They returned home to an unexpected guest.
Batman.
Standing in Joseph's living room, waiting for them.
Kori tilted her head. "Greetings, Batman," she said, completely unbothered by his presence.
Joseph, on the other hand, sighed and walked in, setting the shopping bags down. "You know, if people keep breaking into my apartment, I'm gonna start taking it personally."
Batman ignored the comment. "This is Starfire's civilian identity. Wonder Woman will tell her of her living arrangements." He handed over a stack of neatly arranged documents.
Joseph took them, flipping through the papers.
Kory Anders.
He held back a snort. How original.
The documentation was thorough. Social security number, birth certificate, school records—everything a person needed to exist in society. Forged, of course, but flawless.
He glanced at Kori, who smiled at her new alias but didn't take the papers from him. He realized why almost immediately.
She couldn't read them.
Joseph made a mental note. He'd have to teach her. Fortunately, he knew how to do it quickly.
Nova had trained him in the Dream State, immersing his subconscious in dozens of languages until he woke up fluent. It had been a brutal but effective method, and he could replicate it for Kori—just a little more gently.
"I'll teach her how to read in English."
Batman gave a slight nod before turning to Kori. "Would you like to enroll in a school?"
Joseph had almost forgotten—school had already started a month ago.
His perfect SAT score and academic record would probably let him negotiate a way back in, but he still needed an excuse for his absence. He'd have to reassure his friends online that he was okay too.
Kori, however, shook her head. "No, I have already finished my schooling on Tamaran."
Batman accepted that answer without argument. "Understood." He reached into his utility belt and pulled out a small case. "These are advanced contact lenses. They'll help you conceal your eyes."
Kori took them gratefully. "Thank you, Batman."
He gave her a small nod before turning back to Joseph. "Your home security needs improvement."
"No kidding," Joseph muttered. "Two infiltrations in a day is two too many."
But Batman was already moving. Without another word, he strode toward the window, climbed onto the ledge, and disappeared into the night.
Joseph sighed. "I need to put up some kind of ward first thing tomorrow."
With Batman gone, Joseph turned to Kori. "So, what do you want to do now? I'll be going back to school in two days. Humans need credentials from these places to make it further in life."
Kori frowned thoughtfully. "I don't know." She clasped her hands together, her expression troubled. "On Tamaran, my path was always decided for me. I was trained to become a worthy ruler. Then, when my sister took the throne, I no longer had a place there. In the arena, I had no choices either—just survival."
Her gaze softened as she looked at him. "Now… I have freedom. But I do not know what to do with it."
Joseph leaned against the counter, considering her words. "Then take your time. Explore your options. Whatever you decide to do, I'll support it. I've got plenty of money."
Kori's lips curled into a small smile. "Thank you, Joseph."
He stretched his arms, glancing toward the hallway. "I should probably move my stuff into my mom's old room. You can take my old room for now."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "Yeah. It's about time."
Joseph hadn't touched his mother's belongings since her death. He hadn't let Nova change anything beside cleaning it up occasionally.
As he stood in the doorway, looking at the neatly arranged furniture and personal items, an ache settled deep in his chest.
He started slowly, boxing up her things. Clothes, jewelry, books—every item he touched carried memories.
Then he found the picture.
A simple photo, tucked away in a drawer.
Him and his mom, smiling. He must have been seven at the time. Before everything fell apart.
Tears slipped down his face before he realized it. He wiped them away quickly, swallowing hard.
He hoped she was somewhere better.
Taking a deep breath, he finished the process. The room was different now—emptier—but he felt… lighter.
Maybe that was okay.
**
Joseph sat beside Kori at the desk, flipping open a notebook. He grabbed a pen and, with smooth, practiced strokes, wrote the English alphabet in both uppercase and lowercase letters.
Kori watched closely, her sharp mind already picking up patterns. "Your symbols are strange," she mused, running her fingers over the letters. "Tamaranian script is more fluid, written in continuous strokes. This is… angular."
Joseph smirked. "Yeah, English is a mess. You'll see what I mean when we get to spelling."
Kori continued studying them for a moment. "Then I will learn."
Joseph smiled. Of course she would.