Virgil’s appearance had helped to calm him down. Bart had been untamed, a former runaway who found following rules burdensome and not really to his liking. He’d been more laid back with Oliver giving him things to do, and then that was all taken away from him. He hadn’t exactly been on his best behavior back home, even with the Justice League finding their footing in a world that needed them there. Here, away from their goals, there was temptation around every corner. Clark had been in Los Angeles for as long as he could remember and Clark’s presence had always stopped him from straying too far away. There was always the thought though, that he could go back to what he used to know if he wanted to, if he was so inclined.
And then Virgil showed up and just like that, Bart didn’t think about leaving anymore. Virgil wasn’t another adult who was going to come in and tell him what to do. He was younger than the others and Bart found that he could relate to him, and that it was effortless and that he didn’t have to struggle to do it. They had never been separated for more than a day since Virgil’s arrival. Virgil could be sent off for some mission in Russia and Bart could (and would) be there in a second, and not because Russia was so uniquely fascinating to him.
If he had been a cat, he would have purred at the hand that Virgil brought to his face. He was relaxed, and Bart hadn’t been able to relax in what felt like forever. “Are you gonna stay with me?” He had to ask, so that the fear that he wouldn’t could be put to rest. It was nagging and he didn't want or need it there.