In the wake of his brief conversation with Oracle, Lucian departed from the clock tower. His goal now was to find somewhere isolated to meet with Batman. The ideal was somewhere without risk of anyone or anything to interrupt them.
[ Justice Sense ] flared up as he searched for that ideal location. Though he wasn't on a time crunch, he initially wanted to ignore its signals... but couldn't find it in himself to do so. It felt wrong to deviate from his set course, but Lucian convinced himself that Batman would take time to find him anyway, if he was going to try at all.
The first of the incidents that [ Justice Sense ] detected involved a brawl. A pair of drunks were fighting over a woman just outside of a club. Things were already heated, and each drunk's friends had gotten involved in the scuffle. Five on one side and four on the other.
With the bouncers' help, he got them all to "calm down" and break off using their own language.
[ Combat EXP: 90. ]
[ Rescue EXP: 10. ]
[ Next level: 35. ]
The club incident was cleared with minimal injury and no property damage. This led to quite a helping of cash as a reward from the establishment's owner. None were arrested in the end, but both drunks ended up banned for quite some time.
...
The second incident was a comic book staple: the bank robbery. It was late at night which minimized the amount of bystanders present. Still, that didn't diminish the threat of those that sticked the place up.
Inside the bank were two men in balaclavas. They both wielded petty handguns—one of them waved his gun around at their hostages, while the other had his weapon trained at a receptionist that struggled and failed to negotiate.
Lucian ran the numbers while looking in from a distance: Two hostiles. Six employees. One injured security guard. Five civilians.
Having calculated the odds and come up with a strategy, he shot one of his own guns from a distance to make a distraction. One of the floor-to-ceiling windows cracked all over and became an opaque obstacle. This concealed his approach, what with the bank's interior light catching on it to contrast against the darkness outside.
The robbers never saw him coming.
The window broke completely as Lucian barreled through. Many of the people present shrieked from his intrusion. Before anyone could catch up with the change in the situation, he took his spot behind the robber closest to him. Holding that one at knifepoint, he angled himself so that even if the other robber took a shot, nobody else would get hit.
Lucian grabbed the immobilized robber's gun and crushed its barrel with One for All's help. "Here's what's gonna happen," he announced right after. "You, Mr. Robber Sir, are going to slowly, gently, lay down your gun."
He paused there, gauging the situation. His eyes swept the bank unseen from behind his goggles. Though still clearly afraid, the tension had diminished from the innocent people around him. There was even some hope in the expressions of a few.
Most importantly, the unrestrained robber didn't seem keen on taking a counter-hostage and slowly did as told.
Reassured in his approach, Lucian continued once the robber had disarmed himself. "Now, you're gonna let these nice people tie you up as a present for the cops," he commanded. "If you don't... well, I'm not in the business of killing, but I'm sure I have other ways to convince you."
To punctuate his words, he pressed the tip of his knife up against the soft part of his hostage's jaw. There was just enough pressure to indent the skin without breaking it.
There was always the chance that the other robber would call him on his escalated bluff, but most criminals weren't outright evil—just desperate, greedy, or stupid. Luckily, these ones didn't seem like the latter and refused to take that risk. They obeyed his every command until they were both incapacitated. An ambulance was called for the security guard during the "negotiations," and both robbers were arrested after Lucian was long gone.
[ Combat EXP: 20. ]
[ Rescue EXP: 120. ]
[ Total EXP: 140. ]
[ ... ]
[ Congratulations! Your level has risen to 4. ]
[ Next level: 395. ]
[ One for All bonus: Power +1, Vitality +1, Agility +1 ]
[ Class Points: +1 ]
[ Free Attribute Points: +5 ]
– ৹ – ৹৹◎৹৹ – ৹ –
Host: Lucian Sant-Pearce
Matrix: One for All: Lost Flame
Level: 4
EXP: 105/500
Classes: Brawler [4]
———
Attributes:
Power: 18
Vitality: 18
Agility: 18
Intellect: 12
Mentality: 13
Spirit: 13
Luck: 0
– ৹ – ৹৹◎৹৹ – ৹ –
[ Brawler [4] has given you the Ability [Sticks and Stones, Flesh and Bones]. ]
[ Your physical damage resistance has increased. ]
[ Your pain tolerance has increased. ]
...
He resolved two more incidents after the bank robbery. Eight more people saved, with five criminals apprehended. This earned him 130 EXP, bringing his Level 4-5 counter up to a good 235 out of 500—only 265 left to go.
A majority of the people he'd rescued wanted to reward him during his exploits, but he could only realistically take money among the things they offered. His pockets had already become stuffed with weapons taken from hostiles at that point, after all. He couldn't accept much else.
That was all that had happened until he found a good enough spot to wait for Batman to appear. Everything that Lucian had done should have been enough of a wait for Batman to conclude any business he might have been on. All that was left was the wait-and-see phase.
As part of that period, Lucian purchased some candles and a lighter in preparation. With those in hand, he made his way around the flat, no-access rooftop and arranged the candles in the shape of the bat emblem's outline. Lighting them up, Lucian was confident that it wouldn't fail to draw the attention of his intended audience.
It was as he admired his handiwork that a fluttering noise came up behind him. Towering nearly a full head above him was Batman himself, no more than a veritable obelisk of pure darkness against Gotham's dimly-lit backdrop. Two angular eyes peered down at him, glowing white, and Batman spoke.
"That's quite the summoning ritual you've arranged," said Batman in his heavy, gravelly voice.
Lucian took several steps back and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I didn't have the budget for a spotlight," he replied with a shrug.
Batman hummed and stepped forward. "Oracle said you were asking for my help."
"I was, yeah," Luce confirmed. "It's... kinda complicated. For me, anyway. Do you have experience with mind control? Hypnotism? Things to that effect."
Batman regarded him for one long moment. "Yes," he said simply in response.
Shoulders sagging, Lucian sighed in relief. "Shit... that's good, then. I got the victim being cared for where I live. I can take you there if you wanna help her."
Batman nodded and turned. "Lead the way," he said simply. "... but only after you clean up the occult diagram you set up here."
...
The walk home was short and tense. Lucian had specifically selected his waiting spot so he wasn't too far from the chapel. Batman followed behind him without making so much as a single noise. Every action was so effortless from an outside perspective that Lucian couldn't help but feel the slightest twinge of envy.
...
Soon enough, they were at the trees on the plot of land that Lucian's chapel had been built on. "Do you think I can get squatter's rights for this place?" He asked offhandedly. "I really like this spot, and it looks like it's been abandoned for decades. Be a shame to just let it keep rotting..."
"I doubt you'll have trouble," Batman answered. "This entire section of the city has been considered haunted for longer than your chapel's been abandoned. Take it if you want."
Lucian, wordless, could only nod. He didn't expect that. From there though, he accelerated his pace and Batman had no trouble matching him. With three heavy knocks on the large twin doors, he pushed it open.
In the far back was Waylon's imposing silhouette, far taller and broader than even Batman himself. His yellow eyes gleamed through the dark chamber from where he stood, hunched over, and his throat rumbled like grinding stones.
"Hey, it's alright," said Lucian. "He's the help. We're just here to get Ms. Watson out of here and get her fixed."
Two yellow eyes blinked once... and Waylon turned and crouched in a corner.
Lucian faced Batman even as he led the way to the bell tower. "Sorry about him," he said. "He's lived a pretty shit life, so he's cagey around strangers. I imagine it's worse around vigilantes like us."
Batman said nothing in turn—he only hummed.
Near the top of the spiral stairs, Lucian signaled for Batman to wait. He poked his head up and saw Nicks huddled with Tamara Watson, presumably to keep her warm. They were both asleep on his bedding, snug under a worn blanket with numerous patches.
Lucian smiled at the sight, then turned to Batman and called him up. "Just gimme a second," he said, and moved to kneel beside Nicks, whom he grabbed by the shoulder to shake awake. "Hey... bub. Help's here. Mind letting Tamara go?"
Still half-asleep, Nicks groaned but did as he was asked. He removed his hold on Tamara's arm and turned over, leaving Lucian to do the rest.
"Can you hear me, Tamara?" He whispered into her ear. She should at least still obey like last time.
Following expectations, her eyes opened as soon as Lucian finished speaking. They were still glazed and unfocused like they had been since he found her, and she sat up like a vampire rising from her coffin.
"Stand up and follow Batman," Lucian commanded. "Do as he says and go where he tells you—he's agreed to help you break out of your trance."
Readily, she shuffled out of the blanket she was under and got to her feet. Moving as robotically as ever, she took her spot one pace behind Batman and a little bit off to his side.
Lucian nodded at the sight, now satisfied. "Alright. Do what you gotta do. I do want updates on her condition, though—I still got stakes in this since I found her."
Batman affirmed those words with a grunt and began making his way down the tower. Just as well, he gestured for Lucian to follow. When they were finally outside and some ways away from the front doors, Batman turned around and spoke.
"You did a good and smart thing here. Now, I have some questions."
Lucian had already expected it, but it still put him on edge to hear what was said to him. "I'll answer as long as it ain't too much..."
Nodding, Batman asked, "Is this enough for you?"
Another loop for Lucian to be thrown in. "Elaborate...?"
The Bat gestured to Tamara Watson behind him. "Is it enough for you to just help her be free, or do you still want to exact justice for her?"
Lucian's eyes glinted behind his goggles. "I want to do more."
Batman stared him down, and he stood his ground. After one steady breath, Batman acquiesced. "A second question," he said.
"Ask away."
"Do you have any leads on the perpetrators?"
"I do, actually," Lucian answered.
Reaching into his pocket, he produced a gun and a bloody knife. The latter was secured in a resealable storage bag, and some of the blood was still wet. He also gave descriptions on the three perps as he handed over the evidence.
"I stole the gun from one of 'em," he began to explain. "It could be registered to the woman that had it. The knife has the blood of another perp—the oldest of 'em. I cut the skin on his forehead so he couldn't drive them away... the woman did that instead, though. Drove off while I got Ms. Watson out of there."
Batman accepted both objects as Lucian proffered them, and hid them somewhere behind him. "Good work. I'll take my leave now, but I'll contact you as soon as I have news. I imagine you'll want to help bring those people to justice"
Lucian rolled his neck, popping a few joints. "Won't say no to that. Hell, I want dibs if you'd let me have it."
Batman nodded. "Until next time, then," he said. "Oracle will contact you when we have more information."
With that, Batman led Tamara Watson out of Lucian's land while doing something with his left bracer.
...
[ Notice. ]
[ Chain Quest, Part II: Follow Through has been completed. ]
[ Rewards: ]
[ [1] - 50 EXP; Basic Ability: [ Tracker I ]. ]
[ [2] - 100 EXP; Basic Ability: [ Meditate I ]. ]
[ Total EXP: 150. ]
[ Next level: 115. ]
[ Ability descriptions: ]
[ Tracker I: ]
[ The ease with which you find certain marks has been increased. ]
[ Meditate I: ]
[ Enter a meditative state whenever you rest. Physical injuries heal faster during this state. Mental fatigue vanishes even faster. ]
[ Notice. ]
[ Quest chain has been updated. ]
– ৹ – ৹৹◎৹৹ – ৹ –
Chain Quest, Part III: Retribution
Description: You have brought one Tamara Watson to safety and ensured her safe recovery. All that is left to be done, is to bring justice to those responsible for her situation..
Duration: Undefined. Will update with more information.
Objectives:
[1] Track down those responsible for Tamara Watson's suffering.
[2] Defeat the culprits and bring them to justice.
[3] [Optional] Slay the culprits and claim their souls for the Headmaster.
Rewards:
[1] Success:
• 100 EXP.
• Basic Ability Upgrade: [ Tracker II ].
[2] Success:
• 200 EXP
• Title: "Vengeful Guardian".
[3] [Optional] Success:
• 200 EXP
• Title Transmutation: "Harbinger of Vengeance".
Penalties:
Total Failure:
• Matrix deactivation for 24 hours.
[2] & [3] Failure:
• -25% Spirit for the next 24 hours.
• Temporary Cursed Title: "Mark of Shame" for the next 24 hours.
– ৹ – ৹৹◎৹৹ – ৹ –
...
Lucian returned to the chapel with a slump in his shoulders. Waylon was sitting at the edge of the podium, waiting for him.
"How'd it go?"
"Went great," Lucian replied. "Ol' girl's gonna get the help she needs. I get to handle the shitheads that did it to her, too."
Waylon chuckled. "I didn't take you for a justice nut."
"I wouldn't call me that," Lucian said with a grimace. "Just feels more personal now. If anything, I'm a revenge nut."
A deep chortle emanated from Waylon's slit nostrils. "So... what now?"
Luce sat on the podium and leaned back, his body colliding with the old wood. "I just wait, I guess... maybe get some sleep, too. I'm starting at my job tomorrow, after all."
"Mmm..." Waylon uncapped a liter-sized bottle and squeezed the contents down his throat. "You should go up and keep Nicks some company, then. He gets lonely real easy, and he might panic when he wakes up by himself."
Humming, Lucian forced himself to his feet to make his way upstairs. "Nighty-night, then."
"Mm. Good night."
—=—=—=—=—=—=—=—
[A/N]: Character ages for future reference:
Lucian: 20
Maxine: 21
Tamara: 21
Waylon: 19
Nicks: 17
Batman: ???
Jason: 15
Dick: 22
Barbara: 24
Sorry if this chapter feels weird. See, my sleep schedule returned to sync with the morning people [disgusting]. This means that, in our living conditions, I was surrounded constantly be people yapping on and on and on and on without regard for the people around them. It was total bullshit.
So yeah... I couldn't focus at all while writing. I did my best, though.
Fuck being awake while the sun's up. Some bullshit.
Well, now that the chapter's closing... Power Stones keeps a mans motivated, and nice comments come a long way too.
If you feel like supporting me further, I've got a Ko-fi: https:// ko-fi. com/ mr_blorp
Just get rid of the spaces :3