spider-man / luke hemmings

neuf

yeah, I'd love to tell you all my problem
you're not from new york city, you're from rotherham
Fake Tales Of San Francisco - Arctic Monkeys

----------------------------------------

Over the next few weeks Luke found it increasingly difficult to keep the fact that he was Spider-Man a secret. It was a combination of him wanting attention and him being a really bad liar that was causing him problems.

Luke wasn't one to be attention-seeking, but every once and a while we all want a bit of credit, and due to Spider-Man's ever growing popularity it was getting harder and harder for Luke to not admit that it was him doing all these good deeds.

However Luke was not stupid and knew what it would mean if he was to come forward. He wanted credit, but not to the extent of never having privacy again.

Him being a bad liar wasn't something that Luke could help and he was desperately trying to get it under control. So far it wasn't going so well. He couldn't help but butt into conversations about Spider-Man to correct people. He had gained a reputation for it and people now had started coming to him for information. This was exactly the opposite of what Luke wanted.

It didn't help that all his friends kept asking why he's not around. Every time they confronted him, which was quite often, he was forced to keep making excuses, each of them just as ridiculous as the last. They ranged from "I have a very important essay that I need to write" to "I need to wash my hair." It was becoming obvious to them that none of these explanations were legitimate but for now just decided to leave it.

Luke had also found a more 'subtle' way of sneaking in and out of his room at night. He had taken to climbing out of his window, like a typical teenager in a movie.

 His flat was on the first floor and so it wasn't difficult for Luke to slip in and out unnoticed. The window opened just wide enough that Luke's slim frame could fit through, even with the muscles he had gained over the past months. The window opened out onto a balcony, which wasn't meant for actual use, hence why the window only opened so far.

 Luke had as much trouble keeping his identity from the criminals he was trying to stop than he did from the general public and the police. He had fond memories of old, creepy looking men with teeth missing taking a swipe at his head, trying to pull his mask off his head. 

 One of Luke's favourite things was the reaction he would get from little kids. The thing about young children is that they are brutally honest, and so being told by a four year old that his bum looked big in his tightly fitted trousers was hilarious to Luke. Although he did go home that night and spend half an hour staring at his behind in his mirror. 

 Another thing Luke found quite funny, but was also quite disturbed by, was how the elderly women would talk to him. You'd think after stopping a thief from stealing an old woman's handbag that she would be sweet and grateful, but instead she was cheeky and flirty, making Luke blush furiously under his sweaty mask and jump when she pinched his bum.

 After that incident Luke had learned a lot of respect for women who constantly had to deal with this kind of harassment from creepy men on a daily basis. 

 Luke had gotten into the habit of turning down hanging out with his friends and going to parties more and more often. He felt guilty about it but wasn't sure how to make it up to them and still be able to go out and be Spider-Man everyday. 

 There had been numerous parties since Luke had become Spider-Man, It was common for the flats on his floor to take it in turn to host. Even when it was his flat's turn to host Luke played the ill card, before locking his bedroom door and sneaking out. The party was still in full swing by the time he got back, but he kept up his pretense of being ill and lied awake, staring at the ceiling until the noise of the party finally died down and he was able to sleep. 

 Tamsyn had questioned Luke about his absence from his party the day after and after a few moments he quickly recited the excuse he had used the previous night. Luke felt quite left out, even Tamsyn was at the party, and she had explicitly told him on more than one occasion that she didn't like going clubbing or to parties. 

 All of this had come up in a recent conversation between Luke and his flat mates. It was a rare occasion in which all of them were at home at the same time and had decided to have dinner together. 

 A couple of nights before Luke had stopped a major ca crash between a bus and a lorry, using his sheer strength to divert the course of the bus. Of course this had to come up as a topic while they ate. 

 "Luke, what did you think about Spider-Man stopping that crash?" Lauren asked him. He was just about to answer when she continued. "I think it's all fake - a set-up it has to be, you know like that Derren Brown guy." Luke gripped hard onto his cutlery. 

 "Really? I think it's genuine to be honest, why else would the police be so concerned, if this was all a fake then surely someone would've let them know at least." Luke replied, as calmly as he possibly could. 

 "Well I think he's pretty awesome!" Michael butted in. Luke smiled to himself, at least Michael was on his side. 

 "Yeah well you would think he's awesome wouldn't you." Interjected Grace, rolling her eyes at Michael, who frowned at her along with Luke. "Anyway, enough about this Spider-Man, what's the plan for Friday night?"

 At this point the table erupted into conversation, all discussing where they were going to go for their weekly rave. It baffled Luke how they were even able to afford to keep going out all the time. Student maintenance loans didn't stretch very far at all. Luke kept quiet as Chloe, Amy and Ashton argued over which club was better. 

 "What do you think Luke?" Calum asked, talking over the three who were bickering. The table quietened down and Luke nervously looked around at their expectant expressions. "You are coming out Friday, right? You literally haven't been out in weeks." The others all nodded their heads in agreement. This is peer pressure at its finest, thought Luke. He sighed, giving in almost immediately. 

 "Alright, alright I'll come!" They all burst out with a cheer, which was swiftly interrupted by Michael's phone, which pinged loudly and buzzed as a text came through. Luke, who was sitting quite close to Michael could quite clearly read the name that flashed up on the screen. Tamsyn Reed.

 "Why is Tamsyn texting you?" Luke queried once everyone had settled into their own conversations again. Michael was distracted as he typed a swift reply. 

 "I told you that we had exchanged numbers weeks ago." Michael explained, unsure why Luke even cared. 

 "I knew that, but like, I didn't realise you were actually texting her. She barely even talks to me sometimes." 

 "I have noticed she is quite shy, but she's cool, and a good kisser too." Michael grinned. Luke nearly choked on the piece of spaghetti he had just put into his mouth. Maybe Michael wasn't on his side after all.

 "You kissed her? What? When did this happen??" Michael chuckled at Luke's concern, patting him on the back as he coughed after practically inhaling the string of pasta. 

 "Relax, it was a couple of weeks ago, we were both slightly drunk, we're just friends, I didn't realise you had a thing for her." 

 "I-I don't" Luke stuttered, "It's just she's my friend and you're my friend and uh, yeah." Luke wasn't even sure what the big deal was about Michael and Tamsyn. He shut his mouth and went back to finishing his dinner. 

 "Yeah, whatever you say buddy." Michael laughed, getting up to put his empty plate in the sink, and ruffling Luke's hair as he left the kitchen. 

 Luke groaned, trying to fix his hair, before he went back to his room, immersing himself in an essay and quickly forgetting the conversation he had had with Michael. 

----------------------------------------

thank you so so much for reading, please vote and comment :) :)

*no copyright intended*