Batman and Spider-Man

Batman and Spider-Man Part 1: Chapter 1

Rain poured down on the grey streets of Gotham, bouncing off the sleek black metal of the Batmobile. The Batmobile pulled up in front of a worn-down warehouse, the gentle hum of the vehicle coming to a halt as the vehicle was switched off. The overhead door hissed open as Batman unbuckled his seatbelt, stalking to the warehouse, rain dripping down his black mask.

Inside the warehouse the lights of the GCPD vehicles flashed in a dance of red and blue. The officers glared at Batman with either reverence or contempt in their eyes. His relationship with the police was chequered to say the least. The warehouse that Batman was called to was run down with paint peeling off and holes in the windows. Inside one of the police vehicles, Batman noticed a bruised man in the backseat, moaning and mumbling to himself. Further ahead there was a police cordon and standing by it, smoking was Batman's confidant in the police force, Commissioner Gordon.

"What happened here?" Batman asked.

"Our friend there is wanted for murder and robbery," Gordon explained. "Tried robbing some old folks' home, a Ben and May Parker. The husband put up a fight but was shot. Left the scene after that. Cops chased him all the way to this warehouse. Bastard threatened to kill himself. There were some negotiations, obviously. Cops were hesitant to enter the warehouse lest the bastard kill himself then all of a sudden, he flew out of the window, dangling from a web. Police took a while to cut him down. He was mumbling something about a Spider-boy."

"Did the couple have child?" Batman asked. "Anybody close?"

Gordon shook his head. "Nope, no kids. They just moved into Gotham with no friends and relatives. They do have a nephew though. Peter Parker. Took him in when his parents died. Raised him from when he was a boy. It's a shame that he lost his uncle too. Wonder how he's taking it."

"You think he could have done this?" Batman asked.

Gordon shook his head. "No way. He looks way to meek for this. Kid doesn't have any muscle on him."

"What about his wife?"

"Now you're just grasping at straws," Gordon said. "From what I could see, May Parker is a sweet old lady, wouldn't hurt a fly."

Batman stroked his chin. Then who would have a motive and the ability to do something like this? Dick and Barbara were busy hunting down a Mafia drug trail so it couldn't have been them. Could it be another new vigilante? Another person carrying out his own justice much like Batman himself? Batman hoped it wasn't another idiot who had been 'inspired' by him like that Spector character.

"Is it possible to get a sample of that webbing?" Batman asked.

The Commissioner nodded. Batman walked over to the factory, searching for samples by running his finger through the wall.

"You better be careful," said the Commissioner. "It disappears after an hour. Boys found some samples in the factory, literally vaporized right in front of their eyes."

Batman placed a sample in a glass container and placed it in his utility belt.

Gordon stared at the wall. "But imagine just moving into Gotham and this is the first thing that happens to you. Hell of a first impression, right Batman..."

By the time Gordon turned the Batmobile was zooming off in the distance.

...

Rain. It was raining again this morning just like the night...

No, Peter did not want to think about it. Thinking about his uncle's death caused a heavy knot in his stomach.

Aunt May told him he could not go to school, he didn't have to go, to take some time to mourn, to accept his uncle's death but Peter said no. He would go to school because Uncle Ben would've wanted him to. That was the reason they were here in the first place.