The sky above the city was dark, and Haerin swung across the rooftops, her heart still racing from the earlier battle. The villain had been strong—stronger than expected—and Haerin had barely managed to escape without any major injuries. Her suit, however, had been torn, the fabric now frayed along the edges, and the exhaustion was starting to hit her. She should have been home hours ago, but the fight had kept her out longer than anticipated.
She landed softly on the fire escape of her apartment building, taking a deep breath to steady herself. The city below was alive with sounds—sirens, people talking, cars honking—but none of it mattered right now. All that mattered was getting back to Danielle, her girlfriend.
She had promised her she’d be home by midnight, but that was long gone. As much as Haerin hated breaking promises, there was always something more urgent when it came to being Spider-Woman.
Stepping inside her apartment, she winced as she saw the clock on the wall. It was nearly 3 a.m. The apartment was quiet, but she could hear the faint sound of movement in the next room. Danielle. Her heart softened at the thought of her. She hoped Danielle wasn’t too upset.
Haerin quietly made her way into the living room, where Danielle was sitting on the couch, her arms crossed, looking more worried than angry. When she spotted Haerin, a mixture of relief and frustration crossed her face.
“Haerin, where have you been?” Danielle’s voice was soft but firm, her brow furrowed in concern. “You promised me you’d be home by midnight.”
Haerin hesitated, guilt washing over her. She could feel the tension in the air between them. She knew Danielle hated when she broke promises. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice almost a whisper. “There was a fight. I lost track of time.”
Danielle’s eyes softened for a moment as she stood up, but the worry was still evident on her face. She took a step toward Haerin and noticed the condition of her suit. The tears and burns, the way Haerin was standing slightly hunched, clearly trying to hide the fact that she was hurt.
Before Haerin could react, Danielle reached out and gently pulled at the torn fabric of her suit, inspecting the wounds underneath. “You’re hurt,” she murmured, her tone shifting to one of concern as she touched Haerin’s shoulder, her fingers grazing a deep cut near her collarbone.
“I’m fine,” Haerin said quickly, stepping back slightly, trying to downplay the injury. “It’s not that bad, just a few scratches.”
But Danielle wasn’t buying it. She could see through Haerin’s attempts to be strong. Her hand gently cupped Haerin’s face, her touch tender and warm. “You’re not fine. Let me take care of you.”
Haerin looked down, guilt flashing in her eyes. She hated worrying Danielle like this. She hated the thought of putting her in danger, even emotionally. “I didn’t want you to worry,” she whispered, her voice filled with regret.
Danielle’s expression softened even more. “You’re my girlfriend, Haerin,” she said, her voice thick with affection. “I’m always going to worry about you. But I want you to come to me when you’re hurt, okay?”
Haerin nodded, unable to find the right words. She knew that Danielle would always be there for her, but it was hard for her to ask for help when she was used to handling things on her own.
Without another word, Danielle gently guided Haerin to sit on the couch. She quickly rummaged through the first aid kit in the kitchen and returned with bandages, antiseptic, and a cool cloth. Haerin let her take care of her, the soothing touch of Danielle’s hands calming her nerves as she cleaned the wounds on Haerin’s side and patched them up.
Danielle was quiet while she worked, but Haerin could tell that her mind was still racing. “You’re really good at this,” Haerin said softly, glancing at her. “I didn’t even realize how much I needed this.”
Danielle smiled, a soft blush appearing on her cheeks. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” She met Haerin’s eyes and held her gaze for a long moment. “But you can’t keep doing this. You can’t keep putting yourself in danger without telling me.”
Haerin’s heart sank, and she felt a wave of guilt crash over her. “I don’t want to worry you,” she confessed, her voice barely audible.
“I know,” Danielle said, her tone gentle. “But I can’t help it, Haerin. I love you. And when I see you like this… it hurts.”
Haerin reached out and gently cupped Danielle’s cheek, her thumb brushing against her skin. “I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better, I promise.”
Danielle’s eyes softened, and she leaned into Haerin’s touch. “I know you’re trying your best,” she said. “But you can’t protect the world and forget about yourself. You need to take care of you too.”
Haerin smiled faintly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. She knew Danielle was right. The fight, the injuries, the secrets—it was all part of being Spider-Woman, but she couldn’t keep pushing the people she loved away.
She leaned forward and kissed Danielle softly on the forehead. “Thank you for always being here. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Danielle smiled up at her, her eyes twinkling with affection. “You don’t have to find out,” she whispered, her voice full of warmth.
Haerin pulled her into a hug, holding Danielle close as she closed her eyes, letting the moment sink in. She didn’t deserve Danielle’s care and affection, but she was grateful for it. And in that moment, with the sound of rain tapping against the windows and the quiet of the night surrounding them, Haerin felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time—peace.
But that peace was short-lived. As Haerin rested against Danielle, her phone buzzed with an urgent message. She glanced at it and sighed. Another emergency.
Danielle noticed her shift in demeanor. “What is it?”
Haerin hesitated, then showed her the message. “Another villain. I’ve got to go.”
Danielle frowned but didn’t argue. “Be careful, okay?”
Haerin smiled and kissed her gently on the lips. “Always. I’ll be back before you know it.”
As she stood to leave, Danielle grabbed her hand, pulling her back for one last kiss. “Please come back safe.”
Haerin nodded. “I will,” she promised.
With that, she swung out into the night, ready to face whatever awaited her. But this time, as she swung through the city, she carried something with her—more than just her suit and her powers. She carried Danielle’s love and trust, and that gave her more strength than anything else could.
To be continued…