Work Text:
Bruce tried exactly once to break them out of the containbat cell. Trying again, he knew, would be useless as Barry had used either Jason’s (unlikely) or Dick’s (very likely) code to render the cell locked down so that even he couldn’t escape. He set it in place in case he ever went rogue and his sons had to take him down.
He was just glad that Barry didn’t use Dick’s other code to release the gas to knock them out.
Though… with being made to watch the recording of what their kids had gone through - it may have been preferable to have been unconscious.
Over and over, he and Oliver had to watch as their children were hit by a truck twice the size of the Batmobile. They had to watch as Dick realized what was going to happen, too late to be able to stop it. They had to repeatedly watch as he went from surprised to resolute; turning the Batmobile so that he, in the front seat, took the brunt of the impact.
They watched, barely able to see with the angle they had, as Wally and Roy were both thrown from the car.
Then, after the driver reversed, they watched as Roy was dragged from the rubble he had been in by his hair - only to be struck down by one of the kidnappers with a gun. They had to watch as the kidnapper pointed a gun at a helpless, unconscious Roy. They were made to watch as Wally struggled to make the call that would save them.
Barry had been cruel, and had cut the video off before they got to see Barry arrive and save them all.
Intellectually, they both knew that their sons were safe in the cave, being tended to by people who loved them dearly. In their hearts, however…
Their sons had been hurt, and they weren’t able to go and be by their bedsides. They weren’t able to see for themselves that they were going to be okay.
No one seemed to be in a rush to break the radio silence they were forcibly under.
Bruce wasn’t sure how long it had been for, but eventually he and Oliver ended up sitting on the cot together. Sides pressed against each other, heads bent forward while pressed together. One arm around the others back, while their other hand was holding the hand that was around them. Simply waiting for when someone came to release them.
Waiting to hear if their sons were still alive.
Bruce was steadfastly refusing to look up and watch as Dick turned the car to take the brunt of the crash. He was refusing to acknowledge the look of single-minded determination to save his friends, even at the cost of himself. Refusing to how he did so with no hesitation.
He was refusing to acknowledge just how close he had come to losing his, when Alfred spoke and made them both jump.
“Can you hear me?” Alfred looked irritated, standing outside of the holding cell.
Knowing that Alfred wouldn’t hear them, Bruce and Oliver nodded silently.
“I am glad, for I would hate to have to release you from Mr. Allen’s confinement before I had the time to speak to you both.” he said.
Bruce and Oliver braced themselves for a lecture.
“Those boys have been through a terrible ordeal mere hours ago. If you are to compound that ordeal by redirecting your fear and distress into anger - I will leave you in this cell. Now, if you are prepared to comfort your children and soothe frazzled nerves, I will release you.
“If, however, you merely agree to the latter while intending the former - Mr. Allen is still here.” Alfred gave them both a pointed look.
“We will be calm.” Bruce signed, Oliver nodding along beside him.
“Excellent.” Alfred released the overriding lock on the door, stepping back to allow them through.
Oliver and himself released their hold on the other as they stood, slowly making their way to the door - braced for Alfred to change his mind. He did not, and they both relaxed slightly once they were in the open.
“Master Roy should be waking soon, Master Oliver.” he said softly to Oliver. “He may have one very terrible headache - but the blow he took did not leave him with a concussion. However, both his tibia and his fibula have fractures - and his patella sustained damage.”
“Thank you, Alfie.” Oliver mumbled, hurrying away.
“Master Dick took a severe blow to the head, which gave him a concussion and a broken nose; which Master Wallace set. His hearing is almost back to how it was pre-crash, and I am hopeful that it will fully return in time. His ribs were bruised, two of them cracked, and I am monitoring him for any possible internal damage - though I believe that to be unlikely at this point. He has superficial bruising over most of his body, and though it will be painful none of it will affect him long term.” Alfred told him.
“Thank you, Alfred.” Bruce said sincerely.
“You are welcome, Master Bruce. Master Jason and Master Wallace are currently sitting with him, while Mr. Allen and Ms. Kyle are examining the truck that hit Master Wallace with a beam to stop his powers. Master Wallace is healed, as he sustained the least amount of damage - which was healed once his powers returned to him. Ms. Kyle and Mr. Allen do not believe that the beam will cause him to lose his meta abilities again, additionally.” Alfred explained discreetly as they approached the children.
“I’ll make sure I look into how they made the laser, so that we can combat it and keep all of the Meta’s safe.” Bruce made a mental note.
“I believe Mr. Allen would be grateful for the assistance - after the children have been settled.” Alfred said pointedly.
Bruce simply nodded this time, barely resisting the urge to run forward and sweep Dick into his arms.
If he didn’t think it would put Dick at risk from his concussion, he would have - even if Dick would’ve scowled at him for having done so in front of Wally.
So instead he settled for walking quickly, rounding the corner to see almost all of his children safe and together in one place.
Now, he just needed to assure Dick that he was safe - and then find where the teenaged baby was.
