Back to the normal folks

"D-dude! Poison Ivy was here and Harley Quinn–"

"And Catwoman! Her whip was going like wham and ham! Pretty sure she hit a hundred of them in the nuts! The Leviathan goons didn't stand a chance! They ran here but Ivy brought them back!"

"You see the vines over there? Yeah, that was Ivy! And those hammer marks? Harley Quinn! They were all here!"

Maps and Todd were jumping up and down, anxiety shaking them top-to-bottom. Aaron pursed his lips, hiding a laugh, and looked to Noah.

"I'm guessing everything is over?" Noah asked.

"Something like that. I saw Batman and–"

A shriek interrupted Aaron. Todd and Maps exclaimed in unison, "You saw Batman!?"

"You saw Batman?" Henry repeated incredulously.

"I did. Him and his sidekicks. The Manhunter was defeated. Leviathan's plans have been thwarted."

"Batman saves the day again." Noah hummed. "Honestly? I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Me neither!" Todd came up right in Aaron's face. "Say, what did he look like? What armour was he wearing–"

"Did he ask about me?" Maps asked, cutting him off. "I've met him before. I met the Robins, I mean. Actually, wait, no, Batman once signed an autograph for me so I met him too!"

"You did!?" Todd's jaw dropped and he groaned. "Oh come on! That's so unfair! I haven't gotten the autograph of a single superhero! I bet he's gone from the scene, isn't he?"

Todd groaned to himself again. Chuckling, Aaron looked between the four: Todd, Noah, Henry, and Maps. They had stayed in the monitor room despite the fact that everybody else had left. Their expressions were devoid of the fear he expected. "So why are you guys still here?" Aaron asked. "Did Catwoman give you instructions or something?"

"No, we were waiting for you," Noah answered.

"Yeah," Todd added. "We couldn't just abandon you. We were actually just about to go together as a team and search for you."

Aaron blinked twice. Honestly…? That was the single nicest thing anyone had ever done for him. He couldn't recall a time in his life when someone had waited for him–when someone had wanted to stay in contact with him. Cared for him. He hated to admit it but the tension that had been winding his heart disappeared.

"Thanks." A heartfelt smile appeared on his face. "That means a lot." Four pairs of eyes burned into his face. His smile faded. "What?

"What's up with the cool smile?" Henry joked. "You better not do that in front of my fiancé. You might just steal him from me."

"No, no, really. You should smile more! You look very pretty when you do it!" Maps proclaimed.

Aaron pursed his lips. When they said it like that, it discouraged him from doing it ever again. "Thanks?"

The lever moving the platform had to be pulled by someone in the monitor room. Aaron volunteered to do it. He explained there was another exit on the other end. Huddled together on the platform, he bid them goodbye.

"I'll see you at work!" Todd shouted, voice echoing as he went down, down, down.

Henry laughed and also joined in on the yelling. "Hey, if you want an invitation to my wedding, then ask!"

"If you ever want to become a detective, see me! I go to Gotham Academy!"

That was Map's. The girl was relentless, that was for sure. Chloe could learn a thing or two from her.

'Chloe. I hope she's okay,' Aaron thought, frowning. He paid half a mind to the crew waving and disappearing into the tunnel.

Cradling his chin, he thought about his own escape. He wondered what lay ahead. Remembering Catwoman's description, he assumed it was the elevator. Returning upstairs wouldn't require the fingerprint scan and eye test…right?

'I should have thought this through. Oh well.' Aaron shrugged, strangely relaxed. It was like nothing in the world could affect him.

Footsteps. Nearly a dozen from behind the door, heavy and firm. Voices accompanied the stomps too. Familiar voices, some high-pitched and others as deep and steady as the ocean.

The door creaked open.