Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Oh wow, it's you!” Lyla quipped from his shoulder, staring at the monitor that Miguel was looking wide eyed at. 

He should not be surprised.

Earth-960, Nueva York, estimated Spider-Man? Miguel O’Hara.

He really should not be surprised at all, this was the multiverse, of course there would be another version of him. 

(After all, he took the place of one.)

But…

Thirteen years old?  

If he was anything like him, then that would mean…

A terrible thought occurred to him. 

“You’re so tiny!” Lyla teased, glancing over at him before back at the screen where the mini version of him is swinging around. 

“Lyla, focus.” Miguel chastised, already pulling up the anomaly report that originally brought this dimension’s attention to him. A Rhino from another dimension had managed to get to Earth-960’s dimension due to the left over holes created by the Spot. They'll need to capture Rhino, stitch the multidimensional hole close and…

Earth-960 would be safe. 

Miguel's eyes focused back to the screen where it was monitoring 960’s spider-man, the younger him.

Younger, far too young for Tyler Stone to get ahold of him. 

So, what was the difference between them then? Did this version of Miguel actually get bit by a spider instead? Or did his genes also get spliced as well? 

“Lyla, pull up everything you got in this dimension.” he ordered, pulling up another screen to use to call Ben Riley. “On it big boss, pulling up all the info on mini boss!” Lyla said, and she disappeared before Miguel could give her a scowl. 

He sighed, a hand coming to rub at his aching head already. His eyes fell to the screen once more, staring at the scrawny limbs and a small but agile version of him, younger him. 

Miguel remembered still how it felt, to be that small.

After all, George O’Hara did everything he could to remind him of it.

Scattered bruises on his arms and legs, the tight space of the corner that he could easily squeeze into. Hiding his little brother in his arms and staring at their bedroom door. Waiting for the yelling to cease, waiting for a potential pounding at the door and Miguel waiting on telling his brother to hide all while their father barged in full of anger and the smell of alcohol laced in his breath as he screamed his throat out at him and raised his fists to strike. 

He wondered, briefly, if he had the same chance as this version of him, having this spider strength, would he have finally stood up against him? 

Did this version of him do that? Or was George O'Hara dead already?  

“Shock,” he muttered, forcing himself to look away. Not the time to think, especially with the anomaly loose still and Ben Riley is not picking up his call. 

That’s when he remembered that Ben Riley was on a mission already, he quickly canceled the call and brought up Jess to call her.

“Boss, she’s on her day off, remember?” Lyla said, appearing once more but with a screen full of information regarding Earth-960. 

Miguel groaned, not at the fact Jess was using her very valuable and deserving break, but that he had to call Peter into it instead. 

Peter was great, amazing at what he does but Miguel would rather stay in a room with Hobie Brown for a full hour before admitting it to the man. His only problem is the amount of words that would spew out of that man’s mouth.

And Miguel knew, if Peter knew, he would try to convince him of something he’d very much rather not do. Like, recruiting this version of him.

Miguel would prefer to decrease recruiting kids.

Miguel would also prefer it if they were not a version of him.

(Miguel would prefer to not disappoint the younger him over what he had become.)

Lyla does see the way he hesitated, as she tilted her head at him. “Why don't you go instead?” 

“I can’t.” Miguel simply answered, pressing the call button and praying Peter does not pick up. 

At the same time, he cannot get involved. Ever since Gabriella, the thought of entering a dimension similar to his was…too much.

(What if he found her again?)

(Would he be able to leave?)

(what if he destroyed it all again?)

Even though his variation was young, Miguel still does not feel comfortable with the idea.

Lyla, as much as she liked to appear naïve, saw right through him and understood. 

“Miguel…” she began, but Peter picked up at the same time. 

Which was a relief, he did not want to hear Lyla’s attempt to talk to him, nor find another candidate who would go. 

Unfortunately, he had to bitterly accept that only Peter would suffice for this mission.

“Hey pal!” Peter responded, his grinning face on the screen. 

The background is all familiar, the cafeteria of the spider society that Miguel would always recognize. He was wearing his pink robe, but no baby carrier in sight, which meant Mayday was back home with his wife.

Good, that meant he would be able to do this without question. 

“I have a mission for you Parker,” Miguel said in pure professionalism, already sending the coordinates to Peter's watch as well as notes of what he is not allowed to do in case he did need the reminder. 

“Wow, not even a ‘Hi, hello Peter, I missed you’ or ‘How are you’.” he laughed, but Miguel could already see him checking out his watch. 

He pinpointed the second Peter realized who is the Spider-Man of the dimension he is being sent to.

Raised eyebrows, glancing at him before chuckling breathlessly, “Oh wow, so that’s why you typed ‘Be sneaky as shock’ in all caps in the notes then?” 

“Peter,” Miguel warned.

“Yeah yeah! I hear you pal.” Peter said quickly enough, “Gonna capture Rhino and come back quickly, no interacting with Spider-Man…but-”

“No.”

“Aw come on man, didn’t you make Spider Society for a better future for spiders all around dimensions? What’s wrong with extending a hand towards, you know, a version of you?” 

There, that was what Miguel was afraid of. 

Peter is trying to convince him already. 

If asked, or found just a year prior, Miguel would not have minded. He would have welcomed younger him in without a thought, but…

Miguel messed up, big time. The whole canon and Miles Morales situation had been…it had changed stuff around the Spider Society. 

There was a slight edge around Miguel, he did not fail to notice this. 

The Spider Society, the spiders, weren't technically holding pitchforks and fire and screaming monster at him. They are too nice for that, too kind, too understanding. Nearly all of them are fine with keeping him as their leader because ‘Even Spider-Man makes mistakes, we all learn from our mistakes.’ 

Except his concept of canon is not one hundred percent correct, his assurance to spiders who all came to him with lifelong guilt of failing the people they haven't saved by telling them that it was all fate, destiny. That they could not have done anything to prevent it, that it was meant to be and that they were not a failure of a hero. 

That was all false.

He was wrong when Miles proved it by saving his father and his universe. 

When Gwen's universe stayed stable when her father quit from being captain.

When he realized that Peter B. Parker's daughter, Mayday, is an anomaly herself because she would not have existed without Miles and yet his universe is still stable.

That there could be cases of canon being altered and changed. 

The Spider Society who were reassured that their failures were unchangeable fate learned the truth that day. Those who had relied on him heavily, changed their perspective on him. 

It was noticeable, the small tension around him when he was walking around, when giving orders there were more questions. A small amount of the spiders had left the spider society, some came back after some time but…

There was change around him.

Miguel was not as trusted as before.

And Miguel understood.

Because That was a mistake that can never be forgiven.

Not to mention how he acted with Miles Morales as well, the aggressive display he showed that day of the chase probably did also help with his new reputation.

(Let alone the whole Miles Morales situation by itself, the kid is not comfortable with him, as well as the others by default considering they were his friends. 

He is not blind to Gwen's glare, Hobie's passive aggressive remarks, Margo slightly distancing herself from him and Pav…is just there, but seeing how talkative the kid was to anyone but him is enough to know he was not on his good side either.

While he did apologize, there was still the tension that Miguel doubts would subside anytime soon.

The trust that was there will never be regained once again, and Miguel doubted he deserved a second chance.)

If he brought a version of him, a younger version, just a kid…he would not fit in.

Because of him .

“He is fine.” Miguel said in the end, turning to face the document Lyla brought to him that contained every information about Earth-960 so he could make sure that he was actually fine.

“Oh that’s nice to hear, still not a reason to not recruit him.'' Peter continued on, pressing on the matter. Miguel had to remind himself to breathe before facing Peter in the call again with a deadly glare, “Me telling you no is enough reason.”

Peter gave him a look that basically called him a hypocrite, Miguel disgusted that he could understand it perfectly. “Funny that you say-”

“Peter.” Miguel growled, and Peter backed off. 

“Alright! Alright okay, Rhino coming right up.” 

“Good, report to me immediately once you’re done.” Miguel said, and shut off the call before Peter could pester him any further. He had already told him enough in the notes for him to not poke his nose into things. 

He sighed, before directing his attention to the other screen in full focus. 

Miguel's eyes landed on the name Tyler Stone, and he began to read as his stomach twisted on itself. 

Chapter Text

“Whatever you say boss– aaa nd he hung up.'' Peter huffed, shaking his head slightly before looking over at his watch where the coordinates of the portal’s dimension were written as well as the notes.

• BE SNEAKY AS SHOCK
• No interactions with this dimension’s spiderman
• Solo-mission, no one is to accompany you
• Call back up if needed 

“Well, looks like we’re going on a solo mission, huh Mayday?” he said, looking across the table at his baby daughter who giggled and babbled at him in response, her carrier sitting on the floor between the two of them. 

Miguel did say that it was a solo mission, most likely because he does not want just anyone to see a dimension with a version of him. But Peter couldn't just leave his daughter, as MJ was gone from the house for the next week and their babysitter was busy with exam week. 

Miguel wouldn’t mind, hopefully. 

Peter shoved all the memories of Miguel criticizing him of bringing Mayday into battles into the gutter of his mind as he cooed at his baby girl, who gave her one of the most beautiful smiles he had ever seen in his life.

Peter got up, strapped his daughter close to his chest, giving her a smooch to the head before exiting the cafeteria. 

After all, it would be rude to open a portal in a space where people are eating. 

Mayday squealed as soon as Peter entered through the portal, a secure grip around her and his mask on. High pitch giggles echoing throughout the tunnel of the portal as the two of them pull from one dimension to another. 

Peter landed on top of a roof, as coordinates promised that he would. It would be very unwise to pop in the middle of the street where people were around. 

“Alright, time to find a guy in a big fat poor rhino costume.” Peter quipped, staring at his watch to see where the anomaly was located. And thanks to Spider-Man luck, Rhino was smack dab in the middle of the city. “Yeah, I might not be as sneaky as Miguel wanted but, we can be quick, yeah?” Peter looked down at Mayday, “Mi! Mi mi!” she said, and Peter took it as an answer, always.

“Alrighty, let’s go.” 

The Nueva York was the same exact one as Miguel's, except for maybe a little difference in the hover cars model being slightly outdated. Peter kept to the shadows mostly, even if the Rhino fight might not be as sneaky, he gotta be on the way to him.

If this dimension was anything like Miguel's Nueva York, then Peter has to be careful of the public eye. Now he doesn’t know a lot, but just enough to stay wary, and enough to brag about being close enough to Miguel to know that. 

(Not that Miguel let him do that sadly.)

He found Rhino soon enough, easy as well, considering that he was currently fighting against this dimension’s Spider-Man in the open. 

Peter couldn't help but stay still as he watched, while he did know already that this was another version of Miguel but younger, he just couldn't really get over how…small he was. 

Scrawny limbs, short and skinny and it heavily reminded him of how Miles used to be like. Especially as the kid moved around the Rhino to immobilize him in an agile manner, in graceful ways he isn't used to seeing Miguel doing. But considering the different body builds (and age) of the two of them, it would make sense that they would have different fighting styles.

“Ok, cool, how am I going to do this…” Peter muttered to himself, he could wait for the kid to beat Rhino and leave so he can swoop in and grab Rhino’s butt and leave in a portal but…

It was taking an awful lot. 

And frankly, Peter believed that maybe, just maybe the kid doesn't know what he was doing. Not that he was judging, it’s just very obvious. 

His speed was good, he could dodge, but that was nearly all he was doing. Resorting to only Dodging, nearly not having the time to get a punch of his own, and his stance was not good enough for him to get a solid good knock out on Rhino when he did.

He was half tempted to call Miguel and ask him how long this version of him has been a Spider-Man for but every thought stopped as he watched Rhino slam the kid roughly at the ground. “ Ay! Coño! ” A pained yell came from him and–

He was already swinging over, the only warning Rhino got was Mayday’s squeal as he kicked him roughly in the face and sent the anomaly away from the kid. 

“Hey! No rough housing at four! A little too early for that!'' Peter called out, not even sure of the time and he won't check, the only thing he was checking was the kid sprawled on the ground, wearing an identical version of the suit Miguel wears.

Who in turn, looked up at him and–”Is that a baby?!” He yelled out, in a high pitched voice that obviously belonged to a twelve year old. 

Gosh, Peter should have asked how old he was. He can't be more than fourteen.

“Aren't you one yourself?” Peter joked, which got him a deadpanned look from the kid. Huh, it explained why Miguel had such bad wrinkles, he was grumpy from before even puberty. “ I’m not a baby !” the kid hissed, pointing at him. “Why do you have a baby? Whose baby even is that?!”

“My sweet baby girl,” Peter confirmed, petting Mayday in the head. He won't pass up a chance to not talk about her. “Isn’t she cute?” 

But before mini-Miguel could say anything, Rhino backed up again and charged towards them with a growl. Of course Peter’s spider senses alerted him at the moment so he gracefully stepped back, before remembering that ‘oh hey, my Miguel doesn't have a spider sense, does that mean-’ 

Judging by the way the kid screamed his throat out as Rhino tackled him, yes, yes he does not have it. 

“I got you kid!'' Peter called out, ignoring the thought of Miguel pestering him about meeting this dimension’s Spider-Man as he webbed mini-Miguel and pulled him over to his side before Rhino could impale the kid to a surface with his horn and make a mini-Miguel kebab.

He hugged the kid closely to his side, feeling him tremble slightly. “Eso Dolió! Shock,” mini-Miguel huffed, breathing in heavily, and Peter patted his arm in sympathy. 

Getting hit with Rhino was no fun, he knew that fully well. “Well you can sit back and relax, I got this.” He assured, before flinging himself over and not hearing mini-Miguel calling out to him. 

“Hey big guy!” he called out to Rhino, who growled animalistically at him as he charged towards him. “I’m pretty sure the red and charging thing is reserved for bulls! Or are you changing your whole identity thing? Totally support it by the way, just let me know so I can get rid of the red, don't want to turn into a kebab–Woah!'' Peter swiftly dodged, throwing a web onto Rhino’s feet and backing away as he pulled with the momentum. 

Rhino yelped before falling into the ground, and quickly, Peter threw webs on his limbs so he could stay down. But true to Rhino’s strength, he managed to free one hand and was quickly getting up before it happened. 

He glitched, Rhino screamed in pain and Peter winced. 

Yeah, it was not a good feeling. “Yeah, sorry about that buddy.” Peter came closer as Rhino tried to grasp at what just happened to him, before swiftly knocking him out with a solid punch. 

Peter shook his hand as he hissed, this Rhino sure had a tough noggin. “Nighty night.” he bid to the out cold Rhino.

Mayday clapped and giggled, happy at Rhino’s fall and Peter was starting to wonder if Miguel insisting she does not go on missions were for her own safety or for her to not enjoy violent acts. 

…Could be both.

Peter made sure to web him up properly, just to ensure if he did wake up on the way he wouldn't be able to do much. That’s when a small figure climbed over to him, hovering by his shoulder and staring down. 

Glancing up at mini-Miguel, Peter can feel the calculating gaze behind his mask. “Who are you?” he asked in a shy voice, though there was a hint of awe in it that Peter took straight to the ego. 

“Well, I shouldn’t really tell you…I shouldn't even talk to you in the first place but the suit kinda gives it away and so does the whole,” he gestured to Rhino, entangled in his webs. “web thing too.” 

Mini-Miguel was frozen for a bit before he said, “you’re Spider-Man.” 

“Yeah.”

“With a baby.”

“yep.”

“A shocking baby.” 

“Her name is Mayday.” Peter said, as there was no harm to it.

Mini-Miguel doesn’t even glance at her as he pointed towards Peter and himself, “But I’m Spider-Man? I am Spider-Man, how are you…you’re like me?" Mini-Miguel seemed very lost, Peter snorted at the classical line that he started to hear a lot. “You are Spider-Man.” He confirmed, and it doesn’t escape his notice how mini-Miguel seemed to puff proudly at that. “And I’m Spider-Man too, just from a different dimension.” He said, only to clear things up. 

“...You’re Spider-Man from another dimension.” mini-Miguel parroted back, pointing a finger at him again and Peter felt like he should be offended, seeing as how the kid is looking at him up and down. “Yes, yes I am.” 

“Does your dimension not have common sense? Because why are you carrying a baby around if you’re Spider-Man? Is that not dangerous?!” mini-Miguel then said, slurring slightly on his words, pointing towards Mayday who smiled at him and tried to reach over with her tiny hands towards him.

Yep, that was Miguel alright. 

“You’re very welcome to the fact that I saved you from Rhino, and now I will go.” Peter would leave rather than hearing slander from a mini version of his best friend slash boss. 

And well, better to leave before giving more reason for Miguel to yell at him. 

“Go? Wait, you're leaving?”

“Yeah, can't stay in your dimension for too long.” he typed the coordinates in his watch, and with a quick press, a portal ripped through the space next to him. He could hear mini-Miguel gasp, as Peter grabbed Rhino and chucked him in first. 

“Wait! Hold on a second!” mini-Miguel called out, and Peter cringed as he looked back at him. “Yeah sorry dude I wish I could stay longer but–”

“No! Please stay! Por favor!” 

Peter froze, looking over back at the kid who seemed much smaller than he did before. The eyes of his mask are wide, frame stiffened and a hand reaching out towards him but stopping all together, hesitant himself. 

Mini-Miguel seemed to see this as an opportunity to talk, and talk he did. 

“Just for a bit, I, I still have some questions!” he said in a panic, “I don’t, I’m–I just started doing this a week ago and,” the kid stuttered out, his slurring was heavy and peter was beginning to suspect if Miguel used to wear braces because it sounds like it. “I don't know what I'm doing, okay? I can't stop now and if you’re like me then maybe you could help me? Or explain some stuff...please.” 

Peter grimaced, he really shouldn’t, he really, really shouldn’t.

“Yeah well, it all comes naturally kid, the first days were the hardest for everyone.” Peter said, and mini-Miguel perked up, “everyone?”

Oh shoot, shoot sho ot shoot -

“Uh, I mean, for Spider-Man, me.” 

Mini-Miguel squinted at him, but he didn't press on luckily. “Okay but that doesn’t help!” 

“Okay kid,” Peter sighed, he could spare a minute of his awesome mentor's ways of teaching, and he hoped Miguel would not mind that. “What is it that you need help with?” 

“Everything!” mini-Miguel said, “There is a weird itch in my hands that won't go away, everything sounds too loud and the light hurts my eyes and the spider in my head buzzing around that I barely got it to stop thanks to the Alchemax drugs I stole, but I can still feel it there and I can't stop cutting stuff with these talons things and, and I think I killed someone and I do not know what to do.” 

Peter was frozen.

He did not expect all of that.

Mini-Miguel took his silence with a wince as he tried to further explain.

“I-I didn’t mean to, I just cut his arm when he tried to–and he panicked and fell from the window and…we were on the top floor.” 

“Kid,” Peter stepped closer, and the kid stepped back. “Woah it’s alright.” He whispered, He heard Mayday babble in confusion, and Peter glanced at her, and at mini-Miguel. 

Peter could not give a damn about what Miguel felt about not talking to this dimension’s version of him. This version of Miguel, Peter has to help. 

(Miles and Gwen were the last time that he ever let himself stand on the side lines, he can’t let himself be like that again.

He cannot abandon a kid like that.)

“I’ll help you.” he said, and mini-Miguel's tense shoulders relaxed. “Really?” 

“Well, I mean, I know someone who will.” Peter said, because while he did say he can help, he won’t be that much of a help in this area of expertise. He was going to charm Miguel into liking mini-Miguel enough to help him. “He is kind of...you know how I told you I'm from a different dimension?

“Um, yeah?”

“Well, long story short, we have a Spider-Man club house basically, we kind of help each other and there are many versions of Spider-Man's since you know, multiverse.” 

“...”

The two stand in silence, Peter could see the way mini-Miguel brain is trying to process all this and he only snapped out of it when Mayday babbled at him, reaching towards him. “Mi! Mi mi!” she called out, and mini-Miguel glanced at Peter who only beckoned him to come closer. 

Mini-Miguel squinted, before stepping in closer and giving Mayday a fist bump. “Hola, uh, Mayday?” the baby only smiled, giggling as she smacked his fist bump several times before he pulled away.

“Really?'' Peter asked, and mini-Miguel gave him a deadpan look as he unfurled his hands to Peter, the claws–err…talons, still out. 

“I do not know how to shocking get rid of these.” He said, shaking them. “I know that I can get rid of them because when I sleep and wake up, they’re always gone in the morning but then I hold something and bam ! It’s all in pieces! That’s why I asked for help.” 

Peter doesn't reply, not when his spider senses buzzed and he looked around with his eyes before managing to catch the sight of something shining on the top of a roof of one of the buildings. His immediate thought? Public Eye . 

Or, a threat that he cannot tell from all the way down here.

Peter trusted his gut and spider senses, it would not be a good idea to stay any longer.

“Yeah! I will, now come on!” He reached out quickly, grabbing mini-Miguel's hand and pulling him along into the portal. The kid screamed, but Peter made sure to keep a tight hold on him. “Take a deep breath! And do not puke!” He advised loudly, hoping the kid could hear from where he was screaming and maybe laughing.

Chapter Text

It was a rough landing. 

But give him a break, he was old, and his joints still hurt from time to time so, landing with two kids hanging on him had him stumbling and falling to the floor.

On his back, of course, he would never squish Mayday. So only he got the rough of it as the kids, or more specifically Mayday giggled lightly and mini-Miguel wheezed out something in spanish that he didn’t understand.

“Yeah ow, couldn’t quite catch that.” Peter wheezed as well, sitting up slowly and patting Mayday’s head. 

Looking down at her to make sure she was fine, which she was thankfully. He took off the mask to press a kiss to her head, and heard a gasp from right beside him.

Peter looked over at mini-Miguel, his mask’s eyes are wide and staring in shock at his face. 

“Heh, no worries kid, nothin bad happens if you take your mask off here.” He chuckled, standing up slowly and hissing as something in his knee clicks but otherwise fine. 

“huh, okay…” mini-Miguel said, uncharastically more quieter. “I'm sorry.” he continued after a pause.

Peter stilled, tilting his head at him as Mayday made a noise of confusion too. “For what?”

Mini-Miguel pointed to his arms. 

Peter looked down at them, and sure enough there were scratch wounds on his arms. Small and not deep, so no need for medical attention right away. Now that Peter knew about it, he could finally feel the stinging pain but, not so much that he was going to whine to the kid about it.

Besides, fast healing will get it closed up no more than half hour.

“Oh it’s fine, kitten scratches.” He giggled, assuring the kid and mini-Miguel glared, though his tense frame dropped. “Nevermind, I am not sorry.”

Peter rolled his eyes and He extended a hand towards mini-Miguel to help him up, the kid stared at his hand and doesn’t take it as he stood up himself. Hm, well, more similarities to grumpy pants, which was silly considering they were both the same person.

“I uh, didn’t want to scratch you anymore.” mini-Miguel said, showing his hands once again. 

Right, talons. He does not know how to retract them.

Peter felt like the biggest asshole in the world, he reached and patted the kid’s head as he imagined kicking himself in the back. “Thanks for that buddy.” 

“Yeah anyways…where are we?” mini-Miguel asked, looking around nervously and Peter can see why.

They were where they held the anomalies, illuminated cages and they were all staring at them. “Spider society! And yeah, not the best place to drop in but, this is where we hold anomalies.” 

At mini-Miguel's squinty questioning look, Peter continued to explain. “You know the Rhino I captured from your dimension? He is considered an anomaly because he was somewhere he was not supposed to be, which is your dimension, so we capture them, and return them home.” 

“...You know there is a difference between clubhouse and workplace? Because what you just said sounds more like work to me and the way you described this place sounded more like a fun hippy hang out.” mini-Miguel dared to give him a betrayed look, that was if Peter’s ability to read Miguel’s facial expression under his mask was correct.

“Yeah, let's cut me some slack, I am not supposed to bring you with me.” Peter sighed, and looked around to see where he had dropped the big lump of Rhino that he just captured. Already seeing him registered into a cage. 

Huh, must have been Margo or someone Lyla messaged to do so since he didn't come out of the portal in the same second. 

“You’re not?” mini-Miguel asked suddenly. 

Peter paused, confused for a second before remembering what he had just said. 

“Oh buddy no you’re fine! It’s gonna be fine, I'm like, best friends with the boss so don't worry about it. Besides, you said you needed help so, he’ll understand.'' Peter reassured, patting mini-Miguel's shoulder.

Mini-Miguel does not seem reassured at all. 

“I am doomed to have a bad first impression now! What if this boss guy does not like me?!” He freaked out, and well, peter can’t really deny that but–”Hey hey hey, listen!” he placed two hands on mini-Miguel’s shoulders, squeezing gently. The kid is glaring at him but Peter continued to say. “It’s going to be fine.”

“ Mentiroso .”

“Hey! I understand some spanish you know. Trust me.”

“...Okay, uh…”

“Peter,” Peter smiled, giving out his hand to shake. “Peter B. Parker, father of the cutest daughter alive.”

“...Miguel O’Hara.” mini-Miguel introduced himself finally.

It’s an awkward second where he held his hand in place though, giving mini-Miguel a look.

Mini-Miguel looked at him, before raising his hands, ever so slowly.

Whoops.

That's right, talons, he cannot shake his hand.

Peter awkwardly took back his hand, opting to pet Mayday’s head. “Yeah well I don't mind a few cat scratches.”

“Not a cat,” mini-Miguel grumbled, “and I'm serious, I might cut your finger clean off.” 

“I doubt that.”

“¿ Quieres probar amigo ?” 

“Amigo! I know amigo, the rest not but we’re friends now!” 

“Yeah no I changed my mind, I don't want your help. You said there are other spiders, maybe one of them will help me.'' Mini-Miguel made a show of turning around and trying to walk away, and Peter chuckled.

Before he had to actually stop the kid from walking away. 

“Okay okay, wait I know I said it was fine but I can't let you walk out!'' Peter said in a panic, pulling Miguel back. “What? Why?” mini-Miguel asked, and if he wasn't wearing his mask, Peter could have easily seen the ridiculous look on his face as he looked at him.

Yeah, he was pretty sure he was good at reading Miguel’s expressions under the mask.

“Because...” he began, before sighing because he really does not know what to say. “Look, I gotta talk to…um, the big boss first, before you do anything so…” 

“Ok,” mini-Miguel shrugged, “let’s go meet him.” 

“Yeah no.'' Peter dropped the idea entirely, he can't really have mini-Miguel meet big-Miguel just yet. He’s gotta ease into it, it would be best if he went, explained the situation thoroughly to big-Miguel before letting him meet mini-Miguel.

(Kind of what he had wished he had done with Miles, but Peter can learn from his mistakes.)

They were going to have great first impressions! And to convince Miguel to keep mini-him over, because he needed help and well, Peter has a soft spot for kids.

Even if the kid is a mini version of his boss slash best friend maybe?

Also Peter wasn't so sure if he should ever mention that the boss was a big version of this Miguel just yet–

He really needed to talk to Miguel right now.

“I gotta talk to him alone, and then we can get you two to meet up and stuff.” Peter explained half-assedly, his hand coming to pat mini-Miguel on the shoulder once more but backtracked immediately as a fit of glitches consumed mini-Miguel, who yelled out in surprise and pain. 

“a̸̘̜̮̙̾͗́̋̄͋͠y̵̛͍̗̗̿͗͝!̸̢̬̭̠̩̻͖͙̩̅̀̄̌̏ͅ ̴̛̺͓̤̌͌̆̎̿͐o̶̭̦̼̱̫͙̖͎̝̟̖̯͔̮̓̂́̍̒̊̾͒͐͝ơ̶̘͚͉̩̱͖̺͔͇͇̮̤̎͊̄̈́̌̀̃̽͗-̸̡̧̢̢̜͔̳͔͔̝̰͍̜̯̱͐̈̽́͠ẅ̸̞̀͒̽̆̀̐̊̐̏͑͘w̴̭͚͓̤̥̳̱͊̍̊̈́͌̈́̈́͋̿̄͝!̸̛̛̛̩̭̟̺͓̠̗͂̀̌̅̒͘͠͝”

He fell to his knees, as the glitches corrupted his form. A hiss of pain came from him in a glitchy error mess.

Mayday cried out, reaching for him with her little arms and Peter covered her eyes. “Oh yikes I forgot about that.” he winced. Peter quickly fumbled in his pockets, he was pretty sure he had a daily pass on him and luckily enough, his Spider-Man luck is not as strong since he got one. 

Dropping to the ground where the kid had fallen to his knees, Peter reached out gently. 

“Here, you gotta wear this.” he softly said, taking mini-Miguel’s hand and strapping the daily pass on. Patting the kid’s back once he regained his full form, who grunted.

“So, that’s how it feels, ugh…” mini-Miguel slurred, and Peter hummed. “Yeah, not so great.”

“Mi mi…” Mayday called out, concern in her face as she tried to reach for mini-Miguel. 

Peter glanced at the two of them, seeing mini-Miguel eye’s mask squinting at her, like he was smiling. “You know, you can take off the mask.” he encouraged, but mini-Miguel seemed to shy away. 

Peter was about to take it back but he slowly gathered the fabric of his mask in his hand before pulling it off. 

Red eyes, messy hair and fangs protruding to his lips. 

But with youthful full cheeks, just a tad bit (aka a whole lot) baby face and his eyes were big and wide and very, very much young.

“Hey there!” Peter happily said, smiling. Wow, he could not be more than fourteen. Mayday babbled happily at the sight of him, and mini-Miguel reached with the back of his hand caressing her cheek carefully. 

He glanced at Peter, as if to see if this was okay and Peter only chuckled. 

Mini-Miguel looked back at Mayday and smiled awkwardly, and Mayday babbled happily.

Peter smiled wider at the sight, his hand coming to ruffle mini-Miguel’s surprisingly soft hair. 

He was pleasantly surprised to find the kid leaning into his hand for a second, but then mini-Miguel stopped and gave him a pointed fake offended look at him until he smacked his hand away playfully. Peter backed off with a grin, because he is not forgetting this moment in a million years and now he really has to talk to Miguel properly.

And maybe force him into the idea of recruiting the kid. 

Yeah, nah, scratch ‘maybe’, it was a definitely. 

“So this…doesn’t make you almost explode into tiny pieces?” mini-Miguel asked, lifting his wrist with the daily pass on it. Staring at it rather curiously, and Peter saw the way he glanced over at him and his gizmo on his own wrist. 

“The word you’re looking for is ‘stabilize ’.” Peter corrected, feeling a little good on the fact he was doing that at Miguel even though this was a mini-version of him. “Well that's what it felt like,” The kid muttered, “what about you? You’re wearing something else.” he asked, pointing at his gizmo.

“This one is a fancy gizmo, opens portals to any dimension and makes sure I do not get my particles blasted all over the place.”

Mini-Miguel stood silently for a second, before-

“I want one.”

“Only people who join the spider society get it.”

“I wanna join.”

“Kid,” Peter grinned, happy to know but also- “it’s kinda dangerous to get into a job without knowing anything, you know?”

Mini-Miguel raised his eyebrows, realizing that himself, maybe or something. “Oh yeah, that’s how I got experimented on in the first place.” He said, as if that was a known and nonchalant fact and Peter choked on the air.

“You what?”

“You guys! Spiderman, all of you, You guys capture…amonalies, amon…anom, um.” mini-Miguel flushed red, trying to talk fast to move on from a subject that he had dropped like a hot sack of potatoes on Peter and now cannot pronounce anomalies correctly. 

Peter found himself pitying the kid, and decided to file the question in his head later on after he had a thorough talk with Miguel about recruiting the kid and also his past that Peter seemed to know a little about.

(But now with more knowledge that he can brag about, to no one, except MJ and Mayday.)

“You can do it.” Peter encouraged instead, and that only made mini-Miguel even more red as he swung his arm towards the anomalies in the cages around them. “Them! They!” He said instead. 

“Yes, correct, we capture anomalies and we monitor the state of the multiverse to make sure they don't collapse and…stuff, look I don’t make the final deal on this stuff so when we get you to meet our nice lovable boss, he’ll explain everything!” Peter patted his head, grinning as mini-Miguel doesn’t push his hand away. “So, we’ll see later on if you still want to.”

After just a tad second longer, mini-Miguel finally pushed his hand away and nodded. “Fine.”

“Alright, I have to go to the boss, so you…can…uh….” Peter stopped as he realized he was going to have to leave mini-Miguel alone. 

He can’t just ask anyone to watch him, if Miguel was adamant on refusing to have a mini-version of him around because he doesn’t want others to see him that way, which was Peter’s working theory until when he talks properly with him, then, he really cannot just ask anyone. 

Maybe if he hid mini-Miguel…nah, what if he hid who he was? 

“Here!” Peter took off his pink robe, and wrapped it around mini-Miguel who jumped at the sudden motion. “Qué?! Eh? What are you doing?” Mini-Miguel asked, but he held onto the pink robe.

Then, took a sniff, then, let go of it. “Dios mio, this smells awful, did you steal this off of a corpse?” but Peter kept pressing on him, ignoring the jab. 

“Please? Just for a while, I can't let anyone see you until then.” 

“You know, I get this sense that you’re very awful at your job.”

“Do you want me to help you or not?”

“I thought you’re the adult one here.”

“Hey, you hungry?” Peter asked instead, and at the wide look he got, he took it as a confirmation.

Mini-Miguel finally wore the pink robe at the promise of food, even though the sleeves were too long and the robe dragged behind him but it helped to hide his very identifying suit. 

“You better be the one paying.” mini-Miguel said, very much obviously not liking his dressed state and Peter quite sneakily took a picture, shushing Mayday who giggled so she wouldn't snitch. “Yeah, no worries pal, it’s an all eat buffet for you. Now come on!” 

Pulling the kid along to his side as the two walked out of the anomaly cave–as Peter the brilliant namer of things dubbed it now–the light of the spider society finally hit them.

Literally.

Mini-Miguel hissed, closing his eyes and Peter then remembered, light sensitive eyes and only a week used to it. “Here, put your mask back on.” He advised, and mini-Miguel was already doing it before he began to blink and look around. “My eyes would have been fine after a minute, no need to baby me.” 

“Sure kid.” Peter said, finding himself not really meaning it.

Miguel seemed like he wanted to respond back, but the sight of the place took his breath away.

“Woah…” 

Peter grinned, and as much as he loved to show him around the place, he really, really had to talk to Miguel now because if he was a little late then it might not end in his favor.

He pulled the kid along, careful to not touch his hand and opting to hold onto his shoulder. Mini-miguel went with him with no resistance as he looked around in awe. “There are so many…” he heard mini-Miguel say, probably about the spider-people around. 

A few looked over at Peter, smiling and waving, before curiously looking down at mini-Miguel. Some noticed, already familiar with the color scheme of Miguel's suit and his unique mask eye pattern, staring wide but they didn't stop Peter. Mini-Miguel seemed to also notice, shying away as he pressed himself closer to Peter's side. 

Peter, for the millionth time, asked himself why he had thought he didn't want kids. 

“There are…so many like you.” mini-Miguel said, likely taking notice of Spider-Men with the same color and design of his suit. “Yeah, well, a lot of spiders are named Peter Parker here. It’s kind of in the name, multiverse? You’re bound to meet someone who is like you. Not to say that everyone is Peter Parker, everyone is different but, we’re all Spider-Man.” He said, patting his back, “or woman, or cat, or dinosaur, or car, or Lego, the list can go on.”

“Did you say Lego?”

“That one stuck out to you? Not the dinosaur? Or a car?”

“ Lego? ”

“I’ll introduce you.”

“Debo estar soñando…” mini-Miguel mumbled to himself.

The cafeteria was bustling with spider-people, already on the lunch hour and Peter looked down at mini-Miguel to see if he was okay and found the little guy staring deeply at the food. 

“Alright, you can go and eat, and preferably stay here until I come get you, okay? I won't take too long.” He said, slightly nudging him in. mini-Miguel nodded numbly at his words, before he pointed at the screen where they were advertising the burgers. 

“Is that me?” He asked, pointing at his mask then. 

“...You are what you eat?” Peter answered with a grimace, as he personally did not know the story behind the burger. It could be Lyla's doing, it probably was now that he thought about it. 

“I'm pretty sure I was me before the burger.” mini-Miguel said, and Peter decided to get him that burger even if he did not want it. 

“...Tell me everything you want.”

Mini-Miguel seemed nervous at first, pointing at a food item before looking at Peter, and pointing to more and more. “I like empanadas.” Mini-Miguel admitted after having ordered five or four of it, which Peter does not judge, the food was good. 

He took the bag with a smile and a thank you before placing it right on Miguel's hands, pointing to a table on the corner. “Here you can eat and take your time, I won't be long, that was a lie, I will take a while so eat very slowly.” His hand went to pet the kid’s head again, and really Peter wasn’t like this before but with Mayday it started as a habit and now he cant stop doing it to every little person he saw. 

Mini-Miguel doesn’t seem to mind though, did not push his hand away this time. Perhaps occupied by the food in his hands, he did not notice himself leaning into Peter’s hand again and Peter smiled. 

He let go, mayday waving and mini-Miguel waved them a goodbye. 

“See you in a few.” With that, Peter turned and left. 

Even though every fiber in his body hated turning his back to the kid. But the spider society was a safe place, besides, the kid was a Spider-Man, he could take care of himself. He would be fine on his own for a little bit. 

What was the worst that could happen?

He had to convince Miguel, he had to.

Chapter Text

Miguel held the bag of warm, very warm food in his hands as he began to look around for a little space he could eat at. 

The cafeteria is filled with tables and chairs, but also with a lot of spider-people. 

It felt weird, being clad in his spider suit and not being chased down from where he was standing still. 

(Even if the pink robe thing was in the way and he got stared at embarrassingly but it was all for the sake of the food, and help.) 

Miguel walked slowly, over to one of the tables before deciding that he really, really did not like sitting in busy places. There has to be a place where there weren't a lot of people–err… Spider -people around. 

But Peter had said not to move, and Miguel himself doesn't really know the place that well. He anxiously clenched the bag in his hands, but careful with his talons.

He forced himself to sit on a lone seat with nobody nearby, but found himself unable to let go of the food bag just yet or let his guard drop. Suddenly, without Peter, everything just felt a little too loud. 

Maybe, if he just focused on eating his food, he’d feel better?

Miguel lifted a hand over to the bottom of his mask, but was unable to really get himself to remove it. 

Yeah, no. there has to be someplace more quieter.

Miguel stood up quickly, clutching the warm food closer to his chest and nearly bumping into a chair as he tried to walk around aimlessly. 

And seemingly, he appeared lost enough for someone to reach out.

“Hey, you alright?” a voice called out, and Miguel turned to face a spider-woman, with red hair, white and red suit.

Miguel dug his hands to the bag, feeling the bag rip against his talons. “Uh…” he began, unsure if he should say something but she only patiently looked at him and tilted her head, insinuating that she was willing to listen. “yeah, um, it’s just a little…” he trailed off, not knowing how to say that there was too much noise, too much light and too much scents wafting off others. 

It felt rude too, the place looked amazing, it was so cool but–

Too much.

“Crowded?” she finished for him, and Miguel nodded in relief that she understood.

“Yeah, I get it, I use the break room sometimes, it’s much less rowdy from here.” she said, pointing down to the hallway. “Want me to show you?” she asked kindly. 

Miguel blinked, wondering if every spider in this society was always this kind and shook his head. “No, uh it’s fine, you can just give me the directions.” 

The break room was heaven compared to the cafeteria. 

There was no one inside. 

Miguel couldn’t bring himself to feel too bad about disobeying Peter’s order, and besides, he could just retrace his steps back when he’s finished with the food and be much more prepared for so many vibrant colors and spider-people.

Although, the room lights were a little too bright for his liking.

Miguel looked around for some sort of switch, he does not mind eating in the dark if he can comfortably take off his mask. Finding a dial twist instead of a switch for the lights. Miguel twisted it slightly to test it, and the lights dimmed and he marveled at it.

“ Bonito ,” He whispered, he doesn’t have to eat in the dark directly. Whoever designed the place really went out in the diversity of things. 

Could be the boss guy. 

Miguel didn’t really know how to feel about it, but Peter seemed nice enough and he was Spiderman, so he could be trusted. 

And so did that random Spider-lady.

Everyone here was Spider-Man. 

Miguel had seen the many variations of colors and different people but they’re all one and the same spider. What’s more baffling, he had seen some stick to the roof and hang only by the sole of their feet. 

(ignoring the fact that he saw a Spider-Man popsicle, that was a thought for another day.)

(wouldn't the cafeteria be a nightmare for that guy?)

Miguel wondered if he could stick on the ceiling like that too. 

Or was it the building surface that made it so? 

There was the thought of trying it out himself, but…with the talons, Miguel was sure he’d leave a scratching mess behind. 

He looked down at his hands, his eyes flitting to one as he noticed red on his fingers, talons. Tips baked in dried blood, Peter’s blood from when he dug his hand around his arm when they were in the portal.

Instead of hunger in his stomach, guilt pooled in and resided instead. 

Miguel cringed at the sight, frowning as he reached to grab a tissue from the food bag, scrubbing roughly at his fingers and hissing as he pressed hard. 

He should probably leave Peter something for him to eat, as an apology.

At the thought of it, his stomach growled and Miguel began to consider if the cat joke Peter made at that moment when he apologized was worth giving him a piece of his food.

Now hunger and guilt became roommates in his stomach. 

Miguel moved quickly to sit on the couch, opting to ignore the couch on the roof with various other furniture and opening the warm food bag, smelling the delicious aroma. He scanned the boxed items, already noting one to be Peter’s ‘ Hey I’m sorry I stabbed you with my talons .’ boxed food that he will reserve for him.

And now, hunger is kicking out guilt from his stomach because the rent was due and he did not pay. Miguel did not waste time to eat once his consciousness was cleared.

He pulled out the burger first, curious as to how it had his mask design on it. They even got the colors right and everything!

Peter did say there were many versions of himself around…does that mean there was a version of Miguel too?

That was an exciting thought, maybe that was what Peter meant by knowing someone.

Miguel took off his mask, and folded Peter’s sleeves so they won't get in the way before biting into the burger. He cringed, tasting his own venom first in his mouth, making itself known, the sweet and bitter smell wafting to his own nose but Miguel ignored it as best he could as he chewed. 

took in more big bites to subside the venom’s taste, a bit awkward thanks to him still unused to his fangs.

The burger was good.

Really good. 

But perhaps that was because he hadn’t really eaten any proper food for a while, with the whole being chased by Public Eye and Tyler Stone, and trying to hide in Xina’s place without her parents knowing and also anyone else besides Xina who tried to help him the best she could. 

Miguel bit the last piece of the burger, swallowing it and the guilt that grew a lump in his throat at the thought of his burden on Xina. 

It looked like guilt had taken revenge on hunger, killing it stealthily as it snuck its way into the bottom of his pit.

Miguel frowned, he was still hungry but now, it just felt bad to eat.

That’s when he heard it.

Footsteps, walking in. 

Now it was obviously the breakroom, anyone can enter as they please and Miguel has no right over it but he stood still and frozen, quickly covering his face with his mask and huddling into Peter’s robe which he tried to ignore how horribly it smelled like baby powder, sweat, and heavily like him. 

He hugged the bag of food close to him, watching as a blue tinted hologram spider girl walked in, two others following along her in a white and black suit, the other in black and red. 

“-If you were hungry, you should have gotten something else at least.” Hologram spider girl said, seemingly talking to one of the two behind her and Miguel watched her stumble slightly trying to find the light switch and oh, yeah, it was kind of dark here.

He was only ever surprised that a hologram could control things outwardly, advanced AI? 

Miguel was grateful he placed back his mask on as the lights turned on brighter, there was a gasp from the group, as they had probably just noticed him. 

“Oh hey! Didn't see you there, hope you don't mind.” The hologram girl said, and Miguel only shook his head. Now seeing her clearer and the other two behind her, they looked a little bit older than him. 

She smiled, and went to sit on the other couch as the other two followed behind her, the other spider in white and black, a blonde girl, waved at him awkwardly before settling in her place as the other Spider-Man in black and red nodded to him with a polite smile, before making himself comfortable as well between his two friends, which Miguel assumed.

He debated silently in his head if he should just leave. But where else would he go? It was this break room or the cafeteria. The cafeteria was still a little too loud for him, and there were only three of them, so it seemed fine to just sit there.

All alone.

Miguel was going to kick Peter’s shin for leaving him alone like this with no warning. 

Maybe he should just eat all of his food and not give him any too.

He tried not to look at them, shifting in his place to look away but their conversation was literally the only sound in the room. 

“Nah I wasn’t feelin any of it, just had an urge to get an empanada, not that hungry.” the guy said, to which the blonde nodded. 

“They do make these very good, everything is. I swear, one time back at home I just got this sudden craving for the noodles here,” she snorted, as she continued, “I came and found the place closed, could not sleep that night.” 

“What’s the point then, we came here because you wanted to eat?” 

“Gotta get you away from all that work Margo, relax a little.” 

Miguel eyed them silently, before peering inside his bag. He had some empanadas on him.

Was he the reason that they went out of stock?

He did get a lot, maybe too much for him to eat now but he got excited at the thought of free food and, well, he really liked empanadas. 

Miguel grabbed a box, careful of his talons as he slowly stood up. walking over to the black and red suit guy and thrusting the empanada towards him silently. 

The three of them paused, staring at him for a second before the guy leaned in with a smile. “Hey man there is no need, it’s your food! Thank you, though. I appreciate it.” He said, raising his hand. Miguel shook his head, “No I got plenty, you can have it.” he said, insisting. 

The guy blinked, before smiling widely, genuinely. 

He took the box, and Miguel felt himself smile back slightly, feeling good himself. First impression going well, if he does well with the spider-people, maybe the boss would accept him into the club.

“Thanks man,” he said, and did not waste time digging in. “ ‘Not hungry’ he said,” the blonde snorted to the hologram girl, who giggled. Miguel was about to back off to his seat when the hologram turned to him. 

“Hey, you new? I don’t think I've ever seen you around.” she asked, her eyes scanning him with a curious look. Miguel gripped Peter’s robe around him a little, a bit self conscious under her gaze.

Miguel didn’t get a chance to respond before the spider with black and red suit skipped him to it, “There is no way you know every spider in here.” he said, taking another bite of the empanada as he looked at her challengingly.

At that, the hologram-spider rolled her eyes at him. 

“Miles, you don’t know the amount of filing reports I go through, I’m pretty confident I can name a hundred.” She said in high praise to herself, and Miguel was just processing that information when the girl in a white and black suit jumped in, “Bet, but only if you don’t repeat Peter Parker more than once, or any variation of it.”

“Woah, Gwen, I thought you were on my side?” 

‘Miles’ ignored the two as he turned to Miguel, seemingly wanting to ask him about who he was or something before pausing, his eyes flitting over at his form, lingering on his mask for a second until he settled for something else, or more specifically, the robe.

“Hey, isn’t that Peter’s robe?” he asked, and Miguel perked up at the mention of Peter. 

“Oh yeah, he gave it to me, or uh, let me borrow it?” He answered, unsure himself as to why exactly Peter did that. “He kind of forced it on me.” He settled on that, before thinking it over because ‘forced’  was a strong word. 

Seeing as how the three of them are looking at him with confusion and possibly concern. 

“Well technically, he said I needed to hide...myself?” Miguel corrected himself, before actually remembering that Peter said that it was for the best that no one saw him and well, he kind of failed that. 

“Oh dang,” the blonde sat up straighter, “why?”

Miguel shrugged, not really knowing a lot himself. 

“Hey, if you’re in any trouble, we’ll help.” ‘Miles’ said, serious all of a sudden. The air had become slightly tense, all of them looking at him, waiting for him to confirm it basically and Miguel scrunched his face, shaking his head. 

“No, no, uh, I don't think I am. In any trouble.” He shook his hands at the thought, because so far, nobody had tried to harm him. The Spider-Woman in red and white even noticed his discomfort and led him here. 

The tense atmosphere dropped as the ‘miles’ relaxed back into the couch, although his smile was a little stiff. 

“That’s good.” He said, and Miguel nodded awkwardly, “ Si .” He agreed, because he doesn’t know what else to say but luckily enough, it seemed that was the right thing. Since it made ‘miles’ look up at Miguel. “ Tú hablas español ?” he said, and Miguel perked up, ” si !” he said, to which miles grinned wide. " Hermano ! Come sit man, don't just stand there.” 

Miguel smiled widely, happy to be invited to sit with them. Otherwise, it would have been too awkward for him to go back and sit alone, he would have to go to the loud cafeteria to avoid looking like a loner.

(ignoring the fact that he already appeared as a loner to begin with.)

He found himself sitting next to the guy, making sure the robe doesn’t get in the way and as well folding it over from his arms because the flapping thing style was annoying.

‘Miles’ smiled, and took the final bite of the empanada so miguel looked over to the other two spiders because it was awkward staring at someone eat, the hologram spider smiling at him kindly while the other white and black one smiled a little, coughing a little before leaning in. 

“uh… So im Gwen-” The white and black spider started to speak before the hologram spider gasped, leaning forward towards him. Looking over down at his hands, for a second, Miguel thought she might have seen Peter’s blood on his talons that he himself cannot get rid off but–

“Oh you are new! Is that a day pass? Did you just arrive today?” She asked, pointing to his wrist and Miguel raised his hand to show it better. “Oh, uh yeah, I did.” 

Gwen hummed, “New guy! Miles, it looks like you’ve been demoted from your spot.” she said, winking at Miles. Who only shook his head, she looked at Miguel, now seemingly finally warmed up to him. “Welcome, and also feel free to get rid of the robe, I can smell the sweat from here.” she joked, and Miguel doesn’t need to be told twice.

These guys seemed nice, and cool, it would be fine to get rid of it. 

Besides, there was no point in covering himself anyways. Peter hasn't explained to him, barely anything but, Miguel doesn't see the harm in it.

“Oh by the way, I’m Miles, Miles Morales. this is Gwen and that is…Margo…” 

Miguel looked up after shedding off that warm and horribly stinky robe away and onto the couch, now happy to finally identify them by name. Even though he kind of guessed by their conversations to one another.

He froze at the sight of their faces however, seeing them all looking at him in varying degrees of shock. 

Miles’s face was hardened, jaw clenched as he stared at the logo on his suit before at his mask and there was some sort of recognition in his hardened eyes, Margo eyes were wide and Gwen was gaping slightly.

“Miguel?” She hissed out, and Miguel tensed. 

How does She know his name?

“You uh, you know me?” Miguel asked Gwen, glancing between them. 

There was a sudden weird thing going on between the three of them the moment he took off that stupid robe and he should have listened to Peter but damn he wished that man at least washed off the smell off of it so he wouldn't have eagerly taken it off so fast just now. 

“Uh, yes, we know Someone like you, if you catch my drift.” Margo answered, looking over at Miles and Gwen.

“Right, multiverse, you’re another version of Miguel.” Gwen whispered, as if just realizing that herself but it was obviously heard by everyone in the room. Miles turned to her with an understanding look, “Right? I also thought that tio turned into hermano for a second–”

“Yeah no it just never occurred to me, I just started to think about how he shrunk all of a sudden and had memory loss.”

“What is going on?” Miguel called out, not liking being left out at all. 

The three look at each other, and then back at him. It was Margo who decided to speak up first. 

“It’s just that you’re the first…other? The second Miguel O’Hara we now know.” she attempted to explain, when Gwen jumped in, “it’s a little shocking, you know, given how you’re…” she trailed off, gesturing to his…body? Before awkwardly stopping all together from putting out her input. 

Miguel gave them a bored look, crossing his arms. 

“So? There is another Miguel? That’s so shocking cool but why are you guys surprised? I thought this was the multiverse and tons of people like each other are here!” Miguel asked, because he did not fail to notice their sudden tension. Not after seeing how relaxed they were especially.

Miles' hardened face, stiffened figure beside him, the way Gwen was unabashedly staring, not moving an inch, and Margo glancing at him and back to her two friends with concern that was obviously not directed at him. 

Miguel was not blind, he knew there was something more to it. 

(Just what was it that got them all frozen like that? Did it have to do with him?

…Miguel hoped not, they were cool just a second ago.) 

“Well yeah you’re right!” Gwen agreed quickly, at the same time Miles began to talk, “It’s very surprising to see you this small.”

Miguel stopped to look at him, half offended because he was not that small.

“Well, and you’re really different i guess? You’re not giving off the…” Gwen paused, shaking her hand as she tried to come up with a word. Miguel was still baffled at being called small right to his face when Margo helped her out. “Broody is the word you’re looking for.” 

“Yeah, you’re not that broody, a bit more chatty even though we didn't get the chance to talk fully just yet and as Miles said, small.” 

“Call me small one more time.” Miguel glared, almost baring his fangs irritatingly at them but he still had his mask on so there was no point.

“Huh, Yeah that’s Miguel alright, I can sense the dark Garfield energy now.” Gwen quipped, Miguel was half grateful because the humor did ease off the little tension in the room but also- “who is Garfield?”

“Oh my god you don’t know Garfield?” Margo gasped, before she did some sort of gesture with her hands and suddenly there was a holographic screen in front of her as she typed away. “Nah, I can't let you live without knowing about Garfield.”

“Oh, show him the same comic you sent to Miguel! By the way did he see it?” Gwen came to her side, whispering the last part but come on, all of them were Spider-Men and they all had super hearing, so it was obviously heard. “No sadly.”

Miguel blinked at them, slightly frustrated because it kind of felt like they did not give him a straight answer at all. 

He slumped, it would have been nice to have some answers for once, everything had been just so quick and all avoiding. 

He was sick of connecting the dots by himself, what does a man have to do to get straight answers?! He can already tell they’re talking about another version of him or something but what’s the big deal with it?

He glanced over at Miles, who was already looking at him. Instead of the hard look of earlier, Miles supported a neutral face this time, no smiles. “Hey man,” Miles started, taking a deep breath. 

“You see–uh, how should I put this…” Miguel nodded at him to continue, hoping to finally get an answer to all of this weirdness going on.

“You’re like our boss?” Miles said, even sounded confused himself. 

“What?”

“The only Miguel O’Hara, the first one we, uh, know…is our boss, the guy who recruited us. I guess that’s why we were kinda weirded out.” Miles explained, chuckling nervously. 

“I’m the boss?!” he yelled, because well, how can he not?! The boss of this shocking place was him!? 

That was so shocking cool, all this time he was stressing about whoever the boss of this place was and it ended up being him–

“Technically not you.” Gwen jumped in, ruining the beautiful moment. Miguel scoffed, crossing his arms. “Well, you just said I was, so I am now.” 

“What, you're gonna kill him to steal his position?” Gwen teased, and Miguel hummed on the thought. “This is not a secret evil twin thing, but cute tho.” Margo giggled, before flipping the holographic screen towards him and showing him a picture. “This is Garfield by the way.” 

Miguel stepped closer to take a look, squinting at the bored looking cartoon cat. It was orange, fat, and small. Nothing that was like him, and worst of all, it was a-

“...A cat.” Miguel's excitement at the thought of another version of him being a boss disappeared as yet another comparison of him to a cat appeared. “I see no resemblance.”

“Do you hate mondays?” Miles asked, a smile creeping up on his face and Miguel could not tell if it was a trick question or not, and also what was the purpose of it and why it was related to the Garfield cat. “...noo?-” He attempted to lie but with wide eyes, Miguel switched up, “-yes!” 

“Knew it,” Gwen said, and before the cat thing got out of hand, Miguel changed the subject. “Okay who cares about the cat whatever! Tell me more about me! Boss guy, the other version of me?” 

“Disrespectful cape user.” Gwen started, “Dorito shaped,” continued Miles, “Emo.” finished Margo. 

“ Guys ,” Miguel did not whine, he did not whine, but this was precious information and he couldn't meet this guy until Peter came to get him. “Come on.” 

They snicker, playing with him obviously but at least there wasn't that weird tension thing going on earlier anymore. Miguel’s shoulders relaxed, but he still glared at them.

“Okay okay fine, he’s like, you but an adult, and very much less chatty and more broody.” Gwen described, and Miles tilted his head at him, confused. “Wait, you did not meet him?” He asked, and Miguel gestured back to the pink robe that just started the whole ordeal. 

“Not until Peter says that I can.” 

Margo stood up, gasping slightly. “That’s why you have the daily pass? They only ever give those to kids, and well-” she glanced at Miles, looking a little sheepish, “-special conditions, i guess you’re part of that. and Why Peter wanted to hide you! Miguel does not know you’re here, you’re not supposed to be here are you?” 

Gwen and Miles look at Miguel for confirmation, which Miguel gestured slightly with his hands before shrugging. “I guess! Yeah.” He confirmed, slightly impressed by how she connected the dots.

Gwen and Miles looked over at Margo, and started clapping their hands as she bowed her head and smiled. “Detective Margo solved yet another case.” 

“So, what’s the story? Why are you here?” Gwen asked then, and Miguel took a deep breath to explain everything.

“There was this Rhino guy…”