Tim rushed over and started operating the machine.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfAIqVuEpS
His fingertips trembled as he typed in the commands, failing the password twice before finally gaining access to the main control panel. His mind was a mess—he could barely hear the steady rhythm of heartbeats behind him. All his focus was on those rows of options he knew by heart.
He switched the machine to thawing mode.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1XoNzWrOc
As the options lit up before him, he didn’t hesitate to select “Initiate Thawing Process,” as if it were the only choice. He didn’t think about the consequences or the risks—her pulse had returned. That meant she should wake up. That belief was all he had.
But the machine's analysis showed: thawing would take six hours.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZLeJ5v4Dg
A line of cold, emotionless text appeared at the center of the screen, like a slap to the face. He stared at it and frowned. It wasn’t “immediate.” It wasn’t “now.” It was six hours—an eternity.
Tim frowned. Six hours was far too long.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZvDp2RhFu
He almost cursed. Six hours wasn’t a process—it was torture. He could take down dozens of enemies, crack hundreds of codes, but this kind of stillness, this wait, was unbearable.
Too long.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxoWE8CXJM
He clenched his jaw and spun around. He couldn’t just stand there doing nothing—he needed to do something. His actions were a distraction, a way to suppress that overwhelming desire inside him.
He turned and strode across the Batcave, searching for what he needed.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHHSs0Xpeg
His steps were quick and purposeful, like he was carrying out a classified emergency mission. He didn’t say a word, but his movements made it clear: she’s going to wake up, and when she does, she won’t be cold, or in pain, or alone.
Heater. Blankets.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45QaazI6NA
He remembered those supplies were stored in the back storage room. Tim carried them out, sweating under the strain, beads of sweat gathering on his brow. His hands were so cold they trembled, but he didn’t stop.
He hauled everything into the room and turned the heater on.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQFE2XR6Es
It roared to life with a low hum, warm air beginning to spread and slowly filling the morgue-like space. Tim cranked the temperature to its highest setting, as if trying to chase away the past two years of cold with heat.
The room quickly filled with warmth.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeziFkmBxty
Steam began to swirl through the air. The clash between cold and hot fogged the glass, and Tim stood in the mist like a figure out of a dream. But his expression wasn’t dreamy—it was alert and intense.
Tim stared at the person inside the cryo-pod, then reached out with trembling hands to press the button.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrb1ePQMN6
His finger hovered above it for several seconds, as if it were a door that, once opened, could never be closed again. He took a deep breath—and finally pressed down.
The pod door opened slowly, releasing a rush of icy mist.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBidyLTS4vx
At that moment, warm and cold collided like a crack forming between the human world and a dream. Fog churned and blurred the room, transforming it into something unreal.
Tim looked at the girl he hadn’t seen in two years.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sJTGLOnCY
She lay there, lashes resting on unmoving lids, lips pale, hair clinging to her cheeks. He stood frozen, barely breathing, afraid to disturb the fragile silence.
He touched Nora’s golden hair.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCSHO7jSHz
It was cold, dotted with dew from the thawing process. Her hair was a little longer than he remembered, as if time had quietly left its mark on her while she slept. His fingertips trembled—he couldn’t tell if it was from nerves or pain.
Then, he took a deep breath and gently lifted her into his arms.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ6kw8hlgQ
His arms circled her back and legs with reverent care. He could feel her body was still cold, her skin like that of a statue yet to awaken. She felt too light—or perhaps, he had simply forgotten what it was like to hold her.
Tim didn’t go far. He turned and sat down right next to the cryo-unit.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXdaRzWDOT
He didn’t dare leave its side, as if she still needed the machine to survive. When he sat, he accidentally brushed against its edge—the cold metal grounding him back to reality. He adjusted his posture and let himself become another anchor she could lean on.
Holding Nora in his arms.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvlfAsNqZp
She rested against his chest like an unawakened soul. He could feel her breathing—irregular, sustained only by the system—but she was here. She was really here.
He covered her with the blanket and let her rest against him.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rwTpe4GwV
That thick layer of fabric was the only barrier he could offer. He smoothed it over her, carefully wrapping even her feet, afraid that even the tiniest gap might let the cold in. He let her head rest on his shoulder, his arms still steady beneath her back.
So cold, Tim thought. Like holding a block of ice.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6PlzOUBrL
She had no body heat. Yet his heartbeat raced, as if trying to warm her with his own. The cold seeped into his skin, his bones, his blood—but he didn’t move.
Tim didn’t want to let go.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17ngGGIm7r
Even when his fingers went numb, even when his knees began to ache, he didn’t loosen his grip. Because this was the first time in two years that he could truly hold her.
He didn’t know when she would wake.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsO38tdQyy
But right now, she was in his arms.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUkaVB9vqc
And that was enough.
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS05z79Pnhg
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCxifaZA7c
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjgFlLz2zj
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UzIjsfRkl
Nora's first thought was—It's so hot!108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcY79dyOWz
Not just warm—hot, like her entire body had been thrown into warm water. Her brows furrowed slightly as her consciousness slowly floated upward from the depths, and every inch of her skin screamed in discomfort, as if someone had left her under the burning sun in the middle of a desert.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D0ew79yvR
What’s going on? Is my body actually being exposed to direct sunlight?
She tried to move, but even her eyelids felt like they were weighed down with lead. Her whole body was trapped between heat and heaviness, limbs stiff, mind foggy. All she had to prove she was still alive was that faint sensation of discomfort. And yet, rising alongside the heat, there was something else—a sense of safety.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L2x0UvFN0
Not fear.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizA1ybUFQS
Not war.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFQq82vP3i
But—
Nora remembered her last memory.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIAtZt0JZu
She remembered stepping into that machine.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwyywc9n0X
She remembered the last thing she saw: a few familiar faces.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqt4OkWT7Nh
Her family. Her home. The world she had spent her last life protecting.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcK87dAguG
She had forced herself to memorize their eyes, their farewells. And then—darkness.
So… did it work?108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJdO92IoFu
Something inside her flared to life.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghWsSr3POi
Does this mean the connection succeeded? Did my consciousness really return to Batman’s timeline?108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5IGFmJAhl
Her heart began racing uncontrollably. A prophecy had come true—108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQWR10rpG4
She was alive.
Just realizing this made Nora tremble.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGiBdPsHbM
Her fingers wanted to move, her eyelids wanted to open, her lungs ached to draw in real air.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO8RcglmV5
Her whole being strained, like a chrysalis about to burst.
She made her decision:108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQE4YN6pMp9
She would open her eyes.
Slowly, with effort, her will pushed forward like a stone rolling uphill. Her vision blurred, hazy, then slowly sharpened.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdbwUG3eQb
The light stung, but she succeeded.
Green eyes slowly opened—108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLlTrkLAZZ
And Nora froze.
She didn’t see a ceiling.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwr9XPdCFE
She didn’t see white lights.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto3jFEkEgM
The very first thing she saw—was him.
Tim’s face was resting against her left shoulder. His breathing was steady, eyes shut.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC8KYOxsLR
He had fallen asleep—right there—curled up beside her.
The first thing she saw was the person she missed the most.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dfsYzfrDf
She held her breath, terrified that this would shatter if she blinked.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81T4VUr9ru
But he was real. Not a memory, not a dream, not a hallucination.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadtz5VS90E
His warmth, the slight twitch of his eyelashes—108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN3sfKWTFB
All of it whispered: this is real.
Tim was leaning against her left shoulder, sound asleep.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYCzywJZqs
He looked exhausted.
He hadn’t noticed she’d woken. His breathing carried the weight of someone who’d finally collapsed after holding out too long. He’d only allowed himself to rest once he knew she was safe.
Nora stared at him.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenfl0SaacO
He looked thinner.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeTviYYelM
His jawline was sharper, his collarbones more pronounced. His hair was messy, like he hadn’t rested properly in ages.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMcmIgj3R6
Has he even been eating?
He looked starved.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHDLzEpBNF
His cheeks were sunken, lips dry. 108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYVPrxbbdh
Those under-eye circles are massive… Has he even slept at all?
She almost chuckled.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzIqzwbnkd
This guy… Has he not been sleeping?108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgcvjOOhgo
Then she realized—
That heat I felt earlier wasn’t from the sun… it was him. He’s been holding me this whole time.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYrmmFxm1u
No wonder it was so warm. I was in his arms.
She glanced down. Her entire body was wrapped in a thick blanket, like a cocoon. Even her toes were snugly covered.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WVMTGjVta
So that’s what I looked like… wrapped up like a little bundle.
She lifted one arm slightly, both amused and touched.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCnqhOYLjP
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7MlSQyuAx
Her gaze softened.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDlWI5SSq5
It was a wordless mix of gratitude and ache that welled up from reunion.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmstLr7yMl6
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy5dt61vDH
She slowly pulled her right hand free, wanting to touch the dark circles under his eyes.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LzfUPteQN
The motion was clumsy, but she pushed through the blanket and reached for his tired face, her fingers trembling—
And the moment she touched him, Tim flinched.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpTyzclDSF
It was instinctive, like a wild animal startled in its sleep.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLECaEAKiJN
His body jolted, brow furrowed, breath catching for a second—
Blue eyes slowly opened.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFBUm6BgND
Still dazed from sleep, his gaze was unfocused.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy9sGMQwVQ
He blinked twice, clearly still halfway in a dream.
But she could feel it—his heartbeat surged in that moment.
There were a few seconds of confusion.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh5loEkfxF
Then his blue eyes slowly met her green ones.
In that moment, the whole world fell still.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQKivVQ8Do
Just the two of them, blue and green locked in a gaze that spanned across time and death.
They stared.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4d5mG44fD
No words. No movement. Just a quiet confirmation—108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ryPXaZfKh
You're really back.
Then—108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRh1vybIFK
Nora smiled.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOi7O5JS9O
Idiot, she thought fondly.
The corners of her eyes shimmered, but her smile was radiant.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2fBOFQll0
She knew how long he had held on. How tired he must be.
There were a million things she wanted to say.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30N0hYKkGy
But right now, she just wanted to do one thing.
Nora placed her right hand on the back of her boyfriend’s head.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2w7WIqzyZ
She applied gentle pressure—firm, but soft.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcDpeJWFD4
This was her choice. Her will.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzUh2FMWsq
She didn’t want to wait for anyone to speak first.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Qdan7dEh
She wanted to act.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFJCYgovzc
To tell him with her actions: I’m back. You’re here. We’re still us.
Their lips moved closer.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj21vKt3wCv
Breaths mingled. Their noses almost touched.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMHXkWY7BJ
His pupils widened in shock.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB4mJAA5Av
But she closed her eyes, still smiling.
After two long years, they were finally together again.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtL0RJdWSG
It began with this moment.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlKszkJ0Kf
And this kiss.
108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopHhNrdjnR
and then Add to home screen.