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Jeff has a rule; don't get family involved with work.
It was a strategy that served him well for many years. He’d come home, hug his son and kiss his wife, then hang up his uniform and help around the house. No worries, no stress.
At least it was his rule until yesterday. Now he’s sitting in the back of an Italian restaurant with George Stacy on a last-minute stakeout, watching their teenaged children from afar.
It came out in the middle of dinner on Friday. Miles - who normally loves his mothers cooking - has barely eaten anything. Rio notices first and tries to figure out what’s wrong. He’s burning up with sweat dripping down his brow.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about it,” Miles says, fiddling with the sleeve of his sweater and looking everywhere but at his parents.
“Miles,” Jeff says, taking off his glasses and glaring at him. Miles shifts in his seat. When he does manage to make eye contact with his father he seems to shrink, looking extremely guilty.
“Go on, Mijo,” Rio says in a more soothing tone. She shoots Jeff a look. “You can tell us anything.”
Miles looks helpless. He shuts his eyes and hangs his head before mumbling “Ihaveadate, okay?”
Jeff stops. He turns to Rio with his eyebrows raised. She nods, confirming that she too heard what they thought they heard. Miles still isn’t making eye contact with either of them.
Miles sighs in defeat and says clearly “I have a date tomorrow night… with Gwen.” A smile creeps to his face when he says her name.
“Gwen Stacy?” Rio asks.
“Yeah, Gwen Stacy.”
It's not the first time Rio and Jeff thought Miles and Gwen were going on a date. For months these two kids have been dancing around each other, spending time alone together and always refusing to put the label of “date” on it.
Four times Miles stayed late at Gwen’s dimension to study (George kept a close eye on them to make sure there wasn't any funny business, which was the start of their partnership). One time Gwen came over to watch a movie with Miles for a book report. Rio later forced Gwen to come over and read the actual book with Miles. Five whole times they went bowling with another couple, Pavitr and Gayatri. They were sure not to call it a double date in front of their son. Finally, there’s the countless hours they spend swinging together. Spider-Man is hardly on the news alone anymore, always joined by one black and white themed vigilante. And that's just in their dimension. God knows how much more goes on in Gwen’s.
“A date?” Jeff asks. “Like a real date?”
“Yeah Dad, a real date,” Miles says. “I’m taking her to Micks, I've got a reservation, I’m putting on a suit, I'm doing everything right.”
“Make sure you only put on one suit,” Jeff says. Miles opens his mouth to speak but Jeff beats him to the punch. “You leave your tights here. Understand?”
Jeff fights the urge to pull out his phone until dinner is all cleaned up. By then, he's already texting George, all thanks to the “upgrade” Miles got them.
Jeff: You heard about this date?
George's response is immediate.
George: Yep. It's a real one. It's about time.
Jeff: Sorry my boy took so long.
George: Don't worry about it. It's not like Gwenie did much to help. I hope it goes well. With their luck there’ll be a bank robbery or something five minutes in.
Jeff: Or a super villain.
George: Or a super villain bank robbery… how is this real life?
Jeff: I don't know man. The world is crazy. Or “worlds”
George: Right. And if that doesn't happen, it'll be something else. I wish we could tag along. Chaperone. Make sure everything goes smoothly.
And that's how Jeff and George ended up crammed into a booth together, clad in sunglasses and baseball caps. It's a little cliche, sure. It probably draws a lot more attention to them than it does distract. But Miles and Gwen are all the way across the room and hopefully too focused on each other to notice. As long as their faces are concealed (as concealed as you can get without looking like you're here to rob the place) they should be safe.
Jeff and George arrived fifteen minutes early and are watching the door intently.
“You don't think they can sense us, do you?”
“Nah,” Jeff says. “That’s only for danger. We're good. I think… I hope. Heads up, I think I see them. Ten o’clock.”
Miles holds the door open for Gwen when they enter. The host leads them to a small table in the middle of the restaurant, a perfect vantage point for Jeff and George. It’s just crowded enough for them to blend in. Remaining a perfect gentleman, Miles also pulls out Gwen’s chair for her. He only has eyes for her tonight, and the expression makes it seem he’s just been hit on the back of the head. Jeff feels an ache in his chest just seeing his son from a distance.
Gwen’s voice fills their ears.
“Thanks.”
“She always giggles when she talks about your boy,” George says. He hands Jeff a menu which they use to cover their mouths. “It's even worse when it's with him here.”
“Never seemed like the type. All…”
“Punk rock?”
Jeff hums to acknowledge.
“You look really pretty,” Miles says.
“Thanks. You too.” Gwen lets out a startled laugh - and then cuts herself off. “We have this place in my dimension too, you know.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Except it isn't Italian. But I like Italian. I -”
The feed cuts when a sudden, high pitched noise travels through the microphone, sending a sharp, painful jolt of sound directly into their ears. George and Jeff wince together, their hands flying up to remove their earpieces. The ringing persists. Everything in the restaurant suddenly seems too loud, too close. Jeff sits back in the booth, clenching a fist shut while he rubs his ear. George fiddles with the receiver under the table, trying to turn the volume down.
“What’s -” Jeff starts, his voice coming out far louder than he intended. He sinks down and speaks in a whisper, barely able to hear himself. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Interference,” George says. At least that’s the only word he can make out. Jeff is mostly relying on his nonexistent lip reading skills.
“From what?”
***
“What happened? Why can’t we hear anything?”
“I don’t know. It was working before.”
“Try turning it off and turning it back on.”
“We don’t need to do that. I’ll just move it and see if that helps.”
Hobie shrugs, digging through his bag until he’s brandishing a bag of cool ranch doritos. “Make sure we can still see them.” He looks over Pav’s shoulder to the display on his watch. The middle of the table was the perfect place to put the Spider-Bot. They could (should have been able to) hear everything, see everything, and remain unnoticed as long as it stayed cloaked. Not that they needed that last bit. The way Miles and Gwen are looking at each other, they could have had an imax camera as the centrepiece and they wouldn’t have spotted it. “What about the ceiling?”
“Then we can't see their faces,” Pav says.
“All right. Your call, Cupid.”
The drone ends up perched on top of a plant, giving them a view that - as Pavitr says - looks like something out of a movie. The window is framing Miles and Gwen from the side, the lights from the city catching them perfectly. Hobie thinks Pav might have a heart attack from how romantic it looks. The audio can't focus on them alone from this distance, picking up chatter from the other patrons, but at least the interference is gone.
Miles smiles widely and blurts out “Aww!”
“No! We missed an aww!” Pav cries. “What do you think they're talking about?”
***
“Okay, let's do this one last time,” George says, flipping a switch and putting his earpiece in.
“Shut up,” Gwen laughs, reaching across the table to slap him on the shoulder. She’s always looking for excuses to touch Miles, George observes. He finds himself thinking back to one of their first study sessions together, back when he didn’t know Miles as well as he does now. George was extremely cautious at the idea of leaving his daughter alone with a boy on her bed, and his suspicions were all but confirmed when a commotion came from Gwen’s room. George burst through the door willing to make an arrest, but instead found his daughter beating Miles with a pillow.
Sure, her brand of physical affection may not be the kind George showed with Helen, but George can’t remember seeing Gwen so comfortable with someone, with all the quick hugs and not-so-gentle punches to his shoulder.
“Don’t worry, that’s a good sign.” There’s a beat. “It’s their thing.” And another. “Yeah, it’s a little weird, but…”
“Make me!”
There’s a twinge in George’s chest. Miles is undeniably, absolutely, positively, without a doubt flirting with his little girl. At least he has the decency to looks scandalised at the words that just left his mouth.
“Maybe I will.”
But she’s flirting back! And Miles looks about a moment away from kissing Gwen. She lifts her hand, brings her face closer to his, and shoots a web over his mouth. Gwen barks out a laugh, burying her face in her arms. Miles clamps a hand over his mouth, snickering.
“Mm mmm! Mmmm mmm mmmm?!”
“I’m sorry!” Gwen says with tears starting to form in her eyes. Even a blind person could tell she isn’t sorry at all. “Here, let me.” She cups his face and rips the web off in one fluid motion. A kiss might still be on the table, because Gwen isn’t letting go of him. George bites down hard on the inside of his cheek, keeping his eyes trained on Miles. Don’t get George wrong, he’s absolutely thrilled Miles and Gwen are on a real date. But seeing them kiss? No way.
And then George feels angry with himself, because Miles is a fine young man. He's proven that time and again, always treating him and Gwen with the utmost respect. He isn't one of those slimy boys George has always taught Gwen to watch out for. Miles is a perfect gentleman. He shouldn't be feeling this way towards him. Unfortunately, knowing that doesn't change a thing, it seems.
Gwen pulls back, blushing heavily. George lets out a sigh of relief.
“You try raising a daughter,” George says once he notices Jeff’s expression. “Sorry, I guess I just… that’s my little girl.”
“And that's my baby boy. I want what’s best for him, too.”
George doesn't mean to say it, but it comes out all the same. "Do you think Gwen isn't good enough for him?" Immediately after the words leave his mouth, George regrets them. “I’m sorry, I -”
“Are you sure you don’t want anything, sirs?” the waiter asks innocently. George and Jeff shoot him the same look; the look they reserve for the suspects they want to intimidate; the ones they just know are guilty. This is yet another thing George doesn’t mean to do, and he’s sure Jeff doesn’t either. It just slips out. The waiter pales and quickly backs away.
“I haven't always been there for Gwen,” George says once he’s out of earshot. “I tried to be, but even when I was there, I wasn't really there. I guess I’m just… compensating. And if it matters, I do think Miles is good enough for her.”
“Thanks,” Jeff says. “Now that I’ve gotten to know her a little better, I think Gwen’s good enough for him, too.”
George mulls over that, thinking carefully. Gwen told him all about her first couple meetings with Rio and Jeff. Panicked about them is probably the better description. He can't blame them for being cautious of her at first, except… “You really thought I was a drug dealer?”
“Miles was missing, we were worried, I jumped to a conclusion. Statement quickly withdrawn, by the way. We cool?”
“Cool,” George says. “Let's just try to remember we both love our kids, and we want them to be happy. And at least the date seems to be going well.”
“It does,” Jeff agrees.
“But we’re gonna keep watching them,” he says. A statement, not a question.
“Yep.”
***
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” Pav chants at his screen as if Miles and Gwen can hear him. “No!” His watch starts vibrating violently. Peter B’s image appears in the corner. “Hello.”
“Hey, Pav - wait, you look upset. Why are you upset? Is the date going bad?!”
“No! It’s going great - they were about to kiss, but didn’t! This is getting ridiculous!” Pav blows out a breath and runs a hand through his hair. “How’s it going?”
“Just a second.” Peter B ducks on the other end and sends a punch off screen. There’s a cry followed by a thud. Peter B straightens his posture, looks around, then gives Pav a thumbs up. “Crisis averted. No cops. The happy couple isn’t going anywhere. Margo’s got the robbery covered and I think Peni took the car wreck. Unbelievable. It’s like every criminal in the city knew their Spider-Man would be out on a date. How’s Gwen’s dimension doing?”
“Noir and Ham texted - well, Ham texted. Noir still doesn’t know how it works - and everything’s under control. Miguel had to assign a couple more Spiders to give them a hand.”
“Miguel?” Hobie asks.
“Jess made him,” Peter B says.
“That makes more sense.”
***
Miles was raised by Rio Morales, and if there's one thing his mother taught him, it's that he should never make a lady pay for an outing. Rio, of course, being the exception. The bill is more expensive than he anticipated. Gwen insists that she chip in (despite the fact her money is no good in this dimension). After some negotiations with Gwen, they agree she’ll pay next time they go to the movies.
“So.”
“So,” she echoes.
“Do you wanna get out of here?” he asks, even though he hasn’t a clue. Gwen answers with nothing except a smile and a nod.
Miles has been on a reckless streak lately - the kind where he’s able to ask Gwen out on a date, reach for her hand as they walk out the door, and maybe, hopefully, kiss her at last. It feels inevitable when Gwen grips his palm tightly.
“I didn't bring my suit,” Miles begins, seeing just how far this recklessness can take him. “But you have your web shooters, and I have my web shooters, and…”
“I don't think my dress is built for swinging.” Miles’ shoulders sink. That was a dumb idea any- “But maybe on our next date?” Gwen says. Then, “If you want to go on a next date, I mean.”
Miles perks up at those two little words, not even trying to fight the grin spreading on his face. He probably looks like an idiot right now. He doesn't care. “Tomorrow night?”
“Tomorrow night.”
They walk in silence for a while, and as soon as he hears the water flowing, he pulls her in that direction. The sun is dipping just behind Manhattan, enveloping the sky in golds and ambers. Put that scene right by the Brooklyn Bridge, it's too good to resist.
Miles drops her hand and pulls off his jacket and offers it to Gwen, not missing the chance to poke fun at her for taking another article of clothing from him. Gwen tells him to shut up and points out that this one was given. Miles leans himself against the railing and concedes. “Thank you,” she tells him after a few seconds of silence, save for the muffled city in the background and the waves. “I…”
Gwen doesn't finish her sentence, seeming content in not saying anything and to lean part of her weight against him for a few more minutes.
“I’m glad you asked me out,” Gwen finally says.
He puts his arm around her - her neck instead of her shoulder, he decides - pulling her even closer. “I’m glad you said yes,” Miles says into her hair.
“Took you long enough.”
***
“Damn right,” Jeff mutters.
***
“Damn right,” Peter B says, then looks away from his watch and down at Mayday. “Don't tell Mom I said that word in front of you, okay?”
***
“Just kiss!” Pav hisses.
“He's getting there!” Hobie says.
***
Miles laughs at that since Gwen is joking, but she's right. He doesn't know why it took so long to ask her out. This could have been - should have been them months ago. “I'll make it up to you,” he says genuinely, now realising how much time he's spent staring at her lips. When did Gwen's lips start to look so pretty?
“How… um… how are you…” Gwen is at a loss for words, her hands warm and fidgeting over his own. She closes her eyes, tenses, and opens her eyes when she releases a breath. “I've never… I'm nervous.”
“Same,” Miles responds to both. He reaches a hand up, silently asking permission before tucking a portion of Gwen's hair behind her ear. He leans forward until their noses are touching, not moving a single muscle in his body until Gwen presses herself forward, closing all space between them.
Her lips are soft against his. Sweet. Gentle. Comforting, like coming back home. Forgive him for being over the top, he's been dreaming about kissing Gwen for a long time. But all that dreaming doesn't compare to the real thing. He thinks he should pull back, just to take a breath, to savour this moment. Gwen gives a satisfied hum, which he believes is a signal to stay right where he is.
“Finally!” Miles hears a familiar voice echo, and his head snaps to the source. On top of the bridge he spots the whip of magnificent hair ducking out of sight. Next to this is a partially visible guitar.
“Oh, come on -”
“Miles,” Gwen taps him on the shoulder. “Miles!”
“Yeah?”
“See those two guys over there? In the baseball caps. No, there.” Gwen puts her hand on his chin to direct his line of sight. In this time of confusion, it makes him smile. “Who do you think they are?” she asks, even though it's clear from her tone she knows the answer. “I thought I saw them at the restaurant.”
“Dad?!” Miles calls out. One of the men raises their hands, hesitates, then salutes him before walking off in the opposite direction. The other follows closely behind. “Unbelievable.”
“Hey,” Gwen says. “Didn't you say something about making it up to me?”
“Yeah, but… I already kissed you.”
“Once. You owe me a lot more,” Gwen says, and Miles isn't complaining in the slightest.
***
Jeff waits up for Miles that night, who comes home much later than he promised. And without his jacket.
“How was your date?” Rio asks, despite the report Jeff gave her.
“I’m in love, Mami.” He stops halfway to his room, turns around, and makes sure to give his mother a hug and a kiss. Either not caring about the stakeout or simply playing along, Miles gives Jeff the same courtesy. “Night guys. I love you.”
“Love you too, Mijo,” Rio says. As the door closes, Jeff pulls out his phone.
Jeff: I’m in the clear. How's Gwen?
George: I don't think your son’s getting his jacket back.