Sprawled across Peter’s bed were newspaper clippings listing part time job offerings in Gotham. Of course, whenever Aunt May knocked, he had to frantically scatter all the papers in case she found out what he did but otherwise he managed to find a few such as pizza delivery at Dominos and much to his surprise, cashier at McDonalds. How something as colourful as McDonalds made its way to Gotham, Peter didn’t know but he figured it probably got robbed every other Tuesday.

Aunt May knocked the door and Peter quickly scattered all the papers, each of them flying around his room and landing in all sorts of places.

“Peter,” Aunt May called, her voice muffled by the door. “The Wayne boy is here. Says he came here to pick you up.”

 “Oh shit,” Peter mumbled under his breath. He had been so caught up with finding a job he had forgotten to put his socks on.

“Tell him to come in!” Peter called out to Aunt May. “I still have to get ready.”

Aunt May sighed. Even though they were separated by a door Peter could still imagine the exasperated look on her face and her hands on her hip, a pose that almost always said ‘I’m not mad, just disappointed.’

“Peter Parker,” Aunt May said. “All you had to do was put on some socks.”

Peter searched under his bed. “I know, I know,” Peter replied.

“The shoes are in a box right outside your doorstep,” May said.

And sure, enough they were. Some fancy branded shoes that Aunt May had bought despite Peter’s objections. Looking at them made Peter feel guilty (again). She had spent her money on those shoes just for this party, even though they had rent to pay. Peter told himself he would never take her for granted again.

“I know,” Peter said.

“You better be ready by the time I open the door for your friend,” May said.

Peter smiled. Good old Aunt May. He went underneath his bed, shuffling around spare web fluid cartridges, his sewing kit and for some reason he found his Captain America action figure he had as a kid before finally feeling the silky goodness of a warm pair of socks.

“Good evening Mrs. Parker,” Dick said as the door creaked open. “Peter didn’t tell me had such a pretty Aunt.”

He could imagine Aunt May’s smile. “What a charmer,” Aunt May said. “Peter is still busy with some science thing. You know he is. But I can give you some tea if you want.”

“Oh no, it’s fine…” their voices trailed off as Peter found a pair of socks. One a nice formal shade of brown, the other…

White with multi-coloured stars dotting the surface.

Peter groaned.

“Pretty quaint place you got here Mrs. Parker,” Dick said.

Aunt May laughed. “Oh, you don’t have to be so nice Mr. Wayne.”

“The surname’s Grayson,” Dick said. There was a short silence. “Mr. Grayson. But please call me Richard.”

“Ok, Richard,” Aunt May said, Peter could here tea pouring into a cup. “This place, to put it lightly is crap.”

Richard laughed. “I didn’t expect you to say that Mrs. Parker.”

Aunt May chuckled. “This old lady is still full of surprises.”

“Well compared to Wayne Manor,” Dick said. “This place is a paradise. I’d take this place over Bruce and Alfred being down my throat any day.”

“Well maybe you should trade places with us,” May said. “We’d gladly take the manor.”

Dick laughed. “It would teach Bruce some humility that’s for sure.”

Peter let out a quite “Aha!” as he found the other brown sock.

As he put the socks on, he heard a knock on his door. “Peter, hurry up. Your friend is waiting.”

“Yeah, let me just put my shoes on,” Peter said. He put on his shoes and looked at himself in the mirror, adjusting his collars and dusting out his suit, a bright blue blazer with blue pants, a red tie and white shirt. He wished Ben was still alive to see him in this suit, they had made a bet ages ago about whether or not it would fit. Peter would have loved to see the look on his face when he did.

“Took you long enough,” Dick said. He was wearing a black suit with a shiny dark blue waistcoat with a white shirt underneath.

“I couldn’t find my socks,” Peter said. “Sorry for holding you up.”

Dick laughed. Before leaving he thanked Aunt May.

“You be careful out there, Peter,” Aunt May said. “And don’t take any drinks from strangers.”

“I’ll keep him in check Mrs. Parker,” Dick said.

“You better,” Aunt May said.

“See you later May,” Peter said.

“Bye Pete,” Aunt May said. “Take care.”

The door creaked behind them and Dick grinned at Peter.

“Ever been in a limo before?”

“Look at this apartment and think about how stupid your question is,” Peter said.

Dick laughed. “You won’t be running your mouth like that when you see the surprise, I have in store for you.”

Peter rolled his eyes. “I doubt anything you do will surprise me.”

“Oh, you have no idea my friend,” Dick said.

The limousine was a sleek black vehicle that looked very out of place surrounded by the run-down apartments and cracked pavements of the curb it was parked in. Standing by the door was a skinny yet elegant old man who bowed when he saw Dick and Peter walking toward him.

“Master Grayson,” he said as Dick entered the car at the front seat. He nodded at Peter. “Mr. Parker.”

Peter didn’t realise just how hot it was this evening, especially since he was wearing his Spider suit underneath his already stuffy suit.

“Yo Pete,” Dick said. “You gonna be keeping us waiting any longer?”

“Sorry,” Peter said. Us? What did he mean by us? Peter assumed it was the valet. He entered the back of the limousine and almost had a heart attack when he saw who was sitting across him.

“Peter Parker, I assume,” said Bruce Wayne. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Bruce Wayne though I’m pretty sure you already knew that.”