Just as Dick froze, Batman suddenly took steps towards him, and Dick instinctively backed away two steps.
Batman stopped his advance, seeing fear in Dick's eyes. Of course, if he were still his Robin, then Batman could understand completely, because by saying such foul words, he had made Dick believe that he would hit him.
But now Dick was a vampire, and he also knew magic, while Batman was close to being mortally wounded.
What exactly was he afraid of?
"He's afraid of Batman," Shiller answered smoothly, as if he had anticipated Batman's confusion.
"Do you really think they have no clue?" Shiller's tone carried a hint of curiosity as he said, "Do you really feel that they're unaware of the concessions you've made for them, that they don't know they wouldn't be able to live as they do now if you hadn't been willing to compromise, that the confidence they possess actually stems from your indulgence?"
"Stop fooling yourself, Batman. They understand everything. They know that if you were serious, they wouldn't stand a chance, and the only thing that could make you turn a blind eye like a dozing lion is your love for them."
"Given the current situation, do you think Dick dares to bet that you still love him?"
Batman felt a piercing pain, as if all his organs were burning, while Shiller continued to speak.
"Of course, he wouldn't dare to bet, because he's turned into a monster and has been defanged, posing no threat to you. You have seen his ugly yet powerless side and have threatened him so harshly, how could he possibly dare to bet?"
He doesn't even dare to raise a hand against ... Batman thought to himself. Dick Grayson was genuinely afraid; Batman could almost hear the sound of hope dying in Dick's heart, prompting him urgently to do sothing to make ands.
Rush up to explain? That might only drive him further away, and besides, Batman didn't know what to explain, because this was exactly how Batman treated monsters, unless Dick could sohow reverse ti and go back to before he transford; otherwise, any explanation would seem weak and feeble.
"Answer my question."
When Shiller's next words ca through the earpiece, Batman could hardly believe his ears.
"Do you intend to press Dick further, regardless of sentint, are you truly not afraid he'll lash out in desperation?"
Or was it that this wicked Doctor actually intended for the two of them to perish together here?
"Answer my question," Batman repeated sowhat resignedly, hoping that Dick would make his move quickly.
Dick's arms began to tremble. Under Batman's slightly hopeful gaze, he raised his hand, but did nothing, simply reaching out to touch the cross hanging around his neck.
"I didn't," Dick said with a choke in his voice, "I didn't transform willingly."
"You're still not answering my question," Shiller's voice overlapped with Batman's, "I'm asking if what you've given is proportional to what you've received."
Dick's expression beca complicated as he said, "Of course, I've gained great power, stronger than any of you."
"What did you give up?"
"rely my human identity."
"Is that really all? Then why are we standing here instead of discussing tactics in the Batcave with the other mbers of the Batman Family?"
"What do you want to say?" Dick looked at Batman with tearful eyes and took a step forward on his own, saying, "Do you want to say that by betraying you I gained such great power, and none of it was worth it?"
Shiller's response once again shocked Batman.
"You must say it, Richard Grayson. This is your last chance."
"So if I don't admit my wrongdoing, you're going to kick out..."
"...of your last chance to live."
Dick was clearly scared.
Batman saw the expression on his face and the split second of blankness in his brain as if everything had frozen in place.
"Every punishnt in this world is progressive," Batman said. "The opportunity for 'leaving your father' as a punishnt has been exhausted. This is the next level."
"You say you're going to kill ?!" Dick looked into Batman's eyes as if searching for traces of deception.
And Batman had never felt the chance to explain so precious; it was indeed his last chance to explain. He had opened his mouth, but Shiller answered first.
"You have no standing to demand that I don't do so, Mr. Grayson. Whether from the perspective of a human, a father, or the leader of the Batman Family, I believe I have the right and it would be best to do so."
"Then what are you waiting for?!" Dick roared at him.
"I'm giving you a chance to beg not to do it."
Batman didn't know how his 37-degree mouth could utter such cold words.
"You want to beg you for rcy?!!"
"From all your standings, as a human, a son, a mber of the Batman Family, this is not an order but a favor."
Great, his mouth could still spout colder words. Batman used all his willpower to keep from averting his eyes; he really couldn't look at Dick's tear-filled eyes now, no one could bear not to embrace him.
It seed Dick finally realized the situation. He had betrayed the human race, and as Batman, he was supposed to kill him. But now he was giving him a chance, as long as he begged, he would not act.
Batman approached him, and Dick knew he could not back away any more, his instinct to survive might really lead to his death here.
Batman hugged him, softly stroking the back of his head, then patting his back, feeling the warmth passed through the armor.
As Batman was just relaxing a bit in this tender atmosphere, he heard Shiller speak.
"Tell , trading my love for you in exchange for power was the most foolish decision you've made."
"I didn't volunteer..."
"What happened back then doesn't matter, what's important is how you feel about it now." Batman finally understood Shiller's aning, and he no longer needed Shiller's guidance, but spoke from his heart.
"As long as you tell that none of this is worth it, that you regret it, I can erase this mistake completely and you won't have to pay any price for this decision... because I am Batman."
Dick's hand slowly climbed up Batman's sturdy arm, his fingers gradually tightening, yet there was no cloth to grasp, but next to the tall figure's neck, the lifted head slowly raised its chin, tears streaming down incessantly.
Many people will co to realize at so point in their lives just how precious an opportunity it is to simply admit a mistake and pretend as if nothing had ever happened.
Dick could no longer hold back his sobs and started to cry loudly; he almost turned into a fla burning against Batman's chest, and Batman indeed felt like he was about to be burned through.
In his overly long lifeti, he had rarely felt such intense pain, and he had barely been able to suppress the rage and killing intent that was boiling up in his chest—towards everyone except Dick.
"It wasn't worth it at all..." Dick said with a hoarse voice, "That's not what I wanted, it's not..."
Batman didn't know what to say, but fortunately, he had a savior in his earpiece—albeit only a savior for the mont, as it might not be the sa case soon.
"You didn't have a choice, did you?" Batman asked.
"I said, I didn't choose to transform..." Dick said intermittently, "I didn't an to betray..."
"Good, how are you going to prove it?"
Good Lord! Batman almost roared in his heart! What else do you want this kid to prove?! Are you even human?!
Dick obviously stiffened, all of his body language expressing his confusion.
Batman continued to stroke his back, saying, "Just now you wanted to bite my neck."
"But... but my fangs have been removed..."
"I thought that was your instinctive reaction."
"Stop! Don't say anymore!" Batman roared internally, "Dick isn't that kind of person, he was just using that gesture to express the injustice he felt... Wait, so is it that he has to say these words himself?"
"No! I knew it wouldn't hurt you! Do you think..."
"Aren't you feeling relieved?"
"...What?"
"If you still had those sharp fangs, I wouldn't allow you to get close to my neck in that way." Batman ignored Dick's feeble struggle and continued to hold him, saying, "And of course, I wouldn't be holding you like this."
Wait a second, there is an obvious logical flaw here, Batman suddenly thought; he probably wouldn't allow the pre-vampire Dick close to his neck in that way either, and he had hardly held him like this before.
Dick was smart, he imdiately spotted this flaw and murmured, "But when I didn't have fangs, you also didn't..."
"This is a reward, Dick."
Dick obviously froze again, his brain going into loading mode; if not for being so close to him, Batman would have certainly warned Shiller not to instill such perverted thoughts into Dick.
Because he could clearly see the problem.
When Dick had not betrayed, he hadn't received anything special, but after the transformation, he had received a so-called reward, so what was being rewarded?
Of course, it was the process of him gaining power and then choosing to give it up, to be precise, pulling out the fangs, returning to docility, bowing his head to express submission to him.
But almost every ti, it was only after Batman spoke the words according to what Shiller said that he realized the issue, or perhaps a series of statents strung together made sense; it was not possible to predict in advance before speaking, and he knew that Shiller was doing it on purpose.
Dick took a deep breath, his arms slightly tightening around Batman and said, "Is this what you want, Batman?"
I'm not crazy, Batman thought.
"Perhaps I should apologize for another matter?" Dick said with a touch of sarcasm, "For leaving you for Brude Haven... "
"No." Batman said, and then he thought to himself that he had finally said sothing sensible after all this ti.
Imdiately following that, he heard Shiller say.
"It was our joint decision, Dick. If I didn't allow it, you couldn't have left Gotham, so you don't have to apologize for it."
Dick's One Hand grabbed Batman's thick arm, his chest heaving uncontrollably, his arms beginning to tremble; he said, "You can't say that, Batman, I thought you were an honorable hero..."
"I am, but on the condition that my dear child doesn't beco a criminal; your going to Brude Haven didn't make it so, but today it's different."
Dick clenched his teeth hard and said, "What's the difference?!"
Batman slowly let go of him, looked into his eyes and said, "You told you were going to Brude Haven to be an independent vigilante of the city, and you said and did just that, despite my dissatisfaction with your choice, there was no deception."
"But today, Mr. Grayson, can you tell why you're not afraid of the sunlight and the Holy Water?"
Dick's breathing clearly paused, evidently feeling imnse pressure under Batman's probing gaze.
"If you had stayed inside during the dayti and hadn't shown up for afternoon tea, I can assure you none of this would have happened today."
Batman stepped forward, his hand on the spot where Dick's neck t his shoulder, looking into his eyes and saying, "But you stood in the sunlight, drinking tea made with Holy Water, smiling and saying that just a bit too much sugar had been added."
"Now, tell , what is the difference?"
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