Another day, another mission briefing for the Ultimates. S.H.I.E.L.D's prime hero team in New York. Well, everyone but Spider-Man.
"Your next mission will be in Gotham City. Well, not all of you go, some of you need to keep an eye on New York.", announced their boss, Nick Fury. This came as a shock to the Ultimates. Not only is Gotham the city with the highest criminality, easily the most unsafe place in the US and maybe even the whole Earth, Gotham has their own hero echelon. So why would they be needed there?
Danny Rand, or Iron Fist, asked, "Is this why Peter isn't here? Because he is staying behind?"
Luke Cage, also known as Power Man, added, "Won't it make more sense that the leader comes onto such missions?"
"Isn't it a bit much for Peter to keep an eye on New York alone?", ended Ava Ayala their questioning. "Considering the Avengers are overseas."
Nick Fury sighed and rolled his eyes before explaining, "You all are here because I actually wanted to offer you to pick between the mission and the city, I haven't decided who goes and who stays."
"Then were is Peter, he never misses a meeting!", said Amadeus Cho, Iron-Spider.
Nick sighed again. It is true. Peter Parker, Spider-Man and leader of this group, isn't in the meeting, but that has a reason. Nick told them, "Parker applied for a vacation. which I granted him."
"Really?", said Ben Reilly, Scarlet Spider, in disblief.
Harry Osborne, the one newbie hero who yet has to pick a name, said, "Peter takes vacations pretty regularly, but he is willing to postpone them for certain missions." He added in whisper, "Not that you can call it a vacation."
"What do you mean? Peter takes so many. He's lazy. Again, I should be the leader!"
"Shut up, Nova.", said White Tiger, Ava. "Not to mention, in pure time measured, you take more time off. Unlike you, Peter just sprinkles out, while you spend weeks at a time lounging on a couch, while he does stuff."
"Not to mention, you probably think he takes more than he does because he leaves New York most of the time.", informed them Harry.
"Mm, I wonder why he leaves New York.", said Danny, "And where is he going?"
"Knowing Peter, he won't have much of a break if he stays in New York."
"Well, you're wrong, Cho.", said Harry.
It was decided who goes to Gotham. Ava, Sam, Luke, Danny, Harry, Ben and Amadeus would go. Flash originally wanted to come, but after hearing what the mission was, he noped out.
"No way in hell will I face the Joker!", was all he said.
Their mission is simple and more preventive in nature. S.H.I.E.L.D got intel that Doctor Octavius is in Gotham to strike a deal with the Joker. Their job is to prevent the deal from happening and capture Octavius, and maybe the Joker, if possible. Nick Fury does not want that even a diluted Joker Gas spreads in New York.
The group, in their hero costumes, walked around Gotham. To their surprise, the population of Gotham didn't care about their presence, albeit some said they better return to New York, implying they won't be able to handle Gotham's bullshittery. After all, Gotham is the worst.
"Mm, seeing Eugene's reaction, I now understand why Peter didn't postpone his vacation.", said Amadeus. "From what I've read, the Joker is no joke."
"Did you just try to make a pun?", asked Ava. "We should focus on the mission. Mm, should we ask the local heroes for help?"
"I am sure Director Fury would just have done that if needed.", chimed Ben in. "But as we may need to handle a villain that is normally their business, I see no reason not to." In thoughts, the clone didn't notice when he walked into someone.
Standing up, he was about to apologize, when the guy he walked into, said, "Hey, you're the Ultimates from New York!"
They realized both guys wore the trade mark suit of a Robin, the Sidekicks of the Batman. The taller one, the one Ben walked into recognized them."
"You recognize us?", asked White Tiger.
"Yes, we are aware of all heroes, in the US and beyond.", answered the second one.
"Not that beyond is much.", said the first. "Now, why are you here in Gotham?"
"We're here for a mission, classified.", said Nova.
"What type of mission?"
"Seriously Damien, you're suspect of other heroes?! Shut it!", whisper-yelled the more friendlier Robin. "Sorry about my brother, he isn't, well, a people person. But, like him, Batman will be suspect of you, why you're here on his turf, essentially." Robin ignored he let his fellow Robin's name slip.
"It is simple. A villain of ours, Doctor Octavius, wants to strike a deal with the Joker. We're her to stop that and capture Octavius.", explained White Tiger, "No further details though."
"It is fine, White Tiger, could we help you? This is our city, after all.", offered Robin to them. "I would like to ask for a deal, as there is something we would need with..."
"We can't ask them for that! It is not their business!", said Damien to the nameless Robin.
"And so is their mission to us! Listen, Ultimates. We have a runaway brother we try to track down. We got news he returned to Gotham and would really need a few more eyes to look for him. He runs as soon as he sees us... so, yeah, we kinda are stuck.", explained Robin. "He's meek - at least the last time we saw him he was - has brown hair and blue eyes, pale as paper. But quite tall."
"Taller than your common sense. And you for that matter.", chimed Damien in. Robin shot him a glare upon the insult.
"Now, his name is a bit tricky. He has a lotta middle names. He hates to go by his first, Bruce. While he switches between the rest, he mainly uses Benjamin... albeit he got adopted a while ago, which came with a name change... we do not know his new name."
"I see why you struggle to look for him.", said Harry, "The name really makes it tricky."
"Mm.", agreed Robin, nodding.
"We keep an eye for Benjamin. Now have you seen the Joker or any of his associates nearby?", answered Ava, trying to change the topic.
The Robin's had not seen the Joker for days, which in fact worried them. The Joker is never so silent for so long. For all they know he could have left Gotham, even though they try to keep his killing jokes contained to Gotham.
"Am I the only one who felt uncomfortable as Robin talked about their brother?", asked Danny, "I do not want to be roped into their mess."
"Same.", said Flash. "But Robin sounded like super desperate."
"And sad. But who won't be if their siblings runs away on sight.", said Danny as they walked though Gotham as the sun set and night time arrived. Soon Gotham's typical havoc should start.
"I wonder if all the Robins are siblings.", said Flash.
Harry chimed in, "if they're so lax with Benjamin, I doubt he was one."
"Maybe this is why they split. Maybe Benjamin is the only one who isn't a Robin.", guessed Ava.
They stopped as they walked into one of Gotham's villains. Not the one they were looking for, they still decided to take on the Riddler. Maybe he has some intel on the Joker or any deals in the underworld.
The Riddler was not alone, he was accompanied by two henchmen. Or hench ladies. Two women in ridiculous matching outfits.
"My my my, new faces, new masks, new mysteries! The Ultimates from new York!", stated the Riddler seeing them, "What brings you to Gotham? And me at that?" He then snapped his fingers and said, in a sold mood, "Echo, Query, greet the newcomers."
The ladies approached and the Riddler stayed behind, watching the confrontation, as a voice yelled, "What the heck are you doing here? Stay away from my friends!"
They saw Peter running out of an alley. While the Ultimates were surprised to see Peter, Riddler acted as if this was a normal Wednesday for him. As if Peter's face is no mystery to him. "Ah, Spiderling! Back in Gotham, I see? I didn't knew you considered these your friends."
One of the ladies - the Ultimates wasn't sure if she was Echo or Query - walked to Peter and asked, "Are you here for our offer?"
"No, Query. I already told you no.", answered Peter, surprising his team that he knows who is who of the ladies. "I am more interested if you leave my friends alone."
"We do that if you can solve my riddle!", said the Riddler. Peter just listened as the Riddler said his name sake, "What are you sitting on is on you when you take a letter away, and around you when you take two?"
"Chair, hair, then air.", answered Peter. "Your riddles get old."
"I suppose I need to come up with more difficult riddles. Well, you didn't interrupt me, so a deal is a deal. Echo, Query, we leave." The three criminals left the scene, leaving the more than just confused Ultimates behind.
"Parker, how do you know the Riddler?", asked White Tiger in a blend of anger and simple confusion.
"Oh, you would be surprised who I know here in Gotham.", answered Peter. "Now, I assume you're here for your mission? Director Fury told me about it."
"Yeah, that's why we're here.", confirmed Harry.
"In that case, I better leave, you continue.", said Peter and started to walk off.
Nova floated in front of him, asking, "Where are you going?"
"I go there where I meant to go before I interfered with the Riddler.", explained Peter.
"Oi, why can't you tell us what is going on?", complained Nova.
Peter countered, "I can tell you what I am doing, I just don't want to. But as you're probably very skeptical of my meeting with the Riddler, I guess I owe you an explanation. Listen, come to that cafe two streets from here, the Black Coffee Cat, and I explain to you. In two hours, I seriously need to get going." He then left, leaving his team even more confused.
Harry told them, "I know it seems weird, but seriously, ignore Peter. Now let's get going, we have a villain to track down."
An hour later, they walked into the Robin's again, Damien, the nameless one and a new one. The third towered over the nameless one and Damien. The one from before asked, "Did you see Benjamin?"
"No, we didn't.", answered White Tiger.
"Seriously, why are you here?", demanded Damien to know.
The tallest Robin hit Damien's head, more playfully than anything, "Not your business, Mr. Security Rank Demotion. You aren't even allowed to know lesser classified info than their mission, idiot." He then told the Ultimates, "Damien got demoted."
Damien grunted annoyed and the other nameless Robin said to him, "For fuck's sake, Damien! This happened to you for your doing, consequences! That happens when you manipulate dad to kick Benny out. Or the time you tried to kill a fellow Robin."
"That was... accidental.", said Robin.
"Yeah, yeah, as accidental as the Joker smoking the city.", muttered the tallest.
Iron First said, "Apropos Joker, I think you should know, it is about one of your villains after all."
"Apparently Doctor Octavius wants to strike a deal with the Joker, we are here to stop that from happening.", explained White Tiger.
The tallest Robin answered, "A shame Benny isn't here, he is so good at tracking down the Joker." Damien looked at him, angrily.
The other Robin said, "Benny's tendencies to attract villains is nothing good!"
"Either way, we better inform the Justice League, Young Justice and the Teen Titan's about this.", replied the tallest. "Ultimates, come to the League's head quarters tomorrow."
With that, the groups split. Unbeknownst to the Ultimates, someone followed them.
Their next stop was meeting Peter at that cafe. There they saw Peter eating some cake. He said, "You're late."
"We got lost.", admitted Harry. "We aren't that familiar with Gotham. Unlike you."
"About that, why are you in Gotham?", asked his clone. "So much at that, you spend most of your vacation here."
Peter leant back on his chair. "Simple, Ben. May isn't my aunt, she is my adoptive mother. I just call her that, because I think adoption is bollocks. I'm born in Gotham, I'm here so often because I feel homesick."
"Oh... why did you get adopted by someone in New York?", added Amadeus to their questioning.
"Mm, my father left me in New York after a trip. His wife and their son demanded he kicks me out, that kinda reached a tipping point while we were in New York.", answered Peter.
"That at least explains why you spend so much time here.", said Ava, "Your father sounds like a cunt. Or spineless. Both?"
"Not spineless, just a cunt. He always treated my siblings - especially his favorite, that little shit Damien - the best.", continued Peter. "I always was the scapegoat of the family."
"Oh, so he is that kind of parent.", stated Luke. "Do you know why?"
"I always found his treatment of me odd, so I reached out to my dead beat mom with a suspicion. And she confirmed it. He was just my step father. So I started to look for my biological father, she told me about three guys. I met with one after the Riddler. We did a DNA test and are now waiting for the result." He smiled at the end.
"Do you hope it is that guy?", asked Harry.
"Well, considering that one of the other two is dead and the other nowhere to be found, I guess I hope it is him.", admitted Peter.
"Why didn't you ask S.H.I.E.L.D for help?", wondered Ben.
"Mm, I didn't want to bother anyone with my family history.", said Peter, finishing his cake.
"Now that this is done, would you joining us for the mission? I know you are on vacation, but you are familiar with Gotham.", asked Danny.
"No.", answered Peter nonchalantly. "Like you said, I'm on vacation."
"Peter! Doc Oc wants to strike a deal with the Joker! Imagine what happens when he gets his hands on Joker Gas!", chimed Harry in rather loudly.
Peter sighed, "Fine, but you owe me for working on my vacation. Now... I have my suit with me, at the hotel I am staying at. Let's go there so that I can change."
Exiting the hotel via roof top, Spidey swung into action. "You know, I wanted to swing around Gotham for a while now! Anything I need to know about the mission?"
"We cooperate with the Justice League, the, uh, Young League and a third group.", told him Nova, flying by his side.
"You mean the Young Justice and the Teen Titans? Oh... weren't you banned from telling anyone about it? Including me?"
"Uh, yeah, but..."
Harry chimed in, "We meet them tomorrow at their Head quarters. I'm pretty excited for that part." Luke agreed with that sentiment.
Peter not so much. "Mm, great..." They landed on a different roof, Wayne Enterprises. "Damn, I hope we don't trigger Bruce Wayne's security system. His system is one of the deadliest in Gotham."
"Oh boy, we better leave then.", said Harry worried.
"Calm down, I deactivated it.", said a voice too familiar. Damien, the only Robin whose name they know was on the roof with them. Damien walked straight up to Spidey and demanded, "What did you talk about with them? Did you seriously doubt your parentage? And why didn't you tell us that you're Spider-Man? You have to be an asset for Gotham!"
"Did you spy on us, you little shit?! S.H.I.E.L.D agents at that?", was Peter's only answer. He then sighed and said, "And because of shit like this, you aren't leading the Young Justice nor the Teen Titans, Damien. Not surprising, considering you're a real son of a bitch, eh?
Damien tried to run but Peter pulled him back with his webs. "Are you worried I'm going to dox you? Relax. Unless you tell anyone I am here, I won't dox you. And why I don't help you, you convinced my legal guardians to drop me in New York, that's why." He let go of Damien, who then run off. "Coward." Peter turned to his friends, "Like I said, I know a lot of people here in Gotham."
The Ultimates returned to Peter's hotel room. Peter was in a corner in a hammock and rested, while the Ultimates discussed his life in Gotham, they tried to puzzle his life from what they knew as of now. Harry revealed himself as knowing a thing of two, so after Nova applied some pressure, Harry answered, "I knew Peter before he came to New York, dad and his step father were business partners, until dad realized how abusive he is to Peter."
"Do you know anything about the bitch comment?", asked Luke. Ava looked ot him disappointed. "As if you don't want to know."
"Oh, that. Despite preaching morals, his father was a hypocrite, he cheated a lot, with a villainess at that. Damien's mother is a villain. Thalia Ra'Ghul or whatever her name is."
"Harry... is Peter's father a villain?", asked Sam carefully.
"Mm, the steppy somehow isn't, but I don't know about his biological father.", answered Harry, "No one knows who it is."
The next morning, Peter was gone when the rest woke up, but he left a note. Harry read, "Got a call regarding the DNA test, I see you at the League's head quarter. I doubt you won't find it." It is like the Avengers Tower in New York, even a blind man can't miss it.
With Peter gone, Ava said, I... have a theory."
"That Peter is Benjamin and is related to the Robin's?", fake-guessed Luke, "We figured."
"The name's match up, the description pre-powers... what he said to Damien.", counted Sam, "Mm, that may explain why he knows the Riddler. And why he was able to fight before joining S.H.I.E.L.D."
As they arrived at the building, Spidey joined them. Walking into a massive room, they saw so many heroes they never met. They were standing near the Teen Titans as 'Blue Robin' explained the situation as to why this meeting was called. White Tiger spoke for the Ultimates as a whole. Something told her their leader does not want to be here, let alone speak. Even though Damien is not here, apparently he got banned from the meeting.
As she spoke, the Teen Titan Raven starred at Spider-Man. She felt something was weird about the New Yorker hero, but she had no idea what. "Star Fire, something is weird about Spider-Man."
"Raven, please focus.", replied her team mate.
"I disagree.", said Raven. She walked to Spidey, no really noticed by anyone, then she ripped his mask off.
Everyone stopped, realizing that.
The blue Robin yelled, "What?! Bennie is Spider-Man?!"
Batman walks to Spidey, but Super-Man, Shazam and Wonder-Woman stepped between the two.
"Seriously?", complained Batman, "And aren't you asking him how he is Spider-Man?"
"They already know, Batsy.", revealed Peter, leaving Shazam's shadow.
"Yeah, we knew.", admitted Super-Man, "So did Aqua-Man, the Suicide Squad, everyone but you and the kids..."
Peter added, "Damien knows, little shit spied on us as we discussed a few things."
White Tiger leaned against a wall, "Excuse me, any context, Peter?"
"Oh, we also want an explanation.", said the Young Justice League as well as the Teen Titans.
"Simple. The League knows my life from before I moved to New York."
"About that, why did you leave?", asked Star Fire, "And why weren't we told?"
"If I would have told any of you, my peace in New York would be impossible. Also, I didn't exactly leave.", explained Peter further. "My adoptive father and his wife just dumped me there on a trip to the Big Apple. Ask Damien."
"Adoptive?", asked one of the Robins. The first nameless Robin the Ultimates met.
"Tim, didn't you found it fishy how much worse I was treated to not just Damien but all of the Robins? I had a suspicion, and mom confirmed it. He's just my adoptive and step father.", said Peter. "Which is also why I didn't bother to fully return to Gotham. Yes, this means my mother had an affair, but is that really surprising considering her husband?"
Tim asked unsure, "Have you found your biological father?"
"Yeah, but that is not important right now."
Now White Tiger asks, "Does that mean you return to Gotham now? Leaving us?"
"Nah, I stay in New York. Besides that I don't want to share a city with Damien, my father isn't the most parental type.", answered Peter, "Now let's focus on the mission."
Shazam chimed in, "Considering your tendency to know the scum of Gotham, any progress on your part?"
"I talked to the Joker. He was unaware Doc Oc wants a deal, apparently he is going to reject it.", said Peter.
"What makes you sure of that?", asked Batman.
"This.", said Peter, showing him a paper. The other heroes took a peak at it as well.
Super-Man said, "That explains why the Joker's blood didn't work on you back then."
Iron-Spider asked, "Joker's blood? The heck does that mean?"
"The Joker replaced a few loads of blood reserves with his own a few years ago.", explained Batman, "Peter got it transferred, but it didn't do anything to him. Unlike the other people..."
"Needed a transfer after my step father and his wife gave me a beating because I won't let Damien's dog bite me. Playing they said.", explained Peter.
A lesser known hero, called Signal flew it. "Joker in the streets! The Joker!" Knowing that the Joker is part of their target, all heroes left the room, the building and out to the streets.
As they hit the scene, they saw the Joker fighting Doctor Octavius, the later getting his ass handled to him. Spidey jumped in and captured the doctor in dozen layers of his webbing. The Joker said, "No need to thank me for weakening your prey, Spiderling!"
"Oh, come on! You now, too?", complained the hero, hating that nickname.
The Joker just shrugged, then he noted Batman. "Oh, Batsy! Hit any of your children lately?" Then he was chased by the Batman.
After the Ultimates handled Doc Oc transfer to a S.H.I.E.L.D prison - without Peter as it was not his mission - they returned to the HQ of the Justice League and saw Peter talk to the League, as well as some of the Young Justice and the Teen Titans.
"... I have to reject your offers, but are you seriously surprised?", asked Peter in their earshot.
One of the Robins countered, "Do you really not want to return now that we know you're Spidey? Plus... you're still kinda the leader of the Young Justice... and the Teen Titans, if I remember correctly."
"Still no, Jason, I can't just ditch New York and S.H.I.E.L.D.", argued Peter.
"Uh, did we miss something?", asked Ava, she now too had her mask down. "You? Leader of the Young Justice?"
Jason explained, "Bennie used to be a Robin like us, as well as leading the two teams at some point."
"Eh, considering everything, I suppose Peter being a Robin makes sense.", said Sam, "And it explains how you learned to fight before joining S.H.I.E.L.D."
Days later, a bus issued by S.H.I.E.L.D picked them up. A mile away from Gotham, Amadeus connected some dots.
"Peter, was Batman your step father?", he asked carefully.
"Yes...", confirmed Peter. "But I don't want to talk about it."
Ava said, "I never expected the Batman to be like this. Never meet your heroes, huh? May I ask why he was like that to you?"
"Which part of what I said don't you get? Fine, Ava. He knew who my biological father was, in fact he hated him. This hate overshadowed a lot in his mind, still does. He thought I would turn out to be a villain like my biological father.", explained Peter, fully ignoring their faces when he mentioned his father's profession, "Jokes on him, that backfired. I admittedly nearly turned villain because of his treatment of me. Which is why I interacted with the Riddler like I did."
The Ultimates all looked away, out of the windows of the driving bus. But Sam asked, "Is your dad really a villain?"
Peter sighed and showed them the paper, test results from the DNA test he did a few days ago.
"The Joker...", said Ben, his clone, in shock. "The blood incident..."
"Holy shit, Robin wasn't joking when he said you had many middle names!", said Amadeus.