The next three weeks blurred together in a rhythm of training, coordination, and operations.
Marcus's days became structured: classes in the morning, training in the afternoons (alternating between I-Ching's dojo and Ted Grant's gym), patrols in the evenings, weekly tactical sessions with Spoiler.
The coordination with Spoiler evolved into genuine partnership. They developed shorthand communication, understood each other's tactical preferences, anticipated movements during operations.
Week One - Early August:
Three coordinated interventions. A burglary ring (Spoiler's investigation, Marcus provided muscle). Two domestic situations (Marcus's reactive response, Spoiler provided backup). One drug distribution network takedown (joint operation, perfectly executed).
New abilities copied:
Click - Advanced first aid techniques (from paramedic at hospital)
Click - Structural engineering basics (from construction worker on campus)
Click - Street-level drug trade knowledge (from informant Spoiler introduced him to—guy owed her a favor, shared insider information)
Ability count: 264
Spoiler taught him surveillance techniques. How to follow targets without being detected. How to use cameras and angles. How to be patient during long observations.
"Vigilante work is 90% boring surveillance and 10% actual fighting," she explained during a stakeout. "Most people can't handle the boring part."
"Is this a test?"
"Everything's a test. You're doing fine though. Haven't complained once in three hours."
"I'm very patient when I need to be."
"Good. Patience keeps you alive in Gotham."
Week Two - Mid August:
The partnership became known. News coverage started mentioning "Revenant and Spoiler" as a team. Social media posts showed them working together. Criminals in Crime Alley learned to watch for both of them.
"We're officially a brand now," Spoiler joked after seeing a news headline: "Dynamic Duo Strikes Again in Crime Alley."
"Please tell me they didn't actually call us a 'dynamic duo.' That's Batman and Robin's thing."
"They did. We're stuck with it."
"Great. Nothing like living in the shadow of the original dynamic duo."
"At least they didn't call us 'Revenant and Sidekick.'"
"If they'd called you my sidekick, I'd have retired immediately. You'd have killed me."
"Accurate assessment."
New abilities copied:
Click - Negotiation tactics (from hostage negotiator during a tense standoff)
Click - Advanced lock manipulation (from reformed thief Spoiler knew—she had weird connections)
Click - Basic Mandarin phrases (from restaurant owner Marcus helped)
Ability count: 267
Training with I-Ching reached new intensity. The blind master pushed Marcus harder, introduced weapons work, refined his combat flow state.
"You're different now," I-Ching observed after a particularly intense session. "More focused. More purposeful. Whatever path you're walking, you're committed to it."
"Just trying to help where I can."
"More than that. You're building something. I can sense it." I-Ching's blind eyes seemed to see everything. "Partnerships require care. Purpose requires balance. Don't lose yourself in the work."
"I'll try to remember that."
"Try harder." I-Ching placed a hand on Marcus's shoulder. "Because I sense you're approaching something. A turning point. What happens next will define what you become. Rest is as important as action. Remember that."
Week Three - Late August:
Marcus and Spoiler stopped a major armed robbery—jewelry store, four suspects with automatic weapons. The coordination was perfect. Spoiler provided overwatch from adjacent rooftop, Marcus used his enhanced speed for close-quarters takedown.
All four suspects neutralized. No civilian casualties. Clean operation.
"We're getting good at this," Marcus said afterward.
"We're getting competent. There's a difference." But Spoiler was smiling. "Though yeah, that was pretty smooth."
New abilities copied:
Click - Crisis management protocols (from emergency dispatcher)
Click - Urban climbing techniques (from parkour practitioner at gym)
Click - Basic psychology—reading micro-expressions (from therapist at campus counseling center)
Ability count: 270
The violent impulse stayed manageable—fluctuating between 3-5/10 depending on the situation. The tactical awareness from Spoiler helped keep it channeled productively. Structure and strategy gave the aggression a framework.
Saturday evening, three weeks after the trafficking operation, Marcus met Spoiler for what had become their regular tactical review.
"Okay," Spoiler said, pulling up her tablet. "Three weeks of data. Let's analyze our effectiveness."
She showed him statistics. Crime in Crime Alley down 23% since they'd started coordinating. Response time to emergencies improved by 40%. Victim safety rate at 97%—only one civilian injury in three weeks of operations.
"These are real numbers," Spoiler said. "Measurable impact. We're not just stopping random crimes—we're actually making the neighborhood safer."
Marcus studied the data. She was right. The strategic approach, the coordination, the planning—it was working better than random reactive patrols ever could.
"So what's next?" he asked. "We keep doing what we're doing?"
"Mostly. But we're also reaching the limits of what two people can accomplish." Spoiler zoomed out on her crime map. "Crime Alley and East End are improving. But Burnley's getting worse. The Bowery's still a mess. We can't cover everything."
"So we prioritize."
"So we stay focused on our areas and accept we can't save everyone." Spoiler's tone was matter-of-fact but Marcus heard the frustration underneath. "That's the hard part of strategic thinking. Triage. Some areas get help, others don't."
"That sucks."
"It does. But it's reality." She closed the tablet. "We do what we can where we are. That's all anyone can do."
That night, Marcus logged his progress:
DATE: August 20
TOTAL ABILITIES: 270
THREE-WEEK SUMMARY:
Partnership with Spoiler fully functional. We're operating as actual team now—coordinated, strategic, effective. News calls us "Revenant and Spoiler" like we're an official thing. Guess we are.
OPERATIONS COMPLETED: 8 major interventions, 15+ minor responses. All successful. 97% victim safety rate. Crime in Crime Alley down 23%. Those are real numbers. Real impact.
ABILITIES GAINED: 10 new abilities over three weeks. Mix of tactical (negotiation, crisis management), technical (advanced first aid, lock manipulation), and knowledge (drug trade info, Mandarin, psychology). Collection reaching 270 total. Getting close to Phase 2 completion (280 target).
TRAINING PROGRESSION: I-Ching pushing weapons work, talking about balance and rest. Ted Grant working advanced combinations. Both suspect I'm using training practically but neither knows specifics. OpSec holding.
TACTICAL DEVELOPMENT: Surveillance techniques mastered. Strategic thinking becoming natural. Can see patterns in crime now, understand organization structures. Spoiler's teaching working—I'm not just reactive anymore.
VIOLENT IMPULSE: Stable at 3-5/10. Tactical awareness helps channel it productively. Having structure (coordinated operations with clear objectives) gives aggression framework. Much more manageable than early weeks.
PARTNERSHIP DYNAMICS: Spoiler and I work seamlessly now. Shorthand communication. Anticipate each other's moves. Trust built through successful operations. She's teaching me strategy and investigation. I provide enhanced capabilities and immediate response. Complementary skill sets creating something better than either alone.
SARAH'S ASSESSMENT: "You're more effective but also more exposed. Being known as a team means people track both of you. Be careful."
JACKSON'S CONCERN: "Three weeks of intense operations is sustainable short-term. Long-term you'll burn out. Pace yourself."
MY ASSESSMENT: This is working. I'm better at vigilante work than I was a month ago. More strategic, more effective, more capable. The partnership makes me stronger. But Jackson's right—this pace is intense. Need to watch for burnout.
PERSONAL FEELINGS: For the first time since resurrection, I feel like I'm actually making a difference. Not just stopping individual crimes—changing the safety level of entire neighborhoods. That's what the abilities are for. That's what coming back was for.
NEXT STEPS: Continue coordination with Spoiler. Reach Phase 2 completion (280 abilities). Keep training. Keep improving. Stay sustainable—this is a marathon, not a sprint.
CONCERN: Spoiler mentioned we can't cover everything. Some areas get help, others don't. That bothers me more than it should. Want to help everyone but can't. Need to accept limits.
Sunday morning, Marcus woke up to texts from Spoiler:
Spoiler:BTW, noticed you've been improving faster than normal. Whatever training regimen you're on, it's working. Keep it up.
If only you knew it was copying abilities from everyone I meet, including you.
Revenant:Good resources and better coordination. Learning a lot from working with you.
Spoiler:Smooth talker. Anyway, heads up—I'm tracking something big. Might need your help in a week or two. Major operation. Details later.
Revenant:I'm in. Just let me know when.
Spoiler:Will do. Also, you should invest in better gear. That hoodie's getting ratty.
Revenant:It has character.
Spoiler:It has holes. There's a difference.
Revenant:The holes add ventilation. Very tactical.
Spoiler:You're impossible. Talk later.
Marcus smiled despite himself.
Three months ago I died. Now I'm bantering with another vigilante about my costume choices.
Life is weird.
Wednesday at Ted Grant's gym, Ted pulled Marcus aside after sparring.
"You're getting sharp, kid. Real sharp. Whatever you're doing out there, it's working." Ted's expression was serious. "But sharp edges cut both ways. Don't forget to take care of yourself while you're taking care of everyone else."
"I'm managing."
"You're surviving. There's a difference." Ted handed Marcus a water bottle. "I've seen a lot of fighters burn out. Especially young ones who think they're invincible. You're not invincible, kid. No one is."
"I know."
"Do you?" Ted studied him. "Because you've got that look. That intensity. Like you're running toward something or away from something. Either way, it's not sustainable forever."
"What should I do differently?"
"Take a day off once in a while. Rest. Recover. Let your body and mind catch up to your ambition." Ted's tone softened. "You're doing good work. Whatever it is. Just don't destroy yourself doing it."
That evening, Marcus met Spoiler for patrol coordination. She took one look at him and frowned.
"You look tired."
"I'm fine."
"You look tired," she repeated. "When's the last time you took a night off?"
Marcus tried to remember. "Three weeks ago? During that week I was laying low after the viral footage."
"Three weeks of constant operations and training. That's not sustainable." Spoiler crossed her arms. "Take some night off. No patrol. No training. Just rest."
"There's too much—"
"Take few nights off," she said firmly. "That's not a suggestion. That's an order from your partner. Crime Alley will survive one night without us. You won't survive burnout."
"You sound like everyone else this week."
"Because everyone else is right. Listen to them. And listen to me." Spoiler's tone softened slightly. "I need you functional, Revenant. Not burned out. Take the night off."
Marcus wanted to argue. But she was right. He was tired. Running on adrenaline and determination for weeks.
"Okay. Break time."
"Good. I'll take the night off too. We both need rest." She moved toward the roof edge. "See you soon. Get some sleep."
Marcus logged one final note that night:
REALITY CHECK: Multiple people telling me to slow down. I-Ching, Ted, Spoiler. They're all right. Been running hard for three weeks. Need to pace better or I'll burn out before hitting Phase 2 completion.
DECISION: Taking some nights off. Rest. Recovery. Let my body catch up. Then back to work Friday.
REMINDER: This is a marathon, not a sprint. Need to stay sustainable. Can't help anyone if I'm burned out.
He closed the app and actually went to bed at a reasonable hour for the first time in weeks.
Outside, Gotham's chaos continued.
But for one night, Marcus Reid would let someone else handle it.
Rest was part of training too.
He just had to remember that.
DATE: August 21
TOTAL ABILITIES: 270
STATUS: Three weeks of intense partnership operations complete. Taking first rest night tomorrow. Phase 2 approaching completion. On track but need to pace better.
Marcus closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
Tomorrow would be different.
Tomorrow would be normal.
Whatever that meant anymore.