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Gotham could be cruel.
Penny knew that better than most. She had learned to swing above the city, invisible except when she chose to be noticed. But even Spider-Woman couldn’t always hide from judgment — not the subtle glances, the whispers, the way some people’s eyes lingered on her scars when they were visible, or her slight frame, or the way they frowned when she ate a dozen tacos from a food truck like it was no big deal.
And for a long time, she let those glances get under her skin.
The Incident at the Diner
It started on a Tuesday evening. Penny had been hunting a small gang that specialised in black-market tech when her stomach finally gave in. She ducked into a small diner in East Gotham, exhaustion making her bold.
Three plates. One with a stack of pancakes slathered in syrup, one of scrambled eggs and toast, and one piled full with crispy bacon. And she ate it all.
“Look at her,” muttered a man at the counter. “Who eats that much?”
“Just another freak...?” another whispered.
Penny stiffened. She finished her food but left the diner feeling judged, ashamed that she had to eat to survive — not just calories for her enhanced metabolism, but fuel for the life she’d built in this brutal city.
Dick's Intervention
That night, Dick found her on a rooftop, knees pulled to her chest, the white eyes of her mask staring at the rain-slicked streets.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
Penny shrugged. “People are… weird. Staring. Judging. I just…I have to eat a lot more than regular people, okay?”
Dick leaned beside her. “Pen… they’re staring because they don’t understand. They don’t see what you see. They don’t know what it takes to swing through the city, fight criminals, and keep yourself alive. Your body is your tool, and it’s perfect because it keeps you alive.”
She looked at him, a small sigh escaping her. “Perfect doesn’t feel perfect when people are staring at my stomach instead of my skill.”
Dick grinned, nudging her shoulder. “You’re more than plates or calories. You’re Spider-Woman. And the city knows that. We know that. That’s enough.”
Alfred's Wisdom
The next day, Alfred handed her a tray of tea and pastries in the Manor. “I noticed your mood, Miss Penny,” he said gently. “You’re carrying the weight of others’ judgments. May I remind you, however, that you are neither defined by their glances nor their whispers. You are defined by what you do, by who you protect, and by the lives you touch. Eating to survive, to fight... that is nothing to apologise for.”
Penny smiled, sipping her tea. “Thanks, Alfred. I guess sometimes it just… piles up.”
“Indeed. But remember… a spider weaves her web without hesitation. Let no one’s opinion cut your thread.”
Handling the Scars
Her scars were a more private torment. Cuts, burns, healed bullet wounds — trophies of battles that Gotham wouldn’t understand. On patrols, she could hide them. Off duty, she often hid them under sleeves and high collars, but every once in a while, someone would stare.
Cass noticed first. She saw Penny wince in a café as someone’s eyes lingered on the faint scar near her hairline and the burns on her forearms that had paled with age.
“Penny?” Cass asked gently, sliding a hand to hers.
“I… I hate it sometimes,” Penny admitted. “People see all these marks and think… broken. Dangerous. Ugly.”
Cass smiled softly. “I see you. Not the scars. You’re still the same Spider-Woman who protects this city. And to me… you’re still perfect. Your scars are just reminders of how strong you are.”
Penny exhaled slowly, a weight lifting. “Thanks, Cass. I… forget that sometimes.”
Training and Reassurance with Jason
Jason never had to sugar-coat things, but he always understood.
During a late-night rooftop spar, Penny hesitated mid-flip, self-conscious about a fresh scar on her jaw visible with her mask tucked up.
“You’re holding back,” Jason said.
“I don’t want people noticing,” she muttered.
“People noticing? Who cares about them?” Jason asked, smirking. “You’re the one swinging between rooftops, saving lives, and occasionally looking ridiculously good doing it. If anyone has a problem with your scars or your eating habits -yes, Dick and Alfred told me - they’re idiots. And Gotham doesn’t matter, because we know the truth. You’re amazing.”
Her lips quirked upward. “You always know what to say, huh?”
“Yep,” he replied, leaning against the railing. “That’s why you love me.”
A Family Reminder
Over the next few days, the Bats all worked quietly to reinforce Penny's confidence.
Dick sparred with her, complimenting her speed and adaptability.
Tim helped her tweak her web formula, reminding her that brains and skill outshine appearances.
Duke spent time patrolling with her, both of them able to discuss the cons of their abilities without judgement.
Stephanie and Cass spent evenings just hanging out with her, reminding her she could be herself without hiding anything.
Alfred and Bruce offered gentle, steady support, letting her know that she was accepted no matter what she looked like.
Jason remained a constant, grounding presence — reminding her that desire and affection weren’t shameful.
Through all of this, Penny began to laugh more freely, eat more confidently, and even wear short sleeves without thinking twice. Gotham’s judgment no longer mattered — because her family’s belief in her outweighed it.
A Rooftop Reflection
One evening, perched atop a dilapidated warehouse, far enough away from people to be without her mask, Penny gazed at the city she protected. Jason sat beside her, hands tucked in his jacket pockets.
“You okay now?” he asked.
Penny smiled softly, flexing her fingers over the railing. “Yeah… I am. Scars, metabolism, everything. I fought for this city… and now I can fight for myself too. And maybe… I finally feel like I belong here.”
Jason wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “You always did, sweetheart. You just needed to see it too.”
She leaned into him, green eyes reflecting the neon glow of Gotham. “Yeah… I guess even Spider-Woman needs a little backup sometimes.”
And for the first time in a long time, Penny felt fully, unapologetically seen — by her city, her family, and herself.