Chapter 4 – Where's Mayday?

Peter stirred awake in his chair to realize that he had dozed off some time ago. He swiveled his head around the waiting room, and then felt weightlessness in his lap. He looked down to find Mayday missing and shot up out of his seat on high alert.

"Mayday!" he called out, trying not to sound panicked in front of everyone. "Sweetie, where are you?" He began by checking under the chairs, his back bent low. "You shouldn't be playing hide-and-seek in a hospital, you know?"

There was still no sign of his baby girl. He got back up, scratching his head nervously. This was a huge building; she could literally be anywhere. If he didn't find her soon… MJ would kill him.

And so, he hurried off in the first logical direction, cursing under his breath.

In the stairwell, Miles G. Morales stood maskless before a bewildered Jefferson, a spitting image of his own father from Earth 42. He remained stoic to hide the electric rush in his nerves, his hands clenched to avoid them trembling.

He was here… what now?

Jefferson stared into the face of this young man, taking in all its features. He looked so much like his son, yet so different at the same time, and it had nothing to do with his hair being braided back or his purple suit; his soul just felt different.

"So…" Jefferson spoke up, breaking the silence. "… what's your story?"

Miles raised on eyebrow, surprised by this response, and started fidgeting a little, wondering where to even start. "Well…" he began. "… I'm obviously a Miles Morales from another dimension, but just to avoid confusion, you can either call me Miles G. Morales… or just G, full stop."

Jeff shrugged. "Since we're the only two people here right now, I'll just stick to Miles."

"Fine." And so, he continued. "For the past year or so, I was supposedly the one and only Prowler… but then a few days ago, I found out from another me that I was actually supposed to be Spider-Man." He rolled his eyes, shaking in disbelief. "It still boggles my mind just saying it."

"You and me both." They chuckled for a bit. "So… how did you become the Prowler?"

"Uncle Aaron… my Uncle Aaron." he corrected quickly. He then sighed, looking upwards. "It was after you… my father died… that I went to him. I wanted to become strong. I didn't want to feel powerless ever again."

"Aaron…" Jeff's eyes widened. "Is he…?"

"Still alive, yes." Miles nodded. "But anyway… he initially didn't want me to be any part of it, but I pushed him enough times until he caved in and showed me the ropes."

"What did you do then?"

"Whatever I had to do to get by." Miles glared back at the man to see if there were any signs of accusation or disappointment from him, but there were neither. "With no real authority or so-called Spider-Man to protect our city, we had to fend for ourselves." He then sighed, looking down at his stark shadow on the floor.

Jefferson shuffled on the step he was sitting on, offering this young man to sit with him.

"I'm good." Miles waved him off with a smirk, then leaned against the wall opposite him.

Rio suddenly came to Jeff's mind. "How's your mother?" he asked.

"My ma?" Miles flinched, then composed himself again. "She's fine. She also works as a nurse. She doesn't know what we do, though I would sometimes drop supplies at her window just to help her out." He couldn't help but smile sadly.

Silence filled the echoey ambience of the stairwell once more. Both felt that there should have been more to say, but words have now dried up, neither really knowing where to take this weird conversation next.

Miles decided to reach into one of his pockets for a smoke, which somewhat alarmed the anxious father. Seeing his reaction, the teen paused.

"You don't mind me smoking, do you?"

Jeff quickly came to his senses; this Miles wasn't his son. "Sorry, no… go ahead."

Placing the cigarette in his mouth, he lit it, inhaling deeply, then blew out a stream that visibly swirled under the LED light above them.

"Good talk." he murmured to the man. "I don't suppose you want me offering you one?"

Jeff waved him off. "I'm good, thanks."

Nodding, Miles pocketed the pack and closed his eyes, letting the mood relax him.

Another question came to Jeff's mind, and he had to ask. "Do you… still regret not becoming the Spider-Man of your earth?"

Miles opened his eyes but glanced sideways. "I did at first, but why cry over spilled milk?" Finally, he returned his somber gaze to him. "I'm still a made man. And besides… those Spider powers are in good hands anyway."

Jefferson managed a small smile. He looked at the Prowler's Jordans and smirked; one shoe was untied, just like his own son's, and wondered whether he should point this out to him or not.

A sharp throbbing pain stirred Miles Morales of Earth 1610 out of his long slumber. When he squinted his eyes open, his vision was all fuzzy. With the visual information he could gather, he looked to be lying in a hospital room. The curtains were drawn, darkening the room, and he was all by himself.

He tried to remember what had happened.

He was… fighting the Spot…

He had defeated him, yes… but then…

He winced hard, his head hurting. The pain slithered back to his chest.

He had saved everyone too…

His mom… his dad… his universe.

After that, he couldn't remember anything else, other than trying to stand, and then passing out in front of everyone. It frustrated him.

Gwen…

Where was she, he wondered?

He hoped she was okay. He hoped she was back home with her dad getting some rest.

At the same time, he wanted to see her right now. He wanted her by his side. He wanted to again feel her lips against his. Every time he had ever spent with her was never enough. Every time he was around her, his soul felt warmed, and whenever she was gone, he would feel emptier.

Even when he was alone in Earth 42 after her betrayal, he still missed her deep down. When she came back for him, he was afraid to let her hurt him again. It took so much to earn his trust back, but when he eventually forgave her, the two wanted to be inseparable.

But being from different dimensions, plus his condition, there were some difficulties to face.

Managing his arms, he carefully moved up his hands to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

When his vision cleared, he quickly spotted something red and curly hanging from the ceiling above him and recognized who it was immediately.

"Mayday…?" he mumbled.

There was Peter's missing toddler hanging upside down from her own web-line, steadily lowering herself towards him while making cheerful goo-goo noises.

"What are you… doing here?" Miles couldn't help but smile at the adorable sight.

She landed softly next to him on his head pillow and immediately ran her tiny palms over the boy's face.

"If you're here… where's your dad?" he asked, trying his best to sound bright.

He suddenly broke into a gargled coughing fit and turned his head away to avoid spluttering on Mayday. Each time he coughed, his chest soreness worsened a little.

The little redhead made a sad pouty face, as if recognizing his pain, and started brushing his hair with her fingers to comfort him; it did manage to relax him soon after.

"Did you really… sneak in here… just so you could keep me company?"

She moaned as her way of answering yes.

Not too long after, Peter entered the same room and found Mayday nestled into Miles' shoulder, comfortably asleep; he refrained from squealing at the sheer cuteness and almost wanted to leave them like this.

"Hey, Peter." he heard Miles say, realizing he is awake.

He came over and pulled out a chair so he could sit next to him.

"How're you doing, buddy!" he whispered excitedly.

The bedridden teen smiled. "Trying to do… better."

"I think I found… your missing baby."

"If anything, she found you." Peter chuckled.

"So… what did I miss?" asked Miles softly. "No more… cataclysmic events in the multiverse?"

"Nope." His mentor shook. "Spot's back to your usual villain of the week. Heck, Miguel somehow found a way to revert him to his human self, so that cancels out my first statement."

"That's good to know." Miles nodded; it was a little easier for him to speak now. "How are the others?"

"They're alright." He turned to the doorway briefly. "In fact, they're all here. Your mom and dad… Gwen, too." He turned back to Miles, bouncing his eyebrows.

Miles sighed gladly.

"Hey… you've made me the proudest mentor in the universe." This brought his attention back. "I'm just… I'm just sorry that…" Peter didn't know what to say, how to word this situation; he was more afraid that if he tried, he would crack.

It was here that Miles frowned at the man.

"I ain't gonna let this little thing be the end of me." he stated, speaking fully now. "I don't want… my story… to end like others." He was breathing a little heavier now.

"Easy…" cried Peter.

"I don't care… if my chest feels… like a hot knife being pressed into a balloon." He tried to sit up, but Peter pressed him back down. "I want to live… I don't wanna leave behind my parents… my best friend… and my city." Tears of determination were running down the boy's cheeks. "Everyone needs me… so I'mma fight this… because I'm… Spider-Man!"

Peter was speechless. He leaned back in his chair, moved by this young man's determination. If he could cry, he would, but for Miles' sake, he held in his own tears.

"Not bad, kid." he said, and then placed a hand on his, taking it firmly. "And I'll be with you every step of the way, because you're my family too."

TO BE CONTINUED.

Author's Note: I really wish this site would let me tag more than 4 characters, but it is what it is. This one took a little while longer because I didn't know whether I wanted Gwen, Rio, Jefferson, or Peter to be the one to find Mayday with Miles. Ultimately, I decided to give Peter his moment with Miles, since he was the one who mentored him in the original movie.

Also, this story won't be action-heavy. The reason the first chapter was so packed is because I wanted to get all the action out of the way, because personally, I'm just better at writing character dramas. I know this is a short chapter, but I didn't feel that making it any longer than it should would have done it any justice. I always like to keep each chapters simple so that's easy for me to write and you readers to follow. I also wanted a little break from the angst.

I hope you enjoyed. I welcome more reviews. Until next time!