The black hand loosened a little.
Batman caught that wrist. Venom had already spotted the launcher at the end of the passage. Its shoulders and back suddenly bulged, and several strands of black tissue shot up along the wall.
The Bat was going to lock it up again!
It struggled outward, its other arm still drawing tight around Chen Mo, unwilling to leave him behind yet desperate to run at once. Inside, Chen Mo held on to its hand. Neither would give way, and now this goddamned Bat had to interfere.
Leave first. Come back and snatch him later.
The black slipped free around the wrist. Batman reached in to cradle the waist and back within, his shoulder guard knocking aside the fangs lunging at his face. The grappling line carried them both up beside the building. Venom clung to the maintenance platform's railing and dragged outward. Chen Mo's forehead nearly struck a post, but Batman caught it with his palm.
At that touch, the body in his arms shuddered.
Batman lowered his head, his palm against the face covered in black. Spikes were piercing his own knuckles, blood running over his wrist bones, and the faint trembling he could feel grew weaker and weaker.
Below, the emitter turned toward them.
He pulled Chen Mo against his chest and signaled toward the courtyard.
The sonic waves peeled back the black. Venom rolled outward along his arm guard, desperately searching for a crack in the wall behind him. Without its support, Chen Mo's knees buckled. Batman supported his shoulders and back with his forearm and lifted him out of that convulsing mass of black.
Soaking hair spread across his wrist.
Such a pale face.
The ends of his brows, beneath his eyes-places that had looked so lovely when he smiled-were all