Rat-King

Someone… speaks of them.

This one understands…

So many new heroes… such a loud city.

Was it a part he played? Or destiny choosing his title? The rats obeyed him, trusted him. They had been his only friend before and now? Loyal subjects.

“I do. Why are you here?”

“I have no name,” he spat, taking a seat back on his throne. “Come to pay tribute? Already?” He had not done any great deeds… but he could play this role.

“Very well. What gifts do you offer?”

The King stands, letting out a hiss that the rest of the rats echoed, all turning to face the intruder. “Who dares—?!” Wait, that woman… she was familiar. Cloudy memories, helping her, holding rats… one of the rats currently in this swarm.

“You. Why have you come down here?”

+ His body hurt, always in agony. Would the pain stop? Would he ever acclimate to this form?

If she listened closely, she might be able to make out the words, echoing through the tunnels.

“…you see anyone, you tell me. I need to know.” He spoke calmly given the scene. But then he let out a pained grunt, his largest arm moving to one of the mutated faces growing out of his shoulders. +

+ words were unintelligible, but even from her elevated position in the dark, Skylar could most likely feel the rumbling base of his voice.

+ of the room, the hulking figure stood. Surrounded by dozens if not hundreds of rats, waiting in a half-circle like a choir, the beast sat on a makeshift throne, garbage adorned its head in a mock crown.

It said spoke it grumbled whispers, waves of motions moving throughout the mischief. The +

Deep and deeper, darker yet darker.

The tunnels beneath the city were like the catacombs of Paris in the complexity, designed as a modern labyrinth.

And where the is a labyrinth, there must be a Minotaur.

Eventually, finding herself on a catwalk over a sewage waterfall, at the opposite end +

+ was observant, which she did seem to be, she might notice the lack of rats.

And when rats did appear, they all scurried the same direction, like they were heading somewhere specific.

The sewers were quiet, not anything out of the norm. Water dripped from the ceiling and walls, breaking the surface of water that Skylar most likely hoped would stay still.

Roaches and bugs skittered between garbage and piles of muck that would be better off left unidentified.

But, if Skylar +

The rats. His rats.

He made sure to set them free. He was like them now. They obeyed when he told them to follow, they listened when he promised them safety.

The swarm of rats and their King escaped into the sewers below, leaving the hallways empty.

Perhaps, deep down, Coda did hear him. Perhaps, maybe the monster did too. Either way, it turned and bounded down the hall, tile cracking beneath his weight.

—

The beast was almost to the stairwell when it heard the sounds. Cries for help, begging for the cages to be unlocked.

+ could recoup. He could plan.

“What will it be, hero?” The monster spat, standing a bit taller to try and appear more threatening. He wanted Joel to know the fight would take time, time Sasha might not have.

+ up down the hall, forcing Joel to choose:

Continue the fight and risk Sasha’s wellbeing…

Or rush to her aid, play the hero, but let him escape into the lab.

Coda had known of the sewer access in the basement, of the illegal dumping of chemicals.

In the darkness of the Gotham sewers, he +

+ distracted.

But his body ached from the rapid transformation, mind fuzzy and confused. He needed to rest. The three of them would meet again.

“You should check on her. That was a fairly big rock,” he chuckled, taking sickening pleasure in considering what state Sasha might be in.

He’d back +

The pair slammed down the hallway, blocked from the entrance and from Sasha.

“You thought you were better than him, thought you could push him around like the others,” the beast growled, more whispers coming from the mouths on his back.

He could win this fight. Sasha meant that Joel would be +

+ a mad dash towards the concrete slab.

That… actually worked fairly well, causing the Rat to howl in pain, curses shouted as he fell backwards off the man.

Then his eyes locked onto the rubble. He might not be able to beat Joel in a fight, but there was one traitor who wouldn’t be this much trouble.

Standing back up, the Rat began +

+ arms primed to bludgeon the man into submission.

Hot breath and saliva washed over Joel’s arm as the monster gnashed its teeth against the flesh, immovable object meeting unstoppable force.

As what little calming effect was still on him washed away, the beast screeched, leaping onto Joel to attempt to knock him down, the larger of his three +

+ grabbing a hunk of the concrete wall and hurling it towards Sasha.

Sasha wasn’t invulnerable like Joel was, but that meant he would be distracted, distracted enough to land an attack, a bite aimed at the man’s jugular.

The beast exhaled, rolling its shoulders as it readied itself to fight the man he had once called friend.

Elias was gone but that rage remained, the rage that gnawed inside of him like a parasite. No, no, no! He would not be teased by this man anymore.

He responded to the future man by +

he yeeted me

The monster formerly known as Coda roared in anger as the gunshot made his ears ring, too many ears.

It retreated back, bearing its teeth at the trio of traitors. It knew Elias. It knew where he lived and where he worked. The meal could wait… for now.

+ “Not a hero.
Not a hero.
Not a hero.”

He growled, clawing at his own face, like a child throwing a mini tantrum. The lights were too bright, too harsh. “We got strong in spite of you. Doubters, naysayers… traitors,” the word rolled off his tongue, dripping with hate.

“Now move.”

“The beast’s head snapped to Joel, like a feral dog spotting a rabbit. His tail twitched and he took a heavy step forward, raising an accusatory clawed finger towards Hannah.

“What was it you said?” The beast demanded, followed by a cacophony of whispers from the heads on its back. +