nexus_crossings | 'Cause they will run you down, down til you fall

This was not the Spiderman that everyone knew. He was shorter, scrawnier (somehow this was possible) and his costume was black and red. A couple people had met him so far, but one didn't need to know him to realize that the rips to his clothing wasn't normal. Nor was the smell hazing him, smoke, fire, char. Blood.

Even without how he was trying not to limp he was clearly twitchy, practically shaking with adrenaline still as he found a more out of the way bench to sink down onto with a hiss of discomfort. He could feel the pain of his leg starting to punch through the fight or flight his life had been for the last hour or so, knew it would be followed by other injuries as he started to recover. But for now his ears were still ringing with the lingering echoes of the roar of infernos and gunfire, hyper-aware of his surroundings as he turned his attention to picking open the rip in the thigh of his suit again to get a look at the gash there. The bandage had gotten lost somewhere in the chaos, and it was a mess again, and he thinks it might be a bit worse-looking than it had started as.

At least he had his mask, so no one would see the lingering panic, or the exhaustion. And even without his spider sense he'd know someone was coming closer, speaking up in a voice that would be almost have a joking tone if not for the thready edge that hinted how close to the end of his tether this kid was.

"So... you wouldn't by chance know how to tell if something needs stitches, would you?" If not he had the web-shooters, could just web the injury over. He doubted that'd be good for the long run but it'd stop the bleeding at least while he hunted down a clinic.

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Wow who said you could head him off at the pass?

But he knew she was right. He was a mess, he'd just be more of a mess if he left things too long. So he'll just be carefully easing himself down to sit, leg stretched out in front of him so Harley could reach the injury.

"Norman Osborn. He... he killed the original Spider-Man in my reality. We thought he was dead too, but he escaped from wherever he was being held. He was coming after Spider-Man's aunt again like he had when he was stopped the first time. But he's done something to his genetic makeup so he can turn into this huge demon-looking thing now." Because that's what every kid should be tussling with. What happened to cutting their teeth on bank robbers and purse snatchers?

You never asked what kind of doctor she was. Harley is good at reading people. Especially people who wear masks.

"Norman Osborn." She repeats the name, slowly, as if memorizing it.

She starts with treating the wound area. "Do you need help stopping him?"

God, now that he's sitting down again, Miles is just absolutely wiped, leaning back on his arms. Trying not to watch her poking at the injury too much, gaze roaming the room instead.

"No, we... we took him down." God he hoped the man stayed down this time. Disproved his announcement of immortality. Not just because of his threat to everyone, but the implications for Miles himself if the same genetic tinkering had left him immortal too.

There is a lot of weird odds and ends around her apartment. Is that a shelf filled with pink plushie unicorns?

And there is also Mightyena, sitting on the stairs, tilting his head at the newest arrival to the apartment.

"Okay-dokie." Harley carefully applies the antibiotic over the wound. "You have a whole team of spider-dudes?"

It absolutely is- and it has Miles attention for a few minutes before his attention is drawn by the Mightyena who he tilts his head at in turn. Hello fluffy friend, please don't bite him he's had a Hard Day.

"No it's... usually just me? I mean Spider-Woman comes around sometimes but she works with the Avengers and stuff and I'm just the kid scrambling around New York. Spider-Man came back too- the original I... the last time Osborn showed up he killed him, and it's... I don't know. He helped take Norman down though so there's that. But he's leaving to figure things out."

Mightyena pads forward, before coming to lay down besides Miles. Here have a head to pet, and distract you from being stiched up.

"A kid. Yeah..." She pops a piece of bubblegum in her mouth. Chewing as she concentrates on starting the stitching process.

"Sounds like you just need a place to take some hard-earned rest."

Yeah, Miles is just going to lean right on Mightyena, arms automatically going around his fuzzy neck.

"I need to sleep for like... at least a year." And therapy. So much therapy. If he didn't have at least a little PTSD at this point he'd be amazed.

"Here..." Harley holds out a pill to him. "I want you to take this. And just let yourself rest for a bit."

"We will protect you." She nods at Mighytena with a smile.

Miles accepted the pill between his fingers, looking from it to Harley with an uncertain air.

"Um no offense but... what is it?" His mom would murder him if he took a pill without knowing what he was taking. She'd rise right from the grave and cross dimension to do it.

"A sleeping aid. All natural. It will let you sleep, and let you get a well rested sleep. And no chance of getting addicted."

It is good to be BFFs with a biochemist.

"And don't worry. I won't remove your mask. Harley Quinn promise!"

God. He shouldn't. It's nuts. But he's also so wrung out that the idea of sleep was too tempting to pass up.

"Well... if you promise." Though legitimately if you're gonna steal his kidney or something just leave him somewhere comfy after okay? Lifting the mask enough to pop the pill into his mouth and swallow before tugging it back into place, hunkering down against the pokemon pooch at his side.

The sleeping pill does work as advertised. He will find himself falling into a deep, restful sleep.

It is easy for Harley to lift the sleeping kid up, and carry him over to the couch. Mightyena stays close, and snuggles up close to him. She will make sure all his bruises and burns get covered with her healing balm. And cover any that need covered with gauze.

And cover him with a blanket. And tuck him in.

And watch over him, by sitting in a chair nearby. Make sure no one else in the house takes off his mask. Or disturbs him.

If Mightyena joins him on the couch guess who's gonna be turned into the toughest looking cuddleplush? SURPRISE it's Mightyena! Because Miles is a bit clingy in his sleep, whoops.

Mightyena is okay with it. It won't be the first time he was used as a cuddleplush.

'Cause they will run you down, down til you fall

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