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“You could have put the lives of many civilians in danger and we both know it.” He wasn’t shouting. He wasn’t scolding. He was talking like he was simply disappointed. He talked like he was talking to Robin. Marvel knew because he once witnessed it. That’s what Solomon told Marvel as Batman was reprimanding him in the debrief after the mission. In front of everyone. He wasn’t the only one to get the good ol’ Batshit(tm) shower but it was painfully obvious for anybody with listening skills that his tone was drastically -for bat standards- different for him. It wasn’t even all that bad until he gave him a speech about responsibility and knowing better if he were to continue as a hero. Now it wasn’t just Solomon whispering -thank you magic for not rupturing his eardrums- into his mind about how he was being treated as a kid, talked to as one, as if he didn’t know anything and didn’t represent the gods themselves. Sure, he actually was a kid but technically not when on the job.
That’s when Solomon dropped one dreaded piece of thought: What if he knows?
Marvel tensed at that but quickly relaxed and let the bat finish his rant on him before moving onto another person. Billy thought about what he could do if that was true. There were immediate whispers of mass murder to make sure the danger to his secret dies with anyone here but Billy more than mastered completely ignoring such things, rather than being shocked at such suggestions like when he first started. Solomon, the beautiful voice of reason that he was most of the time, just said to confront him and make a plan depending on his responses. That’s what he decided on doing.
After the meeting when the last League member left, leaving him and Batman alone as the actual adult always left last, he stood and walked up to the Knight of the Dark. He stopped by his chair and looked down at the still sitting co-worker of his, with crossed arms and an unimpressed look. Batman looked up at him and they both held eye contact for a minute.
“What was that?” Marvel knew Batman wouldn’t be intimidated or at least show any signs of it. The pause was more for him to show he was about to have a very serious conversation.
“You will have to be more specific, Captain.” Bat answered flatly.
“I know we both are aware of the tone you used with me.” He said things as Solomon supplied. Direct, accusatory but nothing that would directly call out his identity.
The bat sighs. “I would rather be kinder to people like you, William.”
There it was. The bat knew. The whispers weren’t whispers anymore, as shouting began to tie the loose ends and then make a half-hearted attempt to explain the other man’s sudden departure to The Underworld. Many questions fought in his head to be asked first as he gritted his teeth.
“Don’t think you’re being targeted. I know everyone’s civilian identity.” Batman supplied as if that made things better. It didn't. “But I did make sure nobody knows about you.”
Billy leaned down, almost being all in Batman’s face. “Don’t ever use that tone with me. Talk to me like you would with any other league member.” He said in an almost threatening whisper.
“I will talk to you in a way I believe would best suit the situation.” The answer was confident and strict in its delivery. “From your previous actions I know you are a trusted Hero but I will not ignore the issue of your age and I will act accordingly. You have yet to experience a lot and need guidance in the meanwhile.”
That made Billy mad and he very rarely got mad. He wasn’t mad when his parents died. He wasn’t mad when his uncle abused him before abandoning him. He wasn’t mad when he was being thrown from a foster home to a foster home. He wasn’t mad whenever something bad happened to him on the streets as Billy Batson.
He was mad now. He was mad at how Batman was trying to d ad him as if many other men didn’t try. Like he had any sort of authority, as if the other ones had. Like he wasn’t trying to replace the only true hero in his heart. Like they didn’t always try to do that.
Billy would’ve grabbed Batman by the front of his suit if not for a whisper that made his mind stagger. Make him so called “authority”. If he wants you to be his problem then make yourself his full-time problem. Marvel focused his eyes back to the bat and his unreadable face. Almost unreadable as Solomon full force said the small quivers of the corners of Bat’s face were those of smugness.
A’ight, fucking bet.
Marvel straightened out as he kept eye contact with Batman before turning around and leaving the meeting room. He was about to have quite a few magic lessons with a certain favourite wizard or his.