Multiverse: Deathstroke

Gordon's consciousness finally returned to his body. He could feel the light and the warmth of the fireplace. But inside, it felt like winter, everything frozen over, no sunlight, no hope.

Falcone gently patted his shoulder, comforting him like a concerned elder. "Gordon, my dear Gordon, it's all over now. Everything will be fine. You've lost two wives for this city, lost your child. You're just tired."

"Yes, tired... I'm so tired," Gordon lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly.

"No, Gordon, it's not time for you to rest yet. The new Gotham isn't built yet. You can't rest. Only you can save it. You promised me."

Falcone hugged him tightly, the frail old man almost lifting Gordon off the sofa with his embrace.

Gordon looked at Falcone in confusion. He couldn't remember what he had promised. His mind was like a boiling pot, filled with chaotic thoughts that seemed to have lost connection with each other.

"I... yes, I promised you..." he answered in a daze.

"Yes, you promised. A better Gotham, a Gotham where everyone can live happily. This is our city. We all want to see it thrive."

"Children... my child!" Gordon cried out in pain, clutching his head.

Falcone comforted him again, patting his back. "It's all over. It's all over. You'll have a new family. When the new Gotham is built, I will preside over your wedding with Sofia, and then I'll hand over the Falcone family to you both. I will leave amidst applause... You will have new children, a new city, and live happily ever after."

As he spoke, he looked expectantly at Sofia, as if seeking her opinion.

"Yes, Father. Everything will be as you wish," she replied with that same fake smile, the kind of polite expression a medieval lady would use, answering in the sweet voice of a dutiful daughter, as if she had never changed.

"Come, Gordon, kiss my ring, accept my promise, and from now on, we will be family, for a better Gotham!"

Falcone smiled, extending his right hand to Gordon. On his ring finger was a delicate gold ring engraved with the Falcone family crest—a rose.

But the disoriented Gordon turned his head away, refusing to look at the ring, just as he had done more than ten years ago.

Outside Indian Hill, Su Ming and his team had been waiting in the broadcast van for an hour. It was already past four o'clock, and there was nothing but the sound of wind and rain around them.

The endless rain fell from the sky, twisted into watery dragons by the howling wind, which somehow always managed to find its way into their vehicle through tiny gaps, stealing the warmth from their bodies.

The inside of the van was pitch black. He and Cindy sat silently in the dark driver's seat, each holding a bottle of beer they had just picked up, monitoring the outside.

Earlier, in the small supermarket, Su Ming had told Cindy everything about the multiverse. He had also shared the mastermind's plan and some other speculations.

He did this because Cindy was the only person here he could trust. Before he left, he felt he needed to leave enough information so that Cindy could survive.

He wasn't sure if this decision was right or whether it would trigger a butterfly effect or worse consequences, but he was just doing what a partner should do.

Although they had only known each other for six hours and were just a temporary team, their similarities and tacit understanding made it seem as if they had known each other for a long time.

It really had been a long time. Su Ming had only been in this world for six and a half hours, and those six hours were almost his entire new life.

In those six hours, he had experienced things he had never thought of before and made changes he had never considered. He had become inextricably linked to the world that had brought all this about.

However, Cindy's reaction had been quite calm. Learning of the mastermind's plan was like receiving any ordinary piece of information. After Su Ming had finished speaking, she just responded with an "Oh," and it was unclear what she was thinking.

They had then silently returned to the van, driven here, and turned off the engine to wait in the dark.

In the distance, in the junkyard, there were small flickering lights. They were from the homeless people trying to keep dry inside broken-down cars, and some were unlucky enough to have their fires extinguished by the heavy rain. Every so often, a loud curse or cry could be heard from some unknown location.

This weather was not suitable for small creatures to move around, but Su Ming was sure he had seen rats scurrying in and out of the broken cars, as if they were moving their stored food to higher ground.

The wind shifted slightly, changing the direction of the rain again, but their target still hadn't shown up.

"Damn it, did the League of Shadows get caught in a flash flood or something? Why aren't they here yet?"

Cindy lay on the steering wheel, her body stiff from the long wait.

"Something's off. Batwoman's surveillance system still hasn't detected any ninjas entering Gotham. Something's gone wrong."

Su Ming looked into the distant darkness, trying to distinguish the direction of the underground research facility and hoping it was in the same place as in the TV show's world.

Barbara was still using her laptop to connect to the Batcomputer in the Batcave, the screen constantly switching views. The system had not identified any members of the League of Shadows.

"What do we do?" Cindy turned her head to look at him.

Su Ming thought for a moment and suddenly realized that the League might have other plans.

When Cindy had found the footprints of the ninja's tabi on the rooftop, the scouts from the League might not have even gone down to check the bodies.

They only needed to know that their comrades were dead and didn't need to investigate how, unlike Su Ming and his group.

To them, it was all Gotham's fault. With Batwoman out of the city, all they needed to do was destroy Gotham, and their revenge would be complete.

Ra's al Ghul could be gathering forces in Nanda Parbat right now. The League members would need to return from all over the world, and that would take time.

When the League finally arrived, they would probably launch a massive attack to destroy Gotham, not caring who the killer was. That would be too much trouble. After all, it was all Gotham's fault.

They could set off a few nuclear bombs in the city, sending all the criminals and residents to heaven. That would avenge their fallen member and fulfill Ra's al Ghul's long-standing wish.

Two birds with one stone.

"We attack. We can't wait any longer. No matter what's inside, we have to go in."

Su Ming put on his helmet, secured the straps, and checked his weapons.

"Are you sure? We're still not sure where Falcone plans to face them."

Although Cindy said this with a smile, her hands were moving quickly, preparing for battle.

Su Ming looked at her, then at the people in the back of the van, and jumped out.

"All I know is that as time passes, greater dangers are getting closer."

He was referring to the possible resumption of the war between the Amazons and Atlantis and the potential assassination attempt on Bryce. They didn't have time to wait around here. They needed to rescue Gordon and find Batwoman as soon as possible.