Danny rushed forward, launching himself against Bruce's torso as he smushed his face into the man's chest. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He repeated between mushy sobs like a mantra.
Bruce stood frozen, perplexed at the sudden distressed child attached to him. Looking around, he spotted Dick, Selina, Alfred and the pets on the floor by the Batcomputer. Dick, too, looked ready to launch himself the moment he snapped out of his frozen shock. Judging off the still frame illuminating the screen, it didn't take a genius to figure out they got into the security feed again.
He wrapped his arms around Danny, trying to hide his worry as the boy flickered in and out of view for a moment between each shuddering breath. It was for both their comfort, but also so Bruce would be able to tell the boy was still there. The heavy sobs wracked his body, making Bruce painfully aware of the bones still protruding from his perpetually too skinny frame. "It's okay." Patting his head with one hand while softly whispering words of comfort under his breath.
Danny looked up bleary eyed, tears rolling down his cheek where they didn't soak into the Batsuit. "What do you mean it's okay? You got hurt." His voice trembled barely above a whisper. Cautiously Danny reached up a hand, brushing his fingertips against the swollen skin. The softest dusting of frost covered Bruce's temple as Danny's ice core instinctively reached out.
Bruce flinched back and immediately regretted every second of. Danny's eyes filled with fear as he stepped away from the man, flickering aggressively in and out of visibility. Clutching his hands to his chest, Danny's breath quickened. Fearing the boy might pull a disappearing act any second, Bruce cautiously reached out. "Danny, it's okay. It just surprised me."
Danny stopped stepping back, eying the man as he gingerly grabbed his hand. Sensing the boy wasn't fully convinced yet, Bruce kept talking in a calm tone, not breaking eye contact even once. "You didn't hurt me, Danny. I know you wouldn't do it on purpose even if you did." He assured as he slowly guided Danny's hand back up to his eye.
Letting the boy decide what to do for himself, he felt relief when Danny carefully touched the bruise again. Once more, a light dusting of frost spread out and this time Bruce didn't pull away. Knowing the feeling was coming, he remarked how it felt like an ice pack without the effort of actually needing to get one. "See? It doesn't hurt. If anything, you're making it hurt less." He smiled as Danny visibly relaxed again.
Right on time too as Dick finally snapped out of his shock. Bruce had only a split second to open his arms before his little bird crashed into him, nearly tackled them both to the ground. It surprised him even more when Dick also started an apology mantra. "You have nothing to apologize for. Neither of you do." Just like with Danny, he wrapped his arms around the boy. Leaning back slightly so Dick would be prompted to look up, Bruce smiled softly as he pushed Dick's bangs out of his eyes.
Danny looked over doubtfully, somewhat distracted by Alfred bandaging up his arm so he wouldn't bleed everywhere. "But…The simulation, your eye, and the League…" And Mr. Zatara went unsaid, trying to forget hearing the choice words the man had used to refer to Danny. He had hoped for a better response considering how Zatanna reacted to him, but that was mostly hopes and prayers.
Bruce pulled up a piece of his cape to dab at the snot and tears on Dick's face. The entire suit would need to get cleaned anyway since there was no doubt some of Danny's blood already got on him earlier. What's a bit more tears and some snot compared to that. "The League responded accordingly to a situation involving our most precious."
Dick snorted, hiding his own disbelief behind Bruce's cape. Most precious, what a joke. Sure didn't come over that way when they were in trouble.
Sending the boy a playful glare, Bruce continued. "The team may be heroes in their own right, but you are still children that we should protect as well. A meeting was unavoidable after we, as your mentors, miscalculated the risks involved in the exercise."
"We should have still told you-"
"Something I already knew." Bruce cut Dick off, not stopping the grin spreading on his face as the boy pouted up at him. "Even if you had warned us about the telepathic mix-ups Miss Martian experiences with you two, it wouldn't have changed anything." Dick looked ready to argue again but Bruce was not going to let him.
Already knowing what the next point would be, he spoke up before Dick could even utter a word. "I know that you know the point of failure was Artemis's death and how M'gann's psyche responded to it. That would have happened with or without Danny in the room as he wasn't involved prior to that." Dick still didn't seem like he was willing to accept it, but he chose to stay silent for the time being.
Danny wasn't particularly convinced either, mainly because everything after Artemis's death that did involve him ended up getting the man hurt. Taking a shaky breath, he pulled Bruce's attention back to him. "Are we in trouble? With the League I mean." Will they take Robin away from Dick?
As if reading his mind, Bruce beckoned him over, lifting both boys up slightly before getting comfortable on the floor. Cujo, Nanaki and Shiro immediately joined them, crawling in their laps as Cujo opted to get comfortable in Bruce's. "Nobody is in trouble." He reassured, repeating it as much as they needed so the boys would eventually believe him. Or at least so he hoped. "The main concerns were how and why it went wrong in the first place. J'onn and Dinah will collectively work on M'gann's telepathic training to hopefully prevent any similar issues in the future."
"You may want to ask Zatara about adding Zatanna to that." Dick commented, looking down at Nanaki's purring figure. "She seems to have a way to tell us apart, even mentally. We've seen it happen before when we went after Tornado."
"She knew when I talked, even when the rest didn't." Danny added, curling up around Shiro as Selina sat opposite of Bruce. With the added comfort, he mumbled out, "If Mr. Zatara ever lets her near me again, that is." Dick's fists balled up at the mention of the magician's name. If it came to throwing fists around, that man was currently on the top of his list.
Bruce immediately noticed the tension, knowing there wasn't much he could do to diffuse it. "Zatara's opinions, however wrong they may be, are nothing but his own. But, it is his right as her father to pull her away from any activities he doesn't agree with." Both deflated, having to come to terms they quite possibly just lost a friend. "That doesn't mean he won't agree to helping in M'gann's training. It's worth bringing up to him if it's for the good of others."
Dick hummed solemnly. Having her on the team would have been great, not just for the sake of having a magic user but also simply because she fit their group so well. A sickening thought ran through his head. If Zatanna was pulled out of the potential Team line up, then what about the others? Oliver clearly wasn't happy with everything and Barry didn't fare any better judging from the lack of messages from both him and Wally. Did others get pulled out as well?
"What about the team?" Danny asked before Dick could, having come to the same conclusion.
Bruce remained silent for a second, trying to find the right words to avoid setting off both the twins, and Selina who was growing to look more murderous the longer he hesitated. "Still approved by the majority if that is what you are worried about." He sighed slightly, knowing they wouldn't take well to the rest. "But missions are suspended until further notice."
"Why?!" Dick demanded angrily, the only thing keeping him seated being Nanaki on his lap. Had it not been for his precious furball, he would have likely catapulted himself straight to the Watchtower to argue with whoever was still up there.
Bruce placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, getting Dick to release the tension in his muscles just enough so he wouldn't actually jump up like a compressed spring. "There were concerns for the team's safety in the field. Though Zatara has his own reasons, it did spark a general concern among most. Until every mentor has re-agreed and assessed you for themselves, the team will be limited to training only and patrolling in their own cities."
Somewhat abusing the fact he can fly, Danny got up, levitating while keeping Shiro comfortably in his lap. Cujo shot up too, sensing Danny's distress. Growing into his hound form, Cujo stood underneath Danny so he could catch his boy in case his powers failed. Luckily for Dick, it prompted Nanaki to get up and crawl onto his shoulder instead, allowing him to stand up as well.
"Wha- why me? I'm not even-"
"Bruce," Selina cut Danny off, snarling at the man as they both got up as well, following Danny's example. "We talked about this." Venom dripped from her tone, clearly not amused by the secret agreement Bruce had made with the League. "He isn't ready, not if you're going to force him." She glared at him, unfazed by the mild glare she received in return.
"He's as ready as he'll ever be. The simulation proved-"
Selina wasn't having any of it. Stepping forward, she got right in his face and jabbed a finger in his chest. "What it proved is that you're an idiot that needs to learn how to use your big boy words and talk more." Most of the previous anger left Dick's body, growing more confused as he watched Selina scold Bruce. "You can't just force him into the same position and expect it to work out the way you want it to."
Danny was not faring any better, just as confused as Dick as they watched the two adults. "What-"
"-Is even going on anymore?" Dick finished as they both took a step back. The kind of intensity in their staring match could only lead to two things and they wanted nothing to do with either option.
Shockingly, it was Bruce who broke first. Sighing deeply in defeat, he looked over to Dick before finally facing Danny. "Due to certain information being brought up during the simulation, I had no choice but to disclose some details."
"B, you can't mean-"
Bruce held up a hand, effectively silencing Dick's protests. "I didn't tell them everything. It isn't my place. But some things had to be, and only between the other mentors, to not be discussed outside of the sub-meeting or to the rest of the team." He reassured them. Secret identities were always a sensitive thing, not just for safety but also simply because they liked the privacy it gave them.
Outside of a select few, nobody would know to come bother Bruce Wayne or Richard Grayson if they needed the Dynamic Duo for anything. They had the luxury of having a true secret life. A true civilian identity to return to if they ever would choose to leave the hero world behind. That wasn't something they wanted to give up. Something Bruce gladly took the heat for whenever any of Dick's friends complained about not being allowed to know his secret ID. It would come over better if it was Batman who opposed it rather than Dick himself.
"How much?" Danny's voice was scarily stable as the boy stared at the ground, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in his chest. Just as he thought his failures wouldn't cause Dick any problems, something else happened that may do just that. Having that, and his death, discussed without his prior knowledge didn't sit well with him. It wouldn't sit well with any ghost to have their deaths discussed like that but nothing that could be done about it.
Bruce tried to step closer, offer comfort, but Cujo stepped back, taking Danny with him as the boy had fully come to rest on the hound's back. Bruce held back a sigh, unable to blame either for their discontent. "I didn't have a choice in the matter. By the time the meeting started, they had already done their own research-"
"How. Much." Danny's cold hard stare cut Bruce's excuse off. No point in trying to sweet talk it now, it already happened. A small chill hung in the air as the temperature dropped notably. Judging off of the faint blue glow coming from Danny's eyes, he may not even be aware of his own ability reacting to his emotions.
Bruce's shoulders sagged slightly before he straightened himself out again, giving up on his attempt to smooth things over before dropping the news. "They already knew about Phantom and what happened in Amity on their own. Red Tornado had made the connection between Phantom and the unknown the team faced in Belle Rêve." Danny tensed involuntarily, the temperature dropping a bit lower once again. A few degrees more and they'd be able to see their own breaths.
Mentally shaking off the need to shiver at the change, Bruce kept explaining. "Considering what they witnessed during the simulation, the Zeta coding incident as well as the confession Dick was training you behind the scenes," He sent a halfhearted glare over his shoulder to which Dick merely shrugged, not at all apologetic for his past actions.
"Too much was already compromised to not reveal some details. Their current beliefs, though it remains unconfirmed, is a possible cloning gone wrong and that you have been in relative contact with Robin before disappearing just over a year ago. They know an accident happened, but nothing beyond that it cost you your life."
Danny's eyes flashed neon green for a second at the same time as Cujo's form rippled with embers. Neither of them seemed to enjoy such information being exposed but he could still appreciate the lack of details given. He didn't have an ounce of doubt that Batman hadn't already connected his accident to his reaction to the Zeta. At any rate, the other mentors may have come to the same conclusion as well as they had all witnessed his breakdowns.
At the very least he was thankful they went with the clone cover since it wouldn't be too unheard of as well as Danny having his own experience with it. He knew perfectly well just how wrong cloning projects could go, not that they had to know about that.
It also helped clear Dick of too much suspicion regarding the training stuff and his reaction to seeing Danny in Belle Rêve for the first time. Considering what little he knew of Superboy's situation, it wasn't too far of a stretch to claim Dick just did the total opposite of what the superbitch decided to do. Danny's added refusal to actually become the next Robin, even in crisis, should add even more weight to that as well.
Actively running away and locking himself up in the highest security meta prison in the world puts suspicions off of him plotting anything to take Robin's place. Solidifying Danny as his own hero and not 'just' a Robin clone made to replace him.
Bruce gave the two a moment to settle again before he pushed on with the final part. "As far as they are aware, you are a full ghost with no secret identity. Which will stay that way until you yourself decide to volunteer any information stating otherwise." He paused a little, giving Danny time to process the fact he still had some control over his identity.
When he got a cold but curd nod, he continued again. "Though they are aware of your time spent in Belle Rêve, and that you volunteered for the imprisonment, they do not know of anything beyond that. Your deal with Waller, the modified collars as well as your break-out are all classified beyond what can be discussed without express consent." He could see the glow around Danny fade as the temperature started to rise again.
"Though I should warn that it doesn't stop them from coming to certain conclusions on their own." He added quickly, hoping to evade the wrath from Selina as the woman stared him down. Though Batman was often appraised as the smartest person in the League, that did not negate there were more than a few certified geniuses there. Most notably being Barry, a literal CSI for the CCPD. If anybody would connect unspoken dots, it would be him.
"You're leaving shit out, Bruce. Tell him or I will." Crossing her arms and cocking her hip, Selina was absolutely done with this teeth pulling from a squirming toddler kind of behavior. She glared at him once again until he dejectedly continued with what he had hoped to avoid.
"If I may, Miss Kyle." Alfred interrupted, saving Bruce from the dreaded continuation of the monologue he had been forced into. Luckily, Selina allowed the interruption, not able to not allow it as he had been polite about it after all. Alfred nodded appreciatively. "I, personally, do not think it wise to send the young master out in the field until he has regained at least a few more pounds. Considering he already has to take medication to aid his recovery, I fear adding more strenuous activity may have adverse effects on his health."
That managed to make the other adults pause. Though they had been arguing about his mental ability to go back into the field, they had neglected to account for his physical health. They looked over to Danny who seemed incredibly uncomfortable with the whole situation.
"Perhaps," Bruce broke the silence, musing a bit too casually. "Leslie could do a full check up and see what could be done. She could be here within two hours at most if I called her."
"Guys?"
"Doctor Thompkins has been of great help before, Master Bruce. But it is quite late in the evening already. Were we to call now, well that surely would give her the wrong idea." Alfred provided helpfully, hoping to not cause unnecessary stress for their much appreciated doctor.
"Helloooo."
Selina rolled her eyes at Bruce, unamused he hadn't thought of that before. "What, were you planning on marching him out there without making sure it was even safe for him to do so?"
"Are you just ignoring me?"
"He already proved he could handle strenuous fights-"
"In a simulation! Ugh, you are so unbelievably dumb sometimes!"
"The simulation accounted for his real life abilities, or at least what he believed himself capable-"
"WILL YOU SHUT UP!" Danny yelled out, hands gripping his ears as he glared at Selina and Bruce. The pair paused their arguing, taking a few steps back as they hadn't even realized how close they had wandered to the other again. "Finally, by the ancients y'all need to work on your volume control. I'm standing right here!" He complained, letting his hands drop from his ears to rub Cujo's. No doubt the poor pup was suffering as well.
"If you're going to argue, shouldn't we at least ask Frostbite?" Danny questioned, knowing they had forgotten the Yeti was his actual doctor and not some lady he never met before. "You know? The one responsible for me not dying fully this time?" He added for emphasis, silently enjoying their slight cringes as they remembered his ghostly physician existed.
Letting a small grin ghost his lips, he got off of Cujo's back. The pup knew what he had to do. He checked over Danny one last time, making sure the boy wasn't in any pain. Deeming Danny in good enough health to leave unsupervised for a bit, he also checked over Dick. Though the other boy didn't have a core to worry about, Cujo still wanted to make sure he was okay. Dick gave him a few reassuring pets, promising to keep an eye on Danny for him.
Satisfied, Cujo looked up at Bruce, giving the man nothing but an annoyed huff before taking off to go get Frostbite.