Web of Secrets
Winter Parker lay on the floor, her face still pressed against the hardwood from the blow Karina had delivered. As she scrambled to her feet, pulling her mask fully down, she couldn't help but malfunction at the sight of Karina standing before her. The moonlight filtered through the window, casting a soft glow on Karina’s flawless skin. Her dark hair, slightly tousled from the day, framed her face perfectly. She looked every bit the goddess Winter had always thought she was—and now, she was staring at Winter with an unreadable expression.
"So... you're Spidermin?" Karina said slowly, as if testing the words.
Winter gulped. She was still in her full suit, but it didn’t do much to protect her from the sudden heat spreading through her body. Why did Karina have to look so effortlessly perfect at every single moment?
"Uh... yeah," Winter mumbled, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. "That's me. Spidermin."
Karina raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed with Winter’s lack of finesse. "And you just thought it would be a good idea to break into my room dressed like this?"
Winter flinched. "I—no! I didn’t mean to! I got thrown into a building by a giant lizard today, and I guess I just—"
Karina’s eyes widened slightly. "A lizard?"
"Yeah, like... a huge one. Like Godzilla’s weird cousin. But anyway, I was distracted, and I thought I was going into my own apartment, but... clearly, I wasn’t."
Winter’s words were coming out in a rush, and it didn’t help that Karina was just standing there, her gaze never leaving Winter’s face. If anything, Karina seemed to find the whole situation amusing, though she kept her cool demeanor.
"And this," Karina gestured at Winter’s suit, "is what you do now? Swing around the city and fight... lizards?"
Winter blinked. This conversation was going worse than she’d imagined. "Well, I didn’t really plan on the lizard, but yeah, I kinda... save people? Or at least, I try to. It’s... complicated."
Karina’s lips curled into a slight smile. "Complicated, huh? So how exactly did you become Spidermin?"
Winter exhaled, running a hand through her hair beneath the mask. "It’s a long story."
"I’ve got time," Karina said, crossing her arms and leaning against her dresser. The smile on her face never wavered. "Unless you’re too busy saving the city from more reptiles."
Winter bit her lip nervously. "Okay, okay. So... it all started when I snuck into Oscorp."
She quickly dove into the story, explaining the night she snuck into the building, how she got bitten by one of the mutant spiders, and the strange things that started happening to her afterward. She told Karina about how she’d discovered her new abilities—her super strength, her agility, her spider sense—and how she and Ningning had created the web shooters and suit together.
Throughout it all, Karina remained quiet, her expression unreadable, though Winter noticed the subtle hints of curiosity and maybe even amusement in her eyes.
"I blacked out on the train home that night," Winter continued, feeling herself getting more comfortable with the storytelling. "And when I woke up the next morning, I felt... different. Stronger. Faster. And then, well... you know the rest."
Karina nodded thoughtfully, though she still seemed a bit overwhelmed by everything Winter had said. "So, you’ve been saving people and fighting... monsters?"
Winter nodded. "Pretty much. Ningning helps me out with tech stuff. She’s the brains. I’m just... the muscle, I guess."
There was a long pause as Karina processed the information. Winter’s heart was pounding in her chest, and she was sure that Karina could hear it. She couldn’t tell if Karina was impressed, freaked out, or somewhere in between.
Then, to Winter’s surprise, Karina let out a soft chuckle. "You know, this explains a lot about your sudden glow-up. I thought you’d just started working out or something."
Winter’s face turned red beneath the mask. "Uh... yeah, I guess you could say that."
Karina’s gaze softened as she looked at Winter. "So, you’re really Spidermin. I’ll admit, I’m a little surprised, but I guess it makes sense now."
Winter blinked, not expecting Karina to take the news so well. "Y-you’re not... mad? Or freaked out?"
Karina raised an eyebrow. "Why would I be mad? I mean, it’s not every day your crush turns out to be a superhero."
Winter nearly choked. "C-crush?"
Karina’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Oh, don’t act like you didn’t know. I’ve been trying to get your attention for months, Parker."
Winter’s brain short-circuited. "Months?"
Karina rolled her eyes playfully. "Yes, months. But you were always so oblivious."
Before Winter could respond, Karina straightened up and took a step closer, her gaze piercing. "Look, I’ll keep your secret, but you owe me."
Winter’s heart raced. "Owe you?"
"Yeah," Karina said with a smirk. "You’re going to take me on a... swinging date around the city. You know, with your webs."
Winter’s jaw dropped. "Wait, you mean, like... me swinging with you? Around the city?"
Karina nodded, clearly enjoying Winter’s reaction. "Exactly. I want to see what it’s like."
Winter’s mouth opened and closed several times, trying to process Karina’s request. "Uh, are you sure? It’s kind of... dangerous."
Karina shrugged. "I trust you."
Those three words sent a wave of warmth through Winter, and she found herself nodding before she even fully thought it through. "O-okay. We can... we can do that."
Karina grinned. "Great. Now, let’s get going before you change your mind."
---
That night, Winter found herself swinging through the city with Karina securely in her arms, holding onto her tightly as they soared above the streets. At first, Winter had been worried Karina would be scared, but to her surprise, Karina was fearless. She laughed as the wind whipped through her hair, her arms wrapped tightly around Winter’s shoulders.
"This is incredible," Karina shouted over the rush of wind.
Winter grinned beneath her mask. "Told you it’d be fun!"
They swung over skyscrapers, across bridges, and over the river, the lights of the city sparkling below them. It was exhilarating—and oddly intimate. Karina’s laughter filled Winter’s ears, and for the first time since becoming Spidermin, Winter felt like she was sharing a part of herself that she hadn’t even realized she’d been missing.
Eventually, they landed on a rooftop overlooking the city. Karina’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright with excitement.
"That was amazing," she said breathlessly, looking up at Winter with a grin. "I think I understand now why you do this."
Winter smiled, feeling a warm sense of pride. "I’m glad you liked it."
Karina took a step closer, her gaze lingering on Winter’s masked face. "You know, I’ve always liked you, Parker. Even before all of this."
Winter blinked, her heart doing somersaults in her chest. "R-really?"
Karina nodded, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "But this... well, it just makes you even more interesting."
Before Winter could respond, Karina leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her cheek through the mask, her lips barely brushing against the fabric.
"Goodnight, Spidermin," Karina whispered with a wink, before turning and walking toward the rooftop exit, leaving Winter standing there, stunned and malfunctioning.
---
The next morning, Winter told Ningning about what had happened, spilling every detail of her accidental unmasking and the date with Karina.
Ningning, being Ningning, teased her relentlessly all day. "So, you’re telling me that your crush kissed you after finding out you’re a superhero? Talk about a win-win, Parker!"
Winter groaned, burying her face in her hands as Ningning cackled beside her. "I can’t believe this is my life now."