The night in Gotham is as usual, except that lately, a few stars can be seen in the sky instead of the perpetually overcast sky.
Selene Kyle sat quietly on the edge of the rooftop of an old building.
She was wearing that familiar black bodysuit, with a long whip coiled around her waist and goggles pushed up to her forehead.
Unlike before, a small, purple creature the size of a fist was perched on her head.
The thing looked like a capsule, trying its best to mimic Batman's pose, with its two little arms crossed over its chest, looking around warily.
It was the " Bat Tuotuo " that Thor had sent as an engagement gift.
Bruce appeared silently at the other end of the rooftop.
Before he could get close, the little thing on Selene's head stirred and let out a short "chirp!" towards her back.
Selene turned around and saw Batman.
" Thomas came to see you," Bruce said first, his voice sounding somewhat low in the night breeze.
He didn't ask, but stated in a declarative tone, "It's all about that little thing, and... my affairs, right?"
Selene didn't answer, she just looked at him with a complicated expression.
Bruce took a few steps forward and stopped not far from her.
The two men stared at each other from a few steps apart, surrounded only by the incessant background noise of Gotham.
"I have recently been thinking about slowly stepping back from the limelight," Bruce continued. "Abandoning the identity of Batman, you should know why I'm doing this."
He thought she would understand.
"And what about next time?" Selene finally spoke, her voice soft yet clear, "What if the world faces another crisis? What if a new madman emerges in Gotham?"
"I will still stand up," Bruce answered without hesitation, "But that won't stop me from pursuing happiness."
Selene glanced at him, her gaze seemingly trying to pierce through his mask and see the face beneath.
"Did your father tell you all that?"
"Yes," Bruce admitted. "I really didn't know you would think that way. I thought... we could understand each other. Now it seems that occasional communication is still very necessary."
He felt a pang of self-mockery.
He can solve the most complex puzzles in the universe, yet he can't understand the thoughts of the woman he's loved for so many years.
Selene reached out and stroked the little pet on her head, Tuotuo let out a comfortable "Chirp~".
"Actually, after Thomas and I talked, I've been thinking about one question."
"What's the problem?" Batman asked.
Selene suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with self-deprecation and helplessness.
"I was wondering, if the bat and the cat were to find happiness, would they become distracted by their own happiness, and perhaps, in a moment of carelessness, neglect the guys in Gotham, and then... lead to some new tragedies?"
She paused, then lowered her voice.
"What I'm considering is whether I might bring misfortune to your Bat Family again."
Bruce remained silent.
He hadn't expected that she wasn't worried about him, but about this.
" Selene," he said, his voice softer than before, "You shouldn't worry about these things."
"How could I not worry?" Selene retorted, her voice tinged with excitement.
" Bruce, if we're going to get married, these are the things we'll have to face! How can I not worry? Gotham's relentless villains, and those ever-present apocalyptic threats!"
"You're mistaken, Selene," Batman interrupted her. "These things you're talking about won't stop happening just because I'm not married to you. What's meant to happen will happen."
He looked at her, his gaze more serious than ever before.
"And I assure you, those Bane guys will most likely behave themselves for the time being."
A look of confusion crossed Selene's face.
"Why?"
She has a very clear understanding of Gotham's ecosystem.
Those criminals are like cockroaches that can't be killed. You lock them up in Arkham, and they always find a way to escape and then create even more chaos.
The word "well-behaved" is practically non-existent in the Gotham dictionary.
"Because Thomas gave them a taste of their own medicine," Bruce stated calmly, "And he killed Black Adam, and Vandal Savage."
The night breeze seemed to stand still at that moment.
The confusion on Selene's face slowly disappeared, replaced by an indescribable shock.
Black Adam... that ancient tyrant with no obvious weaknesses, who could go toe-to-toe with Superman.
Vandal Savage... the Immortus has lived for tens of thousands of years and is extremely difficult to kill.
Dead?
He died at the hands of that seemingly gentle man who called himself Thomas Wayne?
Selene's heart skipped a beat.
She finally understood why Gotham's underworld had been eerily quiet lately.
Those criminals and villains, unless they're stupid, wouldn't show up and cause trouble at this time.
Bruce will catch them and throw them into Arkham.
And Thomas... will only send them to Hell.
The power and style of " Thomas Wayne " have completely disrupted the original balance in Gotham.
He was a prehistoric behemoth that had barged into the sheepfold; those arrogant jackals and tigers didn't even have the right to bark in front of him.
Looking at Bruce in front of her, Selene suddenly felt that everything he had said before had a solid foundation.
It turns out he wasn't blindly optimistic.
He truly now has a powerful backer... strong enough to suppress everything.
Although this backer operates with a style full of bloodshed and violence.
But... isn't this exactly what Gotham needs sometimes?
After a long silence, Selene suddenly smiled.
That smile seemed to melt the ice of the night, bright and captivating.
She stood up, walked up to Bruce, and gently lifted his chin, which was covered by a mask, with her claw-covered fingers.
"Alright," her voice held a hint of feline languor and cunning, "Since you're so sincere, I'll agree, Bruce."
She leaned closer to him, her breath almost hitting his lips.
"My future... husband."
Before she could finish speaking, she kissed him.
This kiss was unlike any other before; there was no passion after the rooftop chase, nor any unspoken testing.
It carries a sense of calm after everything has settled, and a hint of domineering authority that cannot be refused.
Bruce froze for a moment, then relaxed and responded to her.
He knew he had won.
It wasn't just about winning her consent; it was about creating a possibility for happiness for both of us.
After a long while, their lips parted.
Selene licked her lips, looking at the man in front of her with a sly glint in her eyes.
"Then," she tilted her head and asked a very practical question, "Since he is now your 'father,' when I see him in the future, should I also call him 'father'?"
Bruce: "..."