DC: Zoom

Gotham writhed beneath a blanket of smog and neon, its streets choked with broken glass and the distant wail of sirens. Gang members prowled like wolves, their laughter sharp as they shattered storefront windows, snatching whatever they pleased. Trash fires flickered in alleyways, casting jagged shadows against graffiti-stained walls.

High above the restless city, a solitary figure loomed on the edge of a rooftop. His cape fluttered in the wind, the moonlight casting a soft glow on the bat symbol emblazoned across his chest. Beneath the mask, his eyes scanned the streets below, every movement noted—silent, deliberate. A storm poised to strike.

With a swift motion, he leaped off the building, his cape billowing as he glided through the night. The city blurred beneath him, a sea of flickering lights and restless shadows. At the perfect moment, he fired his grappling hook, latching onto the steel beams near the elevated train tracks. Perched above, he watched a group of criminals below, their laughter echoing through the alley.

Silent as the night itself, he dropped down. One by one, they fell—taken out before they even realized what was happening. The last thug standing spun around wildly, his breath ragged, eyes darting through the darkness.

But the shadows had swallowed the Bat once more.

A whisper of movement. A rush of wind. Then, nothing.

The terrified criminal stumbled backward, his grip on the weapon failing as fear overtook him. With a strangled gasp, he turned and bolted, his discarded weapon clattering to the ground. Somewhere in the darkness, a figure watched—silent and unseen.

—————————————————————————

The shrill beep of the alarm sliced through the silence, rattling Jason from his sleep. He groaned, blindly swiping at the clock until the noise cut off with a sharp click.

Before he could sink back into the warmth of his pillow, his door slammed open. A split second later, something heavy crashed onto his chest, knocking the air from his lungs.

Jason gasped, eyes flying open to find his sister grinning down at him.

"Wake up, birthday boy!" Charlotte chirped, bouncing off him with a laugh.

Jason groaned, rubbing his chest as he caught his breath. "You didn't have to jump on me like that—you weigh a ton."

Charlotte gasped, eyes blazing as her hands curled into fists. "What?! I am not fat!" Her grin turned wicked. "You know what? Since it's your birthday, I'll give you fifteen solid punches."

As promised, she swung—fifteen times. Well, at least she tried. The hits barely fazed him, but her determination was amusing enough to make him chuckle.

Soon, the two of them headed downstairs.

"Well, if it isn't the birthday boy," their father said, sipping his coffee with a smirk.

Jason blinked in surprise. "Dad? You're here?" His father was always busy with work—seeing him at home this early was rare.

"Of course I am. Today's a special day," his dad said, setting down his mug. "And I've got a surprise for you."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Really? What is it?"

His father's smirk deepened. "You'll see when we get there. It's a surprise for both you and your sister—I think you'll really enjoy it."

Charlotte perked up. "Wait, me too?"

"Can't say much," their father said with a teasing grin. "You'll know when we get there."

Before Jason could press further, their mother walked over to the dining table, setting down a stack of warm pancakes. The sweet scent filled the air as the family gathered around to eat.

Jason found himself smiling, soaking in the moment—the laughter, the chatter, the rare feeling of everyone together. It made him hesitate, questions creeping into his mind.

Maybe I don't need to go through with Step 2… he thought. Maybe this—right here—is enough.

Once they finished eating, they cleaned up the dishes before heading out. Their dad drove deep into Central City, the streets blurring past.

Jason watched the buildings shift, then his eyes widened in realization. "Wait… we're going to S.T.A.R. Labs?!" he blurted out.

Charlotte gasped beside him, just as excited. "No way! That's awesome!"

Their father's smile was visible in the rearview mirror, and even their mother looked amused by their enthusiasm.

When they arrived, they were met by tight security—understandable, given the lab's history. After a brief check-in, they were allowed inside.

"As you both know, ever since the particle accelerator explosion, S.T.A.R. Labs have been rebuilding the damaged sections," their father explained as they walked through the sleek hallways. "I was brought on to help push the lab forward, despite the government's initial plans to shut it down. Dr. Wells managed to strike a deal—S.T.A.R. Labs would assist in handling meta-humans, and in return, we could continue our research."

Hunter led his family through the sleek, high-tech corridors of S.T.A.R. Labs, pointing out different departments along the way. Eventually, they reached the main research lab, where a massive glass window separated them from a group of scientists huddled around a workstation, analyzing a glowing sample.

Jason pressed a hand against the glass. "Dad, what are they working on?"

Hunter glanced at the researchers. "That's a sample from a recent incident. The police want us to determine if a metahuman was involved." He gestured to another section of the lab, where more scientists worked with intricate machines. "Meanwhile, the bioengineering team is focused on fixing genetic mutations."

"Wait… mutations?" Jason asked, brow furrowing.

His father sighed. "Cancer. We thought the particle accelerator's energy could help us find a cure. Unfortunately, it didn't work." A shadow crossed his face, but he quickly shook it off. "Anyway, let's keep moving—"

Before he could finish, a blaring alarm cut through the air.

Charlotte tensed. "Dad, what's going on?"

"It's nothing," Hunter said quickly. "Just follow me—"

BOOM!

The explosion ripped through the hallway, the force slamming Jason and Charlotte into the cold floor. Dazed, ears ringing, Jason barely had time to process the smoke and wreckage before the sharp crack of gunfire echoed through the air.

"Come on," a gruff voice muttered. Through the swirling smoke, a dark figure emerged, scanning the devastation with cold indifference. "They paid us to grab as much intel as possible." His eyes flicked to the motionless bodies sprawled near the blast.

"Tch. They said no casualties…" A slow, twisted smile crept across his face. "Oh well. Accidents happen."

Then he spotted them—two small figures struggling to move in the rubble. Jason and Charlotte.

A wicked grin spread across his face. "Well, looks like I killed your mama and papa," he taunted, stepping closer. The metallic click of a gun being cocked sent a chill down Jason's spine. "Should probably put you out of your misery too."

Jason winced, his body screaming from the burns. Charlotte let out a choked sob.

The man raised his weapon—

CRACK!