By noon, the Bat-family was finally awake and had finished their first meal of the day.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu3jJHNaCG
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.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOCkcl2GQb
Tim didn’t show up.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS1auNofnp
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—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYdPVEeujs
Had Tim gotten any rest at all? He hadn’t even come to eat.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMuGPs9iWx
As he walked, he glanced back a few times toward the dining room, his brows furrowing slightly.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWgYZezU9Z
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.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOBLnRN5m4
Especially—
Then he saw Bruce.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscObNnxiP0
Already downstairs, standing outside the cryogenic chamber.
Bruce stood upright, arms crossed, expression unreadable.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9HsAVSuqF
It didn’t look like he was waiting for someone.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaMoMqkdkC
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—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ySPpMvrD9
And he stopped cold.
The glass door was ajar.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8xeeB8NQc
Inside, it was a mess.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49pwMONPKa
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.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguKe7MJKWE
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.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jKLyBCZOM
The floor was damp, like condensation had just settled.
And most shocking of all—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLH8pSXzpZ
The cryogenic pod was open.
It was a visual shock.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmCYq42EyF
That pod—the one that was never opened without cause—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6jO4YmW96
was half ajar.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfXNYDdfRN
And empty.
Where is she?!120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPTfg2ja1o
Dick’s heart leapt to his throat.
His mind raced through a hundred possible explanations—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ww13qTmy1
A medical accident? A forced awakening?
He spun toward Bruce, about to demand an answer—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZifEMzA2A
But Bruce had already turned and was walking away.
He didn’t say a word.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VybL9bkpG
Didn’t explain.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTfTa21Cd4
Didn’t even glance back.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ048xgieZQi
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.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIntkuSDAQ3
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—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABhVCvTlo4
Something was about to be revealed.
Bruce stopped at the medical bay.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwbZHQ8szt
The door was slightly ajar.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfwa4rSFqH
Inside, the faint hum of machinery could be heard.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaveCd7IOS
Fluorescent lights glowed white as usual, sterile and clean—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYWsphLbK9
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.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf5ULWHAd6
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—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWMTKYZHDf
they saw.
Neither of them spoke.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlpvHf7b1D
They simply leaned in, peering quietly inside.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDJ5QURv4F
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.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUABRREDdE5
He held her as if afraid to lose her again.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLc19jxg98
And Nora nestled beside him, her head tucked into the curve of his neck, both wrapped in a blanket.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVEyNwU00W
A pool of warmth.
Dick stared—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhsD7HdnLl
Then slowly, a smile spread across his lips.
His previously tense expression melted away, and something rare flickered in his eyes—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw8kt4JQ4D
Warmth.
He exhaled softly, like he’d finally let go of a weight deep in his heart.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CvuqjPXgr
He said nothing.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDIl4i22Os
Because this image… said everything.
Bruce turned to the medical screen beside the pod.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrISZdgDz8
He analyzed their vitals silently.
His gaze scanned the rows of blinking indicators—green, red, yellow—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzwxUq1OtH
the machine still showed some alerts, but the numbers had stabilized.
One injury showed electric trauma to the chest.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNJM6vMDgw
Nora’s injury.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNWF2TIst3
One showed signs of severe upper-body frostbite.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfAfnRVLJy
Tim’s injury.
Bruce remained silent.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVQjSQFLkv
He stared at the screen for a long time, clearly weighing whether to scold them… or intervene.
In the end, he said nothing.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8Pk34rmXZ
He simply stood there, watching the two kids.
Dick turned to look too.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNXxAnmhRh
He didn’t speak either.
He sighed—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcLOGtPnEv
No longer smiling, but his gaze soft.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUi4AHymWq
Something within him settled.
It wasn’t anyone’s fault.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAX9ANwwA1
Just a long, long wait…120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlrWt9X3YZ
that had finally ended.
The two of them sighed again, and left quietly.
They didn’t disturb them further.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbOlHPSPRq
They gently closed the door behind them—120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vIbhGEDpZ
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.120Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID5wKfXyxy
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and then Add to home screen.