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andrews9930k · 1 year ago

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Oh my, she's a long way from her parents house (One-shot)

Well, just like a promise, here is my take of Miles learning what happened to Gwen before joining the Spider Society!

Link to AO3

Pairing: Ghostflower (Miles x Gwen.)

Summary:

After being freed from his evil counterpart by his "friends," Miles still wasn't sure what to think about what happened, specially from certain Spider-woman he has a crush on. Not knowing he was missing some important details. . . . Or, did Miles even know why Gwen didn't want to come back home? And how he would react knowing what happened?

Grey, that's the best Miles could say about this world. He didn't think it was in the way Noir was black and white, more like the world felt washed out and depressing. Or perhaps that's just how you feel when there is so much dust in the air, and being out of breath for the amount of running and escapes he has needed to do lately, his body was still resentful of his encounter with the other version of himself in Earth-42.

Miles...still wasn't sure how to feel about that, he was still processing a lot of things. He has barely managed to get out of their base of operations, not so much for the level of security, but because his counterpart was extremely fast and dangerous for a regular human. And taking into account the other beatings he had received that day, Miles wasn’t sure how much longer he could go.

And then, his fri- the spider-people he met back a year ago, and some of the new ones he met along the way; had appeared out of nowhere to rescue him.

Even if he still wasn't sure what was going on, he has come with them. Someone (no idea who), opened a portal to a new universe, and he has jumped without thinking twice, deciding whatever was on the other side had to be better than this.

Turns out it opened to a world that looked like New York- but the one of those dark, gritty films that try to portray the city as an eternally dark place, the pouring rain so strong he would smelled even if thankfully, they were inside a building- a dusty, without power building, still better than what he left.

The creaky floor whined at the wage of all the people suddenly in it, yet it luckily didn’t bulge on their feet as he feared by the sound; the walls had a stripped wallpaper that was peeling off and decaying in multiple parts, mould grew on the corners, and the doors and windows had planks of wood on top of it, the slim space between them showing they appeared to be in the ground floor. There wasn’t any furniture around, somehow.

Even in this rotting place, it was still better than where he had come from, if only because there weren’t any evil doppelgangers trying to murder here. Though as his eyes went towards his ‘saviours,’ he was wondering if he only went from two people to worry about to multiple.

He was ready to dip (no idea where, or how, but he always found a way out) until they promised they weren't with Miguel.

In all honesty, Miles didn't want to take their nonsense; specially not after Gwen spent all that time with him and still chose to hide what could happen. Not to mention Peter trying to convince him just to guide him into a trap.

Then something happened- or more like several.

"I am so sorry Miles, you were right, the organization is screwed, and canon is bullshit!" Gwen said, her voice sounding a bit desperate- almost like she still wasn't sure what to say, yet knew if she didn't do it now, Miles would just run away. And she wasn't wrong to think that.

"Look, all of this went out of control- I am sorry, I should have done better." Peter apologized next, with what Miles thought (or at least wanted to believe) was an honest smile, one that promised him everything was going to be okay.

However, what truly made him know this wasn't a trick- was Hobie.

"Mate," Hobie saluted before coming right in front of him, and without saying another word, offered him a watch. Or well- Miles assumed it was a watch, it was specially colourful, and it looked like it came out of a zine (just like Hobie). The screen content looked similar to what he saw of Gwen's watch-

Except that at a second glance, she didn't have that one; it was impossible to not see the neon colour replacing the silver and futurist look of the Spider Society's watches. The others had them, too.

And now Hobie was just giving him one?

Miles took it quickly enough, almost expecting it to be a trap; Hobie just continue looking at him with a lazy grin, as if nothing was wrong.

Lifting his hands like he was trying to show there was no trick under his sleeve, Hobie said, "Feel free to do whatever you want, I just wanted to give you the chance to do exactly that." He briefly looked back at his own raised palms, before looking back at Miles with his smile extending just a smidge.

Then Miles remembered that Hobie was the one who told him how to get out, and didn't go after him. If Miles could believe anyone out of this spider-people were on his side, it had to be him.

As his eyes darted across the room, he saw other familiar faces. Pavitr- who Miles remembers was confused and scared of the hole, and seemingly didn't know what was happening; wouldn't be weird they were hiding things from him too, specially as someone who started this job six months ago. Margo, who Miles remembers looking directly at him- and most likely, let him go.

Is just now that is sinking in that Miles didn't saw Noir and Ham at the Spider HQ- He didn't know them as well as Peter or Gwen, but he imagined that they would have said hi if they were around; and while he couldn't remember every single spidey he saw, Miles thought he would have noticed his old friends.

Putting the clock on, he gave a look at the rest of the group. The change was palpable when the clock secured on his wrist, even if he wasn't actively glitching- he could feel his atoms stabilizing already; Miles could appreciate that improvement.

Looking at the rest of the room, he said, "Okay, so, what's the plan?"

If he needed any more reasons to believe this wasn't a ruse, was to realize the relief that seemed to breathe in the room when Miles said those words. Maybe not in the chuckle of Hobie, or Pavitr commenting "See? It was going to be fine!" But he noticed it on Peter telling Noir to take his baby so he could hug Miles properly, on Margo's thankful and relieved smile (maybe she wanted to make sure he was okay more than he imagined.)

And specially, on Gwen smiling openly at him, and her eyes that he swore were shining with tears against the dark colours of this world.

On broad strokes: Miguel was wrong, there was a possible loophole to the whole canon thing (make his dad not become captain- would break his heart, but better than lose his life.) They also mentioned that they basically left the organization, but the society doesn't know they were helping him out, and Miguel and his goons were looking for him.

So he needed to save his dad and avoid them- Great, just what he needed.

They weren't sure in which world they had landed. Coming here has been done out of desperation and trying to run away from the nightmare world of Earth-42. They all had agreed it has been a long day (while subtly looking at Miles, who was by far in worse shape than the rest) and had divided themselves into smaller groups.

In all honesty? Now that he didn't need to be running away from somebody, Miles was starting to feel the weight of the day in his body, he isn't even sure how many hours it has been and the closest thing he had to rest was being knock out flat by his evil counterpart. So he had barely heard past the "Gwen, Hobie and Miles go out to look for a place to recharge."

"Don't need to tell me twice." He thought, slowly walking around as he looked at the place.

It seemed like has been once been an office building. Miles couldn't imagine what must have had happened to left couches, desks and other materials intact on its place to rot; but he also didn't have the energy to care about it.

They went through a few floors, most of them with abandoned cubicles, carts, bookshelves and other things you would expect in a company that Miles didn’t think too hard about; drawers opened and things in disarray, as if they had tried to ransack this place yet looked for only very specific things. The monochrome scheme seemed to permeate everywhere they went, which he wasn’t sure it was partially to the lack of power (good thing they have night vision,) or the person who decorated this place seemed to hate colours. The smell of mould and dust was everywhere, itching his nose a bit.

They eventually found a place that he had assumed may have been meant to receive guests; couches were in different places as a waiting area, with a couple of desks here and there. He could see the outline of where the potted plants had been. Curtain hangers that were now empty, this floor having wood planks on it even if they were multiple floors up. There was a fine dust covering everything, just like in the places they had been before.

"Me and Gwendy could move some of these around to make sure we have room for everybody," Hobie mentioned while looking with mild disgust at the light grey love seats that seemed to be part of some waiting area. Miles wondered if he had something against the furniture, or being in such a corporate place was just disgusting for him.

Miles needed a second to realize he hadn't been included. "What about me?"

"You can sit this one out Miles, we will be fine." Gwen mentioned off-hand, lifting one of the couches.

Frowning, he said, "I can help you know-"

"Mate," Hobie called up to him, with his calm demeanour contrasting Miles' bubbling annoyance. "You look two seconds away from becoming Father Ted. You can lie down."

"Father Ted?" He repeated, the confusion reigning over any residual anger at the idea of being useless.

"He means dead, Miles." Gwen says looking at him, and while he still wasn't sure how to feel about her; Miles noticed the worry in her eyes. "You had gone through a lot today. Let us to do this for you, okay? Please."

His own lips turned into a fine line, knowing very well he couldn't deny her; not just because he didn't have the strength not to when he was looking at him with such concern; Miles was indeed beaten half to death.

So with a sigh, he went to the love seat and lied on it. The material was stiff, and even after trying to remove the dust with his hand, the smell made him feel this thing has been here for longer that he has been alive. Closing his eyes, he resolved to rest. Or the best he could, considering the circumstances.

What he was going to do? Now he has his friends on his side, which was great, but he didn't want to measure his chances if they needed to fight the organization. Miles had managed to escape, but one thing was leaving on the dust a bunch of unorganized people who didn't even know what was going on; than having Miguel get his forces in order to crack him down.

What would the guy do if they break the canon? Gwen was sure this could be avoided somehow, yet this didn't take into account the other things that were supposed to happen, or how it could break the universe. Hobie was convinced this entire thing was ridiculous and Miguel has his head so far up his own ass to see it; while Peter had tried to say there could have been a way to reason-

At least everyone else shut him down on that one.

It would be an understatement to say he was stressed out, so despite how he felt like his body begging to sleep, his mind refused to cooperate. Gwen and Hobie moving furniture around also didn't give him the silence he normally preferred for these moments; yet he wasn't going to say anything to them since he still didn't feel too happy about being the only one taking it easy.

So he continues having his eyes closed, and to even his breathing in order to trick his mind into falling asleep.

Miles hasn't meant to overhear, but with super hearing and literally not much else going on in the room? Was impossible not to.

"So, everything back in order with your Pot and Pan?"

"How does anyone understand Hobie?" Miles half-wondered. He liked the guy, especially now that he was the only person Miles felt 100% could trust had his best interest at heart; but it didn't mean his slang was less confusing. Was this how his parents felt?

"Yeah, we sort things out; I feel a bit silly dramatizing how my dad would react after coming back home." Gwen chuckled awkwardly, hearing it in her tone alongside the furniture being rearranged. The light taps of the wood and the leather barely working as background noise, much less to hide that whatever this was about, wasn’t easy.

Miles imagined as such, since he could remember Gwen saying how her dad thought he killed Peter the first time she came to his universe. What he didn't expect was Hobie's next words.

"You are joking, right? That better be a joke. There was nothing dramatic about the way you reacted after what he did."

While still lying down, Miles frowned. What did happen? And why Hobie sounded so worked out all of the sudden? It couldn't have been that bad, right? Is her father, after all.

"Don't. Trust me on that." Gwen had said those words not so long ago. Miles hasn't wanted to debate her, especially without knowing her dad personally; but he has wondered why she was so sure of that. Now even more.

"It all worked out in the end Hobie, maybe if I had gotten home sooner-"

"No, we are not doing this Gwen." Miles was taken aback hearing Hobie not just saying her name (without nicknames or jokes,) but also that he could hear the bubbling anger in his voice. "What he did to you was inexcusable, end of the story; the only reason I didn't bash his head with my guitar was because you explicitly told me not to."

A tiny, little part of Miles's brain tried to remind him he wasn't part of this conversation and he shouldn't be eavesdropping (if it could count on him staying in the room and they both knowing about it.) Yet that small voice got shut down as he was starting to actually get worried.

Despite their short time together; there hasn't been any moment where he has seen Hobie lost his cool, not even coming close to it really. So whatever happened must have been next level bad if the guy was talking like he personally wanted to take her father down.

"He is my dad Hobie-"

"Oh yeah? Well, he didn't seem to remember that when you begged him to understand after showing your secret identity," Hobie's voice was picking up in volume, as the rage and indignation in her name seemed to overflow his voice; the next piece of furniture falling a little bit too hard as well; at least they wouldn't need to pay for it. "After saving multiple people in his face, he cornered you down, force you to reveal your identity; and when you tried to explain what happened, what did he do? Ah right, try to fucking arrest you as if you were any other criminal, and try to point his gun at you-

Miles opened his eyes and sat down so quickly you would have believed the couch was burning his back. "WHAT!?" He screamed, appalled.

The two of them turned to him, caught off guard as they looked at him in shock.

Hobie was the first to recover, putting a hand on the back of his neck as he said, "Sorry pal, didn't mean to interrupt your soot."

He wasn't sure what that was; yet Miles barely paid any mind as he got up and started to walk up to Gwen. "Sorry, is- I can’t sleep, and I couldn't help to hear, now just-" Looking with worry to Gwen, he apologetically said. "Is really everything alright? I can't- I couldn't begin to imagine how that must have been for you."

Gwen's expression was hard to read, her lips making a fine line, but her eyes were just as warm as ever, as if this question had less to do with answering him and more about herself. With a sigh, she turned to Hobie. "Do you mind giving us a few minutes alone?"

"Don't need to say it twice." He put down a desk (that has been piled up in a corner,) and walked towards the door they had come in. While passing them by, he put a hand on Gwen's shoulder. "Sorry for spilling it. Didn't mean to babble any personal details."

Giving him a small smile, she said. "Is alright, it may be better for him to know anyway, may make some explanations easier."

With a nod, Hobie gives her shoulder a squeeze before looking back at Miles and nodding to him, probably as a goodbye. Despite the proximity and the closeness of the two, Miles was surprised to realize he didn't feel jealousy this time around; if it was because he liked Hobie now, or because he felt he understood better what Gwen and Hobie meant for each other, was hard to say.

Promptly exiting the room, Gwen looked back at Miles and said, "Let's sit down, okay? Is kind of long story." The way she said it made Miles be unsure if that was the case, or if she just needed to sit to retell this. Because he imagined it wasn't pretty.

They both sat at opposite ends of the love seat, not so much apart it looked like they were avoiding each other, but Miles gave her space. He felt it may be what she needs.

Gwen looks dejected at him for a second, yet before he has a chance to ask if he did something wrong, she sighs and looks at the floor. "So, you remember how my dad thought I murdered Peter, right?"

With his lips becoming a fine line, he picked up a bit of his suit, stretching the fabric as he occupied his hands in an attempt to reign his nervous energy. "Yeah, you mentioned that before, when you came the first time."

"Right," Gwen nodded, still not looking at him; Miles thought it had more to do with this being a tough topic than anything he has done. "That was part of the reason I left to join the organization, or rather, more or less the entire reason." Playing a bit with her mask on her hands, she gave it a glance that seemed more bitter than he has ever seen her around this topic. "My dad received a call from the police that 'Vulture' was in a museum, and they needed help. I overheard it, so of course, I went too."

That made sense; since Miles was in the academy, he couldn't always have his dad as an accidental informant, yet there has been times where he has gone too after hearing the police calling up all units. Those were the most difficult times to scurry away, his mom wanting to at least spend time with Miles since he was around, and he needing to invent an excuse to go and save the day.

Feeling his stomach churn, he now imagines how much that must have hurt her- Miles really owed them an apology.

Distracting him from his guilt, Gwen continued talking. "Well, turns out it wasn't my Vulture, it was a version of him from another dimension. Weird dude, it seemed like it came out of a Da Vinci sketchbook-" Who? Gwen mentioned that guy before, but Miles has been too distracted by the mention of Hobie that he hasn't bothered to ask; better leave that for another time. "So Miguel was there to 'take care of it,' and when he couldn't, Jess came too."

"So that's how you met them." Miles muttered, more to himself than anything else.

Of course, Gwen heard, even if they weren't close to each other, super hearing didn't hide too much. "Yeah; Miguel was, of course, being a stick in the mud. Jess had looked a lot more impressive." Despite saying those words, there was some melancholy behind it; as if she was disappointed. Miles wondered what that was about, but figured would be better to ask her later.

"So, I guess they ask you to join them after seeing you in action, right?" He asks, picturing it in his head already; Gwen being her badass self, Jess and Miguel being impressed, and deciding she should be part of the team. Gwen probably only accepted after what happened with her dad. It made sense in his head.

And yet, Gwen just laughed; it didn't sounds like she actually found it funny though. "Oh no, not really. Like, I think Jess wanted me, but Miguel was convinced I was going to be a liability-"

"What? Why?"

Turning back to him, Gwen seemed unsure for a moment, as if she wasn't sure if she should answer or not. Miles wasn't sure what made her change her mind, but giving him a small smile, she says. "You. He didn't want me on the team, because he thought I was too close to you."

Slowly blinking in shock, Miles wasn't sure how to answer that.

Gwen didn't wait for a response; going back to looking at some random spot on the floor, she continued. "Anyway, I came up with a plan to save the day. The guy got knocked out; I was tired, got a tad mangled in the fight, and I had run out of webs; so I was just licking my wounds in some ruined part of the museum, away from everybody else when...my dad found me, still in costume, of course."

Miles wasn't sure if he wanted to imagine it. Gwen being in pain from a fight, using so much webbing she effectively run out (considering how they used it to move around the city, they needed a lot of webbing.) Regardless of what had happened between them, he could never wish her any harm.

Putting her arms around herself, there was a guarded expression on Gwen's face, as if she needed to steel herself for the next part. "He tried to arrest me, even telling to the other cops I was armed despite me not having anything on me, or not making up his mind if he wanted me on the ground or with my hands in the air," She chuckled a bit, on a melancholic, broken way. There wasn't anything funny about this. "I tried to reason with him, but he wasn't having it, shooting the roof as if he needed to make a point. So, I took my mask off."

Even if he knew it was coming, Miles was still shocked to hear it. Is just- in his mind, it didn't make any sense. His own dad has come around to liking spider-man, he realized on his own that Miles didn't have anything to do with it, and he didn’t even need to try to explain his side of the story. What reasoning could have Gwen's dad?

Not voicing his questions, Gwen was free to continue; taking pauses probably more for her own sake than his, not that he minded. "I tried to explain myself to him, but he wasn't having it, he ask me for how long I had been lying to him-" She took a deep breath, her voice breaking as she said those words. Even in a lonely room with just the two of them, Gwen didn't allow herself to break. Her eyes were so firmly shut it looked as she was doing her best not to cry. "I begged him to not be a cop, to just be my dad, and he just- started reading my Miranda Rights, and when I tried to get closer to him, he lifted his gun and told me to not come any closer-"

She couldn't do it anymore. Taking another shaky breath, her eyes have been firmly shut as she related that last bit; barely opening a bit as she took away the tears that were still fighting to come out. Chuckling, Gwen said with an uneven voice. "Jeez, you would think after knowing that everything is fine, I wouldn't get like this. Sorry."

Feeling horrified, Miles moved closer to her as he put an arm around her, his other hand holding her other shoulder in concern. "Gwen, you don't need to apologize for anything, I just-" What? What he can say in a situation like this? How horrific he found it? How he now understood why Gwen has been so adamant that he shouldn't tell anything to his parents? (They wouldn't react like that, he was sure of it, but he couldn't blame her for being wary.) That now Miles also had some strong words about her father too? That probably wouldn't help much in this situation, either.

This wasn't about him, or how absolutely devastating it felt to know this has happened to her. It was about Gwen, and that she clearly needed some comfort right now.

"I'm sorry this happened. You didn't deserve any of this," he said with conviction, squeezing her a bit.

"Is fine, I made up with him-"

"That doesn't make what happened okay!" Miles said, perhaps a tad louder than he should, the anger bubbling out against his will. He is really getting why Hobie has been so pissed. However, this wasn't about him; so letting his shoulders drop as he calmed down, he continued. "Sorry for shouting, is just- that's horrible."

Even if he really didn't do anything, Gwen gave him a small smile, her eyes still watery, glistening against the dim light. Her eyes were swollen and started to get a reddish tone; considering all the fights and escapes today, her hair being a mess wasn’t a shocker, and she was so tired you could see it in her face.

Miles still thought she was the prettiest girl alive.

Looking more composed, she took a deep breath and continued the story. "Miguel interfered, putting my dad temporarily on an anomaly container-" anomaly con- oh, probably the same thing they used on him. “Jess discussed with him to let me join, and I don't know if it was the fact that they certainly watched that entire shit show, or some sense of guilt over not helping me earlier; but they asked me to come with them.”

"So that's why you didn't want to go back." Miles muttered; there was a bad taste in his mouth thinking about this entire ordeal. Looking down at the dusty, stained floor; he felt this grey and sad world somehow fitted the situation.

Is just felt unbelievable. His dad has caught him and his uncle dead in front of him, and regardless of what his uncle did as a job; his dad realistically could still blame Spider-man and think he didn't have the right to "kill him" and continue going after him.

Yet his dad has seen him fight just once, for the good of the city and everyone living in it, and decided that something else must have happened; that he clearly, wouldn't do something like that. Miles didn't even need to reveal who he was, and he had no doubt in his mind that his dad would at worst; would think it was a horrible accident. Miles couldn't picture his parents thinking of him as a murderer.

Gwen had already lost her mom, she only had her dad left, and to realize this happened- It was beyond terrible.

"Is also why I didn't go to see you until I had an excuse to go to your dimension."

Turning to look at her again in surprise; her voice was just toneless, going back looking at a random spot that was probably not really what she was looking for, as her blue eyes appeared to be seeing something far from here. Her expression was neutral, detached; you could almost believe she was just talking about school if it wasn't for the treks of tears in her face. "Miguel was always watching, especially people like Hobie or me, who he considered 'reckless' and 'prone to trouble' " She did air quotations in her hands, rolling her eyes. "He considered you trouble, because of all the anomaly bullshit and whatnot, so I knew if I even try to put Earth-1610 on my watch, he would come in not a second later to boot me out."

With that piece of the puzzle, it just dawned on Miles how much Gwen has risked by going to see him.

She was supposed to monitor the Spot, yet she opened the portal directly to his room; she has refused to leave until the watch had told her the bad guy was back on his shenanigans, and had put in jeopardy the only safe place she had; because if she thought going back home meant prison, then probably she would have needed to be homeless if she wanted to avoid the law.

Miles really couldn't be mad at her for it, not in that context.

"Then why did you do it?" He decides to ask; because as happy as it made him seeing Gwen- she definitely had too much to lose.

Squeezing the mask in her hands, she didn't turn to look at him at first, looking down on a gesture that almost felt shy, something he definitely didn't associate with Gwen really. Taking a deep breath, she looked back at him and said, "Because I missed you."

With his face going slack, he looked at her in disbelief; she giving him a small smile, looking down. "I told you, right? You were the only real friend I made after Peter; not that Hobie, Pav and the others aren't friends, but us-" She moved her finger between the two of them, pointing at whatever they have. "This is special, different. And if I have to be honest with you, ever since I left your dimension the first time we met, I looked every day, at this."

She took something out of her pocket; it was a polaroid, of the picture she has taken back when they were on the bus leaving Alchemax, with Peter's legs sticking out in the background.

"You printed this?" He asked in awe, as his heart fluttered in elation. While swinging around the city, Gwen had deflected when he had tried to ask why she didn't come sooner; and he had really come to think neither Gwen nor Peter had cared much for him after the HQ fiasco. And now, he had the proof of how wrong it was.

"I can't really draw like you, you know?" She chuckled. Once this is said and done, he may ask if he could get a copy.

"I could teach you." He offered, half shrugging with a smile. He hoped it wasn't too flirty.

Gwen looked at him, surprised, as if it really has been that much of odd that he has offered.

"What?" Miles asked.

Biting her lip, she put away the picture, moving a lock of hair behind her ear; Gwen almost seemed nervous. "I know I already sorry, but Miles- I'm truly sorry. I made a lot of mistakes but I never, ever, wanted to do anything to jeopardize our friendship; so I just want to make sure-"

Miles didn't let her continue, hugging her just as quickly as she had done back when she came to him; being his turn to surprise her this time around. Taken aback, she didn't reciprocate the hug, but he didn't mind.

"Is okay," Miles muttered to her, his mouth close to her ear; he said it softly and gently, as he thought she needed now. Gwen has faced so many tough calls- she deserved someone to be kind to her, too. "Gwen- yes, you made a few mistakes, but after hearing what you had been going through? I don't know what I would have done in your place. And if I am honest? I don't know if I can stay mad at you," He chuckled; if they haven't seen each other again, thinking she really didn't care- perhaps it would be another story, but after coming back for him? Miles couldn't have stayed mad, messed up circumstances or not. "You are not going to lose me."

As if a spell had been broken, she hugged him back, hiding her face on his shoulder while he felt it getting wet, new tears coming back. Rather than sadness, this seemed out of relief.

"She really has been scared of that," Miles thought, warming up his heart.

With tiny, prickly tears in his eyes; Miles realized he had been afraid of that, too.

Hobie had insisted on giving them privacy, yet the others have been keen on pressing for details.

"C'mon, you need to tell me what happened! After the emotional reunion, the betrayals- I need to know how this ends!" Pav demanded, his fists against his chest in excitement. He truly was a romantic.

"Not my story to tell," He shrugged, knowing full well he didn't have much. It really didn't matter if he had crumbs or an entire book, Hobie wasn't one to babble about personal stuff- accidental slips notwithstanding. "You can ask them if you want."

"Will do as soon as I see them!" Pavitr said lifting one finger, walking alongside him as they returned to the place where Hobie left the duo. Hobie has gone back to the first floor to waste some time. Pavitr finishes looking for any food that could be around on the floors he got assigned to; they had been all for messing around when they had received a call from Peter, who told them to stop being lazy and go up.

"I think he just wants to know as well," Hobie thought, thinking back on the words Peter has used- something told him the man has more invested in this than anyone else, including Pav.

Getting back into the room, he opened the door and started to say "Are you two do-" He stopped himself with the door ajar, looking at the scene in surprise.

Gwen and Miles were snuggling together, both of them hugging on the couch. Gwendy's face was against Miles' neck, so he couldn't really see her, but Miles's eyes were closed, breathing slowly alongside Gwen, in a slow rhythm that somehow seemed to have synchronized to each other. They were both clearly asleep.

Smiling a bit, he muttered. "Guess they really needed that soot."

"Soot? Oh!" Pavitr whispered, lowering his head as he looked below Hobie's arm. "They are napping together! Isn't that adorable? I guess they made up? But they did it as friends or-"

"I think we will need to get the answer to that later." Hobie said, closing the door once again. He could deal with Peter's ire if he wanted more details than Hobie letting them sleep; he wasn't following orders unless it was for a good reason.

"Aww, Hobie!" Pavitr protested, getting up and pouting at him.

Shrugging, he went back to where they came from. "Look mate, it has been a hectic couple of days, and everyone is tired; just let them have this for now, okay?"

"Fiiiiine." He said in disappointment, yet following him quickly enough.

Chuckling, Hobie shook his head. He was fine not knowing. It wasn't his business; besides, he has heard Gwen talk about Miles, and one look at him when she was around was all you needed to know.

It was just a matter of time, anyway.

. . . . .

Originally, I had thought Gwen had mentioned what happened to Miles since she says "You still think I murder my best friend?" but upon rewatching, I thought Gwen didn't seem like the type to would go out of her way talking about emotional issues like that, and would made more sense that she has mentioned how in her universe, she was blamed for Peter's death.

So, I wondered, how Miles could learn about it, and how he would react?

I really couldn't think about any other title, I was struggling. Is funny, you can hear this on the song if you pay attention, but is NOWHERE on the internet of lyrics video, don't ask me how. I found it hilarious.

I imagine a lot of you are going to be mad at me for doing that ending, but truly, I felt I couldn't had the confession at that time, felt like too much, and tensions too high; so I decided to give them a moment of peace, or just have each other.

Like Hobie says, is not a big deal, knowing them, it is just a matter of time.

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