"Yes Mr. Stark, I understand this is an important meeting but it's my aunt's birthday tomorrow," Peter Parker trudged up the stairs to his apartment with his phone in hand. "Can't we move it up at all?"
His keys jangled as he opened the door to see his roommate, Dick, on his laptop bobbing his head to his punk rock. He glanced up to give a small two fingered salute to Peter who nodded back in greeting.
"I'll let you go Mr. Stark, let me know if anything changes," Peter smashed the end call button, and collapsed on the couch next to Dick.
"Long day?" Dick sipped his coffee, and continued typing.
"Mr. Stark has a meeting scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and it's Aunt May's birthday," Peter rubbed his eyes.
"Will MJ be there?" Peter almost missed the tone in Dick's voice. He glared at his raven haired roommate. "Probably, Aunt May loves her."
"Speaking of love, have you seen the Bugle?" Dick pushed the newspaper in front of Peter.
Gotham's Nightwing arrives to rid New York of spider pest
Photo by Peter Parker
Rolling his eyes, Peter tossed the newspaper away. "Jamesons had it out for Spider-man since he started showing up. It's nothing new."
"Funny how he loves me most people don't," Dick stretched, rolling his eyes. "They think I'm a vigilante who killed a bunch of people."
Peter hadn't known Dick for very long but he knew that killing was the one thing Dick wouldn't do.
A ringing drew Peter out of his thoughts. "Grayson," Dick answered. "Hey Bruce… What's his name?... Okay I'll look into it." He hung up. "Know a Flint Marko?"
Peter's stomach dropped. "Why?"
"He broke out of Ryker's Island early this morning."
"How?"
"Not sure, he somehow bypassed their inhibitor collars and escaped through the plumbing. That's the fifth this month. Guards say he'd been muttering in his sleep for weeks."
"Muttering what?"
"Ock."
Peter's face drained of color. "No, no, no. Suit up we need to go."
An hour later Spider-Man and Nightwing crept in the basement of Oscorp.
"What are we doing here again?" Nightwing broke the silence causing his colorful compadre to jump.
"Otto Octavius is a brilliant scientist who worked for Norman Osbourne until an experiment went wrong and he went insane-"
"As they do."
Spider-man shot Nightwing a glare under his mask. "Anyway he had four bionic arms welded into his nervous system that overloaded his brain. The death of his wife also didn't help, so now Norman keeps him down here" Spider-man frowned. "How have you not heard of this?"
Nightwing shrugged. "I only ever did research when I lost the first round."
Before Spider-man could issue a scathing, and incredibly insulting retort, there was a clatter. He turned to motion to Nightwing to tell him to hide, only to find the former Robin had already vanished. After muttering about how much he hated when Nightwing did that Spider-man leapt up onto the ceiling and flattened his body, wishing he wasn't clad in such a brightly colored uniform.
"-I personally believe the six will be an adequate distraction from our actual plan." The voice was calm and business-like. Spider-man thought the voice sounded familiar but he couldn't place it.
"I agree fully, Mr. Luthor,"The bone chilling voice of Norman Osbourne. "And that time should be more than enough to complete the acquisition of Stark Industries on my part, and Wayne industries on yours."
Luthor. Spider-man's mouth went drier than the Sahara. Lex Luthor, CEO and owner of Lexcorp. It distracted him to the point he missed what Luthor said next. "-be careful with our next move."
With that the two men were out of earshot, and Spider-man slipped off the ceiling and landed lightly on his feet.
"Did you hear that?"
Spider-man jumped so high he ended up on the ceiling again with Nightwing looking up at him from the ground, his lips tight whether from laughter or what Luthor said he couldn't tell.
"I need to call Batman."
Peter's thoughts distracted him as he sat next to Mr. Stark in the meeting with the Wayne Enterprise representative. He'd tried telling Stark about what had happened the night before, but he wouldn't hear it claiming the meeting took precedence.
"Well Mr. Fox was it? I'm looking forward to hearing Mr. Wayne's proposal about the merger," Stark sat back in his chair. "Now if that's all that needs to be taken care of I believe my young assistant has some important business."
Mr. Fox stood up and shook Stark's hand. "I look forward to working with you." Fox gathered up his paperwork and left the conference room.
"Now Peter I believe it was your aunt's birthday." He turned to Peter.
"Uh yeah but before that-"
Stark cut him off. "Whatever it is, it can wait until Monday, take a long weekend and enjoy the time with your aunt. No extracurricular activities."
Peter tried protesting but Stark cut him off and told him to go home. Dejected, he gave up and went to see his aunt.
"Happy Birthday May!"
Peter's aunt flashed a tearful grin and blew out the candles on her cake as noisemakers filled the air and she blew out her candles. "I'm so happy you all could join me today."
"Oh anything for you May," Peter's stomach twinged with jealousy as Mary Jane kissed May on the cheek, her red hair sparkling in the light of the chandelier. He felt a sharp elbow in his side and turned to see Dick smiling at him.
"You could not be any more obvious, bro."
"Shut up," Peter muttered.
"Well get smooth quick she's coming."
Dick slipped away to wish May, who thought he was the best person on Earth other than MJ, a happy birthday, and Peter shot him a glare feeling his stomach drop into his feet.
"Hey Tiger," MJ smiled at him, her gorgeous blue eyes twinkled with amusement, probably at his total lack of charm, subtlety, and whatever else it takes to have a normal, not awkward talk with the girl of your dreams.
"H-Hi MJ." Peter cleared his throat. He leaned up against the wall, and made an atrocious attempt to look macho. "How's it going?"
"Fantastic," she smiled. "What's up with your roommate and Gwen?"
Peter glanced at his best friend from childhood to see her pull the old "laugh and playfully push away" thing you always see in tv shows. Sniggering to himself he started, with some help from MJ, to playfully plan out the future of his two friends.
The walk home was cool, and quiet. Dick had left the party hours before to go patrol, using the excuse that he had an early meeting. Gwen had been most disappointed.
Peter had been so distracted he'd almost forgotten about what had transpired the night before. Until he saw the two people standing in front of his building.
"Excuse me?" said the older of the two, a pretty girl with shoulder length brown hair and bright blue eyes. "We're looking for a Dick Grayson, but he won't buzz us in. Could you open the door?"
"Yeah, I'm his roommate, Peter. Just a sec." Peter's keys jangled as he unlocked the door and the two strangers followed him in. As he held the door open he got his first good look at the other, a boy around sixteen with black hair and brown eyes. "So who might you two be?"
The girl shot him a nervous glance, then looked down at her hand, which held a briefcase. Peter glanced at the boy's hand; he had an identical briefcase, and Peter had seen one like it once before. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as he arrived at his door and said. "I notice you haven't answered my question, so let me guess. Tim Drake, and Barbara Gordon." He turned just in time to catch a punch thrown from Tim. "Come on in."
"Batman sent us to help Nightwing with the increase of breakouts out of Ryker's island."
Peter and Barbara sat at the coffee table while Tim scowled from the corner. "We've been looking into the breakouts but the criminals have been quiet, " Peter frowned. "I've even contacted some of their families, nada."
"Peter." Dick's voice sounded in Peter's earpiece.
"What's up?"
"Suit up there's been another breakout."
It was a weird feeling swinging through New York with someone other than Nightwing, but that's what happened as he swung towards Nightwing's rendezvous point. Barbara, or Batgirl rather, swung with just as much grace as he did and more than Nightwing, despite her cape.
"Why'd Electro break out again?" Tim, no Robin asked.
"Max Dillon-"
"Was a scientist at Oscorp who fell into a tank filled with electric eels, giving him electrical powers and driving him insane. We know this."
Spider-man forgot to shoot out a web and smacked straight into a billboard.
"You okay?" asked Batgirl, as Spider-man peeled himself off the billboard.
"Fine, just not used to teammates who do homework."
"Yeah, Nightwingonly does research after he loses the first round."
Spider-man stifled his laughter and resumed swinging.
Oscorp tower loomed before them, as the three very differently dressed compatriots landed on an adjacent building.
"What are they doing here?" Nightwing asked as he appeared behind the group.
Spider-man turned to find his roommate leaning against the fire escape. Arms crossed and eyes narrowed at his foster siblings. Batgirl rushed towards him, her arms outstretched, but Nightwing surprised everyone by holding his arm out, pushing her away.
After a more friendly nod to Robin, Nightwing looked at Spider-man, and said. "I tracked Dillon here, then contacted you for backup. I wasn't expecting these two also," he tilted his head towards his fellow Bat-family members.
"Batman sent us to help with the increase in breakouts," Robin told Nightwing.
Before Nightwing could say something stupid like they didn't need the help of two highly skilled, well trained, and very intelligent helpers, Spider-man cut in and said, "We could really use it." He shot Nightwing a glare under the mask. "We're a little outnumbered with just the two of us."
Nightwing returned the glare. "Fine I'll take Rob and move around the east side, Spidey take Batgirl around the west." He took off before anyone could protest that it would be smarter to stay together.
"Robin, tell him I need to talk to him," Batgirl pleaded.
Robin nodded, and sped after Nightwing. Batgirl sighed, turning to Spider-man and asked. "Shall we go on?" She shot her hook and swung off without another word. Spidey watched her swing and followed her, shaking his head.
Catching up, he asked. "So what happened between you and Nightwing?"
"We had a thing going until Jason… passed," she swallowed. "He took it the hardest, we got into an argument, he said I'd moved on too quickly and stormed out. He packed up the next day."
Before Spider-man could respond he felt a familiar tingling sensation, and twisted mid swing, the arrow missing his cheek by a centimeter.
"I'll get you this time Arachnid!" the thick Russian accent rang through the buildings.
"You have got to be kidding me," another arrow that was easily dodged gave away the hunter's location. "Come on out, Kraven." Spider-man called as he landed on the rooftop. The massive man known as Kraven the Hunter stepped out from behind the entrance to the building.
"I see you made bat friend," Kraven announced jovially, his yellowing teeth flashing in a malicious smile. "That is good I make friends too."
The spidey sense alerted him half a second too late.
Electricity coursed through his veins and he heard Batgirl scream as his entire body clenched like he'd just stuck the world's largest outlet. As soon as it started, it was over. "Dillon," He gasped. "I thought you were surrounded by concrete very deep under the ground."
"Good work Kraven." Spidey stiffened that wasn't Electro's voice.
"Ock," Spider-man grunted. A similar grunt next to him told him Batgirl had tried and most likely epically failed at trying to stop the three extremely dangerous men."And I was hoping to not have any more surprises today."
"You weren't expecting the six of us were you, just like we weren't expecting another bat."
Six?
Pushing himself up, Spider-man looked around, and his stomach evacuated his abdomen, and took up residence somewhere around his left foot. All the escapees from Ryker's Island in the last month, Doc Ock, Kraven, Elektro, Sandman, Vulture, and Rhino.
"And we've kidnapped your favorite damsel in distress to make it even better." One of Ock's arms rose up holding Mary Jane, who while looking scared, didn't look quite as terrified as one would expect. Probably from how often she got captured.
"Question," Spider-man raised his hand. "Why can't you give her a break, and find another damsel?"
Every one of the villains, including Ock who had an intellect that dwarved most geniuses, scratched his head.
"Food for thought," Spidey used the confusion to launch several webs at Vulture. Batgirl followed his cue, and launched a handful of small grenades at Rhino. Sand covered his foot as a large figure formed next to him and formed a hammer from his arm. Leaping over Sandman, Spider-man launched another web at him only to have another surge of electricity course through his body."Electro, don't you know bug zappers are for mosquitoes not spiders?"
That particular quip earned him another jolt. He nearly bit his tongue off as he held back a scream. It ended and he shot a web as far into the sky as he could. The back of his neck tingled, and a metallic claw grabbed him, launching him into a random barrel on the rooftop.
"Give it up Spider-man," Ock said in his oily voice. "Your bird friend is nowhere in sight, and the two of you are outmatched."
Sand covered his body and he felt himself being pressed tight up against Batgirl. "Kill him." Was all Ock said.
A small explosive landed on the sand, and blew up turning the sand to glass.
The last time Spider-man had been so happy to see something was when he was little and got a Hot Wheel in the bottom of a cereal box. But that was how he felt when he saw a black suited figure with a large blue hawk on his chest. Nightwing flung a birdarang at Vulture, and launched himself at Kraven, performing a no-handed cartwheel that he turned into a kick right to the hunter's jaw. A hand pulled Spider-man up and he saw Robin fly past him, cape fluttering like the wigs of the bird he was named after.
"Come on," Batgirl's voice growled in his ear. "We need a tactical retreat."
Spider-man ran to the edge of the building, and launched himself off, taking one last look at MJ's significantly more terrified face.
Spider-man crawled through the window to his apartment, ripping his mask off as Batgirl followed him in.
"Who was she?" Batgirl asked.
Before he could answer Nightwing and Robin flew through the window. "Get into civvies now," Nightwing ordered.
Five minutes later, the four sat around the coffee table in civilian clothes. Dick avoided Barbara's eye as he rubbed his hands together. "Why MJ?" he asked.
Peter just shrugged. "Not sure, I saved her once, and every villain started going after her."
"Well we're gonna need to get her back," Barbara leaned back in her chair. "And we're outnumbered."
"I may know a guy for that," Peter stood up, pulling out his phone, and pressing the call button. "Hey it's Peter… Did you follow that lead I asked you about?"
Peter walked down the street to the dark house, Dick by his side. "So who did you say we're meeting?" He asked.
"She's right there," Peter pointed to the figure fast approaching.
"Hi Peter," Gwen Stacy grinned, then flashed a flirty look at Dick.
Dick either ignored it or didn't notice, "Is this the house?"
Gwen nodded, not taking her eyes off Dick. "My dad works with his dad. They're pretty close."
"Well I guess we should knock then," said Peter.
The door was answered by a huge man with dark skin and a policeman's uniform. "Miss Stacy, what a pleasant surprise." he said in a deep voice fitting of a man his size. "How can I help you?"
"Just looking for Miles," Gwen's teeth flashed in a smile.
"Well, you know the way."
The trio walked past Mr. Morales through the house to a messy room with a small desk. At the desk sat a thin boy with the same dark skin as his father, and a small afro. His ears were covered by sound canceling headphones that they could just hear Post Malone playing in. Gwen walked up behind him and tapped his shoulder. The boy jumped and turned to the trio.
"Gwen!" he grabbed his chest. "Hey when did you get here?"
"About five minutes ago," Gwen grinned. "Miles this is my friend, Peter."
Peter's spidey sense went off the charts to the point he had to screw up his eyes, and take deep breaths. The feeling subsided, and he opened his eyes to see Miles having a similar reaction.
Peter nodded. "He'll do."
The unusual team sat back around the coffee table with a map spread out discussing plans to get back MJ.
"We need to draw them out, with who we know they want," Dick said.
"I'm afraid to know who that is," Peter groaned.
"Sorry bro if you want her back this is what has to happen," Dick leaned back. "We just need a where."
"Guys you're gonna wanna see this!" Gwen called from the other room.
The other five rushed through the hall into Dick's bedroom. (Peter's was far too messy and didn't have a tv for keeping an eye on the news.) Gwen had the news on and it showed a close up of Doc Ock.
"I know you're watching this Spider-man," his oily voice said. "And you know who I have, now if you ever want to see Ms. Watson again, You'll meet us at the Oscorp tower at eleven thirty. No cops unless you want to forfeit Ms. Watson's life. Come alone Spider-man." The tv went back to regular scheduled programming, and the six turned to each other.
Dick spoke first. "We have a where."
Spider-man swung from building to building, really wishing the circumstances were better. The night was beautiful. Cool, with a bright full moon, and not a single cloud in the sky.
Of course that was all tarnished by the fact that the girl of his dreams was trapped by six of his biggest enemies, and the only plan he had was extremely risky.
He landed at the foot of Oscorp tower which loomed like a glass mountain in the middle of the concrete jungle. Taking a deep breath, he shot webs out, and used his old slingshot technique, shot himself up onto the wall.
He climbed the glass as fast as he could, fully expecting to be attacked before he made it to the top, but somehow he made it safely. The top of the palatial building was empty, except for a tied up MJ. He took two steps forward then the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he felt the metallic claw strike his back. "Ock," Spider-man groaned.
"That's right Spider-man," Ock's voice sounded behind him as one of the claws wrapped around his throat. "You were stupid enough to try to save the woman, and now we have you all alone."
"I'm... not… alone," Spider-man choked out. "Get.. him… Kid."
A loud POP rang out and a static shock sent Doc Ock flying backwards. Kid Arachnid materialized where Ock had been standing moments before.
"Get her out of here!" yelled Spider-man, then into his com, "Now Nightwing."
Ock rose, rubble falling from his trench coat. "Get him."
The rest of the six appeared out of nowhere. Snarling, they all rushed forward, but before they reached him, a web shot from somewhere behind Spider-man. The web blinded Rhino, and sent him stumbling.
Spider-woman, in a new black and white suit, landed next to him. Nightwing landed on the other side of him with Robin and Batgirl. Kid Arachnid, having safely gotten MJ to another building landed next to Spider-woman, the red in his black suit standing out.
Spidey turned to Nightwing. "What's the plan, chief?"
Nightwing grinned. "Let's put them back in Ryker's Island the hard way." With that he launched himself at Vulture, escrima sticks flashing with electricity. Robin went for Sandman, Batgirl went for Kraven, Kid Arachnid used the slingshot technique to shoot himself at Electro. Spider-woman and Rhino started going toe to toe.That left Doc Ock for Spider-man.
Sending web after web at the mad scientist, Spidey shot forward, trying to use his speed to his advantage, Spidey dodged the metal arms, sending webs at the doctor's face, and arms. An arm smacked him in the chest, nearly sending him off the building, but he managed to just get a handle on the edge. Taking a moment to survey the battle, he saw that his teammates had all their respective on the ropes, even Kid Arachnid who was fighting the extremely dangerous Electro.
Grinning under his mask, he launched himself back into battle with Ock, blow for blow, back and forth the battle went. Ock's arms gave him the advantage in strength, but Spidey beat him in the speed department. Unfortunately Spider-man tired, whereas mechanical arms didn't.
An arm came out of nowhere, striking Spider-man on the side of the head, sending him sprawling. "Your luck has run out Spider-man," Ock grinned maliciously. "This is the end."
His arm raised high, and was hit by a web. Kid Arachnid and Spider-woman had defeated their opponents, and caught Doc Ock in their webs. Spider-man leapt up and added his own webs to the trap until Ock was nothing but a wriggling lump of mechanical arms, and evil genius.
"Now how are we supposed to get all six of these psychos back to Ryker's island all by ourselves?" asked Kid Arachnid.
A clang sounded behind Spider-man with a familiar voice. "I believe I can help with that."
Spider-man turned to Iron Man, who had his arms crossed and helmet up. "What did I say about extracurricular activities?"
It took them all an hour to explain what happened, and tie up the bad guys. During which time Nightwing and Iron Man got into a very heated argument about Nightwing not working for Stark and not needing orders from him, until Batgirl stepped in and settled the argument.
"I'll get them back to Ryker's," said Stark when they were done. "I'll see you monday." He nodded at Spider-man, then took off, carrying a giant web of supervillains.
"Let's go home," said Spider-man.
"Whoa slow down MJ," Peter picked up a box to bring up to his new room. "Yeah the new place looks great… Of course, Gwen is excited to be living with Dick… I'll keep you updated… Bye." Hanging up the phone, he saw Dick standing at the window with his arms crossed. "It's quite a view isn't it?"
Dick smiled. "This is our city, we're going to defend it, but we need a leader."
Peter punched his shoulder. "We already have one bro, and Barbara has some leads on new members."
Dick's smile broadened. "Then let's get to work."
A/n these are the only two stories I have written in this series so far, if people are interested I'll work on more that I have planned, but it may be a while until any are done