The Laughing Menace (if batman visited spiderman on the regular

Chapter 1: A New Player in Town

It was a typical night in New York City—crime was down, and Peter Parker, better known as Spider-Man, was swinging through the skyline, feeling almost at ease. But as he approached the financial district, something unusual caught his attention. His Spider-Sense tingled, but instead of the usual sharp warning, it was a curious, almost playful sensation.

Following the signal, Peter landed on the roof of a high-rise, where he found a figure standing near the edge. The figure was dressed in a sleek, dark suit, his face hidden behind a mask that glowed faintly in the moonlight.

"Who are you supposed to be?" Spider-Man called out, keeping a cautious distance.

The figure didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand, activating a device. The rooftop suddenly transformed into a chaotic carnival scene—clowns, balloons, and giant roller coasters appearing out of thin air. Spider-Man barely had time to react before a mechanical clown lunged at him with a pie.

Peter dodged, but another clown sprayed him with water from a flower. He tried to fight back, but his web-shooters were clogged with confetti. The absurdity of the situation was overwhelming, and before he knew it, Peter was laughing uncontrollably. He hadn't laughed this hard in years.

As he caught his breath, the carnival disappeared as quickly as it had come. The mysterious figure was gone, leaving Spider-Man alone on the rooftop, still chuckling.

"What the heck was that?" Peter wondered aloud as he swung away.

Chapter 2: The Mysterious Laughing Menace

Over the next few weeks, The Laughing Menace, as Peter had taken to calling him, continued to appear at random moments. Unlike other villains, he never caused harm or committed any real crimes. Instead, he seemed solely focused on making Spider-Man laugh.

One night, The Laughing Menace lured Spider-Man to Times Square, where a massive billboard suddenly began playing a cartoon of Spider-Man himself, drawn in an exaggerated, slapstick style. The animated Spider-Man slipped on banana peels, got tangled in his own webs, and accidentally knocked over buildings in a series of increasingly ridiculous mishaps.

Peter couldn't help but laugh, even as the crowd around him joined in, cheering and clapping. By the time the cartoon ended, The Laughing Menace was gone, leaving behind only a card that read, "Laughter is the best medicine."

But why? Peter couldn't figure it out. What was the point of these pranks? Who was this guy, and why was he targeting Spider-Man?

Chapter 3: An Unexpected Connection

As the months passed, Peter began to notice something strange. The Laughing Menace's pranks were becoming more sophisticated, more... personalized. It was as if this guy knew exactly what would make Peter laugh, exactly what he needed to lift his spirits on particularly tough nights.

One evening, after a grueling battle with the Sinister Six, Peter found himself in Central Park, bruised and exhausted. He expected another ambush, another prank, but instead, The Laughing Menace appeared, carrying a small, portable projector.

Without a word, he played an old, black-and-white comedy—one of those classic silent films Peter used to watch with Uncle Ben. As the film rolled, Peter found himself relaxing, laughing softly at the antics of the characters. When the film ended, The Laughing Menace was gone, but a note was left behind: "Remember why you do this."

Peter was stunned. How did this guy know? It was as if The Laughing Menace understood him on a deeper level, knew exactly how to reach him when he was at his lowest. But who could possibly know him that well?

Chapter 4: The Big Reveal

The pranks continued, each one more elaborate and personal than the last. But one night, after a particularly difficult mission, Spider-Man decided it was time to confront The Laughing Menace once and for all. He needed answers.

Peter set a trap, using himself as bait. He staged a fake distress call, luring The Laughing Menace to an abandoned warehouse. When the figure arrived, Spider-Man made his move, attempting to web him up before he could escape.

But as soon as Peter fired his web-shooters, The Laughing Menace dodged effortlessly, moving with precision and speed that took Peter by surprise. The figure easily avoided every web, slipping through Peter’s traps as if he knew them in advance.

Realizing he wasn’t going to catch him this way, Peter paused, frustration building. “You’re good,” Peter admitted, a hint of irritation in his voice. “But I’m going to find out who you are.”

The Laughing Menace stopped, turning to face Peter. With a calm and deliberate motion, he removed his mask, revealing the face of Bruce Wayne.

“Or you could just ask,” Bruce said with a small smile.

"Bruce Wayne? The billionaire from Gotham?" Peter was completely thrown. "What the... How are you... Why are you doing this?"

Bruce, now fully visible in the dim light of the warehouse, smiled slightly. "Hello, Peter."

"Wait, you know me? How do you know me?" Peter was reeling.

"I know more than you think," Bruce replied, his tone calm and measured. "I've been watching you for a while, Peter. Not just as Spider-Man, but as Peter Parker. I've seen the burden you carry, the weight of responsibility. I wanted to help, but not in the usual way."

"Help? By pranking me?" Peter couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"By reminding you to laugh," Bruce said, more seriously. "In Gotham, I've seen what happens when someone like us loses their sense of humor. It darkens everything. I didn’t want that for you. So, I decided to be The Laughing Menace, to make sure you never forget that there’s more to life than just the fight."

Peter stood there, stunned. Bruce Wayne, one of the most serious, stoic figures he’d ever heard of, had been playing a prankster just to make him laugh? It was unbelievable, and yet it made perfect sense.

"Why me?" Peter asked, finally lowering his guard.

"Because you remind me of someone," Bruce admitted, his expression softening. "Someone who also bore a heavy burden, but managed to keep his heart light. I didn't want you to lose that, Peter. You’re a hero, but you’re also still a kid. Don’t let the world take that away from you."

Peter stared at Bruce, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind. Finally, he smiled, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Only you, Bruce," he said, chuckling. "Only you would come up with something like this."

Bruce shrugged, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I figured you could use a friend."

Peter hesitated, then asked the question that had been gnawing at him since the reveal. “But why? I mean, you’re Bruce Wayne. Why go to all this trouble for me?”

Bruce’s expression grew more serious, and he motioned for Peter to sit. With a deep breath, he continued. “There’s something you should know, Peter. Something I don’t share with many people.”

Peter sat, listening intently.

“I’m Batman,” Bruce confessed, the weight of the revelation heavy in the air.

Peter’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re Batman? The Batman?”

Bruce nodded. “Yes. And being Batman... it’s not easy. It’s a dark, lonely path. Sometimes, it feels like the weight of Gotham is crushing me. The persona, the endless fight against darkness—it can consume you if you’re not careful.”

Peter could hear the exhaustion in Bruce’s voice, the years of battling demons, both literal and figurative.

“I created The Laughing Menace not just for you, Peter, but for me as well,” Bruce admitted. “It was a way to step out of the shadows, to escape the darkness that comes with being Batman. For those brief moments, I wasn’t the Dark Knight. I was just... someone trying to bring a little light into your life, and maybe, into mine too.”

Peter was silent for a moment, processing everything. Then he smiled, understanding the depth of Bruce’s actions.

“You know, Bruce,” Peter said, “I always thought Batman was this unstoppable force of nature. But hearing you say all this... I get it. You need to laugh too.”

Bruce nodded, a rare, genuine smile crossing his face. “We both do, Peter. We both do.”

Peter laughed softly, then glanced at Bruce, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. “But there’s one thing I don’t get. If you’re Batman, how did I even get this close? Why didn’t you just disappear like always?”

Bruce’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “You’re right, Peter. If I didn’t want to be caught, you wouldn’t have even seen me. But I’m here because you’re the only person I’m this relaxed with. You’ve earned that.”

The sincerity in Bruce’s voice took Peter by surprise. He realized that this connection, this friendship, was something special—something Bruce didn’t allow himself to have with many people.

“Thanks, Bruce,” Peter said, appreciating the weight of what had just been shared. “I won’t forget that.”

Epilogue: A New Kind of Friendship

After that night, things changed between Peter and Bruce. They stayed in touch, not just as Spider-Man and Batman, but as Peter and Bruce. And while The Laughing Menace retired, the lessons he taught Peter remained.

Peter never forgot to laugh, even on the toughest days. And every now and then, when things got really dark, he’d find a small, anonymous gift—a classic comedy film, a joke book, or a card with a simple message: “Remember to laugh.”

And Peter knew, without a doubt, who it was from.