"Please," Moretti gasped. "I have money. Lots of money. I can pay you. Whatever you want."
"I want you in prison for the rest of your life."
Batman zip-tied Moretti's hands and left him slumped against the wall. Then he returned to the hostages.
The three girls were terrified, tears streaming down their faces. Batman cut their bonds carefully.
"It's okay," he said, softening his voice as much as the modulation allowed. "You're safe now. The police are on their way. You're going home."
The girl Moretti had used as a shield looked up at him with wide eyes. "Who are you?"
"I'm Batman. And no one is going to hurt you again."
---
The spring formal at Gotham Academy was in full swing. The gymnasium had been transformed with lights, decorations, and a live band. Students dressed in formal wear filled the space, dancing and socializing.
Bruce stood near the refreshment table in a perfectly tailored tux, watching the crowd with half his attention while his mind ran through the previous night's operation. Moretti was in custody. Three victims rescued. Fifteen criminals arrested. Evidence seized that would lead to dozens more arrests.
Operation six: complete success.
But he was tired. Three weeks of near-nightly operations was taking a toll even on his peak human physiology. His body was functioning fine, but the mental fatigue was real.
"You're doing that thing again."
Selina appeared beside him in a dark green dress that matched her eyes perfectly. Her hair was styled up, makeup subtle but effective. She looked stunning.
"What thing?" Bruce asked.
"The zoning out thing. The being here physically but mentally somewhere else thing." She took a cup of punch from the table. "We've been at this dance for forty-five minutes and you've barely said ten words."
"Sorry. You're right. I'm being a terrible date."
"Yes, you are. So snap out of it and actually be present." Selina gestured toward the dance floor. "Come on. You promised me one night of actually paying attention."
Bruce let himself smile. "You're absolutely right. Let's dance."
They moved onto the floor as the band shifted to a slower song. Bruce took Selina's hand and they fell into an easy rhythm. His peak human coordination made dancing effortless, but he kept it natural, not showing off.
"This is better," Selina said. "See? You can function in normal society when you try."
"I'm not convinced high school formals count as normal society."
"Fair point. But still. This is nice."
They danced in comfortable silence for a moment. Bruce was genuinely present for the first time in weeks, letting himself just exist in the moment without calculating strategies or planning operations.
"Can I ask you something?" Selina said.
"Sure."
"What are you so afraid of?"
Bruce looked at her carefully. "What makes you think I'm afraid of anything?"
"Because you keep everyone at arm's length. You're charming and friendly and helpful, but you never let anyone actually get close. Like there's this wall between you and the rest of the world." Selina met his eyes directly. "I'm trying to figure out if that wall is keeping people out or keeping you in."
Bruce processed that observation. She was more perceptive than he'd given her credit for.
"Maybe both," he admitted. "I've got things I'm working on that require focus. Letting people get too close means distractions. Complications."
"Or it means having actual human connections that make life worth living."
"That's a fair point too."
"So which is it going to be, Bruce Wayne? Are you going to keep pushing everyone away while you work on your mysterious projects? Or are you going to let someone in for once?"
Bruce thought about the dual life he was living. Bruce Wayne by day, Batman by night. The carefully constructed walls that kept those identities separate and protected.
But Selina wasn't asking to know his secrets. She was asking for a genuine connection. To be more than just a strategic relationship or future ally.
"I'm trying," Bruce said quietly. "It's harder for me than it probably looks. But I'm trying."
Selina studied his face for a long moment. Then she smiled slightly. "Okay. That's honest at least. I can work with that."
The song ended. Another one started, more upbeat. Other students flooded the dance floor.
Bruce's phone vibrated in his pocket. He resisted the urge to check it immediately.
Selina noticed. "You want to check that, don't you?"
"It can wait."
"No, go ahead. I know you're waiting for something important. Just try to keep your head in the game for at least a few more songs afterward."
Bruce pulled out his phone discreetly. A message from NEXUS.
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