"Hmm, he's right," Grayson agreed with me. "He somehow managed to convince Harley and Pamela to throw away everything bad and start their lives with a clean slate."
"That makes sense," Pennyworth said, standing politely next to a gloomy Bruce.
Is it just me, or did kind Grandpa Alfred just give me the go-ahead to re-educate Batman's little son? Apparently, Damien's outburst angered Bruce's adoptive father so much that he's ready to hand the boy over to me to be torn to pieces.
"Isn't that too cruel?" Barbara asked, looking at Talia's son with pity.
Am I that scary? Really, I'm not going to eat him or torture him... At least, not physically.
"Enough," Bruce cut off the escalating discussion with a word. "Let's save Alex's therapy for last. We're not animals."
The boy was unlucky with his father; he turned out to be a real troll. Instead of calming his offspring, the negligent dad only worsened the already biased attitude towards me.
You're presenting me as some kind of monster! What are you guys doing? I really love children.
"Is the show over?" Damien asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What do you think, a decorative animal? Did you all come here to gawk at me like stupid tourists at a zoo? Did you look? Well, then get out of here! You want me to apologize for my behavior? That won't happen. I did what I had to. I am the grandson of Ra's al Ghul, the future head of the League of Shadows, and I bear the heavy burden of responsibility for the fate of my clan," he blurted out. "You don't understand what this means, no one does... You are only forming your stupid opinion of me superficially."
"True, that's exactly it," I didn't refute the petty scoundrel's arguments. "The human soul is a dark place... But you know what I'll tell you. People don't care who you are deep down; they judge a person by their actions."
The young member of the League of Shadows merely snorted at my remark. I believe the conversation has come to an end. Well, the introduction went well. Let's try to improve our relationship. After saying goodbye to the estate's residents, the girls and I headed home, as last night had drained us of energy and we needed a long rest.
Tatsu declined to return with us, citing urgent business. I suppose she simply didn't want to disturb us and decided to politely take her leave. I didn't dwell on it, as at that moment the only things that mattered to me were a soft bed and the lovely company of charming ladies.
Upon arriving in Gotham, Barbara had sent a message to Babylon stating that everything had gone well and that we were returning home victorious, and most importantly, with my beloved self.
I didn't stop by the lab, knowing that Silver and Vicki had gone home without waiting for us, and Harley had decided to spend time with her best friend.
********************************
I slept for four whole hours... No, that's not a complaint—it's a fact. Ever since I took the super soldier serum, sleep has been difficult for me. It's not that I suffer from insomnia; on the contrary, I sleep regularly and am always refreshed and alert. But I don't linger in the realm of Morpheus for long; sometimes three, sometimes two, hours of proper sleep are enough to fully recharge me for the day.
Now I understand why Captain America slept so little. It's not that he's had enough sleep in seventy years; it's just that his body has changed, and the urge to sleep has become less and less frequent.
Even though I was already full of energy, the girls, unlike me,were still in the happy illusion of the dream realm. I have big plans for today. I intend to celebrate the successful outcome of the fight against the League of Shadows, and, of course, the enrichment of my account with the treasury of Ra's al Ghul.
Madame Alexandra's restaurant is perfect for small get-togethers. Perhaps I should drop by her place and ask to rent the premises for the evening. Hmm, what if I send an invitation to Talia, Shiva and Cassandra, will they accept? I suppose not, although nothing hurts to try. And perhaps I should not invite anyone not privy to my conflict with the mysterious organization of underground assassins.
It will be difficult to explain the occasion. Okay, time to get ready for the evening.
****************************** Restaurant "Quiet Backwater".
"Thank you, Madame Alexandra."
"Alex, your requests are always so sudden. And I can't indulge your whims every time. Next time you need my restaurant, please let me know in advance," the hostess grumbled feigned.
"Of course…"
The guests have arrived, the table is set, the music is playing, all that remains is to begin the celebration.
"Could you at least tell this curious woman what this celebration is in honor of?"
"If I may say so, we closed a major deal yesterday. A very major one. So I decided to celebrate," I answered the question evasively. Madame Alexandra didn't press for details. And for that, I was very grateful. I sent an invitation to our friends from Nanda Parbat, but, unfortunately, not a single one of them honored the evening with their presence.
It's good that at least the Bat-family arrived in full force; even little Damien didn't stay away. I didn't mind the presence of the little scoundrel. The more people, the merrier. True, I personally doubt he was happy that the League of Shadows' fortress had been plundered by us, and that we, like sea pirates, decided to celebrate our successful catch with a feast. Well, as they say, he had no choice.
"Friends," I tapped my glass with a spoon, attracting the guests' attention. "First, I want to congratulate us on our small victory. The battle may not be over yet, but we bravely and proudly defended our freedom. Yes, this battle is not the only one in our lives. And no matter how many more there are, and unfortunately, there will be many, I believe that together we will overcome. What threat can withstand the brave and great people gathered here? Friends, today is a special day. I don't know how to express my feelings, but right now, standing before you, I am filled with a feeling of excited anticipation, so much so that I feel like my body is running an electric current, in the best sense of the word. And it seems to me that right now, at this very moment, we stand on the threshold of amazing discoveries. Something grand is coming! It's about to happen, and I hope that when we cross that threshold, we'll still be here, all together, looking at each other with the same joy as we do now."
Everyone raised their glasses and suddenly froze. Frozen, like a well-rehearsed group. This... What's happening?! They're really not moving! I tried to bring at least someone to their senses. This whole situation reminded me of Professor Xavier's ability. But he had nothing to do with it, because not only my guests, but the entire city had frozen.
I ran out into the street and didn't hear a single rustle, not the slightest sound, complete silence. Cars, people, even the birds in the sky... Everything froze. Time stood still.
"It's true. I stopped time. Not just here, but in the entire universe."
"You... It's you!"
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Vote with power stones guy, it's free for you but will help me alot.