Beyond the Limit [DC fanfic]

A/N: I've decided. I'll release till chapter 10 then give a new one every Monday and Thursday.

Joseph spent the entire night experimenting with his newfound abilities—what was once his greatest nightmare had now become his greatest blessing.

"Nova, set up an automatic routine: If I'm in immediate danger, put me in Speed State immediately and notify me. Otherwise just warn me. If I ingest poison, detect it and flush it from my system. Always ask before using accelerated healing unless my life is in immediate danger—then act on your own. Regulate my emotions whenever they reach extreme levels. Enhance my cognition, senses, and physical capabilities. And… turn off my dreams."

//Understood, sir. To properly enhance your body, you will need to train physically.//

"Yeah, I figured. Let's do that once I have enough money and time for the gym."

//If a gym is unavailable, I can pilot your body to perform calisthenics.//

Joseph hesitated for only a moment before shrugging. "Honestly? Go for it. We already share a body, and if you wanted full control, you would've taken it by now. I trust you. Not now though."

//Acknowledged. Thank you, sir.//

"Now, back to our real problem—money. What kind of program should we develop?"

//I require more data before forming a conclusion. Please connect me to a device with internet access, and I will handle the rest.//

Joseph pulled out his cheap Queen Industries smartphone and surrendered control to Nova. The experience of sitting in the backseat of his own body was strange but fascinating. He watched as Nova pulled up public financial charts, market trends, and tech forecasts for the year 2009.

//Decentralized currency. Mobile gaming. Social media. Cloud storage. These are some options with high potential in the future, but they all require capital to get started.//

Joseph let out a slow breath. "Of course I need money to make money. I can barely afford rent, I don't even have a computer. I'm an emancipated orphan, but I'm still not old enough to invest in stocks or even gamble. And I don't know a single adult I can trust in Gotham. They'd snake me and steal any money I make."

He sighed, rubbing his temples. The legal route wasn't just hard—it was impossible.

"Yeah. Screw it. The legal way is too slow. Before, it was a dumb idea. But now? I have powers. I think I'm bout to steal."

**

Enough of the nine-to-five grind. Even if he somehow made it to college, then what? Student loans? More dead-end jobs? It wasn't going to cut it.

Joseph quit all his jobs. The night before, he'd left messages letting them know he wasn't coming back. Nova warned him that this was risky, but he didn't care. If he was going to live this life, he was going to give it everything he had.

He wandered the city, looking for anything worth taking. His apartment was in a rough part of Gotham—not quite the worst, but bad enough. Homeless camps, junkies, crime in the alleyways, but nothing like the Narrows.

The bus ride downtown was its usual mess—seats stained with things he didn't want to think about.

He hadn't come downtown much as a kid. The only time had been with his mom, when they went to Gotham Arena to watch the Gotham Knights play against the Metropolis Mets. The Knights had lost. That was all he remembered.

"Maybe I should have one last normal night before becoming a criminal."

Joseph checked out the movie theater, but nothing appealed to him. A bunch of crime thrillers and superhero flicks. Why watch a movie about that when he could just turn on the news and see it happening for real?

"Guess I'm one of those freaks now, huh?" He chuckled mirthlessly.

At least he was a freak with a plan.

Joseph paid the entrance fee for the Gotham Museum of Antiquities and wandered aimlessly, eyeing the jewelry and artifacts on display. He wasn't planning on stealing anything tonight—just scouting.

"Fancy seeing you here, kid. Still playing at being a thief?"

Joseph tensed. He knew that voice.

Dressed in a sleek red dress, a different expensive necklace resting against her collarbone, the woman smirked at him. She was the same woman who had caught him casing the open exhibit weeks ago.

And yet, the exhibit had still been robbed.

Joseph's jaw slackened before he quickly snapped it shut. He followed her out, careful not to seem too eager, though every step he lagged behind seemed to amuse her. She hadn't told him to get lost yet, so he kept going.

"I told you it wasn't my thing, but it's definitely yours. I know you stole the jewels from that exhibit."

The woman chuckled softly. "Oh really? If you say so."

She left the museum without another word.

Joseph trailed after her as she weaved through the streets of Gotham. She was leading him somewhere, but he didn't know where. Eventually, she took a detour through an alley where no one would see or hear anything. If she wanted to shake him, this was the place.

But she never tried.

Eventually, she tired of her silent shadow and hailed a cab. That was where she found his limit—he wasn't willing, or able, to follow her inside. As she settled into her seat, she noticed the frown on his face as he watched her leave.

It took determination and curiosity to follow someone this far. He had guts, but he had limits.

She debated for a moment, then scooted over and patted the empty seat beside her.

"Do you need a ride home, kid?"

Joseph blinked, as if unsure she was talking to him. "Uh… yes?"

"Good. But I'm not taking you home just yet. I have shopping to do. Carry my bags, and I'll take you home after."

Fuck it. Why not.