evening glow
A Brooklyn Rooftop (Earth-1610)
The sun was starting to set, and the party had started almost two hours ago. Miles checked the time on his phone again.
6:53
He had been sitting by the door for the majority of the evening, greeting relatives, neighbors, and friends as they arrived. But he wasn’t sitting there for them, he wanted to welcome her when she walked through the door. If she even walked through the door. The sky was getting darker and he started to doubt if she’d even be coming.
Rio was laughing and conversing with the crowd when she had looked off to the side, noticing her son. She set her drink down, excusing herself, and making her way over to him.
“You should eat something, mijo.” Rio said plainly, taking a seat on the ledge next to him as he turned to look at her. “Your tia’s are starting to think I don’t feed you!” she joked.
“I’m not that hungry right now.” He replies, checking the time again , even though it had only been a minute since he last did.
Rio noticed this, quickly putting the pieces together. She nodded towards the door, “When’s your friend coming?”
Miles looked back at the door and shrugged, “I dunno, I told her the party starts at 5 but I don’t think she’s coming.”
“Well, maybe they’re busy. Y’know, moving in and all that.” Rio smiles, “Now eat something, please.”
Miles nods, getting up and walking over to the food table. Rio watched as he disappeared into the crowd and greeted relatives. Just moments before the rooftop door swung open.
Rio turned to the direction of the door, standing up from where she was, observing the three that just walked in. They looked worrisome, not moving an inch from the door. Who Rio assumed was the daughter of the other two, seemed to be scanning the crowd for someone in particular. “You must be the new neighbors!” She gave a warm smile, walking over.
The three turned their attention to her, “I’m Rio Morales, I believe you met my son, Miles earlier?” She spoke, her words like honey. Something about her was just so comforting, and y/n couldn’t quite place why.
“Yes! Yes, he invited us, I hope that’s okay.” y/n tried to replicate the woman's smile.
“Of course it is!” Rio replied cheerfully, “He’s just over by the food table if you’re looking for him” she added, motioning over to where he was just barely visible behind the crowd. “Have you guys eaten dinner yet? You’re welcome to eat anything here.”
“That’d be great!” y/n’s father quips, “We haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.”
Y/n slipped away, as her parents made conversation with Mrs. Morales. She gently pushed her way through the crowd, ushering out excuse me ’s, heading to the food table. Finally spotting the person she’d been looking for, a wave of relief washed over her.
She tapped his shoulder from behind causing him to turn around, facing her. “Hey!” She smiled, genuinely.
His eyes lit up, and a smile formed on his lips, “Hey! You came!” he exclaims.
“Yeah! Sorry for being late, we still had stuff to move in and-”
He cut her off, “Nono, it’s fine, didn’t even notice.” he lied, trying to play cool.
Eventually, the two gravitated towards the water tower, after he had gotten her a plate of food to eat. Y/n leaned against the railing of the tower, watching the sun set behind the city skyline, casting an orange tint in the sky. Miles body was turned away from her, clicking at what she assumed to be a watch, before he turned his attention back to her.
“So where did you move from?” He asked, trying to make conversation as he walked to join her, leaning against the railing,
“California,” she answered, slightly muffled, swallowing down the food she was eating. “I got accepted into Brooklyn’s Academy of Fine Arts and practically begged my parents to let me attend.”
“Woah- You got into that school?! Congratulations, I heard they’re pretty hard to get into.” Miles replied. He was 1, astonished she got accepted into a school as prestigious as that, and 2, happy they shared an interest in art.
“Yeah, I’ve been applying since freshman year, but didn’t get accepted until now. All the spots must’ve been filled up.” y/n gleamed.
Miles paused, “What grade are you going into?”
“I’ll be a senior in the Fall.” the girl stated plainly.
“Oh cool, I’ll be a junior by then.” Miles quipped, not that she asked.
“What school do you go to?” y/n asked, finishing her food.
“Visions Academy.” He said, seemingly bothered.
“The school for gifted kids?” y/n questions, impressed. She always considered herself smart, but not smart enough to get into Visions .
“Yeah.. If I had the choice though, I’d rather go to my old school.” He sighed.
Y/n noticed his shift in behavior as they talked about Visions. “Why? It’s too easy for you?” she teased, looking over at him.
“Wha- No! Nothing like that!” He quipped, smiling again.
“Do they not have enough extracurriculars to your liking?” she continued, giggling.
“Yeah cuz that’s what that school needs.” Miles playfully rolled his eyes.
The two talked for what felt like hours, but was really only 30 minutes before Miles’ watch started beeping.
“Shoot..” he muttered under his breath as y/n talked.
She paused, noticing the slight dismay on his face, “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah!” He flicked his eyes back up at her as he quickly covered his watch with the sleeve of his jacket. Her eyebrows furrowed as she watched him do so. “I just..” he drifted off, trying to come up with an excuse; recalling the last time this happened. “..forgot to get my steps in!” he awkwardly laughed as he started to make his way towards the fire escape.
Y/n’s face fell completely from cheery and relaxed to confused and ticked off, giving him an are-you-serious face.
“It was nice talking to you!” He called back, making his way down.
Y/n stayed exactly how she was, not moving an inch, processing what just happened. She scoffed as he disappeared from her line of sight and grabbed her dirty plate to throw away as she headed back to the general rooftop.
She quickly found her parents chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Morales and a few other neighbors. Y/n tapped her mom’s shoulder, “Hey uh.. I think I’m gonna call it a night.” giving a tight lipped smile. “What? We just got here.” Her mom replied, confused.
“Is everything okay, sweetie?” Her dad chipped in.
It didn’t dawn on her until now that she had the group of neighbors her parents were talking to’s full attention.
Y/n nodded, “Yeah, I’m just kinda tired. It’s probably from moving all the boxes.” she added. “Thank you for having me, Mrs. and Mr. Morales.”
She gave a small bow and walked away before her parents could question her further, hearing Rio and Jefferson’s call back you’re welcome as she opened the rooftop door to leave.
“What? What is it?!” Miles groaned, rushing down the fire escape, flinging his clothes off to reveal the suit he was wearing underneath.
“Well you don’t seem too happy.. you on a date or somethin?” the holograph of Pavitr teased.
“No, but-”
“Kidding!” He cut him off “Like you’d be on a date.”
“ Ha ha . Very funny” He replied, sarcastically.
“No, but actually, there’s some sort of villain in Hobie’s dimension, we need backup.”
Miles sighed. “Alright, on my way.” he said before closing the holograph and putting his mask on.
“Seriously?! He just left like that?” Alani asked as all of the girls exchanged looks of disgust and confusion over the group facetime. Maybe it was wrong to leave the party early to call her friends from back home and complain about it, but y/n didn't care.
“For the hundredth time- yes!” y/n groaned, falling back on her mattress that was still on the floor.
“I’m sorry but that kinda gave me an ick..” Juliette added.
Y/n winced as she replayed the moment in her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone so serious about getting their steps in.” she scoffed, sitting up.
"Surely you can't believe he was telling the truth." Eliza doubted.
Alani shrugged, “Maybe he’s Spider-Man.”
The group of girls broke into laughter at her comment.
“Yeah right!”
“As if!”
“Are you insane?”
Y/n smiled as her friends continued to talk over what had happened earlier that night before a flash of light outside of her window caught her attention. She put her phone down momentarily as she cautiously scooted towards the window.
Across the road, on the rooftop of another building, was a bright gleaming light. Casting hues of orange to the area surrounding it. Y/n narrowed her eyes, examining it, before someone in a black and red suit jumped through it, causing it to disappear just moments after.
“What the hell..”