Batman "bam" sat up suddenly.
The abrupt motion startled both Clark and Diana who were seated, and the Bat Cat, which was quietly curled on Clark's shoulder, arched its back, clearly shocked.
"We're back." Pala walked out from behind Lex, waving at Diana, "It was a bit of a hassle and took so ti."
Diana imdiately furrowed her brows, seriously looking at Pala, "A hassle, even for the two of you? I've said it before, you shouldn't have gone and challenged the ga of bravery on your own. You should have waited for Clark and to co back, then we could have taken you."
"The hassle wasn't about bravery. This ga doesn't test bravery at all." Pala sighed deeply, "Is there anything to eat? I'm starving."
The two of them descended from the treehouse platform. It wasn't until they reached the bottom that Lex got a good look at Batman's face.
He was startled, backing up a few steps before reassessing Batman. Clark hastily got up, "Let introduce you, this is the new Batman. He's from another universe and swapped places with Bruce from our universe."
"Don't ntion Batman." Pala held her forehead in exasperation, "You have no idea how unlucky we were. We ca across another universe's version of you, who spent the whole ti droning on about Batman. Lex and I nearly went insane."
At this point, Batman started to sober up. He found this Lex Luther surprisingly young. Moreover, when he got a good look at Pala's face, he realized she seed to be Poison Ivy from their universe.
It seed that way, because the Poison Ivy that Batman had seen before was always dressed in leaves and wore heavy makeup. This Pala, however, was not only younger but also bare-faced and bleary-eyed, looking like a college student who hadn't slept enough due to exams.
Then he understood that this universe was a younger version in general. Many famous villains from his universe had yet to make their debut here, so were even still in school.
Not all villains were born with an evil plan in mind. Most decided their paths during their growth. But if soone interfered with their choices before they made the evil decision, they naturally wouldn't beco villains.
It seed that's how this universe was. Lex and Clark appeared to be close friends, Pala was part of their group too, but Batman couldn't figure out what brought them together yet.
Even though he knew the Lex Luther in two universes were not the sa person and might even be entirely different, Batman still found himself with nothing to say to him.
The problem now was that Clark was introducing Batman to the two. If Batman didn't respond, Clark would definitely keep staring at him until he said sothing.
Right as Batman was about to speak, Clark sat down.
Then Pala and Lex, as if they hadn't seen him at all, walked right past him, sitting on either side of Diana across the table, and began talking about what they had seen in the last ga.
Batman froze on the spot for a while.
He knew his behavior was strange, but even though he was standing out among everyone, they were still minding their own business.
While Batman was standing in place, Pala had already sat by the pot and started complaining.
"You have no idea how much of a nitwit the Clark Kent from the last ga was, he was more of a lunatic than Batman. He droned on the whole ga, 'if Batman were here', 'if Batman arranged it', 'if Batman', 'if Batman'... I really wanted to crack open his skull and see if there's a tape recorder with the bat logo inside!"
"I said you should've done that." After a cold snort, Lex said, "He was like a widow pining for her deceased husband. I felt pity for him and didn't do anything."
"Please, don't talk like that." Clark humd softly, then slightly puzzled, asked, "So why was he droning on about Batman? Did they have a quarrel?"
"Who knows?" Pala sighed deeply, then continued, "Lex and I both felt that Clark was rather absent-minded, like a headless chicken. Our team of four felt one man short, and the last stage was especially difficult."
At this point, they began to serve soup in turns. Each got their own bowl. Just as Batman was about to take the bowl from Clark, Clark did not hand it over.
Clark took a spoon from Diana, ladled a full bowl of soup, and handed it to Batman. Next were Pala and Diana, then Lex and Clark. The Bat Cat got a large chunk of deer at and a pile of fresh berries, crouching on a tree stump brought over by Clark and eating happily.
Batman paused briefly when receiving the bowl. Not that he hadn't taken care of by others in the team before, but that was usually in battle.
For a long ti, Superman and Wonder Woman believed that Batman was not suitable for any frontline battles, because his physical condition just made him an ordinary person, far inferior compared to them with their superpowers.
So when Batman proposed so combat plans that he needed to participate in directly, both of them would oppose. There were even tis when it was only Oliver and Hal speaking for Batman that they could end the argunt and successfully execute the plan.
As for daily life, one could say nobody believed that Batman needed to live. If he really was the turtle in the wishing well, then he might be made of silver, or stone, but definitely not flesh.
However, Superman is more concerned with Bruce Wayne appearing in Wayne Manor and Wayne Building's dining rooms, bedrooms, and even bathrooms, partially trying to confirm if Batman really needs to eat and use the toilet.
At other tis, Batman might have been taken care of, but it would be hard to say.
Everyone here had no objection to him taking precedence over the ladies and even the cat. All of this was natural, as if it had always been this way.
No one comnted on this behavior. After it was done, they just did what they had to do, continuing to eat and chat. The conversation never shifted onto Batman, even though the topics they were discussing were intimately related to Batman and Superman.
Batman felt completely invisible.
Batman is obviously not the type to initiate conversation or enliven the mood. His interaction pattern with almost anyone is that they ask, he answers, or he asks, they answer, rather than inserting few witty comnts into the casual chat to assert his presence.
So, Batman silently finished his al.
Although he wasn't able to participate in any of the conversations, Batman did manage to figure out how Pala, Lex, and Clark got to know each other.
Simply put, Pala, Lex, and Bruce were in the sa university, and Bruce knew Clark, so they all got to know each other.
Pala and Bruce are from Gotham, so it's not surprising they attended the local Gotham University, but why would Lex Luther co to Gotham for university? Shouldn't he be attending tropolitan University?
Moreover, from their previous conversations, it seed that Lex had also studied postgraduate research in Gotham. Regardless of the location issue, tropolitan University is superior to Gotham University in terms of its academic standards and research conditions. Why would Luther forsake the best and closest for sothing inferior and further away?
Batman wanted to know, but he simply didn't want to speak to Luther, and he didn't think Luther would tell him. However, it seed that Luther and Clark had a good relationship in this universe, so Batman planned to chat with Clark again to see if he could find out where the issue lies.
After dinner, everyone started tidying up the base. Although they had been there for several days and had participated in a few rounds of gas, the camp was still lacking basic organization as they focused on understanding the rules.
Batman was a step too late and found that everyone had disappeared—everyone was busy with their own tasks. Even the pots and pans from dinner were cleaned up. For a mont, Batman didn't know what to do.
In the end, Batman went to find Clark. Clark was organizing tools in a smaller treehouse, seeming to plan on dealing with the ga they had caught during the day.
Clark was squatting on the ground, pulling out a small knife and rope from the tool bag. Seeing Batman approach, he didn't put down the things in his hand. Instead, while coiling the rope, he asked, "What's up? Is there sothing you need?"
Batman's lips moved, but he didn't ask the question.
His way of communicating is unique, but it doesn't an he lacks common sense. If he stood there jabbering while others were at work without offering to help, wouldn't that be annoying? To get accurate information, he needed to integrate himself into the environnt, pretend to be doing sothing, and then ask casually.
Batman walked into the treehouse to do sothing, but he found that it was simply a tool room. The tool bag was in Superman's hand, so Batman could only look at the pegboard of hung tools and casually ask, "It seems like you get along well with the people of Gotham."
"Indeed, we get along quite well. But Bruce has a better relationship with them, as they are closer to each other," replied Clark with a smile, while continuing to sort out the tools from the bag.
"Are they classmates?" Batman queried.
Clark nodded as a start to expand on it, but suddenly, he let out an exclamation.
Batman stiffened. Every move Superman made was beyond his expectations. There was nothing in the tool room that would cause an accident, yet Superman suddenly scread. Batman didn't know whose ntal state should concern him.
Clark abruptly stood up and rushed out of the toolroom. Batman closely followed him.
He followed Clark to the largest treehouse. After rummaging through so piles of clothes and personal items, he pulled out several small pill bottles from a jacket that was obviously one size smaller than him.
"My God, Bruce didn't bring his dicine! Quickly think of a way to call him to co back and get it, or I can even deliver it to him!"
Batman was stunned.
But he didn't know whether to be surprised at the Batman from this universe willingly taking dication, that Batman was okay with Superman knowing he takes it, or that Superman would dare let Batman out of his sight after knowing that the latter is dicated.
Wait, is there a Batman who willingly takes dicine at his house right now?!
And this Superman who knows Batman is dicated yet let him roam free is also planning to go to his house?!
Batman felt his head buzzing.
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