Chapter 9:

– Titus –

The rank air of Gotham hit me in the face the second we materialized from the teleporter. Batman barely glanced at me before striding away down a narrow alley, the Batmobile was parked nearby on the street. A bunch of curious civilians were eyeing the iconic car with interest, but Batman paid them no mind.

"Get in," he said.

I slid into the passenger seat. The inside of the Batmobile was filled with high tech gadgets and panels. It all looked pretty awesome. Before I could examine it all, he slammed his foot down on the accelerator, and we were rocketing away from the crowds.

I glanced over at him, watching the way he tightly gripped the steering wheel. Something was obviously very wrong. "So… what's this all about?" I asked. "You said something strange was going on in Gotham?"

"I lied to you back on the Watchtower," Batman told me. "When I mentioned something strange going on in Gotham and it being too dangerous for Robin…"

"Then what's this really about?"

For a moment, Batman didn't answer, his gaze locked on the road. Then he glanced at me, his eyes narrowing beneath the cowl. "I don't like bringing other heroes into Gotham…but I need help," Batman admitted. I could tell how much admitting that grated on him. "It's… Joker," he finally said, voice thick with controlled anger. "He kidnapped Robin–my son Jason–almost a month ago. I haven't been able to find them anywhere…"

I hesitated before I asked my next question. "Is Robin even still alive…?" Everything I knew about the Joker painted him as completely insane and merciless.

"Yes, he is still alive," Batman said with conviction. "The Joker sends me videos every week of him torturing Jason in new ways." I could feel the pain in Batman's voice as he said that.

As we drove, He told me that he had exhausted every single lead he had to try and find where the Joker was keeping Jason, but nothing got him anywhere.

I asked him why he didn't ask the rest of the league for help, but Batman didn't answer quite yet. There was obviously a reason of some kind though.

Either way, of course I was going to help him! Batman was my favorite hero and I didn't want to see what would happen to him if he lost one of his adopted sons. Batman drove towards Gotham Park, which was essentially the center of the city. He let me out of the Batmobile and told me to start using my abilities to search for Jason. The first thing Batman did was bring up an old recording of Jason speaking so I could memorize his voice. It was a clip of father and son playing basketball together, filmed by Alfred. Both of them looked happy and were clearly having fun bonding as father and son.

I floated above the ground, rising just enough to get a good look over the park. Below, Batman stood with his arms crossed, his eyes constantly scanning for threats in the distance.

"Got any advice for me?" I asked him.

Batman shook his head, his voice even gruffer than usual. "No, Titan," he said, using my hero name. "I've been at this for a month and failed every single night. Joker knows how I think—knows my every move before I make it. And it's not just me, I have no doubt he's made contingencies for every single member of the league if I ask them to help. Every single member…except for you." Batman told me, and I felt a small surge of pride. Obviously, I knew it was because I was brand new to the league and villains hardly knew anything about me or the extent of my true abilities, but that still didn't keep the grin off my face. I was going to find the Joker and Jason before the day was out…

That's why Batman didn't want to give me any advice either. He wanted a completely fresh set of eyes and ears on this case with no bias whatsoever. I glanced at him one last time before flying myself higher, until the city stretched out beneath me in every direction. Far below in the park, I saw some kids pointing up at me, their eyes wide as they noticed a new hero in the sky. I gave them a quick wave, and a couple of them jumped up and down, waving back enthusiastically.

I closed my eyes, and I focused on my hearing, letting it expand out across Gotham. Instantly, I was hit by a wall of sound—a tidal wave of voices, millions of them, all talking, laughing, shouting, crying. The noise would've fried a human brain in seconds, but I was built different. I took it all in, absorbing the chaos, honing in with laser focus. I filtered through the voices, tuning out anything that didn't remotely sound like Jason. My ears zeroed in on young mens' voices across the city, moving from one to the next. There were no words to describe what I was experiencing, but I was doing it.

Five minutes passed. I listened to over a hundred thousand voices in that time. None of them were Jason Todd.

I wasn't discouraged by not picking up on Jason's voice. In fact, it was a good sign. It meant he was being held somewhere totally soundproof, probably underground. Maybe in a bunker, one lined with lead to keep Superman from seeing through it, too. That would narrow things down a lot.

Touching my earpiece, I relayed my thoughts to Batman. "If we're not hearing him, it's likely he's in a lead-lined bunker somewhere underground. I'll scan from above and check every building and street."

"Do it," Batman's low voice rumbled in my ear. I could almost hear the gears turning in his mind as he pieced together my observations with what he already knew about Joker's hideouts.

I shot higher into the air, focusing my x-ray vision over the entire city grid. From this vantage point, I could sweep over buildings and burrow my vision down into the streets below, through walls and foundations. Gotham was an old city, though, and its ancient plumbing systems complicated things. Some pipes were reinforced with lead, blocking my view and forcing me to mark each one mentally. It was a pain, but I wasn't about to let Jason down. If I had to check every ledge-embedded tunnel one by one, I would.

About fifteen minutes into my scan, passing over one of Gotham's countless banks, I had to do a double-take. Three women were in the middle of robbing the place. I couldn't help but chuckle. "You've got to be kidding me," I muttered, veering down toward the bank's rooftop. I recognized them all. Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn.

One of the windows on the top floor had a large hole cut out, probably catwoman's work, and obviously where the women slipped in.

The moment I floated down into the bank, I couldn't help but notice the surreal scene unfolding. Harley was gleefully tossing handfuls of hundred-dollar bills around like confetti, laughing like she was throwing a party. "Look at all this green, Pammy! Doesn't it make you happy?" she called out with a wild grin, clearly enjoying the chaos.

Poison Ivy just frowned and crossed her arms, glancing at the fluttering bills like they offended her. "No, Harley. The sight of this money doesn't make me happy. All these bills were once part of some beautiful trees..."

Catwoman chimed in, holding a diamond the size of a golf ball up to the light, her eyes glittering. "Pamela's right," she said, rubbing the diamond against her cheek with a sly smile. "Which is why I much prefer shiny rocks. Diamonds only get shinier and more valuable over time!"

Harley gave her an exaggerated eye roll. "Pretty sure at least half of that isn't true, Kitty Cat, but you do you." With that, she pulled out a giant sack marked with a big dollar sign and started shoveling wads of cash inside.

I finally cleared my throat, floating a few feet above the floor, crossing my arms as I watched them. The three froze for a split second before Harley broke into a wide grin, and Catwoman's eyes sparkled as she took a step forward, purring, "Well now, look who it is. If it isn't the newest hunky hero on the block." Her voice was playful and inviting. "What are you doing in Gotham, handsome?"

Harley put on a mock pout, clasping her hands together. "Ooh, are you here to arrest us?" She winked at me. "I wouldn't mind being captured by those big, strong arms of yours…"

Poison Ivy gave Harley a deadpan look. "Really, Harley? I'm right here!"

Harley turned to Ivy with a wink. "Oh, come on, baby. You can't tell me the Super-Boy-Scout and Wonder-Tits didn't make one handsome-ass kid! Just look at him! I mean, we're together, but I thought we both agreed threesomes were fine?" Harley asked while gesturing to me…

Poison Ivy just sighed while rubbing her forehead like she'd heard this too many times before. "You're incorrigible," she said before turning her attention back to me. "I suppose you are very good looking. Alright, you can have a threesome with Harley and me if you let us go," she said casually.

"What…?" How does anyone even respond to a statement like that, especially coming from arguably the most dangerous villainess in Gotham? I shook my head, doing my best to ignore the temptation they were throwing my way. "Look, I don't particularly care if you're robbing this bank," I said honestly, crossing my arms. "Especially since it's owned by the Falcone mafia family. I just happened to stumble upon you three while I'm here in Gotham for… other matters."

Catwoman's eyes lit up as she made a low, playful "meow" sound and strutted over toward me. Her black leather suit left very little to the imagination as she traced her finger up and down my chest, pressing over the black and gold of my costume. "Are you sure you're not here for me, baby?" she asked in a silky, sultry tone.

I reached up and gently pried her hand away. "I'm sure," I replied, causing her to pout with a dramatic sigh.

Next, I turned to Harley, who was grinning with a gleam in her eye. She looked almost… excited. "I heard rumors that you and Joker broke up a while back. Would you… I don't know, mind selling him out?" I asked.

Harley's grin only grew as she bobbed her head enthusiastically. "Oh, I have no problem selling out that piece of clown trash!" she said, grabbing Poison Ivy's hand, causing Ivy to blush a deep green. "Ivy here is the true love of my life!" she declared, giving Ivy's hand a squeeze.

I nodded, relieved to be getting somewhere. "Joker's kidnapped Robin, and Batman asked me to help find him. If anyone knows Joker's mind well enough to guess where he's hiding, it's you. So… any thoughts?"

"Robin's been kidnapped!?" Catwoman interrupted, her flirtatious demeanor shifting to something more serious. "Why didn't Bru–I mean, Batman, say anything to me!?"

Harley tilted her head, eyeing Catwoman curiously. "Did you almost just blurt out Batman's real name?"

Catwoman stiffened. "No…" she replied quickly, but it was clear none of us bought it. Poison Ivy and Harley exchanged amused glances, while I tried to hide my smirk. Guess the rumors about her and Batman sleeping together were true, and that probably meant she was off-limits.

After all, I wasn't about to mess with the superhero "bro-code."

Harley, seemingly unconcerned, plopped herself right down on the bank floor as though she hadn't just been robbing the place. She tapped her chin, thinking. "Hmmm. Mr. J was always a dickhead, but he was at least a consistent one. Wherever he's hiding the poor kid would be somewhere obvious, but also the last place Bats would think to look." She shrugged. "It'd all have to be part of some kind of big joke, after all."

I nodded, mentally running through possibilities. That was more insight than we had a minute ago. "Thanks, Harley. That's actually helpful."

Poison Ivy looked at me with one eyebrow raised. "Are you going to try to arrest us now?" she asked, almost challenging.

"No," I said simply.

All three of them paused, glancing at each other before breaking into wide smiles.

"Wow! An actual cool superhero!" Harley laughed. "You're officially my new favorite. If it makes any difference, I hope you find the kid and kick the crap out of Mr. J for me." She winked. "And remember, the threesome offer is always open."

"Er—noted," I replied, trying to keep a straight face. With one last wave at them, I zipped up and out of the bank, leaving Gotham's femme fatales behind to continue with their larceny.

As I soared high above Gotham, Harley's words echoed in my mind. "Some place super obvious, but also the last place Batman would think to look." The Joker loved twisting the ordinary into something nightmarish; he'd want to hide Jason somewhere that'd feel like a punch in the gut to Bruce.

Then, the idea hit me. Could it really be possible?

I tapped my earpiece, sending a quick message. "Batman, I think I know where Jason is. Follow my tracking signal," I said, already shifting into a burst of speed toward the wealthier side of town, where Gotham's elite had their sprawling estates. And there, on the largest hill overlooking the city, stood Wayne Manor.

As I flew closer, I used my x-ray vision to scan the property. The area directly below the mansion was lead-lined, as I expected—that was the Batcave. But there was something else, tucked further into the property, beyond the overgrown bushes and hidden among the shadows of thick, towering trees. It was an old, lead-lined bomb shelter, likely built decades ago during the Cold War, like many other wealthy estates.

I touched down, quietly pushing my way through the thick branches and vines. There it was: a rusted, steel door with moss creeping up the edges, practically swallowed by the landscape around it. My heart pounded as I placed my hand on the door, feeling its cold, corroded surface. Bracing myself, I gripped it tightly, yanking it clean off its hinges with a quick pull.

Then I heard it—a young man's agonized scream. My stomach twisted. That was Jason. I'd found him, but it sounded like he was in the middle of being tortured.

I tossed aside the door and bolted inside the bunker at super speed. It was a lot larger on the inside than I had been expecting, but that was billionaires for you.

CLICK!

The floor sunk a couple inches as I turned a corner. The place had traps!

BANG BANG BANG BANG!

Bullets came pouring out of holes in the walls, slamming into my skin and costume, bouncing off harmlessly.

The bunker went eerily silent as Jason's screams stopped, replaced by a static crackle. Then, through the corner speakers, that unmistakable voice echoed with a taunting drawl.

"Well now, looks like the Bat found me sooner than I expected," the Joker's voice hissed over the speaker, making my stomach churn. A red dot blinked on from a camera nearby, fixing its lens on me. "Wait a minute… you're not Batman. Who are you? And how are you still alive after that first trap?"

So he'd been down here, torturing Jason for a month, oblivious to the outside world. And clearly, he had no idea who I was. I didn't answer, just kept moving down the corridor, step by step, forcing myself not to break into a sprint.

"How dare you ignore me!" Joker's voice shrieked, followed by a low hum as another trap activated. A panel slid open, revealing a flamethrower, and flames shot out, enveloping me in a wave of heat. I kept walking through the fire without breaking pace, waiting until the flames sputtered out.

From the speaker, I heard Joker's voice, sounding nervous now, muttering as he tried to taunt me for surviving his traps. I just scoffed, pushing forward. One by one, the traps kept triggering—spikes shooting up from the floor, sudden drop pits opening under my feet, and even vats of acid. I had to admit, I was surprised by the sheer number of lethal obstacles Joker had set up.

He had clearly been planning all this for a very long time. To set all this up under Batman's nose must have been a monumental task.

At last, I reached the final door. Without hesitating, I kicked it in, sending it crashing to the floor with a deafening clang. Inside, my eyes fell on Jason and the Joker. Jason looked terrible—bruised, cut up, with filthy bandages wrapped around his arms. He was gagged and tied to a rusty metal chair. But when he saw me, there was a flicker of hope in his exhausted eyes.

The Joker, on the other hand, grinned as he pulled a pistol and pointed it directly at Jason's head. "Not so fast," he sneered. "I figured it out from that annoying face of yours—I didn't know Superman had a son. A Kryptonian wasn't in the plans when I built this little fun house right under Batsy's nose," he cackled, his deranged laugh echoing off the walls.

I didn't buy it for a second. He probably had one last trick up his sleeve—most likely involving kryptonite.

"Batman's on his way, Joker," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I'd ask you to surrender, but honestly, I'd prefer if you didn't."

Joker tilted his head in amusement. "Oh? And why's that, junior?"

"So I can beat you until you're crippled," I replied flatly. Mercy was overrated with someone like him. I wouldn't kill him, but I was more than willing to leave him permanently broken.

Joker glared, then aimed the gun at me instead of Jason. "Nice try, Superboy. We both know any kid of Superman wouldn't actually go through with that."

"You'd be surprised," I said, stepping forward towards him. "And the name's Titan."

Joker rolled his eyes. "I don't care," he sneered, pulling the trigger. A glowing green bullet shot out, streaking toward me in slow motion. I watched as it hit my chest, only to bounce harmlessly off. Kryptonite barely affected me, also my costume was bulletproof...

Joker's grin vanished as he looked down the barrel of his own gun, muttering something about "performance issues…"

I blurred forward, reaching him in an instant, and then I let loose. My fists connected with his ribs, his arms, his legs. Each hit was calculated but powerful, and the Joker's manic laughter quickly turned into raw screams of pain as I snapped his limbs, twisted joints, and made sure that he wouldn't be able to stand or use his arms anytime soon. By the time I was done, he was a twitching, broken heap on the floor, whimpering in pain.

Batman stormed in the room a few seconds later, looking winded. "Jason!" He immediately untied his sidekick and started checking over all of his injuries. I used my X-ray vision and saw that Jason was suffering from a lot of damage. Malnutrition along with multiple incorrectly healed bones were the least of his problems. It was going to be a long road to recovery but I believed the kid could do it. He was beyond tough. Even after being tortured by the Joker for a month, he didn't break.

"T–Thank you…" Jason turned to me after he finished hugging Batman. His voice was very hoarse.

Batman's eyes flickered as he took in the Joker's mangled form on the floor. The clown was still breathing, if barely, his twisted body a far cry from the lunatic who'd tormented Gotham for years. For a moment, something dark flashed in Bruce's gaze, a hesitation that made me wonder if he was actually contemplating finishing Joker off right then and there.

"What did you do to him?" Batman asked.

"I permanently crippled him," I said simply. "Unless he gets some very expensive and extensive treatment, he's a helpless quadriplegic now."

Batman was silent for a beat, just staring at the Joker's broken form. Part of me expected him to say I'd gone too far, but to my surprise, he just nodded slowly. "It had to be done. Joker went too far, and now Gotham's criminals will know what happens when they go after kids."

I felt a surge of relief at his words. Knowing he approved, even if he didn't say it outright, meant more than I'd expected. I looked over at Jason, who was barely standing but alive, and figured Bruce would want to stay with him. "I'll take Joker to Arkham," I offered, glancing down at the clown. "But… there's one thing we need to discuss."

Batman turned, his expression darkening. "What is it?"

"The Joker knows your identity, Bruce," I said. The Joker was hiding on Bruce Wayne's property this whole time after all.

I watched as his jaw clenched. "I don't know how he found out," he muttered. "Other villains have figured it out before, but Joker… he never seemed to care. I didn't think he'd ever want to."

After a tense pause, he looked back at me. "We have contingencies for this. Martian Manhunter can go into Joker's mind and erase everything he knows about me and my family."

I nodded, knowing that Bruce didn't make those calls lightly. "I'll make sure Joker's secure before they handle it," I said, hoisting the broken clown over my shoulder.

Batman nodded his head at me. "Thank you, Titan. For everything. You did good tonight… Except for the part where you let those three women get away with robbing Falcone's bank."

Ah, he already found out about that… I couldn't help but chuckle as I walked by him.

…

About an hour later, I wrapped up checking Joker back into Arkham. With that done, I took off into the night sky, aiming to head back to the Watchtower and finally call it a night. At least, that was the plan until, out of nowhere, a fist came flying at me, slamming into my face with a force stronger than anything I'd ever felt. I was knocked clean out of the air, crashing through the sky until I slammed into a building nearly a mile from Arkham. Groaning, I rubbed my jaw, picking myself up from the rubble.

"What the hell was that?" I muttered, half to myself, trying to shake off the shock.

I didn't have to search long for my answer. Standing on the edge of a rooftop, arms crossed and glaring down at me, was a striking woman exuding an aura of sheer power. Her skin was a smooth, slight gray, giving her an almost otherworldly look, while her eyes, glowing red, narrowed in fierce determination. She was beautiful but with a hardness that made it clear she was as deadly as she was alluring. Her long, black hair flowed around her shoulders, accentuating her Amazonian armor—though her style was darker, more imposing, and hauntingly reminiscent of Diana's.

XXX

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Here is the list of Current Advanced Chapters:

The Fallen Gamer ch 295-299

The Titan 11

The Fox Hole 21

The Blood Queen 13

The Supe Devil 11

The Fox Hole 20

The Fox Hole 19

The Titan 10

The Blood Queen 12

The Fox Hole 18

The Fox Hole 17