Late Night Meeting

The next day we once again found ourselves in the meeting room. 

"There is a group of smugglers I've uncovered that we should target next," Katou reported. "My intel indicates they have been bringing in illegal goods and could potentially possess artifacts of interest." 

I nodded. "Good work. Let's pay them a visit tonight and see what we can find." 

... 

Gearing up in the outfit I wore for nightly missions - an all-black outfit with a jacket with a hood and protective Kevlar panels. It allowed maximum mobility while still offering some defense against blades or small arms fire. 

Over it, I donned a utility belt equipped with an assortment of tools - smoke pellets, flashbangs, and more. They provided additional tactical options in the field. 

I pulled on black tactical gloves with rigid knuckles, ideal for punching out criminals. Sturdy black boots with grippy treads completed the ensemble, ensuring I didn't slip on slick rooftops. Finally, I strapped on my mask that covered the lower half of my face, it had built-in air filters. 

Once fully suited up we left under the cover of darkness, the four of us approached the smugglers' warehouse base near the Gotham docks. Slipping inside, we stealthily made our way through the dimly lit corridors, dispatching guards along the way with quick strikes. 

Reaching a large storage area, we found large crates, but in these crates, I could clearly sense the presence of humans. Women and children destined for lives of exploitation. I could sense their fear even from a distance. 

Scathach's eyes narrowed, spear glinting dangerously. "These villains traffic in human lives...unforgivable." 

I clenched my fists, feeling anger welling up inside me. "Let's give them the sense of the fear they so happily bestow upon others" The others nodded grimly. 

As we grew closer I could overhear their conversation. "Hey shut up in there, before I make you!" One of the grunts said banging on the crate. 

"Don't even joke about that, you know the boss doesn't allow us to touch the merchandise." 

"It's a shame." 

Appearing behind the group I spoke. "It really is. A shame that such garbage humans exist." 

"Wha! Who said that!?" The group quickly went on guard but it was too late. 

We burst from the shadows, a whirlwind of blades and spear strikes. The smugglers quickly drew their guns. 

Bullets sprayed towards us as the smugglers opened fire in panic. But they were no match for our speed and skill. 

Artoria dashed forward, deflecting shots with precise swings of her sword, closing the distance in a blur. She sliced through their guns with ease, leaving the weapons in pieces before they could react. 

As two smugglers reached for knives, Scáthach was on them in an instant, her spear flashing out to pierce their wrists, pinning their hands to the crates behind them as they howled in pain, the blades falling from their now useless hands. 

Three more men rushed me, brass knuckles glinting. I sidestepped the first wild swing, grabbing his arm and using his momentum to hurl him headfirst into his ally, sending both crashing to the ground in a heap. 

The third threw a heavy punch at my torso. I twisted, letting it glance off my side as I slammed my elbow into his temple, knocking him out cold. 

From the rafters, Katou rained down a volley of shuriken on the remaining smugglers, shredding their legs and leaving them crawling in agony on the blood-slicked floor. 

Within minutes, the warehouse was cleared, and the vile criminals were left moaning in pain and disarmed on the floor, limbs shattered and riddled with throwing stars. As a parting gift, I decided to crush each of their crotches making sure they'd never be able to further their lineage. None had escaped. 

Suddenly Katou called out to me. "Master there is a presence approaching." 

"I felt it, the three of you switch to your spiritual forms." 

"Very well" 

"Understood." 

"Okay." 

After switching to spiritual form, my servants vanished from sight just as a dark figure dropped down from the rafters. Tall and imposing, he was dressed in black body armor with a mask shaped like bat ears - the legendary vigilante himself, Batman. 

He surveyed the scene grimly, taking in the destruction and the moaning, disabled criminals scattered about. His gaze fixed on me, eyes narrowing suspiciously. 

"Did you do this?" he growled in a gravelly voice. looking at the scattered bodies sprawled across the floor. 

I stood calmly, meeting that intense glare. This confrontation was inevitable. Although we didn't meet under the best of circumstances I could still use this situation to my advantage. 

"I didn't kill them if that's what you're worried about. I stopped them from harming innocents," I replied evenly. Motioning toward the crates. 

His eyes narrowed slightly when his eyes fell on the crates. "Human traffickers?" 

"Yeah." Anger seeping into my voice. 

He made his way toward the crate and quickly unlocked it. The crate doors swung open, revealing a group of disheveled and frightened women and children huddled together. Their eyes widened at the sight of the dark figure before them. 

Batman's expression softened slightly. "It's alright, you're safe now," he said in a gentler tone. Turning back to me, his gaze was still suspicious but less hostile. 

"The police have been informed to collect both cargo and captors," I stated evenly. 

Batman gave a curt nod, seeming to accept that for now. His eyes lingered on the moaning criminals scattered around us. 

"Excessive force sends the wrong message in Gotham. Vengeance only breeds more violence," he rasped. 

I met his gaze unflinchingly. "I don't claim any higher morality. I simply removed vile individuals intent on harming others." 

We stared each other down, neither yielding. Batman operated in shades of grey, but there was an underlying nobility to his mission. 

Finally, Batman spoke again. "You seem young I assume you're the one responsible for the recent vigilante activity these past two months. I have been following your work closely." 

"Yeah," I confirmed his suspicions. then I asked what asked something that was on my mind. "You're not going to try and arrest me?" 

"That.. would be highly hypocritical of me," He said. "But restraint is vital. You can't go around crippling people." 

"I usually go for a softer approach but I have a strong dislike for human traffickers and the like." 

"Listen, you have skill and determination. But walking the path of a vigilante demands absolute commitment and brings great risk - not just to yourself, but to your loved ones as well. This is not a choice to be made lightly without fully comprehending the sacrifices required." 

"I don't have anyone like that, and I've come too far to go back now." 

He studied me for a while before finally speaking again. "I understand... How would you feel about working with a team?" He asked. 

I forced myself not to let my surprise show on my face. "I wouldn't be opposed," I answered back. "But I have something that I need in return." 

"And what is that?" 

"Historical artifacts." 

"Why?" He questioned. 

"Let's just say I like to collect them," I said. 

"I see... I'll take it into consideration. I'll be in touch." With that, he fired a grappling hook and disappeared into the night.