Peni Parker needed to leave. She hated it here. She hated this building; she hated this dimension! Peni jammed random numbers into her web-watch. It was her own web-watch, of course. Self-made. She couldn’t risk being followed, now could she? Peni didn’t care where she went. She just didn’t want to be here.
A portal blasted open, swirling with colors much too bright for her eyes. Peni squinted, blocking the light from her eyes.
She turned around, taking one last look at her bedroom. Looking at your past was meant to be comforting, but this felt more lonely. No one to say goodbye to. No one she wanted to say bye to, anyway.
Peni looked back at the swirling portal. Well…this was it. She inhaled deeply, stepping through the portal.
It felt like pins and needles shooting through her body. Peni shuddered, instinctively holding her breath. She’d never get used to the feeling of crossing dimensions.
Colors blurred past her in a whirl, making her eyes burn. Peni squeezed her eyes shut, feeling herself zip through dimensions.
She stumbled from the portal, collapsing to her knees. She pressed her palms against the cold concrete, letting out shuddery breaths. The portal zipped closed, sounding like doors slamming shut.
Peni looked up, taking in her new surroundings. The air smelled crisp yet earthy. It was as if it had just stopped raining. Everyone around her looked…odd. Their skin was of strange colors. Colors that human skin should never be.
She got up, brushing the pebbles from her skirt. Other than the strange-colored humans, this world seemed normal. This dimension was nothing like her own. Instead of dull colors, everything was much more radiant, almost as if it were more whimsical.
The girl curiously stared at her web-watch. Where had this thing taken her? She was almost tempted to check; it would be the easy solution.
Peni huffed, furrowing her brows. She turned off her web-watch. She was the one and only SP//dr; she could figure out a new dimension without spider technology.
Peni wandered the streets, taking in her new surroundings. It had been a few days, and nothing had happened. No daily villains, no fighting, just…quiet. It was surprising to her. This was the first dimension she had been that was entirely peaceful.
Even weirder, there was no Spiderman protecting anyone. Though that was a standard concept for many, it was still strange to her. Sure, Peni knew that every dimension didn’t exactly need a hero, but it was still new territory for her.
She sighed, leaning her head back on a park bench. As happy as she should have been, she couldn’t help but feel a dull ache in her chest. Peni should be relieved that she didn’t have to do anything. This was the break she needed!
Peni crossed her arms, closing her eyes. She wanted to at least feel something. She said, peering down at her hands. They were rough and calloused from her days on the streets.
She sighed once again, closing her eyes. A chilly breeze washed over her. A little more time in this dimension is just what she needed.
Snow gently fell from the sky, coating the city streets. Peni stumbled through the streets of Canterlot City, her body trembling. She felt numb, though she didn’t know why. She had been here for God knows how long. Weeks, she presumed.
Peni rubbed her cold hands over her eyes. On her hand laid a little white speck. A snowflake? Had it been snowing? Peni looked around, finally taking in her surroundings.
Sure enough, it was snowing. Peni looked up at the clouds, feeling snowflakes hit her skin. The sky was filled with thick, dark clouds. It looked like there would be a blizzard at any moment.
Peni looked at the people around her. The people of this dimension seemed so happy. She watched as several families walked past. A frown spread across her face.
Her stomach gurgled, breaking her thoughts. She doubled over, clutching her stomach. Her legs felt like they were going to give out at any moment. Peni looked around for a place to rest. Her eyes landed on an alleyway. She stumbled towards the alley, relieved she was away from that stifling crowd.
She clutched her aching stomach, sliding to the wintry ground. She felt far too weak. She looked at her web-watch, running her fingers across the smooth metal. The screen was cracked, nearly chipping away at her fingers.
There was no point in going back, was there? There was no doubt in her mind that the Spider Society had already noticed her disappearance. It was best to wait here; there was no point in leaving now.
She’d be dragged back to her dimension, forced to take the role of SP//dr once again. While this wasn’t anything close to what Peni wanted, it was something she had to live with.
Peni stared at the ground, watching the snow gently fall before her. Snowflakes fluttered onto her clothes, melting through her clothes. If she sat here much longer, she was sure to be buried. She closed her eyes, embracing her fate.
The snow above came to a sudden halt, catching Peni by surprise. Did it stop snowing already? It just started. She looked up to see a boy with gray skin. He held an umbrella over her head, staring at her with concern written across his face.
“You alright?” The boy asked. Peni looked back at the ground, only replying with a shrug. The boy extended his hand.
“I’m Rumble.” He introduced. She glanced at his hand, wearily taking it.
“Parker,” Peni replied simply. Rumble’s hand was warm. So warm that she didn’t want to let go. But of course, she had to.
Rumble eyed Peni curiously, a subtle frown spreading on his face.
“You look pretty cold.” Rumble pointed out. “Do you want some hot cocoa? It’ll be my treat.”
Peni wanted to scoff and roll her eyes. She didn’t need help; she needed to be left alone. She opened her mouth, ready to reject the poor boy.
An all too knowable tingle spread across the back of her head. Her breath hitched. Behind Rumble, she could see someone familiar.
Peter B. Parker.
He looked around, presumably looking for her. Peni looked back at Rumble. He was going to be her chance at freedom.
“Sure!” Peni said, a little too enthusiastically for her liking. He extended his hand once again, more of an offering this time. Peni clasped his hand, pulling herself up.
She followed close behind, keeping her head low. She peeked over her shoulder, checking her surroundings. Peter was out of sight. Peni sighed in relief.
“Y-you’re a little close.” Rumble stuttered. Peni blinked in surprise. She didn’t realize how close she was. She was so close that she could feel the heat radiating off his body.
Peni mumbled an apology, taking a few steps back. She rubbed her goosebump-ridden arms. This coco better be good.
Sugarcube Corner looked gorgeous. The air smelled like freshly baked goods, making her stomach growl.
“It’s pretty.” Peni complimented. Rumble beamed.
“Thanks! I helped decorate.” He boasted, closing his umbrella. “I’m actually a chef here.”
Peni raised her eyebrows. She had to admit he had done an amazing job. It was like she had stepped into a winter wonderland.
“There you are, Rumble!” A blue-skinned lady greeted from behind the counter.
“Sorry, I’m late, Mrs. Cake. I was giving her a hand.” Rumble explained, tilting his head towards Peni.
Mrs. Cake eyed Peni, a smile creeping on her face.
“A girl? Is she your girlfriend?” Mrs. Cake asked, gleefully clapping. Rumble’s cheeks turned red, and Peni kept her head low. Girlfriend?! She barely knew the guy! Peni softly huffed. She found it rude that she would assume something like that.
No, it’s not like that! It’s…” Rumble trailed off, glancing at Peni. She averted her gaze, pretending she wasn’t paying attention. He walked over to Mrs. Cake, gesturing for her to come closer. “I found her alone in an alley.” He whispered.
However, he didn’t whisper it quietly enough. Peni wished she didn’t hear him; she hated being pitied.
Mrs. Cake brought her hand up to her mouth, stifling a gasp. She eyed Peni once again as if she was noticing her all-too-short clothing.
She walked over to Peni, gently guiding her to a seat.
“Sit down, dearie.” She instructed. “How about the special of the day? It’ll be my treat.” Mrs. Cake offered. Peni shook her head.
“No thanks, just a hot chocolate.” She said. Mrs. Cake nodded her head, swiftly walking away.
Peni sighed, leaning into her hand. She gazed out the window, her mind wandering. The snow fell lovingly as if it were dancing. The snow was much more amazing when she wasn’t standing in it.
“Here you go!” Rumble declared cheerfully, snapping Peni from her thoughts. She looked down, seeing a mug of hot cocoa sitting on the table.
“Thanks.” She mumbled, picking the cup up. It felt warm against her hands like she had stuck them straight in the dryer.
Peni took a sip of the coco. Her breath hitched. This tasted amazing! Peni felt her worries melt away. It tasted like she was eating a thousand sweets at once. She closed her eyes, humming wistfully.
To her dismay, the mug was quickly taken from her hands. Peni’s eyes snapped open, and she let out an involuntary whimper. She glared at Rumble, pursing her lips. He tipped over the cup, showing that it was long empty.
“The cup is empty. You’ve been sipping on nothing for a few minutes.” He chuckled. Peni’s face heated up. Had she enjoyed the hot chocolate that much?
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get you another cup.” Rumble reassured. Peni opened her mouth to respond, but her growling stomach cut her off. There was no doubt in her mind that Rumble had heard that. Her blush grew larger.
“Have you changed your mind about the special? It’ll still be on the house.” Rumble reminded, a teasing smile creeping on his face.
“Mhm,” Peni responded with a bashful nod. Rumble smiled, turning on his heels. He walked through the cafe, carefully swerving through the tables.
“Excuse me.” Peter Parker called out. Rumble turned around, facing the customer. He held a newspaper over his face, avoiding Rumble’s gaze. He pointed to Peni.
“What’s that girl having?
Peni leaned back, staring idly out the window. The blizzard from before had stopped hours ago. The moon peaked through the clouds, practically making the snow glimmer. She had to admit this world was much prettier than her own. Well, it wasn’t exactly prettier, but it was different. Peni needed something like this. It was a cleanser from her world.
The girl sighed, patting her stomach. Peni’s stomach was filled with her free meal and what felt like a thousand cups of cocoa. Mrs. Cake had insisted on giving her as many refills as possible. Peni couldn’t possibly complain.
“Is there anything else you need?” Rumble asked, snapping Peni from her daze. She glanced at her empty plate. It was littered with crumbs.
“I would love more food, but…” Peni trailed off. “I’m filled with coco. The food was amazing, though.” She chuckled. Rumble beamed, a blush appearing on his cheeks.
“Thanks! I’ve been cooking for ages.” Rumble explained. “And it took forever to master the coco.” His smile faded as he scanned Peni’s face. He leaned in closer, squinting.
“You know…I’ve never seen you around here. Are you new in town?” Rumble eyed her. He sat across from Peni, leaning in his hands. “I tend to memorize everyone who comes here.” He bragged. Peni chewed the inside of her cheek, averting her eyes.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m new…” Peni trailed off, trying to think of a response. “I…wanted to leave where I was from. I don’t want any reminders.” She muttered, dropping her gaze.
Rumble frowned, leaning back into his seat.
“So…have you seen much of town? I can show you around.” Rumble offered. Peni tried her best to not make a face. She wouldn’t want to wander the town with someone who was basically a stranger.
Peni eyed Rumble. He looked hopeful, a twinkle of wonder in his eyes. She couldn’t reject the poor guy. He had already been so nice to her.
“I think I’ll be able to find my way around, but do you have recommendations? Any places I should visit?” Peni asked with a sweet smile.
“There’s a nice park around here; have you seen it?” Rumble asked. Peni hummed, crossing her arms. Had she seen the park? The past week had been a blur. It was mostly her wandering in a daze.
“Mm, no, I don’t think so,” Peni said, shaking her head. Rumble's eyes lit up.
“It’s beautiful this time of year. There are lights strung up on the trees. You can see it glowing from blocks away!” He gushed. Peni smiled at his infectious enthusiasm. She had to admit, it did sound beautiful.
Mrs. Cake cleared her throat, interrupting the pair's conversation. She had a sweet smile plastered on her face.
“It’s closing time.” Mrs. Cake informed. Peni looked around the cafe. To her surprise, the place was empty. Had she really been in there for that long? She could’ve sworn it had only been an hour or two.
Peni’s cheeks flushed red. She had really overstayed her welcome, hadn’t she? She stood up, placing her hands on her lap.
“Thank you for having me.” Peni thanked Mrs. Cake, giving a little bow. Mrs. Cake dismissively waved her hand.
“Oh, don’t you worry about it, dearie.” She said with a chuckle. “You’re welcome to come back at any time.” She added. Peni couldn’t help but smile. Her eyes trailed over to Rumble, and she spared him a wave.
“I’ll…see you around,” Peni said. She turned around, making a beeline to the exit. The girl pushed open the door, feeling the harsh winter air on her skin.
Peni inhaled deeply, nearly choking over the cold. She looked down the near-vacant streets. Maybe she could sleep at the park Rumble had mentioned. She could find it with the tell-tale glow it seemed to have.
“Hey, wait up!” Rumble interrupted her thoughts, rushing out of the cafe. “It’s pretty late. Do you want me to walk you home?” Rumble offered. Peni pursed her lips, averting her gaze.
“I don’t…have anywhere to go,” Peni admitted, tugging at the hem of her shirt. Rumble frowned.
“Do you want to stay with me? I have plenty of room.” Rumble offered. Peni scrunched up her nose, staring at Rumble in disbelief. What was up with this kid? First, he brought her to his place of work, and now his home? This guy clearly never learned stranger danger.
Instead of pointing out all of this, Peni politely shook her head.
“No, thank you, I’ll be fine.” She rejected. Rumble frowned, looking like a kicked puppy. He turned on his heels, giving Peni a sad wave.
“Alright, well…I’ll see you around.” Rumble sighed, beginning his trek home.
Peni watched as Rumble walked away. A cool breeze washed over her, and she began to shiver. She was painfully aware of how underdressed she was. Could Peni withstand the horrid winter night? She didn’t want to stand around and find out.
“Wait up!” Peni shouted, chasing after Rumble. She slowed to a halt, stopping a few feet from Rumble. “I changed my mind.” She muttered, a blush forming across her cheeks. Rumble beamed.
“Alright!” He said a little too happily. “I live right around the corner,” Rumble stated, gesturing for Peni to follow him. Peni nodded, mumbling a small ‘thank you.’
The pair began their trek to Rumble’s home. The snow crunched under Peni’s soles, seeping into her shoes. She shuddered, a chill shooting up her spine. She trailed behind Rumble, rubbing warmth onto her arms. Peni felt pathetic relying on another person for shelter, but it had to be done.
They had only been walking for a few minutes, and Peni could already feel the cold seeping into her clothes.
“Here we are!” Rumble said, gesturing to a rather large condominium. Peni’s eyes veered to the building towering over them. It had to be about five stories.
Rumble rummaged through his pocket, pulling out his keys. “You don’t have to worry about being quiet; my parents aren’t home.” He reassured. The door popped open, heat pouring from the door. “They’re on a business trip.” He added, stepping into the house.
Peni hummed in response, entering behind Rumble. A long staircase was stretched before them.
“Come on, I live on the top floor,” Rumble said, beginning to bound up the stairs. Peni was surprised that Rumble was still so energized this late into the night. She followed the boy, her body feeling heavy. She was ready to lay somewhere warm.
Soon enough, they both made it to the top of the stairs. Rumble pushed the door open, stepping into his apartment.
Peni had to admit that Rumble lived nicely. His house was well-decorated, looking rather cozy. “Wow…” She uttered, slipping off her wet shoes. She didn’t want to track anything inside.
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Rumble said with a heartfelt sigh. Peni could only nod in agreement. It reminded her a bit of her old home. Dread tugged at her heart.
“You can sleep here,” Rumble said, pointing to the couch. He tossed the cushions to the side, letting them hit the wall. He reached within, grabbing a metal bar that resided. With one hard tug, a bed unfolded. Rumble reached under the table next to the couch, pulling out a fluffy blanket. “Here you go!” He handed the blanket to Peni.
Peni rubbed her thumb across the blanket. It was soft in her hands. “Thanks for letting me stay,” Peni mumbled, an embarrassed smile beginning to form.
“It’s no problem!” Rumble said, grinning ear to ear. A long silence filled the room; the only thing being heard was cars passing outside. Peni felt tense. What was she meant to say? Rumble broke the silence, obnoxiously clearing his throat.
“I’ll be right back. Go settle yourself.” Rumble said, backing out of the room.
And with that, Peni was alone. Peni sat on the bed, drumming her fingers against her legs. As excited as she was to sleep, she couldn’t turn her brain off.
Peni brought her knees to her chest, wrapping the blanket around her body. Her mind began to wander. Where would she go after this? Would Rumble kick her out or let her stay? She didn’t want to burden Rumble; she barely knew the guy!
“Oh, you’re still awake.” Rumble caught Peni’s attention. How long had she been spaced out?
“Yeah, just can’t sleep.” She shrugged. Rumble plopped next to Peni.
“Is everything okay? Anything you need to talk about?” Rumble offered with an all too kind smile. Peni’s breath hitched.
“No, no, I’m fine.” Peni hastily reassured. She pressed her fingers deeper into the blanket. “And thank you for letting me stay with you. I really need this.”
“Psh, it’s nothing, Parker!” Rumble brushed off. Peni began to gnaw at the inside of her cheek. She had told him that was her name, hadn’t she?
“That’s another thing, Parker is my last name. My name is Peni.” Peni confessed.
Rumble smiled, sticking his hand out. “Hi Peni, my name is Rumble. It’s great to meet you.” Peni humored this action, shaking Rumble's outstretched hand.
The pair sat in silence once again. It wasn’t as tense as the silence before; this felt more comforting. Peni let her head drift, nuzzling into Rumble’s shoulder. He was nice and warm.
“I should leave you to…” Rumble began, only to see Peni had drifted to sleep. She laid idly on his shoulder, her breathing soft. Rumble couldn’t help but smile. Judging by the bags under Peni’s eyes, it looked like this sleep was well overdue.
Rumble wistfully sighed, taking a part of the blanket from Peni. He could stay here for a little longer.
