Bruce was tired, how could he not be? It was like everywhere he turned, there was something to deal with. The days and nights all seemed to blend together, leaving Bruce feeling exhausted and overrun. There was some upsides to his busy schedule. It left little room for his mind to wonder, to think about things that were far from his control. Bruce found it easier to focus on each task at hand. Each press conference, each meeting, each dinner, each rogue, each patrol...
Except, things were now starting to slow down. Bruce was certain that Vlad was behind a lot of the issues that arise within his company. He knew his company was far from perfect, but that didn't change the fact that he never had these many issues and scandals revolving around Wayne Enterprises so clustered. Too many security issues, too many 'leaked' information that turned out false. It was a lot, but if anyone could handle it, it was Bruce.
It was hard, not that he would admit it to anyone, but things were finally stabilizing. His company wasn't negatively in the eye of the public, he just got praised for a charity fundraiser, and his rogues have been pretty easy to deal with. It didn't make Bruce feel any better. His paranoia and suspicion has been on a rise. The looming threat of whatever it was that Vlad Masters had planned was a constant reminder that he couldn't rest.
Now, Bruce wasn't completely in the dark. In a sense, all he had was a theory. But all the pieces fit almost too perfectly for it not to be the truth. With his own research, paired with what Tim had managed to find, Bruce was certain that Vlad's power had something to do with ghosts. The man hadn't made his shift in life until after his accident in college. An accident that had to do with ghostly properties.
Now there were two main ideas driving Bruce's theory. If Vlad had been infected with Ectoplasm, it could explain how Vlad did the things he did. If it had contributed to altering Vlad's DNA in some way, lead him to develop certain abilities, it would explain a lot. The second idea, was Vlad had found a way to control ghosts. Use them as pawns for his game.
It would be easy to confirm the moment Bruce could get a sample of Vlad's DNA. If he could just analyze it, it would eliminate one of Bruce's theories. The downside was that Bruce would need to spend more time with Vlad. Get closer to the other businessman, and get the man to let his guard down. If things went well, it would be easy. Bruce was hoping on the bet that Vlad didn't know as much about him as Bruce knew about Vlad.
But that was a spiral for Bruce to go down later tonight. Right now, he needed to meet the apparently promising new intern. Within the first few video calls, Lucius was already singing the praises of a promising young man. Bruce trusted Lucius' opinion as much as he trusted his close family, if the man believed the intern was great, than the intern was.
However, with everything going on with Vlad, Bruce couldn't be too safe. He'd been too distracted lately to check in with Lucius and the intern, save for the occasional chats with Lucius. As much as Bruce rather focus on more important things, he couldn't neglect anything on his to-do list. It's the only reason that Bruce was on his elevator, heading down to Lucius' lab.
"Hey, Lucius... I've finally..." Bruce's words died out as he glance around the empty workspace. He glanced down his watch, noting the fact that Lucius should currently be here. With a sigh, Bruce moved further into the lab. His gaze flickered over multiple different prints and plans, only paying attention so much as he does. He figured it wouldn't be long before Lucius came back, the man was probably on a quick break if anything. If it was serious, Bruce would know by now.
"Oh... uh, Bruce?" Bruce jolted at the sudden sound of a voice behind him. He hadn't even felt anyone come up behind him, setting him further on edge. It wasn't until Bruce turned to see none other than Danny stand before him. Danny, the actual teen from Amity Park. Bruce was both happy to see the teen relatively alive and well, while also finding himself feeling confused and suspicious on how the kid was here right now. "I didn't know you were coming in today... Uh, Lucius went out to grab a cup of coffee..."
Now, Bruce wasn't sure how to feel. Part of him wanted to go into the same conversation topics he used to have with Danny under the trees in the park. The other part reminded him that right now, he was Bruce. He was in no position to slip up or risk anyone new finding out about his identity.
"Danny! I hadn't realized you were the new intern... Wayne Enterprise could use someone of your brains." Bruce slipped himself back into his public persona. Charming smile, easy words, and comfortability. He was going to try to get closer to Danny without the suit, try and understand what the teen was doing in Gotham all of a sudden. Bruce made a mental note to try and find the teen during his late night activities if he failed.
Danny was a mix of being standoffish and embarrassed as he spoke to Bruce. The teen kept shifting his weight, fidgeting with different paperwork as he tried to make a good impression. It was kind of endearing to Bruce. He had already met Danny, had made some progress as Bruce. Yet the teen seemed so on edge with his presence. Bruce had to remind himself that technically he was Danny's boss now, and in a different city.
It wasn't like before. Bruce wasn't just some random rich guy touring the streets of a small town. This was the big city. This was Bruce's city. Danny's reaction was understandable, but it made something in Bruce's gut clench. He didn't like the idea of Danny feeling uncomfortable with him. He didn't like not being able to help the teen feel comfortable and okay.
"Relax, Danny. I'm happy to see you're the intern that Lucius took on. I've been a bit busy, and only just now got a chance to come down and meet you." Bruce spoke, resting a comforting hand on the rambling teen's shoulder. Bruce choose to ignore the way Danny tensed under his touch, and shifted away. He couldn't take it to heart, he knew he couldn't. That didn't stop the uncomfortable feeling in Bruce's chest, or the way his lips tried to turn his false smile into a frown. Now wasn't the time, it wasn't.
The rest of Bruce's time was filled with Danny nervously rambling on about the things he was working on with Lucius. Seemingly trying to prove his place here at Wayne Enterprise. Bruce understood, he really did. He just didn't like it.
Bruce spent that time trying to ease Danny's nerves. Reminding the boy that he was still the same man that he met outside of the Nasty Burger. That Bruce wasn't a hardass, he wasn't going to throw a hissy fit if Danny wasn't working every second of his time at the building. Bruce hated that he barely got much insight on what was happening with Danny.
"Oh, we're just taking a family trip so I figured I could see the office while I'm here... Lucius said it was okay..." That was the most of an explanation that Bruce got. Danny seemed more closed off than usual, even to Bruce's civilian identity. The chat at both Dalv. Co. and Nasty burger was a drastic difference from now. Which only had the father side of Bruce's brain running wild.
Despite that, Bruce kept all his concern inside. He ran things on a light and easy way. He kept the conversation focused on Wayne Enterprises, and how much Danny was enjoying his time. As well as how Danny felt about Gotham so far. Bruce did learn that this was only Danny's third day in the city. That the teen wasn't completely sure how long they would be here, but it was likely to be for a few days longer.
Bruce also learned that Danny's dad wanted to meet him, to meet the esteem Bruce Wayne and the man behind Danny's internship. He would be lying with the idea of meeting Danny's father didn't make him nervous.
Bruce has been roaming the streets of Gotham for three hours now. Three hours without a single sight of the strange teen. He couldn't be too surprised, the average teenager wouldn't want to explore the unknown city alone. Except, Bruce was certain that Danny was far from average. The kid seemed to live for his late night visits with Cujo, so what's to say he wasn't somewhere in Gotham right now?
Somewhere that was dangerous and unsafe. A place where most Gothamites would avoid at this hour, but Danny didn't know that. It had the man feeling extra anxious, extra on edge. It was unfair, and Bruce knew it. He couldn't control how Danny spent his time, but he wished he knew how the teen was doing it. Wished he knew that Danny was safely tucked away in bed at a safe hotel in Gotham.
Bruce wasn't sure if he felt relieved or concerned when he finally found Danny perched on a rooftop, looking over the lights of the city. Before Bruce approached, he noted the fire escape. The ladder pulled down to the ground, a likely way that the teen had managed to climb up here. Along with that, Bruce was impressed by Danny's lack of fear of heights. It might just be a thing for Amity Parkers, but Gothamites were a different story. Bruce couldn't count on one hand how many citizens were terrified of heights.
Bruce didn't say a word as he walk towards the teen, his steps heavy and echoing off of the roof. He didn't want to spook the boy, making his presence known before he sat down beside the boy. Bruce's gaze was glued on the light of Gotham, a sight that was already searing into his brain. There was silence for longer than Bruce would have liked. He was teetering on the edge of breaking that silence when someone else broke it for him.
"Gotham is so pretty at night." He turned his head to look at Danny, taking a second to let the teen's words sink it. It was so nonchalant, so different from how Danny sounded earlier that day. Now, Bruce knew he could roll with it. He could continue this offhanded conversation like they were still in Amity Park. Like there hadn't been a gap since the last time they spoke. Like Danny didn't use the communicator that he left behind.
"Why are you here?" The question left Bruce before he could stop it. It's been a question burning on his mind since he spoke to Danny at the office. He had no expectations that the teen would answer, but it was better than not trying at all. Even as Bruce felt like he shouldn't have asked when Danny took a moment to answer.
"My... my mom, she did something... so my dad thought it would be a good time to get out of Amity." Bruce perked up when Danny actually started to answer. Latching onto every word, soaking in every detail he could. Bruce won't want to admit it, but he needed this answer the same way he needed to breathe. "I wasn't sure if you'd find me... but, honestly? I've been up here the past three nights... kind of hoping you would."
Bruce didn't want to focus on it, but it felt like his heart was melting at Danny's confession. The kid wanted to see him, to talk to him, just as much as Bruce wanted it. Needed it at this point, but that wasn't neither here or there. Instead, Bruce focused on Danny's body language. The kid seemed closed off, but not completely. Like he wanted to talk about something, but was worried to. So, Bruce figured he should give Danny the opening.
"What did she do?"
For a moment, Bruce thought he asked the wrong question. Danny had tensed immediately, staying quiet for a moment that had Bruce seconding guessing himself. In a way that Bruce hadn't felt in a long while. That was until the teen exhaled deeply, muscled seeming to slack as any type of concern or anxiety seemed to melt away.
"She... my mom hit me..." Bruce felt a rush of anger at the confession and maybe Danny felt it, because he suddenly looked at Bruce, eyes wide and shielded as he started to ramble. "It wasn't anything, it really wasn't. It was barely even a slap, but... it changed things. My dad... he sent her away for a bit and I'm just... I'm here because he's finally listening. My dad, he's best friends with Vlad, and he's finally listening to the fact that I hate him. I hate Vlad so much..."
Bruce moved before he could think, he couldn't think about the fact that Danny might not need it. But something in Bruce's gut told him this was the right move. Something in a split second that had Bruce wrapping his armored arms around the teen, pulling Danny in close for a hug. It mirrored the last and only hugged they shared back in Amity.
The scenario, the atmosphere, the location was all different. All wrong, but it was enough. Bruce knew it the moment Danny seemed to melt into the hug, wrapping his own arms around the man. Around Batman. Bruce was angry, yes. He couldn't stand the idea of Danny's own mother laying a hand on him. But Bruce was also happy, happy to hear that Danny wasn't alone.
Danny had his father. Hearing the fact that Danny's dad has taken his kid's side made it a lot less daunting to meet the man in his civilian persona. Bruce actually felt himself looking forward to it. He wanted to meet the man, the see the man that raised the amazing boy in front of him. The one that contributed heavily in Danny's being. Bruce might not know much about the man, but from what he had deduced, Danny's father had a larger positive impacted on Danny's life compared to his mother.
"I'm glad you're here. That you have a father that is listening, and helping. You and your family are welcomed in Gotham for as long as you need."