Was looking for the One with the Glass Slipper, Turns out she was standing in the rain with her Umbrella
Hiiiiiii~ I know it's been forever since I last posted. I'm still alive and well. Mental has been very up and down. I'm looking to work through it as best I can. This isn't really Yandere!Miles (I'm still working on part 4, believe it or not). This is more sweet, how I imagine Miles and Panthera officially getting together. I even have a fic where Miles first notices Panthera. That's for another time though.
I hope you guys (whoever is still alive in this fandom at least) enjoy this story!
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Miles Gonzalo Morales has been the Prowler for the past three years. He's experienced quite a few close calls over the years, which comes with the territory. Most of the time, he's able to reach out to his Uncle Aaron to get him after a particularly rough job and patched up.
Until one night, he forgot to charge his phone. Dead phone, injured, and caught in what felt like a tempest, Miles was alone... ...until his Cinderella finds him on that stormy night, shielding him from the rain with her umbrella.
*Inspired by the Umbrella (Cinderella) Remix by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z and Chris Brown
Miles Morales has been the Prowler for three years now. If you asked him what he wanted to be when he was 14, a vigilante would be the last thing to come to mind.
But life could give less of a damn about what he wanted to be. He's gotta make do with the cards he was dealt, no matter how shitty of a hand he had.
Having hisย hermano gemelo'sย healing abilities would make his job just a little bit easier. The injuries he gets whenever he's on the job are always a bitch to deal with.
But he supposed it wasn't all bad... it led him into the care of his long-time crush, turned girlfriend, Panthera Stevens.
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It wasn't uncommon for Miles to get injured on the job. The bastards he's paid to steal from, or, if the client was looking for a more permanent solution, kill, only knew him as the Prowler. A thorn in their side that they can't get rid of. An uncontrollable variable in their plans.
An enemy.
Not a 17-year-old boy with a worried Hispanic mother at home who would likely finish what they started if she saw how bad his injuries were.
This is why on nights when he's "working," he'll tell hisย mamรกย that he was sleeping over at Uncle Aaron's apartment. He knew hisย tรญoย would cover for him because if not, hisย mamรกย would string up the older man by his ankles.
However, this particular night was especially bad. The mission was to get in, steal a few hundred G's, and get out.
Short, sweet, and to the point.
If only it had played out that way.
Someone wasn't so sleepy on the job and spotted him as he was ready to leave. So the boy had to fight his way out. Which would normally be simple... if there weren't five dudes twice his size trying to bear down on him with guns and knives. One of them wanted to be special by wielding a machete as his choice of weapon.
The vigilante was an inch away from losing some of his hair and three more inches from losing his head.
Miles got out with the money and got away only by the skin of his teeth. Now, he was in a random dark alley, and his injuries (to what extent, he's not 100% sure yet) were screaming bloody murder since the adrenaline had faded just a few minutes prior. He felt like his skull was about to split open, which stole his ability to focus on anything other than the throbbing sensation going off in his temples.
Just another day on the job.
The Afro-Latino leaned against the wall, glaring up at the sky.
"Buen Dios, ยฟpueden las cosas empeorar?" he muttered under his breath. At that moment, he felt something hit his mask. Then it happened again. And again. And again...
Until the heavens decided to open the floodgates.
'I shouldn't have asked...'
Miles knew he needed to get to his uncle's apartment, but could barely hold himself up. The boy grunted, feeling around for his phone to call his uncle. He glared at his screen when the dead battery signal blinked back at him. Miles was seconds away from punching the wall behind him when he noticed something.
It stopped raining.
"Wha..." Miles looked up, his eyes wide beneath his mask, to find an umbrella canopy over his head.
"You looked like you could use a hand there..." The boy let in a sharp inhale.
Heย knewย that voice.
How could he not? He always found himself secretly yearning to hear that voice sing in his music class. Or hear that voice in his dreams, whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
Miles looked down to meet the eyes of his long-time (for him, a few months is a long time considering how he hasn't been remotely interested in anyone ever since his father died) love interest, Panthera Stevens.
The boy couldn't decide whether to thank or curse the universe for his luck.
"I'm fine," he grumbled, the voice distorter making his voice come off far more gravely. Panthera tilted her head to the side, which reminded Miles of a curious kitten.
'Dulce bebรฉ Jesรบs, ella es tan malditamente linda...'
"You're a terrible liar," she stated bluntly. She would've seen his arched brow if Miles hadn't had his Prowler mask on.
"And you're either incredibly bold or stupid. Youย knowย who I am," he retorted, standing up straighter despite his back protesting against it. Everyone in Brooklyn knew who the Prowler was. One of the boogeymen that haunted the streets of the crime-riddled city with his neon purple glow. People who value their lives would think twice if they noticed his shadow or heard his claws' ominousย 'whirr'ย nearby.
Yet, his crush was standing less than a foot away, holding an umbrella to prevent him from resembling a drenched cat, unfortunate enough to be caught in the rain.
"I'm failing to see how me knowing who you are is an issue, Prowler," she said. Miles blinked at her.
"Do you have a death wish or something," he huffed, narrowing his eyes. The girl gave him a small smile.
"Even if I did, it's a wish that you seem unwilling to grant. Even in the state you're in now, you could've easily wrapped that lovely clawed hand around my neck and come up with a better threat to get me to go away. But yet you're still talking to me," she breezily said. Miles mentally cursed the girl's intellect.
'Fuck, she's right. If I wanted her to go away, I would've already done so. I'm so screwed...'
"C'mon, tough guy. My place is right up the block, and my dad is away for a while. Let me patch you up and give you a hot meal. My treat," she coaxed. Miles stared at her for a bit before voicing his final question,
"Why are you helping me?" The girl chuckled.
"It's not every day you get to help the city's anti-hero. Plus... I admire you to a degree. You remind me of someone I know. Now c'mon, before you and I both catch a cold."
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It took a while to reach the girl's apartment complex. Miles, begrudgingly, had to lean on Panthera for support, seeing how he could easily walk into a pole thanks to his pounding head. It was embarrassing. One of the city's nightmares incarnates is being supported by a 5'5 innocent-looking girl.
But he wouldn't deny how nice it felt to have Panthera's arm wrapped around his waist, holding him closer to her and giving him some of her warmth.
After ten minutes of trekking through the rain, the pair finally reached the girl's apartment door. It only worsened a few minutes after they stepped inside the lobby (which was luckily empty). Miles let out a sigh of relief as they made it past the front door and into the warm apartment.
The boy kicked off his shoes and socks, placing them by the front door, despite his ribs and back not approving of his insistence on bending over to do so.
"My, my. Who would've thought the terrifying Prowler had such respect for one's home," Panthera teased. She got a digital glare for her comment. She laughed.
"Alright, alright. I'll behave for now." Miles tried his best not to blush as Panthera rested a hand on his chest. He hoped his heart wasn't pounding as fast as he thought it was under her palm.
"Stay right here. I'm gonna get changed, okay?" With a mindless nod, he watched as she retreated into one of the rooms. Miles let out a shaky sigh.
So, he was in his crush's home, which is God knows where, while injured, and it was downpouring outside, meaning he couldn't leave immediately.
As the Prowler out of all things!
Besides his uncle, no one knew his real identity; it was to protect himself and those he cared about.
Miles bit his lip.
One of the things that made the boy nervous was the girl in the next room over, finding out who he was. The boy has collected a few bodies over the years, and it's been whispered throughout the city. He was dangerous, not only to others but to himself and his loved ones.
'Would that push Panthera away if she knew?'
"Good to see that you listen to instructions." Miles snapped out his thoughts only for his mind to short-circuit for the second time that night.
The girl switched out of her wet oversized hoodie and baggy cargo shorts into a white crop tube top and light blue sleep-shorts pajama set. The shorts had cute panda designs and a sleepy panda in the middle of her top. Strong shoulders and arms, a full and soft chest, a slightly puggy belly, the slight curve of her hips, strong thighs with just enough fat to soften their appearance...
There was much more skin than Miles was used to seeing from her, but he couldn't find himself complaining.
"I..." Panthera studied the vigilante with curious eyes. Of course, she's heard rumors about the Prowler, even seeing his eerie purple glow lighting up the night from her window or on nighttime walks in the city on some of her sleepless nights. But for some reason, the idea of him never scared her.
She was surprised to see him in the state he was in. Her Baba always said that she had a big heart. Granted, she wouldn't do this for just anyone. Other than him being hurt and seemingly unable to get himself somewhere safe on his own, something familiar tugged on her heart.
A feeling that she often experiences whenever she catches sight of an Afro-Latino with his signature braids.
She mentally shook her head and decided to break the silence.
"Cat got your tongue, Purr-wler?" That seemed to snap the guy out of his stupor. The distorted voice growled at her.
"You must think you're funny, huh?" Panthera grinned.
"My Baba sure thinks so. Now that I have your attention, follow me. I still need to take a look at you," she chirped. She didn't wait for the vigilante to respond, walking up to him and wrapping her arm around his waist.
'I don't think I'll get used to that...'ย he helplessly thought as he felt his heart kickstart in his chest. Well, correction: He believes that heย couldย get used to her touch, but he knows heย shouldn't.
He limped alongside her into one of the rooms. That turned out to be her bedroom.
Before he could take in his surroundings, she said something that nearly made him choke on his own spit.
"Strip." He stared at her.
"Excuse me," he asked, unable to keep the shock out of his voice. Panthera rose a brow.
"I need to see what kind of injuries you have, and your clothes are in the way. Plus, you're not sitting on my bed with wet clothes. So strip," she said as she searched her drawers for some clothes and a first aid kit before setting them on her bed.
'Ella estรก tratando de matarme...'
The girl turned to her phone, tapping away before some music started to play in the background somewhere. Miles forced himself to breathe before removing his gauntlet and taking off his jacket and shirt. He didn't look at Panthera as his pants fell, leaving him in his boxers and mask.
Panthera took hold of his stuff before putting his wet clothes in a hamper and his gauntlet on her dresser. She held his hand, tugging him to her bed. He sat down willingly as she stood between his legs.
"You're so short," he mumbled aloud as the girl took a look at him. He didn't mean to say that, but it happened anyway. It must be the migraine trying to kill him. Either way, he got a cute glare for his little comment.
"Trust me, I know. I plan on taking that up with God when I die," she grumbled. Miles couldn't stop the chuckle from escaping him. Despite Panthera's initial annoyance, a small smile tugged on her lips.
"I'm Panthera, by the way," she said as she got to work, disinfecting the cuts on his torso. Miles let out a small flinch but stayed relatively still as a soft noise of confusion escaped his throat.
"I figured it would be best for you to know the name of the girl who decided to help you. Who knows what you were calling me in your head," she mused aloud, focused on her task. Miles nodded, unwilling to say he already knew who she was. He didn't need that line of questioning right now.
There was a comfortable silence between the two. Panthera let the clockwork motion of disinfecting, applying ointment, and bandaging where needed take over. She had to occasionally patch up her dad whenever he came home from a long day at his "night job," so she was confident that the vigilante would be fine in her care. Miles was perfectly content with watching the pretty dark-skinned girl tend to cuts and bruises on his body. Sometimes, her fingers would brush against a particular tender spot, causing him to wince. The girl would whisper a soft apology, tenderly treating the wound.
The boy felt like he was in heaven. Soon, she asked him to lie on his stomach so she could tend to his back. A low whisper escaped her lips.
"Damn. Whoever you were fighting gotcha good," she mumbled, lightly tracing the long slash that took up the boy's back. It looked deeper than most of the cuts that she found, but nothing she couldn't handle.
"You have no idea,ย gatita," he groaned. He heard a soft hum before the girl got to work again. He hissed loudly when he felt the burn of the alcohol. He heard her click her tongue in disapproval.
"Relax, tensing is only going to make it worse," she said, trying to apply the alcohol wipe as gently as she could. The muscles beneath her hand refused to loosen.
"Seriously," she huffed. The vigilante growled at her.
"It fucking hurts! I can't help it," he hissed through his teeth. Panthera raised a brow as a pretty... ballsy idea came to mind.
Her fingers skirted up to Miles' neck, fingernails lightly ghosting his skin. A shiver ran down the boy's body.
"What are you- oh..." Miles' question died on the tip of his tongue as he felt a pair of soft lips brush against the shell of his ear.
"Easy..." Miles felt his body lax just by the word alone. He almost didn't notice the sting of the alcohol on his wound.
Almost.
Another soft hiss whistled through his teeth as the burn of the alcohol registered in his mind. Panthera nuzzled the back of his neck, lips tickling the spot where his pulse was.
"Your heart is beating pretty fast... any reason as to why," she whispered against his skin. Miles tried to swallow around the lump that formed in his throat.
"I..." The hand that wasn't treating the cut on his back made its way up to the back of his head, massaging the scalp near his left braid. Miles let out a small groan, slumping against her sheets.
"Like that," she asked, her voice coming out as a soft caress to his eardrums. He nodded, leaning into her touch. Panthera let out a husky chuckle as she continued her little "distraction." When she was sure the large cut wouldn't catch an infection, she pulled away. Miles almost let out a whine.
"Wha..." he sounded like he was waking up from a nap. Panthera couldn't help but find it cute.
"I'm almost done torturing you. Though I'm gonna have to stitch you up. Do you have a fear of needles or anything," she asked as she prepared a needle and thread. The boy still felt dazed as he answered.
"Nah... my uncle had stitched me up before... though he kinda does a shitty job." Panthera let out a secret smile at that before getting to work. The vigilante proved to be better at handling stitches than the alcohol wipes, letting out an occasional twitch at the pinprick of the needle but staying mostly relaxed.
"And... done," she stated, proud of her handiwork. The boy carefully pushed himself up and turned to face the girl.
"Thanks," he mumbled. He finally came to when she was halfway done with his stitches. His uncle wasย neverย gonna hear the details of tonight. His crush played him like a fiddle, and he melted into a puddle just by her teasing him.
'Dios mรญo, ยฟquรฉ sigue?'
"Of course, now take off your helmet. I need to make sure you don't have a concussion or facial injuries." Panthera could see the digital eyes widen at her and rolled her eyes. She reached up to see if she could pull it off or deactivate it. Miles grabbed her by the wrists to prevent her from doing so. He was mildly surprised at the girl's strength as she fought against his hold.
"Panthera, relax. I think I'm good-"
"'I think I'm good,' my ass. You almost ran into a pole when we were trying to get here-"
"It was dark! I couldn't see-"
"It was aย light pole-"
"Just stop!" The girl paused at that. Miles looked away from her.
"You can't know who I am, Panthera. It'll only put you in danger-" Miles was about to go on a whole tangent on how dangerous his lifestyle was and what that could mean for her when Panthera dropped a bombshell.
"I already know who you are." Panthera watched as a glowing purple mask snapped in her direction.
"No. You don't," he said stiffly. A challenging brow was raised at him.
"I don't know what,ย Miles?"ย She could only imagine the shocked expression on the boy had on his face.
"How..." Panthera crossed her arms.
"You really shouldn't let an innocent face like mine fool you. My dad taught me to be vigilant and aware of my surroundings. People included. You may have something to distort your voice, but you let out a Spanish word. One I recognize, seeing how you call me that whenever you wanna tease me. Thanks to all those dance assignments and your tendency to take cracks at my height, I also recognize your build and height. Last but not least, your signature braids. You might be able to get by every other person in Brooklyn, but not me, Morales."
'I should really stop asking God, "What's next?" because he's finding clear amusement in my predicaments...'
The pair settled in a tense silence before Miles let out a laugh.
"Well, aren't you going to do it?" Panthera's brow furrowed in confusion at the boy's question.
"I'm not following..." Digital white eyes meet dark brown ones.
"Call the cops? Kick me out? Expose me to my enemies for a dime? Take your pick," he all but yelled. He felt an emotion crawling through his veins, long forgotten but not unfamiliar.
Fear.
Panthera can easily out him to any of his enemies. They could find out where he lives. They could find where his uncle lived. Where his mom worked-
She could easily rip away what's left of life with just a few simple words.
Miles watched the girl's full lips spread into a smile. However, there was nothing malicious or cold about it.
"I could ask you the same thing..." Now it was Miles' turn to be confused.
"What are you talking about," he asked slowly. Panthera stepped closer. He watched her take hold of his hands and, to his surprise, place them around her neck.
He could feel her pulse thunder against his palm. Her neck seemed so small under his grasp that he could feel his fingers' slight overlap.
"You could've immediately threatened me into silence... Or, if you need a more permanent solution, I know you don't need that claw to do the job. You could easily choke me to death or snap my neck and be done with it. Hide my cold, dead body somewhere and have it chalked up to an unfortunate girl who fell victim to this crime-ridden city. So... I ask you, Miles Morales... aren't you going to do it?" Her voice was quiet, as if she didn't want anyone else to hear this. Those slender fingers glided over the back of his hands to wrap around his wrists. Her gaze was unwavering as she waited for the boy's answer.
An answer, it seemed, she already knew.
She watched as the mask retracted to reveal the face of the boy she had feelings for since their freshman year. His normally cold eyes held a fire in them, threatening to consume her in the flames. She could feel those hands leave her neck in favor of cradling her face. The boy lowered his head, their lips just an inch apart.
"You know why I could never do such a thing,ย gatita," he whispered. Panthera's eyes fluttered at the sensation of his breath on her lips. She stepped closer, pressing against the taller boy.
"I wanna hear you say it," she said quietly. The air took on a familiar charged tension. Tension had existed since Miles finally noticed the quiet girl on the first day of their music class. That tension grew each time they were alone together. They danced on the fine line between classmates who could consider each other as friends and becoming something more.
Miles always feared his budding feelings toward the girl before him. He was already worried about his mother and uncle's safety. A relationship would be a distraction to his work. Plus, he would have to hide his double life from the person he was dating.
He may have turned into a cold-hearted bastard, but he wasn't heartless.
Being alone was just easier...
Yet, Panthera looked at him with those espresso-colored eyes, silently saying that she would still accept and want him, even knowing all this. All he had to do was say the word, and she would be his.
He'll be hers.
"My heart would never let me do such a thing, for you're part of it. If I hurt you, then I'll be hurting myself..." Panthera got her toes, brushing her lips against Miles's.
"Neither can I. I promise to do everything I can to keep you safe. I put that on everything..." Those soft-spoken words sealed it for Miles.
He kissed her.
It was their first kiss.
And it was everything either of them could've hoped for.
The liplock was slow but filled with an overflow of passion, the tension that had built up from the past few months finally finding its release. Neither seemed willing to go faster than the set pace, but both were motivated to explore the depths of their feelings through the kiss. They would tease each other- a small nip here on the bottom lip, a quick touch of tongues there. They were testing each other's resolve. Their hands seemed to agree that, despite being pressed against each other, they weren't close enough.
Miles's hands found the warm skin of Panthera's exposed midriff while Panthera's found his shoulders. The boy squeezed down on her small waist, clearly enjoying the softness of her body. Panthera couldn't help but shiver at the sensation, her neat nails slightly digging into his shoulders. A low sound escaped the boy's throat, sounding like something similar to a growl.
Before Panthera could fully appreciate the sound, she found herself pinned against the wall, Miles' hands squeezing her thighs with her legs wrapped around his waist. The pair broke the kiss, staring into each other's eyes as they caught their breath.
"Eres mรญa, Hermosa. Tienes todo de mรญ, te lo prometo," Miles whispered, pressing a gentle kiss on her lips. The girl blushed.
"Inglรฉs,ย por favor," she whined. Miles let out a laugh, squeezing Panthera closer.
"Don't worry,ย gatita. I'll be sure to teach you my language," he teased, pecking her pouting lips.
'God, I don't think I'll be able to leave her lips alone after this. Is that blackberries I taste? Damn...'
"That's not what I asked, and you know it," she retorted, bringing Miles out of his lovesick stupor. He gave a gentle smile.
"You're mine, beautiful. You have all of me, I promise you..." If Panthera felt like her face was hot before, it must be on fire now.
"You have all of me, too," she said softly, never once looking away from those beautiful, tawny brown eyes. Miles let out a content hum at her quiet confession, warmth blossoming in his chest. Panthera cupped his face to place one final kiss on his lips before insisting she be let down. The girl didn't miss the slight pout on the boy's face, stifling a giggle.
"C'mon, Miles, let me finish tending to your wounds. I did promise to feed you as well. Let me take care of you," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. Miles chuckled.
Who was he to tell her no?
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Miles couldn't remember the last time he felt like the world's pressures weren't on his shoulders, where there was just the warmth and comfort of a domestic life wrapping its arms around him.
Probably when his twin invited him to have dinner with his family.
If he could recall correctly, that was before the start of the school year, before he met Panthera.
Yet there he was. He was dressed in one of her plain, oversized (on her, anyway) black shirts and black lounge shorts that smelled like lavender and warm vanilla. Sitting at the small table in the kitchen, he watched Panthera cook him a meal as she sang and danced to her playlist through her portable speaker. Panthera was like the music she listened to: diverse and complex, filled with surprises while being predictable.
If it weren't for the fact that they were paired for different music assignments, Miles wouldn't have believed that this quiet girl who prefers hoodies and baggy cargo shorts that look like they were bought from the men's section could move and sing the way she does.
It was beautiful to witness, and he knew that Panthera would only act like this with people she was comfortable with.
She was comfortable with him.
He sighed dreamily.
'I can get used to this...'ย he thought. Panthera glanced over her shoulder to find the Afro-Latino staring at her dazedly. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks.
"Food should be ready in a few minutes," she said to fill the silence, leaving the stove to start washing some dishes. Miles let out a hum.
Panthera focused on the dishes in the sink, softly humming along to one of her favorite songs that started to play.
"Interesting that you know this version. It's rare to know someone who likes the remix to this song." Panthera chuckled, pleased that Miles caught that small detail at the beginning of the song.
"The regular version is cool, but I find this version more romantic," she said. She softly sang along to the lyrics, swaying a little.
"...Baby, cause in the dark,
You can't see shiny cars...
And that's when you'll need me there,
With you, I'll always share...
Because!
When the sun shines, we'll shine together,
Told you I'll be here forever...
Said I'll always be a friend,
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out till the end...
Now that it's raining more than ever,
Know that we'll still have each other...
You can stand under my umbrella,
You can stand under my umbrella ella ella eh eh eh..."
Miles smiled as he listened to her, thoughts going through the night's events that led them to this moment. It was funny how much the song mirrored everything that happened.
How it all started with them being under her umbrella.
Miles silently crept up on the girl before wrapping his arms around her bare waist. The girl didn't flinch; instead, she leaned against his chest.
"You're becoming a dream to me,
Fairytale fantasy...
Nothing can ever compare,
An image to my memory...
Girl, I'm asking, could you be my queen?"
Panthera couldn't fight the wide grin on her face as she heard the boy sing. Once the last dish was rinsed off, he swiftly turned her around to face him. Panthera's gasp turned into a fit of giggles as Miles hoisted her up on the countertop, standing in between her legs with his hands resting on her hips.
"When the sun shines, we'll shine together,
You know I'll be here forever...
Although it's a lot of rain outside...
Girl, it's getting late,
Can I stay the night?
But I can dip out anytime, whenever,
I can call a car, I ain't tryna stress ya...
I'm looking for the one with the glass slipper
Baby girl, you can be my Cinderella ella ella eh eh eh..."
The girl knew the remix version by heart and noticed the slight variation Miles did there. It made her blush. Whether Miles knew it or not, Panthera was reflecting on how the song applies to both of them as well.
She didn't have to notice him or even take him to her home. She knew she could have him reach out to whoever after she patched him up. She didn't have to be in this moment if this was just a simple act of kindness (even with the possible threat to her life).
But she did... and couldn't be more grateful.
"You can run into my arms
It's okay, don't be alarmed
Come into me
There's no distance in between our love
So go on and say my name some more
I'll be all you need and moreย (ah.. ready?)
Because!"
The pair fell into the familiar pattern of singing together, their voices meshing into a symphony they never tire of. It's what brought them together. It's how they grew to learn from one another. It's how they're able to express everything they have yet to say.
And with this particular song, they knew one thing for sure.
Panthera is Miles's Cinderella, and he can trust that she'll be there to shield him from the rain with her Umbrella.
"You can be my Cinderella ella ella eh eh eh
Under my umbrella ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh..."
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After a late dinner (Panthera made Doro Wat, an Ethiopian chicken stew), Miles was minutes away from going into a food coma. Panthera coaxed him into lying in her bed as she checked on his clothes, which she made sure to wash before starting dinner. Satisfied to see the dirt and blood stains were gone, she threw them in the dryer. She found the boy's dead phone in one of his pockets before chuckling.
The universe was really kicking his ass before she found him, so it seemed. She trekked back to her room, plugging the device into one of her spare chargers on her nightstand. She let out a yawn, stretching her arms overhead as her crop top rose to show more of her stomach.
"Quit teasing me, and come to bed already." The girl jumped, turning to find Miles' sleepy gaze trained on her.
"I thought you would've been asleep by now. I was gonna take the couch," she mumbled softly as she approached the bed. She watched as the boy scrunched his face at her.
"Like hell you are. It's either you sleep with me, or I take the couch. Myย mamรกย raised me to be a gentleman. I'm not gonna kick you out of your own bed," he huffed. Panthera fought back a snort.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you're using this as an excuse to cuddle," she chuckled. She wasn't laughing for long, squealing when Miles grabbed her by the arm and yanked her into bed. She didn't have much time to gain her bearings as Miles maneuvered them, so he was spooning her. She turned to find a sleepy glare staring back at her.
"Talk too damn much. Go to sleep," he mumbled, nuzzling the back of her head. Panthera didn't know why she was surprised at his strength as she struggled against his grip to get up and get her bonnet from her dresser. This boy was stuck on her like glue.
"Miles, I need to put on my bonnet. Let me up," she whined. The boy grunted, squeezing her.
"You hav' silk pillowcases. You'll b' fine..." came the sleepy response. Panthera felt her face heat up as she felt a slightly rugged hand cup her lower belly and stay there.
"Must you-"
"Sleep, woman." Panthera sighed and decided to get comfortable, allowing herself to rest against Miles' chest as she pulled up her blanket to cover them both.
"Goodnight, Miles..." The girl felt a soft kiss press against the side of her neck. Her lips curved into a small smile before she felt the gentle hands of sleep pull her in.
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'Crap, crap, crap!'
Miles knew he was a dead man walking. His body woke him up way before the sun peeked over the city. At first, he was in no rush to leave the comfortable bubble he was caught in. Having a sleeping Panthera in his arms was a dream come true. It didn't help matters that she looked, felt, and smelled so good. Miles was only seconds away from falling asleep again when he heard something buzzing. At first, he was gonna ignore it, but the sound was persistent. He looked to see his and Panthera's phone on her nightside. It wasn't Panthera's phone going off-
It was his.
Carefully but quickly, he extracted himself from the girl to grab his phone. There was a list of messages and missed phone calls from his uncle.
Tรญo Aaron: Yo, everything good?
Tรญo Aaron: Miles, it's been over two hours since you left. Where you at?
Tรญo Aaron: Boy, where the hell are you?! It looks like death outside, and you are still not back!
Tรญo Aaron: Little nigga, I swear on my brother's grave I'm gonna beat your ass when I see you...
Missed call from Tรญo Aaron
Missed call from Tรญo Aaron
Missed call from Tรญo Aaron
Missed call from Tรญo Aaron
Missed call from Tรญo Aaron
Missed call from Tรญo Aaron
Missed call from Tรญo Aaron
New Voicemail
'Miles, I swear if you left my apartment with a barely charged phone, Imma rock yo shit like you did yo twin. Yo ass betta be alive! Nigga, you know I would cover for your ass if your mom calls, but the fact that I don't know where you are made shit even worse! It's like she could sense that you aren't here! If you don't find your way back to my apartment before 6:30 AM, I'm turning your Puerto Rican ass black and blue before your mother can sink her nails into my neck!'
Miles swallowed down a wince before looking at the time and balking.
6:03 AM.
He had less than thirty minutes to prove to Uncle Aaron that he was alive before he lost his head.ย
Fuck.
The boy scrambled to get his clothes and stuff. He tried not to linger on the fact that his clothes smelled like the same vanilla and lavender scent that lingered on his borrowed clothes from the night before. Or how cute his kitten looked curled up in her bed, all warm and cuddly. Miles wanted nothing more than to crawl back under the sheets and hold her again. Miles checked the time and silently cursed.
6:19 AM.
'Focus, Miles. You can't get more blackberry-flavored kisses if you're dead.'
With a hastily written note left on the nightstand and a chaste kiss on the slumbering girl's cheek, Miles grabbed his claw and carefully snuck out of Panthera's room through her fire escape. With a clear mind and clear weather, Miles was able to see where he was. The boy silently thanked his lucky stars that his precious kitten didn't live far from his uncle.
'That girl is an angel, I swear...'
Activating his shoes, the boy swung away with his grappling hooks to his uncle's apartment.
---------------------------
Miles managed to land on his uncle's fire escape at exactly 6:30 on the dot. Of course, that was when the window slammed open, and he was yanked inside. Aaron hugged his nephew to his chest, a sigh of relief rippling through his ribcage. However, Miles didn't have time to return it since Aaron was cuffed upside down on his head.
"Ow!" Large hands found the teenager's shoulders, shaking him like a rag doll.
"WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED I WAS?!" Aaron felt he had every right to be like this, and he didn't feel bad for it. The older man was reluctant to allow his nephew into this underworld business. Aaron had already lost his brother all those years ago; he didn't want anything to happen to his dear sister-in-law and nephew. One of the biggest things that he stressed to Miles was to communicate with him once he finished a job. The radio silence throughout the night was torture.
The thought that his nephew was out there somewhere, hurt and alone, nearly broke the man.
"T-Tรญo, s-slow d-down. I'm getting d-dizzy!" Aaron briefly contemplated shaking the boy some more, but in the end, decided to release the teen. Miles let out a sigh, rubbing his temples.
"You still have yet to answer my question, little nigga. And where's the stash?" Miles paled and let out a nervous laugh.
"Uh, yeah... about that..." Aaron's eyes narrowed, scanning the boy from head to toe. He could see the rips and tears in his clothes, but there were no signs of blood on the fabric. Instead, the light scent of lavender and vanilla lingered in the air, suggesting that they had been washed. His face had a couple of bandages, and he could safely assume any other injuries he couldn't see were taken care of as well. Miles even looked like he had a decent night's worth of life over the constant look of annoyed fatigue that haunts him on work nights.
"...where were you last night," Aaron asked. Miles fidgeted, a slight blush on his cheeks.
"So, don't get mad-" Already not helping Aaron's nerves.
"A classmate of mine found me in the rain and took me in for the night. She found out who I was when bandaging me up, and I may or may not have forgotten the stash at her place," Miles rushed out.
"NIGGA WHAT-?!" Miles grabbed his uncle's hands before he shook him again.
"She promised that she would keep quiet, though! I-I... I trust her,ย tรญo. She won't expose me, trust me on this. She wouldn't have taken the time to take care of me and give me a safe place to stay the night just to stab me in the back. I've known her long enough to trust that," Miles insisted, eyes pleading. Aaron didn'tย wantย to trust this girl.
He didn't know this girl or who she was connected to.
He wanted to tell his nephew that he shouldn't be so trusting of the idea that she wouldn't expose him and their entire operation. That anyone can hide their true motives.
...but something about the look in his nephew's eyes, the earnest faith found in those tawny eyes, made the words die in his throat.
He will give the girl a chance. Only for Miles's sake...
"Fine... I'll trust you on this, lil man..." Miles sighed, hugging his uncle tight.
"Thank you,ย Tรญo..." Miles' phone chose that exact moment to let out a specific vibration, indicating a new message. Aaron watched as his nephew fumbled with his phone with a small flush on his cheeks. He silently peered over the boy's shoulder, catching sight of the name "Gatita" on the boy's phone before he hid it against his chest. Miles glared at him.
"Tรญo, some privacy would be great. If you don't mind." Aaron only raised his hands in surrender, taking a step back. He'll have to look up that word later.
When Miles was sure that his uncle wasn't gonna be a nosey bastard, he looked down to read the latest message from his new girlfriend (question mark... he really should properly ask her out...)
Gatita๐๐ป: Good morning, Mi. I read your note. Hopefully, you made it back to your uncle's place, and he didn't skin you alive for your lack of communication. I noticed you forgot something important behind, so I'll keep it safe until you can pick it up later. Text me later, Miles.
The boy winced. He really should ask her out properly; he didn't want her texting him as if they were still just classmates slash friends. Not on his watch.
Miles cleared his throat as he turned to his uncle.
"I'll pick up the stash later, but she'll keep it safe in the meantime. I'm gonna get some extra sleep before going out later. There's something I want to take care of." Aaron nodded.
"Alright, lil man. Get your rest, but I'm double-checking your bandages before you go." Miles resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Panthera patched him up pretty good, but for his uncle's sake, he'll let him do what he pleases.
"Alright, alright. Later,ย tรญo."
-----------------------------
It was a little past noon when Panthera opened her door to a nervous Miles Morales holding a bouquet of blue roses and sunflowers, her favorite flowers.
The girl blinked.
"What's all this," she inquired softly, tilting her head at the boy. Miles blushed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Mind if I come in first?" Panthera nodded, opening the door wider for the boy to make his way inside. She led them to the couch in the living room, taking a seat. She sat patiently as Miles remained silent for a few moments.
The boy took a deep breath.
"You know I meant everything I said last night, right?" Panthera's brows kissed her hairline.
"I would sure hope so. I wouldn't have let you kiss me if you were disingenuous," she replied with narrowed eyes. Miles swallowed before taking her hand in his.
"And I wasn't. I-I... I really like you. I have for months now. I just didn't want to say anything because of my double life. Between school and this underworld business, I don't have time for relationships..." Panthera took in his words with contemplation.
"So, you don't want to-" Miles immediately shook his head, already knowing where she was going with that question.
"No,ย I do. Iย wantย to be with you, Panthera. I want to be yours and for you to be mine. I just don't want to risk making you unhappy. There are times I'll be busy with my work, as the Prowler can be demanding. I don't want you to feel neglected. I always thought I would have to hide that side of myself, mainly out of protection. My own mother doesn't even know, and it's a miracle that she hasn't after all this time. Some people would want me dead; they don't care who's behind the mask. All they care about is getting rid of the threat to their businesses. I don't want them to know who is close to me as a way to destroy me. I already lost my dad to this business long before I donned the mask; I don't want to risk losing anyone else. Not again." Miles's chest felt like it was cleaved open as he word vomited all his true thoughts in front of his crush. Yes, he touched on his fear of having his family exposed to his enemies, but he never wanted to entertain the thought of that same danger and that neglect befalling his person.
His kitten.
He felt Panthera's hand cup his face. He didn't realize that he was crying until he felt her gently thumbing away his tears. Those soulful dark eyes stared back into his light ones.
"Miles, I like you too. I've liked you for years. I've seen what the loss of your father has done to you. It hurt that I couldn't comfort you the way I wanted to because you didn't know me. But that changed this year, and I couldn't be any more grateful for that opportunity. I want to be with you, Miles Morales. I'll gladly take the risks and all the things that come with being with you. I want to support and protect you. If you truly can't give me, give us a try... even after last night..." Panthera let a heavy sigh as she allowed the heavy words to fall.
"I'll forgive you for last night, and I'll accept us just being friends. I'll keep my promise of keeping your double life a secret, and my door will remain open to you whenever you need a safe place to be after a job. I'll expect nothing from you. Just-mhm?!" Panthera didn't finish as Miles stole her lips in a kiss.
It was nothing like last night. It was desperate, needy, vulnerable...
It was all of Miles's fear, longing, and possessiveness wrapped in this kiss. A soft sound escaped from her throat as she tried to keep pace with Miles's passion. Panthera doesn't remember how she ended up on her back, but when the boy finally pulled away, she opened her eyes to find the fiery inferno staring down at her.
"I can't just be your friend anymore, Panthera...ย not when I know how we feel about each other. My heart won't be able to handle that, especially if another guy were to date you. If you're 100% sure that this... I would love to be yours and for you to be mine..." Miles leaned down to press a soft kiss to those plump lips.
"Will you be my girlfriend, Panthera," he asked softly. Dark brown eyes soften, tracing Miles's features like a physical caress.
"Yes... I would love to be your girlfriend, Miles." The boy smiled,ย nuzzling the girl's cheek with a grin.
"I'mย never letting you go, my Cinderella..."



















