Chapter 11: Welcome to Gotham

The city hummed with its usual blend of chaos and life. Xander stood on a rooftop overlooking the Gotham skyline, Steel hovering next to him in his compact drone form. The moon cast long shadows across the buildings, accentuating Gotham's signature grim atmosphere.

"You've been restless lately," Steel observed. "Wanna talk about it, buddy?"

Xander sighed. "It's just this feeling—like something's brewing. We've dealt with Intergang and other thugs, but it's too quiet. And that's never a good sign."

Steel's holographic face twisted into a thoughtful expression. "Paranoia—classic hero symptom. You're officially in the big leagues now."

Xander was about to retort when a sharp sound caught his attention—the swoosh of a grappling hook latching onto the ledge behind him. He spun around, instincts kicking in, ready to fight.

Out of the shadows emerged the last person he expected to see—the Dark Knight himself.

"Batman," Xander muttered under his breath.

Steel flickered nervously. "Oh, great. The brooding one. Should I start recording this for posterity?"

Beside Batman, a smaller figure landed with agile grace—Robin, dressed in red, green, and yellow, his domino mask concealing sharp, mischievous eyes.

"Whoa," Robin said with a wide grin. "You're the new guy everyone's whispering about. Nice suit—is it dry-clean only?"

Xander narrowed his eyes behind the tinted visor of his helmet. "Depends on the mess."

Batman stepped forward, his presence heavy and commanding. "Who are you, and what are you doing in my city?"

Xander kept his posture steady, but Steel's presence in his ear was a comfort. "I could ask you the same thing, but I guess that'd be redundant."

"Careful," Steel whispered. "He's got that scary voice down pat."

Xander ignored Steel's commentary. "I'm not here to cause problems."

"Then what are you here for?" Batman's tone was icy.

"To help. Gotham's got enough on its plate without extra chaos."

Robin stepped in, his demeanor far lighter. "Relax, Bats. He's obviously not a bad guy. Look at that tech—it's shiny and heroic."

Steel flickered indignantly. "Excuse me, I'm not just shiny. I'm state-of-the-art."

Robin blinked. "Whoa, it talks? That's cool."

Xander groaned. "Steel, maybe tone it down."

Batman's eyes narrowed, likely processing every piece of data he could gather. "Advanced technology. Unfamiliar energy signatures. You're not from around here."

"You're sharp," Xander admitted. "I'm guessing you already know more than you're letting on."

Batman's silence spoke volumes.

Robin leaned casually against a ventilation shaft. "So, you're a hero type, huh? Got a name? Something catchy?"

"Max," Steel answered before Xander could stop him. "For discretion."

"Max?" Robin tilted his head. "Nice. Classic superhero vibe."

Xander pinched the bridge of his nose beneath the helmet. "Thanks for that, Steel."

"You're welcome," Steel chirped.

Batman's gaze never wavered. "If you're serious about helping, there are rules."

"Like?" Xander asked.

"No killing. Minimal collateral damage. And you report to me."

Xander crossed his arms. "I work better alone."

"That's not an option," Batman said firmly. "If you're operating in Gotham, I need to know who you are."

Xander stiffened. "That's not happening. Not until I trust you."

Robin shrugged. "Hey, it could be worse. He's just paranoid. Comes with the cape."

Steel whispered in Xander's ear, "Paranoid or not, he's got a point. Partnerships aren't the worst thing in the world."

Xander mulled it over. Trusting others wasn't exactly in his comfort zone. But Batman was right—Gotham was too dangerous for lone operations.

"Fine," Xander relented. "But I'm not joining any clubs."

Robin grinned. "Oh, we'll see about that."

Steel chuckled. "I like this kid."

"Of course you do," Xander muttered.

Batman pulled a device from his utility belt and handed it to Xander. "A secure communication link. If you run into anything unusual, call."

Xander accepted it reluctantly. "Thanks."

Batman nodded. "Don't make me regret this."

With that, he fired his grappling hook and disappeared into the night. Robin lingered a moment longer.

"Hey," Robin said, "you're gonna fit right in. Just don't let Bats scare you off."

Xander smirked. "I've dealt with worse."

Robin gave a two-finger salute before following Batman into the darkness.

As the city settled back into its uneasy rhythm, Xander and Steel stood in silence.

"Well, that happened," Steel said.

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "Guess we're not flying under the radar anymore."

"Welcome to the big leagues," Steel quipped.

Xander looked out over Gotham, his resolve hardening. The challenges ahead were daunting, but he wasn't backing down.

"Let's see where this ride takes us," Xander said.

Steel's voice was filled with excitement. "I'm ready if you are."

Together, they leaped into the night, ready for whatever Gotham's shadows would throw their way.

Flashback: Establishing Connection

Weeks before their Gotham rooftop encounter, Xander had been in a private communication with Robin.

"Max? Seriously?" Robin teased over their secure line. "Where'd you come up with that name?"

Xander sighed. "It's Steel's idea. Don't ask."

"You're a weird pair, but it works," Robin admitted. "You're surprisingly competent for someone new to the scene."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Xander deadpanned.

They continued their conversations regularly, trading insights on Gotham's criminal underbelly and occasionally sharing personal anecdotes—though Xander always kept details about his identity vague. Robin, on the other hand, was annoyingly cheerful but trustworthy.

When they finally met in person, Batman's eyes immediately sharpened.

"You know each other?" he demanded.

Robin grinned. "We've... talked. Max here's been helpful."

"You didn't think to inform me?" Batman's tone was icy.

Robin shrugged nonchalantly. "Didn't think it was relevant at the time."

Batman's glare could have cut steel.

Xander, fully suited up, stood his ground. "I'm not a threat to your operation. Just trying to make a difference."

Batman's silence stretched uncomfortably, but Robin's easy demeanor helped ease the tension.

"Hey, Bats," Robin said, "maybe trust is a two-way street?"

Steel added cheekily, "Even I know that, and I'm a glorified toaster."

Batman's lips thinned, but he ultimately turned away. "We'll see."

Xander exhaled quietly. The trust would take time, but it was a start.

Author's Note: Only Xander and Steel understand the nature of TURBO energy. For now, the heroes and villains alike are in the dark, though curiosity and suspicion are growing. Villains will seek to harness it as the story progresses.