Chapter Text
It was a "normal" day in New York—or as normal as it gets when your parents force you to spend five months in a city that smells like wet asphalt and expensive hot dogs. Tim Drake wasn't complaining, though. In fact, he couldn't stop smiling. Being sent to New York meant he could be Robin without Batman, Nightwing, or Oracle breathing down his neck. He loved them, but they were a collective pain in his ass. He needed a break.
He was swinging through the concrete canyons of Manhattan, enjoying the freedom, until a blur of red and blue cut him off. He landed on a rooftop, coming face-to-face with the city's local legend: Spider-Man. Tim had done his research, of course, but seeing the wall-crawler in person was different.
“Hi! Never seen you around!” Spider-Man chirped, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “Are you new? I’ve been waiting for a new vigilante to help me out!”
Robin crossed his arms, unimpressed. “I’m not ‘new.’ I’m Robin. I’m a vigilante from Gotham.”
“Gotham? Yikes. That’s the worst place on earth,” Spider-Man said, tilting his masked head. “Also, you’re way too bright. Do you want to be a target?”
“I’m not that bright,” Tim retorted. “And you’re a walking target in primary colors! You’re the last person who should be talking.”
“At least my name makes sense! I got bitten by a spider, I shoot webs. What about you? Did you get attacked by a bird? Do you even have powers, or just that bo-staff?”
Tim gripped his staff. “This name has been around for generations, and this staff gets the job done. Thank you very much.”
“Whatever, Little Birdy. You won't be in town long, right?”
Tim smirked, moving toward the edge of the roof. “I’ll be here for five months, maybe a year. You’re going to be seeing a lot more of me, Spidey!”
With a mock salute, Robin dove off the ledge.
Watching him go, Spider-Man felt a strange tug in his chest. “Great,” he muttered to himself. “I’m actually looking forward to that.”
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Spider-Man’s POV: Week 1
This week has been weird. Okay, my life is always weird, but this is a new level. That adorable—I mean, annoying—Gotham vigilante is officially haunting my patrol routes. And he’s staying for a year? I should be mad, but I’m not.
The way he pouts when I tease him, the graceful way he moves, the confident tone of his voice... it’s mesmerizing. Wait, what am I saying? I just met this guy! For all I know, he’s a future supervillain. A very cute supervillain. If he is, I’ll have to stop him... and maybe get his number? No! Stop it, Peter. He’s just a teenager in a very tight suit. (I mean, so am I, but that’s not the point!)
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Robin’s POV: Week 2
Tim finished his daily check-in with Nightwing, but he couldn't stop complaining about the "annoying" bug-themed hero he kept running into. Dick Grayson just laughed the entire time.
“What’s so funny?” Tim snapped.
“Sorry, Tim,” Dick wheezed through the comms. “It just sounds like young love.”
“Young love?! I’m not in love with Spider-Man!” Tim shouted. Sure, he liked how easy it was to rile the guy up, and he liked the way Spider-Man's eyes (or mask lenses) widened when Tim did something risky... but it wasn't love. It was a game.
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Later that night, Robin spotted a familiar figure perched on a gargoyle. Time to play. He landed silently right behind him.
“Hey, Spidey.”
Spider-Man didn't jump; he just looked over his shoulder. “Sup, Birdy.”
Robin giggled, the sound light and airy. Peter felt his face heat up under the mask. Tim sat down next to him, letting his shoulder rest against Spider-Man . The contact made Spider-Man heart skip a beat.
“So, Little Birdy, what are you doing here?” Spider-Man asked, not moving away. In fact, he leaned in closer.
“Just swinging around.”
“Swinging? How do you even do that without webs?” Spider-Man asked, turning to look at him.
Robin pulled out his grapple gun. “With this.”
“A grapple hook? You could fall!” Spider-Man voice rose in genuine concern. “The line could snap, you could slip, or—”
"Stop worrying," Robin laughed, standing up to face him. "I’m from Gotham. I don't fall."
Spider-Man stood up too, his height advantage making the moment feel more intense. “Everyone falls, Robin . Physics doesn’t care if you’re from jersey or New York .”
Robin smirked, stepping deep into Spider-Man personal space. "Gravity is just a suggestion when you've been trained by the Bat. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid. I think I know how to handle a rope."
"It’s the variables!" Spider-Man gestured wildly. "The wind speeds, the tension... if that thing snaps, you're a bird without wings. At least my webs are organic. Mostly."
"Are you saying you want to catch me?" Robin teased, his voice dropping an octave. He reached out, his gloved fingers brushing the spider emblem on Peter's chest.
Spider-Man froze. His heart was hammering like a trapped bird. "I—uh—as a local hero, it’s my civic duty to ensure tourists don't splat on the sidewalk."
"Is that all I am? A tourist?" Robin took another step, forcing Peter back until his heels were at the very edge of the roof.
"A very... persistent tourist," Spider-Man managed to say, his voice cracking. "And a bright one. Did I mention the colors? They're distracting."
"Good," Robin whispered. "I like being distracting."
Before Spider-Man could process that, Robin suddenly tipped backward. He didn't jump; he just let himself go, falling off the skyscraper with a wink.
"Robin!" Spider-Man screamed.
He dived after him, plummeting through the cold air. He reached out, fingers inches from Robin cape, ready to pull him into a safe embrace. But just as Spider-Man prepared to fire a web, Robin fired his grapple.
The line zipped upward, and Robin swung in a perfect, graceful arc right over Spider-Man head. Robin landed back on the roof, looking down at Spider-Man who was now dangling from a web-line a few feet below.
"See?" Robin called out, grinning. "I told you. I don't fall."
Spider-Man swung himself back up, landing with a thud. He pulled his mask up just enough to uncover his mouth, huffing for air. "You just gave me a heart attack. You're officially the most stressful person I've ever met."
Robin walked over and looked at Peter’s exposed face—the flushed cheeks, the frustrated pout. He couldn't help it. He leaned down and gently flicked Peter’s forehead.
"Maybe you just care too much, Spidey," Robin said softly.
Spider-Man looked up, his brown eyes wide and soft. "Maybe I do. Gotham boys are a bad influence."
"The worst," Robin agreed. "Anyway, as much as I love the chat, I’ve got a “ city “to save. See ya, Spidey."
Spider-Man froze for a heartbeat, the weight of his own words finally sinking in. “Wait... this is my city!” he yelled, snapping into action. “Get back here!”
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