Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Alright," Miles' voice cuts the darkness. "Uh... Right... Sorry about the cliffhanger there," Miles says. "Where did we drop off again?"

WHAM!

"Oof... That's right"

SMACK!

"As you can-"

SLAM!

"-see, we're not exactly in a great-"

PUNCH!

"-situation..."

Miles slams into the floor. He opens an eye and addresses his captor.

"What's the endgame here.. uh... me?"

Miles-42 slams down a Prowler gauntlet. Miles crashes through the floor. He groans, pushing himself up. "Hah, joke's on you man. No more chains!"

A purple blur slams into his chest, tossing Miles back, through a wall.

"Ughh... You know... You're supposed to check if walls are load bearing first." Miles struggles to his feet, his suit in tatters, blood dripping from cuts on his chest.

The Prowler-Miles drops down, an evil smirk on his face. "You talk too much."

Prowler throws a blur of a punch, and Miles' sense forces him to the left. Miles counters, lands a punch on Prowler's face, throwing him back into the wall.

There's a stunned moment of silence. Miles-42 looks up, smirking as he wipes the blood away from his lip. "Interesting," he says.

"We don't need to do this," Miles says, charging up the electricity in his fists. "I'm just trying to get back to my own world and save my Dad!"

"ENOUGH!" Prowler swings, Miles dodges, throwing an electric fist. Prowler meets it with a purple gauntlet, and-

BOOM!

The force of the blow throws them apart, Prowler flying through a wall and Miles through a window, and suddenly-

"Oh gosh!" He throws his hands out, but nothing comes out of his web shooters as he falls several stories. "What!?" Miles looks down to see both of his webshooters crackling with electricity, the force from the blow frying both of them. "Not good!"

He falls and slams into a balcony, falling through the floor, and the next floor... And the next. He finally stops on the floor of the main lobby. One of his mask lenses is shattered. A gash above his eyebrow leaks blood.

"Ughhhh..."

"Don't worry," he narrates. "I... Always... Get back up..."

He pushes a slab of concrete off of him, then uses it as leverage to push himself to his feet.

"Gotta keep moving," Miles gasps. Patrons of the hotel stare at him in shock. He notices the looks.

"Uh... Sorry..." He says awkwardly.
He limps out the door, stumbling onto the sidewalk.

Suddenly, the Prowler slams into the street in front of him, the force pushing the cars around slightly. "Dad was right. I was meant for something greater."

Miles eyes/lenses widen. "I'm sorry. About your Dad too, but I need to get back to my world to save min-"

He's distracted and too late to dodge. The purple gauntlet sends him soaring into the side of a bus. He crumples to the ground.

"OH, YOU THINK IM'A HELP YOU SAVE YOUR POPS?"

Miles gets to his feet, preparing for a fight... Again.

"IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, I WOULDA SAVED MY OWN."

That takes Miles off guard. "N-no, I couldn-"

SLAM!

Miles is thrown through the bus, slamming into a brick wall on the side of the street. He hears screams as civilians run for their lives.

His sense comes back and he dodges to the right.

Prowlers hand goes through the wall, and Spidey spins, running up the wall towards the building's roof. He reaches it and leaps up. A beam hits him in the back.

"GAH!" Miles yelps, falling down to the roof. He looks up only to meet the fist of his alternate self. The roof cracks slightly when Miles slams down into it.

He looks up, holding up a shaky hand. His alternate self smiles in rage. His Prowler mask drops down.

Another HIT, and another, everyone else's words shooting through his mind with each punch.

SLAM! "You were never supposed to be Spider-Man!"

WHAM! "You don't belong here!"

SMASH! "You were the original anomaly!"

CRASH! Miles falls through the roof, into the apartment below. SLAM! "I didn't know... How to tell you."

With each punch he falls through another floor, and it gets more and more painful, physically and mentally. Miles is falling.

PUNCH! "This isn't what we talked about!"

He hits the floor, and another glitch takes over, it hurts like hell. But Miles doesn't feel anything. Not anymore.

SLAM! "I will take everything from you! How you took everything from me!" He falls into a basement.

Prowler drops down on top of him. He pauses, his gauntlet charging up a massive blow. Miles looks up at his alternate self. Sees the anger and vengeance in his own alternate eyes...

"I never should have visited you!" Gwen's voice rings hollow in his head.

She... She never believed in him. He was never anything to her. She was always meant to be Spider-Woman, unlike him. She only found him to make sure he hadn't caught on to everything that was really happening, to make sure he was out of the picture.

She would never be with someone like him. The anomaly.

...And Miles... gives up.

WHAM! Miles crashes through the floor, the sewer, and falls into a tunnel.

He forces himself to look up. Only to stare into the headlights of an oncoming subway train.

The train horn echoes down the tunnel. Miles stares at it, his exposed eye slowly closing. He lets out a shaky sigh in acceptance.

Suddenly, a circle of sparks springs to life around him, and then he's dropping. He lands on a coffee table, crushing it in the process. He sees the portal above him close in a revolution of sparks, just as the train is about to pass over.

His vision is cloudy. He glances around, slowly, trying to blink his vision back to clarity. He groans in pain.

At the edge of his vision, there's a figure approaching, messing with some device on his wrist.

"Hey! Hey, Miles!" The figure chirps, seemingly a young man. He comes over and leans down, and suddenly the face is in focus. It's Peter Parker, but different. His face is... photorealistic? Like the Prowler at the Spider Society. "No time to die, Miles," he says, "not for us, not yet."

And everything goes dark as Miles loses consciousness.

Chapter Text

A hand closes a mirror cabinet, revealing Gwen's face.

She looks at herself. Eyes red and puffy. Dark circles under her eyes. The sterile lighting in the bathroom doesn't help things.

"That's why you didn't visit me." His broken, suffering voice haunts her. She can barely hear anything else anymore. She spins, sitting down on the toilet.

She messed up. The only person she'd ever met who just instantly understood her. Both parts of her, not just half. And she hurt him. Treated him like nothing. Like a mistake... When it couldn't be farther from the truth. Failed him when... When he NEEDED her most.

She sees his eyes. The absolute, raw hurt in his wide, brown irises. "Goodbye, Gwen." She remembers the horror in her chest at the notion that this time, she would truly never see him again. She does her best to wipe her eyes before tears can fall.

It's been 6 hours since she and her closest Spider-Mates went rogue. 6 hours of trying to figure out the best way to find him, the boy she lost. 

There's a sudden light knock on the door.

"Hey, kid? You in there?"

Gwen wipes quickly at her face.

"Uh-" her voice cracks. Great. "Ya- yeah, I'll be right out. She wipes her face with the sleeve of Miles' jacket and washes her hands.

The door opens and she exits into Peter B/MJ's apartment.

It's Peter that's standing there. The only one here who sort of understands how she feels right now.

"It's late, kid. You gotta sleep."

"Oh yeah?" She eyes him, "you're not sleeping."

Peter's eyebrows raise. "Well played... You, uhh... alright, kid?

Gwen lets out a hollow, bitter chuckle. "I appreciate you asking it like it's not obvious."

Peter gives a small, close lipped smile. He places a hand on her shoulder. "I'm gonna make hot chocolate." He spins and walks through a doorway into the small kitchen.

"Peter, please, I don't want hot chocolate. I want my best friend back."

"I'm already making it!" He whisper yells from the other room, trying to keep from waking MJ and Mayday. Their other comrades had gone to their respective homes, agreeing to meet first thing in the morning, but Gwen couldn't bare the thought of being without her Spider-Friends. Not right now.

Gwen sighs, before following Peter into the kitchen, where he is, true to his word, already pouring chocolate powder into milk. She slumps into a chair at the nearby kitchen table, placing her head on her hands.

"Besides, if Miles was here, he'd definitely encourage you to have some."

Gwen's mouth twitches at the name, but she plays it off. "Yeah, yeah you're probably right." "God, keep a hold of yourself, Gwen."

While Peter makes the chocolatey drink, Gwen pulls out the polaroid photo of her and Miles, the one she used to keep in her drum set at home. In just hours, it's become a lifeline for her, her knuckles white from how tightly she holds it. She hasn't even thought to take off his jacket since she visited his parents mere hours ago. She makes sure Peter isn't looking before she pulls the sweater up to her nose, breathing in Miles' scent. It instantly brings tears to her eyes, but she doesn't care. It's all she has left of him. "For now, Gwen. Stay positive," she tries to coach herself.

"Alright." Peter breathes, turning off the stove.

Gwen quickly smooths the hoodie back out, wiping her eyes with the sleeve as suddenly, Peter is there.

"Here ya go, kid." Peter sets a mug gently in front of her. She smirks lightly as the sight of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles on top.

"Yeah, Miles would definitely devour this," she chuckles out. The laugh turns hollow. It feels wrong to laugh when he's out there, somewhere in the mass multiverse, alone, because of her.

She tries to hold it in, but after a whole day of trying to look strong, she just can't. The tears start falling, and out of nowhere she's bawling over a hot chocolate like a psycho.

"Hey, hey..." Peter quickly drags his chair around the table to sit next to her. He wraps an arm around her.

"I- I'm sorry," she manages to get out, even with her chin trembling uncontrollably.

"Don't be," Peter says, gently pushing her hot chocolate out of the path of falling tears. "Tell me what you're thinking, kid."

And then, it all comes out in one big waterfall.

"H-he's out there, and he's a-alone, with no way to get back home. Get back to m-... us." She squeaks out, throat raw with emotion.

Peter picks up what she almost said. He grips her shoulder more firmly. "I... I know you and Miles are... uh... well, what are you two?"

Gwen sighs. "I... I thought that maybe we-" She shakes her head. "It doesn't matter. E-even if we actually succeed in finding him, he's not g-going to want anything to do with m-me."

"Hey," Peter says. She turns to meet his eyes, desperately blinking tears away. "You don't know that."

"I'm pretty sure I do. But it's..." She gulps. "It's okay. I deserve it. We deserve that, because he deserves... so much better. All that matters now is that he's okay."

"And he will be okay. We're gonna find him. We'll both make sure of it."

Gwen nods. She leans into Peter and he grips her tighter. Her shoulders begin to tremble. She covers her eyes with her hands as tears continue to fall.

"Gwen," Peter tries to comfort, using her first name, rare for him.

"I can't get his eyes out of my head," she whispers, barely loud enough for Peter to hear. "The way he looked at me. I hurt him so badly, Peter."

Peter's silent at first, his goofy demeanor dampened. "I know, kid. We messed up, big time. Put our faith in the wrong person, when we should've been looking out for our friend. We should've been on his side from the beginning. But that was then, and this is now, and we've gotta make it right. Like we always do. Even... even if he never wants to see us again after it's all said and done. We owe him that much."

Her and Peter's eyes meet, both full of shame, but also determination. After a moment, she nods.

"We've only got maybe 36 hours to save Miles' dad. And we need to get to Miles before Spider Society," she forces out, trying her best not to picture the worst. "We need to find him, and soon."

Chapter Text

The building is falling. Miles can't make out much through the plumes of dust flying in all directions. But he hears the monstrous CRACK as the building crumbles and begins to fall, and his sense SCREAMS at him.

"DAD!"

He doesn't think, just acts, slingshotting himself towards the impending destruction.

He flies through the air, his heartbeat loud in his head. With the speed he's soaring at, everything is a blur, he doesn't know where he's going, but his sense guides him. He feels his dad, KNOWS he's there. "So close!"

Then it's like slow motion. He spots his father and the child he's trying to save.

He yells, "DAD!"

A slab of concrete falls towards them.

Miles lands, somersaults and leaps.

His Dad sees him, and lifts the girl towards him. Miles reaches out-

And the slab crashes down on them.

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Miles jolts awake, letting out a strangled half-scream, half-gasp.

Instantly, the young man from before is at his side.

"Woah! Woah! Easy, Miles!"

At the new, unrecognizable voice, Miles rolls over-

-and find himself slamming into the floor.

"OOF!" 

The guy above him sighs. "Or, just freak out and fall off the couch, sure."

Miles sees the white spider emblem on his chest, surrounded by black. "Shit! They found me!" He tries to jump up-

"Wait! Don't-"

A blast of pain ripples through Miles' chest. He yelps and falls back to the floor.

"-do... that..."

Miles gasps and drags in a few deep breaths.

The other Spider-Man leans over him. "Hey Miles, I know I'm a stranger to you, but I need you to calm down, okay?"

Miles blinks away the image of his Dad perishing, and his vision finally comes into focus. They are in a small, run down apartment, the only piece of furniture being the crappy couch with chunks of cushion missing, if you don't count the coffee table currently in splinters. He looks at himself, cringing at the state of his suit (and body), but sighing in relief when he sees he isn't restrained at all.

"Come on," the other Spider-Man says. He reaches a hand out to lift Miles up.

Miles doesn't move, eyeing the boy's hand with distrust. "You- you're not with Spider-Society?" he asks weakly.

The other boy lets out a "Pshh, yeah, as if. Wait, is that really what they call themselves?"

"Uh.. I think so?"

"Huh... I was just calling them Spider-Cops," the boy says. "But no, definitely not with them. The way they chased me out of my own dimension kinda clued me in," he explains. "Pretty weird to fight... yourself, though."

Miles scoffs lightly. "No kidding," he says, trying to push the thought of Miles-42 out of his head. He sighs and reaches out, taking the other Spider-Man's hand. The other boy steadies Miles' shoulder with his free hand, helping Miles settle back onto the couch, upright this time. "Thanks," Miles breathes out.

"No problem," he says, taking a seat next to him. "By the way, I'm-"

"Lemme guess. Peter Parker?"

"Uh... yup. I guess with all these Spider-People around, the whole secret identity thing doesn't carry the weight it used to." Miles notices Peter's face sour a bit, lost in his thoughts, before he schools it back to normal and holds his hand out with a small, friendly smile.

"Nice to meet you, Miles."

"Yeah, you too, Peter."

The two shake hands, Miles feeling a bit calmer now that he knows his freedom isn't being threatened. That being said, he gasps slightly at the movement of his side that the hand shake causes.

"Crap! Sorry! I grabbed an ice pack from the bodega downstairs, hold on." He gets up and walks over to the barren kitchenette.

"So, uh... How did you know my name?" Miles ventures.

"Oh! Right. Well, this watch goober thingy wouldn't shut up about an anomaly Spider-Man on the run on Earth-42. And I'm the only one I've ever heard them refer to as an anomaly. So uh... I came here. Figured maybe we could help each other." He locates the ice pack and brings it over to Miles. "Seems like I might have been right." Peter explains, handing him the ice pack.

Miles takes it and places it against his ribs, he exhales in relief. "Thank you."

Peter waves away the thanks. Don't worry about it. It's what we do."

Miles looks up and meets his eyes. "He's right," he thinks, "it's what we do." His gaze falls to the aforementioned watch on the boy's wrist.

"How'd you get one of those, man?" Miles looks at his watch with wide eyes.

Peter shrugs. "Back when they first came after me, I noticed the Spider-Cops depending pretty heavily on these, so I, you know... snagged one. Guess they underestimated the fight I would put up," he concludes. "I've... kinda been hopping between universes since then."

Miles nods in understanding. "So, what's your universe like then? You look uh... different... from most of the other Spider-People I've met."

"What, you mean how I don't look like a drawing? Or animated? Yeah, believe me, I've been jumping around for months and I'm still getting used to it too. When I first entered another universe, I thought I must've been drugged or something. But anyways, yes, my world looks like... me, for lack of a better explanation."

"That's wild," Miles responds, the curiosity dampening the sting of his injuries as he tries to picture a photorealistic New York.

Peter chuckles. "I guess, so why are these guys after you exactly?"

Miles sighs. "It's kind of a long story."

Peter glances at him. "Uh, you know, even with advanced healing, you're not getting off this couch for at least a few hours. You really broke an impressive amount of ribs."

Miles frowns, shifting slightly. At the blast of pain that ensues, he gasps slightly, leaning back again. "Fine. Do you have anything to drink?"

Peter smiles and pulls out a water bottle, tossing it over.

Miles takes a large gulp, then goes into the details.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Wow. Wait, so even though you saved all the Spider-People and stopped Kingpin, they didn't invite you to the Spider-Society-Loyalty-Club-Thing?" Peter asks in surprise.

"None of that mattered to them," Miles responds bitterly. "They said I was an anomaly, a kid who was never supposed to be bitten by a radioactive spider, but I was because it was brought to my universe."

"Sure, but it's not like YOU did that. That's bullshit! As if any Spider-Person CHOSE to be bitten. It's ridiculous." Peter says, fired up slightly. "As if that makes you NOT Spider-Man? And to really expect you not to try and save your Dad... we're Spider-Man. We always try to do both. We don't always succeed, but we try!"

"You seem pretty angered by this," Miles observes. "Did... something similar happen to you?"

Peter looks over, seeming to debate what he's about to say. "It took me a while to connect why the Spider-Cops have been after me. I always knew it had something to do with the Multiverse, but... shit... it's crazy thinking back on everything."

"What happened?" Miles asks.

Peter takes a deep breath. Standing up and walking around the room. "About a year ago, Dr. Strange, a wizard- yeah, I know, my universe is wack, just go along with it, okay?" He says to Miles' wondrous expression.

Miles nods slowly.

"So anyway, a year ago, my secret identity was leaked to the world by a former villain, one that got himself killed trying to turn drones into weapons of terror while fighting me."

Miles' jaw drops. "Woah, I'm sorry, man."

Peter waves the comment away and continues. "So this wizard, right, we had fought an alien together before, and so he agreed to help me cast a spell that would make everyone in my universe forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man."

"Wow, that's actually possible? That's incredible." Miles says, bewildered.

"It would've been, if it went according to plan." Peter says, some venom in his voice. "Instead, it blew the multiverse right open, and let in some of my alternate universe villains, mainly ones who died fighting Spider-Man, along with their respective Spider-Men themselves. Strange gave me this other watch that allowed me to use his sorcery to track the multiversal intruders." Peter lifts his arm to show a band with a circle of sparks rotating on top of it.

"Woahhh. Wait! Is that how you found me? In the tunnel?" Miles questions.

"Yup!" He chirps, "Anyway, me and the other Peter's, we worked together to cure all the villains to undo their imminent deaths upon sending them home. We pulled it off, but at a cost. My Aunt May... died. And in order to stop an all-out invasion of multiversal Spider-Man villains, I had Strange cast a spell to make everyone in my universe forget Peter Parker."

Miles can't believe what he's hearing. "Wait, but your friends?"

"They forgot me. And I...", Peter sighs, "I chose not to remind them. It wouldn't have been fair, to try and rebuild relationships from scratch when I have all these memories and expectations, and they... you know, don't.... But it's alright. I mean it can definitely be lonely, you know? But it's better than going through all of that again, and putting others I care about in harm's way."

Miles soaks all of that in. "And I thought I was lonely for that year. At least I had my family. My classmates. Genke. Peter... No one even knew he existed."

"How did you get through that, Peter? I- I can't imagine." Miles asks.

"The answer to that question, is also the reason the Spider-Cops are after me." He says, parking himself in front of Miles, still standing. The younger boy stays quiet.

"Maybe a couple months after the whole 'now-your-remember me, now you don't' thing, I woke up and my suit, usually red and blue, had changed to-" he gestured to his chest, meaning his own pitch black suit, with a large white spider emblem.

"What? How is that possible?" Miles asks.

"I ran some tests out of the lab at my university," Peter clarifies. "It... seems to be a symbiote."

"Wait, you're saying your suit is alive!?" Miles asks.

"Not my suit, but whatever melded with it, yes. And it gave me knew... abilities, I guess? I'm even stronger now, I don't fatigue as fast, and the suit even helps me in combat," Peter explains.

Miles scoffs. "What, like it blocks punches?"

Peter shrugs, "Here, throw the water bottle at me."

"But you'll see it coming?"

"I won't move, just do it."

Miles raises an eyebrow, and flings the bottle at Peter, who true to his word, doesn't move an inch. Before the bottle can reach him, a black tendril emerges from the suit and slaps the bottle away.

Miles stares, slack jawed, as the bottle clatters to the floor. He slowly looks back at Peter.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? THAT'S SO SICK!"

Peter smirks slightly. "Nice that you think so. It seems to freak some of the civilians out."

"I mean, it is definitely a little... odd?" Miles suggests. "So, if it's alive, does it... communicate with you?"

Peter tilts his head in thought. "Not exactly? It's hard to explain. In fights, I can feel the power of the suit. The strikes it wants to perform. Sometimes I feel more aggressive, more excited by the fight than usual, and I assume that's the suit. When that happens, I need to reign myself in a bit. But it doesn't have conversations with me... Or at least, it hasn't happened yet. It helps with the loneliness though, which is what I was saying earlier. It's hard to feel entirely alone when your suit is alive," Peter rambles. "Although... I know things about it... somehow. I know that I'm not the first one it's attached too. I know that it has very few weaknesses. And... I know that it's not from this universe."

Miles eyes are wide like saucers. "It's from another Earth?"

Peter puts his hands on his waist. "More likely it's from another Space? It's definitely not Earth-based. But whatever it is, the Spider-Cops want it bad. Maybe if I find a way to return it to it's rightful universe, then those jerks will stop coming after me. Which is why I found you. Common goals, you know?"

Miles nods in understanding. "But why not just take off the suit and turn it in, if the symbiote is the only reason you're an anomaly? Maybe the Spider-Cops would let you go home."

"Based on what you just told me, you of all people should know they aren't exactly open to negotiation. Besides, I have a bad feeling about giving it to them. It feels... too powerful. Right now, I'm the only one I trust it with, and I think I'm the only one IT trusts too. I need to be the one to make sure it goes back to where it came from." Peter says honestly.

Miles nods. "I get it... I wouldn't want Miguel to get his hands on something like that, either. Looks like you're an anomaly for the time being then. Welcome to the club! You uhh... can be vice president."

Peter laughs, "What an honor!" He jumps over the broken coffee table, landing in front of Miles. "Anomaly buddies?" He asks, reaching out a closed fist this time to hopefully not tweak Miles' injuries.

Miles gives a small smile. "Anomaly buddies," he agrees, and bumps Peter's fist with his own. He leans back against the couch. "So uh, to recap, we need to find a way to give this universe a Spider-Man, get back to my universe within the next 24 hours to save my Dad, return your suit-alien to where it belongs, and find a way to defeat The Spot before he destroys the entire fabric of the Multiverse."

He glances up at Peter, who is giving him a cautious smile.

"All in a day's work, huh?" Peter asks.

"Sounds like pretty standard Spider-Man stakes to me," Miles jokes, thinking of his first mission with a different Peter.

Peter laughs loudly. "You are NOT wrong about that, man."

Chapter Text

Gwen and Peter B. knew the answer to Miles' location, wherever that may be, lay within Alchemax, the Kingpin-funded lab startup employing criminal scientists to solve multiversal travel. At least, that's what it was on Miles' earth.

The bus ride through the Hudson Valley was unbearable. Gwen couldn't stop remembering the warmth she felt when she noticed the very same bus ticket taped next to one of Miles' sketches of her, a memento from the first time they truly opened up to each other. Their bus ticket. The first time she ever explained both parts of her life to someone without seeing judgment or confusion in their eyes, but understanding.

Peter B. was also uncharacteristically silent for the majority of the ride, seemingly lost in similar memories of the boy they both desperately need to find.

They had left Mayday with the Spider-Band back at their makeshift Brooklyn HQ, a run down studio a block away from Miles' parents' apartment.

When they reached Alchemax, they had another showdown with the army of lab coats, but they subdued their opponents, grabbed the file they needed and escaped, luckily without bringing a bagel to a laser fight (this time).

Now they sit on a bench at a nearby park, the trees of the forest framing a beautiful view of high noon. There's no snow on the ground this time, and the forest is full of leaves.

And no Miles.

Gwen would give anything to rewind and have him here next to her, asking endless questions and trying to get back into her good graces after forcing a new hairstyle on her. A hair style she's grown out a bit, but never changed.

Her and Peter scan the file anxiously, reading up on the origins of the spider Alchemax had brought from another dimension as a test for Kingpin.

Their eyes both see it at the same time, in bold font and circled with red marker.

Earth-42.

Wordless, the two look at each other. Peter B. gives her a nod. This has to be it.

Gwen passes the file to Peter and stands. "We need to alert the others, have them meet us there."

"Gwen," Peter tries gently.

She walks back and forth, agitated. "Why are you still sitting? There's no time to lose!"

"Kid," he tries again.

"Miguel has definitely sent scouts there by this point, if not worse! We need to find him!"

"KID!" Peter shouts.

Gwen spins to him, eyes wide. She's scared.

"I know you're worried, I am too, but he's strong. He already beat Miguel once, hell, he beat you and I, not to mention outsmarting like a thousand more Spider-People. We'll get him home safe. Now, sit down."

Gwen huffs, annoyed with the delay, but reluctantly complies, sitting back down on the bench. "What is it, Peter?"

Peter B. twiddles his thumbs a bit, not used to the gravity of the situation. "What is your plan?"

Gwen bends an eyebrow. "Go to Earth-42 and find him, obviously." She feels they don't have time for this. Miles is out there, probably glitching uncontrollably, and his Dad has maybe 24 more hours to live.

"No. I mean, what is your plan, once we find him?" Peter clarifies.

Gwen's pupils go wide. Oh. She looks away and across the beautiful Hudson Valley countryside. "I... I'm not sure."

Peter nods. "I uh... It's just... like you said before... I would be surprised if he's, you know, happy to see us."

Gwen's lip quivers slightly in response. "Y-yeah... I know. But, I stand by what we said last night. Even if he just takes the watch and disappears, at least we'll have helped him get home safe."

Peter gives her a soft look. "And is that what you want?"

Gwen gives a sorrowful, empty chuckle. "Of course not. I-" her face flushes from admitting this in front of Peter B., but especially after last night's hot chocolate chat, she's learned by now that the older Spider-Man is way more perceptive than he lets on, so she says screw it.

"I just want... him."

Peter says nothing, which confirms her theory that he already knew all of this. She sighs.

They sit quietly, festering in the mistakes they've made in the past few months. Suddenly, Gwen voices a question that's been on her mind.

"Peter? How did you fix things with MJ?" She asks delicately.

Peter appears to be taken off guard by that. He coughs awkwardly. "This still about Miles, I assume?"

Gwen feels her cheeks heat slightly, but forces a nod.

Peter B. leans back on the bench and sighs. "Well, it wasn't overnight, but... we also had history. A lot of history. Heck, we've been together in one way or another since probably around the time you and Miles were born. Years of her knowing my double life, going to school with her, supporting her career while also swinging around risking my neck, you know? Years of her dating, then eventually marrying two different people, Peter B. Parker and Spider-Man. Complicated as hell, but somehow, in large part due to her, we kept making it work."

Gwen nods, letting the older man take his time. His story reminds her that he has in fact lived twice the life she has. Probably suffered twice as much. Probably made twice as many mistakes.

"And then, when we hit our thirties, she started talking about kids. It wasn't a surprise, we had obviously discussed the idea of it for years. But... I never could have predicted the absolute fear I felt when she told me she wanted to start trying."

Gwen sees the pain in his gaze. "And that's why you split." It's more of an observation than a question.

Peter gives a shaky nod.

"So... How did you get her back?"

Peter B. rubs his eyes tiredly, reminding her that neither of them have slept in the day since they watched Miles throw himself off that train and vanish out of their lives.

"I think... I think there was part of her that always knew I would come back to her. That whatever fear it was, that I needed to tackle that on my own." He states. "And I did. Thanks to Miles." Gwen's eyes widen, but it makes sense. Miles has a way of inspiring people, of making them see their true worth.

Even if they don't deserve it. "Damn it," she screams in her head as she bites her lip in despair.

"When I saw her again, I had a whole speech prepared. Flowers and everything. But honestly, it all went out the window pretty quick. Instead, I explained the wacky journey I had been on, these crazy kids I had met-"

Gwen rolls her eyes at her mentor.

"-And the lesson one of them taught me. I told her that I was ready, if she'd take me back. I spoke from my love for her, and made damn sure she knew that I would spend every day of my life proving that love.

Gwen gives a shaky nod, soaking that in.

"And then, Mayday," Peter finishes with a ta-da movement of his arms.

Gwen gives a light, close-lipped smile. It's about as much as she can muster right now. "Thank you, Peter."

Peter B. swipes away her thanks. "Don't mention it, kid," he says. "When you see Miles again, and it is when, not if, you need to tell him what he means to you. I think... it's probably the only thing that can bring him back to us."

Gwen nods her head passively, looking out at the children playing in the park. She feels a hand on her shoulder, and glances back at Peter B. "And I mean what he really means to you," he clarifies.

Gwen doesn't miss the implications of his statement and blushes again.

"I... I miss him so much, Peter. It was unbearable being away from him for over a year, never knowing if I would even see him again. Then, he was finally back and I had never been so happy to see anyone in my entire life, and I just..." She sighs, exasperated. "Well, you know the rest. God, I messed everything up so badly."

She sniffles, feeling a tear drop down her cheek.

The hand on her shoulder grips tighter, steadying her thoughts.

"We made a mistake, kid. All of us did. But if he's going to forgive any of us, it's you, Gwen. He cares about you. That doesn't just go away. He's hurt, sure, pissed at us, certainly. But the two of you, you need each other. Anyone of the Spider-Band would agree."

Gwen sits in silence, squeezing her eyes shut to try and stop from bawling at a public park. She takes a deep, shuddering breath, focusing on the feel of Peter B.'s steady hand on her shoulder.

"I-if... If I tell him... I've just never felt this way about anyone before, Peter. What if he doesn't feel the same way?" Gwen ponders sadly.

Peter gives her an unimpressed, 'seriously?' look. "Hey Gwen? Newsflash. Miles is head over heels for you."

Gwen feels her face roasting all over again, but also feels a surge of warmth in her chest.

Peter notices the ever so slight smile cross her face as she thinks about the boy in question. "Everything is going to work out, Gwen."

She shakes herself out of whatever memory she was visiting, before giving him a confident nod in agreement. "Let's go make things right."

Chapter Text

The two Spider-Men had been forced to sit around while they waited for Miles' healing factor to really kick in. Peter had helped him bandage some of the bigger cuts and gashes, and the sting in his ribs was finally fading.

A good chunk of the time was spent repairing Miles' webshooters from his encounter with Miles-42. At some point, Peter threw on a jacket, some sunglasses and a New York Mets cap (which had led to an entirely brain-melting discussion on how the Red Sox were a team in Boston in Peter's universe, not New York like in Miles') as a disguise before leaving and returning moments later, arms full of Gatorade and empanadas.

"Lunch of champions!" Peter announced happily.

"Where'd you get all this?" Miles questions.

"Oh, I just waited till the bodega guy went to the back room, then snagged everything and slapped some cash on the counter. Better to avoid most interactions when you clearly look like you're from a different universe," Peter chuckles. "Not my first row-day-oh!" He lifts a hand to his chin in thought. "I really hope cash works the same in this universe, though."

"Thanks man", Miles says, "There's a good chance I'd be dead if it wasn't for you."

Peter takes off his sunglasses and ball cap. "There's no need Miles, like I said, it's what we do."

Miles gives a faint nod, before suddenly a glitch takes over. He drops to his knees in pain. Then, it's over as instantly as it started.

He looks up and Peter is already there, fiddling with the watch on his wrist. "Here, wear my watch for a while. At least until you recover, to stop the glitching."

Miles looks at him in shock. "Are you really handing over your only ticket home to a guy you just met?"

Peter shrugs. "I mean... yeah? That looked super painful? And... we need each other if we're gonna get out of this," he says, as if it's obvious.

Miles feels tears welling behind his eyes. He wills them to go away. "Peter... I'm nothing to you. I'm nothing to any of the Spider-People. Why would you do that?"

"Miles," Peter leans down. "Peter Parker doesn't even exist in my universe. I've been wiped from every person's memory. Every photo that's ever been taken of me. Every public record. Hell, I don't even know if I'll be able to prove my academic history for colleges. Point is... I've got no one to count on, nowhere left to turn to. And you?" Peter gives him a serious look, "You're in the same damn boat as me. And that makes you the closest thing I have to a friend right now. The closest thing I've had to a friend in over a year."

Peter reaches out a hand, pulling Miles up off the floor. He places a hand on the younger boy's shoulder. "I'm willing to take the risk." He pulls off his watch and holds it out to Miles. "Besides, I'm the VP of the Anomaly Club."

Miles gives a sad chuckle. When did tears start running down his face? Shit. It was all too much. How could Peter offer that with zero hesitation, when Gwen... Gwen barely even let him touch hers... The hurt comes back, icy sharp, clouding his mind.

"Hey."

Miles looks up, wiping his eyes. "Sorry man. It's been... a long few days."

"Say no more," Peter responds, and gestures to the watch again.

Miles relents, and takes the watch. The second he places it on his wrist, he feels physically better, as if taking a deep breath of mountain air. He lets out a sigh of relief, "Thanks, Peter."

Peter just gives a smirk in return. "See, I knew you wouldn't portal out of here immediately. I'm too fun to hang with!"

Miles rolls his eyes, and without further delay, the two boys dig into their meal.

"So," Peter says, muffled around a mouthful of empanada, "This other you, he's The Prowler in this universe? I thought Aaron Davis was The Prowler?"

"It seems like he was, then passed on the mantle to the other Miles. The other me never got bit by the spider meant for him, so Uncle Aaron must have led him down a different path." Miles responds, feeling guilt travel up his spine.

"Wait!" Peter says, eyes wide. "Uncle Aaron?"

"Uh... Yeah... He's my uncle..." Miles had avoided the topic of his uncle when filling in Peter on the whole super collider incident initially. With the sudden appearance of Uncle Aaron-42, it had... become hard to talk about.

Peter's mouth sits open in surprise for a few seconds, before he schools it back. "I think I've met your uncle, then."

That catches Miles off guard. "What? Like, in your universe?"

Peter nods. "Some years ago, when I was still new to the whole superhero thing, there was a black market arms dealer causing chaos in New York. He was using tech scavenged from a prior alien invasion that The Avengers stopped."

"Huh?" Miles looks at him like he's crazy. 

Peter rolls his eyes. "My universe is wack, remember?"

"No shit," Miles agrees, eliciting a chuckle from Peter. "Wait, what are The Avengers?"

"Ugh, honestly? That'll really lead us down a rabbit hole that we don't have time for right now. Anyway, this dealer was creating weapons out of the alien tech left over from the invasion. Aaron Davis oversaw some of the deals for him. I met your uncle when I stopped one of his deals in a parking garage. Honestly? Nice guy. Too nice for the dude he was working for."

Miles can't believe this. "Did you bust him?"

Peter shrugs. "No. He gave me some... advice? Kinda? Like I said, he was a nice guy, and at the time I had way bigger fish to fry. So I let him go."

Miles lets that sit with him for a moment. "Is Uncle Aaron a criminal in every universe? It hurts to think so."

"So..." Miles starts, scared to ask his next question.

"What happened to him?" Peter finishes, reminding Miles that Spider-People are inherently good at reading each other. Miles gives a slight nod. 

Peter sighs. "I don't know as much as I'd like to. I, uh... wasn't around for a few years there... and when I got back, I did some digging into all the shady dealings I had been keeping track of prior, Davis included. But it seemed he went radio silent at some point. Around the same time, reports of The Prowler taking jobs for the local mafia started to surface. I guess now I know that's probably him." Peter finishes, looking contemplative. "But like I said, I haven't been to my own dimension for close to a year now, thanks to that Miguel guy. So I'm not exactly up to date."

Miles could see some pain behind the other boys eyes when he mentioned his "break" from being Spider-Man, but decided not to press the topic at the moment. Instead, he takes a deep breath.

"Well, my mind is officially mush now." He says in complete seriousness.

Peter laughs, gulping down another bite. "I like you, Miles. It's nice meeting a Spider-Man that isn't a Peter Parker. It's especially nice not having to fight one."

Miles chuckles. "I like you too, Pete. Wait, uh, is it cool if I call you Pete? There's kind of a lot of Peter's, and I need to differentiate. No offense." He says with a small smile.

Peter smiles, "None taken. Pete is more than fine!"

The two sit and finish shoving empanadas down their throats. After, Miles grabs a blue Gatorade and downs it in one go.

Peter grabs one as well, taking a swig before spitting it out. "Ugh! This red one tastes like cucumber in this universe? Why!?"

Miles smirks at his counterpart's antics.

Peter drinks water to wash out the taste. "Bleh!" Then he turns to Miles. "Anyway, it's been a couple hours, think you can stand?"

Miles gulps, but tries to get up anyway. To his surprise, he only feels a faint ache in his ribs, and it feels like his cuts have stopped bleeding. He stands with ease. "Woah!"

"Never question the healing power of empanadas," Peter smirks, "and, ya know, an accelerated metabolism and healing factor, but the empanadas really help in my opinion, or the sandwiches from Delmar's in Forest Hills."

"Noted," Miles says.

"So, off to your universe then?" Peter asks.

"That's the thing, Pete. I don't know which Earth is mine." He explains, "I was counting on the Go-Home Machine at the Spider-Society to send me to the right place."

Peter nods in understanding. "But this is the universe where your spider is from," he concludes.

Miles nods this time. "I also..." he sighs, rubbing his eyes, the vision of his dad coming back. This sucked. "I need to help this world, Pete. Maybe it isn't my fault I was bit, but I'm still the reason this world doesn't have a Spider-Man. I can't just leave this Earth like this. We... we need to give them a Spider-Man. We need to make things right." He feels tears in his eyes, but rubs them away quickly.

Peter looks at him, then gives an approving smile. "I can't say I'd do different."

"Yeah... but my dad... I have to save him," Miles says.

Peter pulls his dark mask on, the large white lenses flexing with his expression. "So we'll do both. We'll find a solution to fix things here, and along the way, we'll figure out which Earth you belong to so we can save your dad."

Miles scoffs, "You make it sound so simple."

"It is," Peter says. "People in need. We help. Not too much more complicated than that."

Miles meets Peter's eyes, and sees determination. Absolute belief in the words he just said. And it helps. For the first time since Spider-Society, Miles begins to feel that old optimism that used to define him. He looks over to his dirty mask, lying on the couch. He takes a breath, steadies himself, and webs the mask. It soars across the room into his hand. He turns to Peter. "Let's go prove that Spider-Man can do it all."

"That's what I'm talking about!" Peter yells, pumping a fist. He spins and dives out the window, the thwip of a web reaching Miles' ears.

Miles looks down at the eyes of his mask. He can't help it, the image of Gwen's mask flashes across his brain. He cringes, the pain still fresh. He shakes his head, ridding himself of the distraction. Miles pulls on his mask, and jogs, limping only slightly, before jumping out the window to follow Peter.

Chapter Text

On a rooftop in Earth-42's Brooklyn, a portal opens.

Gwen emerges from it, Peter B. quickly following, Mayday strapped to his chest as he lifts a hand to shade himself from the sun.

When Gwen lifts her head to view the city, she inhales sharply. "Oh shit..."

"Woah, language in front of the kid, young lady!" Peter B. chirps. He moves his hands to cover Mayday's ears, before catching sight of his surroundings. "Oh... shit."

Gwen rolls her eyes. "Well... it definitely looks like a world with no Spider-Man."

Peter nods numbly, and sighs. "Okay. Where would Miles be?"

His younger protege places her hands on her hips in thought. "Same place I went when I looked for him in 1610. His apartment."

She looks over at Peter, who gives her a shit eating grin. "Ahhh, and I bet you know how to get there, huh?"

Gwen gets flustered, feeling her cheeks heat slightly. She exaggerates a scoff, "What's that supposed to mean?" Her eyes widen, "Wait, no d-"

"I bet you know which room is his too, don't you?" Peter asks, wiggling his eyebrows.

Gwen turns from him so he can't see that her face is the color of a tomato.

Peter and Mayday both giggle uncontrollably.

"UGH, even the baby is against me."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Damn it!" Gwen shouts. She grips her hair in frustration, squatting down, and squeezing her eyes closed.

They're on the rooftop across the street from Miles' apartment. They didn't find anything useful. Nothing that pointed to where Miles might be. Walking around, her sense had tingled with a specific feeling of him, as if he had been there, but nothing beyond that. Just pictures of... another Miles... and his mom. Not even any evidence of his dad. "Maybe... Maybe his death already came to pass here..." Gwen thinks. She hopes it's not true, that she's just projecting, but the thought still terrifies her, reminding of the impending ticking clock on their own mission. 

"Kid?"

Gwen won't let tears fall again. She won't.

"Where are you, Spider-Boy?" Gwen breathes out, near silent, asking no one in particular.

Just then, another portal opens behind them, Spider-Ham leaping out, mallet resting over his shoulder, "I believe someone called for backup!"

"Hey Hammy, about time!" Peter B. greets, before looking down at Gwen. "Come on kid, we'll figure it out. We always do." He offers Gwen a hand. She sees the determination in his usually goofy expression, and nods, accepting his outstretched hand. Rising and turning, she sees Pavitr, Noir, Peni, Hobie, and Margo exiting the portal. 

"For the last time, CHAI MEANS TEA, BRO! How are you still not getting this!?" Pav yells in annoyance.

"Have ya eva considered I jus' like rilin' ya up, mate?" Hobie responds with snark.

"Well... it's working!" Pav yells back, uncertain.

"Guys, come on, focus up," Margo says, corralling them. She turns and sends a nod to Gwen, who gives her a small grateful smile in return.

Gwen takes a deep breath in, then lets it out, resolving to execute the back up plan Peter B. and her had discussed. "Okay, people. You know why we're here. Miles is out here, somewhere, and we've gotta find him and bring him home. We didn't find anything useful at his apartment, so we'll have to do this the old fashioned way. We'll split up in duos and take the different Burroughs. "Pav and Margo, take The Bronx. Hobie and Peter, scan Manhattan. You two toons," she turns to Ham and Peni, "cover Queens." The pig gives a confident salute and Peni lifts two fingers in a peace sign. She turns to the last person in the line up. "I... guess that leaves you and I, Noir. Care to help me with Brooklyn?" she asks.

"My pleasure, kid. We're more ghosts than people, the two of us. Fighting both our enemies and our troubled pasts with little more than a whisper." Noir says, as a match burns out in his fingers.

Gwen sighs. "I don't know what that meant, but... go team?"

"Wait, who's taking Staten Island?" Peni asks. Everyone looks at her.

"Seriously?"

"Come on."

"There's no way."

"Absolutely not!"

"Honestly, Miles gon' be bloody insulted when he hears ya think he'd even be caught dead there," Hobie teases.

Peni shrugs. "I mean, the ferry can be fun?"

"Alright! First one to find the invisible kid wins!" Peter B. yells, taking Peni out of her misery and running towards the ledge.

"Win? Win what?" Margo asks, but sighs as Peter leaps off the roof with a whoop, Mayday giggling madly. "The dummy didn't even tell us what we'll win."

Hobie chuckles and takes off after his partner.

"Be safe Hobie!" Pav yells.

Everyone freezes. Hobie skids to a halt at the ledge of the roof, slowly turning back to the group, one hand on his guitar. Pav looks to be cringing hard.

Gwen looks back and forth, corners of her mouth twitching. She finds the whole thing delightful.

Finally, after either seconds or hours, Hobie coughs awkwardly and says, "Uh... you too, mate," before turning and leaping off the roof.

"Alllllright. We're gonna break down whatever that was at a later time," Margo states, smirking like the Cheshire Cat. "Come on, partner," patting Pav on the shoulder and letting herself fall off the edge of the roof.

"Wait, Pav, aren't you gonna tell Peni or I to be safe?" Ham asks, completely serious.

"UGH, I hate you all!" Pav growls, then jumps down after Margo.

Gwen slides on her mask and raises her hood. "Ready, Broody?" She asks Noir.

"Always ready to crack a case, boss," Noir replies.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They decided to start north with Williamsburg, then slowly work their way down towards Prospect Park, then cut west towards Red Hook.

If the far off views weren't clear enough, swinging through the streets sure is. This New York is rough. Gwen passively wonders if her home would look the same after a while if she just vanished. It's not a comforting thought.

They swing with purpose, generally sticking around the Q line track, leading them south. 

"Hey boss, what happened at the Spider-Society?"

The question catches her off guard, she nearly loses grip of the web line mid-swing. "Uh- the others haven't filled you in?"

"I have not asked them. I want your take." Noir says as if it's any other case he's trying to solve.

"What?" Gwen asks, flinging herself up over a stoplight and throwing out another web line. "Why mine?"

Noir lands on a bus, taking two steps and leaping back into a swing to catch up. "Because I can see the darkness in your eyes. The rings under them most pronounced. Whatever has happened... it has affected you deeply, more than the others."

"Gee, thanks," Gwen says with a sarcastic edge.

Noir goes quiet for a moment, then, "If you prefer, we can discuss colors again instead. I have been practicing a lot."

Gwen scoffs, and decides to fill him in. If he's risking his life for the mission, he deserves to have all the details. That was a mistake she had vowed to never make again.

"Miguel told Miles his dad will die. Soon. That it's a predestined canon event. That The Spot, the guy we're going after once we've got Miles, will destroy his universe if Miles saves his dad." Gwen says. It hurts to relive it. To relive her own... inaction.

"And the kid didn't accept that," Noir puts together.

Gwen casts a web, throwing herself through the gap between two cars. Noir slingshots himself over the vehicles.

"No. He didn't. He argued that Spider-Man can do both. Miguel tried to trap him. He busted out, ran away. We-" she shudders slightly at the memory, each swing suddenly feeling heavier. How she was so clearly on the wrong side, but so horrified of being sent home, just to push away her best friend and get beamed back to her dad anyway. She lost him for nothing. "We chased him. Miguel fought with him. Miles-" she scoffs sadly, remembering the burst of pride she felt when Miles completed the venom strike, defeating Miguel. The pride turned soul-crushing shame when he fixed his eyes on her.

"Kid!" Noir yells.

Gwen looks up, yelps, and webs herself to the left, nearly dodging a light post. She hadn't even seen it.

"...Thanks." Gwen makes out.

Noir fixes her with a side eye from under his fedora, his wide lense expressing his desire for her to finish, but giving her time. They both swing in silence. Thwip. Thwip. Thwip.

Gwen lets out a deep breath and slows up her swinging, landing on the roof of the Q train as it rumbles it's way down the elevated track. She places her hands on her hips, taking a few steps, looking around in all directions at the dismal view of this alternate mid-Brooklyn. She looks up and sees dark clouds approaching. One of New York's famous Summer storms, no doubt.

She closes her eyes, and focuses deep inside, willing her spider-sense to reach out. Gwen feels the electricity of the run-down train beneath her, sees the children blocks away playing basketball at a decrepit court, hears the flames of a nearby bonfire where civilians struggle to cook something edible. The thwip of a web and the accompanying tingle in the base of her skull to alert her to another Spider-Person, as her partner lands behind her.

"But no Miles." It tears her apart. "He should BE here. He should have been a part of this from the beginning," she thinks.

Noir says nothing. She'll give it to the guy, the whole dark and stormy personality makes for a great listener.

Gwen looks down at her gloves, fiddling with her fingers. "Miles beat him. I was so proud. But then he looked at me, and I knew I had hurt him so deeply. I betrayed him, Noir. I was scared of being sent home to deal with my own family shit, so I worked against him. I didn't stand with him when he needed me." Gwen states solemnly.

Noir takes a few steps forward until he's next to her. The two of them look out at the brick homes as they blur past them.

"I can see you regret your past actions. He will too," Noir begins, "We've all done the wrong thing at some point, kid. Actions, they're the real evidence. Fight for him, give the chumps the ol' one-two," he says throwing a couple punches at air, "and show him who's side you're really on."

Gwen smirks at him, impressed that a speech of his made her feel a bit better. "Thanks, Noir. Who knew you had this emotional knowledge in you?"

"I am highly trained on the subject, as I am very in touch with my own... darker emotions," he says, lighting another match out of nowhere.

"Anddddd he's back." Gwen says, shrugging in amusement. "Do you have a compartment specifically for storing matc-"

Right then, Gwen's sense SCREAMS at her. Her eye lenses blow wide. She can tell Noir feels something too, perhaps not as intense, but he also has the physical expression of a mannequin.

"Is it?" Noir starts.

Gwen nods furiously. She felt it. Loud and clear. She can't explain it, but she knows it's him.

Miles!

Right then, their watches crackle to life. "Guys! Big explosion! Looked like it came from the MET!" Pav comes through, frantic.

Gwen's heart leaps into her throat at the word explosion. "Please, PLEASE be okay!" she manifests internally.

"We see the smoke!" Peter B. crackles through. "On our way!"

Gwen raises her wrist to her face, "Us too!"

She spins and sees the Manhattan-bound Q train about to pass them, heading back towards their new destination. She casts out a web, catching on the train as it passes.

"Come on, Noir!" She yells as the line tightens, slingshotting her towards the distant destruction.

Chapter Text

"We need to find... Uh, me!" Miles yells, breaking off his web line in a backflip before casting another.

"The other you? Didn't we just finish healing you up from your last chat with him!?" Peter chirps back.

"Yeah, man, but we need him. He's supposed to be this world's Spider-Man, and I took that from him. We've gotta find a way to make him like us!" Miles shouts over the rush of the wind as he swings lower, flipping over a passing semi truck.

"So we need to find a radioactive spider, then!" Peter concludes. "Add it to the freaking list!"

"I know, just... keep your eyes peeled for a guy in purple armor! Probably... doing something illegal!" Miles yells back, swinging around a building and heading uptown towards Central Park.

"Are you sure you want to give Spider abilities to a dedicated criminal?" Peter asks, genuine, casually web-launching himself off of a traffic light. "No offense! I know it's you and all, but still."

"He's supposed to be Spider-Man! I felt the tingle when I first saw him. It was quiet, but there! I have to believe he'll use his new powers to fix this city!" He looks over at his counterpart mid-swing.

Peter doesn't say anything, fixing him with his white lenses. After a second of free-falling, he nods before lifting out an arm of his dark suit for another thwip. "Alright. I'm with you, Miles."

Miles smirks, "You give the shirt off you back to every person you meet?"

"Pretty much," Peter jokes, "It's probably why I'm poor."

Miles swings around another corner, and his sense tingles slightly. He looks over at Peter. "You feel that?"

"Yeah, just barely," he observes in thought.

Miles drops, grabbing onto a flag pole. Peter lands on the domed roof below him.

"What do you think?" Peter calls up.

Miles closes his eyes and centers himself around his Spider sense. Blocks away, he can feel something flare. An alarm. Civilians screaming.

"The MET! Come on!" Miles goes to leap

"Wait!" Peter yells.

Miles glances down at him, only to barely catch a small item Peter's tossed up. Miles snatches it out of the air. A commlink.

"In case we get separated," Peter explains. "Probably won't work across the universal divide, but you know, as long as we're on the same Earth." He shrugs.

Miles nods in agreement, examining the small piece of tech closer. "Wait, what's this weird 'A' symbol on the side?"

Peter's eye lenses widen, looking shy all of a sudden. "Uh... It may or may not be... Avengers tech... that I may have not... have kept without asking."

Miles raises a questioning eye lense.

"You can ask all the questions you want later, alright?" Peter reasons.

"I'll hold ya to that... but good thinkin on the comm", Miles relents, shoving the commlink up under his mask and lodging it in his ear.

"Thanks!" Peter chirps happily, then backs up and let's himself fall off of the roof.

Miles wastes no time, swinging himself around the flagpole and soaring down the east stretch of Central Park. He faintly hears the thwips of Peter following close behind.

They reach 82nd street and land across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, clearly less maintained than the one Miles went to with his dad in his own universe. The blaring of an alarm is all the confirmation they need that something is indeed going down. Then Miles spots it, laying on its side on the front steps. A purple and green motorcycle, similar to the one his own uncle used to chase him so long ago.

"It's him!" Miles confirms. "That's his bike, come on!"

"Wait, Miles!" Peter yells, but Miles shoots two web lines to the building, pulls tight, and slingshots across the street, shattering through a high window.

Peter sighs, casting his own web. "Right, who needs a plan?" he mutters sarcastically, before swinging in pursuit.

Miles lands in a somersault, before turning invisible and webbing to the ceiling.

Peter lands shortly after, sliding to a stop. "Huh. Cops haven't gotten here yet. Weird." He looks around. "Uh... Miles?" he asks the seemingly empty room. With the alarm still going off, there's not much point in keeping quiet.

"Oh! Sorry, man!" Miles says, 'popping' back into existence.

"GAH! What the hell!?" Peter leaps back onto the wall in surprise.

"Crap! Did I not tell you I can turn invisible?" Miles asks.

"NO! NO YOU DID NOT!" the older Spider hisses.

"Oh... Well... I can turn invisible," Miles announces awkwardly.

Peter's palm meets his face. "Unbelievable."

The two take to the ceiling, crawling down a hall. "For a place with an active robbery and alarm going off, it seems... quiet? If that makes sense?" Miles ventures. Peter nods in agreement. They continue and crawl out over a banister into a large arched display room with a skylight. Upon climbing in, a tendril reaches out from Peter's suit and taps Miles on the shoulder.

Miles spins around, letting out a whisper of a yelp, before the tendril covers his mouth. He looks to Peter, who holds a finger over his mouth and points down. Miles' eyes follow the movement and sees two figures in the room below, standing in front of a large stone statue.

"I thought you said we'd be able to carry it out!? This thing is massive!" The Prowler yells indignantly, his voice sounding slightly robotic through the distortion of his mask. His purple and green armor casts a sharp contrast with the light-toned room, the reflection of his silver gauntlets shimmering off the polished wood floor.

The young woman he's addressing rests her hand on her hip, an amused smirk on her face. "She looks way more like your average burglar than Prowler," Miles thinks. Everything she wears, from the skintight suit to the bomber jacket to the combat boots, is all jet black. She wears a domino mask and her unique silver hair hangs down in a ponytail. "Relax, Buckethead, don't you know by now? I've always got a trick up my sleeve," she says, way too casual for the situation at hand.

She approaches the statue, a figure of a monk, one arm twisted down, the other up towards the sky, holding a small staff. The woman pulls out a small photograph of the same statue, but with its arms in different positions.

"Hmmm..." she hums. Prowler taps his foot, trying to hurry whatever is happening along.

The woman in black ignores him, instead reaching up and twisting one of the arms of the statue to face up instead of down.

Miles eyes widen. The statue can move!

She then reaches over and pulls the arm holding the staff into a downward position.

She backs up. "Huh... that should have done it," she complains.

Prowler sighs. "We don't have long, Cat. Whatever you're gonna do, do it now."

The woman, "Cat", apparently, shoots a glare over her shoulder at Prowler. She gives it another few seconds of thought. "Oh! Silly me."

She walks forward and twists the staff so that it hovers perpendicular to the statue's body. Immediately, there's a loud click and a compartment in the base of the statues pops open.

"Bingo!" Cat chirps happily. She bends down and snatches something out of the drawer.

"Told ya Fisk trusts his art more than anything else," Cat smirks at Prowler.

"Alright, now or never. Say hidden here, in case they make a run for it," Miles mutters, before letting go and dropping down below.

"Stay hidden? I'm not the one who can turn invisible!" Peter hisses after him.

Miles lands on the floor, splintering the wood slightly.

Both Prowler and Cat spin around, fists raised.

"Woah! Woah!" Miles takes a step back. "Didn't mean to interrupt." He says, waving his arms in a placating motion. "Well actually, that's not true. That's exactly what I meant to do."

"You again? Didn't get enough last time?" Prowler taunts, taking a step towards Miles.

"Aw, Buckethead, you didn't tell me you were making new friends," Cat drawls from behind Prowler, "I'm so proud."

"Not friends," Prowler snarls. "Only giving you one chance, Spider-Freak. Walk away. I'm kinda busy here, and short on both time and patience."

"Sounds like something we have in common," Miles observes. "Cool thumb drive there!" he gestures to the USB stick in Cat's fingers. "Guessing that's what you took from the statue. Belongs to Kingpin, you said? Nice. Yeah, I took him down once, back in my own universe."

Cat raises an eyebrow in question.

"Chance ruined. You don't seem to learn," Prowler growls, powering up a gauntlet.

"Alright!" Miles yelps, getting on with it, "The radioactive spider that gave me my powers, the ones I used during our fight the other night, came from this universe. It was never supposed to bite me. But it did. And now your world is suffering for it."

Cat's eyes seem to be bugging out of her head. "Uh, Violet Knight, you haven't been dealing drugs on the side, have ya?"

Prowler ignores her. He approaches Miles and stands in front of him. "You say all that expecting me to, what? Tell ya it's fine? No worries?"

"No." Miles takes a breath, steeling himself. "New York needs a Spider-Man. Mine, yours, and every Big Apple in every other dimension. I can give this world a Spider-Man. But I need your help to do it," Miles admits.

Prowler yells grabbing Miles by the throat and lifting him. Miles lets it happen, and barely senses Peter crawling frantically on the ceiling. He reaches out a few fingers, ever so subtly, to try to signal his partner not to act. Evidently, Peter understands, because he stops moving.

Prowler's helmet collapses into the suit, revealing Miles-42's face. "Why should I help you fix your own mistake?" he spits out, finally without the robotic effect on his voice.

"Cuz- it's your world, man. You can- be the difference. Like I- Like I was for my own New York. My own- family," Miles struggles out.

Miles sees a flame light in the eyes of his doppelganger at the last word. Damn. 

Then he's flying through the air, crashing into a display of armor. He groans, sitting up. "That came out wrong."

"YOU COME HERE AND LECTURE ME ABOUT FAMILY!?" Miles yells, the helmet once again covering his face.

Peter chooses that moment to web the flashdrive out of Cat's hand and lands on the floor behind Prowler. "Ooh! This looks important!"

"Seriously, another one?" Cat asks, fed up with whatever the hell was going on.

Prowler stops, turning to see Peter in his black suit. Peter hesitates, then, remembering it's not even his dimension, rips off his mask. "See? Not Miles... I get that you don't trust... yourself? It's a bit trippy, I understand. But, he's telling the truth. Miles and I are from different universes, and we're here to put things right. Those fires out there? You can put those out. You can be a symbol for your home."

He lifts the flash drive. "But that starts here. If you're going to steal it, do it for the right reasons. It's got Kingpin's dirty little secrets right? So leak it to the press. Show how many unjust cops are on his payroll, how many prejudiced politicians keep his interests in mind. Give your neighbors a fighting chance against corruption. Don't give it to whatever competing crime family sent you here," Peter finishes.

"Ugh, that's so... righteous, it makes me sick," Cat purrs. "Also what product are you using? Your skin looks, like... real."

"Side effect of being from another freaking universe," Peter restates.

Prowler scoffs. "This universe or not, you're crazy if you think I'm givin' up a pay day," Prowler snarls. He yells, and Cat and him both attack Peter simultaneously.

Peter grunts in annoyance, before leaping into action, flash drive tight in his hand. He dodges a left hook and subsequent kick from Cat, then shoots a web, zipping between Prowlers legs, somersaulting back to his feet and spinning around. "Now might be a good time to mention, I've fought an alien army before. With help, but still."

"You didn't tell me the alien had an army!" Miles yells, dropping onto Prowler's shoulders and webbing up his helmet.

"Like I said, it's a rabbit hole we didn't have time for!" Peter shouts, sliding under a clothesline maneuver from Cat.

"Do you always talk this much in fights!?" Cat yells, annoyed.

"YES!" both Spideys shout simultaneously, delivering a duo punch to Prowlers chest. He falls to the ground. Miles quickly sets to casting as many webs around Prowler as possible, while Peter spins and counters a swing from Cat, kicking her back. He then falls onto Prowler, both him and Miles working together to pin down the powerful suit of armor.

"Listen to us, Miles!" Miles yells at himself.

"You can do the right thing, here!" Peter supports, "Be the hero for your universe!"

"I DON'T WANT IT!" Miles-42 yells in frustration, powering his gauntlets and blasting both webheads across the room, burning the webs off in the process. Peter slams into a banister, the USB drive falling from his hands and sliding across the floor of the exhibit.

Upon landing on the floor, he coughs, "Ugh... Miles! Where's the drive!?"

Miles is staggering to his feet, glancing around. He watches as Cat casually walks over, leans down, and picks up the drive. "Oops. Butterfingers," she taunts.

Miles webs to the ceiling and swings across the room, landing in front of Cat and engaging in hand-to-hand. He hears a blast, does a flip to get away from Cat and looks over to see Prowler exiting the room and making a run for it. "Pete!" he yells.

"On it!" Peter shouts back, swinging around and through the doorway after Prowler.

He turns back to Cat. "Looks like your partner just dipped."

Cat shrugs, "Didn't think we needed him anyway," she purrs with a smirk. Before Miles can even wonder if she is actually flirting with him right now, Cat throws a punch, but he dodges it. She brings both hands down together, and Miles catches her fists.

He holds her in place, mid strike, "You know, the offer doesn't just extend to him. You're talented. You can help him be greater. You can make this city a better place. But my friend's right. It starts there," Miles says nodding to the flash drive clasped tight in her hand.

This time, he sees a flicker of... something in her eyes, but then it's gone just as quickly. She sweeps a kick and Miles trips backwards, doing a reverse somersault and jumping back to his feet. "You know I'm the Black Cat, right? Skilled burglar for hire. Best at what I do. And the pay is good. I'm not gonna give that up for some do-the-right-thing merry crusade," she taunts, then launches at him.

He counters, strikes, parries, webs her foot to the floor and twists her opposite arm, trapping her. "Something- tells me- if you were the best at what you do, you wouldn't trigger the alarm," Miles teases.

"UGH! That was Prowler's fault!" She slices the webbing with her claws. "Wait, claws?" Miles thinks. Before he knows it, he's being kicked in the chest and sliding along the floor, thudding into another display.

"Neat trick, there!" Miles breathes out. "Takes a lot to cut those webs," he says, trying to delay the fight till Peter gets back.

Speak of the devil, a large window across the room shatters, the Prowler bike flying through and skidding to a stop. The helmet collapses, revealing Miles-42. "Cat. Now."

"Ohhhh no you don't!" A web latches Prowler's front tire to the floor. Peter swings through the shattered window and lands.

"What took you so long!?" Miles yelps.

"I glitched, okay! It slowed me down!" Peter yells back, shouldering Prowler off his bike.

Miles rolls his eyes but springs into action, web lining Cat's hand that holds the flash drive as she runs towards Prowler. She swings to a stop, grunting with effort as she tries to pull her fist away.

There's a tense moment of tug of war. Miles could easily yank her, but is worried she'll go flying head first into a wall. Suddenly, Prowler slams Peter in the side, his suit morphing to accept the blast, and Miles-42 brings down a gauntlet, tearing Miles' webline. Black Cat flies back with the force of her own pull. Peter webs her hand to the floor.

"Pete! Web his gauntlets! Not his helmet! I need time to charge up!" Miles yells as his counterpart.

"I don't know what that means, but okay!" Peter shouts back.

Both Spider-Men throw out their hands, webbing as fast as they can.

Slowly, Prowlers gauntlets stick to his chest as he's wrapped up like a cocoon.

They both release, taking deep breaths. Miles centers himself, and begins charging up his venom strike. Electricity begins to crackle around his fists. He can already see Prowler charging his own gauntlets under all the webbing.

"Uhhh..." Peter mutters, before his sense spikes, and he ducks under a strike from Black Cat. He begins to tangle with her, trying to keep her occupied and away from Miles. "We're gonna have to go down a full list of your powers at a later time!" Peter yells.

Miles growls with determination, electricity travelling up his arms.

Right then, Prowler finishes charging his gauntlets, and with a yell, blasts through the webbing, rising to his feet.

Peter is swinging from wall to wall, keeping Cat on her toes, he flips over her, trying to web the drive out of her grip, but she sees it coming this time, leaping up and trying to claw his chest with her free hand. A tendril shoots out and smacks Cat's arm away while Peter lands on the floor, spinning into his battle stance.

"Hmph. No fair," Cat whines.

Prowler charges his gauntlets, they burn with an electric neon purple.

On the other side of the exhibit, blue currents crackle across Miles arms.

Both Miles variants yell, and sprint towards each other.

Black Cat tries to dive on Peter. He's about to deliver a two footed quick to her stomach.

Miles and the Prowler swing at each other, letting all their energy go into the punch.

Their fists meet.

A brilliant flash, and suddenly the room is hot white like the sun.

All the windows, including the skylight above, shatter instantly. The display cases fly into the sides of the exhibit. Peter and Black Cat crash through opposite walls into nearby rooms.

As color and sound come back, Miles finds himself bent at the knee in a small crater in the floor. Miles-42 is crumpled down, across from him.

Glass rains down. His sense yells at him and he lifts an arm over his head as a shard of glass slices into his forearm. He cries out, but then another shard lands, digging into his opposite shoulder. He yells again, and falls into a fetal position, covering his head.

Finally the rain of glass stops. Miles slowly looks up. The room is destroyed. Smoke rises from the display cases, fried to a crisp.

Besides his smoking armor, Prowler slowly pushes himself up. Glass slips off of him, harmless. He turns, and slowly limps towards his bike, which lays on its side some yards away.

Miles pulls himself into a kneeling position. He watches The Prowler stop, bend down, and pick something up off the floor. The flash drive.

"Miles!" He yells.

The Prowler freezes, then turns to face him.

"Do you really want me to kill you that badly?" He asks, robotic.

"I'm sorry, Miles! I didn't choose to be bitten! But I was. I didn't want these powers, but I didn't have a choice."

Prowler lowers his helmet and fixes him with a death stare.

Miles ignores it and continues, "But you... I'm offering you the choice. To be something greater. To save not only your own city, but your universe, mine, and everyone else's. I know you want to do right, because I'm the same, you just haven't found the right way. In my universe, it was... it was Uncle Aaron that died. Not Dad. He was shot by Kingpin, trying to protect me. He- he told me he let me down. I said he was wrong. And he died in my arms."

He looks up and sees that Prowler hasn't moved. "Okay. Progress," Miles hums internally.

"It tore me apart. But this..." He gestures to the red Spider emblem on his chest. "This gave it all purpose. A way to heal. A way to make damn sure that no one else went through the same pain that I did."

He sees the memories playing in Miles-42's eyes. So similar to his own, but with a different subject.

"I- I didn't get a choice. And lookin back, I think it's better I didn't, because I would've been scared. Would've said they got the wrong kid. And it wasn't until long after that I realized this was the best way to serve Uncle Aaron's memory. That we are the ones with the power to stop the unjust deaths."

He slowly pushes himself to his feet, realizing that his suit is torn across the chest and arms again. "So much for stitching that back together," he thinks bitterly.

Miles-42 looks at him.

"Unfortunately, these are the best cards we've got. It has to be your choice. You'll be the first Spider-Man in any universe to choose to be bitten by the spider. You'll slowly piece your New York back together. Make it safe for everyone," he pauses, "or you can sell off that drive, and keep being a criminal."

Prowler scoffs, "It's not like we hurt anyone, I made everyone leave when we arrived." He fumbles slightly. "It triggered the alarm. Cat was pissed... but I didn't want civilians here."

"If you sell off that drive, they'll still stamp you a villain, doesn't matter how many others were involved... But for the record, you just proved what my gut was telling me about you."

At Miles-42's questioning gaze, he elaborates. "That you care about the civilians. That's all Spider-Man is, really. Someone with the power to look out for the little guy, and actually goes out and does it. I know you've been looking for a way to define yourself, make an actual difference, because that's who I was just a year and a half ago. And I promise you, this is your chance."

Miles-42 is silent for a moment, staring down at his gauntlet. After maybe a minute, he lifts his eyes to look directly into Miles'. "You really think this... that this can make the city safe again? Can stop injustice in my neighborhood? Keep kids, even ones that look like us, safe on their walks to school?"

"I know it. Cuz I've lived it." Miles takes a step forward. "And you can too."

Miles-42 gives him a long, calculated look.

Then he nods.

Miles lets loose a huge breath, one he didn't realize he was holding. 

"Wow. Uh... okay," he chuckles, "great!"

Suddenly, his sense rings in his ears.

Peter re-enters, swinging in and landing next to Miles. "Cavalry's here! Looks like Kingpin's thugs! Guess that explains the lack of police. Money really does buy all, huh?" He turns to face Prowler. "What's the deal here?"

In response, Prowler lowers his gauntlets, the neon purple fading from them.

Peter's eyes go wide, before giving Miles a playful shove. "Look at you! Forging alliances! I wasn't sure you'd get through to the big edgy... you."

"I'm standing right here, you know," Miles-42 grumbles.

Black Cat leaps in, sliding towards Prowler's bike. "Prowler!" she hisses. "Building's surrounded! Let's go! We've gotta get that drive to Hammerhead!"

"We're not taking it to Hammerhead. We're leaking it to the press," Miles-42 says, matter-of-factly.

Black Cat freezes, then throws her head back and laughs. "Oh please, seriously?"

At the former Prowler's silent response, she scoffs. "Wow. I didn't think you were capable of this... warm and fluffy side. Fine, you want to go and play colored spandex with them, be my guest. But you owe me a payday." She spins around and mounts the bike.

"I need your help, Cat," Miles-42 says with the most sincerity Miles has heard out of him. Peter seems to recognize it as well, eye lenses widening slightly, but he keeps quiet.

Cat and Miles-42 seem to have a wordless conversation. They stare at each other.

Miles-42 sighs after a moment. "Catttt?"

"Oh don't Catttt me," she snaps.

"I need you on this one," he says, serious.

Cat taps her shoe, looking about ready to rev the bike and bolt.

"Cat? It'll be dangerous," he teasingly promises.

Miles is surprised at the warmth with which he speaks to her. But then, he sees a look pass through them, one that stabs him right in his heart. The same look Gwen gave him once, up on top of the Williamsburg Bank Building. Ouch.

Suddenly, there's slamming on the front doors, distant shouts echoing through the various exhibits.

"Fisk's people are here. Now or never!" Peter warns.

"Cat?" Miles-42 asks.

She debates for a few more moments, then let's out an "UGH! FINE! BUT IT BETTER BE DANGEROUS!"

"Great, awesome, go team, now let's get the hell out of here!" Miles pleads.

"You two, take the bike and head out the back!" Peter instructs.

"Sorry, but what about you two pajama freaks?" Black Cat asks.

"We can outswing them, we'll catch up with you!" Miles assures. "Once we've lost them, we'll figure out the next move."

The four look at each other, and all slowly nod. Peter pulls his mask back on, and Miles-42's helmet reappears.

"Alright. Uneasy alliance, achieved!" Miles chirps. "Now go!"

Miles-42 and Black Cat jump on the bike, the ex-Prowler revving the engine while Cat wraps her arms around him. He lets go of the brake, drifting around and zooming out the window through which he entered previously.

The two of them speed up quickly, connecting with the 86th Street Traverse and zooming off through Central Park towards the upper west side.

"Am I really just supposed to accept that there are alternate universes!?" Cat yells into the side of Miles-42's helmet.

"Is that really the craziest thing that's happened today!?" he shoots back.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"We uh, probably should've made them give us the drive as leverage," Peter ponders.

Miles shrugs. "Eh? Maybe. Guess we'll just have to trust em."

They both turn and walk towards the front entrance to the museum. "Hell of a punch you gave him, by the way," Peter observes, "I felt that when I flew through the wall into the stone age display."

Miles gives him a sheepish smile. "Heh... uh... sorry," he makes out.

Peter waves it off, "Don't be. But- we are definitely sitting down later and you're going to tell me every one of your surprise powers. Trust me, they're great party tricks, but I want to know what we've got on our side here."

Miles nods, understanding. "Sure Pete, I mean, I think you've seen most of em at this point."

Peter shoots him a glare, and even through his mask, Miles can tell he's giving him a "Seriously?" look.

Miles shrugs helplessly.

They get to the main hall and it seems the goons have backed away temporarily.

They pause. Something's off. Then both their senses burst into alarm. "Bomb!" Peter yells, sliding in front of Miles, tendrils seeping out of the front of his suit, reinforcing it.

BOOM!

The front doors fly off their hinges. A huge tendril extends out of Peter's shoulder, smacking one of the doors out of thin air.

"Behind me!" Peter yells over his shoulder. Miles obeys instantly.

Several goons with shotguns enter through the blasted door.

Tendrils extend out of Peter's arm, forming a large shield, which he holds in front of him and Miles.

The mobsters let loose, firing slug after slug, all of which are absorbed by the symbiotic shield harmlessly. Peter yells in determination, slowly taking steps forward.

After several seconds of shooting, the thugs stop, beginning to reload. "NOW, MILES!" Peter yells.

Miles swings around, and the two of them punch, thwip, and sling their way through the gang. Peter webs a shotgun, swings it around, and slaps another goon in the face, crumpling him to the ground. Miles webs a thug into a wall, then web lines the chest of another goon, yanking him forward and clotheslining him.

Finally, the path to the door is clear. As his adrenaline gets under control, Miles feels the sting from the flash shards return. He tries to shrug it off for the moment.

"Here- by the way," Miles says, breathing heavily as he rips off the watch and pushes it into Peter's hands.

Peter looks down at it, then looks over at Miles with a large questioning white eye lense.

"Come on, man. I can't have you glitching in a fight. If I start goin haywire, we'll switch off again," Miles rationalizes.

Peter sighs, "Fine," he says, strapping on the watch. Miles can see the relief in his slight eye twitch. Like a breath of fresh air. "Alright, let's go make sure they don't get themselves killed," he declares.

Miles nods, then takes off, leaping up over a desk and through a window. Peter slings two webs at the door, pulls back, then slingshots through.

Miles soars over the front steps, webzipping to a streetlight, and swinging around to balance on top of it. The heavy movement makes his arms sing in agony. He looks down and sees the shard of glass, still lodged in his arm. He yanks it out without a second thought, bending and moaning with pain. Before he can stop himself, he reaches up and yanks the other shard out of his shoulder as well.

"AH!" He yelps, shooting webs at both flesh injuries to hopefully stop the bleeding until his healing factor takes over. He forces himself to refocus, looking down the street and scanning the block for Peter. He spots the older webhead hanging from a billboard, waiting for him.

He's about to leap into a swing to follow...

Only for his sense to SCREAM at him, red hot, from the base of his skull. "SHIT!" he gasps internally, clutching his head, nearly losing his balance.

He forces himself to look up, and suddenly, there they are.

All of them, standing together on the same roof that Peter and him had used themselves to observe the museum.

His heart slams in his chest.

The gang's all here.

Every one of them.

The ones he trusted.

Here to capture him.

Chapter Text

Gwen thwips, swinging under the Manhattan Bridge, soaring through the air, then casts another web to one of the many crossbeams.

She moves fast, and knows Noir is trailing behind, but she can't help it. Miles needs her, and she won't stop. Not when she's so close! At least, she hopes he still needs her. She's afraid to think of what she'll do if that isn't the case.

Reaching the end of the bridge, she swings up and lets go, flying through the air and web-launching off of a billboard, zooming uptown.

When she approaches the MET, she quickly spots Peter B. and Hobie, both crouched on the roof of the building across from the museum. She lets go of her web line and drops down, landing behind them with a somersault. Neither of the Spider-Men move, both their senses alerting them to her approach.

"Should'a figured ya'd be the firs' ta show, mate," Hobie teases.

Gwen doesn't even register what he said. She usually enjoys Hobie's fun and lighthearted approach to conflict. But right this moment, her entire focus is elsewhere. She picks up the sound of the alarm wailing from across the street.

"So, a robbery?" she asks.

Peter still kneels, watching the windows of the MET carefully. "Seems like it may have started that way, but most robberies don't include sizeable, obvious explosions," he says, gesturing to the smoke rising from the roof of the museum. "Besides, if it was a simple robbery, cops would've showed up by now."

"Inside job then, init?" Hobie observes.

She catches the back of Peter's shoulders shrugging. "Doesn't explain the alarm, though. I have a hard time believing Miles would've triggered that."

Gwen nods, even though Peter is facing away from her. She looks up and sees the dark clouds closing in. She pulls her hood a bit tighter around her head. "Okay, so what are we waiting for? Let's get in there," she decides, moving to walk past the two Spider-Men towards the ledge of the roof. Suddenly, she hears a thwip, and looks down to see her foot webbed to the roof. Gwen shoots Peter a death glare through her eye lenses.

He holds up his hands, placating. "Sorry, kid, but we should wait this out."

Gwen scoffs. "What? What if he's in trouble!?" she asks, annoyed.

"I quite hate ta say it, mate, but the walkin mid-life crisis here is right on this one," Hobie agrees.

Gwen looks at him, surprise evident in her expressive mask. She barely notices Peter's indignant cry at Hobie's jab.

"Hobie... I can't sit on the sidelines while he suffers. Not anymore," she says with conviction.

"Oi, ain't nothin 'a the sort, alright? We spook 'im on this one, there may not be a notha chance before time's up for his pops," Hobie says.

Gwen grits her teeth together. Her sense alerts her to Noir landing behind them. He approaches and places a hand on her shoulder. "Trust us, kid. It'll be better if he sees us first, not the other way around," he says, agreeing with the other Spider-Men. 

She sighs, exasperated, and crouches down to join the others in their stakeout. "You all better be right about this," she says sharply.

Hobie looks over his shoulder at their trenchcoat-sporting counterpart. "Noir, ya seriously heard all 'a that?"

Noir gives him a blank look, which with his mask, is very easy to do. "No. I'm just perceptive."

Hobie turns back around to continue observing the MET, grumbling something under his breath about detectives.

Now that she can't do anything but wait, Gwen feels a bit awkward, and steps up next to Noir. "Sorry I left you behind... I-I just-".

She's cut off by Noir holding up a hand. He slowly lowers it, and simply gives her a silent nod. He understands.

"Woah! We've got some new friends showing up," Peter B. whispers over his shoulder.

Gwen is at his side instantly, crouching to his eye level. She sees six black SUVs speeding down the street, skidding to a halt in front of the stairs of the MET. Several men get out of three of the vehicles, armed with shotguns. The other three stay parked where they are, hitmen inside.

"There's a lotta bang in those boomsticks," Noir remarks. Hobie throws a disgusted look over his shoulder. "What?" Noir asks.

"He's right," Gwen defends. "Lot of firepower for a private squad. Kingpin's name is all over this."

The armed goons begin slamming on the front doors of the museum. "Huh. Dummies didn't plan on a locked door. Definitely sounds like Kingpin to me," Peter B. jokes.

Within a few minutes, the rest of the gang lands on the roof, coming to join the others at the ledge. Peter quickly fills in the newcomers, and then they hear the squealing of wheels out of nowhere. They look all around, until they catch sight of a motorcycle, speeding off away from the side of the museum, two figures on the back, neither wearing Miles' suit.

The three SUVs still parked quickly speed off in pursuit of the bike across Central Park.

"It's not him," Gwen confirms. "Probably just the thieves. So where is he?" she asks openly, anxious.

"Maybe he's not here?" Ham ventures.

"No, no, he HAS to be here. I felt it. My Spidey sense warned me. He's here!" she argues. Her allies all look at each other, then slowly at her.

"And we will get him, Gwen," Margo assures. "But you've gotta take a deep breath. You're not gonna be of any use to Miles... frantic... no offense," she finishes shyly.

There's a pause, before Gwen huffs and lets go of the breath she was unknowingly holding. She nods. "Okay, yeah, yeah, you're right," she says, relenting.

"Oh, boy. Bad guys are up to something!" Peni chirps from the ledge. They all look over to see the goons backing up down the front steps. Then one clicks a tube in their hand and tosses it at the front door.

"BOMB" they all say simultaneously, dropping flat to the roof. The blast is loud.

Gwen is instantly leaning over the side again, scanning the scene for any red and black. The rest of the Spider-Band slowly raise their heads to look back over the ledge with her.

"I think you were right, kid. The lack of consideration for city property sure points to Fisk," Peter observes.

"They're his goons, alright!" Pav agrees. "They dress nearly the same in Mumbattan!"

The armed thugs make their way up the front steps and force their way through the door.

Then they hear a cacophony of shotgun blasts, punches, shouts, and then silence...

Gwen clenches her fists so hard that she can feel her nails drawing blood. She doesn't care. If it wasn't for Noir's hand firmly gripping her shoulder, she would already be inside the museum.

Then, after a long, silent moment, there's a blur of black and red, and suddenly, he's there. Actually there.

Another black blur zooms by, off down the street, but she pays it no mind.

Miles balances on a light pole, and she wants to cry, because he's there, his suit torn a bit, some blood dripping, but alive.

She cringes hard when he yanks a shard of glass out of his arm, and she nearly cries out when he yelps in pain from repeating the process with his opposite shoulder.

Miles glances around, clearly looking for something, and seems to find it in the distance. He's about to leap off the light pole, when suddenly he grips his head, nearly losing his balance.

"He senses us!" Pav warns.

"I-it's alright. That's what we want," Gwen clarifies.

She sees Miles' mask tilt up, and he knows they're there.

And for the first time since he threw himself off that train, she feels his Spider sense, like a presence at the edge of her consciousness. It nearly breaks her. It feels like home.

"Please look at me," she begs internally.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They're here. Miles sense WAILS at him to move.

But he doesn't. He can't. It's like he's frozen to the freaking light pole. Everything that's happened flashes across his thoughts.

"Miles?" Peter's voice comes through his comm.

He sees them all in a line, together, facing him, high up on a roof, all eight of them.

"Miles!" Peter's voice yells.

He feels all their eyes bore into him. There's a flicker of white among the figures, and he clenches his eyes closed, but not before he feels her Spidey sense reaching out, entirely too gentle and warm, rubbing up against his own. "No! I can't do this!"

Suddenly, Peter's there, his dark suit a shadow, even with the impending clouds. He lobs something up at them, then they're all ducking away from the ledge.

There's a small boom, and webbing flies everywhere, coating the entire roof and temporarily occupying their enemies.

Then Peter's at his side, gripping him on the light pole. Miles' eyes open, catching a blur of his former team struggling with Peter's webs, then he's staring into the white of Peter's eye lenses.

"COME ON MILES!" he yells, yanking Miles off balance, forcing him to take action.

He doesn't waste time.

Doesn't think.

Just acts.

Miles casts a web, swinging with all his might after Peter, who's leading by a slight margin.

"Spider-Cops! I recognize them!" Peter shouts into his comm frantically.

"Not just that," Miles admits, feeling more numb than he has in his entire life. His arms are like dead weight, each swing harder than the last.

He feels Peter's lenses on him mid swing. But rather than ask, he says "Be what it may, we'll figure it out! Right now we've got a job to do. Come on!" He smacks Miles on the shoulder before throwing out a web and zipping ahead. That shakes Miles out of his trance. "We've gotta find 42 and Cat. They're top priority. No one is gonna get in the way of fixing this world," he focuses in his head. He grunts and slings himself over a fire escape, using the wall as leverage to push off into a dive, throwing out a new web line as he rapidly approaches the street. He swings up and sails over a yellowing, dead Central Park, spotting Peter not far ahead. The two of them use the trees as web points and quickly thwip their way across the park.

Miles sense grabs his attention and he glances off to his right, seeing a parade of three SUVs zooming down the 86th Street Traverse. "There! Kingpin's goons!" Miles chirps into his comm, pointing in the direction of the caravan.

"I see it!" Peter confirms, sounding slightly robotic through the commlink. Together, they swing after the convoy.

As they approach, Miles hears shouting and the distant cocking of assault rifles. "Guns, Pete!" he yells.

"Crap! Coming in hot then!" He shouts, swinging up high and dropping down onto the rearmost SUV. He quickly makes a shield out of his arm, protecting Miles as he lands behind him.

Peter sets to work distracting the gunmen from the cars ahead, taking their bullets while Miles climbs onto the side of the SUV. A thug leans out with a pistol, but Miles simply webs his head and yanks the goon out of the vehicle. The man tumbles to a stop behind them.

"Nice! That was so si- OH SHIT!" Peter yelps.

Miles looks up and sees a gunmen from the SUV in front of them hoisting an rpg. "CRAP!" Miles yells, thinking quickly and webbing the front tire of their own car to the ground.

The force brings the vehicle to an instant stop, the back bumper soaring up into the sky from the momentum. Both Spider-Men go flying-

-screaming their heads off.

There's a glorious moment as Miles watches the missile fly by underneath him, then the red hot blast is carrying them.

They smack down hard on the roof of the next SUV.

Peter groans and pats himself, as if confirming a lack of injuries.

Miles looks up to see a goon standing over him from the sunroof, raising a pistol. Miles webs the pistol, swings it around, and smacks the goon in the face with it. He crumples down into the cab of the car.

Peter sits up and chuckles. "Heh, I think I taught you that!"

Miles shoots him a glare, and they both get up. 

"Look!" Peter shouts, pointing out in front of the two remaining SUVs. There, far ahead, Miles sees the purple reflection of the Prowler bike.

"I see em!"

His sense screams again before suddenly he's off his feet-

- and flying through a brick wall, crashing through an apartment. Miles slams into a counter, and slides to the floor. The two children that live there stare at him from their couch, the TV tuned to the original Spider-Man animated series.

Miles slowly pulls himself up, grunting in pain. "This right here-" he breathes, gesturing to the TV, "is a classic."

There's a thwip and suddenly Ben Reilly from Spider-Society is there, entering through the massive hole in the wall, his sleeveless hoodie flapping against him from the wind. "Hello, everyone. I'm done thinking about my past. Ready to fight instead," he taunts.

Pete crackles through the comm, "Miles!? What was that!?"

Miles turns to the kids, "Go!" They obey and sprint out of the room, just before Miles dodges Ben's first swing. He meets it with a kick to Reilly's shin, who grunts, fakes a jab, and uses the juke to grab Miles by the free arm and throw him through the wall. Suddenly, he's falling. "Shit!" he yells, casting a web and swinging barely high enough to avoid smacking a taxi cab.

"It's Reilly, Pete! More Spider-Cops!"

"Shit! Okay, I'm coming to help!" Pete shouts.

"NO! DON'T! You need to protect 42 and Cat! I can handle this!"

"MILES! THE BOSS WANTS TO HAVE A CHAT!" Reilly yells from some distance behind him, swinging in pursuit.

"Tell him I'm not in the office!" Miles yells back, struggling to outswing the older Spider-Man.

"Are you sure, Miles!?" Peter asks anxiously.

"YES! Just keep me updated on where you're going. We'll meet up, promise!"

He can practically hear Peter frown over the comm. "Alright! But if you're not there when I get them to safety I'm coming back for you!"

"DEAL!" Miles yells.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peter grabs another thug through the side window and tosses him across the street, webbing him to the wall of a bodega. Just two more in this one.

Then he leans over and sticks his head down into the sunroof.

"HI!"

The driver freaks out and swerves. 

"Woah! Two hands on the wheel, buddy!"

The thug in the passenger seat pulls a pistol, only to have it yanked out of her hands and tossed out the window.

"Firearms? Against the rules!" Peter chirps, webbing the thug and slinging her up through the sunroof to dangle from a street light.

The driver continues to swerve back and forth, trying to toss Peter off. Spider-Man reaches down, a dark tendril extending from his arm, and pulling the emergency break.

The car skids to a halt. Peter sighs, then webs the drivers hands to the wheel. "I think you should retake your driver's test," he taunts, then backflips off the car and swings off.

"Alright Pete, one to go," he motivates himself.

As he gains speed, he taps his comm. "Miles?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"YOU'LL NEVER SAVE YOUR FATHER! IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE!" Reilly yells, coming down and tackling Miles in mid-air, snapping his web-line. They both drop towards the alley below, Reilly smashing him across the face with his fists.

"JUST. LIKE. YOU." he spits out between punches.

Miles feels his Spider sense flare. The ground is approaching. FAST.

He powers up a venom strike and shouts with effort, slamming his fists into Reilly's chest. Ben soars off through a concrete wall into another apartment building. Miles throws out a web and quickly swings back into the street. He feels the first drops of rain smack his face. Great.

"Miles!?" Peter repeats in his ear.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm here!" Miles fumbles.

"Wooh, you had me worried there," Pete says.

"Gonna take more than a clone to bring me down! Where am heading, Pete!?" He yells into his commlink.

"We'll lose the mafia on the GW Bridge!" Peter yells back. 

"Your plan is to go to Jersey!?"

"DO YOU HAVE A BETTER ONE!?"

"Point taken! I'll head that way!"

Miles weblaunches off a construction crane, flying north. In mid air, as he soars over Harlem...

Time seems to slow down...

His Spidey sense pounds in his head, nonstop. He slowly turns his mask and catches the glimpse of eight unique uniforms swinging across rooftops off to the East, blurred by the intensifying rain. Fear stabs him in his chest. A reflection of the bright white figure leading them. Why does it have to be her? Then the world speeds back up as his vision of them disappears behind a building. He shakes his head clear, he has people to protect.

Miles casts a web, and swings through Harlem as fast as he can push himself. He zooms between two cars, sprints off the side of a bus, and slingshots himself over the 1 train. He flies, then runs sideways along a building, swinging himself around the fire escape and leaping...

Only to be grabbed by the neck and slammed through the entire building.

He flies through apartment after apartment, shattering a window and free falling down towards the sidewalk.

Miles slings a web, but before he can even complete a swing, he's grabbed and scraped along the side of an office building. Glass and steel blast his ribs, before suddenly he's thrown.

He spins in midair, and he sees him.

His attacker.

Miguel.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peter swings ahead, slinging a web to the overhead 1 train and letting it pull him along. Finally he can see the Prowler bike clearly, just a couple blocks ahead, as well as the Fisk SUV hot on its tail. He reaches up with his free hand, wiping water droplets from his lenses.

Miles crackles through his earpiece. "Pete! *SLAM!* It's him- *WHAM!* Miguel!"

Pete's eyes widen. "Shit! Where are you!?"

Miles doesn't answer. Peter is nearly above the SUV.

"MILES!?" he calls again.

He looks over his shoulder towards midtown.

Rain falls.

Nothing.

"Please. Not him too." Something inky black screams inside him.

His earpiece crackles to life, Miles' voice barely coming in through blasts of static, "P-Pete", "Keep going", "I've got", "Got this".

Peter gasps in relief, when did his eyes begin to water? He leaps off the train, landing on the final SUV. "Are you sure!?"

More static, "We", "Can do", "B-both".

A thug climbs out a window of the vehicle and Peter growls, a black tendril reaching out and smacking the thug like a fly. Peter passively shoots a web behind him, catching the goon. 

He hates this plan. "Fine."

He yells ahead to the Prowler bike directly in front of him. "Cat!"

The head of platinum hair spins around, eyes wide in surprise. "Did they really not hear any of that?"

"Head for the bridge!" he yells, pointing up to the GW in the distance.

She swings her head around, following his hand, then turns back towards him, nodding. He confirms with a nod of his own, before leaping off the side of the SUV, swinging around a telephone pole and soaring back directly into the rear seat of the vehicle.

He bursts through the door, knocking out the hitman in the back seat in the process. He spins and webs the gear shift into neutral and shoots a web at both thugs in the front seat, before whipping them together. Their heads collide with a dull 'thunk'.

"Huh, not much goin on up top, eh boys?" he chuckles, leaping out through the sunroof, flipping around in midair over the hood and planting himself in the asphalt, pushing with all his might against the large vehicle.

He slowly skids to a halt.

Peter gasps, breathing heavily, and slowly, nervously removes his hands from the hood of the SUV. When it doesn't budge, he sighs in relief, standing back.

Suddenly he notices his feet smoking slightly. "Ow, ouch, ow, ow, ow! Hot!" he yelps, quickly zooming off on a web to cool off. "Why did I not put it in park? Maybe I need to take my driver's test.... Nah, I'm never gonna do that."

He swings off in the direction of the GW bridge, raising his finger to his ear. "Miles?"

No response. Just static. Peter frowns, but his Spidey sense kicks in, and he swings to catch up with the Prowler bike.

As he approaches the bridge, he spots the now familiar shimmer of purple and green on the street below.

"Phew, we might actually pull this off," he chuckles.

A large armored vehicle with a mounted gun cuts out of a tunnel behind the Prowler bike.

"Anddddd jinxed it. Stupid, Pete, stupid." He lets go of his webline, dropping down towards the vehicle.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gwen thought she was having a pretty shit day, all in all.

It becomes the absolute worst day of her life when she witnesses Miles get thrown through an entire building.

The whole thing happens in slow motion. At least, it sure feels that way.

They are mere blocks away from him. Gwen's whole world is a blur. She's pushing herself, but she can go faster, she knows she can go faster. She can faintly tell the others are falling behind, but she keeps going. She has to keep going.

Then she nearly passes out with the force of her sense blasting the base of her skull.

She flings herself up, landing on a water tower. Gwen swings her head around desperately. "Where is he!?"

There's a blast from high above her. She looks up and sees Miles crashing through a high floor of an apartment building, then he's falling.

She hears someone screaming, somewhere in the distance, before she realizes that the voice is her own.

Miles recovers, swings.

Then Miguel is there, grabbing Miles and dragging him along the side of a glass building.

"NO!" She gasps.

She gets ready to leap off in pursuit, but her Spidey sense flares again, and she looks back to see the destruction from the apartment level falling down towards the crowded sidewalk. She hears the pedestrians scream in terror, trying to outrun the storm of concrete and glass.

Just then, Peni lands next to her. "There you are, Gwen!"

"Peni! No time! Get the civilians!" Gwen shouts, leaping off the water tower and swinging in towards the apartment building.

Peni quickly follows and the two of them swoop in, grabbing pedestrians and swinging them out of harm's way. 

She drops off a mother and child across the street safely.

"My sister!" the little girl yells.

Gwen's eyes widen and she spins back around, seeing one more little girl beneath the apartment building, the concrete and glass from Miguel's fight with Miles about to rain down on her.

She doesn't think.

Just acts.

Gwen launches herself across the street, grabbing the girl and swinging them both around, clearing the sidewalk with mere moments to spare.

She lands gently across the street, and hands the child off to her relieved family. Then, Peni is landing next to her.

"Quick thinking, Gwen!" she compliments.

She nods slightly out of habit, her mind running a million miles a minute.

"Miles!" she blurts out, "Did you see him!?"

Peni frowns.

"Miguel- h-he had him! Miles- he's in bad shape!" she cries, the fear in her heart unlike anything she's experienced before. "We have to go! Call the others!" Gwen yells, already leaping up the side of a billboard. "Tell them to start heading uptown!" she calls over her shoulder, then with a thwip, she's gone.

Peni scrunches her brows in worry, then taps her watch to call the others.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miles had heard Peter's voice come through a few minutes ago, but was a bit preoccupied.

Miguel had just punches him in the face, hard, shattering his left eye lense.

Miles yelps in pain and leaps backwards along a high construction beam, several stories up, dodging a swipe from Miguel's bracer blades. He spins, kicking Miguel in the chest to gain more distance. He slips slightly on the landing. The now-heavy rain isn't making this easy.

"Look kid, you're out of your depth. You can't run from us forever!" Miguel persuades, throwing another punch, only to swing his bracer blades around. Miles dodges the first swipe, but not the second. The bracer blade slices his chest open from collar to opposite pectoral.

He cries out, loses his balance, and falls backwards off the beam.

Miles forces himself to react and throws out a web to the beam, swinging around in a 360 and throwing an electric fist at Miguel, blasting him in the side of the head.

Miguel flies off the beam and gets clotheslined by another, letting out an "OOF" as the air is knocked out of him. Just before Miguel is about to fall several stories, Miles webs his hand to the wall of the building.

"Nah, maybe not forever... but long enough."

Miguel raises an eyebrow, but Miles webs his face.

The older Spider roars in frustration, tearing the webbing from his face with his claws. He climbs up onto the wall and looks around.

He slams his fist into the wall when he sees Miles is gone.

Miguel lifts his watch to his mouth, "FIND HIM!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The armored vehicle is gaining ground on the Prowler bike, Peter swinging in close behind.

Miles-42 turns onto the ramp for the George Washington Bridge, zooming past a sign reading "Thank You For Visiting The Empire State".

Peter's almost caught up, when his sense thuds in his ears. He looks down, and hears the minigun on top of the Fisk vehicle whirring to life.

"Crap!"

As the hitmen chase the bike under one of the two bridge towers, Peter weblaunches himself through, flying in a blur and slamming into the back door of the armored truck, sticking with his hands for dear life.

Miles-42 swoops and weaves between cars, trying to gain distance on the Fisk truck, which just seems to slam civilian cars out of the way.

Peter punches a hole through the rear window, then reaches in and undoes the lock. The door swings out, and suddenly he's hanging by a thread out over open pavement.

He looks up, hearing the minigun cock into action.

"HEY!" he yells up at the mounted gunman, sticking out of the top of the vehicle. Confused, he turns around, just to get a web to the face.

The goon yelps, muffled, and pulls the trigger of the minigun. The death machine roars to life, the first bullets cracking the asphalt directly behind the Prowler bike.

"NO, NO, NO!" Peter yells, flipping over the door and jumping through into the back of the truck.

He glances around, spotting the legs of the overhead gunman. Peter punches him in the shin. The gunman yelps and turns the minigun to the side on instinct.

Bullets tear through a few of the suspension supports framing the bridge. There's a bit of a lurch of gravity and the screeching of metal.

"NOT GOOD!" Peter yelps.

He webs the driver's foot to the break, the vehicle skidding. He reaches up and yanks the gunman down out of his perch. The action causes the minigun to spin slightly, the last bullets popping the front tire of a gasoline tanker, before finally Peter forces the gunman to lose his grip on the trigger, falling down into the truck. The minigun spins to a stop, as Peter webs the gunman to the inside of the vehicle. The armored truck drifts to a halt.

Peter breaths out a chuckle, lifting himself up through the gunner's perch to stand on top of the vehicle, webbing the mouth of the driver in the process.

He turns, spotting Miles-42 and Cat a ways ahead, stopped and resting on the bike. He gives them a happy wave.

Even through her domino mask half a football field away, Peter can somehow tell Cat is rolling her eyes. Miles-42, on the other hand, slowly lifts a single hand in a still wave.

Peter grins.

His small smile is quickly wiped away when he sees them suddenly stiffen and point behind him urgently. His sense spikes at the base of his skull.

He spins around, only to watch the tanker truck fly by him, sparks shooting everywhere from the popped tire.

At the same time, the fried supports break away, and the entire bridge lurches. Peter swings his head back to locate the supports. "I can web them up to hold temporarily! But the tanker!"

He looks back at Miles-42 and Black Cat, who have suddenly dismounted the bike and seem to be in combat stances. He makes eye contact with the helmet of Miles-42.

He nods at Peter. They've got this.

Peter doesn't waste time, leaping off the truck and swinging back towards the supports. He jumps up and grabs the ends of the three torn support cables, grunting with effort to pull them back together.

A ways away, Miles-42 charges his gauntlets. Black Cat throws out a device onto the asphalt.

The tanker falls onto its side, skidding towards them with force.

Miles-42 looks behind him, and sees all the pedestrians and commuters watching with horror. He knots his brow in determination, turning back towards the tanker. As the truck slides over Cat's device, it bursts, throwing a net all around the truck, slowing it down slightly.

Then the tanker is upon them, and they slam their fists into it, grunting with exertion as the truck pushes them backwards. Miles-42 activates his gauntlets to push back against the tank, careful to not hit too hard and produce sparks.

Something inside Peter growls with determination as he pulla the supports back to their counterparts. Once close enough, Peter casts webs all around the cables. He slowly lets go, and besides a slight metallic screech, the supports stay in position. He breathes out in relief, but spins and takes off towards the tanker. The job's not done.

Peter flies up through the air, seeing Miles-42 and Cat push with all their might against the truck. It's slowing down, but not fast enough, quickly gaining ground on the civilians.

Peter lands behind the truck, casting as many webs as he can and planting himself firmly, pulling back as hard as he can, grunting through his clenched teeth at the effort.

Finally, with both Miles-42 and Cat pushing against the truck, and Peter pulling from the back, the tanker slowly skids to a stop.

Peter nearly falls over after letting go. It's been a long day.

Quickly, his mind goes back to his teammates, and he slings a web to a bridge support, swinging out above the Hudson then back over the bridge to land next to them.

He startles both of them, and they swing around, fists raised.

"WOAH! HEY! Just me!" he yelps, raising his hands.

They both seem to calm down. Then Cat chuckles, "We did it," she announces in disbelief.

Miles-42's helmet collapses into his suit. "I can't believe that worked."

"Pshh, of course it did, you guys were incredible!" he compliments.

Cat actually blushes slightly, and Miles-42 looks down at his feet. "Pretty good for a couple of thieves, I guess," he admits quietly.

Peter notices something over Miles-42's shoulder. "I wouldn't sell yourself so short. Look at that!"

Both former criminals turn to see the civilians, some leaning out of their cars, others slowly approaching. 

Miles-42 and Cat appear confused, but then, one-by-one, the civilians begin to clap.

Peter laughs at the look on his teammates faces, both blushing and clearly not expecting this reaction. Some of the civilians woop and holler, other yell their thanks, and the rest applaud them, the sound quickly building.

"Feels pretty good, huh?" Peter asks, looking over at the two of them.

Black Cat and Miles-42 give each other a look, then both glance at him, nodding.

Peter smiles even wider.

He looks around the bridge, his smile falling as he looks back towards Manhattan. "Now to find Miles."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the construction site, Miles had pushed himself to keep going, even though he can barely think over the pain emanating from his chest. His suit is soaked through with either rain or blood, and he's not sure he cares to know which at the moment.

He slings himself over a bus, runs up a billboard, and leaps over several roofs. He looks up in mid air and finally, finally, the GW bridge is in sight. He nearly passes out in relief...

...then nearly passes out for real as a glitch takes over. He gasps in pain, loses grip on his web, then he's falling.

The glitch finally subsides, but not before Miles crashes through a ceiling and lands hard in a heap.

He coughs weakly, briefly reminding him of his first and only interaction with his own Peter Parker. "Coughing's probably not a good sign."

He takes a breath, and webs the ceiling, using the lines to lift himself up.

He sees a bench near him, and can't help it. He drops into the seat, groaning and gently leaning his head back against the tile wall. He briefly glances around, trying to get his bearings. It seems like he's underground. An abandoned subway station, he can see the old tracks mere feet from him. He must've fell through and landed on the loading platform.

Miles bites the bullet and looks down at his own body. He inhales sharply. It's not a pretty sight. His suit is practically ruined. The tear across his chest massive, and blood drips from the large gash left by Miguel's bracer blades. Miles grunts in pain, casting a web over the wound. Besides that, he can feel blood dripping down his right leg, but he can't figure out from where, so he just webs up the entire side of the leg. He can feel a black eye coming in where Miguel shattered his left eye lense. He feels a trickle of blood dripping from a slice above the black eye, blurring his vision slightly.

Miles groans. "Gotta... keep... moving," he coaches himself, slowly pushing off the bench and limping down the corridor towards a set of old stairs. He remembers his comm, and reaches up to his ear. "P-Pete?" he asks weakly.

No response. Just static.

He sighs, "I guess I am in the subway, what did I expect?"

He reaches the stairs and uses the side rail to pull himself up towards the next landing. "Gotta get out of here," he thinks, trying his best to motivate himself, "Gotta find Pete."

Finally, after what feels like ages, he reaches the main circular landing. He sees MTA ticket machines off to the side, and turnstiles in front of him, and beyond that, another set of stairs leading to a large door. "That's my way out," he realizes, relief filling him. He begins to limp his way towards the turnstiles-

Then the main door bursts open in a fit of dust.

His Spidey sense SCREAMS. It almost brings him to his knees.

"Ya sure he landed in this dump?" Ham asks.

"I saw him fall! He has to be around here," a familiar feminine voice comes through.

It's her. "No, no, no, no, no, SHIT, this can't be happening." 

Miles can barely react, his heart is in his throat, pounding a million miles a minute.

Everything feels too loud.

He can't breath.

Can't focus.

"Is this a panic attack?" The thought briefly shoots across his mind.

And then they're all there. The eight figures he's been running from, descending the stairs to the train terminal.

Blocking his only means of escape.

He doesn't move. Can't. He feels absolutely rooted to the spot.

His sense BEGS him to act, but he can't.

So his sense acts for him.

He disappears.

His former teammates reach the bottom of the stairs and begin to explore the room.

Miles stays absolutely still, standing invisible in the middle of the room. He wanted to leap up to latch onto the ceiling, but he's honestly not sure he can take the pain of doing so.

He's reminded of when he hung upside down, invisible, while Gwen effortlessly told Jessica Drew she would never see him again. Like he was... nothing.

He shoves the pain down and focuses on the task at hand. Not getting his ass hauled back to Spider-Society.

"Are we sure he's down here?" Margo asks.

"There's only one way to find out!" Peter B. answers. "What? Don't like spelunking?"

"Eww!" Pav whines.

"I'ma pretend ya didn't jus' say that a'loud," Hobie mocks.

Peter B. shrugs.

"I believe I have found blood," Noir reports from the edge of the corridor through which Miles came, "It is... difficult to tell... as I only see in shades."

Miles slowly turns his head, and sure enough, there is indeed a smear of his blood on the wall where he used it as a support.

As Hobie walks over to confirm gor Noir that it is, indeed, blood, Miles notices that a certain member has been relatively silent thus far. Miles slowly listens for her, careful not to move.

In Gwen's head, she's freaking out. "Where is he? I need to see him! Where are you, Spider-Boy? Shit, if he.... No, no, no, Gwen. It won't come to that. It can't. I will find him. And he will be okay." 

Truthfully, she's fearing the worst. Not even the average Spider-Person just walks off what he went through today. She needs to see him, just to know he's okay.

Miles shakes with terror. They're going to figure out he's there. They're going to bring him right back to Miguel so he can finish the job and doom his dad. He's going to lose everything, just like Spot promised.

Gwen figures she must be going insane. How can she feel his presence through her Spidey sense, but can't see him?

"Wait..." She freezes, and her brain skids to a stop. "Can't see him."

Her heart suddenly feels like it's going to beat out of her chest. Is he here? Right now?

Then, as if the situation couldn't get more complicated, another glitch hits Miles.

He yelps and crumbles to the floor, losing his invisibility.

Eight pairs of eyes are on him in an instant.

Once the glitch fades, he looks up at his former allies, even though they look more like blurs than anything else, thanks to the blood dripping down his face. And the new tears prickling at his eyes. Damn it.

He forces himself to stand on uneasy legs.

As always, some indescribable force pulls his eye sockets to the figure in white. He can't help it. Maybe he hates himself.

He can barely tell her mask lenses are blown wide, and even though he can't see her face, he can imagine the shock there.

On Gwen's side, she can practically feel a part of her die when she sees the state he's in, dripping blood and tears, shivering uncontrollably. One of his hands is putting pressure on his ribs, the other down in a hard fist.

"M-miles?" She stammers out, barely more than a shy whisper.

The sound of his name on her lips snaps his heart all over again. Her voice sounds wet, as if she's crying under the mask. Shit, he can't do this.

"Kid?" Peter B. asks.

"Miles, you- you're hurt," Gwen observes, barely able to get the words out around her panic. She rips off her mask, taking an instinctual step forward to help him.

He stiffens, holding out a shaky hand. "Don-don't come closer!" He hates how weak and croaky he sounds.

Gwen feels like she's been smacked. Miles has never rejected her like that before. But of course, she deserves no less, she thinks.

She lets out a quiet sob and after a moment, she steps back, giving Miles his space. The others distance themselves out around the circular room, trying their best to give Miles some distance without also making him feel surrounded. It proved a difficult task.

"We're not coming closer, kid," Peter B. assures.

He clutches his eyes closed. He can't do this. He can't fight them. Can't scream at them. Especially not while he's actively bleeding all over the place.

"W-what are you waiting for?"

Gwen and Peter B. look at each other.

"What do you mean, kid?" the older Spider-Man asks.

"You're h-here to take me in, r-right? Back to... Miguel & Co."

Miles turns to the white blur, looking straight through it.

"U-unless... Of course... You're- not here for me at all."

Gwen feels his words like a knife straight into her heart. She desperately shakes her head, hating how she's already crying. "It's not like that, Miles. It never was. Not for me."

Miles lets out a sad, hollow scoff. "Ri-right, just like... you missed me... too.."

He turns to address Peter B. "Just l-like how I was the reason you had a... k-kid, right?" Peter looks down at Mayday, snuggled against his chest.

"All lies," Miles says, broken. His legs buckle slightly, but he forces himself to stay standing. If this was how it was going to go, he was going to at least give them a challenge.

"Miles... We- we wanted to tell you everything. Really, we did," Gwen pleads.

"No. No, you didn't." Miles corrects with venom in his voice. "So you chose not to."

Everyone stays silent. The other members of the Spider-Band glance at each other sadly, but don't interfere, understanding that this needs to be between the three of them.

Gwen takes a deep breath. She knew this would be hard, but facing him now... the look in his eyes threatens to choke her.

"I'm sorry, Miles. I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I-I don't know how it all went so wrong," Gwen tries.

"Don't know?" Miles spits out. He clenches a fist tightly.

Gwen visibly pales, shrinking in on herself. "No, Miles, please! That's not what I meant!"

Then, some small flicker of a flame lights inside him. How dare they?

How dare they sell him out?

How dare they chase him down?

How DARE they strike when he's at his weakest? When he has no friends here to help?

"If you don't know, I'll tell you," he seethes. "I was home, in my world, trying to learn from everything you all taught me. Trying my best to be that friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. And I- god-"

He tears off his mask, only for her to see the tears trailing down his face. It hits her like a train.

"I-I was going to study quantum physics. Discover new technologies. Anything that might have even the slimmest chance of bringing you back to me." Miles admits, looking down as if ashamed of his effort. "And I was such a damn idiot, because then, you just... showed up. Like it was nothing. And you actually bragged to me about this new life you had, new friends you slept over with, this new world that- that the whole time- you knew I couldn't be a part of! I was there when you told Drew you'd never see me again. You said it like it... like it meant nothing to you at all."

Gwen shakes her head in denial, tears coming down. "Miles, I-"

"NO! Enough! You led me into the lion's den, knowing what it would mean for me, and you did it anyway. How could you do that to me!? And for what!? So you didn't have to go face your dad? At least you'll still have one this time tomorrow!" he cries, all the hurt bubbling up and boiling over. Now that the gates are open, they can't close.

Gwen grimaces, digging nails into her own arms, not noticing the sting. She knows her friends are there, but it feels like she's in a long tunnel, and the rest of the world is at the far end. She's rooted to the spot as her favorite person in the entire multiverse details all the ways she betrayed him.

"Then, you chase me? Stay put while I get a whole new level of beatdown right in front of you!? Would you have fought me too? Locked me up?" Miles doesn't let up.

"No! I would've never-"

"NO? Then why is Miguel here at the same time as all of you? Why is Miguel HERE, Gwen, if you had nothing to do with it?" He spits out.

It tears her apart to hear him spit out her name with disgust.

"Kid, we didn't know Miguel was here. We promise," Peter B. tries to reason.

"Why would I believe you!? Because you taught me how to swing!? I looked up to you! And- and you used that against me! You're a monster!" Miles yells.

Peter stiffens, shoulders dropping. Mayday starts crying. "K-kid-"

"NO! I'm done! You-" he turns to Gwen. Her chin quivers, trying and failing to hold in her tears. "After Uncle Aaron, you said you were the only ones who could understand..."

She cringes hard, a tear already falling, knowing what's coming.

"...but you don't."

Suddenly, a flurry of sparks appear on the floor in front of Miles. The sparks morph into a circle, opening up a hole in the floor, but oddly enough, one that seems to lead to a rooftop.

The room falls into stunned silence.

Off to the side, Pav and Hobie meet eyes, silently agreeing to ask about the magic sparky portal later.

Miles wipes his tear-stained face. "So I'll just do it the same way I beat Miguel. The same way I defeated Kingpin after sending you all home. I'll do it alone."

Gwen's heart shatters into a million pieces. This isn't what she wanted. Not in the slightest. She doesn't want him alone. She wants him with her. "M-miles... I never wanted to l-lose you. Never." she gets out between sniffles.

Miles looks at her, and his brown eyes finally meet her blue ones, dead on. She gasps slightly. She sees the hurt, confusion, and self-hatred present there. Maybe it's just the reflection of her own.

"But you did lose me. You lost me the second you chose Spider-Society over your best friend... if that's even what I actually was to you." he says, another tear dropping at the idea that their entire friendship was a facade.

"You were! You are!" Gwen yells passionately.

Miles shakes his head, disbelieving. "A sm- small strike force. Mostly- part time."

He throws her words back at her, and it cuts deep. Because it makes her realize just how deep the lies went. How completely she took advantage of him.

"What a joke," Miles declares, sobbing uncontrollably.

It all begins to feel like it's going to drown him, and Miles needs to leave, needs to be away from this place and never come back. He eyes the portal on the floor in front of him.

"I'll give this world a Spider-Man, I'll find my way home, I'll save my Dad, and I'll stop Spot. And I'll do it on my own." he says, a new look of sad determination in his eyes.

"Even if it kills me..." he scoffs sadly and wipes his face, "...it's not like I was ever supposed to be part of this anyway."

He limps up to the portal, before lifting his eyes to meet Gwen's for a final time.

"I was prepared to spend my entire life searching for a way to find you. For us to b-be tog-together. But you... you never woulda done the same."

Miles takes a step and drops through the portal. It immediately swirls shut, vanishing in a storm of sparks.

And Gwen screams in anguish.

Chapter Text

"Goddamn, everything hurts... again."

Miles cracks open an eye, and he's surprised to see the blurry, dim sky above him. Purples and oranges paint their way across the heavens, fusing with the clouds. His head hurts, and his vision is fuzzy.

He picks up the distinct scent of wet concrete, and slowly turns his head to the side.

Miles finds himself laying on a mat, on a rooftop. He groans, lifting himself into a seated position. There's some murmuring a ways behind him, but it's hard to focus on. A slight breeze ruffles his hair. He examines himself, only to see bandages wrapped everywhere. There's a pile of gauze and old, red bandages to his side. Someone has been nursing him... again.

He slowly lifts himself to his feet, groaning loudly at the stab of pain that runs through his chest. "Man, those bracer blades are no joke." He instinctually grabs at the aching area, and when he feels something solid on his wrist, he glances down, seeing he's wearing the watch again.

"Miles? You okay, pal?"

He spins, a little too fast, causing him to gasp a bit at the ache in his... well, everywhere.

The blur of Peter is there in an instant, steadying the younger boy with a hand on his shoulder.

Miles leans in for support, "Ugh... thanks. Wha- wait!" His mind catches up, reminding him of his father's impending doom. "How long was I out!? It's getting dark!? How much-"

"Woah, woah, woah..." Peter calms, patting his shoulder to calm his friend down. "There's still time. Eighteen hours, just about."

"What!?" Miles yelps, "That's not eno-"

"Hey!" Peter raises his voice.

Miles huffs, but quiets.

"You were in no shape, man. You needed the rest... and bandages... and stitches..."

So that's why his chest feels so tight. Pete had sewn him back together.

"Where would I be without him here?" Miles ponders. "Probably dead."

He hears quiet chatting again, and blinks away his post-unconscious haze. Miles looks over Pete's shoulder, and notices two forms standing close together, watching him.

Miles shakes his head slightly and his vision begins to clear. The first figure starts to come into focus, and he's relieved to recognize himself. Miles-42, safe, sound, and with his mask off. He holds up a cautious hand in greeting.

Miles glances at the other figure, as they begin to take shape as well. Miles blinks one more time, everything finally coming into full focus, and he recognizes Gwen's face.

"WAIT. GWEN!?" his mind screams.

His entire world skids to a maddening halt.

It's her.

Undeniably her.

Standing right there.

He has the sudden sense of tunnel vision. All his nerves seem to dull, except his view of her.

"Gw-Gwen?" Miles mutters, lost.

The young woman in question turns to Miles-42, and they both share a confused look, before refocusing on Miles.

"How the hell do you know my name?" she asks, eyes slanted in suspicion.

"W- wha-" Miles chokes out.

"We didn't even tell him who she was, just her face!" Miles-42 says, gesturing to Pete, "So where'd you get her name?"

Then his mind begins to kick back into gear.

She's wearing the same dark outfit as Black Cat, the same platinum silver hair, the same cocky tone, ever so slightly deeper, just enough to not recognize.

But what really gave it away was the lack of a buzz in the base of his skull. No spider sense to meet his.

It was just Gwen's face.

On closer inspection, Miles sees she isn't wearing her usual eyebrow piercing either.

But the eyes just below, those are exactly the same.

Staring straight into his soul.

"Y-you're not the same Gwen," he admits to himself.

"Miles. You look like you've seen a ghost, bud," Peter says from next to him.

Miles looks at him, then back to Miles-42 and Gwen's faces. "Gwen-42," he reminds himself.

"I've... met... one of your variants. A you from another dimension. Sorry, I- I thought she was- I thought you were her," he finally gets out.

Gwen-42 tilts her head slightly. They all stay silent.

"So y-you're Black Cat?" Miles ventures, trying to break the unbearable tension.

"That's right," she answers firmly, still not sure what to make of his admission.

"C-cool," Miles says weakly, "I- the Gwen I know, she... she's Spider-Woman in her universe. Like I am in mine." Miles explains.

At the mention of another Spider-Person, Pete's eyes widen. But before he can ask a follow up question, Miles hurries to change the subject, addressing him.

"SO! Uh... How did you-"

Pete lets him off the hook and rolls with the new topic. "You landed on the roof, and just blacked out. From pain, I'd imagine, if not exhaustion."

"Speakin' of which, are you gonna fill us in on your lil portal power?" Gwen-42 asks.

Peter rolls his eyes. "It's not a power," he says, passively holding up his right wrist. "It's a watch that a wizard gave to me," the wrist device in question glows, orange rings circling it, "and a ring," he wiggles the middle fingers of his hand displaying a ring rested up against his knuckles.

Both Miles-42 and Cat raise their brows in shock.

"His world is wack," Miles clarifies, trying to roll one of his shoulders to release pressure.

"Wizards are real. Noted. I'll freak out about that later," Gwen-42 scoffs.

"But why would a wizard give you those?" Miles-42 asks.

"Well, give probably isn't the most accurate term..."

"You stole from a wizard!?" Miles asks in surprise.

"Look, he let me use them for a past mission! The watch at least... but then I was wiped from his memory- which I can fill you in later on!" He barks at the sight of Miles-42 slowly raising his hand, "And well, he wasn't home, so I snuck in and snagged them. I knew I needed a leg up if I planned on outrunning the Spider-Cops. And if he remembered me, he definitely would be understanding... maybe... actually, he always kinda had a strict "don't touch my crap" policy. But it's neither here nor there now!"

"Ugh, I'm more focused on the fact that you're actually sticking with the name Spider-Cops," Cat taunts.

"Honestly, it's pretty engrained at this point," Miles defends. He tries to look anywhere but at Gwen. "Gwen-42. Black Cat," he repeats in his head like a mantra.

"Thank you," Pete says, then turns back to the others. "The watch allows me to track multiversal anomalies more effectively than Miguel's dumb tech. I mean, his stuff is really not that astounding. They tried to lock the watch I stole out of their network, but I overrode that wayyy too easily," he sidebars, gesturing to the watch currently on Miles' wrist. "Anyway, the ring here allows me to open portals to said locations, and save our friend Miles' ass," he says with a pointed look back in Miles' direction.

The boy in question grimaces.

"That's two you owe me, pal," Peter reports, but there's not any real mirth behind it.

"Thanks, man," Miles says genuinely, still leaning on Pete for support.

"No worries. Just glad you're okay," Pete says, "What happened, anyway? I lost you on comms."

"Not by choice. I fought Reilly, then Miguel. But I got away. Then uh- I..." he struggles, placing a hand on his aching side as the memories of his encounter with Gwen and her team flood back to him.

"P-Pete..."

Miles feels tears fighting to break through. He can't control it. He just feels raw. He doesn't know how to process the pain that has woven it's way through the very fabric of his being.

Peter somehow understands this, and immediately wraps Miles in a tight hug.

"We'll... uhh... go find some food? Yeah. We'll do that," Cat says, alongside a nodding Miles-42.

Miles returns the hug without delay, not minding the ache from tightening his arms, as the other two slip down the fire escape.

And he bawls his eyes out.

Minutes go by. Maybe hours. Peter resolves to hold the younger boy as long as he needs.

Eventually, Miles feels his eyes drying up, the tremors of his body slowly ebbing away, and his sniffles coming less frequently.

Slowly, Miles unwraps himself from Peter and takes a step back, wiping his cheeks. He sniffles. "S-sor-"

"Don't... I've been there." His mind wanders to his hug with Peter 2 and Peter 3 after curing Norman. He wonders where they are now, if they're okay, or if they are also on the run, hopping across dimensions.

Miles turns and slowly walks over to the guardrail lining the rooftop's edge.

Peter feels the need to say something, a warning he wishes he could've had back before... everything. "Miles. This path you're on... saving your Dad. Breaking the cycle. Unraveling the Canon. Changing reality," he lets his words linger for a moment. "It might lead you to ruin."

Miles goes quiet. He leans on the guardrail, his eyes unfocused, gazing out over Harlem, fires burning on various rooftops. "W-would you not do the same?"

"Oh no, I'd do the exact same thing. And I wouldn't think twice about doing it. I've just..."

The image of a failing arc reactor floats through Peter's brain. The same picture that haunts his dreams every night. He sighs and walks up to lean on the rail next to Miles, their shoulders bumping slightly.

"I've been in enough situations, worldly, galactic, and multiversal, to know that the path we're on... it doesn't end happily. Not for everyone. I'm not trying to discourage you, but I would feel like I'm misleading you if I didn't say that."

Miles looks down at his suit, utterly destroyed and hanging in rags off of him. After a moment, he nods.

"I-" he starts, but doesn't know how to say the next part. He scratches the back of his neck, agitated but solemn.

Peter doesn't interrupt, silently encouraging Miles to continue.

"The Spider-Cops today. The ones at the MET. You said you recognized them?"

Peter eyes him carefully, and nods. "From your expression, I'm assuming you did too."

Miles groans internally. This Peter Parker is even more perceptive than most. Miles supposes it comes with what his counterpart has been through. He knows some of it, like the world forgetting him, but something tells Miles there is much more under the surface that hasn't been spoken.

"Y-yeah. I know them... or at least, I t-thought I did." he admits sadly.

Peter watches him, but doesn't push for more information.

Miles somehow finds the will to continue. "The super collider incident? The one that started all of this? They were the ones who came through into my dimension."

Peter's eyes widen. "Oh."

"Yeah", he confirms. "They helped me fix everything. Gave me guidance on how to take the leap of faith and truly become Spider-Man. They... they were my friends. I sent them home, then I defeated Kingpin."

The older Spider-Man gives him a side smile. "It's a hell of an origin story, I'll give ya that."

Miles lets out a hollow chuckle. "Thanks."

Peter puts the rest of the puzzle together in his head. "So then about a year and a half goes by, then you find out they've joined up with Miguel?"

Miles cringes. "Not exactly. I- I wanted nothing more than to see them again. I was gonna study quantum physics in college. Research methods to break the dimensional divide. If there was a way to connect with my friends again, I was going to find it. Even if it took my whole life."

Peter sighs, dejected. "And then they came to you instead."

The younger Spidey nods, that dull ache of betrayal filling him again. "They lied to me. Led me to Miguel. They- well, you know how it went from there."

Peter's hand grips the railing tightly, angry for his friend. "I'm sorry, Miles."

Miles shrugs. "It's... alright. It's over now."

"Why do you say that?" Peter returns.

The younger of the two isn't sure how to express what happens next, so he lets the words tumble out on their own. "They found me today. After the fight with Miguel. That's why I lost contact, they tracked me to an old subway station."

"Wait, what!? Did they-" Peter gestures to Miles' bandage-clad form.

Miles shakes his head, settling Peter down a bit. "No, no. This was- all Miguel. They didn't touch me."

Peter sighs in relief. "I mean, that's good at least. Not that Miguel beat the shit out of you again, but you know what I mean."

"Yeah."

"So, what did they do? When they found you, I mean?"

Miles took his time retelling the events that had transpired in the subway station. He briefly considered leaving out some of the more Gwen-centric details, but after being there for him as much as Peter has, Miles felt he deserved to know all the details.

"So... They just let you go, then?" Peter asks, confused, after Miles finishes his recap.

"Uh... yeah."

"But that would be counteractive if they're actually with Miguel still, right? He very clearly wants you captured... or worse," Peter analyzes.

Miles glances at him, a guarded expression on his face. "What are you sayin'?"

Peter squints in thought. "Maybe... maybe they were telling the truth, about not knowing Miguel was there."

Miles scoffs. "Come on, after everything they did?"

Peter shrugs. "I'm just saying, it's possible. Otherwise, why wouldn't they attack you? Or try to convince you that you're wrong again?"

Miles doesn't really have a response for that, and it makes him uneasy. "I... I don't know."

A silence stretches between them. The lights of Harlem, and in the distance, the towers of Mid-Town, begin to light up against the fading sunset.

"So... you and this Gwen. The Spider-Woman one I mean, not our new recruit. It sounds like you guys are... close," Peter explores, trying to find out exactly what happened to his younger friend.

Miles exhales, shaky. "We were."

"Milesssss..." Peter sends him a "give me something here" look.

The younger Spider-Man groans, leaning his head down over the rail, avoiding Peter's gaze.

"I thought... we had something special. That she cared about me. I've never felt that way about anyone before. Shit, it sounds so pathetic," he scoffs sadly, "She was the real one I wanted to see. She's the one I would've dedicated my life to searching for. So when-" his voice cracks slightly. He clears his throat. "When I found out she had the ability to come see me for months, and chose not to, and when I found out she knew I was an anomaly and my dad had two days to live, and chose not to tell me any of it, and when she chased me with the rest of the Spider-Cops, it... it broke me, man. It hurt more than the rest of the betrayals combined. I- I never thought she would do that to me."

A tear slips down his face, and he quickly wipes it away.

Peter places his hand on Miles' shoulder. "From what she said in the subway, it sounds like she deeply regrets her role in everything."

Miles meets Peter's gaze, tears in his eyes. "What- what if she's doing all of this to regain my trust, just to drag me back to Spider-Society?"

Pete meets that with a question of his own, "Well, how did she react to everything you said down there?"

"She-" Miles swallows thickly, thinking back. "She was inconsolable. I've... never seen her like that before."

Pete hums slightly in understanding, "Do you think you could ever forgive her?"

Miles moves away, walking across the roof. "Why are you asking all of this, Pete?"

There's a short silence before Peter speaks.

"I had a similar connection... one time. But it was taken from me. She forgot me," Pete says seriously from behind him.

Miles slowly turns to face him.

"But... if that hadn't happened. And if she hurt me at some point along the way, I know I would hear her out. She is... was too important to me not to."

Miles grabs his hair in frustration. "I thought you said it was better for you to be alone. That you chose not to remind her!"

"No, I chose not to force memories she doesn't have onto someone I care so deeply about," Pete rationalizes, albeit sadly.

"What are you suggesting? Ask her out? I'm not sure we can ever be that. Not after what happened," Miles vents.

"If you knew you could be that, would you pursue it?"

"I-" he blurts, then shuts his mouth, before opening and shutting it again. "Would I?" he asks himself. His brain screamed NO, kept reminding him of how she said it was all for his own good on the train. His heart begged for the opposite, a resounding YES, forcing him to recall the absolute anguish in her eyes when he asked if he ever even truly had been her best friend.

"I don't know. She was a different person for a while there, but I know she was doing everything she could to avoid being sent home to confront her dad. And I-" he sighs, trying to put his racing thoughts into words. "I saw glimpses of her, the real her." he says. "What I always think... you're amazing." He gulps, the hurt in her eyes after he tore the web she had caught him with during the big chase, flashing across his psyche. "It was like she was hiding, but couldn't help poking through every once in a while."

Peter nods.

"Well, I don't want to influence your decision. But, I'm not gonna lie and say we can't use the help of eight other Spider-People. But either way, I'm with you on this," Peter says honestly.

Miles feels himself start shaking slightly, but doesn't answer. He gives the faintest of nods. He thinks back to when he first saw her above him at the MET, and when she was so close to him in the station. "There's... something else," he ventures carefully.

Pete eyes him up and down, picking up on his sudden nervousness. "What is it?"

"Both times I saw her, I uh... I don't know how to explain it... I- felt her?"

Peter raises an amused eyebrow.

"Not like that! I didn't touch her! It felt like my Spidey sense was, picking up her own sense? If that makes sense? I could feel it, reaching out to mine. It was-" Miles chokes up, another couple tears dropping. "It felt warm, safe... like... home..." he says, breaking down.

Peter wordlessly pulls him into another hug.

"I've sensed people. They're presence," Peter says over Miles' shoulder, "but never anything like you just said."

Miles gets his sniffles under control and slowly unwraps from Pete.

Peter gives him a contemplative look, "But I also haven't had that deep of a bond with another Spider-Person. You have, with Gwen. Perhaps you're senses recognize and trust each other or something."

Miles groans, "That would be... so complicated."

Pete laughs. "Don't go crazy over it. We'll figure everything out. And if it happens again, let me know."

There's clamouring on the fire escape and suddenly Miles-42 and Cat are back, the former climbing up over the edge of the roof, setting a large bag down, and turning to grab Cat's hand and pull her up.

When she regains her balance on the roof, she smirks at Miles-42. "What a gentleman," she purrs, interlacing their fingers.

The sight makes Miles sick to his stomach. His heart feels as though it's shriveling up and dying.

Pete sees his horrified expression and quickly leans over to him. "It's not her, Miles." Miles closes his eyes tightly.

"No. NO!It's not fair! Why can they make it work, and not me!? If I let Dad die, does that mean I get Gwen!? If I become a villain!? HOW CRUEL IS THAT!?" It feels like he's being sucked into a black hole.

"Miles!" Pete hisses. "Breath, bud."

It somehow cuts through the fog of his mental spiral. He forces himself to follow the instructions, letting go of the breath he had subconsciously been holding and then breathing in and out again. He feels his heartbeat slowing down, and slowly opens his eyes.

Cat and Miles-42 definitely noticed his strange reaction, but pretend to ignore it as they open up to-go boxes on the surface of the damp concrete roof.

Miles turns to Peter, who's giving him a worried look. "I- I'm okay." Peter gives him a small, supportive smile in return.

"Now!" The older vigilante chirps, clapping his hands. "Let's get some food in this kid's stomach, huh!?" He says to the whole group, walking over to the makeshift eating area.

Miles rolls his eyes, but follows. "It's- uh... good to see both of you okay."

They both give him looks like they know he's going through something that he's not sharing. But they nod in acknowledgement anyway.

"Oh, it was more than that!" Peter announces, "These two are heroes!"

To Miles surprise, both of the other teens blush. "It was nothing," Miles-42 mutters.

"Pshh, Spider-Men, we're always so modest!" Peter chuckles as he sits down, crossing his legs, "Come on, let's eat, and I'll fill in our friend Miles on all the fun he missed. OOOH! CALZONES!"

Miles-42's eyes widen at Peter's implication that he is one of them. Peter just smiles and says nothing in return.

"Then we make a plan for Alchemax? And... my dad?" Miles asks, reluctantly sitting down with the rest of the group, grimacing as he stretches his chest again.

He expects the answer to come from Pete, but to his surprise, it comes from the other him.

"We won't let your dad die," Miles-42 says confidently, meeting Miles' eyes. "We've been through too much, all of us... it's time we write our own story."

Identical orbs stare at each other.

From the side, Pete grins. Cat looks at Miles-42 with a raised eyebrow. "Shit, you really are one of them," she mocks, nodding in the direction of the other Spider-Men. "Corny as hell and everything."

Miles-42 chuckles for perhaps the first time ever, at least in Miles' presence. Peter laughs along.

Miles forces a small smirk. The other him gives an almost imperceptible nod, and after a moment, Miles returns it.

"Okay, anyway! We got chased onto the GW, right!? So," Peter begins, taking a bite of a calzone and speaking around it.

Miles rolls his eyes, but at the sudden grumble from his stomach, he reaches out and grabs a calzone of his own, before settling in and listening to Peter's excitable tale.

Chapter Text

When Peter B. found her, she was huddled up on a ledge beneath the dome of the Williamsburg Bank Building.

He lands gently, stroking Mayday's curls, unconsciously trying to tame his own anxiety. "Hey kid, I uh... I thought I might find 'ya here," Peter B. starts awkwardly.

She had told him about her special talk with Miles at the same building, not all the romantic tension, obviously, but Peter knew enough that he could tell whatever had been discussed meant a lot to her.

But, Gwen doesn't respond. Just hangs her feet over the edge. Head down. Shoulders shaking slightly.

She had vanished soon after Miles left. The others watched in silence as she pulled on her mask haphazardly, mumbled a wet "I need a minute," then ran up the old subway stairs and disappeared into the rain with a thwip.

After receiving scathing looks from the rest of the Spider-Band, Peter B. took off after her, searching the city for an hour before recalling what she had said about Miles showing her his favorite thinking spot.

Now, having located her and currently standing around awkwardly, he doesn't know what to say.

His mentee stares out at the post-storm sunset, the intense colors reflecting off every wet surface across the skyline, creating a beautiful rainbow prism, countering the smoke still hovering over the city. The storm had doused a good amount of the fires burning across the rooftops, a positive side effect.

Peter takes another few steps forward, puddles from the previous rainfall rippling under his feet. "Look, kid... I know that didn't go as planned, but-"

In a flash she's on her feet, turned around, and in his face, splashing water on him with the sudden movement, "DIDN'T GO AS PLANNED!? HE HATES US!"

"Woah! Hey, take it easy!" Peter yelps, hopping back a foot, Mayday bouncing in her bjorn. 

Gwen considers ripping out more of her hair in frustration, and hates, hates that the only thing she can think of is her hair disaster with Miles over a year ago. Goddamn it.

She settles for rubbing her eyes with her palms instead. Gwen can practically feel the dark circles under them.

Shit, when was the last time she slept?

When was the last time he slept? The poor boy that haunts each and every one of her thoughts.

Idiot. Nothing but an idiot. It's her fault he's out there. She should stay away from him. Even though it feels like removing a limb.

"Oh, come on, Gwanda! It's Miles, we'll convince him the next time around, then things will go right back to how they were."

He looks at Gwen.

At the sight of his attempt at a reassuring smirk, she feels something like a fuse twist and snap deep within her. 

Peter frowns. "What?" he asks.

"YOU DON'T GET IT," she gets out with barely contained rage, her shoulders shivering in tension.

"Maybe he doesn't matter to you, but he means EVERYTHING to me!"

"And I- I MEAN NOTHING TO HIM! Not anymore! Because I let you and Miguel and Jess talk me into this whole SHIT SHOW!" 

Tears pour down her face, "And because I was SELFISH. Let him pay the price for ME not wanting to go home! The price for ME being scared of our relationship ending how Miguel said it would. The price for ME not wanting to be the bearer of bad news. HIM! HE paid for all of it! And he never did ANYTHING to deserve it!" she yelps, shoving Peter away.

Peter's face crumbles slightly with the push. He grips Mayday with one hand, trying to steady himself both mentally and physically.

He takes a breath...

...And forces a shaky smile onto his face. "Gwen, we'll let him get a couple shots in next time, alright? That'll make him feel better. Everything is going to be fine."

She scoffs, hollow. "How do you not understand what we did to him? We didn't just fail to help him, we ACTIVELY BETRAYED HIM! WORKED AGAINST HIM! MISLED HIM! TRIED TO LET HIS DAD DIE. HOW IS THAT NOT TEARING YOU APART!?"

She turns and pulls her hair in frustration, facing the skyline again. The soft flares of orange and pink in the deep purple sky mock the sharp, colorless edges of her present psyche.

"You can't joke and wit your way around this, Peter. What I- we... had with Miles... I think it's dead," she sobs.

A moment passes, Gwen's sad sniffles the only sound to break the silence, save for a gentle whip of wind and a distant ambulance.

Peter mouth opens, then closes, stunned. "D-dead?" He looks down, meeting Mayday's somber gaze. He steels himself, smirking and looking back to Gwen.

"No. No, we'll find him again, we'll conv-"

He's cut off by a thwip, a web muffling his mouth.

"WAKE UP!" Gwen shouts, spinning back around. "It's over. He was on the edge of death, and still preferred leaving to letting us help. We've... we've lost him, Peter," Gwen admits quietly, wrapping her arms around herself for any bit of comfort, the tears resurfacing.

Everything feels raw. This whole dimension and everything that's happened since they arrived. It's like a bad dream. She begs to wake up two days ago so she can run, no, sprint to Miles and tell him everything. So they can figure it out, together. How they're supposed to. It's what Miles would have done, and the knowledge that she didn't do the same... it cuts her to the bone.

She begs to wake up.

To be back with him on the underside of this very same ledge.

And to not discourage him when he not-so-subtly reached his hand out to touch her own.

But the multiverse doesn't work that way.

She walks back to the ledge. "Y-you told me this was the best way to protect him and myself. That this was the only way I could see h-him."

Peter B. stands there, torn open. Tears threaten his eyes. He passively notices Mayday climbing up his chest and tearing off the web covering his mouth, before slipping back down into her bjorn, fixing him with large, sad eyes. He wraps a hand around her, looking back up at Gwen.

"I was wrong. So wrong. But... It's Miles... He has to understand. He's one of us." Peter tries hopefully.

"That's not what we told him."

Silence.

"N-no. Everything has to b-be okay. I can't have f-failed him too!"

Gwen turns, and she's shocked to see tears trailing Peter's face.

His facade is finally wavering, the one he's spent years hiding all the pain and loss behind.

"I-I thought we were doing the right thing! I just wa-wanted to protect him," he admits, horrified at the reality of their situation, "Oh god," he says, breaking down.

"And instead, we tore him down," she responds. "I- I told him I never should have visited. To his f-face. When for so, so l-long, it's all I wan-wanted. How could I tell him something so cruel, and so freaking far from the truth? What the hell is wr-wrong with me?" She crumples back down onto her knees, sobbing.

A moment goes by, and somehow, it comforts her to hear Peter's sniffles from a short distance away, to know that someone finally feels her pain too.

She's taken by surprise when she feels herself being wrapped up from the side.

She forces her eyes open, and through the blur of tears, she sees Peter on his knees next to her, holding her in his arms, Mayday cooing slightly, nestled between them.

"I- I should've never pushed you to go along with it. I should've never allowed Miguel to mislead us. The blame, it lies with me," he takes a deep breath. His heart clenches.

"I... I f-... I failed him," he finally forces out, tears gushing down his face at the admission. "And I failed you."

"I'm sorry, Gwen."

She whimpers and hugs him back without hesitation.

"It's... it's okay. I'm sorry for... yelling," she gets out between sniffles.

He chuckles, but it lacks the energy he usually puts into it. "Don't be. I uh... I needed that. You're right. I can joke and wit my way around almost anything, but not... not the damage I've done to a friend."

They sit in a steady silence. Gwen feels Mayday playing with the pink ends of her hair. Somehow it brings a small amount of comfort.

"I've messed up a lot Gwen. Years of mistakes. People I've failed... Uncle Ben. My best friend, Harry. My wife," he chokes out.

"And you... and Miles. People I thought I was helping, protecting... but was actually doing the opposite."

Gwen sighs, leaning back out of the hug so she can meet Peter's eyes. She finds them, red, wet and puffy, reflecting in the lights from a nearby skyscraper. She's never seen him like that. Discouraged.

She places a hand on his shoulder. "He loves you, Peter. You're like an uncle to him... especially since Aaron. I can see it when he looks at you."

Peter B. feels his heart ache.

"And he loves you, Gwen."

Her eyes blow wide and her face instantly heats up. She scoffs halfheartedly, trying to hide how much it flusters her, "Pff, wh- what? I- I don't-"

"Don't act surprised. I know there's a lot of feeling there, for both of you," he says, smirking slightly. "He wouldn't have reacted the way he did in the subway if there wasn't real love there."

She feels her cheeks burn. "I... rehearsed what I would say to him... so many times. Repeated it over and over in my head," she sniffles, "but when he was finally there in front of me, looking at me with pure fear and so... bl-bloody and beaten, I just... froze." She rubs at her face.

"He's hurting. We might just need to give him time," Peter observes.

She stares out at the now rapidly darkening sky. The clouds break up the deep purple like pink puffs of cotton candy.

"Unfortunately, time is something we don't have a whole lot of," Gwen mutters solemnly.

Peter pats her gently on the back. "The subway won't be your last chance. I promise."

Gwen looks up at him, trying to judge whether she should believe him.

He notices the skepticism and tries to explain further. "You kids have a bond. Everyone can see it. You're... connected in ways the rest of us aren't."

Gwen's mind flashes to the moment at the MET when she felt his Spidey sense in the back of her consciousness. When she felt him inside her head before even seeing him in the old subway.

Slowly, she nods.

"Just... don't give up hope, okay?" Peter says, gripping her shoulder.

They meet eyes. She sees a few tears trace their way down the older hero's face.

"Maybe... maybe I'm too far gone to him, Gwen. Shit, I mean, he called me a... m-monster,"
he takes a shaky breath, ignoring his mentee's sad gaze. "But you and him- I don't know... you're..."

"We're the same," she says quietly, repeating Miles' own words from the last time she found herself at the top of this building. A tear escapes, trailing her cheek. Damn it, Gwen.

Peter nods. "Yeah..."

The silence between them stretches thickly. The faint honks from cabs far below echo up to them.

Gwen twists her lips in anxious thought. "He doesn't want words or promises. I don't think he even wants an apology. Noir- he told me I need to fight for Miles. Show him I'm on his side, and that I'll be there to support him against his enemies. And he's right. We can't lose sight of what we decided last night. Even if he hates us, I will never fail to be there for him again."

Peter hums in agreement.

But she frowns, "I... I tried today when Miguel cornered him. But... I wasn't fast enough, and civilians were about to be crushed, and-"

"And I'm sure he would approve of you saving pedestrians first. The little guy always comes before ourselves," Peter assures. He receives a small ping and glances down at his watch.

Gwen sighs, worried. "I- I guess. But if we're going to succeed in helping him, we need to figure out his next move."

"Speaking of which," he replies, reading the message displayed on his watch, "Peni says Noir thinks he's got something."

Gwen turns her head to meet his gaze, wiping her eyes. "Really?" 

Peter nods, tightening the beanie around a giggling Mayday, before looking up at Gwen. "Shall we?"

Gwen meets his eyes, but knows she needs more time. "I'll uhh... I'll meet you there, if that's okay. I just... want a few more minutes up here."

At Peter's worried expression, she adds on a rushed, "I'll be right behind you, promise!"

He eyes her up and down, but nods. "Don't be too long, alright kid?" He says softly.

"You got it," Gwen replies back.

With a final nod, Peter runs and leaps off the ledge, soaring down the side of the Williamsburg Bank Building, Mayday cackling all the way down.

Gwen sighs, sitting back on the ledge and crossing her legs.

As usual, her thoughts instantly go to him. Her fear pounds in her head. Fear that he's hurt and in pain. Fear that he will never, ever forgive her. Fear that he will die beaten and alone before she can get to him and tell him that she'll give up everything if it means he'll stay in her life.

It's unbearable.

At her core though, she just wants to know he's okay.

"You kids are connected in ways the rest of us aren't." Peter's voice rings through her head.

Her mind goes back to the chase earlier today. She could feel Miles. Knew he was close when the others didn't. Recognized his sense with her own from far off.

"Maybe I can reach him."

Gwen closes her eyes, centering herself. She needs a lot of energy for what she's about to attempt, if it even works, that is.

Deep breath in.

Deep breath out.

Then she focuses on the boy she needs to reach.

His big, beautiful brown eyes.

His contagious laugh.

His goofy, awkward aura.

His passion for just doing the right thing, even if it meant taking on the entire multiverse.

She smiles softly.

She bottles it all up in her heart, warmth filling her to the brim. Then, she lets it go, directing her Spider sense to push it out into the ether, willing it to reach her best friend, wherever he is, like tossing a stone as far as she can into a pond.

Then, nothing. She waits, eyes still closed, begging internally for something, anything, a feeling, a passive thought, anything that might point to him having felt it.

She waits minutes.

Nothing.

She huffs, "This won't work."

Gwen can't focus, her fear is too alive and present, consuming her thoughts, so she turns to the only thing that works for her at a time like this. Music. She fishes her phone out of the discreet pocket in her suit. Scrolls through her music app.

She selects "Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins. For some reason, the drums in this particular track just have always been one of her few secret paths to focus.

She sets the phone down next to her, tapping the side bumper to turn up the volume. The track begins, and instantly, the familiar, deep, steady drum notes settle her consciousness. Gwen resets her seated position and settles her shoulders. Closes her eyes.

"Time is never time at all

You can never ever leave

Without leaving a piece of youth"

Deep breath in.

"And our lives are forever changed

We will never be the same

The more you change, the less you feel"

Deep breath out.

"Believe

Believe in me

Believe, believe"

The awe she felt on that bus when for the first time in her entire life, someone truly understood both parts of her, and met them with a smile.

"That life can change

That you're not stuck in vain

We're not the same, we're different

Tonight

Tonight"

The nervous excitement she tried to hide when she saw his hand sliding towards her own.

"Tonight, so bright

Tonight

Tonight"

The comfort it brought her to be wrapped in his jacket, the smell of him engrained in the fabric.

"And you know you're never sure

But you're sure you could be right

If you held yourself up to the light"

She pulls it all into one spot deep within her, forming it as tightly as she can, then pushes it outward, feeling it ebb past the skyscrapers, honking cars, and billboards. She can feel the ripple the action creates in her Spidey sense, and hopes it's the same for him.

"And the embers never fade

In your city by the lake

The place where you were born"

But the seconds tick by.

Still, nothing.

She's about to sigh in frustration and open her eyes when there, deep at the edge of her consciousness, she feels it, like a slight vibration in her sense.

And there's just a hint of a feeling that somehow, is undeniably him.

Gwen gasps, tears instantly resurfacing.

"Believe

Believe in me

Believe, believe"

He felt it.

They are connected.

Literally.

Somehow.

It wasn't warm necessarily, but like an acknowledgment. A simple, "Yes, I can feel you too."

"In the resolute urgency of now

And if you believe there's not a chance

Tonight

Tonight"

Gwen quickly refocuses, gathering up all the warmest thoughts and feelings she can and pushing it back down their sensory connection. A "Thank you".

"Tonight, so bright

Tonight

Tonight"

This time, the buzz in the base of her skull comes faster, and slightly stronger.

"We'll crucify the insincere tonight

(Tonight)

We'll make things right, we'll feel it all tonight

(Tonight)

We'll find a way to offer up the night

(Tonight)

The indescribable moments of your life

(Tonight)

The impossible is possible tonight

(Tonight)"

She whimpers, feeling him at the edge of her mind. It brings her comfort like she's never known.

"Believe in me as I believe in you

Tonight

Tonight, tonight

Tonight

Tonight"

She passively reaches over and taps the screen of her phone to ensure it stops the autoplay as the last notes of the song trail out.

Gwen breathes out, her eyes flickering open, trying to process what the hell just happened, when-

"Gwen?" The faint voice shoots across her brain, nearly silent.

She jumps up. "MILES!?" Gwen shouts, spinning around, expecting to see him standing there against the dome.

But it's just her.

She's been alone since Peter left.

"Great. I'm pathetic and I'm losing my mind." she mutters.

"Gwen?" she hears his voice in her thoughts. Then she realizes with a sharp intake of breath that he's speaking to her across whatever Spider sense bond it is they've discovered. 

She covers her mouth with her hand in shock, finding herself shaking uncontrollably. Then her brain jumpstarts, and she realizes she hasn't even tried to respond yet.

Gwen hurries to sit back down, plopping right onto one of the puddles that litter the roof. She doesn't even notice, instead focusing her thoughts on her favorite person again, but rather than trying to manifest feelings, she puts all her thoughts and energy into mentally projecting one single word:

"Miles?"

She hates how shaky her voice sounds, even in her own head.

"Wh- How?" his voice comes back.

Tears are falling. She can't understand what's happening, but doesn't want it to stop.

"I don't... know," she pushes back down the line.

"This... is crazy," Miles grunts back with a bit of effort.

"I... know," she hums in annoyance. She wants to speak her full mind, but the amount of effort it seems to take to send a single word makes full sentences difficult.

Instead, Gwen resolves to ask the most important question on her mind. The whole reason she started this experiment on the roof:

"You... Okay?" she manages to push out towards him.

Nothing comes back at first, and Gwen fears she's messed up. "Just... Making sure... You're- safe." She forces with a gasp, trying to send it all at once, before dragging in air to catch her breath.

Silence.

"I'm... Okay... Enough..." Miles' voice comes through, sounding hesitant.

She feels her eyes getting wet and relief blasts through her. She soaks up the feeling as much as she can and sends it down the path her Spidey sense has carved, wanting Miles to know how much comfort that news brought.

The connection is silent for half a minute. Gwen tries to control her breathing. Anxious.

"Y-you?" Miles' voice echoes through her head.

Gwen smiles, letting out a wet chuckle, then focuses. "I'm... Okay- too."

A wave of relief flows over her. With a sharp intake of breath, she realizes it belongs to him. She feels a tear crawl down her face, but she can't bring herself to mind. "He still cares that I'm okay."

Gwen stays quiet, resting from the energy it took to communicate. She basks in the feeling of his presence at the edge of her mind.

Somehow, she knows he's doing the same.

She wants to take advantage of this moment. Wants to apologize. Beg for forgiveness. Ask where he is, and if he needs help. But she can feel that that isn't what he wants. And she doesn't have the necessary energy to send all of that down the bond anyway.

So instead, Gwen breathes in, focusing all her mental energy into one more message.

"I... miss... you..." she sends, hoping not too much of her emotions slip into it.

She feels surprise on the other end of the sensory bond, then something like hope, quickly muted into suspicion.

As quickly as it was forged, Gwen feels the connection fade to nothing, as if a door has been slowly closed and shut tight.

It feels as though the wind has been sucked out of her. But, she hadn't really expected a response to her final message. It was more about making sure he knew.

On the bright side, they had talked! Sort of. Across a large distance, no less! She doesn't exactly know what to think about that one. But she doesn't try to reach him again, not wanting to push her luck. Besides, she needs time to really wrap her head around this sudden development. She can communicate with Miles! The thought makes her heart soar, but also leads her to ask how and why it's even possible in the first place. 

"Gwen, why does everything you do have to be so damn confusing?" she asks herself.

The makeshift watch that Hobie crafted for her buzzes on her wrist, rousing her from her own thoughts. She holds it up to read a message from the same Spider-Band member.

"U joinin us ta find yur lad?"

Her eyes widen. So Noir did find something. She hurriedly types back an "omw", hoping that the text abbreviation meant the same thing in Hobie's universe as it did in hers.

Gwen rises, snatching her phone off the concrete before she takes one last little look around their spot. "I'm coming, Miles." She whispers to no one in particular, then leaps from the ledge.

Chapter Text

He's replacing his bandages in a dark alleyway, the only light from the street behind him, then suddenly, this... poke? Miles doesn't know if that's the best way to describe it, but it sure felt like his Spider sense poked him. Like it was someone... trying to get his attention.

Chapter Text

When Miguel returned to HQ, he didn't expect the reaction that greeted him.

On second thought, "greet" probably wasn't the right word.

Most of the Spider-Beings simply looked the other way as he passed on the various walkways. Others squinted their eye lenses at him in the elevator, seemingly in judgement.

Then there were the whispers. Huddled, quiet conversations of "Did you see how he destroyed that apartment building?"

or "There were wayyy too many innocent people around for that,"

and even, "If it wasn't for Gwen and Peni, he would've killed people!"

He growls internally at the mention of the traitors, then attempts to brush it off. The rumors would fade. The mission was still clear.

Stop Miles Morales.

By any and all means necessary.

The large doors in front of him slide open with a hiss, and he enters his base of operations, still in disarray after Miles' venom explosion. His expression hardens at the memory and he makes his way towards his hovering control center.

"I've got just one question for 'ya, boss," a light voice calls out from his left.

Miguel spins around to face the intruder, only to watch Jessica Drew emerge from the shadows, eyebrows slanted behind her gold eye goggles.

"Si? What's that, Jess?" He places his hands on his waist, a cautious tone taking over.

She eyes him carefully. "Are you out of your goddamn mind?"

Miguel lets out an animalistic growl, throwing his hands up. "You too!?"

Jess strides confidently towards him, and before he knows it, she's right there, jamming an angry finger in his face. "YEAH! ME TOO! DON'T FORGET MIGUEL, I LEFT EVERYTHING FOR THIS!"

Miguel stumbles back, quickly regaining his footing. Her outburst caught him off-guard. She's never spoken this way. Not to him.

"And you repay that commitment by what? Endangering civilians? Destroying buildings? Chasing a boy across the multiverse rather than giving him the chance to understand all the facts?"

"He made the wrong choice!" he snarls. He paces around, forcing himself to take a breath. "Care to explain how you know all this, Jess?" he bites out.

She rolls her eyes. "I saw Lyla's feed."

Miguel clenches his fist. He'd make sure to chew out the AI later.

"You weren't supposed to see that."

"No shit I wasn't! That was my pupil there that saved those people, Miguel. Right after you threw her friend through a damn building! If it wasn't for her, there would be serious blood on those claws of yours. Innocent blood!" Her eyes flare angrily behind her goggles.

Miguel roars and grabs a monitor, flinging his arm and watching the piece of tech soar before shattering against the far wall. "YOU'RE TOO CLOSE TO HER! JUST LIKE SHE'S TOO CLOSE TO MORALES!! SHE'S A TRAITOR!!!"

Jess shakes her head in exasperation at his freak out. "And I'm sure you suspected she'd be there. That's why you didn't bring me along."

"You're goddamn right!" he swings around, jabbing a finger in her direction. "So what!? Now you regret sending her home!?"

The Spider-Woman opens her mouth, then closes it. She looks away, and says nothing.

"MIERDA!" He growls through heavily clenched teeth. SHE TRAPPED BEN IN A RANDOM DIMENSION JESS! She's with Morales! He CANNOT be a part of this! You know th-"

"ACCORDING TO YOU AND NO ONE ELSE! What proof do we have that he's going to destroy the multiverse? He wasn't supposed to be Spider-Man, but that hasn't destroyed anything yet, right?"

There's a moment of tense silence as Miguel's face turns cold as stone.

"Be careful with your next words, Drew," he threatens, extending his claws.

Jess studies his fists, but doesn't lower her chin. "I understand the mission, Miguel. I get the stakes. I agree that Morales needs to be stopped from saving his father. I understand that..." her face softens slightly, "...that means Gw- Stacy, needs to be stopped too." Her expression quickly flickers back to her usual determination. "But I won't be part of how you're goin' about this. We're Spider-People. We protect. We don't endanger. I won't be part of that."

A silence stretches between them. Miguel glares at his second-in-command. She glares right back, daring him to call her bluff.

He doesn't.

"Heya, boss!" Lyla chirps, appearing out of nowhere over Miguel's shoulder. Her anime expression freezes and blushes slightly. "Uh, am I interrupting something?"

"Not. At. All." Miguel grunts, voice thick as gravel.

"Righttttt. Anywhooo, we've got a lead on Spider Enemy Number One," she redirects.

Miguel's response is immediate. "Send me everything."

Lyla places a hand on her hip, "Hope you like Long Island! The file is downloading to your suit interface."

Miguel grunts at the mention of Long Island, before glancing at her passively. "Speaking of the suit, how's the new one coming?"

"Just a couple more hours should do it! The printers are finishing up the peripheral tech," she answers proudly, skipping around the room.

"Let's hope it's ready by the time we get back this time," he bites out.

Lyla cringes slightly as his sharp tone. "Cool, so uh... I'll be going!"

The AI vanishes as quickly as she can.

Miguel sighs deeply.

"Fine."

Jess looks at him, confused. "You'll have to elabor-"

Miguel groans, cutting her off. "FINE. You- you're right. I lost myself when I chased the kid. Both times. It won't happen again." He meets Jess' eyes.

She gives him a simple, single nod. Jess knows the futuristic Spider-Man well enough to not mention how big of an admission that was. Especially for him.

"But we will stop him... and Stacy." Miguel commands firmly.

Jess' face twitches slightly at the implication of fighting her former mentee. It... wasn't what she expected after they sent her home to E-65. That's for sure. She had hoped sending Gwen back to her own universe and deactivating her watch would put her far out of the way of Miguel's war path. She should have known better. Gwen Stacy was stubborn as hell... kinda' like her.

She shakes it off. No matter, they had to do this, for the good of the Spider-Verse.

Shit. That's what Morales called it, isn't it? Damn him for coming up with a catchier name than Miguel.

Jess meets her leader's eyes. "Works for me."

🕸️

When the Alchemax facility, a monstrous complex hidden on the dark shores of Long Island, finally comes into view, Gwen feels her heart rate leap upwards. She grips the new watch she made for Miles tightly through her hidden suit pocket.

She's sick of playing one step behind.

No more.

Tonight, she makes good on her promise to his parents.

Tonight, Miles goes home. Even if...

Even if it's not with her.

But a tiny, hopeful voice deep down inside Gwen wonders if maybe it could be.

She shakes her head clear. No matter the outcome, she owes this to Miles. Her best friend. Her favorite person in the entire multiverse. And her... crush.

The same little voice inside her doesn't seem satisfied by that term. She tries to ignore it.

"This is it!" she calls out to her Spider-Band, following her as they swing their way up along the highway.

"Bout' time, mate!" Hobie yells back.

"Let's go help the kid!" Porker chirps.

Noir agrees, holding his fedora as he swings through the wind. "A good night for a swell brawl!"

"Tonight we bring our boy Miles home!" Margo yells, her avatar swinging along behind them.

Gwen feels a spike of possessiveness at the other Spider-Woman's remark. "MY Miles," she growls internally.

Then her eye lenses widen comically, small mask lines bridging her cheeks in shock. "WHOA. My Miles? When did he start being MY Miles?"

Pav flies past her, spotting her mask's wide-eyed expression. "Uh ohhhhhhh. Gwennnnn, are you feeling... jealousssssss???" he whisper-yells.

She quickly schools her eyes into indifference. "Wh-why- I mean... NO! F-focus on the mission!" she blurts.

It doesn't matter, he's already twenty feet ahead, giggling madly at her flustered response.

Gwen groans.

"Oi', don't give 'em a thought, yea?" She glances over to see Hobie swinging in stride with her. "Ain't no shame in bein' down bad for someone."

The Spider-Woman nearly misses her next web sling. She feels her face roasting, red hot. "NOT HELPING!"

Spider-Punk chuckles, zooming off after Pavitr. "Wait up, Pavie!"

The boy in question lands on the roof of the complex, before whipping his head around.

"Did you just call me Pavie!?" he yells.

Hobie lands next to him, quickly rising to stand straight. "Uh- no- I mean... yea? Shite."

Gwen swings down, rolling into a standing position. She raises an eyebrow at Hobie. "You were saying?" she tosses in his direction, before walking off towards the far end of the roof. She needs a minute to gather herself before the fight ahead.

The other teen ignores her, instead waiting for the Mumbattan Spider-Man to say something.

"I uh... kind of like it," Pav admits shyly to Hobie.

"Uh- oh... OH..." Hobie stutters.

Pav laughs at his uncharacteristic stumbling.

Gwen paces away from the group, rattling with nervous energy. She's happy her friends are finally wising up a bit, but... it hurts. It hurts that they can have such an easy, non-life-or-death exchange of their hinted feelings for each other.

She... she could've had that with Miles. She did, actually, for a few hours. But... it could have gone on forever, if she had just gotten out of her own head and refused to accept that she was "destined" to die tragically in his arms.

She should've fought for him.

For herself.

For her happy ending.

"Should'a, would'a, could'a... but didn't." her brain supplies as a tear rolls down her cheek. "Idiot."

Gwen had been too scared. Too terrified of them being like the rest. Ending in sadness and death. She didn't want that for herself, but way more than that, she never, ever wanted that for Miles.

And by trying to protect them, by trying to avoid their canon event, she brought destiny right to their doorstep. "...in every other universe, it doesn't end well."

And it hadn't. She didn't die, no... but the damage to Miles... was probably comparable. Gwen nearly whimpers at the memory of the betrayal in his eyes as he snapped the web line she was holding him with. The overwhelming hurt as he met her desperate gaze for the last time on the train. The absolute anguish, more present than even his extensive wounds, as he escaped the subway. "You... you never would'a done the same."

She had broken his heart. Perhaps that was the true canon event. Gwen Stacy breaks Spider-Man's heart. Whether by tragedy... or lies.

She had fulfilled it all. Just not in the way Miguel had led her to expect. The irony threatens to destroy her.

Gwen and Miles had a chance to defy the multiverse, to come together and be something new and exciting and beautiful, like him.

And she will never forgive herself for not taking that leap with Miles. For ever making him fear that she didn't feel the same way. For ever making him feel like he isn't the most perfect, kind, adorable, brave, and handsome boy that she's ever met. For ever making a permanent choice about their relationship that wasn't hers to make alone, and certainly not without his input.

She had been so scared of falling for him and triggering their canon event, when... the truth was she already had fallen for him.

Her mind screeches to a halt.

"WAIT. What?"

Hobie's words suddenly sink in.

"Down bad? Oh god."

Her heart leaps into her throat.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Sure, Gwen had accepted that she has a crush on Miles. The initial realization had come a long time ago, really, after months of seeing him in the reflection of every window and the manifestation of him in every drum solo, back in her home dimension. And she knew from his terrible jokes (that she wouldn't give up for the world) and his awkward attempts at flirting (that warmed her heart like nothing else ever could) that he had felt at least something in return.

But does she... does she love Miles?

"Obviously," her mind supplies, "He's my best friend."

But something about that rationalization doesn't feel quite right.

She knows that what she feels for Miles is far greater than simply her fondness for the other members of the Spider-Team. She would say she loves any of them. She loves Peter, and Hobie, and Peni, and all of them.

But that makes sense, because Miles is her best friend! So... obviously she would love him differently... or, more?

Goddamn it. Even that feels wrong. Like her brain gaslighting her own heart.

And if there's one thing she's learned recently, it's to follow her heart first. No matter what Jess had tried to convince her of, the truth was that following her head had done nothing but hurt Miles.

And hurt herself.

But what does her heart want? How does she know? If it's more than a crush... if it's love... romantic love... what does it feel like? She's never been in love with someone. How does she know if that's what this is?

Gwen resolves to close her eyes and picture Miles. Instantly, a small smile ghosts her lips and with a sigh of relief, she feels her heart rate slow a bit.

"If I could be anything with him, what would we be?"

Gwen thinks about the regret she felt for not reaching out to grab his hand the moment she saw his fingers shyly sliding towards her own.

The intense guilt she experienced when he clearly was made insecure by the fact she had been living with Hobie and sharing his clothes, when she could have been... staying with him instead.

Damn, and the... jealousy that took her over when Miles introduced himself to Margo. While they had barely spoken, they did have an easy chemistry and it made her... uncomfortable... causing her to web yank him back to her, all while Hobie watched with some sort of knowing amusement.

The... embarrassment she felt when Peter told her that Miles loves her.

"I know there's a lot of feeling there for both of you."

And at the time... something small and warm like... hope. Hope that maybe, if she could ever be so lucky... it was true.

The same small flicker lights itself now as well, warming her heart-

-There. What her heart wants.

It all finally clicks into place.

Fuck.

"I love Miles."

She loves him.

Loves him... more than a friend.

More than a lover even. Although that sounds really nice too. The thought manifests without her approval, and her face flares.

"Holy shit, calm down girl."

But she loves him!

It scares her more than anything. More than the memory of her own father aiming a gun at her.

It also warms her to the point of bursting. An intense, unparalleled, heated feeling of, yes.

Of, finally.

Of, this is so clearly right.

Of, I... can't believe I've been such a goddamn idiot for so long...

"I'm so sorry, Miles," she whispers into the night, "god, I'm so, so sorry, my...

...my love."

She stands there for another moment, gathering the courage she needed to face him again, this time with action. The way he deserves.

Someone clears their throat behind her, causing her to spin around. Peter B. is pulling on his mask, the others stand around behind him, loading webshooters, or calibrating tech in Peni and Margo's case. Ham takes a few practice swings with his mallet. Noir stares off at the dark ocean, sparking a Zippo lighter before flicking it closed, then repeating the process.

Gwen feels her anxiety spike at the realization she's been lost in her own thoughts. But, there's no judgement on any of their faces.

"Ready, kid?"

She feels determination fill every fiber of her being. She pulls on her mask. "Definitely."

🕸️

Two scientists walk down a long, blank hallway, lit brightly by sterile LEDs overhead.

They pass under a metallic vent and continue on.

Through the slants in the vent, Miles watches them walk away, before eventually turning a corner. He exhales, then pushes on the vent cover.

Nothing.

He groans, then presses his ear to trigger his comm. "Uh, Pete? M?"

Cat's voice buzzes through instead. "What do 'ya want, Spidey-Miles? SOMEONE gave up the element of surprise over here!"

M's voice crackles over the earpiece. "I told you. The shoelaces are a style choice."

"Do I need to stop and tie your shoes every time we get attacked!? Because I will!!" Cat cries.

Even though Cat is the one to answer, he's somehow able to respond normally. "Uhh... anyway, have you guys reached power control yet?" Maybe his brain is finally figuring out how not to associate that voice with his Gwen.

"Great. My Gwen, again. I'm pathetic," he berades himself internally.

"Oh crap! Yes, sorry, hold on buddy!" Pete comes through.

Miles hears a couple grunts and wails come over the earpiece. Sounds like his new team is doing well.

There's a few seconds of silence, then a low buzzer sounds as the lights in the hallway shut off and the vent below him drops open.

"WOAH!" he yelps, thwipping a web to the ceiling to smoothly catch himself. He lands on his feet in the dark hallway.

"Phew! Okay! All good!" he calls across the comm.

"OOOOH! There's a speaker system too!" Cat comes through, "Let's make some noise, huh? I'm looking for a song!"

"We are currently fighting several blaster-wielding scientists Cat!!!" Peter desperately reminds her.

Miles decides to jog down in the direction the lab workers disappeared to. "Pete, you got the site map from M, right? I need you to walk me through this. It feels like the halls of a Star Destroyer down here! Everything's blank and looks the same!"

Pete is quick to respond, "Woah!" He's cut off by the sound of a brutal smack. "Sorry! Sick reference, man!! Okay, what's the nearest lab?" he comes across the comm, out of breath.

"You guys... Okay? There's no one here on my end." Miles ventures, finally seeing a lab door approaching.

"I guess the distraction worked then," M comes across, sounding smug.

"You did NOT just compliment yourself for tripping on your own shoes!" Miles hears a few more punches and groans. "Get back, you goon! I'm trying to find a song here!"

Pete comes over the comm, "LOVERS SPAT LATER PLEASE! MILES, NEAREST LAB!?"

The younger Spider-Man glances to his side as he jogs past a door. "Uhh... electric eels? That seems weird, right?"

"You're breaking into a high security facility in an alternate dimension with other versions of yourself and your crush, and THIS is what you find weird?"

"Point taken."

"What about a crush?" Cat's voice comes through again, confused.

Miles feels his face burning under his mask. "N-NOTHING!" he blurts.

"Shit! Sorry, man!" Peter's voice comes across regretful, even in the midst of a battle. "Okay, I see where you're at. Take the next right."

Miles hums in acknowledgement and picks up into a run. He hisses slightly as his previously injured leg stings with ache, but continues on. "Okay! Spider-lab, here I come!"

Cat's voice chirps in triumph. "Hah! Got it!"

Before he knows it, every PA speaker in the complex is blasting the opening mixes of "I Wish" by Skee-Lo.

"Huh, classic. You play this just for me?" M's voice taunts.

Cat's response is even faster. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, dummy!... but maybe."

Miles rounds the corner Pete called out.

"Hey, this is radio station WSKEE

We're taking calls on the wish line

Making your wacky wishes come true..."

Miles smirks. Aaron had enjoyed this track, yet always assured the rhymes didn't apply to him. Miles chuckles internally now, remembering his famed shoulder touch move. "Sureeee, Uncle Aaron."

"Next, take a left," Pete's voice advises.

Miles slides around the next corner. And his Spidey sense FLARES.

He turns invisible and leaps to the ceiling as a man in a wingsuit soars under him and down the hall.

"Hello?

I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller

I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her

I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat

And a six-four Impala"

The newcomer realizes Miles' juke and throws his legs out, skidding to a halt, his wings collapsing into the custom made flight suit. He looks back, scanning the seemingly empty hall for Miles.

"Where'd 'ya go, Spider-Freak?"

The boy in question slowly crawls towards his opponent, keeping his invisibility active. "Let me guess... Adrian Toomes?"

The Vulture instantly sends a small missile soaring out of his gauntlet in the direction of Miles' voice. The Spider-Man leaps to the nearby wall.

"That's right," Toomes growls.

Miles sighs. "Wouldn't happen to be offering overnight tours of the facility, would ya?"

Another missile fired. Miles is quick, webbing the missile out of the air and swinging it around. It soars towards Toomes, who dives out of the way. The left wall behind him explodes.

"I wish I was like six-foot-nine so I can get with Leoshi

'Cause she don't know me but, yo, she's really fine

You know I see her all the time, everywhere I go

And even in my dreams, I can scheme of ways to make her mine"

Vulture recovers, trying to rise to his feet.

Miles drops to the floor, deactivating his invisibility and approaching his new foe. "I've really got places to be, man! Let's not do this."

A massive claw bursts through the hole left by the explosive, and a monstrous green shape forces its way into the main hall.

"LETSSSSSSSSSS!!!" a massive, humanoid lizard slithers in anger. Miles throws himself out of the way.

"'Cause I know she's livin' phat

Her boyfriend's tall and he plays ball, so how am I gonna compete with that?

'Cause when it comes to playing basketball

I'm always last to be picked and in some cases never picked at all"

Miles' Sense goes off and he leaps up, but not before Lizard snags an ankle and slams him down into the floor.

🕸️

After smashing a window, Gwen finds herself in a lab for experimental prosthetics. Her Spidey-sense buzzes hard at the base of her skull. She instantly knows it's not for her own danger, but his. Just like the first hint that their senses were connected, back when Gwen felt his peril in his empty room on E-1610.

"We need to move! He's in a fight!" she yells back at her band, all swinging in after her.

"How do you know that?" Peni asks, confused.

Gwen grimaces. Now is NOT the ideal time to tell everyone she has a secret sensory bond with Miles. Now is the time to SAVE said Spider-Man. "Long story. I'll tell you later. Promise!" Gwen quickly tumbles out.

"So I just lean up on the wall

Or sit up in the bleachers with the rest of the girls who came to watch their man ball

Dag, y'all! I never understood, black

Why the jocks get the fly girls, and me, I get the hood rats"

"Ooooh! Funky! That can't be the bad guys playing that, right?" Ham asks, running as fast as his little legs will carry him as the team regroups in the middle of the room.

"Or turning off the power in random hallways?" Noir adds.

"Very doubtful," Margo informs.

"So... which direction?" Pav asks the group.

"Yea, pile 'a shite's granda' than tha' Queen's castle," Hobie adds, walking around the various lab tables, flickering from teal to orange to green with each step.

Gwen tries to focus on that little corner of her mind. The door he closed earlier. She gathers up her strongest emotion at the moment, worry, and pushes it towards that bridge at the edge of her sensory field.

Almost instantly, she feels the door begin to creak open, and he's nearly there again in the corner of her mind. Then she picks up a blast of pain and the door swings shut again. Whatever fight he's in, it's taking his entire focus.

Gwen has to act fast!

Just then, they hear an explosion echo from a nearby control room.

"Miles! Hang on! I'm coming!" she yells into the bond, hoping he hears, before spinning towards the noise and taking off. "This way!" she yells over her shoulder at the band.

"I tell 'em, "Scat, skittle, sca-bobble"

Got hit with a bottle and put in a hospital for talkin' that mess

I confess it's a shame

When you livin' in a city that's the size of a box and nobody knows yo' name"

As they are about to run under an archway into another sector of the lab facility, a large, mechanical exo-suit drops down in front of them. The force splinters the concrete floor.

"Heh heh, look who it is!" the Rhino yells giddily, smashing his massive fists together in excitement.

Gwen spins around, only to see this dimension's Scorpion, wrapped in a green military suit, his stinger aimed up over their heads threateningly. He crawls down a wall, cutting off their only path to exit.

"Mmmmmm. Friends of the Spider, yessss? The more the merrier!"

"Speakin' a which, mind grantin' us a Scooby-Doo as 'ta where tha' lad is?" Hobie throws back, readying his guitar in a battle stance.

"Hehehe! Too late. The bug's gettin' squashed," Rhino chuckles.

"You better pray that's not the case!" Gwen spits with venom, throwing two webs and launching herself at the Rhino.

"Kid!" Ham yells.

Gwen reaches out and snatches the cartoon hammer he tossed into the air. She swings it around and smashes it into Rhino's faceplate.

"Glad I came, to my senses

Like quick-quick, got sick-sick to my stomach

Overcometh by thoughts of me and her together, right?

So when I asked her out, she said I wasn't her type"

As Rhino crumples backwards from the force of the blow, Scorpion swings his stinger around from the rear of the group. It phases straight through Spider-Byte as Punk smashes it away with his steel-enforced guitar.

Pav sprints up a wall, flinging himself around and over the faltering Rhino and tossing out his yo-yo. It catches around Rhino's neck and Noir grabs the other end. Together they land and yank as hard as they can. Rhino lets out a gasp and tumbles backwards.

"I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller

I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her

I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat

And a six-four Impala"

Gwen slides through his fumbling legs, then grabs the outstretched arm of Peni's mech, which slingshots her up and around at Scorpion as his stinger charges and shoots forward. Gwen's sense DRUMS in her ears, and she twists herself in mid-air, avoiding the stinger by mere inches. Peter B. leaps up from behind the foe, webbing the stinger to the ceiling and spin-kicking Scorpion in the back, knocking him forward, right into a vicious sucker punch to the face from Gwen.

WHAM!

The Scorpion immediately collapses, unconscious.

"I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller

I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her

I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat

And a six-four Impala"

Hobie and Ham quickly web up the Scorpion, while Gwen rolls into a defensive stance, looking back to see Margo surrounding Rhino with multiple avatars. He takes a swing, but his fists phase right through her every time, confused as to how there are three of his foe. As he's winding back for another desperate swing, one of Margo's avatars vanish, the rocketing fist of Peni's mech in its place.

BOOM!

Rhino's entire helmet shatters, and he soars backwards through a wall and into a lab, destruction in his wake. He slams into a far wall, slumping to the floor.

Margo admires Peni's mech. "Nice moves," she smirks.

"T-thanks... You too!" Peni stutters back, clearly blushing within the confines of her mech.

"I wish I had a brand new car so far, I got this hatchback

And everywhere I go, yo, I gets laughed at

And when I'm in my car I'm laid back

I got an 8-track, and a spare tire in the backseat, but that's flat"

The Spider-Gang quickly catch up to where the Rhino came to a stop, glancing inside the lab. Peter B. webs up Rhino in his position against the wall. The foe slowly regains consciousness and glances around. His eyes widen and he lets out a scream.

Everyone's heads swing in the direction that Rhino is screaming, only to see a giant ant, perhaps the size of a human crawl out of a test chamber and make its way over to the foe. "NOOOOO!" he screams. The ant climbs on top of him and begins nuzzling his face, as if trying to cuddle. "AHHHH! GET IT OFF!"

The Spider-Band look at each other in shock, confusion, and a bit of amusement in Hobie and Pav's cases. They all slowly back away and continue down the corridor.

"And do you really wanna know what's really wack?

See, I can't even get a date, so what do you think of that?

I heard that prom night is a bomb night

With a hood rat you can hold tight"

Peni glances around. "So... did you all see the gia-"

"Yes. And I'd prefer not to talk about it," Margo acknowledges, her avatar somehow able to appear slightly pale.

"Ya' know, I saw something like that in an Indiana Jones movie once," Peter B. observes.

Peni, Margo, Noir, Ham, and Hobie all look at him in confusion.

"Who is this Jones that lives in Indiana that you speak of?" their trench coat-sporting friend asks.

"UGH! Don't even get me STARTED on Indiana Jones! Temple of Doom is a racist pile of shit!" Pav yells passionately.

"Guys, come on! He's this way!" Gwen admonishes, before picking up her pace and rushing off down the hall. She can't feel whatever Miles is going through, which is what scares her, but she can still sense him in that special corner of her consciousness. And the closer she gets, the more it seems to vibrate her Spidey-sense with anticipation. "Please be okay. Please be okay. You have to be okay," she chants like a mantra in her mind.

🕸️

"But really though, I'm Figaro

When in my car, I can't even get a hello

Well, so many people wanna cruise Crenshaw on Sunday

One day I'ma have to get in my car and go"

Miguel and Jess step through the bright orange portal, into a large atrium.

"Another universe, another evil Alchemax, huh?" Jessica asks no one in particular. "And damn, is this a throwback," recognizing the beat of the track blasting over the intercoms.

Miguel walks past her, responding as if she hadn't said anything. "Come on. We've got an anomaly to neutralize."

Jess falters slightly, brown eyes widening. "Wha-wait. I'm sorry? Neutralize? What does that me-"

There's an explosion to their left as a figure emerges from what seems to be an electrical reactor. Sparks jump across the stranger's odd, metallic suit. Small electric spikes line the costume, allowing the lightning to jump across the assailant's body. "More Spiders? Interesting," a sharp, feminine voice calls out.

"You know I take the 110 until the 105

Get off at Crenshaw, tell my homies, "Look alive!"

'Cause it's hard to survive"

"Shocker," Miguel says.

An amused laugh. "Please, I killed Shocker after he cheated me in a round of cards," she takes a step towards them. "I am Electro!" she screams, letting her lightning loose in a large blast. The force of it works almost like an EMP on Miguel, a chunk of his chest glitching and trying to rebuild itself via his nanotech. Jess rolls to a halt, before sitting up and tapping a button on her watch. A portal opens behind Electro and her motorcycle revs through, flying and slamming into Electro's back, the portal immediately shutting behind it. The foe grunts in surprise and pain.

"When you're living in a concrete jungle

And these girls keep Passin' Me By

She looks fly, she looks fly

Make me say, "my, my, my""

Electro slowly picks herself off the floor. She looks around at the bike, then at Jess. "Did you just throw a motorcycle at m-"

She's caught off-guard by Miguel's punch and subsequent slam into a wall. "WHERE'S MORALES."

Electro's eyes widen, and she blasts lighting into Miguel's side. He roars in pain, more of his suit crumpling as he flies back, skidding along the glossy floor.

Electro leaps to her feet, charging up her suit for another blast. The rev of an engine draws her attention, only to see Jess zooming towards her on her bike.

The foe jumps up, attempting to flip over the bike, but Jess thwips a web line above her, snagging Electro's leg. The sudden reversal of momentum slams Electro into the floor and drags her behind the bike.

"I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller

I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her

I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat

And a six-four Impala"

Miguel sprints towards Jess. As they pass each other, Drew whips the web line, sending Electro soaring into the air.

Spider-Man 2099 wastes no time. He leaps up, casts an orange web line, and grabs Drew around the throat in mid-air. Jess' web instantly tears, and Miguel CHOKE-SLAMS Electro into the reactor from which she entered the fight.

BOOM!

There's an instant, massive explosion of electricity. The blast throws both Electro and Miguel across the room. The latter crashes through a far lab display, landing in sheets of glass.

He groans, and looks down at his suit, glitching and failing in several places now. He growls in frustration, lifting himself to his feet.

He limps slightly as he makes his way to where Electro lays, barely conscious, burn marks all over her. The suit designed to help her control her electric powers is completely fried.

Skee-Lo's lyrics come across morphed and diluted, the explosion having damaged the lab's speakers.

"I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller

I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her

I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat

And a six-four Impala"

"I'm- nah tellin' ya' nothin'," Electro gasps out.

Miguel rolls his eyes and leans down, pressing a thumb into a serious burn on her shoulder. The foe hisses in pain.

"AH! Oh-okay! Fine! I don't care about that lil' traitorous shit!"

Miguel tightens his grip on her shoulder. "How do you know about that!? Him turning on us!?"

"Ahk!" Electro struggles. Her voice comes out hoarse and weak. "The hell- are 'ya talking about- he betrayed ussss. The- the Six!"

"Betrayed you!? How is that possible!?" Miguel roars.

"He helped that Spider-Freak! Ya' know, the one that dresses like you guys!? Is that not who you're here for!?"

Miguel's eyes widen, then glance over at Jess. Their gazes meet, both having come to the same conclusion.

There's more than one Miles.

Miguel punches Electro unconscious, and Jess webs her up.

The futuristic Spider-Man paces around, then kicks a random lab chair across the room. "Maldito sea!" He fixes his second-in-command with a withering gaze. "This just got a lot more complicated," he growls.

🕸️

Miles had taken a couple good shots from Lizard and Vulture, during which, to his surprise, Gwen tried to engage their bond again.

"She's here!" He had felt it, clear as day. She's here, in the building! She's trying to help him! He hoped...

He flipped over another gauntlet bomb from Vulture, trying to open the bond to her. To ask what the hell she's doing here. What her intentions are. If... if she's okay.

But just as he got the first rush of her worry for him, the Lizard's claws dragged along his back, tearing his sweatshirt as well as his skin. As he hissed in pain, he lost focus on the bond. The sensory door that Gwen lives behind closed as he slammed into the floor, quickly rolling into another fighting stance.

He engaged his invisibility then ran along the wall, tripping Connors and Toomes up on a miriad of webs, giving him a slight lead on them as he dashed down the corridor.

He'll take care of them, but he needed to find the Spider lab!

Then Gwen's voice boomed through his head. "Miles! Hang on! I'm coming!"

His lenses widened "She's worried about me! She's here to help!" His vision blurred slightly, wet behind his eyes, but he shook it off. He couldn't lose focus now, he was so close!

Now, he swings down the lab hall, looking for directions.

"I wish I was a little bit taller (I wish I was a little bit taller)

I wish I was a baller (Wish I was a baller)

I wish I was a little bit taller, y'all (I wish I was a little bit taller, y'all)

I wish I was a baller (Wish I was a baller)"

He holds a finger up to his ear as he runs. "Guys! First, watch out! Sinister Six are here!"

There's a grunt from M over the comm, then he comes through, "Understood. We're almost out of the fight in the security hall. Coming to you."

"Gotchya! Watch yourselves! I've only seen two of them so far!" Miles chirps back.

Cat voices her usual sass, "Oh, have some faith, Spidey-Guy. We'll save you're ass soon enough."

Miles rolls his eyes, swinging as fast as he can.

"I wish I was a little bit taller, y'all (I wish I was a little bit taller, y'all)

I wish I was a baller (Wish I was a baller)

I wish I was a little bit taller (I wish I was a little bit taller, y'all)

I wish I was a baller (Yeah)"

Pete chirps up. "Miles! If I'm correct, the Arachnid Lab should be after the next right, directly at the end of the hall!"

"About time! You could run a marathon in this place!" Miles tosses back.

He rounds the next corner, leaping onto the wall to keep his momentum going, running across the surface sideways until he reaches the floor again.

There, directly ahead of him, is a lab door.

"I've got it!" he yells into his comm.

Yes, this is it. He'll finally be able to get M the powers he deserves, then he can go home, save his Dad, defeat Spot, and if he's lucky, sleep for weeks.

As he draws closer, he notices the door is barren.

No, no this has to be it!

This has to be the answer to everything!

Then he's in front of the door. There's a sign that reads "Arachnid Lab" and a red notice slapped over the top.

"DECOMMISSIONED"

"No, no, no! DAMN IT!" Miles grips his head in frustration, then punches a wall. He barely even feels the pain.

He tries to get his breathing under control. Okay, there has to be another way.

He reaches up and presses the comm. "Bad news! Site plans must've been outdated. The lab's been shuttered."

"Shit. Is that it then? Are we burned?" Cat asks.

M speaks up next. "Crap. We came all this way, there has to be something, M!"

"I know, I know!" Miles assures, "Pete! Any ideas?"

His voice comes through, static-y. "I'm seeing a large testing chamber beneath your position. Looks kinda similar to how you described that super collider?"

Miles' lenses widen. "Bingo. That's where I'm hea-"

He's cut off by his own Spidey-Sense BLARING in his ears. He spins around only to receive a tail swipe to the torso, sending him flying through a wall into the next lab over.

"Hey, I wish I had my way

'Cause every day would be a Friday, and you could even speed on the highway

I would play ghetto games

Name my kids ghetto names: Little Mookie, Big Al, Lorraine"

Sparks fly in the room, Miles coughs, sitting up. Pain BLASTS through his chest. "GAH!"

"Miles!? You alright!?"

The boy in question slowly rises to his feet. He had flown through a lab table and into a wall. His chest burns, but feels wet at the same time. Miles looks down, to see a red darker than that of his sweater, spreading slowly from his chest. "S-shit. Stitches came l-loose," he mutters to himself.

"Miles?" Pete's worried tone comes through.

The boy hears the crackle of glass behind him. He flips around, fists raised as Vulture and Lizard reapproach.

He hurries to press a finger to his ear. "Y-yeah, just meet me in the test chamber!"

Without further delay, he powers up his venom strike and dives into action.

🕸️

M sprints ahead of Cat, activating the gravity wells on the soles of his purple Jordan's, sprinting across the wall and kicking the head of a security guard.

"Yo, you know that's on the real

So if you're down on your luck then you should know just how I feel

'Cause if you don't want me around

See, I go simple, I go easy, I go Greyhound"

He flips around, landing in a three-point stance, just as he sees blurs of various colors come around the far corner of the main lab hall.

They all freeze, two more armed lab security between them.

Cat rushes up behind M, launching herself off his bent back into a double kick against the chest of one of the goons. She rolls back into a standing position.

"Hey, you, what's that sound?

Everybody look what's goin' down

Ah, yes, ain't that fresh?

Everybody wants to get down like that"

The last security goon raises a taser gun, only to get a web to the armed fist. The foe drops his weapon in surprise as Pete lands behind him. The dark Spider-Man yanks the web, and the helpless goon's fist follows, punching himself in the face. He crumples to the floor, unconscious.

Then, all remaining pairs of eyes in the corridor meet.

Silence.

Well, not exactly.

"I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller

I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her

I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat

And a six-four Impala"

It makes for an awkward face-off.

Noir is the first to break the tension. "There seems to be a Prowler here as well."

"I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller"

"Observant," the boy in question taunts emotionlessly. The voice filters through his mask, warbled.

"I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her"

"Edgy," Pav tosses back.

"I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat"

"Where's Miles!?" Gwen shouts, squinting in determination under her white mask and lowering into a fighting stance.

"And a six-four Impala"

M tilts his head slightly at the use of his given name, then realizes it's not him that she's referring to. M, Cat, and Pete share a look.

The outro of the hip-hop track fades out, replaced with an uncomfortable silence.

"Huh. You must be his old team," Prowler observes indifferently. He dusts off his leather jacket as if he's having the most normal conversation in the world.

"Hey! Who you callin' old!?" Peter B. cries indignantly.

"Yeah! This band's as current as it gets!" Pav adds.

"It is his old team," Pete confirms for M, before rushing to tap a finger to his ear. "Miles! It's your Spider-Cop friends again!... Miles?"

"Oh I know 'ya din' jus' call me a coppa'," Hobie tightens his fists.

Noir tilts his fedora. "The classification is fairly accurate for me. And they appear to be in communication with the kid."

Gwen's realized the same thing, eyes widening, hope blossoming in her stomach after she was cut off from Miles just minutes ago. But before she can ask-

"Who came up with 'Spider-Cops'?" Margo tacks on, an amused smirk on her avatar.

"Sounds like a Miles nickname if I've ever heard one," Peter B. contributes.

"Actually, that one was all me," Pete throws back passively, messing with his earpiece.

Pav shrugs, confused. "And you are... proud of that?"

Pete doesn't respond, he's still trying to raise Miles on comms. "Miles! Miles, come in!" Pete yells into his comm. "Damn it! Piece of shit Avengers tech! He must have made it underground!"

"How do we get there!?" Gwen asks rapidly, walking towards Pete with determination.

"Wait, Kid!" Peter B. calls out from behind her.

Peni leans out of her mech, "Gwen! Stay back! He has the symbiote!" she warns.

Pete glances down at himself, then up at the rest. Eyebrows rise through his mask.

At the mention of Gwen's name, M and Cat share a look. After the initial surprise of a familiar name, they both silently elect to keep their masks on until it's clear who's side these people are on.

"Yes, I have the symbiote. I'm an anomaly. Have been for over a year, while on the run to keep Venom out of your boss' hands. I'm trying to return it to its proper dimension, so I can go home."

"O'Hara, 'ya mean? Big blue git, yea?" Hobie clarifies.

Pete's dark mask nods.

Hobie shrugs. "Ain't no boss 'a ours. Not tha' I believe in corporate hierarchy, tha' is."

"Seems we found our illusive portal wizard," Noir adds, half-observing his colorful Rubix cube.

Pete chuckles at that, "I'm honored you think I'm a full sorcerer, but it's just Spider-Man, really."

Most of the Spider-Band's eye lenses bug out at the word 'sorcerer', but they refrain from speaking as Gwen addresses him, her mind only on one person.

"And Miles is helping you do that," she pieces together, "So you won't be an anomaly anymore."

"That's... the working theory, yeah," Pete admits, "but as you must know, his gig is a lot more time pressing. He's priority number one."

There's a moment of silence as everyone processes that. Gwen feels guilt claw at her chest. She didn't believe in Miles, and here he is, taking several detours on the way to save his own father, because... it was the right thing to do.

And this stranger, he just met Miles, and is putting him first. She's both relieved that someone has been supporting him, and horrified that with their own strong connection... she didn't do the same...

There it is again.

"You... you never would'a done the same."

Pete sees her lenses drooping in shame. "Look, Gwen, right?" he ventures.

The Spider in question shakes herself from her thoughts and meets his eyes, blinking. She nods.

Pete's mask softens slightly. "He has... told me so much about you."

"Ew," Ham mutters, only to get one of Hobie's boots in his ass.

Cat slowly leans over to M, whispering, "Is that a cartoon pig, or am I tripping?"

Peter ignores Porker's remark. "I don't think Miles has given up hope. I can tell by you being here that you haven't either. He... told me what happened in the subway."

Gwen's face twitches slightly in despair, and Pete rushes to continue.

"He was torn up, but I saw it for what it was. Bottom line, you had him cornered. If you were with the Society you would have captured him."

He tilts his head, observing them all carefully.

"But you let him go. You didn't have to. But you did. So am I correct in assuming you are here to help him now?" Peter asks seriously.

All of the Spider-Band instantly nod. No hesitation.

Pete exhales. "Good. Because he needs it. Even if he won't admit it."

Gwen takes another step forward, only a few feet from Pete now. She feels wetness behind her eyes, but steels herself to ask the most important question at the forefront of her mind. "Is... Is he okay?"

Pete glances at the Prowler and the dark-clad woman with him. They shrug at him. Pete sighs.

"He's... managing, I think. But... he's pushing himself too hard, too far, too fast, even for a Spider-Person. It's not sustainable. His determination to fix everything and save his Dad is clouding his understanding that he is... suffering in the process. He's the strongest Spider I've ever come across, but... it can be hard to watch."

Gwen feels her heart sink. "Does... Does he h-hate me?"

Pete squints an eye, appearing thoughtful. "We're talking about the same Miles, right? I'm pretty sure the guy couldn't bring himself to hate a fly, even if he wanted to."

Gwen lets out a watery chuckle. She hears an amused huff from Peter B. off behind her. She doesn't need to turn to know he's rubbing Mayday's bright head of curls.

"He's hurting," Pete says seriously, "Don't get me wrong. His trust has been broken. And I think I've only really seen bits of that. But he cares for you, greatly. The you that he knew, at least."

Gwen gulps. "Can I still be the me that he remembers? The one... he drew in his sketchbook? I want to be."

"I think you need to really explain your side to him. Not knowing, both why you did what you did, and where he stands with you... I think that's what's driving him down this spiral," Peter says, honestly but not unkindly. "He needs you, Gwen. I don't think he'll make it through this without you."

That knocks her right back to reality. She pushes the intrusive thoughts away. She can't let herself falter. Not now. Not when she's so close to finally, finally having him back in her life. Miles NEEDS her.

The young Spider-Woman nods. "He won't have to," she says, determination lacing her voice.

She can't really tell, but she gets the feeling that the dark-clad Spider-Man is smiling under his mask.

"Well, no time to lose," he says, stepping forward and reaching out a hand to shake. "Peter Parker, but you're probably sick of hearing that. Miles... he calls me Pete."

Margo chirps up, "So you ARE a Peter. That'll drive Miguel up a wall! How'd you keep your identity secret from the Society, anyway?"

"Uh... I didn't?" he shrugs slightly at Spider-Byte's disbelieving gaze. "I can explain everything later," he reassures, his hand still outstretched to Gwen.

"Don't shake that hand, Kid," Noir says gruffly, a glove resting on Peni's shoulder. The younger girl fidgets with anxiety, refusing to take her eyes off the symbiote-host.

"Look, I understand what it means to have this," Pete gestures at his torso. The giant white spider spans his entire chest, the rest of his suit a deep inky black, save for the large, white eye lenses. "Believe me, I'm more than familiar with the target it's put on my back. But Miles is helping me manage it, and I need to help him now in return."

Gwen eyes his outstretched hand, before carefully reaching out and gripping it, much to Noir and Peni's dismay. Pete doesn't seem to notice, and gives her hand a light shake.

"Gwen?" Pav asks. "You sure about these guys?"

"Miles trusts them. So I trust them," Gwen announces, shooting a firm gaze over her shoulder at her team, daring any of them to protest. They see the fire in her eyes, even through the mask. None move to contradict her.

"I'm wit' Gwendy and tha' anarchist!" Hobie says, gesturing to Pete. "Big bloody fan of tha' whole disappearin' act by tha' way, mate. Really stuck it ta' tha' establishment, yea?" he enthuses, swinging his guitar as if bashing someone made of air.

Peter's head tilts, fascinated by Hobie's ability to cycle colors, "Uh... Thanks, I think."

"Wait, I'm sorry-" M speaks up, voice distorted and angry, turning to Pete. "These people betrayed him, right!? Why are we trusting them!?"

"Yeah, they did some messed up shit to tall, dark, and sticky," Cat adds, leaning on Prowler's shoulder casually.

Gwen feels a burst of possessiveness at the burglar's description of Miles. Another growl from some protective animal deep within her, rising up and wanting to shout, "MINE." Her right eye twitches slightly.

"Did we not just reform you both from a life of crime?" Pete shoots back, a bright white lens angling at the Prowler and Black Cat.

The anti-heroes seem to shrink slightly at having their own hypocrisy pointed out by the older boy. "Fine," M relents.

The Spider-Band glance around at each other, clearly wondering who this new Prowler and cat burglar are.

Pete seems to understand the weight of the silence. "Oh! Sorry, this is..." he glances over at the other Miles and Gwen. They glare at him through their masks. "Prowler and Black Cat," he says awkwardly, turning back to the team. "I don't wanna give up their identities, ya know? Since they're not Spiders. They're solid, though. They've already saved my ass a few times," he assures, "And Miles trusts them," he tacks on, knowing that would be the deciding factor again.

To his relief, the Spider-Gang seems to accept that, nodding in hesitant agreement.

"Alright! We've wasted enough time. Can we go save our damn friend?" Gwen growls impatiently at the group.

Pete whoops and immediately takes off swinging around a corner and towards a large set of blast-proof doors. "We caused a distraction by shutting down security while Miles went for The Spider Lab!" he yells over his shoulder at the pursuing group. "It was a dead end! We planned to meet him at a test facility far below us! Come on! We'll take the lift!"

Gwen quickly catches up, dancing her way through the air and coming to a swing in time with Pete. "Why the test facility!?" she calls out.

"If there's any highly classified projects still in development, they'll be down there! It's a long shot, but it's all we've got!" Pete shouts back.

"He's trying to make a Spider-Man, right!?"

Pete turns an amused eye lense to her. "Ya' know, he said something about your cleverness!"

Gwen blushes under her mask.

🕸️

"Here they come," a man with dark lab goggles announces with unsettling excitement, dressed in a lab coat and a green undershirt. He watches the security feed closely. "The efforts of the others wielded... rather disappointing results. We won't make the same errors."

There's a few stomps as a tall figure walks up behind him. Stepping into the light, the black and purple mask of the original Prowler comes into view. He says nothing, instead grunting in acknowledgment.

"Make sure the scientist has everything prepped, including our special guest," the boss commands, before turning and stopping as he's about to move past Prowler. A metal tentacle rises. The claw places itself on the Prowler's shoulder

"Ready for a family reunion?" Doc Ock asks, an evil grin spreading across his face.

🕸️

"This should be it," Pete says, glancing up from the site plans at a set of double doors. He lowers his sorcerer's watch, a gentle ping alerting them that they are nearing their intended anomaly's location.

"Uh, Peni?" Gwen glances over at her friend. "Think you could...?" she ventures, gesturing at the door.

"Sure," she says, before giving Pete a death glare. "Get out of my way."

Gwen's lenses widen in surprise. She opens her mouth to say something-

"It's alright," Pete quickly assures. He steps back and out of the way.

Peni's mech stomps its way over and grabs at the doors, forcing them apart with a loud screech of metal.

She holds the doors open as they all rush through, then her mech somersaults through, the doors slamming closed again behind them. The Spider-Band quickly spreads out and checks their surroundings.

It's an... observation deck.

"What the hell?" Gwen asks aloud.

"There's no door," M observes, looking around.

"There's no Miles, either," Peter B. states, worried.

There's a wide window across one side of the room, made of thick glass and facing into the massive reactor. 

The main testing enclosure is tubular, similar to the construction of the collider back on Miles' Earth. But it's... different, slightly. For one, the chamber is larger. And at the center of the complex, a 360 degree set of steps form a large circular platform, raised above the rest of the chamber.

Something about the platform causes Gwen's Spidey-Sense to buzz at the base of her skull.

"Woah-" Pav starts.

There's a large CRASH far overhead. The entire group jerks their heads up to see Lizard shattering through one of the ceiling panels of the massive chamber, tackled and falling out of an emergency shaft.

Gwen feels her blood run cold at the sight of Lizard. She freezes. She can't help but see her own Lizard... the memories flash in front of her.

Then her heart freezes completely as she sees Miles, dressed in his suit with his mask on but covered with a slightly baggy, torn red sweatshirt, falling down above Lizard. It pulls her out of her fog.

She sees his mask lenses widen as he registers he's falling though the massive open cavern, hundreds of feet above the floor. "OH SHIT!"

He doesn't waste time, bringing a fist down, bashing Lizard across the face in their freefall. He reaches a hand out to thwip away, but-

"Spideyyyyy-Freakkkkkk, come out to playyyyy!!!" Vulture roars, zooming down through the hole in the ceiling that Lizard and Miles had left in their wake. "THERE YOU ARE!"

Gwen feels Miles roll his eyes in annoyance through the bond. "If you'd please have a seat, I'll be right with you!" Miles throws back, narrowly missing the snap of Lizard's jaws. He turns invisible, kicks up off of Lizard, uppercutting Vulture in the process. He reappears several feet above them, webbing onto both foes, throwing himself back down.

They watch on as Miles slams onto Vulture's wingsuit, causing it to tumble into a rolling dive. He soaks up the electricity from the suit, then uses the momentum of their roll to chuck Vulture down into Lizard. They SLAM together.

He dives downward, webbing the foes together as fast as he can. They become entangled, falling down towards the floor.

Miles flips and uses the new electricity to charge his venom strike, throwing his entire body into a double-fist downward smash.

BOOM!

An explosion of electricity rocks the collider chamber, shattering the entire observation window in a brilliant beam of blue light.

Gwen and the Band shield themselves from the glass.

Both foes bounce anticlimactically off the ground, unconscious and lucky the thick webbing somewhat broke their fall.

Gwen's sense buzzes aggressively.

The effort of the blast tore the delicate scabs on Miles' arm and shoulder where he pulled out the glass at the MET. It stings like hell. Then everything sharpens as his sense SCREAMS and wind screeches past his ears. He's still falling!

Miles finally recovers, flipping over so he's falling back-first and throwing out both hands to thwip web lines-

-that never come.

Gwen feels Miles' shock across the bond. 

He's out of webs.

It all happens in slow motion. 

She sees his lenses widen.

It's too late. There's at least 50 feet between them.

She's running towards the edge of the observation deck anyway, Peter B. right on her tail, yelling for Miles.

But there's no way.

He's mere feet above the platform.

Her sense SCREAMS at her.

"NO!"

🕸️

TO BE CONTINUED...

Chapter Text

Gwen feels Miles' shock across the bond. 

It all happens in slow motion. 

He's out of webs.

She sees his lenses widen.

It's too late.

She's running towards the edge of the observation deck, but there's no way.

He's mere feet above the platform.

He's at least 50 feet away.

Her sense SCREAMS at her.

"NO!"

🕸️

Then he freezes in mid-air, a single foot above the floor.

"AGHH!" he yelps in pain at the force that jerks him to a sudden and complete halt.

"Miles!" Gwen screams, nearly making it to the ledge, still determined to leap off to reach him. A barrier pulses into existence right in front of her.

She's about to pummel into it, when a web smacks her in the back, yanking her in reverse inches in front of the force field.

Gwen gasps in surprise, realizing she hasn't been incinerated, before looking over her shoulder.

Everyone stares at Pete, who holds the other end of the web line firmly.

"T-thanks..." she mutters.

He drops the line with a small shrug, "Don't mention it."

Gwen doesn't waste time turning back to where she'd last seen Miles. He's still there, hovering. His arms are forced apart by two tentacles that lift him up and suspend him above the main platform, the toes of his feet just barely scraping the surface. Gwen's lenses widen in worry.

As his arms are forced apart, Miles' chest stings worse than anything he's ever felt. He can feel the pain beginning to seep into his Spidey-Sense.

He tries to keep the door closed. Gwen... she can't feel this. 

Despite his efforts, Gwen senses bits of his pain leaking through that corner of her mind. It hurts, but she knows it's nothing compared to what he's feeling right now, so she grits her teeth and tries to pull the mental block away.

Suddenly, Miles feels the bond restoring itself. "W-wait, no, Gwen! D-don't!"

She can hear him begging her not to open it up. Not to share his pain. She feels tears, but can't tell if they're hers or his. "It's okay. Let me take some of it away. Please, my l- Miles. I won't let you do this alone anymore, okay? I'm here, let me in, please."

Gwen pulls harder.

Miles struggles for a few seconds, before the pain becomes too much and he loosens his grip, letting her form the full bond.

It rushes in.

Red, hot agony. She feels his arm and chest wounds as if they're her own. She yelps in shock. 

Instantly, Peter B. and Hobie are both at her side, gripping her shoulders. Mayday coos at her from her bjorn with worry in her eyes. Gwen's not sure when, but somehow she's fallen to her knees.

"Kid!? You okay!?" Peter B. looks over his shoulder and yells at Prowler and Cat, "Find some way to get through that barrier!"

"Don't w-worry! J-just- help Miles!" Gwen forces out between grit teeth. She can't believe he had been withstanding this on his own without passing out.

"But Gwendy-" Hobie starts.

Gwen grabs his arm. "He-help him, Hobie! Please!" she yells.

Her friend reluctantly nods and rushes off to help the others work on the barrier.

As the initial shock of agony morphs more into a constant sting, Gwen can finally manage to look up again at the massive test chamber in front of them.

Miles hovers, limbs spread, shaking slightly, and gritting his teeth against the pain. He doesn't like that Gwen feels what he's going through, but it is allowing him to actually view his current predicament. The overwhelming stinging becomes more of a constant, severe ache.

"A-are you okay, Gwen?"

She's not. Decidedly not. Gwen lets out a wet scoff. He's hanging underneath a super collider and he's asking HER if she's okay. "Are you... kidding me right now?" she grits. "Are YOU okay?"

"I've- ya' know... been better," he groans out. He takes the moment to glance around at his unexpected prison. His eyes widen, letting out an audible whistle, which echoes across the vast collider chamber. "Well, this is- fancy..." he mutters to himself.

It's not long after having his limbs locked that he begins to feel blood from his freshly disturbed wounds soaking his sweater. The smell of iron fills his nose. Gross.

"I-I'm stuck, Gwen," he sends. He realizes for the first time the ease with which they are communicating right now. Maybe it's the physical proximity, or the demand of the situation, or both.

Gwen immediately responds, her voice holding more of an underlying hiss to it. The pain she's feeling. "I know, Miles-s. H-hang on, okay!?"

Completely going against the current situation, Gwen is shocked to feel some sort of wave of amusement roll over her. It jumps up and down repeatedly across her consciousness and echoes around her head.

Her brain must be short circuiting.

Then it clicks.

He's chuckling.

"Oh, I- I'm hangin', alright," he chortles, exhausted, across the bond.

She scoffs slightly in return, lovingly annoyed with his terrible joke in spite of the life-or-death situation. She can't help the watery smile that graces her face. She made him laugh again. Maybe there IS hope for still having her feelings reciprocated. Ham and Noir stare at her from off to her left like she has two heads, wondering what the hell she's smiling about, but she doesn't pay them any mind.

The whole thing brings her back to when she reminded Miles that she's older than him, only to have him melt her heart by calling back his awful Einstein joke... just before they declared each other friends.

The memory brings a tear to her eye.

Shit, she loves him.

Off to her side, M charges up a gauntlet and swings it into the barrier with a powerful yell. There's a bright blast, and he's thrown across the room, landing in a heap with an "OOF". Cat immediately runs to pick him up off the floor.

"I know it's not the time, but you really shoulda' seen your mask just then," Cat smirks at him and she lifts his arm.

M's non-expressive mask somehow finds a way to glare at her.

"That won't work!" Margo calls. "This is dark matter! Not electricity!"

Peter B. cups his hands around his mouth, yelling down to Miles. "Don't worry, Kid! We'll get you out of there!!" Mayday cries in agreement, her coos echoing through the chamber.

The boy in question gives a faint, tired nod in his mentors direction.

Ham searches for something useful against the barrier, pulling a "Kick me!" sign out of nowhere. "Hmm... Probably not." He returns it behind his back, then emerges with a tank of quicksand. "...Maybe later." Then he finally pulls out what he's looking for. A portable hole. "HAH! A present from a rabbit friend of mine!" He throws the hole and everyone watches it smack onto the barrier. "Ready to watch a pig fly!?" he takes off, throwing himself into the hole.

It spits him right back out, and Porker flies across the room into the far wall. He slumps to the floor, birdies tweeting around his dazed head.

"...surprisingly accurate advertising," Pav observes.

Noir steps up to the plate. "Color! Activate!" He throws his Rubix cube at the barrier.

The plastic sizzles slightly and drops to the floor, clunking against the tile.

All the Spider-People look at him, eyebrows raised.

"Ohh... Noir... Buddy..." Peter B. utters remorsefully.

"What? The barrier is colorless. I thought it would work!" Noir tries to rationalize.

Miles senses Gwen's fear over the bond. Can practically feel her trying to keep it together as she looks for a power source for the force field that is keeping them separated.

Hobie slams on his battle guitar, attempting to shatter the barrier like the one in Pavitr's Alchemax.

No luck. His mask droops in disappointment. "Bollocks."

Margo rolls her eyes, "I just said-!"

"Yeah, yeah, electricity won't do nothin," Peter B. finishes for her. "We believe you now, blue lady!"

"It's Spider-Byte to you! And who are you supposed to be anyway? Hugh Hefner Spider-Man!?" she throws back, indignant.

Peter frowns down at his robe, and Hobie lets out a bark of laughter. "I'm 'pressed your futuristic universe 'as a Hugh Hefna'."

"Margo, I assume that means your avatar can't phase through it?" Peni chips in, trying to redirect the conversation to the task at hand.

Gwen sends her a grateful nod. Peni holds up a subtle two-finger peace sign in acknowledgement.

Spyder-Byte shakes her head, "Even if I could, it would completely fry my OS back in my home dimen-"

"FATE." A voice booms through the test chamber.

At once, everyone freezes.

"DESTINY."

Gwen's terrified gaze swings back to Miles.

The sight of him there, stuck, alone, trapped. It brings her right back to the moment everything fell apart at HQ. Miles, scared, caged, just trying to go home. Her, yelling at Miguel to go easy on him.

She didn't do enough for him then. She won't make that mistake ever again.

"I'M GETTING YOU OUT!" she yells through the bond, her mask's eyes clenching in determination.

Miles gulps, feeling the intensity and truth behind the promise from her end of the sensory tether. Meeting her gaze, he nods.

"OUR TIME HAS COME, MR. MORALES."

A section of the platform floor near him opens up, and a figure is rising through it. The voice suddenly sounds much more human with no loud speaker.

"I knew if I bid my time, licked my wounds, fate... would serve me well."

It's a man in a lab coat, dark framed glasses fixed on his nose.

Miles' face twitches ever so slightly in recognition, especially at the man's voice.

"You've travelled a long way, Mr. Morales. Further than most of your kind would dare to go, especially in the face of certain death."

"Yeah, well. My family doesn't run from things," Miles throws back, knowing his Mamí would be proud to hear those words out of his mouth.

His jailer's mouth twists in annoyance. "Hmmm. And where did it all lead you?"

The scientist yanks off Miles' mask roughly. Gwen's heart wails at his bloodied and bruised appearance. His normally poofy hair is matted and stiff with sweat... and what looks like blood. Deep, dark circles under his eyes give him a sunken appearance. His beautiful caramel orbs lack their usual brightness and energy. "He's so tired," she thinks miserably.

"Oof, hey, that's a no-no," he says, before getting a burst of deja vu. Miles lifts his eyes to meet those of the scientist.

"Right back to me."

Gwen's heart rate leaps up, her sense vibrating the tip of her spine. She needs to find a way through the barrier, or at least cause a distraction to get the attention off of Miles. She has to act now!

Then she feels Miles, there in her mind, more present then ever, still in pain, but withstanding it. He must've felt her intentions. She senses him surrounding her, and gets an overwhelming sense of home. Gwen wishes she could curl up in the feeling and stay there forever. Then she feels him there as if he's placing a hand on her arm, telling her to-

"Wait, Gwen."

She instantly swings out an arm, and the whole team freezes at the signal, falling into silence. Her Band seems to be used to her playmaking when it comes to Miles at this point. Obviously there's much more to it than that, but from their point of view, whatever intuition Gwen seems to have for the boy has gotten them this far. She looks over her shoulder at the newcomers, expecting confusion, only to be surprised at the sight of Pete holding an arm out for Prowler and Black Cat to hold their positions, before meeting her eyes and giving an understanding nod and a subtle wink. "Interesting. Does he know?".

She's quick to refocus, twisting her head to see Miles glancing towards her, and she gives him a nod. "Whatever you're gonna do, Spider-Boy, do it now."

The scientist tightens his fists in anger, staring Miles down. "Say my name."

Miles looks him right in the eyes.

"Doctor Johnathon Ohnn."

"Yesss. Well done, Mr. Morales. You really are clever, aren't you?" the scientists compliments, pacing back and forth in excitement.

Gwen feels her anxiety flare. SHIT! She remembers the name on the apartment she was sent to by Jess and Miguel. "It's The Spot!" she hisses over her shoulder, watching the various eyes of the Band widen in shock.

"Clever enough to read your name badge," Miles says indifferently.

Ohnn looks down at his chest, only to see no badge there.

"Oops. Made 'ya look."

Pav gasps, "OOOOOOH," he whisper yells to the others "He got him good! What shameee!"

Ohnn whips back up with a snarl. "So it is true. Spider-Man's undying sense of humor."

"It's nothing personal. Gotta' do something to keep out all the lingering pain, and crippling depression, and... crushing betrayal," Miles rationalizes, losing a bit of enthusiasm with the last point.

The casualness with which he admits that tears Gwen to the bone. She feels the air get swept from her stomach briefly, and she hears a faint gasp from Peter B. to her side. His grip on her shoulder tightens with emotion.

She collects all the stored up feelings of worry, care, and the joy she felt from her revelation earlier tonight. Gwen bottles it up and pushes it across the senses to Miles.

Gwen feels a brief non-verbal acknowledgement from his end, a sense of "I know you regret it," but nothing more. 

"Better than nothing..." Gwen tries to encourage herself.

Then a glitch takes Miles over. He gasps, splitting into shards of various colors and shapes, before being forced back together. He groans, "Really? Now!?"

The Spider-Band clench their faces in worry.

Ohnn inhales sharply in surprise at the glitch, but if anything, he seems giddy. "My goodness! You really are going to disintegrate, aren't you?"

Gwen clenches her fists, grinding her teeth hard. They will PAY for this.

"We need to get my watch to him!" Pete chirps, already moving to take his off.

Every other Spider-Person turns to him in surprise.

"What?" he asks at the looks he's receiving. "We've been sharing my jailbroken one. He'd be in way worse shape by now if we didn't."

The tone that he uses makes it sound as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. It hits Gwen like a punch to the gut. "I snapped at him after he barely even touched mine," she thinks, her mind going back to their conversation under the water tower. Granted, he hadn't been in danger of glitching to death, and she knows in her heart she would have done the same as Pete had it been her with Miles the last couple days. But still, Pete was practically a stranger and he gave Miles control over his only ticket home. "What does that... say about me?"

Gwen does her best to push the intrusive thoughts aside. They still have a mission.

"There's no need for yours, Pete," Gwen says softly, pulling Miles' new watch out of her hidden pocket and holding it up for him to see.

The other Spider-Man's eyes widen, then smirks in understanding beneath his mask. "Wow. Custom made and everything, huh? That'll... mean a lot to him, Gwen," he says sincerely, strapping his own watch back on.

Gwen feels her face flush with warmth under her mask. "I hope so."

Miles shakes his head back into focus, recovering from the glitch and ignoring Ohnn's previous comment from his detained position, the tips of his soles squeaking against the platform. "I k-know who you are, Dr. Ohnn. Or... who you become in my universe, at least. You look great, by the way!... Compared to the other you I know," Miles adds on awkwardly.

Dr. Ohnn takes a step forward. "You're not very good at this whole, shutting the hell up thing, are you?"

"I know what you want, Dr. Ohnn."

Johnathon growls, "YOU DON'T KNOW ME."

Miles shakes his head sadly. "I do. Because we're the s-same. We started this whole thing together, even though we didn't mean to. It's neither of our faults, but both of our mistakes."

"MY MISTAKE!? YOU TOOK THAT SPIDER FROM ME!" Dr. Ohnn yells. "It was MINE! MY CREATION! THE ONLY PROMISING SPECIMEN AFTER HUNDREDS OF TRIALS, AND IT VANISHED," he turns around, pacing the platform. "And YOU!" he points, "It bit YOU. And it worked... for the most part."

"Uh..." Miles mutters, "For the most part?"

Johnathon looks over his shoulder. "What, you seriously think I meant to give you those electric and invisibility powers? That would never fly in human trials. Come on, kid, you're making me regret calling you clever."

"Hey!" Miles calls, offended.

Ohnn ignores him, continuing, "They shut down my research. Reprimanded me for 'wasting project funds'. I WAS ON THE VERGE OF A BREAKTHROUGH! And they threw me behind a desk. Gave me the goddamn night shift, forced to work on this collider! CHASED ME OUT OF EVERYTHING I BELONGED TO! MADE ME- MADE ME FEEL LIKE-"

"A mistake." Miles finishes simply, his face relaxing. Not an ounce of false truth. Just understanding.

The room goes silent, save for the whir of distant generators.

He feels Gwen's absolute anguish at those words. He can feel her beating herself up. Calling herself an idiot, hating herself on the other end of the bond, and trying her best to hide her immense guilt from him, but failing. He wants to send her acknowledgement, maybe even... reassurances, but needs to focus on the task at hand. He can't afford to lose Ohnn. He might be the key to all of this.

Johnathon's eyes widen in surprise at Miles' ability to understand.

"Here we go," Miles thinks.

"It wasn't me that took your spider... It- it was you, Dr. Ohnn. The you from my universe. You told me you used it as a test transport for Kingpin's collider. You... somehow seem to know at least some of what happened after that, but you... you were there when I shut the super collider down once and for all. The reaction... turned you into The Spot."

Miles grimaces in shame. "I didn't know you were in the building. I should've checked for survivors, it all just happened so quickly. But it's not an excuse... I'm sorry... I know it wasn't you technically, but... I don't think the other you will ever give me the chance to say that."

"I'm sorry, Johnathon. I failed you," he says, his eyes wide and meaningful.

Ohnn is quite for a few moments, his mouth twitching. "Do you really think an apology is enough?" Johnathon asks, but there's only a bit of hate behind it. It seems more like he's just... broken.

"It's not," Miles agrees, "but- maybe it's a start..."

Ohnn fixes him with a curious look.

"We need to release him from the mystical prison!" Noir declares.

"Not everything is magic!" Pete yells, exasperated, digging through his collapsible utility belt, looking for anything of use. "Wait, why do I have a Canadian quarter in here?" before tossing it over his shoulder. "UGH! Priorities, Pete!"

"Wait! That's it! Magic!" Cat shouts, a slight Irish accent emerging through her mask in the excitement. She looks at Pete expectantly.

He pales slightly, "Uh- I don't know, there has to be anot-"

"We're doing the portals, Pete!" M yells, warped through his mask.

"There's no way I can send this many people! I've only ever transported myself or Miles!" Pete yells. He wishes Ned were here. He'd be able to do this. Ned had had a natural affinity for portals that impressed even Strange and Wong. Not that... Ned would remember any of that.

He sighs. It's up to him. And Miles, and now Gwen, are counting on him. He won't let them down.

"A start?" Ohnn asks.

"Yeah. That, and I've got a bargaining chip."

Pete takes a stance, waving his arm in a circle and watching sparks flicker into existence. As he works on strengthening the portal, he groans as it shimmers back into nothingness.

"Why isn't it working!?" Margo asks hurriedly.

"I don't know!"

"You are a terrible magician," Pav observes.

"I'm NOT a magician! I think- I think it's the dark matter. It's reacting with whatever energy the sling ring is giving off," Pete theorizes, throwing his hands up.

"Uhh... sling... ring?" Peter B. questions.

Gwen's eyes squint, determined. "We just need to get one of us in there, someone to help Miles and drop the barrier! Can you do that!?" She asks Pete.

The Spider-Man in question looks at her. "O-okay, okay, yeah! I think I can get it wide enough to send one through before it collapses again."

Gwen nods.

"A bargaining chip, really, Spider-Man?" Johnathon mocks, but the sureness in his eyes seems to be wavering. He chuckles, trying his best to sound incredulous. "Really? You see yourself right now, right?"

Miles feels Gwen's consciousness rub up against his own, sending warmth through his body.

"Miles! Pete's opening a portal, but he can only send one of us through. Hang on, I'm coming!"

She gets a rush of his surprise and instant opposition to that idea.

"No, Gwen! Not you! Send Prowler!"

She can't help but feel slightly offended. Jealousy rises in her throat. "What!? No! Look, Miles, I know I messed up, okay, but-!?"

"Gwen-"

"Please, Miles, I can do th-"

"Gwen! It's not about that! This isn't about us! He's- he's the one. The one who was supposed to be bitten."

Gwen goes quiet, understanding and a small amount of embarrassment quickly emanating from her end of the bond after that reveal. "O-oh... OH!"

"He's 42's Spider-Man. It has to be him!"

She jerks back into action at his desperate tone. "Fine. But I'm getting you out of there, Einstein!"

Miles rolls his eyes at the nickname, but can't help but feel his chest flutter at her determination to be the one to free him. As it stands currently, his arms are beginning to ache from the spread position he's in. He addresses Dr. Ohnn.

"Look, man, I admit, I'm not really in the best spot to negotiate. But, you help me? I will give you my blood sample. All your research, the first successful trial, all back in your hands."

Johnathon's eyes widen... then squint in distrust. "Why make a deal when I can just take it from you right now?"

"You can try. But I don't recommend it."

"Okay! Here we go!" Pete grunts, holding out his hand with the sling ring and rotating it in a circle formation. Sparks jump into existence, forming a light 360 on the floor. "Gah!" Pete yelps, as the ring vibrates harshly on his fingers. Pete lets out a gasp of pain as the it seems to heat up.

"Prowler, you're up!" Gwen calls.

The young man in question nods, not seeming surprised whatsoever.

"Wait, what?" Peter B. asks, confused. 

Gwen shoots him a glare, but he's already attracted the attention of Ham and Peni as well. "Yeah, why him, Gwen?" the latter asks.

"Look, he made the call," she says, gesturing in Miles' direction. Everyone's eyes just about bug out at that, save for Pete's, still entirely focused on expanding the portal. "I know, I KNOW. It's crazy, but there's NO time. I'll explain later!"

"I know- I'm the new guy... but s-she's... right!" Pete struggles to get out, lenses squinted in determination at the intense sparks spinning in front of him.

The Spider-Band still looks uneasy, but seem to accept the plan.

Johnathon laughs at Miles' attempts to discourage him. "Oh, you don't recommend it, hmm?" he mocks, before seeing the serious look on the younger man's face. The scientist's expression flattens. 

Miles opens a palm, and a small bolt of electricity sparks in his hand. He raises an eyebrow at the Doctor.

Ohnn jumps back at the display of power, before opening his mouth, closing it, opening it again-

"-R-right. Electric."

Miles nods. "But... we make a deal? You get your successful data."

The scientist places his hands on his hips, taking a step back.

Miles hopes that means he's considering it. Just then, he notices sparks revolving on the floor behind Ohnn. He tries to keep the hopeful smirk off his face.

"A-alright! That's as good as it's getting!!" Pete forces out, the sling ring burning with power. Black sparks splinter off of it, the dark matter surrounding them feasting upon the ring's energy.

Prowler takes a determined step forward, before Black Cat grips his arm, "Don't die, or I'll kill ya'," she declares, that slight Irish accent painting the edges of her pronunciation again, in tune with her emotions for the other former-criminal.

He turns, smirking. "I'd never force a job like that on ya'," his voice coming across gentle, even through the morphing of the mask.

"Ga-h! NOW, PLEASE!" Pete sputters.

Gwen watches as Prowler leaps into a flip and activates the gravity wells on the soles of his Jordan's while inverted, flying up to stick to the ceiling. He sprints across the room, deactivating the gravity soles and diving down towards the portal.

"Wha-what's the deal?" Ohnn asks.

"I told you, Dr. Ohnn. It's both of our mistakes, which means it's both of our responsibilities. And... in order to fulfil my responsibility, I have a big ask," Miles admits shyly, giving an awkward, forced smile.

Gwen would give anything to see it face her direction instead. She misses his dopey smile so goddamn much, it hurts. The idea that she... might never see it displayed especially for her again... "No, Gwen. Head up!" she schools herself.

"This world was always supposed to have a Spider-Man," Miles explains. Someone like me. Due to the disappearance of your spider, that didn't happen. The city didn't have the hero, the protector it needed. The Sinister Six took over. You know the rest, better than I do."

M flies up through the portal in the floor, doing a flip and landing to Miles' left, forming a triangle with Ohnn.

"Woah!" the scientist yelps, spinning around and lifting a blaster from his waist.

The portal immediately collapses in on itself.

Pete groans, sliding to the floor of the observation deck, the sling ring slipping off his fingers and falling to the floor, leaving behind harsh burns on his glove. He whips it off to see the ugly welts forming on his hand.

Margo surprises the others by teleporting to his side, her avatar supplying an emergency burn spray.

The young man accepts it gratefully.

M quickly holds up his hands in peace, staring down the barrel of Dr. Ohnn's blaster.

"Our New York had its opportunities stolen. You can help us fix that, Doc," M explains through his mask, voice distorted.

"Wha-! Who the hell is this!?" the Doctor turns back to Miles, backing up slightly to keep both in his sightline, blaster still aimed at M.

Miles meets his eyes, "H- his identity doesn't matter, he's-"

"M. It's alright, man. This'll help him understand." Prowler says.

Miles looks at his doppelganger's mask with confusion.

In the observation deck, Pete and Cat share a nervous look, the latter twisting her fingers together to try to rid herself of anxiety. She hopes the dummy knows what he's doing.

"It's cool, man, promise," Prowler conveys.

Miles looks at him for a few more moments, before truly understanding his intentions.

He looks up to Gwen and Peter B. in the observation deck. Both their pairs of eyes filled with worry and fear for him.

Miles isn't sure they'll look at him like that again after seeing the truth of what he was meant to become.

He clasps his eyes closed. "No time for a pity party, Miles." He looks up and gives the smallest of nods to M.

Dr. Ohnn turns to his doppelganger expectantly.

And Prowler's mask retracts into the collar of his jacket.

There's silence. 

He feels overwhelming shock from Gwen's side of the connection, and can only imagine the disgust that will soon follow. He can't take it.

Miles' shoots over an "I kn-know. I'm sorry", filled with immeasurable shame, before shutting the connection. The full force of the pain floods back immediately, and he groans. It hurts like Hell, but it's better than a front row seat to the agony of her disappointment.

He grits his teeth against the sting of his injuries, forcing himself to glance back at Ohnn. The man in the lab coat swings his head back and forth between the twins.

"Well, this is... different," he stumbles, subconsciously lowering his blaster. Johnathon turns to address M. "A-and you are-"

"Miles Morales," he confirms, his slightly heavier accent coming through.

Dr. Ohnn scoffs in shock. "Of-of course you are," he agrees, eyes wide behind his glasses.

"One from this universe, I mean," M clarifies.

"Y-yes, that I... did put together."

Gwen can't move. She's rooted to the spot. Beside her, Peter B.'s mouth hangs open in surprise.

"It's... him..." Peni mutters.

Hobie instantly rises to the defensive, "Nah, crock a' bull, 'at is."

"Looks like him to me," Margo adds.

Gwen opens her mouth to defend her Miles' honor against the queasy looks some of the others are currently giving. But the words die on her lips when his voice echoes through the bond.

"I kn-know. I'm sorry." It comes with a wave of shame, and self-hatred, and a feeling she only recognizes as loneliness. But it ends the moment he closes the connection between their Spider-Senses. She sucks in a breath at the sudden release of pain, before the terrifying realization that he is now dealing with it on his own again sets in. Shit, he felt her shock and closed himself off. She feels nauseous.

Gwen throws her consciousness up against that corner of her psyche from which he disappeared to. "No, no, no! I'm sorry, Miles! Please!"

Peter B. shakes his head at the sight in front of them. "Look, he's not our Miles."

Cat steps up. "You're right. He's mine. And he is sticking his neck out for yours, so you can go ahead and wipe those disturbed looks off your faces!" Her subtle Irish lilt presents itself with the final command.

The Spider-Band turns and meets eyes.

"Like I said," Pete speaks up from behind Cat. "Miles trusts him... both of them, he adds, gesturing to the former cat burglar. "Look, you guys haven't been here quite as long as Miles and I. This world... It's hard to be good in a universe that doesn't allow it."

That seems to strike some sort of chord for the Band. One by one, their masks soften.

"'Pologies fa' what I said b'fore," Hobie crossed his arms blinking between a neon green and hot orange, "Sounds ta' me like you and ya' Miles are a couple a' anarchists. I respect a fella' masta've tha' craft, yea?" 

Cat smirks, but not enough to reveal a certain trademark tooth gap. "Appreciated. The three of us can compare notes later."

"You understand the mission now, Dr. Ohnn?" Miles asks.

The scientist spins back to him. "You intend to... make him... like you, yes?"

Miles nods. "It was always supposed to be him."

Johnathon shakes his head. "You do know he's The Prowler, right!?". He immediately throws a "No offense" over his shoulder towards M. The doppelganger just crosses his arms and rolls his eyes.

"Never committed a violent crime, right, M? Never hurt anyone?" Miles asks, knowing the answer.

M shakes his head. "They... the Six, they didn't use me for that. I was just another revenue source. Burglaries and that sort of thing," he says honestly.

Miles nods, addressing Ohnn again. "You and him are more alike than you think. The Dr. Ohnn I knew, he said he only turned to crime because his physical condition forced it upon him. Even then, he claimed he only robbed insured sources, like ATMs and such." Miles tries to stand a bit taller, slipping on his toes. His arms are beginning to fall asleep. "The point is, you both want to do good, but your situation has prevented it. I know you don't want to work for the Sinister Six, just like the other Miles. You can help us change that for your world, Doctor..."

Johnathon seems to process that.

"Doc."

The scientist meets M's eyes.

"Sticky-Me is tellin' the truth. You and I... we can be the heroes here."

The two stare at each other, seeming to communicate silently.

"Almost like Gwen and I," Miles thinks, before cringing. He can feel her there, up against the barrier, both in the sensory realm and in the physical one, begging to be let in.

But he can't do it. He can't disappoint her again. He refocuses. "The deal, Dr. Ohnn," he starts, regaining the scientists' attention. "I give you my blood. You use a bit of it to reverse engineer the sample back to the original spider venom compound. You can keep the rest, we just need enough to simulate the spider bite I received. Can you do that?"

The entire Spider-Band waits with baited breath.

"Are you kidding? Of course I can do that!" He waves his arms dramatically, the blaster bouncing up and down. M dips and dives to try to stay out of the line of fire. "It's child's play, really."

"But WILL you do that?" Miles clarifies.

Ohnn's face straightens. "O-oh... right." He clenches his eyes for a moment, before opening them and reaching up to fix his glasses. "I guess... I've let them walk over me long enough," he says, stepping up to the control panel near the platform. He reaches his hand out over a lever, before faltering. "I- What if they f-find out?"

"What if we find out what, Doctor?," a deep, chilling, modulated voice rings out. Everyone turns to see another Prowler emerging from the single blast door entry on the far side of the chamber, this figure taller than M, and voice sounding older through its modulator.

"U-uncle Aaron?" M fumbles out.

All the Spiders from the original collider incident meet each other's gazes.

Gwen shoulders slump, "Oh no-"

"Miles Morales wasn't bitten here..." Peni mutters.

"So his Uncle never died," Noir connects.

"Davis," Ohnn sputters, practically leaping back from the control panel in fright. "Wha- what a lovely surprise!" He blurts, sweating bullets. "What are you doing here? If I may, that is! This is my project, you know."

Miles feels Gwen back up against the mental block he's constructed, begging for purchase in his mind. No. He can do this. He'll prove he's not just another Prowler. And neither is M.

He blasts a "Wait, Gwen!" down the sensory cable that connects them. He quickly feels her stiffen, and the efforts against his sensory block fade. 

"And it's MY funding, right?" another sinister voice rings out, accompanied with the stomping of metal on tile. "Don't forget who you work for," Doc Ock snarls, clamoring down the arched wall of the reactor chamber. "The bug is ours."

"Technically, I'm an arachnid, pendejo," Miles spits.

He might be imagining it, but he thinks he catches the distant sound of Hobie's chuckling off towards the observation deck.

His captor doesn't waste time, smiling under his lab goggles. "If you look around, Spider-Man, you may notice-"

Miles sighs dramatically.

Doc Ock freezes, clenching a fist as he turns to Miles. "Yes?" he grunts.

Miles' eyes widen and he pretends to yawn, "Wha- oh, oh, nothin'. I just didn't realize you were gonna jump right into the big evil plan, but yeah, okay, we can do that, man. Just had to get comfy."

Doc Ock's tentacles shiver threateningly. "AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED," he growls, "the chamber we're in is powering up," Doc Ock speaks, giddy. "It's a multiversal reactor. I believe you're familiar with its design?"

Miles tries to pull his arms free again. No dice. He doesn't give Doc Ock the satisfaction of meeting his gaze.

"Ya' know, I've seen a lotta' crazy science experiments gone wrong in my line of work, they kinda' all blend together at a certain point," Miles taunts.

The tentacled villain chuckles, "Allow me to specify," before one of his prosthetics stretches out and presses a button on the nearby control panel.

In response, off to Miles' right, a hidden pair of blast doors slide open with a hiss.

"Uhh... what's that?"

Ock smiles, "Oh, now the brat wants to listen?"

Miles' eyes darken with anger, he pulls as hard as he can on the arms holding him. He grunts, and the metal groans, but doesn't move.

Doc Ock laughs. "Adamantium, Spider-Man. You won't get through it, I assure you."

Steam rolls through the doors, at first hiding the contents of the room, but fading quickly, revealing a makeshift cell, filled to the brim with various medical and testing equipment. Miles can just make out the beeps and whirrs of the machines. Tubes line the room, all weaving their way towards a wheelchair in the very center of the cell.

Miles eyes widen as he focuses on it. An elderly woman sits in the chair, dressed in a red prisoner jumpsuit. A red blindfold ties around her gray hair.

She wheezes slightly.

"Uhh... you've been holding an old lady hostage?" Miles says in surprise, glancing back at Doc Ock, "Wow, you guys really are evil."

"Shut up!" the supervillain yells.

His Spider-Sense buzzes suddenly, right at the tip of his spine. The same unique feeling he gets when he meets a new Spider-Person.

Wait...

He twists his head to look closer at the elderly woman.

"You- you're like me-"

She smiles softly. "Yes, my boy," the withered woman confirms, her voice scratchy. "And them," she nods gently up towards the observation deck. She has a strong, unique Spider-Sense. It feels like she can peer straight into him, made more unnerving by the fact she seems to be staring directly at him, even under her blindfold. "I have waited a long, long time to meet another Morales."

Miles' mind screeches to a stop.

Up in the observation chamber, Gwen and the others look around at each other in confusion.

"P-Peter?" Gwen asks desperately.

"I-I don't know what she's talking about. According to Miguel, Miles should be the only Morales to have become Spider-Man."

"A-another?" Miles asks, wide-eyed.

"Of course, my boy. Not as many as Peter Parker, or Gwen Stacy, sadly, but still, some are out there. And you, specifically, my boy... even amongst the other Morales', you are... truly a sight to see... no pun intended..."

Miles tilts his head in question. "You've been waiting to meet... me?"

"But, of course! To finally meet the one and only Ult-"

"That's enough! Show us what we want," Prowler threatens, extending his claws. He'd taken up a post next to the old woman. She sighs, before lifting her head to "look" at Miles. "I'm sorry, my boy." The woman grips the handles of her chair, grunting with effort.

Miles' eyes widen, then he feels the hairs on his arms stand up on end. All the airflow in the room seems to suddenly freeze. His Sense pulses.

"Friends?"

Everyone swings around to look at the light show across the room, each of them drawing in a harsh breath at the sight. Even Hobie is speechless.

Gwen's face crumples, her chin quivering at the sight in front of her.

Miles recognizes the sound of his own voice echoing through the massive room. He looks around, following everyone else's gazes to see... himself.

The woman is somehow projecting the clear image of their emotional goodbye over a year ago. The younger versions of him and Gwen smile softly at each other from their position above the collider, their masks pushed up above their faces.

Gwen remembers so vividly how her heart felt like it was going to burst at his request to be her first and only friend since Peter died. The lenses of her mask crinkle, squint lines marking her mask underneath her eyes, as they watch the event replay in front of them.

The younger Miles is nervous but smiling that silly, hopeful smile that, after a year of not seeing, she now knows she can't live without. 

Young Gwen grabs his hand, and their palms tighten around each other. "Friends," she says confidently. Their thumbs gently rub against each other.

"EGH! Skip the lovey-dovey crap," Ock orders.

The woman sighs before the Prowler slides his claws up the back of her chair, making a terrible, threatening scratching sound. She grimaces, and the scene shifts.

It's Miles again, still younger, and he's dueling Peter B. over who gets to shut down the collider. Miles catches his mentor off guard, sweeping the older Spider-Man's feet out from under him, grabbing him by the collar and dangling him over the collider beam. Peter B. yelps in surprise and grabs at Miles' arm, putting him in the same exact position in which he had held Miles in his dorm room.

Young Miles smirks slightly. "Ya' gotta' go home, man."

"What if I mess it all up again?"

"It's like ya' said..."

"Huh... right... leap of faith."

Peter B. lets go-

-And so does Miles.

Then he's smacking his hand on Kingpin's shoulder.

"Hey."

A massive blast of electricity surges out of Miles, sending Fisk flying back. Miles sprints forward, webbing his foe up, sliding and regaining his footing. He swings Fisk around and around, building momentum.

"HEY KINGPIN! PUSH THE GREEN BUTTON FOR ME!"

Miles lets go, watching Kingpin soar upwards through time and space itself, smashing into the control panel.

A tremendous BLAST, before Miles' Brooklyn begins slowly healing itself back together.

Having wondered for over a year how the collider event truly concluded, Gwen feels a massive burst of warmth, respect, and most of all, pride for Miles. He beat Peter B., forced him to return home to MJ. Mayday wouldn't even exist if not for him. Then he defeated Kingpin, all on his own, and in his own unique, badass-yet-beautiful, electricity-fueled style. "And using the same atrocious pick-up line he tried on me at school," she thinks with a blush.

They watch as the various skyscrapers, bridges, and streetlights of New York patch themselves back together in a stunning rainbow of glitching lights.

"That's enough," Doc Ock informs the woman.

The scene morphs.

Miles is spray painting the wall in the subway, at the place where he was first bitten.

Gwen quickly notices an outline of a boy, same build as Miles, painted on the wall, with the word "Expectations" painted in stylized font across it. Then there's Uncle Aaron's face, large and smirking, looking down at him. Peter B. to the side, smiling that crooked grin of his.

"I said enough!" Ock yells, but it seems as though the old woman doesn't even hear him, still shaking in her chair, limbs buckled down.

"C-can't... stop!" she wails.

Young Miles is putting the finishing touches on Gwen's own portrait. A couple more sprays of pink to border her figure, and he steps back, surveying his work. He smiles, dropping the spray can and reaching a hand up to wipe the sweat from his brow, smearing a rainbow of paint across his forehead. He doesn't even seem to notice.

Gwen has never seen him look so adorable. And she's never felt as loved as she does when she sees the flawless detail in her portrait. Gwen has always been one to cast doubt on herself, whether it be in talent, looks, friendships, or even her abilities as Spider-Woman. But looking at the image of her slightly younger self now, as recalled by her best friend's memory and painted carefully on a wall, she feels tears rise.

She looks... beautiful.

Gwen's portrait has a brightness that none of the others do, an extra level of detail in her watercolor eyes, and her smile is absolutely perfect, down to the slight crookedness of her lips and tiny gap between her front teeth.

Her heart feels like it's going to explode. 

Young Miles finishes his self-critique and sighs, looking down at his rainbow-stained hands, before meeting the eyes of the Gwen figure. "I'll find a way. Maybe it'll take years... decades... but we'll see each other again. I promise."

As quickly as the projection manifested, it morphs, spirals, and vanishes.

The first thing Gwen notices is that Miles is crying. When she catches sight of him, broken and falling to pieces above the platform, it destroys her. Gwen hates herself. Hates, hates, HATES herself. He was so... so alone. And she made it worse.

M and the Prowler look at each other. Prowler's arms had begun shaking at the sight of the mural in the 1610 memory. His Miles loves art too, he could see their own reflection in the other Miles' story.

He meets his own Miles' eyes. There's a desperation there, for both of them, willing the other to understand.

"Are you done?" Ock throws at the elderly woman, full of distaste.

She coughs in response, nodding weakly.

Miles sniffles, and forces himself to take deep breaths. He slowly gets his emotions back under control. None of that matters anymore. Just the mission.

"I'm sorry, Spider-Man, I didn't think that would strike such a chord."

Miles decides to ignore him, drawing the information he learned from that painful experience. "S-so that's how you know things that have happened in other dimensions. You've been forcing her to use her... ability, to show you," he grunts, sending a remorseful look in the woman's direction. Somehow, he has a feeling she sees it by the way the corner of her mouth twists upwards slightly.

"Correct, Spider-Freak. An invaluable resource, truly," Doc Ock confirms. "She is an especially unique Spider-Being, and has accelerated our project by years in a matter of days."

"A 'thank you' would be nice, you know," the woman suggests, voice thick with sarcasm.

Ock's lips tighten in annoyance. "She also has a similar mouth to yours. Tell me, are you all so goddamn chatty!?"

Miles tilts his head a bit. "Pretty much. All except one, that is."

Gwen and Peter gulp. Miguel's pursuit of Miles is heavy on their minds. They share a look between them, silently agreeing, never again.

"Well, I'd like to meet that one," Octavius enthuses.

Miles rolls his eyes. "If he shows up, I'll be sure to introduce you. Honestly, though, your boring evil monologue might even piss him off-"

Before he knows it, a metal claw is gripping his face, hard. Doc Ock leans in.

"HEY! HANDS OFF!!" Gwen yells, fire in her eyes. Miles feels her anger and... protectiveness? 

"INSECT." the foe snarls.

The phrase triggers Pete's memory, a picture from a battle on a faraway planet in another universe, burning its way across his mind. He grimaces, automatically glancing at his hands... waiting for... for... no... no, still there. "Just a memory, Pete." He shakes the image away, clenching his fists to keep his hands from shaking.

"Look, I'm sorry for continuously interrupting, but I think I've got the jist! This ain't exactly my first collider, 'ya know?" Miles rationalizes.

"ENOUGH" Ock grows, tightening his grip. Miles feels his throat closing. His vision dims slightly.

Out of options, he summons his venom strike. It's weaker, but still effective. Miles lets the energy run through his body, then forces it outward. The electric current travels down Doc's tentacle arm, zapping him. The foe lets out a shout of surprise, releasing Miles and taking a few steps back.

The boy takes in several deep breaths.

Across the room, the elderly woman in her cell laughs heartily.

Dr. Ohnn's eyes widen, glad that he had chosen not to try and forcefully take Miles' blood sample.

"Sorry, I guess I must've rubbed my socks too hard on the welcome rug on my way in," Miles taunts.

Gwen shrieks when in response, Doc Ock swings a tentacle around without looking.

WHAM!

Blood spurts from Miles' mouth, where the claw landed the blow, splitting his lip. He somehow manages to hold in his yelp, just letting out a deep grunt of pain, going slightly slack in the restraints.

Miles groans, waiting for his vision to clear.

Pav helps Peter B. hold Gwen back. "You're gonna FUCKING DIE!" she yells.

"Wow," Ock chuckles, jerking around to look in the direction of the observation deck, smiling evilly at Gwen while he wipes Miles' blood off his metal claw. "That one's got spunk enough to rival your own, Spider-Man... Ohhhhhh... Wait... I see!" His eyebrows raise above his lab goggles, giddy amusement in his expression, one of his tentacles rubbing his chin in thought. "That was you! Wasn't it?" he calls up to Gwen, gesturing to where the projection had taken place. "Touching stuff, really. Two young Spidersssss, sitting in a treeeee..."

Miles' sense blares, but it's no use, he can't move. He feels a claw SLAM into his chest. He hears a sickening snap, and knows from the blast of pain that one of his ribs has cracked. The impact forces the air from his chest, giving him no breath to cry out with. Miles squeaks in pain as he draws in air.

Gwen lifts an observation bench and chucks it at the barrier. The bench splinters apart on impact. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

"Gwen!" Peter B. yells.

"NO! This can't happen again! I can't stand here while he suffers AGAIN!"

Noir pitches in. "There has to be some way!"

"Gwen, the only thing that can get us through is organic energy!" Peni barks.

"Ya' mean like us?" Hobie asks.

"No! The effort would kill you!" Peni cries, as if it's obvious.

"Well, Ock's boutta' kill 'im if we don' make this snappy!" Hobie throws back.

"DO NOT THROW YOURSELF THROUGH THE BARRIER!" Margo cries.

"Davis, go wake up those two schmucks over there. I don't appreciate sleeping on the job," Octavius commands, jerking a thumb at the unconscious bodies of Lizard and Vulture.

Prowler doesn't even respond, instantly moving towards the foes.

M takes half a step to follow, before Miles waves a desperate hand at him, silently begging him to understand. "No! Stay with Ohnn!"

Thankfully, M takes notice and freezes, before slowly taking another step in front of Ohnn, blocking him from Octavius.

"Hypothetical question for you, Mr. Morales."

Another SMACK. Damn. That'll be a black eye. He grabs Miles' head and forces him to look over to the observation deck.

"Would you die for them?"

Miles scans the line of Spider-People, even seeing Pete and Cat among them. Then he meets Gwen's mask. She's terrified, he can feel her shaking through their connection.

Then again, that could be him doing the shivering.

He slowly turns back to Ock, his eyes lingering on Gwen as long as possible.

But, Miles doesn't even need to think about his answer.

He forces a small smile, blood dripping from his lip. He gathers up as much courage as he can.

"WITHOUT HESITATION!" Miles shouts, before spitting blood in Ock's face.

He feels Gwen's agony at his response.

Ock stumbles back, wiping his face. "GAH! GODDAMN BUG!"

"I already told you! I'm! An! Arachnid! Estúpido! Say whatever it is ya' got rehearsed, and let's get this over with!" he growls out, voice loaded with venom.

The metal tentacles raise up, rearing to strike. "AGH! Stupid boy... You don't get to rush my crowning achievement."

WHAM!

Miles sees stars. Sparks flying across his vision. It reminds him of the reflections off of Gwen's hair when she swings through the sunlight.

POW!

It's all... too much.

SLAM!

He just... wants to rest.

Gwen screams in anguish, "NO! MILES!"

"DUDES! They are waking up the other two!" Pav yells.

Unfortunately, he's not wrong. Prowler slices the webbing encasing Connors and Toomes, smacking their faces repeatedly until they begin to groan and wake up.

For Miles, the R&R that he hopes for doesn't come, as his mind drags him back into full awareness. He feels Gwen, somewhere beyond the mental block he put up. He feels her, there, begging to be let in. But he c-can't... It's so hard to focus...

His vision clears a bit, and to his chagrin, Doc Ock is already pacing again, continuing to explain his plan.

"As you know, the point of super colliders was to bring objects from other universes into our own. But you, Spider-Freak," he said, gesturing to Miles, "you altered its use, utilized it to return some of those friends of yours to their rightful dimensions."

"Yuh- yeah... pretty clever, right?"

Ock ignores him.

"That got me thinking, maybe the colliders can operate in both forms simultaneously. A constant give-and-take model. It would form a permanent, two-way bridge between worlds. And eventually, every universe."

Miles' eyes widen. "Wait, y-you can't do that! Everything we know about quantum physics says the universes would meld, destabilize! Maybe even cannibalize each other!" 

Gwen's eyes widen, impressed. She didn't even know that. "He really was going to major in physics instead of art," she thinks, that rock of guilt settling in her stomach again.

"You're a clever kid, Mr. Morales. A keen noggin, you've got, that's for sure. I'm counting on the universal meld. And while your Spiderlings race around, trying and failing to save what they can, I'll be there with my own army, taking over control of the new world."

"WOW. That is extremely psychotic. Too bad I can't let ya' do that."

Ock laughs. "You won't have a choice, because you'll already be dead."

Gwen's sense BUZZES, hard.

Prowler chooses that time to return to the party, glaring at Dr. Ohnn over M's shoulder, waiting for their enemies to make the first move, now that they're outmanned. Lizard stumbles over towards them, regaining his bearings, as Vulture attempts to reboot his wingsuit.

Octavius grins at the sight of his comrades. "You see Spider-Man, in order to connect an entire network of super colliders, I need a power source. One with... interdimensional DNA."

"Hmph," Miles manages to huff. "Lemme' guess, lucky me?"

"Right on the money!" Doc Ock claps, "Hence, why you've been positioned directly above the central reactor."

He taps a button on the control panel and the platform opens up beneath Miles, revealing a massive electrical reactor.

"I'm going to connect every Alchemax, every Sinister Six, every Octavius, and we will come to your precious Society and tear it to pieces."

Miles eyes widen at the sight of the power source beneath him. "Believe me man, I couldn't care less what happens to the Society!"

"And after that, we will take control of every New York in every universe."

"Yeahhh, okay, that sounds worse," Miles admits.

Octavius taps a few more buttons, and the reactor beneath Miles spins to life. There's deep, heavy sputters and whirs, and Miles looks up to see the two ends of the collider rotating far above him, the first sparks of particles jumping between them. The mad scientist smiles and grabs a large lever on the control panel, before pausing, and meeting eyes with Miles.

"For the record, you have my respects, Morales. You and your team bested my greatest allies," he says, tossing a glare at Toomes and Connors.

He makes time scan the masks of the Spider-Band up on the observation deck, before raising his eyebrows at Miles.

"I hope they remember you."

Pete feels a wave of nausea pass through him. He sees a flash image behind his eyes of his own mentor, on his knees with a blade in his side. A golden sunset on the horizon. This is too similar.

Why is it so similar?

"They will!"

Octavius and his followers spin to face the old woman across the facility.

She smiles. "They will remember him."

Doc Ock snarls in response.

Ohnn stares at the control panel switch, Octavius' hand on the lever while distracted with the elderly Spider. Ohnn closes his eyes.

Now or never.

Johnathon Ohnn steps out from behing M, lifting his blaster. "I c-cant let you kill him!" he yells, aiming at Octavius. "He has my research, in his blood! I need him alive!"

Everyone's eyes widen in surprise. Miles smirks slightly. "YES!"

Doc Ock chuckles. "Heh heh... I'm sorry, are we talking about your previous project. Studying spiders? Why would I give a damn about work that I pulled funding for?"

Ohnn squints his brows in anger. "It could be the key to-!"

"To cross-species genetics, yes, yes, we've had this conversation so many times, Johnathon. Look, if you're not satisfied with your work here, then perhaps you have... lost your usefulness," he finishes with a sharp edge to his voice.

Lizard lurches forward, but Octavius lifts a hand. "Don't. Davis has this one." Both Lizard and Vulture huff, but keep their distance.

The Doctor's eyes widen in fear, but he stands his ground. "I'll do it!" He cocks the safety on the blaster.

Prowler extends the claws of his gauntlet. "Nah, you won't."

M holds out a hand between them. "Uncle Aaron, don't."

"Stay outta' this, Miles."

"You've become more trouble than you're worth, Johnathon. Besides, now that you've done the heavy lifting, I can take it from here," Doc Ock explains cruelly, his tentacles slowly lifting him up to stand above the rest of them. He gives a nod to Prowler. "Do it."

Prowler takes a threatening step towards Dr. Ohnn.

To most of the group's surprise, with a blur of neon purple, M now stands firmly in front of the scientist, raising his gauntlets as his mask slides over his face. "I won't let you," he says, voice distorted and serious. 

Pete smiles beneath his mask. "Ya' can take the Miles outta' Spider-Man, but ya' can't take the Spider-Man outta' Miles."

The entire Band turns to him. Hobie chuckles in approval.

Pete looks right at Gwen and Peter B. "Chosen or not, he's meant for this life."

Peter B.'s eyes widen, and Gwen nods in understanding. He may not be Spider-Man in every universe, but he is still Miles. She feels a burst of pride for him.

Prowler laughs, the sound coming across staticky through the voice modulator. "Won't let me?"

"This is my future, Tio. I'ma fight for it!"

Prowler clenches a fist, then looks over to Miles, hanging limp over the reactor. He turns his head back to M. "You- you wanna be like that?" he taunts, gesturing to Miles. "I MADE YOU STRONG! AND YOU WANNA THROW IT ALL AWAY!? YOU WERE NOTHIN' BEFORE ME!"

"That's where you're wrong, man. I'm this universe's one and only Spider-Man, and always have been," he says, powering up his gauntlets, "Just didn't know it yet."

Aaron doesn't give him the time of day, roaring in frustration. The Prowler leaps, M quickly ducking and putting his shoulder directly into Prowler's stomach, tackling him to the floor and rolling into a three point fighting stance.

Gwen overhears a small, sharp inhale from behind her. She spins to see Cat, gnawing on her nails beneath her black domino mask, silver hair slightly tussled. Gwen can't see the young woman's pupils through the mask, and it... bothers her. "Who is she? And how did she get so close to her Miles... and- mine..."

"You really wanna do this, Boy!?" Prowler yells.

Cat huffs, stepping up next to Gwen, much to the Spider-Woman's surprise, "Called him a boy. BIG mistake."

Gwen catches her eye... and smirks.

M stands to his full height. "Do you!?" he throws back at Aaron. "Jus' walk away, Tio!" He yells, his more pronounced accent making itself known.

Prowler looks down, shaking his head. "Sorry, Miles. No matter how much 'ya want me ta' be... I ain't your Pops."

Up on the observation deck, the entire group watches in awe. Gwen can somehow see the hurt through M's mask, and she remembers her terrifying theory from her visit to Miles' apartment on E-42. She turns to Cat, fearing the answer, "Wh-what happened to his Dad?"

Cat lifts her chin and gives Gwen a deep, calculated look through her mask.

"Cat! Please! What happened to his Dad!?" Gwen pleads, lenses wide and fearful.

The former burglar says nothing, but lowers her chin, and shakes her head solemnly.

Gwen feels her stomach drop. "No..."

Prowler turns and continues towards Ohnn, who stumbles backwards in fear.

"Run, Doc!" M yells, throwing out a grappling hook and tripping up Prowler. "GET OUTTA HERE!"

The scientist obeys, taking off down the room towards the blast doors leading to the exit.

Before Lizard lands in front of him with a SLAM, that is. "Hello, Johnathhhhhon... going ssssomewhere?" he slithers.

Ohnn yelps and spins around, only to see Vulture powering up his wings, finally recharged after the EMP Miles delivered earlier. "Party's just gettin' started, Doc. And you? You're stayin' right here."

Doc Ock smiles in satisfaction, addressing Miles once again, "Looks like it's just us then! Sorry, kid, it was an entertaining effort, but you've lost."

Gwen tightens her fists next to Cat. "Called him kid. BIG mistake." She sees the ghost of a smile on Cat's lips.

The Spider-Woman turns to the group. "Out of options, and no more room to negotiate! We're getting through that barrier, NOW!"

"Pete's ring nearly destroyed itself, Gwen! We need an external organic source, something to pry our way through the matter!" Margo explains.

With the inclusion of "Pete" and "organic" in the same sentence, Gwen feels the perfect, logical solution hit her right in the face.

"PETE!"

The dark-suited boy in question spins to her from where he's trying and failing to reopen the portal. "What!?"

"The symbiote!"

He stares at her, blankly, for all of half a second before his eyes widen. "Gwen, you're a GENIUS!" he yells, leaping to his feet and running up to the barrier.

The photo-realistic Spider-Man slides to a halt in front of the Spider-Band. "Okay, I'm sorry if this hurts."

"It's gonna hurt!?" Ham yelps.

"Not you! I'm talking to... it." He refocuses, holding out his hands. Dark tendrils begin to seep out of his suit, slithering their way through the air, towards the barrier.

"Thanks for being the missing piece, Spider-Man." Octavius grins, yanking the lever.

Almost instantly, lightning shoots up from the reactor below, connecting with Miles, and filling him with almost unmanageable electric energy. He grunts with the effort to keep it contained within him.

Then the dark matter begins seeping down from the collider, in a twister of dark, bubbly energy. Horrified, he watches as the dark matter surrounds him, and begins sinking into his body, like the electricity.

Somewhere in his mind, he remembers seeing his own Peter Parker being held to the collider beam by the Green Goblin. He imagines it must have been similar.

That is, until red, hot pain soaks into him. He screams.

"Shit! Hang on, Miles!" Gwen begs.

The tendrils reach the barrier, sizzling against it. Pete yelps slightly, but forces his hands to stay extended.

The inky dark consciousness nestled within his own howls, begging him to stop.

The last time he felt Venom, truly felt it, was during the uptown chase, when he couldn't get ahold of Miles, and... feared the worst. He remembered the fear that he felt from the Symbiote, and latching onto that source, produces a thought to help Venom see. 

"It's- for our friend. The one who- helped us," he manifests in his mind.

The presence inside him growls. Unhappy.

M tries to reach Ohnn, but Aarons claws slice his leg, tripping him. Prowler leaps, coming down to slam him into the floor, but M lifts his legs and delivers a double kick to Prowler's chest, sending him tumbling. M flips to his feet and takes off toward Ohnn, firing a grappling hook and wrapping up Vulture's legs, distracting the foes from trapping Ohnn. Vulture takes off across the room, M quickly realizing the result. "Shit," he mutters, before he's yanked upward, the grappling hook dragging him through the air, lizard giving chase behind.

Pete grits his teeth, forcing more of the Symbiote at the barrier. "We-we can't lose him. I can't lose another friend! Help me, please!" 

Finally, he feels a ROAR deep inside him, and the tendrils thicken and multiply, pushing their way through the dark matter. Pete grunts, and forces his hands apart. The tendrils follow his lead, and begin stretching the dark matter.

He growls with the effort. He can feel the Symbiote doing the same. It's like they're on the same wavelength.

Slowly, the light of the test chamber bursts through. They've made a hole!

"HAHA! Alright! Get ready!" Pete yells over his shoulder.

The Spider-Band jumps into action, preparing for a fight.

Peni leaps back into SP//dr and closes the cockpit.

Hobie pulls out his finest pick and tunes his guitar.

Noir flicks a lighter, toasting the end of a cigarette.

Pav takes a sip of chai, before tossing the mug over his shoulder and smashing his fists together.

Ham pulls out the bucket of quicksand from earlier. "See, I knew I'd find a situation for this."

Cat tightens her mask and raises a collapsible baton.

Peter B. pulls Mayday's spider-beanie down over her eyes.

Margo multiplies into several avatar clones.

Gwen pulls her hood into place, her heart pounding in her ears.

She looks around at her team, all waiting for her to give the green light.

Pete stretches the matter even further, finally to the point where a Spider-Person can fit through. "Gwen! Now!" he yells over his shoulder.

Cat clicks the media player hanging off her belt. A spark as it overtakes the audio system of the entire facility.

The opening riff of "Since You Been Gone" by Rainbow slams hard.

Gwen closes her eyes. Focusing on her heartbeat.

Then the track's drum kicks in, stealing the show.

Gwen smiles, and her pulse melds with the drum beat. She nods slightly in time with the track.

Then opens her eyes.

"Let's save our fucking friend."

"Language around the baby!" Peter B. shouts indignantly.

They all rush forward, guitar riff slamming over the speakers

"Actually, I forgive everyone, this is a song for ME!" Peter B. cries happily.

"I prefer Hank Williams," Noir adds.

"You're both very OLD, WE GET IT!" Pav yells.

Gwen throws out two webs, catapulting herself into a spiral, soaring straight through the opening Pete has forced.

Then she's falling in a dive. The rest of the team tumbles through behind her, spreading out as they freefall through the cavernous collider chamber.

"I get the same old dreams same time every night

Fall to the ground and I wake up"

Her lenses pan the room, analyzing the situation.

"So I get out of bed, put on my shoes and in my head

Thoughts fly back to the breakup"

Lizard is turning back at Ock's command to chase Ohnn, who is booking it for the exit.

The other Miles is pulling himself up along the cable he's wrapped Vulture with. The foe drops a bomb behind him, and the former Prowler barely slaps it out of the way with a gauntlet before it explodes.

Davis gives chase, flying up a curved wall and firing grappling hooks, trying to yank his nephew back down to Earth.

"These four wall are closing in!

Look at the fix you put me in!"

Then, there's Miles, trying to hold in a scream as dark matter attacks him from all sides, just barely able to connect gazes with her as she falls through the chamber. Gwen swears she sees a flash of recognition and the hint of a smirk on his pained face.

"Since you been gone!

Since you been gone!

I'm out of my head can't take it!

Could I be wrong

But since you been gone

You cast your spell so break it!"

She speaks up, yelling over the wind of the dive. "I've got-"

Pavitr chortles as he falls backwards, hands behind his head in a relaxed position. "We all know who you've GOT, Gwendoline! Ugh, seriously BROS, all the romantic tension has built to this very moment!"

"PAV!" she yells.

Margo's several avatars all snort in laughter.

"Will they!? Won't they!?" Pavitr playfully gasps, slapping his hands on his cheeks in his best Home Alone impression.

"OH OH, OH OH, OH OH

Since you been gone!"

"Twenty quid say lip-on-lip happenin' t'night!" Hobie calls.

Peni laughs through her mech, "No one is stupid enough to bet against that!"

"GUYS!" Gwen blushes madly, even with the air whipping past her face.

"Do you all always joke in the face of death!?" Cat shouts, readying her grappling hook, "Cuz' I'm digging it!"

"DON'T ENCOURAGE THEM!" Gwen pleads.

"So in the night I stand beneath the backstreet light

I read the words that you sent to me"

Peter dives in line with her, grabbing her attention. "Don't worry, I'm still focused, kid! We got the others, alright!? Go get our boy!"

She nods to herself, brow furrowing in determination. "Okay!"

"I can take the afternoon,

the night time comes around too soon

You can't know what you mean to me"

"GO TEAM!" Pete yells, diving down past them, having followed last. He's clothed in a... new suit?

He spreads his arms, slowing his fall. His suit has returned to its classic red and blue, only now the small spider on his chest has grown to cover his entire torso, wrapping around his shoulders to meld with the spider on his back as well. The emblem reflects the deep, inky black of the Symbiote.

"Oi! Ya' really jus' pulled a costume change like tha'?" Hobie exclaims.

"Uh- kinda!? I think the Symbiote and I came to an understanding! Ya' like it!?" Pete calls back.

"It's rather dapper!" Noir encourages, holding his fedora against the fall.

"Sensational!" Margo calls.

"Your poison letter, your telegram!

Just goes to show you don't give a damn!"

"Webs out!" Gwen calls, and the entire team instantly focuses, thwipping off of to their respective villains. Cat casts her grappling hook and swings off after M, still in pursuit of the Vulture.

Gwen swings towards Doc Ock, still distracted with the controls of the collider. She can't even see Miles through the dark matter swirling and bubbling around him, but she can feel him struggling beyond the mental block.

She releases her webline, thwips one of Octavius' tentacles, spinning him around, head directly into her outstretched foot.

WHAM!

"Since you been gone!

Since you been gone!

I'm out of my head can't take it!"

Doc swings around like a bowling pin, using another of his metal appendages to snag Gwen out of the air, slamming her down into the floor.

"Could I be wrong

But since you been gone

You cast your spell so break it!"

She braces herself with her knees and forearms, then leaps into the air, webbing the same tentacle to the floor, and narrowly avoiding another swiping metallic appendage that would have certainly knocked her unconscious. She webs that one to the floor just as fast, spinning around in midair and webbing the far wall on either side of her foe, launching herself feet first into Octavius' face.

SMASH!

"OH OH, OH OH, OH OH

Since you been gone!"

Ock SLAMS down to the floor, groaning.

Gwen lands beyond him, before backflipping to come down knee-first on his chest. He sputters in pain, and Gwen reaches both hands out to each side, webbing the two remaining prosthetic limbs down to the tile, without breaking her stare with Octavius.

"If you will come back

Baby, you know you'll never do wrong"

Doctor Octopus spits a bit of blood, then chuckles. "So... gonna do it, Spider? You said... I'd die."

Gwen raises a fist. "I did, but sadly, there's no time. Well-" she pretends to check her interdimensional watch. "Actually, maybeeee there is a teeeeensy bit of time, just for-"

She slams a fist into his face, cracking his nose.

Doc Ock yells in pain, blood flowing from his nostrils.

Gwen rises to her feet. "That's for putting hands- or tentacles, or whatever- on my Sunflower."

"You- your wha-" he starts, before being cut off by a web to the mouth.

"Since you been gone!

Since you been gone!

I'm out of my head can't take it!"

Gwen quickly moves over to the control panel Octavius had been messing with. "Ugh, come on Gwen, you don't need instructions! You can do this!"

🕸️

Miles can't see anything. But he can FEEL everything.

The dark matter and electricity fight within him, holding each other off from taking over completely and imploding.

And everything hurts like Hell.

The gash on his chest stings like never before. The slices in his shoulder feel like someone's poured tequila on them. His face might as well be on fire. And the damaged rib causes his chest to radiate waves of agony throughout his body.

Everything begins to dim.

He can't do it.

All he can hear is the sound of his own heartbeat, getting slower...

and slower...

and slower...

Then an alarm rings out, shaking him back to consciousness.

He feels light on his face.

A voice in front of him.

He opens his eyes.

It's- it's her. Lenses wide in concern, standing at the top of the stairs to the platform. She yells something, but it comes across distorted and muted.

Then everything blasts into clarity. Sound and color rush in through gaps in the dark matter. Her hair glows like never before.

"OH OH, OH OH, OH OH, OH OH

Ever since you been gone!"

"MILES!" she yells again.

Then, the two Adamantium arms that hold him captive, finally release.

There's half a second where Miles drops, knowing he's going to fall into the reactor below. His eyes widen. The rim of the platform passes his head.

Then a webline smacks him in the chest, and his decent comes to a stop, before he's yanked upwards.

"Since you been gone!

Since you been gone!

I'm out of my head can't take it!"

He still feels the energy coursing through him like liquid fire. Miles tries to focus on her.

When his head sticks up above the platform again, she's there, pulling on her webline, lenses slanted in concentration. Then he finally clears the platform and she yanks, sending him tumbling forward towards her, unable to stop himself with both his arms dead asleep.

He's about to tumble off the platform and down the stairs, when his fall is stopped short by two lean and muscular arms that grip him by the shoulders, slowly lowering him down the steps, getting him away from the reactor.

"Since you been gone

Since you been gone

I'm out of my head can't take it"

As the song fades out, Gwen's voice comes through clear. "Miles, can you hear me!?"

Miles feels the the dark matter losing its constant hold on him. For the first time in minutes, it's like he can breath again. He sucks in deep, shaky breaths. He's freaking out a bit.

"Shh, I've got you," her soft voice breaks his reverie. He twists his head slightly and there she is, hand on his shoulder. Then she whips off her mask, trying to get a closer look at his face. "I've got you," she repeats softly, sounding like she's trying to calm herself as much as she is him.

Across the room, Cat rises to full height after a brutal baton smackdown on Prowler, only for her eyes to widen under her mask, seeing... HERSELF across the room. She can't help her mouth dropping open. Her theory about Gwen was correct, but that doesn't stop the shock of seeing another her, albeit blonde and draped in a Spider-Suit, kneeling over the other Miles.

She smirks slightly at the intriguing sight, but the growl from Prowler's position behind her forces Cat to refocus and jump back into the fight.

Gwen props Miles up better against the steps and quickly looks over his injuries, surprised to see most of them are... mostly... healed? "What the hell?" She can even tell through his torn sweatshirt that the massive gash on his chest has stopped bleeding, almost as if it cauterized itself.

"Gw-Gwen..." He breathes.

Her gaze softens, she'll think about his miraculous healing later. "I told you I'd get you out," she says, out of breath.

He lets out the lightest of huffs. "And y-you kept... your pr-promise..." Miles manages, his heart rate finally coming back under control.

Gwen looks at him then, eyes wide, watercolor reflecting the clashing emotions he sees in her orbs. Guilt, happiness, fear, relief, and something else... deeper, that he's unsure how to define. He takes in her appearance, hair stiff with sweat and grime, dirt and ash coating her face, and deep circles under her wide, worried eyes. "She hasn't slept much either..." he thinks.

She's never been more beautiful.

Another glitch chooses to smash his body to pieces before shoving it back together in a show of painful rainbow shards. "GAH!"

Hobie swings by, "Gwendy! Ya' give 'im tha' present!?" he says, smashing his guitar against Lizard's head.

"OH! Crap! Right!" She suddenly becomes... flustered? Miles watches as a shade of pink tinges her cheeks. She's suddenly looking everywhere but at him, while she reaches into her hidden pocket. "I... should've made this for you so m-much sooner. But... you know that. I just... I figured it could be a s-start." Gwen says solemnly, with the smallest bit of hopefulness, the wording reminding Miles of his own attempt to make things right with Ohnn. Gwen carefully holds out the black and red watch she's made for him.

His eyes widen considerably. He opens his mouth, then closes it, then opens it again.

"You're not committing to anything by accepting it. I swear. As soon as this is over, you can take it and go home. And if you don't want m-me to follow you... if you... n-never want to see m-me again... I'll l-live with that..." she hiccups slightly, her blush deepening.

He watches two tears trace their way down her face.

She forces herself to meet his honey brown eyes, the ones she's been seeing in her dreams for over a year.

"But I just... I need you to know how I-...You deserve to know everything. And it's far overdue that I tell you. Far overdue that I admit it to myself, really... So- if you're willing... maybe we can talk- after this?"

It's not smooth, and damn, does it feel like her face is absolutely melting off, but she got it out. She holds out the watch slightly further, her hand shaking slightly with nerves, eyes wide with hope of winning him back and fear of losing him forever.

Miles eyes the watch.

Then her.

Then the watch again.

She almost whimpers in happiness when he reaches out a shivering hand and gently takes the watch out of her palm.

He gasps slightly in relief as he buckles it to his wrist. It feels like a cool breeze rushing through him, like being able to take a full breath of fresh air for the first time in days.

Gwen feels the knot in her chest relax slightly, knowing that she at least brought him some physical comfort.

"You... m-made this?" he croaks out. The red and black design clearly reflects his preferred color theme. He looks up, eyes wet. "F-for... me?"

She nods instantly, eyes watering in response to his emotion. "I m-mean, I can't take all the credit. Hobie basically coached me through it since he's built some before, and then Margo and Peni approved it, because I trust them more when it comes to tech," she lets out a nervous chuckle, unable to stop her anxious rambling. "I d-definitely don't know enough to be called an engineer or anything! And I'd normally never even try to make something like that, but... I- I had a pretty good reason to..." She finally gets her mouth to close.

Pav soars by, bangle wrapped around Vulture's wing. "Hey Miles, bro! I told her to bring flowers too! She was worried that would seem too desperate!"

Miles watches as Gwen's face turns the color of a fire hydrant, her eyes widening in embarrassment. "That motherfu-"

"Gwen-" Miles says calmly.

She freezes, locking eyes with him, her own wide and fearful, waiting for the inevitable rejection.

"Thank you," he says softly. He gives the lightest of closed-lipped smiles. "We'll..." he takes a deep breath, "...talk later?"

Her vision gets warm and blurry, and she quickly wipes the back of her glove against her eyes. She nods rapidly, a wet smile covering her face. "Okay."

They sit there and smile softly at each other, soaking in the fact that they are both here and touching and alive.

Then, with a sniffle, Gwen stands, and reaches out a hand to Miles.

He doesn't even hesitate before grabbing it. The action isn't lost on her, and her heart does a little flip inside her chest.

Pav flings Vulture across the chamber and lands near the platform as Gwen helps Miles to his feet, letting out a whoop. "YOU GUYS! This is SO BEAUTIFUL! Mission accomplished!"

"Uh, aren't we still fighting?" Gwen redirects, glancing off to see SP//dr catapulting Ham across the room to drop a cartoon anvil on Lizard.

Pav laughs knowingly, "Come on, I mean THE MISSION! Mission: Star-Crossed Spiders!!!"

"Okay, that's enough Pav!" Gwen begs, cheeks beginning to flare all over again.

"You know what this means!?" Pav practically jumps up and down with excitement.

"What?" Miles begins, his exhaustion clouding his mind, before his eyes widen with sudden realization. "WAIT! No! Don't say it!"

Too late. "Another simple adventure for Spider-Ma-!"

A claw SLAMS through the siding of the test chamber. Blurs of red and a roar of "MORALES!"

Miguel.

"Crap! Miles!" Peter B. yelps, preoccupied with helping M keep Prowler away from Dr. Ohnn.

Hobie gives Pav a withering look from across the room, "Ya' know yur my fav n' all... but cut tha' shite, yea!?"

Pav has the decency to look embarrassed, before leaping up to assist Spider-Punk to get back in his good graces.

Miguel bursts through the wall, flying in and rolling to a stop in the middle of the room.

A roar of an engine, and Jess soars in behind him, landing her bike and squealing to a halt.

Miles grits his teeth in annoyance. "Hey, Doc!" he calls over to the webbed-up Octavius. "There's the serious guy ya' wanted to meet. Maybe he'll give ya' an autograph!"

Doc Ock rolls his head as much as the webbing can allow, and squeals in terror through his muffle at the sight of the towering, futuristic Spider-Man with red eyes and sharp fangs.

"Damn. Never meet your heroes, I guess," Miles taunts.

"It ends here, Miles!" Miguel yells, regaining the younger Spider-Man's attention.

The leader of the Spider Society and his second-in-command stare Miles and Gwen down.

Miles looks up at them, a calculated look in his eye.

"Yeah, it does." He rolls his shoulder, wincing as it pulls on his still aching rib.

He takes a step forward-

-and Gwen steps in front of him, facing Miguel and Jess, fists raised.

"You won't touch him," she growls.

Miguel growls, noticing the multiversal watch on Miles' wrist. "TRAITOR!" he screams at Gwen.

"Wrong! In fact, I'm being loyal to what matters!" she glances over her shoulder at Miles. "To who matters."

Miles' eyes widen, warmth blooming in his chest.

Jess' has a similar look of surprise, but she reluctantly lowers into a battle stance. "We will get to Miles, Gwen."

"No. You won't."

Miguel roars. "HE'S A MISTAKE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED!!!"

"BULLSHIT! You know what I think?" Gwen asks, balling her fists, her blue eyes lit with a determined flame. "I think you hate the idea of a Spider-Man you can't know everything about. I think the fact that he wasn't preordained scares the living shit out of you! He's unpredictable, in all the best ways, and doesn't care what others think is supposed to happen in his own story. He's the bravest and most inspiring person I've ever met, and if it weren't for him... my Dad would be dead."

She looks over her shoulder again to see Miles, eyes confused. Gwen feels his questions rising through her consciousness, and she knows now is the time.

"After the chase, Miles, they kicked me out. Sent me home. I was... terrified of facing my Dad again, of either being arrested by my own father, or... finding his cold body on the floor."

She shakes her head, sniffling.

"But... neither of those things happened. He was there, and we spoke. I told him that I was lost, that I had lost another friend, that I was scared of losing him, and that all this fear... fear of having one of the people I hold closest end up like Peter again... it was tearing me apart... and he- he quit the force, Miles."

Shock emanates from his side of the connection.

Miguel scoffs in disbelief, but Jessica tilts her head in confusion.

Miles speaks up. "Q-quit?" he processes that, eyes wide as saucers. "So..."

"He's not captain, anymore," she smiles softly. "He's safe. And so is my world. No collapsing." She lifts up her wrist, displaying the homemade watch Hobie gave her. "No canon event disrupted."

Miles eyes widen, and he slowly smiles. A small, shaky, relieved smirk.

"How is that possible!?" Jess yells.

"It's NOT! SHE'S MISTAKEN. SHE HAS TO BE!" Miguel shouts.

Jess doesn't look too sure.

Gwen turns back to her former mentor and the vampire, meeting eyes with the leader of Spider Society. "You're wrong. Miles showed me that anything is possible, that WE have the power to change our own fate through actions, not turning and running simply to preserve it! He is amazing... and always will be. He's the very best of us, because he wasn't predetermined." She shares a look with Pete, in his new suit, across the room, holding Prowler against a wall. He nods at her in support.

Gwen glances back to Miles. "Chosen or not, he's meant for this life. More than any of the rest of us combined."

She sees his eyes widen and a blush dust his cheeks, and a wave of his own warmth washes over her.

"And together, we're gonna save his Dad too."

Then her heart melts as he smiles for real. A true-to-life, large and wide, Miles Morales smile, just for her. It sends butterflies straight to her stomach. It's been so long since she's seen that dopey grin. She gives a shy smirk of her own in return, feeling her cheeks heat up, and gently tilts her head in question. "Let me in?" she pushes ever so lightly across the sensory sea to him, hoping he hears her.

Before she knows it, he's forcing the bond open fully. The first time since his alternate self was revealed. She's pleasantly surprised by a lack of pain from his end. Looks like the worst of his wounds really did heal during his stint on the platform.

"Okay?" she sends down the line.

Miles takes a deep breath, and straightens to his full height. "Okay," he replies.

Gwen takes a few steps back, coming to stand in line with him. She looks over at Miles to find his eyes meeting her gaze.

The young woman's face softens, and she rubs her consciousness up against his, sending tingles through their Spider-Senses. "We can do this, Sunflower. Together." 

He blushes hard at the nickname, which makes her smile. She still has that effect on him, and it boosts her confidence.

Then Miles nods back at her. "Together then, Gwanda."

Her smile widens considerably, the gap in her front teeth showing proudly and her face roasting like lava. But she doesn't give a damn.

Wordlessly, Gwen smacks the release on her non-primary web cartridge. It pops up out of her webshooter, only for the young Spider-Woman to snag it out of the air and toss it to her side.

Miles snatches the cartridge without looking, snapping it into his primary hand's webshooter. He sends a wave of warmth her way as a silent thanks. "Back in the game."

In a final attempt to convince her former protégé, and perhaps herself as well, Jess yells, "YOU'RE USING YOUR HEART, NOT YOUR HEAD, GWEN!"

The hero in question spins back around to Jess. "NO SHIT! And for the first time since that damn Spider bit me, I know EXACTLY what I have to do!" She preps her remaining webshooter, then lowers into a crouch. "So, bring it!" she spits with venom.

Cat must still be in control, because sparks run through the speakers of the facility, before a quiet build and small, unintelligible vocals echo through the chamber, then the beat of "Expectations" by Arrested Youth drops.

Miguel roars and charges for Miles.

Jess kicks her bike into gear, zooming off towards Gwen.

"I keep on having this dream where I'm seventeen

Slipping through the cafeteria trying not to be seen"

Miles and Gwen look at each other, both focusing intently on their Spidey-Sense, and the bond that pairs with it, acting like a bridge between their two minds. It feels like they are a single unit.

"I see my brother, he's sitting there with some kids

He smiles at me and waves, I fake a smile and sit"

They turn back to the incoming foes, and their senses meld, raising their fists as one.

"Down at the table, but something's off and I know it

'Cause when I try and say something nobody seems to take notice"

Miles leaps into a flip, Miguel passing under him. Gwen throws out a web, tripping Miguel on his follow through, just as Miles thwips his own line, yanking Jess' drive-by punch away from Gwen as he lands on her opposite site.

"I kinda like it, but then I start to feel strange

Like the time I went on amazon to buy myself a date"

Gwen and Miles spin back-to-back, as Jess recovers and circles them on her bike. She speeds up, creating a blur of red and gold and making the outside world difficult to see. Both young Spiders put their entire faith in the connection, and they feel it pulse. Two senses is better than one. With a roar, Miguel flies over Jess, gauntlets raised for a ground pound. At the same time, Jess swings her bike in, right towards Gwen.

"When did things get pixelated?

I can't keep my concentration

I've lost my imagination

To such great expectations"

Gwen and Miles push off of each other's backs at the exact same moment.

Gwen uses the momentum to kick the side of Jess' bike, forcing her off-track.

At the same time, Miles utilizes the force to leap upward, coming up under Miguel's attack and delivering a devastating venom strike to Spider-Man 2099's jaw, sending him tumbling.

"All the things that I never said

They keep crawling back to me

All the things that I never did

They still haunt me in my dreams"

Miles flips and lands, just as Gwen spins around from the follow through of her kick. They bump into each other's chests.

Gwen glances up and meets his eyes, seeing a determination and sureness in his brown orbs that takes her breath away.

Miles returns the gaze, seeing the satisfaction in her eyes and excitement at fighting alongside him once again.

Then Gwen's Sense blares, and she leans to the left, swinging a fist past Miles' head and smashing Miguel's face.

Miles briefly glances over his shoulder to see Miguel falling backwards, then meets her eyes again. "WOW..." he breathes, caramel eyes wide with a spark of wonder.

"All the years I've spent

All the lives I've faked

Just to keep myself protected

From all the things that I never said"

Gwen barks a laugh at his silly reaction, before Miles grabs her waist, spinning her out of the way to counter another strike from Jess.

"That I never said

That I never said"

Across the room, Pav and Noir tag team Prowler, who is trying to understand how the Hell he got into a fight with a cartoon pig. The distraction proves worth it, as Noir throws a vicious sucker punch into Prowlers stomach, sending him flipping through the air. "Take that, 'ya crony!" the Private Detective yells.

M spins through the air, and kicks his Uncle in the back, sending him crashing to the floor below.

The boy lands, turning to Dr. Ohnn, who crouches in fear nearby. "Stay close to me, Doc!"

The scientist nods in terror.

"I keep a rolodex inside my head of

All the times I had a chance to just be honest, instead"

Pete thwips high above and tackles Vulture out of the sky. They tumble to the ground. Pete is on his feet in a blur, shooting two weblines at Vulture, who impressively manages to snag them into his gauntlets before trying to yank Pete off-balance. The Spider-Man smirks under his mask, expecting the move, and twists the webbing around his arms, yanking Vulture across the room with intense force. Pete leaps into the air and delivers a brutal kick to Vulture's mask, sending the foe careening away. "Hah! Thanks for teachin' me that one, Brooklyn," he mumbles to himself.

"I made a joke to change the subject because my confidence said

"Hey, listen, if you mess this up

They're gonna judge you, my friend!""

Margo multiples herself, circling Lizard, each avatar swinging down and punching a different joint. Lizard roars and snaps at one of the avatars, but the image of Spider-Byte fazes right through his jaw, before self destructing in the enemies' massive mouth. The Lizard wails, steam rising from between his teeth.

"I'm living in a state of pure paralysis, see

I like to think, think, think, but my action is weak"

Peter B. webs one of the recently-recovered Vulture's wings, yanking him down. The foe fires a missile down at the experienced Spider-Man with a cackle. Peter B. doesn't have time to dive out of the way.

Cat swoops in, smacking the missile with her baton. It redirects and soars across the room, smashing into the observation deck and causing a massive explosion.

Peter B. and Cat meet eyes. "Uh... good thing none of us were up there?" Cat shrugs.

Mayday coos in amusement.

Peter B. nods dumbly.

"My interaction is bleak, if life's a herd, I'm a sheep

Guess I'm not really that much different than at age seventeen"

SP//dr kicks Lizard's legs out from under him, Peni yelling with joy.

Hobie comes down with a sonic wave riff, blasting Lizard backwards in a somersault towards Porker.

"When did things get pixelated?

I can't keep my concentration

I've lost my imagination

To such great expectations"

Spider-Ham throws down his barrel of quicksand, just as the lizard steps over it, one of his feet instantly sinking down through the floor.

The foe hisses in frustration as he continues to sink.

"Haha! Best takedown ever!" Ham yells, swinging his trusty mallet around and smacking Lizard upside the head.

"All the things that I never said

They keep crawling back to me

All the things that I never did

They still haunt me in my dreams"

Fighting with Miles, their Spider-Senses fully connected, it feels like the greatest ballet routine Gwen's ever performed.

She's never had a perfect dance partner, but she knows she just found it. 

"All the years I've spent

All the lives I've faked

Just to keep myself protected

From all the things that I never said"

Miguel and Jess just can't land a hit on them. Any time Miles or Gwen are in danger of having their defense broken, their bondmate's sense blares, and a web or fist shoots out to counter the attack perfectly.

"That I never said

That I never said"

Jess is about to slam her bike into Gwen, when Miles webs the front tire, yanking it and sending the older Spider-Woman sprawling across the floor.

"All of the things we wish we said

They drag me down until I'm dead"

Spider-Man 2099 swings a massive gauntlet blade at Miles, and Gwen's there in a flash, twisting his arm and bashing his gauntlet. One of the blades cracks and flies off, clattering to the floor.

"You say the best is yet to come

Can anyone figure out what's wrong with us?"

Miguel switches tactics, shoving Miles aside and throwing himself at Gwen.

Jess swings her bike around, knocking Miles off his feet. He flips in mid-air, barely sticking the landing and sliding to a stop.

Miguel roars, animalistic, his eyes a vicious red, and swings both of his gauntlets down at Gwen. She webs the cracked gauntlet blade from the floor into her hands and lifts it, blocking Miguel's attack with a echoing CLANG. She wheezes with the effort against the physically stronger Spider-Person. She feels her hands grow wet where she grips the blade.

"GWEN!" Miles yells, turning invisible, and leaping as Jess zooms towards him, fist raised for a finisher, eyes widening as she loses sight of him.

He spin kicks Jess in the face. She flies off her bike, unconscious, and Miles flips around, throwing out a web to catch her before she hits the ground and two more to trap her there.

"All the things that I never said

They keep crawling back to me

All the things that I never did

They still haunt me in my dreams"

Miles lands mere feet from Gwen, but not quick enough. Miguel kicks one of her shins, and she cries out. He uses the chance to bash one of his gauntlets down on her, a blade slicing into her right shoulder, tearing a piece of her suit. She yelps in pain.

"NO!" Miles screams as Gwen falls to the floor, instinctually rolling backward to avoid another strike.

Watching the blood trickle down her shoulder, it snaps something deep within Miles.

And suddenly, he slides in front of Gwen, blocking Miguel's path to his bondmate. He feels some kind of power rising up within him.

Something new.

It starts in his core, then fills his chest, his arm, his fist.

Rising out of him in defence of Gwen.

"M-Miles! Your hand!" Gwen gasps through the bond.

He follows her exclamation, and looks down at his primary fist.

It crackles with dark energy. Black lightning leaps up and down his arm, and a brilliant light overcomes his hand. He stares at it in awe.

Around the room, all the Spider-Heroes slow their beatdowns, staring at the incredible power emanating from Miles as he glares at Miguel.

Gwen's eyes widen, connecting the dots. "The dark matter... he must've soaked it in. Like his electricity!"

Miguel stares at Miles in shock and... fear. 

Across the room, the old woman in the chair cackles happily. "Yes! YES! You're screwed now!"

Pav looks at her, eyebrows raised in confusion. "I can't be the only one that forgot they brought an elderly woman to a web-fight, right?"

"Maybe you need to spend more time winning and less time pining!" Margo teases, fazing past him in pursuit of Vulture, wingsuit emitting a smoke trail behind him.

Pav's eyes blow wide. "I-I'm not pining! Who's pining!? I just got out of a very, very serious thing, you know!! Wait, do you think he's pining??" He sputters out, flustered.

Miles feels the sheer energy begging to be let out. Power he's never felt before. The perfect finisher.

He grips his fist, and a wave of black lightning crackles, a field of dark energy surrounding his hand.

And he smiles at Miguel. "Ohhhhhh..... Yeah."

"M-Mierda..." Miguel mutters.

And Miles swings his fist around like a bolt of lightning, SMASHING it into his foe's face.

The energy EXPLODES out of his hand, and everyone in the room slides backwards against a wave of powerful energy that rocks the entire structure.

Miguel soars through the air, wrapped in dark lightning.

"All the years I've spent

All the lives I've faked

Just to keep myself protected

From all the things that I never said"

Spider-Man 2099 SLAMS into the siding of the chamber, another BLAST of dark energy rocking him on impact.

He slides down the curved wall, coming to a squeaking halt on the floor. Verifiably unconscious.

"That I never said

That I never said"

The beat fades and everyone stares around in silence, before turning to Miles.

"FECKIN' DIABOLICAL!!!" Hobie yells, amazed.

The Spider-Band doesn't waste any time, with Peter B. and Hobie swinging over to web Miguel in a giant cocoon that even his strength can't escape. The others use the lingering effects of Miles' blast to finish off their own enemies.

Noir and Ham watch as Lizard roars weakly and slowly sinks below the quicksand. A few air bubbles break the surface, then nothing. 

"Uh... is he-" Noir begins.

Ham is quick to assure, "What!? No, no, no! No one dies in cartoons! They just get realllllly big booboos! He's just... ehh..." The pig quickly spins on his foot and walks away, whistling, trying to act natural.

Noir's eyes widen, and he does the same, tilting down his fedora and casually playing with a lighter as he follows Porker. "Nothin' to see here."

Margo's avatar launches an EMP missile, smacking Vulture and knocking the power out of his suit. With a yelp of surprise, the villain falls out of the sky, right into SP//dr's outstretched metallic hand.

Toomes looks up, and huffs, before quickly finding himself webbed to the curved wall. "Damn it!" he cries.

M approaches Aaron from where he crashed down moments earlier, Dr. Ohnn hanging back behind. His Uncle chuckles, his mask finally retreating. The laughs mix with coughs. "Heh... ya'... really have been workin' on that left hook," he croaks.

The former Prowler knees alongside his Uncle. He holds up his gauntlet, and with a hiss, it uncouples and detaches, clanging to the floor. He places his bare hand on Aaron's shoulder. "I'm sorry if I disappointed ya', Tio. But this... I have the chance to serve Dad's memory. To make him proud. To make this city the place he dreamed it could be." Tears threaten his eyes and he shakes his head. "I can't give that up."

Aaron looks into his Nephew's eyes, and remembers the vision they viewed of the other Miles, painting his Uncle's face on a wall, every last detail accurate, every imperfection cared for.

He smirks through the pain. Detaches his own gauntlet with a sizzle, then reaches up his bare palm. "So don't give up."

Nephew and Uncle clasp hands, and hold each other tight.

"So like, have you been able to do that the whole time!?" Margo's avatar yells from across the room at the spot where Gwen and Miles res, catching their breath.

"Of course! I taught him that!" Peter B. yells from off to the side.

Peni's cockpit opens, revealing her intense laughter. "That is NOT accurate!"

"Best thing you showed him how to do was devour a burger in thirty seconds," Noir observes.

"Which ALMOST beats my time record!" Ham chirps proudly.

Peter B. grumbles, resolving to focus on re-tightening Mayday's beanie.

Miles isn't paying much attention, instead sliding to his knees next to Gwen. "You okay?" he asks softly, checking over her wounds. "I'm sorry! I should've seen Miguel's target switch coming. That was so obvious!"

Gwen just smirks at him as he gently lifts her into a sitting position, just like she did for him just mere moments ago. She turns her head to take stock of the injury on her shoulder, before smiling wider. "Just a scratch, Einstein. And are you kidding!?" She yells, placing a hand on the side of his own shoulder, and another on his opposite bicep, gripping him in return, trying to ignore the pleasant feeling of the coil of muscle beneath her fingers. "Did you see what you just did, Miles!?" she asks excitedly, "I've never seen something so amazing!!!"

He blushes hard, and she can't help but giggle.

"T-thanks..." he mumbles shyly. "I'm not sure exactly where that new f-fist thing came from..."

"You, Einstein. Obviously," she smiles proudly.

They both seem to notice at the same time how close they are, while desperately trying to find something to say.

"You uh, may need some stitches," he says awkwardly, eying her shoulder again.

"Ugh, smooth, Morales!" Miles clenches his eyes in dismay, blushing slightly more.

"Your hands should be fine with bandages though," he rushes softly, practically a whisper.

Gwen sees the exasperated look on his face and just giggles, enjoying and so, so relieved that he's still adorably flustered around her, even after everything that's happened. "Maybe you can lend me some of those fancy magic healing powers you got," she teases, nodding towards his chest.

He glances down at his mostly-healed chest beneath his torn hoodie and his eyes widen. "Woah..." he breathes, before coming back down to Earth and rolling his eyes, "It's... not magic... I don't think."

"Now you sound like your friend, Pete," she laughs.

He smiles, huffing in amusement, "Yeah, after this is over, maybe him and I will go into business as magicians. Nothing serious, ya' know, just kids parties and corporate events, that sorta' thing."

Gwen snorts against him and her laughter shakes his chest up and down. 

He smiles wide.

Before anyone else can celebrate, the entire building SHAKES.

They all whip their heads towards the collider.

The massive machine is still powered up, albeit not acting as the two-lane highway Octavius had hoped without Miles. Even so, dark matter clashes far above their heads, rainbows of particles dancing across the room. The image of the collider seems to morph slightly. Edges that aren't supposed to curve, doing just that, and vice versa.

Then a pop of an inky black mass, and a spot of white, and-

Miles' Sense SCREAMS at him to act fast.

He grips Gwen tighter, and meets gazes with the rest of the Spider-Band.

"IT'S SPOT!" he yells.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Chapter Text

Miles' Sense SCREAMS at him to act fast.

He grips Gwen tighter, and meets gazes with the rest of the Spider-Band.

"IT'S SPOT!" he yells.

He feels Gwen's fear before she can even swing her head to face him, but he's already craning his neck. "Doc!" he calls out, before spotting Dr. Ohnn a distance away, heading towards Miles with a vial in his hand. Miles sprints over, Gwen hot on his tail.

They both slide to a halt next to the doctor. Peter B. lands alongside them, ripping off his mask. "What the Hell is going on!?"

"Spot is trying to take control!" Miles responds, "He's going to use the bridges Octavius formed to connect to every remaining Alchemax across the Multiverse!"

"Meaningggg?" Peter B. asks.

Gwen's eyes widen. "Shit, Miles... He's gonna absorb all the dark matter at every remaining Alchemax, all at once..."

Peter's jaw drops. "That sounds evil... and like it would de-"

"Destroy the entire Multiverse... yeah," Miles completes the thought.

"Doc!" Miles yells. "You built this thing! What can we do!?" 

The collider spins, a deafening whir echoing around the chamber, rainbow prisms and black bubbles of dark matter circulating the massive reactor. And swirling in the middle, spots of black and white.

Johnathon looks horrifically pale. "We- I- uh, wait, WAIT, THAT'S IT!"

Gwen swings an arm in a circle, encouraging him to speed up his explanation.

"The Spot fed off the dark matter of the other Alchemax colliders, yes?"

"That's right," Miles confirms.

"So we self-destruct the black matter, the collider goes boom, and Spot loses his energy source to reach every Alchemax at once!"

"How do we cause a self-destruct!?" Peter calls.

"The control panel by the platform! The same one the Spider-Lady freed the Spider-Fella from!" He informs, gesturing to Gwen, "But you'll have to get right up near the dark matter to do it!"

All three Spider-People glance over to see a solid wall of dark matter bubbling and twisting its way around the perimeter of the platform.

Miles sighs and looks back at Ohnn, noticing the vial in his hands, a large needle on one side. "That what I think it's for?"

Dr. Ohnn nods. "Holding up my end of things, Spider-Man."

Miles smiles, rolling up the sleeve of his sweatshirt, displaying his arm, the same one bitten by the Spider, covered partially by his tattered suit.

"All right, on three," Dr. Ohnn says, wiping Miles’ arm with a sanitizing wipe and bringing the needle close. "One, two-"

Ohnn presses the needle in.

"Ouch." Miles grunts, brows furrowing.

"Please, you just survived a dark matter shower. I think you can handle a needle," Ohnn teases, drawing Miles' blood.

"Hey, it's a BIG needle," Miles defends.

Before he knows it, Ohnn finishes, and moves back with a vial full of his blood. "Sorry, I- don't have a bandage..."

"Advanced healing," Miles waves him off. "Don't worry about it." 

Ohnn's eyes widen. "Incredible..."

A particularly loud blast from the collider seems to shake him back to the task at hand. "I will prepare the venom."

"Go as quick as you can, before my sample starts glitching. And whatever happens, you focus on getting that venom crafted. It's top priority."

The scientist nods furiously, "Right, right!" He gives one more frightened look to the collider. "Good luck, Spider-Man. And... t-thank you..."

Miles gives him a firm nod, the slightest of smirks on his face. "It's what we do, Doctor."

Dr. Ohnn nods his understanding, then jogs off towards the lab cell where the elderly Spider-Woman is being held.

Turning back to face Gwen and Peter B., Miles takes a breath. "Okay," he breathes out-

-"I'll do it," all three of them declare simultaneously.

The Spider-People all look at each other, before Peter speaks up, "Kid, really, it's okay. I'm the oldest, it should be me!"

"Bullshit! You have Mayday! And MJ!" Miles practically scoffs.

"I-," Peter frowns, but looks down at Mayday, who's giving him an angry pout. "Y-yeah... okay."

Gwen speaks up, "Miles-"

"No, Gwen!" he says, instantly shutting her down. "You already spent enough time close to the dark matter when you freed me. Even with the radiation in your DNA, more exposure could be dangerous! It's a no."

"It shouldn't have to be you!" she shouts, throwing her arms out in exasperation. "You've given so much already! Let me do this, Miles. Let me make up for my mistakes!"

"By what, dying!? I won't let you!" he cries, eyes watering.

"Kid-"

"Miles-"

"ENOUGH!"

Both of them fall into silence, shocked at his outburst.

Miles balls his fists, soaks in a deep breath he didn't know he needed, then exhales, a couple tears falling, letting the frustration fade. A few sparks jump across his figure, before flickering into nothingness.

He speaks just loud enough to be heard over the cacophony of the collider. "Look. I know you both regret what happened. I know you both are trying to make up for it. But now, right NOW, FOR ONCE, I NEED you to just BELIEVE in ME."

Both Gwen and Peter B.'s expressions instantly pale and fill with unmeasurable shame.

Miles sighs, the last of the anger evaporating at the pain on their faces, and slowly walks up to both of them.

He places each of his hands on their upper arms, trying to reassure them. "This is my fight. And as we all just witnessed, I'm the only one here who can sorta’ withstand the dark matter. Apparently... even utilize it somehow..."

Peter B.'s gaze softens, some of the wrinkles leaving his tense brow.

Gwen's blue eyes meet Miles' brown ones, the boy's hand on her arm emanating intense heat throughout her entire body. She's never been horrified and blushing at the same time before.

"It's like... I was... made for this..." Miles theorizes softly.

Then the young Spider-Man gives the tiniest of smirks. "It's decided." He vanishes with a pop.

Gwen and Peter B. feel his hands release their shoulders. They whip their heads around, trying to find him, before-

THWIP!

Both Spiders yelp in surprise as a webline smacks them and yanks them into a spin, the web forming around them like a tight lasso. The two heroes circle around and around and become entangled with one another, a cocoon of webbing tying them down, shockingly similar to how Peter B. once trapped Miles in his dorm room.

Miles pops back into existence and takes a few steps backwards, holding up both palms and wiggling his fingers playfully. "Don't watch the mouth..."

Peter looks at him in reluctant awe. "Wha-watch the hands..." he mumbles.

"W-wait! Miles!" Gwen yells, terrified and slightly muffled through the webbing.

He looks at her with a tenderness she hasn't seen since that evening on the Williamsburg Bank Building. "Everything is gonna be okay, Gwen. I promise."

The words are familiar, ones that play on repeat in her worst nightmares, and they strike a horrific chord within her.

"NO MILES!" she screams, tears falling, but he's already turning on his heel and taking off, leaping into the air and thwipping towards the center of the complex.

"Damn... so that's what that feels like," Peter B. sighs. Mayday giggles, enjoying the feeling of being wrapped in webbing. "And for the record, I definitely DID teach him that."

Gwen's lenses are wide, and Miles can feel her fear across the sensory bridge that joins them as he swings.

"Please, PLEASE be okay!"

Miles can tell she didn't mean to voice the terrified thought to him, but knowing she's worried for him, for his safety, and not just for his interference with a canon event, it sends warmth throughout his being. He bottles up a taste of it and pushes it back in her direction. He feels her emotions spike when she receives it.

Waves of energy blast from the center of the collider. Miles tries to swing through, but gets tossed backwards. He throws out a web towards the floor, flinging himself back down to level ground. He holds his arms up against the force of the reactor, slowly pushing himself forward on unsteady legs.

As he gets closer, the waves get stronger, and the breaks between them shorter. One wave pushes his legs out from under him, and he slides back slightly before grabbing the floor, using his sticky hands to hold on. When the wave ends, he thwips a web line to the central platform, then lets go of the floor. When the next wave of multidimensional energy crashes against him, he lifts up, parallel to the floor. He grunts, using his upper arm strength to pull himself along the webline, the waves now becoming a never-ending blast of energy, keeping him elevated in the air.

"SPIDER-MAN."

The voice is deep, and distorted, and powerful. It echoes around the room, causing the foundation to shudder.

It catches Miles off-guard, but he corrects his fumble and continues pulling himself along the webline, each pull harder than the last. "Ya- you sure know how to... make an entrance... Johnny!" he calls out between breaths.

Across the chamber, beaker in hand, Dr. Ohnn's eyes widen in shock. This... this is what he could have become... he shakes the nightmarish thought from his mind. He has a mission of his own.

"YOU WOULDN'T COME TO ME... SO I'M COMING TO YOU..."

"Sorry 'bout that, man... I have a... tendency to be late!"

"...AND I'M BRINGING EVERY DIMENSION WITH ME."

Miles reaches the reactor platform, begins tapping away on the control panel by the stairs, the same one Gwen released him from. He quickly finds the emergency shutdown command, and SLAMS IT. An error message comes up.

"SHUTDOWN IMPOSSIBLE. ANOMALY INBOUND."

"Damn it!" He yells. 

There HAS TO be a way to shut it down. Spot will be here any second.

He glances at the waves of energy circling the reactor platform. If he can ignite the dark matter manually, it should still destroy the collider... but how can he light it?

The answer immediately smacks him in the face. "Oh. Right," he thinks, glancing down at his own hands.

His lips tighten, knowing what he has to do.

Miles stumbles over to the platform, slowly climbing the steps, pushing against the wall of energy trying to shove him back. Every step closer is harder, like he's wading through tar.

"G-Gwen?" He shoots across the bond.

She's there in an instant. "Miles! Please! Please don't do this! It's too dangerous!"

Miles can practically feel her struggling against his webbing, across the room. Can feel her terror as if it's his own. Maybe it is...

He shakes himself back into the moment, there's something he needs to say. Something he needs to get off his chest.

"Gwen... I never s-said it back... That f-first time we spoke over the bond..."

Several yards away, tears threaten Gwen’s eyes, instantly knowing what he's referring to. "Miles... That's okay, Sunflower... I... I h-hurt you..."

"I kn-know... But... I still- wanted to..."

"So tell me when you get back here!" she proposes, desperate.

Gwen feels the wave of uneasiness from his side of the connection. And instantly knows he won't- can't- promise that. She chokes on a sob.

"I miss you, too, Gwen... s-so much..."

Tears fall. She's overheating with intense joy and horrible fear again. She's so overwhelmed with emotion, tears gush down her cheeks, and she puts all of her energy into destroying her web prison with a pained cry.

Miles forces his legs up another step, and feels something wet on his face. He reaches up, dabbing the spot and examining his hand. Great, bloody nose. From the dark matter and radiation, no doubt.

He finally reaches the main platform, and the dark matter, black as ink, bubbles its way to him immediately. Instead of trying to resist this time-

-he soaks it in.

"AHK! GAH!"

He feels the energy threaten to overtake him. He forces another step.

"You're on your way. Just... keep goin'."

Dark energy courses through him. Another step.

"There's this... spark inside you. It's amazing."

Another step, he's halfway to the center of the platform. He feels his blood boiling, like a volcano about to blow its top.

"You and I... we're..."

"The same..."

He's going to burst. The pain, it's too much. But he has to hold on. Just a little longer.

"Take care of that little boy for me... And don't ever, let anyone, tell him he doesn't belong there."

Miles stumbles forward, falling to his knees. He tastes iron in his mouth, while liquid fire fills his veins. He forces a hand out, dragging himself forward.

"You're a wonderful person! And I like being around you!"

Dark matter flies around him, he can barely see.

"Miles... It's what we do."

Black bolts of lightning shoot up his arms, crackling with barely restrained power.

"He's amazing... And always will be."

He reaches the edge of the hole in the platform, staring down into the reactor, surrounded in a tornado of dark matter. Black bubbles of vicious energy morph with his suit, it's about to overload him. It stings worse than anything he's ever known.

But if he fails now, Spot will unleash himself on Earth-42, and bring the entire Multiverse down in one swoop.

Miles lifts himself to his knees, pressing his left palm against the platform, using his stickiness to hold himself against the storm of energy.

The dark matter crashes through him, connecting Miles to the reactor below and the collider above, this time... by his own choice.

He slowly lifts his right hand against the tornado of matter.

Miles looks up, and there, for a split second, a small tunnel through the dark matter cracks open, and far on the other side of the room, struggling with the web he trapped her in, is Gwen.

She feels her sense SCREAM at her.

Gwen looks up.

And there, her eyes instantly draw themselves to his own, like magnets.

"I'm sorry, Gwanda."

Her eyes light up with horrified recognition.

Miles SNAPS his fingers, instantly generating the tiniest spark of venom electricity, like a bolt of lightning dancing across his fingertips. The light from it illuminates his face in a flash, then nothing.

Then the dark matter ignites in a shower of rainbows, and the entire collider IMPLODES.

There's a single moment where all time seems to come to a HALT, as if everything simply hangs in existence.

"One, two, three, four"

A massive BLAST blows everything back into motion.

The intense strums of "Do You Realize??" by The Flaming Lips echo everywhere across the chamber, blasting through the hijacked speaker system.

There's a brilliant CRACK of light, and for a millisecond, Miles' form is there, then it's lifting and soaring. The entire reactor blows in a brilliant show of fireworks.

Spot's SCREAM echoes, a giant hand being sucked back into the collider just as it begins to emerge, soaked into the explosion.

The force blasts the webbing off of Gwen and Peter B.

Gwen sees a FLASH, illuminating Miles' form as he flies in their direction, motionless.

The continuous waves of dark energy flow through the room, and suddenly, Gwen realizes, everything is... floating. The explosion removed all gravity from the chamber.

The Spider-Woman saves her awe for later and aims for an interception point, kicks off the ground, soaring through the room.

She thwips a web, and it finds its target when it sticks to Miles' chest.

Before she knows it, Gwen slams into his body, spiraling back towards the far doors to the test chamber. She feels them spinning around and around, and she grips Miles against her tightly.

Gwen can't bring herself to look away from his face, his eyes clenched closed.

"Do you realizeeeeeeeeeee

That you have, the most, beautiful face?"

Recognizing that he hasn't felt an impact from the blast yet, his eyes flicker open, as they float above the beautiful destruction of the super collider, spinning gently. The rest of the Spider-People float around, rotating and spiraling, watching the rainbow of explosions tear across the facility. An unconscious Miguel whizzes by in his web cocoon.

"Do you realizeeeeeeeeeee

We're floating, in space?"

Explosions in every color imaginable rock the chamber, but they continue their slow spiral. Her eyes fill with wetness, overcome by the feeling of his body against hers again. The rainbow of colors reflect in their his caramel orbs.

"Do you realizeeeeeeeeee

That happiness, makes you cry?"

Tears escape her, and simply float off into the ether. 

"Do you realizeeeeeeeee

That everyone, you know, someday, will die?"

Gwen watches Miles' eyes warm with recognition as his vision clears. He doesn't even glance around, like she's the only thing in the entire multiverse.

He's mesmerized by the explosions of rainbow reflecting in the deep watercolor pools of her teary eyes, and the way her blonde strands slowly spread out with the absence of gravity, it appears like a golden halo framing her face, touches of pink burning the edges. It fascinates him.

And Gwen's heart bursts when he smiles that big, dopey smile at her. That brilliant light in his eyes returns.

"And instead of saying all of your goodbyes

Let them know you realize that life goes fast

It's hard to make the good things last

You realize the sun doesn't go down

It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round"

Mayday slowly floats up out of her bjorn, giggling wildly.

"Oh! Nuh uh! Mayday!" Peter B. scorns as he does his best to breaststroke through the empty gravity after her. "Come back to Daddy!"

"Do you realizeeeeeeeeeee

Ahhhhh-ahhhhh-ahhhhhhhhh"

"This is so perfectly inconsistent!!!" Hobie yells cheerfully.

Pav flies by him, holding himself in a frightened ball. "GAH! I don't like this! Put me down!"

Hobie snickers, thwipping a line to Pav's foot and zooming off after him. "Don't worry luv, I've got ya'!"

Pav swings his head around, and both of their pairs of lenses meet. He blushes the color of his suit, but doesn't retort.

"Do you realizeeeeeee

That everyone you know someday will die?"

Pete does his best to thwip the various villains to objects as he floats by.

He hears a laugh, and looks to his left to see Cat cartwheeling through the air, silver hair spread wide, cackling her head off.

M stands far below on the floor, gravity wells on his J's engaged. He watches Cat's antics with amusement.

"And instead of saying all of your goodbyes

Let them know you realize that life goes fast

It's hard to make the good things last

You realize the sun doesn't go down

It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round"

Margo's avatar teleports around SP//dr, Peni waving its massive arms like a giant metal bird, both giggling uncontrollably.

Ham pulls a glider out of his hammerspace, sharing it with Noir, who holds his fedora to his head desperately.

"Do you realizeeeeeeee?"

As the collider falls to pieces, the pressure from the release of energy slowly normalizes, and gravity begins to return to the chamber.

Gwen grips Miles tighter, bracing herself to collide with the floor, but surprisingly, they touch down gently. Gravity takes full force just as they land. Gwen doesn't let go of Miles, kneeling down above him.

"That you have the most beautiful face?"

She analyzes him closely, searching for obvious injuries from the blast. But she can't tell anything besides the fact that his strength seems to be rapidly deteriorating.

His breathing is slowing in a way it shouldn't after going through such an event. Miles watches her, eyes wide, as if trying his best to process his surroundings.

"Do you... realizeeeeeeee?"

His eyes droop as the strumming of the song weakens, but he holds his stare, seeming to study every last detail of her face.

The look he has, it showers over her like ice water.

She's scared…

Then he starts convulsing.

Miles yelps softly and gasps as pain overtakes him again.

Dark sparks of electricity dance across his form. Small waves of light emit from his torso.

"Shit! Miles!" Gwen cries, gripping him tighter. "What do I do!? How do I help!?"

The boy beneath her grits his teeth. It's too much. She feels his realization over the bond. He doesn't know how to fix this. Nor did he... expect to. That notion draws a sob from Gwen.

The lingering effects of the dark matter explosion zap and stun their way across his body. There's fire in his veins. 

It's hard to breath.

He's... so tired.

But Gwen is there, holding his head with one of her palms against his cheek. It feels so nice, and he snuggles into it. Her other hand is wrapped around his back, supporting him in her arms. He never wants to get up, if it means she will hold him in her arms forever.

"G-Gw... Gwen..." He exhales out. His eyes close, then open. Everything seems fuzzy. He just wants to see her eyes clearly.

"Shhh, it's okay, you're okay. Just try not to talk, okay my lo-... just save your energy. I'm getting you home, okay!?"

He nods, now shaking uncontrollably in her arms. "B-bond?" his voice, tired and wrecked even in her mind, dashes across her psyche.

She lets a wet huff loose. "Of- of course we can talk over the bond, Einstein," she throws back across the connection. She feels a small burst of humor on his end, before his next question.

"Did... did we w-win?" he sends over.

A silent sob escapes her. "Y-yes. You did it. And you were amazing. Obviously."

He smiles, softly. "G-good... that's good."

Gwen sees him paling, shivering against the pain. 

Suddenly, to her immense dismay, his smile slips away, replaced by a frown.

"I wanna go home, Gwanda."

The words tear her to pieces.

"Can you take me home?"

“Of course- of course I will! You’re so close! I just need you to stay with me, okay!? Fight this until I get you home!” she wails.

“Gwen… This was all my fault… If it wasn’t for me- none of this would’ve ever happened…”

"SHUT UP YOU DUMMY! You're not a mistake! It's not your fault! We failed you, Miles! You're the best thing that has ever happened to me! You’re perfect! And YOU ARE NOT leaving me, Spider-Boy!"

Miles feels the absolute truth behind her words. "My Gwen..." he thinks happily. A soft, tired smirk manifests on his worn face.

Gwen knows she's in love. She doesn't realize she believes in soul mates until she watches the beautiful life in his amber orbs begin to fade. She grasps for any inspiration that might help him fight this.

"I PROMISED YOUR PARENTS, MILES!"

His eyes widen slightly in confusion.

"I promised them I'd find you. I promised them I'd bring you home! They're waiting for you!"

She watches his brown orbs get wet.

"You did f-find me, Gw-Gwen... You a-are bringing me h-home..."

Gwen opens her mouth to retort, to yell, to cry, to scream that she needs to bring him home ALIVE, when he cuts her off.

"Gwanda-" he mutters.

She sobs and cradles his face. "I was a coward, Miles. I was scared of what we could be, of how it could end."

"Maybe... but ya' got back up, didn't ya'?" he croaks.

Her eyes widen. "Wha- Why are you defending me? I- I should've fought for you!!!" she cries.

"You... just did."

She pauses, caught off guard by that.

"And it... m-meant the world to me..."

He smirks softly through the pain.

"You're n-not a curse, Gwen. For me, you couldn't be f-further from it."

She sees the ghost of his dopey smirk on his lips. He lifts a shaky, weak arm, and gently places it on Gwen's shoulder. His pools of caramel stare deep into her own tear-stained watercolor orbs.

"Hey..."

He lets out the tiniest of humorous huffs, then that golden light in his eyes, that gorgeous, dopey smile that makes her heart flutter, the kindness in every piece of him. It all fades.

And Miles stops breathing.

"NO, NO! MILES!!!"

The first thing she feels as his heart stops is the connection between the two of them, the little corner of her Spider-Sense that belongs to him, she feels it as the greatest gift life has ever given her is forcibly torn from her mind, leaving a horrifying absence in its wake.

Gwen screams at the sensation.

She instinctually places him down and straightens his limbs. Her Dad, ever the proud cop, taught her this years ago, step by step. The formations are burned into her mind. She moves into a kneeling position on his side, placing her hands together and immediately beginning a rhythm of pressing on his chest in a steady beat, attempting resuscitation. "MILES! CAN YOU HERE ME!? WAKE UP!" she turns and yells over her shoulder, "HELP ME! HELP US!", then turns back, pumping.

Gwen pauses to lean down, placing her lips over Miles' and forcing the air into his mouth. Then, she's back upright and pumping. "MILES, DON'T LEAVE ME!!! I'M SO SORRY! I'M SO SORRY I LEFT YOU ALONE! I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN YOU! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS! I LOVE YOU! PLEASE."

Then Peter B., Ham, Hobie, and Pav are around her.

Peter wordlessly pulls Mayday's beanie over her eyes and hands her away to Hobie, who steps back, cradling the baby to his chest. He watches Gwen's efforts as he flickers between black and white.

The lenses of Pav's mask crease in sadness, and he clenches a bangle in his fist, knuckles white.

Gwen keeps pumping, a steady drum beat echoing in her brain as a reference for chest compressions. Tears pour down her cheeks. She stops, bending down and covering Miles lips with her own, breathing air into him. She straightens, pumping his chest again. "COME ON, MILES! DON'T DO THIS, SUNFLOWER! PLEASE!"

She's hyperventilating, her pumps becoming less and less steady. Her entire world is falling apart. The nightmare she tried so hard to avoid, here all the same.

"MILES!! YOU CAN'T LEAVE, YOU PROMISED EVERYTHING WOULD BE OKAY!!! YOU PROMISED!!! I- I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!! PLEASE, PLEASE COME BACK!"

Peter B. can't bear to sit and watch her struggling, and suddenly he's grabbing her shoulder. "Here, here, you keep with mouth-to-mouth, I'll pump." he fumbles.

Gwen doesn't question it and slides herself around. Her mentor takes over the pumps.

He compresses.

He pauses.

She forces air into Miles.

Peter B. pumps more.

Through it all, what scares her the most is how quiet Peter B. is. She catches sight of his face as silent tears pour down his cheeks. Hobie evidently notices as well and moves further back so Mayday can't see her father in such a state, mumbling words of comfort to his ‘favorite lil' anarchist'.

Across the chamber, Pete finally finishes securing all the villains that were knocked loose by the blast. Prowler didn't struggle whatsoever after his chat with M and wasn't even wearing his gauntlets anymore. Pete webbed a single hand to the wall, far away from Doc Ock, Lizard, and Vulture. M's uncle gives him a grateful smirk, and Pete responds with a two-finger salute, before Gwen's cries reach him and he instinctually leaps up into the air. He swings over towards the commotion, only to land and have his heart drop. "N-no..." The symbiote wails against his chest.

Peter B. is choking down quiet sobs, compressing in the steady pace Gwen started.

Noir walks up to the expanding group, fedora against his heart, and places a gentle hand on Peter B.'s shoulder, "Peter."

The older Spider-Man shrugs it off, gritting his teeth and shaking his head in denial. He pumps harder, everything else falling to the side as he develops tunnel vision on his protégé below him.

He pauses, allowing Gwen to take a deep breath and force more air down Miles' throat. She raises her head, signaling Peter B. to continue. He immediately does so.

Peni lowers out of her mech, tears falling. "Gw-Gwen."

"NO! I'M NOT LOSING HIM! I'M NOT!"

She breathes into him in time with Peter B.'s repetitions.

Pete can't think. Can't process. This is why it was so similar. A warning. One he... couldn't process fast enough.

He watches Gwen holding Miles, and he remembers... when Tony did the same.

"I've got 'ya."

"I don't wanna go... I don't wanna go..."

The black ink of the symbiote spreads out from his spider emblem, wrapping him in an attempt at a hug.

Jess had regained consciousness during the blast, and now watches it all play out from across the chamber, where the Symbiote-Spider re-secured her. Watches as her former pupil wails over the body of her friend. The friend everyone hunted down. Until the end.

By now, all of the Spider-Band have gathered around Miles. M watches the scene in disbelief, shock glued to his face. Cat holds his hand in a death grip, quivering as she watches another her cradle the lifeless body of another Miles.

Gwen sobs, "THIS ISN'T HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO END. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ME! WHY ISN'T IT ME!?"

The commotion jolts Miguel. As his vision blurs, then clears as consciousness comes back to him, he sees the horrific scene in front of him.

Miles, lifeless between the traitors, held close as Gwen and Peter refuse to give up hope.

Gwen's looking directly into Miguel's eyes, her soul laid bare. "YOU... you said it would be me... Why isn't it me..."

The look in her eyes, empty, lost, and destroyed. He's seen it before-

-the first time he looked in the mirror after losing Gabriella.

And for the first time since watching Gwen disobey orders and visit Morales, he feels all the vengeance in him drain away.

Just then, they hear a chaotic mix of clanging, electrical zaps, and the breaking apart of concrete behind them. They all turn, Gwen lifting her head as Peter B. stays focused on pumping Miles' chest, not giving up. They watch as dark bubbles of dark matter sputter out of the flooring, devouring what had formerly been the platform where Miles destroyed the collider.

"NO! Bros! The universe! It's collapsing, like in Mumbattan!" Pav yells.

Sure enough, the dark matter morphs as it swallows the remains of the platform and whatever collider destruction lay in its vicinity, slowly forming a wave, branching outward in all directions.

"How the hell is that possible!? He shouldn't affect this Earth!" Miguel wonders in shock.

Jess is just able to make out the screen of her watch through a layer of webbing. She looks up, eyes wide with terror. "It's... not just this Earth, Miguel."

"What!?" he yells. Some of the Spider-Band turn at his outburst.

Lyla flickers into existence over Miguel's shoulder. "Boss! NOT GOOD! JESS IS RIGHT! It's EVERY universe. The fabric of the Multiverse is about to collapse!"

"No shit!" The blindfolded woman calls from her chair, far across the room. "But we've got a contingency plan!" She glances to her right and notices Dr. Ohnn frozen, watching the dramatic scene play out, guilt plastered on his face. "You need to keep working, Johnathon. It'll all work out, but for that to happen, we need you for the next part," she smirks beneath her blindfold.

He flusters, then nods quickly and forces himself back to the vials in front of him.

"Ev-every universe?" Peni asks in fear, trying to grab onto Margo but phasing through her avatar. Spider-Byte resolves to hover a holographic hand over the smaller girl's shoulder.

"But that means..." Pav starts, but realizes there's no point in finishing the thought.

"End a' tha' ride, luv," Hobie mumbles, softer than he was previously thought to be capable of.

Across the room, Miguel's eyes widen, watching the slowly approaching wave of dark matter emitting from the spot where the platform had been, before Miles blew the damn thing up.

"Boss?" Jess asks from nearby.

He doesn't even hear her, his brain melting at the sight of the approaching destruction of the entire multiverse.

"I... I was wrong..." he mutters, eyes wide and empty.

Jess tries harder to get his attention, gripping her baby bump in fear, "Miguel!"

No reaction.

"My fault... again..." he murmurs to himself, the image of his daughter flashing in front of his eyes as he accepts his fate.

Gwen looks up to see the wave now halfway to their current position. No hope, even with the elderly Spider's claims of a backup plan. The wave is coming too fast.

Her jaw tightens, another tear escaping, and she lowers her face to press a wet, gentle kiss to Miles' forehead. She holds him as close as possible.

Hobie pulls Peter B. back by the shoulders and hands Mayday back to him. The two Spider-Men meet eyes, understanding. This is it. Peter feels tears continue to fall as he holds his daughter close so she can't see their impending doom.

Hobie turns and wraps Pav in a hug.

"Hobie, w-will we see each other again?" Pav asks him, tears falling. 

Hobie's face betrays his true feelings, but he forces his signature smirk. "No multiversal calamity'll keep me from ya', Pavi." He feels the young man grip him tighter.

The wave of dark matter grows louder and more vicious.

Gwen cradles Miles' head against her. "I love you, Spider-Man, always," she whispers, just for him, "I'm s-so sorry."

Everyone's focus is suddenly broken by a loud screeching that blasts through the test facility.

"HA! Right on time!" the blindfolded Spider yells from her chair in the side lab. Ham and Noir swing their heads in confusion from where they currently stand, Ham hugging Noir's pant leg tight. Their eyes widen at the woman's excited demeanor, just before-

-Five beams of blue and red energy shoot through the walls, ping-ponging around the chamber, coming to a halt when they sporadically slam into the floor and skid in front of the Spider-Band, the whole entrance especially similar to how the original Spider-Gang entered Miles' universe over a year ago.

The neon colors fade, and the Spider-Band gasps as five new Spider-Men tumble and somersault to a stop, mere yards from the rest of them.

"UGH! You weren't joking 'bout the landing, man," one of them addresses.

Five Spider-Men help each other to their feet, all dressed primarily in black and red. They look around at each other, then all look to the tallest of the group, who checks an interdimensional watch on his wrist, albeit an unfamiliar design. "Fifty-five seconds till brain damage!" he declares in a loud, booming voice.

"And only forty-six until permanent collapse! Get a move on boys!" the elderly Spider-Woman calls from the lab she resides in.

The newcomers look over to see the blindfolded Spider, recognition dawning on all of their masks, then they all instantly whip around to lock eyes with the Spider-Band.

Of the five, they all wear completely unique suits. The Spider on the far left wears an outfit not dissimilar to Miguel's, giving the impression that he is from a future universe. Predominately blue with glowing eye lenses in his mask, all beneath a hood that reminds Gwen of her own outfit. Then there was a Spider wearing a zip-up hoodie underneath a blue puffer jacket and gym shorts, all over his black Spider suit. Perhaps it's winter in his dimension. Next to him, a Spider in a similar suit to Miles', except his mask and shoulders are adorned with a red webbing pattern, which stops in a large "V" design across his torso, bordering the red Spider emblem on his chest. His appearance is far different from everyone else’s, reminding Gwen of the video game Spider-Man that they saw at HQ. Another Spider-Man wears a leather jacket and combat pants, overall, a much more military look.

They all turn to the last Spider in line, who stands taller than the rest of them by several inches and carries his shoulders in that way the more experienced Spiders at HQ do. He seems to be the leader, wearing a similar outfit to Video-Game Spidey, save for the fact that it's predominantly white below the "V" design on the torso, highlighted with black stripes and a large, red Spider emblem spanning most of his torso. It reminds Gwen almost of her own two-tone suit design.

"You heard her, let's move!" he shouts.

The five newcomers all spring into action, thwipping themselves across the small distance to the group, all of whom jump backwards to make room, besides Gwen. The Spider-Men slide to a halt on all sides of Miles, and immediately get to work, prepping Miles for whatever they had planned.

Gwen kneels there, eyes full of tears and scratching her arms, looking like less than a shell of her former self.

One of them, the 2099 one, looks up, "Hi! You're his Gwen, right?”

She nods as the words bounce around her skull. “His Gwen.”

Winter-Spidey leans over, “You’re doing great, Gwen! Just rest your Miles' head on your legs here and keep holding him for us, okay?"

“My Miles…”

"He's gonna jerk like Hell in a sec' and you're the only one that'll be able to calm him down!" Leather-Jacket Spidey explains.

Video-Game Spidey throws her a quick glance, "We don't wanna risk him hittin' his head, right?"

Leaping at the chance to help, she moves closer and cradles Miles' head from behind him, thumbs resting behind his ears. She gently rests his head on the tops of her thighs. "R-right..." she mutters, nodding, still feeling as though she's viewing her worst nightmare in some sick, twisted out-of-body experience. Her only comfort is the confidence with which the Leather-Jacket Spider-Man spoke of Miles' incoming movements.

Pete, needing to do something, resolves to place his hand on Peter B.’s shoulder supportively. The older Spider’s shoulders shake uncontrollably, and his daughter fixes Pete with wide, worried eyes. Pete does his best to force a smile to comfort her. It proves impossible.

Winter-Spidey yanks out a can of purple spray paint, while Video-Game Spidey uses a medical pump to force air into Miles' throat. 2099-Spidey grips one of the many tears on Miles' sweatshirt and pulls, ripping the torso of the sweater and the suit in one go and revealing Miles' chest. Winter-Spidey dashes an "X" over the center of Miles' chest with the spray paint, as Older-Spidey keeps an eye on his watch, casting glances at the rapidly approaching wave of destructive dark matter.

Gwen can't help but perform a quick second glance at Miles' bare and well-defined torso. "NOT THE TIME FOR OGLING, GWEN!" she screams internally, unable to control the smallest of blushes on her face.

But then she notices the scars. Peppering his torso, Gwen sees former blade cuts, various burns and shrapnel marks, and even what looks like a couple of gunshot scars. Many more than she has. She feels bile rising in her throat and tears renewing themselves in her eyes. "He needed help. We should've been there." The healing scar from Miguel's bracer blade carves its way across his upper chest.

"Alright, old man, you're up!" Winter-Spidey chirps, drawing Gwen back to Earth.

Older-Spidey drops to his knees next to Miles, and begins rubbing his hands together, "I told you not to call me that," he growls.

Gwen's eyes widen. Weird, that time he sounded kind of like-

Before she can finish the thought, the Spidey generates a considerable wave of electricity between his fingertips, channeling it all into a small spark, and brings it down to Miles' chest.

 ZAP!

Miles body jerks upward, then a burst of electricity scorches his fingertips, a wave of dark energy soaring out of him and evaporating into the air. His torso comes down, and Gwen holds his head steady-

-and his eyes fly open with a massive GASP for air.

All in one magnificent instant, Gwen feels the force of their connection FLOOD back into her mind.

Miles fires up into a seated position, and Gwen moves her hands to his shoulders, holding him steady as he desperately draws in breaths.

His pure warmth races back across her Spidey-Sense, settling itself right back into that corner of her psyche where he belongs. It's the largest relief she's ever felt. Her home is back.

She wraps her arms around his shoulders and hugs him tighter than she ever has before, bawling with relief. He lets her pull him against her, and she cradles his head into the side of her neck. Gwen feels his heart hammering beneath her palm. She lets out a whimper of joy at the proof of his resuscitation. He's alive.

Peter B. grips Mayday tight, stifling a sob with his free hand at the sight of Miles breathing.

And immediately, the roar of the impending destruction lessens.

Peni swings her head around, "Hey, the canon collapse! It's mending itself!" she announces. They all turn to see that; indeed, the bubbles of dark matter are collapsing in on themselves and slowly zapping out of existence.

Lyla appears above Miguel's shoulder. "All collapses have recessed, Boss. All universes steady."

"Wha- what!?" he cries, demanding an explanation from the AI, while Jessica looks on in disbelief.

"WELL DONE BOYS!" the eldest Spider congratulates, her frail voice echoing impressively across the destroyed test chamber, drawing everyone's attention.

"Thanks, Miss W!" Winter-Spidey yells, waving happily as he jogs over to unlock her wheelchair.

Gwen hasn't registered any of it, tunnel vision still on the boy in her arms. "M-Miles?” she calls softly.

He groans quietly in response, and she nearly melts with relief. “Miles! I thought- I thought you were..." Her voice is shaky and quiet, but she can't finish the thought.

"Wha- what happened?" Miles mutters into her neck. The act sends unintended shivers down her spine.

Hobie chuckles from next to them. "Ya' feckin' bit tha' dust, mate."

"Kicked the can," Ham adds, swinging his leg for visual effect.

Pav leans in, eye lenses extra wide, "Bought the farm."

Gwen spins to them, annoyance in her eyes.

Hobie takes note, immediately trying to bring lightness to the conversation.

"Anddd.... Then ya' came back! Right as rain, yea! Gotta be tha' most inconsistent thing I eva' seen!"

Gwen's glare sharpens, and for perhaps the first time ever, Spider-Punk automatically shuts his mouth.

Miles looks around at everyone circling him, his vision finally coming into focus.

He meets Gwen's eyes first to see them full of unfiltered relief and... something much, much deeper and warmer, tears having made clear tracks in the grime that dusts her face. "You... you mean-"

Gwen doesn't need to answer, just rubs his cheek with her thumb. "Please never fucking do that again," she whispers.

His eyes move to Peter B., only a step behind her, his mentor's eyes red, wet, and relieved as he grips Mayday to his chest. He's never seen the older Spider-Man like that, and it triggers the realization of what had truly happened. Miles' own eyes widen, fully processing the fact that he had been dead.

Somehow, he quickly recovers with a shaky breath, and uses the smallest amount of energy he can manage to send warm feelings of care across the bond. "I'm here, Gwen," he answers, a slight croak to his voice still.

She can't help but let out a wet chuckle. "Yeah- you're here," a couple more tears fall, these ones, for the first time in a long time, in happiness.

Miles reaches up a shaky hand and ever so lightly, wipes the tears from her cheeks. Her heart bursts and her cheek burns red hot at his touch.

His eyes move to the side, truly noticing the Spider-Band this time. "Ho-how did you guys bring me back?"

Pete quickly jumps in, the symbiote slithering back into place within his suit’s Spider emblem at the proof of Miles’ survival. "Well, we had some help," he answers from over Gwen’s shoulder.

Gwen shifts, loosening her grip so Miles can view the five unfamiliar Spider-Men. He nearly groans in disappointment at the lessening of contact with her, but quickly forgets his struggle when the new Spider-Men come into focus.

The young Spider-Woman looks around at the newcomers. "Thank you," she says, immense relief in her words. They all nod in acknowledgement.

Miles' eyes widen, and he straightens in his seated position, still leaning on Gwen, who, to his surprise, hasn't taken her arms away from him. "Oh... uh, hi... everyone..." he says, both croaky and stumbling. "You guys- aren't with Miguel?"

Older-Spidey scoffs loudly.

Video-Game Spidey chuckles, "As if, man!"

Leather-Jacket Spidey shakes his head. "Nah, we're like you."

Miles tilts his head in confusion. "Like... anomalies?"

2099-Spidey shakes his head, "Uh... no, not exactly."

"Then... who are you?" Peter B. asks the question on everyone's mind as he cradles Mayday to his chest, she reaches up and plays with his hair, cooing. Gwen can see his face softening, relaxing after the intensity of nearly losing Miles.

Older-Spidey looks over to the eldest Spider-Woman, as she approaches in a wheelchair, pushed by Winter-Spidey. "Miss W?" he asks.

The woman in question smirks knowingly, and nods.

Seeing the approval, Winter-Spidey rolls the woman to a gentle stop at the edge of the group before he jumps forward in excitement, his J's squeaking on the floor as he slides to a stop. "Who am I?" He asks, repeating Peter B.'s question. He pulls off his mask, revealing a young Afro-Latino boy, "I'm Miles Morales."

Miles and Gwen stiffen in surprise. At this point, neither of them are exactly shocked at the concept of another Miles, but this one isn't a twin like M. He's maybe a couple years younger, voice a higher pitch, and face more oval.

"I'M Miles Morales!" Video-Game Spidey echoes, removing his own mask.

2099-Spidey steps forward, lowering his hood and pulling off his mask, "And I am Miles Morales."

Leather-Jacket Spidey yanks off his mask, "Well, shock value's worn off, but yeah, I'm you too," he smirks in a crooked grin shockingly similar to Miles’.

The Spider-Band's jaws all hang open in shocked silence. Gwen scans the lineup of Miles variants. Then again. And again, as if trying to convince herself she’s not tripping, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly.

Cat bumps M's shoulder, the boy frozen to the spot. "Ugh, okay, there are officially too many of you," she teases in a whisper. It seems to draw him out of his stupor slightly.

All of the Spiders' eyes slowly shift to the final member of this new Miles-Gang.

Before Older-Spidey can confirm their suspicions, a small figure drops down from above, landing on his shoulder. A child in a spandex suit, giggling madly, who makes quick work of pulling off Older-Spidey's mask. Everyone is surprised to see an older Miles. Obviously. But whereas the others have noticeably different facial structures than Miles-1610, this variant is, like M, identical, just in this case... older, maybe in his early-to-mid thirties. No grey in his hair yet, but a clean cut on his moderate curly facial hair. "Ooh, Miles is gonna have a beard," Gwen's brain supplies in interest, before she blushes deeply, praying that her Miles didn't hear that over the bond.

And shit. He's tall. Must be pushing 6' 5". Certainly, taller than Peter B. and Hobie, maybe even Miguel. She'd be lying if she said she's not looking forward to watching Miles continue to outgrow her, remembering how flustered she got when she saw him for the first time since his growth spurt. It's... kinda hot...

"Assuming he forgives me enough for me to get to see that," she reminds herself solemnly.

What happens next immediately melts her brain all over again.

"And my Papi is Miles Morales!" the little girl on Older-Miles' shoulder proudly yells. She pulls off her own mask, pumping a small fist and grinning widely.

Gwen's breath catches. She feels Miles having a similar reaction on his end of the bond. Both their brains have skidded to a halt. Their Spidey-Senses buzz in their ears.

The girl has Miles' caramel brown eyes, that's for sure, as well as that dopey smile of his. It's adorable. But she has a bit lighter skin tone than Miles, and... familiar blonde curls framing her face... and the tiniest of gaps between her front two teeth, completed with a dusting of freckles across the girl's cheeks.

As much as she looks like the spitting image of Miles, there's no questioning that the girl is also undeniably Gwen.

She's in love with her instantly. Gwen feels warmth bloom hard in her chest. She's never seen anything so beautiful and perfect. Her eyes are wider than they've ever been, emotion wracking her face.

Gwen feels similar shock and unrestricted warmth command Miles' mind on the other end of the sensory bridge. His voice rings in her head, definitely unintentional.

"Holy shit! Holy goddamn shit! Gwen and I have a kid!? Or, another us have a kid! This is crazy! And she's beautiful! Gosh, of course she's beautiful, she's all Gwen!"

She feels the blood rush to her cheeks all at once. "He thinks I'm beautiful..." She tries to control the shy, happy smirk that threatens to appear.

Evidently Miles hears that, because his head snaps back to her. Eyes wide, seemingly petrified as he awaits her reaction. But before either of them can acknowledge what's been said, M speaks up.

"Uh... me too- I mean..." M looks around awkwardly, retracting his Prowler mask. "I'm also Miles Morales... but the one from this Earth. You, uhh..."

Pete pitches in, facing the Spider-Band, "We've been calling him 'M' to avoid… obvious confusion."

M nods, turning to Miles' original team. "R-right, yeah. You can call me M, or Miles G., I guess, if that helps... but yeah, I'm Miles."

The Spider-Band members slowly nod, brains still recovering from seeing identical Miles variants next to each other.

"YEAH, HE IS!" Cat yells excitedly, "Look at you! Mr. Hero! Protected the nerdy guy from multiple villains!"

"HEY!" Dr. Ohnn yells indignantly from the side lab, goggles over his glasses as he raises a vial.

M turns to Cat, eyeing her hand, still clasped in his. "Uh... well since I'm a hero and all... does that mean I get the girl?"

“Seriously, where do you get these lines?” Pete whispers to Miles.

Cat tilts her head. "Oooh, cocky..." she teases before pulling off her mask. Familiar blue eyes sparkle, and she smiles wide, displaying a small tooth gap in between her front teeth. Then she surprises everyone further by grabbing M's neck and pulling his lips to press against her own.

The entire Spider-Band's jaws drop.

Everyone is frozen.

Miguel awkwardly tries to tilt his head away, practically blushing at the overt display of affection between the two heroes.

Pete's eyebrows fly up to his hairline behind his mask lenses. He feels the symbiote grumble, genuinely impressed.

The oldest Spider chuckles, seeming to know what's occurring from behind her blindfold.

Gwen's brain is completely fried, watching herself, albeit a silver-haired, black-clad version of herself, kiss Miles as if there's no tomorrow. There almost wasn't.

She forces herself to look over at her Miles, only to see him staring off, anywhere else, cheeks red as the surface of the sun. He knew. She feels jealousy and embarrassment emanating from his side of the connection. "Damn it... It's like the multiverse hates me..." she hears him mutter in his head. Evidently, Miles' exhaustion is making it difficult for him not to project his thoughts.

Gwen feels a similar spike of jealousy herself, inky and heated and full of frustration, crawling up her stomach. She wants that. Why did she have to mess it up?

Miles voice flutters through her head again. "Why... why does- she love me in their universes, and not... mine?" The last word nearly cracks, even with it just being a thought.

Gwen feels a stab of guilt, her own jealousy evaporating in an instant. There's still so much he doesn't know, especially when it comes to her feelings. He still thinks she's not interested in him that way, and why wouldn't he? She shut him down that evening on top of the bank, and they hadn't really spoken of it since. Gwen reminds herself that they will talk. She will lay everything out. And pray that he still wants her too.

Cat finally breaks away from M, smirking. "How's that?"

"Uh- I- um, y-yeah..." M stumbles.

Gwen's variant laughs, "I'm... glad you're okay, dummy." She turns to the Spider-Band, "Gosh, you all seem surprised to see me or something!"

"Well..." Peni fumbles.

"Yeah!" Pav finishes.

Gwen's still a bit slack-jawed at the sight of... herself.

She feels Miles in her head, cautious, but as always, wanting to help, "I know... it's pretty trippy... Try to take a deep breath."

The message slowly draws her back towards reality. She follows his suggestion, and draws in a deep breath through her nose, before letting it out through her mouth. The sounds of sparks and creaking metal around the collider chamber come back into focus as her heart rate calms, before she registers that the other her is addressing them.

"-figured my secret identity doesn't matter, since you all technically... know me anyway..." Cat's eyes widen at the concept as it leaves her mouth. "But yeah, I'm Gwen Stacy- obviously."

An awkward silence…

The majority of the Spider-Band swing their heads back and forth between Gwen variants, as if watching an intense match of tennis.

"Uh... Wait! Does tha' mean I won ma' bet?" Hobie asks genuinely.

"No one bet against you, so... no," Margo throws back.

Spider-Punk grumbles in disappointment.

Miles tries to find something, ANYTHING, to distract from what just occurred. "And... y-you guys have met Pete already... he, wait, is that a new suit?" Miles tilts his head in confusion as he glances at his friend, just now registering the change in outfit.

“Uh… yeah.” Pete steps up next to Miles, giving an awkward wave. Thankfully, that seems to provide the redirection he was looking for as Margo and Ham begin excitedly recapping the process of Pete's costume-change.

"I don't recognize that one," Jess mutters to Miguel, observing the new Spider-Man. "How'd he get a watch?"

Miguel meets her eyes but doesn't have an answer to provide. He doesn’t know.

"I'm sorry... can we rewind a bit?" Margo asks, "How did saving Miles ALSO halt the collapse of the multiverse?"

"Pretty simple, honestly," Video-Game Miles responds, leaning on Winter-Miles, "The multiverse depends on him."

“Needs him to live,” 2099-Miles says, as if it’s common knowledge.

Miguel lets loose an angry scoff. "Mierda! He can't be tied to every universe! It's not possible!!"

"You seriously don't get it, yet?" the Older-Miles turns to him, his daughter on his shoulder.

"If Miles isn't there to defeat Spot tomorrow, WE LOSE!" he clarifies. "Every universe loses!" He glances to the eldest Spider. "She's seen it."

They all turn to face the woman. "It is true..." she says softly.

"Wh-what do you mean? How can I be tied to the entire Multiverse? What... am I?" Miles asks.

Gwen is struck hard by the nervousness in his voice, the wavering in his eyes, as if he's waiting to be told he's even worse than a mistake, but-

The elderly Spider smiles kindly. "You're not a monster, Miles."

The boy gulps.

"Not a mistake, either... despite what that one would have you believe," she scoffs out, jerking her head in Miguel's direction, somehow knowing where him and Jess are restrained.

Miles nods slightly. “So- what am I?”

"My boy," she begins, turning back to face him, "you are the Ultimate Spider-Man."

Everyone's eyes train on Miles. He glances around at the team's expressions of wonder and awe.

Denial fills him, and he huffs lightly. “I'm- not even supposed to be Spider-Man, how can I be the… Ultimate? Whatever that even means?"

The elder Spider smirks. "You are correct, Miles. You are not supposed," she puts air quotes on the last word, "to be Spider-Man. But you ARE. You are SPECIAL. You received a gift, and made it YOURS, and inspired the others around you in the process."

Gwen smirks slightly, feeling a bit of pride swell in her chest on behalf of Miles.

"The minute you were bitten, your world became the Ultimate timeline. The Ultimate Spider-Man is not chosen. They make the mantle their own, which you have done rather impressively."

Miles’ jaw slacks slightly in surprise, "Th-thanks..."

She can evidently sense the disbelief in his eyes. "Miles, if the multiverse didn't accept you as the Ultimate, then why didn't your universe collapse when you were bitten, hm?"

The entire group goes quiet.

"Nor when your own Peter Parker perished?"

None of them have an answer for that.

Miguel grimaces, trying to force an explanation to manifest in his mind.

But he can’t come up with one.

Out of the corner of Miles’ eye, he sees Gwen stiffen next to him at the woman’s question. His heart goes out to her, remembering her solemn mentioning of her Peter Parker's death. Her only friend... before him.

He manifests feelings of comfort and care, of, you're okay, then pushes it across the bond.

He feels her surprise before he sees it reflected in her deep pools of blue watercolor. She gives him the tiniest of side glances, the smallest curve to her lips.

"Thank you", her voice bounces around his skull, filled with gratitude. He feels the genuine warmth behind it.

He turns back to the blindfolded Spider, the mystery at hand. "I- I don't know why my universe didn't collapse..."

"Because YOU are the Ultimate Spider-Man, my boy. You are the Ultimate because you were not chosen for the mantle. You envelope every trait that makes a Spider-Being a Spider-Being, and exemplify them for others to follow! Because you were not chosen, your power was immensely unpredictable, and, as your Gwendolyne said so eloquently, was feared by others," she says with a kind smile in Gwen's direction.

Jess leans over to Miguel, "I think she's-"

"Talking about me, yeah, I got it," he gravels out.

"And because YOU effected events in your home universe, not elsewhere." The woman adds on.

Pav perks up, "Wait! Are you saying that's what causes the collapses?" Everyone can see the memories of his own world flash across his lenses, as they all wonder the same.

The elderly Spider smiles softly. “Worry not, Pavitr. We will discuss everything in due time.

“Ma’am...” Miles begins, “H-how can that be me? I just- there’s no way,” Miles urges, dejected. The sight of him putting himself down brings a tightness to Gwen’s chest.

“I mean... ya' did just shoot dark matter from your fist..." Peni pitches in.

"Seemed pretty ultimate ta' me, mate," Hobie adds on, shrugging.

Miles glances around, before he meets the eyes of Gwen, wide and filled with wonder. "Miles... maybe this makes sense."

"Does it? Because I'm not getting it."

"You should listen to your friends, my boy. It's why I formed the rescue team."

"Speaking of which!" Gwen turns to her, a sudden flame in her eyes. "Contingency plan? You could've been more specific! Said other Spiders were coming to help! Anything. I thought- I thought he was gone..." she shivers, gritting her teeth against the threat of more tears.

Instantly, the woman's face softens beneath her blindfold. "I apologize, Gwendolyne. But your Miles, he... he was gone. If it hadn't been for you and Peter's excellent CPR work, there's a good chance he wouldn't have made it till the arrival of the rescue party," she somehow sends a slightly withering look to the Miles-Gang, "which was LATE."

"Wha- isn't that the collider's fault?" Leather-Jacket Miles raises an eyebrow.

The elder Spider ignores him and faces Gwen again. "Forgive me for allowing the ruse, darling. I also had to really drill the reality into someone's thick skull."

Jess glances over at Miguel. "That’s you, again."

Miguel hardly reacts. "This... whole time, I believed him to be the destroyer of the multiverse. And... now, an old, blind woman says its very existence depends on his survival," he chuckles, empty, denial filling him.

“Hey! Don’t put disabled people down!” Pav yells.

“Tha’s mighty closed-minded a’ ya’, Miguel,” Hobie agrees.

The older Spider-Woman, grunts, fists tightening as she addresses Miguel. "You witnessed the proof yourself, Miguel. There are a trillion outcomes to the approaching conflict with The Spot, but... only ONE where it's a victory, only ONE. And that's if the Ultimate Spider-Man battles him head on. If Earth-1610's Miles Morales perishes before then... the entire multiverse will collapse, as you all just witnessed."

Everyone is silent. Hobie makes an "O" with his lips, as if silently whistling in awe, flickering between pink and grey.

"That's uh... heavy," Miles breathes.

Pete on the other hand feels a vicious headache coming on. That planet again. So long ago. It may as well be another lifetime. It was... technically.

"How many do we win?"

"One." 

Pete gulps. The familiarity... he's... tears threaten his eyes. He's gonna be sick.

Peter B., on the other hand, is still gawking at the number of Miles' in front of him. He spins to Miguel. "Wait! You said there was only ONE universe where Miles is Spider-Man!"

Miguel huffs. "Only one... that you were permitted to know about. And only because you physically met him."

"All of our universes were deemed off-limits,” Older-Miles explains, lifting his own watch as an example, "Can't even plug them into your fancy Society watches. Could only manage one of our own, that’s why we had to depend on the collider."

Miles-2099 crosses his arms. "Joke's on you, though," he says to Miguel, "If you had kept a closer eye on us, you prolly’ would'a caught on."

"What?" Jess asks, confused. She looks to Miguel, "They aren't anomalies, Miguel. Why did you lock them out?"

Miguel grips a fist tightly beneath the webbing holding him. "One Miles Morales was the already the original anomaly, and nearly destroyed his universe! If he met his variants... the result could be disastrous."

Miles finally manages to stand to his full height and looks around at the five variants that surround him. Older Miles tickles his daughter, emitting a bright giggle from above his shoulder.

"Yup. Disastrous is definitely the word I'd use," Miles taunts.

Miguel growls in frustration.

Gwen steps up, fist clenched. "You told me every other Spider-Miles had died off! You showed them all to me! Every d-death!" She yells, wetness in her eyes. "And this whole time, there's still others like him. You LIED!"

Mile’s eyes widen at Gwen. The pain in her voice and expression is clear. Whatever Miguel showed her, these deaths, it left a deep scar, even if not visible. He uses a bit of effort and pushes support down the sensory bridge between them. "I'm here, Gwen," he reminds her softly, wordlessly.

He watches her jaw loosen slightly.

Miguel isn't done. "Gwen, you were and ARE too close to him! With the damage you caused the first time you met him; I couldn't risk you meeting his variants! Which side would you have chosen allegiance to!? HIM!"

"Of course!" Gwen yells. "You- your mistake was forming sides in the FIRST PLACE!" she draws in quick breaths, trying to keep her anger under control. She feels Miles there, comfortably at the edge of her mind, as though placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. She feels her heart rate calm slightly.

"You think you know how this story goes?" the blindfolded woman interrupts suddenly, addressing Miguel with complete seriousness. "You don't."

Miguel bares his fangs. "Who ARE you?"

"I am Cassandra Webb, but you may call me, Madame Web. I am from this world, Earth-42. You dismissed the possibility of having a Spider here when you saw our Miles Morales hadn't become Spider-Man. That was... silly of you."

He scoffs.

"My Spider-Sense allows me to see into every universe. I found the other bitten Miles variants and, when I saw your plans to combat him, recruited them to protect the Ultimate Spider-Man from the shadows of the Multiverse. I told them to be ready. That when the time came, it would be sudden. And to prepare to save the life of one of their own."

"Then I got captured," she shoots a mean glare at Dr. Ohnn, across the chamber, who shrinks visibly. She lightens, "Oh, it's alright, Doctor, you're about to make up for it."

"So, it became a rescue mission in more ways than one," Older Miles sums up.

 At that moment, Madame Web’s face twitches slightly, and she looks over to see Pete, shaking slightly, eye lenses downcast, still lost in the memories of Titan.

"Peter," Madame Web addresses him.

His head snaps up instantly, feeling her gaze through her blindfold.

"My child... You have been through so much... But you're almost there. Nearly home. Don't stop now."

Pete feels tears behind his eyes. He nods and is surprised when a smirk appears on Madame Web's face as though she'd seen it.

"Your story... It's far from over. And your world needs its Spider-Man. There is... something new on the horizon. I've only been able to gather bits and pieces. But something is coming, for your dimension before the others, and eventually... the Society itself. Your… Ant-Friend has already made contact once."

"WAIT! Ant!? We saw a giant ant like half an hour ago!" Peni chirps.

Miles looks at her like she's grown another head.

"Indeed," Web comments, with an aura of annoyance. "Octavius saw E-199999's Ant-Man in my projections, and naturally, they tried to beam his tech here for their own use, much like the original tests on Miles’ Earth. Ended up with one of his pets instead," she finishes with an amused lilt.

"Woah, woah, woah-" Winter-Spidey turns to Pete. "There's an Ant-Man AND a Spider-Man in your universe?"

"It's wack!" Pete, Miles, Cat, and M all acknowledge simultaneously. 

Pete sighs, "Scott Lang. And yes."

Ham looks around at them, confused. "What's so strange about that? I have plenty of bug-themed friends."

Noir tilts his head, "I have a Moth-Man."

Margo and Pav burst into giggles.

Madame Web refocuses the conversation on Pete, who seems to be slowing his spiral.

"It's time to stop running, Peter... By the way, impressive work with the symbiote."

Peni's brows furrow from next to Margo's avatar, still having a hard time believing Pete can truly be on their side with such an attachment. Her Spider comforts her from her shoulder.

Miguel's head jerks up immediately. "Running? Sym-symbiote?"

Lyla appears again, scanning Pete. She flashes red. "Oh boy... Boss, you're not gonna like it..."

Miguel already appears to be on the verge of literally exploding.

"It's uh... Spider Enemy Two," she Lyla squeaks out.

Miles barks a laugh, "HA! That means I'm number one! You owe me $20!"

Pete rolls his eyes, but chuckles lightly.

"You!" Miguel roars, struggling against the webbing, red eyes emerging, trained on Pete. "You helped him! We would've had him yesterday if not for you!"

"Maybe, maybe not. Apparently, he's the Ultimate Spider-Man, after all," Pete theorizes.

"She's WRONG! SHE HAS TO BE! He’s just an anomaly! And SO ARE YOU!” Miguel screams.

Suddenly Pete whips around, tearing off his mask. Eyes furious. "YOU CHASED ME FOR A YEAR! I HAVEN'T SLEPT IN MY OWN BED IN A YEAR! I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT STATE MY NEW YORK IS IN, BECAUSE OF YOU!"

Miguel's eyes taint with red. "YOU BLEW A HOLE IN THE MULTIVERSE!"

"AND I FIXED IT!" the boy yells. "I lost EVERYTHING to right my wrong, but it was the right thing to do!" He sighs, "then you... you took what little I had left."

Miguel growls in fury, but Peter doesn't let up.

"A year of looking over my shoulder. A YEAR of jumping universe to universe, sleeping in alleys, wet rooftops, abandoned apartments... My hair looks like shit!"

Pav gasps, "Nooo, not his hair!" clutching at his own locks.

"Yes!" Pete yells, then points to Miles. "Then him..." He stares Miguel down. "And suddenly everything made sense. Suddenly, it was all worth it, if I could just help him through the same pain I faced. And he promised to get me home. So you're damn right I helped him."

"You're all going to destroy the multiverse."

"No. I SAVED my universe," Pete growls, then points at Miles, on his feet but leaning on Gwen for support. "HE SAVED his universe."

Then he grits his teeth, eyeing Miguel with blatant disgust. "All you did was destroy one, so I'd say we're more qualified at this point."

The comment smacks Miguel in the face. The red fades from his eyes.

Gabriella's face again. His fault.

Everyone goes silent.

"I like tha' new guy, yea?" Hobie mutters to Pavitr, who rolls his eyes in response.

To everyone's surprise, Miguel doesn't even fight back at the argument, instead hanging his head, taking in the appearance of his destroyed suit, completely fried by Miles fistful of dark matter. "I tried to save it. I tried to save my daughter... I tried... I did..."

Madame Web leans forward in her wheelchair. "Miguel." Her face is serious, lips tight beneath her blindfold.

Spider-Man 2099 looks up at her, a guarded expression in his eyes. "Don't speak like you know me!"

Web hardly reacts. "You destroyed that world because your daughter was supposed to be her universe's Spider-Woman."

Every Spiders' eyes go wide at once.

"My god..." Jess breathes quietly, glancing down at her own baby bump.

At the mention of his daughter, Miguel snarls, withdrawing, only to freeze at the mention of Spider-Woman. "Wha-what the Hell are you talking about? You- you can't know that! Explícamelo!"

The elder Spider frowns apologetically and scrunches her face in effort.

A similar projection to the one she cast of E-1610 rises above the group, only this time, it plays back the moment Miguel entered his daughter's universe.

"Gabriella... was supposed to lose her father," she says, as one Miguel lays on the floor, a pool of blood beneath him. "Her father, that wasn't Spider-Man."

A flash image of his daughter, gripping Miguel's lifeless body against hers, tears falling.

"It was one of her canon events. Her first canon event. Her first step to becoming Spider-Woman."

Web speeds forward and shows it all: Gabriella being injected with spider venom, her discovering her powers, climbing a building for the first time in awe, fighting a futuristic Goblin in a mech suit, hanging upside down as she connects lips with a red-haired girl.

Margo and Peni throw the tiniest of side glances at each other when they think the other isn't looking, a light blush touching Peni’s cheeks.

"But... you ensured she never went through that trauma."

The whole image blurs, then refocuses, Miguel-928 welcoming Gabriella home from school for the first time, a nervous smile on his face. "You, a being from another universe, who was never supposed to be there, interrupted and affected her canon event. And the result- my, I apologize, Miguel... obviously you know the rest."

The projection fades, and Madam Web slumps in her chair, catching her breath.

Miguels jaw hangs slightly open. No one speaks.

"Dios mio..." he finally utters, voice cracking, as tears pour down over the massive gash in his cheek from Mile's dark matter punch. "Gabriella... mija... I took everything from her..."

"So... her canon event... it had to happen?" Miles questions, horrified at what the answer would be.

"No! That can't be it!" Gwen steps up next to Miles, "What about my Dad!? Doesn't that prove anything?"

Madame Web holds up a hand, and the two teens calm slightly. "I do not pretend to be an expert... but... in my viewings, it seems canon events can be infinitely altered, redirected, even avoided all together. A simple example: I have seen many Peter Parkers choose not to follow through with marriage to Mary Jane, even though marrying her is considered a canon event for most variants."

Noir gives a sideways glance to Peter B., who whispers, "Don't you dare." Ham smacks the older Spidey’s leg, earning an annoyed huff.

Web ignores the antics, "The canon events appear to be alterable by and reactive to a hero's free will. Haven't you all wondered, why all this time we have had Spider-Beings, and just in the last year and a half, canon events have become an issue?"

"Him! It HAS to be him!" Miguel yells, jerking his head in Miles' direction. "He's the original anomaly!"

"And what is inherently 'bad' about anomalies, hmm?" Madame Web challenges, "Beings who, for the mass majority, were affected by the collider incident, and who continue to be impacted by The Spot's power bursts?"

Gwen quirks her pierced eyebrow in question. "Wait, are you saying The Spot is the one causing random villains and Spiders to jump universes and become anomalies?"

Madame Web's lips curve upwards. "Can never get anything by a Stacy, can you?" she chuckles, causing Gwen to blush slightly. "Yes, you are correct. He isn't aware that he's capable of that, or else he would've just portalled Miles directly to him by now."

Gwen gulps, hating the sound of that, especially with the state that Miles is in currently.

"You hear that?" Margo asks the group.

"Stop The Spot, no more unintentional anomalies," Peni adds.

Jess' eyes widen beneath her golden-tinted goggles. "The whole reason the Society began in the first place..."

"Poofff!" Hobie exaggerates, widening his hands and wiggling his fingertips.

"Another simple job for Spider-Man in the books," Pav supports, bumping Spider-Punk's shoulder, the latter's eyes widening in genuine fear as he quickly glances around, waiting for another villain to bash through the floor or something.

"So... we can save his Dad, then? Like my universe?" Gwen asks, begging for clarification.

Madame Web nods.

"What destroyed Gabriella's universe isn't necessarily that she didn't become Spider-Woman, it's that her canon event was taken from her by a Spider from another dimension. A Spider who was never supposed to exist there, altered her path."

"So that's why the hole in Pav's universe appeared after I saved Inspector Singh? Because I was never supposed to be in that universe, and someone who doesn't exist can’t affect Spider-Man's outcomes?"

 "Correct. And why it was especially impressive when you came to the rescue a year ago." She waves her right hand, somehow knowing where Peter B. is standing with Mayday. "If Peter here had shut down the collider on your Earth instead, he would have created your arch nemesis for you, affecting your canon event, and-"

"-My... universe would have collapsed," Miles realizes with awe.

Gwen's brain just about short-circuits. 

Miles grips his head, trying to fully comprehend. "Wait- but... why didn't this world collapse when I blew up the collider here, then?" 

"Not attached to an Earth-42 canon event," Lyla says, popping up behind him, tone reflecting her high level of interest, "My algorithm would have notified us."

Madame Web nods, "A clever AI. The Spot is not Spider-Man-42's arch-nemesis, and therefore not tied to any of their canon events. The Spot never even exists in this world. Because you made sure not to repeat a past mistake," she finishes with a nod. 

“So to save his Dad…” Gwen starts.

“I have to be the one to do it,” Miles finishes the thought, "Like how Gwen was the one to convince her own dad to quit."

Madame Web nods. “If Gwendolyne, or Peter, or Hobart over there-“

“OI!” Hobie cries at the use of his full name, Pav trying to hide his giddy laughter behind a fist.

“-If any of them perform the act of saving your father, your universe will begin to collapse, much like Pavitr’s."

Hobie wraps an arm around the boy’s shoulders, whose eyes turn downwards.

Miles looks over at them, a look of guilt on his face. “Pav- I…”

“Don’t apologize, Miles! You- you saved lives. I couldn’t thank you more,” Pav responds, forcing a nod through his troubled gaze.

Miles looks down, then… a thought. He looks up, facing his variants.

"Have any of you... been able to save your Dad?" he asks, desperate.

The rest of the Miles variants look at each other, before Leather-Jacket Miles speaks up. “Some of us, yeah. Others…” he just shakes his head.

Video-Game Miles speaks up. "I actually... lost my Dad. I was there, at the ceremony. Dad was getting awarded a medal," he scoffs slightly, "He didn't even want to be there, thought it was all just a play for popularity by Mayor Osborne."

"Wait, Norman Osborne is your mayor!?" Peter B. asks.

"Oi! Osborne's my Prime Minister, really tha' hard ta' imagine?" Hobie adds.

Peter B. shrugs.

"H-how did it happen?" Miles asks, refocusing the conversation.

Video-Game Miles cringes slightly.

"Please, man," Miles begs.

M watches with wide eyes, Cat’s hand firmly grasped in his own.

"Terrorist attack. A bombing. Dad dove in front of one of the charges. Saved people... Closed casket, though..."

Everyone's eyes widen. Gwen feels tears threatening to drip down. Seeing this Miles variant, the hurt in his eyes, she knows now that they cannot fail to save Miles' Dad. She'll give everything to help him.

"I was there... So was Peter- he's my original Spider-Man. He nearly died trying to get to my Dad," he turns to Miguel. "I believe you have met him," he growls out. "Didn't speak too highly of ya'. Said you've got a passion for laser cages. Fled your elite club after watching you throw another me into a train."

Miles' mind recalls the "video-game guy" Lyla introduced him too while observing the various anomaly cages. Could that have been this Miles' Peter? "So you... You- your Peter Parker didn't die when you got your powers? You AND Peter Parker are both Spider-Man? At... the same time?"

Video-Game Miles nods. "Yeah. It's nice, I'll admit, having a mentor there to show me the ropes. I don't know how I would've fought Vulture and Electro the first time had he not talked me through their weaknesses."

Gwen watches Miles' face dim. "Yeah... I can imagine."

"My boy," Madame Web speaks up. "Do not be ashamed. Losing your Peter Parker was out of your control, much like Miles here losing his father before gaining his powers. You learning and struggling on your own is one of the reasons you are the Ultimate."

"I- wha-?" Miles asks. This is all just too much at once.

"You inherited the Spider-Man name, as well as all of Peter Parker's enemies. Enemies who already had a decade of experience fighting Spider-Man. You have more scars than most Spiders, Miles, especially at your age. Yet look how far you've come."

Miles gives a ghost of a glance to his chest, but forces his head to stay up.

Gwen feels a wave of shame for having never considered that. When she became Spider-Woman, Hell, when most Spider-People were bitten, their villains rose with them. Miles didn't have that luxury. He fought for his life from the very beginning, and clearly suffered more because of it. She subconsciously steps closer to him. He won't have to fend for himself, learn things fast and hard or die, nor figure it all out alone, EVER AGAIN.

She feels a wave of warmth and recognition from his end before she realizes that thought may have been shared. Gwen blushes slightly.

"Does it- ever get easier?" M speaks up, quiet, once again addressing Video-Game Miles. Everyone looks at him solemnly, and Cat places a supportive glove on his shoulder.

"I've... found a way to stop blaming myself... But the absence, the hurt- it fades, but doesn't go away."

M nods slowly, as if expecting that response.

Video-Game Miles continues, "You focus on the bright spots, the memories of him-" he chuckles slightly, "like how whenever he'd turn on his favorite Christmas vinyl, he'd boom around the apartment and announce, "Ain't-"

"-no Christmas like a Brooklyn Christmas!" all the Miles' say simultaneously in phony deep voice impersonations of Jefferson.

They all look at each other in wonder.

Gwen finds the whole interaction absolutely adorable.

"Yeah... that's right," Video-Game Miles confirms. He looks back at M, "But don't ever forget that what he believed in, what he fought for... cuz’ that's never gone."

Miles watches as a wetness presents itself behind M's eyes. He nods, understanding.

Gwen glances at Miles, sees the fear in his eyes, the stiffness in his stance, and knows what he needs.

"We'll save your Dad, Miles. I won't let this happen to you," she sends across the bond.

He lifts his head, meeting her eyes, fear slowly melting into warmth. "Thank you, Gwen." 

The sincerity of his tone and his mental pronunciation of her name sends a rush of heat to her cheeks.

“Okay!” Older-Miles chirps, trying to find some positivity, “I don’t have much time, and I NEED to hear all about how you blew up the multiverse!” Older-Miles chirps.

The other Miles variants quickly agree, to the amusement of the Spider-Band, crowding Miles and asking endless questions about how he saved his universe over a year ago.

Gwen takes a step back, Miles now mostly steady on his feet. She watches him smile at the interactions with his variants, and it brings a shy grin to her face. He looks… happy.

She wants to be the reason he’s happy too.

"He needs you, Gwendolyne, and you need him."

Gwen spins around to find Madame Web “watching” her through her blindfold. "Wha- what do you mean?"

"My child… why do you think your Spider-Sense led you to him? Before he was even bitten?"

Gwen’s eyes widen, shock emanating through her core.

She had... never really thought about that. With the excitement of meeting Miles, the confusion of being thrown into another universe, the intensity of the mission, and the looming threat of glitching to death... she had nearly forgotten that her sense had somehow LED HER to him. BEFORE his Spider-Sense even existed. How... was that even possible?

Her jaw goes slack. "H-how-"

"You knew he was in danger, shortly after he arrived in this world, yes?"

She did. She remembers it so clearly, the fear that drove through her at the realization that he was in trouble, and she had no way to know how to get to him. Gwen gives a shaky nod.

Madam Web responds with a hint of a smile, as though she'd somehow seen it. "And the evolution of the bond between your senses. My girl, I must admit, even I was not expecting that. I mean, look at the way you navigated this facility to get to him. How you fought alongside him!"

Gwen blushes deeply, hoping Web can't sense her embarrassment.

"Wha-what does all of this mean?" she asks, a hesitant squeak to her voice. "I... For months, I've thought I only existed to d-die... I just want to know my place in all this," she mutters, clenching her eyes at oncoming wetness, hugging herself tightly.

Madame Web pushes her wheelchair so that she is directly in front of Gwen, and reaches up a withered hand, cupping Gwen's cheek. The younger Spider-Woman's eyes flash open, meeting the red fabric of Web's blindfold.

"My child... You ARE, and have ALWAYS been, half of the whole story. And him, the other. ”

Gwen feels her eyes load with tears.

"You are connected. Far beyond the reaches of time and space. Neither of you have hope without the other... you are as close to a duet in the multiverse as I have ever witnessed. Even the other variants you've met are not connected in all the same ways," she explains, pulling her hand back.

"Is it because he's the Ultimate Spider-Man?" Gwen asks.

Madame Web tilts her head slightly, smirking. "Philosophy can be a slippery slope, Gwendolyne. If I had to guess, yes, perhaps to some degree. But not everything has to be thanks to him,” she smirks. “You are immensely powerful in your own right. You… like me, have a unique Spider-Sense. Rather powerful, and for those you hold closest, empowering as well.”

“Are you saying… the bond- is mostly me?”

Madame Web shrugs. “It’s equal parts you and him. But without your enhanced Sense, it wouldn’t be possible.”

Gwen inhales sharply at that. Perhaps Web is right. Maybe she does have a larger role to play. The thought brings a new sense of purpose to Gwen’s heart.

"Remember, Gwen, he needs you. Spot is his arch nemesis, tied to one of his canon events. Miles has to be the one to defeat him to avoid multiversal calamity. But... he will not succeed in his mission without you."

Gwen gulps, “Okay.”

Web smiles, “Okay, dear,” then rolls herself away with a wink. “Keep exploring the bond. You never know what new and exciting possibilities there may be.”

Before Gwen can dwell on it further, a portal opens behind the Older-Miles, who swings around to see the bursts of watercolor and music notes emanating from the hexagonal web of time and space.

Older-Miles smiles and kneels next to his daughter. "Ooooh, look who's here, mija!" He says excitedly to her. The girl immediately grins wide and runs towards the portal. "YAY!"

"About time, mi amor!" Older-Miles prods.

Then, to no one's shock but everyone's collective surprise, an older Gwen Stacy exits the portal.

“Nope. I’m done. Too many,” Peter B. huffs.

Similar to Spider-Woman's current outfit, except instead of pink and teal, Older-Gwen's switched her accent colors to red, complete with a familiar old pair of red, white and black J's. She finishes the look with Miles' old green and red jacket, practically identical to the one Gwen has been taking along with her for the last couple days. Gwen notes that her and Older-Miles' suits coordinate attractively. They're dressed like a team.

"About time?" Older-Gwen scoffs playfully, placing her fists on her waist. "You're the one who swept our daughter away in the middle of dinner... with my Dad."

The Spider-Gang looks on, jaws slack, unable to process the sheer domesticity that's playing out in front of them.

"Not my choice! You know I'd never leave in the middle of your Dad's sloppy joes! It's a Stacy classic!" He waves his arms dramatically in the same way Gwen's Miles does.

The older Spider-Woman takes off her mask, revealing a twin of Earth-65 Gwen, eyebrow piercing and all, but like her husband, further along in life. She rolls her eyes at Older-Miles’ antics, clearly more amused than annoyed, and turns to their daughter, her face softening considerably. "Aw, Charlotte, sweetheart, your suit is inside out. Again." She doesn't delay in pulling her daughter into a tight hug. "How are Mommy's webshooters working? Hmm?"

"Good, Mommy!"

"Good," she loosens her grip and stands back up, seeming to suddenly realize the crowd around them. "OH. Uh... hi," she awkwardly waves, she scans the crowd, her eyes landing on M and Cat. She gives them a soft smile and a wink, then moves over, seeing Madame Web. "Ugh, Cassandra, I should've known," she sighs, no real heat behind it. "Is this the fabled 1610 rescue party then?” she says, waving her arms in a joking manner.

Madame Web smiles beneath her blindfold. "Nothing gets by you, Gwendolyne."

Older-Gwen rolls her eyes at the use of her full name, “Uh-huh,” she hums, “So, where are they, then? I see we’ve got the 42’s over there, but where’s the ones that needed sav-“

Her blue eyes suddenly meet their twin’s. “There you are, Gwen! It’s me- I mean, you! I’m you! AGH! So exciting! Here! Give me just a second to get Cassandra here in line, okay!?”

Gwen just nods dumbly, feet rooted to the spot.

Miles’ jaw is hanging open at the sight of an older Gwen, but quickly gets spun back around by his Older variant.

“HEY, you’ve got your own Gwen to stare at, man! Now tell us about this bus ride…” He smirks, and all the other Miles’ wiggle their eyebrows.

Peter B. just about dies of laughter.

Gwen watches Miles interact with the other hims, wistful longing in her eyes.

A voice clears its throat behind her. She spins to find the Older-Her, smiling at her from a couple inches higher.

“Hiiii…” her variant starts awkwardly. “Oof, sorry, I knew this was gonna happen, but still, actually talking to a twin… takes some getting used to.”

“H-Hi… Yeah, it’s pretty jarring.” Gwen responds, just as lamely.

Older-Gwen follows the path that Gwen’s eyes were just tracing, and sees her husband with the 1610 Miles, surrounded by their other joking variants. “Ahhh… still in the, will-they, won’t-they phase, then, hmm?”

Gwen blushes. “Ugh, I’m even getting teased by myself now? This is a new low.”

Older-Gwen laughs. “Well, us Gwens are generally our worst critics.”

The younger Spider huffs, only to find her older variant stepping closer. “So… Why hasn’t it happened, yet? What… are you afraid of, Gwen? And don’t lie. I already know the answer. I’m you, remember?”

“Hard to forget, actually,” she says sarcastically.

The older variant rolls her eyes. “Very cute.”

Gwen decides to stop avoiding the question and meets her own blue watercolor gaze.

"I- hurt him... What if I do that again?"

Older-Gwen chuckles lightly, causing Gwen to glare at her.

The older Spider-Woman lifts her hands in surrender. "Sorry, sorry! God, was I really this edgy as a teen?"

"Hey!"

"-Gwen," her older variant cuts her off, "You... Look, as much as it sucks, you will hurt him again. But, BUT!" she exclaims as Gwen's eyes go wide, frown deepening, "He will also hurt you sometimes. It's just how relationships go. People hurt each other’s feelings, they forgive, and they work through it. I- we- ugh, you and I, we can be pretty dumb sometimes. But him? He's a big dummy sometimes too, and too self-sacrificing, and cheesy as Hell… but... I love him," she says with a fond smile, "My Sunflower."

Gwen watches the loving gaze Older-Gwen sends to her husband, who is bumping shoulders with Miles and chuckling about something they can't quite make out, little arms wrapped around his neck as Charlotte rides him, piggy-back style.

"And I mean... he helped me make her." Older-Gwen gestures towards her family, before glancing to her younger twin. "And she... Gwen, it's been so healing raising her. Everything I missed from losing Mom so young, being there for her, caring for her, filling up her webshooters," she chuckles, "...it's- helped me a lot."

Older-Gwen looks back at her, her face suddenly falling. "Gwen?"

It's at that moment that Gwen realizes she's crying. Big, ugly tears rushing down her face. "Sorry... That s-sounds nice..."

Her doppelganger's face instantly softens, and suddenly she finds herself wrapped in a tight hug with... herself.

Gwen leans into it, enjoying the comfort of the embrace. She wonders at what age Older-Her mastered the mom-hug. Perhaps it just comes with being a mom.

"One of the things I love most about Miles is his ability to read me," Older-Gwen admits, leaning back and gripping the shoulders of the younger version of herself. "Gwen Morales- sorry, Stacy, ugh, it becomes a habit- is terrible at describing feelings, but Miles Morales is fucking incredible at interpreting them. Trust me, your Miles can do the same. I'm sure of it. Do your best, speak from the heart, and he'll help you make sense of everything else."

"And make a goddamn move!" A similar voice chirps next to them, then suddenly they’re being wrapped again by Cat, piling into a group hug. "What? You just saved his life and you don't even go for the kiss?"

Gwen's eyes shoot wide open. "Wha-what? I couldn't have done that!"

Older-Gwen levels her with an amused glance.

The younger Spider’s face melts. “Ssshit, c-could I have?”

“God, I really don’t miss being sixteen,” Older-Gwen taunts.

“HEY!” both younger Gwens complain. She just laughs and pulls them tighter.

After a few moments of hugging it out and promising to visit each other’s worlds, the Gwens eventually separate.

Older-Gwen checks how much time has passed, and her eyes widen. She turns over her shoulder to call to her husband. "Come on, Sunflower! If we’re lucky, dinner is still warm. And you're explaining this one," she smirks.

“No! Already!?” Older-Miles pouts, but accepts, turning back to the Miles parade. “Okay guys, time to go. Everything’s stable and duty calls.” There are several near-identical groans that meet the announcement, and all the Miles variants instantly wrap each other in a group hug.

Charlotte leaps on top, giggling, as the variants make similar promises of future visits.

After a moment, they all break apart.

Miles rubs his arm, "Uh, so," he says awkwardly. "…Thanks for the save."

"No problem, fate of the multiverse and all made it a pretty easy decision," Video-Game Miles jokes.

Miles chuckles. "Right."

"So," Miles-2099 starts, "Do you feel... Ultimate?"

The members of the Spider-Band laugh, watching the interaction.

"Ya shoulda' seen 'im, punchin' with literal dark matta'?" Hobie jumps around excitedly, throwing air punches.

"Yeah, knocked Big Blue right on his bacon!" Ham shouts.

"I'M RIGHT HERE!" Miguel yells, before receiving a web to the mouth, courtesy of Margo.

Pete laughs at the shocked look on Miguel’s face.

Winter-Miles salutes Miles, “Well… see ya’ around, Spider-Man!”

The Spider-Band waves goodbye as, one-by-one, Older-Miles opens portals to each of their respective home dimensions.

After a few minutes, it’s only Older-Miles, Older-Gwen, and their daughter standing in front of the group.

Miles watches as his variant plugs in the dimension coordinates, and a portal opens.

“Alright, who’s ready for sloppy joe’s?” Older-Gwen asks, stepping back into the portal with one last wink to Gwen.

"Yay! Sloppy Joes!" both Older-Miles and Charlotte yell in excitement, before the father picks up his daughter and makes his way to the portal.

Gwen sees Miles’ amused face from across the group. She chuckles lightly across the bond. "It is a Stacy classic."

Miles catches her eye. "I'd -uh- like to try it, sometime."

Gwen blushes. "Did you... just ask to have dinner with my Dad?"

The boy doesn't miss a beat, "I mean, I guess you can be there too."

She snorts quietly, feeling her blush spread to her neck.

Just then, Older-Miles spins around. "And about this whole... Ultimate-thing, just remember... The rules don't change, Miles. Enjoy every day," he advises, glancing lovingly down at his daughter in his arms, before raising his eyes and catching sight of Gwen over Miles' shoulder. "I think you and a certain someone just need to have a talk." His older variant winks, tugs on his mask, and steps into the portal.

He turns around one last time. "You're doin' good, Spider-Man."

Miles feels emotion spike behind his eyes, as Charlotte lifts a hand, waving excitedly.

Then, they’re gone.

Miles watches the spot where the portal vanished, willing his blush from Older-Miles’ comments to go away, before turning and seeing the entire Spider-Band staring at him expectantly.

"Uh, Spider-Man?" Dr. Ohnn interrupts, nervously.

Every other person in the room turns to him, wondering who he is addressing.

"O-oh, right, I mean-" he fumbles.

Miles steps forward.

"Yeah. Thanks," he shifts uncomfortably. "Thank you... for saving my life. You and your little Spider-Team here, I guess. It's crazy to think how this research, my work, spans across LITERAL DIMENSIONS!" He takes a deep breath. "Wow! Ya' know!?"

Miles smirks lightly, a questioning brow raising. 

"Oh, right! I'm- well, the serum is ready."

Miguel uses his fangs to tear through the web gag, as he struggles against the cocoon of thick webbing, "Miles! You can’t MAKE a Spider-Man! Canon would never allow it!"

All at once, every other Spider-Person turns to O'Hara.

"Hey Miguel?" Jess asks, still webbed up near him, "Shut your ass up."

Miguel grits his teeth, and looks around to see he is clearly outmatched. "Maldita sea! You're all fools! You'll all see when this universe collapses!"

Miles rolls his eyes. "I'm not making a Spider-Man!" he yells. "He is!" Miles points to M. "He's this world's Spider-Man. As long as he's injected by someone from his universe, I'm not interfering with canon. It's the same result as the spider bite he was always supposed to have!" He quickly turns to Madame Web, listening from her wheelchair. "R-right, Miss W?"

Madame Web smirks, proud of him for picking it up so quickly. "Are you sure you're only fifteen?"

"Miles scratches the back of his neck, blushing slightly. "Uh... yes? I mean, some of those other me's were definitely older..."

Madame Web chuckles. "In the words of your uncle, Miles... You're on your way."

Gwen turns to Miles and sees his eyes swell slightly, accompanied by a shaky nod. "Thanks, Madame."

“You’re making a mis-!” Miguel yells, cut off by another web, this time from Gwen, Hobie, and Pav all at once

Miles tosses them an amused look of appreciation, before his eyes land on M.

"Ready?" He asks his variant.

M shrugs, and Dr. Ohnn approaches with the injector. "I already kept my portion of the sample, so this is all yours."

Johnathon holds out the injector to M, who quickly meets Miles' eyes.

"I'd rather not inject it myself, man," he says.

Cat steps up next to him, "Awww, somebody scared of needles?" she taunts, before straightening up and reaching out to Ohnn. "Give it to me. I'll do it."

"Why am I not surprised?" M asks, rolling his eyes.

"Don't worry, Prowly, I'll be gentle," she smirks, taking the sanitation wipe from Ohnn and wiping M's forearm.

Gwen watches Miles' variant blush deeply, and immediately feels something red hot leap into her throat. "Ugh! Why does it seem so simple for them! If Miles and I were from the same universe, would it be easier!? Who am I kidding, of course it would be..." She looks over at Miles. Her Miles. "We'll talk... I just need confidence like hers," she thinks, looking back to Cat.

"Aim for the vein, the serum needs to enter his bloodstream quickly," Ohnn instructs.

"Yeah, yeah, I gave him a shot of adrenaline once when he took a bullet, I know what I'm doing," Cat brushes him off. She positions the needle over M's vein.

"Well, only give him half the dosage. The full amount would kill him."

"Oh. Yeah, that seems like vital information," Pav mutters sarcastically.

Cat glares at the scientist, then turns to M's wide eyes, her face suddenly softening. "Don't mind him, I've got ya'."

Another blush from M.

"You… sure about this?" she asks him.

M looks her in the eyes and chuckles. "Taking an injection of radioactive spider venom on the instructions of another me from an alternate universe?" He laughs, also eliciting chuckles from Hobie and Peni. "Nah, not even close. But..." he glances at Miles. "He made his New York a better place by doin' this... Hopefully it can be the same for us." 

Miles smiles lightly in approval.

Gwen looks down from next to him to see his hands shaking. She frowns and sends a wave of support his way.

She watches as his brows soften, and his knuckles lose their white strain. Gwen feels his appreciation shoot through her mind. She can't help but smirk slightly, enjoying being here for him.

M meets Cat's eyes again and nods. "Vamos."

Cat doesn't waste time and presses the needle in, pressing the plunger button.

The Spider-Band watches with bated breath as the neon blue serum enters M's bloodstream.

Peni and Margo eye their watches, waiting for a collapse alarm.

Miguel cringes, anticipating the fallout.

And for a second, Miles fears that perhaps he's been wrong about everything.

Cat removes the injector and watches M, waiting for a show of pain.

Gwen's nails dig into her palms.

Then M shrugs, as if it hadn't even happened.

Peni and Margo slowly lower their watches.

Miguel cracks an eye open.

The whole gang collectively looks around.

No change.

No dark matter flowing in.

No collapse.

Pete suddenly WHOOPS and pumps a fist in the air. "Yes! HAHA!"

Hobie lets out an amused huff. "Whole lotta' fuss tha' was."

Jess and Miguel meet shocked eyes, trying to process all of this.

Gwen lets out a deep breath, unable to help the smile that forms on her face, especially when she sees the relieved huff from Miles, an exhausted smirk on his lips.

Cat brings the injector to Miles. He accepts it from her, but pauses as she turns to return to M.

"Cat-" he calls.

She quickly spins to face him, eyebrow lifted in a similar way to his own Gwen when she's awaiting information.

"There's," he starts, lifting the injector, "...enough for one more," he observes.

Her eyes widen, along with the rest of the Spider-Band. From off to the side, Madame Web smiles.

"Ya' serious?"

Miles nods. 

"Wait," Margo asks, "is that like... safe?"

"Why not?" Peter B. asks, "Miles is proof enough that anyone can wear the mask."

Gwen feels Miles warm at the compliment. It eases the anxiety in her chest, and she realizes something else. "And that Video-Game Miles is one of two Spider-Men in his universe!" Gwen justifies.

They all slowly turn to Madame Web, who nods wordlessly. "Always good to have another Spider-WOMAN around here," she says with a chuckle.

Cat's eyes widen considerably, and the resemblance with Gwen really takes hold. She looks around at all the Spiders. "I... don't know. Kinda already got the whole cat persona down, ya' know?" she says, shyer than usual.

"If it makes you feel better, there is already a Spider-Cat," Gwen adds in, drawing an amused side glance from Miles. Her brain is finally catching up with the fact that she has met two other, nearly identical, versions of her.

"Not to mention a Spider-Pig!" Ham chirps excitedly.

"Not as relevant, Hammy, but I like where your head's at, pal," Peter B. pats him on the head, to which Ham swings a fist playfully.

Miles readdresses Gwen-42. "Believe me, I understand. You've seen first-hand the kind of conflict that follows us Spider-People. The risk for people you care about. If you don't want to be part of that-"

"Nahhh, feck it," she cuts off, Irish lilt touching the pronunciation. Cat looks around at the group, then takes a deep breath. "I'm in."

"Really!?" M asks, eyes wide, his own accent touching the shock in his pronunciation.

She sends him a crooked smile, showing off the small gap between her front teeth. "What? Can't let you have all the fun without me, can I?" she teases with a wink. "Besides, the other you had me at 'conflict'," she teases.

Gwen again feels a pang of insecurity at how confident the other her seems to be around M. She makes teasing him and flirting with him look so effortless. UGH!

Lately, whenever she meets the eyes of her own Miles, her brain just turns to goddamn mush.

She refocuses to see Miles sterilizing the needle and handing the injector back to Cat.

Her variant turns and steps up next to M, who places a supportive hand on her shoulder. Cat smiles and presses the needle in without a second thought.

Margo, Peni, and Pav can't help but wince and glance around for any potential universe-ending calamities.

Nothing.

"HAHA! YES!" Noir yells, making everyone jump in fright.

"Jeez Noir, where'd all this emotion come from!?" Ham yelps, having leapt into Peni's arms, Scooby-and-Shaggy style.

Miguel sits there, empty. The entirety of his misunderstanding there for the multiverse to see.

But what hurts the most... is knowing his selfishness killed his daughter, and billions of lives.

Jess is there, nearby. 

"Miguel."

He spins his head to see her, his eyes fearful, like a deer in headlights.

Jess tilts her head, mouth straightening into a line. "Maybe it’s time to stop denying… Maybe- it's not too late to do the right thing."

The leader of the Spider Society stares at her, unsure what to make of all this, and unable to process anything through the pained flashes of Gabriella's face.

Cat removes the needle, walking over and handing the injector to Dr. Ohnn, who had watched the whole proceeding with rapt attention, no doubt taking silent notes for his research.

"Doc," Miles calls.

The scientist jerks to meet Miles' eyes.

"Thank you," the Spider says with a smile.

Dr. Ohnn's lips quirk slightly. "Of course. H-happy to help... Spider-Man... Can uh- I go home, now?"

Miles chuckles and nods, and Ohnn spins to walk towards the exit, before-

“OH. Doctor, would you mind giving an old woman a ride home? I believe I’ve quite overstayed my welcome here, and well… we can call it even for kidnapping me,” she flashes a bright smile beneath her blindfold.

Ohnn stops in his tracks. Stands there as if weighing his options, then groans. “Fine.”

“Oh, thank you! Such a nice young man,” Madame Web compliments, rubbing it on thick.

“Yeah, yeah, alright, let’s go,” Ohnn sighs, taking hold of the handles of her wheelchair and pushing her towards the exit.

“And Miles!” she calls over her shoulder. “I’ll be in touch!” she accents with a polite wave. And then, her and the scientist disappear through the chamber exit.

The Spider-Band glances around at each other.

“What a nice old lady,” Pete remarks.

“She’s a’right, I guess…” Hobie underplays.

Pav giggles, “You’re just mad because she called you Hobart.”

Hobie growls, but can’t hold a frustrated expression with Pav.

Miles is still watching the exit door where the elder Spider disappeared. The squeak of a sneaker on polished flooring draws his attention back to... Gwen and- the Spider-Band...

He gulps, nervousness taking root. "H-hey everyone," he starts lamely, rubbing the back of his neck.

Peni throws up a two-finger peace sign.

"I, uh..." Miles starts, unsure of what to say, his mind racing. "I- sorry... This night hasn't gone the way I expected..."

"I believe that is an understatement," Noir observes, flicking his Zippo lighter while tipping his fedora in greeting, "It's good to see you, Spider-Man."

Miles chuckles. "Hey, Noir. It's good to see you too, man, and you, Ham, and Peni..."

His face suddenly darkens. "Guys, I'm s-"

"If you're about to apologize for not saying 'hi' in the subway-" Peni starts.

Ham points a finger, "You can save it, buster!"

Noir nods. "It was an emotionally charged moment. Feelings... and colors... and love..."

Miles' eyes shoot wide open, his jaw dropping slightly, a blush rising.

"NOIR!" Gwen hisses, elbowing the black-and-white Spider-Man in the side.

"Sorry,” the detective Spider tries to correct, “I mean- Just feelings and love."

Gwen facepalms hard, making an audible smack, while Hobie cackles, throwing an arm around Pav to hold himself up.

Miles' face is the color of a tomato, looking anywhere but at Gwen. "W-well, uh... thank you all for coming to the rescue... I r-really appreciate it."

They all wave his thanks off. "Thank her," Hobie says, jerking a thumb towards Gwen, "Whole lot'a it was her doin', yea? Brought tha' whole band togetha'."

"Wouldn't've ever found you if it wasn't for her," Margo supports.

Miles locks eyes with Gwen, her cheeks still red from Noir’s embarrassing analysis.

He pushes waves of warmth and thanks her direction.

By the way her face brightens, he can tell she received them.

"Sorry-,” M jumps in, “Uh- is the... sweat... normal?" M asks.

"Ooh, yes! It's starting!" Pav says, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

"You two need a place to rest," Miles says, "The next few hours are gonna be pretty... weird."

"You need lots of food, too!" Pete chirps.

"Pizza it is!" Peter B. yells excitedly.

Miles meets his eyes and his mentor quickly shrinks in on himself. "Uh- that is... We can... bring some, if you want..."