Rubble and rebar rained down from the sky, the air thick with the smell of burning.

You stumbled onto the ruins, gazing upon the battlefield ahead—Superman's eyes blazing crimson, Bruce clutching the kryptonite spear, gleaming green, in one hand, advancing towards death.

The next second, a blade of light pierced the air.

Blood flew like scattered red banners—Bruce's right arm, severed at the shoulder, plummeted to the rubble in silent agony.

You barely heard yourself scream, "Bruce—!"

Bruce knelt on one knee, his breaths pounding like a broken bellows, his left hand still gripping the spear, his eyes still fierce.

"Back off!" he roared hoarsely. "It's not over yet!"

You rushed over to him, pressing both hands against his broken shoulder, feeling the warmth and blood instantly soaking your palms. "No! Bruce!" You forced him to look you in the face. "You can't even save yourself at this rate!"

He gritted his teeth, his face awash with humiliation and anger. "I have a plan... I'll inject myself with the Doomsday virus..."

"That will destroy you!" you practically roared. "You're not a weapon, you're the Dark Knight!"

Superman's shadow loomed again.

You raised your gun, trying to hold him back with fire, even for just a few seconds of breathing space.

Bruce's left hand trembled—his movements as he reached for the small, yet deadly, virus syringe in his belt.

You lunged forward, grasping his wrist.

"Look at me," you pressed closer, your voice trembling. "I know you want this to end, but the moment you inject it, you'll no longer be yourself. Gotham will lose its Bat-man... and I'll lose you."

Bruce stared at you, his eyes trembling as if he were struggling in a storm.

Superman's roar drew closer, and the ground began to shake.

You pulled a kryptonite smoke bomb from your waist and hurled it forward. A green mist instantly enveloped the battlefield, slowing Superman's progress.

You helped Bruce to his feet. His cape was stained a dark red by blood and dust. He looked at you, his Adam's apple rolling slightly. "...You're risking your life for me."

You smiled, even as your throat tightened. "That's because I know you're worth saving."