Shockwaves Through the Team
The Watchtower briefing room was packed.
Too packed.
Members of Young Justice filled the seats, while the Teen Titans stood along the walls—Robin (Tim), Beast Boy, Raven, Starfire, Blue Beetle, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Artemis, Miss Martian, Nightwing, Batgirl… all of them.
At the center of the hologram table floated the recovered footage.
Superboy.
The android.
And the moment reality itself shattered around him.
The recording replayed the instant the android failed to copy his power—error warnings cascading as the ground folded like water beneath Superboy's feet.
Silence followed.
Then—
"What the hell was that?" Beast Boy blurted out.
Raven's brow furrowed, her aura reacting on instinct.
"That wasn't magic. But it wasn't not magic either."
Starfire tilted her head.
"It felt… ancient. And new."
Blue Beetle's scarab clicked anxiously.
"UNIDENTIFIED ENERGY SOURCE. NON-REPLICABLE."
Kid Flash finally exhaled.
"Okay, so I'm just gonna say it—why didn't anyone tell us Superboy can punch earthquakes now?"
All eyes turned to the front of the room.
To Superman.
To Batman.
And finally—to Superboy himself.
The Question No One Could Avoid
Nightwing crossed his arms.
"You don't just wake up with world-breaking power. So—how?"
Miss Martian looked at Conner, worry and trust tangled in her expression.
"You disappeared for a month. You trained nonstop. And now this."
Wonder Girl added quietly,
"And why did Damian Wayne analyze all of us? Our weaknesses. Our fears. Our limits."
That landed harder than the video.
Batman closed his eyes for half a second.
Then he stepped forward.
"It's time," Bruce said.
Superboy stiffened—but nodded.
Batman Tells the Truth
"There are artifacts," Batman began, voice steady,
"that exist outside conventional science, magic, and metahuman classification."
Raven's eyes narrowed.
"Artifacts?"
"Called Devil Fruits," Batman continued.
The name alone caused reactions.
"Devil—?" Starfire repeated.
Batman raised a hand.
"They are not demonic. The name is symbolic."
He tapped the console.
"One of these fruits came into Damian's possession months ago."
The room erupted.
"DAMIAN?!" Tim and Beast Boy shouted at the same time.
Batman didn't flinch.
"He did not use it," Bruce said.
"He gave it away."
Everyone turned back to Superboy.
Superman placed a hand on his clone's shoulder.
Why Superboy Disappeared
"The fruit grants a power," Superman said,
"but it demands control. Absolute control."
Batman continued,
"Which is why Superboy trained for a full month—away from missions."
"With me," Wonder Woman's voice came over the comms, her image appearing.
"And with Superman."
She looked directly at the younger heroes.
"The power he carries could change the world—or break it. Training was not optional."
Artemis swallowed.
"So Damian gave Conner… that?"
"Yes," Batman said.
"The second Devil Fruit."
Raven's eyes widened.
"That means there's at least two."
"At least," Bruce confirmed.
Why Damian Watched Them
Nightwing's gaze sharpened.
"And the profiling?"
Batman didn't soften his tone.
"Damian needed to know who could handle power."
The room went still.
"He analyzed your combat styles. Your psychological stress points. Your moral breaking thresholds."
Miss Martian stiffened.
"He was judging us."
"Yes," Batman said.
"And he did it to make sure none of you were put in a position where power like this would destroy you."
Superboy finally spoke.
"He didn't treat it like a gift," Conner said quietly.
"He treated it like a responsibility."
Beast Boy frowned.
"Still would've been nice to know."
Damian's absence was loud in the room.
The Uncomfortable Truth
Raven folded her arms.
"So let me get this straight."
She looked at Batman.
"Damian Wayne has access to world-level artifacts, analyzes heroes like chess pieces, gave away a god-tier power… and chose not to take it himself."
Batman met her gaze.
"Yes."
Silence.
Kid Flash whistled.
"That's… terrifying."
"And reassuring," Nightwing added after a moment.
Superman nodded.
"Damian understands something most adults don't."
Wonder Woman's voice echoed again.
"Power reveals who you are. It does not change you."
Miss Martian looked at Superboy, then at Batman.
"So why tell us now?"
Batman's voice was firm.
"Because the world just saw what Superboy can do."
He shut off the hologram.
"And secrets like this don't stay buried."
Superboy clenched his fists.
"I didn't want to lie to you," he said.
"But I needed to be ready."
Raven studied him, then slowly nodded.
"You were."
Aftermath
The teams didn't leave angry.
They left changed.
Because now they knew the truth:
Superboy wasn't just a clone anymore.
Damian Wayne wasn't just a Robin.
And somewhere in the shadows, powers existed that chose their wielders.
And every hero in that room understood one thing:
The next time Damian Wayne analyzed them…
It wouldn't be as a teammate.
It would be as a gatekeeper of power.