The tale tell signs of the Batmobile pulling into the Cave reverberated for nearl a minute before it even pulled into the garage. Once parked, the driver side door opened and NightBat (Nightwing as Batman) got out before closing the door.
"B!" Red Robin waved, "Welcome back! How'd it go?"
Not even surprised that Robin had gotten tired of babysitting the Leaguers, NightBat walked to join the group. "As usual. Batwoman could've handled herself."
Everyone on comms ignored the woman's indignant call from where she and Selina had joined Barbra and Jason in the Clocktower.
"Bats!" Green Lantern called, "You left us with Robin, right?"
"Mhmm."
"This isn't Robin! He says he's been here the whole time, but he hasn't because he's not Robin!"
NightBat was trying very hard to keep his amusement to himself. It didn't help that he had people laughing in his ear. He could tell RR and Spoiler were having the same issue. "Red Robin."
Green Lantern threw his hands in the air. "I give up!"
"Seriously, man," Spoiler said, concern lacing her tone, "If you're too paranoid or you aren't feeling too well, we can cut this short."
Wonder Woman glared at the man. "No, thank you, we are fine. You were showing us the med bay?"
"Right this way!" Red Robin guided them to the large room that wouldn't look out of place in a hospital. It was closer to looking like a mix between an ER, a Post OP, a Pre OP, and a waiting room. Somehow, it worked. Somehow, it was better than the one on the Watchtower.
Martian Manhunter took the lead in this room. "This is better equipped than the Watchtower's own medbay," he turned to NightBat, "Why is that?"
"Oh, oh!" Spoiler jumped in place, "I can answer that!" When everyone's attention was on her, she said, "It's because we're all human."
"Excuse me?" Superman quirked an eyebrow.
"Eloquently put, Spoiler," Robin smacked her arm, "Show a bit of decorum, will you? Honestly."
"Again?!" Green Lantern shreaked. He was ignored.
"It's true," she shrugged, "Anyway, I gotta bounce." She turned to jog out of the room, "It was nice meeting you all!" she shouted just as the door closed behind her. After a minute, the sound of her bike revving and fading told them all she had left.
The tour of the large med bay soon ended and Robin led the group back up to the smaller med bay. It was outfitted as a small clinic and not an ER, a few chairs being the only hint at a seating area. It was, like the larger one, also completely enclosed in bullet resistant glass.
Taking seats at the meeting table, none of the visiting Justice Leaguers noticed Signal taking his suit and leaving to finish Batwoman's and Catwoman's patrol, nor did they notice Cass sneaking Spoiler's suit back into its case before she took the stairs up to the Manor. Tim had also managed to put his suit back where it belonged before going back to the Manor with Cass.
Flash was the only one not sitting, having too much anxious energy to be able to sit still. So, he wandered around the upper area, careful not to touch anything. He was, however, looking very closely at everything. Something just felt...off. "Wait a minute," he stopped the small talk at the table, "Where did those books come from?"
"What are you talking about?" Green Arrow asked.
"The books, on the table! They weren't there when we got here!"
Robin made his judgement known from behind his mask. "There have always been books on this table, Flash."
"No, there haven't!"
"I think you should sit down," Superman stood to usher his fellow hero over to the chairs, "You're obviously anxious about something-"
Flash didn't let himself be touched, focusing on every little detail now. "And, the suits!" he ran down to the displays, "Two of the suits that were missing earlier are here now! And a different one is missing!"
Green Lantern and Aquaman jumped over the railing to join the Flash. "He's right," the Atlantian announced.
"What's going on here, Bats?" Green Arrow asked as he, too, jumped the railing.
Robin muttered, "We have stairs," under his breath as he followed the adults in jumping over the railing to the lower level.
"I have so many questions." Green Lantern added on.
Wonder Woman stood at the front of the group, "Why did you change your mind to invite us here?"
NightBat raised an eyebrow under the cowl. "I didn't. The others who operate in Gotham did. I just happen to be in charge."
"And how many people, exactly, operate in Gotham?" Superman asked.
Robin was the one to give a non-answer. "How many do you think?"
"This isn't funny, Bats," Cyborg glared. "What's going on."
NightBat said nothing. Instead, he turn away from the group with a swish of his cape and headed to the locker rooms next to the training area.
Now the only Gotham vigilante there, Robin was the focus of the JL's attention. Wonder Woman knelt in front of him to talk. "Will you tell us what's going on?"
Robin scoffed, crossed his arms, and tilted his head up to look down his nose at her. "Do not be so patronising. We invited you here to prove that we do, in fact, trust you all, and you have accused us of trying to trick you?" He expertly hid his satisfaction at the guilt that took over the adults' faces. "Perhaps we should not have let you come here." He turn with just as much dramatics as both Batman and Nightwing. "Come, I'll-"
"What're you all still doing here?" Batman glared as he came out from the locker rooms, several things in hand.
"I was just showing them to the Zeta Tubes." Robin answered.
"Hn." Batman grunted, walking back to the upper level first. The visiting heroes followed him sullenly. Robin took up the rear. Nightwing chose that moment to ride back into the Cave.
"Where you all going?" He called from the garage as he parked his bike.
"Robin was just showing them out," Batman didn't raise his voice above what it normally was, even as he walked away from everyone and into the less echo-y chamber of the lab.
Nightwing pouted. "Boo," He was quick to join them on the upper level. "Why don't you pack it in for the night, Baby Bat? I'll take these guys home." His wink to the adultier adults was not hidden by his mask. How does he do that?
Robin nodded. "Very well." He promptly turned and left for the locker rooms.
"C'mon," Nightwing ushered, "B's run outta patience. I'm glad he lasted this long, though! It took forever to get him to let me and Robin show you around! And, when Spoiler heard we had company, she just had to come say 'hi'. Though, I'm sad you couldn't meet Agent A or O or Signal."
"Who?" Superman asked.
Nightwing laughed, the sound echoing in the Zeta Room. "Agent A's the one who makes sure we're all still alive at the end of the day. O is our eye in the sky, our ear to the ground, our guy in the chair. She knows everything. Nothing happens in Gotham without her knowing. And Signal is our newest addition. He's the only meta allowed to operate in the city, proven by the bat on his costume. He's our daytime hero, though, so he's out on patrol right now. A shame you couldn't meet him."
"And Batwoman?" Wonder Woman mentioned as she stepped up to the Zeta Tubes.
"Who?" Nightwing joked. The others didn't find it amusing. "Tough crowd," he mumbled. "Batwoman doesn't normally work with us. She's B's cousin. She's usually with the Birds of Prey, but she decided to come help us out for a bit."
"Birds of Prey?" Flash wondered.
"A story for another time, I'm afraid," Nightwing sighed, "The Zeta's are all set for the Watchtower. It was nice having you guys here, even though I had to leave so soon after you get here."
Cyborg patted his shoulder. "It's alright, shit happens. Is everyone at the bank alright?"
Nightwing nodded, "Yeah, no one got hurt."
"That's good."
With the final word said, the eight visiting heroes left Gotham. Nightwing was careful as he left, resetting the traps and security measures.
"And that's a wrap!" Jason called over comms.
Barbra took over just long enough to say, "Movie night at Wayne Manor!" before Selina cut everyone's comms.
Part 6 Part 8
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