When it felt safer, Red Robin hooked Baia's leg and lifted her up horizontally. Baia wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her nose in his black hair, smelling the familiar scent of shampoo. It seemed like memories of living in Wayne Manor had materialized, making her suddenly happy.
Though Timothy hadn't grown as tall as his elder brother yet, his arms were already very reliable. The uniform outlined his waist and youthful muscles perfectly. Despite the armor emitting a cold air, Baia placed her hand on it without feeling cold.
Timothy felt a bit awkward as Baia kept sniffing near his neck like a puppy. He whispered for her to stop fooling around.
In Gotham, Baia used to roll in the mud with Holly, darting through the streets and alleys. In the Manor, she dealt with criminals at night, being able to protect herself in Metropolis as well. She used to be just a little kid when they first met, but now she had become more charming and delicate.
Baia wore a pair of low-heeled sandals but complained about her feet hurting. Her eyes, as clear as autumn water, were on the verge of tears. She subtly hoped that Timothy would carry her a bit longer.
She had some tricks up her sleeve.
But being a bit delicate was fine; after all, there were people at home who spoiled her.
System: Huh! Can't you just disappear and walk by yourself? Foot pain, my foot! It's just like singing the song of angels!
Baia: "Tim hasn't complained yet, is it your turn to speak?"
Taking advantage of the night, Red Robin opened up his portable glider and left the high floors of Stark Industries with Baia. Since her earpiece had been confiscated by the kidnappers, Baia couldn't contact Friday for the time being.
But Friday had already accessed Stark Industries' surveillance system and saw the two of them escape safely. She informed Tony, Carolyn, and others that they were safe.
Friday: "By the way, Boss."
Tony: "What's up?" He had already received the modified Extremis virus from Kirk. The red translucent liquid was sealed in a test tube. Tony raised a tube and examined it under the light. "How about leaving a memorable gift for Stark?"
Friday: "Of course, and there's one more thing... I feel like Mr. Drake and Miss Wayne's interaction seems a bit strange."
Tony: "Are they having a fight? I told you she's so assertive, those little bats must not be happy."
Friday: "Not exactly," Friday hesitated, "It's just weird."
With that, Friday showed Tony a screenshot of Red Robin carrying Princess Baia with a robin perched on her back.
Tony stopped what he was doing, suddenly feeling a bit displeased with the kid.
Behind Red Robin, the logo of Stark Tower exploded like fireworks in the dark sky, dazzling like a meteor shower. The stolen Iron Man armor soared into the sky. At the same time, the Gotham City Police Department received a call, along with evidence of Simon Stagg's malicious competition and the kidnapping of little Wayne. The roaring police cars soon surrounded Stagg Industries, but all of this had nothing to do with Baia and the others.
Back home, Baia reluctantly let go of Red Robin's hand. She could get close to him on the pretext of the journey, and Timothy indulged her. But now it wasn't appropriate to stick to him anymore.
System: What are you worried about? Can't take advantage of Timothy anymore?
Baia: "Yeah."
System: ...
Although Baia admitted it quickly, she felt a bit embarrassed now, her ears feeling hot. She wasn't stupid; she could feel the ambiguous feelings, like a seed sprouting in her heart.
Baia: "Well, I'm not telling you anything. You're so annoying!"
System: ? I didn't say anything!
"Are you going back to Gotham?" Baia stood on tiptoe, twirling around in circles, her skirt swaying like waves. "It's late now; I'll make you a midnight snack."
Timothy looked at her with a smile. "Sure."
Baia tried to push Red Robin onto the couch. Timothy went along and lay down, watching the girl flit around like a little bee in front of him, gathering ingredients and tidying up. Although Timothy used to be as messy as Bruce, he decided not to give Baia any more work and try to develop Jason's diligent and clean habits.
Baia kicked off her high heels and walked barefoot on the cold wooden floor, curling her toes as the chill made her feet cold. She bounced around, looking for her fluffy slippers.
Baia cut the mushrooms and prepared a considerable amount of cream and milk, starting to cook creamy mushroom soup. The thick soup in the pot began to bubble, and she leaned lightly on the table, sitting on the marble countertop in the kitchen, her eyes empty, her thoughts drifting away.
System: Are you feeling a little love-struck?
Baia puffed up her cheeks and then slowly exhaled. "I don't know, maybe. I mean, what if I just like him like I like my brother? Like, Dick."
What was Timothy thinking? She didn't know. What if all of this was just because she was the one who needed protection the most, and Timothy was just doing his duty as usual? Then wouldn't she be too presumptuous?
A seed fell to the ground, quietly taking root and slowly sprouting. But no one said that all the little flowers could bear fruit. Some just came to the world, took a look around, let the bees take away some bittersweet honey, and then returned to the soil, ending there.
System: Well... why not ask him?
"Then should I stop being a person?" Baia was both embarrassed and angry, hammering the lid of the pot. "What kind of lousy idea is this? None of your suggestions have ever been reliable!"
System: It's hard for me. Every time I come up with a plan, I get blamed. Boo hoo hoo.
Although he didn't want to admit it, Damian now wished he had never come tonight. That way, he wouldn't have to see Drake and the witch cuddling and drawing together in the middle of the night. He squinted, examining them in the darkness with a scrutinizing gaze.
The witch was communicating with Drake in a language he didn't understand, and they occasionally laughed softly, perhaps some kind of secret language between them.
Damian was so shocked that he accidentally knocked the window handle, setting off the alarm Drake had set up in the room. Timothy turned around and immediately met the eyes of the current Robin with a displeased expression, knocking over the cup of water beside him in surprise.
"What are you doing here?"
Damian finally jumped into the room and spoke at the same time as Timothy.
Damian justified himself, "I have ample reason to check on the witch's condition to prevent her from accidentally getting herself killed and wasting my investment."
"Then you could have just made a phone call," Timothy said.
"As for you," Damian remained undeterred, taking a step forward and questioning, "Drake, you are suspicious!"
Timothy retorted, "Suspicious? Me? Breaking into a window in the middle of the night—"
"It was Timothy who rescued me from Stagg Industries in the middle of the night!" Baia quickly interjected to ease the tension. "Damian, do you want some soup?"
The steaming, savory creamy mushroom soup, also known as the "calorie bomb" soup, was tempting even to Damian. The boy stood in place for a moment, his sharp gaze constantly scanning between Drake and Baia, then he snorted lightly and sat down on the edge of the sofa.
He picked up the several pieces of paper with many meaningless circles drawn on them. "What is this again?"
"It's a language," Baia said, "I'm teaching Timothy."
Damian became even more suspicious. "You teach during the day, and now in the middle of the night?"
"Quick, drink your soup before it gets cold!" Baia picked up a bowl and was about to force Damian to drink it.
Struggling in vain, Damian was successfully bribed by Baia and stopped resisting. Even the demon brat was still a brat. After finishing the soup, he licked his lips, looking extremely cute. Baia was in a good mood today; everyone looked cute to her.
Since the demon brat had arrived, Baia and Timothy naturally couldn't continue their studies. In Damian's suspicious gaze, Red Robin prepared to leave, but Timothy decided to forcibly pull Damian along. However, he faced fierce resistance.
"This idiot gets kidnapped every few days; he's too weak." Damian said as he pulled out the sharpened blade from the shelf where Baia was placed, wiping the sharp edge with his fingers, "I'm here to train her, not to disgrace my father and mother."
Bruce had reluctantly asked Damian to train Baia before, but he had done it with a full twelve points of reluctance. Now, it could be said that the sun had risen in the west.
Timothy considered for a moment, thinking it was acceptable, but still subconsciously retorted, "You don't train during the day, but in the middle of the night?"
For Damian, today was also a day he wanted to chop up Drake.
"Forget it," Timothy shook his head, "So... goodnight?"
Those few short syllables were uttered from the lips of the young man, as soft as the whisper of the moon.
"Goodnight." The girl widened her eyes in surprise, then waved with a smile.
He had spoken in Gallifreyan.
Baia didn't know the name of the alien language she used to communicate with Prisoner Zero until today when Tim suggested learning it. Naturally, Baia had no reason to refuse, so she asked the system and learned the name of the language.
Gallifreyan, Baia thought. What does it look like?
"Take your knife and don't lose focus," Damian tossed Talia's dagger at her feet.
Baia's shoulders slumped, looking pitiful. "Can you be a bit gentler?"
Out of a psychological impulse that even Tim couldn't explain, similar to Bruce's, he temporarily kept the secret of the Amazo core. Although he didn't know exactly what it represented, he had a basic understanding of Gallifreyan grammar. Each circle represented not a single character but an entire sentence. The circle of characters on the Amazo core seemed more like a declaration or judgment.
Baia had promised Tim to compile a reference table of meanings, so they could translate the symbols correctly.
"Good night," Tim muttered, looking somewhat puzzled at the Gotham skyline. For no particular reason, even he felt he was grasping the language too quickly.