Batman and Spider-man

Chapter 10

Rain soaked his red suit, painting it black. It drenched his suit so much so that he could feel it sticking to his body, the drops sending shivers through his skin, but Spider-Man didn't care. He had to show Bruce he meant business.

Above his perch, he saw the media rats huddling under tents. He wondered what the buzz would be if they saw Spider-Man enter the manor only to be greeted by state-of-the-art security that they couldn't imagine. He chuckled at the thought and was almost tempted to go through with it but decided against it. Bruce wasn't the only one who knew the mansion well.

The manor was built by a cliffside. Spider-Man knew that there was an emergency exit in the Batcave that lead to a beachfront. Being an emergency exit, most of the security drones and (non-lethal) turrets were focused in that area. Spider-Man passed through the forest, disabling the hidden cameras he knew were dotted around the manor with electric webs. The forest lead to the cliffside, all Spider-Man had to do was make it through without alerting Bruce.

He almost got caught by a drone but luckily his spider sense alerted him before it could register him. An impact web shattered the bat-shaped nuisance, and he was by the cliffside. Below him was a beach and ahead of him, the vast sea. Droplets of water agitating the churning surface causing it to twist and turn.

He was about to make the drop when he felt his phone start vibrating. He took it out and saw the caller ID.

Aunt May.

He hung up.

...

Otto. Otto. The man who tried to kill him, the man who almost failed. That same man was extending his hand for a shake and smiling at him. Aunt May was leaning on the kitchen door, smiling at them. Peter could see the eager expectation in her eyes.

Peter didn't shake his hand. Otto put his aside.

"Sorry," Otto said. "Maybe I was a tad bit too forward."

Peter forced his best smile. "No, I'm sorry. I'm a bit..."

Otto shrugged. "It's fine, not everyday you see a man in a wheelchair."

Aunt May stared at Peter. She was not having that as an excuse. "Peter, how..."

Otto raised a hand. "It's fine, May. Cut the boy some slack, he's probably dazed because he got here in a rush, right?"

Otto smiled at him. Peter couldn't smile back.

"Well boys," Aunt May said. "Looks like dinner's ready. Maybe some food in his belly will get Peter to open up."

As Peter walked into the kitchen, Aunt May walked towards Otto and stood behind his wheelchair.

"Oh, come on May," Otto said, big smile on his face. "I'm not a child. I can get there myself."

"Hush you," May said with a grin. "Otherwise, I'm going to put a bib on you."

As May pushed Otto into the kitchen, they both looked at each other, smiling, grinning, laughing and joking. He couldn't hear what they were saying, just the blood in his body and the thumping in his heart. Otto turned to him and gave him a warm smile.

"C'mon Pete," Otto said. "What are you waiting for?"

Somewhere in his mind, Peter heard the scraping of metal and the gnashing of steel claws.

...

Behind him, he heard the waves crashing against the shore. It was almost calming. Ahead of him, the dark gnawing chasm of the cave beckoned him forward. Spider-Man knew it would be anything but relaxing. His spider sense warned him of that.