The Watchtower's medical bay was sterile, cold, and way too bright for Ishmaart's liking. He sat on the examination table, swinging his legs like a kid waiting for his report card, while Batman loomed over the holographic scan results projected in the air. The Dark Knight's jaw was set, his eyes narrowed as he flipped through the data like a man searching for a lie.
"Hmph," Batman grunted, his gloved fingers tapping the air as he zoomed in on Ishmaart's genetic profile. "Human. Mostly. Slightly elevated adrenaline response, but that's just your personality."
Ishmaart grinned. "Arre, Batman-sahab, main toh born hi tension-level max par hoon. Galli ka baccha hoon—stress mere blood mein hai."
Batman ignored him, switching to Rubina's scan.
The screen flickered.
Most of it was blacked out—internal structures unknown, energy signatures unreadable, neural pathways classified as "ERROR." The only clear data points? Her hair (silver-white, synthetic but organic-like), her iris (pale blue, glowing faintly), and her blade (composed of an unknown alloy, humming with residual energy).
Batman's fingers paused.
"This isn't just alien tech," he muttered. "This is beyond our databases."
Ishmaart leaned forward, peering at the screen. "Arre, sahab, maine toh pehle hi kaha tha—woh YoRHa model hai. Future se aayi hai. Android hai, par feelings rakhti hai."
Batman shot him a look. "Feelings?"
"Haan! Ishmaart threw his hands up. "Dekho na, tum log emotions ko weakness samajhte ho, par hum toh daily soap ke level par jeete hain. Uske paas duty hai, loyalty hai—pyaar bhi hai, agar main kahun."
Batman didn't respond. He just stared at the blacked-out scan, his mind racing.
The interrogation (because let's be real, that's what it was) shifted to the lounge area, where Green Lantern, Cyborg, and Supergirl had already claimed the best seats, looking like kids on Christmas morning.
"Okay, spill," Hal Jordan said, leaning forward, his ring casting a green glow on his face. "You said you're from a universe with Marvel. So. Spill. What's really going on there?"
Ishmaart grinned. "Arre, bhai, tum log toh DC ke gods ho. Wahan pe Marvel ke heroes hain—Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor—sab drama hai. Civil wars, alien invasions, time travel—bas, ek dhamaal hai."
Supergirl's eyes widened. "Wait—time travel? Like, actual time travel?"
"Haan! Ishmaart nodded. "*Doctor Strange naam ka jadu-wala hai, uske paas Time Stone hai. Usse koi bhi cheez undo kar sakta hai."
Cyborg whistled. "Damn. We've got one of those?"
"Nahi," Ishmaart shook his head. "Tum log ke paas Speed Force hai, Green Lantern Corps hai—tumhara drama alag level ka hai. Par wahan pe science zyada hai. Magic bhi hai, par logic ke saath."
Green Lantern grinned. "So what you're saying is… we're cooler?"
Ishmaart laughed. "Arre, cool toh tum log already ho! Par wahan pe business zyada hai. Heroes bhi celebrities hain—brand deals, movies, merch—sab chalta hai."
Supergirl blinked. "Wait… merch?"
"Haan! Ishmaart threw his hands up. "Iron Man ke action figures bikte hain. Captain America ke shields wall par lagte hain. Log paise kama rahe hain uske upar!"
There was a beat of silence.
Then, all three heroes burst out laughing.
"Oh my God," Hal wheezed. "We are so underutilizing our brand."
Cyborg snorted. "Bruce would never let us monetize like that."
Supergirl grinned. "I love it. Next time I save someone, I'm getting them to sign a merch deal."
Dinner at the Watchtower diner was surreal.
Ishmaart sat between Wonder Woman and Green Lantern, while Rubina—now in a fresh League-issued jumpsuit (because her salwar kameez had been shredded in the fight)—sat beside him, silently observing everything. The food was alien (literally—some of it was New Genesian, some Kryptonian), but Ishmaart dug in like a man who had just survived three near-death experiences.
"Yeh sabzi kaun si hai? he asked, poking at a glowing blue vegetable with his fork.
"That's Kryptonian kelp," Supergirl said, grinning. "Try it—it's amazing.*"
Ishmaart took a bite. His face scrunched up.
"Arre, yeh toh namak ke saath chalk khane jaise hai!"
The table erupted in laughter.
After dinner, Ishmaart leaned back, patting his stomach. "*Bhai, mazza aa gaya. Par ek chai chahiye ab. Garama-garam."
Wonder Woman raised an eyebrow. "Chai?"
"Haan! Ishmaart nodded. "*Adrak-wali. Doodh zyada. Cheeni kam."
Supergirl grinned. "I'll get it."
The chai was perfect.
Ishmaart sipped it slowly, his mind racing. The Watchtower, the tech, the heroes—he had seen so much. His system had logged everything.
Mother Box… Kryptonian memory crystals… Apokoliptan grenades… Green Lantern rings…
His eyes flicked to Batman, who was standing near the window, arms crossed, watching the stars.
Ishmaart cleared his throat.
"Arre, Batman-sahab… ek gold brick chahiye."
The entire room went silent.
Batman turned, his expression unreadable. "A… what?"
"Gold brick," Ishmaart repeated, grinning. "Ek chhota sa. Experiment ke liye."
Batman stared. "You want a gold brick."
"Haan! Ishmaart nodded. "Bas ek. 100 grams ka. Pure."
Batman didn't move. He just looked at Ishmaart like he was trying to solve a puzzle.
Then, without a word, he pulled out his comm.
"Alfred. Get a 100-gram gold brick from the Gotham vault. Now."
Ishmaart's grin widened.
Five minutes later, Alfred handed Ishmaart a small, shiny gold bar, wrapped in a black velvet pouch.
Ishmaart took it, weighing it in his hand. He looked up at the entire League, his eyes sparkling.
"Abhi chalta hoon," he said, smirking. "Par bohot jaldi wapis entry hogi, deviyo aur sajjano."
He turned to Batman, his grin turning sharp.
"Aur tere ko bhi, chamkadar bhai."
Before anyone could react, Ishmaart clicked his fingers.
A blue flash.
And then—
He was gone.
The Watchtower was silent.
Batman stood there, his hands clenched, a vein throbbing in his forehead.
Green Lantern blinked. "…Did he just steal from us?"
Cyborg laughed. "Nah, man. He just borrowed."
Superman sighed. "We let him take a gold brick."
Wonder Woman smirked. "He's good."
Batman growled.
"Find him."