Marcus woke up Tuesday morning to his phone buzzing with notifications.
Not dozens like before, but enough to be annoying. He opened Twitter and saw he was trending again.
Great. What now?
The trending topic was a new name: #Revenant
"Multiple witnesses report Gotham vigilante they're calling 'The Revenant.' Operating primarily in East End and Crime Alley. Name's catching on fast."
Marcus scrolled through the posts. News outlets were using it. People were discussing it. The name was spreading.
And he'd never said it to anyone.
Where did this come from?
He called Sarah.
"You see the new name?"
"Revenant? Yeah, I'm looking at it now." Sarah was typing in the background. "It appeared across multiple witness accounts and news reports simultaneously. People just... started calling you that."
"But I never said anything. I've been avoiding giving any name at all. That was the whole operational security plan."
"True. But you can't control what witnesses call you. They see someone helping them, they want to name you. 'Revenant' apparently stuck."
Marcus thought about his interventions over the past few weeks. He'd been careful. Stayed anonymous. Avoided cameras when possible. Never gave a name.
But he'd also saved over two dozen people. All of whom saw him. Talked about him. Tried to describe him to others.
"I'm confused how this is spreading so fast though. I've been trying to stay hidden."
Sarah laughed. "Marcus, you can't be hidden from the people you help. They remember you. They talk about you. They post about you on social media. That's how names spread—through witnesses."
"But I've been so careful—"
"About cameras, yes. About direct identification, yes. But you can't save someone and expect them to just forget about it. They're going to tell people. And when they tell people, they're going to call you something. Apparently that something is 'Revenant.'"
Oh. Right. I've been so focused on avoiding police and cameras that I forgot about the actual people I was helping.
"So the operational security is working for official identification but not for street reputation."
"Exactly. You're successfully avoiding being identified as Marcus Reid. But you're not avoiding being known as... whoever you are. And now people are calling you Revenant."
Marcus looked at the name on his screen. Revenant. One who returns.
It's actually accurate. I literally came back from death. Nobody knows that, but the irony is perfect.
"It's a good name," he admitted. "Better than some of the other vigilante names floating around Gotham."
"Way better than some options. At least it's not trying too hard." Sarah was clearly amused. "But Marcus? Don't confirm the name if people ask. Don't claim it. Let it spread organically but maintain your policy of not giving identifying information. That's how you stay safe."
"Already was planning that."
"Good. Because now that you have a name, more people will be looking for you. Both friendly and not."
That evening's patrol confirmed Sarah's prediction.
Marcus stopped a mugging in the Bowery. Standard intervention—two suspects, both restrained, victim safe.
As he was leaving, the victim called out: "Thank you! Are you the Revenant? The one everyone's talking about?"
Marcus paused on the rooftop ledge. Don't confirm. Maintain OpSec.
"Just someone helping. Stay safe. Police are coming."
He disappeared before more questions could follow.
They're asking now. Connecting me to the name. That's... concerning but also kind of inevitable.
Wednesday training at I-Ching's dojo was normal until the end.
After class, while Marcus was changing, one of the other students—Lisa, the woman he'd sparred with weeks ago—approached.
"Hey, random question. You live in the East End area, right?"
"Close to campus. Why?"
"Just wondering if you've heard about this Revenant guy. He's been operating around there supposedly." Lisa smiled. "Another vigilante for Gotham's collection. At least this one seems focused on helping regular people instead of just fighting supervillains."
She has no idea she's talking to him. Good. OpSec working.
"Haven't seen him personally. But yeah, East End needs the help."
"Right? Batman's great but he can't be everywhere. Nice to have someone working the neighborhoods that don't make headlines." Lisa grabbed her bag. "Anyway, stay safe out there. Even with all the capes, Gotham's still rough."
"Will do."
By Thursday, "Revenant" was everywhere.
News coverage consistently used it. Social media discussions about Gotham vigilantes included it. People Marcus helped asked if he was "the Revenant" even though he never confirmed.
The name had stuck without his participation.
Friday brought an unexpected complication.
Marcus stopped a breaking-and-entering in Crime Alley. Caught the burglar mid-theft, restrained him, called Bullock.
While waiting for police, the burglar spat at him. "You're that Revenant asshole. Think you're hot shit now that you got a name?"
He knows the name. Criminals are using it too.
"Just someone stopping crimes."
"Yeah? Well you're making enemies. People are pissed about you. Someone's gonna put you down eventually. Another dead cape for Gotham's collection."
The violent impulse spiked to 5/10. This guy was restrained and still threatening. Part of Marcus wanted to make him shut up.
Control it. He's just talking. Don't let the impulse control you.
"Police are coming. Save the threats for your lawyer."
Marcus left before the impulse could spike higher.
Saturday at Ted Grant's gym brought unexpected commentary.
Tommy, Marcus's sparring partner, mentioned it while they were warming up.
"You hear about this Revenant guy? He's been all over the news."
"Yeah, I've seen it." Marcus kept his tone casual. "What do you think?"
"I think Gotham's got like a dozen vigilantes now and we're still collecting more." Tommy stretched. "But at least this one's working Crime Alley and the East End. Those areas don't always get attention from the big names."
"True. Batman can't be everywhere."
"Exactly. Plus 'Revenant' is a decent name. Better than some I've heard." Tommy grinned. "Not as cool as Batman or Nightwing, but way better than 'The Crimson Guardian' or whatever that guy in Blüdhaven called himself for a week."
Gotham has so many vigilantes that people rank the names. That's hilarious and depressing.
"Yeah, it's a solid name."
Ted overheard the conversation. After Tommy left, he approached Marcus.
"You hear a lot about this Revenant character, don't you?"
Marcus tensed slightly. "It's all over the news. Hard to miss."
"True." Ted studied him with those sharp, assessing eyes. "Gotham keeps collecting vigilantes. Some stick around. Some don't. Just make sure whoever's doing that Revenant work knows what they're getting into. Having a name makes you part of the scene. Part of the scene means other players notice you."
"I'll keep that in mind if I ever run into him."
"Yeah. You do that." Ted's expression suggested he suspected more than he was saying. "Now get to work. Those bags won't hit themselves."
He suspects something. Doesn't know for sure but suspects.
That's fine. Suspicion isn't proof. And he's kept quiet so far.
Sunday evening brought something unexpected.
Marcus was on patrol in Crime Alley—his usual route through the rooftops—when he spotted movement ahead.
Another figure on the rooftops. Moving with purpose. Clearly not a civilian.
Another vigilante?
Marcus stopped, crouched behind a ventilation unit, and watched.
The figure was definitely female based on build and movement. Purple and black costume—or was it black and purple? Hard to tell in the dim light. She was moving across the rooftops with practiced ease, clearly tracking something below.
She's good. Really good. That's not amateur parkour—that's actual training.
Marcus followed at a distance, curiosity overriding caution. His enhanced stealth kept him undetected as the mystery vigilante positioned herself above an alley.
Below, three men were meeting. Exchange of money and packages. Drug deal, Marcus's cop intuition told him.
She's going to hit them. Should I... what? Help? Watch? Introduce myself?
Before Marcus could decide, she moved.
Dropped into the alley with acrobatic precision that made Marcus's parkour skills look amateur. She engaged all three dealers simultaneously with combat techniques that were definitely professional-level.
Okay, she's way better trained than me. Where did she learn to fight like that?
The fight was over in thirty seconds. All three dealers on the ground, restrained with zip-ties. The vigilante was already on her comm—calling it in to someone. Police? Batman? Marcus couldn't hear clearly enough.
She has comms. Actual tactical communications. I'm still using a regular phone to call Bullock like a caveman.
The vigilante finished her call, checked the restrained dealers one more time, then fired a grappling line—she has a grappling gun too, because of course she does—and swung away into the night.
Marcus stayed hidden until she was gone, then made his way back to his usual patrol route.
So. There's another vigilante working Crime Alley. Female. Purple and black costume. Professional-level training. Better gear than me. Actually coordinated with someone via comms.
That's... I don't know what that is. Competition? Threat? Potential ally? No idea.
Do I introduce myself next time? Is there vigilante etiquette for this? 'Hi, I'm Revenant, I also punch criminals in this area, want to coordinate our punching schedules?'
That sounds stupid even in my head.
Marcus finished his patrol, his mind churning with questions.
Back at his apartment, he logged the encounter:
DATE: July 10
TOTAL ABILITIES: 254
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT: I have a name now (Revenant) that spread through witness accounts. It's official without me making it official. OpSec still intact—not confirming the name, but people are using it.
SIGNIFICANT ENCOUNTER: Spotted another vigilante tonight. Female, purple/black costume, operating in Crime Alley. Professional-level combat training—way better than mine. Has actual gear (grappling gun, comms to someone). Took down three dealers in under thirty seconds with techniques I couldn't replicate.
MY REACTION: Part impressed, part intimidated, part territorial. She's working MY area. Or I'm working HER area? No idea who was here first. She's clearly more experienced and better equipped. Makes me feel like an amateur in comparison.
QUESTIONS:
Who is she?
Is she connected to Batman? (The comms suggest yes)
How long has she been operating here?
Am I encroaching on her territory or is she on mine?
Is there vigilante protocol for introducing yourself?
Do I even want to introduce myself or stay separate?
DECISION: No contact tonight. Need to think about this. She didn't spot me (I think) so I have time to figure out how to handle this. Maybe ask Bullock if he knows about other vigilantes in Crime Alley? Or just... keep my distance and see if paths cross naturally?
PERSONAL FEELINGS: Weird mix of "finally, someone else doing this work" and "oh no, someone else is doing this work in my area." Also feeling inadequate—she has gear, training, comms, coordination. I have a hoodie and a phone. But I'm helping people, and that's what matters. Right?
VIOLENT IMPULSE: Interestingly stayed at 3/10 during the entire thing. No aggression toward her despite territorial feelings. Impulse only spikes for actual criminals, not other vigilantes. Good to know.
NEXT STEPS: Keep patrolling. See if I spot her again. Figure out how to handle potential future encounter. Try not to look like a complete amateur if we actually meet.
GEAR ENVY NOTE: I really need to ask Sarah about getting a grappling gun. Swinging between buildings looks way more efficient than my parkour routine.
He closed the app and stared at the ceiling.
Revenant. That was him now. Known vigilante in Gotham.
And apparently he wasn't the only one working Crime Alley.
Gotham's vigilante scene is more crowded than I realized.
Question is whether that's a good thing or a complication.
Probably both.
Marcus went to bed that night with more questions than answers.
But at least he had a name now.
Revenant.
Could be worse. Could be 'Captain Nightman.'
Definitely dodged a bullet there.
Outside, Gotham's chaos continued.
And somewhere in that chaos, a vigilante in purple was doing the same work Marcus was.
Next time I see her, I should probably introduce myself.
Or hide better.
One or the other.
Probably hiding.
Yeah, definitely hiding.
Marcus closed his eyes and tried to sleep.
Tomorrow would bring more patrols, more training, more interventions.
And maybe another encounter with the purple vigilante.
One problem at a time.
That's all I can handle right now.
Outside his window, Gotham's eternal night continued.
And Marcus Reid—now known as Revenant—prepared for whatever came next.