Autumn wind whips through my hair as I hover outside the Coffee Corner, the little café just off campus where I'm supposed to meet Piper. My hand grips the door handle, but I can't seem to make myself pull it open. Every time I try, my mind flashes back to Ellie straddling me on that rooftop, the symbiote pulsing around us both.
Christ, what am I doing? I nearly died last night, then fucked back to life, and now I'm about to have coffee with Spider-Woman like none of that happened.
I finally yank the door open, the little bell jingling cheerfully above my head. The smell of espresso and baked goods hits me like a wall, momentarily drowning out my anxiety. My eyes scan the crowded space until they land on Piper, tucked away in a corner booth, nervously fidgeting with a napkin.
She spots me and her face lights up, one hand shooting into the air. "Hey, Shane!" she calls out, waving me over with enough enthusiasm to draw stares from nearby patrons.
I weave through the maze of tables, trying to ignore how my heart rate picks up.
"Hi," I manage as I slide into the seat across from her. "Sorry if I'm late."
Piper shakes her head vigorously, her short brown hair bouncing with the movement. "No, no! I got here early." She leans forward, her hazel eyes wide and earnest behind those thick-rimmed glasses. "Shane, I am so, so, so sorry about yesterday. I feel absolutely terrible."
The apology in her expression is so genuine it almost hurts to look at.
"Don't worry about it," I say instead, shrugging off my jacket. "Emergencies happen."
"Yeah, but it was our first..." She trails off, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I mean, it wasn't even really a date, right? Just a casual get-together that Harriet kind of pushed on us both."
I can't help but smile at how flustered she looks. "Yeah, absolutely. Just two new friends hanging out over coffee." I lean back in my seat, trying to appear casual despite the guilt gnawing at my insides. "So what was the emergency anyway? Must've been pretty serious."
Piper's eyes go wide, and she seems to freeze up completely. "Oh, uh, uhh..." Her mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water, clearly struggling to come up with a plausible explanation.
"Never mind, don't worry about it, Piper," I say quickly, waving my hand dismissively. "It's no problem, alright? I get it. Life happens sometimes."
Relief floods her face, but before she can respond, the café door flies open with enough force to make the little bell nearly break off its hinge. The sound cuts through the ambient chatter, drawing everyone's attention.
My stomach drops as I spot Ellie Brock standing in the doorway, her piercing blue eyes scanning the room like a predator. When they lock onto our table, a smile that's more of a snarl spreads across her face.
She strides toward us with purposeful steps, her tall frame commanding attention from everyone in the café. The confident swagger in her walk screams danger, but I can't tear my eyes away.
"Oh, Parker, what's up?" Ellie's voice drips with false pleasantry as she reaches our table, towering over us both. Her expression is pure arrogance, but I can see the rage simmering just beneath the surface.
Her gaze shifts to me, and that smile turns even sharper. "Oh, and hey Shane. Long time no see, huh?" She laughs, but there's nothing warm about it, just cold, barely contained fury that makes my skin prickle with goosebumps.
Piper straightens in her seat, her body language shifting subtly.
"Ellie," she says evenly, "I didn't realize you frequented this place."
Ellie's eyes glint with malice as she plasters on the fakest smile I've ever seen. "I don't actually. I was just walking by and thought I'd make sure Shane here was doing alright after our little date last night."
The word "date" hangs in the air like a bomb that's just been dropped. I watch Piper's expression shift from confusion to surprise as her eyes dart between Ellie and me.
"You two went on a date?" Piper asks, her voice carefully neutral despite the slight widening of her eyes behind those thick glasses.
Ellie doesn't give me the chance to formulate a response. She leans against our table, invading our space with casual dominance.
"Yup," she continues, her eyes never leaving Piper's face. "I saw him sadly moping around Richards Hall waiting for someone. Poor thing looked so pathetic I decided to slip in and shoot my shot." She reaches down and ruffles my hair like I'm a puppy. "He's a cute boy, after all."
The condescension in her voice makes my cheeks burn.
"She's not wrong," I admit, shifting uncomfortably as both women stare at me. "We did have a date last night, Piper, but it was honestly one of the most horrifically awkward dates I've ever been on."
Ellie's eyes widen, the confident smirk faltering as my words land. She clearly wasn't expecting me to challenge her version of events.
"She literally said, and I'm quoting directly here, 'Let's not pretend this is going anywhere.'" I mimic Ellie's dismissive tone from the restaurant, watching her jaw tighten.
It's kind of funny seeing her thrown off balance like this. The symbiote must be going crazy under her skin right now.
Piper looks more confused than hurt, her brow furrowing as she glances between us. "Wait, really?"
Ellie recovers quickly, crossing her arms over her chest. "That was before..." she says, letting the implication hang in the air.
I don't push her on what 'before' means. No need to mention the whole rooftop incident in the middle of a coffee shop.
"I also didn't know you knew Ellie, Piper," I say, trying to steer the conversation somewhere less dangerous. "I didn't go out with her out of spite or anything. I just didn't want to stay in my dorm all night." I run a hand through my hair nervously. "Sorry if this makes things awkward."
"No, no, I get it," Piper says quickly, waving her hands. "I didn't even text you until way later. You had every right to make other plans."
Piper's phone suddenly erupts with a shrill ringtone, cutting through the awkward silence at our table. She fumbles with it, nearly knocking over her untouched coffee as her eyes scan the screen. The color drains from her face.
"Uhh, I'm so sorry but..." she stammers, already gathering her things.
"Another emergency?" I ask, unable to keep the knowing resignation from my voice.
She nods, guilt written all over her face. "Maybe we can try again another time?"
"Sure," I say with a shrug that I hope looks more casual than it feels. "You have my number."
Piper gives me an apologetic smile before awkwardly maneuvering around Ellie, who makes absolutely no effort to move out of her way. I watch as Spider-Woman, though she doesn't know I know, rushes out the door, no doubt about to save innocent lives while I'm stuck here with my psychotic hookup from last night.
Before I can even process what's happening, Ellie slides into Piper's vacated seat, her movements fluid and predatory. She leans forward, those piercing blue eyes locked on mine.
"What the fuck was that?" she demands, her voice low but intense.
"What?" I counter, holding her gaze. "Making sure you didn't embarrass Piper?"
Her eyes narrow dangerously. "Do you know who she really is?"
I flash my most innocent smile, trying not to let my amusement show. The urge to laugh bubbles up inside me as I watch Ellie's intense stare.
"What do you mean? She's just a photographer for the Daily Bugle," I say with a casual shrug. "Pretty talented one, too. Have you seen her Spider-Woman shots?"
Ellie's eyes narrow to dangerous slits, studying my face with predatory focus. I can almost feel the symbiote analyzing me through her gaze, trying to detect any hint of deception. The silence between us stretches for several seconds, the café noise fading into the background.
"I can't tell if he's lying either," she whispers, clearly not speaking to me.
My heart skips a beat at this confirmation that the symbiote is actively participating in our conversation, but I maintain my innocent expression.
"So," I say, leaning forward slightly, "another date, huh? You seemed pretty done with me last night."
Despite everything, the danger she represents, the way she stormed out of my room, the fact that she's literally bonded with an alien parasite that wants to kill my other potential love interest, I can't deny the electric pull I feel toward her. There's something magnetic about Ellie that makes rational thought difficult when she's this close.
Ellie's lips curl into a mocking smile, her eyes never leaving mine. "Isn't Parker your new girlfriend? You two seemed pretty cozy before I interrupted."
I choose my words carefully, not wanting to throw Piper under the bus. She doesn't deserve that.
"Parker is a very kind but an extremely busy girl," I say, keeping my tone neutral. "As you just witnessed."
Ellie leans forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Help me take down Spider-Woman, and I'd be happy to go on another date with you." The offer hangs between us, dangerous and tempting.
I lean in, matching her posture.
"Counterpoint," I say, my voice surprisingly steady. "Drop your whole Spider-Woman vendetta, and we can be boyfriend girlfriend. Wouldn't that be more fun?"
Her eyes widen in shock, a flush creeping up her neck to her cheeks. It's the first time I've seen Ellie Brock genuinely caught off guard.
"What the fuck is happening right now?" she mutters, more to herself than to me.
I can't help the grin that spreads across my face. "Last night you had the upper hand. But in here?" I gesture around the coffee shop. "I hold all the cards."
"Like hell you do," she snaps, but there's less conviction in her voice than usual.
I lean in closer. "Don't you want to have another go with me?" I lick my lips slowly, deliberately. "I sure fucking do. You felt incredible."
Her blush deepens, spreading across her cheeks like wildfire. Her pupils dilate, those ice-blue eyes darkening with unmistakable desire. For a moment, I think she might reach across the table and grab me right there in the middle of the café.
Instead, she stands up so abruptly her chair screeches against the floor. Several heads turn our way, but Ellie doesn't seem to notice. She's staring at me with a mixture of fury and lust that makes my heart race.
"Fuck you," she hisses, hands clenched into fists at her sides.
I look up at her, feeling reckless and alive. "Fuck me yourself, coward."
Her face freezes in shock, the confident mask slipping to reveal a woman who just watched her chess pieces scatter across the board. Her mouth opens and closes, no words coming out.
Ellie's finger jabs toward me like a missile, her eyes narrowing to icy slits. "This is not over, Steele," she snarls, voice dropping to a dangerous octave that makes several nearby patrons shift uncomfortably in their seats.
"I truly hope not," I reply. The words hang between us, charged with possibility.
Her face contorts with frustration, a muscle twitching in her jaw as the symbiote visibly ripples beneath the surface of her skin. With an exasperated "Ughhh!" that's equal parts growl and groan, she whirls around and stalks toward the exit, her powerful frame practically vibrating with tension.
The café door slams behind her hard enough to rattle the glass.