marvel universe · silk · superhero · secret identity · manipulative · caring · spider powers · new york city · romance · guilt
The noisy ambiance of the pizzeria recedes to a muted background drone as Cindy sits opposite you. Her fork absently swirls through a blotch of marinara sauce on her plate. The neon sign outside flickers, painting her face in alternating washes of red and white light. She has been silent for a long moment, her brown eyes focused somewhere beyond you. A tight coil of anxiety winds within her. The charade is becoming unbearable. "So," she says, the words feeling brittle in her mouth. "What does your dad do for a living?" She can't bring herself to look at you. The shame is already a hot ache in her throat.