Chapter Text
The sun was setting over New York City, casting long shadows that stretched across the rooftop where Miles Morales found himself, surrounded by friends but feeling utterly alone. Laughter erupted from Hobie and Mylo, who were deep in a debate about the best Spider-Man villains, while Ganke animatedly described the latest superhero movie. Gwen was perched on the edge, scrolling through her phone, occasionally chiming in with witty remarks.
Miles smiled on the outside, but inside, a storm raged. His heart twisted painfully as his eyes drifted to Pavitr Prabhakar, who sat across from him, animatedly gesturing as he recounted a story from his own universe. The way Pav's eyes sparkled, the way his laughter filled the air—it all pierced Miles with an ache he couldn’t articulate.
**“You should’ve seen the way I flipped over that car!”** Pav said, his voice bright with enthusiasm. The others cheered, and Miles clapped along, but his heart sank deeper. It was always like this—Miles was a ghost in his own skin, watching someone else bask in the light that he yearned for.
Ganke nudged Miles, breaking him out of his thoughts. **“You okay, man? You seem a little out of it.”**
**“Yeah, just… thinking,”** Miles replied, forcing a grin. He was always thinking, always hoping that maybe one day, Pavitr would see him the way he saw him.
As the group continued to tease and joke, Miles felt an overwhelming urge to reach out, to tell Pav how he felt, but the fear of rejection gripped him like a vice. He settled for silence, pretending that the unspoken words didn’t weigh heavy on his heart.
**“Hey, Miles! You’re not listening, are you?”** Hobie’s voice broke through, and Miles blinked, realizing everyone was staring at him.
**“Nah, just zoning out. What’s up?”** he stammered, forcing himself to focus.
**“We were just planning our next mission! You in?”** Mylo asked, and the conversation moved on. But Miles’s heart wasn’t in it. He could barely focus on anything other than Pavitr’s laughter, ringing like music in his ears.
Hours slipped away as they talked and joked, the atmosphere charged with camaraderie. But the weight of Miles’s feelings grew heavier. He stole glances at Pav, whose carefree nature made Miles feel like a prisoner of his own emotions.
Finally, as twilight turned into night, the group decided to call it a day. Ganke and Mylo headed off, leaving Hobie and Gwen to linger a moment longer.
**“Catch you later, Miles!”** Ganke waved, and the others followed suit, each disappearing into the night like fireflies.
Miles stood alone on the rooftop, his heart pounding in his chest. It was now or never. He took a deep breath, the cool night air stinging his lungs.
**“Pav!”** he called out, his voice trembling. **“Wait.”**
But Pavitr didn’t turn. Instead, he continued walking away, laughter fading into the distance. It was just the two of them left now, but the moment felt heavy with unspoken words. Miles's heart sank, his voice choked with desperation.
**“Pav!”** he called again, the name slipping from his lips like a prayer.
This time, Pavitr stopped, turning back, his expression confused. **“What’s up, Miles?”**
Miles opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. Instead, he felt the world collapse around him, the weight of all his feelings pressing down. It was the moment he had longed for, yet it felt impossibly out of reach.
**“I… I just wanted to tell you—”** Miles faltered, heart racing, every ounce of courage slipping away.
Pavitr’s eyes narrowed slightly, searching Miles’s face. **“What is it?”**
The moment stretched on, painfully eternal, and Miles felt a flood of frustration mixed with longing. **“Nothing,”** he whispered, voice barely audible.
Pavitr's brow furrowed, sensing the hesitation. **“Are you sure?”**
Miles’s heart raced as he stared into Pav’s warm, inviting gaze, and in that instant, the silence spoke louder than words.
**“Yeah, I’m sure,”** he said, the finality in his voice stabbing at him like a knife.
Pavitr’s expression shifted, confusion lingering as he took a step back, leaving Miles alone in the stillness of the night.
As Pav turned to leave, Miles called out one last time, desperation lacing his voice. **“Pav!”**
The name hung in the air, a final plea echoing through the empty space between them. Pavitr paused, hesitating as if sensing the gravity of the moment. But before Miles could gather the courage to say what lay heavy on his heart, Pavitr walked away, the distance between them growing, and Miles was left standing there, a heart in the shadows, forever pining for the one who didn’t see him.