Legal Bat 7 - (Batman: Wayne Family Adventures, Lawyer!SI)

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AN: Warning, this will be a turning point chapter. Expect big things to happen from this chapter onward.

Being kidnapped in DC Comics can end in three ways:
1) You are going to die for someone else's character development;
2) You are going to be kidnapped frequently;
3) You are going to be freed and this is an one-time thing.

Now, the odds of either of those options to be viable depends on the kidnapper, the circumstances behind the kidnappings and the kidnapped party's capacity to stay out of harm's way.

As I woke up in a smelly room of a rotting warehouse, which I could tell from the fishy stench was somewhere near the docks, I had to accept that option 3 may not be as possible if I remained tied up to the chair. Not when the kidnapper was someone with serious mental issues like the Joker.

Punchline was... annoying. Not much as a person- okay, maybe a bit as a person, but generally as a character. Someone in DC felt upset that Mr. J got his GF stolen by plant lady and decided to give him a mentally challenged simp as a replacement.

Nothing wrong with giving a villain multiple henchmen/women but... the Joker wasn't the kind of villain that needed that sort of recurring characters. Harley made sense since it highlighted the manipulative nature of the bastard, but Punchline? What was the point beyond him getting a zealous moron that was indeed insane?

Sparing a look at my surroundings, I took notice of the overall disposition of my situation: the room lacked guards, but I could tell someone was standing outside the only door. There was no windows, but there were two ventilation shafts. Likewise, I found a few too many cameras aimed at me- perhaps for some shocking reveal as I doubted Batman and his family weren't trying to rescue me by now.

I thought that waiting could work until I noticed some sprinklers by the walls. I didn't need to know what those were and I knew I had to gofast. I tested the ropes, immediately ruling out wrestling their hold over my wrists but- the chair was so worn out that it creaked at the littlest movement.

I wonder...

CRACK!

Yup, the chair wasn't strong enough to handle me, but...

"MERCEEEEEER!"

Something told me that the thugs were no longer outside my door and that I was about to be in danger if I didn't leave that move at once.

I had no clue what was hunting me, but something definitely was as I rushed at the left vent, pulled the few lose screws left on the gate and then slithered into it, ignoring whatever was behind me as I knew a chase was now on. Especially when I heard the door of that room slammed open, and something rushing inside to wreck what was left of the chair.

Crawling as fast as I could, I heard something creeping behind me. It was liquid, gooey with its slimey approach but I refused to look back as any moment of hesitation could be my last. The chase went on for just two long minutes, and I was glad that one of the gates under me collapsed under my weight and led be to what looked to be a platform over some closed vats. On the walls, I could recognize a particular Logo that didn't really soothe my worries.

S.T.A.R. Labs.

And if I remember correctly, the Gotham Branch was a military-only facility. So... yeah, I was screwed unless I found something to defend myself.

I looked around, picking up the pace as I heard the ferocious blob roaring after me. I dared myself to look behind. Clayface? No, it wasn't Karlo but... that was definitely his gooey and monstrous design-

"MERCEEEAHR!"

As I heard its deranged calls, I realized who it was. It wasn't Karlo, it was-

Barnes?!

Fucking hell, did I just create a villain or something? I already have lawyers against my ass, I didn't need a legit super-villain after me too!

I ignored the tense strain I was putting onto my legs, seeing how swift Barnes was as it tried to intercept me. Some tendrils shoot out from its tall frame, but were unfocused enough to miss me entirely.

I felt my lungs burn at the prolonged chase. We left a massive room of vats to another. This time the vats had open ceilings, some with bubbling liquids inside those and others just empty. Neither of those options looked fine.

It didn't help that the railing was shaking like crazy due to its age and Barnes' weight causing it to stress to its very limits.

I was about to lose all hopes since I couldn't find a way out of this but- I was suddenly yanked away from the railing and brought to the lower entrance of the room, then yanked through the door and into a safer hallway.

"I got you, Jay."

The familiar voice made me almost call out her name. Harper. But I could see she was wearing her... costume. Bluebird offered me a bit of a relieved but worried look.

"T-Thank you, Bluebird."

Her relief grew, but the peace was brief. The ground shook again, Barnes was after us and Harper started to drag me along until I was able to get my legs moving through the shock.

I felt my heart drumming in what felt pure fear- I had no clue what this 'game' was, usually the reader could know by Batman's perspective or even the villains'. But right now? I was the victim and, as the new Clayface was keen to prove, I wasn't as fast or as durable as anyone with plot armor.

I barely heard Harper's warning as I got struck by a thick tentacle that slammed onto my back and sent me flying forward and into a new room filled with vats. Those were much smaller, and those had darker liquids in those. I felt the shards of glass cut into my skin before feeling the world swallowed.

I couldn't hear anything, I couldn't say anything. I couldn't do anything. I was stuck as even the pain had vanished as suddenly as the rest of things. I felt constricted- no, I just felt unable to evenfeelmy body anymore. The claustrophobic disgust shifting into something more guttural and primal - it wasn't painful, but it was horrifying nonetheless as a realization that struck my own mind thoughtless and terrified before it finally addressed that horrible 'what if'.

Was this... Could it be that I am...

Am I dead?

To my surprise, something did answer my question rather than leave myself to my thoughts. Now, I wasn't alone anymore.

You are not.

Quiet, muffled, curious, confused, and yet responsive.

Where am I?

Home.

Home?

My Home.

I paused to contemplate this exchange but-

Who are you?

...

Jay.

What's a Jay?

Innocent, curious, naive, wondering, and hungry for knowledge.

I felt the need to shiver, but it was like I was bodiless for it.

Me.

What's a Jay?

My name.

What's a name?

The answer was more complex, but it wasn't worded by thoughts. Pictures came up, flashing and buzzing as the entity shuddered and vibed in excitement. I felt the loneliness, I felt the yearning for company - to not be alone. It was an endless experience, so much that I forgot what was going on before I ended up here.

I felt no pain, no hunger, no thirst, no worries. I just felt alive.

What's a friend?

And then I remembered as this creature asked.

I remembered that Harper was out there, probably trying to help me- rescue me. And then there was Clayface.

I couldn't stick here despite how sinfully tempting it was.

More pictures flashed. Some were generic, but others switched up to Harper. Simple stuff, nothing weird, but I really felt like I kind of took her for granted at times since I was-ama friendless morons at time. A soulless job I took, and one that should have kept me soulless too.

But... I got lucky. And that luck was being threatened by a bastard like Barnes.

The entity buzzed in agreement, the noises it felt, the laughing and the smiling. It had it drumming in a chorus to get out.

Let me out-

I want out too! Friend! Save friend! FRIEND! FRIEND!

LET US OUT!

The vat exploded as a gray substance erupted from it. I jumped out, and yet I felt my body renewed by the experience. I was still... human, but something more was to it. Something onto me, a new skin, a suit. I took to glance briefly by the nearby empty vat's glass and I saw...

I spy with my little eye, a wee spider. (Reference: Unlimited Spiderman Suit, but White, Gray and Black)

I look like Spiderman, or a 'Spiderman' with gray, white and black themes. The suit was unusual, a mix of Anti-Venom and Venom. It felt like a Symbiote, but simpler and more understanding. An idealization of what a bond of pure symbiosis should be like. A binding trust that had me accept I was now this and yet still the usual Jay Mercer.

My own preening didn't last too long as Harper called my name. My head snapped as I saw her coughing some blood, she had been roughed up a bit as even a bit of her mask came off.

Barnes roared at me. I was his main target after all and... Clayface rushed at me. Without hesitation, my hand aimed upward as a thick gray web shot out from my wrist.

I got pulled up, allowing Clayface to crash on the empty vats behind me. I looked around as I knew I couldn't exactly brawl my way to success. And I noticed a few vats filled with acidic agents. Nothing too extreme, but enough to force the Renu compound to solidify for me to punch onto.

I swung instinctively towards the vat, using my newfound super-strength to yank it out of its pod and then hurl the glass contained at the approaching Clayface. The hissing noise had the beast paralyzed as I did this three more times, and I heard his once inhumane attitude switch back to cries of help.

Barnes now appeared more humanoid as his corrupted body tried to fight off the acid, but he didn't see me rush by and hand out a uppercut, then a kick on his ribs and then a double punch against his head. He stumbled back, trying to find his balance, and he found it- as I took hold of his wrist and I felt my suit react to the Renu itself.

Tendrils shot out, claiming the compound off Barnes' body as liquids poured out and divided Barnes from the new Clayface. The brownish mud-like substance was yanked into an empty vat and then contained in several layers of web-like clothing I coated it with.

Barnes was quite unclothed, and I had to web him an underwear as he shivered, a mix of fear, cold, and the withdrawal effect of having the Renu removed from his body. I also had him tied up just in case before I rushed to check Harper.

She was well. A bit of a concussion, definitely some bruised ribs and a tired look.

"...Are you good?"

"You mean if I am now turning into a villain, Harp?" I asked back, seeing her tense up a bit as I recognized her. "Not enough bad days, or Precure is still good. Also... your mask is a bit off."

Her shoulders sagged. "Dammit, and here I thought that I could have not been found out so soon... H-Hey!"

She yelped a bit as I picked her up bridal style.

"Dude, I-I can walk."

"Not with your face covered," I argued. "Plus, you need to be checked by a proper doctor- would Mr. Pennyworth help with that?"

"...Yeah," Harper nodded, but then huffed. "So, how do you feel? Superpower and all?"

"Meh."

I felt her claw at my chest. "Meh?! You became what? Spiderman? Isn't that cool?"

"Could have asked for a better chance to do that but... it's a Silly Saturday."

"It's Weird Wednesday, you dumbass."

Fun~!

Oh yeah, the 'suit' was also aware up to a point. It's kind of like Venom, but minus previous murderous holders that tainted the symbiote.

"Well, I am still taking you to Alfred and... I bet your 'uncle' will want to ask me lots of questions about... 'this'."

"Definitely."

Today was indeed a Weird Wednesday. And I had yet to be interrogated by Batman.

AN

Harper: Dude, you can go on patrol, save people, be cool-

Jay: I think I will just keep being a lawyer with powers on the side.

Harper: DUUUUUDE! *Angry Fembro Noises*