"This place looks like a shithole…"

That was the first thing Miles said to himself when he stepped out of a cab and saw May's wrecked house. His friends reiterated it was an accident, though it was easier said than done. But he'll try to get over it.

One thing he hadn't noticed before was a new crime scene on the sidewalk, surrounded by police tape. Within that surrounded area, there is apparently a puddle of dried blood, which made him cringe when he thought about it. Was that where Peni…? He took in a deep breath and let it out. If his friends can forgive him for his unintentional mistake that led to… this, then he can forgive himself.

He stepped around the crime scene and went towards the house, entering it through the large broken window next to the door. It led him to the living room that gave him flashbacks to where the fight started.

He tried to focus on finding his friends. "Hello? Guys? It's me: Miles."

He trekked on through the living until he stepped on something and caused a cracking sound. Sounded like glass. He crouched and picked it up, which turned out to be a broken photo frame of this dimension's Peter. He was reminded of the promise he had made to the guy, and now he's more determined to keep his word.

Of the two girls who were peacefully sleeping in their bed, Gwen was eventually the first one to wake up. She notices they've still been holding hands last night, with her other hand still resting on Peni's elbow. She realises now that it's daytime, the room is mostly white, with a table nearby of the same colour, and the same goes for the bed they're on. Speaking of Peni, her nose and cheeks seem more flushed than usual. Gwen rests a palm on the girl's forehead and it turns out it was pretty hot. Peni was ill.

Usually, Gwen wouldn't be that worried about someone being sick, but it's a different case with Peni because it might have something to do with her injury. What if she's sick from some kind of infection?

Gwen tried to get out of the bed as stealthily as she could, letting go of the smaller girl's elbow and hands in the process, but she ended up waking her as well.

"Hmm? Gwen? Where are you going?" Peni's voice sounded soft and hyponasal, which suggests she has a stuffy nose.

She sounded cute, but Gwen had to think of more important things in mind. "Morning. Um, I'm just gonna bring May to check on you. How's your waist?"

"Hmm… Feels numb."

"What about you? How're you feeling?"

She stared for a moment before sniffling and then said, "Tired."

"Okay. I'll be back."

Peni nodded and closed her eyes, allowing the taller girl to leave the room for a bit.

May removed the thermometer from Peni's mouth after it started beeping, and read aloud the results: "Hmm. 100°F." She inspects the unwrapped injury one more time before gently rewrapping it. "Good news: the wound hasn't been infected. In fact, I'd say it's beginning to be scabbed over nicely. So, she's just got a cold. She'll be fine, but it's still a good idea you had me check. I'll be sure to get her what she needs for the recovery."

Gwen slumped back onto her side of the bed with relief that it was nothing serious. She stared at the napping girl and noted her skin being paler, except for the redness on her face. "Any idea how she got a cold?"

May hummed. "Well, my guess would be that the blood loss from the injury made her immune system weak. So, it was easier for her to get sick from something."

Gwen eyed the area of the injury that was covered. "I see." She was glad it was beginning its recovery.

They both look towards Peter Benjamin having just entered the bedroom. "Morning. What's going on here?"

After May repeated herself to the man, he walked over and stroked the girl's hair, who yawned in response and sunk her face further into the pillow. "Didn't think your hair could get any more unkempt than usual. You want anything, you let us know," he says, "No need to try to get up on your own."

"Yep, just relax for now," May reassures, placing a pair of folded pyjamas on the bed. "Here's some of my clothes. Wouldn't want you changing into yours just yet in case your wound ruins them. Let any of us know if you need help changing."

"Get well soon, kid," Peter Benjamin wishes before taking off with May and leaving the others alone. Not feeling sleepy anymore, Gwen chose to use her smartphone.

"You're okay with staying here?" Peni said after opening one eye and seeing Gwen still sticking around. "What if you catch my cold?"

"I'm pretty sure I'll live. Wouldn't wanna leave you alone anyway."

Peni beamed at that.

"So uh, anything you want at the moment?"

"…Just my console. And the charger—that one's in my backpack. Oh, and some orange juice if there's any."

She leaves to retrieve the stuff. Thankfully, they had orange juice in the kitchen. Peni sees her return with everything and then requests another thing. "Thanks. Um, mind helping me sit up?"

Setting aside the things and then being really careful, Gwen leans over and wraps an arm around her, letting her do the same with both her arms. Once she was lifted to a sitting position, she moaned.

"Shit, are you hurt?!"

"Just a headache. Ugh… Give me a moment."

"Sure." Gwen allowed the girl to relax on her shoulder. Her breath is ticklish against her neck.

When the shooting pain has stopped for now, she slowly raises her head. "Okay… I think I'm better."

She uses her fists to help her slide backwards to the headboard, and the other girl adjusts her pillow so it touches only her unwounded area.

Gwen sits back down on her spot and makes sure Peni is settled. The girl booted up her console and was about to take the first sip of her orange juice when she noticed Gwen looking at her. She decided to let Gwen take the first sip.

She accepted the offer and drank some. That being the first thing to consume in the morning, it had a kick to it. Peni took back the drink amused and drank some herself. She could taste the kick as well despite her sense of taste being less sensitive thanks to the cold. She sat the glass aside and started a game on her console. Feeling content about the situation, Gwen got back to using her smartphone, while occasionally glancing at Peni's gameplay.

"Anyone told you you're bad at that game?" Gwen commented, "It looks like you're driving into traffic on purpose."

"Hehe, shut up, that's the point of the game."

Gwen watched some more before making another comment. "I don't remember the last time I had a cold."

"For me, I think… it was before I became a Spider-Girl. It's… kinda nostalgic? When I was sick, Mom and Dad would stay close by and keep me company…"

Peni's remembrance made her feel grim despite continuing her game. She misses her dad lots, but she also misses her mom. Her mom must be panicking over her without a doubt. And it's one of those rare occasions where the panic would be reasonable.

Before she knew it, she felt Gwen's side touching hers. They both looked at each other, and Peni found her gloomy mood very quickly dissolving. She feels like she wants to spend more time with this person who's been nothing short of desirable company. She takes another sip of orange juice. "Wanna have a go at the game?"

"Yeah." Gwen eagerly takes the console into her hands.

Turns out she was just as bad a driver as Peni was. But considering the goal of the game was to be reckless, that makes her… good at the game?

"Anyone told you you're bad at this game?" Peni mocked.

Gwen just smirked. "You made your point."

Some time later, Peni sneezes into her sleeve. She realises she's still wearing her hoodie, and notices Gwen wearing those hand-me-downs from May; she probably changed into them at some point last night. Eyeing the clothes that the lady left earlier this morning, Peni would rather change into those than remain in her outdoor attire. And she also feels something else. "I wanna get up."

"You don't have to, you know? Just tell me what you need."

The sick girl decides to play along. "Fine. Mind going to the toilet?"

She returns the console and gets up. "Uh, sure. What do you want there?"

"I need you to pee for me. And make it quick, coz I don't know how much longer I can hold it in."

"Huh? …Oh. Oh." Peni laughs at Gwen's reaction.

Feeling better about the sick girl's improved mood, Gwen walks around the bed again and uses the same method as earlier to help her turn and stand up.

Peni took the change of clothes May left behind, and was able to walk fine, so Gwen went with her to the toilet door which was conveniently the first door through the hall. Good thing they didn't need to use stairs.

Before Peni opens the door, she looks back at Gwen. "I need you to help me sit down."

She got flustered. "Uh, okay."

Peni notices the implication of the reaction and then gets flustered herself. "D- Don't worry. I'll keep my pants on until you leave. And uh, I'll put them on again before you come in to help me stand."

"Right."

Gwen helps Peni sit down in the bathroom before excusing herself to wait in the hall.

She hears the flushing of the toilet, followed by the sounds of fabric being fumbled, and then hears the girl. "You can come in."

She enters the room to find Peni more or less the same way she had left her, except for one difference. Her hoodie was on the ground, and the girl was wearing the new top instead. It was obviously too large for her, as the neckline revealed more of her collarbone. Gwen thought it was cute.

She helped the girl up and watched her wash her hands at the sink. When she was done, Peni turned around and made one more request. "I, uh… need help changing my pants. I can't bend down."

The flustering returned to Gwen as well. "…Sure."

Peni just stood there waiting for Gwen to do what she's supposed to do, so the latter gets closer and kneels down.

Her hands slowly go up the oversized shirt, finding the waistband of the pants without going too far and touching the injury. She finds the waistband and, as she slides down, the pants reveal slender thighs and legs that made the pants baggy in comparison.

As Peni stepped out of the pants on the floor and moved towards the new pair, Gwen noticed that the top, being too big, had made it impossible to see her bare hips and undergarments. The display was cute and erotic, as it left more to the imagination. If Gwen hadn't felt the underwear when pulling down those pants, then it would be possible this girl was wearing nothing underneath.

Gwen lifted up the new pants but again, not too high to touch the healing wound. The slender legs were once again being covered by even baggier pants.

She should've seen this one coming. "These pants won't hold on," Gwen said aloud, "Hold onto them and I'll be back."

Peni did as she was told and waited for Gwen to return to the bathroom. The latter came wearing a web slinger on one of her hands. Like she's done for her own set of May's clothes, she made a waistband out of webs, tying it around Peni's pants.

"Clever," Peni commented.

Once she was done, Gwen stood up and took another look at the smaller girl, who had both her hands and feet completely enveloped in sleeves. She looked super cuddly. "You look even smaller in those clothes than I do."

Peni smiled and checked herself out, remembering what Gwen said about these clothes when she was told the same thing. "You said they were comfy, and you're right. They defo feel better than that hoodie."

They returned to the bed. Peni had felt more relaxed and comfortable. That was until they perked up at the sight of May entering the room, carrying a tray of food for Peni. It had some red meat and vegetables.

"Ugh, please don't make me eat this." Peni said, starting to feel nauseous at the idea.

"At least try to push yourself, dear," she said, placing the tray on the sick girl's lap. "You'll thank me later. How are those clothes?"

"Better than the last ones…," she answers, still eyeing her food, "Can I at least have cola?"

"Not until you get better. Gwen, make sure she eats." May says before leaving.

Peni just stared at her meal. Her appetite was pretty much nil, and looking at the food was making the pit in her stomach a more intense feeling. She looked at Gwen, who looked back in a neutral expression though it had a small hint of worry. It reminded Peni of the same girl who was afraid for her friend's health last night and thought she'd lose her. She looked at the food with strengthened resolve. She can eat this. She will eat it and recover better for Gwen.

She picks up the silverware and begins cutting the meat while the other girl continued staring. She brought the food into her mouth and chewed. "Mogumogu."

She can't taste much of it because of the cold, but judging from what she can taste, it's good. She could bear another bite actually. She took another fork of food into her mouth.

"Mogumogu."

That bite was better than the last. Another one won't hurt.

"Mogumogu…"

The more she ate, the more her appetite returned. A couple more bites later and she was starting to heartily enjoy it. Peni noticed Gwen still watching, but to her relief the expression on her face was more positive. She cuts out a piece for the other girl, who happily takes it. She thought it was tasty as well.

Once the plate was empty, Peni took an iron tablet that was sitting on the tray and consumed it with water. She groaned after taking the last gulp.

"What's wrong?" Gwen asked.

"My stomach feels bad… Like the food could come back up…"

"Relax, okay?"

Peni slumps and looks at Gwen. She feels like she can relax now. "Okay."

"Wanna listen to some music like yesterday?"

"Sounds good. …Get it?"

"Nice. Good dad joke." Gwen still smiled. She readied the playlist on her phone before placing it between them, then pressed the screen to play. The volume was gentle, like the rock song itself. They both listened on in therapeutic relaxation for a good while.

A few more songs played in a sequence until Peni noticed a pattern. "Some of these songs sound like they're by the same artist. I'm right, right?"

"Yup. Those are by a band called Murder Face."

"Sounds grim."

"Yeah, well, our songs range from pop punk to heavy rock. It's not all dark shit."

Peni turns to Gwen after noticing her use of a certain word. "Our songs?"

Gwen simply smirked back. "I'm the drummer."

"No way."

"Way."

Peni pays more attention to the music, more specifically the drumming.

The beating is hard. It makes her think of the possible emotions Gwen is letting out while she's playing. Once the song got to the drumming freestyle solo, that's when it started getting more intense. Sometimes, it sounds like the stressed drums would burst. While it made the song sound great, she still felt for Gwen. "You drum pretty hard, huh? Almost as if you're taking it out on the drums."

"You can tell, huh?"

"Kind of… Don't get me wrong, it makes the song natural. And since it helps you vent, that's great. I just hope your life isn't that tough."

"It's not that bad. And it's gonna be a lot less tough from now on since I met you guys. Now I know I'm not alone."

"That's good." Peni's face then becomes more flushed than the cold had made it. "You've got a nice voice… It would sound awesome hearing your feelings through singing. I bet you can write great stuff too."

That flattered her. "…I think I'll do that. Thanks."

They let the songs continue, and Gwen settled with watching Peni play on her console, getting her own turn frequently.

They could get used to this.