Early in the morning, Mark bid farewell to Aunt May and boarded a public bus heading to Brooklyn. Aunt May gave him a few dollars as bus fare and a bag of cookies and pastries as a gift when she learned that Peter was planning to visit Miles Morales' family.
Before leaving, Mark had already contacted Miles using his web shooter's communication device. Miles was very happy to hear from him. After returning home last night, Miles' mother didn't scold him; instead, she had a heart-to-heart talk with him. Through the recent events, Miles had matured and realized the hardships and worries his parents had gone through. It was a pleasant surprise for both of them.
As Mark walked the streets of Brooklyn, he couldn't help but notice how life continued as usual despite the dimensional disruptions, earthquakes, and explosions of the previous night. People hurriedly went about their day, probably driven by the pressures of work and loans. Mark hadn't felt this human bustle and excitement since he began his internship at the Mars Observation Base located in the middle of the desert back at his world.
At the base, everyone ate in a centralized cafeteria, but with only a few people there, even during meal times, it always felt lonely and depressing. The whole place gave off a cold and sterile vibe.
"Hey, Mark!" As soon as Mark got off the bus, he was spotted by Miles, who was waiting for him on the roadside. Miles waved eagerly and even jumped high to make sure Mark could see him. Of course, "jumping high" was relative to normal people – Miles could jump several stories high, thanks to the spider bite, perhaps from a jumping spider.
It seemed that Miles had learned to conceal his abilities a bit more.
Mark was pleased. "Hey, these are cookies and pastries made by Aunt May herself. Enjoy!" Mark handed the bag to Miles.
Miles happily accepted it. "Uncle Aaron will come today too."
"Did you invite him?"
"Yeah! Although my mom doesn't really like Uncle, my dad is happy to see him. Besides, Uncle is not working for Kingpin anymore, right?" Miles was very cheerful.
Mark nodded. He then met Miles' mother. As for his father, being a police officer and after the major events of yesterday, he was too busy to join them today.
While there's just one thing Mark could say about Miles' mother, and that's... Damn!.
Mark spent the morning playing games with Miles in his room until it was nearly noon when the Prowler, Aaron Davis, finally showed up. After a sumptuous lunch, Mark bid farewell. Knowing that Mark was planning to leave their world, Miles insisted on seeing him off.
The Prowler followed behind.
The three of them arrived at a small alley.
This was where Mark had come from, and it was also where he had chosen to return.
Before leaving, Mark also advised the Prowler.
Miles Morales inheriting the legacy of Spider-Man was inevitable. However, Mark suggested that Aaron Davis could perhaps use his high-tech suit to find a new path for himself. After all, in another world, the Prowler was eventually persuaded back to the right path by Spider-Man, right?
Aaron Davis nodded.
He didn't have the same altruistic personality as Spider-Man and Miles Morales because he was an adult who had experienced many setbacks. Even his level of ideological consciousness was not as high as Mark's. After all, Mark had grown up always reminding himself to do his best at his studies.
Moreover, Mark went straight from his university to a secluded research base, effectively isolating himself from the rest of the world, leading to his relatively naive and innocent way of thinking.
So, when Mark suggested it, the Prowler only said he would consider it.
But Mark knew that he would probably accept the idea.
Not for any particular reason.
Simply because Miles Morales was his nephew. Mark was also looking forward to it.
For Spider-Man, it seemed like the "uncle tragedy" was something every Spider-Man had to experience.
However, Miles Morales' uncle didn't die.
And he was even a powerful ally.
Mark wondered how much Miles Morales could grow under the Prowler's guidance.
Finally, Mark looked at Miles, extending his fist. "Miles, you'll definitely become everyone's friendly neighborhood Spider-Man."
Miles smiled, embodying the well-known image of Spider-Man. "I will! And you'll become an even greater Spider-Man!"
Their fists lightly bumped together.
The next moment, Mark activated his powers.
His vision suddenly lost focus, and everything in front of him—Miles Morales, the Prowler, the small alley—began to gradually fade and shrink away.
In front of him appeared clusters of light dots - but in reality, these things weren't actually appearing in front of him; they were in a virtual and ethereal form.
Each light dot represented a parallel universe, resembling a starry sky that adorned Peter's entire consciousness space.
Some of these dots seemed to be resonating with Mark, as if calling him to come closer.
However, he paid no attention to them.
Using himself as a variable, he activated his powers.
With a swift motion, from the perspective of Miles Morales and the Prowler, Mark's figure suddenly blurred after their fist bump. He seemed to turn into sand or the liquid crystal particles in a liquid crystal television.
In the next moment, he completely vanished into the sunlight.
"He's gone," Miles felt a little down, having already considered Mark his good friend.
The Prowler patted his nephew's shoulder. "Miles, let's go back too. Mark has his mission, and you have yours."
"Okay!" Miles nodded with a determined look.
The uncle and nephew duo left the alley.
On the other side.
Thud!
Mark felt as if he had just entered a kaleidoscope-like tunnel of strangeness.
And in the next moment, his body conveyed a solid feeling to him.
He shook his head, and the objects in front of him quickly became clear.
It was his room! He was back in his room at the Mars Observation Base.
Mark stood up, but due to the sudden force, he shot up to the ceiling, unintentionally becoming a human battering ram that caused the ceiling to emit a hum due to the force.
Rubbing his head, the genuine pain told him that everything was real.
He had indeed traveled to a parallel universe, experienced a marvelous journey, met the Spider-Man Noir, Spider-Ham, Middle-Aged Peter version of Spider-Man, Spider-Mech Penny, Miles Morales, and even Spider-Woman Gwen Stacy.
And he had successfully returned! He clenched his fist, feeling the power within himself.
Mark took a deep breath, trying to suppress his excitement.
Thud, thud, thud!
Just then, there was a knock on his door.
"Mark, it's mealtime. Want to join for dinner?"
Hmm? Mealtime?
Something seemed off?
It appears something was amiss.
°°°
A/N: Stones peeps, keep it comin'
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