A-BOMBLIKEABOSS: His actions will have repercussions, as you will see in this chapter.

Cabrera1234: that's probably pretty high on the list of priorities.

A/N: Does anybody have any ideas on how this story could be expanded into a larger universe?

He broke into a dead run, knowing he'd be discovered within seconds. And as soon as that happened, he knew he'd be heading strait for prison. So he ran, heading right for the nearest exit. He had long ago lost the Batman, and he knew there was little to no chance that he'd find him again. All he had to rely on was himself, same as always. He burst through the doors and slipped into a deep alley. He did this because he knew that travelling by web was to dangerous and exposed.

He had to get a change of clothes, and find a way to contact his Aunt. His cell phone would be traced, he knew that much. So that meant he'd need to use a payphone. Unfortunately, those where few and far between, due to the popularity of cell phones. So, it was only after he had grabbed some clothes that where hanging outside on a line that he began his long search.

Fortunately, the streets where mostly empty, and he was able to go around without raising any suspicion from bystanders. Within an hour, he found a payphone, and deposited some change into the slot. He dialled his home number with practised ease, and waited with apprehension for someone to answer.

"Hello...?" his Aunt's voice answered, "Peter is that you?"

"It's me," he replied with a whisper, as he glanced from side to side. "Look, I did...something really stupid. Something really dumb. And I think it might be best if you went out of town." He said as a couple walked past him, "and maybe keep a low profile."

"Peter, where are you?" Aunt May asked in a sleepy tone. "I'll come get you. We'll figure this out-" He hung up the phone as he saw a dark silhouette move across a rooftop. He knew he was being watched as he moved into an alley. No need for a potential fight to draw the attention of the Avengers. Unfortunately, being in an alley meant he was trapped, unable to manoeuvre to the fullest of his abilities, a fact which was exploited by a dark shadow that moved across his peripheral vision, and struck him from the side. He wheeled around as he predicted an incoming attack from the other side, and thrust out his leg. He managed to catch his attacker, only to find out that they weren't alone.

Two more figures flanked him. One seemed to be rather small, and the other was clearly female. But he paid no attention to their specific features. Instead he focused on their fists, which where on a collision course with his body. He twisted to avoid them both, and returned with a strong uppercut to the younger one's jaw, as the first attacker got to his feet.

Acting fast, Peter leaped onto the side of the wall, and kicked the woman away as he began to climb. They followed him however, in a manner. They used grappling guns instead of wall-crawling, allowing the fight to resume on the rooftop, with the woman attempting to grab him from behind.

He let her, and used her body as a support as he kicked away the other two. He then threw her over his shoulder and onto the gravel roof. But he was not quick enough, as the first attacker twisted in midair and kicked him in the ribs. Peter rolled back to his feet as he felt his spider-sense go off, and he leaped high into the air, over a swinging staff wielded by the smallest one. They're good, he thought as he twisted the weapon out of his hand, and used it to strike the woman. Both of them went down, leaving Peter to face the first attacker alone, and to notice that his gloves sparked with electricity.

He twisted and ducked under the fierce barrage of blows that followed, barely managing to stay ahead of his attacker. He accomplished this only due to his speed and reflexes, but he knew those wouldn't last forever. Eventually, a blow would connect, and he'd be on the ground, writhing in pain.

He was proven wrong, however.

A hand snapped out as grabbed the man's fist, electricity and all.

XXXX

"Stark we've got a situation!" Steve shouted as he bolted down the hall, away from the cell in which their prisoner had been held. He burst past a surprised Iron Fist and Luke Cage as he made his way into what had been agreed upon as the mission room. Inside, he found only the Iron Avenger, looking over a map of the city. "The prisoner escaped," he huffed as he skidded to a halt.

"What?" Stark blurted as his eyes shot upwards. "How?"

"No idea," Steve replied as he set his hands down on the table. "Though it looks like he may have been set free," He continued. "We need to organize a search party now! Before he can contact anyone who-"

"On it," Stark snapped as his faceplate snapped closed, and he brought his hand up to the side of his head. "J.A.R.V.I.S," he continued in a commanding tone, "Put the word out that the Batman has escaped our custody. I want all auxiliary heroes out looking for him. Meanwhile, gather everyone else in the mission room," he finished with a slight sigh as he turned to face Steve. "We can't all go out after one man," he said with a shrug, and Steve had to agree with him. The main and most powerful Avengers needed to be ready to respond to a potential assault from the Justice League. Or prepare for our own offensive, Steve thought privately, as something churned in his gut. This is going to be a very long night, he shuddered as fellow Avengers began to pile into the room.

XXX

"Speed, you got anything?" Elijah Bradely, better known as 'The Patriot,' said as he used his binoculars to look out over the streets. He, along with fellow Young Avengers Speed, Hawkeye and Stature had been tasked with finding the Batman, who had escaped Avenger custody. Since this was the first time they had been fully entrusted with a solo mission by the revered team, they had been quick to take it up. Unfortunately, half their team was away on another mission overseas.

"I've been searching for five minutes, Patriot," Speed replied with a snappy tone. "And there's a lot of ground to cover. And I can only go so fast, man."

"You can go faster than any of us," Elijah replied over the two-way radio, as Kate Bishop, the second Hawkeye, nudged him in the shoulder. Silently, she pointed to a building two blocks away. Using the binoculars, he could clearly see four people fighting on a rooftop. It was pretty obvious that it was a three-on-one match, and that the lone combatant was winning. Or would have won, if it weren't for the arrival of yet another. This one dressed as a perfect match to the description they had been given of Batman. "Speed, re-group. We've got eyes on him."

"Do we take him out or call for backup?" Stature asked with a slight shrug. The eighteen-year old heroine ran her hand through her blonde hair as Elijah pondered their options. He had no doubts that they could overpower the Batman while he was alone. But with potentially three accomplices on his side, the fight would be difficult at the very least. Then again, he thought to himself, that other guy down there didn't look like he was on their side.

"We go in," he said firmly as he stowed away the binoculars. "We've got the advantage of surprise, size and speed," he continued as he pulled out his kite shield, readying himself for a tough fight. As one, the three young Avengers scaled down the fire escape of the building they where on, and slipped down the street softly. "Bishop," he whispered to the second Hawkeye, "get up on the adjacent building and be ready to cover us. Non-lethal, understood?"

"Understood," Kate Bishop replied with a curt nod before she slipped away, and they where joined by Tommy Shepard, also known as Speed. As one, they snuck through the streets, until they wound up at the base of the building the Batman was on.

"Okay," Elijah said stiffly as he tensed his muscles. "Once we're up there, I want to keep them guessing about our abilities," he said as he earned two slight nods from his teammates. He nodded back, before beginning his ascension of the fire escape. Two long minutes passed by as they climbed, but they reached the top eventually. Elijah sucked in a deep breath, before vaulting over the edge of the roof, much to the surprise of the five people already there.

"Oh sh-" the male who had fought the others alone began to say as Elijah knocked over the youngest with his shield. He continued his barrelling motion towards the only female of the group. Unfortunately, she side-stepped him and delivered a snap kick to his knees, causing him to buckle. He wasn't prone, however, and rolled away to his feet. Three black objects flew his way, but he blocked them with his shield.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Batman tie a line around Stature's ankles, rooting her fifteen-foot frame on the spot. And slightly more to the left was Speed, who was currently trading blows with both the youngest Batman accomplice and Batman himself. Meanwhile the lone man was fighting with the oldest accomplice, who was now brandishing two eskrima sticks.

"Come here, you little shit!" Stature roared as she broke free of her bonds by shrinking down, and stepping out of them. She then proceeded to re-assume the height of fifteen feet, and aim a kick towards the Batman. However, she was knocked off-balance by a streak of red and yellow.

"They've got backup!" Elijah shouted as he snapped his shield out, and struck the female accomplice in the chest. " Take them out and-"

"Stop!" the lone man huffed. Everybody seemed to turn and listen as he continued. "Just stop and think, okay? I think this is all a big misunderstanding and-"

"Some super-bitch demolishing Avengers headquarters," Speed snapped bitterly as he stepped forward. "That's considered a misunderstanding?"

"Excuse me?" the female accomplice shouted as she pushed past Elijah, and stepped towards Speed. "First off, call her that again and I'll break your legs. Second, she didn't do that. Third, what about you ass holes demolishing the Hall of justice?" She finished with a huff, as they all stared one another down, ready to resume the fighting in a split second. And that would have happened, undoubtedly. If it wheren't for the lone man's words cutting through the air once more.

"I don't think any of us have the entire picture," he said.

XXX

"No sign of Batman?" Diana said as she sat down at the table, right next to the only vacant chair.

"No," Superman said with a grunt as he folded his fingers together. "And I called the cave. His Butler answered, and told me that Nightwing took Batgirl and Robin to New York. Presumably to go find him."

"Well if anyone can find Bats," Flash offered up with a nervous shrug. "it's Batman junior and co," he continued as he looked around the room, seeing the faces of the other leaders of the Justice League. All of them looked grim and determined.

"I hope you're right," Superman replied as he leaned forward.

"Of course I'm right," Flash responded. "We all agreed that when Batman isn't able to keep it up, Nightwing will replace him here," he finished as Diana gave him a curt nod.

"So, we've come to an agreement?" The Martian Manhunter said in a deep tone of voice, causing all eyes to turn towards him. "We publicly arrest the Avengers for their unsanctioned attack on the Hall of Justice?"

"We do," Superman said firmly with a nod. "And I know Batman would agree with us, if he where here. Now, we need to move quickly and quietly. I want everyone called in, understood?"

"Understood," everyone else replied, before getting to their feet and leaving the room, except for Superman, Flash and Diana.

"Any word from-" Diana began as she put a hand on Superman's shoulder in a comforting manner.

"No," the man of steel replied. "But I think she may have gone to Gotham. I know she's on good terms with Batgirl."

"If she went to Gotham," Flash offered with a friendly tone, "maybe she's with them in New York?"

XXX

Kara's feet touched down as she made her way into a secluded parking garage. She had overheard the fight between Peter Parker and the Bat-family. Unfortunately, she had been unable to break it up, as that would have drawn unwanted attention. So it had taken her some time to find them. She used her super-hearing to track them to the parking garage, where Batman had set up a hidden, remote Batcave.

Though hidden was a relative term, as she could easily see the wires running to the camouflaged panel. And it was easy for her to discern the pattern. All she had to do was look for fingerprints. Then, simply try every pattern possible. And once she had succeeded, she surprised everyone inside. Batman barely moved, while Nightwing and Robin reached for their utility belts. Batgirl got up from where she was sitting, as did Wonder Girl. Meanwhile, on the other side of the 'room' Peter stood, slightly apart from four strangers, who where undoubtedly fellow vigilantes. And as she entered, the four strangers gave her hard looks.

"Now that we're all here," Batman deadpanned as he turned away from his computer. "We can compare notes, at least," he continued as Nightwing nodded in his direction. "The mob has all but disappeared from Gotham. Most of thee mid- to high-level rollers seem to have relocated to New York."

"Sounds like they may have been absorbed by the Kingpin," Peter half-shrugged as he glanced in Kara's direction. "And without a gang-war," he continued, "which is unheard of."

"So it may have been voluntary," Nightwing replied as he stroked his chin. "He may have had something to offer them in return for their services. Something they couldn't survive without."

"Protection?" Wonder Girl shrugged, "weapons? Money?"

"The Kingpin doesn't have the wealth to keep the kind of armament required," Peter replied as he shifted his feet. "And maintain his own, regular flow of cash. So unless he had an equally-wealthy partner-"

"Who's the kingpin, again?" the girl with a bow-and-arrow asked.

"Big fat guy named Wilson Fisk," Peter replied as he leaned against the wall. "Usually carries a cane with him. And a box of doughnuts in the other."

"Does he wear a white suit?" Kara asked intently, as she remembered the day she had been thrown into a truck.

"Yeah," Peter answered as he looked her in the eyes for the first time. "Yeah, he does, why?"

"Because," Kara said in response, "He was there, with Deathstroke and some guy in green armour. He said something about selling me to a high-paying client. He's the one who gave Deathstroke the Kryptonite."

"Kry-" the blonde girl in a red-and-black jumpsuit began to ask.

"Impossible," Batman cut in. "Besides myself and the Justice League, the only one who has any Kryptonite is Lex Luthor."

"The bald CEO who offered me an internship?" Peter asked, disbelievingly. "Head of LexCorp?"

"Him," Batman replied shortly as he leaned forward. "It seems he gave it to them, which suggests a partnership. Between three parties, at least. Luthor supplies the Kryptonite."

"Fisk supplies the weapons and thugs," Nightwing added in.

"And they used an Oscorp truck," Peter said with a shaky tone. "Which means Gobbie's in on it. They throw Supergirl inside the truck," he continued heavily. "And use the stolen black Kryptonite to create a doppelganger."

"Who in turn, attacks the Avengers," The man in a red-and-blue uniform said as he slapped his hands together. "Perfect concoction for a superhero war," he finished as something beeped behind Batman, on the computer screen. A video screen popped up, showing the Wayne family's trusted butler, Alfred.

"So sorry sir," the aged man said with a reserved tone, "But you may wish to turn on the news."

XXX

Nick Fury stood alone in the alley way, of a deserted street. Tall buildings loomed over him on either side, but they did not intimidate him in the least. Nor did the woman in a power-suit who was walking towards him. He knew that she knew who he was. And he knew she was Amanda Waller, head of Cadmus, a branch of the American military that he both agreed with and despised.

He understood their intent fully, as it closely mirrored that of S.H.I.E.L.D's. They where to protect the everyday person in the face of a rogue group of superheroes. However, some of their methods where questionable at best.

"Fury," Waller said in a cold tone.

"Waller," Fury replied with a slight inclination of his head.

"You've been putting your nose where it doesn't belong," Waller said with a steel tone. "My organization is secure. Yours is the one who actively supports meta-human activity."

"And yours is the one with such upstanding individuals such as Lex Luthor," Fury said with equal strength in his voice.

"Don't patronize me soldier-boy," Waller snapped bitterly. "One wrong move and you've got ten bullets in your chest."

"I know," Fury replied as he gave a nod, and a cluster of red dots appeared on Waller's body. "Just so we're clear," he finished as red dots appeared on his own body.

"You had your boys stealing information on the Justice League," Waller said in a tone that did not reflect the fact that there where snipers ready to take her out. "Breaking into secure files. That's treason against the American Government."

"And I'm sure the president would be okay with all those back-water programs you've been running," Fury replied with a smirk. Checkmate, he thought as he watched the corner of Waller's mouth twitch. He knew he had won this bout of their discussions.

XXX

KRA-KOOM! The doors to the throne room burst open with a mighty explosion. Parademons scrambled with their respective weapons as a lone figure walked through the door, unscathed. The figure raised an arm as two Parademons fired their energy rifles. The blasts did nothing, and the being simply fired back, the energy coming from his own hand.

"Who dares-" Darkseid began to challenge.

"Thanos," the being said with a powerful, commanding tone of voice. "The Avatar of Death. And I come with the promise of a conquered Earth."

A/N:

I invite you to go check out my newest story 'Ultimate: Rising'