When the boys were asleep, Iris told Barry, "Call Bruce." The Family Rule drove Batman nuts sometimes, it means that when a member of the League gets married they can tell their spouse his secret. It also means that the League can take certain measures to ensure that their secret identities are safe in said spouse's hands. Iris can't leverage the League's secret identities and if she leaves Barry she won't remember Bruce Wayne is Batman, which was added for the sake of heroes like Batman.
Flash took Iris to meet Batman in a secure room on the Watchtower, Iris didn't waste any time, "You knew Michael killed his father. The suspicious circumstances around his death was Michael's mom reported the murder before it happened because she was ready to protect Michael. He has a metagene, you knew he killed his father."
Flash asked "What are his powers?"
Iris stood close to Flash, "Barry, I love you but you are never going to ask that question again, understand?"
Flash said "Yes." Suddenly being close to Batman looked appealing and he was there.
Batman said "Michael has a metagene. That explains how he survived years."
Iris sat down at the table, "What exactly do you know about those years that you've kept off the record?"
Flash told Batman, "If she has to look for the answers, she'll report them and turn the public against us." Superman's wife would do the same thing, it was always on the table.
Batman said "Martian Manhunter did a mental sweep to determine the exact quantity of crimes Michael was a witness to. He can tell you exactly what Michael went through if you really want to know."
"Did you know his mother helped him cover up the crime because she thought he'd be labeled a supervillain if the truth was found?"
That caught Batman's attention, "Just how much did he tell you?"
"How much do you know?"
Batman sighed, he was starting to hate reporter wives of superheroes. "I know he cried when pinned to a wall because he knew that would save his life."
"I was thinking you'd know more than Barry. Do you know what the dog collar was for?"
"He collared both his rape victims and Michael to the wall in the basement."
"He also made Michael take part in all his crimes."
Flash asked "How do you know?"
"He had a breakdown in the sports department. Then what he told us when you and Wally went through all the bags."
"Wally,"
"Didn't question him about choosing villain themed notebooks."
Flash sat down, ceding the point. Batman picked up where he'd left off, "He feels just as responsible for the crimes as the man who made him commit them. That's how you know."
"No, Bruce. He feels responsible for not killing the man and letting him kill more people. He must've buried the memory of killing his dad. Now with everyone focusing on the last 8 years he's trying to remember his life before those years and guess what's come up?"
"The memory of killing his father has been dug up by Michael trying to escape the trauma of 7 years in Hell."
"Primarily because he's trying to escape how everyone treats the trauma by telling him to move on then asks him about the trauma. I'm not a psychologist but that's my opinion." By now Flash was thinking about his cases in the crime lab because Iris and Batman had him lost.
Batman said "I'm not sure what a psychologist would say but you seem to have pretty sound reasoning to me. I'll talk to Canary, she'll be handling Michael's trauma therapy with your permission."
"Sounds great, this way he doesn't have to skip over the year he was in League custody or tell her what happened because she'll be able to make the connections herself. So is there anything you knew that Flash didn't?"
"Martian Manhunter may have mentioned a few things he didn't want to tell Flash."
"I look forward to talking to him." Iris turned to leave, "Earth to Flash."
Batman nudged him and Flash was in front of the door, "Busted."
"Yeah."
Batman met Superman in the hall, "So you met with Iris?" Trying and failing to act casual.
"She knows more than we did. I need to check some footage from a department store, make sure to erase all evidence."
"Erase evidence?"
Batman sighed, "Erase evidence of Michael's breakdown. Michael told Iris that he killed his own father. Our case hinges on proving Michael was forced to commit atrocious acts and making him look like another victim instead of an accomplice."
Superman verified, "So you're going to erase evidence that Michael killed before he was taken?"
"Yes."
Superman asked "Need any help? Don't stores usually keep hard copies that police can seize with a warrant, or simply get with permission after a crime is committed against the store?"
Batman paused and looked at Superman, "I didn't think you'd be on board with this."
Superman hung his head, "I don't want the monster that tormented Michael to get away with everything he's done just because Michael blames himself for his father's death. Wasn't Michael like 6 years old when his father died?"
Batman continued walking to a computer terminal, "He told Iris that he has a metagene and he lost control. No offense Superman but I'm going to ask someone with a little more stealth experience to steal the tapes if it gets that far. At the moment I'd like to know exactly what he said to Iris."
Superman said "Best of luck to you," and left Batman alone. He'd learned to take Batman's not so subtle hints.
Batman called Martian Manhunter to meet him, Batman explained "I talked to Iris West and she wants to know details about Michael's 7 years missing. I told her you did a mental sweep and told me things you were keeping from the Flash. She may turn to you for answers."
Martian Manhunter said "Thank you. Are you telling me I should not give Iris the answers she seeks?"
"That's up to you. Right now I'm going to check on Michael's breakdown, she said he told her he killed his father. I want to know the context of his confession and what came with it."
Martian Manhunter asked "Are you okay, Batman? You're not acting like yourself, you're being too open."
Batman stopped hitting the console keyboard, he sighed. No real point lying to a telepath, "This case hit all of us hard. I don't believe any of us have the right to act like ourselves where Michael's 7 years in Hell are concerned." His use of the word Hell and the fact that he didn't just brush J'onn off spoke volumes.
