Lola Bunny Brock

Caught Up In Your Web.

Summery: Honeybee attempts to make friendly conversation with Chris, leading to an unexpectedly awkward altercation.

Warnings: Slight angst [If you squint]

Pairing: Honeybee Reader X Spider Chris.

A/N: This is chapter one of this AU. For chapter index and character introductions, please see my masterlist -> Here.

I simply adored spring afternoons. The sun was shining down, encapsulating everything in a soft golden glow, a light breeze disturbed the wild flowerbeds, awakening a warm, floral scent that could not be replicated by anything else in nature. During the colder months, my mood fell like the autumnal leaves and crisp snowflakes. I wasn’t built for such a dreary atmosphere.

I thrived in the springtime.

This particular afternoon had been spent adding the finishing touches to my famous Honey Tea. The secret ingredient was a tiny spoonful of cinnamon powder, to cut through the citrusy sweetness. I carefully placed parchment paper on the lids of my mason jars before securing them with twine ‘Beautiful’ I murmured to myself, pleased with the final product. My little business had really started to take off these last few months. My baked desserts were also a huge hit among the people in my village. As fast as I could whip up a batch of blueberry and raspberry muffins or warm butter croissants, they were gone.

Once my orders had been packaged up, ready for collection. I decided to spend the remainder of my evening sitting outside on my porch swing, finishing up the deliciously addictive book I had been obsessed with this month. A cosy blanket serving as the perfect addition to the light breeze that had begun to blow. I was perfectly content.

‘Do you do anything except read?’ Came a sniggering voice from the bottom of my garden path, catching me off guard.

Chris. My insufferably arrogant neighbour.

Chris and I had lived next door to one another, for almost eight months now. Eight months of snide remarks, smirky eye rolls and a knack for getting on my very last nerve. Every time we regrettably crossed paths, he couldn’t help himself. It’s like he got an intense thrill by being as irritating as humanly possible. The day after I moved into my house, I sent around a little basket of homemade goodies with a letter introducing myself. The next morning, I awoke to the empty basket propped upon my gatepost, with a scribbled reply on the back of my letter.

‘Brownies need more sugar -Chris’

From that day forward, our only interactions had been short, blunt and borderline rude on his end. Upon prying information from people in the village, I had learned that Chris preferred his own company and refused to interact with most people. Nobody really knew anything about him, other than his name. Me on the other hand? I could tell that still waters ran deep in him. There was something so alluring about him, something deeper. Every snubbed conversation only made me want to try harder next time. A notion that was proving almost impossible.

‘Actually, Ive been baking all day’ I replied enthusiastically ‘I have a whole batch of brownies, if you would like to try them? I added more sugar like you suggested and they’re delicious’

Chris leaned against my gate, even from my distance I could see the venomous hue of his blue eyes. He started to pick at a climbing rosebush I had been growing, dropping leaves to the pavement below his feet ‘If they are even half as sugary as you, they will be unbearable’ he remarked, his eyes rolling back into his head ‘Your sweetness is so sickening, I feel like Im choking on it, whenever you open your mouth’ His tone was cold and condescending. Invoking a chill throughout me, that had nothing to do with the declining temperature outside.

Our eyes locked and time stood still. I was convinced that he could physically hear my heart thumping against my ribcage. The sense of unease consumed me like cold water as he lit the cigarette between his teeth, his blue eyes never leaving mine. This must be what a small insect feels like, being tangled up in an inescapable web as something much larger and hungrier closes in on you. I felt vulnerable under his intense gaze.

‘Im just trying to be friendly’ I replied, slightly hurt from his words ‘You don’t have to be so rude all the time, you know’

Chris considered me for the longest time. I could almost see the cogs working furiously in his head as he conjured up a suitable, no doubt rude response. There was something so hypnotising about his presence. I felt routed to the spot as he chewed over his words ‘Maybe Its easier that way?’ He said, thoroughly pleased with his answer ‘Or maybe, you shouldn’t be so.. inviting shall we say, to strangers. It could end badly’

His tone was calculated and intimidating.. threatening almost. It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

‘We’ve been neighbours for almost eight months’ I retorted, sounding braver than I felt, at that precise moment ‘I wouldn’t exactly call us strangers Chris?’

The sound of his name being spoken aloud seemed to have a negative effect on him. Like he wasn’t used to hearing it said so softly. A muscle tensed in his jaw as he inhaled the last bit of his cigarette, stubbing it out on the bottom of his shoe ‘And I wouldn’t exactly call us friends’ He mocked, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips, as he stalked off in the direction of the forest behind our adjoining houses.