The fighter, The Princess, and The Mercenary (DC x MaleReader)

A Chance Encounter

Ten years have passed since I welcomed Lily into my life, and in that time, a lot has changed. I guess the most shocking change, or revelation, was finding out  Batman's true identity. To my surprise, the fabled 'Worlds Greatest Detective', Gothams 'Dark Knight,' was none other than the billionaire playboy himself, Bruce Wayne.

The idea of this mysterious, shadowy hero actually just being a wealthy man grappling with his unresolved parental issues was enough to make me laugh out out loud when I learned about it. The realization left me feeling let down as if the mystique of this legendary figure had been diminished by the disappointing reality of his origins.

Moving on, after Lily started living with me, surprisingly, Bruce would frequently drop by with his butler, Alfred. Lily absolutely adored the elderly British gentleman, and the two would often spent hours enjoying what Alfred referred to as 'authentic British tea parties.' Parties that I never received an invitation because I "brood too much."

Bruce also brought together a remarkable team of heroes known as the Justice League. This league of his was a collection of extraordinary individuals, each possessing unique abilities, united by a common goal: the protection of Earth and the unwavering pursuit of justice. It seemed a bit idealistic but I used to kill for money so what do I know.

Moving the down the timeline a bit he's putting together another league but this time it's with the members of the Justice Leagues sidekicks. He's calling it Young Justice. Not not exactly a groundbreaking name, but, as usual, no one asked for my input. Bruce says it's about mentorship, about guiding the next generation.

After that, I mostly spend my days with Lily, watching as the scared little girl from all those nights ago blossomed into a young woman. A woman I was proud of. Lily, eventually grew up and finished high school and decided to continue her studies at Gotham University, majoring in botanical biochemistry.

After a year or two in school, Lily told me that she was on the brink of developing a groundbreaking formula and was about to dive headlong into the experimental phase, a journey that promised to consume her every waking moment. Though Lily never revealed the nature of this mysterious formula, the weight of its importance was palpable, hanging in the air like an unsolved enigma.

Lily's formula became the center of our conversations during her rare visits home. I could see the passion flicker in her eyes when she spoke about plant regeneration and symbiotic relationships, terms that meant little to me but everything to her. I nodded along, proud yet concerned by the intensity of her dedication.

Dedication that ended up costing her more than I could've thought.

A year ago, a massive explosion rocked Gotham University's Chemical Research Facility, engulfing Lily's lab in a violent inferno. The aftermath was chaotic, with twisted metal and charred debris littering the site. It took weeks for the firefighters to navigate through the smoldering wreckage, painstakingly clearing the area before they could even begin the grim task of searching for bodies.

They discovered the remains of several students and teachers, but Lily's was never among them. Desperation gripped me as months turned into years. I relentlessly pursued every lead, tapping into every contact and resource from my days as a mercenary. I scoured every shadowy corner and followed every whisper, hoping to find some trace of her, anything at all, yet all my efforts were in vain.

I turned to the only other person who could help—Batman. After much persuasion (and probably a little bit of guilt-tripping), he agreed to assist me. We dug deep into Lily's research, searching for clues or leads that could point us in the right direction. We even enlisted the help of Oracle and her vast network of information.