eyebrows raise as she watches the other, as he seems to just stare at her for what feels like several moments too long. she takes pause, considering whether or not she had been the one to say something strange, but no — she’s pretty sure she just asked for the laundry detergent. there’s something up with him. something she can’t quite figure out, but she’s made a mental note — she will get to the bottom of it. especially if she’s going to be spending more time with him here at F.E.A.S.T.
❛ — thanks. ❜ she says, eyes narrowing as she takes the bottle from him, soon pouring detergent into the proper compartment. she looks back toward him, an eyebrow gently quirked upward. ❛ uh — thank you? ❜ lips purse into a tight ( suspicious ! ) smile. ❛ i’ve had some practice. ❜ at least once a week every week for the past seven or eight years of her life, but who’s counting? she can’t tell if this kid is a total weirdo, or if he’s just trying to make conversation. hell, that might be pretty weird too.
she moves to close the door to the washing machine, starting it up soon after before looking back over at peter, her head tilted just slightly to the side. her gaze drifts a bit, looking at the sheets he’s been attempting to fold. her comment leaves her lips between she can think twice. ❛ your folding kind of looks like shit. ❜ her tone as dry as the sahara. she can’t help who she is. ❛ do you — need some help? ❜
your folding kind of looks like shit. the words and the way they’re spoken drag free a quick, soft laugh. though one that was a little too sad to fully reach his eyes. that right there was every bit the girl he loved. the girl he had left behind. so much of him wanted to tug out the notes he’d written for himself ( for her ) and start rattling them off. hi. my name is peter parker. you don’t know me, but i . . . but his hands don’t move from the sheets. the terribly folded, now slightly wrinkled sheets.
this wasn’t the time nor the place to allow his selfishness to push through. she was safer now than she would ever be if she remembered. but he so hated the way she looked at him like he was a stranger still. like she was getting to know him through all the tiny moments like this. when he knew so much about her. when, in their old reality, they had shared far more. god, he missed her. ❛ oh, yeah, no problem. ❜ he attempted to adjust the sheet once more. tried to tuck in the corners. tried to remember all the times aunt may had tried to teach him. but that brings on a fresh wave of grief deep within his chest. maybe he shouldn’t have come today. this was too much.
still, despite how badly he wanted to turn and run, he stayed put and allowed his eyes to find mj. at least for a second. just act normal, pete. that had been a difficult task before but felt impossible now. ❛ oh . . . ❜ for a moment, his voice trailed off as his eyes dropped back to the sheets. they were beyond saving at this point but maybe she could work some mj magic. slowly, he shifted out of the way to give her space at the counter. ❛ yeah. i uh . . . my aunt . . . she tried to teach me once. or, well, maybe a few times. and i was never good at it. she, uh . . . she stopped trying after i messed up a simple towel. ❜
