I wanted to make us all skyscrapers. A suit that let you see the world below you while you held your head high in the clouds. That was my dream, my mission in life. Little did I know I had my head in the clouds too.

I thought I could swim with sharks, roam the same waters as them without a scratch. Unfortunately, I did get scratched. And that’s the funny thing about sharks, once they catch the smell of blood, they never let go.

…

The moment Peter stepped into his apartment; he heard yelling.

“You can’t do this, Mr. Lee,” Aunt May said, her voice shaking with fury. “It’s not our fault that freak decided to break into our house!”

“But the other tenants feel unsafe,” Mr. Lee, their landlord said. “And you haven’t done anything to repair the damage your actions have caused to this building.”

“My…” Aunt May scoffed. “My actions. It wasn’t me who dressed up in a Vulture outfit and crashed into this building now was it?”

“You’ve also been falling behind on your rent payments and not to mention…”

It was at that moment the door decided to slam shut behind Peter.

“Who’s there?” May asked.

“It’s me, Peter,” Peter said, cursing himself for being so clumsy. Peter could imagine the rage evaporating out of May’s body as she took up her motherly persona.

“We’ll talk about this later, Mr. Lee,” Aunt May said.

“That we shall, Mrs. Parker,” Mr. Lee said. “Please give due consideration to the matter.”

Mr. Lee walked past Peter, offering him a forced smile as he grabbed his coat from the coatrack and left the apartment.

“What was that all about?” Peter asked, setting his bag down on the couch.

“Oh, nothing you should worry yourself about,” Peter and May said at the same time.

Aunt May was momentarily dumbstruck. “What? Why are you doing that?”

“You’re doing it again,” Peter said. “Treating me like a child. We talked about this…”

Aunt May sighed. “Oh, I know Peter but…”

“Look Aunt May, I really appreciate how much you care about me,” Peter said. “But I’m not a kid anymore, stop keeping me in the dark like I am. Whatever happens in this house affects me too.”

May looked a little sad. “You’re growing up too fast, Peter. Mr. Lee is looking to evict us.”

“What?” Peter shouted. “That’s outrageous. I mean sure we’re behind on our rent payments but…”

“Remember that incident with that Vulture or whatever the newspapers called him a few months back?” Aunt May asked. “When he…”

They didn’t want to remember much of that incident so Peter brushed it aside. “Yes I do.”

“Apparently it’s making the tenants around us feel unsafe,” Aunt May said. “Not to mention people have been seeing Spider-Man around this neighbourhood and whenever Spider-Man’s nearby…”

“Yeah,” Peter said. Danger usually follows, he’d seen some of the newspaper articles.

“People are on edge, especially after the Joker killings,” Aunt May said. “You can’t blame them.”

“I get it. But that has nothing to do with us. We didn’t invite the Vulture over now did we?” Peter said.

“Not to mention we’re a little behind on rent payments,” Aunt May said.

“We’ve paid for three months straight,” Peter said. “We told him we’d be a little late because of your medical check-ups.”

“That’s true, Peter.” Aunt May sighed. Peter walked over to the newspapers on the table. “What are you doing?”

“We might need a lawyer,” Peter said. “And I’m looking for one.”

Aunt May scoffed. “Peter, there’s no way we’ll be able to afford one.”

Peter shrugged. “Well, you never know until you try.” He turned to May. “I mean there has to be a cheap lawyer somewhere.”

…

By his side, Karen page was writing notes. Standing across him was a gruff man with a black eye by the name of Bill. Matt could smell the ice he had placed on it just this morning.

“May I…?”

“Please take a seat Mister…”

“Everett,” Bill said, sitting down next to him.

Karen tapped Matt on the shoulder. “He… uh has a black eye.”

Matt smiled. “Thanks Karen.”

“You can’t see?” Bill asked and then chuckled. “And here I was thinking what kinda looney wears sunglasses indoors.”

Matt chuckled. “Oh, I get that a lot. So, what seems to be the issue, Mr. Everett. You here to sue for damages for that black eye?”

“No nothing like that,” Bill said. “I heard you’ve lived here for a while so I’m sure you’ve heard of The Square.”

The Square was a block of rundown apartments in the centre of Crime Alley. You could get yourself a place for dirt cheap and it was home to a lot of squatters.

“Yeah I heard of it,” Matt said. “What seems to be the problem?”

“Ever since those bombings a few months back,” Bill said. “Lotsa people lost their homes. All of em decided to stay over at the Block. Some people have families over there so it wasn’t such a big deal. But then few weeks pass and this guy Snakewood comes over. Says he got the deed to the place and starts muscling out people unless you pay a shit ton of cash. People weren’t buying it, they stayed in this place before this Snakewood clown was even born so they fight back. What does Snakewood do? Muscles them out. Buncha big guys start threatening people, beating them up and scaring them out of their place.”

“Is there a link between this Snakewood and the muscle you’re talking about?” Matt asked.

“That’s the thing,” Bill said. “Snakewood would tell you there isn’t and there’s nothing tying them together but the folks they beat up, the folks who get black eyes like me are always people who bring up a problem with what Snakewood’s doing. I bring this up to the cops and they think I’m a crazy old man. You gotta believe me, Mr. Murdock. I swear…”

His heart beat was erratic, panicked but it was telling the truth. The other tell-tale signs of a liar were absent from Mr. Everett’s body.

“I believe you, Mr. Everett,” Matt said. “It just seems like a very difficult case especially since we lack most of the evidence.”

“Look I don’t have any money,” Bill said, his voice strained. “Ever since the bombing, I’ve been cut off my job. But my Ma, my wife and kids, we live there and we don’t have the money to afford what Snakewood’s charging us. If you can’t take the case for me, take it for them. Take it for all the other poor blokes that were evicted but please take it. You’re the best lawyer around here so please…”

Matt smiled, raising a hand. “Mr. Everett calm down. Don’t worry about the money, I’ll handle it.”

Karen smiled.

Matt got up, straightening his walking stick.

“Where are you going?” Karen asked.

“To Mr. Snakewood’s office,” Matt said. “I think I’m going to have a word with our plaintiff before we begin the proceedings.”

…

“Mr. Murdock,” Snakewood said. “Please, please come in.”

As he stepped into the apartment, Matt could smell the scent of crayons and dried paint. He could hear toys rolling on the floor and sense toys littered all over the floor. Judging by the rabbit-like heartbeats Matt could sense in a room, Snakewood had two kids. Something not very common with criminals.

“Do you need any help getting around?” Snakewood said. “Kids, ya know how they leave things lying around.”

Matt chuckled. “I’ll be fine.”

They sat in the living room, Mr. Snakewood sitting right across him.

“How may I help you?” Mr. Snakewood said. “I don’t think I’ve done anything in recent memory that warrants a lawyer coming over to my place.”

There was an edge to Mr. Snakewood’s voice. His heartbeat was fast, not necessarily because he was guilty but because he wanted to get this over with. Between how tense his muscles were and the red hue of impatience that ran through his body, Matt was not welcome here.

Matt smiled. “I won’t take up much of your time. I’m just here to ask about the Block.”

Snakewood was confused. “The… what?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Matt chuckled. “Goldworld apartments.”

At the mention of that Snakewood tightened. “What about them?”

“The people over there have filed some complaints,” Matt said. “They said some of your people have been muscling them out despite them paying the rent.”

Snakewood chuckled though Matt could sense the tension in that laugh. His body started to burn up in anger yet he still managed a façade of confidence. “I should file a libel or defamation suit. I’m not associated with those men in any way, shape or form. Besides even if I was don’t I have the right to evict them.”

“Lawfully and with good cause,” Matt said. “You do have the right, yes. But I did a little digging and well the plot isn’t registered in your name, is it?”

Snakewood chuckled, though Matt could taste his stress in the air. “You sure you checked properly? You know how things are.” His heartbeat was fast, Snakewood was lying.

Matt shuffled through his bag, pulling out the deed. “I got a copy of the deed right here. The plot of land is registered to Sunny Vito. Now I haven’t had a word with Mr. Vito yet but…”

“I’m gonna stop you right there,” Mr. Snakewood said, putting on a thin veneer of calmness. There was, however an air of nervousness in his voice. Matt could smell the sweat but his heartbeat was going off like a false alarm. Snakewood was scared, but not of him. “Look, Mr. Murdock. I know about your little practice, nobody in these streets that don’t. I hear about the good work that you do for everybody here, it’s very admirable. Now if something were to happen to that little business of yours, wouldn’t it be a shame to all the good people you help around in these streets? It would be an even bigger shame if something were to happen to you now wouldn’t it? Smart lawyer like you with a good head on his shoulders?”

Matt smiled. “I’ll need to remind my secretary to draw up a charge sheet for threats.”

Snakewood chuckled. “You don’t what you’re dealing with, Murdock.”

Matt got up and straightened his tie. “Oh, I’m sure I do,” Matt said. “See you in court, Snakewood.”

Matt left the apartment, Snakewood didn’t see him out. Matt knew the type of man Snakewood was. A small man who when suddenly given power acts like he owned the place. But there was something else bugging Matt. Matt knew exactly the type of man Snakewood was. Even then he didn’t have an answer as to what scared him so much.

…

Halfway through my work the Sharks came to me with a business proposal. I refused. I would not let my invention; my glorious invention be used for such vile deeds.

The sharks began with their threats and their violence but when they saw I was unmoving they stopped. That was a well-dressed man came to visit. The well-dressed man took me to his boss, a great white amidst the whale sharks. He was a lot more convincing.

…

When Matt returned to the office, Karen was there waiting for him. She was busy sorting out files into boxes.

“So how did your visit with Snakewood go?” Karen asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“It went well,” Matt said. “I’ll need to get some documents drafted and filed…”

Karen smiled. “I’ll work on them…”

Matt raised a hand. “No, don’t worry about the files. I’ll handle them.”

“But won’t it take long?” Karen asked. “Won’t you need a little help?”

“I’ll be fine,” Matt said with a smile. “You should treat yourself tonight. You’ve done more than enough around here.”

“O-Okay,” Karen said. From the inflections in her voice to the way she shifted on her feet, Matt could tell she knew something was up and she wanted to ask about it.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Karen,” Matt said.

“Y-yeah,” Karen said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

…

Crime Alley felt as disconnected from Gotham as Gotham felt as disconnected from other cities. It felt like Spider-Man was walking through a ghost town. People wandered through the streets listlessly, staring at Spider-Man as if he were an intruder. All around Spider-Man were abandoned businesses, parks and cinemas that once spoke of a bustling city full of life but now as the years went by, had slowly been beaten into silence. Hollowed out ashen husks of buildings that the League of Assassins bombed were dotted randomly throughout the cracked streets making Crime Alley feel like a place that had just gone through a war. When Spider-Man finally found Murdock and Associates, late in the evening, he found himself an empty alleyway and started to take out his costume, he started to feel unsafe. He felt naked roaming the streets as Peter Parker.

Standing in front of the door to the offices, Peter wondered how he should approach this. It’s the first time he’s ever had to talk to a lawyer and he didn’t really know what he wanted to say without fumbling his words.

It turned out that he wouldn’t need any of the practice as there was a violent explosion of glass and a man was thrown out the windows of Murdock and Associates.

…

Matt Murdock stood still, clutching his walking stick. He heard the cold night air blow, cars honking in the distance.

“… I saw Spider…”

“… The boss is being…”

“…Have you heard that…”

“…Snakewood…”

Matt focused in on Snakewood.

“So… just… bust up… the firm,” said the goon. “Then… paid…”

Matt smiled. It was going to take a lot to scare Murdock, especially since his bodyguard Daredevil was on the job.

Matt opened his drawer, revealing a bright red mask.

…

“What a mess,” Spider-Man said.

By the time Peter changed back into his costume, the damage had been done. The office was reduced to a mess of splinters and files tossed about. In the corner of the room a potted plant spilled out its remains. Around five thugs were sprawled across the floor at random places, bruised and groaning in pain. There was only one person in Crime Alley Spider-Man knew who could do this.

That was when he heard rumbling footsteps across the rooftops. Footsteps he decided to follow.

…

Snakewood sat by his burner phone anxiously. He tapped his fingers against the sofa, his feet shaking. His boy and his girl were playing on the living room mat with their toys.

His son walked up to him showing something he made with his Legos. Snakewood gave him a half-hearted compliment and a smile.

He prayed that nosy Murdock got the damn message. He couldn’t afford screwing up because screwing up meant pissing off the big boss and once he pissed off the big boss it was off with his head.

At that moment, the phone cried out. Snakewood scrambled to pick up the phone, almost knocking it off the table.

“Is it done?” Snakewood asked.

“I’m coming for you, Snakewood.”

Snakewood felt a cold streak of sweat run down his back. “Who the hell are you?”

“Tell your boys that if you mess with Murdock, you mess with Daredevil,” said the voice. “Get your children out of the room, unless you want things to get messy.”

Snakewood yanked open his curtain. “Where the hell are you?”

“You’ve been warned.”

“Dad, what’s wrong?” Samantha asked.

“Go to your room,” Snakewood said.

“Dad…?”

“I said go to your damn room!” Snakewood snapped, shoving his children to the passageway. Samantha winced but Snakewood didn’t care. “And take your brother. Lock the doors.”

“What’s going…”

“I SAID GO TO YOUR ROOMS!” Snakewood growled. “And lock the fucking doors.”

He shoved Samantha and William into the room. “Dad…” shouted his son but Snakewood closed the door and locked it from the outside. He went into the kitchen, opening one of the cabinets and shuffling around through expired detergents until he found his gun. He made sure it was loaded and leaned against the door, pressing his ear against the wooden frame.

He heard his children screeching behind him but Snakewood didn’t care. He’d apologise and buy them as much ice cream as they wanted later, right now he had to deal with this Daredevil clown before word got out that he screwed up.

Snakewood peaked through the peeping hole to see a man in a red mask.

“Let’s deal with this amicably Snakewood,” Daredevil growled. “I don’t want your kids to see what I’m about to do to you.”

Snakewood didn’t hear the rest, he fired wildly at the door.

“Don’t bring my kids into this you fucking bastard!”

Snakewood looked through the peep hole again, a dull light from the hallway filtering through the bullet holes. He didn’t see a body. He heard the doors open creak open behind him and his children’s voices.

“Daddy what’s going on?” Samantha asked. William started to cry.

“Stay in your room, sweetheart,” Snakewood said. “And get your brother to shut up.”

He opened the door wide, hoping to see a red clad carcass down on the floor. What he got instead was a punch in the face.

Snakewood felt blood run down his nose.

“I warned you bastard,” Daredevil said. Snakewood scrambled for his gun but Daredevil kicked it aside.

His children started to cry. He heard them start screaming at Daredevil and start throwing things at him. Snakewood scrambled around, looking for an out from this situation but when he couldn’t find one he took a deep breath and sighed.

“Alright,” Snakewood said. “Alright. Let’s just do this away from the kids.”

Snakewood got up. He started dusting up his clothes.

“Daddy what’s going on?” Samantha asked. “Why is Daredevil here?”

Snakewood gave his daughter a smile. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll get you and Will some ice cream.”

Snakewood turned to Daredevil. “Whatever happens after this, can you just make sure my kids are safe? I don’t want anything happen…”

Daredevil perked up. A web attached itself to Daredevil and pulled him back, Daredevil shifted his weight to make sure he didn’t fall.

“And I thought we were supposed to be the good guys,” Spider-Man said. Spider-Man kicked Daredevil in the stomach knocking him over the countertop.

“Stay here,” Daredevil said.

Snakewood wasn’t about to listen to him. When life gives you lemons…

“Don’t worry kids,” Spider-Man said. “Sir. Spider-Man is here to save…”

“No!” Daredevil yelled.

“Stay here, kids,” Snakewood said. “Spider-Man will…”

“Where are you going?” William asked.

“No time to explain,” Snakewood said. “Just let Spider-Man deal with this.”

Snakewood ran towards the window. Daredevil threw a baton but Spider-Man caught it with a web and threw it back at Daredevil.

“You idiot!” Daredevil said. “You’re letting him…”

Spider-Man webbed up his mouth. “Shut up.”

The children laughed. Snakewood leapt out of the window.

Daredevil ripped the webs out of his mouth just for Spider-Man to throw a punch that knocked the air out of him.

“Batman told me you’re one of the good guys,” Spider-Man said. “But you seem pretty crazy to me.”

Daredevil could here Snakewood’s distant footsteps clattering on the rooftops. And the sound of…

Oh no.

“Get the hell out of my way,” Daredevil tried shoving Spider-Man out of the way, but Spider-Man leapt on the ceiling and kicked Daredevil in the back causing Daredevil to stumble over the countertop.

“Look kid,” Daredevil said. “There’re things you don’t understand. I need to get out of here before…”

The sound of a rifle shot cracked through the air like a thunderbolt. Daredevil heard Snakewood’s body crumple on the rooftops. At that moment there was no fighting, no jokes. Daredevil and Spider-Man leapt out the window, trying desperately to find the shooter for answers, any answers.

But the sound of quick, muted footsteps receded into the silence and the man disappeared.

Spider-Man and Daredevil walked towards Snakewood’s still body, turning it over only meeting glassy eyes and blood pouring out of the new hole in his skull.

“Oh…” Spider-Man said. “Oh god.”

Daredevil slammed his fist against the rooftop. “Dammit!”

…

Spider-Man and Daredevil stood atop the rooftops as paramedics carried Snakewood into the ambulance. Even amidst the sounds of sirens and doctors mumbling to each other Daredevil could hear his children crying.

Spider-Man wanted to say something but Daredevil cut him off.

“Zip it,” Daredevil said.

“Look I’m sorry,” Spider-Man said. “I didn’t…”

“You not knowing any better cost us someone’s life, kid,”

Daredevil turned to face Spider-Man. “This isn’t fun and games. I know you and your boss deal with clowns and idiots dressed in funny costumes but out here things aren’t like that. In the real world, people get hurt, in the real world…”

“Can you shut up?” Spider-Man snapped.

“The hell did you say?”

“Stop talking to me like I do this for fun, like I’m some stupid kid who doesn’t know any better,” Spider-Man said. “You think I wanted this to happen. You think just cause I crack a few jokes here and there and jump around like a clown I don’t take this thing seriously. Those kids down there lost a father because of me and sure I didn’t know any better but maybe if you didn’t have a stick up your ass you’d clue a guy in.”

Daredevil paused.

“So, I’ll be around here finding out what happened to our friend down there,” Spider-Man said. “Whether you like it or not.”

Spider-Man was about to launch a web when Daredevil said wait.

“What now?”

“Meet me here tomorrow evening,” Daredevil said. “I’ll clue you in on what I know.”

“You’re not pulling my leg,” Spider-Man said. “You really want to work together on this?”

Daredevil nodded. “I do, but you better be on time.”

Spider-Man stared blankly off into the distance. “Neat. I know someone who could learn a thing or two from you.”

Spider-Man swung off into the distance. Meanwhile Daredevil knelt down and stared down at the kids. Samantha and William Snakewood holding on to each other as they were suddenly introduced to a world they knew nothing about.

Matt pulled out his phone and waited for the person on the other end of the line to pick up.

“Hey Karen,” Matt asked. “Sorry to call you so late but I need to ask a favour from you. It has to do with the Snakewood case. Could you pull up the files for Samantha and William Snakewood.”

…

I poured myself a glass of whiskey, watching the ice float in the brown liquid, wondering about the choices I made that lead me to this road.

Looming above me, my invention. My greatest joy looming above me, fitted with all manner of weapons. Weapons of destruction, weapons to kill.

I poured myself another glass of whiskey and in a drunken haze I grabbed my phone and called a number that was gathering dust in my contacts.

I half expected it to go to voicemail. I wasn’t expecting the person on the other end to answer.

“Yes, Wilbur.”

“Was I a good person?”

“W-what?”

“Was I a good person?”

“Wilbur I swear if this is a joke or something I…”

“I miss you. I… I sometimes wish I hadn’t made the decisions I did so we could be together and have a kid or…”

“Wilbur, it’s not too late. We can still…”

“Was I a good person?”

“Yes you were. You were strong-willed, you were smart and ambitious but you were kind. You were always kind.”

“…”

“Wilbur?”

“Thank you.”

“What’s wrong Wilbur?”

“Callie, whatever you hear about me in the news… whatever happens after this I hope you remember that I was a good person.”

“Wilbur what’s wrong? You can talk to me… Wilbur…”

I hung up my phone and ignored the calls that followed. The whiskey drowning the pangs of my regrets.

…

The harsh night air dug into Daredevil’s suit as he waited for Spider-Man at the place they agreed to meet. Twenty minutes had already passed and Daredevil was wondering whether or not he was a no-show. Spider-Man seemed genuine, his heartbeat and body language told Daredevil so and his senses never lied. Maybe after giving such a big speech, he chickened out? He was a kid after all, Daredevil wouldn’t put it past him.

That was when he heard the familiar hiss of his web shooters and a rush of air behind him.

“Sorry I’m late there were some thugs and…”

“Two of them had guns,” Daredevil said. “In this city they always have guns.”

“I’m going to ignore how creepy that sounds and get to the point,” Spider-Man said. “What’d you find out?”

“Your bat friend clued you in on what happened here with the League of Assassin’s right?”

Spider-Man nodded. “Yeah, there was the bombing and everything.”

“Well ever since the bombing, prices for land around here have started to drop and a company is using that to their advantage to rake up profits,” Matt said. “A company by the name of Union Allied.”

“Seems simple enough,” Spider-Man said. “There’s a catch isn’t there.”

“Yes,” Daredevil said. “Union Allied doesn’t exist. Something or someone is using Union Allied as a means to mop up cheap land without getting caught. Someone with friends in high places.”

Daredevil paused. “I’m not going to bore you with the details but this Union Allied has friends in the Deeds Registry. They forge documents and a spokesman comes in and lays claim to the land, muscling out anybody who has an actual legitimate claim. It helps that the spokesman has a prior criminal record.”

“Like Snakewood,” Spider-Man said. “So why don’t the owners sue the criminals?”

“The deed is owned by Union Allied,” Daredevil said. “Basically, they’d be suing a faceless entity and have no recourse. Their claim would be buried under paperwork.”

“Damn,” Spider-Man said. “But what does Snakewood have to do with this?”

“Snakewood was made the owner of Goldworld Apartments,” Daredevil said. “Also known as The Block. They’re a bunch of rundown apartments at the west end of Crime Alley that was hit hard by the recession. They’re run down, broken apartments and most of the occupiers are homeless or people who can barely afford a meal. A place that doesn’t fit Union Allied’s MO.”

Spider-Man shrugged. “It doesn’t make sense though. Why would they kill Snakewood when he’s their easy way in?”

“He probably knew something we weren’t supposed to know,” Daredevil said. “Whatever the case, Goldworld is our next target.”

“So that’s where we’re going?” Spider-Man asked.

Daredevil nodded. “Yeah, let’s see what we can find.”

…

Like everywhere in Crime Alley, the people of Goldworld greeted them with glares.

Daredevil and Spider-Man ignored them. It was easy enough to do that, what Spider-Man couldn’t ignore was the little buzz in his head that ran its course down his spine.

“I don’t like this place,” Spider-Man whispered.

“Keep low,” Daredevil said. “Try not to draw too much attention to yourself.”

“Try not to draw any attention to myself?” Spider-Man said. “Have you seen my costume?”

Goldworld was a series of large flats facing each other. It had long been abandoned by the people who built it. Most of the buildings were run down. You could hear when someone was coming down the stairs by how the creaking noise they made. Much like everything in Crime Alley, it was derelict and rundown and the years hadn’t done it any favours.

“So, what are we looking for?” Spider-Man asked.

“Bombs,” Daredevil said.

Spider-Man stopped. “Bombs.”

Daredevil could hear the quivering in his voice and his heartbeat starting to tremble. “Yeah. You don’t like bombs?”

“Not a big fan of them,” Spider-Man said.

They leapt around Goldworld, checking the upper floors and bottom floors, even checking the old underground parking lot with all the paint peeled out. Nothing.

“There’s nothing here,” Spider-Man said.

“But Goldworld is Union Allied’s next target,” Daredevil said. “I’m sure about it.”

Then it came, a low, steady thump on the ground that made it seem as if the world was shaking beneath them.

Boom.

Boom.

The squatters who were just minding their own business perked up like cats.

“Earthquake?”

Gotham had a history of earthquakes but it wasn’t that. It was the sound of something moving. Something big.

The gentle thud grew louder.

Boom.

Boom.

In the distance Daredevil heard people screaming and the loud blare of car sirens going off. Daredevil heard the creak of metal and the sound of steam hissing out like a den of snakes.

Spider-Man’s head started to buzz. “What the hell is that?”

“It sounds like something that’s moving,” Spider-Man said. “Something big.”

Spider-Man leapt to the rooftops. “Holy…”

Daredevil followed him.

The heavy footsteps followed and Daredevil could smell it. A moving wall of metal about 90 meters tall with a single heartbeat operating confusing levers at the top. The sound of creaking parts like a human body, hissing underneath the weight of its tremendous height. A metal giant cruising over Crime Alley, crushing the streets beneath it underneath it’s enormous stilts.

Daredevil didn’t have time to take it in as he heard the sound of a panel opening up and missiles screeching and dancing in the cold night air.

Missiles headed straight towards them.

…

My magnificent invention towering over the night sky. The dark city beneath me looking like a miniature. My dream realised. My dreams finally realised!

Yet as my finger shakes over the big red button, sticking out like an acne amidst all the levers and dial I can’t help but feel a hollow void of despair in my heart. This wasn’t what I wanted. Killing people, that was never what I wanted.

But I saw, I knew what the Kingpin was capable off. I knew that if I didn’t do this it wouldn’t be my head on the chopping block but the people I love, the people I cherish and I realised way too late that realising your dreams doesn’t matter if the only person who believes in them is you.

With a heavy heart and an even heavier conscious I pressed the button. I could feel the missiles moving, the giant body groaning in relief as things that weren’t supposed to be in it were removed with a single click.

As the missiles hissed I stared at the dashboard at something else that didn’t belong amidst the levers and the dials. A 9mm Pistol, its trigger ever so tempting.

…

Daredevil felt the world buzz to life around him as his senses returned. The only thing Daredevil could sense around him was rubble littering the floor and the smell of sizzling flames as the world around him was engulfed in flames.

“Thank god you’re safe,” Spider-Man said. “I tried to get us out of here before the missiles hit.”

Daredevil could hear people screeching in the distance, voices calling out for help and police and firefighter signals blaring in the distance. Daredevil knew they wouldn’t get in her in time.

“That guy,” Spider-Man said. “That guy in the weird suit is not stopping. He’s headed straight for us. Looks like he’s out of missile for now but…”

Daredevil could hear his slow footsteps rumbling in the distance, getting closer and closer.

“We need to get everybody out of here,” Daredevil said. “Make sure everybody is safe and then we deal with Skyscraper man over there.”

Spider-Man nodded. “Okay.”

…

Daredevil and Spider-Man got to saving people from the rubble, keeping them from falling or buried alive. Daredevil identified them and Spider-Man helped take them out. While rescuing people they ran into a few unfortunate souls who weren’t able to make it. Daredevil made a quick prayer. The giant robot got closer and closer and as it was inches away, Spider-Man and Daredevil figured they were ready to take it on but suddenly an old woman popped up.

“My daughter,” she cried.

“Ma’am,” Daredevil said. “What’s the matter?”

“My daughter,” she cried. “My daughter, I don’t see her anywhere.”

The robot loomed over them, the shadow it cast like a dark black storm cloud ready to explode.

“Ma’am,” Spider-Man said. “I don’t think she…”

Daredevil heard a tiny heartbeat beneath the rubble accompanied by a breath that kept getting feinter. “No, she’s still there. Buried right over there.”

Spider-Man swung towards where Daredevil was pointing, yanking out the rubble, just as the robot was about to crush the rubble beneath them.

“Spider-Man,” Daredevil said. “Keep the robot distracted. I’ll get her out of there.”

“But you don’t have super strength,” Spider-Man said. “How will you…?”

“I’ll find a way,” Daredevil said. “You just keep him distracted.”

The robots creaking started to sound like a siren as it loomed ever closer. Daredevil dug through the rubble and Spider-Man leapt into action.

…

The first thing Spider-Man did was leapt to the robot’s face.

“So, what do they call you, Mr. Robot?” Spider-Man asked. “Skyscraper-Man?”

The robot swiped at Spider-Man but Spider-Man dodged, scuttling across the metal arm.

“If you weren’t trying to kill me, your invention would be pretty cool,” Spider-Man said. He noticed a small, bald man operating the controls. He leapt at the man who was protected by a thick glass dome. “Can you hear me up there?”

Spider-Man tapped the dome. “Hey hello. I’m Spider-Man nice to meet you.”

Unfortunately, Baldy wasn’t so dumb that his first instinct was to swing his arms to his oversized glass dome. No, Baldy pulled out his gun. Spider-Man leapt aside before he could even think about firing. Spider-Man figured the best way to get rid of him and his giant robot was to go for the legs.

But that was when issue number one presented itself. Spider-Man felt a jolt run through the robot. He looked down below and saw that the robot had crashed through Goldworld apartments. He figured the plan stayed relatively the same. Let the robot topple down. It’d cause some damage but at least it’d be controlled.

Things for superheroes are usually not that simple.

Because just as Spider-Man started to carry out his plan issue number two presented itself.

A secret panel opened up at the bottom of the robot’s torso and Spider-Man heard the familiar screech of a missile dropping onto the apartment block below.

…

Fire. Bodies. Screaming.

It was like he was in hell.

The smell of smoke threatened to choke Daredevil’s senses if the explosion of noise and warmth didn’t get to them first.

Through the noise and confusion, he heard the clash of steel on the ground.

Daredevil grit his teeth. He took out his grappling hook and pressed the button. The taut steel wire wrapped itself around the giant steel legs and Daredevil shimmied up the giant poles, feeling the ground below him leave.

…

Spider-Man went down, watching Goldworld apartment burn up in flames. He saw a tiny red speck climbing up the right leg of the giant robot and swung up to Daredevil.

“You know you’re not going to be able to get him this way, right?”

“Good,” Daredevil breathed out. “You made it. I have something for you.”

“I know, we have to topple him over,” Spider-Man said.

Daredevil ran his hand through the back of the machine’s ‘knee’.

“And I know the best way how.”

…

I sometimes wonder what would have happened if things played out differently.

If I made the right decisions would I have achieved my dreams without cutting the dreams of others short? Would I still have Callie in my life?

As I readied the equipment for another volley of bombs I saw Spider-Man swing across where I stood. My invention came to a halt. And then I started to plummet.

The world below sped towards me at a breakneck speed. It almost seemed poetic, my invention crashing into the very destruction it brought.

But life was never going to be easy. Not for me.

…

Web mines, tons of them went off, sounding like a burst of a shotgun as the robot passed through their range. Spider-Man hoped Wayne Tech could cover the costs of the web mines. High density webs shot out from the mines, sticking onto the limbs of the robot and almost gluing it into place before it could crash into the ground below and cause more damage.

At the end of it all, the giant robot looked nothing more than an oversized puppet dangling on a string. Its head inches away from the concrete.

…

The first thing that happened was Daredevil breaking through the glass. He yanked me out of my seat and threw me to the floor. I clutched the gun, ready to shoot myself if need be but Daredevil was fast. He pulled the gun out of my hand and threw it aside, punching me repeatedly in the face.

When he was done he yanked my hair and showed me the destruction I had wrought. He showed me the fires that raged around me, he showed me the burning husks of buildings that looked like they were ripped straight out of paintings of wartime.

“Do you see what you’ve done?”

My mouth was clamped shut by my guilt, it’s fingers like claws over my throat.

“Who do you work for?”

The words didn’t register at first. All I could hear was the sizzling flames and the wail of sirens.

“WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?”

I raised a hand in desperation. “I’ll go to jail. I’ll except punishment for my crimes but please, please don’t ask me who he is?”

At that moment Spider-Man swung at Daredevil’s side. “What’s he talking about? What’s going on?”

“If I tell you about him,” the man said. “He won’t just kill me! He’ll do something worse! I don’t want anyone else to suffer just please.”

Daredevil clenched his fist. “You kill all these people and you have the gall to snivel like a coward.”

Daredevil raised his fist. “IN FRONT OF ME!”

He slammed his fist at the man’s side.

I curled up, erupting into a sobbing fit.

After that the police came. They were questions, lawyers, lines. All of it passed by in a blur. Callie visited me, at first she was disappointed, then hurt, angry. But she never looked at me like I was a monster. I could never face her eyes whenever she came.

I was in the Crime Alley Division. The Commissioner called for a transfer and I was transferred to Central and found myself in an interrogation room.

The Commissioner stood in front of me. “Now I’m sure you know why you’re here, Mr. Day or should I say Stilt-man.”

I looked at Gordon, confused.

“That’s what they’re calling you in the newspapers, running around in that little robot of yours, they said the legs look like stilts.” Commissioner Gordon explained. “Our mutual friend over at Crime Alley told us that you didn’t want to talk about your employer. Said you were scared of him. Now we over here at central can offer you protection provided you give us names.”

I looked at Gordon, at the impassive face disguising exhaustion and barely concealed hatred. I looked at his face and I laughed.

“You think…” I burst out. “You think you can protect me. Protect me from him. He has friends everywhere. It’s not some Arkham Inmate you’re dealing with.”

I wiped the tears out of my eyes. “I don’t have long anyway. I might as well spill the beans. The big man, the man behind it all. He calls himself the Kingpin. He doesn’t show his face to anyone, not even me and covers his tracks very well and gets rid of any trail that will lead to him.”

“Is that it?” Gordon said. “Is that all you can give me?”

I nodded my head. “Yes. I’ll take that protection commissioner. Not that it’s going to help.”

Writing this I’m in a holding cell. The lights are off and all I can see is the concrete around me. A guard is standing at the gate, eyes covered by his hat and I know that’s my grim reaper waiting for the right time to strike.

If you find this, I’m probably dead. I hope I’m remembered well but after everything that happened I don’t think I ever will be.

And if they let you see this, Callie I love you. Thank you for loving me through everything.

Goodbye.

.

.

.

“Mr and Mrs. Parker, Mr. Murdock will see you now,” Karen said.

On the right was a lady around 50. Weak heartbeat, probably had a history of heart problems. She smelled like cookies and dried food.

On the left was a boy who had muscles a 15-year-old shouldn’t have. He was tall and smelled like… well web fluid.

Matt got up to greet them, smiling at them. “Mrs. Parker. I take it that’s your son…”

“No, he’s my nephew,” Mrs. Parker said.

Matt shook the boy’s hand. Judging by his heartbeat he was nervous but for a nervous boy he sure had a…

“Strong handshake,” Matt said with a chuckle.

Peter Parker smiled. “Thanks.”

They sat down on their seats and Matt heard something rustle underneath Peter’s clothes.

“How may I help you?”

So Mrs. Parker explained how her and her nephew were attacked by the Vulture and how the owner of the apartment wants to kick them out.

“We just feel it’s unfair and we don’t think he should be allowed to do that,” May said. “We agreed to let the apartment for almost three years and…”

At that moment Matt heard police sirens wail and gunshots fire in the distance.

It seemed Peter heard it too as he suddenly perked up.

“Dreadful city,” May said. “Don’t you think so?”

Matt smiled at her. “Oh, I know so.”

At that moment Peter got up. “I uh need to go to the bathroom…”

How convenient, Matt thought. Matt got up, writing something on a card and slipping it into his sleeve with a small sleight of his hand.

He walked over to Peter. “It’s past the door to the right, you can’t miss it.”

He slid the card into his pocket and went back to his seat as Peter took a brisk walk towards the bathroom. When he thought he was out of ‘site’, Daredevil heard him slip through the windows.

He smiled. “As I was saying Mrs. Parker, I’ll see what I can do.”

“How much do we have to pay?” Mrs. Parker asked. “I hope…”

“Oh, don’t worry Mrs. Parker,” Matt said. “I’ll do this one entirely for free. We offer pro bono services.”

Matt could almost see the relief in her eyes as her tension left her body.

…

Inside Peter’s pocket was a Murdock and associates’ card.

On that card, written in an untidy scrawl was ‘I know who you are. Meet me at my firm at 10 PM. Come alone. Daredevil.’

After he stopped the robbery, Peter would return to Murdock and Associates’ bathroom, he’d see the card in his pocket, scrambling towards Aunt May only to see her and Mr. Murdock laughing.

Daredevil and Spider-Man’s eyes would meet for a brief second and in that brief second, they both knew.

To be continued…