until we dock
miles morales x reader | summer cruise AU
wc :1.8k
synopsis : seven days into summer cruise you've found yourself tangled up in a group of twelve teeangers, late night adventures and and a boy who seems to appear beside you no matter where you go. somewhere between shore excursions, arcade trips ,sneaking into the pool after hours and sunsets over the Atlantic, seven days suddenly doesn't feel long enough.
now playing . . Slide - Frank Ocean , Migos & Calvin Harris
resource tags // @cafekitsune // @honeyluvsw
the ocean was quiet at this hour.
not empty—never empty, but softened, like the world hadn’t fully decided to wake up yet. the waves moved in a slow soft rhythm in view of your balcony catching the morning light in thin strips of gold that shimmered and disappeared just as quickly as they came.
you’ve been out here since 8:30
now it was almost noon
your book was already halfway through its fourth chapter, pages slightly warm from the sunlight kissing the pages. breakfast had been served hours ago—6:30 sharp, your mom insisted on sleeping in but you couldn’t resist getting some peace and quiet with the sunrise before the staff started blasting a playlist through the speakers again.
you loved mornings like this. quiet ones. ones where nobody expected anything from you.
inside, the suite still, air conditioning humming softly, curtains shifting whenever the ship moved. but you stayed outside anyway, legs tucked beneath you reading with your hair pulled into what was supposed to be a high pony but slowly fallen from the friction of your head on the chair, thoughts far away from anything loud.
that’s how your mom found you.
“Girl.” she said, stepping into the balcony with an easy smile, sunglasses perched on her head, “you’ve been reading out here all morning, you okay?”
“oh—yeah.” you said softly
she leaned on the railing nearest to you, peeking at the cover like she was genuinely curious, even if she wasn’t going to read it. “mmm-hmm,” she hummed glancing back at the water then back at you with a fond smile. “Your dad and I are gonna head out in a bit,” she said “little excursion thing. probably gonna get a drink or two …or three.”
you smirked softly into the pages and gave a small nod, as a moment too long passed without her saying anything you looked up to see her look at you with a soft yet concerned smile.
"and you," she began, pointing slightly at your book " are not staying locked up in here the whole time."
"I'm not "locked up" I'm just, relaxing." you countered softly.
"Sweetie, when's the last time you've actually interacted with people your age hm?" She said now joining you in a seat on the balcony "I didn't book this whole cruise just for you to turn into a decorative plant." she said "I want you out there. having fun. meeting people."
a soft wrinkle between your eyebrows formed "I have people."
"Who?" she asked immediately leaning closer, intrigued.
"...people."
She squinted at you "That's not a person."
You sighed softly, faintly embarrassed because if it wasn't for your strong academic career and involvement in your hobbies you'd probably be viewed as a child who reads romance novels all day giggling to herself eating tubs of ice cream in a week.
She softened a little then, her voice shifting.
"listen," she began "when I was your age, I had boys lining up to even talk to me. And you—" she tapped your cheek lightly "you got it from me. you're gorgeous! you just act like you don't know it."
"Momm.."
"I'm serious," she smiled. "Find yourself a little fling, a boyfriend. some gal pals. something—literally anything. you're about to be a senior, After this, life moves fast."
You looked down at your book again fingers tracing the edge of the page that you've re-read four times to avoid eye contact. "I don't really..do all that."
There was a pause after that—heavier, quieter
Then she added, "I just want you to be okay. When you leave for college. when you're not right down the hall anymore."
You glanced up at her because you knew once she started mentioning anything about school or future-wise things she got emotional. You chuckled softly scooting to her chair now sitting in her lap like you were still 6 years old. "I'm still here you know."
She gently cradled your head against her chest, her thumb grazing your cheekbone and temple repeatedly "I know," she smiled, but it wobbled a little at the edges." come on. go get ready. I'm taking you somewhere."
you showered slowly, letting the warm water blur your thoughts until they didn't feel so sharp anymore. when you stepped out, the mirror fogged slightly as you wrapped yourself in a towel and stood there for a moment, just staring at your reflection like a blank canvas mentally sorting through your luggage for an outfit.
your hair was already a statement of its own—boho french curl braids, small and detailed, falling perfectly in soft layered swirls and ringlets. Your skin was warm toned and glowing from the trip already, faint tan lines beginning to settle in like proof of every hour you'd spent near the sun.
you pulled on your bikini first—simple white clean against your skin—then layered an off shoulder cropped top over it. soft fabric, breathable in this tropical weather. beige linen shorts followed. you kept your jewelry simple but intentional—gold bangles that made that satisfying clicking when you moved.
your makeup was light, a slightly brighter concealer under your eyes soft sweep of blush across your cheeks and the tip of your nose, enough to feel dolled up, but not too much to give you insane face dysmorphia when you take it off later.
and when you were finally done you looked up and paused.
Okay.
you looked beautiful.
as you stepped out of the bathroom awkwardly, knowing that your mom was probably perched up on the bed waiting for you, she saw a mythical creature of sorts.
"okayyyy," she said, pointing at you like she'd just won something. "that's my daughter."
"stop." you whispered, but your smile gave it away
"okay okay." she said her hands lifted dismissively, she got up, grabbed her bag and room key card. "come on beautiful."
you rolled your eyes but followed her out.
The ship was much louder now. people were awake. music drifted faintly from somewhere you couldn't see yet. laughter echoed off polished floors and opened decks. everything felt bigger than your room had.
your mom walked beside you, chatting easily pointing out random things like she'd been here a hundred times.
"and over there is the pool," she said. "Which you're going to use. Don't look at me like that."
"I wasn't—"
"you were."
You didn't argue further.
instead, you just followed her through corridors that smelled like saltwater and sunscreen and whipped cream.
Eventually, she slowed.
a set of wide glass doors came into view.
above them, neon lettering glowed softly:
TEEN CLUB/ ARCADE
your stomach shifted slightly.
"oh—" you said quietly.
your mom smiled like she'd been waiting for that reaction.
"yeah," she said. "this is you"
"it's... a lot" you admitted.
"lottttt of opportunity!" she sang pinching your side before turning to you fully her soft hands cupping the sides of your arms. "Listen, I'm not gonna drag you in there, or stand over you. I just want you to try."
you looked at the doors again. voices, movement. sound.
"just one hour." she said gently, the tone you couldn't say no to. "if you hate it, text me. I'll come get you."
You hesitated "..alright."
Her face lit up instantly.
"that's my girl," she said squeezing you softly before letting go. "Go on."
You took a breath and stepped inside the shift was immediate. cool air, bright lights. music low but constant. the clicking of arcade buttons and the soft hum of conversations overlapping like waves.
It wasn't overwhelming but it was loud. you stood just inside the entrance for a second too long, and slowly walked in.
your eyes awkwardly scanned for an untaken seat before sitting down at a nearby couch next to an outlet to charge your phone that was on 2% because you suck at charging your phone.
maybe you’d stay an hour like promised, get a slushie, sit in a corner for a little, then disappear quietly back to your suite and order room service ice cream.
a solid plan.
unfortunately, the universe had other plans.
“Hey—this seat taken?”
you looked up. A boy standing next to the couch he looked about your age—maybe older with a deck of cards curved in his hand soft curls that were slightly frizzy from all of the humidity. a plain white wife beater clung to his toned frame followed with a pair of plain light pink swim trunks.
you blinked.
“Oh.”
great job. excellent response.
he smiled a little
“oh—yeah. sorry.”
he chuckled and shook his head
“doesn’t look taken to me.” he reasoned
that’s not what you meant..
“no I mean— yeah.. you can—sit here.” you fumbled out
he let out a boyish giggle before he dropped into the seat with an easy familiarity that somehow didn’t feel intrusive.
“Soooo” he sighed getting comfortable his legs spread comfortably next to yours, but still giving you space. “haven’t seen you around yet, you just board?”
“no, I just haven’t been here.”
“whatttt?” he said dramatically “you’ve been missing out then. where’ve you been?!”
“the pool.” you lied.
“Ah—dang. really??,he said leaning his elbows on his knees leaning a bit closer to you, trying to see if he memorized your face. "I haven’t seen you.”
a soft moment of silence fell between you two before he spoke up again.
“So. now that you’re here, you can join us!” he said like some cheerful army recruiter. “if you want—no pressure of course.” he added quickly. “but if you don’t—you’ll miss out. definitely. seriously.” His wide, almost begging eyes locked onto yours before his face lit up again
“oh sorry—I'm Miles.” He said extending his hand out to yours.
very respectful.
you shook his hand reciting your name like how you imagined a scenario like this 2 weeks ago.
“Alright.” He said clapping his hand once firmly.
“the crew is over there—“ he said pointing briefly to a packed table of teens. “I was whooping their ass in uno.” he added before looking around like the FBI was looking for him and leaning closer to you he smelled like the pina colada of your dreams mixed with soft sandalwood.
“between you and me. they suck. like they really, really suck. I’ve been playing them for like an hour now—”
“miles who are you talking to??!!” A voice rang through the crowd.
he scoffed “see? sore losers.” he boasted pointing at them with his thumb before echoing back “my new friend.”
and before you knew it much more than an hour went by.
a/n: new series ayyyy
