【 Stranded 】 Miguel O'Hara

Part 2

Miguel carefully scavenged through Lori's neglected toolbox, attempting to filter through the absolute mess that it was. Over the years, she never bothered giving her creations a proper space, just jamming them all into the same box alongside her tools. As a result, the once tidy dining table was now scattered with her gadgets, along with a few stray condiments. The kitchen as a whole had completely transformed into Miguel's workshop. It was the only place in her loft that wasn't entirely overrun by Lori's art supplies or various potted plants so he had reluctantly settled there.

Across the table, Lori leaned forward in her chair, her hands cupping her face as she stared at Miguel's dark figure. The lighting was dim, but it was now the next morning at her loft. At his request, the blinds had been drawn, making the once inviting and bright space into a brooding dark lair. If not for yesterday, Lori might have assumed Miguel simply preferred the darkness. He seemed the type. However, she knew there was more to it, something he hadn't shared with her about those red eyes of his.

They had gotten a good night's rest despite the chaos. Or at least Lori had. Miguel, on the other hand, struggled to find comfort on her old couch, which wasn't exactly built for his size. She had jokingly suggested for him to join her in her bed, only to be met with a fiery death glare. Still, she enjoyed teasing him. There was just something about his stoic brooding demeanour that she desperately wanted to break.

Having him in the apartment felt different to when she lived with Gigi and Glen respectively. With them, she constantly had to tiptoe around to conceal her secret, creating elaborate lies and changing clothes at the speed of light. But with him, she could just relax, with and without her spider suit. It was a feeling she thoroughly enjoyed.

"Done staring?" Miguel asked without looking up. Even without a spider-sense, he could feel her eyes burning into him.

Lori smirked and leaned in closer. "Why? Was my lingering gaze making you nervous?"

"I don't think you've quite woken up yet." His tone was indifferent in response to her ridiculous notion. "If you could help me find some usable parts in this mess?" He slid the toolbox over to her side, having already removed all the tools, leaving a jumble of gadgets and mechanical pieces for Lori to navigate. "I need some wires."

"Of course sir." Lori offered a playful salute which Miguel tried to ignore. She could tell he often forgot that he wasn't at the Spider Society, as he frequently tried to boss her around despite her having nothing to do with it. She played along, though.

She reached for the box, centering it in front of her. A wave of nostalgia washed over as she recognised her old inventions—some stupid, some fun. They were relics from her engineering days during high school and college, before she had dropped out. At the time her decision had caught those around her off guard, particularly her older sister, who had relentlessly urged Lori to stay on track. However, she had a vision in life and wanted to set her own expectations for once. Consequently, the box had now become dusty and forgotten.

Lori got to work and extracted any scattered wires, setting them beside her. It was cluttered, but she could navigate it. Amidst the mess, one particular device caught her eye—it stood out among the rest, its metal gleaming clean and untouched. Her breath caught, and a wave of emotions washed over her as she gently plucked it from the pile. It was the kinetic stabilizer she had crafted during her Alchemax internship with Glen. A device that earned them praise and renown throughout the engineering and science community. Instantly memories of their countless hours working on the invention came rushing back, and she couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of remembrance.

Before she could get completely lost in reminiscing, her phone buzzed from her bedroom above, interrupting the moment. Maybe for the better.

After taking one last look at the device, she set it on a nearby shelf and left Miguel to his watch while she went to take the call. The phone had nearly vibrated off the bedside table when she got there, dangerously close to the edge. But her real concern was directed at the screen which displayed no caller ID. Suspecting a scam call, she answered cautiously.