Chapter Text
The woman in the Batcave, accessing the computer’s database while researching the Joker’s attack patterns, could clearly hear the footsteps that were no more than a whisper. It was truly impressive that after all these years he still tried to catch her by surprise—it was almost like a sweetly childish game that, no matter how “grown-up” she was, she still enjoyed playing. Well, considering that until recently she had been a baby, maybe it wasn’t so strange after all. She could feel the exact moment he would strike, and it was no coincidence that when he did, she simply appeared behind him.
“You know you’ll never be able to catch me by surprise, Dan.”
“So you think. One day I certainly will.”
“You’d have better chances if you asked Raven for help.”
“Then it wouldn’t really be my victory.”
“If you say so.”
“What are you doing?”
“Checking some patterns.”
“Joker again?”
“Yes.”
“I already told you—he’s crazy. There are no patterns for crazy people.”
“Still, even the insane have a system to how they act. Just because it doesn’t make sense to us doesn’t mean it doesn’t make sense to them.”
“Alright, but anyway, I’m here so we can talk about the engagement. Toddy said it’s important for the Wayne family that we throw an engagement party. Do you really think that’s necessary?”
“Unfortunately, I have to agree. Despite our work, we still have roles to play, and it would be very impolite to society if we did nothing,” she said coldly.
“I just don’t want to upset Raven with all this. Sometimes I wonder how she can love me.”
“Because you two are perfect for each other. You were there for her since that thing with her father, and despite all the tragedy that happened to us, believe me, brother, you have nothing to doubt. Besides, it won’t be a party from hell that will get in the way of that.”
“I just want her to be happy.”
“I believe that, as the bride’s best friend, she’s on cloud nine.”
“You two are such gossips,” they both burst out laughing.
“We could do it like this: an intimate dinner with all of us and the Titans. To celebrate with true friends first, and then a bit of circus afterward.”
“Or we could call Clark to cover everything and make it just a small private gathering.”
“Damyan, you know he won’t come.”
“Maybe he will, this time.”
“I wish you were right, but in this case there’s no way—he won’t come if she’s there.”
“Damn it! None of what happened was your fault, and Clark and Lois know that. I don’t understand why they still crucify you over something you never had control over—and neither did they.”
“That doesn’t matter. Lois has already made her opinion about me very clear, and I don’t want to bring more trouble to them.”
“And if he comes after you in the future? Are you just going to accept it?”
“Honestly, I don’t know.”
“Damn. It doesn’t matter—we’ll always be here,” he said, taking her hand.
“I know. You’re the best family I could ever wish for, believe me.”
“Toddy wants to bring Sara.”
“It’s his right.”
“You know that if not—”
“I know, but it’s a family day, and if he chose her, so be it. I can tolerate their behavior for a few hours.”
Then the young woman noticed that Damyan was staring at the cocoon, and she felt compassion. She knew what it was like to lose one’s parents, and knowing that her best friend felt that pain was heartbreaking.
“I wish he were here.”
“So do I. He seems more like a mythical man than anything else.”
“Do you think he would be happy for me?”
“If he’s half the man all of you made me believe he is, then yes—both for you and for Dick. Maybe his only regret would be not being present in moments like these.”
“Do you think he’ll wake up one day?”
“I hope so.” They both sighed.
“Well, I’m going now. I just stopped by to talk to you about this. Are you going to Gaba’s party?”
“Unfortunately, yes. At least I don’t have to behave like an idiot.”
“You’re lucky. My father had to play the fool for years.”
“Yikes!” They laughed again, and Damyan left.
She stood up and walked toward the healing capsule. She couldn’t understand it—Bruce should already be awake. All his injuries had healed, the exams showed that his brain and his other organs had no damage that could keep him in a coma for so long. And yet, there he was, like a handsome sleeping gentleman. If this were like a fairy tale, all he would need was a kiss. She wouldn’t mind—he was aesthetically beautiful. But the more time she spent beside him over the years, watching him, the harder it became to paint the picture everyone spoke of—the Knight of Gotham. Seeing Bruce sleep, she could imagine him in a defenseless state. Defenseless—that was what humans were. And seeing him like that reminded her why she had to be careful all the time. Maybe if she had been born and lived in what once was Krypton, everything would have been easier for her. But then she wouldn’t have her friends and the family she had built—and she could no longer imagine herself without them. That was what made her feel more human. She touched her cobalt-blue kryptonite necklace, remembering why she wore it. Despite her short childhood, Damyan used to tell her stories where Batman was the main hero—a dark knight who acted at night, protecting innocent people from monsters lurking in the shadows. And there was the hero of her childhood stories, sleeping in all his splendor.
She could reach only one conclusion: if it wasn’t a physical issue, then all that remained was the soul. From what Alfred had told her, Master Bruce—as he affectionately called him—had suffered too many losses, and she came to believe that maybe that was the reason he remained in inertia, without pain in the world of his dreams. The capsule was programmed to feed him and provide everything he needed to recover. It also had a communication system that allowed Bruce to hear them, although she believed it would be very hard for him to remember everything he heard. And if he woke up, she would pray to Hera, as Diana would say, that he wouldn’t remember all the times she had used him as a listener—telling him everything that happened with everyone and venting her problems. But even with the risk that he might remember, she still wanted him to wake up soon—not for herself, who was a stranger, but for his family, which was now hers too.
“Bruce, please wake up soon,” she asked softly. “Far from me wanting to rush you, but you know… the boys miss you. Even I miss you, and I don’t even know you. You already missed Dick’s wedding to Barbara—please don’t miss Damyan’s too. I have to go now, there’s a charity party. I’ll tell you everything when I get back.”
“Miss El, your dress is ready and the hairdresser is waiting,” Alfred said.
“I’m coming, Alfred.”
“Oh, and Bruce? If you feel like waking up while I’m gone, feel free.”
What she didn’t know was that Bruce answered in his mind:
**“I’m trying.”**