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Bruce Wayne was no stranger to OSHA workplace guidelines and had a team dedicated to making sure his company followed them on every level.
Batman, however, worked with mainly metahumans and wasn't the only Hero in charge of design, maintenance, upkeep, or staffing of the Watchtower. Batman was primarily in charge of financing their organization, and even then Green Arrow was also a co-contributor to financial upkeep.
Which begged the question of why he was being delegated to show the Inspector around the Watchtower while he made his report. Batman had several questions, actually, and the main one itched at him as Inspector Nightingale finished his interview of the Maintenance Supervisor.
"I wasn't aware OSHA had jurisdiction in the upper atmospheres."
The young man turned unsettling, bright blue eyes on him then. They had a shine to them occasionally like a polished gem, the hue ranging from sky blue to a stormy navy as if affected by his mood. At the moment, his gaze was light but calculating, as though he were reading something in Batman's expression past the cowl, past the white lenses that obscured his eyes. It left The Dark Knight feeling eerily exposed, and it wasn't a feeling he particularly enjoyed.
"It doesn't usually. I'm head of a new branch backed by the UN." The smile he offered Batman was light and on anyone else might have been sweet. On the Inspector, it did nothing to dampen the feeling of being watched by a predator. "We check in on privately owned workplaces and make sure workers are being treated well and aren't made to deal with unsafe environments.
"I have seven Inspectors in my department. All of which are immune to coercion, threats, and bribes. Important for situations where we need to send someone into businesses that like to throw money at problems."
"Hn, isn't that all OSHA penalties are? Fines to make problems go away?" Batman asked casually while Nightingale looked over the break room for the Maintenance Crew. He was pleased to see how the man's shoulders relaxed, making quick checkmarks instead of notes. At least it seemed he approved of the accommodations.
"Usually. It's not uncommon for an employer to pay a fine and add a tip to make the violation disappear." There was a sharp edge to his smile as they continued to the next level for the Labs. "Our branch doesn't deal in fines, Batman. Given workplaces like this or various Lexcorp Laboratories, we deal in warnings. My team and I will provide a detailed list of violations and what needs to be done to improve, along with a deadline."
Inspector Nightingale wasn't, visually, a very imposing man. Batman estimated him to be in his mid to late twenties, his figure was lean and fit, a similar body type to Nightwing or Red Robin. An estimated height between five-five and five-ten. Dark hair long enough to be held back in a short tail by a pink band that had a smiling bunny charm on it. His suit was clean cut and would have looked fitted if it wasn't just a little loose on his frame.
Something he filed away in his observations that Nightingale expected to need a range of movement a fitted suit would hinder. If he dealt with villains, it would make sense. Batman doubted they took well to being told to do things, given how well they took to being told not to cause chaos. Still, there was always the chance for something more lurking under the guise of a simple workplace inspection.
The radio silence from his co-heroes implied everything had checked out so far on Nightingale's credentials. Which was both a relief and alarming.
"What are the repercussions of failing to resolve violations?"
"Hm, I wouldn't tempt it, Batman. If you must know, failure to resolve workplace hazards leads to a haunting of a Ghost of Workplace Accidents Past." The chuckle that followed was humorless, and Batman couldn't be sure if the shadows had gotten darker or if they were always like that. "So far it's only happened twice. Violations were resolved within the week."
Batman filed away the possibility this man was a meta or magic user with a connection to the dead. Possibly illusion or hallucinogenic qualities. He certainly hoped this man wasn't summoning the souls of the dead to haunt places. Even for the sake of a safer environment for the living.
"I see."
"Don't worry too much about it. I haven't seen anything here, and your civilian workers haven't reported anything either. Your lab safety is up to code, I like the way materials are labeled and organized. The magic wards on unknown materials is a good touch. Give my best to Zatanna and Constantine."
"Do you know the two of them?" Batman asked as Nightingale examined another containment unit. He made short notes and checks, but given the relaxed smile on his face, he wasn't concerned the notes were anything bad. If either of them, especially Zatanna, could vouch for him that would ease some of the concern.
"We haven't met yet," Of course nothing was easy, "but I know their spell work. Especially Constantine. He has a unique signature to his spells. Like looking at the difference between someone educated, but mostly self-taught, verses someone solely academic. A good man, powerful spell work, ten out of ten, only magic user I'd trust."
"He's sold his soul to multiple demonic entities for power." Batman said with a soft frown. "As well as being rude and difficult to work with. Getting his help is worse than arguing with a teenager about bedtime."
"Hm, the Occult does that to people. Or maybe it's just me because both of those things are very easy. As for the Soul Selling, pretty clever, honestly. It's not easy to pull one over on demons that powerful. Let alone convince multiple they have legal right to his whole soul." He flashed a smug smile Batman's way, leaving him the distinct feeling he was being teased about something. It was playful and friendly, but the implication there was something Nightingale knew that he didn't bother him.
"Who does maintenance of the outer sections of the ship?" He asked, steering the conversation away before Batman could probe further.
"I assume it would be the crew on duty." It took an impressive amount of willpower not to bristle at the derisive snort the Inspector made at his answer.
"Show me the airlocks, and I'll need to see what guidelines are in place for space walks and emergency plans in the event something goes wrong."
----
By the time Inspector Nightingale left, the same unknown way he came which was NOT by Zeta, Batman was exhausted. As it turned out, he'd been chosen to shadow the Inspector because he was the only one capable of maintaining his stoic and unbothered facade. The other six League Leaders looked as strung out and tired as he felt. Given they hadn't spent more than half an hour total with Nightingale, Batman was inclined to agree he'd been the best choice.
"What, and I mean this in the most polite way possible, the fuck?" Superman asked as soon as Batman took his seat. The tension snapped like a dry twig at the sound of a swear leaving the Boy Scout's lips. Laughter started with the Flash and rolled over the collected group like a breeze, even Batman was unable to help a chuckle.
"We have passed inspection." He said once everyone settled down. "The only recommendation is that we be familiar with both emergency and non-emergency plans in case of an unexpected event or accident. It's not bad advice, and I will be familiarizing myself with maintenance guidelines within the next few days."
"Are we... Are we not going to talk about how he just showed up and left and no one knows how?" Green Lantern asked after a moment of silence passed.
"No." Batman said at the same time as Flash and Superman. They looked at one another and nodded. Batman continued, "From my observation he's a meta, possibly very powerful but not a threat. I got the impression that as long as we continue to provide a safe working environment, we won't have to worry about him or his inspection team. He neither asked about nor tried to enter anyplace that I said was not a work space or held classified secrets. Inspector Nightingale's goal was clearly the safety of the non-hero employees of the Watchtower."
"I might call in an inspection request for Central Labs after how thorough he was." Flash hummed thoughtfully.
"His compliments on the storage of weaponry was rather curious. He spoke of mine as if he had some form of Amazonian training." Wonder Woman added, clearly as curious about the stranger as the rest. "He carries himself like a warrior who is making efforts to be nonthreatening."
"He greeted me in a traditional Martian manner." J'onn seemed the least bothered of all of them, though no less curious. He and Aquaman had been the ones to welcome the Inspector to the Watchtower. "His mind was sealed from me in a most impressive manner as well. I would have required more effort and strength than I likely have to get through."
Aquaman nodded in agreement. "I, too, was impressed with his formal greeting. Not many land dwellers know such customs, let alone for Atlantian Royalty. He is a curious fellow."
"While I do want to know why a man with a vast range of skills and knowledge is working for OSHA, and how he even got here, it may be best we don't push on this one." Superman ventured, hoping to cut Batman off before he did something, well, Bat of him.
"Hnn."
Honestly, the last thing Batman wanted to do was draw Nightingale's attention. He could already feel the stare that would result from the man seeing the few ways the Cave was not up to code. He would leave this one alone.