"You really think things through, don't you Batman-san?"
"It's something you have to pick up when you fight crime for as long as I have. Plus, when fighting things like giant monsters and cosmic entities, you need to go in with as many plans as possible."
"Yeah! Like you do with that creepy clown right…um who was it again, JOKER! The Joker right-?"
Before Subaru could finish his sentence, he saw Batman's face falter with a tinge of sadness and regret in his eyes.
"I-I'm sorry. I must have said something insensitive."
Batman straightened his face once again.
"No. It's nothing. Absolutely nothing."
Batman looked out at the row of houses to his side and began having images of Gotham.
The city was similar to Gotham in a way; the middle of the city was vibrant and pretty at times to look at, while the outer edges, the slums, were a cesspool of crime and violence.
He was Reminiscing about old times.
"Hmmm.."
"Batman-san?"
Batman looked back down at Subaru, his Sanpaku eyes being his most definable feature on his young face.
"Surveying the area is all! Just keeping up our defenses, just in case."
Felt had finally turned around at the two.
"No worries! Most of these losers are cowardly and will only pick on REALLY weak looking people."
She then gave a long glance at Subaru.
"HEY HEY! Is that an insult? IT WAS AN INSULT! You cheeky little…"
Subaru gritted his teeth, while Felt smirked about his expression as she turned to Batman.
"Besides, uh Batman-san, was it? You look really intimidating so no one would dare come near you."
"I suppose that's for the best."
Batman simply shrugged his shoulders at this.
"So Subaru were are you from?"
"Oh, from a town in Japan. Not too shabby of a place I guess."
"I see, and your family?"
"Just me and my parents. They said they wanted to wait to have another so.."
"Hmm. Alright then, school or training?"
"Nah, I just hung around the house all day…that's all I did."
They both fell silent; Batman could tell he may have hit a nerve as well. He decided to change the conversation a bit.
"Is there anything you believe you'll miss from your old world?"
"Um, well…my parents would be one thing. Let's see manga, some video games, a couple snacks-wait snacks?!"
Subaru then gave a shocked expression as he looked back at Batman.
"That's right! They may not have it here!"
"What exactly?"
"Only something we, the Natsuki household, hold as dear as the finest wine!"
"Oh really?"
"Yup. Mayonnaise."
"...You're kidding right?"
Batman gave a dumfounded expression, while Subaru waved his finger.
"Of course, it's a family staple, we use it for all our cuisine! I've loved it since as long as I could Remember. And well…"
Subaru gave a bashful smile.
"It was something that connected us a family."
As Batman heard this, he thought of his own 'family' and their own connections, it let him smile for a moment.
Only for that smile to fade as Subaru spent several long drawn out minutes detailing his family's eating habits with mayonnaise.
-----------------
They then saw a shabby looking building in the distance that made Subaru slow down a bit.
It was a large decrepit house, some windows were broken and the tree next to it was beyond dead.
Various images flashed through his mind of the first two times he faced off against Elsa.
Killed in the night with his new friend. Killed trying to save Old Man Rom and Felt. He was scared, no doubt about it.
His thoughts swirled, thinking about how he would deal with her, as Felt reached the front door.
"Well, we're here!"
The group of three then made it to the front of the shack.
Subaru looked up at Batman, giving a nod to him.
He could register what he meant by it and clenched his fist as he observed behind them.
Felt knocked on the door, and they heard a large gruff voice.
"To the giant rats...?!"
"Poison."
"For the White Whale…?!"
"A harpoon."
"To our most honorable dragon lord, we are…?!"
"Shitbags."
As Felt finished her answers, the door opened and a large old man appeared, taller than even Batman.
He stood there and looked at the three of them. Felt simply waved at him.
" Sorry to keep ya waiting Rom-jii. But it seems these two weirdoes' have business with us."
Subaru grimaced at this.
"You know it's rude to call people weird especially to a Superhero!"
"Super…Hyro? See, Rom-jii? Totally special in the head these guys."
Rom took a glance at them. Subaru seemed to be an ordinary boy with odd clothing and creepy eyes.
He didn't think much of him. But when it came to Batman it was completely different.
"-"
Rom got closer to Batman who didn't even budge. He got his face closer as he examined him.
"You're some kind of warrior or the like?"
"Something of the sort. Why?"
"Nah, it's just an Old Man saying so, but I hear you can just feel it on some people."
"Hmmm."
Rom let them in, as they discussed the price of the Metia, Batman took Subaru to the side to have a quick conversation with him.
"So Subaru, what's this Metia term they keep using?"
"Well, I guess as you can tell, they don't have technology or the like here, so they just have magical items. They call them Metia."
Batman rubbed his chin as he nodded. Batman has encountered magical items various times in the past. He did not have fond memories of any of them.
One could say Batman was NOT a fan of magic.
"I see. So you're making them think your phone is one of these Metia to acquire the pendant?"
"Yeah, we get the pendant, grab Rom and Felt, and get the HELL out of here."
"And you brought me along as Plan B?"
"Plan B? Ha. Wow was that a joke? Get it, B? Hehe. I thought you were always serious."
"I am."
Batman folded his arms and gave a stern look at him. Subaru gave an almost trademark wry smile as he apologized for the comment.
"Still, let's hope this deal goes well."
Batman and Subaru returned to Felt and Rom as they continued negotiating.
However Felt picked up on the fact that Subaru seemed nervous and in a hurry. Before Batman could calm him down.
"Why does she want the pendant so badly?"
****
send power stone and add this to your library🏫📚