Chapter Text
“You said I was radioactive?” Peter asked, even though he knew exactly what the answer to his question was.“Yes,” Tim said, holding his tablet that he had spawned out of nowhere in his hands.
Peter stared at him.
Tim stared back.
Jason, who had just sat down beside Dick, sipped his coffee, eyeing the two eagerly.
“So,” Peter began slowly. “Is being radioactive like, a normal thing here?”
“No,” Tim answered immediately. “Right. I mean it could’ve been. Who knows? Personally I think there could be a very high chance that being radioactive in this city is normal.”
“Not necessarily.” Tim turned his tablet around. “Anyway, radiation can occur naturally, and there are several ways a person can be exposed to it. But your readings are... unusual.”
Peter tried very hard not to look interested. He failed.
“How unusual?” he caught himself asking. Damn Peter! Pull yourself together!
Tim shot a quick glance towards Dick before looking back at Peter. “Your DNA has some irregularities. There's evidence of radioactive exposure, but it doesn't appear to be damaging your cells in the way we'd normally expect.”
Oh.
Oh, that was actually kind of interesting.
Peter had never really thought about the science behind his powers. He'd been bitten by a radioactive spider, he'd gotten powers, and almost died because of them. Started fighting crime, almost died because of that. Saw Flash get away with shit, died inside because of that. Yeah he really needed to look after his mental health.
But, he also had other things to worry about. Like homework. And supervillains. And homework assigned by supervillains, which was somehow worse. Oh and not to foget trying not to embarrass himself in front of Tony, or well F.R.I.D.A.Y., because the robot snitch showed Tony everything!!!
“Is that bad?” Peter asked.
“We don't know yet,” Tim admitted.
Dick immediately told him off with his glare. “Tim.” “What? I'm not going to lie to him. We don't know what it means.”
Peter looked between them.Well, this was awkward. They were worried about him. Actual, genuine worry. Not the kind that came with a lecture about responsibility or a disappointed look from Aunt May. Just worry.
He didn't know what to do with that.
“I'm fine,” he said automatically.
Jason raised an eyebrow. “You know, Pete, every time someone in this city says they're fine, they usually need a doctor, a therapist, or a very long nap.”
“Can I pick the nap?”
“No.”
“Then I withdraw my application.”
Dick laughed under his breath. Tim, however, was still studying the results.
“Can I ask you something?”
Peter's smile faltered for just a second.
“Depends on the question.”
“Have you ever been exposed to radiation? An accident, a laboratory, an experiment—anything like that?”
Peter's brain supplied approximately seventeen possible answers.
Technically he could just say the truth. ‘I was bitten by a radioactive spider who gave me superpowers, made me a superhero, killed all my father figures, my two mother figures, and made my two best friends forget about me. But on the brightside, I’m super ripped now.’
Yeah he was gonna lie. .
“No,” he answered. Technically, the spider had bitten him. He hadn't exactly volunteered to be exposed to anything.
Tim narrowed his eyes slightly.
Peter narrowed his right back.
A staring contest adjourned. Yayyyyyy!
Jason slowly turned to Dick.
“Oh, this is going to be fun.”
“Jason,” Dick warned, and hit him on the shoulder.
“Ouch and what? I'm just saying. Tim's found someone who lies almost as badly as you do.”
“I do not lie badly Jason!” “Your poker face is literally a public safety hazard.”
“Can we please focus on the radioactive kid?” Tim interrupted.
“I'm seventeen, so ergo, not a kid” Peter protested.
“Radioactive seventeen-year-old teenager?” Jason suggested and Peter nodded with slight satisfaction.
“That's somehow worse.” Dick concluded and Tim breathed a long sigh.
Peter leaned back against the couch and folded his arms. He was gonna play a long game.
And yes, he could work with this. He could make jokes. He could dodge questions.(maybe.) He could pretend that the most bizarre thing about his life was being stuck in Gotham with three strangers who had apparently decided to adopt him.
He could do that.
What he couldn't do was let them find out that he was from another universe. Not yet. He needed to find out how he was going to get home first.