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Susan seemed to be in a sort of trance while pondering what I had said. Even as we left she was mostly lost in thought rather than with me I'm not sure she could remember what we ate together. I didn't bother trying to get her to snap out of it as that would be counterproductive for my plans. I offered to give her a ride back to the place she was currently residing and she agreed. Without any thought on her part she easily stepped in to my car which had she been fully cognizant she would have possibly resisted the idea.

What made this even better was the fact that she instinctively smiled for the cameras. This was sure to cause conflict in the near future that would hopefully drive Susan further to me. With the paparazzi out of sight while we were driving it was finally time to wake her up.

"Susan as I enjoy your companionable silence I know that there is something clearly bothering you"

Susan: I'm sorry I was just thinking about what you said... when did we end up in your car?

"You are really out of it huh? Do you even remember what we ate?"

Susan: I'm sorry, I don't

"It's fine, it just means we'll have to do this again"

Susan: Are you certain, I was barely present for this meeting why would you want a second?

"Simple I know you to be a considerate woman from our previous encounter and I am know that a lot must has been going on in your life so I am more than willing to overlook today's outing"

We made plans to meet again then I dropped her off at the hotel that she was staying at for the moment. I could have pushed her to possibly move in with me but I believe it would have likely backfired. Unlike Jean that needs constant support and community Susan Storm was more independent. This didn't mean that she was fine being alone in fact it was the exact opposite which is why she almost always eventually returned to the Fantastic Four and Reed.

Although on the surface it seemed like love but to me it reeks of codependency and a need for normalcy. Even if that normalcy was going on adventures and fighting against super villains it has become the only life that she knows. This makes it difficult for Susan to connect with others as who could relate with her experiences outside her group. She couldn't really go to the mutants or meta humans as they were born with their abilities and other heroes kind of mostly kept to themselves. The emergence of Force users changed things but they weren't heroes either and she was also a business mogul creating even more distance. The ability to simply connect with people on a personal level simply existed as an idea nothing to be put into practice.

....

Nightwing hospital (3rd person POV)

It has been weeks since the incident but Nightwing has remained in a comma and his public identity was said to be traveling abroad. The Titans had been very busy picking up the slack as crime spiked during the absence of the major Justice League members. When the Justice League core members returned the Titans only needed to focus on Jump city and Bludhaven Nightwing's turf. The Bat family was able to help them since it was close to Gotham.

Bumblebee was currently on Nightwing duty as it was now called. Usually it was the core members of the Titans or members of the Bat family but with everyone else so busy she volunteered. No one wanted Dick to wake up alone but couldn't neglect their responsibilities. It was getting to the point that they weren't sure if he would ever wake up until unexpectedly he did.

Dick: uhhhh....

He wasn't able to speak immediately due to being in a comma so long and his throat being too dry.

Karen: Dick! Oh shit! Stay still let me get you some water!

After rehydrating his parched mouth Dick had a lot of questions Karen answered as best she could. Before long unexpectedly Bruce Wayne arrived looking distant and nervous. Bruce constantly blamed himself for what happened to Dick even if no one else would. So even though he immediately rushed over the very moment he heard that Dick was awake he was hesitant to even enter Dick's hospital room. Bruce was constantly here even when no one else realized except for when he was on Mars. Every free moment he blamed himself for Dick's currently condition now that Dick was awake he was unsure what to say.