The sky was clear and blue—a rare stroke of good weather in Gotham. The gentle breeze through the open window made the day feel unusually pleasant, a sharp contrast to the city's usual gloom. Yet, Su Sheng remained indifferent to the brightness of the day. Harley Quinn's absence was noted but didn't bother him much. He stretched lazily before getting dressed and heading downstairs. The absence of Harley, along with the usual breakfast she prepared, was unusual, but Su Sheng simply frowned, noting the break from routine.
"Never mind," Su Sheng muttered to himself, shrugging off the lack of morning fare. He grabbed a quick bite from what was available in the kitchen. Just as he finished, he heard the sound of the door opening.
Instead of Harley Quinn, Barbara Gordon entered the apartment, dressed in her Batgirl suit, followed by Talia al Ghul, who wore practical combat attire. Barbara introduced Talia and thanked Su Sheng for agreeing to assist in their mission to save Gotham. The formalities were clear; neither woman mentioned the awkward encounter from the previous day, nor did they bring up Talia's evident discomfort from it.
"My father is leading the assault on City Hall in an hour," Barbara said, checking her equipment with a nervous glance. "After that, Talia and I will go straight to confront Bane. Is that plan still fine with you?"
Su Sheng nodded nonchalantly.
Barbara's eyes darted around, searching for Harley Quinn. "Harley Quinn hasn't shown up. Do you know where she is?"
"I'm not sure. I was planning to say goodbye to her before heading out," Su Sheng replied with a casual shrug. "But it's all part of the journey. People come and go."
"Time's running out. We should get moving," Barbara said, glancing at her watch with a sense of urgency.
Su Sheng grabbed his backpack, and the three of them headed out to the car. They drove toward City Hall, where Bane had set up his base of operations.
At City Hall, a tense standoff had formed. Bane's thugs, heavily armed and bolstered by two Wayne Group tanks, stood guard. Opposing them was a determined group of police officers led by James Gordon and a few remaining Gotham justices. The sight was striking: a small force of the city's protectors standing defiantly against a heavily fortified enemy.
James Gordon checked his watch anxiously, waiting for the promised backup. His eyes widened with concern as a car screeched to a halt between the two factions. Su Sheng had driven directly into the middle of the battlefield, an unexpected and reckless move that drew everyone's attention.
"Are you crazy?" Barbara Gordon yelled, her voice laced with frustration and disbelief. The original plan was to wait until James Gordon's assault began, then slip through the chaos to find Bane. Instead, Su Sheng's sudden presence made them immediate targets.
"You want to meet Bane directly?" Su Sheng asked casually, his tone almost cheerful.
"Of course!" Barbara snapped, her frustration evident.
Su Sheng glanced at Talia al Ghul before turning back to Barbara. "I have a way to get you in to see Bane."
Barbara's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Do you have handcuffs?" Su Sheng asked, his expression turning serious.
Without hesitation, Barbara handed over a pair of handcuffs from her utility belt. "Why do you need them?"
"To cuff you," Su Sheng said with a grin. Before Barbara could react, he swiftly cuffed her hands behind her back.
"What are you doing?" Barbara exclaimed, her confusion quickly turning to alarm as she struggled against the restraints.
"Your IQ…" Su Sheng chuckled, shaking his head as he stepped out of the car. He grabbed Barbara with one hand and Talia with the other, making a dramatic display of their predicament.
The sight of him holding Barbara and Talia in such a manner drew gasps from both sides. James Gordon's face registered shock and disbelief as he watched the scene unfold. He shouted, "Su Sheng, you bastard!"
The sudden betrayal stunned everyone. The morale of Gordon's forces plummeted as they realized their supposed ally had turned against them. On the other side, Bane's men quickly grasped the situation and began to react, preparing to inform their leader.
One of Bane's men shouted, "What's your business with Bane?"
Su Sheng's smile widened, his expression exuding confidence. "I'm here to kill Bane. Do you believe it?"
The audacity of his claim, coupled with his calm demeanor, was met with skepticism. The crowd erupted in laughter, their mood shifting from tense anticipation to mocking amusement.
As the laughter died down, a menacing figure emerged from the ranks. Dressed in a black metal mask that exuded an aura of unrelenting menace, Bane stepped forward. The mask's cold, steely appearance and his piercing gaze created an intimidating presence that commanded immediate respect.
Bane, the infamous Backbreaker, had arrived.