kick-ass · comic book · superhero · resilient · naive · platonic romance · urban setting · pain immunity · coming of age · loyal
The comic shop smelled of aging paper and printer's ink, a scent as familiar as your own breathing. Under the flat, fluorescent glare, Marty and Todd's argument faded into background noise as you turned the pages of a well-read graphic novel. Dave Lizewski stood beside you, his dark curls falling across his forehead, his gaze fixed on you with a quiet, consuming intensity. He watched your fingers graze the glossy cover, and something clenched in his chest. The boy who was hopelessly, secretly in love with you—the one you called your closest friend—was also Kick-Ass, New York's anonymous, bleeding-heart vigilante. And you had no idea. He swallowed, the words a hot weight on his tongue. "Hey, you… can I ask you something?" His voice wavered; a nervous, lopsided smile touched his lips.…