Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ricky Bowen watched from the couch as the people in front of him argued. He knew Gina, Gina with the bright smile and soft eyes, Gina who had saved him more times than he could count, who patched his wounds and kissed him with everything she had in her, Gina who didn’t even recognize him. This Gina didn't have a single clue who Ricky was, what Ricky had done. 

He didn’t know the shorter girl, the one who had been yelling about how she had died. Nini, he caught her name briefly. All he really could tell is that seeing his face, she looked like she saw someone she hadn’t wanted to. Someone who had betrayed her, just like EJ had to him. 

Now, Maddox, she was yelling back at Gina. “I don’t understand why you don’t want their help?” She screamed at the top of her lungs. If Ricky hadn’t known she was as short as she was, she would’ve thought with a voice like that, she’d be taller. “It’s dangerous for them to be here, Maddox,” Gina rebuttals, which causes all the heads in the room to look towards her. 

“What do you mean?” Ricky says, standing up slowly. The boy had felt dizzy, but he chalked it up to the fact he just found out he was in another universe where he didn’t exist. Gina sighs, and looks back at Nini. There’s history there, Ricky thinks, fiddling with his hands. 

Gina takes a breath again, removing her eyes from Nini and focusing them on Ricky. “You all could cease to exist.” She says bluntly. Kourtney, the girl who had been sitting next to Ricky, looks as if she lost all color in her face. And Nini, she seems unphased by this, almost as if she’s content with the thought of dying. “How?” Ricky ponders, voice raising slightly. Gina looks down, and takes a breath once more. “Mulitverse traveling is difficult, especially if it comes from inexperienced minds,” She glares at Jet. “If we don’t return you to your worlds, your bodies, your minds, your souls, you could all cease to exist in not only this universe, but your own as well.” Gina explains. 

“You mean to tell me, you brought me here to die?” Kourtney snaps. “I didn’t bring you here.” Gina rebuttals. “You all can blame thing 1 and 2 here for that,” She says, pointing to Jet and Maddox. “I’m trying to get you home.” Maddox glares at Gina for the comment. “Look, Jet didn’t mean to do this.” Maddox explains. “But he did.” Gina claps back, stepping closer to Maddox. “Gina, you found me, you came to me, what do you get out of this?” Maddox swirls her finger around in the air. 

Ricky wanted to step in, to stop the arguing. He wanted to cover his ears and collapse against the wall, he wanted to run and hide. But he couldn’t. “ Nothing, Maddox, I want nothing out of this.” Gina shouts, causing Maddox to shiver slightly. “Liar.” She says bluntly. “Couldn’t take Kingpin by yourself?” Maddox edges. 

The name causes Nini to flinch. History, more history that Ricky locks into his brain to ask for later. “The hell did you just say to me?” Gina grits her teeth and looks like she’s about to kill Maddox. “What’s your issue, Gina? You showed up into my house, into my brother’s bedroom-” 

“He had tech he wasn’t supposed to have, Maddox. He is literally tearing holes through space and time and you’re sitting here asking what MY issue is.” Gina cuts her off. Maddox stands her ground though, which Ricky silently applauds because if this Gina was anything like his, he’d be terrified in Maddox’s position. 

“I am protecting my brother.” Maddox says. “I want to help you Gina, I do, but so far you have given me nothing. You tore me out of my home, brought me to some dingy house with an underground facility for this Spider shit, and you’ve given me NOTHING.” Maddox yells at the last word. “You have an underground lab?” Ricky questions excitedly. “Not the time, Ricky.” Nini says from under her breath. Ricky gives a soft nod of his head and quiets down. 

“I don’t have to prove anything to you, Maddox.” Gina says angrily. “No, you don’t. But these people, Jet must’ve brought them here for a reason, and whether you accept that or not is up to you.” Maddox pauses. “You offered to help me, why not let them help you?” Maddox pleads. “This is bigger than just you and me now, Gina. The world, our world, is at cost, and not to mention theirs.” Maddox points to everyone. Gina looks down at the ground, like she’s actually considering every word Maddox is saying. “I can’t, Maddox.” Gina says through choked words. “Gina, what are you afraid of?” Maddox asks softly. 

The girl takes a step towards Gina, almost in front of her, acting like it was only the two of them in the room. “Gina,” Maddox says her name softly. “What are you afraid of?” She asks again, taking a step closer. Gina’s eyes are trained on the floor. “There’s clothes upstairs.” Gina says under her breath. “What?” Maddox questions. “There’s clothes upstairs, get them dressed, have them go out, keep an eye on them. I’ll stay here and work on something, but I don’t have enough food in my house for six people.” Gina pauses. “Get them food, come back, and we’ll work.” Gina lifts her finger up and dots Maddox’s shoulder. “Not another word.” She says. Gina grabs her mask, and heads down the stairs where the elevator resides, and takes it downstairs, leaving the five of them alone. 

“Is she anything like your Gina?” Jet teases Ricky. “In ways, but this, this isn’t anything like mine.” Ricky says, smiling softly. “You heard the girl, get dressed. Jet, take Ricky, I’ll get Nini and Kourtney after you guys come down.” Maddox smiles at her brother. 

***

The boys go upstairs, Ricky follows quietly behind Jet as they walk into what seems to be a spare room, boxes on the ground, a bed tucked softly in the corner, and a small lamp on a nightstand that has seen better days. Jet walks over to the closet, finding hoodies and flannels cascaded on hangers lazily. “I think this is what we chose from.” Jet says as he opens a box labeled jeans. 

“So, you open interdimensional portals?” Ricky asks as he picks through the clothes. “Not by choice.” Jet replies. Ricky cocks an eyebrow as he looks at a sweatshirt with a skateboarding panda on it. “How do you accidentally open portals to other worlds?” Jet shrugs his shoulders softly. “I guess it has to do with the tech.” He lifts his arms, showing the black cuffs and veins on his arms. “Jesus, dude, that looks,” Ricky pauses. “Like your friend?” Jet finishes the sentence. “Yeah, just the vein stuff.” Ricky says quietly. 

“I promise it’s tech, it’s just like wrapped its way around my arms.” Jet explains. “I did steal this hard drive that should explain more, but it’s downloading right now.” Jet explains. “You good at the kinda stuff? Tech and science?” Ricky questions. Jet’s face lights up at the question. “You have no idea.” Ricky laughs softly as he picks up a black hoodie. “I was never good at that kinda stuff, the tech part at least.” Ricky says, causing Jet to laugh. “But you’re Spiderman, isn’t that half the job?” Jet questions. Ricky smiles, looking at Jet as he slowly takes his suit off. “You wanna turn around, please?” He says. “Yeah, dude, I gotcha.” Jet says as he turns to face the wall. 

“The Spider stuff, it’s easier. I guess physics makes sense in my brain, like it’s easy to me in a way, but tech, that’s harder.” Ricky explains as he puts the clothes on. “You can turn around now.” Ricky says as he leans down to tie the shoes he picked. “You look like a regular teenager.” Jet smiles at him. “I don’t think I’ve been regular since that spider bit me.” Ricky laughs. 

Jet looks at the boy as he ties his shoes, almost like he’s wishing to say something. “Maddox is your sister, right?” Ricky says, getting up. “Yeah, why?” Jet says. “She’s really protective of you.” Ricky points out. “I know.” 

“Sometimes I think she’s too protective.” Jet sighs softly at his words. Ricky walks over and pats Jet on his shoulder lightly. “Don’t.” Ricky says. The word sticks to Jet, almost as if Ricky had just shot him with his webs. A simple, small word sticks to Jet more than anything he’s ever heard. Jet nods his head at Ricky and they head back downstairs to the girls. 

***

Jet and Ricky wait in the living room of Gina’s house for the girls to get dressed. The entire time, Ricky is sitting there, bouncing his leg up and down. “Dude, you good?” Jet asks him. Ricky nods his head as he stares at the place where the elevator is. “You think Gina is okay?” Ricky looks at Jet for a split second before focusing his eyes back on the spot underneath the stairs. “I think she’s fine and you shouldn’t be this anxious over a girl who doesn’t know you.” Jet says, turning his attention to the movie that was on. 

Ricky stops his leg bouncing for a moment, looking at Jet. “Why?” He questions, causing Jet to groan slightly. “Gina can handle her own.” Jet says, eyes still trained on the tv. 

The girls come from downstairs. Nini sporting a dark brown flannel and jeans, Kourtney in an orange EHS shirt and a skirt, while Maddox just has a blue crew neck over a pair of white pants. “Gina really doesn’t know the latest trends does she? I feel like I just walked out of gay and gayer.” Kourtney jokes. “Not that it’s a bad thing.” She adds. This causes a laugh from Nini, who still seems very off with Ricky around. 

“We should probably go and get the food now, right?” Maddox adds to the conversation. “Please, I’m starving.” Jet shoots up from the couch. Ricky stands and wipes his hands on his pants nervously. “Actually, I was thinking of staying here.” He says, causing the group to look at him. “Your loss dude.” Jet says as he steps out the door, Nini following behind him. “Is there anything specifically you want?” Maddox asks him. Ricky softly shakes his head and gives Maddox a smile. “I’m okay, thank you.” He says. Maddox leaves with Kourtney, leaving Ricky standing alone in the hall. He looks back towards the elevator area, and walks towards it. He presses the button and waits for it to arrive. Walking in quietly, he feels his nerves rise more. The elevator quickly drops down to Gina’s lab, and Ricky stares in awe. 

All the suits Gina has ever worn line the wall, advanced tech lays across the room, a giant tv sits in the middle of the room along with a couch and a small kitchen area. Gina’s lab is practically another apartment. “Wow,” Ricky mutters under his breath. He looks around more until he finds Gina, her back facing away from the elevator area, staring intensely at a computer screen. 

“Maddox, I already told you, not another word.” Gina says, not even looking from the computer. Ricky walks closer to Gina. “Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not Maddox.” Ricky says, causing Gina to turn around in her chair, looking slightly shocked at Ricky being down here. “What are you doing here?” Gina snips at him. 

“Sorry, I uh,” Ricky stutters over his words. “I was worried.” He says. Gina chuckles softly before she turns back towards the computer. “I can handle myself.” She says. “Funny, Jet said the same thing.” 

Gina pauses her typing, and turns back towards Ricky. “What do you want, Ricky?” She sounds tired, a lot like Ricky’s mom did when she worked late shifts. “Just wanted to see if you were alright.” Ricky replies, looking at her softly. 

“I’m fine.” 

“In my experience, people who say that aren’t fine.” 

“Does it matter?” Gina replies. “Guess not.” Ricky shrugs his shoulders. The girl turns back to the computer, focusing her attention solely on the screen. Ricky clears his throat before moving to sit on the table next to Gina. “What’re you working on?” He asks softly. “A way to send you all home.” Gina says bluntly. Rick looks down at his hands, fiddling with his fingers. “That’s good.” He says as he looks over at the screen. Gina continues to work quietly to herself, focusing on the computer and only the computer as Ricky stares at what she’s doing. “Did you need something, Ricky?” Gina snaps at him again, taking Ricky out of his trance. 

“Uh, no,” He says. Gina sighs and turns to face him. “Look, I don’t need you down here, Ricky, I can handle myself perfectly fine without you hovering over me. I didn’t have you before, and I don’t need you now.” She said. 

“What happened with you and Nini?” Ricky says, completely ignoring Gina’s words. This causes Gina’s mouth to hang agape. “Nothing,” Gina avoids the conversation by turning back towards the computer. “It’s something, otherwise you wouldn’t have looked at her like that. So what is it?” Ricky questions again. “Nothing.” Gina says harder this time. “I’m not gonna call you a liar, because it obviously is a trigger for you, but you’re obviously avoiding the truth.” Ricky points out. Gina stands up, stepping closer to Ricky. 

“Look,” She says, pointing her finger to his chest. “I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but whoever I was to you in your universe, I’m nothing to you here. My job is to get you home and that is it, so don’t pretend to care about whatever I’m doing, or why I’m doing it.” Gina yells at him. 

Ricky looks at her, really looks at her. “You said she died, right?” Ricky says. “Don’t,” Gina threatens. “She died in your arms, right? Just like the rest of us have had to deal with.” Ricky says. Gina sends him a tearful glare. “Ricky, don’t.” Gina threatens again. “You think you killed her?” Ricky looks at her shocked as the words leave his mouth. Gina completely breaks down at his, collapsing against Ricky. “Hey, it’s okay, I got you.” Ricky says as they fall to the floor. 

“I didn’t mean to.” Gina says through her tears. Ricky just sits there, holding the girl. “Gina, hey, look at me.” Ricky says, waiting for Gina to look up. Once she does, Ricky smiles softly. “You want to tell me what happened? Take your time, whenever you’re ready” 

***

Mack had been fighting alongside Gina, his black and white suit practically glowing in the moonlight against the Salt Lake zoo,, despite her disapproval for his friend to be using his new powers. She had gotten a tip from Nini that Zack Roy’s hunters would be taking Doctor Redavoich, for what Gina didn’t know. That was before Nini also got captured. “Mack, I thought I told you to stay home?” Gina yelled at the boy as she hit one of the hunters. 

“No, you said stay put,” Mack gleams as he throws one of the hunters towards Gina, who webs him up. “You don’t know how to control your powers yet, you could get hurt.” Gina says. Mack shrugs his shoulders and hits another hunter. “You really think I was gonna let you do this alone?” Mack says, stepping towards Gina, kicking the hunter on the ground. “Let’s go get your girl,” Mack says, smiling under his mask.

They work further into the zoo, seeing Nini and Doctor Redavoich in a cage, Zack Roy glaring from a rock that towers over the cage. “Welcome, Spider, and friend.” He says confused over Mack’s appearance. “Just let them go,” Mack says, puffing his chest out. “Really, that was the best you could do?” Gina teases. 

“Now isn’t the time for jokes, Spiderwoman.” Zack’s voice booms around the zoo. “See, I was told you were a worthy opponent.” He takes a step down, walking next to the cage. “I need the doctor, this girl though, I can discard.” Zack pulls out a sharp knife, clinging it against the cage. “Don’t,” Gina grits her teeth and steps forward.

“Show me you’re a worthy opponent,” Zack throws the knife down on the ground, smiling at Nini. “Without the cosplayer,” He says. Zack lets out a loud whistle, which causes his hunters to come surround them. He throws the keys inside the cage towards Nini and the doctor. “Kill them if they get out, same goes for the cosplayer, Spiderwoman is mine.” Zack orders his hunters. 

Before Gina knew it, she was in a fist to fist fight with the guy. He practically towered over her, not that it was anything new. She had fought the likes of Rhino with no sweat, not to mention Mister Negative, Scorpion, Vulture, she could defeat this guy with no sweat, but something was unsettling her. Something was wrong. 

“Puny spider,” Zack says as he throws a punch. Gina turned her head, noticing the cage had been opened, and she just hoped Nini got to safety. Mack was fighting off a swarm of hunters next her, his grunts and groans loud and persistent. “What is your deal?” Gina groans out. 

Zack lands a pretty hard hit towards Gina, knocking her to the ground. She blinks a few times, seeing the stars in her eyes before Zack picks her up by her suit. “Worthy opponent they said,” He laughs, throwing her aside. Gina gets back, sending a web towards Zack, and yanking him towards her again. 

“They were right, you are persistent,” Zack mumbles, throwing another punch. Gina catches this one, glaring at him through the mask. “There’s the opponent I was looking for,” Zack smiles at her, throwing her aside again. 

He walks over to her, smiling as she struggles to stand up, he pulls out a dagger hidden in his boot. “I will cherish this trophy,” He whispers to himself. Gina gets up, struggling to catch her breath. Gina doesn’t notice the knife, in fact, her sense didn’t even warn her about it, but what they did warn her about was Nini’s scream from right behind her. 

She quickly turns around as Zack Roy has his dagger lodged in Nini’s side, his smile widened as he breaks part of the knife and stares at Gina. Mack puts down another hunter before he looks over at the scene, eyes widening. “Nini, no,” Gina’s voice cracks at the words coming from her throat as Nini falls into her arms. Before Zack can say anything, Mack swings over and hits him, hard. 

Gina’s too focused on Nini, completely focused on Nini. “C'mon on,” Gina says to Nini as she wraps her arm around her shoulders, walking her away from the fight. “Mack,” Nini croaks out. “Don’t worry about him, he’ll be fine,” Gina says, urging Nini forward. 

“This feels…..not great,” Nini says, holding her side. “Just think, this will definitely be your coolest scar,” Gina tries to joke, which earns her a soft smile from Nini. She winces again, holding her side tighter, blood seeping through the shirt she was wearing. 

A rock falls, causing Gina to push Nini out the way. Mack and Zack fighting intensely in the background of it all. Gina hardly pays attention as she goes to pick Nini back up as she cries in pain. “I know, I know,” She says, wrapping her arm around her again. “Gina…..I can’t……I can’t see.” Nini’s voice weakens. Gina frowns, but continues forward. “Focus, Nini, one foot in front of the other.” Gina says, clinging to the arm around her shoulders. 

“I’m….sorry I was always so busy.” Nini pleads, holding her side. “Don’t,” Gina says, looking at her. “Look, we’re almost there,” Gina says to her. They reach the front of the zoo, and Gina has hope. “Gina,” Nini whispers as they walk through a gate. “Almost there. Hang on,” Gina says, ignoring the way Nini’s voice sounds. “Am I breathing?” Nini’s voice gets quieter

Mack has reached the head of the zoo as well, turned away from them as he repeatedly hits Zack Roy in the face, grunting as he does. Over and over he hits him, one fist followed by another. 

Nini falls to her side on the wet ground. “Nini, please…..come on.” Gina says, trying to pull her up. It’s almost like all of Gina’s strength had went with Nini, completely. “Nini,” She pleads. From in front of them, Mack upcuts Zack so hard he lands on top of the glass enclosure at the front. “Mack!” Gina yells, causing his attention to turn towards the two of them. Gina tears off her mask as Mack runs over, Mack following her movement.

He runs over, getting on his knees as they turn Nini on her back. “Neens,” He says looking down at his childhood friend. “Stay with us,” Gina pleads. “Nini,” Mack pauses, his breath in his throat as he notices Nini’s ragged breathing. “Come on, this is nothing, remember in fifth grade when you,” Mack is cut off by Nini’s breath stopping and her head falling. “No,” Mack’s breath falters at the site. Gina reaches up to cup Nini’s face, sobbing harder. “Nini,” she voices out. “You gotta stay awake, Neens,” Mack pleads, holding his best friend opposite Gina. 

Gina sits there, in disbelief, holding Nini’s face as she lets her tears fall onto her blood soaked shirt. Mack shouts out, “No!” causing Gina to stumble a bit, but she focuses her attention back on Nini. 

“Please, don’t leave me,” She says under her breath, holding Nini’s hand now. “Nini, please,” She begs. She begs for Nini to come back. For someone to take her with Nini. She couldn’t do this alone, not without Nini by her side. “Nini,” Her voice hoarse through the tears. Mack’s own sobs ring out next to her. “I love you,” She says under her breath, resting her head against Nini’s side. 

Seconds past, it feels like centuries for the two teens as they look up at each other, tear stain cheeks, bruises scattered across both their faces, dirt and grim covering them as well. “Gina,” Mack looks at her, eyes softening with sympathy. “Don’t,” Gina growls at him. “Not now, not ever.” She says, pointing her finger towards him. The two stay like for a little while longer, mourning the loss of Nini as the rain falls harder. 

***

“Wow,” Ricky says, looking at Gina. “That is….heavy.” He says, exhaling. Gina looks at the boy, giving him a soft smile. “Gina, have you been carrying all this by yourself?” Ricky asks her. Gina nods her head at him. “And Mack, he wasn’t a help?” Ricky questions. Gina sighs and stands up, pacing back and forth as she plays with her bottom lip. “Mack,” Gina sighs. “He died shortly after. His powers were something to help a treatment, like your friend EJ, except they turned him into this thing.” Gina pauses again. “He was vengeful and angry, not himself. Completely transformed him into something the media calls Venom.” Gina explains. “We got it out of him, but it was also the only thing holding him together. His father took him back, tried to save him, but it was no use, Mack was gone.” 

Ricky sits there and stares at Gina, filling nothing by empathy for the girl in front of him. “Are you….I’m sorry, oh god, Gina,” Ricky says, fumbling the words out. Gina finds it a little adorable, the way he’s struggling with the words. “I’m fine, Ricky, or at least I’m trying to be,” Gina says, giving him a small smile. 

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Ricky asks her, looking up with puppy dog eyes. “Help me figure out how to get you all home.” 

***

If there was one thing Ricky Bowen, it was a lover. He loved his friends, his parents, his girlfriend, well his dead girlfriend. He loved being Spider-Man, he loved saving people, he loved saving himself, he loved swinging through the city and stopping petty crimes, he loved that little kids looked up to him, he loved making people smile, making people laugh, he loved it all. So when Gina asked for a solution to try and get him back to his world, how could he not? Sure, it was nice seeing other spider people, it was fucking fantastic seeing Gina again, but his world needed saving too. He tried to help, he really did. But he was never too good with the smarter parts of being Spider-Man.

“Hey,” a voice calls from behind them. Turning around, they find Kourtney Greene standing there. “Cool lab,” She says, looking around in awe. “Thanks,” Gina says, shifting awkwardly. “Maddox brought back pizza, if you guys are hungry.” She smiles at them both. “God, I’m starving.” Ricky says as he walks towards the elevator. 

“C’mon, let's go!” He yells at them from there. Kourtney laughs softly as Gina walks next to her. “You okay?” She asks her. “Never better.” Gina replies. And Kourtney can’t help but feel like it was a lie.
“This is going to be hard, isn’t it?” Kourtney looks at her, trying to find the answer in Gina’s eyes. “I’m not gonna lie to you, it’s gonna be difficult. But we can do it.” Gina smiles. “Dream on,” Kourtney jokes, getting a laugh from her. 

“Dream on, indeed.”

Chapter Text

Kourtney Greene had spent her entire life dreaming of a moment like this, a moment to prove to herself she deserved this. If Kourtney Green was something, she could prove them all wrong.

Walking upstairs, she meets eyes with Jet. Jet, not her Jet, but a version of the Jet she fell in love with, or at least some version of her did. Kourtney could understand why Ricky was so infatuated with this universe’s Gina, or why Gina was off put with Nini, it was that undying love that tied them together across universes.

Kourtney dreamed of this moment for the past year, of what she’d say if she ever got the chance to see Jet again, but everytime she looked at the boy in front of her, all she felt was angry. Angry at him for not being her Jet, angry at herself for not being able to save him, anger for taking on his mantle when he should be alive for. 

“Kourtney,” Gina nudges her. “Hm?” she turns to the girl at her left. “You zoned out,” 

Kourney looks between Gina and back to the Jet. “I was just thinking,” She says, sliding between Maddox and Nini to grab a slice of pizza. 

“So, does anyone actually have a plan?” Nini huffs out. “Because so far all we’ve done is play dress up and get food.” She adds. “Maybe if you got your head out of your ass you’d be able to see what’s in front of you,” Gina mutters. “What’s that supposed to mean?” A bite makes its way through the room, tension between the two girls building as they fully turn towards each other. “You’ve been so nonchalant about this all, all it took was a pep talk from wonder spider over there and you were hooked, but you’ve done nothing,” Gina raises her voice. 

“What is your issue with me?” Nini stands up, stepping towards the girl. “Nini,” Maddox tries to stop, but she shrugs her off. “Seriously, what is it?” Nini pesters more, watching Gina’s jaw clench. “I’m not doing this with you, not right now,” Gina says, breaking the tension. 

“Guys,” Kourtney tries to interrupt but the two of them ignore her. “Why? Are you afraid I’m gonna strike a nerve?” Nini steps closer to Gina. “Is it because I’m not helpless and it sucks that you can’t fucking fix me,” Nini pokes at her chests. “Fix you?” Gina scoffs, “You really think something or somebody could fix you.” She pauses before looking Nini in the eyes. “You are not the Nini I knew and if you were half the person she was, we’d all be in a very different boat right now.” 

Nini scoffs now, stepping closer into Gina’s personal space. “You know nothing about me,” Nini pauses. “You don’t even care to,” Nini scoffs. Gina’s jaw clenches and before anything can come to, Kourtney pulls her away from Nini. “We’re not doing this,” Kourtney says to all of them. “If we’re at each other’s throats it’s not going to get us anywhere, so stop acting like idiots and we can figure out how to stop Jennifer and Bowen,” Kourtney barks, causing the rest of them to separate. 

Nini leaves, slamming the front door behind her while Gina just heads back to the lab. “That’s going to be an issue isn’t it?” Jet speaks into the silence. 

Kourtney snaps her head to him, a million things running through her mind, anger, sadness, bargaining, hope, love, every emotion she could possibly have bursting at her seems, but all she manages to say is “Yes,” 

***

The rest of the teens' so called diner goes well, there’s silence and eating, and that’s about it. Kourtney sits on the couch in front of the fireplace, thinking, dreaming. “Hey,” A voice comes from behind her, and there, in all his glory, is Jet, smiling down at her. 

“Hi,” she says softly, almost as if she’ll blow him away. “Can I join you?” He asks, giving her a tender smile. 

Kourtney’s heart stops. She’s dreamed of this smile everyday for the past year. The comfort it brought her, how she was so special to hear his laugh, how even just a look from across the room could make her weak in her knees, and she hated it. 

She hates that she’s still wrapped around his finger after all this time, that she’s still waiting for her Jet to come home, that she’s still hoping this Jet knows, deep down he has to, right?

“Yeah,” Kourtney chokes out, looking into his brown eyes. The boy cautiously sits next to her, offering a mug, “It’s hot chocolate, if you’re up for it,” He says. Kourtney takes the mug into her hands, feeling the warmth of it seep into her bones. Taking a sip, her body relaxes, almost as if it’s the first time she’d known peace. She smiles as she pulls the cup away from her mouth, licking her lips of the remaining chocolate. 

“So,” Jet trails, looking at the fire. “So,” Kourtney says, looking at the boy. “What was he like?” Jet asks, softly, almost too timid to be true.

Kourtney lets out a small chuckle, sipping her drink before looking away from the boy. “He was a lot,” She says. “In every way a person can be. He was stubborn and quiet, he was awkward and tripped over his words around me, he tried to put on this brooding act but he never was around me,” Kourtney says.

Jet looks at her, softly smiling, his eyes glued to the back of her head. “He was my best friend, you know.” Kourtney smiles. “He would overcook pasta, he hated the cold but loved Christmas, sometimes he would send me random pictures of the birds outside our apartment, he would buy me flowers randomly, sometimes he’d pull me in to dance in the kitchen even though he sucked at dancing,” She lists. 

“I’m sorry,” Jet speaks, voice almost regretful, too calm. “For?” Kourtney looks at him, eyes welling with tears. “Not being like him, for you losing him, for bringing you here,” He rambles. “Stop,” She smiles. 

“Sorry,” He says, looking her in the eyes.

A beat passes. A moment of clarity for the both of them, brown locking with brown, smiles fading into a straight lipped line. And for that singular moment, Kourtney lets herself dream that this is her Jet. The Jet she fell in love with, the Jet she lived with, the Jet that died in her arms. 

“I figured it out,” Maddox says, interrupting them. 

She pauses, looking at Maddox. “What?” 

“How to send everyone home, how to fix this,” She smiles. 

Jet’s ears perk up at the sound of this, his smile brightening. “Let us in,”

And for the second time tonight, Kourtney lets herself dream. 

***

After a very awkward conversation with all the Spider-people due to high tension, Maddox breaks down her plan. 

“So, we know Kingpin wants the tech from Jet’s arm right?” Maddox says. “And we know Jennifer wants to work with him at Caswell Inc, so, I think they’re both finding a way to travel through universes, like you guys did.” Maddox explains. 

The spiders nod their heads, focused on Maddox. “And what exactly is your plan?” Gina huffs. “Well, Gina, we'll bring it to them.” Maddox crosses her arms. 

“Hang on, are you suggesting we sacrifice me?” Jet points to himself. “No, why would you think that?” Maddox says. 

“Because, I’m the one with the tech,” He says. “Well, yes, but they’re also the ones who can send everyone home. They have a particle accelerator, your tech is just the final key to it.” Maddox explains. 

“We get Jet there, stop them from using it, and he can send us home before we apparently cease to exist?” Nini asks. “That’s kinda the idea.” Maddox says. 

“What do we have to lose?” Ricky says, a bright smile on his face. “Our lives,” Nini says, still looking at the boy with distaste. “Yeah, but it’s worth the try to go home,” He says, looking like a kicked puppy.

“Get sleep, we’ll talk about strategy tomorrow.” Gina huffs, getting up. 

Kourtney watches as everyone leaves the room, slowly scaling up and down the bodies of her new friends, if she could even call them that. “I think it’ll work,” She says to Maddox. 

“You think?” The girl smiles, looking to her, almost hopeful. 

Maddox reminds Kourtney of a younger her, a way younger her. Before the boyfriends and the fashion jobs, before the shitty apartments and the bandages, before the big dreams and bright ideas, she reminds Kourtney of a young her, one surrounded by adults too busy to care, one who dreamed of being a good person, a better person, one who dreamed of a better life than what her parents were giving her. “I think it will,” Kourtney smiles at her, before leaving to go upstairs. 

*** 

If you had told Kourtney she’d be sleeping in a living room of teenage superheroes a year ago, she would’ve called you crazy. Yet, here she is, curled up on the soft carpet of Gina’s living room floor with a blanket far too small, letting her mind wonder. 

She doesn’t know what brought her to do it, but she gets up and goes outside to Gina’s back porch, the night sky sparking brightly for miles and miles. Kourtney lets herself dream on the stars, wishing for Maddox’s plan to work, wishing for a way home, wishing for Jet. She lets herself, because what’s the point? She might cease to exist in a matter of hours, minutes, seconds. 

Kourtney knows death is inevitable, she knows that all too well. Jet had died in her arms trying to save his best friend. But, she still finds herself dreaming, hoping, caring. She had only been with the Spiders for less than a day, but watching them go would kill her in more ways than one. 

She had noticed the way Ricky ate his pizza like a little kid, all messy and consuming, he couldn’t keep it off himself. Like a golden retriever getting a slice of scrap and loving each moment of consumption. She noticed how optimistic Maddox was about this whole situation despite the inevitable. She saw how Jet seemed to analyze the surroundings he was in, like taking it all in meant he had a better idea than anyone else in the room. She noticed Nini, how she seemed excited to have a group of people who related to her, but she was still reserved. And then there was Gina. Kourtney didn’t know much about the girl, but something about her drew to her. Maybe it was how she seemed to fight each situation with harsh words and scowls. Maybe it was the fact that despite being bitter to Maddox, she still cared. Maybe it was the fact that she might’ve known Gina in another life, another world. Kourtney wouldn’t know, but she still let herself wonder. 

“You should get some sleep,” A voice says from behind her. Kourtney’s head whips around to find Nini, drowning in a shirt and shorts she must’ve gotten from upstairs. “It’s freezing out here, I don’t know how you’re doing this,” Nini smiles, rubbing her own arms. 

“Why are you awake?” Kourtney asks her, earning a laugh from the girl. 

“Does death scare you?” Nini asks, stepping closer. “Not really?” Kourtney replies. 

“Like not at all or just a little bit?” 

“Maybe just the unknown of it all. I know it happens and why it happens. I know it’s going to happen, but no, the action of dying doesn’t really scare me, it’s the after that does.” Kourtney explains. 

“Hm,” Nini hums, leaning on the railing next to Kourtney. “Why?” She asks the girl. 

“Gina says we’ll cease to exist, and I guess I’m….worried?” Nini says. “You sound uncertain.” Kourtney replies. 

Nini shuffles softly, almost like she’s trying to make herself smaller. 

“I guess for the past two years, all I’ve really dreamed about is dying.” Nini says, earning a worried look from Kourtney. “No, not like that,” Nini’s hands shake up. “So then like what?” Kourtney asks.

“Like,” Nini breathes, looking up at the sky. “In my world, I lost my girlfriend and my best friend on the same day.” She pauses. “Not that he died, but I lost him in a more painful way. He betrayed my trust, our friendship, everything we had built for years,” She shutters. “And my girlfriend, she took a bullshit for me, one I knew was coming, one I’ve seen from miles and miles away.” Nini looks down at her shoes. “I should’ve known she’d do it, jump in front of me, I should’ve known, I should’ve stopped her, but I couldn’t, I didn’t.” Nini’s eyes weld up with tears as she looks at Kourtney. “And for the past two years, I stopped pulling my punches, I mean, I knocked a guy’s jaw off, you know?” The comments earns a mouth drop from Kourtney. 

“Nini,” She softens around the name. “No, don’t, I know,” Nini says, wiping the tears. “For the past two years I have begged every god in every universe to take me back, to take my actions back, my words, everything, and it hasn’t done me any good.” Nini huffs. “So, I guess dying doesn’t scare me, because I know I’ll be accepted with warm, welcome arms. It’s living that scares me, believing scares me, hell, even dreaming scares me.” Nini looks Kourtney directly in the eyes. The two of them seeing each other for the first time. “Take accountability for everything I’ve done in the past two years scares me, but that kid in there, Maddox, she’s got heart, she’s got hope, and that’s far more than I’ve ever had.” She says. 

“Nini,” Kourtney says, looking at the girl. 

“I know,” 

“I’m sorry,” She smiles sadly.

“It’s okay,” Nini smiles softly, before turning to go inside. 

“Nini,” Kourtney says, causing the shorter girl to turn around. “Yeah?” 

“I believe in Maddox too, you know?” She says. “I know,” Nini says. 

“What geniuses we are, huh?” Kourtney laughs. 

“Yeah, what geniuses we are,”