The Closed Room and the Truth Damian Can No Longer Hide
Damian almost succeeded.
Almost.
He had maneuvered Superboy into a quiet corner of the Watchtower, a place where even Batman's cameras struggled to see.
The plan was simple:
Give him the fruit.
Explain.
Leave before anyone realized.
But the moment Damian reached into his personal dimension—
Batman appeared.
Then Superman.
Then Wonder Woman.
Then the entire League filled the hallway behind them.
Superboy blinked, confused.
Superboy
"Uh… did I do something?"
Batman's voice was quiet—but razor sharp.
Batman
"Damian. Step away from him."
Superman crossed his arms.
Superman
"You've been studying us for six straight months.
Mental states, stress responses, power limits.
And now you're secretly meeting with my brother?
We need answers."
Wonder Woman stepped forward.
Wonder Woman
"You chose Superboy over every other candidate.
We want to know why."
Hal Jordan cracked his knuckles, glaring.
Green Lantern
"And we're not letting you duck this.
Not after six months of you poking at our brains like a tiny, smug scientist."
Damian exhaled.
He realized there was no way around it.
Damian
"Fine.
I'll explain.
But only once.
And only after Superboy receives the artifact."
That sentence made every hero freeze.
"Artifact?"
"Receives?"
"Impossible to hide once he gets it?"
What kind of thing could even Damian say this about?
They escorted him and Superboy into the central meeting chamber.
Locked the doors.
Raised security to maximum level.
Even J'onn shifted nervously.
Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Green Arrow…
All seated.
All staring at Damian.
Judgment.
Pressure.
Gods demanding truth from a mortal.
Damian's Half-Truth Revealed
Damian stood at the center of the room.
Calm.
Too calm.
Damian
"When I first explained my powers, I told you I obtained them from a special fruit.
That was true."
Everyone remembered.
Everyone had believed him.
Batman's jaw tightened.
Damian
"…But I didn't tell you everything."
Silence.
Tension.
Even Superman leaned in.
Damian
"When I found the fruit I ate…
I found a second one with it."
Gasps.
Shock.
Eyes widened.
Batman's hand twitched—pure surprise.
Superman's voice was a whisper:
Superman
"You've had another… artifact… with that power this whole time?"
Damian nodded.
Damian
"Yes.
And I kept it hidden to make sure it didn't fall into the wrong hands."
Green Lantern slammed both hands on the table.
Green Lantern
"YOU MEAN—
YOU COULD'VE HANDED SOMEONE ELSE WORLD-BREAKING POWERS AND YOU JUST—
SAT ON IT?!"
Flash grabbed him by the shoulders before he lunged.
Flash
"Let him talk, man! Let him talk!"
Wonder Woman's Question
Wonder Woman raised her chin, eyes sharp.
Wonder Woman
"Then answer me:
Why did you not choose me?"
Damian met her gaze.
Damian
"Because giving power that can reshape continents to someone connected to gods…
is an invitation for the gods to claim it for themselves."
Her eyes widened.
She understood.
The entire room went cold.
Superboy's Turn
Superboy leaned forward slowly.
Confused.
Unsteady.
Superboy
"So… this whole time…
you were deciding who should have something as strong as what you have?"
Damian shook his head.
Damian
"No.
Something stronger."
The League froze again.
Batman's eyes narrowed.
Superman clenched his fists.
Even J'onn's telepathy flickered, sensing the danger behind Damian's words.
The Truth That Shook the Room
Damian continued, voice steady but heavy.
Damian
"This artifact…
This fruit…
It gives the user the ability to create forces powerful enough to shake continents,
rupture the skies,
and destroy entire regions."
The room went silent.
Completely silent.
Like air had vanished.
Damian's next sentence was worse:
Damian
"I spent months studying all of you to determine who could wield a power like that without abusing it.
Who could hold a weapon strong enough to change the world—
or break it apart."
Superboy swallowed.
Superboy
"…And you chose me."
Damian nodded slowly.
Damian
"Yes.
Because when you pushed past your limit…
when you faced something stronger than you…
when your life was in danger…
you didn't show fear."
He stepped closer.
Damian
"You showed resolve.
Determination.
And—most importantly—
you didn't smile because you liked the fight.
You smiled because you were willing to give everything you had for the sake of others."
Superboy froze.
The League stared at him differently.
Wonder Woman exhaled.
Flash muttered, "Damn…"
Even Batman's eyes widened, just a fraction.
Damian finished:
Damian
"That is why I chose him."
The entire Justice League, the entire world watching through hidden feeds, finally understood.
Damian Wayne wasn't handing over a weapon.
He was choosing the one person he believed could handle a power capable of changing—
or destroying—
the entire world.