( attachment is a weakness. it's one of the things he'd been taught since he was small. every time he had a tutor and had outgrown them, had learned all they could potentially teach him, they'd gotten thrown into the ocean. any potential pets would have been called distractions and been disposed of. his father let him bring home a cow, gotten him a dog in hopes titus would give him something else to focus on. allowed pennyworth the cat to roam the manor. had given him a family he'd grown to love. taught damian that he didn't need to treat everyone like a rival or an enemy. that there was something else. )
Batman.
( just like this: damian has grown comfortable with the occasional hug, but he'd never allowed himself to be coddled or held. it was above him. he never needed it as a child, he doesn't need it now. but he lets it happen regardless. because he doesn't dislike it, even if it does make him feel - vulnerable. )
( affection like this is... not something he's used to giving or receiving. at least not for a very long time and yet... he gives it to damian. slow. gentle. careful. tries his best to in ways that might not feel uncomfortable to either of them. it's... a little easier. now. than it was when they first metβ than the first time when he had reached out and held damian against him after that nightmare they'd both been in. it's easier and yet he still doesn't know if he should. especially after what that thing wearing his mother's face had said.
still, he holds to him. lays there with him. quiet again. mulling over that short and simple answer given before he presses his cheek a little more into the pillow. lets his gaze wander around the dark room. )
( what does he need. it's a loaded question, with a loaded answer because damian - doesn't know. he's still working on figuring that out for himself. figuring himself out. he was damian al ghul, when he was young. had completed the year of blood, as was required of an al ghul. he is damian wayne now and has done his best to make up for the damage he did to others before he'd taken on his father's name. he's worked hard to become someone better, even when choosing the better path proved more difficult. and he's here now, helping a younger version of his father. allowing him to hold onto him while he works through all that has happened. )
I don't know.
( it's soft, but honest. damian raises a hand to curl fingers into bruce's shirt, holding onto him. )
( a soft admission with what it is bruce wayne needs.
gently, he lets his hand drop away from the back of damian's head and just lays there with him instead. quiet. breath slow and steady. cheek pressed to the pillow. eventually, his hand moves to rest between damian's shoulder blades and settles there. loose and capable of being moved away if damian wants it to be.
being here... like this... it's new. very new. yet the doesn't turn away from it β doesn't shrug it off and disappear under the sheets by himself. instead he lays there with him β lets damian hold to him as he wants. just the two of them. together. like this.
( the bed is softer than what he would generally prefer. but like this, he can feel bruce breathe, knows he's here and safe which is plenty comforting all on its own. damian can settle in here for a while, even if he doesn't have any intention of falling asleep. he just - wants his father to rest for a little while, to know he's safe, that he doesn't have to worry about anything horrid happening because damian's right here
but he doesn't say any of that. instead, he grumbles softly, )
If you tell anyone else about this, I'll show you first-hand how behind your training is in comparison to mine.
( soft as it is, there's a smile that touches his lips there in the darkness. one that can possibly be felt in the way he speaks, shifting ever-so-slightly there beneath the sheets as he does. an attempt to let himself relax a little more into the bed. with damian there. )
( they're not friends yet, but his father will, eventually, find friends he can relate to. not that damian suspects this would be something that comes up in conversation with anyone outside of grayson himself, but.
bruce tries to get himself comfortable, and damian - raises his arm to throw it over his midsection. )
I don't let Richard coddle me. He would whine endlessly if he found out.
( he lets that sit for a moment, before opening his mouth again, )
His son - Jon, and I - spent a significant amount of time quarreling when we first started to spend time together. Pennyworth admitted that it had been much the same when our fathers had met. Their ideals match, but their methodology is quite different. As are their temperaments, given the different ways in which they were raised. Jon and I were similar.
( heβs quiet for a long moment. lets himself chew on that bit of information heβs been given. still. breath content. hand pressing to damianβs back gently. after a stretch of silence, he speaks. clearing his throat first. )
I offered to help him learn to fight. Just the basics. See where he was at and go from there. In case he finds himself without the help of his powers.
( a beat. )
He said he could find other super powered people. So I left.
( it takes him a second to be sure he heard damian right and, after a moment, the faintest sound of amusement can be heard there deep within the back of his throat, hand giving a soft pat or two to damian's back. )
The thing is, despite how that sounds, I know you're being completely serious.
( he's sitting up now, throwing the blankets down as he gets onto his knees; this is no longer a laying down occasion, this is an arms up in frustration moment. )
He thinks he's more capable because he's Kryptonian, but he isn't. I could take him.
( there's a sound he makes at damian deciding to take that route with what he'd said, but he doesn't move from where he is. just lays there. looking to him with those blue eyes. )
Do you really think that's the best way to approach it?
I was trained to sleep in short bursts whenever possible, I don't need rest.
( he still lets bruce pull him down, and doesn't shove off his hand. which is as close to acceptance as damian gets, even if he's also protesting a need to lay down and rest. )
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Batman.
( just like this: damian has grown comfortable with the occasional hug, but he'd never allowed himself to be coddled or held. it was above him. he never needed it as a child, he doesn't need it now. but he lets it happen regardless. because he doesn't dislike it, even if it does make him feel - vulnerable. )
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still, he holds to him. lays there with him. quiet again. mulling over that short and simple answer given before he presses his cheek a little more into the pillow. lets his gaze wander around the dark room. )
And Damian? What does he need?
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I don't know.
( it's soft, but honest. damian raises a hand to curl fingers into bruce's shirt, holding onto him. )
I'm still figuring that out.
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( a soft admission with what it is bruce wayne needs.
gently, he lets his hand drop away from the back of damian's head and just lays there with him instead. quiet. breath slow and steady. cheek pressed to the pillow. eventually, his hand moves to rest between damian's shoulder blades and settles there. loose and capable of being moved away if damian wants it to be.
being here... like this... it's new. very new. yet the doesn't turn away from it β doesn't shrug it off and disappear under the sheets by himself. instead he lays there with him β lets damian hold to him as he wants. just the two of them. together. like this.
father and son. )
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but he doesn't say any of that. instead, he grumbles softly, )
If you tell anyone else about this, I'll show you first-hand how behind your training is in comparison to mine.
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Who am I going to tell?
( it's not like he has friends, damian. )
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( they're not friends yet, but his father will, eventually, find friends he can relate to. not that damian suspects this would be something that comes up in conversation with anyone outside of grayson himself, but.
bruce tries to get himself comfortable, and damian - raises his arm to throw it over his midsection. )
I don't let Richard coddle me. He would whine endlessly if he found out.
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I won't tell anyone.
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his eyes close, and damian tightens his arm around bruce. keeps pressed close. )
What did he do?
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Does it matter?
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( he lets that sit for a moment, before opening his mouth again, )
His son - Jon, and I - spent a significant amount of time quarreling when we first started to spend time together. Pennyworth admitted that it had been much the same when our fathers had met. Their ideals match, but their methodology is quite different. As are their temperaments, given the different ways in which they were raised. Jon and I were similar.
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I offered to help him learn to fight. Just the basics. See where he was at and go from there. In case he finds himself without the help of his powers.
( a beat. )
He said he could find other super powered people. So I left.
( and bruce, of course, took that as an insult. )
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He's underestimating you. Take him out, and he'll understand how unwise that is.
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The thing is, despite how that sounds, I know you're being completely serious.
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( he's sitting up now, throwing the blankets down as he gets onto his knees; this is no longer a laying down occasion, this is an arms up in frustration moment. )
He thinks he's more capable because he's Kryptonian, but he isn't. I could take him.
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Because everyone has a weakness.
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( damian could take out superman if he wanted to. he knows he could. )
All it takes is one magic wand and he's essentially useless.
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( except, you know. he decided a fellow supe was more equipped to teach him.
licking over his lips, he shrugs, gaze drifting off some. )
He wants to learn the hard way, he can. I won't make the mistake of offering again.
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damian, however, is turning to look at bruce with the most irritated expression on his face. )
No. I'm going to take him down and show him how idiotic he's being.
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Do you really think that's the best way to approach it?
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( so, yes, yes he does. )
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laying there still, he stretches an arm out. drops it against the bed. blue eyes watching the other there on the bed with him. )
Come here.
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but instead, damian moves back over to bruce. leans in close. )
What?
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When's the last time you really had a moment to rest?
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( he still lets bruce pull him down, and doesn't shove off his hand. which is as close to acceptance as damian gets, even if he's also protesting a need to lay down and rest. )
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