'Dad: A son's first hero, a daughter's first love.'
—Unknown
"What are you reading?" Miguel asked Marsh one morning.
"A usual science- fiction magazine?" LAYLA wiggled her eyebrows.
Sharing a meal of homemade Bacon, blood sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and perhaps some cooked leftover potatoes made into a hash. A ceramic pot or two of tea over coffee could be found. Soda bread that LAYLA had gotten delivered was already sliced into toasted pieces. All found on the counter for whoever was invited to join them. Which LAYLA posed in front of dressed like a maid from an Irish household.
"A paper you published," Marsh revealed what he was reading, "Thought I take a break from the latest medical journals I read."
"What?" Miguel asked.
"At this time of the morning?" LAYLA was shocked.
When he pulled out his semi-rimless upper portion, lightweight yet sturdy metal frame, glasses. Marsh was glad he was already sitting when his knees went weak. He would never get over how sophisticated Miguel looked when he put them on to read. He ended up handing the paper over to Miguel when he wanted to see it.
"You know," Miguel recalled the topic, "This piece is about what genes a child would inherit from their parents. Despite the embryo being fertilized in a lab or through natural means. Without the use of gene manipulation through splicing."
"Who better to learn from." Marsh replied.
"..." LAYLA played the drum roll recording.
A strange silence formed between them with a smile forming on Marsh's face when their eyes met. Sometimes he switched up each area of Miguel's face he stared for a five seconds. Only winking when he looked to one of his eyes when he didn't smile. Had LAYLA flashing between the two men as she wondered what was happening.
"Cut that out," Miguel was left blushing, "Why are you reading this?"
"You remember how mi mamá has been bothering me about," He whispered the last part, "Nietos."
"When she wasn't treating me like a piece of meat." Miguel recalled.
"Grade A." LAYLA didn't help the situation.
"I've been looking into having a son," Marsh blurted out, "Who I want him to take after and genes I want him to inherit."
Marsh sighed as he tried to calm down not wanting to rant on about how he didn't have certain genes. Mostly ones found in every spider human found within the society. From wall crawling and organic wedding production located in one's wrist. About to move out of his chair with some excuse about skipping breakfast. Wasn't for Miguel putting the paper down and removing his glasses. He sat down after he made his way to Marsh's side, not liking Marsh's panic mode.
"Your courage and artistic skills." Miguel spoke what he wanted in a son.
"What?" Marsh didn't understand.
"I still remember opening my eyes to your face," Miguel reached up to his mouth, "Stuck your hands in my mouth without fear of being paralyzed."
"Standard procedure." Marsh recalled.
He was silent when Miguel moved his seat closer enough to take one of his hands on his own. Weaving their fingers together and he released his talons just enough to graze skin. Watching how Marsh's lit up at the sight of his talons being released from his fingers.
"I like how you make me feel." Miguel gently held his hand.
"Your Intellect and kindness," Marsh spoke about Miguel's traits he wanted the child to have, "I wish the world could see what I see."
Smile on Miguel's face from such a statement drew him back into a kiss until knocking interrupted them. Marsh informed Miguel his daughter may swing by for a few hours. She had plans to go over new circuit designs for her robot with Peni and Margo. Whoever else was behind that door wasn't accepted at this time.
"LAYLA?" Miguel asked her to show him their unwanted guests.
"Hey-o!" Peter B showed up on screen.
"Hola papá y el Sr. O'Hara." Gabriella waved.
Miguel could feel a headache coming on when he wanted a morning free of Peter B for a few hours. He wasn't descent enough to face anyone from the Society at this hour. The hip length robe he wore with a hood and a sash, tightly secured as he wore slippers. In one of his rare relaxed moods after a sensual night with Marshafter turning in early.
"Want me to detour him?" Marsh offered, "Gabriella will understand."
"No," Miguel didn't want to turn down a chance to see Gabriella, "LAYLA let them in after I get to my room."
"Gotta." LAYLA gave him a thumbs up.
Marsh and him exchanged one last kiss before Miguel retreated to his bedroom for actual clothes. Leaving LAYLA to take her usual pictures while playing hostess to their guests. She guides right into the kitchen with Gabriella holding a giggly Mayday.
8*8
Miguel's wall of spiderman villain trophies had Gabriella asking LAYLA for back stories.
"This beats la coleccion de mi papa." She had to step back to take in the sight.
On a large wall were the masks and headwear of most of the enemies Miguel faced as spiderman. All displayed on a wall that one couldn't see from the large window. LAYLA pointed out each enemy along with their story of how they were lost by Miguel. She laughed through the funny parts she couldn't describe in words alone.
"Wow." Gabriella was shocked.
"You daddy is tapping that." LAYLA winked at her pun.
Gabriella had to wave her head back at fourth at the joke LAYLA about her father's romantic life. Not that she ever disapproved of the person that made her father happy. Which got her thinking what boy she wanted to start seeing.
"I hope," Gabriella blushed at the thought, "I can find someone as brave as Sr. O'Hara and as smart as mi papá."
"That's going to be a hard nut to harvest." LAYLA teased Gabriella.
"Pinky swear?" Gabriella looked to LAYLA to promise.
Before LAYLA could feel touched by the gesture from Gabriella. Knowing she was already becoming attached to this girl after limited interactions. Came to a crashing halt when Miguel joined them curious what Gabriella had discovered.
"... wasn't ready to show you this yet," He mumbled, he had planned to show this to her, "What do you think?"
"Cooler than my dad's trophy collection," Gabriella honestly said, "He can jump with style over buildings without sticking to anything. Nothing compared to this."
Miguel has to hide the smirk from a sense of pride he hadn't felt for so long. Watching Gabriella happily rant on and on what they were facing. Further pulled at emotions he thought he long since buried when lost his own daughter.
"What was it like to face Doc Oc? Like we're scared or even a bit afraid?" She asked, pointing, "Personally I love the work behind his tentacles, just not the whole villain thing."
"That is another story for another time and give your father some credit," Miguel urged her, "He's been quite behind the scenes."
She ended up apologizing when she recalled when her grandmother told her about her late grandfather. How he worked in medical technology fields with a medical degree. Which was also one of the many reasons her father decided to become a doctor. One that worked beside actual heros that had her walking toward Miguel.
"Gracias Sr. O'Hara." She was allowed to hug him.
"Miguel," He whispered, "I prefer you call me that from that on."
"Ok," She looked up at him, "Papa Miguel."
"Papa Miguel?" He questioned what she said.
Before he could correct her on just addressing him as just Miguel not wanting to overstep his boundaries. He quieted himself when he found himself wrapping one of his around her. Hug before a click of someone taking a photo in the form of a familiar AI.
"Can you send me a copy and mi papi back from his errand?" Gabriella asked LAYLA.
"Yea," LAYLA enlarged the picture, "Your dad is back and he says Miguel knows where to go."
Being reminded of their conversation in the morning had Miguel kissing Gabriella on her forehead. Promising he'll tell her everything LAYLA hadn't told her to her heart's content. Got to contain herself before breaking out into squeals and happily jumping. Disconnecting and being left alone in his apartment wasn't a problem for her. Being that she stayed in one place in his apartment and didn't touch anything she wasn't allowed. As for Miguel since he rushed off out of worry of what Marsh was doing. Made his long journey to the medical ward with fear tightly gripping his head the whole time. What he found was Dr. Webb dismisses a spider- person after clearing them to return to doing missions like protocol stated.
"…is everything ok?" Dr. Webb noticed Miguel's state of dress, "Gabriella didn't reprogram anything?"
"That I have to see." LAYLA appeared between them.
"I thought you disappeared this morning to follow through with your idea." Miguel sounded stressed.
"LAYLA?" He looked at her, "Care to fill me in."
"He was worried that you went behind his back to create a frankenstein." She answered .
Dr. Webb ended up smiling out of amusement as he brought a gloved cover smile forming on his face. Before taking the medical report for spider person he just exams with him. Encouraging Miguel to follow him to a small area in deepest areas of the medical ward. Stopped near his personal office where a medical grade canister, lay behind cold system storage door.
"I left to pick up frozen eggs after a qualified female came through," He answered, "I didn't want you to know until I worked out artificial womb technology I picked up from Earth-199999."
"Sorry big man," LAYLA felt kinda guilty from not telling Miguel, "He wanted to keep this hush hush."
She would have gone on about how she helped him borrow down his selections in child birthing. If Miguel hadn't walked right past her by completely ignoring her with eyes set on Dr. Webb. Reaching out with one arm to wrap around the doctor's waist. Into the air he lifted him, not caring he saw when he brought him to eye level.
"New rule," Miguel looked him straight into the eyes, "No more secrets and tell each other what's on our mind?"
"Agreed." Dr. Webb tried to not sound too aroused.
When the soft music started up with the sound of a violin playing and lights dimming by LAYLA. Miguel came to ask her to give them some privacy and cut the romance off. Which her had huffing over a moment being ruined before blinking away.
"Does she… when you and I have relations?" Dr. Webb was strangely weirded out.
"I hope not," Miguel needed to check, "I am beginning to worry."
"You aren't the only one." Dr. Webb agreed with Miguel.
He was then held tightly by Miguel when he became quiet when just held without explanation. Which had his moving one his gloved hands to stroke Miguel's messy tresses.
"I thought you did something reckless or foolish," Miguel finally said, "Something I wish you shared with me beforehand like we did this morning."
"Then from now on," Dr. Webb felt like a fool, "I'll share what I have planned."
"Please do," Miguel put him down, "Now after I do my injection."
When he was placed on his feet, he got the presentation on his tablet ready for Miguel together. He saw LAYLA reorganized for him to use with better pictures and images. Went out the window when his tablet was removed from his hands by Miguel. Who held him behind one of his hands lowering to his lower abdomen.
"That would be a no go," He sighed looking sideways, "The accident made sure of that."
"Marsh…" Miguel didn't mean it.
"I know, but I looked into it and even with a treatment to repair my damaged organs…" Dr. Webb had LAYLA show Miguel, "You would have lost me and …."
Miguel ended up dismissing the images as soon as the last one played when he couldn't take the imagery. Pulling Dr. Webb further into his embrace with him being tucked under his chin. Not wanting to further upset him with this subject for childbearing.
"Please don't bring up the subject of having a child," Dr. Webb was on the verge of tears, "I looked into your recovery and survival rate with your health history …"
Miguel wouldn't like him to go on when he felt the first of tears Dr. Webb tries to not shed fall. Had him allowing the doctor to turn in his arms and have those tears wiped away.
"Despite wanting to have someone look at us as heroes," Miguel whispered, "I rather wait until we're both ready."