"So the Batman was Bruce Wayne all along, huh?"

Peter Parker set the newspaper down at the table and let out a sigh. He didn't want to listen in on the conversation: It was distressing enough as it was. He stared at his own newspaper with a blank, empty gaze.

Will that be me someday?

The Batman had spent twenty years operating in Gotham. What had once been a dying city had become a booming center for technology and science.

But all that had changed now.

"Crime in Gotham has skyrocketed after billionaire Bruce Wayne was killed in action-"

Someone was turning the TV up so that the entire restaurant could hear. Peter Parker closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and got to his feet.

"Maybe Spider-Man will be next." A voice said behind him. Whoever was sitting him laughed as Peter stepped out into the streets.

It was one of those days that he felt completely alone. It was pouring rain out on the street and everyone on either side of him was rushing for shelter or for their cars. He stood there blankly, staring out into the street.

I never met him, but…

He barely even registered what he was doing. He stepped into the nearest alley, climbed the side of the building, and within minutes he was staring out over the city as Spider-Man. Rain was still splattering over him as he tried to rationalize just what he wanted to do next.

…

"I'm back."

Mary Jane looked up at him, blinking in surprise. "You're home early." She said, as he slid in through the window, ripping off the mask mid-motion.

"No one wants to commit any crimes in this weather." He said shortly. His wife gave him a sour look.

"Something's bothering you." She said accusingly.

"No."

She poked him in the stomach. "Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying, I'm just-"

She stood up and kissed him.

"Come on." She cajoled. "Get changed and we'll talk about it."

Peter slipped his street clothes back on and in a matter of moments they were sitting at the kitchen table, a steaming cup of hot chocolate between them.

"The Batman?" She repeated, puzzled. "You knew him then?"

"No." Peter answered. "But it got me thinking…" He placed his hand on his cheek. "If my identity ever got exposed- if I was ever killed, then-" He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, just look at what's happening to Gotham."

Mary Jane gave him a hard look. "Gotham City was a hellhole before and after Batman." She said. "This city has plenty of problems but it's nowhere near that level."

Peter stared down at the table. Mary Jane softened her expression.

"Look." She said. "Doing what you do- dressing up in a Halloween costume and beating up goons- it's important to you. So important that you've risked everything to do it, time and again. I'm sure the Batman felt the same way. I'm sure he died doing what he wanted to do." She tried to give him a reassuring smile. "We all want to live forever, but everything has to come to an end sometime."

She turned and glanced at the window.

"I'm glad that you're Spider-man." She said. "I'm glad that you've done everything you do, for me and for the city. And when it all stops… when it's all over… the world will have to move on."

She turned back to face him.

"But what you do matters." She stressed. "You can't let yourself be held back by what if scenarios. As long as we're together… I'll be satisfied."

They stared into each other's eyes.

"I love you." Peter said hoarsely. Mary Jane smiled.

"How about I get started on dinner?" She asked, as she stood up. "Or-"

Peter's eyes turned to the TV screen just behind her. Mary Jane closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.

"What is it now?"

Peter moved for the remote and unmuted the news.

"This just in: The Joker has come to New York! I repeat, the Joker has come to New York!"

"The Joker?" Mary Jane repeated, puzzled. "That Gotham Clown?"

"That's him." Peter answered, staring at the screen, his eyes narrowed. The news had shifted to a video recording of the man in question. It had been a video recording he had sent in to a Gotham News Station.

"People of New York." The man in the purple suit said gravely. "Gotham isn't nearly as much fun as it used to be."

He raised a rainbow colored handkerchief to his face and blew into it.

"The people of Gotham have lost a very dear friend." He said. "You knew him as Bruce Wayne… billionaire, philanthropist, and playboy. But I knew him as Batman. And now… well…"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Life goes on, as they say!" He chirped, his tone much more jolly. "On to New York City!"

The man began laughing uproariously, and the video ended.

"The meaning of these statements remain unclear."

"He's coming to New York?" Mary Jane repeated sharply. "Why?"

"For nothing good, I would think." Peter said darkly, staring at the newscast bitterly. "The man is deranged… criminally insane. The story's I've heard about him are unbelievable."

"Well he's nothing that Spider-Man can't deal with." Mary Jane said primly. "Do you want dinner before you go, or-"

"I'll eat when I get back." He told her, as he made a beeline for the window. Mary Jane shook her head, smiling slightly,

…

"That clown can't seriously think he's going to come here?"

"Cops here in this city are built different than the ones in Gotham… the instant that clown tries anything here, one of our guys will pump him full of bullets."

"What Gotham cops? They all quit after the Bat croaked."

"I keep seeing the Commissioner on TV begging for military aid." The cop snickered. "He legit wants to declare war on the city underground, shit has become nuts."

"What exactly is the Joker going to do?" The first cop asked, changing the subject back. "We already have a bunch of freaks like him here… he'd get eaten alive."

"He's probably going to try and take out one of the crime families in New York and replace them." Another cop answered him.

"Oh yeah, that'll work." The first cop said sarcastically. "The families that control the underground of New York City, the center of world prosperity. Yeah, they'll be outsmarted by some clown."

"The Gotham News people think he'll target the biggest criminals there are." Another man said quietly. "And prove himself the top dog."

"And how exactly is he going to do that?" The first cop demanded. "Who exactly is he going to take out to prove himself the biggest criminal in New York?"

Something in the distance exploded. Each of the cops stood up. They reached for their dispatch radios.

"Wall street is under attack!"

…

Occupy Wall Street had returned, in the worst way possible.

"Kill the 1%!"

"No, stop!" The well dressed man begged, struggling against the sheer mass of people. "I have a family!"

The protestors shoved him off the roof of the building with a cry. He out a loud scream as he fell, only to be snatched out of thin air by Spider-Man.

"Super-heroes." The Joker said with disgust. "They truly care nothing for the masses."

He lit a cigar and watched as Spider-man set the man down on a rooftop not far away. His henchwomen, and self proclaimed girlfriend Harley Quinn saw fit to chime in.

"He's probably nothing but another billionaire boss."

The Joker narrowed his eyes.

"Don't try to dash my hopes, Harley." He said sinisterly. "Things haven't been the same since Bats went and died on me."

The crowd that he had spent the last month working to rile up was milling about on the street before him. Employees and enablers of 'the system' had been dragged out into the street, beaten, and robbed. The Joker watched as Spider-man ran his eyes over the crowd, and then up at the building.

"Megaphone, Harley."

Harley handed him the megaphone.

The Joker reached forward and shattered the glass window in front of him. The glass fell out into the street as the Joker raised the megaphone to his lips.

"Greetings, Spider-man!" He crowed. "I sure love this city!"

The crowd around them seemed to disappear as Spider-Man and the Joker stared at each other.

It was, however, the police that responded first.

"State your demands, clown."

"A socialist state!"

There was a loud cheer from the protestors below. Joker smiled to himself. It was so easy to lure the masses into every single one of his schemes.

"You're the best clown I've ever seen!" The cop told him. "This is America you-"

The megaphone was ripped from him by his superior.

"Now see here." The other officer said sternly. "This has to stop, now-"

The crowd broke through the barrier the cops had erected to defend themselves, and there was a hurried rush of movement to protect themselves from the onslaught of the crowd.

"There is nothing quite like committing evil deeds with the power of righteous fury." Joker said, smiling affectionately at Harley Quinn. "Isn't that right, Harley?"

"Sure is, Mistah J." She answered. "But what about him?"

The Joker turned back. Spider-Man had shot an elaborate web to stop the protestors from proceeding to attack the cops. The few that had made it through were beaten down by the cops.

"Superheroes." The Joker said with disgust. "And one with actual powers this time." He sighed, shaking his head. "They certainly don't make them like they used to, Harl…"

Spider-Man looked up at them, and soon enough a web landed right at the top of their window.

"Time to go, Harley." The joker said, as Spider-Man tried to leap, launching himself up through where they were. The Joker drew his giant, oversized gun and fired. Spider-Man swerved in mid-air, hit the side of the building, and then raced up it.

"A lot faster than Bats, too." Joker said, as they hurriedly backed away. Spider-Man slid through the window and glared at them.

"It's over, clown boy!"

"Ooooh, a sense of humor." The Joker said dryly. "That's one thing you have over Bats for sure."

Spider-Man shot a web at him and ripped the gun right out of his hand. The Joker cursed, pulling away slightly, as the gun slid into the corner.

"You got me." The Joker cried, holding wrist, looking pained.

Spider-Man advanced. Harley Quinn leapt at him, her fists raised, but Spider-Man knocked her aside. She was used to blows from Batman- but Spider-man hit even harder. She was on the ground unconcious in a matter of seconds.

"No- stop!" The Joker cried. "Get away from me!"

Spider-Man reached out a hand to grab him, and the Joker took it.

Spider-Man let out a cry of pain as electricity coursed his entire being. The Joker grinned, tightening his grip as his Joy buzzer ran through Spider-Man's entire body. Being smaller than Batman, he took the electric shocks far worse than he did.

His entire body was spasming by the time Joker let go. Harley Quinn shakily got to her feet and stared at him.

"He's no Batman boss."

"No, but he doesn't have to be." The Joker said, as he gave the still body of Spider-Man a little kick. "He won't soon forget this, I'm sure."

He made for the door.

"We're going home, Harley." He said quietly. "We're done here."

Harley Quinn nodded, and then trotted off behind him as Spider-man lay on the floor the building. They stepped out into the street and looked back.

"Adios." Joker said to himself, as he pressed the detonator. The explosions he had set around the entire building went off, causing the entire building to crumble to pieces. At the very last moment, could make out the blue and red costumed hero swinging away.

"For now." He said darkly.