All Good Now
Things were…better. Not all the way, but they were getting there.
It had been a few months since the ‘Panic Attack Incident’ in Miles’ universe, and Margo was feeling better.
She felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
Even if he was only one other person, it still made Margo feel better to talk about the ‘Watch Incident’ with Miles.
She had thought so before, but it felt like she and Miles were now REALLY able to talk to each other about everything.
It felt like they finally knew all parts of each other, and that had strengthened their relationship.
Margo had told Miles about the recurring negative voice that always seemed to bring up her fears and pessimistic thoughts at the worst times.
She had also told him more about her parents. How the arguing weighed on her, and how it affected her daily life and how she viewed herself.
She told him how before the ‘Watch Incident’, the negative voice had always told her that her volatile family dynamic was her fault, and how nothing she did would ever be enough to stop the fighting.
When the ‘Watch Incident’ happened, it seemed to only give the voice more ammunition; telling her she was pathetic and useless, that she wasn’t a real hero, and that she was a burden to the Spider Society.
Miles told her that he experienced the same thing.
After Margo’s panic attack incident, Miles told her about his own experiences with panic attacks, and how he still sometimes struggled to process the events that took place a year ago.
He told her of the negative voice that appeared during his lowest moments; reminding him of the fact that he was an anomaly and how he was different in the worst way.
The worst of it would come when he would struggle as Spider-man. At times when he would be just a second too slow, there was the voice, reminding him that there was a reason why things were so hard…
‘Because you aren’t meant to be Spider-man.’
Margo and Miles found that they both shared one especially similar thought.
The thought that told them they shouldn’t be a hero, that they didn’t belong.
They helped each other through the low points. Usually by providing positive affirmations, or sometimes just being there for each other in silence, when words became too much.
—----------
In addition, Margo was finally building the courage to physically travel to different universes.
About a month ago, She’d finally physically traveled to HQ again.
- 1 MONTH AGO -
For months Margo had been thinking about whether or not she was ready to try and physically go to HQ again.
She had decided she was. Now she just wanted to tell Miles.
They had gone out for ice cream and were now walking back to Margo’s house.
“Hey babe?”
“Mmm?” Miles hummed, only half paying attention as he tried to balance his 4 scoops of ice cream.
“...I think I’m ready to go back to HQ…”
“Yeah, no problem-” Miles shrugged, Margo went to HQ all the time. They'd actually just come from HQ earlier, maybe she needed to transport her avatar back there to do something.
“Like…physically…” Margo clarified.
Miles dropped his ice cream. The 4 scoops ended up falling on his Jordans. He tried to catch the scoops, but with his other hand occupied holding Margo’s, it was a lost cause.
“...MY SHOES!” Miles screeched. “I mean…Oh!...Really?...I mean…That’s great!”
“Now see, I told you that 4 scoops was too much…”
Miles was a bit shocked. Not because he didn’t think Margo would go back, but instead because he knew how big of a deal the whole situation had been for her.
He was reminded of how nerve-wracking his own return to HQ had been. Even though Spiders were no longer obligated to follow a ‘canon’, some days he still felt like he was intruding on something. Like he’d loudly barged into someplace he shouldn't have.
On a more positive note, he was also reminded of the part Margo played in making him feel welcome. From the moment he returned to HQ, she had only ever supported him and talked with him like he was always meant to be there.
Miles just wanted to make sure Margo felt protected and at ease for her physical return to HQ. He knew that the ‘Watch Incident’ happened while she was trying to get to HQ, and he didn’t want her to have any negative flashbacks when going through the portal.
Margo exhaled. “But yeah, I think I’m ready. Plus, it might help ease the anxiety if I’m able to physically go back and forth from my place to HQ on occasion. I don’t have to do it all the time, but maybe just sometimes is a good start.”
Miles smiled down at her. “That sounds great, I’m proud of you.”
Margo smiled back. “Thank you, Miles. You don’t know how much I appreciate you being here for me during all this.”
Miles affectionately bumped her shoulder. “Least I can do, you did the same for me.”
He was then suddenly reminded of a more pressing matter…
“Aww, my ice cream…AND MY JORDANS-!”
Margo felt Miles’ pain. “Damn, Chocolate ice cream vs. White Js…I’m sorry babe, but they never stood a chance.”
—----------
It was the next day, and Margo was getting ready to travel to HQ again. Physically.
She and Miles were in her room, and Margo was reminded of the last time she had tried to make the trip. She was briefly worried that she might start to panic again, but she was pleasantly surprised to find that she felt no panic. Perhaps a little anxious, but overall, she was ready. She wanted to do this. She wanted to try again.
“Sooooo, you sure you’re ready?” Miles asked.
“Yessir.”
“Cause y’know it’s cool if you’re not…”
“It’s all good, been thinkin’ about it for a while now…sooooo, Let’s go!”
“We don’t have to go today…”
“No time like the present- heh, get it?”
“-We could always go tomorrow…”
“Miles.”
“It’s kinda lookin’ like it might rain, actually…”
“...We’re gonna be inside, babe.”
“…It’s always better not to rush these things.”
“Miles.”
“Maybe I should charge the watch a little more.”
“It has a 6 month battery life...”
“You should probably hold my hand…”
“Miles…I am holding your hand…”
“...Oh, right…uhh…”
Miles would never admit it, but ever since the panic attack incident, he’d been a little (A LOT) protective over Margo. He’d been trying to do it from a distance and not come across as overbearing, but unbeknownst to him, Margo had caught on.
She thought it was sweet.
“You more nervous than me,” and Margo actually laughed, something she’d never thought she would do during dimensional travel.
Margo gently held his chin and kissed him, “Thank you for looking out for me, I promise I’m okay.”
Miles exhaled and smiled at Margo. “Okay.”
He finally entered the coordinates and off they went.
The trip was a little easier this time.
Granted, they didn’t get thrown in between any different universes along the way, so Margo considered that a win.
Though her stomach still lurched as they were going through, her landing was a little shaky, and she was breathing a bit harder, but she was okay. She’d done it.
And she was glad she made the trip.
Miles had a wide smile. “Whew, told you it’d be easy.”
Margo rolled her eyes. “Miles…you were literally the only one freaking out-”
“MARGO!”
Margo turned around and saw Lyla.
“You’re here…like, ACTUALLY here!”
“Yep, finally in the flesh again.”
After greeting basically the whole Society, the general reaction being shock at actually seeing Margo in person, they ran into Jess and Peter B.
“...Margo?!” Jess was shocked to see her and pulled her into a tight hug. Probably tighter than necessary, but Jess had never quite gotten over the ‘Watch Incident’, and still felt terrible about it every time she saw Margo's avatar. “It’s nice to finally see you again, y'know, in person, and it's good to have you…y’know…“back?””
Margo laughed and hugged back. “Good to finally BE back.”
Peter B. spoke up, “It’s great to finally see my favorite tech wiz in person.” He hadn’t been at HQ the day of Margo’s incident, so like nearly all other Spiders, he’d never actually seen her in person.
“Good to see you too,” Margo chuckled, “and Peter...nobody says “tech wiz” anymore.”
“Yeah yeah,” Peter waved her off as he walked ahead with Jess. “Y’know, I taught her everything she knows…”
Jess just rolled her eyes.
Later, the small group sat in the cafeteria and Peter B. seemed to be studying Margo.
“Y’know, you’re kinda a lot shorter than your avatar is…”
“That’s what I said-!”
—---------
Along with having her own universe, Miles’ universe, and HQ in rotation, Margo would soon be adding earth-42 to the list as well.
Miles was visiting earth-42 again, and he’d invited Margo to come with him.
The week prior, Miles and 42 had been talking, with 42 unable to stop teasing him over his less-than-stellar confession to Margo.
“...Mhm, listen man, one day I’ll tell you ‘bout how I asked out Tiana.” 42 said, referring to his own girlfriend. “Now that…that was smooth.”
“Yeah, I seriously wanna hear about how you got to dating the LITERAL Vulture’s granddaughter, and he didn’t get after your ass.” Miles was still perplexed on that one.
42 just shrugged.
“What he don’t know won’t hurt him.”
—-----------
Margo was currently talking to 42-Miles, who was trying to gather all the facts of the confession before 1610-Miles returned.
“...Alright, cause me and Spider-Miles over there got a bet goin’ for who’s got the better game. Now, he said it was all smooth when he asked you out, and I know damn well-”
Margo was reminded of that day on the roof of HQ and started blushing.
“No, it wasn’t all smooth that’s for sure,” She laughed, “But…he was really sweet.” At this point she had a dreamy look in her eyes.
‘...Saps.’ 42 thought to himself.
While Margo’s head was still in the clouds, she and 42 walked back to Tiana and 1610-Miles, who were talking on the other side of the roof.
They made it over just in time to hear the end of the conversation.
“-Is that what he told you?” Tiana was laughing. “Nah, I’m crying, he was so corny!”
“Is that so?” Miles couldn’t wait to hear this one.
“Lemme guess, he ain’t tell you, but his mom told me that the day before, she caught him googling ‘how to ask someone out.’”
“TIANA-!”
“...Oops- See ya later Margo and Miles 2.0!” Tiana quickly launched off the roof before 42 could bump her out the way. “Love you babe!” She laughed as she flew away.
“...Look man, she was lyin’-”
—--------
Margo and Miles left in a pile of laughs, with 42 still trying to convince them that Tiana had been lying.
“See, that fool tried to convince me that he had better game…We’re the Exact. Damn. Same!” Miles exclaimed. “And to think I thought we were polar opposites…Huh, as much as things change, they really do stay the same.” Miles smirked with his hands on his hips.
“...The exact same, huh?” Margo smirked.
Miles wanted to take it back.
“So, you googled ‘how to ask someone out’ too?” Margo's stomach was beginning to hurt with all the laughing.
Miles slowly realized the hole he’d just dug himself into. He felt his face heating up. “Uhh…what I meant was…”
“Nope. Too late now.” Margo laughed even harder as she walked away.
“Margooo wait,” Miles pouted. But she couldn’t hear him over her laughter.
So much for taking that one to the grave.
—---------
After grabbing something to eat, Margo and Miles decided they’d do some game rounds on Margo’s console.
“Watch, today’s the day Imma finally beat you, I can feel it.” Miles insisted. “I was googling gaming strategies all night-”
“Who knows, maybe you will, since we know that you use google so well…” Margo couldn’t help it.
“...That’s wild. Sue me for using google for what it’s meant for...advice-!”
Margo just kissed him, “Whatever you say, babe.”
“I’m serious…”
“You’re so cute.”
—---------
Miles stared dumbfounded at the final score.
“...Well, all in a day’s work,” Margo pretended to yawn and stretch. She’d unsurprisingly beat him by a mile.
“But you…But I…I swear I…damn.”
“Don’t feel too bad,” Margo joked as she got out her phone and took a selfie of the two of them, the “GAME OVER” sign flashing mockingly on the screen in the background.
“I think I found my new screensaver," Margo laughed as she looked at the photo. "I might even frame it…”
“You real funny, y’know that?” Miles tried to seem put out, but he couldn’t stop smiling. Whenever Margo smiled, he found himself smiling too.
Margo noticed and felt her cheeks heating up.
“What’re you looking at,” She laughed shyly, covering her face with a hand.
Miles gently removed her hand. “Just you,” He said simply.
Margo blushed even more and turned away. They’d been dating for nearly a year and he still managed to fluster her like this.
She didn't know where else to look so she began to fiddle with her phone. “All this- this smooth talking isn’t gonna make me go easy on you, Morales.” Margo stuttered.
“Whatever you say, babe.”
Margo tried to will the blush off of her face. “I’m serious-”
“You’re so cute.” Miles said, then he laughed and looked away as he reached for more Fritos. The next thing he said had Margo blushing for the rest of the evening.
As he was chewing he mumbled absentmindedly,
“Maaaann, if you loved me you’d go easy on me.”
—---------
He won the next game.
—---------
It wasn’t until Miles was getting ready to leave that he realized.
He smiled softly at Margo,
“I love you, too.”
—----------
END.