AN: No idea what the plot is overall but have fun with this.

Welcome to Gotham (Now get the hell out.)

Summary: Normal life is kinda boring. Thank gods for Gotham.

David sighed deeply as he chopped the meat up on the butcher's block then wrapped it in the thin paper material and wrapped it again. It has been exactly one year since he allowed Kaldur'ahm to return to Shayeris to be with his mother. Though he kept in regular contact with the boy, it had often been brief and to reassure him when he could. In that time, he made plans of his own. More so to bide his time until he could fully at one it. Which meant withdrawing from his usual station at the helm of the organization and seemingly, to any that cared to look, Black Manta had not only retired but simply disappeared.

Truth was, of course, he had simply decided to be more remote. He gave his soldiers missions to complete in a certain time frame, they all get paid, and he checked up on them bi-weekly for a progress report. So far, things were going quite well on that front.

As was his business as being a local butcher in the last place that Aquaman would ever think to look. Last place many of them would.

Gotham.

It was simple enough in this city to open up shop and be as unremarkable as possible. The only thing that tried his patience were the local gangs and the mobsters. He managed to pay off one of the gangs to do some protection work around his shop. It had worked. He advised them and paid them on a timely manner. The young fools, however, tried to wring more out of him and he had to discipline them most harshly. They behaved quite well since and even extended their protection to his son- free of charge, of course.

With Kaldur'ahm gone, Jackson was in need of actual socialization with others his own age. David had been reluctant, but sent his son to school. To continue their lives with some anonymity, he had to send him to not the best school but at least not the worst one in the city. River Road Middle was a fine enough school. Unremarkable, but it did the job. He had hoped his son, now under the alias of Jackson Hyde, would adjust well.

It seemed he did to a degree, but David wasn't certain.

Not that he had much time to think about it now, since the shop went oddly quiet at the sound of the bell attached to the door. The tv still went on about the news and some event that was happening with the Wayne's company or another. It seemed like nobody moved, feared to even breathe as the steps got closer to the counter.

David had dutifully ignored it, favoring to weigh another pound of meat. After a few moments, he sighed deeply before turning to see who had entered his shop. Of course, who else would it be but the bottom feeders?

"And what," He wiped the butcher's knife down, unfazed by the goons that flaked the man in front of him. "do I owe for this visit- Penguin?"

Jackson kept his mouth shut as he trudged through the hallway of his school, paying little attention to the others there. He still didn't think he was used to his middle school. His dark eyes shifted, unconsciously, he was searching for some kind of danger. The first few months when he started a year ago, shortly after his brother left their company and he enrolled here, he had had some trouble. Mostly, some kid that was in his class had been annoyed about grades or something- he doesn't rightly remember. But he did remember that every chance the kid got, he tried to make life difficult as hell for Jackson.

It had been a trying time because he couldn't just beat that snotty nose brat at any point and time because his Dad told him not to make a scene at any cost. They were undercover, trying to do this 'normal life' thing while Dad's laying the ground work for his plans. Any trouble would draw attention to them.

So, Jackson had to grudgingly endure this petty kid's torment for a year. One entire year and even when they got into an entirely different grade, different *classes* even, the kid seemed to have it out for him.

That, though, was ok. Jackson had found some friends. One such friend was allegedly tied to a local gang in the area where his Dad worked. Not that the kid was part of it, no, but his brother was. Jackson had a feeling that this might've been his Dad's handiwork, but he couldn't prove it.

In either case, his 'friend' was more of a deterrent than not from his would-be bully. At least on most days when he showed up.

Either way, he survived his first year on land in a public school with relative ease. The hard part wasn't other people, really.

The hard part was holding back from what he normally did. He couldn't join any water sports, whatsoever. Actually, he couldn't join any sports period. It would've drawn too much attention, that way. Dad had told him if he wanted to play he'd have to join one of the youth groups outside of school or make friends to do so.

Jackson had decided to join an Art Club instead. Only, it wasn't as interesting as he had hoped.

"Hey, Jackson!"

He turned slightly, smiling a little. This would be his other friend, Carrie. "Hey. I thought you had band practice?"

Carrie's hair was no longer in it's perfectly round afro shape but a cloud that vaguely resembled it. " Nah. Decided to skip today."

"You're so going to get in trouble for that." He grinned and shifted his backpack. "Anyway, what made you want to skip?"

"There's this new ice cream place that's opened up a few days ago. I just wanted to go try them out." She glanced over at him, "Wanna come?"

"Sure."

The place wasn't very big but it was busy. Carrie chatted about something that happened between her and her friends, while Jackson peered around the place. They had a lot of flavors available- some he's never even considered to exist. The hell? Peanut-butter and pickles? How was that good?

Apparently some lady thought it was good because she bought it. He grimaced. Guess everyone had their preference. Still, something about this place didn't sit right with him. He couldn't pinpoint it though. Was it a smell? Or maybe the way the ice cream people were smiling a bit too much?

"Uh, Carrie?" Jackson moved to grab her wrist, "Maybe we should come back when it's not crowded?"

"What? We're already this far in line!" She frowned, "Besides, I skipped band practice for this. I deserve a treat."

"I'll buy you a whole carton from the store." Jackson said suddenly, unable to shake the feeling and backed away slowly, "There's some weird about this place."

Just as he said that, people who had bought the latest batch of ice cream began to sway, making weird noises and fall. They were turning into something. Something that growled and hissed.

Jackson didn't want to stick around to find out if they were hungry either. He grabbed Carrie's hand and ran from there as fast as his feet could carry him. But not before he saw the cape of one of the city's notable defenders.

"Jackson!" Carrie wheezed, "Let go! I can't run anymore."

He blinked, they were at least halfway back towards the school now. "Oh-sorry!"

"Yeah, well, so am I." She pouted a little, " I didn't even get to record a second of it or them. I guess it's my punishment for missing practice." She made a face, "Sorry about that."

"It's alright." He replied distracted a bit by his thoughts, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah. See you."

After they parted, he couldn't help himself but go back. When he did, it was nearly over but he saw someone crash through the window of the ice cream parlor. Many people that were recording were well on the other side of the street or away from the fight itself. He drew closer, fighting through the corwd to see what had happened. The whispers around him said it wasn't Batman but one of the others. Which one though?

A flash of red and black? He couldn't tell well, but whatever happened, it was over and the caped kid- he could see it was a kid now- flew off again. The crowd dispersed and he was left staring at the rooftops and sky with an unsettled feeling.

He wanted to do more than live this way.

David welcomed Jackson to the shop with an easy smile. They were closed for the day and could go home now. Their apartment wasn't the nicest but it wasn't the worst place they could end up at. Just average, like they're supposed to be. He had to admit to himself, it would've been nice if Kaldur'ahm could've joined them. He would've almost considered giving up his usual job completely for this. It was tempting.

"How was school?" He always asked and Jackson always gave him the same reply.

"It was fine. Nothing to worry about."

He ruffled his son's hair, they had to cut the locks shorter for their new life here. To blend in better. He noted it was time to get them done again and made a mental note to call D'Naya. "That's good."

"Dad, when's Kaldur supposed to call back?" Jackson didn't need to glance up as much as he used to. Though still shorter than his Dad by several inches, he'd catch up soon enough- he hoped. "I mean, you'll let me know, right?"

"Sure." David looked thoughtful. "I suppose next week, I believe."

"Ok." They turned down the alleyway that was a shortcut to their apartment, when he felt like they were being watched. He found that his dad seemed to notice it as well. "Dad?"

"Yeah, son?" David pretended not to notice the mugger behind them. In fact, he sort hoped there was more of them. Living a life like this was incredibly dull, to a degree.

"Can I?" There was something in his son's tone that implied he thought the same.

Indulgent, David took his son's backpack and turned to the mugger as he got out a water bottle, "Go for it. Your training has been a bit off lately."

A grin lighted upon Jackson's face at the confusion the thug was obviously going through because the man barely got out his threat before the teenage boy got a running start and decked him.

"Boys." David sighed in amusement, "I guess I should take Penguin up on his offer. Might even be a little fun, if profitable."

His brow rose now, seeing more of the thugs' friends appear now. Jackson was taking up his position again. David found himself smirking, unzipping the backpack and taking out a pencil.

"Hope you don't mind, son. I'll buy you another pack of pencils later."

Some time later, the father and son duo left the alley in relative condition they had been when they entered. Their opponents.. not so much so.

"Did you really have to use up *all* my pencils?" Jackson wasn't going to sulk but he liked one of them. "What am I going to do for tomorrow?"

"I told you I'd buy you some more." David shook his head, "There's probably a pack at home."

Jackson sighed but smiled nonetheless. Sure, he didn't kill his opponents like his father occasionally did, but it was satisfying to get that out of his system. He was pretty sure his dad did too. He glanced over at him with a big smile.

"You know what? I think I actually like being here."

"That's good, son." David smiled back, " Think I might too."

"That's a pity." Someone said from above and jumped down in front of them. "Because I don't think you belong here."

Before them, under the dying light of the sky, was the man himself:

Batman. And he was not pleased.