I honestly thought this would take longer to get out, but I guess this shows me that I've come far from how I used to write. Sometimes it would take me weeks and months to get a chapter out for a particular story, and then I just end up dropping it.
Not this time though. This time I'm making sure to finish what I started before I press on to other stories.
II: Useless
Chapter 8: Survival of the fittest
Peter and Cassandra made it to the batcave, with the latter being swung there. They were both in their costumes, both now stood in the batcave with the likes of Alfred, Dick, Barbara, and Bruce of people waiting for them. His eyes were kept on the batcomputer, hands and body leaning on the batcomputer near Barbara's side. He saw the time, it being around 9 in the night, "You've gotten faster," Bruce commented when looking back at the pair briefly as they walked up to them.
The pair stood near them, the small bat family that resided in the cave. It should feel good to see them all here, but both Cassandra and Peter didn't feel that at all. Beyond the air of uncomfort between them, it was the same with the others. And in some cases, it had to do with Bruce being here.
"That's what years of experience does to you," Peter said, slinging both his and Cassandra's bag to the side, "So…Gangs all here huh?" He asked, knowing that Bruce shouldn't be here.
But it was inevitable, Bruce can't shake the life he started years ago, the crusade he pass on to almost everyone here in the batcave, "Bruce kind of just barge in with Babs," Dick said, leaning by the batcomputer next to Alfred, enough so he can turn and see the monitor, or look at the bat family entirely, "Apparently he was keeping tabs on the situation."
Peter sighs, momentarily looking at Cassandra but she has her arm crossed; focus on what's in front of her and not who's right beside him. So Peter did the same, having his hands by his side, "Figures. So what do we got?"
Alfred brought up information on his side, one showcasing a man with a crazed look in his blue eyes, a maniac smile, and a red hair that a strand of it gloss over his eyes, "Cletus Kasady, match a bit of the description from Zsasz, and found surveillance of him in the Asylum that Bruce set up just in case for these moments," Barbara explained, "The only reason why we could only get anything from that specific camera was because any footage involving him was completely wiped in the Asylum. I asked Cash and he doesn't know why either, and oddly enough, even he doesn't remember Cletus at all."
"So what? He put himself in there?" Peter questioned, finding it all bizarre of what this killer is even doing in the first place.
"Quite possibly, he seems to be a person with no exact goals or interest to his carnage," Alfred spoke, being his turn, "It was a bit hard to find pieces of information outside of Gotham, but whatever was deleted had left bits of breadcrumbs to find something of Cletus," he brought up more information of Cletus while Barbara was rummaging through camera's in each district of Gotham, trying to locate him, "Born in your old home of New York City master Parker. He grew up with violent parents, transferred to his grandmother when they both died, and ended up killing her by pushing her down the stairs at 10, but it was ruled an accident."
"Lies," Cassandra muttered, clenching her hands with her biceps, hating that this killer was already doing it at a young age.
"He then proceeded to switch from home to home, proving more of his psychoticness as he no longer could hide some of his killings. Eventually, he was arrested for adult charges at 17," Alfred concluded.
"Ok, but that doesn't explain Arkham. If he was in either the raft or rikers then why did he come here? Who authorized his transfer for Arkham?" Peter again questions, questions that weren't adding up and making him just a bit more frustrated.
"That's where things get muddle," Bruce mentioned, "He has close ties with someone that wiped much of his history, a deep clean that we only barely found from old records, meaning whoever did help him, was sloppy in the end."
Peter's response was a small groan when his hands rub against his chin. Cassandra had her own moment of looking at him, seeing his growing agitation through his small movement. She wanted to help with that, hold his hands or one of his fingers to know that they'll catch this killer. But after their argument it was hard to tell where they could stand.
She wants to be Batwoman, only Batwoman.
And he wants to be both spider-man and Peter Parker.
They hail from two different worlds that now are becoming harder to stay put with one another. Both want to do something, anything to reassure them that beyond the killer, they will get through their turmoil they have right now.
But this is far more important than their relationship, "And Wilson? We still got eyes on him right?"
Alfred nodded to Peter, "He's still recovering and still making his presence less known to the public. Cassandra's location is still attached to him as we speak."
"Got him!" Barbara moves the screen on her end to find Cletus and a group of others going down the Gotham sewers, "We first had sight of him on this part in Chinatown of Old Gotham, and now this was taken only a minute from now on the upper west side."
Alfred would then pull up a layout of what that part of the sewer system would like, "There are multiple routes you'll need to explore here. Some would lead deeper and others would lead to dead ends."
"And since I'm the quickest, I would take first sight," Peter said.
"Going into Gotham sewers huh? It's like a maze down there, a great place for hideouts, but if you choose improperly you might find Killer Croc down there," Dick pointed out.
"No," Peter shook his head, "These days he's with the suicide squad, haven't seeing him in awhile and hope he's doing ok. Mostly, it's Solemn Grundy down there anyhow."
"Beyond that, it looks like this carnage killer is setting up a meeting down there," Bruce deduced.
"Meeting?" Cassandra brought up with a query in her tone.
"Assumingly so, this all points to him likely building his own army. God knows what for."
Peter can see it in Bruce's eyes; the sheer focus, the grip he had on the table, his small scowl, the will, the need, to not be a bystander and take part in this fight that was coming. Bruce wants to be out there again, but Peter can't let that happen.
He made a promise to Cassandra he wouldn't, "Bruce," the tone of uncertainty got Bruce's attention, looking at Peter with an eyebrow raised, "You know we got this right?"
Bruce knew where Peter was going with this, and he saw the various expressions from everyone; Dick who now held a frown when staring at him, Alfred kept his eyes glued on the screen as he couldn't afford to look at him, to face him. Barbara having a worried expression, knowing she rather Bruce not to try to put the cowl on again.
Peter on the other hand, he can tell from his posture alone he was keeping him in check, keeping him in place, and making sure he doesn't screw up what he's got going on now.
Peter was and still is the person to keep him in check, and he was the same for Peter. If it wasn't Alfred, it was Dick, but since he went his own separate way, and when Jason had died, or Barbara lost the use of her legs thanks to Joker, Peter filled that spot as time passed on in his career as spider-man. So when one or the other wasn't there to make sure they don't crack, things go too far in the left field.
Just like the mistakes he made in public rather than Batman, or the more worse subject with Joker for Bruce. Same went with Peter; he was never angry or envious when Bruce couldn't help him, he had other priorities in those times, and Peter always wanted to rely on his own self when it came to doing what's right. He learned a lot from those failures and mishaps. If Bruce was there, he wouldn't be able to be who he is now. And when he was there, he made sure his emotions were kept in control when things got hasty.
But Cassandra? She was harder to crack. Compared to all the people, all the robins, the bat females he helped train and grew to be their own individual self, Cassandra was in every shape of who Bruce is, the real Bruce. Not the intelligent side, or the charismatic side he puts on a play for everyone outside the cave, no, she represents the physical embodiment of the bat itself.
Dick was the more agile fighter, smart in his own right, but courageous and a beacon of light for others who would follow him into battle. He's always the shining example of the good that Bruce did when taking care of him after the loss of his parents.
Barbara was the more balanced fighter, she made sure she was good at everything, not great, but enough so that there weren't any holes in how she approached anything she faced when she had the usage of her legs. She shares much of her father's, former commissioner Gordan, characteristics; stubborn, brave, and the will to do anything and everything to keep the people she love and her city safe.
Jason was the more brutal fighter, anger drove him to do what's necessary by any means, it caused him his own death, but also is what drives him more these days. The regret of not being able to save Jason on time still got to Bruce, and him coming back 2 years ago doesn't help of being reminded of failing to save him.
Tim was the cerebro fighter, the smartest one, figuring out Bruce and Dick's identity with ease, and proved himself why he wanted to be robin, to carry out the mantle. Simply by enduring and pushing forward. Times like this, Bruce feels Robin is needed more than ever, but sadly, Tim would likely never wear that symbol ever again after what the brutality Joker put him through.
Stephanie was the odd fighter, using unorthodox tactics to get her ways. She wasn't the smartest, the strongest, or the fastest fighter he taught, but she was unique and unpredictable when it came to rising to the challenge. Enough so she became Batgirl when Cassandra no longer wanted to be it about two years ago. She proved to not only herself, but to Barbara and Cassandra that she deserves to be the new Batgirl at the time, to be a better person knowing her father was a two bit criminal.
Peter, while he had his own moments of teaching when he wanted it, he was actually the best out of everyone. Smart, fast, strong, quick on his feet, adapting,always pressing forward no matter what happens, and intelligently sound to keep up with the smartest of people. He had powers to help him, but it wasn't the power that defined his heart, his brain, his choices, and who he is. He already had that in him when he learned what power and responsibility truly meant.
In all honesty, Peter is the representation of someone who could keep Gotham safe beyond the night. In all that he has been through, Peter is still fighting to do that exact same thing. In some semblance, Bruce still feels proud of the young man even at several points, he wanted him to live a normal life.
And personally, Bruce still feels that is the case for Peter.
And Cassandra? A woman who was raised by an assassin, learned to kill as a child, learn body language then language itself, watches everyone and anything before she presses on the attack, Cassandra was the embodiment of a perfect fighter, a perfect soldier, and a perfect warrior. It's why Bruce chose her, not just because everyone in the Bat family wasn't fit for the role, but because she proved herself that day.
That day when they face each other as the sun rises up over Gotham, she proves herself that he can pass on the torch to her. That she, and only she, can bring back the meaning the bat symbol once was for the people of Gotham. And she'll preserver through the grit, the pain, the torture of it all for Gotham.
Even if it cost her livelihood, and cost her happiness.
Because of her capability, it was hard for him to understand how she was eyeing him, not because of the cowl and its dark eyes covering up her expression, but how much she kept her own body still.
She was looking at him, just as so, and he couldn't tell if she felt anything when watching him. But one thing he knows, may know at least, she of all the people here wants him to simply not fight, or take part in this. Because she doesn't trust in him anymore.
No one does ever since he killed Joker, ever since he went on a warpath to stopping crimes and criminals in its entirety, "...Every bit of help counts, I have to be here," Bruce ended up getting call that he had to take, a small undelightful expression meant it was no one of importance, but a bother. He moved away from the group, hand in pocket, "This is Wayne speaking."
Dick moves himself, more between Cassandra and Peter who had their eyes on Bruce, "So um… I know my memories are still shaky, but I assume Alfred and him aren't on the best of terms these days huh? Way worse than anyone else here?" Dick whispered.
Cassandra didn't answer, staying quiet.
Barbara also didn't answer, but glanced at Alfred who simply ignored it.
Peter was different, sighing, "I'll explain after we handle this Kasady guy first. It's not exactly great news."
"When is it ever? Apparently Jason is drinking to death, Tim doesn't talk to any of us, Steph feels way too normal then she should, also you two are acting pretty funny right now," he noted to Cassandra and Peter, both who's only respond by looking away, "I don't know what's going on with Selina, Babs here has been more quiet then I'm use too, And Alfred-"
"Master Grayson," Alfred stopped typing away, "Enough…Please?"
Dick scratched his hair, his questioning only served to make not only him but everyone uncomfortable, "..Sorry. Just…Everything feels odd, I mean we're still a family here right?" Dick asked.
And the saddest part was no one really had an answer. Showcasing how everything changed as Dick was recovering, and now he has an understanding how deep that change was. He let out a small sigh before clapping his hands together, "Ok then… Enough waiting, let's get this going right?" He slapped both Peter and Cassandra's shoulders as he jogged to the batmobile, "I call shotgun!"
"No," Bruce voices with authority as he finishes talking to the people on his phone.
"No?" Dick eyebrow raised when back flipping on top of the batmobile, "Come on Bruce I can handle myself like always!"
"Stick to surveying the area Dick, let Peter and Cassandra handle the rest," Bruce sanctioned.
A small scowl became apparent on Dick's face, "Bruce this won't be like last time. I'm good," he flipped off the batmobile, "I'm great," he added a cartwheel when moving back to the bat family that watched his sporadic movement, "I'm not a full on cabbage case anymore. Babs, back me up here."
Barbara turns her chair, looking in the eyes of her once dynamite duo. She didn't say a word first, but then she looked at Bruce, "If I was able to walk again, right here and right now, I would go back on the field to help them Bruce."
"See! Sh-"
"I'm not entirely saying I approved," Barbara said, holding up her hand up, "Unlike me Dick, Joker beat you worse than he did to Jason before he killed him. It was enough that when you had your aneurysm you were supposed to die," Barbara put her hands together, not wanting to think about that day, but she needs to put it into perspective for him, "...I get that you're healed, but we don't know how much. I mean we haven't even run any tests here."
"Why run tests? Alfred and Peter here got a small taste of me being the flying Grayson again!" Dick argued, "You can't all be against this right?" Dick looked at each and everyone of them in the cave; while they eyed him, what was clear to Dick was the uncertainty of Dick's health, "...Right?" His eyes drift to Peter, "Peter..? Come on, you saw me in action."
"I did.. And you look great, almost like before."
"But?"
Peter took a few seconds to make his statement as clear as possible, "...But as I said and Babs too; no one was supposed to come out like how you did, not without some hole's that can't be fixed."
Dick looked down for a second, taking off his domino mask for a second, looking at it, the identity he made after years of being in Bruce's shadow. To Dick, it wasn't fair what happened to him, and it wasn't fair of the skepticism he's now getting treated.
It wasn't fair, yet he understands the skepticism. He responds the same way like everyone else is.
Alfred would get up from his seat, "Master Grayson," placing a hand on his shoulder, "We just want to make sure that what happened before doesn't happen again."
As Dick looked up to Alfred, the elder man that had a play in not only the others, but shaping him to be who he is, Alfred knows he and everyone is coming from place with good intention. But that doesn't mean he has to like it. He gently shrugs his shoulders off, "Fine…" Dick put back on his domino mask and walked to the batmobile, automatically open for him as he sat in the passenger seat.
Peter looks at everyone momentarily before looking at Dick. Bruce took note of the way he was looking; even with the mask on he could tell Peter found Dick's little argument odd, "You see it too?"
Peter nodded, "No matter how little it is, something's off," he whispered to the group, "Dick wouldn't just outright argue back from a simple test. And he's too touchy on the subject involving how much health is approved."
"Even so, I don't like us exiling him," Barbara spoke of her opinion on the matter, "You all know, whatever is going on with him, he's going to fight with the both of you right? That choice can be taken away from us if that time come's."
Cassandra shook her head, "Won't let it happen," she then looked to Peter, "Right?"
He again nodded, "You know what button you need to press.. Once I'm down there, I'll set up multiple GPS tracking devices to follow my location, and I'll set up spider bots so Babs and Alfred can take note of the area I'm going in. I'll make sure to tell you when you can enter the sewer system but you need to hang back a bit. Just in case, we need this killer to know he'll be facing me and only me."
She nodded and proceeded forward to the batmobile. Peter was going his way, outside where the drought of a supply of water had an opening for not only him but Cassandra to exit, "Peter," Peter turned his neck to Bruce, "Tread carefully."
Peter simply nodded. The batmobile afterburner engine reeve throughout the cave, Peter made sure he had a proper utility belt for the supplies he needed, and he swung out the cave just when Cassandra put on the boost gauge on to leap out of the cave.
Heroes were in action, no matter how tense things are behind their mask.
Cassandra made sure to slow down her driving as requested. She needed to make sure the villains don't know of her presence as they'll know of Peter's presence. The car ride to Old Gotham was quiet before Dick decided he didn't like the silence between them, "You've gotten better at the wheels," he said.
"Thanks," Cassandra plainly said.
"Love the new outfit, really embracing the knight," he added in another comment.
"Thank you," she again said in the same tone as before.
Again went quiet before Dick spoke again, "..I'm sorry. Back there I just want to be useful again and not be stuck in the passenger seat."
"You are," she jested, plainly.
It got Dick to chuckle, "Good one. But seriously, after a whole 12 month period of constant therapies from off world, having Kory's sister using tech to get me back to where I'm at? I thought you guys would trust the fact I did nothing to boost myself. I mean, Peter and Bruce are the paranoid type while Babs and Alfred are the worry type, but you? You were always quiet, and you rather be the only one out there than to have others help in the crusade to protect Gotham."
Cassandra didn't say anything at first, cutting corners to corners, not letting other cars stop her, "Yes. Everyone deserves to be…Happy."
"Even Peter?" He asked, putting his arms by the back of her seat.
"Yes, he deserves it the most."
"But you know he won't stop."
"...Yes…"
Silence rained on the car once more, allowing the conversation to take hold before Dick needed to ask Cassandra something, "What happened on your date with him?"
"W-what?" Stuttered and briefly looked back at him, not expecting Dick to ask that at all times.
"As I said, you two were acting funny. I'm not a great body language reader like you or Bruce, but I'm no slouch either. From my memories, especially from earlier, you two were always close, real close. But this is the only time, regardless of costume, you two were distant from each other. So…What happened?"
"...We fought."
"Ah, the ole arguing with one another. It's wha-"
"Don't wanna talk about it," Cassandra cut him off, quickly wanting to focus on the mission.
"Can't keep it bottling inside you Cass," Dick mentioned, "Now would be a good time to get it out and about. Plus, it would make up for 12 months since we haven't really talked beyond simple texting."
"Hm.." Dick would've laughed from hearing that. The small little groan almost reminded him of Bruce every time he pokes and prod in his business, especially when it came to dating wise, "..I feel like…I'm losing him…That I'm not…Enough for him," Cassandra said with honesty in her voice.
"He'll be fine, you both will," Dick reassured, "You two have been committed to each other for about 2 years now, it's bound some complications would rise at some point."
"..We argued before.. Sometimes it was about how…I did things…Sometimes he kept stuff from…Me…Sometimes I chose to work…Alone…And sometimes, it involved his…Former partners," Cassandra said, each sentence becoming harder to say due to her speech impediment. She needed to try to convey her thoughts better than saying things that had her stopping almost every time, "...Now it's different. The mask. Us. Is getting between us. I want to be me. He wants both, the spider and him. I can't be him."
Dick took in all that she said, both her proper and improper way, "You know Cass, you're not Bruce right?"
"I've killed."
"But you were a child, raised by a father who only wanted a killer Cass. It's different for Bruce because he was pushed so far he had too."
Dick heard her scoff, "Could happen to me. One day."
"But it won't!" Dick said a little louder, "You know better, we all taught you to be better. Every since Barbara and Bruce took you in after Gotham went no man's land, they and then everyone else help teach you to be better."
Cassandra grip the wheel of the seat, her teeth clench as she hated hearing the same damn thing over and over. That she's different from Bruce, that she was taught to be better overtime, that in hindsight, she can be something beyond Batwoman.
And as she turned hard left, she grew tired of the same words, "NO ONE UNDERSTANDS! I AM HIM! I WILL BE HIM! THIS IS ALL I EVER WANTED! I'M DESTINED TO END UP LIKE HIM!"
Dick was repulsed by her shout, not used to her shouting like that. But he let her do it as she was picking up the speed in her batmobile due to her annoyance being raised, "MOM! DAD! ALL KILLERS! WHAT STOP ME TO BE LIKE TH..EM! BECAUSE I HAVE…PETER?!" She turns on the afterburners, speeding right down the street of Gotham, wheezing pass traffic lights and cars.
Dick held on to his own seat, 'Dear lord, don't put me into a coma for what i've done."
"JOKER TOOK EVERYTHING! MY LIFE! MY JOB! MY HOME! MY FAMILY! I CAN'T HAVE THAT! I CAN'T HAVE WHA…T PETE…R WANTS! BECAUSE I'LL LOSE…IT! ALL OF IT! EVEN IF IT COST HIM! I CAN'T BE WEAK! MUST…BE STRONG! STRONGER..THAN BATMAN!"
"CASS BUILDING!"
In her blind rage, Cassandra gasp, pumping the brakes as hard as she can, causing it to drift and she steer the wheel to the left, banging and scraping some parked cars that blew their sirens, but thanks to Dick, she manages to safely keep the car from crashing through a building. Dick let out a sigh of relief, placing his hand together as his prayers were heard, "Thank you jesus…"
Cassandra slowed down, noticing on her map in front of her that she was catching up to Peter too soon. She slows down the batmobile and focuses on calming herself, breathing in and out, "...Sorry."
"I mean I did push your buttons," he said with a shrug, "So I should be the one apologizing."
"..No…Needed it.. Needed it out. As you said," she lets out a huge sigh from her chest, "I love him. I'm losing him. Don't know. What should I do?" She inquired more of Dick's wisdom on her predicament.
"Well..First step, take a leap of faith. Talk to him about all what your feeling, and trust that'll he not only listen, but want to help you through it Cass. Because I bet, no matter what happens, Peter will never lose faith, or trust in you Cass."
Dick had a point, in everything he said, he had a point. And if Cassandra was honest with herself, that was the scary part. Taking a leap of faith in hoping Peter wouldn't react so negatively of all that she's been feeling either since being Batwoman or what's going on now, "...He does, better than me."
The car ride was quiet after their heart to heart conversation. But Cassandra was no longer worrying about the doubts or stressing about what to do next with her relationship with Peter.
She has to do what she's scared of, take a leap of faith. For Peter. For his love. For their future together. Questions is when, when does she do this with all that's going on now? And why is now the time for poor timing?
Peter found himself in sewers of Old Gotham, the smell was something nasty that even his mask couldn't protect him from, 'I'm really gonna need to wash the suit later,' with the tap of the side of his mask, he open his line up for communication, "I made it to the sewer system," from his utility belt, he implanted a small device on top of the small tunnel he maneuvered in, "Setting up GPS signals," then he also took out two small spider like bots, turning it on, it cause them to move on their own, and even took flight, "Spider bots on too. How's it looking oracle?"
"Got a signal, should be able to catalog your every movement once your partners get here. We're also gonna reroute satellite coverage to get in contact with you once we lose you on our end," Oracle, or more precisely, Barbara spoke.
"Good, Batwoman, start approaching Old Gotham now. My signal will get weak from here on out. Oracle will make sure to keep my GPS signal locked on once I plant them," Peter said as soon as he jumped down into the sewers.
"Heard."
Peter would quickly move through the sewer system; using his acrobatics, his wall crawling, and web swinging to quickly bypass places that either had too much water or barely any room to move with the constant roaches and rats that ran along the ground or pipes of the sewer. Sometimes he would hit dead ends like Alfred said, but then quickly made sure to double time back and go to the next pathways.
He needed to be quick, who knows what this carnage killer got planned.
He was heading deeper and deeper to the sewer system, and from the lenses behind the mask, he saw his HUD indicated that his connection to either the batcave or Cassandra and Dick was getting further and further away. Luckily, the spiderbot acts and his lenses have a mini wifi system in place. It allows the batcave to see what he sees, and pick up audio if need be, "Really should come up with a way to avoid this," Peter mention to himself out loud, "Been dealing with it for 12 years and still haven't bothered hatching out the problem with these sewer systems so communication don't have to be faulty," Peter commented to himself when running along the ceiling before launching himself into a tunnel, "And I made sure to have proper channeling in space for god sake!" he would throw out two webs to propel him faster through the tunnels.
Then a slight problem occurred soon after. The thing about these sewer systems of Old Gotham was that it was a maze; easily able to get lost like any other and sometimes having way too many points that allowed paths to diverge to other sections of Gotham sewers.
When swinging ahead, Peter found a huge space, dirty water moving on the ground, steel pipes and steel floors tied to each tunnel. The tunnel part had halted him. He hung upside down as he watched around him, "Great. Lost. Why do criminals like the Gotham sewer system so much?" Peter complained to himself. Letting his feet hold himself on the web line that was strap to the ceiling of the sewer, he shot multiple web lines, each touching the walls that intersected to other pathways, "I know it makes it harder for good guys like me to track you down, but come on!" And he then ties them together, "It's not worth the hassle," with all the webs connected, he lets the webbing go, crouching on the center of the web lines.
He was being the spider, tracking down criminals like how a spider would track their prey. Waiting, patiently, for a single vibration to occur before him. He made sure to send the two spider bots in other areas of the tunnels just in case. But it didn't sit well for Peter to wait, "With all the technology in the world, people still haven't been able to set up wifi down here. My spiderbots may have it, but then I would need more money and resources for stronger wifi for communication purposes. Either way, who would even try to build wifi down here? It's not the subway station, only workers, thugs, rodents, and giant creatures lurk down here. Honestly, I probably should build one myself to make it easier on us…Wait, why haven't I done that?" Peter asked himself before easily knowing why, "Oh! BECAUSE OF YOU!"
Peter pointed to a rat, swimming nearby and paying him no mind, "AND YOU!"
He pointed to two roaches, surprisingly fighting one another on the surface of the pipes. One of them was able to push the other. Because of the opportunity, the rat swam after it, taking it by the mouth, and started chewing it as soon as it found ground to eat.
Peter put his hands by his mouth, "..I'm so sorry," he then saluted the poor roach, "May you rest in peace, and be a strong food source for master splinter."
it was actually dark seeing that the rodents here have to fight to survive just as humans. It was a twisted sense of joke because in the end, human or not, survival of the fittest goes around for everyone and everything.
The spider bots would come back, almost tilting in angle out of curiosity, "Nothing of importance going on! Just waiting, and talking to myself, something i'm used to doing…" Peter would then tap the side of his mask to link with his spider bots, a few taps from his arms on the suit, he was able to see what they saw from the lower corner of his lens. They both found a dead end in each different tunnel they went in, having Peter head drop in sulkiness, "I hate waiting.."
But Peter didn't have to wait too long as he then felt the vibration after minutes of waiting, turning behind him, he didn't move at first as he heard the subway moving along. He sucked under his teeth, his intuition was right not to act on it, "Yeah. Go figure that would happen," shaking his head, he remembered to put a GPS nearby for Cassandra.
But then suddenly, he felt a vibration coming from a web line, more south east from where he's at. He again waited, just in case it was a fluke or maybe little rodents climbing onto them. But nothing of the sort happened, and no other vibration occurred on the other strands, "Bingo."
Peter ran along his web line to that specific tunnel. The vibration getting stronger, the sounds of howls, almost like battle-like cries too can be heard. But then he hit a dead end, "No way…Unless," still on top of the web line, he put his ear by the brick wall, still hearing exactly what he could hear just a second ago.
But the word carnage was being thrown around frequently.
He again tosses another GPS in the area, before easily punching his hand through the brick wall. Luckily, his senses weren't going off, meaning no one heard it, and no one was nearby. He tore through it enough so he was able to get through. The sound of carnage was heard more and more, and walking down the dark tunnel with the only light being in front brought a menacing feeling up ahead.
But Peter wasn't frightened, he wasn't scared of who he could face. He has faced scarier people before, some of them not from this earth, some of them even being gods amongst men. So whatever he is going to face, he won't be terrified and he'll face them down.
Either alone or with his partner.
Cassandra reached the specific place in Old Gotham, the upper west side where Cletus and his group went through, where Peter is now at, "Cassandra," She looked behind her, seeing Dick's frown, "Let me help."
She wanted to, she really wanted Dick to be part of this again. It was so nice knowing he came back, that he is as strong and graceful as before. But to protect her family, she will do what she must, "Sorry."
She then pressed a button by the wheel, automatically keeping Dick in his seat thanks to the extra seat belts that were placed, trapping his arms and legs, "HEY!" He struggles to let himself out, watching Cassandra getting out, "YOU BOTH NEED ME!" The batmobile then shut, cutting off any other words Dick wanted to say to her, "Oracle! Alfred?!" He soon realized that she cut him off communication, "No way! When did she have time to do that?" he groaned more in irritation.
It wasn't fair, none of this treatment wasn't fair. Dick then sighed, letting part of his dark hair fall by his eyebrows. He then took a deep breath in and out, getting himself to be calm in the situation he was in.
He'll either find a way out, or he'll have to trust in the two that they won't get into any sort of bigger trouble. Which is why, Dick needed to get out of this just in case, not because of ego or anything of that nature. But simply because it was his duty to look after them.
He's back now, and he needs to be there for his family regardless of how they felt.
And luckily, he was prepared for this. In the palm of his hand he gripped tightly, was a round object of sorts that the end of his thumb ended up pressing.
A hue of blue electricity zapped out. While the batmobile wasn't affected, the grip that held him in place was. It still latched onto him, but that meant Dick needed to brute force his way out.
With a few grunts, flexing his arms and legs as he pushes hard enough for the shackles to break. A few deep breaths in and out from Dick, he massage his hands, "Can't keep an old bird locked in his cage."
Peter watches on what he sees when crawling along the ceiling, staying away from the light that endowed the ground below him. He watches a dozen or so people chanting on the same word.
Carnage.
Carnage.
Carnage.
As one person took on multiple people with relative ease. He punched, elbowed, tossed them all around, and with glee screamed to the air, "COME ON! PROVE TO ME WHY I CHOSEN YOU ALL!" He shouted, with a few features such as his red hair, height, and the craze sadistic look as he taunted his supposed followers with only torn up pants on, "BROTHER'S! SISTER'S! YOU KNOW WHY WE'RE HERE! YOU KNOW WHY YOU CAME! FROM WORDS OF MOUTH! YOU ALL HEARD WHAT I WANT TO BRING TO THE TABLE OF HERE IN GOTHAM!"
"CARNAGE!"
"CARNAGE!"
"CARNAGE!"
This was Cletus Kasady, the carnage killer, the one who has been killing a number of people on specific days, becoming something of the next zodiac killer.
Again, to whoever was fighting him, they stood up and tried to work together. But again, he didn't make it easy, his strength and speed out beating them, "THEY SAY GOTHAM IS BECOMING SAFE! THAT ITS TURNING INTO THE TIMES WHEN THE WAYNE'S HAD MORE POWER OVER THIS CITY! AND WE KNOW THE TRUTH RIGHT?!"
"BULLSHIT!"
"BULLSHIT!"
"BULLSHIT!"
"AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO! SHOW THEM ITS BEYOND SAVING, THAT ITS RIGHT FOR THE TAKING TO DO WHATEVER WE WANT! AND THE ONLY WAY WE'LL DO IT IS BY CARNAGE!"
'I heard enough of this crap,' no longer gonna continue to watch idly of him boasting his strength or hearing him talk, Peter leapt down, stunning those around him of his sudden appearance. It caused a chain reaction of them backing up when seeing the spider in person, "Blah! Blah! Blah Sounds like a typical anarchist. How about be original? Oh wait, you stole calendar man's shtick!"
What Peter found a little odd was how unsurprised Cletus was when he appeared, only that his smile widened, "As I live and breathe, spider-man!" He opens his arms wide, "Welcome!"
Peter stood up, the distance between them wasn't far if they wanted to fist fight here and now. But since he was talking, Peter would use that to his advantage since it would give Cassandra more time to reach his locations.
He doesn't even know if everyone here is a complete meta, but clearly Cletus was, "You knew I would come?" Peter asked, keeping his fist clench, ready for anything.
Cletus crackled, "Because you protect the innocent, and you want to even if you fail to save some," he would then slowly walk around Peter, "Justice runs in your vain, perhaps vengeance too while we're at it!"
"Vengeance is another person's demographic," Peter kept watch of him every time he walked in a circle around him, "I rather put you behind bars, or better yet, back to Arkham where you should be."
"Try then! COME ON!" Cletus roared, jumping at him. Peter saw it coming, but his eyes slightly widened at the fact his senses didn't go off from his attack. Still, with his reflexes, he bent his back far enough to dodge and let his foot catch him, sticking on his bare chest to where he aggressively slammed him to the ground, now having top advantage, "S-strong! Way stronger than I thought!"
Peter was trying to keep him in place, wrestling control of his wrist as he didn't look like its counter attack hurt him, "I get that a lot. Now! Who experimented on you? Or better yet, how much did you pay to get you and everyone here a boost?" Peter interrogated.
"Who said…We did?" In sudden surprise, Peter saw half of Cletus' face morphed into red and a tinge of black skin, with huge jagged, white eyes, and mouth that were replaced with sharp teeth.
Peter was then kicked to the ceiling, hard and fast that he couldn't recover and suffered the blow, "Ugh!" he grunted in pain, but not letting it sway him, he saw Cletus jumping at him, and Peter flipped himself to land a kick straight on the top of his head.
Both taking a blow, landing on all fours as they eye each other; one in enthusiasm and the other was something he thought wouldn't see, nor another version of, "V-venom?!"
"No…" Cletus let his body morph, letting the symbiotic suit cover all his body, the red and black overtaking him, making more like a monster, the monster Peter once fought but also at one point wore. Still on all fours; his hands were replaced by bigger, and sharp claws nicking the ground, his tongue was long just as his teeth all were razor sharp like his claws, and now he had both jagged huge white eyes, "CARNAGE!"
In my mind, I really wanted to do the fight scene here, but again, there's so much going on in this chapter that I want those scenes to have an impact on this chapter.
And plus, it keeps you guys wanting more, to have something to expect in the next chapter. So till then, see ya whenever.