DC: I Reported Bruce Wayne… Then He Adopted Me

Whatshouldyoudoifyoudiscoversuspiciousinjuriesonyourclassmatewho’sjustbeenadoptedbyGotham’srichestman?Theodore,anorphan,chosetocontactGotham’sChildProtectionServices.Threedayslater,Theodorewashitwithtwodevastatingpiecesofnews:1.TheChildProtectionAgencyissuedareportconcludingthatGotham’srichestmanwascompletelyinnocent.2.TheorphanageinformedTheodorethathehadjustbeenadoptedbythesameGothambillionaire.Theodore:“…”PupilsshakingQuestion:Howlikelyisitthatthepowerfulfigureyoujustreportedsuddenlyadoptsyououtofrevenge?Askingforafriend,URGENT!!!Meanwhile,BruceWaynethinkshisnewlyadoptedchildisactingalittle…off.HetiedhisbedsheetsintoaropeinthemiddleofthenightandtriedtosneakoutofWayneManor.HelooksterrifiedwhenheseesBrucetreatingthepatrolinjuriesonTim’sbody.Thenoneday,intheJusticeLeague’swatchtower,Gotham’sDarkKnightheardtheboydescribinghispast.“Myformerfosterfatherwasapervertwholikedabusinglittleboys.”“Hehadblackhair,wasaplayboy,sawhisparentsmurderedinfrontofhimasachild,hadaBritishbutlernamedFred,wasamasterofmartialartsandcoldweapons,andbeforeme,hadalreadyadoptedthreeunderageboys,everyoneofthemwithblackhairandblueeyes.”“Iwasluckyenoughnottobetouched,buttheeerie,old-fashionedmanorheowned,thebatsshriekingfromthedarkness,thosesoundsstillhauntmynightmareseverysinglenight.”Witheveryadjective,moreandmoreeyesturnedtowardtheLeague’sconsultant.Superman,inhisredcape,hesitantlyoffered:“Uh,Ithinktheremightbe…somekindofmisunderstanding?Tomyknowledge,Bruceisn’treally—”“Bruce?”Theodore’seyeswentwide.“No,no,mypreviousfosterfather’snamewasStanley.Andhisex-boyfriendwasnamedConstantine.”“…”TheDarkKnightdidn’tsayaword.Butinthatmoment,hefinallyunderstoodwhyhisnewlyadoptedsonhadactedsoutterly,bizarrelywrongwhenhe’dfirstmovedintoWayneManor.—Afterthemeeting,theDarkKnighthadbeenfullyclearedbuthewasn’tpleased.WheneverherecalledthosedaysinWayneManor—Whenhisnewsonwouldbeghimwithtremblinglips,promisingtobeagoodboy,sayinghewouldquietlyacceptanypunishment,pleadingformercywhenBruce“hithimnexttime”.Brucewantedtojustcurlupanddie.Thegodamongmencautiouslyoffered:“…ShouldItakehiminstead?HehasawakenedhishalfKryptonianblood,afterall.”Brucerefusedwithoutamoment’shesitation.“Requestdenied.”NoteventhestrongestKryptonianintheworldcantakethebat’slittlebirdawayfromGotham.EvenifthenewbirdisaKryptonianhimself.