Summary:

Gotham has a creepy masked vigilante that sweeps down in the night, terrorising its criminal element. It's a tough job but Gotham needs him. Because Batman is missing.

Chapter 1: Never Joke With Madame Web

Summary:

There are people out there that Spider-Man really shouldn't annoy. He calls most of these people, allies

Chapter Text

Author's note : I'm blending things together from all over their reality to form a story. Due to the sheer amount of retcons DC seems to have gone through recently. I'm also not as informed on DC as I am on Marvel, so I will be relying on the Arkham Games and pre 'New 52' material. (I think!).

This story was conceived before 'The Entangled Web' and they are not directly connected. (My usual writing partner, Jedireaper, insists differently.) You may connect them, or not, at your own discretion. This story does cover the DC verse so an arbitrary retcon out of nowhere wouldn't be setting any precedent would it now? :-)

Web of Gotham: A Novella

By ShawnMorgan

Prologue

Gotham City

"Sir, it looks like a busy night tonight," said Alfred Pennyworth. "The latest updates from Arkham Asylum are that Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, and Mad Hatter are confirmed escapees. Strangely, there does not appear to be any sign of the Joker."

There was a pause that Batman had come to recognise as meaning there was more bad news so he waited for his loyal manservant and friend to finish.

"Not only that, Miss Kyle has informed Commissioner Gordon that she had a near miss with Solomon Grundy."

"Just what Gotham doesn't need." The Dark Knight practically growled the words.

Alfred took it in his stride, "I'm sure Commissioner Gordon will be signaling his agreement shortly."

It showed how long they'd been defending the city, that the words were barely out of his butler's mouth before a silver sphere overlaid by the dark shadow of a bat was projected into the night sky.

"It looks like you were right Alfred."

"Aren't I always, sir."

Batman gave a noncommittal grunt as he propelled himself upwards for a now familiar rendezvous. The cape billowed out smoothly as he rode the damp night air to the roof of the Gotham Police HQ.

It happened too often for James Gordon to flinch when the gravelly voice sounded behind him. As much as the way Batman appeared and disappeared irritated him, he'd become used to it. The only other two cops that could deal with it anywhere near as well, were the ever cynical Harvey Bullock, and the doggedly persistent Renee Montoya.

Taking his glasses off and cleaning them, James Gordon turned around, pretending to use the light to check them by. He looked over them and straight at his old ally, calmly saying, "Batman."

"Solomon Grundy?" Growled the familiar voice of the vigilante.

Gordon nodded. "Straight to business. Good." He continued on in the same dry tone, "Apparently, Catwoman was interrupted by him before she could perform her civic duty of 'helping a little old lady across the street'."

"I'll retrieve the goods when I find her."

"How about bringing her into custody?" Gordon's voice had an edge to it. Batman's uneasy truce with Catwoman, a known felon, irritated the hell out of the veteran cop. It was made all the worse because he understood the reasoning, and by extension the semi necessity she had become. Sighing, he turned to look out over the city he had sworn to protect.

"I'm sorry Jim, but Catwoman isn't a priority." The gravelly voice seemed to come from all around the commissioner. It was weirdly morale boosting to think how often that creepiness was used to terrorise the worst scum of the city.

"Who is?" He asked the question pointedly, but after a few seconds he realised that he was addressing empty air. He grumbled, "Every goddamn time."

New York (Universe 616)

"I'll splat you like Frogger on the Freeway, insect!" The Garishly clad young man aimed his bulky gauntlets at the red and white spandex clad vigilante that sported the infamous spider motif.

As usual, Spider-Man took issue with the incorrect classification. "You've spent too much time in your parent's basement kid, you need to revise your math skill, It's 'Arachnid'."

Spider-Man casually flipped out of the way of the garishly clad would be supervillain's electronic assault, twisting inhumanly as he did so. " Your turn to tell people about yourself… like your oh-so terrifying villain name."

"It's Gameboy-Man!" The rookie villain declared posing 'menacingly'.

Spider-Man tilted his head, amazed at how someone could ever come up with a name dumber than 'The Human Spider'. "You're not related to Arcade are you?" He had to ask for as much as it was just meant to irritate his opponent, he wouldn't be at all surprised were it true.

"Don't compare me to that loser!"

"Okay, Which loser do you want me to compare you to?"

The youngster ahead of him snarled and adopted what he seemed to think was a menacing pose. Spider-Man made no offensive move but simply snickered. "I see you went to the Shocker school of melodrama!"

"I'll shock you in a minute."

"What? You'll do something competent?"

"How about this ?" The villain threw up his hands and a split second later there was a dramatic increase in the city noise, as crossing signals failed and shop alarms blared into life. With all the chaff coming from the gridlock, Spider-Man was momentarily disorientated.

In his homemade battlesuit, Nicolas Edison smiled as his HUD's scoreboard added a five hundred point defense bonus. ' Stealth Mode enabled: online'. Nicolas turned immediately, enhancing his evasive manoeuvre, gratified that he narrowly avoided the web belatedly flung out in an attempt to ensnare him.

Many new criminals had made the mistake of underestimating the Webhead and as a result, their fledgling careers had come to an abrupt end. Nicolas did not intend to join those ranks. He melted away into the new York day, trusting in his armour's stealth mode.

Spider-Man shook his head, recentering himself. He was about to swing out in pursuit when a familiar and irritating voice sounded in his head.

'Spider-Man, you have become complacent. Many of your foes have noticed this. How many times has Doctor Octopus upgraded his strategies and come ever closer to defeating you? ' The familiar telepathy of Madame Web conveyed a strong sense of her own irritation.

'Well, you could say he's re-armed himself a lot.' The flippant answer was sent back practically automatically.

'Spider-Man, If you have reached such a stage of nonchalance that you no longer even take me seriously, then a new lesson must be taught. I shalltherefor e teach you that much needed lesson. I shall see you in a week.'

'What?! Hey! I consid- hello? Hello? The voice faded as he felt his senses dull. Not only that but a strange fog was appearing, and through it all the cityscape seemed to be changing.

Gotham City (now incorporating Arkham City)

The streets of Gotham were clearing rapidly as news of the latest Arkham security breach spread and many of her citizens were hurrying home. Some hardier souls trusted to luck, hoping that that the sheer size of the city would grant them cover. Mostly though It was mostly those without a choice that remained outdoors, such as the destitute and emergency service personnel. High above it, Batman remained an ally to all of them.

For now he perched himself halfway up Wonder Tower, a one time marvel of the city, now apparently derelict after the recent incident with Talia Al Ghul. In the aftermath of all that conflict and its attendant brushfire skirmishers, Wayne Enterprises had bought it from the city, ostensibly due to Bruce Wayne's philanthropy. This had not only spared the city massive costs it, it had allowed Batman to discreetly expand his operations.

Tonight he was operating solo, his preferred way. He could have asked for help but Timothy Drake was on holiday with Stephanie Brown, the two of them repairing their friendship and maybe more, and rest and recuperation was essential for his wards, past, present or former.

He smiled briefly as he recalled the one piece of advice he had given Tim before waving them off. "If Stephanie gets mad at you again, then 'duck', Robin." Both young crime fighters paused in the process of hanging up their capes and looked at him in pure shock.

The smallest of smiles formed on his usually grim visage. I still think that's the kind of remark Adam West would have made in that parody show of his. Rest in peace, Mr. West.

He stored that little story away for retelling to Selina on their next working lunch together, before sitting and poring over newly acquired data. The electronics had been upgraded and buffered as much as they could be for now but the design of the tower leant itself to further atmospheric interference.

The cloud that was forming within the laboratory though was no simple weather phenomenon and years of experience had Batman's hands flicking out a Batarang and aiming it at the materialised face of Felix Faust.

" Faust," Batman growled, hurling his trademark weapon at the magician, knowing that there was no physical presence but simply trying to use the distraction.

Faust only smiled." I'm So pleased you remember me. So much so, I've decided to send you on holiday; permanently." He chanted and the mist in the tower expanded, surrounding the hero within.

As Batman faded away, and an unexpected new arrival materialised at the tower, Felix Faust chuckled. Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly reworked the spell so that it would also distort the memory of anyone who may have witnessed this fortuitous exchange for him.