(Holl's P.O.V)

My gaze swept around curiously as I followed Dr.Leslie through the hall and into the medical examination room.

"I can't help but notice the paint on the walls is peeling off."

I spoke, sparking a conversation.

She threw me a weird look over her shoulder.

"I could re-do it in an hour, say for about 100 dollars? Assuming you pay for the paint and supplies."

I offered. I needed to find a way to make money for my expenses. This was a new world after all.

And although I hated my father, I had learned the value of work from a young age.

The stern woman frowned at me as if I was devoid of common sense.

Then without saying a word, she proceeded through the door infront of us, leaving me alone in the hallway.

"Your loss."

I shrugged at her back, then immediately winced as the injury on my shoulder flared up.

Frowning down at the wound, I pushed through the door.

The first thing that stood out to me, was how clean the room on the other side was.

The walls were painted a light blue and with the warm lighting on the ceiling, compounded to make the room comfortable and welcoming.

Dr.Leslie pointed to a small compartment at the end of the room.

"You can wash your hands and face in the sink inside. Leave your bloody clothes in there as well, there's a patient's gown you can wear."

I looked down at myself, the clothes I was wearing were soaked with sewer water and blood.

The message was clear, 'I don't want you ruining my clinic with your grime.'

Without a word, I complied, walking inside the compartment and pulling the curtain behind me.

Within it was a generic mirror, a small shower space, a toilet and a sink.

One look at the mirror and I couldn't recognize myself.

It was essentially still me but...for starters I was a little bit taller.

My peak height had been 6'1, which was kinda tall for an 18 year old but now I was more like 6'3. Almost as tall as my mom had been.

And my face...

I grabbed a nearby towel and dunked it under the sink until it was soaked. Then I used my uninjured hand to gently wipe away the grime and dirt covering my skin.

Okay. That's not normal.

I went from a decent 5 to a 8. And the reason why it wasn't more was due to the scar above my left brow. A scar I'd gotten from tugging on the sails of our boat too fast.

A sudden breeze had pushed the Boom my way, leading to a whack on my forehead that had resulted in furious bleeding and more than a few stitches.

But now, the scar was hardly noticeable. The wild mane of hair on my forehead also served to cover it up.

Below the hair, were my brown eyes. Usually dull, they now shone with a strange light. Flecks of green light seemed to sparkle from within.

The full extent of my change became even more apparent on my jawline; shifting cords of muscles that led to a sharp chin.

It's like coming to this world had dialled up my attractiveness. Not bad...

Inspection of my face done, I turned to the injury on my shoulder. Removing the shirt was a bit tricky as it was stuck to the caked blood around the wound.

I winced a little as it came off, landing on the clean linoleum floor with a wet splat.

Unexpectedly, the injury wasn't bleeding as much anymore.

I ran a hand over it, realizing the pain wasn't as bad as before either.

Infact, it seemed to have...scabbed over a little. The flesh was still raw and very red but...I felt as if I could move my hand again.

My reflection blinked at me.

I was more attractive and could heal faster?

How strange...

(General P.O.V)

(A few Blocks from Dr.Leslie's clinic.)

"Anything?"

Robin's voice came through the comms.

"For the millionth time, no. I'll call you if we find something."

Spoiler replied, annoyed.

"Okay okay, don't be mad."

Tim soothed.

Spoiler shook her head while smiling under her mask. This dummy.

"I'm not mad. Just...Cassie is on the rooftops and I'm following her through the street on my bike. If we see something suspicious, you'll be the first to know."

"Alright."

Tim sighed over the transmission.

"Just be careful, East End is not the safest of places."

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"You don't have to tell me that."

She cut the call, rolling her eyes at his slightly overbearing attitude.

Revving the engine, Spoiler pulled out of the Alley she had briefly stopped in.

She lowered the visor of her helmet before cutting down the street, a shadow following her closely on the rooftops of the buildings around her.

(A few minutes later)

Spoiler was munching on a cheeseburger in frustration, her feet dangling over the edge of a rooftop.

"I just don't get it."

She mumbled with her mouth full.

"I know he's worked up over this whole Barbara thing but...does he have to be so bossy?"

The blonde girl complained to her friend.

Cassandra Cain or Cassie to her friends nibbled on her food without saying a word.

Not that it stopped Spoiler from rambling on.

Gotham in the night was different from the day. The city lights served to give the usually dark and moody atmosphere a touch of beauty.

A low mist hang close to the ground with a chilly wind sweeping through the air, carrying with it the smell of rain.

The two had scoured the entirety of Crime Alley but had come up with nothing. So Spoiler had suggested they take a break.

They grabbed a few snacks and were enjoying the view before them, until the earpiece on her ear buzzed.

She clicked on it immediately.

"Yeah?"

Tim's voice came through, hurried.

"Something happened with the Joker. He's planted explosives not only through the tunnels but under Gotham Stadium too. Batman needs all hands on deck, so I'm going."

He urgently informed her.

Spoiler was immediately on her feet.

"Oh no, there's a game tonight, right?"

"Yeah. "

Robin replied grimly,

"Look, you're on Cassie duty. Stay safe and I'll talk to you later."

He added before the comms went silent.

Spoiler sighed, staring at the direction of the Stadium. She wished she was there...helping.

She wanted some action after the unsuccessful search.

Maybe Robin was wrong and the guy they were after was already gone. Maybe she was wasting her time here when she could be saving lives.

'No. I am helping...'

She thought to herself, shaking her head to remind herself that hanging out with Cassie was just as important.

Cassie needed their focus and attention due to her condition.

She was getting better at understanding people but it was a slow going process. She would revert to thinking like an assassin because that's all she'd been taught.

Her father's training had really messed her up. And if there was anyone who could understand having a bad guy for family, it was Spoiler herself.

Her father was after all the villain Clue Master, the main inspiration to her becoming a hero.

She had started off wanting to 'Spoil' his evil plans and now, 1 year later she was more. A hero.

And heroes are supposed to be there for their friends.

Spoiler turned to face her friend with a wide smile.

"Guess it's just us two. No annoying boyfriend telling us what to do or where to go."

Cassie cocked her head in confusion. She blinked, trying to read the other girl's intentions.

Her shoulders were pulled back, exposing her torso for lethal strikes. Her legs were close together, meaning her footing could be destabilized quickly.

And her body was unguarded. Cassie tagged 18 places she could strike that would kill the more exuberant girl.

But she wasn't going to. Because Stephanie was a...friend?

Heedless to her thought process, Spoiler slung an arm over Cassie's shoulder. The latter tensed upon the contact.

"And it just so happens that I have an idea."

Spoiler said,

"There's a friend of the family who lives here, maybe we should stop by and say hi."

(Holl's P.O.V)

The sting of antiseptic on my injury had me clenching my jaws together.

Dr.Leslie wasn't rough by any means, (she couldn't be even if she wanted) but the burn was nothing to scoff at.

She slapped my chest lightly.

"Stop hunching your back."

I complied, suspecting she was taking out her frustration at being enslaved on me.

She grabbed a few surgical equipment on the tray next to the bed I was seated on and then begun the meticulous work of stitching me up.

"How strange, the wound seems to have already begun healing by itself."

Dr.Leslie said, staring at me in question.

"Beats me...maybe Croc's teeth didn't sink in too deep."

There was no way I was going to reveal to anyone the rest of my powers. Especially her. She wouldn't hesitate telling Batman everything about me.

Let them think the only thing I could do was enslave people.

"I wonder how that happened in the first place. While Waylon has... violent tendencies, they're usually reserved for those who get on his bad side."

She commented.

"Guess I was unlucky then."

I answered.

I winced as she sank the needle a bit too deep. I narrowed my eyes at her. Yeah, she was doing it on purpose.

"Do you always deflect?"

Dr.Leslie inquired.

"No. I just don't like it when people butt in on my business."

I told her, grabbing her wrist.

"Be careful with your hands Doctor. I'm a patient not a doll."

Our sights clashed in mid-air. She tugged her hand away and I let her go.

"And I'm a person. Not a slave."

The doctor added.

Touche'.

With that she continued stitching me up without a word. Once she was done, she wrapped a clean bandage over the injury.

My stomach decided to loudly proclaim it's desire for sustenance. Dr.Leslie pretended she hadn't heard it.

Bless your heart lady.

But I need food.

"Get me something to eat."

I ordered through the Pet Pet collar, not really in the mood for the whole polite thing.

I felt as if I was being devoured from the inside by my hunger.

This had to be the side effect of my enhanced healing. It made sense that I would need food to support that bodily function.

Dr.Leslie said nothing, except for the slight thinning of her lips. Not that I cared. After everything that had happened, no goodwill was lost between us.

"Don't put anything in the food."

I commanded, before she could exit through the door. I didn't trust her. How could I when I literally had her as my slave?

"And also, do not inform anyone from the Bat-family or the GCPD that a certain someone stopped by your clinic. You don't want this place becoming a battleground, do you?"

I questioned.

She jerked her head in a nod and left the room.

'Good, I now have some time to myself. Maybe I can figure out what's with this ability...'

I thought, pulling on the green energy roiling within me.

******

A few minutes later, someone else entered the examination room, a tray in her hands.

I hadn't learned much about my Devil Fruit powers during that brief respite, but I had a few ideas on the limits of what I could do.

The new arrival was a girl a few years older than I was. She had black hair and round glasses over a heart shaped face.

Cute.

Especially when she blushed red upon noticing I was shirtless.

"Oh I'm sorry, Dr.Leslie didn't inform me you were half naked."

She said in a flustered tone.

"You work in a clinic, I'm sure it's not your first time seeing someone without their clothes on."

I responded, hopping off the bed and grabbing the tray from her hands.

I couldn't wait any longer, I was too hungry.

Spaghetti and meatballs? Oh hell yeah. Without another second wasted, I dug in, shoving the fork with a meatball at the end in my mouth, basically inhaling the food.

It was hot and delicious. More like a home cooked meal than anything.

2 minutes later, the plate was licked clean and empty.

"Here."

The girl, who I had forgotten was even in the room offered me a glass of water. I gulped it down before handing over the empty glass.

"That was the best meal I've ever had."

I sighed in delight, falling onto the bed with my belly jutting out slightly.

I felt like myself again.

The girl giggled.

"Thanks. I love cooking. Especially for the patients who stop by at the clinic. They say it reminds them of a home cooked meal."

I looked up at her.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

She replied.

That food was so good...I felt like sleeping. My entire body buzzed slightly, my eyelids growing heavy.

"You know... working at a place like this, things are rarely safe." She started.

"The clinic has been attacked more times than we could count. We live in Gotham after all. And Crime Alley is just the worst. But we always pull through..."

She spoke up, her tone undergoing a change.

I feel so heavy.

Too heavy infact.

My fingers gripped the sheet under me as I tried to push myself up.

A pair of hands landed on my shoulder, shoving me back onto the bed.

I followed the hands and the girl...she had a strange expression on her face.

"You think we would be scared of you? We have faced supervillains before. You're not the first asshole to take advantage..."

My vision was getting blurry.

What did they do?

Did they drug the food? No, impossible. My orders through the slave collar were absolute.

Then how?

Wait, Dr.Leslie. She must have applied an anaesthetic when she was stitching me up.

Fuck. I'm about to pass out.

If that happens, Croc will waste no time in coming in to kill me.

That was the main weakness of Paramecias. Once the devil fruit user goes unconscious, the effects of their devil fruit disappear.