1(800) Adoption Papers NOT needed! Its a two for one special! ( 1POV Version )

Epilogue

Time flies when you're having fun, but for me, it crawls. I blame Clockwork. School started up again; it has the same issues but different people. I went through the effort as Phantom to sing Jazz's good graces but forgot to mention my civilian ID. To these rich people, I'm just the spare Wayne, the throwaway. After all, who wants to be connected to rogues, especially ones like the Dr. Fentons? While Maddie and Jack didn't pick up charges for their acts against the ghosts ( or me as Phantom)– their actions were technically legal at the time– the people of Gotham know a villain when they see one.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Sure, not being considered an outcast would be nice, but having my brother nearby is nice. I've never been in a regular school with Damian before, but I can't believe how easily some of these people mix us up. It's truly unbelievable. I now know and understand why Dami calls them all imbeciles.

I've somehow gotten more, but also less, free time. Every morning, I get up and do morning training with Damian, hit the shower, and then head to school. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, there's group training with the rest of the family and the extended Bats. On Wednesdays, I go to group therapy with Stephanie. The group is specifically for loved ones of henchmen and villains. The process is slow... but I don't feel as crummy about the decision not to drop the charges. On the weekend, I alternate between the Infinite Realms and Gotham rooftops. Part-time– totally a normal human, what do you mean? – vigilante Phoenix takes flight.

Speaking of vigilante justice, Vlad. He had an... interesting arrest. The Infinite Realms was more than happy to assist in capturing him. Walker and his men, especially Bullet, aren't too fond of him. That whole letting Pariah Dark out of his sarcophagus thing leaves a lasting grudge. Most ghosts have an issue with him because of that. With a new and improved Ecto-shield, ectopaint, and Vlad's cell was complete. Whenever Vlad is out of the cell, you may ask? A modified Meta collar. It's not my favorite, but it works for the time being, at least until they can figure out something better. And the best part? Humans can't recreate it. It needs strong and unfiltered ectoplasm, not something a human could collect. One of the few positives, in my opinion, as it has fewer chances to be abused.

However, not everything has changed.

" No," I groan into my headset. " Tucker, your upgrades keep me lagging! You're getting me killed!"

Tucker laughs, " Dude, you should just let me upgrade yours already."

" You know why I can't. Tim would kill me if the system got ghost bugs," I say as I die in Doomed again. I'm in the media room, playing on the family's system.

" Then lag," Tucker says as his character gets surrounded. I can't help but feel vindication when Tucker dies soon after. " Have you seen that new vigilante yet? He wasn't around when you were working with the Justice League, right?"

" Nah, though, I'm curious where he came from," I say, lying through my teeth, " but he moves too well to be a newbie. My guess is that he's an old hero who has relocated or a current hero under a new name. Like how the other robins became different heroes right before a new one took their place."

" Wes is convinced it's you," Tucker says, " He's driving me crazy. Like, I know it's not you. You move differently. This one moves more like Robin and Red Hood."

" I can ask the next time I run into them," I offer, knowing the family would help me commit to the bit.

" I'm good, I like the mystery," Tucker says. " Who knows? Maybe I'll figure it out before Wes."

" Maybe," my eyes flicker to the clock, " dude, I gotta go. Gramps is gonna call us down for dinner soon."

"You're good. Same time next week?" Tucker asks.

" You know it," I say, logging off.

Some things never change, but others do for the better.