Chapter 2: A Sweet Discovery

Earth-933

The sun was setting over New York, painting the sky with hues of pink and gold. In a bustling corner store, Thorin-933 wandered through the aisles, his eyes wide with wonder. Earth food was so... strange. Bright colors, sweet smells, and more options than he could have ever imagined back on Planet Zorgania.

Then he saw it. A whole shelf stacked high with jars labeled Nutella. His electric blue eyes sparkled, the golden lettering gleaming under the fluorescent lights. He picked up a jar, turning it over curiously. "Nu...tella?" he whispered, giving the lid a cautious sniff. The rich scent of chocolate and hazelnut hit him, and his mouth watered instantly.

"Steaming Cheesecake..." he murmured, his stomach growling. "What is this cool creation?"

A Spark of Feeling

Perched high above the bustling streets of New York, Spider-Woman-933 watched from the shadows, her heart pounding in her chest. Gwen Stacy-933 was used to high-stakes missions, fighting villains twice her size, and balancing homework with hero duty. But this... this was different.

She followed him from a distance, using her agility to stay hidden, her movements as silent as a whisper. Thorin-933 walked down the street, a bag full of Nutella jars clutched protectively against his chest, his brown hair catching the fading sunlight. His blue eyes sparkled with pure, unfiltered joy.

His smile was... radiant. Wide and innocent, with a childlike excitement that made Gwen's breath catch. He looked so... happy. Like he didn't have a care in the world.

Her face grew warm beneath her mask. Why is my heart beating so fast? she wondered, pressing a gloved hand to her chest.

She shook her head, clearing the thoughts away. Focus, Gwen. You're supposed to be watching him. Observing. Not... not getting distracted by his stupid, adorable smile.

Thorin-933 hummed to himself as he skipped along, with his excitement. He passed a group of kids playing soccer in the park, pausing to watch them with wide eyes, a wistful smile on his face.

Gwen-933's chest tightened. He looks so... lonely. She knew that feeling all too well. The price of being different. 

He sighed, shaking his head before continuing down the street, his silver hair bouncing with each step. But even as he walked away, his smile remained—bright and warm, like a ray of sunshine breaking through storm clouds.

Gwen felt her face grow hotter. She placed a hand over her mouth, trying to steady her breathing. What is wrong with me? Why am I so... flustered? She was Spider-Woman! She'd faced monsters, criminals, and cosmic threats without breaking a sweat. But one smile from this weird boy was making her heart race like she'd just swung across the city.

He suddenly stopped in front of a bench and sat down, his legs swinging as he pulled out a loaf of bread from his bag. Carefully, he opened a jar of Nutella, his eyes lighting up like he'd found treasure. With childlike curiosity, he dipped his finger in and took a taste. His face exploded with joy, a huge grin spreading across his lips. "This... this is the food of the gods!" he declared, his voice full of awe.

Gwen bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. He was so... dorky. But also... kinda cute. No, stop it, Gwen! You're supposed to be watching him because he might be dangerous... not because he's...

She shook her head furiously. Nope. Not finishing that thought.

But she couldn't help herself. She kept watching, her heart fluttering as he made his first Nutella sandwich, his face lighting up with every bite. He was so genuine. So... real. And that smile...

Gwen-933 leaned against the wall, her fingers nervously tapping the bricks. "Get a grip, Stacy. You don't even know him. He's just some new kid... and has a smile that could light up the city..." Her voice grew softer, her cheeks flushing beneath her mask.

Then, as if sensing her presence, Thorin-933's head snapped up, his blue eyes scanning the rooftops. Gwen's heart skipped a beat. She held her breath, pressing herself flat against the wall, her spider-senses tingling.

He looked right at her. Or at least, he looked right where she was hiding. His eyes narrowed, electricity sparking faintly around him. For a second, Gwen thought he saw her.

But then he shrugged, his curious expression softening. "Huh... must be imagining things," he mumbled before taking another huge bite of his Nutella sandwich. His face melted into pure bliss, his feet swinging happily.

Gwen let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She slid down against the wall, her heart thundering in her chest. "What... what is wrong with me?" she whispered, her hands trembling.

She watched him for a little while longer, her eyes tracing the curve of his smile, the sparkle in his eyes. He looked so... happy. So free. And even though she barely knew him, she found herself smiling too, her face growing impossibly warmer.

She turned away, her head spinning. "I... I have to go. Before I do something stupid."

With a flick of her wrist, she fired a web and swung off into the evening sky, her heart racing faster than ever before.

But even as she soared above the city, her mind kept drifting back to that smile. That stupid, dorky, wonderful smile.

And no matter how fast she swung, she couldn't escape the fluttering feeling in her chest.