Liam woke slowly, blinking the sleep from his eyes. His vision was blurry and the taste of ash was in his mouth. He couldn't tell at first where he was. Then the memories came flooding back to him of last night and his collapse onto the couch. He rolled over, despite the headache and fever he had been experiencing before they had faded, he felt relatively fine all things considered. At least until someone cleared their throat from the other side of the room.

"I hope you had a nice dream." A gruff voice called out.

Liam rubbed his eyes, trying to make his eyes focus on the person inside his apartment. He blinked a couple of times before his eyes finally settled. He could now see what was going on, and who was sitting on the couch. Liam could now see Jack Button looking at him with his cane in hand, not looking a day older than when they first met.

"How did you get in here?" Liam asked.

He grasped his throat feeling like he had just swallowed fire and sand.

"Your door was unlocked. I just walked through the door." Jack replied. "Now, my turn to ask you something, lad. What did you do with my books and ring?"

Liam froze, his blood running a little cold even as he tried to school his face into a neutral expression, "I have no clue what you're talking about." He said flatly.

"Ah, playing dumb huh? Not a bad strategy, unfortunately though it doesn't exactly work when I have you on camera." Jack sighed, pulling out a phone from his breast pocket and turning it to face Liam as it showed the young man himself picking the locks the night before.

He swallowed again, both out of nerves and how dry his throat still felt, "Yeah, I guess it doesn't. Thought the camera's would go off when I killed the alarm system." he admitted, running a hand through his hair.

"They did, at least the ones connected to Wayne and the Power's did. This one was a personal camera of mine, it never hurts to have a few spares after all." Jack explained. "Now, I know for a fact that you aren't some petty thief in search of cash. So, tell me who put you up to this and where are my things."

"I can give you only a first name and in Gotham that doesn't exactly help much. As for where your things are I genuinely don't know. And I don't want to know." Liam replied, standing up from the couch. "Her name is Esmeralda, for whatever it's worth."

"Not much at all, like you said a first name isn't worth much and who even knows if it's her real name." Jack growled in frustration.

"Sorry, to have wasted your time, and making you come to the slums. I'm afraid I have nothing more to offer you, so if you're going to call the GCPD and get me packed off to juvenile, let's get it over with. Or maybe you have some pull and can get me sent to Blackgate? Based on the fact that you found me at all, you either know someone, or you're no ordinary old shop owner." Liam shrugged and as he did so Jack saw the mark on his wrist and palm, his eyes widening slightly as he looked at the young man before him.

Jack snatched Liam's hand, bringing it closer to his face. He observed the red mark with the intensity that an eagle would look for its prey. He narrowed his eyes, making sure that the little light wasn't playing games with him.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Liam asked.

Jack ignored his question. He rubbed the palm with his thumb, wondering if it was paint or something else. But he quickly found out that the mark was real. Jack's eyes widened as he realized that his books and ring weren't the only things that were taken.

"I see that you got your hands on the Spider totem." Jack said, gesturing to the spider-shaped mark.

Liam pulled away his arm.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Liam asked. "You mean that creepy thing that bit me? Trust me, I'd give it to you if I had it."

Jack had one final thing in his mind to test his theory.

"I'm sure you would, can you get me a glass of water before we continue our chat my boy? You look a little thirsty yourself. Might as well try and be a bit civil.

Liam stared, perplexed at home quickly Jack had changed the subject, but at least for the moment he didn't seem to be calling the police so that was a plus, maybe he could talk the old man out of it.

"Sure, just a second." He said hastily going to the kitchen and filling two glasses of water downing one and refilling it before coming out and handing one to Jack before sitting down across from him on the couch.

He had just polished off his second glass of water, enjoying the feeling of the cool liquid when a tingle ran up his spine. The hairs on his neck stood on end as he spun to face Jack in time to see the old man's cane shoot outward, scooping up his own glass before hurling it at Liam. He spotted the glass coming at him in what seemed like slow motion. His arm shot out from his side, catching the glass. Liam held the glass with such speed and strength that the glass cracked slightly against his fingers. He looked at the glass he had just caught with shock.

"How?" Liam muttered.

He looked up at the now smirking older man who nodded his head, seeming satisfied, which did nothing to cool Liams nerves.

"I know I stole from you, but throwing a glass at me is an odd way of getting one back over me. Also, did you drug me or anything like that while I was sleeping!?" He demanded narrowing his eyes at Jack who actually laughed at that.

"My boy, do I look like a man who goes around drugging teenagers?"

"No, but you also don't look like the kind of guy who would be able to track somebody down with only a video and a face to go off of, and not every weird person in Gotham dresses like a clown or flying rodent." Liam pointed out.

"That's true, but this is unexpected I must say. I hadn't even noticed the totem had been missing before now, but for it to finally react to someone, you in particular is truly fascinating. I can't wait to see what the long term effects will be. You need to stay put for right now."

"Stay put, what are you going to hold me hostage in my own apartment?" Liam asked, taking a few steps away from Jack.

"Nothing so bold, I recommend until we can figure out what's changed about you, we air on the side of caution. I merely want to observe."

"Yeah, because that sentence doesn't make you sound creepy at all." Liam said sarcastically setting the cracked glass down on the table,

"Sorry, but I can't stay inside, not all of us have easy access to money, but if I want to eat and keep the power going I need to get some. I don't know how long I was out. So if you aren't calling the police, I'm going to go shower and you can see yourself out. If you are going to call them, I'm going to go shower you can stay put and hopefully they or Batman won't come to arrest me until I'm dressed." Liam said, walking to the bathroom.

"So much potential being wasted." Jack sighed watching the bathroom door as it closed.

Inside the Bathroom Liam turned on the hot water, grateful that it hadn't gone cold yet and had just taken off his shirt when he froze looking into the cracked mirror. He had never been particularly built, in fact he sat closer to the malnourished than he would like. Now though much to his surprise that had changed. Where before his ribs had been just barely visible beneath the skin, there were now abs that he didn't recall ever having before or after his parents left. The rest of his body too had filled out.

He was not overly muscular, but he certainly looked like a runner or a swimmer, lean and muscular.

"Okay that's weird." Liam muttered, cocking his head to the side and staring confused at his own face which now looked fuller than it had in a long time.

'What the hell happened to me?' He thought, climbing into the shower.

Liam finished his shower. As he grabbed hold of the knob he couldn't let go of it. He tried turning the knob to loosen his hand but it wouldn't come off. He stared shaking his hand gripping his wrist with the other and then with a crunching sound the door knob came away from the door along with some of the wood surrounding it.

"Okay that's new." He said trying to relax his fingers and jumping when the knob fell from them and hit the ground. He started to feel a little warm even as he carefully made it to his room and dressed. His headache was returning, then he heard a car horn, then several car horns. He looked around, everything seemed more vividly detailed. He took in a few breaths, trying to get his head straight.

'Air, just get some air.' He thought, stumbling over to the window and climbing out onto the fire escape. The night air felt wonderful, although he realized that meant he had basically slept through a day even as his breathing began to level out, more sounds came from every angle. More car horns, people screaming at each other, dogs barking. He covered his ears, but he may as well have screamed at the noises for all the good it did.

"What the heck is going on with me?!" Liam screamed.

Every noise Liam heard was like nails being filed against a slab of glass. He wondered if his ears were bleeding from all the noise. But that wasn't the only thing. He could see almost everything that was going on around him and hear far away things as if they were right next to him. He felt like he was in the middle of a room filled with boomboxes and loud speakers.

So great was his discomfort that he was only dimly aware when he fell over the railing of the fire escape, and landed on his feet stumbling slightly. He didn't pause to be amazed he couldn't. His mind felt foggy, colors seemed to reach out from all directions; it was too much as he stumbled around trying to find some focus. He fell to his knees clutching his head, he heard a car horn louder than the others. Turning his head he saw a bright flash of light speeding towards him. His senses steadied enough to see the truck, but his body refused to move.

He closed his eyes preparing for the worst, and then someone came barreling in from his right tackling Liam to the sidewalk and out of the traffic's way as the truck honked in indignation.

"What the hell do you think you're doing laying in the street kid!?" The man who had tackled him demanded grabbing Liam's shoulder and forcing him to look him in the face which actually had the benefit of somewhat focusing his sense's.

"I...I'm sorry I'm just going through something and I...uh…" Liam trailed off his own eyes going wide as at last he managed to focus on the man.

Liam knew who it was. The years had done little to change it. Some grey hairs here and there, but the face was the same as it was once long ago. Liam could never forget the face that was before him.

"I don't care if you're going through a mental breakdown or your girlfriend dumped you! Get out of the damn way!" the man snapped, pushing Liam to the sidewalk. "Punk kid."

Liam's eyes followed the man as though they were stuck. He felt his fingers dig into the sidewalk, breaking the concrete with ease. He gritted his teeth as he saw his father drive off. He felt heat rise into his face, heard blood pounding in his ears as he stood up. His anger seemed to give him focus, he stared after the car, and then his feet began to move as if on their own.

'He ditches mom, abandons me, ruins our lives and doesn't even recognize me!?' He screamed inside his head. He was incensed. He wanted to scream, to hit something, to hit him. Give him some amount of the pain he had suffered for years. Demand answers, as the car sped down the streets of Gotham, Liam followed it. He jumped, spun and slipped through the crowds not really stopping to consider what he was doing everything he had was focused on not losing that car.

It finally stopped beside a large seemingly abandoned warehouse at the edge of the Gotham wharf. Liam stopped several feet away hiding behind a building as he watched his father and a few other men pop the trunk. Another car pulled up, as together the men all began to unload several boxes. Of what Liam couldn't tell, but he was sure it couldn't be good. He tried to hear them, the city was much quieter in this part of it he started to focus.

"Hey! Be careful with that, you idiot! Do you know what it took to get my hands on all these Wayne Tech weapons!?" His father demanded smacking another man across the back of his head as he had almost dropped one of the crates.

"Sorry, boss, it was an accident. It won't happen again, sheesh." The man said rubbing the spot he had been hit.

"It better not, I have some of the most powerful villains Gotham's ever seen coming to this. I make this deal and I become the biggest arms dealer in Gotham. I'll finally put myself on the map in this stinking city. From there, I can only go up." Liam's father said.

Liam wanted to smack his father across the face with his newfound strength. He couldn't believe that this was what he had left him and his mother for. His grip was starting to leave dents on the bricks that made the warehouse. But Liam wasn't a fool. If he went on the offensive now, he'd be gunned down.

Just then his ears picked up the sound of tires digging into the street and a set of motors reving to a halt like a pack of hounds at the scent of blood.

Liam turned to see who had arrived. His eyes widened at the sight before him. Men representing Black Mask wearing the iconic mask of their boss, members of the Falcone family that he'd seen in the news and newspapers, goons following the Penguin out of the car, and some people that had white masks over their faces. It seemed like the big shots of the underworld and some of the supervillains had arrived.

"Gentlemen, please come inside!" His father called. "The bidding is just about to begin. I can assure you that all the knick knacks that you want are all in storage. If you'll follow me."

"This better be good, making us come all this way. Wah wah." Penguin snorted.

Liam saw his father lead the criminals and gangsters into the warehouse. He ducked back into the shadows. He wanted to do something to find some way to ruin this for his father. However, if he did it with an exposed face, all he would succeed in doing was get himself killed even with these powers he still didn't fully understand.

If he knew how he'd simply alert Batman, and let him ruin it for his dad. That option wasn't really on the table though, so he started looking around for some way to disguise himself. Just then amongst the barrels that were piled behind the warehouse, he found a discarded red scarf and welding goggles.

"If Robin can go invisible with a domino mask, this'll make me invisible." Liam said, picking up the pieces that would make his disguise.

Liam put on the goggles after cleaning them a bit with the scarf. He tied the scarf around his face, covering his nose and mouth to the best of his skill. He started looking around for an entrance to the warehouse, since going through the front would be the equivalent of suicide. He looked up and spotted a window.

"Bingo." Liam muttered.

He climbed on top of the barrels with ease. His new strength and skill made it easy for him to reach and pull himself up. However, he ran into a problem. He no longer had any barrels to give him a boost. He was only a few feet from the window. He tried reaching for it, but he couldn't even scratch it.

"Maybe, I can jump for it?" He muttered, before writing that off. If his new strength extended to his legs he felt he was more likely to land on the roof from here, which would probably alert someone inside. He growled in frustration, before a thought came to him remembering how his hand had stuck to the door knob of his bathroom. Staring at his hands in curiosity, he decided to test that he had nothing to lose really.

'Stick to the wall. Stick to the wall.' He kept thinking over and over in his head as he placed his hand against the cold stone. He tried to pull it away, but it didn't budge and Liam smiled. This was a start.

Slowly, he placed his other hand just above the first and began to pull himself up. When his feet were off the barrel he tried to get his shoes to get what grip they could against the wall. Only to find that his feet stuck just as well as his hands.

'I am going to have to figure this out and soon.' He thought as slowly he began climbing the few feet up the wall to the window, finding no glass in the way. He pulled himself into the window seal and stared around.

Down on the ground, Liam's father stood before the mobsters and representatives of the underworld with all the crates behind him like a display from a boutique.

"Very well ladies, and gentlemen. I want to thank you all for coming here tonight." Liam's father said. "I am proud to say that tonight we've got some nice goodies for all of you, courtesy of Wayne Enterprises, Powers Industries, and Stagg Industries. Let it never be said that I don't get you anything nice."

The representatives of the underworld snorted and giggled at the man's attempt at humor.

Liam for his part had to force his own vomit from coming to the surface. He remembered this routine all too well. Butter them up and reap all the winnings from under their nose.

"Now, we shall start tonight's bidding with a little gift from good old Powers." Liam's father said as two of his goons brought a crate.

The two goons opened it to reveal a set of rocket launchers.

"These babies are called the G-2003. They are special easy to reload rocket launchers that can be used both on the ground or in the air." Liam's father explained as he showed up the launcher. "One shot of this bad boy and you can say goodbye to any pesky police car or chopper."

"Or a flying rodent." Liam heard one of the Penguin's goons mutter.

"Exactly my friend! If these don't help you handle your bat problems, you're doing something wrong!" Liam's father said pointing to the man, and Liam had to admit he was a pretty good showman.

Those weapons alone though were a cause for concern for anyone involved. He needed to do something he just wasn't sure what yet, as the rocket launcher was set to the side.

"Shall we start the bid for these puppies at market price of 50 grand for the whole crate?" Liam's father asked. "Keep in mind the ammo is included."

Hands started going up, raising the price of the rocket launchers to far greater than the market price. In the span of two minutes the launchers had already been sold.

"Sold! To our Antarctic friends." Liam's father said, pointing to the Penguin and his crew. "Now don't be sad my friends, the night has only just begun. And we have some toys from Stagg Industries next."

The next device looked like nothing more than a simple disk, and Liam heard a few people mutter highly sceptically.

"Now folks, don't let this thing fool you. This is a deadly weapon in the market." Liam's father assured. "This disk can absorb any sound frequency and send it back in a powerful blast of noise. Take the nagging of your wife or the crying of your brat and you will find that they are useful for something!"

He said it so casually, and easily Liam saw red again. No longer thinking tactically, or caring for the consequences of his actions he wanted to hurt him again. Pressing his feat against the wall he sprang forward. Shooting across the distance between them, over the others gathered in the space and brought his fist into his fathers jaw. The man was knocked clean off his feet and over the crates behind him as Liam landed breathing hard and making his way forward wanting to land a few more hits.

However, his appearance of course hadn't gone unnoticed from either side. The large men that had been helping his father stepped in front of him, and he heard rustling from the other men behind them and in front of the stage. They attacked Liam with their fists. But thanks to Liam's new speed and power, he was able to catch one of the punches with ease before punching the man across the face.

Liam allowed instinct to guide his movements, it was like a voice telling him what to do and how to move. He ducked under another swing from another good. He grabbed his arm and tossed him at the crowd like he was an oversized beach ball.

When the large goon crashed on top of the audience, all chaos was unleashed.

The Penguin and his goons rushed to the weapons that they had paid for as well as the other ones that had yet to be shown.

The Falcone's pulled out their weapons, trying to make their way amidst the chaos.

The other members of the underworld tried to scrape some of the weapons even if they were trampled by the others.

Liam's attention however refocused solely on his father, jumping over the creates and trying to tune most of the chaos out he found the man getting to his feet glaring at him.

"You little shit! You broke my nose!" He said his voice sounding more nasally and high pitched due to the injury.

"Oh, I'm going to break a lot more than that." Liam said his voice muffled by the scarf over his mouth.

Liam picked up one of the crates and swung it at an incoming group of goons. He didn't care that some of them had broken bones or were sent flying, all he wanted was to beat his deadbeat father to a pulp. His glare was barely visible through his goggles, but the strength, speed and skill that he was showing put most of the villains on edge. They were used to facing Batman even obsessing over him but he never had superpowers to make him a bigger threat. This was a brand new version of fear that Liam was introducing them to.

Before anyone could form a plan or gang up on the teen, the front doors burst open, and a voice called out-

"GCPD! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST NOBODY MOVE! THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO GET VIOLENT!"

The officers' voice was of course ignored as everyone scrambled for the various weapons and the already mad scene descended deeper into chaos. Liam leapt at his father landing a few more blows before a thugs body slammed into him knocking him sideways. It was then the first time since he gave into his impulses that he saw the chaos that he had created.

Men and women in suits, facing off with GCPD swat officers as well as each other. Bullets flew everywhere, and a few hands managed to grab the sonic weapons his father had been auctioning off. The noise of the fights allowed them to be put to use. Then he saw a Penguin goon raise a rocket launcher taking aim at the crowd.

"NO!" Liam screamed, forgetting for a moment his rage and leaping forward kicking the barrel of the gun upward just as the man fired. The explosion rocked the ground beneath them as the building came crashing down.

-Present-

That was how Liam found himself here now, pushing rubble, and dust off of himself. Coughing and trying to catch his breath as what he was pretty sure was the figure of Batman descended down upon him like a demon. He was simply too shocked to move much as the man in question landed before him.

The Batman.

He wanted to say something, but nothing would come out. Batman however glanced around the seeming solemn and angry as he glared at Liam.

"Who are you, and what have you done!?" The man demanded.

"It wasn't...I didn't mean to...it all just…" Liam stammered trying to find the right words, and failing as he began to look around at the rubble.

"Just kind of happened?" Batman guessed taking a step towards him and actually making Liam take a step back as he tripped and fell over something behind him glancing down he saw it was a leg sticking out from the rubble.

A leg that looked like...no it couldn't he had to be wrong. He rolled over punching a few bigger chunks of debris off and froze. His father lay there, several of his bones clearly broken. His eyes half open, blood still pouring from his broken nose. Liam stared stunned ,the world around him felt like it was closing in. All he heard now was the thudding of his heartbeat in his ears, his breath was struggling to come as he saw other arms, legs and even a few faces sticking out from the rubble.

'Oh no, no no no. This wasn't it shouldn't have…' He struggled to think properly pulling his legs into his chest as his brain refused to focus.

Batman meanwhile, had stopped in front of the boy. His anger was fading fast as he stared down at what was still an unknown, but clearly a kid. A kid in the midst of a panic attack if his breathing and the blank look he could see through a cracked lens in the goggles was anything to go by. He heard the sirens approaching, and considered cuffing the teen, but even he couldn't do it.

Instead, he bent down and carefully picked him up. The boy didn't even seem to notice as he shot a grapple up and took him to a nearby rooftop, staying in the rubble wasn't going to help after all.

Liam didn't know when they landed on a rooftop far away from the remains of the warehouse. As soon as he felt the roof under his hands his mind snapped back. He grabbed the scarf and tore it from his face before throwing up. His throat was burning from all the stomach acid that came to the surface.

"Are you feeling any better?" Batman asked.

Liam shook his head violently from side to side taking in several deep breaths, trying desperately to find his voice which did come, but it sounded small and pathetic to his own ears.

"What have I done!? What have I done!? I'm sorry, I'm sorry I really didn't mean to do anything like that. I was just so angry and then…" He stammered to a halt running a hand through his hair before throwing up again.

Taking a few more breathes he was surprised when Batman set a hand on his shoulder, before speaking again,

"I believe you, but I need to know what happened, and you're the only person who can tell me. Take your time, and explain it to me." He said in a surprisingly gentle tone of voice.

Liam nodded, and then before he could really think about it he began to spill his guts. He told Batman everything. About his father being at the head of a bidding for the underworld. About how he snapped and began fighting and beating everyone that moved. About how the GCPD busted in and how he was the cause of the warehouse collapsing on top of everyone. Liam didn't know how he stood on his own two feet as he recounted everything.

The guilt gripped him like a hand made out of thornes. He had no love for his father, but the guilt of hurting people that had nothing to do with him, people that were only doing their job was what dug the thornes deep. What dug them deepest was that no one, the GCPD, the thugs, not even his dad deserved to die and it was all his fault. Once he had finished his story, he was crying and leaning against the edge of the rooftop.

"I didn't want any of it to happen, and by the time it was clear it was too late." He muttered through sniffles.

Batman looked at Liam with pity. He'd seen many people cry their eyes out hoping to live off the pity of everyone. But when he looked at Liam he saw that there was real remorse. In his eyes, the boy was someone that was lost and in need of guidance.

"Go home, this night has been too much for you." Batman said carefully, causing Liam to look up in surprise at Gotham's Dark Knight.

"Y...you're letting me go? After I...I mean I'm not complaining but I did wrong and…"

"I will address that, but in time. Not tonight. When I want to discuss your future with you, trust me I can find you. For now, it would do more harm than good, head home or wherever you need to go try to calm down. I'll be in touch, come on. I'll help you down from here." Batman said, offering his hand out. Liam stared, before taking it as the man got them both down to the ground in a nearby alleyway.

Without another word, Batman turned and fired a grapple line before taking off into the night. Liam watched him go, until he could no longer see the man against the lights of Gotham. Not knowing what else to do, Liam stuck his hands in his pockets and walked towards his home. Lost in his own thoughts.

When he walked through his door, he expected to be greeted by an empty apartment. But instead he was met with Jack Button reading a book and surprisingly having some tea set out.

"You feeling any better, lad?" Jack asked looking up only to take in the state of him his face shifted to concern.

"Yeah, I'm...I'm…" Liam began, but he couldn't finish. He was a lot of things, confused, sad, remorseful, hungry even, but he wasn't fine.

As Jack stood to examine him, he was surprised when Liam hugged him, "I'm not okay, I just- I really need some help, I feel terrible and I don't know what to do." He admitted starting to cry again into the man's shirt.

"It'll be alright, lad. Liam, we all make mistakes. All we can do is learn from them and make a better life from them." Jack said, trying to comfort Liam.

Liam could no longer keep his eyes open. He fell into a deep slumber, his dreams were not peaceful but they gave him a chance to reflect on what he had done and what he needed to do.

When he woke, he felt not better, but more calm. He sat up only to find that he wasn't in his apartment. This place was much cleaner, more maintained. The bed he was on was softer, and a bit bigger. He rolled over and found himself in an empty room. He briefly considered that maybe Batman had changed his mind, came while he was asleep and took him to Arkham.

That was an idea he immediately dismissed, there was no straight jacket. The room itself looked like an ordinary room. Carefully getting to his feat he walked to the door and hesitantly pushed the door open. Only to find an ordinary hallway he walked down it and at the end in a small kitchen he found Jack Button again sitting at a table filled with Breakfast.

"Woken up have you? I was beginning to worry, take a seat and eat some food." He said, gesturing to the chair across from him.

"Thanks, how long was I out?" He asked, sitting down.

"About ten hours, you seemed like you needed to rest, but shouldn't be left alone so I brought you here." Jack shrugged, taking a drink from the mug in front of him. "I've been made aware of what happened last night. It wasn't your fault. I should've explained what was going on with you before you went out."

Liam took a deep swing from the coffee mug before he looked at the man before him. As much as he didn't like to think or talk about the other night, he had to know. Not just anyone developed powers like that without being face first in front of something radioactive.

"What's happening to me?" Liam asked.

Jack reached out for Liam's right hand. He gently turned it around to show him the spider-shaped mark.

"This is the blessing and the curse of the Spider totem you came across the night you broke into my shop. I found it back in the sixties in a far away country in the middle of Africa. Legends say that the totem was created by the Spider God as an instrument of divine justice as well as a redeeming tool for the wicked." Jack explained.

Liam looked at his hand in curiosity. He would've said that it was just crazy talk, but after the events of the previous night he was singing a different tune.

"It is said that the totem would seek out those that require or need its power, to help those in need. As a guardian, a hope bringer." Jack said.

"Then why choose me? I'm not the most altruistic person there is. Why not Batman or another member of the Justice League?" Liam asked.

"Does it look like they need the extra power?" Jack remarked, making Liam chuckle. "The totem chose you Liam because it saw the spark of greatness that's been dwelling within you. Someone who knows the worth of power because you've been powerless for most of your life. You have the chance to make a great change in the city, if not the world."

Liam wasn't sure of what to say or think. After what he did the other night, he didn't think he could do any good. But here the same old man he met many years ago and robbed no more than three days ago was telling him that he could do good. He didn't know why but the words that Jack was saying struck him in a way that he hadn't been struck in the past. A fire was being lit under him.

"What makes you so sure that I can be what you say that I can be?" Liam asked.

"Life is not as black and white as many claim, you know that by now. Feeling that you aren't worthy makes you work harder to prove that you are. When you are given a chance to make a change for the good of others, you have a responsibility to do so." Jack explained. "Will you live up to prove you're worthy?"

Liam didn't reply. He had heard words of encouragement before, not often in Gotham. But this time, it was as though those words were connecting him to a web of beings that were given the same words. His hands shook and his brow became glittered with sweat. It took all his strength to pull back his muscles and form a smile.

He didn't know if he was worthy, but he was going to try to be.

"Where and when do we start?" Liam asked, giving Jack a genuine smile.

"We start with improving you, so first things first am I right in assuming that you've been living in that apartment alone?" Jack asked, getting straight to business, but returning the smile.

"Yeah, I have been for a while now. I just sort of fell into it. I didn't feel like going to an orphanage, so I did what I had to, to survive on my own." Liam admitted.

"In that case, you'll be needing a guardian to help you." Jack said, pulling out a paper. "I took the liberty of putting my name and address."

Liam looked over the paper. He wasn't a lawyer but it clearly said that Jack Button would be his legal guardian until his 21st birthday. He nodded in agreement before Jack handed him a pen. Liam wrote down his signature before handing it back to Jack.

"Alright, lad. As of today you'll be living here and helping me run the show. Not only will I teach you the ropes of how to be a better person, but I'll also help you on the other side of your life."

"The other side?" Liam asked, a bit confused.

"Yeah, the other side. You said that you wanted to prove you're worthy. Much as I wish it were as simple as letting you work in my shop, with your powers you can do so much more now."

"So, what, you want me to be like Batman?"

"Yes, and also no. Batman does what he does, because he thinks it's the right thing and he can. However, I don't think that his style of doing things suits you. Lurking in the shadows has its place, but there's still trouble in the light as well. That is where you come in, at least for now."

"What do you mean? Like I become the opposite of Batman? What's the opposite of a bat?"

"I mean in the sense of becoming the hope that Batman cannot become. If he is a dark avenger, you'll need to become a hero that fights for the little guy in the light of day." Jack explained. "As for what is the opposite of a bat, I'm not sure. But I think you only have a few options." He added pointing to Liam's hand.

Liam looked at the mark once more and began thinking about all the powers he had experienced so far. He thought of all those times in which he knew what it was like to be the little guy and how you need help the most. There was only one identity that could go with his new side of life.

"I will need a suit, you don't happen to be good at sewing do you?" Liam said.

"I know a thing or two, but I'm going to teach you that as well. There will be times where it can come up, and besides I'm not a tailor, kid."

"That's fair I suppose, though I do hope you know something about medicine. Something tells me I won't go unscathed." He admitted.

"Probably not, though you might stand a better chance than most. Still not sure if clothes alone are enough to protect you." Jack warned.

"Unless you happen to know where to get a hold of body armor, I don't think I have very many options." Liam chuckled.

"One step at a time, lad. One step at a time." Jack chuckled.

Liam and Jack spent the day moving all of Liam's stuff to Jack's apartment. There wasn't much stuff to move, but part of Liam felt the old apartment empty without his things. After giving it one final look he proceeded to close the door on that part of his life.

"What's this?" Jack asked later that night as they were organizing his things holding up a form that Liam had forgotten was in his bag.

"Oh, that's just something my teacher wanted me to look into." Liam said evasively as Jack read through it and gave an impressed whistle.

"Teacher must have some faith or an awful lot of faith in you to recommend you sign up for this." Jack admitted reading through the application for a scholarship to Gotham Academy.

"Well, yeah he does. Says I have potential, but I'm not sure if I should go, or if I deserve it you know? Like I.." Liam began before the tingling in the back of his head went off again and as if on reflex he slid to his right narrowly avoiding the slight tap on his head Jack had aimed for.

"Well too bad. You'll apply and you'll prove not only your teacher right, but to yourself that you are worthy." Jack said, looking at Liam straight in the eye.

Jack handed the application to Liam for him to fill out.

Liam looked at the application as though it was a wall he needed to scale. Part of him wanted to throw it away and forget about it. But he shook his head remembering the words that Jack told him. He grabbed a pen and began filling out the application. He didn't know how long it would take him to fill it out, but he didn't care. He was going to apply to that school and prove that he was worthy of giving it a shot. He finished the application and looked at it with pride.

The next day of school came and went just like always, but Liam saw it all in a new light. He found his teacher by the end of the day. He handed him the filled out application.

"I take it that you want to prove me right." the teacher said.

"I mostly want to prove to myself that I am worth what some people think about me." Liam replied, he bit his lip and let out a breath.

"Thank you sir. I know that I haven't been easy to deal with, but you really believed in me and I never really thanked you for that. I'll try not to let you down."

"No Liam. Don't let yourself down." the teacher said.

Liam smiled as he began to think back on his life as a citizen of Gotham and all that has occurred in his life. He'd been an outcast, a petty pickpocket, a diamond in the rough, and now he was on a path to make a better life for himself and others. As he walked through the streets, the light of the sun casted a great shadow behind him but his shadow wasn't one of a normal person, but one of a spider.

A/N: So ends chapter 2! These authors notes won't be at the start or end of each chapter, but in this case I wanted to say we do promise you'll find out more about Jack as time goes on, can't dump all the information at the start. Anyways, we hope you liked it! See you all next chapter and have wonderful Morning, Evening, or Night wherever you are.