Chapter 240: You Are My Robin
"Don't you find this bizarre?"
After Batman departed with "Eclipse Knight" Robin—born from combining moonlight with Venom, vibranium isotope, and Wakandan regeneration gel—Professor Morbius couldn't restrain asking others.
"You mean Batman or that Robin?" Dr. Banner waved at Morbius, gesturing him closer.
Morbius removed his shirt, exposing gray-black chest clinging tightly to ribs. Sitting face-to-face with Banner on a carpet, he said:
"Batman, obviously! Dr. Banner, tell me honestly—is Batman the legendary vampire? The kind that transforms into bat swarms?"
Banner scratched his head, contemplating before answering:
"I believe he can't fly... Wait, aren't you a vampire? Why ask me about this?"
Dr. Octavius passed nearby, four tentacles each gripping different experimental instruments, interjecting:
"Morbius is merely a pseudo-vampire. At least these past days, I haven't discovered him sleeping in coffins."
Professor Connors approached, plucking one hair from Morbius:
"But regarding blood consumption, he's identical to vampires. I must research blood substitutes for you."
"Would pig blood work?" Banner extended his neck, asking.
"Uh, no." Morbius's face darkened. "After my Rikers Island mistake, I attempted various animal blood types. Nothing substitutes human blood. Even hospital plasma performs inadequately."
After transforming into this human-yet-inhuman appearance, Professor Morbius's former melancholic poet temperament had vanished completely.
Currently, researching how to restore human appearance and resolving blood hunger represented Morbius's priority needs.
"About Batman's... son." Octavius awkwardly used this designation. "Former Robin—though visually unappealing—was relatively well-behaved and endearing."
Connors glanced at Octavius.
"I mean personality-wise well-behaved and endearing." Under Connors's scrutiny, Octavius felt slightly unnerved. "Why, after Moon God Khonshu granted moonlight, did he seem like, seem like..."
Octavius searched extensively for appropriate vocabulary. Professor Morbius finally suggested:
"Rebellious phase?"
"Right, exactly—rebellious phase." Octavius cleared his throat, pinching his voice imitating Venom Robin: "Fuck Batman!"
"If Batman wants to beat you up, we're not stopping him." Banner grinned at Octavius.
Octavius repositioned instrument-gripping tentacles, donning white lab coat and protective goggles:
"I'm somewhat worried Robin will receive beatings after Batman takes him away."
Professor Connors—holding the hair just plucked from Morbius—dove toward his workstation, similarly donning glasses to begin experiments:
"Shouldn't happen, right? If Batman genuinely intended beating Robin, I'd definitely intervene."
"Theoretically Robin should call us 'uncle.' I couldn't bear ignoring that."
Banner gestured for Morbius taking deep breaths, using his inner-beast communication methodology attempting to restore Morbius's human appearance while quietly joining conversation:
"A group of monster uncles. One monster dad. Plus one extraterrestrial monster child granted power by Egyptian deity?"
"You're certain Robin won't eventually say 'FUCK Lizard'?"
Hearing this, Connors turned toward Banner:
"Wait—I need confirming whether Dr. Banner said this or Hulk said this?"
Banner pointed at Morbius:
"Morbius said it."
Morbius—who'd just closed eyes for deep breathing—inexplicably received blame. His eyes widened instantly:
"What?!"
---
Manhattan District. Inside the Batcave.
After Batman brought him to the Batcave, Batman had continuously busied himself writing something with paper and pen. Robin leaned over observing briefly, discovering he completely couldn't understand.
He'd expected explosive arguments, even physical confrontation between them. But Batman remained silent like cold stone.
So Venom Robin couldn't restrain himself, crossing arms while looking up at Batman's back:
"You'd better give me an explanation, Batman."
"Obviously in New Mexico, without me you absolutely couldn't successfully execute those plans. After returning to New York, you never attempted awakening me?"
Venom Robin studied Batman's back, nearly biting it impulsively. But he feared that would become acting cute, so he forcibly suppressed impulses, continuing questioning with adolescent voice:
"I finally waited for you extracting me from your body. Result? You completely ignored me, instead letting that bird-guy Khonshu establish contracts?"
"Fucking answer me!"
SCRATCH SCRATCH SCRATCH...
Batman silently completed his handwritten protocols. But rather than showing Venom Robin, he turned around, looking down at this sub-1.4-meter adolescent-proportioned little guy:
"When did you recover memories?"
Venom Robin turned his head aside, humming twice:
"After bird-guy's contract."
Batman stared intensely at Venom Robin, voice low with slight chill:
"I mean Adirondack Mountains. Memories before Anti-Venom purified you."
Venom Robin's heart lurched, whipping his head toward Batman:
"When did you discover? How did you know I recovered previous memories?"
"Because I'm Batman."
"FUCK you Batman!" Venom appeared somewhat exasperated. "Can you stop—every time I ask something—you put on that cold face saying 'I'm Batman'?!"
Seeing Batman unmoved, furious Venom Robin jumped forward attempting one punch at Batman, only for Batman extending one hand pressing his head, preventing advancement.
Two short arms flailed briefly, unable reaching Batman. Venom Robin grew obviously angrier. Pitch-black symbiote matter rapidly writhed toward Batman.
But the instant symbiote matter nearly contacted Batman, sharp explosive noise suddenly emerged from armor's interior, stimulating Venom Robin to involuntarily jump backward.
"Perfect, Batman—you'd already prepared defenses against me!" Venom Robin furiously bared teeth, both hands sweeping backward violently!
WHIP!
White cloak rose high. Venom Robin's hands rapidly touched his lower back.
Venom itself could generate weapons. But currently he didn't. Instead, he extracted two white short sticks—part of Moon God Khonshu's granted abilities.
"Old Bat—"
Venom Robin screamed chaotically, gripping short sticks preparing charging forward. Result? Steps barely started, his body became airborne.
Batman had grabbed Robin's short sticks, lifting him completely into air, holding him before his eyes:
"Regardless of how many memories you possess, you're my Robin. Correct?"