Chapter 244: Operation Owl
"I don't want to wear this."
"One ton of chocolate."
Venom Robin dug at his nonexistent ears, suspecting he'd misheard:
"How much?! One ton? I just wear a mask and Dad gives me one ton chocolate?"
Batman's expression remained serious, showing zero indication of joking:
"Correct."
Venom Robin feared Batman changing his mind:
"I'll wear it!"
After speaking, he rapidly snatched a human face mask from Batman's hand, wearing it on his head in two-three movements.
The skin mask was Batman's personal creation. Beyond the mouth, other features like eyes and nostrils only retained shapes without actual openings.
Venom Robin possessed no nose, no ears. His eyes were the symbiote's wickedly enormous white orbs.
Batman had invested considerable effort designing and creating Venom Robin's human face mask—especially resolving how Venom's inability to animate eyes naturally could easily expose him.
Currently, as the human face mask gradually adhered to Venom Robin's head without excess wrinkles, what appeared before Batman was a handsome young boy—rosy lips, white teeth, blue eyes, deep brown hair.
That white bandage-composed Eclipse Knight combat suit also transformed, becoming a white suit worn on Venom Robin.
"Okay, begin operations?" Venom Robin looked toward Batman expectantly.
But Batman's brow furrowed, observing the enormous pitch-black bat symbol still remaining on Venom Robin's suit chest even after transforming bandage cloak into formal wear:
"Remove it."
"No." Venom used the human face mask Batman had just given him to roll his eyes.
"One ton of chocolate." Batman employed the same tactic.
"No." Venom Robin still refused. "You haven't fulfilled that one ton from before for wearing the mask."
"Two tons."
"Two, two tons?"
"Three tons."
"I'll do it immediately!"
Regardless of whether Batman could actually fulfill promises, Venom Robin wouldn't pass up this tremendous temptation.
As white bandages rippled, the vicious sharp bat symbol disappeared. Venom Robin's pure white suit bore no other colors.
"Acceptable now?" Venom Robin spoke while looking toward Batman, noting his barely perceptible nod. "Let's go!"
The destination held nothing novel. This wasn't any crime-fighting operation either—simply bringing Venom Robin to North Brother Island, the Bat Island, for training.
But for Venom Robin, everything external felt incredibly fascinating.
Even simply sitting in the Batmobile's small passenger seat observing exterior sewer scenery produced inexplicable joy.
When Batman piloted the Batmobile activating submarine mode, rushing from sewers into the East River, Venom watched the exterior's dim underwater scenery and couldn't restrain himself:
"Old Bat... Dad, can I go outside?"
Batman's expression remained unchanged:
"Yes."
He wasn't currently spoiling Robin—simply verifying certain hypotheses.
Earlier at North Brother Island, based on symbiote research, Batman had determined Venom didn't require oxygen and could accomplish underwater combat.
But until now, Batman hadn't encountered any opponents requiring underwater combat. Conversely, aerial threats were abundant.
Ground combat had North Brother Island's four scientists.
Aerial combat had Iron Man, Electro, plus Vulture still undergoing reformation at Rikers prison.
Only underwater environments—Batman consistently lacked assistance.
Batman habitually prevented problems before they occurred. But teammates capable of underwater combat, beyond Batman himself piloting submarine-mode Batmobile, included only Lizard Professor managing brief periods.
Venom Robin's appearance compensated for Batman's underwater capability shortfall.
Watching Venom Robin swimming around in East River waters, circling the Batmobile like a large black fish, Batman's jaw shifted imperceptibly. But he quickly reverted to expressionless appearance.
SPLASH!
The Batmobile leaped from the East River. Immediately following, Venom Robin also jumped from water, crouching atop the Batmobile while extending his hand, knocking on the roof:
"Come out. Play with me."
Batman emerged accordingly, observing Venom Robin's physical and mental condition.
The skin mask showed zero damage from continuous river water impacts. Due to tight adhesion between mask and Venom Robin's head, Venom's expressions manifested vividly on the mask.
Currently Venom Robin appeared quite happy. Obviously lacking a nose, he still opened his mouth wide, deeply swallowing air—imitating fresh air breathing motions—then after brewing briefly within his body, expelled it from his rear:
"PFFFT~"
Batman glanced at Venom Robin, turning his head away:
"Robin, I'm conducting comprehensive testing and training ensuring you become a qualified Robin. Even if someday you eventually leave me, you'll qualify as 'Eclipse Knight.'"
"Bah! Training me just to drive me away someday?" Venom Robin ripped off his human face mask, flinging it toward Batman. "Dream on!"
SMACK!
Batman raised his hand, catching Venom Robin's thrown mask. Walking beside Venom Robin—currently jumping angrily in position—he replaced it on him.
"Robin, do you want losing to Robins before you?" Batman's voice remained low. "Losing to Grayson, Jason, Tim, and Damian? Losing to Stephanie? Even losing to Carrie?"
Batman's large hand pressed Venom Robin's shoulder, looking down at this Venom Robin whose desperate resistance to rewearing the skin mask had caused facial features becoming askew.
"How could I possibly lose to them?" Venom Robin extended his long tongue, lifting the mask away, pushing the entire human face mask atop his skull—resembling a flesh-colored hat on his pitch-black head.
Batman repeatedly replaced the human face mask properly, again and again, tirelessly:
"Then prove it to me. What I hope seeing is—after training periods—a Robin completely capable of independent operations. Not someone verbally refusing defeat but perpetually remaining Batman's sidekick."
"What's wrong with staying beside Dad..." Venom Robin muttered, but ceased struggling, allowing Batman replacing the mask properly.
"Regardless of your reasoning, Old Bat—begin training!"
---
"Black Widow's been confined in Designation D-2?"
Unknown waters. Helicarrier.
SHIELD Director Nick Fury observed encrypted communications—Ant-Man Hank Pym's transmitted message. His sole remaining eye and mouth simultaneously curved:
"Contact Agent Nineteen. Tell that big bird vacation's finished. Immediately implement 'Operation Owl.'"
Agent Hill observed Nick Fury from the side:
"Operation Owl?"
"Hawkeye never specified what type of hawk he was." Nick Fury spread his hands. "Owls catching mice—perfectly natural."
"But Batman isn't a mouse. Plus, didn't you need Natasha investigating Stark?" Agent Hill focused attention on the Director's eyepatch. "What's the objective confining her in Designation D-2?"
"Agent Hill." Nick Fury smiled. "If you become SHIELD Director, responsible for entire world security, I'll reveal everything completely."
"But now, you follow my orders. Contact Agent Nineteen—Barbara Morse."