Gwen awoke to the gentle warmth of morning sunlight filtering through the curtains. Y/N was still peacefully asleep beside her, unaware of the internal struggle Gwen faced. She watched him for a few moments, a mix of affection and conflict evident in her gaze.

Reality crashed back as she remembered the missed calls and the growing tension with Jessica and Miguel. Panic set in as she feared Miguel's tracking abilities. Swiftly and silently, Gwen slipped into her spider suit, the cool fabric comforting against her skin.

Her eyes lingered on Y/N's face, a mixture of longing and regret. "Goodbye, Y/N," she whispered softly before pulling the Mets pullover over her suit. With a glance back at him, she moved towards the window, her heart heavy with the weight of her decisions.

Gwen swung into the city, navigating the skyline with practiced grace. Little did she know, a concerned Y/N had woken up to an empty bed. Grabbing a jacket, he swiftly swung after her, determined to understand the sudden departure.

Gwen swiftly swung through the city, leading Y/N to an abandoned and unfinished building. Intrigued, he followed quietly, finding a vantage point from which to observe. Perched on a ledge, Y/N watched as Gwen fiddled with her watch, and to his amazement, orange digital portals began to materialize around her.

The first portal revealed a woman on a motorcycle, engaged in a fierce battle with a vampire-like individual. Strangely, the woman looked pregnant, a detail that perplexed Y/N. The dynamic scene played out before him, leaving him in awe.

The second portal showcased a giant cyborg shooting web bombs, adding another layer of astonishment to Y/N's silent observations. Then, two figures in Spider-Man masks swung into view, fighting crime with incredible agility and coordination.

As Y/N continued to watch, another portal opened, revealing an individual in a distinctive blue and red suit. This person was surrounded by several computers, an air of intelligence and purpose emanating from them.

This has to be them, the Spider Society.

Y/N remained perched on the ledge, eavesdropping on the conversation between Gwen and the eclectic group of spider-people.

Y/N crouched on the ledge, silently listening as Gwen communicated with the diverse group of Spider-People through the digital portals.

"Okay gang, we got a bogey on the move, location: TBD. Who's thirsty?"

"Miguel, you're being so dramatic," Gwen retorted, her tone light but tinged with familiarity.

Y/N realized this was the same Miguel O'Hara Gwen told him about—the supposed vampire Spider-Man and the big boss she mentioned.

His intrigue heightened as he continued to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Lyla, you know the drill," Miguel instructed, and an orange, tiny woman named Lyla materialized next to him.

"Yeah, yeah, tracking him now," Lyla responded dutifully.

The motorcycle-riding lady chimed in, "I can do it, once I'm done taking out this thirsty cadaver."

"Jess, I got it," Gwen added confidently.

A Spider-Person, one with a red and blue shredded suit, stated, "I'm busy chasing the shadows of the wall, chasing myself."

"Ben, I've got a tiny human growing inside of me, guess which one of us is free," Jess retorted.

"You're always throwing it in my face that you're pregnant and I'm not!" Ben's dramatic low voice resonated through the conversation.

"Guys, who's gonna do this? Who's gonna be a friend," Miguel inquired, shifting the focus back to the impending task.

"I had a friend once, before the Spider war," the cyborg Spider-Person shared,

"Petra, please," Miguel sighed, his hand on his face in annoyance.

"The year was 2087," Petra began, launching into a rambling tale as Miguel muttered frustrations in Spanish.

"I got it! Earth 3902," Lyla finally intervened, providing a solution.

Y/N, still perched on the ledge, couldn't contain his amazement. "This is freaky," he whispered to himself.

"Web him back where he came from, and find whatever hole he was fit through in the first place," Miguel commanded, the urgency evident in his voice.

Gwen questioned the approach, stating, "That's not exactly clean."

"What do you mean it's not clean?" Miguel responded, a bit angry.

Lyla interrupted, "Wait a minute, he's on the move again."

"He made his own portal. Bring him, he'll make another one," Gwen strategized.

"Earth 5150- nope, Earth 39- sorry, he's gone, Earth 150- wow, he's quick," Lyla reported swiftly.

"This guy is a walking, talking butterfly effect," Gwen concluded, capturing the unpredictable nature of the situation.

Y/N's attention was drawn to glimpses of a black and white individual causing destruction through portals. "What the hell?" he muttered, unnerved by the chaos unfolding.

"If everyone's busy, I know someone who can help," Gwen suggested, her tone shifting.

"Gwen, we've been through this...," Miguel began sarcastically.

"Someone... newer," Gwen thought, sparking Y/N's interest.

"Yes," he muttered, thinking it might be him.

"Smart," Gwen continued.

"Yes again." Y/N said.

"Has his own style....." Gwen said, continuing the description.

"Definitely." Y/N smiled, now thinking it was him.

"Yep, Hobie it is," Gwen declared, deflating Y/N's expectations.

"Are you kidding me!" Y/N exclaimed a little too loudly, drawing the attention of the Spider-People below.

Embarrassed, Y/N lost his balance, tumbling onto the ground in front of Gwen.

"Y/N?" Gwen questioned, confusion in his voice.

Y/N dusted himself off, playing it cool. "Hey... Gwen, was just in the neighborhood, am I interrupting something?"

"Gwen, we've been through this. What is he doing here?" Miguel's expression mirrored Gwen's skepticism.

"You know I'm standing right here," Y/N retorted,

Gwen's annoyance radiated as she confronted Y/N, "What are you doing here?"

Y/N, attempting to defuse the tension, responded, "Well, you left my house so early without saying anything."

Jess, obviously annoyed, interjected, "I did not just hear that. What did I tell you, Gwen?"

"Once again, I am standing right here," Y/N defended himself.

Miguel, in his characteristic directness, ordered, "Shut up."

"You must be Miguel, right? I'm Y/N L/N, the Spider-Man from Earth..."

Gwen supplied the missing information, "61."

"61! Yeah, that's right. At your service," Y/N greeted, a hint of enthusiasm in his voice.

"Yeah, we all know who you are," Miguel replied, his tone indicating a mix of irritation and acknowledgment.

"Really? That's so cool," Y/N replied, genuinely pleased.

Gwen, trying to unravel the mystery, questioned, "You were following me?"

"No! I told you... I was just in the neighborhood," Y/N insisted, attempting to downplay his presence.

Jess, with a touch of sarcasm, remarked, "Nice pajamas."

Y/N, taking the comment in stride, responded, "Why, thank you!"

"I liked your other ones better, the ones that matched your suit." Gwen smirked.

Y/N, caught off guard, stammered a bashful, "T-thanks," his cheeks turning a shade of red.

Miguel, still perturbed, demanded, "Answer the question, kid. What are you doing here?"

Y/N, shifting back to seriousness, explained, "Well, I saw your little problem on the screen there, the black and white dude?"

Gwen clarified, "His name is the Spot."

"Really? That's an interesting name," Y/N mused, "I think I can provide some assistance to your little squad."

Miguel, unimpressed, retorted, "Oh really? And what can you provide to our 'little squad?'"

Y/N stood his ground, asserting, "I'm reliable, I'm smart, and I have my own style. Plus, I have experience and I have these stingers," he added, deploying the small devices from his wrists.

Jessica recoiled, exclaiming, "Ew! Put those away! That's nasty!"

Curious, Ben inquired, "Do they hurt?"

Y/N, demonstrating, replied nonchalantly, "Not really," as he retracted the stingers, "but anyway, this Spot guy sounds serious. If my universe is a threat, I want to help. As much as I can."

Miguel, however, was quick to shut down the idea with a stern "No."

Y/N, perplexed, challenged, "No, what do you mean no?"

Gwen attempted to intervene, "Miguel..."

Miguel silenced her with a commanding "Quiet, Gwen. You know what I'm talking about."

Confused, Y/N turned to Gwen for an explanation, but before he could ask, Gwen spoke up, "Miguel, he's a good kid."

Y/N, somewhat upset that Gwen didn't fully support him, responded, "What?" sensing a hesitation in her words.

Gwen, trying to correct herself, stuttered, "A good...man?"

Jess interjected, "I told you, you should have stayed away."

Y/N, addressing Jess, questioned, "I'm sorry, who are you?"

Miguel, frustrated, asserted, "This situation is complicated enough as it is."

Y/N, attempting to prove his worth, insisted, "That's why I can help! Listen, I'm not an idiot. If you taught me—"

Miguel, now visibly angry, cut him off, "You don't know anything, kid. You can't be a part of this. You won't be a part of this!"

Feeling hurt and insulted, Y/N retorted, "Fine, I don't have to join your stupid club. You don't want me, fine! You don't have to be a dick about it!"

Gwen, sensing Y/N's frustration, reached out, holding his hand to calm him down.

Y/N, softened by Gwen's touch, continued, "Look, I have nobody, alright? Nobody. If you just gave me a chance, I can—"

Miguel, adamant, cut him off again, "I said no. Trust me, kid, it's better this way."

Gwen attempted to plead with Miguel, "Miguel—"

"Gwen!" he interrupted, addressing Gwen sternly, "Do your job... or go home."

The Spider-People disappeared, leaving Gwen and Y/N alone, surrounded by the echoes of rejected possibilities and unanswered questions. Y/N looked at Gwen with confusion, wondering what Miguel's cryptic words meant.

Gwen broke the silence, her voice laden with a sense of inevitability, "Look... I... have to go."

Y/N, understanding but reluctant, replied, "Yeah, okay."

"I don't have a choice," Gwen explained, a hint of resignation in her tone.

Y/N, sensing there was more to her statement, questioned, "Yeah, why is that?" He knew Gwen was hiding something from him.

"You wouldn't get it, just... I need to go," Gwen deflected, avoiding the depth of her circumstances.

Y/N, frustration evident, pressed, "Yeah."

Gwen, seeking to ease the tension, mentioned, "It was really nice meeting your Mom. What you two have is really special. It's better than all of this anyway."

Y/N, feeling defensive, retorted, "I don't need your sympathy. That's what people say when they don't get to do all of that."

Gwen, on the verge of something unspoken, pleaded, "Please, don't make this harder than it already is."

"I'm not the one making it harder, Gwen," Y/N replied, their gaze holding the weight of unspoken emotions.

They looked at each other in sadness, an understanding passing between them. Gwen opened a portal—a glowing orange gateway.

"I guess this is goodbye?" Y/N acknowledged, a mixture of resignation and uncertainty in his voice.

"Maybe, I don't know," Gwen admitted, taking the Mets hoodie off, "here, thanks for letting me wear it."

"Just keep it, I don't need it," Y/N insisted, knowing that the hoodie was a small token in the grand scheme of their complex encounter.

Gwen hesitated, their eyes locked in a bittersweet exchange. "No, it's special to you. I can't do that."

Y/N accepted the hoodie, their hands brushing in a fleeting connection. They looked at each other one last time, both burdened by the unspoken words hanging in the air.

"Goodbye, Y/N," Gwen uttered, her voice carrying a mix of regret and necessity.

She entered the portal, jumping through before it closed, leaving Y/N alone in the building.

As Y/N sat alone, the emptiness echoed the departure of Gwen. The memories of their brief encounter lingered, tugging at his emotions.

He missed calls and texts from his worried mom, but the weight of his own melancholy kept him from responding. All he wanted was to see Gwen again, and now it felt like he was never going to see her again.

The entire day passed, filled with solitude and the haunting sense of abandonment. His thoughts were a chaotic mix of emotions—sadness, anger, confusion. The dismissal from Miguel and the others fueled his frustration. The feeling of being left in the dark, of important details being hidden, only intensified his internal turmoil.

The memories of yesterday—the laughter, the shared moments with Gwen—made the present loneliness even more profound. The thought of her triggered his spider senses, a bittersweet reminder of what he once had, and the realization that it might be lost forever.

As evening descended, Y/N, still wrapped in the Mets hoodie that carried the scent of Gwen, made a decision. He had to get home, his Mom was definitely worried, and he didn't want her to call the police and say he was missing.

🕷️

As Y/N entered his house, he was met with the stern gaze of Jessica, who was clearly upset. She unleashed her pent-up frustration, "Where have you been all day? I've been calling and texting! I was worried sick. You better have a damn good explanation!"

Y/N, still carrying the weight of the day's emotional rollercoaster, looked at his mother with a mix of sadness and weariness. Before he could say anything, Jessica's maternal instincts kicked in, and she softened her tone, concern replacing anger.

"What's wrong, honey?" she asked, her eyes searching his face for answers.

Y/N sighed heavily, "Yesterday, seeing Gwen again was probably the best day I've had in a while. Now, I'm not so sure if I'll ever see her again."

As Y/N finished, Jessica softened her tone, "I like Gwen, you know. She seems like a sweet girl."

Y/N nodded, appreciating his mom's understanding. "Yeah, she is."

Jessica leaned in, her voice filled with wisdom, "I saw something yesterday, Y/N. When you and Gwen were together, she gave you a look. It was the same, or close to it, that your dad gave me when we started dating."

Confused, Y/N asked, "What look?"

Jessica explained, "It's the look of someone who cares deeply. I can tell you really care about her, and it's okay to feel that way. I know it's been tough, but just know you're never truly alone, Y/N. I'm always here for you, whatever you need."

Y/N felt a glimmer of hope, his mother's words providing a comforting reassurance. Jessica continued, "When Gwen comes back, and I believe she will, tell her how you feel. Take a leap of faith, Y/N. It's all a leap of faith, honey. Remember that."

Appreciative of his mother's understanding, Y/N hugged her tightly, whispering, "Thanks, Mom. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart. Now go get some rest," Jessica encouraged, watching as Y/N headed to his room.

In the quiet of his bedroom, Y/N looked at his drawing of Miles, Peter, Anya, Gwen, and the others. Holding onto hope, he thought about the connection he felt with them and the possibility of seeing them again.

As he drifted off to sleep, the words of his mother echoed in his mind—a reminder to take that leap of faith when the opportunity presented itself.

One Month Later

Y/N, adjusting back to the routine of school and his web-slinging life, found himself immersed in the familiar rhythm of his everyday activities. Yet, the absence of Gwen lingered, leaving a void that even the busiest moments couldn't fill.

One day, after school, Y/N arrived home and decided to lose himself in the comforting tunes of Spotify. As Hummingbird by Metro Boomin filled the room, he pulled out his sketchbook and began to work on his drawing of Gwen. Lost in thought, he poured his emotions onto the paper, capturing every detail of the girl who had become an unexpected beacon in his life.

"Hummingbird, summer song
Has it brought my life back?
Hangin' in the balance
Have you brought the light back?
Pen pal on a night shift
She's who I get away with
Realising she might
Be all I need in this life"

Suddenly, the room shifted. Y/N's eyes widened as a swirling portal materialized over his bed, and a voice echoed through the room, calling his name.

"Y/N! Y/N! Y/N!"

He looked up in shock, unable to believe his eyes. There, smirking on the other side of the portal, stood Gwen.

"You got a minute?" she asked, the surprise evident in Y/N's expression.

"Gwen?" he stammered, his disbelief turning into joy.

Gwen gracefully jumped through the portal, landing on Y/N's bed, where he still stood in shock. An awkward air lingered between them, the remnants of their complicated encounter a month ago hanging in the room.

Gwen, breaking the silence, offered a hesitant smile, "Hey, Y/N."

Y/N, still processing her sudden appearance, managed a subdued greeting, "Hey, Gwen."

They stood there, the room filled with unspoken words and unresolved tension. After a moment, Gwen took a step forward, hesitantly extending her arms for a hug. Y/N, torn between lingering bitterness and the genuine joy of seeing her again, eventually embraced her. The awkwardness melted away, replaced by a shared moment of connection.

Gwen, breaking the silence, apologized, "I'm sorry for how I left things, Y/N. It was... weird. I should've handled it better."

Y/N, still holding onto a sliver of bitterness, replied, "Yeah, it was."

Gwen sighed, "I didn't mean to make things difficult. It's just complicated."

Y/N, deciding to let it go, nodded, "I get it. Let's just... move forward."

As he contemplated what his mom had advised about admitting his feelings, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Can we hurry up with the adorable reunion? I want to see my friend," came the voice of someone he hadn't seen in a long time.

Y/N's eyes widened as he heard the voice. "Anya?" he uttered, a mix of surprise and joy coloring his expression.

Anya's voice filled the room, "In the flesh, hey Y/N."

Y/N's face lit up with joy as he embraced Anya in a tight hug. It had been a long time since he'd seen her, and the reunion brought a flood of warmth and nostalgia. His eyes then flicked to her wrist, noticing the same watch that Gwen had worn during her previous visit.

"You're in the Spider Society too?" Y/N asked, his curiosity piqued.

Anya nodded with a smirk, "Yeah, have been for about a year."

Y/N turned to Gwen with a teasing expression, "I thought you said it was a small team and there was no room."

Gwen stammered, "I did! Anya's just been there longer."

Amid the banter, Y/N had many questions, but he decided to put them on hold for the moment. They explained that they wanted to see him and proposed a visit to Miles. Excitement sparked in Y/N's eyes as he agreed, expressing his eagerness to see his other friend. He headed to grab his suit, and as he opened the ceiling compartment, Gwen and Anya teased him about the potential close calls his mom had with discovering his superhero secret.

After getting into his suit, Y/N was ready to go. Anya tossed him a purple wristband, leading to Y/N's confusion about its purpose.

"I HAVE A WATCH! Why is it all purple and wristbandy? Is this a new model?" Y/N inquired.

Anya clarified, "Actually, it's not a watch. It's a day pass of sorts."

"Oh."

"It's just so you don't, you know.....glitch."

Y/N, remembering glitching from a year ago, nodded, "Yeah, that was painful." He placed the wristband on.

Gwen opened a portal, asking, "Ready to get out of here?"

Y/N paused, realizing he should leave a note for his mom. He quickly scribbled a message, attached it to Storm's collar, and petted the kitten.

"Alright, I'm ready," Y/N announced, and with that, they jumped into the portal, leaving behind Y/N's room, and universe, for the time being.

🕷️

Miles was lost in the beats of his music, after a harsh argument with his parents, he needed to unwind. However, he was completely unaware of the shimmering portal forming above him.

Anya emerged with a smirk, interrupting Miles' musical reverie, "Hey, Miles."

Miles, his headphones falling off as he looked up in shock, stammered, "Whoa, Anya?"

Anya continued, her tone playful, "Wow, is this your room?"

Miles, still processing her unexpected appearance, nervously replied, "Y-yeah, what's up? What are you doing here?"

Anya punched him playfully, "I came to see you, dum dum. Look at you! You hit a growth spurt."

Miles, trying to regain composure, responded, "Yeah, your hair got longer and darker."

Anya teasingly remarked, "Yeah... wow, look at your room."

Miles, a bit awkward, explained, "Yeah, although my room at school is more adult." He discreetly started putting things away.

Anya, with curiosity, spotted a boxed figurine, "Ooo, why is this still in the box?" she gestured towards it.

Miles, protective of his collectible, warned, "Oh, that's a collectible."

But Anya, undeterred, decided to unwrap it, "I think I used to have one of these when I was younger."

Despite Miles' protests, Anya took off the packaging, causing him to cringe. She then placed the figure on his desk and patted its head.

Anya, with a mischievous glint in her eye, teasingly glanced at a sketchbook on Miles' bed. Before he could react, she swiftly webbed it up, Miles trying to stop her.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Miles protested.

Anya, undeterred, flipped through the sketchbook, commenting on the impressive drawings she found. Then, to Miles' embarrassment, she stumbled upon several sketches of her.

"There's so... many," she awkwardly laughed.

Miles, blushing, joined in the awkward laughter, "Yeah." The unspoken feelings lingered between them.

Anya smirked, "I missed you too."

Miles, genuinely surprised and happy to see her, asked, "How are you even here? I thought I'd never see you again."

As Y/N and Gwen emerged through the window, Y/N quipped, "Jesus, you guys talk too much."

Gwen, teasingly looking at Y/N, added, "Ignore him."

Miles, shocked and overjoyed to see his friend, greeted Y/N, "Y/N, what's up, man!" Y/N responded by bringing Miles in for a brotherly hug.

"It's been a while, man," Y/N remarked.

Gwen and Miles exchanged a friendly dap, and Anya, ever the instigator, suggested, "You wanna get out of here?"

Miles, smiling, replied, "I'm... grounded."

Y/N teased, "Grounded, oh, that's nice."

Gwen added, "Total bummer."

The trio swung out of the window, leaving Miles behind. As he looked outside, he saw Anya standing on the wall underneath his window, in her full suit.

"Is Spider-Man grounded?" she quipped.

Miles laughed before making his decision. He joined his friends, leaving behind the confines of his room and the temporary grounding.

🕷️

The four friends swung through the city, effortlessly navigating the urban landscape. They moved with grace, combining acrobatics and parkour, their laughter blending with the city sounds.

Anya, taking the lead, filled Miles in on the Spider-Society, "So, we've got this organization. We jump through dimensions, handle interdimensional anomalies, all that jazz. It's like a secret club."

"Interesting, interesting." Miles nodded.

Gwen chimed in, "Yeah, and our boss, Miguel, is a bit difficult, but he means well."

"Screw that guy." Y/N teased, "He was such a dick to me last time we talked."

Gwen added with a smirk, "He really didn't like when you said that."

Anya defended their boss, "He's not that bad, Y/N. You just don't know him like I do."

Y/N shrugged, "Yeah, whatever you say."

As they continued swinging through the city, Gwen casually mentioned Hobie, prompting Y/N to recall Gwen talking about him a month ago. Intrigued, Y/N couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

"A toothbrush?" Y/N questioned, a hint of jealousy in his voice. "Did you spend the night or something?"

Gwen, downplaying the situation, responded, "Yeah, a few times."

"What does a few times even mean?"

Miles stepped up for his friend, adding, "Yeah, that is pretty vague."

Gwen reassured, "It's nothing, Y/N. Besides, he loved that you called Miguel a dick when I told him."

"Cool," Y/N responded, swinging faster, distancing himself from Gwen and the others.

Gwen attempted to catch up, calling out, "Y/N, wait up!"

As Gwen gracefully caught up with Y/N mid-swing, her teasing remark cut through the air, "Wow, you're swinging so fast like you're on a mission."

Y/N guided her to a large building, finding a quiet spot where the city's rhythmic pulse was muted. The tension between them was undeniable, prompting Gwen to address the unspoken unease.

Gwen settled next to Y/N, the cityscape stretching out before them. She gently probed, "You're not one to be short on words, what's going on?"

Y/N sighed, his gaze fixed on the distant lights. "It's just... the loneliness, you know? In my universe. Not being able to see my friends, the people who get this whole hero thing. I miss everyone, especially you."

Gwen, sensing the depth of his emotions, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Y/N, it's tough. But we're here now, I'm here now."

Y/N smiled, "Yeah, you're right."

The vulnerability in Y/N's admission touched Gwen, though she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. She had her secrets, and they were gnawing at her from the inside.

The atmosphere turned awkward, and Y/N, seeking a distraction, fiddled with Gwen's watch. Inadvertently, he activated an anomaly tracker, surprising both of them. Gwen, slightly taken aback, couldn't help but raise her voice, "Y/N, what are you doing?!"

Apologizing, Y/N tried to defuse the situation, "Sorry, Gwen, I was just curious about the watch. I didn't mean to—"

Gwen cut him off, her tone apologetic, "No, it's not your fault. Just...scared me, you know."

Their eyes locked in a moment that spoke volumes, a subtle dance of unspoken emotions hanging in the air. Y/N, still grappling with the awkwardness, managed a faint smile, "Yeah, got it."

Their moment was interrupted by the realization that Miles and Anya had been gone for a while. Deciding to check on them, Y/N and Gwen swung back towards Brooklyn, where they found Miles and Anya unmasked, sitting upside down off the Williamsburg Bank Building. Anya's shoulder rested on Miles'.

Y/N suggested leaving them alone for a bit, and Gwen agreed. The two swung away, creating a respectful distance to allow their friends their private moment.

🕷️

Miles, these are amazing. I think I might move in if I can eat food like this all the time," Y/N exclaimed between bites.

Gwen chimed in, "Swinging makes me hungry," as she joined the feast.

Anya, ever the language perfectionist, began correcting everyone on the proper pronunciation of the Dominican dishes. Y/N interrupted, "Anya, I just want to eat. Let me eat in peace."

Laughter filled the air, and Miles brought up a more serious topic. "So what's it gonna take for Miguel O'Hara to notice Miles Morales?"

Anya jokingly promised, "I'll be sure to put in a good word, right Gwen?"

Gwen nodded, saying, "Yeah, for sure."

Y/N seized the opportunity, "Well, let me know if you do and put in a good word for me."

Gwen hesitated, her expression revealing a struggle within. Before she could say anything, Miles interjected, "We did save the multiverse."

Anya added, "It's a small elite strike force."

Miles grinned, "I can turn invisible."

Y/N proudly mentioned, "I can grow stingers."

Gwen, realizing the implication, intervened, "There aren't a lot of slots."

Y/N, feeling a twinge of bitterness, nodded understandingly, "Oh, yeah, right." Deep down, he sensed that Gwen was keeping something from him, a realization that had been gnawing at him for a while.

Gwen attempted to speak, "Y/N..."

"Just don't, I get it," Y/N cut her off, his tone indicating a mixture of acceptance and disappointment.

Anya tried to reassure, "Look, if it were up to—"

Miles, sensing the tension, waved it off, "Whatever, that's alright. I know, I know."

Rio, Miles' mom, suddenly interjected into the conversation, climbing into the alcove with an inviting smile.

"Hello!" she greeted, "I'm Miles' Mom."

Anya, a bit nervously, responded, "Mrs. Morales! I've heard so much about you!"

Rio, with a hint of suspicion, held up a jacket, saying, "Right... well, we found this in Miles' room."

Anya stammered, "Oh, that's mine."

Rio raised an eyebrow, "I guess you must have been there, huh?"

Y/N, attempting to diffuse the situation, awkwardly added, "Uh, yeah... we all were."

Just then, Miles' dad, Jefferson, appeared alongside Rio. Gwen addressed him, "You must be Jeff."

Jeff, sarcastically, responded, "You called me Jeff, that's real sweet," then laughed, "you must mean Lieutenant Morales, soon to be Captain Morales."

Y/N, in a playful manner, saluted and said, "Aye Aye, Captain."

Jeff, unamused, gave a stern look. Miles chimed in, "Y/N, Gwen, and Anya are friends of mine from school!" He tried to clarify, "Yeah, we were just catching up."

Anya, putting her arm around Miles, caused Rio to look at her suspiciously. Rio warned, "Right... just don't take him from me."

Miles protested, "Mom!"

Rio continued, "Don't break his heart."

Miles, a bit flustered, exclaimed, "Mom!"

Y/N, sensing the awkwardness of the conversation, decided it was time to make his exit.

"I think I've overstayed my welcome. Nice meeting you, Mrs. Morales, Lieutenant soon-to-be Captain Morales," he said with a nod, excusing himself from the gathering.

Anya's dimensional watch suddenly beeped, disrupting the uneasy atmosphere and prompting Gwen and Anya to exchange a knowing glance. The watch's notification was their cue to depart.

"Oh, crap, we have to go," Anya announced, glancing at the watch with a hint of urgency.

Miles, still befuddled, questioned, "What's happening?"

Quick on her feet, Gwen intervened, "Right, we forgot to get our steps in!" She punctuated her comment with an awkward laugh, attempting to lighten the mood.

Anya chimed in, expressing regret, "Really wish we could stay longer."

Gwen, seizing the moment, took hold of Y/N's arm and playfully nudged him. "Come on, Y/N," she urged, giving him a knowing look.

Anya, offering a polite apology to Miles, extended her hand in a somewhat awkward gesture. Miles, shaking her hand with a tinge of melancholy, bid them farewell. "Yeah, bye," he uttered, his expression betraying a sense of disappointment, especially concerning Anya, for whom he had developed unspoken feelings.

As Gwen, Y/N, and Anya began their descent down the stairs, Miles remained behind, watching his friends leave with a subtle mixture of longing and sadness.

All he wanted was to see his friends, but it felt like the universe didn't want that for him.

🕷️

As they descended the stairs, Y/N couldn't help but wonder where the trio was heading next. Anticipating more exhilarating swings through the city, his excitement brimmed. However, Anya's serious expression and Gwen's uneasy demeanor hinted at something more profound.

"Where to next?" Y/N inquired, expecting another thrilling escapade through the city.

Anya, wearing a subtle frown, gently excused herself and Gwen. With a subtle gesture, she reminded them of their unspoken duty – a mission that Miguel and Jess wouldn't approve of. Gwen, though understanding the necessity, felt a pang of guilt, especially considering Y/N.

"I know," Gwen muttered quietly, sharing a brief, pained look with Anya.

Anya conveyed the urgency of their situation, reminding them that they had already irked Miguel once, and Gwen couldn't afford any more missteps. The unspoken truth lingered heavily – they needed to send Y/N back to his universe soon.

Back on the rooftop, Y/N was growing impatient. "Hey, where are you guys going?" he called out, trying to catch their attention.

Anya and Gwen returned, attempting to wear reassuring smiles. "We'll be back," Anya assured, but Y/N, perceptive as ever, detected a hint of uncertainty.

"Everything alright?" Y/N questioned, a note of concern in his voice.

Gwen and Anya exchanged a glance before responding, "Yes, everything's fine."

Seeing through their facade, Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Bullshit," he remarked, realizing they were concealing something important. As Gwen and Anya swung off together, leaving Y/N on the rooftop, the air was thick with unspoken truths, leaving him puzzled and yearning for answers.

As Y/N waited on the rooftop, lost in his thoughts, a sudden presence made him turn. To his surprise, Miles, fully suited as Spider-Man, emerged.

"Hey, sorry about my parents. They can be a bit much," Miles apologized, trying to ease the awkwardness.

"No worries. I've got a mom too, I get it," Y/N responded, appreciating the attempt at camaraderie.

Deciding to trail Gwen and Anya discreetly, Y/N and Miles swung through the city, discussing everything from basketball trades to the future of the Knicks.

"LeBron to the Celtics? He's still in Cleveland in my universe," Y/N chuckled.

"The Knicks will never be relevant, Y/N," Miles teased.

"Yeah, whatever. KD to the Knicks. Book it," Y/N confidently predicted.

Spotting Gwen and Anya swinging in front of them, the duo decided to follow, maintaining a discreet distance. As they swung through the city, conversation flowed between Y/N and Miles, teasing each other about their potential crushes.

"You really like Gwen, huh?" Miles teased.

Y/N shot back, "And you've got a thing for Anya, don't you?"

The banter continued until Y/N, unable to shake off the nagging feeling, brought up a more serious topic. "You ever feel like there's something Gwen won't tell you? Same with Anya. Like they're keeping something big from us."

Miles pondered the question before responding, "Yeah, I've noticed it too.

Y/N and Miles quietly observed from the shadows, a sense of curiosity lingered in the air. The strange device swiftly retreated into Gwen's watch, prompting a questioning glance from Miles.

"What is that?" he whispered.

Following Gwen and Anya to an abandoned building adorned with black and white spots, Y/N couldn't help but express his confusion.

"Spots?" he mumbled to himself.

With Miles using his invisibility powers, they ventured into the building, slipping by unnoticed. Inside, Gwen and Anya were focused on a damaged apartment, an air of tension surrounding them.

"Shoot," Gwen muttered under her breath.

Anya, attempting to calm her friend, spoke in Spanish, "Cálmate, Gwen, me estás estresando" (Calm down, Gwen, you're stressing me out).

Y/N and Miles observed as Anya deployed devices from her watch, scanning and investigating the scene. Meanwhile, the lingering question about those peculiar spots remained in Y/N's mind.

"Spots?" he repeated, his curiosity growing.

Gwen, determined to uncover the truth, spoke to her watch with authority, "Show me everything."

As the holographic replay unfolded, Y/N and Miles witnessed the enigmatic figure, Spot, working on a makeshift device and expressing a desperate need for a full-sized collider.

Spot's vengeful words echoed through the room, "And Spider-Man, I'll make you pay for everything you took away from me. For what you both took away from me."

Y/N felt a shiver down his spine, memories of the supercollider and Peter's demise flooding his thoughts. Spot's intentions became alarmingly clear – tampering with the multiverse for revenge.

"I just need to get somewhere with a full-sized collider," Spot muttered, disappearing into a black pit, leaving the room to tremble in his wake.

As the holographic replay concluded, a series of black and white explosions emanated from the Spot hologram. The tension in the room escalated.

"Replay complete," announced the watch.

Gwen's expression shifted to one of concern. "Oh no."

Anya, seemingly overwhelmed, began frantically repeating the word "why."

Suddenly, a hologram of Jessica appeared from behind Gwen and Anya, startling them.

Jessica Drew: "Anya, Gwen, hi... whatcha doing?"

Anya stammered, "Nothing, totally nothing."

Gwen hastily added, "Everything's good... bye!" and promptly ended the holographic call.

Anya whispered to Gwen, "Oh, we're in trouble."

Jessica returned, demanding, "Where was the bad guy you two were supposed to find?"

Anya downplayed the situation, "Jess, stop pestering us. We've got it covered. He just... snuck out for a minute."

Jess skeptically responded, "Dude!"

Gwen tried to dismiss the severity, "He's just some villain of the week."

Anya made a feeble attempt to conceal the truth from Lyla, "Oh, you don't have to do that."

Lyla, the AI assistant, chimed in, "Tracking... oh, I found him. Nope—there he goes again—never mind—slippery guy."

Jess caught on to their evasion tactics, "Did you go see your little friend?"

Anya reluctantly admitted, "What, no?"

Jess pressed, "Miles?"

Anya hesitated before conceding, "Maybe..."

Jess, clearly frustrated, said, "Are you kidding me right now?"

Anya tried to minimize the situation, "Briefly, it's not a big deal."

Jess turned her stern gaze to Gwen, suspecting her involvement, "And please don't tell me you went to see YOUR little friend."

Gwen, unable to keep it a secret, reluctantly confessed, "Maybeeee."

Jess couldn't believe what she was hearing. "This is not happening right now."

Gwen tried to explain, "I just had to know how he was!"

Jess, reminding them of their previous actions, responded, "You already did that once. You know how Miguel is going to feel about this? I just can't with you right now."

Anya, acknowledging their mistake, said, "We know we messed up!"

Jess laid down the law, "They both cannot be a part of this."

Gwen, accepting the consequences, reluctantly agreed, "Alright, I'll never see him again."

Jess, trying to maintain authority, asserted, "Good!"

Y/N, overhearing the entire conversation, couldn't believe what he had just witnessed. His disappointment and frustration simmered beneath the surface as he realized the possibility of never seeing Gwen again.

His spider senses, already mysterious in their connection with her, once again went haywire. One thing was clear to Y/N – there were secrets being kept from him.

Lyla interjected, delivering more unsettling news about Spot's capabilities.

Lyla: He can jump wherever he wants, he can be a total canon killer.

Jessica expressed her concern: "You said he was the villain of the week? You know how bad this is for you, Gwen?"

Lyla elaborated further: "Every dimension he stops at has an Alchemax."

Y/N's eyes widened in realization – his dimension had an Alchemax.

Jessica probed for information, demanding to know what Spot was up to.

Miles, struggling to explain, confessed: "He's making himself more powerful, so he can beat me."

Y/N, still puzzled, questioned: "What are you talking about?"

Miles attempted to clarify, revealing that Spot hailed from his universe, where he had dismissively called him the "villain of the week."

Y/N retorted sarcastically: "Seems to be the general consensus."

Jessica, with an ironic tone, commented on the situation: "Amazing, my star pupil and Miguel's, everyone!"

Y/N, growing frustrated with Jessica's tone, was held back by Miles.

Gwen, determined to take action, asserted: "I'll get him!"

Jessica, sighing, warned her about the potential consequences: "If Miguel finds out I let you go—"

Gwen interrupted, anxious about her fate: "Don't tell Miguel, if he finds out, he'll kick me out. What if he sends me home?"

Lyla offered a solution: "I got him! Earth 50101. Mumbatten. What do you wanna do?"

Gwen, appealing to Jessica's understanding, defended her actions: "You never got too close to someone, never made a mistake?"

Jessica, drawing on her own experiences, insisted: "I did, but I got over it. Like you two need to do."

Anya chimed in, expressing the complexity of their situation: "It's not that simple."

Jessica, resolute in her advice, asserted: "It really is; you never gave Bailey a chance, Gwen."

Gwen, dismissing the attempt at matchmaking, revealed: "That kid you tried setting me up with? I never liked him."

Y/N felt a twinge of jealousy, questioning Jessica's motivations.

Jessica, focused on resolving the crisis, directed the next steps: "Alert the local spider, tell him Gwen and Anya will meet him there."

Gwen raised a concern about Y/N: "What am I supposed to do with Y/N? He can't get home."

Jessica, suppressing frustration, learned of Gwen's reason: "You brought him here?"

Gwen, driven by emotion, confessed: "I missed him."

Jessica, practical despite the circumstance, reluctantly conceded: "I'll send another spider to take him back. Just do your job. You got an hour to fix this, or I can't help you."

Anya expressed gratitude: "Thank you, thank you so much."

Jess, maintaining her tough exterior, retorted, "Whatever, shut up," and ended the call.

Anya, offering a comforting hand on Gwen's shoulder, empathized, "It's probably best for all of us, especially for Miles and Y/N's sake."

Gwen nodded in agreement, her sadness palpable. Yet, amidst the melancholy, her spider senses tingled once more – that peculiar feeling she could never quite understand, only experiencing it when Y/N was near.

As Gwen sadly gazed out to the city skyline, she knew what she had to do. Without uttering a word, she leaped into the portal, disappearing into the unknown.

Anya, left alone, gathered herself as Miles, still invisible, descended to her.

Anya, in a soft tone, whispered, "Goodbye, Miles."

She donned her mask and gracefully jumped through the portal, leaving Miles standing there, unseen but keenly felt.

Miles, breaking the silence, admitted, "You were right. They're hiding something."

Y/N, resolute and unwilling to let Gwen go without answers, declared, "I need to know. We both do."

With that shared understanding, they exchanged a determined look before leaping into the portal.