Good evening, people of Gotham. It’s a pleasure to see you again after so long. As you may all have seen from the recent news reports and information published on the internet, the Wayne name, my name, has been in hot water recently and I was nowhere to be seen, a fact that makes me feel deeply ashamed.

  The story you may have all heard from the news channels and the Wayne representatives has been that I was on a trip abroad. It is with a heavy heart that I came here to say that it was a lie.

  I wasn’t away in the Swiss Mountains or on some exotic trip to the Maldives. I was here, here in Gotham watching as my family’s name was torn apart, watching as the city that I was raised in was split in half by a man who calls himself a revolutionary.

  And I’m here, not to air out my woes or express remorse and shame, no. I’m here because I’ve been lying to this city, far too often and far too much. No, people of Gotham, I’m not here for apologies, I’m here to tell you the truth. And the truth… well… the truth hurts.

  May Parker was washing dishes behind the counter, her eyes glued on the TV screen. Normally she wouldn’t have done so- the trifling and gossip around rich people rarely interested her- but this was big news.

  The Waynes were a massive part of the foundation of Gotham that Bruce Wayne coming out in the news like this was big news, even to a lowly cafeteria waitress like her. She even tried calling in Otto who was in the middle of trying to call a business associate, his tone getting more irritated as the dialling tone droned on.

  “Otto,” May called out. “Otto come on! This is big news.”

  What Aunt May didn’t see was Otto crushing his phone. He whispered out a curse, turning his wheelchair around.

  “Sorry,” Otto said, hoping his forced smile would quell his anxiety. “Sorry. Just business stuff you know.”

  “Forget about your business,” May said. “Bruce Wayne is about to reveal the identity of that Master Planner hooligan.”

  Hearing that, Otto paled. He remembered childhood nightmares of being naked in front of a stage of people as they laughed at him, of being exposed and humiliated. That was how he felt now. Not even the Rhino could stand in defiance of Bruce Wayne’s mercenary or stooge or bodyguard or whatever the hell the Batman was.

  “May,” he said, tentatively. “Almost like a child.”

  I’m here to warn, you, people of Gotham, that the Master Planner is not who he says he is.

  “Yes Otto,” May said, her eyes still glued to the screen. Please look away, Otto prayed internally to whoever would listen. Please go deaf, please please… just don’t let her find out.

  He is but a petty, small man. He doesn’t care about me or you or the people of Gotham. All he cares about is his personal vendetta against the Wayne Family.

  “No matter what happens…”

  May turned to face him. Good, good. Turn away. When she saw the paleness in Otto’s face, the pleading way in which he looked at her, her expression suddenly became serious.

  “What’s wrong?” May asked.

  All his acts of kindness are just a ruse.

  “I just want you to promise me,” Otto said. “That no matter what you hear.”

  A ruse to hide the small man he is. That while the statements he says about my family are true, he didn’t do what he did because he cared about the truth. No, he only cared about himself.

  May looked perplexed. She was still holding the dish in her hand. “What’s wrong? Are you sick…”

  Otto raised a hand to stop her. She looked so cute when she was concerned. It reminded him of his mother. “I just want you to promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what anyone says. I want you to promise that you’ll still love me.”

  People of Gotham, I want you to know that Otto Octavius cares nothing, cares about nobody else besides his own ego and self-proclaimed genius.

  A plate fell onto the floor shattering into glass. Her eyes widened in shock and fear, Otto tried to reach out but she stepped back and all Otto could think about was the fact that she never did answer the question.

  …

  Their only response was static. Huddled like sardines with no updates, no information and a storm greeting them when they left the safehouse, Gordon knew that they were only moments away from things erupting into chaos. Billy could sense it too; his tiny, sweaty hands squeezed the Commissioner’s own. He was starting to shake.

  Noticing Gordon was out of the safe room, into the hallway. The only source of light was the pinpricks of the Officer’s flashlights and the lightning flashing casting the shadows of the window onto the wall, with rain washing through the glass like blood from a wound. The SWAT officer Stone stomped towards him.

  “Commissioner,” Officer Stone said. “With all due respect you and the kid should be in the safe room.”

  “Like hell we should,” Gordon said. “Comms are compromised, there’s no electricity, we should be getting the hell out of here.”

  Stone scoffed. “You’re welcome to get out of here, Commissioner. Go out into the forest, trek through all the mud while a giant lizard chases after you.”

  “What about evac?” Gordon asked. “You called them, right?”

  “We did,” Stone said. “But last we heard they were stuck in the mud…”

  Gordon cursed, startling Billy. “So, we’re trapped in here in all you can eat buffet…”

  “I advise not speaking like that in front of the kid,” Stone interrupted.

  “If you really cared about him your first priority would be getting him the hell…”

  And then he heard it, metal creaking on the roof. Gordon had to crane his neck to hear it. Billy also looked up, the fear twisting up his face.

  “You heard that?” Gordon asked.

  “Commissioner,” Stone started. “With all due respect I advise you to go into a safe room. We can’t have you…”

  Again, the creak of metal. It was louder this time. And it sounded closer. Billy had buried his face into Gordon’s side.

  “Officer,” Gordon said, his voice pale. Adrenaline surged through his body. He could barely hear himself over the sound of his own heartbeat. Lightning struck and he could swear he saw the snakelike shadow of a tail twist on the wall. Gordon took a step back from the window, leading Billy with him. “I advise you to get you and your men down… now.”

  Stone reached out in an almost reassuring manner. “Officer, please for your own health go into the…”

  Stone didn’t get to finish his sentence. It happened in slow motion. Stone was yanked out of the glass window like he was a toy doll. Gordon grabbed Billy by the waist, rushing into the safe room as the Lizard launched himself into the hallway. Gunfire erupted, causing glass to erupt, causing vases to fly, walls to tear and the Lizard to hiss. Gordon and Billy broke into the library as the Lizard lunged at them. Billy cried out as Gordon slammed the door shut, ducking as claws tore through the wooden door. Before the Lizard could tear through the door, Gordon saw bright flashes of gunfire erupt through the holes the lizard tore through the door. The Lizard let out a primal hiss as he lunged towards the officers. While the SWAT officers kept him at bay, Gordon, took Billy with him, grabbing a chair. He slammed the chair against the window.

  “Come on,” Gordon growled as a crack formed on the glass. “Come on!”

  The sound of gunfire died down. The glass felt like it was taking forever to break. “Fucking…”

  Gordon heard an Officer yell out in pain, he heard the sound of blood splattering on the walls.

  Billy watched the Commissioner pry away at the walls with anxious anticipation. The Commissioner getting shorter of breath with each swing of the chair. Tears started forming on his face, it felt like his feet were glued to the floor.

  He looked to Gordon and then to the door. The door erupted in an explosion of splinters as the Lizard lunged through it.

  “Daddy,” Billy cried. “Please don’t kill me.”

  Billy felt the protective hug of Gordon. The Lizard’s expression changed- to that of sadness or pain no one would know. Gordon grabbed Billy, charging through the window as the Lizard lunged at them. Glass erupted around them as Billy and Gordon rolled through the mud, rain splashing down on their bodies. Lightning flashed and thunder roared. Lying down in the mud, a few meters apart, Gordon had fell face first. He struggled to lift his head up but when he did, Billy saw that his glasses were cracked. His face was caked with mud.

  “Get out of here,” Gordon rasped. “Run kid.”

  Billy crawled in the mud towards Gordon.

  “No,” Gordon yelled. “Get out of here, it’s you he wants.”

  Before Billy could even reach him, he was greeted by a pair of green scaled feet. Billy was lifted up like a toy, meeting a grinning green face.

  “Billy,” Lizard said with a twisted, toothy grin. Billy started to cry. Lizard frowned, almost pouting. “Don’t cry. In just a few minutes you’ll be perfect, like me.”

  The Lizard cackled as lightning flashed in the sky.

  …

  The Rhino charged at them. Daredevil tightly gripped his baton. He may not stand a chance but maybe he could get Wayne away from here. He didn’t know if it were the rain or the heavy footsteps of the Rhino were throwing his senses out of the whack but for some reason Wayne’s heartbeat was surprisingly calm for someone who was about to be turned into paste. Daredevil readied himself as the footsteps got closer, hoping his estimates were right. The Rhino was inches away from them but before Daredevil could leap a vehicle crashed into him. The Rhino let out a frustrated growl as he tried shoving it off of him but the roar of the engine kept him down as electrical canons bounced off his armour.

  “Get in,” Bruce Wayne said, tapping something on his cufflink. Daredevil hesitantly stepped into it. “Where’s The Batman?”

  As Bruce Wayne leapt into the Batmobile, the seat disappeared. The seat disappeared into the back of the Batmobile and Daredevil heard the sound of leather and thread attaching itself to Bruce Wayne’s body. After a few seconds a pair of firm, gloved hands gripped the Batmobile’s steering wheel.

  “You’re looking at him,” Bruce Wayne said.

  …

  Gordon tried crawling towards the gun but the Lizard’s clawed foot crushed it. Billy’s wails were loud but the Lizard hissed over them.

  “See how pathetic humans are, Billy,” Lizard said. “Needing weapons to mimic our strength.”

  He lifted Gordon up from the ground. Gordon stared at his slitted eyes, widening in glee. A ‘grin’ of razor-sharp teeth spread across his cold-blooded face.

  Billy cried, pounding his fists against his father’s scaly body, begging him to leave him alone. “Please,” Billy cried. “Please.”

  The Lizard shook his head disapprovingly. “Attachments make you weak, make you human. I’ll show you just how pathetic these attachments are.”

  The Lizard opened his maw. Gordon closed his eyes. Out of the thousand ways he imagined he’d die, getting eaten by a giant lizard wasn’t so bad. He hoped that Parker kid would take good care of Barbara.

  Boy was he glad when he heard the hiss of a cylinder and the sound of a grappling hook. He opened his eyes to see ice spreading across the Lizard’s jaw. Before the Lizard could crush him, there was the sound of a grappling hook and Billy and Gordon crashed onto the rooftops.

  If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  “Damn you’re heavy,” said an exhausted looking boy in a red hoodie. Gordon was surprised to see a boy that sounded and looked a lot like the Robin that had gone missing.

  Billy clambered up the slope of the roof trying to run away. “Don’t worry kid, he’s with us.”

  Billy paused, his face pale and wet from all the rain and caked with mud.

  “Get out of here,” Robin yelled. “I’ll take care of the big guy.”

  “What about you?” Gordon asked.

  He pulled up his red hoodie revealing a belt of half-a-dozen of those freeze grenades Batman had used on Killer Croc a long time ago and a whole array of gadgets.

  “I don’t care how well equipped you are,” Gordon said. “You’re just a kid.”

  A Batarang whizzed past Gordon’s ear. “Say that again and it’ll hit your face next time.” Something hit the side of the building causing Billy to whimper. Robin and Gordon ran to see Lizard scaling the side of the building, it’s mouth frozen shut by the freeze grenade. His amber eyes narrowed when he noticed them and his entire body tensed.

  “Get out of here,” Robin yelled. “Now!”

  The Lizard lunged upwards. Robin tackled Gordon out of the way as The Lizard landed on the rooftop. Robin tried throwing another freeze grenade but the Lizard swatted it aside with his tail.

  Robin felt fear bloom from his stomach. The Lizard looked like he was about to leap at him. The slipperiness of the roof and the fact that if he made a mistake, he would be Lizard food made him nervous.

  The Lizard’s head snapped to Robin’s left, staring at Billy and Gordon. Before he could blink Lizard crawled towards them, the roof felt like it rumbled as he scampered towards them. His jaw inches away from Gordon as they stumbled towards the chimney. Robin shot his grappling hook and it pierced Lizard’s shoulder blades. All Lizard had to do was shake his body and Robin was dragged around the rooftop. His unsteady hands tried reaching for a freeze grenade but the momentum was too much. He finally slammed on the rooftop, pain rocking through his body.

  Robin was seeing double from all the vertigo and rain but he saw clawed feet nearing him. He reached for a freeze grenade and tried throwing it but it clattered limply on the rooftop. Lizard crushed it underneath his foot, evaporating into a blue mist. Robin tried getting up but when he got up the Lizard just lifted him up with ease.

  His jaw was still clamped shut with ice but he straightened his claws. Robin knew he was going to jab it in his gut. Robin plead with his eyes, begging Lizard to recognise the person behind the mask. It’s me Curt, he begged. It’s me!

  There was a brief flicker of recognition in his eyes before it was overtaken by the snake like slit and the Lizard stabbed.

  …

  “Initiate auto-pilot,” Bruce Wayne told the Batmobile.

  As if to hammer the fact that Bruce Wayne was Batman, the computer affirmed “REGISTERED DRIVER CONFIRMED.”

  Daredevil was dumbstruck. With hindsight it made sense; the gadgets, the tanks and the aeroplanes but in the moment, he found it hard to make sense of the fact that the glitzy billionaire he read about in the magazines was the man who put on the pointy eared mask sitting next to him. It felt unreal.

  “He’s on our tail,” Batman said, his voice suddenly like ice and that made it real.

  Daredevil could make out the rumbling footsteps behind them. “He’s gaining on us.”

  Batman tapped something. “BOOST ACTIVATED,” said the computer in its familiar drone. But the boost wasn’t enough. The car shook as the Rhino crashed onto them, knocking them forward. Batman tried accelerating, Daredevil could hear the engine burst into life but a tight grip lifted them up, the metal crunching under his iron grip. Batman tried redirecting all the energy into the boosters. A stream of fire erupted from the back of the Batmobile but if the Rhino could feel any pain, he didn’t show. Daredevil felt his stomach lurch as the Batmobile was hurled through the air, crashing into trees and spinning wildly. They finally landed in a small ditch. Daredevil’s senses were rattled but through the rain he could hear the Rhino descending and walking towards them and right next to him, a heartbeat to match those footsteps.

  Batman started the engine. The engines let out a wounded growl as it came back to life.

  Critical damage sustained, armour integrity at 60%.

  “Energy output?” Batman asked.

  At full levels.

  “Put all energy on boost,” Batman said. “And activate the ejector seats.”

  As the footsteps got closer Batman pointed at a button on the steering wheel. “Press this button when I activate the ejector seat and take a U-Turn.”

  His heartbeat was so confident that Daredevil was intimidated still he mustered up some of his own confidence. “You seem to forget that I’m blind.”

  “With heightened senses,” Batman said. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.”

  The Rhino’s footsteps got closer. “Boost activate,” Batman said.

  The Batmobile launched out of the ditch and right at the Rhino.

  …

  “Hey, Jurassic Park reject,” Spider-Man said, webs attached to the Lizard’s arm. “Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”

  Spider-Man tried pulling the Lizard back, this gave Jason enough time to break free. Lizard grabbed Spider-Man’s webs and swung him down on the rooftop but Jason managed to get a freeze bomb launched on his back.

  Spider-Man kneed him in the jaw and ran towards Jason.

  “You okay?” Spider-Man asked.

  Jason nodded.

  “Look I know I didn’t treat you well and I’m sorry,” Spider-Man started. The Lizard started to stir.

  “We have no time for that,” Jason said. “Look.”

  The Lizard immediately lunged at Spider-Man who rolled out of the way and, taking Jason aside. He launched a web on Lizard’s eyes trying his best to buy them some time.

  “He’s fast,” Spider-Man said.

  “Yeah, I know,” Jason said. “I got these freeze bombs to try and slow him down but they barely seem to be working.”

  The Lizard ripped the webs off his eyes and went straight for Jason and Spider-Man again. Grabbing Jason Spider-Man leapt out of the way. He webbed Lizard’s face, dodging his jaws.

  Spider-Man crawled past his jaws, crawling around his body until he finally reached his back, putting as much pressure as he could on his back, he launched two webs on the Lizard’s arms and pulled back, laying his chest bare.

  “Back pain sucks,” Spider-Man told the Lizard. “Trust me I know.”

  Jason grabbed a freeze bomb but the Lizard knocked it aside with his tail, leaving them with only three bombs. The Lizard lunged forward, launching Spider-Man off his back. Spider-Man tried latching onto his face with a web but Lizard grabbed it and slammed Spider-Man on the ground.

  Lizard tried going for Jason but Spider-Man tackled him before he could, causing them to tumble down the rooftop. Lizard latched onto the side of the safehouse with his claws, managing to leap forward and headed straight for the chimney.

  “Robin, hand me the bombs,” Spider-Man yelled. “Find Gordon and Billy and get them out of here.”

  Jason tossed his belt, Spider-Man grabbed it with his web and hung it around his waist. Before Lizard could crawl into the chimney, he webbed his arm and pulled him back, the Lizard swiped his right arm at him but Spider-Man dodged, buying enough time for Jason to grapple down and run through the windows to look for Billy through the winding hallways of the safe house.

  “Just you and me dinosaur,” Spider-Man said. He webbed the belt to his waist and took up a fighting pose. The Lizard turned from the chimney, his eyes slits. He tried going for Jason but Spider-Man was faster.

  He tackled Lizard into the chimney, surprised it could fit the both of them. They fell down, scuffling with each other. Spider-Man’s senses alerting him to his claws while Lizard was punched by red gloves. They fell, soot erupting around them. Spider-Man tried crawling out but the Lizard grabbed his leg, placing his claws in his calf. Spider-Man cried out in pain but reached for the freeze grenades on his waist.

  “Merry Christmas!” he growled as he tossed the freeze grenade at his chest. The Lizard’s grip loosened, Spider-Man pulled away, the blood from his calf mixing with the soot he was smothered with. He webbed it up as the Lizard crawled out of the chimney, his movements more sluggish from the grenade.

  “Wait a second,” Spider-Man said. “You’re not Santa.”

  The Lizard used his tail this time, Spider-Man flipped onto the wall. “I was really looking forward to that time management book.”

  Lizard lunged at the wall, Spider-Man jumped down and launching a web pulled him down.

  “Damn you’re heavy,” Spider-Man grunted. “Have you been stealing Santa’s cookies and cream?”

  Spider-Man tossed another freeze grenade but the Lizard instinctively swatted it with his tail. Lizard tackled him through the walls of the safehouse before Spider-Man could web up the unused web grenade.

  Spider-Man squirmed out of the Lizard’s grip, flipping to wall and crawling away as fast as possible. It was at that moment Barbara had finally managed to establish comms.

  “Doing this without Bruce’s resources is a headache,” Barabara said, some of her words being drowned out by the static drone. Spider-Man tried throwing a stealthy freeze grenade from behind but the Lizard caught wind of him before he could even unclip the grenade. The Lizard leapt, Spider-Man went down to the floor but was whipped across the chest by the Lizard’s tail. He heard the freeze grenade clatter across the floor. Through his blurry vision he saw the Lizard crush it under his feet.

  Looking down he saw a gash across his chest, the fabric was torn and a purple bruise in the shape of a tail had formed there. The Lizard figured Spider-Man was as good as dead so he took his time getting to him.

  They are always so damn arrogant, Peter thought. Barbara established a connection again.

  “Spider-Man are you alright?” Barbara asked. “I have the schematics for the mansion.”

  “Find me a fridge.”

  Barbara sounded confused. “What?”

  “Find me a fridge,” Spider-Man said. “A big one.”

  “Now’s not the time for jokes,” Barbara said. The Lizard lunged, Spider-Man slipped under him and hopped up the wall, launching webs and slipping away whenever Lizard attacked.

  “You remember biology class,” Spider-Man said. “You know what Ms. Archer said about reptiles.”

  Barbara immediately registered what Peter was talking about. “I’ll send you co-ordinates…” Barbara’s voice was swallowed by the static.

  The Lizard’s eyes narrowed into slits. Spider-Man’s lenses did the same.

  “Now it’s just me and you big boy.”

  They lunged at each other.

  …

  The Batmobile jolted forward, not directly at the Rhino but at an angle to his side. Daredevil could hear the sound of Rhino’s thunderous heart and his even louder roar.

  “Now,” Batman growled. He left the ejector seat. Daredevil leapt onto the driver’s seat and pressed the button Batman indicated.

  “Winch activated,” droned the voice.

  Daredevil heard machinery hiss and from the back of the Batmobile a taut wire freed itself, Batman grabbed the winch and glided around the Rhino’s horn. The Rhino swiped at Batman uselessly but Batman was back in the Batmobile. Daredevil could smell the torn rubber and bruise on hand but if he wanted to say anything about it, Batman didn’t. Instead, he switched on the boost and the Rhino was dragged through the forest, roaring like a wounded beast in the distance.

  Daredevil and Batman were suddenly lurched forward. Batman got up to see that the Rhino had dug his arms into the mud below.

  “Computer,” Batman said. “Reroute power from the armour to the boost.”

  ARMOUR INTERGRITY 0%. BOOST MAY DAMAGE ENGINES.

  “Confirmed.”

  Daredevil heard the roar of the engine. The tension of the winch was like a tense muscle ready to spring into action. The boost activated and the car rocketed forward, Daredevil heard a sickening crack as the Rhino’s horn was torn off from his armour.

  “Withdraw winch,” Batman said.

  When the Batmobile hit the road the engine started to sputter and it slowed down.

  The rain was starting to slow too and it was looking to be a relaxing drive to the press.

  “So, Bruce Wayne is Batman huh?” Daredevil asked, removing his mask. “Care to say why you didn’t tell me earlier?”

  Bruce was silent and his heartbeat didn’t give anything away.

  …

  Much to both Spider-Man and Barbara’s surprise there was a massive fridge by the kitchen used to store meat before the house was turned into a GCPD safehouse.

  Spider-Man lured Lizard over to it, launching webs and diving in for the occasional punch.

  The kitchen was a mess from all the GCPD officers with pots and pans lying about. The room was narrow, and every swing and toss by the Lizard lead to the clattering of metal pans hanging against the various counters lining the room. Even Spider-Man wasn’t safe.

  The Lizard seemed to recognise what Spider-Man was doing. He turned around and started dashing towards the exit.

  “Don’t you want a snack?” Spider-Man asked, launching two webs. Lizard shifted his weight forward and Spider-Man was launched across the kitchen and into the door. Spider-Man landed on the wall and tackled Lizard across the room, they tumbled and rolled, Spider-Man relying on his spider senses to dodge the wild claw swipes and tail swings crashing through the pots and the pans.

  Spider-Man landed on the floor, arm in front and legs tensed ready to pounce but the Lizard just threw pots and pans at him which Spider-Man easily dodged. Instead, the Lizard ran for the windows, thunder flashing across casting light on the chaotic mess of the kitchen.

  The Lizard crawled up through the window, Spider-Man quickly launched a web mine to stop him. The web wrapped around the Lizard who immediately attempted to break out of it.

  “Alley-oop!” Spider-Man said, standing upside down from the roof and swinging him to the fridge. A massive dent formed on the metal door. He launched a web and the fridge door hissed open. Lizard tore off the webs and roared at him. What Lizard didn’t notice was the two webs on walls. Spider-Man threw himself forward like he was on a sling shot, kicking Lizard into the fridge.

  Spider-Man slammed the door shut, sealing it as tightly as he could. The Lizard slammed into it, Spider-Man had to crawl away to avoid the claws. It was then Spider-Man realised the freezer wasn’t doing anything, Lizard slammed against the metal doors with the same ferocity he started with.

  He turned up the ice, the attacks stopped but Spider-Man noticed the hinges on the door were starting to break.

  On his belt he had one freeze grenade left. It was now or never. He grabbed it and opened the door despite his spider senses objections. He took out the grenade.

  “Here catc…”

  His quip was interrupted by a tail to the chest. Spider-Man was launched backwards, his body wracked with pain.

  But the job was done, the Lizard had been frozen. All Peter had to do was administer the cure.

  …

  It was the usual paparazzi, guards, cops, the press. Bruce was used to this. What he wasn’t used to was being vulnerable in front of all of this. He stood in front of the podium, in front of all the flashing lights and started.

  Good evening, people of Gotham. It’s a pleasure to see you again after so long

  …

  But that is not why you’ve come here today. This is my first public appearance in over a year of me missing and some of you may have noticed my leg as I walked into this room.

  “May, please,” Otto begged. “I can explain.”

  “Why?” May asked. Otto couldn’t help but cry, even after everything Wayne revealed to the experiments on James Santini to extorting the Lizard May still wanted to understand. He didn’t deserve her and he knew it.

  The truth is I lost my right leg in an accident on one of my trips and was ashamed. Ashamed of myself. I felt weak and pathetic and like every weak and pathetic man I decided to hide.

  May switched off the TV. “Why?”

  “Why?” Otto echoed. “Because I’m dying May. I… I’m not as great as I wanted to be, my body it’s… it’s rotting.”

  May sobbed. “You were great to me.”

  Otto looked down, ashamed.

  May walked over to him tepidly, placing a comforting arm on his shoulder. “Are you going to stop?”

  Otto shook his head. “I can’t, May. I can’t. Not after everything I’ve done. I’m sorry.”

  May pulled away her hand and Otto knew it was over.

  …

  I wouldn’t have made it this far without my friends, my family. If it weren’t for the support of the people around me I doubt I would even have the courage to speak to you all today.

  When Curt Connors awoke, he was in the back of a police van. Sitting across from him was Commissioner Gordon and a boy in a mask.

  “I… where am I?”

  Gordon sighed. “Curt Connors, you’re under arrest for the murder of Martha Connors and Sam Williams and the illegal experimentation of James Santini. Anything you say or do will be used against you. You have the right to remain silent…”

  Curt reached out with his right arm, noticing only the wispy stump with weathered scales delicately landing on the floor. “It’s fine. I plead guilty I…”

  Blood and screams, his right hand tearing through her flesh. The smell of her blood.

  “Oh god,” Curt cried, feeling bile in his throat at the memory. “What have I done?”

  …

  I promise not to hide in the shadows anymore.

  Peter found May sobbing on the floor. Otto had already left. he wanted to be glad but seeing Aun May like that didn’t put him in a festive mood.

  “Peter?” May asked. “Is that you?”

  “Yeah,” Peter said.

  Aunt May started to wipe her tears, swallowing down her sobs. “I’m sorry. You must’ve seen the news. Otto and I… I should’ve…”

  Peter wrapped his Aunt up in a hug. “No. You don’t have to hide your pain from me.”

  Peter felt his May sob into his chest. He had to bear the burdens of being Spider-Man alone, but that didn’t mean his May had to bear her own burdens all by herself.

  To be continued…

  Hello guys! Apologies for the late chapter. The very very late chapter. I’ve been busy with some original projects (Please check out Engage and Fighting 2 Connect on any platform that hosts original stories) and having fun with them and like Bruce Wayne in this chapter I think it’s time to fess up some truths.

  I did not enjoy writing Batman and Spider-Man 2. It wasn’t because of burnout or anything, I just didn’t feel as excited for this project as I did for Teen Titans and other future DCMU projects. Furthermore, I’ve really enjoyed working on my own creative projects with my own characters and that has taken up the bulk of my time, however, every time I read a comic book or stumble across an old review I can’t help but either take notes or smile because I really enjoy this project. So, while I may not enjoy it, Batman and Spider-Man 2 will continue, the last 3 chapters will be published albeit irregularly and I promise to put in the passion I did for the previous few chapters because believe me, I am still passionate about the DCMU. I will then continue with Teen Titans and sprinkle in a few short stories involving Aquaman, Cap, Venom and perhaps even Moon Knight so stay tuned for that.

  As for this chapter, the astute fans will notice Bruce mentioned his right leg when his left leg was missing. This is a reference to the Golden/Silver Age where comic book characters did ridiculous things to hide their identity. Don’t worry though, Bruce didn’t actually cut his other leg off.

  Special shoutout to all the fans of this project, Reexaser, Spider999 and a whole bunch of other fans I seem to have forgotten the names off (if you leave a review it’ll definitely jog the memory). I hope yall are still around.

  That’s it from me, till next time TheFool0 out! And in case I haven’t made it clear, the DCMU is back!