Chapter Text
Wonwoo's always had a bit of a fascination with heroes.
From the very first time his mother sat him down in her lap, flicking through images she'd captured of real-life ones, the kind that stood for justice without a mask or cape, protesting for their rights in the streets.
"It takes very little to be brave, Wonu," she'd said.
He's carried that with him for the entirety of his life—especially when works of fiction made their way into the real world—comic book characters spilling off the pages, wreaking havoc, and keeping those villains at bay. Superheroes are ten times as fascinating, and the only person he knows who rivals his infatuation with them is his friend, Hansol.
Man, he is definitely going to wish that he'd gotten his reporting internship application in on time when he sees the spread Wonwoo puts together.
"You really think he's gonna be here?"
Wonwoo pulls his glasses off his face to wipe them with the hem of his shirt, unperturbed as he squints at the expanse of skyscrapers around them. The horizon is a canvas littered with buildings, and as the sun dips, it leans fiery orange towards a purpley-pink hue.
"My sources never fail me."
Mingyu judgmentally raises a brow. "Your Spiderman fanboy crush is not a reliable source, dude."
Mingyu and Wonwoo—a dynamic duo. The two have been paired together since their shared first day as interns working for The Daily Bugle, with the former spinning each and every article with words of gold, and the latter providing the action shots in accompaniment. It's routine by now, everyone knows—where there's one, there will be the other, bugging each other relentlessly like they don't adore being partners and best friends.
Wonwoo shrugs, still just looking at the buildings, expecting a familiar line of webbing to enter his field of vision. "First of all, I do not have a crush on him. Second of all, says who? He's never been wrong before; he's studied the patrol routes. Kid's got verve. He knows his shit."
"Ew, don't talk about him like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you want to fuck him."
Wonwoo splutters, whipping around to face Mingyu in disbelief. "What? I do not talk about him like—"
Something red zips around out of the corner of his eye, and the protests die in his throat. Inhumanly agile and quick as a whip, a red and blue crack of lightning rushing across the city.
Exactly who they're looking for, the man of the hour.
"Show time, boss man," Mingyu says, running his hands through his hair, fixing his posture into what he calls 'Journalist Stance,' and pulling his phone out to record. "You ready?"
"I thought we agreed that you'd stop calling me 'boss man.' And yes."
"We didn't agree, you told me to stop, and I decided that I'm going to keep doing it."
Before Wonwoo can lob his expensive ass camera at Mingyu's head, Spiderman propels himself off the glass panes of a nearby building, flipping up onto a traffic light.
New York's finest.
In like, a professional sense. Not in a gay way. Not that Wonwoo is homophobic, he's literally gay himself, it's just that he doesn't really know the guy, and it's not so much a crush as a deep admiration for all the work that he's done—
"You're drooling," Mingyu whispers in a serious tone.
"No, I'm not," Wonwoo hisses as he wipes the corner of his mouth. He totally was.
The photographer aims his lens perfectly, just before Spiderman can spot them, getting a couple of must-see candids. By the time the hero turns his attention towards them, Mingyu already has his most dazzling smile on, wagging his Press badge in the air.
"Got a second to chat?"
It's easy to let Mingyu take the reins here. He's a sweet talker—there's never been a person he couldn't coax into an interview. Just a few quick words, he'd say. A moment of your time? I'll buy you a bagel. Works like magic.
"That didn't really sound like a question," Spiderman tilts his head. His tone is fond, like he knows this song and dance. He kind of does.
It's not necessarily hard to get a quote from the guy, he's pretty down to earth (er, figuratively speaking) for what it's worth. He's just hard to catch.
Every ten seconds, someone's demanding his attention. Armed burglar on Fifth. Explosion at Alchemax Headquarters. Whatever the fuck Vulture has cooking on any given day. Mingyu has driven himself mad over trying to find a way to make use of the two minutes' worth of one-liners he's accrued over the last year.
"Glad we're on the same page! It'll only be a minute."
With little grace but plenty of precision, Spiderman maneuvers easily to the pavement, dropping into a crouch upon landing, right in front of Wonwoo.
He points. "Your shoelace is untied, man."
Wonwoo blinks. "Oh."
"I got you," the hero replies, weaving his laces into neat little knots, unprompted. His gloved fingers brush the small patch of exposed skin on Wonwoo's ankle, where he's secretly ticklish, and he shivers.
"You good?"
He coughs. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Mingyu tries not to roll his eyes as he scrolls through his phone, no doubt updating Seokmin on this exchange as it happens in real time. To which Seokmin will probably reply: I don't care, stop texting me, focus on your interview, only to ask a follow-up question directly after. If Wonwoo and Mingyu are a dynamic duo, the other two are something like rivals. Who very clearly want to kiss each other. But that's not really his business, so he tries not to stick his nose where it doesn't belong (unbelievably hard for a journalist to manage, mind you).
Spiderman spends a good thirty seconds making small talk, to which Wonwoo attempts to minimally respond. The less he speaks, the lower the chances are that he sounds like a fucking idiot.
It's kind of embarrassing how uncool he manages to be in situations like this. He's met all kinds of politicians and celebrities in his time at The Daily Bugle—and plenty more from his mother's time as a journalist—and yet it never gets easier.
Even so, he can usually hold his ground. It's this specific hero that manages to catch him off guard every time. There's something both familiar and obscenely foreign about him, like there are little sparks zipping around his head whenever he's near. More often than not, Wonwoo edits his photos in a complete state of starstruck awe, debating the moral implications of having a hard-on for a complete stranger whose face he's never seen.
Actually, he's fighting it right now too. Massively.
So he has a crush on Spiderman! Who wouldn't? It's under control. Probably.
"There. You're all good."
"Thanks," Wonwoo mutters, readjusting his glasses. "Always an honor."
"It's what I'm here for," he shrugs. "Now, you said you had questions for me?"
Mingyu springs into action, opening his voice memo app immediately.
The interview lasts about five minutes, which is probably some kind of record.
"The NYPD Chief of Police recently put out a statement regarding your involvement with crime-related activity—that you should, and I quote, 'quit sticking your webs where they don't belong'—any comments on that?"
Spiderman rubs at his chin, like there's a beard under the mask that he's used to fiddling with. It's hard to imagine, but Wonwoo still tries to discern any facial features about this guy from his body language, and he can never quite place it.
"A little ironic coming from the guy who can't quit sticking his gun where it doesn't belong, I think. But hey, to each their own."
Both Wonwoo and Mingyu fail to mask their laughter at his line. It's true—the police brutality rates are only skyrocketing in their city, which Seokmin just finished a piece about. The police force hides behind the justification that these levels of violence are the only way to keep criminals at bay. And yet, crime is at an all-time high in New York City, with more civilians being put in cuffs than villains behind bars.
And yet they persecute Spiderman, like he's public enemy number one.
"In all seriousness, though. I'm just trying to do my job."
Before Mingyu can get another question in, an explosion sounds from the other side of the street, a fire hydrant bursting up and out of the ground, a cannon of water following in its wake.
"Speaking of which, I think that's my cue to get going."
And he's right, because seconds later, what seems to be a quartet of villains filter out of the shadows. "Well, if it isn't our good friend, Spiderman!"
"I think you've got me confused for someone else," the hero calls back. "I've literally never met you before, my guy."
The hero rushes head on, towards the action, and Wonwoo can't seem to take his eyes off of him. He's mesmerizing. Completely unfazed, and comedic even in danger, an easy and calm confidence in every web shot, every punch thrown. It's incredible. He's incredible.
"Earth to boss man," Mingyu waves. "This is normally when a good photographer would start taking pictures."
"Shut up," Wonwoo says, fumbling with his camera. He's right, though. Wonwoo had been way too busy blushing to remember that he is, in fact, on the clock. "Don't tell me how to do my job."
"Then do it, maybe?"
The fight lasts for all of fifteen minutes, and they aren't fortunate to get quotes in the aftermath, with several other outlets pressing the elusive arachnid, but Wonwoo gets more than enough action shots, and that's all that either of them can really ask for as they head out.
The fight had apparently ended on the bridge, but as interns, he and Mingyu don't have the clearance to handle a story of that magnitude while a fight is in progress, so they resign themselves to letting someone else handle it.
The pair meander through a couple of alleyways, avoiding the mill of fans desperate to be in Spiderman's path. So many of them lose all sense when they're out there, antsy to get any kind of acknowledgment from him. They'll go to almost any length to get what they want.
The other day, Hansol had sent him an eBay listing for a scrap of web used to apprehend a villain, laughing in a voice message.
hansol
[voice message: 0:07 seconds]
[link]
dude look at this shit
is this not crazy? lol
i knew people were fans but damn
they'll buy anything fr
Wonwoo would never put in a bid, but he'd one hundred percent be lying if he said he wouldn't have saved those webs himself.
"So," Mingyu says, conversationally. Wonwoo can already tell that he's going to ask something stupid.
"No."
"I literally said one word," he pouts. "You don't even know what I was going to say."
"And I don't particularly want to."
"You sound like Lee."
"Seokmin? Since when are you two on a last name basis?"
A few feet up the block is a small shopping plaza, home to one of the best dumpling spots in the city, right next door to the record store that Hansol works at. From what it looks like, he's not in the building, which is a little weird. His shift should've started around half an hour ago.
"I tried using his first name, but he smacked me and said I had to earn it," Mingyu beams, drawing the older of two back to the conversation at hand.
"And why are you smiling about that?"
"A guy's not allowed to smile?"
"Not when you're being perverse about our coworker, you're not."
"Who said I was being perverse?"
"You wrote Lee Mingyu in the back of your notepad."
A furious blush spreads across his cheeks, and Wonwoo can't help but laugh. It once again reminds him of Hansol, who can't help but get red at the smallest things.
That's mostly where their similarities end, though. Hansol is far quieter than Mingyu, sparing with what he says, and to who. He spends most of his time at in Wonwoo's room, keeping him company while he plays video games. Or listening to him talk about Spiderman. It's become a bit of a hyperfixation, at this point.
"At least I don't have a Spider-Boner," Mingyu grumbles.
"That might be the worse fucking thing you've ever said. And no, I don't."
"Don't what?"
"You just want me to repeat it so you can laugh."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
By now, it's mostly murky, with the sky only dipping in hue, daylight savings beating the flow of time into submission. A chill skirts across their shoulders, dipping beneath their collars and ghosting their skin. The beautiful sunset has dissipated, and all that's left in Spiderman's absence is darkness.
A bone tiredness seeps through Wonwoo all at once, his bed screaming his name. Hopefully, he'll be awake by the time Hansol gets off work, and he can come over and curl into his side, breathing a little life back into him.
He didn't originally peg Hansol to be someone who enjoys being physically affectionate with his friends, but Hansol has sought out more cuddles than he can count, all wide-eyed and warm. It's usually wordless, like he just knows what Wonwoo needs without asking. Or maybe he needs it just as bad.
A stray cat with streaked fur scurries out from behind a trash can, wary of their presence. He's seen this one before, on his walks back to his apartment—her gray and black tufts of fur had lovingly earned her the name Miss Pepper, and whenever he and Jun hang out, he's almost convinced to take the poor thing home.
Instinctively, Wonwoo takes his phone out to snap a picture, opting not to use his camera so that he doesn't scare the poor thing away.
"What are you doing?"
"Pic for Hansol."
"Speaking of boners..."
"Dude. Come on. Why do you think I want to fuck everybody?"
"I don't think you want to fuck everybody, I think you want to fuck a quippy, nonchalant, possibly autistic, somewhat mysterious guy. And both Spiderman and Hansol fall into that category."
Unfortunately, he's dead on. That is one hundred percent Wonwoo's type.
"Hansol likes cats. So I'm getting a picture."
"And also you want to get in his pants."
wonwoo
[pictures of cat]
Looks like Miss Pepper is out and about tonight
Thought you'd like to see
Aren't you supposed to be at work right now, btw?
Mingyu and I were gonna drop in, but you're not here
You okay?
"You are abnormally invested in my sex life. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you're jealous."
"You fucking wish," Mingyu laughs, bumping his shoulder. He may be a pain in the ass, but he knows when he's pushed too far. It's time to drop it. "You goin' home?"
"I'm probably gonna get food first, you go ahead," Wonwoo says.
"If you say so. I'm heading back to the office."
"Gotcha. I'll see you later, then."
"Say hi to Hansol for me!"
"I refuse," Wonwoo calls back, smiling.
Knowing Hansol, he won't have eaten enough to not come back from his shift absolutely ravenous, so Wonwoo heads straight for the dumpling place, prepared to get a large enough order for the both of them.
By the time he's making it up the steps to his apartment, his phone finally lights up.
hansol
got wrapped up in something
my manager kinda doesn't care
and sooyoung promised not to snitch so that she can flirt with that one customer that always comes in during her shifts
besides, that place is 100% a drug front
he has no right to be firing employees
— [reply to attachment] damn i missed a celebrity sighting?
scratch everything i just said dude. i gotta start showing up for work on time
Wonwoo can't stifle his laughter as he reads the small flurry of messages and nearly trips up the top step, just barely catching himself of the grimy railing of his apartment's stairs.
Get it the fuck together.
wonwoo
Ah, so he lives
Don't get fired. I like using your employee discount
— [reply to thread] I'm sure you could get an autograph once you're heading out. She seemed pretty friendly today
You missed an actual sighting, too. Caught him on patrol right before the fight.
He unlocks his door as three bubbles appear, vanish, then reappear, placing the take out onto the counter.
hansol
ngl i'm way more heartbroken about missing the cat
cats > spiders
did he look cool at least?
wonwoo
I'll show you pics when you get home
Back to mine, I mean
Like when you come over
If you were planning on it
Jesus Christ. Has he always been like this? Tactless as all hell?
hansol
i knew what u meant
i'll be there. i get off at eleven
wonwoo
Nice. I'll be here
Door's unlocked
Wonwoo chucks his phone onto the couch, cheeks flushed.
If he were being honest with himself, he'd admit that his heartbeat does a stupid little dance any time he gets to talk to or be near his friend, even after a year of knowing each other. Hansol had very quickly gone from the cute guy in his Digital Media course to a close friend. But graduation is too close, and he has too much going on, and he can't really get a read on Hansol's feelings either.
So it is what it is. Friends.
As Wonwoo gets undressed, he stops in front of the mirror, sighing loudly. Fuck.
Getting hard at the thought of addressing romantic feelings has got to be an all new low.
When Wonwoo finally hears his apartment door rattling on its stupidly rickety hinges, he's reading over Mingyu's draft of their story. He usually only contributes to the editing phase, since Mingyu has a better way with words than him, making comments and suggestions before it hits Sana's desk for revisions, and then the full-time staff's.
"Honey, I'm home," Hansol chimes, holding up a takeout bag. "Brought food."
"Well, I guess you're eating double, because I already got us dumplings earlier."
Hansol huffs a laugh as he hops over the side of the couch, placing his greasy brown bag on Wonwoo's coffee table. "Great minds think alike."
"Or so they say," Wonwoo shrugs, looking up from his laptop. "How was work?"
"No bomb threats, so like, a five out of ten. You?"
"Exhausting, but worth it."
Hansol scoots a little closer, gently nudging Wonwoo's computer to the side, so he can sit halfway in his lap. He leans back a little, pressing his back into the warmth of Wonwoo's skin.
For the sake of self preservation, Wonwoo laughs and shifts away ever so slightly. "I'll get us stuff so we can eat."
"Mmm," Hansol hums back, slumping against the couch cushions. He's definitely halfway asleep if he cares more about their proximity than the food.
"You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah," he croaks softly. "Tired."
Wonwoo heats up the food as quickly as possible, plating it as Hansol flicks through movies to play as background noise. He's the cinephile between the two of them, having logged hundreds of movies on Letterboxd, while Wonwoo forgets he even has it downloaded most of the time.
He sets the food down on the table before sitting back in his original spot, where Hansol attaches himself to his side within seconds.
"So, what'd you think of the save?" Hansol asks, not looking up from his bowl of dumplings. His hair is all fluffy and ruffled, like it's just drying from his shower. He looks softer like this, less like an overworked film student and more like a puppy in a gray sweatshirt.
"Seems like Spidey's upping his game," Wonwoo answers, flicking through the pictures he'd snagged. Photographing Spiderman always brings out the best in him, and maybe even the world around him—the light had caught just right, giving the hero a glistening halo of light as he swung from building to building. Hand flicked forward, fluid and wild like a storm's first gust of wind.
His favorite isn't even one of the crazy ones, or the released set from the bridge—but the one of him perched atop the stoplight, gazing out at the city that he strives to protect every day.
"I didn't realize just how strong he is," Wonwoo continues. Even if it wasn't with his bare hands, Spiderman had held his own. Even the strongest of people would find it difficult.
His mind drifts back to a video recording of the display of sheer power, the heroine reeling in an entire car with his own webbing, managing to prevent it from careening over the side of a bridge. It's not that he's intentionally flashy, he just so happens to be in some pretty sticky situations.
"Definitely goes on his highlight reel."
"I think he could've handled it a little better," Hansol says. "There was a kid involved."
"You can only do so much when a car goes careening off a broken bridge, dude. He's human too."
Hansol tenses up at the comment, like it'd never crossed his mind. It's all Wonwoo ever thinks about—Spiderman may be a superhero, but above all else, he's still a person.
His friend turns to him, running his toe against the inseam of his shorts. "You should ask if the guy needs a defense attorney. I think you'd be great at it."
"Not my thing," Wonwoo laughs. "Though, he's definitely gonna need one after this story gets posted."
"The smear campaign against him isn't ever gonna let up, is it?"
"Not as long as the NYPD hates him as much as they do now."
"Yeah, because cops have notoriously great judgment."
It's hard to imagine a life without Hansol's quips or quiet touch and presence. Especially when it warms him so thoroughly, inside out.
Wordlessly, Wonwoo sets his bowl down and opens his arms, waiting.
And as expected, Hansol climbs forward towards him, curling into his side, just like he always does.
Wonwoo may be infatuated with Spiderman, but he's definitely got it way worse for Hansol.