Chapter 57: Cheating Your Son

Adam Wayne watched as Dr. Connors practically sprinted out of the lab, leaving in a flustered state. Adam shook his head, his expression a mix of disbelief and exasperation.

“Grandpa Alfred, am I that scary?” he asked, turning to the ever-composed butler standing nearby.

Alfred chuckled, his tone full of grandfatherly warmth. “Master Adam, you’re not scary. It’s just that you carry an air of authority. It’s the mark of someone destined to lead.”

Adam raised an eyebrow, letting the flattery sink in. “You’re really good at this, Grandpa Alfred. You’ve been with us for too long to not know how to sugarcoat things.”

Before Alfred could reply, a low groan came from across the room. Bruce Wayne stirred on the scanner, his face showing signs of life as he tried to sit up. Alfred was at his side in an instant.

“Master Bruce, how do you feel?” Alfred asked, his voice brimming with concern.

Bruce blinked, disoriented for a moment, before moving his arms experimentally. “Better. A lot better.”

As he pushed himself off the scanner, the sheer force of his movement shattered part of the equipment. The crash echoed through the lab, triggering alarms. Bruce froze mid-motion, looking sheepish as he surveyed the damage.

Adam sighed, silencing the alarms with a wave of his hand. “It’s fine. The strength enhancement is a side effect of the treatment. You’ll need some time to adjust.”

Bruce frowned. “What did you inject me with?”

“Something that saved your life. You can thank Dr. Connors later,” Adam replied, glancing at the destroyed equipment. “But first, you owe me an explanation. Who managed to put you in this state?”

Bruce looked away, visibly uncomfortable. “It was… Frozen Man.”

Adam’s eyes narrowed. “Frozen Man? What on earth were you doing fighting him?”

Bruce hesitated, clearly reluctant to admit the truth, but after a moment, he sighed and explained. “I was patrolling the economic zone last night. I don’t usually go there, but I thought I’d shake things up. That’s when I saw him killing people.”

“And you decided to jump in,” Adam guessed, shaking his head. “You’re seriously unlucky.”

Bruce managed a wry smile, though his eyes carried a hint of guilt. “Unlucky or not, someone had to stop him.”

Adam crossed his arms, unimpressed. “You know as well as I do that Frozen Man isn’t some low-level thug. He’s got advanced cryogenic tech and doesn’t play by any rules. You’re lucky you’re alive.”

“I had no choice,” Bruce said firmly. “If I hadn’t intervened, more people would’ve died.”

Adam sighed, leaning back against the counter. He couldn’t argue with Bruce’s logic, but that didn’t make it any less frustrating. “So what now? You planning to run out there again and finish what you started?”

Bruce’s silence confirmed his intentions. He shifted as if preparing to leave, but Adam stepped in his way.

“What you need right now is rest,” Adam said, his tone firm. “The effects of hypothermia don’t just disappear overnight. Plus, you’ve got enhanced strength to deal with. If you don’t learn to control it, you’ll end up causing more damage than good.”

“But—” Bruce began.

“No buts,” Adam interrupted. “Unless you want to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair, you’re sitting this one out.”

Bruce opened his mouth to protest but closed it again, recognizing the truth in Adam’s words. He sank back into his chair, letting out a defeated sigh.

Adam watched him, feeling a pang of sympathy. Despite their differences, he knew how much Gotham meant to Bruce. “Look,” he said after a moment, “you focus on recovering. I’ll handle Frozen Man.”

Bruce’s eyes lit up, hope replacing the exhaustion. “You’d do that?”

Adam sighed, already regretting his offer. “Yes, but only if you promise to stay here and rest. No sneaking out while I’m gone.”

“I promise,” Bruce said, a rare smile breaking across his face. “Thank you, Adam.”

Adam groaned inwardly. “Don’t mention it. Seriously.”

As Alfred placed a hand on Adam’s shoulder, a knowing smile on his face, Adam muttered under his breath, “This man has no shame. Cheating his son into cleaning up his mess.”

But as he prepared to leave, Adam couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride. After all, Gotham’s protector—flawed and stubborn as he was—would always be worth fighting for.