Within This Spider-Verse

Chapter 5: Connection

Above the city, Gwen sits beside me on a ledge as we gaze into Central Park between the masses of concrete and steel. Her life feels entwined with mine, whether we're fighting crime together or enjoying peaceful moments like this.

She's helped me send a few multiversal drifters back home. An octopus-like creature with multiple human arms and a PhD. Another symbiote user with a scorpion tail whose name I guessed on the first try. An overly flirty thief whose comments toward me showed how possessive Gwen can be. I'm lucky to have her.

I get along with her dad. Being a cop, he's rigid but polite and I can talk to him about older bands that my own dad always gushes about or makes me listen to. He doesn't mind me staying over sometimes which is how I discovered Gwen trained in ballet. It explained that little quirk I love about her where she randomly stands on the points of her toes whether doing mundane things at home or fighting crooks.

MJ intimidates the crap out of me but she lets me sit in on their rehearsals, even play some of their songs while strumming my bass next to Gwen.

Gwen snaps me out of my thoughts when she asks, "If you had to play another instrument, what would it be? Oh, and it can't be drums!"

Having banned my obvious choice, I think about it a bit and say, "Piano."

Gwen laughs. "Suits you, Cornball."

"Same question, back at you."

Gwen smiles cheekily and I just realize it when she answers, "Bass."

I scoff and grab her as she squeals, giggling.

"I told you it couldn't be drums! You literally said 'same question'!"

After settling down, I ask, "What do you wanna do? After high school?"

"Dad'll probably send me to college but, preferably, The Mary Janes'll become famous. You?"

"Dunno," I answer. "What do you think I'm good at?"

"Well," she says, "You've got a good eye, evidence being present company, of course. Maybe something artsy like photography? Could also be The Mary Janes' roadie, even a backup bass player or vocalist?"

I laugh. Then something prods at my thoughts. The way Gwen stares at Havoc's portals. "What was it like... when you were in that other universe?"

Gwen's eyes widen at my question before she remembers. "Right, the memories. Dangerous, for sure, with the risk of glitching out due to cellular decay but, honestly, it was a blast. I got to meet other Spider-people like me. Even helped teach one how to use his powers. Became... friends with him." She shakes her head with a chuckle, trying to brush it off. "Which of my memories do you have in your head anyway?"

"Just intense ones. Um, getting bitten by that spider, learning about your powers, Peter's death, getting sucked into a portal and landing in... Miles' universe."

Gwen bites her lip and turns her gaze away from me. "Oh, I see..."

"Your memories," I say, placing a hand on my chest, "I feel them here. You push them away, distract yourself, but I know that your connection with Miles is... special. I notice the look on your face whenever we send drifters back to their universes. Honestly, I didn't know how to feel about it at first, otherwise I would've brought it up right then and there. Gwen, I think the only thing I care about right now is you living your best life. I can help you see Miles."

She looks at me, her eyes shocked with confusion. "W-why?""

"I don't want to be just a distraction for you, Gwen. I don't want you to be with me thinking 'What if?', ya know?"