Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“You can't save anyone.”

“You’ll never be good enough.”

“Failure.”

“They’re dead because of you.”

“No,” Gwen moans in her sleep. She thrashes in her sheets, sweat drenching them.

Her eyes remain shut while they move rapidly beneath her eyelids. Her breathing is rapid and weak, a few gasps for air escaping now and again.

“He’s next.”

“No!”

Gwen shoots up in bed, her clothes and blanket stuck to her skin and tangled. Rain is pouring down outside as the rest of the city sleeps, unbothered. A flash of lightning and a clap of thunder causes Gwen to jump, her fists clenching her sheets.

She pants and runs her hands down her face then up into her hair.

The dreams became more and more real with every passing night. They kept getting worse too.

When they started, Gwen couldn't remember them when she woke up. She could remember how they made her feel though. But now they happen so often Gwen can't force herself to forget.

After a few minutes of trying to calm herself down, Gwen squirms out of bed and heads to the bathroom. Somehow she feels wet and dry at the same time. She flips the lights on and goes to the sink, splashing her face with water and drying herself off with a towel. Her eyes scan her own reflection in the mirror. The rest of her skin is pale, but her cheeks are pink and burning. Her eyes are tired and hollow.

Gwen tries not to fall asleep now, but she always fails. No matter what she tells herself during the day the nightmares still come for her. She’s left with both too much sleep and too little of it.

“Come on, Gwen,” she mutters. “It’s over. You’re awake now.”

It’s true, but she can't convince herself. Gwen runs back to her room and snatches her watch off the nightstand. She fought the urge at first, but it’s a lost cause now. Her hands haven't stopped shaking. Gwen fumbles with the buttons, calling the only person she can think of.

“Hello?”

Miles mumbles on the other end then clears his throat. His voice is exhausted and confused. But just hearing it causes relief to wash over her.

“H-hey, Miles,” she exhales. “Did I wake you?”

“Gwen?” She hears a bang come on the other side, followed by his bare feet squeaking on the floor. “No! No! I was up!”

He sounds more lively now, clearly trying to convince her of his obvious lie.

“How are you? Are you okay?”

Gwen sits on her bed as she looks outside the window. Rain continues to pour so heavily that she swears she can actually feel the apartment shaking. Gwen thinks before answering. Miles is silent.

“No.” Her eyes become wet suddenly. Tears start flowing down her cheeks and her breathing starts to pick up the pace. Gwen tries to keep her composure, especially with Miles on the other end. But she fails. “Can - can you come over? Please?”

There’s a shuffling on the other end and the line goes dead. Gwen feels her heart sink. “No!” she cries, trying to get him back. “Miles?!”

A portal opens above her bed. Everything around her begins to shake and levitate. Miles comes through and lands on her bed in his pyjamas. Before he can say anything Gwen embraces him, burying her face in his shoulder and letting her tears flow freely. Miles wraps his arms around her tightly and starts rubbing her back.

She doesn't know how long they stay like that. Miles never lets go and Gwen doesn't pull away until she stops shaking. When she does she can see his shirt in the darkness. His shoulder is almost as damp as her own pyjamas.

They're still holding hands, with Miles’ thumbs moving smoothly over them.

“Um…” Gwen sniffs. “Thanks for coming.”

“Don't mention it,” Miles says. He pauses, his gaze shifting between their hands and her eyes. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Not really.”

“Okay. Cool.”

Gwen pulls away from him and crosses her legs, leaning against the wall. Miles does the same, their knees brushing.

“I don't sleep well anymore,” Gwen whispers, now more conscious of her father asleep in the other room. She never bothered him when this happened. Not even when she was younger.

“Me neither,” Miles says. “Nightmares?”

“Yeah. God, they’re all just so…”

“Real.”

Gwen nods. She slides a hand over slowly, but pulls back. Miles notices and gives her a look. She reaches forward and does something Miles wasn't expecting. Gwen puts her hand over his heart. He flinches a little at first.

“Sorry,” she shakes her head nervously. “I just… I had to make sure you were… you know, living.”

Miles runs his hands down and intertwines their fingers. He puts her hand back on his heart. Gwen can feel the steady beating of his heart. It’s fast and strong. Gwen matches her breathing with the rising and falling of his chest.

“Stay with me.”

“Okay.”

Her bed is infinitely more comfortable with Miles in it. Gwen gathers him up in her arms when he lies down next to her, pulling the blanket over them. She can still feel his heartbeat. She won't close eyes. Gwen’s afraid he’ll be gone if she does.

“Don't go anywhere.”

Gwen watches him fall asleep. She stares at him until her eyes give out. The dreaded sleepiness creeps over her. Gwen can't fight it off. The rain, the sound of his heart and the warmth of him next to her. It's all too peaceful. Gwen drifts off into what will hopefully be a dreamless slumber.

***

“You don't belong here.”

“You’re a mistake.”

“It won't end well.”

“You’ll kill her.”

“No!” Miles wakes up shaking, his eyes wet. Gwen shoots up with him and grabs him by the shoulders. He’s breathing heavily. Gwen’s the only thing keeping him grounded.

“Hey, hey, shhh,” Gwen slides behind him and leans against the headboard. She takes his head in her hands and rests it on her chest. “It’s okay. You’re okay.”

Miles lifts his head to look at her. Her eyes are still red from crying. He then directs his attention to the time on his watch. They’ve only been here an hour, and there’s plenty more until the sun rises. Plenty more to torture them with.

“I’m tired, Gwen.”

“Yeah,” she sighs. “Me too.”

Gwen carefully wipes the tears from his eyes. Her hands are warm and soft; too soft to be real. Maybe it’s the exhaustion getting to him, but Miles is sure this is a dream. If it is, it's certainly better than the one’s he’s been having.

“I won't leave you, Gwen.” Miles grabs her hand. He brings it to his mouth and kisses it lightly. “You’ll stay with me too, right?”

“Always.”

Chapter Text

Movie night becomes a regular thing over the summer.

Miles and Gwen have been doing it for months, but they didn’t bother to put a label on it until everyone else joined in. The cool thing about having friends from different dimensions are the differences in movies. Miles thinks Gwen is misquoting things until she shows him her version. After this, of course, she wants to see what his dimension has to offer. And just like that, Miles and Gwen are staying up every Friday night watching the ‘same’ move twice.

They decide to put it on hold for finals. Miles isn’t counting the days until he’s free from Visions for three glorious months; he’s counting down to movie night with Gwen.

He finds her in the cafeteria when he’s finished his last exam. Miles runs past the rest of the spiders waiting in line to meet her.

“It’s cool! I’m not cutting!” Miles turns around when they boo him, holding up his hands defensively.

“Hey!” Gwen says brightly. When Miles spins around she playfully punches him in the shoulder. “How’d it go?”

“Nailed it.”

Miles stays in line to talk to her, much to the anger of everyone behind him. He keeps turning around, telling them that he’s not getting anything, but they don’t believe him. It’s only when Gwen assures them that he’s banned from eating off her plate today that they calm down. Not by much though.

“Aww, come on! Just one fry.” He’s met with another barrage of boos. “So, it’s fine if I don’t wait in line, but it’s not if I’m just standing here?”

“It’s the principle!” one of them, a Peter, shouts from the back.

Miles looks at Gwen, his eyes pleading. She simply purses her lips and shrugs.

“Sorry, Miles. It’s the principle.” She leans into him. “Hey. I’ll make it to you tonight.  I’ll do all the snacks. You just bring the movies. Hey, do you have The Godfather in your dimension? It’s amazing! But we’ll probably have to watch it at your place. My dad hates movies about criminals; thinks they’re a bad influence on people. It’s like ‘Hey! I just watched Ocean’s Eleven, let’s go rob a casino!’ That’s not gonna happen.”

The other day Gwen was panicking over her exams, even after she finished all of them. She always worries, no matter how well she ends up doing; and she keeps obsessing over it until the grades come back. But today, all the way from the line to the table, Gwen only talks about watching movies with Miles.

“There you guys are!” Peter says, causing both of them to look up. “Mind if we sit here?” Without waiting for an answer, he, along with Hobie, Noir and Ham, set their trays down and join them. Peni, Pav and Margo wait.

“Sure,” Miles says, shifting in his spot.

“What are you guys talking about?” Peter asks, subtly reaching over to steal one of Gwen’s fries. Gwen slaps his hand away and gives it to Miles.

“The Princess Bride,” Gwen says, slightly agitated. “We’re just -”

“Oh, I love that movie!” Pav says.

“Everyone loves that movie,” Peter states.

“You guys have that movie too?” Margo asks.

“Huh. It’s a book where I'm from,” Noir says.

“Promise me that you’ll read that to your grandson whenever he’s sick,” Ham says.

“As you wish.”

“Aww, I love you too.”

“We haven’t interrupted a romantic conversation, have we?” Hobie asks. Miles and Gwen blush simultaneously. “Or are you trying to figure out which one of you is Westley and which one is Buttercup? Because I think you’re -”

He's cut off by Gwen.

“We’re not doing that.”

She tells them about their unofficial, unlabelled night of watching movies together. Every Friday night. For the past few months. They all love it. And before they know it, the rest of the band has joined them.

The Morales’ living room isn’t big enough for all of them. That doesn’t stop them from trying to fit. Miles and Gwen are usually by themselves on the couch. Hobie and Pav have joined them now. The rest of them are either sitting in chairs or on the floor. Miles and Gwen are still next to each other, so that’s something.

They also bring extra food, so Gwen doesn’t have to worry about there not being enough to go around.

“So,” Gwen says as she balances a dozen bowls of various snacks on her arms, shoulders and head. Miles gets up to help her and they set them down on the coffee table in front of the couch. “Thanks,” she says quickly. “So, which Godfather are we watching first?”

“I thought we were watching The Princess Bride,” Peter says.

“Yeah, but before that, Miles and I were talking about The Godfather. ”

“I’m good with that,” he shrugs. “That’s also a great movie. I’m gonna have to leave early though. I told MJ I’d be home in a Princess Bride, not a Godfather. Wait, how long is it in this dimension?”

They end up watching The Princess Bride.

Peter does protest, not wanting them to change their plans for his sake. Miles and Gwen are fine with it. They can watch on their own time.

Like they have so many times before, Miles and Gwen take their spot on the couch, having slightly less room than they usually do. Miles is up against the armrest much tighter than he normally is and Gwen has to rest her legs on the coffee table instead of putting them up. But he still puts his arm around her and she still cuddles into his side.

“You good?” Miles asks, brushing small circles on her arm, just below the cuff of her sleeve.

“Yeah,” she sighs.

They suddenly become aware that everyone is looking at them instead of the television.

“What?” they ask together.

“So, this is like… like a thing?” Peter hesitates. “We wouldn’t have come if we knew you were…”

“Were what?”

“Da - how can you two… I mean, you’re smart kids. You can’t honestly… God, and I thought I was an idiot when I was your age. Your generation - you know what? I’m just gonna leave this, and you two just do whatever.”

“He was going to say -” Hobie starts until Pav slaps a hand over his mouth.

They all stay. Through the first ten minutes, Hobie and Pav say that the tv is too small and they’re too far back to see everything properly. Miles and Gwen don’t have a problem with it, but don’t fight them either. They move to the floor. When no one moves to take their place, Miles and Gwen are free to take up the entire couch.

***

Miles wakes up with the sun rudely blasting him in the face. He raises an arm to shield his eyes, but finds himself unable to move at all.

Gwen is sleeping directly on top of him, a puddle of drool on his chest.

Miles looks around. Everyone is gone. The television is off, everything is cleaned up and a blanket has been draped over them. He doesn't remember how long they've been asleep. Just that he never finished the movie.

Chapter Text

Miles didn't always sleep alone.

He remembers when he was little; whether there was a storm keeping him awake or a nightmare or nothing at all, he could always go to his parents room. He would crawl between his mom and dad and stay there until the morning.

But that all stopped once he got older. It’s not that Miles didn’t want to go back. But for the longest time, Miles didn't think he would ever have that feeling again: safety, warmth, and comfort.

Then he met Gwen.

Miles doesn't think he can go back to sleeping alone now. He still does, just a few times a week, because Gwen doesn't live in his dimension and their parents would catch on. The only downside of Miles and Gwen’s arrangement is having to wake up early enough for the other to get home.

The nightmares have finally stopped for both of them. He can feel Gwen’s heartbeat next to him, the sound helping him fall asleep. Even when she isn't by his side, like tonight, he can almost sense it.

It’s just gone past three and Miles has been staring at the same spot on the ceiling all night. The rest of the city sleeps; unbothered as the rain poured heavily on the streets.

“This is ridiculous,” he tells himself.

Miles throws off her blanket and stretches before making his way to the bathroom. The storm is making everything darker than usual; too dark to see. Miles stubs his toe on her way over and has to reach aimlessly to turn on the lights.

He finally finds the switch and flips it. The fading light allows him to see his reflection in the mirror. He’s been sleeping much better lately. The heavy bags that were once under his eyes have faded, and his once sunken features have taken on new life. He inhales, picking up Gwen’s scent. He whips around to look for her.

That’s when he realizes it’s coming from his shirt.

Her shirt is probably a better choice of words, given how little he wears it these daysys. His room has become much cleaner these past few months. Gwen’s has become the opposite.

Miles leans down and splashes water on his face. He rubs his eyes again and blinks rapidly.

Deciding he won't be falling asleep again until he’s with Gwen, Miles takes a quick detour back to his room to put on a sweater and slippers before shuffling down the hall to the kitchen.

“Come on,” Miles says to himself, reaching for the cupboard. “Yes!”

The dishwasher is running, but there’s one bowl left. Even better, his favourite cereal is all stocked up. The good luck streak, sadly, doesn't continue. They’re out of milk.

“Shoot,” he sighs and returns to his room. It’s New York; there’s bound to be a place open at this hour.

On top of his desk a black and red spandex material rests. When he picks it up, Miles knocks off one of his sketchbooks, managing to grab it just before it hits the floor.

Miles takes a moment to flip through. Proudly displayed on the cover is a photo of him with Gwen, along with many others on his desk.

They make good references.

There’s the Peter’s, Peni, Margo, Hobie, and Pav in there too, but Gwen is by far the star of the show.

Suddenly the floor begins to shake. Miles drops his suit.

A portal opens above his bed and Gwen comes through, wearing his pyjamas. In one hand she has a bowl and in the other a carton of milk.

“Hey,” she says, stepping off and kissing her on the cheek. Miles’ face heats up and he traces her hand over the spot her lips touched. “Missed you.”

“Missed you too.” Miles gestures. “What’s that?”

“Milk,” she says simply. “Why? You don't have this on your earth?”

“Not in my home.”

“Yeah, I thought so. I’ve got a seventh sense about these things,” Gwen says. “I call it my girlfriend sense.”

They head back to the kitchen together. Miles fills each of their bowls with cereal while Gwen pours the milk. That’s the last of it. Miles offers to pay her back but she declines. The Stacy household is all stocked up, plus she would have finished it off herself just a few hours later.

“Couldn't sleep?” Gwen asks.

Miles’ mouth is full so he can't answer verbally, giving her a nod instead.

“Yeah, me neither. It’s… well, you know how it is.” Gwen takes a spoonful. “Mmm. This stuff is delicious. Why don't we have this on my earth?”

“We don't have milk. This was the trade off.”

“Right,” she laughs.

They wash their bowls by hand once they’re finished. Miles talks Gwen into letting him wash while she’s stuck with drying, under the sole condition they switch next time.

“Hey, so…” Miles trails off, hanging up the dish towel. “Do you maybe want to stay the rest of the -”

Gwen cuts him off by kissing him.

Miles’ eyes flutter closed as he leans into it, Gwen wrapping her arms around his neck. God, she's a great kisser, he thinks, helping her hop up onto the counter.

“That -” Gwen manages to get out between kisses. “- that's a yes.”

“Great.”

He doesn't know how long they spend in the kitchen, just that they're there until they're out of breath. Miles remarks that he wanted to help tire them out before they go to sleep. “Such a gentleman,” Gwen says.

She falls asleep first. Miles stays awake, just staring at her until he can't keep his eyes open. He drifts off into sleep, listening to the rhythm of her heart.

Thump-thump.

Thump-thump.

Thump-thump.

***

Miles groggily and reluctantly opens his eyes as the morning sunlight streams through the window, rudely blasting him in the face.

He thinks to cover it with his hand, then realizes his girlfriend is sleeping on top of him with a smile on her face. Not wanting to wake her up, Miles bears the sun.

Another realization comes with a soft knock on the door. It's bright outside, which means his parents are awake. And Gwen is still here.

His instincts tell him to turn invisible, but Miles goes right back. It would only help them if they were on her earth.

Why can't all spiders turn invisible?

“Miles,” Rio whispers, pushing it open slowly.

“Don't come in!” he shrieks, pulling the blanket over him and Gwen. “I’m… I'm naked, mom!”

“Oh, okay, sorry,” she says quickly.

“Wusgoinon?” Gwen mumbles.

Worst - excuse - ever.

“Gwen?!” Rio shouts, keeping the door closed. “Miles, what is Gwen doing here?! Is -” she pauses, Miles’ heart pounding the hardest it ever has. “She's not… desnuda too… she’d better not be!”

“Mom, just please -”

“What’s happening?” Jeff asks on the other side. “Is everything okay, Miles?”

“Yeah, dad, everything's -”

“Our son is naked, Jeff! And Gwen is in his room!”

“What?!”

“What?!” Gwen looks at him with wide eyes. “No, it’s fine, Mr. Morales! He's not naked! Neither am I!”

They burst through the door. Miles and Gwen sit up and go to the opposite sides of the bed.

“We didn't do anything, I swear!” Miles says, holding his hands up.

“Well, we did kiss a little,” Gwen whispers, going scarlet.

“Gwen!”

“I don't wanna lie to them!”

“Are those his pyjamas?” Rio points. Gwen looks down. “I thought you lost those months ago!”

“She stole them.”

“Hey!”

“What? You did!” Miles says. “So I did technically lose them.”

“How long have you two been…” Jeff looks back and forth between them. “Please don't make me say it.”

“How long have you two been sleeping together?”

The three of them all groan and cover their ears.

“Like… nine months,” Miles answers. “And we’re just sleeping, I swear, it’s nothing like that! It’s just… sometimes neither of us can sleep, and it’s easier together. Like that episode of Friends.”

“Oh, yeah, it’s exactly the same. Except you two are dating,” Rio says.

“Yeah, exactly. That’s like a minor detail.”

“So this has been going on for nine months,” Jeff says. Miles and Gwen nod. “Does George know?”

“No, sir,” Gwen says.

Rio and Jeff are torn between two different conversations; the first being that they've gone almost a year without realizing Miles and Gwen have regularly been sharing a bed, and the second…

“How do I put this?” Rio purses her lips. “I want nietos.”

“Wait…” Gwen takes a second longer to process.

“But not yet.”

“Oh, my -” she buries her head in her hands and hides in her hair. Miles goes invisible again and might stay that way for the rest of his life.

“We're not having… mom, come on!”

“Uh huh, you're sleeping together, tell me with a straight face it's not something we might have to worry about eventually.”

Miles and Gwen don't say a word for the rest of the talk. His strategy is to stare ahead and nod, trying his best to drown out whatever mortifying words are coming out of his parents' mouths. He hopes Gwen is doing the same.

“And just remember that we love you no matter what, and if you two need to share a bed to sleep together, then… fine. As long as you respect us when you’re under our roof. You let us know when you're together, and don't do anything stupid. Do you understand?”

“Si, mami.”

“Yes, Mrs. Morales.”

“Excellente,” Rio claps. “Now, breakfast should be in about five minutes. Gwen, will you be staying?”

“Uh…” she looks at Miles, then back at Rio. “Yeah, sure, thank you.”

Rio and Jeff leave them alone after that, but keep the door open. Miles slumps back onto the pillow and rubs his eyes. Gwen joins him and embraces him.

“That was so embarrassing, I’m gonna die,” Gwen mumbles into his shirt. “Naked?! Seriously?!”

“We kissed?! Seriously?!”

Gwen leans up and kisses him, then claims she’s just doing it to make him shut up.

“I should talk more often,” Miles grins. He puts his hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. Gwen’s hand finds its way to his chest, drawing no particular shape. “So, how’d you sleep?”

“Pretty good. First few hours sucked though.”

“Yeah, me too.”

They manage to get an extra two minutes in before Rio calls them for breakfast.