Chapter 195 [Extra] Diverse Travel · 3 [Extra]
With the consent of the host family, they had to abide by the contents of the agreement. The Joker had to leave temporarily with Batman to let Megan get along well with her "big friend". After the two adults left, Megan looked at the Red Hood, and couldn't help but look at him again, shaking her head from side to side.
Her eyes were filled with curiosity and a hint of inexplicable wonder. Red Hood had originally been unwilling to respond to her, but for some unknown reason, he still asked her, "What's your name?"
The strange man with the red hood suddenly spoke, causing Megan's eyes to widen. Since she'd been spoken to, she felt he wasn't too difficult to approach. But she was still a little reserved, twirling her braids around in her hand, her voice tinny. "I'm Megan Damon," she asked, looking up. "What about you? Are you really the grown-up Jason?"
The grown-up Jason was really tall and big, and a little unapproachable. However, because this was not the Jason Megan knew, she did not feel lost, just curious, and the rest was unfamiliar.
Red Hood was silent for a moment. He looked at the simple-minded, easy-to-understand child before him. He couldn't understand how she had survived the Joker's clutches and received such special treatment. However, his hatred and resentment for the Joker wouldn't extend to an innocent child. He softened his tone slightly, "Yes, I am Jason Todd, but not the one you know."
He was absolutely certain that there was no little girl named Megan in his memory. In this world, they had no intersection. Maybe she had grown up long ago and was living a good life somewhere. After all, her counterpart could even conquer the Joker and the madman in Arkham. As long as she was given a chance, she would definitely have a good life.
Megan said "Oh" and didn't know what to say to him. She played with the tail of her hair. Fortunately, the clown came back soon. He had changed his clothes. The dark blue work clothes made him look taller and thinner. His curly hair turned black, and the skin that could be seen was all normal skin color. When he stood next to Megan in this state, it was vaguely visible that their eyebrows and eyes had subtle similarities, but it was doubtful whether that face was the real face of the clown.
He seemed to be familiar with this kind of disguise. When he lowered his eyebrows and looked at Megan, his expression was gentle, just like a good father with a gentle personality who cared for his daughter. Even from the perspective of Red Hood, there was almost no flaw.
Arthur said softly to Megan, "Okay, Megan, let's go."
However, the Red Hood blocked their way and asked in a cold voice, "Where are you going? What did the old man discuss with you?" Almost at the same time as he asked, Batman's communication was received in his helmet and explained to him. He knew that he had been monitored and even condoned since he received the news and rushed over.
Batman undoubtedly knows what's going on here, but will he let the Joker go so easily? Will he really let him live in Wayne Manor?
The old man had the courage to trust a clown from a different universe, but he didn't believe that this sinister and cunning madman would restrain his "comedy career" just because he had a child around.
Arthur, disguised as the Joker, smiled at the Red Hood. His control over his expression was extremely subtle; a mere raise of his eyebrows was enough to reveal his Joker identity. However, his tone remained unchanged, and the sarcasm in his voice became even stronger. "Have you stopped listening to your good father? I guess there's some unresolved conflict between you and 'me' that has led you to hate Bats."
"How pitiful," he sighed for no reason, "but you are still working as his thug, serving him at his beck and call."
As he walked past Red Hood, he wanted to reach out and pat him on the shoulder, but Red Hood dodged him with disgust, almost unable to control his body's instinctive fightback. The Joker was not discouraged. He always knew how to expose the victim's scars in the most painful way. After speaking in a light tone, he took Megan's hand. But the child instinctively knew that he was not saying anything good, so she asked, "Are you saying bad things about Jason?"
The Joker smiled and said, "So you want to stand up for this Jason you don't even know?"
Megan was held by the Joker's hand, but she still stood there. She didn't know what was going on in her head. After letting go of his hand, she ran to the Red Hood and whispered to him, "Ignore my dad. You are the great Jason in this world. You are very good."
She looked up at Jason, whose face was hidden behind the cowl, and recalled the many nights when Robin Jason had talked to her about Batman—
He was his mentor, his father, his partner, and they were also good friends. There was no hypocrisy or pretense in that relationship, so even if Megan heard what the Joker said and vaguely understood the conflict between Red Hood and Batman, it definitely wasn't because of a 'debt'.
It was just because of love, because of the ideological conflict like the one between her and her father, and Jason was a little awkward. He wanted the "good" things, and on the one hand he asked for them, and on the other hand he expected the other party to give a positive response. If this Batman did not give him a response, then he would not be standing here.
Megan did what she used to do very often, raising one hand with her palm facing the Red Hood, undoubtedly an invitation for a high five, "You are the best you, Jason. You are not Batman's thug, you are his partner."
The semi-enclosed hood on his head drooped slightly, and he could see the expression on the child's face clearly. Megan was a sincere and honest child. Her childish eyes were full of seriousness, not false coaxing, but she obviously thought that this was not comfort, but just the truth.
The clown in another world raised a child who was completely different from him. Her position was obviously not on the clown's side, but she dared to express it frankly and was not afraid that the clown behind her would be angry because of it.
However, Red Hood thinks that even if the Joker indulges her, how did they meet in the first place? As for whether Megan is the Joker's biological daughter, Red Hood doesn't believe it at all, so they have experienced some adjustments, and Megan must have been hurt, but she still grew into what she is now.
She is brave and outspoken, and because she was good friends with Robin Jason in her own world, she came to a different universe and firmly believed that he was a very good person.
Red Hood remained silent. He squatted down to look the child in the eye, then gave her a light high-five and said in a low voice, "Thank you."
Megan suddenly became happy, but she still didn't have much to say to this big Jason, so she returned to the Joker and took his hand. As they were about to walk out of the deserted street, she suddenly turned around and asked, "Are you going back to Wayne Manor?"
So is he going back to Wayne Manor? The answer is yes.
He was still squatting on the ground, looking surprisingly relaxed. He deliberately ignored the clown next to Megan and nodded at her.
…
After walking out of the alley, Megan saw the changes in Gotham. Some things were brand new, and some were more dilapidated. Even though the city was caught in a vortex of crime, it continued to develop with the changing times and became more prosperous. She looked up and saw the huge electronic billboards on the street and the street lights that had been replaced at who knows when.
Megan exclaimed "Wow", her eyes shining, "It's really different." She used to love looking around when walking on the street, and now she does it even more. Because she didn't look at the road, she almost ran into a roadblock. Fortunately, Arthur grabbed her collar and brought her back.
The worrying child finally looked down at the road, spotted the obstacle, and smiled sweetly at her father, leaving Arthur helpless. However, this wasn't even intentional mischief; it was just a carelessness. He said, "Don't make me worry anymore."
Megan nodded: "Yeah!"
They walked on the street for a while, and Megan said: "Dad, I don't want to walk anymore."
However, her physical condition was much better than before, and walking such a short distance did not tire her at all. So why did she say she didn't want to walk anymore? Because of the unfamiliar environment, because of the confusion and loss of direction in her heart, Megan stood with her hands behind her back, her head lowered, kicking one foot back and forth in a small arc, as if she was bored.
Arthur reached out and touched her head, but what could he do? His slightly weathered eyes were filled with a smile, and he deliberately teased, "But you're not a child anymore." Megan was grown up now, no longer at the age where she could be held in an adult's arms or carried on their backs.
Megan didn't know what to say. Even though her father was still by her side, she was still a little at a loss. She asked him, "Then let's wait here, okay?"
What are they waiting for? For someone to come pick them up? This world's Batman would take them to Wayne Manor, right?
Seeing his child looking so pitiful again, Arthur didn't have time to say anything before he heard a horn from the side of the road. Someone drove a car to stop beside them. He raised his eyebrows and looked over.
There was no doubt that the man was Bruce Wayne. He was clearly disguised as a playboy. His handsome and mature face showed the demeanor nurtured by the luxurious upper class and the ancient family with a long history, rather than the disgusting and frivolous attitude as rumored.
As for why he chose to use Bruce Wayne's identity to pick up the Joker and his child, and asked the Joker to disguise himself, it was not because he trusted the Joker or was angered by him. The Joker had already mentioned "Wayne Manor" directly, which would not be without purpose, which means that his true identity has been exposed. If the Joker was arranged to stay in Wayne's hotel or other places, it would be more dangerous. It would be equivalent to putting the Joker in Gotham and letting him do whatever he wants.
This Joker can't go into Arkham Asylum, there's already a Joker there;
His name is hidden and he is imprisoned in Blackgate Prison, but he has stated in advance that he cannot be separated from his daughter. Even if he can be controlled for a while, the Joker has countless ways to escape from the prison. It is possible that he will set off an unprecedented riot and enslave the criminals imprisoned in Blackgate Prison to attack Gotham.
The most real reason is...
Gotham can't have another Joker.
Bruce knows the Joker in this world very well. He absolutely cannot stand someone dressing and looking the same as him. That will only drive him crazy. At that time, Batman will not even be his number one enemy. The Joker will try every possible means to kill this Joker.
Perhaps the minds and conspiracies of the two clowns are evenly matched and can turn Gotham upside down, but this clown still has his child, a child whom he has invested a lot of effort and energy to raise. She will definitely not become an insignificant victim. The clown must consider her.
This is why Bruce decided to take the Joker and the children around him into Wayne Manor. The manor rebuilt on the ruins is far away from Gotham. No matter what the Joker wants to do, he will be restricted by time and space, giving him enough time to react. When necessary, this child named Megan will also become a means to restrain the Joker.
Arthur saw Bruce sitting in the driver's seat, and the smile on his face grew wider. "Come on, kid, your Uncle Bruce is here to pick us up."
The author has something to say:
Joker: Give me a slap
Megan: Give a sweet date
Red Hood: ...
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