The days of being a spiritual mentor in Meiman

Just when Dick was stunned, Batman suddenly stepped towards him, and Dick instinctively took two steps back.

Batman stopped in his tracks, and he saw fear in Dick's eyes. Of course, if he was still just his Robin, 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 of what Batman was wondering.

"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? You 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.”

"And 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.

Rush to explain? That would probably only make him retreat further, and Batman really doesn’t know what to explain, because this is Batman’s attitude towards monsters. Unless Dick has the ability to turn back time and go back to the time before he transformed, otherwise Any explanation seems feeble.

"Answer my question."

When Schiller's next words came into 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 for the two of them to die together here?

"Answer my question." Batman repeated somewhat self-deprecatingly, hoping that 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's voice overlapped with Batman's. "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 a human identity."

"Is that really all there is to it? Then why are the two of us standing here instead of in the Batcave discussing tactics with the rest of the Bat-Family?"

"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 visibly 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 valuable. 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. From the perspective of a human being, a father, and 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 know how his 37-degree mouth could spit out such cold words.

"You want me to beg you for mercy?!!"

"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 not to move his eyes away. He really can't look at Dick's tear-filled eyes now. No one can Resist not hugging him.

Dick seemed to have finally recognized the reality. He betrayed humanity. As Batman, he should have killed him, but now he gave him a chance. As long as he begged for mercy, he would not do it.

Batman approached him, and Dick knew that he could not retreat anymore. If his survival instinct prevailed, he might really die here.

Batman hugged him, gently stroked the back of his head, and then patted his back, feeling his body temperature transmitted through the armor.

This warm atmosphere made Batman just relax a little, and he heard Schiller speak.

"Tell me, using my love for you as a price to exchange for power is the stupidest decision you have ever made."

"I didn't volunteer..."

"It doesn't matter what happened at the time. What matters is how you see it now." Batman finally understood what Schiller meant. He no longer needed Schiller's guidance, but said it from the heart.

"As long as you tell me that it's not worth it and you regret it, I can completely erase this mistake and 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 cloth to grab, but at the side of the tall figure's neck, the raised head slowly raised his chin, and tears kept flowing down.

Many people will realize at some point in their lives how precious an opportunity is that as long as you admit your mistakes, you can pretend that nothing has happened.

Dick finally couldn't hold back his sobs 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 rarely felt so much pain, and rarely could he suppress the anger and murderous intent that was churning in his chest like now-towards everyone except Dick.

"It's not worth it at all..." Dick said hoarsely: "That's not what I want, not..."

Batman didn't know what to say, but fortunately there was a savior in his headphones - a savior for now, but not necessarily later.

"You have no choice, right?" Batman asked.

"I said, I'm not...actively converted..." Dick said intermittently: "I don't want to betray..."

"Very good, how are you going to 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, "You wanted to bite my neck just now."

"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 that kind of person. He just used that action to show himself that he was wronged...wait, so do you want him to say it in person?"

"No! I know it won't hurt you! Don't you think..."

"Aren't you feeling lucky?"

"...What?"

"If you still have those sharp fangs, I won't allow you to get close to my neck in that way." Batman ignored Dick's weak struggle and continued to hug him, saying, "Of course I won't hug you like this."

Wait, there is an obvious logical loophole here. Batman suddenly thought that he might not allow Dick before he became a vampire to get close to his neck in that way, and he almost never hugged him like this.

Dick was very smart. He immediately found this loophole, so he muttered to himself: "But when I didn't have fangs, you didn't..."

"This is a reward, Dick."

Dick was obviously stunned again, and his brain entered loading mode. If he wasn't too close to him now, Batman would definitely warn Schiller not to instill such perverted ideas in Dick.

Because he obviously saw the problem.

Dick didn't get anything special before he turned, but after he turned, he got the so-called reward, so what was this reward?

Of course, it was the process of him gaining power, but then choosing to give up the power. To be more precise, it was the process of pulling out the fangs, returning to meekness, and bowing his head to express his submission to him.

But almost every time, Batman realized the problem after he spoke according to Schiller's words, and it might even be that a series of words made sense when strung together, and he couldn't predict it in advance before speaking. He knew Schiller must have done it on purpose.

Dick took a deep breath, and his arms slightly tightened around Batman and said, "Is this what you want, Batman?"

I'm not crazy, Batman thought.

"Then maybe I should apologize for something else?" Dick said with a hint of sarcasm: "For leaving you for Blüdhaven..."

"No." Batman said, and then he thought to himself that he had finally said something human after all this time.

Then he heard Schiller say.

"This is our joint decision, Dick. If I don't allow you to leave Gotham, you can't apologize for it."

Dick grabbed Batman's 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 the premise is that my dear child will not become a criminal. You will not be like this when you go to Blüdhaven. Today is different."

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 Blüdhaven and become an independent city vigilante. You said so and did so. Although I am dissatisfied with your choice, 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 obviously stagnated. Obviously, he felt great pressure in Batman's probing eyes.

"If you hide in the house during the day and don't show up at afternoon tea, I can assure you that what happened today will not happen."

Batman stepped forward, put his hand between Dick's neck and shoulders, looked into his eyes and said, "But you stood in the sun, drank tea made with holy water, and smiled and said that it was just a little more sugar."

"Now, tell me, what's the difference?"