[Mars]
The ground was still glowing. Bruce stood quietly in the center, his new armor pulsing with energy. The power of the Ten Rings now flowed through his body like it had always belonged there.
But he hadn't forgotten his promise.
The nine spirits who had helped him master the rings… they had been trapped for thousands of years. Bound to ancient metal. Voiceless. Formless.
That ended today.
Bruce raised his hand, and golden light poured from his palm. Infinity energy shimmered in the air, like stardust dancing on the wind.
With calm focus, he shaped that light into nine humanoid bodies, crafted from pure energy, each one different, yet beautiful in its own way.
One by one, the glowing forms took shape.
Then, the spirits moved forward.
The first to step in was Remaker. Her form was tall and elegant, with silver eyes and armor that shimmered like polished stone. As she touched the body, her spirit merged with it. The light dimmed, and she gasped, breathing real air for the first time in ages.
"I... I can feel," she whispered, smiling as she looked down at her hands.
Next came Zero, the spirit of ice. Her form was slender and pale, her hair like falling snow. She stepped into her new body slowly, with grace. As her eyes opened, a faint mist surrounded her, and she spoke in a calm voice. "It's cold... and beautiful."
Incandescence, the flame spirit, followed. She had bright, golden skin and fiery red hair that crackled with heat. When she took her form, flames danced across her fingertips. She grinned wide. "Finally free. Finally real."
Spectral, the one who controlled disintegration, stepped forward silently. Her body was lean, and her eyes glowed violet. She was quiet, but when she touched her new form, a soft hum echoed in the air. "This… feels right."
Spin, the wind spirit, twirled in mid-air before entering her body. Her short white hair fluttered even without wind. Once she settled into her form, she laughed. "I can breathe again!"
Influence, the force-beam spirit, had a more muscular build. Her skin had golden lines that pulsed with strength. As she took her new form, she looked at Bruce with steady eyes. "You kept your word."
Nightbringer, the spirit of darkness, stepped from the shadows. Her body was cloaked in black, with glowing silver irises. Her voice was soft but strong. "After all this time… I am free."
Daimonic, the spirit of light, glowed brighter than the rest. She had pure white hair, almost shining, and her smile was peaceful. "You gave me form... and peace. Thank you, Bruce."
And finally, The Liar, the mind spirit.
She was the last to step forward, her form smooth and shifting, like her shape wasn't fully set. Her eyes changed colors as she blinked, and her smile was playful. "I never imagined being real would feel this... strange. I like it."
Bruce watched them all nine women, once ancient spirits, now truly alive.
"Well, there you go. I kept my promise. You girls are free."
[Three Days Later] [Shield's base]
Despite Bruce's best efforts, Thor remained unconscious. His body had fully healed, but something else lingered inside him. A strange, alien energy. Hela also tried to heal him but failed. She needs time to master her power.
Well. Bruce concluded that the foreign energies from the multiple dimensions and reality jump got entangled with Thor's power. At the moment, all he could do was use his cosmic energy to slowly siphon the energy out of Thor's system.
The Fallen One decided to take over the job since Bruce got to continue training his power and as usual, built something big to face the upcoming danger.
And so, while Thor remained suspended in silence…
Another storm had started brewing back home.
[Home]
Harley Quinn was not amused.
Not even remotely amused.
And that was saying something.
She stood in the hallway outside Bruce's bedroom, arms crossed, wearing a bathrobe, bunny slippers, and a facial mask that was slowly sliding off her chin. Her bat was leaning against the wall like a silent threat.
Across from her, frozen mid-step, was Zero, clutching a tray of tea.
"You ain't slick, Snowflake," Harley said coolly, eye twitching. "That's the third night in a row you 'accidentally' wandered toward Brucie's room with 'tea.' What's next? A full-course breakfast in lingerie?"
Zero blinked, unfazed. "He hasn't eaten dinner. I calculated a 67% chance he's still awake. I merely wished to..."
Harley stepped forward.
Clonk.
The bottom of her slipper tapped the ground.
"You wished to 'what,' Elsa? Test if his tongue freezes too? I will throw you into a hot tub until you melt, I swear."
Zero narrowed her eyes. "You are irrational."
"And you are tryin' to seduce my man while he's half-asleep!"
The hallway fell into awkward silence.
Then...
Clink.
Spectral, in her glowing violet robe, drifted down the stairs behind them, casually holding a glowing cube.
"Technically, she's not wrong. Bruce's vitals peak between 2 and 4 a.m. It's an optimal window for… biological bonding."
"Oh my GOD!" Harley spun around, hands on her head. "You girls are like a bunch of horny bunnies!"
"Ha," Zero turned back with a sigh. "Says the one who rode him 4 hours straight last night."
"That's it. I'm gonna break your bones," Harley picked up her bat and chased after Zero, who by that time had disappeared. Well, turned to icy mist to be precise. "Playin' dirty, are we? Just ya wait. I'm gonna make you feel some real pain... 4 hours straight."
...
Harley stood by the coffee machine, chugging her third espresso like it was a life-saving potion.
Across from her, seated around the massive marble kitchen island, were all nine girls. Each of them was dressed, yes… but somehow still managed to ooze elemental goddess energy like they were starring in a perfume ad.
They decided to live with Bruce till the big danger was over.
Remaker was flipping through architectural magazines. Nightbringer sat in the corner, reading Bruce's journals with her legs tucked beneath her. Daimonic quietly meditated in a sunbeam. Influence was doing push-ups on the ceiling, shirtless. Her big boobs were hanging like two big melons.
And Spin?
Spin had made pancakes in the shape of bats.
Bruce entered the kitchen, barely dodging a flying spatula.
"Morning," he said, rubbing his temples.
Harley marched over, dragging him aside. "Brucie. Babe. Love of my chaotic, bat-filled life—we need to talk."
Bruce arched a brow. "About what?"
Harley gestured at the elemental demigoddesses now permanently living in their house.
"About them! You brought back a nine-pack of superpowered calendar girls, and now they're sleepin' in robes, practicin' yoga on the roof, and makin' me feel like I'm guarding the last slice of cake at a birthday party!"
Bruce gave her a small smile. "I did promise them freedom."
"Yeah, but I didn't realize 'freedom' came with sparkly cleavage and full-on seduction schedules! Zero keeps trying to slip into your bed at night like she's your frost-powered weighted blanket!"
"She just wanted to talk."
Harley narrowed her eyes. "Talk about how she wants to ride your Batpole into the quantum sunrise?"
Bruce blinked.
"…Harls."
"I caught her with whipped cream last night, Brucie."
He blinked again.
"…Okay, that's fair."
[Some funny situation: Harley vs The new girls]
Harley sets up magical motion sensors in front of Bruce's bedroom. Zero freezes them mid-beep, walks in, finds Harley sitting on the bed waiting. "Try again, Frosty."
Spin invites Bruce for a "wind meditation session" on the rooftop. Harley parachutes down from the Batwing. "Hey! I invented rooftop therapy with him! Move!"
Daimonic offers Bruce a massage with "healing light." Harley bursts into the room wearing full spa gear and her own massage oils. "Out-heal this, sunshine!"
Nightbringer tries to sneak into Bruce's shadow. Harley hits her with a portable floodlight. "Try hiding now, Glowy!"
Spectral leaves a note on Bruce's door that says "I want to dissolve into your arms." Harley eats it.
...
Bruce sat on the couch, finally catching his breath after a day filled with meetings, scans of Thor, and Harley's increasing paranoia.
Harley dropped down beside him, head on his shoulder. "I'm not crazy, right?"
"You're definitely crazy," he said gently, "but not wrong."
She sighed. "I know they're powerful and grateful and all that... but this is our family. You're mine. Well, other than our usual girl band. I don't want them to get into the harem... Look at them. They are too beautiful... Even Diana will get jealous. Not that I am sayin' I'm jealous or anythin'. Harl is the number 1 girl in your band."
Bruce pushed her down on the couch and kissed her deeply.
"You are thinking too much. Just because they are trying to get into my pants, doesn't mean I am going to ignore my Harley."
"Oh yeah?" Harley wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You doubt me? I'm so hurt," Bruce said with a dramatic hurting expression.
"I want a baby," Harley finally dropped the bomb.