Avoiding Past And Future

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Slowly and with some reluctance, the teens and some of the mentors started to filter out of the room. Both Connor and M'gann were offered to stay at J'onn's place where they could feel safer than staying at the cave as neither had anywhere else to go.

Luckily for him, Dick didn't need to go far off to a different Zeta as Batman had flown the Batwing over. The short trip back home was quiet as neither hero spoke up first. When they got to the Batcave, Alfred was already waiting with a gurney. "Alfred, that won't be necessary. I can walk." Dick said lightly as he took off his mask. Still, the butler gestured to it. "For my own reassurance, young master?" Well, when asked so politely, how could he say no?

Dick climbed on with a little bit of assistance. He already dreaded the day he would grow up enough that he didn't need the little boost Alfred always gave him. Still, he somewhat enjoyed the little ride to the medbay where he easily transferred himself onto the cot.

"Now my dear boy, what happened?" Alfred started up, knowing neither of the heroes were going to speak up themselves. Dick started easily helping Alfred in removing most of his suit so the man could have a better vision over the numerous little cuts and scrapes all over his body. As the pieces came off, and Alfred treated whatever he could, Dick gave a rundown of what happened from when he entered the zeta tube until Batman arrived on scene. Here and there the two adults glanced at each other, noticing Dick was clearly leaving out some parts.

As Alfred had made his way up to the cut on his head, Batman was finishing up the notes he was taking while Dick talked. He knew full well he still had to write a detailed report on everything but with his current testimony, the League could already work better than having to wait for Dick to write up the report.

Bruce, currently decowled, was having a silent stare down with Dick. Bruce knew the boy was leaving out details. Dick knew he wouldn't be believed anyway. Yet again it was up to Alfred to cut the tension with his calm voice. "Is there anything else, Master Dick?" The boy looked away from Bruce's gaze as he focused on twiddling with his fingers instead. "Not unless you promise to not sedate me again?" He hadn't meant for it to sound like a question but it had the same effect. Both adults tensed slightly at his words, likely knowing they overstepped last time even if it was supposedly for his own good.

"I saw it again, the dog I mean." Dick started quietly, already feeling the need to hug his knees to his chest in self-comfort. "I swear I'm not imagining it! It really was there and it had a name tag and all! I even touched it. I swear, if you ask the others they'll be able to confirm it was there. At least Artemis for sure!" Dick's tone was so small yet slightly erratic as he tried to plead his case. He was desperate for the adults to believe him this time. He knew it was real. There was no way he imagined it! Cujo was real.

"And what did this dog do?" Alfred asked cautiously. Dick finally did bring up his knees as he could clearly still hear the disbelief in the man's voice. "Cujo helped. He guided us in the boiler room and in the library. I'm- I'm not entirely sure if that was him but what else could a bright green smudge be?" He laughed humorlessly, knowing that his words were only making the adults believe him less.

"I-he helped guide us when we were swimming too. Like he knew where the hits would go and helped us dodge it. And when-" Dick paused a bit. He wasn't particularly proud of having to admit he messed up, especially not when he knew his truth wouldn't be believed.

"When?" Alfred pushed slightly as he finished up with Dick's medical care. He set aside all the stuff he used and took a seat on the foot of Dick's cot. The boy in question turned his head away from both adults as he talked barely above a whisper.

"When the water dragged me under. Cujo helped. I don't know how, but one second I was getting pushed around and crushed and the next it's like I couldn't feel anything except his fur. It..helped to fake the drowning. Less energy wasted, easier to hold my breath and all that. The Reds didn't believe the act or something and kept me in the water longer than I expected, so it was a welcome help to keep it up for longer."