Crazy with the Lost:
Seeing the alternative reality versions of them littered the snack table of this week's group. Hobie took interest in more romantic ones with a softer side of Miguel. Relaxed state of his being that was free of all tension and angry. Upon his face a smile that he hid from the world was clearly seen. Down his eyes filled with joy and love toward one person called his heart.
"See something you like?" Dr. Webb's voice asked Hobie, "Tried to vary the theme."
"Peace and love?" Hobie joked.
"I think we found today's topic." Dr. Webb announced .
Hobie and others that brought their own snack food ended up sharing with each other for a moment. One their lives that had to do with the topic brought on by Dr. Webb's artwork. Some were sad with a tragic ending that ended in hugs among them. Others were discovery tales where a lesson of some kind was learned in the end. Happy ones where love was shared between family or budding couples.
"So doc," Hobie drew attention to him, "Got a memory from your life to share?"
"To many as a matter of fact." He clipped his pen.
"How about one from when you went from hero to healer?" Hobie asked.
"Where do I start?" He didn't know where to begin, "I had a lot to think about and reflect on the long journey to get my sight restored. Going back to being a web slinger wasn't happening, so I decided to become another kind of hero."
Speaking of the years he spent trying hard to earn his medical degree from summer school to medical internships. People he got to meet when treating their injuries and wounds. All paid off in the end when he applied to work in the Spider Society.
"Any chance I took, when I wasn't taking summer school or college level credit, I was building my college resume," Dr. Webb twirled his pen around in one of his hands, "What got me here with all of you."
He got up for his seat when one of them pointed out LAYLA's newest drones in the form of a spider bot. His daughter wanted to test the final form she was ticking with some aid. She could never decide on a color scheme due the range of spidersons around her. All their colorful costumes with an array of detailing and webbing. It's hard to choose to form a pattern for the final design of her spider bot.
"An empty canvas." Hobie was feeling inspired.
"This is where I leave you all," Dr. Webb scooped up his daughter's bot, "You know where to find me."
Hobie yelled after the doctor to pass along the message to his daughter for a few paint job. Had him repeating what he always repeated to Hobie when the topic of his daughter came up. Go see her before he waved farewell before beginning his long walk. One he was coming to enjoy after time being away doing field work from time to time. Old sights of seeing people standing upside down just chatting. One of many comforts for him as he allowed the bot to ride his shoulder.
"How did circle time go?" LAYLA popped in, "What does everyone think of spider me?"
"Hobie is already thinking of decorating." He answered her.
"He is on my list." LAYLA showed him.
Names she had were a certain group of teen aged spider people such as Miles Morales from Earth-1610B and Earth-42. Gwendolyn Stacy from Earth-65B beside any others she knew.
"You can remove me," He noticed his name, "I am not that artistic."
"Not from what I have seen." LAYLA pulled up examples.
As quickly as her list of artists was dismissed a few screens of his artwork she had scanned. Swarmed around them and showed them the newest pieces of drawing he made. Each one showed a moment of everybody's life from the realities he visited. Some were from a Galas taking place during the debutante season in Regency Earth. Lord Miguel took the chance to introduce Marsh as his fiancé with his daughters' support. Another was small town earth where a community welcomed Father Miguel's relationship. Mars was given a pat on the back by the young and hugged by the old. Earth where Venom Miguel was working side by side with his new teaching assistant. Synthetic-Symbiote Marshal was adapting well to his new life. Earth-0xxx had rockstar Miguel enjoying a monogamous relationship with his fiancé. Forming the foundation of a family with adoption and wedding plans.
"All done in black ink with a really good shading technique." LAYLA wiggled her eyebrows.
"Trying to come up with a better argument," Dr. Webb wasn't persuaded, "Then we'll revisit the issue."
"Right oh." LAYLA dismissed the images.
She ended up giving him reports of the latest spider people who were injured with cases being minor. No real broken bones or life-threatening wounds were happening this week. Just a few sprains or strained muscles that were being treated the usual way.
"How is Mrs. Drew?" He asked about her being on maternity leave with her twins.
The squeal alone that came from LAYLA when she showed off the multiple pictures of newborns. Had Dr. Webb recalling Peter B and how he does the same with Mayday. Countless images of Jessica's twin boys plastered out in front of him. Had her smile while thinking what Miguel was currently feeling about this.
"Has he…" Dr. Webb didn't know how to ask LAYLA.
"Can't say anything," LAYLA removed images, "He hasn't really asked."
She ended up leaving him alone completely once he entered the outskirts of the lab area. Noticing the workspace Miguel gave his daughter was filled with her latest work. Down went the spider bot to the smaller drone models she was making. Had his mood shifting completely when he stepped into the junk of scientific equipment. Trying to not trip over a few things he couldn't pick up when he passed them. Getting closer and closer to the area that was Miguel's office without slowing down.
"Guapo." He whispered when he found Miguel.
Quickly old videos weren't dismissed fast enough by Miguel when Dr. Webb approached him. Down went tablet Dr. Webb used to review most of his work privately and make his case notes. LAYLA froze the frame just when Gabreilla was smiling and picked up into the air.
"Zarina once tried to get Gabriella into soccer when she was younger," Dr. Webb recalled, "She enjoyed it at first since she got along with her teammates and slowly became a star player. Just Zarina started to pressure her to practice off the field EVERYDAY."
"Doesn't sound like she had much fun." Miguel didn't like the sound of the news.
"How she grew disinterested," Dr. Webb allowed LAYLA to show private images, "Got into robotics and spiders."
New images of Dr. Webb's daughter weaved in with Miguel's old one warmed the mood. They showed Miguel further interacting beside her helping her while in his lab. Some of them were of him and her making a down sized version of her spider bots. Circuits boards and soldering iron on its stand land out among their tools. Others were of her posing with her dad and him after winning her latest bot battle. Smile she wore on her face when hugging Miguel or her father was full of excitement. Video clips that lasted for more than five minutes were park visits and time at the courthouse.
8*8
Miguel collected what was left of Dr. Webb's artwork to create a basic scrapbook from it all. Placed it near a picture Miguel relocated to his night stand from the kitchen for personal reasons. Lay near a framed picture of the trio from the count house on a console of Miguel's office. Were covered in a soft light from the holo screens that Miguel had left opened. Displaying the latest information from missions currently taking place. Reviewing newly filed medical and mission reports from fellow spider people. Freshly made inventory lists of their equipment and supplies. Some security footage from different parts of the Spider Society. Took up Miguel's attention before an unnamed orange fur ball joined him. 8 legs and silk producing glands which came with this growing fluffy ball. Who jumped onto the platform and by slinging around using webs.
Making its presence to Miguel when its meows went ignored after landing and pacing. By jumping on the console and whining as loudly as possible with a wiggly tail. Down when tensed back and tired filled eyed looked to investigate. Purring that poured out when the kitten FINALLY got his attention. Taking a standard sitting position of its hind legs, with the front legs extended. To better look up at those piercing red eyes staring down from the dark. Who just sat there with its tail curling around its legs and waited. LAYLA wasn't any help when she popped in and took a picture. Showing Miguel how cute his newest addition to his household was. Which he barely gave a gaze as his eyes returned to an orange ball of fur.
"Is he ever going to name him?" LAYLA thought to ask.
"…" Miguel never got around to ask.
Plans to kitten were going to take place never happen like he nor Dr. Webb wanted. Recent events and field work by Dr. Webb took place keeping them busy. Any time they had when returning was spent individually resting. Seeing each other was a note being left to say hello left on the kitchen counter. Made one of Dr. Webb's inked doodles showed where he was.
"I like Crio or Corazón," Dr. Webb's voice turned heads, "How about it?"
"Both mean heart." LAYLA pointed out.
"Reason why I chose them." Dr. Webb kept walking.
He placed a brown bag of Chinese take out near the scrap book and frame picture. Which he smiled toward when he walked passed to reach the kitten and Miguel.
"I prefer Corazón," Miguel looked from the kitten to Dr. Webb, "How were your adventures?"
"Knowing LAYLA," Dr. Webb looked to her, "She filled you in on what I found."
"He made a few appearances in my favorite dramas," She pointed out Earths she likes viewing, "Maybe I'll share new ones I am come across."
Miguel went on to tell LAYLA to make a veterinary appointment for their new cat. Order a collar and tag with his name along with usual supplies for the kitten. She would do it before she blanked out to give them privacy.
"Take out was my daughter's idea," Dr. Webb nodded toward the bag, "mi mamá says Gabriella was hanging around here when I wasn't home."
"I've had LAYLA test her spider bots." Miguel pointed out the new drones.
"I heard and seen." Dr. Webb acknowledged.
Recalling how he saw a few crawling around when he returned to work in the medical ward. Making his usual rounds in the medical ward. Beside the usual cuts and scrapes that come from injury after a mission. He had to put a few on medical leave due to serious wounds. One with head contusion and dislocated wrist was the starter. Second was temporary blindness brought in by swelling of the octave nerve. Third and fourth were multiple broken bones after misplaced landings from a great height. Had a list going on when he filled out reports detailing these.
"Taken a break?" Dr. Webb asked Miguel.
Miguel knew he couldn't lie to him since LAYLA also told him about the late nights he wasn't sleeping, and surviving on coffee. Watching the links of the Web and Life and Death for one anomaly. Where time was lost and the need for sleep become less and less.
"Small one would be nice " Miguel had an idea.
He didn't give Dr. Webb a chance to further speak when he reached out. Scooping him off his feet and into the air with sleep heavy on his eye. Took him to the familiar couch with their kitten following. Two of them plopping down on the cushions until he went limp in Dr. Webb's arms. The kitten ended up taking a spot near their persons to share in the gathered warmth. Food meant die two was completely forgotten until much later as LAYLA made a wake up reminder alarm.