Chapter 14
MILES
It had started like any other Thursday.
His Pop made breakfast. His Dad snuck extra cups of coffee behind his Pop’s back. Happy drove him to school. He went to basketball practice after.
He had just been ungrounded earlier that week – and took the opportunity to hang out with his friends after practice. He still wasn’t allowed to drive, but Zack was able to borrow his brother’s beat up old sedan.
Bored after school, he suggested the mall but first that they should go to 7-11 to grab some slurpees. As the four teens made their way inside, they passed by two other kids from their school and offered them a nod. Miles could feel something was off in the air, but chose to ignore it as he walked inside and decided which candy bar he’d get.
That’s when they heard and saw the police cars suddenly arrive in the parking lot. They raised their guns at the teens outside – who also happen to be black teens – and started shouting at them to get on the ground.
Miles felt frozen in place before his feet suddenly started moving on their own accord.
This was his chance to prove himself, prove he could be a hero.
He suddenly found himself outside, a fire deep inside of him burning with the need to do what was right. He opened his mouth to defend the freshman…and that’s when he found a gun in his face.
From the harsh reality of the media – he suddenly expected a pulled trigger. He did not expect to instead be pistol whipped.
He woke up later alone in a cell, pain radiating from his right eye. He didn’t see the two freshman, which he didn’t necessarily count as a good sign. No idea where his friends are either, for that matter. The teen moved slowly to sit up, grimacing as he gingerly touched the swollen part of his face.
The sound of footsteps startled him as two policemen approached the teen.
“Up Mr. Stark,” one of them said as they opened the metal door, “your fathers are here to bail you out.”
Fuck…
He hadn’t even considered how his dads would react to this! Honestly it just all happened so fast…he pushed his thoughts aside to stand up and follow the men out.
He heard them before he saw them. His Pop was using his Captain America voice to tell the entire station the legal ramifications while his Dad was swearing…in Italian.
Shit he only did that when he was really, really mad.
And when the two men turned to see the state of their youngest child’s face – they just about went full nuclear.
Miles head was still hurting, so even now things were a little fuzzy. He recognized his Pop’s hands grabbing his face and gently poking around his eye. He definitely heard his Dad start swearing in a mixture of Italian and Mandarin. He knows there was more yelling and protective arms around him and escorting him to a car and all the way home.
But all of that was kind of a blur too.
He did register something about his sister helping his brother babysit at his house, and something along the lines of the two siblings giving him ‘a talk’ when they see him again.
But one thing he could tell – his Dad was furious with him. Which didn’t make any sense. The man was a retired superhero, he literally saved billions of lives over decades of work.
As Miles’ full consciousness came back to him, he wanted to articulate his feelings to the man.
But as his Pop took his arm and explained he was taking him to medical to see Uncle Bruce – his Dad said something about going to his lab and started to leave them.
“Wait, what?” Miles asked speaking up for the first time. “Dad are you serious?”
“Am I serious about you losing your life? You’re damn fucking right I am.”
“Tony, not now – Miles, son we need your Uncle Bruce to take a look at that…” his Pop tried as he gently grabbed Miles’ arm again.
“I just did the right thing, you were a superhero for forty years!” he exclaimed in disbelief as he yanked his arm away from the blonde. A dark shadow fell over his already angry father at that.
“That...is not the same thing,” the man growled furiously as Miles watched his Pop move to stand in front the teen.
“Tony,” the blonde said evenly and gave the man a look Miles couldn’t see – but had the other brunette concede and grumble before stalking to his lab. The teen felt angry tears begin to spill down his cheeks, heart burning with pain and confusion.
The next thing he knew, he was brought into his Pop’s solid embrace. He easily found himself returning the hug, sighing when it eased away a little of the guilt he felt.
After a moment, they walked silently to the elevator all the way to his Uncle Bruce’s lab. It was a simple black eye, no signs of a concussion according to his uncle. He held the ice pack to his face as he and his Pop made their way back to their floor.
“Pop?” he asked, breaking the silence as he followed the man into the living room. Miles remained standing as his Pop took a seat on the couch, offering a smile back to his youngest.
“Yeah bud?”
“Is…” he paused, not knowing if he wanted the answer to his question. “Is Dad mad at me?” He thinks he got his answer when the smile disappeared from his father’s face.
“No honey, he’s not mad at you.”
“Just disappointed, then?” Miles answered, looking away from his father.
“Hey, look at me kiddo,” his Pop said, continuing when Miles looked back at him with his good eye. “Your Dad is incredibly proud of you. Just like I am.”
“Sure seemed proud when he stomped away to his lab…” Miles mumbled as he felt his Pop grab his hand to bring him closer.
“I promise you son, he is proud. It’s just…another emotion is taking over his brain right now.”
“…anger?” Miles snapped, closing his eyes in immediate regret. His Pops didn’t seem to take it personally, smiling at him when he opened his eye back up.
“Fear,” the blonde admitted sadly. Miles looked back at him skeptically, which prompted the father to stand up and pull the teen fully into his embrace again. “We’ll talk more tomorrow, why don’t you go wash up and I’ll fix you something to eat?”
“I think I’ll just shower and go to bed,” he mumbled back, staying in his father’s arms for another couple of seconds before eventually pulling away.
“I love you, Miles,” the blonde said as he leaned forward to kiss the teen’s forehead – which was easy, especially since they were almost the same height now.
“Love you too, Pops,” Miles said with a smile, feeling officially exhausted from the day as he turned to go to his room.
And hopefully sleep this day away.