LOOTING DC #38. Mask Off?
His mask was still halfway up.
Artemis didn't say anything, but Jake could feel the anticipation off her like heat - curiosity, wariness, a tension she wasn't showing on her face. Not fully. Just the way her breathing slowed. The way she leaned in, without realizing.
He hesitated.
Not because he was afraid. Not exactly.
Just... uncertain.
He meant to ask her out. He'd done that already - in costume, of course. So it was only natural, right? If he wanted to start something honest, he had to give a little more. Show the face behind the mask.
After all, it wasn't like he had anything to protect here. No secret apartment, no aunt living in Forest Hills, no social security number or school records.
There was no trace of him in this world. Just Jake - the Spider.
Or Jacob Cross, according to the Web of Life.
Which wasn't exactly...
Jacob Cross? Come on.
He snorted - then laughed aloud, caught in the absurdity of it all.
Artemis tilted her head, brow raised. "What's funny?"
Jake blinked. Still smiling, he lowered the mask - all the way.
Then he paused… and tugged it back down.
"Nothing," he said, brushing it off. "Just... dumb thoughts."
Artemis stared at him for a beat, but didn't press.
Jake glanced around, shoulders squaring, hands gesturing. "Let's make sure Lian's alright first. Then... we'll see where this goes."
At that, her eyes lost some of their edge - replaced by something soft. Then something guarded.
She looked down, lips tightening with worry. "Yeah."
Jake reached out, laying a hand on her shoulder. "All's good that ends well, right?"
She looked up. Unconvinced.
Jake squeezed gently. "Don't think too hard about it. Tonight, you rest. Sleep long. Wake up when the sun's high. Then we figure it out."
There was a pause.
Then Artemis's face straightened, firmed - like a switch flipping back to warrior mode. She nodded, calm and steady. "Right," she said, looking at him. "Tomorrow."
Jake gave a small nod and turned to go.
"I'll see you tomorrow then," he said.
Behind him, she gave a faint chuckle. "Good night, pumpkin head."
He grinned behind the mask. "Would hate for that to stick."
He didn't wait for a response - he fired a webline and swung into the night, a streak of momentum fading over rooftops.
Artemis watched him disappear. For a moment, her face was unreadable. Then… her shoulders relaxed. Lips parted in a quiet exhale. Not a smile, not exactly. But peace, maybe.
She turned to head inside-
"Artemis? Is that you?"
She turned fast. Reflex. But the voice wasn't hostile - it was surprised. Warm.
"Oh - hey, Cassie."
Long blonde hair whipped slightly in the breeze as Cassie rushed over and wrapped Artemis in a crushing hug.
"I was so worried about you!" she exclaimed.
Artemis blinked. "I'm okay - really. But you're squeezing the air out of me with your insane strength."
Cassie immediately let go, laughing awkwardly. "Oh - sorry! My bad. I keep forgetting that."
Artemis smirked faintly. "Only when you're emotional."
"Well, excuse me for caring," Cassie said with exaggerated offense. "So where have you been? You just vanished."
"I'm okay," Artemis said flatly. "Really."
Cassie scanned her. "You promised not to disappear on me like that again. I was worried something might have gone wrong."
"I know," Artemis muttered wearily. "I'm sorry."
Cassie frowned, walking in step. "Okay... but you know I've been working nonstop to find a lead. We've been trying. I thought maybe - finally - this time..."
She trailed off, then shook her head, voice more urgent now. "Look, maybe we're closer than we think. That tip from Changeling? I'm still following up on it. Maybe we can finally find-"
"There won't be a need for that," Artemis said softly.
Cassie blinked. "What?"
Artemis turned to her, eyes steady.
"I found her, Cassie."
Silence.
Cassie froze in place. "You... what?"
"I found Lian."
The words landed like thunder. Cassie's face went still, jaw parting slightly as she tried to process.
"They were keeping her on Oolong Island," Artemis continued, voice quiet but unwavering. "The Spider helped me locate her."
Cassie shook her head slightly, like trying to knock clarity into her skull. "The Spider?"
Artemis gave a small smile. "He's uh..."
Cassie raised a brow. "Oh, a he?"
She folded her arms, genuinely surprised, a sly smile creeping onto her face. "That explains your whole flustered vibe."
"But you should've told me. After everything we've done to... I promised you I'd help find her."
Artemis relaxed a little at the sight of Cassie's concern - shoulders lowering, some tension falling off her spine. She'd been a good friend to her.
"I'll tell you all about it," Artemis said.
She gestured ahead toward their apartment.
"Just let me get a long, hot shower first. I smell like explosions and sweat."
Cassie laughed. "Fine. But the moment you're done, I want details. Full debrief. Who is he, what's his deal, and oh - why you didn't lead with Lian's safe, you absolute menace."
"Can't it wait till morning?" Artemis dared.
Cassie glared.
Artemis chuckled and walked off.
🕸️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕷️🕸️
Fwip.
The air was cold. Jake was tired - bone-deep tired.
He touched down softly on a rooftop ledge, the world below bathed in muted moonlight.
His eyes stung - dry, bloodshot, like thorns pressing behind them. Every blink felt like grit on sandpaper.
He needed sleep.
Bzzz...
But the Web didn't sleep. And he was on a clock.
60 days.
To find the Crimson Moon.
To save his Spider-sense.
And Lian.
The Lasso of Truth was still coiled at his waist. He unclasped it, slowly, fingers dragging over the golden cord - its weight oddly comforting.
"Let's see…" he muttered, folding it into a circle and holding it steady.
Nothing happened. Not immediately.
Jake frowned, thinking fast. He had the conduit. Did he need Lian present to access the Web? That seemed... inconvenient.
He inspected the Lasso more closely, thoughts racing.
Spider-sense said the Lasso had absorbed Chaos energy from Lian. So, treating it like a battery being charged and recently used... That means...
"Ha," he breathed, spotting it.
The Lasso's gold now bore a faint spider-like mosaic - thin red lines crisscrossing its surface like a web. But that wasn't all. At the tip of one loop, exactly where he hoped, was the symbol:
9/10.
A charge counter.
His theory checked out. At full charge, the Lasso could facilitate ten transitions to or from the Web. Since he'd just exited, one had already been spent. Nine remained.
Which meant his access was limited - unless he figured out how to recharge it. And that was still a mystery, and possibly hella hard to pull.
For now, accessing the Web had to be reserved for essentials only.
No luxury jumps.
And if he was going to burn two charges - one in, one out - then he needed to make it count. That meant loading up: food, gear, tech, tools. The works.
One trip. Full payload.
Resolved, he coiled the Lasso and clipped it back to his waist.
It would've been hella convenient to crash inside the Web for the night. But until he had a better handle on how this all worked, he'd have to settle for a more... traditional crash pad.
His spot overlooking Gotham Bridge would have to do.
The only alternative was dangling unconscious in midair again - and the last time he tried that, it ended with a trip to Arkham.
So, bridge it was.
Jake fired a webline and swung into the night, exhaustion dragging at his limbs, mind already drifting to the day's first supply run - and the dozen improvised plans forming behind his bloodshot eyes.
He'd not only have to make the day count, but also ensure Lian's safety come the night.
And for now, he'd keep his mask on.
Happy reading♥️
👉Patreon.com/MimicLord for more chapters