Marcus woke up Thursday morning without an alarm for the first time in weeks.
No training scheduled. No patrol planned. No coordination meetings with Spoiler.
Just... a normal day.
Weird. What do normal people do with free time?
He texted Sarah: Want to do something today? Spoiler ordered me to take a day off.
Her response came immediately: FINALLY. Yes. Movie at 2 PM? Then dinner? Actual normal college student activities?
Sounds perfect.
Good. You've been wound too tight. Time to remember you're 21, not 40.
They met at the campus coffee shop at 1 PM.
Sarah took one look at him and smiled. "You look almost relaxed. It's unsettling."
"Thanks. I think."
"I mean it as a compliment. You've been running yourself ragged for weeks." She handed him a coffee. "Jackson sends his regards. He's got a lab today but said to tell you 'please don't get stabbed during your day off.'"
"That was one time. And it was barely a scratch."
"It required stitches."
"Minor stitches."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Come on. We're going to see something mindless and entertaining. No thinking about crime patterns or tactical operations allowed."
They walked to the theater, and for the first time in weeks, Marcus felt like a normal college student. No enhanced hearing scanning for emergencies. No tactical awareness mapping escape routes. Just Sarah, talking about her engineering project and complaining about her professor.
"He wants us to redesign a suspension bridge but won't let us use modern materials. 'Think like engineers from the 1800s,' he says. Like I know what they had in the 1800s."
"Probably not carbon fiber."
"Exactly. It's ridiculous." Sarah bought their tickets. "Anyway, enough about my problems. How are you actually doing? Not Revenant. Marcus."
Marcus thought about it. "Tired. But good? I think I'm good. Making a real difference with the vigilante stuff. But also kind of losing track of normal life in the process."
"Hence today. Mandatory normal time." Sarah led him into the theater. "You need this, Marcus. You need to remember there's more to life than punching criminals."
"I don't punch all of them."
"You punch most of them."
"Spoiler said the same thing."
"Because it's true. Now shut up. Movie's starting."
The movie was exactly what Marcus needed—mindless action comedy with ridiculous stunts and zero intellectual demands. He laughed at the stupid jokes, made fun of the impossible physics, and for two hours completely forgot about Gotham's crime problems.
"That was terrible," Sarah said as they left the theater.
"It was perfect."
"Perfectly terrible. But yeah, kind of perfect." She checked her phone. "Dinner? There's that Italian place near campus you like."
"Sounds good."
They walked through Gotham's early evening streets. Marcus's enhanced hearing still picked up sirens in the distance—always sirens in Gotham—but he forced himself not to react.
Someone else's problem tonight. I'm off duty.
The Italian restaurant was busy but not crowded. They got a corner booth, ordered too much food, and talked about everything except vigilante work.
Sarah told him about her family—her mom kept asking when she'd visit, her dad wanted updates on her projects, her younger brother was applying to colleges.
"He wants to come to Gotham U," Sarah said. "I keep telling him to look at literally anywhere else. But he thinks Gotham is 'exciting.'"
"Gotham is a lot of things. Exciting is one word for it."
"I used 'dystopian nightmare' but he didn't listen." Sarah smiled. "What about you? When's the last time you saw your uncle?"
Marcus realized he couldn't remember. "Couple weeks? Maybe three? I've been busy."
"Too busy. He raised you, Marcus. You should visit."
"I know. I should." Marcus picked at his pasta. "It's just... I haven't told him how intense the vigilante work has gotten. The partnership with Spoiler, the operations, all of it. He knows I came back different, knows about the enhancements, but not about me being out there every night."
"He's going to worry. That's what family does." Sarah's expression was serious. "But he deserves to know you're okay. That you're handling it."
"Yeah. You're right." Marcus pulled out his phone. "I should call him. Maybe visit this weekend."
"Do it. And I'll come with you if you want. Moral support."
Marcus smiled and called Uncle Mike.
"Marcus! Haven't heard from you in a while. Everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's good. Just been busy. Wanted to check in, maybe visit this weekend?"
"Visit? Kid, you don't need permission. This is still your home." Uncle Mike's voice was warm. "Saturday good? I'll make dinner. That meatloaf you like."
"Saturday's perfect. Can I bring Sarah and Jackson? Make it a thing?"
"The whole crew? Sure. I'll make extra food. Been too long since I've seen you kids." Uncle Mike paused. "You doing okay, Marcus? Really okay? With everything?"
He meant the resurrection. The enhancements. All of it.
"Managing. Getting better at handling it, actually. I'll explain more when I see you."
"Good. I worry, you know. Can't help it. You died, then you came back different, and then you just... disappeared into college life. Hard for an old man not to worry."
"You're not old. And I'm sorry I've been distant. It's been... a lot to process."
"I know, kid. I know. Just glad you're calling now." Uncle Mike's tone lightened. "Saturday then. Six o'clock. Don't be late or I'm eating all the meatloaf myself."
"Wouldn't dream of it. See you then."
"Looking forward to it. And Marcus? Bring your appetite. I'm making way too much food."
Marcus hung up feeling lighter. "He's making meatloaf."
"Your uncle's meatloaf is legendary. Jackson's going to be thrilled." Sarah smiled. "See? Not that hard. He's just happy to hear from you."
"Yeah. He sounded... relieved. Like he was worried I was avoiding him."
"You kind of were. But now you're not. Progress." Sarah finished her pasta. "Saturday will be good. Normal family dinner. You need that."
They finished dinner around 7 PM and walked back toward campus together.
"Thanks for this," Marcus said. "I needed it more than I realized."
"I know. That's why I insisted." Sarah bumped his shoulder. "You're doing important work, Marcus. But you can't do it if you burn out. Taking care of yourself is part of the job."
"When did you get so wise?"
"I've always been wise. You just haven't been listening." She stopped at the intersection near her apartment. "I'm this way. You good getting home?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Sarah. Really."
"Anytime. That's what friends are for." She hugged him quickly. "See you Saturday for dinner. I'll text Jackson. And Marcus? Take tomorrow night off too. One night isn't enough."
"I'll think about it."
"Think harder. Good night."
She walked toward her apartment, leaving Marcus standing on the corner.
One day off. One normal day. And it actually helped.
He walked back to his apartment slowly, enjoying the evening air, not rushing for once.
Saturday's going to be interesting. Uncle Mike's going to want to know what I've been doing. How deep I'm in this vigilante thing.
That's a conversation I'm not looking forward to. But he deserves honesty.
Meanwhile - Undisclosed Location, Gotham
Barbara Gordon reviewed surveillance footage on multiple screens, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
"Subjects: Marcus Reid, operating as 'Revenant.' Stephanie Brown, operating as 'Spoiler.' Three months observation complete."
She pulled up footage of their coordinated operations—the trafficking takedown, the jewelry store robbery, multiple smaller interventions. The coordination was impressive. Both showed promise.
Kate Kane's voice came through the comm. "You watching the latest footage?"
"Yeah. They're getting better. Fast." Barbara zoomed in on Revenant during the jewelry store operation. "Reid especially. Three months ago he was reactive and sloppy. Now he's tactical and coordinated. That's rapid improvement."
"Think it's just training?"
"Partially. But there's something else. His fighting style integrates too many disciplines too quickly. Multiple martial arts, boxing, tactical awareness—he's learning faster than normal training would allow."
"Enhanced learning? Side effect of whatever brought him back?"
"Maybe. Or something else we're not seeing yet." Barbara made notes. "Medical records confirm he was dead. Gunshot wounds, pronounced DOA. Then three days later, alive with no explanation. Enhancements present immediately."
"Resurrection isn't unheard of in our world. But usually there are... complications. Lazarus madness. Magical corruption. Side effects." Kate's tone was thoughtful. "He seems stable though."
"Very stable. Personality consistent across observations. Works well with others. Shows tactical growth and emotional regulation. No signs of mental degradation or instability." Barbara pulled up Spoiler's files. "Brown is clean too. Self-taught, motivated by personal circumstances, channeling it productively. Good instincts, solid tactical mind."
"So what's the recommendation?"
"Continue observation. Two more weeks minimum. I want to see how they handle increased pressure and whether Reid's rapid improvement continues or plateaus." Barbara's expression became more serious. "And there's another complication."
"What complication?"
"League of Assassins activity in Gotham has increased significantly over the past month. Multiple confirmed sightings. Safe houses being established. That's unusual—Ra's doesn't operate here without reason."
Kate was quiet for a moment. "You think they're connected to our subjects?"
"Unknown. But the timing is suspicious. Increased League presence coinciding with two new vigilantes showing unusual capabilities?" Barbara pulled up additional data. "Could be coincidence. Could be something else. Either way, it's concerning."
"Should we accelerate the timeline? Bring them in before the League makes a move?"
"Not yet. Bruce wants more data. But keep eyes on League activity. If they start moving directly on Reid or Brown, we intervene immediately." Barbara's tone was firm. "We're not letting Ra's get his hands on promising recruits. Especially ones who might not understand what they're dealing with."
"Understood. I'll maintain overwatch on both subjects and track League movements." Kate paused. "These kids have no idea how much attention they're attracting."
"Most new vigilantes don't. That's why they need guidance before they get themselves killed or recruited by the wrong people." Barbara leaned back. "Two more weeks of observation. Then we make our recommendation to Bruce."
"Copy that. Out."
Barbara studied the screens, watching footage of Revenant and Spoiler working together.
Two promising vigilantes. Both improving rapidly. Both attracting dangerous attention.
The question is whether we can bring them into the fold before someone else does.
League activity is never coincidental. Ra's wants something in Gotham.
We need to figure out what before it's too late.
She pulled up the encrypted connection to Bruce Wayne.
Time to update Batman on both the recruits and the League situation.
This was getting more complicated by the day.
Marcus's Apartment - That Night
Marcus logged his day before bed:
DATE: August 21
TOTAL ABILITIES: 270
NORMAL DAY SUMMARY:
Took actual day off. Saw movie with Sarah. Had dinner. Normal college student activities. Remembered what it's like to just be Marcus Reid.
Called Uncle Mike. Visiting Saturday with Sarah and Jackson. He sounded relieved to hear from me. Made me realize I've been distant—avoiding him because I didn't want to explain how deep into the vigilante work I've gotten. But he deserves better than that. He raised me. He was there when I came back. Can't just disappear into Revenant and forget about the people who actually care about Marcus.
PERSONAL ASSESSMENT: Been losing myself in the work. Three weeks of constant operations, training, coordination. Effective but not sustainable. Need to remember I have a life outside of stopping crimes.
UNCLE MIKE SITUATION: He knows about the resurrection and enhancements. But he doesn't know I'm Revenant. Doesn't know I'm out there every night with Spoiler, running operations, getting into fights. Saturday's going to be interesting. Need to figure out how much to tell him. He deserves honesty, but some operational details need to stay secret for his safety.
PLAN: Saturday dinner with Uncle Mike, Sarah, and Jackson. Be honest about doing vigilante work (can't hide it anymore). But keep specifics vague—no names, no exact locations, no details that could put him at risk. Let him know I'm being careful, that I have support, that I'm not doing this alone.
NEXT STEPS: Keep tomorrow night off too. Visit Uncle Mike Saturday. Be honest (to a point). Find better balance between civilian and vigilante life.
He closed the app and looked at his ceiling.
Normal day. Needed that.
Saturday's going to be complicated though. Uncle Mike's going to have a lot of questions.
But that's okay. He deserves answers. Just need to figure out which answers to give.
Outside, Gotham's sirens continued.
But tonight, someone else was handling it.
And Marcus Reid—not Revenant, just Marcus—was okay with that.
He fell asleep easier than he had in weeks.
Tomorrow would bring more questions.
Saturday would bring harder conversations.
But tonight was for rest.
And that was enough.
In the shadows of Gotham, wheels were turning.
Oracle gathering data.
Kate Kane maintaining watch.
League of Assassins moving pieces into position.
All converging on two young vigilantes who had no idea how much attention they'd attracted.
But for tonight, Marcus Reid slept peacefully.
Unaware he was being evaluated.
Unaware decisions about his future were being made.
Just a college student who'd had a normal day with his friend.
Sometimes, ignorance was bliss.
And rest was necessary.
The storm would come eventually.
But not tonight.
Tonight was for being human.
And that was all Marcus needed to be.