Chapter Text
This is the last time, Peter tells himself again as he approaches the cafe. I’m just going to get my morning coffee before patrol. After today, I’ll find another place to get my caffeine fix.
Peter has told himself this little lie every morning since he moved into the dingy little matchbox apartment on 49th street, less than two blocks from The Moondance Cafe. The apartment was conveniently located near his subway route to the local community college, and a block beyond the cafe was a perfect little back alley where he could hide his civilian clothes before patrol — not too close to the cafe, not too far from home. Just right.
The bell jingles as he enters the shop and joins the queue along with the rest of the morning rush. He glances around the shop, looking for the familiar broad smile and short black hair of his childhood friend. Former childhood friend, Peter corrects himself, feeling a twinge of loss. But Ned is probably working at the lab today. Last time Peter was here, he overheard Ned talking about a research assistant position that he was starting this week.
The line moves forward.
There are four people working behind the counter today. One of them is a broad-shouldered man with a close-trimmed mustache and tattoo sleeves down his arms— intricate designs like flowers woven through geometric spirals that remind Peter of the mirror dimension. A hollow regret settles in his stomach as he remembers Dr. Strange—Steven—hovering above the Statue of Liberty and casting the spell that fixed Peter’s greatest mistake. Seems I’m great at making mistakes, and not so good at fixing them.
The line moves forward.
Choosing to cut ties with his friends, however, that wasn’t a mistake.
The tattoo guy’s pulling shots while a young, frazzled-looking girl with blue hair bundled into pompoms handles the cold brews and tea. A tall boy wearing a beanie is working the food counter, warming up people’s muffins or toasting their bagels. And the girl working the register, the one with the bright brown eyes wearing a dour expression, is MJ.
The line moves forward again and suddenly Peter is standing at the counter, only about three feet of space separating them.
There’s so much he wants to say to her. He wants to tell her how beautiful she looks today with her deadpan stare and upside-down smile. He wants to say that he misses her unique sense of humor. He wants to confess that life is difficult without her support, but he’s doing okay now. He’s okay, and she needn’t worry.
Instead he says, “Hi, one black coffee and an everything bagel.”
She rings him up.
“What’s your name again? Porter, right?”
Peter feels a thrill when she almost says his name correctly and fights to keep his expression neutral. Is she starting to remember him? That seems unlikely, Doctor Str—Steven’s spell was pretty thorough. He clears his throat before asking, “Close—it’s Peter, actually. Why do you ask?” It still comes out like a squeak.
“I try to learn the names of all our regulars,” she says with an inscrutable smirk. “You come in here a lot.”
“Oh. Right,” Peter replies, trying to keep the disappointment from his voice. “Yeah, you guys have the best coffee on the East Side.” He cringes inwardly at that. The coffee here has more in common with burnt toast than a proper cup of joe.
She snorts. “Well, Peter, the best coffee on the East Side—plus bagel—will be $4.50.”
He pays the $4.50.
The line moves forward.
He waits in a loose grouping of other morning commuters, watching beanie boy toast his bagel while blue-haired girl pours his coffee. Inevitably, his eyes slide towards MJ, who is ringing up the next customer with that same deadpan look.
“Order for Peter?” Beanie boy shouts over the din and Peter’s gaze snaps to the counter.
“Yeah! Um, that’s me,” Peter says and pushes through the crowd around the pickup counter. “Excuse me, sorry, I’m just gonna—got it!” He snatches the bagel and coffee and then weaves his way to the door.
On his way out, he looks at MJ again. She’s busy taking an older woman’s order and doesn’t notice him.
The line moves forward, and Peter exits The Moondance Cafe.