Alex barely makes it.
He skids into the classroom just as the bell rings, chest rising and falling like he just ran a marathon which, technically, he kind of did. Well more like swinged.
"Sorry," he mutters under his breath as he slips into an empty seat in the back.
He drops his bag, leans back, and exhales.
"Nice of you to join us, Mr…?" the teacher says without looking up.
"Ross," Alex says quickly. "Alex Ross."
The teacher hums. "Try not to be late again."
"Yes, sir."
Alex nods, sinking lower in his chair.
That's when he finally looks to his right and he freezes.
Cassandra sits beside him, already seated perfectly straight, notebook open, pen aligned exactly parallel to the desk.
She glances at him and Alex's brain short-circuits then he swallows. "Uh… hi."
She nods once.
"Hi."
The teacher claps his hands. "Alright, class. For the next two weeks, you'll be working in pairs on your arachnid biology project."
Alex stiffens.
"Partners will be assigned."
Alex exhales slowly and the teacher starts reading names.
"Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown."
Groans. Laughter.
"Cassandra Cain…"
Alex's heart skips.
"…and Alex Ross."
The room shifts with whispers and Cass looks at Alex.
Alex looks at Cass.
"…Oh," he says intelligently.
Cass tilts her head, studying him.
"Yes," she says.
Alex clears his throat. "I mean cool. That's cool. I like… spiders."
Cass's eyes flicker.
"You do?"
"Yeah," Alex says quickly. "I mean not like romantically. That would be weird. I just think they're… fascinating."
Cass's lips twitch. But just barely.
The teacher continues talking, but Alex barely hears him.
Cass opens her notebook and slides it slightly toward him. On the top of the page, she's already written: Arachnid Behavior & Anatomy
Alex blinks. "You're… prepared."
Cass nods. "I like patterns."
"That tracks," Alex says, then immediately winces. "Sorry. That sounded creepy."
She considers it.
"It's accurate," she says.
Alex smiles, relieved.
A few minutes pass in quiet work. Cass writes quickly, efficiently. Alex glances at her notes, impressed.
"You write really neat," he says.
Cass pauses.
"…Thank you."
Then she hesitates then her hands lift and she begins signing and Alex watches and then his eyes widen.
"Oh," he says softly.
Cass stops mid-sign, startled.
Alex raises his hands.
You don't have to stop.
Cass stares at him and slowly but carefully, she signs again.
You know sign language?
Alex nods, suddenly shy.
Yeah. My mom taught me. She volunteered at a community center.
Cass's expression shifts from surprise, then curiosity.
You're good.
Alex rubs the back of his neck.
Still learning.
Cass signs again, more relaxed now.
Spiders communicate through vibration.
Alex's eyes light up.
Yes! Through their webs. Changes in tension, frequency…..
He stops himself, realizing he's rambling.
Cass watches him and then signs:
You really like spiders.
Alex laughs quietly.
"Yeah," he says. "Guess you could say that."
She tilts her head. "Why?"
Alex thinks for a moment.
"They're small," he says. "People underestimate them. But they're strong. Precise. They protect their homes."
Cass nods.
"That makes sense."
They share a brief, comfortable silence.
Across the room, Tim glances back.
He notices Cass signing and then he notices Alex signing back.
His eyes narrow.
Stephanie leans over. "Oh. Oh."
Tim murmurs, "That's new."
Back at the desk, Cass slides her notebook toward Alex again.
We'll get an A.
Alex grins.
Definitely.
The bell rings and chairs scrape back as students flood the room, conversations bursting to life. Alex stuffs his notebook into his bag, heart still beating a little faster than normal.
Cass closes her notebook with precise care.
But she hesitates and then she pulls out her phone.
Alex notices and immediately pretends not to notice, because his brain is doing that thing where it stops functioning.
She holds it out to him.
"…For the project," she says.
Alex blinks. "Oh. Yeah. Totally. Project."
He pulls out his phone and almost drops it but steadies himself and opens his contacts.
Cass types her number in, fingers moving quickly.
She hands the phone back.
Alex stares at the screen like it might disappear.
"Uh…thanks," he says. "I mean….thank you. I promise I'm actually reliable."
Cass tilts her head. "I believe you."
That somehow makes his chest feel warm.
"Maybe," Alex says, "we can meet at the library? Or somewhere quiet?"
Cass nods. "Library works."
She pauses, then adds softly, "You talk… a lot. But it's good."
Alex laughs, embarrassed. "I get that a lot."
Cass's lips curve upward.
Just slightly.
They walk out together before splitting at the hall intersection.
"See you, Alex," she says.
"Yeah," he replies. "See you, Cassandra."
She walks away.
Alex stands there for a second longer than necessary, staring at his phone.
"…Okay," he mutters. "Focus."
The moment Alex turns down a narrow alley, he checks both ends.
Clear.
He shrugs off his jacket, then his uniform shirt, moving fast and practiced. Red-and-blue fabric slides into place as the mask pulls over his face and the city sharpens.
Spider-Man fires a web and launches himself skyward.
Spider-Man swings through the streets, momentum smooth and effortless.
He lands behind a mugger grabbing a purse.
"Hey! That's not yours."
The mugger spins and then is webbed to a lamppost.
"Wow," Spider-Man says. "You really picked the wrong city."
An old woman hesitates at a crosswalk, traffic roaring past.
Spider-Man lands beside her.
"Need a hand, ma'am?"
She squints at him. "Aren't you that spider boy?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She takes his arm. "My Harold would've loved you."
They cross safely.
She pats his hand. "Eat something. You're too skinny."
"…Noted," Spider-Man says.
Spider-Man crouches at a food cart.
"One sandwich," he says.
The vendor blinks. "You paying?"
Spider-Man slaps down cash. "Hero rule. No stealing."
The vendor grins. "Respect."
Kids spot him.
"SPIDER-MAN!"
He poses and phones come out.
A kid asks, "Can you stick to walls?!"
Spider-Man sticks upside down immediately and the kids lose their minds.
Night time
The city glows below.
Spider-Man sits on the edge of a building, mask half-lifted, biting into his sandwich.
He exhales, finally slowing down.
"…Okay," he mutters. "A good day."
Then a flash of blue-white light erupts several blocks away.
Ice spreads across the street like frostbite.
Spider-Man straightens.
"What the…."
He squints.
A massive armored figure steps into view, freezing the entrance of a Wayne Enterprises laboratory solid.
"Oh my God," Spider-Man whispers.
The man turns, glowing blue visor reflecting the city lights.
"Wait."
Spider-Man's eyes widen.
"…That's ice."
He leans forward.
"…That's a guy made of ice."
He slaps his hands on his mask.
"OH MY GOD MY FIRST SUPERVILLAIN!"
He immediately starts bouncing in place, testing his footing.
"Okay okay okay," he mutters. "You got this, Alex. You are a superhero now."
He does a practice flip.
Nails it.
Another.
Better.
He points at himself. "You stop muggers. You help old ladies. You know ASL. You can do this."
He takes a deep breath.
"…Go be a superhero."
Spider-Man leaps off the building, web firing into the night as he swings straight toward the frozen lab.