She explained to the man various medical jargon. The man was not paying attention in the least. He shook his head in agreement and just did the thousand-yard stare. Seeing this, the little girl got up and walked away depressed. Knowing that both she and her mom were in for some trouble. Looking at Alfred, Maxmillion excused himself. He went to follow the girl.
Spotting her by a vending machine checking to see if anyone left their change he walked up behind her.
"Boo!" Maxmillion said behind her. The girl jumped like a scared cat. "Tell me, do you enjoy eating and living like this?"
"What's it to ya?!" The girl said looking at him angry. Her accent was quite unusual. The colors around her where all sorts of mixed up. A very thin gold glow like Gordon. But the Gray glow is what Maxmillion was interested in. It meant she had several different Paths she could take.
"It is everything and nothing to me." Reaching in his pocket, Maxmillion pulled out a bill. It was a 20.00 bill. "How much for you to talk to me?"
The girl thought for a few seconds. With that 20.00 she could wait till the man left and buy some quick food for her mother and herself. "That 20.00 will do." Reaching out, Maxmillion allowed her to snatch it from him.
"Very well. Answer time then. Is that fucker molesting you yet?"
"No. He is not that dumb." She didn't even flinch when answering.
"Has he started to beat you yet for no reason?"
"No.. he hasn't." This was somewhat of a lie. "He beats my mom when she does not bring "enough" home."
"I see." Pulling out another 20.00 he handed it to her. "How much is your mother worth?"
"I don't think your old enough for what she does. I am not for sale either." The girl eyes darted around the area making sure no one was nearby. Maxmillion continued to ask away his questions. His spiritual awareness would alert him if there was anyone approaching, so he was relaxed unlike her. 'If I can keep getting cash, it is worth it talking to this weirdo.'
"Looks are deceiving. I am not interested in that currently anyway. Now answer my question."
Racking her brain, the girl figured her mom on good night made 540.00 or so. She told him and he looked at her weirdly. "That is actually pretty decent. When you get older what do you think you will make?" Before Maxmillion could say anything else, the girl struck out with her hands.
"You bastard!" She yelled.
Maxmillion grabbed her wrist and pushed her away. Her yell alerted a security guard around the corner. Feeling the man head over, Maxmillion decided to calm her down.
"Calm down stupid. A guard is coming. If you don't want to get your mom in trouble, I suggest you relax." Moving to the machine. Maxmillion put a dollar in getting some honey roasted peanuts. The guard came around the corner. Seeing two kids he shook his head and left.
"Well, that could have gone worse." Feeling some danger behind himself, Maxmillion bent at the waist as the girl took another swipe at him. "Easy there little kitty cat. Or are you a panther?"
Seeing that she couldn't hit the boy, the girl turned to walk away. She stopped when he called to her.
"You know it is going to get worse right? It always gets worse." Maxmillion said seriously. "Eventually he will hit your mom hard enough it will affect her health permanently. Then, when she cant work, he will put you out there. People are stupid, always thinking kids are safe from stuff like that. But deep down, they know better." Walking to the side of her, he bent his knees to look at her face. "One day, what he does to your mom, he will do to you. You should find a way to get free. Or a way to make it better for your mom. Here, if you ever need a place to go to." Handing her a slip with an address, Maxmillion walked away.
The girl looked at the address, it was for one of the few assault shelters that Martha Wayne started. The girl tucked it away into her sock along with the money. She made her way back to her mom and the man.
"My name is Selina!" She yelled out. She grumbled seeing he did not stop. "Humph! He did not tell me his name."
'It is Maxmillion.' Feeling the whisper next to her ear, Selina turned around to see no one was there. 'Take it easy. You need tricks to survive in the World.' Maximillion sent her a little sound transmission to mess with her. As well as expose her to the weirdness of the World straight up.
-Back with Alfred-
"Master Maxmillion, enjoy your walk?" Alfred asked. While he waited he listened to the nurse talk to the woman, once the man left to go to the bathroom. He tried to approach the woman, but did not know what to say really. Once he finally figured out a sentence, Maxmillion came over.
"Yup. It was a nice one. Got some honey roasted peanuts. Want some?" Maximilian smiled holding some out. Alfred decline. Peaking to the side, he watched the Wayne's come out with Bruce. "Suit yourself. How did it go?"
"Just fine. It was not as bad as it looked. And it is healing great. Doctor chocked it up to me having a healthy body." Bruce grabbed his arms and gave a squeeze. "See that Max, I am strong like a hero?" Maxmillion gave him a smile and said nothing else.
"You just need to be more careful." Martha said. She looked at Maxmillion and thought about what the doctor said. 'Doctor Talon said someone did a setting on Bruce, it had to have been Maxmillion. I should thank him. But how?'
"I hope you enjoy the gala then. I am actually quite sleepy." Maxmillion was not lying. He spent all night and morning on cultivating. All that he had available energy-wise, was enough in case someone attacked. "I think I stood up to late." To make a point, he rubbed his eyes.
"To many late nights reading Master Max." Alfred said from the side. "I think it best we do head back. It gives us the chance to talk about some things."
"Eh, is it about my Uncle that wishes to adopt me? Not a problem and we should just get it over with like a bad band- aid." Maxmillion said point-blank. He looked to Bruce and give him a smile. "It will be fine, we can still hang out when you are in town."
"I guess." Bruce pouted. "Just wish you would have transferred to my school. It would have been so much better."
"We have our own paths Bruce." Maxmillion kneeled next to him. He knew Selina was over by her mother talking. Sending a small mental suggestion to Martha, he made her realize the state the woman was in. Martha walked over to talk to the woman with Thomas. "Remember Bruce, no matter what happens, I have your back until I cant anymore."
"You always say that. What does that mean exactly?"
"Different views on life, different moralities my friend." Maxmillion said. "Think about how I got suspended from the prep school. That should help. Never stop thinking for yourself. Remember what the Gray Ghost said."
"Right.." Bruce mumbled sadly. "But Christmas and the other holidays. You will come by yes?"
"Yup." Maxmillion turned to see Selina's dad coming back. He looked irritable. Selina's mom did not look comfortable and had been stuttering. Martha was unable to help convince the woman. And that would not go well. Maxmillion walked over stealthy next to Selina. "Well mam, that sucks you can not help us at the homeless shelter. Your husband looks really strong. He could help a lot of folks out. A regular old "metal man" I bet."
Hearing Maxmillion flatter him, Selina's dad puffed his chest toward the Wayne's. "We need to go. My wife is unwell. Best she gets home and rest." The Kyle's left slowly. Selina gave Maxmillion a look before turning away.
"You are going to miss the gala at this rate." Maxmillion said. He moved over to Bruce and pushed the chair to leave the hospital. "Trust me, enjoy your time with your folks, you never know when they can be taken from you." Bruce thought he was talking about his own. But Maxmillion was talking about what happens to Bruce himself.
-A few hours later-
After seeing the Wayne's off, Maxmillion and Alfred walked the streets of Gotham. Alfred enjoyed the walk and did not mind the criminal element that was very apparent. No one bothered them. Maxmillion sent out a small field to divert them. "Terror Field" kept weak will people away.
(Variable detected. Pulling information from memories. Scenario altered from the course. The subject should not be in Gotham.)
"Hmmm, Alfred I think I saw someone over there." Maxmillion pointed to the alley. He sprinted off, Alfred following behind him. In the alley was a young man about the same age as himself. The A.I. scanned him over, as Maxmillion checked him as well. "Alfred, someone beat him a good bit."
(Scenario complete. Spiritual Clone is on its way. Link connecting now.)
'Bah take over and have it come here. I can not waste the Spiritual Energy on it. Even more so, Mental Energy.'
"My word!" Alfred had reached into his pocket to call an ambulance. The old Nokia would be a good idea, if it had signal. Maxmillion had disrupted it. "No signal. Blasted thing. The Hospital is just a few blocks back. We can go and check him in."
"We can not. Look." Grabbing the hands, he showed Alfred the handcuffs and then the one's on the feet. "Someone abducted him. These are also police issue. GPD inscribed on them. We need to get him out of here and treat him ourselves."
"Master Max.. I do not think that is a good idea." Alfred said. "This young man could be extremely dangerous."
"Tch, I will do it myself then. Disappointed in you Alfred." Maxmillion picked John up an ran back on to the main street. With so many people on the streets, it was easy to dip, hide, and get lost. 'Do not fail me now movement art!' As he moved, the "Slithering Eel" was executed. It was meant for the water, but could work on land. He practiced mostly in the pool on the estate.
"Master Maxmillion! Get back here!" Alfred called. He did not expect Maxmillion to act so rash. "Oh, dear.. how do I explain I lost him?"
"Mr.Peenysworth do not worry, he will be fine." A voice came from behind Alfred. Turning the butler was happy to see Mr.Vega. The resemblance to Maxmillion was uncanny. The setup was that he was the brother of Maxmillion's mother. Something the A.I. set up before they arrived. Her calculating abilities were quite the thing. Several more needed to unfold, but that was for the future. "I heard from Thomas that you were going for a walk. Sent several people to look from the hospital. Maxlord Vega, a pleasure to meet in person and not over video chat."
"Yes.. are you sure about this?" Alfred was worried about Maxmillion. Seeing the other uniformed men and women ease him just a bit.
"He will be fine. best people on it. I say we take a ride around. My person will call if they get him first." Mr.Vega open the door for Alfred to get in. Driving off around the area, the two started to talk about Maxmillion and how to set up a meet for him and Bruce in the future. Max did not run off to a random place. He went to a penthouse that the A.I. sent the address for.
-Back at the Kyle's place same time-
"Where did this money come from?" Mr.Kyle yelled. He found it in the hamper. It was not the money Maxmillion gave Selina. But money he forgot to take out his pocket himself. He was already drunk and high from the meds that were for Mrs.Kyle. "Get in here brat!"
"What is it?" Selina asked as she shuffled in. Her mother was in the hall waiting by. "That is not mine."
"Come here. You have been hiding money from me." His voice slurred slightly. His eyes looking her over. "About time you start pulling your weight around here!" Selina shook a little. Her senses telling her of danger. She backed away into the hallway. Her mother saw the terrified look on her daughter's face. "Come here!"
*Thump* Selina back went into the wall. The old place was falling apart. Her mother tried to help her up. Mr.Kyle was already over them both. A struggled ensued instantly. It was not going to end well. Mr.Kyle my have been fat, but his weight would work in his favor against the two.