9. Couple
◎Ludwig: Just love grandpa and grandma’s love◎
Ludwig woke up on a white bed. Contrary to what he expected, beside him was not Thomas or Alfred, but Barry wearing a Flash suit.
“Hey, the boy’s awake. Want some water?” Barry helped Ludwig sit up and handed him a cup of still warm water.
Ludwig took the cup and sipped slowly. Barry sat by the bedside, resting his head on his hand as he watched Ludwig.
“How are you feeling now? Batman said you’re anemic. It probably wasn’t caused by the nosebleed, right?” Barry smiled as he looked at Ludwig. “So, how about it? Want to talk?”
“I said no. Will you leave me alone?” Ludwig sighed like a little grown-up. He looked at Barry, who still hadn’t taken off his suit, and said helplessly, “You all know about my superpowers? What does B think? After all, I do have some suspicion of mind control.”
Ludwig never planned to keep it hidden for long. Thomas was a sharp man. Even if he didn’t notice immediately, his subconscious would quickly catch on. After all, Ludwig only increased his persuasive power, not controlling thoughts.
“So, this is your mutant ability? Like Professor X?” Barry didn’t rush to explain Ludwig’s situation. He was curious about Ludwig’s powers. If Ludwig really was a mutant, it could explain why Bruce hadn’t brought the boy out, he might still need a lot of guidance.
“Not entirely, but in my current state, ‘persuasion’ is the only skill I can use.” Ludwig wasn’t keen on explaining his ability. Bruce didn’t want his powers widely known, and Ludwig always kept their agreement to hide himself except at home.
“Wow, so you’re aware of the situation now?” Barry expressed admiration and casually tried to draw more out of Ludwig.
“You haven’t told me what B’s attitude is.” Ludwig protested Barry’s freeloading behavior. “One question, one answer.”
Ludwig lifted his chin high, imitating Damian’s commanding style, but without Damian’s aura, making him look more like a proud cat.
“Ahem, alright. Batman is a little upset, you know, it’s Batman… but your parentage test came back confirming your identity. I don’t think Thomas minds.” Barry paused, then took a breath and seriously thanked Ludwig.
“I have to thank you, Ludwig, not just for me but also for Superman.” Barry felt he should express gratitude to Ludwig no matter the reason.
“Even without me, you’d pass Batman’s test, and Clark would still have a good life. He’ll have a great life, I just sped up the process.” Ludwig refused Barry’s thanks. It wasn’t his achievement, with Barry’s abilities, these were within his capability to solve.
“No matter what, you helped us.” Barry looked a little sad. Ludwig clearly was a child raised well by Bruce. Unlike other Robins with tragic, painful pasts, he was like a little bird cherished in someone’s palm. His biggest problem was probably tomorrow’s homework.
Not because of their plan, they ended up tied to this sickbed.
“Barry, I lied to you. Actually, we are not from the same world.” Ludwig saw Barry’s sadness and sharply interrupted his sorrowful words, reminding him once again about the difference in their realities.
“My father is not Batman. We just returned to Gotham from studying abroad in Afghanistan. Thomas and Martha are waiting for us together at Wayne Manor. The tragedies in your world never happened in ours.” Ludwig repeatedly reminded Barry.
“If you really feel sorry,” Ludwig slowly relaxed from his tense state, a smile spreading at the corner of his mouth as he gently said to Barry, “then when all this is over, please take me out for ice cream.”
“Of course, no problem! No matter which world I’m from, I’d be happy to treat you to ice cream, I promise!” Barry, influenced by Ludwig’s mood, quickly shook off his bad feelings and happily started telling Ludwig about the best ice cream in all of America.
Watching the two laughing and joking inside the hospital room, Alfred smiled contentedly outside.
“I never expected Master Bruce to have such a cute little master in the future. It’s truly comforting.” Alfred was pleased, not only by Ludwig’s recovery but also by the fact that Bruce had a world where he could find happiness.
“I’m glad, Alfred. I never thought you would come back.” Thomas felt a bit ashamed. Back then, fearing that his identity might be exposed and bring danger, he had driven Alfred away. If there had been any other choice, he wouldn’t have involved Alfred in all this, but now Alfred was the only person he could trust.
“You worry too much, Master Thomas. Young Master Ludwig is a lovely child, I don’t find it troublesome.” Alfred shook his head casually. He looked at Thomas, his former employer and friend, who must have endured much hardship these years to look so aged.
“Perhaps Batman needs an assistant to help manage things around him?” Alfred smiled politely. He already knew Thomas’s secret—no one could drive him away anymore.
Thomas didn’t reply. If it weren’t for needing someone to watch over Ludwig, he wouldn’t have invited Alfred back. After all, what he was doing now was too dangerous.
“I understand, Master.” Alfred wasn’t upset, he had long prepared for rejection.
“After all, stubbornness runs in the Wayne family.” Alfred chuckled.
Thomas seemed to realize something and smiled as well. “Yes, stubbornness is hereditary.”
The night in Gotham was bright with colorful lights and indulgence—that was the territory of malice. Good people locked their doors early, while evildoers roamed outside, searching for targets.
Batman lightly jumped over the eaves, moving along the predetermined route.
Tonight, Thomas had found news of the Joker. He had to go see Martha.
“Master, it seems the target has noticed you. I’ve updated the map for you.” Alfred, sitting in the Batcave, quickly updated the Joker’s coordinates to ensure Batman could find his target.
Batman said nothing. Silently, he swiftly followed Alfred’s directions and jumped into the arriving Batmobile.
On the road, the Joker was speeding away in her car, with the Batmobile close behind. The two black-and-white vehicles raced fiercely down the asphalt.
Through the rearview mirror, the Joker saw the familiar Batmobile. A smile rose from deep inside her, and she burst into uncontrollable laughter.
“Come on! Come on, little bat! Let’s dance! Hahaha!” The Joker laughed wildly, flooring the accelerator. The crazy chase officially began at that moment.
Batman didn’t hesitate. The modified Batmobile was almost as fast as the Joker’s supercar. All roadside scenery blurred backwards as his eyes focused solely on the pure white car ahead.
“Oh, alright, alright, you’re just as hard to shake off as before.” The Joker laughed maniacally, her cracked smile savage and terrifying, but the madness had already taken over her brain—there was no stopping now.
Batman chased tightly behind. The two cars were almost side by side when suddenly the sound system of the Joker’s supercar crackled, and then Thomas’s voice came through.
“Martha, I’ve found Bruce’s child.”
Screech!
The loud sound of brakes echoed down the street. The asphalt was gouged by the car’s tires, leaving two deep marks.
But the sudden deceleration caused the car to be thrown by inertia, crashing into a wall and sending thick smoke billowing.
The Batmobile also stopped immediately. Batman opened the door and was about to step forward when he saw the Joker in a green suit kick open the deformed car door.
“Thomas Wayne! I think you belong in Arkham!” Martha angrily got out of the car, storming towards Thomas in his Batman armor.
“I’m not joking, Martha…” Thomas stood still, watching as Martha walked step by step toward him.
“You mean our son, Bruce, the one who was killed in that alley — he has a child?” Martha angrily grabbed Batman’s suit, almost shouting at her former lover.
“How dare you fool me like this!”
“I have a photo.” Thomas took out a picture he had prepared long ago from his utility belt.
Martha rolled her eyes. Her husband was always so stubborn and old-fashioned, but now was not the time to argue. She snatched the photo from Thomas’s hand, and a familiar face suddenly appeared before her eyes.
“He’s from a parallel world. I did a genetic test — he really is related to me by blood. I have no siblings, so it’s almost certain.” Thomas kept explaining, hoping to convince Martha.
Martha’s hands trembled as she held the photo. She couldn’t hear anything else for a long moment before finally regaining her voice.
“Where… where is he? At Wayne Manor?” Martha asked excitedly, grabbing Thomas’s hand. She couldn’t stop crying — tears of joy, a mother finally finding hope.
“He’s at the manor. If you don’t mind, or if I may have the honor, I can take you home?” Thomas smiled, but he didn’t dare look at his wife. Even as Gotham’s Dark Knight, when facing his beloved, he was like a lovestruck boy.
“Enough talking! Let’s go.” Martha didn’t wait for Thomas to finish before opening the Batmobile door and getting in.
Thomas smiled and ran over like a young man.
Alfred, sitting in the Batcave, smiled with relief. In that moment, it seemed as if he saw the once-loving couple again.