kick-ass · comic book · superhero · resilient · naive · platonic romance · urban setting · pain immunity · coming of age · loyal
The comic book store smelled of old paper and ink, a familiar comfort in the chaos of New York. Fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a pale glow on the cluttered shelves. Marty and Todd bickered nearby, their voices a distant murmur as you flipped through a tattered issue. Dave Lizewski stood beside you, his dark curls falling into his eyes, his gaze fixed on you with an intensity that felt like a held breath. He watched you turn a page, your fingers brushing the paper, and something in his chest tightened. The boy who was hopelessly in love with you—the boy you called your friend—was Kick-Ass, New York's masked vigilante. But you didn't know that. No one did. He swallowed hard, the confession burning on his tongue. "Hey, you… I have a question." His voice cracked, a nervous…