The next day at lunch, the rooftop of Midtown High was quiet again. The wind was a little sharper, the sun a little too bright. Raj sat on the edge of the rooftop with a lunch tray in his lap, untouched.
Peter joined him after a few minutes, climbing up with that same casual Spidey-grace he couldn't completely suppress anymore. He plopped down next to Raj with a tired sigh, backpack still on.
Neither said anything for a while.
Then Raj broke the silence, eyes fixed on the rooftop railing.
"Someone was watching us last night."
Peter blinked. "What? Watching?"
Raj nodded slowly. "When I went out after dark. I felt it first—like a sixth sense buzzing under my skin. I thought I was being paranoid. Then I saw a silhouette. I tried to chase, but they vanished. Left no tracks."
Peter's expression grew serious. "That's... concerning."
"I don't know who it was," Raj said, voice low. "But they knew where I was. I didn't glow or burn anything this time. I was just... there. And they were already waiting."
Peter rubbed his face. "Man, I knew something felt off."
"You did?"
Peter hesitated. "Okay, I wasn't gonna say anything until I was sure. But my Spidey-sense—it's been twitchy lately. Even when nothing's going on. Like background static that won't go away."
Raj turned to look at him. "And you didn't think to tell me?"
"I didn't want to freak you out!" Peter said. "Or look like I was overreacting. Could've been me. Or maybe the cafeteria meatloaf."
Raj didn't smile.
Peter shifted uncomfortably. "Okay, maybe I should've mentioned it sooner."
"You should've," Raj muttered. "Because I think whoever this is, they've been watching me longer than just last night."
Peter leaned back, looking at the sky. "I've got a bad feeling."
Raj stared at him. "Do you know anything? Like... real information. About who's doing this?"
Peter stayed quiet for a moment. Then he said, "There's been talk. Rumors, mostly. You know how Stark Industries started this little... side operation after the whole Iron Man thing went public?"
Raj nodded slowly. "Yeah. Everyone's obsessed with Stark right now."
"Right. But it's not just tech anymore," Peter said. "He's been expanding. Buying out smaller defense companies. Developing advanced scanners, energy monitors, surveillance drones."
Raj narrowed his eyes. "You think this is Stark?"
"I don't know for sure," Peter said. "But if anyone's got the resources to keep tabs on enhanced individuals… it's him."
Raj's expression darkened. "You said enhanced individuals. Plural."
Peter met his eyes. "You're not the only one being watched."
Raj's heart thumped hard in his chest. "Are you?"
Peter nodded. "Ever since I got bit, there've been signs. Not like cameras or drones, but weird interference. People asking strange questions. Things not quite right."
"And you're just living with it?" Raj asked.
Peter shrugged. "It's New York. I'm used to people creeping in alleys."
Raj shook his head. "This isn't some mugger with a phone. The person last night... they were trained. Precise. Like a ghost."
Peter went quiet again, flipping through mental files. Then he muttered, "There's a rumor in some circles. People say Stark's got a 'shadow branch.' Like, not officially part of anything—but they handle surveillance. Testing. Containment."
"Containment?" Raj repeated slowly.
"Yeah." Peter's voice was tight. "If someone enhanced gets out of control—or doesn't fit the PR image—they disappear."
Raj's hands clenched the edge of the bench. "Why are you only telling me this now?"
Peter sighed. "Because I didn't think it was real. Just internet chatter. Message board paranoia. But now... with what you said..."
"Too many coincidences," Raj muttered.
Peter looked around. "Do you think they're watching us right now?"
Raj glanced toward the edge of the rooftop. "No red dots today. But if they are, I hope they're enjoying the view."
Peter cracked a small smile. "What do we do?"
Raj looked at him, expression unreadable. "We don't panic. We watch back."
Peter nodded. "Alright. Then we're in this together."
Raj's eyes softened, just a little. "You sure? I mean, you've got your own problems. Secret identity. Homework."
Peter smirked. "My schedule's wide open for paranoia and conspiracy."
"Good," Raj said, standing. "Because we need to know more. If this is Stark—or someone tied to him—then we're already late."
Peter stood too. "Agreed. But be careful. You're still glowing a little when you get mad."
Raj raised a brow. "So no anger allowed. Got it. I'll just meditate and sip tea while being hunted by a billionaire."
Peter grinned. "That's the spirit."
As they turned to head back downstairs, the camera above the doorframe twitched—just once.
Then stabilized.
Somewhere, in a darkened room, a woman in her thirties tapped her earpiece.
"They're starting to connect the dots," Monica said coolly.
A male voice crackled back. "Then proceed. But don't engage. Not yet."
Monica nodded. "Understood."
She glanced at the paused screen showing Raj and Peter walking away, their heads low but expressions defiant.
Then she smiled—just a little.