Lunas web

Chapter 3

He stared at me for a moment like a deer caught in the headlights. Waving my hand in front of his face seemed to snap him out of it.

"I know you've never seen me outside the suit but am I that different?"

He turned his attention back to the meal he was prepping before I walked in. Taking the opportunity, I hopped up to sit myself on the free space on the counter. Without looking me in the face, he finally started talking.

"No, its just I didn't imagine thats what you looked like underneath the mask..."

"Oh? Sorry I'm no supermodel, you'll just have to make due."

I could see a ting of pink coming to the tips of his ears. The purple mohawk of his almost drooping in-front of his eyes. Those scared hands never faltered as he was meticulously cutting up the vegetables. His voice came out soft and almost sweet.

"Thats not what I meant."

"What did you mean then?" I couldn't help but let the biggest smirk display on my face. Watching the gang leader even attempt to say something nice to a girl was such a joy to watch. Does that make me a bad person?

"I uh, well..."

"So, what type of meal am I getting for my reward?" It was more fun to tease him to be honest than anything else. Getting a rise out of any of the boys was always so easy. All it would take would be the right tone of voice and just a few words to make them get all jittery.

He seemed to relax at the conversation shifting to the food in front of him. His hands seemed to move on their own as I watched him use the knife to skillfully cut the carrots into the smallest pieces. I found myself focusing in the way his arms flexed as his hands moved, showing off his toned forearms. It was a relaxing almost watching him seem so in his element. If I didn't know him already, I would have guessed he was a well trained chef.

"Since my sister already cleaned and prepped the kitchen for tomorrow, I'm making you some of my specialty fried rice." His lip curled upward on one side.

"Your specialty? What makes it so special?"

"Its a secret Luna." My name rolled off his tongue so smoothly, I could feel my face heating up a little bit.

"So when you're not doing boss stuff, do you spend a lot of time here?"

From the time I had spent with Shorter, I knew he had an older sister named Nadia, that the two of them ran this shop by themselves. He never told me how that came to be for them but we never really felt comfortable enough to pry into each others personal lives till now.

"I try to, but gang matters keep me pretty busy and I have a feeling its only gonna get busier." Before I knew it he had started heating up a pan and was tossing in the ingredients one after the other. I was mesmerized by the way he could pay attention to me while simultaneously chop and prep this whole meal. I watched his hands, the way one could hold the pan handle, moving it so the ingredients moved around the pan on their own. While the other gripped the spatula that occasionally he would use to stir it all up a bit more. My eyes moved up his body more, noticing one of his sleeves had dropped down. Without thinking, my own hand pushed it back up past his elbow for him. The way his forearm felt against my palm felt like a wake up call to my body.

Realizing what I had just done, I pulled my hands under my thighs. What was wrong with me? That wasn't something a normal person would do. Though I suppose I'm no normal person...

"Im all finished cooking, grab me those two bowls I pulled earlier would you? They're on the counter behind me."

Choosing to not look at him out of embarrassment, I jump down quickly and return to his side with the bowls. He doesn't hesitate to start filling both to the top, the aroma of the hot food took over my senses, the sound of my stomach rumbling loudly giving me away.

Shorter lets out a soft laugh and takes one of the bowls from my hand. "Guess I finished just in time huh?"

I look up at him, feeing how red my cheeks are from embarrassment. His warm brown eyes meet mine and for a moment I don't turn away. Without his glasses on, its as if I'm truly seeing him for the first time. The way his eyebrow piecing shines a bit under the lights, his eyelashes just long enough to touch his eyelids, his jawline too...

What I guess I hadn't realized was that he was doing the same thing with my face.

"Um I think I need something to eat this with though..."

His ears turned pink again as he was brought back to reality himself. Moving around frantically, he emerged in front of me with two spoons. I took one, though this time making sure I didn't touch his hand in the process. Looking around kitchen, spotting two stools close by. Using my webs, slinging them over to the counter.

"Thought you may wanna sit and eat in here so less mess." I beam a wide smile at him while taking a seat.

"How does that work?"

I look at him confused, mouth full of food.

"How does what work?"

He gestures towards the webs hanging off his stools and my hands.

"The webs, how do you do it?"

"Ohhh, I don't know how to explain it really. It just sort happens?" Uncle ben and I ran so many tests but in the end all we could figure is that my body naturally makes its own webbing. I would rather not go into that with anyone though.

Shorter didn't bother asking more on it, instead we chose to just eat in each others company. It still pretty weird to me that someone else knows both sides of me. I wasn't ready to talk about everything yet. Ash doesn't even know everything to be completely honest...

My spidey senses go off as someone approaches the restaurant at a fast pace. I immediately set down my bowl on the counter which alarms Shorter. He doesn't seem so bothered though. I see him reach towards his gun he keeps in his back pocket. He stops though, recognizing who's approaching.

"Don't worry, its just Sing. He's one of my guys."

"Wont he be suspicious of me?"

"He'll just think your some pretty girl I invited in."

My face heats up again. Pretty...?

The boy ran inside, not bothering to announce himself as he barged into the kitchen. He stood about 5'3" (glad there was someone shorter than me still in the gangs), his dark hair stuck to his forehead bringing my attention to his eyes. They were so dark that it reminded me of looking into obsidian. Though what really caught my eye was the kunai sticking out from his jacket sleeve. Don't meet many people these days that use those, especially someone so young. His words came out breathy, as if he had been running for some time. He didn't even seem to care that I was there.

"Ash... boss, they're sending Ash to state prison!"

My stomach sinks to the floor. How? How can they send him there so soon? It was only a few hours ago they even arrested him. What the fuck was going on?!

I feel Shorter put his hand on my shoulder and lean down close to my ear. His low voice shocking my system.

"You should go home, I'll keep you updated ok?"

I nod my head, struggling to use my voice right now. I shove past Sing and leave as quickly as I can out the restaurant. Uncle Ben is the only person I know who can ground me right now. I find myself back on the rooftop of Chang Dai looking out over the city. My mask slips over my face, swinging from building to building to get home.