Bridging The Gap
Margo and Miles had been dating for about 3 months now. And it was great.
To be honest, not much had changed since they became friends. Except now they were both a little more forward with the romantic things they said to each other.
Especially Miles.
Each time he saw Margo at HQ he always had a sweet affirmation to send her way. Margo didn’t think she’d ever heard or been on the receiving end of so many positive affirmations in her life.
“Y’know, as scary as this machine is, it’s still so cool how you invented it.”
“Miles,” Margo turned away, “Stop gassing me up.”
“Can’t.” He shrugged like it was hopeless.
As well, Margo did the same. She’d never been good with words, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t gonna try. She always let Miles know how much he meant to her.
But in the back of her head, Margo knew that the way they were going on right now couldn’t go on for long.
It had been 3 months of them dating and even more of them being friends, and Miles STILL had not seen Margo in person.
‘That’s ridiculous’ Margo thought to herself, ‘You need to invite him over.’
Margo didn’t know how it had gone on for so long without Miles ever hinting at wanting to come to Margo’s universe, or for her to come to his. But she couldn’t let it go on for another second.
She had to invite Miles to her universe before he did something drastic like…like invite her to HIS universe. She shuddered at the thought.
Margo was reminded of the close call they had about a week ago.
- FLASHBACK -
“Hey Margo, I was actually thinking that maybe you could come to my univer-”
“MILES! DID YOU BREAK LEGO SPIDER-MAN!” Jessica shouted from the hall.
“WHAT? NO-!”
And just like that Margo was saved from certain death.
Alright…maybe she was being a little dramatic…but still.
- END FLASHBACK -
But anyway. Today was the day.
Margo had planned it meticulously. In about 2 weeks, her mom was travelling to Florida to teach a class on a new surgery technique, so she wouldn’t be home. And her dad was getting ready to leave for a 3 week business trip.
It would be the perfect time to invite Miles. She could spend the day showing him around her universe, and she wouldn’t have to worry about him running into her parents!
Gosh she was so smart.
She quickly split her avatar into two and fist-bumped herself.
Then she checked to make sure no one saw her do that…cause what even was that.
“Easy as rerouting a wifi box, once he gets to HQ you’ll just casually pop the question.” Margo said to herself, unaware that she’d been talking to herself out loud.
“'Pop the question'…aren’t you a little young to get married?” Lyla appeared out of nowhere.
“...LYLA! Not like that!” Margo squealed.
Just then, Miles swung into the room.
“Not like what?” He asked.
“You’re actually not supposed to swing in the tech room- never mind.” Lyla gave up before disappearing to wherever it was she went all the time.
“DO YOU WANNA COME TO MY UNIVERSE?!” Margo’s voice cracked with the question before Miles’ feet even hit the ground.
That was…pretty smooth.
Miles just laughed. “Hey, babe.”
“Hey,” Margo said sheepishly. “My bad.”
“Don’t apologize, I was hoping you’d ask. And yeah I’d love to come. Just send the coordinates and I’ll be there in like 2 seconds.” Miles started to fiddle with his watch.
“WAIT NO!” (voice crack) Margo’s avatar glitched with the outburst.
Miles paused. “Oh?”
“I mean uhh…in 2 weeks!...Yup! In 2 weeks would you like to come over?” Margo cleared her throat in a desperate attempt to save the interaction.
Fortunately, Miles was merciful. “...Alright, sure.” He easily agreed.
They talked for a few more minutes before Miles had to attend to an assignment.
Margo let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.
“Just so you know…that wasn’t smooth…At all.” Lyla helpfully let Margo know.
- 2 WEEKS LATER -
Today Miles would be coming over, and Margo was a bit nervous to say the least. But she didn’t know why. Everything was accounted for.
Miles was coming over.
She’d cleaned the house.
Both her parents were gone.
She’d planned out all the places she was going to take Miles.
…So what was the problem?
At HQ Margo gave Miles the coordinates to input into his watch. “These should put you just about outside my front door.” She told him.
“Alright cool, see you on the flip side!” Miles said, cringed, then jumped into the open portal. Margo transported back home.
She removed her headset and stretched. Trying to shake out her nerves. She saw Miles all the time, what was the big deal?
She heard the familiar sound of a portal opening up, so she got up and headed downstairs.
She opened the front door, and there was Miles.
She didn’t know what to say. She had always thought that she was seeing Miles exactly as he was with her avatar. But now, she found that nothing beat looking at him with her own eyes, in person, no filter. The distance that she always sort of felt had been closed. It was as if she was seeing him that much clearer. And now, he was finally seeing her.
Oh…that was it. All that planning and she’d somehow forgotten that this would be the first time Miles would see her in person.
Miles looked around briefly before his eyes settled on Margo. A few moments passed as they silently took each other in within the new setting.
“Hey…can I-” He started before he cut himself off and enveloped Margo in a tight hug.
Margo wasn’t sure how long the hug lasted before they reluctantly pulled away, not fully though, as Miles ran his hand from Margo’s arm to hold her hand.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry I didn’t invite you sooner.”
“You’re gorgeous,” was all Miles said. Margo tried to turn her face away, but Miles raised his hand to her cheek and gently turned her head back to maintain eye contact.
“And you’re really pretty when you blush.”
The whole time he was there, Miles could only stare at Margo. Maybe another day he’d be able to appreciate and pay attention to her universe’s Brooklyn. But today wasn’t that day.
The whole time Margo was showing him around, he knew he had the widest smile on his face.
“-iles…Miles?…Miles!” Margo called with a laugh. She was a few feet away. Miles was embarrassed as he realized that he’d stopped actually walking and had just been gazing at Margo from one place. He quickly jogged to catch up.
“Y’know, you’re kinda a lot shorter than your avatar is.” Miles teased.
Margo blushed again. When designing her avatar, she’d wanted to be as true to how she looked as possible. But she would be lying if she said she didn’t put a few extra inches on her avatar. Sue her.
“...”kinda a lot” is an oxymoron.” Was the best she could do.
Miles gazed at her affectionately. “Okay Margo.” Was all he said.
Margo huffed. “Anyway…And this is the Brooklyn-”
“The bridge, mhm yeah-” Miles finished for her before gathering her in his arms for the second time that day.
“Can I…?” Miles asked softly. Margo could only nod briefly.
Miles gently settled his hands on her waist, then he kissed her softly.
In the following weeks, Miles took the time to actually look around the futuristic version of Brooklyn.
“Woah, wait, wait…THIS is the Barclays Center?” Miles sat in awe as they watched some basketball on Margo’s TV.
“Y’know that was our first stop of the tour right?” Margo asked before coming behind and bending down to hug Miles.
That had been the story each time Miles came to Margo’s universe. Maybe it was because of how long they’d gone without being able to touch each other, but they were always connected in some way.
When they’d watch movies Margo would sit in front while Miles gently hugged her from behind and she leaned her head back against his shoulder. Other times he’d put his arm around her shoulder, his hand on her knee, or he’d absentmindedly twirl her curls around his fingers.
The constant touch was a welcome change in Margo’s otherwise touch-lacking daily routine.
“It wa-...Oh…yeah! My fault. It was…right before we passed the…the museum!” Miles poorly tried to recall, unwilling to admit that he really hadn’t been paying attention on that tour…at least not to any landmarks anyway.
“The museum was our fifth stop, Miles.” Margo said bluntly.
“Right, right, I was just playin.” Miles said, avoiding eye contact.
“Man, I can’t believe you didn’t pay attention to that tour, I planned that for wee-, days!...I mean days.” She wasn’t at all annoyed that Miles didn’t pay attention though, she had just been happy to have him there.
“Was too busy looking at you.” Miles said softly, fiddling with one of Margo’s controllers.
And how could she be mad at that?
“Y-you can’t just say stuff like that,” Margo feebly swatted Miles’ shoulder, looking anywhere but directly at him.
“But…same.” Margo choked out before tossing Miles a jumbo pack of Fritos and a Gatorade.
“...Anyways, fuel up cause I’m bout to beat your ass in COD.” Margo taunted as she began to set up the system.
“Aww that’s not fair, this version isn’t even out yet in my universe!” Miles pouted.
“Kiss me and maybe I’ll go easy on you.” She didn’t have to ask him twice.
She still didn’t go easy on him though.
Miles found he didn’t mind.
Days later, Miles was hanging out with his alternate self who'd been affectionately dubbed ‘42.’
“Like Jackie Robinson.” He had said.
“I ain’t callin’ you a number, dude.” Was Miles’ response.
They sat on one of the taller buildings in town and were catching up on each other’s week.
“...And yeah, I was totally smooth. I asked her in front of a sunset and everything. Told yo ass my game was solid.” Miles smirked.
42 didn’t have to know that Miles had been sweating buckets the whole day before he asked Margo out. He ALSO didn’t have to know that Miles had googled ‘how to ask someone out’ the night before (he was taking that one to the grave)…Cause that was none of his business.
42 shot him an unimpressed look before deciding to let it go.
“Alright, alright.” 42 held up his hands. “Imma be honest, I didn’t think you’d do it. But I’m happy for you man.”
Miles smiled triumphantly.
“Now, if I asked her, would she agree that you were indeed as smooth as you’re sayin’?” 42 taunted with a chuckle.
“...Yes.” Miles glared.
“...Alright.”
42 leaned back and closed his eyes. ‘5, 4, 3, 2,…’
“Y’know…I hate to lie man…”
“You inherited Aaron’s game, you poor thing.” 42 mockingly pat Miles’ back.
“Well…it still worked! See, that right there was uncalled for,” Miles threw a rock at 42’s head that was easily dodged. “Your mama ain’t teach you no manners, that’s your problem.”
42 just shrugged before causally jumping off the building.
“She’s your mom too fool.”