𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 - 𝟎𝟎𝟏 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂 ✔️

002

You smile nervously, peering over at the drawing 001 gazed so happily at. "They're kind of creepy," you conclude, but this causes his smile to drop so you quickly add, "but they're cool! I think they're cool." A faint smile returns to his lips.

"Yeah," he says quietly.

Silence falls over you again. You didn't know what to say. It seemed neither did he. All you could hear was the buzzing of a nearby a/c unit.

When you can bear the quiet no longer, you say, "I think you're pretty too."

He scoffs and looks down. Slowly, he brings his blue eyes back up to meet your own. "Thanks."

Your legs were dangling off the bed, he swung his impatiently. Was that out of nervousness or because of the cold? You felt slightly on edge as well, but there was no need to be nervous. Right?

If there was no need, why were your eyes so trained on the floor? You and 001 were supposed to become friends. That was what papa wanted. Neither of you should have been nervous.

You see the drawing of the black widow folded neatly in his small hands. Suddenly, you get an idea. It was something that papa used to do for you when your mind was busy. You'd grown out of it of late, but you thought maybe 001 would enjoy it. Even if it didn't, it would surely break the ice.

"Have you ever made a paper airplane before?" you asked, pointing to the page in his grasp.

Reluctantly, he shook his head.

"May I?" you asked gently, holding out your hand.

"Sure," he nodded and passes the paper to you.

You unfold the page and make a new crease down the middle. You tuck one corner in and then the other. You crease it again. You fold in the wings. You crease it once more. You pull on it and perfect it until it's symmetrical.

You feel his eyes on you and you chuckle. "Sorry, I hate when the wings don't line up." You rush to finish it and when it's done, you place it back in his hands. "Here you go."

He admires it cautiously. He holds it up above his head to examine it. In the air, you could still see the silhouette of a spider against the light. Its shadow was still hidden in the paper. It was obvious that he liked that part the best.

"Whoa, cool!" he grins. He sets the paper airplane in his lap and places his hand on yours. "Thank you."

"Of course." You beamed.

But now, your task was finished. In the past few minutes, you two have grown to become acquaintances. One might even say you were friends. What else was there to do if that goal had been accomplished?

You didn't know. You've never had a friend before. Luckily, 001 got the idea a bit more than you. He made a move to deepen the conversation.

"What's your real name?" His light voice comes out barely above a rasp.

"Y/n."

001 wrinkles his nose.

"What?" the voice in your whisper rises.

He places a finger to his lips and shushes you. "Nothing," he laughs, "That's a really nice name."

A moment passes before you whisper. "What's yours?"

"Hen-" The syllable cuts out. Instead, his gaze falls to the paper airplane in his lap. The silhouette of the spider catches his eye. "Peter," he says.

Your voice barely makes a dent in the silence. In your best attempt at being discrete, you mumble. "Hello, Peter."

"Hello, y/n," he murmurs back.

And it's not till then, that you truly feel you have made a friend.

▐░░░░░░░░░░░░░▌

"Lights out, kiddos," Papa said, tapping his watch with a sinister smile. "It's getting late."

You let out a nervous chuckle. Hours had passed since he'd left you here with 001. At first, you'd been dreading the minutes until he came back. 001 was strange. 001 was different. 001 was weird. But now, you didn't want to leave.

001 was your best friend.

"I see you two have gotten acquainted!" Papa exclaims.

More than so.

He frowns at you. "But, I'm afraid you're going to have to say goodnight."

You look back at 001. His eyes met yours and you knew he felt the same. He didn't want you to leave. You didn't want to go.

The more you two talked, the easier it got, until words flowed out without much thought. In the short time knowing each other, you guys have shared many laughs and a stupid fight over comic books.

Papa sees you hesitant to leave and shakes his head. "Come now, you can see each other again tomorrow."

You walk towards Papa, looking up towards his looming stature. He holds out a hand with a caring smile. "Lessons start tomorrow. For the both of you! We need our star students well-rested if they're to grow to the best of their abilities."

You nod. Papa was right. With a silent sigh, you take his hand and let him lead you towards the door.

"We can't wait to see what you two are capable of," Papa adds. "Whatever it is," he winks, "I'm sure it'll be something great."

You gulped. You could only hope not to disappoint Papa. Sure, you had powers, but would they be all he expected? Were you really capable of something great? You glance down at your hands then back to 001, wondering just what you two could really do.

Before you turn back around, you see him mouth your name.

"Bye, y/n!"

But if you hadn't known any better, you'd have thought you'd heard his voice in your head as well.