Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Miles Morales was bisexual. Well he was pretty sure he was bisexual. And pretty sure was good enough to go to Pride, right? Well he had been before. It was damn near impossible to have lived in New York your whole life and not even accidentally stumbled upon a pride event or two. After all, it all started here. A disturbance at the Stonewall Inn which had led to a thrown brick which had led to a marginalized choir screaming no more! Then came the riot and, the year after, the first march and then came everything else. 

Now it was one of the biggest Pride celebrations in the world! And NY had the hoards of rainbow colored confetti that littered the ground for days after to confirm it. So yes he'd been before. Plenty of times actually. He remembered attending drag queen storytime at a pop up tent outside his tio Jorge’s bodega at five years old. That was also the same year he learned his tio could rock a killer smoky eye when necessary. When he was 8 he remembers picking up and dressing in dope pirate costume from a big wooden chest and walking down a red carpet they rolled out for the kids at the Brooklyn Valley Youth Center. At 11, Miles remembered all of the grateful passerby who would take dollar waters from a rolling cooler he dragged alongside his uncle Aaron as they walked the parade route.

Pride was for everyone after all and his family had always been allies. So they had always gone…as allies. But Miles wasn't that anymore. But since becoming Brooklyn's Friendly Neighborhood Spider Man he had never actually been able to celebrate…as himself. Spiderman had to be on the scene, watching the festivities. Protecting the people from any number of villains of the week who thought a group of people just having fun reveling in being themselves was something they could not abide. 

But it had been two years of that and Miles needed a break. He deserved it, he felt. And he had made some new friends recently that he felt would understand not just being queer, but being a spider on top of all that and he wanted to tell them. So here he was anxiously waiting in bed, trying not to obsess over the time. It was 10 minutes to noon and the parade was starting soon. Where were-

The thought cut off as a swirling golden hexagonal portal abruptly opened above his bed. Light spun in a hypnotizing kaleidoscope of warm colors that drew him in so subtly he didn't even notice the screaming until his spider-sense kicked in and Miles quickly rolled out of bed. A second later Pavitr flopped onto his bed, bouncing once then using that small amount of recoil to flip himself into a one handed stand on Miles' mattress. 

"Heeey bro," Pavitr said, his familiar grin no less smug upside down. 

"Hey, man," Miles said, rising to his feet. "What's going on? Where did you just fall-"

"Hold that thought," Pavitr interrupted as he flipped once again off the bed, landing right in front of Miles, turning his personal space into their personal space. 

He was so close ( too close ) Miles could see the subtle pink and blue eyeshadow that rimmed Pavitrs soft brown eyes and smell the sweet citrus scent of his perfume and took a microstep back. It proved ultimately unhelpful as the excitable Spider spun to his right, looped his arm around Miles' shoulder and said "They should be here in 3,2,1…."

An awkward 2 seconds after the one, the portal spat out a slightly annoyed looking Gwen Stacy and slightly amused looking Hobie Brown, Gwen landing gracefully on her feet, and Hobie flopping and then rolling to Miles left ( again too close ) the bitter scent of cigarettes mixing with the citrus to become a cloying nightmare. Or maybe it was the two hot guys with no concept of personal space that was the true nightmare. Or maybe even still it was the fact that Gwen's shoes were still on his bed. Miles could hear the disembodied voice of his mama screaming in his head already.

“How are you still so bad at opening portals?” Gwen grumbled at Pavitr, dropping onto Miles' bed proper, shoes on the ground now. Thank god. 

“Hey!,” Pavitr said defensively. “It’s not my fault the coordinates feature doesn't make any sense. They should have classes or something if they want us to learn to use it so badly.”

Gwen rolled her eyes and pushed her hair out of her left eye. She had redone the pink since the last time Miles had seen her. It was brighter and stood in contrast to the ripped oversized band tee with bald women on it. They were covered in blue paint and wore black turtlenecks with BLUE WOMAN GROUP printed in blocky neon blue letters over their stock-posed bodies. The shirt draped over her torso and upper part of her legs. Her long shiny toned legs. Miles told himself to stop staring. He focused on the thin white stripes of her backpack instead. 

“They literally do have classes.” Gwen responded.  “There's a whole schedule posted in the  lobby.”

“I think Pav’s portals are always pretty ace to be honest,” Hobie added. He was in his standard combat boots, black jeans and spiky vest but no shirt under, just a binder and a mesh top that did little to cover the small tats the sat just above his hips or the black curly happy trail of hair that led all the way down to-

“Thank you.” Pav responded, cutting off that particular thought journey, reaching across Miles' body to dap up Hobie.

“Remember that time we landed in that shark’s stomach,” Hobie continued. “It doesn't get more epic than that. Proper Jonah shit.”

Miles shivered. “Actually, that was an incredibly traumatizing experience. And my suit smelled like rotten fish for weeks. But it hasn't been that bad since then so yeah I guess Pavi’s portals aren't that bad.”

Pavitr’s smile got larger. “Boom! A win’s a win. Ooh personal information!” Pavitr had noticed one of Miles' sketchbooks on the ground and joined the book as he flipped through it. 

“I don't why you’ve never let us in your room before man. It’s pretty cool,” Hobie said, moving to look at Miles’ vinyl collection he kept just below his windows. 

Miles had cleaned up in anticipation of them coming by and had hidden his sketchbooks with all of the drawings he had done of Hobie and Pavi and Gwen and more Hobie and more Gwen and some Margo too. No he didn't have a problem. 

Still, Miles felt his heart skip a beat at the praise. And then felt it start to play hopscotch when he locked eyes with Gwen. The buzz of the spider sense was always going when around other Spiders but Gwen’s was the nicest. It was like old TV static. It reminded Miles of falling asleep on his uncle Aaron’s couch the times his mom and dad would let Aaron babysit when he was real young, both of them passed out in front of the ancient thing. 

“Hey,” Miles said to Gwen, moving to sit on the bed next to her, hopefully communicating something beyond the simple word.   

“Are your parents here,” she said looking past him at the door. 

The question threw him and he felt his awareness of her static presence dim in his head. “Uh no? Why?”

Gwen let out a sigh of relief. “Oh good.” Her eyes widened at the expression on his face. “No! I didn't mean good like that. I just meant it's cool they're not around because I know they hate me.”

Miles heard Pav say “Oh?” and turned to look at the grounded spider. He was holding Miles' sketchbook upside down so he wasn't sure what he was looking at. 

Miles turned back to the problem at hand. “They do not hate you.” He instinctively reached out to put a comforting hand on her leg. Her bare still shiny legs. He stopped an inch from skin and put his hand back in his lap. Wait, was she wearing glitter?  

Gwen smiled at him but it was one of those pity smiles like he didn't know what he was talking about. “Miles it’s ok. I know I didn't make a great first impression, or second one for that matter.”

Spider sense buzzed a little louder and Gwen and Miles both leaned back as Pav’s head popped down, turned towards Gwen, hair in free fall. “Geez, what did you do to make Miles’ parents not like you?

“Whatever it was, I salute you.” Hobie chimed in, throwing an arm wild as he continued to rummage through Miles' stuff.

Miles groaned. “She didn't do anything! Also, what are you doing on my ceiling?

“Oh I thought we did this already but…we can do it one more time. My name is Pavitr Prabhakar and one day I was bitten by a radioactive spi-”

Miles tried to swipe at the upside down boy but he scrambled away, giggling the whole time. Remaining upside down, Pavi asked “Ok but they're not here right. If they're not avoiding Gwen, where are they?”

MIles sighed.  “They're at the parade. You know the pride parade? The thing that I invited you all to come watch with me? My mom works as a festival nurse during pride sometimes and my dad’s helping her out. We’re gonna meet up with them later…if we can ever leave this room.” He muttered the last part. 

Hobie scoffed and turned to the group. A vinyl was spinning on his finger like a basketball. "Pride's just a scam meant to breed complacency and normalize corporations in queer spaces. Its all fucked"

Miles cocked his head. "Are those rainbow spikes on your vest?" 

"...Mind your business, mate."

“Is it happy or sad that all of our universes still have Pride?” Gwen asked.  

Pavitr shrugged. “No clue but what I do know is Mumbattan has the best Pride. It's always only a couple of weeks away from Holi, so the whole city looks like a giant kaleidoscope for like a month.  

“My universe looks like that all the time,” Gwen said, a tad smugly.  

Miles was really glad Pavitr didn't know how cute his pouting face looked, even upside down. “Yeah…well it's not a competition.” He flipped to the ground and flipped the latch on Miles' window. 

MIles stood up suddenly. “Wait! Before we go, two things”

“Oh you need to change, right,” Gwen said. “We can wait.”

Miles looked down at his pink J’s, pink shorts and plain white tee. A small duffel hung diagonal across his back. He spun the rainbow crystal charm that hung from his gold chain. “Change? What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” 

“Nothing,” Pavitr added. “if you see nothing wrong with it.”

“Knock it off, Pavi. You look really good Miles,” Gwen said. Miles wasn't convinced. 

Hobie was now somehow spinning another disc on the finger of his other hand as well. “Yeah, not caring about how you look is like rule number one of being punk so I think you’re smashing it.”

Miles scowled. “Do I need to roast yall? Because I can and will use that great power irresponsibly.”

Gwen was clearly panicking a little from her previous statement.  “Just…tell us what you wanted to tell us, please”

“First, Spider Man and assorted spider people are not coming to pride. We’re going as normal regular kids and doing normal, not spider stuff alright? and second…” Miles took a breath. This was his big moment. He had practice already with his parents and Ganke but that was his parents and his closest friend. The circle of people who knew this personal thing about him was about to double in one second when he told them-

Pavitr gasped loudly and Hobie’s hand shot out and put one of Miles’ records right up against his lips, obscuring his entire face.

What was that about? What was Pavi about to say before Hobie shut him down? Hobie who never let anyone shut up. Seriously, the amount of anomalies they encountered that he would just let monologue was a lil ridiculous even for Spider people standards. Miles' concentration was shot and the familiar fear in his gut snatched the words ”I’m bi” from the tip of his tongue and drug them down to the bottom of his stomach. 

Quickly he reached for safer words, a less volatile confession. “We need to pick up Ganke. My best friend.”

Pavitr pushed the record out of his way, that pout right back on his face. “Wow, so what are we?”

Miles rolled his eyes. “He’s my home dimension best friend.”

“Still kind of stings a little mate,” Hobie added. 

“You called my fit ugly like two seconds ago!”

Pavitr ran his fingers through his hair. “Yeah but bros before polos. That’s the code. Please don't put on a polo though. I’m begging you.” 

You just had to develop crushes on your friends, you idiot Miles thought to himself.

Ignoring the comment, Miles moved past them, opened the window to the sounds of New York blaring from the outside. “Ganke lives in Manhattan so we’ll just pick him and then walk over to the parade.”

Gwen slipped the tiny cream colored backpack she was wearing from her shoulders to grab the mask inside. “Why are we going out of the window? Aren't we trying to be normal, like you said?”

Miles grabbed his mask from the small duffel on his back.. “Are you crazy? It’s noon during NYC Pride. If aint by web we’re not getting nowhere. Come on, let's go.” Coming out could wait. He had the rest of the day. He could do this. Definitely. Absolutely. No doubts. 

Chapter Text

The journey to Ganke’s place was an easy one that was mostly Hobie and Pav pointing out as many things as they could that were different from Miles’ dimension in comparison to their own. Swinging by a corner store with big gallons of Hawaiian Punch (Alaskan Punch in Gwen’s dimension, Haryana Punch in Pav’s and Punch Punch in Hobie’s) which were displayed clearly in the windows had led to a fervent discussion on which version was actually the best. Gwen had the strongest argument as only in her universe was it actually a liquid that could get cold. 

Sneaking into Ganke’s building through a window on the second floor, Miles told them to hang out down in the lobby and bound up the steps, two at a time to the fourth floor.

After a quick flurry of knocks, Ganke opened the door dripping with rainbow gear. His glasses, snapback and fanny pack blared a multicolored mess over a simple jersey and shorts. “Hey, why didn't you text me? I could have just come down to the lobby”

“I know,” Miles replied. “But I needed to talk to you one on one first.”

Not waiting for Miles to continue, Ganke looked him up and down. “Oh, you went with the pink shorts. Ok…”

“So everyone's downstairs but I haven't told-Nah what was that “ok” about? 

“Nothing, man. Nothing. Let’s just go.” Ganke responded, it very clearly being something . 

“I know, you of all people, are not talking when it comes to style.,” Miles pointed Ganke’s receding door as the two made their way to the staircase. “In your closet right now you have two pairs of olive green capris.” 

“I thought they were shorts! Besides, they still look fire, you have to admit.”

“Fire enough to get two pairs?

“You know I accidentally reordered a second because they were taking too long to ship the first.” 

“You looked like a background extra from that old ass Disney movie Cadet Kelly-and that's fine! I just don't want to hear any backtalk.”

Ganke put his hands up. “Listen, I'm sorry for saying something. I just didn't know you wanted to look like a pride ad for Pepto Bismol. My fault.”

“ I look like a pride ad? You look like you bout to give out discount codes to Target right now”.

“I'll have you know I bought my merch locally.” He adjusted the rim of the rainbow glasses.

“Oh? You did huh?”

“Yeah the guy down at the 36th had a whole table set up and everything.”

“...I don't know if that counts as locally though.”

“Well I still look good. We still look good to be honest.” Ganke bumped into Miles to emphasize the point.

Miles laughed. “Yeah we do.” His friendship with Ganke was one that still to this day kind of surprised Miles. They had gone from not saying a word to each other to talking damn near day, even during summer break when they weren't roommates. And though Ganke had discovered his spider secret on accident and had, at the top, said he wouldnt cover for Miles, Miles at no point felt like his secret identity was in danger. And Ganke had covered for him in classes and with other students when he needed to slip out and go save the day. Not to mention playing videogames on his bed together or rather Ganke playing games and Miles passing out from exhaustion halfway through and just being allowed to rest. Ganke had even offered to give him a back massage once(no homo of course) after Miles complained about being flattened by a guy called the Rhino. He had declined but it did lead to him thinking far too much about Ganke’s hands…and his arms. Arms that had gotten pretty swole since he had started hitting the gym after classes.   

“Are they all really here?” Ganke asked, interrupting a frankly dangerous train of thought. “The rest of the arachnikids?”

“Can you please stop trying to slap that name on us?”

“You’re in something called the Spider Society but arachnikids is too far? Where's your priorities?”

“Trying to get important information out before I get cut off.”

“Ok then tell me. What’s-woah.” They had reached the base of the stairs where Miles had left his other friends. Gwen was tying and untying the end of her shirt, apparently not happy with how much stomach she was showing while Pav and Hobie were bobbing and weaving, playing at shadow boxing. 

“That’s them?” Ganke asked. “Damn I think I might be bi.” An electric pulse ran through Miles’ body zapping Ganke in the arm.

"Ouch!," Ganke yelped.

“My bad,” Miles said, grateful that was the only sign of him losing his cool. “Speaking of, that’s the thing I wanted to tell you. I still haven't told them I'm bi yet.”

“Wait what?”

Pav had noticed the two of them and had jogged over. He gave a suspicious look at Ganke. “So this is the “best friend” huh?”

“Why’d you put best friend in air quotes?” Ganke asked.

“I am not convinced yet." Pav stretched out his hand to shake. "Pavitr Prabhakar"

Ganke took and shook his hand as he said "Ganke Lee and I am the real deal so…Oh hey Gwen." 

Gwen had apparently figured out the shirt, tying a little bow just above her belly button finishing the final loop as she walked over. 

"Hey Ganke. Cute glasses." 

"Thanks, you too." Ganke blinked once. "Wait, that didn't make sense." He then gave a sheepish smile, a blush creeping up his neck. 

Now what was that? Gwen was the only Spider person Ganke had met previously just because she was in Miles' dimension so often. Had Ganke also developed a crush?

Miles was running out of back burners in his mind to put his errant thoughts "Alright yall lets and walk. I know we can do both."

They began making their way to the front lobby entrance when Miles noticed someone was missing. "Hobie!" he called out. 

Milles heard the heavy clomp of his boots before he saw his lanky form appear from seemingly nowhere. It was so strange how he was able to silence his spider presence like that.

"Oy oy oy the names Hobie Brown. Nice to meet you, new kid." He bumped Ganke's shoulder as he walked through the entrance door Miles was holding open. 

Ganke looked a little starstruck as he took in all of Hobie Brown. It gave Miles a sense of satisfaction that he wasn't the only one that found themselves in awe of the cool punk. 

Miles was expecting Ganke to say something a little foolish just like with Gwen (maybe or maybe not keeping an eye out about the seriousness of that bi comment from earlier) but instead Ganke simply asked "Did you take those flowers from the vases on the floor of the lobby?"

Miles had not noticed it at first  but yeah there were medium sized blue flowers tucked into Hobies locs. Flowers that looked a lot like the ones that sat in vases in the lobby in Gankes bougie ass apartment building. 

"No clue what you're talking about" Hobie simply replied.  

Ganke did not look like he believed him.

With a combination of stealth web swinging and walking, eventually the crew made it close to 5th Avenue, the primary street the parade was going to go down. Miles suggested they head down to 18th and 5th as the beginning and end of the parade would be damn near impossible to navigate. There was no need for a map as more and more and more people started to appear and clog the sidewalks as everyone was milling about.

Ganke’s rainbow items had nothing on the ensembles that others had for pride. There were a couple of people in shorts and tutus painted like the little girl from that children's book Bad Case of the Stripes. Rainbow from head to toe.  Bisexual and gay and lesbian and trans and nonbinary flags were tied around the shoulders of many. There was even someone wearing a flag in an elaborate toga dress combination. Beyond that, there were flags that Miles didn't even recognize. The coolest thing was the rainbow spiderman masks he saw a few people wearing as well.  Laughter and screams and lively chatter rang out as some of the floats started to come down 5th street. There was joy in the air and it lifted Miles higher than any web could.

“Yo wait up,” he heard Ganke call out. Miles stopped in his tracks and waited for Ganke to catch up to him. In his gawking of the surrounding festivities, Miles hadn't noticed he had gotten separated from the group.

“You know. It’s a little freaky how different but similar you guys are,” Ganke said when he caught up.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s like people don’t touch you.”

Ganke pointed ahead at the other Spiders. Gwen and Pavitr had gotten into a heated argument about sunscreen. 

“Wear the damn sunscreen Pav. It’s hot.”

“What do you think is the point of this rich brown complexion? I’m fine.”

“You can’t beat the sun.”

“False. You can’t beat the sun, ghost spider”

“It's 92 degrees!” 

“Those numbers mean nothing to me. I use the metric system! No-dont touch-agh!”

And as Gwen kept trying to reach out and put a glob of the sun protecting product on Pav’s face he kept dodging and weaving out of the way, with her quickly following. It was like a two person game of ring-around-the-rosy but Ganke was right. They were not touching anyone else on the street as they avoided one another and still kept moving forward

Hobie was much the same. His quick hands kept darting to grab at wallets and small pride flags and little trinkets on passersby. Strange thing is he would grab the item and immediately put it back. But regardless, no one noticed because of how expertly he side stepped them.

“Yeah it just comes with the territory, I guess” Miles finally responded. All Spiders had good reflexes but Miles wondered if it was like an unconscious side effect of the spider sense.

They had just found a fairly sparse spot to watch the oncoming floats (shoutout to the queer hair salon that had secured a float where all of their employees were shredded, dressed in golden Vegas showgirl costumes) in front of a queer bar and closed bookstore when the worst thing that could happen happened. Miles’ watch buzzed. The device was normally used to open up portals and stabilize his being whilst in other dimensions. Hobie had tinkered with it and now it also received police radio chatter and transcribed it for easy reading. Miles looked down. A large disturbance at 30th and Park Ave. Backup needed. Approach with extreme caution. He didn't even need to guess to know what that meant. It was a large problem. A Spider-Man level problem. But it was close! Easy cleanup and he would be back before anyone even missed him. 

Miles tapped on Gwen’s shoulder. “Hey I gotta go…handle something real quick.”

She caught on immediately. “Do you want us to come with you?”

“Nah, yall are good. I’ll be quick.”

There was that look of hers with the kindness and the pity. “Miles, it's really ok. None of us mind helping.”

He was already backing up, trying to find a side street to quickly change. “I'm fine. Seriously, just have fun. I'll be right back” He ran off pulling off his mini duffel to the front. It was time to do the job. 

It was a typical bad guy versus cop situation as Miles looked over the scene from the roof of a modest shopping outlet. A series of parked cars in a quasi circle around the big bad in the middle of the street. They had their guns aimed but no one was shooting. The guy in the center was pretty tame in terms of supervillain outfits. He was wearing dark green coveralls with two pictures of labradoodles screen printed on the front and back, a pooh shiesty mask with the head cut out showing off his buzz cut, and two large cone shaped devices trapped to his hands. They looked a little like speakers and he was pointing at the two sides of the cop circle. 

Deciding to do something before he unleashed whatever it was from his hands, Miles dove down landing with grace on top the roof of one of the cars.

“Hey what's going on Spidey,” he heard an officer say.

“You guys might want to stand back,” Miles responded in his typical gruff voice. As the officer signaled to the others to back up off the cars, the man in the middle finally noticed him

His voice was muffled but it still sounded like it had lost a lifetime fight against nicotine. “Spiderman. God you're here too?”

Miles shrugged. “Dealing with weirdos with strange weapons is kind of my thing.”

“You're calling me a weirdo with these freaks roaming the streets today?” The man threw his hand wide, landing on a rainbow flag in a storefront window. It was very clear who he was referring to. 

“Wow. A supervillain and homophobic? Pick a struggle please.”

“I don't need to hear your gup.” What the hell is gup? “Just let me get to the parade. They need to learn a lesson and the Vet Tech is going to teach it to them.” He said that last line with extra bass in his voice. Miles would've bet 5 dollars he had practiced the line in the mirror that morning. 

“Learn what? Not to harm animals? Dude bears are just fat gay guys. There's no animals anywhere. Well actually I saw someone walking a Husky on hot asphalt earlier. I might need to talk to them, but they don't need a weapon in the face for that.”

The Vet Tech eyes betrayed confusion. “Animals? What are you talking about?”

“Bro, it's your name. What do you mean, ‘what’?” Vet Tech, like a veterinarian?”

“No! I'm the Veteran Technician. Genius inventor turned defender of vet rights.”

“Well that is really not clear. Do you want to sit and talk about branding?”

“Argh!” The Vet Tech clearly did not want to talk as he yelled and pointed one of his large cone hands directly at Miles. The air seemed to vibrate and pulse around the weapon. 

Miles didn't even need spider sense to dodge to the roof of the next car over. The car that he was just on got blasted back down the street. Concussive blasts, got it.

“You have dogs on your coveralls. What was I supposed to think?” Another blast, another dodge to another car. 

THe Vet Tech seemed irritated he didn't have an answer to that. “This country doesn't respect veterans. And I'm here to teach them, no matter what.” He put both hands together and pointed them right at Miles. 

The blast was quicker this time and larger. Miles felt the weight of the push as he dodged and instead of being pushed back, the car he had vacated had merely smooshed together. Don't get hit with both hands, got it.  

“I mean you're right with the whole disrespect thing but what does that have to do with the queer community?” Miles asked. 

“How could it not? They get a whole month to prance around and celebrate living in sin those dirty f-”

“Yo this story’s rated T for teens!” Tired of the back and forth and having gotten enough information about the Vet Techs weapons, Miles sprung into action. He kept dodging from car to car, doing his best to avoid the concussive blasts round and round again. Kind of like Gwen and Pav. The Vet Tech was clearly getting more and more upset throwing blasts willy nilly, shattering the windows of many businesses on the street. Miles was waiting for a moment, a single moment where-there! 

The Vet Tech stumbled and Miles shot his webbing at the villain’s lower legs and another at the overhanging street lamp, pulling his own body up and over the lamp. Like a pulley, the Vet Tech shot into the air, feet first. As he went up and Miles went down, Miles threw more webs on the man wrapping him tight to the pole. Then just for good measure he ripped the cones off of the man's arms, the tech sparking as he did.  

Miles webbed his mouth and had no plan to wait for the cops to come back to their unfortunately totaled cars and webbed villain. He had someone more important to be.

But as a final message he said to the Vet Tech,  “And by the way there's like two different holidays for veterans. And a whole month to celebrate you too. Just because you're treated badly gives you no right to take that out on another vulnerable group. Weirdo.” 

Glad that truly took no time at all to handle, Miles was back at the former parade watching spot in no time. But everyone else was gone. What had happened? He took out his phone to call Ganke when he looked up the street. Just outside the bar, there was a massive drag queen maybe even taller than Miguel, dressed in a tight silver bodysuit and insanely high heels that twinkled in the bright light of the cloudless day. Her hair blew in the wind like on the set of a music video but instead a large industrial fan, Ganke and Pav had somehow gotten roped in to fervently fanning her on both sides with giant rainbow fans. 

Miles looked to the street where a float with a sign that said SAPPHIC SIRENS was passing by. On the float were women in tie dye shirts and snare drums playing some unidentifiable song…and also Gwen was there? Near the back of the float one of the women was sitting down and in her place was Gwen playing alongside the rest. How had she done that? 

Looking down the street back in the watching crowd, Miles saw a group of young children in fairy wings and glitter climbing over and about Hobie's person like he was a living jungle gym. The smile on his face was an open and relaxed one. Something that Miles only really saw when he was interacting with a young kid or shredding on his bass. It was a smile that Miles really wanted to see more of.

Apparently everyone had really gotten into the spirit of Pride. And he should too! And it would start by coming out. Maybe he could do it like this. Pull them each aside one by one and tell them ? Maybe that would be better. Deciding on this new course of action, Miles began to walk over to Hobie when the ground started to rumble, the shaking killing the joyful noise that had been emanating from the whole street. Concerned voices began to get louder and the buzzing in Miles' ears warned of danger. It would appear Spider-Man’s job wasn't over after all.  

Chapter Text

To be a Spider was to know at any moment you had to be ready to drop everything for the sake of helping others. It was one of the things that linked all of them. The true Spider-verse was their commitment to responsibility. So when the ground began to shake, Miles didn't have to worry about the others being confused. Their eyes locked on to him looking for his direction. The rule was if it was your dimension you take point as leader. While the ground was shaking a little and those with poor balance were struggling to stand up right, there was no immediate danger despite his spider sense ringing loudly in his ear. He needed to see the situation from a different angle.  Miles subtly nodded at the building just behind him to his left and ran back into the alley before swinging on to the roof. 

Gwen and Hobie both appeared at the same time having managed to sneak away from the snaring sapphics and fairy children accordingly. 

“So I guess that whole being normal kids for a day thing is firmly out the window,” Gwen asked with a wry smirk.

Miles sighed. “I guess so.”

Hobie raised one eyebrow. “Wait, that wasn't a joke earlier. You were serious?” 

“Can’t a Spider man dream?” Miles spread his hands. “Ain't that what Martin marched for?”

Hobie’s locs shifted to his right side as he cocked his head. “Who?”

Miles eyes bugged out of his head. “You’re joking. There's no way. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr? March on Washington? Civil Rights Movement?”

“Mate, I’m from a fascistic hellscape where the rule of law is upheld by agents of the states paid for by supervillain cryptocorpo conglomerates.. What civil rights? Also I'm British?"

Thank god at that moment Pavitr swung on to the roof as Miles truly had nothing to say in response to that. “So the ground won't stop moving. Is that a normal thing here?,” Pavitr said in lieu of a greeting.

“Nope, definitely not,” Ganke said in response. Pavitr had brought him along. Miles tried to quell the very unreasonable feelings of jealousy he felt at seeing Gankes arms wrapped so tight around Pavitr. He was Ganke’s Spider-man and as such, all web swinging duties should’ve fell on to him. But the more rational part of him spoke up here because how else was Ganke supposed to join the rest of them on the roof which…the jealous part of him really had nothing to say in response. Ugh. This day was already feeling exhausting and it was barely past midday. The two joined the little huddle Gwen, Hobie, and Miles already found themselves in. 

Gwen turned to Miles. “So no seismic villains in your universe?”

Miles scratched his temple. “I don’t think so…maybe it's an anomaly?”

Hobie spoke up. “Might want to ring up Lyla then. You do it though.” Miles understood. Hobie and Lyla weren't exactly on the best terms as tech had a habit of…malfunctioning around Hobie and Lyla was no exception. 

A few taps on his watch and the small golden form of the hologram woman popped into view with her thick fur coat and heart sunglasses.

"Heeeeey Miles," she said, in a tone that was actually pretty similar to Pav. "How's Pride?"

"Hey Lyla, Pride's going good. Well actu-"

"Good! Goodgoodgood," she interrupted. "I mean it would be great if you had invited me but I'm glad you're killing it!" She said it so cheery but… 

Miles frowned. "Oh I'm sorry. I didn't think-"

She fluttered her hand super fast in front of her face like a super-powered fly scattered.  "No, like I said it's fine. Oh my gosh. Please don't blame yourself. This outfit did go to waste though." She blinked and was now wearing a small top,skirt,  choker and arm bands all with the same loud rainbow heart design over a large floppy hat.

"Wow bro that's kind of messed up, not inviting Lyla." Pav said, shifting away from Miles and crossing his arms. 

Ganke began to mirror Pav's stance. "Yeah and to do that to an Asian woman too? Have you no shame?"

"That is not what's happening here."

"Well did you invite Lyla?," Gwen asked. 

"No, but that doesn't mean I'm racist?"

"Mate, I don't think you can decide that."

Miles wanted to massage his brain. "Y'all are stressing me out. And the ground shaking is not helping."

Lyla blinked to Miles' shoulder, lying on her side. "Yeah what's up with that? It feels like a deep tissue massage but like if Miguel was giving it to you.

Miles was not touching that one. "That's why I called? To ask if it was anomaly activity?"

She blinked again back to just above the watch. "Oh my God there's a potential anomaly? Why didn't you say something sooner?"

"I…" Miles had no words. Maybe he was just going to have shut up for the rest of the day. 

Holographic metrics spun in impossible algorithms around Lyla. "Hmmm….well no anomalies in this dimension. But there's strange seismic occurrences here and here." She pointed to two pulsing locations on a Manhattan map. 23rd and 6th and 11th and 5th.

"The source of the rumbling," Miles remarked. 

Lyla nodded. "The pulses are also increasing at a steady incremental speed. So you might want to shut those off soon"

"-or the ground will split open,” he finished. 

Lyla shrugged and the calculations all disappeared except for the addresses. "Well I was gonna phrase it in a worse way but that works too."

"Ok. Thanks Lyla we'll get right on that. And I really am sorry for not inviting you."

Lyla let out a short Ha! causing her to jump inches in front of Miles face. "Miles, it was a joke! I'm a 3D sentient AI program made of nanotechnology and this dimension still uses…fossil fuels. Blech!"

She shook herself with disgust and blinked again to Pav’s shoulder. "I'm hanging out in Margos dimension. Pride goes wild on the net."

Miles smiled instinctively at hearing Spiderbyte’s name. "Cool! She was telling me about that. Tell her I said hi and I'll call later. "

"Can do. Good luck arachnikids!" She gave a little salute and blipped away.

Miles could see Ganke giving him the smuggest look ever. "Don't you start."

Hobie spoke up. "So we're splitting, yeah?"

Miles nodded. "Two Spiders per site. I'll go with Gwen to 23rd and 6th."

Pavitr had the cheesiest grin on his face."You and Gwen on a mission together? Wow what a surprise.”

Miles' face felt hot but ignored the comment. "And Pav and Hobie you ok with 11th and 5th?"

Ganke spoke surprisingly. "I'll go with Pavitr and Hobie.

Is he being serious right now? "What absolutely not, you're staying here."

"On the roof of a building during an earthquake?" Ganke cocked his eyebrow in the really annoying way he knew Miles hated. It was worse than his smug looks

"We'll put you back on the ground,” Miles grumbled. “But you're not getting closer to the danger zone."

Gwen put a comforting hand on Ganke’s shoulder. "Miles is right Ganke. If there was a highway to it, we wouldn't  take you.”

They all started at a pleased looking Gwen Stacy. "What? I thought it was funny."

Hobie rolled his eyes. "I would tell you you gotta go bruv, but we’re mid mission so I'll hold my tongue."

Ganke harrumphed. "Look I'm the only other person actually from this universe and Manhattan is my borough. I know it better than even Miles. They might need the help."

Ganke had a point. "Ugh fine. Fine,” Miles relented.  “You go with those two. If anything happens, tap in alright?"

"Wanna swing with me, again?" Pav flexed, stretching the limits of his tight fitting black shirt. Whatever had happened when Miles had left them alone had seemingly repaired this relationship stronger than ever. The power of drag queens. 

But they were clearly only so strong as Ganke turned to Hobie. “Actually can I swing with you?” He said it in that sheepish way that reminded Miles of the way Ganke talked to Gwen. The bi alarms in his head were blaring.

Hobie gave a sly smile. "For sure, mate." 

"Cool. Uh, when did you change?"

Miles directed his attention from Hobies distractingly handsome face to his lithe body. His rainbow spiked outfit had been replaced by his Spider Punk uniform. When had he done that?

"Don't worry about it," the punk replied. It almost felt like he was saying that to Ganke and Miles.

Gwen bumped into Miles on his right, her mask in her hand as she slightly shook it at him. "Ready?"

Miles turned to the group as a whole, Ganke already in Hobies arms looking a bit in awe, and Pavitr clicking a button on his watch, a holographic version of his costume hiding his body away. The day Miguel had shared the schematics of the tech with him had been more exciting for Pav than his birthday. 

"Alright, let's save the day."

Miles nearly fell off the web he was swinging on when he grabbed his vibrating phone out of his pocket. His mom. Normally in crisis mode it was Dad calling him as he was at the epicenter of a lot of villain appearances but this situation was different. 

"Mami!," Miles said by way of one-word greeting. 

Her voice was much more panicked than his as she responded. "Miles! Papa, where are you? Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm OK. Is the ground shaking where you guys are too?”

“Si, me and your father are near the beginning of the parade. They're thinking of shutting everything down and evacuating if it keeps going. But don't ignore me. You know I hate that. Where are you? We can come get you.”

“We’re near 18th street,” Miles lied. “Don't come though!. It's pretty far. Stay where you are. They might need your help.”

“Who is we?” He heard suspicion slip in to his mom’s tone. Oh no. 

“What?” Miles said delaying the inevitable.

“You said we.” He heard her turn to talk to someone not on the line. “He said we, right?”.

The voice was fainter but unrecognizable. “Yeah I heard it.”

“Hey dad.”

“Hey Miles, you alright?”

“Yes dad I just said that.” He rolled his eyes. 

“That ground must be shaking pretty hard since you seem to have forgotten who you're talking to.”

Shit. “Sorry, dad.I’m with Gwanda. I told you I was going to Pride with her? Last week?”

Gwen swung her webline parallel to Miles to speak on his phone. “Hey Mr and Mrs Morales. Miles and I are doing alright. We’re under a bookstore awning” Good lie.

“...Great!” He could see in HD the faces his mom was making imagining him with Gwen. “Glad you too are safe. Miles if anything happens you let me know immediately.”

“Ok.”

“Good. Papa, I love you. Be safe.”

 He heard his father quickly faintly echo his mom, “Be safe Miles!”

He and Gwen still swung parallel to each other and close each other in silence for a beat or two before she spoke up. “Told you they still hate me.”

Miles groaned. “They do not hate you!”

Gwen was silent and wearing a mask but again he could picture the exact face she was making at him. 

"Ok they hate you a little but we can change that!"

The moment they arrived at 23rd and 6th Miles experienced a wave of deja vu. He had already done this. Hgh vantage point on a villain. Villain dressed in a green jumpsuit with dogs screen printed on the front and back, subwoofers strapped to his hands, surrounded by cop cars. The main differences were there were no cops around and the man had both hands pointed towards the ground shock waves emanating from him, cracks splintering all through the ground. He was wearing 

“5 bucks says that’s our guy.” Oh and Gwen was here too. That was the other main difference.

“I’ve done this before,” Miles said.

She turned to look at him.“He’s a part of your rogue’s gallery?”

Miles shook his head. “The villain I was dealing with earlier, when I left? He looked almost identical to this guy. They must be part of the same crew.” 

“Was he easy to deal with?”

Unspoken Spider Rule number 57: Never call dealing with a villain easy. “Not funny. We just gotta get those sonic cannons off his hands.” Miles jumped off the roof shooting for the action.

“Oh come on. It was a little funny,” Gwen replied, jumping a split second after. 

Landing gracefully, the two Spiders automatically split from each other and ran to opposite the sides of the villainous jumpsuit man who just noticed them at that instant, stopping his mysterious yet disastrous work

“Spider-man? Two Spider-men?” His voice was softer than the Vet Tech’s like his morning gravel/cigarette smoothie had only half as much gravel. 

“Spider-woman actually,” Gwen said.

“Ugh here you go with the woke bullshit.” 

Gwen tilted her head in confusion. “That’s just my name? What?”

He seemed to ignore her as he continued. “Toby didn't me tell shit about there being so many of ya.”

Miles shrugged. “Sorry man, we live in the misinformation age. You gotta double check your sources. So are you going to stop or do we have to stop you for you?”

The man responded by shooting a sonic shockwave directly at Miles.

“Guess that answers that,” Miles said, rolling out of the way.

“To be fair, the question was worded a little weird.” Gwens aside must’ve been enough to remind the man she was there as he shot his next wave at her. It produced similar results to Miles. 

This man was clearly not as talkative as the Vet Tech as he shot blast after blast at the Spiders. Blasts that never seemed to connect as they bounded around him. But that was the beauty of fighting with Gwen. It was a dance to her. And once she let you in? Well Miles thought himself to be a great dance partner. The inertia of their webshots seemed to fizzle out as they shot them towards the man which was odd but did not deter them. Sliding between this cop car then that cop car, twisting through the air over his head, they were a confusing cacophony of visual arachnid noise. 

Once again the deja vu hit Miles again. He was waiting for the right moment. But it wasn't just him this time. They both noticed it. The man had crossed his arms to shoot at them from two awkward angles but looking to his right at Miles. A move that was throwing off his balance. Balance that crumbled as Miles suddenly turned invisible and in that moment of confusion, Gwen came in like a rocket tackling the man to the ground. From there it took quick work to rip the cannons off his arms and put web cuffs on his arms and feet. They left his mouth free though because-

“What do you and the Vet Tech have planned? What is all of this for?” Miles asked. 

The man's face twisted into a grimace. “God he’s seriously using that name in public?” 

Gwen clearly also had thoughts at the name. “Wait, the other guy's name was Vet Tech? We’e fighting evil veterinarians?”

“Veterans,” Miles and the cuffed man said simultaneously. 

“And it's just as confusing as it sounds,” Miles added. He turned back to the man on the ground.  “But he’s defeated and so now are you so start talking or do I have to say please?”

The man snarled and was about to spit- Miles could hear him collecting saliva in the back of his throat-but a quick thwip and his lips were sealed.

“Guess he’s not in the mood to gossip,” Gwen said.

“Sucks for him. Chisme is fun.” At that moment, both Gwen and Miles’ gizmos lit up. An SOS signal scrolled across the screens as well as a saved voice message.

Miles clicked on his. Pav’s voice, loud but a bit distorted came through. “So everything is totally chill here! But like if it wasn't, we could use help! NOW!” Well that settled that. 

Miles and Gwen started to swing their way over to 11th and 5th  as quickly as they could. But Gwen wasn't over their recent victory.

“Ok but if they were veteran themed why were their dogs on his outfit?”

Miles jumped at the apex of his swing and thwipped out another web. “I could not tell you.”

“Ugggh” Miles could tell she was frustrated as she was barely hanging on to her webs. It was kind of cute. 

“You know they were dachshunds on his overalls?” Gwen continued. “I love dachshunds.”

“I did not. Have you ever had a dog before?” 

Gwen shook her head and leaped from a mailbox into the open air. “I've always been too busy. First, dance, then gymnastics, then being a Spider. And my Dad always said he doubted my ability to take care of another life. Which is so rude of him by the way because it’s all I do now.”

Miles followed footsteps form mailbox to open air. “Yeah its rude but I kind of get it. Didn’t you kill a cactus before?”

“I told you that in confidence!” The shock in her voice was clearly playful

“And I'm telling it back to you in confidence!” Miles felt himself smiling. 

“What about you? Any dogs?”

It was Miles' turn to shake his head. “My parents are super not dog people. And I think it’s genetic. I want a cat though.”

“That makes sense. You seem like a cat guy.”

“How am I a cat guy?”

Gwen shrugged. “I don't know. You just remind me of a cat. And cats are cute.” 

Now what the hell did that mean? Was Gwen calling him cute like a cat or were those two unrelated statements? And what did she mean by cute? Like cute or like cute cute? Was this an indication of how she felt? Miles filed away the statement for something for him to obsess over late at night. Gwen’s folder was filled to the god damn brim. But for now he was just glad she couldn't see how dopey he knew looked under his mask. She thinks I’m cute. 

The closer they got to the second seismic disrupted location Miles started to notice the power of his spider sense getting stronger and stronger. Normally it was an itch on his tongue or a mild buzzing in his ear but ironically it felt like waves of bugs crawling across his skin.

“Do you feel-”

“Like the world’s about to end?” Gwen finished for him. “Yeah but it doesn't look that bad.” 

The cracks in the ground as they swung overhead seemed a lot bigger than the ones he and Gwen had seen only minutes prior and the ground was still rumbling, the increments between the rumbling increasing. But the spider sense was for immediate danger and there was no immediate danger present. So what was going on? 

Miles hoped that Hobie and Pav had the answer as he noticed them and Ganke on a roof a few buildings away from another man in a green jumpsuit in the middle of the street sound waves emanating from him in a consistent pattern. Miles was too far away but he could bet all of his life savings there were dogs on his uniform. 

“Cavalry’s here,” Hobie said with a nod as they landed.

“Hopefully,” Gwen responded. “What’s going on?”

“That guy!” Pav was still shouting for some reason. He pointed down at the man. “We can’t get close!”

Miles frowned. Pav was excitable nearly always. But the yelling was new. Why would he be screaming like they couldn’t hear him unless..

Miles tapped on his shoulder. “Can you not hear?”

“I can’t hear you!” Well that answers that. 

“We tried getting close,” Hobie began explaining. “But the sound…I’ve never heard nothing like it. Which is saying a lot. It blew out Pav’s eardrums. Its messing with the spider sense too. Throwing it into overdrive.”

“How come it didn't affect you,” Gwen asked. 

Hobie tapped the sides of his mask. “Earplugs. Always wearing ‘em.”

Another rumble hit the building and it swayed a little. Miles caught Ganke who had been about to fall. Ganke had not changed into a spider uniform like the rest of the band but was now wearing a thick pair of over ear headphones that looked pretty banged up with interlocking As spray painted all over the side.

“Hobie, how much ear protection do you have?” Another Gwen question. 

“Just the plugs and the pair I gave to Ganke. He’s the only of us not hopped on special spider serum. Figured his ears needed them the most.”  Hobie’s looking out for Ganke did weird things to Miles’ heart. 

“And once again, man. Thank you,” Ganke offered. “Lowkey these fit better than my own pair.”

Hobie shrugged. “You can have 'em.”

“Really?” Ganke squeaked.

“Why not? They're just headphones.”

There were damn near stars in Ganke’s eyes. “So cool,” he muttered.

“RIght,” Miles muttered back. “It's insane.”

“So what are we going to do!?” Pav exclaimed. 

“Miles?” Gwen turned her inquisitive gaze to him. It made sense. His dimension, he takes point. Plus he was the only to have dealt with two of these guys already. He has seniority and experience. But it still was a little nerve racking because he didn't really have a plan. His mouth started to get dry. And suddenly he felt like his suit was suffocating him and the ground was going to collapse beneath him. The rational part of him knew that the second one was a lot more plausible than the first but it didn't actually help. God he could barely get the courage to come out and he was supposed to lead? And if he was wrong? There were worse outcomes than Pavitr temporarily losing his hearing but there was no other option. The people of New York needed him. The queer community of New York needed him. His friends needed him. So what. Was. the. Plan???

Miles felt a hand grip his own tight and squeeze. He heard Ganke’s voice cut through his spiraling thoughts. 

“Breathe with me, man. Ok? In. Out. Come on Miles. You can do it.” WIth each inhale, he felt Ganke’s hand squeeze his own and a few seconds later Ganke released his breath and his grip on Miles' hand. In and out. Over and over. And the others had noticed what Ganke was doing. Their masks were off and they were breathing.  Their chests expanded as they took in air and deflated as they let it escape their lungs. A constant rhythm that Miles found himself joining settled him in his body. He wasn't alone. He had people who cared about him. He could do this.

“You good?” Ganke asked after noticing Miles breathing. 

Miles took off his mask so Ganke could see how grateful he was. “Yeah, yeah I’m straight.” He winced internally. “Actually…” He looked at his watch and pulled up the talk to transcription function, a golden screen appearing in front of him.

Miles took a final good deep breath. “I’m bisexual.” The words scrolled past on the screen for Pav to read and somehow that made them feel more…real for Miles. He continued. “I've known for a little while and I invited you guys to Pride to tell you but I kept chickening out even though I know you would probably be fine with it but its hard to say it sometimes you know so I-” 

Miles was cut off from Pavitr rushing to give him a hug. 

“Congratulations,” the buffer than average spider said against his chest. And then there was Gwens arms around him as well and then Ganke on his other side and then Hobie’s lanky arms around them all. A spider hug with the arms and legs to match-well technically more but who cares? Miles certainly didn't. His worst fears didn't come true and that was something to celebrate. 

Eventually they detangled themselves and Gwen started. “Thanks for telling us Miles. Seriously. I know how hard that can be. I'm proud of you.”

Hobie was next. “Welcome to the family, mate.” 

Then Ganke “Are you going to cry because I get 20 dollars if you do.”

“I never took you up on that bet and I am not going to cry,” Miles replied very close to the edge of tears. They weren't going to fall though. One of his moms favorite movies was Rent. He had a lot of practice stopping himself.

Lastly, Pav. “Did these gizmos always have irl subtitles?”

Gwen rolled her eyes. “Yes, they cover it in the training you refuse to go to.”

More rumblings. Another shockwave. Right. The villain. They could do fun huggy pride stuff after the day was saved. But how to get the man in the center of it? The situation was different from the Vet Tech and Dachshund. The sonic waves were stronger, able to disrupt the spider sense and blow out eardrums. How did they cut through that? All of these Spiders. His friends. Gwen had once called them a band. Hobie had as well. Hobie…with his electric guitar. An idea sprung to life in Miles' mind. 

“Huddle up, y'all. I got a plan,” Miles exclaimed. 

A few minutes later Ganke was rushing away from the epicenter of the shockwaves sans a pair of really cool headphones. Miles adjusted the headphones on his head, hopeful his mask and the ear protection would be enough. The crew of Spiders got closer to the villain. Miles noted the dome-like disturbance of shifting air around him. It was trying to push into this dome that had made Pavitr lose his hearing. So it was that zone they had to avoid. Pavitr and Gwen swung into action keeping a healthy distance and began to chuck things at him. Mailboxes, lamps, pieces of cars, even Pav’s bangles. Each thing as it reached the dome of air would seem to lose all its inertia and drop uselessly to the ground. 

But that didn't stop them. The assault was continuous and from all angles. Gold and ghost circling each other around this dome, one part juggling act, one part ring around the rosy game. The man at the center seemed to notice as he had looked up from the ground. He was younger than Dachshund by a few decades. Mid 20s. There was a Dalmation screen printed on his back.  And instead of anger, the man merely looked curious. Strange. Miles didn't give himself too much time to think about it. His heart was already thundering in his chest, his spider sense seeming to kick into high gear. Besides, it was good he kept his focus on Pav and Gwen. 

Miles turned to Hobie. They were in the middle of the street that looked more web than concrete at this point. “Ready?” he asked, barely able to hear his own voice muffled through the headphones.

Hobie merely nodded once, pic against his electric guitar. An electric guitar connected to an absurdly large speaker. Two things that Hobie had seemingly pulled from…somewhere. Because that was one of his gifts. The ability to pull the impossible into the possible. He was like Ham that way, Miles noted 

But Hobie wasn't the only Spider with extra gifts. Electricity danced on Miles fingertips as he placed both hands on the side of the speaker. They needed to fight fire with fire. Sound with sound. Now a normal old rock setup may not do it. But a guitar with a massive speaker boosted by bioelectricity? That could pack a punch. The speaker hummed with power and Hobie began to shred. 

Miles could see the sound bend through the air and as it hit the dome. A low bass hit a high screech and the sound was earbleeding but his heart felt slower. The spider sense was no longer in 5th gear. It had dropped down to 3rd gear and that had to be enough. A red bumper sailed through the air and had nearly crashed on top of Dalmation who rolled out of the way. It was clear he was shocked his dome had fallen. It had worked! Miles rushed forward like a bullet doing his best to avoid being caught in the sound path of the speaker. 

Dalmatian recovered quickly, noting Miles flying at him and put his hands up, cannons at the ready, but Miles disappeared, changing his running path to sneak up behind the recovered villain. Again Dalmation wasn't thrown so easily, tapping a circular device on his chest that began to beep. Miles didn't know what that was but probably nothing good. Moving on near instinct, he shot out a line of web at the man's chest and pulled. Instead of pulling the device to Miles, MIles was slingshotted toward Dalmation crashing into him before the world exploded. 

At least that’s how it felt. The bump against the villain's body into led to his his ears popping with such a ferocity that Miles could barely focus or stand up right. His breakfast from this morning threatened to make a second appearance. And the world had become muffled. But it wasn't from the headphones he knew that. 

And there was Dalmatian standing there, still only mild frustration showing on his face. “Hmmm you got into my barrier before I could reinforce it. That’s a little annoying.” 

Miles was swaying and there were two or more of the villain standings in front of his eyes. He needed time. “Sorry. It’s my special talent. Getting into places I’m not supposed to be. You know that collider that blew up a couple of years ago? Fun fact-”

“I don't really care.” Dalmatian held up a hand. 

Miles could feel his hearing getting better. The world seemed to bend and stretch beyond the 10 foot radius around the two. So that’s how he was able to disrupt the ground without feeling the effects of it. This was like a sonic eye of the storm. 

“Aw that hurts my feelings,” Miles replied frantically searching for an opening.

Dalmatian frowned. “Ok well…that's not completely true. I do care a little. After all, I knew you were around. That's why I modified my barrier to affect that preternatural sense of yours.”

Miles could feel bile on his tongue. “No clue what that is. But I’ve always wanted to tell the future. My verbal Spanish quizzes are kicking my butt.”

Dalmatian gave a small smile. Uh oh. “You can play dumb but any villain worth their salt knows you have a near instinctual ability to avoid getting hit. It goes beyond simple reflexes. But I figured if I could throw off your balance by affecting your inner ear and disrupting your heart rate, that would be enough. Wasn’t expecting there to be so many of you though. Or that giant speaker.”

Ok so he’s really smart. So what's the deal? “What’s a smart guy like you messing with a fun little parade with the Vet Tech and that Daschund guy?

Dalmatian for the first time look confused. “Parade? Oh right, today is Pride. I didn’t pick today, My uncle did. Him and the confusing ass name. And his best friend Ron just tagged along. He works as a vet tech. Ironically enough that’s where the uniforms come from. I just wanted to test my equipment. If it got rid of some people he didn't care for, no sweat off my back. ”He shrugged like it was obvious.

And there was something about his nonchalance that was more chilling than the clear bigotry his uncle and friend had exhibited. Miles had to stop this guy before he broke NYC into pieces. He thwipped a few globs of webbing at Dalmation’s eyes not waiting to see if they hit before rushing forward. 

Miles didn't know if it was because he wasn't totally settled on his feet but Dalmation managed to dodge and send out a pulse of sound that clipped his arm sending Miles flying, landing roughly at the edge of the barrier. His spider sense was once again acting haywire but he wasn't sure it was a bug as Dalmation had both cannons pointed squarely at Miles. His mind flashed back to the Vet Tech and that completely crushed car. Did he have the speed to avoid being splattered?

Dalmatian looked a little disappointed as he pointed his weapons of destruction at Miles. “This really isn't about you Spiderman or any of these uh…people? I'm not homophobic or anything like that. But shit happens you know?”

“I'm gonna be so honest bro. I do not know how to respond to that from someone about to kill me.”

A wry smile bloomed on the villain's face. “Yeah I wouldn't know what to say either.” And then he fired his cannons. 

Miles tucked and rolled as fast as he could hoping to save as much of himself as possible. But luckily it was not necessary. He was completely unscathed. Dalmation’s shot had gone wild. He had fallen to the ground. No, he was tripped. Tripped by a light green tentacle wrapped around his right leg. A very familiar light green tentacle. Dalmatian and Miles followed the appendage to an open sewer grate that neither had noticed. A large brown beehive adorned in multicolored string popped into view and soon the rest of the thin middle aged woman followed wearing a shirt that said “Dykes on Bikes do it Well'  and sensible blue jeans. Of course the most notable thing about her were the three other tentacles attached to her back that climbed out of the sewer for her. 

You gotta be kidding me 

“What? Doc Ock?” Dalmatian exclaimed. 

“He took my line,” Miles said plainly.  

“Whoa!” Dalmatian shot into the hair as the tentacle wrapped around his leg lifted him aloft upside down, and another ripped the cannons from his arms and tossed them aside. 

Doc Ock’s voice was just as smooth as the last time Miles had seen her. “So this is who’s been making all that noise.” One the word “noise”, the tentacle tightened around Dalmations ankle and he whimpered in pain.

Miles was a little unsure what his game plan here was. Was he now protecting Dalmation from the Doc? Things had changed so quickly.

“I thought you were dead,” Dalmation hissed out. 

“If you’re gonna read out all my lines, the script is yours man. I can go.” Miles rose to his feet.

Doc Ock finally seemed to notice Miles with the snide remark. “Hello Spider-man. How’s your day been?”

Miles shrugged. “I've had better but I've also had worse. So the whole being dead thing…?” He left it open for her to answer.

“I was run over by a truck, not killed. Like you said, not my best day but definitely not my worst.”

“And you are here because…?” The leading questions seemed to be for the best. Doc Ocks were known for loving to hear themselves talk.

“I am here because this little piggy,”- the tentacle jostled Dalmatian a little- “thought he could break a union rule.”

“You're in a union?” This was not going where Miles thought this was going.  

“The Supervillains Union of America. NYC chapter of course.”

“Supervilains have a union?” Dalmatian and Miles asked simultaneously.

“Dude,” Miles admonished.

“Sorry, please don't leave me with her.”

Doc Ock laughed at that. “Of course we have a union. We’re evil not monsters.”

Miles pointed at her. “Aren't you the CEO of Alchemax? Or former CEO I guess.”

Her smile was so slimy. “Caught me. Some of us are evil and monsters. But I still pay my dues and follow the rules. Well, at least the ones that benefit me. Most relevant one on the list? No attacking large hubs during Pride.” She shook Dalmation at the last bit. 

“So you go to Pride?” Miles asked, surprised.

She rolled her eyes. “Please. Kid I've been going to Pride longer than you've probably been alive. I normally meet a friend at a cute little hole in the wall place every year…but she’s moved on I guess.” There was a wistfulness there that surprised Miles. Who knew villains could be so…complex?”

One second the wistfulness was there, the next it was gone. “Oh well. I’ll just take this little rulebreaker off your hands and be on my way.”

Miles wasn't even really sure what he was doing. But he threw some webs out and pulled Dalmation from the Doc’s tentacled grasp. 

“Thank you! Oh god thank you so-” Dalmatian exclaimed.  Miles webbed his mouth shut. 

Miles wanted to rub at his temples. “There’s been way too many white dudes yapping in my ear today.”

Doc Ock snorted. “Don’t I know it. Spider-man, don’t be difficult about this. I'm doing a good thing! I'm getting rid of the bad guy.”

“Yeah but I have no idea what you're going to do with him for breaking this rule he wasn't even aware of.”

“He was going to kill the entire population of New York. Surely that deserves some punishment?” Her tentacles undulated in the air, the clicking of the claws that tipped them a warning sign all on their own. 

Miles stood up as straight as he could. It had been over two years since this woman had terrorized him. He wasn't going to be pushed around. He had grown too much for that. “Yeah he deserves punishment but not from me and definitely not from you.” 

They stood like that in silence for an extended time. Doc Ock pursed her lips studying Miles. He could feel her making calculations and judgment calls. Was this fight worth it to her? 

She sighed. “Fine. You win. I’ll let it go- for now. Click the central dial on his chest three times for me? It disables this barrier.”

He did and the world from outside the 20 foot barrier came into focus. The way she had figured that out from just staring at the device was scary in its own right. But that was a challenge for a different day.  Hobie was assisting Gwen and Ganke, Pavitir as they had apparently passed out. Probably from the concussive blast Dalmation had sent out from his central device.

Her tentacles fluttered about in a way that felt like waving to Miles. Sinister. “You know you really are growing into a full fledged hero, Spider-man. I can’t wait to come across you and your new friends again. After this month is up of course. Oh final note. Not that I think you’ll need this information but even though the parade has been canceled, the festival near Washington Square Park is still on. And it's always a lovely place for teens to hang out. Get some sun. Happy Pride” She turned around and began walking or rather her tentacles began walking her away. The back of her shirt read “But Docs in Crocs do it Best”. Miles looked down and sure enough green crocs. She’s so weird.

Miles webbed up the rest of Dalmations body and then rushed over to check on his friends.

“Is that who I think it is,” Gwen said of the retreating middle aged figure.

Miles sighed. “Yeah, don't worry about it though. Different problem for a different day. We all good?”

Hobie gave a classic nod, Ganke a thumbs up and Pavitr was blowing on his thumb extremely hard for some reason? A second later his eyes popped open. “I can hear again. Yes! We are good to go.”

Another sigh escaped Miles this time one of relief. They had done it, kind of. A win was a win and Miles was not going to look a gay octopus in the mouth. “Alright let's get out of here before police show up.”

“Are we going anywhere specifically or?” Hobie asked. 

Miles felt heat in his chest. “Well the parade got canceled which sucks. But apparently there’s still a Festival we can go to in Washington Square Park? If you guys still want to hang out? I can call my parents and they can meet us there?”

“Mate, I fucking love festivals. We’re doing that.”

They began to walk silently down the cracked street, Gwen and Pavitr on Miles left, Ganke and Hobie on Miles’ right. Web swinging was fun but it made walking kind of novel and Miles wanted to savor it. And he just knew the others felt the same. Everything was good. Everything except…

“Uh earlier,” Miles spoke up suddenly. “In my room I tried to come out and Pav almost said something. Did you guys already know or?”

Nobody said anything and for that Miles was a little grateful because he wasn't even sure if he wanted the answer. 

After a moment, Gwen spoke up. “I think queer people kind of just…find each other? So I assumed you were… something because we got so close so quickly if that makes sense. Like I’m transfem and bi and Hobie is, Hobie what do you identify as again?”

“A threat.”

“Right and Pav is transmasc-”

Pavitr spoke up. “And incredibly committed to my incredibly hot girlfriend.”

“That's actually pretty impressive,” Miles remarked.  You went hours without bringing up Gayatri.”

“Bro I was suffering, you have no idea.”

“What are you talking about,” Ganke asked inquisitively. “The first thing you said when that drag queen asked for our help was ‘My girlfriend Gayatri would love you’ She made you a personalized video and everything.”

“...I’m back to not liking you Ganke Lee.”

“Man, come on. Don't do that.”

“Anyway,” Gwen said, grabbing the conversational reins once more. “I wasn't surprised but I was happy. Or am. I am happy.”

Miles thought about what Gwen said. Finding people you relate to, how their experiences mirror your own but also just knowing intrinsically you were on the same wavelength. “It’s like the Spider sense,” Miles said softly.

And the smile she gave him was just as soft. “Exactly” 

Hobie’s voice cut through the tender moment. “I just thought you were going to ask one of us out. Or all of us? But I supposed that would mean you would have come out first, depending on your perspective.”

Miles' feet stopped moving of his own accord. “What?”

Hobie was giving one of his blank looks that he gave when he said something completely bonkers but didn't quite understand why. “What? Oh you wanted to know my answer. I would've said yes.”

Miles wasn't sure if they had actually defeated Dalmation because he was sure his ears were ringing or they were hot or maybe they were hot and ringing. “What?”

Hobie pulled a flier from nowhere with Meet me @ the Alter scribbled along the top with 3 people with bright hair posed beneath. “You lot have this cool pop punk band playing at a club in Brooklyn soon. I figured we could go. I know you're not tapped into your local scene and we need to change that desperately. 

“Uh, sure?” The words merely escaped Miles' dropped jaw. 

Gwen snatched the flier reading the details. “Oh my god, Miles. I've been saying I wanted to go to a concert in your dimension since forever and you're going with Hobie first?”

What the hell was happening? “We can still go to a concert. Any concert you want, I promise.”

Ganke spread his arms wide which would've stopped Miles if he hadn't already been frozen to the ground and looked into his eyes. “Pause, timeout, all of it. I've been trying to hang out with you all summer and you keep saying you're “busy” with interdimensional missions but now you're making plans while you're still here?? That’s cold. I just want to play videogames.”

Ganke was right and he could see his hurt in his dark brown eyes. And if he turned to avoid his gaze there was Gwen, her piercing blue eyes widened in bewilderment and if he looked up there was Hobie, that gaze so open and expectant like there was no other person Miles would spend his time with. His gizmo beeped and because Miles Morales had truly checked out of his body, he clicked it automatically. 

A 3D model of Margo appeared hovering above his gizmo sitting in her favorite spinny chair pride flag emotes spinning in air around her. “What's up Miles? Lyla told me to call you. How was Pride?” It was then Margo seemed to notice that they were not alone. “Oh hey guys. Is now a bad time to talk?”

The only safe place to turn his gaze was to Pavitr who had been looking at the increasingly tense scene, his hands cupped over his mouth. And in a soft voice but one not soft enough to ignore, Miles heard him exclaim. “The battle for Miles Morales’ heart has truly begun.”