OBSIDIAN // Miles Morales

viii

EDITED; 11th Aug, 2024

...

(Y.name) turned the small, broken device over in her hands, glancing towards Peter's sleeping form sprawled out behind them. "So... he broke this?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

Miles nodded, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, but he's a little embarrassed about it, so let's keep that between you and me." His voice was warm and playful, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he chuckled softly.

The sound of their shared laughter filled the quiet space, a brief and welcome escape from the tension that had been hovering between them. They met each other's gaze, and the world seemed to slow down. For a moment, it was just them-no mission, no danger, just two people drawn together by something unspoken but undeniable. Their smiles lingered as they unconsciously leaned closer, the distance between them shrinking with each heartbeat.

Then, just as their lips were about to meet, a voice cut through the stillness, shattering the moment like glass. "Uh... guys?" Gwen's voice echoed in the bus, causing both (Y.name) and Miles to jerk back, their cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"Oh-did I interrupt something?" Gwen asked, raising an eyebrow as she glanced from one flustered face to the other. Noticing their discomfort, she quickly added, "Sorry about that," before turning her attention to her phone.

(Y.name) felt the heat rise to her face, and she quickly pulled out her phone, pretending to check something as she subtly inspected her reflection. Sure enough, her cheeks were flushed a vivid shade of pink. 'What...?' she thought, startled by her own reaction. It wasn't like her to lose composure, especially not over something as simple as a near kiss. Over the years, she had mastered the art of hiding her emotions behind a calm facade, a skill she relied on in almost every situation. But ever since she met Miles, that mask had begun to slip. She found herself smiling more, laughing more, and feeling more-especially around him. The thought made her stomach flutter, but she quickly shook her head, dismissing it as she slumped back in her seat.

Miles, on the other hand, was having a much harder time keeping his cool. He stared out of the window, the moment they almost shared replaying over and over in his mind. He knew why it had affected him so deeply-he had long since accepted that his feelings for (Y.name) went beyond friendship. But what confused him was her reaction. Or rather, her lack of one.

He stole a quick glance at her, noting how she seemed completely unfazed, as if nothing had happened at all. 'She's calm... she's fine... she's acting like that didn't just happen. How does she do that?!' The mixed signals were driving him crazy. He could see the way she looked at him sometimes, the softness in her eyes that spoke of something more than friendship. But then there were moments when she would look at him with that blank, unreadable expression, making him second-guess everything. And just when he thought he had done something wrong, she'd ask him what was bothering him, as if she had no idea why he might be upset.

But there was one thing he couldn't deny: her smile. Everyone knew that (Y.name) was not one to smile easily. She was known for her serious demeanor, always focused and rarely showing her emotions. Yet, when she smiled at Miles, it was like the sun breaking through a cloudy sky. It was a smile that spoke volumes, even if she never said the words. But that smile was fleeting, often disappearing as quickly as it came, leaving Miles even more confused.

Should he try to...?

No, that was crazy!

...But then again...

"I have a place where we can fix this up," (Y.name) suddenly said, snapping him out of his thoughts. She was holding the damaged goober in her hands, her expression serious once more.