Chapter Text
At first no-one really noticed anything out of the ordinary. Yes, Cyborg would ask for Batman’s advice more than the others’ but, as Hal had reasoned, the kid was half a robot so of course he didn’t feel fear like the rest of them. But then Kid Flash joined the team and things only got weirder after that. It was Kid Flash’s first week that he was officially on the team and the first crisis he had to respond to with them. All in all, it was a pretty low level threat which resulted in some property damage and only a few minor injuries. That is to say, the mood in the briefing room afterwards was pretty relaxed. Even Superman’s speech was more of a good job everyone than an analysis of what could be improved. Without any questions or comments from the rest of the team Wonder Woman dismissed them. Because of the mood, the team didn’t immediately disperse and more than a few just stayed behind to mingle. Cyborg had already started talking to Batman and Flash approached his nephew to congratulate him on his first Justice League mission.
“You did good, Kid”, Flash proudly announced, “and that was some pretty good thinking when you phased that falling debris!”
“Thanks, Uncle Barry”, Kid Flash beamed and the next second he was standing next to Batman and Cyborg.
“B!” the young hero exclaimed, gathering everyone’s attention in the process, “Did you see how I phased that slab of concrete too?”
That was it, Barry thought, Wally was going to be buried in monitor duty for the rest of his life! What had even possessed the kid to interrupt Batman’s conversation like that in the first place? And use a nickname no less! Barry would be lucky if he didn’t have to explain to Iris why their speedster nephew had a batarang shaped scar in the very near future.
“I sure did”, Batman replied to everyone’s shock, “I was just telling Cyborg how both your Titans training really helped you in this one.”
“Aww B!” Wally cooed, confusing everyone else even more, “I’m gonna tell Wing you said that!”
“Who do you think he learned how to train from?” Cyborg deadpanned and was that a twitch Barry saw at Batman’s lips? Nope, it couldn’t be! Barry was sure that wasn’t what he saw. No way. Nuh uh. No. He knew better than to believe that. The speed force was probably glitching. Yeah, that was more likely.
The thing with Kid Flash was a fluke. That was what the Justice League had collectively decided. Kid Flash was so happy and bright and exuberant that even Batman was unwilling to rain on his parade. Maybe the Bat didn’t want to scare away the new addition to the team. Probably Superman had told him to tone the gloom down for the new recruit. Maybe he realized how intimidating he must be for the younger heroes. Maybe the last kid he’d saved in Gotham started crying in terror. It was bound to happen, right? It didn’t mean anything though. Because Batman was still the night and vengeance of Gotham. And no-one on the team dared ask him why he had no issue with Kid Flash calling him B or smiling his way or asking him stupid questions like whether he would rather have a grapple line snap or a batarang bend like foam. That’s just who Kid Flash was, charming to a fault.
But then Artemis joined the League. The first couple weeks were normal, unless one didn’t consider treating Batman like any other leaguer normal, which many did. But she was being polite and it wasn’t the weirdest thing they’d seen. Eventually she would see that the Batman wasn’t just any leaguer, just like they all had. And that was that, Oliver thought. Until exactly sixteen days after she’d joined the league. They were sitting in the common room, decompressing after a big training drill. And Artemis just sidled up to where Batman was sitting and plopped herself on the seat right next to him. As if it was the most casual thing in the world.
“So…” she began speaking, letting the word drag, and it took Hal an embarrassing four seconds to realize she was initiating conversation with Batman. “I’ve been invited to a Clocktower party?”
It wasn’t really a question but her voice rose in the end making it sound like one. And the whole Watchtower screeched to a halt. No-one even so much as dared breathe. Did she just say Batman had invited her to a party?
“That’s nice”, Batman commented as if this wasn’t life altering news, “the girls mentioned they were thinking about inviting some friends.”
Okay, Green Arrow thought with relief, Batman did not invite his young female protege to a dark Gotham party. But who were these girls? And what on earth was a clocktower party? All questions Oliver would have to find the answers to. However, more concerningly at the moment, Artemis kept looking at Batman as if getting a reply of more than three words wasn’t enough. And Oliver was really starting to get worried for her. Batman wasn’t known to entertain small talk.
“Just ask”, Batman prompted. It wasn’t exasperated or growled. Hal was starting to feel a bit insulted. Last time he’d tried to make small talk with the Bat all he got was a growled grunt.
“I, umm, what should I wear?” the young archer asked shyly and had everyone turn incredulous stares at her. Did she just ask the dark knight of Gotham for fashion advice? For a party?
“Hmm”, Batman hummed, making it obvious that he was actually considering the question, “Something comfortable. And dark.”
“Thanks B! You’re the best!” Artemis smiled and left without a glance at the dumbfounded superheroes around.
“Batman?” Green Arrow spoke after a few moments of silence, “Why is my protege asking you for fashion advice?”
“She wanted advice”, Batman growled flatly and it almost sounded condescending. The archer decided to drop it. It was good, after all, that the new members of the team felt comfortable around the Bat. They’d all been worried he would scare them off. So why was Oliver a bit jealous of his very own protege? No, Batman would have given him fashion advice if Arrow had asked, it was just that he never did.
It was a normal training day at the Watchtower, or as normal as a gathering of superheroes could be. This time the younger generations also joined in the training. Not that it was that unusual. Mutual training sessions ensured they worked better together when necessary. It also allowed the League to keep an eye on the younger heroes and scope out possible new recruits. However, the purpose of this specific training day was to promote teamwork between members of different teams. And what better way to do that than some friendly competition?
Thus everyone was going to have to spar with people that weren’t on the same team, or had a mentor/mentee relationship. This rule was met with excitement. An excitement that the senior members of the league couldn’t share after realizing that this meant that, in this session, Batman wasn’t allowed to spar with Nightwing or Red Hood or either of the Robins. They gathered around the training area, wondering which of their mentees would have the displeasure. This proved to be an especially distracting thought for some of the more curious members of the league. Hal was so lost in his thoughts that Nightwing had managed to steal his ring in their sparring match. And Barry didn’t want to admit it, but Robin had almost managed to trip him.
Diana wasn’t one of the distracted members. She knew Batman to be an honorable man who wouldn’t take advantage of this to shame nor mistreat a younger hero. Instead she enjoyed her match with Raven. The younger girl couldn’t match Wonder Woman’s fighting prowess, but was cleverly using her other strengths to overcome that imbalance. But then young Troia stepped onto the mat and confidently declared that she chose Batman as her sparring partner. The change in the atmosphere as Batman stepped on the mat was palpable. The younger heroes were excited to see the legendary Bat in action with someone that he hadn’t explicitly trained. Troia was smiling as if she was about to train with one of her sisters back on Themyscira. The senior league members exchanged concerned looks. And Batman was… Well, his face was as unreadable and stoic as ever.
“Troia, are you sure?” Wonder Woman asked. Her words weren’t filled with concern exactly, but it didn’t make a difference. The younger warrior’s shoulders squared with pride, her eyes glinting at the perceived challenge.
“Of course!”
“But he’s fully human”, Wonder Woman tried to reason with the girl, “wouldn’t you enjoy the fight better if it was with someone who could match your strength? Like Superman, perhaps?”
“No, he always holds back”, Troia complained with a pout, “Batman will not.”
“That’s what we’re afraid of”, someone mumbled under their breath and was summarily ignored. It was unclear whether that comment came from Hal or Oliver, but no-one cared to find out anyway.
“It’s alright, Wonder Woman”, Batman comforted, although it came out sounding more like an order, “It’s good for her to learn how to fight against people who can’t match her strength.”
The dark hero’s words were hard to argue against. Most present found themselves agreeing with the sentiment, especially the powered members who knew how much of a struggle it was to keep their powers in check in the heat of the battle. Yet the bat affiliated heroes’ reactions were quite curious. They all visibly stiffened, backs snapping straight, and although they nodded in agreement their eyes grew so cold it dropped the temperature of the room. It was as if they were daring anyone to try and harm their mentor. Hal shuddered to think what kind of monster the fearsome Bat would need protecting from.
“I suppose”, Wonder Woman agreed and stepped aside to let them fight.
The fight itself was swift. By the end Troia was smiling with excitement. Batman extended an arm for a handshake before leaving the mat. Troia ignored it, going in for a half hug instead. It only took a second, but it had the founders of the league at a loss.
“What just happened?” Flash quietly asked a stunned Hal, who couldn’t quite manage to close his mouth.
“I almost got you there”, Troia smiled proudly, accompanying her words with a small gesture mimicking the maneuver she was referencing.
“Sure did”, Batman agreed with a quiet murmur and patted her shoulder. Then he stepped off the mat.
It took Oliver a few seconds to realize he was called to the mat next.