Joker was surprisingly rich.
That was the conclusion Sebastian had reached after a full week of staying by that glutton-clown.
It didn’t make sense on the surface.
A man who spent most of his time in and out of Arkham, constantly blowing things up, hiring goons and setting up elaborate operations.
None of that came cheap.
Crime required funding, and while stealing from mobs and the mafia explained part of it, it didn’t explain everything.
Not the consistency.
Every time the Joker resurfaced, he was ready.
Equipped.
Prepared for chaos as if resources were never an issue.
Sebastian was willing to bet some rich guy with questionable judgment and too much free time was funding the clown.
Still, that didn’t really matter at the moment.
What mattered was that during his week of service, while the clown had been busy indulging in his newfound obsession with food, Sebastian had managed to quietly extract around eighty thousand dollars from him.
Fifty thousand of that had already been spent.
A corrupt police officer had been more than willing to take the money off his hands.
In exchange, Sebastian now possessed a fully registered identity.
Clean.
Verified.
Integrated into the system.
Sebastian Michaelis.
Twenty-one years old.
Orphan from Central City.
The remaining money had gone into practical matters.
Renting a small apartment.
Basic furniture.
Clothes that fit his current persona.
For now, he allowed himself a brief pause.
A period of adjustment and observation.
He needed to learn the city properly before committing to his next move.
Because sooner or later, he would need a new master.
And this time, he would choose more carefully.
It had been eight days since he had left Joker’s service.
Now it was early morning when Sebastian stepped onto the street, heading toward Gotham Central Public Library.
The city was quieter at this hour, relatively speaking.
He wanted to borrow a few books about Victorian-era poems and novels.
If he was going to maintain the butler persona, he would do it properly.
On the way, he picked up a cup of coffee, holding it casually as he continued walking.
Eventually, he turned into an alley and immediately noticed a troubling situation.
A young woman with red hair stood near the center of the alley, posture tense.
In front of her, a man held a knife, blocking her path.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
For a moment he considered taking a different path, but then he continued walking toward them.
“Let me guess,” he said, “you’re new to robbing people, aren’t you?” The man looked at Sebastian, irritation flashing across his face.
“Go play hero somewhere else, nerd face.” Sebastian’s appearance matched the insult well enough.
Fake glasses rested neatly on his face.
His hair was properly kept, his outfit simple, black pants, white shirt, a vest.
Clean and unremarkable.
Exactly the kind of person who shouldn’t be interfering.
Sebastian rolled his eyes.
“It’s early in the morning,” he said.
“Can’t you at least wait until night?
You’re bringing shame to all honest back-alley robbers in this fine city.” He was only a few steps away now.
The red-haired woman turned toward him quickly.
“Please, stay out of this,” she said.
“It’s too dangerous.” Sebastian didn’t even look at her.
He kept walking.
The man with the knife clenched his jaw and lunged forward, stabbing toward him.
Sebastian sidestepped effortlessly.
His free hand moved to the man’s shirt, gripping it firmly as his foot slid between the man’s legs.
And with a controlled motion, he flipped the man cleanly into a nearby trash container.
The impact was loud.
The robber groaned, trying to push himself up.
“You bastard…” Sebastian didn’t let him finish.
He tilted his hand and poured the hot coffee directly onto the man’s face.
A scream followed as the man recoiled, falling back into the container.
Sebastian calmly reached into his pocket, pulled out a folded piece of paper, and stepped forward.
With the paper acting as a layer between his hands and the container lid, he slammed the container lid down onto the man’s head.
Another groan.
“For the record,” Sebastian said evenly, “I am more of a villain.” A brief pause.
“And next time, rob people at night, where no one can see you.
You failed to be a decent person, and you failed to be a robber.
Seriously, I am ashamed on your behalf.” He turned.
And walked away as if nothing had happened.
Barely had he stepped out of the alley when footsteps followed behind him.
“Thanks for the help,” the red-haired woman said, catching up.
Sebastian didn’t turn.
“Yeah, sure,” he replied.
“Apparently, you shouldn’t take shortcuts even in the morning in this fine hellhole.” “That was a little unexpected for a morning greeting,” she said lightly.
“So, you’re a villain?” “Yeah,” Sebastian replied.
“You don’t really think he’s the first guy around here to get that treatment, do you?
People in this city love ambushing others at night for some reason.
I have no doubt I’d be in prison for assault if I were anywhere else.” A brief pause.
“This place is… too crime friendly.” “You’re not from around here?” she asked.
“Central City,” he said.
“But that place has a serious speedster problem from time to time.
And the cost of living is ridiculous.
I figured Gotham would be better, all over cheaper, especially rent.
And all I need is to keep to myself and beat the idiots who jump me for pocket change.” He paused.
“In hindsight, I may have made a mistake.
This city has too many random crimes happening around the clock.” “Can’t deny that,” The woman said.
They reached the library.
Sebastian stopped at the base of the stairs.
“Anyway,” he said, “it was fun talking, but this is my destination.
Good luck avoiding weirdos.” He began walking up the steps.
“What a coincidence,” the woman said, following.
“I work here.” For the first time, Sebastian turned to look at her.
And in that moment, recognition clicked.
She looked young, maybe not even twenty.
And she had an air of confidence that didn’t quite match the average Gotham civilian.
She smiled as they climbed the steps together.
“Oh, so this is the first time you bothered to look in my direction.” Sebastian glanced at her briefly, then away.
“Honestly, I assumed you were someone I’d never see again,” he said.
“If you had started with ‘I work at the library,’ you would have gotten a much warmer response.” She raised an eyebrow.
“So it’s my fault you don’t look at people you’re speaking with?” “Of course,” Sebastian replied without hesitation.
“If you don’t introduce yourself, you’re just another stranger in a large city.
You should fix that.
Start by introducing yourself earlier.” She shook her head, a faint incredulous smile forming.
“Are you really not embarrassed to say that with a straight face?” “Wow,” Sebastian said, “You’re quite good at deflecting blame.
Fine.
I’ll be the bigger person.” He extended a hand.
“Sebastian Michaelis.
Nice to meet you.” “Barbara Gordon,” she replied.
Sebastian paused, his expression shifting into something thoughtful.
“Gordon…” he murmured.
“I think I’ve heard that name before… Oh right.
The only decent uptight guy in the police.” Barbara blinked, raising an eyebrow.
“Decent uptight guy?
Really?
That’s how you remember Commissioner James Gordon?” Sebastian shrugged.
“I’m new here.
It’s good enough that I remembered that much.
And why the reaction?
Do you know him personally?” Barbara gave a small nod.
“Actually, yes.
I call him dad.” Sebastian raised an eyebrow, mirroring her earlier expression.
Then, without missing a beat “I should buy a gun.” Barbara stopped for a second.
“What?” Sebastian pointed at her casually.
“I just beat up a guy who tried to rob the daughter of the one man every crime gang in this city hates.
What are the odds that guy was just some random dumb robber in the morning?” He turned and continued walking up the stairs.
Barbara quickly followed.
“So you’re buying a gun because you think someone will come after you after helping me?” “That’s a possibility I would prefer to avoid,” Sebastian replied.
“But worst-case scenario, I would rather the newspaper report a citizen shooting at crime gangs than a crime gang shooting a citizen.
There’s a meaningful difference there.” They entered the library.
Barbara glanced at him sideways.
“I’m not sure if you’re being serious or joking.” “I’m serious,” Sebastian said.
“This city is completely unpredictable.
The fact that I now know you significantly increases my chances of encountering deranged weirdos and organized gangs.” Barbara huffed lightly.
“You’re not the most courageous person in the room, are you?” “I would like to call it being pragmatic,” Sebastian replied evenly.
“You should try it.
It can be helpful.” They continued walking toward the reception.
Barbara shook her head.
“You’re overthinking it.
Nothing like that is going to happen.” At that exact moment, a man rushed past them.
Straight toward the reception desk.
He pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at the girl behind the counter.
“I am looking for the dark section!” he shouted.
“Show me the way!
I know you hide it here” The librarian froze instantly.
“What are the odds?” Sebastian muttered before turning his head slowly toward Barbara.
“remind me,” he said, “what was that I am overthinking?” Barbara pressed her lips together, her focus on the man with the gun, she began thinking through how to handle the situation.
Sebastian, however, was already moving.
“Hey,” he called out as he walked toward the man, tone casual.
“She won’t help you, she doesn’t know anything about this.
But I work here, and I am the only one in this generation who knows about the dark section.
Just tell me the name of the book you need and I’ll bring it to you.
Even better, I can guide you there.” The man turned, red-rimmed eyes locking onto Sebastian as he pointed the gun at him.
“Who are you?” Sebastian kept walking.
“Again, the guy you’re looking for,” he said.
“And could you not point the gun at me?
If you shoot me, I’m afraid you’ll never find those books.” “Raise your hands,” the man snapped.
Sebastian complied immediately, lifting both hands into the air as he closed the distance.
The man stepped forward, pressing the gun against Sebastian’s chest.
“Where are the books?” “Relax,” Sebastian said.
His head tilted, eyes shifting to the side.
“Ground floor, third row…” The man instinctively turned his head to follow Sebastian’s line of sight.
That was all Sebastian needed.
His hand dropped fast.
His finger slid behind the trigger, jamming it in place before the man could react.
The robber realized something was wrong and tried to fire, but the trigger didn’t move Sebastian smiled faintly.
“Really?
A library?” Then a single punch to the face.
The man collapsed instantly, unconscious before he hit the ground.
The gun remained in Sebastian’s hand.
He looked down at the man for a moment, then turned toward the receptionist.
“Do you mind calling the police?” he said.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we have a robbery attempt at a public library.” Then he turned toward Barbara.
She was staring at him.
Sebastian adjusted his glasses.
“Your city is as unpredictable as it can get,” he said.
“And you’re not embarrassed to question me about my pragmatism?”