Spiders need friends too
It wasn't stealing if it came from a dumpster, right?
Peter was currently knee deep in all kinds of fabric, he was behind a Joans. The store always threw out way too many scraps, but it was perfect for his project. He found a sewing machine that needed some fixing, and some dark red and blue fabric. Currently he was just looking for mesh to make his iconic spider web design.
He was trying to remake his suit. Well, more like patch it. He really didn't want to go without the tech. He couldn't get Karen to work-for now-but it had everything else. He even found a way to make his web fluid, for free!
Ok technically it was breaking and entering and stealing, but the specifics don't matter..
Anyway!
He would be starting at Gotham Prep in a few days anyway and wants to start school with a spider-man suit, and maybe a small reputation. This place was rough ok. He knows about the bats, who doesn't? But he hasn't seen them, although he has felt eyes on the back of his head as he walks home with Kiki.
His thoughts wandered him home, with all his dumpster diving adventure treasure. He started almost instantly, he missed being spider-man so bad. Sure it had bad memories and lost him of the people he loved. Cough aunt May and Tony cough. But here he has no one!
……
Spider-man!
He started small, pickpockets, muggings, carrying groceries for abusive mean old ladies with knives. It was his third night out, he wasn't staying out long because he had to get to Gotham rep in the morning. That didn't stop him from stopping a few muggings though. He never actually moved on, he thought he would, but the bats had from robberies and up. So he decided just helping the little guy was good.
He was chilling on a random roof watching the twinkling city lights and cars rush past. Some knew him by word of mouth, it traveled fast. He wasn't as known and loved as before, not just yet, but he was getting free sandwiches from this guy whose daughter he saved from a particularly nasty mugging. He was munching on one when he felt eyes on his head a few rooftops behind him. Electing to ignore it he kept munching on his sandwich.
Well he did ignore it till those eyes were on the same rooftop, a few 20 something feet behind him. Sighing he threw his trash off the couple hundred foot tall building and into a trashcan before turning around. And facing him was a now startled looking bat, or bird, Red Robin specifically. Yes he looked all of them up, he's not stupid, he got that internship through Spider-man but had to keep it through Peter.
“What can I help you with today?” he asked, putting his hands on his hip. He felt like a tired mom scolding her kid. Red Robin had the decency to look a little bashful, it lasted 5 seconds.
“How long did you know I was here?” he asked, ignoring the pointed look that question got. “Since you were four buildings that way.” he answered pointing to the original roof he was on. The eyes of Red Robin's domino mask widened comically.
Red Robin clearly had questions, but enough dignanty to not voice them, Peter was thankful, he did not want to deal with them. He could hear a woman come from the coms Red Robin was wearing, she was asking her questions. Peter sent a pointed look that Red seemed to understand, shutting off his com he sat down, Peter settling next to him.
It was probably reckless on both their ends, but they talked, and had a really good time. The next few times Peter went out he patrolled with Red, showing him the little guy they didn't help. Their only difference was Spider-man was to be known, to be seen, he's a symbol, while the bats are a myth barely seen, that was ok though.