His story isn't mine...

That's okay

——

Clank!!!

The sound of the box Miles was holding falling to the ground filled his ears as he finally opened his eyes to check on the disturbance.

Confusion danced on Miguel's face, and with his brows pulled together, he looked at Miles on the ground, trying to push himself up. At the time, Miguel didn't notice that he was closer to the teen. That he had moved from his previous spot.

"You okay, boy?" He asked, and he could sense the hesitation in Miles' voice as he replied—no, it wasn't hesitation; he couldn't speak for a hot minute.

"..yeah...yeah. I'm cool." He cleared his throat, panic visible in his eyes. Miguel reached his hand out, hoping to help the teen up, but before he even laid a finger upon the teen, he could feel the fear practically quivering from him. He slowly pulled his hand back, trying no to add more damage than what was already done.

He looked behind him and saw that he had moved from where he previously stood while his eyes were closed. A pang of Guilt shattered in his body as he began to place the missing pieces of the puzzle.

Pacing.

He paced a lot when he pinched the bridge of his nose. It was a reflex.

He guessed that when he moved. He moved forward and suddenly was close to the teen, who was surprised and dropped to the ground.

By the time he reached that conclusion, Miles was already trying to gather the things that had fallen out of the box. He was trying—that's the word, but his shaky hands made him drop them the second he picked them up.

Miguel could hear him curse himself under his breath.

Despite everything he believed in as his eyes took in the sight in front of him.

The sight of the boy who was always smiling and cracking jokes shaking because of the fear he had toward him, Migeul closed his eyes, letting guilt fill his body as his lips parted.

"I'm sorry."

He whispered so softly that he himself wouldn't have heard it if he wasn't the one who uttered it.

Since the canon accident, this was his second time apologizing. Only two? Normally, he'd just shrug it off. But seeing the state the boy was in, he couldn't help but ask himself, Was I really that heartless? Only apologizing once after everything that happened. Another sigh left his lips.

"No, nah, don't sweat it, man"

Without any context over why Miguel was apologizing, Miles just went with it, thinking he was talking about the startling incident. He continued his attempt to pick up the objects from the ground.

"I'll take care of them."

Miguel proposed taking a step forward, making sure he wasn't stepping into Miles' personal space.

"No!.. no, I got it." Miles assured him, his back still turned to Miguel. Unable to meet his eyes. He cursed himself over and over for his shaky voice.

"Miles!" Miguel raised his voice, and seeing how Miles flinched, he instantly regretted it and spoke more calmly. His hands rested on his waist.

"I got it." He explained slowly, watching how Miles shoulder slumped, a sign that he had given up.

"Alright, sure." He answered, dropped everything, and stood up.

Seeing him leave, guilt ate Miguel's heart. His face conveyed the hurt and regret Mile wanted to see, but the boy in question still couldn't look at him.

He was scared, and he had every right to be.

Miguel wanted to be respected, not feared. A sigh escaped his lips as he sat down, using his hands to push his hair back.

He was exhausted.

"You okay?" Lyla, who witnessed the whole scene, asked, Flying toward Miguel. She stayed quiet the whole time because she felt as if it wasn't her place to step in.

"...Yeah," He lied. She nodded, feeling that this wasn't the time to joke around or tease him. So she quietly stood by his side.

It was quite ironic, he broke something he actually wanted to see. Peter and Gwen always spoke highly of  Morales, saying how amazing the boy was. How kind but sassy he was. And as much as he wouldn't admit it to himself, he actually wanted to see that.

He wanted to see that side of him. A side that made Peter, who was scared of screwing up, have a baby. He already saw how determined that boy was, but from now on he could only watch from the sidelines, and that was

Alright.

For this was just another consequence of things only he could do

Things he needed to do.

Things only he could do.