Hobie slouched against the cracked and grimy brick wall of the ally way as he watched Miles work. Staring at him as he glides his arm across the blank wall they'd found while they'd been walking back to the youngers dorm room. Admiring the use of colors Miles had thrown together so quickly after only taking a short glance at one of his many sketches in his sketch book, and though he hadn't directly shown Hobie what exactly he was throwing up onto the wall (and Hobie wasn't going to make him) it was obvious that some sort of spider would be the result.
A loud and bright pink was used to bring out the different parts of the spiders legs. Layering the color on top of a black body that already had small chunks of blue, red, and a tiny bit of yellow placed here and there throughout the painting.
He had recently found himself hanging around the other Spider more and more. He couldn't help it. Miles just had something about him that caught Hobie's attention. He was loyal, and trusting (albeit a bit less now then what the punk assumes he used to be). He had a sense of rebellion in him that seemed to come naturally, whether he realizes it or not. A moral sense of what was right and wrong.
It's often said that "Spider-Punk" (he didn't actually use the term, as it had started to feel nore and more like a label at HQ) isn't considered a reliable source of help in the Spider-Society, or that Hobie isn't a trustworthy guy to send out and safety accomplish whatever it was that Miguel would want from his little posse. And he found that a lot of his fellow Spiders seemed to avoid him, but it was all the more reason he liked Miles.
For Miles gave a great contrast in reaction to the Punk.
Miles might've been a little stand off-ish at first, but he later realized it was only because he thought Hobie was getting cozy with Gwen. But even then, he never pushed Hobie away when he hung on his shoulders, and he never ignored Hobie whenever he spoke to him. Hell, Miles even admitted that he found Hobie cool! (With or without the mask.) He was never hostile or aggressive, never intended to cause harm or trouble, really if anything, he was just defensive. Which is understandable. Its not like anyone at that dumb-bloody establishment truly had any good intentions for Miles.
Hobie looked down at that bag that held the collection of spray cans. Eyeing the bright, almost neon, green that was sitting on top. Bending down to a dig through the bag, Hobie goes through the assortment that Miles has stashed inside. His eyes runing over the variety of colors. A yellow, two purple and two green (One darker, the other brighter), another pink that miles hadn't opened yet, a smaller can of white. Some full, and some empty.
He lazily looks back up to a mural that was slowly coming together then turns his head over to Miles. Surprised (not really, the bloke had a staring problem) to see the other Spider-Man already looking at him. Miles jumps slightly, as if he'd been caught doing somthing he shouldn't be, and quickly smiles back at him.
"Toss me that green? At the top there?"
Hobie picks up the can and throws it to him, maybe a little harsher the necessary, but his spider senses tell Miles to reach out and catch it before anything bad can happen.
Miles just laughs while giving a sarcastic "thank you" in return.
Miles sprays the green over top of bright the bright pink, blue, and red. He steps back for a moment, then reaches down to pick up his sketch book. Hobie goes to look back down to the bag in front of him before he hears the startling, harsh sound of paper being ripped.
"Miles–what you doin', mate?"
He watches as the torn paper is scrunched up into a ball and is then drenched in the neon green color.
Miles presses it up against the spider and pulls it away dramatically, gesturing to Hobie. As if to say 'ta-daaa' for the odd little splotches that are being very strategically placed in areas of the spider's body. The artist does this again with the red and even yellow.
It takes just a bit to long for Hobie to realize that this...whatever method you'd call this, highlights parts of the spiders legs in such a way that it almost looks like-
"It's glitchin'." He felt his eyebrow lift at the realization.
Miles doesn't meet his eyes. "There still white in there by chance?"
Hobie wordlessly reaches into the bag to grab a smaller, skinnier can with a white cap he'd seen earlier. He hands it to Miles, who takes it and holds out his hand for a moment, readjusted the distance, before adding a messy, drippy "42" on the bottom of the body.
It's quiet for a moment.
"It's the spider that bit me.'
Hobie stares at it. Taking in the mess that depicts such a huge part of Miles' life.
The contrast in the colors that screamed for people to notice them. Similar to how people describe what Hobie looks like whenever he was in any universe other then his own. The body of the spider was shaped in such a way it appeared that the spider was slit down across it's back, playing into the pixielated-like glitches that happen to someone without a daypass or watch. The red splashes on the outside legs gave an almost fuzzy appearance. Inside some middle areas of the legs, the blue and pink had mixed together creating an odd purple shade. It's right bottom leg wasn't fully filled in, the green and red going up past where it should be. It reminds Hobie of Miguel's claws.
O'Hara can say whatever the fuck he says about Miles never supposed to be becoming Spider-Man. If this is really what bit Miles, then there isn't a single doubt in Hobie's mind that he is meant for Spider-Man. The spider just has something so...so Miles about it.
It was beautiful.
Miles laughed. The awkard, breathy, worried laugh that came out when he got embarrassed about something.
"Although now that I say it out loud it kinda sounds like something....like something some angsty-teenager would, uh, would say." He laughs again at the ending bit.
Hobie turns to look up at him fully. Careful to avoid any emotion on his face as he does. Miles looks away from him. Distracting himself by gathering up the cans and sketch pad at his feet.
"It's brilliant."
Miles glances over to him at the statement.
Hobie gets up and steps closer to Miles. Taking the book out of his hands and looks at Miles before slowly opening it. Giving him a chance to object to Hobie peaking inside. When the boy doesn't react, he flips through the pages inside.
Some of the pages display big, blocky letters saying things like 'Hey' and 'Whats Up, Danger?' colored in with green and purple highlighters. One particular drawing that catches his eye is of what must be Miles' old suit (because he's not bleeding from his armpits) and falling upside down through a city. "Its a Leap of Faith" is written out and colored in red underneath it. There's a page that has a drawing of a man with a goatee and relaxed smile with the phrase "Rest in Power" underneath. There are a few drawings of Gwendy and Peter B. along side a few others Hobie doesn't recognize. Though he can guess who they are based of the names on the pages.
There are scattered pen drawings of buildings that have been colored in with blue markers, and a few pages that looked like were inspired by the portals that the watches create. Some having big, comic book like phrases like "BOOM" and "POW" or "CRASH" written over top of them. A couple of pages have what must be notes and reminders for Miles. 'Buy more red!' and 'English Essay Tuesday!' One page is purely math work that's dated for just a few days back.
Hobie is very aware of the nervous Miles standing beside him and carefully watching every facial expression and hand movement be makes as he flips through the book
"Most of those are just...old scribbles n'stuff. They aren't that-"
"Ain't you goin' to school for art?" Hobie had found the page that has the name of an old school written out in fast and hasty handwriting.
He can remember Gwen saying how Miles had a big plan to pursue drawing and working for some animation studios or something like that.
The place written in the sketch book was recommended by his old art teacher. It had been known for its drawing and painting courses being slightly cheaper then other schools in Brooklyn. Of course, that was all before Kingpin and meeting Peter Parker, and Gwen, Peter B...and all the others thrown into his universe.
"It was something I looked into..." He took the sketch book back carefully, as if he was scared Hobie would get upset with him, before placing it into the front pocket of the backpack. "But now I'm actually looking into physics. A-uh—y'know, like, a physics major."
Hobie considered the new piece of information. Why hadn't he known that? Guess it's never really come up in a conversation. Still though, he's known Miles since...well okay not that long, but still for a long enough time to know what the bloke is interested in. Blames on him for this one. He's just always assumed Miles would go for something he enjoyed.
"Shame though, Gwendy always said 'ow you were passionate about this stuff."
Miles smiles at him, though it seems off. "Yea...just realized what else is out there, I guess."
There's more to it. Hobie can sense that much, Spidey-senses or none. He pushes a little bit. Just seeing how Miles will react to the subject.
"That's a bit of a jump though, yeah? Drawing 'n painting to the structure of matter. Why the change then?"
Miles makes himself busy with putting the bag on his back, drawing out his chance to respond so he can actually think of how to without sounding dumb.
"Well, I mean—it's just that...There's so much more that's out there! Scientists in my universe are finally starting to grasp ways to harness dark matter!" Miles turns to face him. "They might be able to figure out how to travel to others universes! I thought I could help, y'know? Personal experience and all that." He walks past Hobie trying not to look at him.
"Personal experience," Hobie echos back, quickening his pace to be beside Miles again. "-but you've had you're mind made up about it since, what, last year then? You knew it wasn't safe. You didn't know there was a way to keep a subject stabilized."
Miles branches for a second. "Well, if-if Kingpin could do it with his family on the Super Collider, then I just assumed that-"
"So you were trying to see the others then?"
Miles stops.
It only made since. If Miles had set his mind on pursuing a life in art, and liked the idea enough to share it with Gwen while the whole "super collider" or whatever they called it was still going on, then something big would of had to happen to make him want to change his course. Especially so soon after a big event took place.
Like losing his friends.
"What do you mean?"
Hobie walks in front of Miles and turns to face him. "You knew the dangers of it, like glitchin' or issues with the time continumm, you would've needed a reason to risk that. Like Peter B, or Gwe—"
"Okay? And what about it?" Miles' head shrinks to his shoulders. Hands stuffed into his pockets. "That's not the only reason why the field is interesting. People can get big for discovering stuff like that. How do you know I just didn't want to get involved with all that?"
Like Hobid said: defensive.
"Yea, for anyone else maybe, but you don't care about that shit, do ya'?" Hobie said as he kept walking. Keeping his voice as nonchalant as possible. He's starting to feel bad about bringing it up.
"All I was sayin' was: you knew it was dangerous and you're not the type to try without a reason. A good one."
Miles face twists. It was small, barely noticeable. Hobie decides its time to drop it.
Then Miles pushes past him again. Turning himself away from Hobie as he stalks past. If it weren't for his spider-senses he wouldn't have picked up on Miles quiet whispers.
"Pardon?" His voice dripping with sarcasm. "Quit mumblin', mate."
"I said it's not like it matters."
His head shrunk further into his shoulders as he went on. "You're right. There was no way to stabilize it. Us. Whoever went through. At least, none that I knew of."
Hobie watch as Miles wrapped a hand around his own wrist. Feeling for a daypass.
That's when it hit Hobie.
They had the watches. Miles didn't.
Gwen could have seen him. Peter could've come and told him. And they didn't because of Miguel's stupid-ass.
Miles didn't have to be separated from his friends. Miles never had to be kept away from seeing them because they could've just simply stoppedby. At the very least explained something to him. Miles thought he was left alone again without someone who understood what was happening to him. Without anyone who knew what it was like.
Because he was.
Miles didn't even know about the watches.
Then come to find out that the watches exist, Hobie can only imagine what that must of felt like. He was about to spend his life trying to see the others when they had already moved on. They had already excepted something they didn't need to while Miles never even had the chance to know about it.
"I guess, it's just—I always assumed seeing them again would make it...I don't know. Better?" He stopped and finally look at Hobie again. Obvious hurt written all throughout his face.
"The entire time they were in my universe, they were always calm and—I don't know. Prepared? Like they knew exactly what was going to happen at any given moment. And of course they didn't actually know how things would go! But they just, trusted each other enough to know what to do."
He started to fidget with his hands as he spoke. Hobie tried to keep his reaction to a minimum. Only nodding to Miles when it looked as if he needed the encouragement. Though he couldn't stop small amount of anger brewing in his chest.
"Then, when Gwen came back and we went swinging together, everything finally felt okay again. Like something finally fell into place for me. Not to complain about what I got! It's just...there's been so many times where it felt like I should have a different life, y'know? Like I should be part of something else. The others—Gwen, Peter, Aunt May, Penni—they made it feel okay. Like it would be alright. If all of them could handle all that stuff as Spider-Man, then I should be able to do it too, right?"
Hobie thought for a moment. "You're not them, Miles." Because he wasn't. The others are lost. Blindsided by what they call responsibility and worried about what they now keep in their own power. Protecting what is already theirs and then claiming they're hero's for doing so. Miles wasn't like that. Miles was...well, Miles.
"I know I'm not them, Hobie!" His voiced raised and threw his hand out for emphasis. "Miguel made that much clear! I'm an anomaly! An accident! Something that the others are stuck with fixing! Cleaning up the mess that I didn't even know I was causing! I was never even meant to be a Spider-Man!"
Tears were falling now. Miles brought his arm up, aggressively wiping at his face.
"No, Miles—mate, that's not what I meant at all." He stepped closer, grabbing one of his shoulders and using his other hand to pull Miles arm away from his face. "You can't compare yourself to those knobs. You're you. An' twice the person any of them are, all things considered." Hobie shrugs away. "If you're asking me, at least."
Mikes looked at him. Big, round eyes staring with disbelief. Like he is surprised Hobie would say such a thing.
"Gwen n' Peter were both in the wrong for never stopping in. They didn't haf'ta follow Miguel's orders to not make any contact and just follow him blindly 'cuz the dick claimed it was their responsibility to do so. You have every right to be upset, just not at yourself, yea?"
Miles looked away. "They couldn't risk disrupting—"
"That's bent, and you know it. Listen to me. No one, and I mean no one, should ever go through what you did. Must've been terrifying from what I've 'eard."
Mikes doesn't respond. He seems frozen for a moment. Lost in a thought Hobie can only imagine has to do with that whole HQ mess. He continues-
"And I think the fact that you not only got away, but did so without causin' any harm to anyone really says somthing. 'Cuz I know for a fact I wouldn'ta hesitated to whip out my Axe. Or that Peter's goal would've been keeping Mayday safe without any regard for anyone else. And Gwen's whole goal would've been herself, which is understandable, but she wouldn't of had any trouble causin' harm to a few of 'em. Even if they were her mates."
Miles had taken a few deep breaths as Hobie rambled. He still looked upset. Understandably so. Hobie backed away to try and give the guy some space to collect himself. He's looking down at his shoes, then they trail over to Hobie's, staring at them. Hobie looks down as well, vaguely wondering his Miles knew about lace code. Specifically blue laces. Or if maybe the colors meant something else here.
They both stand still for a moment longer.
"I just wanted to save my dad." He looks up to face the punk.
"That's all I wanted. I just kept hearing..." He seemed to pause for moment, looking away again. When he turned glanced back up, Hobie gave another nod.
"I-there was this, uh, fight. That I had with Kingpin. After everyone had been sent home. I never told Gwen or the others about it... We both got tossed around a lot through the super colliders room. At some point, we ended up on top of some version of the Brooklyn Bridge and I just—I-I can remember looking over and seeing this figure in the overview window, and somehow I—I just knew it was him. That it was my dad."
Miles drug his hand overs his face. Letting out an groan. "This sounds so stupid, god...I could hear him. He was saying to "Get up!" And "Come on!" Which was weird, right? He'd never liked any Spider-Man before. He never "approved of his ways." Miles held up his hands to make quotations with his fingers.
"For some reason, he wanted me to get up. He wanted Spider-Man to get up." He stopped again. Hobie let's him think.
"That was all I could hear when Miguel had me down against the train."
They both stood there for a while, unsure of what to do now. Hobie wanted to ask more. To poke and prod until he had all of Miles's side of the story. So he could pick apart every detail and make the other boy understand that it's okay to be upset and to be hurt because of what happened. To understand that it's okay to miss his past even if the part he's mourning happened in such a small amount of time because, no matter what, it was real. It happened. And sometimes real hurts.
Instead he looked at Miles and held out his arms. Miles threw himself into Hobie, nearly knocking him off his feet.
"It's okay. Really, it'll be okay. With time." He could feel how Miles was shaking in his arms. He was crying again. "Till then, it's okay to be hurtin'. It don't make any less of you."
Miles let out an actual sob. "I'm sorry, sorry, this is–I shouldn't make you–" He couldn't form words. His brain was moving to quickly for him to think in sentences. His heart was to loud in his ears. Lungs shrinking into and collapsing-
"Just breath, yeah? That's all you gotta do right now."
And he did. He copied Hobie as he dramatized his breathing. In four four, hold for seven, out for eight.
Miles would like to think it wasn't Hobie that calmed him down and instead say that counting did the trick, but really, it was Hobie.
It was like the punk just knew what he needed to hear, even if he didn't know Miles that well. It felt like he was honestly okay with listening to him share his pathetic thoughts about everything. Like he understood what Miles was trying to say even when he himself wasn't sure he had a point to communicate.
He felt safe.