LANA / BOMBSHELL.

“yeah no, everything’s great. sure,” he says, through gritted teeth, spidey senses going utterly haywire.

Daisy’s head tilted a bit at that, her brows furrowing as she tried to rack her brain for reasons why Hill herself would be trying to individually meet with Lana. Seemed like a pretty small matter for the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. to get involved. “No, actually. I didn’t.” Worry prickled on the back of Daisy’s spine, but she tried to shrug it off as she took a deep breath. “I’m sure she’s just gonna tell you the same thing I did, but in a more Hill way.”

peter shook his head, letting out a slight laugh, “of course. got it. and i gotta say, i agree. lotta miscreants out there.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, kid.” Pausing, Bucky raised a playful brow at her as he peered his head down to look at her. “No one looks good in orange. It’s not just a you thing.” He grimaced softly when she mentioned probation, the similarities just continuing to come out the longer she spoke. He couldn’t imagine having to deal with a probation officer at her age. Even his mandated therapist stressed him the hell out, and that was nothing. “When’s your probation up?”

Jake eyed the ball of money the younger girl pulled out through the rearview mirror and just kept driving, deciding he wasn’t even going to take the money at all at the end of the ride. If she was this young and needed a lawyer, she had a lot of shit going on. He’d consider it his good deed for the day. “No need to apologize, seńorita.” His tone was kind and gentle as he raised an eyebrow at her. “Forgive me for asking, but what did you do? You don’t look like you could hurt a fly.”

Part of Miles was a little scared that she’d pull away when he finally leaned in to kiss her, but that irrational fear melted along with the rest of his worries as he eventually pulled away to grin. It was a stupid grin, but he didn’t want to wipe it off of his face. He wasn’t sure he could even if he tried, anyways. It only widened when she agreed with the shrimp statement as he laughed awkwardly and quickly shook his head. “I can avoid shrimp for the rest of my life if it means I get to kiss you again.” The words came out a little jumbled and didn’t make sense, but the sentiment was there. He raised his eyebrows playfully at her next comment and laughed quietly again as he nudged her shoulder and nodded. “You’re chill, I promise.”

“You won’t need to settle for anything, because it’s gonna go great. You’re great. Okay?” Miles could tell that Lana was a little nervous about the entire thing, and he hated that she felt like she didn’t need to get her hopes up. As far as he was concerned, she deserved to be loved by everyone. Maybe she didn’t get that where she should have when it came to her own mom, but Miles hoped that maybe she could get some of that from his parents. It wasn’t a full replacement by any means, but he still wanted it to go well. “And the breadcrumbs?” He chose not to comment on her joke about her Nana trying to poison her. He really hoped it was a joke, but with Lana he never knew. “You’ll get plenty of that good cooking soon, trust.”

Marc knew why he was there. He’d been on Interpol’s watchlist for the better part of a decade by now. But kidnapping and imprisoning a kid Lana’s age? That just had him furious as he crossed his arms and sat there in silence with her for awhile. “Then let’s go. S.H.I.E.L.D. has all the information they need on you, right? There’s no point in waiting to give them more.”

Music was still faintly playing on the speakers as Miles anxiously watched Lana step through his room, and he couldn’t read her face properly enough to see if she was actually just secretly judging or if she liked it. It mattered to him a lot, what she thought. It had for awhile now, really, and now that she was standing there in his bedroom all of his self-conscious feelings were bubbling to the surface as he moved to stop learning by the speaker and found a spot on the edge of his bed.

His smile when she complimented the mural was warm and a little sheepish as he nodded softly. “Thanks. It took forever to convince my máma to let me actually paint it, but I’m glad she let me.” It felt like it tied his room together and made it feel more like his. He’d been spending a lot more time than normal in there recently now that he was stuck at home.

Rio Morales was not happy when she got the call from Miles’ Brooklyn Visions Academy Director, who gave her the news that her son had snapped at his teacher. The school thought a suspension was appropriate, and Miles could just tell she was mortified about the entire thing. He’d won his spot on a lottery, after all. They couldn’t afford it otherwise. And now Miles was just proving all of those people who didn’t think he deserved the spot right.

And then Pleasant Hill happened, and Miles dropped off the face of the Earth to fly to Connecticut with Riri to find Lana. That caused a very heated argument between him and his parents, which ended with his father grounding him indefinitely for the way he’d raised his voice at his mom. They’d eased up since then, and were being pretty lax with the Spider-Man stuff all things considered, but his mood was still off from the entire thing.

“So..” He replied back quietly, his voice cracking a bit as he took a deep breath and forced himself to nod. “Of course. You’re always free to stop by, you know that. I’m sorry I haven’t really been able to hang with you. I’m super grounded.” He’d told her over text, but he wanted to apologize in person anyways. “Are you doing okay? I know we haven’t seen each other much since you got back.”

“I’m glad, too. It really is beautiful.” Lana drifts towards it, eyes tracing the colored lines. What would it be like to make something so beautiful? To create and not destroy? When Lana stops to think about it, she’s never really tried. She’s always just embraced who she was because her mother had instilled in her a large sense of confident. If there was one thing Lori Baumgartner should be thanked for, it was the way in which she had always encouraged Lana to embrace her powers. Her idea of being unapologetically herself may have been skewed a little, but the sentiment was at least there.

There was chatter downstairs. Rio, Jefferson and Billie. It feels wrong to not go introduce herself, but Lana’s not really sure it’s the time. Especially not if Miles is in trouble. “Right, grounded. Tiana mentioned you were having a hard time. I should have come and checked in sooner, so I’m sorry. I haven’t been a super awesome girlfriend lately.” Not that it’s really Lana’s fault. It just feels like it is. She’s trying to not be too hard on herself.

@bmbshells​

It wasn’t that Miles didn’t want to invite Lana over to his house. No, he really, really did. Was super pumped for it actually.

But now as she was climbing through his window like they were in some old rom-com, suddenly he wished that he’d had some notice so he could actually clean the place up. Just a little. There were several hoodies and shirts strewn across the ground, school books open on his desk placed next to some drawings he’d been spending too much time on instead. His parents were less than thrilled to learn that he’d been suspended, but with Pleasant Hill mounting on top of all his other Spider-Man responsibilities, he’d been slipping. Snapping at teachers, not acting like himself.

Lana’s feet were already over the windowsill as Miles scrambled to throw some shirts into his hamper and shoved some of the school stuff on his desk to the side. But aside from that, the rest of his room was presentable. The wall behind his bed was covered in a graffiti style mural that he’d finally convinced his mother to let him paint, with the promise that he’d cover it up if they ever moved. He was trying to cooly lean against the speaker near his desk as she entered as if he hadn’t just been panicking as he smiled at her. 

After everything she’d just been through in that town, Miles would never close his room off to her if she needed it. “Lana, hey.” He received her text about five minutes ago asking to come over, worry etched on his brows as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry, it’s kind’ve a mess in here right now. Hope that’s chill.”

Maybe it isn’t cool to stop in uninvited. 

It’s not a premeditated thing. Although Lana and Miles had been talking about her meeting his family before It had happened, she had imagined it going down a little differently. For starters, she’d knock on the front door. Rio and Jefferson would welcome her in, and even if it was awkward it would be like the movies she had watched late at night by herself. It definitely wouldn’t be her propelling herself up the brownstone so she could reach the fire escape. It’s tempting to fly the entire way up, but Lana climbs instead with the meta railing cold against her bare hands. There’s two knocks on the window before she’s let into the warmth and out of the biting cold.

The evening had began with a walk. That was supposed to be it. Just something to clear her incredibly clouded head. Lana’s not sure why it’s happening. Sometimes, she feels perfectly normal. Others, she doesn’t respond to her name. It’s like she’s waiting for a different one to be called. Danielle. Not her name, but the name they gave her. She was older in Pleasant Hill and already out of high school. Nannying was a way to get money so she could save up to attend college, which was a little too expensive even with the offered financial aid. The worst part of it all, however, was her home life. She had parents. Actual parents who cooked dinner and asked her about her day. After being discharged, Lana had made a point to not ask who had been cast into the roles. It wasn’t real. It would only hurt to know.

As Miles scurries to clean, Lana takes in the room. She’s not sure what she expected, but it’s so Miles that she now can’t imagine anything else. “Your wall is sick.” She nods towards the mural. It really is impressive. Every time Lana has seen Miles draw, she’s been impressed. The best she can do with a pen is a stick figure. Otherwise, she lacks the patience. 

It feels wrong to sit on his bed without permission, so she just stands in the center of the room with her arms dangling by her side. Even with how much she has going on, Lana knows that Miles is also having a hard time. She and Tiana had met up for coffee before Lana had been taken into Pleasant Hill, and her friend had mentioned Miles was going through it. That was then. Even though some time has passed, Lana can’t imagine it has gotten any better.

Miles’ smile fell a bit when she started to voice her concerns about his dad. They were definitely valid, considering everything that went down with C.R.A.D.L.E. and Lana’s history, but he liked to think his dad could see how things really were for himself. “You don’t have to worry about all that. I promise he’s gonna love you.” He was smiling again as Lana talked about his mom’s cooking. “Not the Stouffers,” He pretended like he’d been shot in the chest as he groaned and clutched a hand to it, still grinning at her despite his act. “Guess I gotta introduce you to some real Morales fam food, then.”

The slight highlights were peeking through in her hair underneath the glow of the sun, and Miles found himself staring for a little too long as he refocused his eyes to hers and smiled softly. He’d screwed things up with Tiana, there was no denying that. Everything had been weighing so heavy on his shoulders with school and being Spider-Man and he couldn’t keep up the way she deserved. But with Lana things were different. He’d known that it was different with her from the moment he saw her in that hospital bed. Hell, he’d gone to try and confront Hammerhead himself after what he’d done to Lana. Point being, there were feelings there. Undeniable feelings that he couldn’t overlook anymore. A breath was released that he didn’t even realize he was holding at her words as he finished brushing the hair behind her ear and leaned in, pressing his lips against hers. He was lost in it for a good few seconds before he finally pulled away and grinned at her. “I’ve wanted to do that for awhile. Without the shrimp.” You’re killing the vibe, Miles.

“Hill’s been taken care of.” When Daisy realized how final that sounded, she raised her eyebrows and quickly backtracked. “She’s not dead, though. Just on a mandatory medical leave.”

“No, I’m not talkin’ about that.” The last word was so pronounced with his accent that he may as well have said it with a ‘d’. And by that, Marc meant Pleasant Hill. Thankfully he’d avoided the mandatory evaluations thus far, and it would stay that way. There was no way in hell he was sitting in front of a therapist. “Anything else on your mind? Literally anything else.”

“you know what –– i’m probably gonna regret saying it, but i’m proud of you, kid.”