Woo! Chapter Four is done! And got exponentially longer than i thought it would
Thank you -Tello_(Lu_Zai) for being the beta for this chapter! I feel much better about posting it with help. They've got a Shellshocked fic of their own by the way, Baby, you're like lightning in a bottle (I can't let you go now that I got it)
Also the chapter titles have lost all meaning to the actual contents of the chapter, because basing chapters off of lyrics is a bit too restricting for me. And I write the chapters before I name them so…
Happy holidays btw! Happy Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas, and belated good will for the Winter Solstice!
ChatMJ : so you know how im grounded and all that junk
Spidey : yeahu
MJ : well pops kinda just didn't want me out an about on the surface at night
MJ : but he did say i could stay in the mythos city :]
Spidey : mythos?
MJ : not all non-human borns are japanese so as like a collective we call ourselves mytho
MJ : me and my family are yokai tho
Spidey : thats so cool!
Spidey : so there's a mythos city! :o
MJ : yup and im gonna show you around
MJ : course only if you have time this weekend?
Spidey : heck yeah i got time!
Spidey : i can meet ya sunday
Spidey : that work?
MJ : yurp! ill be free
MJ : lemme just send you the address to an entrance
MilesWhen the weekend started Miles was glad to be back home with his parents. Usually Sundays and Saturdays were spent hanging out with them or the other kids in the neighborhood, butMiles had already decided this Sunday was gonna be for MJ.
"So I was thinking I could go out to see a friend tomorrow Sunday?" Miles asked during dinner, Saturday night.
His dad hummed, while his mom spoke, "Where are you two going?"
"Just around their neighborhood, Queens, Chinatown*."
"How'd you meet this kid?" His dad asked, emphasizing the 'kid' bit.
"Well almost a week ago now, saw them painting on a walk and we just kinda hit it off,ya know." They said nervously, trying not to sound too much like they were omitting anything.
Rio raised an eyebrow, "What's their name? How old are they?"
"Well they're fifteen, her name is MJ and he uses any pronouns." His voice picked up a little in pitch.
"Alright, you can go, but check in when you two meet up. And remember curfew is ten on Sundays." She said,
Miles smiled widely, "Thank you!"
-?-
As their son finished his dinner and ran off to bed early, Rio and Jefferson gave each other knowing looks.
"He's acting just like you," Jeffery said, teasing his wife with a bump to the shoulder.
Rio laughed, shoving him playfully, "Did you see that smile? Both of you have that same goofy look."
They laughed, remembering their own chaotic love story.
"God – Jeffery said, staring down the hall Miles had just gone down – Our baby's in love."
Rio nodded, "And he's terrible at hiding it. Just like someone I know."
He made an offended noise, trying to defend his teenage self as she laughed.
MikeyMikey sat by their dad's armchair, legs crossed and leaning against the arm rest. She kept looking up at him over her phone.
"What is it Mikan?" Splinter said not even looking up from his magazine.
Mikey sighed dramatically flopping onto the floor, "Oh nothing father, I am simply a bored teenager."
"Uh-huh," He said sarcastically, glancing down at his child.
"Sigh, yes," They said somberly
Splinter let them lay like that for a while before Mikey got bored and looked up at him.
"Father, papa, pops, chichi*. Can I pretty please with a cherry on top go down to the city alone?" He'd sat up and was basically begging their dad to let them go. Their grounding had quickly morphed into can't go down into the Hidden City alone without at least two other people, that wonderful addition had been added once everyone had finally gotten some sleep.
"Hmm," Splinter said, playing up the act of thinking really hard on it.
Mikey looked up at him with the best puppy eyes they could muster.
"One of the others will go with you, – He decided and Mikey groaned – But you get to choose who," Splinter added on.
Mikey whooped and shot up to their, "Thank you Chichi!" He said gleefully, giving Splinter a hug, then left quickly to choose one of their siblings to join them.
-?-
"So you just want me to take you down then you'll dip?" Leo said lazing on his bed reading a Jupiter Jim comic
"Yup!" Mikey said, he'd gone to Leo mainly because Raph and Junior would just follow his around, April, Casey, and Donnie had a habit of asking all the right questions to get the truth, and Draxum was his father, he was not going to deal with having his dad there when he met up with Spider-man. So Leo was the most logical choice and he probably wouldn't hover.
"Why ya going down?" Leo asked.
"Just meeting up with a few friends, Charlie and Annalise from ballet*," She lied confidently.
Their brother raised an eyebrow, "What's in it for me then?"
"Well don't you wanna walk around for a bit, you've been cooped up in the lair for a while now. It'd be good to stretch your legs, and you've been healing nicely too," Mikey assured.
Leo sighed and set his comic down, "Alright then go get ready."
Mikey smiled wide, "Yes, thank you!"
MilesMiles decided this was a good day to dress hero casual, instead of just hero business.
Which meant changing into his spider suit after leaving the house, and putting his jacket, hoodie, shorts, and sneakers over it. Days when he layered always felt like comfortably dressing down. Spider-man was more approachable and likable when he showed he was just like you.
So now Spider-Man was swinging from Brooklyn to Queens, finding himself in a random alleyway in Chinatown.
Double checking the address and instructions MJ had given them and taking one final breath of fresh air Miles jumped into a suspiciously empty dumpster.
Suddenly they were falling and their spidey senses were going wild in the aggressively new environment. Taking a steadying breath Miles looked around and examined where he was, noticing a tall supporting pillar, he sent out a web and spun around the pillar until they got close enough to hold on without the worry of gravity pulling them off.
Miles stood on a ledge of the pillar and looked out at the new skyline of a city he'd never seen before in a grand cavern so big he wasn't sure if he could see the ceiling if he was on the ground.
The city was bright and tall with buildings built into pillars like the one Miles was standing on. Colors so strange to his eyes used to New York, but bright in their own hue of a magical palette. They couldn't make out the people or the style of buildings but they could tell they were wonderful. All in all it was,
"Beautiful, isn't it." A voice spoke next to him, one they recognized.
Jumping he turned to the owner of the voice, to MJ. Their skin is a dark green with cool undertones, contrasting his bright orangish-yellow vitiligo spots. Her face is circular and snout big, wrapped in an orange mask tied like two petals, but their eyes, gosh their eyes were beautiful. Almond shaped, and deep dark honey brown with a dark orange around their pupils.
"MJ?" He asked,
"The one and only. Welcome to the Hidden City!" They smiled wide, spreading their arms out like they were presenting the city to Miles. The smile on her face was bright and curious and delighted, and wonderfully infectious as Miles felt himself smile as well.
"Face it Tiger you've hit the jackpot!" And Miles knew that he probably didn't mean himself, and that they meant the wonderful hidden city, but the way that the back lighting of the city made wonderful shadows on his face as his eyes practically glowed with excitement. Miles felt that MJ was the jackpot, a wonderful light that outshone everything.
"You're gorgeous," Their voice was soft and breathless as Miles lost themself in her eyes.
MJ sputtered, skin getting darker as they blushed and the orange of their eyes spreading a little. Miles found that so pretty.
"Th-thanks," He sputtered, looking anywhere but at Miles in embarrassment.
Miles blinked and realized what he'd just said, he felt his face heat up as he took a step back rubbing at his neck, "S-sorry if I made you uncomfortable. You're just like really pretty." He said nervously
"No no it's fine I just don't get compliments like that often, – He said, turning around to make their way down the pillar – Come on let's get down from here."
Miles noticed the clothes they were wearing. Baggy brown shorts, and no top, with their black wraps on their legs and arms, under their knee and elbow pads, kusari-fundo at their waist. They looked so much more free in the outfit, it made Miles' heart flip again.
"But it's true, – Miles said genuinely – And I could swing us down in a Jiff if ya wanted."
MJ looked at him with a coy smile, and unhooked her weapon. The kusari-fundo glowed a bright orange light, its chain expanded infinitely, defying gravity and physics, "Lets see if you can keep up, Spidey," She said with a playful smile. The end of the chain cackled, surprising Miles, as it sped off, pulling a smirking MJ along with it.
A second of surprise was all Miles gave themself before they laughed and swung after MJ.
-?-
Miles hadn't swung with anyone besides the other spider-people. Swinging with MJ was different though, he used his magical kusari-fundo to wrap around protruding parts of buildings. Being careful and quick to detach from them, taking their chain with him unlike how the spiders tended to abandon their web for easier transition from place to place, although it was more were practiced in their movements and bent and parkoured with ease.
Miles admired that skill, it took them some time to figure it out themselves. MJ looked like she'd been jumping around since she was a little kid.
He took a chance to look around the city. It looked like a more traditional version of chinatown, less held back by American infrastructure. They looked down and saw many different mytho going about their day. A few glanced up at them but didn't say much about two teenagers running amok.
The neighborhood shifted to a more general New York look, and a much wider variety of mythos. Miles saw mainly anthropomorphic animal people, and he's pretty sure he saw a chupacabra as well.
Eventually MJ went down an alleyway and landed, Miles close behind her.
She turned to him, not even winded., "Just so ya know, we should avoid the police station and Witch Town just to be safe. But where do you wanna go?" They said, leading Miles to a large map of the city and a smaller map of the area they were in, which Miles now realized was more of a small country in size.
"Um, how about here?" He said, pointing to a neighborhood a block away, "Anything fun over there?"
MJ nodded, "Yeah, there's a good boba place on that street, definitely recommend their grapefruit tea."
-?-
The two got their boba. Miles ended up getting the grapefruit boba like MJ suggested. It was surprisingly a little sour, Miles found he liked it, sour things had always been his favorite.
Miles followed MJ as he led them around the neighborhood,pointing out their favorite things in the area: The pet shop their eldest brother works at, the ballet studio that they've recently started attending, but unfortunately had to take a break from because of the invasion, etc.
Miles made note of her interest in ballet. He'd have to ask Gwen about it, maybe get MJ something for it, like shoes or something. Gwen had said something about shoes being important to dancers.
After they'd finished their boba, MJ had pointed out a soba place they liked, and Miles had suggested they get some for lunch.
The smile MJ gave to the suggestion made Miles' heart flutter.
-?-
MJ had ordered cold tanuki soba and got Miles tori nanban soba.
The two decided to go and eat on top of one of the smaller buildings that had a rooftop.
"So what do you think?" MJ asked, watching as Miles carefully brought the full chopsticks to his mouth, mask halfway up his face.
Their eyes blew wide at the taste, it was delicious. The broth was so wonderfully infused with chicken and leek that hugged the noodles. Miles hummed loudly, savoring the taste.
MJ laughed, "Glad you like it!" she said, beginning to eat her own soba.
As they ate Miles noticed that MJ was shivering a little, goose bumps on his skin. Miles paused for a second and moved his glove so his skin was bare to the air. It was cold out, and she wasn't wearing anything but some bandage wraps and shorts.
Acting on impulse, Miles took off his windbreaker and black hoodie, handing the latter to MJ. He stared at it for a second before taking it from their hands.
Flushing a bit, MJ grinned softly, "Was I really that obvious?" he asked with a chuckle.
Miles shook his head with a smile, "Nah, I just noticed things quicker, besides you were running cold when we met the second time. Only makes sense you'd be even colder without the layers."
Nodding she set down her chopsticks and put the hoodie on. It was big on Miles, he'd got it when he was much younger and liked to be a cocoon in his own clothes, Miles was grateful they could wear it without trouble.
The two went back to their soba, happy smiles on their faces.
They were silent for a second before Miles decided to speak up.
"So you like ballet? How'd you get started?"
MJ hummed, "Well I didn't have a proper instructor until like ten months ago. Was mainly just copying the tapes my dad got at one point. Then I started watching youtube videos about it. Was a bit confusing to have an instructor watching me, but I got used to it pretty quickly. Now I'm at the same level as the other kids!" She smiled as she spoke,
"But enough about me, what about you? Do you dance?"
"Eh, – Miles tilted his hand back and forth – I know some about ballet from my friend, but that's mainly just from her showing off. I'm more into music really, dancing without any direction. – They'd always wanted to try, but had never really been amazing at it – It'd be fun to try though." They said wistfully.
"I could show you," They said, setting their food to the side and standing up.
Miles blinked quickly, setting his food down, "Wait right now?"
She nodded, reaching out to them, "Yeah right now, it'll be fun!"
Pulling his mask down while taking her hand, she quickly pulled Miles to his feet with a strength they didn't know she had.
"Ballet's a bit one sided when it comes to partner dancing. But I can show you the waltz."
He pulled Miles away from the edge and closer to himself, "I'll lead you follow,"
MJ led Miles' hand to her shoulder, and wrapped her arm around their waist. On the other side she took his hand lifting it up so the two were doing a high five.
They were close because of all that, Miles could see MJ breathing. He swallowed down his nerves and waited for MJ to give the go ahead.
"All right, crouch a little. Yeah like that, now. Right step back, left foot here then take your right foot next to it. Left foot forward, take right foot back to the beginning, and bring your left foot to join it. Now we just repeat it!"
Miles follows the instructions with slightly shaky feet. But quickly got the hang of it. They began to hum a waltz softly, vaguely remembering the tune although unsure of which waltz it was.
MJ smiled and joined in with the song, she slowly speeds up the tempo leading Miles quicker and beginning to spin the two around. Miles laughed as they moved faster and faster, and MJ got bolder and bolder with his movements.
Mikey spinned Miles as the other laughed gleefully. The dance hit a crescendo and with one final spin MJ dipped them. Miles held tight to her back smiling as he stared up at them. Their dark brown eyes glowing with neon orange roots, face bright with a wonderful happy smile, arms loose but caring around his waist. And Miles knew for a fact he was deeply in love with MJ.
Voice slightly shaking, he spoke, "Can I show you my face?"
-?-
MJ's reaction was very expressive, eyes blown wide brows raised and voice anxiously high, "What!" They stood up properly resting her hands on Miles' waist.
"I- I trust you MJ," Miles said, cursing his anxiety.
He frowned a little, "We haven't known each other for that long though? You don't even know my real name."
"Well Yeah, – Miles shrugged, not taking his arms off her shoulders – But you're also a turtle and showed me your face, you gave me so much info about you with that alone. I don't want to have something over you like that, I want to be equal. I want you to really know the kid behind the mask," He explained, voice earnest and truthful.
MJ fidgeted, "Are you completely sure, I mean you wear a mask for a reason."
"Sure as rain."
"Alright then – she smiled softly – show me your face, Tiger."
Blushing he turned around, they were really going to do this. Shaking of their nerves. Miles takes a deep steadying breath, and spins around to face MJ, putting their hand on his shoulder and lifting their mask up with the other.
"Hey," And all he can think about at the moment is how his voice by the grace of god does not crack.
"My name's Miles, Miles Morales. It's a pleasure to meet you," He says with a smile, that's less practiced and suave, and more normal feeling.
For a second they think they did something wrong, because MJ isn't saying anything they're just staring at Miles, eyes wide with an emotion Miles has never seen before.
But then they smile, it's a slow, soft, and proud thing that creeps up her face like a wonderful sunrise. His eyes scrunch up a bit as they smile, and dimples that Miles didn't know were there, showed themselves.
"Mikan, my name's Hamato Mikan Michelangelo. First name Mikan, last name Hamato. Michelangelo is more of an English nickname really, – Miles likes it, the name 'Mikan' rings like a song in his ears – And you Miles, are stunning"
That makes Miles stutter and their reaction makes Mikan laugh a very cute laugh, a snort, giggle, and wheeze. Wonderful, really.
As they calmed down, they looked up at Miles smiling that perfect smile again, "I have to go soon – they began to take off Miles' hoodie – When do you think-"
Miles pushed the hoodie back to Mikan, "Keep it, looks better on you anyway," He said with a smile.
Mikan nodded happily, "Okay, – they seemed to cuddle deeper into the hoodie – When can we see eachother again?"
Miles thought for a second before responding, "Don't have much to do but patrol this week, wanna get hotdogs Tuesday?"
"Yeah that works," She said
"Cool! See yeah then Mikan," Miles pulled his mask down halfway and was about to leave, when Mikan pulled them by their jacket, and kissed them on the cheek.
"Call me MJ. I like it when you call me that," He said with a coy smile.
Miles was frozen in shock, brain blank trying to comprehend what just happened. MJ snickers and pushes him to the edge, "Bye Miles."
"Call me Tiger, – Miles said, surprised that he was able to speak at all – I like it when you call me Tiger," Copying her words with a smile.
MJ laughed but nodded, "Alright. Bye Tiger, now go!"
Miles laughed as they swung away.
MikeyMikey had ditched Leo awhile ago, the moment they got to the Hidden City, actually. She hadn't meant to leave her brother in the dust but she also didn't want him to know about Spider-man. He didn't like to keep big secrets from his family, that only led to big problems,but Spidey and them were something different–Spidey was cool–So sue her if she wanted them all to herself.
Mikey waited on the support pillar right underneath the entrance they'd given Spidey.
Looking up as she heard a loud yell of excitement, watching as Spider-man spun around the pillar before landing nearby.
Mikey smiled and climbed over to Spidey. They were staring out at the skyline, surprisingly expressive mask lenses wide.
"Beautiful isn't it."
Spidey turned around quickly. Mikey noted the clothes over their suit, with their hoodie too big for them, windbreaker, shorts, and sneakers. It was a surprisingly good look.
"MJ?"
Smiling, she presented the skyline of the city, "The one and only. Welcome to the Hidden City!"
"Face it Tiger you've hit the jackpot!" He giggled, Mikey was proud of the city even if he didn't grow up in it. The city had quickly become their family's home–The things her and her siblings could do just being kids in a city where they didn't really stand out–He wanted to share that with Spider-man.
What did surprise them was Spidey's response, "You're gorgeous,"
"Th-thanks," Mikey's mind was screaming, they'd never been complimented on their appearance like that. He got the occasional cute or adorable from his family, but that was different, it was demeaning.
Looking away from the Spider, Mikey tried to understand all the emotions she was experiencing from those words alone.
"S-sorry if I made you uncomfortable. You're just like really pretty," They said apologetically.
She just nodded "No no it's fine I just don't get compliments like that often, – They said, turning around to make their way down the pillar – Come on let's get down from here."
"But it's true, – Okay so he was doubling down on the gorgeous thing, Mikey could feel their face burn – And I could swing us down in a Jiff if ya wanted."
Now that caught their attention. Turning around to face the vigilante she brandished her weapon, allowing her mystic energy and ninpo to extend the kusari-fundo basically infinitely as it floated high in the air and, Flare, the fire yokai screamed and laughed with anticipation at the end of the chain.
"Lets see if you can keep up, Spidey," Smirking, Mikey directed Flare to take them into the city.
As the Spider followed Mikey laughed joyfully, this could be fun.
-?-
The two traveled by air through the city, leaving the Chinatown district and to one of the more New York adjacent areas. Mikey landed in an alley, Spider-man next to them.
She turned to them, "Just so ya know, we should avoid the police station and Witch Town just to be safe. But where do you wanna go?" she said walking out the alley showing him a map of the nearby districts.
"Um, how about here?" He said pointing to a neighborhood a block away in the district Splinter had often gone to when he was with Big Mama, "Anything fun over there?"
"Yeah, there's a good boba place on that street, Definitely recommend their grapefruit tea," April and Sunita had a date there at one point, it would be perfect.
-?-
After getting their boba Mikey found he liked leading the other teenager around the district. They were excitable and interested in basically everything she said about the place.
They ogled the animals on display at the pet shop Raph worked at part time, and took interest when Mikey talked about the ballet studio Mikey was going to.
After their boba was finished Mikey pointed out the soba place he wanted to go to, and was wonderfully happy that Spider-man asked if they could eat there.
-?-
With soba in hand the two went up to a roof top to eat, giving them a spectacular view of the city.
"So what do you think?" Mikey asked, watching as Spidey carefully brought the full chopsticks to his mouth.
She made note of the half of his face she could see, dark brown skin and a square jaw, and a few acne scars. That's expected with human teenagers, he supposed.
His visors grew wide, he smiled mouth full and humming happily with his food.
Mikey couldn't stop himself from giggling at their face, "Glad you like it!"
He watched, eating his own food, happy to see the vigilante happy with their food legs bouncing as they ate. A fluttering feeling grabbed Mikey's heart and lungs, they almost choked on their soba, turning away to hide the gagging before Spidey could notice. But shivered nonetheless, making them notice the chill in the air.
Mikey was just about to let their ninpo activate a little to warm up when Spidey held out their hoodie to them. Mikey stared for a second feeling themselves flush and snicker, "Was I really that obvious?"
Spidey shook his head with a smile, "Nah, I just noticed things quicker, besides you were running cold when we met the second time. Only makes sense you'd be even colder without the layers."
Nodding Mikey set down her chopsticks and moved her soba to the side. Taking the hoodie, sliding it over their head, mildly surprised that it fit at all. He noticed that it kinda smelled like them, like markers that didn't burn your nose and lavender detergent. She allowed herself to smile at that, picking up her boba she continued to eat.
"So you like ballet? How'd you get started?" They asked a bit awkwardly.
Smiling, That was a conversation Mikey could talk about for hours, "Well I didn't have a proper instructor until like ten months ago. Was mainly just copying the tapes my dad got at one point, – all of which were stolen but that didn't matter right now – Then I started watching youtube videos about it. Was a bit confusing to have an instructor watching me, but I got used to it pretty quickly. Now I'm at the same level as the other kids!" He could remember when they were a farther behind in flexibility but the instructor had given him some tips on how to move with a shell more effectively while dancing. Since then they've been practically soaring in class.
"But enough about me, what about you? Do you dance?" It would be fun to have another dance partner outside of Donnie.
"Eh, – Spidey tilted his hand back and forth – I know some about ballet from my friend, but that's mainly just from her showing off. I'm more into music really, dancing without any direction. It'd be fun to try though," They said wistfully.
Then a wonderful thought struck her, "I could show you," Putting her food to the side, Mikey stood up.
"Wait right now?" Spidey said, setting their food down, visor shuttering as they blinked. Mikey found the small stim adorable, like they were adjusting to the world all over again.
"Yeah right now, it'll be fun!" Reaching out a hand
He pulled down his mask and raised his hand, Mikey grabbed it and pulled the spider to his feet with ease.
They began to explain the dance, "Ballet's a bit one sided when it comes to partner dancing. But I can show you the waltz," Mikey said, easily pulling Spidey away from the edge the two had been resting against.
Hugging him close Mikey spoke again, "I'll lead you follow."
He put his hand on her shoulder and the other in the air to gently rest against hers. He was warm unsurprisingly, maybe a little colder than normal but warm to Mikey. The residual heat from their body was nice. He noticed that they really did smell like markers and lavender.
"All right, crouch a little. Yeah like that, now. Right step back, left foot here then take your right foot next to it. Left foot forward, take right foot back to the beginning, and bring your left foot to join it. Now we just repeat it!"
Spider-man was quick to learn the step, albeit with a shaky start, they caught on and moved with Mikey easily.
They began to hum Schwarzer Walzer* under their breath, trying to match it to the speed the duo were going at. Mikey found it wonderful that they knew the song and joined in, easily warping their tempo to the song so it would match.
Taking a chance she sped up the song and dance spinning the spider with her, as he laughed she felt her heart pound with joy and got bolder with the dance completely forgetting the formal waltz she was trying to teach them.
He started to laugh and giggle forgetting the song that he'd started just reveling in the joy of dancing with Mikey. The thought struck them so sweetly they couldn't stop, his laugh so beautiful and wonderful, the way they easily went into the spin Mikey held them in, before falling gracefully into a dip.
Mikey held him, arm around his waist as he grasped her back loosely, not afraid to fall because they trusted her. A feeling of adoration took over Mikey as he laughed happily and looked up at their eyes through his visor. He wanted to hold the other close for all eternity and never let them go, to dance with them for hours more, to be with them forever.
Mikey loved this feeling, and would soon realize she loved Spider-man themself.
Voice slightly shaking, the spider spoke, "Can I show you my face?"
-?-
"What!" Mikey pulled Spidey out of the dip, not moving their hands from his waist, while he kept his arms on their shoulders, it was comforting, really nice even.
But that isn't the point. Secret identities are important things, a level of privacy that was hard to obtain in the police state that is america. Just outright telling someone your name was a dangerous thing, not to mention your data that's always transmissible through the internet. Mikey knows their families' paranoia about those kinds of things come from Splinter being in deep hiding form both Big Mama and Draxum, and his experiences with being in the limelight, but god dammit if it isn't justifiable.
"I- I trust you MJ," Mikey's heart melted at his sincerity.
He frowned a little, "We haven't known each other for that long though? You don't even know my real name."
"Well Yeah, – He shrugged, not taking his arms off her shoulders – But you're also a turtle and showed me your face, you gave me so much info about you with that alone. I don't want to have something over you like that, I want to be equal. I want you to really know the kid behind the mask," He explained, voice earnest and truthful.
Mikey could see the logic, there were few kappa in New York City, and no other turtle mutants as far as they were aware. If this is what Spidey wanted, if he really wanted to trust them with this information after only knowing each other for a week, then why not.
She fidgeted, "Are you completely sure, I mean you wear a mask for a reason."
"Sure as rain," He said, voice soft and confident
"Alright then – he smiled – show me your face, Tiger," The nickname was admittedly growing on him, no matter how corny it sounded at first.
They watched as the vigilante turned around taking a breath, and lifted their mask all the way, turning quickly to face Mikey.
"Hey."
They are quickly enthralled by his face. His hazel downturned eyes and the little creases at the edge of them, his wide and handsome nose that fit perfectly with the rest of his face. Their soft and kinky hair resting softly on their head, and sharp dark eyebrows. Even his slight acne scars were pretty to Mikey. What most captured Mikey though was their smile, the quirk of their soft lips and the dimples that formed from it. The way his teeth are just barely showing, the slight cracks from the cold.
"My name's Miles, Miles Morales. It's a pleasure to meet you," Their smile got bigger as they spoke, and Mikey knew for a fact he was in love with Miles.
Miles, Miles, Miles. What a wonderful name, it fit them so well. Mikey didn't care what the name really meant* because now it meant: Miles, the most beautiful boy in the world. Miles, the one who danced and laughed with him. Miles, the one who liked his art. Miles, the one who stole Mikan's heart. Miles.
Mikey realized he had been silent the entire time, "Mikan, my name's Hamato Mikan Michelangelo. First name Mikan, last name Hamato. Michelangelo is more of an English nickname really. And you Miles, are stunning," He said, leaning in a bit.
Miles stuttered, smile becoming cutely distressed and flustered. Mikey couldn't stop themselves from laughing. As they calmed down Mikey felt the light ding in their head from Leo's side of the mindmeld, it was time to start heading home.
"I have to go soon – they began to lift up the hoodie and give it back – When do you think-"
Miles stopped them from fully taking it off, "Keep it, looks better on you anyway,"
Mikey smiled and nodded, burrowing deeper into the hoodie, "Okay. When can we see eachother again?" He just had to ask, he didn't know when they'd see eachother again, and Mikey never wanted to leave their side for too long.
"Don't have much to do but patrol this week, wanna get hotdogs 'round 4pm Tuesday?" Miles asked, tapping their hip.
"Yeah that works," They wouldn't be grounded anymore and it would be early enough in the day that nobody would stop them from leaving home.
Miles bounced excitedly and turned to leave, "Cool! See yeah then Mikan!"
Oh no he wasn't leaving so quickly, Mikey grabbed him by the jacket and pulled him back, and kissed him quickly on the cheek.
"Call me MJ. I like it when you call me that," They said trying to be at least a little bit flirty, they liked the nickname it was the name they'd given Miles and they loved the idea of it being his alone to use.
"Bye Miles," She said, pushing him towards the edge.
"Call me Tiger, I like it when you call me Tiger," He said, confident and smiling.
His heart jumped at the words, so they did like the nickname Mikey was glad, laughing he nodded, "Alright. Bye Tiger, now go!"
They laughed and swung away with their webs.
-?-
"Where'd you get that hoodie?" Leo asked, leaning against the wall of an alley exit topside.
"Bought it," Mikey said simply, going to the wall and drawing the sigil.
"Looks worn, well worn even," He said skeptically.
"Got it from a thrift shop, don't have the money to be bougie, Lee," She turned to him and shrugged as she fell through the portal.
Leo followed, rolling his eyes, "Likely story Mimi, likely story."
Miles"Miles, – his mom asked – where's your hoodie?"
They turned to their mother and failed to look like nothing was wrong, "Well uh, it was cold out?" He tried to explain.
Rio raised an unimpressed eyebrow, "So you should be wearing your hoodie mijo."
Miles made a face, looking off to the side, quickly realizing he fucked up, "MJ, MJ was cold he needed it more than me," Miles explained.
Rio's face softened, "That's very nice of you, baby."
Miles smiled flustered rubbing the back of his neck, "Well better head to bed it's almost, what? Five? – wow three hours with MJ, it felt shorter – I need my beauty sleep."
He passed by giving her a peck on the cheek.
"Alright mijo, go sleep," Rio laughed, shaking her head and watching Miles go to his bedroom.
She picked up her phone and sent Jefferey a quick text about their son's new friend, he'd love to hear about it.
Author's Noteneighborhood, Queens Chinatown* - apparently the 2012 gang lives under Chinatown NYC so I'm gonna have the Rise use that entrance point, honestly the fact that this is cannon to 2012 feels like a micro aggression coming from the people who made it cannon.
chichi* - Japanese word for your dad
Charlie and Annalise from ballet* - these two are just placeholder names at the moment to give Mikey someone to say, in my head though Charlie [they/them] is a small mouse mytho, and Annalise [she/her] is a small bunny mytho, yes that is a Gumball reference
Schwarzer Walzer* - Ballroom Waltz from Der Alte, I know genuinely nothing about ballroom music and looked up beginner waltz music and this one would fit the vibe some so I choose it
what the name really meant* - the name Miles means merciful and or soldier, which actually works for any spider-man but for a romance doesn't fit as much as I'd want it to
General Fic UpdateOkay so bi-weekly updates may become the norm for this fic, because it's a bit hard to write basically two chapters at once with the two pov thing, and update them weekly. But I also don't want to just leave yall with one pov and then the same scene in the next update. So biweekly may be a thing from now on.
Also thank you again -Tello_(Lu_Zai) once again for agreeing to beta this fic,