The following story is a belated tribute to Kevin Conroy, AKA THE voice of Batman.

Rest in Peace and Power...

The Watchers, a race of beings dedicated to observation, could tell you there are far too many universes to count and accurately observe; some so different from one another they defy comprehension while some would take two lifetimes if not more to find the differences.

This is a tale of one such universe; an anomaly among anomalies.

In the world which is to be observed, New York City is still very much the metropolis..

"Look! Up in sky!"

"It's a bird!"

"It's a plane!"

"It's…!"

No! No, not THAT Metropolis!

"Awwww…"

Don't worry, we'll see them later…..

"Yahooo!"

May I return to the story?

…

Thank you. Or rather, Merci.

Anyway, this is still very much the New York City that we know and love/love to hate. However, the history of this particular New York is a little different.

Now, since an actual explanation would take hours to explain, here's the bare-bones version:

After the 100-year war ended, many flocked to the new world to try and make better lives. Among these were various artists and sculptures of France, who would create many of the locations and museums we know and love today in Paris in what would become New York.

The Statue of Liberty? She was originally a gift FOR France, but they sent her back due to being 'boring.' A decision they have come to regret, I assure you.

Also, much like Central Park was once a village (dark chapter, we don't talk about that), this New York had a sizeable neighborhood akin to Brooklyn, Broadway, and Queens; a sixth point, one could say:

Only at this point, Gotham, despite the efforts of some, remained a rougher and crime-filled part of the city. And it's there where our story begins.

MIRACULOUS

At first glance, Peter Benjamin Parker was your average teen.

A bright-minded young man with a gift in academics, what he had in brains, Peter sadly didn't have much in social skills. Most people often poked fun at him for his smarts and most girls he asked out turned him down.

However, his whole life changed in just one day when he and his class were on a field trip to Oscorp Industries, one of the leading tech companies in the world. While studying various types of spiders, a special genetically altered 'Super Spider' made its way to Peter and bit him, infusing its special genes into his DNA.

The next day, Peter discovered he had gained all the powers of a spider scaled up to a human. With these new gifts, he sought to earn money to support his beloved uncle and aunt, who were going through hard times but had always treated him well. And for a while, things seemed to be going well….

But one day, a robbery had occurred but Peter felt no need to get involved, a choice that would cost the life of his beloved Uncle Ben when that very same robber shot him in a haste.

Realizing that his powers were a responsibility he needed to uphold, Peter vowed to make sure the tragedy he suffered wouldn't happen to anyone else and formed a mask to become a symbol, watching over the innocent; Spider-Man.

Now, you think that would be it, right? Peter Parker AKA THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, the big hero of the city...but you'll soon discover he's not the only one...

MIRACULOUS

Bruce Wayne was a boy born into privilege.

Son of philanthropist surgeon Thomas Wayne and Chemist magnate Martha Kane, Bruce was the heir to the Wayne Family fortune, a wealth that dated back centuries. However, Bruce inherited his father's belief in using their family wealth to help those in need.

Sadly, tragedy struck when, at the tender age of 6, Bruce witnessed his parents being gunned down by a desperate mugger. The loss of his loved ones changed Bruce and he vowed to make sure these tragic events never happened to anybody else.

For the next ten years of his life, Bruce trained his mind and body, learning under various masters before finally creating a mask and suit to don whenever night fell and fight the criminal scourge, spreading fear into the hearts of even the most hardened crooks and low-lives. He became vengeance, he became the night, he became... THE BATMAN.

These two heroes have done all they can to keep their city safe while juggling their academics and social lives. However, neither knew of the other's identity...but soon, that would all change...

MIRACULOUS

After a moderately quiet night, Spider-Man was heading home when he heard the sound of a scuffle underneath him. Glancing down, he saw a young man surrounded by several punks in clown face paint; the Jokerz Gang.

"Geez, that creep just HAD to restart the killer clown craze." The Wall-Crawler groaned, recalling some loony called The Joker from a few months ago. "Oh well, at least these guys are like Nazis; you CAN'T feel bad for pummeling them!"

The Web-Slinger leaped down behind the gang and readied a quip..only to realize there was someone else:

Someone emerging from the shadows with pointed ears and a stance that just screamed 'royally pissed off.'

"What the hell are you supposed to be?!" The leader of the thugs demanded the tall shadowy figure, who remained unresponsive.

Unnerved and angered, the leader rushed at the figure, who suddenly countered his sloppy blow and delivered a palm strike to his chin before grabbing his arm and twisting it 360 degrees, shattering all the bones inside as the leader screamed in agony before being knocked to the ground with a quick flurry of blows.

Spider-Man watched as the shadowy figure got on top of the thug leader and then pummeled him some more. The webhead couldn't help but cringe as he swore he heard something caving in before the shadow stood up, its head hung down as it glared at the broken and bleeding body of the leader.

"I'm vengeance..."

Scared but loyal, the remaining thugs prepared to avenge their boss.

THWIP!

"AGH!"

One of the thugs found himself being flung back onto a wall and pasted to it by a load of webbing.

"Now I know tall, dark, and edgy can probably handle himself, but don't you think ganging up on him is unfair?"

The remaining thugs started to hightail it out of there, only to trip on their own feet and be pulled back to join their leader. Seeing as the newcomer was tying them up, Spidey moved to help the would-be victim to his feet, but he ran away.

A sigh escaped both costumed characters as the newcomer turned to walk away.

"Okay, hold on. I need to know something...who are you? I mean, you said your name was Vengeance, right? Or am I reading that wrong?"

The other man gave Spidey a deadpan look before sighing as he turned and resumed walking away before taking out a grapple hook gun.

"I'm Batman."

Spider-Man's eye lenses widened. This was the famous Batman he had heard so much about in the news. He couldn't say anything else as Batman fired his grapple gun and began to pull himself away but not before saying some final words.

"And I know who you are, Spider-Man. Keep doing what you're doing."

With that, Batman grappled into the shadows, disappearing as Spider-Man stared at where he had been before sighing and rubbing the back of his head as he gazed over all the beaten thugs.

"Guess I better web these guys up. Don't want to leave a mess for the cops and all that...Wait, what?"

The Jokerz were already tied up. By the looks of it, the same kind of wire as Batman's grapple gun. And there was a note to the police:

A letter with a bat insignia on it.

Kind of like what Spider-Man would do….

"Oh, he did NOT just steal my schtick!" Spider-Man ranted. "Of course, you realize this. Means. War!"

MIRACULOUS

At the same time, at an antique/massage shop, an old man was sipping some tea as he read the newspaper. The front page was, as usual, decrying the two costumed heroes we had just seen, calling them menaces and for them to register with the Avengers.

"Master?"

The old man turned to his small floating companion; a green creature that looked vaguely like a turtle. He spied the page and his eyes widened, then a small smile overtook his face.

"Now, master. As wonderful as the Miraculous would benefit…."

"Oh, no! No! No, no! Not for these two. I already have some candidates in mind. Just hoping that maybe these two will help them." Fu mused.

"That would be nice." His companion mused. "But how will you..?"

"I have a plan." Fu assured his companion.

"And you're certain this will end up better than….?"

"That was not my fault and you know it!"

MIRACULOUS

The next day, Peter was going through classes at Lee Kane High. It was an average day; acing pop quizzes, effortlessly answering questions when called up…

"Hey Penis."

And dealing with 'The A-Squad': Flash Thompson, Star quarterback and former childhood friend of Peter before popularity went to his head. Liz Thompson, Flash's on-off girlfriend and head cheerleader. Sally Avril, THE Jerky teenage girl, and her much nicer boyfriend Randy Robertson.

They were also the stereotypical 'jerk popular kids' and Peter was their favorite target. Well, Flash and Sally's anyway, Randy and Liz were pretty nice.

"Flash. Liz. Sally. Randy." Peter sighed, prepping himself for another enclave of insults.

"How're you doing, Petey?" Liz asked nicely; she and Randy were the sensible ones of their quartet.

"Hanging on." Peter mused. "What can I do for you today, Eugene?"

"It's Flash, Penis!" The quarterback growled.

"No, it's not." Peter said, delighting in the embarrassment on the jock's face.

Once, he and Flash had been friends; next-door neighbors even. But then popularity came along and…

Peter found himself being lifted into the air

"You must've studied too hard, Penis. Cause no one talks to me like that without getting a beatdown."

Peter wasn't even that scared. He had a few zingers in mind, but he also knew most would tick Flash off….then again, that would get him in trouble…but then he'd have to explain to Aunt May.

"FLASH!" A voice cut in, making everyone turn as a guitar riff accompanied a tall boy with black, slick hair and an angry look on his face. "Leave. Him. Alone."

This was Bruce Wayne, and he made that order as punk music filled the air.

"Also, nice guitar riff, Hobbie. You been practicing?"

"I don't believe in trying, just doing!" Hobie Brown, self-proclaimed 'anarchist punk rocker' waved.

Flash, ever the prideful top dog, held fast.

"And if I don't, Wayne?"

"Then you can tell your dear old dad that he's not getting that Christmas bonus." Bruce retorted, a smirk on his face as Flash's face deflated. "I DO have some sway with the Board of Directors at Wayne Enterprises, after all."

With sweat dripping from his brow, Flash dropped Peter and stormed off in a huff. Liz helped Peter up and Randy handed him his bag and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder before they rushed to follow him.

"Thanks, Bruce." Peter smiled as his oldest friend started dusting him off.

"When are you going to let him off?" Bruce asked, then recomposed himself. "Sorry. It's never a problem to help you, Peter. Just…Getting sick and tired of his ego, you know?"

"Well, he's better than Carl." Peter grinned weakly.

"Please don't mention him," Bruce scowled just as the bell rang. "Welp, time to head in…"

A smirk then crossed the heir's face as he turned to his best friend.

"What you say to whoever did better on the pop quizzes gets the other's dessert?"

"Oh, you are on! It's Sundae Week!" Peter beamed.

MIRACULOUS

They say time flies when you're having fun and Peter and Bruce enjoyed their academics. Because of that, classes flew by like a warm summer breeze and soon, it was lunchtime.

"So, heard Batman and Spider-Man were spotted together last night," Bruce noted as he and Peter sat down at their usual table.

They had tied on the pop quizzes this time, so they both got to keep their sundaes.

"Yeah, crazy right? I mean, they both have operated during the day and the night but Batman is primarily a night guy." Peter noted. "And Spidey has always been a friendly neighborhood daytime hero."

"No way! You guys heard about it too?!"

The two boys looked to see their closest classmates and friends seeking a table; Alya Césaire, the head of the Newspaper Club, Nino Lahiffe, amateur movie maker and DJ who was very skilled and imaginative for his age, Juleka Couffaine, the timid Goth Girl, and Rose Lavillant, your traditional girly girl who was cute as a button and had the sweetness to match.

And finally, there was Marinette Deupain-Cheng, Peter and Bruce's surrogate little sister: Their mothers had been the best of friends and Thomas had eaten ONLY Pasteries from the Dupain-Cheng bakery before he died (something about tasting the 'art' of baking). Even after Thomas, Martha and Ben died, the families remained close; the Dupain Chengs offering Peter and May an apartment in their building for almost nothing if they needed and Bruce always hiring them for catering.

Mari, as many affectionately called her, was a talented but budding fashion designer, but also the class' 'big sister' and leader in all but name….mostly because Madame Bustier was kind of lazy and Mari was not afraid to call out certain people.

"Alfred has the TV on all hours of the day." Bruce explaiued. "Don't tell me you're on the 'unmasking' them craze?"

"And why would I not?" Alya asked. "Jameson has offered a huge reward and or job at the Bugle…On that, Pete? You should try snapping some pictures of them! You know…?"

That was an idea, Peter mused.

"Well, maybe they want to remain hidden for people they care?" Nino asked. "I mean, you see it in all the superhero movies and shows what happens when people know that you know."

"Ah yeah." Julekla mused. "The 'kidnapped love one' cliché."

"And what those two do is dangerous, Alya." Marinette reminded her friend. "You could get hurt…or worse."

Alya smiled at the concern.

"C'mon Mari. If I can handle my little sibs….?"

"Then you'd last a little longer." Nino added. "No offense, but goons aren't kids."

"Can we move on from this?" Rose asked. "All this talk of danger is making me anxious."

"Well, you can't deny they're costumes do LITTLE for the imagination." Juleka smiled, making the girls blush.

"Well, maybe it was a happy accident, y'know?" Peter suggested as he picked at his food before his eyes trailed off to someone else.

"Um…Pete, you okay?" Bruce asked before noticing what his friend was looking at; a gorgeous girl with long wavey red hair, freckles, and a sweet smile.

"Ah, Mary Jane Watson, the girl next door~" Rose swooned happily.

"And one of the nicer ones, too." Marinette smirked to Peter, who blushed and stuffed his mouth with some food.

"COUGH Chole and Sally COUGH!" Juleka feigned sickness.

Nino chuckled. "Man, that girl's out of everybody's league. The only guy I see hooking up with her is old Brucie-Boy."

"She's not my type." Bruce shrugged as he returned to his food. "But I do agree, she is quite the catch for whatever lucky guy sweeps her off her feet."

Suddenly, Peter felt the tingle rushing through his brain. His patented "Spider-Sense" whenever trouble was about to occur. It just so happened that Mary Jane had just slipped on a spilled carton of orange juice, her tray going in the air.

Quick as a flash, Peter caught Mary Jane and her tray before skillfully catching all her food on the tray, not a single thing spilling. Everyone stared in shock at their friends' agility while Bruce, equally surprised, narrowed his eyes in curiosity.

"Those moves..."

"Wow." Mary Jane said as Peter helped her stand on her feet and gave her back her tray. "When did you learn to do that, Tiger?"

Peter and Mary Jane had been next-door neighbors since they were in grade school. The two of them naturally had a familiarity with each other that they had given each other affectionate nicknames.

"…Practice?" Peter answered lamely.

Mary Jane just smiled as she walked over to one of the nearby tables where the other popular girls of Lee Kane High were hanging out and gossiping together, including Chloe Bourgeois and Sabrina Raincomprix. Peter chuckled bashfully and sat back down at the table, trying to ignore the surprised stares of the others and the curious gaze Bruce was giving him.

"That was so cool, Petey!" Rose said, her eyes sparkling.

"You ever tried dancing?" Nino suggested. "I know for a fact that you'd be a hit with reflexes like that."

"Yeah, I tried doing that. I was too good for the judges." Peter admitted. "Well, that and they were biased to heck and back..."

"I hear that." Alya frowned, recalling covering that contest; Peter was too 'gangly', they claimed. Then, wanting to move the conversation away from this, she turned to her best friend. "So, Mari? How did the contest go?"

Marinette smiled brightly as she took out her notebook, revealing her designs for a kimino and a few hats.

"Well, I' still waiting to hear the results, but I feel confident. I mean, the judge seemed DISGISTED by what Chole turned in. Who in their right mind uses chartreuse?"

That got a laugh out of the gang.

"I bet you'd make a great costume.'" Peter mused. Honestly, he had considered making Mari his girl in the chair', but after what had happened with…

No, best not to think about that right now.

"Tell me about it!" Alya groaned in understanding before perking up. "Oh, on the matter of fashin….did you know that Adrien Agreste just transferred here?"

"Adrien Agreste?!" Rose gasped excitedly. "Son of Gabriel and Emilie Agreste, the fashion icons?!"

"Cool." Juleka casually said.

"Interesting…." Bruce mused. "My folks met the Agrestes a few times; very private people. Wonder why they let Adrian come here?"

"Maybe they want him to act human?" Nino asked. "Sorry, that sounded mean…"

"We know what you meant, no worries." Peter said.

"Say, isn't that him right now?" Nino asked as everyone turned to see a blonde-haired boy with emerald green eyes nervously looking around, a lunch tray in hand. Marinette blushed and tried to avoid looking at him as Peter and Bruce noticed.

"Oh right, Marinette is his #1 Fan." Nino chuckled teasingly. "How does it feel to know the boy of your dreams is going to the same school as you?"

"S-Shut up, Nino!"

"Bruce, you met Adrian a few times, right?" Peter asked, getting Marinette's attention. "What's he like?"

"…A pretty quiet guy." Bruce recalled. "Very nice, almost too nice, but his heart was always in the right place."

The Wayne heir then made a note to keep an eye on Adrian, just to keep him from being taken advantage of in any way.

MIRACULOUS

"Why can't this city ever be calm?"

Those where the words Peter was asking as he had just been heading home after school finished only to see a car chase in progress. Some punks had robbed the nearby bank.

Quickly ducking into an alleyway, he took out his costume from his backpack and put it on before webbing his backpack to a place where nobody could easily find it as he scaled the nearby wall and ran across the rooftops before taking a jumping start and swinging after the robbers.

As he closed in, he noticed a dark shadow running across the rooftops before jumping and gliding, a cape almost like bat wings spreading out as the figure dove toward the car and landed on top of it.

"Holy cow, is that-?!"

Sure enough, it was Batman, out in broad daylight as he placed some kind of device on the hood of the car and jumped off, the device exploding and causing the car to crash into a nearby lamppost.

As Batman approached the totaled car, the thugs driving it came out with guns, only for Spider-Man to spring into action, webbing up their weapons and sticking them to the lamppost before diving down.

"Hey, this is a no-gun zone, you know!"

The two vigilantes easily laid waste to the low-life goons, leaving them to be tied up to their busted car as the police finally caught up to them, the two heroes having already retreated to the rooftops.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't know you were that active during the day too."

Batman nodded. "It's alright. To be fair, I didn't know you were active during the night as well...Peter."

Spider-Man's eyes widened before taking off his mask, a slightly panicked look on his face.

"I guess we should keep it even." Batman smiled, lifting his cowl to reveal…

"Bruce?!"

"Secret identity, remember?" Bruce said icily as Peter clammed up.

"How'd you figure it out?"

"Well, for one thing, you don't change your voice," Bruce mentioned. "Then there's the fact that your first hero act was…"

Bruce didn't need to finish that one.

"And your exhaustion in class, suddenly being decent at sports and the time you've ordered the chem lab to yourself, I assume that's for your web shooters…."

Peter lightly chuckled at that before an idea popped into his head.

"Why not team up?"

Bruce stopped himself from saying 'I work alone' He wanted to minimize people getting hurt because of him. But this sudden reveal? That his best friend was also a superhero? It changed everything.

"… Let's give it a shot." Bruce smiled, shaking Peter's hand as he reached for his grappling hook with his other hand. "Race you to May's?"

"Loser makes breakfast tomorrow?" Peter suggested.

"So, your wheat-cakes? Nice!" Bruce salivated as he got started swinging away.

"Hey! Don't count your eggs before they hatch!" Peter quickly web-slinged to catch up.

"Oh, but they have." Bruce smirked. "Alright, new challenge: If I beat you home? You make a move on MJ already for god's sake!"

"Hey! These things take time!" Peter snapped.

"You already lost Gwen to Harry!"

"I don't see YOU making any moves on this mystery girl of yours!"

"It's complicated between us!"

Elsewhere, Bruce's butler and guardian, Alfred Pennyworth, chuckled as he listened in from the underground cavern known as 'The Batcave', where Bruce made all his plans and strategies for fighting crime.

"So nice to see Master Bruce acting like a boy his age again…" The Englishman smirked as he pressed a few buttons that made the Batmoblie Auto-drive itself back home.

MIRACULOUS

"Did you get the footage, Smythe?"

"As you requested." An old man with a relatively healthy body said as he showed a video recording of Spider-Man and Batman fighting the robbers. "Perfect data on both Spider-Man and Batman."

"Those loose cannons must be removed." The large man behind the desk said as he lightly pounded his fist on the oakwood. "They have both been putting a damper on my criminal empire for quite some time now."

"If I may, sir. There is somebody I do believe can handle them." Spencer suggested as his boss rubbed his chin in deep thought.

"What are you suggesting, Smythe? Forgive me for questioning you, but I am quite skeptical."

"You know Adrian Toomes? The former CEO of Toomes Aeroworks before it went bankrupt?"

"Ah yes, that old buzzard. His own stubbornness was his downfall. Now he's left circling for scraps...like a Vulture." The boss chuckled.

"Well, with the remaining resources he had, he managed to make something truly ingenious!" Smythe said as he showed a holographic projection of a suit of winged armor styled after a vulture.

"Ah, I've been hearing word of a string of robberies committed by a man dressed like a bird of prey. Are you suggesting what I think you are, Smythe?"

Spencer nodded. "Indeed. We ask Toomes to ally with us. Perhaps you can help provide him with some steady work?"

"Of course, any criminal seeking to make a name for himself will find themselves in good hands...with The KINGPIN."

The boss showed himself in the light, revealing himself to be bald and wearing a neat white suit with a purple collared shirt underneath. He chuckled maliciously as he prepared to make the call to his new partner...

Knightmare Lord A/N:

Behold!

The Ultimate Crossover Superhero Story starring two of the greatest heroes ever; Spider-Man and Batman! This will be combining many of Spidey and Batman's various animated mediums like the 90's Spider-Man Animated Series, Batman: The Animated Series, The Spectacular Spider-Man, The Batman, and even the movies and video games!

I hope you look forward to some detective-solving, web-swinging, crime-fighting action because this is gonna be a wild ride!

Take it away, Mrotrax!

Mrotrax A/N:

A great deal of this fic is inspired by the 'Stammering Adrian AU'.

As you can see, there are some changes between this story and KL's original work; most notably so far? The Joker has already appeared and made an impact. There's the also implication Bruce has his heart set on someone already….

While Peter and Bruce are the main characters, do NOT worry! We're working on character arcs wherein they'll help the Miraculous team come into their own as heroes…and we will happily listen to/read suggestions.

What other changes have we made?

Follow and Review, true believers!