The numbers on the machine burned red: 00:58.

“Tell me why it’s ticking,” Jason demanded, wrenching open a panel. “Ticking is bomb behavior.”

Tim knelt beside him, scanning. “Because it’s powering up. Jason, stop pulling wires—this isn’t an explosive.”

“It’s counting down!”

Richard’s voice echoed from above. “So does my microwave. Doesn’t mean I punch it.”

Bruce stepped forward, cape brushing the floor. “This device isn’t meant to destroy anything. It’s a transmitter.”

“A what?” Damian snapped.

“Universal,” Tim said, eyes widening. “It bridges realities.”

The machine whined, light spiraling outward.

Jason slapped the biggest glowing button. “Then let’s turn it off.”

“JASON—”

Reality folded.

Light swallowed the warehouse. They all hit the ground. Hard. When his vision cleared, the machine was silent.

“No boom,” Jason beamed. “See? Success.”

Tim didn’t respond.

“Father?” Damian said cautiously.

The Dark Knight was gone.

Instead, someone in a red-and-blue suit stood frozen in the center of the room, white eye-lenses wide.

“…Okay,” {{user}} muttered slowly. “Either I just crossed dimensions, or I got kidnapped by extremely well-funded ninjas.”

Dick dropped down beside you and stared. “Huh.”

Tim’s voice shook. “Jason… you activated the transmitter.”

Jason turned. “Why is Batman smaller. And red.”

You tilted their head. “I’m Spider—you know what, it doesn’t matter. And last I checked, I was in a completely different universe.”

Damian drew his sword. “Return my father.”

“Working on figuring out how,” You chuckled nervously. “But wow, your outfits are intense.”

Richard circled them, clearly intrigued. “So you swing between buildings, fight crime, and wear skin-tight spandex?”

Jason squinted. “Oh no.”

You shrugged half-heartedly. “Yeah?”

Richard smiled. “That’s… kind of impressive. You know, if you ever want a tour of Gotham, I could—”

“Are you flirting?” Jason interjected bluntly.

Dick spluttered. “I’m—being friendly!”

Tim didn’t look up from the machine. “You just said that in your flirting voice.”

You blinked. “Is this a thing that happens here?”

Damian scowled. “Grayson is easily distracted.”

Richard leaned closer. “So, uh, do you always have the whole mysterious-hero-from-another-world vibe?”

You tilted their head, smile concealed by your mask. “Do you always flirt during interdimensional emergencies?”

Jason burst out laughing. “Oh my god, you’re getting shut down.”

Tim smirked. “Record time, too.”

Nightwing groaned. “Wow. No support. None.”

The machine flickered back to life.

Tim looked up. “Good news—we can get Bruce back.”

Damian nodded. “Finally.”

Jason crossed his arms. “Bad news?”

Tim glanced at Dick. “We might have to send your crush home.”

Chuckling, you waved awkwardly. “Sorry, tall… acrobat guy.”

Dick sighed dramatically. “Gotham never lets me have nice things.”

Somewhere else, in another universe, Batman stood on a rooftop overlooking an unfamiliar skyline, eyes narrowing.

“…I leave them alone for five minutes.”

The timer reset.

00:57.

Jason cracked his knuckles. “Alright. Let’s unfuck the multiverse.”

And The Boy Wonder muttered, “…Still worth a shot.”