Punishing Batman by Making Him Raise a Zoldyck Child

Batman found Aljie in an alley.

The alley reeked with Gotham's characteristic stench, with filthy water and trash strewn everywhere. The indistinct marks on the walls looked as if countless crimes had been painted over them again and again.

A black-haired child stood beside a trash can, his blue catlike eyes almost completely black. He tossed aside a corpse, then raised a bloodied cat paw at Batman.

Five minutes later, Batman was carrying the clear-eyed little black cat Aljie, a huge bump on his head, into the Batmobile.

Aljie Zoldyck was the most obedient child in the family. Ever since his brothers Killua and Alluka left home, his parents and eldest brother had kept him under strict watch.

Aljie loved his family very much. He followed his eldest brother's orders to the letter and treated his words as rules he had to obey.

'Aljie is Big Brother's favorite and most obedient murder weapon.' 'Aljie mustn't make friends. Friends will trick Aljie into leaving the protection of home.' 'Aljie means hunter, a hunter who hunts for the family.'

But that wasn't what Bruce said.

Bruce said Aljie was family, and that family accepted one another. He wasn't a tool. Bruce said friends were loyal and trusted each other. Bruce said Aljie meant protection, justice, and heroism.

Aljie looked at the criminal barely clinging to life in his hands. Under Bruce's encouraging gaze, he drew back his cat paw.

Batman: Think about what I taught you.

Aljie hesitantly dropped the man on the ground, then tentatively asked the criminal, "Should I kidnap your mom?"

Batman: ...

He rolled up his sleeves. Fine, tonight Jason was getting pranked.

Later, the Zoldycks found their lost youngest son. Illumi was about to manipulate Aljie like he used to.

Aljie seriously objected: "Big Brother, you're wrong. Family accepts one another. We're united, bound together."

At the same time, Aljie was using his unbeatable Nen ability to force his family to hold hands with him.

Aljie smiled sweetly. "This is what being united looks like."

Reader's guide:

1. The beloved trope of Batman taking care of a kid. This Batman talks, and talks a lot. Aljie has plenty of issues in every way, and Batman will gradually set him straight.

2. The Zoldycks are neither vilified nor glorified. They love each other and are family, and they'll open a link between worlds to find Aljie. But their feelings are deeply twisted, just as they are in the original work. This isn't Zoldyck bashing.

3. Aljie loves the Zoldycks very much. Even after he learns that their beliefs are wrong, that doesn't stop him from loving his family. He simply no longer agrees with the Zoldyck way of thinking.

Theme: Still haven't decided