First meeting
Wendy: This place is huge. It’s a little overwhelming if I’m being completely honest.
Miguel: (laughs) That’s what all the new recruits say. You’ll get used to it with time though. If you don’t know where something is, ask someone around you. They’ll probably know where to point you.
They were walking back to HQ. When they got there, they stopped, the dim lighting illuminating their faces. Miguel stops to turn around and look at Wendy, his arms crossed over his chest.
Miguel: Any questions?
Wendy: What is my role in all of this? There’s so many spiders. Why do you need more?
Miguel: The multiverse is only growing. Anomalies can happen at any time and in any universe so we need all the help we can get.
Wendy: I guess that makes sense.
Miguel: As for your role. After you’ve learned all the ropes of being a part of this society, you are going to mentor another spiderman. But that’s only after I approve you for it. Who knows how long that will take. Jess and a few others will act as your mentors for now.
Wendy: I’m sorry, I must have hallucinated. You just said you want me to mentor a younger spiderman or spiderwoman?
Miguel: I didn’t stutter, did I?
Wendy: You must be on some serious drugs if you think that is a good idea. If I can’t keep those closest to me alive, how in all the multiverse do you think I can keep a younger spider alive?
Jess, an alternative looking person, and a man with a pink bathrobe come walking out of one of the many entrances to the HQ. They all come up to Miguel and Wendy, joining their little circle of people.
Jess: If you look around here, you’ll find a lot of people have the same experiences as you do. We’ve all lost and sacrificed more than we’re willing to admit.
Miguel: Finally, you made it. Took you long enough.
Jess: I don’t want to hear it. You know better than anyone that the multiverse doesn’t stop for anyone.
Miguel clears his throat.
Miguel: This is Jessica Drew, Hobie Brown, and…
Wendy: Peter Parker.
Peter, Jess, and Hobie look at each other for a minute before they turn back to Wendy. She now has tears in her eyes and is staring directly at Peter. She is reliving the night she lost Peter and it’s playing over and over again in her mind. She can’t stop it. The tears spill over onto her cheeks and that’s when Miguel takes her shoulder in his and shakes and squeezes gently.
Miguel: Wendy, are you okay?
Wendy tries to stop the tears, but she can’t. They just keep coming.
Wendy: I-I’m so sorry. You just…you just look so much like my cousin. I never got to see him grow up. So seeing you it’s…it’s.
Peter: Don’t worry, I understand. It’s shocking when different versions of the people you lost are walking around here. I’m going to blame Miguel here for not taking into account just how shocking it would be.
Miguel lets go of Wendy’s shoulder and puts his hands up. Wendy stretches her arms out toward Peter looking like she’s about to hug him.
Wendy: Can I just…(she motions for a hug)
Peter outstretched his arms.
Peter: Go ahead.
Wendy hugs Peter. There’s silence for a minute as Wendy takes in the hug and then she completely breaks down. Large rocking sobs escape her body and she grips the back of his robe. He’s from a different universe but his hugs feel the same and his hands on her back feel the same as well. Peter rubs her back gently and glares at Miguel while doing it.
Peter mouths to Miguel: I think we’re done for today.
Miguel sighs and nods solemnly. He always forgets he has to take it slow with a few of the new recruits for reasons just like this. There’s so many old memories that can be dredged up when seeing others from other universes.