In DC universe as Batman

The third-generation Robin—Tim Drake—sat slumped in Batman's chair before the Batcomputer, wrists and ankles cuffed like a common criminal. He looked less like a superhero and more like a pissed-off housewife who just found out her husband was cheating.

"Alfred," He grumbled, "Batman's been acting... off. Definitely off."

He mimicked a voice—gravelly, sarcastic:

( "Ignoring Batman's orders is practically a Robin family tradition. Sorry, dear Tim. I'll have to lock you up for treason.")

Tim scowled.

He had stretched out his hands when Bruce told him to.

Idiot. He wanted to slap himself.

"Ha-ha-ha."

Alfred entered quietly, holding a tray with pastries.

"Even Robins need breaks. Toffee or chocolate?"

"I want both."

Tim snatched them grumpily, chewing way too much at once.

"Thanks, Alfred. But seriously—something's wrong with Bruce."

He swallowed hard and leaned in.

"Maybe it's mind control. Maybe a magical soul swap. Hell, maybe the Mad Hatter's behind it—but I interrogated that nutjob for two hours and he swore up and down it wasn't him."

He frowned.

"I don't care who is living in Bruce's body right now. One thing's for sure—he's not our Bruce."

Tim set his empty plate down. His eyes darkened.

"He's like an actor. No... more than that. Even Basil Karlo—Clayface—would be impressed."

He leaned back in the chair, arms crossed.

"But even the best actor can't fake something they don't understand. This guy... he gets Batman wrong."

"Wrong how?" Alfred asked gently.

"Bruce is a man, Alfred. A mortal."

Tim's voice dropped to a whisper.

"No matter how scary he looks to the world, we know—he's still human. But this fake? He plays Batman like he's a god. Like some divine force walking among us."

"The presence... the pressure... it's suffocating. I've seen Bruce pissed off before, but this guy? When he looks at me, I feel like my heart stops."

He rubbed his temples.

"I've secretly run over forty tests in the last three days. Iris scans. Fingerprints. DNA. AI logic analysis. Gait detection. Everything matches. Everything. He is Bruce Wayne."

Tim looked up, his expression grim.

"But that doesn't explain him hiring mercenaries to do his dirty work. Or abandoning me to act solo. Yeah, I know Bruce pulls the lone wolf act, but this is different."

He narrowed his eyes.

"And the way he talks about retiring... that's not Bruce. Maybe we should just tie him up, beat the truth out of him with a crowbar and a whip."

---

Somewhere else...

---

"It's terrible."

Bruce maintained his stoic, towering Bat-posture... but his heart was thundering.

**

Thank god that fake Bat aura scared off the real Bane.

He had just made it through the moment. Barely.

If Bane hadn't left, he would've been forced to launch the Aegis missile and wipe out everyone—Deadshot, Cheshire, Killer croc. And it might not even kill Bane.

But everything had gone as expected.

Bane wasn't just a brute—he was a hunter. A patient one.

In the original timeline, Bane waited three months, letting Batman exhaust himself chasing Arkham escapees before launching his ambush. He wouldn't waste his hand here, not while Batman still had strength left.

Bruce still had time—before the cracks showed.

He climbed down from the garbage heap and approached the wreckage.

[Warning! Anchor prop "Captain Javelin's Broken Javelin" detected.]

[... Anchor prop "Slipknot's Broken Beloved Lasso."]

[... Anchor prop "Tattooed Man's Broken Hand."]

Bruce froze, staring at the silver text flooding his HUD.

What does this mean?

What does this MEAN!?

Why am I always the last one standing—just in time to pick up all the loot?

He trembled.

Was the great Dark Knight... reduced to teammate exp farming?

He looked down at the pathetic remains of his squad. A lump formed in his throat. A deep sorrow welled up.

No. Never.

Superheroes must have dignity.

Even if he had to die—he would not desecrate his allies' corpses for gear!

...

Half a second later, Bruce was on his knees licking the loot bag with tears in his eyes.

Forget it. Beating up teammates is practically Justice League tradition.

[Captain Javelin's Broken Javelin: Once used by Gunter Braun to win Olympic gold. Headless now. Can be used as a flagpole.]

["This javelin is my wife! ]

Bruce blinked.

Wait... That guy had no house... and his wife was also a javelin?

Of course it makes sense. How could Captain Javelin have a real wife?

Everyone in the DC rogues' gallery had something wrong in the head.

[Slipknot's Broken Lasso: Christopher Weiss doubts everything... but he is confident in his rope. He sometimes uses it to ****** at night. Tying people up gives him a strange smile.]

["Oohhh, ah, ah wooo... the lasso responded to me..i believe in its judgement "]

Bruce shut his eyes in shame.

Yeah, definitely never hiring such a freak again. Especially since he died first.

[Tattooed Man's Broken Hand: John Oakes, once a sailor, was imprisoned for bar fights and inherited the title from the original Tattooed Man. Keeps an anchor tattoo to remember his youth.]

[ "It's slippery, I swear! The deck's slippery!"]

[Crisis Energy Converted: 10 Units]

Bruce stared at the number, deadpan.

Only 10? Seriously?

All three of them combined gave as much energy as the Ventriloquist did earlier.

He crossed his arms.

How the hell is crisis energy even calculated?

Any of them could go toe-to-toe with Arnold Wesker... and yet...

[Warning: None of the three anchors matched with the target Batman. You will be randomly matched with three weak Batmen or Batman props.]

[Matching... Success.]

[Matched: Batbaby]

[Consume 1 unit of crisis energy to sync physique?]

Bruce squinted. This match had a note.

[A Batman from a dying dark multiverse who reincarnated into a baby to avoid death. Died walking upright because his head was too heavy.]

[Danger Level: NONE]

Bruce's face darkened.

A top-heavy baby? Are you serious?

Do you want me to DIE?!

[Sync abandoned. Data saved. You may sync this Batman later.]

[Matching again... Success.]

[Matched: Batman]

[A Batman who bought all of Gotham and turned it into a feudal estate. Killed by Superman.]

"..."

Bruce clenched his jaw.

Superman actually kills people? What kind of crazy and twisted world is this?

[Sync abandoned.]

[Matching again... Success.]

[Prop found: Earth-66 Batman Utility Belt](og Batman)

[Owned by a cheerful Batman who lived a bright life and died during the invasion of the Batman Who Laughs. Belt contains ridiculous potions most of which only work in his original universe.]

"..."

Two garbage physiques.

One useless prop.

Bruce sighed.

He looked at the three broken bodies around him again.

This was his legacy?

Props from lunatics, failed Batmen, and a dead baby?

...

Still, he wasn't done.

[System Note:]

Ability 1: Memory Sync

Ability 2: Physique Sync (Temporary, risk of corruption if physique too powerful; does not merge, only replaces)

Props exist to either assist or conceal the existence of Ability 2.