Chapter Title: "The Gathering Storm"
The early morning light crept into Kian's safehouse, casting long shadows over the room. He sat alone in the dim glow of the computer screens, scanning through every scrap of information he had gathered on Jason Todd. The rumors were consistent but scattered—whispers in the darker corners of Gotham's underworld, fleeting sightings in places where no one expected him to be. All signs pointed to one undeniable fact: Jason Todd was alive. But alive didn't necessarily mean loyal.
Kian's fingers hovered over the keyboard, each thought he formed pulling him deeper into the mystery. Should I reach out to him? It was a question he couldn't answer yet. But the fact remained: Todd was an asset, or at the very least, a threat. And threats needed to be neutralized or controlled.
The soft buzz of his phone disrupted his thoughts. He glanced at the screen. It was a text from Floyd—Deadshot.
We've got a problem.
Kian's expression hardened as he tapped the message open.
Word's spreading fast. There are rumors—people are starting to think we're building something. Dangerous people, and the Bat Family's hearing about it. Batman's got a few leads, but he doesn't know who we're pulling in.
Kian's jaw tightened. He had been waiting for this moment. The moment when the Bat Family would start catching wind of what was going on beneath the surface. They had no idea who he was really working with—or that he wasn't working alone. That was about to change. It was a risky move, but necessary.
He quickly typed a response.
Keep them distracted. I'll handle it.
Across the city, in the darkened corners of Gotham's streets, rumors were beginning to swirl. The shadows that had always been Batman's territory were growing more dangerous. Word on the street was that a new player had entered the game, and he wasn't alone. There were whispers of masked figures, armed mercenaries, and blood-soaked confrontations. But most troubling of all was the growing consensus: Kian Mathis wasn't just another criminal or rogue vigilante—he was assembling an army.
At the Belfry, the Bat Family was still recovering from the aftermath of the confrontation with Damian. Nightwing and Batgirl had barely managed to stop the young Robin from escalating the situation. Batman had been preoccupied, caught up in his own investigation. But tonight, he was focused, and he had a new lead.
"Bruce," Batgirl said, her voice tinged with concern, "we've been hearing reports from various sources. Criminals, informants… they're all talking about a new player in town. Someone who's pulling together a team of dangerous individuals."
Batman's jaw tightened. He had been tracking Kian Mathis for weeks now, piecing together information as it came. What had started as a quiet ripple in the city's criminal underworld was now becoming a wave.
"Who is he?" Nightwing asked, arms crossed, his face set in a frown. "Do we know anything about him yet?"
Batman's mind was already working, the gears turning at full speed. "Not much. But the names coming up in these reports—Deathstroke. Deadshot. These aren't just common criminals. They're some of the most dangerous mercenaries in the world. If they're working with Mathis…"
Batgirl interrupted him, her voice cutting through the air. "This isn't like anything we've faced before. They're saying that this guy's got a plan, and that he's not playing by the same rules we do."
"Of course not," Batman muttered, his voice low, filled with a rare tension. "He doesn't follow the same code. He's calculating, ruthless. And he's got the power to make his moves count."
Nightwing's brow furrowed. "So, what's our move? We wait for him to make a mistake?"
"We don't have that luxury," Batman replied. "We need to get ahead of him. Start cutting off his sources of power before he can consolidate them."
Meanwhile, in the shadows of Gotham's underworld, Kian Mathis paced back and forth in the quiet of his safehouse. His mind was working furiously, calculating every move he needed to make. The rumors were getting out of hand faster than he'd anticipated. But they weren't entirely wrong. The Bat Family was beginning to see the pieces moving into place.
It wasn't long before he realized the next logical step: he needed to confront the source of these rumors head-on. If he allowed the Bat Family to continue with their investigation unchecked, they would piece together enough to become a real threat. And Kian didn't have time for that. He was done playing games.
But before he could do that, he needed to consider his next move carefully.
He thought of Deathstroke and Deadshot. While they had proved useful, he knew they were ultimately mercenaries—loyal only as long as the money was right. If he were going to lead them effectively, he needed to play to their strengths, keep them on his side, and make sure they understood just how valuable they were to his plans. They weren't just expendable pawns—they were the first pieces in a much larger game.
And yet… something gnawed at the back of Kian's mind. He needed more. More power, more influence. To confront Batman, to challenge the Bat Family directly, he couldn't just rely on mercenaries. He needed soldiers. And for that, he needed a plan.
Batman sat in the Batcave, the dim glow of his computers lighting his features as he scrolled through data feeds. He had gathered everything he could on Kian Mathis and his associates, but the more he looked, the more he realized just how little he actually knew.
Kian Mathis wasn't just a mastermind—he was a ghost. His movements were calculated, and his network of allies seemed to grow by the day. Batman had his suspicions, of course. Deathstroke and Deadshot were notorious, but they weren't a part of the Bat Family's history in the same way that other enemies were. They were outside Gotham's criminal web. This was something else—something far more dangerous.
The question lingered: Why now? Why was Kian Mathis assembling this team? What was his endgame?
Alfred entered the cave, his footsteps a steady rhythm on the stone floor. "Master Wayne, if I may…"
Batman didn't look up from his screen. "I know, Alfred. It's not just another criminal syndicate. This Mathis… he's dangerous. And he's not playing by the rules."
"I was wondering if we might want to consider expanding the team," Alfred suggested. "If these rumors are true, the Bat Family is being stretched thin. Perhaps some additional support would prove valuable."
Bruce Wayne's gaze shifted to Alfred, and for a moment, the weight of the situation seemed to settle in. He nodded, finally acknowledging the reality of the situation. "It's time to bring the team together. We need to get everyone on board."
Alfred's eyes glinted with understanding. "I'll inform the others."
Back at his safehouse, Kian sat silently, the air thick with tension. He had been quiet, listening to the rumblings of Gotham's underworld, the whispers growing louder by the day. The Bat Family had no idea what was coming.
The pieces of his plan were finally falling into place. But something still bothered him—his growing powers. His telepathic abilities were becoming sharper, clearer. He could feel others' thoughts, hear their voices in the back of his mind when he allowed it. He could sense the anger and fear in Gotham, the darkness that seemed to be spreading like an infection.
As his powers grew stronger, Kian realized he was no longer just manipulating people. He was beginning to influence them in ways he hadn't intended. It was an unsettling thought. But it also gave him a sense of clarity.
He wasn't just a man anymore. He was something more—something Gotham hadn't seen before. And the Bat Family, despite all their strength, couldn't stop him.
Later that night, Kian stood at the edge of his apartment building, looking down at the streets below. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale light over the city. In the distance, he could see the faint flicker of the Bat-signal.
Kian's lips curled into a small smile. Let them look for me. I'll give them a show they won't forget.
But as he turned to leave, something in the back of his mind stirred. A thought. A question.
The rumors about Jason Todd had never truly gone away.
Was it time to find him? To recruit him?
The thought was dangerous. And yet, as Kian's mind ran over the possibilities, the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fit together. Jason Todd could be a powerful ally—or a deadly enemy.
Kian stood still for a moment, letting the thought settle in. He wasn't sure yet. But he knew one thing for sure—whatever his next move was, he had to be ready for it.
And so, as the Bat Family began to mobilize, Kian Mathis sat at the edge of his empire, contemplating the next step. The storm was gathering on the horizon, and he would be ready for it.
Kian's thoughts lingered on Jason Todd. The idea of recruiting him felt… inevitable. He didn't trust easily, and Jason—if he was the same person Kian remembered from his brief knowledge of the Bat Family—was far from trustworthy. But the power, the skill, the rage Jason had would be invaluable. He could be the edge Kian needed. And, of course, there was the matter of Jason's untapped potential. If he could somehow convince Todd to join him, the Bat Family would be left scrambling to understand what was coming.
But is it the right time? Kian wondered, gazing into the city lights below. Do I push now, or wait?
A faint buzzing on his desk interrupted his contemplation. He walked over to the terminal, his thoughts briefly distracted. The screen displayed an encrypted message from one of his men. It was short, cryptic, but unmistakably urgent. I've found something. You'll want to see it.
Kian's pulse quickened slightly. His network had been spreading across the globe, and every so often, one of his agents would stumble upon something valuable. Whether it was intel, weapons, or connections, every find was another piece of his ever-growing empire. This one, however, had the kind of tone Kian recognized. It wasn't the usual minor discovery. It wasn't just another stolen shipment or corrupt official.
He typed a quick reply, signaling for the agent to report immediately. Then, he sank into the chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, his mind already working, already calculating.
Something was happening beneath the surface. More and more, Kian had the feeling that the universe around him was starting to shift, like the quiet before the storm. The Bat Family was closing in. There was no question about that. But he had bigger concerns than a group of vigilantes dressed in capes. They weren't his real problem. It was the rise of real power—world-changing power—that he could harness. The pieces were falling into place.
Across the city, the Bat Family continued its preparations. Batman had already begun reaching out to his trusted allies, rallying his extended team. Nightwing, Batgirl, had all begun to work more closely together as they pieced together the puzzle that was Kian Mathis. It wasn't just the rumors of dangerous criminals joining his cause—it was the undeniable feeling of unease that was beginning to fill Gotham's air.
Dick Grayson stood in the Batcave, flipping through the data they had collected. "Bruce, we're looking at something we've never seen before. Mathis isn't just building a criminal empire. He's playing a long game. Deathstroke. Deadshot. They're not loyal to anyone, so why would they follow him?"
Batman stared at the screen, his eyes narrowing as he scanned over the latest intel. "That's the question. But it's becoming clear that whatever Mathis is doing, he's not just assembling muscle. He's building something… something bigger."
Barbara Gordon, better known as Batgirl, leaned over from another console. "The rumors are escalating. I've been tracking his operations—he's drawing attention from all corners. There are whispers that he's even managed to get his hands on tech, resources that go far beyond what anyone could expect from someone like him."
"Then we need to move quickly," Bruce said, his voice calm but filled with intensity. "We need to put the pieces together before he can take full control of the city. He's still an unknown, but he's starting to show his hand."
The team nodded in agreement. Each member of the Bat Family had their own specific skill set, and together they were a formidable force. But Kian Mathis wasn't a typical criminal, nor was he a conventional enemy. His growing network was something they had to contend with carefully, and each move they made could have dangerous repercussions.
Back at Kian's safehouse, the wait was killing him. The seconds felt like hours as he stood by the terminal, contemplating his next steps. He could feel the weight of his decisions hanging over him like a dark cloud. Would he push forward with Jason Todd? Should he go after more allies? Or was it time to make his move on Gotham?
Just as he was about to lose his patience, the screen flickered, and an encrypted video feed popped up. It was one of his trusted agents, a man who went by the name Samir. He was young, hungry, and willing to do whatever it took to rise through the ranks.
"Boss," Samir said, his face appearing on the screen. "I have something for you. You won't believe what we found."
Kian leaned forward, intrigued. Samir's face was lit by a harsh artificial light, and behind him was the familiar image of a storage room. Kian could see that Samir was holding something small but oddly significant. He didn't say a word, only watching as Samir presented it carefully.
"This," Samir said, "was buried in a hidden compartment under a floorboard in one of our more… interesting acquisitions. I don't know how it ended up there, but it's… well, it's exactly what you're looking for. It's the real deal."
Samir moved the object closer to the camera. Kian's eyes narrowed as he saw what it was—small, green, and glinting under the light. A piece of rock. No, not just any rock—kryptonite.
Kian's pulse quickened. How did they get their hands on this? He'd heard the rumors. He'd heard the legends of the alien who called himself Superman—an almost invincible being from another world, with powers beyond comprehension. And with him, a weakness. Kryptonite.
The discovery sent a shiver down Kian's spine. Kryptonite was dangerous, far more so than most people realized. It was the kind of weapon that could change everything. If he could harness this, if he could control its power, it would make him untouchable—no matter how many heroes, no matter how many capes stood in his way.
The possibilities were endless.
Samir continued, his voice crackling slightly over the feed. "We've been tracking a shipment for some time. It was supposed to be a normal job. No one realized the significance of what they were moving. But this… this is what we found. I'm not sure who else knows about it, but it's real, Mathis. The stuff from the legends."
Kian's thoughts raced, already calculating the next steps. A single fragment. That's all it takes. But this is a start. A foothold. I'll need more. So much more…
"Good work, Samir," Kian said, his voice low, but there was a certain sharpness in it, an edge that his men had come to understand meant that Kian was already moving on to the next stage of his plan. "Hold on to it. Don't let anyone else know about this."
Samir nodded, the expression on his face reflecting the gravity of the situation. "Understood, boss. I'll make sure no one else gets their hands on it."
Kian's mind was already swirling with the possibilities. This small piece of kryptonite could change everything. The key to Superman's defeat was now within his grasp—just a piece, but one that would give him a foothold. One that would allow him to test its effects and begin formulating his plan.
He leaned back in his chair, allowing himself a rare moment of satisfaction. This is the beginning, Kian thought. Now, we go to war.
But even as he reveled in the power he now held in his hands, there was a voice inside him that still couldn't ignore the thought he had been pushing away for weeks. Jason Todd.
The clock was ticking. His empire was expanding, and his influence was growing. But the true game was just beginning.
At the same moment, Batman's investigation was entering a crucial phase. As his team worked tirelessly to piece together the web of conspiracies surrounding Kian Mathis, something deep inside him told him that the storm was already here. Kian's rise wasn't just a battle for control over Gotham—it was the beginning of something far larger.
The city was changing, and Kian Mathis, for all his ruthlessness, was the catalyst.
At that moment, both Kian and Batman were unknowingly on the cusp of the biggest confrontation yet, each of them closing in on the other, their fates intertwined in a way neither could have predicted.
The quiet before the storm was coming to an end.