Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Date: December 25, 1998

Location: Joestar Family Home, London

Snow blanketed the city streets as Christmas arrived in London, filling the Joestar household with warmth and cheer. David was up early, eagerly unwrapping gifts in the living room alongside his parents. Emily's eyes sparkled as she handed him a small, neatly wrapped package.

"Merry Christmas, David," she said, her smile warm and genuine.

David tore open the wrapping to reveal a set of high-quality drawing pencils and sketchpads. He felt a pang of gratitude, thinking back to the few moments he had spent drawing in his past life. The Joestars had always supported his interests, from music to martial arts. His father, Jonathan, placed a hand on David's shoulder.

"Maybe you can sketch us something," Jonathan suggested with a chuckle. "It'll be a nice reminder of today."

The three of them spent the morning together, savoring breakfast and exchanging stories. David felt a rare comfort—one that softened the sharp edges of his determination and made him wonder if he could live an ordinary life in this world. But as the day wore on, he knew that comfort wasn't enough.

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Location: David's Room, Joestar Family Home, London

After the festivities, David retreated to his room and sat on his bed, the looming events of the MCU timeline filling his mind once more. The year 2003 marked the beginning of X-Men United, a turning point that would unleash chaos on a global scale. He thought of the heroes and villains whose lives hung in the balance, and he couldn't ignore the nagging thought that his presence in this world might serve a purpose beyond his own survival.

He had five years. Five years to create a name for himself—a name that could hold weight in this world when everything finally erupted. He would need to be fast, smart, and untraceable. David took a deep breath, his mind settling into a state of steely focus as he made his decision.

He was going to be a vigilante.

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Location: Local Store, London

That evening, David made his way to a small store on the edge of the city. He slipped in and quickly found what he needed—a black Balaclava Ski Mask with eye holes, black gloves, black pants, a plain black T-shirt, and a leather jacket. The items weren't exactly inconspicuous, but they would serve as the perfect base for his costume.

Returning home with his purchases, David placed them on his bed and activated his New Order quirk: "I have the ability to transmute any object." He focused, and his costume slowly began to change, reshaping itself with precision. When he finally pulled back, he found himself staring at a near-perfect replica of the Red Hood costume from Injustice 2, only with a few tweaks: the entire outfit was black, void of the Bat symbol, and the mask now featured a built-in voice changer.

He ran his fingers over the smooth material, satisfied with his work. The outfit was sleek and intimidating—exactly what he wanted.

Next, he used his New Order once more: "I have the ability to turn invisible." This power would allow him to exit and enter his home undetected, leaving no trace of his vigilante activities behind. Satisfied with his preparations, David opened his bedroom window and slipped out into the cold night air, silently making his way across the rooftops of London.

Once a safe distance from his home, he allowed his order to dissipate, making room for a new one. His surroundings felt alive with possibility, and he activated his power once more: "I have the ability to detect any nearby people currently committing a crime."

Almost immediately, he sensed a disturbance a few blocks away—an attempted mugging. With his new focus, he moved quickly, bounding over railings and vaulting across ledges. When he arrived at the scene, he surveyed the area. The darkness cloaked him, making his presence almost ghostly.

Replacing his last order, David whispered again, "I'm an expert at parkour."

His body responded instantly, moving with agility and balance as he leapt from his hiding spot. He struck, disarming the mugger in seconds, his precise movements overwhelming the man before he had a chance to react. The victim, a shaken older man, could only stare in awe as David vanished back into the shadows, the first encounter as his new persona complete.

The thrill of the moment pulsed in his veins as he retreated into the night, feeling a strange sense of purpose and belonging. He wasn't a hero, but he wasn't a bystander anymore.

End of chap.