Should I...Reconsider??

"Do you have any idea what reactions the cops have?" Ben heard a strict voice directed at him.

"Uhhh, they're... spooked?" Ben asked with a wry smile.

"SPOOKED? SPOOKED? THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY?" Ben winced and the loud voice rang in his head, which belonged to none other than Dick. Dick pinched the middle of his brows in frustration. "They are scared as hell. You made them nearly braindead for god's sake! Why did you even do that? I had to come with so many lies since the first four were brought in by me." Dick bantered while Ben felt bad about all the trouble he was put through because of him.

Dick sighed after a while and asked "So, why did you do it?"

"... I was really mad at the time and..." Ben tried explaining but was cut off by Dick.

"Not that. I figured as much. What I'm asking is why you went again? And what did you do to their leader? Illusions? That man was scared of all lady officers there, mumbling 'don't eat me." Dick explained.

"... I decided to start doing a side job, quite like yours," Ben told him.

"You sure? If you are doing this because of Jas-" Dick said but was interrupted by men.

"He and Barbra had some part in making the decision, but it was mostly me," Ben said, looking straight into his eyes. They stared at each other for a while when Dick sighed again.

"Fine, but no messing their minds, am I clear?" Dick asked in a firm tone.

"I'll try my best. But I will try to increase their fear though or do slight mind reading. They are faster to use in both, attack and interrogation. " He explained, and Dick nodded his head. Dick was fine as long as they didn't become braindead, because the police needed a sane person with proof to put behind bars. What Ben did will only make him look like a dangerous individual on the loose.

"So, what now? Ben asked after a while, trying to break the silence.

" Get you a suit and a few field days. You may be a prodigy at fighting, but you need to learn the ins and outs of trying to be a hero. Especially one with powers." He explained.

"Like what?" Ben asked interested.

"Example, in case you're fighting someone like Firefly, you need to make the call of disabling him while saving innocents. Same in case of a gunfight on streets or any other problems we face. Other are investigation skills and fighting while restricting your powers. You don't know when a new weakness shows up for you, so you need to be ready, stuff like that." Dick finished his explanation, making Ben stare at him in awe without blinking.

"... Can I change my preferences about my life now?" Ben asked, a bit hopefully.

"It's your choice," Dick said and went back to drinking his juice.

Ben took a few minutes seriously thinking about it and sighed. If he really di want to do it, he needs some training nonetheless. Better to learn before making mistakes and learning from them, as there are some mistakes he just can't afford to make.

"Fine, when do we start?" Ben asked, looking up.

"When we get your ongoing case solved. I'll be with you during it, accessing your powers and how you do things, and then decide what path you should take. The near-human route like me or Batman or as powerhouses like Superman or Martian Manhunter." Ben nodded hearing him. "Also, what are your plans for the costume? Going to go back as RedX or something else?" Nightwing asked.

"I'm not RedX, not anymore. And I would take my time than decide instantly. Probably after taking down this crime lord, as he's the main priority." Ben explained, and Dick nodded in understanding.

"So, got his name? Even though you scared the hell out of the guy, he seems to be more scared of his boss and isn't telling anything." Dick asked.

"Yeah, someone called Jhonny Reb," He told Dick, who stopped drinking after hearing the name, "...And it seems you have heard of him," Ben said after watching Dick's reaction.

"Yeah, this is going to be a big problem. Reb is the owner of multiple hotels and restaurants in National City and is known for donating money occasionally to charity and to NCPD, fire departments, and hospitals. People would treat him like an angel than a devil." Dick explained.

Ben narrowed his eyes hearing this. He didn't particularly remember this Reb guy from comics, so he considered him a minor character or not important enough. But in real life, things are very, very different. Ben also realized he was used to seeing the world as it was a comic book. Interacting with those he deemed important and treating others like NPC's. This was the second time realization hit him after Jason's death and something he has to rectify.

In this world, there are multiple families like he had, and all it takes is a small mob to endanger them, not high-level supervillains. And he didn't want any other kid to go through the pain to lose parents at an early age, so he will take everything seriously, NO MATTER WHAT!

Ben's aura became rigid as his eyes flashed blue for a second, filled with determination. Being sensitive to surroundings, Dick picked up on Ben's changes in mood and nodded internally. 'At least he seemed to have a good resolve' Dick thought to himself. As for informing Batman, Bruce will figure things out himself so Nightwing would call him after seeing Ben in action. He had high hopes, as Bruce did say he Ben was a very quick learner, and pinning down Batman even when he was tired was no easy feat. Villains like Bane and Scarecrow have faced the consequences of doing that.

"I do have a question if you don't mind," Ben asked Dick, snapping him out of his thoughts. He looked at the serious expression on Ben's face and nodded to him to continue, "...What happened to Joker?"

Nightwing paused for a second hearing that question. Joker was a very sensitive topic for the Bat-family right now. As much as he liked Joker's disfigured face for taking his adoptive brother away, Bat7man has also saved the maniac from dying. And he was currently thinking about how much he should tell Ben because he was sure he would keep his word for killing the Joker. But being a friend of Jason, he also deserved to know.

"*sigh* There are a lot of things to talk about him. Things in Gotham... actually went to a standstill for a few days after the leaders of crime families heard of Joker's condition, believing Batman finally lost it. Some said that the third party Gordon talked about is actually to cover up for Batman." Dick said and continued. "As for Joker, he was sent to Arkham like usually, but his reports since then were quite surprising."

"Like what?" Ben asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, for one, Joker apparently has a healing factor," Dick said.

"WHAT??" Ben screamed in surprise.

"Yeah, apparently the chemicals in his body and the one time he used Venom kind of enhanced his healing factor. It's not that fast, but his inner damage should actually heal in a few more months. In fact, it makes sense considering how often Joker tries to mess with Batman and comes back again and again." Dick explained to him, while Ben's head was filled with questions. He never read about Joker having powers, even if they were weak ones.

"His behavior though is an entirely different case," Dick said, with a strained expression.

"... What does that even mean?" Ben asked.

"Well, as the doctors of Arkham say, 'He seems saner yet even crazier now, it doesn't make sense," Dick said while Ben stared at him with a blank expression.

"... please tell me I just did not make Joker even more dangerous than he already is," Ben said after a while.

"I... think you did," Dick said, Bn face-palmed hearing this. Of course, the moment he decides to intervene, the universe has a butterfly effect, and it had to be Joker that was affected.

"Don't beat yourself on it. Joker used to be the symbol of terror in Gotham, just like Batman. But his recent condition made things shift," Dick told him.

Ben asked: "So,... are we starting tonight?"

"Yup, you have some plans?" Dick asked.

"Yeah, I was gonna recon and search the other bases I got from the guy's head and computer before deciding to stop them. If this Rebb guy is as influential in National City as you say, then we need a lot of things to drag him down." Ben explained.

"Good thinking. We do the same thing back at Gotham, but our masks had cameras as well, so we used the records as proof if needed. It was quite handy when dealing with those who usually stay in the shadows." Dick said in agreement with his plan.

"So, how about 10:00 near the Wayward diner?" Ben asked.

"Works with me," Dick replied.

*Arkham Assylum, Gotham*

In one of the cells, lay a man, his body connected multiple pouches of nutrient fluids as his body hadn't fully recovered to the point he could eat on his own, yet despite his disfigured appearance and body state, the man kept giggling to himself from time to time.

He slowly lifted his hands, which were shaking, and touched his mouth, where he felt his burned-out skin, making a big sad mark. "Hehehe," The man kept giggling and muttered "Ah, I may not have been able to break you batsy, hehehe but your new toy will do good in our dance. Do good indeed, HAHAHA- UHHGH*cough**cough*... Huh, it only hurts when I laugh.... now THAT. IS. FUNNY,"