Chapter 4: So after all this… I'm grounded

My life as Spider-man hasn't been spectacular. In fact it was nonexistent. I have to practice at one of the satellite caves now. I can't risk Bruce finding out until I've had the chance to prove myself. The rest of my life wasn't all that great either. "Fratboy-Superman" and "She who shall not be named" have been all over everything lately. According to the news they were the new dynamic-duo or some crap. Don't Bruce and Richard have a copyright on that or something? If it's not that it's the gossip magazines calling them the World's Favorite Super Couple. I mean really? What about Susan and Reed Richards? They have saved the world ten times over. All "Fratboy-Superman" and "She who shall not be named" did was stop one stupid Skrull Invasion, the Avengers do that in their sleep. Ok, ok the rant stops now. Another reason I'm so flustered is that my best friend is a superhero too and I can't talk to him about it without revealing the family secret. My life really bites right now.

"What's up with you, Pete?" Gwen asks.

"Yeah, you've been out of it lately, Homeboy." Virgil adds.

"It's just family stuff." I reply. "Bruce has been on my case; correction Bruce and Richard, per Bruce's request have been on my case."

"You're caught in the parent older sibling double team." Virgil replied. "I remember those days but it's much worse with an older sister, Pete, trust me."

"Makes me glad I'm an only child." Gwen says before taking a bite of her sandwich. "My dad is bad enough."

"I hear you but with Sharon off at Howard and Fox working all the time, I miss that." Virgil replied. "Does that make me weird?"

"Not at all." Gwen said. "I wish my mom was around to yell at me too."

"Ok, I get it." I say. "I'm glad that I have my family…but…"

The bell interrupts my response. It's time for the bane of geeks since the beginning of time…Gym class. Virgil and I wave our goodbyes to Gwen as we head to down to the Seventh Circle of Hell aka the Ted Grant Recreational Complex.

It's a short walk across campus to a building that looks like a stadium. It houses an Olympic sized pool, a smaller pool, two basketball courts, two racquetball courts, batting cages and a workout area that puts most NFL training facilities to shame. That doesn't even cover the locker rooms and showers. It's a pretty cool place. Well it would be if all my memories of it weren't tied to…

"You ready to get smashed, Nerd." Flash says as we head into the men's locker room.

"Not today, alright." I reply irritated.

"What, you think because you've been staying after school lifting weights for a couple of weeks that I don't still own you?"

"I tell you what Flash, I got a thousand dollars that says me and Virgil can beat the sleeves off you and any one of your slugs today."

The guys around us responded the way guys always do when the pauper challenges the king; whoa's and ahh's. Flash's eyes practically lit up at the challenge.

"I don't know what you've been smoking Parker but me and my boys would be happy to take some of that Wayne fortune off you." He said. "I'll see you and your sidekick on the court."

He and his crew went to the cool side of the locker room near the showers. Virgil and I headed to the back where they keep the equipment. We're pretty much by ourselves. By some twist of fate or cosmic joke Virgil and I are the only two in the class who don't live on Planet Popularity. The residents never forgot to punish us for violating their orbit.

"Have you lost your mind?" Virgil said finally as we got dressed in our tee-shirts and red and white shorts.

"We can beat them." I reply. "Didn't you hear I've been working out?"

"I don't think that's going to matter." He says. "And beat the sleeves off them. Where did you get that from?"

I want to say from Black Lightning when he was threatening terrorist at the UN. But I reply with the one source of knowledge all teens use.

"I got it from the internet." I reply.

"The internet." He repeated nodding his head. "Well I hope you have real money because Flash won't take virtual dollars."

"Virgil." I said looking him the eyes. "You know we don't have to lose."

He stares back at me. If he understands he doesn't show it.

"Well don't let the dinosaurs know that." He replied as we headed out the door. "Natural selection would be pissed."

Before we make it out of the tunnel that leads to the court, my Spider-sense tingles and a second later the lights cut out. Virgil and I don't take another step. Stone silent; we both slip into our alter egos; minus the costumes.

"Something is up, Pete." He whispers.

"I know." I reply. "The backup generators should have kicked in by now."

"What could be…"

Before he can finish there's the sound of what could only be described as hundred lions roaring.

"Get back to your phone and call the cops, Virgil." I suggest. "I'm going to check it out."

"Pete now is not the time to play curious white guy." Virgil replies.

"I got this." I insist. "I'll do a quick recon and head back."

"Alright." He says. "But be careful."

"It's cool." I reply. "I've been working out remember?"

If he shakes his head at my comment I can't see it I only feel him leave. Now to get down to business; I relax focusing on my senses. I don't have night vision without my costume but the hairs on my arms and legs sense the slightest movement in the air. I don't have my web shooters but I still have my agility and wall crawling.

In a heartbeat I'm clinging to the underside of the ceiling crawling along. When I reach the gym I get a better sense of what's going on thanks to the sky lights. The gym class is sitting on the basketball court surrounded by what looks like lions…well lions if they were somehow crossed with the Silver Surfer.

I count ten but there could be more. I know I've seen these things before but before I can remember one of the skylights shatters and a man in sandy brown body suit with matching cape and mask drops to the floor. Not a bad entrance but I've seen it done better.

"My name is Catman." He announces. "Consider yourselves my hostages. If you cooperate and your parents pay up my Cyber cat pride won't devour you."

I don't know why I didn't recognize that every student in my class represented the top one percent of the wealth in Gotham; over one point five billion perfect for ransom. This was an inside job somebody grouped us all together. I forego thinking about suspects as I get dressed in my costume. You didn't think I was going to face them in my gym clothes did you?

The cave under the Ted Grant building is about three thousand square feet. It's divided between armory, crime slash tech lab with computer, living area, automated medical room and vehicle storage. I take the pneumatic tube to the roof. The platform puts me inside one of the ac units. When I step away the trap door closes. This unit is identical to the others unless you know the proper codes.

"Raven's Nest." I say and it links to cameras hidden around campus searching the area. A red light flash means I could be seen leaving and need to take another exit. Green means I'm good to go. There's a red flash. Instead of heading back down to the cave I try something I've been working on. I reach out with my spider senses and "see" someone out there but they aren't a threat. I link my mask to the cameras wirelessly. I smile and hit the override.

"So it's the flying trashcan lid kid." I said casually leaning against the ac unit I just exited.

"Who the…" he says spinning toward me startled. "Spider-Man, What are you doing here?"

"I was at a parent teacher meeting." I reply putting on my heroic voice. "My kid goes here."

"Really?" Static replied. "Because you sounded like a student yourself last time we met."

"Well I'm not." I reply desperately wishing I had a version of the Voice like Bruce and Richard. "What are you doing here?"

"Like I said trying to do some good." He replied.

Before I can say anything else we hear a lion roar and we're in motion. If I'd known then what was going to happen I'd stayed home.

Five hours later…

I love Bruce. He might not be the most affectionate father but I love him. Considering what I've been through he might be the perfect dad. A plane crash wouldn't kill him like it did my parents. He's survived a ton of those. The Joker wouldn't kill him like Aunt May and Uncle Ben. The Clown has tried more times than anyone could count and Bruce always comes home. I guess what I'm trying to say is that even though Bruce is Batman I've never feared him…until now.

The cave is colder and darker than it's ever been. I'm sitting at the main computer looking at surveillance footage of the gym from earlier today. It seems those hidden camera are like literally everywhere. Batman is standing next to me looking like sculpted darkness.

"What were you thinking?" Batman asks.

I don't reply.

"Answer me." He demands.

"I wanted to help." I reply. The words spill from my mouth like some thug he was shaking down for information.

"You should have called one of us." He replied.

"I thought I had it under control."

"When did you lose control?"

"Last three minutes."

"Is that what you think?" He said in a manner that he was addressing the slow student. "Computer camera six, time six point seven three."

"Static and I had dismantled the cat bots and were taking on Catman but he wasn't going down easy. He's good for some guy in a suit, no offense."

"So you underestimated your opponent."

"We did." I admit. "But we were still in control. It's when Flash tried to help is when we lost it."

"So you didn't fully secure the hostages."

"No we didn't. But how was I supposed to know that idiot would want to play hero? I didn't get bit by a clairvoyant spider."

"Not knowing is not an excuse."

"Look Flash got a broken arm and a few stitches for his trouble." I reply. This isn't my fault. "I admit I made a couple mistakes. But now that everything is out in the open you can finish my training. I'll do better next time."

"There's not going to be a next time, Peter." Batman replies. "I'm not training you. Today was your last day as Spider-Man."

"I'm sorry…what?" I said. This isn't real right?

"You're done, Peter." He said. "This life isn't for you."

"What are you talking about? This life is all I've ever wanted."

"You don't get it, son." Batman explained. "I stopped your training because your sense of entitlement made you unfit for duty. You're reckless."

"You lied to me?"

"I did what was best for you." He explained.

"Because I want to be like you and Richard I'm entitled." I reply. "Because I make a couple of mistakes catching a super villain and saving twenty kids I'm reckless."

"Yes."

"That's a bunch of crap and you know it." I reply as I get out the chair he doesn't stop me. I've had enough of this insanity. He's still as stone as I head to the steps. "Bruce, you aren't perfect. If you were I wouldn't be here."

I'm wiping tears out of my eyes when I walk into a black wall with a bat symbol on it.

"Suit up." is all he says as I look up into his cold blue eyes.

I turn around a get my confiscated gear out of the armory. A couple minutes later I meet him at the practice mat. You want to know the most disturbing thing about facing off against Batman in a straight up fight? The sense of calm he exudes. In my mind I know I'm about to face off against one of the top five martial artist in the world. But I don't care. All I see is an obstacle to person I want to be. Who knows may be Spider-Man can get Cassie back.

"Show me." He says beckoning me foreword.

What he doesn't know is that I never really stopped my Robin training when I came to Martial Arts. Bruce believes in a calm centered approach but there are other schools of thought on the subject. One teaches that every emotion can be harnessed. I let my anger and frustration flow through me. My attacks are quick and powerful…and ultimately ineffective. Batman simply isn't there when they arrive. He whispers some stupid mantra as he flows around me like water.

You know the thing about water; it's easy to ignore its power until you're standing beneath a water fall. My spider-sense goes off like a thousand alarm clocks. Blocking is useless the danger is omnidirectional; a palm strike here a nerve strike there. I'm thankful for the extra padding in my costume. I close my eyes take a deep breath and relax into my spider-sense. I lash out with my webbing on instinct. The storm stops and I open my eyes to see Batman webbed to the mirror wall facing me with his arms stuck to his chest.

"Do you think I'm ready now?" I gloat standing to my feet, he doesn't answer; just continues his stupid whispering. My spider-sense reeves up again and I get my head back in the game. His gauntlets secrete some kind of acid that dissolves my webbing. I've got to stop him.

I rush him hoping that proportional speed of the spider is fast enough. I hit him square in the chest where he's best protected. The mirrors behind him shatter. Batman drops to a knee. Just as I'm thinking I accidently hurt him he stops his whispering long enough to smirk at me then cover his face with his cape. That's when I notice two blinking lights on my chest; micro-boosters…crap.

Three things happen simultaneously I fire two web lines to the cave floor just beyond the practice mats, plant my feet and the boosters ignite. It hits me like a freight train to the chest and my arms want to quit. I tell them it will be over in a three seconds. Wait, three seconds is a life time to Batman. I have to do something. The wall behind me is only wood and plaster, past that is the trophy area. I'll have to trust my spider-sense to keep me from killing myself. I let my anchors go and am immediately airborne. I rip the boosters off but not before I smash through the wall. After some impressive acrobatics I nearly splatter against the giant penny as I come to a stop.

Six bat-a-rangs fly from my exit hole. I decide to show off. I nail the lead two with web lines and sling them into the following two. The last two I catch flawlessly. I'm still congratulating myself when my spider sense reminds me I'm still in a fight. The batarangs were just a feint. The real attack comes from behind. I manage to roll with a kick to the back of my head; even with that I'm still seeing stars.

"Focus, Spidey. Get your head in the game before you lose it." I chide myself. He's stalking toward me; I panic managing to snag him with a web then whip him through a couple displays.

He doesn't say a word as he rises from the broken wood and glass. Well he's still going with the mantra thing but you know what I mean. I can see his stance shift, uh-oh. This is the one he uses for people like Shiva and Diana. The next few moments are filled with pride and terror. Pride because I actually got Batman to see me as a threat and terror because I actually got freaking BATMAN to see me as a threat.

I would love to tell you that it was a good fight but Aunt May taught me not to lie. Less than a minute later I'm on the ground. Pain doesn't even begin to describe what I feel. It seems that when he wanted he could hit me hard enough that it bypassed my suits padding and go all the way down to the bone. I would be a mass of bruises in the morning but nothing was broken. That meant I was still in the game. Besides I had one last card to play.

He stood over me but just out of arms reach with plenty of time to react if I went for my web shooters or my utility belt. All I need to do for this trick is speak and then not even out loud. I figured since spiders don't speak English, calling them was just my way to focus a mental command. So I picture spiders in my head then think the word "come". I don't know rather to be freaked out or elated when they show up.

Batman drops to a knee taking shelter under his cape as they swarm over him. I hope my friends distract him long enough that I can limp away and hide. My muscles are reluctant to follow my commands; hesitant at going to battle against Batman again. Still I'm able to get to my feet but it feels like I'm moving through quicksand. At least my right arm has some feeling in it. It was limp and useless a minute ago. I might actually pull this off. That's when I hear them; I'm not the only one with friends.

Bats, hundreds of them, zero in on Batman feasting on my spiders. I fire a web straight up and disappear into the stalactites. I order my spiders to flee but it's too late. When it's over I watch Batman look around for me then move on to another part of the cave. I take time to process. I know that Bruce is holding back. He wouldn't really hurt me. This is really just a prolonged sparing session but why? Maybe this was so I could vent my anger toward him in the most constructive way the Wayne men know. Maybe he was trying to teach me something but what? That Batman could wipe the floor with Spider-Man I already knew that. Why was Batman doing this? That was the wrong question. Why was Bruce doing this? I've never seen Batman use a mantra but Bruce does. When I first arrived at the manor I had trouble sleeping. I had terrible nightmares. Bruce taught me affirming words he used when he was a boy. In time they helped me and I was sleeping through the night. I call up the last few minutes of my fight with Batman and replay. An eighteen inch by eighteen inch screen appears to hover in front of me. It's just one of several functions the Stark Mk VII HUD built in my mask is capable of.

Just by visual input I replay the fight but this time with emphasis on Batman's lips. If you consider reading lips another language then I speak eleven. What I read doesn't make sense. He's just saying names, different people's names and ages. What's so empowering about…May Reilly Parker age fifty eight, Benjamin Hershel Parker age sixty two…I quickly run the other names through the wi-fi link to the main computer. Batman has been recounting the names of the people that have died on his watch. These are all the people he feels responsible for, people he couldn't save. For the first time I begin to the see the weight that Bruce carries as Batman. Maybe that's another reason he doesn't want this life for me. Parents want the best for their kids, right.

I drop from my hiding place. When I find Batman he's sitting at the computer. I remove my mask and he turns to me and removes his cowl.

"Alright I get it." I reply looking at the ground. "I put everybody in danger when I tried to play hero. I should have been more responsible. I failed. I'm just lucky that Flash only got a broken arm because of my actions."

Bruce stood and put a hand on my shoulder. He takes the other and lifts my chin till our eyes meet.

"Son you could have gotten yourself hurt or killed." He said. How could I have been so dense; he's my dad he was worried about me.

"I'm sorry Bruce. I'm so sorry." I reply hugging him and no those aren't tears in my eyes.

"I know Son, I know." He replies patting me on the back. "But the good news is I've decided to train you."

"Really?"

"You and Virgil are too powerful to be left to your own devices." He says. "The bad news is you're grounded."

"So after all this…I'm grounded."