to me?”

“Yeah. I can do that.”

“I’ll look further into it, but right now, I don’t have anything.” He leaned back in his seat. “That photo in the paper. The one you took of Spider-Woman. It was quite close up.”

Fuck. Fuck.

Jack sucked in a breath. She was fucked. “Yeah, I was lucky to get it.”

“You’re the first photographer in the city to get a clear picture of her. Any specific tricks?”

Fucked. She was fucked.

“Not really.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I guess photography is kind of boring.”

“You know, it also looks like she posed for that picture. Like she knew you were taking photos.”

What?

“Hmm?”

“I guess what I’m implying is that you know who’s under that mask. Or at least know her in some way.”

What. The. Fuck?

“Oh.”

Oh?

“Do you?”

“I…” What was she supposed to say to that? “Yeah.”

What?

“Really?”

“Yeah. I ran into her on her first night. She saved me from a mugger. And then I mentioned being a photographer and asked if she let me photograph her. She didn’t answer that night, but later in the week, she found me and agreed. Worked out for the both of us.”

“Do you have any sort of way to contact her?”

What?

“Uh, yeah?”

What?

“I have a request. I want to meet her. I have something to ask her.”

What?

“You can tell me. I can pass the message on.”

“It would be much better if I talked to her in person.”

“Oh.”

“Could you have her meet me?”

“I could try. I could see if she could come by tonight. If that would work for you?”

Denton nodded quickly, standing up from his desk. “That would work great!”

“Yeah, I’ll message her. She’ll try to get here.”

“Thank you! And I’ll make sure to look deeper into this creature you saw.”

Jack stood up, her legs wobbly. What was she going to do? “Thank you for your help. Maybe you’ll find something. I don’t want the photos published without knowing what it is.”

“It’s no problem. It was a favor for David. I like him. Good kid.”

“Yeah.” She walked to the door. “Thanks again for your help. I should probably get going. I’ll message Spider-Woman about seeing you.”

And with that, she left. She rushed down the hall and into the elevator. As she watched the numbers drop in the elevator, she wondered. What was she going to do? Meet the doctor? As Spider-Woman?

She could worry about that later. Now, she had to get home. She quickly left the building and ducked down an alley. It would be faster and easier to swing home instead of taking the subway. Then, she remembered, her suit was still covered in sewage and torn. It would have to work. She slipped it on and slung her bag over her back. She stood on a roof, looking over the city.

Once Jack got home, she realized a few key things. First, Medda was scolding Race in the kitchen. Two, Charlie wasn’t in the living room, so he must have been in his room. And three, she reeked of sewage.

Jack walked into the kitchen, still grimacing at the smell of her clothes. Race sat at the dinner table, dark bruises littering his hands and face. Oh, Race. Medda had finished her scolding once Jack walked over and walked away, sighing to herself. Once Medda was down the hall, Jack dropped into the chair she was in.

“What did you do?”

Race made a face at her. Probably the smell. “Nothing.”

“Really? Tell that to your face and your hands.” Jack stood up and washed her hands. She then went and grabbed the first aid kit from the bathroom. She found a rag and ran it under some water. She sat back at the table. “Hands.”

Race grumbled as he lifted his hands on the table.

Jack wiped them with the cloth and ignored Race’s wincing. “I cannot believe you. Getting into fights?”

“Bullshit. We both know that I’ve been getting into fights since grade school.”

“Race. We’ve discussed this. Fights don’t solve anything.”

“Yeah? And what was tackling the Delanceys the other day gonna do?”

He had her there.

“I got angry and then I dropped it. No one got hurt or in trouble.”

“Oh, please, it wasn’t at school. It was after.” Race spat at her, his voice angry.

“On the way home? Race. What the fuck happened?” She shouldn’t have gone to see Denton. It was too last minute.

“Doesn’t matter.”

“Race.”

She finished cleaning his hands, ignoring his glaring. She tossed the rag to the side and applied ointment to the cuts.

“You can’t be getting into fights like that anymore, Race.”

“Why not? You go out in the middle of the night and beat the shit out of people. Why can’t I get into fights?”

She was going to need better counter-arguments if he was going to keep talking sense.

“That’s different and you know it.”

“Because you have powers?” He sighed, throwing his head back. “Please, even before that damn spider bit you, you still had this superiority complex. You think because you’re the oldest you can do whatever.”

“That’s not it and you know it. I do what I do because I am the oldest. It’s my responsibility to protect you and Charlie. That’s my job.”

“Whatever.”

Jack glared at him for a few seconds before continuing to clean up his hands. She wrapped up his left knuckles to protect the healing cuts. His right wasn’t too bad. Must have favored his left in the fight. She stood up and fetched an ice pack. She tossed it to him. He raised his eyebrows at her, a silent question.

“For your cheek. You should ice it.”

“Thanks.” He mumbled as he raised the ice to his face. “You stink.”

Jack snorted, grinning at him. “That’s because I wasn’t riding the subway home, so I had to wear my sewage suit. I need to clean it, but I can’t tonight.”

“More fighting?”

“Nope. Spider-Woman has a meeting.”

Race’s face lit up with confusion as he leaned closer. “What? With who?”

“Remember that scientist Denton from Evo?”

Race nodded.

“Yeah, I have a meeting with him. About me.”

“Shit.” Race leaned back, dropping his hands onto the table with a wince. “You’re going?”

“I have to. Denton is helping me with the lizard thing. I need to stay on his good side.”

Jack wasn’t too worried about the rest of her family hearing the conversation. She could hear her mom asking Charlie about what happened down the hall. And she and Race were talking quietly enough to not be heard by someone with normal hearing.

“Think he’ll be able to help?”

“Not sure yet. Davey seems to think so.”

“You told Dave?”

“No! I mentioned the photos and because I’m a photographer for the World, it’s not that weird. He got me the first meeting with Denton.”

“Ah. You better not tell him. We don’t know who we can trust. And he works in a science lab.”

“We?”

“Yes, ‘we’. We are in this together. I named you.”

“Speaking of, I need a name for this dinosaur guy.”

Race smirked and leaned back in his chair. “Just call him ‘The Lizard’. Short and Sweet. Gets to the point.”

“Not terrible. I guess whenever I give the photos to the World, they’ll probably give him a name.”

“Whatever. Go take a shower. You reek.”

Jack laughed as she stood. “I know, I know.” She rested her hand on his shoulder for a second. “Race, just don’t be stupid. We have a good thing going here.”

He nodded. “I know. I’ll try to stop getting into trouble.”

“That’s all I need to hear.”

She walked down the hall and turned into her room. She was trying to ignore the conversation across the hall but was also eavesdropping. She wanted to know what sort of assholes messed with her brothers so she could kick their asses. After she showered, of course.

Jack blinked as she grabbed her clothes. Her newfound clearer vision still threw her off. Everything was so detailed. Did everyone see the world this way? Was it her powers? She may never know.

Jack rushed to the bathroom and shut the door. She was going to be a while.

After her shower and dinner, Jack sat at her window, her legs dangling onto the fire escape. Red and blue spandex was gripped tight in her hand.

Should she go? Could she trust Denton? He was too curious.

She needed answers and he could help her. But, what was she helping him with?

She needed to go. Shit.

Jack slipped on the suit and cringed as she slipped it over her legs. It needed to be cleaned. Once it was on, she leaped out the window. Pulling her mask down, she jumped off of the fire escape. Evo would be a bit of a travel, but it would hopefully be worth it.

After twenty minutes, Jack was standing, or more accurately, hanging in front of Evo. The building still looked alive in the middle of the dark, dead city. Lights shone brightly through the glass windows. Thank God, she didn’t live by building. You would have to be blind to not be bothered by the lights.

Jack began to scale the building, her hands sticking to the pristine glass. She was relatively certain she could find Denton’s office from the outside. He had a window overlooking the city, so it had to be on the west side. Tenth floor, window office.

After a few minutes, Jack saw an open window. What were the chances that was his office? Very likely apparently, as he stood by the window. Jack, or Spider-Woman, swung into the office. Her feet planted onto the floor and she stood up straight.

Denton spun around to look at her. “You came?”

Jack cleared her throat, forcing out a thicker accent. She didn’t need to be identified after a week. “Y-yes. Uh, Jack Kelly told me that you wanted to see me. Is this about The Lizard?”

Denton made a face. “No. I wanted to ask you for something.”

That’s ominous.

Jack sauntered through the office. She looked around, squinting at certain things. Several awards and certificates littered the shelves and walls. “What is it?”

“I’m currently doing research about genetics and if we can take the abilities from animals and give them to humans, and because you clearly benefited from similar research, I was wondering if you could help me with mine.”

What?

“How do ya’ mean? I benefited?”

“Oh! Well, I mean, you have the abilities of a spider. All the way to creating your own webs, I believe.”

“Ah. What do you need me for?”

“I wanted to see if you would let me take your blood. Use it for my research.”

This was getting weird. She should leave, right?

“My blood?”

“Yes. Nothing else, just some blood, so I can study your genes.”

“No hair, saliva, nothing. Just blood?”

“Well, those would help, but I had a feeling you wouldn’t let me take any of those.”

“You thought right. How much blood are we talkin'?”

“Not much more than a pint. Average amount taken during a blood drive.”

Was she actually thinking about this? Was she really going to give this guy her blood?

“Why the hell not? Can we do it now? I have places to be.”

She didn’t actually, but she was tired.

Denton nearly hopped up and began to lead her out of the office. “My lab is right down here. No one else is here right now. You’ll be fine.”

“You won’t be testing for my identity, right? That might cause a problem for me.”

“No, of course not. I just need to study what changed your DNA. If I compare it to normal human DNA, preferably I would want your DNA from before the change, but if I compare it, I can find what specifically changed your genes.”

“How do ya’ know I wasn’t born like this?”

“Unlikely. A Hospital would’ve realized it when taking basic tests on you.”

“Makes sense.”

Denton pulls out a stool. “Sit here. I’ll get a syringe and some vials.”

Jack sat on the stool and kicked her legs. Hopefully, this wouldn’t bite her in the ass. “You need me to pull up my sleeve?”

Denton turned to look at her, vials in his hands. “Oh! Yes, if you could.”

Jack slipped off her left glove and rolled up her sleeve. “Just one arm or both?”

“Either or. Whatever works for you.”

“Gotcha’.”

Denton must have finished grabbing what he needed because he placed his things next to her and prepped them. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

Jack tried to not focus as Denton drained her arm of blood. She wasn’t a very queasy person, hell she had just pulled a bullet from her shoulder, but having blood taken freaked her out. She closed her eyes and turned her head, forcing her mind to think about anything else. It didn’t hurt, just a pinch on her forearm, but the feeling of blood being taken threw her off. It was unnatural. Weird. She didn’t like it.

Her mind raked for something to think about to distract her, but nothing. She had nothing. For the first time in her life, nothing was distracting her. She could feel the syringe in her arms, the blood being taken. It was too much, but she couldn’t just have a freakout right here in Evo. Especially not as Spider-Woman. She did not need to make herself seem weak or unworthy of being a hero.

And just as it began, it was over.

“Okay, I’m done.” He stepped back and went to put the vials of her blood away. Vials of her blood.

Jack pushed her sleeve back down and slid her glove back on. She felt too exposed with the sleeve up. She could feel the cold of the lab, the metal under her, the breeze from the AC. “I’m good, then?”

“Yes. You can go. Thank you for your help. This should help with my research.”

“It was no problem. Hopefully, ya’ can get somethin’ from it. I should really be headin’ out, so…” She trailed off and pointed to the window down the hall.

“No, you’re good to go.”

And with that, Jack sprinted down the hall and jumped out of the window. The thrill of falling was exhilarating. She shot out a web and swung up. She needed another shower and needed to get to bed. She had school in the morning.

“Did he help you?” Davey asked as he sat across from her. Her night was long and she spent most of it showering away the sewage smell again and then cleaning her suit by hand. She didn’t get to bed until three and she was incredibly exhausted. Nevertheless, she forced a smile on her face as Davey sat down.

“Yeah, sort of. He said he would look into it for me. Oh, and he wanted me to send you the photos to send to him. I’ll text ‘em to you later. Is that okay?”

David smiled at her while he pulled out his notebook. “That’s fine. I’ll make sure he gets them.”

“You’re the greatest, Dave. Seriously.” She grinned at him, a genuine grin. Maybe she wasn’t as tired as she thought. Or maybe Davey had that effect on her.

“Dave? I thought we discussed this?” He made a face at her before chuckling.

“All I got from the conversation is that you were drunk and wanted a nickname.”

“Yeah, and you gave me the name ‘Mouth’.”

“Well, it works. It suits you.”

“I can’t tell if that’s a compliment or an insult.”

“Eh, maybe it’s both.” She chewed her lower lip. He made her so nervous. Why was she so nervous? “But, honestly, Davey, I think it does suit you. And it makes you one of us.”

“One of what?”

“A dumbass queer. I’ll add you to our chat if you want. We just added Sarah and Spot. They both hate it, so it’s hilarious.”

“You can add me.”

Jack whipped out her phone and added Davey to the chat immediately.

dumbass queers

cowboy(girl) added mouth

Chapter Text

David was tired. He was currently on his way home from work. He had stayed late to help Denton with some personal project. He didn’t tell David much, just that this could change all of their research if it worked. David was fine with staying late, his homework was done and he could use a break from his family. His mother wasn’t too keen with the idea, but David convinced her to let him stay.

The cold November chill made him shiver. His jacket was thin because he hadn’t expected to stay so late. Not that his other coats at home were any warmer. Most of them were worn down, but a brand new coat wasn’t the biggest priority at the moment.

If he had thought ahead, he would have brought money for the subway, but he always walked home. But, it was always bright out when he normally left work. Right now, it was dark and cold.

Denton’s private project confused him. It had been going on for a month and a half. He wondered if it had anything to do with the lizard thing Jack had talked to him about, but David wasn’t sure. But, Denton’s project started shortly after Jack talked to him. Maybe they were connected.

Why was he even thinking about Jack? In the middle of the night while he should be focused on walking home. The streets were empty and he wasn’t in any immediate danger if he wasn’t focused. Jack was confusing to David. First of all, she called him by a nickname immediately after they met. Second, she was closed off and the only real time she opened up was when she had her panic attack that one day at school. Don’t get him wrong, he enjoyed having Jack as a friend. She was funny and she introduced him to her other friends. She even added him to their big group chat. He wasn’t very active in it, but it was nice to be included.

Jack had even began to invite David to their friend gatherings. He typically turned down the invitations, but Jack would insist and he would give in. He was weak.

He was there for Jack every way he could be. She had become even more closed off after her father’s funeral. She also began disappearing all the time. It was all very odd. But David passed it off as mourning. Her father had died, she was allowed some oddness.

After Jack added David to the group chat, Sarah mentioned it to him. Asked if he was into her. David rolled his eyes and denied having any romantic feelings for Jack. He was lying. Jack caught him off guard. He never saw her coming. She was an enigma. She was-

He bumped into someone, pulling him from his thoughts. He apologized and quickly continued down the street. That was embarrassing.

He was in too deep. With his thoughts. With his feelings about Jack. With everything. He was in over his head.

David blinked the thoughts away and focused on the street ahead of him. No more daydreaming, but was it really daydreaming if it was in the middle of the night? No, David, focus.

He tried to focus, he really did, but his mind got the best of him. His mind was whirling and he was trying to find some stable ground.

Nothing made sense. With Jack. With Denton’s project. Nothing.

Denton’s project was worrying. He claimed to have blood from someone who was enhanced and had developed the traits of animals, like they had been attempting for months now. David was confused. How could have someone nearly replicated their work and then used it on themselves? Unless, it was their work that gave the person the traits. Was that even possible yet? David didn’t think their work was progressing well, but he was just an intern. All he did was fetch coffees and clean up after the scientists. He did some minor testing and observational work, but not much.

His job was, for lack of better words, shit. He honestly hated it, but it made money and his family could use anything at the moment. His dad was injured at work and was just recovering enough to go back to work. His mom’s work wasn’t near enough for them all to live off of, so David got a job. He was the oldest, it was his responsibility to take care of his family if his father couldn’t. His parents were grateful for his sacrifice. His sacrifice.

He was just glad Sarah didn’t have to pick up work. It wasn’t her job. She was granted the privilege of being a teenager. Of course, Sarah still wanted her twin brother to experience ‘normal’ teen things, like parties. She had dragged him to one party in late September and she had left him immediately. It hadn’t been too bad, Jack was there. And Jack had been sober enough to realize David wasn’t in his clear mind and she brought him home. He was thankful that he had a friend who wasn’t his sister or his sister’s girlfriend. Jack was refreshing. She was something different. Different from Davey.

Davey. That’s what she called him. She gave him a nickname after only a day of knowing each other. And the way she said it. It was endearment. It was charm.

Jack was everything Davey couldn’t be. Charming. Loud. Brave. Courageous. Flirtatious, even if she flustered herself. She would throw herself into any situation if it meant protecting her siblings. She was everything. And he was just Davey. David.

Just Davey.

Was it delusional and insane to want to be like the girl you are pining after? Yes, but did that stop Davey? Absolutely not.

There was something about Jack though, he couldn’t quite understand. The disappearances. The weirdness. Everything. But, that’s how she had been since they met. That’s just how Jack was. Right?

Only a block away from his street, he heard a voice behind him.

“Kid!”

David turned around slowly, keeping his hands stuffed in his pockets. “Can I help you?”

“Your phone and your wallet. Now.” The man in front of David held out a knife.

David froze and not just because of the cold air. He pulled out his phone, “I don’t have any money on me. I just came from my work.” He held out the phone.

If he were brave like Jack, he wouldn’t have given up his phone. What would Jack do?

“Like I’m gonna believe that.”

“I’m serious, I don’t have anything-” David stammered before getting cut off.

Like Jack would stutter over a basic sentence.

“Let the kid go.”

And then, a figure covered in blue and red was next to David.

Spider-Woman.

As if this night couldn’t get any worse, she had to appear.

Davey didn’t hate Spider-Woman, he just hated that with her appearance came weird things in the city. He hated that his little brother thought he could grow up to be superhero. He hated that she had no regard for laws or public safety. He hated that Jack seemed to love Spider-Woman. All Spider-Woman did was invite chaos to the city, not that it wasn’t already chaotic but still.

David stepped back and dropped his phone to the ground. Spider-Woman grabbed the man and pulled him away from David. Her gloves gripped the man’s jacket. She slammed his back against the wall closest to her before yelping. She swung her fist into his face before stumbling back. She shot a web at the man and he ran away. Spider-Woman clutched her side, now kneeling over. David looked over and saw that she webbed the knife he was holding, now covered in blood.

“Holy shit!” David muttered. He stepped closer. What would Jack do? What would she say? “Keep pressure on it, it’ll help with the bleeding.”

“Thanks.” She replied through gritted teeth, at least David thought they might be gritted. Can’t really see through the mask.

“Thank you, for saving me.” Was the right thing to say? Maybe?

“It’s what I do.” She leaned against the brick wall behind her, her hands pressing over her side. She muttered under her breath, groaning loudly.

“Is there anything I can do to help you?”

Her head whipped up. She looked at him for a few seconds. The white eyes of her mask contracted. In the back of his mind, he wondered how she got them to do that. Was it weird to ask? “There is something, but it’s a little unorthodox.”

David walked over to her, picking his phone up on the way. It was slightly scuffed up, but nothing too bad. Maybe he should invest in a case for it. “Should I call an ambulance?”

“No! No hospital. Even if you took my mask and the suit off, it would just be terrible. My mom would kill me.”

“That’s what you’re worried about? Your mom?”

At least heroes are still people. David didn’t even want to think what his mother would say if she heard about this. If. She was not going to hear about this.

“You don’t know my mom. Even if I survived the stabbing, she would make sure I regretted everything.” She let out a dry chuckle. “Now, can you help me or not?”

“Yeah, what do you need?”

Why was helping her? Hadn’t he made his opinion on her very clear? Something about Pulitzer not being too off about her being a menace. Hadn’t he meant it? But that was before she saved his life. That was before he owed her for saving him.

“God.” She groaned. “Okay, with the stab wound and the sounds of the street, I am getting wildly overstimulated. Normally, I would cover my ears to block out the sounds but I am currently stopping blood from leaving my body, so…. could you? I need to have a sort of sound mind for my body to heal properly. After a few minutes, the wound should scab over. Please.”

The last part was so quiet, so small. It felt nothing like how her demeanor had been during this entire interaction. Maybe our heroes are more like us than we thought.

“Cover your ears?”

That was an odd request.

“Yeah. If I’m calm, my healing will kick in faster. If I’m stressed, my body gets really confused. I know it’s weird, but you did ask to help.”

This was all weird.

“No, no, I’ll do it.” David stepped closer to her and pressed the palms of his hands over her ears. She let out a sigh of contentment and leaned closer to him. The eyes of her mask were squeezed shut. After a few moments, she was entirely leaning on him, her face burrowed into his chest.

This felt intimate, like something you would do with someone you were dating or at least friends with. It reminded him of when he helped Jack during a similar experience a month ago. This actually felt very similar to that. The way Spider-Woman leaned on him. How she approached the topic. Most of it was very similar.

What would Jack say about this? Him having Spider-Woman, a public figure who David has made his opinions well known, leaning on him while his hands cover her ears.

David was spiraling. Why did he care about a girl’s, who he was just friends with, opinion on what he was doing? Maybe it was because he was in wild denial that he had feelings for her. But David would never openly admit that.

Spider-Woman pulled back. “Thanks. It really helped.” She shrugged her shoulder and stepped back. She flexed her fingers.

“No problem.”

“You walkin’ home?”

There was something familiar about her voice, but the accent was thick. It was a stereotypical New Yorker sort of accent. David didn’t know anyone who had that thick of an accent, except for maybe Spot.

“Yeah. I was on my way there when I got stopped.”

“Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

“You’re bleeding! There is no way I’m letting you walk me home in your condition.”

“I’ll be fine. Come on, it’s late and I’d like to get home too.” She jumped around the alley. “Besides, the wound is semi-closed now. It’ll be fine.”

“Fine.” David led Spider-Woman down the street towards his building. He felt weird about this, but she did just save his life.

“So… whatcha’ doin’ out this late?”

“I worked late.”

“Aren’t ya’ a little young to be workin’? Not that I don’t admire your work ethic. I quite admire workin’ kids. ‘Specially pretty, smart, intelligent workin’ kids.”

There’s that familiar feeling again.

“I’m seventeen and my family needed the extra cash. I don’t mind working.”

“Your family?”

“Yeah. My dad had a bad injury and he can’t work right now. My mom’s job doesn’t pay enough to pay for everything, so I picked up a job.”

“That’s very big of you. Not many kids would do that.”

“Well, I’m the oldest, so it’s sort of my responsibility.”

Spider-Woman stopped for a second. “I know ‘bout responsibility.” She continued walking and turned to David. “You got a name?”

“David.”

“You okay after what happened, Davey?”

Davey? There was one person who called him Davey. Jack.

Jack.

“David? You good?”

“Holy shit.” His hands went up to his and he brushed away stray hairs.

“David?”

And there it was. That was Jack’s voice. Jack’s voice coming from Spider-Woman. Spider-Woman! The accent was dropped and there was no way it wasn’t Jack.

Jack.

“Jack?”

It all made sense. The weirdness, the questioning about the spider bite, how she reacted when everyone talked about Spider-Woman, the taking photos for Pulitzer. Everything.

Spider-Woman Jack froze. “What?” The change was slight, but the accent was back, David could tell. Because he knew Jack.

“Do I need to repeat myself?” His voice was harsh and cold, the opposite of David normally, but he was pissed. He had been lied to for months by someone he called a friend.

“Fucking shit. God dammit!” She shouted and pulled David into the nearest alley. Her accent had been dropped, resorting back to Jack’s normal New York accent. She ran down the alley, nearly jumping with frustration. She turned back to him, fists clenched at her sides. “It was because I called you Davey, right?”

“Yep.”

“I was doing so good!” She spun around and sighed loudly. “I thought you were gonna find out when I asked ya’ to help me. Fuck!” She waved her arms, shoulder twitching as she did. “Well, go on.”

“What?”

“Tell me how I’m making all the worst decisions and that I’m just an idiot with no care for laws and regulations.”

Right. David has said those exact things about Spider-Woman to Jack, who David now knows is Spider-Woman. And then there was Jack’s tone. David’s anger was mostly gone, but her tone.

“You want to act like I’m the wrong here, Jack! You’re the criminal the police is after. Not some green lizard, no one has seen but you! You, Jack! You don’t get to turn this around on me!” If David were in his right mind, he wouldn’t be using incorrect data, but he wasn’t.

“Turn it around on you? For two months now, all I’ve heard is how I’m an idiot and a criminal. I am helping the city! Maybe I did invite some wackjobs to present themselves, but I am making a difference!”

“Only difference you are making is making the city more dangerous.” It wasn’t entirely wrong, ever since Spider-Woman came into the picture, crime has gone up.

“Dangerous? This city has always been dangerous! I am protecting the little people who can’t protect themselves!”

“Did they ever ask for that?”

“They didn’t have to! I was like them once! And I can do what I can do for a reason! I have responsibilities!”

“The responsibility of running around in spandex? Sounds real hard!”

Jack stepped back, huffing. “Fuck you, Davey. I am not going to stand here and listen to you insult what I do. At least I do something.” Jack pushed past him and toward the street. David spun around and grabbed her wrist. “Fuck off.”

“’At least you do something’? The fuck that supposed to mean?”

“I think we both know what I mean.”

“You know, Jack, I used to admire you, but now I can see that you are nothing more than a child who thinks they can change the world.”

“I know what you’re doing, and I am not going to let you get a rise out of me. I just saved your fucking life! I got stabbed! And you are here lecturing me! You are not my mother or any one who can talk down to me because you feel like it!” Jack seethed at him, her teeth clenched. She pulled out of his grasp and walked away.

Davey was silent. What more was he meant to say? He wasn’t much angry before Jack assumed he would be. It was Jack. How could he be mad? She was Jack and he was just Davey.

Jack turned back around and sighed. Her eyes focused on something behind him as she spoke. “Look, it’s late and I need to get you home, so can we wait until tomorrow? I’ll get to school early and everything so you can have all the time you need for the lecture.”

His anger was gone. Dissipated. Anger was replaced by curiosity. He wanted to know more.

“Let’s just get you home.” She held out her hand for him. “Come on.” Her voice was still harsh and rough.

Somewhere in the back of his mind he didn’t believe it, but everywhere else in his mind thought it made so much sense. Seeing is believing, right?

“Jack.”

“What?” She snapped at him.

It hit him. He wanted to see. He wanted to see her in her element. As Spider-Woman, without the mask. He wanted to see her. Only her.

“Can you take it off?”

Her eyes twitched, the white on her mask moving with them. “What? The mask?”

He nods and steps closer to her. Jack stepped back as she fiddled with her hands. Her fingers were twitching and her shoulder kept jerking to the side. How hadn’t he noticed early? She was doing these same things in front of him not more than ten minutes ago. He saw Jack do this all the time. Was he really so blind? Don’t answer that.

“I don’t know, Dave. We’re in a public area. I- I- don’t know.” Her voice was quiet and small, having lost its bite.

David turned around and checked the surroundings. “No one’s here. No one will see.”

Jack sighed and raised her hands up to her face. “This better not bite me in the ass.” She hooked one of her fingers under the fabric and pulled it off in one motion. Her hair was messy, hairs going everywhere. Bright green eyes shining in the dark. She frowned as her eyes scanned the dark alleyway. Beneath her eye was a dark bruise, but under everything, it was her. Jack.

He tried to will his heart to slow down. It was just Jack. Jack.

“How’s- how’s your side?”

Jack looked down and pressed a hand to where she was stabbed. “Eh, it stopped bleeding. Still hurts like a bitch, but it’s not the first time I’ve been stabbed, won’t be the last.” She let out a laugh at David’s wide eyes. “Yeah, Davey, I’ve been stabbed before. Doesn’t hurt as much as being shot, that’s for sure. Easier clean-up than a bullet, too.”

“What?”

Jack shrugged and pulled the mask over her face. She adjusted her hair. “Don’t you need to get home?”

Shit. He was supposed to be home by now. His mother was probably freaking out right now.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re right. I should go.”

“At least let me walk you there. It’s the least I can do, even though you are gonna yell at me again.”

This time she said she wasn’t harsh or angry. David’s anger didn’t pick back up and he didn’t push it to. He didn’t have a reason to be angry in the first place and he didn’t have one now.

“I’m not going to yell at you, Jack.”

“Why not? I thought I’m being reckless? An idiot?”

“Well, we both know you are reckless, but you, Jack, are not an idiot.”

“Heh, tell that to my teachers. The only way I’m passing anything is because of you and Race.” Jack stopped, falling a few paces behind David. He turned to look at her, his brows quirked up at her.

“Jack?”

“Shit. Race!” She smacked her hands to her face.

“What about him?”

“Fuck! He’s gonna kill me! I didn’t get him any samples. He was going to examine them for me.”

“What? What samples?”

“When I found you with that mugger, I had just came from a fight with Lizard. Race wanted me to get some samples of his scales and any blood, if could. And I fucking forgot!”

“Wait, Race knows?”

“Shit!” She sighed and rubbed her face. “He knows.”

“How? When?”

“When I first got bit?”

“The spider stuff from a month ago? That was about this?”

“Yeah.”

“Jesus.”

“Sorry, Dave. Race told me to not tell anyone. It’s dangerous.”

“So, why did he need samples?”

“To try to figure who the Lizard is. We have a running theory that Lizard is a person who transformed themselves into that. So, I was going to get some usable DNA. There might be some blood on my suit, but I’m pretty sure that’s mine.”

“The Lizard? He hasn’t been seen in a while now.”

“That’s what you think. Pulitzer stopped publishing photos of him and said he wouldn’t publish anymore until he got a good headline for them. But, he’s been active for over a month now. And still, no answers on who he is. I don’t know anything, but we can discuss this tomorrow. I want to go home.”

That was when David realized they had stopped in front of his building. He frowned and looked back in front of him. “Goodnight. This conversation isn’t over.” He pointed back at her.

“Never thought it was. ‘Night, Davey.”

David walked into his building and watched as Jack swung away. How did she do that? He would have to ask her.

He stood in the elevator, his fingers tapping on his legs. What just happened? Jack was Spider-Woman? What the fuck? He was too tired for this.

Walking to his apartment, his mind went rampant. How was he going to explain why he was so late to his parents? How was he going to act like nothing happened? How was he going to face Jack?

After a discussion with his mom about why he was late (he said there were some complications in the lab and he ended up staying a little longer), David laid in his bed and stared up at the ceiling. Les was laying in his own bed and was fast asleep. Les wouldn’t hear him if he moved around a bit, he learned that the night he came in drunk.

Leaning over his bed, he reached for his phone. The screen lit up brightly and he squinted. Jack’s number was near the top of his texts and he clicked it. Would she even be up right now? Knowing Jack, she would be, but he couldn’t be sure. He decided to text her anyway, if she was asleep then he could wait till morning.

jackie

davey: hey. you awake?

jackie: i am now

davey: sorry, i couldn’t sleep

jackie: brain still awake?

davey: yeah

jackie: well, i know you have questions. ask them

davey: really?

jackie: yeah, i probably wont be sleeping much tonight

davey: okay, let me think for sec

jackie: ask whatever comes to your mind

davey: so, it’s all from the spider?

jackie: pretty much, yeah.

jackie: the day after i got bit, the weirdest things happened and i was super confused

davey: that sounds scary

jackie: it was, at first. now i have race to vent to, and you too i guess

jackie: are you gonna yell at me?

davey: im not even sure i could yell at you. again, at least. let’s chalk up that first time to adrenaline

jackie: why? is it cause im incredibly adorable?

jackie: don’t answer that, i already know the answer

davey: you are ridiculous

jackie: you love it

davey: unfortunately, i do

jackie: are you mad at me

davey: why would i be mad

jackie: cause i didn’t tell you. cause i lied to you. cause im being stupid

davey: i was upset at first, not anymore.

davey: i don’t like that you lied to me, but i understand

davey: and you aren’t stupid. i was angry, i said lots of things i don’t really mean

jackie: really?

davey: yeah, must be hard to keep that secret all by yourself.

jackie: it sucks. i lie to my mom all the time and i feel so guilty.

jackie: am i doing the right thing, dave?

davey: i don’t know

jackie: i mean, im only asking cause you have these strong opinions

jackie: i just feel like i haven’t changed anything since becoming spiderwoman

davey: you’re an inspiration. that’s not nothing

jackie: you think so?

davey: i know so

jackie: this whole thing with lizard is getting tiring. i havent got him nor have i figured out who he is. im a failure

davey: jack, you are many things, but you are not a failure

jackie: i don’t know

davey: jack. you are not a failure. i was wrong about spider-woman

jackie: you mean that?

davey: i do

jackie: it means a lot

jackie: you have any more questions?

davey: i do! how do you have your webs?

jackie: so this is sort of gross, but they come out of my wrists. i found them out on accident. race freaked out

davey: how did race find out

jackie: i told him. i was stressed and scared and he’s my brother

jackie: i felt so much lighter after telling him

davey: at least you had someone to talk to. does charlie know?

jackie: it helped and no. he does not

davey: you told race and not him

jackie: it didn’t feel right. i mean, i don’t know. im sleep deprived

jackie: dave, i hate to do this, but im exhausted. talk in the morning?

davey: yeah, no, you’re good. goodnight, jack

jackie: night, davey

David still couldn’t believe it. Jack was Spider-Woman, but he could deal with that in the morning. He was tired.

They would talk in the morning.

Chapter Text

Holy shit. What just happened? Davey knows? How did that happen? Jack was on her way home from getting her ass kicked by Lizard, how did that happen?

The last month and a half had been rough. She was trying to figure out how to balance her regular life and Spider-Woman. And then her dad’s funeral. She had closed off for a week. She was a wreck, going into fits of rage and having several breakdowns. Her mom and brothers saw her at her absolute worst. She spent a whole week soaked in tears and covered in paint. Santa Fe was her only escape. She forced herself to remember her mother’s voice as she spoke of the New Mexico city.

Once Jack returned to a semi-normal mental state, Medda told her that she should consider therapy. Jack had originally freaked out. Foster parents don’t want kids who need therapy. She would be rehomed. And then once she calmed back down she remembered she wasn’t a foster kid anymore. She was Medda’s daughter.

Therapy was rough at first. She didn’t want to talk to a stranger. But her therapist was sweet and kind and understanding. Jack hated her. At first, at least. Jack began to easily talk through everything. Her mother’s death, the abuse she received in the Refuge, being bounced from house to house, and finally, her dad’s death. It was triggering, but so relieving. She felt lighter every time she left the office.

Her therapist, Allison, had proposed the idea of getting diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Jack mentioned the breakdown she had at school with Davey and Allison said that could be an extreme symptom of autism. She offered Jack a chance to be diagnosed and Jack took her up on the chance.

Testing was awkward. She didn’t know how to answer the questions. She felt like they were written to confuse her. Allison was understanding and walked Jack through the testing. And the end of it, Jack was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and autism. Some other disorders were left up in there, in an attempt to not overwhelm Jack.

The diagnoses freaked Jack out at first. She felt broken and damaged. It took a few sessions to work that out. Jack was still uncertain about being okay and accepting that there was nothing, but then something was said to her. Would she feel different if it were her brothers diagnosed with this disorder? If it were them and not her? How would she feel? Jack would never think badly of her younger brothers, not about Charlie’s leg or Race’s ADHD. Then why did she think there was something wrong with her? If were anyone else, she wouldn’t care.

That helped her come to terms with it. It was a natural thing. She was okay. There wasn’t anything wrong with her. She was going to be fine.

Healing was a slow process and Jack was still going to her weekly sessions with Allison. It helped her and kept her stress to a minimum. She hadn’t had many meltdowns since starting her sessions and she was learning more about herself. She just wished she could tell her therapist about her ‘extracurriculars’. Unfortunately, Allison would be required to report it because Jack was putting her in harm’s way and harming others. That was a therapist ‘no-no’.

But she had Race. And was smart enough for the both of them to understand everything. But then she fucked everything up. She forgot the samples. Davey knew about her. And she was stabbed. That last part wasn’t too bad, all she had to was clean it once she got home.

She was still a minute out and as she swung, her mind ran. She was freaking out. She lost it on Davey and she was sorry about that, but she was freaked. She was nervous. She would apologize in the morning, but not right now. It seemed like they were still okay, but she could never tell.

She slipped through her window and dropped onto her floor. She was tired, covered in blood, and fucking exhausted. She peeled off her suit and dropped back to the floor. She was confused and conflicted.

On one hand, she was pissed with Davey. But on the other hand, she was still super into him and he was super when he was angry and stuff.

And then he asked her to take off her mask. What was that? It felt intimate.

And there was her breakdown. She hadn’t had one of those in a while. She was doing so well. She hadn’t meant to ask Davey, but he was there and he was comforting. She’s surprised that’s not what revealed her. She was literally clinging to him.

She was tired and she could worry about Davey and breakdown in the morning. She forced herself up and changed her clothes. She was covered in sweat, but it was getting suspicious if she kept showering late at night, so she would have to wake up early and shower then. As she pulled the sheets over her body, her phone buzzed. Davey.

(I’m not copying the texts to here, so…)

Davey wasn’t mad at her? He had an interesting way of showing it. But, he seemed to have calmed down. She just wanted him to accept her. It would break her heart if he really hated Spider-Woman. That was a part of her.

He admitted he was wrong! Davey never admits when he’s wrong, so he must be very serious.

She was an inspiration? That was a different take. Most people just called her menace or public enemy number one. Never an inspiration.

Eventually, she had to end the conversation. She was tired and as much she loved to talk to Davey - and she did love it - she needed to go to bed.

She was tired. She was always tired these days. She spent her days running around from school to the World to the occasional hold-up and she spent her nights swinging around the city and fighting fucking kaijus.

She desperately needed a break but she had yet to take down Lizard. And she forgot the samples. She pulled herself up and checked her suit for any loose scales. A few stray green scales drop from the suit and she stuffs them into a plastic bag. Hopefully, those would work. That’s all she had, except for maybe some blood on her gloves but she also punched the asshole who was messing with Davey.

She needed sleep.

The next morning was slow. She got up early to take a shower and had nearly fallen asleep during her shower. It was getting colder, so she grabbed some jeans - with paint stains on them - and a T-shirt paired with a long-sleeved shirt. She dug into her closet and pulled out her leather jacket. It was a little scuffed on the edges but was still the warmest jacket she had ever worn. She was getting tired of the fall chill and had to line her entire suit with fleece. By the time spring comes around, she either has to make a new suit or rip out the lining. That is if she makes it to spring. Whoa, that was morbid.

She was tired and seemed like no amount of sleep could make her not tired.

Dragging herself into the kitchen and onto a stool, she felt each ache in her body. Everything hurt now. She was tired and everything hurt.

“Mornin’.” She barely muttered before dropping face-first onto the counter. It hurt, but she didn’t really care.

“Didn’t get much sleep last night?” Her mom asked.

Jack slowly raised her head. “Yeah, been having some sleeping problems recently.”

“Is it something medical? I can make an appointment with the doctor if you think you need it.”

“It’s fine, Mama. Just some insomnia. Nothin’ a doctor could do ‘bout it.” She dismissively waved her hand. She didn’t need a doctor poking around her. It would be nice to have some medication to help with her insomnia because even after she drops dead in her bed, she is still up for the next hour. Her mind was too active, always thinking.

School would be rough, for several reasons. First, she would have to see Davey - that was a whole thing in itself. And secondly, she was exhausted and sore. As long as no one messed with her, she should be fine, but you never know.

Walking to school was rough. She had to help Crutchie most of the way there, so her already aching muscles ached even more. She knew that she wouldn’t offend Charlie if she couldn’t help him, but she didn’t want him to struggle to whole walk.

They got in just before the first bell rang and Jack slowly made her way to her homeroom. Once there, she dropped into the first chair she saw. Her eyes were heavy and all she wanted to do was curl up in her bed at home, but she had used up all her absences for the semester. Unless it was an emergency, she couldn’t stay home.

She dropped her head onto the desk and closed her eyes. She had at least a few minutes before attendance would be taken, she could get a little shut-eye. She deserved it. She spent her night protecting the city from a green monster. However, the city thought she had already beaten it since it hadn’t made the papers in a month. She really needed to deal with that. Maybe Race would be able to get something from the scales she found. It was all she had unless she wanted to go out and fight him again - which she did not want to.

The tardy bell rang over her head and she groaned quietly. She jerked her head up and forced herself to listen to what the teacher was talking about.

This was going to be a long day.

Classes passed by slowly, but at least all of them, except for her first period, had one of her friends in it. She spoke to Race about the scales, having felt much more awake than she was in the morning before they left. He said that they probably wouldn’t help them identify the Lizard, but might help to formulate an antidote to whatever made the Lizard into a Lizard. Race had a theory that each time whoever the Lizard was turned into the Lizard, lost more and more control of the form and that it became more and more permanent each time. That wasn’t good.

She told Race to work on an antidote. She would need it by the next time she fought Lizard. She was tired of this mouse and cat game, more like spider and lizard game but you get the point.

Then it was time for chemistry. Jack tapped her fingers on her pants as she walked to the class. She was always there before Davey because of his last class being across the school. It gave her an advantage. She was prepared. She focused her ears on the hallway, listening for Davey’s distinct footsteps. He has a pattern of walking - everyone does. He walked down harder with his right and just barely touched the ground with his left. He also made her prone to tripping, but he never changed. Turns out super-hearing is good for things outside of being a superhero; it also helps you learn weird facts about the people you are around.

She focused on and heard his walking. He seemed to be in more of a rush than he normally was, bumping into two people on his way and tripping over his feet three times. Jack frowned and pretended to be working on something as Davey entered the classroom. Her sketchbook was gripped tightly in her hands, a blank page mocking her. She didn’t have much time to sketch or paint anymore. Her life was school, work, spider-woman, rinse, repeat. Boring monotony. Every day meshed into the next and she could barely tell what day it was anymore.

Davey dropped his things on the lab table and Jack slightly glanced up, trying to appear nonchalant, like she wasn’t just listening in for his footsteps.

“Jack.” His voice makes it clear that he knew that Jack was listening for him. How did he know?

She slowly looks up, her reading glasses leaning down her nose. They weren’t really used for reading anymore, just for fashion. “Davey. Good morning?” She blinks at him and sheds the glasses. They, along with her sketchbook, join the rest of the mess that is her backpack.

“Didn’t get much sleep, for several reasons.”

“Ah, Les.” She smirked at him, the sarcasm dripping off her words.

He smiled at her before speaking, “So, about last night-”

“Did you change your mind?”

“What?”

“Are you mad at me?”

His face softened. “No. I am not mad at you. I just wanted to talk about it and everything in general.”

“It’s a lot, I know. What did you want to talk about?”

“Well, start from the beginning. Tell me everything.” His eyes sparkled. Fucking sparkled.

Jack couldn’t help her urge to stupidly smile at him. He was so perfect and so gorgeous. How was he still single? “I got bit, that’s the first part. Then, the next day, I woke up, broke my alarm clock on accident, got stuck to the doorknob and ripped it out, got stuck to my bedsheets, stuck to my wall, and then crashed to the floor. All of this happened in like ten minutes. So, bad start to my morning. And I was like crazy hungry. After that, there was like this weird moment where I could hear everything around me. And that’s all in the first day.” She sighed and took a deep breath before continuing. “Most of my powers were discovered on the first day, but when Race and I went to get some materials for my suit, we discovered the rest. Super strength, webs, that sort of thing.”

“I read somewhere you have super agility too. Is that true?”

“Yep. Once ran halfway across Manhattan in ten minutes. Didn’t even realized I went that far in so little time.”

“And the only other person who knows is Race?”

“Yeah. It’s been… interesting to say the least. He’s helpful when he’s not talking about or to Spot.”

David chuckles, “Not a fan of Spot?”

“No,” Jack waves her hand. “I like him, but I’d like him more if he wasn’t dating my brother. The day Crutchie starts dating is going to be the day I lose my mind.” She sighs. “He’s a good guy. I trust him with Race, so he’s doing something right. And he’s afraid of me, which he should be. Even without the powers, I still have like half a foot over him. And let’s be real, I was pretty strong before the spider bite.”

“I think you are miscounting the height between you and Spot. He’s not that short and you are not that tall.” There was a playfulness to his voice. Jack liked it. Jack liked everything he did.

“’Course you would say that. You’re like a fucking giant. How tall are you?”

Davey barked out a laugh at that. He slapped a hand to his mouth to muffle the sound. Once his laughter calmed, he responded. “I’m six feet.”

“Tall?” She processes her question, smacks her forehead, and then corrects herself, “Of course you meant tall.”

Davey’s laugh is a drug. Jack never got enough and she wanted nothing to hear it all the time. Jack was addicted to everything he did. His laugh, his nonsensical ramblings about just about anything, his smile. Everything. He was perfect and Jack wanted to have him all to herself.

She’s staring, she knows that, but his eyes are so easy to get lost in. The green draws her in, reminding her of a forest in a fantasy movie. Vivid and bright. She could paint an entire landscape based on the color of Davey’s eyes - and she had. It was hung up on her wall, just for her. Looking into his eyes gave her a sense of hope, of everything Jack had ever craved for in life. It was easy to get caught up with Davey, he brought out another side of her, yet she was still too scared to ask him out. Jack is a flirt, always has been. She was the first to make a move in every relationship she’d ever been in, but something about Davey scared her. She could lose everything all at once. She liked their friendship, but she wanted more. Was that so wrong of her?

“Jack? Are you with me?” Davey waves his hand in front of her face. Had she zoned out? Thinking about Davey?

She swallows, her throat feeling especially dry. “Yeah- I’m good. Just zoned out.”

“Do you have a plan for Lizard?”

“Eh, sort of? Race took some of the scales I got and he is gonna try to make an antidote to whatever is making him a lizard. I can sense the excitement off of you, I’ll ask Race if you can help.” She adds the second part after seeing Davey’s face light up in curiosity.

“Really? Did you tell him I know yet?”

Shit, she knew she had forgotten something. She forgot to mention the small fact that Davey knew. Race was going to flip.

“Uh… no?” She grimaces before continuing. “He’ll be in the science lab at lunch, to work on the antidote. We can talk to him then. If you want to, of course.”

“Yeah, that works for me. Will anyone else be there?”

“Not likely. I mean, you’re the nerdiest person I know, do kids go to the science lab at lunch?”

Davey blushes at the comment and Jack feels like she said the wrong thing. “Well, I don’t go to the lab at lunch, so we should be fine.”

“Sorry for calling you a nerd.”

To Jack’s dismay, Davey just smiles and shakes his head. “Eh, I am sort of a nerd.”

Jack chuckles nervously. She didn’t know what to say. Jack Kelly was speechless. She was never speechless - and her friends would always point it out, those assholes. God, was she whipped for a guy she wasn’t even dating? She blinks, several times.

“Jack?”

“Yeah?” Her voice cracks and she slightly groans. He made her nervous. Everything he did made her nervous. And now he knew her biggest secret.

“Something wrong?”

“What? Oh- no! I’m fine.”

“Okay… so lunch in the lab?”

“Yep, you’ll be able to help Racer and the lab doesn’t have cameras, so it won’t be caught on camera when Race kills me.”

Davey laughs again and takes everything in Jack to not jump over the table and kiss him right here and now. God, that was a thought. He was her best friend - sorry Kath. She can feel her face heat up at the thought and she wishes she could die right then and there.

“I’m sure it won’t be that bad.”

“You obviously don’t Race that well. He’ll lose his mind.”

The rest of Chemistry went by fast, occasionally slowed by Jack’s thoughts. She was slightly worried about Race’s reaction, but most of his attention would be on his work. Davey and she went to grab their lunches before heading to meet Race in the lab. When they got there, they found Race frantically pacing the lab and bouncing from lab table to lab table.

“Racer?” Jack called out, placing down her tray on an empty lab table. She slipped off her bag and dropped it on the floor.

The blonde boy froze and stopped in his tracks. “Jack? I didn’t think you were coming in here…” he trailed off as Davey walked in behind Jack and placed down his things. “Uh, Davey! Didn’t know you were here.”

“Race, can you take a little break for a sec? I have something to tell you.” She stepped closer to him.

“Sure. Just for a second though, I’m working.”

“I know. Let’s sit.” She grabs her brother’s hands and leads them to a lab table. Race sits with a frown on his face, looking over at Davey. “Dave, you wanna sit down too?”

Davey’s eyes dart between Race’s face and Jack’s welcoming smile. He walks over and sits on the stool next to Jack.

“Race. You know how I got stabbed last night?” Race’s eyes widen and he looks at Davey.

“What? You got stabbed?” Race’s voice is shaky and clearly fake.

“Race. He knows.”

Race stands up and rakes through his hair, giving a mad scientist sort of look. ‘Pretty on brand for him,’ Jack thought absently minded. “Jack.” He says calmly because he isn’t freaking out. “What the fuck?” Scratch that, he’s freaking out.

“He found out. On his own.”

“Jesus! You are a dumbass!” Race smacks the back of her head as he walks away. “Does he know everything?”

“Most of it, yeah.”

“God, you are dumb. How did that even happen?”

“He’s a genius, Race. It’s a shock he didn’t find out sooner.”

“She called me Davey when she saved me.”

Jack and Davey responded at the same time and Jack whipped her head to look at Davey. Fucking bastard.

“Jesus!” Race exclaims while throwing up his hands. “So, did come all the way here to tell me that or is there something else?”

“Davey wants to help you with the Lizard cure and I’m just here for fun.” She grins at Race, who flips her off.

“Okay, Davey, get over here. I’ll show you what I’m currently doing. It’ll be nice to work with someone on my level, unlike dumbass over there.”

“Hey! This is my family, Dave. Save me.”

Jack spends the rest of lunch sketching and eating. Race and Davey are talking essentially nonsense to her and she can barely keep up. It does give her a chance to sketch Davey while having him in front of her. The pages of her sketchbook are covered in Davey sketches - with the occasional Race sketch - by the time the bell rings.

The cure was finished, or close enough to call it finished. Race and Davey urged her to not use it unless it was necessary. They weren’t entirely sure about the side effects, on Lizard or Jack. The cure was an aerosol, the cure injected into an old hairspray (it was something Race had from his dancer ‘phase’). Jack would simply have to spray it in the air and it would go into effect once Lizard breathed it in.

Jack had promised to not use it ‘unless necessary’ per their requests. She stuffed the can into her bag and went to her afternoon classes.

At the end of the day, while Jack was cleaning up her work area, her phone buzzed. And then it buzzed again. She ignored it, thinking it was just the group chat she had with her friends, but then it buzzed again, and again.

Wiping her hands off, she reached for her phone. The screen lit up with a notification of a new group chat.

That’s odd.

She unlocked the phone and opened her messaging app. A new group called spider squad floated at the top of her chat list.

Fucking Race.

She opened it, groaning.

spider squad

racer added jack to the chat

racer added davey to the chat

racer: so, because davey knows now, i thought it would be nice 2 have a chat 4 us

racer: why is no one messaging

racer: answer me, pls

davey: jesus, what is this?

racer: read the damn messages, david

jack: why do we need this?

racer: becasue!

davey: not an answer

racer: it could be like our little chat to talk about ✨spider✨ things

racer: wait, let me just

racer has changed jack’s name to spidey

racer has changed davey’s name to brainsoftheoperation

racer has changed their name to guyinthechair

spidey: what are these names?

brainsoftheoperation: this is too long of a name

spidey: and why is davey the brains? he just got here

guyinthechair: whatever, i’ll change it

guyinthechair has changed their name to racie

racie has changed brainsoftheoperation’s name to guyinthechair

racie: better now?

spidey: eh, works i guess

guyinthechair: i still don’t get these names

racie: jack is the spider, i’m race, and you are the guy in the chair

guyinthechair: why am i the guy in the chair?

racie: why not?

spidey: he’s got you there

guyinthechair: whatever

guyinthechair: i have work, so bye

spidey: i gotta get home, race are you guys waiting

racie: nope, we left without u

spidey: whatever, i’m going patrolling then. tell mama something

racie: got it

racie: see? this chat helps

spidey: fuck off race

Jack had gone out as Spider-Woman. She had ducked into an alley and slipped the suit over her clothes. It was uncomfortable, but she wanted some air. Being a superhero felt so exhilarating. She loved it. She would have to go home soon, but she loved swinging around the city. It felt freeing. She loved it. She loved being Spider-Woman, but like everything, it had cons. She put herself at risk every day and with Race and Davey knowing, they were in danger as well. Shit!

She was putting Davey in danger. He was in danger because he knew about her. She needed to do something about that.

She stopped mid-swing and hung from her web upside down. She shot out another web to stabilize herself and she whipped out her phone. The best thing about making her own suit was having pockets.

spider squad

spidey: okay, because two people know about me, we are going to make sure you guys aren’t in danger

racie: ooh, interesting. how?

spidey: i’m going to train you guys. i’ve gotten better at fighting and defending myself since i started this, so i’m going teach you guys how to fight better. or in davey’s case, at all

spidey: i just don’t want you guys to get hurt

racie: i’m down, where are we going to do it?

spidey: the old parking garage

racie: cool!

spidey: @guyinthechair, you in?

Jack stuffed her phone back in her pocket and continued swinging. Dangling above the city wasn’t the smartest decision. People were taking photos of her. She leaped onto a rooftop and pulled her phone back out.

spider squad

guyinthechair: sure. i’m in

spidey: great! we’ll do it this weekend. does that work?

racie: yep!

guyinthechair: works for me

spidey: okay, i’ll figure out more deets later

Jack was tired. She went out as soon as her family fell asleep. She was an addict, addicted to the thrill of the suit. She was still utterly tired, but Lizard always came out at night. And now she had the cure or something that’s like a cure. She would just have to be careful when she sprayed it. Everything would be fine.

Right?

She swung down to the old subway station where she ended up finding Lizard most nights she went out and looked for him. Sometimes he would find her, which always led to a nasty fight in the streets - with the addition of major property damage.

The station was dark, like always, and Jack jumped over the last flight of stairs. She wanted this over and she had a cure to do just that. Hopefully, it was permanent and wouldn’t let him turn again. She did not need this to last any longer.

She walked to the edge of the platform and looked onto the tracks. It was quiet and she didn’t like it. He had the upper hand here. He knew the station like the back of his hand (or his claw) and he always escaped into the sewers once she got the advantage. Tonight, there would be no escaping, no fleeing. This is it.

Her suit was freshly mended from their last fight and she wasn’t excited to get it torn up again. But this would be it.

One way or another.

She didn’t tell the boys, but if this cure failed, she would have to take more ‘extreme’ measures. Lizard was causing problems and the city didn’t acknowledge him anymore. If he ‘disappeared’, no one would be the wiser. They would be better for it.

Was she actually considering murder? Yes and no. She wouldn’t kill him unless she had to. If her city is on the line, she’ll do what it takes, no ifs or buts. This needed to end.

She heard the familiar flick of a tail down the tunnel. He was here and he was waiting. Thankfully for Jack, she added some night vision lenses to the eyes on her suit. It was pricey, but it helped her see down the tunnel. She could him down there, a mere hundred feet away. Once she saw his face, she would jump at him. She needed to be ready. Her fingers twitched as she watched. She was ready.

A few minutes went by and she was still standing there. He hadn’t popped his head out once. He must be seeing her in another way. Maybe lizards have good ears? She would have to ask Race, he was the one who was reading up on lizards the past month.

She was getting impatient and decided to run down the tunnel. Her feet pattered as she dashed down the tracks. His eyes were glowing in the dark, greenish-yellow watching her. Once she was twenty feet away, she leaped at him. She grasped at a ladder hanging from the roof and used it to propel her. Right as she clawed at him, she was thrown down to the tracks. He pinned her down and she squirmed under his claws. His slimy tail flicked back and forth as he pushed down on her shoulders. She slightly pulled her leg out from underneath him and used it to kick him off of her. He fell backward and she lunged. She threw a punch into his scaley, stupid, green face.

She got a few more punches in before he threw her. She hit the ground face first and she hopped back up. The hairspray can sat on her makeshift belt. Her fingers itched to grab it, but she wanted to get him secured before using it.

Lunging back at him, she tackled him down to the ground. She sat on his chest and wrapped her legs around his left leg. She leaned back slightly and shot two webs at his wrists. She carefully stood up and shot a few more webs at him. He wasn’t getting away this time. It takes a lot of strength to get through that many webs.

This was it. This was her chance.

Shaky hands reached for the can. She uncapped the can and tossed the lid to the side. She took in a deep breath. Why was she so nervous? She stepped back to the wall and held up a hand to her face. She didn’t want to be breathing this in. Her thumb brushed over the nozzle and she pressed down. The can sprayed directly in his face and he writhed. Was it supposed to do that?

Jack stepped away, still covering her mouth. Lizard was kicking and fighting back. She had stopped spraying and put the can back on her belt.

Lizard had stopped kicking suddenly and froze. Shit. Did something go wrong? He twitched slightly and Jack noticed that his scales began to disappear. His green skin was becoming more pale. It was working. They did it!

She let out a tiny gasp as the change finished before her eyes.

Oh, fuck shit.

It was Denton. Denton sat in front of her, naked and still webbed up. Denton, who she had gone to about the Lizard. Denton, who Davey worked for.

Fuck.

“God dammit!” She muttered under her breath. Denton seemed to be unconscious. Maybe the cure did it? She wasn’t sure, but she needed to get out of there.

Walking back up the stairs out of the station, she pulled out her phone.

spider squad

spidey: the cure works

spidey has sent an attachment

spidey: sorry, dave

Chapter Text

Jack and Race were currently waiting for Davey to show up at their ‘base of operations’. He had been distant since Jack told them who Lizard was. She wasn’t for sugarcoating, but she wished she did this time. He was still in denial and refused to speak on the subject with her, or anyone for that matter.

Denton was arrested for vandalism and public indecency after Jack sent in an anonymous phone call. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. Jack had no proof Denton was Lizard, she couldn’t get him locked away for it.

Jack was happy that Denton was off the streets and unable to cause any more damage. And her suit was also very happy. It had been torn up quite a bit in their last fight.

But, Davey still agreed to do her training so he was doing better? He hadn’t talked much since that night. He was still dealing with it and Jack was willing to wait.

“So, can you give me some heads up for what we are doing today?” Race asked, hopping up and down to ‘stretch’.

“We will be covering self-defense mostly. I have gotten better and you guys need to know how to take care of yourselves in case anyone finds out what you know.”

Race stopped hopping and leaned over the side of the garage. His mouth dropped and he frantically pointed down at the street. “Holy shit! Is that Davey?”

Jack lit up and ran over to her brother. And there he was. Her mouth went dry and swallowed loudly. He was walking down the street to them and he was wearing a pair of shorts and a muscle shirt. Fuck, this would be hard. “Jesus! You’re seeing that too, right?”

“How could I not? I may be taken, but I am still gay. If Spot doesn’t work out, you are going to have some competish.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Jack playfully shoves him away, still staring down at Davey. Davey wasn’t very muscley, but he certainly had muscle and that shirt showed all of them off. Jack suddenly felt very insecure about what she was wearing. She looks down at her paint-covered t-shirt and groans.

“Why did you let me wear this?” She gestures at her clothes and groans. At least her ass looked good in her leggings.

“I told you to wear something more provocative. You then flipped me off.” He makes jazz hands as he speaks.

“Fuck you.” She groans and decides to strip her shirt off. She was wearing a nice sports bra underneath and she shouldn’t waste an opportunity to show off her muscles. “God, it’s cold!”

“Should’ve brought a jacket. I brought one.” He waves the jacket in her face as she sees Davey heading up towards them.

She pushed Race’s hand out of her face. “Davey!” She yells out, ignoring Race.

Davey looks up at her and turns slightly red - at least she thought he looked red but she was pretty far away - waving at her.

She grins at him and leans on one of the pillars as he finishes walking toward them. “You ready?” She asks once he drops his things on the ground.

“As I’ll ever be.”

“Great!”

After some basic things, like stances and how to hold your arms when blocking, they were on to the fun part - at least fun for Jack.

“So, now onto defense. First, I am going to show you how to block a punch. Race?” She motions for him to step in front of him. She shakes out her arms and steps into her stance. “Now, both of you, watch me. Punch me.”

Race sighs and swings at her. Jack raises her left hand to block the punch and then grabs Race’s hand with her right. She then swings at him, just brushing the side of his face. Race stumbles back as she releases his hand.

“Okay, did you both see what I did?”

They both stare blankly at her.

“I blocked him and then stopped him from swinging again and then swung at him myself. Race, I’m going to try to punch you and you are going to stop me. Got it? Need another demonstration?”

Race shakes his head. “I’m good. Swing at me.”

Jack steps back, taking in Race’s stance. His legs were too close together. Easy to knock down. His hands weren’t high enough, she would be able to get a good hit at his head. But this was practice and training. She wasn’t trying to actually hurt him, just teach him. She sighed and swung at him. To her surprise, Race actually blocked her punch, but she pulled out of his grasp and attempted to swing again. Then, Race punched her, like in the face.

She was not expecting that.

She stumbles back and raises a hand to her cheek where he got her. She smirked at him. “Nice.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, you could’ve better been at grabbing my hand, but overall, you did good and you hit me. But, your posture was lacking. You had several weak points I could’ve exploited. Next time, I will take advantage of those.” She stood up fully and looked over. “Davey, it’s your turn.”

He looked nervous but didn’t say anything as he took Race’s spot in front of her. He straightened his back and Jack got a view of his muscles in HD. *Damn her perfect vision. She gulped and moved into her stance.

“Ready?”

He nodded, widened his stance, and raised his hands in front of his face. His stance was better than Race’s but was still missing strength to it. He wasn’t planted. She could easily knock him down, but that was for next time.

She stepped forward and started to swing at him, but her fist was caught mid-air and she was left with her left arm. Davey smirked at her and reached for her other arm. She jerked from his grasp enough to make him stumble and she swung at him. This time, instead of catching her hand, he ducked down and threw his own punch at her side.

Damn, that hurt.

If this were a fight, she would leap at him and tackle him down. But this wasn’t real and this was Davey. Davey, who was very hot when he was fighting. Maybe she was distracted by his hotness when she swung. Maybe she was distracted and that’s why he got her. Or maybe he was just that good.

She dropped to the floor and clutched where he punched her. It was a bit of a sore wound. Having just been stabbed there a few days. “Good job, Jacobs. Thought you were a pacifist.”

“Eh,” He shrugs as he helps her up. “Had my fair share of bullies when I was a kid.”

“Well, you punch good. Race! Up for round two? I wanna kick your ass.” She shakes away the soreness and cracks her arms and neck.

Race groans, but gets up anyways. “God, this is going to hurt later. Why did I agree to this?”

“Because you don’t want to die. Now, over here.”

Her fight with Race was fast. She swung at him and kicked his feet from underneath him and down he went. She reached her hand out to Race, who smacked it away.

“I regret this.”

“Don’t. You like your life, right?”

“I guess.”

“Then you should learn how to defend it. We’ll do a few more of these and then I’m gonna teach you how to take someone down with a gun.”

“You brought a gun?”

Both of the boys were staring at her, shocked drawn all over their faces.

“No, dummies, I brought a prop from a Halloween store that was still open for some reason. It’s not as heavy, but it should work for our purposes.”

So they spared a few more times and she won each one after that. She was ready for any of their attacks and they weren’t ready for any of hers. They got better at blocking her, just struggling with countering.

“Whoo! Take a break for a sec. I’m so tired.” She dropped to the floor and motioned for Race to kick her bag over. She dug into it and pulled out her water and painkillers. She wasn’t in much pain, but she was going to be. Her face stung from the few punches that they got on her. She downed her water and took some of the pills with it. Across from her, leaning on the pillar, Davey and Race were sporting several bruises.

Was she being too hard? She just wanted them to be ready, in case of anything. No one had prepared her for fighting, she just learned the hard way. They didn’t have that luxury. They couldn’t be stabbed and just walk it off. They were fragile and it was her job to protect them.

“You guys okay? Am I being too rough?”

Race looked up at her and shrugged. “Well, I would appreciate not being punched, but I understand.”

“Davey?”

“I mean, you’re trying to protect us.”

Not really an answer, but okay.

Jack groans and coughs a few times. And then a few more times.

“Are you okay?” Davey rushes to her side as she continues to cough. “Shit, it must be from the antidote.” He leans Jack forward and her coughing slows. “Race, there’s an inhaler in my bag. Can you get it for me?”

Race nods and digs through Davey’s bag and then holds up the inhaler. He runs over to them and Davey snatches it from his hands. Davey shakes the inhaler and holds it to Jack’s mouth. She wheezes before putting it in her mouth.

“Jack, just breathe in.”

She does what he says and takes a deep breath in from her mouth. Once done, she hands the inhaler back to Davey and exhales loudly.

“You have an inhaler?”

“Got it for my anxiety attacks when I was little. Keep it on me just in case. How much of the gas did you breathe in?”

“Not a ton. I covered my face and stood as far back as possible.”

Race frowns and looks at Davey before speaking to Jack. “How far we talking? A few feet could be the difference between a little cough and chronic bronchitis.”

“I don’t know. Ten feet or so. I was in a tunnel and I had to make sure he didn’t get away.”

Race groans. “Jesus. Any chance you got a stethoscope in your bag, Mary Poppins?”

Davey makes a face but nods. “Yeah. It’s in there too.”

“Who are you?” Jack squints at Davey, her voice teasing. Her chest was sore and she felt like she was going to keel over and die. She felt fine other than that, though.

“I had a phase where I wanted to be a doctor.”

“Fucking nerd. Who buys a stethoscope?”

“Hey, this stethoscope may save your life.” Davey held out his hands and Race tossed it to Davey. “Okay, I’m going to tell you when to take your breaths, like you’re at a doctor’s office.”

Jack rolls her eyes but nods. Davey pressed the cold metal to her chest and she began to regret taking her shirt off. She was cold.

“In. Out. In. Out”

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

Davey, after a few minutes, stands up and looks at her. “Doesn’t sound terrible. Probably nothing serious. Just avoid the cold. So, maybe you shouldn’t be sitting out in the cold like that.” He gestures to her outfit.

Right. She was in just a bra in front of Davey.

“Race, hand me your jacket.”

“Why my jacket?”

“Because I’m sick and it was your cure that did it.”

Race pouts but tosses his jacket to her anyway. She thanks him and he flips her off as she pulls it on. It fit her pretty well, probably because Race was her height and not very bulky.

“You know what?” She stands up and cracks her neck. God, she was tired. “We can be done for the day. I’m tired and I’m sure you guys are too.”

“Really?” Race bolts up.

“Yeah, Race, you go to Spot’s now.” She smiles at him as he collects his things. “Make sure you’re home by midnight or Mama will flip.”

“Whatever. Bye, Jack! Bye, Davey!” He calls out as he runs down the garage.

Now, Jack and Davey were alone. Together.

“Dave, about the other night-”

“Jack, I have something to tell you.”

Was he changing the subject or was this about Denton? Jack frowns but motions for him to continue.

“Denton was working on something. A personal project. He said it could change everything for our research. He said this would be his big break.”

“Shit.” Jack groaned and paced the floor.

“What? What is it?”

She stops and looks down at the floor. “I may have given Denton some of my blood.” Before Davey can respond, she speaks again, waving her arms. “In my defense, I didn’t know he was a fucking monster.

“You did what? Holy fuck. That’s what he was working with!” Davey ran his hair through his very sweaty hair while pacing. “This is bad. This is so very bad. You need to get your blood out of Evo. They’re cleaning his office out tomorrow. He’s been fired and they’re going to take his research.”

“What? I have tonight to get my blood out of there or my identity is revealed? Shit!”

“Look, all you have to do is get the vials of your blood and whatever he was working on. It was made from your blood, so it’s evidence too.”

“What was he doing with it?”

“I’m not sure. I just helped him clean it up.”

“Fuck, this is bad.” She stuffed her hands into the pockets of the jacket and looked at Davey. God, he looked good. His hair was wet with sweat and his tank top stuck to him. Shit. She was a goner for him. He was it for her, even if she wasn’t it for him. “I guess, I’ll have to go tonight. I’m still fixing my suit, but I guess it’ll have to wait.”

“Wait!” He went over to his bag and pulled out something. Jack couldn’t see it, it was small. He stuffed the mystery item into her hand. An earpiece? “Take this. Then, we can talk when you’re in there. I can direct you.”

He’s so smart. And pretty. Like, really pretty.

“Smart.” She stuffs the earpiece into her pocket and walks to her bag. “I’ll walk you home. Nothing else to do.”

Davey nods and grabs his bag. “Do you know what’s gonna happen to Denton?”

“Honestly? No. Can’t find out much from the World. No one except the three of us know he’s Lizard.”

“Aren’t there cameras in that subway station? We could get those and submit them to the police.”

The cameras! Why hadn’t she thought of that?

“I think they’re too old, but I can always ask Charlie if he can hack them. He might ask questions, though.”

“Haven’t told him yet?”

“I don’t need more people possibly being got in the crossfire. It’s risky enough with you and Race knowing. No one else can find out.”

“Okay, it’s your secret. Tell whoever you want, or don’t. I respect your choice.”

“Thank you.”

They stepped out of the garage and turned down the street.

“So, this cough isn’t anything to worry about?”

“Shouldn’t be. Just don’t go smoking.” He side-eyed Jack and she blushed.

Jack cackled and shoved Davey playfully. “Oh, well, that may be a deal breaker.”

“Yeah? Need those cigarettes?”

“Oh, yeah. All the time.”

“Do you ever get scared?”

“When I’m out there?”

Davey nodded.

“All the time. For many reasons. First time I saw a gun, I nearly broke down. It’s a hard job, but I love it. But, I’m always scared, always watching out for danger. Pain doesn’t scare me, nor does dying. But these situations I see, they scare me.”

“You’re not scared of dying?”

“Nah, if I die out there while protecting my city, it’ll be worth it. I’m scared of how it would affect my family though. My mama finding out I died in the middle of the night and she didn’t even know I was Spider-Woman. Charlie finding out the person who has protected him his whole life is dead. That’s what scares me. No afterlife or god, or lack of.”

“I get that.”

“Davey, promise me, if I die out there one night, that my mama knows about the good I did. Everyone I saved. Promise me?”

“I promise you, but you are not going to die out there. You’re too stubborn to not make it back home.”

Jack smiled at him, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. “Thanks.”

“No problem. Do you want to grab something to eat before I go home?”

She and Davey picked up lunch and then, she walked him home. She watched Davey go into the building before walking home.

She was tired and should probably rest before she had to go out to Evo. What had Denton with her blood? Should she be worried? Was there some clone of her in Evo? Did he know her identity?

She could worry later, she was tired.

She touched up her mending on her suit. It needed to be fixed enough so she wasn’t freezing. After tonight, she would go out and buy some fleece to line the suit with. It was getting too cold to keep wearing the same thin fabric at night.

Once it was late enough and her family was asleep, she climbed out her window, dressed in her suit. She connected the earpiece to her phone and called Davey. It took three rings until he picked up.

“Jack?” His voice sounded like he just woke up and it sent shivers up Jack’s spine. She would need to talk to sleepy Davey more if he sounded like this.

“I’m headed to Evo now. You awake enough to guide me through the building?”

There was some rustling on the other side as Jack jumped off her fire escape and swung onto a nearby rooftop.

“Yeah. Just had to make sure Les wasn’t getting up.”

“Eh, lie if he wakes up. Or, just tell him it’s me. He knows I exist and, for some reason, thinks we’re dating.”

The last few times Jack stopped by Davey’s house, she was always interrogated by Les about being Davey’s girlfriend. She always denied it, but her blushing probably didn’t help her case.

“I don’t need him asking me about that anymore. He’s always up my ass about that.”

“That’s younger siblings for you.”

“Race and Charlie do that too?”

“Absolutely. They are little shits.” She says, smirking, as she swings toward Evo. She was still about ten minutes out, but she could spend that time talking to Davey. “Thankfully, Race is dating Spot, so Charlie teases him.”

“Have they teased you before about who you were dating?”

“All the time. From my first girlfriend to Katherine, my most recent ex.”

“So, from my sister to her now girlfriend?”

“Basically.”

“How did you date both of them?”

“Well, I have heard I am quite charming. And I’m both adorable and hot, so it works out.”

“You’re something, alright. How far are you?”

“Maybe a few minutes. Long trip from home.”

“I know, I walk there.”

“No subway?”

“Eh, I ride it occasionally. Too much to excuse for everyday use.”

“So, since they fired Denton, what happens to your internship?”

“Well, I can move to another scientist’s research or look for a new job.”

“Damn. Which are you going to do?”

“I’ve sent in applications for some other Evo internships, but nothing so far.”

“If you need something, I bet Katherine can get you something at the World.”

“I’m no charity case.” He snapped at her.

She dropped onto a roof. Evo was right in front of her.

“Never said you were. Just was trying to help.”

“Well don’t.”

She must’ve hit a nerve.

“Sorry. I’m here. What floor is Denton on?”

A pause.

“Fifteenth. On the west side. His window is normally left open.”

“Got it.” She jumps forward and swings toward the building. She sticks her hands to the west side of the building and starts climbing. She counts the windows and looks for an open window when she reaches the fifteenth floor. She sees it and climbs in.

Denton’s office is dark. Things scattered everywhere.

“Is Denton always this messy?”

“Messy? No, he’s organized. How messy is it?”

“Bad. His desk has been cleaned out onto the floor, his awards, everything. It’s on all the floor.”

“Someone must have been digging through his things. Go straight down the hall. There’s a camera right outside of his office, you’re going to need to web that. We don’t need them thinking you’re breaking and entering.”

“I am breaking and entering.” She says as she tiptoes out of the office.

“You know what I mean.”

She glances beside the door and sees the camera. She reaches out her hand as the camera turns to look down the hall. She shoots a web at the lens and rolls down the hall. “How far am I going?”

“Should be the fourth door on the left. There’s another camera at the far end of the lab. You’ll have to get that one too. If the building is closed, any movement will set off the alarm. We don’t need security interrupting you.”

“Got it.” She slips into the lab and eyes the camera. She’s slow as she slides down the wall. She squints and then shoots a web towards it. It hits it dead center of the lense. Hopefully, the web didn’t set it off. “Okay, so where would the blood be?”

“Back cooler.”

She walked to the large, glowing cooler. It was full of vials in assorted colors. “Is it labeled as mine?”

“Probably. Look for anything labeled as spider or arachnid.”

“Arachnid?” She opens the cooler and begins looking through the vials. She starts with any vials that are filled with red liquid - seemed like a good start.

“Scientific name for spider. Unless, he put it in lati-”

“Found it. Labeled as spider-dna success. What does that mean?”

“Maybe he knew you bit by one of the spiders here or he assumed you did a similar experiment with spiders.”

“Speaking of the spiders, how did a spider that was just ‘observed’ give me powers? Seems pretty unlikely.”

He sighs and Jack can imagine him running his hands through his hair. “Okay, so we did experiments on the spiders. But, I couldn’t just tell you that as you toured. I would have been fired!”

“Makes sense. Okay, where’s this personal project?”

“I don’t know. You’re gonna have to look around the lab. It’s going to be somewhere hidden. Like in a cabinet or in the back of a cooler. He was pretty quiet about it and didn’t tell many of the lab technicians.”

She searches through the cooler, looking for anything spider-related. “How did you find out then?”

“He told me.”

“Just like that?”

“Yeah. He needed some help cleaning up one night before I left. I asked, and he told me.”

“Must’ve liked you.” She closes the cooler and looks in the smaller one next to it. She pulls out the back row of vials. Several vials full of black goo stand out to her. She picks one up and reads the label.

‘Spider Symbiote.’

“I think I found it.” She holds up the vial and inspects it. “It’s called Spider Symbiote.”

“Okay, grab it and get the blood out of there. You don’t know how much time you have.”

“I know, I know. Thankfully, I brought a bag.” She stuffs the vials of her blood in her little bag first and as she grabs one of the symbiote vials, she drops it. The glass shatters and the goo spreads across the floor. “Shit.”

“What did you do?”

“Why do always think I did something?”

“Because I know you. What happened?”

“I dropped one.”

“Fuck. Just grab the other ones and get out of there.”

She stuffs the other vials away and looks down at the ground. The goo is gone. Disappeared. What the fuck? She groans and zips her bag up. “The goo is gone.” She states as she feels a shiver up her spine. Weird.

“What goo?”

“Denton’s project. It was this black goo. It’s gone where I dropped the vial.”

“Don’t worry about it. Get out of there before you’re caught.”

Jack nods and dashes out of the lab and towards the office window. Her spine tingled as she leaped out the window, but she didn’t think it was worth mentioning to Davey. She did this alone for a month and a half just fine. On second thought, maybe she should tell him.

“Hey, just so you know, I don’t of you as a charity case. I only mentioned the World ‘cause I work there and I thought it might be nice to have a decent coworker.”

“Sorry for snapping.”

“No, you had every right to be upset. I was just telling you.” She swung away from Evo and towards Manhattan. “Do you want to keep talking or do you want to go to sleep?”

“Sleep. Sorry, I’m exhausted from earlier.”

“No, I getcha’. I’m always worn out from this shit.”

“Goodnight, Jackie.”

“Night, Dave.”

He hung up and Jack gulped loudly. Jackie? She didn’t hate it. Her stomach did flips as she swung home. She felt so light.

She felt giddy as she dropped her bed. Maybe tomorrow wouldn’t be so bad.

In the morning, she felt tired. Somehow more than she was when she went to bed. How did that happen? Her alarm was blaring in her ears and she suddenly felt the need - no, the urge - to smash it. And smash it, she did. The cheap plastic shattered under her fist and the beeping ceased.

“Fucking clock.” She muttered, rolling out of bed.

Her body ached and her spine still tingled. The sensation was weird but she continued to ignore it. Everything was weird for her at this point. She had things to do today. She needed more fabric for her suit so she could line it and she needed to dispose of the vials. No point in keeping vials of her blood.

She should text Davey and ask what to do with them. She grabbed her phone and opened the first chat she saw.

dumbass queers

cowboy(girl): who does one dispose of vials of blood?

ginger.twink: ew, why the fuck do you have vials of blood

Shit, she clicked the wrong chat and now several people had seen her message. Eh, she would have to play it off. Easy.

dumbass queers

cowboy(girl): not an answer

bird.boy: is this a kink thing? i don’t want to know what you and davey get up to on your own time.

foureyes: can we go back to the vials of blood. why?

reporterbarbie: the reporter in me wants to know why, how, and yet again, why?

mouth: what the fuck, jack? and what the fuck, finch? who is into blood play? and wouldn’t we just each other?

blonde.twink: see how he didn’t deny him and jack are kinky. proof right there

cowboy(girl): fuck off, can someone tell me?

mouth: put them in one of those boxes people put used needles in

cowboy(girl): where would one find one of those?

mouth: doctors office

bird.boy: jack, are you kinky

cowboy(girl): absolutely. now, can someone tell me where the nearest doctor is and if they are open

ginger.twink: google it, dumbass

spottie: just woke up, what the fuck?

ginger.twink: you wake up at 12:30 in the afternoon?

spottie: fuck off, back to the blood.

spottie: what

spottie: the

spottie: FUCK?

blonde.twink: i think you broke him. he never types all caps

cowboy(girl): jesus, is it any of yours business?

jojo.siwa: you asked us, pal

bird.boy: pal?

jojo.siwa: fuck off

blonde.twink: did everyone skip over where jack said she’s kinky.

spottie: that’s your sister

blonde.twink: youre right. EW!!!!!! gross!

blonde.twink: does anyone have bleach for my eyes????

spottie: you’re so dramatic.

blonde.twink: you love it

spottie: god help me, i do

cowboy(girl): ok, i have disposed of the blood

bird.boy: already? you were just at your house, weren’t you?

crip.boy: did you even leave the apartment?

blonde.twink: i heard the faint sound of running and then nothing, so maybe?

bird.boy: back from bleaching your eyes?

blonde.twink: fuck off

cowboy(girl): i left my apartment. i was just fast

ginger.twink: interesting

mouth: did you get rid of it properly?

cowboy(girl): yes?

mouth: is that a question?

cowboy(girl): no?

mouth: jesus

cowboy(girl): nope, just jack.

Jack shut her phone and ignored the buzzing coming from it. Hopefully, no one would think anything of the blood and forget about it. They would change the subject and then talk about something else. Jack got dressed and then her phone buzzed again. Sighing, she picked it up.

spider squad

racie: its official. jack’s a fucking idiot

guyinthechair: yep

spidey: okay, i clicked the wrong one. sorry

racie: i think you covered it up. now, everyone thinks you and davey are kinky

guyinthechair: me?

racie: yep

spidey: well, i admitted to being kinky so that’s that

racie: were you being serious?

spidey: i feel like i shouldn’t answer that

racie: fucking hell

After the whole blood thing, Jack went out to get some more fabric. She had a decent amount of cash to spend from painting commissions, her photos, and painting backdrops for her mom.

She needed two things, more red and blue spandex and some fleece to line the suit. It wasn’t hard to find what she needed and she got out of there as quickly as possible. She did grab something she didn’t quite need though: black fabric. It caught her eye and she picked it up and got a few yards of it. It was compulsory and she felt drawn to it.

When she approached her front door, she could hear talking from inside the apartment. When she left, both Charlie and her mom were out, so this had to be Race. But there was another voice.

She stormed into the apartment. Rage filled her but she wasn’t sure why. It felt great, though. The feeling coursed through her body and the tingling on her spine intensified.

There on the couch was Race and Spot. Making out. Limbs were everywhere and Jack nearly vomited.

“What the fuck is this?” Her voice was laced with a venom she didn’t know she had.

Spot nearly leaped off the couch and Race shoved him off. Race began to fix his clothes and combed through his hair. “Shi- I didn’t think you’d be home so soon.”

Her protective older sibling side kicked in and she narrowed her eyes at the shorter boy. “So, that gives you the right to defile my brother on our couch?”

Spot nearly gulped - nearly, he wasn’t nervous at all - and stood up tall. He still stood at least four inches shorter than Jack and she smirked at the sight.

“What if I was defiling him? Would that pull the stick from your ass?” Race asked as he fell off the couch.

Jack ignored him and stepped closer to Spot. “Getting afraid, Conlon? Scared of a girl?” She mocked, sticking out her lower lip.

Spot tensed up and glared at her. She threw her back and cackled.

“Christ, you are so serious. Lighten up for once. Fuckin’ hell.” She sighed and pushed past him.

“Are you drunk or somethin’?” Race bounced up onto his feet.

“I’m perfectly fine, Racer.” She muttered. “Don’t be fucking on the couch. If Mama sees you, I’ll kill the both of you.” She glared at them before turning to the hallway.

Race looked down at the floor while Spot stepped closer to her, his jaw set. “Okay, I get the protective sibling thing, but you don’t have to be a dick about it.”

A dick? He did not just call her a dick.

She spun on her heels, Spot standing right in front of her. “The fuck did you just call me?”

“I think you heard me.” His eyes were dark and he smirked at her.

She stepped closer to him, poking him in the chest. “Say that shit to my face, Spottie.” Her tone was sickly fake sweet as she spoke the name. She knew she hit a nerve and she was excited to see where this would lead. All she could see was red, whether it was Spot’s absurd striped shirts or a physical embodiment of her anger, she didn’t know.

“I said, don’t be a fucking dick.”

Jack smirked and stepped closer to Spot. She was testing her limits and she knew it. 

Spot glared and grabbed a fistful of her shirt, pinning her to the wall. "Don't fucking test me."

"Or you'll what? Hit me?" She grins and all she can think about is the amusement she is feeling. "Give me your best shot." She grits her teeth together and holds eye contact with Spot.

Spot's arm rested on her neck and he just slightly pressed down. She can see Race's darting eyes in the back, his face covered in an indiscernible emotion. 

Fucking pussy.

"Oh, come on!"

Spot's expression drops and she takes the split second his focus drops to flip them. She pins one of his wrists to the wall, her other hand on his chest. 

“You got a fucking death wish?” Her accent was thick with her words, rage seeping from her voice. “You don’t fuckin’ scare me. Don’t forget, I could fucking crush you without breaking a sweat. Don’t test me.”

Just before Jack took any action on her threat, she was pulled back by Race, who stepped between the two. “Fucking hell. What the fuck is wrong with you?” He glared at her, his voice shaky as he pushed Spot away. 

Blinking, she stepped back, her rage going out. The tingling faded back into her spine and her vision cleared.

What had come over her?

“Sorry. Don’t know what came over me. Sorry, again.” She stumbled back and rushed down the hall. She was tense. She needed to let loose. She needed to go out. Dumping out her shopping bag on her bed, she went through her purchase. She dug out her suit and took its appearance. It was in better condition than it was a few days ago. It still had some tears and was far too thin to wear in the fall weather. She didn’t want her cough to come back.

Jack could hear talking coming from the living room. Spot was clearly upset and Race was trying to calm him down.

Fucking prick.

Where the fuck did that come from? It was like her anger had a mind of its own. She pushed away the thoughts and focused on her suit. She would start with the holes and then line the suit.

Use the black fabric.

No, it didn’t work with her suit. She wore blue and red to be a light for the city in the darkness. She was an inspiration, she wasn’t some edgy vigilante who stalked the city in the middle of the night.

Yes, it called to her. She eyed it, eyes darting back to her suit in her hands. Maybe it could work somewhere that was badly torn.

She set up her needles, measured out her fabric, and traced what she was using. Her phone buzzed beside her and she glanced at the screen. Davey.

davey

davey: hey, race just texted me and said you were acting strange. what’s wrong?

jackie: who says anything is wrong

davey: jack, you’ve been off all day. is this about last night?

jackie: maybe im just embracing my true self, ever think of that

davey: jackie, you’re being weird. talk to me

jackie: like how you talk to me?

davey: whatever, talk to me when you are acting like a grown-ass adult

davey is offline

She slammed her phone and groaned. All she said was the truth. Maybe Davey shouldn’t be so fucking sensitive.

Whoa, that’s not very nice.

Jack focused back on the suit in her hands. She had an idea.

Chapter Text

Jack fixed up her suit, lined the inside, and added some extra black to her gloves. It was sleek. It looked good.

Just after she finished it, her mother called her in for dinner. Hopefully, she would be able to make a quick escape from the meal and head out. Her body craved to be out there, swinging. Fighting.

When she entered the dining/kitchen room, she immediately noticed Race’s death glare directed in her direction. It seemed like he hadn’t gotten over her little ‘fit’ from earlier. He texted Davey about it like some fucking narc. Fucking pathetic.

She rolled her eyes at him and plated some food for herself. She sat in the seat across from Race, the only open seat left at the table.

“So, you went shopping today, Jack. How was that?”

“Fine. Got what I needed and got home as soon as possible.”

“Yeah, the chaos of the city can impede a good shopping trip. Anthony, how was your day?”

Jack looked up from her plate to watch Race’s eyes stop glaring at her and look at their mother. “Fine, mama. Spot came over and hung over for a while.”

Jack snorted into her food. “Yeah, ‘hanging out’.”

Race slammed down his hands on the table and stood up, “You know what? Fuck you! I tried to tell Spot you were having an off day, but you don’t get to say that shit to my face, asshole.” He was breathing heavily and glared at her.

“Anthony, sit down. Let’s talk this out peacefully, we don’t need all this language.”

“Sorry, mama.” Race sat back down in his seat, his eyes still fixed on Jack. “You didn’t need to be so harsh with Spot. We weren’t doing anything too crazy. And don’t act like I haven’t walked in on you and other people.”

Jack squinted at him but stayed quiet. Rage bubbled in her but she pushed down the feeling.

“Jack?” Her mother turned to her.

“Hmm?” She mumbled, taking a bite of her food. “Oh, with Race? It was nothin’. And I remember apologizing to you and Spot afterward.” She shot Race a glare and looked back down at her plate. She wasn’t hungry, at least not for food. She was hungry for a fight. For some violence.

“Whatever. I don’t even care anymore.” Race dropped his gaze on her and looked away. He poked at his remaining food. “I’m going to bed early. I’m tired.”

Before their mom could say anything, Race was down the hall and in his room. He shut the door hard and the sound echoed down the hall. Charlie coughed quietly and excused himself to the bathroom.

“Jack.” Her mom looked at her with a frown.

She sighed, “I’ll talk to him later. Okay?”

“Are you feeling alright? It isn’t like you to get so frustrated with Race like that. Want to talk about it?”

“Not really.”

“Jack, come on-”

“I am so tired of everyone asking what’s wrong with me?” Jack slams her hands down on the table, glasses, and silverware clattering. “Maybe I am perfectly fine the way I am. I already go see a fucking therapist, what more could you want from me? No one’s up Race’s or Charlie’s ass about how they act. But everyone is constantly up mine! I’m fucking tired of it!” She spins on her feet and storms down the hall.

“Jac-”

Jack slams the door to her, the sound reverberating through the walls. She’s panting and anger courses through her. One side of her is pissed and the other wants to cry and apologize to everyone. She hadn’t meant to yell, so why had she?

Fucking weak.

Where had that come from? What was happening?

“I’m losing my fucking mind. Holy shit.” She let out a deep breath. “Fucking hell.”

Her mind still craved to go out. She wanted it. She needed it.

“Too early in the evening. Later.” She muttered to herself. She was crazy, absolutely crazy. Sane people don’t talk to themselves and think their mind has a mind of its own. Because those are crazy things to do.

Out.

“No,” she sighed and plopped on her bed. “Later.”

Tomorrow was going to suck. She had effectively pissed off Race, Davey, and her mom. At least Charlie didn’t hate her, yet.

She waited by her window for an hour or two, until the noise of the apartment died down. She pulled out her fresh suit, sleek and black. Now, she would be warm and look good while saving lives.

The suit fit snugly over her body and she stretched before climbing out the window. Sliding the glass down, she leaped off the fire escape. She jumped onto a nearby roof and cased out the city. She needed something good, something exciting.

Maybe it was all this anger she had today, but she felt extra strong today like she could take on anything and bounce back.

She didn’t feel like swinging today, and while normally she would still opt for swinging because it was better for her knees than jumping, today she chose to jump. Her knees would have to be fine.

Hopping across the rooftops of New York City, she listened in for anything.

Once she heard something, she jumped down and sprinted towards the sound.

A simple mugging. She could handle it.

She swept in, kicked the guy’s legs out from underneath, and pinned him to the ground. The victim of the mugging screamed and ran off. Jack, however, continued to hold the mugger’s wrists to the concrete. Normally, she would just web them up and call the authorities. This time, she was going to have some fun with it.

“Fuckin’ crazy bitch. Fuck off!” Spit flung from his mouth onto her mask.

Gross.

Jack’s eyes narrowed and she stood, pulling the mugger up by his shirt. She slammed him into the alley wall. Her forearm pressed down onto his throat. “Crazy bitch, huh? Seems like the crazy bitch is the one in control right now.”

“Get the fuck offa’ me.”

“Poetry!” She sneered. Her vision blurred and the red this time was not coming from Spot’s poor outfit choices.

The next few minutes were a blur. She could remember punching him and throwing him at the end of the alley. After that, she didn’t know anything else.

She perched on another rooftop and looked out at the city. Her gloves were covered in the dark red color of dried blood. Her knuckles burned slightly and would probably bruise. It didn’t matter, though. She got her entertainment. She left the busted-up mugger in the alley and forgo calling the cops. They could find him in the morning, or not. She didn’t really care. All she did was care and she was tired of it.

After beating the shit out of some more petty criminals, she returned home. After all, tomorrow was another day.

Sunday went by fast, having spent most of the day in her room to avoid any drama. Race was still pissed at her and her mom was disappointed in her. It was all fucking bullshit and she was tired of it. She was tired of all of it. She’s a goddamn superhero, for God’s sake. She should be commanding the respect out of everyone she knows, but she chooses to be modest and not demand it.

Monday morning came and she got ready for school like always. Got dressed, packed her bag, fixed her face and hair, and left her room to get breakfast. Breakfast was where it all went to shit. The second she entered the kitchen, three sets of eyes stared at her. Her mother’s, Race’s, and Crutchie’s. She wasn’t quite sure what sure she did to deserve the last set. She did nothing to him.

Walking to school was a pain. Race and Charlie had walked ahead of her and practically avoided her like the plague. She didn’t care much, though, and lingered back and left her eyes travel.

Most of the school day went pretty well. She had a few hiccups from having to be by Race, who was still quite pissed with her.

And then on her way to lunch, it went to shit again.

“Hey, Kelly! Heard you pissed off Conlon. He get tired of your fag brother?”

Jack turned and saw, surprising to absolutely no one, the fucking Delancey brothers.

This could be fun. Play a little.

She squinted at them, taking in the fact Morris was slouched and that Oscar decided to wear a hoodie today. She could use that. “Nah, just got on my nerves. Just like how you two get on mine, every fuckin’ day.”

Morris nudged his brother. “Ooh! She’s feeling feisty today. Let’s change that.”

Oscar stepped to her first and reached for her arm. Jack jerked back and kept her eyes on Morris in front of her. As she focused on Morris, Oscar took his chance to punch her. The hair on her neck was up and her neck tingled. If only it could warned her before she got punched. Jack stumbled back, feigning pain. The punch hurt, sure, but nothing too bad.

Jack practically growled, red returning to her vision for the third time this week. She dropped her left knee to the floor and took in the scene before her. She was the predator and they were about to be her prey.

That’ll teach them.

She lunged toward Oscar first, attacking him to the ground. She had been fast and he didn’t see the attack coming. The urge to web him down crossed her mind but was quickly pushed away. Morris was next.

She glared at the remaining boy and dodged his lunge towards her. Jack hopped onto her feet and threw her fist into Morris’ face. He stumbled back, holding his face.

That wasn’t enough for Jack.

Jack punched him again. And again. She pinned him to the ground and everything around her disappeared. She wasn’t even conscious until someone pulled her off of Morris. Her hands were covered in blood and she looked at Morris.

God, he looked terrible.

She did that?

Jack blinked several times and then pulled out of the mystery person’s grasp. Words were being but her ears were muffled.

Holy fucking shit.

She exhaled and sound returned to her.

“-Ms. Kelly, come with me.” A teacher spoke to her. Was he the one who grabbed her?

She nodded and followed. Her knuckles were sore and would certainly be developing some additional bruises, adding to the ones she got the other night.

The office was cold. Or maybe it was just due to her decision to wear a t-shirt today. Who knows? She shivered as she entered and continued following.

“Sit down. They’ll call you in shortly.”

She wordlessly nodded and sat down on the wildly uncomfortable chairs. She gripped the metal armrest of the chair, feeling it slightly bend under her grasp. If she squeezed it any harder, it crushed in her hands.

It wasn’t like it was her first visit to the principal’s office. She was a troubled kid, that’s what every foster parent she ever had called her. That’s what the foster system defined her as. Troubled. What bullshit.

How many times had she been here for defending herself? Or her siblings? Or her friends? How many days of school had she missed due to a suspension? All the while the Delanceys got away scot-free. Every time. Every-fucking-time.

After a few, shivering minutes, she was called into the office. She reached out for her bag but then remembered it was still in the hallway where she pounded Morris Delancey’s face into a pulp.

She walked into the office and pulled the door closed behind her, per the principal’s request. She sat down in one of the chairs across from the large desk and fidgeted with her fingers.

“I thought you were doing better. You haven’t been in a fight in a while now, Jack.” The principal, an older woman named Mrs. Brown.

“I know.”

“Your mother said therapy was helping. What changed?”

“They said something to me.”

“They always do. What was it?”

“They were talking bad about my brother and his boyfriend. And they deserved it. Maybe a good ass-kicking will open their eyes for once.”

“Jack. You know I’ll have to suspend you.”

Another suspension. Shocker. Mrs. Brown wasn’t terrible. She cared for the students in the school and she had known Jack since Jack’s first fight in high school. It was the assistant principal, Weasel, who always made things harder for Jack.

“I already called your mother and informed her about the situation. She’ll be here soon. You can wait out there for her to get here.”

Jack nodded again and stepped out of the office into the cold lobby of the front office. Medda was coming. She was definitely in for it.

Jack’s phone buzzed as she sat down in the cold chairs. No point in caring about the phone policy if she’s suspended.

dumbass queers

ginger.twink: @cowboy(girl) where are you? lunch started like ten minutes

blonde.twink: maybe she’s getting the stick out of her ass

bird.boy: ooh, drama! what happened?

blonde.twink: nothing

juliet: yeah, like we believe that

cowboy(girl): got suspended, won’t be there for lunch

ginger.twink: suspended? what happened?

cowboy(girl): doesnt really fucking matter anymore

bird.boy: someones angry

cowboy(girl): not in the mood

blonde.twink: more like you’ve been a fucking bitch for the last few days

bird.boy: whoa

ginger.twink: guys, let’s just calm down

reporter.barbie: a suspension? what happened?

cowboy(girl): jesus, does it fucking matter

reporter.barbie: is everything okay, jack?

cowboy(girl): why does everyone keep asking that? I’m fine.

bird.boy: gulp, she used a period

cowboy(girl): fuck off

ginger.twink: we’re your friends, jack. let us care

crip.boy: jack, what’s up? you can talk to us

cowboy(girl): im fine. perfectly fine.

mouth: let someone care about you, jack

And with that, Jack shut off her phone. She was tired of everything and everyone. She needed everyone to get off her ass.

Once her mom got there, everything went to shit for the third time today. She got a four-day suspension for the fight and would be required to take an anger management course. Apparently, there was a school rule about how many fights a student could get in before action was taken. The action taken for her was anger management and she would have to do fifteen sessions with the school counselor.

The sessions would start next week and Jack would be required to meet with the school counselor twice a week for them.

Medda ended up signing out Charlie and Race for the day because it late pretty late in the school day. The ride back home was quiet,t to say the least. Jack refused to speak and her brothers chose to sit in the awkward silence of the car. Her mom was angry with her and made that quite clear, but refused to say anything with Race and Charlie there. It spared her from a lecture for the few minutes it took to drive home.

After they walked through the door, their mom sent Race and Charlie to their room. Which left Jack alone, with her mom.

Kill me now, please.

“Jack, let’s sit.” Despite the sweet voice she used, Jack knew she was fucked. Her hands were still covered in blood and all she wanted was to scream into a pillow.

Jack sat at the dining table and chewed on her lower lip. This was going to be bad.

“Care to explain what happened today?”

Jack gulped, loudly. “Uh.” Now let it be known, every other time Jack got in a fight she wasn’t normally in much trouble at home. Most times she was defending herself or her siblings. But this time, she took it too far. She really hurt someone, even if that someone was Morris Delancey. “The Delanceys came up to me and said some things about Race and Spot and I just sort of lost it. I can’t remember much of what actually went down. I didn’t mean to hurt him that bad.”

“You’re lucky they didn’t expel you. Thankfully, they know you have some mental stuff going on, but Jack, honey, what’s happening? You’ve been off for a while now. You don’t have to tell me, but you should tell someone. I can call your therapist if that’s what you want.”

“No!” She blurted. She took in a deep breath before speaking again. “Please don’t. I’m sorry. I’m trying, I promise.” Her voice cracked and her eyes stung.

“I know, honey. While you're suspended, I want you helping out at the theater. Maybe it’ll help if you're there working and painting. Sound good?”

She nodded and let out a shaky breath.

Stop being so weak.

She fighting a battle with herself and she was losing. Hurting people wasn’t her thing. Yelling at her family wasn’t something she did either. There was something wrong and she needed to figure it out.

Maybe Davey could help her? But she was mean to him too, maybe he wouldn’t want to help.

She needed to figure this out.

“Is it okay if I go lie down?”

“Go ahead.”

Jack stood and walked slowly to her room. She could hear Race and Charlie whispering in their room, probably about her. She was a mess, no wonder they were talking about her.

Jack closed her door gently and found the bag from the other night. She dug through it for the vials of the symbiote, but all she found was broken glass. It was gone. Every vial was gone. She couldn’t even find out if the symbiote had been causing all this turmoil. It was gone. Not even remnants of the symbiote remained.

Once school ended, she would text Davey. He could at least give her some advice. She needed someone to talk to, that’s what her mom said. Talk it out with someone. Hopefully, she could keep her cool when she spoke to him.

Jack was bored and she needed something to do. She had some photos on her flash drive she kept forgetting to bring to work. That’ll do.

She grabbed the drive and left her room, door swinging closed behind her. She walked down the hall and glared at everyone in the room ahead of her.

There they were: Race, Charlie, and Medda, all talking about her no doubt.

She exhaled sharply and walked into the room. They looked up at her as she entered.

“I’m heading to the World. Got some photos to drop off.”

Medda looked at her, frowning. “Okay, don’t be gone long.”

Race rolled his eyes and scoffed as she pulled the door open. Jack shot one more withering glare at Race and then left the apartment.

She walked angry her entire way to the World. She would be in and out and then she could go back to wallowing in her room.

The World lobby was bright and yellow, like always. And there sat Hannah at her desk, also like always. Jack forced a welcoming smile on her face before approaching the desk.

“Hey, Hannah. Got some pictures for Pulitzer. Haven’t printed them out, though.” Her voice was sickly sweet and it made her want to vomit.

Hannah, not noticing Jack’s inner turmoil, smiled back at Jack. “I can upload the photos and print out some copies. Won’t be great, but it’ll work for showing him.”

Jack nodded and dropped the flash drive on the desk. “That would be great.”

“Okay, I’ll call up and tell him you’ll be up there in a bit then I’ll print these. You can sit down while you wait.” Hannah picked up the phone beside her and dialed.

Jack nodded again and walked to one of the plush chairs in the lobby. Now, this is a chair. Her hands could rest on something non-freezing and flimsy. It was nice.

After a few minutes, Hannah returned with the photos in her hand. “Here you go, Jack. He’s waiting for you up there. Good luck. If he takes them, I got copies of them.” She pushed the flash drive to Jack and handed her the papers.

Jack grabbed the papers and pocketed the drive. “Thanks, Hannah.”

The trip up to Pulitzer’s office wasn’t very long and then Jack stood in front of the glass-windowed office. Fucking self-centered asshole.

She pushed into the office and stood front and center. “Got some new ones for you.”

Pulitzer glanced up at her, “Hmm? Well, I’ll be the one to decide that. Hand them here.”

She handed the pile of pictures to him. Pulitzer dropped the copies on the desk and shuffled through them, his brows furrowing as he skimmed through. Once he was done, he looked back up at her.

“I can’t take any of these.”

What?

“What?”

“They’re repetitive. I need something different. I need headline-worthy photos. Get me something juicier I can make front page.”

“These are good photos.” Jack stormed to the desk and held up a photo. “This is a photo from when that doctor was found in the subway in Brooklyn. You could easily make a story from that!”

Pulitzer leaned back in his chair.

Jack’s nose twitched and anger filled her veins. “If you won’t take them, I’m sure the Journal or the Times would be glad to have them.” She began to pick up the photos from the desk.

Pulitzer shot forward and grabbed her hand. “There’s no need to be so hasty. I’ll take…” He shuffled through them again and plucked three pictures from the pile. “These ones. I’m sure I can muster up a story for them. Hannah will have your money downstairs. You are dismissed, Ms. Kelly.”

Jack smirked and nodded. That would do. “Have a good day, Mr. Pulitzer.” She spun and walked out of the office.

She picked up her check and left quickly. The walk home was cold and she had gone to her room the second she got home, ignoring her family’s glances.

After maybe an hour of waiting and pacing her room, Jack decided to pull on her suit and slip out her window. She was bored and needed an outlet. She just needed to keep her head on straight. Stay calm.

She was mostly just patrolling, listening to her police scanner on her belt for anything. At least patrolling could give her something to do, instead of listening to her entire family talk about what’s wrong with her.

Patrolling gave her a reason to escape her apartment. She needed air and ten minutes without hearing someone speak about her like she’s not right fucking there. It was getting exhausting and the lines between her two lives were beginning to blur. She was struggling to separate the two and with Race and Davey knowing, it was only getting harder.

And whatever was happening to her was getting worse. She was starting to blackout during things and only waking back up when she finished whatever terrible act she had just done.

She was a crazy person. Blacking out? Not being in control of her own mind and body? Those were the definitions of being crazy. She was crazy, no doubt about it. And due to her insanity, she was beginning to hurt those around her, whether it be physical or verbal.

Her police was relatively quiet, only going off for parking violations or jaywalking. Nothing major yet. The city was quiet and she hated it. For being the city that never sleeps, it sure seemed like it was sleeping right now.

Just a little longer and she could talk to Davey. Just a little longer. She could stay calm till then. She has to.

After a few minutes of swinging around the city, her police scanner went off.

10-65 and 10-79.

Armed robbery and hostage situation.

That wasn’t boring. She kept listening to the radio and once she heard the address and changed her route. The robbery was in a bank not too far from her. A few minutes max.

She skidded her feet along the side of a building and catapulted herself further. She shot out a web, flipped upside down and shot another. The tricks were mostly for her own enjoyment, but people down below seemed to get a kick out of it too.

When she reached the bank, she saw officers crowd the outside of the bank. She swung around the building and looked for a back entrance. And she found one. This side of the building wasn’t crowded so she had to take her chance to help before the cops surrounded this side as well.

She dropped to the ground and cased out the side of the building. No one was over here. No cops. No robbers. No one.

She crept over to the back door and kicked it open. If she was right, no one was by this door. If she was wrong, then she would probably be shot and someone else might be shot as well. She hoped she was right as she kicked.

The door fell down with a thud and she winced at the sound. She slid into the building and looked around the area. She was in a dark hallway and no one was there.

Thank God.

She slipped down the hall and listened for anything. She could hear faint talking, nothing clear enough for her to decipher it. These walls were thick.

She kept walking, on guard for anything to come at her. With this being a hostage situation, she also has to think about keeping everyone in the building safe. It wasn’t just her life on the line right now.

Down the hall, she could hear voices getting louder and louder. They were heading to the vault. She could intercept them and take them down.

She crouched down and watched as shadows darkened the floor. She was hidden by a wall, but once they stepped into the hall, she would be seen. She would have to be fast and silent.

Footsteps grew louder and two sets of shoes entered her vision. She had seconds before they saw her so she jumped out. She grabbed two legs, which she hoped belonged to two separate people.

Thankfully, they did and she had brought both men to the ground. She covered their mouths to avoid screaming and pulled both of them up. Her hands gripped their shirts and she took a second to remember their faces. In case they get away, of course.

She slammed one of them to the wall and shot a web at the other. She had minutes before someone found her, maybe less. She pressed her arm into the man’s neck and kneed his upper thigh. The man groaned and Jack pulled him back for a second before slamming him right into the wall again. She found herself getting bored and decided to draw the man to the wall. Now onto number two.

She turned and looked at the man she left beside the wall. His mouth had been webbed up and he was trying to make a run for it. Jack glanced at the gun in his hand and webbed it away. She pulled it into her hand, pointing it at the man. She motioned for him to stand against the wall.

Her eyes narrowed and she listened for any other noise. After hearing nothing alarming, she webbed the man in front of her to the wall.

Smirking at them, she hooked the gun to her belt.

Just in case.

She waved at them and walked down where they had come from. That had to be the way to the main area and where everyone would be.

She padded down the hall, her feet barely touching the floor each time she stepped down. Breathing was shaky and she focused on her surroundings. Can’t be distracted. Life or death.

She began to hear more people. She was getting close. She passed by offices and cubicles and neared the lobby.

She stopped right before entering the lobby. She needed a plan. She closed her eyes and focused on the sounds of the lobby, specifically the heartbeats inside the lobby. She wouldn’t be able to identify how many were civilians or the robbers, but it would give her an idea.

Thirteen heartbeats. Thirteen people. Her guess was two, maybe three more robbers, and the rest were civilians.

So that meant she had eleven/ten lives to worry about in there. Eleven people to watch out for and make sure they get out in one piece.

Her mind had to be clear and focused. She couldn’t risk it. Not with these stakes.

One step forward. Two steps. Three.

Clear mind.

Four. And she was in the lobby.

No one noticed her yet so she had the advantage. Her feet stilled and she hopped onto the roof, opting to see the room from above. Plus, it would give her the advantage in the fight.

Three robbers. Ten civies. One spandex-clad teenager.

Not great odds, but she could do it.

She crawled on the roof and watched the people below her. They had guns and big ones at that. That would hurt to be shot by.

She clung close to the roof, pressing her chest to the shitty textured ceiling. As she crawled, one of the hostages looked up. She motioned for silence and they nodded.

She could do this. She had to do this.

Cops were still gathered outside, keeping a large distance away. Jack had already one-upped them. Call her a menace now, fucking try it.

Jack observed the room for a minute longer, crawling over the head of one of the robbers with a gun. She waited for the perfect moment when no one was watching him and dropped onto him. She gripped his shoulders and flung him to the counter. Leaping off, Jack kicked him over the counter.

Click.

Jack froze.

Fuck.

She took in a sharp inhale of air. This was bad. Was she going to die? Right here? In a fucking bank?

Be a fucking hero.

Jack dropped to the floor and spun on her hands. Her feet swung out towards the person who previously was behind her. They fell to the ground and she pounced. The robber behind the counter was probably unconscious, but she couldn’t guarantee that.

She webbed the man beneath her to the ground and leaped back up.

One down, two to go.

She scanned the room and saw the last robber across the room, a gun pointed at one of the hostages.

Fuck.

She had seconds to make a decision. Seconds till a life was lost.

Her breathing grew erratic.

No, no, no. Not right now.

This could not be happening. She needed to stay focused. She needed to calm down.

She narrowed her eyes and tried to think. Her mind was foggy and it was hard to focus on what she needed to do, but there was a life at stake. Ten lives at stake. She couldn’t lose this time. Not like this.

Despite her mind fog, she stared at the gun with the most amount of concentration her sleep-deprived mind could muster up. She slowly raised her hand and extended her wrist. One perfect shot and she could disarm him. One perfect shot. Easy.

She took in a deep breath and steadied herself. One shot. She flexed her fingers and focused. She lined up her wrist with the gun and took another breath and she shot the web. The web flew through the air, hitting the gun, propelling it to the wall, and sticking it there.

She did it. She fucking did it.

She could celebrate later, but now she had to focus. Two robbers left. One behind the counter and one twenty feet in front of her. She could do this.

She felt her feet move under her and she running towards the robber in front of her. Her arm swung up in front of her face and she crashed into the robber, throwing them both into the wall behind him. Her arm pressed against his neck and she could feel him gulp beneath her grip.

Good, he was scared. It would make this easier. She pressed harder and used her remaining arm to web his legs to the wall. Then, she raised her hand and swung a closed hand to his face, knocking him out.

One to go. She could do this.

She bolted to the counter and leaped over it. And there he was, her remaining robber, on the floor. He seemed to be unconscious, but she webbed him to the floor for security. She then hopped back over the counter, a wide smile on her face - though no one could see it.

She fucking did it, she was allowed to be cocky and happy about it. Fuck whoever said she couldn’t.

She walked to the front door, swung it open, and walked up. She raised her hands and motioned to the freed hostages.

As held the door open for the hostages to exit the building, she overheard a nearby cop.

“Dumb kid. Could’ve killed them all with her stupid fucking antics. She needs to learn to let the real heroes take over.”

Jack let the door slip from her hand and walked over. With clenched fists by her side, she stepped in front of the aforementioned officer.

“Good afternoon, isn’t it? And thanks to me.”

The officer gritted his teeth and forced a smile. “Of course, where would we be without a reckless kid parading around as a hero?”

Flashes of red entered her vision and she barely felt herself slam the officer into his police car. Her gloved hand gripped his uniform and the tingling in her spine returned with a vengeance. Her whole body tingled and she looked down, feeling as if she was spectating her life, not living it. Black inked its way up her suit from her boots, up to her mask. Her red-filled vision blurred from the black before clearing up. She could see the officer’s fear as she pressed him against the car.

The events following this were a blur to Jack. Flashes of being pulled back by several officers and then proceeding to throw them off of her, all while a photographer snapped pictures. Jack had growled and probably committed a few federal crimes before swinging away.

Once she was gone, she could breathe. What the fuck was happening? She wasn’t even sure where she was going. She was losing control and she needed to fight back.

Jack let out a shaky breath. She felt herself regain control of her body and she steered herself to somewhere familiar to figure this out. The past few hours she had spent feeling like a visitor, a viewer, in her own body, watching everything play out. The scene at the bank still echoed in her mind. Why had she done that? Why did she let it happen?

Jack dropped onto the top of the parking garage. Her body ached and she needed to call Davey. This was getting out of hand. She pulled her phone from her side pocket and turned it back on. Several messages from the group chat and missed calls from her family lit up the screen but she swiped them away. She could worry about that later. She dialed Davey’s number from memory, held the phone to her ear, and waited for him to pick up.

“Please, please, please pick up.” She muttered into the phone.

The ringing stopped and she heard a noise before, “Jack? What’s wrong?” His immediate worrying almost made her smile. Almost.

“I need your help, Davey. I think Denton’s symbiote is affecting me or something. I’m not myself and I need your help. Please.”

“I’ll help. Where are you?”

“The parking garage. Please hurry. And bring whatever you think will get this thing off of me.”

“Off of you?” He pauses. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. Stay there. Everything is going to be okay, Jackie.”

There it was again. That name. Jackie. It made her feel all tingly inside. Davey made her feel all tingly inside.

Jack nearly dropped her phone and managed to stuff it in her side pocket with shaky hands. She would have to travel into the garage. She was losing control, she could feel it. Shaky hands. Achy body. And she was going to lose.

No time to think like that. Davey was coming. The sun had set and she walking down into an abandoned parking garage. What had her life come to?

She focused on walking and ignored the jerking of her arm. It was getting stronger and she was so tired. She glanced down at her suit, still seeing the black goo instead of fabric. She was trapped and she doesn’t know how much longer she can hold on.

Walking was getting harder but she pushed forward. Her legs weren’t responding to her as well, but she was in control. This is her body and she is fucking control of it!

She walked like a newborn animal to one of the lower levels of the garage. Davey would be here soon. He was going to help, she just needed to hold on until then.

She dropped to her knees as she reached the third level and reached the metal railing beside her. She grasped at the metal and gripped it in her hands, ignoring the way it squeaked when she crushed it in her hands.

Deep breaths. She could do this. A few minutes. She could do this. Just a little longer. She could do it.

Could she?

Or course she could, she was Jack fucking Kelly. She survived the foster system. She survived being shot and stabbed. She could fight off a little parasite made from her blood.

Minutes went by and her breathing grew louder and louder. She was panicking. What if he wasn’t coming? What if he got hurt on his way?

What ifs echoed through her mind and then she heard it. Footsteps. Loud incoming footsteps. Footsteps where the left foot just brushed the floor. Davey’s footsteps.

He came. He really came.

Jack could cry right now, he came. He believed her and came to help.

She gripped the metal and exhaled sharply. She was losing control and she could feel it. Her right shoulder hadn’t stopped jerking in the last ten minutes and red entered her eyes in quick flashes.

Davey better have an answer to this or she was screwed. She wasn’t sure if she could fight it away again. She was so tired. She would lose. She was going to lose, wasn’t she?

Davey, disheveled and windswept, ran towards her, his backpack hanging from his shoulder.

His voice was muffled, but she heard bits and pieces.

“-I’m going to help… metal bar… stay calm… deep breath… I’m here-”

Jack sighed and shut her eyes. She was so tired. Maybe she could just slee-

Ring!

Agonizing pain filled her senses and she dropped to the concrete floor. She could feel her throat growing hoarse as she screamed out in pain. She clawed at the ground.

She gasped, attempting to take Davey’s suggestion of deep breaths.

Ring!

She wailed and rolled onto her back, groaning and crying loudly. All of her senses were on overdrive and could feel every ounce of pain. What the hell was happening?

And then once more:

Ring!

Jack, this time, attempted to stifle her cries but failed entirely. She could feel hot tears running down through her mask, sticking the fabric to her skin. She reached up to her face, clawing at the spandex. She needed it off.

Davey reached out, something shiny and bright in his hand, to help Jack and she honest to God hissed at him.

After a few minutes, the pain subsided and her vision became clearer, no red flashes or anything. She sighed and her eyes widened. Her shoulder stopped jerking. She was in full control!

She groaned and ripped off her mask, throwing it to the side. The black was gone from her suit, the goo trailing down the floor. Jack, in her exhausted stupor, just pointed at the goo. Davey looked at the goo and whipped out a jar. Jack watched him for a few seconds before her stomach began to ache.

Jack groaned and got to her knees as she vomited onto the concrete. After a long, painful minute, she leaned back, all the contents of her stomach now on the ground.

“Fuckin’ hell.” She muttered, running a hand through her very sweaty hair. Her eyes travel to where Davey had run off to, a jar in his hand.

“Got it.” He grinned. His face faltered as he glanced behind her. “You feeling better?”

“I mean, I think I probably look better than how I feel. Everything hurts and I ache everywhere. And I just vomited everywhere, so I could be better.” Her voice was bitter but not towards him. Her face softened and she continued. “Thank you for coming and helping. By the way, how the hell did you do that?”

He smiled and pulled out the shiny thing from before. It looked like a fork? That couldn’t be right.

And as if he could read her mind, he spoke. “A tuning fork. I saw the photos of you with the goo or whatever on you and I thought a loud frequency would get rid of it. And I was right.”

“You caught it, right? Don’t need that thing running around the city.”

He nodded, holding up the jar that Jack now realized was full of black goo. “Yep. This symbiote won’t be getting anyone else.”

“Thank you, really. I don’t know what would’ve happened without you. I mean, hell, I did terrible things having that thing with me. It took away my control. And all I could do was watch.” She groaned, biting back sobs. “And now, I have ruined everything! I yelled at Race and Spot, and you, and my mom! Fuck! This is the worst!” She broke into a full sob, dropping her head in her hands.

She was pathetic. Pathetic and sad. She didn’t need a parasite to tell her that. She knew that well enough.

Strong arms wrapped around and she leaned into the touch.

“Jack, everything is going to be okay. We’ll work it out.”

“But what if we can’t? What if it’s too bad?”

“Then, we’ll work that out. I’m here, Jack. I got you.”

With those words, Jack cried again. She was tired and she wanted to go home, but being in his arms felt so nice.

Once her sobs died down, she spoke, “I should probably go home, huh? I haven’t been home in hours and the cops will be called eventually if I stay out any longer.”

Davey hummed in agreement and stood. Jack mourned the loss of his touch but stood as well. Jack pulled her phone out, seeing all the missed calls and texts. She would be in for it. This was going to be much worse.

“I’ll walk you home.” He said, grabbing his bag from the ground.

“Davey, I couldn’t ask that of you. I’ll be fine. I promise.” She fetched her mask and pulled it over her face, then pulled it off promptly. “Fuck, this. I’m getting out of this damn suit.” She reached on her back for the hidden zipper and yanked it down. Thankfully, she wore street clothes under the suit and pulled the suit off. “Could you…” She held out the suit.

Davey nodded and took the suit from her, stuffing it away in his bag. “You gonna be okay?”

“Yeah. I’ll climb up the fire escape. Then, I’ll have to face my mother.” She winced but started walking down the level.

Davey followed behind her. “Everything will work out. I promise.”

“I really hope it does. Goodnight, Davey.”

“Goodnight, Jackie. See you… did you get suspended today?”

‘Jackie.’

“Yep, four days. You’ll probably see me Monday.”

“Okay, Monday then. Goodnight, Jack.” And he was off, down the street to his apartment. And Jack was left to pick up herself before going home.

Jack’s walk home helped her clear her mind and as she climbed up the fire escape to her room, she worried for the next week. Everything was going to be hard.

She pulled her window up and climbed into her room. As she dropped to the floor, the lights in the room flicked on.

Shit.

Her mom stood at the door, arms crossed and a frown on her face.

She was fucked. Maybe the parasite was a better option. Maybe she could convince Davey to give it back.

“Mama.” Her voice was little and she sat on her bed.

“Jack.” Her mother’s voice was stern and she sat in Jack’s desk chair. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling and texting. No one heard from you and- and you disappeared!”

Jack flinched and remembered when she first moved here. Jack was troubled, being known as a kid who ran away and disobeyed rules. She wasn’t bad, it was just hard for her. In her first week, Jack had been terrified of the home being too perfect and Medda being too good to her, so she left. Ran out of the apartment while Medda was cooking. She was only gone for a few hours, but Medda had been terrified when Jack was finally found. Jack couldn’t understand why anyone cared about her, she was troubled. No one wanted a troubled kid. Until Medda.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Tears ran down her face. She felt like she was eleven again and being told she was being sent back into the group home. God, she hated those talks.

“I know you’ve been leaving at night, but I’ve trusted you. And now, you run off and don’t tell anyone. What am I supposed to think, Jack? You could’ve died out there and would have no idea!”

Medda was right. She could’ve died today and her mom would have found out in the worst way.

“I’m sorry, Mama. I’m so sorry. I’ve been so out of it these last few days and I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Medda’s arms wrapped around her and held her as she cried. “I know, baby. You can’t just run off like that, though. You scared me and your brothers.”

“I- I’m sorry.”

“We’ll talk in the morning, okay? Get some sleep and we’ll talk later. I love you, Jack. Don’t ever forget that. I would take a bullet for you. I love you, baby.” Medda kissed the top of her head and left the room, flicking out the lights as she left.

Jack curled up on her bed, crying. She was tired and sleep was reaching for her. She closed her eyes, tears running down her cheeks, and she went to sleep.

Tomorrow is another day.

Chapter Text

The morning she had been slow. Jack woke up, ate breakfast with her family in awkward silence, and then spoke with her mom after her brothers left for school. They discussed her punishments for recent events and what she needed to do to regain her mother’s trust. Jack also agreed to speak with her therapist about everything. During her suspension, she would be helping out at her mom’s theater, painting backdrops, building sets, or whatever else she could help with. She would also be required to work on all her schoolwork so she wouldn’t fall behind. She was only allowed to go to the World to drop off photos and the theater to help. Essentially, she was grounded.

Her mom then left and told Jack to join her at the theater once she fully woke up.

Jack hung around the apartment and then got ready to go to the theater. She planned to make a stop on her way, nothing bad, just something she had been putting off for too long.

A short walk later, Jack stood in a cold cemetery. It was empty and quiet. It was unsettling. She made her way past tombstones and stopped once she reached her destination.

Francis Sullivan. Husband, Father, Son.

Jack felt sick. She wanted to run off, but she needed to do this. She should have been here months ago. She should’ve spoken at his funeral. She should have done more.

Memories of his funeral echoed in her mind. Jack, shaking and teary-eyed, clinging to her mother like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. Medda offered for one of her brothers to come along with her, but Jack refused. She didn’t need more people seeing her at her dad’s funeral. Jack had been asked to speak at the funeral. She said no, for several reasons. One being that she was still bitter. So bitter. Another was that she was still reeling from his death. She missed and mourned who he was before her mom died. Before he turned to alcohol and crime.

Jack remembered seeing her last living relative - at least the last living that she knew - her Catholic grandmother. Her grandmother had refused to take in Jack, calling her a mistake and the reason her dad had gone off the deep end. It had hit Jack hard when she had said that. It seemed, unsurprisingly, that she hadn’t changed her mind. She even had the fucking nerve - nay, the audacity - to call Jack a felon at her dad’s funeral, like she wasn’t dealing with enough. Her ‘grandmother’ had even made a dig at Jack’s mother and Jack had to be restrained before she clawed out the older woman’s fucking eyes.

Jack crouched down on the wet grass and sighed.

“Hi, Dad.”

What was she doing here?

“Been a while, hasn’t it?”

Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

Sniffling, she continued, “Sorry for not coming sooner. Not that you really cared to see me much. Doubt that’s changed since you died. But, I do the same to Mom, so you’re not special.”

She wiped at her eyes. “I miss you. I wish I didn’t, but I do. I wish I had longer with you when you were still you.”

Fuck, this was hard.

“Why did you do it? Huh? Why did you turn to alcohol and crime? Why? I needed someone. I needed you. You left me. Alone. For years! I got stuck in shit homes where the families didn’t care about me and I spent years hating myself and you! You did this! You made me this way!

I miss you, though. Fuck, I miss you. And I am so scared that I’ll turn out just like you. Bitter, angry, and alone. I’m pretty close. After everything I did. I messed it all up. I yelled at Mama. I hurt Race. And I did things I will regret forever. And it fucking sucks.

Sorry for changing my name. I know it upset you. It wasn’t to upset you. It was to make me feel closer to Mom. Gave me a connection to her. And maybe, it was to upset you too. You did leave me.

I met someone. He’s real nice. Too smart for me, that’s for sure. And he doesn’t hate me, so that’s a plus. Maybe I could actually try this time. I’ve never felt like this for someone before.

You make me so angry. I should hate you. I should. I did, for a while.

Every time I got put in a shitty group home or foster home, I blamed you. But I have Mama now. I have Race and Charlie, my brothers. I don’t need you. I have a family now. A family without you.”

Jack choked back sobs and cleared her throat.

“Why? Why did you have to leave? Why did you let me go into the system? We could have been happy! We could have still been a family.”

No point in arguing with the dead.

“I’ve tried to tell myself that you and Mom would want me to try. To be better. But then, I remember the dead don’t want a thing. They’re dead. Maybe you would have wanted that, but you aren’t here, are you? I’m here. I’m the last of our ‘family’. The last of what we had before mom died.”

Fuck, this was hard.

“Whatever,” she sniffles and wipes her face. “I gotta go to the theater. Talk soon, Dad.” She stands and brushes her fingertips over the tombstone. Her forgotten flowers sat beside her. “I’ll make sure to tell Mom I’ll love her.” She grabs the flowers and walks through the graves. She reaches her mom’s grave and places the flowers down. She dusts off the stone headstone.

“Love ya’, Mom. Medda is taking good care of me, I just want you to know. I’ll come back soon, promise.”

As Jack leaves the cemetery, she feels both free and constrained. Everything hurt, but she was going to make it better. She owed it to herself.

Walking to the theater felt nice. It was cool out and she liked the breeze. Gave her something other than her pain - mental and physical - to feel. Was this rock bottom? Was the achy feeling in her chest from her anguish or was it her physical exhaustion?

The theater wasn’t too far from the cemetery and after five minutes, she entered through the back door - perks of being the owner’s daughter, she got to go in the back.

The current show wasn’t actively having a rehearsal, so Jack walked through the back onto the stage. Set pieces were strewn everywhere and were pretty bare. Now they had someone to paint them.

She jumps off the stage and starts through the house. That was until her mom called her.

“Jack!”

Jack turned a bright grin on her face. “Mama!” She stepped towards her mom and hugged her, probably a little too tight for someone she just saw a few hours ago. She sticks her hands into her pockets, rocking back on her heels. “Where do you want me first?”

“Come up here. We have some larger sets that need painting. My regular crew just finished it up, but they haven’t gotten around to painting it. There should be some paint in the back, who am I kidding, we both know that you know where the paint is. Once that’s done, you’re free to head into the studio and paint.”

“Got it, mama. So just the set for today. Shouldn’t be too hard.” She started up onto the stage, her mother’s hand resting on her shoulder for a second.

“Don’t overwork yourself, Jack. You may be in trouble, but I still care. Take some breaks. I’ll be back around to get you for lunch. Sound good?”

“Yep.”

Her mom turns around and walks out of the house, (do people know theater terminology? or I am just assuming? the house is where the audience sits.) leaving Jack with her thoughts alone. This might be bad.

After she finished the first coat of paint and ate lunch, she went into the back to paint. There was a studio back there where she could paint without distraction. It became her little escape.

“Been a while since I was last back here, huh?”

She found a blank canvas and placed it on one of the empty easels. This would be easy. It always was. And, her therapist was always telling her to paint out her feelings. Just paint whatever she was feeling. All the bad and the good.

Jack pulled out a few tubes of paint she stashed away. She could do this. Paint out what she feeling.

Fuck.

“I can’t do this shit. Paint out my feelings? Fuck no.” She let out a shaky laugh.

This was hard.

After much thought and focus, Jack had an idea. She fervently painted on the canvas, everything suddenly clicking.

Once she finished, she sat back. She stared at the painting, not noticing the door clicking open.

“Jack? Honey?”

Jack turned around, smiling at her mom. “Hi. Just paintin’.”

Medda fully entered the room, stopping next to Jack. “Jack, this is… great. You just did this?”

Jack looked back at the painting. Black was splattered all over the canvas, red highlighting the black. It was dark and brutal, but it was beautiful. It was real.

“Yeah, tried painting out my feelings. Sort of just came to me.”

“Oh, sweetie, you have so much talent.”

Jack smiled. “Did you need something, mama?”

Medda turned to her, “Oh, yes. I was gonna tell you that you can head home. You’ve worked hard today and I’m proud of you.”

Jack stood, brushing off her pants, now covered in splotches of paint. “Thanks. I’ll probably head out then. Wanna get a headstart on all the work I’m missing. Love ya, mama.”

“Love you too.”

Jack hugged her mom before picking up her things and heading out. It was still cold out but Jack didn’t shiver. She felt all warm inside. Maybe things were going to be okay. It was all going to work out.

Jack got home right after her brothers did and she dropped on the couch. Charlie was sat in one of the armchairs.

“Rough day?” He asked from his chair.

Jack shook her head, a small smile still on her face. “Nah, just tired. Lotta’ work at the theater, though, but it’s better than school.”

“You’ll still have to come back Monday.”

“No!” Jack whined dropping on the couch dramatically. “Why can’t I just drop out and do manual labor for our mom all the time?”

Crutchie laughed. “Hmm… not sure how mom would take it.”

“She’d love it. Havin’ me around all day. Who wouldn’t love it?”

Charlie just waved her off, a smirk on his face. Then, his face changed to a much more somber one. “If you wanna talk to Race, he’s in the room. You gotta apologize sometime.”

He was right, of course, he was. How had her baby brother outgrown her in wisdom? At least he didn’t hate her. She was scared of that. Charlie was good, much better than her. He deserved everything out of life. Both of her brothers did. They deserved the whole world.

Jack nodded and stood. “How’s he doing?”

“Not bad, but last night, with you, he was freaked out. We all were. We called and texted you and everyone we knew. We were scared, but - don’t tell Race I said this - but I think he was the most scared. He was shaking and kept muttering random things. And he was blaming himself. Said you ran off ‘cause of him.”

Fuck, that was bad.

“I’m sorry. I know it doesn’t mean much if I don’t actually show that I’m sorry, but I am.”

“I know. Just tell him that.”

“I will.”

Jack ruffled Charlie’s hair as she walked past and went down the hall. Not much noise. It felt eerie.

She pushed on the door to Race and Crutchie’s room. “Racer?”

She heard a groan from the other side of the door. “What?”

“Can we talk? Please?”

The door swung open and there stood her little brother, looking as if he aged five years in one night. Maybe he did after the shit she pulled.

“You have five minutes and then I’m done listening.”

Jack nodded and stepped into the room. She paused in front of his bed before turning to sit on Charlie’s bed. Race pushed the door closed and went to sit on his bed.

He waved his hands. “Go on.”

Jack sighed. “I’m sorry. I wanna start with that. I’m sorry, Tony. I was horrible to you and to Spot. And to Mama and Charlie. And I’m sorry for all of it.”

“Why?”

“I wish I had an explanation that didn’t sound fuck as shit, but just let me explain fully before you make your decision.”

Race nodded and motioned for her to continue.

“The other night, after we finished training, Davey mentioned that Denton had some personal project he was working on. With my blood. And Davey told me to get whatever was left of my blood and this personal project before the office was gone through. So, that night, I went to Evo and got my blood and these vials of goo that was Denton’s project. Also, the blood I asked the chat for help to get rid of, that’s the blood I got from Evo. Anyway, one of the vials broke when I was packing them away and it got on me. At first, I didn’t think anything of it and went home like nothing happened.

But, the next morning, I started feeling off and it was weird. When I came back and saw you and Spot, it was like I wasn’t even in control. All I saw was red and all I could feel was anger. I mean, I broke out of it and apologized but it didn’t mean much. After that, everything got worse. The more I fought it, the stronger it got. It was scary and I hurt people. Badly. And at the bank, I was focused and so caught up with making sure everyone got out safe. And I almost died in there, Race. The second I got out of there, I snapped. I barely remember most of last night. Once I got my mind back, I called Davey to help. I was scared and alone. But, he did it. He got the thing away and fuck, it hurt like a bitch.

I know, that this doesn’t change the fact that I hurt you and everyone else, but I am so sorry and I regret it all. And you probably hate me-”

She was cut off by Race throwing himself on her, pulling her into a tight hug.

“Jesus, Jack. You went through that? Alone?”

“Not much other choice. I didn’t know what was happening.” Tears began to roll down her face. “I’m sorry. I heard you were scared last night.”

“I almost told them.” Race stated, pulling back. “I almost told Mama and Charlie about you. I was scared you got hurt or worse.”

“Oh, Racer. If you had, I wouldn’t be upset. You were trying to make it better. And if I hadn’t called Davey last night, I would have hoped you would have told them. In case something bad happened.”

“Sorry that happened.”

“Not your fault. Plus, it’s gone now. Well, in a jar at Davey’s, but yeah, gone.”

Race lit up slightly, running over to his bag. “Speaking of Davey, he gave this to me today. And he asked if you were okay.” He dropped a plastic bag into her hands. “That boy is so into you, Jack.”

Jack blushed and opened the bag. Her suit. He gave Race her suit. “Fuck.” And she was crying again. “God, I like him. And last night, he came to help, no questions asked.”

Race grinned at her, nudging her with his shoulder. “Just talk to him. I mean, it’s almost sickening how bad you guys have it for each other.”

“Thank you. For forgiving me. For caring. For helping me with all of this. I wouldn’t be where I am without you.”

“What are brothers for?”

She grinned at him. “Other than being a pain?”

“Oh, shove off!”

Jack laughed and leaned onto Race. “Thank you.”

“Eh, it’s not a problem.”

“I love you.”

“Oh, don’t get sappy on me.” He rolled his eyes. “I guess I love you too.”

“Asshole,” she muttered with no venom to her words. “I’ve been over here fuckin’-”

“You’re fuckin’? Crutchie! Jack’s fuckin’!”

“She’s what?”

Jack snorted and shoved Race off the bed.

“Hey!”

“Dick! I’m trying to have a sweet conversation with you.”

Race cackled and hopped back onto Charlie’s bed. “I got the gist. I’m great and perfect and you love me.”

Jack rolled her eyes, the weight in her chest slowly fading.

“And you did it. You fought it off, you got help. And, even with everything happening, you saved ten people in that bank. You’re a hero, Jack. Don’t ever forget that.”

Ooh, that hit hard. Jack’s eyes watered up again and she clung to Race. “Thank you. I really needed to hear that.”

“Are you crying again?” Race asked.

“I’m emotional, I just got rid of an evil parasite. Let me cry in peace.”

“I guess.”

They spent the next few minutes talking, or in Jack’s case crying, until Charlie hobbled in. He was pleasantly surprised they made up but joined the crowd on his bed.

Things were getting better. Too quickly it seemed. She felt on edge. Like everything was going to come down crumbling. But she could worry later. Right now, she was going to hang out with her brothers and block out the whole world. It could wait.

After a while, Jack retreated to her room. She was pretty tired and needed a minute to herself.

Her suit sat on the floor, sitting in a bag. She shouldn’t go out, but, fuck, she wanted to. Being out there always gave her a sense of freedom. She could use some freedom. Or at least feel like she’s free.

But if she went out, she would risk upsetting her mom and her family again. She couldn’t let them down. Not again. Not after last night. Not after what she put them through.

But, she needed it. She wouldn’t be out long. Just for a little bit. Thirty minutes max. Thirty minutes.

She couldn’t go out the window. It was too obvious. Medda knew she was going out the window. She just needed a good excuse.

Jack grabbed her school bag, stuffed the suit into it, and threw it on her shoulder. After throwing on her shoes, she went down the hall, where her mom would be. She entered the kitchen and rocked on her heels.

“Hey, mama? Is it okay if I go to Davey’s to discuss what we’re doing this week in chemistry, so I don’t fall behind while I’m suspended?” Her voice was sweet and she added to it with a little smile. She wasn’t exactly lying, maybe she would stop by Davey’s to thank him for giving her suit to Race. To thank him for the previous night.

Her mom just smiled and nodded. “Be safe. And text me when you get there and when you’re headed back.”

“Thanks, mama. Love you.” Jack pressed a kiss to her mom’s cheek before running towards the door.

She sent out a quick text to Race, telling him that she was going out. Just in case. In case anything were to happen. Nothing would though. She was going to be quick and then maybe walk around the city.

race: be safe

jack: always, love you

race: love you too

Jack ducked down a nearby alley once she exited the building. She tossed her bag to the end, pulling out her suit. She quickly shed her top layer and pulled the suit on. The street was pretty empty so she wasn’t too worried, but still.

Once her suit was on, she hopped onto a rooftop, her bag clutched in her hand. Just a quick outing. Thirty minutes max. Then, she would go home.

Thirty minutes. She was supposed to be done after thirty minutes. But thirty minutes turned to an hour and then an hour turned into getting shot and getting sliced on her side.

Her shoulder ached as she swung over the stinking streets of New York. She couldn’t just go home, but maybe she could call someone to help.

Davey.

He had a medical phase. Knew how to listen for her lungs. Maybe he could help out.

She pulled out her phone, wincing as she jerked her arm. She dropped onto a roof, giving her shoulder a chance to relax.

She dialed and waited for him to pick up.

“Jack?” Davey’s voice was full of concern and worry. She shouldn’t be calling him, he had just helped her. She was being selfish.

Right as she was about to apologize and hang up, her shoulder throbbed and she bit back a groan.

Fuck, that never got easier.

“Hey, Dave, remember how you said you had a phase where you wanted to be a doctor? Any chance you know how to stitch someone up?”

“It’s been a while…” A brief pause. “Jack? What happened?”

“Uh… are you home right now? Alone?”

“Yes, I’m home, alone. Jack, talk to me.”

“Be there in a few. Have a first aid kit ready.”

Jack hung up and started swinging towards Davey’s apartment. Her shoulder burned and ached, but pain was nothing new to her and she could stomach it for a few minutes.

She reaches his window and slides into his room. Davey walks in as she plops on his bed. She pulls off her mask and tosses it to the side.

“Hi.” Her grin is wide and cocky and so very Jack. A ‘Jack Kelly classic’ as her friends call it.

He rolls his eyes and Jack’s stomach flutters. How very typical romance novel of her, but come on, look at him. “Come on. Show me what I need to fix up.” He walks over to her, placing a first aid kit beside her.

“Tryin’ to get me naked already? At least take me out to coffee first.” She smiles, reaching back for her zipper with a gasp. “Give me some help? Kinda hard with the fucked up shoulder.” She turns her back to him and he unzips the top of the suit, leaving the rest for her to do. What a gentleman. Not the first time she’s been topless in front of Davey, but it doesn’t make her feel better about it. Once she gets it down enough, she shrugs it off her shoulder and turns away from him, and then points at her side.

Davey pales slightly before grabbing his things. He grabs them and sets them to the side, then pulls a chair in front of her. Grimacing, he begins to clean the wounds. Jack winces, gripping the bed sheets tightly. She screws her eyes shut and bites back the urge to groan and cry. Not in front of him. Anyone but him.

“You okay?”

She grits her teeth, speaking sharply. “Yep, just peachy. Now stitch me up before I lose any more blood.”

“Got it.” He finishes cleaning them and then pulls out a needle and thread.

He glances up at her before beginning the first stitch.

“Oh, Jesus!” She groans, leaning onto the Davey’s shoulder. Tears prick at her eyes and she fights them off. He continues to stitch her up, each stitch hurting more than the last. “Fuck! Could you do any slower?” She isn’t trying to be an ass, it’s just from the pain. She was a wuss when it came to pain, at least typically.

His face is set with a serious, focused look, his eyes nearly glazed over. If the excruciating pain didn’t tell her that he was stitching her up, she would believe he was daydreaming or lost in thought. “Almost done. The one on your shoulder isn’t too deep, so all it’ll need is a bandage.” He focuses as he finishes the last stitch and then sits back.

She gulps and exhales. The deep breaths were the only thing keeping her from crying out in pain. “The one on my shoulder might be a little worse than you think.”

He leans back and looks at her with a frown.“How so?”

“I got shot.” She looks off to the side, ignoring his gaze.

“You got shot? That’s a bullet wound? I can’t fix that!”

She looks back at him. “All you need to do is pull the bullet out and clean it up. I’ve done it before, but I can’t reach this one. Have any tweezers or somethin’?”

He steps back. “Yeah. I’ll go get them.”

“Clean them in rubbing alcohol first. I don’t need an infection.”

Davey comes back with tweezers in his hands. He sits back down in the chair. He cleans the wound again and then slowly brings the tweezers up to her shoulder.

“Okay, so here’s what you have to do. First, pull the skin around it tight. You’ll be able to control your tweezer better if you aren’t wiggling around skin. Then, you are going to press around the wound. The bullet should be noticeable then. Then, just carefully pull it out. I might scream and cry and try to bite something- scratch that, I will definitely bite something - but don’t focus on that. Just make sure I flail around too much. Got it?”

He gulps before nodding. “Yep.”

He grabs her shoulder and pulls her closer. He presses at the skin and Jack feels like her skin is on fire. She groans and presses her face into Davey’s shoulder.

He starts to pull at the bullet with the tweezers and she screams. She grips the bed as tears fall from her eyes. So much for not crying in front of him. Fucking hell, that hurt.

Davey tugs at it again and Jack impulsively bites his shoulder. Davey yelps as he finishes pulling out the bullet and drops it to the ground. He steps back, grabbing his shoulder.

Fuck.

Jack scrambles backward, sticking out her hands as a form of surrender. Why was she surrendering? Because she hurt Davey, even if was due to her pain-induced state. “I’m sorry! It really hurt and I needed an outlet. I’m sorry.” And she was sorry. No lies here. She leans back against the wall, knocking her head against it several times. “Davey?”

He stood frozen, still holding his shoulder. He shakes his head. “Sorry, I was sort of out of it for a second. The bullet and biting and all of it.”

Jack sighs, letting out a deep breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding in. “I get it. I nearly passed out the first time I pulled a bullet from me. I once considered having Race pull one out, but I decided against it.”

“It was terrifying. Try to not get shot again, okay?”

“Anything for you, Davey. Now come ‘ere. I’ll clean ya’ up.”

Davey walks over and sits back in the chair. He relaxes under her touch as she cleans the bite. She smiles at the almost domestic act, her cleaning up his wounds and him cleaning hers. It felt intimate and she wanted to have a million of these little moments with Davey. For the rest of her life, if he would have her. Not like he would, though, she was the human version of the word ‘fuck-up’ with a whiff of ‘dumpster fire’. So, she wasn’t the greatest first option. All her exes would attest to that, except maybe Katherine, she still liked Jack.

She wipes at the bite marks, the irritated skin burning its way into her mind. “I am sorry for biting you.”

“It’s fine.” He waves dismissively, but it doesn’t rid the sinking feeling from Jack’s stomach. No more butterfly flutters, only a nagging, nauseating feeling was left.

Jack finishes cleaning it but Davey doesn’t make any attempt to move away. They sit there, looking at each other. Jack can see all the details of his eyes this close, each fleck of yellow within the green. She felt a smile tug at her lips as she gazed at him. His hands dropped to her sides, hovering over her sides.

“Davey?”

“Yeah?”

Jack’s mouth was dry as she looked up at him. Him and his perfect, green eyes and his beautifully dark curls. It was almost sickening how attractive he was. Almost. He was human perfection, he could never sicken her.

“I wanna kiss ya’, Dave.”

What?

The words just came out, no filter, nothing. Fuck. She was fucked and not in the hot-and-bothered way. In the Jack-was-going-jump-off-the-Brooklyn-bridge way.

Jack expected the worst: yelling, kicking her out, or being grossed out. But, Davey just smiled as he responded, “Then why don’t you?”

Bold.

Jack didn’t need any more permission and closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to Davey’s.

Jack always thought the feeling of ‘sparks’ during a kiss was a fucking lie, but here, right now, kissing Davey, she felt much more than fireworks. Everything culminated to this point, to right now, to kissing Davey. Jack would get shot a thousand times over if it meant she could feel this again and again - if she hadn’t promised Davey she would attempt to not get shot again.

Davey’s hands wrapped protectively around her sides as she ran her hands through his hair. Any imagination of what his lips would feel like felt nothing like the real thing. He pulled her closer to him, his hands trailing up her back.

This was perfect and so much better than any daydream or imagination. This was real. This was Davey. Kissing her.

All Jack could imagine over the past few months was this and it was everything she dreamed of and more. David Jacobs was kissing her and she was certain nothing was better than kissing him.

She could tell why Race was so infatuated with Spot. If they had anything like Jack was feeling right now with Davey, then they had all the reasons in the world to be over each other.

Do not think of your brother while kissing him. Gross.

Kissing Davey was like nothing she had ever experienced. Kissing Davey was like jumping from the highest building, exhilarating and freeing all at once. Kissing him was like the fight of her life ending in the best way. It sent chills up her spine and she leaned in further into his touch. She was his and she had been for months now.

Davey eventually pulled back, gasping for air, and Jack chased his mouth with her own. He leaned back, grinning at her. Davey pressed his fingers to his lips as if he was making sure it was real.

She whined as she leaned back. “Davey, I really like you.” Might as well be bold, she did just kiss him.

He grinned at her, leaning in closer. “Well, then, it’s pretty good for you that I like you too,”

“For sure?”

“For sure.” He mimicked her accent before bursting out laughing.

Jack pulled Davey into a hug, laughing as she held him. “I cannot believe this! All those months wanting this and I get it!”

“I know.”

As she laughs and holds him, she hears the front door open. Her ears twitch and her spine goes cold. Fuck. She bolts backward and pulls up her suit.

“Shit, shit.” She mutters as she bites back a wince.

Davey’s brows jump up his forehead and he touches her arm with a gentleness. “What’s wrong?”

“Your family is home.”

His eyes widen and he gulps. “Fuck.”

God, that did not help her situation. If they weren’t about to be walked in on, she would jump his bones right now. But she could do that later. Right?

She sighs, “Yeah. I gotta go. Would hate your family to find me in here, topless. Les already thinks we’re dating.” She smirks at him.

He frantically nods and stands up. “Yeah. I’ll see you, right?” In the question, Jack can feel his nerves.

She nods as she zips up her suit all the way. Her shoulder burns as she does so, but no time to waste. “Of course. I’ll call you when I get home. Thanks for stitching me up, Dave. Talk to ya later.” Davey tosses her the mask and she pulls it over her face. She climbs out the window as Davey exits the room. She jumps out and swings off.

She could deal with everything later. The kiss. Davey. The burning feeling in her shoulder and side. Later. Right now, she needed to get her things, change out of the suit, and get home before her mom freaked out again. She couldn’t do that again.

She rushed to the roof where she left her bag and changed out of the suit. She dropped to the ground and walked back to her building. Hopefully, she wasn’t too rough looking. Her lips were definitely slightly swollen and her face was most certainly flushed. She had it bad for Davey. Like, she was down bad - not crying at the gym, though. She didn’t work out. Cardio in Jack’s opinion sucked ass. (Her words, not mine).

When Jack entered the apartment, she got three different reactions. First, she got Race’s little nudge, and a wink sent her way. Then, Charlie looked at her funny, like she had something on her - maybe it was her stupid grin she couldn’t get off her face. Probably. And finally, her mom just smiled at her and asked how studying had gone with a knowing look hidden in her eyes.

Fuck.

She was obvious and everyone in her house knew she just had a makeout sesh with David Jacobs. Fuck, fuck, fuck, and for good measure, fuck.

She rushed to her room and avoided everyone until dinner and then hid for the rest of the night.

She was fucked. And again, not in a good way, but maybe soon…?

Jack knew that she should text Davey, and talk to him, but she was nervous. So, she didn’t text him and went right to bed. Tomorrow, she told herself. Tomorrow she would text him and talk. Tomorrow.

Tomorrow came and Jack didn’t text him. At least, not in the morning. She had woken up late and by the time she gained full consciousness, school had already started and Davey was typically the type of person to not break rules. Typically, that was.

So, she made her way to the theater and began working. The pain from her wounds was just a dull ache and she worked through it.

Hours went by, Jack finished her work and retreated to her paintings. Paintings were easier than people. She didn’t have to worry about feelings when it came to paintings. People were hard, but she was trying. Trying for everyone she cared about. Trying for herself. Trying for the little girl she used to be who couldn’t interact to save her life. She was trying. And that was enough for her. But people continued to be hard. She could never fully understand every nuance of a person, not for a lack of trying.

More time went by as she focused on her canvases. Replicates of the one from the day before, black inked with red. Darkness contrasted with rage. Violence and anger. It was real. It had been her.

She was so intertwined with her work, that she had jumped a whole foot in the air when she heard someone on the balcony above her.

“How ‘bout letting a pal know you’re alive? Huh?”

Davey.

A stupid grin lit up her face and she turned to look up at him, cocking her head to the side. “I know you’re kidding, but wounds like those wouldn’t kill me. Typically.”

Davey shook his head with a small smile plastered on his face. It’s a little forced, Jack notices. She fucked up, didn’t she? He starts down the stairs to her, a question lit in his eyes.

“Sorry for not texting. I’m just as bad as a straight white man, I’m afraid. I meant to, I promise. Just got caught up, with nerves.” Her words come out choppy and broken up. She’s nervous. She knows it. He knows it. And she is just running her mouth in typical Jack fashion.

“It’s fine. Race told me you’d be here.”

“You talked to Race?” She blushed and avoided his gaze.

Davey smirked at her, finally reaching the bottom step. “He mentioned you being flustered last night when you came home. Something about you finally making a move?”

“Oh, fuck me.” She muttered before what she said sunk into her foggy brain. She looked up, a frantic look on her face. “-Not in that way - unless you wanted to...?”

Thankfully, Davey just chuckled and sat in a nearby chair.

“I’m sorry for not texting.”

“It’s fine. I could’ve texted you, but nerves.”

“Yeah, pain in the ass.” Jack gulped. “This is hard for me. Getting into relationships. You know? I’ve been in a shit ton of baby relationships, but that’s not what I want with you. I don’t want us to be just friends or -fuck- strangers in a few weeks. I really like you and I’ve never felt like this before. I don’t wanna fuck this up.”

“Why would you fuck it up?”

They would have to have a conversation later about how Davey spewing expletives made Jack very hot and bothered and that could cause some troubles for her.

Jack sighed and rolled her shoulders. “Cause I am the biggest fuck-up ever. I am the definition in the goddamn dictionary of fuck-up. It’s just the truth. Always has been. I’m broken. And I’m saying that for attention or comfort. I really am broken. I ruin everything I have. I scare everyone away. Always have. Always will. I’m a special type of fucked up. I carry a lot of shit and I don’t always cope with it right. My therapist says I have commitment issues because of my parents. Me, on the other hand, think I have commitment issues because being with someone long-term means letting it all out and putting it out there. It’s vulnerable and open and I hate it. But, I would try. For you.”

Davey leaned closer and squeezed her hand gently. A silent ‘I’ve got you’. “Jack, I am here for all of it. And you haven’t scared me off yet. I’m still here, after everything. I’ve seen you bloody, crying, with bloodshot eyes, mid-breakdown. I’ve seen it all and I’m still here.”

“Davey,” she muttered softly, lips dangerously close to his. She could just lean in and kiss him right here, in her mother’s theater. Scandalous. “Don’t say things like that. You’ll give a girl hope.”

Jack could feel his breath as he exhaled. “Why not?”

“I don’t want to have my heart broken. Or break yours.”

“Then don’t.”

“It’s not that easy.”

“Why not?”

“Davey.” This time, his name came out as a whine. They were still a few inches apart, hot breath being exchanged between the two. “Please.”

Davey’s eyes fluttered closed for a second. “Jack, I like you. And I’m not scared of an ‘us’. It might be hard sometimes, but we can do it.”

“For sure?” She asked, echoing herself from the night before.

“For sure.” He parroted back to her, again doing an impression of her accent.

She sighed and then leaned in, kissing him. The kiss was gentle. Soft. She had opened herself up to him and she was fragile. Still, her hands explored, one reaching for his hair, the other resting on his thigh. Davey wrapped his arms around her and practically pulled her onto his lap.

Jack grinned into the kiss, leaning back for air. ”David,” she started. “Would you like to go on a date with me?”

He smiled back at her, his cheeks dusted with pink. He was adorable and perfect. “Yes, I would love to go out with you, Jack.”

Using their names felt real. It felt personal, even if it was a silly nickname she gave him or the shortened version of her name. It felt raw and exposed, and for the first time in her life, Jack didn’t feel scared.

She squealed and threw herself onto her, slotting her legs into between his. She held his face in her hands, memorizing each detail like it was the last she would see him. “This okay?”

“It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

Jack blushed and leaned her face into his shoulder, the one she didn’t bite. “Davey!” She groaned, not really upset, just flustered. Maybe she could do this. Maybe she wouldn’t fuck this one up.

After a few minutes of laughing and shameless flirting, Jack scooted back to her chair. “As much as I would love to continue this, I have therapy in…” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “Thirty minutes. My mom will be in here any minute to head out. But, we can figure out the details of our date later. Sound good?”

Davey nodded, his attention focused on something behind her.

“Davey?”

He blinked a few times and shook his head. “Sorry, I was just looking at the paintings. Did you do these?”

Jack’s face heated up and she stood up, brushing her pants off. “Yeah, did this one yesterday and these two today.” She pointed at the canvases of black and red. They were each unique with the design featured on them, but each echoed the same emotions. She shrugged and worked on cleaning up her work area. “Nothing major, just had some extra time.”

“They’re really good. You’re really talented, Jack.”

And just like that, Jack’s stomach did flips again. She shook her head and focused on putting her supplies away. “It’s really nothing. Just trying something new.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ve been trying to paint out my feelings. Something my therapist recommended. Supposed to help with letting out my emotions in a healthy way. I think it’s total bullshit, but it helped a little, I guess.”

Davey’s eyes were focused on the painting nearest to him. His brows were furrowed with deep concentration.

“Is this how it felt? When you were infected?”

Infected. That was a good way to put it. An infection, that’s all it was. A disease she had contracted and fought off. No different than the common cold, if the common cold was created from someone’s blood and manipulated someone’s mind and body. Then, yeah, it was like a cold.

She gulped and brushed her hair out of her face. “Yeah, sort of. The black represents the darkness and the isolation the symbiote made me feel and the red is the rage I felt. It’s more abstract than my normal stuff, but I guess that’s how painting your feelings works out.”

“You should display these. Show off what you can do. I mean people pay money to look at blank white canvases, why wouldn’t they want to see something raw and real?”

Raw. That’s how she described it. Raw and real. Violent and dark. Her and, at the same time, not her.

“Eh, it’s not that good. You just like sweet talkin’ me.”

“Maybe. But I do think you should show the world what you can do. At least submit them for the school art show.”

“I’ll consider it.” She smirked at him as she finished putting everything. “I should probably go find my mom. Talk to you later. And I’ll actually text you this time.”

“Yeah, talk to you soon. Bye, Jack.” He stepped closer to her, planting a quick kiss on her lips before turning back to the stairs.

She flushed for felt like the millionth time that day and awkwardly waved goodbye. “Bye, Dave.”

She had it so very bad and now he knew. At least that made it easier, right?

Wednesday’s therapy went well and before Jack knew it, it was Friday. She had actually texted Davey this time and they would be going out tomorrow. Together. On a date. God, she just felt giddy thinking about it.

It was late and Jack should be sleeping but she wasn’t tired. It was weird how getting the right amount of sleep at night affected her. She felt well-rested and her body didn’t ache all the time. But that second one could be explained by her lack of super-heroing.

Well, lack of super-heroing for two days. It had only been two days and she was trying to stick to not going out at night. But the city called her. Drew her in. It was intoxicating and exhilarating and she wanted to go out there.

She rationalized that if she went out for a little bit, she wouldn’t get hurt - or not too badly - and would get some fresh air. Plus, her therapist tells her to get exercise to help with anxiety and overall mood. Swinging was exercise and a damn good one at that.

Ah, fuck it.

She scrambled around her room and dug out her suit. It was still a little nicked up from her most recent scuffle on the streets, but it would be fine. She kicked off her sweatpants and slid the suit over her legs. Thank God she added the liner. It was getting colder every day and she wasn’t a fan of sneezing into her mask.

Once the suit was on, she slipped out the window. It was just around midnight, so the city was semi-awake. The city that never sleeps, right?

It would be a simple patrol, just looking around the area for any criminal activity or anything out of place. Of course, the city now hated her and said as much. You assault one cop and suddenly the whole city turns on you. Fucking crazy. But perverts and pedophiles and abusers can waltz around with no problem.

Jack swung around, her feet grazing the tops of shorter buildings. She was reaching the edge of the theater district, moving into Manhattan. There were neighborhoods she avoided when she went out, Hell’s Kitchen being one of them. She had heard some rumors of some crazed vigilante out there, so she stayed far away. No need to step on anyone’s toes for no reason.

The further she went, the more and more she entered upper-class territory. Fancy penthouses and expensive restaurants. Jack typically avoided this area, just because of her disdain for those hoity-toity pricks, but she felt bored tonight. So, why not?

As she dropped onto a rooftop, her eyes scanned over the city. Then, something - no, someone - caught her eye. She was at least twenty stories, if not more, up. Why would anyone be this high up?

She decided to approach because the worst-case scenario was that she got stabbed or shot and she could live with that. Jack leaped over a few roofs, landing softly on her feet each time. Seems like the sound-absorbing material for the boots was coming in handy. Race told her it was a waste of money and she wouldn’t need it that often to rationalize it. Well, fuck you Race. It came in handy twice now.

Jack landed on the roof the figure was on and she stood fifteen feet away. Jack watched the person, who she identified as a woman, as they messed with a panel on the roof.

She blinked. And then again.

What was this lady doing? And why was she wearing a leather catsuit at midnight?

“’ey, lady! What the fuck are you doing?”

And the woman turned around and Jack took in the details of the catsuit. The collar and wrists were wrapped in bright white fur and a diamond mask covered her eyes. And what was most shocking to Jack, was her three-inch stilettos. Bright white hair matching the fur on the suit also stood out to Jack and was obviously a wig. A nice one, but still a wig. Jack’s mother ran a theater, of course, she could identify a wig, good or bad.

“Spider-woman. Thought you dropped off the grid after that whole cop thing.” The woman’s voice was smooth and suave. Reminded Jack of Katherine, though the stark difference between the two women was the hair. Where Kath had striking red hair, this woman had blinding white.

“Eh, I like to surprise people. Keep ‘em guessing. But you never answered my question. What brings you here, late at night, kitty cat?”

The woman rolls her eyes. “Don’t see how that’s any of your business, insect.”

Jack smirks and leans on the closest thing she can find. “Spiders aren’t insects. They’re arachnids. At least get your demeaning insults right, kitty.”

“How ‘bout you let me rob this guy without interrupting me?”

“You’re robbing someone? Intriguing, but I can’t let you do that.”

The cat smirks and quirks up a brow. “You gonna stop me?” She motions for Jack to try. And Jack being the fighter she is, she pounces.

The woman slips away right before Jack could grab her and ducks to the other side of the roof.

“You’re going to have to be faster than that, spider.”

Jack growls, hopping to her feet. “Just warming up, kitty cat. You know, most people don’t like strays breaking into their houses. Might have to call animal control on you.” Jack watches her feet, waiting for the perfect moment.

“Well, maybe I should stock up on some bug spray, you know, just in case some little bugs decide to mess with me.”

Jack steps closer. “Not a bug either.”

“Maybe I wasn’t talking about you.”

“You’re cheating on me? Already?”

Jack’s tone had been teasing, but her eyes widened and she pushed past Jack. “Just fuck off, why don’t you?”

Jack paused, frowning. “Well, we both know I can’t let you just break the law. Tired of playing cat and mouse already?”

She stills. “Wouldn’t it be cat and spider? You’re not a mouse, far as I know.”

Jack grins, sidestepping in front of her. “That is true. Most mice aren’t drop-dead gorgeous and quite as good at flirting like me.”

“Hmm.”

“Now, you know my name, why don’t you tell me your nom de plume, huh?”

“Not a writer.”

“What?”

“A nom de plume is reserved for writers. I’m not a writer.” She hesitated as she repeated herself. Odd.

“You don’t sound so sure about that. Either way, what should I call you? Or do you want to stay ‘kitty cat’?”

She sighed and ran her hand through the synthetic hair. White strands fell to the ground and Jack watched them flutter down.

“Black Cat.”

“Black Cat? That’s what you want me to call you?”

“Yep.”

“Hmm… not bad. Not as good as my name, but it works.”

“You’re called Spider-Woman. It’s not exactly poetry.”

“Eh,” Jack shrugged and took her chance. Black Cat - as she called herself - was distracted and Jack took this chance. She surged out her wrist and shot out a web at the cat’s feet and another at her hands. “Works for me. And I think Black Cat works for a petty cat burglar. Tad bit on the nose, but what can you do?”

Black Cat yelped and pulled on the webs. “You fucking prick! You distracted me!”

“What can I say? Spiders like to trick their prey.”

“Gross.”

“Whatever. I’m going to leave you here and call the cops. They can deal with you.”

Jack turned and whipped out her phone. As she dialed, rustling could be heard from behind her. Jack spun on her heels and groaned.

She was gone.

“Fucking shit.” Jack hung up her phone and started home. No point in losing sleep over an alley cat.

Chapter Text

“Oh, for fucks’ sake!” Race exclaims, dropping his head in his hands. “Just choose a goddamn outfit! Davey’s seen you bloody, half-dead, and topless. He doesn’t care what you wear.”

Jack pouts, frowning at her brother. “I know that. But, this is our first date. I have to make a good impression.”

“Jack, pick a fucking outfit before I blow my brains out.”

She chuckles and puts together an outfit. A pair of clean jeans and a semi-nice top. “This work for you?”

“I don’t even care anymore. Wear your suit for all I care.”

“If it wasn’t slightly torn up and it wouldn’t be entirely weird to wear it out, I would. I look hot as fuck in tight spandex.”

“Fucking hell. I’m going back to my room.” He gets up and starts walking to the door. “Oh! And Spot will be here later. Please don’t piss him off, or at least try.”

“I’ll be good, I promise.”

“Thank you.” Race leaves the room and pulls the door closed.

Jack sighs and gets dressed. Her hands shake as she does so, but she ignores it. Her nerves were a tad bit on the bad side right now, but nothing she can’t deal with. This was Davey. She would be fine.

Jack checked the time and rushed out of her room. She had thirty minutes until she had to meet him and the diner where they would be meeting was five minutes away. She had time, but the achy feeling in her chest and the horrid pit in her stomach told her otherwise.

She sighed and grabbed her keys. She was just going to be early. Should ease the sick feeling in her stomach.

“I’m leaving now!”

“Be safe!”

Jack pulled open the door and exited the apartment.

She focused on her breathing. In. Out. In. Out. This was going to be okay. It was just a first date. She’s had plenty of those. She’s charming and she hasn’t scared Davey away yet. This was going to be okay.

It was just Davey. She could do this.

She gulped and forced thoughts out of her mind. She focused on her destination. Her fingers twitched at her sides and she stuffed her hands into her pockets.

Jack pushed into the diner and seated herself. Fingers tapped on the sticky table. A deep breath in. Exhale.

Twenty minutes. She just had to wait it out for twenty minutes. Twenty minutes.

She let out a sharp breath and focused her eyes on the street. People passing. Entire lives pass by her. Families. Couples. Teens like her. Whole lives right in front of her.

Before Jack knew it, Davey was walking into the diner. She sat up straight and waited for him to reach her eyes. Once he noticed her, he walked over, sitting across from her.

“Hi,” He greeted with a smile. God, he’s so pretty. “Were you waiting long?”

Jack shook her head and with it, her mindless thoughts. “No, no. Just got here early. You look nice.” And he did. He was wearing a blue plaid button-down and dress pants. Very Davey. The only change from his typical attire was a pair of glasses. “New glasses?”

“Oh! These?” He held them off his face. “Nah, my contacts dried out. Stuck wearing these today. Hope that’s not a problem.”

“No, they look nice. Just didn’t know you wore contacts.”

“I used to wear glasses to school all the time, ended up getting contacts a year or two back.”

“I mean it, they look good.”

After another minute of small talk, a waitress came by and took their orders.

“So, I guess we don’t know a ton about each other. I didn’t even know you wore glasses. Maybe this is a chance to learn about each other.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Anything you want to know specifically?”

“You never told me about your dad. And his injury. You told Spider-Woman that, though, after like ten minutes.” Jack lowered her voice as she said the name out loud.

Davey’s eyes widened for a second. “Oh, sorry. Never realized that. I don’t make a habit out of telling people. Most people just assumed I worked at Evo for college applications and things like that. Not something you just tell people, you know?”

“Yeah, I get that. You said he was getting better, right? Are you still needing a job to help support your folks?”

“I mean, they never wanted me working in the first place, but I did it because I felt I had to. That it was my responsibility. Now, I really don’t have to work. My dad is back to working again and with his and my mom’s jobs, we’re fine.” He shrugged and focused on his drink.

“But you want to?”

“Yes. I don’t know. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed working and getting to do things I loved for money. It was great. If only Denton wasn’t secretly a reptile maniac.”

Jack chuckled. “Well, the offer for you to work at the World is still open. Katherine would be happy to get you a job there. And not just for me either, she likes you too.”

“I know. Let me think on it and I’ll get back to you and Katherine.”

“Sounds good. Anything you want to know about me? Tragic backstories or anything like that?”

“Well, I know you and your brothers are adopted. Why about before that?”

Ooh, that’s a hard-hitter.

Jack physically stilled and gulped.

Davey must have realized her reaction and quickly backtracked. “-Only if you want to talk about that.”

Jack blinked and refocused her eyes on Davey. She let out a deep breath. “No, it’s fine. Just a long story. Do you want the run-down or the full thing?”

“Whatever you want to tell me.”

“Okay, then long story it is.” She flashed him a grin, breathing deeply. “Where to start? Ah, let’s start from the beginning, with my biological parents. My parents were the best, I mean the best. My mom was the idea of motherly perfection. She told me these stories about this New Mexico town and how it was just green plains for miles.”

“Santa Fe?”

“Yeah, she used to live there before she met my dad. Anyways, when I was six, she got sick. Really sick. Not even sure what it was. But it was bad. She didn’t have much longer after they found out. Her death hit me hard, real hard. I was six and my whole life just turned on its axis. My dad didn’t do too well after that. Turned to alcohol and then, crime. I was seven when he was arrested and charged with armed robbery. He was given fifteen years, so I was thrown into the foster system. Bounced around from group homes and foster homes for a while. Met Charlie and Race at some group home we all got placed in. The Refuge is what they called it. Not really a refuge, though. The guy who ran it was a sadistic bastard. Basically starved the kids and it only got worse in the winter.” Jack let out a breath and shook her shoulders.

“You don’t have to continue if you don’t want to.”

“No, I want to. After a few years in the system, I was placed in this foster home. With a woman, Medda Larkin. Now, by this point, I was angry and scared. I was seen as a troubled kid and I messed up every placing I had until this point, but this one felt different. See, some foster parents foster for money. Others do it for the attention it gets them. And then you have the foster parents who genuinely care about the kids in the system. The last category is the least likely of the three and I had never been in a home like that before. But Medda was one of those parents. She was caring and loving. She gave me a home and love. But I was still so shaken up. I was just waiting for the straw the break and for her to yell when I messed up or got in trouble at school. But she never did.”

By this point, tears were running down Jack’s cheeks. She wiped at them and continued.

“I wasn’t her first foster kid, but the others were older and aged out of the system shortly after she got them. So, she had experience with tough kids. The older you get, the less families want you. And if you were like me, angry and scarred, it was even harder. But Medda listened. She loved me from the beginning. It took me a while to open up, but I began to flourish there. After a while, she took in another kid. Race.”

The first night with Race had been rough. He had come in shaking and so scared. Jack felt for him and didn’t let him leave her sight. She knew from the second he entered the apartment that she was going to take care of him.

“He was scared, but we took care of each other. I promised him we were safe and we found somewhere safe. That we were going to be okay.”

Jack remembers clinging to her little brother’s body that first night. Holding him tight. The tears shed and promises made.

“And then there were three. Medda brought in one more kid. Charlie. Now, Charlie is an optimist and the happiest kid I have ever known. Even in the foster system. But, like any kid in a new home, he was nervous. So, that first night, I did the same thing I did for Race. Held him and promised that we would be safe.”

From their first nights on, she was their older sister and she would lay down her life before she let anything happen to them.

“They’re my brothers. And even if we weren’t adopted, they would still be my brothers. But, we were adopted and that was one of the best things to ever happen for me. And for them.”

“When were you adopted?”

“A year or so back. Pretty recent. And once I was officially adopted, I changed my name legally.”

“Can I ask what it was before you changed it?”

God, I love him.

What?

Jack gulped and ignored her thoughts. “Yeah, it’s fine. My name used to be Frances Marie Sullivan. Named after my father. I started going by Jack when I was ten. After my mom. Her middle name was Jacqueline. A lot of the younger boys teased me for the name, but I didn’t care. So now, I am legally Jacqueline Francis Marie Kelly. Long name, but it works for me.”

“Why Kelly?”

“That was my mom’s maiden name. I wanted to feel closer to her and for so long I was angry with my dad. Still am, slightly. But, I understand him more now. He was heartbroken and became a shell of himself. Doesn’t change what he did, but makes him seem more human than monster.”

Their food was dropped off and they focused on eating for a few minutes.

“Oh! I brought something.”

“Okay… should I be worried?”

“No,” He smiled at her, reaching into his bag. “Shit, I can’t pull this out here. Just look in the bag.” He leaned over and dropped it beside her.

Jack glanced at him and then at the bag. She unzipped it and peeked inside. A large jar of black goo stared at her.

“Oh.” Her throat went dry and she swallowed loudly. “Th-thanks.”

“I can watch it longer if you need more time-”

“No.” She cut in sharply. “No, it’s fine. I can examine it and maybe Race wants to look at it. I’ll keep it locked away. Shouldn’t be any problems. Thank you, Davey.”

“No problem.”

One thing Jack decided to bring with her today on her date was her police scanner. She had become wildly paranoid over the last two months and felt attached to the thing. So sue her. Whatever. She had clipped it to one of her belt loops and turned the volume down low. Quiet enough no one would hear it, but loud enough she could still hear it.

And right now, it was going off with a break-in at a nearby museum.

“Fuckin’ hell.” She muttered, zipping the bag back up.

“What? What happened? Is it the symbiote?”

“No, no. Fuck- it’s my police radio. Break-in at a museum. But, I don’t have to go.”

His face practically told her what his response would be. “Jack. You have to go.”

“Fuck, I knew you would say that. Why do you have to be such a good person sometimes? Sometimes I think I’m not a bad enough influence on you.”

Davey chuckled, shaking his head. “Go, I’ll be here when you get. That is if you want to continue this.”

Jack stood up, leaned over the table, and kissed him. “I’ll be back. Thirty minutes max. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Jack grinned at him and kissed him once more for good measure. She then bolted from the diner and ran down an alley. Call it kismet or fate, but something in her mind told her to bring her suit. She quickly changed and leaped onto a roof. She kept her radio clipped to her belt and swung to the museum. Hopefully, the police weren’t there yet. They didn’t quite like her.

She made it to the museum and hopped on the roof. She scanned it before ducking down what she assumed the burglar used to get in.

She dropped to the floor in a dark hallway.

Deja vu.

She narrowed her eyes and started into the exhibits. Her radio had gone silent and she focused on the hall. No hostages this time. Just her, a robber, and a shit ton of expensive art. Easy peasy, right?

Once she reached the first exhibit, she saw the robber. In black leather and a white wig.

“Fuckin’ cat. Jesus.” She muttered to herself. She eyed the cameras in the camera. Iced up. Seemed like the cat was better than she appeared to be.

Jack crept closer, walking on her toes to avoid noise.

“Thought I had seen the last of you last night.”

Black Cat jumped, her heels clicking on the floor. “You wish. Here to catch me, spider?”

“Yep.” Jack grinned through her mask. “Now, tell me. What’s a girl like you doing robbing fancy penthouses and museums?”

“A girl like me? What’s that mean?”

“I just mean you could be doing so much more with your ‘skills’ instead of robbing people.”

“Oh really? Like what?”

“Hmm, don’t know. They don’t really require much brains for me to be a hero.”

“Is that what you are? Last I heard was that you attacked an officer. Sounds like you’re a criminal like me.”

“Oh please, I was a criminal long before I became a hero. But, the two aren’t incompatible, I can be both.”

“What did you do?”

“Stole some things, but let’s focus on what you’re stealing.” Jack rested a hand on the glass case the cat stood in front of. Inside the case rested a large diamond necklace, previously owned by Katherine David Pulitzer, Katherine’s mom. Supposedly the gem set in the necklace was an heirloom and nearly flawless. Pulitzer donated it after his late wife’s passing. “Didn’t take you for a necklace type of gal.”

“Doesn’t belong here.”

“And it does with you?”

“Better with me than with some self-righteous fucks who don’t know the history of it.”

“Either way, you’re stealing.”

“And you’ll what? Stop me? Didn’t work so well for you last night.”

“Where will you escape to this time? And don’t worry this time, the cops will catch you.”

“Will they?” She grins at Jack. “They’re late. Should’ve been here by now. Don’t you think?”

Jack frowns, groaning loudly and smacking her hand to her face. “What did you do?”

“Oh, I just gave them something else to worry about. By the time they get here, they’ll find you and no necklace.”

Jack focused her eyes on the necklace, still locked away in its glass case. “Doubtful.”

“Doubt all you want, but it will happen.”

Jack’s eyes continued to focus on the necklace while she stepped closer to the cat. “Oh, please. I’ve dealt with worse than the likes of you.”

“Is that so?”

“And I have a date waiting for me. So, I need this to be resolved quickly.”

“A date? Interesting. Didn’t know people could be into insects.”

“Better than dating an alley cat.”

“You wound me, spidey. Thought we were friends.”

Jack pried her gaze from the case and back to the woman in front of her. Jack stood slightly taller than Black Cat, which gave her the advantage. Jack’s eyes quickly scanned the room before flitting back in front of her. She placed a hand on either side of the cat burglar.

“Hmm, guess not.” Black Cat then kicked Jack’s feet from underneath her and bolted across the room.

Jack leaped back up and lunged for Black Cat. “Two can play that game.”

“Can they? I think you’re struggling.”

Jack growled and leaped back at the woman. She grabbed at the end of the fur, covering her glove in white fuzz. “Fuckin’ hell.”

Black Cat flipped over to the case and pulled out the necklace, quickly replacing it with a replica. “Well, it seems I got what I came for. Tata.” She waved and ran out of the room, back to the hallway they both came from.

“Fuck.” Jack chased after and shot a web at her feet. Black Cat went down with a yelp. Jack sped up and snatched the necklace from her hand. “Gotcha!”

“Did you?”

Jack glanced at the necklace in her hand, a fake. Black Cat cut herself free from the webs and jumped up. Jack jumped to follow her and was promptly kicked in the chest. Jack tumbled backward and jumped back up to the roof.

Once she got there, Black Cat was gone and so was the necklace.

“Fuck.” The fake hung limp in Jack’s hand and she chucked it. She glanced at the time and decided to just leave it. It was in the cops’ hands now.

She made her way back to the alley where she left her things and changed out of her suit. Then, she re-entered the diner, walking right to Davey.

“How did it go?”

Jack groaned, dropping her face on the sticky diner table. “I didn’t catch her. Again.”

“Who?”

“Black Cat, this, this robber who I ran into last night. She escaped me last night and again today. She stole some fancy priceless necklace from the museum. Katherine’s mom’s necklace that was an heirloom.”

“Why was an heirloom in the museum anyway?”

“Pulitzer being the fuckface he is donated it for a wing named after him.”

“Do you want to go home?” His face was covered with a sad sort of smile.

Jack sat up and shook her head. “No, no. Sorry, I’m just pouting after what happened. No, I want to continue our date. Tell me something about you I don’t know.”

The rest of the date went well and Davey walked her home. Jack felt giddy and happy, the failure of losing Black Cat again becoming a distant memory. She entered the apartment, the jar of black goo tightly in her hands.

Race and Spot sat on the couch as she entered.

“Hey, I’m just gonna…” She pointed to the hall and quickly went down it. She needed to put away the symbiote before anyone else saw it. She opened up her closet, full of forgotten clothes, and hid it. Once she had some time, she would study it with the help of Race.

She could hear voices from the living room, but ignored them and plopped on her bed. She was tired. But she had things she needed to do.

She hoisted herself up from her bed and walked across the hall.

“Hey, Crutch? I need a favor from you.” She pushed the door open and dropped onto Race’s empty bed.

Her brother waved as she entered, barely looking up from his laptop. “What do you need?”

“Any chance you could hack a subway station’s cameras?”

“I could, but why?” He looked up at her, curiosity and confusion lighting up his eyes.

“No specific reason. Could you hack one for me?”

“Which station?”

“The old abandoned one in Brooklyn. I think those cameras might still be active.”

Charlie stared at her before furiously typing on his keyboard. He frowned at the screen and then turned to face her. “So, good news and bad news.”

“Give me the bad news first.”

“Most of the cameras are destroyed or too old to get any footage from.”

“And the good?”

“There’s one working camera right at the end of the stairs that works and had accessible footage.”

Jack jumped up from the bed and rushed over to Charlie. “Holy shit! That’s great! Can you go back a week? Late in the night?”

“Yeah… let me just.” He typed something in before rewinding the footage. The tape rewinds and flashes of blue, red, and green covered the screen. Then, it started playing. “Here you go. Last week, ‘bout ten minutes past midnight. What are you looking for again?”

She shushed him and focused on the recording. She saw her own shadow and the shadow of lizard Denton. She watched as her shadow-self webbed him down and released the cure. A few more minutes and she sees it: Denton changing back from Lizard. Proof. Proof that could get him put away, or at least his reputation ruined so he won’t work in a lab again.

“This is great, Charlie! Any chance you could download these few minutes and send them to me?”

“Uh, yeah, yeah. I can get this to you. And you need footage of a naked guy in the subway tunnel why?”

“Just something for Katherine. She was looking into that lizard guy. And I got her the proof she needed. Thank you.”

“No problem. How was your date?”

Jack grinned and flopped back on one of the beds, she wasn’t entirely sure which one she fell on. “It was… great. God, he’s perfect and I just adore him.”

“You two are going to be more nauseating than Race and Spot.”

“Is that even possible?”

“If it were, you and Davey would do it.”

“Oh, fuck off.”

Charlie laughed, leaning back in his chair. “Whatever you say, but if you and Davey become insufferable, I am going to tell you I told you so.”

Jack stood up, stretching her arms. “Well, thanks for getting me the footage. I’m gonna go lie down or paint, who knows? See you later.”

She crossed the hall and dropped onto her bed. She then fished out her phone and opened her messages.

spider squad

spidey: got a video of denton changing back from a lizard. we got proof if we want to try to put him away

guyinthechair: how’d you get that?

spidey: crutchie hacked the camera feeds for me

racie: you told crutchie?

spidey: what? no

spidey: i just asked him to hack them and lied. i’m not an amateur

racie: whatever, i’m putting my phone away. spots still here

spidey: gross

racie: fuck off, at least i have a boyfriend

racie is offline

Jack smirked at her phone before pulling up another message thread.

davey

jackie: so, we didn’t exactly discuss this earlier. second date?

davey: are you asking me on a second date?

jackie: yes

davey: then yes

jackie: perfect, i’ll find something romantic and totally cliche for us to do, as god intended

davey: you’re ridiculous

jackie: you love it

davey: i do

jackie: today was great, sorry about the interruption

davey: jack, it's fine. i went on a date with a superhero, interruptions for crime-fighting are a given

jackie: it shouldn’t be tho, the next one i am going to only focus on you

jackie: ooh! i know what we should do

davey: what?

jackie: i’m going to paint you and you can just sit there and look pretty. shouldn’t be a problem

davey: sounds great

jackie: see, i can be smart

davey: when have i ever said otherwise?

jackie: eh, who knows?

davey: i gotta go, my mom’s calling for me. talk to you later

jackie: bye, davey

Jack had a good feeling. Everything was going to work out. Maybe. Possibly. Maybe she wasn’t that hopeful. Fuck.

Chapter Text

november 16th:

spider squad

spidey: hey guys?

spidey: so…. i lost the symbiote

racie: WHAT?

guyinthechair: what he said

spidey: i had it out and was studying it, i went the bathroom for a few minutes, came back and it was gone. the jar was open and empty

racie: oh, fuck me

spidey: gross

racie: we’re fucked. the symbiote is going to cling to someone and make them super evil and powerful. if anyone asks, im sticking to my fifth amendment rights.

spidey: i fucked up, didn’t i?

guyinthechair: it wasn’t your fault, jack. things happen

racie: have you MET jack? it was definetly her fault

spidey: learn how to fucking spell, dumbass

racie: you just lost an evil parasite, worry about something else

spidey: geez, i’ll do a patrol to see if i can see anyone inflicted by it, but we might have wait this one out

racie: god help me. why did i ever sign up for this?

spidey: cause you love me

racie: only because i have to

spidey: love you too, race

november 17th:

spider squad

guyinthechair: another robbery at a museum. black cat, i imagine

spidey: fucking hell, does she ever get tired?

racie: parently not

spidey: on a lighter note, denton is officially being charged with public destruction of property because of the fucked condition of the subway.

guyinthechair: we’ll see if that sticks

spidey: well, we gave them the video, so hopefully it should. what did she take this time?

guyinthechair: another heirloom. i don’t know if this one is connected to pulitzer yet though

spidey: wonder what she has against him, but he does suck incredible ass

racie: weird choice of words

spidey: fuck off

november 20th:

dumbass queers

ginger.twink: just saw morris, dude is still fucked up from jack’s beating. nice one, jack

juliet: wait, when did jack beat up morris? did i miss that?

bird.boy: how did you miss that? she got suspended and everything. where have you been?

juliet: dunno

bird.boy: whatever

bird.boy: albert, pls tell me you got pictures of morris’s sorry ass

ginger.twink: yep

ginger.twink sent one attachment

bird.boy: damn

spottie: he still looks like that? shit

bird.boy: its honestly pretty nice to see them be the ones hurting all the time. makes me feel good

cowboy(girl): im just lucky he didn’t press charges. not looking for another stint in juvie

reporter.barbie: doesn’t medda have a good lawyer anyway?

cowboy(girl): yeah, but im on camera beating the shit out of morris. not much you can say to fight that other than a psychotic break

bird.boy: well…wasn’t it sort of a psychotic break?

reporter.barbie: you were acting off the entire day, if he does end up pressing charges, you could use that for your defense

cowboy(girl): sure you want to be a reporter? you would make a decent lawyer. and yes, finch, it was sort of a psychotic break. i was out of it all weekend until that monday. no real explanation for it tho

reporter.barbie: i would make a GREAT lawyer, maybe a plan b in case reporting doesn’t work out

cowboy(girl): like you would ever give up on journalism.

reporter.barbie: true, true

mouth: wait, jack was in juvie???

bird.boy: …

ginger.twink: …

blonde.twink: …

foureyes: …

juliet: …

crip.boy: …

jojo.siwa: …

elmerglue: …

blink.182: …

hopeless.romantic: …

larger.than.life: …

cowboy(girl): fuck all of you.

davey

davey: juvie? why didn’t you tell me?

jackie: sorry, i don’t tell a ton of people. most of the group knows because they were there when i was thrown in.

davey: what happened?

jackie: the refuge was bad, like i said, kids were freezing and starving. so, one night, i broke out of the home and stole some food and coats for the kids. i got caught on my way back into the refuge. i was only in juvie for a few months, nothing major, but it’s still on my record and everything

davey: i wish you told me, but i get why you didn’t

davey: i’m sorry you went through that

jackie: eh, it made me who i am. probably wouldn’t be spider-woman if i didn’t have some sad backstory

davey: you’re ridiculous

jackie: you knew that when you kissed me

davey: i did

dumbass queers

blonde.twink: no response from either of them. did davey kill jack?

crip.boy: not my favorite sibling

bird.boy: damn, crutch

blonde.twink: fuck you, crutchie. after all i do for you

crip.boy: you kicked me out of the room the other day so you and spot could fuck. so, fuck you

bird.boy: oop

spottie has left the chat

jojo.siwa: oop

blonde.twink: ACDN3EKDJNEDKJNJXNEDIJXNE

blonde.twink: FUCK

blonde.twink is offline

cowboy(girl): davey didn’t kill me, we just had an adult conversation, like a good couple

ginger.twink: is that a dig at us for being single?

juliet: wait, davey and jack are dating?

bird.boy: where the fuck have you been?

cowboy(girl): what the fuck happened with race? he’s just screaming and i think he just threw something at the wall

foureyes: lol

bird.boy: crutchie exposed him in the chat and spot left

cowboy(girl): ah, makes sense. they both knew we all knew they were fucking right? like, race had that major hickey the other day. we all saw it

ginger.twink: race has no common sense and i think its spreading to spot. its a shame, spot was cool

cowboy(girl): makes sense.

juliet: can we go back to jack and davey dating? im so confused

mouth: me and jack are dating. pretty much sums it up

cowboy(girl): aww davey admitted we’re dating in the group chat, that’s like meeting the parents

elmerglue: but you and davey are the parents, who are we in this scenario?

cowboy(girl): me and davey are not the parents

bird.boy: you definitely are. hate to break it to you

cowboy(girl): @crip.boy tell me its not true

crip.boy: its true, jack. sorry

jojo.siwa: but davey’s the mom.

mouth: im the what?

bird.boy: dramatic gasp did davey just write without puncuations?

ginger.twink: did you just use an action tag in a fucking text?

bird.boy: yeah and what of it

ginger.twink: what the fuck is wrong with you?

bird.boy: many things, where should i start?

cowboy(girl): why is davey the mom? am i the dad?

jojo.siwa: sort of, but youre like the dad who will kick other kids asses if they mess with their kids

mouth: why am i the mom?

bird.boy: come on, davey, come on

mouth: what?

cowboy(girl): you know, i kind of see it now

mouth: jack, what?

cowboy(girl): fighting gender roles one group chat at a time

ginger.twink: what the fuck are you talking about?

cowboy(girl): no clue, i’m sleep deprived and i can still hear race in his room freaking out

bird.boy: add spot back

cowboy(girl): fine

cowboy(girl) added spottie to the chat

spottie: what the fuck? why am i back? race is currently screaming in my ear on the phone

cowboy(girl): blame finch

spottie: makes sense

bird.boy: what is race screaming about?

spottie: it started about crutchie telling everyone we fucked, but now, im not too sure

cowboy(girl): i’ll go yell at him. brb

cowboy(girl) is offline

bird.boy: and now we wait

crip.boy: im honestly finding all of this hilarious. watching chaos unfold before my eyes

spottie: you are terrifying, charlie, you know that?

crip.boy: yep

bird.boy: jack? any updates?

cowboy(girl): is back online

cowboy(girl): i yelled at race and he yelled back

cowboy(girl): then i chucked something at him and he stopped

spottie: thank god, he hung up. all i can hear now is ringing. its terrifying

blonde.twink is back online

blonde.twink: WHAT THE FUCK? EVERYONE SAW THE HICKEYS???? brb, gonna go kill myself

cowboy(girl): at least mama doesn’t know, then she would give you the protection talk

bird.boy: gulp

ginger.twink: did you just fucking type GULP?

bird.boy: yep and id do it again

november 25th:

jack has created a new chat

jack has named the chat davey’s 17th birthday dilemma

jack added sarahhh to the chat

jack added kitty-kath to the chat

jack: guys, i need help

sarahhh: with what, dumbass?

kitty-kath: what do you need, jack?

jack: so, davey’s birthday is in five days and i haven’t got him anything yet

sarahhh: what?

kitty-kath: how? you’ve known his birthday for a while now

jack: well, before we were just friends, so i was going to get him something more laidback, then we started dating. i can’t give him something little for his birthday as his girlfriend

sarahhh: god, you are a mess

jack: that’s been well established. any advice?

kitty-kath: paint him something

jack: what?

kitty-kath: you’re an artist, jack, so paint him something. he’ll love it because its from you and because your work is incredible

jack: what would i paint?

sarahhh: him, dumbass

jack: you’re so mean to me

sarahhh: shit, david just came in my room. bye!

sarahhh is offline

jack: would it be weird if i gave him some sketches i did of him, too?

kitty-kath: are they weird sketches?

jack: what are you implying?

kitty-kath: are they sexual?

jack: wHat? no!

kitty-kath: then go for it. i gotta go, let me know how it goes

kitty-kath is offline

november 28th:

3:28am

dumbass queers

bird.boy: happy-fucking-thanksgiving to you all

ginger.twink: can i go one day without you acting like a dumbass

ginger.twink: please, just one

bird.boy: hmm… nope!

ginger.twink is offline

bird.boy: boo you whore

cowboy(girl): finch, it is three in the FUCKING morning

bird.boy: your point?

cowboy(girl): go to bed before i hunt you down and kill you

crip.boy: gulp

cowboy(girl): whatever, i’m turning my phone off

cowboy(girl) is offline

bird.boy: daveys grammatical writing is spreading

bird.boy: save yourself

crip.boy: there’s something wrong with you

crip.boy is offline

bird.boy: they got crutchie

spottie: go to fucking bed. my phone keeps buzzing

bird.boy: and if dont?

spottie: then i’ll kill you in painful ways

bird.boy: gulp

bird.boy is offline

spottie: sounds about right

spottie is offline

10:39am

dumbass queers

blonde.twink: damn, spot is hot

ginger.twink: he made it stop, keep him forever

blonde.twink: but have none of you heard of do not disturb? i block you dumbasses out after midnight, like a normal person

reporter.barbie: i just ignore the messages after a certain hour

mouth: i check this chat like twice a week, not much of a problem for me

cowboy(girl): pls stpo, im stil skeepy

mouth: what the fuck?

bird.boy: i take it back, it hasn’t gotten jack yet

crip.boy: she’s currently half-asleep in her cereal. there’s milk going up her nose.

bird.boy: send pics

crip.boy sent an attachment

mouth: aww, cute

bird.boy: you two are disgusting

crip.boy: and she’s awake again

cowboy(girl): fuk off, at least i have a bf

bird.boy: go back to your cereal, bitch

crip.boy: and she’s out again.

crip.boy: and she dropped her phone- wait- race just took it and ran off.

cowboy(girl): sup bitches!!!

mouth: race?

crip.boy: yep.

crip.boy: jack is now awake and is chasing race down the hall.

crip.boy: and they just got yelled at

cowboy(girl): you’ll never catch me. they call me race for a reason

cowboy(girl): wuhil3urhio3rufhiorufhiruh

mouth: what just happened?

crip.boy: race just tripped and then jack tackled him

cowboy(girl): fucking dick head.

bird.boy: and she’s back. crutchie pls tell me you recorded that

crip.boy: you know it

crip.boy has sent an attachment

cowboy(girl): im going back to bed. fuck off race

blonde.twink: if i hadn’t slipped i would’ve gotten away

bird.boy: le gasp it got race!

crip.boy: ?

november 30th:

davey

jackie: hey, could you come down out of your building for a minute?

davey: yeah, give me a second. why?

jackie: i have your birthday present

davey: jack, you really didn’t have to get me something

jackie: davey, we’re dating, of course i did

davey: yeah for like 17 days

jackie: and we were friends for longer. just get down here

davey: fine, be right there

davey’s birthday dilemma

jack: soo, davey loved the gift. thank you guys for the help. actually, kath, thank you for the help

sarahhh: whatever, you still piss me off from time to time

jack: love you too sweetheart

sarahhh: go sit on a screw

kitty-kath: i’m happy it worked out jack. did you give him some of your sketches too?

jack: yeah, he really liked them. thank you

kitty-kath: no problem :)

davey

davey: thank you, jack. i really liked your gift

jackie: it was nothing, but im glad you liked it

davey: thank you

jackie: happy birthday, davey

december 2nd:

dumbass queers

blonde.twink: i dont wanna be here

ginger.twink: then leave

cowboy(girl): don’t give him ideas

jojo.siwa: you two are going to get caught

cowboy(girl): eh, don’t really care. i hate this class. math is boring

bird.boy: shouldnt have taken the smart math class then

cowboy(girl): they didn’t give me much of a choice in the matter

blonde.twink: i hate numbers

reporter.barbie: is it just me or is this day going SO slow?

ginger.twink: not just you. i think my last class was three hours long. i nearly died

cowboy(girl): my hand is cramping from how much sketching im doing. im so bored.

four.eyes: i’m going to claw my eyes out

bird.boy: nooo, but we’ll have to change your chat name. you cant!

blonde.twink: plus, blink is the only one of us missing an eye, you can’t change the dynamic

blink.182: huh?

blink.182 is offline

ginger.twink: jesus, they just took blink’s phone. he pulled it out for one second and they got him

elmerglue: stay safe albert

ginger.twink: i’m putting it away for a second, she’s not paying much attention anyway, its the first day back from break

ginger.twink: and romeo is on his phone to me, she’ll catch him first

juliet: don’t jinx me

cowboy(girl): who ya texting romeo?

juliet: no one

blonde.twink: sure….

ginger.twink: its some girl. i saw his screen

juliet: FUCK!

juliet is offline

blonde.twink: they get him?

ginger.twink: yep. this teacher is on a fucking warpath

cowboy(girl): that’s hilarious, our teacher isn’t even paying attention to us, race has been throwing pieces of paper at me for like five minutes and he hasn’t said a single word

blonde.twink: what can i say? its fun

cowboy(girl): what’s gonna be fun is when i kick your ass later for throwing things at me

ginger.twink: fuck, she saw me

ginger.twink is offline

blonde.twink: damn, they got him

bird.boy: f in the chat for alber, romeo, and blink

blonde.twink: f

cowboy(girl): f

crip.boy: f

foureyes: f

jojo.siwa: f

elmerglue: f

hopeless.romantic: f

mouth: f

cowboy(girl): davey? you’re on your phone? during school?

mouth: class is boring

bird.boy: gasp you think class is boring? who are you and what did you do to davey?

mouth: tf?

bird.boy: AND non-grammatical swearing?

cowboy(girl): if this class goes on for any longer, im going to scream and probably strangle race

blonde.twink: what? why me?

cowboy(girl): why not? also, dave, i can see your phone, drop it underneath your desk or you’ll get caught

bird.boy: aww, cute, jack’s looking out for davey

cowboy(girl): fuck off, finch. i hope they get you

reporter.barbie: i’m about to kill this fucking bitch in my lit class

blonde.twink: do it

cowboy(girl): race!

blonde.twink: what?

cowboy(girl): what did she do?

reporter.barbie: she’s doing WAY too much ass-kissing for the first day back from break. no one gives a fuck about if you thought the reading was poetic and deep. fucking bitch

cowboy(girl): ugh, teacher’s pets, fucking kiss-asses

reporter.barbie: exactly what i’m saying. i’m going to fucking kill her

cowboy(girl): we have a few more minutes left, just wait it out.

blonde.twink: gross, kill her

reporter.barbie: sorry, jack, i think i’m going to take race’s advice

bird.boy: oh, thank fuck!

cowboy(girl): and there’s the bell. no murdering

reporter.barbie: there’s always tomorrow

blonde.twink: aint that true?

cowboy(girl): time for my favorite class

blonde.twink: chem’s your favorite? i thought i was art

blonde.twink: oh, i get it

bird.boy: huh? i don’t get it

cowboy(girl): its my favorite bc of this cute guy i sit by

bird.boy: huh? i thought you were dating- oh

cowboy(girl): yep

mouth: stop texting and get to class

cowboy(girl): yes, sir

mouth: shut the fuck up

december 4th:

spider squad

spidey: another fucking black cat robbery. i stg

racie: what she take this time?

spidey: are you seriously asking that? its another pulitizer family heirloom

racie: geez, what does she have against the guy

guyinthechair: did you run into her this time?

spidey: tried to, but she escaped me, again

racie: maybe you need to get better

guyinthechair: race!

racie: what? im just offering advice

spidey: he’s right, i need to get better. i need someone on my level to fight, no offense guys

racie: none taken, my twinkish build isn’t made for muscles and fighting

spidey: i’m quoting that next time you get into a fight

guyinthechair: you find someone else bitten by a experiment spider and there you go

spidey: don’t challenge me

racie: can i get bit by a spider? it sounds fun!

spidey: no

guyinthechair: no

racie: you guys are no fun

spidey: believe me, it's not that fun

racie: ugh, boring

spidey: whatever

guyinthechair: i’ll try to see if any other pulitzer family heirlooms are around the city, maybe you can find what she’s after next

spidey: sounds good

guyinthechair is offline

racie: i would make a great superhero

spidey: sure, race

racie: i would! i would be a fucking badass

spidey: just for fun, what would be your name?

racie: i haven’t thought that far ahead

spidey: get back to me when you do

spidey is offline

december 10th:

davey

jackie: get down here, i’m freezing!

davey: give me a minute, i’ll be right there

jackie: if you don’t get down here in 2 minutes, i’m not kissing you

davey: what?

jackie: was that you who fell?

davey: you heard that?

jackie: i can hear just about everything in a five block radius

davey: you’re joking

jackie: nope, hurry up. i’m serious about the no-kissing rule

davey: i’m hurrying

davey: wsdjeilfuirfuhirufjkl

jackie: fall again? i mean, i heard it, but….

davey: yes, be right there

jackie: i’ll be waiting

davey: running down the stairs now

jackie: i know

davey: jesus, fuck, that too?

jackie: practically everything

davey: how do you know its me?

jackie: davey, please. i know the exact way you walk and how it sounds. i know the way your heart beats.

davey: wHat?

jackie: davey, you need to walk to get down the stairs

davey is offline

jackie: did i break you?

jackie: oop, you’re heading down the stairs again

december 15th:

dumbass queers

cowboy(girl): can someone lobotomize me?

mouth: dramatic much?

cowboy(girl): davey, how could you? this is serious?

mouth: jack, this is because you have to write a single paragraph about our lab in chemistry. you’re being dramatic

bird.boy: nah, i’m with jack. lobotomy it is

blonde.twink: its a paragraph, you dumb bitch. just use ai

mouth: race!

blonde.twink: what? its the only way to stop her bitching and moaning

crip.boy: why did i ever agree to this chat?

spottie: i was forced here. i can’t even leave

blonde.twink: spottie! i thought you loved the chat!

spottie: i left and you forced me back

cowboy(girl): hello? my problems?

blonde.twink: i already gave you a solution. figure it out

cowboy(girl): rude

blonde.twink: fuck off

mouth: guys

bird.boy: yeah, listen to mom

mouth: please stop, finch

bird.boy: never, mom

crip.boy: that’s why i stay

bird.boy: aww, crutchie stays for me! i knew you always loved me

crip.boy: not you, dumbass, for davey being the group’s mom

mouth: i’m not the mom

ginger.twink: just accept it, it’s easier that way

mouth: you’re the only other person with sense in here, albert

cowboy(girl): davey? i’m your girlfriend!

mouth: you just asked for a lobotomy over a paragraph

mouth: actually, spot and charlie have sense too

ginger.twink: yeah, we are very outnumbered

spottie: and half of us are dating the worst of them

blonde.twink: RUDE

spottie: race, you don’t have the sense god gave a pigeon. you may be smart in things like math, but you have no common sense.

blonde.twink: a pigeon?

cowboy(girl): hah!

ginger.twink: there’s no way you are talking, jack

cowboy(girl): what?

ginger.twink: you once forgot your own address right after writing it down

cowboy(girl): i have short-term memory?

ginger.twink: don’t even

mouth: jack, stop pouting!

crip.boy: please send pics

mouth: bet

mouth has sent an attachment

bird.boy: hah!

blonde.twink: okay, i feel better

cowboy(girl): you all suck

cowboy(girl) is offline

december 17th:

race has added you to a chat

race has renamed to chat to operation: double date

jack: what is happening?

race: read the chat name

spot: tony, what the fuck

davey: why am i here?

race: because, my dear friends and beloved boyfriend, we four are going to go on a double date

jack: what?

davey: and may i ask why?

race: you may not

spot: whatever, just tell me where to be and when, but you’re paying, tony

davey: aww, he calls you tony

spot: not a word to anyone else

davey: you got it

jack: whoops, i already told everyone

spot: kelly, i swear to god

jack: just kidding, but i got you, didn’t i?

race: okay! jack, davey, you in?

davey: i guess, jack?

jack: sure, not like i much of a choice, race would have annoyed me into it anyhow

race: perfect!

december 20th:

dumbass queers

bird.boy: it’s officially christmas break, bitches!

ginger.twink: thank fuck, i was getting way too stressed out. when my parents go on their cruise, i am going throw the biggest party to let loose. any one in?

bird.boy: absolutely

cowboy(girl): i am going to sleep forever. no one is going to hear from me over break. i will be hibernating

blonde.twink: why don’t people hibernate? it sounds fun

spottie: you’re the genius, tony, you tell us

blonde.twink: about math, not humans and their lack of hibernations

juliet: wait, back up

bird.boy: what?

juliet: spot just called race tony

spottie: fuck

spottie has left the chat

blonde.twink: god dammit

blonde.twink is offline

bird.boy: oop

bird.boy: anyways, christmas!!

mouth: and hanukkah

cowboy(girl): which, i will be acknowledging at my holiday party

crip.boy: OUR holiday party

cowboy(girl): right, our holiday party even though i’m decorating and doing everything

crip.boy: are you serious?

cowboy(girl): only 20 percent consistently

crip.boy: whatever

mouth: i’ll be at your party, i’ll have to leave early to light the candles, same with sarah

fav.lesbian: i heard my name

mouth: how?

fav.lesbian: its part of my gay powers

mouth: not even logical

fav.lesbian: all the logic went to you, im the hot twin

mouth: whatever you say

cowboy(girl): i think as the one person who dated you both, i can logically say who is the hot twin

fav.lesbian: and?

cowboy(girl): i regret saying anything

reporter.barbie: no, no go on, jack

cowboy(girl) is offline

december 25th:

dumbass queers

cowboy(girl): merry christmas and happy hanukkah!!!!

blonde.twink: are you kidding me? get the fuck out of your room, we’re waiting for you rn

cowboy(girl): fuck off, i’ll be right there

reporter.barbie: we still doing our secret santa this weekend?

bird.boy: think so. jack?

cowboy(girl): sorry, race and came attacked me. yep, this saturday, my place.

ginger.twink: sounds good

spottie: there’s not going to be drinking is there?

blonde.twink: what? don’t like seeing me all drunk and stuff?

spottie: not really

cowboy(girl): there will be no alcohol. medda’s rules

bird.boy: boo!

cowboy(girl): we can enjoy christmas without drinking

fav.lesbian: don’t forget, me and david will have to leave a little early, so we can light the candles with our family

cowboy(girl): no problem, we’ll just do gift exchanges once everyone gets there. davey awake yet?

fav.lesbian: yeah, he’s with les helping set up his new toys.

cowboy(girl): cool, cool

jojo.siwa: jesus, jack, you’re dating him, he’ll text you later

cowboy(girl): fuck off

cowboy(girl): any chance we can get pics of davey helping les

fav.lesbian: already on it

fav.lesbian sent an attachment

cowboy(girl): adorable

bird.boy: les or davey?

cowboy(girl): can it be both?

davey

jackie: happy hanukkah, davey

davey: merry christmas, jackie

jackie: see you on saturday. i wish i could stop by today, but you’ll get your gift saturday

davey: jack, you didn’t have to get me anything

jackie: bullshit, i bet you got me something

davey: that’s different

jackie: how?

davey: my birthday was last month and you celebrate christmas

jackie: ain’t there gifts for hanukkah?

davey: yeah, mainly for the younger kids, but my parents also do some stuff for christmas for les

jackie: why?

davey: they don’t want him to feel different than his classmates, so we do something little like some gifts under a little tree.

jackie: makes sense, kids can be cruel sometimes

davey: don’t we know it

jackie: see you saturday

davey: see you then

december 28th:

dumbass queers

ginger.twink: okay, now, who the fuck put up mistletoe? i just had to kiss finch

bird.boy: don’t act like you didn’t like it

crip.boy: wasn’t me

cowboy(girl): we have mistletoe? where?

mouth: already found it

mouth is offline

ginger.twink: race

blonde.twink: in my defense, i put it up to kiss spot, but i forgot where i put it

cowboy(girl): brb

cowboy(girl) is offline

davey

jackie: you looked reaallll pretty tonight, daveeyyyy

davey: are you drunk? i though there was no alcohol tonight?

jackie: dunno, but you looked niiiiccceeee

davey: go to bed, jackie. i’ll text you in the morning

december 29th:

dumbass queers

cowboy(girl): who the fuck spiked the lemonade last night? i am so hungover rn

blonde.twink: wasn’t me this time

ginger.twink: stop typing so loud

mouth: you were pretty drunk last night too, jack

cowboy(girl): yeah, i saw the texts

crip.boy: and you vomited like twice this morning

bird.boy: oop

cowboy(girl): finch, fuck off

cowboy(girl): don’t do that shit again, or at least tell me. someone could have not gotten home if they were too drunk

bird.boy: sorry

cowboy(girl): it’s fine, just tell someone next time so people don’t get blackout drunk and then go home alone

bird.boy: i won’t do it again

ginger.twink: you better fucking not, i can HEAR colors

davey

davey: i really liked your gift, i would have told you when you texted but

jackie: i was insanely drunk?

davey: yeah

jackie: it feels better now than it probably would’ve last night

jackie: i’m gonna go nap, my head hurts

january 3rd:

spider squad

spidey: hey guys?

guyinthechair: jesus christ, what did you do now?

racie: god damn it!

spidey: i think i broke my leg

guyinthechair: what the fuck?

racie: are you sure?

spidey: no, race, my leg is just bent the wrong way!

spidey sent an attachment

racie: jesus!

guyinthechair: be right there. don’t walk on it

guyinthechair is offline

spidey: got it. fuck it hurts

racie: no shit dumbass. just wait for davey

spidey: ow

racie: i bet black cat wouldn’t break her leg

spidey: fuck off, race. not helping

january 5th

dumbass queers

ginger.twink: who’s coming to mine next week?

blonde.twink: let me check with jack and then i’ll get back to ya

cowboy(girl): fine with me. i could use a break

bird.boy: with your photography job? is that even hard?

cowboy(girl): its harder than you think!

blonde.twink: that’s what she said

cowboy(girl): fuck off, race

bird.boy: jeez

ginger.twink: who is coming?

cowboy(girl): probs me, race, and charlie

crip.boy: not even asking me?

cowboy(girl): just imagined you’d go if me and race were going

crip.boy: you assumed right

cowboy(girl): see?

mouth: i’ll be there and sarah says she’ll go if katherine is going

cowboy(girl): ooh, i will definitely be there now

spottie: race just threatened me if i don’t go, so i guess me too

bird.boy: you can already expect me there

ginger.twink: i know, i already counted you

elmerglue: i should be able to make it, i don’t work that day

cowboy(girl): day off from the bakery?

bird.boy: you have a job?

juliet: i’ll be there, can i bring a date?

bird.boy: a girl?

juliet: …maybe

ginger.twink: bring whoever, but i don’t want it to be too huge. mainly just the main gang, plus the occasional date

reporter.barbie: count me and sarah in, i’ll be there

jojo.siwa: i’ll be there

ginger.twink: sounds good. no one spike the drinks this time.

bird.boy: got it

ginger.twink: i’ll have alcohol, but don’t mess with the other drinks.

cowboy(girl): guess who’s gonna get shitfaced?

blonde.twink: you?

cowboy(girl): yep!

Chapter Text

“Another patrol? Jack, you are going to burn yourself out.” Davey’s voice cracks slightly over the cell phone connection as Jack swings over the city. It was her third patrol of the week and it was only Tuesday.

“With Black Cat out there and the symbiote missing, I need to be on my A game. And that means patrolling anytime I can.”

“Jack.”

Jack frowns and drops to a rooftop and cracks her neck. God, she was tired and sore, but she was nothing if not stubborn.

“Davey, baby, I need to do this. It makes me feel just a tad better for losing the symbiote and not stopping Black Cat that first night.”

“We’ll get them. Both of them. We haven’t seen anything about any rampant goo monsters, so I think you’re good on that front and Black Cat will eventually run out of things to steal.”

Jack groans and kicks a brick across the roof. “I know that, Dave. I just want to see it happen. They've both been problems for months now, when I am going to actually do something?” She was getting upset, but who could blame her?

“Jackie, you are doing your best. You won’t be able to do anything if you burn out and get yourself hurt, or worse, killed.”

He had a point. But Jack wasn’t open to logic right now. It had been a long few months with nothing to show for it. Countless nights wasted patrolling only to have Black Cat slip out of her hands time and time again. She was tired and pissed.

“I know, Davey.” She practically growled out. She knew in the back of her mind that Davey wasn’t the person she was mad with, but she wasn’t thinking straight - was she ever thinking straight? Not the time.

“Jack, take a breather. I know you’re stressed about this, but getting upset won’t fix anything.”

He was great, but Jack wasn’t good enough for him. She was a fiery mess that he was constantly putting out.

Jack exhaled and kicked another brick. She felt useless, which was her least favorite feeling. She was used to fixing everything and being the one to handle everything. She didn’t like stepping back and letting things work out on their own. It felt icky.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I know you’re trying to fix everything. Some things are just going to take time. Give it time.”

Davey was like a gift from God, he was so perfect.

“Fuck, you’re the best. How do you know how to do that?”

“Perk of being your boyfriend, I know how to calm you down.”

“God, I love you.” Jack’s face was lit up with a wide grin, though no one could tell through the mask.

But, Davey was oddly silent. Just quiet rustles came from the other side of the call. What happened-

Fuck. What the fuck did she do?

‘I love you’? After three months?

She gulped.

Fuck.

As she racked her mind on what to say, the hair on her neck stood up and a chill went down her back. Danger.

She rolled her eyes and lept off the roof. She scanned the city below before shooting out a web and swinging to another roof. Before she could check again for danger, she heard car alarms. Lots of car alarms. She jumped back down to the city and swung towards the sounds.

“Jack? What’s happening?”

“I don’t know, sense went off and now car alarms are going off like crazy.”

Jack swung closer to the sound and froze. Fuck, fuck, fuckity-fuck.

She groaned and threw back her head. This could not be happening. “Oh, fuck me.”

“Jack?”

And there in front of her, was the symbiote she had been searching high and low for three months, with its new host apparently.

“I found the symbiote.”

“With the car alarms?”

“Yep.”

“Fuck.”

If it were any other time, Davey's swearing would send chills down her spine. Who’s she kidding? It still does, but it’s not the time for that. Later.

“I’m gonna try to lure it down an alley, maybe I can make it revert into the host. You still have the tuning fork?”

“Yeah.”

“Get it ready. And grab a lighter and some aerosol spray. Be prepared to head to the base when I tell you.”

“Got it.”

Jack dropped to the sidewalk, watching people run past her. She narrowed her eyes at the inky figure. It was at least six feet tall. Fuck. Jack exhaled and ran. It grabbed her wrist and flung her into a nearby building.

As she made contact with solid concrete and glass, she heard the quiet crack of her ribs. “Fuck,” she held her side as she groaned. “Make that another broken bone for this month. You can erase the ‘four days without any injuries’ from the incident board.”

Jack slowly peeled herself from the rumble and stood on her feet. She wobbled slightly. Her head ached and she felt woozy, but she wasn’t giving up that easily. She cracked her arms and ran at the back of the creature. She clung to its shoulder and held on tight as it swung her around.

It threw her off again, this time onto a crushed car. It was a softer landing than the last one.

Blood pumping and adrenaline high, Jack swung herself toward the creature. She kicked its stomach, sending it backward into an alley. She swung into the alley and cornered it.

Her arms burned, it felt like she was working out. Jack was never a fan of cardio, or exercising in general. She only lifted weights so she could kick the Delanceys’ asses. She had it cornered. There was nowhere it could go. She leaped towards it and the mask dropped for a half-second.

She froze. Fuck. Could nothing go semi-right today? That was a recognizable face. She saw it just today. She was going to kill someone. God, she better be fucking wrong about who is in that black goo form. 

“Jack? Is everything okay?”

Jack groaned and dropped her head in her hands. “Fuck!” She leaped again at the symbiote, she really needed a name for it. Symbiote didn’t quite roll off the tongue. Maybe Race could name it.

The figure in front of her jumped out of her way and she lunged forward. She grabbed their - his? - arm and tackled them to the ground.

“I swear to God, I am going to kill someone!”

The white irises of the symbiote looked at her confusedly and she rolled her eyes. She sneered and fought back to urge to kill someone.

“Jack? Is everything okay? Do I need to come down there?”

The eyes of the symbiote widened and it fought to get out of her grasp.

“Just meet me at the garage. I’ll be there in a few. Bring the stuff.”

“Got it. Be there in a few.” The call disconnected and Jack was left in the silence of the alley.

“Okay, now, what to do ‘bout you? I can’t bring you there like this. You’ll probably try to kill me, rightfully so, but I can’t have that.”

The symbiote hissed at her, its tongue popping out of its mouth as it did so.

“Ugh. Gross.” She leaned back and cracked her neck. “Okay, asshole, drop the suit.”

The symbiote host looked more confused than anything and refused to do anything.

“Fucking Christ!” Groaning, she steps closer to him. Davey would yell at her, but she could deal with that later. They would have to move him. She cracks her knuckles right before punching him in the head. It was enough to knock him as he slumped against the ground.

Well, that certainly did something. At least he was unconscious. Made things a little easier.

Jack slung the host over her shoulder, slightly groaning under the weight.

“Jesus, how much do you fucking weigh? You're tiny!”

She rolled her eyes, remembering she was talking to an unconscious person. An unconscious person she needed to get back to their little base.

Jack kept onto a roof and scoped out the distance to the parking garage. God, this was going to suck.

Sighing, Jack gripped the host and shot out a web with her other arm. Swinging was difficult with another person, especially one who was unconscious. But it was doable. Not ideal, but doable.

After a few agonizing slow and muscle-aching minutes, Jack finally reached the parking garage and swung into one of the lower levels. She dropped the host down on the concrete and stretched her arms.

“Fuck, I need to lift more.” She glanced around, looking for Davey. “Dave? You here?” She focused and listened in for Davey’s unique sounds. His footsteps, his breathing, his heartbeat.

There it was.

Jack grinned and waited for her dark-haired boyfriend to enter her line of sight.

Davey, hair slightly tussled, walked up the ramp with his bag slung over his shoulder. “Here. Did I make you wait long?”

“Nope, just got here. Douchebag over here weighs a ton, so it took a little longer.”

“He’s unconscious?”

“Yeah, knocked him out before I got out of there.” Jack cracks her neck. “You got the stuff?”

“Of course I do.” Davey tosses her the bag. “Everything you asked for is in there.”

“Perfect. Now, we have to wake him up. Be warned, I think we know who’s under there.”

Davey’s eyes widen. “What? Who?”

“Just watch.” Jack pulls out the tuning fork. She glances back at Davey. “And don’t tell Race.”

Jack props up the host and shakes him. After a few seconds, the white eyes open. Jack shoots webs at his wrist.

“Alright, time to go bye-bye you fucking parasite.” Jack smacks the tuning fork on the nearest surface. The symbiote writhes, fighting against the webs. She steps back, reaching an arm in front of Davey. “God, it’s like an exorcism.”

Slowly, the fighting back stops, and the black goo retreats into the host.

Fuck.

Beside her, she can hear a soft gasp. She was right. Of course, she was. As if the world hadn’t fucked her over enough.

“Jesus.”

“Yep.”

And there he was, Spot fucking Conlon, better known by some of their friends as the King of Brooklyn. Some king he was.

Still webbed to the concrete, Spot whipped his head around. “What kind of freak show is going on here, Jacobs? Care to let me in?”

Right, she was still wearing her mask. He didn’t know it was her. Thank fuck.

Davey, however, glanced at her. “Are you going to explain or should I?”

“Fuck,” she growled. “Give me a sec.” She paced the floor, thinking out the best plan of action. “Fuckin’ hell. Goddamn bullshit.” She muttered, still walking in circles.

“Spider-Woman.” Davey’s firm voice makes her freeze mid-lap.

“Right.” Jack walks back over to them. Her fingers twitch as she raises them to her face.

Davey grabs her wrist. “You sure about this?”

“When have I ever been sure of anything?”

He releases her wrist and she grabs at her mask. Davey nods at her and she pulls it over her head. Sweaty hairs stick to her forehead and her face is. no doubt is bruised from her fight from twenty minutes ago.

She looks at Spot, who’s staring at her wide eyes and an open mouth.

“What the fuck? Someone get me off the fuckin’ wall!”

Jack grins and steps over to him. “So impatient.”

“Fuck off, Kelly.”

Jack rips the webs from his wrists and steps back. “Next time, I’ll make sure to punch you a lot harder. Maybe it’ll finally shut you up.”

Spot hops to his feet. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Jack, maybe tone it down.”

“This fuckin’ prick just destroyed a whole block. I feel like my emotions are pretty valid, Davey.”

“You know better than anyone he wasn’t in control.”

“Can someone please let me in on what the fuck is happening?”

Davey looks at her, tilting his head to the side. “Jack?”

She narrows her eyes at him before groaning. “Fine. Spot, you might wanna sit down.”

“I think I’ll stand.”

“Whatever, doesn’t affect me.” She flails her arms around. “You are infected with a parasite sort-of thing. Affects your mood, and your strength, and causes blackouts.”

Spot stares her down, which Jack finds shocking due to his height. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not. It went missing a few months ago, a night which I think you were over at the apartment. Have you been experiencing any blackouts or lapses in memory?”

“Not particularly.”

“Well, isn’t that nice? He doesn’t have any blackouts.” She makes a face and looks at Davey. “Do you remember a half an hour ago?”

“Uh… no?”

“Exactly. It was in control.”

“What is ‘it’ exactly?”

“The parasite. It’s called a symbiote. Made from my blood.”

“You did this?”

Internally, Jack wants to scream and then strangle someone. Externally, she takes a sharp breath in and doesn’t make any abrupt movements. Like he’s a scared animal.

“No,” she responds calmly. “Some dickhead scientist took my blood and made it. I was its first host. Remember that day I attacked you when you were over? That was the symbiote, infecting me, controlling me.”

Spot snorts, “Yeah, right.”

“You know what? I tried! I tried to explain this to you, but I don’t give a shit! You have fun telling my brother you are infected with an evil parasite that is only going to take over your life unless you let me help you! I’m done!” She throws up her hands and walks away. “Sorry, Davey, I tried.”

“Spot, please.” Davey pleads.

“Fine. Whatever. I’m listening.”

Jack turns around and glares at Spot before speaking. “Good. The symbiote is pure evil and it will only get worse over time. You’ve gotten lucky for a while, but with you not even knowing that it took over a little while ago is a clear sign that you are losing control.”

“Maybe he’s fighting it off better? Maybe because it’s derived from your blood, he can fight it off.”

Jack shrugs. “Sounds too good to be true.”

“Maybe we need to do more tests.”

“Works for me.” Jack grins and picks up the tuning fork. “Prepare for hell.”

Spot holds out his hands, his eyes wide and frantic. “Wait- what?”

Jack squints at him and smacks the tuning fork down. Without the protection of her mask, the sound echoes through her ears and she fights off a grimace. Spot drops to the ground, loudly groaning.

“I think it’s working!” Jack yells over the screeching of the tuning fork and Spot.

Spot continues to cry out in agony as black goo materializes and covers his body.

Fuck.

“And it’s not gone.” She mutters, running a hand down her face. “Grab the aerosol and the lighter. We’re sending this bitch straight to hell.”

Davey’s eyes widen. “You’re going to do what?”

“Hand them here, Davey. This thing is a life ruiner, and for some reason, has bonded to Spot.” Jack holds out her hand, her eyes fixed on the goo figure in front of her.

“You could kill him, Jack. There has to be another way.”

“I’m not gonna kill ‘im, Dave.” She shrugs, “Fine, I’ll use the tuning fork again, see if I can get it to recede, and then we can make a plan, with Spot.”

Davey’s frown drops, “Thank you.”

Jack softly scoffs and hits the tuning fork again. Spot grabs his ears as the goo fades away. He groans and grips the metal bars beside him. Under his grasp, the metal screeches and crushes.

“Jesus.”

Spot growls at her, standing up on wobbly feet. “Don’t ever do that shit again.”

“Sucked, didn’t it?”

“Of course it did, you fucking moron!”

Jack chuckles, “Yeah, it fucking sucks. Try going through that in the middle of the night, hungry and tired. It’s even worse.” She walks away, stuffing the tuning fork away. “Anyway, you’re going to have to make a decision. The symbiote clearly doesn’t want to be forced from a host, therefore it won’t detach when I use the fork. We can try more extreme measures or…. Davey?”

Davey continues for her, “You keep it and try to live with it. That’s the worst-case scenario, of course. But, you did live with it for months and had minor lapses of memory. I think you would be fine. Jack?”

“He might be fine. Might being the keyword. There’s no telling if it will start fighting for complete control or if he’ll start fighting it off. If he rejects it, it will fight back. This, parasite, whatever it is-”

“Venom.”

Jack whips her head around to look at Spot. “What?”

“Venom, that’s its name.”

“You know its name?”

“You don’t?”

“No! I was possessed by a parasite and lost my entire control of my mind and body!” Jack stands up, her fists tightly balled by her sides. “You got lucky. I didn’t. I nearly lost everything. So, no, I wasn’t trying to befriend the fucking thing that was trying to destroy my life.”

Jack huffs, slightly jumping when she feels a hand on her shoulder. She lets out a sigh and leans into the touch. Davey always knows what to do.

“Sorry, I’m just a little touchy on the topic of that parasite. It’s just scary, is all.” Her voice has dropped from her previously loud roar to small and meek. She was beginning to feel a little exposed without her mask, at least no one would see her face then.

Spot, shockingly, looks sympathetic. “I get it. But, I’ve been fine and until today, I haven’t had any blackouts. But, if you think it’s best to get rid of it, then I’m with you.”

“Well… my next idea was to light you on fire.”

“On fire?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“I played around with the symbiote in the jar, pulled out a lighter and it fled away from the flame. I would’ve learned more if it hadn’t broken out and attached itself to you.”

“You’re not lighting me on fire.”

Jack pouts. “See this is why I should have just done it beforehand. Ask for forgiveness and that shit.”

“Jack.”

“I’m joking!” Jack shoots Davey a wide grin, a Jack Kelly classic. “Anyways, I need to get home. This suit chafes like you wouldn’t believe and I have a brother to drop a fucking bomb on.”

“You can’t tell him.” Spot stares at her, his face very serious. “I’m serious, Jack. He can’t know.”

Jack just stares back in shock, words failing her for a second. “I’m not lying to him. He knows I have been looking for the symbiote for months. He’ll find out eventually, either you tell him or I will.”

Davey steps between them. “Spot, you can’t keep this from Race. He already knows about all this stuff. He needs to know.”

“What if he sees me differently because of it?”

“He won’t. He forgave me pretty quickly afterward. Plus, you aren’t turning into some major douche, more than you already are. He has plenty of weird in his life with me.”

“Exactly, what if this is the breaking point?”

“It won’t be. But even if it was, you don’t get to make that decision for him.”

Not tell Race? Hell fucking no.

“Why don’t we just call him here? Then he can see all of this in person and we’ll be here.” Davey makes a suggestion, waving his phone in the air.

“What is this place? Some sort of hideout?”

Jack and Davey answer simultaneously. “Super cool lair.” “Parking garage we loiter in.”

“Davey! It’s the lair! The Spider Cave!” She throws her hands down in mock upset.

“Dumbass,” Spot mutters under his breath. Unluckily for him, Jack heard it.

“Dick.”

“I’m texting him,” Davey says, typing on his phone screen. “There. Sent.”

Jack pulls out her phone and glances at their chat. “We’ll add you to the spider squad if this goes well.”

“The what?”

Davey answers for her. “The group chat.”

spider squad

guyinthechair: race, get to the garage

racie: the parking garage?

spidey: yes, the lair.

racie: i think you mean the spider cave, be there in five

racie: did something happen?

spidey: just get here. can’t explain over text

racie: i stg if you broke your fucking leg again

spidey: my legs are entirely intact

racie: otw

“He’s coming. Said he’d be here in five minutes.”

“Fuck,” Spot pats down his torso. “This goo shit is still all over me. Use the fork again.”

“Whatever, man. It’s your life.” Jack pulls out the tuning fork and smacks it a third time. Spot groans as the symbiote fully retreats back into his body.

“I am never going to get used to that.”

“Yeah, feels incredibly wack.”

“That’s one way to put it.”

Jack’s ears prick up and she turns her head. Footstep, fast and loud footsteps.

Race.

“Race is here.”

“Fuck!” Spot mutters. “Do I look okay?”

“As normal as you can look with just having been under the control of a parasitic black goo.”

“Fuck you.”

Jack shushes him, gesturing for him to quiet down. “Shh, he’s coming up here.” She stuffs her phone away, “Fuck, I don’t have my mask. Davey!”

He tosses Jack her mask and she pulls it on.

“Perfect.” She flips her nonexistent hair and runs down the ramp. “Racer!”

Race, now looking at her with a confused expression, stops in his tracks. “What’s going on? Why’s Spot here?”

Jack fidgets with her hands. “Uh, that’s part of what we need to talk about. Just come up here. We’ll talk up here.”

“Does he know?” Race looks at her with wide eyes. “Don’t tell me you told him.”

“He knows.”

“Did you tell him?”

“I did, just get up here.”

Race follows behind her, huffing slightly. He walks up to Davey and Spot, crossing his arms and stopping. “Okay, tell me everything.”

“Spot?” Jack pulls off her mask and shoots him a look. “Wanna share or do you want me to?”

“Just do it.” He waves her off.

“Got it.” Jack chews her lip and pauses before continuing. “So, you remember the symbiote?”

Race stares at her, “Of course, I do. What kind of question is that?”

“I found the new host.”

Race freezes, glancing at Spot and then back at her. “No.”

“Race, Spot is the new host of the symbiote. It’s chosen him.”

“Come again? This time in my ears.” Race’s voice shakes as he makes a feeble attempt at a joke. He runs his hands down his face. “Say sike right fucking now, Jack.”

“I’m sorry, Tony.” Spot steps over to Race.

Race pushes Spot back, his face a bright red. “No! This isn’t happening! I’m dreaming. That’s it!”

“Racer,” Jack looks at him with a frown. “Look, he’s had it for months now, he’s been fine.”

“But what if he doesn’t stay fine? I saw how you were, I can’t do that again.”

And everything becomes muffled. Jack stumbles backward and blinks again and again. Her vision blurs as she reaches her hands out to stabilize her. She grabs something and grips it. She’s not really sure what she found, but it’s enough to keep her from falling down to the ground. She’s aware of the conversation continuing around her, but all the sound has been sucked from her ears. Her heart pounds and it maintains itself as the only sound she can hear.

Oh, fuck.

“Jack?”

She can hear Davey’s voice calling out to her, but the fog has muffled her brain. Her vision has gone dark and she is clinging for dear life. Everything is so loud, yet so quiet.

Her breathing picks up its pace as she stifles back soft cries.

“Jack?”

She exhales and looks up through teary eyes.

Davey.

She shakes her head and wraps her arms around him.

“Oh, Jackie.” His voice is soft and gentle and Jack wants to stay like this in his arms forever. Jack closes her eyes and focuses on her breathing. “I’m gonna get her home. You guys good here?”

Race makes a little remark, but doesn’t argue against the idea. She doesn’t hear much of it, her ears still feeling like they’ve been filled with water, but she’s coming up to the surface.

There’s some shuffling and Davey steps back slightly. She whines and reaches back for him.

“One second, Jack.” And then she’s back in his arms again. “Let’s go.”

Jack mumbles as a response, not feeling entirely confident in her current ability to walk anywhere, much less home. And then, Davey hoists her into his arms. God, she could so get used to this. Maybe she should have mental breakdowns more often. Whoops, that’s a weird thought.

“You with me, Jackie?”

Suddenly, Jack is very aware of the fact she is, a) in Davey’s arms - he’s so strong - and b) now away from Race and Spot. Not that she really cared if Race saw her, but Spot? That made her feel icky. She needs to be able to get up the appearance of being a badass who could kick his ass whenever she wanted. Well, she can, even if she has her bad moments. Badasses are not exempt from meltdowns, as she learned the hard way.

“We are going to have to get you out of the suit. Unless you want to go through your window?”

Jack shakes her head.

“Got it. Are you wearing anything under it?”

She nods. She feels weak and little. How embarrassing that she is reduced to a shivering, crying shell of a girl over nothing.

“Do you wanna get it? I can unzip it if you want me to, but I need some form of confirmation, Jack.”

Jack mumbles, shifting in his arms to reach her back. She tugs up the zipper and pulls it down part of the way. She shifts some more and hops down from his arms to get out of the suit fully. Thankfully, she wore pants under the suit today, the January weather was nothing to mess around with. Even with the fleece lining, she still found herself shivering on colder days and she did not want a repeat of the cold she had a few weeks ago. Sneezing in a mask is something she never wants to repeat.

She tosses the suit down and shivers slightly. “Fuckin’ hell.”

Davey slightly chuckles, handing her his jacket. “Here, put that on.” He grabs her suit and stuffs it into his bag, along with her mask. She stares at him, pausing before taking the jacket and pulling it on.

“I’ll be fine.” He says, reading her mind. How does he do that?

“Fine, but don’t start whining when you get cold.”

He grins slightly at her, reaching out for her hand. “You good to walk?”

“Yeah, I feel a little better.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“To be honest, I’m not even sure what happened. One second, I was fine and the next, I was stumbling and freaking out.”

“Hmm… I think you scared Race a little bit. I doubt he’s arguing with Spot anymore.”

“I hate that I keep having these problems. I hate that you and Race have to see me at my absolute worst and I can’t do a thing about it.”

Davey squeezes her hand reassuringly. “Jack, no one is thinking you’re weak or not good enough. You’ve gone through some pretty bad stuff, it’s only natural to have bad moments.”

“But the stuff I’ve gone through isn’t as bad as other people’s things, like why does it affect me so much? Is there something-”

“Jack, this isn’t the trauma Olympics. Your feelings are just as valid as anyone else’s. Remember that.”

“Okay,” she mumbles.

“Now, let’s get you home.”

“Sounds good. I am freezing and I’m exhausted.”

As they walked down the parking garage, towards the exit, Jack remembered what she said earlier to Davey. She told him she loved him. Fuck. At least he hadn’t said anything yet. But he would, eventually.

She glanced over at him, watching his face as he focused on their surroundings. They were on the street now and Jack found herself looking at him more than the sidewalk in front of her, which had caused her to stumble several times and bump into people.

“Jack? You okay?”

She nervously smiled, feeling a giddy child every time he looked at her. “Yeah, just distracted.”

“Okay,” he responded with a smile.

“Um, did you by any chance hear what I said before I hung up earlier?” Her heart pounded in her chest, this time from her nerves. She loved Davey, maybe she had for a while now, but ‘feelings’ was always an f-word to Jack. They were scary and debilitating. But she would choose to be scared for the rest of her life if it meant Davey would stay by her side.

He turned to her, slightly halting. His face was tinted pink, though it may have already been pink from the intense winds. He stammered, stumbling over his words. “Wha-t? I mean, I don’t think so. What- did you say?”

Jack grinned, her face heating up against the cold. He was adorable when he was flustered. “Davey.” Her voice was soft, her smile audible through her tone.

His eyes widened and he stopped walking. “Are you- Jack, please.”

“I love you, David Jacobs. Maybe I have for a long time now, but I’m saying it now. I love you.”

His slight blush intensified and he pulled her closer. “Oh my God, I thought I heard you say it and I sort of freaked out. Not because I don’t feel the same way, but I got worried when you freaked out.”

Jack pulls him towards a nearby alley, away from the busy sidewalks. “I got in my head, thinking it was too early. If you aren’t ready to say it back-”

“Jack, I love you too.”

She grinned at him, stepping on her tiptoes to kiss his lips gently. “Now, as romantic as this is, I am freezing my ass off and I imagine you are too.”

“Yes, I lost feeling in my fingers about five minutes ago.”

“Jesus, Davey! Take the jacket!”

“No, you were cold!”

Jack cackles, smacking his shoulder gently. “Whatever, idiot. If you lose your fingers, I am definitely going to tell you I told you so.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“God, you’re lucky I love you.”

“That, I am.”

Chapter Text

“Again,” Jack urged once Spot got back up.

“Can you explain why we’re doing this again? And why the hell they’re watching.”

Race called over to them mid-chewing his popcorn - he really was a dramatic person. “Because I don’t want Jack to go home with an injury.”

“Spot here has yet to prove that he can hurt me. I think he’ll be the one going home with some bruises.”

Spot groaned, stretching his arms, “Can we at least take a break? We’ve been at this since the morning.”

“Fine, you get ten minutes.” Jack shrugged, walking over to Davey. “Any more information on those artifacts Cat keeps stealing?”

“Not yet, most amount of connection I’m finding is through Pulitzer. Most of these pieces are things he personally owns or stuff he’s recently sold. She’s got it out for him.”

“Don’t we all?”

Spot, stretched out on the concrete by Race’s feet. “Who’s this ‘Cat’?”

“Super thief, she’s evaded Jack the last - what - six times she’s interacted with her.” Race not so discreetly whispered to Spot.

“Whatever. That’s the only connection?”

“As far as I can tell. Maybe you could find out some stuff from Katherine? She would know about this stuff.”

“She might know. And I don’t want her raising any suspicion. Enough people know.”

“I know, I know.” Davey nodded, typing away on his keyboard. “Wait, there’s a gala coming up? In Pulitzer’s honor?”

Jack shrugged, sitting down. “Dunno, maybe?”

“Do you have an invitation? You work for him.”

“I’m a freelance photographer, but maybe. I could ask Hannah.”

“He’s apparently going to display some of his art at the event. To show off, I guess.”

“So I need to be at the gala because Black Cat will be there to rob him blind.”

“Yep.”

Race hops from his seat. “Ooh! Secret mission? I am so in!”

“You weren’t invited and you don’t have powers.”

“Or common sense, sit down Tony.” Spot pulls Race down.

“Boring!”

Jack rolls her eyes and turns back to Davey. “If I have an invitation and Katherine is going, we might be able to snag another one of us going. We would just have to decide on who.” She gives Davey a pointed look. “They could always pretend to be Katherine’s hot date because we all know the photographer isn’t gonna get a plus-one.”

Davey stares at her, “No, I am not going to pretend to be your ex’s and my sister’s girlfriend’s date to a gala, Jack!”

“Come on, Davey! It’s for the mission. Like Race said, secret mission!” Jack’s eyes lit up as she reached for his hand.

“Jack,” he deadpanned. “I am not in any way qualified to be a part of a ‘secret mission’.”

“Hah!” She cackled, slowly turning back to Davey once she calmed down. “Davey, you aren’t serious, are you?”

“Jack.”

“Davey. Out of the four of us, you are the most qualified. Hate to break it to you.”

“Why not Spot? He has the symbiote, he could help.”

“Yeah, but I much rather wear some scandalous dress with you and Spot can’t pass as Katherine’s date.”

Race smirked from behind them, “Yeah, he’s way too gay looking for that!”

“See?”

Davey sighed, “Fine. But I am not going to enjoy myself.”

“It’s a party for rich people, no one enjoys them except rich people.” Jack hops up, brushing off her pants. “Well, breaktime’s over. Get over here, Spottie-boy!”

“Don’t ever call me that again.”

“Get a hit in and you got a deal.”

Jack popped her shoulders, settling in her stance. For a guy who has been in more fights than Jack, he was far too anger-centered. It was his downfall. Jack was pretty agile, but even Race and Davey could eventually get hits on her. If Jack felt particularly asshole-like, she would make a joke about his height affecting his fighting. But that would only worsen his abilities. He needed to focus.

Spot glared at her, slowly getting up from the concrete. How he was in just a t-shirt was beyond Jack. She would be freezing in anything less than a hoodie and leggings. Hell, she was still freezing.

“Come on, Spot! Get some pep in your step!” Jack urged, jumping side to side. She was cold, very cold and she wanted him to hit her. “I’ll make it easier for you, I’ll slow my reactions. How ‘bout that?”

“Don’t go easy on me.”

Jack suppressed a grin, this would be very fun. Spot finally paused in his spot - hehe ‘spot’ - and adjusted his stance. Jack cocked her head to the side, finding each weak spot - again, hehe - in his stance.

Too wide. Knees locked. Fists aren’t high enough.

Jack was a pro at defense. She had taken enough hits on the streets and in the hallways. She knew every way someone could exploit her shitty stance, therefore she knew how to use Spot’s garbage stance to her advantage and teach him at the same time.

This was going to be fun.

A few dodges and missed swings later, Jack was throwing a punch into Spot’s shoulder. The force knocked him backward but he refused to fall down. Jack lept back as Spot came running towards her. Two thoughts appeared in Jack’s mind: one, she could dodge this easily and make him fall, and two, Spot seemed to be relying on something other than anger for once - also a secret third, Davey looked hot on the sidelines. Maybe Spot had tapped into the powers of the symbiote or he was finally finding a new method for fighting other than harnessing five feet and four inches on unbridled rage. Probably the symbiote thing.

THUD!

And down goes Jack for the first time today, and this week - she was having a really good week for once. One could blame her thoughts for her fall, that one being Jack, or a bigger person could admit that Spot had finally gotten her.

And damn, did that fall hurt! God, she was going to have a bruised ass.

“Go, Spot! That’s my boyfriend!”

“You okay, Jack?”

Jack softly groaned, throwing her head back. “Get off me.”

Spot chuckled, jumping back to his feet. “Finally got ya’.”

“That you did.” Jack smiled and she meant it. Maybe she was a self-absorbed asshole from time to time, but he did do that. “Wanna go again?”

She took Spot’s immediate smirk as an answer. She hopped over to their starting point, quickly getting into her stance, Spot doing the same across from her.

“Not gonna take it easy this time, got it?”

“Did you take it easy last time?”

“No, just warning you. Last time I gave you easy hits, full force. This time, I’m gonna hit you like I would anyone.”

“Even Davey?”

“Davey’s adorable, hell no. Plus, he hits me a whole lot harder.”

“Gross.” “Kinky!” “Please, stop talking.” (Guess which one is which. Hint: It’s not very hard.)

“Whatever, weirdos. Back to fighting. How many fights have you lost, Spot?”

“Not many.”

“Hmm, so you’re good at defense or offense?”

“Offense, I guess.”

“Well, if you make it out there,” Jack made a show of waving her hands towards the city, “You’re going to need to learn some defense. Starting with your stance. It’s godawful, please change it.”

Spot rolled his eyes, adjusting the way he was standing.

“Better. Now, let’s fucking go.” Jack called him toward her with her finger, narrowing her eyes. Spot growled and pounced. Jack sidestepped, watching Spot fall to the ground. She laughed, leaping to the side. Her fingers twitched by her sides, blood pumping and adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Spot whipped his head around, looking at her with a feral look in his eyes. Jack frowned at him, reaching her hands out. Unfortunately for her, she was dealing with the likes of a rabid animal. He pounced at her, tackling her to the ground with the force of a semi-truck.

“Jesus!”

Add that to the growing list of aching: back pain, check and check.

Jack groaned and pushed him off. “What the hell was that?”

“I don’t know. Something came over me?”

Goddamn parasite.

“I knew it, I knew it. This was a bad idea. We should have gotten rid of it last week. It’s dangerous!” Jack paced the garage. “Should’ve lit the fucking thing on fire while I still had it.”

“We are not lighting Spot on fire!”

“That’s been made very clear. We need a solution. Davey?”

Davey sighed, running his hands through his hair. “Wasn’t that the whole reason for this training? You find out if this is going to be a problem and we try to deal with it?”

“And I don’t know what to do!”

“Look, it was an accident. But, I’ve had no problem controlling this until right now.”

“What if this is just the beginning? We - no, I can’t risk that. You are infected with a hostile parasite that has the ability to take over your entire body. This isn’t something little. It is life and death.”

“I think you’re being a tad dramat-”

“Dramatic? While I was infected with the symbiote, I became a completely different person. I nearly killed someone. I turned the entire city against me because of it. I almost lost everything! I’m not watching this happen to someone else. No way in hell.”

“No one is asking you to do that, Jack. Give him some time to adjust. That’s all.”

Jack punches one of the beams, concrete splitting and cracking under her force. She groans and turns around slowly, her fist caked in gray dust. “Fine. He has a month to figure his shit out or I’m setting the goddamn symbiote on fire. A month, you got that?”

“I got it.”

“I’m going home. I need to shower and then talk to Katherine about this gala. We might actually have a chance to prevent Black Cat from robbing the gala. She will be there, so we’ll need to be ready. Race, any chance you could convince Charlie to hack the cameras in that rich people's building and get us access?”

“He might ask questions.”

“Lie. I’m done telling people.”

“Okay, but I’m blaming you.”

“Works for me. Hey, Davey, wanna walk down with me?” She grabs her bag and slings it over her shoulder. The beam she punched wobbles slightly but doesn’t appear to be a major support beam.

“Sure. One second.”

She nods and starts walking down ahead of him. A minute later, Davey’s telltale footsteps follow behind her.

“Was I too much?”

“Jack, only you fully understand the depths of evil that thing is. No one is denying you that. And Spot didn’t have the luxury to see at your peak of struggle with it. But, maybe, touch on it a little more gently next time. He has a month. Give him the time, train him, maybe take him out into the field.”

“You mean have him shadow me?”

“If you think he can keep up.”

“I wonder if the symbiote makes webs.” She smirks, “That’s something for next time.”

“Now you have to talk to Katherine.”

“And get us both a way into that gala. She’s gonna be there, Davey. I have to stop her. It’s been months now.”

“I know. How about we get something to eat before you head home?”

Jack laughs and bumps into Davey. “Only if you’re paying.”

“I thought you were the one making these big bucks. I thought I was the sugar baby in this relationship.”

“Nah, it’s me. As much as you would make a wonderful trophy wife, you’ll be big this big scientist, might as well accept that now.”

He laughs and bumps back into her. “Fine, I’ll pay.”

“So, as an employee of Pulitzer, I get an invitation. So, that’s worked out. Now onto you.” Jack says, looking up from her text chain with Hannah, the World receptionist.

“Why do I have to come?”

“If I thought Spot could handle his powers, I would bring him, no questions. Sorry.”

“No, I get it. He could handle it.”

“You’ll be my lookout.”

“A lookout?”

“Yeah, and we’ll get comms and have Race watching the cameras for us. It’ll work out, Davey.”

“I hope so.”

“Same,” Jack glances back at her phone, “Katherine says she can head over in a bit. I’m gonna head home, shower, and then figure out what the hell I am going to say to get her to bring you. Wish me luck.”

“It’ll work out.”

“God, I hope so and I hope Crutchie can get us access to those cameras. I gotta go, bye. Love ya’.” Jack kisses Davey fast and then is off. She waves goodbye before turning and sprinting away. She has nearly thirty minutes to get home and shower before Katherine comes over. Thirty minutes to wash away the stink of training.

Jack reaches her building and bolts up the stairs. No use in even looking at the broken elevator. Someone should look at that thing. She swings open the front door and runs in.

“I’m home!” She announces, throwing her bag to the side. Nothing suspect in the bag anyway. “I’m taking a shower and then Katherine is coming over!”

She runs to her room and begins digging through her drawer.

Footsteps.

Jack whips her head around to find Race in her doorway. And her doorknob is still broken. She really needed to fix that.

“Race, did you ask yet?”

He flips his bright blonde hair, curls still drooping in front of his eyes. “Yep,” he cocks his head to the side. “He is working on getting into the system, but as I suspected, he asked why I needed the camera footage.”

“What did you say?” Jack asks, still rummaging.

“I blamed you, of course.”

Brothers, am I right?

“Ah,” Jack mutters, pulling out a t-shirt and some leggings. “But he’s doing it?”

“Yeah, you’ll have me on cameras. That is what you wanted, right?”

“Yes, just in case. And to look out for her.”

“She is a slippery cat, though, it is quite hilarious you haven’t caught her yet.”

“Yes, ‘haha’,” Jack responds in a monotone voice, “hilarious.”

“Whatever, just shower. You stink.”

“Almost like that was my plan, dumbass.” She smirks at him, stepping out into the hall.

“Fuck you.”

“Love you too.”

“You need me to what?” Katherine asks, her brows shot up to her forehead and her mouth wide open.

Jack widens her eyes, imitating a wide-eyed puppy as well as she can. “Bring Davey as your date for the gala.”

“Why can’t you bring him?”

“’ Low-level employees don’t get the luxury of bringing dates’ is what I was told.”

“Why does he need to come?”

“There’s just a reason that I can’t exactly tell, but you have to trust me.”

“Jack…”

“I have a reasonable belief that Spider-Woman will appear at your dad’s gala and I need Davey to help me look out for her and set up cameras just in case.” Jack blurted out. Fuck. She was fucked.

“Spider-Woman?” Katherine nearly shouts. She sighs, “My dad hates her.”

“Exactly?”

“Jack. Can you promise me that you won’t try to sabotage anything during the gala or try to - I don’t know - make a scene during it?”

“Yes. I promise. I’m just always working and need a second set of hands. So?”

“Fine. Sarah wasn’t even interested in going to it. I’ll bring him. Just, don’t kiss him or flirt with him in front of my dad.”

“Works for me. Thank you, Katherine.”

Katherine stands up. “It’s no problem. Don’t make me regret it.”

“I won’t.” Jack stands up to hug Katherine. “Thank you, seriously.”

“See you Monday, Jack.” Katherine walks to the door, waves, and then walks out.

spider squad

spidey: looks like davey is going to the gala

guyinthechair: do i have to wear a suit or something?

spidey: yep!

guyinthechair: ugh

racie: can we add spot?

spidey: fine

racie has added spot to the chat

racie has changed spot’s name to angrysidekick

angrysidekick: what the fuck?

spidey: welcome

guyinthechair: it’s not very fun in here, and whatever you do, do not look at the photos jack sends

spidey: that was one time!

racie: i can still see the bone if i close my eyes

racie: eww

angrysidekick: do i even want to know?

spidey: nope

“I hate this dress,” Jack mutters, tugging down the bright red fabric for the third time in the five minutes since getting to the venue. “Who even has a gala in the middle of winter?”

It is freezing temperatures and Jack is standing in a floor-length dress with a slit up to her thigh. She’s lucky she’s not an icicle.

Davey glances down at the dress, “It looks nice on you.”

She blushes and shakes her head. “Whatever. Let’s just get in. Are your comms in?”

Davey turns to show his ear to her, “Yep.”

“Race? Can you hear me?”

Static buzzes before Race’s voice cracks over the earpiece in Jack’s ear. “Yep. Loud and clear. Just don’t be gross while the comms are on.”

“Do you have visual?”

“Yeah, there are some blind spots, but I can see most of the place. You guys almost in yet?”

“Still in the line. Hopefully, it moves faster soon, but we might be standing here a little longer.”

“Isn’t Davey the man of the hour’s daughter’s date? Why isn’t he in there already?”

“Davey?” Jack turns to the man next to her, tugging at her dress again. “Care to answer?”

“I simply told Katherine that it would be more comfortable for both of us if I waited in line and met her once we got in.”

Race laughs over the connection, static cracking in Jack’s ears. “I thought there was an agreement that you two can’t flirt while you’re here.”

“Yes, that is the agreement.”

“And?”

“We haven’t done anything! We’re waiting in line!”

Jack shuffles forward, inching closer to the door. A cool breeze blows past them and she shivers.

“Fuckin’ winter weather. Who the hell does a gala in January?”

Slowly, but surely they finally reach the front of the line and are escorted into the building. Jack tugged at her dress yet again and followed behind Davey. She glances around at her surroundings, taking in the entire room.

“You need to find Katherine. I’m gonna go snoop. Hopefully, I can find this art Pulitzer is showing off tonight. Race, you got eyes on it?”

Davey nods and walks off to find Katherine and Jack’s eyes only slightly linger on him. Slightly.

“Give me a sec,” Race says over the comms. “Yeah, I see them. He’s keeping them in a side room, probably until he reveals them. Go down the hall to your left.”

“Davey fine?”

“Yeah, he just found Katherine. He’s with her and Pulitzer.”

“Ugh, I’m not happy about this.”

“Pulitzer?”

“All of it. But, I can’t do this alone. I just wish I didn’t have to lie. I’m sick of it.”

“You know, it might help to have Spot’s help next time.”

“Believe me, I wish he was ready, but he’s not. I’m sorry, but he needs more control. Once he’s able to control his strength, I’ll consider it.”

“I know, I know. Take a right.”

Jack veers right, narrowing her eyes down the hall. “Where am I going?”

“Just a little further. The door will be on your left.”

Jack sighs, “I don’t mean to be mean, Race. I’m just looking out for him. I can’t afford to go out and be looking out for him and for the city. I just can’t. But, at the end of the day, it’s his decision.”

Only static cracks from the other side, a gentle hum in her ear.

She stops at the first door on her left.

“Yep, that’s it.”

Jack slips into the room, her eyes adjusting to the dark. “You sure? I can’t see anything in here.”

“This is it. A few minutes ago, the lights were on and they were here.”

Jack pats the wall until she finds a switch. The lights flicker on, revealing two large, ornate paintings. “Those are big. Would she even be able to get those out of here?”

“Maybe. She might already know how big they are. She’s ahead of you.”

“I know that, Race. Whatever, she’s not here right now and the paintings are intact. Keep an eye on this room and the hall. I’m heading back to the main area. I don’t want to raise suspicion.”

“Got it.”

Jack slips back out of the room and into the hall. Her heels clack as she makes her way down the hall. She dashes down the hall back to the lobby where she entered.

“Okay, I’m gonna find Davey, he’s in the main room, right?”

“Yeah. Good luck.”

“Keep an eye out, let me know if you see anything suspicious.”

“Roger that. Okay, going silent for a while, I’ll let you know if anything happens.”

Jack weaves her way to the center of the massive room. She spots Katherine and begins to head over.

“Jack! I was wondering when I would find you!”

Jack grins, “Oh, well, I was just taking it all in. How’s Davey doing?”

“My father has taken it upon himself to show Davey around. I haven’t seen him in a few minutes.” Katherine grimaces, “I’m sure he’s fine, though.”

Jack glances at what Katherine’s wearing and feels very underdressed. Dark velvety purple hugs her body, a glimmering gold necklace hanging from her neck with matching earrings. She looks almost regal. Jesus.

“You look great. I mean, seriously. I feel like I should have done more.”

Jack tried her best. She borrowed a dress from her mother’s shows, learned how to do her makeup from Youtube - and stabbed her eye twelve times with eyeliner - and pulled out her slutty heels from homecoming. No jewelry though, it itches and moves around too much. Plus, with this being a mission, she needs to be able to move as much as possible. Heels can be kicked off, but jewelry requires more precision and time.

“Oh, you. I have to ‘look my best’ for public outings. Something about being an heiress. This does not just happen. This takes a team of people poking and scrutinizing my appearance. Not fun, but it does have its pros. Like the look on your face.”

“I bet Sarah is just kicking herself for not coming. You look hot, purple suits you.”

“I sent her pictures.”

“And?”

“She said she wish she came.”

“At least you have one of the Jacobs twins to have on your arm.”

Katherine chuckles, “He’s been on my father’s arm more than mine. Not that I want him on my arm per se, but…”

“Not great for optics?”

“Exactly.”

“How long is this supposed to be? I just spent thirty minutes freezing my ass off outside, I want to go home already.”

“Once most of the guest list is accounted for, my father will do his big speech, blah-blah, reveal the artwork, and basically plead for applause and cheers.”

“Rich people are weird. No offense.”

“None taken. Have you seen Spider-Woman yet? Has the scarlet spider granted us with an appearance?”

Shit, that was her lie. Spider-Woman.

Jack flashes a bright smile - worst case scenario, whip out the Jack Kelly classic, trademark pending - “No, not yet. Though it might make this party a bit more fun. Don’t you think?”

“Maybe. And it would thoroughly piss off my father.” She twirls around slightly, “Speak of the devil.”

Jack spins around and immediately grins at the sight of Davey. He in his fancy tux was doing something for her.

“Ms. Kelly, how are you this evening?”

Self-righteous prick.

Jack flutters her eyes and smiles sweetly, “Well, Mr. Pulitzer. This is quite an event. Thank you for the gracious invitation.” She turns her face away from him to roll her eyes. Davey chuckles softly at her.

“Ah, I see we are laying on the sarcasm thick tonight, are we? Katherine, dear, come with me. There’s a few people I want to introduce you to.”

Katherine nods and waves bye to Jack and Davey. Once she and Pulitzer are no longer in earshot, Jack steps closer to Davey.

“So, as of now, the paintings are fine, untouched. Nothing suspicious so far. Race is keeping an eye out, though.”

“Got it. Do you think she was invited?”

“Black Cat?”

“Yeah, she seems to have a decent amount of knowledge about Pulitzer. Wouldn’t it be safe to say that she might run in these circles?”

That… actually makes a lot of sense. He’s definitely the smart one in the relationship.

“It’s a theory. Wouldn’t surprise me. Not seeing many people with bright white hair, however.”

“Could be a wig.”

“You think she puts on a wig every time she goes to rob someone? That’s insane, a new level of insane.”

“You have to put on a whole spandex suit. Not entirely crazy.”

“She wears a leather catsuit, heels, and a wig. That’s insane.”

“Okay, maybe it is a tad too much.”

“Maybe?”

“I was agreeing with you.”

Jack chuckles and looks around. “Nothing out of the ordinary in here. I’m gonna look aroun-”

Static.

Buzzing increases in Jack’s ear before Race’s voice crackles in her comms.

“There’s someone in the hall. Someone is heading for the paintings.”

Fuck.

“Shit, you hear that?”

Davey nods.

She grabs Davey’s wrist and pulls him out of the room. “Fuck. Race, what can you tell me?” Jack rushes towards the hall to the storage room.

“Fuck!”

“Race!”

“The camera went out. She just took it out. God dammit!”

“Do you still have eyes on the paintings?”

“Yes, for now.”

Jack kicks off her heels and runs toward the room. “Fuck, fuck. I don’t have my suit. I’m running into this in a dress without a suit.”

Davey runs up behind her, holding a mask out to her. “Brought it just in case.”

Jack pulls the back-up mask over her face. “Race?”

“Nothing in there yet. I still have visuals. She’s not in there.”

Jack kicks the door open, “Go back to the main room. I don’t need you getting caught up in this. If you run into Katherine, tell her I didn’t feel well.”

Davey runs back down the hall, disappearing past the corner.

She keeps the lights off and closes the door. She narrows her eyes and scans the room. “Can’t see anything yet. Do you have any visuals of the nearby halls or the roof?”

“The roof?”

“Yeah, she’s slippery like that.”

“Checking… yep. Got the roof and…. fuck! It’s out. It just went out! How does she know?”

She can hear the frustration in his voice and can picture him running his hands through his curls.

“Race, calm down. What can you see?”

Quiet tapping is heard from the other side. Jack spins on her heels, looking at every inch of the room. Then, click.

Jack whips her head up. A small hatch from above is slowly opened. White hair becomes visible as a figure is lowered into the room.

“Dropping in?”

Thud.

“Ouch, that’s gotta hurt.”

Static cracks in her ears, “Jack? Is she in there?”

“Yeah, I’ve got her.”

Black Cat kip-ups and flips her hair. “Do you now?”

“Please, cutting out the cameras doesn’t make you invisible.”

“Hmm, looks like someone was enjoying the party.”

“Got an invitation, unlike you.”

“Oh, quite the contrary. I was invited.”

“Didn’t see any white fur at the gala. Had to make a dramatic entrance then?”

Black Cat circles her, heels clicking as she steps. “Oh, well, you know.”

“Don’t think I do. I came through the proper entrance. And dressed appropriately.”

“Red? Bit of a cliche, don’t you think? Secret mission and bringing your boyfriend, very action movie-esque.”

What?

“Excuse me?” The near shriek that came out of Jack’s mouth was not very Jack Kelly or action movie esque.

What the fuck?

“Uh… Jack?”

Jack ignores Race’s voice, glaring at the cat. “Care to explain?”

Yet another hair flip and Jack was an action movie cliche? “Please, like I can’t tell who you are with the mask on. Most A-Listers out there aren’t wearing their mom’s theatre clothes.”

What the FUCK?

“Shit, shit, shit, shit, fucking holy shit! Jack!”

The room is spinning. Or maybe she’s spinning. Either way, Jack nearly drops to the floor and she would’ve if she hadn’t physically stuck her feet to the floor.

“Jack, I know who Black Cat is.”

And so does Jack.

“Katherine,” Jack croaks out.

“Yep.” Race cracks out over the comms.

Chapter Text

(As seen by the title of this chapter, there will be a mention of Dear Evan Hansen in this fic. Get your special socks out theater nerds, this gon’ get good.) Did you just quote Deadpool and break the fourth wall? Is there even a fourth wall? (Eh, sort of. Back to the drama.)

“What the FUCK is going on? You’re a criminal? A petty thief? Robbing from your father - your father!?”

“Jack, calm down.” Race’s voice calls out from her ear.

“Zip it! Care to explain, Katherine?” Jack pulls off her mask and chucks it to the side. She grabs the comm and tosses it to the side. She doesn’t need someone in her ear.

“Uh, well I- fuck!” Katherine paces, heels clicking. “I didn’t start this to spite you, Jack, or Spider-Woman, whoever you are.”

“No, you did it to spite your dad. I’m not stupid.”

“Firstly, I didn’t know you were Spider-Woman until a few minutes ago. And second, he deserves it.”

“So, robbing is the answer?”

“It made an impact. He’s nervous, someone is after him and he is scared. I get these paintings and he’ll be in total freak-out mode.”

“I’m not going to let you take them.”

“Hah! You couldn’t stop me anything other time. What makes this time different?”

“This time, I’m pissed off and have been betrayed. It won’t be hard.”

“Jack..”

Jack dismisses her with a wave of her hand, picking up the earbud from the floor. “Don’t. Race, you still there?”

“Yeah, don’t chuck me again.”

“Sorry. Can you get the…” Jack glances at Katherine, “other guy? Tell him he needs to get her like now. And maybe tell,” She drops to a whisper, “Spot. Just in case. He’s probably the strongest to hold me back in case I choose murder.”

“Got it. I’ll get Davey, at least I think that’s what you meant.”

“Thank you.” Jack hears the click of a disconnect and sighs.

“Race knows?”

If I get one more lecture about Race knowing, I swear to God, I’ll lose it.

“He’s my brother, of course, he knows.”

“And Davey?”

Fuck.

“None of your business.”

And of course, because the universe just loves Jack, Davey came pounding on the door in that exact second.

“Jack? You okay in there?”

Katherine groans, throwing her head back. “Of course, of course. Why am I not shocked?”

“Does Sarah know about you?”

“Of course not, I’m not an idiot, apparently like you are. Race and Davey? Who’s next?”

(She’s got you there.) Oh, fuck off.

“Jack?”

Oh, fuck me. (I’d rather not.) Who even are you? (God.) I hope you die.

“Jesus Christ. One sec, Davey!” Jack groans and flips her hair dramatically. “Nothing. No words, or I swear to God I will tell your dad who’s been robbing him and tell Sarah.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I would.”

Jack shoots a final glare at Katherine before opening the door. “Hey, Davey.”

“Did you… oh.” He trails off, noticing the woman behind her.

“Yeah.”

“Why’s your mask off?”

“She- just get in here.” Jack pulls him through the door and slams it shut. “Race, watch the cameras. Let us know if anyone is coming nearby.”

Race’s voice cracks as the connection starts up again, “I’ll try but I’m missing the camera for the hallway outside that door.”

“Do your best.”

“Roger-roger.”

(Star Wars!) Seriously, who are you? (Your deepest consciousness.) Seriously. (I don’t know. I just appeared here.)

“Davey…. Black Cat is Katherine. Apparently, our ‘friend’ has been keeping the secret of being a cat burglar.” Jack seethes, setting her jaw.

”What?”

“Yep,” Jack responded, popping the p. “Fuckin’ great, isn’t it?”

“I’m so sorry, what?”

“You heard right. Take off the mask, Kathy.”

Katherine mumbles under her breath, pulling off her domino mask and wig. “Hi, Davey.”

(Oop!) Fuck off.

“Race? How we doing?”

Crackles. “Good, but I would pick this up in pace. I think he’s making his speech now.”

Fuck. “Fuck.” (Ooh, twinsies.) Fuck off.

Jack groans and picks up the discarded mask. “Davey, head out. Go home or whatever. I have business to deal with.”

“Jack…”

“Davey, just go. Race, get off the comms. Radio silence.”

Davey solemnly nods and turns to leave the room. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret,” he says quietly, knowing only Jack will hear. She nods and watches him leave the room.

Jack spins on her heels, glaring sharply at Katherine. “You are going to put your wig on and your mask, go back the way you came from, and head back to your father.”

“I don’t know who you think you are-”

Jack steps closer to Katherine, her hand tightly gripping her mask. ”I am the person who is warning you before this escalates.”

(Very tense.) Shut. Up.

“Fine, but this is not over.”

“We can discuss it after Albert’s party tomorrow. Now, go.”

Katherine pulls her wig back over her head and places her mask over her eyes. She heads back up the hatch she entered the room from and disappears.

“Race? I know you’re still there.”

Static buzzes before she hears his voice. “Yeah, sorry. That was… tense.” (That’s what I’m saying!) “You okay?”

“Yeah, I need a way out of here.” Jack ducks out of the room, “Where to next?”

“Head down to the left, then take the first right and there will be… an exit. No one is over there right now, so I think you’ll be good.”

Jack begins down the hall. “Was I too much?”

“She’s a criminal, Jack. I think you were merciful given the context.”

“She’s been robbing her own dad, and I thought I had a bad relationship with my family. Biological, that is.”

“Maybe there’s an explanation for it, listen to her when she tries to explain.”

“I will. Hopefully, it will be a civil discussion.”

Jack slips out the exit and looks up at the sky, “Is Davey still on comms?”

“Let me check,” Race clicks his tongue, “Yep! One second.”

The static buzzes and Jack kicks at rocks. Bare feet plus a New York alley? Not a great combo. She needs her heels or she needs to scale this building. Either way, her feet will be hurting at the end of this.

(Heels suck.) Please, stop. (I’m just commentating. Don’t judge. Focus on her.) Oh, I will.

“He’s on his way. I told him to just walk around to avoid suspicion.”

“Was he upset? Did he start heading home?” Jack felt guilty. She let her emotions and anger get the better of her. Where did that anger even come from?

(Probably repressed trauma.)

“I mean, it’s Davey, he’s probably a little upset, but your feelings were entirely valid. And he wasn’t on his way home yet, so he should be there in a minute or two.”

God, she was tired. Couldn’t the universe ever give her a break?

“Okay, okay. It’ll be fine. Everything is going to be okay.” Jack breathes in and out quickly, “Can you tell Mama that I’ll be home in a bit?”

“Yeah, be safe, Jack.”

“Always, Tony.”

And the connection fizzled out. Now, she just had to wait for Davey to meet her and then they could head home. Everything was going to be okay, right?

(Maybe?) Seriously?

“Jackie?”

Jack spun around, a large grin breaking out on her face. “Davey,” her voice was soft as if she was talking to fragile glass. “How are you?”

He shakes his head, stepping closer to her, his green eyes wide with concern. “That doesn’t matter. How did it go?”

“Fine, she left. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get that upset.”

“Jack, you are allowed to be pissed. Look, I only said to not do anything you’ll regret because you know Katherine.”

“’Parrently not.”

“There has to be a reason for all of this. How are you doing?”

God, he’s so dreamy.

Jack averted her eyes, “I don’t know. I’m upset and I feel betrayed and I just want to go home. Can we go?”

“Let’s go.” He wraps an arm around her waist and leads her out of the alley. “Oh! I grabbed your heels. I know you might not want to wear them, but you can’t walk in New York City barefoot.”

(So caring.) I know.

“Oh, thank God. My feet hurt so bad on this concrete. It’s terrible and I’ve been shot.”

Davey chuckled, handing her her heels. Jack slips them on, nearly groaning at the feeling of them.

“I hate heels. Make sure to remind me to never wear them again?”

“Let’s get you home.”

“You mean, get you home. I’m the superhero in the relationship, I walk you home.”

“Fine, let’s just go.”

If it could always be like this. Life would be so much easier.

“At least we accomplished our goal. We stopped those paintings from being stolen.”

“You should be proud of that.”

“Only reason for that is because Cat was caught off guard. She’s lucky I didn’t flip a goddamn lid. I could have been worse, I mean look at how I yelled at Spot. I did threaten to tell Sarah though. That was probably a little far.”

“Maybe, but she’s keeping a major secret. She has to tell Sarah eventually.”

“If you hadn’t found out and we started dating, would you have been upset if you found out about me?”

“I mean, probably. I was upset when weren’t dating. Anyone would be slightly upset at something like that. Look at Race when he found out about Spot, he was freaked.”

“But Spot is infected with a parasite, that’s different. And Spot didn’t even know until I told him.”

“Same concept. People are going to naturally be upset at first. But, with Sarah, I don’t know. Who knows how she’ll react? Are you going to tell her?”

“I don’t know, Davey. If I tell her, Katherine could easily tell anyone about me. And Sarah will ask questions, I have no clue what to do.”

As they walked, Jack made sure to stay aware of their surroundings. They were two nicely dressed young people, which made them targets.

“Sleep on it. Worrying won’t make the situation any better. And tomorrow, we have the party, so we’ll get to unwind and relax.”

“I am going to drink myself to death,” Jack mutters, pulling her hair down. It always felt so annoying when it was up so tight.

“That’s the spirit?”

“That means you have to stay sober, can’t have two drunk people trying to walk home. We’ll die or get kidnapped.”

“Aren’t you just a ball of joy?”

“Haha,” she monotones, rolling her eyes playfully. “You got drunk at the last party, it’s my turn.”

“That was a rough night.”

“I had a drunk Race and a drunk you. Never again. Thank God Spot is responsible for Race.”

“Am I responsible for you or are you responsible for me?”

“Both, depending on the situation. Typically, I’m responsible for you, but tomorrow night, it’s the reverse.”

(I think she means the inverse.) What are you, an English teacher? Just wait til Finch hears of this.

Davey smiled as they continued through the city that never sleeps.

After Jack got Davey to his building, she walked home, her thoughts raging. She tried to not worry about it, but who’s she kidding? Of course, she’s gonna worry about it.

Katherine is Black Cat. Black Cat is a thief, a criminal. Jack puts away criminals for a living. This should be easy, but it’s Katherine. Katherine is Jack’s best friend - okay, maybe not the best, but one of her closest. Katherine is good. She is a good person. Is she?

Let’s look at the facts: Katherine is Black Cat, Black Cat is a thief who has escaped Jack several times, Black Cat only robs Joseph Pulitzer or things he has owned, and she knows Spider-Woman’s identity.

Jack was going to be sick. How did she end up in this situation? All because she wanted to be a hero. Some hero she was, her best friend is a criminal robbing her own father. What a mind fuck.

Jack swung open the apartment door, her body physically drained. “I’m home!” She called out, despite it being late. She chucks her keys to the side and closes the door. “Really feelin’ the love here,” she joked to herself.

She heads to her room, kicking her heels off. Fucking death traps. How do people even wear heels?

“Never again.” She mutters, leaning into the hall. “Race?”

She hears a few small thuds and footsteps before the door across the hall slowly opens, revealing a disheveled-looking Race. His blonde curls sticking every way and his eyes sunken in and slightly red.

“You’re home.”

“Yeah, anything happen while I was gone?”

“Nope, and nothing out of the ordinary for rich people happened at the gala. Watched the cameras until it ended to make sure.”

That’s why he looks so tired. Poor kid.

“Thank you. Go to bed, Racer.” She nudges him into his room.

“Alright, alright. We still going tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I need it. If you don’t want to though, I can stay back-”

“No, I was just wondering if you were. I’m going.”

“Okay, now go to bed.”

“Geez, okay, mom.” He grins, slipping back into his room. Jack listens to make sure he gets in bed before turning back to her room.

Okay, time for a shower.

The party was loud and it wasn’t even eight yet. They left a little early to pick up Davey and to help Albert set up. She was not counting on Finch getting there early and planning to spike drinks at the beginning. Typical Finch.

She was already drained and wanted to go home, but she had Davey beside her and a drink in her hand. What more could I girl ask for?

(A healthy relationship with her father.) Low blow, low blow.

“Is she here yet?” Jack asked Davey, her words slightly slurring together. She was going to get as drunk as her metabolism would let her.

“No, I don’t think so. What are you going to say?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I can get too drunk to care about it.” She says before taking another swig of her drink. Jack turns around, leaning on the back of the couch, waving down Albert. “Albert? What’s the plan for tonight?”

“I picked up Twister the other day with Race, so we are definitely playing that. And maybe a few other games. Spin the bottle maybe?”

Gross.

“Fun. No strip poker though.”

Albert laughed, “Not after last time?”

Davey, bewildered, nearly falls over the back of the couch. “What?”

Jack cackles, actually falling off the back of the couch. “Oof!” She brushes her clothes off and kip-ups. “We played once sophomore year, terrible experience.”

Race chimes in from the kitchen, “Worst experience of my life! I saw way too much of Jack.”

She grimaces, “Yeah and Race was wearing underwear with Ryan Reynolds’ face on them. I’m not even sure where he got them.”

“Etsy! I can get you some if you want!”

“Absolutely not!” She pauses, “Wait, are there Taylor Swift ones?”

“Maybe, I’m gay, I don’t know!”

“Whatever,” Jack drops back on the couch. “Long story short, terrible. Never play strip poker with your siblings.” She shudders and gags.

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

Jack giggles, leaning on Davey. “You’re very warm.”

“Thank you?”

“It’s nice. Like my own personal heater,” she mutters, her eyes fluttering closed.

“Don’t fall asleep, we just got here.”

“I know, I know. I need to play Twister. Good thing I’m super flexible, but you already know that.” Jack rambles.

“Gross! Don’t be doing weird things on my couch! I will kick you out!”

Oops, accidental innuendo. (Or was it? wink-wink.) Did you just use action tags? (Yep!) What has my life come to?

“Whoops!” She giggles again, throwing her head back. Despite her being pretty tipsy, her buzz was fading fast. “Time for another drink.” She stands, wobbling as she does so.

“You sure?”

Jack whines, flopping back down, “Fine, but I’m getting shitfaced tonight. I am taking the night off.”

Race comes flying over, dropping on a chair across from the couch. “Whoo! I am so pumped! I am so excited to have a night not spent hunkered over a laptop, watching camera feeds.” He throws his head back, sipping his beer.

Jack nods, “Absolutely. Last night was shit.”

Another voice the conversation. “Galas not your thing, Jack?”

Katherine.

Jack immediately sobers up, sitting up straight. She goes rigid and raises her brows to Race, who shrugs.

“I guess not. Wasn’t a fan of the people there,” she responds cooly, wishing she had gotten another drink.

Race glances between the two women before standing up, “Hey Al! You need any help in there?”

“I need a drink, be right back, Davey.” She follows behind Race, her eyes focused on Katherine the whole time. She slips into the kitchen and leans against the counter. “I can’t do this, Race.”

“Give it time. Just try to avoid making a big scene, won’t look good for either of you, and then you’ll have to explain to everyone.”

“I know,” she sighs, pouring herself a drink. “I wish I could get properly drunk. This slight buzz and giddy feeling only works for ten minutes.”

“Heh, too bad for you. Me, on the other hand, will be getting plastered. You have fun with your spider drama. It’s like a low-budget soap opera.”

“I’m heading back in, pray for me.”

“Prayers,” he mumbles. “Don’t kill anyone.”

“No promises,” Jack smirks and walks back to the couch. She drops down next to Davey, ignoring Katherine’s withering glare. “Howdy.”

“Got another drink, I see.”

Jack takes a sip, “Yep. Sarah here yet?”

“Sarah’s here, she’s trying to stop Finch from spiking all of the drinks,” Katherine says, staring off at the wall. “Are you going to be like this the entire time?”

“Like what?”

“Jack.”

“I don’t know, are you going to continue your… extracurricular activity?”

Davey looks between the two of them, “This is not the place to be doing this.”

“Later, don’t leave early or I will find you,” Jack cocks her head to the side while narrowing her eyes. “Anyhoo, what’s new? Other than you being a back-stabbing two-faced liar?”

“Are you serious right now?”

“Deadly.”

Katherine huffs and walks away. As soon as she leaves the room, Davey smacks Jack’s arm.

“Ow!”

“What the hell was that?”

“I’m upset! I am allowed to act like a little prick when I have been lied to for months!” She exhales sharply, “but, I will try to ease it back. Okay?”

“Good.”

“Dear Evan Hansen is problematic and overall bad! But! Sincerely, Me is one of the best musical theater songs ever.”

Race cackles, nearly falling backward. “Absolutely not! Have you heard Defying Gravity?”

“Yes, of course I have,” Jack frowns, rolling her eyes. “I never said it was the best, just one of the best. It is a whole different feel from the rest of the album, the beat, the comedic lyrics, absolute perfection.”

“Why do you become such a theater snob when drunk?”

Jack wasn’t drunk. She had been drinking since she got there and all she got was a little buzz. Why drink if she feels none of the good parts and all of the bad parts? She was going to be insanely vomiting later. Sorry to her toilet.

“She’s always like this. At least you have never heard her sing the entire Bonnie and Clyde cast album on loop.”

“It’s great! What can I say? I did not get enough appreciation while it was on Broadway. Jeremy Jordan is a treasure!” [Author’s note: yes, he is and I love him.]

“Eh, I always preferred Jonathan Groff,” Race responds flippantly.

“You dirty bitch! Take that back!”

“Nuh-uh.”

“Race,” Jack warns. Beside her, Davey chuckles and the crowd growing around them watches. Jack can make out Albert’s bright red hair somewhere behind Race and can almost feel Spot’s broodiness.

“Either way, we can all agree that Hamilton is an important part of every theater kid’s development.”

Several mumbles and nods of agreement wash through the room.

“Who wants to play Twister?”

Twister was a bad idea. A very bad idea. Jack was slightly tipsy while trying to contort her body. On a good day, Jack is pretty flexible. She has a running theory that the spider bite made her more flexible, but alas, no proof.

“Jack, left hand red.”

“Oh, fuck me.”

The nearest red was under Finch, which meant she has to bend somehow under him to touch it. Jack slowly raised her left hand, bent her body in a way it was not meant to be bent, and somehow slid right below Finch and placed her hand on the red.

Everything hurts.

“Holy shit, that was insane!”

“Bet that flexibility comes in handy, if you know what I mean.”

“Shut the fuck up, Crutchie, spin the spinner,” Jack growled out. “This was the worst idea ever.”

A few more rounds went by; Finch fell on Jack, who surprisingly didn’t fall; and Race swore and quit the game. Which left Jack and Katherine as the last two players.

“Katherine, right foot blue.” Spin. “Jack, right hand green.”

Jack was sore, drunk, and tired. This was supposed to be relaxing. It was not.

(Twister sucks.) I know!

She could hear the quiet whispers in the room as the game continued, small comments about who they thought would win the game. Race thought Jack would win, Albert had his money on Katherine, and so on and so forth.

And then, just as Jack was finally getting out of her tipsy state, her hand slipped and she fell. She lost and all she had to show for the stupid game was a faceful of sweaty, old vinyl. Gross.

“Katherine wins!”

A dull roar of cheers exploded as people congratulated Katherine. Jack, still wobbly, stood.

“Dumb fucking game,” Jack mutters, dropping to the floor next to Davey. “What time is it?

“11:39. Why?”

“I wanna go home,” she whines, slumping on his shoulder. “Where’s Race?”

“Kitchen. Are you upset you lost?”

“What? No! I just am tired and want to leave. Think Race can manage his way home by himself?”

“Jackie.”

(Gulp.) Did you just say gulp? (Yep.)

“Fine, I’ll stay longer, but I am leaving at twelve.”

“You’ll still have to talk to her at some point.”

“I don’t wanna!”

“Whatever, I’m not going to let this ruin a friendship you have had for over a year. Talk to her.”

“Fine, but then we are leaving.” She stands, making eye contact with Katherine. “Can we talk, outside?”

Katherine nods and follows Jack out of the living room and into the hall.

“Okay, what? Are you going to yell at me again?”

“No, can you just tell me why you were robbing your father? I am trying to give you a chance before assuming the worst.”

“He’s done bad things, Jack. He deserved what I did to him.”

“Just help me understand.”

Katherine groans and throws her hand in the air. “He is trying to erase my mother! Selling her art or claiming it as his own! I was not going to let him erase every aspect of her from our home!”

“Oh, Kathy…”

Jack remembered when Katherine told Jack about her mother. Her mom had died a few after her youngest sibling was born. Her mom had gotten sick shortly after giving birth, she had a c-section to have Constance, but the illness never went away. Katherine had been thirteen when her mom passed, leaving her the eldest of three kids to an absent father. A father who only threw himself further into work after the death of his wife.

“I never kept them for myself. They went back to her family, my grandparents. He took her from them so I gave them a piece of her back. Some of the art was her own work.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know dressing up and robbing my father was a bad idea, but it was the only way.”

“I wish you told me.”

“You didn’t tell me about you.”

Touche.

“Yeah… sorry about that. I wasn’t really going around telling everyone. I did tell Race, but Davey found out on his own, and then Spot had to know, unfortunately.”

“Spot knows?”

“Shit. Yeah. He’s sort of infected with a parasite made from my blood. That also infected me and made me a total asshole. Remember a few months ago when I nearly killed Oscar Delancey? That was the parasite.”

“Jesus.”

“Yep.”

“So, Race, Davey, and Spot all know?”

“Yeah… I’m trying to avoid telling anyone else, so if you reveal yourself to Sarah, please don’t tell my secret.”

“You aren’t going to tell her about me?”

“Not unless you piss me off again. So, hopefully no.” Jack smirks at Katherine.

“We should probably head in, shouldn’t we?”

“Yea-” The hair on Jack’s neck sticks up, metaphorical squiggles emanating from Jack’s head. Something was wrong, very wrong. “Fuck.”

“What?”

Jack doesn’t respond, barging back into the apartment. She bolts down the hall to find everyone there, alive and well.

“Jack?” Katherine asks, trailing behind. “What’s wrong?”

“I thought…” the feeling buzzes away, leaving an odd feeling in its place. “Sorry, thought I heard something.”

“Let’s go get a drink, Jack.” Katherine pulls her back into the hall. “What was that?”

Jack leans against the wall, “Sixth sense. I can sense danger before it happens. I thought I felt it, but I’m not so sure anymore. I’m way too drunk for any of this even though I can’t even get drunk.”

“You can’t get drunk?”

“Fast metabolism. I require a ton of calories and burn everything off super fast. Both a blessing and a curse.”

“Hmm, still want a drink?”

“Yes, it’s my night off. As long as I don’t get another drunk spidey sense.”

“Spidey sense?”

“It’s what Race calls it. He names most of the stuff, including me.” Jack walks into the kitchen and pours herself a drink. “You know, if you want, you can join our ‘spider squad’ even though you’re a cat.”

“Ha-ha,” Katherine deadpans, “but sure.”

“I’ll add you later, just remind me.”

Race giggles, veering off to the side of the sidewalk. “You were so stupid-looking playing Twister!”

Jack grabs his shirt and pulls him back, “Hilarious, just walk straight, please.”

“I’m not even straight.”

“Race, walk fucking straight.”

Davey bumps Jack’s side, “It was pretty funny though. How did it go with Katherine?”

“Good, we talked it out. She’s a part of the squad now, I invited her. Tonight wasn’t bad, but I never want to experience drunk spidey sense again.”

“Weird, huh?”

“Yeah, I know I felt it, I know it, but then it was gone. Did you hear anything?”

“No, just you barging in,” he smirks at her.

“I know, so funny.”

“It was.”

Jack watches ahead of her, Race, Charlie, and Spot all walking in front. Even while drunk, Race tries to help Crutchie down the sidewalk, but it’s doing more harm than good.

“Race, stop fuckin’ grabbing him. You’re wobbling.” Spot yells at Race, pulling him away from the other blonde boy.

“Nuh-uh!”

“Race, let Charlie walk on his own. You okay, Charlie?”

“If this dumbass wasn’t pulling me, then yes!”

Jack cackles as Race whines.

Chapter Text

“Remind me never to drink again,” Jack groans before heaving over the toilet again. Her stomach aches and she wants to curl up and die.

“Don’t you have a fast metabolism? Sure it’s the alcohol?” Race butts in, his blond hair dangling in the doorway of the bathroom.

She turns, glaring at him. “What are you implying?”

“Dunno, what do you think I’m implying?”

“Race, I’m not pregnant.”

“Eh, you’ve been in a relationship for months now, it could be possible.”

What is he- ahh! (Nice one.) Fuck off.

“We’ve never- I’m not discussing this with you. Fuck off.”

Race’s face lits up with a shit-eating grin. “Oh? You and Davey never… interesting.”

“Fuck off!”

“Alright, alright,” he backs up. “Whatever.”

“Tell Spot we have training today. And add Katherine to the chat. I forgot last night.”

“So bossy, sure you’re not pregnant?”

“Just do it.”

Race salutes and retreats into the hall. Jack groans and leans over the toilet again. She was never going to drink again. Hangovers suck ass, even with her metabolism.

“Is this how you guys typically train?” Katherine asks, skeptically looking at the four of them.

“Yeah!”

“And you wonder why you could never keep up with me.”

“Just- Spot! Get over here!”

“Good save.”

“Screw you,” Jack cracks her neck, hopping in her stance as Spot stands across from her, “Ready?”

“Why are we doing this again?”

“Because you need to learn and, for some reason, Race wants you out there in the field, so here we are. Ready?”

“Sure.”

Jack narrows her eyes, blocking out Katherine’s suspect glare and Race’s loud chewing. It had been less than a week, but he was progressing well. Jack had high hopes for him, so she had to piss him off right now to see how he would control his anger. She knows better than anyone the impact of getting too angry out there.

Spot runs at her and she dashes to the side. He growled and lept again. And again, he missed.

“Missed me.”

“Fuck off.”

Jack grins and jumps back to avoid him again. Spot’s face twitches as he narrows his eyes at her.

“Tired yet?”

“We’re just getting started.”

Jack laughs and motions for him to come at her again.

(Is it going to be bad?) Very possibly yes. (Fun.)

Spot runs at her again and Jack realizes she is backed up against the edge of the floor. Shit. Jack groans and leaps off of the concrete and sticks her right hand against the wall. Just as she jumps off, Spot slams against the wall.

That was close. (No kidding.)

Jack wraps her upper body against the bars, grinning as she hangs. “How’d that work for ya’?” She kicks her legs back and flips over the wall, back on the sturdy concrete floor. She sighs and shakes her head. “Break?”

Spot nods and steps back. “Why not?”

“You did good.”

“Don’t patronize me.”

“I wasn’t, you did good. I’m trying to piss you off, I need to know how you fight off the symbiote and how you keep fighting despite anger. It’s part of the training.” She grabs her water and sits down, “Give it time, Spot. It’ll get easier to fight it off.”

“And, maybe you’ll be better than Jack, which doesn’t seem too hard to be,” Katherine butts in, smirking.

“Haha, I’m a terrible fighter,” Jack laughs back monotonously. “Have any of you ever stopped a hostage situation in five minutes? I didn’t think so!” She sighs and shakes her head. “How ‘bout one more and we call it a day? I think you’re almost ready if that’s what you want.”

Race perks up, nearly bolting up from his slumped stated against the wall. “Wait, really? Spot can go out there soon? Holy shit, Sean! Did you hear this?”

“Yeah. Uh, when do you think I’ll be fully ready?”

Jack blinks, concentrating for a second. “Give it a week. We’ll keep doing training and I’ll keep testing you, and once I clear you for the field, I find some mission for you to shadow me during. Sound good?”

“Yeah.”

“Good, now get up. I wanna kick your ass again.” Jack smirks at him as she gets up. She glances back at Davey, who rolls his eyes. “Better get your cameras out for this.”

Training Spot had given Jack less time to do anything else. Of course, she still had her duty to the city and she upheld it, but anything else? Nope. No time. Schoolwork went on the back burner and painting went out the window. She finished her collection for the art show and hadn’t painted since. Her hands craved for a paintbrush, but alas, there was no time for painting in her schedule.

There was no time for anything anymore. She barely saw Davey outside of school and training - plus the occasional window drop-by. She gets hurt often, even more now being so exhausted and tired.

Ring!

And there was the bell. Time for her next class.

The hallway was loud and she weaved her way through the swarms of people. It was time for her chemistry class. Davey. Her light.

She pushed her way into the classroom and dropped in her seat.

Davey entered shortly after and sat across from her, a bright smile on his face. That was his go-to. He was like living sunshine. Her sunshine.

Class started and Jack attempted to focus, taking notes on whatever she heard. Davey would let her look at his, but she didn't want to have to rely on him. She needed to lock in and get this done on her own.

Halfway through the class, their teacher ended his lecture and allowed to them work on any missing work. Davey was caught up, so he let Jack look over his notes for whatever.

She was in the middle of copying down his notes as the intercom buzzed over the classroom.

”Jacqueline Kelly to the office. Jacqueline Kelly to the office.”

The hell?

“I don't even know what I did this time,” she mutters as she packs up her things. “See you hopefully in a bit, Davey.” She gave a small smile before walking out the door. She better be back by lunch.

As she walked to the office, her mind spun around all possible reasons for her being called down. Did she fight someone and forget? Was she absent too many times? Made a threat? Was it because she came in with a black eye one too many times? She hoped it wasn't that last one. She was all too familiar with CPS meetings and she was not ever going to be ready for another one.

Maybe she was walking too slowly to the office, but they were most likely going to accuse her of something she didn’t do. They did that a lot. Troubled orphans make for easy targets.

The office was cold. It always was. It was cold and dark, much like the color blue. As much as she liked blue - she really did like it, it was her favorite color - the cold and dark feeling of the office was not comforting. Hadn’t they ever heard of color theory? Red would be a much better theme for the office. Calm and relaxing. At least make kids think everything is okay before you crush their dreams.

“Jack, they’re waiting for you in there. Not sure what’s happening,” Charlotte, the nice secretary told her. Charlotte was always on Jack’s side, unlike the other secretary, Mrs. Birch. Mrs. Birch hated Jack with a passion. It didn’t help that Jack was a young bisexual teenager who opposed societal norms.

“Thanks, hope I come out in one piece.” Jack awkwardly quipped on the familiar route to the conference room. “Pray for me,” she playfully grinned and disappeared down the hall.

Now, Jack has been in many awkward meetings. Her foster family interviews, meetings for her father’s court case, her own court cases, and, most recently, when she was finally adopted. But this was another breed.

The principal, the assistant principal, her social worker, and two cops. Cops? What happened?

“Ms. Kelly, please be seated.”

Jack’s spidey senses were going like crazy, screaming at her to run out of there yet she sat down.

(This action will have consequences.) Shut up! (Fine!)

“I’m sure you know why you’re here.”

“Actually, I think this is the first time I don’t know why I’m here. Am I in trouble for something?”

The cop closest to her leaned closer, he was one of those guys who was like the personification of grease. Had this guy never heard of a shower? “Where were you the night of the 10th?”

The tenth? That was…. the gala. Shit!

“Uh, I was at the Pulitzer Gala. I work for the New York World, I was invited.”

“And what time did you leave the event?” The other cop questioned. He was less greasy, but just as slimy. She hated cops.

What time had she left? What did she leave as Jack?

“Any time now, sweetheart.”

Gross. (Bleugh!)

“I’m not your sweetheart, and it was ten that I left. I got there at nine and left at ten. I’m sure there is a camera that can back that alibi up. Are you accusing me of something?” Her patience was running thin and these cops were about to learn what would happen if itwores too thin.

The greasy cop scowled at her. “You left after an hour? Isn’t that odd?”

“I didn’t feel good. I called my brother right after and told him I would be coming home. You can ask him that. I didn’t do anything, so what exactly are you asking me about? I do have a right to know what I am about to be charged with. Writ of habeas corpus. I took government, last year. I got a B.”

(Oooh, smarty-pants.)

“We are looking into the attempted theft of Mr. Pulitzer’s paintings-”

“And you think I tried to steal them? Hah!” She cackled, leaning back in her seat. Wait, what? “You think I tried to steal from Pulitzer?”

“I don’t like your tone.”

“I don’t like yours. I haven’t gotten in serious trouble for a while. My therapist says I’m making serious improvement. You have my social worker right here! She can back up the fact that I am not troubled or a criminal!” Jack planted her hand down on the glass table and stood up.

And that’s where it all went downhill. In just a few short seconds, Jack was slammed down into the conference table, handcuffed, and dragged from the room.

“Fuck my life,” she muttered as they recited the Miranda rights. Right to remain silent, anything blah-blah, right to an attorney, blah-blah-blah. She had heard it all before and she found cop shows comforting. Well, not anymore. Blue lives matter, her ass. Pigs.

Man, jail cells were cold. Colder than the blue of the front office of her high school.

“Fuckin’ Cat and messin’ up my shit. Never should have messed with any of this shit.” She leaned on the cold concrete wall. “Hey! Where’s my phone call? I get one call! I know my rights!”

After a long thirty seconds, a beat cop came to the cell bars. “One second on that phone call.”

Spoiler, it was not just a second. She waited for another thirty-fucking-minutes for her call just to have only a minute to speak on the phone. Bullshit, all of it.

She quickly dialed the number and waited. Precincts were the worst.

“Please pick up, Mama.” She impatiently chewed on her cheek. This was not her finest moment, but neither was getting arrested.

Click!

“Mama!” She practically wailed into the phone.

“Jackie, baby, what happened? I just got a call from the school and some texts from your brother. You got arrested?”

“It wasn’t my fault, Mama. They were trying to catch me saying something I didn’t do.”

“I know baby. I called a friend of mine, I’ll get you out of there and we can sue those cops for all their worth and then some.”

“Mama, I don’t like it here.” She felt like a little girl standing in her mother’s doorway.

“I know, I gotta pick up the boys and then I’ll be right there. Hang tight for me, ok-” and click.

“Time’s up. Back to your cell, Kelly.”

Back to the cold and darker than blue cell. She was not cut out for this.

Jack waited for what felt like hours in that stupid cell before she was dragged into an interrogation room. Less dark, but still as cold. Do police precincts not have heating? It’s mid-January. They handcuffed her to the table, which felt like a mockery against the city’s hero but whatever. After all, she did, and the paintings weren’t even stolen. She stopped the robbery.

The two cops from before entered the room and sat across from her. Greasy and Slimy. Eugh.

The greasy cop leaned back in his chair, looking all too smug right now. “Now, I’m sure you know the procedure, but we’ll go over it. You have the right to not say anything, but anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you do not have one, one will be provided to you. Any questions?”

Jack locked her jaw and cocked her head to the side.

“No snide comments or remarks?” Slimey asked her.

Oh, she had comments but she preferred not being charged with assault against an officer. Again, that is. She opted for a sneer and leaned back in a metal chair. Her eyes were narrowed and inspecting the whole room. If attacking two cops wasn't highly unethical as a superhero and the camera wasn't on, she would break from her cuffs and leap over the table. But she refused to break.

They continued to antagonize her, but she remained unbothered. That is until someone entered the room. With a briefcase and walking stick.

This is who her mom called? A blind guy? She is not ableist, but come on!

The greasy cop looked at this guy and sneered, “This is a private interrogation.”

“And this is my client. I'm her lawyer.” He stuck out his hand, not even close to the cop, “Theodore Roosevelt.”

What the fuck?

The cops looked him up and down before begrudgingly getting up and exiting the room. “We'll be back in a bit, don't get too comfortable.” And with that, Greasy and Slimy were gone.

“I'm sorry, you're my lawyer?”

Theodore waved his hand in the air, tapping for the table. Jack grabbed it and pressed it to the metal. He nodded and slowly sat down. Jack couldn't see much past his tinted shades but could see the slight furrowing of his brow.

“Your mother is an old friend. She called in a favor.”

“You gonna get me outta here?”

“I'm gonna try.”

“I didn’t even do anything. Why would I rob my boss?”

“Believe me, I know you’re innocent.”

Really?

“Actually?”

“Let’s just say I have a sixth sense about these things.”

Weird thing to say, but okay. She wasn’t going to argue with her lawyer.

“Any chance I can get out of here tonight? They can’t keep me here, right? I’m a minor for Christ’s sake! They have no substantial evidence on me!”

(She watches way too many cop shows.) They’re good, what can I say?

“I know, but with your priors, they can easily make a case that you would be more likely to commit the crime compared to anyone else there.”

“Bullshit! My priors were for petty theft! I stole clothes and food! For orphans! And anything else they have on me is when I ran away from foster homes!”

Those assholes were lucky she hadn’t lost her shit when they were in here. She should’ve wrung their necks out. Dicks.

Theodore didn’t even seem fazed by her outburst. But he also couldn’t see her, only hear her. “Let’s just focus on getting you out of here tonight. I imagine you want to be home.”

”Yes.”

She missed her bed. Proper heating. Davey. Her brothers. Her mom. God, she really did it this time, didn’t she? But, this was sort of Katherine’s fault.

Katherine would most certainly be getting an earful after this.

“Well, they have nothing real on you. Just hunches and feelings. Unless they can find something within the next few hours or so, they’ll have to let you go.”

“A few hours?”

He nodded, slowly moving his fingers across his files. Braille, she realized.

She glared at him, huffing softly.

“You know, I may not be able to see, but I can sense your upset. I don’t make the law. You’ll just have to wait this out. You’re lucky your mom had connections. Many kids stay here for hours without any representation.”

Jack leaned back in her seat as much as she could with her hands cuffed to the table. “Any chance you can get them to let me lose these? They chafe like a bitch.”

“The cuffs? I can see. You’re not being charged for any violent sort of crime nor did you incite any violence towards your officers.”

Debatable.

“Well, I may have yelled some and tried to fight back while getting arrested. But, that’s because I’m innocent and they came to my school!”

“I’ll check.” The red of his glasses glimmered at her. His eyes behind them were unfocused, which didn’t shock her, but his slight glance down did. His eyes hadn’t shifted much since he walked in. She wasn’t anything close to an expert on blindness, but that was weird.

“Are you fully blind? In both eyes, I mean.”

“Yes, a chemical spill got in my eyes when I was a kid.”

She frowned at him.

“I think I read about that, twenty years ago or so?”

“Or so.” He stood up, collecting his files. How did he even get her records?

She narrowed her eyes at him as he made his way to the door. “’Bout a foot to the right,” she offered, despite him being right in front of the door. He attempted to find the doorknob and she slowly pulled the door open with a short web she shot. The cameras weren’t on her as she did, so she took her chance.

“I’ll ask about the cuffs.”

“Thanks.”

After he left, it took a few moments for a beat cop to come in and let her out of her cuffs. She rubbed her wrists, pointing by the door. “You know, you might want to check for spiders, there’s a massive web over there. Fell from the roof. Super unsanitary, you know.”

“I’ll be sure to mention it.” The cop responded, “The detectives will be back in here in a minute with your attorney.”

Ah, yes. Her attorney who was hiding something. She isn’t an idiot, there’s something there. More than the fact her mom had some random lawyer on her speed dial. Ew, what if her mom had some history with him? At least that idea made her gag so much she forgot all her problems for a second.

She looked down at her wrists, seeing the slight red marks that circled around. She hadn’t quite noticed any discomfort other than when she tried to move abruptly, but it seemed they may have been a touch too tight.

She rubbed at the red marks as the detectives and her lawyer walked back into the room. The slimy detectives sat across from her while Theodore sat next to her. She narrowed her eyes at the cops across from her, disdain drawn all over her face.

“Now, we’ve agreed to your request to let you out of your cuffs, do you intend to cooperate this time?”

“Cooperate? You are accusing me of a crime you have no proof I even had a motive to commit. You know, I’m starting to see why you have someone else cleaning up your messes for you.”

At this point, Jack should have backed down, but she was nothing if not stubborn and persistent.

“I mean, do cops in this city even do anything? All I hear these days is when Spider-Woman saves the day or solves some crime. You better get on that or I fear for your government funding. You’re blaming me for this crime while the real thief is casing their next joint. How many rich old men will lose their priceless art until you stop them?”

By now, both cops sitting across from her were fuming, reasonably so. She took note of this and promptly shut up. No need to worsen her charge. She was just thankful Weasel, the Delancey’s uncle, wasn’t her arresting officer. Probably due to conflicts.

“Are you finished?”

She didn’t answer.

“That’s enough of an answer. Now, we have some questions about the night of the gala. Did you bring anyone with you or did you have a date of some sort?”

She narrowed her eyes and tapped her fingers on the table. “Low-level photographers don’t get to bring dates, but I came with my boyfriend. Officially speaking, he was Katherine Pulitzer’s date, but she didn’t care to bring anyone.”

Greasy looked her up and down. (Gross.) “And why did she help you bring your boyfriend?”

“We’re all friends. Katherine’s one of my closest friends, and she wasn’t planning on taking a date anyway. So, I asked and she said yes.”

“This boyfriend of yours, would this be David Jacobs?”

“Yes.”

“And what time did he leave?”

What time did he leave? “Around when I left. Like I said earlier, I wasn’t feeling well, so he said his goodbyes to Katherine and we left.”

“You didn’t?”

“Say goodbye to Katherine? No, but she already knew I wasn’t feeling well.” Not a complete lie, but not the exact truth either.

“Did David walk you home?”

Ah, still looking for her alibi. “Sort of. He lived closer to where the gala was, so we walked together and then I walked the rest by myself. He could back this up and so could my brother. I texted him shortly after that.” Again, not a lie.

“Which brother would this be? Charles or Anthony?”

“Anthony.”

Jack glanced next to her, where Theodore seemed to be listening intently. She looked at his moving hands, spotting some cuts. Old ones that had scarred and fresh ones that had just begun to heal. She bore similar scars on her own hands - from her Spider-Woman excursions and from the days before the spider bite. Curiouser and curiouser.

“Hmm, that’s all we have for you right now. We’ll need to check your alibi for the night of the gala. You’re free to go as of right now. Don’t make us regret it.”

“You’re…. letting me go?”

“For now. Once we verify your alibi, we’ll ask some more questions. But yes, you are free to go.”

Thank God, she was getting antsy and she hadn’t eaten in hours. With her metabolism, it felt like days to her. She needed carbs in her and fast.

Jack looked over to her lawyer, who was standing. That’s a good sign, right? She hadn’t been arrested in years and back then she never had a lawyer to defend her. She stood, wanting to not spend another second in this cold, blue room. She glanced at the door and began walking toward it, expecting someone to tell her to come back.

They never did. And she left the room without any problems.

She held the door open for her lawyer, who still piqued her interest. The scars, the weird darting of his eyes. There was something up there.

She made her way to the lobby and her breath caught in her throat. Her face broke out into a wide grin as she sprinted.

“Mama!” Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as arms wrapped around her. Longest day of her fucking life. “I’m so sorry! I never planned for this!” She pulled back, wiping her tears away.

“Only you would somehow “accidentally’ get arrested.”

Jack grinned as she pulled her younger brother into a hug. “You know, I just ‘bout missed you there Race.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

She stepped back, cocking her head to the side as she looked at Charlie. “I imagine having Race help you around was probably the worst part of your day. I mean, come on.”

“Hey!”

Jack laughed as she hugged her youngest brother. She looked at her mother, who was looking at all three of them with a fond smile.

“Why don’t we head home? It’s been a long day for all of us. The car’s right out front. Boys, show your sister to the car. I need to thank Teddy here.”

Jack smiled but narrowed her eyes at the blind man lurking behind them. There was some history there. And she was going to find out.

But, for tonight, she was going to go home and relax with her family. She pulled her brothers close to her, “Did anyone update Davey on this?”

Race nodded, “Yep, he wouldn’t stop blowing up my phone after lunch. He was worried. I let him know everything.”

“Good, because that is one less thing for me to worry about. Anyhow, I think it’s time to let the cat out of the bag, if you know what I mean, Tony.”

Race’s eyes widen. “You don’t mea-”

“I do. Once we get back. I’ll tell you everything.”

Charlie looked at the two siblings, frowning. “Tell what?”

Jack looked over, “Later, Crutch. I’ll tell you and Mama when we are all back home. It’s time, Race.”

“You know who’s going to kill us.”

Kath? Davey? Spot? All three?

“I know, but they will get over it.”

It was late, far later than Jack had expected it to be, but she was sticking to her plan. After being accused of something she didn’t do, but actually stopped she needed to tell her family.

They picked up food on the way home - which Jack was incredibly thankful for. Her stomach had begun to eat itself.

Now, they all sat in the living room, enjoying each other’s company before heading to bed. Medda always said that after a tough day, it was best to spend time with family.

She slowly stood up, fidgeting with her hands. This was going to be rough. “Uh, guys? I have something to tell you. I think, after a day like today, I should - no - need to tell you all.”

All attention fell to her and she took a deep breath in, taking in everyone’s expressions. Race was equally nervous and avoided their family’s gaze. Charlie was confused but looked up at her with warm eyes. And Medda’s face didn’t give away any emotions as she looked at her daughter.

Please don’t hate me, she thought.

“So, I’ve been keeping something from you all. For a while now, a little longer than a while actually, but that’s not the point.”

“Jack, honey, is something wrong?”

Jack fought back the urge to cry and beg for forgiveness. “Not exactly, well, maybe.” She chewed the inside of her mouth. “Um, well, I’m…. sort of…. not sort of…..”

“Oh, get out with it!” Race called out to her.

Asshole.

“Fine!” She sighed loudly. “I’m… Spider-Woman.” She covered her eyes and dropped her head the second the words came out of her mouth.

The silence in the room was deafening. She looked up to find her mother and youngest brother in shock.

“Surprise?”

She glanced at Race, who shrugged in response. (He’s no help.)

Charlie spun around to look at their brother and pointed. “You! You knew!” Charlie turned back to look at Jack. “Is that why you need those cameras in the sewer?”

Jack’s brows shot up her forehead. “Maybe?”

“Yes, we needed the cameras to have eyes in the sewers. Yes, ‘we’.” Race said before groaning onto the couch.

There was only one person who hadn’t spoken yet.

“Mama?”

“Jack. I just can’t believe it.”

Fuck. She’s done for.

“I mean, you’re a hero.”

“I wanted- what?” Jack began to speak and then her mother’s words sunk in. Tears stung her eyes and she dropped down in front of her mother.

“Jackie, you save this city every day. I just can’t believe I didn’t know.” Medda pulled Jack in for a hug and Jack accepted the embrace.

“I wanted to tell you, so much.”

“That wasn’t you who tried to steal those paintings, was it? You tried to help.”

“So much for that,” Jack muttered, wiping her face.

“Why don’t we all get some sleep? We can discuss all this in the morning.”

Race stood first, loudly cracking his back. “Works for me.” Medda nodded and headed toward her room.

Jack awkwardly looked at Charlie, who was looking at her with a frown. Jack helped him up.

“I can’t believe he knew before me! I mean, Race?”

“You are so right, Crutchie. I had no clue what I was doing. Neither did he.”