Spider in Gotham - Chapter 8

The safe house had been deceptively fancy. Her apartment, while not a penthouse, was even more luxurious. It didn't have that same lived-in feel to it though. Various paintings and sculpture, all depicting cats, decorated every room. They weren't any that he recognized, but they all appeared to be quite expensive. Peter wasn't much of an art connoisseur, so he wasn't sure if there were any pieces that he should have been able to identify.

Selina had shown him to a guestroom and left him to get settled in. Peter stripped out of the borrowed clothes before crawling into the bed. It was the softest mattress he had ever slept on. When he woke up, there was a stack of freshly purchased clothes waiting for him. A pair of jeans, some sneakers, and a simple T-shirt that were close enough in size. Thankfully, the pants weren't skintight.

He got dressed. Peter followed to scent of toast to the kitchen. Selina was waiting for him. She leaned against the counter eating a slice of toast while watching an elaborate machine produce coffee.

"I hope you didn't expect breakfast. I don't cook." Selina motioned to the fridge. "Help yourself."

"I do." Peter said with a smile.

He opened the fridge to find it mostly empty aside from a carton of eggs, a couple gallons of various types of milk. He shrugged before whipping up some scrambled eggs for both of them. Luckily, she had a decent selection of spices.

"What do you usually eat for breakfast?" Peter asked as he watched the eggs.

"Coffee." Selina answered as she poured herself a fresh cup. "Do you want some?"

"Yes, please." Peter replied with a nod. "Thank you for the clothes."

"I couldn't be seen with you dressed the way you were." Selina huffed.

Peter hid a smile. He had a feeling Selina wasn't used to getting legitimate thanks from people.

"If you'd like." He said as he turned off the heat. "We could stop for some groceries so I can make breakfast."

Selina made a noncommittal sound. She motioned to where the plates were stored. Peter grabbed a couple and served up the eggs. He couldn't see a table, so he set them out on the kitchen island.

"It would be better with some cheese." Peter said, finding the silverware drawer. "Some bacon on the side, or crumbles mixed in. I've never been a fan of peppers in my eggs."

Selina took a bite. She nodded, then proceeded to scarf them down.

"I will order delivery." She said with a shrug.

They finished their meal in silence. Peter loaded them into a dishwasher that looked brand-new.

"Let's go." Selina motioned for him to follow to the elevator.

When Selina had mentioned shopping, he had thought she meant a department store, or the mall. Peter did not expect to be standing on a raised platform being measured for a tailored suit. There had been a bag of clothes waiting for him when he woke up,

"Why do I need a suit?" Peter asked looking over at her.

Selina was currently camped out on a nearby chair. Every now and then she would suggest a different color or add more to the order. So far, he had five two-piece suits, two three-piece suits, and an entirely new wardrobe of casual clothes that probably cost more than a reasonably priced car.

"You're going to look good if you're going to be my apprentice." She replied. "After this, we'll go see my guy who makes suits for more rugged activities."

"All done." The tailor announced. "Send it to the usual address?"

"Of course." Selina said with a wink. "The same account as well. Double the tip as my thanks for fitting us in on such short notice."

"You are too kind." The tailor inclined their head.

"Let's go." Selina stood, somehow making it look graceful.

Peter followed her out to the car. He scooted ahead of her to open her door. She shook her head before slipping into the driver's seat.

"What can you do?" Selina sked once he had joined her.

Peter looked at her.

"You're a Meta." Selina continued. "What can you do?"

"Why do you think I'm a Meta?" He asked.

"I was watching you on your way to the docks." She replied. "You jump to far without equipment."

There wasn't much point in lying if she had already seen him. Still, he wasn't going to tell her everything.

"I'm stronger than I look, and I heal fast. It takes time, but a broken bone only takes a couple of days." Peter sighed. "I was trying to keep it a secret."

"You were pretty convincing at the end of the night." Selina nodded. "We'll get you a grappling system to help hide it. Faster healing isn't too obvious. Bullets still hurt?"

"I'm not bulletproof." Peter scoffed. "Knives, guns, and all that are a problem."

The ride to the other suit maker was shorter than he expected. Peter thought the place would be tucked away in some industrial area. Instead, the building was upscale and unmarked. Only people who knew about it would know what it was.

Selina parked out front. She clicked the alarm without a look back as she stepped up to the door. It didn't have a handle and there wasn't a call box. Peter stood beside her; she didn't seem bothered. The door popped as the seal was broken signaling them to step back. It swung open, they stepped inside a little area with another door in front of them. The one behind closed. A metallic clunk sounded as the lock engaged just as the way before them swung open.

"Selina." A happy voice called.

She led him down a short hallway that opened to a warehouse sized room. An old man stood nearby waiting for them.

"You had me worried when I got your call." The man waggled a finger at her. "I had thought you had destroyed another one of my suits."

"Another?" Peter asked.

Selina ignored him. The old man seemed to see him for the first time. He hurried over to Peter, walking around him in a tight circle. The old man was muttering as he moved.

"Something in black?" The old man asked.

"Same as mine but fit for him." She replied.

"Mask and whip as well?" He asked with a smile.

"Mask yes, whip no." She chuckled. "Did you work out that wrist grapple you were tinkering on last time?"

"No." The old man grumbled. "The force needed to launch the hook to be effective is too much for the wrist to take. I went through four different volunteers before I figured that out. It did lead to a breakthrough in a compact launcher."

"One for me and the same for my protégé." Selina said. "How long?"

"I can get it to you tonight." The old man replied with a proud look. "Any special orders for the young man, or standard build?"

Selina studied Peter for a moment. "As cute as he'd look with a fur trim to his collar, I think the standard build will work for now."

Peter gave her a mock glare.

"No later than tonight." The old man said as he literally skipped away.

"That's it?" Peter asked, looking from the old man to Selina.

"He's got a gift." Selina replied with a shrug. "Let's go."

"Where to now?" Peter asked as he followed her back through the doors.

"Lunch. Then home to change." Selina replied, this time she opened the car door for him.

"Thank you." Peter said. "After that?"

"It's a surprise." Selina purred.