C501 Spider-Man (Patreon)
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Batman's gaze bore into Peter and Tony, his stoic demeanor demanding answers. "Who are you, and how did you come into possession of those communications devices?"
Peter offered a casual shrug. "I'm just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man." He then took a mock thinking pose. “As for the comms, well, I found them abandoned on the road of life.”
Tony, on the other hand, decided to play along with the banter, adopting an air of arrogance. "And I'm your average genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, similar to yourself." He adds, sending a knowing look Batman’s way.
The annoyed and surprised look on Batman's face was evident, but he had more pressing matters at hand. Ignoring Batman’s piercing glare, Peter turned to Superman, who protectively cradled Lois in his arms, “Thank you for saving her. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened...”
“You’re welcome.” Peter replied nonchalantly, as him and Tony shared a glance. They knew exactly what would have happened if Lois died.
Tony smirked as his face mask flung open. “Yeah, no problem, big guy.”
“So…” Peter gestured toward Joker, whose face was grotesquely mangled from the acid, and Harley, who was starting to regain consciousness. "You might want to deal with these clowns."
Superman's eyes narrowed dangerously as Peter explained what happened, "Joker and Harley planned to use Scarecrow toxin mixed with Kryptonite to trick you into killing Lois. But you have nothing to worry about now. I've already healed her and removed the toxin that was in her system."
The realization hit Superman like a speeding locomotive, his face hardening with anger as he realized the magnitude of the danger Lois had been in. She wasn’t just in danger form the Joker, but himself as well.
Tony chimed in, offering a bit more info. "And the bomb, which would have leveled the entire city upon her death, is also defused and safely relocated."
Superman's eyes began to shine red with rage as he readied to unleash his heat vision upon the Joker, whose taunting laughter had begun to fill the air. “Hahaha!” But just as he was about to exact his vengeance, Batman stepped forward, placing a calming hand on Superman's shoulder.
Lois, exhausted from the day's chaos, had fallen asleep in his arms, providing a sliver of an anchor to his simmering anger.
Batman's voice was firm as he spoke to his friend. "You're a better man than this."
Green Lantern added his support, “Yeah, don’t do something you’ll regret for the rest of his life…”
A collective sigh of relief swept through the group as Superman calmed, his eyes dimming back to his normal baby blues.
Before the situation could settle any further, Wonder Woman stepped forward, her voice carrying the weight of her convictions.
"Why are you defending these murderers?" She began, her words as sharp as her blade, "let’s not forget the countless lives they’ve taken and the infinite second chances Batman has granted them. They go to Arkham for a month or two and then escape. And every time they escape, innocent people pay the price for our mercy, for Batman’s mercy. We can't keep giving them chances, as the blood on their hands will no longer be just theirs alone but will stain ours as well."
A heavy silence fell upon the group as Superman looked down at his sleeping lover and then to Joker, who had started to laugh again, loving every second of this.
Joker goaded them, "Come on, do it!" he jeered, his tone as twisted as his grin. "End my life! End our lives! Or do you want to see me escape again? The bloodshed that follows will be on your hands and I’ll kill millions~"
Harley giggled beside him, “Yeah, snuff me, Bats!”
“No, we aren’t killers.” Batman stated, but he couldn't help but ask the one question that had lingered in his mind. "Why, Joker? Why are you doing this? Usually this is about you and me."
Joker's deranged eyes locked with Batman's, and he scoffed, "Because, Bats, I'm tired of always losing. I wanted to play the game on easy mode for once, so I decided to vacation in Metropolis."
He then shifted his gaze toward Peter and added with a wicked grin, "And I would've succeeded if it weren't for this guy with the spider fetish."
Superman's rage continued to smolder, and he asked the ultimate question, his voice trembling with anger, "You wanted to ruin my life? Kill my wife and child, destroy my city… You know millions of people live here, right?"
Joker nodded with a maddening smile, relishing in the chaos he had sown. "Oh yes, and what do you think you would've become? A god who deluded himself into believing he was just a man? What will you turn into once everything you've ever loved and cared for is destroyed by your own hands? Isn't it such a good joke? I'm getting tingles just thinking about it~"
Batman stepped forward, firmly restraining the Joker, his gloved hand gripping the villain's shoulder. "We're not killers. We've never been killers, and we won't start now. I’m turning you over to the police."
With his jaw set and eyes focused, Batman moved to Harley Quinn and repeated the same restraints. But as he tried to walk away with both Joker and Harley in tow, Wonder Woman, her eyes unyielding, stepped in his path. And a moment later, Superman stood beside her, his face hardened.
"Don't do this." Batman warned, but it sounded more like begging.
Flash and Green Lantern formed up behind Batman, creating a wall of heroes standing their ground. On the other side, Wonder Woman and Superman remained resolute, their convictions unwavering.
As both sides stared each other down, tensions rising, and the air thick with uncertainty, Peter and Tony exchanged a glance, then spoke up, their voices cutting through the tension and gaining everyone's attention.
Peter mused aloud, "Do you think they have some kind of shared autism in this universe, Tony? Some sort of collective moral compass that makes them averse to killing, and if they do kill, they're immediately labeled or become evil?"
Tony held his chin, contemplating the strange conundrum. "It would make sense. After all, how has the government not given Joker the death penalty? If he's truly slaughtered thousands upon thousands of people, then how has he not been sentenced to the electric chair or lethal injection?"
The heroes listened, their expressions reflecting a mixture of confusion and reluctant agreement with the outsiders' perspective.
Peter nodded, his thoughts taking a contemplative tone. "They must all have some peculiar form of moral code, or perhaps this universe is more black and white when it comes to defining good and evil."
‘Universe?’ Batman thought, immediately realizing why he didn’t know of either of them, and he wasn’t the only one to realize this. Every League member came to the same conclusion… they weren’t from this universe. Either that or they were delusional.
Tony pondered for a moment before bringing up a critical point. "Peter, you killed the Penguin, so is the universe affecting you? Do you feel evil because of it?"
The revelation hit like a thunderclap, particularly for Batman, whose expression shifted from stern to infuriated. “You did what?!”
Joker, on the other hand, cackled in delight. “Well, it’s about damn time, you know? That obese bird was really starting to get on my nerves~”
Peter chose to ignore Joker's amusement and replied calmly, "I don't feel evil. I saved lives, including Robin and Batgirl, who would be dead or seriously injured without my help. So maybe Batman should be thanking me?"
Joker laughed hysterically. “Haha! Yeah, thank him Bats! He’s such a kind and giving soul~”
Batman's face contorted with anger as he set down both Joker and Harley, turning his stern gaze toward Peter. His voice was unwavering as he proclaimed, "You're under arrest for murder."
Peter couldn't help but chuckle, a sound that seemed to bring joy to the Joker's twisted heart. The Flash, confused, inquired, "What's so funny?"
With a smile, Peter stated, "I find it funny that you want to arrest me for killing a man who tried to kill me, and let’s not forget that you aren’t a cop Mr. Wayne.” Joker and Harleys eyes widened upon hearing Batman’s real name. ”In my universe, that's called self-defense. Plus, that fat waddling trash was about to kill a ten-year-old girl before I arrived, so self defense or not, he was already going to die."
Peter's casual mention of Batman's real name in front of Joker and Harley was like a bombshell that had just detonated on the rooftop. Their shock and surprise were palpable, but it was Joker who broke the silence with a dramatic whine.
"You ruined it!" Joker exclaimed, his voice a mix of disappointment and annoyance. "The mystery, the intrigue, the suspense between us and Bats. Now it's not fun anymore… Who would be scared of a spoiled billionaire kid?"
Harley, with a sultry tone, fluttered her eyelashes and suggested “Why don't you take me back to your mansion, Brucy Poo? We could have a little fun, just the two of us~" Her flirtation was undeniable, as her gaze locked onto Batman, who was now visibly uncomfortable.
Joker, in mock shock, gasped. “Down girl!” He then turns to Batman. “Sorry about this Brucy. She just can’t resist a billionaire~”
Harley giggled, her voice full of mischief as she leaned closer to Batman, her arms and legs cuffed. "I wanna have your baby, Brucy~"
(A/N: When they learn you’re a billionaire…)
The dark, hardened visage of Batman shifted, contorting in disgust as he heard her words. The notion of having a child with someone so twisted and evil was beyond unsettling.
Peter couldn't help but smirk at the unfolding chaos. He leaned toward Batman and asked, "So, Bruce, what are you going to do now? Joker and Harley will spread your name far and wide. You won't be able to act anonymously anymore."
Tony spoke up, following Peter’s lead. "Maybe you should just... get rid of them, permanently?"
The room fell into an eerie silence, as neither side seemed to be coming to a decision. Wonder Woman was 100% decided in killing them. Superman was conflicted but felt more inclined toward her side. And everyone else stood by Batman, agreeing with his view.
“Here, let me help start things off…” Peter said as he conjured a revolver into his hand and fired before anyone had time to think. *BANG!*
Instantly, a bullet fired from the chamber and shot across the rooftop, landing right between Harley’s eyes. In a matter of seconds, her brains were blown out of the back of her head, painting Jokers face red.
“M-Mr. J…?” Harley muttered as she collapsed to the floor, dead.
A/N: 1815 words :)