𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏 , v:ld [𝘋𝘐𝘚𝘊𝘖𝘕𝘛𝘐𝘕𝘜𝘌𝘋]

17 ★ SNOOPING

❝ SNOOPING. ❞

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

"Yeah, I know," Miles hummed absentmindedly as he traversed the halls of the Altean castle. He had his old iPhone held up to his ear as he spoke and listened. It was the first time he had made contact with someone from home (besides a very persistent Aaron), and although he was happy to hear a familiar voice not from outer space, he had quickly become irritated with her.

"Honestly, school starts in a week! You were supposed to be home almost two weeks ago!" His mother's voice rang out shrilly. Miles simply rolled his eyes. Instead of walking into his own room he decided to stroll pass, turning the corner as he continued to listen to his mom's scoldings.

"Chill, crackwhore," he insisted. "We're almost to New York, and then we'll be on our way to Michigan. Just taking time before hell."

The Blue Paladin didn't bother to try listening to the next words to come out of Stacy's mouth. Instead he simply let out simple grunts of agreement as he looked around, boredom steadily rising. It took him a moment to recognize where he was, but when he did he looked around for any other signs of life.

It was nap time, so he wouldn't be able to find anyone.

All of the doors were closed tight, and if Miles' had learned anything it was because Allura and Coran were still in denial of five deaths that were very possible. And he could respect their privacy, but what was the fun in that? After all, they had been aboard this alien ship for enough time now and yet only had enough information to keep them sane. At this point they should have probably signed a waver.

But there was no waver. No contract, no full-fleshed backstory. So he would do as he pleased.

And as Stacy di Angelo rattled on about their dog was doing, he reached for one of the doors, allowing the motion sensor to activate and open to the fresh air.

Miles didn't know what he expected, but yet he was filled with surprise. The room was dim, as if the lights hadn't been turned on in ages and they were still warming up. It was messy– but not at the same time– as if the occupant didn't have time to clean up the previous night's mess before he vanished.

Clothes and memorabilia was scattered, souvenirs from out-of-this-world trips and a singular slipper in easy-to-trip-over spots.

"You alright, bud?" His mom suddenly called out. Miles jumped, being plucked from his sudden tornado of thoughts. "Got quiet there all of a sudden."

"Yeah, I'm good. Mom, do you mind if I call you back in a few? This rest-stop is sketchy so I wanna bounce. I might not have a good signal in the car."

"That's alright, hon," she sighed through the receiver as some papers rustled. Most likely bills. "Stay safe. Tell Chayse and Finn and all them I said hi. Love you."

"Love you," he finished before a shrill beep sounded through the room. He stuffed his phone away and looked around the room once more. He suddenly felt as if he wasn't meant to be there (he really wasn't), and as if this was all a glimpse into the past, the apparition of a ghost before his very eyes.

Yet he continued forward, pulled by an unknowing force and his own lack of self-discipline.

He made sure to step over everything, to dodge anything in his path. He felt that if he made contact, they would evaporate and the vision would disappear. Finally he made it to the desk, the standard white one that all of the white bedrooms came with.

This one had been decorated, coated in things that probably reminded this person of home.

And finally, as Miles set his eyes on a small picture frame, he finally knew who the room belonged to.

He recognized their slender figure and brown skin, blue eyes shining bright with pride. The previous Paladin looked younger by a few years than in the photo that the alien princess had showed the newcomers, standing beside a woman that was most likely his mother.

The previous Blue Paladin looked happy, not knowing about this whole War mess or whatever it was, and what the boy once was sent shivers down the spine of the present Blue Paladin.

The thought quickly left his mind. He didn't want to think about it any longer.

What did come next was Miles reaching forward, pulling his fingers around the tiny wooden frame, pulling the stand tight against its back. He looked closer at the boy. The way he smiled, the hope in his eyes. The way he was close to his mother, arm around her shoulders and head on her arm.

Only one thing came to mind.

Blue would like this.

★★★
was it a good idea to write a chapter that only focuses around 1 person in our group for our 2 year babsiversary???? Yes bc we all love miles . also this was next in my outline and i will not betray her

but yeah, sorry this was so bad. i wanted to write so much for more for such an important event, but with life the way it is right now i just couldnt. hopefully i can start cranking out chapter after chapter one day after i finish everything else and revise the beginning of this (for example, last name changes and finn Does Not Drive).

anyways, im sure i'll say this a million times today, but i love u four with all my heart. youve helped me throuhg so many rough patches whether it be tooth pain or literal grieving yall have been there for me. as someone whose groupchats last a Day, u know its sumthin special when this bitch has now officially been going for Two Whole Years. Twenty Four Months. 730 Days.

AND THATS JUST THE GROUPCHAT!!!! ive been friends with miles for ???? 5 years. and then finn, ro, and lia since before september. i met all three of them in the summer/fall of 2017, whether it be july or august or whatever. and whatever days they were, each time they were one of the best days of my life and stupid little me didnt even know yet!!!!

i really picked the long straw when god let me choose my friends lol

i can get more sappy and specific if i tried hard enough but i think thats for the groupchat 🥰

i'll publish this know so i can sleep, especially since i wont be home until 8pm lol. love u all so so so so much (including anyone else who reads this still, thank u <3). hopefully we'll see ch18 before i'm a bag of bones