Chapter Text
Rumi threw her backpack to the ground. Another argument with her aunt. The third one this week.
It’s Tuesday.
God, she had to get out of here.
Another stupid argument about responsibility. A responsibility she didn’t choose.
She was Spider-Girl. Had been for the last three months, when her Aunt Celine finally deemed her ready.
Being Spider-Girl wasn’t bad, but everything that came with it definitely was. Not just the arguments.
The publicity. The Daily Bugle couldn’t care less about all the good she did.
The late nights. Waking up at 3 A.M. to her spider-sense going off like an alarm was not fun.
The scars. The ugly cuts and wounds that came with constantly fighting.
She could let all that go, though. She used her powers to help people. She’d take all of that if it meant she could save someone.
Celine didn’t make it easy, though. Rumi was doing all she could. But every time she came home, Celine always had something to say. No matter how many people she saved, no matter how many hits she took.
“Always something,” Rumi groaned as she pulled her phone out of her pocket.
Rumi 💜: are you doing anything right now? 8:46 P.M.
Mira 🩷: Nope, just chillin, what’s up? 8:47 P.M.
Rumi 💜: can I vent rq? 8:47 P.M.
Mira 🩷: Celine? 8:47 P.M.
Rumi 💜: how’d you know? 8:48 P.M.
Mira 🩷: asking to vent at 8pm is kinda a giveaway 8:48 P.M.
Rumi can’t help but huff a small laugh. She knows her so well.
Mira 🩷: what happened? 8:48 P.M.
Rumi 💜: she’s just being… Celine 8:49 P.M.
Rumi 💜: like I know she cares but y’know 8:49 P.M.
Mira 🩷: why don’t you just move out lol 8:49 P.M.
Rumi 💜: gee wouldn’t that be nice lol 8:50 P.M.
Mira 🩷 IS CALLING. ANSWER?
Rumi quickly taps to answer the call.
“Hi, Rumi!” Zoey beams through the screen.
“Oh, hey Zoey. Why do you have Mira’s phone?”
“She said, and I quote, ‘I need to go to the bathroom. Make sure Rumi doesn’t explode.’ Then she handed me the phone,” Zoey explains.
Rumi huffs a laugh. “Figures.”
“What’s wrong?” Zoey asks, softening a little.
“It’s just Celine again.”
“Ah, you should probably move out,” Zoey says like it’s the simplest thing in the world.
“That’s what Mira said.”
“Yeah, well, great minds think alike.”
“I can’t just move out.”
“Why not?”
Rumi shrugs. “Just ’cause… it’s not that easy. Plus, I have nowhere to go.”
“Okay, we were gonna wait to tell you this together,” Zoey starts, “but what if you moved in with us?”
Rumi freezes. That’s not what she was expecting. But before she can say anything—
“You told her?!” She can hear Mira yell from somewhere in the background.
“Wait, Mira—” Zoey manages before there’s what sounds like the phone being thrown around.
“Rumi?” Mira finally says after about five seconds of muffled fighting.
“Yeah, I’m still here,” is all Rumi can manage.
“Zoey was supposed to wait till we were together, but—” Rumi can practically hear Mira glaring at Zoey. “We thought about it, and you could move in with us?”
Rumi swallows. “No, I couldn’t do that to you guys. I’ll figure it out—”
“No, Rumi, seriously. We have the space,” Mira says quickly. “Plus, getting to hang out with you every day sounds sick.”
Rumi can hear Zoey shout, “Yeah!” somewhere in the background.
Rumi can’t lie — it does sound nice. But she can’t do that. Not with her… alter ego.
“Rumi. I can practically hear you spiraling.”
“Sorry, it’s just—”
“Rumi, you can say no. We just thought that it would be nice to have you around. That’s all.”
Rumi pauses for a moment. It would give her space. It would be fun. But it would also be hard. Zoey and Mira can’t know that she’s Spider-Girl. It would make things beyond complicated. Her aunt and one other person are the only people who know.
But then again, Rumi could come home without being judged. Without being corrected. Without overwhelming responsibility.
That thought alone pushes her more than she’d care to admit.
“Are you sure?” Rumi asks, her voice a little too small.
“Of course we are. We wouldn’t joke about that.”
Rumi takes a second. “Okay.”
“Okay?” Mira says, a little shock in her voice.
“Yeah.”
Rumi can instantly hear Zoey squeal and more shuffling.
Zoey takes the phone. “For real!? You’re gonna be our roomie?!”
“Yeah, I think it would be nice.”
“Nice!? No, it’s gonna be amazing! This is actually the best day of my life.”
Rumi can’t help but feel a little giddy. Just the thought of living with her best friends overrides any fears about what might come with it.
“So you’re serious about this?” Celine asks.
Rumi had already made her decision nights ago. It wasn’t easy, but she’s about 70% sure she made the right choice.
“Yeah, I am,” Rumi manages.
“Alright,” Celine says.
“Alright? That’s… it?” Rumi asks, confused.
“You seem to have already made your decision.” Celine nods to the box Rumi is carrying. “It’s a bad idea, but you’re an adult. I can’t manage you forever.”
Rumi fights the bile that builds in her throat. “Mhm.”
Celine sighs. “Then that’s that.”
“Rumi, remember that with great power—”
“…comes great responsibility. Yeah, I know.”
Celine nods, seemingly dismissing Rumi.
Rumi leaves. Just like that. Easier than she thought it would be. That makes it hurt a little more.
Jinu’s waiting for her outside. It’s his car that’s moving all her stuff, after all.
“So how’d it go?” he asks.
“Um… fine, I think?”
He raises a brow. “You think?”
Rumi shrugs. “Yeah, I mean we didn’t argue, so that’s something, right?”
“I guess…” He waits for a moment. “Why am I helping you move?”
The question catches Rumi a little off guard. “Um, ’cause you’re the best?”
“I mean, true. I am the best.” Rumi rolls her eyes at him. “But why aren’t Mira and Zoey helping you?”
“I was gonna ask, but they said they had something planned for when I got there.”
“Okay, but like—” He looks at the few boxes in his car. “Couldn’t you carry all this yourself?”
“How?”
“Super strength, sticky fingers. Take your pick.” He shrugs.
Rumi shudders. “Don’t say sticky fingers.”
“I mean, that’s how you describe it, no?”
“No, not at all.”
“Still, couldn’t you… I don’t know, swing it all there?”
Rumi looks at him like he’s an idiot. “First of all, you try swinging while carrying four boxes. Second, they don’t even know I’m Spider-Girl.”
He looks shocked. “Wait, they don’t?”
“No. No one does. You only know because I took a car to the chest and you were nearby,” Rumi says a little too simply.
“Yeah, that was… a weird day.”
Rumi shrugs before hopping in the car like it’s hers.
Jinu rolls his eyes but gets in the driver’s seat anyway.
As they drive, Rumi’s phone vibrates in her pocket, and she pulls it out.
Zoey 💙: hey, how far are you? 1:58 P.M.
Rumi can’t help the fond little smile that pulls at her lips. Jinu gags dramatically. Rumi glares at him before responding.
Rumi 💜: just left, be there in like 20? 1:59 P.M.
Zoey 💙: perfect 2:00 P.M.
Yeah, it is.
She’s finally out of Celine’s home. She doesn’t hate Celine. She never could. Celine’s the woman who raised her after Rumi’s mom passed. But being free from the rules, the routines — it feels amazing.
“So… how’s, um… spider-ing?” Jinu starts as he drives.
“Spider-ing?” Rumi turns to him.
“Yeah! Anything cool happen recently?”
Rumi thinks for a second. “Not really. Stopped a few muggings and a robbery. Normal stuff.”
He shakes his head. “I still can’t believe you think that’s normal stuff.”
“I mean, to me it is. My hobbies consist of swinging through the city and Netflix.”
“Still, though. You save people on a daily basis. You’re a hero.”
“Not everyone thinks so.” Rumi rubs her shoulder.
Jinu groans. “Seriously? I told you to stop reading the articles from the Bugle.”
“I know, I just…”
“Wanted to see people actively hate on you for doing the right thing?” he asks.
“No, of course not. I just… I don’t know.”
“Rumi. You save people. You stop criminals. Hell, you pull cats out of trees. You’re a good person.”
“I know. I know.”
They sit in silence for a little bit after that. It’s not uncomfortable. It just kind of is. Rumi silently thanks Jinu for that. She knows she does the right thing, but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way.
Especially going home to Celine. But now she doesn’t have to do that. She gets to come home to her two best friends in the whole world.
She’s so excited. She’s—
It hits her. Not hard. Just a tingle. The hairs on the back of her neck stand up, and her head buzzes around one thought.
Danger.
Rumi groans and reaches for her backpack, unzipping it.
Jinu looks over. “Duty calls?”
Rumi just nods.
Always at the worst times.