Archive of Our Own

A failed experiment… Here is what had led Miguel to this result. Overnight his life had changed, he had become spider-man, a hero... But... Was he really a hero?

After his own company drugged him, he wanted to cure himself by conducting an experiment on himself, but the jealousy of one of his coworkers caused his experiment to fail, turning him into a man, half-spider.

Before that, he had never cared about others, even if his family was far from perfect, he had never needed anything, he was not to be pitied.

"With great power comes great responsibility." He despised that phrase more than anything. Everything the hero powers and life brought him was a curse…

He had a fiancee, "Dana", but she died, when Venom wanted to go after him. He had moreover left her, so that she wouldn't be a victim, because of his new life… His own father was an evil genius and his mother despised him… Fortunately, he still had his little brother, someone too nice for his own good, but that he has always made him suffer, by stealing Dana from him, who was first his girlfriend.

This is why he no longer wanted to bind himself to anyone.

But things couldn't be that simple, could they?

“Miguel.”
“...”
"Miggy, are you listening to me?"
He raised his head.

Sara Parker, his best friend, was looking at him with a raised eyebrow, or at least her hologram, she was in her office right now.

Sara was his assistant and the very descendant of Peter Parker. They had known each other since college and even though she hadn't inherited the spider's powers like her ancestor, she had a highly developed sixth sense, always warning her of danger. She was strong, but it stopped there, as if the radioactive DNA had gradually disappeared over time.

She has excellent computer skills and has always supported Miguel in his missions. Kind of like the oracle in Batman.

She was already working at Alchemax and investigating their more than shady operations, when Miguel became Spider-man, it was there that she revealed to him who his ancestor was and that she wanted to help him, to honor his memory.

At first against, she ended up becoming his confidante, after all, she was the only person he could tell about all the remorse he felt.

He was exhausted...

"There is…"
She started, but he cut her off.

“Yes, several parts have disappeared in the lab, it's not the first time that this has happened, Gab often takes some to work at home and then, only a person who knows the security system by heart could have done that, there may also have been an error. Ask Lyla to check with you.”
Sarah smiled at him.

"So you were listening to me."
"Of course."
"I'll double check don't worry I don't need Lyla's help she'll bother me again."
*I heard that ! And it will be my pleasure to help you…*
Said the artificial intelligence approaching Sara to give her a wink.

She rolled her eyes.

"You should go home, it's late."
“...”
"What's the matter ?"
“If you come in too, there is a restaurant that…”
"No, I'm thinking of staying a few more hours, don't wait for me."
“...Well, good evening.”
“Good evening Sara.”
The hologram disappeared.

Miguel sighed, he knew what she was trying to do, just like Gabriel, it's true that Dana had been dead for years... But he couldn't turn the page, that life was over.

Some time ago, he had received an unlikely visit from a version of him from another dimension. With a spider-woman and a spider-punk?

He had explained to him the existence of “canon events" and that what had happened to Dana, had happened to many other versions of him… Some had lost their children, others their brothers, their loved ones… But this sacrifice …is part of spider-man history.

“It had to happen… Bullshit…”
Said Sara.

At these words Hobie smiled, while Jessica sighed.

Miguel didn't respond to her provocation, he looked at her with… Sadness?

“It is however the truth, no one can change history or forge a destiny… Everything is already planned in advance, this is how the balance of the world can exist…”
"But…"
“Sara…”
She looked at this Miguel from another world, he knew her name, but… Why was he looking at her with so much regret ?

“You are wrong… Nothing is decided in advance, I am sure…”
"We didn't become spider-man because we wanted to, we never had a choice, you should understand that better than anyone."
“No one can decide the future, or claim to be able to control the fate of the world… So if you knew someone was going to die, you would let them…”
He cut her off.

“One life is nothing, against the fate of the whole world.”
"...You're not really the Miguel I know..."
She said disappointed.

"But I guess, I understand myself, don't I?"
The gaze of the Miguel of this other self, seemed… Broken ?

He then asked her to join his group, in order to save the multiverse, but he refused.

Before leaving Hobie gave her something, just in case…

He then gave up wearing the mask of a hero.

**

After the death of his father, Miguel took over the management of Alchemax and decided to transform the company, with the help of his brother. It had nothing to do with what it was before.

He was going to spend his life in this office and try to do something good for once… Protect those he loves by staying away from them.

And then… There was a new heroine in town at the moment.

The first time he saw her was a month after everyone was begging Spider-man to come back, which is kind of ironic considering he was still considered an outlaw. Seeing no more supervillains, the notorious criminals had returned.

She had then appeared, to save the victims of a burglary. The picture that appeared on tv was this woman in a black jumpsuit. Her outfit was reminiscent of an old movie… How it was already, yes… “Tron”.

Purple neon lights surrounded her jumpsuit and she wore a helmet on her head.

She had been called "Firefly", probably because of the robotic wings she had on her back.

Despite her ridiculous name, she seemed to do a good job, she could create prisons using electric wires that shot from small cannons to her wrists. She was clearly inspired by spider-man for this.

The police and the government were always against heroes, but it looks like she's doing a better job than him...

Things could have stayed that way for a long time… But a few details started to set Miguel on the alert.

**

“Sara, can you come into my office?”
No answers.

"Sara?"
It looked like her transmitter was off.

So he decided to go see her, and was surprised to find her asleep on her desk, dark circles under her eyes.
A trickle of drool ran down his numeric keypad.

“You overwork yourself too much.”
He turned off her screens and retrieved the file he had come for.

He then noticed a shiny object sticking out of her pocket, a small purple disk, which flashed, as if receiving a call.

He was really hesitant whether he should wake her up or not, but finally he let her rest.

A few hours later, an accident took place, it was a fire, fortunately the firefighters were able to control the flames, but there were several injured, including a little girl.

Sara walked into his office, her eyes blank.

“Excuse me… Did you call me? I just saw your message."
“Yes, but don’t worry, I went to get the file, you look exhausted, do you need time off, it’s been a long time since…”
She quickly shook her head.

“No…I'm fine.”
“...”
She scratched her neck nervously.

"I'm going back to my office, call me if you need me."
"Yes, I would."
For once, he tried to smile at her, but she barely noticed him, she quickly left the office.

His brother came to see him the same day to hear from him and discuss, even if Gabriel was the more talkative of the two...

“By the way, how is Sara?”
"You can go ask her, she's in her office."
"Come on…"
Said his brother, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"You're lucky not everyone has the woman they love just steps away."
"We don't have that kind of relationship."
"Really ? So… I guess you don’t mind if I invite her for a drink?”
"Do what you want."
“...Miguel. I know it's been hard for you lately and… I know I can't understand but… We're not eternals.”
“...”
"Who said we didn't have the right to be..."
“What happy? I was and screwed it up, as usual."
"But…"
“Excuse me, I still have work to do…”
Gabriel sighed and hesitated.

"You know... You're not the only one who's scared..."
He told her, before leaving.

At that moment, Miguel had not understood what he was trying to explain to him...

**

The other strange event took place, when they left the office together.

It was not uncommon for them not to speak, even when they were in the same room, it was not awkward, they both enjoyed having a quiet moment. As they took the elevator, Miguel noticed her tiredness and especially the strange marks on her skin.

“...Did you hurt yourself?”
“...”
It took her a while to realize what he was talking about, then she looked at her hands.

They were covered in bruises and it even looked like her finger had been twisted. Sara quickly hid them.

“It’s nothing…I got my finger stuck trying to fix my car.
Miguel sighed.

“It's 2100, I don't see why you insist on using antiques. Even if you fix it, you won't be able to get very far with it…”
She smirked.

“Need I remind you who came to help you when you wanted to see the last game and your holographic system stopped working…”
“I could have fixed it.”
"Yes, but the game would be over already, you see the antiques don't let you down."
She stuck her tongue out and he smiled.

It had been a long time since they had spent a moment together.

This moment ended when a small beep sounded and Sara tensed.

"Aren't you picking up?"
"I've finished the work. On the other hand… I think I forgot something up there, excuse me.”
"Do you want me to wait for you?"
“No thank you, you should go home Miggy.”
He frowned at the nickname but greeted her.

On her way to the exit, Lyla appeared.

*Miguel, I have something to tell you.*
"What ?"
*Do you remember when Sara said that equipment was missing in the storeroom?*
"Yes."
*Well I decided to check it out myself and there is something weird…*
"You should tell Sara then, she's still here."
*Precisely… What is weird it's her access code that appears in the rooms or the equipment has disappeared.*
“...Why would she have told us if she took the equipment?”
*Perhaps so that we do not suspect her. Besides, we must be missing a good ten minutes on the surveillance videos…*
“...Where is she now?”
*I check.*
Lyla brought up a virtual map of the building.

Sara's gps said she was in her office and all of a sudden.

*Her signal disappeared…*
“Find her.”
*I... I can't, it's like she blocked my access. She has the status of co-admin.*
"Well I'm over it, find her Lyla."
*All right !*
She said cheerfully.

*So… She's at, no she's heading… Dammit, how does she go so fast?*
Sara's signal said she was downtown, half an hour away by public transport.

“...Send me the list of all the missing equipment.”
*GOOD !*

**

The news the next day only confirmed his fears…

Last night, Firefly had fought against a villain from another dimension. The green goblin and she had been seriously injured, of course… If spider-man had been there, he could have helped her but…

“Sara…”
He tried to call her, but instead he received a pre-recorded message.

"Sorry Miguel, I couldn't come today, I have a fever, but if you need my help I..."
He hung up and headed for her apartment.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Instead of the young woman, it was his brother who came to open the door for her, the two looked at each other with a look of understanding.

"You guessed…"
Gabriel told him.

“You helped her create her gear…”
Miguel grabbed his brother by the collar.

"What were you thinking !? She could have died!!!”
“...Did you really care?”
“...”
"I thought you didn't want to talk to us anymore, you've been ignoring us for so long..."
"Stop."
"What ? Since you decided to play cowards, someone had to…”
“You two stop…”
A weak, tired voice came from the back of the apartment.

Miguel released Gabriel, who rubbed his neck, before fixing his collar.

"I believe you two need to talk, I'll let you."
His brother left.

The apartment was dimly lit, just outside city light through the blinds.

“Lyla.”
He said, walking towards the room.

*Her vital signs are stable.*

She was lying down, her head turned towards the window, her wounds had already been treated, it looked like her brother had sent for a doctor in secret…

Her gear was on the floor, near her wardrobe.
He should have known, even her outfit was reminiscent of an old movie…

He took the chair from her desk and pulled it closer to her bed, to sit next to her.

They were both silent for a moment, but it was obvious she wasn't going to speak.

"Why ?..."
“...”
"Why did you do such a stupid thing?"
“To protect the city…”
"But you're not supposed to."
"So it's up to you?"
"I can't be spider-man anymore."
"This is not what I mean…"
She said, finally turning to him.

"Who decides ? Who chooses that it's up to you to be a hero?"
"I did not have the choice."
"No. You always had a choice, like you had the choice to let me die the first time we met…”
“...”
"You saved me, but you didn't have to."
"It has nothing to do, each time, I hurt the people that..."
“But you forget how many times you saved us! Spider-man always saves everyone, but no one will save him… I find that rather cruel.”
“...”
"The crowd cheers for him, then hates him, it's like they forgot you were a man behind the mask."
Miguel looked at her surprised.

“Hey… My family has been through this, the fear, the desperation… I know well, why you don't want to wear the mask anymore and I understand, but like the other you said, everyone needs a hero then… I thought if I took your place, maybe…”
She put her hand over her eyes.

"Sorry…"
He said to her.

“...”
“It seems like whatever I do, I always make mistakes, even when I try to get some distance.”
"It's not…"
“My other self told me what happened to your other version, in the universe where he was…”
“...”
“No matter the universe, I can never protect you… You are… My Gwen Stacy it seems…”
“Miguel.”
She tried to sit up, but he stopped her, tenderly cupping her face in his hands.

"I don't want to lose you…"
Sara's eyes trembled, but she looked away.

“You are already losing me…”
She said, pushing his hands away.

“If you are afraid to go on living… Then you have already lost me Miguel.”
Her words hurt him.

She was the one suffering and yet he had the impression that someone had just stuck a blade in his chest...

“If you are so scared… You should go.”
She turned around again, she didn't want to talk to him anymore.

Miguel stood there for a few more moments, he could hear her crying, but he knew he couldn't comfort her.

He got up to leave the apartment. On the cabinet by the entrance, he noticed a picture frame.

It was a picture of them at graduation, everything seemed… Different back then, he was different.
It was during this time that he saved her life. A drunken student rushed at her after class. He was in his car at the time, without thinking, he rammed the other student, so she wouldn't get run over.
Everyone made it out alive. And... Everyone considered him a hero back then.

But he still remembers what had motivated him at that time…

I have to save her...

He didn't know her yet, she was a simple stranger, there was no glory, no superpowers, no destiny...

She was going to die, and he had wanted to protect her.

**

“Nobody move and everything will be fine, okay?”
"Mom…"
"Shut up !"
A group of thieves were trying to evade the police, they had just obtained a new type of weapon on the black market and the police could not do anything against this new equipment.

After their theft, they were going to escape in a car, the hostage was a child and they hoped to get a nice ransom in exchange.

But the one who held the child had no time to blink, that his hostage had disappeared.

"That…"
“Go somewehere safe !"
Firefly had arrived, her wings and digital outfit allowing her to move quickly.

She then cut off the power in the street, so that the criminals were plunged into darkness.

“Finally she's here…Now guys!”
The first finished his sentence and was put on the ground, following the punch she had given him, she had then tied his wrists with her electric purple wire.

His sidekick took the opportunity to target her and managed to place a tag on her costume.

*ALERT-SYSTEM-CORRUPTED-SYYZGYGYZ*

"Shit…"
Her wings and her wires no longer worked.

“So not that strong without powers huh!?”
The two remaining men started shooting at her, they had night vision goggles.

Firefly had no difficulty dodging their blows.

“Emergency protocol activation!”
The security system clicked and she was able to attack again.

She got rid of the second man by catching a car in her webs, she threw it towards them and when they wanted to dodge she captured one.

The last lost his laser weapon, terrified of not being able to beat it, he decided to shoot, among the crowd.

"NO !!!"
But she couldn't stop the bullets.

A huge web then formed and trapped the bullets.

Firefly's eyes widened when she looked up… He was there.

"It's…"
But the criminal could not finish his sentence, because he was immediately trapped in a web.

The lights came back on the street, and the crowd looked up in turn, to see the man in the familiar suit.

"Spider-man !"
"It's him !"
"He came back !"
Cheers rang out, followed by applause.

But it was short-lived.

"Spiderman ! Firefly! You are under arrest !"
Said a policeman, obviously they were coming once the bad guys had been captured.

Miguel climbed down and approached Firefly.

Even with her helmet on, he knew she was staring at him in amazement.

"The city isn't too big for two heroes, I hope?"
He said.

She sighed, but ended up smiling.

"Don't be jealous, if I became more popular than you."
He smiled and took her hand, placing a kiss on it that made her shudder.

“You saved me this time…”
“...”
She couldn't answer him, they had just been surrounded by a horde of furious policemen.

But as they were about to flee, someone intervened.

"Are you kidding me !? She saved my son!”
Said the victim's mother.

“And spider-man stopped the bullets!”
Added another.

Gradually, a crowd began to gather, to protect them.

Miguel was surprised, he had never realized, never thought that one day… It would be the others, who would come to his aid.

No one had ever...

Firefly took her hand, firmly.

"Let's go."
She spread her mechanical wings, her whole body shone with that purple glow, her hand in his, bringing her a warmth, which he thought he could never feel again.

She shone in the darkness like a firefly, she had approached the spider, when he could have devoured her, but without fear, she landed on his web.

Once safe, in the offices of Alchemax, her suit retracted, to turn into a small disk, the one he had seen the last time.

His digital combination disappeared too, giving him back his everyday outfit.

As she was about to speak, Sara found herself trapped, held tenderly in his arms.

“...”
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
She began to relax, returning his hug.

“I have always been there. I wouldn't leave you.”
"I know…"
"What made you change your mind?"
“I think… The worst would be to have lost you, without having tried.”
“...”
“You were right, I don't know what will happen, but… I want to have a choice, I want to be able to choose and…”
She gently raised her head, his eyes were red, she had almost forgotten her gaze, as he was wearing his sunglasses.

She lifted her hands to cup his face, he relaxed there, as if he hadn't been able to in years.

"And ?..."
He hesitated.

“We have time…”
"Really ?"
"If our destiny is like a spider's thread, then... It's up to us to weave the web, what do you think?"
His gaze plunged into hers, he saw there, a glimmer, a future… A hope.

Sara dropped her hands to his shoulders and he leaned down to cup her face, their lips brushing.

Then he closed the distance.

He couldn't hear anything except the sound of their hearts. The chains that weighed on his back disappeared. The world regained its colors, it felt like itself again...

canoneventalljeaezag

*Canon event rewritten.*

They continued to kiss, when they separated, she placed kisses on his forehead, his cheeks, his neck, while saying sweet words to him and reminding him that she loved him.

He hugged her again.

"I love you."
she told him.

"I.."
When she felt him hesitate, she reassured him.

“I know… Take your time.”
Her gaze was soft and full of kindness.

What had he done to deserve such tenderness ?

As he was about to kiss her again, but someone entered the office.

“Miguel ! You…"
Gabriel fell silent, looking at the couple.

Sara was blushing as Miguel glared at him.

"Lyla, why didn't you tell us?"
*Well…Sara made it clear to me, last time that she wanted me out of her business…*
She said slyly.

Sara tried to grab her but the holographic woman walked away laughing.

It was her little revenge for the last time...

**

“Miguel…”
“...”
"Where's my costume?"
“Your costume needed an upgrade.”
“My costume is perfect !”
“A simple tag could disable your security system, you need a shield.”
“Okay, look I…”
Sara was speechless.

"It is…"
Her costume now adorned webs, the emblem of the spider.

"I'm spider-man, I was and it always will be a part of me, but... Maybe I'm not the hero this world needs."
She smiled at him and immediately tried on her new costume.

**

Ok… Let me tell you my story. The story I chose.

My name is Sara Parker and for the past few months,
I became a spider-woman, or at least, I will be one day...
My ancestor was the spider-man, the first of this universe.
Unfortunately I never had that chance.

All spider-man did not choose to be,
I have always wanted to help others.
And... I fell in love with the new spider-man.
I tried to help him… But I couldn't save him from himself.

So… I took up the flame.
All we needed was a light, a spark...
I was always told that we couldn't change our destiny,
That heroes are doomed to suffer.

I say that the heroes also need to be supported.
I would listen, I would be different, I would be... Me?
We are no longer alone now.
It's time to believe in our own story.

**

A few months later… In a secret Alchemax laboratory. Miguel, Gabriel and Sara, were working on a new type of wire, for her electric costume.

"Stop looking at me."
Says Miguel.

"I'm not looking..."
Said Sara, looking away.

“And then… If you saw me looking at you, you were looking at me first…”
Miguel turned around, smirking.

"Really ?"
"Yes."

"Please both of you, stop flirting..."
Said Gabriel.

They couldn't help but laugh, before getting back to work.

In the recent months, they had done some research on the multiverse and thanks to Lyla, they were able to escape the surveillance of the other 2099. That's when they discovered something, which could change the situation...

Objects around them began to fly, accompanied by strange lights, like that time...

“Spider Woman?...”
Asked Sara, to the young woman who appeared in front of her.

“Yeah and…”
Gwen looked confused at the woman in front of her and the Miguel, who was standing right behind her.

"Me too, well, for a few months, but you can call me Firefly."
For the very first time, Sara felt a strange tingling sensation on the back of her neck, her spider senses telling her she was with one of her kind.

"You're... You are like me ?"
Gwen smiled at her reaction.

“Yes… We all feel that the first time.”
"All ?"
She then saw other spider-man cross the portal, some suspicious of this other version of Miguel.

"I'm glad our Lyla was able to contact you, Miguel, I mean the other one blocked our communications with you."
“Hobie has his own way to communicate…”
“We have changed our event canon.”
She said to the other spiders.

“And…I think I just changed mine.”
Added Gwen.

Sara then revealed to them their research and perhaps a way to save their friend Miles, from the fate they wanted to subject him to.

Obviously, she agreed to join them, to save the multiverse.

"And... He's not coming, is he a spider-man after all?"
Pavitr asked pointing to Miguel.

“Anyone can become spider-man… And I think she needs to go it alone.”
He said looking at her tenderly, but with concern.

The three friends looked at each other with wide eyes.

"Yeah... It's clearly not the Miguel we know."
Says Pav.

They gave her a watch and they were going to be accompanied by the other Lyla, to guide them.

The others had already passed through the portal and as she was about to pass through it...

“Sara!”
She turned.

"I love you…"
She took off her helmet, looking at him with bright eyes.

She rushed over to kiss him.

“Come back, safe and sound.”
“I will try… Thanks…”
“...”
“To trust me.”
"You are spider-woman, I trust you."
She smiled at him and kissed him one last time, before jumping into the portal.

A great void greeted her and she began to be afraid, but Gwen called out to her.

“Hey… All you need to do is trust yourself.”
Sara took a deep breath and spread her wings, like webs.

"Lyla, take us to earth 616B."

For the rest... It's up to you, after all... You are free to wear the mask too.