Falco moved though the smell. Falco moved through the trudging in his boots. Falco moved through the constant dripping of water around him. That's how it was for someone who lost their vision. The fire took his eyes and the mutagen finally wore down, the man could no longer see the world around him.
And all because of those blasted turtles, that girl, and that guilt ridden hero! If they just stayed down everything would have been perfect! He would have been rich, powerful, unstoppable, and famous all around the world! He would've been absolutely invincible! The ability to read every mind, connect every thought to his own, it would've been glorious! A brand new world brought about by his very own genius!
Now…now Falco had nothing. He was thrown aside like common filth, disregarded like trash, and forced to scrawler around what he assumed to be the sewers with the rest of the lowly and diseased filled vermin of this wretched city. "Disgusting … disgusting …" So much filth and wretched misery … he was better than this, Falco was better than being bitten daily by these rats, better than having to live off invisible and lucky scraps he could barely smell, better than being forced to live in these conditions! Flaco deserved better.
His stomach growled again. "Need … food …" He groaned aloud. How the heck was he supposed to navigate when his head was so blurry, filled with remnant thoughts of things that made no sense and anarchy beyond incomprehension. It was unfair, it was all unfair! Falco deserved more than this, if it wasn't for those disgusting turtles and Spider!
"Squeek." Falco growled at the noise … but felt something in the air. A smell, pizza … fresh pizza. Too fresh. It should have been a year old or soiled by sewage down here, but that rat was squeaking from the fresh source of food. Luck? Miracle? No … no Flaco was a scientist, miracles didn't happen.
"Did…did you bring this?" Left with no other choices, the option he had to assume was that it was the rats… SOMEHOW was able to interpret his cry for help. That would be ridiculous of course, it's not like he'd-
"Squeek." … That was a yes. Falco shouldn't be able to understand them but they said yes.
That's … not possible, how was that … "The mutagen." Of course! Its most basic formula was to couple DNA. Even if it doesn't do a full transformation like Rockwell and those Turtles, it should still cause an ambient effect when exposed to trace amounts, like his own from the saliva of these creatures and Peter Parker's spider venom.
The ability to connect with minds was gone, but if remnant amounts remained in his system and mixed with the rat DNA … Falco reached out his mind as if he had his power … "Let… me see."
Like that…Falco had vision again… red… vision. He could see his own body … from four angles. Four sets of eyes. "Hehe …" This was so much more advanced than his old power. Sure, it seemed to be limited to rats but … "Come."
"Squeak!" "Squeak!" Squeak!" Squeak!"
Rat's easily outpopulated the human population. They may have been the lowliest of creatures… but they were numerous… and that's what made them the most deadly.
"How would you, my brothers, feel about being able to eat fresh food whenever you please? To run in the streets in the sunlight without being attacked by humans, to never again fear hunger, predator, or extermination!?"
"Squeak!" "Squeak!" "Squeak!"
He chuckled. He was Dr. Falco no more. He was ABOVE that meaningless human name. He was beyond human, beyond mutant. "Then listen to your King … The Rat King!" And as a King….he would have his Kingdom! "We shall not be confined by the sewers and trash of New York! This city is ours….and soon….the WORLD!" No one would get in his way…not the turtles…and certainly not that pesky arachnid wannabe Peter Parker!
Raph leaned in close with the others as they whispered about. "Alright, we need something concrete. No room for error." He told the others. Raph wasn't normally one for teamwork … but against Splinter? It made the turtle wish they had Spidey's assistance. Their Sensei could beat them up blindfolded, and he was pretty sure the man wasn't even using any enhanced senses.
"Okay, Mikey drew the short straw this time, so he's our initial bait." Leo said.
"But I'm always the bait." Mikey whined. "He's going to hit me in the face again!"
"And that's a talent nobody could ever dream out outclassing you in, my brother." Raph patted his shell.
"Next up Raph goes in for his usual flurry of strikes to keep Splinter focused with Donnie aiming at an opening."
"Aka, me being an open target for Splinter to direct Raph at when he throws him overhead." Donnie summarized, and Raph nodded in agreement.
"If all this goes well, watching Spidey move around against lots of quicker baddies should give me enough of an idea on getting in close enough to scratch off one of his whiskers before Splinter brutally destroys me." Leo finished up.
"A whisker." For once, Raph didn't hit Mikey for the idea, it was still a fantasy in all honesty. "If we take it off, we can laminate it and say we almost rivaled sensei."
"That's if we survive his counter attack." Donnie shivered. "He's going to pummel us into turtle soup."
"But we'll get one strike in… that's going to be good enough for now." Leo reassured. "We're improving every day, and we need to keep growing. So come on, lets do this."
With a firm nod, they all moved to their positions, while Splinter merely stood in the center of the room, with his eyes closed this whole time. Raph would have thought the man would listen in on occasion, but it wasn't like he needed to. Their sensei was invincible, probably the only one that could match the Shredder one on one, even on an off day.
Mikey went first, rushing in and swinging an attack at Splinter's side, only to be kicked away on the first strike, as expected. No one knew how to take a hit quite like Mikey! "I TOLD YOU HE WAS GOING FOR THE FACE!"
That was Raph and Donnie's cue to rush in, as he tried to land any blows on the nimble rat. Taunts and bards were going to do them no good in this situation. Not only was Splinter too mature to engage in witty banter, he'd probably crack their shells open if they even made an attempt to mock him for anything. You know, maybe they should goad Spidey into trying to fight the man and watch his web head get pummeled, would definitely be cathartic-and the lack of focus left him open for a throw against Donnie, great.
Next up was Leo, who moved in quickly, struck his blades against Splinter's staff, who blocked it like always … until Leo dug in, using his left hand to push away the staff with his sword, and his right hand to abandon the sword in favor of throwing a punch …
Smack
One that landed … on Splinter … after that punch rang out, everyone was silent, stunned, Leo most of all. "Sensei, I'm sorr-"
SMACK
With a flick of a tail, Leo was sent to the floor on his back. "...That will be enough for today." Splinter looked down on their fallen brother. "Leonardo, when you have the advantage in a fight, you must press on. One moment of hesitation makes all the difference."
"Yes, sensei." He nodded as their master walked into his mediation room.
They continued to lay on the ground for a few more moments. "... You landed a punch on him." Raph said numbly, still not fully believing it. "You landed a punch on Master Splinter…perhaps the greatest ninja in history." Raph didn't even have in him to be jealous, this was too grand of a moment to not celebrate!
"That … was … awesome!" Mikey shouted, running right at Leo. "What was it like, how did it feel?"
"Hairy, but warm, yet also like stone." Leo rubbed his hand, still staring. "I just improvised at the last second. I thought for sure he was going to break my arm before it even came close."
"That means he didn't see you coming!" Raph cheered, shaking his brother. "You had an advantage on Splinter…. Splinter! After fourteen years, we're finally starting to close the gap!"
"We're actually improving." Leo smiled.
"At this rate, we'll be good enough to actually give Peter a day off by the end of the year." Donnie grinned.
"I say that's mostly paranoia on the web head's part, but I know what you mean." Raph smirked. "Dogpound, Rhino, maybe even Goblin, those chuckleheads better watch out!" He wasn't confident about fighting Shredder… even with a million years of training he still wouldn't be confident against the Shredder.
"Dude, you know you can never wash this hand, right?" Mikey asked, grabbing Leo's arm.
"We live in the sewers, we never wash." Raph countered. "... Unless it's Donnie's exploding gunk."
"A few times and you never let me live it down." The nerd rolled his eyes. "... Does that mean we'll be better than Splinter when the training's over?"
That threw them all for a loop. Over … they always thought the man had a million things to teach, and that the lessons would just keep coming. But if he got hit … the goalpost seemed so much smaller than the end of the country. "Well… we can't stay students forever." Leo spoke after a minute of silence. "At some point, we'll have to learn everything he can teach us."
"Then what?" Mikey asked. "What happens after we learn everything? What comes after that?" …That was an unexpectedly heavy question to come out of Mikey. Sure, the kicking bad guy but thing was something he was always going to look forward to, but what else could he do beyond that? Stay with his brothers in the sewers forever? He'd go mad if that was the case.
Leo was about to answer, until the T Phone began ringing. "We'll think about it later." He opened it. "On speaker, what's up?"
"RATS!" April's voice shouted. "So many rats! Rats are attacking the city!"
"Wow, that's pretty ironic." Mikey stated. "You know, cause we just got done fighting Splinter and now were going to work with-"
"We get it." Donnie glared. "When you say rats are attacking the city, how many are we looking at? A hundred? Thousand?"
"Every!" Spidey's voice shouted. "Every rat in the city is attacking anyone they can-They're climbing the rooftops! April, grab on!"
"We'll meet at the usual spot, just avoid getting eaten in the meantime!" Leo announced
"Oh thanks, I was thinking about letting them turn me to swiss cheese, but since you asked so nicely-!" The line got cut off right there. Apparently even phones hated his quips, small victories.
"Thanks for the help Peter." April said as she held two bags. Given how rare she had moments to herself, her dad being missing, and her aunt unable to drive around, it fell onto April to do bulk grocery runs of four to six bags.
"No prob, needed something to keep my brain off of everything happening at school… and the new villains." He said as he held onto the other four with ease. There were perks to having friends with super strength. "Fortunately Ock basically said he was the mastermind behind the mutates like Sandman and Rhino, so hopefully that ends that little rabbit hole there."
"Weird he went public though." She muttered. "You think that accident scrambled something?"
"Don't know anything about him before he went all robo maniac on me and the guys, but Harry's dad seems to think he was a good person." Peter said. "...Then again, this IS Norman Osborn we're talking about, wouldn't surprise me if he screwed over the walking pile of calamari."
"Yep, the person is so high maintenance that unless Harry throws his entire social life away and completely changes who he is, the man won't be impressed." She added.
"Right … that little tidbit." Peter muttered. "I can't believe I forgot the meet up."
"I feel being hit in the head with a giant metal arm is justification for missing a memory or two."
"Yeah, I know that, but Harry doesn't." The boy grumbled. "I tried to make sure Dr. Squidbelly didn't turn his dad into chopped liver, but to Harry, I flaked on him… again." Peter groaned. "I flaked again cause Harry's dad got involved with another mad scientist that tried to kill him. And now I'm in hot water with my best friends … again."
"It's not all bad, you got a pretty sweet date with Liz from what I heard around school." April tried to point out the silver lining. He focused WAY too much on the negatives. She almost wanted to call him an emo, but the quips were far too lighthearted.
"Oh yeah, that was awesome." He smiled. "She even laughed at most of my jokes and actually seems interested when I have a conversation. The girl even understood that job and family comes first … seriously, all the tv shows say hot girls are shallow. What has modern media come to these days?"
"You mean aside from trying to enforce lessons and stereotypes that are either completely outdated or just downright bad to listen to in a real life scenario?" April smirked. She and Irma spent a lot of time snarking on bad cw shows. "So, are the two of you dating?"
"I … I'm not sure really." Peter answered honestly. "Yeah, she gave me a kiss on the cheek, and it was an official date, but we … well… I actually … didn't have time to see if a second one was on the table." He slumped. "Add on to my lack of experience, and I couldn't tell you for the life of me."
"I'm sure you just need a good face to face to talk it out without anyone getting in the way." She said. "You know, like Flash being a jealous ex boyfriend."
"... You think he'll double my locker time, or mix it up and add swirlies into the things he does to me?" He asked sincerely.
"He'd probably back off if you just shoved him away." April pointed out.
"Oh sure, good old nerd boy suddenly has the power to shove away a guy twice his size overnight. That'll go great in the inconspicuous school paper."
"I'm pretty sure you're smart enough to make it look like an accident. Look at what Casey Jones can do, and he's about your size." April brought up.
Peter looked like he was thinking it over…and shook his head. "No. Back when I first got my powers, I was more liberal with showing them off. I got cocky, and I ended on the wrong side of some stereotypical street thugs. I messed with them, mocking that they could hit me … then one threw a punch and I caught it. That alone was another to break the man's hand. Completely bent it the wrong way and dislocated the fingers."
April winced. "Surprised you can open a locker with that strength." And it partially explained his need for responsibility quite a bit.
"All about delicacy. I had a whole summer to learn self control." He looked down at a nearby rat, who looked up at Peter. "Now even the tiniest of creatures are safe in the hands of a friendly neighborhood hero." He snuck out a small bit of food from the bag and let it land on the ground, where the little guy ate it up. "Luckily for me, I always buy my food in bulk since I need twice the calories." He chuckled as she watched the rat approach him … then bite his foot. "Ow!" He shouted, moving his leg back. "What kind of response is that to free food?"
"Squeak!" It screamed. "Squeak!"
There was the sound of rumbling as the ground shook. "What's …" April began to ask … until a massive horde of rats came from around the corner, flooding the streets, attacking everyone they could find as the people ran around in a panic.
"Any chance that we sprang for rat poison during the shopping spree?" Peter asked as they slowly backed away.
"Not a chance." April shook her head as the horde began making their way towards them. "I can't believe I'm saying this … but drop the bags and run!" At least for once it would be HER aunt trying to kill her instead of Peter's.
"You know, lately I thought I would die due to rats, but I assumed it would be due to Splinter kicking my butt!" They began running down an alley as he took off his shirt, showing off the Spider-Man logo.
"Hurry up Peter!" April shouted as the rats began following through the alley.
"Do you know how hard it is to run for your life and take off pants at the same time!?" He shouted back.
"Just leave your clothes on, no one's going to notice! They're all too busy avoiding getting eaten!"
"Alright then, Spidey's going casual Friday on a tuesday!" He grabbed onto her, planting his feet on the wall as he began to run vertically. "Jolly J would probably love this if he wasn't busy yelling at the rats to get out of his office!"
"Does joking really help you or is it just a bad habit?!" April yelled as she clung to his back. Why didn't Splinter include scaling the walls in his Kunoichi training!?
"It's how I cope!" He said as he made his way to the top of the roof. "Okay, we can stay here for a bit while we call in the guys. This seems like an all hands on deck scenario." He spoke, as they looked onto a sea of rats overtaking the city. "Wow, statistics were right. We really don't outnumber the animals that live with us." He said as he put on the mask, pulling out his backpack and grabbing onto some web shooters. "Gotta restock these."
"So unless we get a giant mousetrap and big piece of cheese, I don't think we're gonna take these things on." April looked over the city.
"Well one, most mice and rats are lactose intolerant, and two, this isn't natural." He said, looking over. "Rodents can occupy the same area, but this level of swarming and cooperation isn't in their instincts. We're dealing with an outside influence."
"What, like someone's controlling them?" She asked.
"That's pretty likely. They have an army that outnumbers any military …" He muttered. "Contacted the guys yet?"
"Ah…Peter…" April pointed to the walls…the walls that the rats began CLIMBING!
"On speaker, what's up?" Her phone finally connected.
"RATS!" April screamed into the phone. "So many rats! Rats are attacking the city!"
"Wow, that's pretty ironic." Mikey's voice stated. "You know, cause we just got done fighting Splinter and now were going to work with-"
"We get it." Donnie spoke up with an unamused tone. "When you say rats are attacking the city, how many are we looking at? A hundred? Thousand?"
"Every!" Peter said as he made sure his web shoots had enough fluid. "Every rat in the city is attacking anyone they can-They're climbing the rooftops! April, grab on!" He grabbed onto her and jumped, creating a web line and swinging them forward.
"We'll meet at the usual spot, just avoid getting eaten in the meantime!" Leo said from his end.
"Oh thanks, I was thinking about letting them turn me to swiss cheese, but since you asked so nicely-!" A rat jumped on his sleeve and bit April's arm.
"YEEOWCH!" And made the girl drop her phone in the sea of rats flooding the street. "Oh if you had a phone number I'd so be giving it to the insurance company!" April shouted … before the rats started climbing into each other, becoming massive pillars in the very streets they was swinging through.
"Maybe you can take an IOU!?" He asked as he avoided pillar after pillar, with rats falling from the buildings above and rising from the ground below.
"Hey, just noticed something!" She said as he flipped through as many rats as he could, creating massive web nets. "They really seem to hate us!"
"How do you figure? Is it constantly trying to bite us or the forming towers to reach us!?" He shouted.
"No, I mean they chase off everyone else, but they're going through this much effort just for me and you!?" She explained. "They're going out of their way to specifically CHASE us down!"
"That implies they know who we are!"
"Or whoever's controlling them knows who we are." April countered. "Someone that hates us both and has control over all rats…"
"...By all rats….you…you don't think?" Peter looked at her with worry. "Call the turtles again, tell them to stay with Splinter."
"Ah…my phone…"
"Just use mine." He took out his phone… where a rat managed to jump in the air and knock it out. "... I am going to punch whoever's doing this SO hard!"
"Plus side, I'm not the only one who has to use a T Phone." April muttered.
"I still say that's too inconspicuous!"
"Worry about subtly later, we got to warn the guys!"
Splinter meditated in silence, trying to come to terms with what had happened. His sons were growing up, becoming stronger, more skilled … and one day, they wouldn't even need him. What then, was his purpose once his pupils finally grew?
Well … there was still April to teach. But she would probably only stick around until she was competent enough for self defense, given her mission was to live peacefully with her father. He wouldn't deprive the girl of that choice, given his own experience. After that….nothing. Young Parker acted as their main guide to the modern world, and while aloof, he trusted the boy's judgment well enough to keep them on the right path.
Splinter's purpose … would be fulfilled. His role as both father and mentor would be complete. The world had no room for someone like him anymore… that would be the end of him. "And such a sad end that would be." His eyes snapped open, looking around. He was alone … "No, you are never alone. Your brothers flock through the city as we speak, giving us paradise."
His ears detected no sound … something was wrong. Splinter would assume it was voices playing in his mind, but he had never heard this voice. "Ah, ah, ah, sorry for the intrusion, dear Splinter. I've been rather busy, I haven't gotten the chance to introduce myself properly. Like you, I once held a human name, a human life, but found a second chance, a second life embracing the rats."
He gripped his cane. "I am no rat."
"But you're not human." Suddenly his vision was filled with a burning building, a familiar flame. "All those attachments to your humanity left you that day, didn't they?"
"No… no… no!" He shouted. "I am a man!"
"A broken man that has lost everything that matters to him…who will continue to lose everything he holds dear." A flash of Leo striking him rang in his head. "So quick they are to turn on the one's they love. You raise them, and they'll grow to abandon you.
"Enough of these visions and tricks!" Splinter commanded. "Show yourself, state your name, faceless voice!"
"Faceless…that is quite the apt description for me nowadays." Splinter suddenly saw the room grow dark…and came face to face with a man…whose skin looked withered and rotten, his eyes covered in bandages while dressed in an overcoat and hat.
"I lost my face to those turtles you still call sons … I was once Doctor Falco …" The mind reader … "My mind is now connected to my brothers….the minds of every rat are my companions, my brothers, who will take the world for themselves!" He announced that millions of voices could be echoed in his head. "I am your King, and I will lead my people to their liberation….that includes you as well."
"I am no subject! I am not a rat! I am Hamato Yoshi!" They screamed, clutching his head as the voices threatened to consume.
"Come on … join us … join us … your attachments leave you … soon even Splinter shall vanish from this world." He was a man, he was a man, he was-
"MASTER SPLINTER!" He awoke to Michelangelo shaking him. "HOW MANY FINGERS AM I GRABBING YOU WITH!?"
Smack
On instinct, he smacked the boy away with his tail. "...Yup… that's… that's the response I was expecting… I hate… being the bait."
"Master Splinter." Leo helped him up. "Every Rat in the city's being mind controlled. We thought it happened to you too."
"It still is …" "Join uss …" "The voice pounds in my head, but my will shall hold him for the time being." "Well shall see, brother."
"GUYS!" Up on the ceiling swung at Peter with April on his back.
"April, you're okay!" Donnatello shouted with his normal amount of passion for the girl.
"Hardly. I'm gonna have to get at least twelve rabies shot from all the rats biting me…. ugh, tenacious little pests… uh… no offense." April looked at him.
"You can hear the disgust, she hides it for their sake." "It's quite … alright." He could beat this.
"There's an army bigger than Kraang numbers up there." Peter spoke, letting small metal containers drop from his wrist. "I had to go through three web cartridges just to make it to the sewers."
"Also, swinging in the sewers… terrifying in its own right." April shuddered. "How can you move like that in such an enclosed space?"
"All in the hips." He waved off. "Anyway we have a problem. Rats are controlled by someone who either hates me, April, or both."
"Falco …" Splinter got out, gaining their attention. "It's … Falco …"
"Wait, Dr. Falco? The scientist with the psycho monkey?" Raphael questioned.
"His powers expanded … he now enters the mind of all rats …" "You know how futile it is to deny me entry." "Be quiet!" Splinter shouted, clutching his head.
"He's listening in right now!?" Donetello freaked out.
"He's psychically linked to every rat in the city. It'll be the world if we don't hurry." Splinter took in a huge gasp of air. He calls himself … the Rat King." Michelangelo made a grunt of disappointment.
"If we're dealing with Falco ... then he knows who I am." Peter froze in fear and horror, in a way he hardly ever saw the boy. "Why don't you tell him about how much fun it'll be to tear him apart? Although he is a bit of a threat … Brothers, find a woman by the name of May Parker."
"Peter … I can hear communications." He stated. "... They're making their way to your Aunt May's."
The boy instantly leapt with enough force to crack the ground, sending a web forward as he left them behind. "Peter, wait!" Leonardo tried to call out.
"Come if you want, I'm getting to Falco first, and ending him!"
Donnatello looked to Peter, then to Splinter. "Master Splinter. Is Falco after her, or just the rats? Do you know where he is now?" "Tell them nothing … save your brothers …"
"He…he …" The strain was great, but he must endure it, even if it took everything out of him. "He will do everything he can to break you all down, no matter what."
"Everyone, on route. We need to reach Falco before Spidey does." Leonardo told the group. "April, get Splinter whatever he needs."
"Will do." "Fools, they are all woefully unprepared for what's to come, as are you brother. We now have ample time to get to know one another.
"Be quiet … you are not … my brother …" He would keep control. His toughest fight since the Shredder would not be a man driven off of pettiness and the work of others! He was Hamato Yoshi; he would prevail, his will would prevail!
May silently mused in the kitchen as she began writing down the final touches for her cookbook. With Peter constantly going out of his way to provide for the family, it was about time she threw her hand in the ring. She was the head of the house after all.
"A touch of paprika … forty seven minutes …" Cooking wasn't an exact science, but the guidelines would be a great help to anyone else wishing to cook for their family.
It was a great way for her to keep her mind occupied, gave her something to do other than wonder where Peter ran off too most nights. She mentally sighed at that, recalling her small little plot to get him and Mary Jane together.
The two of them had said they were firmly 'in the friend zone' whatever that meant. He really needed to find himself a girl, and a good one, not like Ms Brant, who was lovely in her own right, just too old for Peter. Maybe May could help hook him up with April … she seemed reliable enough to help the boy when he went too far.
She'd wonder what Ben would say if he was still around to see Peter. She chuckled, knowing far too well Parker men were often too stubborn for their own good when it came to the obvious. Took her fifteen years to get Ben to realize she'd been flirting with him the entire time. Romance was not a speciality Ben or Richard were particularly strong in.
She laughed quietly to herself, continuing to get to work. She'd spent quite a long time working on this cookbook, writing and cooking constantly without trying to alert Peter too much. It was a tiring process, and she felt a little lightheaded every once in a while. But it was necessary. That boy already had so much on his plate, he didn't need any more.
The music she was listening to became interrupted. "An update on the rats of New York. They've completely spread through Manhattan and Brooklyn, now moving through the Bronx. This begs the question. Where are the exterminators, where is the military, and more importantly, where is Spider-Man?"
"Rats, some people get frightened far too easily." Sure rats weren't the most pleasant creatures, but surely there was no need to go so extreme on such miniscule creatures.
There was a knock on the door. Getting up, she walked over and opened it, revealing a sickly looking man covered in bandages and a coat. "Excuse me mam." He spoke with a raspy voice, and broken teeth. "I seem to be lost, I can't really see these days." The man looked forward, with eyes glassed over, blind. "Would it be too much trouble to ask if I could take a rest on a chair inside?"
May was old, but she wasn't naive. Something about this man felt completely off, but she wasn't one to deny help to a clearly sick individual. "Oh of course, come right in." She let him walk through. "It's a dangerous city to be walking all by yourself."
"I had a helping animal by the name of Aristotle, named him after the Greek philosopher because he's always such an inquisitive little fellow." He chuckled, feeling around for the furniture. They certainly weren't faking the blindness … but something was still off. The fact a blind man was walking around at all, and somehow knew where the house was, including the curb and the location of the door to knock. "They ran off the second the leash was gone because he caught a whiff of something."
"That's misfortunate. I hope they didn't run off too far." A blind main being completely unphased by their only source of eyes running off. Any normal man would've shown just a little sign of worry.
"Oh I wouldn't worry. We've been rather connected. One could say even soulbound." The man chuckled in an unsettling manner as he sniffed the air. "Are you a cook? It smells quite fantastic."
"I dabble here and there, I'd be more than willing to provide you with something."
"That would be delightful miss." It suddenly just occurred to May that he called her mam when she opened the door, before she even spoke.
"So, do you live around the block?" She asked as she moved to the kitchen, making sure to always keep a knife within reach, grabbing the phone nearby.
"Oh, I've been doing a bit of traveling lately. I've find life more…amusing shall we say…when I'm not bound to one place." The phone was down … the landline was down. "Have you heard about the rats in New York as of late?"
"Yes, it sounds quite unfortunate." She looked outside, noting little furry spots surrounding the streets. "It seems as though no one's capable of getting rid of them."
"I have it on great authority that the rats are here to stay. They already outnumber the human population. In some ways, you could call humans the vermin infesting their territory."
"That's … quite the viewpoint." She gripped the knife.
"I suppose it is … although it's quite funny in its own way."
"... And what would that be?" May asked.
"That they never told you about me … May Parker."
Crash
The windows shattered as rats ran through … hundreds of them, flooding the floor. She stared with horror. "Listen, if you want money we're very poor-"
"No no no." The man shook his head as he stood. "Forgive me for that. My goal is not of a monetary nature." He walked forward, taking a white mouse onto his shoulder. "Me and Aristotle here … we seek to kill you, in a violent, and gruesome manner."
"Why…what meaning is there?" She asked, glaring. She was outnumbered, but she wouldn't cower. It'd give this man the satisfaction of being afraid.
"Tic for tac as some would call it." The man chuckled. "Although knowing you Parkers from what I've observed, anyone dying would wound your fragile little egos and haunt you for life. It must've been so tragic for your dear old Ben."
"Don't you dare utter the name of my husband, you walking pile of dirty dishrags!" She held the knife up, even as the rats crawled all over her body.
"Like I said, it'll be perfect." The man gave a dark chuckle. "Oh when he sees what you'll become-"
Crash
The window broke down, followed by a red blur launching into the man, sending him into the wall. The red one grabbed her by the hand, before jumping right out of the window. Once they were on her neighbors roof they moved fast, grabbing and webbing any rats without making a sound … wait, webbing?
"Spider-Man?" She asked, looking at the tensed mask. From what she saw at the Daily Bugle during that Rhinoceros incident, he was a jokester who liked to taunt people … but he hasn't said a single word yet. "What are you doing-"
"Your nephew sent me." They responded immediately. "Do you feel any more rats on your body?" He asked quietly, a dark fear gripping his voice.
"No, no, I'm fine." Peter sent this man? Well, her nephew did take the man's photos. It would make sense that he would develop a friendly relationship with someone he worked with.
"If it isn't the spectacular Spider-Man." That frail bastard chuckled, wobbling and clutching his side like it was broken. "If this is the reaction from a simple lady in the suburbs, maybe I should let the Daily Globe know and get a prize for it. I'm sure plenty of people would be interested in knowing."
The man clenched his fists. "When I give the signal, I want you to run." He said.
"Run where!?" The man shouted with hysterical laughter. "The rats have covered all of Queens! Eyes and ears, fingers and claws, there is no escaping from the clutches of the Rat King!" The rats began to climb to the roof.
"This… isn't a game, Falco!" The masked man grabbed May again, jumping to another rooftop as he spun another web, grabbing onto a power line, pulling on it hard enough to make the wood snapp, falling on top of a massive group of the incoming rats, setting them on fire. They shot forth multiple webs, causing the fire to expand into a massive circle of flames, which he placed May into the center of. "The rats shouldn't be able to get in. If they do, just shout."
"Are you certain you'll be okay fighting on your own?" May asked in concern. Seeing the man in action once was enough for her to know he was one of the good guys, but this seemed a bit too much for him to handle.
"Trust me, I'm not the one who should be worried." … She understood Peter trusted this man … but something seemed … dark with the way he worded that.
"Oh, is that a threat, little spider?" The vile man cackled as he rode on those rats like they were a horse.
"No…A promise."
Peter leapt into the air, sending a webline right near Falco's head. "Hah, missed!" They shouted, until Peter yanked on the line and zipped right into the bastard with a kick, who was only protected by the rats under his cloak taking the blow with a sickening squelch. Peter continued to press on and throw punch after punch, as the rats kept getting in the way like a human shield. "No clever quips? No snarky combat? Rat got your tongue-"
Smack
Peter rarely thought about how strong he could get, because honestly it terrified him. Like he told April earlier, just blocking a blow was enough to break someone's hand. He had to constantly watch and control every punch and kick, or else he could risk rupturing someone's lungs, crushing their heart, or even knocking off someone's head. This time-this time he was not so worried about pulling any punches, as he sent one right into the man's chest, where a notable crunch could be heard, bloody ooze coming out of his coat, likely being the rats he had crawling on his body only doing so much to provide any cushioning.
"Give it up Falco." He told the man bluntly. "We both know that you couldn't beat me even when you could read my mind, and this army isn't gonna stop me from breaking something permanently after a couple minutes." They threatened, avoiding rats that tried to take a bite out of him without losing his distance from the sicko.
"Hah.. hah… guess… guess we've figured out… whether or not… you're more spider than man…" The bastard cackled. "Although if you're here, one has to wonder what's become of your friends… who leapt in to chase you… leaving poor Master Splinter by himself."
Peter tensed, but kept forward. "They can hold out long enough before you loose consciousness." He sent forth a taser web into the man's stomach.
Zap
Even if they had rats covering their body, the charge would only dissipate so much, from the smell of burning and the man falling to his knees, it did a lot of damage. "Now all I know is that you have no plans of a willing surrender." Peter ran forward to punch their skull. "So tell me, Doctor, what the hell was your plan here?" He punched the man across the street. "Raise an army of the most pathetic and squishable vermin in the world and attack my Aunt? You pathetic little slime ball." He webbed the man closer, and smacked him across the head. "Couldn't develop psychic powers on anything other than rats, and decided 'yeah, this'll do, I can take over the world'. If anyone took you seriously, all we'd need is a couple of tanks to run your so-called 'brother's over. Not even tanks, just anyone with a valid drivers license could've taken you down."
"Oh you fool …" They laughed … "My numbers …" Spidey punched him in the jaw.
"Mean nothing compared to modern technology." He moved in closer.
"Spidey!" He heard Leo as the rest of the turtles showed up. "You should have waited for us to plan-... Actually you seem to be doing pretty well here."
"Finishing up." He webbed the man closer, raising his fist to deliver the knockout punch. "You…are nothing Falco. You're no king, you're no scientist, you're not even a man."
"All taken … because of you … Peter." They placed a hand on his arm. "Every moment of my life … will be dedicated … to crushing you and those turtles …"
"Wrong choice of words." He sent forth the fist-
{Hit}{Jab}{Hit}{Hit}
And IMMEDITELY ducked, pulling Falco along with him as he saw Splinter…with glowing red eye's strike at him. {Predator} "Shit." Peter grumbled.
"Master Splinter!" Leo tried calling out, only for the old rat to kick him right in the chest.
"Yes, my greatest knight!" The creep cackled. "Defend your king, destroy Spider-Man!"
Splinter immediately rushed at him, delivering blow after blow with such pace and power he was getting instantly reminded of Shredder. A tail forced Spidey to jump, which left him open in the air for a palm strike that his physical enhancements did NOTHING to help with.
"Can't even enjoy your web head getting beat up!" Raph tried to strike, only for a single kick to send him flying.
"Guys … I just had a horrifying realization." Donnie said. "Splinter's been going easy on us all these years!"
"...So that one strike Leo got in means nothing in the long run." Mikey said with a cold and terrified voice.
Peter continued to avoid blow after blow, blocking with an arm only to be kicked in the stomach. Trying to web him, only for Splinter to grab the line and punch him in the face. {Blow}{Hit}{Jab} His Spider sense was blaring like crazy and nothing he was doing was able to help it.
"Sensei!" Leo came running in, distracting the mind controlled man just long enough for Spider to slip out of his line of fire, allowing Peter to grab the man's tail and toss him aside. "You're better than this!" Which only allowed for one second of reprieve as Splinter was now crossing his staff against Leo's swords. "You aren't just a rat! You're Hamato Yoshi!"
"He is a rat, he is a-" Peter slammed the man into the asphalt of the street.
"No, he is a man! He's our DAD!" Mikey used his chainst to wrap Splinter up, who only used it to slam Mikey into a nearby house. "You raised us to be ninjas! You brought us together and made us family!"
"And he taught his family to keep fighting! To fight harder, and to fight smarter!" Raph changed him, trying to grab ahold of the man, even when he got struck in the face.
"Every lesson you have rarely sticks in our head!" Donnie said as he tried grabbing him. "We still need you! We need you in our lives, because we can't do it on our own!" And was promptly tossed, although the red in his eyes seemed to be fading.
"Remember why you wanted a family! Why you taught us to fight!" Leo shouted, even as Splinter used his staff to piece into his shoulder. "Remember Teng-shen! Remember Miwa!" The eyes flickered even more. "Remember who you are!"
Splinter kept the position … and blinked, with normal eyes. "... My sons …"
"No! No! You're not human! You are a rat! A lowly, lowly, ra-"
Smack
Another sickening crack was heard as Peter sent another blow to the man's chest. "You…don't know when to shut up." Peter grabbed the man by the collar. "Now say night night."
They simply laughed at the threat. "And then what … send me to jail?" He asked. "I heard about a couple of fun stories … I have a lot to tell myself … about the man under the mask." He snickered. "Wouldn't it be fun for the likes of the Sandman or Doctor Octopus to know the man behind the spider. Perhaps you could invite the Shredder over for a cup of tea with your aunt?"
"Shut … Up …"
"Or maybe the Rhino and Goblin could take a dive over to Midtown high? Find that April girl hanging around the campus." He continued. Peter responded by putting his left hand around the bastard's neck, and reeling back his right one.
"Spidey, what are you doing?" Mikey asked as Peter ignored him.
"What's it gonna be Parker?" Falco asked. "Arrest me, and let the world know who's under that mask? Break your code and kill someone? Or do what's left … and Let. Me. Go."
Peter glared. "I couldn't give a shit about what happened to me. I've made my bed, and I'm willing to live with the consequences."
"Peter, think this through." Leo tried to call out.
"But you put my loved ones in danger." He wouldn't listen to anyone else… this was going to be his choice… probably his last choice as a hero.
"No, don't!" Donnie shouted.
"Say goodbye Falco." After this, the mask was gone. Spider-man… would be no more.
"No." Before Spidey could throw a punch that would snap the bastard's neck, Splinter caught him by the fist. "There comes a time where killing is unavoidable, where it is a must… but today… don't let this man take away what you hold dear. He is not worth tainting your morality."
The bastard chuckled. "Saved … by my greatest knight."
"Let me tell you something…my king." Spinster then grabbed the man with his tail, and knocked him into the pavement. "Shinobi have a code of honor… but do not mistake that for a hero." With a precise strike, Sprinter sent a hand chop that completely shattered the man's shoulder. "My son's have more honor than I in that regard. I am a man that seeks to protect them no matter what." Another strike completely shattered the man's shoulder. "I have nothing to lose except my family. And I will keep them safe….no matter what." And sent a final kick that sent the bastard flying into a nearball wall.
"Aaaa …." With a quiet scream, Falco fell flat, as the rats scrambled over his body, before they left without a trace.
"... Thank you, Splinter." Peter said quietly, taking a few deep breaths. "I… I was… I was…" Just like Ben's killer….. he was about to let them die… except it wasn't Peter this time that corrected it.
"Don't dwell on your mistakes, Spider-man." The man told him. "There's a darkness that dwells within all of us. There are lines that can't be uncrossed. Be glad that you haven't."
"And if the so called Rat King comes back, we'll be ready." Raph said, punching his own knuckles. "... Glad to have you back, Sensei."
"It's good to be back." Splinter chuckled, looking around. "It's been so long since I've visited the surface. I've almost forgotten how beautiful the sun is."
"We do rarely see it during the day." Donnie nodded. "We better head back though, before any humans see us."
"Don't worry mam, the fire's gone!" They turned to Mikey … who was taking his aunt out of the fiery circle he set up for protection … in hindsight, maybe he was thinking a bit irrationally … oh shoot, she was looking at four mutant turtles and a mutant rat.
"Oh… thank you… giant… turtle… man…" May fortunately wasn't freaking out about this…then again she had seen the Rhino crashed through the daily bugle, so this probably was about equal to that experience from her perspective. "Oh may, I may need a vacation sooner than I thought." His Aunt may, safe and secure, light lychuckled. "I just hope Peter's alright."
"It's all right, Ms Parker." Splinter spoke, approaching his aunt. "I assure you that your nephew is safe. My sons were asked to look after you."
"Oh thank you…Mr..Rat sir." His aunt laughed. "They do say the best things come in the most unexpected of ways. "..My nephew has a lot of strange friends."
"Well he's a very strange kid." Raph snickered, bumping him in the elbow. "Ain't that right, web head?"
"... Possibly …" He tried to keep his personal life and hero life away from each other, please don't add to this, Peter was not in the mood.
"I have some food leftover as thanks … although it probably has rat hair in it." May offered.
"I am a rat, a little hair means very little." Splinter bowed.
"So polite." She chuckled.
"... Is Master Splinter getting chummy with a girl?" Raph asked.
… And here he thought FALCO was going to be the pinnacle of disturbing today. Apparently the universe likes to topple itself.