Chapter Text
Nothing could have ever prepared Miles for this moment.
He was grateful, ecstatic even that he got accepted into Visions through a once in a lifetime opportunity, but the acceptance could not save him from first introductions. His brother told him it was a good school, but Miles doubted that. Sighing, he reluctantly rose his head and nervously said,
“uh, hey my names Miles Morales..uh I like art and i’m …glad to be here…?”
…….complete and utter silence.
‘fuck me..that was so embarrassing-‘
“Wagwan my guy ! why everyone got the silent treatment huh? Name’s hobie, hobie brown. You kinda look like my mate Milo y'know.”
Miles’ head turned to the voice, revealing a, for lack of better words, delinquent, with their legs on the desk in front of them. He was looking straight at Miles with an eyebrow raised up and a slight grin as if miles’ awkwardness was funny.
Miles couldn’t help but look him over. Piercings littered his face and ears, perfectly sculpting his face. His messed up uniform, with the collar half done and tie loosened, revealing his collarbone. His boots –which were definitely against code– were rugged. And, his wicks –which impressed miles, as not many could pull them off, but..this hobie brown, whoever he was, definitely could.
“ay, if you want, take a picture to make it last longer, love,” Hobie said grinning at miles, which made him blush and get nervous. Miles was wallowing in embarrassment at this point. He basically took this guy apart with his eyes in front of the classroom, on his FIRST DAY.
Also, why did hobie call him love? Was that a cultural thing? Miles thinks he might be British, but didn’t want to assume. He chose to just erase it from his mind for now.
“..uhm sorry..uh yeah im milo’s brother” miles quietly said while his teacher, Mrs. Jessica Drew, smiled and told him to sit in the last row, with the seat next to the window before pinching the bridge of her nose and telling hobie to shut up. Mrs. Drew would’ve preferred to seat Miles elsewhere, but that was the only open desk. No one wanted to sit next to the “delinquent.”
“Oh would ya look at that, we seat mates love” hobie called out, patting his hand to the left seat, indicating clearly that miles will be stuck with him for a long while. ‘of course i end up sitting next to HIM…not like I mind too much..he was the only one to talk to me anyway..’
Miles sighed and just accepted his fate next to hobie.
‘this is gonna be a long year…’
———————————————
It had only been 30 minutes, but hobie seemed to be the biggest distraction on the earth.
“so whatcha drawin love?”
“what classes ya got love?”
“what typa music ya listen to love?”
Every question, not even any related to school 90 percent of the time, ended with love, driving miles mad. It confused him so much. Was it really just a language habit? or did it mean more?
Miles answered most of them with a short, quiet answer, not wanting to get in trouble, but the answers seemed to satisfy hobie well enough.
Miles was wondering though, how exactly DID hobie get into this prestigious school? His looks were nothing like a typical “private” school student, nor did he ever seem to do his work or act proper.
Miles muttered something, but hobie, being the sound surround system he was said “you gotta speak up love, a lad like me got no super hearing.”
Looking away, Miles just shook his head and said “it’s..it’s ok hobie..nothing important.” Hobie, raising his eyebrow, thankfully did not prod further. “hm, ‘right love.”
Hobie just laid back and listened to some punk rock during first period. Miles, having already distracted himself, could hardly focus on what his teacher had to say. But he knew that the topic was important, so he decided to raise his hand anyway.
“uhm Mrs. Drew right..what sentence structure should one use during a literary narrative?”
As Mrs. Drew went on to explain, Miles didn’t notice Hobie staring at miles with an indescribable look. When miles moved to write notes down, hobie just turned his head away and closed his eyes.
‘why is the new kid so interesting..?’
looking back, hobie could not help but silently snort at miles. His uptight uniform, obviously checked over several times to make sure no dress code was broken, His clear skin, that framed his baby face. His full lips, being bitten sometimes when thinking too hard, and his eyes, god his eyes. They were almost like the sun with how bright and curious they were.
It was everything Hobie strived not to be, but why is it that when on miles, it was something he just couldn’t stop looking at? He didn’t know how much he could last with miles around.
Well, he was going to find out soon enough.
———————————————
Finally it was time for lunch and hobie decided to drag Miles to the cafeteria despite wanting to spend his time studying in the library. “uh no hobie it’s ok really i don’t gotta go to lunch” miles hurriedly said, following hobie, who might he add, took his whole bookbag captive so he couldn’t leave. “Lunch ain’t that bad love, plus i want you to meet the mandem.”
“mandem…?” Miles questioned quietly, but kept that to himself as Hobie was skipping through the halls, almost dropping miles’ bag in the process.
“Hey hobie ! What’s up !”
Miles looked over and saw this young guy with a headband and hair swooped to the side waving frantically at hobie. Standing next to him was a girl with half her head shaved. Again, Miles didn’t even know how half these people were still in school with these dress code violations.
“What's up Milo!!!” He asked, with his hands behind his head, walking up to the two of them.
“Nah, this guy just transferred, the name’s Miles,” Hobie said while doing his handshake thingy, which Miles had no idea what it was, with his friend.
“Ah I see! Wow you look just like Milo! My names Pavitr Prabhakar! Glad to meet a new friend!” Pavitr said excited, while miles smiled at him. The other person waved at Miles, with her other hand in her pocket. “What's up, I'm gwen.”
Miles liked her response, short and simple. It was nice to know at least one person was at a normal level of excitement. Hobie looked at Gwen and Miles and just put his hands in his pockets; he looked away and just pulled Miles through the lunch room. “Let's meet the rest of the mandem love.”
Miles looked up at hobie and nodded. Followed by Pavitr and Gwen, they get to the lunch table and see more faces.
“Hey there hobie! Milo? That a new hair style man??”
“ay my bird margo! Nah, this is miles, New transfer i picked up ay?” hobie said, pushing miles closer to the lunch table.
“oh, uh hi,” he said, noticing the bright smile margo had on her face. She had a cute hairstyle and nice eyes. She was really pretty; she was miles’ type, but for some reason, Miles didn’t really feel attracted towards her.
“Oh I see! Sorry I mistook you for milo haha.”
Next a shorter girl with even shorter hair came up to miles and waved excitedly. “I’m peni! you’re so cool! you’re miles right?”
Miles giggled, she was super cute, had such a bubbly personality, and was super expressive. He nodded at her and he gave her a high-five.
Pavitr ran to the other side of the table. There was another guy there, seemingly engrossed in his Nintendo switch. Pavitr smiled and said, “that’s ganke! he’s usually playing video games but he’s super chill!!!!” Ganke, who had his headphones on, moved them to the side and looked at miles.
Ganke, getting a little flustered, just looked to the side and gave a confused nod at miles. “Wassup…uh…milo…?” Ganke was so confused. It was Milo with a different hairstyle, but somehow his eyes were so captivating and clear.
Pavitr laughed, “nope! That's Miles! I think Milo’s brother???”
Miles leaned over ganke and his eyes sparkled. “Omg bro are you playing Spider-Man 2?! I been wanting to play that for like ever!”
Shocked that he had met someone who was also passionate about games, Ganke smiled softly, “If we get paired together for dorms, you can come over and play with me.” Miles nodded and brightly smiled at him. Hobie stared at the interaction and just crossed his arms, squeezing his biceps tightly.
‘…why am i getting so frustrated…?’
“Hello there. You must be the Miles Morales everyone speaks of.”
Miles turns around and sees a somehow black and white guy. He wasn’t actually, but he looked exactly like an old movie. And where was this wind blowing his hair coming from? The windows are closed?!?!?! “My name is Noir.”
“Oh I see, hi there!” miles said. Noir was definitely unique and honestly just seemed like a total group dad.
“Ay miles there you are!” Turning his head Miles’ eyes lit up as he saw the ever-so-mentioned Milo.
“Milo! Everyone has been mistaking me for you haha!” Miles exclaimed and Milo rolled his eyes sarcastically.
“Clearly I’m the better looking one, guys” Milo said, nodding to himself.
Miles laughed and smacked his shoulder. “Yeah whatever you say bro.”
Miles thought that Hobie’s “mandem” was very unique, but they seemed super fun. Hobie smirked and said, “so? ‘is a bloody cool group we got innit?” while wrapping his long arm around miles, bringing him closer.
Milo threw a look at Miles, but he didn’t know what it meant. ‘Weird’ Miles thought to himself.
Miles tried to brush it off saying, “oh uh yeah they’re super fun, I'd love to hang out with you all!”
They all decided to get lunch and spend the rest of the time chatting with hobie causing a ruckus by swinging pavitr and gwen around the lunch table, causing the three to get detention.
“That bloody dean don’t know what fun is” Hobie exclaims as Mr. O’Hara, said “bloody dean”, utters, “Hobie Brown. I expect you in my office after school for all the misconduct.”
hobie groans as Mr. O’Hara slaps a detention slip on hobie, pavitr’s, and gwen’s faces. “And watch out Ms. Stacy because if you misbehave one more time it’ll be you next.”
Pavitr fell to his knees crying, “NOOOOOOOO this can not be happeninggggg!” while clutching his face.
Mr. O’Hara sighs with his hands on his hips and says, “Pavitr, stop hanging out with these people they get you in trouble.” Everyone internally rolled their eyes. Of course PAVITR gets a pass from Mr. O’Hara’s wrath. Out of the three, he was the most “proper”.
Gwen also groans with hobie, but unlike him, she’s actually going to attend detention.
“nah that wanker expects me to go? fuck that i’m gonna leg it,” hobie remarks lifting up two middle fingers at Mr. O’Hara while he walks away.
“and Hobie Brown I better not turn around and see you flipping me off!” Mr. O’Hara yells out.
Hobie rolls his eyes while shoving his hand in his pockets. “ugh whatever, just sod off,” he muttered.
Miles couldn’t help it, Hobie Brown pissing off the dean the first day Miles gets here is hilarious. Everyone at the table noticed Miles laughing, and Hobie took note of that and swung his arm around miles saying, “glad getting in trouble got u laughing love,” While laughing and shaking Miles.
“s-sorry hobie haha, I didn’t think you’d get in trouble so soon,” miles says, his huge, bright smile on display. The sun from the nearby windows hit miles’ face while he laughed and honestly he looked like the heavens themselves chose him over all else. He almost radiated golden from how bright the light was.
’So bright…’ everyone thought.
———————————————
As the school day ended, miles had to head to the dorms to see who he was rooming with. He was kind of hoping it was hobie, seeing as the two clicked really easily. Milo was right behind him, helping with the luggage. “Alrighty miles, so it looks like…'' Milo said squinting at the impossibly small writing the school printed for the dorm assignments. Some of the students had requested roommate changes, so the whole dorm hall was a mess.
“...your roommate is..ganke! Good for you, it's someone we know at least.”
His smile faltered. Miles was happy. Of course he was, ganke loved games just like him and they had a lot of shared interests. But, why did he just want Hobie instead? Even through the chaos, something about Hobie being his roommate was so appealing. Miles shook the thought out his head and knocked on his dorm door. Ganke opened up, still wearing his headphones and looking down at his phone.
Looking up, his eyes widened. “Oh shit- hey miles uh I wasn’t expecting you to actually be my roommate.”
Sheepishly laughing, Miles said, “yeah same, it's a nice coincidence. “We can play Spider-Man 2 together now!”
Milo had the same look on his face when hobie and miles interacted and smirked. ‘Oh the girls are gonna love this shit.’
Sensing a weird vibe from Milo, Miles in turn raised his eyebrow. “Its nothin, its nothin Miles”
“You sure about that bro?”
“So sure.”
“Hey, Milo?”
“What’s up Miles?” He saw how tense Miles got, and went up to Miles to pull him out the room. Ganke was concerned, but left it up to them to figure it out. Walking down the hall, Miles contemplated what to say.
“Do…do you think I’ll fit in? I know that you guys have a friend group already, and they all are excited to meet me, but what if they find out? I don't think I can bear the same fate as last time.”
Milo sighed, “Miles, don’t worry about it. I know this is hard for you, and if anything- and I mean anything- happens to you, just know I’ll be right beside you. And, honestly I don’t have the experience to talk about this stuff, so talk to gwen. You guys met earlier, she's trans too. All of us will accept you no matter what, you know that, right?”
Miles stops walking and Milo stops as well, concerned that what he said might have made Miles upset. “Hey miles, sorry if that was a lot. I know how-”
Miles hugged Milo and just stayed quiet. Chuckling, Milo pat Miles’ hair and they walked back to Ganke’s room.
“Thanks Milo…”
“Don’t mention it. I’m just tryna look out for my younger brother.”
“I know.”