Batman's intimate knowledge of Gotham's underbelly guided them through a labyrinth of forgotten subway tunnels and secret passages, the air thick with the smell of damp earth and decay. The Serpent Coil, it turned out, had established a hidden network beneath the city, a shadowy ecosystem of illicit activities.
As they navigated the treacherous tunnels, Batman observed Michael's actions closely. When they encountered a group of Coil operatives holding innocent civilians hostage, Michael used his powers with remarkable restraint, disarming the attackers with precise energy bursts rather than lethal force. "You could have ended it faster," Batman observed, his voice neutral.
"Collateral damage is rarely the answer," Michael replied, his gaze steady.
Later, when a tunnel collapsed, threatening to trap them, Slade, without hesitation, used his enhanced strength to hold back the debris, allowing the others to escape. Batman's gaze lingered on Slade, a flicker of respect replacing his usual suspicion.
Oliver, ever the pragmatist, worked alongside Batman, their fighting styles surprisingly complementary. "You rely heavily on gadgets," Oliver noted during a brief lull.
"Efficiency," Batman countered curtly. "And a healthy dose of paranoia."
Felicity, remotely guiding them, discovered a hidden chamber protected by arcane seals. Michael, recognizing the energy patterns from his time on Lian Yu, was able to disarm them. "The Overseer used similar wards," he explained. "Crude, but effective against the uninitiated."
Batman's gaze was thoughtful. "You understand these… energies."
"I had a… unique education," Michael replied cryptically. In the darkness of Gotham's underbelly, trust, like a fragile seed, began to sprout between these unlikely allies.