Drawing the Wildcard

Chapter 13: First Night, First Fight

After finishing up their classes and stopping for lunch, Kit and Ari made their way back to their apartment. One of the perks of being a senior; you can leave anytime you want to. As long as it's after lunch period.

"OK. I have to finish sewing up his costume. Kit, you start working on the web fluid and web-shooters. The materials are set up in the kitchen." Ari says as they walk up the stairs.

"Roger that. But I have to ask. How did you come up with this?" Kit asks as he unlocks the door to their apartment. "Don't get me wrong. You're smart, but I'm curious." He says as they walk inside. Ari takes a seat on the couch and begins to put the finishing touches on the costume.

"Well technically, I improved the formula by complete accident. It actually came from the field trip that Jake and Peter were on. I looked the place up online and the formula was under the Kid's Section. Go figure." Ari says as she puts the spider design on the chest of the costume. She hums slightly as she stretches out the legs of the design. Kit nods in understanding and goes into the kitchen to get to work.

---

Meanwhile, Jake was walking down the street while listening to some music on his phone. For him, today just dragged on and on. Tests, projects, homework, the list goes on.

'I'm glad school is almost over. Then I can focus on bigger things. Like the big video game tournament coming soon.' Jake thinks to himself as he walks to the apartment building. Briefly looking around to see if anyone was nearby, Jake began to crawl up the wall to his friends' apartment. Reaching the window, he knocks. Ari looks up from what she's doing and smiles, getting up and walking over to open the window. Jake crawls in and closes the window.

"Hey, guys. What's up?" He asks as he sets his bag on the floor near the TV. Ari giggles slightly.

"I made something for you, Jake. But first, you have to close your eyes." She says. Jake raised an eyebrow at her giggly behavior but obeyed, shutting his eyes. Ari picks up the finished costume and holds it out. "OK, you can open your eyes now." She says. Jake opens his eyes, ready to make a sex-related joke, only to be stunned silent by the costume.

"Whoa...Ari, this is amazing." Jake says, gently taking the costume out of her hands. Ari swelled with pride at Jake's compliment.

"Well, go try it on." She insists. Jake nods and goes to the bathroom to change. Kit walks into the living room, holding two thick black bracelets.

"All done with the web-shooters. Where's Jake?" He asks. His ears twitch at the sound of clothes ruffling in the bathroom. Jake emerges from the bathroom in his new Cerulean-Spider costume. The Suit is predominantly black with the spider emblem, back of the gloves, shoulders, hood, eyepieces and the "boots" having a half-blue-half-black look.

"Looking good, C.S." Kit nods in approval. Jake looks at the costume in admiration.

"Ari certainly knows her stuff." Jake says. He looks at what Kit is holding. "What are those?"

"Oh, these are your new web-shooters. You wouldn't really be 'Cerulean-Spider' if you couldn't spin webs." Kit says as he puts them on Jake's wrists.

"They're light. How do they work?"

"Ari, you take this question." Kit says as he takes a seat on the couch and turns on the TV.

"With pleasure, babe. These wrist-mounted devices fire an adhesive 'webbing' through a threaded adjustable nozzle. The trigger rests high in the palm and requires a double tap from your middle two fingers to activate, eliminating the chance of accidental discharge when you're forming a fist. In order to fire, your fingers have to hit it precisely, Jake." Ari explains. Jake nods in understanding, silently appreciating Ari's ability to keep explanations short and sweet.