"How is his condition?"
"He's not dying, but there seems to be a mental issue. He's trapped in his own delusion and can't get out."
"Should we ask Harley for help?"
"It's better not to. Unlike you, I don't trust her."
Su Ming walked over to Damian's side. The conversation between the two was in hushed tones, both sets of eyes focused on the pale, expressionless Batman.
Compared to Catwoman, he looked more like a dead man.
But this result is exactly what Su Ming wanted. He just needed Batman to regain consciousness and then let the script play out.
The Joker wanted to die at Batman's hands, but the Bat refused to kill him. However, the Laughing Bat was pressing him step by step. If he didn't want to lose, he had to retreat.
Yes, a splendid play always has encores, and Su Ming still needed the Joker to play some role.
But with so many people here, that wouldn't work. He needed to hold back the Laughing Bat and the Destruction Legion during the Joker's encore to minimize the uncontrollable factors.
"I think we should let Alfred try. I've heard stories of family members awakening those in comas, talking for decades while holding their hands at the bedside."
Damian was skeptical of Deathstroke's suggestion, which had no scientific basis and relied on luck and mysticism.
Most of the time, it was hope given by doctors to the patient's family, a psychological support to persist in living.
Damian wasn't so fragile as to place hope in a mere possibility. Rather than that, he'd prefer to think of a way to deal with the current Earth's crisis.
He shook his head, "I've tried. I held his hand and spoke a lot, but he had no reaction at all. Even though his eyes are open, he's cut off from the world."
"Let the butler try, child, you... are not quite suitable." Su Ming patted his head, showing a bitter smile while gazing blankly at Batman.
Damian squinted his eyes, "What do you know?"
"Nothing, stop making things up, I don't know." Deathstroke trembled, hurriedly shook his head, and walked away, looking somewhat flustered, toward Harley and Poison Ivy sitting at the table.
Damian stood silently in place, gripping his chin. His lineage, indeed...
In that case, let's let Ah Fu try. The conclusion will be known soon.
Harley and Ivy were sitting side by side, eating fruit. A vine broke through the hard stone ground with several red fruits hanging on it. Harley was eating so much that juice dripped on her chest, and her face looked like a little raccoon.
When she saw Deathstroke approaching, she generously plucked a fruit for him, while Ivy rolled her eyes.
The house in New York was her and Harley's 'love nest', but this man insisted on moving in, disrupting their world for two.
If she weren't relying on him to think of a way to save the world, she would definitely find a chance to kick him out.
This person was too dangerous. Harley had never had any resistance to people with broad-minded thoughts and seemed more charmed by those who appeared clever or chaotic.
"Want some? It's really sweet."
"No, thanks, we have other preparations to make."
"Looking for something? I'm very familiar with this place, used to come here often."
"Do you know how to operate a mecha?"
"Huh?"
Harley was swinging her legs while sitting on the table, but Deathstroke suddenly shifted the topic in another direction, catching her off guard for a moment.
However, she soon beamed a big smile, ignoring the strange look Diana shot her from afar, and directly leaped onto Deathstroke.
"Kind man, are you saying you've got a new toy for me?"
Su Ming peeled her off and placed her back onto the table, "If circumstances allow, I would like to borrow an exoskeleton armor from the old butler for you. After all, Batman has more than ten sets of armor, and he's not using them."
Harley glanced at Batman, who was staring blankly at the ceiling on the sickbed nearby, her smile gradually becoming radiant, "I think he might have to say goodbye to the armor in the future...."
"Don't say that, I believe Batman can still be saved." Su Ming gestured with his teeth, signaling her to lower her voice.
"Heh, alright then, I'll listen to you." Harley licked her lips and grinned, "With technology so advanced now, armor is controlled by mini-computers. As long as the mind is agile, anyone can wear one and fight."
Su Ming nodded, flexing his jaw, "Just wait, this time it's not needed, but when there's an opportunity, I'll get you fully equipped."
"Then you must remember your promise. I'll close my eyes and wait for the gift to be placed by the bedside, okay?"
Harley reached out and touched the flower on Su Ming's chest, but suddenly, the rose grew a leaf and swatted her hand. Harley showed a surprised expression, as if the flower had hit her?
................
What is the happiest moment in life?
For Bruce, it's the first thing he remembers in life.
He was only four then, on a warm summer night, running towards Wayne Manor from outside. It was already past his bedtime.
Thomas, Martha, and Alfred stood hand in hand between him and the manor, playing a game.
Bruce's goal was to break through their blockade and rush into the house, so he kept running, changing angles, and putting all his effort into crashing into their arms, but he was stopped every time.
They kept him there, so everyone could play a little longer.
He remembered Thomas's strong arms, Martha's beautiful pearl necklace, Alfred's youthful face.
They embraced him in the middle, feeling the warm evening breeze sweeping across the field, blowing on everyone's smiling faces.
Bruce used these memories to forget that on the other side of the door, he was so lonely in the empty dark building.
That was the shape that belonged to the bat.
He no longer thought of the bat, instead casting his memories elsewhere, recalling the scent of freshly mowed grass, the bright red sunset peeking through the leaves like eyes.
But what he remembered most clearly was their force pulling him back to their side.
And their laughter, they laughed madly, while Gotham, this city, was getting darker....
Yes, the memory game ends here, Bruce ultimately belonged to memories, while the totem in the empty house was his true self.
He escaped his parents' embrace, bypassed Alfred's blockade, rushing toward the monster with wings in the dark door.
The bat hugged him, biting and merging with him, he felt pain and fear, and he would become them.
Gotham needed Batman, and he was Batman!
"Young Master Bruce?"
His eyes focused, instantly recognizing his current position, right next to the Final Machine in the Bat Cave, and Alfred was holding his hand; it was his voice pulling Batman back to reality.
"What time is it?"
He clutched his abdomen and sat up, despite the Final Machine's remedy, a long scar inevitably remained there.
Alfred sighed deeply in relief, the external injury was ultimately a minor issue, the difficulty lay with the laughing gas and mental problems, but seeing Bruce return to his usual self was reassuring.
He released his hand, took out a pocket watch for a glance, as always, he quipped: "Today you came home earlier than usual, I haven't had time to make breakfast."
Batman ignored the spectators around him, wearing only shorts as he walked straight to a rock wall, verified a palm print, and retrieved a uniform to put on.
"Order takeaway for them, just make a portion for the two of us."
Alfred shook his head slightly, then bowed and left, revealing Damian behind him.
Damian glanced at Batman complexly, indeed, what Deathstroke said was right, he truly was different.
But rather than different, it's more accurate to say he was unrelated to Bruce Wayne.
He had previously held Batman's hand and called him, no matter if it was Batman or Father, yet Batman remained motionless, in a daze.
And what resulted? The moment the old butler took over for less than ten seconds, the vegetative patient on the bed recovered? Not to mention he planned to go on a mission?
The most outrageous thing was not having his share of breakfast, surely implying he was not the biological child....
Actually, it was just Batman not noticing him, having just returned from mental chaos, he didn't even see Deathstroke, how could he notice Damian, who stood at one meter three?
Once he donned the Batman uniform and turned around, Damian had already turned away and left.
"Teen Titans, gather!" He didn't give Batman a chance to speak, heading straight to Su Ming: "Get us out of here, it seems some people are always unnecessary."
"Don't be upset, how about this, I'll send you to play at the new amusement park Poseidonis? Barry and I built it." Su Ming patted his head, simultaneously casting an inquiring glance at Arthur, Sea King generously nodded.
Anyway, Batman's son, Green Arrow's sister, Barry's nephew, none are outsiders, if they want to play, let them go, their teammate identity checks are exempt.
Damian took a deep breath, removed his mask, flashed a smile at Su Ming: "Alright, I'll follow your lead."
"Poseidonis Amusement Park." Su Ming opened the teleportation gate, the writhing cavity emerged again: "By the way, bring Harley and Ivy, next is the Justice League's time."
Upon hearing amusement park, Harley was already eager, the little balance scale in her heart shifted from fighting Mad Laugh to playing, the scale instantly lost balance, the amusement park side smashed a big pit on the ground.
"Let's go~ Atlantis doesn't charge money, right?"
She pushed Ivy while squeezing into the teleportation gate, simultaneously turning to ask Arthur this question, the amusement park would certainly be great, but a free amusement park would be even better.
Now she was a rule-abiding person, if being forced to kill a bloody path to leave the amusement park was always a bit embarrassing.
Arthur covered his eyes and kept nodding, he simply couldn't deal with such a crazy woman, Mera was better, although a bit stubborn in temper, at least she was normal.
The teleportation gate closed, leaving only Wonder Woman, Sea King, Green Arrow, Deathstroke, and Batman in the Bat Cave.
Batman didn't join the group's discussion, he was already seated in front of Brother Eye, querying things he cared about, the gloved hands flickered with remnants, various information flowed across the screen, compared by him with intelligence in his brain.
A moment later, he stopped his hands, turned around, looking at those standing or seated.
"I know the Laughing Bat's plan, get ready to start the counteraction."