[Damian looks up, his surprise genuine. The truth he sees and hears is jarring, in conjunction with the memory of Father's reaction when a head rolled out of the bag Damian brought in, not to mention the news of the bleeding Drake.]

[He frowns in confusion, unusually rare in how openly it shows up.]

[A part of him thinks that ... this must be it, the thing he doesn't understand. About faith in people - the way it keeps on going, even when it shouldn't. The other, far more skeptical part wonders why Father bothers. Damian's accepted the role that Bruce wanted for him, if not in the way he planned it in the first place. Why this?]

[Slowly, the bafflement melts into something else. Softer. Because he's still not used to hearing that sentiment (he might never be), and especially not from Father, and it. It makes a difference, despite the skepticism.]

I... think I do.