Chapter Text
Look at me Gwen Stacey, look without taking your eyes off me, look at me, I'm an evil man, remember I'm an evil man.
Look Gwen Stacey, look into my eyes, watch my movements, listen to what I say, listen and watch, watch without taking your eyes off.
After all, everyone is so used to seeing me as they used to. But you have to watch. Watch me all the time, watch my every move, my every breath.
Look, I want your eyes so much, turned in my direction.
For I am dangerous. Very dangerous to those who will love me, soon we will be one of thousands, one of millions, soon we will disappear, for my anger will consume us both.
For my anger is as strong as my love.
Gwen Stacey looks at Miles Morales 42 in wonder. His pigtails, sharp facial features and droopy eyes. He stares intently, but without much interest. Stares because it's the only thing he can do.
- Hello? - Gwen could tell the difference between Miles '1610B and Miles 42. Definitely. It's very hard not to tell the two apart. Very.
- Yeah, - the guy muttered, his accent expressed by swallowing consonants and concentrating entirely on vowels, Gwen involuntarily remembered Rio. Yeah, this young man is definitely tougher and more dangerous than Miles.
- Prowder, right? - The girl was uncomfortable with such a stare of laziness. The guy's metal hand clenches involuntarily and a grinding sound is heard, Gwen shivering.
- Prowder, yeah, that's what you dubbed me, - Miles 42 snickered. He finally turned his attention to his surroundings, allowing Gwen to sigh a little more calmly.
- Hobie and Miles will be here soon, - muttered the girl, with all due respect, that boy looked dangerous even when just standing there in his purple metal suit.
- 'Okay, Miles 42 said unemotionally, 'what is so important my doppelganger has to tell me that he has transported me to an enhanced version of my world? - Prowder looked around Miles '1610-B's room, he didn't seem bothered by being transported to another universe, he didn't seem to care about anything.
- I don't know, - Gwen was getting pretty tired of talking to Miles 42 with a touch of fear, after all she was a Spiderwoman, which was as good as 42 armor.
- They don't make them like that here any more, - the boy leaned over a little, looking at some toy that belonged to Miles '1610-B.
- We've only recently had them on sale, - Gwen took one look to see what kind of toy it was, not paying attention to the way Miles 42 turned excitedly in her direction. Noticing the change in Prowder's face, the girl grinned involuntarily.
- What? - the boy asked irritably, casting a confused look at the girl.
- Just, - the girl took a deep breath and took her time lying down on Miles' bed '1610-B, - you just look a lot like him.
- That makes sense, considering we're practically twins, - Miles snapped, but she could hear the interest in his voice.
- Not exactly twins, more like variations, but that's just me being picky, - Gwen leaned back on her fist as she lay on her friend's bed, she eyed Miles 42 curiously. This guy really was a variation, far from the Miles Morales she knew, but not in the bark of a different personality either.
- Can I ask you a question? - Miles 42 had already sat down beside the girl's face, his chubby lips pursed.
- Shoot, - the girl grinned.
- How do you jump through time and space?
- It was Hobie's idea-I haven't figured it out yet, - Gwen involuntarily pointed to the bracelet, thinking for a moment that he might yank her back and pull it off her, but he didn't. He just looked at the machine in silence and stared at Gwen again.
- Is that the punk? - The boy clarified without a trace of a sneer.
- Yes, - Gwen nodded her head affirmatively.
- How did you meet Miles '1610-B?
- Some dude used a collider to flip some Spider-Men into the 1610-B universe, that's how we met, - Gwen yawned.
- Weird, - Miles 42 bit his lip.
- Yeah, - the girl reached out.
- Where are the parents of 1610-B? - Prowder wouldn't let up.
- At work? - Gwen arched an eyebrow. Right now, Miles 42 didn't seem dangerous or anything to her. He seemed like a normal fifteen-year-old now.
- Nothing,- Miles 42 moved away from Gwen and got up from the floor.
- They'll be back soon, Miles said to keep your head down while he's gone, - Gwen followed the boy's movements.
- I remember, - Miles nodded his head in confirmation of his words.
Miles 42 continued to look around the room, he had goals of finding something in particular, but when he came across Miles's notebook '1610-B curiosity took over.
- Wow, - the young man looked at the first page and realised it was definitely not a notebook. - Beautiful, - Miles 42 touched the piece of paper with his fingers, as if he wanted to see the drawing with his touch as well.
Gwen propped herself up on her elbows and walked over to Miles 42, trying to protect her friend's property. However, 42 wasn't doing much of anything - just looking at the drawings and occasionally touching the drawings.
- Uncle Aaron died in his universe, - he finally muttered.
Gwen twitched at those words, but she was aware that the lad hadn't said anything special - just voiced a fact.
- I can't imagine what I'd be doing without Aron by my side, - Miles 42 muttered.
- He felt the same way you did after your father died, - Gwen said quietly. Miles 42 didn't look dangerous now, more like he was confused, but Gwen still wouldn't let herself even touch him.
- Still, I don't understand, - 42 said dryly.
- Hobie, what should we do? - Miles often looks lost, whereas Hobart never worries. Brown sips his cigarette and stares intently into Morales' face.
- What do you want to do? - Hobie chuckles as he bites down on his cigarette, he puts his arm around the boy's shoulder and watches his emotions closely.
- I want to stop all this trouble and just live Hobie, just live, - Miles frowns, staring up at the starry sky, - I don't know how you live with this shit for three years. - Hobie chuckles, causing Miles to arch an eyebrow in bewilderment.
- Is something wrong? - The young man looks at his friend's face incomprehensively as he takes a slow drag.
- I don't live with the shit, I fight with it, they're very different concepts if you think about it, - Hobie's eyes sparkled, stroking Miles' head, - I understand what you're saying, and I can understand your excitement, but bringing Miles 42 means more than you think.
- Why do you say that? - Miles looked puzzled at Hobie, who only smiled enigmatically as he held his cigarette again and took another puff.
- Because the view of the city is beautiful, you know, - Hobart said, and Miles only shoved him quietly to the side, to which Brown chuckled softly.
The key in the doorway turns exactly three times, causing Gwen and Miles 42 to look at each other frightened.
- Miles, I'm home! - Rio said hello loudly and Miles 42 flinched involuntarily, he wasn't afraid of his mother, however there was excitement that was hard to explain.
- Go and say hello to her, - Gwen hissed at Miles 42, making him tense up even more.
- What?! I was told not to show my face to them...
- No time, change into Miles' clothes now, Rio won't appreciate your outfit! - Gwen ran to Miles' wardrobe and quickly pulled out a pair of shorts and a sports shirt.
- I'm not wearing that! - Almost shrieked 42, but stopped himself in time when he saw his mother from the other universe heading for his doppelganger's room.
- Now! - The hobo didn't need to be told twice, lightning stripping off his outfit and hiding the metal parts in the mountains of unwashed laundry, he donned the clothes Gwen offered, she had already thrown on her Miles '1610-B hoodie in due course and sat down on the floor. She already had a comic book in her hand making it look like she'd been reading the whole time, Rio certainly wouldn't have appreciated some 'Emo' taking her son's stuff, but her 'son' was here. A variation of him to be exact, but Rio wouldn't immediately notice the difference. Gwen hoped so.
As the door was about to open and Rio's voice rang out to greet her son, Gwen made 42 sit down next to her in one motion and picked up another comic book.
- Hello darling, how... - Rio was a little surprised to see Gwen sitting beside Miles, frowning her eyebrows slightly the woman walked over to her son and smoothed the boy's disheveled hair.
- Hello Mrs. Morales, - Gwen quickly jumped up from her seat and held out her hand to greet the woman.
- Hello, sweetheart, - Rio greeted the girl surprisingly warmly, and it didn't escape her eyes that the girl was once again wearing her son's clothes. Two times is a pattern rather than an exception, so it's worth keeping a closer eye on her son and his girlfriend.
- Would you two mind helping me with dinner? - Without waiting for an answer, the woman walked out of her son's room, leaving it wide open, beckoning the two embarrassed teenagers to join her.
- Yes, Mum, - Miles mouthed it on automatic. The mother from his world was very different. That Rio had bruised eyes and puffy eyes, she always looked tired and brooding.
Miles' mother '1610-B was cheerful, a little tired, but she wore bright colours and her clothes were relatively new. His own mother couldn't afford to change her wardrobe often, she was struggling to make ends meet, what with the upgrades. She gave the last of her money to her son, who always refused it, saying he had found a part-time job.
There was no moonlighting, there was robbery, assault, murder, but there was no moonlighting at all.
The Prowder forced himself back to reality, he couldn't let Rio worry or suspect anything, so he also had to inform the local Miles that he couldn't go home at the moment.
- Gwen, we need to let Miles and Hobie know, - Stacy nodded in agreement, she quickly pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Miles, she got a reply a second later.
- I see you're very popular with your peers, - Rio grinned, and when Gwen looked at the woman puzzled, she only smiled even wider, - surely you're texting your boyfriend? - Rio pointed a finger at the spot where Gwen had quickly put her phone.
- N-no, I was just texting my dad, - she smiled nervously.
- Yes, her father can be so nervous, - both women looked at Miles at the same time, who only pursed his lips, - didn't you tell me that yourself, Gwen? Your father loves and worries about you so much, that's why you text him every hour, - Gwen nodded affirmatively, so that Rio wouldn't understand Miles' lie.
- Oh, Davis worries about Miles all the time too, you're doing a good job of not giving your dad a reason to worry, - Rio was clearly pleasantly surprised at the tenderness Stacey felt for her father, it added to the girl's courage and Gwen smiled at the woman.
- 'Yeah, I'm sorry Dad's so worried about me, I wish I could give him less to worry about,' Miles put his arm around his mother's shoulders, to which Rio was a little surprised. She was glad to see her son in such good spirits, the young man was calm and smiled often.
Soon work was in full swing in the kitchen, Gwen was charged with chopping vegetables, Miles was ready to take on the responsibility of chopping onions, for which Gwen was very grateful to the young man. When Rio excused herself to the bathroom, Gwen pushed 42 to the side:
- Nice lie, - the girl grinned. Her hair was pulled back into a bundle so as not to mess up her groceries.
- Been learning for years,' grinned 42 good-naturedly. - You did well too, you reacted quickly, - he added after a while. Gwen smiled appreciatively, shaking her head involuntarily.
- So Miles, shall we let our dear Emo roast the vegetables? - Rio suddenly appeared between Miles and Gwen and while 42 was confused, Rio giggled and nudged Gwen towards the cooker.
- I don't think she's ready yet, - the boy snorted, watching the sudden change in Gwen's face after his mother's words.
- Perhaps, dear, perhaps, - the woman laughed, stroking Stacey on the back and unobtrusively motioning the girl to reach the cooker herself.
The key turned in the door lock and a husky voice came from the hallway:
- I'm home dear, - Jefferson Davies entered the kitchen. The man hesitated slightly when he saw Gwen, but a sharp jolt to his chest area surprised him much more.
- Miles, dear, what's wrong? - Jefferson was pleasantly surprised by such a warm greeting from his son, but the inherent caution of cops was taking its toll.
- Um, ahem, sorry dad, I just... - Miles pulled away as quickly as he'd snuggled up to his father, - sorry I just... missed you, all right? How's work, how's life? - David couldn't ignore his son's strange accent, as if Rio had completely adjusted his son to life without him during the hour that Miles had been by her side. However, one had to admit, such a change was more of a pleasant discovery than a bad circumstance.
- It's all right son, it's just been a terribly difficult day, but it's all right, I've been promoted and I have a lot of responsibility now I'm so glad to see you and your smile. - The man kept talking and talking and soon Rio called everyone to the table, which made Miles feel a tingle somewhere in his belly button.
- All right, eh, Miles? - Gwen tapped 42 lightly on the shoulder, in a way that none of Miles' parents noticed. The girl looked really flustered, the lad smiled uncertainly at the girl.
- I'm not wrong, am I? - Quietly he asked, now he looked really worried and lost, but Gwen only smiled in a friendly way.
- 'You're doing all right, don't worry about it bro,' the girl grinned and after hearing one of Miles' parents ask her a question, she quickly retorted and answered.
- 'I'm so glad,' suddenly said 42, Gwen twitched for a second, but neither Rio nor Davies thought his words were strange. At least they didn't make a show of it, or wrote off such words as being a transition age.
- We're glad too, darling, it's so nice to have dinner together, - Davis smiled warmly, patting his son on the shoulder, and Miles 42 suddenly felt a prickle in the corners of his eyes.
His universe consisted of pain and chaos, this world consisted of all the same chaos, yet it was the world that felt unfamiliarly light. The vagabond felt that here he could be an ordinary teenager, have ordinary friends and happy parents, this realization made it all the more painful, but the teenager held himself back.
He could not let these parents worry about him, they must see him joyful and at ease, smiling and calm.
Yes. These parents must see him that way.
Hobie sat with his legs spread wide, he looked up as if counting the stars.
- I'd like Miles 42 to be happy, - Miles '1610-B said quietly, looking down at his feet.
- What would you like to suggest? - Hobie grinned, shifting his gaze to the boy.
- I'm not sure yet, but I think we should prevent my father's death first, after that, we can deal with the Prowder, - Hobie listened carefully and nodded in agreement.
- Okay, let's do that, - his lips involuntarily touched the back of Miles' palm, causing a herd of goosebumps to pass over the younger man's skin.
- Hobie, - Miles looks somewhat judgmental, but that lasts until Hobart reaches for a kiss on the lips.
And he gets the damn kiss. Miles smiles as he feels the soft lips touch his face, outline his chin and finally touch his lips.
Hobie knows how to kiss, definitely better than anyone else, he knows how to engage in a kiss, buries his fingers in Miles' hair, and when he pulls away, bestows a soft unpretentious smile on Morales.