#i weote him with a 10/12 yo in mind

[the-sprog]

We've all heard true crime podcasts talking about Jason Todd's murder (and/or where the second Robin has gone), but what about the Batson's death?

Two renowned archeologists die at a dig site in Egypt , one from where years after Black Adam emerges, under mysterious circumstances. Their daughter, Mary, who had followed them there, mysteriously disappears (whereas the Batson's bodies are found, hers isn't).

The only other known connections to the three are Mary's twin, William, and Ebenizer, the uncle the kid was staying with.

But low and behold, not even a year later, kid's in the system and then disappears. Some people claim they see him sometimes in the streets of Fawcett, some say his uncle killed him to get the money that William was supposed to heredit.

(Of course, the citizens of Fawcett who actually care, those that actually know the kid, won't let him get hunted down by money hungry reporters and insensitive young adults who won't think twice about asking a child about his dead family)

Ebenizer dies not many years after that. And like that, there are no connections to their deaths. No explanation to where the twins are.

And then

Then Captain Marvel appears (along with Black Adam) 4 years after the incident.

The true crime community immediately latches onto him, convinced he's the real CC Batson, who miraculously survived whatever attack killed his wife and gained powers from it.

It doesn't help that when questioned about the site and the origin of his powers, their connection to Balck Adam the Captain becomes squimish and avoidant.

Some are convinced Black Adam was the one to murder the Batsons and that Captain is CC's ghost in search or revenge.

The people in the archeologist community don't even ask. They can't bare to treat this superhero like the friend that once knew and have been mourning for years, only for it to get snatched away when the Captain doesn't recognize them.

So imagine when, 2 years pass, Marvel has joined the Justice League, has been making progress in finding his sister, there are more members of his family now. And people haven't really given up on it, but no one really had the balls to outright ask him.

That's when Batman brings the new Robin to the Watchtower for the first time. The whole squad had heard of the new Robin, but no one had ever commented on him. Well, maybe the other two members of the Big Three had something to say, but the rest of the League didn't have a death wish, so they refrained from touching such a delicate topic.

The third Robin was smart, calculating, and so like Batman himself that the others can't help but miss the second Robin's childlike exuberance. Heck, even the mischievous and angsty first Robin would've made them more comfortable.

The kid mostly kept to himself, but no one could ignore the way his eyes were staring holes in Captain Marvel. Something that made everyone queesy. Batman included.

Sure, the Captain had always been an incognita, something the Bat never quite managed to crack. He'd heard the rumors, but had never managed to confirm them. More things pointed towards an unfortunate uncanny resemblance and some very awkward coincidences than a true and proper resurrection of any sort.

The way the Captain talked about his powers, how they worked, the very history of the Champions of Magic... If you added CC Batson to the equation none of it added up.

But Robin's stare was knowing.

And that scared everyone in the room.

"So the rumors where true then, Mr. CC?" It's a surprise to only Billy when Robin calls him by that name.

"Robin-" Batman started to admonish, only to be interrupted by the Captain.

"Where did you heard that name?" It was the most intimidating they'd ever seen him.

"It's aaaallll over the internet. Everyone thinks you're Mr. CC Batson, but I know you are."

The Captain's face was calculating, brows furrowed, looking at every inch of the child's masked face as if it held every answer to all the questions in the universe.

He let out a sigh. "CC Batson died 6 years ago in Egypt, Robin. There's no... Weird conspiracy about it."

"But-"

"Robin! Enough. Stop trying to force people into telling you their secret identity."

Robin turned towards Batman defiantly. "You're acting like you don't already know!"

"I don't."

Robin sputtered. "I-b-w-whAT!?"

The rest of the League stared in shock. Sure, most of them had also heard the rumors about the fallow hero, but none had wanted to confront him directly about it. If it was true, it surely seemed like a hell of a sore subject.

To have it all layed out by a child, so sure of himself, and to see the Captain's reaction, so cold and guarded, it only reinforced their belief that was a conversation that had to stay far away from.

Unless the Captain wanted to talk about it himself.

But they sincerely doubt it.

(That's why it's such a shock to them when, about 6 years after that conversation, the Captain shouts a word, leaving behind a small child who introduces himself as Billy Batson)