Requested by quackson_klaxon_

This will have a few parts!

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Miles didn't want to go to the stupid police-officer-banquet-holiday thing. It was after Christmas, he had to dress nice, and it was going to be stupid and boring. Miles had griped about it already to his mother, who shut him down by saying, 

"I know you don't want to go, but it means so much to your father. It's just a couple of hours out of your night. Which I know for sure you would be spending with Ganke while you play video games, so don't pretend that you have anything important to do..."

Miles just threw his head back and groaned dramatically. 

But he went along, sitting in the back of the family car as his parents talked happily. His father always got so happy during these events. If there was one thing his father prided himself on, it was his job. He worked hard. Miles knew that; he appreciated it. 

What he couldn't appreciate was the opportunity to spend hours in a room with two dozen cops, all cutting pieces off of the same, flavorless, roasted turkey.

Miles went in with his family. His father bragged on him a little bit, Miles got uncomfortable (and stayed that way) and then he was told that he could sit down at the table that was reserved for his family. 

So he sat down in one of the plush, velvet seats. But the color was faded and the legs wobbled, and he was worried he'd break it. He scooted forward, let his eyes rake across the circular table, which had a set of plates, bowls, cups, and silverware for each person, and then saw who else was sitting at the table.

It was a girl. She looked about his age, maybe a bit older. She was dressed in a blue dress with thin sleeves. She had her hair down, but pinned back with a single silver clip. She took a sip of water, and Miles stared at the light red lipstick stain left on the glass. 

Dang, he thought, she was pretty.

His eyes widened and yours met his. You saw the look of his face and jumped slightly, as if you were shocked that someone was looking at you. Then you looked down at your dress, wandering if you'd dribbled water on it, or perhaps had it on backwards-

But everything was fine. 

You looked back up at the boy. 

He was holding his hand up in a painfully awkward wave. 

"Uh, hey," he said. 

"Hello," you replied softly. You looked around.

"So... you here with one of your parents, too?" he asked. 

"Yeah," you responded, nodding. "My dad is a police officer. He's moving to this department as of next week. The chief wanted him to come so he could meet everybody."

"Oh, that's cool," Miles said. "My father is Officer Davis." He gestured to him. 

You looked. "Oh, I see. So that makes you-"

Miles was reaching across the table to shake your hand. "Miles Morales."

"Oh-" You stopped. "Different last names-"

"Yeah, it's a long story," Miles muttered.

You nodded in understanding and shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Miles. My name is ___ ____."

"___, he repeated, mostly because he liked the sound of it. 

"Mhm." Sitting back down, you took a sip of your water. "I've gotta say, I think we might be the youngest people here."

"Yeah," Miles agreed. "And the oldest guy... is that guy right over there."

You snickered, holding your hand against you mouth. Miles laughed, too, his shoulders shaking with the sound.

"Shhh! He's kinda close, I think he can hear-"

"Nah, he's old!" Miles said. 

"Miles!" You covered your lips as you broke out in laughter once again.

Your parents and Miles's parents both found their way to their seats. Miles's mom sat down in the seat next to her son. She looked at him.

"Oh, found a friend?" she asked.

"Uh-huh. Her name is ___," he said.

You smiled bashfully, waving. His mother waved back. 

"She is very beautiful," she said. 

"Mom!" Miles muttered, eyes wide. But when he looked at you, giving an awkward smile, you were just smiling kindly.

You raised your glass as a joke, and took a sip. 

And it made Miles laugh.

//

Throughout the party, you found yourself hovering near Miles. He would talk to you like you were a longtime friend, and you found comfort in him.

"So what does your mom do?" he asked when there was a lull in the conversation. 

You snorted. "That's a formal question."

"What, it's a formal place!" he defended. "Nah, not really. I just didn't want things to get weird and have you go back to your seat. I want to keep talking."

"I don't plan on talking to anyone else but you, Miles," you said. His heart jumped a little. "But yeah, uh, she's a lawyer."

"Oh. Cool." He nodded.

"Not really," you said. "She wants me to be a lawyer, too. And I just... don't want to do that. I like to sing. I like to paint. I can act - I think. I want to make a career out of those things. Me being a lawyer... that is all her."

"Sucks." Miles frowned. "I'm kinda an artist, too."

"Ooh, really?"

"Yeah," he said. 

"Well, I'd love to see some of your work, Miles." 

"Y-Yeah? You would?" he asked, voice kind of squeaky.

You laughed. "Yes, I would. I hope this doesn't, like, completely freak you out, but can I give you my phone number?" You cringed. "I don't really have friends here yet, anyway. I could really use one."

"I'd love to get your phone number," he said, blinking. "Oh - and I'd love to be your friend, too."

You dropped your head and laughed. "Can I have your phone?"

He gave it to you, and you typed in your phone number, adding your first name to his contact list. You handed it back to him and his fingers brushed yours, and it was probably the single most romantic moment of his entire freaking life.

Your fingers were warm and soft and he felt his heart skip a beat again for the second time that night and he was starting to really like the way the shade of red looked on your lips, and the contrast of that on your skin. 

Get with it, Miles! You're staring too long. You're gonna creep her out!

"You okay, Miles?" you asked.

"Y-Yeah, fine," he said. "I've never been better."

You laughed again. "Okay."

//

Later, as Miles sat in the back of the car, going home, he sent a text to the girl he'd met just that night.

To the girl that he most definitely already had a crush on.