spider-man · witty · nerdy · super strength · wall-crawling · daily bugle · high school setting · tragic backstory · responsible · comic book
❝ i came in through the window last night / it’s no surprise to me, i am my own worst enemy . ❞* The fluorescent lights of the Pre-Calculus classroom hummed, casting a sterile glow over Nate’s battered form. Four jagged cuts and a bruised cheekbone told the story of a brutal night against organized crime. He limped into his seat, adrenaline fading into dull ache. Mrs. Vargas’s sharp voice cut through his haze, calling his name. Nate jolted up, squinting at the board. “Square root of 13,” he stammered. The class chuckled as she corrected him; you had answered minutes ago. Across the aisle, you mouthed *“Are you okay?”*, eyes lingering on his Band-Aid. Nate offered a weak, dimpled shrug, hiding his pain behind a hoodie, desperate to keep his secret safe.