Back when the Justice League's headquarters was at the Secret Sanctuary cave in Happy Harbor, and they did not have Z-tubes technology to get there, they sometimes had to regroup wherever they had a safe location close to the action, in between fights and missions. They once had to go to the Batcave, where most of them had never been before, and Batman led them to sit around a table near the computer. After Superman assessed their state and injuries, they started discussing the rest of the mission. While the Bat was speaking about the following steps in their action plan, the sound of a door opening above them had all the league members turning towards the stairs.
To their astonishment, a young boy in his pajamas was coming down the stairs, sleepily rubbing his eyes under something that was covering them. The kid didn't even look at them, walking directly towards Batman, who had stopped talking.
Before he could complete the sentence, the little kid talked. To Batman.
His voice sounded tired, but his tone messaged a happy "I found you."
"What is that?" Flash managed to ask.
Batman ignored him and turned towards the boy.
They heard no surprise, or anger, in his voice. It actually sounded calm, maybe... soft. It didn't even have the usual rasp. The heroes looked at each other in shock.
The boy placed his elbows on Batman's leg and looked up at him, shaking his head.
"Is there a small boy in pajamas talking to Batman or have I been poisoned?" Aquaman looked around and Flash pointed at him with his open hand to add emphasis to his words.
"And why is he wearing a mask?"
The kid turned then, and without doubting a second, and even if it seemed like he had not payed any of them any attention before, he looked directly at Arthur and said in a slightly offended tone:
"I am not small. I'm ten."
Before they could react he moved his eyes to Barry.
"Mmf. Cave rules. You don't get in unmasked unless absolutely sure there are no strangers."
His tone had changed to a 'this is obvious, man, you should already know' cadence.
All but Superman missed Batman's smirk.
"But... but we are not strangers. We are friends. Right, Bats?" Hal complained.
Batman pressed his lips together, amused, not answering, and then turned again towards the mystery child.
"Nightmare, chum?" He asked, putting his hand on the boy's hair.
The kid shaked his head again, but less convincingly.
There was a silent moment between them, their eyes meeting. They were clearly reading each other, and it was a wonder to watch.
"You were not in your room." The boy finally said.
Batman smiled. He actually smiled. For real.
"League mission. Will take some more time."
"Mmh." The boy nodded and then calmly climbed him and sat on his lap. Batman secured his legs with his left arm.
"Can you focus on the sounds you need?"
The kid rested his head on Batman's chest, hugging him with his skinny arms.
"Your heartbeat. My breathing. Sound of your voice." He murmured.
Superman and J'onn J'onzz just melted at that. Wonder Woman looked at Green Lantern, amazed by what they were seeing.
The boy nodded and his little hand caressed the man's jaw for a second. Batman moved his arm, raising his cape until it covered the child completely, keeping his arms around him. Then they breathed together a few times, and after that no sound at all could be heard under the cape.
Batman looked at the rest of league then. In a low and serene tone as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened, he restarted his discourse about the details of the plan.
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