4

Joseph never really moved on from that morning. He told himself he had, that grief had loosened its grip, but the truth was simpler—he had just learned to live around the ache. His mother was gone. And for years, the weight of that loss had crushed him. But now? Now, for the first time in a long while, the idea of moving forward didn't seem so impossible.

It would still hurt. But pain was familiar. He could live with it.

Lately, his mind had been restless. It wasn't just the grief anymore. It was the future. The quiet hum of something new, something waiting just beyond his reach. With Nova's help, he had started testing his limits—his reflexes, his speed, his ability to predict movement. Everything he had gained from years of sports, from instinct, from training—amplified. It was exhilarating.

But right now? None of that mattered. Right now, he was flipping fishburgers at Icefood Lounge Express, a third-rate fast-food joint riding on the reputation of the Iceberg Lounge.

Grease popped against his wrist, stinging. He barely reacted. Just another casualty in the war against minimum wage.

This is my life now, huh?" he muttered under his breath.

"Hey, Nova, got anything useful in your memory banks?" he asked mentally as he assembled another order.

The AI paused before responding.

//I have this formula: 3x2(9YZ)4A=?. Would you like me to—//

Joseph froze.

His eyes widened. His heart pounded.

That formula. He knew that formula. He'd derived it himself, using Nova's computing power and the Speed Force. With this, he could tap into it again. He was sure of it.

"Nova," he whispered under his breath. "Why didn't you tell me you had this the whole time?"

//You did not ask.//

Joseph barely heard the AI. He was already closing his eyes, focusing. He could feel it—just beneath the surface. If he just—

"Joey! Orders up, now!"

Joseph let out a long breath and got back to work.

Soon.

**

By the weekend, Joseph had had enough.

He couldn't keep scraping by. Couldn't keep wasting away in dead-end jobs. He needed a way out.

So he went looking.

Gotham had opportunities—if you knew where to look. And tonight, standing beneath the glaring lights of a high-end exhibit, he thought he might have found one.

Rare jewels. Priceless artifacts. Only in town for a few days before moving on.

Joseph moved through the gallery, gaze flicking over security measures, counting guards, memorizing exits. It was impossible. And yet, his mind wouldn't let it go.

One of these. That's all it would take.

He let the thought linger. A better apartment. A real shot at something more. No more clawing just to survive.

His eyes landed on a diamond—massive, flawless, encased in bulletproof glass. Light caught the edges, refracting in a way that made it seem alive.

A prize beyond anything he had ever imagined.

"Careful, kid," a voice murmured. "You're staring too hard."

Joseph stiffened.

A woman stood beside him, all elegance and quiet confidence. Dark hair, piercing blue eyes, a smirk that felt like a challenge. Her dress looked expensive. Her jewelry even more so.

He swallowed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

She hummed, unconvinced. "Sure you do." She reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Here's some free advice—people who think about it this much? They don't last long."

Joseph exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay calm. "I wasn't thinking about stealing it."

She smiled. "Of course not."

With one last glance, she turned, disappearing into the crowd as quickly as she had appeared.

Joseph stood there, pulse thrumming.

What the hell was he doing?

His mother hadn't raised a thief. He knew better. There had to be another way—he hadn't even tried. If he kept down this path, he'd end up in Blackgate. Or worse.

He let out a breath, raking a hand through his hair.

"Nova," he muttered. "Next time I get a dumb idea like this, stop me."

//Acknowledged. Would you like alternative income suggestions?//

Joseph's lips pressed into a thin line. "…Yeah. Give me something better."

//Processing options now.//

Maybe he still had choices.