'The time has come to lay that baggage down and leave behind all the struggling and striving. You can be set free as you journey forward into a balanced, healthy and rewarding future.'
― Sue Augustine
When Miguel showed up in casual attire outside of work to meet Dr. Web. His mother made it clear he made the right choice. Seeing as how the outfit LAYLA and few choice spider people helped him pick out. Showed off his body in a completely different light, then when he wore his suit. From black shirt that read 'beast mode on', that practically looked painted on. Vintage pair of LEVI jeans with a leather belt and choice footwear. Hair arranged in a styled yet messy way as he wore sunglasses for his light sensitive eyes.
"Mamá," Dr. Web came to dislike how she stated, "Stop ogling him since we're here to support your nieta."
"When I'm getting my nieto?" Her question made her son blushed and Miguel started with a single raised eyebrow.
Explanation on why his mother was pressing for another child out of her son. Was short lived when an airy voice with pinned ponytail greeted them with mildly disdain. Wasp pin she wore on her blouse put Miguel off and made Dr. Web's mother stiffen. Kept her clutch tucked under one of her arms when she looked over the trio.
"You're that Mr. O'Hara I keep hearing about," She looked him over, "I see nothing special about you."
"Makes me think," Miguel asked, not amused with what he saw, "What mi amor saw in you before Gabriella was conceived?"
Dr. Web was given a playful jab by his mother before she stepped up and patted Miguel on his arm. Migeul placed his arm on Dr. Web's lower back and addressed him. Emphasis he put into his first name in a breathy tone for Zarina to clearly hear. Had her ready to walk forward when Migeul allowed Marsh to direct them. To only be reminded who stood in her way when Dr. Web's mother came into view.
"Casandra," Zarina was getting annoyed, "You're in my way."
"Madam Web to you," Casandra adjusted her sunglasses, "Since you lost the right to be that friendly."
What happened between them was left for later as Marsh and Miguel headed to an arena. Bleachers filled with crowds of people were set up around a fenced off area. Beyond those metal links was a massive area where most of the action took place. Two separate areas that were opposite of each other were where competitors worked. Screens hung up the ceiling to show an instant replay of the last match. Last remains of defeat was being picked up by whoever lost under supervision of a referee.
Announcement of who was going up next was a team from some private school up against a girl. That girl was in the middle of tinkering with what people called her Spider Bot. New color scheme and web shooters that replaced the venom splatters. She even added her dad's old spider logo as her new one where it's been placed. Showed she had been working hard to win this year's competition after losing last year.
"Dad! Mr. O'Hara!" Gabriella ran to her father and Miguel, "You made it."
"I wouldn't miss out on such an exciting event," Marsh reached out to her, "You did invite Miguel after all."
"I hope we didn't miss your match?" Miguel took in the sights.
He didn't get an answer right away when he ended up being included in Gabriella's hug with her father. Sudden tightness when she placed one arm on her father and other on Miguel. Down went his eyes, he found her looking up at him with these wide eyes filled with excitement. Smile so wide upon her face that it pulled at his heart's strings. Reminded Miguel of when his daughter would hug him after a soccer march, wearing a smile of her own. Tears that dare spilled from his eyes from this reminder.
"Mr. O'Hara?" Gabriella noticed, "OMG! Are you ok?"
"Pastelito", " Dr. Web reminds her, "Recuerdas lo que te contó la abuela sobre su última visión?"
"Gabriella de realidad alternativa?" She was fascinated.
Marsh took a pause to use a handkerchief to dab the corners of Miguel's eye to wipe those tears away. Wanting to assure him as he stepped closer for a better reach with a damping piece of cloth. Allowed Miguel's superhuman hearing to pick up on the beating of his heart at a calm pace. Had him further curling his arm around the small of his back to close the gap. Bringing them within range of the other to a point, more than just scents were inhaled.
"Eella tendría más o menos tu edad, si todavía estuviera viva," Miguel looks down at Gabriella, "A pesar de mis mejores esfuerzos, ella desapareció de mis brazos y su universo colapsó."
Gabriella tightened her already existing hold on him with her limited strength. Trying her best to try to portray some form of comfort to him, after what he just told her. Happy in a way she heard his side of a story from a vision she shared. Her clairvoyance only showed her pieces of what happened to the girl. Her grandmother only gave her so much information when she asked.
"Entonces el Sr. O'Hara," Gabriella made a personal request, "Can this not be the only time I get to see you? I want to do more than robotics and coding for programs."
"I'll need to talk this over with tu padre y tu abuela." Miguel reached out.
On the head he placed his hand to comb through her hair as her smile once more pulled at his heart. This time it was one of joy and contentment, one of ache like a minute ago.
"This is where you better get back done there," Marsh pointed out as she was being paged, "We'll be here cheering."
"Wish me luck?" She backed away from them.
When Miguel tried to smile at her and give her thumbs up that would have scared the average person. More like she took a photo for remembrance sake with her phone. While she wasn't really bothered by it like everyone else that watched the three.
8*8
Peter B was the one insisting on seeing the footage of Gabriella and her robot battle competition. Disliking how he couldn't make it without May due to a prier commitment he made. Left Dr. Web to allow LAYLA to share every video clip and photo from that event with him. She couldn't stop gushing over when she accepted his request. Leaving Dr. Web to make a delivery from his family to Migeul by taking a familiar path. One through a technology junk to the brightly lit area that Miguel called his work space. Fact he was allowed anywhere near there without LAYLA detouring him was new. He was careful with the brown bag from his family, which was full of little surprises. Gabriella took a furby in the color scheme of Miguel's costume and refurbished it. Into a centaur-like robot with six spider legs with an USB and Bluetooth interface. A more homemade gift from his mother's kitchen and knitting hands. Along with black leather, a split-handle, opened on the top of another bag he carried.
"Nice sweater," Dr. Web liked what Miguel wore over his suit, "Guapo."
"Mi amor," Miguel softly smiled, "Lo que me trajiste?"
"El camino de mi madre of getting your to come back over," He reaches in, "Kind of a gift for LAYLA."
"Let me see." LAYLA popped in.
The furby bot was brought out and put on the flat surface to move around after he turned it on. LAYLA quickly became giddy when she watched the funny start up dance as the eyes flew open. She then squealed about the way it said hello to her, then Miguel, and then Dr. Web.
"I need to keep this," LAYLA begged Miguel, "Please. Please. Please."
"I have no use for it," Miguel 's attention was on the bags, "Since I guessed Gabriella is behind its creation."
"Alternative gift," Dr. Web shrugged, "Since you turned down the program she was making for you."
Hand that left the bags' handles that it was barely taken by Miguel to place something within his hand. Keep him in place long enough to closely approach and rest his forehead on his shoulder for a second. Eyes closing to take in a scent of antiseptic and vaguely musky as he words cane.
"Days when you weren't around to share news of your daughter or just here. I realized how important you were to me in the short time," Miguel grazed his fangs on Dr. Web's neck, "A computer program will not work for me."
He withdrew his hand to leave behind a day pass watch and two differently decorated keychains. Had in turn Miguel being handed a thumb drive in an odd exchange.
"You're not the only one who's been thinking about his future," Dr. Web whispered, "This is just my way of screwing it my ex and showing how much I love you."
He turned in Miguel's hold on him and angled his mouth with a surprising strength. Surprised Miguel when their lips connected, his tongue felt hidden scars along the doctor's gumline. Ones have longed since healed over from the venom sac removal and replacement of fangs. Only his bottom lip nibbled and tugged on as he closed his eyes until they came up for air.
"Didn't mean to get carried away," Dr. Web caught his breath, "Give me a minute."
"Mi amor," Miguel reached up to his lips, "That strength?"
"Comes in handy," Dr. Web felt his mouth being traced, "Let me take a look at your back."
Smirk that appeared on Miguel's face when he was reminded of his bandaged back had him slowly backing toward a couch. Where he removed his sweater and draped that piece of clothing carelessly on the nearest armrest as he flexed. Standing at his full height to set his eyes on his muscles relaxing and slowly become exposed to him. The material of his suit retracted to show him medical tape and gauze covered skin mixed with faded burns.
"Stop showing off and lay down," Dr. Web wasn't falling for his seduction, "I have to check the status of those wounds."
"Sólo si aceptas quedarte después?" Miguel asked as he sat down, "Salir y mirar las imágenes de la victoria de su hija?"
Dr. Web agreed since he was on a forced prolonged break by other members of the medical staff after LONG shifts he had been pulling. Miguel was already planning how he was going to take advantage when his back was done being looked over. He felt a cushion behind him sink in from someone with a bag sitting down. Clop sound the bag made when opened when quietly filled the room. Gloves were pulled on followed by a process of wound care and bandage changing. Some of the deeper ones still needed time as others are already closing up without infection.
"Scale of one to ten," Marsh asked, "Pain sensation."
"2.5 and waiting for an answer." Miguel turned his head.
Miguel ended up hissing when aloe were carefully smeared over the more mending burns to aid in healing. Chill of the clear gel on his heated skin through gloved hands didn't distract Miguel from. Marsh followed the natural curve of Miguel's spine to where the injuries ended. Massaging the gel into his skin in such slow circular motions with his thumbs in a kneading. Stirred the sparks of seduction that had started to be snuffed out when Miguel's mood died. To a point when gloves came off and thrown back into the bag, that was then moved. Bare hands started an above inch from Miguel's coccyx to slowly climb up,his spin. Taking into every dip and contour of naked flesh he could access.
"My answer," Marsh's eyes sought out Miguel's, "Sí, Guapo."
He ended up keeping one hand on Miguel when his hand reached the back end of his neck where the smallest of hairs were. Not once did he flinch under the watch of those diluting crimson eyes as he moved. His fingers made a path to the center of Miguel's chest at the same time he walked. Having Miguel shift his he sat without breaking their skin or eye contact they were forming. Reaching toward the hand on his chest to pull and weave their fingers together, and then pull.
"LAYLA," Miguel found his mind becoming blank, "Restrict access to the area unless emergency or abnormally pops ups."
"Already done and enjoy your privacy." She winked at him.
Marsh ended up bracing himself with bent knee landing between Miguel's own as he looked down at him. When he had the collar his shirt pulled back to expose the junction between his neck and shoulder. Allowed Marsh to reach up and loosen fasteners of his collar to allow Miguel. Started out as a light kiss with Miguel's fangs grazing the surface of his skin.
8*8
Gabriella almost flipped out when given her day pass from her father and asked how well her spider silk recipe was. She blinked a few times trying to understand what he meant before the question. To one of her handwritten notes in a notebook she kept hidden away in her room. Covered in unofficial Spider-Man stickers and paint markers in shades of red and blue. Splashes of white lines throughout the pages revealed to him made a usual webbing design.
"You been …" Dr. Web was amazed by what he saw, "… busy …"
Pages were full of designs for her robot from how the eight legs can individually move to liquid rope mixtures. Each one is more different then the other with a different web shooter. Came in colored inks of gel pens and colored pencils from years of planning.
"Something I've been wanting to prepare," She half smiled, "Since thinks robot models after a robot is dumb."
"She wants you to make wasp?" He guessed.
Head nod he got from her was the answer he needed to a long series of questions. He put aside to inform his daughter of another task she was being entrusted with.
"Get your to- go bag and tool kit," He remembered where they were headed, "I am taking you to work."
"Really?" She asked with stars in her eyes.
"Your refurbished furby bot made an impression on a few choice faces," He recalled Spider- Byter and her excitement, "You can meet the list in person and get guidance for your other gift."
She ended up hugging her dad so tightly he had to get her to let him go when he noticed the time. Off she went to gather her things when LAYLA popped up from Dr. Web's watch.
"Do I need to say a word about being late?" He already knew she put in a request about him being late.
"Done and she has an alias?" LAYLA asked for her code name.
"Not yet," He shared a bit of personal information, "Since mi mamá and I don't want her to inherit THAT role."
"Right." LAYLA understood.
Being told to give one more minute put a smile on his face and LAYLA flickered out before his mother joined him. She was dressed to go out from her sunglasses to her tote bag. Making her house keys and phone were among her usual items.
"Where are you going today?" He has to ask.
"Peaknuckle with the girls," She cracked her hands, "Don't worry, I try to not cheat."
"Ready to go." Gabriella ran to them.
Her father had to grab his own bag and personal items before they were out the door. His mother was the one that lingered for some reason with the excuse she could lock up. Not taking a single augment from her son about how he could lock up. All she did was give him a Tupperware container she pulled from her purse and sent him off. Not that he would turn back and bother his mother since he already lost. Over to the elevator he went knowing his daughter was waiting for him to join her.
"Abuela gave you her homemade empanadas," She noticed the container, "She scares me when she's always had them on hand."
She wasn't going to ask for any since her empanadas are always baking all kinds of pastries at odd hours. She was always sampling them for her when she pulled them from the oven. Anything with a sugary flavor turned her off to sweets all together..
"Miguel is a fan," He informed her, "I like to do something for my patients besides day-old baked goods from the cafeteria."
"You guys every move in," She joked, "You can't get Abuela's cooking."
"You would be left to suffer?" He reminds her.
She ended up going quiet at the thought of having to always eat Abuela's cooking on a daily basis. On top of eating her baker sweets from when she needed someone to sample. Had her slamming her eyes shut and sucking her lips in. Waving her head side to side at the thoughts when also reminded of her mother's cooking.
