Year One Rework I

First year in Gotham. Verdict? Sucks balls. A whole year has gone by and I've only become a little bit better at things. 

Sure, turns out I'm not entirely incompetent, I managed to learn how to fight after half a month of getting beaten up. Now I can actually KO some creep trying to get me in his pants. Won't have to rely on my only true friend: Desert Hawk. I'm not calling it a desert eagle. It's too late!

But, I only ever win thanks to luck. It's like when playing an online game and you're in that area between being a casual and someone who actually gives a damn. AKA, being mediocre.

But things did get interesting over the year! I partook in my first weapons selling operation. With Black Mask guys to boot. I got shit out of it though, I came along only to watch, I wasn't really paid anything. Worst of all, most of it was just driving in the van. Then it was just looking at the goons inspecting the goods.

I do get a cut out of the shit I can sell on the streets. It's sad seeing how much I can make in a week. Shame I only get like, one hundred or so as my share by Sunday.

But it's been good enough. More than good enough. I bought new clothes and even warm meals in various places across old Gotham! At this point, it's still a luxury but non canned food is like a five star meal to me now.

Sitting on a table at the back of one such place of fine dinning, I was impatiently waiting for the love of my life, bacon and eggs. To pass the time, I was reading some odd fantasy book I... Borrowed from someone. Without their knowledge... I heard someone sit in front of me, but barely glanced towards them, noticing they were a woman.

She sighed, as she took her order. Nothing fancy, just a Lasagna.

Suddenly, I felt her turn her attention towards me. 

"Hm... A new face. First time I see you around here."

I looked up from my book to a goth girl. She had long curly hair as black as night. Piercings here and there, weird symbols on her chest, and of course, the spiked collar.

"I've been here an there for a while now… it's just the first time I come here to eat."

She stretched her hand out and I shook it.

"I'm Dee, nice to meet you!"

"Oh really? My friends call me A, nice to meet you too.

I don't even have friends.

When the other thugs asked for my name, I couldn't come up with a good one. So I took the first letter of my family name as an homage to my old life. A. Plain, simple, perfect.

She chuckled slightly,

It was nice having a regular conversation, for once. Just about anything stupid one of the guys would talk about like doing crime or crime they did in the past or time spent in prison and stuff.

When I finally got my bacon and eggs, I made sure to savor every bite of them. I missed it so much. I may even have cried of happiness a little then.

After finishing her meal, the girl looked up to me and started a conversation again. Miracles upon miracles today, maybe the Presence does indeed have mercy!

"So… What are you reading with so much interest?"

"Oh, uh, it's called Paradise lost."

I don't know why someone would have that in their library but I did borrow it so might as well laugh at Satan being an edgy rebellious teen. The book is so fascinating yet so hilarious at the same time because of how ridiculous some of the shit Lucifer says is. Of course, it's basically just a fanfic, like Dante's inferno.

Her eyes seemed to widen slightly. 

"Really now? That's surprising… So tell me, would you rather serve in heaven or rule in hell?"

I was surprised she even knew the book. Says a lot about someone. But why one or the other when you can have both or neither? Especially in a world like this one. How many afterlives even are there? Greek, Christian, Japanese... It goes on.

"I'm pretty sure I can choose neither. What if I'm Buddhist or just not religious at all, what if I think the earth is flat an humans are monkey and alien hybrids though?"

Some people really think that, it's not even a joke.

She chuckled slightly. "Just humor me."

I felt a smile stretch my lips across my face.

"If I served heaven, I would rule hell to make it a heaven. If I ruled in hell, I would serve heaven by making it a heaven. Binary systems aren't always the best, I prefer quantum logic."

"But what if heaven wants hell to stay as it is?" She asked.

Poor fool, you think that would stop me? Never in a trillion years.

"Mercy is the only thing, I think, that should be able to bypass the law without major consequences. Besides, if someone was punished for such a crime, it would be me alone…"

She didn't seem convinced. It is easy to say that I'm willing to sacrifice myself for others. It's harder to prove it.

She raised a brow and smirked.

"That's noble. But I don't think a mere human could achieve such a thing."

"You're the one who asked me to humor you. If I had the choice in such a scenario, that's what I'd at the very least try to do."

"And what about 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely'? Aren't you afraid that you might start with good intentions but end up just as bad as everyone else who undertook responsibilities this great?"

"Sure. I'm not perfect. No one is, there's nothing new there. But if you had to choose between Lucifer and me as ruler of hell, would you really pick the ultimate rebel?"

Well, you do look goth so maybe you would.

"Don't be so sure the choice is obvious. What if the devil isn't as bad as people say?"

Ah. Alright, maybe she's a satanist or something. But since it's the DC verse, she's not wrong. Lucifer Morningstar is just a bit of a jerk. Just a bit. He's not good, but he's not pure evil either. I think I read him being described as 'The darkness of the shadow of the light of god' or something along those lines.

Something seemed to catch her attention outside. She rose to her feet before leaving twenty or so bucks on the table. She had barely eaten her meal, a huge waste.

"We'll see each other again, I'm sure. Good luck ruling over hell!" She laughed.

How I wish. But for now, my goals aren't that crazy. Just immortality, nothing much.

The next day, I was in the ring, getting destroyed by... Johnny Johnny. I swear that's his actual name. The bald bastard was absolutely destroying me, like he had done the others before me. I only fought because... I didn't want to just be seen as a wimp. At least I had the gut to try, right?

My heart was being torn apart by adrenaline and fear. Scarecrow would be proud.

"Come on, A! You gotta stop being a wimp if you wanna get a real win!"

He was mocking me.

I tried to punch him in the gut but he barely reacted when it connected. Before I knew it, I was getting punched in the gut. Unlike him, I wasn't tanking at all.

I like playing DPS but maybe I'd be better as a healer or ranged guy in real life. That reminds me of video games... DCUO, I'm gonna miss you and your unreasonable micro transactions. Thirteen bucks for a power? Seriously?

"I give up man… You win…"

Those are the times where I wish I had a system. If I'm a character in a story, it would be called 'Solo leveling in DC' or something cringe like that. I hated reading most system stories but now that I'm in another world, I regret looking down on them so much.

They kept on laughing as I walked out of the circle, someone else jumped in to get his ass handed to him. They never learn.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a miracle though. Someone with a working smartphone! 

I walked up to him, Nemo, I think was his name. He was playing fucking flappy bird.

"Hey, you got an internet connection on that thing?"

I feel like the little kid bothering the older guys to play games on their phone.

"I ain't sharing shit with you, A."

"I just want you to look up a few people for me, I swear!"

He looked reluctant.

"Man, come on!"

He sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Fine." He said before turning his head to face me.

My luck has turned once again! Praise be to the Ecaflip god.

"Look up... S.T.A.R. Labs, Oliver Queen and Ray Palmer… Detective John Jones… Individually–"

"I'm not stupid, school boy… S.T.A.R. Labs is some kind of lab trying to make a particle accelerator…"

Arrow verse?!

"Oliver Queen went missing on some boat trip… And Ray Palmer is a… Quantum researcher, owner of Palmer industries… I got nothing on a detective with that name, though."

"Thanks, man."

Arkham Gotham. Arrow verse. Together. Damn… it's better than dealing with the trash story lines related to the bat family of the arrow verse alone… Batwoman has never been less likable.

It doesn't matter. By my estimations, Bane should show up in a year or so, I should be ready by then. After I get a venom injector and Lazarus, I'm out of this city.

Then I can get my hands on Palmer's tech… Or if I get rich selling Lazarus, we can talk about my... plans.

I'm not about to just let events unfold as they should. When I'm done, I want humanity to play in the same field as the new gods. And I know how to. Thank you, 'Dream of a thousand cats'.

A night of winter, Dr. Freeze finally showed up in Gotham. He got beaten up by Batman with minor casualties… And half of a building was left cast in ice.

In my old world, that would be impossible for countless reasons. But comic book logic is... Story driven. Even regular humans have more potential here than they would have had back in my old world. Don't even get me started on the metas that are certain to show up eventually. Meta's whom I intend to be a part of... I'll have to keep asking Nemo what S.T.A.R. Labs are up to.

Over the weeks, I've been going to that same place I met Dee for the first time. No, I'm not in love. After a while of her not showing up, I just gave up… Shame, she seemed cool… Though maybe a satanist, in this world, it's not necessarily a bad idea. Especially if she knows actual magic. I guess it's too late to find out now.

Seeing any kind of martial arts really reminds me of the league of assassins. That's why I needed guns and venom, these DC humans can dodge and block bullets anyways. I need to level the playing field.

I already found a bunch of things to fill with Lazarus. If I manage to fill everything and leave, I should have enough to myself and to sell. If I had to sell, it would be at a ludicrous price like a lot of money plus crazy favors and your soul too, if that's possible. Can a human buy a soul?

I'm so tempted to go take a look in those sweet tunnels or sewers, I don't remember as well as I wish... There were trains, right? The point is, I'm far too scared that the league is already there or even just watching over the place.

I don't know how many years I have until Scarecrow's big attack but I know Flash is around before then. So the dark matter incident must be before that too.

I spent the night thinking instead of sleeping. I should have read more fanfics to have plans for situations like this…

If I was a super powered hero, assuming I don't get the speedforce… What would be my gimmick? And can I manipulate the power I get?

Water? Or Acid? Light? I am black so if I get lightning powers, it'll be hilarious...

New year resolutions. We rarely ever achieve them, do we? So that's why I didn't make any. To avoid more disappointment.

At least I've been moving up in the ranks. I graduated from school boy to 'Awk', lame ass name because I told them my favorite gun is the desert hawk. At least it's all in good fun. 

I'm respected as a distinguished member of the lower goons, enough to get myself involved with the weapons selling of Penguin. I even got to talk with some of the Black mask boys and Two Face, since he showed up.

The Joker has been making waves. He already showed up earlier in the year but now, he has Harley. Bane is sure to follow soon. But I'm starting to doubt my plans. I've been working out a little to not look to weak and increase my chances of joining, assuming I can't just buy Venom like in some versions...

People think I only got this one gun, my favorite, but I've still been breaking into homes. Now it's a whole collection of things I'll never bother to learn the names of. Maybe that should be my gimmick. Guns. But the problem with DC humans being able to dodge bullets is still a huge problem. And batman would really hate me.

Besides. The weapons are cool but they don't really fit the vision I have for my place in human history... Doesn't matter, I'll be immortal soon, I can just live a life as a badass street hero and plenty of other ones as well!

On other news, Penguin got captured by Batman. The boys say he's gonna be out in a few months. I've seen a photo of him for the first time, somehow, and it is indeed the Arkham version. An ugly little fuck. 

Night time Gotham, chilling in the pub with the boys, girls dancing around, drinks passed around... Unlike the guys, I didn't spend much on the girls. I'm not gay, I just don't wanna catch something. STDs are terrifying, you know? So I mostly just let the others have their fun while I watched and laughed along them.

Some tried to come up to me, but I told them I was Christian and walked away, respecting my religious dispositions.

HA! Did you really think I'd ignore such an opportunity? Are you stupid? Why would I not make the best of such a paradise?! Sure, I only played around with boobs, but it was a dream come true! And, it wasn't gonna get me any diseases.

Then I noticed in the back Celina Kyle. Of all people. First Batman, than Cat woman. Sadly, I'm too young for her. And I don't really wanna wear spandex in bed, that's not my thing.

Maybe one day I'll get a hot supervillain girlfriend. Though that's more than unlikely.

Poison Ivy varies across versions but in most modern ones, she's lesbian. The chances that I'd get a girl like her are less than zero.

Harley is just fucking crazy. A mass murderer. An Orphanage burner, she did some messed up shit. If she wasn't insane, she'd die of horror at what she's let herself do for a fifty year old looking clown who's clearly got a hate boner for Batman. Sometimes. The White Knight version of him, for example was perfectly straight. Jack Napier himself was perfectly straight. The three Jokers thing got retconed recently so, that's good, I guess... But now instead he has multiple personalities. DC is weird.

I'd gladly take a hero girlfriend but... I have a no girlfriend stealing policy. Even if they have yet to be together, there is no way I am stealing the would be girlfriend of someone.

Suddenly, the doors opened violently. Three men came in. Tall and buff, nothing super interesting... Until I noticed the masks they were wearing. I couldn't help myself but grin.

I put down my glass and rose to go meet with them, the other Penguin goons were looking at me, confused. I'm about to have to rock their shit.

"Hey… you guys work for Bane?"

The tallest one turned his head to me.

"What's it to you, el niggro?"

I smirk.

"Nothing. I just wanna join. I hear Venom can do some crazy stuff."

They looked at each other and then started laughing. He turned around and threw a punch for my jaw.

I weaved out of that shit by a fucking hair. No mercy for you, taco boy!

I just hit him in the groin. My shoes have metal over them for a reason.

When he fell to the ground, I jumped on him, punching him in the face over and over again. There's a reason my gloves are spiked too.

The others tried to join in, but I jumped out of a kick and just tripped the first fool while elbowing the other, I felt like a badass. Unstopable. I am the protagonist, I am HIM. I'm finally no longer the underdog. After that, I joined Bane, got rich, formed a harem of twenty women and died at 700 years of age.

Now unto what actually happened.

Did you really think it would be that easy?! Please. I didn't dodge the first attack and got knocked out. When I woke up, the boys asked me what I was thinking and if I was crazy. I told them, yes. Because I was.

I lost a lot of motivation after that humiliation. Didn't really talk to anyone, I mean, even less than before. No way I'm getting venom. No way I can win a fair fight. I was stupid to even think I could get on the radar of any of the big guys anyways. Not like this. I'm just a street thug who sells drugs. I can't win at anything if I'm just the lame 'Awk'... Never am I letting anyone call me that ever again I swear on fucking Heaven and earth... That name is so lame.

I remember a character from the newer runs… his name isn't important since he probably doesn't exist here anyways. To defeat his arch nemesis, he stuck himself in a room for a while to improve as if a decade had passed while his enemy was just improving at a normal pace.

If I can get a supply of… canned food, and enough time, I could do the same. Work tirelessly a year without distractions for the sake of becoming who I would be ten years from now. Even real life business men talk about similar tactics, ancient artists would seclude themselves when mastering their crafts...

I still have like, five years before Arkham asylum, right? So that's even longer before knight… but the problem is that I don't want to miss S.T.A.R. Labs.

It took me a while to figure out a solution. But it should have been so much easier. In fact, it should have been my first plan. There's a reason you should always take time to think before acting. To avoid being stupid like me. My new plan? Steal a boat, move to Central city, train my skills there while waiting for the reactor to spread its sci-fi bullshit all over the city.

I went around the docks to find boats I could steal, went to the library to find books on boats and use the computers there, should have done so earlier. By the end of the week, I felt ready to finally leave.

Maybe I won't ever come back. If I do get powers, if they are good enough, being a hero wouldn't be too bad… Maybe I won't need Lazarus if this works out... Or my power could be lame like controlling pigeons or being able to breath underwater, Worst still, maybe I'll die.

Just in case I stole a bunch of drugs from the boys. And the money too. If things don't work out, I'll have a back up plan. If there is any lesson from this, it's to always have a back up plan. Wanna bet how many days before I forget that lesson?

Bye Nemo, I don't think I'll ever want to find you. And if I see Johnny J again, I hope I'll be able to beat him up. As for that Bane goon, I know Batman's gonna kick his ass so, I don't really care. They didn't even have any venom so they had to be pretty low ranked.

I suppose Plan A isn't often better than plan B. Let's hope there's no need for a plan C.

Walking at night on the docks is a little frightening. One would wonder what a man that has been dead could fear. The answer is simply, going back to death. I was expecting it to be easy as hell. Got all my stuff and all my guns, maps, plans fro whatever could go wrong, I even learned to swim just in case.

The internet really is a treasure, now I know how to hijack a boat, where to find fuel and more! And so I did so without much trouble, a small boat probably belonging to a fisherman. This is gonna be fu–

Suddenly, lightning and thunder struck in the distance. I was sure of it, the universe was mocking me.

"Well FUCK YOU TOO!"

You think a puny storm will stop me? Just to spite you, universe, I'll do it. I'm a real man, I fear nothing at all, in fact, I laugh at the face of Danger!

Two hours later... I regret everything.

Driving a boat while learning from books? Am I stupid?! The stress of not even being sure of what I'm doing and having to look at my NOTES like this is an exam... Did dying really drop my fucking IQ that low or is this just the result of desperation? Realizing one's foolishness too late. I think I should call it, post fucking up clarity.

It's too late now, I can't turn back… it's terrifying knowing that in this world, sea monsters actually exist… 

Any other Isekai protagonist in comic book worlds has it easy, so why me?! I swear, I'm gonna get a red lantern ring at this rate.

…

What if I'm not the main character? What if there are more out there and I'm meant to be fodder for them?

Presence, I swear to… Yourself? … If it's the case and also your fault… I'll be having words with you!

Talking about the Presence, it makes me think of Elaine Belloc, I hope the Lucifer volume two story line isn't cannon here. And someone help me if it's the Lucifer show that is instead… That show was entertaining but really doesn't fit in DC.

The storm raged on for a while, I somehow managed to fall asleep. But unlike every other night before this, I began to dream again...

Landscapes of grass with giant eyes flying in the sky. Trees made of living flesh, having a tea party. Snake person fighting a giant man. Seven suns were shining in the sky. The moon had a face and It was coming down towards the earth to take revenge against... Eggman?

I was just sitting, observing all that

A pale man came and sat beside me. He said nothing. And I said nothing as well, the silence lasted for a while…

"This is a dream…" I realized.

I don't know how I knew, but I knew.

The man turned towards me.

"How do you know what is a dream and what is reality?"

"... I guess… Here both aren't so different… I can feel myself as I am sleeping. Kind of like stuck in limbo, but a little more on this side than the other."

"..."

I smirked when I realized who it was standing besides me. What were the chances that the first time I dream in years, I meet this guy?

"I heard once that cats used to be bigger than humans. Is that true?"

"... How... Do you know that?"

I shrugged. Wasn't gonna tell him he's a comic book character.

"Mister sand man~ Bring me a dream... Make her the cutest that I've ever seen..." I began to sing and hum.

Dream of the endless. Who is he the dream of, I wonder...

When I woke up, I still remembered the conversation. Nothing much of everything else. Why would an Endless take an interest in me? I come from another multiverse so… It was only a matter of time. Or maybe it had nothing to do with that. How would he know anyways?

He looked a little different, his face was much less… Bony and a bit more like the one from the show… I kinda wish I had watched it now.

If I recall, there is Dream, Destiny, War, Death and Delusion, Desire and Despair.

And Father time and Mother Night.

So many people to keep track of… In the end, I sailed for five more hours before reaching my destination. From Metropolis, I was gonna take a taxi straight to Central city.

It was incredible. Clean smelling air, happy looking people, the opposite of Gotham, really. I looked up at the sky trying to see Superman but, no luck there.

I preferred walking half the way, then taking a taxi, to save some cash and to admire the city of Superman. I'm so excited, everything looks so… Great!

I got to visit the park before the big statue was built, it looks like any other, to be honest. But soon, that is sure to change.

It took twenty minutes until we reached Central city. On the highway I could see the particle accelerator… The city had a structure different to the show's, that's for sure. Felt like it would be right at home in an Arkham game. 

"That'll be ninety dollars, sir."

What in the name of…?!

First I need to find an abandoned place. Then I need to find some kind of revenue. I don't have any identity here so, best case scenario, I join another gang. Yay.

And I still don't know if this is all going to be worth it… If I don't get anything at all from this explosion… Or if I get a lame ass power, I swear I'm going evil.

I already have a map of a city. Tore it out from a book in Gotham. And I know where I am.

My best shot is in the industrial district, plenty of warehouses and a lot of peace. I got my radio so I can keep an eye on the news… How haven't I stolen a single phone yet?

Took me hours to find my way there. Smells a whole lot less nice all of a sudden.

I already had a few places worth trying, so I took the closest and set up camp inside a rusty container.

So. What now? Learn stuff, train my body like I'm in a training montage and think about what I can do to maybe manipulate the ability I get. Shouldn't be too complicated.