Chapter Text
Barry glared through the one way glass into the brand new interrogation room, something that had recently been installed courtesy of Batman getting Bruce Wayne to invest in the Justice League. Barry had no clue how but he wasn’t planning on questioning it. Most people in Gotham whispered rumors of the Wayne head funding/working with/fucking the mysterious Bat demon. Barry didn’t believe in rumors but with such clear funding it was hard to deny the connection. Everyone had been excited, thinking this meant Batman would join the league, but the cryptid had said he was still thinking about it but willing to work alongside them for now. They had even gotten a phone number from him, hilarious.
The suspect in the room sat back in his chair lazily, smirking despite the thick metal cuffs. His lip was split and chin smeared in blood from where he had fought earlier, but once he had realised he was being arrested by heroes he had given himself up easily. Too easily. Barry's entire body was buzzing with suspicious energy as he watched the man's relaxed stance, as if he wasn't sat in an interrogation room with the lasso of truth wrapped around one hand and being stared down by Wonder Woman.
“Let's try this again shall we, why were you at the docks when we apprehended you?” Diana held the other end of her lasso tightly, knuckles white as she held herself back from further action against their suspect. Barry could sympathise, she had come from an island where they were taught the art of war, not interrogation.
“Cuz I was supposed to be.” The man shrugged his shoulders lazily, grinning up at the window as if he knew someone else was there. The lasso lay dormant in both their hands. Truth.
“And why were you supposed to be there?” Diana was tapping a finger against the table impatiently, eyes narrowing as she gave a glare that the man ignored like he wasn’t being borderline threatened by a demigod.
“Because I was told to be there.” The man shrugged again and somehow smirked wider, clearly enjoying toying with the hero’s patience. Barry was about 2 seconds from going in there and just hitting the guy when the door opened and closed behind him. But no footsteps were heard. Turning slightly Barry couldn’t help the slight jolt when he realised Batman was standing right there behind him all of a sudden, the white lenses were creased slightly in what looked like a scowl. Had he updated his cowl to be more expressive?
“Her interrogation skills could use some work.” Barry hummed an agreement and stared back at the two in the little room. The man was grinning, eyes shining with mirth at his smart use of wordplay. Diana’s free hand had gripped the table so hard there was a slight dent in the metal. “I’m going in.”
Before Barry could say anything Batman swept out the room and reappeared in the interrogation room. Both people in there were startled at his sudden appearance but Diana quickly managed to pull back a smile. Batman leant down and whispered something to her. The man seemed slightly nervous but managed to hold his facade of calm control well, until Batman sat himself in his lap. Three pairs of eyes widened and stared at the dark knight who sat in the man’s lap like it was the most comfortable place in the world. Then it got scarier.
Batman smiled sweetly and wound one of his arms around the man’s neck, fingertips gently caressing the skin between his neck and shoulder. The other was placed on the man’s chest. He then leant in and started to whisper something in his ear. Barry and Diana watched as the man’s careful confusion shattered into sudden dread, before falling into a pale but blank expression. The entire time Batman kept up his ministrations, hand gliding up and down his neck, only stopping briefly around halfway up before continuing. Finally the vigilante stood up and then moved behind the man, placing both gauntleted hands on his shoulders.
“You are going to tell us everything you know.”
“Ok….” The man’s eyes were glazed over, hands white knuckling his own restraints as he rattled off information so fast Barry felt his head spin. The entire time Batman loomed behind the man like a shadow, tapping his neck gently if he seemed to be slowing down or faltering, only once the man shook his head and practically cried that he knew nothing more did Batman step away. Like a puppet without strings the man sagged in his seat and fell forward onto the table.
“Damn, that’s vampire seduction if I've ever seen it.” Barry shot a foot in the air as Hal’s voice materialised from his left. The green lantern was hovering in place, bag of popcorn in hand as he watched Diana. The demigod was trying to untie the rope from the now completely cooperative man’s wrist as he trembled slightly.
“I don’t know, didn’t really look like seduction, more mental domination.” Hal shrugged, taking a handful of popcorn before holding it out for Barry. Barry took a handful himself just as Diana walked into the room. She placed the recording device down and turned to the side.
“Mental manipulation is not condoned in Man’s world for this kind of thing last I checked.” Barry and Hal glanced at each other in confusion before they both flinched as Batman seemed to magically appear where Diana had been glaring.
“I did not manipulate him.” Diana frowned further before she held out her lasso. Batman seemed to sigh slightly but held out his arm. He rolled down his glove slightly, revealing far too pale skin, and allowed her to drape it across him. “I solemnly swear I did not mentally manipulate him…” He glanced over at the two men. “Nor did I use any seduction ability on him. You would know if I did, it is not subtle.” Hal gulped audibly and hovered away from the bat slightly. The lasso did nothing, no glow or movement, all of that was somehow the truth.
“You couldn’t seduce me if you wanted to, you’re too creepy and broody and frowny.” Batman seemed to raise a brow (He’d definitely made this new mask more expressive) before he gently slipped the golden rope off his wrist. Then in what seemed like a second, his entire demeanor changed. Squared shoulders seemed to slouch into something softer, his rigid stance becoming fluid like water. Batman stalked towards Hal, hips swaying slightly as every step he took made the audible sound of clicking high heels, despite the man’s usually silence.
“Lantern~.” Batman practically purred in that baritone of his, but instead of gargled glass it sounded like honey, deep and rich. Barry watched the way Hal stiffened as Batman came to a stop mere inches from him. His right hand came to rest on Hal’s shoulder whilst his left reached out and ran through Hal’s hair, the sharp nails making the man shiver slightly. His tan skin was already sporting a bright red tint that only darkened as Batman seemed to grip his hair and pull his head back slightly.
“I don’t need a seduction ability to get you all hot and bothered Hal.” Batman whispered into the lantern’s ear, making him shudder. Hal’s hands clenched and unclenched where they hung loosely by his sides. Then like a switch, Batman was back. He stepped away and he was all sharp edges and no nonsense once more. “I’ll work out a training regime to help you avoid seduction in the future. All of you.” He turned and glanced between Barry and Diana as he said that last part. Probably noting Diana’s slightly flushed expression and Barry’s sudden need to be sitting and slightly hunched over. With not even a final word, he left, Disappearing from the room as silent as he always did. A few minutes later when everyone had been able to take a few calming breaths Hal let out a high pitched screech.
“How does Batman know my name?!”
Bruce walked into mount justice and frowned, there was nobody around. He had only come here to check the league’s security and already he was disappointed. Had he not given them enough funding? Maybe a visit as Bruce Wayne was warranted to make sure he could double check where his money was going. He didn’t want to join the league just yet, and even if he did there was no guarantee they would let him handle their accounting.
Checking his wrist computer he soon found that Flash and Wonder woman were in the new interrogation room that had been installed. He may as well use this chance to watch how they handled information gathering. He also noted Green lantern was in the cafeteria but that didn’t seem important and quickly dismissed the information. Walking into the onlooking room he noticed Diana’s irritation first. Jaw tensed as she tried to get the man to answer her questions. It was kind of cute actually, compared to Gotham criminals this looked easy. Bruce then eyed the gold rope warily. The lasso of truth. He didn’t know much about the mystical object besides when holding it you could only speak the truth.
“Her interrogation skills could use some work.” He was mostly muttering to himself, a habit he’d picked up thanks to Dick’s want to know everything Bruce figured out. It saved him hours of re-explaining his thought process. Barry gave a half assed humm of acknowledgement as his hand twitched before curling into a fist. Not good, Bruce would have to intervene before this became physical and the government labeled the Justice league as violent. “I’m going in.”
Not bothering to check if Barry had heard him, Bruce exited the room before walking into the interrogation room. Despite the bright white walls and extreme lights it took both people a few seconds to notice him.
“I have a way to get information, just sit back and keep an eye on the lasso for any lies.” Diana gave him a nod and Bruce made his way round to the suspect. He couldn’t turn them around as they were cuffed to the desk so he did the next best thing to be able to watch his facial expressions, he sat in his lap. Diana made a choked off noise of surprise but Bruce ignored her. He placed a hand on the man’s chest, feeling his heart jump, he didn’t trust the rope so this would be the next best way to check for lies. His other hand went to the suspect’s neck, the sharp points of his gloves gently scratching along his jugular vein.
“Did you know, with a gentle press of my fingers I could have you bleeding out and dead before anyone else could even realise?” Bruce gave the man a sweet smile, a gala smile, all teeth and no sincerity. “It would only take you a minute to experience heavy blood loss symptoms, only one more for you to be considered in critical condition. I don’t know about you but I think I can hold them off for a minute. But honestly, would they care enough to help you, you haven't bothered to help them? So why not be helpful alright?” Bruce halted the hand sliding up the man’s neck to gently press the pointed end into the tender flesh, feeling the skin stretch but not split before he slowly stood up and none too gently placed his hands on his shoulders.
“You are going to tell us everything you know.”
“Ok…” The man shuddered as he started to rattle off locations, dates, names and objects. Bruce couldn’t help the slight victory smirk at how easy this had been, he hadn’t even needed to act on his threats, criminals outside of Gotham were so sheltered. The man’s words started to fade so Bruce gently tapped his neck, letting him feel the sharp metal claw, feeling satisfied as he started back up with more information. After a few times the man sobbed that he knew nothing more. When the rope confirmed it as truth Bruce let go and took a step back, watching the man press his forehead into the cold metal to probably cry, might want to check if he’d pissed himself… Not Bruce’s problem. He quickly exited and returned to the observation room only to catch Hal and Barry talking.
Damn, that’s vampire seduction if I've ever seen it.” Barry jumped, startled by Hal who had seemingly been there for a while now. Bruce felt himself frown as he slinked further into the room. A seduction ability? really? He knew the all leather looking suit made people have certain… assumptions… but he rarely used seduction to get what he wanted as Batman. That was saved for when the leather was replaced for overpriced fabrics in rooms where the rich brushed elbows and flaunted their brand new one of a kind jewellery. Also, Vampire? He thought they had given that up after their first proper meeting last week when he had arrived, at midday, in one of the sunniest cities this side of the country. Well if anything it helped further separate Bruce Wayne and Batman, maybe he could lean into this a bit more? Plus it would give him and his ward something to bond over. Bullying the justice league seemed healthy so long as they learnt from the adult heroes' mistakes.
“I don’t know, didn’t really look like seduction, more mental domination.” Bruce felt himself nodding along with Barry. Yes exactly, in what world was threatening someone seduction? (Well… Let’s not go down that route.) He was glad someone in this group of heroes had a few brain cells. Just then Diana walked in, she clearly noticed him standing in the corner and placed the recording device down before turning to frown at him.
“Mental manipulation is not condoned in Man’s world for this kind of thing last I checked.” Bruce stepped slightly into the light, both men seemed to flinch at his appearance. Bruce made a mental note to add observation training to the list of things he had to suggest to Superman the apparent leader. He tilted his head slightly at Diana. Would you consider threatening someone manipulation? No this was regular interrogation practice in Gotham.
“I did not manipulate him.” Diana frowned deeper and held the lasso out towards him. Not a demand but a request, it made Bruce sigh all the same. This would go a lot easier if they just trusted him. Rolling his left glove down just enough to reveal skin he let her simply place the rope on his skin. He heard someone gasp when they watched this, what was this Victorian england, it’s a goddamn wrist. He tried to say he didn’t manipulate the man but he found himself unable to speak. Huh, threatening someone’s life was a form of manipulation, who knew.
“I solemnly swear I did not mentally manipulate him.” This time his voice came out clear, guess it was considered physical manipulation. Emotional? whatever. He then remembered what Hal had said earlier and glanced towards where the two men were snacking on popcorn like this was some sort of strange comedy. “Nor did I use any seduction ability on him. You would know if I did, it is not subtle.” He did not mean to add that last part. Guess he could add ‘makes you slip easier’ to his file on the lasso. The green lantern seemed unnerved and hovered so he was half hidden behind Barry.
“You couldn’t seduce me if you wanted to, you’re too creepy and broody and frowny.” Oh, that sounded like a challenge, and Bruce hated being challenged. (Dick had taken great pleasure in challenging Bruce to silly little contests which were fine, but this? This was a grown man and Bruce would CRUSH him.) He threw Hal a questioning look as he gently handed the rope back to Diana. Taking a breath he allowed the mask to wash over him. Not quite playboy Bruce Wayne but something similar. The modulator kept his voice deep as he took a few catwalk-esque steps towards the now slightly panicked looking hero.
“Lantern~” He watched Barry jolt before quickly shimmying out of the way. Hal seemed to freeze in place. Bruce would think he was a statue if not for the very faint movement of his chest as he breathed, hands twitching before the empty popcorn bucket fell to the floor. Even that seemed to stop when Bruce stopped mere inches from Hal’s face. He gently placed his right hand on Hal’s bicep, squeezing slightly and hearing the man gulp audiably. Bruce’s other hand dragged through the lantern’s hair, sharp claws drawing a shudder as his head was pulled back slowly, exposing the long line of his neck. It was almost sad how easily Hal allowed himself to be moved. Putty in Bruce’s grasp.
“I don’t need a seduction ability to get you all hot and bothered Hal.” He whispered in the man’s ear, satisfied at the dark red that covered his face and dipped down his neck, disappearing beneath his flight suit like costume. He waited a beat longer to see what Hal would do. When all that happened was his jaw flapping like a fish Bruce let go, stepping away so the man could breathe and re-centre himself. He was disappoint how the other heroes in the room also seemed a little flushed just from being on the sideline of this little show. From what he could see Barry would have passed out if Bruce had targeted him instead.
“I’ll work out a training regime to help you avoid seduction in the future. All of you.” Bruce gave a pointed look at the other two before turning and leaving, his cape snapping behind him with a loud crack at his sudden movement. As he was halfway to the door, wrist computer pulled up with a list of things to do, Bruce heard Hal screech from where he had left him. He noted down that Hal would need extra lessons if it took him a whole minute to recover from such a basic honey pot act.