────────.★..─
CH07 : DIFFERENT
LEAP OF FAITH
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I sat alone in my room, the words of Gwen and the others still ringing painfully in my ears. They had called me and miles useless, as if our efforts to help them fight the enemy which was kingpin mainly— were insignificant. The 'insults' caught me by surprise, and my mind spiraled into a deep, upsetting place.

All of my past insecurities and self-doubts reemerged. We had worked so hard to prove ourselves valuable team members, but their words shattered my sense of purpose. My attempts to help the cause felt extra pointless now.

It wasn't just a word, it was a crushing blow, a painful realization that we were..useless I guess. I felt as though I didn't belong, a worthless outcast.

But I was also overreacting.

I curled up on my bed, the weight of the hurt too much to bear. Sobs wracked my body as I tried to grapple with the pangs of suffering. I struggled to figure out what I had done, or what I could do to make things right.

But the truth was that the damage was already done.

As I replayed the conversation over and over again in my head, I found myself sinking deeper and deeper into a state of helplessness and sadness. The harsh words continued to replay like a broken record. Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn't bring myself to leave the isolation of my room. And while I wanted to believe that everything would be okay, nothing could soothe the pain of feeling publicly outcast by people I considered my 'friends' or 'spider friends'.

I stared at my hands, clenching and unclenching my fists as I felt the power inside me spark to life once again. Slowly, but surely, my eyes began to emit a purple glow that illuminated the some of the room.

It was like I was tapping into a well of energy deep within me, each radiant burst casting the world into stark relief. The glow beckoned me, compelling me to unleash the full range of my abilities.

I could feel the thrumming waves of energy pulsating through my veins, reminding me of only one thing – the strength of my abilities.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, overcome the trauma that still lingered. The voice inside me instructed to resist and held me from reaching deep into myself to pull out the extra energy and ability.

But it wasn't easy. The harder I tried to control my gift, the stronger it became, radiating through my limbs. With a renewed sense of determination, I closed my eyes and focused every fiber of my essence.

I felt the tingle of the magic spreading through my whole body and my eyes began to glow the brighter shade of purple once more.

In that moment, I knew I had no choice; I either let go of the fear and embraced the power or let fear take over me and lose to it. Ultimately, the answer was clear. With a deep breath, I let the energy flow unhindered, allowing my purple aura to envelop everything around me. almost.

The new surge of power was exhilarating – a humbling and empowering feeling to know that I could take on the world with my gift. Raw power flowed uncontrollably through me, and I could see before me, all that was waiting for me to embrace them. I reveled in the new found confidence and familiarity that the energy filled me up with, despite the uncertainty that the risks might bring.

My heart was racing a mile a minute, my body felt like it was buzzing with energy. My breaths came in ragged gasps, and I struggled to contain my escalating emotions. My mind was in a confused, chaotic mess.

Then, a memory washed over me – the meditation techniques I had practiced earlier that week. I remembered the calming breaths and the sensation of centering myself. It was worth a try.

Breathe in, breathe out. I repeated this to myself, over and over again. I focused on counting the length of my inhales and exhales, slowly lengthening each one until my heart rate slowed down.

Gradually, my mind cleared of the extraneous stuff, and I began to enter a state of calm focus. I became aware of the breath moving in and out of my body, as well as the warmth in my fingertips.

I imagined a peaceful scene in my mind and felt myself transported there – a serene landscape surrounded me, and the birds chirped a sweet melody. In that moment, everything else drifted away.

The chaos that had been threatening to topple me over lost importance and faded into the background. I felt the peace overflowing in me and my every breath becoming easier. I felt released and freed from something that seemed to hold me closer in its grasp.

I brought that feeling back with me as I opened my eyes and saw that everything that earlier mattered now seemed like a distant memory.

I felt so much better already – incredibly lighter, now having the power of calming myself; a newfound ability that would help me when life became overwhelming and also when I'd have to control my new abilities, finally.

Maybe..maybe going to New Jersey wouldn't be such a bad idea. I heard the door creak open and looked over my shoulder to see it was my cat frankie. he meowed and climbed into my lap.

"..you smell like mud." I say and Frankie hisses while jumping off my lap and back into the living room.

I stood up and then an idea popped into mind, I should probably visit Aunt May and tell her that I was able to somewhat do my powers on command.

——

I rubbed my eyes after waking up from my deep slumber, I knocked on aunt May's door and she let me in.

"Hey, i wanted to tell you some good news-" before I could finish I felt someone pull me into a hug, "[name]! hey how are you? are you finally able to do your webs on command? okay cool because right now we need another..." Peter rambles and I groaned in annoyance.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I was turned around roughly to face that person, "My uncle." I heard miles say.

"What?" I replied with furrowed eyebrows, "Hey, where have you been?" I heard Peter ask.

"My uncle Aaron, he's the prowler." Miles said and my eyes widened slightly— okay that was...horrible news.

"Slow down, miles." I said and placed a hand on his shoulder, he gripped my hand tightly to feel some type of comfort.

"He works for kingpin, he tried to kill me!" Miles says as he almost teared up, now it all makes sense. he told me his uncle hadn't answered the phone yesterday and the day before.

So the one who was chasing us down the tunnel...that was him?

"This is a pretty hard-core origin story." Spider-noir says and Peni hit him on the arm.

"It's okay. we're gonna figure it out." Peter says, I ran a hand through my hair as I started panicking. man, what are we gonna do?

"Were you followed?" Gwen asks Miles and he turned to her, "No, I don't think so." Miles said.

That's when all our spidey-sense went off and let out a long tired sigh, I just know I'm gonna retire immediately after hours of running and not doing anything.

The door had opened and I saw Doc Ock in the doorway, oh how much I wanted to die right now.

"Cute place. real homey." Doc ock says and I just put my mask on, "Oh great, it's Liv." Aunt May says.

"I guess I was followed." Miles added and I shook my head, "unfortunately." I groaned.

"Get out of here, kids." Peter said to me and miles and miles hurried and took my hand.

We were stopped by one of kingpin's minions, CAN WE GET A BREAK? my god everyone breathing on our necks right now. chill.

"You messed up big time, kids. very sloppy."

Kill me please.

"Let me guess. you're scorpion. well, we're the spider gang." Peter says and I face palm myself while shaking my head.

"Would you mind taking this outside?" Aunt May asks while gesturing to the door, "We don't pick the ballroom, we just dance." Spider-noir said.

I was thrown to the side and hit a
shelf which made me wince,
okay now this was just
pissing me off.

"The next time somebody hits me I swear on my smelly cats ass I will strangle you myself!" I shouted while electricity sparked from my hands.

That's when I noticed it go silent for a few seconds. I bumped into miles and he grasped onto my wrist. he still had my bracelet he needed to 'borrow'.

Seems like he just needed it to keep,
I didn't mind it though.

That's when the prowler appeared in front of us, yeah this was bad— very bad.

"I got this, kiddos." Peter says and thankfully he distracted him, I then turned to miles.

"Listen, we gotta go. I understand how you're feeling but we can't stay here it's too dangerous." I said while grabbing miles by the shoulders and shaking him slightly.

He was silent as his breathing was heavy, "Miles please. we have to leave." I say once more.

I then cupped his cheek and made him face me, "miles.." I trailed off and he leaned into my touch.

"Okay, okay. let's go." Miles says and the both of us ran into the kitchen.

The prowler appeared again and I was quick to throw a table at him, "sorry but you're attacking us!" I said while giving the prowler an apologetic smile.

Miles grabbed my hand and the both of us ran upstairs but the prowler grabbed both me and miles by the legs.

I was quick to send a kick to his face which made him let go of us, I then ran up onto the roof with miles.

The prowler appeared once more and grabbed both me and miles into a choke hold, I coughed since the air from my lungs were suddenly taken away.

Miles takes his mask off and I do the same, I felt the prowlers grip loosen from around my throat.

"Miles? [name]?" I would recognize that voice anywhere. and, it
was Aaron's.

Aaron takes his mask off while shaking his head, "Oh, no, no, no, no, no." he says.

"Please, Uncle Aaron."  I heard miles say, my feet began slipping and I nearly was about to fall, "please.." I say as well with pleading eyes.

He put our masks back on and I looked at him with surprise.

He raised both his hands up showing he meant no harm and slowly backed away. I felt my lips tremble as I sighed in relief.

That's when I heard a loud shot ring out and without even thinking I ran forward and tried reaching out for Aaron as a scream escaped my lips.

I watched as he fell and I immediately ran over to him, miles did the same and I stared in disbelief, not even noticing kingpin aiming his gun directly at me and miles.

Peter kicked him away and looked up at us, "Get out of here!" he shouted at us and Miles grabbed him and used his web shooter to go to a nearby alley.

I followed him not even noticing my webs glitching as I did, I made it down the alleyway where miles was.

I kneeled down next to miles and could see the wound on Aaron, I felt tears well up in my eyes as I tried holding back a sob.

"Miles. [name]." Aaron says, his voice sounded hoarse but I could tell it was from the pain.

"Uncle Aaron." Miles says as he was on the verge of tears himself, I hung my head low as I kept trying to hold back my sobs.

I watched as the two of them talked to each other, this just makes me realize you could lose the one closest to you, the one who understands you the most. and when you exchange harsh words with them it makes you regret you said anything that day.

I saw Aaron take his last breath and more tears welled up in my eyes, I turned away and felt my hands beginning to shake.

I heard something behind us and looked over my shoulder, "hands up. turn around." It was Miles dad.

Miles grabbed my hand and we both went invisible, I put the mask back on my face while trying to stop my tears.

——

I sat on miles bed while
leaning against my hand. I felt my leg bouncing up and down, miles was currently throwing stuff while I just watched.

"Miles.." I mumbled but he
didn't listen and threw one of his art books out the window.

I should just stay silent and let him get this off his chest because he's been through so much, so have I.

Suddenly the book was thrown back to miles which he caught in his hands easily, Peter climbed inside the window.

I saw the others walk in too, including Gwen. she sent me a small comforting smile and I just stared down at the ground sadly.

"Hey, kiddos." Peter says and wraps his arms around my shoulders, I lean into the touch and wipe my tears away.

"You guys okay?" Peter asks and it takes me a minute to answer before miles does, I just stay quiet.

"We've all been there. You know, for me...it was my uncle Ben."

"For me, it was my uncle Benjamin."

"For me, it was my father."

"For me, it was my best friend."

"Miles, [name], the hardest thing about this job is...you can't always save everybody." Peter porker says.

Not even yourself. I think to myself as I say that. looking down at the ground once more as I think about my own father.

"Look, it was my fault. you wouldn't understand." Miles says and I turned to him, "miles. they're probably the only ones that do understand." I say.

I felt my spidey-sense go off and the door slowly opened, "crap." me and miles say in sync.

"Ceiling, ceiling." I whispered and I hurried and crawled into the ceiling, I was in between miles and Gwen.

This guy was probably gonna pass out when he sees us.

...And yeah, he did.

——

I place a blanket over miles roommate and turned to the others, I saw they had left and Gwen was climbing out the window.

"What's going on?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows. my lips turning into a thin line, "Bye miles, [name]." Gwen says before leaving.

"Kiddos, I came to say goodbye." Peter says and my heart sinks. what did he mean 'goodbye'? we're supposed to do this together.

"We can say goodbye at the collider." Miles says, "The two of you aren't getting it. you're both staying here." Peter replies.

"We need to be there. so you can all go home." Miles said and I nodded in agreement, "they are going home, Miles. I'm the only one stayin'." Peter stated and I turned towards him.

"Hold on, hold on. you're taking our place? If you stay here, you'll die. what part don't you get?" I said.

"I'm doing what needs to be done. I just wanted you two to hear it from me." Peter tells me and I just shake my head.

"What about MJ?" Miles asks and I wondered the same thing, "Not everything works out, kiddos." Peter answers.

Peter held his hand out to me and gestured to the key, "I need the goober." he tells me.

"No. I'll break this and you." I warned while a frown was on my lips, "please don't make me take it from you." Peter said.

Miles got in front of me and just looked at him, as much as I didn't want to do this I had to. he couldn't do this by himself.

"That's not fair! you gotta tell them we can do this." Miles says while holding onto my hand which was holding the key.

"It wasn't their decision." Peter says and I just shook my head while looking away from him.

"We gotta make kingpin pay! you have to let us make him pay!" I exclaimed while turning away from him.

"Miles, [name], you're gonna get yourselves killed." Peter tells us, I clenched my fists.

"But we're ready. I promise!" Miles says and I nodded in agreement, "this is what we've been working towards to!" I added.

Peter swiped us under our feet and I yelled, "then venom-strike me now. electrocute me." he says.

"I'm not gonna hurt you, dude." I say while furrowing my eyebrows, "Or turn invisible on command so you can get past me." Peter continued.

I stayed silent and let out a sigh, knowing he was right.

"Look, I know how much you want this, kiddos." Peter says, I landed back on my feet and frowned.

"But neither of you have it yet."

I crossed my arms and glanced at miles who was staring down at the ground.

Peter grabbed a chair and webbed us both, I felt him take the key out of my hands.

"I'm sorry." Peter said while patting our shoulders, "When will we know we're ready?" Miles asks and Peter webbed both of our mouths.

"You won't. It's a leap of faith." Peter replied, "that's all it is, you two. a leap of faith."

——

Mom:
Hey, it's uh,
me. the diner so far has gone successful. please respond to this. I know something's bothering you.
Seen

Me:
Are those tickets to
New Jersey still available?

Mom:
Yes, why??

I glanced over at miles and I was starting to regret this already. I didn't want to do this...

Please don't make a dumb decision. please don't.

Me:
I'll take them.

Mom:
All of a sudden? [name] you're gonna be away from miles, you're okay with that?

Me:
No. but
I'm just gonna have
to deal with that. and the guilt cause I'm not telling him I'm leaving.

Mom:
this is gonna make miles sad,
you know that? he cares about you.

Me:
Mom please support
me on this :/

Mom:
You know I support you in everything thing you do but THIS I'm not gonna support you in. that's breaking his heart and I'm not gonna let you do that.

Me:
Can I just
have the tickets?

Mom:
Alright fine, but tell miles.
Seen

I shut my phone off and glanced at miles before slowly getting out of the webs and climbing out the window.

——

I made my way back home and grabbed my things, heading inside my room and grabbing my backpack, I walked over to one of the drawers.

I grabbed a few of my clothes and my hoodie, what was I even doing? my mom had placed the plane tickets on the bed and grabbed them.

I stared at it for a second before groaning, frankie plopped onto one of my pillows and was licking they're feet.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose thinking this was ridiculous, I was about to do the most stupidest thing.

I didn't notice miles standing there behind me, a frown on his lips. my spidey-senses went off making me turn around.

I felt sparks of electricity come from my hand as I turned around, "Who-?!" I stopped when I realized it was miles.

"Miles..?" I trailed off with furrowed eyebrows, "You were just gonna leave without even telling me?" Miles says.

And hey, I just realized I did that weird thingy on command! didn't know that til now.

I felt hands wrap themselves around mines and squeeze them gently, "Don't go. I just wanna protect my family, I wanna protect you too."

"T..Thanks? are you speaking like this because you're nervous or you've never been around people before?" I say nervously as I scratch the back of my neck.

Miles stepped towards me with his hands in his pockets, he cupped my cheek and leaned in.

"I think you know what I mean." he whispered. I felt myself leaning a little closer too.

Miles takes my face in his hands, studying me for a moment before closing his gaze and capturing my lips in a gentle kiss. the kiss is soft and tender, drawing me into him, reminding me how much I mean to him.

I pulled away slightly and smiled, "I didn't know you felt that way. as many times I've punched you in the face?" I say jokingly.

"Like I said, I ain't mind it." Miles replied while laughing, I laughed also then we stared into each other's eyes once more.

"Alright. I won't go. I'll stay." I say and he pulls me into a hug, a hug which feels me with comfort.

"May wanted me to give this to you." Miles said and handed me a suit which seemed to fit, "oh! miles, thank you." I say as I kiss his cheek.

"Was nothin'...okay it
was something." Miles chuckles while smiling mischievously.

——

Me and miles made our way towards the collider and damn, it looked like everyone was getting beat up.

"Wanna go help 'em?" I say with a raised eyebrow, "Gonna have to." Miles says and he nudged my shoulder before webbing off to go help Peter.

After miles had hit doc ock in the face I made my way towards the two of them, "I love you guys! I'm so proud of you both!" Peter says and pulls us into both into a hug.

"We love you too!" I say and hug Peter back, "Do I want kids?" he says to himself.

I dodged when something nearly hit us, I then turned towards doc ock and glared at her, she was getting on my last nerve.

I ran towards her and sent a kick to her face, she grimaced in pain and hit her head on the railing.

"Stop being annoying! shoo!" I shout while rolling my eyes, "Guys, are you seeing this?" Peter asks.

I landed on top of the collider with the rest of them, "Looks like our dimensions are coming to us." Gwen says.

"Does look cool though, right?" I say with a shrug, "We gotta get back up there though."

That's when our spidey-senses went off.

Doc ock stood there behind us and threw a bus our way which we quickly dodged, I rubbed a hand over my face tiredly.

I got separated from miles and lost my footing and doc ock appeared behind me kicked me in my back making me hit a pillar and I groaned in pain.

I suddenly started slipping and I couldn't hold onto the pillar anymore so I started descending down towards the void of the collider.

"[name]!" I heard miles shout, my ears were currently ringing and I squinted my eyes to see if I could latch onto anything only to find nothing.

Before I could fall further miles wrapped his web around my waist and grabbed onto my hand, "you okay?" Miles asks.

"I'm alright." I answered as I felt him pull me up and back onto a safe surface, I held onto his hand tightly.

"Buckle up guys, this is gonna take awhile." Gwen says, I get in a fighting stance, ready to throw hands if needed to.

As doc ock was coming towards us—

Oh damn, she got hit by a truck. I clamped a hand over my mouth as I placed my hand on miles shoulder.

"Alright. never mind." Gwen says and I laughed, "Let's end this thing." Peter said and I held up my hand in a stop motion.

"Guys, we got this." Mile says as he handed me the key, "I'll go. I'm the one with the goo-" before Peter could finish I showed him the key.

"Are you?" I said with a raised eyebrow as a smirk made its way onto my lips, "Oh, you gotta be kidding me." Peter says and I just chuckled.

I wrapped my legs around miles waist as we headed towards where the key is supposed to be put, I put the key inside and the control beam appeared.

"Guys, we got control of the beam! get up here!" Miles shouted.

"Guess this is it." I mumbled as I looked at everyone, a small smile making its way onto my lips.

"Well, nice to know we aren't alone." Peni says and I noticed sp//dr wasn't with her. I frowned a bit when I noticed this.

"Right?" Peni says and I nodded while smiling, "Yeah." I said.

I then turned back to the control beam, miles having his chin on my shoulder as he watched me, "I got the portal open. you first, Peni." I say as I turned to Peni.

"Thank you [name] and miles. from both of us." Peni says, I watched as she went into her dimension.

"I, uh, love you all." Spider-noir said and then glanced at the cube in his hand, "I'm taking this cube thing with me. I don't understand it. but I will." then he goes into his dimension.

"I want you to have this. it'll fit in your pocket." Peter porker says to me as he hands me his hammer, Miles took the hammer for me while I just stared at Peter porker with a raised eyebrow, also amused by this, "thank you." I giggle.

"That's all folks." Peter porker says and goes into his dimension.

"Is he allowed to say that legally?" Peter asks.

I then turned to gwen, miles followed my gaze. "Do I get to like the hairdo now?" Miles asks her.

"You know I'm older than you guys right?" Gwen says, "I think we know. don't we miles?" I say as I pinch his ear, he winced, "Yes! Yeah!" Miles quickly responds.

I then turned to Gwen, "Friends?" I asked, she takes my hand and shakes it.

"Friends." Gwen replied, squeezing my hand gently while she smiled at me.

"Cool." She says.

"Cool." I reply.

She salutes the both of us before heading into her dimension.

Then I turned to Peter, "Your turn."
Miles says.

"Yeah, yeah. right." Peter says and my spidey-senses went off along with miles and Peters.

I forgot to mention me and miles spidey-senses were connected, I looked over to see kingpin in the distance.

"You're not going anywhere!" Kingpin shouts.

"I'll hold him off. both of you shut this down." Peter said and I grabbed onto his arm, "that was not the deal!" I shouted.

I saw him web off, "Push the green button! do not wait for me!" he replied.

I turned towards miles, "What are we gonna do?" I asked.

Miles turns to me and cups my cheek while sighing, "Go turn that machine off. okay?" he said.

"What? and just leave you? no!
we're in this together! remember? I'm not leaving you." I said as I began to tear up.

He wiped my tears away and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, "I'm gonna be fine. I promise. now, go." Miles says and I just give him one last.

I saw Peter go into his dimension, I glanced over my shoulder to see miles a few meters from kingpin.

Nah, I couldn't just let him fight alone.

I landed beside him, "I'm not letting you do this alone." I whispered to miles, he went to say something but then shook his head before smiling, "you're stubborn sometimes." He said.

"That's me." I winked and kingpin aimed his gun towards me, "can't do that one." I say and webbed the gun from his hands.

"It's not a fight if you can't use your hands." I chuckled and a train made its way towards us.

"Adíos!" I heard miles say as he wrapped his hands around me.

I then looked over at the green button; the purple hue from my eyes lit around my pupils, I scanned everyone and looked for some type of solution.

"We gotta get to that green button." I whispered to miles, before he could say anything kingpin smashed my head into the glass causing me to shout in pain.

I landed inside the train and
saw kingpin holding miles in a chokehold.

"Let him—!" Before I could finish I got thrown all the way back towards the train and hit my head rather harshly, causing my vision to go hazy.

I saw miles climb on top of the train and I held my aching side, "You're not stopping this. not today." Kingpin said.

I got on top of the train as well, still clutching my side.

"We are stopping this. right now!" I shouted while sending kingpin a harsh glare.

Miles attacked kingpin while I looked around, my eyes glanced when I saw Mr.Morales. crap.

I ran towards kingpin and tried hitting him only to her head butted and my ribs cracked. I shouted in pain and was thrown to the side, hitting the back of something sharp.

I felt kingpin dragging me by the leg and miles was currently trying to fight him off, my nose started bleeding through my mask.

I tried using my webs to hit him only to get punched across the face. I tried hitting him again but he just punched me once more making me hit the ground, miles was beside me and had his arms wrapped around me protectively.

Before I could even process it kingpin slammed his fist down onto my back making me go limp.

That's when everything went dark.

. . .
(3RD POV)

Miles glanced over at [name] and could see them not moving anymore,
he began to get worried— but at least they were still breathing.

He turned back to kingpin and felt rage just overcome him suddenly, your breathing was ragged and every breath you would take it didn't sound good.

you opened your eyes slightly and suddenly got up, limping as you did. Miles turned to you and you sent each other a nod.

"Do the shoulder thing." you said and miles nodded before touching your shoulder, the sparks that were coming from you looked like a blast of light.

You then placed your hand on kingpin's shoulder and gave him a wink, "...hey." you said before you blasted him back with your sparks.

You then turned to miles before giving him a thumbs up, "Finish him off." I said and webbed over to were Mr.Morales was but hid in plain sight.

"Hey, kingpin! push the green
button for me!" Miles shouted.

I webbed over to miles when an explosion went off, I wrapped my arms around him to shield him.

Finally. it's over.

.

.

.

END OF CHAPTER SEVEN