The Unassigned Mission

Exposed

It's been a week since Peter has talked to Sophia one on one. She still sits with them at lunch and walks with Ned or Michelle to classes but she has just felt awkward around Peter. He's suspecting something and Sophia not wanting to tell him is just making a conversation between them hard. She doesn't hate Peter, she enjoys his friendship but avoiding him just so he doesn't question her is her motive.

Currently, they were sharing smiles with one another on the subway on their way home from school. Peter was thrilled when he spotted her in the crowded morning bustle to aboard the subway last week. Since then, they haven't shared a private conversation but their eyes catch one another's as the racket of the moving car is drowned out by their respective headphones.

As the car started to empty, it signaled the kids were getting farther away from school. At a stop before the pair got off, a sketchy man boarded the subway. Peter instinctively watched the guy shuffle around the now empty car. He was watching Sophia, who was distracted by her phone to notice the man. Growing up in NYC taught you to ignore the babbling idiots that pester you for a reaction. Unfortunately, Peter had a sense that this guy was not some beggar who would perform for money; instead, he was the kind who will forcefully take your money.

Peter's suspicion was proven to be correct when the man reached into his pocket to pull out something unpleasant. Peter quickly dug through his backpack to grab his homemade web slinger. He slid it on and grabbed the knife out of the guy's hand with his web right as the guy was approaching Sophia. He looked at Peter in confusion, Peter focused on his target instead of another pair of eyes on him. He rushed to the man and shoved him into a pole, swinging his leg under the guy's to cause him to fall over.

"You forget this ever happened or else I'll make people forget you," He hissed and punched him in the throat once. The man grunted a laugh and then gasped for air.

"Commute is over, get outta here!"

Sophia took her headphones out as she watched the man rush off the train as it came to a stop then looked at the fallen knife with a web still attached to the blade. She slowly looked at Peter, who had a guilty look on his face.

"You're one of them."

"What?"

Sophia's breathing increased as she pieced together the situation, "the combat moves, the web, you're fucking Spider-Man."

"I mean I did just prevent you from getting stabbed so negatively accusing me isn't really the desired reaction."

"Am I wrong?"

Peter shook his head and looked at his dirty New Balances. The situation happened so fast he didn't even think about exposing his identity to Sophia or that guy when he was helping her.

"Please don't run away again," Peter pleaded softly.

Sophia watched him and loosened her grip on her bag strap, she still seemed on edge. Peter examined her and motioned for her to follow him off the train,

"I need to talk to you."

Sophia bit her lip and hummed as a response while following him down the steps of the subway platform. Peter stopped on the sidewalk and turned to her,

"Go home and I'll get in contact with you."

Sophia paused but nodded and immediately turned to leave. She walked home in a slow pace; her mind racing. She had to stop and sit down in an alley because it was all very overwhelming. Sophia was already crying once Peter said goodbye to her but now she's hyperventilating.

Sophia's past made her fearful. Her past scarred her into feeling worthless. The depression doesn't define Sophia, but her past defines defines her depression. She doesn't cut; she hits low points but she has felt excruciating pain and heartbreaking sadness. So the idea of cutting doesn't intrigue her, it's the memories that haunt her and the scars on her body tease her whenever she looks in a mirror. The depression is there as long as the memories are and unfortunately those memories keep replaying.

Sophia is now up and walking back to her house. Her face blank as her mind is racing; her hand squeezing her scars on her forearm. Peter is a mutant, those mutants hurt people like her. He will hurt her. There will be more horrible memories. She doesn't want to be in darkness anymore.

Sophia arrived home and quickly went to her room. She set her bag down and prepared herself from bed. She took out a makeup wipe and wiped her face clean. She blinked away tears as she looked at her face and neck in the mirror. Sophia then tossed the wipe away and changed into pajamas. While letting out a deep sigh, she laid down and closed her eyes; a breeze coming from her open window lulled her to sleep. Completely forgetting about Peter's soon arrival; the breakdown was mentally exhausting so she had to rest.
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Sophia woke when the breeze into her room got too windy. She sat up but her surroundings were far different from what she fell asleep in. Standing up, her bare feet touched the cool helipad she was placed on. Sophia was on top of a building, in the middle of the night in her pajamas. How did she get up here? Why is she up here?

Her questions were answered when she turned to see Spider-Man, sitting further away from where she was laying.

"We need to talk," Peter said.