Scene: The Batcave â Interrogation Area (a.k.a. Dannyâs TED Talk Stage)
Just enough to be annoying.
Just enough to be threatening.
Batman is at the console, pulling up scans that make absolutely no sense.
âCellular cohesion inconsistent,â he mutters. âEnergy readingsânonstandard.â
Danny leans over the back of his chair.
âHey, if it helps, most doctors just give up.â
âThat does not help.â
The kind that do not belong to anyone who fears what they might find in a cave full of vigilantes and questionable life choices.
From the shadowsâlike heâs always been thereâ
Alfred Pennyworth appears, carrying a tray.
Because naturally there are.
âMaster Bruce,â Alfred says smoothly, âI noticed the sudden increase in medical supply usage and assumed either a particularly rough patrol⊠or a guest.â
Disheveled. Bloodstained. Bright-eyed. Sitting like he owns the place.
ââŠAh,â Alfred says.
Danny beams. âHi! Iâm Danny.â
Alfred inclines his head. âOf course you are.â
Damian steps forward immediately. âHe is not a guest.â
Danny points at the tray. âThere are snacks. That feels like guest behavior.â
âAnd then un-kidnapped. Growth.â
Alfred sets the tray down.
âMaster Damian,â he says gently, âif the young man is no longer restrained, no longer under duress, and currently being offered teaâŠâ
ââŠhe is, by definition, a guest.â
Danny leans toward Alfred, stage whisper:
âI gathered,â Alfred replies.
Danny accepts it like this is the most normal thing in the world.
ââŠOkay, wait. This is amazing.â
Alfred allows himself the slightest hint of a smile.
Thereâs a warning there.
A this is an active interrogation kind of warning.
Alfred does not even remotely care.
âA hostile situation?â Alfred glances at Danny, who is now happily eating a sandwich. âI would disagree.â
Danny raises a finger, mouth full. âI mean, there was stabbing earlier.â
Alfred hums. âAnd yet you appear quite intact.â
Damian cuts in, frustrated, âRapidly. From lethal injuries.â
Alfredâs gaze sharpensâjust slightly.
He sets the tray down fully now.
Danny nods. âYeah! Super convenient. Highly recommend.â
âYou died,â Damian snaps.
Danny shrugs. âBriefly.â
Alfred steps closer to Danny.
âMay I?â he asks, gesturing to Dannyâs shoulder.
Danny brightens. âOh! Yeah, sure.â
He tugs his collar aside.
Thereâs a faint markâbarely thereâwhere a blade had gone clean through him not long ago.
âŠsomeone checking a child for injuries after a fall.
âDoes it hurt?â Alfred asks.
âThat was not the question.â
ââŠIt did,â he admits. âAt the time.â
Like that answers something important.
âWell then,â he says lightly, âwe shall have to ensure you are not stabbed again this evening.â
Damian makes an incredulous noise.
âThat is not the priorityââ
âIt is a priority, Master Damian.â
âIt is Gotham,â Damian argues. âStabbing is statisticallyââ
ââavoidable with proper supervision.â
Danny perks up. âWait, am I being supervised now?â
âThis young man,â Alfred continues, ignoring him entirely, âhas experienced a traumatic event, displays highly irregular physiology, andââ
âAlso I havenât had dinner.â
Alfred nods. ââand is clearly in need of a proper meal.â
Damian throws his hands up. âWe are not feeding the anomaly!â
âMaster Damian,â he says, âyou brought him here.â
ââŠI extracted him.â
âAnd in doing so,â Alfred replies smoothly, âyou assumed responsibility.â
Danny leans over to Batman.
âIs he always like this?â
Batman, after a long pause:
Danny nods approvingly. âNice.â
Alfred picks up the tray again.
âNow then,â he says, âMaster Dannyââ
Danny lights up instantly.
âYou may call me Alfred.â
ââŠOh, weâre doing first names? Bold. I like it.â
ââyou will come with me.â
Danny stands immediately.
ââŠYou are just going with him.â
Danny shrugs. âHe has snacks.â
Alfred gestures toward the stairs.
âSomething warm, I think. And perhaps less⊠violent company.â
Danny glances back at Batman and Damian.
He follows Alfred without a second thought.
Halfway up the stairs, he turns.
âOn a scale of one to ten,â Danny says, âhow much trouble am I in?â
Batman: âUndetermined.â
And disappears up the stairs with Alfred.
Silence settles over the cave.
ââŠWe are not keeping him.â
Batman watches the empty stairway.
Re-evaluating everything.
ââŠNo,â he says slowly.
âWAIT, YOU HAVE COOKIES TOO??â
Alfred, somewhere behind him:
This is going to get worse.