A Punks Battle Vest

Miles didn’t understand why he was so nervous, all he was doing was walking to his uncle's apartment. Just like he had hundreds of times before. But this wasn’t like before, of course it wasn’t, he was going to uncle Aaron’s apartment to talk about his boyfriend. Boyfriend. Boyfriend was never a term he fully grasped into his mind. He also never expected to have an interdenominational boyfriend. Yet here he was. Miles took a deep breath as he approached his uncle's apartment complex, he walked into the complex heading straight to his uncle's floor. He knocked on Aaron’s apartment door, that same distant feeling of dread pooling deep within his core.

Aaron waited in his apartment waiting for his nephew on his couch. He let himself get lost in his thoughts. He didn’t know how long he was in his own mind but he was brought back down when he heard a knock at his front door. He got up off his couch to see who was at the door,looking through the door's peephole . Aaron opened the door when he'd seen it was a very nervous looking Miles. Miles made eye contact with his uncle.

“Hey uncle Aaron.” Miles said, greeting the older man. Aaron could feel his nephew's nervousness. 

“Hey kid, come on in.” Aaron greeted him back, moving aside to let Miles into the apartment. Miles walked into the apartment mumbling a quiet thank you. Both of them walked over to the couch. Miles felt as his face grew hot, him and Hobie had made out on this couch before feeling only slightly guilty about it before he shook off the feeling and plopped himself down. Aaron saw as Miles paused, staring at his couch, he didn’t question it. He didn’t want to question it. Both of them sat in semi-awkward silence. Miles took a deep breath being the first one to speak.

“So… what do you wanna know? “Miles asked as he turned to face his uncle who was already looking at him. Again Miles didn’t understand why he was so nervous he was talking to his uncle Aaron. 

“How old is he?” Aaron asked, Miles continued to look at his uncle. Miles cleared his throat leaning back onto the back rest of the couch.

“He's 17.” Aaron nodded, bringing Miles some comfort. 

“How long have you two been dating?” 

“Few months, started dating two to three months after shit went down at HQ.” 

“S’ that where you two met?”

“Yea, he was one of the few on my side from the beginning.”

Aaron watched his nephew's face, his eyes seemingly filled with fondness.

“You like this boy, don’t you Miles?” Aaron said, making Miles' calm demeanor turn into a flustered mess.

“I don't just like him uncle Aaron, I..” the teen paused taking in a deep breath and letting out as a heavy sigh as he made eye contact with Aaron

“I love him.” Miles had said I love you to Hobie countless times before, but he’d never admitted it to anyone besides himself. He knew he loved Hobie but just saying it outloud made it so much more real. Aaron smiled letting a chuckle escape his mouth. Miles laughed with him

“Like it's crazy how much I just love him, Uncle Aaron.” Miles said he felt like he’d been lit on fire. Aaron just stared. Miles took that as a sign to continue talking

“He’s so cool, just the way he talks, his approach on life, is just ugh!” Miles said as he brought his knees up to his chest covering his burning face with his hands. Aaron chuckled, as he watched his nephew talk about his boyfriend.

“He changed his beliefs for me, Uncle Aaron. He always said he wasn’t one for labels since the very beginning, but when he confessed he told me that I made him want to throw it all away.” Miles continued talking, looking over to Aaron. 

“Isn’t it crazy?” Miles said

“Nah man, not at all.” 

“No uncle Aaron you’re supposed to tell me that it's insane! Absolutely batshit fucking crazy! Me being in love with a guy. A guy from another dimension let me add that in!.” Miles said as he moved to shove his uncle. Aaron only laughed

“Is that what you want to hear?” Aaron asked, Miles paused and shook his head.

“Not at all. Just saying it outloud makes it so much more real.” Miles admitted. Both sat in silence before  Aaron spoke.

“You sure you my nephew man? Where's that awkward little kid I taught the shoulder touch to?” Aaron said. Making Miles laugh.

“Oh my god, that reminds me of the most embarrassing thing I did when I first realized I liked him,” Miles said, throwing his head back onto the backrest. Aaron perked up and nudged Miles.

“What did you do?” 

“Okay so,” Miles paused as he burst into a fit of giggles. 

“Oh god this is so embarrassing, actually it’s what led to our first kiss.” Miles said as he calmed himself down

“Spit it out.”

“Okay! okay. It was after he and I had hung out with one of our other friends, and we were winding down from hanging out and we were sitting on the roof of some random building just talking, and I had the great idea of trying to do the shoulder touch. Which by the way, uncle Aaron, it's a terrible idea. So i did it right and it was so embarrassing like who possessed me and told me it was a good idea. Lucky for me though he made the first real move.” Miles said as he ended his little story.

“Hey don’t ever shit on the shoulder touch, it’s still what technically led to your relationship!” Aaron said. Miles laughed again, nodding. 

“I hate to admit it but it’s the truth.” Miles said,

“I love him so much uncle Aaron I think I'm going to explode.” Aaron smiled at his nephew.

Both of them sat in silence for a few minutes before Miles spoke.

“I need to tell my mom and dad.” Miles said. Aaron nodded.

“I agree, you’ve been dating him for a while. I think it’s time you do.”  He said, Miles paused looking over at Aaron.

“I’m kinda scared. What if they don’t like Hobie? I mean I don’t think mami would care but I don’t know what my dad would think.” Miles said. Aaron gave Miles a soft look.

“I wish I could tell you that he’d like him Miles, but I don't know. What I do know is that your dad loves you Miles.” and so does he but both of them knew that could be left unsaid. Miles nodded at his uncle's words.

“Thanks uncle Aaron.”Miles said, bumping his shoulder against his uncles.

“Anytime kid.”

Miles felt uneasy. Today was the day he’d tell his parents he was dating someone, not just anyone but Hobie. Unfortunately for him. Hobie was off on a mission, so he couldn’t be here. He watched nervously from the dining table as his mom finished making dinner, his dad sitting at the head of the table reading the newspaper. He hadn’t felt this nervous since he’d come out to them as bisexual, luckily they didn’t care and were both supportive in their own way.

“Miles, mi vida, help set the table.” Rio said, breaking the silence that engulfed the whole house.

“Okay mami.” Miles said as he got up to grab cups and plates. As Miles was grabbing the silverware. He paused, taking a deep breath before he walked to the table setting a plate and cup  for each of them. His mom served a portion on each plate before sitting down. His dad gave his mom a quick thank you, his mom giving her dad a warm smile in return. Miles watched as his parents began eating, he sat still staring down at his lap. Rio saw that Miles hadn’t started eating.

“Miles que-” Rio began to speak before she was cut off by Miles.

“I have a boyfriend.” Miles quickly blurted out. Jefferson’s fork clinked against his plate. Silence once again engulfed the house.

“What?” Miles felt his heart drop. Had he fucked up? Was his dad mad? Abort, abort ,abort! He thought to himself, but he didn’t move. Too scared that if he did his whole world would come crashing down. He felt like he was choking. He refused to look up from his lap, clenching and unclenching his fists leaving crescent moon shaped marks into his palms. His hands were shaking. He shouldn’t have said anything. Why did he say anything? Oh god what if-

“Miles!” His head shot up but his eyes quickly darted  back down to his lap. When did he move his chair? He thought to himself. He felt as two warm hands cupped his face. 

“Miles, amor breathe.” He looked up only to make eye contact with his mom, and his dad standing behind her with a concerned look on his face. When had they gotten up? Miles then realized that he was panicking, taking in quick shallow breaths. He saw his mom move her mouth, but he couldn’t hear her speak anymore, all he heard was ringing. He saw as his moms face began to grow more panicked. Breathe Miles told himself internally. Just fucking breathe. Miles heard his own voice echo though out his head, but it had finally clicked. Suddenly he gasped in a deep breath, startling both of his parents. Holy shit that hurt.

“Miles. Miles come on, breathe mi amor.” Rio said, moving her hands from his face as she placed his hands on her stomach. 

“Come on, follow my lead, vamos Miles.” Miles felt as his hand shook against his moms stomach. Even though it hurt him to breathe properly he tried his best to breathe at the same time as his mom.

“That's it Miles. Keep going, you got this baby. In and out.” Rio’s words echoed within his skull, but they worked. Eventually Miles began breathing on his own. His hands still shook and he felt like his eyes felt like they were vibrating in their sockets and his whole body felt fuzzy.

“I’m sorry.” He said as he looked up at his parents who had remained in front of him. Rio shook her head moving her hands to cup his face, wiping away tears he had no idea were there.

“Don’t be sorry Miles.” Rio said Jefferson moved closer, gently placing his hand on his wife's shoulder. Rio understood his intention so she moved away from her son to let her husband talk to him. Miles froze once again. Jefferson saw and was quick to take Miles’ hands in his.

“No, no Miles it’s okay i promise.” Jefferson said, hoping that his words would be enough to keep Miles from spiraling all over again. Miles squeezed his dads hands, slowly the teen looked up to make eye contact with his dad.

“Miles.” Jefferson said before he stopped. He didn’t know what to say, he felt like Miles’ panic was his fault. 

“Was what you said true?” He asked. Miles felt a knot forming in his throat, he was hesitant to  answer before he took in a shaky breath and nodded. Jefferson felt even worse, but he couldn’t let that show. So he took in a deep breath and hugged Miles. Miles flinched before he’d realized his dad was hugging him, quickly Miles wrapped his arms tightly around his dad, as if it was all just an illusion, that he’d wake up to the realization that both of his parents didn’t actually support him.

“Miles it's okay.” Jefferson said Miles felt relief flush through his body at his dads words. He finally let his guard down and let his body limp against his dad. Rio walked up to her two boys running her hands through Miles’ hair. Jefferson moved enough so that both himself and his wife were in Miles’ line of sight. 

“Miles, we don't care that you have a boyfriend.” His mom said his dad nodded, approving his moms words. Another wave of relief washed over him. 

“We knew it was going to happen. We love you Miles.” Rio spoke again, taking one of his hands in both of hers, giving it a slight squeeze. Miles sat there for a few seconds before he moved to embrace both of his parents.

“Thank you.” Miles felt both of his parents wrap their arms around him. They stayed like that before he let go, both of his parents going back to their seats to resume their meals. The air still felt a bit awkward but at the same time so much lighter. They all took a bite of their food before Rio spoke.

“So what's his name?” She asked as she looked at Miles with a smile on her face. Miles smiled back sniffling before he spoke.

“His name’s Hobie.” He said as he slowly took another bite of his food.

“Huh for some reason I thought it’d be that friend of yours Ganke.” Jefferson said, making Miles shoot his head up to look at his dad.

“You thought it was Ganke?!” Miles semi- shouted. His mom erupted into a fit of giggles, Miles and Jefferson not too far behind as they too started laughing. Miles smiled as his parents continued to laugh. Now to get Hobie to meet his parents.