Venom-Robin lay curled up happily in the Venom containment tank, watching Batman bustle about.
But the instant the voice of the man who called himself T'Challa came through the Bat-communicator, Venom couldn't help but shiver.
This was the first time it had ever seen that kind of razor-sharp look in Batman's eyes. Even when facing the overwhelmingly powerful Anti-Venom, Batman had never worn an expression like this.
Venom shrank back, pressing its body as tightly as possible into the corner of the tank. It extended a single tentacle to scratch at its head and asked itself a question deep inside:
"Who the heck is Anti-Venom?"
"Robin." Batman turned toward the symbiote in the tank. "Guard this place."
"You got it, Dad!"
Venom answered cheerfully on reflex, still scratching its head with the tentacle as it puzzled over the earlier question. It didn't even notice when Batman vanished from the Batcave.
Batman had left the cave.
He had no intention of obediently answering the other man's summons and going meekly to Silver Sable's rescue company for a meeting.
Batman's first instinct was never submission; it was a sharp counterattack.
Oracle's AI seized control of the internal surveillance network of Silver Sable's company in an instant; in fact, it took over the cameras for the entire building where her firm was located.
That had been something Batman set up the very first time he met Silver Sable, demonstrating his technical prowess right in front of her. For a long time afterward it had served no purpose at all… until today.
"Black male, impeccably dressed, aware of the existence of vibranium, even knows that I was the one who bought that piece off the black market. And instead of using the communicator I gave Silver Sable, he synced directly into my channel with a device he carried on him."
Batman stared at the surveillance feed from Silver Sable's company through the lenses of his Arkham suit.
In the span of a few seconds his mind raced, slotting every prior deduction he'd made about Wakanda being a technologically advanced nation into place. He issued an order:
"Barbara, cross-reference his facial features with everything we have on members of the African nation of Wakanda. Pull his file."
Oracle responded instantly:
"No problem, Bruce."
With the clear lead Batman had provided, the search took only a dozen seconds before the man's information appeared on-screen.
"T'Challa. Eldest son of King T'Chaka of Wakanda. Wakandan diplomat. Holds a doctorate in physics from Oxford University. Has used the aliases Luke Charles, had a girlfriend named Nicole Adams, received multiple scholarships during his studies which he then donated away, once came into conflict with students named Kamal Rakim…"
"T'Challa is the only Wakandan on record who received his higher education outside his homeland rather than within it."
Batman took in every scrap of data, even pulling the files on the two female attendants standing behind T'Challa while he was at it.
Only then did he finally reply to the message from T'Challa.
"You breached one of my secure comm channels. You have three seconds to explain yourself, T'Challa."
Silver Sable's rescue company — Silver Sable's office.
T'Challa waited calmly for Batman's response. Even though the other side remained silent for a long while, not a hint of impatience crossed the prince's face.
His two female guards looked annoyed, but since even the prince of Wakanda himself showed no sign of urgency, they did not presume to act on his behalf.
When Batman's voice finally came through, a faint smile touched T'Challa's lips. He did not alter his own tone in the face of Batman's icy words.
"Batman, I understand your reaction. Please accept my apologies."
"As you have surmised, I am T'Challa of Wakanda. I contacted you in this manner because I have no direct way to find you… You are far too elusive, sir."
"Please believe that I bear no hostility."
Batman's brow furrowed slightly. He truly detected no trace of malice in T'Challa's voice or expression on the surveillance feed.
Yet Batman was not the sort to trust easily. He had encountered too many criminals with award-worthy acting skills; some could fool even him.
After confirming the feed had not been altered, that it was live, and that Silver Sable was unharmed, Batman spoke.
"Since you were able to reach me through Silver Sable, you should also be able to locate Roosevelt Island…"
"One hour from now. Southpoint Park, at the southern tip of the island. Come alone."
With that, Batman ended the call without waiting for a reply and remotely bricked the Bat-communicator in Silver Sable's possession.
Roosevelt Island sat in the middle of the East River, directly beneath the Queensboro Bridge.
Batman had once worked with Black Cat in Southpoint Park at the island's southernmost point to dismantle a cigarette (i.e., drug) smuggling operation; that had been one of many nails in Kingpin's coffin.
The narrow, ship-shaped island stretched beneath the bridge where Batman now waited, contingency plans for every possible combat scenario already cycling through his mind.
Traffic roared overhead on the Queensboro Bridge.
Forty minutes later, exactly as Batman had demanded, T'Challa arrived alone by boat at Roosevelt Island. He looked utterly unconcerned about meeting the legendary "vampire" of Gotham in the flesh.
He wore the same neatly tailored suit with subtle African patterns he'd had on at Silver Sable's office; neither ostentatious nor flashy, but exceptionally dignified.
When Batman leaped from the bridge and landed with a heavy thud in front of him, T'Challa showed only mild surprise before raising both palms in a simple gesture of peace.
"Batman, I must apologize again for the presumptuous method of contact."
T'Challa placed one hand over his heart and bowed deeply, his attitude one of complete sincerity.
"Were the matter not of vital importance to my nation, I would never have committed such an overstep."
He seemed fully aware that going through Silver Sable to reach Batman had crossed a line; hence the use of the word "overstep."
Batman's expression did not change. He noted that T'Challa had even removed the bead bracelet he'd worn at Silver Sable's office, let alone any weapons or equipment.
Accustomed to dealing with Gotham's endlessly treacherous rogues, Batman found himself momentarily unsure how to read this completely non-hostile prince of Wakanda.
He couldn't possibly have come all this way just to retrieve the vibranium… could he?
Facing the silent, statue-like Dark Knight standing less than five meters away, T'Challa offered a small smile and said,
"The metal you purchased; we call it vibranium. It is the cornerstone of our civilization and a secret we are duty-bound to protect."
"That it fell into outside hands is Wakanda's failing…"
Batman cut him off.
"Before it came to me, that piece sat on the international black market for a full week."
"Yes, exactly." A trace of bitter humor crossed T'Challa's face. "I discovered it the day after it appeared, but I chose not to act immediately because I intended to trace the seller through it."
"And the asking price was quite high. I assumed it would remain safe on the market. I never imagined you would be the one to buy it."
"I carry no weapons and no electronic devices. Right now I am simply a man asking for the return of his family's heirloom, begging your understanding."