Open

[demon_brat]

Characters: Damian and Bruce Wayne, Robin (demon_brat) and Robin (hackingyoursensors), and also Robin (demon_brat) and anyone!
Location: Here, there, and everywhere. Mostly rooftops, probably a lot in the Metal and Fire sections.
Situation: Meet Robin, if you wish!
Warnings/Rating: TW for child abuse. Because it's Damian.
A/N: Prose or actionspam welcome. Thread headers for Bruce and Dick, anyone else who wants to meet or talk with Robin, welcome after that!

It took Damian a couple of days after Grayson showed up to return to his, ah, usual levels of visibility. After that first conversation, he did his best to vanish out of sight, making sure not to fall into his usual patterns of anger at circumstances he did not welcome. Because neither Father nor Grayson would approve - his Grayson, this one had no reason to care - and the urge to not fail his Batman was suddenly double strong. Or, at least, more explicit.

Eventually, almost a full day later, he found his way to his Father's suite.

And the next night, and the one after that, he was cautiously back to patrol.

Comments

[hackingyoursensors]

Dick pauses to think. He could ask more questions, but he's not sure Damian will really understand. His understanding of the world seems a little inflexible. But nobody really gave him choices. Conquer the world, become Batman, be tied to your bloodline one way or another.

"So you think there's nothing better than being Batman?"

[demon_brat]

Better... is not the exact word Damian would have used. Greater, maybe. Or worthier.

At the question asked like this... he shrugs. "Is there?"

[hackingyoursensors]

That makes Dick really stop and think. Was there really anything better than being Batman? It... depends.

"It depends on what you want out of life, I guess."

[demon_brat]

And Damian... just looks at him. Not scowling, not smiling, just a steady look from behind the green domino mask.

Because that is a problem. Knowing what he wants. He's been taught he has the right to rule the world. To tame it and make it his own. He's been taught that life is worthless and it could be taken at will or whim. He's been taught, later, that life is the most important, that people's safety matters and crimes are to be fought.

And, aside from not wanting to see children hurt? He does not know what he wants.

After few minutes of silence, he looks away.

">Tt.<"

[hackingyoursensors]

He smiles a little.

"If it helps, most people can't answer that question. Not even most adults."

[demon_brat]

"Do you?"

It's just... filler. A retort. In a way, Damian knows the answer already; and also... no. The fact that most people can't answer it helps not at all. Damian is not most people; he's never been supposed to be. Being put under a common denominator with them?

He does not like that at all.

[hackingyoursensors]

"I have a general idea."

Fighting crime, saving people. He knew he wanted to do that for as long as he could. But as Dick Grayson? That was a little trickier.

[demon_brat]

And, at that, Damian just... decided to go with the first thought that popped in his head. Which was... a tease. With barbs, sure, but the barbs were unlikely to snag on this young Grayson. He thought.

"You have a plan?"

[hackingyoursensors]

He just smiles.

"Not really."

[demon_brat]

And Damian shoots him a look.

"I... don't understand you. At all."

[hackingyoursensors]

Dick, meanwhile, looks amused.

"I hear that a lot."

[demon_brat]

Wait, what?

"... not where I come from."

[hackingyoursensors]

"Let's just say some of my teammates think I'm a little strange."

Because he kind of is.

[demon_brat]

This... is as close as Damian is likely to get to a joke.

"Then consider what they would think of me."

Deadpan. And, no, Damian doesn't care what strangers think of him. But it... seems appropriate. And sufficiently mean without actually hurting anyone.

[hackingyoursensors]

"They'd probably assume that being strange is a Robin requirement. I think you'd like Aqualad, though."

He's sensible and calm. Who couldn't like Aqualad?

[demon_brat]

"... you are not strange. From what I can tell about most people's standards. And >Tt.< "

... ... somebody who generally doesn't do a lot of liking?

[hackingyoursensors]

"To be fair, your standards are probably a little skewed. And I get called strange more in my civilian identity, somehow."

Yeah but Aqualad is awesome and big brotherly? Dick thinks pretty highly of him, at least.

[demon_brat]

Damian... actually tilts his head a little. "I think I've read in the files, about not always fitting well, in the schools you went to."

More than that. But... still. Odd to actually imagine it.

Also, Damian is fine with one big brotherly type, thank you very much.

[hackingyoursensors]

"I did grow up in a traveling circus. School-- and sedentary life in general-- was a big adjustment."

Maybe feeling slightly defensive. Nobody seemed to appreciate how hard it was, outside of Bruce and Alfred.

[demon_brat]

">Tt.< I see."

Well. Of course it was a big adjustment. Not like Damian knows anything about that.

But the defensiveness amuses him.

"Still, I doubt anyone who has met me, for example, would consider you strange."

Yes, Dick, now you are free to imagine Damian Wayne at Gotham Academy. ...let's say there are many reasons he does home schooling.

[hackingyoursensors]

He does, a little. Just a tiny scowling thing in a uniform, trying his darndest not to stab someone.

"It's not really a fair comparison."

[demon_brat]

... more or less. But when he stabs people, he stabs them so well!

"No. But I have been informed that expecting fairness is likely to be unreasonable."

[hackingyoursensors]

"Yeah. But sometimes you have to fight for fairness."

There's a lot in life that's unfair. Little injustices, big injustices. They still bothered Dick a little. But anyway.

[demon_brat]

Damian... frowns, slightly, looking at the other Robin.

"Do you? Why?"

No, really. Fighting crime is confusing enough for him. This one - he is trying to understand.

[hackingyoursensors]

He shrugs.

"If I don't, who will?"