Shadowy Love

Miles Morales hadn’t been seen as often as he used to. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, with his presence fading in his own Earth. He returned home at the break of dawn, the early morning light filtering through the blinds, casting long shadows in his room. To be fair, his friend Pavitr Prabhakar was beginning to worry.

“Miles!” Pav cried out, his arms wrapping around Miles in a tight embrace, as if he were afraid that Miles might vanish again.

“Why are you awake, Pav? You should be asleep—” Miles started, but was quickly cut off by a sharp slap on his arm.

“You should also, you jerk! But you’re up 24/7 doing what exactly? You don’t even stay in your Earth as much anymore!” Pav exclaimed, frustration evident in his voice.

“Sorry,” Miles mumbled, leaning against Pav, grateful for the comfort of their friendship.

“Jesus, get some rest,” Pav insisted, a hint of concern creeping into his tone.

“I’ll be fine,” Miles reassured him with a smile, trying to mask the weariness etched on his face.

They spent the rest of the day together, filling the hours with light banter and shared memories, yet the air between them felt heavy with unspoken words. As twilight approached, they both wished for the night to envelop them.

“Miles, I’m not letting you go there alone. At least let me come with you!” Pav pleaded, desperation seeping into his voice as Miles reached for the shimmering portal that would lead them to another universe.

“Miles, where are we?” Pav exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe as they stepped through.

“Earth-1430,” Miles explained, his voice laced with a bittersweet tone. “This is the Earth where I don’t exist. Here, Spot doesn’t exist, Peter Parker never died, my uncle never died, and you all never met me. It’s a world where you all live in harmony, free from the chaos that follows me.”

Pav shivered at the thought. “I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to live in a world where you don’t exist,” he declared firmly.

“I kinda figured you’d say that, but that’s not why we’re here,” Miles countered gently. “Come on, let’s sit and watch the sunset.” His eyes sparkled with a mix of sadness and hope as he led Pav to a quiet spot overlooking the horizon.

As the days turned into weeks, they found solace in visiting this alternate Earth. Each day, they would watch the sunset, the sunrise, and even the moonrise, their bond growing stronger with every shared moment. One evening, feeling nostalgic, Miles decided to invite their friends over for a sleepover, hoping to create new memories that could rival the sunsets they admired.

The other three spider-people arrived, bringing with them the energy and chaos that Miles had secretly dreaded.

“You know I could be back on Earth—” Miles started, but Pav interrupted him.

“We can go when everyone is sleeping; stop complaining,” he said, rolling his eyes but unable to hide the smirk on his face.

“Margo, Hobie, Gwen,” Miles said, introducing everyone, “meet my brother Mylo and my best friend Ganke. Ganke, Mylo, meet my other Spider friends.”

“Hey, Pav, I noticed you haven’t been fantasizing about Mylo and Ganke for a while,” Miles teased, enjoying the lighthearted moment.

“I’m more surprised than you are,” Pav laughed, a hint of relief in his tone.

Meanwhile, Miles felt a surge of anxiety. “Dude, I’m not good with sleepovers!” he exclaimed as laughter erupted around him. Hobie observed the dynamic with jealousy, an emotion he couldn’t quite place.

As night settled in, almost everyone fell asleep. Ganke and Mylo snuggled in Miles’ bed while Gwen, Margo, and Hobie took separate mattresses. Hobie remained wide awake, glancing at the group, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn’t express.

Miles and Pav sat together in comfortable silence, enjoying the view. Suddenly, Miles broke the stillness, his voice barely above a whisper. “Holy shit,” he mumbled, his heart racing.

“You good?” Pav asked, sensing the shift in Miles' demeanor.

“Pav, I’m almost certain I’m in love with you,” Miles admitted, his eyes searching Pav’s for a sign of reciprocation. Pav blushed, then let out a laugh, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

“Is it gay to kiss your homie?” Miles asked, the nervousness creeping into his tone.

“Meh, we’ll let it slide this once,” Pav said, straddling Miles’ lap, his playful demeanor disarming Miles even further.

“Holy shit, has anyone told you how hot you look like this?” Miles laughed, his heart racing.

“You just did,” Pav huffed, leaning in for a soft kiss. Miles wrapped his arms around Pav’s waist, the warmth between them igniting something deep within.

“So, if we did date, who’d uh be top—since we’re both bottoms?” Miles mused, a playful glint in his eye.

“Who knows?” Pav laughed, the tension between them lifting slightly. “Anyways… kissing your homie feels sweet.” They leaned their foreheads against each other, the world around them fading away.

“Not gay to say I love you to your homie, right?” Pav asked, his tone teasing yet sincere.

“That’s definitely gay, bro,” Miles chuckled, feeling the weight of his confession lift slightly. “Guess I’m gay then. Love you, Smiley.”

“Love you too, Pavi,” Miles murmured, feeling a warmth spread through his chest.

The next day, their playful moment was interrupted by the all-too-familiar presence of Miguel O’Hara, the imposing figure of Spider-Man 2099.

“Miguel being a bother again?” Miles asked, rolling his eyes.

“Per usual, you know it,” Pav replied, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

“What’s his issue this time?” Gwen chimed in.

“Apparently, he doesn’t like the fact his nephew is Spider-Man,” Miles shrugged, trying to downplay the tension.

“Bloke might just be mad ‘is nephew has got more friends than him,” Hobie deadpanned, crossing his arms.

“I mean, he has friends—” Miles admitted, but Gwen quickly chimed in.

“Miles, Jessica is his sister, Peter is his husband. I’m certain he wants to… let’s just say, his priorities are questionable. The others are just his minions, and Ben is his son.” Gwen stated, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

“And those don’t count,” Pav finished with a smirk. “Also sure he wants to… you know.”

“HOBIE!” Gwen shrieked, her face turning crimson.

“Just saying, mate,” Hobie shrugged, unfazed by Gwen's outburst.

Miles laughed, his heart feeling lighter despite the chaos. “I’m surprised you two aren’t dating ever since that kiss,” he said, glancing between Gwen and Hobie.

“Don’t fancy Gwen like that,” Hobie muttered, looking away.

“Yeah, and I don’t like Hobie, although we do have someone in common that we may or may not have a crush on,” Gwen mustered, her gaze lingering on Miles.

“Oi, mate, you better not,” Hobie warned, glaring at Gwen.

“Oh, who?” Miles teased, leaning forward.

“You,” Gwen admitted shyly, her eyes darting away. The revelation hung in the air, thick with tension. Pav froze, jealousy bubbling beneath the surface. Nobody knew about what Miles and Pav had done at that beach, nor how they acted when alone.

“You both have a crush on me?!” Miles shouted, his surprise genuine.

“Yup,” Gwen replied, a shy smile creeping onto her face.

“Maybe,” Hobie muttered, trying to downplay his own feelings.

An awkward silence fell over the group, and just as it threatened to become unbearable, Miles’ watch began to beep incessantly, breaking the tension.

“I gotta dip. I’ll see you guys tomorrow?” Miles smiled, receiving nods in return as he made his way to Miguel's office.

“Miguel,” he murmured, hesitating at the threshold.

“Boss,” Miguel corrected tersely, his eyes narrowing at Miles.

“Can’t even call you Miguel?” Miles asked, averting his gaze.

Miguel lifted Miles’ chin with a finger. “Why do you think you have permission to call me that, you anomaly?” Miguel said, his voice low and menacing as he forcefully let go of Miles’ face.

“Mom wouldn’t—” Miles choked, the mention of his mother hanging heavily in the air.

“Your mother is dead now, Miles. Keep my sister’s name out of your mouth,” Miguel spat, cracking his knuckles ominously. “Now, a mission.”

“Why should I? You’ve treated me like garbage my entire life, and you think I’m going to do this for you? Screw whatever universe you’re trying to get me to save. Let it be destroyed,” Miles scowled defiantly.

“It’s Pav’s Earth, and for some reason only you can fix it. Just do what you usually do,” Miguel cursed, the urgency in his tone cutting through Miles’ anger.

“Pav’s… Earth?” Miles muttered, the realization hitting him like a freight train. Without wasting another second, he leaped into the portal to Pav’s Earth.

As he landed, Miles immediately sensed the disturbance in the fabric of this universe. “If there’s a disturbance, there has to be a core, right?” Miles asked himself, worry flooding his mind as he witnessed the Earth slowly falling apart, piece by piece.

“Shit, Pavi, where are you?” Miles muttered, panic rising in his chest. He had never been this worried before. His heart raced as he spotted Pav on the beach, looking lost and vulnerable.

“Pavi…” Miles called out, running towards him. “Pavi, are you alright?” His voice was laced with concern.

“I don’t like being jealous,” Pav admitted, his expression darkening. “I don’t like the fact that Gwen and Hobie just all of a sudden like you!” he glared, hurt evident in his eyes.

“I’m just yours, Pavi,” Miles started, but slowly he began to notice the Earth around them slowly mending itself.

“Have I ever kissed them?” Miles raised an eyebrow, searching Pav’s face for reassurance.

“Well, no, but—” Pav looked away, uncertainty clouding his features.

“Then that shows you’ll always be my first choice,” Miles said softly, leaning his head against Pav’s.

Miles pulled Pav into a warm embrace, feeling the tension dissipate between them. “Pavi? I’ve got a question, Amore mio,” Miles said, a hint of seriousness returning to his tone.

“Shoot,” Pav replied, leaning closer.

“Are you, like… connected to this Earth?” Miles held Pav close, feeling the warmth radiating from him.

Pav nodded slowly, his gaze steady. “Yeah, in a way. My emotions seem to resonate with the very fabric of this world. When I’m upset or anxious, it affects everything around me. I didn’t realize how intertwined we were until now.”

Miles’ heart raced at the revelation. “So if you’re feeling this way, the Earth is reacting?”

Pav nodded again, his expression growing serious. “That’s why I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to be the cause of any destruction, especially not in a world that holds so much beauty.”

“We can fix this together,” Miles reassured him, the determination in his voice palpable. “We just need to focus on the connection we share. It’s powerful.”

Pav took a deep breath, his eyes searching Miles’. “You really mean that?”

“Absolutely,” Miles said firmly, holding Pav’s gaze. “We’ve faced worse, and together, we’re unstoppable.”

As they stood on the beach, the waves crashing rhythmically against the shore, Miles took a moment to reflect on their relationship. It was more than friendship; it was a bond forged through shared experiences, trials, and triumphs.

“What if we could make a home here?” Miles pondered aloud, his imagination running wild. “What if we could create a place where we don’t have to worry about the burdens of our worlds?”

Pav’s eyes lit up with hope. “That sounds perfect. A sanctuary just for us, away from all the chaos.”

Miles smiled, feeling the weight of their worries lift slightly. “Then let’s do it. Let’s find a way to stabilize this Earth and make it ours. We can be the heroes of this story, not just the side characters in our own lives.”

With newfound determination, they began to devise a plan. They needed to harness the energy of their connection, to ground themselves in this reality and mend the fractures that threatened to tear it apart.

As they worked together, their bond deepened. They shared their hopes and fears, revealing parts of themselves they had kept hidden for so long. Miles found himself opening up about the struggles he faced in his own Earth, the pressure of being Spider-Man, and the expectations that came with it.

Pav, in turn, shared his journey as well, the weight of being a hero in a world that didn’t always appreciate his sacrifices. They laughed, they cried, and in those moments, they built a foundation of trust that would withstand any storm.

“We’re stronger together, remember that,” Miles said one evening as they sat on the beach, the stars twinkling overhead.

“Always,” Pav replied, a sense of peace settling over them. “As long as we have each other, we can face anything.”

But challenges loomed on the horizon. Miguel was relentless, and his influence threatened to destabilize everything they had fought for.

“Miguel doesn’t understand,” Miles said one day as they trained, honing their powers together. “He sees me as a tool, a means to an end. He doesn’t realize that I have a life beyond being Spider-Man.”

Pav nodded, his expression serious. “We need to show him that we’re more than just heroes. We’re people with dreams and desires.”

As the connection between them grew stronger, so did the instability of Pav’s Earth. It became increasingly clear that they needed to confront Miguel once and for all.

“Let’s face him together,” Miles said, determination in his voice. “We can’t let him dictate our lives anymore.”

Pav agreed, his resolve firm. “We’re in this together, no matter what happens.”

When they arrived at Miguel’s office, the atmosphere was charged with tension. Miguel’s eyes narrowed as he saw them approach, a mix of annoyance and surprise flickering across his face.

“What do you want?” he demanded, crossing his arms.

“We need to talk,” Miles said, his voice steady despite the unease in his stomach.

Miguel scoffed. “I don’t have time for your games. This isn’t a playground.”

Pav stepped forward, his expression unwavering. “You don’t understand the impact you have on us, on our lives. We’re not just your soldiers; we’re people with feelings.”

Miguel’s expression hardened. “This isn’t about feelings; it’s about duty.”

“And what about our dreams?” Miles shot back, his frustration boiling over. “What about the lives we want to lead? You don’t get to decide that for us.”

For a moment, silence hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their words. Finally, Miguel sighed, a flicker of realization crossing his features.

“I didn’t realize how much you both cared,” he admitted, his tone softening slightly. “But this is bigger than all of us.”

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be,” Pav replied, his voice steady. “We can work together, find a solution that benefits everyone. But you have to let us live our lives.”

After a lengthy discussion, Miguel reluctantly agreed to collaborate with them. They formed a plan to stabilize Pav’s Earth, merging their strengths and knowledge.

As they worked together, Miles felt a sense of hope for the first time in a long while. Maybe they could create a future where they didn’t have to choose between duty and desire, a future where they could truly be themselves.

Days turned into weeks as they implemented their plan, each step bringing them closer to their goal. The Earth slowly began to heal, the fractures mending as they focused on their connection.

One evening, as they stood together watching another breathtaking sunset, Miles turned to Pav. “We did it,” he said, awe evident in his voice.

“Together,” Pav replied, his smile bright and full of warmth.

“I think I’m ready to embrace whatever comes next, as long as you’re by my side,” Miles said, a sense of certainty washing over him.

Pav’s eyes sparkled with affection. “Me too, Miles. We’ll face it all, together.”

With their bond stronger than ever, Miles and Pav embraced the future with open hearts. They knew challenges would come, but they also knew they had each other to rely on.

Their love had transformed them, intertwining their destinies in ways they never imagined.

As they walked hand-in-hand towards the horizon, the world around them felt brighter, filled with possibilities. They were no longer just Spider-Man and Spider-Man; they were Miles and Pav, two souls connected by love and friendship, ready to face whatever came their way.