[Third Person's PoV]
"You guys, I'm not being abused," Danny said for the millionth time as he made his way to the lunchroom.
Tucker and Sam stood protectively around him.
"We get it, Danny. You're scared, maybe too scared to admit it. After all, Bruce Wayne is a billionaire. He probably thinks he can get away with it just because he has a lot of money," Sam said, her voice soft and reassuring.
"Ah, can't he?" Tucker asked warily. "Like you said, he's a billionaire. He could probably buy his way out of this."
"He might be able to escape the judicial system, but he can't escape public outrage," Sam said fiercely.
"No! You're not taking this to the public!" Danny said hurriedly.
"Oh... you don't want the public to know. Alright, we'll keep it anonymous," Sam said, her expression serious. "But Danny, the first step to escaping abuse is to speak up."
"You guys are driving me crazy!" Danny exclaimed, looking up at the ceiling, though a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
He wanted to be mad at them for being so persistent, for jumping to conclusions. But he couldn't. They were worried about him, looking out for him. There was no way he could get mad at them for that. In fact, he was a little touched, though he'd never admit it.
'I have to put an end to this before it gets Bruce in trouble,' Danny thought, searching for a solution. That's when he saw Dick sitting with a tray of food, talking to a red-haired girl.
"Dicky! Oh my God, I'm so glad to see you!" Danny exclaimed, running over to him, leaving Sam and Tucker behind. It was like seeing a lifeline.
Dick looked at Danny with utter disgust. "Don't you ever... call me that again."
The girl next to Dick gave Danny a weird look and chuckled. "Dicky~," she repeated.
Dick already looked irritated. "What do you want, Danny?"
"Uh... can we talk in private?" Danny asked, glancing apologetically at the girl.
She looked between them and shrugged. "Don't mind me. I'll just be on my way then. Here, Dicky~, I'll carry your tray to our table while you have your little chat."
"Don't you start, Barbara," Dick glared but handed the tray to her and thanked her.
'HUH!?!' Danny inwardly exclaimed, struggling to maintain a nonchalant expression. 'As in Barbara Gordon?! As in Batgirl! Sweet~'
"So, what is it?" Dick asked, annoyed.
Danny grabbed Dick and dragged him to the corner where his friends were waiting. "They saw my bruises and think Bruce is abusing me..."
"Pfft," Dick almost laughed out loud but contained himself. "Oh, this is going to be good~," he muttered.
When they arrived, Sam covered her mouth, looking tearful again. "I forgot there are two of you... I'm glad you brought him, Danny."
"What?" They both asked, looking at her weirdly.
"Now we have more proof. It's not just you, is it? You've been with that monster the longest. Just how much have you suffered at his hands?"
Dick glanced at Danny, his eyes simply asking, 'What is wrong with her?'
"Danny and I aren't getting abused. The reason for his bruises is—" Dick began, already concocting a plausible excuse.
"You don't have to cover for him, you know," Sam interjected.
Dick looked at Danny, then at Sam and Tucker, and back at Danny. "You're on your own," he said, turning around and walking away.
"Wha—! Help me out here!" Danny pleaded.
"This is too much fun to intervene in. Enjoy yourself," Dick said, waving him off.
"Dick," Danny called out.
"Hm?" Dick looked back at Danny in confusion.
"I wasn't calling your name," Danny scoffed with a pout.
"That's why I'm going to ignore you now," Dick said with a scoff of his own, continuing to walk away.
Tucker watched the interaction with a raised eyebrow, his suspicions of abuse decreasing slightly. Suddenly, an idea struck him. "I got it!"
Both Danny and Sam looked at Tucker as he began to explain, "We'll come over and see for ourselves."
"Good idea."
"Terrible idea," both Sam and Danny said simultaneously. Sam and Tucker gave Danny a weird look at his objection.
Danny's shoulders slumped. "You guys aren't going to drop this, are you?"
They both shook their heads in unison. Danny tilted his head side to side, considering his options, and sighed. 'If I tell them they can't come, it would only make them more worried and suspicious, not to mention they might do something drastic.'
"Fine… but I need to ask permission first," Danny said awkwardly.
"No, that would defeat the purpose. He would just prepare a nice-guy routine like he shows the public. We need to take him by surprise in the comfort of his own home," Sam nodded sagely.
"There are so many flaws in what you just said, I don't even know where to begin," Danny said, shaking his head. "Anyways, I'm starving. I don't want to waste our lunch period."
Sam and Tucker agreed. As Sam walked ahead, Danny leaned toward Tucker and asked, "You just want to see what a billionaire's house looks like, don't you?"
"Was I that obvious?" Tucker asked, a bit embarrassed, rubbing the back of his head with a goofy smile.
Danny looked at him in amusement.
Tucker's smile slowly dropped as he looked toward Danny and asked in a low voice, "Danny, be honest with me… Are you really getting abused?" His tone was serious, meant only for Danny to hear.
Danny closed his eyes and shook his head.
"You're not lying to us or anything, right?"
Danny smiled and shook his head again.
"Alright… I'll believe you if you're so adamant about it. Although, Sam is going to be a lot harder to convince," Tucker said, exasperated.
"Don't I know it," Danny replied in an equally low tone.
...
After school, Danny stood outside the front gates with Sam and Tucker. Sam held Danny protectively, glaring at Alfred.
Alfred, looking confused, turned to Danny for an explanation. Danny mouthed the words, 'She thinks Bruce is abusing me.'
A look of comprehension dawned on Alfred, and he straightened up. "Young Master Daniel, I take it these are the friends you've told us about?"
"Yup," Danny confirmed and introduced them to each other.
"Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, I take it you all will be joining us for lunch?" Alfred asked expertly, in the manner of a distinguished butler.
"Yes, but don't tell 'Master~,'" Sam said, dragging out the word with a mischievous grin.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. It would be a failure of my duties as a butler," Alfred replied, his tone polite but firm. "However, you have nothing to worry about, as Master Bruce is currently away on a… business trip," he added slowly.
'League business, got it,' Danny thought, nodding in understanding.
"Oh…" Sam muttered. "That definitely puts a wrench in our plan."
"You are all still welcome to come. I'm sure young Master Daniel would enjoy your company," Alfred said, still inviting them with a warm smile.
Sam and Tucker exchanged glances and nodded.
"I'm in. Thanks for the ride, Mr. Pennyworth!" Tucker said, hopping inside and settling in front of Dick, who was waiting inside.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt… I do need to see your living conditions, after all," Sam said, her tone a mix of concern and determination.
"Thanks, Mom," Danny scoffed as they entered the limo.
Sam blushed slightly. "I'm just worried about you, that's all, alright?"
"I'm not denying that, and I appreciate it, but you can definitely be a bit excessive," Danny said with a smile as they got inside.
"Just precautionary measures, as I like to call them. I'd rather have you annoyed with me and know you're safe and taken care of," Sam said, lifting her head proudly.
"Oh, so you do know you're being annoying—OW!" Danny exclaimed, rubbing his forearm after Sam punched it.
Alfred smiled softly at their interaction, then calmly walked to the driver's seat of the limo, starting the drive back to Wayne Manor.
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