Important Information:
-Italics- = Writing
'Italics' = Thoughts
Underlined = Texting
Ages:
Alfred - immortal
Bruce - late 40s
Wally - 27
Dick - 25
Jason - 21
Tim - 16
Damian - 11
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**Damian Pov
After yet another fight with Drake I had locked myself in my room so I could focus on my "studies" without being disrupted while waiting for my father and eldest brother to return home.
-March 4, 2016-
-It's been a little over a year now since Mother died and I started living with my Father, Bruce Wayne, and his adopted sons. Oh and there's also the family butler, Pennyworth. Grayson, the eldest, is pretty decent. He can be quite annoying sometimes and his jokes are absolutely horrendous, but I'll admit that he is smart and a good fighter. Not that I will ever say that out loud of course. Todd is....well he's Todd. I have yet to learn everything about him, but I do know that he had been killed by the Joker and then later resurrected by my Grandfather Ra's Al Ghul. According to Grayson, Todd had gone "bad" after his resurrection. They refuse to tell me what exactly that means though, other then the fact that he had killed some people. But no matter I suppose, I will find out the whole story eventually. Besides from being an asshole and trying to start fights with almost everyone, he doesn't seem like that terrible of a person anymore. He's tolerable at best, and sometimes fun to hang out with dare I say. And then, there is IT.... Otherwise known as Drake. Drake is by far the least tolerable of the three. Actually no, I lied. Drake is absolutely INSUFFERABLE! He is so annoying, idiotic and weak that it is impossible to get along with him. Apparently a few years back Drake also had some sort of accident with the Joker, but unlike Todd's I know nothing of his. It seems it was kept tightly under wraps. Not that I actually care about it of course, honestly I wish that sometimes Drake would just leave, but I doubt that will ever happen.-
I hear Grayson from down the hall, undoubtedly irritating father. It would seem that they have finally arrived home.
"Hey. Hey Brucey?" I can almost hear the smirk on his face. It would be about the time where Father turns to look at him with a weak face of disdain. "Yes Dick?"
"You know, Bruce, I swear you say my name to mean something else sometimes..." He'd smile widely at Batman, hoping to shatter his cold, icy exterior.
Father would smile at him, knowing the kid like the back of his hand. "That is up to your discretion, Richard." Father would give his arm a loving punch and focus on something else once more.
-Of what I've observed, excluding Jason Todd, all of Bruce Wayne's "sons" fight for his attention and affection daily, hoping even for just a moment of a fatherly smile, only to be left lonely when he returns to his work and leaves his sons' as they were.-
-I'm hoping I'd be different since I am his legitimate son, selfishly, maybe I'd be put above them. Maybe not, so far Father seems to love Grayson and the others as if they were his own flesh and blood. I hadn't realized how much Grayson adores Father, but after about a year of staying with him, I learned that I have no chance at superiority. Father loves Grayson and the others greatly. They just don't show it much.-
-Grayson, Richard, is Father's first son, his pride and joy besides the batmobile. Dick, as everyone calls him, has been by Father for a long time and sometimes it's easier to get Father's opinions from Grayson instead of Father himself. The two share a brainwave if that is even possible. Rather than father-son, the two are more like close friends at this point, though they do often bicker about useless things. Father being older, wiser, and smarter; Grayson being impulsive and stubborn.-
-Being the eldest, Grayson often looks after me, and unlike my other... brothers... isn't afraid to be brutally honest with me. He is also a good fighter, having been the first of us trained by Father. He also helps to teach the rest of us when Father isn't around to do so. Grayson is most certainly a close ally of mine in this household.-
-Speaking of this household, there never seems to be a dull moment around here. Whether it's Todd trying to fight someone, usually Father or Grayson. Drake being a complete moron and getting on my nerves, which is almost every single day might I add. Or Grayson simply being...well Grayson. Not to mention all of our nightly "escapades", which more often than not end in some kind of injury to someone, minor or severe. As it serves Drake is currently nursing a fractured wrist.-
I hear familiar footsteps heading towards my room. Grayson.
There is a light wrap on my bedroom door and a small, yet polite "hello?"
"Come in." I say flatly, not halting my flow of thought.
Grayson shoulders open the door lightly, leaning his tall (compared to only me) stature against the doorframe. "Whatcha writing about bud? School stuff?" He smiles lightly, observing how I white knuckle my pencil and stick my tongue out in thought a little.
I give him a light grunt, which he nods to. "Ah okay, so it's a secret?" I hate when he talks like that, I'm not a baby. I'm a busy man!
I turn and look at him, furrowing my brow. "It's for my studies, yes, and it is not of your concern, Grayson." My tone came out a bit more attitude filled than I had anticipated.
For a moment I thought he'd snap at me for my tone, but he only smiled lightly and nodded. Sometimes I forget that this testosterone filled house can be a safe and gentle place, and is so much different...better...then the League of Assassins. Well at least with Grayson it can be. He leans forward and sets a soft hand on the top of my head. "Well okay then, shrimp. I'll let you get back to work ya little nerd."
Before leaving my room he pauses and glances over his shoulder. "By the way I was talking to Timmy downstairs, said you two got in a fight. Want to tell me about that?"
I stare at him for a moment, ready to shake my head 'no'. But my silence leads him to only plop down on my bed patiently, intrigued by my lack of response.
I narrow my eyes and glare at Grayson, hoping that will be enough to get him to leave. Sadly it is not.
That unnerving, all knowing, smile of his returns. He is reading me, trying to piece information together. "You know I'll figure it out on my own anyway, might as well hear the story from the witness." He's right, he'd find out, and it would be better for both Drake and I if he got the truth first.
I sigh and let out a grumble as I set my pencil down and turn to face Grayson. "I'll have you know that I have done nothing wrong and it was all Drake's fault. He is an incompetent fool and frankly I don't understand why Father bothers keeping him around."
"Listen kid, Bruce has his reasons. And if Tim is so incompetent, tell me, how did this accident happen...hmm?" The smile vanishes as he leans forward, kind of like Father does when he is trying to suck the truth out of you with his eyes. But Grayson is too much of a softy to have a rough, militaristic persona like father. Almost too flamboyant, too flowery.
I cross my arms over my chest and turn my head to glare at the wall. "I warned him to shut his mouth if he knew what's good for him. But he wouldn't stop talking about them. So again, it's all Drake's fault."
Grayson leans back on his heels a bit. "Wait, hold on kid. First, who is them; second, what was Tim saying; and third, blaming Tim isn't going to help you unless you can back up your claim. Pretend I'm Bruce, now you really have to concentrate. Goal: don't get grounded." Here we go again, Grayson trying to teach me from his own dumb experiences with Father.
I keep my face completely devoid of emotions as I mumble my next words. "Mother and Grandfather..."
Grayson's face softens a little. I hate that he sees me as a little kid sometimes. "Why would he bring them up? I'll talk to him, that was not okay... I know how you feel when people bring up your--" he stops, feeling the coldness of the room. "I'm sorry that he upset you, Damian."
Grayson has a passionate pain in his eyes, making them dark and sad. He knows how I feel, he lost his family too, and had to build a new one from scratch when he was my age.
"I'm not upset. I have no reason to be upset. After all Mother and Grandfather were villains. They got what they deserved" I grumble, trying my hardest to keep my voice from cracking with emotion.
"But they were still family." Grayson sounds small, like he is talking back to Father. "They were still your home." It sounds more like he is reassuring his own dead family, reassuring his younger self.
I fight back the tears in my eyes and mumble. "If you don't mind I'd very much like to get back to work, thanks. I've grown tired of hearing your annoying voice Grayson."
To my surprise, Grayson smiles lightly. Though the Bat-family is relatively cold and reserved, Grayson stands and wraps his arms around me, warming me against his chest. The hug is quick, and awkward, as Grayson isn't very proficient in human contact. But he means well, and he did comfort me. I kind of didn't want him to let go so soon. But before I could pretend to object, he was out of my room to go annoy Father or find some robber to punch in the face.
~~~~~~~~~~Bat Break~~~~~~~~~~
I awake at my desk to a light knocking on my door. 'When did I fall asleep? How long was I out?' "Yes, what is it?" I call out.
"Master Damian dinner is ready and Master Bruce, Master Richard, and Master Timothy are all waiting for you down in the dining hall." Pennyworth.
"Thank you Pennyworth. I will be down shortly." With that Pennyworth walks away and leaves me be. I sigh and close up my journal, placing it back within the safety of my desk.
I walk downstairs and into the dining hall only to be greeted by a-
"Oh joy! The Demon Spawn is here. Come to grace us with his royal presence." Drake said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes.
I immediately glared at him and growled. "I'm sorry I don't think I heard you correctly."
"Oh you heard me just fine!" Drake growled back.
I narrowed my eyes and growled lowly as I stomped towards him. "What is your issue!"
Drake stood up from his seat at the table and walked right towards me, shoving my chest with his good wrist. "YOU are my issue, you little demon spawn!"
I hiss between my teeth and shove him back harder. "Touch me again Drake and I'll turn that fractured wrist into a broken one!!"
"Why you little demon brat!" Drake makes a grab for one of the knives on the table as if it would protect him.
I reach back and take hold of a ninja star I keep on me at all times, ready for a fight. "Bring it Drake!"
Drake grips the knife tightly in his hand and lunges at me.
Grayson stands sharply, grabbing Drake and taking him down to the floor, thus making Father stand up, clearly enraged. "Don't even think about it." Grayson holds one of his escrima sticks to Drake's throat.
"What the fuck Dick!!!?! Let me go!! The Demon Spawn started it! He even said he was going to break my wrist!!" Drake shouts as he tries to get out of Grayson's hold on him.
A fire lights in Grayson's blue eyes that we haven't seen much of before, he pushed the escrima stick harder against Drake's adams apple, forcing him to lift his chin. "You don't touch him, you have a problem you use your words, unless you want to deal with me..." He sits up a little and looks at me. "And you! Don't go straight for your weapons! You both know better!" Grayson glares back down at Drake.
He then takes Drake by the shirt, pulling the teenager's body up with little struggle. A frown crosses Drake's face as he grabs Grayson by the arm. "Why do you even defend the little rat, Dick? He thinks he is better than you, better than everyone." There is a sharp bite in his voice.
Grayson sighs and shoves him down into his chair, making eye contact with Father.
I let out a growl and narrow my eyes at Drake. "Watch your tongue peasant!"
Choosing to ignore me for the moment, Grayson looks down and stares at the side of Drake's face, "Maybe he is better than us Tim, you sure go real far to prove it, now shut up." Grayson, surprisingly, gives him a loving touch to the back of his head, almost to say sorry for being so rough.
Father simply gives Grayson a nod.
I'm still standing and staring Drake down, I refuse to be in the same room with the blundering idiot.
"Ugh!! Bruce do something about him!!" Drake yells angrily pointing a finger at me.
I merely cross my arms and stick my tongue out at Drake, my ninja star still in my hand.
Grayson sits down beside Father, leaning on his elbow, looking up at Father with puppy eyes like he himself can't even take it anymore. "Dad...?" His voice is small.
"Boys," Father finally opens his mouth. The room becomes static, his chilling voice could clear a room if he wanted it to. Drake sits up a little, looking at him with a sorry look.
I laugh to myself. "Ha." 'That'll show him.'
Father looks at me. "Damian."
'Oh Christ, he said my name.'
I turn to face him, standing up straight. "Yes Father?"
"Apologize to your brother this instant," he looks at Drake. "You too."
I'm dumbfounded. "I...You.... What!? But I didn't even do anything wrong!! It's all Drake's fault! Why the fuck do I have to apologize to him!!"
"Master Damian! Language matters, please do not say that word." Pennyworth speaks calmly yet sternly.
I grumble a bit as Pennyworth scolds me. I can hear Drake snickering quietly and I level a glare at him.
"As good fighters and people, you both must learn to get along. Now apologize." Father's voice hasn't risen louder... yet. But knowing all of us, we will test him.
Grayson looks at me, giving me a nod telling me to just do it and spare myself the embarrassment.
I absolutely refuse. Grayson looks like he is internally screaming, his blue eyes turning a stormy color.
Drake sighs and leans back in his seat. "I'll apologize when and only when the demon brat apologizes first. I may have grabbed a knife but HE threatened to break my wrist which is FINALLY almost healed thank you very much!" Drake glares daggers at me as he holds his injured wrist against his chest protectively.
"I will never apologize to you Drake. Not when you oh so clearly deserved it." I glare equally back at him.
I can feel everyone's eyes on me, but I refuse to apologize to the likes of Drake.
Father slowly stands, he throws his white cloth napkin down onto his empty plate, turning, fixing the cuffs of his sleeves and walking away in silence, Grayson gets up and gives us both a look saying "Look what you did now!" He turns and scampers to keep up with Father, disappearing into his study. The sound of arguing follows shortly after.
I'd suppose Grayson is again attempting to lessen whatever Father is saying about the difficulties Drake and I pose. Grayson is always trying to clean up everyone's mess.
Drake groans and slumps back in his chair. "Look what you did now..."
I feel my blood boil. "What...?" He almost smiles at me.
"What do you mean what? You started it Damian." His voice is softer now.
I stand there watching him as he slowly gets up and walks towards me.
"It's only a matter of time before Bruce gets fed up and kicks you out brat. When that happens not even Dick will want anything to do with you. He'll see just how much of a lost cause you are and you'll be all alone." Drake whispers in my ear before pushing past me and out of the dining hall.
I can feel his words like tiny needles. My eyes burn.
I hear Grayson's voice pleading with Father. "Bruce please... they don't mean it.... Please. Well he is just that way, he can't help it.... I was kind of like that too when I was younger but... Please Bruce....Fine, okay.... I know... Yes I'm aware that it is your choice... Yes sir... Sorry sir...."
There are no tears falling down my cheeks. None at all. 'I am an assassin. Assassins do not cry. Crying is a sign of weakness. Assassins do not show weakness.' I tell myself over and over again as I rush up the stairs and into my room, slamming the door behind me. I head straight for my bed and curl up into Titus' warm fur.
Drake has gone down into the Batcave to do research on the Batcomputer. Pennyworth was busy in the kitchen putting away the dinner we never ate for later. Father and Grayson were still arguing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Note
Please be gentle, I'm like a new born child. This is the first time I've ever posted a fanfic.
Also I'm sorry if there are any spelling or grammar mistakes, I'm not the best at English. This also was originally formatted as an RP I have with a friend.
I hope you guys like this story.