Batman and Spider-Man

Chapter 2

Peter and Dick were at the bustling cafeteria. The overworked chefs glowered at the chattering students. Peter and Dick found a seat in the middle of the cafeteria. Peter had settled for a greasy pie and salad while Dick settled on a greasier burger and chicken nuggets.

"You have way too much cholesterol on that plate," Peter noted, taking a bite out of his pie.

"Alfred always makes something healthy at home," Dick said. "So, the cholesterol is balanced out."

"Wish I had a butler," Peter said.

"You wouldn't be able to handle his sass."

Peter remembered yesterday when Dick had invited him over to the manor. "Sorry I couldn't make it to Wayne Manor. Something came up and..."

"Don't mention it," Dick said. "I know how hard losing someone could be."

Dick took a bite out of his burger. "Take all the time you need, my friend. Besides, all hope isn't lost." Dick shuffled through his pockets and pulled out a ruffled envelope that made Peter's eyes widen. Peter eagerly opened it and, in the envelope, there was a bright blue ticket and written in a neat golden cursive was:

The Annual Wayne Charity Gala

Wayne Manor. Saturday 9 till Dawn

Win a chance for an exclusive drive with Bruce Wayne around Gotham. T and C's apply

"That's so awesome!" Peter said, grinning. "Can't wait to tell May!"

Peter carefully tucked his envelope in his bag as if it were the one ring from Lord of the Rings and he was Gollum.

"Still, I can't help but wonder," Peter said. "Why me? I mean I'm not rich. Why does he want me to come to the gala?"

Dick sighed. "Do you want to see him or not? And please keep it down. I don't want anyone to know I gave you a ticket. They'll be at my throats. Hard enough I'm hanging out with a nerd like you."

"Sorry," Peter whispered. "But I mean what would Bruce Wayne want with some dorky kid from Queens? He's a billionaire. Shouldn't he be doing billionaire stuff?"

"He said your essay fed his ego," Dick said. Inwardly, Dick felt guilty. He wanted to tell Peter the truth. He didn't want another person to be dragged into Batman and Robin's little mess, especially after Barbara. Especially someone who had lost a person dear to him so recently.

"Oh," Peter said.

"Yeah," Dick said, smirking, hoping his eyes didn't give away the shame.

"Either way I'm glad to be meeting him," Peter said. "He's one of my childhood heroes."

"You told me that before," Dick said, taking another bite of his burger. "And let me tell you, you wouldn't be saying that if you knew him as well as I did."

Boy oh boy, if only you knew him like I did, Dick thought.

They had finished their lunch and left the cafeteria, talking about the classes they had next. They kept it simple. Ranting about teachers, talking about life at Wayne manor until Dick brought about a topic that Peter was trying to avoid.

"Tell me Pete," Dick said. "How are the girls here?"

Peter was taken aback by this question, trying to fight back the Vietnam flashbacks of asking out the Liz Allen despite MJ's various warnings. "I-I..."

"You're from New York, right? Was there once back in my circus days," Dick asked with a big grin on his face. "Tell me how these Gotham girls compare to the babes over at NYC?"