SCARLET SPIDER

One night, Spider-Bat walks down crime alley along with Ben, Andrea, Jill, and Anna Maria, the same place where he lost his parents. He pulls out two roses and put them down on the ground, then stands there in silence. Ben and Andrea put their hands on his shoulders, comforting him. Peter looks back at the people he cares about and smiles, knowing that he's not alone. At that moment, Peter hears trouble nearby.

"Ben, I'll meet you guys back at home. Sounds like I need to handle something." Peter says.

"Of course, sir."

Peter then web swings away.

Meanwhile a thirteen year old boy runs from three men chasing him. He quickly turns down an alley but is met by a dead-end, cornered by the men. The boy sighs, knowing he'll have to fight and loose. When he turns around he sees the three men webbed up and Spider-Bat standing there.

"Woah." The boy says.

Peter slowly approaches the boy.

"You know I had that, right?" The boy says.

"Clearly, that's why you were running from them. Why were they chasing you?"

The boy folds his arms in silence for a moment.

"I may have- borrowed some cash from them." The boy says.

"Define borrowed?" Peter asks.

The boy doesn't answer the question for a moment.

"Ok I stole it, But they deserved it, they're drug dealers." The boy says.

Peter looks at the boy for a moment.

"Don't look at me like that. You put on a mask and send guys like them to the hospital." The boy points out.

"Fair point... Where's your parents?" Peter asks.

The boy scowls at the question.

"Don't have any. Not anymore." He answers.

Peter looks at the boy with sympathy and compassion.

"Do you have a place to stay?" Peter asks.

"Right where you standing, I guess." The boy answers.

Peter thinks for a moment.

"Well- you could come stay with me." Peter suggests.

The boy is surprised by this.

"Do- Do you mean it?" The boy asks.

Peter smiles and nods, and the two leave the alley.

"Will I have to learn how to sleep upside down?" The boy asks.

Peter chuckles.

"If that's your thing...So what's your name?" Peter answers.

"It's Jason. Jason Kaine." The boy says.

Three years later, Peter waits in the cave while drinking tea with Ben, Andrea, And Jill

"Jason! Come on, or I'm going on patrol without you!" Peter says with a smile.

At that moment, Jason jumps out in a dark red body suit, a mask and a blue sleeveless hoodie with a spider symbol on it, scaring everyone except Peter who continues drinking his tea. Jason takes off his mask, showing off a big smile.

"Ha! Gotcha!" Jason says to Peter.

Peter smirks.

"Sure. If I didn't see you slip behind the computer banks three minutes ago." Peter says.

"Nah, I got you." Jason replies.

Peter smiles.

"How does it feel?" Peter asks.

Jason throws a few punches and kicks.

"It feels awesome! Guess it's because I designed it." Jason says.

"Have you decided on a name yet?" Jill asks.

"Yep. The Scarlett Spider. Come on, Peter, we got bad guys that needs chasing."

Jason and Peter put on their masks and web swing out of the cave.

A few nights later, Peter hears that The Goblin as escaped Arkham Asylum and suits up to go after him. At that moment, Jason walks into the cave with a serious expression.

"I'm coming with you." Jason says.

Peter sighs.

"No, Jason. I'm sorry, but... not tonight."

"Everytime you go up against him, you leave me behind. I've faced every other freak show in New York." Jason argues.

Peter stays silent for a moment.

"He's different. You know how dangerous-"

"I know that he shot Jill through the spine. And I know he didn't stop there. But you only put that waste of life back in a cell."

Peter looks at the boy for a moment, letting out a sigh, then he walks over to him and puts his hands on his shoulders.

"It's not because I don't believe in you. Or that I don't think you're good enough. But The Goblin is unlike anyone you have ever faced. I can't let him hurt another person that I care about."

Jason thinks for a moment before letting out a sigh.

"Ok. Just- go kick his ass for me, alright?"

Peter smiles and pulls down his mask

"We'll go on patrol tomorrow night. I promise." Peter says.

He then web swings out of the cave and goes after The White Goblin. A few minutes later, Jason hears about a Goblin sighting on the Batcomputer at an abandoned warehouse in the city. He starts to radio into Peter to tell him but looks over at his Scarlet Spider suit.

Moments later, Scarlet Spider lands infront of the warehouse that the Goblin was seen at. He slowly enters and sees someone on the ground, motionless. Jason quickly runs over, rolls over the body and sees a grotesque smile on his face. He quickly stumbles back and starts to hyperventilate, not noticing the Goblin right behind him.

"Well, I was planning on Batsy to show up instead, but this is even better."

Jason turns around and gets hit in the face with a crowbar, as The Goblin laughs.

Meanwhile, Peter swings through the city in search of The Goblin when he gets a call from Jason on a secure line.

"Jason, is something wrong?" Peter asks.

"As a matter of fact there is. Hahahaha." The Goblin says from the other line.

Peter's eyes widen as he immediately goes to track where the call is coming from.

"See, I found Junior here wondering all on his own. Gotta say, Bats I'm disappointed in you for not keeping a closer eye on- Whatever his name is, very irresponsible. But don't worry, I'll take good care of him until you get here, HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The Goblin hangs up but Peter found where the call was coming from swings as fast as he can to the warehouse.

Meanwhile, A bruised, bloody, and broken Jason gets hit in the face by the crowbar yet again, spitting out blood and a few of his teeth.

"Wow, that looked like it really hurt." The Goblin says with a big smile.

He then continues to hit Jason, over and over again. Jason can't even cry out in pain anymore, as it causes him too much pain to even breathe. As Jason lays face first in his own blood, the Goblin just laughs.

Back with Peter, he is swinging through the city faster than he ever has before.

"Come on! Come on! COME ON!" Peter thinks to himself.

Meanwhile Jason slowly turns to the Goblin and mumbles something. The Goblin leans down and grabs him by the hair.

"A little louder Lamb chop, I think you have a collapsed lung."

Jason then spits blood onto Goblins face and smirks. Osborne gets annoyed and slams him face first into the ground.

"Well, that was rude. Looks like Spider-Bat did teach you any manners. I suppose I have no choice but to teach you a lesson so you can be a respectable young man....Nah, I'm just going to keep beating you with this crowbar."

As The Goblin puts his foot on the back of his neck, and raises the crowbar above his head while laughing, Jason just closes his eyes, praying to whoever is listening for the pain to stop.

Peter continues to swing, almost at the warehouse, telling Jason to hang on just a little longer.

A few minutes later, The Goblin leaves the warehouse with Jason motionless on the ground.

"Ok, kiddo, I gotta go. It's been fun with your uncle J though, right?"

Jason doesn't reply.

"Well, maybe a tiny bit more fun for me. I'm just guessing since you're being so quiet- and bleeding all over the place. Anyhow, be a good boy, finish your homework, and be in bed by nine. And hey, please tell the wall crawler I said, hello."

Norman let's out another insane laugh and leaves, closing the door behind him. Jason slowly opens his eyes, unable to move. He tries to force himself up and towards the door, but he can't even breathe without stopping out of pure pain. At that moment, he hears a loud ticking noise across from him. Jason slowly turns his head and sees a pumpkin bomb slowly ticking down. Jason takes a painful deep breath and looks up to the ceiling with a blank expression.

At that moment Peter lands infront of the warehouse and runs straight towards it, trying to save the boy. Before he can even make it to the door, the entire warehouse blows up with Jason still inside. Peter pushes and throws ruble out of the way, stunned when he finds Jason, not moving or breathing.

"No... Jason." Peter says, unable to believe that the boy he's been raising for years is gone.

He picks up the boys body and stands there, filled with guilt, anger, and sadness.

Later that night, Andrea walks down into the cave, and sees Peter punching the walls of the cave until his knuckles bleed, shattering the wall.

"Peter." Andrea says with tears in her eyes, also sad by the loss of Jason.

Peter is too angry to listen, as he continues to punch the wall, splattering blood all over it.

"Peter! Stop!" Andrea says.

Peter still doesn't listen and continues punching.

"STOP!" Andrea yells.

Peter finally hears her and stops, blood dripping from his hands. He slowly turns to Andrea, anger swelling up inside of him. Andrea then walks over and grabs him by the hands.

"Stop. Just for tonight."

Andrea takes off his mask and puts her hands on the side of his face.

"Don't be Spider-Bat... Don't be the mask."

Tears start to finally fall down Peter's face.

"It's ok. Let it out." Andrea says.

Peter grabs Andrea's hands and falls to his knees. Andrea holds Peter in her arms as he continues to cry.

"Let yourself fall apart... I promise to hold you together." Andrea says, tear running down her cheek.