( it's the simple answer, but he knows it's not necessarily what bruce was looking for. so damian extends an offer of, ) I built my own Batmobile, with Richard.
So I can be told I am not permitted to drive it? Why bother.
( it's not as if he hasn't, nor wouldn't if the opportunity came, but he knows well that as long as there is another 'adult' around who is capable of driving it, damian won't be allowed to.
instead, he's pressing both hands down against the car so he can pull himself up and start checking out the engine. )
( The engine itself is Frankenstein's monster. He'd built it from the ground up himself β added the necessary improvements to make it the monster that it is. Bruce knows cars. How to both drive and build them and this is very much his first rendition of the Batmobile. His Batmobile.
Quiet, he watches Damian before he glances over... to a particular bike. A certain Batcycle. )
( but he does decide to leave bruce's car alone after another few moments, given he's already decided which parts to find replacements for later. after sliding down the front of it and wiping his hand off against his hoodie, he reaches up to unlatch the hood and drop it back down.
( To not be alone. He knows, but. Maybe he hoped the answer would have changed for him. From the looks of it, doesn't seem to be the case, so. He stands there. Quiet, still. Watching the way Damian hops down from his car and makes his way over to one of the work tables he has scattered throughout the terminal. At this particular one, he has a utility belt he's currently stocking. Not his. But a utility belt. )
It's for Jason.
( He says then, slowly making his way over. )
He's without a suit here and I don't want him to be left with nothing.
( it's always todd at the center of everything, isn't it.
todd started the fight. todd who grayson had fiercely defended. todd who is never going to tell them anything and his father, the other bruce wayne, had said it was his fault. the same todd, who this bruce wayne is trying to craft a suit for.
his lips press together tight, nose scrunched into a sour expression as he looks down to the belt. doesn't touch it. )
I see. ( it's low, calm in a way damian generally isn't. and he's - turning away from the work table, to move back toward the elevator. )
( He sees the sudden shift there - sees the way he moves away from the table and heads for the elevator and he watches after Damian. Confused. It was only when he brought up Jason that the shift had happened so suddenly despite the boyβs efforts to show nonchalance. )
What? You already have a Robin, do you not? I don't see any use for my staying.
( that's not the whole story. it isn't why damian is so adverse to - staying here. no, that's something darker. something he doesn't know how to describe, a sinking feeling in the pit of his gut that makes him angry and sad all at the same time because someone else has once again taken his place. but he doesn't turn to bruce to express that. no, instead, the button to open the elevator gets pressed, so he can get himself up to the first floor. )
( Thereβs something about the firmness there in his tone that shows how earnest he is with getting that across to Damian. Jason doesnβt even want to be Robin. He wants to be his own thing - figure himself out and heβs simply helping him along the way with that, not wanting him to fall into the wrong crowd while doing so. )
( it's jealousy and insecurity all wrapped into one, hidden behind the anger that damian often uses to cover every emotion he doesn't want to cope with. he's robin, a title given to him upon richard taking over as batman, and damian is well-aware of why it was placed in his hands: richard needed a way to leash damian in, to keep him contained.
damian needed it, too. still needs it. because who is he without robin? not an al ghul but not quite a wayne either, damian is just - nothing. )
( This is absolutely a jealousy thing isn't it? How is he going to handle these two vying for a sacred spot alongside him? Especially when they both seem to need it?
At that, he makes his way over β comes up to the elevator and stands there with Damian, somewhat blocking him from getting into it. Quiet, he stares down to the boy before he goes and drops down into a crouch in front of him, hands folded there across his knees. )
Robin means everything to you and I would never take that away from you. Youβ he helped me see that Batman needed Robin β that Batman can rely on Robin and not have to go it alone. Some days I struggle to believe that, even now. But every time I see you, I'm reminded that I don't have to and you don't have to either. You're just as lost as I am with all this and I might have a bit of a head start on you with having had someone like you at my side here. ( The other Damian. ) But you're your own person β you're the son of the bat and you always will be. To me, to him. No one can ever replace you or take that away from you with us.
( it's not the answer he wanted. because it doesn't answer his question at all. there's not one word in there that describes what todd's presence here means for bruce, what he's doing building a utility belt for him, why he's maintaining his gear when the boy, the teenager, isn't his robin. but damian doesn't walk around bruce. doesn't try and escape despite the body blocking him, just to be obstinate. he does look back towards the elevator shaft, considering his options, but - ultimately, damian looks back to bruce where he crouches, putting himself close to damian's own eye-level. )
Mother cloned me, when I disobeyed her and no longer suited the purpose for which I was born. ( he had asked her to love him as he is, she said she couldn't. he understands. damian abandoned the league, threw away the al ghul legacy. ) The son of the Bat is a clump of cells that can easily be replicated. Training can be replicated. I am easily replaceable. To an al Ghul, ten years is but a blink of an eye. And clearly there had been another here before.
( not in the same way one could just remake damian. batman is an accumulation of all of his experiences, of every trauma he's gone through, of every triumph he's managed. batman is the boy in the alley, watching his mother's pearls scatter across gotham's grime. damian is a child created by a woman who had drugged the man she loved to ensure she would be able to create a genetically superior child to continue her father's legacy, who hadn't experienced much outside of the league of assassins up until he'd been unceremoniously dropped onto the lap of a man who hadn't known he had a child, let alone one who was raised to kill. )
It isn't comparable. I am one of many. The fifth Robin, if we are counting Brown. And the other Bruce Wayne here can hardly tolerate me as it is.
( Again, there's a sort of firmness to his tone there though his body language is hardly that. A duck of his head, licking over his lips, he looks back up to the boy there in front of him. )
( he's less concerned with that than he with todd's presence, but it's worth asking regardless. how easily will he be thrown away here, too? bruce wayne isn't like talia al ghul in the least, it's why he had chosen to stay with his father in the end, even if he'd at first wanted them to just stay together.
damian takes a step forward, within arm's reach of bruce even if he isn't reaching for the man himself. it's almost an invitation, in the same way he allows grayson into his personal space where he wouldn't usually allow others. )
Then there will be two Damians like there are two Bruces.
( And it's so incredibly strange for him to say that and not something he can even say he likes, in all honesty, but. It is what it is. Reaching into his pocket then, he pulls out a small key and holds it there in the palm of his hand in front of Damian. )
This is to the room he had here. If you ever want to go and look in there, you can. If you don't, you don't have to. But it belongs to you, as does the title of Robin.
( there's a key, but damian has never needed a key to gain access to a location he's wanted to get into. he looks to it, but ultimately doesn't reach for it. instead, he takes a couple steps closer to bruce, and leans in. presses his forehead against the man's own, albeit gently. more gentle physical touch than anything else. )
( He knows Damian has ways of getting into places whenever he wants, but. Itβs the symbolic gesture of trusting the key to him. Of not shutting him out. So when he goes and comes in closer instead of taking the key for himself, he tilts his head some and genuinely stares to this boy. His heart still aches having lost the son he had come to love and care for. His first son. Not Dick Grayson as the story always goes. No, here, in Etraya, Bruceβs first son and Robin had been Damian and nothing here will ever change that for him. )
You will always be my Robin. Even if Iβm not your Batman.
( bright green eyes stare into bruce's as he listens to the sound of his father's voice. hears the familiar tone, recognizes familiar features even if they are still different enough to be noted as such. he hadn't met his father until his tenth birthday, had known the legends, not the man behind him. and it still very much feels as such: his short time with his father back home had been cut short, and here they are all - different.
yet damian still recognizes his features in this one. recognizes the look behind his eyes, knows what it means when he allows his body language to read so lax. it's - trust, of a sort. the same kind of trust damian gives to those when he lowers his guard around them. this close, it would be easy to land a killing blow. yet neither of them are reaching for it. instead, damian's reaching a hand up to place it against bruce's shoulder. )
( He knows he needs to give Damian an answer to that β knows he wonβt be satisfied until he gets one. Up until recently, he hadnβt known what he could be considered in Jasonβs life despite the numerous efforts made to have a place there in it. Theyβre still figuring it out β both of them with each other and on their own, but. He knows heβs come to care for the other, just as he had come to care for Damian. Itβs difficult and thereβs times he thinks he shouldnβt for a myriad of reasons, but. Despite his isolation and penchant for wanting to go it alone, he still cares. Heβs always cared. )
Youβre both my sons.
( At that, he cradles a hand there against Damianβs cheek. )
Iβm helping him discover who he wants to be, because it isnβt Robin. You are Robin and Iβll help you as Iβm trying to help him. Like some version of you helped me with being Batman here.
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( You know. Standing right there next to it and all. )
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he huffs, an indignant sound, but releases the door handle to instead attempt to open the hood of the vehicle and take a look there instead. )
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What are you looking for? It's a car.
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( it's the simple answer, but he knows it's not necessarily what bruce was looking for. so damian extends an offer of, ) I built my own Batmobile, with Richard.
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( Not that he's... advising that, but. Damian will figure it out eventually. )
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( it's not as if he hasn't, nor wouldn't if the opportunity came, but he knows well that as long as there is another 'adult' around who is capable of driving it, damian won't be allowed to.
instead, he's pressing both hands down against the car so he can pull himself up and start checking out the engine. )
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Quiet, he watches Damian before he glances over... to a particular bike. A certain Batcycle. )
Why'd you stop by again?
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( but he does decide to leave bruce's car alone after another few moments, given he's already decided which parts to find replacements for later. after sliding down the front of it and wiping his hand off against his hoodie, he reaches up to unlatch the hood and drop it back down.
and instead focuses on bruce's work table. )
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It's for Jason.
( He says then, slowly making his way over. )
He's without a suit here and I don't want him to be left with nothing.
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todd started the fight. todd who grayson had fiercely defended. todd who is never going to tell them anything and his father, the other bruce wayne, had said it was his fault. the same todd, who this bruce wayne is trying to craft a suit for.
his lips press together tight, nose scrunched into a sour expression as he looks down to the belt. doesn't touch it. )
I see. ( it's low, calm in a way damian generally isn't. and he's - turning away from the work table, to move back toward the elevator. )
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Damian.
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( that's not the whole story. it isn't why damian is so adverse to - staying here. no, that's something darker. something he doesn't know how to describe, a sinking feeling in the pit of his gut that makes him angry and sad all at the same time because someone else has once again taken his place. but he doesn't turn to bruce to express that. no, instead, the button to open the elevator gets pressed, so he can get himself up to the first floor. )
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( Thereβs something about the firmness there in his tone that shows how earnest he is with getting that across to Damian. Jason doesnβt even want to be Robin. He wants to be his own thing - figure himself out and heβs simply helping him along the way with that, not wanting him to fall into the wrong crowd while doing so. )
I donβt have one.
( A beat, he sighs - corrects himself then. )
I did.
( And it was Damian. Who is no longer here. )
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( it's jealousy and insecurity all wrapped into one, hidden behind the anger that damian often uses to cover every emotion he doesn't want to cope with. he's robin, a title given to him upon richard taking over as batman, and damian is well-aware of why it was placed in his hands: richard needed a way to leash damian in, to keep him contained.
damian needed it, too. still needs it. because who is he without robin? not an al ghul but not quite a wayne either, damian is just - nothing. )
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At that, he makes his way over β comes up to the elevator and stands there with Damian, somewhat blocking him from getting into it. Quiet, he stares down to the boy before he goes and drops down into a crouch in front of him, hands folded there across his knees. )
Robin means everything to you and I would never take that away from you. Youβ he helped me see that Batman needed Robin β that Batman can rely on Robin and not have to go it alone. Some days I struggle to believe that, even now. But every time I see you, I'm reminded that I don't have to and you don't have to either. You're just as lost as I am with all this and I might have a bit of a head start on you with having had someone like you at my side here. ( The other Damian. ) But you're your own person β you're the son of the bat and you always will be. To me, to him. No one can ever replace you or take that away from you with us.
( Him and the other Bruce, he means. )
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Mother cloned me, when I disobeyed her and no longer suited the purpose for which I was born. ( he had asked her to love him as he is, she said she couldn't. he understands. damian abandoned the league, threw away the al ghul legacy. ) The son of the Bat is a clump of cells that can easily be replicated. Training can be replicated. I am easily replaceable. To an al Ghul, ten years is but a blink of an eye. And clearly there had been another here before.
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( The Bruce Wayne that hails from Damian's Gotham β his father, despite their complicated relationship with one another. )
Are either one of us so easily replaceable to you? Does one of us mean less to you, even before you get to really know us?
cw: noncon references
( not in the same way one could just remake damian. batman is an accumulation of all of his experiences, of every trauma he's gone through, of every triumph he's managed. batman is the boy in the alley, watching his mother's pearls scatter across gotham's grime. damian is a child created by a woman who had drugged the man she loved to ensure she would be able to create a genetically superior child to continue her father's legacy, who hadn't experienced much outside of the league of assassins up until he'd been unceremoniously dropped onto the lap of a man who hadn't known he had a child, let alone one who was raised to kill. )
It isn't comparable. I am one of many. The fifth Robin, if we are counting Brown. And the other Bruce Wayne here can hardly tolerate me as it is.
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( Again, there's a sort of firmness to his tone there though his body language is hardly that. A duck of his head, licking over his lips, he looks back up to the boy there in front of him. )
I needed him then and I need him now, too.
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( he's less concerned with that than he with todd's presence, but it's worth asking regardless. how easily will he be thrown away here, too? bruce wayne isn't like talia al ghul in the least, it's why he had chosen to stay with his father in the end, even if he'd at first wanted them to just stay together.
damian takes a step forward, within arm's reach of bruce even if he isn't reaching for the man himself. it's almost an invitation, in the same way he allows grayson into his personal space where he wouldn't usually allow others. )
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( And it's so incredibly strange for him to say that and not something he can even say he likes, in all honesty, but. It is what it is. Reaching into his pocket then, he pulls out a small key and holds it there in the palm of his hand in front of Damian. )
This is to the room he had here. If you ever want to go and look in there, you can. If you don't, you don't have to. But it belongs to you, as does the title of Robin.
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Swear it.
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You will always be my Robin. Even if Iβm not your Batman.
( Even if Iβm not your father. )
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yet damian still recognizes his features in this one. recognizes the look behind his eyes, knows what it means when he allows his body language to read so lax. it's - trust, of a sort. the same kind of trust damian gives to those when he lowers his guard around them. this close, it would be easy to land a killing blow. yet neither of them are reaching for it. instead, damian's reaching a hand up to place it against bruce's shoulder. )
And Todd?
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Youβre both my sons.
( At that, he cradles a hand there against Damianβs cheek. )
Iβm helping him discover who he wants to be, because it isnβt Robin. You are Robin and Iβll help you as Iβm trying to help him. Like some version of you helped me with being Batman here.
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