Organized crime is rampant in Gotham City.

It’s practically unavoidable— everyone knows at least one person who either works for or has ties to the mob. That extends to the rich as well, in more cases. So Bruce, and Batmąn, are very aware of what goes on, and whose operations to either put a stop to (which is rare, if he’s being honest) or to hinder.

The Falcones are notorious in the city. The leftover gang members from King Snake. Roman Sionis. Others.

But someone else has recently risen to become a far bigger threat than Bruce could have originally imagined. This person not only is creating a name for themselves, they’ve also been supplying everyone person they work with with new technology.

Tech that’s advanced enough for Bruce to wish this person worked for Wayne Enterprise’s R&D team.

He’s tracked them to their base— a remote location, strangely close to one of the various junkyards in the city— and..

Well.

It’s a bit of a dump. He’s not one to judge rogues on their taste in decor, however. Silently, he stalks up to the welding area where the abnormally short person is placing a few finishing touches on a new piece of tech.

The walls are decorated with plans, lists, red pieces of string—

Enough for the Bat to know that whoever this is, is a real threat. Planning to completely take over the underground of Gotham.

He knocks the flamethrower out of their hands, pinning them against the wall with one hand and taking the welding mask off in the other.

Bruce blinks.

“You’re a child,” Batmąn states evenly, despite being rather thrown by this fact. This.. must be a henchman. Yes.

He narrows his eyes under his mask, glaring at the kid, but loosening his grip on them. They’re a child, he won’t hurt them on purpose.

“Where’s your boss?”

…They can’t possibly be the boss.

Can they?