By noon, the Bat-family was finally awake and had finished their first meal of the day.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ830t3h23mq
The kitchen atmosphere was relatively calm, though no one spoke much. Damian still looked a bit groggy, Jason yawned widely as he led his son to the dining room, and Barbara sipped coffee while flipping through her data tablet.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGRZtsyZkU
Tim didn’t show up.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4hn2jfAqS
No one mentioned it directly, but his absence was obvious.
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After breakfast, they all returned to their usual routines—gear checks and mission briefings. Footsteps echoed through the corridors, accompanied by the soft hum of screens powering on. The entire cave felt like a giant beast just waking up, slowly beginning to stir.
Dick couldn’t help worrying—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ096jPAiTlk
Had Tim gotten any rest at all? He hadn’t even come to eat.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuEQv72nQT
As he walked, he glanced back a few times toward the dining room, his brows furrowing slightly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qcHncSCOj
This wasn’t the first time Tim had acted like this. Dick knew the kid had a habit of staying up all night, overworking himself, but lately… it had been happening more and more.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoHfvSPh8T
Especially—
Then he saw Bruce.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqFAcHaTWS
Already downstairs, standing outside the cryogenic chamber.
Bruce stood upright, arms crossed, expression unreadable.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCivpMXJFQO
It didn’t look like he was waiting for someone.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUjeTgoYwa
He looked more like he was observing something—abnormal.
Dick froze for a second, then his pace quickened instinctively.
As he walked over, his eyes locked onto the scene—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwIsu3NbUg
And he stopped cold.
The glass door was ajar.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm2iNORtpP
Inside, it was a mess.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HPsG9z4JM
A room Dick knew well—one that had always been kept cold, quiet, and still—now looked like it had just been used as an emergency shelter after a disaster.
The room was in total disarray.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUadiHogGH
Blankets were scattered all over the floor, space heaters stood in the corners.
Some blankets were still neatly folded, but others had fallen and bunched up in heaps. Several heaters were still running, filling the room with a surreal, warm mist.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tRl5SWSor
The floor was damp, like condensation had just settled.
And most shocking of all—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyuDEp0iF6
The cryogenic pod was open.
It was a visual shock.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMUclcKRQv
That pod—the one that was never opened without cause—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1WCD3Eaiy
was half ajar.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM2d3bzDrL
And empty.
Where is she?!115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MGsSUf0nD
Dick’s heart leapt to his throat.
His mind raced through a hundred possible explanations—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVDe5jZPQ4
A medical accident? A forced awakening?
He spun toward Bruce, about to demand an answer—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpwxYosC5v
But Bruce had already turned and was walking away.
He didn’t say a word.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrvRtrp6RU
Didn’t explain.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyBL6Mdibt
Didn’t even glance back.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejSdDkhyIp
Just turned and walked, like someone who already knew everything that would follow.
That calm unnerved Dick so much he couldn’t bring himself to ask anything.
Suppressing the flood of questions in his heart, Dick followed his lead.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF21r2xP5Mv
He knew Bruce wasn’t walking aimlessly. If he was moving, it meant he knew exactly where to go.
Dick quickened his steps, falling into stride behind him, a strange premonition forming in his chest—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzwMrQf7fS
Something was about to be revealed.
Bruce stopped at the medical bay.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sWFy4T0sb
The door was slightly ajar.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhJLjt83fI
Inside, the faint hum of machinery could be heard.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CcqFrxkuH
Fluorescent lights glowed white as usual, sterile and clean—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTTpu3FM2G
but somehow, the light felt softer than ever before.
They immediately noticed one of the recovery pods was active.
The deep-recovery unit was currently in operation.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotpieEqeIm
Blue restorative fluid shimmered gently, its glow filtering through the glass, like some sleeping cocoon.
They stepped closer.
And through the transparent panel at the top of the medical pod—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8kyuP7O50
they saw.
Neither of them spoke.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXsj61mD11
They simply leaned in, peering quietly inside.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIpoTpV1SD
Then time seemed to stop.
Tim was inside the pod, lying on his side, chin resting gently against Nora’s head, a faint smile on his lips.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs3ZkKyaWx
He held her as if afraid to lose her again.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgtVAUySZ9
And Nora nestled beside him, her head tucked into the curve of his neck, both wrapped in a blanket.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nKngEvXQ5
A pool of warmth.
Dick stared—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN7bPpR21Y
Then slowly, a smile spread across his lips.
His previously tense expression melted away, and something rare flickered in his eyes—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEvMlUTls3
Warmth.
He exhaled softly, like he’d finally let go of a weight deep in his heart.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgZVQrpkzn
He said nothing.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0abDojlPY
Because this image… said everything.
Bruce turned to the medical screen beside the pod.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5IclVfWDc
He analyzed their vitals silently.
His gaze scanned the rows of blinking indicators—green, red, yellow—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LI01Nt11t
the machine still showed some alerts, but the numbers had stabilized.
One injury showed electric trauma to the chest.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YEUR5E8tn
Nora’s injury.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RbmRqsLkT
One showed signs of severe upper-body frostbite.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yp1kA2D0Y
Tim’s injury.
Bruce remained silent.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4P3TOtNNz
He stared at the screen for a long time, clearly weighing whether to scold them… or intervene.
In the end, he said nothing.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsyMZpitW7
He simply stood there, watching the two kids.
Dick turned to look too.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux9EBqwn9I
He didn’t speak either.
He sighed—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7tmqz6HYe
No longer smiling, but his gaze soft.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRkygm6tCI
Something within him settled.
It wasn’t anyone’s fault.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEhPZC8zs1
Just a long, long wait…115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEjHuj7MtM
that had finally ended.
The two of them sighed again, and left quietly.
They didn’t disturb them further.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGa8a80eeW
They gently closed the door behind them—115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fm84CNvIV
leaving the small room to two people who had once crossed time and death for each other.
Leaving behind two lovers, curled into one dream.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XKdMOyAWp
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and then Add to home screen.