Laddu suddenly froze.
Mid-hug.
Mid-thought.
Mid-existence.
"…Wait a minute."
Everyone looked at him.
He slowly sat up, eyes wide with realization.
"If I am Batman," he said very seriously,
"why am I here?"
Maya blinked.
"…Because you live here?"
"No," Laddu whispered, horrified.
"I must be in Gotham."
Candy's smile faded.
"Gotham?"
"Yes," Laddu nodded urgently.
"Crime never sleeps."
He stood up, pointing at the door. 🚪
"I have duty," he announced.
"Villains. Darkness. Rooftops."
Then his eyes landed on Candy.
They narrowed. 👁️👁️
He pointed dramatically.
"…Joker."
Candy gasped.
"WHAT?!"
"How dare you," Laddu said, offended,
"use kid face to fool society."
Candy's mouth fell open.
"I AM KID!"
Maya burst out laughing.
"Method acting."
Mochi grabbed Laddu's sleeve.
"Batman," she said calmly,
"sit."
He hesitated.
"But Joker—"
"—is doing homework," Mochi interrupted.
"And Gotham is closed for the night."
Candy crossed her arms.
"I don't even like crime."
Laddu stared at her suspiciously.
"…That's exactly what Joker would say."
Mother sighed deeply.
"Sit down," she ordered.
"Or I become Bane."
Laddu froze. 😨
"…Mother Bane is scary."
He slowly sat back down.
Mochi guided him gently, hands firm.
"Good," she said.
"Batman needs rest."
Laddu nodded, exhausted.
"Yes," he agreed.
"Even heroes need sleep."
He looked at Candy one last time.
"But I'm watching you," he warned.
Candy grinned. 😈
"Okay, Batman."
Laddu leaned back, eyes closing.
"Gotham tomorrow," he mumbled.
Mochi covered him with a blanket. 🛌
The café returned to normal noise.
Candy whispered proudly to Maya,
"I was Joker for five minutes."
Maya replied,
"Best career arc so far."
Lullaby Protocol 🎶🫂
Laddu shifted restlessly.
Blanket half on.
Eyes half open.
"I want lullaby," he announced softly.
"If not… I will cry."
Maya covered her mouth.
"Emotional blackmail."
Candy nodded.
"Professional level."
Mochi looked down at him.
"…You want a lullaby?" she asked.
Laddu nodded immediately.
"Yes," he said.
"Soft one."
The café quieted on its own.
No jokes.
Mochi hesitated for a second.
Then she began to sing.
Low.
Slow.
Not perfect.
Not practiced.
Just warm. 💛
A tune without words at first, humming wrapped in breath.
Then a few gentle lines, old and familiar.
Not meant to impress.
Only meant to stay.
Laddu's shoulders relaxed.
His grip loosened.
His breathing slowed.
He shifted closer, resting fully in her arms, cheek against her chest like it was the safest place left in the world.
"…Don't stop," he murmured, already drifting.
Mochi kept singing.
Soft enough that only he could hear.
Mother watched quietly from the counter.
Maya leaned back, peaceful for once.
Candy whispered, "He's sleeping."
Laddu's eyes finally closed.
His hand curled lightly into Mochi's sleeve.
Gone.
Out cold. 😴
Mochi lowered her voice to a hum and stayed still.
She looked down at his sleeping face and sighed softly.
"Drama," she whispered.
But she didn't move.
And Laddu slept there, wrapped in her arms,
Batman retired for the night,
finally safe enough to rest. 🦇🌙
Afternoon Wake-Up ☀️😵
Laddu woke up in the afternoon.
Not morning.
Afternoon.
Sunlight hit his face like an accusation.
"…Why is the sun angry," he murmured.
He tried to sit up.
Didn't work.
Something was holding him.
Warm.
Solid.
He looked down.
Mochi.
Still there.
Arm around him.
Head tilted slightly.
Asleep in a chair that was never designed for love or idiots.
Laddu froze.
"…Oh."
Memory began loading.
Slowly.
Dangerously. ⚠️
"Oh no."
Replay Mode Activated 🎞️
"Romance shouting."
"Lap sitting."
"Shotguns."
"…I touched feet," he whispered in horror.
Then—
"BATMAN."
He covered his face with both hands.
"I accused Candy of being Joker."
Candy's voice floated from the counter.
"You also told me Gotham is closed."
Laddu peeked through his fingers.
Candy was eating chips.
Fully awake.
Fully evil.
"…How much did I say?" he asked weakly.
Candy smiled sweetly.
"Everything."
Maya walked by with coffee.
"You retired as Batman," she added.
Cousin smirked.
"You asked for lullaby."
Laddu slowly turned toward Mochi.
She was awake now.
Watching him.
Calm.
Too calm.
"…Did I cry?" he asked carefully.
"No," Mochi said.
"You threatened to."
Laddu exhaled in relief.
"Okay. Manageable."
Mother came from the back.
"You slept like baby," she said.
"Snoring included."
Laddu groaned.
"I should not drink emotions."
Mochi adjusted her arm but didn't move him away.
"Last night," she said evenly,
"you were loud, dramatic, and confused."
Laddu nodded.
"Standard."
"And," Mochi added,
"you fell asleep in my arms."
He looked at her.
"…Sorry?"
She shook her head.
"No," she said.
"You needed it."
Laddu swallowed.
"…Did I say something bad?"
Mochi thought for a second.
"You said," she replied,
"that you feel safe here."
Silence.
Laddu's ears turned red. 🥵
"Oh," he said quietly.
"…That one is true."
Candy leaned in.
"You also said you are Batman."
Laddu closed his eyes.
"…Ignore that."
Maya laughed.
"Too late."
Aftermath 🫗
Laddu finally sat up.
Slow.
Careful.
He looked around the café.
Family.
Noise.
Normal life.
"…So," he said softly,
"nothing exploded?"
Mother smiled.
"Not yet."
Laddu nodded.
"Good," he said.
"Then last night was successful."
Mochi raised an eyebrow.
"How?"
He smiled faintly.
"I slept," he said.
"And woke up here."
She didn't argue.
And just like that,
the story of last night ended—
Not with regret,
but with Laddu very seriously deciding
to drink water before talking ever again. 💧😌