Chapter Text
Miles wished he stayed home. Miles thought the HQ was confusing but the longer he looked the more he felt faint. There were stairs going in different directions, some even going through others. He hated Miguel so much. He thinks he might always have some resentment towards that man, even if he did what he thought was necessary all that time ago, just over a year now.
After Spot, when his world didn’t collapse when he saved his dad, Miles didn’t so much as speak to anyone from HQ, except Hobie and Pavitr. He needed time to himself, spending that with his family, studying for upcoming exams and patrolling as Spider-man - still ground for 5 months though. His parents took it well, apart from the yelling and arguing, his parents just wanted him safe but they realised they couldn’t always keep Miles from harm, the world needed a Spider-man.
He also needed time to understand who he was in the world. Was he really Spider-man? Miguel’s words on the train had gotten to him. He needed to discover himself again. Hobie always got that.
Whenever they hung out, the punk always allowed Miles time for himself if needed, whether that was swing around Brooklyn, saving the day, drawing or simply sitting in silence, Hobie was understanding.
It took months before he had a sit down talk with Gwen. He had explained how he felt, before and after the events and how even though he does want to be friends again, it will take time. Even after months of being friends, Miles know they wouldn’t even be like they were before, but they both understood and were okay with it.
Peter was a whole other level. He hated how he betrayed him, someone he thought was almost like a second father to him, but he couldn’t not forgive him. At first it was awkward and Miles still had days where he didn’t want to speak to the man, he’s seemed to develop a closer relationship with the man, and Mayday.
Speaking of Hobie, he along with Gwen and Pavitr and himself were sent on a mission by Miguel to fight some anomaly, Miles didn’t listen much to that man. Turns out this anomaly can create spaces of different gravitational planes with whatever shape he wants. This allowed him to get Miles and the gang stuck in some sort of multi-gravitational staircase plane that connected to each other. It was giving him a headache. Sure HQ has similar designs but this plane was colourful, bright colour and no direction at all, it was easy to get lost.
Miles was trying to find the others, he tried using the watch Hobie made for him - Miguel hates that he even has one - to find the others location but they kept changing places. It seemed like they were also trying to fine each other but didn’t seem like that place was working. Plan B then.
“Hello?”
Not even an echo, damn this sucks. Miles tried looking around for any familiar landmarks, colour patterns on the stairs but nothing.
Putting his hands around his mouth he tried again but louder.
“HELLO… Hobie?… Gwen? Pavitr?”
He shoulders caved inwards. Miles felt exhausted. He was spending much of his time studying for exams, saving people as Spider-man, fighting this anomaly and now being stuck in some stupid multi-plane staircase for who knows how long.
He sighed in defeat, shoulders still hunched over. Miles stood staring at his feet, the black standing out in the colourful staircase he was on. The patterns looked almost like sunflowers sticking out of a multi-coloured background. He watched as the blue blends with the yellow, creating mismatched green leaving sticking out from everywhere, different shades of yellow creating the leaves, the shadows of the radiant flower. Personally Miles he grown to like the flower, it wasn’t his favourite but he liked the simplicity in the design, the captivating colour that draws his attention.
He wished he had his sketchbook, his fingers twitched to draw the simple but beautiful design. Maybe make a new tag.
“Oi, love.” Miles didn’t scream. He did not, he simple make a noise with his mouth coincidentally after he heard those words. Turning around to see where Hobie was he saw nothing but the stairs leading upwards to another staircase going through it, blocking the path upwards. Huh, Miles though as his eyebrows scrunched together.
“Up here, Sunflower,” Hobie stated through his smile, chuckling when Miles confused face met his when he looked upwards. Hobie was about a meter above him, his hands resting in his pockets, guitar on his shoulders while he looked up at Miles, still smiling.
Miles couldn’t help but feel his face turn red, eyes widened and not blinking, very obvious without his mask on having taken it off within minutes of being stuck here.
Hobie’s smile turned into his famous smirk when he noticed Miles face changing colour. He always seemed to be the one who could make Miles turn so red. Hobie liked it when Miles turn flustered, his faces turn red, freckles being more noticeable against the colour. Thanks heightened senses. He always seemed to stop functioning for a minute, brain trying to catch up with the words Hobie said. Miles always comes back to it, stuttering and trying to say some wit comeback to embarrass Hobie back but in the end, Miles tends to turn away from Hobie, still red but a smile he thinks Hobie can’t see on his face. It’s why Hobie always teases him, calling him thinks like love, sunflower, even darling once but his favourite was sunflower. Ever since he found out Miles listened to the song by some Post Malone guy, to the point where he knows everything off by heart, the rhythm, the lyrics, the beats and the background instruments. Miles would never live it down, Hobie wouldn’t let him even as Miles expands his music taste a little. He doesn’t expect him to fall in love with punk but at least he gives it a shot.
“Uh, wha-when, umm, hey Hobie,” Miles spoke doing some weird finger guns at the man. What am I doing? He thought still smiling awkwardly at Hobie. “How long have you been there?”
“Only a few minutes,” Hobie shrugged. “You seemed pretty peaceful and I didn’t want to disturb you.” Hobie seemed to not stop smirking.
“Oh, cool, cool,… um thanks?” Miles seriously wanted to hit himself.
“Come on this way, we need to find the others.” Hobie didn’t wait to see if Miles was following as he turned around and starting walking away from Miles, thankful at a slow pace.
Miles started walking down the stairs in the direction towards where Hobie was headed. How Hobie knew where to go confused him, this place didn’t seems to have any pattern, almost like it changed paths every few minutes.
“Hey Hobie, wait up. In case you forgot I’m on a different staircase than you.” Hobie seemed to not hear him. Grumbling under his breath Miles continued walking down the stairs. He seemed to be getting further away from Hobie as he walked, god he hoped Hobie knew where he was going.
As Miles reached a platform he doesn’t remember from earlier, Hobie had disappeared from above him. Dammit he only looked away for a minute. Miles could only see an another platform above but this time it was closer than before.
“Uh, Hobie? Where did you go?” Nothing. Great.
Miles wanted to go find him but he knew he would get more lost. When he went to look at his watch to see Hobie’s locations - not like it would help - he heard the sound of boots stopping above him. Raising his head and turning around, he came face to face with Hobie.
Well more like forehead to forehead but Miles didn’t want to think about that, how close Hobie’s lips were to his, how if he took a step forward, angle their heads up a little and they would be kissing. Hobie seemed quiet, which he does from time to time as he doesn’t feel the need to speak.
Miles going to speak but stops when Hobie’s hands grab the sides of his face. Hobie leans forward and Miles couldn’t stop the blush from spreading across his face, from this close Hobie could absolutely see the colour crawling to cover Miles face but Hobie doesn’t make any indication that he notices, or at least cares.
Hobie’s eyes closed as he continued leaning forward but when his forehead seems to rest against Miles’s, Miles blinked. This wasn’t what he was expecting. A kiss sure, but Miles liked this better.
Closing his eyes, Miles seemed to relax completely for the first time in a while. He simple enjoyed the closeness with Hobie.
He wished he could stay like this forever, feeling loved and loving Hobie more and more as time goes on. He liked this side of Hobie just as much as the rest of him. Hobie wasn’t just some effortlessly cool teenager who did what he wanted and fought for what he believed in, which isn’t much, he was still a kid. Miles liked it when Hobie showed this relaxed side around him, liked when Hobie seemed to enjoy Miles’s presence just being there when he didn’t want to talk.
He didn’t know how long he stays, arms relaxed by his side with his eyes closed and forehead to Hobie’s. No school, no expectations, no spider-man, just them.
Eventually they would have to find the others, although Miles felt as if Hobie already knows their locations, but for now they just stood there, simple existing with each other. Miles was falling hard for this man, and he enjoyed it all the way down.