I don't own DC.
Chapter 14—
Richard sat on the walking platform of the Bat-cave, high above everything else with his legs dangling over the cavern below. Those who knew Batman's identity had collected in the cave and interrogated the Detective. Boy Wonder had been told to change shower and change, before joining them but they hadn't noticed him coming in so he slipped to the back to the cave to listen in. All the heroes were in civvies and Richard challenged himself to match a name to a face and hero identity.
Clark Kent took the main stage in question since he felt the most comfortable in confronting Bruce—his Kryptonian ego bled through, making Dick sneer silently. Diana was not far behind, although still in her Wonder Woman guise, she seemed more relaxed as she questioned. Barry Allen merely indulged himself in Alfred's cookies at a speed Robin knew he would get used to through KF. Meanwhile, John Stewart was also still in uniform since he and Wonder Woman had been on duty when the offer came through to meet Richard. He snorted and rolled his eyes every time the Batman refused to answer a question.
That was when Robin noticed the absence of one person; he stood and searched the darkness, backing up to lean against the wall of the cave. To his right, the air shimmered with a disturbance. He narrowed his eyes and waited for Martian ManHunter to drop his camouflage mode. On glancing down the League members below, Robin sent the message that he wanted to stay quiet and so J'onn nodded and tapped his temple. Boy Wonder wanted to say no but he knew, as much as he didn't want the Martian probing his thoughts, his niece would too.
He settled for shrugging, and continued to look over where Clark was demanding answers on how had he known my identity. "So his was on the street for all of that time? He could have died, ironic since this is the only person you haven't sleuthed out." The man of steel glanced to the door of cave, no doubt waiting for him to come in.
"It was out of respect, Clark, you should look it up." Batman snapped back, checking the doorway also.
"Look, I'm sorry; none of us were expecting this. I don't deny his ability but there will be certain changes. You won't be partner and mentor anymore. You'll be a Father to be boy, which means praise and affection."
"You can lecture me on parenthood when you step up to your responsibility yourself."
"Oh, burn." Richard thought, and then tensed as he sensed J'onn reaching out to him mentally. Of course, he would only hit the same brick wall M'gann hit. "I can reach out to you fine; you don't need to see the rest."
"You guard your mind well; your control and will is "very impressive, I must note."
"Thank you. I meditate."
"They will request our presence soon."
"I'm aware but I like to know who I'm up against, even friends. Do you think I can creep up on Superman?"
"You will find his reaction humorous, either way, he's still expecting you to walk down those stairs."
"Humorous, I can live with."
He slipped into the shadows and followed the curve of the cave, then climbed down the bars of the balcony to reach the ground floor. Then he paused, cautious of Superman's sensitive hearing. As it was, Superman had ended his confrontation with Batman and wandered aimlessly, before climbing up three of the bottom steps his back to Robin as he waited for the said boy to step through the secret entrance. No doubt, he was listening for him; it was just a shame he was focusing on the wrong direction.
"He will come down when he comes down."
"Alright."
"Tell me about him, Bats, what's he like?" Flash asked once his mouth was empty; Alfred left to bake more.
"He's smart, paranoid and very good at stealth."
"So like a mini you."
Green Lantern's mocking tone mean he was clueless to the ninja stalking behind him, however, Batman knew; he stared right at him through the darkness and nodded for him to emerge from his hiding. Wonder Woman saw him first; she stood up from where she leant on the computer bank and looked him over. GL and Flash saw him next; Barry smiled in recognition while John merely raised an eyebrow. Superman was only left; he dawdled by the staircase, not looking back.
"I bet he's waiting to jump us." He murmured, staring to walk back, Robin walked forwards until he was inches from the Kryptonian and yet…
"You have no idea." Flash taunted.
Superman turned to see the boy and instantly jumped back with a hand on his heart. "Don't do that."
"Definitely a mini Batman."
"The rest of the League has assembled in the conference room, the team also. Are we ready?"
"Yes we are."
One by one, the original seven disappeared through the Zeta beams and Batman paused to add him onto the system, it didn't take long since the computer had already scanned him when he broke into the mountain. When they materialised in the Hall of Justice, they found it to be empty for everyone had take there places in the other room. Boy Wonder saw a flash of light in the corner of his eye and he glanced up cautiously to see tourists, pressed up against the glass. The room was well-lit and so, no doubt those pictures of the mysterious Hall of Justice visitor would get around to someone who could recognise him.
Batman opened the door to allow him to step out into the main plaza and immediately he was hit by a storm of reporters. The Batman dismissed them, saying there was business to attend to; they seemed to accept that after seeing pretty much every Leaguer walk into one of the side rooms, for authorised personnel only. Robin braced himself for walking into a room dozens of armed and super powered people with just a marker and walked in.
The entire League sat around the conference table, except from Flash who had offered to take monitor duty, since he'd met BW before. The boy in question sat in one of the seats placed in the middle of the U-table. Beside him, the rest of the team sat opposite their own mentors. Artemis had collected herself but KF still had that stupid grin on his face as he sat opposite an empty chair. Robin, sat opposite Batman, was as still as a statue; he never took his eyes off his mentor. The mask gave an unsettling allusion of not blinking and he could tell he was even creeping Batman out.
It was clear that the league knew they weren't just partners but mentor and protégé. Batman knew to keep his eye on Superman, in case Big and Blue decided to use his x-ray vision to see under his mask—it's not like he hasn't done that before now. So he kept an eye on the League while Robin seemed determined to keep an eye on him.
"This moment has been long awaited and yet nobody has anything to say." Wonder Woman noted.
"I have a question." Superman raised his hand, "How long have you been Boy Wonder?"
"Four years." He responded in a deadpanned tone, but never looked away from the Caped Crusader.
"It's a testament to talent, however, you are young, and four years ago would leave you a lot younger." Aquaman leant forwards, "Who at home knows?"
"They wouldn't let me if they knew."
"So this was your own choice." The Atlantean clarified and nodded. "That is very bold."
"Thank you."
"I thought you'd be taller." Green Arrow of course
Boy Wonder didn't rise to the jab, "Thank you."
"You'll be joining the team." Superman asked.
"It seems like it."
"They all just sighed in relief." Kid Flash pretended to whisper. "Until now, every mission has gone wrong. The team needs so much work to be done."
"Any team needs work to be done, KF." Batman reminded him and looked back to Robin. "As you can tell, you are welcome on the team, I'm sure you can teach them as much as they can teach you."
Artemis scoffed, "Please, do you want to know how to screw things up at every turn each mission, then listen and learn Boy Wonder, because we're the teachers."
"Artemis, you're too hard on yourself."
"Boy Wonder," she addressed him, "the League won't ask this because they don't want to hurt our feelings but it needs to be said. We have no tactic, stealth or brains between us. Sure we can teach you stuff, but we need you possibly more than you need us."
Slowly, Boy Wonder broke from his one-sided staring contest to look at Artemis. "I don't need persuading, I'll be glad to help in any way I can."
They were clueless as to the troubled thoughts running through his head. He needed the team, as much as they needed him to improve; Batman was right in that; they would give him a reason to live. They would be his friends and Robin was willing to make those friends, even if at first his paranoia prevented that. Any boy needed a father figure and friends to be happy. Up until now, Boy Wonder had neither but he needed them if he were to heal. He would join the team and help them become a team.
"That's great news, welcome aboard." Aqualad smiled warmly and Boy Wonder nodded his thanks.
"Well, this meeting was anti-climatic. We've waited four years to see you and all that happens is a welcome. I guess thing's will change when we see you in action. If eye witness accounts are anything to go by, you have a lot to live up to. The media thinks a lot of you."
"They do?" Boy Wonder asked.
Batman nodded dismissively, "No pressure."
"So you're thinking fireworks for a public debut?"
"No, I'm thinking, do my job, and if they find out then so be it. Showmanship has never been my thing."
"A hero is for the people's safety and morale."
"I'm not a hero, I'm a vigilante." He corrected.
"You're the youngest ever hero and the best."
"I'm no superhero; I have no superpowers. I'm no hero; I don't go kissing babies and signing autographs."
"At least we have something cleared up."
"Would you like a tour of the Hall?"
"No, I've already studied the schematics."
"The next step would have been to tour you around the mountain, except you broke into that." KF sighed.
Robin smirked, "I haven't seen the Watchtower."
"That's out of bounds to sidekicks." Artemis hissed, "So we'll have to say goodbye. Batman is going to show his 'partner' around isn't he?"
Green Arrow sighed, knowing full well where her sarcasm had been directed. "Artemis, we've been over…"
"Maybe another time then," Robin cut across, detecting the sore spot. "I've got an idea. I would like to see how your team interacts with one another as it is."
"That is a good idea. Our team bonding is lacking, however, so don't expect too much." Kid Flash beamed, "Do we have a mission though?"
An uneasy glance passed among the League. Then Batman pulled up video footage on the computer and showed it to them. It was of several Leagues members fighting—and losing—a fight against a robot.
"Five hours ago, a new menace attacked Green Arrow and Black Canary. The attacker was capable of studying, then duplicating the powers and abilities of its opponents. Arrow called in reinforcements, which nearly proved disastrous as our foe gained more and more power with each new combatant." Batman explained.
"Whoa. One guy with the powers of the entire League?" Kid Flash gasped.
"In the end, it took 8 leaguers four hours to defeat and dismantle the android."
"An android. Who made it? T.O. Morrow?" Robin asked, purposely glancing to Red Tornado.
"We suspect it to be the work of Professor Ivo." He informed the Boy Wonder.
"Ivo is dead."
"So we all thought, or hoped." Canary murmured.
"To make certain this threat is permanently neutralized, we're sending two trucks carrying the android's parts to two separate S.T.A.R. lab facilities in Boston And New York for evaluation. Every precaution is being taken. We'll have 4 additional decoy trucks to create confusion in case Ivo or anyone tries to recover the remains. You will split into undercover teams to safeguard the two real trucks."
"So...road trip." Artemis grumbled.
"So now we take out your trash." Superboy grumbled.
"You had something better to do?"
I rewrote this about four times, hence why it took so long. XD