Fowl tongue, have my words

Nobody, Not Even the Rain

The gloomy cloak of rain draped over Gotham, painting the city in somber hues that a wistful romantic might label as mourning. Yet, for me, it was nothing more than an aggravation, a relentless assault on my mood, soaking through my damned socks. I lifted my foot, shaking it with a sense of irritation, a furrowed brow, and lips twisted into a grimace of displeasure. A small sigh escaped me, carried away by the misty air as I reluctantly redirected my gaze to the waterlogged streets stretched out before me.

The soundtrack of the city was a discordant symphony of raindrops pinging against metal, the swishing of car tires through puddles, and the relentless blare of sirens that seemed to echo through my skull. I couldn't help but regret leaving my earbuds tucked away in my bag. Each siren was a pulsating reminder of the chaotic heartbeat of Gotham, a rhythm I was forced to endure. The city's dissonance merged with the persistent drumming of rain, creating a chorus that mirrored the tumult within my own thoughts.

No crickets...just artificial noise here. A few years ago, it wouldn't have been so bad for me, but things change, or rather I did.

"Well Peter, we're not in Kansas anymore." A tiny clicking and inhuman voice rung in my ears," I do not understand. What is this Kansas?"

"Right, right, uh, I was referencin' a movie quote..."

"Such is unnecessary and frankly insulting." Peter sniffed. "Movies are a useless bore."

"And yet you were enraptured by Star Wars. 'Sides they're a way of tellin' life lessons.... most times." Peter maintained a steadfast silence, clearly peeved. It's not like spiders would truly understand my nuances but then again, the same could be said in return.

Wouldn't it be nice to be anyone else but Anakin Skywalker? But here I was, a walking abomination- bit by Peter, the genetically modified spider, when I was in high school. I was sick as a dog for a month and then I started noticing the changes. And I was damn near sure there was some unspoken family mental history until I found the voices.

Spiders...why couldn't it have been like something fluffy? Instead, tiny legs that propelled themselves through the air and spun webs were my Jiminy Cricket. And they could at least give better advice than eating my rivals or potential boyfriends...

Long story short I had been living with a family friend in Gotham before I had been bit by this "gentleman." How in the world a genetically modified specimen escaped to Gotham University while I had been touring the facility was beyond me.

Which is one of the reasons I came back. Firstly, at the request of my family friend, Barbara. So, I was sick of hearing about Peter bitch about the South and its humidity. I'm sure Babs won't mind a new neighbor... or she at least won't kill him once I introduce them.

Coming up to a broken street sign and a sidewalk sprinkled with people blatantly ignoring others, I sighed. Where the fuck was I? It's like a broken compass lead me here with a side of figure it out yourself. I let out a begrudging groan as I whipped my head to what I believed was south.

Normally I'd use a goddamn landmark, but it seems with Gotham they were either boxed up or under construction...constantly.

"BABS." I quietly cried into the phone, "Where the hell are y'all?" Tall yeah, I got that already, I rolled my eyes before glancing at the buildings that towered over me. "Yeah, no, the sign is bro-ken. I'd say a prayer for it but then again, I'm not a particularly good Catholic to begin with." I punctuated my words with a flippant toss of my ponytail to disguise, at least to myself, how much anxiety this moving situation was. It's not like I was a practicing catholic to begin with... more of a dipping-my-toes-in-the-sand-ie-once-in-a-blue-moon-funeral-and-maybe-a-wedding-sort-of-catholic. But hey maybe God would appreciate the thought of the important moments...but then again, I am a walking abomination.