Chapter Text
For Anthony, mixed media tended to be one of the only classes he looked forward to. Not only because it was a break from the heavy course load corresponding to his biophysics major, but also because Coy was his partner for every project.
They saw each other often, as Coy came over to see his sister on most days, but Anthony didn’t like to bother them, especially since he and Coy had never really hung out outside of school.
Anthony thought Coy was funny.
Coy didn’t seem to share belief regarding Anthony.
“You’ll turn it in by midnight?” he asked simply, closing his sticker-covered laptop and stuffing it into his book bag.
Anthony blinked. “Yeah, after I finish it; which should only take a couple minutes. Are you coming over tonight?”
Coy raised an eyebrow though his tone never strayed far from bored—he always had that atmosphere about him, that uncaringness no matter if he cared or not.
“Yeah, me and Bon are gonna do movie night.”
“Cool. So, I guess I’ll see you later then?” He stood, Coy having stood before him, already slinging his back onto his shoulders.
“Yeah, I guess—” Anthony’s phone started ringing. He pulled his phone from his pocket, revealing the contact photo of Will—face scrunched and teeth showing. He inhaled through his teeth.
“Important?” Coy asked, though he didn’t seem interested.
“Yeah…” He was already walking away, one foot out the door and mail bag hanging off his shoulder. “See you tonight!”
“Bring Will!” Coy said, causing Anthony to freeze where he stood. “We’ll do a group movie night.”
Anthony blinked, phone no longer ringing in his hand. “That sounds…great! That sounds great. I will see you there and our assignment will be submitted!”
“It better be.” Anthony ducked into the single room bathroom and clicked on the missed call notification, prompting Will’s contact photo to flash back on screen. He picked up on the first ring.
“Dude! Ant! I could’ve been dying and calling you to come get me! What are you doing?”
Anthony rolled his eyes. “I was in class, what’s up? Did something happen?”
“Yeah, man, they’re moving, get over here!”
He hung up the phone and rushed out of the building, attempting to not look too suspicious… He didn’t do a very good job.
Anthony jumped into a mix between a conspicuous fast-walk and an embarrassing jog, shoving each door open by throwing his shoulder against them.
He bumped into someone outside, causing them to drop one of their books before bumping into the person they were talking to, colliding like dominoes. “Sorry!” Anthony shouted, leaning down to pick up the book and freezing when he saw the name in Sharpie on the cover.
“Anthony?” Coy said incredulously.
He grabbed the book and stood, handing it over to Coy shyly. Him and his friend stared back in confusion and, if Anthony was right, judgment.
“You know this kid?” his friend asked, not breaking eye contact with Anthony.
“Yeah, I have class with him. Be careful, Anthony. You’re always in a rush. Someday, instead of running into me, you’re gonna run in front of a car.”
Anthony smiled awkwardly before waving and stepping away, turning his backwards walk into a jog. “I’ll keep that in mind. Bye again, see you later, Coy. Nice to meet you, Coy’s friend!”
Coy’s friend didn’t wave back, instead he looked irritated.
Anthony turned and started to run, heading for the back of the main student center before climbing to the top and changing into his suit where no one could see him. He pulled on the mask last—the mask that labelled him as a “vigilante” according to J. Jimmy Jameson. He preferred “anonymous hero.”
Once his messenger back was pulled over his neck, he launched himself off the building and began to swing in the direction of his apartment.
He checked the room before climbing in through the open window and closing it behind him.
“Hey!” Will said from Anthony’s desk. “They’re moving–they’re moving! Hurry up, Ant!”
Anthony pulled off his mask and began to strip off his suit.
“Anthony? Is that you?” she shouted.
Will turned to him, wide-eyed. “Change, man!”
He pulled his arms out, then his legs, tripping on the fabric as he removed his feet. Hanbon walked in right as he hit the ground—and right after he had managed to toss the costume under the desk where Will was sitting.
She blinked. “What are you doing?”
“Get out, I’m changing!” Anthony yelled, taking Will’s hand to help pull him up.
Bon covered her eyes and turned around, facing the hallway wall. “Coy said he invited you guys to movie night.”
“Us guys?” Will asked, looking to Anthony who was pulling on shorts and a T-shirt. “Me guys?”
“Yes, you guys,” Hanbon confirmed. “What’s that about?”
“What do you mean?” Anthony replied, sitting on the edge of his bed.
At the sound, Hanbon turned around to face them. “I mean, you never hang out with me and Coy. No offense, but is there a reason he invited you? Again, I’d love for it to be a group hang out, it’s just out of nowhere.”
Will crossed his arms, spinning in the desk chair. “Yeah, well, we don’t need you anyway, right, Ant?”
“Actually, I’m excited for movie night,” Anthony supplied.
Will furrowed his eyebrows. “You’re excited to see some chick-flick?”
“It’s not some chick-flick!” Anthony and Hanbon said at the same time, Bon with a bit more anger.
“What movie is it?” Will asked doubtfully.
Hanbon paused and crossed her arms. “We’re watching Legally Blonde again.”
Will turned to Anthony with his hands spread and eyebrows raised.
Anthony rolled his eyes. “It’s just a movie, Will. We’ll have fun. If you don’t have fun, I’ll buy you a drink.”
“Two drinks?”
“Deal.”
“Three drinks.”
Anthony rubbed his palms over his eyes. “Two drinks, Will.”
Will sighed and slumped back in his chair. “Yeah, whatever. Two drinks.”
Hanbon rolled her eyes, leaning against the door frame. “Coy’s bringing snacks and drinks. Dad left for a date so it’ll just be us four. Coy will be here around six, movie at seven or eight. Got it?”
Anthony and Will both nodded vigorously.
“Anth, if you’re late, or if you disappear, I’m gonna be disappointed, okay?” Bon explained. “I won’t be mad. I’ll be disappointed.”
“I’ll be here, okay? If I do disappear, I’ll at least be back before you guys start the movie.”
“Right. Okay, then.” As she turned to walk away, Anthony called out,
“Wait, John has a date? With who?”
Bon pursed her lips and shrugged. “No clue. Some lady. He didn’t tell me. You can ask him when he gets back.” Then she left, walking back to her room to await Coy.
Anthony waited a moment before closing the door and squatting beside Will at the desk. “Show me.”
Will pulled up the map displaying a blinking, moving dot.
Anthony narrowed his eyes. “They’re about to be at the docks. That’s, like, the most sketchy place to go.”
Will shrugged. “Maybe, that’s why they’re going? PEMDAS, right? It cancels out?”
Anthony turned to Will. “Will, what are you even saying?”
“Because it—” he flailed his arms around, attempting to convey his thoughts, “—you know?”
Anthony shook his head slowly. “Noo, actually I don’t. Put in your ear piece, I’m going.”
“When will you be back?”
“Uhh…” He checked the alarm clock by his bed, seeing that it read 4:05PM. “Before Coy gets here, I hope?” He reached under the desk to grab his suit, changing back into it as quickly as he could manage.
Will cleared his throat. “Look, I didn’t wanna say anything in front of Hanbon, but, Ant, it’s, like, really obvious you like him.”
“You’re only saying that because I told you.”
Will hummed. “No, I’m saying that because it’s obvious. There’s no way he doesn’t know. Maybe that’s why he invited us to movie night?”
Anthony shrugged, pulling on his mask. “I don’t know, Will. Maybe.”
“You should say something to him. Once we’ve all had a couple drinks tonight, even? Relieve some stress?”
Anthony sighed. “Listen, I’ll think about it. Right now, I’ve got to get to the docks.”
Will slid an earpiece into his ear. “All right, Ant. Be careful. Keep in mind that Coy will be here at six. You’ve got two hours.”
Anthony opened the window and lowered himself onto the sill. “He’s definitely kept in mind.” He launched himself into the air, slinging a web to keep himself flying between buildings.