Miguel focused obsessively on monitoring for new anomalies. He had Lyla and Margo running twice daily checks. Twice daily for Margo, almost hourly for Lyla.
"Do you plan on going home any time soon?" Lyla crossed her arms, "Might be a nice switch up."
"I'll do some policing of the city later tonight," he didn't look from his screen.
"I meant to sleep. Or eat," she glared.
"I'll eat later."
"Miguel."
"Do. Not."
His assistant narrowed her eyes behind the glasses. She had to find a way around the weird line he'd added to her. He'd put some weird lock on her contacting abilities. She couldn't seem to relay anything to Jess or Peter. She couldn't even give one of the kids or Ben an update to give to Jess.
After several hours of intense cycling through the catalog, he relented to have a drink of water.
"Oh wow, you're actually drinking something? Alert the media."
"Do you want me to drink or not?" He sneered, chugging the water.
She scoffed, sitting on his shoulder.
That night he left the office to fight any crime that might be a foot. He did that for hours before going back to his HQ office.
"Wow, you even took a shower."
Mig dried his hair, "Assign a clean up."
"Assume I'm assigning mami."
"Uh huh," he leaned into the screens. Something had to be amiss. Something wasn't right. What was he not seeing!?
There was a tugging at his hip.
"Hey?" A deep British voice attempted to break his concentration.
"Hi Hobie. I'm busy."
"Everything good? Didn't even know you were here."
"I don't know, that's why I'm searching," Miguel stated, not looking away from the screens.
The Brit's pierced brows furrowed, "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing is wrong with me, I'm working."
"Might be time for a break."
"No, something is or has happened and I have to figure out what it is. This is kind of important," he stepped around the young man, looking at another monitor.
Hobie frowned, "When did you take one last?"
Miguel ignored the question, scanning again. Punk stood in his way, blocking him from turning to another monitor.
"Look, I don't have time for this right now. Go play somewhere else," Miguel attempted to move him, but he stood firm, "Get out of the way."
Hobie glared at his big brother. He was unmoved by the man's returning glare, "How long since you ate something? I can hear your stomach walking in here."
"What does it matter? I'm trying to focus on the fate of the multiverse. Something you and everyone else have to worry about significantly less than I do," he bared his teeth.
This was one of the first times he'd allowed anyone to fully look at him. The bags under his eyes were so deep and his face gaunt. That startled Hobie more than anything.
"You ain't a dog, so stop with the snarl," Hobie scoffed, "Go bloody eat."
"I. Said. Move," Mig lowered his tone, still baring his teeth.
"I'm worried about you, bro bro."
2099 softened at the title, "I will eat soon. Please just let me work. Give me one more hour."
Hobie smirked, squishing Miguel's cheeks in his hand, "Think I believe you'll actually stop? Eat now."
He snatched his face away from the younger man, "Do you plan to pester me until I do? I told you I'm too busy to play with you right now!"
"Ain't nobody playing with you mate!" Punk snapped back, "Go eat!"
Miguel glared, his fist clenched and shaking. Punk didn't even flinch, just put on his trademark grin.
"Longer it takes you, longer you'll be away from your precious set up," he tilted his head, "How does daddy do it?"
2099 was startled when his adopted brother gently cupped his chin.
"What's wrong?" Punk's brows furrowed, "You talked to mama or daddy about it?"
He knocked the younger man's hand away, "If it will get you to leave and let me work, fine."
X
"That's not the way to the lunchroom," Miles spoke from the ceiling.
"I need to blow off some steam," the giant skulked towards the gym, mask up to avoid any other unwanted attention.
He paused his stride when Miles landed in front of him, impeding his progress. Miguel's brow bore down hard as the teen crossed his arms and glared up to him.
The silent scold on the younger spider-man's face was apparent.
"Please let me through," 2099 grit.
The teen kept his gaze focused on him.
It was grating how he was being treated. By kids! He had things to do! Obviously Miguel was irritated, but subtly uncomfortable with the expression.
The look that accused him of misbehaving. Doing exactly what he wasn't supposed to be doing. It made him feel little and he hated it. He didn't have time for this!
After a silent standoff Miguel stamped his foot and turned, taking the proper route to the cafeteria. It didn't make him feel any better hearing Miles following behind him. This was getting annoying.
"I don't need you babysitting me," he hissed.
Miles' only response was a single raised eyebrow, leading Miguel to angrily bite his thumb.
X
After being monitored while he ate, by someone barely 19, 2099 was finally allowed to leave for the gym. With that boy off his back, he was able to work out.
Two hours of sweating and burning, gritting his teeth and pushing himself. As exhilarating as it was, Mig remembered his initial responsibility. The anomalies and potential holes.
He hurried and threw himself into a cold shower and started for his office.
"Hey Miguel," Jess managed to cross paths with him in a small break from her assignments, "I need to talk to you real quick."
"Hey Jess, kinda busy at the moment," he muttered, rushing past her.
Spider-woman blinked in surprise. Quickly, she caught up to him, taking his wrist in hand, "What did you call me?"
He flinched at the grab, then looked around in confusion, "Jess?"
"Why?"
"Because…that's your name?"
She shook her head, staring at his masked face, "No, we need to talk. Now," again he was led away from his office, towards the quiet room this time.
"I have to get back to monitoring," the man complained, attempting to pull away.
Jess' grip tightened, making sure that he wouldn't slip away before they arrived at their destination.
"I have work to do," he whined, being shoved into the room, "Please."
"No," she told him sternly, closing the door behind herself, "We need to talk. Why am I 'Jess' suddenly?"
Normally he did refer to her by name at HQ. Keep things somewhat professional at work and keep unwanted audiences out of their actual relationship. But the way he said it was worrisome.
Mig crossed his arms, sitting in the glider. He just wanted to get back to his office.
"What happened to 'mami'?"
He tensed, "I just…I don't think I want to do it anymore."
"Remove your mask. I want to see your face and I want you to look at me." Not for a single fraction of a second did she believe that nonsense he whispered.
Miguel shifted in the chair uncomfortably before allowing it to disappear.
Jess' stomach dropped at how sick he looked, "Pumpkin?" She gently grabbed his face, "Did something happen, Miguel?" She ran her finger along his cheekbone, "You can talk to me. That's what I'm here for."
2099 grabbed her hand, holding it to his cheek for a minute longer before gently removing it, "Nothing happened. I just don't think it's for me."
Jess pursed her lips. She hung her jacket up and sat facing him, "I don't believe you, baby. Something happened, and we are going to sit here until you are ready to talk about it."
"I don't know what Miles and Hobie told you, but nothing happened," the exhaustion in his voice was evident.
"I haven't spoken to either of them, since you've been having me doing intel, clean ups and other work," She kept her eyes on him, "The person I have been able to talk to in my little downtime did give me plenty though."
"And who would that be?"
"Don't worry about who, I'm talking to you now."
X
Peter beard glanced at the messages he'd been sent in confusion.
Log 8.28
In office monitoring 5am-12:37pm
12:37-12:50 restroom
1pm return to office, monitoring.
10pm-10:15 restroom
10:16 drinks one (1) 16oz bottle of water.
Monitoring continues into next day
Log 8.29
1:18am patrols streets of Neuva York
6am return to office monitoring
1:30-1:45 restroom
1:50 monitoring continues
11:03pm-11:13pm restroom and one (1) 16 oz water
11:14 monitoring continues into next day
Log 8.30
2am patrolling
7:08 shower
7:20 return to office monitoring
1:02-1:10 restroom
1:11-10:48 monitoring
10:50-11pm restroom
11:02 monitoring continues into next day. No water consumption
Along with the logs he was sent multiple videos at ten times speed to verify logs' accuracy.
What was he supposed to do with this? It couldn't have been meant for him.
Beard decided to contact Jess since she was the Spider Society's second in command. Maybe she could figure out whatever glitch this was.