[Third Person's PoV]
"Anyways," Dick interjected, "All Bruce sometimes needs is for someone to stand up to him and prove him wrong. Otherwise, he'll believe he's always right and can never be wrong."
Danny scoffed. "But I mean… c'mon, look who we're talking about here."
"Bruce can definitely be wrong sometimes. Trust me, I've been with him for years. He makes a ton of mistakes—he's just really good at covering them up and fixing them as soon as they happen," Dick said dismissively.
He placed a hand on Danny's shoulder. "Look, what I'm trying to say is that coming back doesn't mean you have to forgive Bruce. You can be mad at him for as long as you want—or until he earns your forgiveness."
Danny muttered as he looked away, "Why do you want me to go back so bad anyway…?"
Dick sighed. "For starters, I don't want you being here alone. The loneliness and the memories are enough to drive anyone crazy." He stood up, dusting off his hands.
As he started walking back, he added, "Not to mention, I'm already so used to your annoying voice in the manor. It'll feel empty if you're not there—it's nice not being the only kid for once."
Standing by the staircase entrance, he turned back. "So, are you coming or not?"
Danny let out a faint smile and stood up. "Alright, alright… my god, you are just so in love with me."
Dick rolled his eyes and kicked behind him, shoving his hands into his pockets. A flash of irritation crossed his face. "Don't make me regret this more than I already do, you idiot."
"Oi! I'm still injured, remember? You're supposed to be looking after me!" Danny said, shaking his arms with a wince which he crossed to defend himself.
"Then stop being so annoying. Next time, I'm pushing you down the stairs when you least expect it," Dick scoffed as he led the way out.
"That's actually attempted murder…"
"Is it if you can't die?"
"Then it's aggravated assault since you're intentionally trying to cause harm."
"Look at you~ seems like you've been studying," Dick responded sarcastically.
---
Back at the Manor…
As Dick and Danny stepped inside, Dick called out, "I got him to return!"
Danny shot him a suspicious look. "The way you say that makes it sound like I was tricked into coming back."
Bruce descended the stairs, his expression firm. "Flying out like that was reckless."
Danny resisted the urge to roll his eyes—though he was pretty sure Bruce noticed. "Yeah, yeah, my bad. Wouldn't want anyone seeing me exiting the Batcave." He waved Bruce off.
Bruce's brow furrowed in confusion. "What? No, because you're still injured. You could have worsened your condition if you'd gotten into a fight as soon as you left. You could've gotten yourself killed."
"Oh…" Danny felt awkward for acting bratty when Bruce was actually worried. But then he remembered he was still mad at him.
"Even if you were looking out for me, that doesn't mean I'll just forgive you."
Bruce tilted his head. "Forgive me for what?"
Danny stared at him in disbelief. "Unbelievable. You are seriously something else," he muttered, shaking his head. "I'm going to bed."
"Wait," Bruce said seriously. "We still have something to discuss."
Danny sighed. "Look, I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but it can wait. It's three in the morning, and I have school in four hours. I need whatever sleep I can get."
Bruce shook his head. "You're not going to school tomorrow. You need rest. Don't worry about it."
"Sweet," Dick said happily.
Bruce barely glanced at him. "You're still going."
"Wha—" Dick gaped at the injustice. "I literally took a rocket to the face! I'm injured too!"
Bruce remained impassive. "You should have dodged. You're used to this. You can handle operating on minimal sleep."
Danny, still annoyed at Bruce, barely managed to suppress his laughter.
Dick turned to him, utterly betrayed. "Your friends were right—he is an abuser!" he whispered harshly before stomping off.
"So, can we talk now?" Bruce asked, raising an eyebrow.
Danny sighed. "It's not like you're giving me much of a choice. I would have preferred to get some sleep, though."
Bruce turned and began walking away, a silent indication for Danny to follow.
"And just so we're clear," Danny added, his tone laced with contempt, "the only reason I came back was because Dick was practically on his hands and knees begging me. It had nothing to do with you or your luxuries."
"I DID NO SUCH THING, YOU BIG LIAR! THE HALLS ECHO, I HEARD YOU!" Dick's voice rang out from somewhere in the manor.
Danny's cheeks flushed slightly, and he wisely decided to stay quiet for the rest of the walk to Bruce's office.
---
As they stepped inside, Danny looked around before asking, "May I ask why here? Do you even use this place?"
Bruce leaned back against his desk, arms crossed. "On occasion. And I wanted this conversation to be private."
A beat of silence passed before Bruce asked, "Would you like some therapy?"
Danny blinked. "I'm sorry, but could you repeat that?"
"I'm asking if you'd like to go to therapy."
"Yeah, that's what I thought you said. I'm going to bed." Danny rolled his eyes and turned toward the door.
Bruce's tone sharpened. "Daniel, I'm being serious. And I need you to be just as serious."
Hearing Bruce use his full name in that tone made Danny pause. He sighed and turned back around. "May I ask why you're asking me this?"
Bruce's expression remained firm. "During our argument earlier, I realized some things about you that I didn't like in the slightest."
Danny scoffed. "Sorry for being so unlikable," he said, dripping with sarcasm.
Bruce's voice took on a warning edge. "Danny."
Danny looked down. "Sorry. I can't help it."
Bruce let out a sigh. "That's one of the things I'm worried about. You use sarcasm and humor as a mask—to hide what you're really feeling, to make people think you're fine. It's not healthy."
Danny shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, well, at least it's better than being all gloomy, hiding in a cave, or beating people up to feel better—"
The words barely left his mouth before regret sank in.
"I… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that," Danny muttered, shame settling in. "No matter how mad I am at you, I shouldn't have said that."
Bruce studied him for a moment before shaking his head. A faint smile ghosted his lips. "You're right. It is better than how I handled my problems. But that doesn't mean you don't need help processing what you're feeling."
His expression darkened slightly. "What really concerned me, though, was how little regard you have for your own safety—for your own life. Because to me, it sounded like you don't value it anymore. Like you think it's something you can just throw away."
Bruce met Danny's eyes, his voice softer but firm. "No kid should ever be thinking like that."
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