Chapter Text
Miles couldn't get out.
Scratching didn't work. The transparent barrier chaining him to the ground had been resistant to electricity. His hands bore scorch marks, unrecognizable things they've become. His palms have melted into his suit, the skin a stark swollen red. It feels tight and unbearable, a uniquely horrifying feeling that he couldn't care less about.
To no avail, he stayed stuck stuck stuck.
He's unsure how long it's been, the adrenaline having faded from his body after the first few hours. He might've fainted at one point. A drop in energy ensued, even if his efforts persisted. The tips of his gloves have been scratched and burned off, dried blood caking the nails he had left. His left index was missing a chunk. They were always shaking, now. His frenzied desperation was no use against this stupid futuristic barrier. He has already covered every inch of the wall with his blood.
The spider people had left him alone, a cruelty masked as mercy. Or maybe, they'd just gotten tired of listening to his begging- begging them to let him escape and when that didn't work, insisting they save his father since he couldn't. Those double-faced assholes.
Gwen had been escorted out by Peter early on, the father knowing leaving her with him would hurt them both. In the end she'd given in, not for lack of trying. He's unsure if he would have liked being looked down on with her pitiful gaze for hours while she sat next to him, but the silence was probably- definitely one hundred percent worse.
The betrayal stings though. Did their friendship mean anything in the end? He'd spent so much time thinking about them while they were away, imagining meeting them again. They were his happiness, his daydreams- his only source of comfort, knowing he's never actually alone. To him, the precious moments they'd shared as a team were engraved in his memories like a tattoo. Now, they sting like fresh wounds and make him miserable.
He can't help but remember how Hobie had shot him a complicated (-disappointed) look before briskly walking out, tutting loudly. He was now alone.
At first, Miles was unsure where they'd store his tiny jail cell since the usual spot for captured outsiders was near the teleporting device. However, his paranoid captor wouldn't have allowed any chance of escape, obviously. Apparently leaving the captive just here was fine for him, in this universe's spiderman's workshop, to suffer in darkness.
He still refused to believe that this was happening. He felt as though his mind was outside of his body, observing the scene with apathetic eyes. He couldn't feel any of the self inflicted wounds anymore, or the bone deep weary fatigue only possible after accepting the end of your world. He desperately avoided imagining the expression his mama would wear, knowing her hijo had allowed his dad to die. Hell, Miles is the one who caused his death- if he hadn't been bitten by the spider, be come spiderman, canon wouldn't have ever interfered with his life. He's a murderer .
Miles killed his dad.
Miles sobbed into his hand, eyes screwing shut as he bangs his forehead onto the floor. The pounds into his head a hundred times, devastating him every time. Miles killed his dad. His dad, who had been trying so hard to be a good father, to understand his elusive son. He remembered the discussion they'd had, while hidden behind a mask, on that construction sight which seems so long ago now. His father had divulged to a stranger (to him) about his worries of being a good parent. HIs father did not deserve to die- he was a good man and a good Father and, and…
and it's Miles' fault that his dad will die because he couldn't get out of here. His fault for coming here and being unable to reach his dad. Fuck isn't spiderman supposed to help people? The original spiderman would've gotten out of here already, he bets. That man wasn't weak and useless. What a lousy excuse of a replacement he's been. What did he do to deserve this? It's not his fault he got bitten! It's not fair!
What a stupid kid, thinking he could become a hero or something. Wasn't that crazy? Now the brat is aching and miserable and hungry-
wait, hungry?
His eyes widened. How long has he been here to start feeling hungry? including the appetite decreasing effect of adrenaline, followed shortly by hunger cramps due to energy expenditure, it must have been at least 7 hours.
Will they-... they'll feed him, right?
He looks around to a well worn sight he hopes never to perceive again in his life- the cold walls at least 10 feet away from him on each side, covered in gizmos and gadgets that look alien. Surely they wouldn't allow him to starve, right? They're the…the good guys, right? It would go against everything they stood for if they let a teen rot without food or water for the whole two days he was imprisoned. However, it's suspicious that he hasn't seen anyone since the original conflict.
He winces as he brushes his disfigured hands against the floor, trying to reposition himself unsuccessfully. He tries calling out for anyone, figuring they simply might not remember his existence. No response. He feels a soundless wind brush against him and shivers. He feels cold. And hungry. And horribly in pain, however it started feeling numb down there.
Going back to inspect his hands, he notices the visitor bracelet and gets another idea. Carefully, using his teeth (he doesn't trust his other hand's motor functions currently until they heal up- although it's been a while already though? That's weird) he pulls the band off, letting it drop on the ground.
Immediately he can feel a strange energy vibrating through him. Woah he's really… for lack of a better word, glitching. He notices body parts disappearing and reappearing- filling him with an odd feeling. Shrugging off unwanted anxiety, he gets onto his knees with his arms touching the barrier. He remembers getting displaced while glitching earlier, in a sort of teleport. Hopefully if his plan works, he'll get an arm free outside, forming a sort of hole in the barrier, which he will then painfully pry open, giving him sweet sweet freedom. It takes a couple of minutes before there's any significant glitch. Miles gets excited when he sees his arm on the other side and hurriedly puts on the bracelet back, praying for success.
He had made a fatal mistake.
His arm solidifies back to normal, however the barrier had gotten confused. It assumed back its original shape, thus separating his shoulder from limb.
The pain is so horrific Miles black out instantly.
An undetermined amount of time later, he lifted his heavy eyelids, greeted to the same sight as before. He curls over, pathetically trying to vomit out his insides. Only dark red came out, staining the ground and splashing onto his suit. He continues heaving, trying to catch his breath. He's so, so scared. He doesn't want to check- he desperately doesn't want to. Tears ran down his cheeks and he hiccups. The hunger physically claws in him. Everything reeks of blood and spilt guts, probably urine as well because he definitely shocked himself more than once. He can taste the putrid misery in this claustrophobic enclosed space. He hates this. He really really hates this.
He's not sure how spiderman will get out of this one.
How had he ever imagined saving his dad?
at least Miles will be able to apologise to him soon…
footsteps…
they're…louder…
…closer?
"MILES!" A hand was gently slapping against his face. With some difficulty, he groggily recognized the figure.
"Hobie?"
The hand left his face and MIles could feel them circle him, one underneath his back the other holding his knees. Delirious, he tried to say more but started coughing instead and he leaned his dizzy head onto his saviour's shoulder. He can't believe this is happening.
This was so unreal.
"I-..." He got cut off, "You shut your mouth right now, we need'ta get ya nursed up."
Miles conceded, taking deep breaths to soothe himself. Someone had come back for him, he hadn't been abandoned like he'd thought. Everything will be alright.
This relief was so intense he involuntarily started crying again, tears and snot staining the other man's jacket as he blubbered out words- everything went through his brain, everything he had kept to himself during this torture.
"It's alright bro, it'll be fine."
Blindly trusting the other teen, he allowed himself to be vulnerable and fell back asleep.