22 MYTH TO REALITY

Early in the morning, Peter is in the Batcave, waiting for the computer to break through the encryption that's on the flash drive. As he waits for it to finish, Ben brings him a cup of tea.

"Thanks Ben." Peter says, taking a sip.

"Have you figured out what that... catwoman... tried to steal?" Ben asks.

"In the process right now."

Peter then pulls up a file on the expert thief known as Catwoman.

"Is she new to town?" Ben asks.

"I've never seen her before. Hopefully, she's just a tourist. Have to give her credit, she is good." Peter replies.

"And pretty too, sir." Ben says.

Peter smirks.

"So now you're trying to set me up with a criminal, Ben?"

"At this point, I'd set you up with a chimpanzee if it meant you finding someone to share a life with." Ben says.

Peter stays silent for a moment.

"Ben... I did find someone."

Ben looks at Peter with compassion, putting his hand on his shoulder.

"I know, and you lost her. But that's all apart of living, sir."

Peter thinks to himself for a moment, then gets a text from Harry reminding him about the press event today.

"It's Harry. I gotta go." Peter says, grabbing his glasses.

As Peter prepares to leave, he notices the look on Ben's face.

"I hear what you're saying Ben. I get it." Peter says with a smirk.

Ben smiles and nods then Peter leaves.

A few minutes later, at the building that used to be Parker Industries, Peter waits behind the curtain for Harry while multiple people are already there waiting. In the crowd, not only is Commissioner Stacy, J Jonah Jameson, and Vicky Vale, and all of the faces of New York City, but also the woman with white hair, wearing a dress she stole from a woman in the bathroom.

Harry soon arrives, surprised at the sight of Peter.

"Woah, you're actually on time. Have to remember to pray to God more often."

"Ha Ha, very funny. You ready?" Peter asks.

"I was born ready, buddy." Harry replies.

Harry then walks out on stage to loud applause from the crowd.

"Hello everyone. Thank you all for being-"

Harry is quickly inturupted by knives being thrown into the lights and cameras in the room. A man dressed as a black owl with red eyes drops from the ceiling, snapping a cops neck. Two more cops pull out their guns and aim them at the owl man who quickly throws knives into their throats, killing them instantly. A knife is then thrown into Harry's shoulder, dropping him to the ground. Everyone starts to panic and run away except for J Jonah Jameson, who stands there laughing.

"Ha! I knew it! I knew it all along! I knew Spider-Bat would show his true colors eventually!... wait that's not him!" He yells.

Vicky Vale then grabs Jameson by the arm and pulls him to the elevator.

"Not the time J.J." She says as the two run away.

Peter quickly runs to his friends side.

"Harry, are you ok?!" Peter asks frantically.

Harry grits his teeth in pain.

"Nope. No I am not. Not even a little bit."

Peter looks over and sees the masked killer slowly walking towards them as people continue running for the exit. He quickly looks around the room and sees Commissioner Stacy still there.

"Mr. Stacy! Get Harry out of here, there's stairs in the back."

Stacy quickly runs over and helps Harry to his feet.

"Wait, what about you?" Stacy asks.

"I have to help everyone else get out safely."

"No offense Pete, but you're not the hero type." Harry says.

"Don't worry, I don't think he's after me, just you. Which is why getting you out of here is top priority." Peter replies.

"He's right, come on son, we gotta get you to a doctor." Stacy adds.

"Ok, ok. Just... don't get yourself killed, alright? We're supposed to change New York City together."

Peter nods and the two quickly leave him alone. Peter then takes off his glasses and prepares for the owl man who is getting closer. At that moment, a man named Lincoln Smythe (someone from a wealthy family that's been helping New York City like the Parkers) hits the masked man over the head with a chair, to no effect. The masked man slowly turns around and grabs Lincoln by the throat. Peter quickly runs over, grabs a table cloth, wraps it around the killer's head, and lands a forearm strike that puts him through a table. Peter quickly helps Lincoln to his feet.

"Get out of here, now." Peter tells him

Lincoln nods while clutching his throat and running away. The masked man gets back to his feet, and throws a knife at Peter. The hero easily dodges it and charges at him, while the woman with white hair watches from a distance.

The masked man throws a right cross that Peter blocks, barely being able to dodge a knife thrust, aimed at his throat right after.

"This guys good." Peter thinks to himself.

Peter continues to dodge and blocks both punches and attacks with the knife. Peter quickly grabs his wrist, trying to disarm him, but gets pushed off.

"He's strong too." Peter thinks to himself again.

Peter ducks another right cross, then lands a right hook of his own and a spinning back kick, knocking the masked man through another table. The mystery man gets back to his feet almost instantly, taking no damage. Peter then charges in, landing a flying knee into his sternum, and goes for a forearm strike. The masked man blocks the strike, and lands a jab to Peter's face, knocking him back a step. He goes in for a big punch, but Peter catches his arm mid swing and flips him to the ground. As he picks him back up, the masked man grabs him by the throat and pulls him in close.

"Peter Parker. The court of owls has sentenced you to die." The masked man says, surprising Peter.

He then throws Peter out of the window, sending him plummeting down to the pavement.

"Too far from anything I can stick to, and I don't have my web shooters on me. What am I supposed to do?" He asks himself.

Before he can come up with an answer, he sees the masked man coming at him. Peter barely dodges a knife thrust and punches the mystery man in the face. Peter then lands a kick and grabs onto a gargoyle nearby. He tries to grab the masked man, but he wouldn't let him, crashing down onto a car by choice. Peter sighs, pulling himself on top of the gargoyle and looking down at the wreckage.

A few moments later, paramedics take the body into an ambulance and prepare to do the same for Harry, but he stops them.

"Hang on, where's Peter? Did he make it outside?" Harry asks.

At that moment, Peter shows up from the crowd of people.

"I'm right here Harry, everything's ok." Peter says.

Harry breaths a sigh of relief.

"Thank God. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you too."

Peter smiles at his bestfriend.

"Same to you man. I'll stop by the hospital as soon as I can."

"Alright. See you then."

The paramedics load up Harry and they drive away. As Peter walks away from the scene, the mysterious woman is still watching him from a distance.

Later as the ambulance, containing the owl man's body, drives through the city, his eyes from under the sheet begins to glow, shocking the paramedic. The owl man then gets up from his death bed and slaughters everyone inside. As blood is all over the inside of the ambulance, the owl man starts to drive in the opposite direction of the hospital.

Meanwhile, Peter is back in the Batcave, watching video of the mysterious owl man that attacked the press event.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, sir, but don't owls eat both spiders and bats?" Ben asks.

Peter looks at Ben for a moment.

"Too soon?" Ben asks.

"The only thing is, the man in the owl mask wanted to kill Peter Parker, not Spider-Bat. He strong Ben. Not only that but fast, and very skilled.

Peter runs a voice analysis, finding no matches.

"Whoever that guy was... he said that the court of owls sentenced me to death."

Ben is shocked.

"Court of owls? You mean like the folktale?" Ben asks.

"I think it's safe to say now, that it's more than a folktale, and that he was an assassin. That there's actually a secret group that's been ruling over New York from the shadows."

At that very moment the computer finishes encrypting the file from city hall.

"And here's the proof."

It is revealed that the file was all about the court of owls and their activities for the past fifty years in New York City.

"Why would Mayor Hill have this?" Ben asks.

Peter thinks for a moment.

"According to this, his great grandfather was a member of the court of owls but the rest of his family weren't, including him. Maybe Mayor Hill took that personally, he was preparing to expose the court of owls."

"Do you think that's wise, sir?"

Peter thinks for a moment.

"I'm not sure. It's not enough to expose the court, we have to figure out who the members are. Especially the ringleader."

He then stands up to leave the cave.

"We'll figure it out later, right now I have to go see Harry."

"Very good sir, give master Osborne my best."

Peter nods and leaves the cave, as Ben stares at the screen with images of the court of owls on it.

Later, when Peter is about to walk into the hospital, he sees Lincoln Smythe walking out.

"Mr. Parker. I was hoping to run into you, I'm-"

"Lincoln Smythe. Your family's charity work has helped this city." Peter says with a smile.

The two share a handshake and Peter notices his cufflinks, unable to remember where he's seen them from.

"I'm flattered. I just wanted to thank you for saving my ass back there, I really appreciate it."

"It was nothing really, I was just acting on pure adrenaline, I was really scared out of my mind." He says, with a nervous look.

"Well whatever the case maybe, thank you. Like I just told Mr. Osborne, I am in full support of you two's plan to save New York City. Whatever you need, I'm here and of course he has my vote in the election."

Peter smiles and nods.

"Thank you, I appreciate it. I'm sure Harry feels the same."

Lincoln nods and walks away, with Peter being happy that there's other people that cares about this city. As he prepares to walk in again, he is met by Harry, whose arm is in a sling.

"Harry? Woah what's going on, are you ok to leave yet?" Peter asked.

"Yeah I'm fine, just a few stitches and I'm good as new. Besides, there's no way I'm missing tomorrow's debate because of a little knife." Harry says.

"I mean if you say that you're ok, I guess I can't argue. I'm glad to see you're alright."

"Likewise. And today wasn't a total bust. I met someone while I was in there." Harry says with a smile.

"Yeah? Who, a nurse? A doctor? A patient?" Peter asks.

"Actually, it was someone from the press event today. She saw what happened and wanted to see if I was ok. I asked her to dinner and she said yes."

"That's great man, when do I get to meet her?" Peter asks.

Harry sees her approaching behind Peter.

"Right now. Here she comes now."

Peter turns around and sees the woman with white hair.

"Pete, This is Felicia Kyle. Felicia, this is the Peter Parker. The smartest man in New York City."

Peter looks at the woman for a moment, recognizing her as Catwoman who snuck into City Hall. He keeps his cool, not wanting to raise suspension.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Peter says with a smile, offering her a handshake.

Felicia smiles back at him, accepting his handshake.

"The pleasures all mine... that's a strong grip you got there. Don't worry, I'm not gonna fall." She says with a smirk.

Peter realizes that she does know who he is, but keeps his composure and chuckles.

"Sorry about that, it's been a crazy day. I'm still a little flustered from it all." Peter says.

"Man isn't that the truth, hopefully they catch that masked pycho." Harry says.

"You seemed to have handled him pretty well." Felicia says to Peter.

"Just got lucky." Peter replies.

At that moment, Harry gets a phone call.

"Sorry, I have to take this. Excuse me."

When Harry walks away, Peter's expression changes, intriguing Felicia. Tension builds between the two before anyone anyone says a word.

"Nice to meet the real you." Felicia says.

"Likewise." Peter answers.

Felicia can't help but be curious of Peter.

"This explains a lot actually. How you can afford the suit, the toys. Wouldn't Harry be surprised. Not to mention everyone in New York."

Peter stays silent for a moment, keeping his cool.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to expose you...yet. I am curious about one thing though. I do what I do for money, but you're... Peter Parker. What's your excuse? I have to. But you... why take the risk?" She asks.

"I have my reasons." Peter replies.

Felicia chuckles.

"Right, the whole "hero" act. But if you ask me... I think you like it. So do I. Too bad you can't let yourself admit it."

The two share a long stare.

"You have something that belongs to me. I want it back." She says.

"Who hired you to steal it in the first place?"

"My client prefers to remain... confidential. They don't know who I am, I don't know who they are."

"But you know who I am."

Felicia stays silent for a moment.

"These people that I'm working for... they don't screw around. If they don't get what they want, there will be consequences. And I'll make sure I'm not the only one who suffers them." She says.

Peter thinks for a moment.

"Alright, you want my help? You got it. What can I do?"

"You can start by giving me the drive."

"Not gonna happen."

"Listen handsome, I don't have a lot of time. My employer is expecting me to drop it off-"

"Where?"

"Just give it back."

"The address. NOW." Peter demands.

"No. Give ME the drive."

The two have a stand off.

"Felicia, listen to me. You need to trust me."

Felicia smirks.

"I don't trust anyone."

Felicia thinks to herself for a moment.

"Ok Spider. Seeing as I'm screwed either way, I might as well bring you down with me."

She then steals a pen from a passing nurse and pulls out a piece of paper, writing down the address.

"My contact will be expecting a cat. Not a bat."

"When are you supposed to meet them?" Peter asks.

"Fifteen minutes ago. Better hurry." She replies with a smirk.

Peter can't help but smile, as Harry comes back to them.

"Sorry for the long phone call. Everything ok here?" Harry asks.

"Yeah, I just gotta run." Peter says.

"So soon?" Felicia asks.

"Yeah Pete, we all could grab a drink together."

"I'd love to, but I've got another appointment and I really don't want to be late." Peter says.

"Oh alright then. Nice to meet you again, Peter."

Peter walks away, while Felicia watches him with an intrigued smile. He then looks down at the paper with the address and "Don't screw it up" written on it.

When night falls Peter web swings the address, landing on the side of the building. He crawls through a window into a normal looking room. After a few minutes of searching the room, he notices something about the floor. He kneels down and puts his hand on the floor, feeling around it. He then puts an explosion on the floor and bows a hole in it, dropping down to a secret room.

He shines a light and sees that its the Assassin from earlier today's hideout. He finds an old picture of people wearing owl masks. He quickly realizes that there are probably more owls nests around the city, for the courts assassins. As he walks through the hideout his Spider senses goes off. An explosion then sends Peter flying back to the ground.

The building starts to come down around him, he runs away, dodging and flipping around the falling ruble above him. At the last possible moment, Peter jumps out of the building, landing hard on the pavement as it fully crumbles. He slowly gets to his feet as Ben calls him.

"Peter? Peter, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Ben. It was a trap, whoever hired Felicia to steal the drive wanted to get rid of it and her."

"And did you find out who it was that hired Ms. Kyle?"

Peter stays silent for a moment.

"I need everything you can find on owls." Peter tells Ben.

He then sees the Spider-Bat signal in the sky, unsure what to expect.