Rhythm Inside
“Daddy! Daddy! Wake up!”
Peter groaned as he felt a pair of small hands shaking his arm waking him up from his blissful sleep.
“What is it Miles?” Peter’s voice was muffled by his pillow but the younger super powered kid still understood what was said.
“I had a nightmare,” Miles voice was suddenly small and quiet, “can I stay with you?”
Peter looked up from his pillow at the smaller party, looking into his big brown eyes that looked ready to start spewing tears any second. Suddenly the hero felt any sense of annoyance and tiredness leave his body. He scoot over on his bed allowing Miles to climb on top and take a place next to him.
“Comfy?” Miles nodded in response, snuggling under the sheets close to the older spider person. “You wanna tell me what your bad dream was about?” Peter asked.
“I was all by myself in a big room daddy. It was dark and I tried to run but my legs didn’t listen to me!” Miles told him. “I was stuck! A lady then came in! She was super tall and had long squid arms that helped her walk!” Miles described the best he could. Peter felt his face pale at the description. He knew exactly who the young boy was talking about but he hoped to be wrong. “She was yelling! Saying things like ‘you think you can cross me Morales?!’ and started talking about a deal!”
Miles couldn’t have been-
No. It had to be a coincidence Peter thought.
Then again, when has anything been a coincidence in his life.
“I wanted her to stop but she didn’t! It was so loud and I was really scared. Then you came daddy! You were Spider-Man! You started to kick her butt!” Miles exclaimed. “But then the yelling got really loud. I heard screaming! Then it smelled nasty...It hurt my chest and made me cough!” The memory of the dream was enough alone to make the young boy shiver. “Smoke was everywhere! I couldn’t see nothing! I tried to call for you but you didn’t come. I was all alone,” Miles voice cracked, “I-I was scared that I’d never see you again and that I was gonna be all alone forever!”
Peter immediately hugged the now crying child. “Shhh, it’s okay Miles. It was just a dream. You know I’d never leave alone. I’ll always be there when you need me to keep you safe and protect you,” Peter comforted, rubbing soothing circles on his son’s back.
“You promise?” Miles asked between sniffles.
“I promise,” Peter said, “now no more tears or else I might start crying and I’m not sure you want to see your old man cry.” His son broke out into a giggle, making him break out into a smile.
“You’re silly daddy,” Miles stated as he wiped away his own tears.“That’s one word people use to describe me,” Peter muttered under his breath.
“I love you daddy.”
“Love you too Miles. Now go to bed, I need my beauty sleep.”
“M’kay…” Peter watched as Miles drift off back into a slumber. When he was confident the boy had fallen asleep, he let out a loud sigh as he looked up to the ceiling. His mind replayed what Miles had told him on repeat.
Miles had dreamed of the night Doc Oct broke into the Morales’s home. He had dreamed of the night his parents died. This wasn’t the first time Miles dreams of something he couldn’t have remembered. His mind spun in circles trying to figure out an answer all while his son slept calmly next to him. Eventually his brain grew tired, begging for sleep so for the moment he let it go and let his own dreams take him.
Peter should’ve known.
What kind of father doesn’t know when their own kid is struggling? ‘A shitty one’ his mind added uselessly. How could he have been so blind? He was so caught up with trying to do his best while trying to make sure his kid was as safe as humanly possible he completely overlooked Miles’s feelings.
The kid didn’t even trust him enough to tell him that his nightmares was back. Or that he had a new power.
The fear in Miles’s eyes when he looked at Peter haunted him. He looked so young and fragile in the moment, fearful of what he could do of what he had done. Though that wasn’t what killed the older webslinger. In the small boy’s eyes he could see the kid he raised was fearful of himself now.
“I’m sorry…”
Peter let out a frustrated sigh as he swung through the city, searching through the crowd of late night owls trying to find Miles. Deep down he knew this wasn’t gonna be an easy find and that the odds of him finding him tonight grew slimmer by the second, but Peter wasn’t gonna give up. Miles needed him right now more than ever. He promised his mother to protect him and more importantly, he promised Miles.
‘You promised to keep him happy too and look where we are,’ Peter’s mind commented. Shaking his head, refusing to let his self pity distract him, he focused on Miles. He could only hope for the moment that the boy was okay wherever he was. That he wasn’t harmed or in any danger. Just cooling off and would return home to Peter could wrap him in a big hug and apologize for everything until he couldn’t speak anymore.
Peter could only hope.
Miles didn’t sleep.
He didn’t want to dream. He spent most of the night mindlessly walking through the lively street of New York until he collapsed an alleyway and sat there huddled behind a trash bin. He sat there until the sun rose staring at the ground.
The events of the previous night haunted him. They replayed before his eyes, and everytime he’d think of his father calling out his name he’d cry. He hurt the one person who loved and cared for him. How could he go back and look his dad in the eye ever again?
Miles powers only hurt people.
He buried his head in his arms. What was he supposed to do now? Where does someone like him go?
The sound of footsteps caught his attention. They were growing closer by the second, coming toward him. Was it his dad? Had he come looking for him?
“Miles?” Wait. That definitely wasn’t his dad.
Miles slowly raised his head, his eyes trailing upwards to meet another pair of dark brown eyes. The voice was Wanda. His brain stutters for a moment taking in the sight before him, every part of him on pause.
“What are you doing hiding in the alleyway?” Wanda reached down to touch him but Miles backed away quickly. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t even keep eye contact.
“Please don’t touch me!” Miles didn’t mean to shout. He just didn’t want to hurt anyone else.
“Okay okay, I’m sorry,” Wanda pulled her hand back, “Is everything okay?” No. Nothing was okay. He hurt his dad, ran away from home, and his new power was out of control.
Wanda looked around the alleyway before standing next to her classmate and planting herself down next to him. She quietly sat next to Miles staring at the wall across, unsure of what to say next. The two sat in a heavy silence, nobody moving to speak.
“You know, I’m not good at this comforting thing.” Wanda broke the silence.
Miles glanced at Wanda from the corner of his eyes. “You don’t have to tell me what happened because I probably won’t have anything to say to make you feel better.” He blinked, clearly not expecting the brute honesty. He was expecting one of those it’ll be okay lies or something. Yet he preferred the honest truth.
“I hurt somebody I love.” He hated how quiet and small he sounded. He felt like a child confessing his darkest secret.
“I know how that feels,” Wanda stayed vaguely, her eyes trailing off into the distance. Miles glanced at the other teen, his eyes studying her melancholy and distant expression. Part of him felt guilty. He didn’t know why but it was there, simmering in his gut.
“I can’t go home,” Miles stated suddenly, “they probably hate me and I can’t risk hurting them again.” Wanda slowly turned to look at him, her baby blue eyes unreadable. “I can't risk hurting anybody,” He repeat mindlessly.
“So what you’re just gonna become a street rat?” Wanda asked, her voice tight and controlled. It made Miles feel even smaller than he already did. Truthfully he hadn’t thought of where he’d go. He had just left knowing that he couldn’t return.
“I-I guess,” he stuttered, unsure of what to say.
“Life out here is different than your life at home. Out here you’re all alone. Nobody is gonna bend over backwards for you. You’ve got to fend for yourself. Can you do that?” Miles felt like he was being interrogated. The strict coldness in the question made him doubt himself.
“Why are you telling me this?” He asked quietly.
“Because I need to know you can fight when your life depends on it,” Wanda told him, “and no matter how many times you fall, you can always get back up.”
Miles could tell there was more to that statement than his classmate was letting on. There was so much unspoken tension that it made him blink. “How do you know so much about living on the street?”
“Cause I live in it Miles!” Wanda revealed. “I know this life like the back of my hand! You on the other hand don’t.” Miles felt his mouth go dry as his simmering guilt began to burn, catching into flames.
“You have a choice to go back home and tell your your loved one you’re sorry. Then hope they forgive you for everything you did wrong!” The outburst made Miles blink. Pent up emotions were set loose like a tiger in the zoo. “You’d hold them and tell them you love them…then they’d tell it to you back and make a stupid joke that isn’t funny but makes you laugh anyways.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What?” Wanda finally looked at Miles, her face scrunched up in confusion.
“I’m sorry that you don’t have that choice,” Miles whispered.
Wanda took a deep shaky breath. “But I don’t either,” Miles added, “I’m dangerous to people around me Wanda. I’m out of control and I don’t know what’s happening to me or how to stop it.” That answer didn’t sit well with the other teen, but they didn’t say anything about it. Instead they pulled themselves together and said, “So what now? You gonna join me on the streets?”
“If it keeps people safe, yes,” Miles replied, determination in his voice.
“In that case,” Wanda turned her body to face Miles, “you should know my name isn’t Wanda. It’s actually Gwen.” Taking in the name, reciting it in his head, Miles decided he preferred Gwen over Wanda. Wa-Gwen held out her hand as a greeting but quickly retracted it.
“Right, no touching.”
“Well, I guess you should know too that my name is actually Miles,” Miles joked, giving a small playful smile. Gwen chuckled, flashing the other teen a small smile.
“Come on, I’ll show you to my hideout seeing as you’re my new roomate,” Gwen said, standing up and brushing herself off. She didn’t wait for Miles to stand before she started walking leaving the younger boy to scramble after her.
“It isn’t much,” Gwen stated as she looked around the abandoned church she slept in, “but it’s roomy so no need to worry about claustrophobia if you’re into that kind of thing.”
Miles was dumbstruck, looking at the stated of the place and at the amount of items his friend actually owned. A sleeping back, a backpack, one other pair of shoes, a few books, and one charger.
“Is this all?”
“What? Not enough for you?”
“No! It’s not that I-“
“Calm down. I was just yanking your tail,” Gwen smirked. Miles glared with an expression that said ‘not cool man’. “I’ve got an extra sleeping bag somewhere around here, I’ll find it later. Right now I’m starving so I’m gonna head out to get food. You cool just hanging out here by yourself?”
Miles slowly nodded, still taking in the scenery.
“Good. Be back as soon as I can. Have fun.” With that Gwen left her stakeout taking her secret exit which lead her to the alley next to it and walked onto the main road. She walked two blocks to a dinner nearby, noticing how pack it was she seemed it a worthy spot to catch something.
Gwen looked around, spotting a payphone across the street. With one last glance at the dinner she crossed the street towards the payphone pulling out a few coins. She picked up the phone inserting her money and dialed a number.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
“Hello. Welcome to-”
“65 reporting.” There was a pause of silence. Gwen waited by the phone until she heard a familiar confused deep voice answer, “hello?”
A small smile crept onto her lips. “What get stuck with telephone duty again?” Gwen asked, half jokingly.
“Unfortunately.” The voice stated dryly. “This horn business still confuses me.” Gwen rolled her eyes. Of course she’d get stuck with the grandpa to report to.
“Don’t you mean phone,” she corrected.
“That’s what I said.” Gwen groaned. She was on limited time here and couldn’t spend it reaching an old schooler modern day stuff.
“I’m here to report,” Gwen articulated, her tone now serious. She didn’t bother to wait for the voice on the other end to respond before continuing. “42 is currently staying with me. I found him alone on the streets. He was shaken up and under distress. It seems his he may of had an accident. He wouldn’t specify.” She sighed as she thought of the boy sitting alone at the church waiting for her to return with a meal.
“What are you waiting for? You’ve got the boy, bring him in.”
“I need more time,” She blurted out. “I’m getting him to trust me. Maybe if I can get him to trust and like me I can get him to come in willingly.” There was a pause on the other line. Silence that ate at the teen like a piranha.
“You care for this kid.” It was more of a statement than a question. “Please just tell the boss I need more time. I promise I’ll bring him in-“
“If you say you need more time, I believe you. I’ll make sure to tell the big man for yah,” the voice stated, “just do yourself a favor and try to remember the mission. Don’t let your emotions cripple your judgement.”
“Funny coming from you.” Gwen watched the timer tick down with dread. “Stay safe kid. The others and I...we...uh….w-we miss you.” The once stoic look on her face crumbled as a sad smile crossed her lips to hear the voice on the other line speak their emotions. Which was a rare thing to hear. It warmed her heart.
“I miss all of you too. That includes you Noir,” Gwen confessed as she watched the timer tick down from five seconds. She didn’t even realize she broke the rules by saying the name Noir and not his agent number. “Hopefully I’ll get to see your ugly mug again after this and maybe we can have one of those things humans always talk about family game night,” Gwen’s voice cracked towards the end as she envisioned the scene in front of her, desperately wishing for it to be real. However deep down she knew that it would never real. People like them could never have a life like that. A life so full of normal. Though it was a fantasy they spoke about regular when they were together. However it’s been months since she’s seen the others, and the likely good of her seeming them again and getting to have that talk was nonexistent. However she continued to dream despite everything because what else could she do?
“Goodbye Gwen Stacy.” The line fell silent.
“Goodbye,” She whispered before placing the phone back. Quickly she composed herself, taking in a deep breath, wiping her eyes, shaking off any lasting emotion. Gwen turned around and walked. She had to focus on her mission.
-Get breakfast.
-Gain Miles trust.
-Bring Miles to back to the Doc
Now that couldn’t be so hard now could it?