The Batcave is full.
That alone makes the moment feel heavy.
The massive screen above the Batcomputer flickers to life, bathing the cavern in cold blue light. Every member of the Bat-Family is present with some standing, some perched, some leaning against railings like they own the place.
Spider-Man fills the screen mid-swing.
Nightwing folds his arms, already smiling. "Okay, I admit it. The kid's got style."
"Style doesn't stop hypothermia," Red Hood mutters, helmet tucked under his arm.
On-screen, Spider-Man gets slammed through the lab window by Mr. Freeze.
Red Hood winces. "Oof. Yeah, that's gonna bruise."
"Jason," Bruce says flatly.
"What? I'm empathizing."
Oracle's fingers move rapidly across her keyboard as the footage plays. "He didn't panic," she notes. "Even when he was losing. That's impressive."
Damian stands rigid, arms crossed. "He's reckless. Charging an armored opponent without reconnaissance is foolish."
"And yet," Spoiler says cheerfully from where she's sitting on the Batmobile tire, "he didn't die. So that's a win."
On-screen, Spider-Man adapts with water, steam, timing and webs.
Red Robin steps closer to the screen, eyes sharp. "He's learning in real time."
Orphan doesn't speak. She never does.
But her gaze never leaves the moment Spider-Man changes tactics. Her head tilts just slightly.
Alfred clears his throat. "He reminds me of Master Dick at that age."
Nightwing grins. "I was way cooler."
Alfred raises an eyebrow. "You fell off the manor roof, sir."
"…Once."
The footage ends with Spider-Man swinging into the night.
The cave falls quiet.
Bruce turns from the screen. "He's young. Inexperienced. But intelligent and compassionate."
Jason scoffs. "You say that like it's not dangerous."
"It is," Bruce replies. "Which is why we're paying attention."
Bruce's gaze shifts to three people.
"Tim. Cassandra. Stephanie."
All eyes turn.
Tim straightens. "We think we've found him."
Steph perks up. "Found might be generous. Strongly suspect."
Cass steps forward. When she speaks, it's soft but steady.
"Alex Ross."
Bruce's eyes narrow slightly. "Explain."
Tim takes over, pulling up his tablet. "Transferred to Gotham Academy on a scholarship. Sat next to Cass in science. They were partnered."
Jason raises a brow. "Let me guess. He likes spiders."
Steph grins. "Oh, you have no idea."
Cass lifts her hands, signing calmly. Tim translates automatically.
"When we shook hands," Cass signs, "he used almost no strength. But he was still stronger than me."
That gets attention.
Damian's eyes sharpen. "That is… concerning."
"Wait," Nightwing says, blinking. "Cass-strength stronger?"
Cass nods once.
Steph adds, "Also, he ate enough food at lunch to bankrupt a small country."
Jason laughs. "Yep. That tracks."
Tim continues, "He left the cafeteria seconds before the crime alert went out."
Bruce doesn't say anything. He just types and Alex Ross's file appears on-screen.
Barbara leans forward. "Oh. Oh wow."
Bruce reads aloud. "Age sixteen. IQ tested at two hundred and fifty."
Jason whistles. "Great. A genius teenager with superpowers. That's never gone wrong."
Nightwing smirks. "Says the guy with guns."
Bruce scrolls.
"Father," Bruce continues. "John Ross. Gotham City Police Department. Killed in the line of duty."
Barbara freezes.
"…John Ross?"
Bruce looks at her. "You recognize the name."
Barbara's voice is quieter now. "Yeah. I do."
Everyone turns toward her.
"He was Jim's partner during a hostage situation last year," she says slowly. "One of the Narrows. The shooter had Gordon pinned."
The room is completely silent.
"John Ross stepped in front of the bullet," Barbara says. "He didn't hesitate. Saved my dad's life."
Cass lowers her hands.
Steph swallows. "So Spider-Man's dad… died a hero."
Bruce exhales through his nose.
"That explains the restraint," Alfred says gently.
"And the guilt," Nightwing adds.
Damian frowns. "He should be trained."
Bruce looks at the frozen image of Spider-Man on the screen.
"He will be," Bruce says quietly. "One way or another."
Jason tilts his head. "You're not gonna scare him off, are you?"
Bruce doesn't answer right away.
"…No," he finally says. "Not yet."
Nightwing smiles. "Called it."
Bruce turns back to the computer, pulling up live feeds across Gotham.
"Keep watching," he orders. "But no contact. Not until I say."
Steph raises a hand. "Hypothetically….."
"No."
She lowers it. "Worth a shot."
Cass watches the screen one last time and her fingers curl slightly.
"He's trying," she says.
Bruce nods.
"I know."
The image of Spider-Man fades to black.
But no one in the cave stops thinking about him.
Next Day
Alex regrets everything.
Every muscle aches. His ribs feel like they're held together by spite and adrenaline. His leg still burns faintly where the ice hit him, and he's pretty sure he slept for maybe three hours before his alarm betrayed him.
Still, he walks into Gotham Academy like nothing's wrong.
Act normal, he tells himself. Normal teenagers totally limp sometimes.
He makes it three steps into the hallway before his shoulder brushes against the lockers and he has to stop.
"Okay," he mutters. "That… was subtle."
He straightens, adjusts his backpack, and keeps moving.
"Alex."
He freezes.
He knows that voice now.
Cass stands a few feet away, backpack slung neatly over one shoulder. Her eyes scan him like she's reading a language his body doesn't know how to lie in.
"You're hurt," she says.
Alex laughs too fast. "What? No. I'm great. Never better. Love mornings."
Cass steps closer.
Too close.
She reaches out and Alex's brain shuts off.
Her fingers gently wrap around his forearm.
Alex yelps. "AH!"
Cass pulls back instantly. "Sorry."
"No no! You're fine! Totally fine! I just uh static electricity?" He nods like that makes sense. "Dry air. Happens all the time."
Cass looks at his arm.
There's a faint bruise under his sleeve.
Her brows knit together.
"That's not static," she says.
Alex panics and words start falling out of his mouth like laundry from a busted dryer.
"Okay so funny story well not funny kind of funny actually not funny at all but I tripped. Like. Really tripped. Stairs. Very aggressive stairs. You wouldn't believe how dangerous architecture is."
Cass tilts her head. "You fell… into bruises?"
"Yes," Alex says immediately. "Gotham stairs are built different."
She gently reaches for his arm again, this time slower.
Alex goes bright red.
"Wow okay personal space is important very important I respect it deeply I just….!"
He steps back and immediately winces.
"…Ow."
Cass crosses her arms.
"You didn't come to school like this yesterday."
Alex swallows.
"I, uh… didn't sleep well."
She studies him.
"…You should rest."
Alex laughs nervously. "Yeah. I'll just tell the school that."
Cass's eyes soften.
"Alex," she says quietly. "You don't have to explain."
That somehow makes it worse.
Alex's heart starts racing.
"Okay!" he blurts out. "I'm late! For class! Which I'm not. But emotionally I am."
He takes two steps back, points awkwardly at her.
"Project later! Library! We're definitely doing the project!"
Then he turns and jogs away.
Cass watches him go, concern etched plainly across her face.
"Cass?"
Tim and Steph approach from the side.
Steph's eyes flick between Cass and Alex's retreating form. "Wow. He just… fled."
Tim adjusts his backpack. "That was a tactical retreat."
Cass signs, faster than usual.
"He's injured. He's hiding it. He's pushing himself."
Tim frowns. "That lines up."
Steph smirks. "Aww. You're worried."
Cass signs sharply. "I am observant."
"Mmhmm," Steph says. "Totally not worried. Just very… emotionally invested."
Cass glares.
"He's bad at lying," Cass signs. "And worse at resting."
Tim exhales. "That's not good."
Cass folds her arms, gaze still fixed on the hallway Alex disappeared down.
"He eats too much," she signs. "Gets hurt. Smiles anyway."
Steph grins. "Wow. You sound like a mom."
Cass blinks. "I am not."
Steph leans in, teasing. "Sure. Definitely not already crushing on the new kid."
Cass's ears turn red.
Tim notices.
"Oh," he says. "Oh wow."
Cass turns sharply. "No."
Steph laughs. "You didn't even deny it with your hands."
Cass looks away.
"…He's interesting," she says quietly.
Steph beams. "That's it. That's the line."
Tim shakes his head. "This is going to get complicated."
Cass watches the hall again, jaw set.
"…He needs help."
Steph slings an arm around her shoulders. "Yeah. And apparently, so do you."
Cass doesn't pull away.