Beyond the Limit [DC fanfic]

Joseph stood in Boss Karoselle's office, shoulders slumped, head slightly bowed—the perfect picture of a kid who had been backed into a corner. He set a thick stack of bills on the desk, forty grand, every note perfectly aligned. Hard-earned through clever hands and sharper instincts.

Karoselle's gaze flicked to the money, then back to Joseph. His fingers drummed idly against the wood. "That's a lot of cash to scrape together on short notice, kid. Who fronted you?"

Joseph swallowed, hesitating just long enough to sell it. "A few people. Not exactly the kind you say no to. I— I didn't have a choice."

The mob boss studied him, the corner of his mouth twitching in something between amusement and suspicion. The kid was good, he'd give him that. Scared, but not the right kind of scared. Not the kind that came from being buried under too much debt. Karoselle had seen enough broken men to know the difference.

Still, money was money, and causing unnecessary trouble over it wasn't worth the headache. He leaned back in his wheelchair, smirking. "You're lucky I'm feeling generous today. Get out."

Joseph tensed, then gave a stiff nod before turning on his heel and leaving at a careful pace—not too fast, not too slow. Just enough to make it believable.

The moment he stepped outside, his lips curled upward.

'Give it a month. I'll make sure your whole operation burns.'

**

Flux wasn't just another thief now. He had carved out a new niche—stealing from Gotham's worst rather than the helpless. It was a dangerous game, and he was playing it well enough to draw attention. Not just from criminals, but from someone far more problematic.

Batman had noticed.

His notes, precise as always:

Codename: Flux. Targets are unpredictable. Avoids civilian casualties. Outmaneuvered Robin twice. Potentially a meta.

Further investigation was required. Perhaps Selina knew something.

**

A few nights later, Joseph stepped into his apartment and halted. Something felt…off. The kind of off that meant company. He exhaled, rubbing his temple. "I know it's you Selina."

From the shadows, Selina Kyle emerged, a smirk tugging at her lips. She looked wildly out of place against the worn-down backdrop, draped in designer casuals like she'd just walked out of a high-rise instead of breaking into a dingy apartment. She perched herself against the counter, watching him with amused scrutiny.

"You always this chatty when someone breaks into your home?"

Joseph shot her a dry look. "Depends on whether they plan to beat me up or just lecture me. Which one is this?"

"A warning, actually." Selina's smirk faded slightly, replaced by something more calculating. "You've been making big waves from what I've heard, Joey. Batman's asking questions. And when he starts looking, things get complicated."

That made him pause. He had figured the Bat might take notice eventually, but hearing it confirmed was a bit scary.

"So what? Is he waiting in the closet for a dramatic entrance?" Joseph quipped, glancing toward the door.

Selina chuckled, shaking her head. "Not this time. But he thinks you're my protege. That means he'll either convince you to stop or make you wish you had."

Joseph frowned.

"What've you been up to, kid? I thought you said you wouldn't get involved with supers," Selina tilted her head.

Joseph sighed as he leaned onto the counter as well, crossing his arms as he considered telling her what he'd been up to lately.

Ultimately he decided not to. It wouldn't be fair to saddle her with more of his problems when he hadn't even paid her back yet.

"Let's just say I've been busy."

**

It was well past midnight when Joseph wrapped up another heist. Another open auction, another easy score. You'd think by now, they'd stop putting Gotham on the list of locations. Almost felt unfair.

As he made his way across the rooftops, a sharp cry cut through the night, amplified by his enhanced hearing. "My baby! My baby is in there!" A woman's desperate voice trembled as she fought against the crowd restraining her. The blaze consuming the building made rushing in suicidal.

Joseph's stolen police scanner crackled to life. Firefly was at large, and authorities were in pursuit. That pyromaniac bastard.

He considered slipping into speed state but hesitated. Two minutes of hyper-acceleration wouldn't guarantee he'd reach the child and escape in time. Worse, exiting the state could leave him crippled when he needed to be at full strength.

An innocent kid was paying the price for some lunatic's obsession with fire.

Joseph clenched his jaw. He had power. He was here. And time was slipping away.

'No need to warn me, Nova. I know the risks.'

//...//

Scaling down the building, Joseph sprinted toward the frantic mother. "Ma'am, I'll get your kid. What floor?"

She stared at him—ragged dark clothes, balaclava fraying at the edges, plastic swimming goggles barely holding together. But desperation trumped doubt.

"Thirteenth floor! Room 1337! Please!"

Joseph took off without hesitation, Nova already responding. The friction of his skin was increased while it secreted an adhesive structure from his hands. He'd decided to name this ability Spider State. He scaled the wall in seconds, reaching the 13th-floor window. A punch shattered the glass. Flames licked at the hallway beyond.

With a mental command, Nova reinforced his skin against the searing heat. He charged forward, feeling his clothes smolder, the plastic of his goggles beginning to melt. Ignoring the pain, he bulldozed through the inferno, forcing his way toward room 1337.

The hallway was an oven. His breath came in short gasps, the acrid smoke clawing at his lungs. He reached the door and kicked it down.

A small, unmoving form lay inside.

A sharp whistling sound sent his stomach plummeting.

Joseph grabbed the child—breathing faintly, thank God—and turned just as an explosion tore through the floor behind him. Heat seared his back as he dove through the window, twisting midair before landing hard against another building's wall. He engaged Spider State, descending rapidly.

By the time his feet hit the ground, paramedics and firefighters had just arrived.

"Take him! He's struggling to breathe!" Joseph barked, shoving the child into waiting hands.

The mother rushed forward, sobbing. "My baby!"

As the medics worked, Joseph took a shaky breath. His pulse hammered, and every inch of his body screamed in agony.

//73% of your body is covered in second and third-degree burns. Estimated healing time: seven hours, 42 minutes. Pain receptors dampened. Remove clothing and mask to accelerate regeneration.//

'Not here. Let's get out first. Activate Spider State.'

Joseph vanished into the night.