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Miguel clutched the little gift bag he had gotten as he knocked on Parker’s door, unsure if he should really be here in person. Peter and MJ had invited him to Mayday’s first birthday. He looked down at the bag, wondering if the gift was even okay. He had never been with his sweet Gabriella when she was little, having only met her when she was 6, but he knew that she would have loved the little bear he had gotten.
He clenched his fist, about to turn around when the door opened. “Hey Miggy! Come on in!” Peter grinned, hugging him with one shoulder. “You’re gonna love some of the pics I got of Mayday today!” He grinned. “Wait, let me get her. Babies are so rejuvenating!” He walked off, Miguel standing awkwardly at the doorway as he waited for Peter to return.
“You sure you’re not a Vampire? Need to be invited in?” MJ laughed, peeking in from another doorway. “Come in, Miguel.” Miguel let out a growl at the comment, glaring as Lyla’s holographic figure started tsking at him.
“It’s just a smaller party, so don’t worry about it, okay?” She said. “Just some spider people.” Miguel clenched his jaw, nodding.
He walked to where MJ was, quietly entering, averting his gaze as he saw the kids. Although it had been a few months since the whole “You’re an anomaly and a mistake” ordeal, Miguel still felt awkward around their group. He had apologized, but honestly, he’d be angry at himself too. He spotted Jessica, speeding across the room to sit next to her, pouting when he saw her baby had been left with her husband. “Jess.” He stated simply, Jessica patting him on the shoulder. “I hope your child is well.” He added.
“He is, thanks Mig.”
Miguel nodded, avoiding looking at the others, though he could feel some of them staring at him.
“Miggy, when did’ya come over here? I need to show you more pics!” Peter laughed, walking over to him, holding out his phone. “This is her getting ready, this is her and MJ taking a mommy daughter photo, this is a photo MJ took of me and Mayday, but since MJ took the pic it’s not as strong a composition, don’t tell her I said that though!” He laughed, Miguel glancing over at MJ who rolled her eyes with a smile.
“Nice.” He mumbled, watching as Peter scrolled through various photos.
This went on for a minute before Peter got to ones he had already shown Miguel the day prior, quickly turning as he glanced at his phone. “MJ! Bring in the birthday girl!”
“You got it, Tiger.” MJ smiled, leaving the room.
She reappeared a few moments later, Mayday wobbling in behind her, dressed up like a princess, a tiara on her head in place of the usual beanie Miguel saw her with. She babbled as she walked by everyone, starting to head for Peter before looking over at him.
“Kitty!” Mayday squealed as she wobbled over to Miguel, Miguel’s face bright red. She held up her arms, Miguel picking her up carefully.
“That’s a new one!” Peter squealed, snapping a picture of Miguel. Miguel glared at him, glancing back down at Mayday in shock when she squeezed his palm, his Talons popping out. He quickly retracted them, handing her back to Peter.
“Kitty!” She repeated, trying to reach for Miguel again. “Kittyyy!”
“Why don’t you give your gift first, Miguel?” MJ tried, Miguel nodding as he handed Peter the gift back as well, Peter letting Mayday look through it, Mayday squealing when she took out a stuffed bear of a lion.
“Kitty!”
“How’d she know it’d be a lion?” He heard Pavitr muse. “Smart baby!”
“Always one step ahead.” Miguel saw Hobie salute at Mayday, Miguel letting out a sigh of relief when Mayday hugged the lion.
Mayday went about opening the rest of her presents, Miguel smiling slightly at how close she held the lion, holding it tightly as she went through all of her gifts, babbling excitedly.
She even sat with it while blowing out her candle and as they ate birthday cake, Miguel watching worriedly as she tried to get the lion to eat, hoping she wouldn’t be upset when she realised it was just a stuffed bear. He got up from his seat next to Jessica hesitantly, Mayday trying to rush over, holding up the lion. “Kitty!” She said, frosting around her face. Miguel stared at her awkwardly, patting the lion on the head. “Dada Kitty!” She said, Miguel glancing at Jess for help, who seemed to be in deep conversation with MJ. “Dada kitty!” She repeated, trying to thrust the lion higher into the air, Miguel cautiously taking it. Mayday seemed pleased by this, Miguel’s face falling. She definitely hated the lion! She walked over to her cake, bringing back her smushed slice. “Kitty!” She said holding up the plate and pointing to the lion.
“It can’t eat…”
“Mig, just pretend! It’ll be a cute photo opportunity!” Peter cooed from behind him, quickly rushing to find a good angle for a picture. Miguel held back a snarl, kneeling down and awkwardly pretending to feed the lion the cake, groaning as Peter took a picture with flash. “Sorry!” He said quickly, taking more without.
Miguel sat back on his calves, offering the lion back to Mayday when he was done pretending, Mayday excitedly taking the stuffed bear back. “Meow!” She said, Peter cooing and snapping more pictures. “Kitty!” Mayday added, crawling onto Miguel and hanging off of his shoulders. “Kitty!” She smiled, Miguel unsure of what to do, waiting to catch her if she fell off of him.
“Miguel, I’m gonna have to show you these pics later! They’re great! Mayday is such a cutie!” He cooed, getting up and rushing over to MJ instead. Miguel tensed up, grabbing Mayday as she lost her balance and carefully setting her back on the floor.
“Kitty!” She pouted, raising her arms in the air, holding the lion up as well. “Kitty!”
“Lion.” He tried.
“Meow! Kitty!”
“Lion. León . R-“ He glanced around. Most people seemed preoccupied with something else. He spoke softer, somewhat embarrassed. “Lions roar.” He said, watching Mayday carefully. She tilted her head.
“Meow?”
“No. Roar.” He said, actually making the sound effect, though trying to be as quiet as possible. Mayday’s eyes lit up. “See? Lions do not meow.”
“Kitty!” She squealed, trying to roar as well, though she also whispered like Miguel. “Kitty!”
“It’s not a kitty, it’s a lion.”
“Kitty!”
“Lion.”
She pointed at Miguel. “Kitty! Roaaar! ” She yelled loudly, everyone turning to look at them, Miguel’s face red.
He stood up, setting the plate down on a nearby table. “Yes. Lions roar.” He said, awkwardly clearing his throat, trying to move away until Peter cut him off, snapping another flash photo of him, Miguel snarling. “Cut it out, Par-“ He tensed up as Mayday copied the sound he made, giggling as she held up the lion. “Stop using that setting or you will no longer have hands.” He growled, speaking more softly, glad that some people seemed to have turned away now, not wanting to be involved.
“I need to memorialise these moments, Miguel!”
“Not with the flash. It’s painful.” He said, scowling. It was probably time for him to take his leave, anyway. This had been a bit overwhelming, and plus he had just gotten angry at the birthday-girl's father.
“Roaaar! Kitty!” Mayday said, crawling up Miguel’s leg. “Roaaar!” She said again, giggling as she squeezed Miguel’s hands and his talons popped out once more. He quickly retracted them, giving Mayday to Peter instead.
“Feliz Cumpleaños , May.” He said, patting her head “I have to get going. Thank you for the invitation.” He mumbled, leaving their living room to head to the front door, sighing as he opened it.
“Mayday, say bye-bye to your tio Miguel!”
“Bye-bye Kitty!”