Silk & Cologne | Miguel O'Hara

Chapter 26: Therapy

Miguel's P.O.V. - that same morning

Miguel groaned softly as the alarm echoed across the room. It rang once, then twice before the tinted curtains began to slowly loosen, the black tint became less intense as it allowed some of the outside sunlight into the room.

"Lyla, that's enough light," Miguel grumbled as he slowly sat up, his hand briefly shielding his eyes as it allowed him a moment to adjust to the light.

"Good morning, Miguel," Lyla fizzled next to him, hands behind her back. "How are you feeling?"

"Um, fine?" Miguel raised a brow at the AI as he managed to pull his legs around to the edge of the bed.

"So, you're fine enough to go see Lisa and apologize again for what you did last night and actually talk to her?" Lyla gave him a look that told Miguel that she would not be dropping this conversation no matter how hard he'd try.

Miguel huffed tiredly as he pushed himself up from the bed, the bedsheets fluttering off his lower half. He walked naked into his bathroom. "Lyla, first of all, I did apologize to her, and second of all, after what happened yesterday, I can imagine she does not want to see me,"

Lyla followed him into the bathroom as he went through his morning routine. He brushed his teeth, allowing his muscles to relax as he let his fangs hang out before quickly shaving the stubble beard that was beginning to take form along his jaw.

Her arms crossed, she nodded along. "Okay, give her space? That's totally fine," Lyla zapped up and sat on his head, nestled in his bed head. "Just don't become a hermit and never talk to her again,"

"I never said I'd do that, Lyla," Miguel huffed, rolling his eyes, clearly used to her antics at this point.

Lyla watched him through the mirror, her head tilted to the side. "You missed a spot,"

"Yeah, yeah, I see it," Miguel mumbled as he gently shaved off the remaining stubble from his chin.

"I know, I know," Lyla's lips curled into a small smile. "I'm just gently reminding you that it's okay to talk about your feelings once in a while,"

"I think after last night, that was my once in a while for the next while," Miguel huffed as he put his razor away before stepping into the shower. He was about to turn the water on before he glanced up towards Lyla. "Lyla, please–?"

""What?" Lyla gave him a look as she hovered away from his hair, a question mark bubble hovering over her head. "Miguel, honestly this isn't the first time I've seen you naked,"

" Lyla !" Miguel stressed out her name, his teeth grinding.

"Okay, okay!" Lyla flew out of the shower before Miguel slid the door shut as the water started running. "Jeez, so pushy,"

"You would be pushy too if your privacy was being invaded," Miguel grumbled.

Miguel took a few minutes to clean himself off, rinsing off soap and shampoo off his toned body. He could feel the dopamine flow through his brain, sighing deeply as he relaxed under the showerhead. Miguel needed this. Just a moment to clear his head.

I can't be with Lisa. Even if I wanted to, it would disrupt her canon event.

He thought back to their first meeting in his lab, when he had shown her his holographic projection of the multiverse. He remembered the projection of her world, the white threads working desperately to heal themselves. When was the last time he had checked personally on their progress?

They were acting out that way because he had believed that the Spider biting Lisa was an unplanned canon event. He had seen it happen before on multiple occasions. Once even first hand.