Under the Mask: Chapt. 12: Lean On (Hobie Brown x reader)
Summary: We all need respite. We all need someone to lean on.
TW: Mentions of physical violence and neglect.
Note: FIrst off, I want to apologize for taking so long to post this chapter. I have a full time job and I'm a vendor on Saturdays. This takes up most if not all of my time. I'll try to be more consistent in posting chapters. And if not, know that I'm an anxious mess waiting to have time to write the following chapter.
Secondly, things to note:
Don’t go bendin’ the spoon if the brew is sweet = Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke
Soz = Sorry
Bonzer = Good
Have a chinwag = hang out
Brown bread = aren’t a thing anymore
Have a bubble = relax/ calm down
Jam Tart – pretty lady
Duck and diving – hiding
Pots and pans = fathers
Let's put it on the cook’s = Lets put it in the books/ Let’s plan for it
A clanger – a surprise
Eyes open slowly, you look around disoriented. You instinctively reach to the other side of the bed searching for Spider Punk. Gone. You sigh as you sit up.
“Then les’ have this.”
Those words carry more weight than you considered. You get out of bed completely and get ready for a, hopefully, slow Sunday. You’re careful not to get in your father’s way as you enter the kitchen. Head down and silent, you move from one end of the room to the other trying to get yourself some food.
“Quiet, eh?” Your father bids for your attention.
You nod saying nothing but acknowledging his presence.
“Good.” He says in a low and gruff voice before exiting the kitchen.
You sit at the kitchen table, terrified of what might happen today or any other day if you step out of line. You pretend everything is alright and you’re not in any physical or emotional pain.
Once you’re done eating you decide to hang around your room, since you’re not allowed to go out. You work on your homework and art. Being a prisoner has a different taste when it is in your own home.
You stare out the window, wistfully. Hoping for this nightmare to end. You start planning for an escape route, but you end up short. Where will you go? How will you sustain yourself? You’re truly trapped and it’s eating you alive.
You decide to sneak out again but stop when you noticed a couple of cars roll into your driveway. Two men got out of the two cars and walked up to your house. Was your dad having company? Before you can further investigate the door to your room swings open. Your father stands there cleaner than usual and well put together.
“The boys and I are having poker night here. You better be quiet and stay out of the way.” He explains.
You look at him dumbfounded but nod knowing that if you didn’t agree something bad could happen. He walks away but not before slamming the door and locking it on his way out. You frown knowing you would not get dinner tonight. First the physical abuse, now the food neglect. What else awaits you in this fresh hell?
You look back out your window, hoping for Spider Punk to come and visit you. You knew that trying to sneak out would probably cost you your life. You feel pain from hunger and pain from the emotional whiplash you’re living in. You wait for two more hours until you decide that Spider Punk isn’t coming. Other, more important things, must be preoccupying him. You crawl into bed. Loud thunderous male laughter can be heard from downstairs. You hate it here.
Next morning you wake up in a daze. The lack of food from the night before was doing a number on you this morning. You cautiously try for the door and find it unlocked. Thank god your drunkard of a father remembered you have school and need to leave soon.
After getting ready and you have a hearty breakfast you start your way out the door. As you round the corner of your kitchen towards the door you hear shuffling from behind you. You're on high alert.
"Where are you going?" Your dad questioned you.
"School." You answer, voice shaking.
You slowly turn around to face him. He was disheveled and drunk. The new norm. He looked like he was going to pass out. You considered whether to walk him to the living room. Flashes of his hand around your neck come to mind. Your skin prickles and you recoil. Before he can get another word out you mutter a "bye" and disappear through your front door.
You felt the urge to run to school. As if that would keep you from him. You were living with a monster after all. There was no escape, unless you were with Spider Punk. You're only reprieve.
When you get to school you catch a glimpse of Hobie as he walks in. Before you can think it through you run towards him. You know that Hobie is Spider Punk, but how to get it out of him? More than that, you wanted to know why he didn’t come to visit you last night. You needed him and he wasn’t there.
"Hobie!" You call him.
He turns and smirks as he realizes that it’s you calling his name.
"This should be rich" he thought.
" 'Ello, love." He forgets all how hard you tried to push him away last time and focuses on what can transpire now.
"We need to talk." You catch up to him.
“What’s occurring?"
You look side to side, making sure you're alone. Noticing that there were too many people around you pulled him into a utility closet.
"I haven't the scooby doo wha' is happenin', but 'm likin' it." He smiles wide.
You chuckle, "It’s not like that, so chill."
Hobie pretends to be disappointed.
You take a deep breath in trying to gather your nerves, "Where were you last night?” You try to not sound accusatory.
He lifts an eyebrow, "I wa' at the doll’s last night."
You didn’t believe or like his answer. So, you press for more.
You swallow hard, “What about the other night? When you… and I…” You find yourself a loss for words.
He averts his eyes and smiles, “Still at the doll’s.”
You frown, "Don't play this game. You're Spider Punk. Tell me it’s true."
He feigns surprise, "Me? Sp'ider Punk?" He chuckles, "Quite the imagination."
You close your eyes in frustration. You were so sure it was him. It can't be a coincidence.
You look at him hard in the eyes, "You can deny it all you want, but I know. I'm not going to tell anyone; I just need to know it was you the other night with me in my room.”
Hobie’s eyes widen, "Sp'ider Punk was in ya room?" He continues his facade of surprise and confusion.
You look down realizing that if in fact Hobie wasn't Spider Punk, you were sharing intimate details about your relationship with Spider Punk.
You look back up, "Please say it’s you." You begged. You needed Hobie like you needed air and if this was the only way you could have him you were okay with that.
Hobie never wavered, "wha’ difference does it make who Sp'ider Punk is?"
You bit your lower lip, "Cause I want it to be you holding me at night."
Hobie felt a jolt of adrenaline. His girl. Always.
Hobie slowly reached for your cheek and caressed it with his thumb. "Don’t go bendin’ the spoon if the brew is sweet.”
You sigh and lean into his touch. You will never get a straight answer from him. If this was all you could get, then so be it. In the distance the bell rings.
"We gon' be late for class." He whispers.
You straighten yourself and Hobie watches as you build up your walls once again. Distant and cold. A stark contrast to your vulnerable and pliant self when you were with him the other night.
You take his hand from your cheek and hold it with both hands. A silent promise.
"No one will know." You reassure him.
He nods as you let go of his hand and you both head out of the closet to class.
There Joshua was waiting close to your seat. You paid no mind to him. He had made it clear that he didn't want your friendship.
As you sit down you hear someone clear their throat, you turn to your side to notice Joshua has turned to you.
" ‘ ello..." he says shily.
“Not this. Not now”, you think to yourself.
"Hi." You try to be respectful.
He smiles kindly, "It's been a while. Soz fo' how I acted befo' "
You sigh, "It's all good. Water under the bridge."
"Bonzer! I guess I just wan'ted to know if ya wanted to have a chingwag. I know that you and Hobie are brown bread.”
You give him a weird look, "News travels fast" you said in disdain.
He raises his hands in defense, "Oy! Have a bubble. I was just makin' an observation."
You look at him hard, "So, what do you want?"
He chuckles, " I want to take a jam tart out."
"Then you should go find her." You try to deflect.
He shakes his head, "I can see imma have ta try harder, huh?"
"How about not trying at all."
He looks you up and down but before he can retort the teacher comes in. Everyone turns their attention forward. You sigh in relief.
For the rest of the morning, you try to avoid Joshua as best as you can. You didn't want to entertain his fantasies, and you didn’t want to turn him down. When it’s lunch time you find yourself out by the steps of the school. You swear you slipped out of the cafeteria without being noticed.
"Duck and diving?”
You turn in relief to see Hobie, "That noticeable?”
"A blin'd man can tell."
You look down, embarrassed. Hobie sits next to you.
"Why not give the bloke a chance?" He says.
Surprised you look at him, " How can you say that?"
He shrugs. Before he can say anything, you stand up, enraged, embarrassed and sad.
"So that's it? You don't want me anymore?"
He stands up with you, "Love, that ain't it. Ya deserve to be happy. If Joshua is that, then why not?"
"No!" You sounded like a petulant child, "I don't want him."
A smile slowly trails itself onto Hobie's lips,
"Then who?" He steps closer to you. His hand plays with a strand of your hair.
You look up at him, breath caught in your throat. What were you doing? You can't have him. At least not as Hobie.
"You. Always you."
Hobie takes his chance. He descends slowly and catches your lips in a soft and slow kiss. You're caught in his web. Always helpless to his charm, his body, his existence.
Blissfully unaware a car passes by quickly in front of the school. Reckless and loud. This breaks your kiss.
"You know we can't." You say.
"At least, not like this." Hobie winks at you.
You blush.
The rest of the school hours you made sure to stay away from Joshua and Hobie. You didn't want anything to do with Joshua and you couldn’t have Hobie during school hours. You slowly trail back home daydreaming of Hobie's kiss. You were giddy about Spider Punk visiting you tonight. At least, you hoped he would.
You enter your house and it’s eerily quiet. You're on high alert.
"Y/n." You dad calls you from the living room.
You cautiously approach him. He gets up from his seat.
"Were you messing around with that piece of trash, again?" He questioned you.
"Who?"
"Don't play coy with me! You know who I’m talking about! And don't lie to me! " he raised his voice and got his face as close as he could to yours.
You swallow hard. You quickly noticed you were in a no win situation. "No."
A swift punch to your left cheek sends you to the ground. "I didn't raise a liar." He pauses.
You hold back tears. You instinctively stay on the floor. Maybe this was the worst of it.
"So, when I drove past the school, I didn't see you kissing that piece of shit?!" He accused you.
You stilled. He saw you. That loud car was him. He saw all of it. Before you could protect yourself, a hard kick connected with your stomach. One kick. Another. And another.
"You lying, bitch! You're no better than your dead mother!" He raged on, snarling and yelling.
You couldn't hold the tears anymore. You sobbed loudly as you curled up in a ball.
"Now go get showered and dressed. We're having dinner with a shareholder and his son." He looks at you one more time, heap of nothing on the floor and walks away.
You're still sobbing and afraid. You dare peak to make sure he's not close by. You slowly get up, afraid that he may come back. You grip your bruised stomach as you, hunched over, made it up the stairs.
Before you can stop yourself, you run to the bathroom and get sick. Pure vile. Thankfully no blood.
You do as your father said. Showered and got dressed nicely. You notice the bruise starting to form on your cheek. You try to cover it with makeup. It’s out of sight but not out of mind.
You make it down the stairs and into the luxury car your dad had decided to buy to match his new abusive attitude.
The restaurant you guys go to is high-end and has many high profile people in it. You keep to yourself. You follow your father to your reserved table. You see your father shake the hand of a big man you guessed was the shareholder.
"David, this is my daughter, y/n." Your father introduces you.
You turn to him and smile. You shake his hand.
"Strong grip!" The man says. "Well, let's eat.”
You take a seat at the same side as your father across from David. Before your dad can enquire about David's son, a young man comes into view.
"Soz, I'm late. I was finishin’ up som’ home’work."
Your eyes widen and you swallow hard.
"Mark, y/n, this is my son Joshua." David introduces you.
Joshua smiles wide, "Oh, y/n! I didn’t know our pots and pans knew each other."
"Yeah, me either." You mumble.
"I guess I did get to take a jam tart out." Joshua winks at you.
You groan. You feel a swift kick under the table. Your father was not having your attitude tonight. You feared what would happen if you messed up this dinner. You decide to play nice.
Your father wastes no time talking about business and money.
Joshua is still smiling big as he makes googley eyes at you.
"So... what's new?" You try to start a conversation.
"Oh, not much. Runnin’ the chess club and I have plans on runnin’ for class president soon. Ya?" He rambles on.
"Um, nothing really. Just school and back home."
"Sounds like I need to take you out." He leans in.
You lean back, "Can't. I’m not allowed to go anywhere after dark."
Your father is monitoring your conversation and quickly jumps in, "Nonsense! If it’s with David's boy, you can go out whenever you want."
You hold in a scream of despair.
"Bonzer! Let's put it on the cook’s!”
"Uh... sure." You were trapped and you didn't know what else to do.
"Saturday night. Dress nice. I'll take you some’where nice. A clanger."
Before you can answer, your father jumps in again, "Stop by at 7pm. Bring her back before sun up." He laughed.
You held in an eyeroll. You were trapped in your home life and now in your social life. You held in tears as you held onto the hope that you would get to see Spider Punk soon.
During the rest of the dinner Joshua talked and talked and talked. You offered encouraging nods and noises to let him know you were listening, even though you were not.
Your dad kicked you under the table again when he noticed you weren't eating. You held in a side eye glare. It was his fault your stomach hurt from the three kicks he inflicted on you. So, you nibbled. Your father made a crude joke about you wanting to keep your womanly figure to which Joshua exclaimed "lucky for me." You wanted to die.
When the night was over and you were in the car there was heavy silence.
"You better be good to Joshua. David is a high-profile client and if we lose him because you were whoring around with that piece of shit you will never walk again. Do I make myself clear?" He looked your way for confirmation.
You say nothing as tears pricked your eyes. You just nodded.
As soon as you get home, you can't stop yourself and you run out of the car straight to your room. You close the door as quietly as possible. Opposite of what you wanted to do. You lean your head against your bedroom door and start crying. Sob after sob courses through your body.
Strong arms wrap themselves against your stomach. You wince in pain. Spider Punk, your reprieve. He came for you.
" 'm here love." He whispers against your ear.
You turn to lean into his embrace. Your tears are a waterfall as he holds you while you cry. Spider Punk is patient and loving as he holds you. He guessed something went down with your father again. He was mindful to not pry.
"He saw us! He saw us kiss!" Your voice was muffled against his chest.
Spider Punk frowned under the mask, "wha' did he do to you?"
"He kicked me... in the stomach... over and over again." You were able to vocalize in between sobs.
Spider Punk listened in quiet horror. He held you closer but with care, mindful of the possible bruises on your stomach.
"Love, sweetness. ‘ts going to be alright." He cooed.
You break free in anger and desperation. Eyes wild and full of tears.
"No it’s not! I’m trapped here! Trapped forever." You started to raise your voice but got quiet out of fear your dad might hear you.
Spider Punk raised his hand to grab yours. You let him hold your hand, defeated.
"Y/n, I can't promise you much because I don't have much. But I promise I'll get you out of this."
"Hobie... don't say that. You can't even admit to me who you are"
Spider punk swallowed hard, "ya right." He steps closer. "Tell me how can I make you feel most loved tonight?"
You look up and look at his masked eyes.
"Lay with me? I need to feel you."
Spider punk swore his heart skipped a beat. He would give you the world if you asked. He leads you to your bed and lifts the covers for you to get in first. As soon as you're settled, he slides into bed next to you. Without missing a beat, he moves in closer to you, careful not to touch your stomach.
"Bet' er?"
"Yes." You sigh into his arms as you let him envelope you.
Silence fell in the room. Spider Punk was anxious to make you feel safe, but he knew this would only be temporary. Face turned to your hair, Spider Punk hummed a soft song to help you calm down. You smiled at his gentleness. You wish he could hold you like this every night. He may not be the remedy to all your problems, but he was definitely the balm to all your pain. Your eyes close slowly as your breathing gets heavier. Spider Punk indulges himself in your presence for a few hours longer. Knowing that this would be his new normal made him anxious. He wanted to be your rock, your savior but not when you were actively being tortured. He wanted to be your respite, your wall; someone to lean on.
The sun was out,kids were running around,an old couple was sitting on a bench nearby and I was walking with a friend.
that’s when I mentioned your name.
something about missing your smile,your scent,your eyes…and with my confession came her reply- “You’ve made him your whole personality”
Have I?
maybe I have,for I talk about you more than anything.
And your features are written all over my poems and I can’t pretend I don’t see your face and all my dreams,I can’t escape the fact that when I saw you that old couple sitting on the bench all I thought was it would never be us in their place.
when I saw the kids playing I got jealous of how careless they seemed.
I felt the sun on my skin and I wished it were you who was touching me ever-so-gently.
maybe I’ve made you my whole personality because you’re the only one who has ever cared enough to know my personality in the first place.
Oh gods, I wish this whole thing was at least half as “tragically poetic” as I make it sound, but really it’s just me romanticising the bone-deep dread I get every time I think of you.
Under the Mask: Chapt. 11: All We Can Have (Hobie Brown x reader)
Summary: Beggars can't be choosers
TW: None.
Note: * Adam and Eve it = Believe it
Word count: 964
Chapt 10 | Chapt 12 TBD
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Your yell startles Spider Punk, which freezes him to the spot. The bullet graces his arm enough that there is blood. Spider punk holds his arm and turns to the man and shoots more webs to disarm him. The man is immobile by now. You run to Spider Punk and check on his wound.
“How could you be so careless, Hobie?” You used his name again.
Spider punk stutters, taken aback by your words. “Who—who’s Hobie?”
You look up at him, and it dawns on you that you have let the cat out of the bag. Spider Punk is speechless. He couldn’t fathom his identity being leaked like this. Especially to you. Before he can process the situation, he grabs you by the waist and swings off to a nearby roof.
As soon as he lands, he puts distance between you two. He assesses the situation as best as he can while bleeding out and in pain. He turns to you, speechless again. He needed to keep up the charade.
“Yer in shock.” He starts.
“Hobie, I know it’s you. I’m not an idiot.” You interrupt him.
He walks closer to you, “I don’t know wha’ you tal’king abou’.” He double downs.
You sigh in frustration, “Fine, keep playing your game. At least let me take care of your wound. I have a med kit in my room.”
Spider Punk waits, thinks and agrees. He swings you both back to your place. Once inside your room he sits on your bed, careful not to get blood over it.
You rummage through your drawers until you find the med kit. You sit next to him and carefully clean his wound. You can tell it has started to heal on his own. You’re confused but chalk it up to superheroe powers.
Spider Punk winces as you swab the wound.
“Big baby.” You say playfully.
“Oy, ts’ tender.” He says as he smiles under his mask.
It dawns on him that you now know who he is and that can cause complications for your safety and the relationship he was trying to maintain with you. He takes a leap.
“Love, I dunno who this Hobie bloke is but it ain’ me.”
You look up at him, tempted to take off his mask. “Take off your mask then.”
He chuckles, “Now, now. Ya know I can’t do that.”
You sigh in frustration.” Fine. You can say what you want but you can’t convince me otherwise. You’re Hobie.”
Spider Punk says nothing. While you finish patching him up.
“Wha’ if I was him. Wha’ then?” He tests the water.
You bite your lower lip, “I guess nothing. I mean… I think it’s the only way we can be together.” You blush at your admission.
Spider Punk grins under his mask. You were catching on to his little charade. And he knew that you were right. Given the current circumstances, this was all you both could have of each other.
He grabs your chin and tilts your head up, “Then les’ have this.”
Your blush deepens. This was the man that you wanted. This was the man that made you feel safe. Knowing that you could still have him, or at least a part of him, made you feel giddy.
You wanted to kiss him so bad in this moment but you knew it meant him taking off his mask. You swallowed hard as you pushed down your urge to feel him closer.
“You’re all patched up.” You change the subject.
Spider Punk slowly let’s go of your chin and looks down at his arm and then back you.
“Let me stay fo awhi’le.” He stated, not asked.
You smiled and made room for him on your bed. You both lay down next to each other looking up at the ceiling. No words were exchanged. The newness of the situation slowly hitting you both in different ways. You were excited to welcome Hobie into your room as many nights as he wanted to, but what did that mean for your time at school? Spider Punk analyzed how he could manage this relationship without letting on he was Hobie when you were both at school. It was going to be a tricky balance for both of you, but you were both willing to try.
Spider Punk inched closer to you and signaled that he wanted you to lay on his chest. You gladly obliged. This was exactly where you wanted to be. You looked up at him in awe. You wanted moments like this forever. Admittedly, it would be better if Hobie would just take off the mask, but you knew better. To date a superhero meant to protect him as much as he protects you.
“Wha?” Spider Punks enquires.
“Nothing. Just thinking.” You answer.
“Well, spill it.” He isnsits.
You sigh, “Do you think this will work?”
Spider Punk wished you could see his cool confident grin under his mask, “Adam and Eve it.”
You smile and bury your head into his chest. You wanted to be as close to him as possible. You wanted to burn this moment into your mind. It’s been too long since you’ve felt this safe and relaxed.
You slowly drift off into sleep in his arms. Spider Punk holds you like you’re the most precious thing in the world. As time passes, he realizes how late it is by how tired he is. He wishes that you could both be like this all night long without interruptions, but he knew that at this moment, this was all he could have. He softly slipped away from under you. As he made his way to the window, he turned back one more time to take you in.
