In the coffee shop, two steaming cups of coffee sat on a pristine white table. The pink glow cast over Batman and the Joker made them appear almost like a couple lost in their own world.
"Giggle giggle..." The clown in the red suit slapped his thigh and shouted with excitement, "A twisted sense of humor, this is truly a twisted sense of humor."
Batman muttered under his breath, clenching his fist beneath the table. "Jack, you just wait!"
Achoo! Li Jie rubbed his nose and glanced at Superman beside him. "I feel like I've taken the blame for you."
Superman whistled. "How can this be called taking the blame? Jack, look closer at this scene. Don't you feel a sense of warmth and comfort? Believe me, the Joker and Batman, in this kind of environment, would definitely be warmed by each other's kindness."
Li Jie turned toward Wonder Woman and Scarlet Witch, taking in the scene. Dr. Banner, standing off to the side, spoke up, "The scene is indeed heartwarming, but it would be even better if one of them were a woman. Given the current situation, I have no idea if they'll ever fall in love."
"In love?" Li Jie scoffed. "I just wanted the Joker and Batman to resolve their animosity; I never intended for them to get married."
Superman let out an awkward laugh mid-sentence. In the next moment, the Joker splashed coffee across Batman's face. Batman flipped the table and swung a punch at the Joker's chin. The clown didn't back down, lifting a chair and smashing it across Batman. The two descended into a chaotic fight.
"Well, at least they're taking this seriously," Superman coughed, observing the increasingly brutal exchange.
Dr. Banner frowned. "Should we intervene?"
"Whose side are you on?" Li Jie countered. Dr. Banner hesitated before replying, "Well, it's fine as it is now. Let them vent first."
Half an hour later, both the Joker and Batman lay exhausted on the floor. The clown laughed, a series of sharp giggles filling the room. "Batman, do you think I'm crazy or you are? You actually asked me for help? Do you think I'd help you?"
Batman, still breathing heavily, listened as the Joker continued, "You're not helping me; you're helping yourself and Gotham. If we join forces, when Steppenwolf and his Parademons descend, everyone will be doomed."
"Isn't that a good thing?" the Joker asked with a laugh.
"Good?" Batman shouted angrily.
The Joker laughed again, "Did I hit you too lightly?"
Batman, nursing his wounds, realized he had been more injured than the clown.
"Hold!" Both shouted at the same time.
Dr. Banner frowned. "Why are they fighting again?"
Superman shrugged. "Don't worry, this is just a way of showing that they're close." He then turned to Li Jie. "How are things going with your two underlings?"
Li Jie rolled his eyes. "If capturing them works, why don't you just let me go round them up?"
"Do you think they'd willingly join forces with us to fight Steppenwolf and his Parademons army? Capturing them would do nothing," Li Jie countered.
Superman shrugged and said nothing more.
Bane and Scarecrow drove back as the battle between the Joker and Batman continued. Li Jie inquired, "How many are willing to fight alongside us?"
Bane waved his hand dismissively. "Don't even mention it. When those guys heard about cooperating with Batman, they laughed it off as the biggest joke of the century. They'd rather die than work with him."
The Scarecrow muttered, cursing, "A typical ungrateful fellow."
"Boss, why don't you just let me beat them up? I don't believe they'd dare disobey me!" he added eagerly.
"Go ahead," Li Jie said.
The Scarecrow hesitated. "Ah? No, boss, won't you reconsider? I might accidentally hurt them..."
Li Jie then turned to Superman. "Your suggestion is excellent. Let's arrest them and take them to Blackgate Prison."
"Okay, I'll handle it," Superman replied, flying off to round up Gotham's criminals.
Soon, all of Gotham's most notorious criminals were locked in Blackgate Prison, cursing at Superman as he watched from the roof, sipping his beer.
Li Jie approached Batman, still lying on the ground, exhausted. "How did the talks go?"
Batman sighed. The Joker snorted. "Jack, you don't need to mediate. Even if you killed me, I wouldn't help him."
"Why?" Li Jie asked.
"I'm Gotham's king of crime. If anyone knew I was working with Batman, how could I continue in Gotham?" the Joker replied.
Li Jie nodded. "That's a good reason."
"Don't worry, I'm not here to persuade Batman. I'm here to lock you up in Blackgate."
The Joker laughed, waving his hands. "Don't be ridiculous. Blackgate holds ordinary prisoners. Even Batman wouldn't put me there."
Moments later, the Joker was handcuffed and taken away.
The Scarecrow protested, "Boss, it's me who doesn't want to fight alongside you. Why am I being sent to Blackgate too?"
"Shut up!" Bane and the Joker roared together.
Superman had reopened Blackgate, filling it with Gotham's criminals. Their curses echoed through the hall, directed at him.
Li Jie looked up at the sky. "It seems all we have left is time." Before Steppenwolf arrived, there was nothing more to prepare.
Batman, acting as a guard, personally imprisoned the Joker, Bane, and Scarecrow. He approached Li Jie. "What should we do next?"
Li Jie replied, "Pray to God. I hope the wasteland and the Parademon army really appear in this city."
Time passed quickly, and by noon the next day, the prisoners had found ways to pass the time. A fat man whistled loudly, making lewd gestures. "Hey clown, give me a striptease."
Laughter erupted. Bane meditated quietly, the Joker gazed upward, ignoring the mocking. The Scarecrow spat on the ground, muttering, "Like a tiger fallen into the plains, bullied by dogs."
Li Jie asked, "Joker, aren't you even a little angry?"
The clown shoved the Scarecrow aside and went to the window. "Damn it, I'm doing this for revenge, you son of a—"
Suddenly, the Scarecrow froze. "Oh my god, what is that?"
A massive spaceship appeared in the sky, blocking out the sun. Even S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier seemed tiny in comparison.
Superman tensed, itching for a fight. Dr. Banner adjusted his glasses, alarmed. "That thing looks bigger than Gotham. How are we supposed to deal with it?"
Li Jie patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry." Then, with a swift motion, he hurled Banner into the air.
"Ah!" Banner transformed into the Hulk, terrifying screams echoing. With a powerful leap, the Hulk landed on the spaceship deck, surrounded by Parademon armies. The alien soldiers froze, bewildered.
A Parademon swung its axe at Hulk's head, but the blow shattered against him. Hulk grabbed the creature and slammed it into the ground.
Inside the command center, Steppenwolf trembled as he surveyed Earth. "Earth, I, Steppenwolf, have finally arrived. Kneel at my feet and tremble!"
A guard reported frantically, "General, we are under attack!"
Steppenwolf's eyes widened. "What nonsense? Who would dare attack us?"
The guard pointed to the deck footage. Hulk was taking on the Parademons alone, and the alien army was utterly powerless.
"That green monster... what is that?" Steppenwolf demanded.
"General, I don't know," the guard admitted. "If all Earthlings are this fierce, we should leave before more arrive."
Steppenwolf growled, tossing the guard aside. He grabbed his battle axe. "Let me meet that green guy!"
On the deck, Hulk dominated the Parademons, tossing them aside like ragdolls. Only when Steppenwolf arrived did the aliens regain their footing.
"Hey, green guy, who sent you?" Steppenwolf barked. Hulk responded by hurling a Parademon and swinging a punch.
"Thump!" Steppenwolf was sent flying after a solid strike to his chin.
On the ground, Batman watched hidden camera footage, eyes wide. "Have we made a mistake? Hulk alone could handle Steppenwolf and the Parademons. And that's the Hulk!"
Li Jie extended his hand to Wonder Woman. "Do you want a ride?"
"Certainly," she said, grabbing his hand. With a strong launch, Li Jie soared toward the spaceship.
"I'm leaving too," Superman said, following closely.
Scarlet Witch glanced at Batman. "Can't you get up there yourself?"
"Of course. My mech can fly in space without issue." Batman had switched to a new suit, prepared for the fight.
"Good." Scarlet Witch followed, chaos magic lifting her into the sky.
"You guys are fast, like you can fly," she remarked.
Batman, not to be outdone, also rose into the air.
Steppenwolf, bruised from Hulk's assault, saw a line of figures standing before him. "I remember you. You destroyed the sonic boom channel last time, ruining my landing plan," he snarled, pointing at Li Jie.
Li Jie smirked. "You have a good memory. But why not stay on Apokolips and enjoy life? Why come to Earth to cause trouble?"
Steppenwolf laughed loudly. "In this vast ocean of stars, Earth is nothing but an insignificant speck of dust. As a general of Apokolips, my duty is to help conquer every planet in the universe! As for you... I can give you one chance to submit to me!"
....
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