[Will Pov]

Will felt strange as the water flowed over his skin, "Damn I thought it would at least be a little bit longer before I got caught like that. Maybe I should have just been honest about my situation." He said to himself

Tomorrow night I have to go spy on Penguin, good, let's do it.

Time passed quickly and Will slept soundly for the first time in several days. When he woke up he felt refreshed, far better than the night before. He didn't want to think about his time with the Demon. He got up, threw on his school clothes and went down to get Barbara her breakfast.

"Good morning master William, seems like you are doing better this morning. Here for Master Barbara's breakfast?" Alfred said

Will smiled, "Thanks Alfred you are the absolute best man, you need to tell me more stories of your adventures sometime."

"Absolutely Master William, Master Wayne wishes to speak to you before school this morning."

Shit it's got to be about last night. Ugh not again, he said to himself.

Will went out, put everything on the tray, and got her meds like he had the past few days, and brought it straight to Barbara. She was still sleeping, when he saw he remembered the things the demon screamed at him the night before. He felt so ashamed of himself, he felt like he had his manhood taken that night. He felt filthy, disgusting. He stuffed it down, and placed everything on the bedside table. Then he gently woke Barbara up, she lightly opened her eyes, and let out a massive yawn.

"Jeez, Morning Breath." Will said as he pinched his nose.

Barbara just rolled her eyes, "By all means please come brush my teeth for me too"

Will moved to get up, "Wait! Don't actually do that."

He sat back down. "I'm sorry Barb, I think I really screwed the pooch with your friend Kara last night. Anyways just take your meds and I'll be out of your hair."

He helped her like he usually did, and then turned to leave.

She reached out and grabbed him, before he could go.

Her face turned red, "Are you sure you have to go right now?"

Will looked back and suddenly he heard the voice in his head, "A Demonic Practitioner does what he wants." And for the first time he listened to it, his energy sang and his flashed red for a brief moment.

"N-no sorry Barb I have to go talk to Bruce." He said, biting his lip while his eyes returned to their normal brown color. This is getting outrageous he thought to himself.

What if I go too far one day. Will thought to himself as he rushed out the door to get his backpack, and headed down to Bruce's study.

When he entered he saw the cold face of Bruce Wayne, no Batman looking at him. Suddenly he was pressed up against the wall with an elbow across his throat. Will squirmed under the man's gaze.

"What the hell were you thinking last night. What could have possibly possessed you to think that was a good idea. I ignored your antics in the Batcave the other day, I will give you one chance to explain yourself or I will send you straight to the psych ward." Bruce said sternly

"Ssir it really isn't like that, I just, I just have to do it sir. It's the only way I can get strong enough to make you all happy quickly sir. The only way I can get strong enough to fend off my brother when he comes for me. Before the other day when I punched the guy I could never do something like that, much less be completely fine the next day. It's called a reforging I think, at least that's as far as I know anyways. My powers they seem to grow when my body is destroyed and rebuilt, it's a way to temper it. Kind of like super progressive overload I guess sir. Please don't send me to the nuthouse. Please sir, I should have been honest from the start, it's my father sir he implanted something in the tattoo on my back, and when I awakened the other day after punching that guy. I just knew how to make myself stronger. I don't fully understand what's happening to me and I'm not sure if I like it honestly. However since I did that, I can throw at least 6 of those super strong punches without breaking a sweat sir." Will said nearly on the verge of tears

"Please believe me sir, please." Will said

Bruce released his grip on the boy and sighed, "I'm sorry, son I don't know what to think right now. What is happening to you? Do you think you are up for the mission tonight?"

"For the record, sir, I don't know what's happening to me either. It's just the only way I can get stronger without killing." Will said, looking down ashamed of himself.

When Bruce heard that, he got a glint in his eye and looked straight at him. "What do you mean without killing?"

"W-well sir, there were two ways for me to get stronger. One was by destroying my body to temper it, the other involves me devouring the energy, blood, and souls of my enemies. I would have to kill them for it to work." He said feeling regretful in his heart.

"So you chose the way that only causes you to get hurt?" Bruce said

"Yes sir, um I can bear the pain sir." Will responded and Bruce sighed.

"You are just a boy, no child should have to bear that alone." Bruce said

Will removed his shirt and showed Bruce for the first time his body. "Sir my father used to torture me, I think it was in preparation for this. I don't know what else to say sir, I can handle it. Would you break my bones for me Mr Wayne."

"I will not harm you William, I will not harm a child. Tell me who your father and brother are." Bruce said, his eyes narrowing.

Will choked and began to cry all his frusturations from the night before poured out of him. "I um I um." He dropped to his knees. "I can't say sir, their names won't." Will choked on his words again

Bruce's gaze softened a bit, "it's okay son, get up. Please do not hurt yourself for us any longer. I don't care how strong it makes you. Don't do it."

"But sir what if, what if my brother comes. I'm scared sir, I'm so scared. Every time I close my eyes I remember him slaughtering the one family member, no person in my life who ever cared about me. My mother, he ripped her to pieces, and she just she just had this resigned look on her face. Like she expected it to happen sooner or later. He scares me more than anyone else in the world. He is a Beast, he's the beast. When I'm alone I hear his chuckle, it grates against your soul. His most striking features, his bright yellow eyes filled with hatred and his teeth that he filed down that give him a shark toothed smile. I remember that smile well sir, I remember his eyes. I can't let him do anything to me sir, he's going to come for me and devour me." Will exclaimed tears streaming down his face.

"He will not touch you, I have the whole Justice League with me. There's nothing he can do to you." Bruce said

"Do you think I like hurting myself, I don't understand why anyone can do it. But I have to, it's the only way sir. He will kill me, I know it." Will said

"If he wanted you dead, why would he wait this long to come kill you." Bruce said

"Because I've been hiding from him, and as for before he told me he wanted to wait until I awakened my abilities. He wanted me to get strong so he could devour me sir. He wants to eat me." Will said

"I'm sorry for not telling you earlier, I just didn't think hurting myself mattered too much. Nobody has ever cared before other than my mother, or Barbara. Nobody ever cares." Will said sniffling

"Will it's going to be fine, stop crying." Bruce said exasperated

"Can I still train the technique?" Will asked

"Absolutely not." Bruce said

"But I have to." Will said

"No, you can't and you won't. You are a child I will not have it. Is that understood?" Bruce said

"Yes sir." Will said despondently

"Sir are we still spying on penguins shipment tonight?" Will asked

"Yes, we are." Bruce said softly

"Good, do you know when I'll get a suit of my own?" Will asked

"Soon, I'm having one made as we speak." Bruce said

Will's red puffy eyes lit up, "Thank you sir."

"Don't mention it. Have you given any thought to what you will call yourself." Bruce said

"Hmmmmmm….. What about Rogue?" Will said

"I like it." Bruce smiled

Will smiled brightly, his eyes were still red but he felt as though it worked.

Will clasped one hand over his fist and bowed, "it's a name that will strike fear into your enemies sir."

Bruce smirked when he did that

"Our enemies actually." Bruce said

"Of course, our enemies." Will smiled

"You may go now, be careful tonight." Bruce said

"Yessir, I will head over to the iceberg lounge tonight after I finish my homework." Will said

Will put his shirt back on and left the room feeling relieved. That could have gone worse, he thought.

He walked out and saw Tim and everyone.

"Yo will, have you been crying? Are you okay?" Tim asked

"No, it's just allergies. I don't cry." Will said

Tim laughed, "Whatever dude."

"Any signs of Croc?" Will asked

"No none, I've been searching relentlessly." Tim said seriously

"How hard could it be to find an injured, 9ft tall Crocodile man. They tend to stand out." Will said smugly

Tim punched him on the arm, "Shut up dude."

"Ow, What the hell." Will responded and laughed.

Will, Tim, and Damian all walked out the door and proceeded on to school.

[Bruce Pov]

Meanwhile in Bruce's study, "Yeah, I need you and Dinah to come take a look in the boy's mind tomorrow. I need to know what's going on in there. He's too powerful, and too traumatized to be left unattended."

"Okay Bruce, I would normally say no to peeking into the mind of a child. I've never seen you sound so worried like this." said a well spoken voice on the other side of the phone.

"Who says I'm worried?" Bruce responded

"I do." said the voice on the other side of the phone

"This kid could end up a major thorn in our side if we do not tread carefully, he needs to be analyzed." Bruce said

"Why bring Dinah, I can just look in the boy's mind." The voice asked

"We may need to get him talking, he seems to trust women more than men. That's what she does." Bruce said

[Will Pov]

The school day was remarkably uneventful. Will talked to Mrs. Fultz, and got Barbara's homework as usual. Eventually the day let out. Will felt great after this morning, he felt the past two weeks frustration pour out of him when he cried in Bruce's office. He didn't need to focus on the cold feeling to keep himself stable today. It was a rare, good day for him. He enjoyed the sun on his skin, and the day seemed a bit brighter. He also felt his body rippling with strength. He was stronger than he's ever been. He smiled at that thought, he felt he could go toe to toe with Deathstroke no problem now, his power, speed, and perception were well above his. The only thing lacking was his technique, ruthlessness, and sheer battle experience.

Will quickly got home, did his homework and went up to see Barbara. He went and chatted with her for a bit, but he had other things on his mind today. He was excited for battle, he felt his spirit thrum with excitement. Begging him for carnage, he wanted to destroy his enemies. Although he knew he couldn't let himself go too far, he wanted to destroy something. He flashed an evil smirk that seemed eerily similar to the demon from his dreams. His eyes flashed red as he changed out of his school uniform, into something he could fight in. Will put on a Grey hoodie so he could cover his face to an extent, and some black soccer pants. He strapped his two promethium blades to his thighs and put an earpiece in his ear. He was ready, he headed out the door around 6 o'clock. He sprinted as fast as he could to the Iceberg Lounge. He felt free for the first time in weeks, he was so ready. He arrived, and quickly made his way to Penguins office. He walked in and said "Hey P what's going on."

Penguin seemed a bit taken aback at the boy's appearance.

"Nothing much boy, good to see you back and ready to work. You look different these days, much more pretty than before." Penguin said

Will looked himself up and down. "You think so? Also, how much am I getting paid for babysitting your boys P." He asked

"Straight to business, that's my boy." Penguin cackled, "How does 50k to take on Deadshot for me, sound?" Penguin asked

Will raised an eyebrow at that, "Sure I'm on it, anybody else you need to tell me about that may be joining the party?"

"Just the bats, and maybe KGBeast as well." He said

"What the hell P, 50k for all that, make it 75 and we have a deal." Will said

"Sure thing kid, sure thing." Penguin said

"If anyone else shows up I'm charging extra, also if I get fear gassed sometime in the next week I'm gonna be pissed." Will said

"Hahahaha boy, you will be fine. Just stay in our territory for the next few weeks, Scarecrow is only gonna be making moves on the Falcone family, and the rich bigwigs of Gotham in the near future." Penguin said

"You sure, Scarecrow is pretty unpredictable. I fear he may turn on us if whatever he's shipping gets through." Will said

"You let me worry about that boy. Can I count on you?" Penguin asked

"You know it P." Will said

"Here you got me a new pistol for some long range action?" Will asked

Penguin put a brand new Glock 17 on the table for him in a nice holster he could wear around his chest.

"Just like a detective, huh P, very nice." Will said, putting the holster on his body.

Will heard a stern voice in his ear, "You use that gun, and you are double grounded."

Will started to sweat when he heard that.

"Alright P, I'm gonna head out to the truck now." He said, flashing a bright smile.

He went out the backdoor through an alley, and Dembe was there with 8 goons. Each one was prepping the truck with Dembe overseeing what was going on.

"What's going on boy, you look different." Dembe said in his thick african accent

Will walked up and dapped him up. "Nothing much man, I'm feeling good, and am ready to work."

"Good cause we need you to bring your A game today, Black mask has been pressing us hard since his hit at the Gala failed." Dembe said

Will pulled out a smoke, and lit it up.

"Who do you want, Deadshot or KGBeast?" Will asked

"I'll take Beast, you take Deadshot." Dembe said

"Alright, sounds good, you let me know if you need any help big fella." Will said

"Aye, you as well." Dembe said

Will took a pull from his cigarette, and held out the pack for Dembe to take one. Dembe obliged, and popped one of the cigarettes in his mouth and lit it up. He took a pull, "Menthol huh, are you a woman now or something? He asked

Will rolled his eyes and laughed, "No more than you are."

They sat there and chatted for about 30 min, then he heard a loud, "Alright Trucks are ready, let's move out." said one of the higher ranking goons.

"Let's go boy's." Dembe Shouted

Will and Dembe climbed into the first truck, and four goons with automatic weapons climbed in the back of the large white 18 wheeler. The rest of the goons moved into the other ones. He heard a stern voice in his ear, "No killing under any circumstances tonight. Good luck."

The caravan headed out under the cover of darkness, each man inside was ready for war.