𝟱𝟰: 𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗦 𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗔 𝗕𝗘 𝗢𝗞𝗔𝗬

Unfortunately, I was forced to return home by the police earlier, they reasoned that it was getting dark and dangerous for me still be out since I was a target of the Foreman. I would've stayed longer for Mark, but I didn't want to disobey the people on top of the hierarchy. I was truly willing to wait longer for Mark, and despite the many minutes I spent waiting outside, I didn't feel a tinge of anger about his absence. Because I understood.

Now, I was laying on my bed, absentmindlessly staring at my white ceiling with nothing to do, hoping to at least to get an update from when Spiderman and Venom would be released from the police station. Donghyuck promised to tell me, considering he had Naomi who could ask her father. But no texts nor phone calls.

The silence and void within my bedroom was interupted. There was another presence at the balcony. I could sense and hear it. Curious, I sat up from the bed and gazed towards the glass door.

I would've expected to see Venom, but instead, Spiderman was there. He had his head leaned against the glass door, as though peeking, with his arm around his stomach and the other pressed against the door to stabilise himself.

"Huh." I said to myself, obviously confused about his unexpected visit. I jolted out of my bed and paced towards the balcony, calmly opening the door for Spiderman. "Hey. What're you doing here—" My own words were cut off, when Spiderman had suddenly lost his balance. His legs wobbled, nearly collapsing on the ground but I managed to catch him around my arms before he could come in contact with the ground. "Whoa! Wait, what the hell happened?"

Spiderman left my question unanswered. The only thing he could utter out, were grunts and moans of genuine pain. This conduct of his was easy for me to comprehend, that his body wasn't in a good state.

"Ah shit." I muttered. "Come on, let's put you down." I swathed an arm around his waist, trying to assist him in stabilising his steps towards my bay window, as he kept his arm around my shoulder.

It was a struggle, but eventually, we managed to reach the bay window. Spiderman plopped down on the window seat, his injured and exhausted body unable to stand any longer. Pain shot through his body as he leaned on the window, which was all he had for support. He was in visible pain and exhaustion.

I quickly took a seat in front of Spiderman, my concern for his well-being clear on my face. I sat across from him, leaning forward in a position of intimacy and closeness. "What the hell happened?" I asked, barely a whisper.

Spiderman's breathing was short and shaky. "Enemies... by the cinema. I... I had to stop and—" He cut himself off with a cough. It was visible that he was struggling with breathing, and having that mask on didn't help a single bit in giving him space for oxygen.

I reached for his mask, my soft and delicate fingers sliding underneath the fabric with ease and gentleness. When Spiderman realised what I was trying to do, his hand gripped my wrist, firm but cautious.

"Hey..." I whispered. "It's okay Mark. It's okay."

The reference of his name caused his grip to loosen. I deliberately pulled off the mask from his head, exposing the face of Mark Lee in the dimness of this bedroom. I knew this already. I knew it from the beginning, however, being the one to pull off the mask on Spiderman and see Mark Lee, was truly a different experience.

Mark hung his face down as though trying to hide, or as though embarrassed of his face. I tried leaning down to look up at him, but he was dodging me to get a proper sight of him. "Hey, Mark... Mark look at me." I mumbled, bringing my hand up to connect it with his cheek before forcefully, yet gently making him look up to look at me.

And this was the sight I feared the most to see. This was also one of the main reasons why I didn't want Mark Lee to be the Spiderman.

I couldn't help but stare in shock when I saw Mark's bruised and bloodied face. His face was covered in bruises and cuts, his eyes a bit swollen and his lips caked with blood. Even with those terrible wounds, Mark looked as handsome as ever in my eyes, his strength and resolve shining through even under the damage. "Oh my god... What the hell happened?" I said beneath my breath.

Still embarrassed, Mark instantly dropped his head down again, his hand pulling mine away from his face.

"Mark..." I released a sigh, my heart broken for Mark, because I had never seen him like this before.

Mark placed his head on my shoulder, still trying to conceal his face and the pain and injury he was enduring. He leaned against me more, finding comfort in my touch. My touch was like a balm to his wounds, soothing his aches and filling him with a sense of relief. I felt his arms slithering around my waist, his body seeking the comfort and warmth of my presence, and soon, I felt him press against me, warm and comforting. He was hugging me. He was hugging me like a child hugging his teddy bear after a nightmare. I, a symbol of a teddy bear to him, a safe place to him.

I stayed on my spot. I was very stiff. It wasn't because I didn't want this proximity with Mark, nor because I didn't want to embrace him back. I was just surprised.

With each second that passed, Mark's embrace got tighter and tighter, a gesture for me to reciprocate. 

And I did. I wrapped my arms around his back, hauling him in. My hand softly running through his black locks. "Shh. Everything is gonna be okay."