Dick has never interrogated someone as Nightwing in the parlor over Alfred's tea, but there's a first time for everything. Plus, he has given the impression that Bruce is his step-dad so...in costume in the Manor it is.
Thing is, Danny's not relaxing like Dick expected. Sure, he's rambling and providing small details as if he is oversharing, but Danny's not drunk his tea, there's a tenseness to his shoulders, and, as the conversation continues, Dick is pretty sure Danny is providing small details to hide the big ones.
"So how do you know Masters?"
"Oh, he was my parents' lab partner back in college. They went to Wisco back in the 80s."
"And you said he had mind control powers?"
"Oh yeah, because of their lab project at school. Vlad was pretty pissed about it, actually. They didn't speak for nearly twenty years as a result. And hey, if my parents' built something that rearranged my genes, I'd be pissed too."
Dick waits - Danny did absolutely use a meta power to sneak into the Manor. Was that inherited?
"But at a class reunion they reconnected. Dad had really missed his best friend, you know?"
"And Masters didn't use his mind control powers on your parents?"
"Are you kidding? He loves my mom too much for that. He'd never hurt her. Even named his cat after her."
Nothing about Masters hurting other members of the family. Nothing about what he and Bruce both suspect: that Masters used those powers on Danny, an assumed trans teen, who is looking for shelter for his new infant.
"You mentioned Master's power can be stopped?"
"Yeah, Batman just needs anti-ghost tech. But good luck getting that. There's only one manufacturer in the world right now who makes it, and well, that's Vlad's company."
Danny looks out the window. The rain is still heavy, but dawn is starting to break.
"Look, Vlad can find me. I don't think he knows that I took the newest one," Dick has to hold back his alarm at that statement, "so he should be safe as soon as I'm gone. Vlad's the only one selling anti-ghost tech, but it looks like Bruce's pocket book is bigger based on the sheer amount of stuff in here, so, take this."
Danny digs into his pocket and places a flash drive on the table. "Plans for anti-ghost weapons, as well as where to find supplies. I recommend starting with a ghost shield and -"
"Look, it's late. Early. Why don't you sleep, and we can go through those plans tomorrow."
"What part of Vlad can find me don't you understand? Doesn't matter I'm several states away. I've got like, an hour maybe, and I need to make sure he doesn't come here." Danny stands.
Dick stands with him. "Danny, please. Let us help. Or tell me what he's done. If we have evidence, of, of him hurting you, we can -"
Danny laughs. "Look, it's funny you think that'll work. But it's not like Vlad's hurt me, just completely broke his promise and violated my trust like, five times over."
Dick winces. They need to get Danny away from this guy.
"Vlad's outside the law, I'm outside the law. Nothing will stick. Just, just take care of the baby, okay? I think it'll piss him off, having a better, richer dad." Danny's grin is feral, fangs on display and Dick has so, so many questions.
Danny's head snaps to the doorway, eyes alarmed, sliding into a ready stance. He got in without alerting anyone, could Masters do the same?
Dick hears the shuffle and recognizes Bruce and Alfred's footsteps. They step into the room, the baby fussing. He's swaddled in at least three blankets.
"What are you doing?" Danny snaps, taking his son.
He might have no idea how to change a dipper, but Danny is gentle with the infant. He starts removing the wrapping. "He'll overheat in all these layers."
"He's cold," Alfred states. "I suspect hypothermia from the rainy night."
"What? No. This is normal for us." And indeed, as Danny peels off another blanket the kid settles down. He snuggles into Danny's chest, and a small purr fills the parlor, from the baby or Danny, it's hard to tell. Maybe both.
Dick locks eyes with Bruce over Danny's shoulder. He might have a flash drive full of blueprints, but he hasn't gotten much extra info from Danny that's be useful to take down Master. He's certainly more pissed, if this baby is the 'newest'. How long has Danny been under Master's thumb?
"Danny, please, stay the night," Dick asks. "You gave me information on anti-ghost tech." And that's an unanswered question - is Masters a ghost? Controls ghosts? "But we need information about the baby too. Standard care won't work, I'm guessing."
Danny looks between them. There's a slight edge of panicking creeping in. "I, I need him to be safe. I can't, the others, I want him to live."
Miscarriages? Did Masters dispose of them?
Bruce whispers in Dick's ear. "He's Master's charge, after Danny's parents died six months ago."
Dick has more questions now. How long has the abuse been going? Did Danny's parents know?
Danny is starting to spiral, half talking to them, half talking aloud. "I thought you'd be able to help him, that he can live a normal life. But that means you need to take care of him, and if you can't...Who else? Who else is rich enough to piss Vlad off? Who else can I give him too? This can be the false trail, I've been here long enough, but there's gotta be someone on the other coast. Or farther? How quick can I cross the ocean?"
It's all in one breath. Danny isn't breathing, but that doesn't seem to be a problem for him.
Step one: take care of the infant. Once that's taken care of, Danny will settle.
Dick steps up and takes the baby from Danny's arms. "We can absolutely take care of him. We just need your help. Go do what you need to, lay your false trail, but be back here tomorrow morning."
Danny looks at him - big blue eyes, messy black hair, pale exhausted face. Bruce is 100% going to try to care care of him too.
"Okay," Danny says. "Okay, I'll be back tomorrow morning."
And then he disappears into thin air as a cool breeze blows through the parlor.
The baby in Dick's arms whines, and Dick pulls him close.
"I'll prepare a bottle. And more tea," Alfred says.
Dick turns to Bruce. "We have twenty-four hours to come up with a plan to convince Danny we can protect him and the kid."
"Plenty of time," Bruce says.
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