"We need to talk."
Mary Jane Watson, also known as the heroine Spinneret, looked over at Miguel and help up a finger before turning to the others. She had been talking with Miles, Otto, Chris, Skitter, and Headline to finalize the battle plan for dealing with the Spot. They had ended up becoming the leaders of the assault; Otto, Chris, and Skitter had the biggest groups of supporters, Miles knew the world the best, Spinneret was bringing the Council of Mary Janes and their Unaligned Spiders, and Headline had proven to have a lot of good ideas and had easily been absorbed into the War Council.
Miguel stared at her and opened his mouth but barely got a sound out before she, with more emphasis and a glower, snapped her hand out half a inch in a violent, jerking motion that made clear he was to obey the finger and not question her again.
It was a move that her daughter Annie had seen plenty of times when she attempted to get MJ's attention while she was on the phone. Peter too, when he rushed into a room without checking to see if Mary Jane was in the middle of something. At most it only took her doing the finger jerk to get them to realize that she couldn't speak to them and they needed to keep quiet. She acknowledged their existence but that was it. From the way that Miles winced and Chris raised an eyebrow she had a feeling that Mrs. Morales had pulled a similar move… and that Chris most likely had himself (he did have multiple kids, after all, so she could see him forever being pestered just as he answered the phone).
Miguel squared up and opened his mouth again.
Mary Jane snapped her head in his direction, eyes wide and blazing as she pressed her lips into a fine line before, very dramatically, she held up her finger and shoved it right in his face. The message was clear to everyone; not just those she was talking to but many of the Spiders that were nearby, all stopping their conversations. Even if they weren't the target of her ire they didn't want to risk upsetting her.
Miguel, finally ,took the hint and allowed Mary Jane to turn back to the group that had become the main planners for the battle to come.
"Skitter?" she said with a smile even as her anger leaked through her words. "You were saying?"
The Black Spider-Man (as he himself had insisted, despite there being multiple other black Spider-Men) actually swallowed before squaring his shoulders.
"We're trying to reach out to the authorities in New York but haven't had much luck. We're not for sure if its because the Spot has actually attacked already or if they just don't want to listen to us."
"Not going to assume its just because you're black?" Miles asked.
Skitter slowly turned and stared at the younger Spider. "I… hadn't thought of that. Bet those cracker ass-"
"Thank you Miles, thank you so much for that," Chris complained, Otto nodding in agreement. "Skitter? Focus." He looked to the Superior Spider-Man. "Your team in place?"
"They are moving in now. We landed them in New Jersey so there was little risk of them porting into a bad situation."
"Something we need to be worried about," Headline commented, looking about. "A lot of Spiders want to join in to help."
"Not surprising," Otto stated. "After finding out what they've done in the name of the Society this is a chance to make up for their actions."
"And make up to Miles," Chris pointed out.
That made Miles frowned. "Uh, I'm all for the help but-"
"No, no buts," Chris said, cutting him off. "You don't turn down extra help… ever. Even if you need to have them make sandwiches."
That made Miles blink. "Sandwiches?"
"Do you realize how nice it is to come back from a battle to find a nice turkey and pepperjack sandwich waiting for you? Maybe some kettle chips…"
"That's-" Miles began only for Headline to hold up a hand.
"no no… he has a point, kiddo."
"Very good point," Otto stated.
"Never turn down a sandwich after a fight," Skitter added.
"I personally prefer ham with honey mustard myself," Spinneret said. While that was true she also brought it up to annoy Miguel, who was clearly fuming that she was ignoring him. Sometimes she did that to her Peter, if he were being really annoying. Taking extra time in a conversation JUST to prolong his waiting.
"Oh, that is real good too!" Chris proclaimed. "My kids make me stuff all the time… let's them feel like they are involved."
"I'll see if I can find some people who want to make sandwiches," Headline declared before hurrying off into the crowd.
"Right," Spinneret said, keeping her tone stern even though she quietly agreed with the others that it was a good idea to have some spiders remain behind making sandwiches. Not just because it would keep the looser cannons at bay… but it would be nice to have sandwiches. "That settled… we still need to focus on the battle. We do have a lot of Spiders volunteering and we need to be careful who we bring and how. Need to make sure that we don't all rush in and cause-" she stopped, staring at Chris who she KNEW was smirking behind his mask, "-havoc. We all port in at once and it's going to be madness. We'll be tripping over each other."
"Perhaps call to Dr. Richard?" Miles suggested. "He might be able to tell which ones are about ready to…" He made the universal signal for 'crazy' next to his head.
"That is offensive," Chris said. "Right? Is it? I can't keep up with you fucking young kids anymore."
"Calm down, grandpa, you're still woke," Skitter mocked.
"We must also consider that there is something to the element of surprise," Otto said. "If the Spot is like the other versions of him we have encountered he will be willing to turn our appearance to his advantage. None of us wish to be fighting ourselves."
That caused Miles to frown. "There are other versions of the Spot?"
"Oh, many of them," Otto said with a smirk. "The multiverse... well, it is full of infinite numbers. Small variations to massive changes. You must remember that. There are many versions of the Spot running around. This is just the first to get worldly destruction in his head AND actually set out to achieve it."
"Okay, I think we have a gameplan," Spinneret stated. "Otto, Chris, you figure out who is going in first. We're going to want to be able to startle Spot and distract him until we get everyone in place."
"Then me, right?" Miles asked. "I mean, I'm his archenemy."
"I say we throw the vampire at his feet dressed in Miles' outfit," Skitter suggested. Miguel glowered at that but Spinneret merely held up her finger again and he fell silent.
Spinneret shook her head. "Figure out who can tank his attacks the best. We need a skilled fighter. You're not it, Miles… you are our Ace in the Hole."
Skitter rubbed his chin. "Maybe I should talk to Prowler… Aaron was pretty hard to capture, right?"
"Very," Spinneret stated. "And good idea."
The other members of the War Council broke up and Spinneret finally turned to Miguel and dropped her finger. He was glowering at her, clearly not happy she had made him wait and treated him like a child. But she honestly didn't care; he had been the rude one to interrupt her. Annie, even at her most teenage rebellious, had only needed to be warned twice ONE TIME. Peter once as well. Miguel had actually pushed her three times. It showed just how he felt about others and himself.
"Of course we can talk. But I can tell you right now that you aren't going to like what I have to tell you." She began to walk towards one of the side rooms down the hall away from Miguel's lab.
"You don't even know what I'm going at ask," Miguel pointed out.
"You think I don't know?" She raised an eyebrow at that. "I've been watching you for a long time, Miguel. Remember how you had Ben recruit me because you felt that you needed a bit more 'diversity' and 'maturity'?" Miguel opened his mouth to try and claim it didn't sound as bad as she had made it out but she just continued on, refusing to let him speak. "The night after he left, to give me time to think about it? That's when Madame Web sought me out. Told me what you were doing… and what you would do." She opened to door and gestured for him to go inside but Miguel just stood there, glaring at her. "You don't want privacy?"
"You were a mole?"
"The entire time," she told him. "I've been watching what you've done with the Spider Society. I know how your mind works rather well... so yes, I know what you are going to ask me."
She could see his anger bubbling to the surface. The way his jaw was clenched. The narrowing of his eyes. Flaring of his nostrils. All of it showing that he was barely holding onto his already hair trigger temper. He finally took a step forward but it was clear from the way he moved that he was trying to intimidate her. Use his height to loom over her and make her feel small.
"Miguel… I'm an actress in New York. You think for even one moment you can scare me?" She narrowed her own eyes and folded her arms over his chest. "And then there is the fact that there are three different Spiders right behind you."
Miguel let out a growl at that. "And if you think I'm falling for that-"
There was a click and Miguel froze as the cold steel of Patrick O'Hara's double barrel webshooter pressed against his neck.
"Son," Web-Slinger drawled, "ya already have done the family bad by attackin' Miles. The boy didn't deserve how ya treated him… Widow is still broken up that she couldn't help 'im get out of this place. But if ya think we're gonna let ya hurt this little filly here?"
"Miguel… bad!" Frankenspider snarled, the large flat-top Spider moving to loom over MIGUEL.
"Yar, the big man be right!" Captain Spider said, drawing his cutlass. "Ya sold us a barrel of spoiled ale, ya bilge rat! We're only lettin' ya live for now because we be settin' up a lottery to see who gets first cut into your hide!"
Spinneret nodded backwards towards the room. "So… still want to do things out here? Or ready to act like an adult and discuss this with me in private?"
After a moment Miguel nodded and moved into the room, trying to stride in with as much dignity as he could.
"Thanks," Spinneret stated. "I had it but… thanks."
Web-Slinger nodded, tipping his hat to her before he leaned next to the door, folding his arms over is chest. "I'll just wait here, right in ear shot."
"I could use a bit of time. Still gettin' sea legs. Frankenspider, have ye a picture of your lass?"
"Bride!" Frankenspider said happily and Spinneret frowned as she saw a Mary Jane who looked like the Bride of Frankenstein. She… honestly shouldn't have been surprised.
She shut the door behind her and turned to stare at Miguel who was trying his hardest to make it look like he was in control of everything. The way he was standing, with his arms crossed over his chest, the way he was holding his head, the slight curling of his upper lip… all of it spoke of him being utterly annoyed with her and the constant distractions.
'And the judgment,' she thought, returning his cool stare with one of her own. "Yes, I was a spy. The entire time. I was warned about you Miguel and I'm glad I was because what you did…"
"I am protecting the multiverse."
"You are forcing your delusions upon others because it helps you in your grief."
"You think I enjoy all of this?" he demanded. "That I like being the only adult in the room, telling everyone that they have to suffer? Give it a try, see how miserable it is. But someone has to do it."
"You don't enjoy it," she agreed. "You find relief in it. No different than people who think every terrorist attack was really the government starting up some dark plot, every religious nutjob who thinks a tornado or a hurricane is God's wrath, every laid off worker who is sure that it was some shadowy other who cost them their job. You are a conspiracy theorist who finds comfort in the wild schemes you think are all around you because while you might not be able to stop them if you at least understand them then you feel like you have an ounce of control."
Miguel shook his head in annoyance and Mary Jane honestly wondered if the big lug was going to ever get his head screwed on straight.
"That's… that's not it at all. There is no relief in knowing that my actions doomed my world."
"Your world was doomed?" Spinneret asked, raising a single eyebrow. "I was unaware of that."
"You know that it was destroyed," Miguel snapped. "I watched everything crumble to nothingness."
"Yes… you watched A world." She frowned, pressing her lips together. "Not your's."
"You know what I mean-"
"I really don't. You keep talking about dooming your world and yet it still lives. Your Earth, your original Earth… its still around. Suffering because of your actions today-" Miguel winced at that; even after all he had done to make himself different from all the other Spider-Men… he still felt guilt. She would never dishonor him by claiming he didn't, "-but it still stands."
"I… I wish that all that had happened had… had never happened. I truly do. But I-"
"Abandoned it to take over a dead man's life and only crawled back to it when you felt like it. Not to actually be the hero that Nueva York needs you to be, of course. No, you… you just continue on looking everywhere else. I suppose at least you are TRYING to be a hero at the moment…"
"And I was punished for abandoning it!" Miguel exclaimed, throwing his arms into the air. "I abandoned my Earth and it caused the Earth I went to… the universe… to collapse. To fade into nothingness. I have to live with that… forever. Constantly on guard so I don't upset the balance again."
Mary Jane stared at him before slowly shaking her head. "You make it sound like there is some sinister Spider-God out there deciding who lives and who dies."
"Don't be absurd," Miguel said with a scoff. "This is just the way the world works… its engrained into the fabric of reality."
"What? That if a Spider-Man decides to go to another reality and be happy that reality must die? That sounds… insane. Why wouldn't you suffer instead? We know the glitches happen to most Spiders… why not something more extreme then? Why punish everyone on that Earth and not you? They didn't choose to let you be there! You were the forgiven entity… why were you then spared? Don't… don't you see how that makes no sense?"
"Canon events-"
"This wasn't a canon event though, was it?" she pressed. "It was you on another world… and it fell apart. You didn't break a canon event. You found a way to integrate yourself into another world and it fell apart. Two separate things, Miguel! Two! You can't blame them both of the same strange cosmic… thread!"
"I don't know," Miguel admitted. "There is something I am missing , why what happened happened-"
"It happened because of the Shi'Ar!" Mary Jane finally yelled, having grown frustrated with Miguel dancing around the truth and deciding it was time to force him to confront it. "They decided to end the war with the Skrulls! Their weapon, The Final Erasure, couldn't be stopped once in struck Skrull space and it destroyed everyone! Your stabilizing device yanked you back to your world when it sensed you were near death… that's why you survived! But it wasn't anything you did! The Shi'Ar did it and they have paid for it… Madame Web told you of how they have found themselves all by themselves, trapped in a universe where it is just their planet, the stars gone and there being nothing but white. Isolated forever and doomed to go on knowing they destroyed everything. She. Told. You."
"I… I could have stopped it though. Me being there-"
"You… you are the saddest man," Mary Jane said with a scoff. "You don't want to take responsibility for your mistakes but are all too eager to take the blame for things you aren't to blame for! You have crafted this foolish, demented theory that everyone is telling you is wrong and you still cling to it-"
"BECAUSE ITS ALL I HAVE LEFT!" Miguel roared.
At long last… Miguel was being honest. Even if it was just with himself.
"I lost my standing in the scientific community when everyone learned I was using human test subjects. People I went to school with, colleagues I respected… none of them would say a word to me. They'd risk oncoming traffic to get on the other side of the road from me. I lost the love of my life. My brother too. So I tried to run… to find a new Earth. And I lost that too. Why… why did I keep losing? There had to be a reason. There… had to be." He swallowed. "So I looked… and I came up with canon events. That explained… everything. Even… when it didn't."
His shoulders slumped and he looked away from her, staring at just… well, as far as she could tell he wasn't staring at anything in particular at all. He was too lost in his thoughts to actual notice anything. To observe anything.
"And I had my theory. It explained so much… not just for me but for so many others. Its… its all I have left. Jessica is never going to trust me again after what happened. Ben… well, apparently he has some sort of brain damage or emotional problems, I don't know but I know you'll be taking him back to his original Earth. The rest of the Society too… no one will follow me after this. I… I nearly beat a kid to death just because he wanted to save his dad. I… have nothing. Nothing at all. And I don't know what to do but to cling to canon events because without that…"
He grew silent.
"Everyone… suffers," Mary Jane said softly. "We Spiders tend to forget that. We think we are the only ones who do. That we have the monopoly on pain and torment. But you know who goes out and uses their pain as an excuse to hurt others? To try and change the world to what they think it should be without a care for how others might feel about it?"
"Villains," Miguel said.
"…yes," Spinneret said quietly. "I wish I had the answers for you, Miguel. I wish I could tell you what you needed to do to fix all this. What you've broke. And… what's broken in you. But I don't." He snapped his head up to stare at her, startled. "I have no idea what to do because it has to be YOU that fixes this. Not me. There is no outside force that can help you if you aren't ready to begin helping yourself."
And with that she did the hardest thing she'd done in a very long time.
She walked away.
~MC~MC~MC~
Omake
"I found some people to make sandwiches!" Headline declared, returning to the group. "Good ones! They will have them ready but we need to-"
"Shhh!" Chris declared, pointing to his right…
"Its fine,"Peanut Butter Parker, the Spider-Sandwich, said with a sigh, "I'm used to it." He fired out a webline from his jelly and swung away.
"…the fucking multiverse," Skitter muttered, Miles just tilting his head in confusion.
Author's Notes: Thank you to Maj for the name Peanut Butter Parker, who was bitten by a radioactive jar of jelly.
As for the rest of my discord they helped me figure out:
This world the owner of the Daily Burger is B.L. Jamerson.
Peanut Butter's uncle is Uncle Beans on Toast.
His archenemy is The Green Gobbler, a turkey on rye. He rides on a croissant and throws crouton bombs.
Mary Jane Watercrest is his love interest.
The symbiote is just Venom Brand Toaster.
The SandwichMan is just… a dude.