Silk & Cologne | Miguel O'Hara

Chapter 5 - Research

Earth-1218

Gwen opened a portal for me back to my dimension, dropping me off at the coordinates Miguel and Peter B. used. She gave me back my purse that I thought I lost and I breathed a sigh of relief, thanking her for returning it. She said she'd be back to pick me up and I gave her the address of the hotel and what room I was staying in.

After the portal closed, I carefully climbed down the fire escape of the building I was on, making my way to the street. I was back where it all started. The corner of the dance studio where I got bitten by that spider. I turned my gaze towards the alley, the mental image of those few seconds played back in my mind as I clutched onto my purse a little tighter.

I thought back to Miguel's words as I walked. An unplanned 'Canon Event' he had said. A moment in my dimension's history and story that wasn't supposed to happen. Unless I want my dimension to completely disappear, I can't use my spider powers here.

At least until it decides it wants a Spider-Woman. That's how he and Lyla had put it. But judging by the tone in Miguel's voice, I doubted that outcome. Which was why I wanted to make sure I wouldn't go back on my word to him. I'd train and work hard to keep these powers under control.

I came to a stop light and looked around the block. It was later in the day now, so the streets were more lively compared to this morning. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something that triggered a lightbulb to go off in my head.

A comic book shop.

I couldn't even remember the last time I picked up one. But if I wanted to learn everything I could about my new potential powers, I was desperate to try any and all means.

As soon as the light turned green, I ran down the crosswalk, going straight for the store. I stepped inside, the bell chiming as it signaled my arrival. I walked over to the counter, greeting an old man with neatly cut white hair, a white dress shirt with a red handkerchief scarf around his neck, and yellow sunglasses.

"Welcome! How can I help you, miss?" He greeted me warmly.

I whipped out my wallet and brought out all the spare cash I had, roughly over $100 worth as I placed it on the counter. "I'd like as many Spider-Man comics as you can give me. I'm not picky on anything specific,"

"My, my! An eager one, I see," He smiled brightly as he took the cash and put it in the register. "Follow me, I think I know where to get you started,"

He walked over the counter, grabbing a bag as he handed it to me. "Trust me, you'll need this,"

After shopping around and asking questions for a good half hour, I walked out of that store with a fresh big pile of Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Spider-Gwen, Miles Morales, Scarlet Spider, and any other Spider-esqe comics I could find to get my money's worth. I scampered back to the hotel and began my deep dive into researching all things Spider-Man and their powers.

I took vigorous notes in my notebook, highlighting anything that seemed important. For the first little while everything seemed important. For example, the Spider-Sense could work in different ways, but most commonly it was used as a danger sense, allowing Spider-Man to sense incoming danger before he could get hurt. It doesn't work on everything however, as I quickly learned in No Way Home when MJ threw multiple rolls of bread at Amazing Spider-Man to try to trigger it.

Most Spider characters can stick to and climb walls and even crawl on the ceiling. Gwen did mention that my powers awakening could be unpredictable, so I had no way of telling when they'd start showing up, but the fact of me regaining perfect eyesight meant that I was on the right track.