"Limited to ones' Imagination" - DC Fanfic

The morning air was crisp as Alex walked down the sidewalk, a box of chocolates in one hand and a bouquet of white roses in the other. It was Valentine's Day, and for once, he had put in some effort to look the part. His usually wild hair was neatly combed, and his outfit—while simple—was decent enough for the occasion.

Most importantly, though, he had something special planned for James.

Sitting carefully on the ground beside him was a custom-built dinosaur toy, a personal creation modeled after Power Ranger Mechazords. It had taken him hours to put together, using a mix of metal, wiring, and a few miscellaneous components he had salvaged and reshaped to bring the toy to life. He even added a few moving parts, making sure it had enough articulation to be worthy of James's enthusiasm.

Alex rang the doorbell and stood back, ready for the inevitable chaos.

The door cracked open just enough for a pair of suspicious eyes to peek through.

Then, slam!

The door shut.

"Stranger!" James's voice rang through the house.

Alex burst into laughter.

From inside, he could hear Margaret struggling to contain the little gremlin as James scrambled away. "James! That's Alex! You know Alex!"

A moment later, the door reopened, this time revealing Margaret, her expression shifting from exasperation to mild surprise. She took a second to scan Alex's appearance, noting the roses, chocolates, and—most surprising of all—his outfit.

"You're looking… unusually put together today," she remarked, stepping aside to let him in.

Alex smirked. "Well, it's a special day, isn't it?"

Margaret eyed the box on the ground. "What's that?"

"A surprise," Alex said. Then, with a grin, he held up the roses and chocolates. "But first, these are for you."

Margaret's face softened. She carefully took the bouquet, a small smile forming as she ran her fingers over the soft petals. "You even got white roses… you know I love these."

"That's why I got 'em," Alex said with a casual shrug.

James, meanwhile, had zero interest in the romantic exchange. His eyes were locked onto the box as he dragged it into the house, curiosity burning bright.

Alex knelt down beside him, tapping the lid lightly. "There's someone in need in there," he said in a conspiratorial whisper. "Open it up and see who needs who—but be careful."

James hesitated for a second before looking at his mom for approval. Margaret sighed, but seeing no immediate danger, she gave him a nod. "Alright, but be careful."

With growing excitement, James pried the lid open—

And immediately squealed loud enough to make Margaret flinch.

Inside the box sat a massive dinosaur toy, half his size, its metallic body gleaming in the light. The toy's tail swished slightly, powered by a small internal mechanism Alex had installed. Its joints clicked as James grabbed it, eyes wide in amazement.

Margaret's eyebrows shot up. "Did you… buy that?"

Alex grinned, shaking his head. "Of course not. I made it."

James launched himself at Alex, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug. "Thank you!!" he shouted before running off with the toy, his excitement infectious.

Alex chuckled, watching him go. Then, with a more serious expression, he turned to Margaret. "Robert doesn't give gifts often, does he?"

Margaret's face faltered for just a second before she sighed. "Yeah… but it's fine." She gave Alex a pointed look. "At least someone is doing something now."

Alex didn't push the topic further. He could already tell how she felt about it.

A Few Hours Later…

The day passed in comfortable ease.

Margaret sat at the dining table, occasionally sneaking glances at Alex as he worked in the kitchen. He had volunteered to cook, and despite her protests, he insisted.

What she didn't know was that Alex had subtly shifted his transformation ability, altering his clothes in secret to match that of a Pokémon World Chef. His knowledge of cooking techniques from that world was leagues ahead of standard methods, and he was using every trick in the book.

The aroma of seasoned meat and freshly baked bread filled the house, making Margaret lean back in her chair with a satisfied sigh.

"You really don't have to do all this," she said, shaking her head.

Alex glanced over his shoulder. "Consider it payback for dealing with James's gremlin energy every day."

Margaret chuckled. "Fair enough."

Just as Alex was plating the food, a knock came from the front door.

His entire body tensed.

Something felt… off.

Slowly, he wiped his hands on a towel and made his way to the door. He exhaled sharply before swinging it open.

And immediately frowned.

Standing outside, in the dim light of the evening, was a figure cloaked in shadow and authority.

Batman.

His imposing silhouette, the sharp white slits of his eyes, and the sheer presence he exuded made it painfully clear that he hadn't come for small talk.

Alex stared at him for a second. Then, without a word—

He slammed the door shut.

Turning on his heel, he walked back toward the kitchen.

Margaret raised an eyebrow. "Who was it?"

Alex opened his mouth to lie. "It was no o—"

"BATMAN!"

The excited voice of James shattered the moment.

Both Alex and Margaret froze, eyes wide.

Alex slowly turned his head toward the living room.

James stood near the door, giddy beyond belief as he peeked through the window. His face was practically glowing with excitement.

Margaret let out a sharp breath. "...You closed the door on Batman?"

Alex pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yeah. Yeah, I did."

There was another knock—this time louder.

Alex sighed, muttering under his breath. "This is gonna be a problem..."