blooming through the concrete [✔] (Miguel O'Hara x Reader)

Chapter 8

The swish of the automatic doors snaps you out of your thoughts.

You instinctively jump behind the machine, holding your breath as loud steps ring through the hall.

"Lyla, can you just stop, pestering me about it?" Your breath hitches.

It's Miguel.

You smile, thinking about how you actually missed his voice.

"Miguel, while I see where you're coming from, I think this is becoming ridiculous," Lyla answers and you have to stop yourself from looking from behind your hideout. "You're not doing anyone a favor with all this brooding~."

"I told you, I'm just getting myself more time. If I just avoid them, maybe it'll go away-"

"Bullshit." She cuts him off. "Nothing changed since you stopped seeing them, I would even argue it got worse." A strained cough escapes Miguel's mouth. "See? You think you're slick but I saw you hunched over a sink yesterday." Your brows furrow in worry. So it's not getting better...

"I- I don't know what else I can do, Lyla." There's a pause and you wonder what kind of expression his face is making if his voice sounds so... vulnerable. "It hurts when I'm with them, it hurts when I'm without them... It's like I can't win."

Your heartbeat quickens as you listen to their conversation.

He knows who's the cause of this. Why hasn't he told them? Is suffering alone really better than giving 'love' a shot?

You reach into your mind, trying to remember Hanahaki's exact symptoms and side effects. Budding flowers, death if you don't remove them, loss of feelings if you do, your lungs burning from the inside out if it's unrequired-

Oh.

"Lyla, they are just so-" He groans. "Just thinking about them makes my heart ache. Thinking about their smile, their laugh..." Miguel coughs. "I didn't appreciate it at first but the fact that they even tried to get close to me was more than anyone has ever done for me."

"..and you're sure they won't reciprocate."

"Am I sure?!" He laughs, pitifully. "I've tried my best to be a tough, ruthless boss to all of these people. 'Multiverse always comes first', right? Not to mention the fact that I'm a literal freak of nature. Who in their right mind would like- love, someone like that?"

The feeling of sorrow pools in your stomach. Why would he think that? Sure, he does have a pretty bad reputation, but that doesn't mean he can't be loved. You like him just fine, you're sure that if his 'mysterious crush' knew about his feelings as well, they would reciprocate.

But that still doesn't answer why he's avoiding you too. You know you're not besties or anything, but you could help him if he asked. Is he really that embarrassed from fainting in your arms?

You take a deep breath and gather your courage. You're gonna tell him exactly what you think.

"Just stop avoiding everyone." Sighs Lyla, seemingly already tired of the conversation. "It's at least worth giving a try, and if not that... don't avoid them until you-" She swallows. "Until you're gone."

You take it as your cue to reveal yourself. You slowly get out from behind the machine and notice that Miguel's just a few feet away, with his back turned on you.

Lyla, on the other hand, notices you immediately. You can see her holographic eyes widen as she stops floating through the air.

"I'll stop." Says Miguel, looking down at his clenched fists. "You're right, avoiding everyone is not worth it."

"Took you long enough." His head snaps in your direction, eyes zeroing in on you as you lean against the machine. "I started to think I'll never see your ugly mug again." You smile at him.

"You- how much did you hear?" There's fear behind his eyes, and you feel a tinge of guilt for not revealing yourself sooner.

"Just enough.." You walk closer to the pair. "Heard that you finally wisened up." You put your hand on his shoulder and give it a little squeeze. "Listen, I know that we're not close or anything, but know that I am here for you, okay?"

"I-" He coughs. "I'm... sorry. I thought avoiding everyone would be for the best. It's just," He looks away. "It's just been a lot."

"It's okay, I forgive you." You squeeze his arm one more time before letting go."So, how's the situation? Peter only told me you're 'better', which is not saying much, really."

"Miguel's doing good, he's taking it like a real champ." Chimes in Lyla. "No major developments, just occasional coughing. Sometimes there are petals." You know she's only telling you half the story, but decide not to push your luck. You perk up at the mention of petals.

"What flower are they?" You ask and immediately regret it as you see Miguel tense up. "Sorry, forget that I asked, that was kind of tasteless-"

"Camellia." He cuts you off, but you're surprised to find that there's no venom behind his words. "It's the yellow camellia. It symbolizes..." He turns to look you in the eye and for the first time since you've met him, he's looking at you with such an honest, positive emotion. "...longing."

"... Are you sure that your... your person, won't reciprocate?" You ask, wondering how could anyone not like a face like that.

Miguel scoffs and looks away. "Don't push it. I won't confess so it'll either pass or I'll die." It's your turn to scoff.

"Did you even try telling them?" You raise your voice, your emotions getting the better of you. "Stop being so stupid for once, how can you be so sure they won't?!"

He looks back at you with a hardened expression, but you can see a flash of regret behind his eyes.

"I'm sure. Please, just drop it. It's none of your business anyway." Ouch.

You sigh and pinch the bridge of your nose. "I will, just... I'm here for you, okay? Don't avoid me- or anyone for that matter. If that's how you want to do it, don't brood alone in the darkness for the rest of your life. People care." You give him a small smile, and not overthinking it too much you add. "I care."

After a few seconds, Miguel smiles back. And suddenly it's as if nothing bad happened and the two of you really are friends.

Miguel breaks eye contact, violently coughing into the crook of his elbow.

You and Lyla rush to his side, but he just holds up a hand. The coughing stops after a moment.

He looks up and there are yellow petals everywhere on his suit and mouth.

"...I have to clean this up." Miguel sighs, resigned.

"You have to do absolutely nothing, I'll do it." You offer and start brushing the flowers off of him with your hand. "I'll call a cleaning bot later, don't worry. Oh, and you have some-" You vaguely point in the direction of his mouth. He drags his hand across his face but not everything comes off. "No, it's, ugh, just wait a second."

You grab his jaw with your left hand and clean off his lips with your right. Above your shoulder, Lyla is shooting Miguel an absolutely smug expression but the man just avoids her gaze.

He muffles the cough trying to escape from his throat.

"Thank you." He says sharply, grabbing both of your wrists. "I think you got them all." The silent warning of 'don't do it again' displayed clearly in his eyes. You draw your lips in a tight line and let go.

"Sorry..." You leave his personal space and awkwardly look at Lyla. She shrugs. "I'll just... go get a cleaning bot. I'll see you both around." You give them both a parting nod and leave the room.

"You know," Says Lyla as the automatic doors close behind you. "I'm not sure which one of you is more stupid. But hey, what can a girl do?" She shrugs at his confused expression. "Anyway, are you sure you're gonna be alright?"

"I..." He's not sure. Not even that, he knows he won't be alright. There is no possible outcome, no alternative universe where he could be 'alright'.

"I will."