Wayne Manor was incredibly lively on the day of the engagement ceremony.
The entire Bat Family has arrived.
The first Robin was Dick Grayson, the second Robin was Jason Todd, the third Robin was Tim Drake, and the current fourth Robin is Damian Wayne.
Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown, and Cassandra Cain were also in the crowd, as were Batman's cousin Kate Kane and his new recruit, Signal Boy Duke Thomas.
Damian still sported his signature Bat Tuotuo.
But today, this little guy, who always has a "you mortals" expression on his face, actually had a rare smile on his lips.
On the other side, all six major members of the Justice League were present, along with some second-tier members who knew Bruce's identity, who were quietly mingling among the guests.
Clark Kent was wearing a custom-made suit, but his muscles stretched the suit too tight, making him look somewhat comical, and he kept adjusting his tie.
Diana wore a white gown with a distinctly Greek classical style, making her look like a goddess straight out of mythology.
Hal, Barry, Arthur, and Victor, all dressed in suits, stood in the crowd, watching this rare scene with varying expressions.
At this moment, Alfred stepped onto the small stage that had been temporarily set up in the manor.
He was dressed in a well-tailored tuxedo, his silver hair was combed meticulously, and he paid more attention to his appearance than ever before.
He picked up the microphone, cleared his throat, and glanced at everyone present.
"Young Master and Miss Selene have decided to hold this ceremony today, and they told me to keep it simple."
Alfred paused for a moment, and a soft, good-natured laugh came from below.
"But as you all know, the last time the Wayne family 'simplified' their home was decades ago."
The guests laughed again.
"I am honored to stand here and say a few words. I have watched the young master grow up. I have seen him in many different ways, some of which you have seen before, and some of which you will probably never know. But today, standing next to Miss Selene, he is the closest I have ever seen to 'happiness'."
His gaze gently fell upon Bruce and Selene in the audience.
"Miss Selene, welcome home. From now on, I'll put the cost of cat food at the Wayne Manor on your tab."
This joke made Selene laugh out loud, and it also drew laughter from the entire audience.
"Finally, I want to say that today is not just a day for the young master and Miss Selene. For the Wayne family, today has another meaning. Someone who hasn't been back for a long time has also returned. Although he always comes and goes in a hurry, I think he must also be happy for the young master today."
Alfred turned his gaze toward Thor and raised his champagne glass.
"Respectfully, the Wayne family."
"Respect to the Wayne family!"
Everyone present, whether heroes, family, or friends, raised their glasses in unison.
Then, Bruce led Selene onto the stage.
Selene wore a boldly tailored black evening gown that clung to her shapely figure, making her look like an elegant yet dangerous Black Cat.
Bruce stood in the center of the banquet hall, holding the prepared ring in his hand, and looked around at the familiar faces below the stage.
He didn't start with polite greetings like "Thank you all for coming today," but instead began in a calm tone, almost as if he were analyzing a case:
"I know that when you received the news, your first reaction was, ' Bruce Wayne is getting married.'"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Clark, Diana, Barry, and the others.
"To be precise, my first reaction was, 'That guy who even bugs his teammates, actually got married.'"
Hal Jordan couldn't help but chuckle, only to be glared at back by Clark next to him.
"Then you guys started betting on whether I'd laugh during the ceremony, and some people even set up betting odds specifically for that."
His gaze fell on Barry, Barry expression froze instantly, and whose eyes began to drift unconsciously to the side.
"I suggest those who can't bet can start collecting their money now," Bruce said expressionlessly.
A commotion and low laughter erupted from the audience.
But there's one thing you'll never guess.
His voice lowered, he glanced at the ring on his hand, then looked up, his gaze fixed firmly on Selene beside him.
I never imagined I would get to this point.
"It wasn't until she appeared that I realized I didn't have to walk through the night alone."
As soon as he finished speaking, Selene took the microphone from his hand, winked at the audience, and said in her characteristic tone, tinged with a hint of laziness and slyness:
"So you see, ladies and gentlemen, I decided to marry him to see what kind of nonsense Bruce would spout at our wedding."
With a loud "boom," the entire audience erupted in enthusiastic laughter and applause.
Bruce looked at her, and even the lines on his perpetually icy face seemed to soften.
He took the microphone back and looked in Thor's direction.
"Of course, besides Alfred, I also want to thank someone else. If it weren't for him, I would still be alone now, and you wouldn't be standing here listening to me ramble on."
His voice was soft, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.
Someone once told me that tragedy is just the match that lights a flame. Once the match burns out, the flame no longer needs pain to sustain it.
It took me a long time to understand that sentence.
"If it weren't for him, I might still be pushing away the truly important people in the way I thought was right."
Instantly, everyone's eyes, like searchlights, focused on Thor.
People who know him, such as the league giants, have understanding and emotion in their eyes; people who don't know him are full of curiosity and inquiry.
Who exactly is this man whom Batman publicly thanked?
Thor said nothing, but simply raised his champagne glass slightly towards Bruce.
Everything is understood without words.
The ring-exchanging ceremony was quickly completed, and Bruce and Selene walked off the stage.
The guests began to move around freely, offering toasts, and the atmosphere became more relaxed and lively.
Selene didn't bother with the others; instead, she took Bruce's arm and walked straight toward Thor.
She approached Thor without raising her glass or offering any polite words of thanks.
She simply looked at Thor with an expression that was a mixture of seriousness and mockery.
"You know, Bruce," she began, "If you hadn't said those things to me first, I might still be struggling with myself. So, this drink is for you."
After saying that, she tilted her head back and drank the champagne in her glass in one gulp.
Thor smiled, looked at her, and then glanced at Bruce, who was clearly uncomfortable beside him.
"You just need to keep an eye on him from now on; nothing else matters."
Selene laughed too, a hint of feline slyness in her smile, "That depends on whether your son cooperates."
"It's alright," Thor's smile widened. "If Bruce doesn't cooperate, I'll beat him up for you."
He paused, then added.
"If that still doesn't work, I'll beat up his son."
Not far away, Damian Wayne, who was pretending to inspect the manor's security but actually eavesdropping, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He slowly turned his head to look in Thor's direction, his serious little face filled with big question marks.
"???"