Just when Dick was stunned, Batman suddenly stepped towards him, and Dick instinctively took two steps back.
Batman's steps stopped, and he saw fear in Dick's eyes. Of course, if he was still just his Robin, then Batman would completely understand, because the bastard words he said made Dick think he would hit him.
But Dick is now a vampire and can also do magic, and he is about to die of serious injuries.
What is he afraid of?
"He's afraid of Batman." Schiller answered him smoothly, as if he had a premonition that Batman was wondering something.
"Do you think they really don't know?" Schiller said with a hint of curiosity in his tone: "Do you really think that they don't actually know the concessions you have made for them? They don't know if you are unwilling to compromise at all.
, it’s impossible for them to live like this, don’t they know that all their current confidence actually comes from your connivance?”
"Don't kid yourself, Batman, they know everything. They know that if you really get serious, they have no chance of winning, and the only thing that can make you turn a blind eye like a napping lion is
Your love for them."
"In this situation, do you think Dick would dare to bet that you still love him?"
Batman felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if his internal organs were about to burn, but Schiller continued to speak.
"Of course he doesn't dare to gamble, because he has turned into a monster and had his fangs removed, so he no longer poses any threat to you. You have seen his ugly but powerless side, and you have threatened him so harshly.
,How dare he bet?"
He didn't even dare to do something to me... Batman thought in his heart that Dick Grayson was really scared. He almost heard the voice of hope disappearing in Dick's heart, which made him eager to do something to save it.
Rushing to explain? I'm afraid that will only make him retreat further, and Batman really doesn't know what to explain, because this is Batman's attitude towards monsters, unless now Dick has the ability to turn back time and return to where he has not yet been
When it changes, otherwise all explanations will be in vain.
"Answer my question."
When Schiller's next words appeared in the earphones, Batman couldn't believe his ears.
"Are you going to push Dick further? Putting aside any emotional factors, are you really not afraid of him jumping over the wall?"
Or is it that this evil doctor actually intends to let the two of them die together here?
"Answer my question." Batman repeated somewhat self-deprecatingly, hoping Dick would take action quickly.
Dick's arms began to tremble. Under Batman's slightly expectant gaze, he raised his hand, but did nothing. He just reached out and touched the cross hanging around his neck.
"I didn't." Dick choked and said, "I didn't transform on my own initiative."
"You still haven't answered my question." Schiller and Batman's voices overlapped. "What I'm asking is whether what you give is proportional to what you gain."
Dick's expression began to become complicated, and he said: "Of course, I have gained great power, more powerful than any of you."
"What did you pay for?"
"It's just human identity."
"Is that really all there is to it? Then why are the two of us standing here instead of discussing tactics with the rest of the Bat-Family in the Batcave?"
"What do you want me to say?" Dick looked at Batman with tearful eyes. He took the initiative to take a step forward and said, "You want me to say that I gained such a powerful power by betraying you.
Is it worth it?”
Schiller's answer shocked Batman once again.
"You have to say this, Richard Grayson, this is your last chance."
"So if I don't admit my mistake, you will kick me out..."
"…last chance to live."
Dick was obviously frightened.
Batman clearly saw that his expression and his brain went blank for a moment at the same time, as if he was stuck.
"All punishments in this world are gradual." Batman said: "The opportunity for the punishment of 'leaving your father' has been used up. This is the next level."
"You said you would kill me?!" Dick looked into Batman's eyes, as if looking for signs of lying.
Batman has never felt that the opportunity to explain is so precious. This is of course the last moment he can use to explain. He has already opened his mouth, but Schiller gave the answer in advance.
"You have no position asking me not to do this, Mr. Grayson. No matter from the perspective of a human being, a father, or the leader of the Bat Family, I think I have the right and it is best to do so."
"Then what are you waiting for?!" Dick growled at him.
"I'm giving you a chance to beg me not to do this."
Batman didn't even know how his 37-degree mouth could spit out such cold words.
"You want me to beg for mercy from you?!!"
"For all that you stand for, human, son, member of the Bat-Family, this is not a command, it is a gift."
Very good, his mouth can spit out colder words. Batman spent all his willpower to resist moving his eyes away. He really can't look at Dick's tear-filled eyes now. No one can
I couldn't bear to hug him.
Dick seems to have finally recognized the reality. He betrayed humanity. As Batman, he should have killed him, but now he has given him a chance. As long as he begs for mercy, he will not do it.
Batman approached him, and Dick knew he could no longer retreat. If his survival instinct took over, he might really die here.
Batman hugged him, gently stroked the back of his head, and then patted his back, feeling the body heat transmitted through his armor.
Just as Batman relaxed a little in this warm atmosphere, he heard Schiller speak.
"Tell me, using my love for you in exchange for power is the stupidest decision you have ever made."
"I didn't do it voluntarily..."
"It doesn't matter what it was like at the time, what matters is how you see it now." Batman finally understood what Schiller meant, and he no longer needed Schiller's guidance, but spoke from the bottom of his heart.
"As long as you tell me that it's not worth it and that you regret it, I can completely erase this mistake so that you don't have to pay any price for this decision... because I am Batman."
Dick's hand slowly climbed up Batman's thick arm. His fingers gradually tightened, but there was no fabric to hold on to. However, on the side of the tall figure's neck, the raised head slowly raised his chin, tears streaming down his face.
It keeps flowing down.
Many people will realize at a certain moment in their lives how precious an opportunity is if you admit your mistake and pretend that nothing happened.
Dick finally couldn't help sobbing and began to cry loudly. He almost turned himself into a ball of fire burning in Batman's chest, and Batman really felt that he was about to be burned through.
In his too long life, he had rarely been in such severe pain, and rarely had he been able to suppress the anger and murderous intent boiling in his chest like he was now - facing everyone except Dick.
"It's not worth it at all..." Dick said hoarsely, "That's not what I want, it's not..."
Batman didn't know what to say, but fortunately there was a savior in his earphones - a savior for now, but he might not be there later.
"You don't have a choice, do you?" Batman asked.
"I said, I didn't...transform on my own initiative..." Dick said intermittently: "I didn't want to betray..."
"Very good, how do you prove it?"
God! Batman almost roared in his heart! What else do you want this kid to prove?! Are you still a human being?!
Dick was obviously frozen, and all his body movements expressed his confusion.
Batman continued to stroke his back and said, "Just now you wanted to bite my neck."
"But...but my fangs were pulled out..."
"I thought that was your instinctive reaction."
"Stop! Stop talking!" Batman roared in his heart: "Dick is not such a person, he is just using that action to show himself that he has been wronged... Wait, so he must say this with his own mouth.
?”
"No! I know it won't hurt you! Do you think..."
"Aren't you feeling lucky?"
"……What?"
"If you still had those sharp fangs, I wouldn't allow you to get close to my neck like that." Batman ignored Dick's weak struggle and continued to hold him and said, "Of course it won't be like this.
Hug you."
Wait, there is an obvious logical flaw in this. Batman suddenly thought that he might not allow Dick before he became a vampire to approach his neck in that way, and he had almost never hugged him like this.
Dick was very smart. He immediately discovered this loophole, so he murmured to himself: "But when I didn't have fangs, you didn't either..."
"It's a reward, Dick."
Dick was obviously stunned again, and his brain entered loading mode. If he hadn't been too close to him now, Batman would have warned Schiller not to instill such perverted thoughts in Dick.
Because obviously he has seen the problem.
Dick didn't get anything special before he turned, but after he turned, he got a so-called reward. So what is this reward?
Of course, it was the process of him gaining power but choosing to give it up. To be more precise, it was the process of pulling out his fangs, returning to docility, and bowing his head to express surrender to him.
But almost every time, Batman realizes the problem only after he speaks according to Schiller's words. It may even be a series of words that make sense when strung together. He cannot predict it in advance before speaking. He knows that Schiller must have done it on purpose.
.
Dick took a deep breath, hugged Batman slightly with his arms and said, "Is this what you want, Batman?"
I'm not crazy, Batman thought.
"Then maybe I should apologize for another thing?" Dick said slightly sarcastically: "For leaving you to go to Bludhaven..."
"No." Batman said, and then he thought to himself that he finally said something human after such a long time.
Then he heard Schiller say:
"This was a decision we made together, Dick, and you couldn't leave Gotham if I didn't allow it, so you don't have to apologize for it."
Dick grabbed Batman's upper arm with one hand. His chest kept rising and falling, and his arm began to tremble. He said, "You can't say that, Batman, I thought you were an upright hero..."
"I am, but only if my dear boy doesn't turn into a criminal. That won't happen when you go to Blüdhaven. It's different today."
Dick gritted his teeth and said, "What's the difference?!"
Batman slowly let go of him, looked into his eyes and said: "You told me that you were going to Bludhaven and become an independent city vigilante. You said so and you did so, even though
I am dissatisfied with your choice, but there is no deception in it."
"But today, Mr. Grayson, can you tell me why you are not afraid of sunlight and holy water?"
Dick's breathing was obviously stagnant. It was obvious that he felt great pressure under Batman's probing gaze.
"If you would have gone back inside during the day and not shown up at tea time, I can guarantee you that none of this would have happened today."
Batman took a step forward, put his hand between Dick's neck and shoulders, looked into his eyes and said, "But you stood in the sun, drinking tea made with holy water, and smiled and said you just put a little too much sugar.
