Raj had hoped that one quiet day would go unnoticed. Just one day without Parker turning his head like a meerkat on a security shift.
No such luck.
The moment Raj stepped into Midtown High, Peter was there.
Like a well-meaning stalker.
"Hey, sunshine boy," Peter called out as they crossed paths near the lockers. "You look well-rested. Weekend in a spa, or did you just beam up to your home planet and recharge?"
Raj gave a tight-lipped smile. "Just slept."
Peter raised an eyebrow and leaned against the locker. "Uh-huh. You know, you've been kind of... glowy lately. Not metaphorically. Like, literally."
Raj blinked. "Must be the cafeteria lighting."
Peter tilted his head. His tone stayed light, but Raj could see something behind his eyes. That subtle narrowing of focus. The predator's squint—except Peter wore it with a hoodie and science puns.
"Ned says you aced your physics worksheet," Peter continued. "Impressive. That problem with kinetic energy conversions? I spent like thirty minutes trying to cancel out the units. You solved it in five."
Raj shrugged. "Guess my brain woke up."
"Woke up like it had a triple espresso and a Red Bull smoothie," Peter muttered. "But hey, good for you. No one's suspicious. Yet."
Raj's smile twitched. "Should they be?"
"Nooo," Peter drawled, dragging out the word like a violin string on the verge of snapping. "It's not like you crushed an apple with your brain or anything."
Raj's pulse spiked.
"Besides," Peter added casually, "I'm used to weird. Queens is full of it. Mutants, science accidents, sorcerers with bad haircuts…"
He straightened. "But you? You're something new. I haven't figured it out yet."
"Maybe I'm just built different," Raj said, the joke dry on his tongue.
Peter didn't laugh.
Instead, his eyes flicked to Raj's chest—no x-ray vision, but clearly trying to sense something.
Raj turned away before the silence got heavier.
"See you in class," he said.
But Peter's reply followed him like a spiderweb.
"I'll be watching."
Lunchtime didn't help.
Raj picked a far-off table near the windows, away from Peter, away from Ned, away from anyone whose curiosity might combust into questions. He chewed his sandwich like it was made of cardboard and existential dread.
The sky outside was cloudy.
Good.
Maybe his powers would cool off.
He wasn't glowing. He checked three times.
No shimmer under his skin. No warmth under the hoodie.
Just… normal. If "normal" included a body humming like a reactor under pressure.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted Peter and Ned at the usual table.
Peter looked calm. But every few minutes, his head tilted, like something was buzzing in his skull.
And then—
Peter glanced straight at Raj.
Not a casual glance.
A laser.
Raj stiffened. He held the stare for a heartbeat longer than polite. Then looked away, forcing his breath to stay level.
"You're not ready for this," he muttered to himself.
Not yet.
After school, Peter cornered him again.
This time near the science lab.
"I need a favor," Peter said. "Lab partner thing."
Raj blinked. "I thought we weren't paired?"
"We're not. But Mr. Harrington says he's low on equipment, so we're gonna double up. Surprise group work. Everyone's favorite."
Raj was about to protest—because honestly, the last person he wanted to play science fair with was a guy whose Spidey-sense practically screamed around him—but Peter was already motioning toward the empty lab.
The door clicked shut behind them.
The windows were dimmed. The hum of old fluorescent lights filled the silence.
"Alright," Raj said, dropping his bag. "Let's get it over with."
Peter didn't open his notebook.
Didn't grab a pen.
Instead, he said: "Can I ask you something?"
Raj sighed. "I'm getting the feeling you will anyway."
Peter crossed his arms. "What are you?"
Raj's mouth dried.
"Excuse me?"
"You're not a mutant. You're not enhanced by accident. And I really don't think you're part of some secret Stark internship."
Peter stepped closer.
"Every time you're stressed, my danger sense goes off. Like, nosebleed-level crazy. Took me a while to realize it's you."
Raj clenched his jaw.
Peter watched him, patient as a scientist with a bomb under glass.
"I don't think you're dangerous," Peter said softly. "But I think you're… off-script. You weren't supposed to be here. Whatever you are—it doesn't match anything I've felt before."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Raj replied, tone clipped.
"Then prove it," Peter challenged. "Hold this."
He reached into his bag and pulled out a small handheld device—an EMF meter, retrofitted with some Stark-level components. Raj recognized it. A basic energy scanner.
"Go ahead," Peter said, holding it out.
Raj didn't take it.
His eyes narrowed. "What happens if it goes off the charts?"
"Then I buy you lunch and stop asking questions."
Raj stared.
Then, slowly, he reached forward and took the device.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
BEEP
The needle twitched.
BEEP BEEP
The scanner whined. The blue light blinked red. Numbers on the display began spiking.
Raj dropped it like it burned him.
Peter didn't even flinch.
"I knew it," he whispered.
Raj took a step back. "What now?"
Peter exhaled. "Now? Nothing. I'm not gonna rat you out. I've got my own secrets."
He stepped forward. "But I am going to ask for one thing."
Raj's voice was low. "Which is?"
"Let me help you."
Raj's brows furrowed. "You don't even know what I am."
Peter shrugged. "Didn't stop me from helping people before."
There was a pause.
Then Raj said, quietly, "What if I'm not human?"
Peter gave a tired smile. "Don't worry, Raj. I've seen way weirder things than whatever you're going through."
Raj laughed. Just a breath of it.
Then he shook his head.
"I'm not ready to explain."
Peter nodded. "Fair. But when you are? I'll be here."
Later that night, Raj sat on the rooftop again.
His fingers flexed in the moonlight.
The sun was gone, but he could still feel its memory in his veins.
Peter knew now. Or… almost.
And somehow, that made the weight lighter.
Not safe.
But lighter.
He looked up at the sky.
"I'm not sure what I am yet," he whispered.
"But I'll find out. One step at a time."
And this time, the glow beneath his skin didn't rise in panic.
It shimmered, quietly, like a secret learning how to breathe.