After the whole blackmail ordeal, Hobie really seemed to calm down and got back to just being eccentric, but cool. It could have been that he was happy to be part of the little clique, or it could be the fact that he still winced when he sat days later. Either way, he was far more agreeable.
He did have a much different reaction to understanding he was small than Miguel and Miles had. While they kept it a closely guarded secret, he acted a bit more interestingly.
"What even is this?" Gwen held her stomach as she laughed.
"Ma got them for me," he smirked, proudly showing his friends the colorful nappies. He loved the black and neon style on them, as well as the cool heart eyed skulls and other rock paraphernalia.
"This is definitely your style," Pav tilted his head, "Do you really plan to tinkle in it?"
"Is Jess gonna change you?" Gwen teased, "Or Peter?"
"You don't have to be jealous luv. My concerts are going to be so much easier now! And imagine how easy all night fights will be!" He grinned even wider.
"You sound excited. Guess we have a third spider baby," Ben raised a brow, patting the back of it, "Is it comfy?"
"Hella comfy," he pulled the skinny jeans over them, making them all but disappear under the tight fabric.
"That's just some form of magic," Pavitr gasped at how well it was hidden in his pants.
Miles and Miguel stared at the rockstar from their place in line.
"I…just can't."
"How is he so cool?" Miles sighed.
"Come on kids," Peter called to the group, "They're opening," he pointed to the door, herding all the spider people and parents into the indoor playground.
X
The building was so spacious and colorful. It had something for everyone. Rock wall, trampolines, massive slides and playplace. Oh this was going to be something. Mayday had her eyes fixated on the dragon she could climb on.
"No shoes allowed in the playground," Jess told the kids, and Ben, "Put your coats and stuff on the table and leave your shoes."
They all quickly dropped their items and made way for whatever caught their eyes.
X
Rio watched uncomfortably as her son climbed the rocks, "Do you think his harness is on right?"
Jeff watched the other kids climbing all over the jungle gyms and monkey bars, "I think he's ok."
"What if he falls?" she tsked.
"He has the harness on, he'll be fine."
Jess watched as Rio fretted over her boy, "You don't sound like you're having fun."
"I just don't want Miles to hurt himself while he's up there racing your bambino."
MJ watched as Miles and Miguel raced to the top, both clearly enjoying the friendly rivalry, "I think they're having fun. You gotta take it easy. I'm sure they'll probably find something else to occupy themselves with after that."
"I know I worry a lot, but my boy is small."
"How about we take the little ones tractor riding?" Jess took the other moms by the arms and headed off to the little separate area.
x
"How did you find this place anyway?" Jefferson looked about the area.
"They have the coolest things in their dimension is all," Peter remarked, feeling naked without his robe.
"This place has been around for a while, they just remodeled it and I said we should bring the kids here," Virgil grinned, filled with nostalgia, "Man, I used to love it here when my dad brought us. I would challenge you old men to the monkey bars, but I don't want to embarrass anyone."
"You don't?" Peter raised a brow. He smirked, tapping the officer's bicep, "I think you can take him."
"I already beat you at wrestling, you really want more humiliation?"
"Nah, I'm looking for a challenge. Are you offering that?" he smirked.
x
"Doesn't this feel weird?" Gwen bounced on the trampoline, "It's a little juvenile?"
"What is?" Pav did a midair somersault.
"Just being at a playground? Like, does it feel weird that it's so much fun?"
"Not to me," he tried to tap the top of the net, "We already do a ton of work, shouldn't we get to play around?"
Gwen did a pirouette, "Yeah, you're right, I guess. Want to hit the ball pit?"
"Absolutely!"
x
Hobie found himself enjoying the tower where he could look down on everyone else.
"Hobie!" Miles called, waving his hand to his friend from the top of the rock wall, receiving a wave back, "Want to join him in the structure?"
"I suppose so," Miguel descended from the rock tower.
He and Miles climbed through the maze of tubes and tunnels to go find the rockstar. Miguel felt rather silly enjoying such a place in the presence of so many. But everyone was enjoying themselves. That at least made it easier to let go just a bit.
They made their way to Hobie in no time.
"This place is wicked awesome!" he told them both, "Did you see the slides? I wanna go down the slides!"
"Yeah, come on," Miles grabbed both their hands, him and Hobie dragging Miguel in their excitement to slide into the ball pit.
"Well hello there," Pav waved as the group was reunited in the giant pool of plastic orbs, "This place is cool."
"Jess finds the best things to do," Gwen admitted, "Have you guys tried the trampolines?"
"Mig might be too heavy," Hobie snickered.
He turned his nose up to the remark, "I'm sure I'm within the weight limits."
"I'll bet," punk smirked, swimming around, humming the jaws theme.
"Funny," Gwen relaxed in the balls, "What else do you think they have here?"
Pavitr was about to answer when he yelled, being pulled under.
The blonde rolled her eyes, "Cute Hobie," she quickly swam from where India had sunk.
"I'm right here," the rocker shrugged, before yelling as he got pulled under. She didn't get too far before her leg was grabbed and she was pulled under, yelping out in surprise. Leading to Miguel and Miles being yanked under last.
Ben emerged with a smile, hurrying from the sea of colorful plastic.
"You think you're funny!?" Gwen threw a ball at the back of his head.
"I hear laughing, and I see that smile on your face," he snickered, running as the group pelted him with plastic orbs.