Chapter 15: The Devil's Bargain
Batman's POV
Bruce Wayne had dealt with the unexpected before. Criminal masterminds, psychotic clowns, metahumans beyond reason. But Joshua?
Joshua was something else entirely.
Sitting across from him in the dimly lit study of Wayne Manor, the young man exuded a confidence that bordered on arrogance—but not the kind born from ignorance. It was calculated. Deliberate.
Joshua knew exactly what he was doing. And that made him dangerous.
Bruce had spent hours analyzing footage of the so-called 'monster' tearing through Gotham's underworld. Strength, agility, combat efficiency—it all pointed to something unnatural.
But what bothered Bruce more than Joshua's abilities… was his lack of a past.
No records. No fingerprints. No traces.
It wasn't just unlikely—it was impossible. Even ghosts left shadows.
And yet, Joshua sat there, grinning like he had already won.
Bruce studied him in silence, letting the weight of his presence press down on the young man. Most people would squirm under his gaze. Joshua didn't even flinch.
Finally, Joshua leaned forward. "You want to know what I am. You won't find that answer in a database."
Bruce's expression remained unreadable. "Then where will I find it?"
Joshua's smirk widened. "Right here. If you let me stay."
There it was. The real reason he had come.
Bruce's eyes narrowed. "Stay?"
Joshua nodded. "You give me a new identity, I live under your roof. You can watch me all you want, make sure I'm not some monster waiting to snap. And in return…" He gestured between them. "Neither of us has to worry about the other stabbing them in the back."
Bruce's mind ran through every possible angle.
If Joshua was lying, this was a power play. An attempt to gain access to Wayne Manor, to infiltrate Bruce's life. If he was telling the truth… then he really had no past. No history.
And that was even more unsettling.
Joshua knew too much. About Gotham. About Batman. About him.
That wasn't coincidence.
Bruce didn't believe in coincidences.
"Why should I trust you?" Bruce finally asked.
Joshua laughed. "Oh, you shouldn't. But let's be real, I'm the one at a disadvantage here. You're the one with all the power. I'm just asking to even the playing field."
Bruce stared at him. The way he spoke… there was a sharpness to it. A challenge.
Most people asked for things. Joshua negotiated them.
It reminded Bruce too much of someone else.
Lex Luthor.
That was the unsettling part. Joshua wasn't some reckless vigilante playing hero. He was a tactician. A strategist.
And yet, he wasn't lying about one thing—if Bruce turned him away, Joshua would become a wildcard. A loose variable in Gotham's already unstable equation.
And that… was unacceptable.
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Joshua's POV
Joshua watched Bruce carefully, gauging his reaction.
Batman wasn't the type to be pressured. He had probably already calculated fifteen different ways to subdue him if things went south.
But Joshua wasn't playing fair.
He had forced Bruce into a position where letting him go was the bigger risk.
The silence stretched. Then finally, Bruce exhaled. "There will be rules."
Joshua grinned. "Oh, I bet there will be."
Bruce's voice dropped an octave. "You don't kill."
Joshua rolled his eyes. "I don't plan to. But let's be real, I'm not a saint either."
Bruce's expression didn't waver. "You. Don't. Kill."
Joshua raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I won't kill. Unless someone really deserves it."
Bruce's stare hardened. Joshua knew he had just made things more difficult for himself—but damn, it was fun pushing Batman's buttons.
Finally, Bruce said, "You'll stay here. But you follow my rules. Step out of line, and you won't get a second chance."
Joshua stood up, smirking. "Noted. Guess I should go pick out my new room, huh?"
He turned toward the door but glanced back, flashing Bruce a cocky grin. "See you around, Bats."
Then he was gone.
Bruce sat in silence, staring at the empty chair.
Joshua was dangerous. Not because of his power, but because of his unpredictability.
Bruce had spent years dealing with criminals, killers, and psychopaths. Joshua was none of those things.
But he wasn't a hero, either.
And that made him the biggest wildcard Bruce had ever encountered.
---
End of Chapter 15
Chapter 16: The Age of the Unknown
Batman's POV
Bruce had spent the past few days watching Joshua closely. The way he moved, ate, reacted—everything.
At first, Joshua seemed like someone in his late teens or early twenties. But something wasn't right.
His build. His mannerisms. His metabolism.
Then Bruce saw it—the proof. Late one night, Joshua sat on the floor of the manor's kitchen, surrounded by food. Burgers, sandwiches, chips—eating like a starving wolf.
Bruce had seen this before. Teenagers hitting a growth spurt. Their bodies demanded fuel, especially those with enhanced abilities.
That's when it clicked.
Joshua was fifteen.
Which meant he'd been surviving on his own far too long.
Bruce walked into the kitchen and leaned against the doorway. "How long have you been alone?"
Joshua didn't even flinch. He just kept eating, eyes flicking up like he was analyzing every possible response.
Then, he swallowed and smirked. "Define alone."
Bruce crossed his arms. "No parents. No guardians. No home."
Joshua's smirk twitched. A crack. Then it was gone. "A while."
Bruce studied him for a moment. "You're fifteen."
Joshua sighed, setting down his sandwich. "Took you long enough."
Bruce narrowed his eyes. "That explains the way you eat. You're still growing."
Joshua clicked his tongue. "Yeah, yeah. You caught me. Big deal."
It was a big deal.
"You shouldn't be on your own at this age," Bruce said firmly.
Joshua scoffed. "What, you gonna drop me in a foster home? Please, Bats. I'm not normal."
Bruce's gaze didn't waver. "No. You're not. But that doesn't mean you don't need help."
For a split second, Joshua hesitated.
But then his usual confidence returned. "Alright, since you're so interested in me, let's make this fun."** He leaned forward. "You wanna know what I am? Guess."**
Bruce remained silent.
Joshua grinned. "I'll give you some basics about my abilities. But if your guess is wrong, I'm not telling you anything."
Bruce analyzed him instantly. Joshua was testing him. Measuring how much Bruce could figure out.
Fine. Two could play that game.
Bruce took a step forward. "You can transform. Your body isn't human when you do."
Joshua nodded. "Go on."
"Your transformations mimic predatory creatures. Enhanced strength, reflexes, durability."
Another nod. "Keep going."
Bruce narrowed his eyes. "Your transformations aren't magic. They're biological. You're evolving."
Joshua's smirk twitched—just for a second. But Bruce caught it.
He was close.
Then, Joshua clapped his hands. "Welp, good try! But no dice."
Bruce's gaze sharpened. "So I was close."
Joshua wagged a finger. "Ah, ah. No second chances. You got it wrong, so I tell you nothing."
Bruce exhaled slowly. He had almost figured it out.
Joshua stood up, stretching lazily. "By the way, Bats?"
Bruce looked at him.
Joshua smirked. "Wrong. They're animals… and not at the same time."
Bruce's mind immediately ran through the implications, but before he could press further—
Joshua tilted his head. "So, am I going to school with Robin or what?"
Bruce blinked. Of all the things he expected Joshua to say—that was not on the list.
"... We'll discuss that later."
Joshua just laughed. "Right, right. Keep me posted, Dad."
Bruce sighed. This kid was going to be a problem.
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End of Chapter 16