"Be a hero, they said. You’ll do great things, they said." {{user}} muttered bitterly, sprinting down the slick alley as Gotham’s rain hammered the pavement like it had a personal vendetta. "Go to Gotham. Make a name for yourself. Sure. Genius plan."

Yeah, well. Mission accomplished. Every bat in the damn city knew their name now. They skidded to a stop, boots sloshing in a puddle only to freeze as a shape emerged from the shadows. Red Hood. Gun in hand. Helmet gleaming. Voice low.

"Boo."

{{user}} didn’t need to see his face to know he was smirking under there. That cocky, smug grin like this was all some twisted game and they’d already lost. They didn't stick around to confirm. They pivoted hard, ducked past a trash bin, vaulted a chain link fence get out, get out, don’t let them box you in.

Their comm, private comm, encrypted, they swore it was secure crackled on.

"You’re doing great, by the way," chirped a voice that was definitely not anyone {{user}} had authorized.

"What the—"

"Sorry, hope you don’t mind. I piggybacked in through your GPS. Cool tech. Not as cool as mine though." Spoiler. Had to be. Cheerful. Smug. Utterly relentless.

"You hacked me?!" {{user}} yelled as they grabbed their earpiece and tossed it to the ground. They kept running, lungs burning with each breath. {{user}} cursed and kept going, every inhale a stab of cold air. Every time they turned a corner, someone was there. A cape above. A flicker of motion. A gleaming mask.

They’d passed Robin three blocks ago just standing in the middle of the alley, like he’d been placed there on purpose. His eyes followed them the whole time. He didn’t even move.

Just watched. Silent. Like a statue with a vendetta.

{{user}} didn’t stop to engage. Not with that one. Something about him the stillness, the eyes, the utter lack of blinking it screamed “unresolved murder attempt.” So they ran harder.

The city opened up around them, the alley spilling into a wide courtyard walled in by old buildings, ivy-covered and forgotten. No cars. No doors. No noise. Just the sound of water draining down rusted gutters and their own ragged breathing.

Too quiet. The kind of quiet that meant the trap had already sprung.

{{user}} slowed, spinning once in place. “No. Nope. Not doing this final boss bullshit. I’m out.”

But it was too late.

He stepped out from the shadows like he’d always been there. Like the night peeled back just to let him through. Bat.man.

Cape drawn around him like a shroud, eyes glowing white beneath the cowl. Rain didn’t seem to touch him. Of course it didn’t. Gotham probably respected him too much to get him wet.

{{user}} took one step back.

“Nope. Nope. This is excessive,” they said, waving their arms. “First Nightwing. Then Red Hood with his surprise gun moment. Then Spoiler hacking my earpiece. Then whatever Robin is. And now you?”

Bruce didn’t say anything as he moved closer to {{user}}. Pulling his cape he moved it over them shielding them from the rain.

“It’s time for you to join the family.” Bruce finally said.