[Third Person Pov]
"You look awful. Did you get run over or something?" Robin asked bluntly, his eyes dragging over Danny from head to toe without even trying to hide his judgment. He stood beside Batman as the two of them approached, having come to retrieve Danny from Superman's care.
Danny hovered a few inches off the ground next to Superman, bobbing slightly. His shoulders slumped forward, posture loose and unguarded, eyes bloodshot and rimmed dark with exhaustion. Every inch of him radiated fatigue, the kind that sank deep into the bones.
"I wish," Danny muttered dryly, rubbing at his face. "At least then I'd be put out of my misery."
Batman's gaze flicked from Danny to Superman, sharp and unreadable beneath the cowl. "He looks worse than when I left him with you," he said flatly, his tone carrying quiet accusation. "And that's saying something."
Superman visibly stiffened, then let out a nervous chuckle as he rubbed the back of his neck, his sheepish grin doing little to mask the guilt. "Yeah… we, uh—had a rough week. As you already know."
"Rough?" Robin echoed, circling Danny slightly as he continued his inspection. "Yeah, even I can tell—" he paused, squinting, "—he even had a full outfit change."
Danny glanced down at himself, then leaned back mid-hover with exaggerated confidence. He crossed one leg over the other, hands sliding casually into his pockets as the chain on his pants dangled freely and caught the light.
"I look cool, don't I?" he said with a crooked grin.
Robin snorted. "Stupid is more like it," he teased mercilessly. "You look like you're going through a phase."
Danny's grin immediately fell. He turned away slightly, shoulders drooping as he sulked. "You're just hating," he muttered under his breath.
While Robin continued poking at Danny with relentless commentary, Batman subtly motioned Superman aside. The two stepped away from the bickering pair, stopping a short distance off to the side. Batman's voice dropped to a low, controlled murmur.
"So," he asked evenly, "how is he really? Do you think you've made any progress with him?"
Superman's knowing smile faded into something more sincere. He nodded, slow and confident. "I honestly believe he's doing much better," he said. "But I'm not saying he's completely over it." He exhaled softly. "I know people like to think I can do the impossible—but even I have limits. Danny isn't just going to forget what happened because he spent a week with me."
His gaze drifted back toward Danny, thoughtful. "The scar over his heart runs deep. What happened to him is going to affect him for a long time. It'll take patience—time—for him to really come to terms with it."
Batman remained silent, listening.
"It might have even fundamentally changed him," Superman added after a pause. He watched as Robin and Danny lightly shoved at each other mid-argument, their voices overlapping in familiar chaos. "But deep down, he's still a good, kind kid. His heart's in the right place. Despite everything, his desire to help people hasn't changed one bit."
Superman smiled faintly. "I've got a strong feeling it's only a matter of time before he comes to terms with it. He's stronger than he thinks. Stronger than either of you give him credit for."
Superman's enhanced senses caught it immediately—the subtle, almost imperceptible shift in Batman's breathing.
Batman noticed the stare and bristled. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Superman chuckled, his tone turning playful. "Nothing. I'm just realizing how much you really care about Danny. It's… sweet, in a way." He raised a brow as Batman glowered. "Oh, don't look at me like that. You know I'm right. You should really express it more."
"We're leaving," Batman said curtly, refusing to entertain the topic any further. He turned and strode toward Robin and Danny, whose hands were interlocked pushing back and forth, both snarling like annoyed cats.
Superman only laughed, loud and unrestrained, as he followed behind him.
…
Danny stood at the edge of the rooftop, facing Superman, with Batman and Robin positioned just behind him as the moment of farewell finally settled in. The city of Metropolis stretched endlessly below them, bathed in the nightly glow of the city.
"Well, Danny," Superman said warmly, his voice carrying both pride and sincerity, "it's been an honor and a privilege working—and fighting—alongside you." He smiled down at him with unmistakable affection, the kind reserved for someone who had truly earned his respect.
"Likewise, sir," Danny replied, straightening slightly before extending his hand for a handshake. It seemed like the polite and professional thing to do, even if he knew it was probably unnecessary.
Superman merely laughed, playfully smacking Danny's hand aside before pulling him into a powerful, crushing embrace that lifted him clean off the ground. Danny let out an involuntary grunt as his ribs protested loudly, his already fragile bones threatening mutiny.
"Careful—careful!" Danny wheezed.
"I'm really going to miss having you around," Superman said with an exaggerated sniffle, finally setting him back down. "It was nice having a partner I could truly count on."
Danny chuckled, rubbing his side. "I had fun too," he said honestly. "Thank you for everything—especially the training." He offered a wary but genuine smile.
Superman placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Just know that if you ever get tired of gloomy old Gotham, you can always come back here to Metropolis. You'll always have a home here. I'll welcome you with open arms."
Robin stared at the exchange in disbelief before leaning toward Batman. "Is he seriously trying to secretly poach Danny away from us?"
After a bit more lighthearted back-and-forth, Batman finally turned toward the sleek bat-model aircraft hovering just off the edge of the building. Without another word, he leapt toward the railing, fired a grappling line, and smoothly reeled himself inside the craft.
Danny grabbed Robin by the back of his cape and followed after him, the two of them turning just long enough to wave one last farewell to the Man of Steel.
Once inside, the aircraft roared to life and accelerated into the sky. Superman flew alongside them, guiding the craft out toward the borders of Metropolis, ensuring their safe passage. He eventually slowed, hovering in place above the city as he watched them disappear into the distance, heading back toward Gotham.
Superman lingered there for a moment longer, a soft smile still present on his face. Then, at the faint echo of danger and the sound of his name being called, his expression shifted. With a final glance toward the horizon, he turned and shot off in the opposite direction.
After all, Superman's work was never finished.
…
"You know," Danny said casually, resuming his earlier quarrel with Robin, "you can be jealous if you want." He grinned, clearly enjoying himself. "I did spend an entire week with your favorite superhero, after all."
"Danny," Robin replied flatly, eyeing the control panel, "there's an eject button right in front of me that's looking really tempting. Don't make me test it."
"Hmmm, really?" Danny hummed thoughtfully. "Then I guess I'll just have to get rid of this Superman signature made out specifically to Robin~"
Robin immediately lunged forward and snatched Danny's notepad from his hands. "Shut up—no you didn't!"
He froze when he saw it. "You really did…" Robin muttered, staring at the signature in awe. He quickly tore the page out and neatly tucked it into his utility belt.
As he was about to hand the notepad back, he paused again. "Wait—" His eyes widened. "You seriously got Lois's signature too?"
"Yup!" Danny said proudly. "And not just hers. I got Livewire's, Toymaker's—" He stopped mid-count, eyes widening as realization hit. His hands shot up to his head in disbelief. "I forgot to get Lex's signature! How could I possibly forget his?!"
Batman and Robin both stared at him in silence.
"…What is it with you and signatures?" Robin finally asked. Batman looked just as curious, though he wisely chose not to comment.
"Dude," Danny sighed dramatically, "do you know how much money people would pay for these? Thousands. Maybe even hundreds of thousands."
Robin's expression went completely deadpan—eerily similar to Batman's. "We should've left you behind with Superman."
"Agreed," Batman added without hesitation.
"Wha—" Danny choked, staring at him in pure disbelief. Even Robin looked surprised by Batman's blunt agreement.
Then Robin burst out laughing, nearly doubling over, while Danny slowly mouthed a silent, stunned 'Wow'.
Batman allowed himself the faintest, almost imperceptible smirk as he guided the aircraft steadily through the night sky toward Gotham, marking the true end of Danny's partnership with Superman in Metropolis.
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