Adrian sat on the couch in the base, worry painted across his face. His knee bounced up and down, fingers tapping restlessly on the armrest. Today was the field trip. The one where Peter would be bitten by that spider.
"What if I changed too much?" Adrian mumbled to himself. "What if we don't get Spider-Man anymore? Maybe... maybe we get Spider-Girl? Gwen Stacy, maybe? Peter mentioned her a lot lately..."
He ran his hands through his hair, frustrated.
"Hey, Adrian," Bobby called out, walking in with a towel slung around his neck. "Why you look like someone found out your browser history? Did McNoodle track you down or something?"
Adrian sighed. "No, it's Peter. I just... have a bad feeling about that lab."
Bobby rolled his eyes. "Man, it's just a field trip. Don't treat him like a baby."
"Still... something feels off."
"Alright, Nervous Nelly," Bobby clapped his hands. "Come on, let's train. Cassie came up with this new combo move and I bet she can still kick your ass."
Adrian smirked faintly. "Alright, fine. Let's throw hands."
Peter Parker POV
After saying goodbye to Aunt May and Uncle Ben, Peter boarded the bus, notepad in hand, heart buzzing with curiosity. Oscorp awaited.
He scribbled down notes about the Force power tech he was developing with Adrian's help—suits, gadgets, support tools for the team. He didn't include any armor specs or dangerous designs, just basics.
"Hey Pete," Gwen Stacy waved as she sat next to him.
"Oh, hey Gwen! You excited for this?"
"Of course! What are you working on there?"
Peter hesitated. "Just... some personal projects."
"Can I see?"
He nodded and handed her a few pages. She glanced over the sketches and notes, eyes wide.
"These are amazing. You designed all this yourself?"
"Kind of. I had help from a friend."
"You have friends? I'm shocked," Gwen said with a mock gasp.
"Hey, I have other friends!"
"Name one."
"Adrian, Bobby, and Cassie."
"Never heard of them. Other school?"
"Yeah, kinda private. Really smart."
"You gotta introduce me sometime."
They laughed together until the bus pulled up to the towering Oscorp building.
"Whoa," Peter said, eyes wide.
"Right?" Gwen replied.
As the students piled out, Flash Thompson shoved past Peter.
"Move it, Parker! Only a loser like you would like this boring place."
Peter stumbled. Gwen helped him up.
"Jerks," she muttered.
Peter shrugged. "Eh. Let's just get inside."
The tour guide led them through the pristine halls.
"And this," she said proudly, "is our genetically modified spider exhibit. We have five unique specimens here."
Peter looked at the glass. "Um, ma'am? There's only four spiders in there."
The guide paused, puzzled. "Hmm. Maybe one was taken for research. Anyway, moving on—this way to our mechanical prosthetics lab."
Peter lingered near the spider enclosure. A weird sensation crawled up his spine.
"Pete! You coming?" Gwen called.
"Yeah, coming!"
Unbeknownst to him, a red-and-blue spider clung to the back of his jacket.
Inside the prosthetics lab, the tour guide showed off a mechanical arm prototype.
"Oscorp is developing this for rehabilitation programs. It responds to neural signals and replicates limb functions."
Peter stepped closer, curious.
Suddenly, bite. A sharp, searing pain on his neck.
"Ah!" Peter slapped the spot, finding a squished spider.
"Mr. Parker? Are you alright?" the teacher asked, concerned.
Peter staggered back, face flushed. "Yeah, just a bite. It's nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
His body temperature spiked. His vision blurred. Every sound amplified.
He gripped the wall.
"Okay... maybe it's not nothing."
Back at the base, Adrian sparred with Cassie and Bobby. He weaved between their attacks, switching quirks like a conductor leading a symphony.
OFA for speed. Permeation for dodging. High Spec to anticipate. Smokescreen for misdirection. Float for aerial control. Hardening for defense.
He blocked a tag-team strike, then paused as his phone buzzed.
Aunt May.
"Hold up, guys. One sec."
He answered. "Aunt May? What's wrong?"
"It's Peter. He's... he got sick on the trip. Ben and I can't get there. Can you bring him home?"
Adrian's heart sank. The bite.
"Of course. I'll get him. Right away."
May sighed with relief. "Thank you, dear."
Adrian hung up.
"Peter's sick. I'm going to get him."
"Sick? He looked fine earlier," Cassie said.
"Yeah," Adrian muttered. "That's what worries me."
He stepped outside, eyes sharp with resolve.
"Fifteen percent. OFA: Full Cowling."
His body sparked as he dashed into motion.
Float. Warp Gate. Permeation. High Spec.
What would take 30 minutes, Adrian cleared in five.
He reached Oscorp, spotted Peter slumped on the bus, drenched in sweat.
Adrian turned off his quirks and approached.
"I'm here for Peter Parker."
The teacher looked relieved. "He might just need rest. Poor kid's burning up."
Adrian crouched. "Hey, Peter. Let's get you home."
"Adrian...? What... are you doing here?"
"Saving your nerdy ass. Come on."
Peter took his hand and followed him off the bus.
"You okay?"
Peter winced. "Do I look okay? I feel like I'm cooking from the inside out."
"Climb on. I'll carry you."
"I can walk."
"Shut up and get on."
Peter relented, and Adrian took off with him on his back, running across rooftops.
"You think you're going fast enough?" Peter joked weakly.
"Not fast enough."
"Adrian start using his other quirks to move faster."
Back at the base, Cassie laid Peter on a cot. as she checked his vitals.
"He's burning up, but his body is adapting to it. Fast. Too fast."
Adrian stepped aside and called Aunt May.
"Hey, it's me. I got Peter. He should rest at our place. He's stable, just needs sleep. I'll bring him back in the morning."
May's voice cracked with gratitude. "Thank you, Adrian."
He looked over at Peter, already dozing off.
Adrian whispered, "Whatever you become, I've got your back."