❝ once i fix me,
he's gonna miss me ❞

027. strangers

𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐃 𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐅𝐓 𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒, a subtle, almost imperceptible hum that resonated deep within her. It wasn’t the biting cold of the December air that caused it — that she barely noticed, her powers insulating her from the chill — but something else. Something she couldn’t quite name.

As her boots touched the worn floorboards of the coffee shop, the frost of winter melted away, replaced by the familiar warmth of the bustling little café. The air was heavy with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sugary donuts, mingling with the low hum of quiet chatter and the occasional hiss of the espresso machine. It was a space that felt like safety, like home.

She allowed herself a small smile as the bell above the door jingled softly, announcing her arrival. MJ, stationed behind the counter, glanced up from the pastry display, her guarded expression instantly softening into a genuine grin.

"Hey," MJ greeted, her voice carrying an easy familiarity.

Ingrid merely nodded in return, her lips twitching into a fleeting smile. She hefted the stack of books she’d been carrying and dropped them onto the counter with a loud thud, drawing a mock exasperated sigh from MJ.

"You ever heard of a backpack?" MJ quipped, her brow arching as she appraised Ingrid’s disheveled appearance.

Ingrid leaned an elbow against the counter, letting her weight rest there as she smirked. "I'm Solar Flare, I don't need a backpack."

MJ rolled her eyes, already reaching for a to-go cup. "Your usual?"

"Yeah," Ingrid replied, the word coming out as a sigh, her shoulders relaxing slightly.

Before MJ could start preparing her drink, the bell above the door jingled again. Ingrid instinctively turned her head, her gaze landing on a young man who had just stepped inside. His movements were cautious, hesitant, as though he wasn’t entirely sure he belonged here. Behind him, Ned appeared, his face lighting up as he spotted MJ and Ingrid.

"Hey, Ned," MJ called out, her tone noticeably brighter. Ingrid gave him a small wave, her lips curling into a genuine smile. Ned grinned in response, giving them both a quick nod before heading to his usual table.

But Ingrid’s attention drifted back to the stranger. He stood a few feet inside the shop, looking distinctly out of place yet oddly familiar. His brown eyes scanned the room, landing briefly on her. She felt the intensity of his gaze, and for a fleeting moment, something stirred in her — like an echo of a memory she couldn’t quite grasp.

The stranger cleared his throat, dragging his eyes away from her to address MJ. "Hi," he said, his voice a little unsteady. "Um... My name is Peter Parker. And I..." He trailed off, glancing at Ingrid again, as if she were a tether.

Ingrid offered him a polite smile. Something in his demeanor, the way he looked at her, made her chest tighten, but she dismissed it as the unease of being scrutinized by a stranger.

Peter seemed to catch himself, shaking his head slightly as though trying to clear it. He turned his attention back to MJ. "I’d like a coffee, please."

MJ nodded, her expression shifting into the practiced, neutral politeness she reserved for customers. "No problem, Peter Parker," she said, her tone light as she moved to grab donuts before walking over to Ned. She smirked as she placed the bag of donuts on the table. “Donuts for my fellow Engineer,” she said teasingly.

Ned looked up from his phone, momentarily confused. “Wait, what?”

“MIT,” MJ explained, leaning against the counter. “Their mascot is the Engineers.”

“Oh, right, right.” Ned nodded, his face lighting up with realization.

“You should probably know that!” Ingrid called out from across the coffee shop, her voice carrying a playful edge. She giggled, and Ned rolled his eyes at her, though a grin tugged at his lips.

Peter Parker, still standing by the counter, glanced up at the sound of Ingrid’s laughter. His gaze lingered, the corners of his mouth twitching into a faint, wistful smile. Ingrid felt his eyes on her again, and this time, she met his gaze directly.

For a moment, silence settled between them. Peter fidgeted with the piece of paper in his hand, his fingers nervously folding and unfolding the edges. The weight of the silence pressed against him, and he knew he couldn’t hold it any longer.

“So, uh…” he started, his voice hesitant but steady enough to break through the ambient noise of the café.

Ingrid blinked, startled. For a moment, she couldn’t place the sound of his voice, though it felt oddly familiar. “Oh,” she said, shaking herself from her thoughts. “Sorry, what did you say?”

Peter shifted his weight, looking down briefly before meeting her eyes again. “Are you excited for MIT?”

Her brows furrowed in confusion, the question catching her off guard. She glanced at the books she’d piled on the counter, only now remembering the earlier exchange with MJ and Ned. “Oh, right,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “No, actually. I’m not going to MIT.”

She saw something flicker across Peter’s face — surprise mixed with something softer, maybe even wistful. “I’m going to NYU,” she added, her gaze dropping to her hands as they idly traced invisible patterns on the countertop.

Peter nodded, his expression a mix of relief and admiration. “That’s great,” he said, his voice warm. “You should always do what feels right for you.”

Ingrid offered a small smile, her fingers stilling for a moment. “Yeah, I know,” she replied softly. “But honestly, I wasn’t sure if I’d even get in. I mean, NYU? It felt like a long shot.” She paused, her tone growing more thoughtful. "But still, it was a nice surprise, you know? Like, I've learnt to just accept disappointment."

"Because then you'll never really be disappointed." Peter Parker said, finishing the thought for her. His voice was soft, almost like he was sharing a secret. "Right?"

Ingrid looked up, meeting his gaze again. His brown eyes held something that made her feel both seen and guarded at the same time. She smiled faintly, opening her mouth as if to respond, but no words came. Instead, she just nodded.

The moment stretched between them, quiet and fragile, until MJ’s voice broke through. “Peter Parker? Peter Parker?” she called, setting his cup of coffee on the counter with a light thunk. “Your coffee.”

Peter blinked, the spell broken. “Right,” he said quickly, stepping forward to grab his cup. He fumbled with the cash in his hand before handing it to MJ. “Thank you.”

Ingrid grabbed her own cup of black coffee from the counter. She took a long sip, letting the searing liquid burn its way down her throat. It was grounding, in a way. Her bangs shifted slightly as she tilted her head, and Peter caught sight of the small bandage on her temple.

“You okay?” he asked suddenly, his voice tinged with concern. His hand hovered near his own temple, mimicking the spot where the bandage sat.

“Oh, this?” Ingrid touched the edge of the bandage with her fingertips, brushing it lightly. “It doesn’t really hurt anymore. Stuff like this happens all the time.” She hesitated, then added vaguely, “You know how it is.”

Peter’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I do.”

There was a beat of silence, both of them standing there as if caught in the gravity of something neither could name.

“Is there anything else?” MJ asked, her voice cutting through the moment.

Peter blinked again, stepping back slightly as if realizing he had lingered too long. His eyes shifted between Ingrid and MJ, his expression caught between wanting to stay and knowing he shouldn’t. Finally, he forced a polite smile. “No. Thank you.”

“No problem,” MJ replied with her usual nonchalance. “See you around.”

Peter nodded, turning toward the door. As he walked away, his steps felt heavy, like each one was pulling him further from something he wasn’t ready to let go of.

Just before he could step outside, Ingrid’s voice called after him, clear and light, tinged with a strange finality.

“See you around, Peter Parker!”

Peter paused for the briefest moment, his hand on the doorframe. He didn’t turn back, but his shoulders tensed slightly, as if he’d heard more in her words than she intended. And then, he was gone, the bell above the door jingling softly as it closed behind him.

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 !
soooo act 2 is done!!!! lowkey loved writing it also lowkey dragged out for WAY too long lol

anyways the next act is going to be short but it will be ingrid's backstory and heritage (i already have so much of it written i can't wait!!) and then i might write brave new world or thunderbolts i'm not sure lol