Chapter Text
Begrudgingly, Gabriella pulled her mask back on, before hesitantly walking through the very bright portal before her, the caged Goblin secured in one hand.
Almost instantly however, she had let go of the beast at the sudden forces pushing her around violently, sort of like she were falling, except with a lot more force everywhere. The air in her lungs escaped her in a gasp as she squinted her eyes to see her destination, which seemed to be a blinding bright white light, approaching her at lightning speed.
After what seemed to be an eternity and just a nanosecond at the same time, Gabriella was finally met with solid ground. Literally. And way too quickly.
Before she could reorient herself to the sudden change in gravity, the ground had hit her body at full force, knocking the wind out of her chest.
“Ah shi-“ Gwen cursed, immediately kneeling to Gabriella’s side. “Forgot about the uh… whole ‘no-spider sense’ thing.” She muttered apologies as she assisted the new spider to her feet.
Gabriella groaned as she held her head, the world spun around her as she found her footing once more, and she honestly couldn’t be bothered to even ask what the hell ‘spider sense’ was when she was greeted with an absolutely ridiculous scene.
All around them were men and women in suits, all spider themed in some way. Last time she saw this many ‘spider-people’ was at the last spider convention a year ago which she remembered attending in costume, before having to save everyone from Doctor Inkling from his shocking metal tentacles. She just wanted to have one day where she could actually lay back and enjoy a con, of course that octopus freak had to come in and take that from her too.
“Welcome to the Spider Society!” Gwen chuckled as Gabriella gaped at the sight of an actual shocking dinosaur walking in the distance, alongside a sentient car? Was that a talking ice pop???
“So these are all…” Gabriella started, shaking her head and turning to Gwen.
“Yep. All spider people from different dimensions.” She hummed, taking a second to wave at a passing spider-man.
That particular person looked strikingly similar to the Peter Parker legend that Gabriella knew to be long gone. Suddenly everything was starting to become believable now that everything was starting to sink in.
“Here,” Gwen attempted to grab Gabriella’s arm, but she pulled away defensively with a glare, only dropping her scowl when she saw that the girl was simply trying to give her a wristband. The annoying paper type that needs another person to put it on or it’ll end up crooked. Its print reading; ‘DAY PASS’
“You’re gonna need it if you don’t wanna glitch out like the Goblin.”
“I won’t be here lon-”
And because the universe loved to side with her so much, she glitched.
Her entire body tensed as every cell in her body seemed to want to jump off a cliff simultaneously. Visions of worlds she couldn’t even comprehend flashed before her eyes as each slight movement bought her a wave of pure pain, shocking her system into keeling over and falling to the floor. Her limbs twisted in ways they really shouldn't be moving and she could see her fingertips disintegrate slightly. Her cry of pain didn’t even sound real either, her yell sounding more like a corrupted audio file that had been run over, twice. Very concerning stuff really.
Thankfully, as soon as it happened, it went. Probably due to Gwen swooping in for the rescue, the paper band now firmly placed on her right wrist.
“Not pleasant, is it?” She asked rhetorically as she stared blank faced at the spider glaring at her on the floor.
With another groan and curse, she brought her to her feet once more. Everyone around the two not even batting an eye at the scene. They’ve probably seen the same thing happen like- 5 times already that day.
“Uh… where’s-“ Gabriella muttered absently as she noted that the woman who was with them before, Jess, wasn’t with them anymore. Neither was the Goblin.
“Oh, Jess must have brought the goblin to the go-home machine already.” Gwen looked around too, but shrugged unconcerned. “We usually take villains to this machine as soon as we can before they cause too much trouble.”
“Oh… ok.” Gabriella mumbled, beginning to regret her decision to join them-
no.
She wanted to- she NEEDED to see if this was all a ruse. A cruel trick to mess with her head again. And the only way to do that, was to see their Boss, who apparently was ‘Miguel O’hara’.
This wasn’t a personal thing. No.
She just needed to confirm.
Gabriella followed Gwen into what she called ‘the Lobby’. A huge space consisting of beams and walls that were definitely not meant for anyone obeying the laws of gravity. There were more ‘spider-people’ here than in the entrance way too. It was… overwhelming to say the least. Gab couldn’t even really pay attention to the girl leading her thanks to all of the ruckus happening around her, making her let out a grunt before she could stifle it.
Gwen turned back and seemed to get the message, and looked around to find the quickest way out of the room, which seemed to be at another entry/exit way on another beam. So, she nodded to Gabriella, before shooting a web and swinging over to the relatively empty exit. As she followed, her bright red webs seemed to catch a few spider’s attention as she swung. She ignored the staring.
“That’s better.” Gwen breathed, noting the empty beam they stood on. “C’mon, I’ll show you where we send the villains we capture.” She smiled.
The two were relatively quiet as they walked. For Gab, it was mostly out of being in absolute awe of the whole place. She’s seen maga corporation HQ’s before, but none of them held as much ‘life’ as this one. Everyone seemed to be pretty laid back, swinging around and chatting freely as though this were their home. It was… not something she was used to seeing back in her world.
For Gwen however, her mind was going absolutely haywire as she scrambled on what the hell to do with this new recruit, who was also her Boss’s dead daughter. She didn’t even say she wanted to join yet! What was she going to do- Walk up to the big man upstairs and go- ‘Hey Migs! I found your dead daughter in another dimension who is actually very much alive! But it’s chill because she’s spider woman!’
There was no way.
She wanted to live, thank you very much.
Still though, she had to meet Miguel one way or another, like anyone who was new to the whole ‘multiverse’ situation.
Gwen spared a quick look to the girl behind her, and caught her staring in awe at one of the spider-bots crawling on the ceiling, carrying cargo on its back. She tried to imagine herself in her shoes; new to the world of the spider-verse, and finding out that the person in charge of the whole thing was someone she loves, but one she’s already long accepted as dead.
Peter.
Her best friend.
Not your average spider-Peter.
Her Peter, the kid without powers that she loved to invite over and have movie nights with.
Her heart ached at the thought.
If she found out that in another universe, he was some sort of mastermind leading an entire spider-army, she’d also want to find out if what she heard was true or not, even if it did sound so far-fetched.
“Down that way is the way-back machine, but up this way is Migu-” Gwen caught her tongue before she could finish that name. “I mean- our Boss’s office is this way.” She wasn’t sure why she was avoiding his name now when they both knew who she was talking about, but the way Gabriella’s eyes would snap to her at the slightest indication of his name made her nervous ok?
The two went back to walking in silence as Gwen made her way out of the villain-holding hall/waiting room, and in the direction of Miguel’s office. Her heart pounded in her chest as she anticipated what on earth would happen between the two.
“Uh… hey Gwen?” A small voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Gwen turned back to see Gabriella stand sheepish behind her, eyes trained to the floor. “I’m- sorry for earlier.”
“What for?” She smiled with a tilt of her head.
“For- uh- threatening to throw you off a building.” Gabriella winced, clearly very remorseful after realising that both Gwen and Jess were clearly not bad guys as she originally believed. “-and also throwing you on the ground.”
“Ah- you’re fine, don’t worry.” Gwen chuckled, holding her hands up in reassurance. “I get it, trust me. Also that wasn’t the worst reaction I've seen to being told that the multiverse exists.” She murmured with a dry smirk, remembering all the times she’s been mistaken for a villain by so many other spider variants.
“Still though… I was kind of a shocking asshole.” Gabriella smiled shyly, warming Gwen’s heart as she could see the uncanny resemblance with Miguel’s framed picture of her.
“Apology accepted then.” She smiled back. “So, how are you taking it all? I know it’s a lot to handle all at once, but trust, It’s nice once you get comfortable.”
“I… don’t know.” Gabriella answered honestly, eyes flying around random spots in the hallway where more small spider-bots roamed. “I think- I believe you now. But-” The girl paused, stopping in her steps as she held her head down.
Gwen stopped too and patiently waited for her to find her words.
“You said Miguel O’hara was your boss.” She breathed, expressing her doubts in Gwen’s story.
“I did, yes.” The ghost confirmed.
“From another universe.”
“...Correct.”
“That’s…”
After it was clear that Gabriella wasn’t sure what to say, Gwen walked up to her and grabbed one of her hands, holding it between both of hers gently.
“It’s a lot. I get it.” She smiled warmly as Gab stared at her with tired eyes, brimming with both hope and aged grief. “I’ll be right here when we see him. Just say the word and we’ll go back to your world again, but I’ll be here the whole time.” She squeezed her hand.
She wasn’t used to being… helped really. This was nice.
Gabriella took a breath and finally sent a small smile back to the girl.
Wordlessly, the two started walking again, this time with Gwen holding Gab’s hand almost protectively as they approached the office.
Honestly, the whole journey there, Gabriella didn’t even register that she might be able to see her dad again, but now it was happening. And she didn’t know what to do. Gwen holding her hand was nice. If she wasn’t basically dragging her then she’s pretty sure she would just end up standing there dumb like a statue. This was happening now though. She was going to meet her dad- no- her dad’s doppelganger from another world.
Dad was dead. This wasn’t her dad. She had to remember that.
She just needed to not think about it. She just needed to confirm, and leave.
“lord give me strength.” Gwen muttered as they stepped into the room, earning a small look of confusion by the girl beside her.
As the two took a step in however, they were greeted by a different person, one that wore a ratty bright pink bath robe over a spider suit that looked a little too small for someone his size. Another Peter Parker dopple.
“Peter!” Gwen sighed in relief at the familiar face. She was prepping herself for this odd family reunion by herself but company was definitely needed.
“Hey kiddo!” He waved, walking over to the two. “You’re back early.”
“Yeah, uh, was an easy job this time.” She chuckled nervously.
“Same here.” He smiled. “Get this- my scorpion variant was the Lego version! How crazy is that! I almost stepped on him when I got there.”
“Oh wow that's actually pretty wild.” Gwen chuffed with a smirk. “Anyways- I found the spider-variant from the world too!” Her smile appeared as more of a wince as she used her free hand to motion to the girl beside her.
Peter’s relaxed smile immediately dropped at the sight of her, no doubt putting the pieces together in his head.
Gabriella simply stood there awkwardly as Peter inspected her with wide eyes.
“No way…” Is what he managed to croak out before.
“How does everyone know who I am in this dimension?” Gab muttered to Gwen with a frown. “Is there- another ‘me’ here or somethin’?”
“Uh- not exactly-“
Before Gwen could elaborate however, the soft hum of the platform behind them lowering caught him off guard.
Gabriella’s nerves weren’t comforted by the looks the two other spiders sent to each other, as if they were bracing for impact. She could also feel Gwen’s heart beat quicken from her palm.
She was scared.
“Heyyyy Miguel! Long time no see!” Peter fake chuckled as he bounced on his feet nervously.
“I thought I gave you two missions.” He gruffed.
Gabriella froze on the spot upon hearing his voice. Hands clamming up and eyes wide. Gwen seemed to notice and looked back, but Gab wasn’t paying attention to her anymore, she couldn’t. That voice was exactly how she remembered it.
Gwen squeezed her hand once more.
“We uh- finished pretty quickly!” She called out, also adding very fake sounding coughs and awkward pauses.
“Where’s your spider, Peter?” Miguel asked, already tired of their presence without even turning to look at them. Even without spider-sense, he could count how many figures there were in the room through the vibrations on the floor. And there were only three.
Probably another Peter variant… Again.
“Oh. Well I couldn’t find him.”
“Of course- mierda of course you couldn’t find him.” Miguel cursed, back still turned as he let out a deep sigh. His platform was fully lowered now, allowing the three to see his visible stress in all its glory.
Behind him, Gabriella found herself stepping forwards unconsciously. Passing Peter and letting go of Gwen’s hand.
“At least tell me you bought something to note, Gwe-“ Miguel turned to the three, finally seeing who his young spider had bought in.
It was a… small girl version of himself?
No wait- he recognised that suit.
Not because it was basically a carbon copy of his own, except smaller, but because that was the exact same suit he had bought a certain someone years ago.
“Dad?” Gab breathed out. All rational thoughts lost to the wind as she saw his face.
It was actually him. Sure, he had red eyes now, and was definitely a lot bulkier, but it was actually him. She would recognise that voice from a mile away.
Miguel, on the other hand, stood frozen on the spot. Gone were the two spiders he was ready to yell at, all he saw in his vision was her.
Realising he might not recognise her (as if), Gab reached up to slowly take off her mask.
Miguel could only stand there and watch with a heavy heart that had long since abandoned hope for itself. Yet she was right there. Staring at him with those- those big eyes that would always make him crumble.
She was different from the other Gabriella. Her eyes were a shade of crimson he didn’t recognise on her, and he could see the faintest hint of fangs in her mouth. She was also a lot taller than what he remembered. She was all grown up.
“Mi hija…” is all that slipped out of his lungs as she walked closer, stepping up onto the platform.
She could see the grief in the way he looked at her, and that was all she needed to understand why Gwen was being so understanding.
This Miguel… lost his daughter.
And she lost her dad.
It wasn’t until Gabriella was directly in front of Miguel, that he moved closer. Very hesitantly. His hands slowly rose and cupped her cheek, as though she were as fragile as a flower, and that’s all it took for her tears to start falling. His hand was warm, so warm. She couldn’t even find it in herself to fully cry. She just stood there, closing her eyes to lean into the touch and letting the tears roll down her cheek.
“You’ve grown so much.” He mumbled, face softening as he traced every detail in her face with his gaze, soaking it in and ingraining it in his memory.
His heart ached, and everything inside him was screaming at him that this was wrong, as if being around her would absolutely destroy all the work he was doing in stabilising the multiverse. However, she was a spider in her dimension. She was fine being here. She was actually safe.
“I-” She hiccuped, throat closing as she opened her eyes once more to see him once more. “I’ve missed you… so much.” Despite feeling herself crack under his warm touch with each passing second, she found herself feeling the happiest she’s been in so long.
Neither of them were the person they missed so dearly, but they didn’t care. Sue them for being a little selfish, just for that moment.
Deep down, Miguel knew something like this would happen eventually, that he’d meet her again. Maybe across the street during a mission maybe, or catching a fleeting glance of her figure moving across a soccer field as he’d fight off whatever monster wanted to dare and try and wreck her game, but not like this.
Her presence was stable, confirmed by the day-pass band on her wrist.
She wasn’t going to fade away again.
There had been so many nights where he’d relive his failure over and over again, trying to find any way to save her and continuously screwing it up every time. He never thought he’d see her look up at him with anything other than dread ever again.
With gentle arms, the two finally embraced, filling the holes in their hearts if only at that moment. It just felt right. She fit perfectly in his arms and he did in hers.
Gabriella found herself completely shattering in his hold, her sniffles quickly turning into choked sobs as she buried her face into his shoulder. She wasn’t lying when she said missed him so so much. Not a day passed when she didn’t think of what life would be like if his room wasn’t cold and empty, if Alchemax didn’t get their filthy hands on him, if she didn’t ask him to buy that stupid chocolate cake for her that day.
Maybe she’d smile again, join the soccer team, have lunch with friends.
That wasn’t the reality however.
But… this was nice.