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It had been a year since Miles’ dad (Jefferson Davis) had passed away. Exactly a year. He felt stupid crying about something that happened so long ago, but that was his dad. His dad that looked after him, raised him, loved him. But apart of him was so angry at himself for not moving on. It happened a year ago. He’d gone without him for a year, why was he so upset? The boy was a superhero who had seen many die, including his own best friend (Phin) and he still couldn’t take death well.
You were well aware that Miles struggled with the idea of death, which was completely understandable. He was so protective of you whenever the both of you went patrolling, or even went out to the park. He’d do whatever he could to keep you safe, even though you were a superhero yourself. Now, this could be really annoying as you knew you could take care of yourself and you’d tell him that, but you knew it came from a good place and you knew he didn’t want to control you. He was just scared that he’d lose you too.
”Hey, Spidey.” You greeted him. Apart of you knew that he’d want to be left alone, but he needed comfort. Otherwise he’d suffer in silence. Again.
When he stayed silent, you decided to sit down next to him, dangling your feet over the edge of the building.
”Can you go away? I wanna be by myself right now.”
If you didn’t know that he was upset, then you’d be offended by this. But you knew he was going through it and you knew you needed to comfort him.
”Talk to me, Miles. I know today is the day, so..let’s talk about it.”
”Talking doesn’t do anything to help.”
”You didn’t say that when my Má died, did you? C’mon, Morales, tell me what’s in that head of yours.”
He didn’t wanna admit that you were right, but he knew you were. Your mother had passed away when you were 13 and Miles was there with you throughout all of it, so you knew you had to do the same. It was only right. Give and receive was a common thing in your friendship.
”I just…” he paused, looking down at his lap. From the shaking of his body, to the sniffles that escaped his nose, you knew he was crying. Your natural instinct would be to hug him, but Miles wasn’t one for hugging when he was in such a vulnerable state. You opted for rubbing his back instead. Drawing small circles. “I… I just—I miss him.” He mumbled, looking up at you with a wry smile and tears rolling down his face.
“I know. I know you do, we all miss him Miles. And he misses you too…” He returned his gaze to his lap.
“And—I know you feel embarrassed for crying about it… I remember you saying that it feels weird beint upset about something at a much later date…but, don’t forget, that’s your dad. You grew up with him, you had a bond with him. You still do, even if he isn’t here physically.” He looked at you once more, taking in your features. Something about your warm eyes to your soft smile calmed him and he instantly felt his tears begin to subside. This was a normal thing—people always seemed to cheer up instantly when you entered a room. Miles always made jokes about it:
‘Is this apart of your powers?’ He once said.
’What?’
’Making people happy? Or is it just natural to you?’
In reality, Miles didn’t need your words. Don’t take that the wrong way—he appreciated the comfort but, if anything, he just needed to see your smile. Your smile that was as bright as the sun, as bright as the stars in the sky… well maybe not the stars in New York since you can’t really see them due to light pollution but, you get the point.
”Thank you. You always know what to say.” He spoke, still crying softly.
”Anytime, Miles.”
A beat passed.
“By the way… I have a question.” You spoke before you could think. Maybe this isn’t a good idea—
”Sure.”
Welp. No going back now. Would he think you’re insensitive for asking? You just wanted to cheer him up… And you’d 100% regret it if you didn’t ask, you went for it.
“What’s your favourite flower?” the sentence left your lips, your eyes still trained on his tear stained face.
“…huh?” The boy hummed, a stray tear on his cheek. Your thumb found itself swiping the tear away, cupping his face. Blinking, Miles waited for you to repeat the question. Even though he was certain he heard you, he wanted to make sure his ears were working…even though he literally has super sensitive hearing, ahem.
“I said,” you started, more confident this time, “what’s your favourite flower?”
He was confused, such a random question at such a random time? Nonetheless, he still answered.
“Um, I suppose… sunflowers? Yellow is a nice colour, and their meaning is…inspiring.”
His eyes followed your movements as you held your palm out. Nothing happened for a few seconds, before soil slowly formed in your hand. After another couple of moments, a small sunflower sprouted from your palm and you smiled. Plucking the flower, you moved your hand to his cheek and placed the flower behind his ear. “Good choice. Sunflowers always try to find the sun, even on the darkest days.”
The corners of his lips curled up ever so slightly and a airy laugh escaped his lips.
He too spoke before he could think. “Well, then I guess you’re my sunshine and I’m your sunflower.” Miles. Why the heck did you say that?! He mentally ridiculed himself as your face contorted into a surprised and confused look.
“How? What do you mean?“
”Well,” he actually thought before he spoke this time, “Everyday, I always look for you because you make me happy, and whenever it’s a bad day, you always find a way to cheer me up. Like today… Maybe I should call you my sunshine?” He asked with that signature smirk of his, even if you declined, he’d still definitely change your contact on his phone to ‘Sunshine’. It was a fitting name. You were practically a ray of sun—always smiling, always brightening (pun intended) everyone’s day.
You blinked once. Then again. And then again. And then you laughed, your cheeks a faint pink.
“Well if you’re gonna call me sunshine, I’m gonna call you sunflower.”
”Oh, yeah?”
”Yeah, because you’re my sunflower!”
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