A Power-Seeker Arrives in Gotham

1.

Smira did not belong to Earth.

They had fluid forms and could imitate any living creature at will.

By accident, Smira, still a youngling, ended up in Gotham.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Smira turned into an "ordinary" human man.

The first rule of Vanstai survival:

Vanstai must follow the Absolute Will.

Smira sat in a chair by the roadside, staring blankly as people passed by.

Just as someone lurking in the shadows began plotting to take the beautiful little lamb away, a huge bat swooped down from the sky and landed in front of Smira.

The dazzling light of will radiating from the huge bat nearly blinded Smira.

So when the huge bat turned to leave, Smira grabbed the corner of his cape.

"Sir, please take me with you." Smira's eyes sparkled.

2.

A rich Gothamite brought a poor, tragic little mutant back to the Batcave.

The kid had some seriously warped ideas and obeyed the huge bat almost unconditionally.

But that also made him unexpectedly easy to manage.

At their first meeting, Damian's katana nearly cleaved Smira's face in two.

A certain Bat blocked Damian's sword and told him to get along with the newcomer.

Smira heard the huge bat and smiled, reaching out to Damian.

"Do you like puppies?"

The second rule of Vanstai survival:

Those guided by the Absolute Will must obey its demands without question.

By the time the certain Bat came to his senses, Damian was already petting the puppy ears on Smira's head.

Damian finally declared haughtily, "If one day Father abandons you because you're incompetent, I can be your owner."

3.

The Batfamily all treated Smira like delicate jewelry. His beauty and obedience made it easy to overlook how quickly he was growing.

Smira was gradually learning about this world, and about himself.

But clearly, Smira wasn't yet mature enough to face the moment his mentor's soul shattered into pieces.

He completely broke down.

So, even though Gotham was in utter chaos, everyone tacitly agreed not to disturb someone who had lost everything.

But when even the once-gentle bird mom turned red-eyed and raised a gun at her own brothers,

Smira walked into the war zone wearing the puppy jacket Alfred had given him and chewing gum.

"New rule: no hurting anyone."

He controlled his strength precisely, knocking out his nearly deranged brothers one by one and bringing them back to the Batcave.

Then he obliterated Gotham's villains.

Beside a gargoyle, Smira smoked the first cigarette of his life.

The third rule of Vanstai survival: When the Absolute Will dies, the second-ranked member of the species takes over as the Absolute Will.

4.

When the Dark Knight returned to Gotham, there was no Arkham and no Bat anymore.

Only Gotham's uncrowned king, Smira.

PS

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3. Pairing is set: it's a certain huge Bat.

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