STRAY KIDS.

XIII. SPOILSPORT

( STRAY KIDS! )
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
❛ spoilsport ❜

THEY'VE STILL GOT a movie and a half to watch, so the only obvious solution is that eli has to sleep over. it's never occurred to him or her, but aunt may insists. it started snowing early that afternoon, the roads are blocked anyway, and he's even got bunk beds, perfect for the occasion.

eli shrugs. "i'll call my dad."

but peter is understandably nervous, even after aunt may makes her ❝no fooling around❞ jokes.

funny, they don't actually keep watching more star wars. now that they have a whole night ahead of them, it beats the purpose.

"can i see it then?"

"turn around."

eli, who's taken the bed above, rolls her eyes and sinks her face in the pillow.

peter undresses quickly, discarding clothes at random, afraid he'll chicken out.

he's got the suit pulled halfway through but it's like his limbs have gone stiff and he's forgotten how to dress. he's got a huge lump in his throat. what if she'll laugh? it was easier with ned somehow. why does he care if eli laughs?

suddenly, he feels a pair of hands on his back and he flinches.

"here, um, let me help."

it's the only time she ever sounds unsure.

he lets her pull the flexible material over his bare shoulders. it should normally mold on him like water but it feels like a million unwieldy needles right now. he turns around too quickly and they almost collide.

she looks up at him and her gaze is hooded.

"wanna see something cool?" he stammers, and he pushes the button that tightens the loose material all around his joints.

eli takes a step back to view him properly. peter feels like an exhibit in a museum, but the sensation isn't as bad as he expected. her eyes travel over him with something like surprise.

is she shocked it fits him? does he look older? he must look older. his workout routine must be showing too, and okay, he needs to shut up.

she starts circling him, inspecting him from every possible angle. the atmosphere is oddly loaded for something so innocent. peter swallows thickly.

"not bad," she pronounces.

he feels a trickle of warmth in his stomach, something new and alarming. he still carries a small torch for liz, and he almost feels he's betraying her but–

"hold on, let me show you the eyes."

   and he slips the mask over his head because it's easier not to show his face. eli is predictably delighted with the way his spider eyes shrink and grow.

"whoa, stark technologies did all that?"

"and more."

before she can make another smart comment, he jumps on the ceiling and crawls up and down the plaster, making sure to really stretch out his back. then he stands still and looks down at her.

"this is all me, by the way. i can do this with or without the suit."

"rad," she elicits, staring at up him in wonder.

he feels a smug sense of victory that he's managed to impress the cool rebel girl that never gets fazed. . . until he realizes that he's getting a really good view of her red bra. in fact, this vantage point really gets past fabric and. . .

he quickly drops down.

"that's enough for one night."

"spoilsport," she mutters, giving him a soft smile that makes his stomach stir again.

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